#do i have a thing for a silver fox? perhaps

[cordiallyfuturedwight]

Hello! I’m here with very important question: what are your favourite hair colors on every bts memeber? ❤️

omg hi!!! thanks for this question 🥹

for namjoon, what would we call this? peach blonde? i love the lighter colors on him (except for the highlighter yellow moment)

for jin, grape jin supremacy obviously, but i also love pink, blonde and brown for him

for jhope, his platinum is a moment for me but I love SILVER

for yoongi, it’s hard I really love his black hair but mint yoongi was also the best

for jimin i’m between bwl pink and silver

for taehyung it’s blueberry tae, always

and finally jungkook is silver/grayish/blondiesh for me too??

[newspecies]

for the love of goooood people need to stop trying to make me go out... im a homebody stop trying to make me leave

[moonsaver]

Warning: yan!jiaoqiu x reader, hints/implications of cannibalism and drugs.

Note: its 1.3k words, which is surprising considering i dont usually write that much. Anyways i tried to incorporate a different kind of horror feeling into this work. Hope you guys like it.

-

Jiaoqiu lives up to his name. Medicinal chef, although one part is hidden, and he willfully lives up to the other half. But both seem to work in cognition when he meets you.

There you are – where he always hopes you'll be. A small twitch of his ear, the flurry of his tail. His eyes creak open ever so slightly to behold your silhouette in the golden frame of his irises. 

There you are – where you always will be, he hopes. Or rather, he wills.

Jiaoqiu has taken a rather different approach when it comes to medicines, and food.

The chilli sizzles in the oil, loud and crackling in short bursts through the growing warm air surrounding his workspace, his tender hands working swiftly through the assortment of spices. But really, he wouldn't need much, especially considering the chillis he's going to be using. Although, he changes his mind, going back over to dutifully sprinkle in a few spices anyway. At least, he does this for you.

Quiet, ever so silent. Curt responses. Flitting eyes. You're a curious little thing. Well, it doesn't matter how brooding or moody you may be. To him, you're interesting. To any sly fox, interesting means plaything. He's learned how to really risk the delicate balance of spice and flavour. And he's also sure how to deal with bitterness.

Strangely enough - you seem to like it. The bitterness slowly but surely pierces through the food, seeping into your mouth like poison. He's sure to take inspiration, but for now, he watches with a closed eye smile. A smile you're always too familiar with, ever since he's started making things special for you.

His chin placed delicately on the palm of his hand, elbow slightly straining the smooth wood underneath, as his hand gently fans away the ghat of the chili, still wafting in the air, making a few people cough in the distance. “Do you like it?” He asks, often. “I've added just what you might like”, “you'll keep coming back”, and, “my, aren't I seeing you too often?”

...

You don't know what's gotten into you. Dazed, but also hypervigilant at the same time. You think you're losing your mind – the reality you were so grounded in, losing your footing, the dissonance of your mind pushing you far into the cacophony of distressed thoughts, until his calm voice snaps you of it.

“Hm? Perhaps my new recipe will help soothe you. If the feeling persists.. meet me after hours.”

You take another bite, another walk back home, and another episode of hyperventilation. You breathe in, eyes flitting to the mirror you can't seem to reach – or rather you can't seem to keep yourself standing despite your fearful heart lurching in your chest.

And as per Jiaoqiu's predictions, you do meet him after hours. But you can't tell with the blend of reality and your hallucinations. You're not sure if it's the moon, but you're sure Jiaoqiu stares down at you, silver and gold melding into your delicate vision.

—--

Jiaoqiu has many characters of a cat than he does of a fox

Or rather, you say that because you probably haven't interacted with a fox before.

All the times you were sick and bedridden, Jiaoqiu made it almost his personal mission to look after you. He wouldn't be around for too long, thankfully. Long hours at work or the other. But he comes back and makes the best soup you could ever have, especially with your illness.

But you find the meat makes your body slightly reactive, at least when you're sick. Jiaoqiu brushes it off and insists you eat regardless.

His cheek rubs against your shoulder when you wake up, telling you how dearly he missed you. You yawn, eyes still closed and heavy from sleep while you wake up, but you can notice the slight grazing of his pointed teeth on your skin. 

You watch as he dutifully grinds up herbs and other malleable herbs into the mortar. He grew them himself, he tells you. It's simply better to alter and enhance them when you can get your hands on them, he tells you.

That's a beautiful flower, you tell him. His dutiful hands temporarily withhold in the air above the mortar, the soft stem bent and almost breaking in his fingers. He chuckles softly. You've been tasting it for a while in your food now, he informs you. You hum as he grinds it into the powdery mixture. Was that the source of bitterness?

-

Jiaoqiu has a taste for many peculiar things. But he also has a taste for humans. Or, more or less, just you.

Ever since you've become a regular, Jiaoqiu has been eager to offer you a sneak peek into the kitchen. He sits you down for the milder part of the cooking process, chatting away with you as he waits for one or the other thing to marinate, rise, or separate. His hand not so subtly itching to yours over the countertop, forcing your hand to slip into his glove. When you whine or complain about the constriction of the material, Jiaoqiu only responds with a quiet smile, his ears twitching the slightest bit. 

Sometimes, he lets you look around the kitchen, with sanitary limitations, of course. You eye the meat that looks a bit too red, or the one with a few too many strings in it to be written off as normal. You gaze at the blood seeping into the water. Myoglobin, he tells you. But you think your eyes are keener than that.

He feeds you well, isn't hesitant to add in a few extra medicinal herbs to your food, serves you the special tea he prepares only for momentous occasions.

And the best meat he finds.

Its a beautiful red, in his opinion. You stare as the knife cuts through the meat, the strings loosening and tearing. The blood– myoglobin, he corrects you, taints his hands, ungloved. Its far easier to determine the cleanliness without gloves. They tend to give you a false sense of it. He tells you.

You watch, the smell of the raw meat making you scrunch your nose the slightest bit. He chuckles fondly when he sees that on your face.

He finds you to be one of the people he's met, that he's taken a liking to. As for the one that he considers distasteful.. well, he's sure he can find some use of them. Especially if you dislike them, too.

-

You're sure something is wrong.

The soups make you dizzy, your body bursts into hives, your heart rate goes up. Something in it is causing you severe distress, but you can't understand what exactly it might be. You've staved away from his shop for a while. 

Until one day – Jiaoqiu senses your hesitation. His smile is no longer on his face, despite his closed eyes. He quietly allows you to inspect the kitchen after hours, his back turned to you, grinding, crushing, snapping the herbs into the mortar. You especially eye the red meat he stores away, and this time he doesn't tell you off. He continues to grind the herbs, shuffling through a few cabinets for them, before continuing. You've insisted on calling it blood and not myoglobin. Because you can taste it in your food.

He tells you, you're hallucinating. It's a side effect of your sickness he's had to help ward off lately. But you're sure he's wrong. He hums, and continues quietly. The darkness of the kitchen only illuminated by scarce yellow lighting, and the sterile, white glow of the fridge as you continue staring at it. Your eyes wander at the various meats before–

You spot something behind it.

His meats are sourced from various animals, with smaller organs, incomparable to the size of humans.

Was this animal mutated? Or simply particularly large?

You gently kneel down, hearing Jiaoqiu snapping the stem of a flower and continue grinding the herbs, your eyes settled fiercely onto the incomprehensible.. thing.

Your shaking hand reaches out, the coldness of the fridge making you shiver, although it's not exactly the cold, is it?

Your fingers touch the strange surface of the unidentifiable meat. Pericardium. Your fingers reach further and gently grasp it. It's about the size of your fist.

You breathe out, your heart thudding in the quiet of your mind as you stare at the one in your hands.

…

Has it always been this quiet?

You look back and are met with Jiaoqiu's golden eyes.

His default smile returns to his face, but this time, his golden eyes are staring directly at you.

You should have stayed out of his kitchen. Who knows what he'd been feeding you?

-

[arc-misadventures]

MFK Coco: Jaune, Joan and RK Jaune

MFK : CO III

Yang: H-Hey, Coco...

Coco: Yang.

Yang: So uhh... you up for a game of, MFK?

Coco: That depends... Who are my 'choices' this time?

Yang: You'll like them! You'll like them this time I swear!

Coco: Will I?

Yang: I swear! Please don't hit me again...!

Coco: Alright, show me who my choices are?

Yang: O-Okay! First off we have, Jaune!

Jaune: Hey, Coco! Sorry you have to do this again.

Coco: Well at least it has the only guy I'm willing to fuck.

Jaune: Oh...

Coco: Who's next?

Yang: Next we have, Jaune's twin sister...

Coco: Wait, you have a twin sister?

Jaune: Yep. I'm the older twin by the way.

Coco: How come you never mentioned that you had a twin sister?

Jaune: Never came up in conversation.

Coco: ...

Coco: Fair enough. Continue, Yang.

Yang: As I was saying: Jaune's twin sister, Jeanne Arc!

Jeanne: Ohhh~! So this is the, Coco girl you've been talking about, Jaune. Mmmh~! Love the outfit, it flaunts your body off perfectly~!

Coco: You're one to say, your outfit look exceptional! I love how it shows off your bodies full curves~! And, I must say, 'Boing Boing~!'

Jeanne: Thank you my dear~!

Yang: And last, but not least. The man of myth, and legend, The Rusted Knight, Jaune Arc!

Coco: The Rusted Knight? F-From the book?

Yang: Yep, that Rusted Knight.

Coco: How the hell did that happen?

Jaune: Ohh boy... You better sit down, this is going to take a while...

~~~

A while later.

~~~

Jaune: So yeah... that's what happened.

Coco: ...

Coco: THE FUCK?!

Jaune: Yeah, that's how most people react... So anyway, this is the older me as the, Rusted Knight.

RK Jaune: Hello, Coco. You're looking just as beautiful as the last time I laid eyes upon you.

Coco: ...?!

Coco: Fuck...!

Yang: So, Coco: Of these three who will you, Marry, Fuck, and Kill~?

Coco: Fuck...

Coco: Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck...!

Jaune: Coco? You okay?

Coco: Ahem! I'm fine, I'm fine as hell, Bunny Boy~! So... I kill young, Jaune.

Jaune: Saw that coming.

Jeanne: It was a given since he is here.

Coco: I'm sorry, I...

Jaune: I take no offence, Coco, please continue.

Coco: Okay. I'd fuck, Jeanne.

Jeanne: Oh~? Are you perhaps interested in these?

Coco: Ye...

Jeanne: My titties? My massive badonkers~! My massive milk jugs~! My...?!

Coco: YES! A hundred percent yes! I want to play with your juicy thic body! And do all sorts of things with that voluptuous body of yours~!

Jeanne: Naww... But, I wanted to say the whole line...

Jaune: Told you, you wouldn't get the time to say the whole thing.

Jeanne: Meh, oh well; a lesbian should know how to please a woman~!

Coco: You know it darling~!

Coco: Last but not least; I marry, Rusted Knight Jaune!

RK Jaune: Of course. Let me guess: Upon seeing me you suddenly developed a taste for silver foxes, and because of my age you also realized that the number one thing you are missing in your life is a daddy to bend you over his knee, and give your rear end a good tanning. You want to be folded over as you are dumped full of his seed until you're a drooling mess. Leaving her looking like a happy, lust drunk mess, looking like she's three months pregnant with their child to be. Am I wrong?

Coco: I wasn't thinking about half of those things, but I want those things to happen to me! Please knock me up, Daddy~!

RK Jaune: Hmmm... I think that can be arranged~!

Coco: Fuck yes!

JJY: ...

Jaune: Why am I ever brought here for these when he's here? I always end up dead.

Yang: Can you blame us? I mean... Hello, Daddy~!

Jeanne: Who wouldn't like a, Daddy like him~?

Jaune: ...

Jaune: You know I will look like him eventually, right?

Jeanne: ...

Yang: ...

Yang: Wanna get married, Jaune?

Coco: Back off bitch! The original, Jaune is MINE!

Yang: Bring it you whore!

JJRKJ: ...

Jaune: Aren't you going to join them?

Jeanne: Naww, I will join the winner in seducing you.

Jaune: Oh...

RK Jaune: Did you expect anything else?

Jaune: No... But, I can dream can't I?

Jeanne: Not with your luck.

Jaune: Damn.

[calisources]

𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐃𝐈𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏𝐒, 𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐆𝐀𝐏𝐒 𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐐𝐔𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐒.

All sentences were taken from difference media about age gap and age difference relationships, all acceptable relationships within consenting adults with age differences. Please do not use for teenagers or taboo relationships. These have some foul language or suggestive undertones so please beware. You can change names, pronouns, locations as you see fit.

I bet it doesn’t feel like this with that boy of yours, does it?

You’ll never know when I’m going to drag you into the darkness, pumping my cock into one of your tight holes. And you’ll take every inch like a good little girl.

What a tiny life we’d live if we fashioned ourselves to the comforts of others.

I think I'm a little old for that, love.

No, not old. But you're, you know, a man.

Tell me that you've never had anyone else. I want you to pretend.

You show me things I've forgotten.

Sometimes I think you must have seen it all before. That I can't show you anything new.

I like you as you are, he said. Even if you're going to wear me out.

I’m rough with your body sometimes, but I’ll always be gentle with your soul. She bruises far more easily.

This prince is a few years younger than you, and does not have much experience.

I must have forgotten how young you would be, Princess. Has there ever been a sovereign of such tender age?

Who is to say what love is or what it wants to be, the shape it takes, or how quickly it comes on? Love has always made a fool of time.

I don’t feel old. As a matter of fact, sitting here with you makes me feel older, not younger. Nothing is rubbing off.

Mr. Rochester was about forty, and this governess not twenty; and you see, when gentlemen of his age fall in love with girls, they are often like as if they were bewitched.

He's old enough to be your father.

Tonks deserves somebody young and whole.

But she wants you. And after all, Remus, young and whole men do not necessarily remain so.

Age is no barrier. It's a limitation you put on your mind.

Age considers; youth ventures.

Age, like distance lends a double charm. 

I'm a strong believer that a good relationship can work, whatever the situation. 

Love knows no boundaries, not even the ones defined by age.

Don’t let society’s judgment define your love. Follow your heart, despite the age difference.

Most people would be upset they get an old man as their husband.  

Do not worry about your age, Ser. The lady pays attention not to age but prowess.

I will not let time choose my lovers for me. I trust my own judgement. 

You should look to more prosperous gardens, Your Grace.

I was sixteen years old when you were born.

No doubt you were much my superior in judgement at that period of our lives; but does not the lapse of one-and-twenty years bring our understandings a good deal nearer?

Come, my dear Emma, let us be friends, and say no more about it. 

I have seldom seen a face or figure more pleasing to me than hers. But I am a partial old friend.

If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more.

We spend more time discussing this matter than being together as a couple. And I believe you are doing it on purpose.

You think my attention is as fickle that I would look elsewhere.

Perhaps it would be you who looks elsewhere. A handsome older man must have youthful maidens at his disposal.

If we were closer in age, it would've been fine.

I have loved you since the moment I helped you with your zipper. 

Would it make you feel better if I call you Daddy while you fuck me?

You’ll be a silver fox before 40 at this rate.

Well, it’s definitely your fault. You stress me out. You’re making my hair turn white.

It’s easy to cast opinions when your heart isn’t the one invested.

I hope you love me, because I love you like crazy, and I'm going to want you the rest of my life.

You already know the truth. And I will be by your side, but I am not good for you.

I am tired of others getting to choose who is good for me. You do that quite often, frequently. 

You'll keep your name. You'll keep your will. You'll have your own servants to attend you�� you will have everything you ask for.

Don't ask me to let you do. Do you understand? Do not ask me.

It might be best for us, for myself, if I found myself useful elsewhere.

I wish you could just slow down so I could catch up to you.

Stamina is not an issue. But rather what others will whisper.

When are you going to get over this? All I did was touch your leg.

Why would it matter if someone saw you saying hello to me?

But it’s nice to be around you. Like I haven’t lost a decade of my life.

I been in love with you since I was six, fool. 

I will always belong to you, but I’m afraid there will be others after me. I’m not a young man/woman.

A kiss ... a muse. It is a question, an unlocked door. It is ... elation ... and anguish.

You have treated me better than any young man my age. Why should I go for either of them? 

Young men are eager lovers. I prefer my lovers to take their time. I’m sure with men is the same.

You make me feel really safe. i’m not used to that.

You gave an old man purpose again. And that is more than I can ask of you.

I was a child then, with a crush and a dream. As I grew, dreams changed but you remain the one in my dreams.

I have thought about kissing you a lot. What would that make me?

I have more in common with you than men my age.

Do not pretend to think what I think.

More recently, there are rumors she prefers her lovers to be younger. Truth to be told, I don’t blame her.

I will teach you in time, but for now restrain me and have your way with me. I don’t want to think, I just want to feel.

We have never done anything to be ashamed of. You’ve never done anything to be ashamed of.

Personally, I think the difference keeps us interesting in another another. 

You can teach me all you wish, and I can learn. I know I can.

There is always a wild side to an innocent face.

You are being too forward right now, my lady. Be careful.

There would be other loves. Even great loves. But she was right, only one remained perfect.

Maybe there are some people you marry and people you love.

Just so you know, you're a natural lover. Your body expresses beautifully what's in your heart.

I have never felt so alive... as when I am in your arms.

A 5 to 7 relationship is a relationship outside of marriage.

You're older than I am, you're wiser I'm sure and you've seen much more of the world.

[starkjoy]

Freddie Fox On Gwayne

I just listened to Freddie Fox's latest interview on the Pilot TV Podcast—it's full of great insight into Gwayne's character, including a potential hint at where he's headed. I highly recommend listening yourself, especially because Freddie is so lovely, but I've included my favorite bits below (including him calling Fabien "Fabs" and "Fabby").

On Gwayne and Alicent in Episode 6

"I loved that conversation he has with Alicent. In fact, it was a scene we ended up reshooting...I was glad to have another shot at it, actually, because I wanted to give it a couple more extra beats in there that I think really show what their relationship was, which is one that's been very distant. But one that is quite loving, even if only in sort of theory, rather than practice...I did a lot of backstory on him and I feel he was very much raised by his mother who he lost very young. He's sort of been an abandoned child. And so consequently, reaching out—as well as he knows how—to his sister in that scene I thought was very touching."

On Fabien, and Gwayne and Criston

"[Fabien] is amazing fun...Fabs and I get to spend a lot of our time together, and I really, I can't put it more frankly by saying I felt like I'd known him for 20 years after having met him for 24 hours. And that's really lucky, because we do have to spend a lot of time together.

And you do need to feel, over time, that these people—who are really on opposite ends politically in the court do end up, sort of, skirting each other, and then finding common ground. So it was lovely to feel like we could do that quite easily because we had a good friendship straight away."

More under the cut:

On Gwayne's Relationship With Otto

"I'm such a fan of Rhys Ifans' work generally anyway, but he has such poise and command as a performer...I watched him quite carefully thinking, is there a way I can take some of his body language into my own and see if I could, you know, sort of trace the familial kind of thing between us through body language.

That being said, it sort of then dawned on me really that we'd not really spent much time together as father and son. He's always been preoccupied with the work at Court, being this sort of Rasputin, really, character, and I'd been brought up by my mother in a completely different place."

Hints for a Gwayne Finale Arc...

"There's a mercurial element to him which is quite smart, and rational, whilst also sometimes being loaded with preconceptions as well. He really humanizes over the course of the series. I won't spoil what happens in the final episode, but it made me really endeared to him as a person going, look, you know, he's someone who perhaps was raised with a bit of a silver spoon in his mouth and was a little quick to judge initially, but as time goes on and the battle completely breaks him down, he becomes a very human, kind person."

...And potentially a return for Season 3?

"I will watch Season 2 in anticipation of prepping Season 3, but I'm not watching any of it as it comes out. It's sort of on principle, I suppose, not wanting to get too caught up in it when I'm doing other work. But I couldn't resist watching that episode [Rooks Rest, I think] and I text Fabby afterwards, and just said 'Wow, we were part of the whole thing there, that was really cool.'"

[lychniis]

⚘ — SILVER FOX // JING YUAN.

i. SYNOPSIS : your lands refuse to grow your crops and the days trickle down to the last vestiges of your desperation. and so, you call upon a huli jing. ( jing yuan x reader )

ii. WARNING(S) : this is so messily written guys look away IKUHGFGH, fox spirit jing yuan, not much romance, it's pretty short to and is mostly a brain blurb spare me.

# masterlist

He comes to you quietly in the dark, after nine nights of praying — first as a small silver furred fox, then a man with moonbeams in his hair, pattering out of the shadowed corners and into your line of sight. 

He seats himself on the floor before you and you place your offering forth: one fish, painstakingly hunted from the nearest river and some unseasoned rice in a chipped wood bowl. You think of your dead lands, and the starvation and the despair and the debt slinking at the bottom like a pacing tiger and you tell yourself to be brave. There’s more to lose, turning him away with fear. There’s far more to lose, with your dead lands. 

“Pour me a cup.” he speaks up, passing you a jar of baiju, then two glasses. “And one for yourself too.”

“Yes sir…lord…” you stutter and do so, first for him, with yours after. 

The fox spirit laughs. You prickle up, staring into the clear drink with helplessness pulling at your throat. “Are you nervous? Just call me Jing Yuan.” He takes a sip before he settles with his fish and rice. “You’ve fed me, after all. I’m less inclined to eat you now.”

You shoot him a horrified look. 

“I jest.” he sighs after a few bites. “Now tell me, what do you need? You can ask me for one thing.”

You stutter. “I…” Replenish our fields. “I…I don’t know.” It feels like too much. Like an offer too willingly handed out with an air of ease. It was foolish, you think now, dealing with gods and spirits and their chaos. Foolish.

He barks, and you have a feeling that perhaps, he is unsurprised. “You humans seem rather indecisive sometimes,” he admits. “I could never understand your ways. My forests and land are mine and I simply take what I need.” The gold in his gaze reflects into the rippling baiju. It’s a sun, a fire, a molten piece of metal. It burns. He doesn’t lie. They are his, for his claws to tear and reap and devour. 

Still, you speak. “I’m not sure what to expect.” you admit, feeling stupid. Jing Yuan smiles. There’s a flash of white, the deathly glint of a too-sharp canine and you wonder if they’ve tasted blood. You might not be the first in the end. Huli Jings could be benevolent on one good day and let in abundance. On others they revel in the miseries of men. 

“Your caution isn’t uncalled for.” he muses. “But I keep my word, if that’s an assurance. I can heal illnesses, replenish your fields, win you a few battles. Maybe even spark some lightning if you like that.” he waves his hand as he rattles out his points. “And maybe I could bless you with a child. But I see no spouse and I doubt you need another mouth to feed.”

Your face flushes. “Your generosity is appreciated.” you look to the side, a little lost. The lands. The lands meant the crops could grow The lands meant the debt from those two catties of rice could be paid off. “My lands.” you finally relent. “Replenish them please, milord.”

Jing Yuan narrows his eyes. A calculating shift darkens sunny aureate to simmering amber. “Is that all?” he asks again.

“Yes.” you nod solemnly. “That’s all.”

“Alright then.” he muses. “Wake at dawn tomorrow and plough the soil. Do not stop till it’s done.” he tilts his head. “I reward hard work, and I trust you will earn it.”

“Of course.” you reply quickly. A part of you is peeved that no divine design is thrown aloft, no spectacle or show. But the unabashed authority, almost expectant in a sense, humbles that voice down quickly. It’s fair you put your salt into it. It’s fair. “I will. Thank you, milord.”

( There is always more to lose. Food, medicine, comfort for the coming winters; and what is plowing to your fields compared to the aching pangs in your stomach that scream and scream and scream for more than the meager bit of dried vegetable and rice you have once a day? )

Jing Yuan’s lips curl. He finishes the last of his fish, stifles back a sleepy yawn. You blink — and he’s gone, leaving behind the cleaned utensils laid before you.

You do what the Huli Jing asks of you. The sun bares down on your back. The plow is slippery against the sweat in your hands. Still, you work, and work, and work till you collapse into the night after the deed is done and every bit of dirt is scoured off rocks and dug into.

The next morning, you see the first signs of it.

The tiny bits of green poking out of the damp earth.

There is a silver fox within the bushes, watching you with an air of smugness. Your eyes meet and you smile at it, a little more than grateful and it stills, the tiniest wag of it’s tail betraying some contentment, at least. 

( You place another bit of fish out for him that night. An empty plate is returned to your doorstep later ).

AINE | 2024. do no plagiarize, repost or rework this piece.

[varpusvaras]

Fox is dead.

He knows he is. His life hadn't been over instantly when his body had been suddenly and violently grabbed and twisted beyond what he could take. He had lied there, after, for a moment longer, knowing nothing but pain and the sinking feeling that he was dying.

He is here, now, not where his body had been left to die, but somewhere else. Somewhere he does not recognise, but knows, still, almost instinctually.

It looks like a grand hall with golden rivers and silver skies, so large that he cannot see how far the walls actually go. He tries to see, but everything is simply too far away.

There are others around him. Fox can see them and hear them moving around, walking past him, stepping around him like they don't see him but still know he is there.

Fox tries to look at some of them. He can see faces, so, so many of them, and if he focuses long enough on one of them, he can see it more clearly for a second, but no more. It is like they are far away from him as well, too far away for him to actually see them.

He watches as they go. They all follow the rivers, each a different one, disappearing somewhere alongside them after a while. Fox knows, somehow, that he is supposed to also follow one of the rivers to somewhere, wherever it may lead him to.

He hears one of them, faintly, if he listens very carefully. It's like the river wants him to follow, but cannot make him do so. Fox also wants to follow, but cannot make himself do so.

He knows the reason as well. He knows that he has done mistakes. Many of them. So, so many of them. He knows some of those mistakes have been too grave for his brothers to forgive.

Fox knows he is not welcome anymore.

The river sighs, and then flows away from him.

Fox stands there, and watches as faces he cannot see walk past him and disappear.

---

He waits.

It is the only thing he can do, after all. Wait.

It's a strange thing, waiting there. Every time he looks somewhere and watches someone, and then looks away for what feels even barely a second, there is already someone else there in their place. He needs to not forget himself, if he wants to not get lost there. He figures that out pretty quickly.

It's cold, there. The rivers look warm and the skies look clear, but Fox cannot feel them. He cannot feel anyone walking past him. They are there, just like he is, but at the same time, it is like they are existing on parallel realities, and only getting a glimpse of what is going on behind the glass that separates them.

Perhaps it's just Fox who sees them. Perhaps no one else sees him.

He tries not to think about that too much.

---

There are a lot of brothers walking around him.

Fox can see their faces clearly. They do notice him too. Many walk towards him, if they see him, and some of them speak to him, if they get close enough.

Fox wonders if they notice him because the Force recognises them as the same, or at least close enough. If the Force recognises them as kin, even when Fox has been casted aside.

His brothers want him to come with them. They can still hear the river, calling them, guiding them forward to somewhere they are meant to go. His brothers try to take his hands and take him with them. Fox had not expected that, if he is being completely honest. He would understand it, if the others were thinking that he was just any brother.

But no. Some of them do recognise him, and still reach for him, even if they are not wearing the Guard red.

"Of course you can come with", one brother in 212th gold tells him. "The Commander always spoke very fondly of you. You are our brother. Of course you can come with us."

He reaches for Fox, and he makes contact, and even when his hand is warm, Fox's legs are stuck on the ground.

The brother looks at Fox with sad eyes.

"I'm sorry", he says. "You are our brother."

"I know", Fox tells him. "I know. Can you say hi to everyone for me?"

"Of course", his brother tells him, and then follows the river away from Fox.

---

The Guards, once they figure out that Fox cannot follow them, want to stay with him.

"You are our Commander", they all tell him. "We're not going to leave you here alone!"

They stay, all of them, as long as they are able to. They hold onto him, like Fox is their anchor, the only thing keeping them from drifting away with the river.

Fox lets them stay with him, for a while, but eventually he tells all of them to go.

"Don't worry", he tells them. "Others will come along. I'll be fine. Say hello to everyone for me, alright? Go now. I'll be fine."

There is always resisting, but eventually, they do leave. They have to. The river is guiding them forward, and they have to follow it. Fox cannot hear the river, and his brothers cannot guide him themselves to it.

Fox stands there, and watches them leave.

---

Stone is the first one to arrive after Fox.

It's strange, to look at him. He looks both like the Stone Fox remembers, and like Stone Fox doesn't quite recognise, Stone who is slightly older and has a new scar across his face.

It's still Stone, though.

Stone stays with him for a long, long time.

But eventually, he leaves as well.

"I'll be fine", Fox says, for the hundreth time. "Say hi to Thorn for me."

"I will", Stone promises. "I will."

---

After Stone comes Hound. He stays for a long time as well, and promises to say hello to Thorn and Stone.

After Hound comes Bly.

Bly puts his arms around Fox and holds him.

"It's not fair", he says, again and again. "It's not fair, this isn't how any of this is supposed to go! It doesn't matter if someone has called you a Dar'vod, you are my brother! That should matter more!"

"I know", Fox says.

"Why are you so calm about this?" Bly asks him. "You are stuck here! You should be with all of us!"

"Bly, please", Fox says. "I can't. Please don't...please don't remind me too much. Please don't."

Bly goes quiet. He still holds onto Fox for a long time.

Eventually, he has to let go.

"It's okay", Fox promises him. "Say hi to Ponds for me."

---

Thire comes last.

Fox knows more time has passed now. It's strange, to look at Thire, and see his youngest brother there, but also someone who is a lot older than Fox ever got to be now.

He looks a lot like Prime before he died, Fox thinks, but doesn't say it out loud.

He also thinks it's a good thing Thire looks so much older than Fox. Fox knows he wouldn't have been able to endure his little brother dying young like Fox had.

"We have a chance", Thire tells him. "There are a lot of people standing against the Empire. Bail and Breha are with them."

Fox almost starts crying then and there. It's been- he doesn't even know how long it has been since someone has said those names to him.

"They're," Fox swallows, and tries again, "they're alright?"

"Yes", Thire says. "They are. I let them take your body, you know? You're there with them."

It's strange, to think about what happened to him after his death. Fox has been here the whole time, not there.

He guesses whatever was left of him there was what was left of him to everyone else, as well.

Fox thinks about it for a while, and then turns back to Thire.

"What else has been going on?" He asks, because he already knows that Thire is going to be staying for a while.

So Thire stays, and he tells his stories, until he has nothing else to say.

He promises, like all of Fox's brothers before him, to say hi to everyone for him. He hugs Fox for a long while, before he finally lets go.

Fox watches him leave for as long as he can.

---

The Galaxy is big, and there is always someone dying.

Fox has accepted that to be just the inevitable way of life. Everyone and everything dies eventually, even the stars. He thinks he had heard that from someone while he was still alive.

Still, some deaths are more tragic than others. Some deaths are ones that Fox thinks shouldn't have happened, not at least in the way that they did, no matter the inevitable nature of death itself.

He has seen it all pretty much, by now. Many people have been crying when walking past him, but as far as Fox has seen, they have all always dried their tears before they disappear with their rivers. He has seen anger and despair, both in a way that suits normal lives and in a way that he recognises to suit lives that are ended by the brutality of war. They all seem to always get past it, though, before they continue their journey past where he cannot see them anymore.

Fox has learned that it is normal for there to be a lot of people around him, and for them to be in distress.

But still, he knows something is wrong.

Maybe it's the way the people just seem to appear, all of a sudden, all at once, instead of coming in many rivulets. Maybe it's in the way that people are now moving. Many are still walking towards, around and past him, like they usually do, but many, too many, way too many, are running around, shouting and screaming names, searching for faces with desperation and grief written all over their own, whenever Fox gets to look at them for long enough.

It feels less like a river now, flowing towards their ends, but like a wild rapids, like rogue waves being pushed around against shores that are too small and tight for them.

Fox looks at them more closely.

He has seen it all, by now. Adults, elderly, teenagers, even children. People die at all ages all the time.

But this? There are so many of them, searching for each other. All of them are crying. He sees so many small children, healthy looking, yelling for their parents, for their siblings, friends, anyone, and just as many adults doing the same, searching for their children and parents and anyone they know, and they just keep coming.

Fox tries to look at them, tries to listen at them for long enough to figure out what is going on, but it's even more difficult now, when there are so many faces and voices around him. Something terrible, he can tell, because there seems to be no end for them, and whenever he gets to hear more than one word from any of them, they all sound the same, like they all speak the same language in the same way.

Fox doesn't understand how that can be. How can this many people die like this, all seemingly at once, in one place? He has seen war before, but even the largest massacres had been nothing like this.

He listens to them more, and there is now something familiar in the way they all talk, in a way that suddenly makes Fox go cold, like he was dying himself all over again.

He knows it. He knows the way they are all speaking, he has listened to that very same way of speech so many times.

Suddenly Fox understands everyone around him searching and screaming very well, because he is doing the same now.

Not screaming yet, but definitely searching. He tries to look at all the faces, to see if he sees them, and he prays to something, anything, everything, that he doesn't find what he is looking for.

He doesn't need to look into the faces of people around him to see them, eventually, because in the sea of faces and voices on the other side of a misty window, he sees two more than clearly.

Fox understands the grief in everyone's faces now too.

He is definitely screaming, now.

No words at first, no. Just a sound that makes its way out of him without him being able to control it at all. He sees them hear it, because they stop, and they start to look around, their eyes searching the people around them.

Fox hasn't had to breathe in a long, long time, but now he feels like he is out of air anyway. He drags his voice back in, and pushes it back in where it can be formed into words, and he screams again.

"Breha!" His voice is tearing up at its invisible seams. "Bail!"

He looks at them, and that's the moment they look at him and see him, standing there, in the same place where he has been standing his whole time there.

Fox watches as they start running as well, still looking at him, and then they are there, and Bail is just a little bit closer and throws his arms around him.

Fox stumbles, his legs ripping away from the ground. He doesn't get to wonder about it for too long, because Bail is holding him now. He is warm, just the way Fox achingly clearly remembers him to be, and then Breha is there as well, her arms going between Bail's to hold onto Fox just as tight.

They all stand there, for a moment which length Fox cannot measure, in each others arms.

Breha is the first one to speak.

"Fox", she says, in a way she always used to say his name, and Fox is barely able to keep the tears that have sprung into his eyes from falling.

Her hand reaches up and touches his jaw and then his cheek.

"Fox", Bail says then, as well, and Fox cannot hold it in anymore.

He cries.

He is pretty sure they are all crying.

There is another hand on his face, now, both of them wiping away the tears still falling down.

"Fox", Breha calls him again. "Fox, my love, our love. Look at me."

What else can Fox do, than to do as she asks of him?

It is Breha and Bail, standing there, just like he remembers them, but not quite. When Fox blinks, there are definitely grey streaks in Bail's beard and hair, and there is a long, silvery strand framing Breha's face. More lines around their eyes when Fox looks closer, ones he doesn't remember seeing there before.

It doesn't matter to him, not really. He knows them, still.

It's a strange mix of emotions he is feeling. Relief, of finally seeing them again. Happiness, brought by being held by them again.

Sorrow, for seeing them both there, emerging from the chaos of grief, knowing that they are here with him now, because they are both dead.

"Why?" He asks, because he doesn't know what else to ask. It's one word, but they understand it still.

The same grief is on their faces as well.

"The Empire", Bail starts, and pauses for a moment, like speaking pains him, "has figured out how to build weapons of mass destruction beyond anything we could've imagined. We've been fighting against them for a long time now, and...we finally got caught. Alderaan is no more."

"I don't understand", Fox says. "That doesn't make any sense."

Except it does, in a sense that it explains why there were so many of them all of a sudden, all frightened, like they hadn't had any time to prepare for their deaths. But it doesn't, because Fox cannot, will not believe that there is a weapon that can make a whole planet and everyone on it disappear.

"I know", Breha says, soothing, like she isn't the one who has just lost her own life and everything else. "It's not all lost. Our daughter, she's out there. She has the key to stopping them."

"She will do it", Bail says, and he sounds proud, so proud. "She will. We know she will."

Fox believes them when they say it.

"Of course she will", he says. "She is your daughter, after all. If she is anything like you, she can do anything."

They look at him gently, then.

"Our daughter", Breha repeats. "Our daughter. Just because you weren't there doesn't mean she is any less yours. She carries you with her as much as we did."

"She takes after you very much as well", Bail says, and there is a sparkle in his eyes again as he speaks. "Determined and strong, just like you."

Fox cries again. They don't rush him to stop, just stay there with him and hold him until everything has been spent.

"I wish I would've known her", Fox says. "I wish I would've been there."

"We wish so too", Bail says. "There wasn't a day we didn't wish that you were with us still."

"But you are now", Breha says, brushing her fingers softly over the skin under Fox's eye. "You are with us again. We have all the time now to tell you everything."

That is the moment Fox remembers that he can move again.

He has to make sure. He lifts one leg, and takes half a step back, and then makes the other leg follow.

He can move, but he still cannot hear the river.

"I would love that", he says. "But I...I don't know where to go."

"Don't worry", Bail says. He reaches for Fox's hand, and takes it into his, firmly and securely. "We know. We'll show you."

Breha laces her fingers with Fox's as well, tying herself to him like a safety line on the outside of a ship. They turn to face the golden rivers, meandering towards their ends under the silver skies, and they take Fox with them.

[annwrites]

— gwayne hightower quotes ⊱⚜⊰ | the fox & the flower

❝I’m most adept at acquiring secrets from comely young maidens. I’ve yet to meet one which is a match for my silver tongue.❞

❝Would you care to dance? I’ve a difficult time believing you decided to attend merely to spectate. And to let a jewel as rare as you stand to the side as a wallflower all night would be a waste indeed.❞

❝So,❞ he says. ❝It is up to us to be whomever we wish to be tonight. To make our story as we want it. Tell me, my lovely lady, who are you?❞

❝It seems to me we should make the absolute most of this evening we share, then, should we not? Before you are stolen away from me come the morn.❞

❝And I do not intend to part with my quarry until she disappears into a fit of white feathers, leaving me heartbroken and yearning once more.❞

❝I've yet to hear a complaint in regards to my...chivalrous nature. I do so love to tend to damsels in distress.❞

❝I would never harm a woman. Nothing occurs between us tonight that you do not wish. I give you my word. I want only those who want me in return.❞

❝Have you ever considered allowing those perfect feathers to be ruffled, my little swan maiden?❞

❝There are other lips I might pleasure on your body.❞

❝It is just the two of us. I wish for tonight to be all you want it to.❞

❝Let me touch you. I beg of you.❞ (...) ❝Let me please you. End my agony, My Lady.❞

❝There you are, darling, show yourself to me. Allow me to see it. Let me watch you.❞

❝Gods, you are magnificent, aren't you? An astounding spectacle to behold, My Lady.❞

❝I must know who you are. Who it is which I've held in my arms all night. Who it is that I've had the pleasure of pleasing by mine own hand.❞

❝I make you this solemn vow, My Lady: I will guard the secret which is your identity with all that I am. That this night—our brief love story—shall follow me to my grave. None shall know, I assure you. You've my word. And my word is my bond.❞

❝Pleasure to meet you, niece.❞

❝What a prize it is.❞

❝May I not look upon beautiful things?❞

❝I’d considered that, perhaps, I might keep you warm. It would be a great travesty for my darling niece to catch cold while under my protection, would it not? And so early in her trip, at that.❞

❝Perhaps we just allow ourselves a bit of indulgence, just as we did that night.❞ (...) ❝Nothing more than…courtly romance. All very prim and proper, for your sake, of course—I know how precious your virtue is—just enough to titillate.❞

❝I fancy you. I cannot…move past that evening. How we met. Who I initially thought you to be. I know you are my niece. I do. I just…instead choose to see you as a comely young woman who brings me joy. And I merely wish to return the favor and the feelings you stir within me.❞

❝No. You are my niece. My family. My blood.❞ (...) ❝My princess. But also a woman who takes my breath away. Who, despite my absolute best efforts, I cannot manage to get out of my fucking head. All I do is want for you.❞

❝It is not as if I have any shortage of female suitors. But… They, like with your own, see me for what I am. Not whom. A man of a great house, son of the Hand of the King, brother to the queen, a gallant knight who has won many a joust, a future statesman. The list rows on.❞ (...) ❝But when I am with you… For the first time in all my life, I am merely Gwayne. Mayhaps uncle as well, but that is it. A familial bond is far more meaningful to me than a title bestowed upon me in an attempt to garner glory and notoriety.❞

❝Do I not make you feel the same? Do I not make you forget what you are, while instead reminding you of who?❞

❝I believe in the Gods and pray to them myself. But, let me ask you something: in all your life of confiding in them, have they ever granted you that which you most desire? That which will bring you joy, and save you from your solitude and woe? Or, have they, instead, remained silent pillars of stone?❞ (...) ❝Who is to say that this—what we've found—each other, is not a gift from them? It is said they work in mysterious ways. Mayhaps this is their answer to your prayers and mine own: bringing the two of us together in such a manner.❞

❝So help me Gods, Alicent. You will either give her to me to take to wife, or I will take her from you.❞

❝Please, sister, I beg of you. I adore her. I worship her. Let me make this right. Allow us to wed so none may know.❞

❝I do what I do for the good of her: the young woman I love. Do you not think it better she wed me, as opposed to some elderly stranger?❞

[vanitas-no-carter-fanfics]

Reader that reciprocates Vanitas flirtatious comments and affection

Happy to take on this request. I do hope you enjoy it! -J --------------- ---------------

(Name) had always had an odd relationship with Vanitas. Of course it was not unknown to her that Vanitas was a well known flirt for his own amusement and entertainment. She had often seen the way he flirted with Jeanne. (Name) although had met with Vanitas on a few occasion, they had all been for work related things with utmost importance so his flirting was rarely directed to her. She was his trusted informant-- and she was a bloody good informant; her skills in deduction and observation and her outstanding charisma made her a cunning sly fox.

But on this particular day (Name) was invited for a celebratory dinner. It was from Vanitas' companion Noè addressed to her. She accepted more for entrainment it wasn't everyday that her help was thanked. It will certainly be interesting.

(Name) arrived to the place of the dinner. She was early but stayed by the bar as she simply people watched, she eventually noticed Jeanne walk in. She looked nervous, (Name) observed she looked like she felt out of place to be around so many people. Another head of white hair caught her attention, Noè. He had greeted Jeanne to their table. (Name) caught the glimpse of a woman with long black hair and golden eyes, Dominique de Sade the royal knight. Surprising seeing how the royal knight is always so busy- (Name) noticed a flash in the royal knight's eyes, jealousy. The Vampiress beelined to Noè and grabbed his arm in a familiar way before he could offer his arm to Jeanne like the gentleman he was. (Name) smirked behind her drink as she watched them. When she looked at table that they would be at (Name) noticed how Vanitas seemed distracted as he kept his eyes trained at the entrance and windows.

(Name) arched a brow as she waited longer until they started to get antsy about her 'late' arrival. (Name) looked at her watch and gave a soft sigh as she ordered another drink before walking to their table. A cunning smile on her lips as she smiled at them "Pardon my tardiness" (Name) said with a smile as she took her seat "Although I appreciate that my work is being appreciated for once, thank you Noè" Vanitas hid his startled flinch before he gave a lazy smirk towards his informant "If I had known you wanted to be apricated for your work, I could have arranged for something special for you" he said smoothly.

(Name) arched a brow. Although it wasn't new knowledge to her that Vanitas was rather flirty and particularly flirty towards Jeanne who often shied away from his advances. (Name) was surprised by his smooth words towards her. "Cute... but I'll take a raincheck. Perhaps a private drink for the long term partnership between us" she said with a smirk. Vanitas seemed a little taken off guard by her. (Name) sat down in front of the blue eyed man who continued to watch her with cautious eyes. What was she planning? (Name) ignored him for the mean time as they ordered their dinners and a few drinks for the table. While they ate (Name) kept her eyes onto Noè and the others as they conversed that was until she felt Vanitas' intense stare of her. She glanced at him her lashes fluttered in a way that made his heart race.

He had a confident smug smirk on his face as he looked at her. She arched a brow in question to his demeanor "You are something else Mon Chéri" he said low enough for just her ears over the restaurants noise and chatter "both cunning and beautiful, I can only imagine how many heart you have broken with those lips of yours" (Name) felt the corner of mouth lifted to a subtle smirk. She turned her body towards him as her finger delicately ran along the rim of her wine glass "I could say the same to you pretty boy" she said with a smirk as she watched him "I can understand why Jeanne avoids your advances, that silver tongue of yours surely knows how to move" Vanitas felt his eyes widen as he choked on some of his wine. It was unexpected. Surely she is just jesting. Vanitas cleared his throat as he let out a soft smooth chuckle "I've been told once or twice of how my silver tongue can cause trouble for others" he said with a smirk "Jeanne is rather resistant towards my affections. But its all harmless fun" "You are playing with fire lover boy" (Name) said as she drank some of her wine. As she place her glass down Vanitas couldn't help but watch her fingers run down her wineglass' neck. The way her fingers moved was slow, smooth and irresistibly teasing. He felt him swallow a little, before his blue hue watched her with a feline glint. She was subtly smiling smugly, she had caught him staring at her fingers stroking the wineglass' neck. He leaned back a little letting out an amused chuckle as their companions and acquaintances continued to converse paying them no mind as spoke to one another. He leaned back a little letting out an amused chuckle as their companions and acquaintances continued to converse paying them no mind as "What's wrong with a little fire" he mused as he cocked a brow at her "You are just as addicted to danger as I am Mon Chéri" "Hmmm" she said smoothly like purr "I suppose we are two peas in a pod" She send him a wink and he caved as he felt a light flush to his cheeks. It had seemed he had met his match. She seemed to match his wit and his flirts with the same shameless equality as him, and it was strangely thrilling. He wondered what more entertainment she could provide him.

[tekumaniac311]

A New Home: Part 2

A year had passed since Lemur entered the academy, it was hard fitting in with so many unknown people but he found fun dealing in classes and having time to himself to think. Perhaps becoming some fighter against a group of hooligans high on some red dust isn't so bad for him, right?

Lean sat down at a bench after a class and leaned back sighing

"A child with no self control? That's a good one." Said a voice approaching. Lean opened his eyes and saw a dark orange cocker spaniel, and with him was a black dragon with silver hair "I rarely joke around, Dogbite. I am serious."

Dogbite and Drago continued to talk over with Lemur looking at them "Besides, we already have enough muscle in your team, we need someone good for scouting, communications." Dogbite just dismissed his partner "All in good time, Drago. We'll find our 8th member soon enough."

Lean decided to take a gamble and follow them, keeping his distance. This eventually lead him to a hangout part of the Academy, where waiting for the duo was a pink leopard, a brown wolverine, a large brown mammoth, a white and violet secretary bird and an indigo fennec fox.

"Sup, boss.! The leopard said "Alright, team. As we know the teamwork combat exam is coming up and it's set to be our toughest yet." Dogbite told his squadron. "One thing we're lacking is a scout/communication expert. With only 2 weeks to prepare we gotta split up and find--"

"I see you." Drago said looking over Dogbite's shoulder. The other students looked at him funny "Drago?" Prettybird asked "Come out." Drago demanded, the other students looked in his direction and saw Lemur peaking.

"Uh, hey there. Sorry I just.." Lean looked down, afraid. "Guess i got too nosy" Mama Mammoth meanwhile walked over "It's alright, hun." That was when Mama noticed Lemur's class symbols "Your in communications class, aren't you?"

"Yeah, that's right." Lean said shyly, Dogbite was not impressed "Sorry, kid. You don't look like a typical Rider to me. Why don't you get lost."

"Dogbite!" Drago scolded "Never judge a book by it's cover." Dogbite just gave a scoff "Well this kid is small, shy, hardly qualities that are good enough for my team."

"Remember when you doubted Leopard's abilities for being too laid back and skinny?" Drago told Dogbite. There was a long pause from the darker colored dog "Okay." He then looked to Lemur "Okay kid, the teamwork combat exam is coming up in 2 weeks and we're short one member, how would you feel filling in as a communications member."

Hearing Dogbite's offer to join this group, Lemur felt skeptical. But then again, better to be in a group than to be alone as a Rider.

"Sure..I can do that." Dogbite raised a brow at Lean's response "Then welcome to the Strikers."

TO BE CONTINUED

Characters by me

AU belongs to @onyxonline

[amorgansgal]

A Meeting of Souls

Day 2: Meeting Halsin

Halsin hadn’t much chance to relax and rest by the time he reached the grove and Rath and Nettie had told him all. Kagha seemed humbled and evidently most of the druids were in awe of her change of heart and attitude, but he was still bristling with anger. The fact that she had shown such contempt, such coldness to those who needed help, who had nothing and she had even thought to turn her backs on them, it outraged him, enraged him. And the truth was this disloyalty to everything they stood for, or were meant to stand for, was still under the surface of people’s deference to him like a noxious, grasping weed. There were still druids here who had either been too cowardly to stand up to Kagha and left all their morals by the wayside or had outright agreed with her. It was a hard thing to realise he did not have as many allies as he thought he had or ones who would stand up for what was right.

‘How could you even think that this is what the Oak Father would-’ his lecture was cut off though by a bright laugh and a woman’s sing-song voice calling out:

‘I’m back! Did you all miss me?’

He glanced towards the stairs, where the woman’s voice came from though he couldn’t see her, evidently she was still at the top of the stairs, even though her voice had echoed through the grove.

‘Yes! Do the fox magic again!’ a child’s voice cried out and several other children joined in with requests for the magic, laughing happily. The sound of their excitement and joy hadn’t been heard in the grove since they had arrived. The tiefling children had looked upon everyone with suspicion in their gazes. Wary of trusting or liking any of the druids there, and who could blame them? A little glowing golden fox suddenly darted down the stairs, whirled around the grove, stopped briefly next to Halsin and Kagha, and then went running past them back up the steps. 

‘That’s her, the druid who set me right, Vanya,’ Kagha told him, nodding towards the steps and Halsin looked past her to see an elven woman skip down the steps. She sent the fox careening back up towards a group of tiefling children who chased after it. 

The first thing he noticed about her was not her flame red hair that shone with threads of gold and amber, nor her brilliant dark blue eyes, but it was her smile. Wide, open, sweet, welcoming, friendly. They had met, of course, in the goblin camp, but it had all happened so quickly he’d barely taken her in and the gloom of the place had kept her features muted and shadowed. He’d also mostly talked to Wyll and Gale, whilst she rummaged through some pots.  Now her clothes were clean of blood and filth, he could see they were a shimmering green-blue in colour and she did not wear the signs of the Oak Father, but instead the sigil at her chest depicted three silver waves on a blue background, and a pearlescent shell underneath the waves. The sigil of Talum, God of the Coast. She bounded over to them.

‘Oh good, you made it back!’ she said, and he couldn’t help fixating on her smile. It flooded through him like the sweet smell of the air through the leaves on the trees and warm sunshine on his skin. Had he really grown so used to the stoicism and grim looks of the druids around him that a warm, brilliant smile sent every thought running from his head? He caught Nettie’s quick glance at him and ever so slightly raised brow, a small smile played at her lips. She’d figured him out.

‘I did, thanks to you and your companions.’

‘I’m a little sad we didn’t get to see you in all your bear glory,’ she said, leading Nettie to let out a little snort of laughter and she immediately covered her mouth, ‘but I guess Astarion was right, it was easier dealing with matters. Though I think it’s a shame we didn’t get to fight side by side in our wild shapes. I favour a fox.’

He realised he was smiling, properly, truly for the first time in weeks. Hells, maybe it had been months or years. ‘Well perhaps there will be ample opportunity for us to fight together in the future. I hadn’t realised I met a coastal druid.’

‘Yes, I’m from the Menagerie Coast originally, we have a small cove there.’

Halsin’s brows rose in surprise, the Menagerie Coast was on the eastern side of the land, she was very far from home. Most druids wouldn’t wander so far from their place of worship. ‘You have travelled far. I thought you would hale from a coast on the west.’

‘No, I… um… I left my family’s side… oh, must be going on for five years now.’

He frowned, it was very odd for an elf to leave their family entirely for so long, especially as she was a druid. Vanya clasped her hands together and gave him another carefree smile, but he could tell there was something nervous underneath. She was fearful he might pry further, that he would know how unusual it was for her to have done something like that. But he was sure there was good reason for her to not be forthcoming.

‘Well, I am glad you made it all this way and that you helped us, apparently very enthusiastically,’ he said.

He could see her shoulders relax as she exhaled, her relief all too evident that he hadn’t pushed her for information. ‘Well how could I not? Anyway, I best leave you to matters and join my companions again, I left them with your trader. I just wanted to make sure you were alright and had made it home and everything was well.’

He found himself surprisingly touched at the care she showed. Was she this affectionate with everyone? He could not question her about it, as she turned on foot and made her way back to the steps, then stopped and turned back round and hurried back over to his side. She stood on tiptoe, but gestured for him to lean his head closer to hers. He unquestioningly obeyed her. He could feel her breath on his cheek and the rush of blood to them as he realised how close she was, how casually she lay her hand on his forearm, the pads of her fingertips just lightly skimming over what bare skin was there between the gaps of his braces. Nettie’s eyebrows were about to disappear into her hairline and she was biting her lip hard to stop herself from laughing. This coastal druid was something else!

‘Don’t be too harsh on Kagha. I know it’s probably all you wish to do and yes, she deserves some punishment, but we’ve all made mistakes in our lifetimes. I think everyone deserves to be shown some kindness when they do. Showing mercy in situations like that sometimes teaches people more than cold, hard vengeance. But that’s all I have to say on the matter and you’re the archdruid and I won’t presume to tell you what you should do, I just thought I should say something,’ Vanya said, she gave his arm a gentle little squeeze, then hurried off again. He watched her go, his heart feeling oddly light and touched that she had cared so much for Kagha, when undoubtedly she’d been on the sharp end of Kagha’s tongue and the rite of thorns issue wouldn’t have made things easy.

‘The nerve of that woman,’ Jeorna muttered once Vanya was gone. ‘I’ve never known a druid so irreverent and overly familiar. Her God must think-’

‘It was her irreverence and familiarity with druid teachings that helped the tieflings trust her and put a stop to the rite of thorns,’ Halsin snapped and Jeorna had the decency to look contrite. ‘She mended the rift that had been caused and brought balance, something a good many of you seemed to forget whilst I was gone. How is it a coastal druid knows more of our teachings than you yourself, Jeorna?’ 

‘I did not mean to cause offence,’ Jeorna said. She swallowed tightly and it almost seemed to cause her pain to admit, ‘I am glad she helped matters.’ 

~~~

The long discussions were finally at an end. He had headed Vanya’s words, Kagha had been punished, but not too severely as some druids and tieflings probably would’ve wished. But Vanya was right, fair, reasonable justice seemed better for this occasion than fueling anger and resentment. He was left to muse on his own feelings concerning being the archdruid here. It had never sat right with him. The role of leader had been thrust upon him and he did not bear it well. His patience felt worn to a thin strand that could snap at any moment. He’d been gone a week or two and this was the result? A host of druids willing to turn their back on everything and show such vile contempt towards those most in need? Halsin rubbed his brow. He felt exhausted right down to his very core, right to the marrow in his bones. And it didn’t have much to do with his capture in the stinking, filth ridden mess of that goblin camp.

‘Vanya’s a lovely person,’ Nettie said, her voice was light and easy going, but even he could detect the little prodding she was doing, trying to figure out his feelings.

‘She certainly seems that way. Joyous, kind, it is good she entertains the children.’

Nettie laughed. ‘I don’t think Zevlor always appreciated that, she distracts them from their fighting classes. But she cheered a lot of people up, made the tieflings trust druids again when they long had good reason not to. Though as you could see, most of our folk don’t know what to make of her, even the ones who like her.’

‘She’s not really like us,’ he said, taking a seat on one of the smooth, flat stones that clustered around the Oak Father’s statue. Nettie sat beside him. 

‘Mm,’ she agreed. ‘She thinks nature is to be celebrated with life and laughter and light, that it should be protected but also shared, not guarded and hidden away just because we think some folk are unworthy of it.’

He nodded, remembering the warmth of Vanya’s palm against his skin, how light and small her hand was. The way her eyes had sparkled like the flicker of sunlight on the lapping waves near the shoreline. Her soft plush lips when she spoke… Good gods, was the novelty of her really turning his head so much? The rarity of an elf smiling and laughing so willingly. He coughed and rubbed the back of his neck. 

‘And you like her, hm?’ Nettie prodded.

‘Yes, how could I not like the people who saved the grove and the tieflings and me to boot!’ he said, chuckling softly.

Nettie rolled her eyes. ‘No, that’s not what I asked. You like her, her in particular. You like her smile, you certainly didn’t mind when she touched your arm and was so shockingly familiar with you!’ She grinned and shook her head, presumably at the memory of Jeorna’s sneer. 

Halsin hesitated and looked up at the first few stars that were appearing in the dusky blue sky overhead. He’d evidently spent a bit too much time with Nettie if she could read him so well. ‘I’d be foolish to deny that I liked her smile, that I liked her touch, and I am glad she is kind and is well liked, because you saw it writ on my face what feelings she has conjured in me..’

‘Haven’t seen you smile like that in some time,’ Nettie pointed out.

Halsin nodded thoughtfully, then sighed heavily. ‘I cannot pursue anything with her, there is too much work to do. I must see to it that the shadow curse is remedied and Vanya and her companions need help in getting to Moonrise Towers so they can find a cure.’

‘And it’s not possible to do both at the same time?’ Nettie asked. ‘To fix the shadow curse and woo Vanya?’

He rested his hands on his knees. It was tempting. Gods, how much did he long to have any sense of happiness, pure, sweet happiness. To capture just a tiny taste of Vanya’s joy and hold it close to his chest, to have it warm him. His mind drifted and wandered. What it would be like to embrace her. To kiss her. He could imagine she would still smile when they kissed, her heart thrumming away like the beat of a songbird’s wing. He shook his head to clear it.

‘No, I have to do the right thing. I failed here, Nettie. I have not inspired loyalty or bravery or kindness. I know you and Rath stayed true, and you were willing to lose a great deal for your beliefs. But I have not served this place well-’

‘Halsin, that isn’t true-!’

‘Nettie, it is. And as much as I appreciate your fealty to me, the actions of Kagha and those who supported her speak clearly and loudly. I have much to think on, but I do not think I can be archdruid here for much longer.’

Nettie clasped her hands tightly together and brought her knees close to her chest. ‘I still think you were a good leader, but I know when your mind is made up.’ She was quiet for a time, then looked over at him. ‘You should go to the party, they’ll expect you there.’

‘Is it just because Vanya will be there?’

A quick smile came to Nettie’s lips. ‘No… well… partially. She will be and I think you’ll like her even more when you spend time with her, but I think you should go to at least enjoy one evening before you get all serious again!’

‘Very well,’ he said, getting to his feet, rolling out the long held ache in his shoulders and neck. Nettie was still smiling knowingly and he thought that it was perhaps because she would usually have to spend much longer convincing him to attend a social event. ‘You should join us when you get the chance too,’ he said.

She gave a shrug. ‘I think they’ll have all the druids they need, but if I get time I’ll join you all.’

He inclined his head and began to walk towards the stairs to follow the tieflings out of the enclave to the adventurers’ camp. He would do his best to forget his own worries and concerns, especially when the tieflings looked so happy and excited, and especially when he was quite certain he’d feel like he was standing in the sun once more if Vanya smiled at him again.

[authorautumnbanks]

Stuck In Another World With A Demon Fox (Ch 5)

Megan is still screaming about us being lovers. She paces back and forth, stopping every so often to point a finger at me, and then resuming her pacing to mutter under her breath. I sit down on the chair, though it creaks beneath my weight. This inn is on the poor side. It is to be expected. Few travelers around these parts. Most stick to the capital.

Less beasts and all.

“And another thing. You and me.” She points to herself and then to me. “We will never be lovers. Not happening. Go down there and fix this.”

I pull a dagger out and set it on the table. Megan’s breath hitches. The smell of her fear is intoxicating. My gut tightens. How annoying. “You saw the box the innkeeper offered to me. It was not a gift for you, but a drug to be used on you. Now I can walk back down, declare you free game for every demon down there, or you can keep your mouth shut as agreed upon.”

She rears back.

Is this all it takes to keep her silent? I pick up the dagger. It’s a small one, nothing special. A simple black hilt and a blade that stabs all the same. Megan takes a step back, her legs hit the bed.

“You know I’ve been thinking,” she starts.

“A first.”

Megan’s right eye twitches. “I’ve been thinking that you and I have gotten off on the wrong foot.”

I stalk forward. She moves back and falls onto the bed. “Your sayings are strange.”

“It means that we had a less than pleasant meeting. We don’t have to be at each other’s necks like this. Or point daggers at one another.” She smiles, but it’s tight. Forced. Her eyes dart to the dagger and then to my face. She is afraid but continues to put on a front of being strong.

“Take it.” I flip the dagger and hold the hilt out to her.

“Is this a trick?”

“I don’t need schemes to kill you if I so please. Take it.” Are all humans like her? Perhaps I should have spent more time studying her kind. “You have nothing to defend yourself with. No claws. No fangs. You cannot use magic. And your body is unbelievably weak.”

Footsteps.

I lean over her and press the dagger into her hands. Her eyes widen. “Relax,” I command, brushing my lips against her ear. The footsteps are closer now. There is a knock on the door. Megan jumps and wraps her fingers around the hilt. “Come in,” I say.

“Sorry!” the female squeaks, carrying the tray of soup and bread. “I’ll set these on the table.” For one so scared, this worker moves awfully slow. She hesitates as she pours the liquid into the cups. I sniff. Alcohol. 

“I didn’t order alcohol.” I push off the bed and block Megan from view. “Return with water and extra portions of meat.”

The female jumps. “We don’t have any other portions to spare.” She hunches her shoulders together, clutching the tray and pitcher to her small chest. Her skin is pink, but her ears and eyes are that of an elf. Her hair is a shaggy mess of silver. A half-breed then. “Food is scarce.” She averts her eyes. “Sorry, I will see what I can do.”

“What? No. We cannot take from them,” Megan speaks up.

I want to shake her. What part of not speaking does she not understand?

“We are paying customers,” I remind her.

“But they don’t have food to be giving away. Is it something we could help with?” Megan stands and tries to walk over to the half-breed. I stick my arm out. This human has no survival skills.

“I’m afraid not. But I thank you.” The female dips her head. “It’s a beast that none can slay. What spare food we have, we give to it, so it does not attack the town.”

“No one can slay it?” Megan sounds disappointed. Or is that sadness in her voice? “But if this beast were slain, you would be able to hunt for food?”

The female nods. “We give most of our crops to it, and it only allows us to hunt a beast every fortnight.”

Megan tugs on my shirt. “Roharu.”

“No.”

“These people are starving.”

“Let them starve. They have capable hands and yet they do nothing but cower from a mere beast.” I crack my neck. This explains the undernourishment of these civilians. The female smiles, but her eyes droop. She excuses herself out of the room. I cross my arms. Surely Megan will have much to complain about now. “Out with it.”

“We should help them. Couldn’t you take it down? You took care of that care-a-thing.”

“Klarvak.” I turn and regard her. “What are you prepared to do to have me act?”

“Besides answering your questions, what is it you want?” She crosses her arms and tilts her head to the side. “Once the beast is taken care of, there should be more food to go around. I’m sure I can convince them to let me use the kitchen to whip something up. But other than that, I don’t think the cash I have on me exchanges with the coin here.”

Is she from another country, perhaps? There are seven heavens. It is a possibility. “For now, I want my questions answered.” I motion to the meal on the table. “Eat and we will set off in the morning.”

“But...”

“I’m not hunting a beast at night when I do not know the layout of the land.” I pick up the dagger she left on the bed and push it into her hands. “Do not let this out of your sight.”

“You really think they would try something?” She takes the dagger and clutches it to her chest. “There’s nothing special about me.”

“Are you fishing for compliments?”

“No, I’m being serious.” Megan huffs. “Going after me seems silly unless you think they want me for meat.” Her eyes widen. “Do they want to eat me?” She glances at the soup and bread. “They’re trying to fatten me up, so they have more meat to eat.”

“That’s... not it,” I sigh. “I’m sure plenty of them would love to eat you, but not in the context that you are thinking. It’s more that they would sooner sell you off for coin, so they can have more food in their bellies.”

Megan lets out a breath. “Oh, that is way less scary than getting eaten. Not that I want to work for someone.” She sits down at the table and crosses one leg over the other. The dagger rests in her lap. “Though still. The only work I could possibly do is cook. Wouldn’t be good for anything else. Can’t even read the language here,” she mumbles the last part.

Huh. Does she truly have no idea of her beauty? Megan continues to have a one-sided conversation with herself as she dips the bread into the soup. Something along the lines of softening it up so it is not as hard as stone.

“You would be sold for pleasure, not for labor,” I interrupt as I sit across from her. “I thought you to be a runaway concubine, but your mouth is far too foul and you truly know nothing of the world. Not even basics.” I drum my claws on the table. That female has yet to return with the water I requested.

How annoying. The female must have gotten caught up in something. She trembled like a smivack. Weak. Small. Useless.

Leaving Megan alone is unwise. She is likely to get herself into trouble somehow. Be it simply slipping in the tub and banging her head or hurting herself in a poor attempt to escape. But dragging her along is also not an option. I work best alone. In the shadows. Megan shines like the sun.

“Me?” She points to herself. “That’s...” she wiggles her nose. “I suppose men don’t care when it comes down to it.”

I pause. She isn’t fazed by this? “I thought you’d be more upset, but you seem to not care.”

“You wouldn’t let it happen, so I’m not gonna worry about it for now.” She dips the bread in her soup and takes a bite. “I mean, if you try it, then I’ll just cut your dick off and call it even.”

“A charmer,” I deadpan. “And it’s cocks. Does your kind only have one?”

“Why on earth would you need two?” She shakes her head and then reaches for the cup filled to the brim with alcohol. “What the hell?” Megan grimaces. “That is strong. Holy shit.”

“For orgies.”

She coughs and pounds her chest with a fist. “I’m sorry, what?” Megan coughs again. “Holy cow, this stuff is foul.”

“Orgies. You know when—”

“I know what an orgy is!” She sets the cup down, stares at it, and then chugs more of her drink. “You’re fucking with me.”

I shrug. What do I care if she believes me or not? “Where did you come from?”

“What?” She rubs her forehead. “Uh... Earth? The US. I was in Chicago.”

“A portal transported you into the forest of the undead. You knowingly chose to be transported there? Why not the capital? There are more humans in the capital.” Though crime is higher. More under-the-table deals, but someone would have taken her in for a price.

“I fell in.” She pushes her bowl to the side and then looks at mine. “Are you not going to eat?”

“No.” I push the bowl and bread to her. “I will be fine. How did you fall in?”

Megan presses her lips together and picks up the spoon. “Well, I was getting chased by some bad men. They wanted the cash I had on me, and they probably wanted to rough me up some, too. It was late, and I knew I shouldn’t have worked that shift, but I needed the extra cash.” She shrugs one shoulder. “I ran and fell into the portal. I didn’t know there was a portal there. It was like I was running and then I was on the back of that... creature.”

“Klarvak,” I reply absentmindedly. This leaves me with more questions. What is a Chicago or this Earth? There are no such things in this world. Or of the other worlds. Perhaps one that has not been discovered? “You fell. And yet someone knew you would be there.” I drum my claws on the table.

Why would someone send her to the undead? Why would they send a cupcake assassin after her when that kind is most effective in towns, not forests? And how strong is this human’s tolerance that she is unfazed by the cheap alcohol in her drink?

“I’m just as lost as you. I don’t have any enemies.” She frowns. “Except for Carol. Ugh, she was a bitch to work with. But I don’t think she had so much of a hate boner to send killers after me. That’s like mafia-type shit.”

“... What?”

“Bad guys.” She waves a hand in the air. “Point is, I don’t have enemies. This was like a freak accident, but maybe there is a way to send me back?”

“The half-breed has yet to return.” I stand. This is bothersome. When I request something, I expect for follow through.

“I’m sorry. What did you just call her?”

“A half-breed. She is clearly half demon and elf.”

“Just say the employee.” Megan’s brows furrow together. She places the dagger on the table and stacks the empty bowls. “That sounds derogatory.”

“If given the chance, she would sell you in a heartbeat and yet you defend her?”

“You don’t know that,” she stresses. “And if you’re constantly trying to up someone, you’ll just end up living a life where you constantly have to look over your shoulders. Isn’t that stressful?” She runs a hand down her face. “I don’t get it. You say you have two cocks for orgies, but in the same breath, you’re constantly putting down others. Shouldn’t you be a little more liberal?”

I yawn. “It is not an insult. It is simply what she is. Half.”

She grumbles under her breath. “It sounds awful. Just say employee or ask her name.” Megan glances at the bathing area, where the wooden tub sits off to the side, with a view of the window. “Are you going to leave?”

“No.”

“I want to bathe.”

“Then do so.” I yawn again, exaggerating the motion. Megan’s fists shake at her sides. “You have nothing I want and nothing I haven’t seen before.”

“That’s not the... Ugh!” She turns around and fiddles with the knobs until water comes out of the faucet. “Just don’t look over here until I tell you.”

I roll my eyes and toss my shirt over my head. “You seem to think you will be bathing alone.”

She freezes and her eyes are so big, the green is nearly blown. “You can’t be serious...”

I kick my pants off. Nudity doesn’t bother me. I refuse to allow the hot water to be used completely. “There is only so much hot water in these establishments.” I tilt my head. Her mouth is open, but no words come forth. “Human?”

“There’s no way.” She covers her mouth. “You really have two.”

Ah, she thought me to be a liar.

“And tattoos? That’s uh,” she chuckles nervously. “Okay, wow.” Megan pinches herself. “Still not dreaming.”

Tat-toos? I glance down at cocks. My heart stops. My blood freezes.

Shit.

[stefanmikaleson1864]

Let's Play

Genre: smut

Paring: female Reader x Rafael Barba, Dominick Carisi Jr and Michael Cutter

Idea: reader is a criminal and has been arrested for a serious crime now she has to go to court and could go to prison for life. Her solution is to seduce the Executive Ada (cutter) and his Adas (Barba & Carisi) in their office to get a deal so she doesn't have to go to prison

Requested by: @villains-are-hot

A/N: Thank you so much for sitcking with me and i really hope you enjoy this piece !

Y/N’s POV 

Jail is the fucking worst. It’s not what they present on TV at all it’s hard and rough and not a place that someone like me belongs.

This whole innocent or guilty thing doesn’t apply anymore. It’s never about whether you did the crime or not it’s about how you can get out of it. 

That’s something i’ve always been good at finding my way out of things. It’s because of my looks honestly. I take a lot of time working on myself. Eating the right things and not moe procedural work and hair and nails. I bake out in the sun and tan and i make sure i look like a barbie doll. 

It’s worked for me my entire life. Being able to walk through any situation and work or perhaps flirt my way out of the situation. I mean why else would you work so hard if you weren’t going to use it to your advantage. 

Right now you were currently sitting in the district attorneys room.

You were currently out on bond and your very old but very expensive lawyer was convincing you to take a deal. You a deal ?? Like hell you would. 

Okay maybe i should start at the top with everything. I’m not the devil in this case okay.

My ex boyfriend was stalking me and was harassing me all the time. He wouldn’t leave me alone and i thought something bad was going to happen.

He was breaking into my apartment and leaving letters and sending me pictures polaroids of myself while i was out and about.

I tried to tell people but no one listened. Expect Bobby that is. He told me not to worry about it. 

I didn’t ask any questions and when Matt ended up dead I didn’t think to go around telling anyone. I was more relieved than anything. 

But when your ex ends up dead of course your name comes in the investigation.

Then when Bobby got offered a sweetheart deal he took it in a heartbeat and told everyone you asked him to do it. 

Which was absolutely crazy. I mean sure you weren’t complaining when he died but you never asked for the man to be murdered. I’m innocent in all of this really. 

Right now you were sitting in the courtroom while all these delicious men were debating on what to do with you.

Your lawyer had stepped out for a moment not that you were complaining though because this situation is everything you wanted. 

They all were a little older than you, but silver foxes were the best they have knowledge they knew what they were doing. 

“Come on just go easy she clearly didn’t know what she was doing” The tall italian one said. He was clearly an ex cop you can tell a man like him he knew how to use handcuffs. 

“Absolutely not she knew what she was doing was wrong she set into the motion the events of a mans murder”  The shorter man with brownish hair yelled. 

“Come on gentleman why are we even wasting our time with this the jury is going to convict her and our hands will be washed” the shorter more angrier man said. 

You sat up straight in your chair. Your back was stretched, your girls were out and proud. You “accidently” knocked over a coffee cup with a tiny bit of coffee. 

“Opps i’m sorry gentlemen” You said smiling and laughing. 

The taller man got up and cleaned up the mess and you could see him look up at you. Your eyes meant with him and you flashed a smile down at him. It was clearly working he wasn’t looking away. 

“All finished now with what ever this was” the shorter man said. 

The taller man got up and threw the stuff away in the bin. 

“What’s your name” You asked in a flirty voice 

“Dominic Carisi, everyone just calls me Carisi” He said in a more nervous tone 

“What the hell am i watching” The shorter man yelled. 

“And who might you be” You said leaning on the table and the man looked at you with a disbelief look in his eyes. 

“Michael Cutter and that’s Mr Cutter to you” He said in a more stern voice. 

“Well so nice to meet you” You said

“And you, who might you be last but not certainly least” You said batting your eyes and moving around a little bit to show off your assets. 

“Rafel Baraba” He said in a monotone showing he wasn’t even that interested. 

You reached out your hand and you took his in yours and have it a nice squeeze. He didn’t let go right away which surprised you then he snatched in a matter of seconds and played it off. 

Carisi was looking at you out of the corner of his eye and it was hard to tell what he was thinking.

He looked somewhat jealous but also irritated. Like what was running through his mind. Either way it seemed like a good opportunity for you to run it through. 

So you looked away from Barba and looked back him. His piercing blue eyes taking a look at yours.

You leaned in and he just sat there a moment not moving either. 

It felt like there was a moment going on there and you took his hand and brought it up to your lips and gave him a kiss on the hand. 

“Whoa okay don’t do what” Carisi yelled. 

“Come on police officer you liked it” You said 

“It’s ADA and no I didn’t” he said 

You turned your back and looked at the shorter man who was leaning against the wall just kind of looking at you. 

“And what about you I know you like it to don’t you” You said running your tongue against your lips. 

“No absolutely not” Barba said in a mototone 

You gotten up from your seat and walked over to Cutter who was now sitting at the table and looking more and more over this.

You sat down on the empty seat next to him and placed your hand on top of his. 

He looked at you and he got a look on his face where he was both appalled at what ever was going on and he also looked intrigued too. 

You knew you could pull him out he was acting tough but was he also really that tough you thought to yourself. 

You leaned in and you got closer to his face. He just kind of looked you in the eyes and he quickly looked down at your lips. 

“Come on you know this isn’t on me” You whispered quietly and grabbed his tie and played with it. 

“All i know is  your a criminal” he whispered back 

You just smirked and played cool you would never let the upper hand slip away.

"Maybe take a girl out before you judge her" You said.

He just looked at you with a mischevious look on his face like he was debating on taking you up on the offer.

You got up and walked over to Barba and he looked a little more annoyed than usual with you. You just stood up straight girls were showing curves were popping off. 

“What about you you know what they say the biggest surprises come in small packages” You said putting your hand on the wall over top of him and looking down at him. 

He seemed into it like he was hiding it just like the rest of them. They all knew they wanted it but they couldn’t have it. Was it because they wanted you or they wanted they knew what they couldn’t have. 

You didn't forget about carisi though you knew he was going to be the one to come through in the end. you had him so close you just needed to nail it in.

That’s what it was a lot of the times with the men you dated. Was it because they had an illiouson of something else. 

You decided now was the time to get what you wanted you played them like you needed. They all were leaning towards you they didn’t want to admit it but they all secretly wish they had you. 

You walked over to where you were sitting. And this time you let your body fall loose. You wanted to look more simpler more sad 

You looked over at Carisi with a more soft tone then you ever had. You were begging him with your eyes.

"Mr Carisi please listen to me that's all I asked" You told him

"I can't talk without your lawyer" He said in a soft voice which means you had him

“Wheres my lawyer” You asked

“Why your not going anywhere anytime soon” Cutter said. 

You worked your face up to look sad and more worried. 

“I need to get out of here” You said

You looked more irritated and more like something was bothering you. 

“I know what you all may think okay I’m not heartless i really didn’t know what he was going to do okay. I would never wish anyone dead” You said. 

You let your tears roll down your face something you were good at. 

You quickly wiped them away and it worked with everyone. They all softened their tones and sat down. 

“Listen let us get your lawyer we can help you” Carisi said. 

“How”  You asked in a soft tone. 

Barba walked into the hallway to gesture your lawyer to come back. After a few seconds he did. 

You all were sitting down at the table and looking at each other. You were playing with your fingers something you did to help make it like you were nervous. 

“How about we offer criminally neglect homicide 2-4” Barba said 

“No way she was a victim” Your lawyer said. 

“I was scared and worried all the time okay he wouldn’t leave me alone he was going to kill me” You said in a soft scared tone.

“You willing to testify” Cutter asked. 

“Yes anything” You said. 

“FIne were drop charges for the testimony” Barba said. 

“Thank you lets go” Your lawyer said. 

You got up and left before they could change their mind. As you were walking out you looked back at the guys. 

You put your signature smile on them 

“This was fun boys” You said leaving the room giving them a little wave. 

You walked out the room and was laughing to yourself. You knew damn well you weren’t going to Jail not never. 

[synergysilhouette]

Guide to my Rewrites (and other content)

Upcoming hiatus

I post a lot of things, and some of those things are rewrites. As such, I thought this would be a nice guide for fans of my rewrites in particular. I'm still adding new things! Lemme know what you think. I've also added some overall ratings for the topics I cover for younger Tumblr users who happen upon this page.

Alternate Takes (Rated PG)

These are projects that have the same characters and settings (for the most part), but different plot points. These particular alternate takes suggest ideas that would've made me enjoy the movie more (or at all) and aren't a fanfic so much as bullet points with pictures.

Aida

Pocahontas

Hercules

The Princess and the Frog

Tangled

Frozen

Big Hero 6

Moana

Frozen 2

Raya and the Last Dragon

Encanto

Strange World

Wish (Note: working on a full-length rewrite unrelated to the ideas used here)

I also did rewrites for two Dreamworks movies:

The Road to El Dorado

Sinbad

Reimagining Disney Movies (Rated PG)

These are projects that take Disney's framework (ie a fairy tale) and create my own characters, plot, setting, and song titles for it.

The Snow Queen

Kingdom of the Sun

Rapunzel

Reimagining Disney eras (Rated PG)

These posts are designed based on what if Disney eras made different decisions (either based on my own ideas or rejected concepts) for their films. Note: I made the revival post before the renaissance and post-renaissance posts, so they kind of flow in different continuities. I also wanted to include future ideas for Disney's next era. These posts also work independent of my "Alternate Take" posts.

Reimagining the Renaissance

Reimagining the Post-renaissance

Remaking some of Disney's straight to video films

Reimagining the Revival era

Plotting out the Resurgence era

Plotting out the Resurgence Era (Part II)

Marvel (Rated PG-13)

Not quite as detailed as my other rewrites, but I thought I'd include them.

Dr. Strange: Multiverse of Madness

Thor: Love and Thunder

X-Men (Because they have more content than my other Marvel things) (Rated PG-13)

This pretty much just includes my rewrites.

X-Men: Evolution--New roster, Season 1, Season 2, Season 3, Roster (Timeskip), Season 4, and Season 5 (I did a poll months ago, and maybe I'll do a post brainstorming a Marauders spinoff).

Wolverine & the X-Men--New Roster, Season 1

Fox's X-Men films (I may remake this)--Part I (First 3 films) and Part II (Phoenix, NM, and Dark Phoenix)

Extensive rewrites (Rated PG)

TV shows that I've remade episode-for--episode, perhaps removing and adding some as I see fit.

Miraculous Ladybug--Season 1, Season 2, Season 3, Season 4 (No longer doing Season 5; really fell out of love with the series, tbh)

Anime as comic books (Rated PG-13)

Yes, this is a topic. I remember when I was in this headspace, and it was really fun. I basically reimagined what if popular anime had been created as superhero comic books that golden or silver age.

Dragon Ball

Naruto

Anime rewrites (Rated PG-13)

Black Butler

Naruto: Part I (Part II is not cancelled; I just put it on the backburner)

High Card: Season 1 (Season 2 is not cancelled; I just put it on the backburner)

Video Game Rewrites (Rated PG-13, overall)

These aren't quite as detailed as my usual rewrites.

Bayonetta

Fire Emblem: Awakening

Fire Emblem: Fates

Fire Emblem: 3 Houses

Kingdom Hearts

Hogwarts Mystery

My OCs (Rated PG-13)

This section covers my original characters for a few fandoms. Thinking of making OCs for books/anime/comics, but I do not have the confidence that I know the universe(s) well enough.

Fictif

The Arcana

Hogwarts Legacy

Baldur's Gate 3

Mood Boards (Rated PG)

Just something I've made for fun to inspire others! Not an expert on making them, but it was still something I wanted to do.

My Wish rewrite (temporary)

Disney's Swan Lake

Disney's Hansel & Gretel

Disney's Rumpelstiltskin

Disney's Red Riding Hood

Sub-Saharan Disney musical

Disney Superhero Film

Japanese Disney musical

Actors who could play Disney villains

Choices: Stories You Play (Rated PG-13)

REALLY into this game for a period--but it started to get awful when "Witness" came into play. Here's a list of reviews (which I've stopped doing) as well as concepts for new books (originally on Reddit before I got banned).

"Before I Say I Do"

"Celebrity Status"

"Summoned to Court"

"Arkikara"

"Fairy Godparent"

"Hierarchy: Scheming University"

"Willow Falls"

"Late at Night"

"Spellcaster"

"Four"

"America's Most Eligible" (Review)

"Desire & Decorum" (Review)

"High School Story" (Review)

"Rules of Engagement" (Review)

"The Freshman" (Review)

"Queen B" (Review)

Winx Club Content

Rewriting the Winx

Rewriting the Specialists

Rewriting the Villains

Monster High Content

Plotting out Gen 4

Comic Book Content

Remaking Major X

Rewriting Iceman coming out

Making changes to Tim Drake

[cirilla-fiona-riannon]

Ikemen Vampire (JP)

Before You Become My Beloved

These translations are not intended as a replacement for the game. Please support cybird by buying their stories. JP SPOILERS under the cut. Expect mistakes.

Flowers bloom without anyone begging for them.

Their beautiful colors, sweet fragrance, and soft touch are etched in people’s memories, along with joy, surprise, sorrow, and anger.

This is the untold story of a vampire known as the Son of God.

Woman: “Which flowers do you think are appropriate for the workplace?”

Vlad: “I recommend dahlias and gerberas. They both have the word ‘gratitude’ in their language.”

Man: “Today is our wedding anniversary. What flowers should I give my wife?”

Vlad: “How about red geraniums? In the flower language, it means you’re happy to have them.”

Vlad’s wagon, full of colorful flowers, was immediately surrounded by smiling people.

As the customers left with bouquets in their hands, Vlad gently narrowed his eyes.

Vlad: “Flowers have the power to make people smile.”

I smiled when I heard him mutter such kind words while helping him.

Mitsuki: “I don’t think it’s just the flowers that made everyone smile.”

Vlad: “Huh?”

Mitsuki: “It’s because of you.”

Mitsuki: “They were happy when you told them the language of flowers.”

Mitsuki: “They bought the flowers from this shop because you relate to their feelings.”

Vlad: “Thank you. I’d be happy if that was the case.”

Despite his words, his crimson eyes shook a little sadly.

Vlad: “The language of flowers is something I learned to get along with humans.”

True, Vlad told me before that he learned the language of flowers because he hoped it would help him get to know humans better.

Vlad: “I remember all of this because I read that book.”

Mitsuki: “I see.”

I imagined Vlad as a child, holding a thick book unfit for his body, tracing the words of the flowers one by one一It was a heart-wrenchingly sad and lovely image.

Mitsuki: “Hey, what was the first flower language you learned?”

I casually asked, and his crimson eyes narrowed nostalgically.

Vlad: “I think it’s the devil’s charm.”

Mitsuki: “Huh?”

Vlad: “It’s the language of the snakeberry flower. After blooming its pretty yellow flowers, it produces small, red berries.”

When he suddenly stopped speaking, Vlad smiled and looked at the sky.

Vlad: “This takes me back. The one who told me about those red berries was a human.”

A long, long time ago一

The story is set in Vlad’s childhood, when he still had no idea of the meaning of eternity.

One day, under a blue sky, Vlad stepped out into a deserted corridor.

Vlad: “Phew.”

Vlad: “I need to hide the rope so they won’t find it.”

He moved the broken cobblestones he had found earlier, hid the rope inside, and put the lid back on.

Vlad: "That should do it!"

Vlad: "It's time for some adventure."

He escaped from the room through the window and ran into the forest, his fine, flowing silver hair swaying.

Being born a pure-blooded vampire, he was considered special because of the blood of his ancestors.

His family considered him sacred, so they banned him from going outside as he grew up.

However, for a curious child, the inside of the mansion was too boring.

Vlad: "Wow! A creek! The sunlight glistening through it is so beautiful."

Vlad: "There are lots of fish! Ahahaha! Some little birds and foxes are here, too."

Perhaps because it has been a long time since he went outside, everything he sees makes his heart flutter.

Vlad: "The world is so full of lovely things."

He spread his arms out to embrace the glorious view and breathe in the fresh air.

At that moment, a lovely red berry caught his eye.

Vlad: "What kind of fruit is this?"

(Wild strawberry? Raspberry?)

He crouched down on the spot and was about to touch the fruit when…

???: "If you're going to eat it, don't."

???: "That's a snakeberry."

Vlad: "!"

(Who?)

He turned around and saw a grown man with a tanned face, brown curly hair, and hands stained with mud standing there.

He was wearing a long apron and boots, but the scent of earth gave him the idea that he was a gardener.

(Human.)

He sat down on a nearby stump and gently plucked a snakeberry.

Gardener: “It’s not poisonous, but it tastes so bad you can’t even eat it.”

Vlad: “Are these berries called snake berries?”

Gardener: “Yeah, these things grow where snakes are likely to come out.”

Gardener: “So you have to be careful when getting this. Make sure there aren’t any snakes around.”

He smiled happily and put his big hand on his head.

(It’s so warm.)

It was the first human warmth he had ever felt.

(But...)

Vlad: “Why are you patting my head?”

Gardener: “It doesn’t mean anything, but if I had to answer, I suppose it’s because all children are God-given lovely beings.”

(Lovely?)

The moment the gardener said that, his heart overflowed with warmth.

(Just like I loved this world, this person loved me.)

He recalled all the ideas and beliefs his family repeatedly taught him.

(Everyone in my family says that vampires are the ones who rule over humans.)

(I’ve always thought otherwise.)

(I thought that since we live in the same world, there is no difference between the creatures.)

(I wasn’t wrong in my thinking.)

Vlad: “Hey, hey. Are you still gonna be here tomorrow? Can I come and see you?”

He blinked his eyes like he was momentarily amused.

Gardener: “Yeah, I usually rest here during my break from work.”

He replied with a smile.

That night, Vlad took every book he could find about plants from the library to his room.

Vlad: “Snakeberry, a perennial herb of the rose family.”

Vlad: “The flowers are yellow with red berries.”

Vlad: “So it was the berries I saw.”

He read through the description of the snakeberry and reached for the next book.

The book, entitled “The language of flowers” was a collection of flower-related anecdotes and sayings.

Vlad: “Does it also mention the language of flowers of the snakeberry?”

Curious, he flipped through the pages and found its name.

Vlad: “There it is! The language of its flowers is...”

Part 1 || Part 2 || Premium || Epilogue