#dragon palace-ish

[journeythroughjourneytothewest]

The Original Location of the Ruyi Jingu Bang Has an Actual Geologic Site!

In a delightful coincidence given that we just finished Chapter 3 of Xiyouji for this book club, I happened to stumble across the fact that there is an area in the world which local people--in particular fishermen--believe to be the spot where Sun Wukong found (and stole) his golden cudgel. This is the Dragon Hole, the world’s deepest underwater sinkhole at just over 980 ft, located on a reef in the South China Sea. Blue holes are sinkholes that form through erosional processes in blocks of limestone while the limestone is on dry land and before the holes are flooded by sea-level rise.

Long called the “eye” of the South China Sea by locals, viewed from above the Dragon Hole looks dark blue due to its great depth compared to the light blue of the water on top of the reef. 

I’ve included a few photos below as well as a link to an article detailing more about this amazing piece of planet Earth’s features. It’s always a wonderful thing when mythology and geology combine!

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/south-china-sea-blue-hole-could-be-world-s-deepest/

[lords-of-fortune]

Mixed feelings on the choices stuff but also annoyed that out of the three choices that are to be made I technically haven't made two of them yet bc I haven't finished inquisition and therefore trespasser ajdkfl

[whiteeyes-is-a-mad-scientist]

The new seawing in the reef

Sunhunter waited silently in the sand. She hated being so… out in the open. Especially now. She jumped hearing a dragon rise from the water.

"Relax. Just me." Snapping turtle shook off a stray piece of seaweed. His spots gave a faint yellow flash in the moonlight. "If your here just to tell me that I'm in danger I know…" sunhunter frowned at the familiar look the seawing held.

"I'm here to offer you a way out actually." He trudged through the sand as it began to clump on his wet talons. He shook the sand off and opened his talon. Within it was an earring, a shiny pearl carved in the shape of a star. "Oh its beautiful… but how is jewelry supposed to help me?" Sunhunter took it into her talon to further examine.

"Argile made it so he could come with me into the deep palace. He doesn't really come into the ocean these days." He glanced toward the deep blue "it's enchanted. It'll turn you into a seawing as long as you wear it."

Sunhunter felt her scales shiver "Snapping turtle… I can't… all my visions... they come in water I don't want to imagine how awful it would be in the water…" she shook her head. "How do you know? You've never been in the ocean." He leaned forward "Sunhunter you don't really have a lot of options here. The skywings are after you�� they can't go into the ocean."

Snapping turtle was right. The mercenaries and assassin's were getting more crafty. Even those against the skywings would give longing glances at her. No doubt gaging whether or not the bounty was worth it. "I..I dont know how to be a seawing.." she frowned "I don't know aquatic or how to swim or or-" "I'll teach you." Snapping turtle flashed a rare smile. "What about the talons? I still want to help the peace effort…" she looked at the earring. "Oh for moons sake forget the talons! This is your life in danger!" He exasperated "Sunhunter… please… I dont want to see you become some trophy for the skywings.." His eyes were weirdly desperate.

Sunhunter sighed and slipped the earring on. A deeply cold chill ran through her scales. She shut her eyes tightly as the world spun, she stumbled forward and met Snapping turtles chest. Past the pounding in her head she could hear him "Its alright… Argile struggled a bit as well…"

Her scales stopped tingling and the pounding headache faded. She felt snapping turtles wing on her back, brushing softly. She also felt her new gills, webbed toes, and flashy spots. She opened her eyes to find her new night vision. Also finding herself needing to look up toward snapping turtle "Oh making me shorter than you is unfair." Snapping turtle snorted "Welcome to being the short and stocky tribe."

Sunhunter stumbled steadying herself. She used to be shoulder heavy but now her weight was all over. She felt stronger despite being shorter. Snapping turtle stared and sunhunter rolled her eyes "I know I look stupid don't I.." "No.. I think you look good as a seawing. I like that the earring chose a mix of more saturated green-ish blue scales. Unique in pattern but not out of place for a seawing." He smirked "but I do miss your original look."

Sunhunters face scales felt faintly like her sandwing warm ones but it went away quickly. She smiled "I have a great hunger for fish now." "Beats those awful roasted tarantulas you used to eat." He stuck his tongue out. "You never tried them so don't start." Sunhunter raised her head, her shiny sea ready scales catching the moonlight. Watching the moons for a moment she turned back to snapping turtle "Well what should my new name be? Sunhunter isn't... seawing... like."

He glanced away "hm.. clam?" "Clam?" Sunhunter retracted "Are you saying I have a big mouth?" She glared. "No! I just- ugh ill get something else…" He rubbed his chin "I'm not good at names…"

Sunhunter sighed before flopping into the sand. A faint dizzy feeling hitting her like a wave "So when does the dizzness stop?"

Snapping turtled perked up as she curled into a C "Cove! Your new name should be cove." He smiled as sunhunter titled her head "Hm... I do like it... but it doesnt mean something dumb does it?"

"No no... A cove is just a small bay often secluded. The waters often have a greenish blue look." He nudged her with a wing "I can show you."

"Ok... but dont let me drown..." She steadied herself and headed toward the water

Snapping turtle chuckled "Of course."

[themotherofblood]

Hey dear! I saw that you are accepting requests and would like to know if I can get an imagine nsfw with Daemon x poc fem! reader (may be Dornish) who was a dancer before marrying him, but she still has the activity as a hobby and one night when she misses dinner, worried Daem goes after her and finds her dancing, please?( feel free to ignore and sorry for my english)

I absolutely love this ask, however there will only be a small implementation of culture.

ghugroo~ an anklet made of gold bells and a red cloth, worn to dance classical south Asian styles.

masterlist | Part 2

smut, softie daemon (oral f) voyuerism-ish, tw: mentions of prostitution, purity culture and Otto Hightower

Daemon Targaryen x Martell!Reader

The floor of the Mirrored Place was cold under your bare feet, the entire palace was dim; other than a few candles that reflected light from one mirror to the other. Leaving the barren hall with a warm glow. There used to be much light in this hall before; when your mother and you danced. The entire Dornish court would gather to enjoy in the art your had inherited from her.

She was a Lysenese courtesan, thought to please men with her dancing from a young age. Her will to dance was different, not because it earned her a coin but she found solace in the sound of the music playing for her body to move on her own terms.

You were raised within the group of these courtesans, a sister hood that protected you at all costs. The reason you learned to dance was for the sheer entertainment of the other sisters, and an unshaken will to mirror everything your mother did. However everyone of them knew your fate since the day you learned to walk, you too would inherit the title of court dancer at the ripe age of five and ten. They protected you still, keeping you hidden in the back of the numbers performed.

Then came along Qoren Martell, on his many ventured to Essos and a budding relationship with the Triarchy, he had found your mother dancing for the Lys court; he had eyes for her and only her after that. The deal may have not been affluential and yet he returned home with your mother and a sister for his daughter Aliandra.

The court at Sunspear was different, mother only danced for familial festivals and taught various girls at court to dance for her joy. No one quite picked it up like you did. Qoren had an entire place made for her, the interior made completely of mirrors for her to dance in.

She passed ten summers before.

You danced for her memory, not on familial events or as a courtesan, Qoren would have anyone’s head if they even mentioned the possibility to you, as far as he cared you were his daughter. Blood or not. You danced in the secrecy of this abandoned palace, alone where only the walls could hear the jangles of your mother’s given ghungroos

That brought you today, and what ails your troubles.

Your marriage to prince Daemon Targaryen wasn’t one of secret, Daemon was sent as envoy from King’s Landing, hoping to settle the issue in the Stepstones. Again, the deal wasn’t particularly affluential, yet the Targaryen prince gained a wife. You.

It was a quaint Valyrian traditional wedding, one with your approval.

You’d fallen for the prince, and what was Qoren to do? Tell his beloved flower no? No she couldn’t have the dragon prince that wanted her just as much.

A royal wedding without the approval of king or his court was a dangerous affair, hence both you and Daemon remained at Old Palce, awaiting news. Whether you’d be presented or court or if Daemon was to whisk you away on his dragon to Pentos.

Daemon only grunted and groaned when you asked who would oppose what the dragon prince wanted

“Otto Hightower.”

Daemon’s words came true like a dying wish, a raven did indeed arrive from king’s landing that Qoren showed you first.

Vile words were used against you, as the king’s hand gathered information of your parentage and the two years you had worked as a court dancer with your mother.

Not that they were lies; you were a bastard, not even a Sand. Yet Qoren had fought tooth and nail to title you and your mother as princesses. Moreover they questioned your purity and how it would muddle the pure Targaryen blood Daemon seems to possess, concerns of what influence I might impose on his daughter by his late lady wife Laena. You grimaced at the thought of even teaching those young girls what the court at king’s landing insinuated. They weren’t wrong in their concerns, and here you hadn’t even told him you danced let alone that you were a courtesan.

Qoren believed that if he could have wed your mother while begin the head of the Martell family, what is a mere second son who cannot accept the apple of Qoren’s eyes. You had left the matter at that, hoping to just let it drown behind your thoughts.

Daemon wouldn’t shun you for this…would he?

The family had gathered for supper, rather large sum of Sand sisters and Aliandra along with your husband and your step daughters. Qoren frowned at your empty seat though he knew exactly where you would have gone after reading that letter.

You’d bent down to ties the ribbons securely against your ankles, the gold ghungroos held weight to them, yet for you moving them was as fluid as a swan. You tapped your feet twice, feeling the tightness of them before exhaling a ragged breath. You tucked the loose end of your shawl on the waist line of your skirts.

Your imagination did the work for you, hearing the beat of the percussion and flute in your head as you hummed the melody under your breath, rhythmic jangles of the bells on your ankles began to echo through the hall. You closed you eyes, picturing your mother dancing next to you. The smile on her face, finally dancing for her love of the art and not the perversions of men.

Your skirt flared out as your twirled, glimmering in the light of the candles, you kept dancing. Following every count in your head as you hands remembered the signs to make. The hard your feet tapped against the marble floors the louder the jangles echoed.

Your life wouldn’t be different if Daemon left you for knowing the truth, but you wondered if anyone would want you because of what you were forced to be. You moved around the room efffortlessly, you hips swaying at the imaginary sound of the strings.

You hadn’t realized your eyes watered until you flinched in fear, watching your husband leaning against the grand posts of the mirrored hall. You stopped, the twirl of your skirts coming to stop and pool around your legs.

His palms crashed together in an applause, a smile of admiration of his face. You noticed the parchment in his hands and he noticed you eyeing the message.

“Do you truly think I care if you were a courtesan?” He shook his head, moving towards you “You were a child.” He scoffed.

You blinked the tears of concern away, you couldn't help from a few others falling free too

“My mother found her prince in Qoren, I believed so had I in you and then this.” You felt vulnerable, “I would never expose your daughters to such vulgarity, that's why I never danced for them and I was pure on our wedding night; I swear it. I wou-” You rambled on, Daemon’s eyes softened as he held you face, he held moved his thumb atop your lip to shush you

“My love isn't so fickle that bloodless sheets would diminish its fire. You are mine, and I yours. I sweared it by fire and blood sweet girl.” He reassured you “That ought to mean something?”

“You would forsake your family for me?” You shook your head, unwanting of such loyalty.

“That cunt of hand is not my family, these are his words; not my brother’s” He sounded irked at the parchment. “I will present you to the court as a good and honourable princess of Dorne, if anyone has objections they may rely on it to Dark Sister.”

You were left speechless, perhaps you had found the right prince after all. You tried to make words form at the tip of your tongue and yet nothing came through

“And as for you dancing,” His voice lowered “You ought dance for your lord husband more often.”

You swatted his shoulder before throwing yourself at him, you nuzzled your face at the crook of his neck. He moved her head, letting his lips capture yours, moulding them and taking charge; exploring your mouth with his tongue. He had been so heated about it you had to pull away to breathe

“Caught me a little dancer.” He whispered, bending down to lift your over his shoulder

“Daemon!” You shrieked “What are you doing!”

“Admiring the art.”

He plopped you down onto the viewing nest, a collection of heavy comforters a pillows that were laid at the edges of the halls for people to lounge.

“We can’t- what if somebody catches us?” You argued as he adamantly began to to strip you like a child pawing at his present.

“Then they will find a prince worshipping his princess.” He said in annoyance, huffing at all the ties on your blouse. He then reached for his inner pockets and threw a key your way.

You sighed in relief, the doors to the palace were locked.

“So fucking beautiful,” He groaned as you breasts spilt free of it entrapment, he immediately latched on the pebbled flesh, suckling on one as her tweaked the other. You chest heaved, feeling his warm mouth assault your breasts. He unlatched himself before paying attention the the other.

“My pretty little wife.” He breathed out, pushing your skirts up and yanking the cotton leggings underneath off your legs. He leaned back onto his legs admiring your cunt, he let a glob of spit dribble onto your folds as his fingers smeared them all over.

One hand working on the eager bundle of nerves and the others scissored at you insides, that familiar warmth of pleasure began to spread through your body as whimpered from your husband. You ghungroo’s jangling as you spread your legs further. Daemon latched himself onto your bud, frantically licking at the little things. You shrieked out his name, feeling him smirk as he took you apart on his mouth.

Just as you reached the precipice of your pleasure he pulled away. A shameless whine tore through you making Daemon chuckle, “All in sweet time princess, just getting you ready for me.” He idly rubbed circles on your rose bud

“Daemon just fuck me.” You groaned in frustration making your husband’s eyes.

“Such filthy words, sweet girl.” He taunted, nearly pushing your legs to your shoulders, even the little strums of the bells on your ankles were taunting you.

“Please, please Daemon,” you whined pleadingly as he ran the leaky tip of his cock through your folds. “I want you!”

“Good girl, begging for her husband’s cock.” He grunted as he bottomed out within you.

Barely allowing you a moment to adjusted before setting a determined pace in pounding you cunt.

You looked up at him as his long silver locks shielded your face, he leaned down to kiss your lips, biting at the bottom of your lip. The ghungroos on your ankle rhythmically jangled to the thrusting of your husband’s hips. He leaned back, throwing your legs on his shoulder as his pounding turned animalistic.

“My pretty little dancer, all mine.” He groaned

Drowning in your own pleasures your agreed in series of all yours- all yours pouring from your lips, nearly far too lost in the sensations radiating of your body. You reached your hands upwards, wanting him closer as your back arched off the ground. He wrapped his hands around you back, letting your legs hug around his lower back as he pounded you to your peak.

“Y/N- gods.” He breathed out in your ear as his cock spurted ropes of his seed in your cunt.

There was Moment of serene peace as Daemon pulled out of you and fell next to you, untill you felt his spend spilling down onto your skirts and you groaned.

“You ruined my skirt,” you pouted, grimacing at the stains

“I’ll buy you hundreds more.” He huffed out, yanking you on top of him.

Just as you helped each other straighten out, he spend a while tying the ties of your blouse, peppering kisses on your back as you undid the ghungroos, quite sure they would have bruises your ankles by now.

There was yet another topic lingering on Daemon’s tongue that he wasn’t sure how you would take

“Rhaena found out at supper that you dance, she could use a teacher…” He said hesitantly, you frowned.

“Just as you learned from your mother, our little dragons could use a lesson or two from their mother.”

You pondered and then looked to him using the word mother.

“Rhaena will make a gorgeous little dancer.”

[leafnighthybridwolfsbane]

Icewing Headcanons

(Info below the cut)

OK. FINALLY GETTING TO THESE AGAIN. I got the motivation when going back to working on designs for horror movie villains (+the Final Girl). I greatly apologize about not getting these done sooner. Hopefully you all enjoy these last 5 headcanons and the designs. As a fair warning two of them look a lot like their canon designs. I will explain more in those posts specifically.

Tribe Headcanons

Icewings have icicle like spikes along their neck that work similarly to a North American porcupine's quills. Meaning that they're loosely attached. Though, they can still pierce another dragon. These quills have tiny little barbs that keep the quills stuck. This makes it extremely hard and extremely painful to take the spikes out of another dragon.

Their horns branch similarly to an elk's or caribou's antlers as one of the very few ways you can rise in the ranks is by fighting for dominance. Normally this is one by the matriarch of the family.

Their ears are made of a thicker layer of skin and have a thin layer of muscle around the middle sections of the ear. Meaning that their ears can do a lot more movement than other dragons. Though it also means that this muscle can easily be torn if not careful. Much like the human eyelid.

The thick skin goes along with their wing membranes. This makes them one of the loudest flyers besides Hivewings.

Icewings can be under the arctic waters for around an hour, their nostrils working a lot like a seal's nostrils or a marine mammal's blowhole.

Fur covers the entirety of an Icewing's body to help keep them warm in the frozen lands they inhabit. Some Icewings end up sharing patters with arctic animals such as arctic hares or lynx.

Though, patterns seem to be extremely looked down upon. Typically being considered an impurity in the ice nests the young hatched from. The only accepted pattern is a darker gradient going into a lighter gradient. It's only been in the most recent ruler's time as queen that this belief has been slowly worked on unlearning.

Most Icewings have some form of gradient on the top of their wings while the bottom is the lightest color on their body.

Icewings are well known for being pursuit predators, having the most stamina when they run out of all of the tribes. Most of the time prey is caught in a group with a leader of the hunt.

These hunting groups works similarly to a pack of wolves as they are all the same rank. One is considered the "Alpha", or leader, of the group and another is considered the "Beta", or second in command, of the group to keep things organized. Alphas and betas are considered responsible for the lives and performance of their group, meaning they can get put into a lower circle if their efforts are not good enough.

There is a rare coloration morph an Icewing can get called Auroran. It is considered a version of melanistic where the coloration on an Icewing match up colors to the northern lights. This means they can end up being colored to any color of the aurora.

Environment also dictates coloration. Closer to a forest most of the time will cause them to look more green. Closer to an ocean would bring out more of a blue coloration. Closer to the sky means either a more purple or pink-ish coloration. Barren icelands or ground level of the palace will grant a teal-ish coloration. Sometimes this is a great indication of which rank they came from.

Icewings are considered the second grumpiest tribe while also being the coldest. Unlike skywings that seem angry or easily annoyed, Icewings tend to be arrogant, cold, or conniving with their grumpiness. Some believe it's due to their close-mindedness.

Icewings have the opposite to an ancient sandwing's fire scales. This cold is the only thing that can combat a skywing's fire scales, and even potentially freeze them with frost bite. Most Icewings, though, only have a chill that come off of them naturally and isn't enough to combat a fire scales skywing.

Icewings are also well known for holding festivals, but most of the time it is only rumored as no one is able to cross into their border to really get the full story.

If an Icewing were to be a hybrid of any sort, their blood will come out as a bluish tinted purple color. This can cause their coloration to have purple coloration, especially in the spikes, horns, and face.

Icewings aren't as quick to anger as Seawings, but they are more ruthless. Their loyalty to their queen is unmatched though. This is due to how their society works and has been for many generations.

An Icewing will almost always think about everything they do and the outcomes due to how their society is and how brutal it is when looking at their strict rules.

Lore Headcanons

Icewing society was one of the first societies to exist. First it was made of militant group, then they had kings until their society started becoming matriarchal. Their society eventually being lead by females or fem presenting (transfem and fem nonbinary individuals specifically) individuals.

It is said that they're the first tribe to have an animus dragon. Meaning that they're the first to control it and learned how to "properly" keep them from becoming murderers.

Family groups are not too important in Icewing society due to their use of the circles and the gift of order. Families can be separated at any point, typically when the dragonets become adults and either move up or down in the ranks.

Icewings have communal homes for dragonets in different circles that work similarly to private schools. These communal homes are meant to provide dragonets their best chances at rising in the ranks. Though, not all do. Normally being rare (much like a lower grade school in the US) as they don't always have the resources.

It is Considered an honor for lower ranked Icewings to be called out to a war as it means that if they come back with enough kills, they can potentially come back with a higher rank. Though these opportunities are far and few in between.

Their festivals are normally to celebrate the northern lights. It is said that during the great battle between the Icewings and Nightwings, and Auroran Icewing went into battle and slaugtered tens of hundreds of them in a week on their own. Eventually dying and ending the war temporarily. Eventually dying the night where the northern lights came out. There are also festivals similar to yule as it is culturally believed the first Icewings didn't have their current resistance to the cold.

Most Frost scales Icewings were killed during the animus scare. Though not all were killed and aren't considered as dangerous as an animus. Though, they are looked down upon until recent wars that they were cast into to try to combat sandwings and skywings.

Current exports of the Icewings are pelts and taxidermy due to their knowledge on how to properly take care of the hide and bones. Though, some tend to export lumber and delicacies only in the Ice Kingdom.

Drawing Inspirations

Turkish Angoras were the cat species I took some inspiration from for the body typing.

"Till I Collapse" by Eminem was great inspiration for drawing, but I imagine any militaristic beat will work for Icewings due to the militaristic society I see them having.

Used a lynx for the patterns on this one. Plus the idea of when you pick up snow while the temperature warms gave me the idea of "impurities" patterns imply to their society.

Basically they're giant antlered penguins when they swim, which is why they have counter shading as well

Wings of Fire Headcanon Lists

Mudwings

Leafwings

Hivewings

Silkwings

[hyperfixatedonthisnow]

Love in the Rain

*not my GIF Summary: Nikolai is your best friend and you’re hopelessly in love with him, too bad he’s engaged to Alina Starkov. But maybe a storm and a love confession could change everything. Requested by: kateswone - Could you do a Nikolai x reader one, where there's a lot of pining and in the rain confession in the end? - This started as a drabble and somehow became 6000 words 🙈 I hope you like it! Word count: 6K ish Warnings: NSFW - 18+ only. Minor Alina Starkov friendship and brief mention of Dominic Vertov, mild angst/pining, fluff, idiots in love, smut, fem!reader, fingering, P in V sex, unprotected sex (not recommended in real life!), suggestion of oral sex. Fun fact, this was my first ever request! I had so much fun writing it, so if anyone would like to request something in the future please do, my inbox is always open and anonymous asks are on too 😊

You had always known you were illegitimate, born to a nobleman and his housekeeper. Though their union may have been scandalous, you believed with all your heart that they had loved each other.

You had few true memories of your mother, who had died when you were very young, but you remembered the happy years you had spent with your father, who had been warm and loving. He had always treated you as his daughter and never made you feel less than. Unfortunately when he died, yet another casualty of the Ravkan war, you had finally found out what it truly meant to be illegitimate. A bastard child could not inherit and your father’s estate had been entailed away to some distant male relation. The new master of the house had not wanted the trouble or expense of raising a child, and your father’s will did not include any incentive for him to do so. So you were promptly dropped off at an orphanage and at 8 years old, you had found yourself completely alone in the world. You had little to call your own except a book of fairy tales that had once belonged to your mother. Some of the pages were frayed around the edges and the cover was battered and worn, but it was your most treasured possession. The stories were all of a similar ilk, cautionary tales with brave princes fighting dragons and ogres, and princesses held hostage or locked away in towers. The heroes always triumphed and the damsel was always saved, and they all lived happily ever after. You would read the stories over and over, dreaming that one day you too would get your happy ending. Adjusting to life in the orphanage had been difficult, you were used to fine food, to goose-down pillows and silk, but now you ate meager rations, wore clothes of peasant rough-spun and slept on a mattress stuffed with hay. You tried your best to acclimate and vowed never to complain, but your high rank of birth made you unpopular, both with the other children and the staff.

They made it clear that they resented your good manners and education. They mocked the way you spoke and how you held yourself, deliberately excluded you from games and always saddled you with the worst of the chores. No matter how hard you tried, you did not fit in. So any time an opportunity presented itself that would allow you time away from the orphanage, you took it. That was how you met Nikolai. You were 12 and him 14, and you were on the Vertov farm for the summer to help with the wheat harvest. It was hard work but the Vertovs were good people and they treated you kindly. They invited you to eat dinner with the family every night and one night, their son Dominic brought along a friend from the palace. With his golden hair and shiny boots, Nikolai looked as if he had walked right off the page of your storybook. He took the seat next to you and when he engaged you in conversation it seemed like he was genuinely interested in what you had to say. You quickly found that he was as charming as he was handsome, a fairytale prince brought to life and you warmed to him immediately. In the weeks that followed that first meeting, Nikolai was at the farm almost as often as you were. He rolled up his sleeves and mucked in with the work, spending long days in the fields alongside you and Dominic. Sometimes the boys would tease you, but it was never mean-spirited in the way that it was at the orphanage and soon the three of you became firm friends, joking and laughing together as you worked. Nikolai in particular was easy to talk to and over time you confided in him about how awful things were at the orphanage and how much you missed your father. In return he had told you a bit about his life at the palace, his complicated relationship with his brother and the rumors of his own parentage. You both knew what it was like to feel that you didn’t belong, and having someone else who understood made you feel less alone. Before long you had developed a crush on the prince, though it wasn’t your fault. He was always looking at you, and smiling in that way that made butterflies take flight in your stomach, always telling jokes and trying to make you laugh. He insisted he sit next to you whenever he stayed for dinner, and he had a way of making you feel like you were the only person in the room that mattered. As September came to an end, so did the harvest and you were to return to the orphanage. You had cried saying your goodbyes, and Nikolai had enveloped you in a hug, squeezing you tight and promising he would see you again soon. Just a few days later, a messenger had arrived to notify you that there was a place for you within the Queen’s household. It didn’t take long for the young prince to seek you out once you arrived at the palace, but when you thanked him for bringing you there he had acted the picture of innocence, declaring he had no idea what you were talking about. His mother chose her own ladies, he insisted, though his mischievous grin suggested otherwise. Although she was surely aware of your illegitimate status, the Queen graciously allowed you to adopt your fathers name at court, and the other ladies accepted you as one of their own without question. You found it was remarkably easy to settle into a happy existence at the palace, especially since Nikolai was a constant presence, always there to help and encourage you. No matter how busy he was, you could always depend on seeing him at least once a day. Sometimes he would seek you out at breakfast, stealing fruit from your plate and winking at you when his mother scolded him, or stop you in the hallway to ask about your day while the other ladies giggled behind you, but his favorite time to visit you was late at night, when everyone else was asleep. He would sneak into your room, face lit by dim candlelight and sit cross-legged on your bed, talking endlessly about anything and everything - palace gossip, an idea he had for an invention, places you both wanted to travel, dreams for the future. Even when he went off with Dominic to complete his military service, and then off to sea, he somehow still found time to write to you several times a week until he returned. Now almost 12 years had passed since he had rescued you from your life at the orphanage and Nikolai was no longer a prince, but he was still your best friend. Which only made the fact that your childhood crush had blossomed into unrequited love that much more difficult to bare.                                      - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The state banquet was in full swing and you were seated near one end of the long table. The Kaelish ambassador sat to your right and another man on your left, though you could not recall his title. Both men had been talking almost non-stop for over an hour, each competing for your attention, but you had long since tuned them out. You couldn’t stop your eyes wandering to where you knew the King sat, at the head of the table. He was deep in conversation with Alina Starkov, who held the place of honour by his side, but his eyes met yours briefly and the corner of his mouth tipped up into that boyish smile you loved so much. The Kaelish ambassador laid a hand on top of yours on the table, trying to regain your attention and Nikolai’s smile dropped from his face, a small crease appearing between his brows in its place. You turned away, breaking the eye contact so that you could politely extricate yourself from the ambassador’s grasp. When you looked back, the King had returned to his conversation, the Sun Saint once again holding his full attention. You watched as he leaned in close to whisper in her ear, and she tipped her head back to laugh. You studied her as you sipped your wine. The Sun Saint and the saviour of Ravka. You wanted to hate her, but she couldn’t even allow you that you thought bitterly, because not only was she beautiful, she was also brave and kind. Even her laugh was pretty, a light, musical sound. Despite the fact that she had grown up an orphan like you, she had a way about her that just screamed royalty. She would make a perfect Queen for him. You pushed away your plate of half-eaten dinner, your appetite quite ruined.                                     - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Nikolai watched you from the opposite end of the table. Alina was talking and he knew he should be focused on her but in truth he was barely even listening. You looked stunning tonight, even more so than usual, and he was having a hard time taking his eyes off you. Your gaze finally fell on him and he smiled back at you, warmth blooming in his chest at having your full attention even in the crowded room, but then the Kaelish ambassador touched your hand with his and Nikolai’s heart sank. You were a beautiful and intelligent woman and yet you were still unmarried, so it was no surprise that any man seated next to you would be vying for your affections. Nikolai knew he had no right to be upset, given his own engagement to Alina, but truthfully, he was a selfish creature at his core and he did not want to see you with anyone but him. As you turned to the ambassador, Nikolai forced himself to shift his attention back to Alina, he couldn’t stand to watch the other man flirt with you. Alina was giving him a knowing look and he didn’t like it. The last thing he wanted was a lecture on the dangers of unrequited love from the Sun Saint. Humor was his favorite method of deflection, and it had always served him well in the past, so he leaned in close, quietly making a joke about the unfortunate looking man sat opposite them. Alina laughed and the moment passed just as he’d hoped it would. He made a concentrated effort to keep his eyes off of you for the rest of dinner.                                     - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - After dinner, the King and his fiancé led the procession, their arms linked together delicately, as everyone moved to the ballroom. You trailed behind, tempted to just duck out altogether and go back to your room where you could be alone. Then the Kaelish ambassador appeared at your side, offering to escort you in and dashing all hopes of escape. You looped your arm through his reluctantly and allowed him to take you into the crowded ballroom. Your eyes swept the room involuntarily, seeking Nikolai out as always. You found him off to the side of the dance floor, talking with Alina again, their arms still linked and their heads bent intimately close together. You ignored the bloom of pain in your chest and forced yourself to look away. You turned to the man at your side instead, plastering a smile on your face. “Are you enjoying your time in Ravka, ambassador?” You asked. “Very much so,” he smiled, “but then, what man would not enjoy your charming company?” You looked away, feeling your cheeks heating up at the compliment. “That’s very kind of you to say, ambassador.” “Please, call me Cillian.” “I’m not sure that would be appropriate,” you demurred. “I insist,” he said, taking your hand. You caught sight of Nikolai in your peripheral vision, he and Alina were moving towards you and panic clawed at your throat. You didn’t have it in you tonight to pretend to be happy for them. “Alright,” you allowed, giving him the coyest smile you could manage, “but only if you will agree to dance with me.” The ambassador - Cillian, looked thrilled and you felt a stab of guilt, but you let him lead you away from Nikolai and out onto the dance floor all the same. The orchestra struck up a new tune, blending seamlessly from the last and Cillian pulled you in, one hand clasped with yours and the other at your waist. You tried to keep your eyes entirely on him, studying his features as you moved together through the steps of the dance. He was several years older than you, you determined, but not old, and he was handsome enough, with dark auburn hair and emerald green eyes. He wasn’t Nikolai, but then, no one could measure up to him in your opinion.

When the dance ended, Cillian disappeared to go and fetch you both a drink. You waited for him at the edge of the crowd, and watched as Nikolai escorted Alina out onto the dance floor. The music started up again, a slow, romantic melody and Nikolai held Alina as close as propriety would allow, one hand pressed to the small of her back. At first the two of them just swayed together in time with the music, completely caught up in each other, and then Nikolai whispered something in her ear and finally started to lead her in the dance. They moved beautifully together, perfectly in sync and suddenly you felt so sick, you couldn’t stand it. You turned on your heel, pushing your way through the crowded ballroom and towards the exit as fast as your feet would carry you.                                     - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Nikolai stared steadfastly ahead as he led the guests into the ballroom, Alina on his arm. If he allowed himself to look around, he would only look for you. He stopped walking as he reached the opposite side of the room, deeming it far enough away from the door and other people to be acceptable. “You might as well look for her,” Alina said, leaning in to him, “I know you want to.” “Who?” he asked, playing dumb. “You know who,” she pressed patiently, “you should go find her and tell her how you feel.” “I don’t know what you mean,” he said, his voice coming out entirely too high to be believable. He cleared his throat conspicuously and she gave him that knowing look again. “Oh come on,” she said, rolling her eyes, “a blind person could see that you’re in love with her.” “I’m not -“ he started automatically, but he cut himself off when Alina raised her eyebrows in disbelief. “Okay, I am,” he admitted, “but I can’t tell her that. She’s my best friend.” “All the more reason to tell her,” Alina reasoned, “all the best relationships start out as friendship.” “No,” Nikolai insisted, “she doesn’t see me that way and I can’t risk losing her.” “With great risk comes great reward,” Alina shrugged, “that sounds like something Sturmhond would say, don’t you think?” “Sturmhond isn’t here,” he muttered, but a nagging voice in his head told him she was right. “Look, there she is now,” Alina said, and Nikolai couldn’t help himself. He turned his head, following her line of sight until he spotted you in your pale blue gown, talking with the same man who had held your attention at dinner. You were smiling and your cheeks were flushed as the ambassador took your hand. Before Nikolai had even had a chance to react, Alina was grasping his arm tight and dragging him through the crowd towards you, but by the time they reached you, you were already out on the dance floor. Jealousy coiled sharp and hot in Nikolai’s gut as he watched the other man hold you in his arms, moving you effortlessly across the floor. You stared into his eyes, as if he was the only person you could see and Nikolai’s heart ached. He couldn’t bare to watch and yet he found he couldn’t look away. As soon as the music ended, he pulled Alina onto the dance floor without even asking, determined to distract himself. “I can’t dance,” she hissed, clearly annoyed despite the smile fixed to her face, “I don’t know how!” He laid his hand lightly on the small of her back, helping her sway gently in time with the beat. “Sorry,” he whispered, “just let me lead, you’ll be fine.” He began to lead her through the dance, keeping his frame firm. Luckily the melody was slow and even, so it was not difficult for Alina to follow him, but he looked up just in time to see you fleeing the ballroom and then both their footsteps faltered. He murmured a hasty apology to Alina, abandoning her on the dance floor to pursue you.                                     - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

You ran aimlessly until you somehow ended up at the palace gardens. You just needed to get away, couldn’t bare to witness the happy couple for another minute. The rain was pouring down in sheets, the stormy weather a perfect mirror to your emotions. You stepped out into the downpour, and instantly regretted it as the rain soaked through your gown with every step you took, but going back inside was not an option. You kept your head down and ran towards the gazebo, seeking shelter there. Water dripped down your face, mixing with your tears as you finally allowed them to fall. The sound of the rain was loud in your ears and you were so caught up in your own misery that you were taken by surprise when he spoke. “Are you ok?” Nikolai asked, “what are you doing out here?” You whirled around, finding him standing behind you under the gazebo, presumably taking shelter from the storm as you had done. He looked just as wet as you felt, his blonde curls dripping onto his forehead and the white of his shirt almost translucent in places where the rain had soaked through completely. You wiped discreetly at your tears, clearing your throat but you didn’t answer him. You didn’t trust yourself to speak. He removed his jacket, offering it up to you. “You’ll catch your death out in this storm without a coat,” he chided. When you made no move to accept it from his outstretched hand, he stepped closer, huffing impatiently and you couldn’t help but laugh. “I appreciate the gesture, but I don’t think that’s going to do much good,” you said, and his face twisted in confusion. He looked down at the sodden garment in his hand, suddenly realizing how wet it actually was. “I suppose not,” he conceded with a chuckle. He moved to the low railing so that he could lay his jacket over it, then he leaned against it, swiping a hand through his wet hair to brush it back from his face. “What are you doing out here?” You questioned. He gave you a wry smile, “I asked you first.” “I needed a moment alone,” you admitted, chewing on your bottom lip. He raised his eyebrows in question. Seeing you with Alina was killing me, you thought. But you couldn’t say that out loud, so instead you said, “The Kaelish ambassador proposed to me.” The lie tripped off your tongue so easily, you almost believed it yourself. Nikolai barked a surprised laugh, “Sounds like he’s had too much kvas,” he snorted, “I hope you let him down gently.” You narrowed your eyes at him. “Actually, I told him I’d think about it,” you said, swallowing down your hurt. Was it really so unbelievable to him that a man could want you? “You can’t be serious?” He exclaimed, all trace of amusement suddenly gone. You shrugged your shoulders noncommittally and silence stretched between you. Nikolai scrubbed a hand over his face in apparent frustration, standing to pace uneasily. “You can’t marry him,” he said finally, his face unreadable. “Why not?” “He isn’t right for you,” he muttered. “You barely know him,” you bristled, feeling your temper begin to rise. What right did he have to decide for you? “Neither do you,” he countered. “Do you even love him?” “What does that matter? Marriage is an economic proposition,” you argued. “He’s handsome and rich, and he treats me kindly. As far as husbands go, I could certainly do much worse.” “As your friend, I am telling you that marrying him would be a mistake,” Nikolai insisted, his voice rising, “you cannot possibly be happy with a man you do not love.” “As my friend,” you spat, “you should support my choice, just as I did yours. Perhaps I do not love him now, but I will be well taken care of, and I may learn to love him in time.” Nikolai shook his head in disbelief. “You don’t believe that. I know you don’t. You’ve always wanted a love match.” “Yes well, we can’t always get what we want,” you said softly, looking away. “Not everyone can be as lucky as you and Alina.” “Alina and I are not a love match,” he frowned, “Surely you know that? Our engagement is purely a political alliance.” “Political, of course,” you huffed sarcastically. “It certainly seems that way when you’re fawning over her at every opportunity. Don’t lie to me Nikolai. You’re clearly in love with her!” “I do not fawn!” He objected angrily, “and I am not in love with Alina! How could I be, when my heart wholly belongs to you?!” You glared at him even as tears filled your eyes. “Now you’re just being cruel. To say such a thing when you know -“ you cut yourself off, your voice breaking. “When I know… what?” he demanded, moving into your personal space. Your fingers itched to reach out and touch him. You curled your hands into fists, fighting the instinct as you tilted your head back to look at him. “When you know that I’ve loved you for so long,” you whispered. You hadn’t meant to admit it, but you were so tired of pretending. “I know no such thing,” he said, his forehead creased into a frown. He lifted his hand to push your damp hair back behind your ear and the touch made you shiver, “I am a man of many talents, it’s true, but mind reading isn’t one of them.” “Don’t be glib,” you muttered, bringing your hands up to his chest, ready to shove him away but he captured your wrists, tugging you against him instead. Your heart was pounding and you were sure he could feel it. He said nothing, just searching your expression for something, and then his face lit up in a bright smile, all of his righteous anger melting away in an instant. “Saints. I’ve spent 10 years dreaming of this moment.” “Don’t,” you warned, your tone sharp, and his frown returned. “Don’t pretend to love me back, that isn’t fair.” “I’m not pretending,” he promised. You eyed him skeptically. “I love you,” he said earnestly, “I have loved you from the very first moment that we met, and in every moment since then. Every time we have been together and every time we were apart. In every look we have shared and every word we have spoken I have felt it, I have known it deep in my soul, and I cannot go another second without you knowing it too.” You stared at him, willing yourself not to cry as you tried to process his admission. You waited for him to take the words back, to laugh and say he was joking, but he didn’t. He closed his eyes briefly, his expression serious. His mouth pressed into a thin line, like he didn’t trust himself not to say more and when he opened his eyes, they were so full of love that you could scarcely believe it. Your heart soared with joy. “I love you too,” you assured him and he dipped his head to kiss you, finally, reverent and sweet. You pressed yourself against him, needing to be closer and his hand cupped your cheek, tilting your head up as you opened your mouth to him. His free hand went to your hair, gently pulling out the pins that held it in place, until it tumbled down around your shoulders. Later, you wouldn’t be sure if it was you or him that had turned the kiss hungry, but the shift felt so natural, like coming home, even as heat spread through you like wildfire, desperate and out of control. When your mouths finally separated, you were both breathless. You panted, trying to catch your breath and he placed a kiss below your ear before he gently sucked and nipped a line down the column of your throat and across your breasts. His clever tongue swirled over your nipple through the fabric of your gown and you gasped, arching in to him. He tugged at your neckline, seeking access to more skin and growled in frustration when it didn’t give way. You threaded your fingers through his hair and pulled him back up so that you could cover his mouth with your own again. He reached around to the back of your gown, nimble fingers making light work of the dozens of tiny buttons tracing your spine. As he reached the final button, you suddenly remembered that you were outside. It was dark, and the storm made it improbable that anyone would happen upon you out here in the gazebo, but improbable was not impossible. “Wait,” you murmured. To his credit, his hands stilled instantly, albeit reluctantly, and he raised his head to regard you. “Not here, someone might see us.” “I don’t care,” he said, his mouth returning to your throat and you struggled to recall why you were objecting. “Nikolai…” you tried again weakly. “I must have you,” he insisted, his voice rough with arousal, “I cannot wait a moment longer.” And really, how were you to argue with that? You dragged your hands down his chest, grabbing the hem of his shirt and he smiled as he lifted his arms, helping you pull it up and off over his head. When he slipped your gown from your shoulders, he sank to his knees along with it, pressing teasing kisses across your abdomen as the fabric pooled at your feet. Your hands grasped his shoulders as he lowered your underwear, baring you to him completely and a sudden wave of shyness over took you. You carded your fingers through his hair, fighting the urge to cover yourself. “Perfect,” he murmured, raising his eyes to meet yours. The desire in his gaze was so intense that it seemed to simmer in the air between you and just like that, your embarrassment dissipated. He tugged gently on your hips, urging you downward and when you joined him on the floor he tipped you backwards so that you were laying on your gown. The damp fabric was soft against your skin, cushioning your body from the unforgiving wood beneath it. Nikolai lay down beside you, propped up on one elbow and ran his free hand across your collarbone and down your side, his fingers skimming the underside of your breast, tracing your ribs and fluttering lightly over your stomach until they reached the apex of your thighs. He circled your clit, slow at first, gentle, and then gradually increased in speed and pressure as your body responded. He slipped his tongue into your mouth at the same time as he slipped a finger inside you and when you shuddered, he added another, curling them just right in a way that had you moaning his name. Your whole body felt tense, every muscle straining for release and he dipped his head to capture the dusky peak of one nipple between his teeth. The extra stimulation was all that you needed to reach your peak, and you clutched to him desperately as the wave of your orgasm crested, your core clenching around his fingers as he coaxed you through it. “Saints, you’re so beautiful when you come,” he confessed, his voice low and gravelly. You wanted to kiss him, but he seemed so far away and you still felt fuzzy, your limbs not quite under your control, so you settled for pressing a kiss to his shoulder instead. Luckily he seemed to understand what you needed, he hovered over you, careful to keep his weight off you as he claimed your mouth again, but you were impatient for more. You nipped at his bottom lip, pulling him down on to you, wanting to feel every inch of his body against yours. You wrapped your legs around his waist, urging him ever closer and swallowed his gasp when his clothed arousal made contact with your center. You reached a hand between you and tugged at his laces, eager to rid him of his breeches. He rushed to help, pushing them down so he could kick them off as soon as they were untied. He settled himself between your thighs, his cock dipping between your folds almost of its own accord and you suddenly couldn’t wait to have him inside you. You watched as he lined himself up with your entrance.                                     - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Nikolai pressed his forehead to yours, looking down the length of your bodies so he could watch as he entered you for the first time. The sound you made as he pushed inside was almost enough to undo him, and he had to close his eyes, fighting for control of his body. Only once he was certain he would not embarrass himself did he begin to move, burying himself in your heat only to retreat, over and over in a punishing rhythm that forced the air from his lungs and had you writhing beneath him. He groaned as you moved your own hips against him, meeting his thrusts on the downstroke, chasing your own pleasure as much as his. He straightened, raising himself up slightly so he could take you in, wanting to absorb every tiny detail of you beneath him. The way your hair was spread out around you like a halo, the pink blush that spread across your cheeks and down your chest, the perfect cupids bow of your lips, kiss swollen and cherry red. He wanted to commit the moment to memory, never wanted to forget the sight of you, sinful and gorgeous, and utterly wrecked. He lowered his head so he could nip gently at the expanse of skin just above your collarbone. You keened in response, tipping your head back to bare more of your throat to him and he felt a surge of something dark and possessive, an almost overwhelming sensation that made him want to sink his teeth in, to suck a bruise into your skin and mark you as his. But he would never do it without your permission, so settled for slanting his mouth over yours instead. He hitched your legs up higher on his waist, changing the angle slightly and allowing him to slide even deeper. You cried out as he finally hit that perfect spot inside you and he groaned. He couldn’t get enough of the sounds you made. He chased every moan, every sigh, like an addict looking for his next fix and he knew that even if he got to make love to you a million times over, it would never be enough. You were the sea and he was a sailor lost to the rip-tide, ready to drown in your depths. His hips began to lose their rhythm as he felt the first tendrils of his impending climax creeping up his spine and he was torn between the near desperate need to come and not wanting this to ever end. He slipped his hand between your sweat slick bodies to circle your clit as he worked his hips harder, determined that you should reach completion right along with him. Your nails dug in to his shoulder involuntarily as your orgasm hit you and you whispered his name like a prayer. The spike of pain only heightened his pleasure as he followed you over the edge, spilling his seed deep within you.                                     - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - You turned on to your side so that you were lying face to face, so close that your noses were touching, your limbs tangled together and sweat cooling on your skin. The rain showed no sign of stopping and you knew that you should get dressed, go back inside before you both caught a chill, but you were content to bask in the afterglow for as long as possible. Nikolai seemed to be in agreement. He made no effort to move beyond stroking his fingers up and down the length of your arm in a slow caress, leaving a trail of goosebumps in his path. “Marry me,” he murmured and your tender heart skipped a beat.

You didn’t know what to say, so you settled for just a slight shake of your head. Nikolai sighed dramatically.  “Before you give me your final answer, I should tell you that declining the King’s hand almost certainly counts as treason.”

“You’re already engaged,” you pointed out, rolling your eyes. “Not if I don’t want to be,” he said easily. “I don’t care about making a political alliance and I’m sure Alina doesn’t either. She’ll likely be relieved to be rid of me, as will her tracker.” “You’re the King,” you reminded him, “You can’t just marry whoever you want on a whim.” “Actually I can,” he smirked, looping an arm around your waist to pull you even closer. “I can do as I please, because I am the King. A perk of the position is being able to indulge all of my whims.” “We both know that’s not true. You have to do what is best for Ravka, and making a bastard orphan your Queen is not it.” “Why not? They already have a bastard King, why not complete the matching set?” he grinned. “Nikolai…” He sighed exasperatedly. “If you come up with any more objections, I’m going to get my feelings hurt.” “But your advisors -“ you argued. “Are just that, advisors. They give me advice, but I do not have to take it. In fact, I much prefer to completely ignore them whenever possible. It keeps them humble,” he winked. “Nikolai, be serious,” you admonished. “I am,” he protested, “I have never been more serious about anything in my life. I have given Ravka everything I have, I am allowed to be selfish in this. I want you and I shall have you as my wife, provided you will allow it.” Your stomach did a little flip and you bit your lip, trying not to show how affected you were by his words. “I don’t know,” you mused, your tone teasing, “I have had several offers for my hand this evening. I shall have to consider my options.” “Of course,” he agreed, nodding sagely before his smile turned wicked, “but perhaps there is something I could do to tip the balance in my favor?” He nudged you gently onto your back and shifted over you so that he could trail a path of teasing kisses across your collarbone and down the length of your body. “Mmmm” you hummed airily, pretending to think about it. You threaded your fingers through the mess of his curls as he reached the apex of your thighs. “Perhaps.”

[megalony]

Lady of the Night

This is my first Aemond Targaryen imagine from House of the Dragon I hope you all like it and I’d love any requests for Aemond.

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Masterlist

Summary: Aemond comes to the rescue of his wife when after getting lost in the palace, one of his family tries to attack her.

Enjoy.

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It was this way, wasn't it?

Turning to look behind her, (Y/n) looked back along the dimly lit hallway before she carried on walking ahead. It looked similar, but then again she had turned down quite a few different hallways now and in the low light from the torches on the stone walls, each one looked the same. She should have reached the room by now, surely.

She was lost.

(Y/n) wished she had stayed with Aemond so he could have guided her back to the room. She wished she hadn't told him she remembered the way when she clearly didn't, for now she was lost amongst the long corridors of the palace that felt like a moving maze, trapping her in the centre with no way out. Her fingers traced along the stone wall on her left, feeling the cold seeping into her warm skin and cooling her down.

Her body turned a quarter to the right before she swivelled back on her heels and carried on walking forward, speeding up her steps as she went. (Y/n) couldn't turn around now and risk losing herself further in the palace to try and find Aemond. What would she say? It wouldn't make her look very good if she fumbled around and told Aemond she had gotten lost on her first visit to meet his family. She knew he wouldn't care, but she did.

Lifting her head up, (Y/n) felt a shiver of relief crawling up her spine when she saw a small archway on the left concealing a spiralling staircase. This was where she needed to be, just up those stairs, turn left- no, right, then she would reach the room her and Aemond were staying in.

A smile etched its way across her lips as she held up the hem of her dress and ascended the steps, her shoes clacking against the stone creating a pleasing sound.

Just before (Y/n) reached the top of the stairs, she slowed down upon hearing a funny sort of hum echoing off the walls. It was coming from a low toned voice and she couldn't work out the tune, all the notes were a little off, the person must be drunk.

"Oh!" (Y/n) snapped her eyes closed and braced her back against the wall with her arms instinctively reaching out to stop whoever had barrelled into her from falling down the stairs. Whoever it was crashed right into (Y/n)'s front and knocked the air out of her lungs causing a pain in her chest from the impact. Her knees buckled but she managed to keep her weight up against the wall.

When she dared to open her eyes, she came face to face with black curls flopping around the person- the man's face.

"Are you alright?" (Y/n) breathed through the words before she gently nudged his weight back onto his own feet to free herself so she could stand up properly. He was certainly drunk, he couldn't stand up without swaying and every time he blinked, his eyes stayed closed for a few extra seconds.

"Hmm, I am now." The stranger's brow quirked and a lopsided smile spread across his face while he took a few steps back and moved onto the corridor instead of the top of the stairs. His eyes slowly dragged over (Y/n)'s frame, taking in every curve and dip in the skin while she caught her breath and followed him onto the corridor.

"Oh, good." (Y/n) smiled awkwardly and rubbed at her arm, her eyes darting around, waiting silently for him to kindly move out of her way so she could get back to the room and wait for Aemond to come back. "Do you... need help?" He was looking at her like he wanted something.

Maybe he needed help back to his room or to find someone. He did look very drunk and (Y/n) wouldn't settle or feel okay if she didn't at least try and help him to wherever he was going.

"I won't say no, my room's this way." He hiccuped between words and lazily pointed in the other direction to her room. He regained his rightful balance and shifted his weight onto his feet properly before he hooked his arm around (Y/n)'s waist like she was the one who needed help back to her room instead of him.

"Okay." Could she really say no? It didn't seem right to say no to helping someone back to their room and she knew where she was now so it would be easy to find her way back. (Y/n) was kind-hearted by nature, she would help anyone who needed it and she wouldn't ask for anything in return. Besides, Aemond might be a little while yet so she had time to help this stranger to his room before going back to hers and waiting for her husband.

An uneasy feeling took over (Y/n) as they slowly walked down the corridor, the stranger keeping most of his weight on his own two feet which surprised (Y/n). But she stiffened against him when she felt his hand around her waist suddenly worm down until he was holding her bum and before she had a chance to scold him, he dug his fingers into the supple flesh and squeezed.

"Excuse me!" (Y/n)'s voice squeaked and she grabbed his arm and did her best to wriggle out of his suddenly tight hold.

"Hmm, come'ere, let's have a look at you." His words weren't slurred to (Y/n)'s surprise even though his eyes were nearly closed every time he blinked from how much he'd had to drink.

The stranger was suddenly very quick and swift in his movements and before (Y/n) could blink or tell him to kindly leave her alone, his left hand had hold of her arm very tightly and his other hand was raking up her dress and crawling up her leg. (Y/n) couldn't help but shriek as she tried to bat his hand away when he got close to grabbing her undergarments.

"No- stop it! Please get off!"

(Y/n) stumbled over her feet and consequently fell down on her side with the stranger falling on top of her which seemed to delight him even more. What did he think he was doing? Did he think she was someone else, his lover, his wife? Surely there weren't many women here that would blindly accept a strange man touching them up like this?

She didn't want what he was trying to do, she was married and her husband was somewhere in this palace. God, (Y/n) didn't dare think what would happen if Aemond could see her right now. This man's life wouldn't be worth living.

When the stranger's fingers snapped at the elastic of her undergarments (Y/n) automatically reached out and slapped him across the face. The action stunned him into silence and he froze, trying to come to terms with what had just happened which gave (Y/n) enough time to kick at him and scramble across the greasy floor to put space between them. She knew she was going in the opposite direction to her room but she had to keep away from whoever was trying to attack her.

"I- I don't know who you are but please, please leave me be." (Y/n) knew she didn't have to plead with the strange, cruel man. She had every right to shout and swear at him and call for help, but she didn't want to do that. He was drunk and she didn't know what he was thinking, she just needed him to leave her alone.

She wouldn't even tell Aemond. She would try her best to act like nothing was wrong and let this man get away with a slight touch if he would go away now.

"Leave you be? Ha, a Lady of the night playing hard to get!" A laugh followed his snide words and (Y/n) flinched.

Lady of the night? Did he think she was a prostitute? What on Earth had she done to give him that impression? Was it her dress? No, surely not, her dress was of the usual fashion with velvet sleeves and a small train at the back and it had a few ruffled layers. It was nothing elaborate but nothing sleezy or short and it didn't give away a view of anything. She wasn't wearing any make-up, she didn't walk around like a lady of the night, did she?

How would she get this far into the palace if she were such a lady? She and Aemond had only just arrived this morning and no one knew he was married yet but surely strangers couldn't just waltz right in here and walk around the palace late at night uninvited?

"I... I- that's not what I am." Why was she even arguing with him? It wasn't going to do her any good.

With a shake of her head and a very shallow breath, (Y/n) pushed up on her trembling hands and tried to stand up without collapsing. She wanted to go back to the room and hide away under the covers of the bed. She wanted Aemond.

Her trembling hands tried to push down her shirts as she wobbled on her feet but (Y/n) barely made it three feet before fingers curled into the back of her dress and yanked her backwards, pulling the cords that threaded the dress together at the back.

A scream left her lips and her side bashed into the bannister while a hard chest caught her from falling.

"Don't be so hard, come back to my room."

(Y/n) could feel tears prickling in her eyes and a cry left her lips when she felt his lips against her neck. She writhed around, flinging her elbows out behind her before she screamed, it was clear he wasn't going to leave her alone so she needed someone to hear her distress and help her.

Unsure what else to do, (Y/n) tilted her head down before suddenly flinging her head back, hearing a successful snap as her head came into contact with his nose. Stars flooded her vision and her head seemed to double in size and she lost her balance. Everything seemed to twist and turn around her until (Y/n) found herself on her hands and knees, groaning and whimpering in pain.

"Little bitch."

Hands groped at her waist and a round of no's left her lips when yet again, she felt fingers crawling up her leg underneath her dress. Her feet kicked and flailed out, smashing into his abdomen and chest until her harrasser got angry and hovered over her. He roughly hauled her onto her back while she screamed until a hand latched around her throat.

"N-no, Aemond!" (Y/n) clawed at the hand around her throat but she felt the stranger falter when she said her husband's name. Maybe they knew each other, maybe they were family?

His name fell from her lips in a loud scream as she prayed to the Gods that Aemond was on his way back and would be able to hear her wherever he was. Suddenly (Y/n) could breathe. Her eyes timidly fluttered open and a gasp left her lips when the stranger let go of her neck. Both their gazes fell towards the stairs behind them when a loud set of footsteps thundered around the walls and echoed back to them.

Oh, no.

(Y/n) felt herself beginning to shake and her muscles tensed and she watched through bleary eyes as Aemond came towards them like a tornado. His long silver strands were swaying behind him like feathers on a bird, his violet eye held more emotions than (Y/n) thought she would ever see and his cheekbones were popping from his skin from how tight his jaw was set.

In what felt like half a second, Aemond grabbed hold of the stranger by the back of his neck, produced a knife with his free hand, and roughly wrenched him away and threw him into the wall. With how drunk he was, the stranger slid down the wall into a heap before Aemond pulled him straight back up like a rag doll.

All Aemond could see was red. Bright, shining rays of red reflecting all around him, glistening brightly from the man who was on top of his wife. He had heard his name clawing off the stone walls when he walked up the stairs and it made his blood curdle like sour milk. He had never heard (Y/n) scream like that or call out for him in such a desperate, terrified way before.

He grabbed the knife from his belt and pressed it against the man's neck before he hauled him up and tossed him against the wall, breathing heavily like he had drowned and was coming up for air.

But when he dragged the man up to his feet and watched him take a breath, Aemond could feel every nerve in his body burning and tingling and being put on edge.

What the Hell was Jace doing attacking his wife?

Aemond dragged his eye over to where (Y/n) was slumped on the floor on her back. He could see how heavily she was breathing from almost being strangled and pinned down. Her eyes were wide with tears falling down her cheeks but when he looked down and saw her dress was asquew around her chest and raked up past her thighs, he could of exploded on the spot.

He couldn't help it, the moment he turned back to look at Jace his hand was already moving before he could process it and the tip of the knife sliced into his cheek and dragged down to his chin. It caused a painful howl from Jace and (Y/n) gasped, flinching whilst she tried to fumble to her feet.

Aemond pressed the sharp edge of the knife against Jace's neck to pin him up in place and stop him from cradling the wound, allowing the blood to drip steadily down his neck like a leaky tap.

"Jace. What were you doing to her?"

If the situation were any different, (Y/n) would have thought Aemond's voice was sensual and it would have made her weak at the knees with lust with how low and gritty he spoke.

His jaw jutted out and he tilted his head to the side, his eye piercing Jace and suddenly making him sober up on the spot.

"I- Aemond, come on, it was just some fun..."

"Fun?" The sudden smile that crooked onto Aemond's lips made Jace shiver, he looked like he was about to start cackling as if the best joke in the realm had just been spoken. But the smile was a hard, cruel one with bad intentions. "You think forcing your hand up my wife's dress is just some fun?"

When he didn't get an answer, Aemond shook Jace by the shoulder but he was just staring at Aemond, stunned into silence. He wouldn't have gone near her if he knew she was married to his uncle. No one told him Aemond was even back at the palace, let alone back with a wife on his arm.

"I..."

"Go on. You had her pinned down by the throat and now you're lost for words? I'll show you some fun."

(Y/n)'s eyes widened in terror as she watched Aemond grab Jace by the collar and dragged him by the collar of his shirt over to the stairwell. She could see what her husband was going to do before he did it. He was going to throw him down the stairs. In Jace's state it could kill him and (Y/n) couldn't have his death on her conscience, she couldn't have Aemond kill him because of her.

"Aemond don't! Please..." (Y/n) couldn't stand up. The shock was setting in her system and she couldn't stop shaking, let alone try and get her legs to work. All she could do was shakily throw the hem of her dress back around her ankles before she looked up at her husband, the tears in her eyes melting his anger away.

"Leave." Aemond pointed the knife at the stairs to emphasise his point before he let Jace go, watching him scramble away down the stairs to be out of sight.

The moment Aemond knelt down beside (Y/n), floods of tears fell down her puffed cheeks and she couldn't help the sob that bubbled past her lips. she felt so stupid, she should have known Jace wasn't in the right frame of mind, he was drunk. She should have just bypassed him and made her way to her room, she should have been able to fend him off without screaming the walls down for Aemond to come to the rescue.

"I- I'm so sorry," (Y/n) hiccuped and wiped her eyes on her sleeve before she pushed forward and burrowed her face into Aemond's neck, breathing in his scent that automatically soothed her like a calming medicine.

"What? Sweetheart, what on Earth are you sorry for?" Aemond slowly dragged his fingers through (Y/n)'s hair and peppered kisses on top of her head. he hated to see her this upset. He should have told her to wait for him and walked her back to the room or at least asked someone to walk her back so she hadn't been alone.

"I got lost a-and I should have stopped him-"

"He shouldn't have laid a finger on you, nothing he did was your fault. Let me look at you, love."

He smoothed his hand over (Y/n)'s cheek until he had hold of her chin and gently tilted her head up so she was looking at him. There was a mark on her neck that sent his blood boiling but she didn't look to have any bruises or damage which was good and when he feathered his fingers over her side and down her thigh, she didn't pull back. If anything, he noticed her lean into the touch and her breathing got deeper.

When he moved his hand to cup her head he frowned when (Y/n) whimpered causing him to lean over and part her hair to see if she was bleeding or had any swelling.

"I think I broke his nose." (Y/n) murmured quietly to let Aemond know how she had hurt her head.

"I should have broke his fucking neck for touching what's mine." The fire that started to burn up again in Aemond's voice dwindled down when (Y/n) pulled him down to her for a kiss. "Come here, love."

In a matter of seconds, Aemond swooped one arm under (Y/n)'s bent knees and the other stayed around her back and he held her in his arms, pressed safe and secure to his chest. He could feel a genuine smile creeping onto his lips when her arms loosely looped around his neck and her lips peppered against his skin.

He could feel her starting to calm down against him, the shock dwindling down and the shaking subsiding as Aemond slowly turned and walked down the corridor towards their room. He wasn't going to let her out of his sight for another second while they were here. No one was going to touch a hair on her head while Aemond was around.

"You're safe, sweetheart."

[blorboazula]

fun fact: the ciano dragon's, well, dragons can change their size at will. I was talking with @waterfire1848 on discord and had this idea for how the Gaang discovers Azula can do that. there's also a little bit of feels, I guess.

brief context: Aang and Katara found Azula living in the abandoned Fire Nation ship, they got the grumpy lizard to travel with them. at this point, they have no idea who Azula is. here's a drabble about the night Azula's having a nightmare about.

It wasn't like Azula went around announcing her skills, seeing she didn't have the skill of speech in this form. A form she had been in for years, and roughly the same size since then. She trained the size change, of course, but this seemed optimal to live inside a ship designed for average-sized Fire Nation men. The form was about the size of, well, an average-sized Fire Nation man. That was also a perfect size to travel with this group, sometimes she flew alongside the furball, but young dragons weren't fit for long distance travels, she'd allow herself to curl up in a ball on the corner.

So.

The group knew she could fly, spit blue fire and be a pretty good defense against "the inconvenient Fire Nationals".

It has been a few calm days, a rarity, and peace called unpleasant memories. Like the escape from the palace. Her fire swallowed by blue-ish white flames, kicking and squirming. She woke up tasting ash and blood on her mouth, it has taken months for the blisters to heal.

She got up, walked in circles in the same spot before laying down again. Closing her eyes brought images of the palace hallways and echoes of damning words. She huffed, sat up. They slept peacefully, the three of them, side by side.

It reminded her of some of the good old days. When she, Mai and Ty Lee would drag Zuko to a sleepover and the four of them would sleep under the stars. She didn't think too much about that. It brought other pleasant yet painful memories.

Sokka was as spread around as he could, lanky limbs all around, softly snoring. Aang at his left, in a position not much different, but occupying way less space as the smallest of the group. (As the youngest of the group.) Katara was on Aang's other side, back turned to him and the only one properly on her bedroll. On her side, hands tucked under her head.

Azula couldn't sleep, it didn't matter how many times she tried.

Back in the ship, she'd just go awake until her body collapsed in a corner from days of staying up. Now, she couldn't do it. They needed her protection – her help, they were kids (she hasn't been a kid in a long time). She needed to be well-rested, at her best performance at all times.

In the palace, when she couldn't sleep, she had two options: Zuko's bed, Mother's bed. Climb on it, curl up near the bottom and not move until sunrise. She hadn't shrunk (further) since joining them, but it was as easy as ever. She made herself a little smaller than the annoying lemur, found a perfect spot at Katara's feet. The girl irradiated warmth even through the bedroll, and was a firm presence.

It has been awhile, since she fell asleep this quickly.

///

"Why's Blue so tiny?" Azula could be very sleepy still, but she snapped her teeth at Sokka anyways. He should know to not try to poke her.

"She'll bite your hand off one of these days," Katara commented. "Maybe it's a dragon thing?"

"Flying and spitting fire are a dragon thing, not turning into a teeny tiny lizard."

Katara was looking at her like she was seeing the most precious thing in the world, Azula half-flew half-jumped to her shoulder: "Hello there. Slept well?" She nodded.

"It's a thing I heard in the legends," Aang chimed in, now fully awake, apparently. "Dragons are very, very large. It's convenient for them to shrink." She nodded along.

"Blue here doesn't look that large when she's, like, in her usual size."

Aang shrugged: "Unless she shows us, we don't know how large she actually is. We don't know how old she is. Or why she was in the South Pole. Or even her name. We literally call her by the color of her scales and her fire."

That was fair, she guessed. She thought they wouldn't take well if she shifted into a very Fire National-looking girl wearing clearly high society clothes. Or a girl that was very much obviously related to the Prince trying to capture the Avatar.

She liked this little life, stressful as it was, at least it was a little less lonely.

[amemenojaku]

some pictures of my visit of Shimonoseki/Dan no Ura today before I forget to post them (next post will be from my backlog and touhou-related, either shinmyoumaru or megumu & tsukasa? we'll see)

love the cute art and the big 'enjoy Shimonoseki!! ☺️' even though one of the most heart-wrenching events of japanese history happened right here

the sea from Mimosusogawa park, which used to be part of the sea too. the current really is as strong and nightmarish as people say it is, so just looking at it from the park is enough to make you picture how tough that battle must've been 😓 there's also two really beautiful statues facing one another here: Yoshitsune doing his legendary leap and Tomomori about to jump to his demise

after that we went to Akamajingu, the shrine dedicated to emperor Antoku. I don't have good pictures of the front gate right now, but the whole shrine complex is gorgeous and very reminiscent of depictions of the dragon palace. walking there and just taking in the atmosphere, thinking about how they made it this way specifically because of what Antoku was told before drowning, made me feel all sorts of things 🙃

the Heike crest was everywhere, obviously

monuments to the Heike; they looked a bit run down... you can kind of see one in the middle of the picture but some pink flowers had fallen from a nearby tree and right on the stones. the color's completely wrong but they look a little like sal flowers, so obviously they caught my eye, but I have no idea what they could be. if I see them again I'll take better pictures... and if someone knows what they might be then by all means please let me know 😩

there's a little place with a beautiful statue of Miminashi Hoichi and a recorded biwa performance playing in the back, actually right next to the Heike stones shown above, so the atmosphere there was very special.

finally I had a look at the very very small but really interesting museum-ish room of the shrine; no pictures allowed but they had stuff like gorgeous screen paintings of the different Genpei battles and some nice swords and pieces of armors, clothing, statues of Antoku and old complete versions of the Heike Monogatari scrolls (in closed, sealed boxes, sadly). I bought one of the catalogue books so I might write about it in the future when I have time to just sit down and look at it...

[choppedsouldreamer]

Latest chapter, KNG9 Lore time baby!!

Dragon Origins (Part 1)

The dragon slowly woke up, raising her head from the ground, her vision clearing and showing that the floor she was currently laying on was scattered with.. gold coins?... she eventually got her bearings and rose from the textured floor with the various precious objects, muttering under her breath...."God, where the hell am I?..." "You are on The Floating Palace!!" A joyful slightly high pitched voice announced, causing the dragon to jump and sneer "WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU?!"  "LANGUAGE!!!" The purple jewel-like object protested then continued on with a slight calmer tone "Sorry, I should have explained, I'm Gem, your personal guide of existence! You are currently in a ship called The Floating Palace, where you will be travelling to your set destination!! It won't take long, and i'm a sentient gemstone! Thus Gem for short." And it sure was strange, only having little eyes but no mouth even if it could talk..it glowing slightly when it did talk. The dragon was stunned for a moment....a talking sentient jewel which floated and glowed while having round eyes but no mouth was a...very unusual thing to wake up to.."And......uh, what's my name?.." The dragon asked, still a bit cautious. "Oh! Your name you will be addressed by is KNG9! But your real name is Kin⬧︎♏︎⍓︎!" (hehe lore you have to solve) Gem answered helpfully, knowing how confused she must be at the current strange situation. KNG9 processed this new information and everything around her, the ship she was on looking quite fancy and royal..She started to put the pieces together then suddenly asked "Am I royal?" and Gem blinked for a moment at the quick question but soon answered again "Uh well yes, that is why you are on The Floating Palace after all, I'm afraid you may need to do duti-" "No" KNG9 quickly cut them off, she has only just woke up here and she has to do 'RoYaL dUtIeS'  no way in hell. "BUT WHAT IF YOU ARE NEEDED FOR ROYAL-" "I said no" KNG9 cut in again, not at all caring, just wanting to live her own life and not have to do some crappy fancy duties just because she was made that way. "I....." Gem says trying to find some way to possibly convince her so just giving up and muttering "I suppose it's your decision, not mine."

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Later when KNG9 was wandering around the ship and getting a tour from Gem she started to get tired of the simple white outfit she was wearing, I mean she felt like she was in an insane asylum thanks to it, giving Gem a small nudge to get them to stop talking, asking yet another question but a bit impatiently "Can I get out these damn plain clothes? They're pissing me off..." At this point Gem got used to KNG9's constant swearing so just let her be, replying "Sure! We can get you out of those!" "Thank god.." With a slight puff of clouds KNG9 suddenly had a Princess style dress on....being her most dreaded colour to wear....PINK... "I was thinking just in case you reconsidered-" "ABSOLUTELY NOT" KNG9 said in disgust, she didn't mind pink on others but bright colours were definitely NOT her style... "Oooookay...big no, gotcha.." Gem commented, then another puff of smoke KNG9 was wearing a much sleeker and stylish black dress, almost something you would see in a spy movie, with long black gloves, red and purple detailing around the waist and tops of the gloves, even matching heels. "Hm, much better...But I'm not planning on a damn fancy dinner or heist, I want something more casual and comfortable" "AHA! I have the perfect thing for you!!" There was another puff and KNG9 was in a pair of ripped black jeans, long purple boots, with a styled red belt like piece of cloth, a black jumper over a purple shirt underneath a dark-ish blue jacket with finger-less black gloves. "Now THIS is my style~!" KNG9 said with a satisfied grin "Glad you think so! It will work with the snowy terrain!!" Gem added, "W h a t" KNG9 with confusion and slight annoyance "Ah, right, I haven't said your destination yet! You're set to go into a nearby snowy area of land!! Nice views!" "I'M SET TO GO WHERE?!" KNG9 repeated angrily.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Will be updated with pictures/ drawings at some point!

[infraaa]

Heyyy, it's me again! I was thinking, With Longan's dominate and evil nature, how would he feel about a innocent & sweet reader whos just the nicest to everyone! (Even a very big and wise dragon) 👉👈 thank you, you're the best! <3

『congrats, welcome back infra to ✨Longan Brainrot©️ ✨ anyways I’m now starting a psychology project on longan which that may or may not be for uni… I’ll post it here maybe. let’s get back to the shit show 😔💅❤️』

longan dragon cookie w an innocent, shy s/o 『gn! assumed』

tw ish // this shouldn’t be new to you but longan is a rude lil fuck, cynically through the roof, so expect some ✨casually thrown insults✨

So… how did you manage to be favored by this one again? We can’t recall. Plays tv static…

Seriously, not when you knew how you attracted this dragon, this dragon that’s hellbent on killing off all cookies. Nevertheless you were spared. You were just a regular cookie…

But even with the constant thought of them being able to snap your neck with a twist of their fingers, you sit comfortably in their palace, roaming around with a certain fuchsia dragon floating along at your side.

You wore their robes that they spared for you comfortably and with grace. Along your neck was a beautiful golden necklace with gems of dark hickory amber and silver.

You were expected to have tea with them. This never bothered you, but every time you thought of them, your cheeks would raise to a gentle rouge. Just yesterday, they blew cigarette smoke in your face, offended by you. But even so, they still raised a dangerous hand to your cheek, gentle touches, soft whispers…

Lychee would often giggle at these often seemingly empty remarks from the great Ivory Dragon, little did the two of you know that this wasn’t just to test you…

You see, Longan secretly enjoyed your shy nature. The way you would react to them intrigued them. You were just a tool to them in their plan and yet… they became mystified by you.

You sat in a chair across from them, a soft blush still adorning your features… on the outside they show barely any emotion.

“Weakling.”

They refused to call you by your name. Yet you answer calmly. You poor thing…

They collected you from your village once after they successfully purged it of those pointless crunchy beings that tried to fight them. Not been Lychee knew why they took you. But they did know one thing.

You were incredibly polite natured. Selfless— submissive, even.

Something that Longan took a guilty pleasure in. Seeing you respond to them and Lychee without question or any defiance. It made them… happy… something they haven’t felt in what felt like decades.

“My robes fit you quite nicely, little weakling.”

Another token of submission to force you down— their robes. They want you to wear them. Ones of silk. Fine embroidery of clouds sewn delicately with intricate fibers… oh, it was beautiful.

They would smile inwardly paying no outward mind to your (cute) annoying whines. Your (delightful) insufferable facial expressions when they would come close. See a part of them wanted to see how far this innocence of yours would keep. How far this niceness of yours would stand.

For as long as they have managed to live for, they knew that such emotions could be feigned— faked. Yet amen they see what seems to be genuine care about their well-being through the abilities of the necklace they forced around your neck as the last thread of your life, they wondered…

‘That little weakling… although they are at most… annoying… they… must be worth something more than just to be a puppet.’

Slowly but surely, Longan opens up like a slow budding flower, allowing you to see a side to them that no other living thing has seen.

Affection. Equality. Equal Loyalty. Care.

It was like a syrup, your sweet nature to their cold, ruthless exterior. And it drove them crazy.

You were to be treated as an equal by the other dragons, and often refused anything less. If they got something, you were to also get that something of equal value.

They loved you. You poor little treasure.

And they showed it in dirty ways… which we won’t get into here, I’ll let your imaginations run wild…~ 🧡😘

[legokingfisher]

The lineup 💪 (about half my Ninjago ocs, as of dragons rising) from left to right, Two-Worlds (she/her), Chloe (she/her), Alcyo (he/him), and Elapis (he/they).

a lil more abt them vv

Two-Worlds is a hent (speculative etymological ninjagan term for amphicyonids, aka bear-dogs… google em, they’re pretty cool and not extinct in the Ninjago universe in my mind palace/hc zone) hailing from my friend’s fan-realm called Creatura. She’s not actually supposed to be in a humanoid form, it was artificially induced via magic. Her true form is much larger and much more quadrupedal like other creaturans (who just look like oversized, strangely colored but otherwise normal animals). She prefers this form though because she was raised in Ninjago around exclusively humans and got some body dysmorphia out of it… and as for why she’s a cowboy, it’s because she felt like it. She’s been wandering the merged lands searching for her scattered friends and family.

—

Chloe is a Fangpyre serpentine, and she looks pretty lizard-y because for some reason Fangpyre are more monitor lizard-ish than snake-ish in my head. She’s got special interests in pop culture and history, particularly human pop culture and ways in which human and serpentine history interact. Girlie is like a walking archive. Since the merge she’s been wanting to digitize and transcribe what remains of non-digitized archives and libraries, as the merge has made her all the more aware of how often natural disasters can destroy physical/recorded history. She’s pretty thrilled that Lloyd’s letting her digitize/transcribe scrolls in the monastery.

—

Alcyo is a master of an element i Made The Fuck Up for fun: mist. It’s a running gag that ppl (including him way back when) hear there’s elements of smoke and mist and go “…what’s the difference?” lmao. He’s no fighter, but still wanted help/training to use his element, and that’s how he knew Ash. He’s a geosciences guy like me and has been freaking out over . Well. Everything (lol he inspired that post) since the merge. He’s been getting together with ppl like him from across the merged realms (that is, geosci, eco, etc ppl who are as alarmed as he is) in order to document all the shit going on with the planet now as well as try to plan remediation efforts. I imagine governments have been a bit hesitant to work with a rogue group of jittery sleep deprived scientists but they (Alcyo’s ppl) try. I imagine they are the ones making the new maps and shit like that as well. He just wants to go back to his old day jobs and see Ash again. Sorry buddy, you can only have one of those back lmao

—

Elapis is a hypnobrai who’s been friends with Chloe since childhood. They’re significantly more jaded and pessimistic than she is but they’ve always appreciated her encouragement to pursue music. He probably knows how to play quite a few instruments but he’s usually That Asshole With A Guitar in my brain lmao. He likes learning about other peoples as much as Chloe does though (albeit through music scenes rather than reading) which is why the two became friends. He doesn’t know where she’s gone since the merge and hopes he can see her again one day. He’s found her siblings but not her, and it’s been pretty frustrating. Other than that, they’ve passed the time by jamming with all sorts of people at the Crossroads. Arin and Sora might have seen them around, performing.

[simstorian-blog]

N O O K S T O N E

(CC List + Links)

World Map: Oasis Springs

Area: Bedford Strait

Lot Size:  20 x 15

(3-bedroom—3 double beds, 2.5 Baths)

Gallery ID: Simstorian-ish

Packs Used

Expansion Packs

Cats & Dogs

City Living

Cottage Living

For Rent

Get Famous

Get Together

Growing Together

Island Living

Seasons

Snowy Escape

Game Packs

Dream Home Decorator

Jungle Adventure

My Wedding Stories

Parenthood

Realm of Magic

Spa Day

Strangerville

Vampires

Stuff Pack

Vintage Glamour

Build Mode

Awingedllama – Simple Windows & Doors

Felixandre – Berlin Pt. 2 (Glass Double Door Short)

Peacemaker – Multi-Level Carpet

Peacemaker – Vaulted Ranch

Simplistic – Elegant Wallpaper (Crane)

Simplistic – English Watercolour Wallpaper (Donegal)

Sooky88 – English Country Wall Set (Plain)

Sooky88 – Victorian Floor Tiles

Buy Mode

Anye – Mertice Chair

Awingedllama – Fluffy Blanket

BlueTeas

Empire Snooker Suspension Lamp

Samara Sconce

Sheer Curtains

CharlyPancakes

Lavish

Munch (Fridge, Stove)

Cowbuild – Mont Blanc Chandelier

Felixandre

Colonial Pt. 2 (Tray)

Fayun Pt. 2 (Linen Armchair)

Florence Pt. 1 (Piano)

Gatsby (Orchid Vase 1 v2)

Gothic Revival (Victorian Bedframe)

Grove Pt. 3 (Painting B, Painting C Leaning)

London (Chandelier Short)

Harlix

Baysic (Packs Wardrobe Clothing - ALL)

Harluxe (AC Control, Light Switch, Mini Bar)

Kichen (Stool)

Orjanic Pt. 2 (Curtains)

Tiny Twavellers (Dino Lamp)

Harrie

Coastal Pt. 7 (Bench)

Octave Pt. 2 (Metal Fireplace)

Octave Pt. 4 (Light Switches)

Shop the Look 2 (Ceramic Side Table, Dining Chair)

Stockholm (Ottoman)

Ice Cream for Breakfast – Ruggable x Iris Apfel Rugs

Joyce – Simple Live #8 (Tofu Bar Chair)

KiwiSims4

Blockhouse Sectional BGC

Blockhouse Bookcase

Leaf Motif – Garden Cover

Lili’s Palace – Intarsia Bedding

Peacemaker

Alesund Sectional

Bowed Bedroom (Bench, Dresser, Furrow Pouffe, Ring Dish, Vanity Table)

Futura Living (Fireplace Medium)

Pierisim

Oak House Pt. 2

Oak House Pt. 4

MCM Pt. 5 (Hair Brushes, Hair Dryer, Hang Clothing, Straightener, Wig Collection)

Unfold (Dragon Tree)

Vera Bathroom (Bathrobe Functional)

Winter Garden (Old Rug)

Woodland Ranch (Double Bedframe w. Canopy, Nightstands, Table Lamp)

Woodland Ranch Pt. 2 (Hanged Dishrack)

Woodland Ranch Pt. 3 (Old Rug)

Myshunosun

Gemini Vase

Luna Slippers

Simplistic

Loloi Rugs (Part I)

Vincent Van Gogh

Vintage Silk Divider

SixamCC – Luggage Cart

Sundays

Kediri Pt. 1 [Ceiling Light, Throw Pillow (solids)]

POP! Pt. 1 (Throw Pillow II)

Sumba Pt. 1 (Pillow Set I)

Swell Pt. 1 (Mattress, Pillows, Throw)

Yarra Pt. 2, 3 (Bed Cushion Set, Duvet)

Syboubou – Wall Panel Mirror

The Townie House Project – Moderno Pouf Ottoman

TaurusDesign

Eliza Walk-in Closet

Lilith Chilling Areas Pt. 1 (SulSul Sign)

Tuds – Turn Lounge

DO NOT REUPLOAD MY LOTS.

DO NOT CLAIM THEM AS YOUR OWN.

DO NOT PLACE BEHIND A PAYWALL.

Tray Files: DOWNLOAD

[master-jarrus]

So some of the fics my brain decided to conjure up this morning

Demon Slayer Au

Obviously Kai and Nya = Tanjiro and Nezuko

But Overlord as Muzan.

However the Great Devourer's bite made Garmadon the first non serpentine demon

Demons can reproduce

Lloyd is the first half demon and Misako searched everywhere to get him the blue spider lily so he could survive sunlight

Misako

Misako has Lloyd

Tries to end her maternity leave early to start working

Adventure Club sticks her behind a desk

Just kind of an in depth of what Misako was doing and how lloyd ended up at boarding school and her continuation until they meet again

The Rewrite of Peaches and Green Tea

Peaches and Green Tea is a Dragon's Rising Au where I ship Lloyd with my oc but I quickly realized that I wasn't putting my best work into it (just started it in the phase of regression before sudden growth)

Y'allternative Lloyd

This is actually an old one but my brain brought out of the depths this morning

Basically Movie ish verse

Garmadon goes with Koko and they raise Lloyd in the countryside

So Cowboy season we would've gotten but because Garmadon is involved Lloyd is actually more emo goth

Gotta be honest I will probably never write it

Au of Misako

Lloyd ends up with the royal family instead of Darkleys

This is getting edited in because I just thought of it

He isn't the prince of ninjago

But instead it's how in the older eras of Japan the emperor would have the children of warlord raised and educated in the palace as a way to keep the warlords in line and from committing treason

Um yeah that is kind of it

You're welcome to write these btw. I just require credit and understanding that everyone is going to have their own spin on it

[guzhuangheaven]

Do you know of any Kangxi era shows that are made with okay quality and look like they are from this century not the previous one? 😅

Scarlet Heart/Bu Bu Jing Xin (tag) and the first Palace series (tag) are both set in the Kangxi era (Palace is a plagiarised copy of BBJX but that's another story). They were both made in the early 2010s and the quality stands up (well...not Palace's neon aesthetics).

@renewedmotionforjudgment has a post recently-ish talking about her favourite dramas that include both BBJX and Palace? I think? I can't find it anymore?

A more recent Kangxi era drama is Legend of the Dragon Pearl (tag).

Blooming Days I think was originally supposed to be set in the Kangxi era but then they ditched that historical background.

Any adaptation of The Duke of Mount Deer/The Deer and the Cauldron (Lu Ding Ji) by Jin Yong would be Kangxi era, but I think the last adaptation of that available is from 2000. I don't think this blog even has a tag for this drama....

[shivunin]

Collected Origins Ficlets

Below are links to all of my Dragon Age: Origins ficlets on tumblr. They are organized by type/chronological order per the headings. Almost entirely Zevran/Tabris, but there are assorted scenes with other characters in there, too.

(If you're looking for more, here are links to DA2 and DAI ficlets as well)

Please let me know if any links are broken!

Arianwen Tabris/Zevran:

Back to Back: (2,015 Words) When the party spends the evening in Redcliffe's castle, Wen and Zevran have little choice but to share a bed. He is surprised when she offers him an unexpected kindness.

Only a Kiss: (1215 Words, T) Arianwen has never been kissed; Zevran offers to correct this

Liar, Liar: (459 Words, Hurt/Comfort, T) While Zevran is feverish from an infection, Arianwen takes care of him

Hart of Hearts: (535 Words, Fluff, T); A moment of connection in the Brecilian Forest

Without a Name: (857 Words, T) In the aftermath of their kiss, Zevran watches Tabris and considers what comes next

Saccharine: The night Zevran and Tabris decide to be together; full AO3 fic here (explicit)

In the Quiet Dark: (1,633 Words) Arianwen grapples with desire

Forsythia: (478 Words, T) Arianwen eagerly anticipates Zevran's company at the end of the night, and muses on the strangeness of feeling anticipation at all.

And Eat It, Too: (1,257 Words, T) Arianwen admires cakes in the city; Zevran makes sure she gets what she wants

Scars: (539 Words, M) Wen notices a scar that Zevran will not discuss. 

A Crossroads Passed: (901 Words, M-ish) Zevran attempts to convince himself that he does not have romantic feelings for Wen after they spend the whole night together for the first time.

Look At Me: (this and The Last Thread are collected into one fic on AO3 here) (973 Words, Hurt/Comfort, M) Wen leaves the Deep Roads with a bad infection, haunted by the ghosts of all who’ve died along the way.

The Last Thread and the Long Drop: (3.171 Words, Hurt/comfort, M); Arianwen is wounded. Zevran can only watch as she is sewn back together. 

From the Depths: (1,321 Words, T) Zevran delivers a piece of good news after Arianwen spends a week recuperating in Orzammar

Rest Now: (1,631 Words, Hurt/Comfort, M) Post-return to the alienage, Zevran urges Tabris to put down her blades and let herself rest

In Confidence: (2,392 Words) Arianwen shows Zevran the place where she grew up

Fang and Thorn: (883 Words, T) Arianwen decides what to do with her mother’s dagger

Breath of Life: (3,658 Words, M) Zevran confronts Taliesen and nearly loses his life in the process; Arianwen grapples with the idea of losing him forever; explicit version on AO3 here

Have This Dance: (928 Words, Fluff, T) Zevran and Wen find a moment of respite on the palace rooftop in Denerim

Vincit Omnes: (1,049 Words, T) Arianwen and Zevran finally admit they love each other.

A Good Fight: (2,440 Words) Across the span of their relationship, Zevran and Tabris argue.

Whatever May Come: (877 Words, T) Zevran and Arianwen share a quiet moment amidst the celebrations at the end of the Blight.

Breaking News: (297 Words) A reporter attempts to discuss the Temple of Sacred Ashes with the Warden-Commander and the researcher who located the place

The Heart Grown Fonder: (1,133 Words, T) Letters between Arianwen and Zevran about how they’re doing apart.

Regarding Spiders and Caves: (403 Words) A letter from Arianwen to Zevran regarding current events at the keep

Reunion: (1,528 Words, M) Zevran comes back from his travels; Arianwen plays a game

A Letter from Kirkwall: (506 Words, T) Zevran re: his absence from Amaranthine, set immediately after his role in Act Three of DA2

Lock and Key: (2,298 Words, Hurt/comfort, M); Zevran is captured by the Crows and tortured. Arianwen frees him.

Ferelden Silver: (2,035 Words) Zevran meets a Warden after the failed ambush on the road; many years later, he watches his betrothed while recovering from a grave wound

A Red, Red Rose: (1,952 Words, Fluff, T) A wedding scene

Dawn and Gold: (905 Words, Fluff, T) Tabris helps Zevran get ready for the day

Misc/ Alistair & Wen:

Hounds and Strays: (4,521 Words, T) A young Arianwen tries to protect a stray dog and fails; as an adult, Alistair realizes they share a connection to animals (the first thing they have in common)

Something to Cry About: (954 words, G) Following the events at Redcliffe, Arianwen begrudgingly admits that she might be friends with Alistair.

Shut-Eye: (996 words, G) Arianwen and Alistair discuss happiness on a sleepy night before the fire.

Miscellaneous Mini-Fics: Charm, Field, Mortify, Presence, Medicine, Elder (Compassion)