#father syrus

[orchid-151]

◀️◀️ for Syrus?

"You wish to see a memory of mine? Well I am honored, let me see... ah, how about..."

The small child looked from behind their mother...

"So you see, that's why we came all this way so that he can learn from you." The female cleric stated...

"We know you are expensive to send our boy to, but we have most of the emeralds..." said the male librarian.

"Say no more... I will take half of what you have gathered to train your son in the ways of the Cleric job. It will be some time, years even, but I will gladly train him for you." The master cleric stated to them.... "In truth, I think Rōker could use some friendly competition...

"Bless you father..." The female Cleric smiled to the master...

"And bless you children, now... let me show you your new home, my son." The master cleric led the young villager into the church. "You and Rōker will be brothers in training..." The young villager looked ahead to see another child villager that was a good year or more older than himself...

"This is your senior; Brother Rōker." He addressed the other child villager "Rōker, this is our new apprentice; Brother Syrus."

The young villager looked at the younger with slight disgust... "You mean we are training together... a hick swamp villager..." He said with slight jealousy....

"Now Rōker, we do not discriminate in this house..." The father smiled."Everyone can be capable of anything when they put their mind to it." He showed them their sleeping chamber "I want you two to help build each other up, teach each other... encourage one another to reach the hights I have only dreamed of... you both are my teachings... my legacy... the future~"

The father smiled "Now, get some rest... we start early in the morning~" He left the two to rest...

Months later, the father had seen he needed to spend more 'one on one' time with Syrus as he had the magic but was struggling with all the recipes for the potions...

"... now we can mix the two potions to create a longer lasting potion..."

"A fun fact, most villagers look down on villagers who live in swamps and jungles. We are considered 'the hicks' of villager kind... I do think Rōker became quite bitter after the father pored more attention on me to get me caught up..."

[roleplayingorchids]

Open RP: Father Syrus

As the night approaches you come across an old church, be in all of its old splendor. Upon entering and shutting the door for safekeeping you find yourself face to face with a gray spirit in clerics robes...

He seems to give you a gentle smile...

Will you commune with the cleric?

[mun-of-orchid-and-friends]

It's almost time!!!!

[aberooski]

THE HUG!!! 😭😭😭😭

[yugirl]

GXTOBER DAY 3: Syrus Truesdale

Todays AU is the Parent AU!!

It’s tough being a successful businessman running a Duel Monsters Pro-League and being an attentive father of five. No one knows how Syrus does it, neither does Syrus!!

That being said he loves his son, Zane, daughter, Vela, and the triplets, Cera, Ptera and Rex!

I think if it wasn’t obvious visually, the ID of the father should be obvious now to my fellow GX fans! ;)

So much for simple this entry but who cares it’s been a while since I drew the kids!!

Vela belongs to @vanilla-poisons

[asktotallyhuman]

"I would like to ask the local cleric more about their religion, as being raised with an open mind to listen and learn (and only told of one legend story for bedtime in my youth)... Father Syrus didn't hold any belief himself, but he was still enjoying listening to others of their own..."

"... but right now, I don't think they would be open to... talking with me just yet... what with my gray skin and all..." ^^;

(Wanted to ask Father Aldurn as Orchid just for laughs)

But luckily, with the magic of her charm, she's able to walk the town freely. Even enter the church, and speak to reverend Father himself.

Father Aldurn closes his book before he continues.

"The Aether, and the Nether, both places one could access with the right resources. Heaven and hell. Death brings one of three options:"

"One: A soul that is virtuous, is given the gift of "creation," spirit awakening within the paradise of the aether, free to fly and create in true paradise for eternity.

Two: A soul that is vengeful, filled with hatred and spite, is bound to eternal damnation. Dread souls to become a part of the soul-sand that covers the nether realm.

Three: Some say, that within the realm of the void exists a form of purgatory. Lost souls wander the barren wastelands of the void and the endrealm, their former beings slowly stripping away, until they become akin to a pearlless enderfolk, screaming in the dark with powers they can't control."

"If you want to learn more, my child, perhaps you would like to attend one of my sermons!"

[sm-baby]

"She's so small?!?!"

"Your doing just fine my child, but if it would make you feel better we can put them down for a nap..."

Father Syrus would treat Ronald as a real baby, regardless if he was a doll because he is real to Clancy. As for baby Orchid (still a few days old here), long story short; she was to be born as a twin but was the only one of the two that lived (kinda)... So she is just happy to have someone/thing close to her as she sleeps.

I can see Clancy and Ronald (and everyone else from your universe) being bigger than those from my universe... So yeah, Clancy is a BIG mom~

I hope you like this~ ☺️

ORCHID THE SIZE OF HER PALM pleeassee this is so cute 🥺🥺 Syrus, thank you, big mann!! She loves babies, you made her day TwT Roland have lil lady friend! Orchid looks so cute when shes sleepin next to himm hhh she enjoying her timmeee,, hhhh

Big mom 💕 I love it here 🩷🩷 Syrus and Orchid beloved... They are friends.. so tiny... Face so small.. give gentol kisses

[icanbeyourgenie]

“ Did one of you discover anything at all about the Backwater? ” – Morgana to Aeron and Yasmeen

Aeron arrived last at the little meeting, and he could already tell his fun night out was compromised. Morgana was obviously seething. Such a shame, he was already pre-drunk for the party he organized.

They were not alone in the room. Euphemia was on the side, with an annoyed look that didn't leave her since Aeron and Calypso's wedding. Rhys put an arm over her shoulder and she made no effort to hide her disgusted face - he's been courting her ever since her engagement to Aeron was called off. Aldris was stoic next to them, looking every bit the sociopathic serial killer he was. Xanthe paid them no mind, scrabbling something on a page like the whole room was empty.

It was only when Aeron noticed Syrus that he lightened up a bit. His uncle was practically laid out on a chair, smirking at him, like they shared a private joke. Like he found Morgana's temper as laugh-worthy as him. Aeron repressed a smile. Despite his uncle laid out posture, he radiated power all the same. And so did the high queen. So the golden son straightened up and looked at her.

But she wasn't looking at him. Her ire gaze was directed at Yasmeen. Aeron suddenly realized how she was the only human there. He had a tendency to forget it. That girl had never looked fragile or weak to him, like all humans were. But here, in this room, he suddenly remembered her mortality. And if she did too, she didn't show it one bit.

❝I know about princess Calypso's interests.❞ Yasmeen spoke, voice clear. ❝Her hobbies, her favorite food, items. Nothing of interest to you, my queen.❞

Morgana relaxed a second at this mention of respect, and Aeron couldn't help but find this childish. ❝No, indeed. I was beginning to think that wasting your abilities on Calypso was a mistake on my part. But I heard that a few nights ago, the prince Malachai asked you to come to his chamber.❞

❝He did, your Majesty.❞

Euphemia chimed in. ❝And? What happened?❞

Aeron almost rolled his eyes at his cousin's ignorance. Yasmeen didn't react. She knew that answering Euphemia's questions while Morgana was directly talking to her would be considered disrespectful. Besides, it was a stupid question.

❝I assume that if you learned anything valuable, you would have reported to me immediately?❞ Morgana threatened, more than asked.

❝Yes, your Majesty.❞

❝Good. Because it doesn't align with me how my most skilled spy have found no valuable information about the enemy after two months in their constant presence.❞ Morgana grabbed Yasmeen's chin threateningly. ❝One might wonder where said-spy's loyalty lies.❞

This is when Aeron decided to speak. He didn't know why. ❝I've spent months trying to gather informations out of Calypso. I don't think she has extensive knowledge of her father's moves.❞

Morgana finally diverted her attention away from Yasmeen, back to her favorite son. But Syrus spoke first. ❝But his first son and general of his army will. Our lovely changeling here caught his attention. Now she simply has to keep seducing him and all the informations will be ours.❞

A part of Aeron wanted to argue that Yasmeen had shown she had other means to get information rather than sex. Another part wanted to argue that he believed Malachai to be less stupid than that. But instead he just said: ❝Let's all clarify why I was forced to get married to the daughter of Triton if we're still talking about a war, shall we?❞

❝I told you,❞ Xanthe answered, and Aeron was surprised to see that he actually listened. ❝We're just buying time.❞

❝And you could help if you spent a little more time with your wife gaining her trust instead of... whatever the hell it is you're doing.❞ This time Aldris spoke - the one person in this room Aeron disliked more than Rhysand.

❝My wife is happier away from me, and it works both ways.❞

Morgana came closer to him - Yasmeen forgotten, the girl was as silent as the dead. Morgana cupped his face in a more gentle way. ❝But ruling a kingdom isn't about being happy, my son. It's about doing what you have to do.❞

Rhys immediately stood up. ❝He doesn't understand this, mother. But I do.❞

Aeron rolled his eyes shamelessly. What a sucker his brother was.

❝So if I recap, Yasmeen and I are expected to slut our ways into getting informations for your awaited war. Is that what I'm supposed to get from this little meeting?❞

Syrus chuckled at his impertinence. Aeron knew that no one else in this room would have gotten away with that kind of answer. He had privileges on that part. ❝That's pretty much it, yes.❞ His uncle said almost fondly.

❝Then Xanthe should join us too. After all, he had Nathaniel in his bed like what... six ? seven times?❞ Xanthe looked at him with an unreadable expression. But Morgana cut before he could reply.

❝Xanthe will do his part to help the family and so will you. I hope I am making myself clear. Now, Yasmeen, escort my son back to his chambers. His wife awaits him.❞

Aeron didn't say a thing as he followed Yasmeen. It's not like he had any real agency here, and neither did she.

❝You must truly hate us all.❞

❝I love my queen, and I am loyal to her.❞ She answered with a placid voice that made him smirk.

❝Lies are so fascinating. You have always been a great liar. Maybe this is why you told the best stories.❞

❝I didn't know you liked to dwell on memories.❞

❝I don't. But I'm rather drunk, even if it doesn't show-❞

❝It does.❞

❝Ouch. Okay.❞

They walked in silence for a while until Aeron grabbed her wrist to stop them. She immediately grabbed one of her knives.

❝I know Calypso is nice to you. But no one is worth losing your head over. She'd betray you in an instant if her father asked it of her.❞

❝You don't know her.❞

❝It doesn't matter. Everyone is like that, no matter how nice. Sooner or later, they'll turn on you. You should know that.❞

❝I do.❞ She answered coldly while retracting her hand. ❝There's nothing to betray. I didn't lie. Now, if you'll excuse me, we reached our destination and I have other places to be.❞

Aeron frowned when he realized they were not in front of his marital chambers, but his old ones, that he still used. ❝I think my mother intended for you to escort me to Calypso.❞

❝Then she should've been clearer. I'm only human after all. Besides, the princess deserves better than your drunk company.❞

He laughed while her gaze remained icy. ❝You like her too much. It'll get you killed.❞

❝Your Highness is ever so kind to worry about me.❞ The sarcasm was now clear in her voice. She opened the door. ❝After you.❞

Aeron sighed and entered the room. He opened his mouth to say something but she had already closed the door. He knew that if he were to open it, Yasmeen would already be long gone. So instead he just fell on his bed, trying to find every possible ways to get out of the castle and back on his ship as soon as possible, until the moment sleep claimed him.

[seekerbr]

So, a while back i wrote some notes for a fanfic idea that I had, about Kaiba adopting Jaden when he was very little; there is a lot of fanart about it and a few fanfics too, but a lot of them focused on ships i don't care a lot about so i wanted to write my own take on it... the only problem being that i haven't watched a lot of GX yet, so I didn't feel that confident on writing it, also don't really have a lot of free time.

So i'm posting my notes on it here! Maybe i finish it someday, i don't know, but here it is:

Plot: Jaden Yuki is actually Seto Kaiba’s adopted son, probably named Jaden Kaiba. His biological parents died when he was very young, and Kaiba at the time wanted to adopt a child (he would not admit it out loud, but he was feeling a bit lonely after Mokuba grew up and started to study a lot more and go out with friends, and so decided to adopt someone).

His personality is still pretty similar to the original, very cheery, lazy and childish, but a little smarter since he studied a lot more when he was younger (not a lot though…).

His relationship with his father is a little… complicated. His father clearly loves him, and wants to protect Jaden of any problem that could happen. Jaden also loves his father, and thinks that he is super cool and talented. But Kaiba can be quite clueless about people’s emotions and needs sometimes, and Jaden is pretty reckless and energetic in a way that frustrates his father quite often.

He also wants him to inherit KaibaCorp one day, something that Jaden really does not want to do (he finds this kind of job very boring) and instead wants to become a professional duelist, and become the next king of games. I imagine that the stuff with Yubel happening with him during his childhood too, and I can’t imagine that Seto would want him to spend a lot of his time dueling after all that.

He met Yugi and friends quite a few times, usually on his birthdays. Kaiba did not invite them, of course, but Mokuba wanted the closest thing he had to friends to meet his son. Jaden loves Joey and Yugi, and imitates them a lot, something that annoys his father quite a bit.

(BTW, Yugi has retired from dueling, and now works making games and in his grandfather’s gameshop. He works for KaibaCorp, and can give advice to Kaiba and Mokuba on how to deal with some of Jaden’s emotions sometimes.)

Besides Yugi’s friends, he also probably met Pegasus before (though I doubt that his father ever told him about the bad things he did in the past), as well as Zigfried and Chazz’s brothers. In fact he probably met Chazz when he was younger, but he would not recognize Jaden now.

That’s because Jaden would not be recognizable as Kaiba’s son for the average person; for one, Kaiba decided to not put the spotlight on his son a lot, especially after his childhood, mostly by the insistence of Mokuba to give him a better life as a teen and also stop him from getting kidnapped a lot. He also usually changes Jaden’s hair with gel when they are together, so people won't really know him by his natural “Kuriboh hair” look.

He ends up going to Duel Academy after fighting with his father about his future, with him initially not wanting his son to go; he creates a fake last name (Yuki, inspired by Yugi) and never tells his friends, other students or teachers about the fact that Seto Kaiba is his father (maybe Shepard knows about it, Crowler definitely does not); his father also does not know initially, but Jaden tells him pretty early on and he begrudgingly accepts it. He calls his father on the phone sometimes, probably lies about being in Obelisk Blue. (maybe his father learns the truth later on, won't tell Jaden though.) 

That means that when he helps people with their family problems (Syrus, Chumley, Chazz, Alexis… a lot of people actually) it feels very strange for him; he does not know how to solve the problems with his own father, and just wants to run away from his problems with him.

Eventually i guess Kaiba would finally visit his own school and finally discuss things with Jaden face to face, probably the two would fight about his choices for his future and the fact he's in Slifer. Jaden's friends would probaby be shocked to say the least

[emc2beans]

I may have missed Gwynedd's nameday but I didn't forget about Llewellyn! To celebrate, I am posting Chapter 0 of a fic I'm working on. Sort of a 'what are some of the other characters doing while WoL is busy WoL-ing' with some OC x Canon because I can't help myself.

Join me as I dump further emotional turmoil on some teens and 20-somethings who are already going to be traumatized by the narrative.

***

Chapter 0: Meet the Grufuds

(Takes place post-Heavensward)

The streets of Limsa Lominsa were buzzing with activity, from the stalls of Hawkers Alley down to the docks themselves. At present, Alphinaud was doing his best to keep up with the towering Warrior of Light, Gwynned Grufud, as they sought to fill a list of requests given to them by Tataru. It was mostly things that they would have had a hard time finding in Revenant’s Toll. Additionally, their main reason for venturing to the capital of Vylbrand was the fact that there was an important shipment to pick up from the shipyard. A crate of rare tomes sent from Sharlayan, at Scions’ request, that required an escort back to the Rising Stones. Tataru had informed them that they were scheduled to meet with the captain of this particular vessel at a certain time, but Gwynedd was adamant that they could be there as early as they wanted and would not elaborate as to why she was so certain.

The ship itself was easy to find. It was much larger than the other mercantile vessels and sported a long, pointed prow covered in plates of what was likely pillaged Garlean steel. On the steel was engraved The Hullripper, completing the image of this imposing ship. As Alphinaud expected, the gangplank had not been lowered.

“I believe we are still a bit early.” He wanted to give Gwynedd the benefit of the doubt as she was friendly with many of the crews that frequented the Lominsan docks. 

“Give me a mo’.” Gwynedd smiled and put two fingers to her lips. She blew two short whistles, then waited. From the deck of the ship came a chorus of three shrill whistles, a perfect call and response. A few moments later, the gangplank was lowered and Alphinaud could hear faint giggles coming from on deck. Gwynedd waved him along as she quickly jogged up the gangplank. Alphinaud followed behind, unprepared for what was waiting for them.

“Gwyn’s back, Gwyn’s back!” Five children, the youngest at about six and the oldest looking to be around eleven or twelve, swarmed the woman. 

“Where have you been? Did you really fight a dragon like you said in your letters?” A little miqo’te girl asked as she climbed up Gwynedd’s clothes to reach her shoulder. 

“How did you kill Titan? And Leviathan? Tell me!!!” A slightly older hyur boy bounced excitedly as he shouted his questions, clinging to the leg of Gwynedd’s trousers. 

“Who did you bring with you? Hi!” A floppy-eared viera girl leaned around Gwynedd to wave at Alphinaud. 

“Yes, I did fight a dragon, Nari. I’ll tell ye the stories later, Screech, but I’m here on business.” She pulled the hyuran boy off of her leg and turned to Alphinaud.  “Meet my little siblings. Siblings, meet my friend Alphinaud.” Gwynedd proceeded to introduce the children from oldest to youngest; Matia (viera girl, 11), Cavato (lalafell boy, 10), Syrus a.k.a. Screech (hyur boy, 8), Fiona (elezen girl, 8), and L’nari (miqo’te girl, 6). “Now then, where’s the captain?” Gwynedd asked, looking around the deck. 

“Muu-uumm! Daa-aaadd!! Gwynedd’s home!!!” L’nari shouted, making Gwynedd wince. The doors leading below deck swung open and out stepped two older roegadyn. 

“Gwyn! Gods, lass, how long’s it been since ye left us?” The woman clad in a dark green jacket and tricorn hat hurried over and pulled Gwynedd into a tight hug. 

“Too long, Mum, too long.” She replied, smiling at the pair. The man, Gwynedd’s father, took his turn embracing his eldest daughter and then plucked the little miqo’te from her shoulder. 

“L’nari, wha’ ‘ave I said about climbin’ folks?” He asked the girl as she wriggled her way around to hang onto his back instead. Gwynedd chuckled heartily and put a hand on Alphinaud’s shoulder. 

“Mum, Dad, I’d like you to meet Alphinaud Leveilleur, pretty certain I’ve mentioned him in my letters. Alphinaud, allow me to introduce Captain Angharad Grufud and her first mate Rhodri Grufud, my parents.” She beamed with pride. 

“A pleasure to meet you. Gwynedd has told me much about you.” Alphinaud felt extremely small next to the three towering, muscular roegadyn. Of the two, Gwynedd definitely looked more like her father in both face and stature, being solidly built and sharp-jawed. 

“Aye, and am I to understand that you two are also here for that crate of Sharlayan books? Your brother’s been itching to get at them, Gwyn, should nobody show up to collect.” Angharad smiled. 

“Don’t worry, Alphie, I’ve only got one more sibling on this ship.” Gwynedd said, sensing her companion’s confusion as to just how big this family was. “You and he are about the same age, if memory serves. Come on, I’ll take you to say hello.” She led Alphinaud towards the captain’s quarters at the back of the ship. With no warning, she kicked the doors open and charged inside. “Welly, I’m ba-ack!”

“Wha- hey, Gwyn- ahk! Put me down!” The occupant of the room protested. Alphinaud carefully stopped the swinging doors and entered. Inside, Gwynedd had a younger roegadyn man in a bear hug, fully lifting him off of the ground. Laughing heartily, Gwynedd put her brother down. 

“This is my baby brother, Welly!” She slapped her brother’s back firmly. 

“Llewellyn Grufud, pleasure to meet you.” He offered a handshake and a smile to Alphinaud, who returned the gestures in kind. 

“Alphinaud Leveilleur, and the pleasure is mine.” Alphinaud could definitely see that Llewellyn and Gwynedd were related, but Llewellyn lacked his sister’s roughened edges. He was also much shorter, and built from lean muscle rather than being broad and chiseled from stone like most roegadyn. He had a gentle face, piercing sea-green eyes, an adorably lopsided smile, soft-looking lips… Alphinaud could feel the tips of his ears turning red. Twelve preserve, had he been staring? He pulled his hand back and cleared his throat. 

“Ah, right, you must be here for the books! One moment, please. I’ll go grab them from the hold.” Llewellyn moved towards the door but Gwynedd’s hand on his shoulder stopped him. 

“I’ll get it, I know what I’m looking for. Why don’t you show Alphinaud all your fancy navigation stuff.” She waved at the map laid out on the center table and the instruments sitting on it, then made a quick exit.

~~~

Llewellyn internally cursed his sister for leaving him awkwardly alone with, and for embarrassing him in front of, someone new (and cute). At least she had suggested discussing something Llewellyn was competent in. He explained the finer points of his modifications of the standard route from Limsa to Kugane, all while Alphinaud listened with rapt attention. His attentive, deep blue eyes followed along as Llewellyn traced the line of the route, the sunlight coming in from the window sparkling through the elezen’s platinum-white hair. Alphinaud asked him a question and Llewellyn was grateful for the distraction. Suddenly, the doors creaked open again. 

“Hope you two didn’t get into any trouble while I was gone.” Gwynedd grinned, the large crate of books tucked under her arm. 

“No, no, Llewellyn was just showing me how he charted the ship’s next course. It was fascinating.” He glanced back at the other teen, a light pink dusting his cheeks. “Perhaps, if you ever find yourself near Mor Dhona, you could come to the Rising Stones and I’ll show you some of the books on astral triangulation we have there.” Alphinaud suggested. “Only if you’re interested, of course.”

“Sure!” Llewellyn reigned in his enthusiasm. “I-I’d like that.” 

“I look forward to it. Until then.” Alphinaud smiled warmly and went back out onto the deck. Gwynedd gave her brother a thumbs-up and followed her companion out, closing the doors behind her. Llewellyn wanted to scream, both at the elated feeling in his chest and at his insufferable sister’s behavior.

~~~

As he unpacked the Sharlayan books, organizing them based on which of his fellow Scions had requested which book, Alphinaud’s mind began to wander. He had never realized just how much family the Warrior of Light had; she had never even mentioned being raised on a ship. It shouldn’t have surprised him as much as it did, as Gwynedd had been protective and nurturing towards him since their first meeting. She likely saw similarities between himself and her brother, Llewellyn. 

Alphinaud recalled his recent introduction to Llewellyn Grufud. The rough, warm skin of hand, his genuine smile and brilliant teal eyes, and on top of that he was very tall. Llewellyn even seemed interested in some of the same things he was and he hoped that they would have the chance to talk again. The sudden, giddy flutter in his chest made Alphinaud pause. He did want to see Llewellyn again, to get to know him better, but was there something else beneath the simple desire for friendship? It wasn’t as if Alphinaud lacked friends, it was just that the Scions were all much older than him and his schoolmates back in Sharlayan were often… behind him in terms of academics and maturity. 

He recalled the times at the Studium where male classmates would mistake him for his sister, the confusion undercut with excitement when they flirted with him. That excitement was something he would always quickly squash down. Not that he thought there was anything wrong with the idea of two men being romantically involved, but he had his family’s reputation and future to think about, something his father had so often impressed the importance of upon him. Sharlayan was not terribly accepting of deviance from the prescribed norms, either. Alphinaud put the book in his hand down with a sigh. 

Even if he was going to allow himself to consider the idea of dating another boy, he was assuming a lot in terms of what Llewellyn was interested in. It was better to hope for a comfortable friendship, like the one Alphinaud had fostered with Arenvald back when the Scions were still at the Waking Sands. He felt a little bit better as he formulated this course of action, firmly ignoring any emotions that would change his course. 

[orchid-151]

Orchid, I have a question for you.

When did you decide you wanted to become a cleric? was it fate or something you just could see yourself doing as your profession?

"Funny thing, I chose this career path because I could tell Father Syrus was... not at his best. It's also the only career I've seen most of my life... Mason didn't seem interested in showing me much of the stonemasonary at the time..."

"Much like Father Syrus, my potions are not the best, but I can contribute with other skills like healing... and.... well, I can heal people and that's a plus~"

[imagine-that-one-thing]

Chapter 8: “"Mirages of the Mind: Anna's Dilemma"

Word count: 5,829

Harry x Anastasia || Fanfic series

Master Link || Chat with me

•••

Anna’s POV

I walk into the breakfast room and smile at my mother, father, and Syrus, feeling a mix of amusement and disbelief at seeing the villain himself enjoying his strawberries as if he weren't blackmailing people in his quest for the crown. He looks so innocent, pretending to be a devoted family man who loves having breakfast with his brother and sister-in-law. I approach the table, offering another smile as I take my father's cup of coffee. "I'm sure you'll need this for your hangover," he remarks, unimpressed by my gesture.

“I am not hung over,” I respond. “I saw you at the bar, you set me up,” I accuse Syrus at the breakfast table, my words making my mother pause mid-bite, her eyes darting to mine.

“I’m not sure what you mean,” Syrus replies, his tone calm as he takes a sip of his coffee. “I was at the cottage.”

“You’re lying,” I shake my head, adamant. “I saw you watching me.”

“I don't find your life that enthralling to watch, Anna. That’s your security guards’ job,” he retorts with a dismissive wave of his hand.

“But you were there,” I insist.

“Anna,” my father cuts in, his voice firm, “He was at the cottage with me. I can confirm that.”

“I know what I saw,” I counter, feeling isolated in my certainty.

“You must be mistaken,” my father suggests soothingly. “It’s okay, it happens. You’ve been under a lot of stress, and we all see things that aren’t there, especially after a few drinks.”

Their dismissals are smooth, and calculated, and my discomfort grows with each word. They’re wrong, I think, even as a sliver of doubt creeps in. Am I truly recalling what I saw, or is the stress finally getting to me? The certainty I felt wavers, but deep inside, the truth gnaws at me, persistent and unsettling.

I stare at the three of them, looking for answers that I won’t find. “Mother?” I look towards her, unsure of why she hasn’t said a word.

“I was also with them at the cottage,” my mother confirms with soft eyes. “You did have a lot of tequila, honey.”

I nod my head in defeat. Did the tequila deceive me? Surely not.

I walk out of the room and find myself in a secluded part of the palace, a space filled with paintings and art pieces that are covered with sheets. The room is large and dimly lit, with only a few overhead lights casting a soft glow on the covered artworks. The air is cool and carries a faint scent of dust and old canvas.

The darkness feels oppressive. I slide down the wall, resting my back against the wall as I hit the floor, my head in my hands. My mind is a battleground, and I am losing.

"Did I really see Syrus?" I mutter to myself, the words barely audible. The image of him at the bar is so clear, so vivid. I can still picture the way his eyes met mine. But now, doubt seeps in, insidious and cold.

Could it have been the tequila? I shake my head, trying to dispel the thought. I've had my share of moments, and alcohol has never played tricks on my mind like this before. But everyone else is so sure. They were all at the cottage. They all say I was too drunk to know what I saw. I swear he was there. He handed me a drink.

I get up and start pacing, the motion giving me a semblance of control.

The questions swirl, each one more damning than the last. "Am I really losing it?" I ask the room. My reflection in a gold mirror looks back at me, eyes haunted and tired. "Is this what it's come to? Seeing ghosts in bars and doubting my own sanity?"

Is this what is coming to? Talking to myself in a room trying to convince myself that I am sane… It’ is only insane if I answer my own questions, right? Fuck, maybe I am losing my sanity like I am everything else.

I close my eyes, trying to steady my racing thoughts. What if the stress is getting to me? What if this is just a symptom of everything I've been dealing with lately? Work, family, and the constant pressure to keep it all together. Maybe my mind is finally cracking under the weight.

But then I think of Syrus, of the way he looked at me. It felt real. It was real. I know it was.

"Or was it?" I whisper, the doubt creeping back in.

*** Flash Back ***

“Shots on me,” I grin, gesturing for a round of shots for the new friends’ I have encountered while on a tequila high, tequila running through my veins— giving me a new sense of freedom and being on fire in an excillering way. It feels like I have unearthed a new sort of high where nothing and nobody can damper my spirits. I want to feel the rush of tequila down my throat and the beat of the music never end amongst the sensations of bodies dancing. It’s a feeling I have never had the privilege to feel before, which is odd— privilege is something most would say I have— how ironic.

I throw my head back, the clear, cold tequila humming through my body as I bite down on the lime, the thrill radiating as we all smile with twinkling eyes. I'm drinking with random people, trying to keep my cover as a princess. The strangers around me are blissfully unaware, and I relish the freedom of anonymity. My laughter blends with theirs, my eyes sparkling with a mix of excitement and apprehension. I never want this night to end. Is this what freedom truly is? I want to live on this high for as long as possible.

Then, out of nowhere, I see him. He’s standing against a wall, a smirk painted across his face, the overhead lights casting a dark shadow on his face. “What did you say your name was?” A girl asks me as she hands me another shot.

I smile at her, taking the chilled tequila in my hand, “Sophie,” I respond, taking the shot and eyeing the man in view. I glare at him as the lime touches my lips. I can’t believe he’s here, lurking in the shadows, acting as though I cannot see him.

The man wanders closer, “Smile,” Syrus laughs, holding his phone up and taking a photo of me, “Parliment is going to love this.”

I lift my shoulders into a shrug, “And you will still never have the crown,” I respond with a mischievous chuckle. Fuck him, and the crown.

“And, you my dear are irrelevant now,” he responds, “Here, have another,” he hands me a glass.

I cock my head to the side, “It isn’t tequila.”

Syrus shakes his head, “It’s better,” he responds, “It’s second best to tequila, whiskey. Go ahead, take a drink.”

A voice inside my head tells me not to, but the devil on my shoulder who doesn’t have a care in the world takes the drink, downs it and hands the empty glass back to Syrus, my eyes staring him dead in the eyes. “I will see you on the other side,” I smile.

“Bold,” he comments before stepping away, leaving me alone with the unknown bodies around me.

The club spins around me, bright lights flashing like dismantled stars burning out, yet still managing to blink in my vision. I take a heavy breath, feeling the tequila take over my body, clouding my thoughts and numbing my fears. I know I've screwed up, and even though I’m terrified of what awaits in the shadows at the end of this tequila high, I can’t help but love every moment of this chaos. The club is bouncing, a dizzying sensation pulling at my head as I dance among a group of girls, our drunken giggles barely audible over the pounding music and the hollering men at the bar.

I dance with a blonde girl—was her name Ivy? Or Mia? No, it was Ivy. Her smile widens, her eyes glistening with a flicker of lust as she cocks her head to the side. "Now, that's a man if I ever saw one," she says with a cheeky grin.

I spin around on my heel a little too fast, and my breath hitches in my throat when my body collides with a familiar scent and piercing blue eyes. Oh, I am really screwed now.

His presence sends a shiver down my spine, a mix of excitement and dread pooling in my stomach. The music seems to fade as my heart races, pounding louder than the bass. I try to steady myself, but the tequila has other plans. His eyes lock onto mine, and I see a flicker of dismay in his gaze.

"Anna," he says, his voice a low, rough whisper that cuts through the noise. I swallow hard, my mouth suddenly dry. I force a smile, trying to mask the whirlwind of emotions inside me.

"Hey," I manage to say, my voice sounding steadier than I feel. I can feel Ivy’s curious eyes on us, but I can't tear my gaze away from him. He steps closer, his hand brushing against my arm.

"We need to talk," he says, and there's no mistaking the seriousness in his tone. “And you,” Niall flashes a charming smile at Ivy and leans in close, his voice smooth and confident. "Can I borrow your friend for a minute? I promise to bring her back safe and sound. And when I do, how about I make it up to you with a drink?"

I roll my eyes at Niall and notice Ivy smirk as she nods her head. Niall smiles before he takes my hand, leading me away from the dance floor. I glance back at Ivy, who gives me a knowing look and a thumbs-up. I force a smile in return, but inside, I’m a mess of nerves and anger wanting to boil over. Who the fuck is Niall to interrupt and drag me away?

As we weave through the crowd, the music fading into the background, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m walking into something I’m not ready for.

Niall leads me to a bar and a cock an eyebrow. Odd place to bring me. More tequila? As if he reads my thoughts he shakes his head, and opens a hidden door beside the stacks of glasses and bottles, ushering me into a small, dimly lit room. It feels like stepping into another world, with the music now muffled and distant, the air cooler and less stifling but I feel suffocated. My eyes meet the bartender as he pushes off the wall, “Feel free to make yourself comfortable,” he gestures around, “I have a bar to get to, and I guess explain that you are my sister and not the Princess,” he smiles, walking out and leaving me with Niall.

"So," Niall begins as I sit down and press my back against the wall, kicking off my heels. "Do you want to call your security team or shall I?"

I glare at him, raising an eyebrow. "I didn't know you were moonlighting as my personal assistant now. Do you handle all damsel-in-distress calls, or am I just that special?"

Niall chuckles, leaning against the wall with a smirk. "Only the special ones, Anna. Besides, someone's got to keep an eye on you. You have a knack for finding trouble." His eyes soften slightly as he adds, "But seriously, you okay? You don’t usually do this without Harry."

“I don’t have to do everything with him around,” I respond.

Niall nods his head, “Fair enough, I guess I am calling him?”

“Well, I’m sure as fuck not going to,” I respond bitterly, leaning my head back and closing my eyes with a sigh.

No matter how much tequila I pour down my throat, it doesn't wash away the weight of stress on my shoulders. And no amount of tequila can erase the crown that always seems to rest on my head, no matter how many times I try to pawn it off like an unwanted chess piece.

The weight of expectations presses down on me like a heavy cloak, suffocating and relentless. No one bothered to consider my desires or fears; they simply thrust the crown upon my head and expected me to carry on as if nothing had changed. But everything has changed. I long to know the feeling of true freedom, to breathe without the weight of duty bearing down on me.

Home should be a sanctuary, a place of solace and comfort. Yet, for me, it's a fleeting concept, a distant dream. It's not confined within the walls of a palace, but rather within the heart of a man whose love I can't return in the way he deserves. He deserves better than to be tethered to my uncertain fate, better than to be ensnared in the web of politics and tradition. Home isn't always four walls; sometimes, it's found in the rhythm of a heartbeat. As poetic and sweet as that may sound, it leaves me unsettled to realize that my home resides within a man with green eyes, a man who doesn't wish to marry me— a man who has his own secrets he doesn’t wish to share. Within the intricate dance of palace life, there's another player with his own secrets, hidden behind the façade of charm and charisma. He moves with a quiet confidence, his every step calculated, his every word a carefully crafted illusion. My drunk thoughts whisper of his ties to a world far removed from the glamour of royalty, a world where secrets are currency and trust is a luxury.

I ache to break free from these constraints, to carve out a path that's truly mine. But for now, I'm trapped in a world that's not of my choosing, yearning for a sense of belonging that seems forever out of reach.

I glance at Niall as he pulls out his phone, a mischievous glint in my eyes. "Careful," I begin, my words laced with a tipsy slur. "You might open a can of worms."

"How so?" Niall's curiosity piques.

I chuckle, feeling the warmth of the alcohol coursing through me. "His people are going to be mad when they find out."

"Find out what?" Niall looks puzzled.

"About us," I reply, my words trailing off as I notice the rip in my stockings. "Really mad."

Niall's confusion deepens. "I don't understand."

I tilt my head, my gaze unfocused yet intense. "Secrets are currency and trust is a luxury," I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper.

Niall raises an eyebrow, a mixture of amusement and intrigue dancing in his eyes. "Poetic and drunk," he remarks with a smirk, but I can sense he's caught onto something deeper beneath my intoxicated ramblings.

"He doesn't trust me," I murmur, the words slipping out like a confession. "I'm like his dirty little secret, hidden away in the shadows while he parades around in the light." The hurt lingering beneath the surface like a festering wound.

“You’re just a little drunk.”

"And yet I am still in my right mind," I retort with a smirk, my words slightly slurred from the tequila. "Well, mostly. At least enough to know that I should probably stop talking before I accidentally spill all the secrets. Can't have that, now can we?" I chuckle, a hint of mischief dancing in my eyes.

"Secrets like what?" Niall asks, his curiosity evident in his tone.

“Like I want to marry him,” the words leave my lips effortlessly. “And that he’s—” I stop speaking as Niall’s phone goes off and he answers it, leaving me in my drunken thoughts. “He’s been lying to me,” I whisper, the tequila high slowly wearing off. I want more tequila, I don’t want to feel these feelings. I want to find the bottom of the bottle and wash it all away.

*** end flashback**

Harry’s pov

I rub my tired eyes as I navigate yet another endless hallway, the ornate details blurring together. Exhaustion weighs heavily on me, and my mind races with a thousand worries. I take a deep breath and go over my mental checklist: review the security cameras, escort the king at noon, remind Anna that I love her, call my sister and father, and section of the tunnels.

“We have an issue,” Niall seizes my arm in the hallway, his grip like a vice.

“I’m busy,” I respond, my mind scattered in a hundred directions, none of them on Niall.

“No, this isn’t some bogus issue we discuss over poker,” he growls, yanking me back with unexpected force. Alarm bells ring in my head.

“What is it?” I sigh, irritation bubbling up; the last thing I need is another problem.

“Anna has a meeting with parliament.”

“And why are you telling me?” I snap, impatience threading through my voice.

“Because you’re the one fucking her,” he spits out, his eyes blazing, “you’re the only one who can convince her that threatening them is a terrible idea.”

“What?” My eyes widen, shock slamming into me. “And I am not fucking her,” I mutter, my voice dropping to a fierce whisper.

“Come with me to the throne room,” he demands, his tone brooking no argument. He drags me along, leaving me no choice but to follow.

I wander into the Throne room with Niall, where I perceive Anastasia resting on the throne with one of the Royal swords on her lap. Her hand travels down the edges of the cover while the men of Parliament watch, all standing in proper suits. I glance towards Matthew, and he shrugs his shoulders subtly, indicating he has no clue what's going on. I step closer to him, my eyes focused on Anastasia. Anastasia takes the sword from its case and caresses her finger to the tip of the blade, gazing at the polished piece effortlessly and holding more power than I ever imagined attainable. Anastasia cocks her head to the side and smiles at the men, "I assume you're wondering why you're all gathered here today?" Anastasia questions, and the men all nod their heads, a few grunts escaping while a few shoes shuffle against the flooring.

I'm not sure whether this is good or bad, something inside me tells me I need to stop her, but I cannot.

This is her power. Not mine. On the other hand, I'm mildly turned on by this.

"You all know about the history of this sword, right?"... "We know it isn't The Sword of Mercy since this isn't the coronation of the British monarch." Anastasia begins, "This one holds so much history. I can only imagine how many people saw the wrong end of this," Anastasia stops glancing at the sword. She glances towards the parliament members, "In fact, in 1852, this very sword was used by King Aldrich, who slashed the arms of all the men who did him wrong. Legend has it, all men who were slashed three times and managed to fight off infection were cursed for the rest of their pitiful lives."

"Oh, God," I mutter under my breath, "Matthew, do you see this?"

"Shh, I want to hear the rest," Matthew responds, overseeing each man. "If you're not taking the throne beside her, shut up." Matthew presses, giving me his stern stare. He means business. I have no intention of taking the seat beside her. I don't believe it is my place or my throne. I roll my eyes and swallow my thoughts; instead, I shut my mouth and watch.

The men all have bewildered expressions on their faces, and a few seem to move their weight from foot to foot nervously. "Princess—"

"I'm not done speaking," Anastasia corrects one of the men, causing me to chuckle to myself. Damn.

Anastasia clears her throat and stands from her position on the throne, "As I was saying before, I was rudely interrupted by a man who seemingly is ready to use his male influence in an attempt to degrade me... This sword has a lot of history," Anastasia waves it around, "Don't be alarmed, I don't plan to use it just yet… a raise of hands who are the followers of Syrus,” Anna instructs, and the crowd stays quiet. “Oh, don’t be shy, I know who you are,” she chimes happily, forcing a few of the men to raise their hands. “Don’t make me name you one by one,” Anna smiles.

“Harry, are you going to watch?” Niall whispers, stunned by the events.

“I have no choice,” I respond, “Who am I to silence her from making a statement?”

A few men raise their arms silently. Anna clears her throat, “You're all banished. You're no longer my parliament members; I hereby dissolve you," Anastasia proclaims, gesturing the tip of the sword between the gathering of men who believe in Syrus.

"Her Majesty," one of the members begins, "You can't get rid of all of us."

"Oh, I can," Anastasia replies coolly. "But if you wish to redeem yourself, you're more than welcome to bow and repent." She gestures towards the small space at the bottom of the steps.

"Have you lost your mind?" another member declares, visibly shocked.

"I think you have if you think speaking to the future Queen with that tone is acceptable."

"You don't have power. You have a crown, which means nothing when you can't rule a country. You're unfit. The sovereign's powers are those of her government." The man’s face turns crimson, and his hands clench into fists.

I hold my breath, not liking his tone but deciding to give Anastasia a chance to stand up for herself as Queen.

"And my government is riddled with evil ties. Following Syrus is not an option. I will not stand for it any longer," she declares, her voice unwavering. Bold mood outing her dislike for her own Uncle. "Those who support my uncle's treacherous ambitions will find no place here."

"You think you can just dismiss us?" another member sneers, stepping forward. "We are loyal to the crown. Syrus is the rightful heir, and the most sane."

"Loyal to a tyrant?" Anastasia's eyes blaze with determination. "I will not allow this kingdom to fall into the hands of a man who seeks to corrupt and destroy it. Those who stand with him will be dealt with accordingly."

"And what will you do?" the crimson-faced man challenges, his voice dripping with disdain. "You are but one woman."

"One woman who has the courage to fight for what is right," Anastasia retorts. "And I am not alone. There are many who believe in a just and honourable rule. I am their Queen, and I will protect this kingdom from the likes of Syrus and his followers."

"You will regret this," the man hisses, but Anastasia stands firm.

"The only regret I would have is allowing evil to prevail. Now, leave this place, or bow and repent. The choice is yours," she commands, her gaze steady and unyielding.

The room falls silent as the members exchange uneasy glances. One by one, they begin to bow, recognizing the strength and resolve in their future Queen.

"I declare she is forced to abdicate, and she cannot have the crown!" One shakes his head mid-bow.

"The final call doesn't belong to you, sir," Anastasia responds, "And if the other members of Parliament don't have the balls to back you, I think it's safe to say that I, the future Queen, have dissolved you.” … "You may all leave… and just as a reminder," Anastasia brings the tip of the sword to her finger yet again, "Don't forget the sovereign's powers are those of her government and the world leaders behind her," Anastasia dismisses the men who instantly start quarrelling, their booming voices bouncing off the marble flooring.

I shake my head and stare at Niall, "This is either going to be good or fucking bad." I murmur before making my way to Anna. I push through the men and climb the few steps where I stand before her while she sits on her throne. "Anna," I begin, unsure what I'm meant to say. I'm not sure if I'm meant to be proud or concerned. The repercussions of this could be grave and impact us horribly.

"That sword won't protect you from a storm of angry men," I comment, just heavy enough for the two of us to understand.

"They're too busy fighting amongst themselves," Anastasia shrugs, "Dissolving them was the right thing to do."

I know she is correct, but this will open a can of worms that we don't want to deal with. Security will have to be heightened further.

"Live by the sword, die by the sword, Anna. I hope you know what you're doing." I am concerned she is holding a power that she can't keep a grasp of.

Anastasia peers at me and shrugs, "Guess I better make it worth dying for," she responds, "You don't have to agree with me."

"I'm concerned for your safety when it comes to dissolving these pricks. They could rebel and burn down the place."

"They don't have torches and pitchforks," Anastasia stands from her position and hands me the sword before kissing my cheek, "Keep this close, my darling."

I regard as Anastasia steps away from me, and I glare towards Matthew before scanning the room. Then, finally, I shake my head and follow Anastasia, trailing her away from the hostile parliament fellows and settling into a peaceful space. "Anna, what's your plan here?" I challenge, taking Anna by surprise as she spins on her heels. "Again, you need to be aware of your surroundings," I comment, aware she was not paying attention to the fact I followed her in here.

"Don't try to make me doubt my decision. I don't tell you how to do your job."

"Contrary to belief, you do," I shake my head in irritation, "But that isn't what I was asking. I am asking as your—." I trail off, realizing I have no real ground to interrogate her. I’m not her husband; I’m simply the quiet boyfriend who’s left in the dark.

I grow silent for a moment, clenching my jaw in frustration before shaking my head. "I am going back to work."

"Harry," Anna calls out as I turn to walk away. I stop in my tracks and sigh heavily, turning back around to face Anastasia. "You’re asking as my what?"

"Anna, I need to go to work."

"I’m never going to be anything more than the girl who’s in love with you, am I?" Anastasia asks, her eyes narrowing as she steps closer to me.

“Are we back to this topic again?” I snap, my irritation rising. “If I haven’t proven to you that you mean the world to me, then you clearly aren’t taking note. I need to go.”

“You agree with them, don’t you? That I shouldn’t be Queen. And that’s why you won’t go any further with me."

"Anna, be careful before you dig up something you don't want to dig up."

"What do you know that I don't?" Anastasia questions.

"Please don't make me tell you. I am begging." I breathe out, desperately not wanting to explain anything. I want to be with this woman more than anything but I can’t give her what she’s wanting right now. She’s wanting security and a damn ring.

Her eyes search mine, hurt and determination mingling in their depths. "Why can't you just be honest with me, Harry? What are you so afraid of?"

I feel my patience slipping. "I am being honest. You need to stop questioning everything and trust that I care about you."

"Then why does it feel like you're always holding back?" she demands, stepping even closer, her voice rising. "Like there's always something more important than us?"

My hands clench at my sides, my irritation boiling over. "Because sometimes there is, Anna! Sometimes there are things bigger than us, things I have to deal with. But that doesn't mean I don't care about you. I need to go to work. We'll talk later."

She shakes her head, her expression a mixture of anger and despair. "I'm tired of waiting, Harry. One day, you're going to have to choose."

I turn away, the weight of her words pressing heavily on me, my frustration simmering just beneath the surface. I know I am going to have to come clean and choose, I know the day is coming.

I sigh heavily and turn back to Anna. Anastasia stands in front of me, cocking her head to the side as her beautiful eyes burn into me. With each moment that passes, I feel like I am on trial for murder and being examined intently, judged if you will. "Do you believe them?"

I instantly shake my head, "No, baby." She wants reassurance that those men of parliament were wrong and that Syrus is wrong. However, holding a knife in the Palace doesn’t scream: ‘I’m a sane Queen.’

“Try not to stab anyone while I am working," I instruct, kissing her lips quickly.

Anastasia smiles and chuckles before shrugging her shoulders, "I cannot promise anything. You taught me how to use a knife well."

I shake my head, "Am I going to regret that?" Then, I question, "Because I am going to need a heads up if I need to move and hide a body."

Anna relocates her hair from around her face and shifts it behind her shoulders to fall down her back. "I'll ask Pippa for help; you seem to think she is good for things.”

"Oh, God," I mutter, "Goodbye, Anna, I will see you later," I chuckle, stepping away from her and walking out of the quiet room. I enter into the hallway of bustling staff, almost getting knocked over by one. "Watch it," I warn, letting out a breath.

The man glares at me, and I raise a brow as he shuffles past me and continues on his journey. I shake my head disapprovingly but shrug it off. It isn't my place to tell the staff what to do, but I expect they don't run around like chickens with their heads cut off, running into everyone.

I make my way down the hallway, listening to the in-ear as Oliver and Matthew debate who is meant to be on surveillance in the security chambers. I roll my eyes at the two of them, chuckling to myself before I peer into each office, trying to find Anna's mother, Willow.

I encounter her at a desk and knock on the door out of respect, waiting for her to send me off. Instead, Willow gestures at me, and I close the door behind me. "Must be private if you're closing the door," she laughs.

I nod my head and step closer to her desk. "You're serious," she presses, and I nodded again.

"Your Highness," I begin, but she graciously cuts me off.

"For the love of God, call me Willow.”

I clear my throat, "Sorry, Willow," I correct myself, feeling weird to have her name leave my lips. "I need to inform you that your daughter is inciting a war with parliament and Syrus while Alaric is off for the day."

Willow stares at me and puts her pen down, "Well, I didn’t expect that. I figured Anna was up to something when she asked where the sword was."

"And you gave it to her?" I curiously ask.

Anastasia's mother shrugs her shoulders and picks her pen up between her fingers, "Harry, her killing those men would be the least of my problems; they have it coming."

"What is it with you women being on a killing spree today?" I question lightly.

Willow doesn't respond; instead, she continues to write on her paper. I can only assume she is replying to a letter of some sort, "Parlament is not my problem, it’s Alaric and Anna’s. I’m just a silent woman who signs papers and writes notes.”

“You’re not concerned?” I ask.

Willow seals an envelope and stamps it before hovering it over her desk, gesturing for me to take it. I accept the vanilla envelope and look at her, "Will you make sure this is sent off?" she questions, and I nod my head. I am unsure why she is asking me to deliver her mail; she has an assistant who does that, but who am I to tell her no? "But no, I am not concerned. Anna’s taking over, as long as she’s firing men, it means she’s fighting for the monarchy.”

"We have different views," I respond, looking down at the envelope.

Willow takes me away from my thoughts, "Anastasia is doing what I’d have done if given the power. Syrus’ sheep can find other things to do. We both know he and his posse don’t need to be near the crown.”

I bow my head and hide my smirk before I make eye contact with Willow, "I have another question if you have time. I have two."

"My time is valuable, son. Make it worth it," Willow smiles towards me, and I chuckle.

I think for a moment, debating whether I want to ask the question or not. I know this may be crossing the line, but I need answers, and Willow is my source right now.

“Is she going to rule?” I question, “Syrus and Alaric don’t seem to be on the same page.”

Willow shrugs her shoulders nonchalantly, “I can only hope she figures out the ties of this monarchy and learns to overpower Syrus and the family.” … “Why do you care so much?” she questions.

I lift my shoulders into a shrug, “Curiosity.”

“Mhm,” she hums, “don’t you have a flight to prepare for?”

I stare at her with a raised brow. How does she know about my flight? Anna doesn’t even know I am leaving tonight for a few hours.

Willow chuckles, “Catch you off guard? That’s rare.”

“How do you know I have a flight? I haven’t told anybody.”

“I have my ways of finding out everything. Barcelona is nice.”

“You aren’t supposed to know where I am going,” I mutter, concerned as to how she knows where I am going. Nobody is meant to know.

Willow’s smile widens, her eyes sparkling with a knowing glint. “Harry, you should know by now that there are no secrets in our world. Especially not from someone who’s learned a trick or two.”

I narrow my eyes, my mind racing. In our line of work, being caught off guard could be deadly. “And what world is that?”

She leans in slightly, her voice barely a whisper. “The world where curiosity isn’t just a trait, but a necessity.” Her gaze locks onto mine, and for a moment, I see a reflection of my own guarded secrets in her eyes.

A cold sweat breaks out on my back. Could she know? The thought of my secret being revealed sends a wave of panic through me.

“I see,” I say carefully, masking my concern with a casual tone. “Curiosity can be dangerous, you know.”

Willow's smile never falters. “Only for those who have something to hide.”

I swallow hard, the weight of unspoken truths hanging heavy in the air. Willow knows more than she lets on, and in this game, knowledge is power. If she knows about my secrets, I need to find out how—and fast.

[mun-of-orchid-and-friends]

This is no way related to the Spiritober Event but I still wanted to share~ I have been helping @adventuringalchemy with a character development (the mentor character to Ivor) and I couldn't help myself with the art! They are really good at portraying his character and I can't wait for more interactions~

Below are the images 👇

For those who don't know our role play is on a private server and basically consist of them meeting back up after a certain time (this takes place in the alpha time line between Father Syrus traveling from the desert village to the spruce village) a non-cannon Alpha Timeline where they met as apprentice and child for a short while, Ivor being 17 years old and Orchid being 8 to 9 years old... After a month or so (we haven't gotten to that yet) Father Syrus leaves with Orchid and the events that happen in adventuringalchemy universe happen as is according to their world lore...

Role-playing for fun and development~

The first image is of a scene that hasn't happened yet, where they are encouraged to dance together~

This next one is just of some Doodles of ideas that were floating around...

And finally this next image has a little bit of something we talked about for fun, can a scene idea in which Drake makes his appearance in his hero form (how he originally looked before being able to change bodies/shapeshift) I wanted to see how it would look if I just colored it as a sketch...

It's already apparent that Drake has his own personal philosophies and ideas... And secrets...

And finally how big the pictures are actually in the SketchBook, just so you get an idea on how big the page is that I draw on...

I had fun just trying to draw something new ☺️

[aberooski]

Fuck it.

Random Yu-Gi-Oh GX headcanon dump part 2!

Part 1

Once again in no particular order, just the order they pop out of my brain.

Most of my headcanons are upsetting so we'll see what gets released from the vault this time 👀

Atticus takes care of anyone and everyone but himself, to an almost self-destructive degree at times.

The J-Squad kept in touch with Chumley after he left

Atticus is 100% a theater kid

Of the Primary Color Trio(tm), Syrus is the only one they trust to cook. As we've established, Jaden will burn down the kitchen if he tries, and Hassleberry isn't a bad cook, but he's the kinda guy who will have something really good and then walk away and accidentally wreck it.

Hassleberry has never measured ingredients in his life. He doesn't know what tea/tablespoons or measuring cups are.

Bastion's top artist on Spotify is Frank Sinatra

After graduation Atticus and Alexis made Chazz write down a list of things/experiences he's never done or had because of how restrictively he was brought up and they make it their mission to make sure he can cross off everything on the list.

Alexis has painted Chazz's nails for him more than once because she does a cleaner job than he does. 💅

Alexis also taught Chazz how to do eye liner

Jim tells people Shirley is his seeing eye croc when they ask why he has her

After graduation, every single one of them eventually starts going to therapy

Jesse was the one who finally convinced Jaden to at least try therapy after he repeatedly insisted to everyone that he didn't need it. He did

This is kinda canon actually, but Hassleberry doesn't remember what happens when he goes dinosaur berserk mode. The headcanon part is that it's not just like fuzzy memories or anything, there are just straight up holes in his memory. And it really bothers him.

Yuki is Jaden's mom's last name. She's Japanese but his dad is American and when they got married, he took her name.

Eventually, Bastion does return from the other dimension with Tania. Everyone is happy to see him. No one ever forgot him.

Aster carries Echo's memory with him until the day he dies. Just like his father, he'll always remember the poor girl who was murdered for a card. The girl he couldn’t save.

Crowler's the teacher everybody added on Facebook and all that after graduation because they're not his students anymore so they're allowed to be friends with him on social media 🤭

Syrus really does love his brother a lot, bit therapy really opens his eyes to how so many of his personal issues and fears and anxieties and inhibitions stem from Zane and how badly he treated him and how badly it stifled him as a person and is able to bring himself to hold Zane accountable for it all so he can actually find a way to heal from it all and they can truly mend their relationship.

Jaden regrets not holding Zane accountable for how he treated Syrus past their duel in episode 8 where the subsequently drops the issue because of Zane's dueling skills.

Bastion can play the piano

Chazz is the most bisexual little man on the planet 💖💙💜 pretty sure we all agree on this one

Atticus is pan 💖💛💙

Jaden and Jesse have gone as Jed and Octavius for Halloween at least once

One year Atticus used the fact that Halloween is his birthday as an excuse to convince Chazz be Snow White for Halloween so they could go as Snow White and Prince Florian.

By the time they're grown up and he and Atticus are living together/married the only family member of his that Chazz still keeps any contact with is his mom

Aster has intense trust issues after learning the truth about The D and his father's death

Hassleberry tilts his head like a dog when he's confused

Syrus actually gets sick a lot. 🤒

Zane giving kids cards to stop them from bullying Syrus was a common occurrence when they were little kids

Before Zane went off to train at Sheppard's dojo and before he started abusing Syrus in his own ways they were actually decently close considering Zane's inherent emotional distance

Slade and Jagger hated Chazz from day one.

Alexis has nightmares about Atticus being taken away again after he comes back. If they're bad enough, she'll go to his dorm in the middle of the night to check on him and make sure that he's safe, and often ends up sleeping on his couch for the rest of the night.

Chazz knows his family is homophobic so after he cuts his ties with his dad and his brothers, he comes out to Crowler because he's the closest thing to a genuine father figure he's really ever had

Crowler officiates Chazz and Atticus's wedding 💍

Inspired by Yusei, Jaden got a motorcycle post Bonds Beyond Time. He thought it would impress Jesse. It did.

Jesse is the first one to get their driver's license

Axel is the only one who has never crashed their car

Axel will always come whenever anyone needs help. No matter who, and no matter how far away they are.

While working on Chazz's experiences list Atticus and Alexis took him to the mall. She left them unsupervised for a few minutes to go to the bathroom. When she came back, they were gone, and when she found them again, Chazz had his ears pierced. Atticus had taken him to Claire's. She will never leave them unsupervised again. 🤦‍♀️

I think I'll call this one here for now!

Maybe next year I'll come back with part 3 🤭

[ask-tdw-0666]

"Who is Father Syrus? " Asher asked. Skyla looked a bit concerned for Orchid. "If you aren't comfortable telling us, you don't have to." She says.

[kanamori-kamper-moved]

SENDING YOU ANOTHER ONE: jun/chazz for the character meme :3

General opinion/How much I care about them:

I CARE FOR CHAZZ DEARLY!!! GX was the first series I watched after getting back into yugioh and I fell in LOVE. He is so boyfailure. He is so fucking stupid and a bi disaster. It’s so fucking insane. He…

A ship I love: chazz/Jaden (main ship!), chazz/Jaden/Jesse (second fave!), Jesse/Chazz, Alexis/Chazz, also Atticus/Chazz and partially Syrus/Chazz

A non-romantic relationship that I love:

It’s hard to say. Him and Atticus honestly. I think it’s cute how Chazz just. Looks up to him like some sort of god figure because he gets girls like he isn’t gay or some shit. Amazing.

The NOTP:

None! None I can think of now, at least.

My biggest headcanon about them:

Chazz Princeton is a transgender man, I know it because I made yugioh. He just has. This boymoding energy that makes me think about trans guys… and Chazz is really into scene, Alt, and emo fashion but he never got around to wearing stuff like that until he moved to duel academy!!! Baby goth!!!

He has specific tastes when it comes to guys and girls. Loves blonde girls and adores brunette guys. He has a type can you tell. Gave Syrus a chest binder while changing in the locker room, said it was because “no one wants to see your tits anymore, slacker.” But he did it because he did genuinely care for him. He has to work on that!!

Also smaller headcanons, chazz has self harm scars on his thighs and partially on his arms because life at home was not that good </3 I also like to think that when in relationships, Chazz tends to be emotionally distant. Not on purpose, of course, he’s touch and loved starved to all hell. But that was just how it was when he was a kid. He never got to see his mother that often and when he did his father and her barely spoke. All his father and his brothers desired was for him to be loved. He hasn’t been genuinely told, “I love you, Chazz” in a long time and he almost cried when Jaden told him that for the first time. His puberty depression was only exascerbated by the fact that his home life was so bad. Even when he told his brothers he was trans, they didn’t care, they just got him the surgery and said that just because he was a boy now, didn’t mean he didn’t have to live up to their expectations. SORRY FOR BEING ANGSTY I LIVE FOR IT

An idea for a fanfiction I would like to write/read about them:

Future GX stuff. Still a firm believer that him and Jaden moved in together after the series, I’m working on a fic about it rn!! It’s under my writing tag if you wanna see

And just fics in general about him being a bi trans disaster failboy. Love

Something that makes me think of them: Piercings, first love, scene and breakcore music, Queef Jerky (the band), and also tsunderes. Not a big fan of them BUT HE IS SOOOO TSUN TSUN