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inevitably-johnlocked · 4 years ago

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hello! i hope you have a happy holidays!! just a question: do you know any good crossover fics? :0 thanks so much! 🥰

Hi Nonny!!

Thank you! My holiday season was great <3 Sorry for the delay on the reply, but your ask was a great one because I’ve wanted to do an update list to my “movies and books” list, so I’m updating it to just “crossovers” because I have more to add and that makes me happy!!

This list ended up getting split across two asks, so for this one, this list is all my bookmarked fics. A part 1.5 with my MFL’s is coming shortly with another ask, and I ask y’all hold off to add your own suggestions to that list instead, please :) Thank you!

CROSSOVERS and FUSIONS (Feb 2021) Pt. 1

See Also:

Fairy Tales and Fantasy

TV, Movies, and Books AU (Fantasy Pt. 2)

Wonderful Life AU

Sherlock / Hannibal Crossovers?

Science Fiction / Fantasy

Faes / Faeries

Disney-esque Fics

Moulin Rouge AU

Crossovers & Fusions Pt.1.5 [MFLs]

It's After That Hurts by jonnyluvssherlock (T, 2,791 w., 1 Ch. || City of Angels AU || Fantasy, Fallen Angel Sherlock, Soldier John, Pining Sherlock, Friends to Lovers, Permanently Incomplete Fic) – Sherlock's an angel stuck as a guardian to danger addict John Watson. Everything is fine until he gets too involved. Now he has to make the choice, eternity alone or one life time with a man who may or may not love him.

Caffeine and Adaptive Programming by DemonicSymphony (E, 5,540 w., 1 Ch. || Androids AU / Bond Fusion || Android Sherlock, Coffee Shop AU, Pining John Hinted Bond / Q, Toplock) – Sherlock is a coffee shop android slowly falling for a regular customer. But he's not supposed to be able to feel emotions.

Captain John Watson, Genetics, and Other Crazy Things by cyerus (M, 5,581 w., 1 Ch. || Torchwood Crossover || Humour / Crack, Jealous Sherlock, Sexual Magnet John, Captain John, UST / RST, Three Continents Watson) – The explanation for John "Three Continents" Watson? Jack Harkness is his father. Sherlock doesn't know whether he's going to die from jealousy or sexual frustration first.

The Frost Child by twistedthicket1 (M, 9,994 w., 2 Ch. || Frozen-ish AU || Magical Realism, Christmas, Angst, Fluff, Powerful John) – In a world where people are born with a Gift of varying levels, simple John Watson is the last person one might look at when thinking of any strong Magick capabilities. Hiding comfortably in the shadow of Sherlock's brilliant deducing abilities, John is content to keep it that way...

London Gods by a_different_equation (E, 11,092 w., 5 Ch. || American Gods Fusion || Magical Realism, Sex Magic, True Love, PTSD John, First Kiss/Time, Marathon Sex, Sensuality, Genie Sherlock, Human John, Internalized Homophobia, Star-Crossed Lovers, Soul Mates) – Sherlock Holmes is a jinn who does not grant wishes. However, when Dr. John H. Watson, recently returned from the war in Afghanistan, gets into his cab by "accident", it might not even need magic to grant both men their deepest wish: love.

Equilibrium by augustbird (M, 12,351 w., 1 Ch. || Flowers for Algernon Fusion || Jealous then Worried Sherlock, Sick John) – At Baskerville, John is infected by a virus that turns him into a genius. But when the infection progresses into neurodegeneration, it's a race against time to save himself.

The Nutcracker by Odamaki (T, 13,758 w., 7 Ch. || Nutcracker AU || Christmas, Dark Magic, Dolls) – Sherlock is unimpressed with Uncle Rudy's present. A doll? What does he want with a doll?

Wonderful, Etcetera. by VictoryCandescence (T, 16,955 w., 3 Ch. || Wonderful Life AU || Alternate Timelines, Brotherhood, Homophobia, Suicidal Ideations, Mentions of Drug Use, Friendship, Different TRF, Sherlock’s Past, Victor Trevor is Past Boyfriend, Depression, Hallucination, Love Confessions, Christmas, First Kiss) – Sherlock thinks everyone would be better off if he had never existed, including and especially himself. When he finds himself in a world in which his wish has been granted, he begins to think perhaps even he could be wrong – but it takes an unlikely chaperone to make him not only observe, but understand.

Uncharted Territory by J_Baillier (T, 19,603 w., 4 Ch. || Dystopian Future / Black Mirror AU || Alternate First Meeting, Angst, Drama, Homophobia, Bisexuality, Technology, Humour, Romance, Near Future, Happy Ending) – The System puts people through a series of assigned relationships in order to determine who their Perfect Match is. John believes that it works; Sherlock really, really doesn't. One of them is probably going to be wrong.

Once Upon a Beast Becoming by antietamfalls (T, 24,042 w., 6 Ch. || Beauty and the Beast AU || Magical Realism, Folklore, Celtic Mythology) – An act of pride, a druid’s curse, an enchanted leaf; Sherlock’s torment has lasted an age. Hope arrives in the form of one John Watson, a man uniquely suited to break the spell. But with a single night to win his affections, Sherlock finds his carefully laid plans disrupted by a monstrous killer whose sights are set on the only thing he has left to lose: John.

Classified(s) by blueink3 (E, 36,153 w., 4 Ch. || Wedding Date AU || Fake Relationship, Jealous, PIning, H/C, Idiots in Love, Happy Ending, Mary is not Nice, Escort Service) – Clara's American father is the ambassador to some such territory that Great Britain probably used to own, but she (and Harry’s undying love for her) is the reason John is getting on a flight at 12:30pm, flying across the second largest ocean in the world, and pretending to be in a perfectly happy, healthy relationship with an undoubtedly perfectly coiffed stranger. See, Clara is not only American (and wealthy to boot), she's also best friends with John’s ex-fiancée. Whom she's placed in the wedding party. As Maid of Honor. And John just happens to be Best Man. Bloody brilliant.

The Boy Who Drank Stars by kinklock (E, 36,157 w., 4 Ch. || Howl’s Moving Castle AU || Witches and Wizards, Slow Burn, Magic, Jealous John, Happy Ending, Bed Sharing) – “I’m looking for a castle,” John informed the scarecrow. “A moving one.”Except that, as it turned out, it was not a moving one at all.

we have never seen a greater day than this by Lediona (T, 36,420 w., 7 Ch. || A Royal Night Out AU || WWII / VE Day, Prince Sherlock, Soldier John, Alternating POV, First Kiss, Bittersweet Ending, Homophobia, Dancing) – Peace. At long last. It’s VE Day and Prince William desires to join the celebrations. It is a night of excitement, danger and the first flutters of romance.

Malediction by MapleleafCameo (M, 36,680 w., 11 Ch. || Ladyhawke AU || Magical Realism, Romance, Curses, Eventual Happy Ending) – Cursed to a half-life, John and Sherlock must fight the forces of evil to be reunited once again.

Only To Be With You by SinceWhenDoYouCallMe_John (M, 40,768 w., 4 Ch. || Black Mirror / Future AU || Character Death, Future Technology, Sickness/Cancer/Illness, Heavy Angst with Happy Ending, First Person POV John, Pining John, Heart-Wrenching Angst) – I tell myself that next time I’ll come near this same place again. Wait around for the mysterious stranger in his coat to dash past me, hot on the heels of a new criminal in black. I think this all the way back to my Exit, planning where I’ll wait and what I’ll say when I see him. Scheming on how to get his name. It’s only once I reach the Exit Point door that I realize two hours and forty-five minutes have passed, and I realize that this won’t be the last time I Visit. It won’t be the last time at all.

The Curious Adventure of the Drs. Watson by ShinySherlock (M, 40,883 w., 14 Ch. || BBC & ACD Fusion || Victorianlock, Time Travel / Magical Realism, Friends to Lovers, Love and Kissing, Romance, Body Swap) – What if ACD Watson and BBC Watson switched places... “Imposter!” Hands clenching the lapels of John’s coat, Holmes shoved him anew. “Yes!” John agreed, nodding, and then grimacing. “Sort of!”

The Soul Remembers by i_ship_an_armada (E, 43,636 w., 10 Ch. || Oblivion AU || Post-Apocalypse, Movie Fusion, Science Fiction, Action/Adventure, Angst, Dreams, Bittersweet Ending) – John Watson is the lone security repairman stationed on a desolate, nearly-ruined future Earth. His dreams are plagued by a tall, dark-haired man, and when his dreams meet reality, he will be forced to question everything he believes is the truth about his life.

Anchor Point by trickybonmot (E, 49,856 w., 80 Ch. || Truman Show AU || Psychological Drama, Suspense, Slow Burn, Dark Characters / Fic, Alternating First/Third Person, Protective John, Anxious/Worried Sherlock, Tender Moments, Love Confessions, Hand/Blow Jobs, Cuddling, Jealous John, First Kiss/Time) – The world tunes in nightly for Sherlock, the ultimate in reality TV: Sherlock Holmes, a real person with a legendary name, unknowingly lives out his life in a staged setting contrived by his brother. Things get complicated when a retired army doctor joins the show to play the part of Sherlock's closest friend. This fic borrows its concept from the 1998 film, the Truman Show. However, you don't need to have any knowledge of the movie to enjoy this story.

Coventry by standbygo (E, 52,020 w., 26 Ch. || Dollhouse AU || Case Fic, Slow Burn, Sci-Fi / Fantasy, First Kiss / Time, Attempted Rape/Non-Con, BAMF John, Falling in Love) – “Let me get this straight,” John said, wondering when his life had become a science fiction film. “Some guy orders up a personality, a person, to his specifications, and they program this into a real live person, who has consented to do this, and she goes to this person and acts as his wife, or lawyer, or Royal Marine, or Navy Seal or what have you, and she has all the skills, all the knowledge, everything? Then you say the magic words, and she follows you back to The House, and they erase it all until her next appointment?”

floating through a dark blue sky by Lediona (M, 58,966 w., 15 Ch. || Notting Hill AU || POV John, Celebrity Sherlock, First Date / Time / Kiss, Past Drug Addiction, Angst with a Happy Ending) – Of course, I’d seen his films and always thought he was, well, brilliant -- but, you know, a million miles from the world I live in. Or, when John is the owner of a travel book shop and the famous Sherlock Holmes stops in one day.

Perdition's Flames by i_ship_an_armada (E, 63,435 w., 21 Ch. || Treklock AU, Est. Rel, Genetic Engineering, Angst & Fluff, BAMF!John) – Sherlock would do anything to save him. Risk anything. Give anything. His money, his life. His soul. What he does, though, is change both of their destinies forever. Genetic re-engineering is the only option left. It turns out researchers underestimated the life expectancy and potential abilities of genetically re-engineered subjects. The British government and what would eventually become the United Federation of Planets, however, had not. Part 1 of PF Universe

This Thing All Things Devours by cypress_tree (E, 63,844 w., 15 Ch. || In Time AU || Science Fiction, Dystopian Universe, First Meetings, Action / Adventure, Romance) – In 2169, time is money—literally. Humans are genetically engineered to stop aging at 25, when the numbers on their arm start counting down from one year. When that time is up, they die. The only way to get more time is to earn it, borrow it, or steal it.John Watson lives day-to-day in the crowded slums of Zone 13. He never imagined living any differently—until he meets the practically-immortal Sherlock, and helps him on a case to track a local time-thief...

Being John Watson-ish by elwinglyre (E, 69,902 w., 17 Ch. || Bodysnatcher AU || Author John, Cranky Sherlock, Angst, Sexual Tension, First Kiss / Time, Falling in Love, BAMF John, Past Soldier John, Feelings, Inside Someone’s Brain, Shy Sherlock, Sherlock Loves John, POV Sherlock, Switchlock, Slow Burn, Internal Dialogue, Mental Turmoil) – When consulting detective Sherlock Holmes steps on one toe too many at a crime scene, he's consigned to a desk job in an archaic office on the seventh-and-a-half floor of the New Scotland Yard. It’s in this bleak office that Sherlock discovers a portal into the mind of renowned author John Watson. Grander than his mind palace, this new wonderland affords Sherlock new vistas of experimentation. To learn more about the mystery behind the portal, Sherlock seeks out and befriends Watson. But then it all goes wrong when others find the secret portal door—including the man whose brain he visits.

The Baker Street Nativity by SwissMiss (E, 99,662 w., 23 Ch. || Nativity! AU || Teacher Sherlock / TA John, Pining, Sherlock POV, UST, Angst, Christmas, Music/Song Fic, Anal / BJ’s, First Kiss / Time) – Fusion between Sherlock (BBC) and Nativity! (2009 movie starring Martin Freeman). Sherlock is a primary school teacher and John is assigned to be his classroom assistant. Together, they are charged with putting on the school's Nativity play. What could possibly go wrong? Part 1 of The Baker Street Nativity Verse

The Cost of a Wish by slashscribe (E, 102,493 w., 12 Ch. || xxxHolic Fusion || Spirits / Ghosts and Magic, Love Confessions, Slow Burn, Soul Mates / Fated Lovers, Adventure, Immortal Sherlock, Powerful John, POV John, Frottage, Wish Granting, Angst with Happy Ending, Nightmares) – John has been plagued by a secret his entire life that has made him feel hopeless until he meets a mysterious, seemingly omniscient man named Sherlock Holmes who owns a wish-granting shop. Their meeting sets off a series of inevitable events that will change the course of both of their lives forever.

The Swan Triad Series by Pennin_Ink (T, 121,660 w. across 3 works || Swan Lake AU || Magical / Fairy Tale AU, Romance, Falling in Love, Pining, Psychological Torture, Transformation) – Sherlock and John grow up spending every summer together. Their mothers' attempts to play matchmaker only fuel their mutual resentment and scorn. But then, one summer.

Colors by Quesarasara (E, 140,537 w., 17 Ch. || Pleasantville-Inspired AU || Soulmates, Colour Bonds, Alternating POV, Angst, Fluff, Pining, Case Fic, Medical Procedures) – Everyone on earth is born with eyes that see in black, white, and an endless series of greys. When you meet your soulmate, you finally see the world in color. We're all searching for the person who brings color to our lives. John and Sherlock are no exception. Part 1 of The Colors 'Verse

Mise en Place by azriona (M, 161,004 w., 28 Ch. || Restaurant (Kitchen Nightmares) AU || Sherlock is Gordon Ramsay / Celebrity Sherlock, Restauranteur John, Harry Plays Prominent Role, Alternating POV, Mutual Pining, Cranky Sherlock, Bed Sharing, Slow Burn) – John Watson had no intentions of taking over the family business, but when he returns from Afghanistan, battered and bruised, and discovers that his sister Harry has run their restaurant into the ground, he doesn't have much choice. There's only one thing that can save the Empire from closing for good – the celebrity star of the BBC series Restaurant Reconstructed, Chef Sherlock Holmes. Part 1 of Mise en Place

Proving A Point by elldotsee & J_Baillier (E, 186,270 w., 28 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Me Before You Fusion || Medical Realism, Insecure John, Depression, Romance, Angst, POV John, Sherlock Whump, Serious Illness, Doctor John, Injury Recovery, Assisted Suicide, Sherlock’s Violin, Awkward Sexual Situations, Alcoholism, Drugs, Idiots in Love, Slow Burn, Body Image, Friends to Lovers, Hurt / Comfort, Pain, Big Brother Mycroft, Intimacy, Anxiety, PTSD, Family Issues, Psychological Trauma, John Whump, Case Fics, Loneliness, Pain) – Invalided home from Afghanistan, running out of funds and convinced that his surgical career is over, John Watson accepts a mysterious job offer to provide care and companionship for a disabled person. Little does he know how much hangs in the balance of his performance as he settles into his new life at Musgrave Court. Part 1 of the Care And Companionship series

#steph replies #johnlock fic recs #my fic recs #crossover fics #sherlock au #fusion fics #Anonymous #long post #e-rated fics

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palmett-hoes · 5 years ago

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since the first step in achieving your goals is to state them aloud, here's a list of aftg fics/ au s that i'd like to write some day

- pre-canon fic from aaron's perspective spanning the twins' first meeting till they're drafted by the foxes and graduate high school. i'm increasingly enamored with aaron as a character as well as with an outside perspective of andrew's actions and i think it would be very interesting to look at the foundation on which their fraught relationship is built and first developed

- even more pre-canon fic. andrew's early life in foster care. yes, we all know about the most... gruesome things that were done to him, but i believe that there is plenty more that has affected and shaped him, especially in relation to my interpretation of andrew as an autistic poc. this would not be a happy fic.

- anastasia au. neil as anya, andrew as dimitri. possibly a plot amalgamation from both the animated movie and the stage show, with changes as i see fit. (no, neil is not the prince of russia). what i find most compelling about this au is the story of neil and andrew as childhood friends and then the angst of having andrew, as an adult, teaching an amnesiac neil how to act like a noble while being convinced that neil is an imposter. good shit

- art school/dance club au. the foxes attend the palmetto school of art at prestigious edgar allen university. they're considered the school's charity cases, and they are NOT friends. andrew is a studio arts major with a concentration in sculpture who works in the campus coffee shop in the mornings and frequents night clubs that employ pretty boys in the evenings. neil is attending college completely on his father's dime, PROVIDED he study what his father wants, despite his desire to study dance and music. going crazy without an outlet, neil takes a secret job as a go-go dancer. look. this may slightly possibly be a result of me having planned to party hardy this summer, then having my plans ruined by the virus :c

- 1950s High School au. the 1950s aesthetics fucking rock even though the 1950s fucking sucked. kinda wanna tackle both. plus, andrew already has that james dean bad boy fast car appeal

- an exploration of mary and nathan's relationship and history. i get that neil's parents are both super taboo and both really really awful people, but i have questions and i want to answer them

- neil never returns from baltimore. in order to keep his deals, permanently, andrew kills riko and tetsugi, and gets over 20 years in prison. when he gets out, he just wants to be alone, but it seems there's a ghost haunting him. this was conceived for MAXIMUM angst, no getting around it. i got the idea from a badacts fic and it has haunted me ever since

- post-canon sexuality exploration fic. i have a real passion for quality sex education and healthy experimentation, and neil very clearly didn't get the chance for either. yet at the end of the books he finds himself in a very intense sexual relationship. i just really want to give him the opportunity to find out how desire works for him and what he likes, on his own terms. i read a lot of fics where neil's desires seem to be completely dependent on andrew's initiaton, and while i do believe that andrew is the only person neil is attracted to and will ever be attracted to, i also want to explore how his sexuality manifests on its own. the vibe i'm going for is, uh, HornySweet (tm), but also with a lot of genuine eductional material. i want this is to be something that offers real information to its readers that may have been inaccessible for a lot of people, on topics like like sexual hygiene, maturbation, and sex toys in a non-fetishy way. this will be very very E rated, but like,, in a very earnest and goofy way because sex and sexuality is neat and cool but it's also not all serious perfect fucking. it's just,, a topic that deserves to be DISCUSSED

- mobster au. andrew, having never met aaron, takes a job for the moriyamas to track down a runaway asset. Neil. upon completion, they make andrew the butcher's apprentice, and pull neil back into the fold as a commodity rather than a person. lots of violence, lots of shady underground dealings, lots of plotting, lots of secrets.

i'm gonna put some more under the cut, ones that i don't feel as strong a drive towards right now or that i haven't thought as much about. if you (yes, YOU) like any of these, or are interested in any of these, or wanna hear more about any of these, or are even inspired to write something yourself by any of these please, PLEASE, say something in the notes, or send me a message, or an ask or anything. ANYTHING. i am stuck inside, all the time, and i am so, so lonely. i answer from hoob-gooblin

- princess bride au. come ON. princess bride is one of the most romantic AND most snarky movies of all time, and andreil literally invented love and devotion sooooooo it's a perfect match. "yes or no" vs "as you wish" kings of consent and communication and unconventional love declarations. also,, he may not be how I imagine andrew, but a young cary elwes in dramatic black pirate getup is DEFINITELY a valid andrew

- hozier au. sometimes,, i listen to an album, and imagine a fic that encompases the whole thing. nothing speaks louder to me than hozier's discography. (also, yes, i am gay). maybe a little bit inside llewyn davis. neil wanders through a small town and takes up some small jobs, but sings his heart out through twisted metaphors once a week in a hole in the wall bar staffed by a very short, dead eyed veteran

- prince and the pauper au. on a stealth recon mission in enemy territory, andrew encounters a local lord who happens to have his face. in a moment of desperation to save himself from arrest, andrew knocks the lord out and assumes his identity. he returns to the castle just in time for prince moriyama to arrive with a shifty-eyed, red-headed handservant in tow. lord aaron of columbia, meanwhile, wakes up on a ship manned by crown traitor and fugitive kevin day, calling him by a name he's never heard before, and then he's in the hands of the guerilla rebel forces that have been attacking the kingdom. i watched barbie princess and the pauper as a child and that movie fucking slaps

- little mermaid/beauty and the beast/bride of the rose beast/ladyhawke au. in a last ditch attempt to escape his father, neil trades his voice and his tail for legs and washes ashore on a small kingdom with horrible secrets. because he cannot speak, read or write, prince aaron employs neil to serve the monster in the catacombs, the prince's twin brother. the twins are under a curse that turns them into terrifying monsters, andrew by day and aaron by night. aaron's affliction is a secret, as is andrew's humanity. this is such a hodgepodge idea lol. did neil also have to be a mermaid for this to work? no. is he? hell yeah

- new york private school/twin swap au. aaron wins a scholarship to a prestigious school that will guarantee him a future, but then he relapses. convinced he just needs a little more time to get clean, he makes a deal with his volatile new brother, andrew, to stand in for him at the school just until he can his shit together. neil and ichirou moriyama have been raised together their entire lives, always under the knowledge that ichirou will inherit the family empire with nathaniel as his right hand. they hate the idea, but they have no way to escape, and now neil is being harassed by ichirou's bitchass estranged brother at their stupid, fancy private school. LISTEN, we as a fandom do NOT take enough advantage of the twin swap possibilities presented to us. pathetic

- post-canon fic where ichirou, realizing that the life of a mob boss is a lonely one, decides that he needs... a friend. however, because of the nature of his work, he can't just make friends with anyone, so he decides to make friends with neil. without consulting neil first. cue a lot of very weird, very awkward coffee dates where neil is convinced he's about to be disposed of, and ichirou just wants to know about his cats. the thing i like about ichirou is he’s a complete blank slate. i can make him a good guy, a bad guy, an ally, the Big Bad

- Kill Bill au. mary survives a bullet to the head and wakes up from a coma over a year later. with nothing left to lose, she sets out to single-handedly dismantle the wesninski circle. good thing she used to be its top assassin

- single dad andrew au. except look, look, stay with me here, okay, aaron is his son, and he's adopted nicky and kevin. LISTEN. STAY WITH ME. JUST THINK ABOUT IT. tbh the idea comes from my interpretation of the andrew/neil/kevin dynamic as distincly parental, then extending that interpretation to andrew's protection over the rest of his family.

- fashion au. andrew is a fashion designer and photographer who frequently works with allison reynolds. one day she brings around a short, twitchy assistant who looks like she just plucked him out of an alley. somehow, he becomes andrew's muse. i watch a lot of fashion competition shows

- ghibli. either howl's moving castle (andrew as sophie, neil as howl) or spirited away (?). maybe both idk

- legally blonde au. legally blonde is so good guys

#aftg #fic #fic ideas #aftg fic #the foxes #neil josten #andrew minyard #andreil

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gluupor · 5 years ago

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Okay, first off I have to say that you are one of my favorite fic authors EVER, and most definitely my absolute FAVORITE andreil/aftg author. Your writing and characterization is absolutely AMAZING!!! I also have what I think might be an amazing fic idea for you: an andriel Ladyhawke!au, starring former captain of the guard Andrew who is a wolf by night, and Young Lord Neil who is a hawk or fox by day. And they were cursed by Riko

I haven’t ever actually seen this movie but I have read a stucky ladyhawke au and I skimmed the imdb page, so I’m basically an expert.

Kevin waited until he couldn’t hear any movement in the trees before he stopped pretending to sleep. He had to sneak away while the blond brute—Andrew, he’d finally admitted he was called—wasn’t watching him. He was mildly grateful that Andrew had seen fit to break him out of jail, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to know what the short yet intimidatingly muscular mercenary wanted with him.

He quickly surveyed the makeshift campsite for the awful raven that Andrew seemed to keep as a pet—a huge bird, as big as a cat, with a vicious-looking beak and unsettlingly intelligent eyes—but the bird had flown off into the surrounding forest at the same time that Andrew had left to patrol at sundown. Not that Kevin could see if the raven had returned in the dark; it could be watching him from the darkness for all he knew. It had spent most of the day perched on the pommel of Andrew’s saddle, sleeping with its head under its wing; it was probably wide awake and hunting.

Kevin had spent the first part of his day trapped in jail and awaiting the public flogging he’d been sentenced to—a sentence he’d received for little more than being a known associate of Prince Riko. He’d had no idea how much animosity the peasant folk in the outlying areas had toward the royal family. Kevin had come to the town looking for refuge, cradling his shattered hand (a parting gift from the livid prince) against his chest, on his way to Palmetto. He’d only found anger and hostility.

The second part of his day had begun with Andrew showing up outside of his jail cell, keys in hand and no sign of the jailer with him. He was dressed all in black and had a massive raven perched on his shoulder. His face was impassive but he held the bearing of a trained guard and Kevin had thought for a wild moment that Riko had sent someone to rescue him. His theory was quickly disabused as Andrew bound him with rope, dragged him out of the jail, and lashed him to a horse, before mounting his own horse and hurrying them out of town. For the rest of the day, Andrew only said three sentences to him.

The first time Kevin managed to get a reaction out of him was when the raven briefly woke and idly circled Kevin a couple times before landing on his shoulder. Kevin tried to shy away from its talons.

“Sit still,” Andrew commanded.

Kevin swallowed nervously and obeyed. The raven peered at him curiously but made no move to peck out his eyes. “You stole this bird,” declared Kevin. All trained ravens belonged to the crown. Andrew didn’t reply. “Otherwise, how is it so well behaved?” pressed Kevin.

At that, Andrew snorted derisively but he still didn’t answer.

“You’re taking a stupid risk,” Kevin warned. “You’ll be flogged for stealing from the crown. The raven must be theirs.”

“No,” said Andrew quietly, “he isn’t. They only think he is.”

At that the raven quorked and took to the air. He circled above them for several minutes before coming to a rest in front of Andrew again. Andrew stroked its feathers almost reverently.

The only other thing that Kevin heard from him was when they stopped in a clearing for the night. Then he finally learned Andrew’s name and Andrew told him to get some sleep and stay in the campsite.

He didn’t know why Andrew took him or what he was planning on doing with him, but he wasn’t sticking around to find out.

He tiptoed out of camp, making it about three steps into the surrounding trees when he was halted in place by a low, menacing growl. All the hair on his body stood up straight and he narrowly avoided soiling himself as a large, blonde wolf stepped from the shadows into the light from the camp’s crackling campfire. Kevin’s blood ran cold and he took a cautious step back, wondering how long he had before the beast was on him. It was large for a wolf, its hulking shape standing higher than his hip and made of corded muscle.

“I’m pretty sure Andrew warned you to stay here,” said a low, amused voice from behind him.

Kevin whirled, keeping the wolf in his sights, to find a man he’d never seen before had appeared from nowhere and was now sitting on a log next to the fire, poking at it with a stick.

“Wha—Who—How—” he couldn’t gather his wits enough to form a full sentence.

“If you’re not going to sleep, then come sit,” offered the strange man. When Kevin didn’t move at first, he spoke again, more sharply, “Sit, Kevin.”

Kevin dumbly stumbled forward and sunk onto the ground beside the man. The wolf loped after him, brushing by Kevin’s side and making him shiver. The wolf lay at the man’s feet, nudging at the man’s hands.

“Yes, you’re very fearsome,” said the man as he scratched behind the wolf’s ears.

“Who are you?” Kevin managed to stutter.

“I’m Neil,” said the man, his attention still on the wolf, “Andrew’s travelling companion.”

“I didn’t see you before,” protested Kevin, watching with wide eyes as the wolf settled with a huff, eyes falling closed in pleasure at Neil’s ministrations.

“I’m good at camouflaging myself,” said Neil, sounding amused again. “I saw you, though.”

“That’s less comforting than you think.”

“Maybe I wasn’t trying to be comforting.”

Kevin grimaced. “Is that wolf yours?” he asked, still watching it warily.

“He’s his own,” said Neil.

“But he obeys you?”

“Only if I ask nicely,” answered Neil enigmatically. “He won’t let any harm come to me—or you, as long as you cooperate.”

“Cooperate with what?” demanded Kevin, more than ready for some answers.

“You are Lord Kevin Day, formerly the head of Prince Riko’s personal guard, are you not?” asked Neil.

Kevin didn’t reply; his former title hadn’t granted him any favours recently.

Neil didn’t seem to need his confirmation. “You know the layout of Castle Evermore like the back of your hand. You know the way in, guard shifts, secret passages…”

“So what?” asked Kevin suspiciously, already seeing where this was going. Riko might have turned on him but he wasn’t about to betray the rest of the royal family.

“So we need to get in.”

“Why?”

Neil only smiled at him, a sharp, cruel smile that sparked recognition in Kevin’s hindbrain. He’d seen that exact smile before, on an older face that had always terrified him.

“Butcher,” he breathed out.

The wolf was on its feet immediately with a warning growl. Neil tensed before forcibly relaxing. “No,” he said, putting a calming hand on the wolf’s flank.

“But you are, aren’t you?” insisted Kevin. “The son of Lord Nathan Wesninski, the King’s Butcher?”

Neil paused, watching his fingers twine in the wolf’s coat. “I was,” he admitted reluctantly.

“But everyone knows you’re dead!” exclaimed Kevin.

Neil punched him in the shoulder.

“Ow,” muttered Kevin, rubbing it sullenly.

“Does it feel like I’m dead?” asked Neil. “No, I’m very much alive, but go ahead and tell me what ‘everybody knows’.”

“You were betrothed to Prince Riko,” started Kevin when it became clear that Neil was serious in his request, “but one of your guards fell in love with you. When you made it clear that you loved only Riko, he…didn’t take no for an answer.” The wolf, who had settled down after his aggression, started growling again. Neil shushed it and stroked its head. “He, uh,” Kevin cleared his throat awkwardly, “he killed you and then himself so that Riko could never have you.”

“And this is what everyone knows?” said Neil dryly. “Riko has more imagination than I suspected. It is true that my guard fell in love with me—but I fell in love with him right back.” The wolf hmphed contentedly and laid its giant head across Neil’s lap. “And I never felt anything but contempt for Riko; who could?”

Kevin felt almost compelled to argue, before he stretched out his wounded hand and kept silent. “So you ran away? You and your guard? Where is he?”

Neil gave him a look that made him feel two inches tall. “You remember Andrew, right? Blond guy, broke you out of jail today?”

“Oh,” said Kevin stupidly. He couldn’t imagine Andrew as the dashing hero that had caused Nathan Wesninski’s only son to run away in a fit of love.

Neil rolled his eyes. “And we didn’t quite get away unscathed. Riko had his revenge.”

“He does that,” said Kevin in a strangled voice.

“What do you know about curses?” asked Neil.

Kevin started at the seeming non-sequitur. “Not much.”

“Did you know that the easiest way to break a curse is to kill the caster?”

“I—” Kevin cut himself off, realization hitting him. “That’s why you want to break into Castle Evermore. That’s why you need me; I know how to get to Riko’s chambers. He put you under some kind of curse? Is that why I couldn’t see you before?”

“Yes.”

“I won’t do it,” declared Kevin. “I won’t go back there, ever. For any reason.”

Neil hummed thoughtfully. “Where were you going?” he asked.

“What?”

“When you were sneaking out of camp, where were you going? Or were you just going to wander aimlessly?”

“I…I was going to Palmetto,” admitted Kevin. “Lord Wymack will give me sanctuary.”

“Alright then,” said Neil, leaning forward. His eyes glittered in the light from the fire. “We have a deal for you. Get us into Castle Evermore and we’ll protect you. No one will hurt you ever again. And once we’re finished, we’ll deliver you safely to Palmetto.”

“…What if I say no?” asked Kevin.

The wolf lifted its head and gave Kevin what appeared to be a grin, showing all its pointy teeth.

“Wouldn’t you rather be on our side?” asked Neil lightly.

“Are you sure Andrew will agree? Where is he, anyway?”

Neil grinned and looked down at the wolf. “He’s around. He’s protecting the camp. And he’ll protect you, if you agree to our deal.”

“And the wolf? He won’t hurt me?”

“You’re safe from the wolf and the raven as well.” There was something in his voice that Kevin couldn’t identify. “As long as you help us.”

“Help you kill the prince,” Kevin pointed out.

“Do you have a problem with that?”

He would have, up until very recently. But Riko had become increasingly erratic ever since his betrothed had been killed (or run away, apparently) and was becoming a danger to all around him. Kevin’s own injury had occurred as he’d tried to curb the prince from murdering innocents. In his heart of hearts, Kevin knew he had to be stopped. He shook his head once. “I’ll help you,” he whispered.

“Good,” said Neil, looking pleased. “You should get some rest; I’ll keep watch.” His words seemed to be more aimed at the wolf than at Kevin, but that was absurd. Kevin was probably just imagining things after his hectic day.

“Okay,” he said, standing and brushing himself off. “Goodnight,” he said around a yawn.

“Sleep,” said Neil. “We have a long road ahead of us.”

#aftg #tfc #andreil #neil josten #andrew minyard #kevin day #my fic #bits #cw allusion to rape #cw allusion to murder #cw allusion to suicide #anon #asks

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cssns · 5 years ago

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Event Roundup Time!!!!

I am SOOOOOOO sorry y’all!!! I completely forgot to do an event roundup!!! Please forgive me!!! Fanmail from @killianjones4ever82 brought it to my attention and I’m so glad she did! We had an incredible summer and we need to have a post that can be easily accessed with all the fabulous fics and gorgeous artwork that dropped for the event! So without further ado, here we go!!!!

Under the cut, because this is gonna be a LOOOOOOONG post!!!

Here is a link to the entire collection of fics on ao3.

@welllpthisishappening opened us up this year with her first fic for the event, All the Subliminal Things. Rated T with four chapters. COMPLETE. Artwork by @resident-of-storybrooke.

Emma Swan does not believe in soulmates.

Or so she says. Because if her soulmate did, actually, exist, he should have shown up by now. So, she must be a fluke, a broken cog in a system that really doesn't make much sense anyway. It is, she figures, why she agrees to meet David's friend before Regina and Robin's wedding. This guy doesn't believe in soulmates either.

She's intrigued.

Until she hears him talk. And everything flips after that.

At the end of June, Laura posted All Was Golden In the Sky. Rated M and we have five chapters left. Artwork by @resident-of-storybrooke, extra artwork by @distant-rose and @optomisticgirl can be found on Laura’s chapter blog posts.

Magic is dying.

Emma knows it. She can feel it, the emptiness rattling around in her, like it’s trying to make sure she disappears as well. What she doesn’t know is what to do about it, because, suddenly, there is a man in Storybrooke claiming she’s the Savior and a seeress certain a prophecy promises the same and the last thing she expects is for her minimal amount of lingering power to pull her away.

To New York City.

And another oddly familiar man with blue eyes and a smile that sinks under her skin and makes magic bloom in the air around her. Things are about to get interesting.

@darkcolinodonorgasm posted One Day, a LadyHawke AU with artwork by @sherlockianwhovian. Rated T and we are two chapters in.

By day, Emma is the beautiful swan gliding over the waters of Misthaven's pond, but when night falls, the voice of the wolf the people living in the little town hear is Killian's cry. The curse was meant to be forever, to keep them always together yet eternally apart. No force in Heaven would be able to break such spell, nor any force on Earth. Or so Emma and Killian thought.

Towards the end of June Sara posted Hidden Paths Between the Moon and Sun, the sequel to her Hades and Persephone AU, Until the Stars Are All Alight. Artwork by @sherlockianwhovian. Rated M with one of six chapters so far.

The King of the Underworld has never taken a vacation before, not a proper one and not one that lasted more than a few months. Now that his firstborn is capable enough to take the throne ad interim, Killian can finally show his beloved Queen the world, giving her the honeymoon they never had the chance to have. But the King’s plan doesn’t stop quite there.

@allons-y-to-hogwarts-713 posted original art Killian Falls for Siren Emma

Come all you pretty fair maids, whoever you may be

Who love a jolly sailor bold that ploughs the raging sea,

My heart is pierced by Cupid, I disdain all glittering gold, There is nothing can console me but my jolly sailor bold.

and Paranormal Photographers/Reporters.

When you hear the knell of a requiem bell Weird glows gleam where spirits dwell Restless bones etherealize Rise as spooks of every size

@donteattheappleshook posted Just Human Vol2, the sequel to her submission last year, Just, Human. Artwork by 1 2 by @djlbg. Rated M with five chapters. COMPLETE.

A continuation of last years CSSNS story Just Human. Now that Killian is a ghost and Mary Margaret knows everything, what does life have in store for a group of supernatural misfits? With the threat of Gold gone, Emma learns that sometimes just being human is the most complicated challenge of all.

@thislassishooked posted Wake Me Up Inside. Rated M with three chapters so far. Artwork by @tennant-the-tigger.

Killian Jones has lived longer than any man has a right to live. Most would argue that what he was doing was not living, but merely existing. The day he lost the love of his life was the day he lost the will to live, but instead of ending his life he inadvertently became the strongest being on earth and unfortunately indestructible. His mortal enemy followed him into immortality and craves the power only Killian possesses. With his brother by his side and the help of a quirky, blonde hematologist, who makes him question whether he is ready for death after all, he will fight against evil, but more importantly, for the cure.

@let-it-raines posted Not Your (Soul)Mate. Rated M with sixteen chapters. COMPLETE. Artwork 1 2 3 4 5 6 by @captainsjedi.

Killian Jones doesn’t like the idea of soulmates. He sees how happy his friends are with theirs, but he still doesn’t like the idea, not when he’s found love and lost it time and time again only to still not know his sign. He has no markings on his skin, no voices in his head, but then one day he meets Emma Swan and everything changes. Because, well, he may not have ink on his skin to tell him who to love, but the very first time that he hears Emma’s voice he knows that she’s the one for him. Then again, that could simply be his desire talking. After all, for every word she speaks, he becomes aroused.

It’s not the worst thing in the world to be incredibly attracted to a beautiful woman, but things aren’t that simple when she doesn’t have any interest in being his soulmate.

He’s screwed. And not in the good way.

@shireness-says posted A Drowning Soul Will Clutch at Any Straw. Rated T one shot. Artwork by @hollyethecurious.

Though this is far from Killian Jones' first encounter with a mermaid, he's never met any quite like this blonde siren. Together, can they break a cruel curse?

@snowbellewells posted her first fic for the event, Face to Face in the Broad Daylight, her sequel to last years Run to Me (In the Dead of Night) in early July. Rated T with five chapters so far. Artwork by @branlovestowrite.

Here we have a sequel to my werewolf, alternate season two and beyond fic from last year’s CSSNS. You probably want to read that story "Run to Me (in the Dead of Night)" first, or it might be a bit confusing in places. This second story in the same universe partially exists just because I wanted to revisit these couples and enjoy a bit more of their fluffy happily ever afters. However, we may also see them get into some new surprises and challenges, and of course we need to see if Rumplestiltskin is still under control or back to his usual scheming and plotting. I hope you will enjoy.

Marta also posted at the end of July A Story Told at Last. Rated T with three chapters. COMPLETE. Artwork by @branlovestowrite.

Historical Literature Professor Henry Mills has the chance of a lifetime before him. He might finally uncover the truth of a folktale that has intrigued him for years. But, when the whole story comes to light, will he be able to accept the story that needs to be told?

@thejollyroger-writer posted her first fic of three for the event, Love After Death: The Afterlife Hotel. Rated T one shot with artwork by @captainsjedi.

Emma Swan has spent sixty years in the afterlife believing she was never going to meet her real soulmate, after believing in the wrong name tattooed on her wrist. But when she keeps seeing the same new guest of the Afterlife Hotel around, might she be able to learn how to love again?

Megan’s second fic for the event was What Happened in Berkshire. Rated G with two of three chapters posted. Artwork by @captainsjedi.

When Emma’s boyfriend leaves her for the woman he’s been cheating with, she accepts an offer from her hospital to move to England. While she is out celebrating her thirtieth birthday with her friends before they head back to America, she drunkenly kisses the statue of Captain Hook in front of Eton College, and he comes to life. Together, he and Emma try to figure out what this curse means for them by searching for the witch that cursed him in the first place — are they really True Love, as he wants to believe they are, or did Emma’s magic go awry?

Megan’s third fic for the event was Falling Paws Over Heels. Rated T one shot. Artwork by @captainsjedi.

Captain Killian Jones -- the notorious Captain Hook -- has heard all kinds of stories during his travels around all of the realms. But the story that has always interested him the most is that of the enchanting sorceress of Storybrooke, a small town in the Enchanted Forest's Misthaven, the sorceress who takes men to her bed, but will only give her heart to the man who befriends her cat. Will Killian be the one who finally has what it takes?

@gingerchangeling posted Luck of the Irish. Rated M with one chapter of seven so far. Artwork by @resident-of-storybrooke.

Emma needs parent volunteer hours. So she offers to chaperon Henry's upcoming field trip to the museum. Its just a pack of prepubescent angst ridden children, an exhibit about dead people, and a rock used in blood sacrifices with a curse carved into it. What's the worst that could happen?

@jarienn972 posted A Simple Spell. Rated T with six chapters so far. Artwork by @cocohook38.

This story is my entry into the 2019 Captain Swan Supernatural Summer event and is my first venture into AU territory. Storybrooke remains our setting but I've switched up some of the characters and familial relations to better suit this tale of prodigal witch Emma who returns to her birthplace to learn lots of secrets about herself and cast a spell that could change everything.

@profdanglaisstuff posted The Very Witching Time. Rated M with six chapters. COMPLETE. Artwork by @gingerchangeling. Extra artwork by @mariakov81 can be found on Saira’s chapter posts on her blog.

Emma Swan is a hereditary witch, last in a long line of wise women who for centuries have guarded the coast of Maine and the small village of Storybrooke with their homemade cures and their ancient magic. She holds the delicate balance between magic and mundane, but now that balance is threatened by a new foe, one capable of bringing an end to everything Emma is and everything she loves. To defeat it she will need all her power, help from her friends and neighbours, and the loyalty of a very unusual dog who answers to the name of Killian.

@searchingwardrobes gave us the first of two fics for the event, An Education in Southern Gothic. Rated T with two chapters. COMPLETE. Artwork by @hollyethecurious.

Fact: there’s a graveyard between the football field and the science building. Debatable: a ghost haunts the halls of Misthaven Hills High. Emma Swan is about to get an education. Killian Jones is about to get a whole lot more.

Melanie’s second fic was titled Until the Day Breaks and the Shadows Flee. Rated M with eight chapters. COMPLETE. Artwork by @hollyethecurious.

Every night, she traces the contours of his body as Killian whispers words of love against her skin. But can Princess Emma ever be fully happy with a husband who only comes to her in utter darkness? A Captain Swan AU of the Roman myth of Cupid and Psyche.

@spartanguard posted Sick of Love. Rated M with three chapters. COMPLETE. Artwork by @sherlockianwhovian.

If Emma’s not careful, she just might bump into her soulmate. Physically. And while she might like the idea of what comes with that—an almost psychic connection whenever they make skin contact—she’d rather not deal with the awful withdrawal sickness that can come when they inevitably leave her; she’s got a son, so she doesn’t have time for that. So she keeps herself covered and thinks she’ll be okay. Until she meets Killian, who does the same thing. Will their barriers protect them, or just hurt them more?

@snidgetsafan posted Whom the Gods Love Die Young. Rated G (for the moment) with one chapter so far. Artwork by @tennant-the-tigger.

The bride bit into the shiny red apple as everyone cheered around her, the wedding ceremony ending with this ritual gesture. The clapping and hurrahs soon turned to screams of horror as Snow dropped the apple, choking and clutching her throat as she fell in her groom’s arms, a last I love you leaving her lips before she died, David’s screams the loudest of all.

David and Emma travel to the Underworld to claim back Snow after her untimely death. In order to do so, they're going to have to face the dark and mysterious God of the Underworld and complete his challenges.

Seems simple enough until you add magic, divine quarrels, and the worst thing of all: feelings.

@eastwesthomeisbest posted original artwork, The Love of the Samodiva Pts1 and 2.

In Bulgarian folklore Samodiva is an ethereal female wood nymph. She is unearthly beautiful and eternally young. Her hair is blond and long, her waist is thin and petite, her eyes can bewitch and dazzle or even kill. Any man who lays eyes on her instantly falls in love. Samodivas’ attire consists of long white gowns and shirts and a rainbow-coloured or green belt. They have a white mantel, also called a shadow, in which their power lies. They like to ride deer, using twisted snakes for reins and often carry with them bows and arrows.

If a huntsman accidentally kills a samodiva’s deer, she will make him blind or give him a disease which will inevitably lead to his death.

The wood nymphs live in dark forests, in big old trees, caves or forgotten huts which are near water sources, wells or rivers.

Samodivas can be spotted from spring to autumn. In winter they live in the mythical village Zmeykovo, which is located at the edge of the world and is a home to many mythical creatures. When they are on earth they are active at night and disappear immediately when the sun comes out, because they fear it.

At twilight, the samodivas go to fresh water sources, strip naked, wash themselves and their clothes which they lay out to dry in the moonlight. They keep a watchful eye on their drying clothes, because if a man steals their mantle, where their power lies, they turn into normal women and have to obey the man. After washing themselves and their clothes, the samodivas gather around and start singing and dancing. It is known that the samodiva’s songs are the most beautiful and their dances are the most graceful. If a late traveller sees the samodivas’ dance, he is enticed to join them and dances with them from midnight to dawn. When the sun’s rays appear, the nymphs disappear in haste and leave the traveller to die from exhaustion. The samodivas love music and often kidnap shepherds, so that they can play kaval (shepherd’s pipe) for them while they dance.

Samodivas are not always harmful. Sometimes they appear like normal working women and help with the harvest. They would especially help women with children. If a man does something good for a samodiva, she becomes his patron or a sworn sister. Sometimes, a samodiva can fall in love with a human and bear him children, who grow up to be great heroes.

Samodivas are forest creatures and therefore knowledgeable about herbs and cures. However, they never share their secrets willingly. The only way to obtain their knowledge is to eavesdrop on one of their gatherings.

@courtorderedcake posted two fics for this years event. Hallow rated E with eight chapters so far with accompanying artwork 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11.

"The Goblin King was prepared to host the Darkness, stealing Fae women away to their corrupted lands underneath the ground as concubines. The Darkness chose another in his stead, but not before this selected vessel enacted a devastating attack in its vengeance, revealing its hatred & rage. The battle was a lesson the old kings had forgotten; never underestimate an opponent. Many more lives were lost as they razed over any who dared defy The Goblin King's will. Only the pure love of our rulers united in matrimony, breaking the Vorpal Dagger, sealed the darkness and the Goblin menace away. The light flourished under their fair rule, and the queen bore a child as pure as moon beams, swan feathers, and starlight. They lived happily ever after, and shall be written in history as Heroes for All Time."

This is the history Princess Emma memorizes from the day she is born, paraded about and presented only with the highest protection. The palace is a cage she wishes to escape, desperately. Not careful what wishes she made, Emma discovers history is written by the victors - The Dark One has an entirely different version of the events that took place.

Roses, rated E with two of four chapters so far. Artwork by @eastwesthomeisbest.

A CS retelling of Tam Lin, the classic fairytale. Liberties taken. Magic and Fae BS in play.

@pirateherokillian posted Wanderer Redeemed. Rated T with just the prologue so far. Artwork coming soon from @tennant-the-tigger.

Emma, Goddess of Hope and Happy endings, finds herself in need and her only real chance of ever getting what she desires comes in the form of Killian Jones, a shunned outcast of their kind. A Modern-Day Gods Captain Swan AU written for CSSNS.

@ilovemesomekillianjones posted The Soldier, the Witch, and the Dragon. Rated M one shot with artwork 1 2 by @spartanguard.

When soldier Killian Jones shows up on witch Emma Swan's doorstep, two worlds will collide. He will learn of worlds and wonders he never imagined possible and she will learn that true love might just be in the cards for her. Witches, Dragons and Magic, Oh My! A CS story for the 2019 Captain Swan Supernatural Summer event.

@whimsicallyenchantedrose posted Until the Stars Are All Alight. Rated T with two chapters of twenty so far. Artwork by @clockadile.

CS LOTR au: When Emma Swan steals a yellow Volkswagen Beetle, she has no idea it will lead her toward an adventure filled with danger and intrigue, sacrifice and a love stronger than anything she could imagine. Tasked with bringing the Savior home, the elf, Killian Jones of Misthaven travels to the Land Without Magic. Can he convince Emma to fulfill her destiny before the Dark One regains power and takes over all of the Enchanted Forest?

And last but certainly not least, @teamhook posted Rionnag Dorcha Gorm (Dark Blue Star). Unrated with two chapters so far. Artwork by @hollyethecurious

It is said that evil is not born but made. This is how an act of kindness is twisted into a story about revenge. Emma and Killian are childhood friends until a tragedy separates them will another reunite them.

I’ve read all of these fics and they are all absolutely FANTASTIC!!! It’s been so much fun reading all these wonderful fics and staring at the gorgeous art that went with them!! Be sure to let them know how much you’re enjoying their hard work! The WIP’s will continue updating until they are finished and I will be back at the end of the month with everything that has updated in September! Until then folks!

#cssns #event roundup #cssns2019 #CSSNS 2019 #2019 #Captain Swan Supernatural Summer 2019 #Captain Swan Supernatural Summer #2019 event #2019 roundup #2019 event roundup

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thecatwhogrins · 6 years ago

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Entwined (mutual pining)

Ladyhawke AU

********************************

Ryuu was starving.

Being a traveling herbs vendor, he had learned how to get by on very little. But the dry season was taking over Tanbarun, and where once he would have found roots and herbs he could eat, now were only dry patches of land. A thief had also stolen his goods, rendering him incapable of selling anything.

He knew that at the next town, he’d have to either resort to thievery or begging. Both weren’t options he wanted to resort to, but his stomach was eating itself away. He did not have much of a choice.

Ryuu entered the small village, staring the market stalls full of plump fruits and shining vegetables, meats that almost made him salivate. He eyed one stall where an older lady was selling meat-filled buns. One of those could feed him for a few days, if he stretched it out. His whole body yearned for food, making it hard for him to think straight, blinding him to the people around him. He reached out when the woman wasn’t looking, guilt and shame reverberating throughout his body.

Swiftly, the young man started walking as fast as his feet would let him towards an alleyway, somewhere hidden, where he could feast on his prized possession. Suddenly, a cry pierced the crowd:

“Thief! Thief!”

Ryuu wanted to run, but immediately a pair of strong hands grabbed him. Ryuu turned around, eyes wide in fear, only to find a pair of calm golden eyes staring back. The man was tall, wiry and looked dangerous. Not that he was terribly strong looking, but his presence and the number of scars he sported indicated that behind his aloof façade, this man had killed before.

On his shoulder, a great hawk perched nonchalantly, observing Ryuu curiously. Its feathers were brown, but in the sunlight, they took on an almost reddish color. It was the most beautiful hawk Ryuu had ever seen. Like a bird caught by a snake, Ryuu found himself frozen, unable to react.

“What’s the matter boy, cat caught your tongue?” the man smirked.

Ryuu opened his mouth to say something, anything, but before he could speak, a few other people had gathered around, trying to determine if the thief had been caught. The old lady also arrived, wheezing from exertion.

“He stole one of my buns! Pay for it or I shall bring you to the authorities myself,” she announced angrily.

“I’m sorry ma’am, I… I was so hungry. I forgot myself,” Ryuu said, full of guilt.

Ryuu was about to turn himself in but the strange man spoke up.

“I’ll pay for the food, madam. There is no need to turn this boy in.”

“Oh, if it isn’t the wandering knight. You can’t even pay for your own lodgings, how’re you going to pay for the boy?” she asked, mockingly.

“I have enough to spare for one of your worthless dogmeat-filled buns, madam,” he said, smiling sharply. He pulled out his leather pouch and placed a few coins into her expecting palm. The lady was visibly livid, but the wandering knight simply bowed slightly and walked away. Ryuu made sure to apologize once more profusely before hurrying after the man.

The knight entered a tavern and Ryuu followed, intent on thanking the man.

He was sitting at the bar, his dark clothes almost blending in with the dark oak of the bar, his hunched over figure seemed… lonely. The hawk was still perched on his shoulder, much to the visible displeasure of the bartender.

“Sir, I wish to give you my thanks…” Ryuu began, with a small voice.

The knight turned around and with a small smile.

“I accept your thanks, boy. Now go, get out of this town. Not everyone is as kind as I am, as you’ve probably realized by now,” he finished, gulping the down the rest of his ale.

“But sir, I… I must repay you,” Ryuu stuttered, “I could serve you for a while or…”

“My name is Obi, drop that ‘sir’ nonsense. I don’t need a page and where I travel is dangerous. I can’t go around saving a pup’s skin every step of the way,” he scoffed.

Ryuu was about to add something else when sir Obi stood up and dropped coins onto the bar. Ryuu could clearly see now that the knight’s clothes indicated he had once been very fortunate. Rich dark green velvet clad his upper body, his cape was lined with fur and his boots looked sturdy and were probably made of the finest leather, but the materials looked very worn. Was this man a deposed noble? Ryuu’s interest, which normally lay dormant except if the subject involved medicinal plants, had been piqued.

“Please, sir Obi, if I don’t repay this debt, my parents would be very much ashamed,” he said softly.

The knight stayed silent for a moment, then finally sighed and scratched the back of his head.

“Fine. I can’t promise you food of stable pay, but if you must insist, I’ll let you accompany me for a while. What is your name?” he asked.

“My name is Ryuu,” he answered.

“Well then, Ryuu, I’d suggest you stick close by,” he grumbled and led him out of the bar.

He followed the knight, out of the bar and into the forest nearby. Ryuu wondered why he had gone into the woods but understood as soon as he saw that the knight had set up camp there.

“Help me search for some wood, little Ryuu, before it gets too dark,” he commanded. Ryuu nodded his head and complied.

As the fire crackled to life, and dusk started to encroach onto the forest, sir Obi introduced Ryuu to the hawk.

“Her name is Shirayuki,” he smiled fondly as she shook her feathers and eyed Ryuu curiously. He felt slightly intimidated, as if the bird knew what he was thinking. He waved at it and blushed slightly at how foolish he must seem. He reached out tentatively to pet the bird and marveled at the softness her feathers yielded against his fingers. She flapped her wings slightly, looking pleased.

“She seems to like you,” sir Obi said, and the bird chirped, as if it agreed. Ryuu smiled despite himself.

“Best we go to sleep now, tomorrow we travel,” sir Obi stated.

Ryuu laid out his makeshift cot and fell almost right away in a deep dreamless sleep, exhaustion taking over and rendering him oblivious to the sound of sir Obi leaving the tent.

A terrible howling woke Ryuu in the middle of the night.

Now, this wasn’t his first time hearing a wild animal during his travels. Many a time, he had been walking in the wilderness and had heard some sort of wild beast and had been obliged to keep on going. If anything, the fear served as fuel for him to go faster. But this howl was unlike anything he had ever heard before. It had an eerie, almost otherworldly quality to it. Shivers traveled up and down Ryuu’s spine. His usually lucid mind was conjuring all sorts of terrible beasts of legend, werewolves eating men alive and other terrifying creatures.

As his eyes got accustomed to the dense darkness, he was about to ask the knight if he had also heard the sound when he realized that the person in the cot next to him was a woman.

Ryuu jumped up and turned on a candle, to make sure he hadn’t lost his mind, revealing in its pale glow a young woman with red hair, as red as the reddest poppy flower he’d seen. She lay where sir Obi was supposed to be sleeping and Ryuu was utterly speechless. Had the knight brought in a lady while he was asleep? But where was the knight? Had he gone outside? His clothes where at the foot of his bed and surely, he hadn’t gone out completely bare?

While Ryuu’s mind was reeling with a thousand questions, the lady woke up, her eyes fluttering against the glare of the candle.

“Obi?” she asked, softly, her confusion mirroring Ryuu’s.

“My lady, I… I must admit I’m very confused as to whom you might be and the reason why you’re here,” Ryuu said hurriedly, his brows knit tightly in confusion.

She propped herself up to answer his question when another howl pierced the air. Ryuu shivered in fear but the lady looked almost happy.

“My lady, I think we should be prepared in case something comes attack the tent,” Ryuu tried to appear braver and calmer than he really felt.

“There is nothing to fear, it’s only Obi,” she smiled and stood up.

Ryuu couldn’t comprehend what she meant and jumped in front of her as she started to walk towards the tent’s entrance.

“No! There is a wolf out there, it’s dangerous!” he warned, fear clawing its way through his throat.

“He must have not told you our story. I don’t hold it against him, it is quite unbelievable,” she smiled a bittersweet smile. She opened the tent and walked into the night as Ryuu watched on, bewildered.

Ryuu gathered his wits and followed her out, firmly gripping his candle.

In the deep darkness of the forest, with only the candle and the waning moonlight as light sources, Ryuu watched in awe as the lady advanced through the undergrowth, serenely, her red hair flowing behind her. In front of her, in the dark, a growling sound erupted from a mulberry bush. Like a nightmare, a large black wolf emerged from the foliage, its golden eyes aglow and teeth bared. It was glorious and clearly deadly. Despite himself, Ryuu’s hand started to tremble, the candle nearly going out.

The woman stepped forward towards the wolf. The growling stopped, and stillness took over the forest, except for Ryuu’s panicked breathing and jackrabbit heart pounding in his ears.

The wolf advanced and before Ryuu could react, nuzzled the lady’s palm, whining and panting softly, tongue lolling out of his mouth. She kneeled and pressed her forehead to the wolf’s and seemed to be whispering something to him softly, almost tenderly.

The first rays of the sun appeared between the trees and the lady gasped. Her eyes welled up with tears as she held on to wolf.

“No, I’m not ready, not yet,” she whispered.

She looked up towards Ryuu.

“When Obi is back, tell him I…” she could not finish, as suddenly her mouth opened and closed, voiceless, her eyes full of panic. She seemed to want to grasp onto the wolf, but it too was shivering and shuddering, howling and growling as though it was possessed.

The lady seemed to glow with an unnatural light, shrinking before Ryuu’s eyes, her body blanketed with russet feathers, as the wolf started to grow, its fur disappearing. Their eyes met and something Ryuu couldn’t quite understand seemed to pass between them, something so profound, he felt like an intruder to something beyond his comprehension.

The lady’s trembling hand reached out towards the wolf as the wolf’s paw turned into fingers and they were almost touching, so close, so terribly close, almost flesh against flesh, but the sunlight won and sir Obi was a man again, lying on the ground watching the lady, now a hawk, fly away. His scream, halfway between man and wolf, contained so much raw pain, it was unbearable.

Ryuu watched, wordlessly, as the hawk flew away.

The curse, as Ryuu soon found out, had been cast upon sir Obi and lady Shirayuki, turning the knight into a wolf during the night and the lady into a hawk during the day, preventing them from ever meeting as their true selves. The jealousy of Tanbarun’s crown prince had separated the them, but they had never professed their love to each other.

They were trapped, always together but eternally apart.

#obiyukimadness19 #obiyuki #fanfic #ans #mutual pining #finals #i don't even know if this counts but whatever #here's my dramatic ladyhawke au that no one asked for hahaha #myfic #myfics

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ladyofcreation · 5 years ago

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Abandoned WIP (2018 - Ladyhawke AU)

I’ve decided I want to “declutter” my writing space by pruning WIPs I’m not likely to return to. But I think it would be a shame to just delete them, so I’m sharing the stuff I wrote. I hope they’ll provide some inspiration, or at least that you enjoy them, as incomplete as they are.

This was my second attempt at a fic for the free choice day of AUyeahAugust 2018. With about 1642 words written between two separate scenes, I got a bit further with this one. The premise was a retelling of the 1985 movie Ladyhawke, with Nino as Phillipe, Adrien as Navarre, Marinette as Isabeau, and Fu as Imperius. If you’ve never seen the movie, it’s about an escaped thief getting roped into helping a medieval couple get revenge on the man who cursed them/undo the curse which separates them by forcing her to be a hawk by day, human by night, and him to be human by day, and a wolf by night. I thought it could be nicely adapted to this fandom by changing wolf to cat and hawk to ladybug.

However, I ended up dropping it as I found I wasn’t having much fun just retelling a story, and it was difficult to balance the personalities as shown in the movie with personalities that would keep them recognizable as Miraculous characters as well. The size difference between a hawk and a ladybug also made a rather critical plot event impossible (getting struck by an arrow), and while I attempted to deal with it by changing it to her getting sick instead, it just wasn’t working for me.

Ultimately, I think it’s an AU more suited to renditions of the memorable scenes/lines drawn with Miraculous characters rather than a written adaptation.

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Captain Agreste was a peculiar man.

He wanted something from him, of that much, Nino was certain. No one would help out a fugitive thief who’d gotten himself in a tight spot without getting something out of it in return. But what that was, Nino didn’t know, and Agreste hadn’t said. Nino supposed he’d tell him in due time, so he resigned himself to sit quietly behind the strange man as they rode into the forest. One didn’t have much room to complain after narrowly escaping death at the hands of a squadron of soldiers, after all.

But the peculiarity of the man was hard to ignore. Dressed all in black, he seemed to take amusement with life, and had been quite merry and flashy while brawling with the soldiers. But under this, he seemed to carry a heavy sadness with him, as though troubled by some burden he had no wish to share.

The strangest thing, however, was his reaction when Nino spotted a ladybug on the man’s shoulder. He had moved to brush the beetle off, when Agreste had swiftly caught Nino by the wrist, an impressive maneuver while still maintaining direction on the horse they were riding.

“Don’t,” he said firmly, warning clear in his voice.

Nino listened.

They stopped early in the evening, the sun still high in the sky. The couple that granted them a place to stay for the night didn’t seem like the most savory of people, but sometimes you had to take what you could get.

Night fell as Nino gathered wood for the fire. He got the uncomfortable feeling that someone was watching him, and every noise seemed magnified and threatening in the growing darkness. He hastily tried to return to the barn.

He nearly made it.

There was a flash of motion in the corner of his vision, and Nino turned just in time to see, and barely avoid the swing of the axe, held aloft by the farmer. Nino had been right, certainly not the most savory of people.

The man swung his axe again, but something large and black and snarling leapt out of the darkness, tackling the man as Nino rolled away. He looked up to see the creature with its jaws clamped around the attacker’s neck.

A cat, Nino realized, as he saw the reflective, almost glowing green slitted eyes. The creature was a cat. But not an ordinary cat, not one that kept the mice away from the food. No, this was a big cat, like a jaguar from some exotic jungle – one that had no natural business being here.

In a panic, Nino fled into the barn, calling for Captain Agreste. There was no answer, and when Nino barged into his side of the barn, there was no sign of the man. His panic rising, he grabbed the crossbow and prepared to fire on the beast.

A hand plucked the arrow from the weapon, and Nino jumped, turning.

A woman, and certainly not the one of this farm, met his gaze steadily as she pulled his hands away from the crossbow.

“Don’t,” she said firmly. She turned and headed for the exit.

Nino didn’t know who this woman was, or where she had come from, but he wasn’t about to let her get hurt.

“You can’t go out there,” he said, but she waved off his concern, and began calmly walking out into the woods, against all logic.

“Am I dreaming?” Nino asked, wondering if this was some particularly lucid nightmare.

“You are,” answered the woman. Nino wasn’t sure if he believed her. He looked out into the woods again, and immediately regretted it.

The cat, finished with its prey, approached the woman. She reached out her hand, and began stroking it gently, and it followed her as she continued walking.

That wasn’t normal.

Just what had Nino gotten himself into?

The next day, during a break in their journey through the woods, Nino started rambling about what he had seen to Captain Agreste.

“There was a cat,” he said, “a big black cat, like a panther or a jaguar or something. I mean, it was seriously huge! I could’ve died…but it left me alone.”

Agreste seemed amused, as though he knew something Nino did not. Nino felt a little unsettled by it.

When he mentioned the woman, Agreste sat up, eyes intent on Nino’s, as though he wanted to soak up every word. So Nino told him, told him about the woman with the hair like night and eyes like day. When he had finished, Agreste’s expression had softened into something wistful.

“I’ve waited a long time for such a lady,” he murmured, staring down at the little bug crawling along his clothes.

It was not until the next day that Agreste finally told Nino what he wanted from him. And Nino was not too keen on the idea.

“Oh no, no no no,” he said. “I am not going back there. I escaped from there.”

“That’s exactly why I need your help,” Agreste said. “I need to get into the city to get to the Bishop. You’ve gotten out – you’re the only one who’s ever gotten out – you can get me in.”

Nino felt silly as he approached the ruin, insect cupped in hand. He was certain that whoever lived here would think him insane to request healing for a little ladybug. But Agreste had looked at him with such desperation that Nino felt he had no choice.

Nino called out, over and over, until an old man appeared.

“Hello, young man,” Fu greeted. “What brings you here?”

“I…” Nino said, hesitantly, “Captain Agreste asked me to come to you, with this ladybug he keeps with him. She’s sick and he said that you could heal her.”

Fu’s eyes widened, and he opened up the gates, urging Nino in before the sun, already low in the sky, set any lower. He had Nino set the insect down on a cot, much larger than ought to be necessary for such a little thing, and dismissed him from the room.

Nino was curious now. He had known from the beginning that there was something unusual going on, but this was nagging at his mind. For one, odd man like Captain Agreste to be strangely attached to a ladybug was one thing, but for this old monk to be showing similar concern? That wasn’t, it couldn’t be an ordinary insect. But just what was it, and why was Fu so secretive about it?

So, when Fu left, muttering about ingredients, Nino slipped over and picked the lock, returning to the room. He was not prepared for what he saw.

Lying on the cot, where he’d left the bug, was the woman he’d seen in the night.

Nino felt a jolt of fear run through him. His eyes were telling him something that his brain knew to be impossible, or at least unnatural. There was no doubt that this woman…this woman somehow was the ladybug. But how? Was she a witch? A shapeshifter? A spirit? But she lay there, shaking from fever, and such beings weren’t subject to such earthly illness, were they?

“Adrien…” the woman murmured. It wasn’t hard to guess who she was calling for.

“He’s fine, Captain Agreste is fine,” Nino said. “He told me to take you here.”

“Tell him…tell him he shouldn’t be so reckless…” she said, voice hazy and faint. “And tell him…not to worry about me…I’ll be…fine.”

“I will,” Nino said, because what else could he say? This was something beyond his experience with the world.

“I thought of…a funny joke he’d like…but I can’t…I can’t remember it right now.”

“Don’t…don’t strain yourself,” Nino said hesitantly. “You’re feverish.”

She made some faint noise of agreement, as the door opened behind Nino. Fu looked between the two of them.

“Go. We’ll speak of this later,” he told Nino. Nino was only too happy to oblige.

Was what he had seen even real? No…he knew it was. Somehow he knew it was real, even if it defied anything natural. He’d gotten mixed up in magic, and it was too late to get out now.

In the distance, he heard a yowl, and Nino shivered.

When Fu came to him later, the first thing Nino did was confirm his supicions.

“That cat is Agreste, isn’t it?”

Fu closed his eyes briefly and did not answer.

“What’s your name, young man?”

“Nino Lahiffe.”

“Nino…you have stumbled upon a sad tale. Come, sit.”

Nino did, and Fu continued.

“That woman’s name is Marinette. She came to our city after her parents’ passing. And we were all taken by her charm and kindness…many fell in love with her.”

Nino nodded. He could see it. The woman – Marinette – had quite a presence, and although he’d only met her a few times, she’d already had quite an impact on him.

“The Bishop wanted her for himself. He became obsessed with her, desperate to have her. She, of course, wanted nothing to do with him. She could tell the sort of man he was. And not the least, she already had taken a man as her love – the captain of the guard, Adrien Agreste. They were deeply in love, and a more devoted couple you could not find. But in secret…always in secret, until…”

Nino hung on every word, not wanting to press, but wanting to know all the same. Eventually, Fu sighed.

“I made a terrible mistake, and the Bishop learned of their relationship. Marinette and Adrien tried to escape his wrath, but, as clever as they are, they were powerless against the dark powers of hell that the Bishop called upon in his anger. With it, he cursed them, damning them to this terrible existence – Marinette, a ladybug by day; Adrien, a cat by night.”

#abandoned wip #flagship #fanfiction #nino lahiffe #marinette dupain-cheng #adrien agreste #master fu

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areax · 6 years ago

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marlene + 10, 16, 19

10. fears / phobias

large open spaces. when she first exits the vault it’s pretty much any kind of open space but as time goes on it gets a bit better. something like a football field or a airplane tarmac doesn’t unsettle her, but once you get into a desert or any kind of very flat, open field without any distinguishing markers she gets uncomfortable. usually she combats this by curling up under a blanket until she can calm herself down.

the sea, for reasons related to the above. she also can’t swim initially (what’s up everybody, my name’s marlene, i’m 19, and i never fucking learned how to swim) as she had no reason to learn how to do so in the vault, so that’s a legitimate fear. she does learn eventually but does not enjoy it at all (picture a wet, forlorn cat). ironic in that she lives on a boat for a few years. also she doesn’t trust crabs, even the non-giant ones.

being constrained. she doesn’t mind tight spaces (and in fact prefers them) but constrained in the sense of not allowed to do what she wants when she wants with her own body or self. or not being able to act to save a loved one. so feeling powerless more generally.

16. dark secrets / skeletons in the closet

as much as she denies it marlene really is more of an open book than she’d like to be so she doesn’t have that many. she tries her best to keep herself contained but everything’s always written all over her face and she’s very expressive so she’s not as good of a liar as she thinks she is. but she makes up for it with earnestness.

anyway most of her dark secrets come from her own feelings about events that she thinks she should feel differently about if that makes sense? for example:

doesn’t regret killing the overseer / amata’s father as much as she feels she should. she feels a kind of secret pride for getting revenge on someone who had made life hell for her for so long

despite this she does regret what she views as disproportionate vengeance (against someone who couldn’t defend themselves). at one point, to get back at him, she kills col autumn’s wife, and while she was also as insidious and cruel and evil as he was (more of a man behind the curtain manipulator), marlene killed her when she was unarmed, so she doesn’t view it as a fair fight. and also to drag someone else into her vendetta (no matter how much his wife deserved it for the stuff she did) doesn’t sit well with marlene

suicide attempts or suicidal behavior after she’s brought back at the beginning of broken steel. she doesn’t talk about these to anyone.

20. what-ifs / alternate timelines

MANY! the most fleshed out ones include:

enclave au — in which james & co were captured by the enclave and marlene grew up in their fold and gradually killed her way up to the top of the heap where she coasted on her bloodthirsty reputation until she was killed at around 50 or so

modern — fairly self explanatory from the name; her father worked for a governmental clean water initiative and she grew up in dc, joined the military but had a mental breakdown and was discharged, now works as mechanic with her dog and her husband

may or may not intersect with summer camp au which is just like every summer camp movie except marlene is there and she’s way too enthusiastic about beating the rival camp at softball

cultist origin — was abducted by an apocalypse cult called 101 when she was a child and lived with them for fourteen years before they were finally taken down, believed for a very long time that the rest of the world had ended and she and the cult were the only survivors, is selectively mute as a result of a lot of childhood trauma, shunted around to various foster homes in her teens, still doesn’t quite understand the concept of exchanging money for goods and services

trash kid / neo noir — fitting with @hoopsamari’s nighthawks au, in which marlene grows up without adult supervision and generally causes a ruckus as a teenager. neo noir is an evolution of this when she’s older and it’s much darker in general, marlene beats her gf’s abusive dad to death with a baseball bat in homage to the elevator scene in drive, works as an enforcer for another oc of mine (lilith), has a cool dragon tattoo, maybe does cocaine? definitely does cocaine.

escape from new york dc — “i’m back at the sewers again guys” / im living off the grid in the tunnel system under new york city, together with the hobos and mole-men the shadow people and the cia are hunting me but they will never catch me alive / essentially a rehash of efny with marlene in the starring role to illustrate my dedication to replacing her as the protagonist of every 80s movie, also fits w marlene’s canonical time as a gladiatorial fighter in the pitt, at least she gets a dog out of her whole experience even though this is where she gets her dashing cheek scar

blade runner 2277 — joi play freysa’s speech bass boosted; so important that it has its own tag; based on 2049 but with significant differences yet a similar revelation. marlene gets to hold That Gun and cry in the rain. deñis stole my ideas for 2049 and put Roy Harkness In The Movie so it’s only fair that i take his creation for my own

ladyhawke — matrb (marlene/harkness) au, rutger is there and im still not over it, tentatively set in medieval china except i know jack shit about any country or area in the medieval period

pride and prejudice — marmot (marlene/amata) au. exactly what it says on the tin. either set in Ye Olde England or in fallout’s timeline but the basics are the same

twin peaks au — not a genuine one but more because of the fact that josie and marlene share a fc, in which marlene is josie’s doppelganger from the black lodge who has developed a personality of her own, bob sees her and instantly winks out of existence because if she’s real then what is he?

i’ve thought a lot (not seriously) about making a big like explanation post w all these but this will have to suffice for now

#lesbianclairedfield #answered #marlene xiao #ask to tag #long post

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sholiofic · 7 years ago

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Agent Carter Ladyhawke AU

Written for fandom_stocking. This is an AU based on the movie Ladyhawke. If you haven’t seen it, it's set in medieval times and it's about a pair of lovers who are cursed to never be able to touch in human form (he's a wolf at night, she's a hawk during the day) and a third character who helps them. In this case Peggy and Daniel are the cursed lovers, though I reversed the nature of the curse.

It had rained all day, intermittent cloudbursts of cold sluicing downpour, slackening in between to a steady gray drizzle. It was both miserable and exhausting to travel in. The path was churned to mud, even washed out in some places. Their horses were tired. They were tired.

At least it made the risk of pursuit less, Jack thought, hunched over his horse's neck. Behind him, he heard the jingling of Lady Margaret's bridle, so she was still back there somewhere. For the last few miles of torturous, twisting mountain paths, some of them so narrow they had to dismount and lead the horses, he and Lady Margaret had been snapping constantly at each other and finally started ignoring each other completely.

He knew what was really bothering her, but wasn't in a mood to care. Daniel had been scouting their path for them, soaring through the heavy bands of low-hanging clouds on gray-barred hawk's wings, but the last time he'd winged away into the mist, he hadn't come back. Now the gray day was darkening further, heralding the onset of evening.

"We should stop soon," Lady Margaret said. Jack risked twisting around in the saddle, grimacing as the movement tugged at his arm, to see that her face had the pinched white look that it always got around dusk. Like she had anything to complain about. Her heavy skirts were probably keeping her warmer than Jack's riding trousers, he thought uncharitably; he was shivering, soaked to the skin. He still wasn't used to a woman who rode as she did, straddling the horse and wearing men's trousers beneath her skirts.

"You see anywhere to camp around here, Marge? Because I don't."

Lady Margaret flexed her leather-gloved fist, where the hawk would normally have come back to rest, before lowering it to touch her horse's neck, guiding it around an obstacle on the path. Among the many other annoying things about the woman, she was an expert rider.

"We cannot continue past dark," she said.

"You can't. I'll scout ahead; one can ride faster than two --"

"In these conditions, you'll fall and bash your brains out at the bottom of one of these infernal cliffs. Perhaps," she added, "I should let you."

Jack opened his mouth to reply, but a water-laden branch caught him in the back of the head -- the problem with looking back instead of forward. His horse's shoulder dipped at the sudden shift in his seat, nearly unseating him, and for a moment all he could do was hang on, clutching at the horse's mane with his good hand.

When he could look up again, Lady Margaret was politely (for her) ignoring his moment of weakness, looking up the side of the brush-tangled ravine they were riding in. "There is supposed to be a cave around here somewhere," she said. "Brigands used to hide in it."

"Given our luck," Jack growled between his teeth, "it's probably still got brigands in it."

To his surprise, she laughed softly, a low husky laugh. Jack smiled involuntarily, despite how terrible he felt --

-- though the lighter feeling lasted only until his horse came around a twist in the path and he found himself confronting a tangle of wet branches. At first he thought it was recent, the rains loosening the roots of an ancient oak, causing it to tip over. But there were brambles growing up over it; it had been this way for years. The great tree had torn free at the roots, falling so that its branches wedged against the opposite side of the ravine -- which had closed in on them here, the two sides of the ravine near enough that the tree bridged the gap.

And very effectively blocked their path. Jack cursed under his breath, heedless of the woman just behind him. They were going to have to pick their way around it, up the side of the ravine. It might take hours.

Lady Margaret rode up beside him. The path was slightly wider here, the tree's roots having torn a large chunk out of the hillside to create a sort of small natural amphitheater. A thready spring, strengthened by the rain, cascaded over the tree's roots and ran away beneath their horse's hooves to fall off the edge of the path in a silver thread.

"I think it would not be unreasonable to camp here," she said. "It looks dry enough under the trunk, and there's plenty of water, and places for the horses to browse. We are unlikely to be surprised from above, and we'll hear anyone coming up the path."

On general principle, Jack tried to muster an argument why it was a bad idea, but nothing was coming to him. It would be night soon, and in spite of what he'd said earlier, he didn't fancy riding in the dark, especially since he'd probably have to lead her horse with Lady Margaret herself, in four-legged form, getting underfoot. (His horse still wasn't any more used to traveling with a wolf than he was.) Somehow he didn't expect she'd consent to being left behind.

Not that he relished the idea of getting off his horse, either. The only spot of warmth he had left was the contact between his seat and the saddle.

But Lady Margaret had already dismounted, sliding off her horse in a flurry of wet skirts, and turned to begin untying the roll behind her saddle. She looked up to see him still sitting there. "Do you disagree?" she asked, a hint of argument in her voice.

"No, it's ... fine," he said, the fight going out of him all at once. He was just tired, too exhausted to move, really. It seemed like too much effort to get out of the saddle, but Lady Margaret was already unsaddling her horse, and it wasn't like he wanted to sit here all night in the rain. Clenching his teeth, he slung his leg over the saddle. He couldn't dismount as he normally did, since only one of his arms was working at the moment, and he ended up half-falling to the ground -- and probably would have gone flat on his back if Lady Margaret hadn't been there, catching and holding him.

"Fool," she said. "You're burning up. I knew that sword wound was infected. And I haven't much time to tend it, or to build a fire; look how dark it is already."

She steered him to the fallen oak. She had been right, there was a clear space between the tree trunk and the ground, not high enough to stand up in, but he could sit comfortably where Lady Margaret deposited him. It was, if not precisely dry under here, then at least somewhat less wet.

"Stay here," she told him. "I'll make camp. You did it last night."

He couldn't remember at the moment if that was true or not, but he had a feeling that he would only have embarrassed himself further by trying to get up. Instead he leaned back against a heavy root -- not the most comfortable of backrests, but it was better than being on a horse -- and tried to ignore the throbbing of his arm and the sick pounding in his head as he watched her move briskly about. She unsaddled both horses and turned them loose to graze, then deftly built a fire from handfuls of dry grass and leaves she collected from beneath the fallen oak's welter of broken branches.

"You've never mentioned how you learned all of this," Jack said, watching her blow the fire to life, using coals from the fire-horn that had been strapped to his saddle and refilled from the embers of last night's campfire.

"What's that?" she asked, looking up in the glow of the newly kindled fire.

"Brigand skills aren't commonly taught in sewing-parlors, from what I've heard." His memories of the climb up the mountain path were somewhat hazy in places, but he had noticed she'd been obliterating their backtrail, leaning over her horse's haunches with a long branch to sweep out their tracks and sometimes dismounting to shift some branches back into place or otherwise obscure the signs of their passage. And her camping skills were as good as anyone he'd traveled with.

"I pay attention, I suppose. I like to learn things. And you should have seen me as a girl; my mother despaired of me. I spent more time in the stables and with the hunting-dogs than at my sewing and painting lessons." She cast a last, lingering look out into the growing dusk of the ravine, the fingers flexing in her hawking glove, before she turned to crouch beside Jack. "Let me have a look at that arm, as quickly as I can before -- oh!"

There was a sudden flurry of wet wings, and abruptly the shelter, which had seemed large enough a moment ago, felt much too small when it was full of wet, flapping hawk.

"Gang's all here, and thanks for nothing," Jack muttered in the hawk's general direction.

Daniel ruffled up his wet feathers. Lady Margaret deposited him tenderly next to the fire. "You'll have to take care of the rest of this," she told him, with another swift glance into the near-darkness beyond the firelight. "It's ... time. I'll see you in the morning, love."

Normally she left their camp when she felt her change coming on, but this time Jack caught her arm, with his good hand, as she started to crawl out into the rain. "It's no weather to blunder around in the dark," he told her. "I'll just look away."

He closed his eyes and turned his head to the side, not without a certain curiosity, but it wasn't worth risking her hard-earned trust for a peek. Instead he heard soft, compelling rustling, the crackling of the fire -- and then Daniel's voice said, "It's all right. Peggy's changed."

And so had he, apparently. Jack opened his eyes. Daniel was just wrapping himself in the cloak Lady Margaret had discarded. As for Lady Margaret -- for some reason it was easier to get used to Daniel, as a hawk, than it was to remind himself that this lean gray wolf, its golden eyes glinting in the firelight, had been a beautiful woman only moments ago. Maybe it was his fever, but in the firelight she seemed like a ghost, like a dream.

But she was tangible enough to lean her furry shoulder against Daniel's arm, almost like a dog, though there was nothing doglike about the lean, wiry strength in her lupine body.

"Yes, I'm fine," Daniel told her, as if she'd spoken. "I got turned around in the fog, that's all. You don't have to hunt for us tonight, love, not in this weather. We'll make do with jerky and bread."

But Peggy was no less easy to contain as a wolf than as a woman -- less so, probably -- and with an inscrutable glance toward Jack, she slipped out of their shelter into the rainy night.

#agent carter #peggy carter #jack thompson #daniel sousa #peggysous #fandom stocking #aus

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mementomori-demimonde · 7 years ago

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CobertWeek-day4:“Ladyhawke”

Here’s my story for the Cobert Week, guys. I apologize in advance for this because I’m not able to give you a full story, for now.

Anyway, I thought of dividing it and make multichapter tale for all of you; yes, I said tale, because I chose the Magical AU and, of course, you might know from the title what gave me inspiration. It’s more like a teaser and it’s also unbetaed, so beware! Enjoy!

LADYHAWKE : 𝒜𝓁𝓌𝒶𝓎𝓈 𝓉𝑜𝑔𝑒𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇, 𝑒𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓃𝒶𝓁𝓁𝓎 𝒶𝓅𝒶𝓇𝓉.

[Cora X Robert, Alternative Universe].

Chapter 1

He was staring at her from the distance, wisely hidden behind a tree with his empty glass in hand. His body was fully covered by the trunk while his head timidly peeked from behind.

She looked shy and gracious, actually she was holding her own arms, her shoulders slightly hunched over. Her raven hair looked so soft even tight up in that intricate chignon and some curls, escaped from the bun, were swirling in the wind; when she turned, he noticed her blue eyes, deep as much as they seemed lost, always searching for something he didn't know – and maybe she herself didn't know.

She was in a circle of loud friends laughing and talking, but she didn't speak, like she wasn't meant to be there.. like she didn't want to be there.

It was funny how that timid girl before him was the same girl that every man and woman in the county despised and feared. She didn’t look like the hawk everyone insisted on calling her. Ladyhawke. It was all a mystery for him.

Robert sighed, continuing to study her, that small creature with thin shoulders that everyone believed being some sort of enchantress before him. Even though she was just standing there, doing nothing, he could see something glowing around her, like an aura that only he could see. It always had been a habit of him, to want something so far away, maybe just to please his ego or maybe because the object of his desire was something so unconventional that he had to have it to bother his mother or unleash his friends' envy. Yet that was unexpected. She was unexpected.

“What are you looking at, eh?”

Robert jerked slightly, quickly turning toward the source of that voice.

“Nothing.” He replied, clearing his throat and attempting to take a sip from his glass. Of course he forgot it was empty.

“Beware of her charm.” The other one teased drinking from his own full glass of liquor. “She's a dangerous one, Ladyhawke. She never stops, next one could be you.”

Robert sighed, rolling his eyes. They all talked about her like a ravenous predator on the constant research of victims, and of course thus victims were wealthy lords that she had to kill – metaphorically – and to rip off.

“She doesn't look like a raptor.” Robert stated.

“But that's the point. She doesn't look like one, but she is. It's her secret weapon.” The other one whispered with a playful tone.

Robert had never despised those games of little gossips and nonsense, yet for some weird reason, that topic was getting on his nerves: why such an innocent and beautiful lady had to be mocked like that just because she came from oversea? And to be frank, it looked like his boyfriend had charmed her and not the other way around.

Robert recalled him showing her girlfriend from America like a big trophy, while she always stayed silent and blue at his side. Robert didn't even know her name, expect for that nickname of Ladyhawke.

“Don't be ridiculous, Anthony.” He scoffed. “She's like anyone else.”

“Don't say I didn't warn you.” The other boy chuckled, raising his drink as he was toasting at his friend's foolishness “But I'd stay away from them, if I were you.”

Robert stared as his friend walked away, slightly staggering toward another group of people. Maybe he was drunk. How could that be? Sometimes his friends could be ruthless.

Of course there was something odd going on with those two, but he couldn't quite put his fingers on it.

He mumbled some nonsense under his breath, like he usually did and with one last glance over the group where Ladyhawke stayed, he realized she was gone. Perhaps she was indeed some kind of bird, disappearing like that in a blink of an eye, without him noticing and, apparently, without the people surrounding her noticing either. Not even her boyfriend, that sketchy boyfriend of hers, who was laughing and showing off his belongings – among which, Robert was sure, there was Ladyhawke too.

Robert sighed heavily, detaching from the tree and starting to pace toward the gardens, usually the quietest place to be when there was a party going on, for there would be only guided tours lead by the ladies who, at the moment, were enjoying their tea at the shade of the summerhouse.

It didn’t take long for him to get there, to breath in the fresh scent of flowers and roses, taking in the familiar place, letting it doing its magic on him, until a peaceful sensation entered his body.

When he opened his eyes, it was at a timid barking coming from his feet.

“Isis?” He asked puzzled. “What are you doing here?” he frowned, utterly concerned with finding his puppy outside when she was supposed to be locked somewhere in the servants quarters. “If mama sees you here, she'll-”

Robert bent down to reach the puppy, but unexpectedly, she ran away. She'd never done that before: even if small, she was very well trained.

He tried to follow the dog, paying close attention to some unwanted eyes, until he noticed Isis' small tail wiggling behind a corner of the small bushes' labyrinth.

“Isis! Bad dog, come here!” He whispered with a firm tone, but she wouldn't listen.

Robert sighed, walking faster toward the puppy and, with his big surprise, she was tugging something with her little mouth, whining like she used to do when it was playtime. He was about to scold her, when he realized what she was pulling: a very fine cloth, part of a skirt actually, one Robert was sure he'd seen before, recently too.

“Ladyhawke!” He gasped. His tongue too fast for his brain to prevent him the mistake.

Two big, blue eyes darted in his direction. She wasn't mad at him, which was a relief, yet she look sad, and that, for some reason, broke his heart.

“It's fine.” She said, no emotion escaping from her lips. “I know how you all call me.” She had all the reason to be upset and yell at him but she didn't. She was the picture of grace and composure.

“I'm terribly sorry, milady.” He hinted a bow. “I'm ashamed but- I don't know your name.”

“Like it makes a difference.” She whispered and directed her attentions to the puppy, which now was sitting properly between them, her big brown eyes following their movements. “Is he yours?”

“Yes. She.” Robert cleared his throat “And it does, to me. I'd like to know.”

“It won't matter anymore. I'll take another name soon anyway.” She shrugged.

“Please?” Robert walked closer. He wanted to see her eyes so much, even for one last time. He couldn't think of anything else, and to give a name – a real name – to that beautiful face.

“Cora.” She almost sang, a little defiant.

“Cora.” He repeated, unable to stop his lips to smile. “I've never known anyone named Cora.”

“You don't like it?” She finally looked up at him, even if not fully, and her long lashes, black as the darkest night, shaded her iris.

“I do.” He nodded slowly “Very much.” He paused “I'm-”

“Robert Crawley. I know.” Cora nodded and, for the first time, she smiled. It was a melancholic smile tough, a timid smirk he failed to comprehend.

“You know?” He frowned.

“Yes.” She confessed.

“How?”

“Doesn't matter.” She smiled again, a little mysterious.

Robert nodded, hoping she was saving that story for some another time. Because there would be another time, he would make that happen, one way or another. He had to.

He was about to ask her when they could see each other again, when that horrid boyfriend of hers decided to get married – just to see how many more weeks of months he needed to hate that guy before making him his mortal enemy – and so many other things he wanted to know, when another noise interrupted that peace: someone was calling for her and he sounded irritated and despotic.

Cora tensed immediately when she heard that voice.

“Haxby. The hunt, you'll be there?” He asked frantically, fearing she would've fled without another word or, worse, without a word on their next possible encounter.

“I might.” She nodded agitatedly, her eyes darting everywhere like a prey sensing the predator coming near. More than ever she didn't look like a hawk. What a mean and inappropriate nickname for her. “I must go.”

“See you at Haxby.” He yelled at her back. She didn't answer.

Robert felt incredibly abashed when he realized he may have yelled too loud: when Cora's boyfriend came, to collect her by her arm, Robert got the deadliest look he'd ever seen. But he wasn't afraid. For some reason, he could take all the courage he needed from her eyes.

#cobertweek2017 #cobertweek #cobert #cora crawley #robert crawley #ladyhawke #chapter1

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mistleto-3 · 7 years ago

Text

Always Together, Eternally Apart

Mikototsu Ladyhawke AU

Pairing: Mikoto/Tatara

4,135 words. Content warning for canon-typical violence. Brief sarumi mention.

Happy birthday to @brokenredflames thank you for this (slightly belated, sorry!) request!! I hope you had a lovely birthday c:

AO3 | Ko-Fi

“Kill him.”

Misaki struggled against the grip of the guards who held him as the order was shouted, but he couldn’t break free. They were elite- the Special Guard, they used to be called under the Blue King, but since the rebellion their uniforms had been bleached white and they’d been forced to serve the usurper.

The one who appeared to be leader of the guards stepped forward- a grizzled man with a scar across the bridge of his nose, clearly the senior of everyone else in the group by a fair few years. His expression was blank except for the faint twist of displeasure at the corners of his mouth- it was clear he took no enjoyment in his task. He unsheathed his blade and raised it to the captive’s throat.

Before he could strike, a bolt whistled through the air and embedded itself in the guard’s forearm, and he grunted in pain, dropping his sword. Misaki’s eyes widened, his chest heaving in panic as he looked around for the attacker.

A man in black armour stood a short distance away, reloading his crossbow. His reddish hair was slicked back from his forehead, and he appeared incredibly calm, considering the circumstances. He nodded at the captive.

“You, out.”

Without protest, Misaki hurried to his side. The guards made no move to stop him.

“Suoh Mikoto,” one of the guards addressed the newcomer- the only woman amongst them, her blonde hair tied back behind her head. “I didn’t think you were stupid enough to come here.”

Mikoto merely smirked, then turned on his heel, his hand on the captive’s shoulder as he lead him away.

However, the cry of pain from the wounded guard hadn’t gone unnoticed, and more soldiers had swarmed into the area. These were simply the new King’s grunts, but there were dozens of them, and they didn’t appear to have the same good sense not to pick a fight they couldn’t win as the ones from the Special Guard. Mikoto sighed, pulling Misaki by his arm towards where his horse was tethered. He threw the boy haphazardly into the saddle, then climbed on behind him, drawing his sword as he gathered the reins into one hand and urged his mount forward. They raced out of the village, and Misaki covered his eyes in panic as they rode straight towards a gate that two of the foot soldiers were pushing closed in front of them, in fear they wouldn’t make it over.

Mikoto raised his hand to his lips and whistled, and almost like a ghost, a white bird seemed to appear from nowhere, swooping through the archway of the gate. The two soldiers stumbled back out if its path as the bird stretched out its talons as it approached them, aiming for their eyes, and they fell out of the way just in time for Mikoto’s horse to leap over the gate and gallop away down the path, with the white bird keeping pace beside them.

The pair continued a fair distance at full-speed, until the village was out of sight behind them and they’d lost themselves amongst the trees of the nearby forest. Only then did Mikoto allow his mount to slow to a trot, and they veered from the path to travel through the trees in case someone had followed them. It was at that point that Mikoto helped Misaki to right himself in the saddle.

“D-did you say your name was Suoh? Suoh Mikoto?” Misaki spoke for the first time, his voice tentative.

“Yes.”

“As in the prince of the Red Kingdom?”

“Former. I renounced my title.”

“R-right, sorry… Why didn’t those guards attack you? Why’d they just let you take me?”

“Their old King was a friend of mine. They know me, and know better than to pick a fight they couldn’t win.”

“The Blue King?”

“Mhm.”

Misaki nodded slowly. Mentioning the previous King was odd- doing so in earshot of a guard would get you thrown in a cell for the night. It had been almost two years since the old King, nicknamed the ‘Blue King’ had been unseated from the throne in a coup, but it seemed like a lifetime ago. The new ruler, the ‘Colourless King’ as he was known, was much stricter. He raised taxes, created dozens of new absurd laws and implemented ridiculous penalties for breaking them, and he was deep in the pockets of the aristocracy. Dozens of questions bubbled to Misaki’s lips at the mention of the old King- he and everyone else in the kingdom had been secretly hoping he’d make a return- but kept quiet after that, fearing he might be annoying his rescuer. Instead, he took to watching the bird, which was now circling them in wide, lazy loops as they walked through the woods. Now he could get a better look, he recognised the creature as a snowy owl, with wide, bronze coloured eyes and speckled white feathers.

“She’s yours?” Misaki asked, nodding to the bird.

“He. Yeah, he is.”

“He’s beautiful.”

“I know.”

The pair made very little conversation after that as they travelled through the woods until they found an abandoned cottage where they could stay the night. The house itself was in a poor state of repair, but its barn appeared to be standing firm, so they took shelter within it. Mikoto retired early, making it clear he wasn’t to be disturbed, then settled in as Misaki ventured off to retrieve some more firewood.

The sun had sunk past the horizon by the time he made his way back to the cottage, and the building was just within sight when he heard the unmistakable crunch of footsteps on leaflitter- footsteps that weren’t his own. Through the trees he caught sight of the dusk light glinting off a metal helmet, and he immediately took off at a run. He raced back into the barn in search of something he could use to fend off the intruder, who he could now see was a foot soldier who had managed to follow them from the village. Thankfully, their pursuer appeared to be alone.

Unable to find anything more substantial than a pitchfork to use as a weapon, Misaki threw open the door to the tack room Mikoto had been sleeping in to find him missing. Thankfully, his sword was still in there, and unable to waste time worry about where his companion had gotten to, Misaki grabbed the weapon and turned to face the soldier, who was banging on the door to the barn, which Misaki had jammed shut with a water trough.

And then suddenly, something bowled the soldier sideways; an immense shadow appeared to have knocked him clean off his feet with an unearthly snarl. It was only when the soldier and his assailant stopped rolling that Misaki saw that the dark shape that had landed on top of the man was a huge black wolf. The soldier struggled fruitlessly against the creature, but it wasn’t long before his thrashing ceased and his cries quietened to gurgles, then finally fell silent as he slumped back onto the undergrowth.

Misaki tightened his grip on the sword, relieved that his assailant had been dispatched, but now he was more concerned about the wolf turning on him. He took a deep breath, preparing himself to kick the trough out of his way and rush the creature while it was distracted by its kill. But before he could do so, a hand on his shoulder froze his breath in his lungs. He whirled around, expecting to find a soldier lifting a blade to his throat.

But instead, there was just a young unarmed man in a black cloak that shrouded everything but his face.

And God, he was beautiful. His eyes were a deep bronze colour, lined by a fan of long black lashes. Dark gold, collar-length hair framed his face- his beautiful, almost effeminate, slightly ethereal face. His skin was faintly tanned, and his cheeks were flushed pink by the cool night air.

Misaki found himself blushing as the man lay his hand on Misaki’s wrist, gently lowering his sword, and then raised his other hand to his own lips and whispered: “Shh…”

Then, his gaze fixed upon the wolf, and with slow, careful steps, he let himself out of the barn.

“D-don’t go out there!” Misaki warned, his voice hushed. “There’s a wolf- a really big wolf. The biggest wolf you’ve ever seen.”

“I know,” the man said simply, a carefree smile curving the corners of his lips as he stepped past Misaki and out into the clearing behind the barn.

The wolf lifted its head from its kill, licking the blood from its lips, and watched the young man approach fearlessly, like the beast was nothing more than a pet. The creature greeted him as though the pair were old friends, and they vanished into the woods side by side.

The next morning, Misaki decided not to mention the wolf encounter to Mikoto, in fear of sounding mad. He passed it off as likely nothing more than a vivid dream, but as they resumed their travels, he couldn’t keep his mind off the beautiful boy he’d spoken to, so instead he tried to strike up a conversation to keep his mind off it.

“So uh, so why did you save me from those guards yesterday? N-not that I’m not grateful…”

“You escaped the Colourless King’s dungeons, right.”

“That’s right.” Misaki puffed his chest out a little in pride. “First one ever to do it. Why?”

“I need your help to break back in.”

Misaki paused for a moment in confusion. “Break in…? Why the hell would you wanna do that?”

“To kill the Colourless King.”

“That… seems like kind of a tall order.”

“I have a score to settle.”

“What’d he do? Something to do with him kicking your friend off the throne?”

“He’s afraid of me. He wanted to remove me as a threat.”

Misaki didn’t miss the way he dodged the question. “He thinks you could unseat him from the throne?”

Mikoto nodded, and didn’t offer anything else on the subject, so Misaki didn’t press the topic any further.

The pair made the rest of their progress through the woods that day mostly in comfortable silence, until the clatter of hoofbeats rose in the distance, drawing nearer as a pair of Colourless soldiers on horseback rode into view between the trees. At the sight of them, Mikoto urged his horse onwards, ordering Misaki to hang on as his mount leapt forward, attempting to outrun their pursuers.

The snap of a crossbow sounded behind them, but the bolt only buried itself in the trunk of a tree a few feet away from them. And then there was another snap, but this time, it was followed by an awful shriek, and then a soft thud.

Misaki looked back over his shoulder to see the owl Mikoto kept as a companion lying on the leaflitter with an arrow through his wing. He let out another meek cry of distress, flapping his uninjured wing uselessly. Misaki felt Mikoto tense in the saddle, then with a sharp movement he spun his horse around, drawing his sword and racing at full gallop straight towards the soldiers.

They barely had time to react- the first soldier was cut down from his horse before he had the chance to nock another arrow, and the second managed to fire one, but it sailed straight over Mikoto’s head as the soldier’s horse spooked and reared at the sight of Mikoto rushing headlong towards it. A swift elbow to the gut was all it took to knock the horse’s mount from his saddle, and he hit the ground with the sickening crack of ribs breaking.

Without looking back at the soldiers he’d dispatched, Mikoto spun around and hurried back over to where the bird had fallen, leaping out of his saddle to kneel beside him. He whispered gentle reassurance to the creature, examining the wound with a tenderness that surprised Misaki.

“Get me a cloth from my saddle bag.”

Misaki didn’t think he’d heard an ounce of emotion from his companion since they’d met, but now, there was tension in his voice- he almost sounded fraught. Misaki dismounted and did as he asked, watching from a short distance away as Mikoto wrapped the bird gently in the fabric.

Mikoto didn’t speak again after that, climbing back on his horse wordlessly and nodding for Misaki to do the same. Cradling the owl in his arms, he urged his mount forwards once more at a pace that made Misaki fear they were still being chased.

They didn’t slow until the sun was sinking low on the horizon and they reached an aging castle- the wooden gates were rotting away, the metalwork was rusting, and the masonry of the towers and parapets was crumbling away.

A figure stood above the gates, looking down on the visitors, then called out for them to be admitted. The portcullis rose slowly, though Misaki didn’t think the rust-stained iron would have kept much out, and Mikoto rode into the courtyard and dismounted. The figure from above the gate descended the stairs to meet them- in the better lighting, Misaki could see him dressed in blue. His face was familiar.

“Munakata,” Mikoto said simply.

“Suoh,” Reisi replied coolly.

For Misaki, it was surreal, seeing the unseated King in the flesh- he thought he’d been killed in the Colourless King’s coup. The Blue King had been well-respected and loved by his people and had good relations with the leaders of the nearby kingdoms, so the coup had come as a shock, supported by a few rich aristocrats who had been discontent with the new King, who no longer gave them the same favourable treatment they’d always been given in the past.

Mikoto however didn’t seem in the least bit fazed by the appearance of a man who, to Misaki, might as well have been a ghost. He walked towards him, still holding the bird in his arms, and Reisi nodded in some silent understanding and lead him inside. Misaki hesitated, unsure whether he should follow, and Reisi gestured for one of the few guards in the courtyard to take him into the castle and said he was to be given food and drink and somewhere to rest for the night.

Once they were inside, Mikoto lay the owl on a table top, and stepped back, folding his arms across his chest as Reisi examined the injured wing.

“There is only so much I can do before sundown- I can remove the arrow now, but it will be easiest to treat him after…”

“Okay,” Mikoto said stiffly, walking around the table to stand the opposite side of it to Reisi. He lay his hand beside the bird’s head, and the bird nuzzled his finger as Reisi retrieved medical supplies.

“Hold him still, this will hurt and I do not want to cause any more damage.”

Mikoto nodded, doing as he was bid as Reisi snipped off the head of the arrow with a large pair of shears, then slowly pulled it out of his wing. Though Mikoto was clearly doing his best to keep a straight face, his lips twitched into a grimace at the cry of distress that emanated from the bird.

“That’s all we can do for now,” Reisi said once he’d completed his task, applying gentle pressure to the wound. “Go, it’s almost sunset. There’s a room prepared for you upstairs. He should be fine.”

Mikoto gave another nod, glancing down at the bird once more before leaving the room.

Having been left alone for a while, Misaki was beginning to feel somewhat stir-crazy, stuck in the small chamber he’d been led to, so he decided to stretch his legs and look around. He wandered down through the castle until he found he’d come across the room that Mikoto had taken the bird into, quite by accident. But by now, his curiosity was piqued, so he pushed open the door to see how things were going.

Mikoto and Reisi were nowhere to be seen in the room, and the bird was also missing. But lying on a makeshift bed was the beautiful boy from a couple of nights ago, a bandage around his arm.

“Hello?” the man asked, craning his neck to see who was poking their head around the door.

Misaki entered the room, looking abashed. “S-sorry… I must have the wrong room.”

“You’re Suoh Mikoto’s companion, aren’t you?”

“Um… y-yeah…”

“How is he doing?”

“He’s fine. His bird got hit by a crossbow bolt and he seemed kind of upset, but it looks like someone is taking care of it.”

The man smiled serenely.

“You… already know that, don’t you…” Misaki said tentatively.

“Send him my love, okay?”

“O-Okay…?”

At that moment, the door opened, and Reisi returned with a bottle of some ointment in his hand.

“Totsuka-san, how are you feeling?”

“A little sore, if I’m honest.”

“I can have someone fetch some opium, if it would help.”

“No, it’s okay. I’d rather keep a clear head.”

“As you wish.” It was only then that Reisi finally seemed to acknowledge Misaki’s presence, and he gave him an unreadable smile. “You ought not to be in here.”

Misaki nodded and hurried from the room. Keeping vigil outside the door, lay a great, black wolfish-looking dog, who lifted its head at the sight of Misaki, but did nothing else.

Suddenly, an explanation for the presence of the mysterious boy and the wolf that seemed to care so deeply about him clicked in Misaki’s mind, and he hurried past the creature, holding his breath instinctively as not to blurt out his revelation. He waited at the end of the corridor for Reisi to emerge, and when he did, Misaki accosted him.

“It’s him, isn’t it? I know I sound crazy but somehow the wolf is Mikoto, right?”

Reisi chuckled, in an almost self-satisfied way, and crossed his arms. He guided Misaki over to a bench and gestured for him to take a seat, then sat down beside him.

“The young man’s name is Totsuka Tatara. He came to live in a city on the border between the Red and Blue kingdoms after the death of his foster father- he worked in a tavern that the Red Prince’s Royal Guard often frequented. As a prince, Suoh never had much interest in his royal duties, and spent most of his time acting more like a knight than the heir to the throne. He and his men were all fierce fighters, and they offered their aid to me during the coup, but by the time they arrived at the capital, the fighting was already finished.”

“What’s that got to do with all this?”

“The Colourless King was always afraid of Suoh. Removed from power as I was, there was little I could do to regain my throne. My people were punished harshly for showing a shred of remaining loyalty to me- I could not raise an army. But Suoh remains a popular royal in his own lands, even though he renounced his title, and even more so he is a respected fighter and military leader. The Colourless King feared that if Suoh and the Red Kingdom were to declare war on him, it would be the end of his reign, and I would be reinstated as King.

“So he felt something had to be done to prevent Suoh from launching an attack, but he could not simply have him killed, as that would only ignite rage amongst the Red Kingdom’s people, and his younger sister the Red Princess would certainly take it upon herself to avenge her brother’s death.”

“And that something was… what, turn him into a werewolf?” Misaki asked tentatively.

“The reason Suoh abdicated the throne was Totsuka. The two fell in love, but Suoh knew he could not give his country legitimate heirs if he married the boy, so not wanting to leave a power vacuum after his death, he chose instead to abdicate and leave Princess Anna next in line to the throne. I have never known a man love anything so fiercely as Suoh loves Totsuka, and they made no secret of it. It was easy enough for the Colourless King’s spies to discover that Suoh’s only weakness was his husband, so he cursed them. ‘Always together, eternally apart.’ By day, Totsuka is trapped in the form of an owl, and by night, Suoh is trapped in the form of a wolf. Only for a fleeting moment at dusk and dawn each day can they see each other in human form, but they can never touch.”

Misaki frowned- that certainly explained Mikoto’s sour disposition. To not be able to hold his lover in so long… it would make anyone unpleasant.

In a way, Misaki sympathised- his own childhood friend had been a member of the Blue King’s Special Guard, now under the rule of the Colourless King, and since the command had changed, they had not been permitted to speak to one another- fraternising with criminals was a hangable offense for the Special Guard, so Misaki had been careful to keep his distance. In truth, though, his feelings for his friend hadn’t been strictly platonic, and as a result he’d almost been disappointed when his face hadn’t been among the members of the guard who had captured him the other day. If he had to die, he had at least wanted to see his friend one last time before he did.

“So now Suoh is too preoccupied with trying to find a way to undo the curse to launch an attack on the Colourless King’s reign, and his power is safe,” Reisi explained.

“Is there a way to undo the curse?”

“If both Totsuka and Suoh appear before the King in their human form, the curse will be broken.”

Misaki frowned. “How are they supposed to do that?”

“’On a day without night, a night without day.’ That is to say, the coming solar eclipse, barely a week from now. That is why they need your aid- to infiltrate the castle so that they can find the Colourless King and break the curse. And I would not be surprised if Suoh kills the man on the spot as soon as the curse is lifted, which normally I would condemn, but in this case, I feel everyone will be better off if the tyrant is dispatched swiftly.”

“And you’ll become King again?” Misaki couldn’t quite keep the hope out of his voice.

“Yes. I plan to aid Suoh with his plan to the best of my ability- I know the inside of the castle well, and can guide him once we are inside, but the security reinforcements since I fell from grace are unfamiliar to me, which is why you are necessary.” Reisi paused, then lowered his voice slightly. “I believe I was correct when I thought I recognised your face when you arrived. You are a friend of Fushimi’s- a member of my Guard, correct?”

“Y-yes...” Misaki cursed the stutter in his voice.

Reisi gave a knowing smile. “Reversing the fraternisation rule will be among my first acts once I resume my throne, though it will not matter as I plan to give you a full pardon for any and all of your crimes anyway should we succeed.”

Misaki blushed, his gaze dropping to the ground, but he nodded nonetheless. “I’ll help you.”

“Really?” The exclamation came from behind the pair, and they turned around to see Tatara padding into the hallway, wrapped in a cloak. There were deep shadows beneath his eyes, but he seemed to have recovered some of his strength- the colour had returned to his cheeks, and he had a hand on the shoulder of the immense wolf beside him to steady himself. Seeming ignorant of Misaki’s blushing, he stumbled forward to hug him gratefully.

“I was so worried that with the eclipse getting closer, we’d never be able to make it into the castle and we’d miss our chance. You’re a blessing; I don’t know what we would have done if you hadn’t appeared when you did. It must be fate.”

“I-it’s nothing really…” Misaki stammered, still very conscious of how pretty Tatara was, even with his face slightly drawn from the pain of his injury.

“It is settled, then,” Reisi declared. “This time next week, the usurper King shall be dead, and the lovers shall be reunited.”

Misaki supposed it was probably just his mind playing tricks on him, but when he caught a glimpse of Mikoto out of the corner of his eye, he could almost have sworn the wolf was smiling.

#mikototsu #k project #suoh mikoto #totsuka tatara #ladyhawke #brokenredflames #prompt #k fanfic

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gaymusicchart · 8 years ago

Video

youtube

Gay Music Chart Awards 2016 : the nominations

Here are the nominees :

BEST SONG

Adam Lambert - Another Lonely Night

Alvin Point - Il a dit

Eli Lieb, Steve Grand - Look Away

GAREK - Stray

LP - Lost On You

Markus Feehily - Sanctuary

Sia - The Greatest

Steve Grand - We are the Night (Dave Aude Remix)

Tegan & Sara - Boyfriend

Troye Sivan - Youth

Tyler Glenn - Trash

Years & Years - Meteorite

BEST SONG / MUSIC VIDEO WITH A MESSAGE

A Song For Orlando – Hands

Asbjørn - BOY PWR

Benny - Boys Will Be Boys

BP Major - Divine Cure

Daff - Glitterpojke

Danielle LoPresti - Holy

Erik Blood - Chase the Clouds

FLETCHER – Princess

Greg Gould - Run To You (#KeepRunning)

Immanuel Casto, Romina Falconi - Who is afraid of Gender?

K3 - Prinsesje en Superman

Pansy Division - Blame It On The Bible

BEST ARTIST

ANOHNI

Brendan Maclean

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Years & Years - Meteorite ("Bridget Jones Baby" OST)

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Silva - Feliz e Ponto

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AZIS - HABIBI (latino version) / Азис - Хабиби (латино версия).

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馬寧 Manning - 反正都是我 Fanzheng dou shi wo

柳妍熙 Liu Yan Xi - 谁记得 Who Remembered

許魏洲 Xu Weizhou - 慢慢走 Walk Slowly (Addiction OST)

BEST MUSIC VIDEO FROM CZECH REPUBLIC

Jan Bendig - Coming Out

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BEST MUSIC VIDEO FROM DENMARK

Asbjørn - BOY PWR

HEIÐRIK - Change of Frame

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Martin Strecker - Hvis Du Kysser Min Hånd

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Queen Mimosa 3 - Sexophone

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Maksim Reimer & Band - You Found Me

Matthew Wood - One Life

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AGHIAZMA - Zombie Dogs

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Jamala - 1944

JeleZOO - I feel i’m taken away

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A Great Big World - Won’t Stop Running

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Alex Newell & DJ Cassidy (with Nile Rodgers) - Kill The Lights

Brooke Candy - Happy Days

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Hayley Kiyoko - One Bad Night

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Tyler Glenn - Shameless

Wrabel - 11 Blocks

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Brian Justin Crum - Name On You

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Rostam - Gravity Don’t Pull Me

SEE - Potions

Sxip Shirey feat. Xavier - Cinnamon Stick

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Benny - Boys Will Be Boys

Chester Lockhart - Kiss

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Mary Lambert - Hang Out With You

Steve Grand - We Are The Night

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Jack Doorman - Wet

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Anh Tú - Giấc Mơ Không Nhoà

Đàm Vĩnh Hưng - Tan Vỡ

Hương Giang Idol - Mùa Để Yêu Thương

Hương Giang Idol feat. R.Tee - Em Không Hối Tiếc

Khắc Việt - Em Cứ Đi Đi

Phạm Chí Thành - Sợ Hãi

#GayMusicChart #gay #music #chart #awards #2016 #lgbt #queer #lesbian #transgender #bisexual #drag queen #songs #videos #nominations

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marajade4s · 8 years ago

Text

True Love Will Always Find A Way (11/?)

A/N: It’s time for things to heat up a bit around here ;) Hope you enjoy!

Read on: FF.Net / AO3

Read from the beginning: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

True Love Will Always Find A Way

Ladyhawke AU

Princess!Emma & Pirate!Killian Jones

Emma is one of the most beautiful princesses in the Enchanted Forest, and Killian Jones is one of the most cutthroat pirates to sail the seven seas. When Emma refuses to give Baelfire any hopes he might win her heart, a set of events is set in motion, one that will forever entwine the fates of the princess and of the pirate.

Part 11

It’s late in the afternoon when Killian decides to take a break from his calculations and let his mind wander to other things. Finally, with the help of the extensive library put at his disposal by Queen Elsa, and thanks to the royal astronomer’s inestimable contributions, they have the area for the solar eclipse determined. They finally know it will happen just outside the borders of Misthaven, on the northern side. He now has the band of totality narrowed to several miles, and he’s marked it entirely on the map. With the Jolly Roger, they could easily make the trip in under three days, if he were to really put his beloved ship through her paces.

And he’s been making progress time-wise, too. He knows that the eclipse will happen sometime in the next 45 days. All that’s left now is to narrow it down to the exact day. And he’s getting closer, he can feel it. They don’t have a lot of time left, that’s true, but that doesn’t worry him much at the moment. After all, since coming to Arendelle 5 months ago, he’s made incredible progress, more than he’d hoped they would when he’d set course towards Emma’s friend.

He takes a moment to reminisce about their arrival in Arendelle. At Emma’s behest, he’d maneuvered the ship so that they had docked soon after sunset. He’d had them fly at half-mast when entering the village and his crew donning their best clothes. Nothing in their appearance was to draw unwanted attention to them. Not until Emma had had the chance to talk to her friend.

Emma was to ask an audience with the Queen, but he’d asked Jamison to accompany her everywhere and protect her with his life, if needed. And if Peter felt she was not safe leaving the ship, he was to take a contingent of men with him, if he could not convince Emma to stay on board. And he’d had a strong feeling she would not have stayed on the Jolly anyway, no matter how dangerous Jamison might have deemed the situation to be. She had that much faith in her friend.

Fortunately, his precautions had been for naught. As soon as they had docked and been boarded by the Queen’s men, Emma had sent her friend a message. He hadn’t asked what she’d written, but whatever it had been, it had brought the Queen on board their ship in less than an hour.

Jamison had later told him the reunion had been warm and heartfelt, the two friends sharing a long embrace. They had retired to the captain’s quarters after the young queen had given orders that they receive all the help they needed. After more than an hour, during which Killian imagined Emma had brought her friend up to date with their predicament, the two royals had come up on deck again.

After that, he and Emma had more or less spent their days and nights in the castle, as hosts of the Queen. He’d felt awkward at first, especially waking up in a strange bed, much softer than anything he’d ever experienced, but Emma’s message had soothed some of his worries. Elsa had insisted they stay in the castle, close to all the resources they needed for their quest, and it didn’t seem relevant to her that Killian had been - was - a pirate. And the same courtesy had extended to his crew as well.

He’d been shocked to meet Elsa - the young queen was definitely not what he’d imagined when Emma had told him stories of her friend. She was a quiet young woman, quite shy, but with an inner strength that exuded through all her pores. She’d accepted them into her home and into her kingdom no questions asked, and had put at their disposal anything he had asked of her. She’d even asked Maartins, the court’s former astronomer, to come out of retirement and lend them some help.

His crew were welcomed in town and the folks were kind to them. Of course, he’d given the pirates very strict instructions to be on their best behaviour, under threat of very explicit consequences, which no one would dare disobey. He suspected he may have done without it, though; his crew had demonstrated time and time again in the last couple of years that they were as eager as he was to see the curse lifted.

Coming back to the present, Killian lets himself acknowledge the sense of obligation he now feels towards Elsa. It’s strange for him to feel gratitude towards a royal, but he does. Notably so. At times he actually wonders how come he hasn’t suffered from apoplexy yet, with all these positive feelings he now feels for royalty.

But Emma and Elsa are the exception. Anna, too. Elsa’s younger sister is often a pain in his ass with her endless questions and chattering, but she has a gentle heart and a warm personality. The two sisters are genuinely good people, and have proven quite passionate about helping them find a way to break the curse. So, five months after coming to Arendelle, Killian is amazed, and yet not, to know he has found help among royalty, that he’s become friends of sorts with them.

And then there’s Emma. In the short time they’ve been in Arendelle, she’s become happier. Being close to her friends and seeing actual progress in their endeavour has made her sound lighter in her letters to him. She’d been optimistic most of the time they’d spent together, but now that she has company and more than a ship to roam on, she seems more carefree. And her attitude inexorably extends to him. Waking up to her bright messages every day give him bursts of energy and determinations that carry him into the late afternoon. So it’s no wonder he attributes their success to her demeanor. What’s more, he now believes her constant optimism has made the universe take her desires into account and mold them into action.

~~~~~~~~~~

Rumplestilskin isn’t one to concern himself with the fate of his victims. Especially not the ones he casts the most dire of curses on. And not when the only way to brake said curses is through True Love’s Kiss. As much as people would want to believe True Love is easy to find, and that each of them has it, he knows the truth. True Love is the rarest thing of all. And only the most fortuitous of beings have the good fortune to encounter it in their lifetimes.

He should know. Abandoned by both his parents while still a child, then by the wife he’d thought had cared for him, he’s learnt that love is fickle and short-lived. The years he’s spent as the Dark One have only cemented this belief. He could barely keep track of the number of times lovers had turned on one another when faced with his dark magic. How easily they give up their mates when threatened with harm, he snickers.

In all his years, he’s only encountered one couple that could boast of sharing True Love: Queen Snow of Misthaven and her consort, Prince David. But as far as he’s concerned, they haven’t been truly tested yet. Once the proper assessment would be devised for them, they would prove to be just as unreliable as all the rest.

As for the daughter, she would have served him well. A being born of True Love was supposed to carry great magic within her. Magic that he could have harnessed: a baby born out her union with Baelfire would have been the best apprentice he could ever have hoped for. After all, his own son had too much of a soft heart to have what it took to wield the darkest magic in all the realms.

But all that is moot now. The Princess is cursed to be an animal during the day and she’ll never see the light of the sun. He snickers again. Such a fitting punishment for a princess who is rumored to have loved the nature and the warmth of the sun. He hopes she is truly miserable by now. The absence of the things one loves most would make anyone depressed, so he imagines she’s no different.

Now that is an intriguing thought. Maybe the years spent under the shadows of the moon have mellowed her adversity towards Baelfire and she is now open to negotiations. After all, while he cannot lift the curse he cast on her, he can recreate the sun and the impression of day with magic. By now she’s surely so desperate for the sun’s rays, she’ll agree to anything to feel its warmth.

He chuckles at the trail his thoughts take. Maybe he will have his grandson after all. Ultimately, the princess is human half the day and that is enough for Baelfire to beget a child on her. Pleased with himself, Rumplestilskin erupts into manic laughter. He really is devious at times, he thinks with a trace of pride.

Now that he’s thought of a new use for the princess of Misthaven, he decides to check up on her. He’ll have to retrieve her soon; but that shouldn’t be too difficult. He opens his cabinet and pulls out the crystall ball he’s enchanted for this very thing. Summoning the powers of darkness, he casts the spell required to show him the princess’ whereabouts without even thinking about it consciously.

The crystal ball turns opaque, swirls of grey smoke soon twirling inside, rushing to do their master’s bidding. A few seconds later, the smoke starts to dissipate and Rumplestilskin starts to make out shapes. He stumbles back in surprise when the images coalesce into something he had not expected, revealing a place he mostly kept away from. The princess is in Arendelle, with the young Queen Elsa.

He feels annoyance creeping up on him. If she thinks the Queen’s magic can help her, she’ll have to think again. No one can lift that curse from her, not even him, he muses in satisfaction. Glowering at the scene in front of him, Rumplestilskin notices the princess bending down towards something. Following the movement with his eyes, he sees a wolf laying low besides the princess’ chair, head on her feet and he curses. Annoyance turns into anger at the sight and its meaning, and Rumplestilskin overturns his desk. “No!”, he yells in displeasure.

He knows they can’t break the curse without True Love’s Kiss, which he’d made impossible for them, but how did they find each other? They weren’t supposed to do that! Rage courses through him and he decides to put an end to this. He’ll send three of his minions to kill the wolf and be done with it! He’d love to do it himself, but the annoying trolls that protect the northern realm would feel his presence the minute he stepped on their soil and they’d find a wait to thwart his plans.

No, the best way to do this is to send some of his best men. They are seasoned warriors that had faced countless armies and knights, so a mere wolf should pose no problem to them. And capturing a hawk and delivering her to his castle should equally be a piece of cake.

Still seething, Rumplestilskin puts the crystal ball away in the cabinet, cleans his desk with a wave of his hand, then summons his chieftain. The sooner his men can leave, the better. He’s never been one for patience anyway.

~~~~~~~~~~

Unlike most nights, and never since they had decided to share a room, this time Emma wakes in her chamber in Elsa’s palace, all alone. She feels a twinge of worry, but that’s also become a normal occurrence for her whenever they are apart. Whenever it happens, Emma tries to pinpoint whether it’s because she is truly worried that something might have happened to Killian, or if it’s just because she’s grown so accustomed to having the wolf by her side that his absence unsettles her so.

Trying to dampen the feeling of dread she suddenly feels, Emma dresses as fast as she can, intent on finding the wolf’s whereabouts. She may be plagued by an irrational fear, although if she is honest with herself what she’s experiencing right now is sharper than the usual feelings of separation, but she’s going to put her mind at ease and find Killian. If it turns out to be nonsense, she’ll be happy to laugh at herself later.

A few questions here and there, and Emma discovers that Killian had gone to the Jolly Roger an hour before sunset. He had left word he’d be back soon, but none of the guards had seen him return. Seeing the princess’ distress, the guards on duty tell her he might have come back during the changing of the guard. They offer to inquire for her, but Emma tells them it’s alright. She’ll go to the Jolly Roger first.

The two guards exchange a look and one of them offers to accompany her on her trip across the bay. It’s night and, as winter approaches, some portions of the sea have frozen over, making for a rather perilous journey into town. But it’s a night of festivities in Arendelle, with guards spread out everywhere, so Emma declines. They are needed at the palace and there seems to be enough light throughout the land to make the journey a safe one. Besides, with so many guards spread out across the terrain, Emma thinks she’s bound to meet one every 5 minutes from here to port.

She’s two thirds into her journey when she hears it. It’s an indistinct sound at first, like cracks breaking under pressure. She’s used to the sounds of the night by now, so it doesn’t worry her at first. One of the first things she’d gotten used to after the curse was the way sounds seemed more ominous at night compared to daylight. As if the absence of light amplified everything, but most importantly the feelings of fear and insecurity. Once faced though, most often than not, ominous noises turned out to have a rather innocent source, in fact.

Keeping that in mind, Emma stops and focuses on the sounds. They seem to come from the thicket to her left, indiscernible at first, then coalescing into three voices after a while. It’s apparent to Emma the men are moving towards her, but when she distinguishes the first words of their conversation, slabs of ice seem to pour down her spine. They’re talking about her, she’s sure. Words like “grab the princess”, “she’s close” and “Dark One” dispel any possibility that they might refer to someone else.

They’re coming from behind her and to the left, so she can only go forward. She starts running, hoping that she’ll be far enough by the time they make it out of the thicket and they won’t see her go across the bend. She’s not that lucky though. She’s almost across the corner when the strange men clear the shrubbery and one of them notices her. She starts running faster, while angry cries follow her across the field.

The silhouette of the Jolly Roger looms in the distance once she takes the bend, but it’s still a good distance away. Her lungs start to burn from lack of oxygen, but she pushes on. Her left side starts throbbing, and she still pushes on. She’ll rest once she’s safe and Killian’s men have captured the three cronies after her. Eyes on the ship, Emma misses the upturned stone in her path. Her foot catches on it and she goes down hard.

Sharp pain erupts in her right elbow and chin as she falls on the hard ice. She’d managed to cushion her fall by thrusting her hands forward, but apparently she hadn’t been quick enough. Emma tries to get up, and more pain shoots in her ankle.

The thugs are drawing nearer and nearer and she starts to panic. If she’s injured, she won’t make it to the ship. They’ll get her and Killian will never find out what happened to her. Not to mention he’ll never be able to break the curse by himself. She won’t let that happened to him!

She gets up and makes her way further. Every step is agonizing, but she won’t stop. A sprained ankle won’t be what gets her captured. Not tonight! She pushes forward, and when she hears the goons taking the bend after her, Emma yells for help and prays that someone on the Jolly Roger sees her or hears her even above the chaos of the festivities.

~~~~~~~~~~

Due to his young age, Henry finds himself consigned to the ship on this night of celebrations, on guard duty. Not that he minds. His mates love such feasts, but Henry has never seen their appeal. Women, drinking and gaming seem such trifling occupations when one could draw or read. And by general consensus, the other men do not make fun of him, so it’s a win-win situation, Henry reckons. But sometimes he wonders if that’s due to his age or if his captain has had a word with the others about it.

Speaking of the captain, Henry raises his eyes from his book to look at the wolf again. The animal has been pacing restlessly across the deck for the past hour, and he’s starting to get nervous himself. Glancing up, he catches master Jamison’s worried expression. Their gazes follow the silhouette of the beast to the side of the ship. The wolf has his muzzle up in the air and his ears twitch on the wind as if trying to listen to something.

In the next instant, he lets out a feral growl, then dashes across the plank. Henry is up on his feet in an instant, book falling by his side. He’s the first to make it to the plank, eyes scanning the dark expanse for a glimpse of the wolf. He notices it to the left of their ship, running across the frozen sea. His eyes trail the path ahead and he notices a slender figure making its way towards the ship, hobbling in obvious pain, and three larger ones behind it.

Horror grips his heart when he recognizes the figure. “Master Jamison,” he yells at the first mate, “the princess is under attack!” He doesn’t wait to see if his superior officer hears him, but makes his way across the plank, hot on the wolf’s heels. He needs to help them anyway he can. He’s barely makes it down the plank, when heavy footsteps come after him.

“Henry, grab this cutlass!” yells Jamison after him. The boy stops long enough to catch the weapon thrown at him by the older man, then the two pirates start running in earnest, ready to defend their masters.

~~~~~~~~~~

Emma makes it a few more feet before the thugs are on her, one of them grabbing her hair and pulling her backwards. The movement is so sudden, she loses her balance and falls on her back. The man pulls her up by her hair, then grabs her right arm and twists it behind her. Pain is radiating throughout her entire body by now.

A loud growl catches their attention and all of them direct their eyes towards the source. A large shadow moves across the ice from the direction of the ship and Emma knows at once it’s the wolf. He’s heard her and he’s coming to her rescue!

But the tiny hope is extinguished when one of the thugs pulls out a bow from behind his back. “The wolf our master told us about. Shoot him dead!”, barks the man holding her captive.

“No!”, Emma screams and squirms against the thug, desperate to break free and save her beloved. The man pulls her closer and tightens his hold on her. “Easy, princess, we have our orders!” he grumbles low in her ear.

Emma watches in horror as the other man follows the wolf’s movements across the ice, letting go of the arrow when the beast is close enough. As the projectile flies towards its target, Emma cries in anguish. At the last minute, the wolf jumps high in the air, and the arrow misses him by a good distance.

“Damnation!”, cries the man with the bow as he extends his arm to grab another arrow. Seeing that the men are all focused on the wolf, Emma takes this opportunity and kicks the archer hard in the ass with her foot. He drops the bow as he tries to recover his balance, while the man holding her captive hits her across the head.

“Bitch! The master said we had to bring you back alive, but he never said you were to be unharmed,” he spits at her in anger. She’s in pain and scared, but she raises eyes full of loathing on him. She won’t go quietly!

The third man pulls out his sword and the scrape of the metal against the sheath draws her attention back to the situation at hand, eyes wide. The archer is still trying to get his bearings and pull out another arrow, but the wolf is almost upon them by now.

“Killian, be careful!” she yells, hoping the wolf will understand her warning. The thug is almost ready to let the second arrow loose, the third man making his way to his companion, sword at the ready, when the wolf jumps high in the air again and bites at the man’s hand. The bandit screams in pain and drops his bow, swinging his arm up and down in hopes of prying the wolf’s teeth loose. It holds on tight, though, the two figures clenched in a tight battle.

The third man runs to his crony’s aid, but before he can make a pass at the wolf with his sword, the ice under them gives and they fall in the sea. Emma screams and starts towards the wolf. The thug holding her pulls her back hard, laughing hard. “This is perfect”, he snickers. “The wolf dies as ordered and you are mine to take back to the master.”

Horrified, Emma thrashes in his grip. The man sneers at her and jars her into submission. “Hold still, w...” He doesn’t get to finish because a loud crack interrupts him. When the man slumps in front of her, Emma realises he’s dead, shot in the head. She raises her eyes in the direction of the shot and sees Jamison, smoking pistol in his hand. Henry is there too, running towards them.

“Killian”, Emma screams for her lover and scans the desolate terrain. The hole they’ve fallen through is there, but the waters are calm, a sign the struggle below has ended in the meantime. His name is torn from her lips again, panic rising through her.

Without thinking, she hobbles towards the crack in the ice and jumps in before Jamison can even open his mouth to stop her. The water is so cold and it feels like thousands of knives are piercing her skin, but she’s too desperate to pay any attention to these sensations. She opens her eyes and tries to scan the water. It’s too dark underneath and she can’t really see anything, but anguish pushes her forward.

She starts swimming down, hands and feet moving in arcs as wide as possible, hoping to touch the wolf somehow. Her lungs soon starts screaming for air, but she’s loathe to go up. Just as she feels she may have no other option, her foot catches on something. She turns around and sees two shapes tangled together.

Her muscles burning and almost out of air, she swims towards them and pries the wolf loose from the dead man’s hold. Grabbing the animal beneath the front paws, she shoots upwards. Horror starts to replace her relief at finding Killian, when they make it to the icy border and she can’t find the crack. Her strength is dwindling, as the last reserves of oxygen in her lungs run out.

She’s about to lose consciousness when her eyes land on a flicker of light and the contour of a hand. Jamison’s, she realizes in gratitude. With renewed determination, she swims in that direction; the hole is there and she shoots out, gasping for air as soon as she’s outside.

She feels the pirate’s strong arms grabbing the wolf and she lets go of her precious cargo. She’s still gulping the air, when smaller hands wrap around her upper arms and pull her out. Feeling a little better, she helps Henry drag her out on the frozen landscape.

She coughs a bit, then sees Jamison’s form huddled above the wolf. The animal is eerily quiet and her heart clenches. He can’t be dead, she thinks. Not like this! She crawls to him and takes the wolf’s head in her hands. “Please” she cries, “come back to me.”

As if he hears her, the wolf whines in a small voice, water gushing out of his mouth. The breath she hadn’t realised she’d been holding rushes out of her and Emma kisses the wolf’s head, eyes closed in relief. When she feels him shudder, the reality of their situation comes crashing down. They’re not out of this yet. They’re soaked wet and they’re out in the cold. The Jolly Roger is closer, but they have no heat source. And making a fire on board is complicated and dangerous.

Making up her mind, Emma raises her head. “Help me get him to the castle”, she pleads with Jamison. It’s for naught though, because the pirate hoists the wolf in his arms before she even finishes her words. Henry lends her support and together they make their way to the castle as soon as they can.

#cs ff #cs ff au #captain swan #true love will always find a way #cs au #captain duckling #cs fic #marajade4sff #cs au fic #pirate duckling

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