#from eden ff

[lovelipton]

From Eden.

Chapter 8.

Smut Warning! Age Gap. P and V sex. Oral sex. Bath sex. Look, two people match each other's freak, and I can't give anymore warnings.

Also I'm tagging my moots @qyburnsghost because I took way too long with this.

He should’ve anticipated her dark eyes turning in his direction, yet they managed to shock him as easily as they found his. She was submerged in the water, suds and bubbles floating about with her hair tied back, all the warm light from he flames made her a reflection of gold and bronze. Never so surely had a glance won his worst interest back.

Her expression wasn’t one to be read, by the time she turned to get a wash cloth and continue without any acknowledgement towards his presence, he had no clue what she might feel towards him. For all he could call it, her silence wasn’t petty, it simply cared to be. He made his way to her side as he had all those times before glancing anywhere but her in the process. Half of it was his own arrogance , refusing to be ignored yet he felt he knew the next half was simply the desire to disrupt an impregnable silence.

Even if she ordered him to leave it would be a word towards him he thought absent-mindedly. Ever so unpredictable, she turned towards him, glistening from the water, knees to her chest.

“Welcome back. You weren’t gone for long at all.” Her tone held some malice in it, as it should be given the tone of his departure. Her face gave no covering to the disdain she felt towards him now. Her eyes were hooded with her mouth puckered together to prevent any warmth. She would make him work for her favor.

“Perhaps our next fight will deal a lesson in telling time.” To that he smiled, it was just a small insult yet his pride did not take it to heart. If she needed to yell and degrade, the least he could do was endure it.

“Did you eat?” He asked her out of concern, he could see from her reaction she was too caught up in this rehearsed conversation to think about herself. She scowled at him now, something he’d never seen her show before. His past thoughts felt like misjudgments to her character, a clear communication in how little he truly knew about her.

“Did I fucking eat!” There was a break in the air as she raised her voice taking an exasperated tone, another thing she had never done. It was the closest portrait to the idea he had of her from Jace’s letters. Her calves aided in her modesty as she turned herself to him, he tried his best not to look past them, never once leaving her angry eyes. Her brows furrowed towards him, almost like a parent to her disobedient child. She had no reason to know that look yet she did it well enough to the point he felt Alysanne’s eyes on his.

“Where were you?” She changed her tune again, taking what seemed to be remorseful approach towards their conversation. He wasn’t sure he could begin to understand her, in truth he needed her forgiveness more than she’d know. They were both too familiar to allow it to fester as it had. Her eyes welled with tears, unblinking, awaiting his response.

“A brothel.” There was an ease replaced by a returning anger now, a more violent one, as though if only for a moment she’d forget what little proprietary remained and curse and pummel him.

“You left me angry and spiteful because of a brothel. To fuck a whore.” There was a trembling in her voice that chilled him. Still he saw an ease in her expression that he fell into. As though it meant he was free from the torment of what he had left unsaid. Her body joined her voice as she started shaking, rocking into herself and laughing.

He stopped and watched her entire demeanor shift wondering if he had sent her mad. Her tears that followed added to his concern, if he had hurt her in that way, to threaten her sanity over his stupidity.

Her laughs grew until they were happy sounding, a belly laugh with tears of joy, as though she’d been to a bar the entire night. He was at a disbelief at how quickly her emotions changed, wondering if one person could feel that extent of emotions. He’d never seen anyone so bare before, unashamed about all she clearly felt, hurt, hatred, betrayal and whatever he couldn’t assume.

When she dulled her expression she returned to the rocking, a comfort in the silence as she decided what tone she could take the night in. Another version of madness as the scent of the room creeper around him to lose his thoughts in. A naked girl in front of him and yet the smell of her and oranges entranced him all the same. His body betrayed him as he focused his thoughts on anything but his growing hardness. She gazed at him still, her hands moved from wrapped around to tracing the edge of the tub, seemingly delighting in his lost train of thought.

“Say something.” She was hushed now, quietly gauging him as he had her all those moments ago, trying to see where his mind was. It was a clear madness that they created as he laughed before answering.

“I should’ve told you where I was going.” It was an easy confession, too easy for him to think it would she sufficient. Her body seemed to ease with his words, not as tightly wound as it had been, an attempt to believe him, open up perhaps.

“I truly would not have judged you. You are a man with needs. I’m a girl with them.”

The thought rushed into his mind, he knew the comparison she was drawing, some part of him knew it was based on her earlier stories of couples and her latest with a Tully, yet his mind gripped the possibility all the same that she could suggest a conclusion with them. He felt mad now.

“Daemon?” She looked at him with a quiet concern, trying to dictate if all could start to be well between them.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you. You have my full honesty now.” He felt strange in a word. His head felt light with the scent around him, the light around them seemed to glow more than shine. A small cup of bar ale would not have him like this, yet he gave into it, a certain freedom he had not give into before around her seemed to be the only right conclusion.

His reaction was rushed, in truth he simply wished for them to reach a place of comfort. It was all he wished for from the start, a true insistence. She reached out for one of his hands, tracing over the tips and pads of his fingers with h her thumb, as though it was a regular occurrence. Neither of their hands held bandages from their night, he thought, it was an aimless vision to see.

“Full honesty?” She cocked her brow at him, immediately making his breath race as she leaned closer, as much as she could without compromising modesty.

“You smell horrible.” Her whisper was intoxicating yet he caught her message enough to pace his reaction. A small laugh met her wicked smile as she leaned back making the water splash against the walls of the bath.

“I should have the maids arrange one after you.” It was a heedless answer, one in which her response did not warrant.

“Join me.”

He felt his head jolt before his body decided that was the movement, if she was unaware of her statement, her nonchalance did little to communicate it. He could feel the shock through his body, in the tips of his fingers where her hand rested moments ago. The Gods were cruel masters yet he was still shocked by her insistence. Surely she didn’t mean it.

“Daemon?” Her voice was unwavering, almost monotone and drawing him back entirely, she had moved herself to one edge of the bath, only two feet away from where he sat now. The bath was large enough for them both yet, some part of them would touch, it was too small to prevent even the smallest touch between them, he was at a loss.

“We’ve done it before, My Lord.”

She said it as though she did not remember the craze it had caused, her confession, an unsustainable blood pact, a kiss between them, how she fueled his mind. Even the thought brought back the scent of sand, the feel of it on his skin.

“You need not as well. It is simply an option.” She was concerned now. A symptom of his chosen coping to her offer. He’d have to answer, even if it was to deter her, they were close enough now that she did not see any issue with it.

“Unlike then, we’d both be naked.” He was right, he was just in that declaration, his tone was strong. The Gods may not be done with him yet, the restraint of him now was the hardest test. Why did she make it so hard? He should say no outright, she wouldn’t make him by any means. The worst part of him knew that it was the best suggestion she could’ve made. Logic and lust would tear at him to his end.

“Nothing I haven’t seen before. Same with you.”

It was something about the end he did not care to facilitate. He could walk away and leave, her eyes seemed set on her victory now, to what end, he couldn’t begin to understand. She was warm surely. There was a heat in him she belonged to, a bath couldn’t just be a bath, if it was to her, he’d be misleading her. At what point was that warmth bigger than all the precedent he set to protect her. Did she care?

“I’ll close my eyes for half a minute, you can either join or leave without a word.”

She put her hands over her eyes, the sound of the water trickling was almost music to him. He removed his doublet first, hesitating only at the buttons as he contemplated himself. She gained nothing from this, he reminded himself. The girl simply grew into his company, she desired him only as a companion. His dress shirt and breeches coming off surely marked a minute, yet her hands refused to move it self. With his small clothes off, his cock met the night air, springing forward in her company. His head was light as he crossed over to the near edge, submerging himself in the warm water, shielding him from the night air.

The water pooled at his waist as it rose to just below her breast. He wondered how long it was she found herself in the tub to maintain the warmth. He was curious to if the maids would question him being clean. Her hands dropped with that thought, a sly smile covering her face.

“Do you wish for lavender or cinnamon?” She asked unabashedly, as though she had planned to bathe him herself. He reveled in the hope of the offer. Could he not give in?

“I wish not to smell like a country lord.” His tone was more direct than he could remember being with her, as though his old self had started to join them. It was strange, yet she continued smiling.

“Is dragon stink and street ale a preference, Your Grace?” She turned away to a small cot alongside the bath that held little bottles of oils, choosing for him as she grabbed her discarded cloth. She did mean to bathe him it seemed.

“Dragon stink is the smell of an empire.” He justified, he heard a soft chuckle escape her and he felt bruised for a moment. She would laugh at his half earnest confessions if he let her.

“Or the excuse of an old man.” She retorted . The air grew playful now, as though they were closer. He reminisced on the humor he shared with other girls like her. Mysaria was a dry wit and Rhaenyra would humor him. Only Laena had ever been any type of combative. He looked at her with that gaze, she was unlike them all in most ways. She was unlike anything before her to him. Entirely new.

He held his breath when she came closer with the oil soaked cloth, with her knees down he had full sight of her breast, she had allowed the air to leave the room with her sudden, wanted nakedness. It was wonton, yet he was a desperate beggar at the sight of them. Her breast stood firm and her nipples were pebbled out the water, she drew too near for him to care if she question his intentions while staring, he was in awe.

Her eyes met his, with a shy smile, a flattered one as she began to scrub his neck, focusing on whichever area she touched. He did not dare say a word to it. Her legs were crossed as she settled near him, her breast moved with the water at her tiniest movement as she moved down to his neck and back, scrubbing at scars older than her. His cock was quite visibly hard, if her hands moved to his chest she’d be aware, yet he kept a silent atmosphere. Without words and actions it could mean nothing.

“I’ve come to a conclusion.” She stooped at his chest, just before she could need to address the state he was in. He turned his attention to his eyes, peeling them away from her soaked body. She did not wait on his ask before stating it.

“I do not have dragon blood.” The pleasant silence turned into a thunderous one. The weight of it boomed across the room, more than a hundred bards could hope to. He wanted to know why, to what end.

“I know what you believe and think but I simply do not care. I know who and what I am.” He couldn’t make out the smell of the oil she chose, yet it was as intoxicating as the oranges. She could be part fish for all he cared now, she drew his desire out like blood. Her bold claim simply stayed in the air, simply unyielding to his own beliefs, she did not care.

“Then you are not. Simply put.” He believed it he realized. The understanding affirmed something deep in his unsettled spirit. It was impossible but if he had to believe something to that end, there was no louder voice to convince him. Her face seemed off put by his agreement, resting on an ease he himself could see, as though the answer took root in her. He was unsure he had that effect on her.

For the first time, he felt as though there was a clarity in how he saw her. She was young, bold and emotional. She would not, perhaps she could not, hide herself from him, it was unnerving as it clicked that he was the same for her. All his faults, she had heard in legend, she had yet to hold a rumor, the accusations of others against him. The place she held was one untied to politics and court life. Her words only brought her comfort, she meant nothing more.

His eyes shifted to her full lips. She noticed it and made no motion to deter him. He imagined the night before, how the moon looked, how he felt, how she flowed into him and he into her, a commitment towards deities past them, long neglected in the demise of Old Valyria. Only with the name Targaryen behind them. Was it so different? She could be many things, he need only ask.

His thoughts were scrambled beyond thoughts as he noticed the stretch marks that began to spider her body. She was growing, gaining weight around her arms and thighs, fulling out to a more womanly shape yet her lips drew him back to her.

“You promised there would be an after the war.” Her breath was hot and clinging to him. She truly was that close, her warmth compensating for the deteriorating heat of the bath. He felt boundless, in this state, so much could happen if he leaned in, if his fingers left the bounds of him to graze her thigh.

“I did.” She let go of the cloth and cupped the side of his face, aligning their eyes to entrap his eyes, he needed her.

“Still?” Leaning in closer as she whispered, a careless secret between them, he’d hold it forever if she wanted.

“Always.” It was a promise deeper than blood. She was a state of being for him. He’d earned her, he’d won her favor. Anything for her was a guarantee

“And you live?” Her breath raised ever so slightly, she was a gentle nudge away from him. Perhaps seduction had been her intention. He hoped to not deter it now. He was as honest as he should’ve been.

“I’m not sure anymore.” There was a liberation in it, and a reckoning as her lips found his.

It was a hurried affair, her pulled her face as quick as his loss of composure would allow. She seemed equally as frantic as she slid her tongue into his mouth. It was a cruel dance, a quick one as she pulled away, creating tension to push back into as she got on her knees. There was no anticipation with her movements, they were as sure as her expressions. The water created a symphony as he gripped on her, no remorse or contemplation as he pulled her on in. Her legs landed on either side of him as her body accepted their every motion.

“ We can stop.” He broke away to say. So many thoughts, he wished to say, so many words came to mind to let her know, but as quickly as he said his peace, she was back on his tongue. The scent of the bath seemed to fuel it. This great lust between them was unlike any he had before. It was devouring him from the inside out, digesting whatever constraint he held between her thighs like this.

Yet she refused to answer him. At any other time he’d withhold himself, ease his mind into toying with her, demanding her answer and drawing out her resolve. Now he was a mad man who nearly came as she let her hips grind against his. Their arousal filled the room as she moved against him. She broke away to his jaw as she continued with reckless abandon. He could feel her wetness, he couldn’t resist his moan as she continued her relentless teasing.

“ I like when you moan.” It was a cruel comment now. He craved to be inside her, yet at her rate and his age it would be too much for the thought. His hand slid between her thighs to her peak as he began a torturous retort without words.

Her back arched , pushing her into his chest as he fitted his fingers between her folds, he pressed his thumb against it as his two fingers descended into her slit. It drew the most erotic moan he’d ever care cared to earn. Her hips rolled into him. Her hand took up his cock from behind and began a similar pursuit.

With their crazed movements the water splashed out of the tub and drowned the floors until not enough water was left. In the haze of the lust he could barely see anything that wasn’t her, yet she was so clearly defined. Her now loose curls bounced with her chest at his every thrust, she was both wet and sweaty in an insatiable mix that cause her skin to glisten. She could gladly be the end of him.

Her moans were becoming clear indicator of how near her peak was, half selfishly, he stopped his fingering and waited for her to settle.

She focused, eyes half open, head slowly turning back to him instead of solely entrenched in the pleasure of the moment. He knew he needed to say nothing for her but he couldn’t help himself.

He took to her neglected chest and started his long awaited coupling towards the middle. He was slow and languished in the taste of her in his mouth. It was the salt of her sweat and the oil from the oranges that took over, impairing his ability to do much else.

Before he turned to the other, he found the clarity in his mind to continue their endeavor.

“I want you to take me inside you when you come.” He enticed her enough to return to his chosen pursuit as she rather shamelessly, wordlessly descended on his cock.

His own cries were muffled into her chest while she howled at the introduction. She simply began rolling her hips towards him, at her own pace while they drew nearer to the precipice. His tongue licked and nipped at every inch of her while she rode him. Her warm heat was unyielding atop him. He felt his restraint bleed out slowly into her warmth.

Many quips came to as thought and died on his tongue as she changed direction, bouncing now as he held her in place. He brought himself to move to meet her with his own thrusts. He grew into his climax, every time they met, until it was nothing more than a needy clawing at release. She tightened with each bounce, her cries became frantic until she lurched forward in a hazy fall, shuddered into her apex, his continued thrusting, joined by the addition of his hand, brought her to her peak with one last cry. He followed suit lost in his lust, neglecting to try to save some deniability later on as he came inside her, releasing his warm seed into her without a hint of worry as she felt out her climax.

There was something to be said for the aftershock of pleasure he felt. It was the weight of her, the way she had molded herself during it, her lack of composure that she tried now to gain. There was nothing that was like her in this world. He caught his breath, feeling his mind suddenly care of what had occurred between them. He felt more like himself than he had in a long while. He looked at her to be reaffirmed, yet she seemed still caught in the moment.

He took to rubbing his hands down her back, assuring comforting words, not sure if he had hurt her. He had softened inside her before she made any movement to show how she felt. Her face was uncommunicative to how she felt.

“I should go…”

Her first words to him trailed off as she prepared her absence, it felt like a part of him was carved out as she raised up off him, he was entirely uncertain about how she had felt after as she got out of the now cooled tub, without another word to say if she was offended, she left, taking some half of him as she left.

He was wordless has he cleaned himself fully in her absence, his mind racing with any possibility that she wasn’t well. Perhaps this was the cost of desire, the cost of getting to close, going to far with her. He felt himself developed a headache in the contemplation. The room felt damp and unwelcoming now, his eyes burned with the repetition of all that had happened, unblinking as though she would reappear on him. He was tired by the time he had gotten out of the tub, careful to mind the spilled water as the burden of the affair had set into his skin.

It wasn’t simply an affair, he had a duty to many things, to her was without question. He’d have to protect her from court life, the whispers would remain whispers, unless she grew with child, he reckoned. That thought set in as he opened the door. She’d need moon tea, without question.

He was startled by her waiting presence in the room, looking directly as he entered, she seemed bashful. He could cope with shyness, he’d delight if that was her only feeling.

Her eyes widened as she began to say words that would falter in a few attempted syllables . Eventually, he decided on the mercy of speaking first, sparing her introduction.

“Are you well?” He recalled it, such a simple question, yet it held a moment for them, so different from who they were now. She shook her head yes before standing, not entirely sure who she was meant to convince.

Making her way to him, he realized she was as unchanged as she had left, perhaps she was simply overwhelmed by the instance. He could help but think back to it, how much more he’d want to show her, how many ways he’d want to see her, yet she had not voiced anything akin to that being a conclusion she hadn’t said anything at all.

“I will not be your whore. I cannot return to court with a bastard. I would not do that to your children, to Her Grace.”

Her conviction made him sigh, perhaps he should feel guilty for it, he would not have her be that to him, she was all too important to be reduced to a pleasure. She was so much of him, encompassing him in everything he wanted. He’d dedicate his life to that. Whatever she needed, he hold on to life for her.

“I would never ask that of you.” He cupped her chin, pulling her sight to him, it was an earnest principle. She was so much more than he could make her know. It was an overwhelming sensation. He felt old, looking at her, she was simply so full of life. He felt stagnant as she worked her mind to figure out what she wanted to say. He felt a drunk high yet entirely sober in her light and warmth.

His hand slid to her cheek as she leaned into his touch, ever so slightly, yet it simply felt striking. He could feel himself growing into her again, he felt aroused by what she was attempting. She could say what she wanted, get anything she asked of him, he needed to know that she was sure in that.

“I’d need moon tea now.” There was the flash of shyness he saw, she almost seemed embarrassed at the mention of it. She wasn’t wrong, he would not wound her with a bastard, cruel as it may be, as wanting as the idea seemed to grow as it festered in her thoughts. To see her change because of him, due to their passions, it was a liberating idea entirely. It doomed her much worse.

“Of course.” He wouldn’t let it take hold of him. That hopefulness with her was nice in time, after granted her protection, he’d keep her safe by any means.

An ease seemed to take over them. Her eyes where more playful, perhaps it was his hopefulness reflected in her. Perhaps he had earned her comfort.

“You were quick.” She jested at him now. He wanted to return the favor. He could imagine it now. He craved her like the best thing he’d ever tasted, she could be, he mused, smiling at the thought of their indiscretion. She wished to play with him. He needed nothing more. He moved forward, after ensuring it moved her back.

“This is always better with time. There are so many things I want to learn about you.”

He grabbed out to her hand as they went deeper into the room, only stopping when her calves hit the edge of the bed. He took her hand to his lips , grazing it slowly, an affection their pace had deterred a few moments ago. He saw her breath hitch at the touch of him. He lavished in it. In her every reaction. He was hard again, yet the need to know her overtook his own sensibilities, any hesitation he still kept, dissolved at the noise she made when his lips finally reached neck. It was low, and guttural, giving him everything he knew he needed from her in one moment.

He took a confidence in these revelations, moving his tongue in small circles, up her tightened jaw, until his mouth found hers. She was eager. She practically feasted on him, making him question his every want in that moment before he returned to setting the pace. He pulled away for a bit, drawing out his return until a whimper fell from his lips. He smiled at it.

“You need to pace yourself, you’ll love it if you let it build.” She groaned as gently as one could, as he reintroduced their lips, slowly, letting his tongue make up for any lack of passion becoming of the pace. They had enough time. She had taunted his return with the query of the night being young, shouldn’t they revel in it?

She grew into his timing, pulling at his robe, not undressing him as he made up for his reveling with how he wished to experience her. His mind slowly faltered to her answer as he could not make up his mind, his pace slowed as he tried to draw words from her.

“Tell me what you want.” He drew himself to her ear, nipping at the lobe as he asked.

She simply moaned, yet it wouldn’t do, he undid the tie of her robe, having her scantily clothed in his presence. Not enough to lessen his question, just enough to stir her need to answer. His hands met her tender nipples, stroking them between his thumb and index, having her arch to meet him, without them connecting at their hips this time. He refused to stoke her lack of answer any more than he did, returning his kiss to her neck, intent on leaving a mark.

“You on top of me.” She stuttered out, turning her face to meet him, making her intentions clear as her lips crashed on his. He removed the lose layer of modestly from her, pulling her into a lift, not quite ready to relinquish her wants as easily.

He dropped her onto the bed, rumpling the sheets as he kept her in place, he was determined to draw it out as long as he could. Her legs spread she fell, giving him the perfect opportunity to sink his face between her.

He gripped at her thighs, inhaling the scent of her before starting his devouring. The tip of his tongue toyed with the bud that brought her such release before, sensitive at his previous actions he looked up at her, a carnal lust hiding his need to see her entirely undone. He turned his head back down to start his ministrations fully, removing any form of delay by lapping at her folds, dining on her, trying his best not to overstate his intentions.

Her moans were restrained, trying her best to keep some decorum between them and their hosts. To her credit, it was a valiant attempt, her only true misgiving being his need to hear her, he slowed his course in response, taking his time with spoiling her, every new, untouched place, the taste of his seed mixed with her arousal, the heat of her on him, was enough to drive him mad, he could live there, worship at the apex of her. The Gods should be envious of him.

In almost a direct return her cries grew strained, low and deep, louder than they had been. He refused to add any part of him into her just yet, wanting the accomplishment to be on his mouth alone. When she began to pant almost, grind against his face, he knew he had her where he wanted, and so he pulled away.

Her reaction to his denial was splendid. She tried to get him to stay, her moans almost clawing him back to her need yet he held his resolve to know better, to make her feel better. Lusty boys and ladies alike from what little he knew would not have taught her. He wanted a first from her as much as he wanted her.

Daemon stood up, dropping his robe near her and revealed his nakedness to them both before climbing along side her, kissing her hair as she descended as much as he wanted before he joined her.

“That was cruel.” She said against him, head to his chest, her hips still bucked as though he was there, he was happy to oblige as he turned her on her back, his length hitting her brown thigh. He kissed her and pulled away, repeating as he saw fit too, letting her indulge in her own taste, before aligning himself with her center. He unhurriedly entered her, taking the time to get her accustomed to him.

It was a new feeling, they way she tightened around him, her body and need all surrounding him, he felt light headed at the thought of it, thinking about the actions he had undertook, the liberties he had given in to. As soon has his hilt had reached her pulled out, pushing himself into her hurriedly, gaining and unfiltered and rather loud moan from his companion

He continued his rhythm, until she settled into it, them changed his pattern by lifting one of her legs, folding it as he continued to fill her anytime she grew too accustomed. His hands and body found its own worship of her, bathing in her moans, bracing for her peak as he felt his own build. It was so much of her, all of her at his welcome. He lost any pace by the end, slamming into her as though he were a green boy, welcoming her wetness and convulsions at his intuitions.

He felt it build and build until he joined her cries of passion. She was not as relishing, putting her hand on his throat, stopping his reach and making him erupt with his seed spilling into her. He dropped his weight rather unwillingly on her in the end. She followed suit as she relented, giving into waves of pleasure, riding it out until she felt herself content at her state, as loud as she had been.

It was bliss as his mind connected with his body in the aftermath, her legs wrapped around him, refusing his departure from her. He traced circles on her, in the silent epilogue of it, she fell asleep after, unmoving from her place, she simply descended into that oblivion. His hand circled her naked thigh, not entirely comprehending what had occurred, simply knowing it was her. He knew he should carry her to her own bed, put a robe on her newly, sweat drench embody but he couldn’t help himself at the need to fall asleep alongside her, as they were.

[ride-thedragon]

Chapter 5: A week later.

Lord Mooton had insisted on a dinner with their return. With the grandeur of Maidenpool, he should’ve anticipated. They had flown the entire way back without a stop, and even though she wouldn’t admit to it, Netty looked as though she wished to sleep until the following day.

They had dwelled the skies carefully, looking for Aemond to put an end to this chase to no avail.

She was well read enough, he learned, to have conversations with everyone they crossed. In their time apart, she spent it in a library, reading on small little things that guided their conversations. She cared for his input on minor suggestions derived from stories and myths she’d come across.

His thoughts of her had blossomed into a secret desire to unravel her. He had never thought they would be as close as they were, closer than they had been, but much like a gambler, he knew he could get more from her if he risked it.

That night, she talked with Lord Mooton of the Tullys and the relationship they had to their ledge lords.

The men that sat around her were drunk and giddy for it. Singing and dancing throughout the night, sure to find some willing lady before the night was done. The lights hung delicately in the air, casting warm shadows throughout the night.

Somewhere in their conversation, advantageous matches for houses had sprung, unbeknownst to him.

“If I had a son, he’d have been the first name I’d list for your hand, girl.” The Lord held his cup to a smiling Nettles, draining it in one gulp. When the understanding hit them both, her smile dropped entirely.

“I’d have hope to be so lucky, my Lord.” She caught herself, returning the unexpected compliment from him, raising her own cup. His brother, a shorter, smaller, and younger version of him didn’t see it, choosing to continue the conversation.

“Who are the suitors for your hand? A girl like you, natural born still, should have a place in the bigger houses. Maidenpool might be too small for her.”

The liquor and strong wine held the air. She had hesitated on what was best to say to it

“Her Grace is kind and understanding, I’m sure whatever choice she and His Grace make will be suitable for my service to them.”

He was almost shocked at how courtly she sounded. He had never heard her string words together that well, perhaps they had been there for too long.

At her response, all the glazed gazes found him, down in his cups next to her, now dreading the ignoring of the conversation being held in front of him.

“Are there any men who stand a chance for her hand, Your Grace?” His eyes met hers, half concerned for where the conversation had gone since he had tuned it out. Looking for her to be kind and help him, being met with a kind smile and gentle gaze from her, playing with her hands under the table.

“Lord Rosby has a son, Lord Corlys as well. The girl hasn’t voiced a preference, so I assumed we could wait until after the war.” It made his chest pull and blood rush. Perhaps he was too drunk or too occupied with the war itself to think about what would happen to her after. The others were granted lands. She was given coin along with them, but he couldn’t recall any discussions for her hand.

His daughters know stood in a precarious place if need called for marriage alliances, like with the Lord Cregan Stark. He looked back at her, gaining a wanting smile before she turned back, shifting the conversation towards potential alliances in the river lands and house Mooton, a topic that seemed to catch their hearts.

The thought plagued him for the rest of the night until they were alone. Long after the dinner, he stood at their room door, watching her unpack and repack for their upcoming journey.

“I like you when you’re less drunk. You’re more helpful.” She stopped at her bed, looking at him as though he had incriminate himself by just staring.

“You are a fool to not drink, especially when the wine flowed so generously.” He could feel it affect his speech as he slurred his last words. He hadn’t taken a drink in ages, it seemed, less than half of what he’d grown accustomed to affected him in his old age. He entered her room and sat on her bed, simply observing her in this state.

Her hair was loose and wild. The blue in her dress brought out an easiness in her that he welcomed kindly.

“Be glad, if I were to drink, you wouldn’t know who I’d be with. You wouldn’t have such good company.”

She scrunched her nose at him before turning away before she could see the disdain the idea caused him. He lingered cautiously around his new feelings towards her. She had yet to be as open as she had been since that night, while his thoughts of her ran wild with the need to covet her.

When he couldn’t bare her company, he simply buried himself in duty, if it didn’t aid in his quest to dissolve his desire he’d simply fall to it, as quickly as he could manage before avoiding it all together. It was a burden she had no idea of. Her company became a vice and inspiration to conjure some new fantasy when they were apart.

One visit to a brothel would solve it, he decided. He would explore the idea when she was asleep, but the thought of her suggested promiscuity wasn’t one he could quickly ignore.

“What is that supposed to mean, young lady?” He nearly burst into a fit of laughter at his tone. The idea that he’d wild some authority for her was amusing. A delight would be if she was hooked on the bait.

“The last time I got drunk was when Lord Corlys returned from the Step stones last year. I didn’t know where I was in the morning, but I apparently made great company with a married couple. They kept me there for two weeks after. I swore it off after.”

She laughed to herself at first until she saw him wide-eyed at the confession.

“I haven’t done it since.” She said almost defensively at his expression. He forgot that she was foul-mouthed when he first met her, almost viewing it as a confession from a lady for a moment.

He was completely unaware of her more provocative past. Only hearing speculation of how she would’ve survived on the street, making his best guess and avoiding the topic altogether with her.

“I like when you say these things. They catch me off guard how foreign they seem from our day to day.”

She was back at his side, laying out a nightgown to change into when he left. Her smile was brief, but there none the less for his memory.

“I’ll remember that before I spring it on you again.” She raised the dress up to her garter , nearly knocking the air out of him, before climbing up on the bed, adjusting her cover under her pillow, her rear up for a moment before dropping entirely on her stomach.

The dress curved and fell on her body, defining her thighs and back, an urge to touch her washed over him, choosing to run his hands through his hair and turn entirely.

“No need. I like to think it builds a trust between us.”

He should go, he thought. He could feel the pandemonium taking him past what he deemed appropriate for her to deal with. He should leave entirely.

“ I’d like to trust you, eventually.” There was an earnestness to her words that would undo him if she’d let it he though. He turned back, staring at her droopy eyes and soft expression.

They would both be late in the morning if they continued to talk, he realized. Standing up, from the comfort of her bed and presence, outing the candles before making his way to his room, following her leadership and simply rolling into his bed, not caring to change or take care of his pressing need.

He simply fell asleep.

“Daemon. “

“Daemon?”

“Daemon, we’re late.”

He felt her warm breath on his ear. He heard her words after hearing the chirping birds echoing the same sentiments that he’d overslept.

His head pounded at her constant words, feeling the full effects the night had taken on him, the smell of citrus wafting around the room.

His eyes found hers, pulling away due to his groaning at her intrusion, coupled with he dream he was lost in moments ago, causing him to be erect against his covering while she was hovering over him.

“Are you up?” She looked sternly at him, notably not aiding his predicament he looked down to meet her now sizable chest, nearly pressing against him.

He couldn’t form words, having to shake his head in this position until she rose up and dismissed herself entirely, leaving him in a similar state he’d started the days with recently with more incentive.

He thought of her between him and his wife as she briefly described in the same blue dress she wore well, then just her in the same dress hiked up on a hall somewhere, pushing himself over the edge twice with her lingering scent, before he approached the day.

It was certainly later than what they were used to, something she made note of when he was dressed and at her side for a quick breakfast.

“ We’ll simply survey the terrain today. He’s been attacking our supporters more spontaneously.”

He never looked at her, in her eyes after the act was done, feeling almost dirty at the thought of it, out of control for the most part.

“As you wish.” She said, going back to her meal, still tired from the day before. The Lord and men seemed to still be sleeping of the night. A sentiment he wished to share with his hangover.

She was quiet as the day went on, choosing to practice different fighting strategies on dragon back. He watched her, correcting her movements ever so often, mostly recovering from the previous night in her company. When they returned, it was past dark with no luck in finding him.

His thoughts ran back to Lord Mooton’s suggestion, wondering how much time they had until they overstayed their welcome. Manfryd would never say it to be sure, but even with the crowns' help, two large dragons were as much of a burden as they protected.

He missed hearing her voice today, even earlier into their stay, with her dry words. It was better than silence with wanting expectations.

They made their way to their rooms, taking part in the consistency of their day where he sat at his desk and read through the letters. This time, however, he simply watched the door waiting for her. He wondered for a moment if now would be the best time to go to a brothel. She’d come find him when she wished.

Ser Florian had mentioned the girls there in the past. ‘Young and wistful’ he said the eldest were no older than twenty with a menagerie of women from Essos and Westeros alike. As his mind slowly settled on the idea that at least one would look like his companion, she opened the door earlier than she had before.

“Is all well?”

He called out, all past thoughts slipping away in the hopes of a conversation between them. At her worst, she still spoke. He didn’t know why she had been so quiet all day.

“Of course, Your Grace. I just have a question.” She made her way, almost gliding towards him. She wore the same close they had departed in, reverting back to what he remembered was her past behavior or eating before she bathed.

She stopped at the other side of the table, looking at the map before meeting him, almost hesitant as she stood.

“Why haven’t we tried a new strategy?”

The question left him in a stupor before he answered. She had never taken any interest in any of his planning before. Choosing to obey and aid all throughout the war so far, the question came as a shock.

“Why do you ask?” He didn’t believe Lord Mooton was solely responsible for the idea. He was simply stalling for an answer.

“We’ve been here for months with no luck. Aiding the camps is certainly beneficial, but we were sent here to find and stop Aemond. We haven’t come close. We still haven’t seen him.”

Or perhaps he was solely to blame for the prompt. He saw the way his question had affected her, but he never thought it would mean she’d take it to heart so quickly.

“It is not the best plan, but it is better than any alternative I’ve thought of. We are safe here. If you’re to return, we need to be safe. Dragons have been killed, slaughtered in war before. It may seem slow and counterproductive, but it is for the best.”

No man had simply walked up and killed a dragon, and the only alternative that plagued him left her out entirely. As fair as her concerns were, it was the most they would do for the time they had left.

“Alright then.” She sat down beside him. He hoped he had quelled her thoughts for now. The last thing he wanted was for her to blame herself for inconvenience their presence seemingly posed for her.

“Aiding the camps is the best we can do as he continues. Two men have spotted Alys Rivers at his side. They call her a witch. Her grace has shown no indication that we disadvantaged the crown.”

His wife had yet to write to him, personally at all, sealing every decree without a thought of their journey.

He looked back at her unwavering in his gaze, waiting for any response at all.

“The full moon is tonight.”

She looked at him, switching the tone of the conversation entirely with a small hint of enthusiasm to a better man it would’ve been, almost, noted. To him, it was a light in the darkness. It made his day to hear it.

She wore a purple waiting gown, helping the new brightness in her expression to shine. He was ever so thankful to the lower cuts in the hotter weather.

“What do we do to celebrate the occasion?”

He sat down, waiting for her brilliant explanation for his clear jest.

“We watch it in water preferably.” His almost glared at the implication that she'd be able to leave the castle so late in the day, something she caught immediately.

“There is a bath with an open wall downstairs , I can see it from there.”

Anyone could see her from there, he thought. Wandering knights who happen on the female dragon seed who, from what little they knew, had not abided by the laws of the maiden in her life. He doubted she thought so far ahead on the idea.

“Before you say it is not safe, Lord Mooton has ensured that Ser Florian will be patrolling around there, and I will have two ladies with me who wish to see it.”

His mind hadn’t begun to cross that part of his disagreement with the idea.

“And you are more than welcome to join me. There are three large baths built into the ground itself. We simply pull the curtains and have our privacy, knowing everyone is safe.”

He looked at the way her happiness towards the idea had built into a campaign to deter his every excuse.

“I still don’t think…”

He trailed off into some nonsensical excuse on his preference for her to stay upstairs, only a door away, and watch it from there. The moon had looked well enough from there, during their stay.

“ What if it's just us in one bath? They are as big as you describe the ones in Harrenhall. We’d wear clothes, keep the maids near us to avoid scandal, and I’ll have the prince consort keeping me safe.”

She was smiling now, all he could feel was the burning desire to dissuade it all together, it was the worst idea in his new state, although he had abstained from burdening her with the newfound lust, it was seemingly placed on his lap as a jest from the God’s themselves.

“It still sounds strange girl.”

It was a hollow attempt to stop the unaware recklessness she conjured without knowing better.

“Do you not trust me?”

Her tone was almost defeated by his last statement. Now he only wished to take it back, and he only looked away from her entirely.

“I like to think there is some trust between us, stupidly or not. You’ve been my only and constant comfort here. I trust you more than I ever trusted anyone.”

It pricked his heart to hear her confession. All of this over a moon seemed senseless in a way he’d facilitate if she pushed further. The guilt he felt over it aided in his eventual agreement.

“Fine then, I’ll watch with you.”

He wondered for a moment just before her smile came if it would matter if he didn’t agree. If she’d just be angry and see it without him. He knew the God’s had their laughs at his expense tonight, but it seemed a small price to him when he saw it.

“Thank you.”

“You’re very disagreeable. I hope you know that.”

She flashed her teeth in an uncontrollable smile that made the day worth it.

“We’re one in the same. That’s why you like me.”

He almost flushed at the implication. She was nothing like him. He wondered for a moment how he looked in her mind, if it was so similar to her, whether she viewed herself worse or him better.

“I’ll return later to collect you. Wear white and thin clothes to not drown in your grandeur. I couldn’t explain it to her Grace if you died that way.”

She smiled again before leaving the room, leaving him at a loss for his previous plans. The Gods would think him a jester by his stupid decisions alone.

Three hours passed well into her night before she returned. In her absence he’d went through half the letters on his desk trying to distract from the precarious situation he’d entrapped himself in.

“I’m ready when you are.”

She stood at their door in a nightgown, her hair holding itself at her neck.

“Where are your maid girls?”

It was the only thing that kept him ensured that nothing untoward would happen.

“They are waiting for us.”

He looked at her, curiously, almost defeated by the agreement he made. He walked to her, choosing to simply wear his under clothes rather than meeting her exact requirements, as they neared the room, he realized how stupid the decision was in looking back.

The room was beautiful as they walked in. Candles set up like stars to light the vast space. Three large pools sat across from each other, and red curtains were drawn to block them. They faced a large empty plain of land that stretched into the night. The moon just began to illuminate it.

They heard the splashes of water and when two girls came into view, soaking he saw the reason.

Their dresses were sheered in the water, clinging to their bodies as the light showed every detail. He felt an earlier stir come back at the sight. He settled his mind on the thought that he’d chosen the wrong way to spend his night.

“Are you done?”

“For the night, my lady. We have an early morning.”

The smaller girl, blonde and freckled, said, grabbing a robe, looking scared at the sight of him.

“And you as well?”

She turned towards the auburn haired maid. She looked barely older than the maester.

“I think Lord Mooton understood the point. The water is so cold I’d urge you against it if I didn’t know you.”

The girl smiled slyly at his companion, something he never expected.

“Set a hot bath for our return if you can then. If he gets into the water, he’ll lose his last clutch of eggs.”

A muffle laugh was sounded then immediately dismissed by his inquisitive look towards her.

The girls dismissed themselves to him and walked off, leaving a trail of wet footprints as Nettles made her way towards the bath.

She dipped her feet in before she spoke again.

“They were right. It’s freezing.” She plunged into the water without response. Surfacing in seconds with a loud splash and gasp.

“What is the business with Lord Mooton?”

She smiled as the water dripped down her face. She looked mischievous with the added inquiry. He needed to know now.

“Last night, I told him that back on Driftmark I’d swim during a full moon. He introduced the idea, drunk as ale itself. This morning, he was sipping on some vile potion from the Maester. When I brought it up , he had no clue what I was talking about, and he felt bad enough to arrange it. I even talked him into letting the maids come.”

She dunked her head as she finished her sentence, leaving him purely impressed at the thought. When she returned, they were both smiling at the idea.

“Now the clutch joke?”

She put her head up until her eyes into the water then, filling him with he urge to join her.

“Baela is the same way. She couldn’t stand the cold. You dragons temper ill in it.”

She swam away to the edge as he took off his doublet off to join her. It was a reckless decision, with all signs pointing him away until he himself was submerged in the water near her, freezing.

“I like to think I trust you too.”

He said as he made his way to the edge. His temperature raised near her , her two arms resting on the edge staring into the cold , bright night. He let he water fall out of his mouth and tried to adjust to the cool, his heart racing as a result.

“I’d have to know you better I think. You never talk about yourself.”

It was such a delicate line to balance with her. She turned to him, questioning his meaning.

“I think we should cut your hair, I’d like it better.”

She took a strand in her hand before turning away to the corner, propping herself with her two arms.

“Then I think you should trust me before we make such big decisions.”

In truth, his hair hadn’t been so long since the city watch. He had the smallest inclination to listen to her and drop it, but he needed the understanding to reach her. That she would simply trust him, even if it seemed for the worst.

“We should make a blood pact then. It seems to be the preferred Valyrian way.”

“What do you know about blood pacts?”

It was a tradition he was taught and was as old as Valyria itself. He had taught his children through his wedding to Rhaenyra. A promise made with dragon’s blood, the thing that bound them to their power.

“Jace and Cregan Stark made one. Jace and Baela as well.”

The mention of his name didn’t pull as much as it had before. It seemed more of a commemoration of what was lost with him, a memory she held. He hadn’t known his daughter had made one at all. For a moment, he wondered how she was with the war, weary of her temperament.

The girl was facing the moon again, her dress was sheer in the water, her skin a glistening blue in the moonlight. She was a different beauty entirely, one he felt as though he was the first to see. He could see her presence dwindle in her thought.

“Is this how you pray to the moon?”

He joined her in her enclosed space, seeing her draw back to their conversation with a light smile.

“Not exactly. She doesn’t listen often.”

He smiled at her attempt of humor. In some small way, he felt a triumph from it.

“Have I just been deceived into thinking we’d pray to the moon?”

He thought of it, idly perhaps she wished to spend time with him.

“They say there were two moons and one hatched open and birthed dragons. There are moon gods in so many places that it seems to be almost as constant as death.”

He stared at her, lost in her own little world, hesitantly. He knew of the myth in all its mythos from Quarth.

“When I was young, I looked for the moon when it got dark. It was always a better night. When I got older, I lost any faith in the seven I had, I didn’t think the maiden would care to hear from me, but the moon would always return. It’s a nice thing to have.”

He held his breath, not knowing what he could say to her, what he’d want to say.

“I’d do it if you would.”

“What?”

He was thrown off by the sudden change in the conversation. He should’ve expected her not to linger on it for long.

“The blood pact. We fly, we fight, we protect each other. We both return.”

There was an emphasis on her last words that made his heart skip a beat. As though she’d uncovered his worst secret. He watched her shift through the water, avoiding his eyes entirely at the idea.

He turned towards the moon, a beautiful, full sight that he’d never taken the time to simply stare at. Even in the helm of its beauty, the idea seemed simple and ridiculous.

“I fly every day thinking that.”

He threw his confession to the dead silence of the cold night and still water. He’d freeze to death in the next hour if he stayed, yet he did to be there with her. He didn’t need another word from her to know that she didn’t.

“You’re not a very trusting person, girl.” He felt the ripples in the water as her body turned to him.

“Should I be?”

Her words stung like a wasp sting. No, she should not and had no reason to be.

“Maybe after I make the oath, you can be.”

Her eyes lit up with the possibility as his heart sank. He’d break it if it meant she’d be safe, yet he still pursued it. He couldn’t help himself, knowing her had become a selfish want he wished to earn, to grasp at.

His toes felt numb in the water. He was sure to get sick soon if he didn’t leave.

“We should leave. You’re shivering, and we can cut your hair before the night is gone.”

She pushed herself closer to him, looking up at him, closer than she had been.

“You’re very warm.”

He could feel her warm breath on him, her eyes never breaking from his.

“Daemon, I won’t take care of you if you get sick, get out of the water.”

There was deception in her tone, there was a humor as well.

She pulled on her bottom lip for a moment, drawing his gaze to her plump lips. He drew nearer to her, past his own command, closing any hope of space between them. Her breast stood in the water with the adjusted posture, hardened by the cold. She looked hesitant, confused but not scared, never scared.

His cold hands met her waist, holding her in place, for a moment she was the moon.

He lifted her from the water and sat her on the edge. He stayed between her legs before meeting her eyes. They anticipated something he wasn’t sure of he’d fully conjured it. Her chest raised up and down, breathing deeply, awaiting a reaction. He had half a mind to earn it. To pull her back and taste her, as forbidden as it seemed, just once.

He pulled himself out beside her and stood up, going from the cold water to the cold night. He caught a breath he wasn’t entirely sure he knew how he had lost it. Pulling a robe on himself in the dead night. Wondering if any knight had passed in the mist of his longing.

With a splash, he heard her go back into the water, seeing her submerge herself entirely in the water and turn to the next side. He worried that he had compromised himself, his place with her.

She got out, taking a robe to cover herself in the sheer quality of the wet dress.

He made his way to her, cautious to her reaction towards him. She looked at him, a newness glazed her eyes as she did, a desire.

Her breath steadied in the silence, contemplating what had just occurred.

“You should go first before you freeze to death.”

https://archiveofourown.org/works/49138576

Her voice was restrained from the normal emotion, any warmth wiped away, allowing the heat to fully reach him now.

He looked at her again before walking away, completely resentful by the loss of himself in that moment. He was half mad. If he lost her to any capacity, would he leave then?

He reached their room as quickly as he could, going past her, shedding his clothes before submerging himself entirely in the hot bath, weary of the chill and its potential to fester illness in him.

[jtl-fics]

Fluent Freshman - Part 19

PREVIOUS

There’s a couple things about FF that might be good to know at this point.

1. There are few things in the world he hates doing more than asking for clarification or admitting he doesn’t understand / know something. The thought of going up to someone and admitting that he hasn’t perfectly comprehended the situation upon the first explanation is something makes his stomach twist like he’d just eaten Mango-Habanero ice cream.

He has figured out his own math theorems in the pursuit of not having to ask the math teacher to explain he doesn’t understand. He got lost in an Ikea once for over 6 grueling hours where he considered making a home there and living among the display rooms until his grandma grabbed him by the ear and dragged him to safety (the food court) and let him regain his strength (eat Swedish meatballs). He, to this day, is not sure about one of his foreign language friend’s names (how embarrassing he just keeps waiting for someone else to say it but they go by some insane nickname).

So he has become a master of piecing shit together on his own. He sometimes gets it wrong (Andrew, god how embarrassing) but for the most part 8 times out of 10 he can get to the right answer if he just has a couple pieces to work with. No one had ever actually explained to him how Exy works and he was too embarrassed to ask after the third week of practice in middle school so he just pieced together what he was and was not allowed to do through the art of trial and error. He’s even mostly pieced out the rules for the other positions.

So with the information he has gotten through people being bound and determined to talk in foreign languages in front of him he has an idea about the tenuous situation some of the older Foxes find themselves in.

He’s heard Kevin Day and Jean Moreau talk in French.

He’s heard that the anxiety in both of their voices as they talked about their futures and owing 80% of their salaries to the ‘Moriyamas’ and how nervous they were about getting on professional teams or else they’d be killed.

Captain Neil and Andrew are not always using Russian to talk dirty.

He’s heard Andrew soothe Captain Neil’s worries about playing for a professional team. He’s heard Captain Neil mention that at least ‘Ichirou’ would likely just kill him and not make a game out of it like his father did.

Organized Crime might have more to do with Exy than FF had originally thought.

(He had thought it. Plenty of times he had thought it but his Gran had warned him that he was overthinking things. That he wasn’t playing a sport invented by the Mafia. That he had caffeinated coffee instead of decaf. “It’s going to be okay sweetie. Just take a deep breath.”)

This leads into the second thing you should know at this point.

2.  Before he had signed with Wymack he had known the broad strokes of Captain Neil’s life. There had been a lot of news articles about it and Gran (bless her) loved trashy gossip magazines.

After he had signed with the Foxes he had done a bit of a deep dive on as many of their controversies as he could find. There’d been things from brawls on the court (worrying), player overdoses (concerning), a straight up MURDER (Oh god), and the very public breaking of the King of Exy’s arm resulting in his suicide (Warranted, that wacko was going to take off Captain Neil’s HEAD.)

But the thing that had made him actually a little bit, dare he admit, excited to go to Palmetto was the fact that Captain Neil was there.

For someone who froze for almost a decade, who just took it and didn’t have the balls to even react? Neil Josten is an inspiration.

This is someone who got away, who lived a life completely unlike FF’s, someone who knew how to run and more impressively someone who learned how to FIGHT. Captain Neil was being hunted but he still ripped people to shreds in interviews. Captain Neil was probably more scared of the Butcher than FF had been of anything in his entire life but Captain Neil was way braver than FF could ever hope to be.

Captain Neil was taken and tortured but he still fought. FF had seen the scars and Captain Neil is right to wear them proudly (though based on some conversations he has unfortunately overheard he is sure Andrew may have a role in Neil’s positive feelings about them).

FF had thought that he was being lead to his death down in a basement of a club (Don’t cringe. Don’t cringe. Don’t cringe. Don’t-) and he just trailed right behind the two of them without even an illusion of a fight.

Neil Abram Josten was a bit of a personal hero.

He’s proud to call him Captain Neil. He wishes Andrew hadn’t been there when Greg had mentioned wanting autographs because FF wants an autograph from Captain Neil but now Andrew has probably mentioned it to Neil.

Long story short, FF had looked into a lot of details on Captain Neil’s case.

Including two of the Butcher’s top men who were still on the loose.

Romero Malcolm and Jackson Plank.

He keeps his presence low but no matter how many times he blinks the man grumbling in Italian next to him continues to be Romero Malcolm.

Moreover Romero Malcolm continues to grumble about the fact that he is having a hard time finding ‘Nathaniel’ and that he’ll have to grab one of ‘The Wesninski brat’s friends’ to draw him out.

FF is a recently confirmed friend of Captain Neil.

FF who is standing next to this man, with his dick out, and trying to remain as invisible as possible.

After two shakes (Yes he was watching but only because he had to! He wonders briefly if he goes to the FBI if they would accept a description of Romero Malcolm’s penis for the wanted poster? Probably not but it is BURNED into his retinas.)

He watches as Romero tucks, zips, and then bypasses the sink entirely.

FF shivers at how unhygienic that is. Who RAISED him?

The door shuts and FF needs to get out of here ASAP but his hands are shaking with the sudden adrenaline of ’One of the FBI’s Most Wanted just took a piss next to me and is looking for me friend’. He pulls his phone from his pocket and ducks into one of the stalls. Even if there’s no door it’ll at least FEEL a little safer, a little more private. He needs to warn Neil, Warn Andrew, and warn-

The door to the bathroom SLAMS open and music blares in (palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy-) and his phone slips out of his hands and into the toilet. There are footsteps coming towards him and FF digs deep.

He’s in ultra stealth mode. He is the wall behind the wallpaper. Mantis shrimp can only dream of the color he becomes, the United States military have the CIA on the look out for him because he’s fallen off all conventional forms of radar and tracking.

He is a bargain fruit platter on a dessert table at a kid’s birthday party.

He is ULTRA stealth.

Romero’s gaze glides over him.

Then the man leaves (STILL DID NOT WASH HIS HANDS).

His heart is hammering in his chest but he manages to reach down and grab his phone. Well, Coach Wymack had gotten the extended warranty at least. (“Do you know what these fuckers do to phones? Josten crushed his last year in a fight with the Baseball team captain.”)

His phone’s extended dip into the toilet water had not done it any favors in working properly.

Well fuck.

He wipes his phone down the best he can. He wipes his phone down with some toilet paper before cramming it into his pocket (Sorry Nicky, he’ll wash the toilet water pants if they survive).

He sees a flyer on the wall of the bathroom and starts to think of a plan.

He rushes out of the bathroom (he still washes his hands because he will not have something in common with a man on the FBI’s most wanted list and he just dipped his hand into a CLUB TOILET) and clocks Nicky’s wild arm movements and WORSE clocks Romero just 10 clubbers away.

He sees Romero’s eyes lock onto Nicky and a smile that terrifies him.

He’s out of Ultra Stealth Mode even if every atom in his body wants to run.

He is so stressed and panicked that he has gone beyond his body’s ability to process that so all that is left is determination. He’s got a head full of a half-baked plan, a hand going to his pocket, a second hand on the only ‘weapon’ he has on him, and a stomach full of acid.

He’s pulling his phone out of his pocket before he can really let himself think about it and walking up next to where Romero is standing. He holds his toilet water phone up to his ear and does the one weird social anxiety thing that he had never done before.

He pretends to be on a phone call.

“Hey Captain Neil,” he says and in the corner of his eye he can see Romero’s gaze shift from Nicky (surrounded by an adoring public, covered in sweat and therefore difficult to grab - a difficult target) to himself (alone, shorter, and probably looking like he’s about to pass out). “Yeah I think I’m going to take a break outside after I grab quick drink and then a water at the bar.” He says because he has to be the easier target and he has to go to the bar. “Yeah, yeah, okay I’ll mention it to that bartender guy.” He says and pretends to hang up.

He turns and he walks towards the bar and feels his pulse in his throat go to the beat of the music (success is my only motherfucking option, failure’s not).

He only knows about the alley because in the car ride to Sweetie’s Nicky had mentioned that he wouldn’t let FF’s first time be out there. He had been embarrassed but it was the only way he knew to get Romero out of the club and away from where he could hurt Captain Neil or anyone else in the pursuit of that.

He spots the bartender who had gotten the drinks for their table and his mind completely blanks on the name but the bartender sees him and smiles. “Oh you’re Neil and Andrew’s new friend! What can I help you with? I thought you were-“

“Hi, yes I am Captain Neil and Andrew’s friend.” He says a little loudly because he can feel Romero behind him and he does NOT want the man to know anything about where Captain Neil was.

“Captain Neil? Oh wow that’s adorable.” The man gushes. “What can I help you with? I won’t ask for ID for one of their friends.” He winks.

“I’d like to order the uh…” he tries to remember the exact drink name from the flyer, “…the deluxe chocolate martini?” He asks and knows he got it right when the bartender’s expression shifts ever so slightly.

“Oh yeah, how do Andrew and Neil feel about that?” He asks and oh great a coded conversation. It’s nice to actually be having a real one of these for once instead of just perceiving normal conversations to have hidden meanings.

“They don’t know. They probably prefer that I order it instead of Nicky or Aaron.” He lets his eyes dart to the wide where he believes Romero is watching him.

“I don’t know if that’s true.” The bartender says, “Nicky knows how to handle a drink and Aaron’s not a lightweight either.” He adds.

FF struggles to find a coded way to say ‘It’s not that someone’s hitting on me too hard like the flyer mentioned. It’s that there’s a mafia hitman in your club.’

Finally after a moment, “It’s not the usual kind of drink they get.” He tries and the bartender looks confused by the statement, dammit. He struggles to find a different way to say it before the bartender smiles.

“Y’know you’re really cute.” He reaches under the bar top and grabs a piece of paper and a pen. “How about you write down your number for me cutie? We can meet up sometime.” He says. “I’ll get started on that chocolate martini for you.” He says.

HE COULD KISS THIS MAN.

“I’d like that.” He says.

He writes out a quick message on the small note paper.

‘Armed. After Neil. Looked at Nicky. I’m going to the back alley. Phone is dead.’

The bartender comes back and looks at his note. “We’re out of chocolate martini mix, can I get you something-“ He hopes the club lighting obscures how pale the man got, “something else?” He asks and FF can SEE his pulse.

“Can I just get some water then?” He asks.

The bartender nods and pulls up his phone and hopefully is dialing the police and hands FF a water. His hand grabs hold of FF’s “You don’t need to go out into the alley. You could hang in the backroom with me?” He offers.

There really are some kind people in the world.

“I think it’s better if I’m not in here for a bit.” He says back and honestly he needs this kindness and he has a spare bit of courage, “What’s your name by the way? Sorry I missed it.” He says.

The bartender swallows, “It’s Roland.” He says.

“Thanks Roland.” He twists the cap off of the water bottle and takes a sip.

He turns and pretends not to notice how Romero is trying to be inconspicuous pretending to be on his phone.

He makes his way over to the alley door and notices that Romero is tracking his movements but is not following him like he did to the bar.

His heart is pounding and he can’t BELIEVE he’s doing this. He wants to run, wants to hide somewhere, wants to become imperceptible but…but…

He opens the door to the alley as the bass of the remixed song finishes.

(You can do anything you set your mind to, man)

He lets the door slam behind him and he is alone in the alley.

He was not expecting a van to come to a screeching halt in front of the entrance and for a different face to appear climbing out of the car.

Jackson Plank.

FF looks at the ugly smile on the man as he walks towards him with a knife in hand.

Okay now what genius?

MASTERPOST FOR ALL PARTS OF FLUENT FRESHMAN AU

NEXT

5/26/23: EDITED. Can’t believe I forgot to put the Captain in front of Neil’s name on the meme. I’m blaming the accidental early awakening.

Per your requests:

@i-have-three-feelings​ @blep-23​ @dreamerking27​ @andreilsmyreligion​ @belodensetdust​ @rainbowpineapplebottle @yarn-ace​ @iwouldlikesometea @lily-s-world​ @obscureshipsandchips​ @booklover242​ @whataboutmyfries​ @sahturnos​ @pluto-pepsi​ @dreamerthinker​ @passinhosdetartaruga​ @leftunknownheart​ @aro-manita-muscaria @hologramsaredead​ @Chaoticgremlinswishtheycouldbeme @tntwme​ @tayspots @nick-scar​ @crazy-fangirl2524​ @blue-jos10​ @stabbyfoxandrew​ @splishsplashyouropinionistrash​ @sammichly​ @the-broken-pen​ @bitchesdoweknowu​ @very-small-flower​ @ghostlyboiii​ @its-a-paxycab​ @bisexual-genderfluid-fan​ @cheesecookie​ @theoneandonlylostsock​ @foxsoulcourt​ @blueleys @adverbialstarlight​ @elia-nna​ @can-i-just-stay-in-the-corner​ @nikodiangel​ @foxandcrow-inatrenchcoat​ @hallucinatedjosten​ @satanic-foxhole-court​ @vexingcosmos​ @chalilodimun​ @insectsgetcooked​ @angry-kid-with-no-money​ @queer-crows​ @lillyndra​ @themugglemudperson​ @readertodeath​ @apileofpillows​ @mortalsbowbeforeme​ @hellomynameismoo​ @next-level-mess @youreonlylow​ @interstellarfig​ @notprocrastinatingatalltoday​ @percyjacksonfan3​ @queenofcrazy27​ @bsmr261 @ghostlyscares​ @spencellio​ @adinthedarkroom​ @harpymoth​ @sufferingjustalilbit​ @anxietymoss​ @oddgreyhound​ @ohno-myhyperfixation-itsbroken​ @ken22789​ @atiredvampire​ @isoldescorner​ @not--a--pipedream​ @azure-wing​ @bushbees​  @roonilwazlib-main​ @crumplelush​ @foldedaces-paperbirds​ @thesenseinnonsense​ @let-tyrants-fear​ @ketchupfriesandallthingsnice​ @legowerewolf​ @deadlydodos​ @but-we-respect-his-craft​ @cariniqe​ @zanypersonapricotbiscuit​

The requests to be added to the tag list keep being spread out across a few different areas. If I missed you please just ask again in the replies I promise I just missed you.

As stated before if you’re up here and I spelled it  right but you didn’t  get a notification there might be something  switched around in  your settings that won’t let me tag you properly?

Lillyndra it worked this time!!!

[noxtivagus]

Final. Fantasy.

[yin-shimo]

兔兔乐园 or Eden's Bunnies Issue No.9

todays a lil different, i've removed the skirt and shirt from this outfit by gorillax3 + a masc-frame ver. of HighTopSneakers04 from this set by Jius

* package labels are: MF = male overhead gender, fem frame. MM= male overhead gender, masc frame. FF = female overhead gender, fem frame

it works well with acc tops/bras too

DOWNLOAD (simfileshare)

[propertyofwhitney67]

Ok but what about finding ANOTHER npc's picture in the love locket 👀 for example right now i'm in an Alex run, like he got my pc is pregnant with twins ffs, aaaand i might have accidentally raised Whitney's love enough for him to declare my pc is his gf now??? (my baby can't catch a break smh).

Just imagine Whitney flirting tormenting pc, just another day, until he sees the locket and while making fun of her for being sooo obssesed with him, he opens it in front of everyone just to find this freckled ginger he's never seen in his life 💀

Love this

Whitney holds up the necklace and gives you a look before ripping it off and tossing it away

Kylar will rip the necklace from you or he just takes the picture out and puts his in it

Robin is sad and you can tell

P!Sydney is upset and brings it up, why are they in there and not him?

C!Sydney takes the necklace from you and takes the picture out, get one of him to put in there

Alex is upset and asks about it, maybe change it?

Avery tells you not to wear it on dates

Eden either tosses it into the fireplace or makes you change the picture

[hopedrunkminx]

No because when Lionheart Draco told Hermione “Do you know what I see, Granger, when I think about joining up? The moment I offered up my wand, the Dark Lord would put me on my knees and crack open my skull, to make sure I wasn’t a deserter or double-agent, and he’d find you, and I’d be dead in seconds if he was merciful.”

And when Hozier said “honey, you’re familiar like my mirror years ago—idealism sits in prison, chivalry fell on its sword / innocence died screaming honey ask me I should know / I slithered here from Eden just to sit outside your door” you cannot tell me this isn’t about them. this is my canon.

—

FF: Lionheart by @greenerteacups

[sorryimananti-romantic]

Ateez Masterlist - Discography Ver.

Basically ateez's tracklist but with the ffs linked! click on the song and you'll be led to the content which will have a detailed description + warnings of its own. enjoy <3 and special thanks to @eightmakesonebraincell for helping me out with the formatting! (PLAYS = word count, CREDITS = description). P.S: for reactions, requests and headcanons, pls refer to the masterlist here <3

TOTAL STREAMS (WC): 976,781~ (as of 10/09/24)

TREASURE EP.1: All to Zero

# Title

1 Intro: Long Journey

2 해적왕 (Pirate King)

3 Treasure

4 Twilight

5 Stay

YEOSANG (ft. princess!reader) 18,692 PLAYS CREDITS: royal au where yeosang is an archer and he replaces your tutor and keeps your secret, joins you in finding some adventure in life and eventually, helps you find true love.

6 My Way

MINGI (ft. princess!reader) 18,619 PLAYS CREDITS: royal au where mingi is your bodyguard and you, the princess, travel to the enemy nation to expose the schemes of your betrothed, risking your life when you can't hold back your feelings for your guard anymore.

TREASURE EP.2: Zero to One

# Title

1 HALA HALA (Hearts Awakened, Live Alive)

MINGI (ft. human!reader) 26,976 PLAYS CREDITS: fantasy au where the shadow demon is cursed to share a body with mingi. mingi encounters you when you run away from home and you decide to stick with him. you start falling for both the demon and mingi but tragic consequences await you as you learn more about the curse.

2 Say My Name

3 Desire

4 Light

SEONGHWA (ft. chemist!reader) 32,159 PLAYS CREDITS: mafia au where seonghwa, the drug lord, gets possessed by an angel when you conduct an experiment to steal the angel's essence to enhance your drugs. the angel falls in love with the devil- you- but your heart remains conflicted between the angel and seonghwa.

5 Promise

YUNHO (ft. princess!reader) 23,068 PLAYS CREDITS: royal au where you, princess of eden, find yourself in an arranged marriage with prince yunho of wonderland and find your homelands at war with each other, making you wonder what will become of your marriage esp when you fall for him.

TREASURE EP.3: One To All

# Title

1 Utopia

2 Illusion

3 Crescent

SAN (ft. bodyguard/assassin!reader) 17,274 PLAYS CREDITS: royal/fantasy au where san is the prince and you are hired to be his bodyguard and personal assassin as he travels to eden to uncover secrets and a possible betrayal.

4 Wave

MINGI (ft. teacher!reader) 7,881 PLAYS CREDITS: high school-ish au where you both are teachers and accompany students to a one week trip as per your suggestion, experiencing your own high school romance

5 Aurora

YUNHO (ft. spy!reader) 26,543 PLAYS CREDITS war au where you are a spy/cryptographer in the enemy nation and meet yunho, skilled strategist and cryptographer, win his favour to get on his team so you can eventually get to the medical research department to expose their plans, but fall in love with him in the process, fearing the day he'll learn your true identity.

6 Dancing Like Butterfly Wings

TREASURE EP.FIN: All To Action

# Title

1 Wonderland

2 Dazzling Light

YEOSANG (ft. human!reader) 26,709 PLAYS CREDITS: fantasy au where yeosang is an angel on his last mission and you, a mere human, messes his mission making him stay for longer than he'd like... until he starts actually liking it (and you) and finds himself in a life-threatening situation.

3 안개 (Mist)

SAN (ft. mediator!oc) 53,807 PLAYS CREDITS: supernatural au where the oc, seohyun, is a mediator- someone who can see and interact with the dead and helps them move on. she befriends san and together, they navigate through a journey of danger and thrill, heartbreak and love, and tragedy that drives them worlds apart.

4 Win

WOOYOUNG (ft. princess/assassin reader) 42,555 PLAYS CREDITS: royal au where wooyoung is an envoy from utopia, also undercover, and finds out your identity. a secret shared, you try to prevent utopia from taking your homeland while he helps though you can't help but question his loyalty multiple times- even when you're falling for each other.

5 If Without You

WOOYOUNG (ft. reader) 14,449 PLAYS CREDITS: best friends to lovers au where your childhood friend wooyoung moves in with you as he adjusts to the city and you try to get used to his presence without revealing your romantic feelings for him.

6 친구 (THANK U)

7 Sunrise

SAN (ft. soldier!reader) 29,895 PLAYS CREDITS: you and san are majors in the special forces. you think the idea of romance while being in the military is stupid for a number of reasons, but san thinks otherwise and decides to prove his point, making you question your beliefs.

8 걸어가고 있어 (WITH U)

TREASURE EPILOGUE : Action To Answer

# Title

1 Answer

2 지평선 (Horizon)

SAN (ft. oc) 100,725 PLAYS CREDITS: royal/fantasy au where san, faerie prince of earth, finds gaeul who came back from the dead as a part of a darkling's evil schemes, her magic now unnatural and dark. san realises he might be connected to gaeul in unimaginable ways, the bond they share serving as both their salvation and demise. SPINOFF (TAKE ME HOME)

3 Star 1117

WOOYOUNG (ft. alienoid!reader) 26,332 PLAYS CREDITS: space apocalypse au where wooyoung the human from earth gets arrested in the temporal nexus galaxy by you and joins you on a mission to attempt to save the galaxy and find star 1117, while also teaching you the meaning of 'home is where the heart is'.

4 Precious

5 Outro: Long Journey

TREASURE EP. Map To Answer

# Title

1 Declaration

2 Better

YEOSANG (ft. reader) 9,302 PLAYS CREDITS: enemies to lovers au where you belong to rival gangs but find yourselves at the mercy of a common enemy and have no choice but to rely on each other and address your confusing feelings for each other.

ZERO : FEVER Part.1

# Title

1 Dear Diary: 2016.07.29

2 FEVER

3 THANXX

4 지평선춤을 춰 (TO THE BEAT)

5 INCEPTION

6 Good Lil Boy

WOOYOUNG (ft. princess!reader) 23,785 PLAYS CREDITS: royal au where you meet prince wooyoung, your best friend and your worst enemy, at a retreat in another kingdom and you start to cross personal boundaries with each other in the name of bets, unable to keep your hands off each other.

7 One Day At A Time

YUNHO, SEONGHWA (ft. reader) 18,565 PLAYS CREDITS: royal/war? au where seonghwa and yunho are both the king's trusted guards and best friends. you fell for seonghwa, married and had a daughter with him before losing him forever. later, you fall for yunho- a loving father to your daughter and a husband who gave you enough space and time to grieve and fall for him.

ZERO : FEVER Part.2

# Title

1 불놀이야 Fireworks (I’m the One)

HONGJOONG (ft. reader) 25,903 PLAYS CREDITS: royal au where prince hongjoong holds a selection- 30 eligible candidates from the kingdom competing against each other, one of which would be his wife and the future princess. you're only a translator to one of the candidates but you catch his eye.

2 선도부 (The Leaders)

3 Time of Love

JONGHO (ft. reader) 19,800 PLAYS CREDITS: friends to lovers au where jongho is your brother's best friend (yeosang) and the three of you share a living space. you catch up with jongho and your feelings for him resurface with all their might.

4 Take Me Home

SEONGHWA (ft. oc) 155,416 PLAYS CREDITS: royal/fantasy au where yena (oc) with a magical block on her memories goes on a journey to uncover her past, encountering the eight faerie princes and learning her identity and fighting against an evil scheme as she falls for prince seonghwa of dark, a love that transcends the boundaries of time, space and magic.

5 Celebrate

Into the A to Z

# Title

1 Still Here

Dreamers

# Title

1 Dreamers

2 Blue Summer

Season Songs

# Title

1 바다 보러 갈래? (Be My Lover)

2 여름날의 겨울동화 (White Love)

HONGJOONG (ft. fireprincess!reader) 24,832 PLAYS CREDITS: fantasy au where hongjoong is the ice prince and sets a neverending winter in the land and you, the fire princess, find him trapped. as you team up against the threats on your lives, you make unexpected friends and find love.

3 검은 고양이 네로 (The Black Cat Nero)

ZERO : FEVER Part.3

# Title

1 Eternal Sunshine

HONGJOONG (ft. reader) 23,393 PLAYS CREDITS: you and hongjoong meet on the train and instantly connect, becoming friends and more, but you're both plagued by a past that you can't remember, and when you start digging into it you realise that your pasts may be connected and the situation might be graver than you thought.

2 Feeling Like I Do

YUNHO (ft. reader) 4,671 PLAYS CREDITS: you and yunho have been best friends since forever and neighbours for a while, and you find it harder with each passing day to hide your feelings for him.

3 Deja Vu

SEONGHWA (ft. reader) 22,281 PLAYS CREDITS: past life/reincarnation au where seonghwa was hades and you were persephone and in the present, seonghwa is a detective and you are a florist and you meet during his case investigation, your encounters making you relive your memories from your past life.

4 ROCKY

5 All About You

6 Not Too Late (밤하늘)

ZERO : FEVER EPILOGUE

# Title

1 야간비행 (Turbulence)

2 Be With You

SEONGHWA (ft. spy/defector!reader) 23,593 PLAYS CREDITS: royal au where you're a spy for the king but he tainted your name and imprisoned you in the enemy nation as a defector, imprisoning your sister as leverage. once you run, you encounter seonghwa- the king's right hand- save his life and use him to get to the castle, wondering if he'll still love you when he learns the truth.

3 The Letter

4 멋 (The Real) (흥 : 興 Heung Ver.)

5 Outro : Over the Horizon

Don't Stop

# Title

1 Don't Stop

BEYOND : ZERO

# Title

1 The King

THE WORLD EP.1 : MOVEMENT

# Title

1 Propaganda

2 Sector 1

3 Cyberpunk

JONGHO (ft. programmer!reader) 23,750 PLAYS CREDITS: you're a programmer in the eden droid project and you find your boyfriend jongho as the droid assigned for you to 'fix'- you wonder if it was just an awful conincidence. you run away with him so you can turn him back to human but it starts going wrong and you find yourself learning shocking truths as you make plans for the downfall of the project.

4 Guerrilla

YUNHO (ft. writer!reader) 27,902 PLAYS CREDITS: he's a doctor, part time serial killer/vigilante. you're a gore crime fiction writer. you move in with him despite the strict and strange rules and somehow, you both end up falling for each other amidst lies, secrets, past traumas and a detective who suspects you.

5 The Ring

6 WDIG (Where Do I Go)

JONGHO (ft. reader) 23,701 PLAYS CREDITS: royal au where jongho is hired as your bodyguard under your father's order bc you are a gossip-dealer who owns hotel crescent. with your father as your opposition when you support two different princes of two different nations at war, you wonder where jongho's loyalty lie.

7 New World

HONGJOONG (ft. royalphysician!reader) 27,397 PLAYS CREDITS: royal au where hongjoong is the crown prince and you're the royal physician to the king and you strike a deal with him- you'd kill the king for him to speed up his coronation while he grant you some benefits. you start getting greedy with each other though and things take a dark turn.

THE WORLD EP.PARADIGM

# Title

1 Intro: Siren

YEOSANG (ft. sirenhunter!reader) 27,894 PLAYS CREDITS: enemies to lovers au where yeosang is a siren and you're immune to a siren's call. while you help each other get your respective revenge and overcome a curse that starts turning you into a siren, you find that yeosang isn't the monster you thought all sirens to be.

2 Paradigm

3 Outro: Liberty

SPIN OFF : FROM THE WITNESS

# Title

1 Halazia

2 Outro: Blue Bird

LIMITLESS

# Title

1 Limitless

SAN (ft. queen!reader) 28,912 PLAYS CREDITS: you're the princess of utopia, queen of eden by marriage to the king. for a whole year of marriage, you've taken his abuse but you're planning his downfall and you find an unexpected ally in the king's right hand choi san. he not only helps you plan but also shows you how it is like to be truly loved and wanted.

2 Diamond

[green-tea-in-absinthe-bottle]

THE NIGHT BELONGS TO YOU

Blade x fem!reader fanfic, all chapters masterlist

contains wholesome stellaron hunters dynamics, taking care of Blade's wounds and massaging his hands, political drama in the background, smut with Blade at the end, slight doting Kafka x reader and my complete obsession with Blade . Also we are besties with Firefly and Silver Wolf. Found family trope.

LOTS OF PLOT, VERY VERY SLOW BURN, TW BLADE IS AS WILLING TO REST IN PEACE AS IN CANNON,NOBODY DIES, SO DW.

Also reader x secondary character at the beginning for the sake of plot.

Slight differences from cannon possible, english isn't my first language and it's my first fanfic so I will be grateful for criticism

IF YOU ONLY WANT TO READ SMUT JUST SCROLL TO THE LAST CHAPTER

CHAPTER 1 - In turning divine we tangle endlessly  (in this chapter we accidentally get entangled in political drama, Blade appears in second chapter but this one is very important for the story. Reader discovers her special ability that she will use a lot in next chapters, slight romance with side character.)

CHAPTER 2 - The night falls down like heaven (Reader has to run away from all the fractions trying to utilize her gift for their own gain, Stellaron Hunters come to our rescue and save us tho not without their own political motivations)

CHAPTER 3 - Tangled up like branches in a flood (Reader learns to live with stellaron hunters, slowly becomes one of them and has deep connections with her coworkers, Blade being girl dad for FF and SW and Kafka doting on us)

CHAPTER 4 - If your wings won’t find you heaven I will bring it down like an ancient bygone (Our first mission for Staellaron Hunters goes wrong, we have to patch Blade up)

CHAPTER 5 - will come out soon

CHAPTER 6 - will come out soon

CHAPTER 6 - will come out soon

+18 chapter - All of Eden’s vices running through my veins (This snippet contains mostly spice and massaging Blade's hands for him, reader knows Blade for a long time already and they have close relationship)

[ninyard]

Nicky: yeah he slept with a chair in his room and a knife nearby so we think he’s just insane

Neil: ……

No but rlly, no matter how you feel about Nicky, on one hand I am an outside observer so reading this exchange I’m like “oh ffs obviously that’s not why! That makes no sense!” But then I think about it more and it’s actually probably really realistic? Nicky doesn’t know what andrew went through, he probably didn’t think his life in foster care was that bad, that kind of abuse just isn’t on his radar bc he’s had different experiences and exposures, so the possibility of anything else just doesn’t cross his mind, plus he’s already biased to think andrew is just naturally “like that” bc that’s the assumption he’s already been operating under, plus the natural inclination of ppl to not want to see awful things. It makes sense for him and Aaron that that’s the conclusion they come to, and that makes me so mad at the world for reasons I can’t quite articulate

Sorry for hitting you with this out of nowhere I actually meant to say something else but idr what bc I clicked the ask button and this is what came out instead xD

Oh 100%. I GET it. I understand why everyone has this perception of Andrew that he’s, in their own words, a monster. That he’s a loveless, emotionless sociopath. Imagine Aaron, excited to meet the twin he didn’t even know he had, and the first thing he says to you is fuck off, fuck you, leave me the fuck alone?

Imagine you meet the cousin you didn’t even know you had, and for some reason you don’t know about, he’s been in your house for how long? He’s been there for how long before he’s made an enemy out of your father, out of your aunt, he won’t talk to the cousin you did know about, he’s angry and depressed and he keeps knives under these arm bands he refuses to take off? He’s like Aaron in a different shade, like the dark version of a person already dark and destroyed. But he won’t talk to you. Why won’t you talk to us, Andrew? And all you get in response is a knife, or a blank stare, or a fuck off, fuck you, leave me the fuck alone?

Then your aunt is dead, and he’s alive, and the cousin you did know about is grieving and angry, and you, Nicky, who has fought so hard to keep the peace in your household, are now surrounded by negativity, and anger, and past problems that nobody fucking wants to deal with?

I get it.

Then they’re at Eden’s, and he hears it over his shoulder, the shouted slur. And then Andrew, who barely even talks to him anyway when they’re out drinking is on top of this stranger in a flash. And there’s blood, and the stranger stops fighting back. But Andrew’s fists keep coming back, and keep coming back, and keep coming back.

He nearly kills him. He nearly kills him. He nearly kills him. For you. Because you don’t know that he’s gay. You don’t know the weight of the word shouted your way. He’s protecting you. He’s protecting you.

You’re scared of him. He gets locked up. Whatever the timeline is pre-tfc. You’re scared of the cousin you didn’t know you had.

I get it.

But imagine being Andrew. They don’t ask what happened. They take the courts word for it when they say you’re a danger to society. They take the courts word for it when they say your depressive episodes are a danger to yourself. You tried. You tried to tell someone, but it’s a misunderstanding, and god’s intention, and your fault. So why bother trying again?

You spend all this time on this medication that makes you feel worse than anything you’ve ever been on - you spend years of your life in this haze, a mixture derealisation and constant and unending mania. You’re sick without it. You’re sick on it. You don’t remember who you are without it. You don’t want to know who you will be without it.

And imagine being Andrew, and it takes being violated in your cousins childhood bedroom, or just a room in his childhood home, for them to finally get it? Your autonomy stolen from you. Your secrets exposed without permission, again. Your consent is never your own choice. It never has been.

Oh and then let’s think about Nicky. And all that’s in his head is ANDREW IS WORSE WITHOUT HIS MEDS.

Maybe he hears the laugh from the bottom of the stairs. Maybe he only hears Neil talking about it. ANDREW WAS LAUGHING. HE WAS LAUGHING. HE WAS VIOLATED AND DESTROYED AND COVERED IN BLOOD AND HE WAS LAUGHING.

And this has happened before?

And Drake was not the only one?

Does it make sense now?

Is he a sociopath or was he made to be that way? Is he crazy or was this someone else’s fault? Does he protect his family because nobody protected him?

Why didn’t he tell me? Why did this happen under the roof of my family home?

In theory I hate how they don’t know what Andrew is really like. How they’re afraid of him off his meds. But it makes sense why. I get it. Why the fuck would they not think that?

But I think they understand how wrong they were eventually. I think they see how he might not smile anymore - but he is much happier now.

[ch4osworld]

THE PASSENGER

A Lucifer x fem!reader ff

This is my first time writing a fanfiction, or writing in general plus my native language isn't english so sorry for any mistake! Critiques are welcome as long as they are respectful and reblogs and comments are well liked! I am planning to make this a series so tell me if you like it!

Words:1509

You were in the garden of Eden, long (h/c) hair flowing behind you. That's when you were created, when you begun living. You were made to be the first wife of the man Adam. You truly loved him, at least you thought you did, you did everything he told you, always being good...then why were you taken and put into heaven?Why did you have to be taken away by your one true love?You stood there, confused, scared even, with only your long hair covering your nudity. That's when you met him, an oh so wonderful and stunning angel, Lucifer was his name. He dressed you, took care of you, cared about you. It didn't take long for you to catch feelings for him. What was a lady supposed to do when some handsome was so caring to you, so touchy even. You still remember the times he took you flying with him, the look of adoration he gave you, it was just you two, flying in the sky peacefully. The comfort he would give you, his touch always lingered on your skin, oh how you wanted him to hold you like that forever.

You stood there, high in heaven, observing Adam, the one that was supposed to be you husband, with another woman. Lilith was her name, how could he do this to you? Did he not love you? No you were sure he did. But if you were so sure then why did tears start falling from your eyes? Why did you start crying like that? You felt horrible. If the man that was supposed to love you for eternity didn't want you, who would have? You hear rustling behind you, and that's when he came: "Y/n? Are you ok?" You didn't respond to him, you didn't have the strength to, you felt so embarassed, you were so vulnerable,what would he think of you now: "Oh sweetheart what happened to you? Who hurt you? Please don't cry I hate seeing you like this. I know that whatever the problem is we can deal with this togheter" and there again, the usual hold he would give you in those moments. He treated you with such a care, you felt bad for him. You used all your strength to mutter some shaky words: "Why is he with another woman, who is she?"  He answered, holding you closer to him: "Dear, is this really the problem that's taunting you every day? Don't be sad, please, trust me he doesn't deserve your love. He doesn't deserve you! You are the most wonderful woman I have ever laid my eyes upon, it's not your fault he doesn't see your beauty. It's not your fault he doesn't love you". You sobbed back: "No, no he does love me. I was made for him he surely dose. He just doesn't understand it yet". He watched you with compassion as he kept comforting you.

Lucifer, or Luci, as you would always call him, always talked to you about all his plans and ideas. You never understood them much, you were too naive, too dumb and stupid to understand, but you would always support him through it no matter what. You always encouraged him to expose his ideas, you were his number 1 supporter. You loved him oh so much, you always did and you always will. Nothing would have prepared you to the day he got casted down from heaven, and with Lilith too. Not only have you lost the one you REALLY loved, he loved someone else too, the same one that stole Adam away from you. Damn Lilith, if only you were as pretty, if only you were so captivating maybe it would have been you who got casted down with him. After that you came back to the life at Eden, becoming Adam's wife again, but you couldn't be happy, not when Lucifer was gone for good, you longed for his grasp once again, and so, you did the unimaginable, you decided to fall down for him. You always liked to explore places, you saw a lot of heaven, it was bound that you eventually found the entrance to hell. You were afraid, but your love for him guided you into the pits of that horrendous place. You did it for him, and him only. you jumped and fell for who knows how long. You landed in a place full of Sakura trees, it was beautiful, absolutely stunning. The petals on the ground where as soft as snow and it was so calm you could easily fall asleep in there. You didn't have the time to savor the space you were in at the time. Too focused on the pain all over your naked body. You couldn't give up yet, you had to find him, you had to find Lucifer. You were trying to move from the ground, to get up peraphs, that's when he found you.

Lucifer was relaxing among the trees when he heard a loud thud. Startled, he went checking what the source of the sound was, and that's when he saw you: "What the- Y/n? Is that really you? Oh god what have you done! Why are you in here? Are you hurt? Here let me help you dear" he got you dressed and picked you up, you could hear the hurt in his voice as he murmured you comforting words and whys: "I am sorry, I didn't know what I was thinking. I missed you Luci, I missed you so much I just wanted to see you again" you cried to him. He replied: "Please don't apologize, there is nothing for you to be sorry about. I am just glad you are with me again, I missed you so much, you know?Don't worry sweetheart, me and my wife will take care of you, we will teach you all about this place. Oh there is so many things I have to tell you! Lilith will be super happy knowing she can finally put a face to the name, she always wanted to know you!"

Right....Lilith

It took you a lot to adjust to the situation, and Lucifer and Lilith being all lovey dovey didn't help you one bit. You were forced to see them togheter, you lived with them after all. It isn't that you had any place to go other then his castle. You enjoyed living in there, and you savored all the alone moments you had with him, but oh it hurt you so much, but if you really loved him, you'd let him go, so you kept staying with them as your heart broke and shatteted more, the longer you were with them. The thing you didn't know though is that you weren't the only one suffering from all of this .

Lucifer's pov

As he brought his friends to his castle, his heart was flooded with a torrent of emotions, absorbing his every being. The flames of love once felt for her burnt with a passion he never felt before in his life, peraphs that flame never extinguished. As y/n lived there, his life had changed in an unimaginable way, as he lived in a never ending desperation. A desperation born from the knowing that his heart belonged eternally to his wife, but every quick glances, every alone time spent with y/n, served as a poignant reminder of his unceasing adoration for you. Yet, in the depths of his agony, he found solace in the the devotion and trust he vowed to always give to his wife, that he would never betray her, not when she lived an oh so happy life with him by his side. There was no other choice, he must let you go.

Y/n's pov

The more you learnt about hell the more you felt confident navigating it's depths of your own. You began forming a sense of identity, you started to know yourself, something you were never permitted to do in Eden, you even dared to cut your beautiful, long hair. You didn't like them, they held too many harrowing memories you needed to let go of. Your free spirit was finally able to show itself, the decisive step happened when you decided to leave his castle for good. The agony you felt seeing them togheter becoming unbearable to you. You ventured into the steppes of hell, explored all you had to see, seeked every secret of it. Your hunting never stopping, as the inferno kept increasing in size. The more it got bigger, the more you wanted more, you soon got hungry for it, and you ate all your discoveries. You didn't have a home, you'd rather sleep and get food from the people of this place, also making the usual visit to Lucifer and Lilith. It didn't take long for the demons to get used to you, you also managed to make a few friends. Only a select few knew your real name, the majority of people simply called you

The Passenger.

[lovelipton]

Chapter 4

Smut warning: Masterbat!on.

It seemed a betrayal to imagine her. It was an unfair thing to lust for.

He grabbed the oil jug from atop his fire place, taking it to his night stand, coating his fingers as he sat down, trying to conjure up any other image.

The blood orange smell had lingered on him, adding to the difficulty of the situation. The tallow oil smelled like her hair. Perhaps he should ask a maid, at least one would be willing. The thought back to their lingering touches and wanting stares during his bath, pretty girls, older than his companion, their pale hands gliding over him with a wet cloth, how his hand slid down the girls back, how the smell could take him back if he gave in.

He stopped himself, mindlessly grabbing his neglected cock with the oiled hand, trying his best ignore his thoughts. He slid his hand, in the same memorized way from his youth and tried his best to be quick.

He thought about his wife, the salt air the first time he had her, a time where it was need and not want, the feeling of her thigh against his hand, her mouth on his. When she was younger, all those years ago in the brothel.

His hand picked up speed, he felt himself building to the needed climax. His head arched back, lost in older memory. He stroked his tip, grunting with his dependence on the budding release.

The stench of stale ale in the air, the mindless interlocked bodies her eyes pulled to. Nettles eyes would pull like that to any new thing shown to her, the ale was polluted with the stale wine.

If he stopped now he wouldn’t finish,  he was a man lost to his urges. His mind flashed to her, half dressed, undressed, licking her lips, laughing and looking up at him, mouth ajar for what ever reason. It felt wrong to imagine, he tried to think to anything else but a memory of her would cloud his mind and judgement for what was right. All he knew was what he needed to do. He was almost there.

He grunted with each stroke, on the brink of his anticipation paying off. He heard the knock at the door and couldn’t answer. He leaned into himself, tugging away mindlessly. The oranges danced with his building sweat. A coating covered him as he drew near than he had been in months, her round breast, revealed itself from her raven coils, he could taste his peak.

He could hear her calling his name, through their door, he didn’t know if he was half conjuring it.

“Daemon?”

His peak came with the swing of their door, a curious call of his name and a strained grunt at her intrusion.

“Sorry, Your Grace.”

Ever quick, she recognized his state, wide eyed to be sure with a quick apology and pulling the door back shut, he was past the point where he could stop himself. He dropped his cock as it spurted over the floor, the immediate guilt and relief flooding him together.

He placed his hands at either side of him, nearly delirious with the relief of his expectation, he steadied himself and recognized where he was, what he had done to get there, almost angered by the new clarity.

He could apologize to her to her enough to justify it, he had to apologize to her now for what happened. The door wasn’t locked on his insistence to his side, he should’ve spoken to send her away. He felt no control over it all, a deep desire settled in his soul over it.

He stood up hazily and got dressed, wiping the sweat off his skin and rinsing away all the musk that had developed in its arrival. He knocked the door of and searched her room to find it empty and unmade. He closed the door and made his way to breakfast through his room, he had no desire to see the state he left his in.

He felt hollow as he made his way to the dinning area, unwilling to face the myriad of emotions he could anticipate from her, he doubted he would look less that guilty at her, her face changing into something more desired now.

He walked in on her, in deep conversation with Maester Norren and Lord Mooton, she’s the first to recognize him in the room.

She stands as he would expect, a glimpse of shyness lingered in her expression, avoiding his eyes entirely, preserving her serious expression as the others join her greeting. He made his way at her side. They all sat together, going into a less intense version of the previous conversation , she refused to meet his eyes.

“You should ask him now that he’s here. Perhaps you’ll listen to him.”

She was never impolite, if she was angry her tone would say but she simply sounded flustered, with the same restrained anger she met him with more often than not.

“What is your request my Lord?” He stared at the fat country Lord, seemingly caught up in the throws of the previous conversation. He looked towards the girl, who focused intently on the porridge in front of her, idling herself by playing with it, breathing deeply to calm herself.

He wondered if she had cared about what she saw, if his worry would even matter after he heard what the Lord said, it didn’t seem to impact her day as much as he had.

“I’m simply curious about the possibility of you both splitting up, to find Vhagar and cover the Riverlands with your protection.”

He could feel his anger rise with the closing of the statement, seeing why there was need for the argument in the first place.

Did he think they sat on dragon back each day to waste time?

That they simply enjoyed the others reactions to the piles of bodies they’d stack every other week?

He felt Nettles heat leave her as he restated what seemed to be the same conversation to him. She was as anxious as she was angry.

 The girl couldn’t sleep for so long, at least having someone near her, making sure she would was a comfort. He doubted whether she would eat alone or take care of her self without his insistence. She drank herself to peace just the last night.

His grand plan never made her a causality, he recalled. She’d always go back to Rhaenyra’s side as he went after Vhagar. Even as a suggestion the girl was in danger by herself against Vhagar. No one dragon could stand alone against her.

He gripped the knife in his hand tightly, trying his best to rationalize his anger before he spoke. Did he think the girl was here in jest for company alone?

He felt a warm thing grab his thigh, shifting his demeanor to confusion , he looked down then up at her, a weary expression trying to reassure him, in some small attempt to quell a dragon’s tendency. He could feel himself calm, wondering if she used the same method on Sheepstealer before.

He turned back to the scared Lord, resting the knife down before he responded.

“It would be a useless feat, no dragon alone would stand against Vhagar, even I need someone at my side to make sure I return. Her grace is very adamant on that front.”

She moved her hand back to herself and he felt the warmth leave him, almost hostile in its departure.  Her food busied her as the conversation continued, over breakfast, entailing small notes about the following steps towards a quicker end to his nephew.

He checked on her throughout the conversation, sometimes justifying it by making sure she took note of certain places, other times to ensure her presence, just to gage her reaction. By the time they were done he was sure he had paid her more attention, against his better judgment.

“We will leave you both to discuss further, Your Grace.” The Maester stated before departing behind his Lord, it couldn’t have been after nine when he and Netty were finally left alone.

She was wearing a Targaryen red dress, truly made for court, she found a way to make it look like an appropriate dress for the occasion, it dipped low like a King’s Landing style he noted before turning away with he thought, entirely.

“Did you finish?” The question sounded common place out of her mouth , for a moment he felt the air get knocked out of his lungs.

His expression caused her to muffle a laugh, and he found, hearing the air leave her as well. For a moment, they waited for their composure to wash over them before the conversation flowed.

“I seem to have taken to making a fool of myself with you. I owe you my apology.” In a better light, he’d see it as a just remark to make, but even the knowledge that she had helped him to finish seemed wrong. The only comfort was that she didn’t know.

“ I think it is a new talent. You did avoid the notice entirely.” She said, stifling a laugh. He recalled the morning before, and he looked for the cut to explain the blood from a young lady. He seemed to lose his sense around her. He remembered how her voice sounded half fantastical at that time, the expanding of her in his thoughts.

“I was caught off guard, to be clear. Then the last conversation made me see red, I could imagine how you felt.”

The fire her hand stoked had yet to disappear, being around her seemed secretive and new. Her scent seemed alluring, her easy smile entranced him, so surely, he thought, he could breathe her like life itself.

“It’s done now, you have the day to recover.”

It was cruel, he thought, to desire her when he’d barely earned her trust. He only just started to see glimmers of the light Jace had written about. Had it not been for the prolonged and hollow description of her appearance, he would’ve thought the boy had half fallen for her. Now, he understood why the words felt the way they did, appearance or otherwise.

“You and Jace were close?”

He regretted it the moment he asked. He saw the way she transformed at the mention of his name, seeing her reaction to it, like someone had stabbed her through the heart.  She dropped the spoon for her food and rationalized the question. He wished he could move from it all together.

“He looked out for me, more than he did for the others.” Her voice lacked any emotion, like she was keeping a secret about them from him. Had he known either of them else, he would’ve thought he stumbled onto an affair.

“That was nice of him. He wrote fondly about you.” He held the goblet of watered wine to his lips as she gazed off to the side. He wanted to go back to the people they were before.

“He liked to care. One of the better traits he had. He’d get angry like you. That was a worse one.” He heard the hint of a smile, but her words hit him hard now. Jace was argumentative, never really taking to him like a father, more so a ward, more so an uncle, he supposed.

They had a shared grief over him over Viserys, and even as she seemed to close herself off from the emotion it caused, she cared enough to allow for the understanding. He knew he had taken to all the children in her own strange way, but even now, it seemed the first time he shared his grief rather than felt it alone. It had torn at Rhaenyra, he recalled, a mention of what they had lost would take her away from court, a sentiment he couldn’t share with her.

“I should go check on the dragons, I’m sure they’ll be glad for the break.” She stood up, distant and monotone, excusing herself without his response, walking away with the warmth. She left him cold and almost desperate.

He’d heard from the shepherds that she’d whistle to call Caraxes. In another light, it seemed as though they were singing through the whistling. She wouldn’t miss a day without feeding her dragon,  flying or not, dragons bend easier when fed.

Perhaps they understood each other better than he could imagine, they’d understand being hungry, he supposed, from her eating habits, it was a way to show love, to bond with such a new relationship.  The first rider of an eighty year old dragon was a big feat for such a small girl.

The rest of their day was spent apart until dinner. She had gone to Jonquil’s pool, a famously dangerous place for Targaryens, stopping by to announce it and then disappearing altogether for the evening period.

He lost himself in the letters, distracting himself from what now seemed like his worst impulse, responding to Lords who wished for protections, Lords who needed aid and the Lords at court who seemed to worry about the Queen, succession and all the things he was less glad to be away from now.

He was mapping out the route for them to take in the following days, when he heard the mouse of her presence. He called out twice to no response before their door eased open, an unkempt head of hair meeting him before her eyes did, a glimmer of light meeting him after the daunting day.

“How are you?”

 He asked, looking at the blue evening dress coming into view, hugging her frame as she made her way to him. He preferred her in red.

“It was fine, no murder attempt.” The ease from before still had yet to take back her voice, a trend he hoped wouldn’t continue in his presence. One he hoped he’d gain

“I should’ve gone next week, with the full moon.” In passing, she’d mention something akin to a superstition she held. He didn’t think she prayed to the seven, judging from the Septa’s reaction to her she didn’t intend to but some small beliefs held in her.

“You pray to moon gods?” He asked passively, drawing out a trivial conversation , just to stay with her for a while, before they went back to the day to day.

“A little faith is always good. I suppose Targaryens would believe in themselves.”  He looked up at her, comprehending the jab before returning to the map across his table.

“Then you should try it, unlike other Gods, your dragon will never disappoint you.” Unlike her Dragonstone bred peers, she never clung to the idea that she was a Targaryen. Unlike Addam and Alyn, she never claimed to be Laenor’s spawn or a Velayron.

She was simply a dragon rider, almost insulting the legacy of Targaryens with the refusal. It seemed more interesting than ill meaning, to him at least. What girl did not want to be a Targaryen?

“I wouldn’t prefer it, you’ve grown around men for too long, it makes the faith less believable.” 

He smiled down at his map, trying his best to avoid her quick remark towards his suggestion. He decided to deflect from it all together.

“You should sleep better tonight, or you can have the maester make you a sleeping drought.”

He could feel his heart rise at the mention. She still hadn’t told him about her lack of sleep. Her history at Maidenpool with Milk of The Poppy or the sleeping drought wasn’t more than a secret understanding he could never uncover.  Thankfully, she seemed unconcerned with the suggestion.

“I slept a while last night, I’m sure it’ll be better tonight.”

He recalled the dark bags under her eyes, the redden gaze that met his, the dirt from the day caked on her until this morning. He wondered if she would lie to him so carelessly, he glanced at her to see a look of understanding on her face. Perhaps she had forgotten, like with the Poppy milk.

“You didn’t look well rested?” He quirked an eyebrow to her, wanting to absolve her of the misunderstanding.

“I had a bad dream. I got up and couldn’t go back to sleep, hence the wine and tired look.” She fumbled with her hands, avoiding his look with the newly revealed information.

“The wine isn’t acceptable, I’d prefer the drought.” He sounded like his father the first time he visited Dragonstone after his wedding to his first Lady wife.

“ It wasn’t to sleep, I just..” She stopped herself, drawing his full attention to her now, this was a new conversation they had gone too.

“I just wanted to get rid of the thought of the dream, to lose some control over hearing the same thing repeatedly.”

She sounded like him when he justified his drinking to his grandmother after the wedding. He should wait, he knew he shouldn’t push to far with her, he’d get less understanding if she closed off entirely. The thought that she could be opening up was too tempting to ignore through, the hope she’d put the trust in him was pulling him like a tide to follow the conversation.

“What was the dream?”

 He sat down looking up at her, she seemed delicate with the candlelight around her. She was  water in his hands, he was scared to let go of her, for the first time they were as close has they had been because of her.

“ Nothing truly, I’m just a stupid girl who can’t quiet the stupid questions in her mind.”

Corlys had guessed that she was no older than ten and six, according to his ship mistress, she was a child on Driftmark with the others. He still had never heard her call herself a girl, now, she never seemed to capture the word well. He guessed she’d been an adult for longer that she was a child on the streets Addam claimed she resided on.

“What could be so bad?” It was half a plea to her, half a question for himself, what had plagued her thoughts so bad she’d need to escape her mind.

“I’ve been like the people we aid longer than I’ve been a dragon rider.” His shock from her answering the question couldn’t be concealed but she barely looked at him as she confessed her plight, he could only listen.

“They drop like flies, while I’m hunting the largest dragon alive, it doesn’t seem likely that I survive it.”

Her confession felt like someone had slapped him, she was almost mouse like now, quite in the space she held, dimming her own light, allowing the darkness to shine.

“I promised you..” He began forming some response, some sense of understanding in what she said, a comfort he’d given himself at the thought of her in danger, in that situation.

“ Yesterday, men clung to me begging for their lives to end, fathers and sons alike. Bigger and stronger than I’ve ever been. Terrified and dying because of the only thing that makes them not like me.”

Her voice was distorted with the anger and sadness that possessed her, he couldn’t remember the last time someone had been so open with him.

He’d give her whatever he could. He was never more sure that she’d never fight Vhagar.

“It was too much , all at once but I’m fine now.” He hadn’t hidden his demeanor, the divisive anger that guided his action. He had just wed at her age, she had a lifetime ahead of her, like Jace and Luke, like Viserys. She had children, chaos and adventures , written in her spirit.

It seemed a cruelty for her to doubt it.

“I meant my promise to you, Netty.”

He stared at her, catching her fallen gaze before it met his, staring past her, if she could trust him, even for a moment now, all would be well worth it.

“You’ll have a lifetime for yourself, I swear on Caraxes.”

 She chuckled at the implication, seeing it as no more than a false comfort to pull her out of her doubt. She probably had a lifetime of promises from men just like him. He had never meant anything more though, he could feel the promise seal into his very bones.

“It is all well now, Daemon. No need to drag Caraxes into nightmares.” She was joking, he felt as though he’d gotten too serious now. She’d retract the new position she held him in if he pushed anymore, he’d settle for her contentment now. His plan seemed to settle more together than ever now.

“Very well.” He stated as she sat down next to him. He informed her about their mission to Pink Maiden, then to track where he might go from there to try to ambush him. She was quiet for the rest of the conversation.

They ate in his room that night, a simple meal of Acorn soup , with small conversation about packing between them. He felt almost mad looking for a difference in her demeanor with him, waiting to see if the confession had changed anything between them, with a resounding no by the end. She was content with it between them and moving along as though it hadn’t existed at all. He felt trapped in a desert with no water around him as they finished.

She wished him a good night and closed the door behind her shortly after the meal. He was a deranged man he thought. The thoughts left him half mad, devouring him until he had to put it away.

Tomorrow would be a new day for him hopefully.

[ride-thedragon]

You know how Kelly Kapoor said, "I talk a lot, so I've just learned to tune myself out." That's me. That's who I am. Don't quote myself back to me. I will not remember a plot detail unless I read my writing back. I shock myself sometimes because it's like, "Yes, that's exactly how I thought it would go." And it'll be a fan fiction I wrote two weeks ago. What I'm trying to get at is that I'll be posting fanfiction soon and an update to one after

Update: I posted one and kinda updated the other, but a real update is pending soon. One the world has never seen on any platform.

[jtl-fics]

Fluent Freshman - Part 34

PREV

Sometimes when you have bad anxiety it’s hard to judge how scary something actually is.

FF breaks into a cold sweat practicing his order in line at fast food places. FF shakes with nerves at the prospect of asking about where a certain building was on campus from a stranger. FF’s stomach twisted into knots when he thought Andrew was leading him to his death in the basement of Eden’s. It’s hard when everything in life feels like the scariest and most impossible thing you’ll ever have to deal with.

Still, FF had felt like he had been getting braver. Had felt like he might be getting just a bit better in regard to confronting his fears.

He’d been getting better.

He managed to laugh with the cashier when he ordered combo number two-teen instead of twelve before break. He had asked for directions to the nearest bathroom from a stranger when one of Kevin’s shakes had gone straight through him. He had even gone down into the basement with Andrew and realized he had friends.

Looking at Daniel makes that progress feel far away.

His stepbrother’s name tastes like ash in his mouth.

“I just want to talk.” Daniel says raising his hands up placatingly. “We’re family.” Daniel says pointing between himself and FF.

“We’re not family and I don’t want to talk.” FF says because they aren’t, and he doesn’t. Daniel is one of the top two people in the entire world he doesn’t want to talk to ever.

“There’s your answer, now leave.” Captain Neil dismisses Daniel who still has his hands up.

“C’mon talk to me. We’re brothers John.” Daniel says and FF feels his entire body tense at the name.

“John?” Nicky looks back at him in confusion.

“That’s not my name.” FF hears himself say more than he consciously says it. “It was never my name.” he swallows tart cherry flavored bile. It really was one of Kevin’s better smoothies and FF would feel terrible if he puked it up. The world sways as he tries to breathe through the nausea of hearing Daniel call him by that name again.

He changed it the second he turned 18 last March. He’d signed his contract as a Smith not a Stanton. He would never let someone take it from him again even if hearing his first name still made his heart ache.

He feels Kevin’s hand on the center of his back steadying him and maybe he is swaying and not the world. Kevin takes the smoothie out of his hands before he can drop it.

Nicky must see something too because his friend abandoned the front line to steady him with an arm around his shoulders. He thinks he sees Captain Neil take his place.

“Of course, it was! It’s the name our dad gave you.” Daniel says and FF’s stomach cramps at the thought. “He’s still hurt that you changed it and that you haven’t reached out. Do you know what it’s like to find out your brother was hurt during a press conference?” Daniel asks and FF can see how he’s going for the sympathy card here looking at the others.

It’s his usual tactic.

“Fred is not my dad. You, Lucas, and Greg are not my brothers.” FF can feel a headache coming on along with the stomach cramps. He wishes that Aaron had let him restock on Pepto because the tart cherries maybe aren’t the best thing at the moment.

Daniel has always been the worst part of his stepfamily.

Greg had been a physical bully. Lucas had always followed Greg’s lead. Fred hadn’t looked at him more than he had to from the very moment that FF had made it clear that he did not appreciate the 13th birthday gift of ‘a new name’ and still intended to spend time with his grandmother. His mother had been distant for ages, but he always felt her watchful gaze making sure he did not step out of line, did not give her an excuse to put him back on the medication that left him as a zombie.

Daniel was different.

Daniel wanted things to be a certain way, but he wasn’t like his father or his brothers. He didn’t force FF to change, didn’t bully him into accepting a name that he had never wanted, and never let on to the fact that he was watching.

They’re the same age. Daniel had come to him like he could be a friend something he had been in short supply of after his two years of being little more than a medicated zombie. Daniel had gotten close; Daniel had pretended to actually care and acted like he only wanted what was best for FF.

It might have even worked.

If FF wasn’t such a loyal grandson.

Daniel had tried to poison the well between him and Gran, had tried to tell him that he needed to leave her behind and be happy in his new family.

FF had been stalwart.

Then Daniel had gone after his Gran and FF dislocated his thumb punching him.

“You don’t touch her.” He had said seeing Daniel for what he was for the first time. He saw a monster where a friend used to be but he had told this monster all of his secrets, all of his weaknesses, and had given him ammo.

Daniel came off as sweet and caring. He was athletic. He was a good friend. He was smart.

He was just also evil and made sure that FF suffered every single day they lived together because FF saw that evil in him when no one else had.

More than anything FF had been happy to bid him farewell when he’d signed his legal name on the contract to Palmetto State University’s Exy Team.

Just the sight of him brought up bad memories.

“No brother here to talk to it seems.” Captain Neil says.

“Bye Daniel. Kevin and Aaron, you two can walk back.” Andrew says and FF feels hands on his shoulders and found himself being steered towards the Maserati and FF stiffened instantly at the sight of it. “Smith?” Andrew questions.

FF had been doing better.

Screaming and pointing.

A hand reaching.

A sharp swerve.

Blood in his eyes and smoke in his lungs.

“I’m scared.”

Tiny hands in his.

“It’s going to be okay; I promise.”

Waking up to his grandma holding his hand in the hospital.

He’d been getting better.

“See, you’re still upset over what that guy did. Why are you clinging to the last name of the guy that did this to you?” Daniel asks from behind him, “He almost killed mom and you. He did kill our two-“

“Stop.” FF hears himself say and he turns to Daniel. “Jay and Robin weren’t your little siblings, they were mine. I’m not your family, I never was and never will be. I’m not scared of cars anymore.” A lie mixed in with multiple truths.

Maybe it’ll make Daniel happy to see that FF still knows how to play all of his favorite games.

He turns to Andrew who is staring at him patiently, “I’m not feeling well.” He says.

Andrew looks at him and FF figures he probably looks as shitty as he feels, “Someone will have to sit on someone’s lap.” He says.

“Smithy, sit on my lap.” Nicky says and FF can’t help the way he leans into Nicky’s warmth as his friend guides him to around the car keeping himself between Daniel and FF. Nicky gets in first and FF doesn’t hesitate to crawl onto Nicky’s lap.

He thinks he hears Daniel start to say something, but Andrew slams the door shut on his way to the driver’s side. Andrew doesn’t move from the passenger door, blocking it with his body.

Nicky guides his face into his neck, “Can we buckle-up?” he asks, and Nicky almost dislodges him he’s so quick in his compliance.

“Of course.” Nicky says and there’s the feeling of the seatbelt and the click of it locking into place. Nicky’s hand was in his hair.

FF doesn’t know if it just took a while or if he was just drifting in his thoughts as Nicky stroked his hair. “Are you scared of cars?” he asks voice quiet.

“Yes.” FF answers because it’s Nicky. “I was in an accident.” He explains just as quietly as Nicky had asked.

“Siblings?” Nicky asks voice choking with emotion.

FF pressed his face into Nicky’s neck further and hopes the pressure will stop his eyes from watering. “Yes.” He says. “Younger.” He manages.

Nicky holds him tighter, and FF is glad Nicky doesn’t tell him it’ll be okay.

FF doesn’t know if he drifts or if the others are listening to Daniel’s poison and falling for it. He’s glad that at least he’ll still have Nicky.

Eventually, the doors open, and he thinks he hears Daniel’s voice, but all three doors shut quickly.

“What an asshole.” Aaron spits.

“That doesn’t necessarily disqualify him.” Kevin says.

“We’re not talking about this right now.” Captain Neil hisses, “Smith, we’re going to get you to Abby’s, okay?” he says but FF doesn’t really have the energy to do anything more than a thumbs up.

The car ride is smoother than usual. It’s also quiet other than Kevin reminding him that he’d sleep better if they’d stop by the store to grab more smoothie supplies, Aaron smacking him upside the head, and Andrew threatening to kill both of them if they got tart cherry and avocado smoothie on his interior.

By the time they’re at Abby’s FF is almost asleep in Nicky’s lap but he forces himself to wake up and climb out of the car when Andrew opens the passenger door for them. He finds it hard to look at any of them at the moment.

“Sorry about all of that.” He manages looking down at his feet. “You shouldn’t have had to see that.”

“Smith,” Captain Neil’s hand rests on his shoulder and FF startles slightly as he looks down into the blue eyes of his Captain, “if we got what we deserved, we wouldn’t be Foxes.” He says as FF takes a long and steadying breath. “You have a past and that’s what brought you here.” Captain Neil squeezes his shoulder.

“You’re one of us and we take care of our own.” Andrew says before pushing him towards Nicky, “Get him to bed.” He says.

Nicky didn’t need to be told twice. Abby and Grandma Smith were out checking out a restaurant after the game, the two having become good friends during their stay. FF was glad his Gran was somewhere else and didn’t have to see him like this. FF was even more glad for his friend’s help as Nicky dragged him through his bedtime routine. “Don’t expect this when we’re roomies.” Nicky teased as he helped FF change.

It was hardly five minutes between pulling up and Nicky tucking FF into bed. “We’ll be by tomorrow, call me if that asshole shows up, okay?” Nicky says pointing at him.

FF, still to tired, just gave a thumbs up and closed his eyes.

He just hoped he drank enough of the smoothie that he wouldn’t dream.

***

Nicky left Abby’s house and made sure to lock the door behind him after he had checked a grand total of three times that FF was asleep in the guest bedroom, he’d taken up residency in.

Siblings.

Nicky’s heart ached.

He found the rest of the Monsters loitering outside by the Maserati with Aaron pacing, Kevin wiping his tongue on his shirt, as Andrew and Neil sat on the hood sharing a cigarette.

“He’s asleep?” Andrew asks.

“Out like a light.” He looks over to Kevin, “What’s going on with Kevin?” he asks.

“He tried some of what was left of the Smoothie he gave to Smith.” Neil says with an amused laugh. “He didn’t like it.” He says.

“I’ve been aiming for nutritional, not delicious.” Kevin argues, “Smiths hasn’t complained.”

“Smith is a little too nice for his own good.” Aaron rolls his eyes, “Which is why we’re not letting that asshole get his way!” Aaron adds.

“Being an asshole doesn’t stop you from being good at Exy.” Kevin crosses his arms.

“Obviously!” Aaron returns gesturing at Neil, Andrew, and Kevin.

“I resent that.” Kevin and Neil said at the same time as Andrew just shrugged.

“Hey, what the hell are you guys talking about?” Nicky asks hating feeling locked out of the loop. He didn’t regret climbing in the car to hold FF but there’d been too much time between when he’d sat in the Maserati to when the rest had joined for there to have not been a conversation.

“You didn’t hear?” Aaron asks incredulous.

“I was busy.” Nicky hisses and at least Aaron has the good grace to blush.

“Daniel Stanton wants to try out for the open spot on our roster since Lisa decided to stay home.” Neil says through gritted teeth, “The University already approved that he can try out.” He adds.

“That asshole wants to be a Fox.” Andrew says.

There were many noise disturbance calls from the usually quiet neighborhood that night as Nicky Hemmick let his opinion on this be known to the world.

MASTERPOST FOR ALL PARTS OF FLUENT FRESHMAN AU

NEXT

[1moreff-creator]

FF.

The fork was in the clock. The fork. Was in the fucking

Clock.

It was right in front of us for a fucking year

I KNOW! I'm kinda mad it's the one damn theory I didn't bring up in the LGI video, because I did see a few posts at the time speculating this particular twist, I just thought it was too unlikely. I did get the connection to Xander, but assumed it was calling Xander "a broken clock that's right twice a day" considering the context of the MV. So close.

What I'm getting from this is that I should suspect Eden more. Not only is she the CH2 culprit and the one who ripped out Xander's eye, she's also the MM and the CH1 culprit somehow! This means Min wasn't executed, so she'll come back, trust (/j).

[chaifootsteps]

Okay, so jumping here. I've been thinking and imo the 'Lilith' is Eve in disguise and Rosie is Lilith theory still holds true. This is brought to you by me going "We know Viv is a shitty writer, so from the writing already available, where would she lead the plot NOW?" and by my tinfoil hat.

We know Lilith is somewhere in Heaven (maybe even in Eden itself). Unless she pulls the weirdest explanation out of her hat for why she took a small vacay for 7 YEARS abandoning her daughter (with whom we know she had a good relationship with, IF that part of the pilot is still true. She never stopped to explain what parts of the pilot are still true, ffs.), Lilith would never. I don't even think she:

1) Would be allowed in Heaven, even by making a deal with Adam.

2) Adam's pride is too big for him to simply accept such a deal and Lilith's pride would be equally big imo. This interaction would never work.

So that has to be Eve. And Adam *has* to know that that's Eve. Or he doesn't, idc. Point is, it's far more likely by normal logic for that to be Eve. By Viv logic...? Not so much.

Which brings me to my second point! Rosie and her character. I did kind of feel the Mary Poppins vibes a bit, ngl. Horrible redesign, but oh well... The way she reacted to Charlie, her going "yeah, singing totes works here, in the *cannibal* colony!" and her giving that love advice + "we all did things we aren't proud of" + the fact that she's a "hellborn"? She has to be Lilith, sorry. Also also I feel like cannibalism isn't even such a big deal??? In the show I mean. It's literally so cartoonish it simply becomes a hellish quirk for some inhabitants. Sure Alastor, you're a cannibal, boo-hoo. I don't feel threatened by any of them, is what I mean. And even irl, I feel like yeah, it's gross and most likely getting yourself sick, but what makes cannibalism truly bad is the act of *killing* that person, ye know? In Viv's Hell that can't even happen, they'll just respawn, no problem.

And my final reason issss: Viv just ran so fast past 4 seasons worth of plot that imo she backed herself info a corner. The only things keeping the plot going are...Alastor's deal and who he made it with. It's probably Roo or Eve (or Lilith if Rosie is just Rosie), but I have a feeling like it can't be so simple with her, she has to pull a super complicated sayan explanation to make it seem like she just had us all guessing the wrong things, she's suuuuch a literary genius. And she loves musicals a bit too much (Adam is literally just Beetlejuice minus everything interesting about him), so pulling a Sweeney Todd sounds very in-character for her.

Now, speaking of Alastor....I haaaate how she destroyed his character with all the swearing and the petty edgelord-ness. She's not smart enough to write a smart chaotic presence/maybe potential villain. There, I said it. She should open a psychology book or some shit (she should've hired psychologists to coach her about writing about topics such as SA, addiction, sadistic/criminal personalities and so on, but we know she never put such thought into her work). Or at least a sensibility reader for her plot, smh. The overall tone of the show is jumping around faster than a bunny on electrolytes.

And as always, Alastor and Rosie have more chemistry than Charlie and Vaggie literally the "main" couple. They seem like a 30s married couple, tbh.

Also also super confused about Alastor's microphone and how she can hand it over to Charlie??? Why would he do that??? Are we supposed to understand he now cares about her? Handling his (presumably from the Adam fight) source of power to her just like that?? TWICE?!?

I understand his final lyrics are supposed to be "holy shit, I almost died for these people, what is wrong with me???" in a nutshell (+ that part about the contract), but we were never SHOWN how he became more attached to them??? We just have to believe him based on the talks with Rosie and Niffty respectively. What a joke. (Niffty got partially restored in my brain, at least).

-idk, Broadcast🎭 anon- (I know I DMed u, but yea)

Honestly? Even if this leak never comes true the way Viv planned it back then, I for one am having a great time speculating.