#hes fun... i know hes fun..... hes a banished prince with a sword and a six legged flying hyperintelligent dog

[emkini]

heyy I read towards the sun the other day bc I saw you mention it and it fucked. so ty!!!! if you feel like it, do you have other atla recs? 👀

Ohohoh do I

Notes:

I tend to be primarily a zuko-centric gen fic enjoyer in the atla fandom so that's what most of these are gonna be!

Pretty much every author on this list has a bunch of stellar works and I'd recommend checking out all of their ao3 profiles, but these are just some of my personal favorites!

I've been having a Rough Time™ lately, so most of my faves fall on the soft and squishy side– if you're looking for heavy angst I do not have much of it 😔

-----------

Salvage (complete) by @muffinlance is by the same author as Towards The Sun and a fandom classic at this point; I cannot recommend it enough. Summary: Mid-Season-One Zuko is held for ransom by Chief Hakoda. Ozai's replies to the Water Tribe's demands are A+ Parenting. Hakoda is… deeply concerned, for this son that isn't his, and who might be safer among enemies than with his own father.

The Fire Nation Yacht Club series (reads as complete) by @sword-and-stars gives me all the emotions. Summary: Sokka knows three (3) things: 1. The caldera is on fire. 2. Ozai’s really, really dead (and so is his daughter). 3. The only one having a worse day is probably Zuko. / Everyone has their breaking point. This is what happens after you’ve broken. In which healing is a process and also it kind of sucks.

For Hearth and Home (complete) is another classic fic by the same author (honestly just check out all of their work, it's all stellar) that I absolutely adore. Summary: There’s a child underneath Fire Lord Zuko’s desk. He doesn’t realize this until he sits down and tiny hands wrap themselves around his ankles, and Fire Lord Zuko definitely does not shriek and backpedal away at the unexpected touch. He definitely does do that but Gou, the single guard he’s agreed to let shadow him, is kind enough not to mention it.

Mountains and Badgermolehills (complete) by Glass_Onion is an incredibly fun and well-written romp of a read. Summary: After the Blue Spirit frees the Avatar from the Pohuai Stronghold, Admiral Zhao captures Prince Zuko under suspicion of treason. Isolated from his Uncle and his crew, Zuko has only one ally: the chatty prisoner one cell over.

The Art of Burning (incomplete, ongoing) by @hella1975 is superb- lots of angst, lots of emotions, and lots of memes. Summary (excerpt): In a warring land, the Water Tribe forgave the enemy in an act of defiance. For this, he was torn from them, and this time, his wounds won't heal so easily.

Embers (complete) by Vathara is another fandom classic– one I have not yet been able to finish because dear god is it long. like holy shit. Very dense and plot-heavy and an incredible read if you're a lover of worldbuilding and fantasy politics. Summary: Dragon's fire is not so easily extinguished; when Zuko rediscovers a lost firebending technique, shifting flames can shift the world...

where the stars do not take sides (complete) by WitchofEndor is a very sweet and interesting canon divergence fic, and of course as always I am a SUCKER for the fire siblings being close. Such a sucker. Summary: When Azula is nine, she becomes an only child. She hears the Fire Lord call for Zuko's life, and in the morning, her mother and brother are gone. Azula may be young, but she isn't naive. She knows what happened to them. Which makes it all the more surprising when Azula tracks the Avatar down and fights his group of peasant friends, only to find herself staring into an eerily familiar face.

Honor & Vengeance on the High Seas (complete) by @paramouradrift is a very fun read– I haven't finished it yet but if you love boats, pirate Zuko, and angry teenagers being gay and doing crime, I guarantee you'll have a good time. Summary: Zuko was banished, but instead of devoting his life to finding the Avatar to regain his honor he gave in to his spite and became a pirate against Ozai.

And the world, still so wild, called to me (I was lost, I’d been kept on my knees) (complete) by delightfullydiscordant– An Aang-centric fic that hurts my HEART Summary (excerpt): A study in grief and loss, in anger and hate.

a viper-lizard's tales (incomplete, ongoing) by Yumi_Take is really sweet and very fun; it has a simple but unique and interesting prose style that I really like. Summary: The desert sun burns and Zuko probably shouldn't touch the moving cloth, but he does anyway.

[meowmeowriley]

Hi MeowMeow Costume anon here sorry it’s taken a couple days for me to reply life got busy finding one’s honour is harder then I thought!

You want my autistic head canons for Zuko? Strap in for some unhinged rambling because I have ✨thoughts✨ this will be long

(CW: implied child abuse (Fuck Ozai))

Zuko likes music (Iroh mentiones he’s talented with the Tsungi horn) and his swords I also think he would have picked up dancing at some point with how he moved during dance of the dragons.

When he’s around people he trusts he emotes more with his face and masks less in general and I’d say if he felt safe enough he’d do more overt (for him) stimms like humming, minor rocking or tugging on his hair Iroh would be one of his safe people and eventually the gaang would be too

*I don’t think he’d have very obvious stimms in general being raised royal he’d be expected to act a certain way and hand flaps are not it. Also flaming 💩lord Ozai would have seen any aberrations as weakness and stamped that shit out fast

*I honestly think it could be one of the reasons the flaming 💩lord despises Zuko being inherently different would be a weakness in his eyes and reflect badly on him

I think he and May get along well because they’re both autistic and are a safe space for each other. she has trouble processing her emotions he has trouble controlling his they make good emotional counter balances

He cares so much about the people and animals around him even his enemies a strong sense of justice is a common sign of autism and speaking out of turn was the initial reason for his banishment.

He’s so socially awkward he doesn’t know how to talk with people instead of at them his entire pep talk to himself and subsequent introduction to the gaang when he tries to join them is peak “how do you do fellow kids” and his “that’s rough buddy” is as iconic as it is socially inept.

The guy totally hyper fixated on hunting the Avatar and when he could no longer find his purpose in it and realised he was wrong he did not cope

He has no tackt. none. and he takes things at face value and he hates lying his humour is also a little left leaning and he tries to relate to others and their experiences as a way of bonding.

While he’s not a prodigy fire bender like his sister he found ways around his limitations that helped accentuate his natural talents like his sword fighting (dancing would help with sword work) being incorporated into his bending (I don’t remember any other character bending with weapons).

He’d know a lot about tea from Iroh and I think he enjoyed working in the tea shop

Thank you for coming to my Ted talk!

I hope these make sense it’s kinda late now but this was fun to write thanks for reading my insane rambles :D

Also in response to the (non gendered) Prince! line you gave me so much surprise gender euphoria I cried 😭🫠🥹 sincerely thank you. I’m going with he/him pronouns atm but he/they is something I want to look into.

if you don’t mind me asking what are your pronouns?

I’ll probably send another ask in the next couple of days to annoy you with lol but in the meantime have a great day!

Sorry I took so long to get back to this, but damn I needed it today so I guess it's good I kept this in reserve. ❤

Holy shit, I can't unsee Zuko as autistic now. Like it's impossible. He's so perfectly coded to be on the spectrum. He's generally monotone, until he's not, and that's always when he's dealing with big emotions. He'd be a lip biter for sure.

Zuko doing dance as a stim 😍 the first time the Gaang sees him dancing when he thinks he's alone, they'd be so supportive, and have no idea what that would mean to him.

Fire lord Zuko infodumping about tea to some random person who tried to ask if he'd like them to make him some, as he heats the tea himself with his bending, and damn if that isn't the best tea that servant has ever had in their life.

Until next time my non gendered Prince Zuko! (Which will be in like, a few minutes, when I get to your other ask. Again sorry for the wait 😭 I'm bad at this)

[marveloustimestwo]

yandere prince peter parker with a maid reader.

Forgive me, I know next to nothing about how things work in this type of setting, so I might have gotten a few things wrong.

Warnings: Yandere themes

After Peter's parents, the King and Queen, died in a tragic accident, Peter was always known to be the next King given that he was their only child.

However, considering his young age at the time, it would be a while before he would actually rule. Until Peter became old enough, his parents' most trusted advisor, Lord Stark, ruled in his stead.

Like any child of noble birth, Peter was subjected to learning all there was to be a king. He learned politics, strategy, sword fighting, and a plethora of other things, all to take over the title of King when he turned eighteen.

Growing up and taking on all these pressures, Peter wanted an escape. He knew how to act around people, especially highborn. He was trained to. But he still wanted someone his age to have fun with, and many of the children of the visiting lords and dukes acted too formal.

It's when Peter met you that he found what he needed.

Like your parents before you and their parents before them, you worked as a maid in Prince Peter's castle.

Given how long your family had worked for the Parkers, you were trusted enough to work closely with the Prince and future King.

Growing up, you were taught how to do his bedsheets, dust his room, clean his clothes, and do anything else he needed to keep everything nice and up to his standards.

At the age of ten, when you started to actually work closely with him, it was only natural that Peter would latch onto the only person his age that was consistently around him.

You had tried to act respectful and formal. You were taught ever since you were born that you were of lower standing, so you needed to be on your best behavior. You knew that doing any less could carry a severe punishment with many dukes and lords.

Except that Peter wasn't much like the dukes and lords you had heard about.

Both of you were very young, and you soon became used to Peter asking you to play with him and distracting you from your duties.

Even when you became older, you likely wouldn't have questioned Peter's tendencies for two reasons.

One, you likely became used to his clinginess, obsessive, and sometimes stalkerish tendencies. They were normal to you now.

And even if you came to realize how creepy he could be, it wasn't like you could reject his advances. While Peter may not be the most dangerous yandere to have (at least not to you), he was still the Prince and soon to be King.

You were very aware that he could ruin your life easily. If you made him upset, a multitude of things could happen to you or your family.

Your family could be fired and banished, or worse, killed, and for what? Just because you couldn't cope with how overbearing Peter was?

You knew it wasn't the worst outcome your life could have.

Once Peter became King, he almost immediately asked you to become his Queen. He didn't care that you were of lower standing. He was deeply in love (i.e. obsessed) with you, and anyone who objected to this would quickly go missing if they kept hounding him about it.

Sure, Peter could be very clingy and protective, and he could be very jealous, but at least he didn't hurt you like many lords did to their wives.

Maybe you could cope if it meant you and your family were safe. At least you had plenty of food and beautiful clothes now.

[dnickels]

I was listening to a very good podcast and it come me thinking about Henry V and Endeavour-- obviously Russ (may I call you Russ, Mr. Lewis?) is having a little fun with Roger Allam's wonderful performance as Falstaff, but what does it mean, to position Morse as Hal in their definitive rupture? To draw that immediate and direct comparison (I know thee not, old man)? Thursday is a killer (a murderer, if the semantics are important) and has a number of other flaws we've known since the first episode, but is he Falstaff? Thursday's not a drunk. He's not a thief. He's flirted with prioritizing his own comfort and personal wealth over his duty, but he's not a coward. A bully, maybe, on occasion, but a bully in someone else's service and operating under an ideology of 'preserving social order', which doesn't make much difference to whoever he's beating up today but its relevant for literary critique.

So when Morse rejects Thursday, what is he meant to be rejecting here? He's hardly a Prince Hal himself, outside of his problem drinking. And Morse is undeniably a moral actor and scrupulously so, but Morse of his later years is hardly a white-horse-riding rousing-speech "the mirror of all Christian kings". I could see an argument for Morse as Harry in a negative reading of Henry V, where there are questions about the justification of his war and the single-mindedness with which he pursues it, or Morse deluding himself into thinking he's ever going to win his long, endless siege at Harfleur. He did spend his thirties desperately trying to die leading various forlorn hopes, and perhaps no longer knows what to do with himself.

But looking at the denunciation in the pub compared to Hal's dismissal (and banishment!) of Falstaff more literally, there's a thread to pull apart: the prince is putting away childish things to become a man, to finally clean his act up and take up the mantle of duty he's spent the play dodging. It's ludicrous to say Morse has been thus far neglecting his duties, but here I think we see the apotheosis of the cranky old man: rejecting Thursday, no longer looking the other way on his little (and big) peccadilloes, means closing his heart to everything the Thursdays plural-- Fred, Win, Joan, and Ringo-- brought back into his life after his breakdowns and directionless drifting. He's going to take up the sword. Hal ascends to Harry, but Morse seals his own fate. He'll make Inspector, but at what cost? If he starts to believe that Fred was his Falstaff, leading him astray, he'll lose that fragile ability to trust, to be open, to make a connection that lasts.

What infinite heart’s ease Must kings neglect that private men enjoy?

Long story short: Watch My Show

[dnbcoded]

Studio Ghibli princess Mononoke dnb? And ctechno as Sam and cdream as ashitaka

The Boar Prince is swift and precise.

Dream doesn’t even think about taking his dagger out and blocking the attack from his left, he just does. 

This is not the first time Dream has seen him fight, nor the first time he’s been on the other end of his restlessness energy, so he’s just familiar enough to match him well. He feels his smile grow behind his own mask, a little treat he can allow himself to concentrate on not falling under the God’s prowess. 

He isn’t quite a God, though: Dream is not delusional, he holds no chance against a proper God, and he knows they exist, and they live inside the very forest he’s taken temporary residence in. He’s even seen them, sometimes, and he knows the stories from before he was banished. The Forest God had taken pity on a small orphan, and blessed him with understanding of the Hogs, and that was how the Boar Prince or Hog God was born. Still, in terms of abilities, they’re quite close. Dream loses only half of their matches, after all.

He, however, knows this isn’t as fun to his sparring partner as it is to Dream. 

“Give up,” the Prince growls, grabbing his sword fiercely and issuing three hits with enough strength and swiftness that Dream struggles to match. His red eyes 

Dream feels pathetic about how he swoons internally. He didn’t plan on developing a (small, minute) crush on the man that’s hellbent on killing him for daring to enter the forest, but he’s terribly weak for competent, pretty men, and the Prince is apparently just interesting enough to catch the attention of Dream’s heart. Not that he will ever know. Not that Dream wants to tell him. 

“Aw, so mean.” Dream whines, too sincere for their very violent match. He doesn’t want to allow the seriousness of the situation to seep into his bones, all too conscious of the horrid, blue rash on his left hand that promises actual murder. He doesn’t want to hurt the Prince back, he just wants to rest and maybe have a chat with the Forest God, see if he can clean him of the horrid curse put upon him. 

The Hog God replies with more force, as expected, and Dream can hold his own in sparring, he can, except that today his left hand is bothering him terribly and he hasn't managed to sleep well in the tree branches he’s taken to call home, and he’s just—off his game. He tries to deflect a hit straight to his core, but his wrist fails, a true hit to his side knocking his mask out. He slips and falls on his back just as the Prince seizes a hit, traps him under his dagger.

Now, when Dream would win, he’d leave a window for the Prince to escape and lick his wounds, never attacking him once he was done. 

When Dream felt himself losing, he’d run away, too aware of the bloodthirsty nature of the prince. About how he has been heard to chant no mercy when in war. He didn’t trust the feeling of misplaced warmth would hold his dagger down as it would Dream’s. Like this, his life is on the line. He can’t even appreciate the warm wind against his uncovered face. 

“Dumb waste of a warrior,” the God mutters quietly, condescension dripping from his words. Dream feels his stomach clench and he hates himself for it. “So much strength, and for nothing.” 

The blade shines against the line of his throat. They’re both breathing heavily, affected by the fight. The shine of sweat in the Prince’s throat is enticing. 

Dream has never been the smartest about ensuring his own survival. 

“I got to fight you,” he mumbles, staring straight into the boar mask. The other man’s eyes are blood-red, dangerous. “That’s enough of an honor.” 

This, for some reason, enrages him. He pulls the dagger closer. 

“That’s so lame, dumb human. Why are you simping so hard?” He snarls, the blade pressing against his Adam’s apple and drawing the smallest drop of blood. “I have half a mind of cutting your throat; that will shut you up.”

The midday light frames the Prince’s hair in a way that almost creates a halo. Maybe Dream is all too aware of his humanity, but like this, he could be convinced he’s truly a God, luring him to another place of existence. The Goddess of Death wouldn’t look this enticing even as he’s near the entrance of the Underworld. 

If he’s about to die, he might as well speak his last truth. “You’re beautiful.”

The words make the man stumble back, shock coloring the silver of face he can see. His eyes widen, truly taken aback. Dream’s survival skills finally appear, and in a second he’s dragged himself away from the man and holding his weapon again, ready to spar for his own life again. 

However, the second he blinks, the man is gone. In his absence, he can finally ask himself if he truly saw the Hog God blush, or if his mind is finally making him see things that aren’t there. 

[toastess-with-the-mostess]

Let's Rewind! Toast Watches Voltron: Defender of The Universe (1984)

Season 1, Episode 39: The Captive Comet Season 1, Episode 40: The Little Prince

Episode 39: The Captive Comet OH BOY IS THIS THE EPISODE I THINK IT IS, THIS IS GONNA BE FUN

Opening with Haggar dishing out some lore, yes please universe started with a big bang and that apparently created a comet that acted like a black hole that at some point Voltron banished to a far corner of the universe inch resting

this was a fairy tale for drule children? i wonder how that story would've gone

ROMELLE WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN IVE MISSED YOU SO MUCH

"take it easy zarkon, eaaaasy" Haggar smokes weed for sure

she sacrificed a star fleet to be able to control the comet, another thing that feels so similar to a plot point in vf

did they just pull Romelle out of her cell just to let her freak out about the omega comet heading to arus 😭 what a petty move lotor

smart cookie, she found a way to contact the team before getting found out

"human on arus" so is arus like a colony of earths that slowly became its own governing body? Inch resting, they will still be aliens to me though

how does Coran know about the secret plan that happened before voltron split into lions if he only found out voltron after it was split into 5?? I'm gonna make this lore make sense by the end of the episode I swear

early voltron formation, shits about to get real

oh man they already got to the comet? also why did Allura look so young in that scene?

Keith: maybe your right Lance: I know im right! get his ass lance

the secret plan is to go 4 sector power setting?? oh this is so a trap YEAH ITS A TRAP THEY'RE GETTING SUCKED INTO THE COMET AND LOTOR USED ROMELLE TO GET VOLTRON TO DO IT WHAT THAT WAS SUCH A GOOD PLAN

oh man voltron is trapped trapped for realises this time, he can't even get out of the comet's gravity

ofc they contacted the alliance for help, and they'd rather let Voltron die instead of giving any help "ill see what i can do" literally i want the alliance broken

PRINCE BANDOR COMING IN TO HELP THE TEAM LETS GOO again i need to make this lore make sense and by the end of this show i fucking will

YES I WAS RIGHT THEY'RE DEAD THE TEAM ACTUALLY DIED OH MY GOD YESS THIS IS SUCH A GOOD EPISODE

and now an entire fleet of doom (lol) is heading towards Arus IS THAT THE END OF THE EPISODE HOLY SHIT

/episode end

Episode 40: The Little Prince TWO PART EPISODE LETS GO

recaap time since this was a weekly premiering show

literally starting off with an invasion of Arus now that Voltron is gone, this is wild especially because it's not even the season finale

"Coran made the situation worse by calling Prince Bandor for help" I HATE THE GARRISON I HATE THE GARRISON I HATE THE GARRISON BARK BITE SNARL

"little fella" bandor you're only taller than pidge by a head shut up LMAO

Coran actually doing work for once and helping out, he's becoming a dependable person slowly but surely

Lotor is yelling about this next robeast being the most powerful there is,, my guy you say this every time just pick one of them to back and stick with it

"sorry we shouldve helped you when you asked earlier but now we're fucked and we genuinely can't do anything now <3" FUCK THE GARRISON I HATE THE GARRISON RAAA

GOD IS THAT YOU?? WHAT IS THIS

THEY'RE LITERALLY MEETING GOD AND SHE'S GIVING THEM A CHOICE, GO TO HEAVEN OR KEEP LIVING AND GO TO HELL WHEN THEY REALLY DIE

what heroes, they chose to end up going to hell if it meant being able to save the universe IMMEDIATELY NOTING THIS DOWN FOR FUTURE ANGST EVEN THOUGH I ALREADY KNEW ABOUT IT

VOLTRON LITERALLY HAS THE POWER OF GOD AND ANIME ON THEIR SIDE LMAOO

back to romelle and now she's chained up, what did they do to you bestie

ITS BANDOR COMING FOR HIS SISTER HE'S SO REAL FOR THAT

there he is! voltron to save the day and destroy that robeast with blazing sword!

i'm sorry couldn't follow lotor to planet doom? what bullshit

IS GOD TALKING TO ROMELLE? OH MY GOD, SHE GOT SHOT INTO THE PIT OF SKULLS NOT PUSHED

THIS IS A THREE PARTER HELLO???

/episode end

[limpfisted]

THE SPECIFIC LORE OF THE BLADE OF THE FRONTIERS / RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WYLL AND FAERUN, WHAT YOUR MUSE WOULD HAVE HEARD OF WYLL.

by default, unless your muse just does not give a shit about the happenings in the last seven years, your muse would have probably heard of a heroic “arcane knight” who frequents the hells to fight “evil” devils and monsters—but also goes town to town, place to place, fighting bandits, cultists and monsters (and yes, whoever mizora asks him to, sometimes innocents he allows himself to be fooled into thinking are guilty), and proctectinf women, children, people of marginalized fantasy races (besides goblins and devils), refugees, and the poor. he is a proper folk hero, and people HAVE heard of him all over the coasts, and he is known for storm and sword powers, as well as his charisma in telling tales of the hells.

but more importantly, no one, save the people wyll knows personally and has interacted with before AND after his banishment, know wyll ravengard, banished prince, is THE BLADE OF THE FRONTIERS. wyll has not been back to baldur’s gate since his father exiled him, some of the nobles never leave it. the blade and the banished son are known as names and rumors/legends all over faerun, but very few people know the two are one and the same, and wyll will dodge the question if asked. wylls father has also not told anyone about the pact, save his closest confidants.

in general, wyll never asks for payment, but is happy to take it when others insist. he buys fine things sparsely with his money, packs light, has few personal keepsakes, buys books and gifts them to libraries or sells them to shops when he is done with them. he keeps a journal full of poetry, and a seperate full of his adventures, and a third a book of spells and “progress” with his powers, and the further “gifts” he recieves from mizora.

mostly, people seem to be wary of him even before the horns, so they don’t ask too many questions until the job is done and their lives are saved—and even then theyre always content with not tall tales, but true tales enlarged, and news of other towns, over free drink and board.

wyll does not travel with others, though he sometimes makes friends on “missions.” he does not check in on them often—but they always have a blade by their side for missions of their own—though very rarely leisure.

wyll is something of a “workaholic” when he’s not celebrating his victories. he always goes the extra mile, theres always showmanship and flourishes, he genuinely lives to fight for others and be recognized for his goodness. which is what he deserves tbh he just saved ur life!!

wyll takes his job helping ppl by fighting monsters and devils very seriously, and he knows the blade thing isnt THAT serious, but wyll loves to have fun and keep things light and cheery even when hes suffering. the blade makes him confident and proud, and it gives his ferocity and impulses for violence and vanity and gratification meaningful and fun, even when they scare him

a part of wylls thing is in many ways hes a generic adventurer in temperament. like, he is swishy and gay and poetic and he can talk his way out of things and he makes a good love interest and a better player character. like balduran, he seems “pure good,” the heart and hope and pride of the gate. he keeps it light and smiley and soft, but his heroes and his upbringing are full of lies, and so is he.

in general i believe wylls stats and proficiencies were much higher pre-tadpole, a level 15 at least. hes lost some points!

wyll has saved many ppl, and pre-game, he is actually quite known in the hells as well as a pesky demon-like human. untouchable bc of his powerful pact. but also? a huge asshole? who makes them so so mad? they think this dude must be insane fr. how is some human gonna come here asking for another devil without making a deal, the damn nerve!!!

[mallevsmaleficarum]

The never-ending well of Merlin fanfiction is definitely a testament to what could have been if the writers had gone for glory just a little harder. Tumblr user @terapsina put it well here.

Basically the central conceit of the show needed to be realized with Arthur finding out that Merlin had magic just a few seasons earlier and LI.TER.AL.LY any choices the writers had made from there on out would've made it a more compelling series!! The stakes needed to change to allow the characters to have any meaningful growth. Instead towards the end it felt repetitive, tragic but mostly not in a fun literary themed-way, and like a waste of some impressive acting talent!

I mean you can go anywhere to see what people thought of the last season and the finale (some people have impressively made peace with it)- for me its everything that wasn't done leading up to it that makes it impossible for me to watch.

I read a really compelling fanfiction the other day where Arthur disobeys Uther's orders regarding sorcery, is banished, and he and Merlin and some of the knights start traveling around Albion, inspiring loyalty in the people of the surrounding country and it becomes actually believable that Arthur is the Once and Future King. How fun that would've been! A couple seasons in, pulling the characters out of Camelot for an extended adventure with real room for character growth- the prince who was born with everything having to earn his way back. It reminds me of the first version of the story I had ever heard as a kid, where Arthur was raised basically as a peasant before he pulled the sword from the stone.

Honestly I don't know if I will know peace until there is like, a whole new (reboot or sequel) series that actually delivers on the promises the writers made, namely 1. we actually get to see the start of a golden age of magic and prosperity (either in anachronistic mediaeval times or in present day, I'm not that picky) and 2. even if it does end with Arthur dying again, like maybe some closure this time would be nice. Like this show was supposed to be family programming, why was the ending so fucking sad? With Merlin a sad old lonely man and every single character we loved dead? I would've taken the cheesiest. possible. ending. over that. (If you disagree that's fine- like I said, I don't even mind Arthur dying in the finale if it at least feels earned- like they actually accomplished anything to make the world a better place- which, frankly, it didn't.)

[kuumara]

Will the Wise Wednesday

Michael Jacob Duncan Wheelistovsky is walking through a dense wild forest, cutting his way through with his sword and knife.

He doesn't understand why he has to always go on these missions, he's a prince, not a knight! He should be laying on his couch, reading some random book, or playing chess with someone. He actually can't remember anything fun that royal people do. But anything would be better than getting scratched in the face by thorns, poking at him from all around, and his chest piece is getting more uncomfortable by the second.

Still, if he doesn't at least try to finish this mission, his dad might make him an outcast. Banish him from the manor. Take away everything. Treat him like just another peasant.

So, he's going to steal that damn heart from that damn wizard if it's the last thing he does.

Finally, the trees started getting less dense, transitioning into a field, and Mike could walk normally. He could see sunshine peeking through the trees on the sides of the field, for the first time today. It was evening already. For the first time today, realization hit him, as well.

He's basically going to his death. Sure, he's good in knight tournaments, and not because his opponents let him. They only listen to his dad, and if anything, his dad would tell them to do their best and hurt him, or something equally as bad. His dad really didn't like Mike; always either too lazy, or too hard-working for him. "You're not diplomatic enough, not social enough, blahblahblah."

Whatever. He can do this. This wizard can't be that powerful, no one even knows their name. Except if they've killed everyone that could've told others their name...

No, he's not going to do this.

He turns around, and starts walking back. He doesn't mind being a peasant. Maybe he could get a job as a gardener at the manor, even, and his dad couldn't avoid him any longer, and guilt would be too much for him, and he's take Mike back as his son-

The ground starts shaking. Earthquake? Maybe. Mike stands still. He's not sure what to do when there's an earthquake. Then- a straight-up wall rises from the ground, preventing him to go back into the forest.

"It's not an earthquake. It's me."

Mike screams and jumps to turn around. There's a wizard standing there. A real wizard, wooden staff and purple robes and potions strapped around his torso and waist and all.

Is this the wizard Mike's supposed to go steal from? Maybe, wizards don't really live around every corner. But he doesn't look menacing. He looks endearing, even, with his big eyes and weird haircut.

Mike figures he should say something, he's been staring for a long time.

"Uhhh- Yes, hi! I'm, uhm-" Woah, so prince-like.

"You're the prince, I know," the wizard says. His voice is unlike anything Mike's heard before. He doesn't like other people's voices that much, but this one he can appreciate.

"I also know you're here to steal my heart,"

Okay whoa- Not like that, Mike thinks.

"I know 'not like that'." The wizard says, noticeably bored. Mike feels nervous all of a sudden.

"Stop looking at my thoughts! Do y'know what privacy is?"

Wizard just blinks.

"Okay, well- Hi, my name's Michael Jacob- um... Dustin Wheelerstovsky, nice to meet you," Mike bows and shakes the wizards hand. The wizard snorts.

"Duncan, Wheelistovsky," he corrects him. Mike flushes, but wizard just looks at him. Perhaps with a little bit of endearment showing on his face. Mike flushes even more.

"Yeah, that..."

They stay in silence for a bit, the wizard still watching Mike. He feels himself getting warmer, and his heartbeat becoming quicker.

The wizard suddenly turns around, and starts walking away.

"What- are you just going to leave this wall here?!" Mike yells after him, confused. Without the wizard turning around, the wall starts crumbling and turns into a pile of dirt and stone. He's free to go.

But, Mike doesn't want to go anymore. He's intrigued by the wizard. The wizard is interesting, odd even. Mike likes that.

He stares at the wizard, who is walking to the other side of the field, where there's a much denser forest then the one on Mike's side.

The wizard, getting smaller and smaller by the minute, stops and turns around. He stares back at Mike. The prince tries to shrug it off and quickly looks to the sky, pretending to guess what time it is.

When Mike looks back (which is soon, because he wants to look at the wizard, which is stranger for him) the wizard is still looking at him. But then he waves at him, motioning him to follow him. Mike does that without a second thought.

He soon catches up to the wizard, who's watching him with his big eyes again. He starts walking through the forest, and Mike wonders how he'll get through it without a sword and is already saying something to offer help, but the second wizard comes in close proximity with the plants they evaporate. Literally turn into a cloud of steam.

The wizard turns to look at Mike with a big smile on his face. He sees that he's speechless.

"Liked that? I have a lot more tricks I can show you,"

Mike's gaping mouth turns into a grin.

"So you want me around?" He jokes.

"As long as you don't steal the heart, or start becoming annoying," the wizard says with a serious face, and starts walking through the now much less denser forest.

"But until then, I don't mind. Yeah, it gets pretty boring around here."

Mike is happy with that. He can't walk home through that forest, at night and expect to come out of it, period. So, he follows the wizard.

"At least tell me your name if you're taking me home with you, then," he teases. The wizard looks at him. Mike thinks he's said something wrong, or that there's some traumatic thing tied to his name that he just triggered and the wizard's gonna smite him with a fire ball now or something.

"Will," he says. "William. Byers." Okay, no fire balls today, then.

"William. Byers," Mike repeats. "Will," he repeats again.

Will snorts. "Yeah. Michael,"

"Weeliam,"

"Minychael,"

"Willer,"

"Moochael."

And so on and so on they went. Until Will stopped.

"We're here," he looked up at the tall trees. Really tall trees, way taller than Mike remembered them.

That shaking started again, and Mike's fight or flight instinct kicked in and he wanted to run out of the forest to protect himself from the earthquake.

Will noticed this and looked at him with that look again.

"Don't worry, just wait,"

So he didn't worry. And then he noticed that a tree was bending to them- bending until the tip of it was touching the ground. It didn't even snap in half, it was like it was made of clay or something.

Will stepped on one of the bigger branches. He offered out a hand to Mike, and he took it.

Will pulled Mike into a sitting position on the branch, and told him to hold on tight. They were still holding hands.

The tree started returning to it's regular position, with Mike and Will sitting on a branch. Mike was terrified. Aren't they going to fall off??

Will squeezed his hand, and he felt tingling over his body. Then, he felt as if he was a part of the branch, of the tree; and when they reached the top, they didn't slide off it. It was like they were branches themselves.

They were hanging upside-down, and they could see the whole forest. Mike saw the forest he came from initially, and the forest Will told him to follow into, seemingly stretching into infinity.

"You feeling alright?" Will asked from beside him. His robe was being pulled down, and he had to clutch onto it. Mike noticed jewelry on Will's hands- wooden and metal rings, appearing to be made out of scraps. A lot of bracelets from different materials, and a chain attachment connecting two rings and a bracelet. Mike's never seen a guy wearing jewelry before, but he decided he liked it.

Mike noticed he started staring at Will's fingers, and Will apparently did, too, since he was smiling shyly, eyebrows brought together.

"Yyyeah! Sorry," he cleared his throat. He was getting warm. "Is this how you sleep, huh? Like a bat?"

Will laughed. "No, here-" As soon as h said this he brushed over a weird carving on the tree swiftly, and the branch got pulled inside the tree. Mike screamed, he thought Will was about to kill them both.

They didn't die. Mike felt goosebumps, like when you dream and you fall from a tall building, and his vision went black for a second. A heartbeat went by, and instead of sitting on a tree he was laying on a pile of thick blankets and pillows.

Once his heartbeat calmed down, he looked around. Next to him was a laughing Will. A maniacally laughing Will.

"Hey!! You didn't give me a warning or anythi-"

"You screamed like a witch!"

Mike threw a pillow at him, but to no effect. He was still laughing his ass off. Mike rolled his eyes, despite the big smile on his face, and stood up from the- landing pad? Pool of pillows?

There was a storm outside, Mike could see it outside a roof window. Weird, he doesn't remember there being a storm at the forest.

"Yeah, I teleported us. Welcome to my cottage! If you tell anyone about it- it wouldn't matter, they wouldn't know the spell I used to get here, anyways." Will untangled himself from the blankets and stood up. Watched Mike for a bit more.

The cottage was great, Mike thought. Through the thick fog and rain outside he could make out the edge of a cliff, and a little garden outside. He could imagine Will gardening on it, sitting on the edge of the cliff and looking down at the forest, or the sea, or whatever was below this cliff cottage.

The inside walls were made of wood and occasionally some stone thrown in there, with a fireplace on one end of it, a solid staircase beside it and a kitchen on the other side. Rugs all over the floor, and a giant chandelier in the middle. Not on the ceiling, on the floor; made into an improvised table.

Everything was lit up warmly by the fireplace and some strange light particles floating around- it almost looked like glowing dust, or really small fireflies.

"This is a really nice house, Will," Mike said, sincerely.

"Oh- thank you! I wasn't really expecting anyone, y'know, so some stuff might be out of place, or whatever-" he eyed the floor chandelier. "-but It'll be alright for the night... You do want to stay the night right? Or did I mess up with the mind reading again-"

"No, no! I do, don't worry," Mike smiled at him lightly. Will smiled back, with a fond look in his eyes again. They just stood there and smiled at each other, like they've done so many times in just one day already.

"...and you don't have to mind read me, you can just ask," he said. Will laughed and put his potions and his robe on the chandelier, then went to the kitchen.

Mike remembered what led him here in the first place. The heart. Does Will even have it? He could try looking around. But what would he even be looking for? He doesn't even know what the damn thing looks like.

"It's just a regular heart," Will said from where he was boiling some water. Right, Mike has to watch his thoughts or Will might actually fire ball him. He hopes Will hasn't read any- incriminating thoughts he has about him.

"A cow's heart, really. I use it for potions, witchcraft stuff. Mainly strength potions," he explained.

"Cow's? There's a bunch of cows around where I live. Why did my dad send me here to get it?"

Will shrugged. "I don't really do long-distance mind reading. My sister, Eleanor does- she's living in Rome right now, though."

They fell into silence again. A comfortable one. It's weird, Mike's always found silence awkward, but with Will everything he dislikes turns into something he likes.

"So- he only sent me here to be in danger? Or to get rid of me for a few days? Why would he do that?"

Will looked at him across the room with a worried look in his eye. He walked towards Mike and sat next to him, on the pillows. Very close, Mike thought.

"Y'know- ugh... Sometimes just someone being your parent, it doesn't mean they're really your parent, yeah? My dad is also a jerk. I don't even wanna call him dad, because a dad would love his son, y'know? To me he's just some guy, really,"

They sat in silence for a little bit, thinking. Knees and elbows brushing, only their breathing and bubbling of water being heard.

"Well... what can I do to get him to like me, then?" Mike asked, sadly.

Will immediately replied, a little bit angry. "Nothing."

Mike looked at him.

"You- you shouldn't change. Not for him, or anyone. I don't know what you're like at the castle, or wherever you live- but a dad shouldn't send his son on a pointless mission just for fun, or for making him build character, or something. Especially not sending him to steal something from a wizard. You're lucky I found you, and not my neighbor. She would turn you into a frog, or a chicken. Just for fun,"

Mike laughs at that. The thought of becoming a frog has always been disturbing to him, actually, but not right now. With Will.

Mike showed Will how to play chess that night.

Why do you even have this if you can't play?

It's from my neighbor!

Will showed Mike how to summon spirits and talk to them, and they spent solid two hours talking to a random hiker that fell off the cliff Will's cottage is on.

In short, they had a great time. When Will showed Mike his room in the attic, Mike almost asked Will to stay with him. He didn't, but he's sure Will read his mind, since he could see his face become red even in the dim light of the fireplace from downstairs.

It's morning.

Mike yawns, stretches his arms above his head and opens his eyes.

But wait- this isn't the room he fell asleep in. This isn't Will's attic.

He stumbles out of the bed. The window is open, and a rope is untying itself from Mike's wardrobe.

He clutches the rope and hastly pulls it back up. There's a grunt from under the window.

Mike looks where the grunt came from. It's Will- looking up at the window, confused. When he sees Mike poke his head through the window, he beams at him.

"HI!" Mike yells.

"Hey!" Will greets back.

"Wait right there!-" And Mike goes rushing out his bedroom, down the stairs, still in his clothes from yesterday. Will has removed his chest plate- the thought makes Mike definitely red.

He runs past the dining room, where he can hear his parents arguing. They probably noticed him- they shut up when he passes. Did Will carry him to his room through his window, or something?

Will really is waiting right where Mike left him at. He's already smiling at him.

"You thought you'd just get rid of me, just like that, huh?"

"No! I just- saved you the walk home, y'know," Will rushed to apologizing, eyes wide.

Mike looked at him. "Don't worry, I was just joking. I know you'd never get rid of me. We're stuck together now," he joked. Will laughed lightly.

"I guess I... I thought you would rather be at home already, than staying with me for even more time," Will said after a while, nervously. He stared at his shoes, while Mike stared at him.

"I'd never feel like that," he says in disbelief. Will peeks at him, still looking down.

"I mean that, read my mind or something. You'll find nothing but even more of what I've already said,"

Will laughs at that. Blushes a little bit. Mike feels accomplished.

And here they are again, smiling at each other in silence. Mike could stay like this forever, really.

"Mike!"

Oh, that's his mom. He should've thought she would come after him after he had casually showed himself in the manor while she thought he was getting ripped apart by trolls and dragons.

Will's smile faded, and he looked scared. "I should go," he whispered. "I'll come soon."

"Will-" Mike wanted to reach out to him, maybe grab his hand and hold him there, but in just a heartbeat Will held his palm over his stomach and evaporated. Just like those plants.

"Mike!"

Mike's mom was now right behind him. She hurried to hug him tightly. His dad, surprisingly, right behind her.

"We sent people after you, just for you to show up here!" dad scolded, just like he always did.

"How did you get back here? Did no guards see you come in?" mom asked, worried. She rarely paid attention to Mike. "What are you doing outside?"

"I-" Mike had to come up with a lie. If Will was scared of his parents, he probably had a good reason for it. And the last thing Mike wants to do is get him in trouble.

"I- I thought my book fell- A- and I came back, but it was late at night! The moon was high up already, and the guards were sleeping. Not my fault you guys overwork them!"

His parents looked at him weirdly for a second. Then his mom scolded his dad, "I told you you should make their shifts shorter! And now they're sleeping on the job,"

They weren't paying much attention to Mike anymore, and started going back inside the manor.

Mike stood there for a bit more, waiting to see if Will would come back. After a while of nothing, he turned around and started walking back to the front doors.

All that he could think about that day were clouds of steam, carvings on trees and an odd haircut that he grew to love over time.

--

alright finally this is finished i been writing this all day smh hope u enjoyed😝🤘 happy will the wise wednesday

[oldtestleper]

Ive been thinking and I will be frank here... I know y’all make a distinction between kal and vau based on narrative treatment n fuck idk maybe after all the shit with kal it’s enough just to see a banished prince antihero and say ‘this guy whose wards live in terror of his violence is abusive’ and to have the narrative go ‘yeah! he sure is!’ but tbh that distinction is just not at all a meaningful one for me bc I don’t think the narrative actually makes it successfully and when the narrative is saying ‘this guy is an abuser’ about Vau I don’t think that bears out any more meaningfully than it does when it points to kal and says ‘this guy’s a tough old soldier dad with a heart of gold’

like with kal it’s clear that kt was never intending to write an abusive character—that in fact the opposite is true. therefore while kal behaves in abusive, cruel, manipulative, and selfish ways, the narrative never acknowledges this as harmful or unjust, and therefore the harm is never addressed, kal never changes, and his victims never recover or receive justice.

whereas vau is like... obviously intended as a foil to kal. he’s the bad cop. he beat his cadets, he’s pragmatic to the point of being cold, he’s stuffed to the brim with over the top Evil tropes and obviously abusive in a way that the text is happy to recognize… basically when vau behaves in abusive cruel ways the narrative not only presents it as such but also sheds light on the harm he caused to his victims, which obviously it never comes within a hundred miles of doing for kal. but critically, despite this willingness of the narrative to actually portray and condemn his abusiveness, vau never faces true consequences for his actions. instead of anything like that, he (sort of) recognizes the harm he caused but won’t admit fault, justifying his actions on the basis of necessity and his own overtly abusive upbringing. ultimately the narrative forgives him solely on the basis of his recognition of his own cruelty, his emotional suffering over his cadets/professed love for them, and his arguably noble intentions. but the harm he caused is never addressed—really it hardly even acknowledges that the harm exists. vau’s cruelty and the fact of his abusive actions, sure, but the ongoing harm he is directly responsible for? don’t make me laugh!! anyone else remember actin’s entire arc?

exactly as with kal, vau never truly changes, his victims never recover or receive justice, and by the end the narrative is doing little so much as gently polishing what it thinks is glowing portrait of a morally gray character who was occasionally cruel or vicious but was redeemed in the end by his love for his sons.......... despite the narrative actively refusing to address the ongoing harm caused by both kal and vau and entirely without either of them having actually been redeemed in anyone’s mind but his own. sure maybe vau could have been a really valuable foil to kal IF the narrative were willing to understand kal as abusive and to understand that redemption requires more than just feeling really sad that you hurt somebody 🥺 but obviously it would never do either of those things, and ultimately vau fails to be significantly juxtaposed against Kal instead he just becomes a parallel figure who gets raked through shit a LITTLE more readily, who is more clumsily and stereotypically abusive and who is just as baselessly forgiven by the narrative.

[doks-aux]

Bellhands ask! I'm torn between Bellhands having met young, with Izzy still with some softness anyone would find lovable so of COURSE Sam would love him too, and thus still loves him even once he's hardened as an adult; and Bellhands meeting as adults, Izzy already a fully formed shouty grumpy guy, and Sam just being sprung for him immediately for reasons that baffle everyone ("why is the actual Prince of Pirates, Robin Hood of the Seas, handsome and charming Sam Bellamy for whom the universe bends backwards, so smitten with... that"). I've read some fics/your posts that explore them having met as youths, how do you feel an adult first meeting between them would go, and do you have a preference as to how/what age they meet, should it be explored in canon? Thank you for introducing us all to such a great ship and fascinating pirate!

Eee! Thank you!

First, I can't really take credit for the ship. I got into it because @thegreatblondebalrogslayer and a few others had written some very nice fics and he kept coming up during "Izzy needs a boyfriend" discussions with friends. I just researched him, got obsessed, and starting running my mouth in the tags about it.

It is a tough choice. Most folks do go the "met in childhood/youth" route, as do I for my own little AU--though I have kid Izzy already a prickly, stubborn little cuss who probably pushes Sam off a dock the first time they meet, and Sam is instantly smitten like "Friend??!! New best friend??!!!" I think it's important and fun that Sam (or anyone that falls for Izzy) likes Izzy for the rougher parts of him as well as the hidden softer center rather than despite them. So that is a big appeal of them first meeting as adults. Izzy is all briars and nettles, and the famed Prince of Pirates looks at him and thinks "I am going to love and cherish the SHIT out of this little man."

I've only seen a couple of fics/posts have them meet as adults. It would probably be tricky to have it happen during the Kraken era since Izzy's probably not in a good place for meeting new people. Maybe if he somehow got banished again or struck out on his own, maybe to find Stede? It might be best if they met while Izzy was separated from Ed and the others so he doesn't have the stress of dealing with them all or the pressure of performing his role. Maybe the Whydah fishes him out of the ocean. Maybe Sam is in the same port Izzy is seeking information in. Sam seems keen on quests and adventures; maybe he's heard tales of the Gentleman Pirate and of Blackbeard's strange behavior and figures, hell, he and his boys are plenty rich enough for the moment, why don't they help out this fascinating angry man in the leather trousers? If it's something post-BlackBonnet reconciliation, maybe the Revenge crew runs into or turns to Sam and his fleet while trying to outmaneuver the Royal Navy who are almost certainly hunting them down.

There are a lot of possibilities, and I don't know which I'd prefer. But I love the whole seeming opposites attract appeal of it all, Sam with his grand and romantic ideals appreciating Izzy's more practical concerns. Sam showing Izzy that it is possible to balance successful piracy and a formidable reputation with a more humanitarian approach to captaining and altruistic notions (Sam's known for his compassion but that doesn't mean he can't and won't take absolutely all of your shit); Ed and Stede were just too far up their own and each other's asses to have really genuinely tried to find that balance for awhile. They'd share a loathing of the aristocracy. Sam would respect Izzy's experience and sword fighting skills, and Izzy would respect how Sam brought himself up from nothing, how the luxuries he enjoys were properly earned (re: stolen) like they should be. This is a match that could actually work.

As for when I'd prefer them to have met should Sam show up in canon, I'm not sure. On the one hand, we know so very little of Izzy's background, that having an old friend show up has so much potential. On the other, it'd be nice for Izzy to bond with someone who has no connection to his own or adjacent baggage. The really important thing is that Sam be someone set apart from the Revenge and its shenanigans, someone who can see Izzy as he is and not as an extension or reflection of or in comparison to Ed or Stede or their merry band of lunatics. Someone who sees Izzy's own personal brand of lunacy and thinks "That. That is what I'm into. This is what I want more of."

Thank you so much for the ask!! I'm so glad to have people to talk to about this ship that doesn't exist. 💖🏴‍☠️

[gladerwolfstarkimagines]

Imagine being the childhood friend of Zuko and him getting angry when Jet starts showing an interest in you.

Your POV

To be fair Zuko had held in his fury over being banished and hunted down by his sister quite well but apparently the journey to Ba Sing Sei was where he drew the line and decided to have a break down. Zuko spat out his food and you smirked to Iroh at his dramatics. “This is disgusting” he yelled throwing the bowl down before resting his head in his hands “I’m sick of living like this”. You went to remind him you only had one more day of this boat trip left until you reached Ba Sing Sei when someone else spoke. “Aren’t we all?” a smooth voice called and you and Iroh turned to see a boy watching you all. He approached Zuko and introduced himself as Jet the freedom fighter, whatever a freedom fighter was. Zuko didn’t return the gesture but you saw this boy, Jet, swept his eyes over the three of you and he smiled. He walked around to stand between you and Zuko and leant forwards “I heard the captain’s hoarding all the food and eating like a king, how would you like to help me liberate it?”. You and Zuko exchanged a look and you smiled knowing what Zuko’s response would be. “We’re in”.

You waited for night fall and then met Jet and his friend by the kitchen. Jet picked the lock easily with his swords and waved you all inside. Jet whistled as you all stared at the large kitchen amazed at it’s size. “You two take that side” he said to Zuko and his friends “we’ll take this side” he said and gestured to you. You nodded to Zuko and followed Jet to search the room. “So you or your friend got a name?” Jet asked as you searched. “Maybe” you shrugged opening a cupboard “but ours are nowhere near as colourful as Jet”. Jet smirked at your joke and walked closely past you to search the top shelf. “So if you won’t tell me your name how about where are you from? You and your friend seem close so I’m guessing you’ve known each other a while, since children?”. “Correct” you nodded “we’ve been friends since we were 5”. “Cute” Jet smirked “childhood sweethearts escaping to Ba Sing Sei to start a life together” he grinned mockingly. “We’re not childhood sweethearts” you snapped moving away and Jet followed you “ow really so you’re not a couple?”. “NO!” you said loudly before blushing as Jet laughed at your response. You hadn’t meant to be so adamant and you looked down embarrassed “I just meant that is not at all our situation, we’re just really good friends”. Jet nodded and stepped past you “that’s good to hear”. You watched him confused and he shot you a smile over his shoulder “for me that is”. You rolled your eyes but there was something about the boy that was very attractive. Jet smirked at your response and carried on searching. He opened a cupboard and grinned “look what I’ve found”.

You packed all the food up and snook it out of the kitchen easily. You distributed it out to the other families on the ship and Iroh smiled as you passed him a bowl “thank you y/n, you and Lee did a good thing”. “Try telling him that, he’s still pouting” you replied making Iroh laugh. You returned to get more for the other families but got distracted. “So your name’s y/n?” a familiar voice asked. Jet appeared beside you “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop of course but I couldn’t help it”. “Of course not” you smiled sweetly and Jet laughed “It’s a nice name, y/n, it matches you well”. You shot him a look but were slightly amused. It was honestly nice to have someone around that didn’t have the fire nation seriousness. You didn’t make it easy for Jet though and just ignored him. You opened the remaining boxes looking for more food but it was all gone. “Well I guess that’s the last of the food y/n” Jet said pointedly emphasising your name “how about we go for a walk? To celebrate?”. “Aren’t you hungry? We just liberated all that food”. Jet shrugged “I’d say you’re far more interesting to me right now so how about it...y/n” he said smirking and you smiled. You had a pretty boring time on Zuko’s exile so you shrugged “lead the way” and took off with Jet.

Zuko’s POV

Zuko made sure all the food had been dished out before he returned to his seat beside his uncle. He was just about to start eating when he noticed something was wrong....he couldn’t see you anywhere. Zuko looked around for you and blinked "uncle did you see where y/n went?". Iroh frowned when Jet’s friend spoke up. "She left with Jet" Smeller Bee replied and Zuko blinked "why? Are they running another job?". "No, Jet just works that quick" the girl shrugged before going back to her food. Zuko paused confused and craned his neck to see if he could see you. "You mean they're....on a date?". "Sure lets call it that" Smeller Bee agreed and Zuko frowned, when on earth did that happen and how did he miss it?

Panic seized Zuko and he began to wonder how on earth he’d missed this developing. He cursed himself for allowing it to happen right infront of his own eyes and wished things were different so he could’ve told you how he felt. The truth was Zuko had liked you for a while, more than a while actually. He’d liked you for almost as long as he could remember but he’d never told you for multiple reasons. Before when he was a prince he never told you because he was worried with him being the heir that would make you feel pressured to feel the same way and Zuko was 100% certain you didn’t like him. Then when he was banished and you decided to come with him he was amazed. He still remembered you marching your way onto his ship, demanding to come with you and how impressed and in love he felt. So he agreed to let you come but he couldn’t tell you he liked you for a different reason now. He was banished, what if he told you and you did like him? Then you’d get pulled down with him, tainted through association to him. You could return to the fire nation anytime and Zuko didn’t want to do anything to make you share the same fate as him and so he never told you how he felt and it appeared someone had beaten him to it.

When you hadn’t return before they retired to their cabin Zuko wanted to go out looking for you but Iroh told him you were just off on a date and not to ruin your fun. So Zuko didn’t search for you not wanting to *ruin your fun* but there was no way he could sleep not knowing where you were and so he waited up for you. As the time passed he got more agitated and decided if you weren’t back soon he would scour the ship for you no matter what Iroh said but just as suddenly as you’d disappeared you appeared. You opened the door to the cabin quietly and then jumped violently when you saw Zuko stood there in the dark. "Zuko...what are you doing?". "Making sure you got back okay, you took off with a stranger". You rolled your eyes "we’re on a boat Zuko, it’s not like i could be whisked off somewhere plus you know Jet!". "I know of him" Zuko said pointedly and you smirked "it’s sweet of you to worry but don’t worry i can handle boys like Jet" and you disappeared into your room. You patted Zuko as you passed and he sighed. Zuko didn’t like where this was going but he didn’t see how he could stop it. So ignoring the tingling sensation where you touched his arm he stomped into his room and laid face down in the bed.

Your POV

You arrived in Ba Sing Sei the next day and were eager to get off the boat but not as eager as Zuko. He practically dragged you and Iroh off the boat just so you could get stuck waiting in line for 4 hours. After your paperwork was finally approved you got into Ba Sing Sei and realised you had no idea where to go. Iroh claimed due to his old siege days he knew the city but as you stared at a map in the train station he frowned “hmmm it appears to have changed a bit” and Zuko cried out in anger. “You said you knew the city!”. “I did but that was over 10 years ago” Iroh explained “this might take some time”. You saw Zuko was getting ready to yell again and grabbed his arm “hey how about we go get some food while we wait?”. Zuko relaxed slightly and Iroh nodded “I’d love some tea”. “Of course” you smiled and tugged Zuko away. “You have to calm down” you told him softly “Iroh will work all this out we’ll be fine”. Zuko nodded “I know I’d just rather than was sooner rather than later”. “Why?” you asked “what’s your big rush?”. Zuko glanced around you as if looking for someone and then looked down “nothing I just want to get out of this place”. You frowned, something was clearly bothering your friend but you also knew Zuko well enough to know when he was in a mood like this there was no way he would tell you what was wrong. Zuko didn’t open up often and being agitated didn’t help that. So you tried to give him space and hoped he would confide in you when he felt comfortable enough. You spotted two different food carts and nudged his arm “you go get the tea, i’ll get us some food and meet you back by Iroh”. Zuko nodded and without a word walked away. You watched him with a worried frown before you walked towards the food truck. You joined the line, waiting for your turn to order when you heard a voice “so you made it in the city okay?”. You smiled to see Jet again and nodded “obviously” making Jet grin. It was your turn to order next and you stepped up and told the man what you wanted. When it came to paying you went to get the correct money but Jet stepped forwards. “Don’t worry I got this” he said placing some coins down on the counter. “You don’t have to” you started but Jet shook his head “no, I never got you anything on our date the other night so call this payback”. You rolled your eyes as you collected the food but you were blushing slightly. “I wouldn’t really call it a date, more of a walk”. “That’s true” Jet agreed “so that means I have to take you on a proper one”. “Ow really? You have to”? you asked and Jet nodded “for sure, custom all but demands it, I have to do it if I want to or not” Jet said shooting you a wide smirk. You laughed in shock and Jet smirk grew “it’s just a coincidence that I want to”. You smiled and went to tell Jet you’d think about it when Zuko appeared. “Y/n have you got the food?”. You looked down at the bag in your hands and nodded “yeah...”. “So are you heading back?” he asked glancing at Jet or more accurately glaring and you looked down. “You go ahead I’ll be right behind you”. Zuko narrowed his eyes and took the bag from your hands “Mushi is hungry so I’ll just take it”. “Z...Lee” you sighed but Zuko just shrugged “no it’s fine you stay and talk” and he stormed away. You frowned watching Zuko walk away and Jet laughed “that might’ve been my fault. You looked at him confused and Jet shrugged “your friend clearly has a problem with me”. You shook your head confused how Jet reached that conclusion "nonsense Lee likes you he’s just...moody, sometimes". Jet smirked "that i believe but no this seems specific to me and you". "Us?" you asked and Jet nodded "i saw him watching us before he came over, he clearly doesn’t like me being around you”. “I’m not sure...” you frowned and Jet smirked “y/n he’s watching us even now!”. You glanced at Zuko where he sat on the bench beside Iroh. Like Jet said Zuko was watching you and not just watching but openly glaring. He jumped when he saw you’d spotted him and looked away. "He’s just protective" you tried "we’ve been friends forever". Jet smirked "he's protective alright but not because you’re friend, I think the fact you’re just friends is where he has the problem". You realised what Jet meant and swallowed "i...no that can’t be true". Jet shrugged and laughed slightly "hey i’m not going to try and convince you, why would i when i’m interested in you?". You looked back at Jet and smiled "you are?". "Yeah, didn’t i make that obvious? Well maybe this will help" and Jet moved closer.

Zukos’s POV

As soon as you’d all arrived in Ba Sing Sei Zuko was thrilled for one sole reason. Jet. Ever since your date Zuko was anxious to make sure you never saw that boy ever again. So he rushed you and Iroh off the ship and was frustrated to see the long lines that awaited. However he never saw Jet once and so that helped ease his mind. Then when you finally did get through his uncle didn’t know where to go and he felt his temper rising again. Any moment now Jet could appear and tag along and...Zuko didn’t want to think about what could happen, how you and Jet could actually become a proper a couple. So Zuko was not in the best of moods and then the devil himself appeared. Zuko left your side for a second and who was there? Jet. Zuko was furious and so he tried to get you to come with him but you wanted to stay with Jet! Zuko couldn’t believe you were falling for this act and he stormed away from you both angry and upset.

He sat on the bench too angry to eat, just clutching his cup of tea staring at the back of Jet’s head. "Stop watching y/n nephew" Iroh commented and Zuko jumped "i’m not i was just....don’t you think it’s suspicious how much he’s around her?". Iroh shrugged "not considering what happened on the boat, it’s called dating". Zuko glared as Jet moved closer to you "but how do we know we can trust him? He could be anyone". You looked over suddenly and Zuko tore his eyes away "y/n should be careful, what if he hurts her?". "Well it’s ultimately y/n’s decision, we can't control her and while i think your concern for her is admirable perhaps you could work on your honesty?". Zuko paused "what are you trying to say uncle you know i hate riddles". "I’m saying that rather than chasing away any boy that comes near her maybe you should recognise your feelings for her and tell her". Zuko snorted "that’s preposterous! Y/n is just a good friend nothing more". Zuko knew that was a lie but he couldn’t have anyone working out his secret. Zuko was thinking of all the ways your friendship would be ruined when he glanced over and saw Jet kiss you. He breathed in sharply and clutched his cup so hard tea spilled over the sides burning him. He groaned in pain and threw the cup down. Iroh chucked passing him tissues "still going to pretend she's just a good friend to you?".

Your POV

“Here it is!” Iroh called throwing open the door “home sweet home”. Finally after days of waiting around and searching you’d found a home and jobs all thanks to Iroh. Zuko however wasn’t feeling so grateful. He glanced around the room and  gingerly dragged his hand across the table “it’s filthy, is everything in the earth kingdom filthy?”. Iroh shifted the plant pot in his hands and frowned “all it needs is a little cleaning and it will look as good as new. If we all chip in it won’t take long at all”. “Would you mind if we cleaned later please Iroh?” you asked and Zuko headed towards his room apparently done with this conversation. “Just I agreed to met Jet soon, we’re going to go explore the city a bit”. You didn’t notice but Zuko had stopped dead in his tracks. 

“Of course we can clean later better yet me and Zuko can get it all sorted for your return! Go and have fun you deserve it” Iroh smiled at you. You grinned and hugged him tightly “thank you!”. You separated and only then noticed Zuko was watching you. “What?” you asked “would you like to come too Zuko?”. “No!” he cried disgusted “why on earth would I want to hang around with you on your date”. You sighed and nodded “just asking”. “Are you two official now then?” Zuko asked and you shook your head “no”. “So that at the train station was just nothing?” Zuko asked and you frowned “why do you care?”. “I don’t care I just don’t understand why you’re wasting your time on him, you know he hates fire benders don’t you?" Zuko commented "if he knew you were one there’s no way he'd be sniffing around you so much". You rolled your eyes determined not to let Zuko ruin this for you. "Open your eyes Zuko everyone hates the fire nation and can you blame them? If anything Jet’s disdain for the fire nation makes him more attractive" and with a shake of your head you disappeared out the door. 

Zuko’s POV

The door shut behind you and Zuko gripped the table tighter. He stared at the door and breathed deeply to stop himself launching fire at it. “Nephew...” Iroh started and Zuko groaned “not now uncle!” and stormed into his room slamming the door.

Zuko flopped on his bed when he suddenly heard your voice. He walked to his open window and saw and Jet down below. Jet was smirking at you, standing way too close to you while you just looked up at him smiling. Zuko felt his stomach churn as how cocky Jet seemed with you. You started walking away and Zuko sighed, he went to turn away when suddenly Jet looked back. He looked at Zuko’s window, stared Zuko right in the eye and smiled. Zuko’s temper flipped and he glared. So Jet knew what he was doing then? Well Zuko wouldn’t let him get away with it. Zuko climbed out of the window and began to discreetly follow you.

Your POV

You and Jet explored the city all day and you were amazed. The city was huge in a way the fire nation city could never be. Endless rows of shops and houses all protected by the huge walls of Ba Sing Sei. After walking for as long as your feet could possibly manage, you and Jet retreated to a restaurant to refuel. You were quickly shown to a table and ordered immediately you were so hungry. “So what do you think of the city?” Jet asked and you smiled “it’s lovely, it feels like there’s still so much to see and we’ve been walking around all day!”. Jet nodded “well we can always walk around tomorrow....and the next day and the next....there’s nothing stopping us”. You nodded your head “good point” and Jet smiled before frowning. He focused on something behind you and leant forwards "Is that Lee?". You turned around and followed Jet’s gaze to a corner booth when a man held a menu infront of his face. “It can’t be he was back in the apartment....” you started when the man dropped his menu and you saw it was indeed Zuko. Zuko spotted you immediately and went pale. "Told you he didn’t like me and now he doesn’t trust me either" Jet commented and you sighed. “I’m so sorry can we rain check this? I have a friend to yell at".

You and Zuko argued the whole long way home. “I told you it was a coincidence!” Zuko yelled “why on earth would I be following you?”. “So you expect me to believe you were 40 minutes from home, in the same restaurant as me and Jet just by chance? You followed us Zuko and I want to know why. Do you hate Jet that much?”. “Well I don’t like him” Zuko agreed and you frowned “Jet said that! What has he ever done to you?”. “Nothing I....I just don’t like how you act around him?”. “Me? How do I act? you asked your temper rising and Zuko rolled his eyes. “I don’t know all embarrassed and quiet, you’ve never been shy in your life”. You paused ready to convince Zuko you were fine with Jet when he made it 100 times worse.

“Honestly it just seems a little fake and desperate” Zuko finished. He seemed to realise his mistake seconds later as you gasped loudly. "Desperate!" you yelled “you did not just call me that! How could you even say that?”. Zuko didn’t really see how he could back down so he carried on “all i’m saying is you’ve flung yourself at the first boy who looked at you despite the fact he’s clearly a criminal! Or did you forget how quickly he suggested breaking and entering to us? Who knows what other crimes he’s committed". "Have you forgotten we’re criminals too?" you hissed "you of all people should understand the law isn’t always black and white, fair and unfair, why are you so hard on jet? You liked him fine until i started seeing him". "Well maybe that’s why!" Zuko yelled "you shouldn't date him! He’s not good enough". "Not good enough?" you asked "Zuko i’m just having some fun, the most i’ve had since we’ve been on the run, it isn’t that serious". “Well you would see it that way you’ve been behaving immaturely ever since we got here" Zuko said coldly "throwing caution to the wind, fraternising with people who openly detest the fire nation. Did you ever wonder what danger your actions have put me and my uncle in? How you could've ruined us all with your recklessness? I think you have been away from the fire nation too long, you have clearly forgotten your honour". You gasped surprised "my honour?" you asked. Back home having a *superior* say something like that was an abrupt dismissal and you knew Zuko was aware of that. You swallowed and stared at Zuko "are you...does this mean you’re dismissing me from your company?". "Of course not! I would never leave you alone here but i do think you should consider your actions". "Are you ordering me to stop dating Jet?". "No i’d never order you..." Zuko said backtracking and you glared. "Good because i am not going to stop seeing him just because it worries you, so sorry your highness" you said bowing mockingly "but you’re going to have to get used to it" and you slammed the door.

Zuko POV

Zuko couldn’t believe the rubbish that had tumbled out of his mouth in your argument. He wanted to punch himself for somehow blaming you for all this. He knew he only had himself to blame but he’d attacked you instead. Zuko decided to apologise to you and was rehearsing it, trying to get it just right when Iroh appeared. “Zuko why aren’t you dressed we have a shift in 20 minutes!”. “It’s that time already?” Zuko asked, he’d been planning your apology for so long he’d lost track of time. “What have you been doing?” Iroh asked staring at the stacks of paper and Zuko covered them quickly “nothing just let me sort something and I’ll be ready to leave”. Iroh nodded and left. Zuko stared at his apology and sighed, it wasn’t right yet! He couldn’t find the right words to say what he needed to say and it to be perfect or else you might not forgive him. He tried rewording a line but then threw his pen down in frustration, he’d just have to finish this later. He quickly dressed in his uniform and followed Iroh to the tea shop.

The evening shift was usually dead but for some reason it was packed tonight. Zuko was rushed off his feet so much he didn’t even notice Jet when he walked in. It didn’t matter though Jet made his way straight to him. “You’re from the fire nation aren’t you?”. Jet said it loudly and Zuko froze as many people turned and stared. “No” Zuko said calmly but Jet smiled “figured you’d say that but I heard you admit it with your own words. How dare you sneak away as a refugee when you’re one of them”. “I’m not, we’re from the earth nation...” Zuko tried but Jet carried on “and if you’re fire nation then maybe you’re benders too....only one way to find out” and he drew his swords.  

Zuko grabbed a sword from one of the nearby customers sheath and met Jet’s first strike. Zuko worked on defending himself only, he wasn’t interested in hurting him but the boy wasn’t making it easy. Zuko managed to take the fight outside and tried distracting Jet. “What do you mean you heard me say it, were you spying on us?” Zuko asked and Jet nodded. “After you made such a big deal following me and y/n on our date I got suspicious. Being jealous was one thing but you were downright manic! So I followed you both home and heard y/n say how you were fugitives from the fire nation, fire benders seeking aid in Ba Sing Sei” Jet glared “you’re the reason we’re all here!”. Jet carried on attacking Zuko but he deflected them easily, Jet was too emotional, he was getting easier to anticipate. "I should’ve known all along though" Jet smirked suddenly "you hated me far too much for it just to be over a girl". Zuko glared "for the record i hate you completely and utterly because you are nowhere good enough to be around y/n, you’re not worth the mud under her shoes, she’s too good for you". Jet spat on the floor "she’s a fire bender, she’s worthless and i regret the energy i wasted on scum like her". Zuko tensed and tightened his grip on his sword. Now he was interested in attacking Jet, screw defence, he was going to make this kid pay. 

Your POV

You heard about the fight from passer-by. When they described a boy with brown hair and hook swords fighting a teashop worker with a burn on his face you know exactly who they were. You waited for Zuko and Iroh to arrive home and the second they walked through the door you exploded. "You got Jet arrested?" you cried and Zuko looked down. Iroh frowned "y/n it wasn’t like that...Jet was attacking Zuko!". "I’m sure it wasn’t unprovoked, was this part of your plan?" you asked Zuko. "I refused to obey your order to stop dating Jet and so you arrest him?". "You ordered her to what?" Iroh cried and Zuko sighed "i didn’t order her i just suggested she consider her honour and re-assess her choices". Iroh sighed “you two are so...” he took a deep breath and fixed Zuko with a piercing look. "Zuko this has gone far enough explain yourself to y/n and just maybe she'll forgive your awful behaviour, Y/n listen to what he has to say and afterwards then you can judge him but let him finish first, okay?" Iroh asked before storming from the room without waiting for a reply. 

You and Zuko were both speechless to hear Iroh raise his voice and so you blinked and turned to Zuko “I make no promises to wait until the end but go ahead”. Zuko was quiet for a while and you could tell he was searching for the words he needed. “Zuko...” you frowned and he sighed “I was jealous okay! That’s what all this was, I was jealous of you and Jet spending so much time together”. Zuko stopped talking and you rolled your eyes "are you kidding me? So i can’t have anyone else in my life? Only you can take up my time?". Zuko shook his head "i wasn’t jealous of Jet taking up your time, if he'd just wanted to be your friend i’d have been fine but he clearly didn’t and that’s why i was jealous" Zuko snapped "he wanted to be something more and you did too and that bothered me". “Because you didn’t like Jet?” you tried and Zuko shook his head “because I liked you...like you” he said awkwardly staring at the ground. You blinked and stared at the ground too in shock “wow I....I don’t know what to say, how long have you...”. Zuko sighed “I can’t remember when it started because it’s been so long" he said softly "but I remember the moment I noticed. It was when my mom left, i was miserable all the time apart from the times i was with you. When you were around, i was still hurting but it was less and the more you were around the less and less it got until i didn’t hurt any more. You healed my pain and that’s how i knew i liked you". Zuko finished and you blinked "but Zuko your mom left when we were 11 you’ve known you liked me all this time? Why didn’t you just tell me?". 

"Because it wasn’t just a small crush it was big y/n and it grew more and more every day and by the time you left the fire nation with me i didn’t just like you it was...more". You got chills as Zuko spoke but you felt unable to speak or move. "When you came with after i got banished i so wanted to tell you but you'd left the fire nation just to help me, i didn’t want to do anything to make you to throw your whole life away for me. I hoped that even if i couldn’t return to the fire nation one day you could and have the life you deserve. I planned to send you away once i got on my feet, and then again when i got my ship working well, and then again once we’d swept the four nations for the avatar. But every time i came close i delayed it because i was selfish. I didn’t want to drag you down with me but i couldn’t seem to let you go. I made a mess of everything and i’ve done it again. I was jealous of you and Jet but also too afraid to tell you and so i ended up hurting you" Zuko sighed "y/n i am so sorry for that, you’re the last person i meant to hurt but still because of my selfishness i harmed you and that will always taint my honour but i hope you can forgive me one day". Silence fell and Zuko looked up "y/n? Please say anything". You looked up as if in a daze and shook your head "You still haven’t asked me". Zuko paused "i did i just asked you to forgive me". "Not that" you said shaking your head again "you told me you liked me but didn’t ask me back" you chuckled. "You just assumed to know my answer without asking me, do you think you know me that well?" you asked staring at him. Zuko stuttered. "I....i'm sorry i didn’t mean to...wait does this mean? Do you...". You smiled "i can’t give an essay on the exact moment i knew like you just did but yes" you nodded "i like you Zuko". Zuko stared at you in shock "you...you do?" he asked grinning. You nodded again and Zuko laughed out loud hugging you tightly before he stopped "wait so all this agony watching you with jet, i could’ve avoided it all if i just told you this earlier?". "Yup" you nodded “Zuko, Jet was an angry cocky teenager who fights with swords...why do you think I liked him? He reminded me of you”.  Zuko eyes widened and he promptly smacked himself in the face "idiot!" he cried. You laughed pulling his hand away gently "it’s fine we know now right?". Zuko nodded "that’s true..." and he took your hand staring at you intensely. You blushed and buried your head in his chest to escape his gaze "stop looking st me like that". "I can’t help it" Zuko laughed holding onto you "i can’t believe someone like you would like me". You moved your head out of his chest to fix him with a look “are you kidding me? You’re amazing, i’m the one that’s shocked, you’re smart and funny and kind...”. Zuko turned an ever deeper shade of red and you grinned “did I make the angry fire bender blush?”. “Stop it” Zuko said “that’s an order” and he smiled to let you know he was joking. “Well I have an order for you” you said calmly. Zuko looked at you confused and you just smiled “kiss me”. Zuko obeyed immediately and you were caught off guard but it was a pleasant surprise. You weren’t sure if it was the long time waiting or the pent up tension these past few days but Zuko was very passionate and the kiss quickly became heated. 

You were enjoying it but were also very aware Iroh could walk back in any minute. “Zuko” you whispered “you’re very good at obeying orders but we’re in the middle of the living room”. Zuko immediately blushed and looked down “sorry I think I got carried away”. “Don’t be” you smiled “I liked it just Iroh will be back any minute and he’s the last person I’d want walking in on us”. Zuko nodded his head “that kiss was not as sweet and innocent as I planned it to be” Zuko frowned "i don’t know what came over me". You chuckled "it’s fine it was wonderful but a date first would be better next time". "Of course, how does tomorrow sound” Zuko asked blushing and you smiled leaning against his shoulder. “That sounds perfect”. Zuko wrapped his arms around you and rested his head on top of yours “Tomorrow night it is”. 

[yandere-sins]

Remember that Beast!Reader fic with the yandere prince? I loved that one! Can I please request ‘Tears’ from your prompt list for this please?

I was thinking that maybe a few years pass by while the reader is still stuck in beast form, but during that time the person appointed as an alternative caretaker for the reader (obviously the prince can’t be around ALL the time if he has to maintain his kingdom and keep up his image) slowly starts forming a friendly relationship and with even something as small as a forehead kiss to the beast, it is enough to break the curse. But the two don’t get enough time to celebrate before the prince barges in👀

I’m uncomfortable with nsfw and anything too sexual but I enjoy the creepiness and horror that follows a yandere character so I hope you can write it like that please😭🥺 Oh! And please let there be some hope that the reader will either be saved or she saves herself. Even better if the reader decides that she wants to save herself and the boy who broke her curse🤩

Thank you! So sorry if I’m requesting a lot😭🙏

Oh, my sweet little anons, when was the last time I gave you a happy end, huh? But thanks for requesting a continuation, I am glad you all enjoyed it so much ^-^ What a good idea you had there!

Tears - “Sweetie, don’t cry.. they didn’t love you as much as I did.. I’ll help you over the heart break.” 

»»———————— ♡ ————————««

Panting, you urged your legs forward, always one step further than you made at a time. The chilly night air burnt in your lungs, and your bare feet were icy and wet from the forest ground, but neither you nor the person holding your hand so gently in his thought about stopping. Only wrapped in a big rag, you should have been cold, but when he squeezed your hand encouragingly, you believed you could manage it all.

It hadn’t been too long since you started your way on foot down the hill the old castle sat upon. Sooner or later, the prince would find out you escaped, and surely, they would also notice your Beloved having fled the scene. There had been no reason for him to stay. Losing you was enough to get sentenced to death, his lifeless body thrown into a bog rather than buried. So why wouldn’t he leave with you? There certainly was no reason for him to stay in the wretched service of the king. 

But sooner or later, they would come for you, that much was sure.

So, you two had to hurry, but even so, you couldn’t keep from smiling, especially when he looked back over his shoulder, his warm, green eyes shining without any regrets. You two had known each other far too little, but he never once hesitated to show you his affection for you, even when you still were the hideous atrocity that you had turned into to escape the prince for the first time.

Perhaps, everything that happened was fate. Even if it had been harsh and awful, it happened so that you two could meet and start a better life together somewhere new. Even if you wished now that you two could have met under different circumstances, now, you didn’t regret your life from before anymore. Now, you could simply look ahead to the future that waited for you.

Or so you thought; you should have known better.

The soaring of arrows pierced through the silence of the night. One hit the bark of the tree before you, fire spreading from its alcohol-soaked peak. Your eye widened, as did you’re companions, and you soon found yourself ducking as another one flew over your heads.

You couldn’t spare a second to look back over your shoulder as you two urged onwards, picking up the pace. Your legs were tired and shaking, but you knew that you had to go faster and faster, or else you or he would get hit. It were moments like these in which you wished you were still a beast. One which could run faster than any arrow. One that could fight and protect what was important to you. But that was no longer, true love’s kiss having sealed that specific fate already.

It was too late when you realized that the arrows so far had not been to stop you two from getting away. Instead, as they began to light up tree after tree, you realized they were there to banish the secrecy of the forest and make the dark disappear. At the same time, they made you two run into the directions your followers wanted you to go. If you looked back now, you knew who you’d see, no robbers smart enough to roam the forest around the prince’s castle, so there really was no reason for any other armed party to hunt you down.

And yet, you did, too afraid that if you didn’t, things would go way worse. 

The moment you looked over your shoulder, another arrow flew past you, grazing your cheek. You knew where it would hit way before your companion cried out in pain, his hand letting go of yours as a reflex. He sank to his knee for a moment, cursing under his breath as you hurried to his side, seeing the arrow lodged in his shoulder. “Oh god,” you stammered as you sank next to him, hands hovering over the wound. “W-We can fix it, I’m sure, we just have to--!”

“There’s no time!” he interrupted you firmly as if he hadn’t just been shot with an arrow. Without wasting even another second, he got up again, grabbed you by the wrist, and moved forward. You caught a glimpse at his face, determination brimming from his features, but pearls of sweat collected at his forehead. He was clearly in pain, showing it in the way he held his own shoulder with his free hand, but he hadn’t given up yet. He would move on until you two were safe, and though you sympathized with his pain, you were so thankful he didn’t give up yet.

You two ran as fast as you could, but soon you couldn’t ignore the sound of armor behind you anymore, hooves trotting closer while torches lit up the forest more and more. It was almost spooky that no words were muttered, and you expected someone to call orders every now and then, but you had seen the clothes of your followers briefly; you knew who they were. The prince’s guards, clad in the finest silver and trained to the point of being nothing more than human dogs. They ceased speaking if not absolutely necessary, their eyes were soulless, and their hearts without a hint of benevolence. Them being after you could only mean one thing.

The prince wanted you back.

Another arrow getting stuck in the tree you just passed. You knew everything they did wasn’t fun but coldly calculated tactics. They wouldn’t hurt you. They couldn’t. Your cheek bleeding would probably cause one of them to get degraded to a chair for three months at least, so they really couldn’t afford to hurt you more seriously. But they did know who they could hurt you with. Someone whose pain would hurt you more than your own.

The next arrow missed completely, lost in the leaves on the ground. You two were running out of all the adrenaline you had, slowly and surely having exhaustion catch up to you. No! Please no! You begged the entities above that this wouldn’t be the end! There was so much more to live for, so much to see and experience! You wanted to be with your former caretaker, the only one who ever took you and your feelings seriously enough. You two could build a house and keep far away from the hustle and bustle of the cities, farming and taking care of livestock until the end of time. So please! Don’t let this be the end of it!

However, against your expectations, the one to collapse first was him. This time, the arrows didn’t miss, one hitting him in the lower back, one scarily close to his spine. Teardrops pearled from your cheeks as you fell into to mud with him, your hands scrapping along the roots and stones of the ground as you crawled back to where he laid, softly whimpering. Reaching for an arrow, you wanted to pull it out in desperation, but he began to cry out in pain before you could even start pulling.

“LEAVE!” he screamed. “LEAVE AND RUN!”

You couldn’t hold back the sobs hearing these words. “Please...” his hand reached for yours as he tried his best to look up to you. “Go, find a safe place to hide! Leave for another country and never come back!”

“No...” you sobbed, bringing one hand covered in mud and blood to your face. “I don’t want to leave you...”

“They are after you, not me,” he tried to reassure you, but you knew better. The sounds of their heavy footsteps drew closer and closer, and finding him, they wouldn’t hesitate to kill this ‘traitor’. If you went, then he’d die. But if you stayed and got caught, he’d die as well. No choice you could make would end happily for the both of you. “Please, go. I want you to-- ARGH!” Interrupted by his own scream, you began to panic, calling his name and shaking his arm, only to look up as a shadow was cast over you.

“[Name],” the prince sighed, relief showing in his face. He had this small, exhausted smile on his lips, happiness in his features as he looked at you. However, the moment he looked down at your companion, his face began to contort into a hateful grimace, his leg lifting once more to give your Beloved’s back a not-so-gentle kick. “No! Stop!” you cried, latching onto his leg as the kicks came down, your partner’s screams echoing through the forest.

“Don’t worry, I will get rid of the scoundrel who kidnapped you. I will save you! Just like I always do!”

“No! You’re hurting him! Stop it! Please... Please stop!”

Never had you imagined that you’d ever find yourself so low again that you’d beg the prince for something. Before, it had been for your life, but now, it was for the life of the only person that really mattered to you. “Oh, Sweetheart,” the prince cooed, his fingers finding their way under your chin, pulling your face up to meet his eyes. “Don’t cry... he didn’t love you as much as I do. I’ll help you over the heartbreak once we’re done here.”

The prince let go roughly as he pulled his sword from his sheath as you fell to the ground next to your partner. For a moment, time seemed to stop as you stood up in a matter of seconds. Panicked, you decided to throw yourself in front of the sword instead, but a hand grabbed yours before you could. Looking down at your Beloved, smiling warmly and encouraging as he muttered the final words you’d hear from him.

“Go.”

It was like he set you free, even if your definition of free originally included him. “Eh, Darling?!” you heard as you took off in a second spurt of adrenaline, the prince screaming your name after you. But your mind completely shut off the moment you passed the last lit-up arrow, sinking back into the darkness. Everything was blurry, your vision stained with your tears that wouldn’t go away no matter how much you rubbed your eyes with your dirty hands.

Your feet must have started bleeding as you kept running faster and faster, but you gave them no mind, not even feeling the pain. All you felt was the wound in your throbbing heart, something that the prince couldn’t heal no matter how much he believed he could. You wanted to understand your former caretaker’s action, telling you to go rather than defend him. If you had been in his place, surely, you had done the same. But it was as if you were the one who got betrayed by yourself by running away. By giving up on something hopeless, you felt like you were betraying everything you had ever stand for. How pathetic you were, running, trying to get the better future you had hoped to build with him.

Next thing you knew, you stumbled as the ground gave away to a slope before you, your body tumbling down the wet leaves and sturdy roots, your skim getting scratched by the branches of bushes all around you. It was pure luck that your fingers closed around one big tree root the moment they did; otherwise, you surely would have fallen from the cliff that opened up beneath you, instead of just hanging on to it now.

Only now your ears regained their function, the rushing of waves sounding far too deep and far too rough beneath you as to simply be a river. Had you run all the way to the shore? Was it the big sea beneath you? Either it had been closer than you thought, or you did develop some superhuman abilities after changing into a beast.

Groaning, you tried to pull yourself back over the edge, the slightly forward-leaning stone not being any help in rescuing yourself. Even more so, you had to realize the light of torches drawing closer and closer by the second, while you still struggled to escape the death by falling into the unruly water from a great height.

“[Name]!” you heard the screech of your name, genuine worry resounding from it. The prince’s face was the last thing you wanted to see, especially as he looked so damn horrified at the sight of you barely holding on to the cliff. “Don’t move! I’ll pull you up!” he called as he slit down the slope as best as he could without falling himself until he reached you. It was strange. You should have been happy that you wouldn’t be dying. That someone would save you from this horrific fate.

But all you felt was pure despair.

If he pulled you up, then that would be it. He’d take you back, lock you up again and do as he pleased with you. Who knew if you’d ever get a chance on escaping again, especially if he made an example out of your previous companion about what would happen if anyone ever helped you. You’d have nothing left but to live your life as a mere plaything, captured by the prince that was so beloved by everyone, and you didn’t want to think about all the things he’d do to you now that you were human again.

His hands reached out, and you noticed them faintly in your vision. Your decision fell only seconds before he could grab you by the arms. It was too dark to see, too dark to even speculate how deep it was, but you decided it was better than becoming an empty shell of a person if you stayed with the prince.

No matter what would await you in the depths down below, it couldn’t be worse than being a subject to his twisted, self-righteous love, you decide. Letting go was easier than you thought, making you realize your body must understand this situation very well even if it might cost it its life. The face of the prince as you slipped from his grasp was a priceless last sight to see before you closed your eyes, awaiting the inevitable.

Until your back hit the water, engulfing you wholly like the hungry, desperate maw of an animal. Deeper and deeper until it was everywhere, and only then you opened your eyes again for one last glimpse of the blurred light above.

[satuguro]

damsel in distress

IN WHICH: desperate times call for desperate measures.

PAIRING: zuko x reader

INSPIRED BY: moment’s silence (common tongue) — hozier

WARNING: suggestive themes, making out ;)

NOTES: i got distracted while writing the next part of stars. i hope you all enjoy!

you could feel someone following you.

you had been taught to be aware of your surroundings and follow your gut— your grandfather, a retired fire nation general, had taught you well. he had raised you as his own ever since your parents died in battle, and taught you the truth about the fire nation from the very start. he was a careless old man, one who didn’t fear being caught by the firelord or being killed; he claimed that he was old enough.

his advice was simple; follow your gut, and be aware.

he expected you to accomplish great things. you were trained to be prince zuko’s personal body guard, and while he was proud of that alone, the fact that you had chosen to go off with zuko during his banishment was what he was truly proud of.

“you and iroh will be the only voices of reason on that ship,” your grandpa had explained as he packed multiple tea bags into your bag (when you weren’t looking, of course). he watched you fondly, observing the way you were sharpening your sword. you looked so much like your parents.

“be aware, y/n. a big storm is brewing.”

on the ship, your job soon blossomed into an advisor and body guard. you became iroh’s pai sho partner and looked up to him as a role model. you had joined the old man in trying to explain to zuko that his honor wasn’t worth it, but at the same time, you helped zuko train. you were a nonbender, but that only meant that you were strong in combat— especially hand-to-hand.

fast forward a few months, you were sure that your grandfather would be glad to hear that you were living a somewhat normal life in ba sing se alongside iroh and zuko. setting up a tea shop under new names was certainly a spontaneous decision, but you weren’t complaining at all. to you, it felt like a vacation; you could finally let out a breath you had held in for years. a small prt of you missed the adrenaline that came along with fighting, but you knew that this life was the life you all deserved.

you all deserved peace.

but as you walked down the dark alleyway of ba sing se, your hands holding a woven basket that you used to hold your belongings, you knew that your peace was disrupted. something was wrong. someone was watching.

you kept up a cool front, but listened to the little sounds around you. you could hear the faint swoosh of air coming from someone, and the small puffs of breath being taken by someone who wasn’t you.

you heard them land quietly behind you. you could tell they were experienced— you almost didn’t hear them. almost. you heard their feet come closer, each step making you slow your walk.

you turned around abruptly, basket still in your right hand as you shoved them up against the nearby wall. your right arm went up to their throat, eyes glaring into the blue mask the other person wore. if looks could kill, the stranger would certainly burst into flames.

your arm was hard against their neck, almost cutting off their air supply. you were both breathing heavily, chests heaving against each other before your free hand went up to pull the mask up.

your eyes met familiar amber ones, your scowl faltering at the sight of the fire prince. your arm fell from his neck, a scoff leaving your lips as you pushed yourself off of him. the warmth he radiated was gone, now replaced by the cold night air. “you were following me?” you asked, already knowing the answer as you crossed your arms over your chest.

“you were gone longer than usual!” zuko protested, thankful for the darkness around him as his face burned red. he huffed grumpily, copying your actions and crossing his arms. “you told uncle that you’d be back before 12! you were late!”

“i wasn’t late!” you argued, foot tapping against the cobblestone. “but because of this stupid stunt, i might be!” your angry look faltered at the soft sound of gruff talking, your head turning towards the sound while zuko only groaned.

“don’t be mad at me because i got worried!” zuko fired back, throwing his hands up in exasperation as he paced. “spirits, it’s so hard to be good,” he grumbled under his breath before he stopped his pacing, pointing an accusatory finger towards you.

“i’m not some damsel in distress, zuko.” you replied, eyes still staring into the darkness. you could feel people coming.

zuko was blind to your strange behavior, instead choosing to tell you off further. “i know you aren’t! you’ve kicked my ass more than i could count. anyway— know how dangerous it is to be out so late especially when we—“

you suddenly moved closer to him, shoving him up against the wall once again. zuko’s words died in his throat as he looked down at you, but your mind was elsewhere. you were looking down the dark alley, your brows furrowed.

“i’m not done,” zuko forced out, making you shush him harshly. your legs were practically tangled together, and your arm was up against his body, practically trapping him under your body. his body was against the wall behind him, and zuko didn’t move as you narrowed your eyes. that’s when he heard it: deep voices.

“kiss me,” you stated, not even looking at him. you dropped your basket on the ground.

“what? you can’t be serious,” zuko hissed, his body temperature rising. but that didn’t seem to bother you as you looked back at him.

“do you trust me?” you asked sternly, making him nod before you came forward.

your hands reached to his neck, your touch gentle as you brought him down to meet your lips. his eyes fluttered shut, the voices from before disappearing into the background and being replaced by you. his senses were flooded by you. you tasted like sugar cane and smelled like moon flowers. you were intoxicating, and zuko found one of his hands going up to hold your neck, his thumb gently caressing the skin under his fingertips.

he tasted like tea and smelled like jasmines. the mere taste of him made you crave more, and your leg was instinctively placed between his legs.

you pulled away from him briefly, breathing slightly labored. your eyes met his, and you came in the middle again, lips slotting over each other. you slipped your tongue into his mouth, reveling in the low moan he gave out. your fingers ran through his hair, making his blue mask drop onto the ground as the kiss became more passionate. you tugged at the black strands, listening to him groan deeply.

you pressed him harder against the wall, yet zuko didn’t care as he bit down on your bottom lip and pulled, making you let out a whine that he wanted to hear more of. the voices were nearer now, and he could hear them jog down their alleyway.

his lips trailed down to your neck, making you close your eyes tighter and tilt your head to the side to give him more room. zuko opened his eyes briefly to see who the voices belonged to.

dai li. three of them came to a sudden stop at the sight of you both, and one immediately got your attention.

“hey! what’re you two doing here?” he yelled, ignoring the exasperated looks of the others as his voice echoed in the alley.

zuko opened his mouth to answer, but you beat him to it. you looked back at them, feigning indifference as you cocked a brow. “what do you think?” you responded, the corner of your lips curling up into a confident smirk. you glanced back at him, giving him a small wink.

zuko died right then and there.

“go home,” the dai li soldier stated sternly, making you let out a deep sigh. you were a good actor.

“c’mon lee,” you pulled away from zuko, grabbing your basket and his mask, hiding it from the dai li as you tucked it into your basket. you took zuko’s hand in yours, your act breaking for a second when he intertwined your fingers. “let’s have more fun at home,” you said, reverting back to your lie as you gave the dai li an innocent smile. with that, you ran off with zuko, letting out a loud laugh when you reached the entrance of the jasmine dragon.

“holy shit!” you let out, unable to hold back your laughs as you looked up at the sky. “i can’t believe we got away with it!” you looked at zuko, face flushing when you felt his warm hand tangled with yours. he was looking at you intently, amber eyes gleaming with something you’ve never seen before.

you leaned forward, gently planting your lips onto his for a quick peck. you opened up the door to the jasmine dragon, sending him a suggestive look that he read immediately. as the door shut behind you both, your basket dropped to the ground as this time zuko pushed you against the wall, lips meeting yours once again.

┈┈ 𑁍༅ཾ༚ ┈┈

NOTES: the sub jumped out of zuko real fast in this one. lmal this was so self indulgent, but once again, thank you for reading and sorry for any typos!

TAGSLIST: @beifongsss

[gavillain]

Alright, picture this. You have been hired to create a new Disney film. Only one, mind you, so you gotta make it worth it. You are told that nearly everything in the movie is entirely up to you. What do you choose to do with this movie? And yes, you have the option to bring back tropes from the classic films if you want.

*rubs hands together* I've got this!

The story I'm choosing to tell is Marie de France's "Bisclavret" (or "The Lais of the Werewolf" as it's also known). If you don't know the story: there once was a knight name Bisclavret, and he was secretly a werewolf. He transforms every full moon, and he can only turn back to normal if he has his human clothes to put back on when the full moon is done. His evil scheming wife finds out his secret. She has her minion steal his clothes so that her husband becomes trapped in wolf form, allowing her to take over his lands and wealth. While hunting in the forest, the good king finds Bisclavret, and because the wolf bows before him, the king takes in the wolf as a pet. One day, the wife visits the king, and the wolf attacks her. The king immediately knows something is wrong since Bisclavret has always been gentle and peaceful. So the king makes the wife tell him what she did and forces her to return the clothes. The king gives them back to Bisclavret, and Bisclavret becomes human once more. The king makes Bisclavret his most trusty right hand man, and the evil wife is banished from the kingdom forever for her crimes.

I just think it's such a good fantasy story that feels very much inline with the classic fairytales. I think the element of transformation is very Disney, and I think there's a lot of potential to expand it in really fun and creative ways.

Now there's a few big things I want to do here:

We're doing this traditionally hand drawn animated. None of that CGI garbage. 2-D animation all the way! The one would fit in perfect alongside Snow White or Sleeping Beauty or The Sword in the Stone.

I'm making it gay. Yes. I'd want to do the first gay Disney movie with this story. I think there's just the perfect potential to have it be a love story between the king and Bisclavret since their relationship is the center of the story. The young handsome king and his knight in shining armor... who is sometimes a wolf XD It just is the perfect set up, imo, because it doesn't even involve changing the story. It just adds an extra layer on top of it.

Of course the wife is gonna be a classic charismatic Disney Villain. I'm thinking she'd be an Ursula as Vanessa type figure. Probably change her to a fiancée for an arranged marriage rather than Bisclavret's wife. Have her be a scheming witch who is also plotting to overthrow the king. And maybe once her deception is exposed, there's a big final battle a la Prince Phillip vs Maleficent.

But I don't want to make the wife the only woman is the film because that'd probably look tacky. I'd want to give the king a younger sister who's a princess who could be part of the princess line. Kinda thinking she'd be a kid around the same age as Alice or Wendy, but I'm open to older. I also think the king's mother should still be alive, and she could be there to guide and support her son.

Definitely have some comic relief animal sidekick friends that befriend Bisclavret while he's a wolf in the woods, and there'd be wacky hijinks a plenty XD

Also definitely an Alan Menken/Howard Ashman style musical. We need that gay love song and a new fabulous villain song (a jazzy burlesque number, anyone?). We just do lol.

I’d definitely want to defer to talented animators and illustrators for character designs, but some “concept art” I made in the Aladdin DollMaker app for Bisclavret, the King, and the wife:

These are just general concepts though.

But, yeah, that's how I'd do it. Hopefully people would like it! I know I'd watch the Hell out of it XD

[curiosity-killed]

bitter fruit & thorns

Attempting to restart my daily writing habit by doing lil angsty warmups

Words: 1102 Warnings: Violence, implied torture Fun fact of the fic: The branches are Chinese quince (which is kind of a stupid name given multiple varieties of quince grow in China but w/e) which have v pretty flowers

If he squinted or leaned his head back a little, it almost looked like flowers beneath his feet. Ragged-edged and clumped together, they patterned the wood in flecks of red like wildflowers bursting into life from the splintering old floorboards, and Xie Lian couldn’t help a small smile at the thought. It had been months since he last saw flowers, winter frost creeping over all the fragile stems and snapping them off at the head. Really, this little hut was the warmest he’s been in weeks.

The door creaked, scraping across the floor where it sagged on its hinges, and footsteps thudded against the floor. Blinking a little to clear his vision, Xie Lian pulled his gaze from the flowers blooming in his own blood and fixed a polite smile on his lips. “Hello,” he said. The three men huddled close together as they approached, two of them lagging a step behind the first. If Xie Lian put his mind to it, he could probably break the ropes tying him in place and only have to take out the leader before the other two crumpled. They kept looking to the first man with wary little looks, as if afraid to even take a step with the wrong foot. The leader, on the other hand, paused directly before Xie Lian. His expression was completely blank as he tilted his head, gaze dropping slowly down Xie Lian’s face as if to catalogue the bruises and cuts across his face. “I’m sorry, I don’t have much to offer you,” Xie Lian started. A hand snapped out, knuckles colliding with the open cut across his cheek. Blood sprayed from his lips, joining the other red petals painting the floor. “I know who you are, Taizi Dianxia,” the man sneered. His apathy pulled back to reveal a cruel snarl, and Xie Lian swallowed before recomposing himself. Behind them, one of the men rubbed his fingers against his palm as if to chafe away the cold, and the other hunkered a little more into his cloak. It was chilly in here, if Xie Lian thought about it. Warmer than any snowbank or frozen alley, but their breath condensed into white fog when they exhaled. “Did you think we picked up some beggar just for fun?” the leader asked. Drawing in a careful breath, Xie Lian tried to keep his voice even and soothing. “This one apologizes,” he said. “I am no longer a prince or god. There are some buns in my bag and a—” “Shut up about your fucking buns,” one of the men behind the leader snapped. “We don’t want your shitty old food.” Xie Lian closed his mouth slowly, gaze flickering between the three of them. Although their clothes were worn and clearly a bit old, they didn’t seem so down on their luck as some. Certainly not so much so that they’d try to steal from a trash collector, a banished god with nothing to offer. Behind his back, his hands tightened and shifted in the rope tying them. They’d been cleverer than some, tying his hands separately and winding the rope around his waist so he could hardly move them. “You know, my mother said that our family was one of the wealthiest in Xianle before it fell,” the leader said, lifting his chin. “She was one of the greatest beauties, had a chance at being a concubine to the crown prince.” Even when he was only a spoiled child, Xie Lian didn’t have much of a memory for all the women paraded before him as potential concubines. His mother had handled most of it while he daydreamed of sword fights and grand adventures. Now, those faces were a blur, ground under the heel of the decades as they passed. “But you didn’t think she was good enough,” the leader said, leaning close to Xie Lian’s face. “Not for the Prince Who Pleased the Gods. So my mother was forced to take her chances in the war and plague, and she had to settle for a man who was willing to marry her with no dowry or family or anything to her name.” Xie Lian’s stomach twisted like he’d eaten poison, clenching up and making his throat grow tight. He swallowed, but it didn’t ease the knot working its way up his throat. “My mother died before she had a chance to grow old,” the man hissed, low, “and then today, what do I see? The same little prince who thought himself so much better than her, just as fresh-faced as any white lotus. Aren’t you just so lucky, Dianxia?” Over the years, Xie Lian had grown to hate that title, but a particularly bitter breed of shame crawled out of his stomach and burrowed into his chest now. How many times over the years had he pitied himself, wept or railed against his own misfortune? Always so selfish, so pathetic. He didn’t carry the scars of the human face disease because he was already a murderer, a killer not just of enemy soldiers on the battlefield but of every single citizen of Xianle, of every believer he’d ever had up to the very last one. “You,” the leader said, turning back over his shoulder toward the men behind him. It wouldn’t have been so hard to use the temporary distraction as an opportunity. The ropes were taut, but Xie Lian could still move enough to crack their skulls together and disorient the leader. He held still and waited. “Come here, hold his mouth open.” Xie Lian blinked, frowning slightly at the instruction. Poison was an arduous experience, but it didn’t provide much visual interest. At most, he’d writhe and throw up on himself. Perhaps that would be enough to satisfy them...? It seemed unlikely. One of the men moved around the leader to stand behind Xie Lian. He dug his hand into Xie Lian’s cheeks, prying open his jaw, and used the other to hold his head still. The third man stepped forward, and in his hands was not a vial or a blade but a bundle of branches. Snow still dusted their small leaves, frost curling delicately over scarlet blooms and slender thorns. “For the Flower-Crowned Martial God,” the one holding the branches said, sketching a mocking bow. The man behind Xie Lian held his jaw still, fingertips biting into the meat of the joint, as Xie Lian tried to pull away. At his feeble struggle, the leader smiled coolly and reached for the first of the thorny branches. “You understand,” he said, “it’s only my duty as a filial son.”