#i hate everything about heir to love and lies

[tervaneula]

If it's alright for me to suggest: how about Leo & usagi begin the hier of their clans?

Some AU where people outside the clan (for example: hidden city folks) talk about how scary, intimidating and horrific the hamatos are because they have a Japanese style of mansion/house and they spin lies about Leo saying he's this and that... But in reality? He's a sweet, sensitive man who doesn't hurt people for the joy of it.

Imagine his surprise when the same lies goes about Usagi a samurai rabbit that makes him look like an antagonistic character while in reality? He's so gentle and sweet man just like Leo.

The plot am thinking of is kinda like: oh this guy is somewhat awful because of the rumors talking 'bout how of an awful man he is but i fall in love the moment i know all these rumors are lies and he's so sweet!!

Like imagine how cute it is if people said "he hates sweet" but see him drinking a smoothie or milkshake. Another says "he has muscles and well fit" but in reality he has those cute chubs on him 🥺

I'MMMM AJSHGASDJFGHJSDFKGG

YOUR BRAINNN OH MY GOD. I WANT TO WRITE THIS??!!?

Holy shit that's so good. Amazing. Wonderful and brilliant and sweet and everything I could ever want from an AU like this. And let's put them like a few centuries in the past so word-of-mouth is the primary way people share information :D

And shdgfhsd here's my take on an edgelord Usagi, but wait. Can it be. Is he actually a sweetheart under all that edge??? AAAAAAAAAA THIS IS MAKING ME [incomprehensible]

A somewhat reclusive clan with an heir who everyone thinks is a crime lord or something equally unsavoury?

A wandering ronin with an ill reputation and looks to match?

Will they meet and test their mettle in a battle TO THE DEATH?! Uh, wait what do you mean they just went out for tea and mochi cakes–

[redrose10]

Yoongi X Female Reader. CEO/Arranged Marriage AU

Summary: You were selected to marry the wayward CEO/Billionaire/Heir, Min Yoongi. You went into it with an open mind and heart determined to try and make it work. Yoongi on the other hand had no intention of ever letting you in let alone allowing himself to fall in love with you. Slowly you start to associate the smell of cinnamon and vanilla with the feelings of hurt and sorrow.

Word count: 2,531

This chapter will touch on some darker subjects so I highlighted the specific trigger warning in red. In the story it’s not really detailed or any thing and is really minor but I still wanted to make it known just in case.

Warnings: (May get updated as chapters progress): Arranged marriage, cheating/infidelity, hints of smut (Probably won’t get very explicit but we’ll see how it goes), Sexual Assault, Very brief allusion to suicide, Brief mentions of death, Reader grew up an orphan, General Angst, Swearing

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Alright here is chapter 9! Thank you to everyone that has read this story and for the comments and messages. I tried to add everyone to the tag list that I saw but I feel like I missed people and I apologize for that. I was never good at keeping tabs of a tag list.

Tag list: @gimeow @kam9404 @viankiss @baechugff @gaby-93 @kayleefriedchicken

You stared back still in shock from everything that had just happened to you. “Y/N are you okay? Do you need to go to the hospital?”

You shook your head as Yoongi wrapped his suit jacket around you gently pulling you into a hug. The cinnamon and vanilla scent that you’d come to hate was somehow comforting in that moment. After a few seconds he pulled you along with him.

“What about him?”, you asked looking back at the man still lying on the ground.

“Don’t worry about him. I’ll handle it later. Let’s just get you out of here.”

He quickly had a car ready and got you inside while he got in after you advising the driver to head to Jimins.

“Yoongi who was that guy and how did he know so much about us?”

He ran his hand through his already ruffled hair. You noticed the bruise on his knuckles starting to form.

“It’s a really long story Y/N.”

You scoffed, “Yoongi he just assaulted me and knew a lot of my personal information so I think I deserve an explanation regardless of how long the story is.”

“You’re right. Once we get to Jimin’s I’ll explain everything.”

You looked over at him noticing how disheveled he looked. You wanted to reach over and smooth his hair and comfort him, but you decided against it after remembering everything that happened between the two of you recently.

“How did you know where to find me?”, you asked stop kind of surprised that it was him who came to your rescue.

“Well I saw you leave out the front entrance when I was talking to Taemin and I was going to go after you then but I figured you’d want some space so I stayed back. After you were gone for a while I started to get worried and began looking around and then I got a call from Jungkook?”

“You’re intern Jungkook?”

He chuckled, “Yeah, apparently he had met a new friend during the auction and was in the backseat of a car that was parked on the street with that friend and he saw you. He called me and said you were with a guy but he wasn’t sure if you were l with him willingly or not because you looked uncomfortable so I started running towards where you were while I stayed on the phone with him and he kept an eye on you and that’s how I found you. At first I was just going to leave you be because if you wanted to be with another guy I have no right to stop you but when Jungkook said you looked uncomfortable I knew I had to at least check on you and then I heard you telling him to stop and that’s when I decided to step in.”

“Oh well I’ll have to tell Jungkook thanks for looking out for me next time I see him.”

Once back at Jimins you quickly showered and changed into some comfy clothes and headed back towards the living room. Yoongi had borrowed some clothes from Jimin so he was comfy as well and he walked over handing you a mug of warm milk. Smiling you accepted the glass.

After he took a seat next to you he started flipping through channels on the tv.

“Okay Yoongi enough stalling. Tell me what’s going on.”

He let out a long sigh and set the remote down, “Alright, soooo the guy that attacked you is Suri’s brother, Hwan.”

“I’m sorry what?!”, you asked in between coughing on the sip of milk you just swallowed.

He continued, “Yep. I’ve known Suri and her brother since we were kids. We all went to the same school. He’s a year younger than us. Not long after everything fell apart with Mia I developed a friends with benefits relationship with Suri but I was clear from the start that I never wanted anything more. I knew rather quickly though that she was developing feelings for me so I tried to end the relationship but she made an offer. And then I got really selfish.”

“Yoongi what did you do?”

“Remember how I said that at one point I had dreams to be a music producer and rapper?”

You nodded.

“Well Suri’s dad happens to own Bangtan Records, one of the most successful labels in Asia. After trying to break things off she promised me she would get her dad to release my mixtape if I kept seeing her. I know now that I should’ve just walked away but at the time I was hurt and going through a lot of shit mentally and emotionally and I thought it was a great idea. I lost my dream of marrying Mia but maybe I could still achieve my dream of making music. I gave her a copy of the tape and we continued on with our friends with benefits relationship.”

He paused to take a deep breath. You looked at him wide eyed waiting for what was next.

“Anyways after like a year or so she still hadn’t given her dad the tape. I was in a better place mentally and I had started focusing on the company more so I didn’t really care about releasing music at that point. Honestly, I kind of forgot about the whole thing until a few months ago when I told her that I was ending things for good. I told her I was married and wanted to be a better husband and that included not sleeping around with anyone any more. Obviously she didn’t take it well and brought up the tape again. She said if I didn’t continue the relationship that she would have it released.”

You sat there really confused by the whole story and you didn’t mean to let out a laugh but you just couldn’t stop it.

“Yoongi please forgive me for saying this but that seems like a really dumb reason to keep going through all of this. Why don’t you just let her release the mix tape? What’s the worst that could happen? People make fun of you for some cringy lyrics you wrote a long time ago. I mean you’ve embarrassed yourself enough over the years anyways so this shouldn’t be anything new. It would probably blow over in a few weeks and then you could move on with your life free from Suri.”

You realized your words may have been a little harsher than you intended when you noticed the redness of his cheeks. He scoffed, “It’s not that simple Y/N. I wrote most of those lyrics at a really dark time in my life. I talk about hating my parents and the life I was forced into even though I’ve been very privileged since birth and have never had to worry about money or any real world problems. I talk shit about capitalism but now I own a company that feeds into it and runs off of it. I’d be the biggest hypocrite out there. Theres a song where I rap about hooking up with any woman I see and I say something about tongue technology and going to Hong Kong.” You bit your lip to try and hide a chuckle for that one but Yoongi sees it. “I was young and dumb and thought I was cool. Okay?”, he said with raised eyebrows before continuing again, “I mean there’s even a song where I talk about how many times I thought about just ending it all so I wouldn’t have to feel anything any more and I could stop being a failure at everything. If that tape gets out it’ll ruin me and my business and everything that I worked hard to build. We’ll loose investors and business partners which will mean millions if not billions of dollars gone. I’ll be the laughing stock of the corporate world and the company could crumble. I’d be an even bigger embarrassment to my family than I already have been.”

“So what are you going to do Yoongi? Keep sleeping with her just to shut her up?”

“Honestly, after you walked out I thought about it. Not wanting to hurt you any more was the only reason I ended things with her to begin with so if you weren’t going to be in the picture I didn’t see any reason why I should stop. But I just don’t want to do it any more. I don’t want to hurt you any more and I don’t want this to keep hanging over my head.”

“Okay so if you ended things with her then why did she send you that text that I saw at the cabin? About last week being fun and the lingerie?”

“She had been insisting that I either meet up with her or she was releasing the tape. So the week before you and I went on our anniversary trip I did meet up with her just to shut her up for a while.”

You gasped, “So you did lie to me?” He went into panic mode grabbing your hands into his.

“No no no Y/N it’s not what you think. I didn’t meet up to sleep with her. We got dinner at that Japanese restaurant that had just opened down the street from my office. We had a private room and she ended up storming out of the place leaving me there. You can even ask the staff. They saw it all. I told her again that I wasn’t interested in that type of relationship any more and that her and I were over with. I offered her money. I offered her jewelry, or a car, or a penthouse to just go away. She wouldn’t accept any of it. At the end of the dinner she told me that not only would she release the tape but she’d make my life miserable in every way possible that she could, including making sure that you were miserable as well and then she left. She had been texting me like that the whole week leading up to the trip. Different photos and videos and messages. I think she was hoping that you would eventually see the message and get upset which is exactly what happened. I would always just delete them when they came through and never responded to any of her texts but I’m just too afraid to block her right now.”

“And what about her brother? How does he play into this?”

“Well Hwan never did like me to begin with. He’s always had this weird inferiority complex with me. He always has the need to prove that he’s better than me or to have what I have, even when we were younger. Anndddd I also might have slept with one or two or maybe three of his girlfriends over the years.”

You began rubbing your temples, “Seriously Yoongi? Is there anyone in this country that you haven’t slept with?” He just shrugged his shoulders before continuing, “I’m assuming that him and Suri saw it as a winning situation for both of them. They knew that hurting you would hurt me, you’d get upset and want nothing to do with me leaving me available for Suri, and Hwan would also get the satisfaction of taking something or someone that I love away from me so that’s why he went after you today.”

“Okay then and how did he know about Namjoon? He mentioned something about how Namjoon might actually care for me?”

You didn’t miss the eye roll that Yoongi gave at that question but you chose to ignore it in the moment. He ran his hands over his face, “I really don’t know Y/N. I’ve never mentioned him to either of them.” The thought that maybe this guy had been stalking you a lot longer than just tonight made your skin crawl. You didn’t know of any other way he could know about you and Namjoon.

This was all so much information to take in and you could feel a headache coming on but if this had you so stressed you could only imagine what Yoongi felt like.

“Yoongi I’m sorry I didn’t let you explain yourself sooner. Even though I was upset I should’ve at least given you the chance.”

He shook his head, “No no I completely understand why you did what you did. I was really upset too because just when I had decided to try and we were making a little progress I thought it was all going to be taken away from me. I should’ve chased after you but I didn’t want to hurt you any more than I already have. I am really sorry Y/N. For everything. You would be so much better off if you never came here and married me. You deserve so much more that what I can offer. I’m sorry you’re stuck with me.”

You noticed his hands shaking slightly. You gave them a little squeeze being careful to not be too hard on the bruised spot. Rubbing your thumb over the area you whispered, “Thank you for buying that painting for me today. You knew it was exactly what I wanted. And also thank you for, you know, saving me tonight. You really were my hero.”

“So does that mean I get moved up to Harry Potter status now or am I still Voldemort?”, he said flashing you a gummy smile you hadn’t seen in so long.

“Whoah slow down there. You still have a lot more groveling to do before I 100% forgive you for everything and give you Harry Potter status.”

He chuckled, “Understood. I will work on it.”

You sat in silence for a while trying to figure out how to proceed. Finally you asked, “Yoongi she’s blackmailing you which is pretty illegal. Why don’t you just go to the police or get lawyers involved or something? You obviously have the money and power.”

“It’s not that simple Y/N. I signed away the rights to that music so even if I do go after her the label can still release it and then it would be all for nothing with a legal battle on top of it.”

“I don’t know Yoongi. I feel like there has to be a way around this other than you just continuing to sleep with her. Which by the way is not going to work for me, so if you want this to work then we need to figure something else out.”

Before he could speak Jimin walked in dropping his bags at the entrance while being completely oblivious to everything that had happened during the last several hours. He curiously looked at the two of you sitting next to each other while holding hands.

He sat down on the other couch while pointing a finger at the two of you, “Soooo I’d love to know what’s going on between the two of you and why you’re holding hands in my living room right now. But I just saw something even stranger downstairs. Suri and her brother are currently down in the lobby with two police officers. Any idea why?”

[iridiss]

I want a (non-canon compliant) Narinder whose gentle.

I want a Narinder who was once a kitten, newly crowned immortal, under Shamura’s careful mentorship. Who grew up the hard way, who learned you have to be rough, loud, mean, manipulative, and maniacal, you have to be bloody and violent and cruel, in order to survive in this world. In order to survive against Leshy and Heket’s brutality and Kallamar’s back-handed cunning. He learned from a family cruel and cold that love was a fool’s game, that sentiment was insignificant, that caring was weakness. So he scoffed at caring for anybody at all and learned how to break and toy with people as if they were dolls, made only for his own consumption and desire. That’s what his siblings told him, that’s what Shamura told him, that’s what his subjects and the fight to survive told him.

But he never saw his toys fit for anything more than the most necessary use, he never let them come any closer than professional arms-reach business, and he made sure to throw them away the second they were no longer strictly necessary. And he hated the cruelty of his siblings. He hated how they treated him, he hated how they made him fight for his fair share. And then he kept rebelling against the doctrine of the Old Faith. He would take the cruel, old, traditional rules of how one was supposed to act, and he would take them more as loose suggestions than anything severely concrete that you had to live by. He would start making up his own rules, or ignoring other rules that he simply didn’t like or deemed “inconvenient.”

He quickly became the black sheep of the “family.”

And then the Gods of The Old Faith betrayed him. And everything he was ever taught became a horrible lie. Everything became unjust. Everything turned into a false, corrupted kingdom that had to be torn down, that he could fix, that he could replace with something better. He tore it all down, violently lashing out against the family he had trusted, the family he had followed to the end of the road at his own expense, tearing them apart with his own two hands, because the scars he bore over the years became far too fucking loud to bear. Because everything had been a lie all along. Everything had been wrong, this whole damn time.

And they killed him for it. He screamed so loud about their lies that they simply had to smother the sound. They murdered their own brother—if he was ever a real “brother” to them at all, or nothing more than another religious heir to a crooked throne.

He was a God turned exiled heretic.

So he’d make his own fucking kingdom instead. He would undo everything, and start anew, following the doctrine he always knew was better. What he thought was superior. But problem is, it’s not that easy to shake off the entirety of one’s religious upbringing overnight. He was still clinging on. He would scream and shout about the incongruities and arrogance of The Old Faith all damn day—but then he’d keep Aym and Baal, a gift from his old mentor and oldest sibling, close to his side. He would call them fools and tyrants and wretched liars, but he’d remember the Darkwood flowers with a fondness, yearning to stand in his brother’s flower fields again someday. He would stay in the Lamb’s cult, when he could easily become a constant dissenter and leave like any other follower, when he could attack them, maybe even kill them, at any given moment. He doesn’t. He stays. He clings on to the fondness. He never fully let go of that old sentimental feeling.

I want a Narinder who doesn’t understand what love looks like, because the closest thing he’d ever known to true, honest love growing up was the scraps he’d receive from a withdrawn and uncertain Shamura. Those rare moments where Shamura was kind, warm, gentle, full of love, when he’d listen to the lullabies and the poems that they would weave to put him to sleep, when he’d be wrapped up in the blankets of their webs and their nests. When they would give him gifts.

When they gave him their final gift.

He doesn’t understand love. He was trained to view it as weakness. He still feels deeply, severely insecure about showing said weakness, he doesn’t want to face the severe and violent consequences of welcoming it. There’s a part in him deep down that understands devotion, that already internally understands what real trust, respect, loyalty, and integrity looks like. But it’s buried deep, under layers upon layers of indoctrination, manipulation, fear, insecurity, doubt, ungodly amounts of pain, and rage. He has enough of a natural moral compass to be able to tell when someone’s entire belief system is flawed or fucked up, and he has enough justice in him to want to tear the entire damn world apart from the ground up. Even if it’s just in the name of avenging the kitten in him that was forced to die all those centuries ago.

He isn’t aware of it. He doesn’t understand what’s going on inside of him. He’s never even taken an introspective glance at himself and why he feels everything that he does, he’s never even asked himself why everything hurts so much beyond the simple “my siblings betrayed me, therefore they all must die as they killed me” surface level. Frankly he’s too scared to look, so he pushed it all away and easily leans on the grinning, devilish, mean mask he always depended on before.

Then I want a Lamb that’s everything he ever needed. Literally, yes, as the vessel prophesied to save him, but also emotionally.

The Lamb had everything taken away from them by The Old Faith. They were killed and thrown away to Narinder’s feet like a broken toy. They want to destroy the doctrine of the Old Faith, they want to rip the world apart from the ground up and completely start anew. They share Narinder’s moral core, his drive for justice, his drive for revenge.

But they also learn, through their own cult, how to rule with love and mercy. They save and spare each follower individually, they marry their own followers, they cook for them, clean for them, house them, decorate for them, they love their followers. They learn that there is value and strength in utilizing the “sentiment and care” that the Bishops deemed as weakness. Literally: one of the best and most overpowered mechanics of the game is building your friendship level with your followers. You can’t live without them. You are their servant as much as they are one to you.

And when Narinder demonstrates his upbringing at its fullest by betraying Lamb and throwing them away like they were nothing more than a toy—The Lamb spares him, too.

I want to express to you how much that means, especially to him. I mean, hell, Narinder wasn’t spared by his own family. But instead, this tool, now proven Almighty God, gave him a level of grace that he wasn’t even allowed to fathom before. There couldn’t be a stronger, faster way to take a wake-up-sledgehammer to someone’s childhood manipulation. The Lamb was sent to destroy every last trace of the Old Faith, and I don’t think Narinder ever considered the extent of what that entailed.

He’d been lied to his entire childhood, being told that heart was weakness, that kindness would be his downfall, that sentiment was heresy. And yet here was a God besting him and every other deity/bishop in the land, and still cleaning up their servants’ shit with a broom. And I like to think that Narinder would undergo a massive change during his time in the cult.

He’d start off hostile and vicious and mean, because he’s still convinced that the Lamb betrayed him and “betrayal” is kind of a very emotionally heated topic for the guy right now. Even if the Lamb actually did the opposite of what his siblings did to him. He’s also terrified, confused, lost, and he certainly doesn’t trust any of the flowery, overly friendly mortals getting all touchy-feely with him.

But maybe he starts to show a little more wistfulness and nostalgia through his side-quests, maybe he’s trying to gauge how trustworthy the Lamb is by asking them to bring him special items from his childhood, and when they follow suit, he dips his toe in the water and shows just a little bit more of his heart, a tiny, itty bitty fragment. And then they don’t hurt him for it. They treat him with the same kindness they give to all of their followers.

And over time, he starts to see that the Lamb’s dominion is one of safety. All of their safety had been violently torn from them in the hunt for the last lamb, so now they do everything in their power to make their cult a home. And they welcome Narinder into that home, and Narinder is safe, and he’s loved, and he’s taken care of, and he’s respected, and he becomes one with the community. The Lamb is able to rule like this and still keep their power. And actually, their power is tripled by their bond with their people! Their kindness literally becomes a strength, and Narinder has never seen anything like it before, but they pull it off! In fact, the Lamb literally defied and beat Narinder into the ground because they weren’t willing to give up their home and their people.

I think he’d come to see The Lamb very differently over time. He’d go from seeing them only as an insignificant weapon for someone else’s use (possibly projecting a lot onto them), to bring in total awe of them, to learning that they’re trustworthy and safe, to seeing them as an equal.

I think they’d be two halves of the same whole. They understand each other in ways that no one else ever will. They’re the Gods of Death, past and future, they belong to the same power. They sit on this throne together. They teach each other everything they ever needed. They’re immortals together. Lamb once served Narinder in total devotion, then Narinder served Lamb in total devotion, and now they’re equals in every conceivable way. They have literally trusted each other with their lives. They were forged in very similar religious trauma and bloodshed, they were there at each other’s darkest time, working as a team. They’re vengeance-bonded. They saved each other. They spared each other, gave the other a second chance. They made each other better. Bonded in blood, divine vows, death, and resurrection. They are THE POWER TEAM.

As their bond grows, Narinder would end up letting his repressed soft side shine through. I can see him allowing himself to be kind for the first time, learning to recognize that not only is it safe for him to care here, it’s fully embraced and encouraged. The Lamb will punish him if he’s too mean to one of their followers. He can be gentle here, he can let his guard down and unwind. So he does, and he becomes a whole new cat. The Lamb eventually trusts him with leadership positions in the cult, until they’re ruling side by side, as they should. Narinder moves on from any desperate reach for power, because he’s secure enough in himself to know he doesn’t need to fight for it anymore. He would fight and die for Lamb as much as they would fight and die for him. They’ve given him true sanctuary, true family. True devotion.

[mizuki80]

Chapter 5: United as one

Warning: Blood

Word count: 2.6k

Note: Chapter 5 is here! Hope you all like it! Sorry for the grammar errors, will most likely go back and fix them. Also, let me know if you want to be added to the taglist!

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Chapter 5:

After the eventful family dinner, everyone had gone to her chambers. Visenys finds herself walking alone in the dark halls of the Red Keep and she makes way for her apartments. As she entered and was about to close the door, Aemond slipped past the small crack.

“I do not wish to see, or talk to you,” Visenya said as she tried to close the door on him but failed as he pushed back, now entering her room.

Aemond felt heartbroken hearing her say those words to him, “I’m sorry,” he said watching as she turned away from him

“I do not think I am the one you should be apologizing to,” Visenya said, turning to glance at him with a disappointed expression.

“I lost my temper.” Aemond said

“Lost your temper….” Visenya scuffed “Did you have to insult my Aunt…” looking him in the eye “Your Sister, the heir…. Just for a jest someone did to you when you years ago.” Visenya said angrily “You may hate them if you wish but they are my family… You insult them, you insult me.” Visenya said, stepping closer “What happened to you?...” she said as Aemond remained quiet “Did your father or mother’s negligence growing up really affected you so badly?”

“You happened!” Aemond said, spitting back “The day you left was the day I lost everything.” he said clearly upset

“Oh please… spare me the excuses.” Visenya said

“Visenya… You were the only good thing in my life when I was younger…” Aemond said cupping her face made Visenya look at him “Father was too sick or was too busy running the kingdom, Mother was too busy tending to Helaena or keeping Aegon in line…” he said “But you…you were there through everything.”

“Aemond… you shoul-” Visenya started

“No, please let me finish…” He said cutting her off “I promise… I will try to get along with my nephews… Let me prove to you that I am still that same person you knew back then.”

“Do not make promises you cannot fulfill.” Visenya said

“I promise you, let me earn your trust, and…” He paused “Love once again”

“You must go…” She said pulling was from him

As Aemond sighed and started to walk toward the door he was able to hear her last words.

“Do not make me regret this.” Visenya said as she watched him walked out

Those words were the one thing he needed.

~Time skipped ~ 

Visenya was awakened by the sun’s rays entering her room. Servants walked in with her breakfast and helped her get ready. Putting her hair back in a half up bun with braids intricately placed framing her face and got her in her riding garments, making her look regal, fitting for a princess.

As she makes her way out of the keep, she is able to see servants running around preparing for the grand feast. As she approaches the dragonpit, she is able to see Aemma standing in front of Vermothor as Silverwing waits patiently for her, letting out a pur like sound as she sees her rider.

“Hello, sister…” Aemma said turning to her twin “You sleep in this morning, very unusual of you.”

“I must be tired from our voyage and the events that followed the day before.” Visenya said as she pets Silverwing. Aemma looks at her sister as if she knows something.

Visenya noticed this and looked at her “What?” she said clearly knowing something is up

“Nothing… I didn't say anything.” Aemma said avoiding Visenya’s gaze as she licks her lips, doing so when ever she lies

“You’re lying…” Visenya said, stepping closer to her sister “You lick your lips whenever you do… Now tell me.”

Smirking at her sister “Are you sure you weren’t up talking to a certain one-eyes-prince.” Aemma said, teasing her sister.

“How did yo-” Visenya said “It wasn’t what you think.”

“I know all the things that are happening around you..” Aemma said “And I saw him walking out of your room with a stupid grin on his face.” Aemma said

Visenya rolled her eyes as she got on Silverwing and left Aemma on the ground screaming for her to wait.

After their flight Aemma and Visenya went to the training yard to find their cousins and Aemond training. They were in separate corners but it appears they are able to co-exist together, which surprised the two girls. 

Aemond was able to see them enter “Are you here to train nieces?” 

This got the twins attention “Yes, would that be a problem uncle?” Aemma ask

“Sorry princesses but…” Ser Criston paused looking at the two princesses “Swords are not proper for delicate flowers as yourselves.”

“Even roses shed blood with their thornes.” Visenya said looking at the member of the Kingsguard 

“I mean not to offend y-” Ser Criston was cut off

“Let them join if they wish Cole, this should be indeed interesting….” Aemond says  directly at Visenya “Dual them…”

“My Prince, I do not think it Wise.” Criston Cole said

This whole interaction was watched by many but especially their father.

“Let my girls have at it Ser Criston….” Their father yelled out from the balcony “I have full confidence in my daughter’s skills in combat.” smirking as he says this.

“As you wish my Lord….” Ser Criston says “Princesses” Nodding at the princess as he raises his sword to them. Everyone in the training yard watches, some disagreeing with the situation, others ammoused. 

As ser Criston gave his final blow, “ I will say princess… you are a strong opponent…” he said looking at the Aemma “But not strong enough.”

“Are you sure about that Ser Criston…” looking at her sword pointing at his stomach then signaling behind him, where Visenya holds her sword on the back of his neck. “You forget… you're fighting the two of us.” Aemma said smirking as they all lowered their swords.

Everyone was silent, until their father yelled out “Well done my darlings, your mother is looking for you…” he said proudly “Must get ready for the feast.”

The twins glance at each other before making their way into the Keep. Everyone in the yard was too shocked at what happened, two princesses defeating a knight of the Kingsgaurd with combat experiences. Aemond was one of those people completely shocked by the turns of events, knew Visenya trained as a child in combat, but he thought that interest would go aways through time.

~Time Skip~ 

Visenya was on her way to the grand hall where the feast was to take place. She wore a beautiful pale blue and cream short sleeve modest dress, complimenting her eyes, with her hair up in a half-up bun with braids framing her face beautifully.

During the feast her family gathered at the front of the room on a pedestal, Houses came to them greeting and showing respect to the King and his family.

As the king stood up with all the strength he had, every house looked “Your presence is greatly appreciated….” he says as he looks around “Be welcome, as we join together in celebration. For the Houses of Old Valyria grow stronger and united as one, a grand celebration will be held. As we all know there will be a tourney and hunt to be held for the uniting of my Family ....” The King paused “A Special treat is to be presented ... .The winner of the Hunt shall be welcome to spend a day with my Granddaughter… The Princess Aemma….” He paused as he motioned to the younger twin “And as for the Tourney…. Whichever Lord or even knight of the great houses before me shall be welcome to spend the day with my eldest granddaughter… Princess Visenya, heir to the Spine Islands.” 

As the King said this everyone in the room started to whisper amongst themselves. The last particular announcement got a certain one-eyed prince’s attention, one who does not “Give a shit for tourneys”.

“Now this is not a marriage proposal, only an acquaintance with the princesses. Now let us dine together.” With that the King sat back down, that took a large toll on his body, but wanting to be with his family he carried on.

As they dined, they were approached by none other than House Stark of Winter fell.

“My King, this is Cragen Stark the New Lord of Winterfell.” the Hand Otto Hightower introduced before taking his seat.

“My King…” Cregan Stark bowed, greeting the King “It brings me and my house honor to be invited to such a joyous night.”

This interaction certainly got Aemma’s attention “Sister…you are drooling.” Visenya whispered to Aemma’s ear

“Shut up!” whispering back causing Visenya ya to giggle

“Your presence ... .is certainly appreciated…. Lord Stark.” the King said

As the feast commenced, everyone danced, Lords fought to dance with the twin Princesses.

“My family holds many riches,” Jason Lanister said with a smug grin a man that is 3x her age “One that will give my Lady Wife comfort for all her days, never will she ever need to lift a finger.”

“I see… well whoever that Lady will be most honored … Oh and I am very sorry about you Late Lady wife.” Visenya gave a forced smile “I believed my sister was calling for me…” Visenya smiled and walked away out of view, and standing on the balcony looking at the stars is solitude.

Minutes later Aemma appeared “I see you are hiding from Jason Lannister… when he could not find you he came after me….” Looking at her twin sister “How could you!” Aemma said jokingly to her sister.

“That man is undoubtedly clueless…. After all the attempts I hinted at him not wanting to converse… he still made an offer to dance.” Visenya said sighing in annoyance

“You still said yes….” Aemma looking at  her sister with a confused brow

“I did not want to seem rude.” Visenya defended “And you simply declined every offer

“Sister, you are simply too kind…” Aemma said as she pulled her sister back inside.

As they made their way back into the celebration, they were stopped by none other than Lord Cragen Stark.

“Princesses..” he greeted the two princesses with a bow“I have not seen both of you on the floor for quite some time..”

Visenya looked at her sister, Aemma was frozen. As if she was dropped off in the North during the dead of winter. “Lord Stark… Yes, we just thought to rest our feet from all the dancing.” 

“I see… if it is alright with…” Cregan paused looking at Aemma then back at Visenya “It would give me a great honor to dance with Princess Aemma…. If it pleases her.” 

Visenya looked between the two waiting for her sister to give an answer, but there was only silence.” She would be delighted too.” pushing her sister forward “Right… Aemma.”

With this Aemma’s trance was finally lifted “Y-yes… I would be delighted too.” She said, taking Cregon Stark’s hand.

Visenya watched as they walked away, Aemma looked back at her one last time before conversing with the Stark.

Visenya stood there watching, not before seeing Jason Lanister make his way to her. This causes the girl to walk the opposite direction away from the man as she looks back to see if she lost him, she then hears a voice..

“A dance… dear niece”

As she turned to the voice she was met with sapphire blue eyes as she looked up, “I- '' she started looking back seeing Jason Lanister bumping into people ``I would.. Be delighted too…. Uncle”  She said as she took his hand… seeing the interaction Jason Lanister simply just stood there.

“You are simply getting all the Lords attention, dear niece.” Aemond said as he danced with Visenya

“I can’t say I enjoy the attention…” she said looking at him “I have yet seen you dance with the young ladies in attendance.” 

“I do not think they would enjoy a dance…” He paused, “they seem to fear me.”

This softens Visenya’s gaze “I do not see why….” She said looking into his eyes “You… are easy on the eyes… even with one eye.” she said

This caused Aemond to let out a laugh “Well that gives me relief…that you do not fear me” 

They smiled at each other, a genuine smile, catching the attention of their mothers. Knowing that there is some affection still remaining.

As the feast concluded everyone made their own chambers. Aemma and Viseya stayed up talking to each other, laying in Visenya’s bed as she read

“I cannot believe I just stood there.” Aemma said as she buried her head out of embarrassment. Earning a laugh from her sister “Do not laugh!” She said, throwing a pillow at her.

“ It was quite entertaining…I have never once in my life seen you so speechless, and with not snarky remarks to say.”

“You are insufferable.” She said getting up from where she layed “I’m going to bed” Aemma said storming out.

“I didn't mean to laugh!” She said laughing seeing her sister close her door

~ Time skip ~

It was the day of the tourney Visenya sat with her family watching every Lords or knight come from far and wide to compete with each other to simply spend a day with her…. People could have thought it would be for her hand.

Visenya watched as the houses lined up on their horses and loud cheers could be heard from the crowd. The Herald started to speak, naming all the rules of the tourney. And with that he started to introduce every house that is in participation. However Visenya simply was in her own world, she never really cared for tourney, though it can be exciting. 

“The winner of this tourney will have the honor of spending a day with the Pearl of the realm, Princess Visenya of House Bealtheos….” The Herald was interrupted by someone whispering in his ear, expressing a confused look on his face “I have just been informed of a late entry.” This announcement got Visenya to break from her mind.

“Prince Aemond of House Targarian!” The Herald yelled out causing cheers from the crowd

Visenya looked at her sister in confusion as she sat up straight looking back seeing Aemond riding on his horse dressed in armor looking back at her.

The Queen Alicent was shocked on seeing her son enter, His brother Aegon though drunk gave out a yell of cheer for his brother, Ser Criston smirked at the memory of when they dueled together and Aemond saying “I don’t give a shit about tourneys.”

“Well sister, isn’t this a surprise.” Aemma said as she looked out watching the tourney, Visenya simple glance at her

“With this Prince Aemond will now choose his first opponent.” The Herald announce

As Aemond’s horse walked back and forth, he finally stopped, picking out a random Lord from the line. As the tournament went on all of Aemonds’s opponents simply fell off too injured to stand back up or simply died either from impacted or getting pieces of the Lance gorged in them and bleeding out.. The next opponent was Jason Lannister, but as they were about to begin Jason Lannister was making his way to where Visenya and Aemma sat. 

“I would like to ask the favors of both Princesses Visenya and Aemma the Precious Jewels of the realm.” Jason Lannister said grinning at both of the princesses.

Visenya and Aemma simply look at each other before standing up and grabbing their flower crowns and putting it on Jason Lannister’s lance

“We wish you good luck..” Visenya said 

“And hope that you fall off..” Aemma said 

This caused Jason Lannister to be embarrassed and simply back off. 

In the end Jason was knocked unconscious after falling off his horse hard, leaving Aemond the winner of the tourney. 

“I present to you the winner of this tourney…”The Herald said “Prince Aemond of House Targaryen” He yelled out hearing the crowds go wild “And his price for such a battle…. A day with the realm’s Pearl, Princess Visenya of House Bealtheos.” Everyone cheered

Visenya made her was to the balcony looking back at Aemond “You did well my prince” She said

“Thank you Princess” Smiling at her

[alwaysthefool]

Stranger (x Fyodor)

Warnings: None probably but ask to warn

Tags: Fluff maybe, gender neutral, no spoilers

Another party you knew would end up in your pile of things that made you sadder. Once again you were reminded that you didn’t have any friends, did not know anyone there, but had to attend as a dutiful heir to an absent family. Even people that knew you pretended they didn’t, and you wondered if it had something to do with the way you look.

You did not even try to strike up conversation. In places like these, you could only speak if you were introduced by someone else. Although sitting alone was a common experience for you, looking at others socialising made you feel like an alien.

I just have to make it through a few hours, you told yourself as the loneliness brought forth a hint of a tear to your eye. You could do with anyone, just anyone, anyone to be there with you and speak to you. Just one friend.

Please.

As you could not bear the welling loneliness and embarrassing experience of sitting alone looking at either other people or your phone, you stood up from your seat and headed towards the balcony, only to bump into a tall, dashingly handsome, thin man, with violet eyes that matched the colour of your clothes. You felt like that couldn’t be a coincidence, and in his beauty, doubted if you had chosen your garb for that very purpose.

“Uh, sorry.” you spoke a little awkwardly, trying not to gawk at his eyes, politely moving aside to enter the relieving air of the balcony. You cursed yourself mentally for not knowing how to communicate in a more polished manner, but the view of the stars in the sky, the cool breeze, and the lack of other people made you forget those thoughts for a moment. But it was the darkness you loved the most, even if it was scary, it was empty. Devoid of souls.

Or so you thought.

As you leaned on the railing, you noticed that person beside you again, yelping from how he appeared out of nowhere.

The man chuckled. “Apologies if I scared you.”

“Oh, it’s okay.” You mentally cringed at your awkwardness again. But anyway, what was he doing back there? You thought perhaps you should be the one to start making conversation, so you introduced yourself. “Um, hi, I’m [name].”

“Adorable.” You realised he was staring at you, not even turning away when you looked at him to talk. It felt like he could see right through you, and if he looked away, it meant he was done reading. You regretted asking for a friend earlier, but didn’t have it in you to leave. Besides, he was cool, in a rat sort of way. “I’m Fyodor.”

He kept staring, and you couldn’t take it. “Why are you staring at me?”

“Because you’re beautiful, and I don’t understand what you’re doing here alone.” He finally looked away. “I never intended to make you uncomfortable.”

You didn’t have any meek ‘oh it’s completely okay’s in you left, so you decided to stay silent. You didn’t want him to leave, however, and kept thinking about him calling you beautiful. As for why you did not have a date, everyone you asked kept cancelling. It was strange, to say the least, and made you feel pathetic, so pathetic you couldn’t even tell Fyodor off because at least someone was speaking to you.

“So tell me, what are you doing in the balcony?”

“Getting air.” You lied, more eager to ask what he was doing there. “You?”

“Keeping an angel company.”

You blushed at the response, hating yourself for it. “You’re really direct.”

“It’s no secret I’d like to whisk you away from here.” He looked at you again, and so did you, his dark eyes glittering in moonlight, everything about his pale face perfect.

You didn’t realise how long you’d just been staring at each other, or when he closed the distance between the two of you, his lips feeling dry and somewhat chapped, but perfect, as you kissed him back, as if allowing him to drink from your own lips. His hands snaked around your waist, pulling you closer, as yours rested on his shoulders. Even though you were the one out of breath, he pulled away first, as if allowing you to breathe.

“Sorry.” He noticed. “You were just too… sweet.”

Maybe you had one more ‘oh it’s completely okay’ left in you, just for him. “Now, how about we go somewhere more private, and less… suffocating.”

“Please.”

[holdmytesseract]

moodboard by @chennqingg <3

Rules To Break

Jotun!Prince!Loki Laufeyson x fem!Æsir!Princess!Reader

Summary: Prince Loki of Jotunheim - son of King Laufey and heir to the throne is assigned to train a bunch of Asgardian men, in order to turn them into warriors. What happens when Odin's daughter, Princess Y/N crosses his paths in ways he would've never expected? While the Prince is completely unaware, the Princess struggles to keep up her several masquerades...

Warnings for this Chapter: Odin being the best father ever *coughs*, swear words, mutual pining?

Word Count: 2k

a/n: Okay... First things first. I split the originally last chapter up in two, so that means there's gonna be another chapter after that! 🥳

Divider by the lovely @fictive-sl0th 💚

Tagging: (Y'all in the comments again!)

Ice Flower Masterlist ❄ Masterlist

Chapter Four / Chapter Six

Chapter Five

Almost Four Months Later

You sighed, as you sat down on the windowsill with your book in hands, watching the birds fly by and the sun shining down on Asgard. You could see the blooming trees and flowers of the royal gardens from here. It was beautiful - if you were only allowed to go outside.

After what had happened at the training camp almost four months ago, your father was more than just angry. His wrath was so big, that he didn't talk to you for over two weeks. Your punishment was cruel. You weren't allowed to leave the palace - for at least a whole year. You had to stay in your room and were only allowed to come out for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It was horrible - and yet you had no other choice than to accept it. In the time you weren't eating, reading, sleeping or staring aimlessly out of the window, you were thinking... Thinking about the traitorous asshole which called himself prince Loki Laufeyson. You hated him for what he did. At least a part of you did. The other part was still reminiscing about the intimate moments you shared with him at that damn lake. You just weren't able to get him off your mind. He was always present – in some way.

A knock against the door of your chamber brought you back to reality. You looked up, "Yes?" and clapped your book shut. The door opened slowly, revealing your dear friend Estrid. She was carrying a tray with two small golden bowls. In one were nuts, in the other grapes. "I thought you could need something to eat, my princess." Estrid was your saviour. Your ray of sunshine on cloudy days. "Thank you." You smiled up at her, as she placed the delicacies on your desk beside the window. The young woman gave you a nod, and stayed for a moment, looking at you intensely. "What?" You asked, lifting an eyebrow. "Something is on your mind, I can tell. Or rather someone...?" Of course you told Estrid what happened back in the camp and the lake. She was your best friend after all. You sighed, defeated, rubbing the heels of your palms in your eyes. "I just can't forget him, Estrid. Even after four months, he's constantly on my mind, bothering me. I just don't know why..." The maid cocked her head, smiling. "If I may be so bold to say this, but-" "No, no, no. No. We already had this conversation – twice! I told you. I am not in love!" Your friend giggled. "Well, your mind can't seem to forget prince Loki... and the way you are denying it so vehemently, I think it's very clear that you are in love, your highness."

You just scoffed, shaking your head. "Why won't you just admit that you fell in love with him?" "Because I do not love him, Estrid, I-" You cut off your own sentence, averting your eyes; jaw clenching. "You what, my princess?" Estrid asked, stepping closer. "May I?" She gestured to the free space beside you on the little sofa. "You may." You gave her the permission to sit down beside you - what she did. "I understand you, Y/N, but I also don't understand you. Where lies the problem? Loki is everything your father wants as a future husband for you - as far as I'm concerned. He is a prince, future king. He's of status. The son of his closest ally. He's a warrior - a fighter. Why not give in to the love? Marry him." You swallowed at her words. Yes, you asked yourself. What even is the problem? Estrid wasn't wrong, was she?

"I-I don't know, I... I highly doubt that he feels the same." The maid placed a hand on your shoulder, smiling. "I highly doubt that he doesn't feel the same. After what you told me..." She said, standing up. "This sounds like a story of love to me." Her lips curled in another smile, before she left the room; closing the door silently behind her.

"And therefore, the next hunt is planned to be-" Laufey's eyes landed on his son's, who sat across him at the table. He was staring aimlessly across the dining hall, poking around in his meal. The king frowned. It wasn't the first time his son seemed to be very absent-minded. It happened a lot recently. "Loki." No reaction. The king balled his hand to a fist and slammed his fist on the stoney table, causing the prince to flinch. His gaze landed immediately on his father. "Have you heard a single word I just said?" Loki nodded, eagerly, "Of course, I-" but the critical gaze of Laufey silenced him. He knew. "Haven't, father. Apologies." The king shook his head, crossing his arms over his chest. "What is bothering your mind, son? You've been absent-minded all the time recently. Tell me - and don't say it is nothing!" Loki swallowed hard. He knew exactly what was bothering him. He hoped to hide it from his father, but it was no use. He couldn't. So why deny it longer?

"I..." Loki started, clearing his throat. "I am afraid I fell in love, father... And now I can't stop myself from thinking about her." Laufey looked at Loki like he had just seen a ghost; completely in disbelief. His son falling in love? A thing the king never thought possible. "You are what?" He needed to hear it again to truly believe it. "In love, father... I'm in love." The king blinked, still a bit taken aback. "Well, I'm surprised, but happy for you, son. I do hope she is of royal blood, though. Or well, at least of high status. I won't allow you to court a mere mai-" "She is, father." Loki jumped to interrupt him. "You even know her. Princess Y/N, daughter of Odin." Laufey's eyes widened. He definitely hadn't seen that coming. "Princess Y/N?" The young Jotun nodded. "Did you meet her on your trip to Asgard?" "Yes, but that is a story for another time. I have to go to her. I have to see her; talk to her. My heart is aching; in desperate need to see her." Loki closed his eyes for a moment as he paused, before taking a deep breath. "And... And I wish to marry her. Please, father." Laufey was still kind of shocked, but nevertheless gave his blessings. "You may - but this isn't just my decision. You have to speak to the Allfather; ask for the princess's hand in marriage." The prince nodded. "I will, father, I will. Do I have your permission to leave tomorrow morning for Asgard?" "You have my permission, son."

Loki wasn't able to find sleep that night. A trillion thoughts were running at lighting speed through his head; thinking through every possible scenario. What if Odin rejects me and won't allow me to marry her? What if I'm not enough for her in his eyes? What if she's already promised to someone else? What if she doesn't love me? But the signs have been clear, haven't they? Or did I read them wrong? What if she doesn't want to marry me? What if I screwed it up with rejecting her like I did?

His mind just wasn't able to settle down and rest. So, he tossed and turned; literally waiting for the morning to arrive. When it did, the young prince was up early, of course. Standing up with the sunrise, he prepared everything for his journey and visited his father, before he left.

"I'll be going now, father." Laufey gave him a nod, just having some breakfast. "Good luck, my son. Princess Y/N will be a good future wife and queen." Loki nodded approvingly. "She will. I'm certain of it." Taking a small bow, the prince backed up, on his way to leave, when the king held him back. "And son?" Loki looked over his shoulder, expectantly. "Yes?" "I'm proud of you. After every discussion we have been through… You, finding love is a true blessing." He couldn't help but smile at his father's words. "Thank you."

Not much later, Loki stepped out of the Bifrost, faced with the guard of Asgard - Heimdall. The Æsir gave him a nod and a bow. "I saw you coming, prince Loki." Loki winked at him. "I bet you did. Is the Allfather...?" "In the palace, yes." "Thank you." So, Loki made his way to the palace. After explaining to the guards that he was here to talk with Odin, they let him in and another guard accompanied him to the golden doors of the throne room.

"Prince Loki, son of Laufey..." Started Odin, as he laid his eyes upon the Jotun prince. "What brings you here on such a beautiful day? I hope nothing bad." Loki shook his head and got down on one knee, taking a deep bow, just like it was taught to him; upholding his good manners. "Rather the opposite, Allfather... I hope to bring good news." The king of Asgard gave the Jotun a nod, "Speak." looking at him expectantly. Loki swallowed and took a deep breath. Was that nervosity he felt? "I wish to marry your daughter, princess Y/N." Odin's expression changed. He couldn't hide that he was more than surprised. "You wish to marry my daughter?" "Yes, your highness." The king looked at the prince for quite a few seconds, literally staring him down, before he spoke up again. "Well... You are a of status - a prince, with good manners. A great leader and warrior, future king and the son of my greatest ally... How could I turn such an offer down? You may marry my daughter, prince." Loki couldn't suppress the bright smile which threatened to cross his face. So, he lowered his head in order to hide it. "Thank you, Allfather. I promise to be a good husband for her - but... I have got one more wish. Am I allowed to speak?" "Speak." "I... I don't want this marriage to be arranged." That was Loki's 'condition'.

Yes, he loved you and yes, his father and your father agreed to this, but he didn't want to force you into marrying him. If you didn't love him and didn't want this, the prince wished to accept your decision. Sure, he would be heartbroken, but forcing you to be his wife - to love him, wouldn't change a thing. Loki wanted you to be happy - even if that was the prize he had to pay. He would pay it in a heartbeat.

An almost high-pitched laugh escaped the Allfather's lips, as if Loki just said something scandalous. "You wish this marriage to not be arranged?!" Loki nodded. "Yes, my king. I beg of you." "Why?" "I want princess Y/N to be happy and not bound to a man she doesn't love, because..." The prince paused for a moment, took another deep breath. "Because I truly love your daughter. With all my heart." Once again, Odin just stared at him for a moment. "I owe you and your father. You trained my people to become excellent warriors. Therefore, I'll agree. If my daughter doesn't wish to marry you, she won't." Odin's answer took a load of Loki's mind. He was definitely relieved; took another bow. "Thank you. May I go and speak to her?" "Of course. After all, she is your future wife - perhaps."

That was, what Loki did. A guard led him all the way to your chambers. "I thank you. Leave now." The guard obeyed, bowed and turned to leave. Loki had to take a few deep breaths, before he was ready to knock on your door. Before he was brave enough to knock on your door. After all, a lot had happened between you and him. Not to mention that it was kind of his fault, that you were trapped in your room. He regretted it, but he also had no other choice back then and was hurt as well... Nevertheless, he had to talk to you and take a chance. Otherwise, Loki feared to die, because his heart was aching so painfully for you. So, he knocked; and when your delicate, sweet voice echoed from the other side of the door and told him to come in, a pleasant shiver ran down his spine. It was almost therapeutic to hear your voice again. Taking a last deep breath, the prince stepped inside.

[thecountesstribe]

House of The Dragon 2x8 Spoilers and Review.

This is gonna be a rant but I'm still putting a spoiler warning cause some people were waiting for the entire season to drop before they watched. I was spoiled during the week and I'm mad as hell about it. Yes we all know it's fuck book canon atp but at least make sure the story flows and make actual sense.

The finale was mid. I felt like there were a lot of things missing and it was kinda confirmed. We're gonna have to wait 2 long years and knowing season 3 is about to just be the assassinations of characters because season 2 didn't really do anything, nothing moved story wise except the death of Jaehaerys, the sowing of the dragons seeds and the death of one of the realest women in Westeros. It was just glorified fanfiction and most definitely not the good kind.

I'm begging Ryan and Sara to please read or at least have someone else read the source material before they get back in that writers room.

Lucerys, Visenya and Jaehaerys deaths were supposed to haunt the narrative for the entirety of the season, how they could fumble it so bad that it just feels like a drop of water on your hands while washing it is beyond me. Blood and Cheese felt insignificant as fuck considering it was also a major event that led to the destruction and death of one of the most prominent houses in Westeros, majority of the Targaryen's lineage and the death of most of the dragons. I should've known when they started promoting the 2nd season as Alicent vs Rhaenyra instead of Rhaenyra vs Aegon II, y'know the usurper, that it was gonna be some bullshit. The other major events in the second season, Rhaenys' death also felt brushed aside. This is why the show needs to be at least 12-14 episodes. Abolish the 8-10 episodes shit.

I'm gonna get hate for this but could they please let this Rhaenicent relationship go! For the love of everything that is holy, let it go. Season 1 focused on them, fine. Season 2 you gave them a reunion, crazy but okay. There was literally no reason for a second reunion. Sure the scenes were beautiful, shout-out to the actors but let it go. The plot already felt cheapened when they chalked up the dance to one big misunderstanding. Which is crazy considering, Otto and the small council literally had this entire plan set in motion since Rhaenyra was named heir and even a little before. I need Ryan to understand that sometimes friendships just end. Sometimes your friends cross the lines one too many times and you just need to let them go. Alicent overstepped and crossed the lines with Rhaenyra it was downright disrespectful for Rhaenyra to even be in her presence at all tbh. This is the same woman who made her life a living hell, raised her children to be vile, hateful, spiteful little shits towards their own sister and her children, embarrassed her and tormented her in court, started and participated in the rumors and smear campaign about Rhaenyra's character and children, essentially ran her out of her own home, lied about the death of her father and the news didn't come from her or the council immediately but after and that's only because they were holding her former mil hostage and she got away. Alicent knew Viserys was addled and delirious and out of his mind when he was rambling about the conqueror's dream (she didn't know about the prophecy but still), so nothing he said was supposed to be taken seriously and just because he said “Aegon” she decided to be spiteful/hateful and usurp the throne knowing it would've hurt Rhaenyra. I don't know why people gloss over this fact either. Aegon said it himself, his father had years to name him heir and he remained steadfast to Rhaenyra's claim. Aemond said it again this season, the small council and his mother plotted to usurp the throne. What more was there to talk about? The only talking that should've been happening is Rhaenyra signing her and the council's execution warrants for treason. This all started because Rhaenyra omitted the truth about who took her virginity btw. She didn't lie, she never slept with Daemon in that brothel. Not to mention that Alicent son also killed her child!! Let it go!

I'm gonna reiterate this point but we didn't need to spend all that time with Daemon in Harrenhal and his hallucinations. That should've taken 3 episodes top and then they could've had him work on his relationships with his family instead. Especially his daughters. The only thing I liked coming out of the Daemon hallucinations is the prophecy. DAENERYS STORMBORN TARGARYEN IS THE “PRINCE” WHO WAS FUCKIN PROMISED!! NOT THAT BUM JON SNOW. Fuckin finally. We could lay the discourse to rest. GRRM could've posted it on a billboard for the entire world to see and it still would've had the select few that will insist on Jon being the one who the prophecy was talking about. The events in the show and the book supported this btw so I don't even know what the argument was about but let's lay it to rest now. Although show wise it doesn't fuckin matter either way because D&D fucked the last seasons but book lore wise this is what GRRM intended or intends. Still waiting on the next book! The term “prince” was gender neutral. And everybody celebrates. Daemon swearing allegiance to his Queen, as he fuckin should. Raising the army in her name as he should. He's got voices in his head now apparently. Also he has a new friend in Alys, good for him.

Aemond did what he was supposed to do this season. He's still an unhinged psychopath, absolutely no one is surprised. No complaints on my end. I need him to keep his grubby hands to himself though. Helaena gave him his death notice and rubbed in the fact that nobody gave a damn about him in the end, she did that for me.

Criston even though I hate to admit it, same thing. He's still a woman hating piece of shit though and I want him dead immediately. We didn't need all those alicole sex scenes though. We got it, they were fuckin, kudos.

Larys and the small council did what was also expected.

Aegon is still fried. Now he's apparently heading to Essos. He wants to usurp the moniker “Realm's delight” too and to that I say absolutely tf not. That is reserved for pretty women only. Aegon has officially been castrated!! That was for all the women in the realm. It's what he deserved. I don't believe for one second that Sunfyre is dead. I think that'll be a swerve.

I wished we focused on Helaena more though. Her grief was explored a little more than Rhaenyra's but it was also brushed aside. Why? That would've been important to her characterization. Also why did they have Helaena astral project into Daemon's dream? She was so cool as well, like that man didn't have a hand in the death of her son.... You can't make this shit up. The scene was essentially “you killed my kid cool but since you're so good at killing could you get my brother next?” I'm convinced they are doing this shit on purpose. Why do they keep making the female characters in the show this peace seeking, docile beings when they were just as and even more chaotic than their male counterparts (with reason might I add). The men just do the most unhinged shit for glory and in the name of war sake and the women gotta be the peacekeepers even though they're the most wronged.

Alicent's character didn't deserve half the screentime she got because if you cut her scenes in half the majority of them contributed nothing to the moving along of the plot. Absolutely nothing. We already had limited time as is.

Baela and Rhaena I am so sorry you have incompetent people telling your side of the story. Sure they got more lines this season and that's a stretch but they're lacking characterization as well. Ryan and Sara scrapped the Nettles plot, okay (that was fuckin stupid). Nettles had a major role to play. Gave her story to Rhaena in the last two episodes and we still didn't even see her claim Sheepstealer. It's up in the air. Also one of the princesses of the Realm managed to escape and you mean to tell me nobody is looking for her? She just fucked off and that's it. Yeah okay. Also I hated how they wrote her relationship with Jeyne. She was so kind to her in the books and Rhaena actually had a story in the books when she went to stay with her. Sure she would've been living her princess core era life but it's what she deserves. It would've helped flesh out her character as well, led to her hatching Morning and her life after the dance.

Baela lost the majority of her characterization as well even though she's inherently more fleshed out than Rhaena. Baela was chaotic as hell in the books. They swapped her personality in a sort of way with Jace, although he does have a temper (and rightfully so. They did kill his little brother and sister and he seems like the only one who cares) but Baela is supposed to be more unhinged than him. We only caught a few glimpses of her book personality and that's it. Again why are they writing the female characters as these docile, peace seeking beings? They also completely brushed aside their grief concerning their brother/betrothed, sister, mother and grandmother. I'm tired. We kinda got something for Baela in her grief but it was the bare minimum and it was barely mentioned again. Rhaenys was a parent to those girls (more than Daemon at least) and she got a fuck all remembrance. We totally should've gotten even better Jace and Baela's relationship development. We got her being more of his support system though they were each other's. Baela's feelings weren't explored more besides her hating her dad. Unless they're planning to explore it more in season 3 but well y'know 💔. Her telling Jace to stop pouting though and him insisting he's not even though he totally was🤣🤣😭😭. She gathered him and rightfully so. Also their unspoken conversation during the dinner scene with the dragonseeds. Peak wife and husband behavior. I hope we don't have to mourn for what could've been more than we will already be doing.

Rhaenyra character this season was all over the place. They only stick to what her character was from season 1 in episode one and then after that it was like she did a 180. She was destroyed by the grief of her son, daughter and father. They completely forgot that and had her doing the stupidest stuff. She had one of her biggest supporters die as well and it was just cast aside. Development wise we got to see her more open. I'll give them that. They also brushed aside her grief. It felt like Lucerys didn't matter to her in some instances. I have a feeling they're gonna go down the “mad Targaryen” role for her as well. If a woman has to be in power then she has to go crazy. That's what that cult Rhaenyra vibes is giving. I'm not tripping, you guys see it too right? I touched on the second reunion between her and Alicent but her whacking her this last episode was satisfying. I don't trust Alicent's plan and Rhaenyra knows and hopefully she sticks to it. She knows that she has to kill Aegon now. A son for a son. This is who I wanted to see this season. It's like she got back her personality traits in the last episode. She still needs to work on her standing as queen. She had that bum Ulf disrespecting her at the table and she needed to have his tongue expeditiously. Mysaria and her are doomed yuri confirmed. Mysaria has her ear but is only telling her what she wants to hear and that is going to be her downfall. I still can't figure out her angle though but we'll see in season 3. She inadvertently hurt Jace again when she chose Addam to go to Harrenhal. It's like one step forward and then 3 steps back with them. I'm hurt knowing the possible outcome of this situation. Daemon and her reunion were good. I like how she didn't fall back into his arms. Stand on business and continue to stand on business Rhaenyra.

Corlys grief was brushed aside. He didn't really do anything this season besides deny his sons, lie to his wife in his last moments and try to make his legitimate granddaughter heir after laughing off the idea of making his other legitimate granddaughter heir. His ship is finally fixed though. “The Queen Who Never Was ” is the new name of it. I had tears in my eyes, I could admit it. I'm not ashamed. Everything that he's doing now he's doing it for Rhaenys. 😭😭😭😭😭😭 Why did he wait so freaking long to honor her properly though 💔. There is no denying he loved his wife, he just could've loved her better. I'm glad Alyn dragged his ass for being a deadbeat though. Gave his ass a reality check he so richly deserved. He hurt those boys and he deserved to know. Imagine your father could've made your life easier but he decided to be a coward while favoring his other children, a tongue lashing would've been the least he got, I would've fought him. They're on to meet the triarchy though.

Jacaerys character was developed stellar this season. He didn't have plenty of screentime and he was mugging down for most of it but the rage, the grief, the despair was all palpable. He lost a part of his soul in Lucerys and it was there for everybody to see. He didn't get anything to do until the later half but when he got to go he did. I said it before and I'll say it again I love his and Baela's relationship. Him resting his hand in her lap after her scolding and her gently massaging it. Yeah those are real lovers. His beef with Ulf is so personal to me. Like yes threaten that uncouth vermin some more. Really reminded me of his fathers there. It's crazy though how Addam and Jace parallel each other though. Two of the best boys in Westeros that deserve the absolute world. Fate was unkind to them both as well.💔

Shout-out Simon Strong. One of my favorite characters this season along with lil Oscar. I love how he didn't let that traitorous snake Alfred slide. He let his queen know immediately. I love a loyal diva.

Tyland and the triarchy were funny though. Who would've thought I could've shown a Lannister besides Cersei love?!

I'm wrapping up this rant cause it's already so long-winded. The show is only slated for 4 seasons though btw. LMFAO.

Until next time folks. Take care of yourselves in the meantime.

Until season 3 folks.

[blueparadis]

❝ LIE TO ME ❞ + MIKAGE REO.

+. [synopsis] :: They say love comes to those who wait, those who fight, are willing to go against the world. Love is written on stars, they say, a prince saving princess, an escape, an explosion of ‘what ifs and buts’, a scar yet to be healed, a wound yet to be inflicted; but what about the love that comes easy like a wind on a hot summer day? A love that was not written on the stars. +. [content warnings] :: semi-canon compliance,all characters are 20+, language,smut, f!reader, fwb!tropes, fluff, alcohol, smoking, slight age gap (reader is older than him), angst, hurt and comfort, mention of hookups, dating, erotica, slow romance; mention of nagi, isagi, bachira, sae ; work count — 6kish.

+. [notes] :: This is a part of my & @nyaaaaanma paradise kiss's sexy winter time collab. I wanted to write this because I love Reo and friends with benefits tropes. This piece is very dear to me however it's not self-indulgent. you can also read on AOIII. tagging @orchid3a & @tokyo-sano for listening to me babble about this like a duck. I know i don't annoy you still thank you !! +. [playlist] :: lie to me , dark red , daydream , seaside , can i call you tonight? , watermelon sugar , cherry, bad texter , attention , stargirl.

[ i ]::

The heir to the wealthiest house in town, Reo Mikage was the perfect specimen of an eligible bachelor. Dreamy eyes, bright in academics, a good physique, and a dashing smile — one could say he was one of a kind. But rich kids like him tend to abuse it, of course not by choice yet Reo did. Reo was anything but obedient. He always had a way of disobeying his father’s words, doing the opposite of what he was asked to do. No, he was not stubborn. He was angry, angry for being pulled into the mirage of conquering the world as placed by his father, angry for not being able to see through the lies he was fed as a kid, angry that his own parents betrayed him, and butchered his dreams of standing on top of the world.

And, he retaliated, just like a child would when deprived of their favorite toy. He left no room for his parents to complain yet did every other thing that a rich spoiled brat tends to do: late-night parties, girls, hook-ups, and sometimes smoking. He thought it would make him cool, at least that is what he got from girls who swooned over him but unfortunately, it did not suit his taste; smoking was okay but weed was off limits for him.

During the summer vaccination, Reo had visited all the pubs mainly situated on the outskirts of his town; where he used to meet with his friends, and of course, if he had a chance, he would spend some time with a girl. He liked it, not entirely but in bits and pieces, being the center of attention with Nagi beside him, doe eyes more than a pair checking him out as he enjoyed his drink manspreading on the settee. At the same time, Nagi was busy flaunting one of his newly learned vaping techniques. 

On most days, he takes Nagi along with him, sometimes beyond his will and solely because he did not have to entertain any kind of silly obvious flirts. Sometimes, he felt suffocated to put up with all these facades. After all, he was doing it out of spite. He could not care about anything other than soccer, holding the world cup in his hands amidst the cheering crowd. For him, everything becomes trifling, so little of value whenever it comes to soccer is totally contrary to his father’s beliefs, morals, and needs. It makes him sick.

Nagi’s laughter roared amidst the loud music that was deafening Reo’s ears. He hated it, all these neon lights, short-lived attention like a shooting star in the sky but he loved it when the same girls cheered him and shouted his name while he was about to score the last goal. He loved the echo of those voices that reeked of desperation for victory and nothing else. Yes, a victory that he chased at every breath, at each passing moment until he saw her that day, on a hot summer evening. 

She passed by his lavish car dragging the trolley with one hand and adjusting her hat with the other wearing a peach-colored one-piece that pronounced her curves. Reo never bothered to spare a second glance at any girls he had dated till now, not that he particularly remembers who gave him a blow job last night, at least not voluntarily because things like that came smoothly to him.  But he remembered how he turned his head to get a glimpse of that girl, the girl with a butterfly tattoo

And Oh! wait and an odd butterfly bracelet on her left hand. Odd since he has not noticed any girls around him wearing such a piece of jewelry that barely hugged their wrists. For a moment, he thought that if she were to run or jerk her hand away she might misplace it. God, how he desperately wished the world to stop moving, how he wanted the red signal at the crossroad to stay red but the moment it turned green, he breathed in air realizing the tangy taste of love at first sight. 

This happened months ago, during summer vacation and now it is almost time for winter vacation.  Reo never believed in love at first sight but if he were to write about it in his diary or that journal app that he downloaded because the icon looked pretty, he would write about her. However momentary the feeling was, it felt valid, it felt right. 

Reo’s eyes spun everywhere as he stood leaning against the wall. He was secretly thankful to Isagi for stealing the girl from him. He wasn’t particularly interested in her in the first place. A sharp tone dehazed his vision as he took another drag. “Fuck, you’re so wasted. Can you really go home all by yourself…?” Sweet, melodious, and inebriated it seemed to his senses or maybe he drank too much today. He peeked from behind the wall.

Still, with the cigarette in between his fingers, his lips parted slightly and eyes registering the miracle he could ever ask for. This is what they must call chance encounters he pondered. There she is. Reo’s legs moved before he could think of anything, such as how to approach a girl in a bar or be the good guy yet not the creepy one. With his wobbly steps, he proceeded onwards.

She was still there, that butterfly bracelet was dangled as she helped the guy to be on his feet. They were about to trip but the girl managed to keep the balance. Reo smiled to himself as a firm grip kept him from going further on. “Oye, Reo. ohh fuck… ”, Nagi drawled in lazily realizing that Reo was too drunk for someone who had to drive and go home. So, at times like these Nagi just calls his parents to tell them that Reo is gonna stay over at his house which actually saves both of them a lot of work. Money was never the problem for Reo and luckily Nagi was never the one to stay by his side for the cash. So, they always seem to crawl back to each other, even after an argument.

“Oye… Reo, you’re staying at mine.”, Nagi stated after he was done with booking a cab and informing his parents.

“Tsk, what a drag! Can’t she come with us too?” Reo blinked craving to see her, clearer, yet when he opened his eyes she was gone, even the guy. He clicked his tongue and gave in. He was too upset to pursue his feelings.

[ ii ]::

The morning rolled in faster than Reo had expected. It was already eleven when he opened his eyes. As usual, Nagi was sitting at the center of the couch, buried in video games. The room was bright and hot, Reo felt his ears burn and the back of his throat a little churning when he swallowed. His mouth felt so dry that he felt the urge to drink gallons of water.

“Good morning.”Nagi said, earning Reo’s gaze. “The geyser is on but if you feel, you can shower in normal water instead”, he paused his video game, and shifted his body to lock eyes with Reo saying with a furrow between his eyebrows, “Don’t use too much shampoo.” Reo finally felt that he was not in deep slumber, nor in dreamlands. He rolled over the bed to avert the sunbeams stilling on his skin before closing his eyes and exhaling.

“Sei, i’m home. I brought takeouts.”, she said, keeping the food on the kitchen counter.

“Leftovers.”, Nagi exclaimed with boredom.

“Nope. Takeouts.”, she barked, kicking the pumps off your feet so as to rush into the bathroom. Within ten minutes you were done refreshing and for once she did not have to yell at her brother since running hot water was available. She slipped into fresh clothes before finally sitting in front of the laptop.

“Who’s that?”, 

“My cousin sister. She will be here for almost a month.”, Nagi drawled in as Reo dragged his feet with utmost strength to stand upright. He cracked his knuckles and joints before hitting the bath. The cold water on his skin felt better than the lukewarm one. Reo could feel his energy being replenished as he came out of the bathroom in boxers and rubbed his hair rigorously. 

He went straight to the fridge to grab a bottle of water, cooler than normal temperature. Reo preferred it that way. It is one of his bad habits. He is aware of that yet refused to get rid of it. The half-empty bottle stands on the kitchen counter as last night was starting to collect in his mind in flashes.

Y/n entered the kitchen with her eyes locked on the phone screen and earphones plugged in. She would have collided in a house that was alien to her, unlike this one. She opened the fridge door, grabbed a bottle, and left the kitchen through the other door in perfect delicacy still being hooked onto that small rectangular screen. She did not even register the presence of another soul in the kitchen as she passed by Reo.

Life is full of mishaps and rare coincidences but for Reo, this one was the first instance for both of them: a mishap and a coincidence. The half-clad boy dropped the bottle as he swung his hand while turning around, blinking to see what exactly he was seeing. It’s her, a butterfly on the nape and a very loose dangling bracelet. It really is her.

[ iii ] :: 

There were so many things on my mind that were weighing me down, my heart but I had to neglect all of those because never in my life had I thought I would meet her again. The only downside is that she is Nagi’s sister and elder to me, almost three to five years if I were to guess. For the first time in my life, I wanted to pursue someone, a girl, and my feelings but there are just so many boundaries. The age wasn’t much of a problem but that might intimidate me if I ever walked up to her to initiate our first conversation. 

I came home late after spending the whole day at Nagi’s place, purposely since I didn’t want to get yelled at and I didn’t want to ruin this mood, this feeling of something special, something so different yet so very familiar. Was I in love? Not really. Will I think about her? definitely.  

“You’re late, Reo.”, and my blood boiled at that very instant, hearing my father’s voice. I didn’t plan on arguing with him, it would be a waste of time plus I hate it when I get yelled at or have to yell or be a witness to it. In general, i just hate fights and arguments but would never back down when really needed; ‘desperate times, desperate measures ’

“. . .  oye, reo are you listening? Tsk! It’s useless to talk to you these days.”

Useless, huh? And trampling on my dreams, wasn’t it? Oh, how very amusing! I went to my room without further ruckus, grabbed a bottle of chilled water, and went to my room. Before I could lie down on the bed I heard mom yelling and felt my stomach turn. As I said, fights & arguments make me nauseous. 

My attention was diverted to my phone. Nagi? At this hour?

“Reo, glad you're still awake. Wanna join us tomorrow night? I already scored.”

“Depends. Who else is gonna be there? And by the way, who’s we?”

“well… me, Isagi, Bachira & maybe some of his friends.”

 I had most of my assignments completed. Some had deadlines a week later after the winter vacation is over so I'll do the finishing touches later.

It's not like I had something to do after soccer practice so I thought it would be better to be at his house than mine. 

But I didn't think his sister was gonna be there and that too greeting me at the doorstep. Of course, she would be here. Nagi mentioned that she's gonna stay the whole winter vacation, and might leave around new years. “Sei is probably in his room sulking and waiting for you ”, she said, strolling through the corridor without meeting my eyes. “Probably eating chips and Isagi and others are upstairs.” I wasn't worried that I was the last one to crash. No, all I thought was how bad I was at making decisions. 

Reo, Nagi, Isagi, Bachira, and a few others were sitting in a circle, gossiping and circulating chips and a blunt. Reo is not actively participating. He sure is just reacting whenever one has to share one of their few secrets. But that’s about it. Truth or dare occupied this evening. Initially, Sae suggested monopoly since he was good at it but he was voted out. Besides, it is not just the boys. Isagi brought a girl with him. He often does that at small parties like these. Must be nice to always have someone at speed dial to blow off some steam. Reo recognized her. It is the same girl from that day, the girl who was skillfully skewed from him by Isagi. 

Pity was the last thing he needed right now, for him, it is mostly a one time thing with no strings attached. But if either one of them managed not to linger over such silly gestures like holding hands, sharing milkshakes and cigarettes, going for late night walks, and what not then half of the work is done. And, that girl beside Isagi seemed to be just that type otherwise Reo doubts that Isagi is the kind to let it linger but who knows? change is always happening, we just do not see it properly. So, self-pity was the first emotion he felt whenever Reo and the girl exchanged glances. 

Those amethyst eyes stilled over the spinning bottle, the cigarette burns pressed in between his lips while his mind tries to think of any other things than her, than nagi’s cousin sister. She must be downstairs: busy with herself or just sulking. And what exactly is he doing here? Why is he even wasting his time in this silly game of lies and half-lies? Sure, there is a possibility that she already does have a boyfriend or girlfriend but doesn't hurt to find out? Does it now?

“Truth or dare.”, Reo asked, filling the air near his mouth with minty puffs of smoke. 

“Truth.”, Nagi answered while everyone sighed in unison with boredom. But Reo was not disappointed. Not at all; in fact, he wished to make it count lucidly.

“Is your sister dating someone?”

“What?”

“Now I’m curious too.”Bachira admitted shamelessly. 

“Now tell us Nagi, is she?”Sae added while Isagi smirked while taking another vodka shot. 

“ehhh—What a pain!”. Nagi was in his usual demeanor: laid back, unattentive eyes, and lazy contribution in talks. For a guy like him one might think he is harmless let alone be a tease yet his short-lived comments could get anyone’s ear burned in anger. 

“Why don’t you ask her?”, Nagi added as his sister stepped onto the rooftop. All of them fell silent. The only audible sound was y/n’s humming as she kept closing the distance between her and them with packed food and drinks. 

“Truth or dare, nee-san?” Sae broke the silence.

“Umm. . . dare.”, y/n responded crouching so as to empty her hands and it had to be beside Reo of all people. It is not the first time Reo and she has been in the same place and same time but why is he getting so nervous? She was close to his body, her hand almost touched his arms. That was the only change he could spot.

“Bingo. Kiss the boy who's the most handsome in here.” Sae knew what he was doing but he did not expect Reo’s gaze to drill a hole at the back of his head as she walked near him with slow short steps. For Reo, that kind of vicinity was lethal to his heart and it was already drumming. It is surprising to him how Sae was so calm after such a bomb drop of a question.

“You really can’t be serious, Sae.”, she spoke, crossing her arms amongst her chest. “I mean of course I think sei is the most handsome in here but if I were to kiss him I’d be late to my practice every day.”, she gently patted Nagi’s head saying, “he’ll put my alarm off”

“Nee-san. . .”, Nagi joined. He sounded embarrassed but no one noticed. Every other pair of eyes were on her except Reo. Reo just wanted to disappear for a moment. It was too much for him, feeling so many things at the same time at such close quarters. Her phone rang and she disappeared downstairs while talking. Reo could finally take a breath of relief. 

“And Reo, the answer to your question is no. She is not dating anyone, not that I know of.” Nagi lit a cigarette while Bachira spun the beer bottle. Neither dragged the matter anymore. Only Reo did, he pursued his feelings when there was still time.

Y/N was making coffee for herself. If it was just Nagi and his best friend, Reo then she might have joined but there is too much attention that she could handle if she were to take part in today’s small friendly party. She has heard about this guy, Reo, many times. Reo is coming over today, It was Reo who dragged me into playing soccer, Reo this, Reo that. In all honesty, she was a little curious to meet him finally but when she saw her that day at the pub almost knocked out due to drinking and being the center of attraction for most of the girls around him, something died in her. She was not even able to fully understand it. Was it hope for affection or a promise of falling in love? 

She heard rapid footsteps descending the stairs. Speak of the devil. Without acknowledging her presence Reo headed straight to the bathroom. “Ah geez!!”, she murmured as Reo bolted the door loudly. She was enjoying her coffee and chatting. Fingertips jumped all over the keyboard with her bottom lip pressed in between her teeth and eyebrows anxious for a moment. She felt restless as she heard the sound of the bathroom door closing in. She would not have if she had not heard her brother saying that she is not dating anyone at the moment. Why was she a topic of conversation?

“Why didn’t you join us then?” Reo spoke chewing the gum when his eyes met hers through the corner of her eyes, for a mere two seconds. It was just the fragility of curiosity. She really did not mean to create an opening for him to talk but alas!

“I don’t want to.”, her response was quick for someone who is busy on the phone, unbothered to even spare a glance to the person who is trying to make a conversation.

“It’ll be fun. I promise you won't be bored.”, Reo swings his hand over his chest amending, “i’ll make sure of it.”  Finally, Reo had her eyes on him. Yes, finally. She had lush green eyes,full of hopes, perhaps promises too; a promise of falling in love it is then.

“Reo.”, she took a quick glance at the boy who was standing at the opposite side of the kitchen counter, “thank you for your time but I’m not exactly the kind you’d wanna spend the rest of vacation with. Find another chick to waste time with.” Y/N kept the mug near the sink, grabbed a beer bottle from the fridge, and vanished into her room. The door closed with a bang and that was when Reo's heart, which was as still as a pond, had ripples of regret and hurt. Just what the fuck was that? 

[ iv ]:: 

The sun is too bright for a morning in December. Y/N was sweating profusely yet did not want to fan herself with the hat she was holding or the piece of paper that must have been lost somewhere in her tote bag. Moreover, she should be less worried about the weather. She had more pressing matters to handle. A meet and an apology. Yep, that’s it, that might get rid of the weird icky feeling that had dawned on her since last the weekend. And why did she feel like that?

Well, it was Nagi’s doing. For any outsider, they seemed like a sibling pair who envied each other and were always at each other’s throats. But that was not the case. Sure, they do fight but that has been all in the past. Now, it is primarily discussions and discipline once in a blue moon. The latter worked in only one way. It was always Nagi who seemed to give her a pep-talk like a parent would, like an elder sibling would. 

“Nee-san, did you say something to Reo?”, Nagi asked as he entered the room without knocking. Uh-oh! he is mad. “He was acting weird since he came from downstairs.”, he added turning upside down so as to take a good look at her face which was currently curled up under the blanket.

“Oye. Nee-sann. . .?”

She could have avoided it. She could have lied but she did not. Mostly because by now she had realized that she fucked up, big time. Nagi is not someone who would stir past things up elevating any kind of grudge. 

“Yes. . .?”, she spoke peeping through the blanket.

“What’s up with that? Oh, fuck! You did not . . .”, a heavy sigh went past his lips as “ . . . Reo —he is a little sensitive. Generally, he is not but please don’t get him worked up.”

And three days; three days she thought of every possible way to talk to Reo, looking for a way to apologize to him but it never came. So, she decided to take the matter into her own hands, and now, she is standing outside the Mikage Corporations. There is no guarantee that she will be able to meet him. It was a gamble when she decided to get to him through his workplace. She already was  so anxious and the heat was getting really unruly as time passed. She was fanning herself with the set of notes until a pleasing calm feeling soothed her senses. As she spotted a shadow of an umbrella on the ground she turned her head only to find the person she was looking for, Reo Mikage. Her heart thundered against her ribcage when her eyes locked with his. She came here to meet him but why was she so nervous again?

We were sitting opposite to each other at a cafe and Y/N has been swirling the spoon in the coffee for a minute or so. Truth be told, I had no idea why she is here or why she looked so worked up. “So. . . why’re we here exactly?”, I started and she left the spoon idle. Finally.

“I’m sorry. . .  for that day — at our home. I shouldn’t have, you know said such things . . .” It took me a while to realize what exactly she was apologizing for and when I did, I couldn’t help but smile. She still had her eyes on the cup. Well-groomed and tensed hands playing with the cup. Part me was infuriated at her apology while the other was infatuated with her. I wanted to see what she would do if i were to forgive her right away. 

“It’s alright.” I said and she looked at me with so much surprise in her eyes. She did not speak, and looked at me for a little too long, probably searching for an explanation which I wasn’t going to give her. What would I tell? That I kinda like her? Yeah, I tried. I was blown off, not happening again.

“Why’re you so dressed ?”

“Sorry. Wh—at?”, I came back to my senses. She had such a way of doing that. Every. damn. time.

“I mean. . . why’re you dressed in suit and so like festive…” That’s it? That’s the reaction to my forgiveness?

“Oh! This? I am expected to grace Mikage Corporations with my presence twice a month. We’re hosting an annual party so i’m stuck here.”

“Oh. . .”

“You should come.” At that, she chuckled nervously. I didn’t even invite her properly yet she was so . . . bashful about it. 

“I’m actually here for my ballet practices so . . . that’s why I was late for whatever sei planned that day. He always plans something when I’m busy.” 

By now, she was almost done with her coffee. I didn’t order any since can’t afford to enjoy my time with her where so many eyes are looking at us. Perhaps, I seemed different, cold, and harsh but she didn’t seem to let me feel as such.

I took my hands out of my pocket to keep my hands over the table leaning towards her. “You do know that you didn’t need to apologize right? I mean at least you’re a little bit aware that I . . . ohkay nevermind. . .”, I finished since I noticed her angry eyebrows and the dangling butterfly bracelet I checked my watch and saw it was almost time for my next meeting so I excused myself. I was about to leave the cafe. I don’t know what happened to me but I looked back at our seats. She was already looking.

[ v ]:: 

Days passed yet Y/N did not stop thinking about the day at the cafe. Reo was not at all bothered by all the things she said yet y/n was going nuts over it. It felt so stupid and childish. She just came home from practice and did not have any kind of energy to do anything else. Her eyes landed on a pair of tickets. Special offer till midnight, any day, every day. Without further thought she grabbed one of them and yelled, “Sei, I’ll be back within an hour.”, leaving the house.

The moment Reo stepped into the bar he spotted Y/N sitting alone with her glass empty. She asked for a refill as Reo approached her without much thought. 

“Can I take this seat?” Y/N beamed bowing her head down a little as Reo took the seat beside her. His voice sounded husky and deep, face gleaming against those neon lights. 

“Well, you already are.”, she supplied.

“Mind if I ask you something?”

“Sure. go ahead.”

“Wanna hit the dance floor? With me?” Y/N beamed again. Reo was not taking no for answer. He was already up at his feet a little hesitant to lay out his hand. 

“Okay.”, she said hooking her arms around his. Reo did not expect this but he was not going to complain. When they were amidst the crowd she let go of his hand. As they started dancing bathing their body against the neon lights, she held on to his jacket pulling his ears closer to her mouth. “But that is not what you wanted to ask, isn't it ?” He reeked of alcohol, expensive colonge and loneliness.

Y/N could hear his smirk. Reo did not retreat. He tilted his head a little, his lips almost grazing her earlobes. “Why? . . . why don’t you give me a chance?”, Reo’s hands that were handing lose are now getting a little courageous. “why don’t you give yourself a chance?”

Reo moved a little wanting to see her face but had not much luck. “I— I don’t want to hurt you. As simple as that.”

Reo combed back his hair with his palms that were about to cup her face. His hands were far from her tensed body while hers were still resting on the hem of his jacket. “don’t worry.”, Reo’s eyes jumped from her lips to her eyes for a second. “you won’t.”, he said before pressing a kiss on her lips. She arched a little, and her grip on the jacket grew strong enough to be felt by him, a subtle pressure around his nape. As his hands were about to lock her in his embrace it stilled in midway cupping her palms. Reo did not feel the need to do so, to hold her in his embrace for continuing the kiss. His influence on her was high already. It was evident as he gained a little mewl from her before his lips parted with hers.

One. 

One glance before the lights went off for a few seconds and the dancing mob expressed their disappointment in unison. Reo felt her hands quickly slip out from his grasp and when the lights were on, Reo could no longer spot her anywhere in the crowd. He exhaled deeply with an unbearable ache in the corner of his heart. His first kiss tasted tangy too.Fuck. he got ahead of himself.

[ vi ]:: 

The alarm beeps with an awful intensity for a few seconds and then it dies immediately. The sun is not bright, even when the curtains are drawn in there is no warmth on the skin. Last night was a blast, in fact, a grave mistake. Reo stood in front of the mirror checking his phone. A new notification. It’s a match. At least he had something else to keep the rest of his day occupied.

The fumes of a half-burnt cigarette rose up to the cloudy sky. It is barely noon yet the sun is still unable to find a way out of the gray haze of the sky. It is settled. It’s going to rain, soon, for both the sky and those young hearts. Y/N was waiting at the bus stop. After her ballet practice, she intended to meet a friend who lived in the next town but her mood was utterly fucked. Moreover, the weather forecasts are not good either. There were so many things that were unknown to her, so many things yet to learn, yet to observe and seek, and to experience, which is why the unknown is always feared.

When she reached home, half-drenched and cold, she noticed a pair of shoes other than her little brother’s. It belonged to Reo since she could undoubtedly pick up on their voices, talking in an agitated manner. 

“Then, why the fuck would you go on a date that you didn’t like ?”

“I told you. I was . . .  I needed distraction.”

“Distraction? From what exactly.”

Nagi and Reo switched their gaze to the entrance of the room at the sound of a sneeze. “Nee-san . . .”, Nagi trailed off quickly leaving his seat to her aid. They kept talking as Nagi helped her with the bags and gave her a towel to dry her hair. It would take some time for the hot water to get ready still, Nagi could not figure out why did not she call him to let him know that she will be late or something. . . he would have gone to pick her up with umbrellas. Reo could have joined . . .Reo. . . Nagi tilted his head to see if Reo was still there or not. He was but he could see only his back. He rolled his eyes followed by a heavy sigh. The cause of distraction became crystal clear to him.

Reo could not shut his eyes. He could not forget how she glanced at him through the corner of her eyes and then quickly averted. It would not have been a much bother if it were not for the smile that followed the eye contact. He could not seem to back at her, he just could not forget about it. Besides, he is way too hungry to go back to sleep. Now that the bad taste of the date was gone he felt his hunger properly since he did not eat much for dinner.

Reo swallowed his yawn when he saw y/n in a flimsy dress hanging up to her knees. She was eating ice cream in the dead of the night sitting on the countertop and humming to herself. 

“Reo. . .”, she trailed off jumping on the floor and wiping her face with the sleeve of her dress. Was she drunk? 

“I’m hungry.”, Reo said opening the fridge. But he is not really concentrating, more like., he can’t.

“i—I’m leaving tomorrow.”

“Mm-hmm”

“I—I’ll miss you.”

Reo pinned her hands against the wall holding them over her head. His mouth was opening ajar, breathing hard and fast. “Oh really?”, he murmured as he slipped his hands underneath her dress. “I hope you really do after this.” 

To his surprise, y/n was not wearing underwear and that sure slowed his advances. She puckered her lips inwards holding her laughter but chocked on her breath when he suckeled on her neckline. Without futher delay he was on his knees, head buried in between her legs, lapping his tongue against her entrance. Reo gripped her thighs as he felt encouraged by a pair of hands skimming through his hair. Soft moans and huffs reached his ears but that did not stop him. 

Y/N could felt her sanity on edge, desire to touch herself but she did not had to. When Reo stopped she quickly cupped his face pulling him for a deep kiss, a kiss that lasted long enough to get Reo up on his feet, his hands around her body to place her on the counter. A momentary parting of lips as they glanced at each other before it all came down to waves of fireworks.

“Fuck.”, both of them uttered as a set of eight glassware was on the floor and that too pieces. The sound was loud enough to wake anyone up. y/n could not take any risks. “Go. leave. Now.”, she uttered without blinking. 

“No.”, Reo said earning her glare. “You should leave.”

“We’ll fight about this later. I promise.” and that was it. Nagi did wake up but was not bothered to check what it was since he is used to it. He was aware of his sister’s habit of midnight hunts but he was not aware that Reo contributed to this mess too. 

The next morning Nagi went to see her off to the station. He asked if it was her in the kitchen at night or not, to which she nodded a ‘yes’. 

“Was Reo there too?”, nagi asked.

Another ‘yes’.

“Well, he asked me for your number a few days ago, so I figured. . .” Nagi remained silent for a few seconds. He did not have to ask.

It was another yes.

—

@tokyometronetwork.

[introspectivememories]

four months into getting to know each other, shouto finds him by touya-nii's shrine. his little brother gently sits down beside him and offers a small prayer.

"yumi-nee-san," natsuo wonders if his little brother will ever drop the second honorific, "said you were the closest to him," shouto says quietly.

after all these years and the use of past tense still makes his heart break. 'you are the closest to him' he wants to correct but that wouldn't make sense anymore. touya-nii hasn't been talked about in the present tense since before middle school. does shouto even remember a time before nii-san's dea-, disappearance?

"yeah, i was," he says, eyes never leaving the photo. it's the one nii-san took for sixth-grade picture day. kaa-san had got him all dressed up and he had hated it. somedays he thinks if he looks close enough, he'll see the displeased pout on nii-san face. "why?"

his little brother says nothing for a long time, back ramrod straight. natsuo has no idea what's going on in that head of his. shouto has so few tells that he's practically a blank slate. natsuo hates his father.

then slowly and so quietly, he has to strain his ears to catch it, shouto stammers out, "do-, do you think he would have liked me?"

natsuo's immediate reaction is to say 'yes'. yes, of course, touya-nii would've loved you. yes, of course, touya-nii would've crossed the heavens for you. yes, of course, he would've loved you shouto; you're his precious younger brother.

but he remembers the way nii-san used to spit out shouto's name when he was a kid. the way his brother's mouth wrapped around it, the face he made, like he had just eaten something disgusting. he remembers the way touya-nii had become almost crazed by the end, hellbent on proving himself the rightful heir to their shitty father's legacy. he remembers the way touya-nii had said, "i just need to prove that i'm better than him,"; the 'him' said with such bitterness and contempt.

he knows instantly that touya-nii would not have liked shouto. that this house and his father would have twisted any ounce of love, nii-san would've held towards shouto, into jealousy and hatred.

(this house may have ruined all of them but it only ever broke two of them.)

natsuo can't say any of that to shouto. his kind little brother who forgave him for not being there. his amazing little brother who falls in love with every cat he sees. his wonderful little brother who has a wickedly dry sense of humor. his soft baby brother who loves him and yumi-nee with a passion. his tender-hearted baby brother who still worries if his long-gone older brother would've liked him.

no, natsuo can't tell shouto that nii-san wouldn't have like him. shouto will internalize it like he does with everything else that hurts him. and there is already so much that hurts shouto, he will not add to that list. his baby brother smiles these days, nothing big like his green-haired friend, but quiet, lovely, ones all the same. shouto talks more these days. they have dinner together when natsuo is home. his baby brother laughs now. it's a miracle like nothing else in this world.

shouto is the best thing to come out of their house and natsuo will die before he ever hurts his little brother. so instead, he curls an arm around shouto's shoulders and pulls him into a loose side-hug.

"of course!" he lies cheerfully, ignoring the ache in his chest, "touya-nii would've loved you. you're his — and our —precious little brother after all. there is no universe in which he wouldn't have loved you."

the tips of his baby brother's ears go red and his pleased little answering smile makes the ache of lie go away. natsuo will tell a thousand more lies if it means shouto never stops smiling like that.

[eerna]

Ok Ok so I've been thinking this for. quite a while like even before Stolen Heir was released. it's kind of controversial because I might be making mountain out of a molehill but -

I think Jurdan fans border on being disrespectful to Holly Black at times... the problem isn't what one chooses to focus on even though that annoys me too, like it's not like people can control the fact that they focus more/love a character more than the other. But I'm starting to see this especially on Instagram and Goodreads, and I think I have good reason to believe HB is more active on insta and Goodreads is like, the book reviewing site, if there's any place she may look for comments or critique it's that.

and my problem lies with the language used . HB can announce she's working on something and can give hints about it and I've seen soo many people just outright tell her "I don't care about [x] and [y] just give me JURDAN!!" or anything along that vein , there's also "I'm only reading this for Jurdan lol I kind of couldn't care less about []".

It genuinely annoys me a lot !! And I wish I could say to each their own but ykw? At some point it starts to feel like if these two characters aren't involved people don't even try to make an effort to connect with the other characters, the new protagonist, etc. To be honest your page was a breath of fresh air because I don't even see a lot of folks focus on ANYTHING in TFOTA other than this ship.

There's also the irony that so many people pride themselves on loving Jude, their morally grey female rage character, but refuse to discuss Taryn with nuance. Or Vivi, sometimes. It's weird how so many people love Madoc (justified, I like him too) then refuse to think that hey, maybe Taryn's way of coping with faerie is different than Jude and that affects her actions! something something fandom misogyny

The above unrelated paragraph is just to say that a Nicasia focused book is something many people just absolutely will not be able to handle lmao and I so dearly wish Jude and Cardan's 'screentime' is few and far in between just so that it's less palatable. But oh well.

(And after Prisoner's Throne it worries me because with the implication that the Nicasia focused book might have Jude and Cardan POVs I feel like she's catering more to these people now.

If that's how things turn out that would genuinely make me really sad because I didn't pick up her books after reading TCP, I started with Spiderwick Chronicles, then Modern Faerie Tales, and I love the way she creates atmosphere, her worldbuilding, her depiction of the weird and creepy and magical. I especially think that's her strongest suit, more than characterization, so something like this that hinges more on specific characters genuinely turns me off.)

AGREED SO MUCH WITH ALL OF ITTT I too noticed the really dumb people in her comments crapping on everything that isn't a new Jurdan book... Like, the woman was writing books and enjoyed fame 15 years before Jurdan happened. She obviously has a lot to say about her world. Why the hell would you want her to stop developing it and only focus on 2 characters??? I was a big Spiderwick fan as a kid, and when I read TFOTA I had no idea it was by the same writer but I could TELL the vibes were all there. I too think that is her specialty and I'd rather get 10 stories on different characters than 5 on Jurdan.

I want the Undersea book to be about Nicasia and part of it is because I agree, I think most of the fandom would HATE it and it would fry their brains, and I want to see it. It is dumb and petty of me, but it would be sweet vindication for all the clowns screaming into my ear that Taryn is problematic actually in case I didn't notice. Ultimately I know it is a fruitless endeavor. TFOTA has the misfortune of being too good and complicated for its main audience of tiktok book fans, but also too bad and simplified to spread into more general, unspecified fantasy circles where its themes could catch the attention of people who would know how to appreciate them. That means there is only a small portion of fans who both like the books AND have the critical thinking skills to appreciate all the things they do right outside of romance/basic female wish fulfilment.

In the end, judging by TPT, we are gonna have to take the L and accept we bet on the wrong horse and minority does not make the money. But at least we will be there together to make a mountain out of a molehill!

[bunnymermaidwrites]

pls tell me about odette and why you want to trap them in a snow globe and shake them until they’re concussed?

the fact that you compare hilbert to odette makes me already quite fearful

Hi!❤️❤️❤️

Okay, so Odette... Odette very much deserves to be trapped in a snow globe and a lot more if you ask me, but I'll let you be the judge.

While her crimes might not be as bad as Hilbert's (attempted murder of child and gaslighting vs genocide and I'm sure a lot of other stuff that I'm unaware of), the emotional wounds she causes are just horrible.

Let me give you a (hopefully) very quick rundown of what's going on here (if you have any questions here's my wip intro with links to all storts of things including characters or you can always ask):

The majestic country of Galla is floating in the sky, put there by the doves themselves to protect the humans from what lies beneath. The Black swamp, a place filled with monsters, fear, and madness.

Odette at 19 years old is a triarhist, one of three future rulers of Galla. They may be humans but their powers are devine, all powerful, that exist for one purpose alone: To protect people.

She is kind, clever and compassionate. She loves her people with everything she has and even as a young child she took her duties very seriously. She is also selflessness, always willing to help another.

She would do anything to keep her people safe like she's supposed to.

Odette, when she was little, was terrified of the Black swamp, of the stories about the place. Of having to be the one who stand been it and her beloved people if it comes to that. So she came up with an idea:

Build a machine and destroy the Black swamp for good.

However, her father disapproved, saying that what she wanted to do was way too extreme, that they were safe where they were. So Odette hid her plans, deciding to bide her time until she is officially crowned on her 20th birthday.

But someone found them... and Odette had to keep them quiet.

You see, Odette has a boyfriend, another triarhist, just like her. Endre. They love each other, understand one another better than anyone.

Endre has two younger siblings: Adél, the main character (15 yo) who idolizes Odette, she wants to be just like her, and Ákos (10 yo).

Sweet, little Ákos: smart, extremely curious, but unfortunately still naive. He was bound to find a secret drawer, with Odette's plans hidden deep within. He was bound to be confused and even frightened.

And Odette looked at him. The kid she helped teach how to read... and she pushed him off the edge of Galla and he fell...

All

The way

Down

Into the Black swamp below.

Anything for her people, right?

There are many reasons I hate Odette. Tiny things that just make everything worse.

Odette is selflessness, she doesn't care what happens to her as long as her people are safe.

Her selflessness stretched so far and so so thin that her sacrifice somehow became Ákos.

And she thinks she did the right thing.

😁Now let me just list a couple of my favorite (maybe petty) reasons to hate Odette:

Why I want to trap Odette in a snow globe:

Ákos for a long time blames himself for what happened partially because Odette was so perfect.

Ákos in general is just so confused about the whole thing. It's very hard for his young mind to wrap around the fact that someone that loved him could hurt him like this.

Like I said Adél wanted to be just like Odette. Now, she will spend the rest of her life fearing that she succeeded.

Endre lost the only person who could understand what he was going through as an heir!

Ákos was wearing a cat mask that Adél made when Odette pushed him. He looked adorable and innocent, and she still did it! Seriously, how can someone look at this and hurt him:

If put in the same situation, Odette wouldn't hesitate to do it again because she thought it was necessary.

I could go on, but for the sake of simplicity here, it is.

Tldr: She looked at a kid who saw her as a big sister and went: YEEET!

Thank you so so much for this ask! It made me really happy! I hope I answered your question well enough! ❤️

[animeyanderelover]

Anonymous asked: Can I request the Sakamaki and Mukami brothers with an older brother?

Tw: Yandere themes, unhealthy mindset, unhealthy relationship, possessive behavior, obsession, clinginess, delusions, manipulation, mental unstableness, abuse, self harm, murder

Older brother

Shu Sakamaki

🎵All responsibility lies with you since you’re the oldest in the house and whoever your mother is will put you under a lot of pressure. If Shu thought that Beatrix is strict with him, it’s nothing in comparison to his older brother. You’re pushed to know everything and be strong and punished if you don’t fulfill the expectations your mother has on you. You have to be perfect after all, you’re the next heir of Karlheinz! Shu is always told to be like you since you’re smart, strong and master everything yet he rarely bothers since he senses that you’re not happy with the life you lead. Instead he likes hanging around you and you enjoy it just as much.

🎵Shu is laid-back and chilled so you can relax just so well when he’s around. Considering that his brother has unpleasant things going on he doesn’t like to talk about since he doesn’t want to worry his younger siblings, Shu often converses with him about other things. Or both just listen to music together. If his brother isn’t the type to talk about his problems, Shu doesn’t want to either since he fears his brother might view him as weak. Shu isn’t exactly overbearing but he spends a lot of time with his brother since he’s the only one he actually views as his real sibling or just silently waits for you to notice him. As the second oldest, Shu also likes to call himself more experienced and mature, gives you advice when you need it.

Reiji Sakamaki

☕️He tries to gain his mother’s attention yet his mother can only focus on you, the oldest boy in the house. You’re the next heir and Reiji realizes soon that you’re the reason he’s never enough for Beatrix. Because you’re always better. Initially Reiji is bitter about that and sees you as his rival. He’s rude and cold around you. That is until you catch a glimpse at his studies and praise him, ruffle his hair in a acknowledging way. It leaves Reiji stunned since he’s never been praised before and is the beginning of his change of heart. He runs from there on to you whenever he studies, shows you his knowledge and loves the compliment and praises you always give him.

☕️There’s a sense of insecurity though since he realizes that you’re still better and that’s why he never asks you for help in cases he doesn’t understand something. He’s too ashamed of his brother seeing his stupid mistakes and never allows him to see anything that isn’t hardcore perfect. His brother becomes his role model, someone Reiji strives to be like so he ends up copying everything his sibling does. Reiji sees his brother as the ideal vampire, plays the assistant to continue this perfectionism too, so he’s pretty shaken up the moment he witnesses a moment of weakness from him. Also extremely picky when it comes to potential partners since no one passes in his eyes.

Ayato Sakamaki

🥇Cordelia hates you and initially Ayato despises you too. He has developed a complex under her care that he always has to be the best yet you are even better than him. Cornelia punishes him for it ruthlessly and he blames you for all the pain he has to endure. Ayato comes constantly running through you, challenges you in hopes of beating you yet you always win, humiliating him in the process. He rejects your friendly approaches after every loss of his and your comments how he’s quite good. He runs away, views your compliments as honeyed mocking since he lost and no one compliments the loser.

🥇It isn’t until he learns that his older brother has threatened Cordelia so she stops hurting her children since he noticed Ayato’s bruises. Ayato is confused why he’d do that for him, ends up acting tsunderish and refuses to thank his brother yet inwardly he is grateful. The challenges continue over the years where Ayato learns to have fun even if he still loses a majority of the time. The few times he manages to win, he runs it under your nose without fail so you never forget it. He often uses the excuse that besides you no one can beat him so he gets to have more time with you. He’s very close to his brother, constantly bickers playfully with him and playfully fights with him.

Kanato Sakamaki

🧸Kanato is in his childhood very obsessed with his mother and realizes how she constantly gets mad and aggressive because of the oldest Sakamaki boy. He’s talented, handsome and strong and she lets her frustration out on her children. They will never reach the potential of you, how will Karlheinz notice her?! Her mood affects Kanato badly and he turns his hatred against you since you make his mother unhappy even if she abuses his brothers and him for it. Chances are that he tries to attack you yet you stop him. You notice his unstable condition and instantly suspect Cornelia since you’ve heard of her abuse.

🧸So you confront her about it and she’s scared of you since you’re strong, stronger than her. She ignores Kanato, silently loathing him for getting her in this mess. The young boy throws a tantrum, tries to harm himself so Cornelia pays attention to him yet you stop him and take him under your wings. No matter how bratty Kanato is, you handle everything calmly. You read to him, you teach him and you play with him too even if tea parties and plushies might not be your thing. At one point Kanato turns his obsessive antics towards you, views you as his big brother who always has to protect him. He’s a walking time bomb and turns paranoid around the people who like you since he views them as threats who might steal you away from him and so he kills them.

Laito Sakamaki

🎹He’s the ignored one from the trio, doesn’t care much for you in the beginning. To Laito his brother is just another person in the household, he wants the attention from Cordelia. Yet his brother notices how the boy is abandoned and instead decides to pay more attention to him. Laito rejects those first few attempts, walks nonchalantly away but his older brother doesn’t give up so easily. You tell him interesting stories, teach him things in regards of education and attempt to be a good big brother. You know that you get through him when he starts listening to you even if he’s not saying much. When Laito finally opens up his heart, he’s very chipper and teasing around you.

🎹Likes to play pranks on you or with you if he knows you’ll be up to assist him. Laito definitely has a lot of time he spends with you, something other brothers are jealous about and Laito likes to remind them a bit too often about it. Chances are that Cordelia tries to do the same thing with Laito’s brother that she tries to do with Laito, convincing him to sleep with her. Laito is disgusted and shocked when he hears it, his brother yanks Cordelia out of sheer anger away from himself and goes even more aggressive when she tries to do the same trick on Laito. His older brother definitely reacts protective and Laito enjoys that. With him growing up, he’s going to talk openly about certain things with his brother though.

Subaru Sakamaki

⬜️Subaru is probably the hardest to approach since he lives in his own world with his mother and doesn’t think that he needs anyone else. You’re aware of Christa’s condition and fear for the youngest brother, especially when you notice the mental damage he receives. He’s aggressive when his older brother tries to interfere since he hates everyone, knows that his oldest brother is the pride of Karlheinz since he’s the next heir and despises him for it. Sometimes he even tries to attack you but your strength is superior so you stop him every time. You catch him sometimes watching you from a window when you play with one of the other boys.

⬜️You’re sure you see slight envy in those eyes of his when you clown around with the other boys. Subaru needs long until he ends up stalking his brother a bit as he kind of wishes to be part of the fun when he sees how the oldest plays with his younger siblings. He’s insecure though, thinks that after his previous behavior his brother won’t accept him anymore. He’s flustered and shocked when you do, still acts tsunderish but tries to express his gratitude as good as he can. He always comes to you when his mother has a psychotic fit and begs you with tears in his eyes to help her. Subaru listens well to his brother from a early point on, is also really protective though. He throws hands with anyone who says something bad about him.

Ruki Mukami

📘You’ve been with all of them since human years and as the oldest one you took the role of the protector and the emotional support. Those were tough years so all the boys grew attached to the oldest one since he was always there for them. When all of them were turned into half-blooded vampires, this all intensified. For Ruki for example his oldest brother is his personal idol and he believes that he can learn so much from him. He’s always had this admiration even during his human years for his charisma and courage. Chances are that he’s better educated due to his noble upbringing so he’s very proud of the fact that he can teach his older brother something too.

📘When they’re turned into vampires he doesn’t really care for the whole Adam and Eve thing but just wants to stay together with his older brother. An eternal life might be difficult but he’s convinced as long as he has you and his brothers and vice versa, all of you can live a happy life. He takes sort of an assistant role for his older brother too since he’s the most knowledgeable one. Ruki grows with time paranoid that his older brother will fall in love with someone and will start paying more attention to his partner so he’s doing his best to manipulate everyone he views as a threat. He won’t let his family fall apart again before his own eyes.

Kou Mukami

🎤Kou is very clingy around his oldest brother and a little attention-seeker too. He’s been used and abused during his life so it is new for him to have someone who is so fiercely protecting him, someone just like his oldest brother. It’s one of the main reasons Kou admires you so much though, you’re someone he can run too without having to fear for anything. You’re even there for him when he has his nightmares, comfort him and promise him to stay with him so nothing will hurt him, even in his dreams. When they’re nearly beaten to death, Kou is crying for his older brother to do something.

🎤He doesn’t want to die, he doesn’t want to be alone again and is in that moment willing to do anything to stay with all of his brothers. Karlheinz is the saving grace even if he just uses the dying boys. After that traumatic experience, Kou seemingly follows his oldest brother anywhere for a while as if that is his way of coping with the near-death experience. He doesn’t even have to talk with you, it’s enough for him if he’s just sitting near you even if you’re currently busy with something else. The nightmares stay with him and sometimes he still asks his brother if he can stay a bit with him in his room. Kou is quite popular because he’s a little Popstar but gets nasty and mean behind the scenes when one of his fans tries to get to know his brother.

Yuma Mukami

🌱Yuma is more rough at the beginning and seems to have the least respect for you despite you being the oldest boy under the five. She doesn’t matter to him though, if you want his respect you have to earn it through your actions. When the boy proves to Yuma with time that he’s loyal and ready to defend the other boys even if it means sustaining injuries, he earns Yuma’s respect. At one point Yuma finally starts calling him the oldest brother too, even if he’s a bit late in comparison to Ruki, Kou and Azusa. Yuma is most likely still the strongest though even if the oldest boy has his own tricks and skills, not to mention the most experience how to survive on the streets.

🌱His brother often steals food and seeks together with Ruki out hideouts where they can rest and sleep. Yuma most likely feels immense guilt after they nearly died and have become vampires, apologizes to his oldest brother for not having been able to save all of them back then. Even if his brother forgives him, Yuma needs a lot longer until he’s gotten somewhat over it. He starts seeking out to be stronger so something like that will never happen again. His garden is important to him and he feels pride bubbling up in his chest when his brother compliments the garden of his. Both brothers most likely end up spending a lot of time in the garden together.

Azusa Mukami

🔪Azusa is more shy and quiet yet one of the biggest problems for you as the oldest one is his masochistic and self-harming tendency. Azusa views pain as some sign of love and when he feels brotherly love for you, he wants you to hurt him. It’s strange that someone as young as you have to deal with such a problem yet you’ve faced more threatening situations than this one and Azusa is family to you. So you try to teach him, explain to him how love is supposed to work. The youngest boy is often protected and accompanied by his oldest sibling out of sheer protectiveness and worries that he might harm himself if his brother isn’t around.

🔪His shy nature is another thing to keep in mind, his oldest brother often has to ask him for his opinions on certain topics since Azusa is so quiet and just agrees with everyone else since he doesn’t want to risk any arguments. He becomes terribly pliant, always agrees with everything his oldest brother says and follows him around. At one point he even threatens and hurts others just to protect you like you always do with him. He sobs silently when he thinks that all of you are about to die, at the very least he doesn’t want you to die but also doesn’t want to be left alone either. He accepts Karlheinz’s offer in that moment without thinking much. Definitely the most clingy one from the brothers, Azusa has troubles being alone.

[theanoninyourinbox]

I need to know about Brambleclaw in your Longstar au. Tell me everything about that traitor! Please.

Bramblekit was normal, as kits go. Small, maybe a little rough with Snowkit and a bit selfish, not noticing if others were affected by his misadventures or little clawed swipes, but no one save Speckletail and Goldenflower noticed anything amiss. When the fire struck camp, and Fireheart bravely saved him from the flames, he seemed starstruck. Wanted to be a brave warrior who saved everyone!

And then his Father left.

The clan seemed to turn on him all at once. They all hated him! Just him!! (He never saw Goldenflower shudder her tears away, never saw his sister flinch at the stares and whispers. He never saw Fireheart try to shield him, or Longtail glare down the elders. His greatest flaw was never seeing how others felt.) Darkstripe brought him to see Tigerclaw, who promised that HE was protecting Bramble from the horrors of a weak clan, and whispered to the malleable kit lies and half truths and just play along until I take control. So Bramble did.

Then Tawnypaw LEFT HIM TOO. How dare she, he would say to others, how dare she go to the terrible cat and his terrible clan! (How dare she go, he would say to himself, it was supposed to be me! Now I am watched, and cannot meet my fatherteacherleader!!

And in his dreams, Tigerstar came to him. For you, my true heir, the true training of a strong leader. The Miretrees welcomed him with grasping claws, and he relished it.)

(Any guilt or morals were lashed away by the thorns and the shadows of a thousand hateful cats.)

He played his part - saving Whitestorm, mourning the dead and verbally disavowing Tigerstar (he did not fail he still yet lives in the Mire of nightmares), becoming a Brawler (all the better to defend my clan, he says to Longstar) (give me Claws, he says, to redeem the naming of my father, he says), dotes on his mother, hunts and fights and returns in the night to his bloody-bellied fatherkingruler.

He becomes defined, in the secret bloodybeatingcloying spaces of his heart, in the shadows of his mind, by three things.

Pride. Envy. Wrath.

He is Proud of his prowess, of his acting, of his untouched pelt (the claws of the Dark Forest are too slow for him, only catching on his soul) and his place of honor - he is TRUSTED by the falsefoolishleader Longstar, to watch his kits and protect them from danger. HE is the danger that no one sees! HE will sink his teeth into the unprotected spines of the clan! But not yet. Brambleclaw waits. He is Proud to have a true leadershadowboundruler like Tigerstar, the cunning to Brambleclaw's battle skills. He is Proud. And that is a piece of his downfall.

He is Envious, of Longstar and Flamewish. Of Tawnypelt and Foxpaw and Swiftpaw and Darkpaw. And eventually of Hawkfrost and Mothwing and Crowfeather. He WANTS the power to command a clan to move, and be obeyed at every turn! (He does not see the elders balk, Whitestorm advising, the historians and tacticians guiding the clan as well) He WANTS the love of a mate, one who is devoted only to him (he misses the work that Longstar and Flamewish put in to their relationship, their arguments and apologies, the devotion going both ways) (He misses how his sister is loved, by her clan, truly trusted, how Rowanclaw is her FRIEND before her lover) He WANTS his father to be there, to be watching him grow effortlessly (he misses the little spats, the drama, the fears, and does not see the love that the family cultivates) (He could have been another son to the leader, or even the deputy, but it is far too late for that) (He barely recognizes that Goldenflower loves him, cherishes him, and is Proud of him. She does not matter. Mollies' opinions do not matter, his father taught him well) He WANTS a sibling relationship like Hawk and Moth, he WANTS to be cherished by many clans like TadpoleCrowfeather (He is blind to how Tawnypelt loves him, how Stormfur asks for his advice, how Feathertail flirts) (His plans for Foxpawflight are NOT ruined by her affections for ShrewpawLeg he WILL be her mate) He is Envious. And that is a piece of his downfall.

He is Wrathful, his hate of the Clan he was born into catching on his ribcage and twisting in his intestines, burrowing into his marrow. He claws the turf to pieces in fury, how DARE his father leave! He knocks eggs from their nest is rage, how could Tawnypaw leave him too!? He tears the pelts off of rogues and loners, MY FATHERLEADERKING IS NO FAILURE!!! He scatters stones on the cliffsides, why won't Foxpaw realize she's MINE!? He screeches as he drives rogues away, MY BROTHER!! MINE!! He is Wrathful, and that is one piece of his downfall.

He stands over the foolishfalseidiotLongstar, his truebrotheronlyally looking upon him and their prey. Join me finally, Brambleclaw crows, join me and we can be what we were meant to be!

(He has always missed how Hawkfrost looks at Tigerstar, looks at him. With building horror and regret)

And Hawkfrost

Says

No

Brambleclaw is Proud (he trust his battle prowess, but Hawkfrost is quick and lean and won't hoLD STILL)

Brambleclaw is Envious (you are MY BROTHER he screams, and the denial from Hawkfrost cuts through his blackening heart)

Brambleclaw is Wrathful (red tinges his vision, his father's voice in his ears stop him stOP HIM KILLHIM)

The silvery spike in his throat tastes like failure

[thesunfyre4446]

I tend to be more of a fandom spectator, since I am team neutral and I like to look at everything from an external perspective and analyze the motives of each team, but in recent times I have been observing a lot of hypocrisy from team black, who deny that we ,the neutrals, exist, yes, they can be that arrogant. But without a doubt what catches my attention the most is that they believe they are feminist activists when at the first opportunity they disregard Helaena's pain because unlike Rhaenyra she "only" lost one child (apparently it is a small matter). They call her a useless depressed woman who abandoned the rest of her children, and honestly I find it a disgusting way to address a woman who is going through something like that, they ask for respect for Rhaenyra in her pain (with which I agree) but they don't extend the same courtesy to Helaena, each person faces things in a way that Rhaenyra didn't let herself sink should not serve to belittle the pain that leads a person to commit suicide.

The girl literally saw how her son's head was cut off, her being depressed is not strange at all. They also think that they are the defenders of house Targaryen, calling Alicent's children mudbloods when their candidates for the throne are illegitimate boys that have no real right given the social context of the time and who would still reign with the surname Velaryon (because in the book they would not change the surname to Targaryen upon ascending, this is an invention by Condal that makes no sense, at that time there were no such levels of feminism, and also the importance of political alliances lies in this type of things, Corlys was also lying about the boys paternity just to put his name on the throne an his blood through Baela). They criticize the bond between Sunfyre and Aegon when they have Rhaenyra in the opposite position, we do not see a real connection with her dragon, she was the youngest rider but it was of no use and Syrax's death was not a big problem for her.

And I say that I am neutral because I am happy that Aegon III was king, but they say that they are so they can say oops the blacks won, but the truth is that they hate this boy and also his brother Viserys and they criticize them constantly, from what I have seen they use them only to serve their half-brothers and feel guilty for them. They try to impose the idea of the united family when that is far from true, the same Corlys they sell as grandfather of the year as soon as he was able to legitimize Addam and Alyn as Velaryons discarded Joffrey as heir and at that time Jacaerys was still alive, because they love to think that Corlys did this because since Joffrey would now inherit the throne he could not also rule driftmark, because of course if this child was actually his grandson and he saw him as such Corlys would renounce the power that this position brings to his house ( Apparently this man was stupid and I didn't know), I suppose it's normal to prefer the bastards you've had with a girl from Hull than the boy your son had with a princess. In the end what they wanted is for the Strong boys to reign over all the legitimate heirs that already existed, they have not achieved that.

And the thing about usurping and breaking the law too, because in my humble opinion, Rhaenyra was Visery's legitimate heir, but her first children should not be heirs, they immediately call you bastardphobic, obviously I don't care about anyone's origin, nor do I think that that makes you less worthy, but it is a fact that in the universe of Westeros it is illegal to pass bastards as legitimate children (which is not in itself an insult but an adjective to designate people born to people who are not married).

Then it can be stated that the claim of these boys was a usurpation of all the boys and girls of the family who were legitimate and bore the Targaryen surname, including all of Daemon's and Alicent's children. But this is not interesting to talk about. It is better to sell that it was essential that they exist because there were no more heirs available for either House Targaryen or House Velaryon when both things are not true, it is simply a question of power and the path to obtaining power is not always fair and that is seen on both teams.

thank you so much for this lovely ask! sorry for taking forever to answer.

i really don't know why team black hate people who say that are natural. i've said it before and i'll say it again - being natural is the best way to watch this show.

the double standards with helaena and rhaenyra is my villain origin story. i hate hate hate the way team black talks about helaena. and i'm sorry, the psychological torture helaena suffered in B&C, in additional to her son's death - is, thankfully, not something rhaenyra ever had to endure.

yeah i don't get TB using the fact that the targtowers are only half targs & at the same time saying that blood doesn't matter wrt the strongs.

and the aegon and sunfyre antis? please. sunfyre was able to sense aegon and return to him. they have one of the strongest dragonrider \ dragon bonds ever. and for those who say that aegon wanted to replace him??? he tried to hatch a dragon because rhaena had morning. he knew that if the blacks have a dragon and the greens don't then it's over and him & his entire family will be killed. so what was he supposed to do? let everything he and his family and loved ones (including sunfyre) suffered and died for be for nothing? of course not.

and rhaenyra and syrax? i mean we really don't know much about their bond. syrax didn't fight at all during the war, killed her riders son and died. syrax sucks lol (never beating the secret TG agent allegations).

the idea that the blacks are this big happy family is hilarious. corlys and rhaenys literally believe that daemon and rhaenyra killed their son. corlys supports rhaenyra to get his "blood" (name) on the throne. rhaenyra is loyal to herself and her children. corlys has his own interests. rhaenys is there for her granddaughters, and daemon's also doing his own thing. there's so much distrust and hate between the TB "family".

[lyrakanefanatic]

I just realised that literally everybody in the inheritance games series is traumatized in some way ☹️☹️

nash: had to watch his mother neglect him and then continue giving away his brothers while he couldn’t do anything about it

jameson: his mother neglected him, he was manipulated by his grandfather to make him think that he was nothing, and the whole Emily situation

grayson: neglected by his mother, had to carry the weight of the heir apparent, was forced to be perfect and not show any emotion, the whole Emily situation and just so much more

Xander: again, his mom neglected him, and he was lied to about his father from Tobias

Avery: her mother died when she was 15, she was nearly killed like 3 times, she had to carry the weight of being the heiress, was used as a target by Tobias, and a lot more

Libby: was in a mentally and physically abusive situation, was stressed out a lot when Avery was written in the will but didn’t wanna worry her, was constantly at the blame of all her relationships, and gets used because she’s “too nice”

Max: was disowned by her parents and not even allowed to talk to her own brother, had no one to talk to about it because Avery was written in the will so she was completely alone, and didn’t want to burden Avery with all the stress she had because she was already in the will and everything, and since Avery was maxs only friend she had no one else to talk to about it. (I kind of repeated some stuff but whatever u know what I mean 🙄)

Rebecca: Was living in her sisters shadow, never really felt like she had her mothers love, was constantly overlooked by her mother, was never allowed to date the one person she loved because she was afraid Emily would find out, and was blamed for Emily death by her mother (🙁)

Thea: Her best friend died, was forced to fake date a guy because she thought Emily would disapprove of her real relationship, and all her concerns about the Hawthorne family were overlooked as she was forced to spend time with them when they were the only ones with her best friend the night she died (ik Grayson and Jameson didnt kill Emily, but she literally told everybody how much she hated the hawthornes bc of “what they did” and was completely overlooked)

Eve: Okay I know everybody hates eve, but you can’t say she wasn’t traumatized. She was forced to have ugly haircuts and was forgotten just because she looked like the guy her mom had an affair with. Her existence ruined her family as her mom and dad fell apart because of the affair that her mom had, and she was ignored by her entire family but the second that Avery gets written in the will, THEN her half siblings decide that they want to contact her. She was used, just like Avery. Yes, she was a bad person, but she was alone her whole life and so when Vincent Blake was introduced, ofc she wanted to work for him, he was the only one who had ever shown her praise or even acknowledged her her whole life, and since she didn’t have any attention as a kid, of course she wants it now. She wanted to constantly be the best and do as he says because he didn’t want to let him down like she let down her family (just for existing, by the way.) so she did all these horrible things because she was afraid if she messed up, every ounce of attention she had gotten from Vincent would have been wiped away, and she would be alone again. Eve is actually a very layered character, but I feel like people dismiss that bc she hurt Grayson. And yeah what she did to him was horrible but nobody tries to see both sides bc people fangirl for him too much 🙄 (not hating, I do the same thing 🤭)

[teaberrii]

Chapter 26: Where it Ends

You've been Cupid for as long as you can remember. You've brought countless soulmates together, yet you've never found love.

When you're assigned to bring two childhood friends back together, it should be simple until you unexpectedly catch feelings for the mysterious and cold Ph.D. student, Dan Heng, the man with a soulmate… the man with answers to your past.

Dan Heng/You

Notes:

Cross-posted on Ao3

Female reader

Chapter index at the end of chapter one

“You should’ve come to me years ago with this proposal,” Jing Yuan said flatly. “I would’ve accepted it on the spot. But now, I think you're out of your mind."

Young’s eyes flashed in the dark. “You can’t hide your real identity forever, Jing Yuan. If Mother's plan goes through, whose side are you going to take? Will you expose Mother and her ugly lies? Or, will you continue living amongst the humans who cannot accept your real identity?"

Jing Yuan sucked in his teeth. "And what about you? You're the fucking heir to the Middle Kingdom. Don't tell me no one is going notice that you just suddenly vanished."

"...Which is why I plan to erase their memories."

"Erase their...?" Jing Yuan scoffed. "You're going to erase your existence? For a woman? Pathetic." When Young said nothing, Jing Yuan sighed. "I'll hear you out. Just make it fast."

Your body is slightly shaking. Young chose to die? You already hated your parents and society, but it was Young’s death that drove you over the edge. He had been your heart and soul, and he chose to die so you could continue living in the very society that robbed you of your happiness.

“That day…” you begin quietly. “You knew that your mother used a concealment spell. You knew that she thought Jing Yuan was going to kill me. You knew…” Your voice breaks as you say, “You were going to die.”

“...When the execution happened, it was supposed to trigger a spell to eventually wipe their memories of me.”

You take a small breath as you try to keep your mind sound. “And was that supposed to solve everything? You dying… Your mother believing I was dead… forgetting about you…" A pause. "No. When she tried to kill me, she remembered you.“

“That was not supposed to happen,” Young says quietly. “By then, the spell should already take effect, but I don't know what went wrong. The plan was to keep you alive… but also have Mother slowly let her hatred go.”

“That still doesn’t make sense!” You clench your fists. “You said she wanted to enslave the humans. Fine. But how was keeping me alive and forgetting about you supposed to stop that from happening?”

“Jing Yuan.”

“...Jing Yuan?”

“Jing Yuan came to the north to take revenge for what your parents did to his father. He and Mother share the same hatred. If Jing Yuan killed them, he could take control of the north. He’s also respected in the south.”

You scoff and look away. “He’d become the ruler of the Kingdoms. Is that it?”

Young puts his hands on your arms. “That’s why I needed his help. There would be no war. You would be ali—”

“I would be alive, yes,” you say through gritted teeth. “Jing Yuan eventually made my life a living hell. Even before you two came up with this little plan. I… I can’t—”

“Jing Yuan came to the north to kill your parents. But… because they’re your parents, he put off his plan.” Young briefly closes his eyes. “He fell in love with you.”

“Do you think I’m going to thank you?” There are tears in your eyes, and you clench your fists. “I loved you… I loved you so much that I cursed people. I bet you and Jing Yuan didn’t have that in your plans, did you? You thought I was just going to have a little heartbreak and then move on?" You glare at him. "Oh, wait. I guess I was supposed to forget about you, too."

Young wants to reach out to you but the sheer anger in your eyes tells him otherwise. “...What happened was beyond anything I could’ve imagined. It was not supposed to happen.”

“Well, I guess I’m just full of surprises, huh?” You take a small breath. “It’s too late to say this now. But, we should’ve fought. The war your mother wanted to happen… it should’ve happened. Then…” You can’t stop the tears from falling now. “...Perhaps we would’ve died together. That would’ve been the best outcome.” You aren’t looking at him anymore. “Did Jing Yuan know everything? About why you tied your soul to this locket?”

“...No. He never knew about any of the magic imbued in that locket.”

“Here’s another question. You asked Pom to put a protection spell on this locket. What was the point of that if you and Jing Yuan were working together in the first place?”

“This wasn’t something we were planning from the beginning. Jing Yuan and I were still enemies when I went to Pom.” Young slowly hugs you. “...I know you’re angry, and I’m sorry. I should’ve told you. I—”

You close your eyes and exhale softly. “Do you know what I’m most upset about? You know… besides the whole oh-my-God-I-literally-cursed-people?” You pull away and give him a little, sad smile. “It’s that you didn’t confide in me. Whatever your mother was planning… She could've been planning to summon the God of Death or King of Hell, but I wished you could’ve talked to me instead of trying to protect me by yourself.”

The look in Young’s eyes tells you he understands. 

But, maybe this is also fate.

Suddenly, your phone buzzes with a message.

Pom: Found Caelus!! At hospital!!! Get chur butts ova here.

By the time you and Young arrive at the hospital, you see Jing Yuan sitting in a waiting area with a bloody bandage on his arm. When he sees you, he only nods at a door where you assume Caelus is.

“What are you doing here?” you ask.

“That’s what I’m wondering myself,” Jing Yuan mutters. Then, he sighs loudly. “I knew I shouldn’t have taken that damn shortcut today.” Upon noticing Young staring at him, Jing Yuan slightly narrows his eyes. “Is there something on my face?”

“...It’s been a long time."

Jing Yuan raises a brow. “Not long enough for you to be saying that. What’s—”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Jing Yuan slid a hand into his pocket as he stared at his half-naked brother who would be dead in the next couple of hours. “Do you know I’ve had dreams about killing you? But looking at you now…” Jing Yuan sighed. “I’ve been too into my head about hating you.”

"You say this now when I'm going to die."

Jing Yuan crossed his arms. "We love the same woman, but you're literally dying for her. I don't know if I could top that."

Young looked down and smiled. "...Hard to say."

"How did you find out? That we were related?"

"My father. If he didn't tell me his story about him and Mother, I probably would never have found out." 

“What made you ask? Something must’ve prompted you.”

Then, Young quietly said your name.

“Were you really stupid enough to say her name in front of your father?”

“I told him there was a girl I love so much that I want to marry her. But… due to circumstances, it’s impossible for us to be together.” Jing Yuan looked away. “I couldn’t tell him everything… but after all that, he said I should marry out of love, something he never got to experience.”

“...And that got you asking questions,” Jing Yuan muttered. Then, out of curiosity, he asked, “Does he hate humans as much as Mother?”

“His hate does not run as deep as Mother’s, but the pain of the war that happened many years ago… that cannot be easily erased.”

“And here we are now…” Jing Yuan sighed. “If Mother had taken a different path… things would’ve turned out differently.”

Young scoffed with a small smile. “Yes. We'd be fighting over the same girl instead of trying to save her life.”

Jing Yuan put a hand on Young’s head. “We did fight over her, and in the end, she still chose you over me. Now, here I am… making her hate me even more as I kill my brother and the fucking man she loves. What a joke.”

“It’s not like you to cry.”

“I’m not!”

“Right. I’ll pretend I didn’t see anything.”

“Smartass.” When noises could be heard outside, Young heard his brother say his name. The half-dragon looked at his brother as he said, “...She won't forget about you, you know.” A small pause. “I won’t forget.”

“I liked you better when you were trying to assert your dominance.”

Jing Yuan glared at him. “Don’t make me walk out there with your head in my hands.”

Young looked down, and with a small, sad smile, he said, “It’s time, Brother.”

Jing Yuan stares at Young in shock, but before he can say a word, the door suddenly opens. Caelus’s father is the first one out followed by a nervous-looking Pom. As soon as Caelus’s father sees you, he frowns.

“...You.” He walks up. “What did you do to my son?”

Pom quickly slips between you and Caelus’s father. “Sir, it’s—”

“You’ve said enough,” Caelus’s father interrupts. “Now, move.” You don't get a chance to say anything as he shouts, "Explain why he keeps saying you're the reason why he's sick!"

Before Caelus’s father can grab you by the shoulders, Young quickly steps in, glaring at him. “Touch her, and you’ll be sorry.”

“Y’know,” Jing Yuan says, “I’d like to know why your son attacked me at the park. You don’t see me barging in there and grabbing at him.”

Caelus’s father glares at him. “He mentioned you as well. Something about you betraying him. How do you know my son?”

“...Dad.” Stelle comes out with Lan. “Stop.”

“I just want some answers, Stelle. I’m sure you do, too. Caelus isn’t supposed to be here! He’s—”

“He wanted to keep it a secret,” Lan says. “All of us”—he nods towards you—”we were looking for ways to help him because this cannot be solved using normal means.”

“How do you expect me to believe that my son is cursed? That is utterly ridiculous! I—”

“It’s true,” you say, and everyone turns. “...I was the one who cursed him.”

◆◆◆

A scream. A slash. A thud.

By now, the curse had taken over all three kingdoms. There was chaos and destruction at every corner. There was no order, no royals, and no titles. Everyone was strangely equal, but the situation still favoured those with wit and strength.

Just as Luocha pulled out his sword from the throat of an infected, he saw three of the infected swarm on top of a guard. Having no choice, Luocha fled and eventually sought shelter in his father’s room. The room still smelled like blood.

Luocha had just closed his eyes when he heard a light creak behind him. He spun around, his sword raised, and his eyes widened when he saw… you. He quietly said your name, nearly dropping his sword. A black veil covered half of your face, revealing nothing but your sharp eyes. Your clothes, a mix of white, gray, and black, were nothing like what the other women your age wore. Yours were fit for battle.

“How… Why are you here?” Luocha asked.

“I was curious.” You glanced at an ink-painted portrait of your family with bloody fingerprints all over. “...How everyone was doing.”

Luocha narrowed his eyes. “...You knew about everything that was going on."

“Stop trying to get a confession out of me, Luocha. Just say what you want to say.”

“You used magic… disguised yourself as Jing Yuan’s handmaiden and cursed our father.”

You looked down and chuckled. “I shouldn’t be surprised that you were the one to figure this all out. How long have you known?”

“For father’s health to suddenly deteriorate like that… it wasn't normal. After weeks of trying to treat him, I had a hunch this was because of black magic.”

“And from that, you suddenly decided that I was the one responsible?”

“No. Rather, I thought Jing Yuan was the one behind it. But, when his wife was cursed, I started to think it was you. I never thought you'd give up studying magic. You also had Young teaching you when he was alive.” Luocha walked up to you. “It’s been years, Sister, but you haven’t changed. At least, your thirst for knowledge never fails to surprise me.”

“Are you going to kill me? For killing Father?”

“You should’ve stopped there.” You glared at him, but Luocha didn’t back down. “Was Young so important that you had to get innocent people involved? He wouldn’t have wanted this to happen.”

Your sword was now at the side of his neck. “...Young was my happiness. Why should I continue living in the very society that turns a blind eye to injustice? What did we do that was so wrong? Young had every right to live as much as everyone else. Yet, his life was taken away, and for what? For me? Because of the political rivalry?” You scoffed. “I doubt we’re the first, and we won’t be the last.” Your blade drew closer. “...I want to end all of this political bullshit.”

Luocha was silent for a moment until he said, “And are you happy with the outcome?”

“I’m not finished.” Luocha briefly closed his eyes. Then, you quietly said, “I trusted you. Yet… when everything was happening, you did nothing.”

He could’ve preached that he was trying to protect you, but he knew he wasn't. Looking back, all he did was follow the status quo. So, he told you to stay away from Young, knowing well what would happen if you got caught. But, it wouldn’t be his fault. He warned you, after all. You just didn’t listen. Even when Jing Yuan banished you, Luocha remembered how he wanted to say something. But, what if he ended up getting banished with you? What would become of him? His status as a doctor? Would all of his hard work go to waste? Deep down, Luocha knew that he only wanted to protect himself.

A vial appeared in your hand. “I was saving this for you.”

“...Are you not going to use it?”

Then, you smiled wryly. “I don’t know… Who do I hate more? You or Jing Yuan? If you were Caelus or anyone else, I wouldn’t be having this conversation with you.”

Luocha suddenly grabbed your hand that was holding the vial. He popped the vial open, and the mist wasted no time snaking up the glass and into the air. “I may have failed you as a brother, but know that during the time you were gone, I always hoped you were well. And…” Luocha neither flinched nor stepped back as the mist swiftly crawled into his eyes. Suddenly, he dropped to his knees, and the sound of swords hit the ground. When Luocha looked at you, the whites of his eyes were already turning blood red. “...And that I was proud to have a sister like you.”

You watched your brother fall to the floor, his mouth opening and closing as if he were a fish out of water until someone said your name.

“I found him.”

You stood just as your brother turned eerily quiet. But, instead of answering Pom, you picked up your sword. With both hands, you held it over your brother.

Before Luocha could regain consciousness without any humanity left in him, you struck the sword through his heart.

Luocha has one hand on the sink, the other is clutching his heart as he stares at his reflection in the mirror. You had killed him to spare him from turning into a horrendous creature. But the pain remains. His heart feels as if it’s engulfed in flames. When he closes his eyes, he sees you and then collapses to the floor.

◆◆◆

“...My son is dying in there,” Caelus’s father says, pointing to the closed door. “Do something!”

Then, the rest of the group walks out of Caelus's room, and March closes the door behind her. “He's finally asleep,” she says.

The doctor who had taken over for Luocha looks as white as a sheet. “I don’t know how long the sedation will last given his current state. Let me try to get in touch with Doctor Luocha and see if he can come in to help.”

“...Don’t think the guy will be much help,” Jing Yuan mutters.

“Dad.” Stelle puts a hand on her father’s shoulder. “...I can stay with Caelus tonight. You should go home, and get some rest.”

Before he can answer, his phone goes off. With one look at the screen, he walks off and answers it. “Yes… Yes… I know. I’ll deal with it…”

“Sounds like he’s got a lot on his plate,” Gepard says, watching the man round the corner while looking down.

“He’s been stressed,” Stelle says. “Not sure about what… but—”

“You really don’t know much about your father, don’t you?”

March puts a hand on her hip. “Are you saying you do?”

“I know my clients like the back of my hand, sweetheart.”

“Clients?” Gepard asks, raising a brow.

“He asked you to do something about that article about The Withering, didn’t he?” Stelle asks.

Jing Yuan smiles. "You're a smart one."

“L-Look,” March says after a sigh. “There’s too much going on right now! What are we going to do about Caelus? What happens after he wakes up? He’s not just going to… I don’t know… bust outta here, right?”

“...What can we do?” Gepard says quietly. “Let’s just wait if Luocha can do something about this.”

“Yeah, if you’re talking about the tall, blonde, pretty boy, you’re out of luck,” Nanook says, sitting on a nearby chair.

Stelle quickly looks at him. “...What? Did something happen to him?” Then, she looks at you. “What happened to Luocha?”

Jing Yuan steps in front of you and Stelle and says, “He’s fine. I can get in touch with him.”

Stelle frowns. “Don’t tell me he’s associated with you, too.”

“Take a guess.”

Stelle’s father comes around the corner and looks at his daughter. “...Stelle, we’re going home.”

“What?” Stelle looks at Caelus’s closed door. “But, what about Caelus?”

“It’s not like you can do anything if you stay.”

Gepard frowns at Lan. “Did you really have to put it like that?”

“It’s true,” Nanook says, looking at Stelle. “There’s really nothing you can do for him at this point.”

Stelle’s eyes land on you, and she walks up. “I may not know exactly what happened between you and my brother,” she says quietly. “But, isn’t that all in the past? I hope… I hope you can find it in you to help him.”

Then, she walks away with her father.

“I’ll keep an eye on Caelus,” Nanook says. “He won’t be going on any murderous rampages under my watch.”

Gepard and March are the first to leave. Then, in an attempt to lighten the mood, Jing Yuan turns toward the rest of the group and says, “Does this mean I’m officially off the radar? No more babysitters?”

Young finally turns to Pom. “You’ve been fidgeting for a while. What’s wrong?”

Pom quickly turns to Young. “M-Me? Oh, um, well…”

“I’ve noticed it, too,” Lan says. “Is there something you’re not telling us, Pom?”

Pom takes a breath and looks at you. But, before he can say anything else, they hear another voice. “Yes, Pom, don’t you think it’s time to stop keeping secrets to yourself?”

Nanook frowns at Sampo who’s suddenly sitting in a chair next to him. “How long have you been eavesdropping?”

Sampo shrugs just as Pom nervously says, “There’s a way to stop the curse.”

“How?” you ask.

Pom slowly looks at you, but it’s Sampo who breaks the news. “You die, Cupid.” Then, he stands and walks over. He leans down so he’s at eye-level with you. “...This is the choice you have to make.” When you look Sampo in the eyes, it’s as if he’s compelling you not to look away. “To live or to die.”

“...So, if she dies, the curse will go away?” Jing Yuan asks. "Everyone will live?"

“Correct.” Sampo leans upright. “You’d better decide quickly, dearie. Because time is not on your side.”

Then, he looks over his shoulder and sees Jing Yuan standing behind him. But his gold eyes are fixed on you.

“...What are you doing, Jing Yuan?” Lan asks.

Jing Yuan pushes past Sampo and suddenly grabs you by the hair, forcing you to look at him. 

“You’re at a disadvantage,” Young says sternly. “Let her go.”

“I thought we’re all on the same team here. We want this curse gone, don’t we?” Jing Yuan shoots you a look. “And now we have an answer.” Without turning his head, Jing Yuan looks at Young. “You must be the one I’ve been hearing so much about. Cold Dragon Young.”

“...If you really wanted to kill me,” you say quietly. When Jing Yuan looks back, he sees you glaring at him. “You would’ve killed me that day.”

Jing Yuan had his sword drawn. Something creaked behind him, but when he turned all he saw were the shadows of the candles on the walls. After he and Luocha split up, he ended up seeking refuge in your old room to escape the chaos outside. Ever since Jing Yuan banished you, he didn’t let anyone use your room, not even his wife. Sometimes, he’d pass by, and the night when he first tried to woo you almost always came back to him.

It was the night you had been drinking with Jing Yuan and Luocha. You had a little too much, and Jing Yuan ended up giving you a piggyback ride back to your room.

“...Young…” you’d whispered. “I miss you.”

Would his name ever leave your lips like that? Jing Yuan slid your door open, walked inside, and went straight to your bed. He gently put you down, but his hand was also itching to grab the knife hidden inside his hanfu. It would be so easy to kill you. One slash to the neck. One stab to the heart. You were completely vulnerable. Yet, before he knew it, Jing Yuan was leaning over you, his face dangerously close to yours. He could smell the alcohol, and he was fighting the curious urge to taste it on your lips.

Your eyes slowly opened, and you quickly sat up as if the sight of him made you sober.

“What are you doing?” you asked, holding the blanket over you.

“You passed out,” Jing Yuan answered calmly. “I took you back to your room.”

“...Okay, but why are you still here?”

Jing Yuan decided to take a risk. “Because I’m curious.”

“About what?” You frowned. “Don’t tell me you’re curious about a girl’s room.”

“You kept muttering a name. Young. Don’t tell me it’s Young, heir of the Middle Kingdom?” Jing Yuan knew, but it was your reaction that he was looking for. You’d stiffened and looked away. “...Looks like I was spot on.”

"Thank you for taking me back to my room, but if you could just leave—"

“Race aside… It’s not wise to waste your time on men who play with your feelings.”

Your gaze hardened. “He’s not playing with my feelings."

“So, you’re pathetically pining over him?”

“...Get lost.”

Jing Yuan grabbed your cheeks and forced you to look at him. “...I could make you forget about him.”

“You’re crazy. I think you’re the one who had too much to—”

His mouth was on yours, hard and rough. One of his hands held your wrists, and when he nipped your top lip, he raised your hand to the side of your head. He gently pulled your lip with his own and repeated the caress on your bottom lip before your lips finally parted. Jing Yuan wasted no time. The heat that began at his mouth had unfurled so fast that he needed more.

The alcohol tasted even better on your tongue. Your bed dipped when he climbed on top. Soon, his body was flush against yours until he heard you say, “...Stop.” Jing Yuan broke away. He had you on your bed, hands on either side of your head. The sight had sent his nerves on fire, but your face said a different story. " This isn’t right.”

“Who said?” You looked away, so Jing Yuan continued, “You aren’t his.”

“I’m not yours either.”

“But, you didn’t resist, which means… you also feel something for me.”

“I don’t want this,” you muttered. “Get off me.”

“...Say it while looking at me.”

You finally looked back at him. One second. Two seconds. Three seconds. Then, his mouth was on yours again.

Another creak made Jing Yuan spin around. Except this time, a sword pierced just next to his heart. Jing Yuan instantly fell to his knees. He could feel the tip of his blade scratching at his heart like fingernails on a chalkboard. This was deliberate. The placement was planned. With shaking hands, Jing Yuan put his hands on the grip until he saw you emerge from the shadows of the room.

“...We finally meet again.”

“I remember now,” Jing Yuan mutters. “You tortured me that day.”

Nanook looks at you. “Tortured and cursed?”

“No,” you say, without looking at him. “I didn’t curse him.”

Lan and Nanook glance at each other. “...Why not?”

Young has a hand on top of Jing Yuan's, and the man lets out a short scream before releasing you.

“Because once the person is dead," you say, "the curse won’t work.”

Jing Yuan couldn’t move. A small knife had pierced his hands, forcing them together. With every small movement, he felt the tip of your blade press against his heart. You were standing in front of him, your eyes cold, dead, and beyond saving. He was shirtless with blood and bruises all over.

“...I didn’t want to believe it was you.”

“And look where that got you, General.” You heard something crash outside. “Fire. Destruction.” Your eyes landed back on him. “Revenge.”

“This… This is all for Young, isn’t it?”

You twirled a knife in your hand and teased the blade down the side of his neck, drawing a thin line of blood. You walked behind him, stabbed him, and slowly dug the knife deeper… and deeper, taking great pleasure in hearing his painful groans.

“Why couldn’t we just get along?” you asked, leaving the knife inside of him and another one appeared in your hands. “...Your initial kindness was just an act.”

“...No,” Jing Yuan managed to say He took a breath. “Do you know why I came to the North?” At your silence, he forced a little, painful smile. “Your family took everything from me. My childhood. My parents. The life I could've had. And for what?” He looked up at you. “Because they couldn’t stand that my father fell in love with a woman from the Middle Kingdom.”

Was it ironic or a cruel twist of fate that Jing Yuan suffered a similar fate?

“I could’ve killed them earlier… but seeing how you were their daughter”—a small scoff—”I started rethinking everything.” Jing Yuan screamed in pain as his hand slid across the blade until it was finally free. But now there were two gaping holes in the middle of his palms. The blade fell to the floor just as he grabbed your hand with the dagger. “I want to stop this. For you. For Young. For myself.” Upon pulling you closer, he felt the tip of the dagger against his abdomen. “...My brother and I wanted to protect you, but I guess we failed.”

As if sensing it was coming, you tried to stop him, but with the last of his strength, the dagger impaled him. With the amount of force you felt, you knew he was gone.

Sampo looks at you. “Your revenge ended with Jing Yuan, but the war raged on. Nothing could stop the monsters you created.”

“Pom,” Nanook says. Then, he eyes Sampo. “Is that what you wanted to tell us? You knew she had to die for the curse to be over?”

“I had a dream about it,” Pom says quietly.

“That may have been true, but perhaps not anymore.” Everyone turns to Young, but he's looking at you. “...There might be another way.”

Chapter 27

End notes: I think a lot of people are probably wondering about why/how Cupid became a God. Well, our dear 'ol Sampo is going to reveal that in the next chapter lol now that all this revenge has finally come to light.

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