#i know this doesn’t mention freya’s name but you know

[wumiings]

Best Wife

“Gwen is the best at everything, isn’t she?” Merlin remarked as they walked together. “Best seamstress, best friend, best queen…”

“Best wife,” Arthur added fervently.

Merlin hummed at that and made an ambivalent gesture, just to be difficult. He then had to bite his lip to hold back the laugh that bubbled up in his throat at the king’s indignant expression.

Guinevere, of course, caught the glittering amusement in his eye right away. She put on a tone of exaggerated injury as she demanded, “Merlin, you don’t think I’m the best wife?”

Merlin shot her a well-constructed grimace of guilt and sympathy. “Well, I mean, every man has got to be biased in favor of his own wife, hasn’t he?”

“You don’t have a wife, Merlin,” Arthur informed him with a scowl.

Merlin shrugged, unaffected by the pronouncement. “I might do.”

“No, you don’t—”

Just then, Merlin caught sight of Lancelot coming down the hallway. His eyes lit up. “Lance!”

The knight looked towards the sound and, noticing the trio, waved in greeting.

“I need you to settle a matter for me,” Merlin told him, the picture of earnestness. When Lancelot nodded, he asked, “Who has the best wife: me or Arthur?”

To the king’s immense shock, a stricken look crossed Lancelot’s face.

“You want me to choose?!” he demanded almost shrilly, and if it was an act, it was the most flawless performance in the five kingdoms, because his voice even cracked on the question.

Merlin’s gaze softened at once. “No, no, if it’s too difficult to say, I won’t make you. Don’t worry your pretty little head about it.”

Lancelot looked like a man granted a reprieve from execution— an absolutely ridiculous response to an already baffling conversation. Then, with a short nod of farewell, he hurried off down the hallway as if fearing Merlin might change his mind.

Both Arthur and Gwen stared after his retreating back for a long moment before slowly turning those stares back on Merlin.

“Do you have a wife?” the queen asked, incredulous.

Merlin only shrugged again and repeated with a small, mischievous grin: “I might do.”

[miley1442111]

believe me- a.hotchner (18+)

summary: aaron is there for you during a particularly difficult case.

pairing: aaron hotchner x bau!fem! reader

warnings: reader grew up in a cult, mention of hurting women, domestic violence, mental, physical, emotional abuse, children in dangerous situations, miscarriages, abortions, women being treated awfully, i hate this it scares me (i think that's it? PLEASE TELL ME IF I MISSED SOMETHING)

this is pretty dark so I will be saying it's 18+ only because of the content, please remember you manage what you consume, mdni.

not entirely proofread

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You sighed, walking into the bullpen. Another day. 

You sat down at your desk and started on your paperwork with as much enthusiasm as one would assume to be normal, but Aaron knew it wasn’t. He’d been watching you, they all had. The sunken eyes, dry skin, yawning at all hours of the day, refusing to stop working, refusing drinks or food, being ‘too busy’ to come for after work drinks. You had even stopped responding to his texts regarding Jack. You had always been the one on the team that Aaron was closest with, mostly because he was in love with you. Due to that, he also invited you over a lot to watch movies, bake, come to football games, etc with Jack. Jack adored you, probably more than he liked his own father (at least, that’s what Aaron thought). You hadn’t been texting or calling back. You two had gone on a few dates, at first he thought he had done something wrong, but then he watched you closer. It wasn’t him. 

Aaron stepped out of his office. “We have a new case, everyone meet in 5.”

You picked yourself up from your desk and followed him in, sitting in the chair furthest from him. 

“We have a new case, Dallas,” he announced. 4 images of women popped up on the screen, and you looked down, knowing exactly who and what they were. “4 women from the same family, killed in the same way, over one decade.” 

“Were they mother and children?” Spencer asked. 

“Yes,” you answered. “Their names are Delores, Tiffany, Riley, and Freya Howell and they all died via the head trauma they sustained in the ritual. The youngest was 17.” 

They all stared at you. You knew this was coming. You understood it.

“What ritual?” Aaron asked, looking straight at you. 

“The birthing,” you answered simply. 

“Why do you know about this?” Derek asked, just as dumbfounded as the rest of them.

You pointed at the screen. “That’s my mother, that’s my little sister, that’s my older sister, and that’s my cousin. There’s no point in getting us in. No matter what we find they claim religious freedom and hide. It’s a cult and it’s about killing women. I work with children to get them out.”

“So you know people in the cult right now?”

“I lived in that cult. I know every single person on that compound's entire medical, familial, and social history. Including the Supreme Leader. Trust me, they have all the fucking permits they could ever need. I’ve been working with another group to try and take them down, but it doesn’t work.”

“We have to try,” Aaron said, stoic as ever. 

“It doesn’t matter what you throw at them, legally they’re untouchable,” you sighed. “If we really want to help, then we need to work on getting the children out.”

“We need to make them illegal then,” Aaron said matter-of-factly, and you just sighed. 

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On the plane, the team was wary of you, it was fine, you understood why. You had just told them that you grew up in the strange woman-killing cult you were now all going to investigate. 

“So what is ‘the ritual’?” Spencer asked. 

“When a woman is pregnant and they bring it to full-term, they are killed as their child enters the word. In the ‘teachings’ it is said to bring the child the strength of 2 people, and that they carry their mothers’ spirit. That’s why everyone’s middle name is their mothers’,” you explained. “See, it’s unusual for the women at the compound to bring children to full-term, at least, when I was there. And in the ‘teachings’, it was written that no women could get pregnant for years and years, but that one, the Supreme Leaders’ mother, could, and when he was in labour, he told her husband to bludgeon her. He did, and the Supreme Leader was born. They are trying desperately to have a new prophet. A new leader. So they began practising the ‘Ritual’ back when I was probably 12. Also, it’s difficult for women to get any kind of medical care in the compound, since they’ve rejected modern medicine, so it’s not uncommon for women to miscarry.”

“How old were you when you left?” Derek asked, the entire plane silent as you recounted your traumatic past. 

“18,” you explained. “I was one of the lucky ones. My mother was a teacher, before she joined the compound. She never wanted to join, it was always my dad’s idea. So she broke the rules. She taught us and another small group of children maths, English, history, and modern politics from any of the newspapers she could smuggle in. When we turned 18, they gave us a test. It was believed by the Supreme Leader that you were either born with the ability to write or not, and all of us in the group passed, so we were sent out to the world to recruit. We ran away. Found a place that they could never find us, cut all contact with each other, and moved on with our lives. I work with a few of them, trying to get children out, but for our own safety, we all act like we’ve never met before.”

“What happened to the others?”

“The ones who didn’t pass turned into husbands and wives, and then fathers. By the time I was 18 I was already married and on my second pregnancy,” you chuckled sadly. “He almost killed me when I said I was leaving to recruit. The men there, they’re taught to be violent. They’re taught to be animals. They’re taught to hurt women. My only saving grace was the ‘doc���. She was one of the eldest women in the compound. We all thought she was blind and half-dead. But she saved me. When I was about 2 months in, she picked me out of my bed and brought me to the edge of the compound walls. She asked me if I wanted the baby, I said no. She got rid of it. She made it look like a miscarriage.”

They were silent. 

“That’s what we’re up against. Years and years of sexual, physical, and mental abuse. A doctorate that no one believes but the men, and the men have all the power and strength. These women and children need help.”

“H-how many have you gotten out so far?” Penelope asked, tears in her eyes. 

“281,” you nodded. “And there’s still more.”

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Aaron walked you up to your room in the hotel. It had been a long day. You had been on speed dial the entire time, explaining everything to the entire team as you worked with your team on making a plan to evacuate all of the women and children. 

“I’m sorry I haven’t been calling back, all of my weekends have kind of turned into… this,” you explained, looking down. “I do genuinely like you Aaron, but I’d understand if what you found out today is too much or-”

“It's not,” he assured you. “Thank you for your insight, and I’m sorry that you have it.”

You nodded, the motion bubbling up in your throat as you thought over the last 24 hours. “I hope we can help them,” you whispered. 

“We will,” he nodded, wrapping his arms around you and holding you close as you cried into his chest. Aaron vowed something to himself right then and there, he’d always be there for you, no matter what. “Come on, let’s get you inside.”

Aaron helped you inside, helped you change into your pyjamas, helped you get ready for bed, and tucked you in, all while whispering words of encouragement. As you lay in bed, utterly exhausted from the emotional toll of the day, you found yourself reaching for Aaron’s hand. 

“Please stay,” you begged, your voice soft and small. 

How could he ever refuse? 

“Of course,” he whispered. Without a moment's pause, the bed dipped beside you, and Aaron opened his arms to accommodate for you. You settled yourself into his arms and pressed a kiss to his clavicle. 

“Thank you for believing me.”

“I’ll always believe you,” he whispered, pressing a kiss to the crown of your head.

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criminal minds masterlist :)

navigation for my blog :) (criminal minds, obx, the bear, marvel, top gun, the hunger games :)

[cloveroctobers]

Richie Jerimovich — summer prompts 🍋

A/N: Love that most of y’all are coming around when it comes to Richie but what’s understood doesn’t need to be explained! Anyways after watching this eye-opening season, it was easy to be inspired for this piece so I hope you enjoy this.

SYNOPSIS: Richie’s found his purpose and doesn’t want to reflect on the past (much) but is looking towards a better future…which may include baby steps to outsiders but it means everything to him.

WARNINGS: language ofc it’s the bear & me we’re talking about, mentions of drugs & anxiety, mentions of slight sexual themes, and a little heaviness but mostly two goof balls expressing their love for each together.

Decided to throw a prompt into the mix as well so I’m using: “can we make cookies?” “it is 92 degrees outside, no!” 

*GIF BELONGS TO: @p3iyin9 *

꒰ ° ꒱** ༉‧₊˚✧ ↝ ꒰ ° ꒱** ༉‧₊˚✧ ↝ ꒰ ° ꒱** ༉‧₊˚✧ ↝ ꒰ ° ꒱**

[July 10th]

[4 months, 14 days later…]

It’s her birthday and she’s here.

She’s not alone and Richie’s half expecting her to be here with some new guy, some guy that’s more around her age and has their shit together. It’s a bitter thought to have but he can’t lie and say that it didn’t occur, the constant insecurity of not being good enough.

He knows it’s his own fault, he’s the one who pushed her away not long after she welcomed him between her thighs during a brutal winter. The details were vivid even with his eyes wide open, burning into space. He wanted to be angry being so intimate with someone else when there was always the thought of his first love on his mind.

Tiffany.

His ex-wife.

He was still hurting from being officially divorced for about a year now (separated for three) and she was moving on he learned. It was bound to happen, a woman with a heart like her’s? Richie wasn’t sure why he was still holding on to hope for them to rekindle their relationship. He wanted it to work but he was the constant screw up and Tiffany deserved better…he just didn’t expect it to be with some construction owning guy named Frank.

Richie already didn’t trust him.

It was the common tale of curing a broken heart, trying to get underneath someone else to get over someone, to feel anything else but the continuing ache that sat on the left side of his chest.

Freya Mazari was someone Richie met not long after “the thing with Tiff,” happened, outside of a bar that was famous for bourbon and risqué wall art. He spotted her outside at the start of summer on a surprisingly quiet sidewalk cracking her knuckles—out of a possible bad habit, blue bruise the side of an apple on her cheek, and a unlit spliff tapping against her thigh afterwards as she seemed to be mumbling some lyrics to a Busta Rhymes song.

That was the first thing that had him sold on their soon growing friendship.

Freya’s surrounded by a group of diverse women who are laughing it up over drinks while Freya is standing; embracing Sugar and falling into smile-filled chatter with the blonde. Richie instantly feels a pull to head over there himself but be figures he can just get entail from Sugar later. Carmy’s been over to Freya’s table already, handing out a, “it’s on the house,” birthday special but they still weren’t on the best terms really. It was strictly business now and that was something Richie never wanted to be part of.

A strict relationship with a family member—except for uncle Jimmy of course, he really had no choice with that one. That night back on opening day in May, seemed to be something they couldn’t get pass just yet and that was another hard pill for Richie to swallow.

Carmy messing up something good on the surface level and taking it out on everybody else with his mouth, changed the trajectory of their relationship.

Would it be forever? Richie couldn’t tell you.

Nonetheless he wasn’t here at the bear to talk about need-a-diaper carmy. Right now? He needed to figure out how to handle this…this distance with the woman he considered his close friend.

He’ll deal with that family shit in due time, don’t worry.

“Who are we hiding from?” A familiar voice causes Richie to clench his eyes shut.

He doesn’t have to peer down at the shorter tatted man who’s behind him as he says, “I’m not hiding from nobody.”

“Really? Because it looks like you’re creeping on…Freya! Yeah Freya over there. Do you know it’s her birthday today? We had the best birthday hug, she may even be a better hugger than me.” Fak informs the taller blue eyed tux wearing man.

Richie pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance, “of course I know its her—what did I tell you about touching things that don’t belong to you?”

He battled with himself countless of times this entire morning to call her up but ultimately fought against himself to just do it.

Fak hummed, “hey, she’s my friend too! And doesn’t belong to either of us but we’re included in her life and it’s her birthday! I’m sure she’ll be happy to receive a birthday wish from you too.”

“I can’t say I agree with you on that.”

“Why not? Oh…it’s because you guys did the dance with no pants—

Richie’s hands immediately slaps over the animated man’s mouth and starts talking to him calmly, “what did I say? To not ever mention that shit here at the original bear.”

That’s Richie’s new spin on the restaurant name, yes there are shirts on the way!

Patience is key.

Fak hummed as Richie scolded him. It wasn’t that big of a deal in the first place on Fak’s side of things. He was just thrilled that Richie was involved in being intimate with someone he cared about for once…compared to the others that shall not be named. Fak thought Freya and Richie could be something great but he wasn’t aware what Richie was so scared of.

“Yuck! Did you just lick my hand you—

Richie shook his hand about, halting himself from saying something insulting. Sometimes it just slipped out but he was doing much better and it was usually a place out of love when it came to Fak. He was like a puppy in training, always excited and doing whatever came to mind but most of the time you had to lure him to take a fucking nap.

“Yeah I did! Just go talk to her! Make her dreams come true.”

“Fuck are you talking about? Do I look like Hall & Oates to you? Like I’m her dream guy or somethin’?”

“Hey, I thought we weren’t doing this. I don’t like you talking down on yourself buddy! You need to go into the restroom and give yourself a quick pep talk in the mirror.” Fak ordered, pointing in the direction of the restrooms.

Richie blew out a raspberry at Fak’s encouragement. He didn’t take him serious but once the man started shoving him about, Richie was all elbows flying and slap-fight inflicting between the two.

Sydney calls from the kitchen, “Hey! What’re you two doing? Aren’t you supposed to be up front?”

“Sugar’s up front.” Richie informs with a slight turn to face the braided woman.

Fak immediately straightens up, not providing much answers, “Yes ma’am! I mean chef.”

Sydney blinks at the two, wondering why they’re not moving, leaving Fak to take a few deep breaths before slapping Richie on the chest as he mutters, “Taking one for the team again! You’re welcome and get it together!”

“Don’t tell me what to do, Fak.”

Fak shrugs his shoulders and spins to leave the entry way of the kitchen, while the pace of the kitchen has started to slow down the movements are still precise. It’s late, after ten pm and there’s about three to five parties left, which means closing time should be wrapping up within the next thirty to forty-five minutes.

Business was booming still almost two months later but the rush always seemed to slow down once the late nights arrived. The Bear was formerly known as mainly a lunch or late lunch spot but after this new reno, dinner became much more important.

“Richie,” Sydney steps away from her spot behind the stand, “Everything good?”

Richie exhales as he mutters, “Freya’s out there.”

“I heard.”

He fidgets then.

“Have you talked to her? It’s her birthday.”

“I’m aware, I put in the word for Marcus to give her a little piece of home since I also hear she’s a little homesick. Mkhabez.” Sydney tells Richie, as she eyes the jittery man.

Richie chews on his fingernail in thought, “right that’s some type of cookie. Almond cookie? She told me about how her uh, Jidda used to make them for her as a little girl with her siblings back in Algeria.”

Sydney nodded her head, “yeah…are you okay?”

“Huh?”

“Not to be an asshole but you look like you’re gonna pass out or hurl and if you are, please give me a fair warning so you don’t ruin my coat.” Sydney cautiously took a step back as Richie used the back of his hand to wipe at the beads of sweat on his forehead and not because of the heat in the kitchen.

Richie scoffs, “No need to worry, Chef. I’m not gonna empty my belly or pop a smooth criminal lean. I don’t know why I’m feeling this way. I probably need to pop another xan.”

“Uh, that’s probably something you shouldn’t mention to me.”

“Why? You’re not gonna snitch on me, are you?”

“No…but I might snoop through your stuff and fry them all in a pan.” Sydney honestly says while she folds her arms as Richie peers at her.

“You wouldn’t.”

“I could,” Sydney challenged, “if you need a minute take it but you can’t run forever.”

“Who says I’m runnin’?”

“It’s pretty obvious,” Sydney states, “and you just need to rip whatever this is off like a band aid, you’ll feel better afterwards.”

“And what if I don’t?”

Sydney pauses with her arms still folded before she peeks around at the remaining chefs in the kitchen, Carmy not in sight before she whispers back up at him, “then fuck it, at least you tried.”

Richie can’t help but to snort out some laughter before he claps two hands down on Sydney’s shoulders, giving them a squeeze, “Well thanks for that, Syd.”

“Sure, whatever. Now get out of my kitchen.”

“Our!” Richie points.

Sydney nods her head from side to side with a playful roll of her eyes as Richie clicks his tongue at her. Down the hall he goes in search of the bathroom to in fact, give himself a pep talk but most importantly to calm down.

Richie’s disappeared for over half an hour. He didn’t realize it until Carmy barged in to see him sitting on the bathroom sink.

“I said I’m in here!”

“Yeah, with your ass in the sink.” Carmy’s tone is monotone but quick to point out, “which is unsanitary by the way.”

Richie can’t help but to roll his eyes as he hops off then, fixing his tux before he slaps his face, bringing himself out his daze. He spins back around, getting another good look at his reflection for what felt like the thousandth time but he exhales and quietly excuses himself from around Carmy who appears as if he wants to say more.

But he doesn’t.

Richie’s steps echo in his ears as he circles around to the dining area. He hasn’t realized how long he locked himself away until he’s in the room, half of the chairs flipped up onto the tables with lofi music playing through the speakers.

He can only guess who picked this shit.

A blonde pregnant lady probably.

“Damn.” Richie rubs at his mouth in frustration, briefly noticing the booth Freya previously sat in was now empty.

That didn’t lift the weight to now know that she was gone for the night. In fact it made him feel worse, that he didn’t have the nerve to just walk up to her and talk.

You know? like friends were supposed to be able to do.

His skin is red as he pinches at it in aggravation, until he picks up on the sound of heels slowly clacking against the floor. His breathing hitches as he lifts his head to meet Freya’s dark sharp eyes.

“Hey,” Richie chest feels tight but he breathes, “I thought you scrammed outta here with your girls.”

She shakes her head as she keeps some distance between the two, “some of them have early mornings tomorrow and the rest I told to just go home. I was hoping to run into you actually.”

Richie swallows as she steps forward, “why? To smash some cake in my face?”

“Now there’s an idea.” She lightly laughs and it sounds like Christmas bells, “but no, I wanted to see you.”

Richie quirked up a brow as he carefully moved out of the way so Freya could grab her things, “…really?”

“Yeah, we have some things to talk about.” Freya slips her bag over her shoulder, “Like you ghosting me for one.”

Richie rolls his head up to the ceiling, “yeah, about that—

“Let’s go for a late night walk.”

“How about a late night drive since I know your feet are hurting or about to be soon,” Richie looks at Freya’s fit, knowing she wasn’t much of a heels wearing woman (although she wears them very well) preferring sneakers more than anything on her feet.

Freya laughs as she sways a bit, probably a little tipsy, “you’re not wrong about that…so get your keys and take me to yours.”

“Mine,” Richie questions while pointing to himself, “I dunno what kinda guy you take me for—

“Oh Shut up, I’m not giving you any of this birthday cake.” She poses in her fitted dress, “I’m only propositioning a conversation between Richard and the birthday girl.”

“Yeah you giving this a whole title isn’t helping the innuendo, baby.”

“And neither are you in that tux,” Freya smoothes down the arm of it before placing her hands back on the strap of her bag, “Didn’t get the chance to tell you last time face to face but you clean up very nice, Richard.”

Richie gives a grin as he says, “Give me two minutes.”

Which leads to the pair pulling up to Richie’s condo/apartment. It’s normally too quiet at night for his liking, especially when he’s not jamming out with Eva here. After unlocking the front door, he holds his arm out for Freya to lead the way, which she has no issue doing, a natural sway in her steps as she walks down the foyer bare footed now.

“I’ll put the AC on.” Richie rushes out as Freya makes herself at home, placing her shoes against the couch and plopping down on the couch with a sigh.

He messes around with the finicky thermostat until it chokes out some cool air from the vents in the ceiling above, battling against the humidity in his two bedroom home.

“What can I get you? I’ve got beer, Gatorade, tap and—

“Orange juice?” Freya asks as she lays down on the couch, one arm is held up and over her head, eyes closed for a moment.

“Yeah I’ve got that too,” Richie responds from around the corner in his kitchen.

It’s about ten minutes until eleven and Freya is all yawns as Richie arrives back into the living room, holding two red cups, one filled with ice and OJ just how Freya likes it and one just filled with the orange liquid. He sits down beside her as she sits up and moves over to give the man some room in his own house.

She’s gulping the cold juice down and licks at the top of her lip before placing it down on the side table, “you need coasters.”

“Ah, just use some toilet paper.”

Freya crinkles her nose, pressing her fist into the side of her head as she rests back against the couch, just eyeing Richie who is looking forward at everything else but her. The cold air is wheezing but there’s relief filling the room, in contrast to what Richie maybe feeling.

“This silence is killing me, Richard!” Freya pokes his thigh with her seashell painted toe, “just talk to me already, will you?”

“Okay…how’s the birthday going?”

Freya honestly says, “I’m a little sad my mum didn’t call.”

That gets Richie to look at Freya then. Although their friendship was still fairly new, he knew that seemed unlikely for Freya’s mother out in North London to forget her eldest’ birthday. Of course it was possible, Richie didn’t have the best relationship with his own neglectful mother, hasn’t spoken to her in years or knows where she even fucked off to but it seemed like Freya at least communicated with her mother across the ocean on a daily basis.

“Has your brother or sister been in contact with her?”

“Oh yeah, she was in the background on FaceTime with my sister. Not even a hello but it’s probably because I told her I couldn’t send her any money a few weeks ago. Whatever.” Freya shrugs her shoulders.

She was a dental hygienist assistant and didn’t care for her job much but the pay and benefits were decent enough in this economy.

Freya was originally born in Algiers to a father that worked in labor and manufacturing while her mother was a stay at home mom, mostly due to a disability she faced as a child. Money wasn’t the best growing up so it wasn’t until Freya was about twelve when her father moved her, her mother, and her baby sister to London where they stayed with Freya’s maternal aunt for a few months until they got into their own flat. Her brother stayed with her father for awhile until they soon started making their visits.

Eventually her father decided to let the brother stay there while he continued making money and hoping for better work in London. However there were a few opportunities but it seemed like Freya’s father kept turning it down, just to find out he was participating in extramarital affairs behind her mother’s back. Not long after that, her mother stepped up to work with aching joints at a sporting goods store to provide for her three kids.

Freya as the eldest was also used to working underneath the table so it was no different in the UK. She learned quickly how to provide for her family too.

After that they learned her father had fallen ill due to his diabetes and needed his leg amputated. When Freya was twenty-one and living in Toronto with a boyfriend, he was living in London with his sister-in-law and died from congestive heart failure. Freya’s upbringing wasn’t always so cloudy, there were sweet moments with her parents that she liked to hold dear to her heart but the reality is, you’ll always bring something from your childhood into your adulthood good or bad.

“I’m sorry. That sucks ass forreal.” Richie comments and Freya just deeply inhales.

“You know what else sucks?” She exhales, “Not having you around to talk to.”

Richie presses his elbows into his knees in thought, “I uh—I’m sorry about that too. I didn’t mean to, what did you say back at the spot? Ghost you? Yeah. I didn’t mean to do that, I was just dealing with some shit inside that didn’t really have anything to do with you.”

“So the sex wasn’t trash and I didn’t scare you off?”

“What? Are you kidding?!” Richie’s wide-eyed as he quickly looks back at Freya, who’s face is full of a smirk, that it makes the dent on the center of her chin more prominent.

He soon laughs, “you’re fucken annoying you know that?”

“I’m supposed to be. You’ve met your match,” Freya winks.

“It—I’m gonna be real with you. I panicked because it was you on top of—it was you—and not just some random one night stand. With those I never really felt anything unfortunately for me but with you—

“It was like the Fourth of July-ly-ly.”

Richie scoffs and rolls his eyes, “I’m all here for your confidence in my skills truly but shut up.”

Who was being annoying now? She was clearly talking about herself but whatever floats this man’s boat—which she already knew—BUT she’ll save you guys the details.

“I’ve been quiet for months and I’m just trying to help fill in the gaps, sheesh!” Freya flicks her black parted hair back over her shoulders.

Richie shakes his head at the thirty something year old woman who didn’t mind rambling even when she wasn’t tipsy.

“It’s just you know, I didn’t think I would ever feel something again after the d—the thing with tiff.”

Richie still couldn’t say it, although Tiffany was officially steering her life in the direction of a another man. He still couldn’t say “divorce” because then that would mean he would have to start his own healing of a end of a special era with a woman he deeply loved and created a precious life with.

It just fizzled out and damn it hurt.

“And you did with me,” Freya voiced and was understanding, “glad to know that wasn’t only one sided.”

Richie finds himself asking, “Did you tell that no good locked up son of a bitch about it?”

Freya’s ex was some abusive guy that landed himself in jail right after New Years and it wasn’t for him stalking, harassing, or hitting Freya. It was from attempted armed robbery and now he was serving time for it and Freya finally felt like she could breathe for once.

Richie knew the feeling of being held back.

Counting your breaths are actually helpful, shout-out to anger management!

“No. Did you?”

“That jagoff can choke!”

“I mean, did you tell Tiffany?”

“Fuck no! I needed to see how we were feeling about it first and it’s not like she tells me her every move—besides her getting engaged to some other guy.” Richie’s almost glaring now at the fact of the matter before fixing his tone some, “Which I guess she gets points for letting me know and if the bastard is gonna be around my kid full-time.”

Freya spoke, “You just never thought there would be someone else. I get it.”

“Never! For either of us, then you came along and then came Frank and it’s a constant loop of emotions but I’m happy to be in Eva’s life and to feel something other than dread when I step into the original bear.” Richie’s plucking his nail against the plastic cup, slightly anxious at being this vulnerable.

However Freya wasn’t one to judge much, sure she had her opinions and can get loud from time to time when she’s pissed off or passionate but she was usually open to hearing all perspectives before she said her peace. Richie’s view was not one she spoke much on, she listened, really listened like he needed someone to and offered words when it was time for him to hear them.

“That’s something to look forward to.”

“Yeah but I still miss you.” Richie rubbed at his face before saying, “I miss our friendship and I don’t know what to do about us after what we did…yet somethin’ inside is telling me that nows not really the time to be jumping into anything. I’m just figuring things out and I know that’s gotta count for something.”

“Which is fine, richie!” Freya says with a light shove to his shoulder, “I wasn’t chasing you down to force you to be with me or anything! I gave you the space you clearly needed. I know we both got our own shit to deal with but being with you helps put that on pause for awhile …even if it’s as friends. I’m here whenever you need me, you wanna vent and scream about shit, have at it. You don’t wanna talk? Let’s have a dance party instead. If you need a shoulder to cry on, I’ve got two, take your pick!”

Richie snorts at this but he honestly appreciates it. He almost forgot what it felt like to have a friend.

“Just don’t cancel me out for months at a time, and expect things to be normal without a conversation, you hear me you prick? I’m your friend, you can talk to me ya know? I want you to feel safe with me, confide in me.” Freya holds Richie’s navy eyes against her ink colored ones and Richie has to slap a hand over his mouth to hold back a sob.

Richie chokes out, “ugh! Why are you making me feel things?!”

“Because it’s cancer season and I love and respect our friendship. You held me down in my lowest and I’m gonna keep uplifting you during yours and your growth.” Freya places a hand over the one that’s resting on Richie’s own knee.

Freya goes on, “It’s not our time to be romantically involved and I’m quite okay with that but that doesn’t mean I suddenly stop caring for you.”

Richie pressed his chin into his shoulder, staring at her underneath his lashes, “Wow…you sure you don’t wanna make-out just to confirm that?”

“I knew you liked how I look in this dress.” Freya playfully runs her nails through his buzzed hair, “say it back though, tell me you care just as much.”

There’s that “words of affirmation” shit people talk about right? Garrett would probably find this amusing.

He gently rests a rough hand against her cheek, “You know I do but I’m gonna say it anyways since you wanna be mushy as fuck right now. Thanks for everything and coming into my life, I care a lot about you and us. Your heart is beautiful and you’re my friend who also happens to be a total smoke show! I know you must feel amazing in that dress, you wear it well.”

“Thanks, good looking!” She winks.

“Act like you know,” Richie smirks.

“Oh, please!”

Richie hyped himself up with a roll of his shoulders, “Look good, feel good.”

They share a laugh staring at each other with Freya balled up beside him and Richie just enjoying her company. He wasn’t sure what to make of this but he didn’t have to have all the answers tonight. This Freya also confirmed.

He was just happy to be around her again and to have her be part of his journey.

She pops up then, “Can we make cookies?”

“Didn’t you just have some back at the restaurant?” Richie asks before saying, “It’s 92 degrees outside, no!”

“That was much earlier, though.” Freya argues, eyes darting to the side as she thinks about it.

It really was a lovely day to spend her birthday, although she wasn’t on a boat somewhere in Monaco or Miami…it was a somewhat chill day.

“Didn’t you already have some cookies at the restaurant?”

He knew she was a hungry drunk but she was nowhere near drunk, shockingly on her day.

“So? If you don’t know how to make some basic chocolate chip cookies just say that.”

Richie scoffed, “What?! Who said that? I make the best got damn cookies ever, just ask Eva.”

“She’s probably sleeping?”

“…fuck, you’re right.”

He definitely would have called her up if it wasn’t passed her bedtime.

“Well? What’re you waiting for?” She kicks his thigh again.

Richie pressed his forehead against Freya’s as he hollered, “Game on, Queen Elizabeth!”

“Don’t you ever!” She tapped his jaw and pointed at him.

Richie moved his jaw along blinking, “I’m sorry! I forgot.”

Thats how the late night evening included making homemade cookies, with Richie hovering over his phone trying to read off ingredients to Freya as they made a mess of his kitchen.

“Where’s the dark chocolate?” Freya searched Richie’s cabinets and drawers while Richie tried to keep his eyes away from the kitchen door, where he had Freya propped up against with him down on his knees.

“What? I said salt?” Richie’s eyes followed the woman as she moved around the kitchen as if she were being timed, “I dunno where the hell you got dark chocolate from.”

“We can do dark chocolate since it’s superior and a pinch of sea salt?”

Lines appeared against the skin of Richie’s forehead as he raised his brows, “How about hell no, Betty Crocker?”

“Who made you the number one cookie critic?” Freya gibed as she gently closed the drawers shut with her hips.

Richie taunts, “your mother!”

Middle fingers and a sarcastic smile later were handed right over to the 6’1 man, “Piss off, Richard!”

“Well…whadda want to do? Eva and I ate up all the last of the candy I had here. She might be coming to see you soon actually but don’t tell tiff that if you happen to see her, alright?” Richie slaps the palms of his hands against his kitchen counter.

Freya let’s out a dramatic sigh as she begins pacing on her side of the counter. She stops to lean her elbows against the counter and looks at the plastic large bowl in front of richie. Still sighing Freya reaches over to use the smaller spoon that was off to the side to dip into the batter.

Hey, Freya was no baker or chef but she liked looking at the consistency and details of things. Turning it to show to Richie, she takes one finger and flicks the spoon back so the batter can fling forward and stick right on Richie’s nose.

She’s cackling at the image of Richie closing his eyes shut in disbelief. His tongue goes out then to lick some of it off before swiping it away with his fingertips. He stares hard at a laughing Freya, who has her head thrown back, hugging herself while Richie is focused on his next move.

He’s carefully taking his jacket off now, smoothing it down before using his long limbs to toss it over at the dining table top on his right. Freya doesn’t notice this as she’s wiping the corners of her wing-lined eyes, still closed as she’s almost snorting now, skin of her nostrils sinking in a bit, like she’s squidward or some shit as she carries on laughing.

“You think you’re so funny don’t you?” Richie asks with a palm full of flour now.

She’s still laughing as she nods her head, too full of giggles to get any words out.

Instead of Richie sprinkling some salt, he throws flour across the counter right to the side of Freya’s face, “Well I’m funnier, asshole!”

That gets Freya to stop laughing then. She stands up straight and it’s Richie’s turn to fail to cover his own laughter with his fist.

It was on then.

A flour fight began between the two friends, coating most of the kitchen with white powder.

“I think you threw salt in my eye you turd?!” Freya’s holding her eye now, after this has gone on for at least ten minutes.

“Shit, I’m sorry! Everything is starting to look the same.” Richie’s coming to her aide now, fanning the air as he steps to her, hands reaching for her forearms, “let me see.”

Freya fools him, “Gotcha!” Before whacking him in the neck with a whisk.

“Ow! Hey you’re fighting dirty, Frey!” Richie scolds before snatching a wooden spoon making Freya eye him wildly, “uh huh let me see you try to win this battle now.”

“I’m definitely gonna win, whether you like it not, Richy Rich.” Freya got low, ready to aim at Richie’s torso since she had that to her advantage being shorter than him.

Richie blows a raspberry, tapping the wooden spoon against the palm of his hand, “you must not know the strength of a wooden spoon and my wrestling skills, sweetheart. I got the team to championships!”

“When? In 1948?”

Richie tightens his eyes at this before they’re in a fencing match now. Which doesn’t last long as one of the two lost their footing due to the flour covered floor.

“I think I broke my ass.” Richie groans holding his back.

Freya’s laughing again as she’s resting right on top of Richie, “I’m glad I don’t have that problem, flat ass.”

“I don’t appreciate you slandering what I lack, some of us weren’t blessed okay?” Richie sasses as he wraps a hand around Freya’s waist to sit them both up.

Freya cooed at him, pinching his cheeks while Richie rolls his eyes. They sit in silence with freya on his lap as they take in the sight of his kitchen now. Flour on the upper cabinets, flour even on Eva’s personal drawing table, flour of course covering the counter, flour all over the floor, hair, face and their clothes.

“Great…now I gotta clean this up!”

“Eh, maybe later yeah?”

“Later? Well what else do you have in mind since we didn’t actually make those cookies you wanted so bad?” Richie waved his hands about.

Freya makes an explosion in front of Richie’s face, his round eyes following her fingertips for a moment before she says close to his face, “I have a better idea, it’s actually a good one.”

Richie was half expecting Freya to get him to break out into a dance routine like last time to Madonna’s, “Material girl,” but he was sure the man above was probably tired of their shenanigans tonight.

So that’s how he ended up here, covered in flour with him watching as Freya made herself comfortable on his couch again, head pressed against her folded up hands.

One eye pops open almost like a jumpscare, “are you gonna stand there the entire night like a creeper and just watch me sleep or are you going to join me, Richie Lawrence?”

Richie scratches at his head in confusion, “stop with the whole middle-name name drop, you’re making me think of my bastard dad. And I’m not sure what you want me to do here?”

“Make yourself comfortable, it’s your house.”

“There’s a bed on the other side and a shower…”

“So you’re gonna make more suggestions on my birthday but then say respectfully a romantic relationship isn’t what you want out of this on my birthday? It sounds like you want to give me a certain gift on my birthday to end this birthday party.” Freya rambles, now sitting up on her elbow.

Richie squints, “how many times did you just say birthday?”

“Get over here!”

“God, you’re getting bossy in your old age.” Richie jokes as he sits down by Freya’s legs, who swings them to the floor so Richie can scoot in behind her.

He keeps his hands and feet where he can see them, staring at the back of Freya’s head and he can smell her sweet but floral scent. Richie takes the time to digest how this feels, with Freya in front of him radiating off a comforting warmth even when she snatches his arm to rest against her waist.

Richie is just waiting then for the anxiety to kick in but it doesn’t arrive for the rest of the night. Which makes him sink further into the couch, tightening his hold of Freya. His nose then presses down into her bare soft shoulder blade, right where her round mole sits and exhales.

“I’m proud of you.” Freya croaks out, ready for sleep, “and you should be too.”

And that makes Richie’s heart swell. He always wanted to be good at something but wasn’t sure how to make a career out of it. He had to find his footing in this world constantly and slowly he felt like he was beginning to locate it. They say it’s in your daily routine if you’re unsure and engaging with all sorts of people was something richie didn’t mind being part of.

It felt natural to him.

Holding Freya felt just the same but she didn’t need to know that just yet. He loved physical touch whether you were his family or not, it was the best form of love Richie wanted to give and receive.

He didn’t realize he squeezed her tighter against him at her words before he presses a kiss to the back of her head, “Happy birthday.”

A smile graces her lips.

In the early hours of July 11th, the sky a faded dim blue begins to peak through Richie’s living room curtains, revealing that a new day was among them.

Richie’s always been a early riser since sleep hardly existed according to the bags underneath his eyes. It had to be around 5 in the morning and he knew he would be ready for some coffee soon but this time he enjoys the silence. He feels Freya roll back against him, arm looping around his neck as she stretches in her sleep.

“Morning to you too,” Richie greets, “Question for ya, how’s bell-pep the iguana doin’?”

You heard that right, Freya was a “Guana-momma,” who she named after a vegetable specifically and Richie was ready to baby sit the guy at any time—as long as it didn’t freak Eva out too much but he doubted that. She had his blood in her veins.

Freya shushed him straight away, removing her arm from around his neck to curl that same arm to press the back of her fingers against his lips, “When I step up in the place, ayo, I step correct.” She starts before moving those fingers to create a wave up in the air.

It only made sense to Richie for her to be rounding off lyrics early in the morning, especially when he was asking questions and she wasn’t sure if she even knew her name just yet.

“Woo-hah, got them all in check.” Richie proceeds, head lifting a little to see if Freya’s eyes were even open as she rounded off lyrics.

Freya concludes, “Go to sleep.”

Enough said.

“I’ll try.”

The sight of flour sticky limbs entangled between two reconnected friends on another summer’s day went like this: cheek pressed against her’s, his facial hair pricking her skin which she didn’t seem to mind as snores actually escaped Richie’s lips, with his hand gripping Freya’s that was clutched to her own chest as their bodies gently rose in deep slumber.

The cares of the outside world were put on hold once more and Richie envisioned that this must be what heaven felt like. Nothing but a bit of light right in front of his eyes or in his arms to lead the way.

Cheers to some fucking clarity!

Sorry for the foul language dude or person or divine power up there…but Richie was thankful for it all.

꒰ ° ꒱** ༉‧₊˚✧ ↝ ꒰ ° ꒱** ༉‧₊˚✧ ↝ ꒰ ° ꒱** ༉‧₊˚✧ ↝ ꒰ ° ꒱**

Continue along with my summer anthology prompts here.

-> Part two!

[freyasilverbough]

The Cave Bear and the White Wolf - A Light in the Dark

Brief mention of suicide and domestic violence towards the end (not between characters).

“Be gentle with him,” Halsin whispered to Freya. They stood on the cusp of reuniting Thaniel with his missing half, in the form of a young boy named Oliver. One wrong move, and they could lose their chance to break the curse forever. “He’s much more than a child, though he doesn’t truly know that.”

Freya got down on one knee, lowering herself to Oliver’s height. “Oliver,” she began. Her tone was firm, but gentle, like a mother teaching her child. He’d only ever seen this softness in her once when she told Arabella of her parents’ fates, which squeezed his heart. “You’ve been so brave. No child should ever have to endure what you have, and yet you survived despite all the challenges in your way.” Halsin didn’t dare breathe lest he scare the boy away as she spoke.

“Thaniel did not abandon you, Oliver. You were taken from each other, and now he needs you more than ever. You needn’t invent friends any longer. Thaniel’s returned, and he’s waiting for you. You won’t be alone anymore, I swear it.” 

Oliver considered her for a long moment, searching for lies or deceit in her words. Halsin knew he would find none, as Freya did not make promises lightly. She was the most honest person he’d ever met. 

“Alright. I’ll do it. I want to do it. It’ll be nice to see him again,” Oliver said, a hopeful smile spreading across his face.

“Well done.” Halsin’s eyes filled with tears as his heart swelled. Soon, the land would begin to heal, and it was all thanks to her. She was incredible. A parasite threatened to take over her mind at any moment, yet she still acted with compassion and kindness despite her thorny nature. She still found the time to save a bear from a cage simply because she thought it was the right thing to do. This curse was not her responsibility, yet she aided him in breaking it simply because he asked for her help. 

“Are you crying? You’re a bit big to be crying, but I suppose that’s okay,” Oliver commented as green light surrounded him. “Bye! And thank you for playing with me.” Oliver vanished in swirls of gold and green and Halsin watched as Freya stared in awe and hope. 

Without thinking, he wrapped his arms around her shoulders and crushed her to his chest. She stiffened for a moment in surprise, as if she’d never had someone embrace her before, and then hesitantly hugged him back. “Thank you,” he whispered, pressing a soft kiss to her hair. “Thank you.”

He rested his chin on her head and inhaled the scent of thunderstorms and rosemary and steel as he closed his eyes, soaking her in. He didn’t want to let her go, to give up this moment with her. He let his tears fall silently, thanking Silvanus and Selûne and every other god that would listen for bringing this woman to him. 

Her hands moved to his hips as she gently pulled away. “We should go to the inn and speak with Jaheira on our way back to camp,” she said, blue eyes twinkling with hope. “Tomorrow, we’ll head to the mausoleum and find the relic. The time has come to make Ketheric Thorm bleed.” She grabbed his hand in hers and pulled him along with her towards Last Light, everything about her radiating indomitable determination. 

Whatever she needed him to be, he would do it. A protector, a friend, an ear to listen, a lover. If she just needed someone to clean her boots, he would volunteer just to have a moment in her company. Ever since he kissed her that day after she raided Moonrise like a mad woman, he’d been so drunk on her that he could think of little else. Memories of Freya drowned every trance, and he spent his waking moments seeking her out. The wild thrill in her eyes with each swing of her blade, the way her hair glowed pure white under the moon, how she stood tall and resolute as she faced every obstacle in her path. Her soft heart, hidden behind that rock-hard exterior, wielding her strength as a shield in front of the most vulnerable. 

And by the gods, that smile of hers threatened to put him on his knees on the rare occasions it shone through. 

They reached Last Light in record speed, propelled by their combined hope and newfound purpose. He squeezed Freya’s hand before reluctantly letting go as Dammon caught his eye. “You go talk to Jaheira,” he told Freya. “This is your victory to share. I want to get some supplies while we’re here.” She nodded, and behind the safety of Isobel’s shield, she finally sheathed her sword across her back as she entered the inn. Halsin made his way to the pens where Dammon had set up shop. 

“It took a bit longer than I’d hoped, but it’s as ready as it’ll ever be,” the blacksmith said to Halsin as he approached. He held up the new suit for inspection, a perfect replica of the sketches Halsin had given him. 

“It’s perfect, Dammon, thank you.” He tossed the tiefling a pouch full of gold coins he’d gathered on their travels. Halsin rarely dealt with money, preferring to craft his own things or trade in favors or materials, so the sum was hardly a loss. He knew that in Baldur’s Gate, Dammon would need it far more than him. 

Dammon’s eyes went wide as he felt the weight of the small bag, and Halsin just nodded before he could protest. The blacksmith packed the new suit of armor as Freya exited to the village center. Halsin slung the pack over his shoulder and took her hand once more, falling into an easy, comfortable rhythm as they made their trek to camp. 

————

Freya and Lae’zel had to have lost their damned minds. Halsin approached the campfire to find the githyanki and the elf upside down next to each other, holding themselves upright by standing on their forearms. Both women had discarded their shirts, putting their tensed abdominal muscles and sweat on full display. Freya’s long silver braid coiled on the ground beneath her, expression set in hard determination, and while Halsin tried not to stare at her, he couldn’t look away. 

He knelt in front of the high elf, tilting his head to the side. “What are you doing?” he chuckled.

“Proving a point. Go away, you’re distracting me.”

He laughed again and looked over his shoulder at Karlach, who was watching them with no shortage of amusement. “Lae’zel made some comment about how even two hundred years of ‘istik’ training couldn’t measure up to twenty of githyanki education. Freya took that personally,” the tiefling explained. 

“I thought paladins let go of their pride when they took their vows,” he said to Freya with a grin, earning himself the piercing glare he’d come to love. 

“My goddess is a forgiving one,” she shot back through gritted teeth.

“Feel free to surrender, istik,” Lae’zel quipped.

“Never.”

“How long have they been at it?” Halsin asked Karlach. Indeed, Freya’s face was a deep red and even Lae’zel’s olive skin was flushed. He wondered if their tadpoles were feasting on all the fresh blood rushing to their brains.

“Dunno, few minutes at least. We have a bet going, care to join the pool?” Karlach crossed her large arms over her broad chest and leaned on one hip as she quirked an eyebrow at him.

“If I bet against either of these two, I’m going to find a dagger at my throat tonight. I’ll pass.” He glanced between the two with a broad grin spreading from ear to ear and noticed that Lae’zel’s biceps had begun to shake. 

“Suit yourself, Wyll made dinner if you’re hungry.”

“Gale relinquished his cooking duties for the night, eh?” The wizard had taken on the task of feeding their growing camp, and would get downright offended should anyone else offer to give him a reprieve. 

“Well, he’s not here. Neither is Astarion. I don’t think any of us want to go looking for them.” Karlach wiggled her eyebrows as she spoke. He didn’t need any additional innuendo, he was truly happy that at least someone was indulging in their baser needs. 

He’d spent the last days trying - and failing - to put his kiss with Freya from his mind. The feel of her against him, hard and soft all at once, the feel of her lips against his, the soft sounds she made, their damn clothes separating them -

“T’chaki!” He heard Lae’zel curse at Freya, the githyanki on a knee as the elf gracefully landed on her feet, a wild grin across her face. “You claim victory this day, istik, you will not be so fortunate the next time.” Freya laughed and offered a hand to her friend, who swatted it away and rose on her own. 

“Wyll, you owe me five coppers!” Karlach called to the warlock, who cursed under his breath. Freya winked at him as she pulled her shirt over her head. 

Evenings like these, it was easy to forget all the threats they faced together. There were no parasites, no curse, no cult. Just easy camaraderie between an unlikely band of misfits. A disparate collection of vagabonds and strays, he’d heard Minthara call them while speaking with Freya. The drow wasn’t wrong, but somehow the party had forged bonds and friendships they’d keep for the rest of their lives. 

Freya approached him, taking his hand in hers. “Who would you have bet on, without the threat of death?” she whispered.

“You already know the answer.” Her sapphire eyes twinkled like the stars in the night sky. As wretched as this place was, he swore she brought the light of the moon with her. He often caught himself wondering if she was secretly an avatar of her patron goddess. “I’d always bet on you, Freya.”

—-----

“Tell me something about yourself that I wouldn’t even think to ask,” Freya inquired as he busted down a locked door with his shoulder. They were looting the town tollhouse, the paladin having somehow talked the toll collector into self-destructing. 

“Well, I suppose it wouldn’t shock you to learn that I love animals and nature?” He chuckled as she shot him a playful glare. “I know, well-trodden territory. Let’s see, I whittle in my spare time, and I have something of a sweet tooth. Though everyone is always amused when I say I like honey.”

“A little on the nose, don’t you think?” She laughed, the sound a siren’s song to Halsin’s ears.

“I like what I like. I’m too old to give a damn what anyone thinks.” Except for you, he added silently. He didn’t know when he started caring whether he had her approval or not, but he craved the gentle side of her that started to poke through her hard exterior whenever they spent time alone together. 

“What do you make?”

“Ornaments, utensils, and ducks. I like ducks,” he added with a half-smile. “Your turn.”

“I live in mortal fear of krakens, though I’ve never actually seen one.”

He laughed at her confession. “Well, I think if you avoid the high seas, you can consider yourself safe.”

“Spiders, too. I fucking hate spiders.” She shuddered at the thought while Halsin stifled a laugh. She’d faced countless foes that would make most men piss themselves, but it was spiders that induced her fear. Not to mention, she’d befriended a drow. The irony was not lost on him.

“Worry not, fearless warrior. I shall protect you from the tiny fiends.” She slapped his arm and glared up at him with a twinkle in her eye as she broke apart a locked chest. 

“Asshole,” she quipped under her breath. 

—-----

Pure shock dominated Freya’s expression as Halsin carefully emptied Dammon’s pack and she took in its contents. 

“How did you…?” She whispered the unfinished question with a fist clutching her heart. 

“The first time we marched on Moonrise, I recall a young woman leading the vanguard,” Halsin began. “I remember the whispers that she was Selûne’s Chosen, and that she would lead us to victory.” Freya’s eyes nearly bulged out of her skull at his recollection. “When I first met you, I had my suspicions. I dreamt of that day the night of the party with the tieflings, and I sketched her in my journal. It wasn’t until I saw you blast those shadows with moonlight that I knew it was you.” 

Freya fell to her knees, her identity settling over the two of them like a blanket. He knew why she didn’t tell the others who she was. He understood the guilt and shame and failure that waged war in her mind. She bowed her head, hands resting on her thighs as her shoulders shook with unshed tears. 

“I gave the drawings to Dammon when I picked up your armor after you’d been hurt. Forgive me, if I’ve overstepped, I just thought that the next time you faced Thorm in battle, you’d want to do it as Selûne’s paladin.”

She gathered the winged helm in her small hands and allowed her tears to fall silently on the steel. She ran her thumbs over the carvings of the moon, and Halsin held his breath while he waited for her verdict. 

“I took this armor off that day,” she whispered. “I remember leading everyone to battle, as I’d done a thousand times before, and I watched my brother take a blade that was meant for me.” A lump formed in Halsin’s throat as she closed her eyes and tilted her face to the night sky. “I held him as he took his last breath. We did everything together, he and I. We left the North when we were sixteen and nineteen, never spending a day apart from each other. Our father was a cruel man, and the two of us did everything in our power to protect our mother from him. He was relentless. Always drunk, always angry. 

“Az found her. She’d hung herself from the balcony outside her bedroom. I’d never seen him so angry, he was always so good, so kind and annoying and always cracking jokes no matter how fucked everything around us was. He came to my room that night, bags packed on his back, and told me we were leaving. We traveled south and never looked back. I don’t know if my father still lives, or if Az killed him, and I probably never will. 

“That day at Moonrise, I held my brother as he died. I watched as the life and light left his eyes.” She choked on a sob, and Halsin’s own cheeks were wet as he knelt in front of her. “Then I watched as his body cracked and transformed, and his eyes glowed sickly green and skin turned black.” Horror settled in Halsin’s gut, ice spreading through his core. “He lunged at me, and I severed his head. My brother, my sweet, brave brother, was one of the first victims of the curse. I took my armor off, and never wore it again.” She took a deep breath and held the new helmet to her chest, finally opening her eyes and staring into Halsin’s own. Her sorrow and guilt quickly hardened to cold determination and righteous anger.

“Until now.”

————

“How is the fit?” Halsin asked over his shoulder, his back turned to give the paladin her privacy. His chest ached for her, yet swelled with the knowledge that she trusted him and only him with the burden she’d been carrying alone this last century.

“Dammon is one crafty motherfucker,” she said. “It’s excellent. Better, even, than any of my old sets. The scalemail was a perfect touch, I feel like I can actually move rather than being weighed down. You can turn around, by the way.” He did so, and as he took in the sight of her he had no idea how he’d ever doubted she was the Moonmaiden’s Chosen. 

The old armor she wore was well-fitted, but in comparison to the new set it was bulky and, as Dammon had said after she was hurt, full of gaps. Where the plate ended, silver scalemail hugged every curve and muscle on her body. Accents of dark blue fabric, a color Halsin had come to associate only with her, flavored the silver steel and symbols of the Moonmaiden intricately adorned the plate. Halsin had no idea how Dammon had pulled it off in such a short amount of time. 

He retrieved her new helmet from where it lay at her feet and placed it over her silver braids like a crown. It slid snugly into place, another perfect fit. Her sapphire eyes bore into his own, gratitude and hope and trust pouring through her features. 

“It feels right. Thank you, for bringing me back to myself,” she whispered. He stepped back, squeezing her shoulder. He circled her, searching for any cracks in the armor she couldn’t see, and found none. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders, bringing her back to his chest, and she leaned against him. She took her helmet off and dropped it at her feet, then clutched his forearms with both hands and let her head fall back against him. 

“Your secrets are safe with me, my friend. Your trust is an honor I can’t even begin to describe.” Halsin kissed her hair again and rested his cheek on her head. He meant every word. He would guard her back and her secrets with his life. 

“You’ll come with me tomorrow?” 

“I wouldn’t miss it. Wherever you need me, that’s where I’ll be.” She spun in his hold and wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her forehead against his chest. 

“I need you to promise me something,” she murmured. 

“Anything.”

“If I fall tomorrow, burn my body. Don’t let me change like Az.” The thought alone made Halsin’s blood run cold. He took her face in his large hands and tilted her chin up to look at him. A lump formed in his throat as he pressed a soft kiss to her lips. 

“You have my word,” he vowed to her. He knew that if she fell, it meant he was dead. He would be her shield whether she liked it or not, and he would not fail her.   

[samdeancass]

No Need to be Jealous

Requested by: Anonymous

Pairing: Freya Mikaelson x fem!reader

Genre: Smut, Fluff

Characters: Freya, Y/N, Hayley

Description: Y/N and Hayley have just found out that they are sisters but Freya doesn’t know. She gets jealous of all the time they are spending together and how close they are becoming and takes Y/N to show her who she belongs to.

Freya sat at the table across the room from you and Hayley, giving daggers to the young werewolf as she once again brought you in for a hug. You waved goodbye and walked back over to Freya, who’s hands were clenched tight into fists. “What’s the matter?” You nodded to her hands and she smiled, shaking her head.

“Nothing, babe. I didn’t even know I was doing that.” You chuckled and reached over the table for her hand, bringing it up to kiss it. “You really do amuse me, Freya. Everything you do is so quirky.” A ping sounded on your phone and you picked it up, immediately smiling when you seen who it was.

“Who’s that?” “Hayley.” Frustration and jealousy built up inside her once again at the mention of her name. You noticed her change in behavior and raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure you’re alright? You’re acting more strange than usual.” Freya nodded, not looking you in the eye. “I just wanna get out of here.” “Alright, just let me finish this text and then we’ll go.” Those last few seconds felt like hours to Freya as she watched your smile widen as you typed.

“What does she have that I don’t? I’m gonna show Y/N exactly who she belongs to.”

As soon as you put your phone back into your pocket, Freya grabbed your hand and hurried you away, desperate to make her feelings known. 

Freya swung the front door open with her magic, pulled you inside and slammed the door shut with her foot before backing you up against the wall, her hand on your throat. A devilish smirk emerged on your face as you realized why Freya wanted to leave in such a hurry. 

“So this is why you wanted to leave so suddenly? Desperate to get me all alone?” Freya closed her other hand tightly over your mouth, leaving you unable to speak. She leaned down next to your face and whispered in your ear. “You don’t get to talk, you don’t even get to move. You are all mine and you’re going to do exactly as your told, understood?”

You ever so slightly nodded your head, trying your best to ignore the growing wetness pooling in your underwear. Freya leaned back, pupils blown with lust, before attacking your neck, sucking and biting at the delicate skin. You writhed and wriggled underneath her but she just tightened her grip on you. 

“What did I say?! No moving!” Her grip strengthened as she made her way down your body, biting and kissing ever so slowly on your sensitive areas. She released your mouth and laced two fingers to the inside of your underwear, licking her lips. 

“My, my Y/N, you are such a dirty girl.” A low moan escaped your mouth when Freya easily inserted two fingers inside of you, your juices acting as a lubricant. Usually, she would give you time to adjust but Freya was in no mood for waiting. She pumped inside you at an inhuman speed inserting a third then a fourth finger, spreading you wider and wider until her hand was swallowed inside you. 

“You are mine, Y/N, and only mine! No-one else can make you feel this good, especially not Hayley!” Your climax was quickly approaching so you reached around your body and rubbed your clit, sending shock-waves through your body. 

Once your orgasm passed, your knees buckled and you slid down the wall as Freya removed her hand from inside you. She knelt down and kissed your sweaty forehead before going to the kitchen to grab a towel. 

You were lost in the afterglow of the orgasm when something crossed your mind. “Hey, babe.” Freya walked back in and sat beside you. “Yes?” “What did you mean by ‘especially not Hayley?” Freya’s face went beetroot when the subject was brought up.

“Err-well, I-I guess I’ve been getting a little jealous of all the time you’ve been spending with her. I thought you were falling for her.” You shook your head, chuckled and held Freya’s hands in yours.

“Sweetheart, you have nothing to be jealous about. I’ve been spending so much time with her because....she’s my sister. We’ve only just found out and we wanted to be able to get to know each other properly.” Freya’s cheeks blushed again and she looked down at her knees in embarrassment. “I’m so sorry.”

“You have nothing to be sorry about, but how about we go upstairs and I show you exactly how I feel about you, eh? Give you the time of your life.” Freya looked up at you and smiled mischievously, nodding in agreement. 

You stood up, helped Freya up and guided her upstairs, ready to show Freya exactly what she meant to you. 

[cagednoob]

Gonna spitball stupid ideas about God of War since I just finished GOW: Ragnorak.

Putting under a readmore so I don’t kill anyone with a potential huge block of words-

Also spoilers, obviously.

So onto the first-

Who will the next game follow?

Ngl I feel like the obvious answer is that it follows Atreus. He’s going on a journey to find other Giants. It makes sense to follow him.

This game feels like the perfect conclusion to Kratos and his story. Him leading the Nine Realms and fixing the harm done to it (or as much as he, Freya and Mimir can). I think it’d do more harm then good to force him into another game.

Could he cameo in a game solely with Atreus? Maybe? I think a cameo of him would always be a bonus. Whether it’s just dialogue or if him and Atreus find a magical way to communicate long distance.

Actually maybe no magical communication, so then the possible reunion would be so much more sweet. And they better reunite.

Where will the next game take place?

In my heart- Egypt. Egypt was the original idea for the 2018 game, and it was eventually swapped to Norse mythology.

Which fun fact- Atreus wasn’t originally Loki! It was conceived halfway through, and honestly props to that guy who suggested it. But if we’d kept with the Egyptian route I think our boy would’ve been just normal boy.

But also the reason why I say Egypt- Egyptian hieroglyphs are one of the three languages on the Mask of Creation. The others being Ancient Greece and Japanese.

Now along with it being the original setting and cast, we’ve also had many artifacts that originate from the Egyptian mythology.

Such as an Ankh in GOW: Ragnorak, and Atreus himself even puts on a helmet that originates from the region (if I am remembering correctly) in 2018.

And along with this, I can see Atreus having a time in the Egyptian Pantheon- most of them do have animal forms that they can also slip into, which would give Atreus more of an in I guess.

Also the concept art have the Egyptian Gods seen as gigantic (other then Thoth in that one comic, though maybe he could also become big). So I think he’d logically head that way eventually.

Here is some concept art just to share them

Giant God in the distance (maybe Ra, or even another one such as Osiris/Set/Horus)

Killing giant Sphinx from the looks of it

Finally not 100 certain on this piece, but Kratos fighting a giant Sobek

Who would Atreus be in the Egyptian Pantheon?

Now this is a tricky one. Mostly because it’s one you gotta do carefully.

Atreus being Loki is the twist. And it works solely because he was a new character. Kratos works as Fárbauti because he isn’t super prevalent in the mythology. He’s only mentioned by name.

Thus Atreus should he be also someone in the Egyptian Pantheon (whether outright said or stupidly highly suggested)- he can’t be a big player in the myths. We know the boy now, and forcing him into the role of Set (a similar Chaos being), who is a big player doesn’t work. Because we know both their stories, and we know they don’t fit.

Therefor a suggestion would be to look at deities not super well known in public eye, or even those that don’t have as many mythological stories of them.

My suggestion? Wepwawet. There isn’t too much known of him, but also Atreus could fit him.

Wepwawet is known to have two known weapons- a mace and a bow. He is a wolf deity (a form well associated with boy), and also said to accompany the Pharaohs on hunts. And he is the “opener of ways” which Atreus like his father can bring. Especially if he continues the fight against fate like his father.

But he’s a War God, I hear you say. And I say- so what? Yes, Loki isn’t a war god, but Atreus is also Y’know Atreus. And he was raised by Kratos of all people. I can imagine he could theoretically take up the God of War mantle. Which I’d imagine they’d have to if they want to continue calling the franchise following Atreus, God of War. And he could be a Tyr type and fight for peace.

But he doesn’t have to claim the role of any God or mythological figure tbh. But if they have to make him someone I think Wepwawet would be the best bet at the current moment.

Sigyn?

Not sure what to make the “title” of this section, but this is mostly a small ramble-

I’ve seen some nitpicks or complaints that Sigyn wasn’t seen in Ragnorak and I understand for the most part.

I think Atreus didn’t have enough time in Asgard to get to know too many people. There’s many other Asgardians we never met. But we did meet the big players (or the ones widely known by media).

But with the changed fate shenanigans, this likely prevented Atreus from meeting Sigyn as well.

However I do think we could still meet her.

As we saw from the end, many pieces of Asgard fell into the realms. Who’s to say she also didn’t fall with these pieces and managed to, I don’t know? Wonder off?

It’s possible she’d even possibly travel into another place entirely in trying to escape what was happening. After all, how many of the Asgardians were told of what Odin had done? How many did Sif get to inform about the change in plans before the collapse?

So, if she isn’t in Vanaheim, wasn’t updated, and did fall with the pieces of Asgard, why wouldn’t she run? Asgard fell to the enemies and they could be going after every Aesir God. And who knows? Maybe she managed to get to another area entirely far from the Norse Pantheon.

Could do enemies-to-friends-to-lovers arc with her and Atreus even. And yes, Atreus can have multiple loves in his life. Whether it leads to a polyamorous relationship or just a period of romance (between him and Sigyn or Angrboda idk) I’m not sure of. But I think I’d be fine with either.

And her parents can just be two unnamed Aesir Gods. They could imply her parents to be someone sure, but it also fits to just have them being unnamed similar to Angrboda.

But I for sure feel like they have a chance to still include her.

Edit to this 2/11/24: since posting this I am very much more of the supporter of Atreus and Angrboda. I’m still in that mindset of one of them can very much have different romances because love to me is fluid, and who you’re with can change depending on time and place.

So yeah 🤷 I still think she(Sigyn) can still be included somehow one day as a potential love interest. Or polyam relationship, but that’s just me imagining the impossible (probably won’t see a polyam relationship done good in a loooooong time lol).

But if it doesn’t happen it doesn’t happen. But if it did happen I wouldn’t be bothered too much since that’s life. And we know that Atreus and Angrboda end up together in the end, we just don’t know the journey to that point. Which what that journey entails could be anything.

Now who would be the big bad?

If it’s Egypt, it’s Ra.

Now there’s many Gods that are the Pharaohs (such as Osiris, Set, and Horus to name a few), but Ra is the big player. Pharaohs claimed to the be the sons of him, and other gods would often times merge with him.

This could be the combined form of Ra, known as Amun-Ra even. Since in this form he is considered the King of the Gods.

But also if Ra was the big bad, that means the Eye of Ra could be bosses. Since there is a mythos of him sending the Eye of Ra as the form of Sekhmet to destroy the humans who were plotting to rebel against him.

And if Atreus was believed to be a threat why wouldn’t one of Eye of Ra be sent after him? And there’s at least three (Sekhmet, Hathor and Bastet).

Last thing too is that Ra sometimes has a myth attached to him where he is reborn everyday. With the sunrise he’d be born again, and I think that’d be an interesting thing to see play out.

Most the final big bads have been older guys, and while Ra could fit the bill- it’d be interesting to see him at different ages. Imagine an age we could see him at even being the same age as Atreus. Maybe the final fight could be just holding him off until sunset when he’s at his oldest.

But the image of Atreus befriending someone his age and then an hour or so later running into the same guy but ancient is something that digs at my mind in a good way. Imagine the fuckery.

I kind of played with the idea in my head that the Eye of Ra Goddesses came from different pantheons. Since most of them their only parent is Ra (Bastet sometimes has a mother that is Isis), one could potentially play with it. Maybe one of them is from the fallen Greek Pantheon, one from the Japanese (the other languages on the mask), and to tie in more form Norse the final one from that Pantheon.

Hell Sigyn could even be one of them, and it would still work tbh since she’d be a new character. Maybe she’d be Bastet.

But that’s a big maybe idea. Since them being just plain ol Egyptian origins is also fine.

Calliope

Now this one is a tricky one as well- and I’ve seen mentions of people saying she’s gonna come back. And tbh? I’m not sure. I don’t think she should because then the impact of losing her (twice) wouldn’t be there.

But I feel like there can be a way since by the end of GOW3 Greece had fallen, and the underworld opened to allow those within to travel. Theoretically she along with other members of the family could’ve wondered out and away.

Personally if she came back, I can’t see Athena not snatching her and using her similar to Kratos. Buuuuut maybe she wasn’t caught by Athena?

Tbh I kind of like the idea of her becoming a God in her own right and having beef with Atreus.

Because Kratos ‘replaced’ her and her mother with a new family Y’know. Not sure what God she’d be. I kind of played with her being Sekhmet since Ra “created” his daughter with magic. Hell with that you could even have his two other daughters Hathor and Bast being individuals from other pantheons that he took in and made his daughters.

Could even do the same to Sigyn :0

But that would be a big stretch and not likely at All. Just a little playful AU in my mind tbh.

[m-jelly]

Unlikely familiar - Chapter 10

Pairing: God Levi x Fem!Reader

Genre and tags: Magic/royal AU, fluff, romance, soulmates, falling in love, God Levi, mentions of blood and fighting.

Concept: Levi leaves you to go free the goddess Freya. While back at your home, Freja attacks with some soldiers but you fight back and Levi returns in time. You and Levi have a nice day together just being romantic.

AO3 link

The end

You made a circle of chalk and began drawing rune symbols. You muttered under your breath in the old language as you set up the circle. You picked up the salt, tapped the bag against your head, and kept up the spell. You lined the circle with special salt and sat back as you observed your work. You placed four candles in the four corners to symbolize the four elements.

You placed a few offerings down and began muttering under your breath. You closed your eyes and focused hard as the wind started rushing around you. You flinched when you heard Levi say your name. You opened your eyes, lowered your arms, and looked at your husband. You smiled softly as he looked you over.

Levi walked closer. “What are you doing, little spell bunny?”

You hummed. “I’m trying to find the goddess Freya who was locked away like you.”

“Cute. You’re very lovely to do this, but it is getting cold now. Winter is on its way.” He knelt. “Our babies will be due in a few months.”

You rubbed your belly with a soft smile on your face. “Babies…”

“They’re due in April, right?”

You hummed a laugh. “Spring babies.”

He took your hand and held it a little. “Liana and Evan. They’ll be perfect.”

You kissed Levi’s hand. “They will, now I need to find Freya.”

Levi shifted into the circle. “Allow me to help. We’ll find her together.” He wrapped his arms around you and started chanting with you. “Love, put all your feelings into this.”

You closed your eyes. “Got it!”

Levi massaged your waist to make your feelings ignite. He smiled as your powers increased. He kissed your neck and felt his power rise inside him. He felt a link was being formed inside him. He frowned a little when he felt as if his soul was flying over the land until it came to a stop. He saw where Freya was locked up and knew just how to get there. He was ripped back to reality when you squealed in delight.

You turned to face your man. “We found her!”

Levi chuckled. “We did.”

You nibbled your lip a little. “What are we going to do? If we both go this place will be left unattended, but we need each other.”

“It’s difficult.”

You ruffled your hair. “Who is more likely to come here and attack?”

Levi growled. “That evil woman.”

“Well, I can face her and I almost killed her. So, I think I’ll stay here and you should go free Freya.”

Levi hugged you tightly. “I don’t want to part.”

“I know, but it has to be done. I can face that witch but you can’t. Next time I see her, I’m killing her.”

Levi cupped your face and kissed you. “You take such great care of me. Thank you.”

You stood up and sighed. “I know Freya will love to meet you.”

Levi smiled a little. “She’s a good woman.”

“Are you going to be okay with her? She doesn’t look like that evil woman, does she?”

Levi shook his head as he helped you clean up. “No. She has dark ginger hair and her facial features are a lot rounder. She has a motherly face. I’ll be okay.” He cupped your face. “Are you going to be okay?”

You nodded. “I’ll be just fine. You should take someone with you.”

Levi hummed and started walking with you. “Hange might be best. Her crystal abilities could prove useful.”

You stopped in the little town that had been built around Levi’s home and Hange’s castle. You smiled at how busy it was and how many families had moved in. “I’ll start working with Rolf in making defences around here. Erwin will also help.” You looked back at Levi. “Are you going to be okay with just Hange helping?”

“I’ll ask her lover to come with me too.”

You smiled a little. “I feel a bit better now that you have two people with you.”

Levi pouted. “No getting closer to Oleander, Rolf and Erwin while I’m gone.”

You giggled a little. “Promise. You have nothing to worry about though. I love you. I’m married to you and I’m making our two babies. I want you, forever and always.”

Levi tapped his forehead against yours and closed his eyes. He held your hands and felt a vibration of magic move through the two of you. “Be well, my darling spell bunny. Know that I am always with you. Just call upon me and I will return to you, okay?”

You hummed in response. “I promise.”

“Good girl.” He kissed you and smiled. “We may be married, but I am still your familiar. You can call upon me whenever you need me.”

“I love you.”

“I love you.” He kissed you again before walking over to Hange and her love. “Hange? I need to borrow you and Alyssa. We have a mission.”

Hange tilted her head. “What are we doing?”

“We’re going to free Freya.”

“Oh, wonderful!” She leapt around and twirled. “I am so excited.”

He let out a long sigh as he looked over at you talking to Erwin. “Mm.”

Hange leaned and looked at Levi. “She will be just fine here. Besides, she’s already proven to you that she can fight. She almost killed that evil woman, remember? She’ll be just fine.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” He sighed again and accepted everything. “Get your lover and we’ll head out. I will say my last goodbyes.” Levi drifted over to you as if a magnet pulled him.

You smiled at Erwin and nodded as he talked. You gasped when you felt a familiar strong body bump against yours. You giggled as loving arms wrapped around you. “Hello, Levi.”

Levi kissed your shoulder. “I will be going soon. I just wanted one last cuddle.”

Erwin chuckled. “I bet you are worrying about her. I can assure you that she will be just fine here. My wife and I will look after her and she is rather capable.”

“I know, I just love her so much and want to protect her.”

“You two are such a cute couple.” He leaned a little and nodded. “Your escorts have arrived.”

Levi turned you and kissed you. “I will return in a few hours with a Goddess.”

You cupped his face. “I believe in you.”

“And I you.” He kissed you one last time before walking over to Hange. “Let’s go.” He looked over at you and waved as his black shadows wrapped around him, Hange and Alyssa. He sighed when you disappeared from view and then a vast land appeared. “She’s here somewhere.”

Hange hummed as she looked out at the land. “Big area.”

Alyssa crouched and placed her hand on the ground. “I’m reading the earth.” She frowned a little. “I feel something.”

Levi placed his hand on her back. “Let me give you a blessing, it should increase your power.”

She gasped as her eyes widened. “Oh, I think I know where they have her locked up.”

Levi hummed as he received the message. “I see where it is. I’m guessing you both can’t fly.”

Hange grinned. “You can always carry us.”

He groaned before scooping Hange and her lover under each arm. “Fine.”

Hange laughed. “This is amazing!”

Alyssa giggled. “We should do this more often.”

Levi sighed as he lifted into the air. “No, we won’t.” He flew across the land as his eyes looked over everything. He hummed when he saw the spot where Freya was. He was surprised at how the place looked. There was a beautiful wooden canopy made with flags and flowers over where Freya was under. “I think someone knows she’s here, or something.”  He landed and released the two ladies and sighed. “It might be someone who can’t use magic.”

Hange ran over to the land and hummed. “Possibly. There are offerings here.”

“Might be the last of her worshippers.”

All flinched when they heard a crashing of pottery. All three turned to see a woman in white with a flower crown looking a little emotional. She bowed deeply. “We have been blessed! Our saviour has arrived. You will awaken our goddess again.”

Levi frowned a little. “Was there a prophecy?”

“Freya has been talking to us ladies of the forest. She has let us know through years of trying to communicate that a God filled with love would save her.”

Hange chuckled. “He is deeply filled with love for his wife, that’s for sure. I suppose we should awaken Freya.”

Levi hummed in response as he looked at the ground. “She’s here all right. You’ll need my power to break the chains upon her. Start the summoning circle, both of you.”

Hange winked at her lover then the two started making a circle on the floor. As they placed offerings around and lined them with salt and candles, there was a gathering of women formed. There was no hate or evil in the air, but simply love and excitement. The women started chanting and adding a small amount of magic to the summoning. Hange held hands with her lover and started chanting with her as their magic mixed so perfectly. Their familiars, a squirrel and a stoat, ran around in the air above them to generate as much magic from nature as possible.

The ground inside the circle lit up as the air rushed around inside it. The dirt cracked revealing light under the ground. Golden chains shot out at people. Levi twisted and grabbed all the chains together. He growled and yanked on them hard and pulled Freya out of her prison. He growled and slammed his palm into the chains and make them obliterate.

Levi looked at the chains turning to gold water before looking over at Freya as she placed her hand on her neck and looked up at Levi with tear-filled eyes. He took her in and saw she was a very motherly figure. Her hair was dark ginger with braids, beads and flowers. Her hands and arms had tattoos on them. Her eyes held a haunting look of pain and relief. He watched her well up and let out a loud pained scream.

Freya screamed and cried for a while before she started to relax. “Heimdall.”

Levi knelt before her. “Tch, he did the same to me.”

Freya looked up at Levi. “I’m sorry.”

“You’re not to blame. He saw that he would lose everything to me and you would help me. So, he locked us both away but what he didn’t expect was-.”

“Your soulmate.” She touched Levi’s neck where the familiar bond was. “You found each other.”

“I did.”

Freya smiled softly. “I am glad.”

Levi took Freya’s hands. “Heimdall is after my wife and he’s using a mage to help him. The mage is trying to be a fake version of you. We need your power to help us.”

Freya stumbled to her feet. “I need to regain my powers slowly, but I want to help you. Heimdall messed with the wrong Goddess. I should have known that egotistical prick would have done something like this.” She looked at the ladies gathered and smiled. “I should talk to my followers and bless them. I will be with you three soon.”

Hange jumped to her feet. “I can’t believe we’ve freed the great goddess Freya.”

Alyssa hugged her lover. “It’s amazing.”

Levi hummed and walked away from everyone and stopped for a moment. He inhaled deeply and tuned into the world around him. He reached out and looked at his palm as a shadow version of you appeared. He smiled as the shadow hugged his thumb tightly and kissed. He let out a long sigh as he began to miss you terribly.

Freya stood at Levi’s side. “You wish to return to her.”

Levi nodded. “I do, but we’re not ready to go back because you need more power.”

“You need your wife and your wife needs you.”

“Thank you.” Levi clutched his chest and gasped. “What…my…my curse is breaking…” He softly said your name. “We need to get back. I think my wife is fighting the one who cursed me and is about to kill them.”

You let out a long sigh as Levi disappeared into the black shadows with your two friends. You turned to Erwin with a pout. “I miss him.”

Erwin patted your head. “I have just the thing to cure your sadness.”

“Nothing can cure it.”

He chuckled. “Kat? Activate the happy weapon.”

Kat lifted her daughter Lilly. “Attack!”

You gasped and took Lilly. “Baby.” You held her close and smiled. “She’s perfect.” You pulled faces at Lilly making her laugh hard. “I can’t wait for you to meet your new friends.” You pressed her cute nose. “You must wait until April.”

“I’m sure she can manage.”

You hummed a laugh. “She’s so beautiful.” You tickled her cheek. “She looks tired.” You handed her over to Kat. “I think it’s nap time.”

Erwin sighed. “That sounds rather nice.”

You hugged yourself. “Both of you should go rest and I’ll keep an eye on the land.”

“Are you sure?”

“You need family time.” You pushed him a little. “Go.” You waved to your friends as they retreated inside a wooden home near yours and Levi’s. You let out a long sigh and thought about your husband. You played with the bracelet that you used for power. “Levi…”

You drifted up into the air and landed on top of the castle. You cast your eyes out on the land Levi loved. You placed your hand on your baby bump and thought about your future and theirs. You thought about your husband and how you’d live a love-filled life. You longed for peace and you knew the only way to get that was to get blood on your hands.

You frowned when you heard someone call your name. You looked down to see Oleander gazing up at you. You floated down and landed in front of him. “Hey, Ole.”

He looked down at you. “I’m going on patrol with Rolf, would you like to come with us?”

“Sure.” You walked at his side and smiled at Rolf waiting. “Hello, Rolf.”

Rolf bowed to you. “Goddess.”

You hummed a laugh. “You’re in a good mood.”

“I am! It’s a good day.”

You took him all in to see he had an axe and shield to help him in fighting. “It’s a bit unusual to see a magic user with a weapon.”

“Freja is dangerous. So, we have to be prepared.”

You snarled a little. “She’s weak.”

Oleander cleared his throat. “I understand your words, both of you, but we shouldn’t get excited over ending her life. We need to be focused because excitement can make us sloppy.”

Rolf laughed. “Speaking like a true Captain.”

“I’m not a Captain of that life anymore. I’m just a soldier.” He turned to you. “Sorry if my words were harsh or offensive. Though you are not mine, I don’t want to lose you.”

You rubbed his back. “You won’t lose me. Besides, I am pregnant with two babies and I will fight until the very end for my kids and to live.”

Oleander blushed a little. “You’re right. You’re a goddess. I keep forgetting you are strong now.”

You hummed a laugh. “That’s okay. It’s all strange to me as well.”

“You know, you’re going to make a wonderful mother.”

“Thank you.”

Rolf rolled his eyes. “She’s married.”

Oleander blushed. “I know that!”

You hummed a laugh. “You’re both funny.” You looked ahead and saw Freja. “She actually came.” You snarled a little. “I’ll kill her.”

Oleander shouted your name as you flew towards Freja. “Stop!” He ran after you and yanked you back. “It might be a trap!”

You growled. “I want her dead!”

“Doesn’t it seem odd she’s alone?”

Rolf let out a war cry and ran. “Soldiers!”

Oleander tackled you to the ground as he let out a grunt as something hit him. He winced and leaned up. “Are you okay?”

Your eyes widened when you saw an arrow in the back of his shoulder. “Ole.”

He smiled softly. “I’m okay, as long as you are.” He stumbled to his feet and panted. “I’ll do anything to protect you and make up for my mistakes.”

You welled up as you watched Oleander run into battle. “Ole…” You growled as magic rushed around you. You flew up and glared at Freja as she smirked. “FREJA!”

A blast of energy wrapped around you. Traditional clothes like Levi’s wrapped around your body. You reached out and grasped your staff. You raised boulders and rocks from the ground before hurtling them towards Freja. You rose up and flew towards her as you screamed in rage. You swung your staff as she dodged just in time. You slammed your staff into the ground making the earth crack and chased her.

Freja sent a wall of light out and protected herself. “I have been blessed with more magic! You can’t get to me so easily this time!”

You gripped your staff tightly as shadows like Levi’s started surging around you. You screamed causing a shockwave of shadows and rocks towards her. “I’ll kill you!”

You yanked your staff out of the ground and flew towards her. You twisted in the air and put force behind your hit. You smacked her across the face and burned her skin with your shadows. You growled at her as rocks flew at her again. You twisted and hit again but she caught your staff with a staff of light.

Freja grinned as blood trickled down her cheek. “I’m stronger.”

“Which makes killing you more satisfying.”

She shoved you back and sent shards of light at you. You flew back from her and summoned a gust of wind to blow the light away from you. You blew away as much light as possible as you slowly went for a sneak attack. Freja kept smirking at you thinking she was going to tire you out.

Freja laughed. “You’re weak because you’re pregnant. Your babies will drain you of everything you have!” She moved closer to you as she laughed. “I’m the better witch. I’ll become a goddess! You’ll be locked away just like the others. Heimdall and I will rule together.”

You smirked at her. “Pointless words.”

You looked behind her as a spear of rock slammed through Freja’s side. Freja gasped as blood spatted from her onto you. She sent an arch of light at you shooting you backwards. You grunted as your chest was cut by the light. You stumbled back and panted. You winced a little and tuned into sobs and screams of pain. You cast your eyes on Freja.

Freja pressed her hands against the hole in her body pouring blood. She lifted her hands up and looked at the blood. She screamed and began rolling around on the floor. “NOOO!”

You stumbled to your feet and panted. “I’m going to show you the real you.”

She put her hand out to you. “Please, no!”

You held your hand out to her making strings of light that looked like cobwebs dance towards your hand. You gripped them and yanked hard causing the illusion spell to be pulled off Freja. You stared at the old woman before you. “You’re nothing but a shell of what you were.”

She turned and crawled away. “Don’t look at me!”

You followed her as she crawled towards some water. “You’re a wicked person to the core. Time for you to see that.”

She saw herself in the water and screamed. “No, no, no! I’m supposed to be beautiful!”

You flew back as something hit the side of your neck. You stumbled back and fell against the floor. You stared up at the sky as you felt something hot trickling down your neck. You reached up and touch the warm area to feel what had happened. You lifted your hand and saw blood. Freja had cut you with a shard of water or ice.

Rage filled you. She had hurt you and put your son and daughter at risk. A sonic boom surged out from your body making the ground crack below you. You rose into the air and slowly turned to face Freja trying hard to stand to her feet and fight back. You glared at her and sent everything you could at her. You watched as your rocks ripped her to pieces.

Freja dropped to her knees and coughed blood. “I…I…” She coughed again as blood poured down her chin. “You.”

Shadows appeared behind Freja before dissipating and revealing Levi. He raised a sword before slamming it through Freja. Levi leaned closer and snarled. “I told you I’d kill you someday.” He yanked his sword free before kicking her to the floor. “Spell bunny? Look away.”

You turned. “Yes, Levi.”

Levi sliced Freja’s head off and kicked it away. “Tch, disgusting.” He made his weapon disappear before he approached you. “Spell bunny?”

You turned a little and smiled. “Levi.”

His eyes widened. “You’re bleeding.”

You welled up. “You’re free. You’re finally free.”

Levi gasped when your eyes glazed over as you collapsed into his arms. He picked you up and adjusted you. He called your name. “Talk to me.”

Freya hurried over and placed her hand on your forehead. “She’s alive, just exhausted. Get her to bed and heal her wounds with your powers. I’ll check on the others who fought.”

Levi adjusted you. “Thank you.”

Freya bowed and hurried with Hange to Rolf and Oleander. “Are you hurt?”

Oleander panted a bit. “I have an arrow in the back of my shoulder only.”

Rolf smiled. “Man was impressive.” He eyed Freya. “By the Gods, you’re the goddess Freya!”

Freya hummed a laugh. “I am. Levi freed me. I’m here to heal you both of wounds.”

Oleander sat on the floor as he said your name. “Is she well?”

Freya knelt behind Oleander and removed the arrow before healing the wound with her divine powers. “She collapsed from exhaustion and she was hurt, but she’ll be okay.”

Oleander sighed. “Good, I’m glad.”

Rolf chuckled. “Hey, Freya? Can you heal broken hearts?”

Freya smiled at Rolf. “I can ease the pain.”

“Good, ‘cause Ole needs it.”

You opened your eyes and frowned when you realised you were in bed. You reached up and touched your neck expecting a cut, but it was clean. You frowned at feeling something heavy on your breasts. You looked down carefully and saw Levi’s head on your chest as he slept soundly. You played with his hair a little and relaxed your body. You closed your eyes again and let your body relax against the soft bed.

Levi squeezed you as he slowly awoke. He yawned a bit and tuned into your beating heart. “Mm, perfect.”

“Thank you.”

Levi lifted his head and looked down at you. He blushed when you opened your eyes and smiled at him. “Master…”

You giggled. “Wife. I’m your wife now.”

He kissed you and hummed in happiness. “Yeah, yeah you are.”

“Welcome home. Sorry, I couldn’t greet you better earlier.”

“Yesterday.” He sighed. “You’ve been asleep for a day.”

You nibbled your lip. “I’m sorry.”

Levi lay on his side and hugged you tightly. “Don’t be sorry, okay? You used a lot of power yesterday and you got hurt. You need to heal up.”

You hummed. “You sure I didn’t do bad?”

He kissed you and smiled against your lips. “You did perfectly. Thank you for stopping that woman and freeing me.”

You smiled softly. “I’m glad I could free you, but you were the one who killed her.”

He hummed as he played with your hair. “You’re right, but you broke her to the point where I could face her. The illusion was something that cursed me, but seeing her as an old lady helped me end her.”

“We just have Heimdall to stop.”

Levi let out a long sigh. “Yes, but we need to relax for now, okay?” He rubbed your cheek. “I’m thinking we have a nice soak in our pool bath. After we’ve had a dip, we’ll have a big feast before resting in bed. We need to charge up as much as possible.”  

You sat up and pulled at the bed. “Can we take Máni for a walk?”

Levi sighed. “I suppose, but bath first.”

“But Máni.”

Levi climbed out of bed. “Okay. We’ll take him for a walk.” Levi whistled making a ball of smoke appear and Máni jump out. “Come on boy, we’re taking you for a walk.”

You jumped into Levi’s arms. “Yay! Thank you!”

Levi hummed a laugh. “I just want to take care of you.”

You jumped down and twirled making warm clothes wrap around you. “You take great care of me.”

“I wasn’t here and you got hurt.”

You walked to the door and waited for Levi to change. “You healed me. Levi, you can’t protect me all the time. I used too much of my power and that’s on me. If I would have gone about it calmly, I would have fought her, killed her and healed quickly. I admit I am to blame for a lot.”

Levi held your baby bump and kissed you. “You’re perfection.” He smiled and purred against your lips. “And so sexy.”

You blushed a little. “Thank you. We should go for that walk. Máni is waiting.”

Levi released you and sighed. “Come on pup.”

You laughed as Máni jumped around you and Levi. “Someone is excited. Does that mean you are Levi? Máni is a part of you.”

Levi blushed. “Maybe.”

You hugged Levi’s side. “You’re cute.”

Levi put his arm around you. “Does being cute get me kisses?”

“Many.”

“Good.” He walked out of the home with you and started walking the long path around the lake. “Are you warm enough?”

“Yes.”

He kissed the side of your head. “Good.” He sighed. “The lake will freeze soon. I bet the kids would love to play on it.”

You hummed a laugh. “It’ll be cute to watch them.” You walked off the path to a little patch by the lake. You crouched down and watched a few fish. “Look Máni.” You giggled as Máni stared down at them. “Cute, huh?”

Levi stood at your side. “The fish are beautiful here and delicious.”

You looked up at Levi. “Maybe we should go fishing and catch some.”

“We should.”

You pushed the tip of your finger into the water and wiggled. “So, Freya.”

Levi looked down at you. “What about her?”

You pouted. “I haven’t met her, but I sense her on you. She has a nice aura.”

Levi crouched down and kissed the side of your head. “Don’t get jealous. She’s just a Goddess whom I helped free. I love you more than anything in this world.” He pinched your puffed-out cheek. “You’re adorable. You’re my soulmate, little spell bunny. Do you really think I’d leave my soulmate for someone else?”

You sighed. “You wouldn’t.”

He released your cheek and kissed where he’d pinched. “Good girl.”

You turned and wrapped your arms around Levi. “Mine.”

Levi chuckled and pulled you close. “I’m all yours.” He smiled as your rubbed your face against his chest. “You’re so cute.” He kissed the top of your head. “Shall we head back for the bath?”

You nodded and gripped his back. “Mm.”

Levi scooped you up and cuddled you tightly. “Come on Máni. Your momma needs some love.” He made his shadows wrap around him before revealing he was back home. “Máni, go play with the kids in town, I know you secretly do that.” He smirked as Máni bounced around and jumped into a wall of shadows. “Fun pup.”

You looked up at Levi with your bright puppy dog eyes that made Levi melt. “Máni is a part of you, meaning you really love kids.”

“I do.”

You hugged Levi. “You’re going to be an amazing dad.”

Levi smiled softly. “Thank you.” He put you on your feet and walked into the large bathroom. He checked the pool bath and clicked his fingers to add a few things to it. “It’s all ready for you.”

You stripped and hurried to the bath, but a mirror caught your eye. You touched your belly and hummed. “I’m getting big.”

Levi walked over and held you from behind. “You look incredible.”

You blushed. “Thank you.”

He released you and pulled you down into the water. “Come. We must cuddle and relax.”

You walked down into the hot water and sighed as your aching joints relaxed. “This is so good.”

“I put something in the water to help you relax.”

You closed your eyes and hummed. “It’s perfect.”

Levi held you in his arms and began massaging your muscles. “You need to rest more than you do.”

You leaned your head back against his shoulder. “I know.”

He kissed the side of your head. “I should be a better husband.”

“You’re perfect, Levi.”

“You’re too kind.” He lifted your hand out of the water and kissed the back of it. “I love you so much.”

You turned a little on his lap. “I love you too.”

Levi hugged you tightly. “No matter what happens next, I need you to trust me and do as I ask.”

You kissed Levi’s neck. “I swear I will.”

“Good girl.” He sighed. “Who knows what Heimdall will do? I know he wants you because he can’t predict you. Be safe.”

“I will.”

Levi massaged your hand as he thought about what had to be done. “Good.”

You rubbed Levi’s wet chest. “Is Oleander okay?”

Levi flinched a little at your question. “You want to know about another man?”

“Levi, the last time I saw him he had an arrow in his back.”

Levi growled a little. “Sorry, I shouldn’t get jealous.” He let out a long sigh. “He’s okay. Freya healed him up and he’s all better now.”

You kissed Levi’s cheek. “Good. He took an arrow for me.”

Levi’s eyes widened. “He did?”

You nodded. “Yeah. I couldn’t believe it.”

Levi pouted a bit. “Now I feel guilty that I was so angry about it all.” He kissed your temple. “I will thank him for protecting you.”

“You’re sweet.” You sighed a little. “I feel bad that me rushing in got him hurt.”

Levi rubbed your cheek. “He’s okay, so you don’t need to worry.”

“Mm, I suppose.”

Levi kissed your cheek. “You’re too kind.”

You closed your eyes and hummed as you rubbed your belly. “We should go away somewhere.”

“We will. You need some time off to relax.” He sighed. “We both do.”

You kissed Levi’s neck. “I know what I need.”

Levi blushed. “What’s that?”

You straddled Levi. “I need my husband to make love to me.”

Levi massaged your butt. “I’m more than happy to do that.”

[imaginefan]

Slave To Emotions *Part 2*

Klaus Mikaelson!Father X Reader

Word Count 651

Requested: Anon @emaz-0225

Request: Hey loved Slave to Emotion so much was wondering of you could do part 2 with Elijah and Freya being pissed at Klaus and Klaus son meets his paternal grandfather and his son cries for his twin and he goes to the witch cemetery and meets Davina and senses his uncle Kol and makes a deal with Davina and Mikael to make Klaus pay because he chased his mom and never cared for him and His twin but cared for a little baby AND Part two for slave to emotion please?

*Part 1*

Elijah could not believe that all this time he had more family that he had never known about, he honestly wondered how Klaus had managed to keep it a secret for so long but as he looked at the way that the family fussed over Hope he couldn’t help but understand why you were so angry at them. Freya walked over to him “is something wrong?” He asked. “Well I was just thinking about the other child.” Elijah answered, he realised that he didn’t even know their name. “You think that they’ll be back?” Freya asked. “If they’re anything like their father.” Elijah answered “they’ll be back and they’ll aim to hurt us. I can’t believe that he would keep this secret ever after finding out about Hope.” “You think that he did this on purpose?” Freya asked. “At first maybe but I wouldn’t put it past Niklaus to have forgotten about them until they were mentioned to him again.” Elijah answered. “I can hear you both.” Klaus spoke up and Elijah looked at him. “I’m aware brother.” Elijah informed him “though I assume you had already realised my distaste for what you have done.” “And you should know that I don’t care.” Klaus answered as he left the room.

You decided that you were going to go to the cemetery, it was one of the only places that your father wouldn’t be able to get to, you wanted to find a place that you’d be able to visit your sister without an enemy ruining it. A tear fell down your cheek as you put the amulet down in a corner of the cemetery “Who are you?” A witch asked you to look at her and frowned. “What does it matter to you?” You asked. “Your in witch territory it means everything to me.” She answered as you felt a strong presence to your left. “Just leave me alone and we’ll have no problems.” You muttered. “I won’t ask you again.” She ordered and you stood from where you were kneeling, the person on your left moved forward but you easily stopped them with your magic, you hand lifted as you looked over at them. “The first original Mikael.” You sighed before flinging him away from you and dusting yourself off. “How did you get mixed with this second rate witch?” “None of your business.” He answered as you looked over him, you saw the bracelet on his wrist. “She imprisoned you maybe not so second rate after all.” You smirked. “You're strong.” She stepped forward cautiously. “I would hope so for being a tribrid.” You muttered and they both looked at you. “You are a child of Niklaus.” Mikael said and you nodded. “And honestly I really want to kill him.” You shrugged. “So leave me alone and everything will be fine and the Hybrid will be out of your hair in no time.” “You want to kill your Dad?” The witch asked. “Problem?” You asked. “Why?” She asked. “He left me and my sister to die and now that there’s a second chance he wants to pretend that we don’t exist, my sister died and for some reason, this baby is more important to him than we ever were�� He doesn’t deserve the second chance that she can give him.” You answered, you were slightly distracted by the sound of the presence of your Uncle Kol “I’ll help you.” The witch said and you looked at her and frowned. “Why?” You asked. “I want to kill him too, and then bring back someone important to me.” She answered. “Well if we are going to work together then I should know your name.” You said. “I’m Davina.” She answered. “(Y/N).” You introduced yourself as you looked back at the small amulet that belonged to your sister. “I’ll be back, little sister, I’m going to take his life for yours.”

*Part 3*

Requests and general question!

[quintupleaaaaabattery]

I’m mad at the live action HTTYD. I know it’s simple don’t watch it. That’s probably what y’all gonna say. But this is for many reasons

1. CGI - I don’t see them not butchering this. It’s like you are starting from scratch making dragons try to look realistic and yet diverse. Like there are so many different types of dragons, ranging from terrifying to cute (or in Toothless’s case both). Also the RED DEATH that’s gotta be major scary so it looking really bad CGI takes away the scare factor. It has a very high probability of taking away from the film if the CGI is bad, and also lessens the impact of how we see the dragons.

2. Now onto the casting. (Just making a note, in no way am I doubting the acting talent of those cast, I know that they will kill it.)

First off I couldn’t give a fuck, about Nico Parker playing Astrid.

Oh that takes away blonde Scandinavian representation, it’s historically inaccurate. The whole plot is Vikings riding dragons. It’s not supposed to be historically accurate it is a fantasy world.

Also what Scandinavian representation. The vikings characters either have Scottish accents, whilst all the young dragon riders have American accents. Yes I know Vikings were in America, but they still wouldn’t have an American accent or speaking English. Scandinavian characters does not equal Scottish. They are two different cultures.

The Vikings are also not represented right in the first place, ie it’s a loose representation. They didn’t have the horns on the Helmets, the names are wrong. Astrid’s last name would be Hofferdottir (daughter of Hoffer), for example and Hiccups would be Stoickson (Son of Stoick). There is a paternal naming system with a clear divide on the gender binary (I hope that makes sense, I’m no expert when it comes to Viking naming and I don’t know how to explain it with the correct terms.

Additionally they even present the God’s wrong. If you are actively apart of the fandom re. watched all the content in the franchise not just the movies (no I’m not counting nine realms or rescue riders rest assured), season 1 episode 8, Portrait of Hiccup as a Buff Man, of ROB, mentions Freya as the goddess of fire. In Norse mythology she’s not the goddess of fire, that’s Logi (well he’s the god, and no I don’t mean Loki, I had to do I quick google search as my mythology knowledge is somewhat limited to the Riordan books). Freya is the goddess of love and beauty, and that kind of stuff.

I also have to add if this were era appropriate, and culturally accurate Astrid and Ruffnut and Heather, they wouldn’t be part of the action. Don’t get me wrong Viking women were some feminist queens who lived in a society that was more progressive. They were allowed to divorce their husbands, for mistreating them may it be that they were abusing them. However they still were not expected to fight, their lives and chores were still housebound. If this franchise cared about the ‘culture’ or the ‘historical accuracy’ we would not see these three queens grace our screens being badass and menaces to their adversaries in battle.

Instead it gives POC representation. (And no I am not a POC myself, I’m White so I can’t speak for the experiences of a POC woman because I don’t face the same type discrimination, feel free to add your input if you are POC.) Astrid being a love interest, and a character who is seen as others as a symbol of beauty. So it’s not Eurocentric beauty (blonde hair, blue eyes), but that makes it more impactful. Astrid is this three dimensional warrior goddess who is determined and strong and her being blonde never drove the plot or her character’s actions. Her biggest insecurity is that people view her as less tough because she is pretty not because she is blonde.

Quote, “Just because she's beautiful, people think she's not tough. But you should never underestimate me.”

It doesn’t matter she’s not blonde because she is still beautiful. This allows POC girls to be better represented (I do know that she is still light skinned).

I do think she is a bit too old for the role. Like she’s 18, you haven’t started filming and she just looks older, I mean 21 she doesn’t look 15. So I’m a bit iffy on that, but otherwise let’s get to why I am really boycotting this movie.

I don’t see anyone complaining about the casting of Hiccup, it’s all Astrid. Yet the casting of Mason Thames as Hiccup is problematic.

The main reason as to why I wasn’t looking forward to a live-action adaptation was that I knew that they would butcher it to be an ableist mess. Why isn’t anyone talking about how this movie is taking away disabled - amputee representation. Hiccup, a amputee, is being played by a abled bodied actor.

Now I’m disabled. I’m not physically disabled like Hiccup, so my experiences, limitations and how I am discriminated against are different as I am Autistic (also have ADHD to be mentioned). Let’s be honest though that boy definitely is AuDHD, but that’s not the point. So hopefully you can see why I am upset. (Feel free to add your input if you are physically disabled/an amputee)

By doing this they are taking away one of the only protagonist who is an amputee- and don’t say what about Luke Skywalker - because his disability was magically replaced with a lifelike copy, as if he never lost a hand in the first place, which is problematic in its own right.

Hiccup Haddock clearly is an amputee and is permanently affected by it, their is no cure, but this doesn’t make him any less of a person and whilst he does have limitations, he can still live out a happy fulfilling life. This is a defining aspect of his character and is essential to the plot and moving the story forward.

Now I know your counter argument, but Hiccup only lost his leg at the end of the movie. I know they can CGI it off for that little bit of time and find a way to show a prosthetic leg, but it is still takes away representation. You’re claiming you want these characters to be portrayed accurately but you don’t care if disabled representation is being taken away.

It isn’t authentic representation when a person who doesn’t live as an amputee to play an amputee. They don’t share those experiences. Thus this casting is ableism at it’s finest.

I know Hiccup is a abled bodied for most of the film so that’s why you think it would be more practical for an abled bodied actor, but when they make the sequel what are they gonna do for that? Hiccup is disabled for the rest of the franchise, so it’s counterintuitive in away. They might as well have casted an amputee actor from the beginning.

You might argue that how would they do that as Hiccup loosing is foot is less impactful if he is an amputee from the beginning of the film but have you considered that they just put a boot over it/ cover with clothing. I’m not to sure with the mechanisms but I’m sure they could have figured something out.

And if you are going to argue that it would harder to do and film action/practical scenes, whilst it might be harder (I’m not denying that and might being the key word) but friendly reminder about a certain character who is an amputee from the MCU being Echo (whose currently in line of getting her own series).

I’m honestly wondering why they are doing this in live action in the first point, and I am disappointed in not only the casting but the reactions to the casting, mostly how people aren’t even acknowledging the ableism of the casting and focusing on slamming the casting that was more inclusive and forward thinking. But no, clearly people are to focused on race, (being that all characters in the Viking times have to be white, the least oppressed group and the most represented, which I do include myself as I am aware of the privileges I get because of it) instead of focusing on the erasure of amputee representation.

So that’s it sorry for the long rant/post.

[malka-lisitsa]

Freya started with a deep breath, she’d been sitting on how she was going to do this for most of the morning, eventually deciding that there was no right way and to just go in and talk.

“Regarding Niklaus” a name she new so heavily affected her little fox. She had tiny bits of information, things Katherine had given in a throw away comment here and there, but it was time now she needed to know the rest.

“He’s asked to see me, and I’m unsure of what to do” she’s worried for if she doesn’t go he shall make it their problem, this was almost like asking for advice, she cared about what Katherine had to say.

“I never wanted to ask this of you” and Freya had never predicted that she’d have to, “but please..can you tell me about him.. what he’s like.. w-what he does?” Stumbling on the last sentence, she was worried Katherine would just up and leave.

A cold chill ran up Katherine's spine at the very mention of his name. Of course. Of course he would find a way in. He always did even if he didn't know it. Unfortunately, the unsettling talk didn't stop there. The more she spoke the more Katherine felt the urge to throw up. Her jaw clenched, she swallowed hard. Body language shifted to incredibly defensive, stiff. Fight or flight activated.

"You want me to tell you about Klaus?"

And when he finds out she turned his sister against him? She's already a dead woman walking, messing with his family? Since when did Katherine Pierce get a death wish.

[the-firebird69]

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) | Batman Battles Superman | Wa... Find Superman, you wanna fight me, you gonna fight Superman. And we have people like that, and you'll see me, and I'm becoming extremely strong. But if I went to full height and shrunk down, I would probably be close to Superman strength in this video clip.

Zues

Hera

and we can confirm.  If he was at full height and juiced for a bit and able to use laser eyes. and almost as powerful. Yeah, if not a bit more and he would not succumb to your green gas. But BG does. but he's possessed and he shouldn't. And he doesn't really. He gets a little weaker, slows down and it and people want to see what it is and they rape Batman. He'll probably start doing it now. A lot of people. The point is he mentions Martha. and Sherry knows who she is in the movie. in the movie and says it's his mother. and she doesn't get it at first. and it's because his mother is on Mars. And our son says it and he got. it got it. And he was horrified and said I need him for the mission. And he does the idiot. And the idiot goes on the mission for the wrong reason And he says I don't care. now he says it gives a **** But it's important. And they're behind and they're stupid lame. And this is horrible They don't know the first thing about anything And they have to go up and check it. And this is horrible It really is. Yeah. Everybody saw the ships going there and they saw people coming from the surface. What more do you need to know And he says we need to verify who it was and said, oh yeah, that's a very important question When I've been asking and I guess you guys are training in a crappy city. testing out new hardware and software, Etcetera. So you can try and make sure the mission goes well. What am I saying? Am I making a movie for no reason yes. so he goes OK. and they were kind of chuckling as they're walking away and say I feel a little gay in the suit and Our son says, ohh, I was saying that, and it's a little bit true. I need you for the Lowenbrow commercial. So he stopped and he says, why the hell is this happening. and he's waiting for you to say it. And he sort of said it a lot. And just not why the hell isn't happening. This is gonna happen this fight and at the end of it, they realize that they're stupid and that they're missing Martha It wasn't her name, but we're gonna put who she is up. You see her in the movie miss And she's badly mutated, and they understand it's real at the time. Later on, yes,

Thor Freya

Olympus

[thenexusofsouls]

“My reign has been anything but traditional. Let’s not start now, shall we?” Thor said to Freya. If she was a different queen, she would’ve stayed at home with William while she recovered from the mirror’s sickness, but her first act as queen had been slaying a tyrant. She would not stand by and let this wicked woman take Tabor, not if she had anything to say about it, so she’d donned her winter clothing, grabbed her sword, and followed Eric to Freya’s palace. “Perhaps you were their witch queen, and perhaps they adored you for it. But these people deserve to be free, and I won’t let you hurt anyone again.”

Thor unsheathed her sword. She didn’t want to fight if she didn’t have to, but from what Eric had told her, there was no other way this confrontation could end. She entered her fighting stance. Etiquette lessons were terribly boring, but each night after she’d been crowned queen, she’d trained with William and Eric.

‘What good queen knows not how to defend herself?’ she’d asked them both at the time.

“Love doesn’t hurt you, Freya,” she stated, thinking of the two men who loved her best in all the world. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for love. Love… is the only thing that kept me going. I suppose I have you to thank for that, in a way. Eric and I never would’ve met if it weren’t for your cruelty.”

__________

Eric didn’t want to be back here, in this accursed place, and neither did he want his love to be either. He would’ve much preferred to come alone, make his attack on Freya, and for better or worse, he’d either strike true and kill her or die trying. But with Thor having followed him here, his first priority wasn’t killing Freya, it was keeping Thor safe. He didn’t want to begrudge her this chance to defend her kingdom, but at the same time, Eric wished she’d just stayed home. But here they were, and so he stood by, ready and waiting to assist Thor if need be.

Freya calmly listened to Thor speak, a soft smile on her lips. at the mention of freedom, though, and causing harm, she could not remain silent. “You... will not allow me... to hurt anyone?” she asked. “Very well, that is a noble cause, truly. Only... tell me... Who will stop you from hurting others? Hmm? Did my family also deserve to be free? My parents? My brother? My daughter? All killed by kings and soldiers and courtsmen not unlike your father, your armies, and your people. You yourself have murdered my sister, completing the obliteration of my family, and now you have come to my home, intending to kill me as well. What an accomplishment... to preach of protecting people from harm when you and yours have caused as much of it as anyone.”

Eric couldn’t decide whether Freya was delusional and believed her own lies, or whether she was just good with words. She could talk circles around him, to be sure, but then again, that wasn’t saying much. He might have been a skilled warrior but intelligence had never been a strong suit of his.

“Ah, yes. It is true, what they say. Love... conquers all. More blood is shed in the name of love than for any other cause, after all,” Freya said, seemingly not at all threatened by Thor’s willingness to fight her. “Cruelty?” She looked to Eric. “Is that was you call it? I raised you. I clothed you, fed you, trained you... I made you what you are. And you repaid my kindness with betrayal. Perhaps you believe in a different definition of cruelty than most.”

Freya’s gaze lingered on Eric, feeling something angry and bitter stirring within her. “I see how easily you have forgotten Sara. But that’s what men do, is it not? Take what they will of women and then simply move on to another when they cease to be of use to you? When you’ve a better option at hand? Attaching yourself to one of my generals was advantageous to you, surely, but being with a queen?” She glanced at Thor. “You saw an opportunity and took advantage. Typical.”

“Go on an’ speak of things about which you know nothing,” Eric said. “It won’ change anything.”

“I know more than you think,” Freya said flatly and dismissively. “You see... all men leave, Thor. Eventually. It is in their nature, and love... is always a lie.”

[hidingoutbackstage]

@naturalkillercyborg Oh bestie you have no idea the rant I have just locked and loaded about how much I hate remake Ashley

Prefacing this ofc with the fact that I LOVE og Ashley, she’s a great character whom I adore, and my hatred for her remake version comes from all the things they removed from og Ashley to make her so bland and digestible.

You mentioned the eyes, which you’ve seen me complain about endless times, but while the eye color change from brown to blue does suck, it’s part of a larger issue I have with remake Ashley: she’s too pretty. Capcom apparently got it in their heads that female characters MUST be wearing makeup at ALL TIMES, so Ashley, throughout the ENTIRE game, has glossy pink lips, a highlight-like shine on her nose and cheeks, and shimmering brown eyelids. This isn’t Ashley exclusive, Ada and Hunnigan are wearing makeup at all times too, as are Claire and Jill in the 2 and 3 remakes (women b wearing lip gloss ig) but it pisses me off because Ashley was bare faced in the original. Her lips were almost the same color as her skin, she had no makeup on, AND THAT’S PERFECTLY FUCKING FINE, BECAUSE SHE WAS KIDNAPPED TO ANOTHER CONTINENT.

Ashley’s also too pretty because she’s an Instagram model, and that’s not an exaggeration. The face model for Ashley was a literal Instagram model named Ella Freya. I don’t know her, she’s a perfectly fine and attractive woman, but again I must state how plain Ashley looked in the original. She had a soft round face, a cute nose, normal eyebrows, charming big ears, she looked plain and she looked normal. Ella Freya, though, is an Instagram model in the year 2023, so remake Ashley now has a slimmer face, slimmer nose, perfect eyebrows, blue eyes that I hate, and, to my absolute dismay, her hair now permanently covers her ears at all times (unless you give her the casual outfit which was a cosmetic only available for preordered versions of the game but I’ll stop there before I go on a completely different rant).

Still continuing the “too pretty” rant, she’s wearing THE stupidest blazer and scarf I could POSSIBLY think to put a 20 year old in the year 2004 in. Her og outfit was perfectly fine and charming and fit the time period, and her beta outfit was even better, because it was cute yet functional, an orange coat, gray scarf, gray gloves and black pants. The remake though, kept her original silly cute outfit but added sheer tights (which is dumb, just give her pants) and a blazer that no one under the age of 30 and isn’t a senator would ever wear. The blazer also has a stupid eagle pin on it because duh Ashley’s “Baby Eagle” that’s her code name she’s the daughter of the president that’s all she is!

Which leads me to my next grievance, remake Ashley is THE DEFINITION of a prop character. She could be a bag of money stolen from the White House and NOTHING story-wise or gameplay-wise would change. In the original, saving Ashley felt like a real escort mission. She had her own health bar, she had a personality that was spunky, she was mostly helpless and afraid being out of her element here (WHICH IS FINE) but she still persisted at being brave. She had a short temper at times when it was justified (mostly sexualization jokes or straight up SA at her expense) AND she got to do things like drive the forklift, operate the wrecking ball, save Leon from his Plaga, and playing as her in her sections is fun if you can ignore the panty shots. She feels like a real young woman who’s really on this adventure with you, and you genuinely feel terrible for her as her infection worsens or when she gets kidnapped.

But NOPE apparently og Ashley is tooooo hardddd so there’s no health bar for her this time, she can get captured or hit and still be fine, she doesn’t drive the forklift, she operates a different wrecking ball in a fight scene that feels like it was done that way to pad the 9 hour play time (with a stupid line that I’ll get into) there’s no sexual assault this time (thank GD) so she never gets to be upset or fiery or spunky or able to communicate ANY gd damn emotion that isn’t “happy for Leon” or “uwu so scared and meek and helpless” and it’s OBNOXIOUS. The scene where Luis comments on Ashley’s boobs has been changed (again, thank gd) to him calling her señorita, to which Ashley just says “Señorita has a name, it’s Ashley. You are?” like it’s just a question and there’s NO anger or malice behind her voice when she corrects him.

Before I get into how basically every line remake Ashley said pissed me the fuck off I’m gonna go over her play style, because yeah, you get to briefly play as Ashley in this game. In the original, Ashley gets separated from Leon, and you have to play as her by traversing the halls, solving puzzles and avoiding enemies to get back to Leon. It’s scary because you’re used to having Leon’s ammo and health items at this point, so playing as Ashley, you’re almost completely defenseless. It’s a fun play style. I say “almost” completely defenseless, because there is one thing Ashley can do, and that’s pick up the lanterns around her and chuck them at enemies, setting them on fire and killing them. And that’s BADASS and I was so STOKED to see how they did this in the remake so much so that upon my bf’s first playthrough I made him let me play the Ashley section.

And I was real fucking disappointed because GONE is Ashley’s (and thus the player’s) sense of helplessness. Why? Because Ashley is given a lantern that temporarily freezes the enemies sneaking up on her in place, allowing her to escape. It’s a dark room so the lantern acts as your only light source, which is fine as a gameplay mechanic. But Ashley, our too good sweet unflawed innocent girl this time around, gets to do NO killing and is basically INVINCIBLE for most of her section, because she’s given impenetrable armor in the form of this lantern. At the end of her section she loses the lantern and you do just have to run for it, but that’s a short burst of speed down a hall and then you’re safe. There’s no challenge to Ashley’s section this time.

Okay real quick before I get into how her lines piss me off, I’m gonna talk real quickly about her lack of personality BESIDES her lines that refuse to give her one. So, we learn a SINGLE new thing about Ashley in this game, and that’s that she is in a sorority at college. We only know this because she has a sorority sticker on her cell phone. That’s it, that’s all the new information we get about this character.

There are also plot beat changes that piss me off with their lack of personality given to Ashley. The two main ones I can think of are when Leon first finds her, and when they get separated in the castle. In the og, when found, Ashley throws something at Leon to defend herself before curling up into a ball in the corner. She does this a lot in the game, cowering in fear by making herself smaller, which is an interesting character thing, yes it’s possible for characterization to come from movements. In the remake, Ashley brandishes a candelabra and tells Leon to let her go (mistaking him for a ganado) and he just easily disarms her, and when trying to explain herself she escapes out of the room. It just feels like an attempt to quench to complaints about Ashley being too weak in the first game, which could’ve been fine if she was actually a stronger character in this, but she isn’t.

The second plot beat pisses me off so fucking much. In the original, while walking in the hallway, Ashley starts coughing up blood due to the parasite. Leon asks if she’s okay, and, panicked, runs down the hall away from him, a gate separating them and chasing her down the hall until she’s captured, ending with the two being separated. You have to play as Leon to find your way to the room where she was taken and shoot off her restraints to set her free. Ashley has a cute quip there, and then has to escape the pursuing Ganados, leading to the “playing as Ashley” section. In the REMAKE, Ashley is instead taken control of by Saddler using the Plaga inside her, threatening to slit her own throat with a knife, allowing Saddler to put distance between her and Leon so a gate can separate them. Ashley is then let go of the mind control, she drops the knife, panics, and runs away. The gate is immediately lifted, and you have to play as Leon to find her, where she’s just…sitting in a room and crying. Leon gives her a pep talk about being brave, which somehow works because this is a shell of a character, and you move on.

Apparently people complained about Ashley running off frightened in the original, so in the remake they make it so that it isn’t her fault she and Leon get separated, because GD FORBID a victim act out, act irrationally, or have FLAWS.

Okay now we’re going to get into her lines/dialogue, if you couldn’t tell, I was holding back before. Shocker I know, but I’m really miffed about these.

Ashley's ENTIRE EXISTENCE and EVERY SINGLE LINE in this ENTIRE GAME is dedicated to one of two things: 1) hyping up how cool Leon is, or 2) telling us how scared she is. That's it. No personality. No character. No backstory. No insight into who she is as a person. No mannerisms that tell us anything about her. Ashley might as well have not existed prior to the start of Resident Evil 4 because she has no character AT ALL. This woman is a KIDNAPPING VICTIM who is the ENTIRE FOCUS OF THE GAME and she doesn't get anything about her that makes her unique.

I was expecting AT LEAST ONE LINE FROM ASHLEY about her father, that she was excited to see him again, that she loved him, or the opposite, that they have a complicated relationship, that he's not a great dad because he's the president and busy all the time, SOMETHING. But nope, none of that. We have no idea how ASHLEY feels about the FATHER you're supposed to return her to. A pretty BASIC relationship to establish if you ask me. In the original, and I chalk this up to misogyny in the script writing, because Ashley's the president's daughter, they only mention her father throughout the game. They never say "parents" or "family" they ONLY say father. In the show Infinite Darkness, we see on the president's desk that he has two pictures of Ashley, one of the girl by herself and the other of just the two of them with their dog. No mother in the pictures. I thought that had the potential to be an interesting character thing, maybe Ashley's mom was dead or had gotten a divorce from her father, maybe the remake could have at least a throwaway line about it. NOPE. Ashley's only established emotional relationships in THE WHOLE GAME are Leon, the man rescuing her, Luis, the man helping her, and the cult who kidnapped her (obvious negative feelings for that one).

Ashley was so hated in the og I guess that the writers of the remake built her entire existence on endearing her to the player. See, she doesn't need your health items anymore! See, she doesn't scream "annoyingly" anymore! See, she cries out for you when you get hurt and close to death! See, she's pretty now! See, she doesn't get mad at you for looking up her skirt (yes that's a real mechanic in the og and yes it was removed)! See, she does NOTHING but tell you how cool and awesome you are and how much she believes in you! See, when she gets separated from you it's not HER fault! See, she actually lovesss the American government and military and she's soooo patriotic! See, she wants to be your agent partner rather than having a crush on you! Like OH MY GD IT IS FINE IF NOT EVERY ASPECT OF A CHARACTER'S PERSONALITY IS ENDEARING. IT'S FINE. IT'S FUCKING FINE.

I mean ffs Luis is a flawed but good-hearted character and this stupid fandom fucking LOVES him (mostly because they can ship him with Leon though) so why does Ashley have to be held to this impossible standard.

One of the Ashley lines that pisses me off the most is the line Ashley says when she gets in the wrecking ball i mentioned earlier. Leon asks if she can operate one of those things, and this dumbass compares it to "drivers ed." Drivers. Ed. Are you fucking kidding me. All you did there was make her look like a ditz for equating operating construction equipment to driving a fucking car. In the original, Ashley was able to easily drive a forklift and wrecking ball with no problem, even proudly proclaiming "Leave it to me, Leon!" as she climbs in the forklift, to the point that Ashley being "forklift certified" became somewhat of a joke/meme (at least among my friends) because again it's a character moment. This is just stuff she knows how to do. It's silly but it's endearing, and you chose to replace that with "it's just like drivers ed." Givemeagddamnfuckingbreak.

Another Ashley line that I only came to hate recently comes from the DLC Separate Ways where you play as Ada. Ashley in the base game has a couple lines related to Ada, but all of them are about Leon's relationship to Ada, so once again, her entire focus is Leon. Whatever. In the trailer for Separate Ways, there's a shot of Ashley during the final boss fight looking towards the camera, implying that Ashley was going to interact with Ada, and I was SUPER EXCITED about that because none of the three main women EVER interact in this game (Ashley, Ada and Hunnigan) and I wanted to see what kind of conversation Ada could have with Ashley. Maybe Ada showing a rare bit of sympathy for this poor, fearful kidnapped girl, maybe offering her a ride out of there (though Ashley would just say "not without Leon" which. whatever) or ask about the Plaga or even just say "You okay?" or ANYTHING.

Well imagine my disappointment when that didn't happen. Ada walks up to where Ashley's nervously watching the fight go down, Ashley turns to Ada and says "Leon needs help. Hurry!" and that's IT. Ada doesn't even say anything BACK, she just goes to help Leon. Once a-fucking-gain, Ashley's ONLY there to service Leon, even when talking to someone else.

Ashley's commitment to being patriotic and wanting to be Leon's partner pisses me offfff too. It's not even my anti-American side, it's simply the fact that this game is trying so hard to be patriotic. Which is REALLY fucking weird considering the og was the complete opposite of that, but again that's a separate rant. Again it's another move to endear her to the player, since Leon is a government agent and the people playing this game probably also play Call of Duty so they think the American government and military is cool.

AND. AND AND AND! The creators said they wanted it to be clear that there was nothing romantic between Ashley and Leon. Which is fine! I'm cool with that! I prefer it actually! BUT they removed some elements that I think would have been MORE endearing to see. In the original, Ashley and Leon hug several times, and it's always cute and sweet, feels very older brother little sister with the way Leon pats her on the head, and very genuine when Leon cures Ashley of her Plaga, how she sits up and throws her arms around him as a thank you. Makes me wanna cry. In the remake they hug ONCE and it's brief. After Leon has been cured of his Plaga and wakes up, Ashley cheerily smiles at him and gives him a hug because, as she says, "I thought you were gonna die." and Leon simply pats her ont he back, doesn't even hug her in return. Like what the HELL??? This girl has been through SO MUCH these past few days, and she doesn't even get a gd damn ACTUAL hug???? Why????? There's nothing inherently romantic about that.

The other removed element is from an early concept for the remake that was scrapped, and that was a hand-holding mechanic. basically you could hold Ashley's hand if you wanted her to stay close to you while you were running somewhere. The creators scrapped it because they didn't want Ashley and Leon to seem "too close." Why? Holding hands isn't inherently romantic, and even in Japan that kind of PDA is fine. Leon grabbed Ashley's hand (albeit in scripted cutscenes) in the og and they were never romantic, so why not here?

I am fully aware that the Ashley in my head isn't completely the same as og Ashley. Og Ashley isn't jewish, doesn't canonically dye her hair blonde, doesn't canonically have a dead mom, but it's still all based on stuff in canon that relates to her personality and characterization. Remake Ashley is fucking nothing, there's nothing to springboard off of, and although the fandom pisses me off for their refusal to engage with women, when it comes to remake Ashley there's not exactly anything worth engaging with since her entire existence revolves around you, despite your mission revolving around her (they could still try harder though).

Was watching og 4 gameplay for writing reasons and was struck by just how much I miss og Ashley 😭😭😭 babygirl I’m soso sorry for what the remake did to you

[freyasilverbough]

The Cave Bear and the White Wolf - Waking the Flaming Fist

Cw for blood, mentions of suicide/self sacrifice. Freya being a prickly bitch like normal. Don’t worry she gets better soonish.

Freya handed Halsin a small bag of gold to restock their supplies with the quartermaster - Talli, he learned - while she went inside to speak with Jaheira. He couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of hope, this small pocket of safety in a land he was sure had been all but lost.

As Halsin hoisted his pack over his shoulder - now brimming with bandages, food, fresh water, and herbs to make potions - he tried not to think about the Selûnite who’d captured his attention. She was beautiful, to be sure, the picture of elven grace beneath all the dirt and grime. Her beauty was almost matched by her strength, both mental and physical, and her wit was as sharp as the blade she wielded with that unwavering ferocity. Most soldiers found themselves encumbered by their heavy armor, but Freya danced across each battlefield with the elegance of a noble lady.

He admired her, this woman who was half his size and a hundred years his junior, yet mightier than any he’d ever met. He’d gotten the tiniest of peeks into her mind, and he wanted more than anything to tear down the wall of stone erected around her heart. He wanted to know everything there was to know about her.

As if his thoughts summoned her, Freya came barreling out of the inn, searching the square until her gaze landed on him. He was immediately on alert at the sight of her urgency, and dropped his pack to hurry to her.

“What is it?” He asked, searching her face. Her expression, normally a stoic mask, was excited and swimming with hope.

“There’s a Flaming Fist in the inn. He’s insensible and unconscious, but he keeps singing about Thaniel.”

————

Halsin and Freya stood over the Fist’s bedside as he mumbled his song in his sleep. Over and over, the sleeping man mentioned Thaniel. Freya had not misheard, it was true. They needed to rouse him, to find out what he knew, but how?

“It’s true, then. He’s met Thaniel. We need to wake him.” Halsin repeated his thoughts aloud to Freya as she studied the man.

“Look at his hands,” she said. “His callouses, those aren’t from wielding a sword. He’s a musician, probably played some stringed instrument or another.”

“His name is Art Cullagh. He had this letter on him when we found him,” one of Counselor Florrick’s guards said, handing an old piece of parchment to Freya. She took it, and her brow furrowed as she read it to herself.

“Duke Eltan…he’s long dead,” she whispered. Halsin racked his brain to remember where he’d heard that name, but in truth, the city’s politicians were ever changing and Halsin paid them next to no mind. Freya’s eyes flicked upward to meet Halsin’s. “He was the duke in Baldur’s Gate a century ago,” she explained. “The timeline matches. This letter is an order to investigate a ‘House of Healing.’ I’ll go get the others, and gather a party. We’ll head there tomorrow.”

Halsin wrapped a hand around her bicep as she moved to leave. “You shouldn’t go out in the shadows alone,” he whispered, earning him an icy glare from the paladin.

“I need you here, to watch him. Make sure he doesn’t succumb to whatever this is that ails him. He’s our best lead - our only lead. I’m trusting you with his life, and I’m asking that you trust me with mine.” She sighed when Halsin did not let go. “On my oath, I will return. You have my word.” He loathed the idea of sending her out into the darkness alone, and hated even more that she was right. Art looked like he was on the brink of death, and he was the key to finding Thaniel. If there was anyone who could traverse the shadows on their own, he knew that it was Freya. She would go, retrieve their friends, and return to him intact - or so he prayed.

“Be swift, be brave, and be safe,” he commanded her. She nodded once, her resolve hardening her features, and Halsin released his grip on her arm. He watched as she turned and strode out of the room with her easy swagger. Shoulders back and head high, the picture of confidence and strength.

He prayed to the Oak Father, to Selûne if she would listen, that his soldier would be true to her word and return to him.

————

The Flaming Fist in the room were visibly annoyed by Halsin’s incessant pacing. Freya had left close to two hours before, and there were no signs of her return.

She was probably slowed down by all the gear they had to lug from campsite to campsite. That, or she was a shadow-cursed corpse somewhere…

Halsin growled in frustration at his own thoughts. She probably was slowed down by the larger group and all of their supplies. She had given him no reason to doubt her capabilities, but even the most skilled of warriors could be overwhelmed.

So, he paced. He worried. He watched Art Cullagh as he’d been directed. He worried some more.

After what felt like an eternity, Freya came sauntering through the door. Halsin quickly closed the distance between them and checked her over, but there wasn’t a drop of blood in sight. She removed her gauntlets and flexed her slender hands, the calluses of her palms glinting in the inn’s soft light.

“Not a peep from the shadows, if you can believe it. The others are setting up camp near the lakeshore. Apparently, Shar is protecting Shadowheart from the curse. As much as I despise it, we might be wise to keep her close. Shar’s protection may be an asset. The rest of us will have to figure something else out, if we’re all to reach Moonrise, I heard the shadows are deeper there and our torches won’t keep them at bay.”

“You are not our only secret weapon, paladin. Isobel, a faithful cleric of Selûne, casts the spell that protects this inn. She might be able to aid you, too. She’s upstairs in her room.” Halsin turned to find Jaheira in the doorframe. Secret weapon? He had no idea what she was talking about, and Freya refused to meet his questioning gaze.

“Thank you, High Harper,” Freya nodded at the half elf in gratitude. She finally turned to Halsin, but rather than explain what they had talked about before she left, she simply inquired about Art’s condition.

“He’s restless, but stable. I can come and assist you in settling the camp, but I’ll stay here tonight.” Freya nodded, then motioned for him to follow. Before they could leave the tavern, she spun on her heel and nearly smacked into Halsin’s chest.

“Oh, by the way, there’s an extra wizard. I don’t know what he wants, but it seems Elminster Aumar decided to pay us a visit.”

There was never a boring day with this group. Halsin chuckled as Freya led the way, and noticed it was getting harder not to stare at the sway of her ass as she walked.

————

“By the fucking gods, Gale, are you touched in the godsdamned head?!” Halsin heard Freya shriek at the wizard as he helped Shadowheart erect her tent. “I mean, honestly, you’re meant to be the smart one among us, and this has to be the dumbest fucking shit I’ve ever heard.”

For one so devout, the paladin had a mouth that could make a devil blush. He’d always thought of them as being the pinnacle of righteousness, almost above typical mortals, but Freya seemed bound and determined to prove him wrong at every turn.

“The Absolute is a threat to all of Faerûn, and if I can destroy it and earn Mystra’s forgive - ”

“I don’t give a flying fuck about Mystra. She can rot in the Outer Planes for all I care, or better yet, she can come demand your suicide herself so I can smite her where she stands.”

“What, so you’re the only one allowed to make sacrifices in the name of this mission we’ve all been thrust on? The orb is powerful enough to rid the world of this cult, and you know that. What good is a sword against - well, not a god, but close enough.”

“You doubt my blade, wizard?” Freya’s eyes narrowed as she hurled the accusation.

“Never. But even you must understand that what we’re up against is beyond our mortal capabilities.”

“Your mortal capabilities. Last I checked, my goddess and I are still on very good terms. She’s at least not commanding me to kill myself.”

“And if she did, would you? That’s a rhetorical question, by the way. We both know that if Selûne asked you to sacrifice your life to save others, you would throw yourself on your sword without question.”

Freya sucked in a deep breath, then turned on her heel and stormed away from Gale towards the tavern up the hill. Their shouting had drawn the attention of everyone in the party, and a tense silence settled over the camp like a cold blanket. Halsin approached the wizard, noting the dark circles under his eyes and the tremble in his lip. He’d lost weight, enough that it was obvious under his thick amethyst robes.

“Do you want to talk about it?” The druid asked carefully. While he was typically the camp healer, the role of mediator often fell to Freya. Resolving disputes was something he had much practice in thanks to his time as an Archdruid, and while he despised it in the grove, he found that he wanted to help his new friends overcome their differences and come to an accord.

“She thinks she knows what’s best for everyone, but this isn’t up to her. It’s my life, my orb, my goddess.” Gale shook his head and ran a hand through his hair.

“She cares about you.”

“Funny way of showing it,” Gale mumbled.

“She’s angry because she cares about you. About all of you. Her goal is to see everyone here make it out of this in one piece.” He glanced in the direction that Freya had gone when she stormed off. She had a short fuse on her best days, but something seemed…off. She was wound tighter than normal, and Halsin suspected the curse wasn’t the whole of her troubles.

“Go,” Gale said, interrupting his thoughts. “Check on Freya. I will get over it.”

Halsin nodded at the human before clapping him on the shoulder and heading in search of their paladin.

————

He found her drowning her feelings with the tiefling wizard, Rolan, at the bar in Last Light. As he got closer, he heard Rolan snapping at her as she nursed her drink.

“If you hadn’t convinced us to stay, Cal and Lia would still be here. This is on you,” he seethed, causing a hot fury to boil in Halsin’s stomach. After all she’d done for the grove, for the refugees, he dared to speak to her this way? They would all be dead if she hadn’t come along.

Freya didn’t so much as flinch. “Then it’s my responsibility to bring them back.” Her voice was calm, factual, and ever so slightly slurred.

“They’re my responsibility!”

“Rolan, that’s enough,” the bard, Alfira, scolded quietly in an attempt to calm the other tiefling.

“Go. Save the world, or your own arse, or whatever it is you do.”

“Enough.” Halsin raised his voice as he towered over the red mage in warning. Rolan backed away with a final glower at the paladin, and Halsin took his seat next to her.

“If you’re here to tell me to apologize to Gale, you’re in for a hell of a fight, druid.” She finished what was left in her glass and reached for a bottle half full of amber liquid to fill another. Whiskey, he’d observed these past weeks, was her favorite. Good ale was a close second.

“I’m not. Something is bothering you, and I’m not leaving until you talk to me.”

She rolled her eyes. “Look around us and tell me you’re not bothered.”

“Ever since you talked to Jaheira earlier, you’ve been acting strange.”

She slammed her glass on the bar and gripped it until her knuckles turned white. “I’m not in the fucking mood, Halsin.”

“What happened?”

“Ketheric fucking Thorm happened,” she snapped. “Ketheric Thorm, not just risen from the dead, but invulnerable. I’ve been tasked with infiltrating his stronghold, and now I have to kill an invulnerable man and pray that he doesn’t fucking recognize me. That’s what happened. Are you happy now?” Freya grabbed the whiskey bottle by its neck and stormed away once more, leaving Halsin reeling in her revelation.

Ketheric Thorm. The man who unleashed the curse on this land, the man that he and his comrades had fought so hard to destroy a hundred years before, alive. Memories of that horrid day crashed into him like a tidal wave, and he found himself wishing for his own drink to push them away.

Instead of smothering his growing misery with alcohol, he returned to Art Cullagh’s bedside. He decided he would stay with the man until they woke him, or he eventually succumbed.

————

“Look alive, druid.” Halsin barely had time to catch the lute as it came flying at his face. Freya strode into the room with Shadowheart, Astarion, and Lae’zel in tow, the githyanki and the paladin soaked in black blood. It was a similar sight to the aftermath of Marcus’ failed abduction of Isobel, the Selûnite cleric who protected this patch of land and extended that protection to those who would need to travel outside of the shield’s boundaries.

“Found this on a surgeon in the House of Healing,” Freya explained gruffly.

“Are you hurt?” His eyes trailed up and down her form in search of injury, but unless she felt inclined to strip the black armor that covered her from neck to toe, there wasn’t much to be seen. Given her mood towards him lately, he found that particular scenario unlikely.

“The surgeon was some creepy follower of Shar. Wanted to take my eyes. I took his head instead.” Shadowheart huffed at Freya’s explanation. “Found the lute in a chest, look at the neck.” Halsin did as she wished, spinning the instrument until he found the letters A.C. carved into the wood.

“This is what we needed,” he whispered. “Well done, indeed.” His chest swelled with pride as he held the lute out to her, this day was her victory. She should be the one to break the man’s trance. “Go on, then. Maybe its music will restore him.”

“Or perhaps my horrid musical skills will finally put the poor man to rest,” she quipped as she removed her bloodsoaked gauntlets. Freya rolled her black sleeves up to her elbows, lithe muscles flexing with the movement. She took the lute from Halsin with a roll of her pretty blue eyes, and began to play.

With her prior comment, he was not expecting the easy notes that floated from the strings in a haunting melody that floated effortlessly through the air like a ghostly whisper. Her fingers danced across the strings with grace, each note carrying the weight of centuries past, filling the room with a sense of mystery and longing. A northern tune, to be sure. Perhaps a clue to her homeland, Halsin had guessed that she hailed from the frigid tundras of the north, but where specifically he could not say. Her playing brought tears to his eyes, until Art startled awake and he was once more brought back to earth.

Halsin laid a calming hand on the Fist’s shoulder and knelt as he jolted upright. “Calm,” he murmured, the bedside manner of an Archdruid taking over. “Breathe. You’ve been trapped in the Shadowfell for a century. Take a moment to clear your mind.” Freya set the instrument down carefully next to Art’s bed and knelt on one knee, nodding at Halsin to take the lead.

“You-you’re Halsin. Thaniel said to find you. He’s in danger, you have to save him.”

“I will. But I must know where to look. If I venture into the Shadowfell blind, I will never find him.” He met Freya’s piercing blue gaze. Perhaps he should have told her the whole of his plan before they got to this point, but she wasn’t exactly forthcoming with her own schemes.

“The landscape shifts and changes…lavender. Whenever I saw Thaniel, I always smelled lavender.” Halsin nodded and helped the man to lay back down before turning to Freya.

“Meet me by the lakeshore. I have what we need, but I’ll need your help to see this through. Be ready, this may prove…perilous.”

Freya’s eyes narrowed at Halsin’s direction. “What is it you’re planning to do here, druid?” she demanded.

“I’ll explain everything, after you’ve gathered your supplies. I suggest bringing anyone along that wields radiant magic. Fire, light, the works. Your own magic will be needed more than your blade, I’ll wager. Meet me there, and we’ll discuss what comes next.”

Freya studied him for a long moment, then turned on her heel and headed in the direction of their camp. A ball of anxiety took root and began to grow in his stomach. He knew the shadows would not be banished without a fight, and he was asking even more of this woman who had already done so much to aid him. A paladin of Selûne was perhaps the most well equipped to handle the threat that was about to come her way, but he’d seen enough great warriors fall to a well placed blow that he worried for her. He knew she would protect her friends - and him - no matter the cost, even at the cost of her own life.

Halsin took a steadying breath and retrieved a lit torch from the wall, making his way in long strides either to his doom, or their salvation.

[multi-fandom-imagine]

I don't know if you'll respond to this but can I have some brok head canons? He doesn't get enough love and he's my favorite character :'<

A/n: BROK!! I love him, his bond between Krato’s is the best thing ever.

Reader is a Huldra

{A hulder (or huldra) is a seductive forest creature found in Scandinavian folklore. Her name derives from a root meaning "covered" or "secret"In Norwegian folklore, she is known as huldra ("the [archetypal] hulder", though folklore presupposes that there is an entire Hulder race and not just a single individual). She is known as the skogsrå "forest spirit" or Tallemaja "pine tree Mary" in Swedish folklore, and ulda in Sámi folklore. Her name suggests that she is originally the same being as the völva divine figure Huld and the German Holda.}

{Though described as beautiful, the huldra is noted for having a distinctive inhuman feature—an animal's tail (usually a cow's or a fox's)}

🔨: Immediately hits on you when he first see’s you, you’re a bit shy so you run off, back wherever you came from.

🔨:Sindri scolds him for scaring you off with his brash attitude, he’s been trying to get your help with gathering material since you know this particular forest well.

🔨:Freya is the one that informs the group of what your are.

“She is a Huldra, though I never have seen one this skittish, they are supposed to seduce men and trap them in the forest. I wonder if Odin has anything to do with her behavior.”

“Seduce men you say? Well where do I sign up?”

“Did you not hear me mention the part where you are trapped for eternity?”

“Nah, she’s not gonna trap me, she’s gonna fall in love with me. “

“Ugh”

🔨: Is always traveling off to where your home is, sometimes he is by himself or with Kratos though it is Atreus that finds you when the boy saves one of your foxes.

🔨: The first thing Brok noticed is your tail { he respectfully doesn’t look at your lack their of clothing }

“Isn’t that the cutest thing!”

🔨: You run off again due to how loud he was.

🔨: Starts to leave out gifts for you, you slowly come out to see him.

🔨: Brok would happily make you a weapon so you can keep yourself protected.

🔨: You start to grow closer to Brok and once you get invited to stay at his and Sindris home you stay with Brok at his forging station.

🔨: You may or may not banish ‘Tyr’ from their home, the group is up at first but they understand later on.

🔨: You’re the first one to initiate the relationship, you two are practically glued at each others hips. Tend to always be around one another with Sindri is more than happy about.

🔨: Sindri swears he is the first one to approve of the relationship and wants nothing more than his bother to be happy.

🔨: While Brok may not be the best at romance or things but he is constantly making you little crowns and head pieces and bracelets. Really spoils you by making the most beautiful metals for you.

 🔨: You tend to bring him flowers and metals he might need.

🔨: Constantly bending down to give him kisses.

🔨:He is the only one that can touch your tail.

[athenamikaelson]

Worried

Kol Mikaelson x Daughter!Reader

Word Count- 1.5k

Warnings- Swearing, underage drinking, Kol being a little jerk

Request- i was wondering if you can write a kol x daughter!reader where the reader goes to a party and tries to sneak behind kols back but he finds out then also figures out she has a boyfriend!

“Dude, are you sure your dad won’t mind?” Lulu said from beside you.

“Ya. I mean mom’s on some witchy retreat and Dad’s losing his mind without her, so I just told him I’m hanging with a couple friends.” Lulu gave me a nervous stare.

“Don’t worry about it, ok. What’s wrong? You think he’s going to find out and then eat you?” She gives me a death stare as she rolls her eyes.

“Bro. You aren't human here.” I just laugh and nudge her shoulder.

“It’s going to be ok. Alright?” Lulu just nods her head, “Now let’s get to this party!”

Walking into the house I’m met with the overwhelming smell of weed and B.O. My eyes graze over the crowd of people in the living room dancing. Well, if you want to call it dancing, as it looks more like a bunch of pubescent teens groping each other.

“Hey guys!!!” I turn around to see Lulu’s girlfriend Molly. Her short black hair, and clothes are messed up, which I can guess is from the dancing she’s been doing all night. The party invite originally came from Molly. Lulu is the type to rather stay in and talk about the long term effects of teenage drinking, while her girlfriend is the type to be the one drinking. How they found each other is still a surprise and mystery to me. But I’ve never met a couple more made for each other. Other than my parents. Or Aunt Hayley and Uncle Elijah. Or Aunt Beks and Uncle Mar. Ok, and Aunt Keelin and Aunt Freya.

“Took you guys long enough to get here!,” I can smell the alcohol on Molly’s breath as she yells in our faces. “Come on, let's go get drinks!” Molly quickly grabs our hands and starts dragging us but I pull back.

“You guys go ahead, I’m going to go find Y/BF/N!” Molly just gives me a drunken thumbs up with her empty hand and a big smile. While Lulu mouths, “be careful.” Which I just return with a smirk. When am I ever not careful? I stood there a moment thinking and realized why she would get worried. I just shrug my shoulders to myself as I push past the kids around me trying to find my boyfriend.

“Y/N!” A voice sounds over the loud music behind me and I turn to see Y/BF/N. A large smile comes onto my face as I walk over to him. As I get to him he opens his arms and welcomes me into a large embrace.

“I didn’t think you were going to show.” He says as he lets me out of his arms and moves his hands down to the sides of waist.

“Well the way Lulu kept looking at me, I didn’t think I’d end up making it either.” I slightly laugh as I look over and see Molly dragging Lu to the dance floor, and I quite literally mean dragging. Lu looks like she’d rather be staked in the heart than be here. But we both know that as much as she hates parties, she loves Molly more.

“And what about your dad? Is he ok with this?” I just roll my eyes at the fact that even though he doesn’t know what my dad truly is he’s still terrified of him.

“Yes, he’s fine with it.” I told him. I’m about to ask him if he wants to grab a drink but seeing the way the smile on his face drops when he looks behind me, I quickly turn around to meet the dark brown of my father’s. And instantly my heart drops in my chest.

“No he’s not fine with it.” My dad says as he gives a death stare to Y/BF/N. I turn to see Y/BF/N practically shitting bricks. His hands were long gone from my waist.

“Um, hello Mr. Mikaelson. My names Y/BF/N. Y/N has told me a lot about you.” My dad's eyes trail up and down his body and I can practically see the smoke coming from his ears.

“Well isn’t that funny? Because I haven’t heard anything about you.” I go to interject but he stops me with a glare.

“Y/N, we’re leaving. Let’s go.” I wanted to refuse but by the way people are starting to stare. I think it’d be a better idea to get the pissed off Original away from a crowded room of people. I quickly apologize to Y/BF/N and follow my dad out the door.

As soon as we get to the end of the driveway I turn to my dad.

“What the hell was that dad?” I yell. My dad looks at me with an incredulous look.

“Are you kidding me, Y/N? First I find you missing from your friend's house and then Rebekah tells me that she helped you do your hair for some party! So I find a party full of drunk teenagers and find some hooligan grabbing my daughter!”

“That hooligan dad was my boyfriend! And you practically just scared the living shit out of him back there. And not even mentioning how embarrassing it is for my dad to come and pick me up from a party surrounded by all my friends!”

My dad just rolls his eyes as he walks to the driver’s side of the car.

“Get in.”

I just scoff as I start walking away.

“Where are you going Y/N?” My dad yells from behind me.

“I’ll walk home.” I hear the car door slam and wait for the car to start but am surprised when my father appears in front of me.

“So you’ll walk home in the dark. Where you could possibly get eaten. But, you won’t get in the car with your father?”

“Yes,” I walk around him and continue walking, “and also I’m a witch I can protect myself.”

I continue walking and don’t hear my father until I hear a huff and footsteps.

“Well, if you’re walking then so am I.”I just ignore him and keep walking.

Fifteen or so minutes have passed since we started walking and I haven’t said anything to my dad. Which I can tell is getting to him. I may be the daughter but he’s the child in this family. And when a child is ignored, they get bratty.

I watch as my dad picks up the stick in front of him and turns to me. I narrow my eyes as he points the stick at me.

“Listen here girly, I’m going to give you two choices. Either you answer me or I’ll use the stick.” I just roll my eyes at his behavior and keep walking.

I start to walk a few feet when I feel something hit my calf. I whip around and see my dad looking up to the sky with a sly smirk on his face. The stick is being held behind his back. I just shake my head and keep walking.

Maybe 20 seconds go by before I feel the stick poke itself on my back. The only difference when I turned around this time was that my father wasn’t hiding the fact that he was the one poking me. I looked me dead and in the eyes and took the stick and placed it only on my head. I just stare at him, I’m not going to give him the benefit of knowing he can make me laugh.

I just keep walking, which I notice gives my dad even more motivation to get me to break.

“Do you want to hear about the time your Uncle Nik got his ass kicked by a bunch of teenagers?” I just sigh and keep walking.

“Or how about the time your dad embarrassed his daughter in front of all her friends and pissed her off?” I just sigh.

“Ya I think I’ve heard that one before.” I say as I stop.

“Did you hear the part where your dad was really sorry and only did it because he was scared when he couldn’t find his daughter. And the thought that the person he loves the most in the entire world might be in danger makes him feel like he’s being daggered all over again.”

I turn to my dad to see him staring at me. I look at him sadly before wrapping my hands around him in a hug.

“I’m sorry dad.”

I feel his arms wrap around me tighter and he presses a kiss to my forehead.

“I’m sorry too, kid. I may be a thousand years old. But this parenting thing might be the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”

“I’m sorry Dad, for not telling you. I didn’t realize you would be so scared. I’m sorry that you have to worry about me.” My dad's eyebrows furrow as he looks at me.

“Hey, don’t ever apologize for that. I’m your dad, it’s my job to worry about you. And I wouldn’t change that for the world. I love being your dad. And I love you.” I hugged him again.

“I love you too dad. And if you wanted to, I’d really like to hear that story about Uncle Nik getting his ass kicked.”

@daylightmikaelson