#i would remember if the situation of the nation was brought up´but

[maikissed]

the day I saw your eyes, I stayed

jude bellingham x reader

warnings: none, just a tad of sexual tension, yeah

note: there is going to be part 2! I planned to write the whole story in one shot but I gotta go to sleep now and was too excited about this rubbish (jk, I love it tbh). And he scored today, whoop sorry for any mistakes!!!!

Rose got herself a new boyfriend. The name brought up in presence of your girlfriends caused much of a fuss. It was a grand revelation and as much as it surprised you as well, you did not share the enthusiasm as every other girl in the room. Not because you felt envious, jealousy was never your thing, you rather grew worrisome. The excitation over the fact that Rose secured herself a football player of such range – famous, a hot topic, high quality player, one of the most valuable characters in the England national team, highly payed, and to add to that: uncommonly gorgeous - absolutely knocked your friends of their feet, but to you… To you it was a sign of massive trouble. People like him belonged to a world where individuals had their impeccable ways to draw from their fame, money and phenomenon as much as they could, despite the morality or ethics. Rose always mingled among various groups of people, there were musicians, actors, even politicians. She was a lovely girl, very pretty, her modelling career developed quickly, spectacularly. But she still haven’t made her name the way she aimed to. You suspected the boys she chose were always an occasion, a special addition to make her reach for more, to be seen, to feel special and unique. She was determined, regardless of the consequences, regardless of the fact how many times she has suffered and burned herself even almost to the point of absolute destruction. It felt awful to even reminisce it. But that’s how it’s been so far, it was the path she has chosen. Although this time this whole situation felt much different, there was a spark in her eyes that could tell you many things. But you would define it this way: she intended to hold onto him, she wanted to keep him. He seemed like the greatest prize. But who would have thought that the massive trouble you feared from the very start would be your burden to deal with?

Jude Bellingham.

Girls were over the moon when the time has come and Rose invited you all to join them in a private lounge in one of the most exclusive clubs in London. You scoffed when you heard the name of the place, you remembered the time when you and Lucia tried to sneak in there, but the bodyguard was too smart to fall for your theatrics. Only precisely selected people could party there. It was one of those grand and fancy places. So you found yourself invited, at last. Yet you weren’t very thrilled about the way you were about to spend your Saturday night. It turned out you would be the only single person there.

And him? The man, the hot topic himself? He was taller than you envisioned, maybe the hair added to that? His smile truly was bright, he was well built, broad shoulders, but not too muscular, well, he was an athlete. The Brummie dialect annoyed you at the start, but the itch seemed to cease as you payed attention to the tone of his voice, there was nothing particular about it, it was just right, good, not screechy, not too deep just… pleasant. He was an amiable guy, you thought to yourself, polite and friendly at the first contact. You realised you were a careful observer until he turned to you to greet. Now you were very much noticed, now you had to act as a part of the events, not a shadow and analyser. And situation very much changed. Time seemed to slow down so suddenly, you found yourself in the strangest state of unconsciousness, like a scene in a movie where the background blurs and any noise is muted, when the spectator is deprived of any other senses despite the sight to notice those specific details that are supposed to made him feel the sublimity of a given moment. And the source of it was in his eyes, you realised, and the way he smiled softly as he extended his hand to you. It was strange and disturbing, his eyes seemed to be the darkest ones you’ve ever seen, but you most definitely had seen eyes like his before, no doubt about it. You took a breath, blinked, fought to not fall into this depth that almost sucked you in. He was smiling, now something slightly impudent about it, and you realised he truly was stunningly gorgeous. Strangely, insanely attractive. Just a simple look into his eyes made you stumble into a realisation that there was something different about this man. And it frightened you.

You did say your name back, did you?

As the night went by you decided to stay in your attentive observer state. You felt safer there, although decency inquired you to engage in few conversations with your friends. Tonight you felt tense, carefully sipping the wine, you tried with all your might to relax and stop examining so intensely the boy seated opposite you. Few new conclusions you came into in the last hour was the fact that he was a great interlocutor, he listened as well, and his smile was one of the most pleasurable things you’ve experienced in your lifetime. You just couldn’t take your eyes off. And another conclusion was that him and Rose was nothing of exclusive. No lingering stares, no secret touches. After all, they met quite recently. She wondered if she bagged him already. And if so, would they all be there if she did? He did not seem like the kind to make such effort to get himself a girl he was not seriously interested in. Rose was not the type to act restrained and unavailable. She crawled into many beds the first night she met someone. You kept yourself far from casual hook-ups and one night stands, just a simple thought of it made you uncomfortable. But for her it was a common thing, if you could use such words. So, was he really interested?

After a while all of your friends decided to use the night to the fullest as the alcohol finally kicked in, rushing to the dancefloor and you truly couldn’t find the spur to join them. You were seriously thinking about taking a French leave. And you almost succeeded.

“You’re not enjoying yourself much, are you?” a well known voice reached you from behind and you turned your head in its direction.

Something in your gut jumped as you spotted Jude. He took a seat beside you. You smiled as his scent reached you, fresh, citrus with addition of something stronger and… alluring.

“I’ve had a long day. Tired, I guess” a safe and simple answer.

His full attention was on you, no one here to accompany you. It begun to feel overwhelming because you did not expected his gaze to be so intense.

“I know the feeling. Find myself in a constant state of weariness lately, cannot get rid of it” he played with his glass, the liquid looked like orange juice.

“Well, you live quite the fast and exciting life” you noted, observing as the corner of his mouth rose a little at your comment.

“Where are you from?” he asked, not continuing the subject you just raised.

“Here, London, born and raised” you smiled again before lowering your gaze, finding the glass of wine interesting “Became as gloomy and morose as this city”

“I wouldn’t describe you with such words” his voice was soft when he said it, something itched in you to ask what words would he use to describe you, but raising the glass of wine up to your lips saved you from that. You hoped you didn’t blush.

“My grandmother always says that I’m an old soul. Emphasizes it like it’s a virtue” you continued.

“That’s a very interesting thing to say about someone. Mine says that I’m a lovely companion although I use way too foul language and it’s scandalous” he frowned funnily and you laughed at the information, he quickly accompanied you.

“Well, I haven’t yet got the occasion to hear some of that tonight”

“I’m trying to be a gentleman” he murmured “It would be improper to throw fucks around in presence of a pretty girl” a lively glint in his eyes as he looked at you.

Now you definitely blushed.

The conversation flowed from there, and you realised you grew more comfortable with each passing minute. He truly was a great listener, and a good companion. He made you laugh many times and suddenly you stopped regretting leaving your apartment for this night out. He was not daft or arrogant as you might have presumed before you met him, being smothered by all this money he had and a name he’s gotten himself at such young age. The complexity of his persona could be spotted in his eyes as you payed closer attention, but it was his words and the way he picked on any subject you brought, that expressed his maturity and wide perception. You haven’t met a guy like him in a long time.

“What are you guys doing here? Come on down, join us!” it was Charlotte’s comment as she came to the longue after a while.

You haven’t even realised how much time has passed and how much alcohol you have already poured into yourself. You only picked on that as you stood up, dizziness hit you like lighting but you composed yourself, agreeing on Charlotte’s and then Jude’s proposition. As soon as you joined the dancefloor, Rose spotted you both, throwing her hands around Jude, guiding him deeper, keeping him closer. He kept his eyes on you as she did it and a strange feeling stroked you as you kept his gaze. Charlotte grabbed you by your hands, singing the words out loud, the song was energetic and lively, you laughed at your friend. Others from your pack nowhere to be seen. So you loosened up and tried to keep up with your drunk companion. The dancefloor became quite chaotic, people jumping around, your eyes landing on Jude from time to time and to your surprise he was looking your way as well. There was a lean and tall guy that jumped in front of Jude, almost stumbling over him and you laugh at that, seeing that Jude laughed as well, his attention still on you. You wanted to share this fun with him directly, but it was forbidden since the realest fact of this night was that he was not yours to have.

“I need to pee!” Rose shouted near you and you turned, watching as she grabbed Charlotte with her, leaving the dancefloor.

You stopped and decided to follow your friends but felt someone’s presence behind your back before you made any move.

“Now I can tell you’re enjoying your night!” Jude called next to your ear, this way you could hear him well despite the thumping music.

When you turned around you noticed how close he stood, you had to raise your head to look at his face, his big and dark eyes gazing down at you, full lips twisted into an amused smile. You returned the smile.

“You are a terrible dancer” you shouted back to him, your voice filled with laughter.

“That’s a fact” he nodded “But you’re quite good, show me more” he reached for your hips to draw you deeper into the dancefloor and you laughed out, throwing your head back as he lead you with him.

You have not payed much attention to the closeness of your bodies as long as the songs were quick and your movements kept rapidly changing with the rhythm. Still, you haven’t realised the sound slowing, a more sensuous song sounded from the loudspeaker, you knew this one. If the reason could break through the basses that reached your ears, you would finish your dance right this moment. But the fact was that it did not. So you continued, with your hands placed at his shoulders you begun to move your hips. Your eyes closed as you turned around, your back to him, he was not touching you, not directly. He took your hands in his and you started to raise it up in the air, you smiled when you felt his breath on your ear. Your joined hands stayed up longer, his on the other hand slowly trailed lower and lower, down your forearms, then your shoulders, then down your body. His touch sure yet lenient and soft at the same time electrified you. Carefully and attentively, making sure to not touch your breasts on the way, he rested them on your hips, feeling the rhythm you kept on. You were not sure if it was him that pressed on you or was it purely your movement, but your back met with his front fully, and a sharp intake of breath stuck in  your throat at the realisation. His hands still rested on your hips, making your body move with no pause. You were close, too close, you could already feel too much. But you found it difficult to part with him, to stop it and call it improper. Your eyes wide open but blind. You only focused on the sense of touch, feeling him moving with you. Your hands fell down to reach his head and then levelled on his nape and you kept them there. Feeling something growing inside of you, along with a rough shot of adrenaline that made your heart beat strongly against ribs. Once more his breath landed on your ear, close, closer. A strange sensation squeezed your throat and you realised you swallowed back a moan. It was like a rough strike, you turned around to face him, with intention to take a step back, but he held you closer, pressing his palm against your back. You sighed and met his eyes. Dark, darker. You wanted to run.

“Thank you for the dance” you said innocently and he watched the movement of your lips as you spoke.

A daring smirk appeared on his mouth and you shuddered. Were you trapped now?

You had to run. So you did.

[foone]

Random thought brought on by seeing a veterinarian sign on the drive to Coffee Land, but I think Jesus would really appreciate people localizing his parable of the Good Samaritan.

Because, like, it's a good story, right? When the administrator-guy and the holy man wouldn't help the injured, the Samaritan went out of their way to make sure the injured man was able to get the help they needed, paid out of their own pocket. And that's good and all, but what even is a Samaritan? Do you know?

Well, they're a ethnoreligious group from northern Israel who follow Samaritanism, which split from Judaism sometime around the 11th century BCE. There's only about a thousand of them left. But around the time of Jesus, they were not very popular with your average Hebrew. Remember the Seleucid empire that was oppressing jews? There's a yearly celebration about it, involving a candle that lasted for 8 nights. Yeah. So at the time the Samaritans had taken the opportunity to point out they're not Jewish, they're Samaritans, so they wouldn't be persecuted. So they were seen as, like, selling out their brothers and sisters in the faith. Then by the time the Romans took over the whole area, the province of Judaea contained Samaria.

So basically the Jews and the seen-to-have-sold-them-out Samaritans were stuck in the same province, thanks to some Romans consolidating the areas they'd conquered. Tensions between the two groups were high, and I don't imagine either of them liked each other very much at all.

To a Jew of the first century CE, a Samaritan is basically the worst kind of person you could be, and that's exactly why Jesus used them in the parable of the Good Samaritan!

The parable isn't about Samaritans. It's about how the worst person you can imagine is a better person than the people you idolize and uplift, if that person takes care of their fellow man. It's about how you should love your neighbor as yourself, and who is your neighbor? Everyone. All people are your neighbors. Help them when they need help!

And that's why I say it should really be localized. You should tell this parable differently than it was told in AD 29 or whenever. Do you hate Samaritans? Probably not! You probably barely know who they are, even after I did some explaining up there. So why use them as your example? If Jesus was here, I don't think he would have done that.

So like, if you were giving a sermon on the good Samaritan in the 1960s to a white church, you should be like "so the policeman walked past, and the pastor walked past, but then a poor black guy saw the injured man, and got him help at the local hospital."

In the 80s, his rescuer is Soviet. In the 2000s, they're a Muslim, from Afghanistan or Iran.

Today? Maybe they're trans.

As an American, there's been many times that "Mexican" would have been the best choice. Maybe even today, especially if you specifically make them an undocumented migrant.

But yeah, the point is that you pick the group of people most hated by the audience you're talking to, and make the point that THEY ARE A BETTER PERSON THAN YOU and ALL THOSE YOU UPHOLD AS PILLARS OF THE COMMUNITY if they help their fellow man. If your worst enemy is lying injured in the street, you call the ambulance, you pay their doctor, you get them help. That's what Jesus says you should do. That's loving your neighbor, that's the Great Commandment.

And in the Roman province of Judea back in the first half of the first century, when talking to a Jewish audience, that meant the rescuer was a Samaritan helping a Jew. That was just the context for that one particular telling of the story. It shouldn't be told the same way today, or in the future. It should be an evolving parable, always changing, always adjusting the nationalities and situations and genders and everything. It's not a story about a specific event, it doesn't pretend to be history, it's a metaphorical lesson about what makes you a good person.

This parable is basically in the form of an "X, Y and Z walk into a bar" joke, and just like jokes, it should be updated over time. Those don't stay funny though the decades, as cultural attitudes shift. And this parable hasn't been updated in nearly two millenia, so it's long overdue.

[a-roguish-gambit]

Some cute art of turn of the centurty Kurt, wanda, and talia as the last little bit of holiday art I’m doing before New Years. So the story of Krampus is not exclusive to Germany. Not only do many Germanic nations know of it, but also many immigrants brought it to America and continue the tradition in their small towns. My dad actually remembers as a child in 1970s small town, Nebraska having a family friend who dress up as Krampus, and ask them if they’ve been good little boys and girls and give them a bit of a fright. For clarification in most of these situations no child ever got switched at or snatched up by the fake Krampus. Most situations it would be a family friend or an uncle who would dress up as a monster and then cause some mischief on Krampusnacht, December 5th, and drink a lot of beer. Not all Krampuses were evil or all that mean,some just played pranks. it depended a lot on your region and the people living there. I feel like looking the way he did, little Kurt growing up got a bit of a special treatment on Krampusnacht he may not have usually gotten. Someone at some point decided it would be cute if the little impish looking boy was touted around with the Krampus as a “Krampus in training” which lead to him getting to be the “krampus’ helper” as he got bigger and follow him from house to house getting sweets and telling the Krampus all the kids in the house were good and to move on. So the krampus does hold a bit of a special place in his heart as he becomes an adult and he continues the tradition in his own way. In this case the Krampus snatches up naughty kids for piggy back rides and tickle attacks rather than to gobble them up or smack with switches.

Wanda, being a very jewish city girl had absolutely zero context for this the first time she saw this and nearly threw kurt through a wall.

[toothfa-1-ry]

I WOULD HAVE REALLY LIKED DOING JUST LAUNDRY AND TAXES WITH YOU. -finnick odair

you and finnick wonder about what could have been

based on hunger games catching fire

you and finnick were not lovers, you could never be lovers

Simply because Panem was a country not built for love. It could harvest fear, hatred, anger, perhaps even hope by the looks of it but never love

despite these words, you find yourself resting against Finnick's shoulder at what seems to be the dead of night. Even though he was keeping watch, you choose to remain awake with him, alongside him.

"you should get some rest" finnick whispers but you don't reply, he takes your silence as your response, knowing better to fight against you

"never thought I'd be back here" he looks around the jungle, letting out a low whistle "it's just how I remember it, i still hate it"

The silence engulfs you both, it's obvious how the two of you were not the only ones who hated the situation. None of you had really thought you'd be back in the arena and surely none of you had hoped to

You look over at where Peeta and Katniss were asleep "you think they're really inlove?"

You both talk in low whispers, not wanting everyone else watching to hear your conversation

Finnick pauses, he thinks, "yes, I think so"

"really?" You give him a quizzical glance

"yea" Finnick pauses again "they just don't realise it"

You bite your lower lip, nodding your head "well then paint me green with envy" you mumble softly

Finnick locks eyes with you, confused, puzzles "why you say that?" His voice is ever so soft and gentle

"the entire nation is rooting for their love and turns out, they really are inlove" your words are simple but yet Finnick feels a pang in his chest. He notices the way you emphasize the word inlove.

It's obvious that if any of the other tributes, say namely finnick and you ever fall inlove, then Panem surely won't welcome this news with the same warmth as they did to Katniss and Peeta

You find yourself leaning even closer into Finnick, finding comfort in his warmth "if.." your words hang from your tongue, as if though you were unsure of your words

"if?" Finnick questions

"if things were different, would we have never met?" You hate the way your voice has a hint of desperation, slight confirmation

"you mean if the games never existed? If Panem was simply just another country?"

You nod too quickly, you realise.

"you'r crazy if you think that we'd never meet" there's a slight smile etched in his face "I'd go against the universe if it tried to keep me away from meeting you"

You hold your breath for a second, the same feeling blossoming in the pits of your heart, the same feelings you had always kept hidden in the pits of your heart.

Despite the complication in your chest you continue, ignoring the implications of his words

"universe?" You ask before you could stop yourself "you think there's a universe out there where none of this happens?" You refer to the war, the pain, the games.

"hey, it's you who brought up the topic not me" finnick quips, again silence befalls the both of you,

"if another universe existed" you continue, since you brought up the topic after all "I think you'd be an actor, I can't imagine you anything but ordinary" there's a smile in your voice, a tone of half teasing "you'd live in the limelight, adored by your fans all across the world"

He let's out a laugh "there's nothing this handsome face can't accomplish" finnick retorts, matching your tone, grinning "and you? I can't imagine you anything else but ordinary aswell"

"oh trust me I would love to be just another ordinary person" you say "I would do anything to be a normal person living in a normal place"

Finnick sighs, dramatically "I guess then I'd have to give up my celebrity life for you" he raises his eyebrows as he looks at you " you know I'd love to have an ordinary life with you"

There's a softness to his words, no sharp edges, no tears, no bites. Just pure genuinity, you could almost call it love, you wished you could allow yourself to call it love

"and ordinary life with me would be boring" you shake your head, discouraging the idea

"life could never be boring if I had you by my side"

You didn't want to admit it, you didn't want to admit that maybe perhaps you felt a certain way towards Finnick, maybe he did too.

Your life was all too messed up, beyond repair and broken.

you didn't want to bring yourself to more pain, especially not if it was in the hands of finnick

"you'd have to do boring regular things" you continue to argue, not wanting to believe finnick. It was all too painfull

"I'd love to do boring regular things with you," finnick retorts back "what exactly is this boring regular things?"

"like laundry and...." Your loss for words "and taxes!" Your blurt out the only thing in your mind

Finnick give you a hard long stare, his jaw tightening before he looks away from you, looking towards the blank sky

"well then, I would have really liked doing just laundry and taxes with you"

Again, the same silence engulfs the two of you, finnick still not tearing his eyes away from the sky as you in turn refuse to look away from his face.

you and finnick were not lovers,

because then the Capitol would see that as treason. you and finnick couldn't be lovers because then the entirety of Panem would see that as rejection

But yet you and finnick were many other things. Many unnamed things, a bit too close to be called friends, a glance that lasted a little too long to be considered acquaintances,

you and finnick were all the things, all things but lovers, never lovers.

But right now your leaning against him, your hands caressing his cheek and your lips colliding with his for the entirety of Panem to see,

"I would have really liked doing just laundry and taxes with you too" you whisper

[hlficlibrary]

HL Fic Library 🥀 Exes Fic Rec

Remember to leave kudos and a comment on the fics you enjoyed to show your appreciation! You can find the library's other recs here.

🥀 Mine Would Be You by @crinkle-eyed-boo {E, 114k}

Louis blinks his eyes open, his eyelids fluttering as the room swims around him. He takes several gulps of beer once he confirms that he’s definitely not hallucinating, that the very first portrait Harry Styles ever painted of him is hanging on that wall.

Louis stares at the wall, his heart jackrabbiting in his chest as he realizes that there’s not just one painting of him, there’s five, the portraits lined up like they’re some sort of storyboard depicting the rise and fall of his deepest love. His greatest heartache. A pain that cut him so deep that he left the fucking country, severing all ties with his life in New York, now suddenly surrounding him as if he’d never left.

Fucking shit motherfucker fuck.

Louis returns to New York City five years after he left it – and the love of his life – behind. He didn't intend to see Harry again, but fate has a funny way of pulling them together, whether they like it or not. After making a begrudging truce, they both start to wonder: Would it be so bad if history repeated itself?

🥀 And What If I Were You by jacaranda_bloom / @jacaranda-bloom {E, 109k}

For Louis, will losing his sight give him the clarity to realise what is right in front of him?

For Harry, will losing the love of his life give him the strength to finally open his heart?

And can they find their way back, before they lose each other forever?

A story of love. A story of loss. A story of fighting for each other, no matter the odds.

🥀 somewhere in between lightning  by jassy117, @nauticalleeds, shiningdistractionwrites / @shiningdistraction {E, 99k}

As Louis took another bite, he thought back to how he had once believed that the hardest thing about being on Love Island would be Liam handling his social media.  He had been wrong. It was Harry Styles, peeking over at Louis as he forked a pancake into his mouth, and gauging his reaction. It was having to quench the swelling of his heart, which felt simultaneously like hope and the breaking of a thousand pieces.

A summer gone wrong (or very right) when, under Liam’s persuasion, Louis finds himself drunkenly applying for Love Island, and getting accepted. Oh, well. A summer spent on an island paradise couldn’t be all that bad, right?

Imagine his surprise when Louis arrives in sunny Majorca to find that his first love and ex-boyfriend, Harry, is another contestant, about to capture the hearts of everyone in the villa. Most normal people don’t have to face their ex on an otherwise straight TV show. Most normal people don’t fall for their ex again in front of the whole nation, either. Too bad this whole situation isn’t normal.

🥀 Emperor’s New Clothes by sunsetmog / @magicalrocketships {E, 92k}

The fact that Louis’s most precious belonging was a cat with a face like thunder and an uncanny ability to cover every single inch of Louis’s clothing with cat hair was something that Louis chose not to think about too much.

or: Harry’s a pop star and Louis isn’t, and there’s a non-disclosure agreement where there used to be a relationship.

🥀 Consequences by @allwaswell16 {E, 78k}

Two years ago Harry let his powerful family come between him and the love of his life, something he deeply regrets. Louis has tried to move on from their devastating break up. Sometimes, he even thinks he has. It only takes one moment to freeze them back in time.

An amnesia au

🥀 your memory over me by @shimmeringevil {E, 64k}

Three years have passed since Louis last saw him, but all it took was a few minutes in Harry’s presence for him to be relegated to the desperate twenty-one year old that was practically begging his boyfriend for an ounce of reassurance that he still cared about him.

Harry shouldn’t be here. He’s brought too many unresolved feelings with him, that Louis thought he’d never have to face.

It’s Harry’s apparent apathy that’s the most difficult to come to terms with. Anger, he could handle. Regret, he would welcome. But Harry’s amiability, and carefree demeanor can only be born from indifference.

He’s moved on. He doesn’t care. And that is something Louis doesn’t think he’ll ever be strong enough to face.

OR - The worst heartbreak of Louis’ life walks right back into it when his parents invite their family friends on an all-expenses-paid trip for their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. Facing a past that he tried to bury long ago, Louis learns that some people have a way of sticking with you even when they’re gone.

🥀 Feels Like Coming Home by @phdmama {E, 60k}

The last thing Harry Styles expects when he's hanging out at the Someday Cafe in Somerville one rainy October day is for his ex, Louis Tomlinson to walk through the door, but that's exactly what happens. After a spectacularly ugly break-up three years prior, Harry hasn't heard one word from Louis, and he's moved on. Gotten over him. But having Louis back in his life, not to mention working at the restaurant where he's a chef, isn't easy, and the feelings that Harry thought he'd left turn out to be not so easily forgotten.

This is a story about love and the power of forgiveness, and how the hard choices we make define us, and change our lives.

🥀 The Second Hand Unwinds by @kingsofeverything {E, 51k}

Louis Tomlinson is one of the first members of NASA's top secret Chrono Exploration Program. When things go wrong and he's sent further back in time than planned, he has no other option than to show up on his ex-boyfriend's doorstep.

🥀 The End Should Be A Good One by bananasandboots / @anylessreal {M, 43k}

It doesn't feel like falling in love, the way it had felt the first time around, easy, simple, almost like floating, wrapped up in a whirlwind of touches and kisses, late nights spent laughing breathlessly into each other's skin. This feels broken, complicated, like every move carries the weight of their past. Like the floorboards beneath them could collapse at any moment. This doesn't feel good.

Or, the one where Harry loses the love of his life on New Years Eve and finds him again, six months later, ready to open some poorly-stitched wounds.

🥀 Sometimes You Just Know by @2tiedships2 {M, 33k}

“Dear diary. Today is going to be a good day, and here’s why...”

“What are you doing?” Louis mumbled as he bit into a piece of toast.

“It’s been almost two years and today Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson reunite. Louis is very excited about…”

Louis’ chair screeched along the kitchen floor as he flew up out of his seat, quickly grabbing the paper from Niall’s grasp. As he scanned the page he found it amounted to lines of nothing.

“What is this?” Louis asked again. “We’ve discussed how Harry Styles will never be spoken of in this flat. I don’t care how long it’s been.”

Niall snatched the paper from Louis and proceeded to draw a line across the page before writing.

“Today is the day that he-who-shall-not-be-named is coming to dinner.”

Or the one where Harry and Louis don’t believe in soulmates… until they do.

🥀 like a timebomb ticking by @infinitelymint {M, 31k}

Louis loses everything. Harry's still there.

🥀 Cowboy Like Me by Rearviewdreamer / @all-these-larrythings {M, 29k}

Going legit and starting over in a small town was supposed to solve all of Harry’s problems. That was until a string of robberies in wealthy towns brings him face-to-face with his rouge ex-partner and their dicey, unresolved past.

🥀 Get Out Of My Head (and I'll get out of yours) by Imogenlee / @imogenleewriter {E, 29k}

“You really that desperate, are you?” Despite it being a shitty thing to say, Harry didn’t mind too much, as the bitterness in Louis’ tone sounded like music to Harry’s ears. Harry was winning tonight. “Can’t find anyone new to be interested in you, so you try to hit on Zayn.”

“I can’t find someone interested in me?” Harry asked, raising an eyebrow. “You’re having a laugh, mate.”

“Yeah, well, where are they, then? Because from what I’ve heard, you’re here alone.”

“As if I’d bring anyone to somewhere I knew you’d be. I wouldn’t wish your presence on my worst enemy.”

“Aw,” Louis cooed in a way that made Harry want to slap him. “You’re saying I’m not your worst enemy?”

“For someone to be an enemy, you have to give a shit about them. So, no. You’re not even on the list.”

“Oh–kay. Well, it’s been lovely as always, gents,” Zayn said before knocking back the rest of his drink.

Or the one for the Bottom Harry Fic Fest where Harry bottoming is more of a side plot, because angst got in the way--but it doesn't really matter because the fest stopped existing when I was halfthrough.

🥀 some things fade (some never do) by we_are_the_same / @so-why-let-your-voice-be-tamed {T, 25k}

Matching tattoos. He’d never thought he’d be the type for tattoos to begin with, let alone matching or magical ones, but once Harry had put the idea in his mind it had never quite managed to disappear. And it had made sense. With their relationship a long distance one, this was simply another way of feeling close to one another. Of knowing where the other was, how they felt. It had made so much sense.

Back then.

Three years after their break up, Harry calls.

🥀 Might've Took The Long Way by LiveLaughLoveLarry / @loveislarryislove {M, 21k}

It's been two years since Harry and Louis broke up. They were that couple in high school -- you know the one; been together forever, hopelessly in love, all over each other, the whole nine yards. Even when Louis went off to university, they found a way to make the distance work.

Until they broke up.

Now Harry is back in town, and no matter how many times Louis tells himself they can't be together, they keep falling right back into each other.

“They got a name?” Bebe asks.

“What?”

“Your ghosts,” she says, her voice suddenly soft. “If you want to tell me, I mean. I know I said I wouldn’t ask, but. Sometimes it can help to exorcise them.” She pauses, and chuckles. “Other times, vodka works better than sage.”

Louis holds his breath for a moment, building the courage, before he finally murmurs, “Harry.”

“Sorry?”

“Harry,” Louis says again. The name feels like a time bomb in his mouth, but it hasn’t blown up yet. “His name was -- is -- Harry.”

🥀 lost in my head by YesIsAWorld / @louandhazaf {E, 12k}

Louis had been, until about a year prior, the love of Harry’s life.

🥀 Fuck You For Ruining New York City For Me by galactic_larry / @galacticlarry {T, 11k}

Harry met Louis in college and fell in love with him in record time. Louis broke up with him in their New York apartment, so Harry left the city for good. Except now he’s back, visiting with his new boyfriend.

What happens when they run into each other at a bar three years after breaking up?

🥀 give me things to stay awake by embodied {E, 10k}

It’s shitty and it’s counterproductive and it’s self-indulgent, but he lets it become a thing. On Saturday nights Harry goes out and gets so pissed he can’t stand, and when the bartender cuts him off he rings Louis and is in his car within an hour. It’s not a cycle he’s proud of, but it’s also something he can’t resist, and he keeps doing it as long as Louis keeps showing up.   AU. It's been a year since Louis broke up with Harry.

🥀 Now That It's Over by @lululawrence {NR, 8k}

“What are the odds we would both be at Mariano’s on a Thursday night?”

Louis’ shoulders tensed. What the hell was he doing here?

“Harry? Hi? The odds are pretty crazy, yeah.”

Harry smiled down at Louis the way he used to, but there was also a glint in his eye that Louis absolutely did not like. Harry was also dressed in his favorite black and white striped women’s jeans and a printed shirt only he would ever be able to pull off. It was quite rude of him to come and interrupt Louis, particularly while looking so good. Louis hadn’t seen him since he’d finished moving his shit out of what was once their shared flat, so this being the first time seeing him wasn’t exactly providence in Louis’ mind.

Or the one where Harry and Louis broke up two months ago, and Harry just might be sabotaging Louis' dates.

🥀 Unspoken by Speechless / @smokingluckiesalltheway {E, 5k}

Harry and Louis broke up when they were nineteen. They see each other after six years.

"I'm not going to be the guy you fuck on the side while you settle down with your blonde wife." Maybe it's the way he phrased it, something about what Louis has just said tears a small laugh out of him. "I don't want that." Harry says, serious again. There is no reason for him to keep on holding onto Louis' scarf like this, but he does. "The last time I saw you I thought we would fix it." Louis' the one laughing this time, his vision blurry. "The last time you saw me was right before you got on a train and fucked off." "And I thought we would fix it." Harry repeats, his voice shot. "I thought you'd come."

🥀 Not yet a breach, but an expansion by theweightofmywords / @lil0 {NR, 2k}

“I don’t understand why we keep running into each other,” he says as his hands grip his hair in frustration.

Shaking himself out of his reverie, he scoffs. “You know why, Harry."

Fate, it seems, still holds their lives in her ceaseless orbit.

[creativecupcake]

Oh Goddess Beyond Part 2

Warnings: None really other than bad google translate for Rook and a mention of Autism/ADHD.

Chapter 2: The Realm of Rest and First Sight

Part 1 , Part 3

It had been about a month since Yuu’s status as Champion had been discovered. Within the first week Azul, Riddle, Vil, and the staff had created an airtight contract for all the NRC staff and students to sign. With word that it had to do with the Goddess and her Champion, everyone was quick to sign. When Yuu was revealed to the masses and they mentioned working towards the Goddess’ return, the halls of Night Raven College echoed with cheers. Students worked together to get the school buildings prepared for her. Upon hearing their housewardens and others mentioning that the Goddess herself directed them to classes and practices, students began to pour their all into their studies, sports, and club activities. While students still butted heads over various topics, the situation had actually brought the college together. It had even become a bigger source of pride when someone had mentioned that THEY had been chosen over their rival school, Royal Sword Academy.

During the month the Housewardens had met with staff and other selected students to investigate the magic mirror in Ramshackle.They had managed to confirm the mirror was acting like a door and had a strong tie to the Goddess. Staff like Trein and Crowley had reached out to other institutions to ask for historical records or older tomes of spells. While Housewardens like Leona, Kalim, and Malleus had reached out to their family or national libraries. Students and staff had kept up with lectures and classes, but many subjects had been shifted to aid with all of the work for a portal. Most of the students were glad to follow their contract, but some had tried to let it slip to outside sources. And, oh, if you thought Azul’s contracts were strict before… not like anyone would argue with the punishment. This was for their Goddess, everything had to be perfect!

On Yuu’s end, he felt so conflicted. He’d come to feel a much greater connection Twisted Wonderland as the days passed, and while he didn’t have magic himself he did feel the pull of magic all around him. He’d slowly been regaining memories of Amira and what seemed to be his family, though they all seemed to be of his childhood. As he gained more of himself he’d actually begun working with Vil, Rook, and Jamil (with Kalim’s credit card) to find more of his personal style as well as remodeling Ramshackle based on what he’d remembered of Amira’s preferences. Yuu felt more and more like he fit within his own skin but the hole in his chest that ached for his best friend was growing. He would dream about her smiling, speaking comforting words, holding him as he cried. She was his home, she was what he had previously been so desperate to return to. Yuu once again found himself playing with the charm tied to his braid. Smiling, he remembered Amira giving it to him, telling him she made it with her own hands as she revealed she had a blue one. 

(A quick doodle to get my ideas for Yuuto down. I will be posting this and one without his jacket separately later.)

Yuu glanced around the main parlor of Ramshackle, all of his friends scattered around, doing one task or another.

“I did it…” Idia’s statement cut through the chatter of the room. “I did it!” His flaming hair seems to jump to life as he and Ortho raced up to Yuu’s room. Everyone quickly scrambled to follow, of course fighting over who would be first. Reaching his bedroom Yuu found the Ignihyde duo connecting a large monitor to the magic mirror.

“Shroud, explain,” Malleus cut in, glaring at the two. Everyone had been so nervous to even move the mirror, worried that any little thing could cut off the connection to the Goddess.

“Nii-chan and I found an ancient spell from the Isle of Woe archives! Back when the Goddess talked about communications and other technologies with the King of the Underworld she gave him a spell for a scrying mirror!” Ortho practically vibrated as he helped Idia hook up cords to the mirror. “Idia-nii found a way to connect a monitor to the mirror so we can see the Goddess!”

“W-well,” Idia giggled as he set the monitor up on a small table. “We haven’t found a way to physically bring her here yet, but we can see her and learn all we can to get NRC ready for the OP boss battle.” 

“Oi, Radish Sprout,” Leona eyed the oddly energetic duo. “You saying you can full on see into her Rest Realm all on your own, with just an old scrying spell?” 

“Well- I mean. Not JUST a scrying spell,” Idia seemed to shrink back, fiddling with a zipper on his jacket. “The spell, the mirror, a large source of magic, and Rook-shi’s signature spell.” 

“Oh! Mon Dieu, moi?” Rook dramatically gasped, eyes turning to him. 

“What’s so special about Umineko’s unique magic?” Floyd pouted, as he and some others glared at the smiling huntsman. 

“Oh! Rook’s spell helped us track the others to the Isle of Woe!” Epel chipped in, remembering just how scary Rook’s unique magic could be. 

“That’s right, we were able to track them even beyond the magic meant to hide the place,” Yuu muttered, glancing at the mirror with some hope. 

“Correct, you are Epel Felmier-san and Champion,” Ortho cheered, displaying a holographic screen. “Rook Hunt-senpai’s spell allows him to track others across great distances and behind barriers! Thus, getting him to focus on both the Champion and magic mirror will allow Nii-chan to direct a large amount of magic through the mirror and find the Goddess on the other side! Estimations give this plan a 97% chance of success!” That hit the room like a bomb. A true look at their Goddess. Ortho’s predictions were usually accurate and Idia was unparalleled in technomagic. 

“We have something that may help those odds!” Ruggie cheered, wide eyes looking at. Leona. 

“Oi, Ruggie-” 

“Think about it Leona! The old King of Beasts hunting spell!” Ruggie was starting to bounce in place, clearly getting excited. 

“Uh, that old clear sight spell,” Leona had a smirk slowly growing on his face. “All beastmen are supposed to be able to tap into our ancient ancestors and clear our sight for a hunt.”  

“Well, well, us Merfolk have something similar. A spell meant to guide us through the darkest depths of the seas.” Azul stepped in, Jade and Floyd at his side.  

“Updating calculations. Estimated at a 99.8% chance of success!” Ortho cheered.  

“We should gather the staff and make sure all preparations for the spells are as perfect as possible.” Riddle brought up. 

“Not to mention gathering all the merfolk and beastmen in the school,” Jack added, nervously rubbing his neck. “Not everyone will know the spells and needs to practice.” 

“We have books on such old spells,” Lilia brings up, motioning to the Diasomnia group. “There are old ways meant to focus the spells like spell circles.” 

“Yes,” Malleus smiled, his tail invisibly wagging. “I believe it would benefit us for Pomfiore to aid us in drawing the ancient spells, as they need to be done cleanly.” 

“Pomfiore has studied writing ancient spells before as they were quite elegant,” Vil nodded in agreement. 

“Oh! Oh!” Kalim burst in, before being pulled back by Jamil. “Scarabia has been studying the old star charts from the Sorcerer of the Sands! He found a constellation that helped him channel the Goddess!” 

“He’s right,” Jamil said, feeling like he’d grown a second head. “The constellation is meant to appear back in a week’s time.” 

“Then we have a week until we see her.” Yuu’s words left no room to argue, everyone getting ready to do their part. “We have a week to make all preparations perfect to find her.”

Arrow Afar!

A simple bedroom, on the smaller side. It felt cozy, comfortable, like home. A bed piled high with plush creatures and warm blankets, a small bookshelf littered with textbooks and papers, and hidden in the corner is a dress mannequin and a few bolts of fabric. It was so simple, but it felt more like home than anyplace they had ever been. Muffled voices could be heard a bit off, before a door opened and footsteps approached. 

“Oh there you are,”a honeyed voice said as the view changed. And there she was, beauty incarnate. The Goddess who was loved by so many. She was more than she’d ever imagined: warm round cheeks, moon-touched hair tied up in braided buns, and dark eyes that seemed to hide a rainbow of colors. She was gorgeous, but felt approachable; like she was pulling all those that saw her in. 

Sitting in the palm of her hand they saw her sit, close to their original position, a desk? What were they connected to? A mirror like on their end? No, she seemed to reach out to them and touch… something, and a transparent box opened in front of them. 

“Oh sweet Sevens, we’re in her phone!” Idia cheered, rambling in the background about what that could mean. 

“I suppose that makes sense,” Lilia began thinking aloud. “Scrying mirrors were an ancient phone in a way, and the Goddess did tell the King of the Underworld about her advanced technologies.” 

“Just look at how clean her skin and makeup are,” Vil choked, trying to keep his composure in front of the literal definition of perfection. 

“Oi! Her unique style is magnifique! It truly highlights her natural form!” Rook gushed while most of the freshmen looked away as her mesh top was a little on the revealing side. The room immediately cut to silence as the Goddess spoke again. 

“Now, let’s check on my boys today,” she said as the image of a mirror with a raven in the center appeared. The room stiffened, this was it! Her presence took over the whole school, even the dorm rooms felt her arrival. “Oh, Rook and Idia’s birthdays are this month, I should give them a little extra love.” Cut to the mentioned men freezing in place as they processed what was just said. “Let’s see, end of year exams should be coming up, so Ace and Deuce really need to get some extra lessons.” The duo couldn’t decide if they were happy to be her focus, or upset at being called out. “I should also send Kalim for some extra lessons so he can prepare and Jamil can rest for a moment.” Jamil knew in that moment he would pray to the Goddess ten times as much and make more offerings. “Spelldrive also has a match at the end of the year, so I’ll get Leona, Ruggie, and Epel to take some extra flight lessons.” 

Normally, when the boys felt compelled to take extra lessons they felt a warm air and a sense of encouragement, energy, drive, etc. But this time? This time it was so much more. It felt like warm arms were wrapping them in a hug as the Goddess’ own voice whispered encouragement in their ears. The boys that had been called out quickly went about to their destinations, happy to have the Goddess’ direct attention. The others would not admit it but they were seething with jealousy. 

“Finally I’ll give my SSR support Idia and SSR tank Ortho a little charge boost,” she said, tapping her screen a few times as the brothers felt a sudden swell of energy. 

“Energy output decreased by 78%, magic intake up 65%, booster speed and stabilization increased by 52%. Goddess given upgrades!” Ortho cheered as Idia hid behind his hood, a pink shade taking over his hair and face. 

“Now,” they turned back to the screen at the Goddess’ shift in tone. “Time for some work.” With that she set the phone down and they heard a sound like a bell. Luckily the phone was still facing her, now displaying that she sat in front of a dual screen monitor set up and keyboard. As it turned on she pulled out a set of plush headphones and an attached mic. 

“Hey everyone, hope you’ve all had a great day. We’re waiting for others to join in.” 

“Oh my gosh!” Idia screamed as he and Ortho almost leaped forward. “The Goddess is a streamer!” Idia didn’t need to seem more than the basics. He’d watched so many streamers so he was able to easily recognize a set up. 

“What does that mean for us?” Riddle asked, not really knowing much about social media culture. “Could this help us reach her?”

“Cay-cay can say for sure we can learn way more about her,” Cater called out, leaning against Riddle. 

“It’s true,” Vil cut in, as he examined the Goddess, her set up, and her environment. “Most streamers have quite the personal relationship with their followers. It would allow us to get a clearer view of her personality, her interests, her hobbies, and maybe even her desires for Twisted Wonderland.” That gave the remaining boys so many ideas. They paid close attention to her stream as she began, it turned out that she used a virtual model (a V-streamer as Idia pointed out). Her virtual identity looked similar to her, with a more ethereal outfit, a pair of glass wings, and a blue charm tied into her hair. 

She talked to her viewers as equals, discussing video games (cue Idia and Ortho cheering), her love of designing clothes and playing with makeup (Vil and Rook had a whispered discussion on this point), one fan even brought up how she was in school for business (happy octopus noises). Then a change in topic that they weren’t expecting. 

‘So have you gotten things ready for Rook’s birthday?’ 

“Oh yeah, I’m all ready! Have you seen this cute PJ set he has?” And with that a photo of Rook in his nightcap and vintage pajamas appeared on her screen. You could hear a pin drop in Ramshackle, before chaos erupted. The Goddess had pictures of them!? Who? What pictures? At what times? (Did they have makeup? -Vil) Even though she had called some of them out by name earlier, it seemed to finally be dawning on them what that meant. But that also led the chat down an interesting path. 

‘Rara-chan, who is your fave boy in Twisted Wonderland?’ This got everyone’s focus as they eyed one another.

“Oh, I don’t have a favorite guy.” Of course! Their Goddess was so fair and loved all her creations equal- “But I do have tops in certain categories.” Record scratch. Cue the competitive atmosphere. 

‘Oh? What categories do you have Rara?’

“So far my main categories are Most Beautiful (Vil starts sweating), Most Handsome, and Cutest. With a separate category for my goofy lil guys.” By this time the other boys had returned, with the staff in tow. “Most beautiful of course goes to Vil-” Vil was practically glowing with pride. “With Azul and Silver right behind.” Lilia cheered for his son as the tweels teased a very flustered octopus. 

“If we are talking most handsome is hands down Leona-” He tried to hide it but Leona was more than glad to hear he was number one to his dear Goddess. “With Jack and Jamil. All three of them are just such handsome men.” Jack’s tail was wagging a mile a minute while Jamil was trying not to pass out from the heat in his face. 

“Cutest is Epel,” Oh, the poor apple boy was so torn on how to feel. “I mean his fighting nature and accent make him even cuter.” Never mind, she likes his accent! “With Riddle and Kalim rounding out the top three.” Ah. Riddle’s face matched his hair and Kalim was happily chatting to Jamil about how both of them were in the Goddess’ favorites. 

“As for the last category, we have the goobers. The guys that I just love for their personality. That group is Rook, Floyd, and Lilia. The three of them just make me giggle.” Oh dear, Floyd should really not be picking fun at Jade, think we’re gonna have a brawl. All the mentioned guys were quite happy knowing that they held the Goddess’ favor, but those left out were shooting daggers. 

‘What about Malleus? Why isn’t he in your most handsome?’ 

“Huh? Oh, that’s more on me and my AuDHD.” Say what? Some like Riddle had knowledge about Autism and ADHD, but their Goddess had them? “When I categorize things I’m a bit more rigid than most. So boys like Malleus who is beautiful and handsome kinda can’t be top at either catergory.” Well that helped ease the tension Malleus had. “But now that I think about it Malleus would be at the top of another list.” Oh, so now we have a dragon acting like a puppy. “Malleus is really relatable to me, with his hyper fixation on Gargoyles and some of his trouble making friends, I can relate to it. Same reason I appreciate Jade’s love of mushrooms and understand Floyd’s quick mood changes. I mean I’ve got more than one hyperfixation and when the dopamine stops firing I can drop it so fast and move on.” They watched her lean back in her seat, looking a bit thoughtful. “It’s nice to be able to see someone who may relate to me.” 

‘What about your favorite teacher?’ 

“Uh. Well Crewel is really cool and it’s sweet to see him care for his ‘pups’. Not to mention I would adore getting to talk fashion and design with him and Vil!” Oh no. Stop! They are going to explode, stop praising them! “I also love Trein and how he takes charge of his students. Like when they had to deal with the…incident at Noble Bell, he took charge even though he was having issues. Plus I love getting to see such a loving father and husband. And he and Lucius look so refined.” Huh. Well Trein and Crewel are now trading words over who her favorite is. Please stop them before it gets worse. 

‘What about the staff over all?’ 

“Sam.” What? “I absolutely adore Sam and how he interacts with the other staff and students. Him and Azul sort of rivaling as business men-” Azul refused to look at Sam’s smug face. “Plus his sales events and seeing his crafty nature is adorable.” Trein and Crewel are now debating about teaming up to take on Sam. “I love all the staff at Night Raven though, they all really bring out the best in their students. Even if their students are a bunch of arrogant hard heads.” Oh, they loved that look, a proud smirk painting her lips, teasing twinkle in her eye. 

‘If you had to choose an absolute favorite boy tho?’ 

Groaning and rolling her eyes she glared at her monitor. “If you make me pick one boy, then the answer is obvious. Especially since he’s half of my favorite duo.” Favorite? Duo? Oh, the boys were spinning, thinking of all the duos that tended to pair up. There was Ace and Deuce, Kalim and Jamil, the tweels, Trey and Riddl- “Ortho!” Come again? “Ortho and Idia are peak cuteness and I love them being little menaces. I mean did you see Ortho’s shit talking when the guys were trying to get things done at the Isle of Woe?” Excuse me, what? “Ortho is such a cute lil bro and I love seeing him hype Idia up.” It seems that chat was just as confused as the rest of the guys as they looked at a self-satisfied Idia and a shining Ortho. 

“Ok, ok. One sec chat. I see you being mean to my boys but one sec. Lemme make a call and see what you think after.” None of them knew where she was going, but they would just get back at the Ignihyde duo later. 

“Hi hi Lana,” she started, greeting the second streamer (a chibi had appeared on her screen). 

“Hey Rara, what’s up? You normally don’t call during streams.” 

“Ok, so I’m doing a challenge with my chat. I’m going to describe two people to you. Could be anyone. And you tell me the first names that come to mind.” 

“Oooo. A challenge. I’m game girl!” 

“Ok. First one: Big brother, socially anxious, hates being out of his room. Will 100% stare at a screen 24/7 if allowed. Overprotective of his baby brother to a fault. Will talk shit the minute he feels in control or safe. Blue-” 

“Oh that’s Ghost!” 

“Ok. Next up: Little brother. Tiny, tiny baby. Cute but is willing to fight, especially if you mess with his big broth-” 

“Toast! I mean you made it so obvious making them a duo!” Lana laughed, cutting off the description. A tiny smile grew on her face. 

“For those of you in chat who don’t know Ghost and Toast are my babies.” Pictures of two blue grey cats popped up on her monitor. “Ghosty loves TV and video games, and Toasty loves to make bread and run around in his kitty wheelchair.”

(Reference for Ghost, Toast, and Toast’s wheelchair)

A cat’s trill came from somewhere in the room. Suddenly a pair of yellow eyes stared at the phone as Ghost jumped into his owner’s lap. 

“So I was right?” Lana joked. 

“Nope! I was actually describing Idia and Ortho from Twisted Wonderland.” A picture of the brothers popped up.

“Oh my gosh! It’s like a human Ghost and Toast! That’s so cool!” 

“Thanks Lana.” 

“No prob, Rara.” Lana hung up and chat returned to the screen. 

“I don’t really have a favorite person in all Twisted Wonderland, but I do have those I really like.” Ghost trilled again as he rubbed on the Goddess’ chin before staring at her phone again. 

‘That makes sense. But what about Yuu? They can be so bland, what do you think of them?’ 

Oh, that hit hard. Yuu had been almost like a passenger since they had been able to see Amira’s face. He’d been practically frozen in place, sometimes snickering as the others reacted, but focused solely on her. Grim had jumped into his arms, sensing his discomfort. 

“Yuu… Yuu is a difficult topic. It may just be me, and I may be projecting, but I see Yuu as the strongest and kindest person. Yuu isn’t a blank slate, and I see the world through their eyes, but I see them being the one helping all the others as best they can.” A yawn cut off her discussion and everyone realized that the sun seemed to have long set behind the woman. “I can get into my relationship with Yuu another day, but I have to call it a night. Remember to take care of yourself my little weasels.” With that she ended the stream, stepping away from the desk and leaving their sight.

Yuu wasn’t fully satisfied but to hear Amira talk so kindly about him eased the ache in his heart. Everyone began to mutter and discuss what they had learned before she returned to their view. By now she had changed into pajamas and was wrapping something around her hair. Grabbing her phone she crawled into the small bed they had seen. They could catch a glance of a tiny kitten on her bed before they were placed facing the ceiling. 

“Night Toasty.” 

And with that soft breaths took over the sound and all they saw was a dark room. 

“So what do we do now?” Leona lazily stretched out on the new Ramshackle couch as everyone gathered round. 

“Since we are in her phone I think I can get my technomagic to help us get into her computer and check that she’s doing alright in that world.” Idia and Ortho had been thinking of how to handle her technology since they had realized she used her phone to check on their world. 

“Well it’s obvious the one True Queen values our education and achievements since she is encouraging us to study,” cue glares at Ace and Deuce who refused to meet his eyes. “And we can’t keep an eye on her at all times, how should we handle this?” 

“I can get my friends on the other side and the ghosts to keep an eye on her at night. We all need to keep well rested if we plan to get her here in a timely manner.” 

“I think that’s best,” Trein agreed, clearly having been thinking over this issue. “All of us will need to work carefully and quickly to get the Goddess here in respectable time. The staff and I will create a rotating schedule between the dorms to keep watch.” 

“We also think it best that only Housewardens, their Vices, and other selected students should enter Ramshackle to keep watch on our Lady.” Crewel stood up to look the young men in the eye. “Others may fall weak to her beauty or give into temptation at being so close to perfection. We need all pups to be on their best to make sure nothing occurs before she arrives. All dorms will be kept in the loop and we will make preparations for her imminent arrival.” 

“We’ve already found a way to see into her world, now we just need to focus on getting there physically.” Yuu took over as they prepared to call it a night. “We can all see that she cares for us dearly and wants the best for us, so lets make sure she has the best upon arrival.”

And there’s my second Chapter! Hope y’all enjoyed. Kinda rushed getting a drawing of Yuuto to go with this but I had fun with his design, especially since I don’t really draw guys. Have fun reading and feel free to message me any questions about characters or the AU.

[aishangotome]

Nokto Klein: Chapter 5

Chapter 4

When Nokto and I headed towards the noisy part of the venue, we saw a large crowd of attendees gathered around something.

(What happened...?)

Feeling a bad premonition churning in my chest, I hurriedly pushed my way through the crowd and saw––

Mister Grato, Nokto's former tutor, collapsed on the floor.

Emma: M-Mister Grato!?

Nokto: Mister Grato, are you alright?

Nokto immediately rushed over and lifted Mister Grato up, but his eyes remained closed in pain, and it was clear at a glance that he was unconscious.

Emma: Could it be...?

Nokto: No, he's breathing. Get a doctor immediately.

At those words, an attendant dashed out of the room.

Silvio: I heard a commotion all the way from the separate room where I was in a business meetin', and to think this is what happened.

Emma: Prince Silvio...

Silvio, who seemed to grasp the situation at a glance, began to quickly give instructions to the remaining attendants.

Silvio: Move the attendees who weren't with Grato to another hall.

Silvio: Also, report this to the person in charge of the party. We dunno if this was an accident or intentional.

(This is no time to be stunned. Is there anything I can do to help––)

Noble 1: Mister Grato wasn't ill or anything...

Noble 2: So you're saying he was attacked by someone?

Noble 3: That's impossible. Grato was a good man, liked by all the teachers and students.

Noble 1: He had a good reputation in social circles too, didn't he?

Noble 3: Then what could be the cause...?

Noble 2: "The twins of Rhodolite bring both good fortune and misfortune," was it?

(...! Why is that being brought up here?)

Noble 3: Grato was acquainted with them, wasn't he...? Perhaps he was caught up in some ill will.

Noble 2: Or perhaps it's a disaster.

Noble 1: ...Maybe that rumor is true after all.

Noble 2: There are some countries that base their national policies on divination that transcends human knowledge. You can't say it's absolutely impossible.

(This is like saying that Mister Grato was attacked because of Nokto...!)

An unsettling atmosphere filled with anxiety and malice spread through the venue like waves.

(Mister Grato has always cared about Nokto since he was a child.)

*flashback to earlier*

Grato: I noticed King Nokto as soon as I entered the venue, but the way you interact with Lady Emma is so natural––

Grato: He didn't seem to be forcing a smile like he used to.

Nokto: If I had met with Mister Grato again without having met Emma,

Nokto: I'm sure I would have worried you again.

*flashback over*

Remembering the two of them talking intimately makes my heart ache even more at the unfounded suspicion cast upon Nokto.

(Besides, this isn't something you should be talking about when someone has collapsed...!)

Emma: Excuse me, but––

Emma: ––N-Nokto!?

As if to stop me from retorting, Nokto pulled me closer by the waist.

He shakes his head at me, surprised, and whispers in a low voice.

Nokto: You understand, don't you? Anything you say here will only make the situation worse.

(That's right... The one who gets emotional always loses.)

I somehow manage to suppress the anger that was controlling my heart, even to the point of forgetting that.

Emma: I'm sorry, thank you.

Nokto: Don't apologize. I know you're angry on my behalf.

Emma: Nokto...

Unlike me, Nokto was as carefree as ever, and he gently patted my back as if to comfort me.

Silvio, who had finished giving instructions to the attendants, turned his gaze to Nokto.

Silvio: You stay here in the venue. You're acquainted with Grato, so you must be concerned, right?

Nokto: Of course, that's what I intended to do from the beginning.

Emma: But there are a lot of eyes here, so wouldn't it be better to take Mister Grato to a separate room?

Nokto: No, I'd like to, but since we don't know why he collapsed yet, it's better not to move him unnecessarily.

(That's true... But I don't want to leave Nokto here in the venue, exposed to those malicious gazes...)

Just as Nokto gave me a worried look, he opened his mouth to address Silvio.

Nokto: I should be the only one to stay, right? Could you show Emma to a separate room?

Emma: W-Wait, Nokto. I––

Silvio: It's true that we can't have the future queen of another country standing 'round waiting. Alright.

Emma: No, it's alright––

Nokto: Emma.

The words I was about to continue were stopped by Nokto.

Nokto: Making a face that would further please the surrounding nobles, were you always such a bad girl?

Nokto: Look forward to tonight. I'll teach you that I'm the only one you're allowed to please.

Emma: Nokto...

Emma: Please... let me stay by your side. I'll be careful with my expressions.

When I expressed my feelings honestly, Nokto's crimson eyes widened––

And a soft smile immediately spread across his face, tinged with a hint of joy.

Nokto: You're so disobedient. It seems you've really become a bad girl.

Nokto: But thank you. With those feelings of yours, I'll be fine.

Nokto: Don't worry, I'll end this quickly.

(Nokto really doesn't seem to care about this situation where suspicion is cast upon him.)

(Rather, I can tell that he hates the idea of me being here more.)

Sensing a slight air of finality from Nokto, I awkwardly nodded at his crimson eyes that were staring straight at me.

(I'm worried, but I'll trust Nokto.)

Pushing down the lingering feeling of reluctance, I left the venue, guided by the attendant.

-

Nokto, who was watching Emma's back as she left the venue, was still being subjected to piercing gazes filled with various emotions such as doubt, wariness, and curiosity.

Silvio: No matter what you do in Benitoite, your impression only worsens, doesn't it?

When Silvio lifted the corners of his mouth in a lighthearted manner, Nokto shrugged.

Nokto: Well, yeah. I'm rather looking forward to seeing how much worse it can get.

Silvio: Ha, it's good that you can be so defiant.

Silvio: You immediately checkin' on Grato's condition would normally be considered the right decision, but...

Silvio: In Benitoite, where you're unpopular, there are those who will be even more suspicious if you're too quick and efficient.

Nokto: It would have been fine if it was just suspicion.

Nokto: I didn't think someone would try to frame me so publicly this early on.

Nokto: ...Really.

A quiet anger, unbecoming of his sigh-mixed words, dwelled in Nokto's eyes.

Silvio frowned suspiciously.

Silvio: What are ya thinking?

Nokto: Nothing. More importantly, what do you think about this?

Silvio: If I had the kind of mind that could dismiss events as "misfortune," every day would be blissful.

Nokto: Oh, so you're a realist. I've heard that you're friends with a foreign god, though...

Silvio: Ha, that's irrelevant. I just don't have time to listen to nonsense.

Silvio: However, I do think you've brought trouble with ya.

Nokto: Wouldn't this be within your expectations?

Silvio: You knew to some extent too, didn't ya? That something would happen.

Nokto: Well, I don't have a carefree mind like the people here.

Nokto lowered his eyes as he watched the doctor rush in and examine Grato.

Silvio: I heard from the noble who was with Grato earlier.

Silvio: He said they were havin' a pleasant chat while drinking until he collapsed.

Nokto: If that testimony is true, there should be a broken glass on the floor, but I don't see a single shard.

Silvio: There are no shards, let alone any suspicious traces.

Nokto: There was probably medicine or something in the glass.

Nokto: Mister Grato drank it and had the glass taken away before he collapsed...

Silvio: But why would they bother takin' the glass?

Nokto: Perhaps they were afraid of being traced through the source of the drug... Or maybe there was another reason.

Nokto: No, no matter how much I think about it, there's not much information right now, and there's no way to speculate.

Silvio: Yeah. Well, it's unlikely to end with just this, though.

Nokto furrowed his brow slightly, as if lost in thought.

Nokto: ––...

Silvio: Huh? Did you say something?

Nokto: No...

Nokto: It's nothing.

-

The founding anniversary party ended in chaos.

We finally returned to Benitoite Castle and were alone, just Nokto and I, but––

(I haven't been able to ask Nokto about what happened to the incident yet, have I?)

(Even in the carriage on the way back...)

*flashback*

Emma: Hey, Nokto, about Mister Grato...

Nokto: More importantly, you must be tired after all that, right? Get some rest until we reach the castle.

Nokto: Here, shall I let you use my lap as a pillow so you can sleep a little?

Silvio: If you really do that, I'll never let ya ride in this carriage again.

Nokto: You're surprisingly innocent if you think this is too much.

Silvio: Huh? Who are ya talkin' to?

-

Emma: Hey, about Mister Grato––

Nokto: That's right, Silvio. If you want a rematch in the card game, I'll be your opponent anytime.

Silvio: Don't cry if I win.

Nokto: I wonder who will be the one crying.

Silvio: Tch, whatever.

-

Emma: Nokto–– ...

Nokto: I'm about to change, so wait a moment. You should get ready for bed first too.

Nokto: Or do you want me to undress you? I'm fine with it. I like taking your clothes off.

Emma: I-I'll change myself!

Nokto: That's a shame.

*flashback over*

I tried to ask Nokto about the incident many times until now, but we couldn't talk properly.

(No, that's not right. That was...)

Every time, I felt like Nokto was interrupting me or diverting the conversation.

(But we're just going to sleep now, so I should be able to hear the whole story this time.)

Emma: Hey, Nokto–– !?

The moment I opened my lips, my arm was suddenly pulled, and the next thing I knew, I was pushed onto the bed.

My inverted vision was filled with Nokto's handsome face as he leaned in close.

Nokto: Emma...

.

.

.

Chapter 6

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[goblins-riddles-or-frocks]

How would you have written Zoya and Nikolai in the duology?

Assuming this is still meant to be a Nikolai duology, and we’re keeping preceding canon as is

So Nikolai in TGT is introduced as like what if the Darkling was a thousand years younger, born to privilege, and had a sense of humor. He’s introduced as a direct foil and a more accessible version of the Darkling’s values that Alina can engage with in order to understand and relate to him more. And then the trilogy ends with him getting the throne lol. You’d think any story focusing on him would center on whether or not he turns into a similarly ruthless tyrant

The other cornerstone of his characterization is the question of identity. There’s the obvious Sturmhond alter ego situation, and his performance, man of many masks motif. But there’s also a moral element to the dueling identities of a cutthroat pirate and criminal who is ultimately doing good for the country, vs the genteel prince, now king, who is at the heart of a cruel and dysfunctional monarchy. I don’t at all agree with the takes that like the series should’ve ended with monarchy being abolished or that revolution was the only acceptable conclusion. But since morality and the corruptive nature of power is like… the thematic core of the trilogy… I think we can address the fact that, until someone unlocks utopia, being sovereign ruler of any nation inherently means being personally responsible for a scale of death, suffering, and inequality that is virtually impossible to achieve as an individual. The trade off of respectability vs actually higher culpability in like a good percentage of what’s wrong in the world. He has way more blood on his hands as king than he ever did when feeding some guy’s fingers to his dog. Does that matter to him? It should lol, if it’s just a drop in the bucket then he’s certainly on the road to Darkling territory

But then he’s also getting the access to potentially fix some of the issues in the country. Does that make up for it? The Darkling seemed to think so. But how much is Nikolai willing to erode his personal moral character and sense of self for the sake of trying to fix things? Does he have an obligation to do so?

I think morality, responsibility, and identity can all be tied up into a single thematic question for him, and the duology should’ve imo hinged on that

Before KoS actually came out, I remember the main running theory was that the Darkling would probably come back somehow through him. Possessing him essentially. And I think that would’ve worked well, and made more sense than resurrection via bee saint in any case

Thematically, if Nikolai, as protagonist, is at the center of the quandary, then I’d personally position the Darkling as the literal voice in his head representing the side of sacrificing everything for the perception of an unattainable greater good, abandoning any hope of personal happiness, his own stated values, and then ultimately very literally destroying himself in the process

And then there is Alina as the retired Saint, whose response to the trolley problem was to simply walk away from the lever. Whatever happens, happens. She sacrificed everything for the perception of personal happiness, but had a large part of herself carved out of her in the process. Both represent a loss of identity

For what it’s worth, I don’t think Alina could be functionally very active in the plot for this theme to work. But she can be brought out every once in awhile and dangled in Nikolai’s face to represent an escape he cannot have but also a simultaneous worst case scenario

Like a fundamental part of Nikolai’s character is his ambition! Walking away means a very particular kind of failure for him— which is why the RoW ending didn’t work for me

Meanwhile, I’ve said it before, but the most interesting element about Zoya to me is that, explicitly, her break with the Darkling in TGT was entirely over him not warning her ahead of time to get her aunt out of Novokribirsk. It wasn’t ideological. I love the implication that she would’ve totally been down for a little mass murder otherwise

She also doesn’t seem to bother with any notions of greater good. Her priorities are more about personal benefit and protecting her own. She stands diametrically opposed to to the means-to-an-end morality question, but comes down on the side of “fuck morality.” I would say she is the most secure in her sense of self, and what she values, even if that may be a tad misguided at times. If you wanted to incorporate her KoS introduced backstory, her relationship with her family and like identity in the sense of a traumatic childhood she refuses to revisit could add an interesting layer to that. But also you asked me how I would write it and I personally thought she worked best as a silver spoon character/thought overall LB made some uh. racist choices there. So like if she’s supposed to have like a traumatic side of herself she refuses to revisit then honestly I would focus on her former devotion to the Darkling as a severe sore spot. Which would make him coming back in any capacity through Nikolai very fraught for her!

I generally like to interpret her as a bit of a fanatic going from cult leader to cult leader (the Darkling -> Alina -> Nikolai). Her loyalty to Alina seemed a bit grudging at first, and I think it would be more interesting if her situation with Nikolai was similar, but maybe even more wounded. Like she got burned not once but twice, the Darkling personally fucked her over. And then Alina (who she didn’t even like!) turned around and abandoned everyone, and her. So she could be this person who’s built for intense loyalty but is now afraid of it

She tells herself she’s in Nikolai’s corner now out of self interest. And she’s willing to do a lot of terrible things to further his position— because it furthers her own. As the newly minted commander of the Second Army, I think she should literally just get to be a Darkling 2.0. She can be Nikolai’s like scheming evil wizard doing fucked up things for the crown— and maybe even involved in a little side plot against him, if she’s still very invested in Grisha interests. Something that got lost in KoS from the trilogy was that sense of like Grisha mistrust and disregard for otkazat’sya. It was really exemplified by the Darkling barely viewing them as people because they just died so quickly lol but it was a general vibe about most of them. And I like the idea of Zoya sighing a bit about having to serve an otkazat’sya king when it seemed like finallllly they were heading for a time where Grisha would be calling the shots

And then she can get really scared when it becomes clear to her that, no, she has been tricked into actually caring about Nikolai

I’d generally also just get rid of like the Shadow Fold portal dimension Saints, dragon Zoya (ugh!!!!) or the tree hell stuff with the Darkling. I really like the concept of like the age of Saints and high magic being over, the Darkling tried to bring it back but it didn’t happen/literally killed him lol

Parem can stay as a threat, and maybe they are forced to experiment with it (can think about it at least, ties into the morality thing) or have to seriously think about introducing some merzost into the Second Army. Especially if the Darkling’s chilling in Nikolai’s head and casually knows how to do plenty of fucked up shit. In general though, I think the magic should be scaling down, and it would have to be a choice on the characters’ part to try to tap into something stronger, and for that to have real consequences

Re: personal happiness vs greater good, I think Nikolai should get an arranged marriage plotline that the story actually makes good on. I think that being threatened and then just not happening was rather cowardly. (An important storytelling tenet for me is that if you threaten something, it should happen in some fashion!)

He can marry a stranger for alliance or money and then feel completely trapped by it but try to make it work (or not try because he’s besotted with his evil wizard general and feel real guilty about that) I don’t mind fridging a wife tbh. Maybe even Zoya can somehow be responsible, either as part of whatever sketch scheme she has going on the side that tests her loyalties, or like out of Too Much loyalty if she thinks the wife is a threat for some reason

Generally I think he and Zoya would probs come to a head on best political strategies often enough. I think Nikolai is very focused on Not Becoming A Tyrant and Zoya meanwhile wants Results. And they should argue furiously over that a lot which is hot but also good for theme value

Also the Darkling acts as like their creepy disembodied advisor

I think at some point the Darkling should also try to scheme with her about betraying Nikolai. Maybe after she’s very pissed about some choice Nikolai made. (Should be either him being too self sacrificing OR not being able to stomach the appropriately hard choice from her perspective OR not adequately protecting Grisha interests). And maybe she says no but agrees eventually? Like they team up on something small instead which opens the door for a larger betrayal against Nikolai later. I think it would be fun if there’s some drama and scheming between the protagonists. If the plot is being structured as a duology then I think end of first book she betrays him spectacularly, and then end of the second one they choose each other in some fashion

Generally, I’d just like any sort of trajectory where Zoyalai try to decipher their loyalties to each other, how vulnerable they can afford to be, and like what kind of people they would like to be and what kind of sacrifices they are willing to make and towards what. And a general story focus of “the fairy tale chosen one fantasy story is over, it’s now time for the ugly business of ruling”

[redrandomposts]

hi it's me again from the luka vs ivan r7 ask, and claiming the 🌦️ emoji :>

for their song i wanna go w something like nightglow by tanya chua from the hi3 game. it's THE year ender event for the segyein and the entire city is packed into the arena.

i can see the producers dressing them up in complementary styles. luka wld have elements of ivan's signature style and vice versa.

imagine the entire time ivan and luka ARE in equal footing. luka has the fanbase power and experience ivan cant match, but ivan has a type of completely human showmanship that luka cant replicate. imagine them dancing during their round too and they keep on switching back and forth on who gets the lead !!

luka can see that ivan is singing the song for SOMEONE but he cant pinpoint who and it's throwing him off just a bit. it's one of those rare rounds where luka doesnt have any immediate upper hand on his opponent and the aliens are eating it up !! a dark knight to go up against their brilliant prince ? absolute genius.

but also consider : the producers dont want anyone else but luka to win. so they rig it :> the final score is a tie, but a gun is shot and ivan falls...

... just in time for the rebels to barge in :>

(so similar to canon!r7 ending except ivan wasnt reaching out for someone in the crowd and no one is cradling his head on their lap lmao)

why are alien stage fans allergic to happy endings? you guys arent vivinos, you can do what you can to give them happy endings...

i think unsha's coming in clutch and preventing this. that, or the show gets boycotted because they decide to off ivan. you know how rii7e's whole situation had the entire company boycotted by nations and people from other fandoms? that is happening.

the whole show would plummet in stocks, aliens pulling out their human pets from the program, protests and rallies ongoing.

im projecting my love for ivan, but also, i 100% believe this would happen.

its not like ivan can be brought back to life. till visits his grave, where fans constantly leave flowers; monuments are brought up to support ivan, flowers flooding each and every one. till remembers, quite clearly, how ivan died alone on the stage, reaching out for something. ivan looked lost, sorrowful, somehow relieved, and he hates it.

anyway, that's what's happening guys!!! ivan dies, aliens boycott alien stage and whatever else, and everyone is happy and alive.

[linkemon]

Home (Zuko x Reader)

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"ʜᴇ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ [ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ]. ʜᴇ ʀᴇᴀʟɪᴢᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴡʀᴏɴɢ ꜱᴏ ꜰᴀʀ. ᴛʜɪꜱ ʜᴏᴜꜱᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ɴᴏᴛ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛᴇᴅ ʙʏ ꜱʜᴀᴘᴇꜱ, ᴄᴏʟᴏᴜʀꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ꜱᴍᴇʟʟꜱ ʙᴜᴛ ʙʏ ʜᴇʀ. ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ʜᴇʀ, ɴᴏɴᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ɪᴍᴀɢᴇꜱ ꜰʟᴀꜱʜɪɴɢ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ʜɪꜱ ʜᴇᴀᴅ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴇxɪꜱᴛ."

— I'd like a refill of jasmine tea. — Iroh was happily lounging on the couch.

Zuko sighed. His uncle looked almost healthy. He could make the brew himself. However, he willingly took advantage of the privileges of a sick person. The boy was forced to jump around him and serve him. He adjusted the pillows, listened to the nagging and also prepared drinks. The latter took the most time. Iroh was an expert and as a result, he was not satisfied with the first drink he came across. Usually [Reader] saved the situation. As a healer, she knew these things. In addition, she quickly became the favourite of the Dragon of the West.

The prince headed towards the kitchen. He hoped he would find the tray soon. The little temple was truly beautiful but there was a happy mess everywhere. Some rooms were used for drying herbs, others were converted into granaries and others into sick rooms. During the war, this must have been of particular importance. Currently, the only people who visited here were those from the villages below the hill. And now he and his injured uncle too.

[Reader] found them unconscious in the nearby forest. A chance encounter with a unit of Earth Kingdom soldiers ended in disaster. The boy's cuts and bruises healed quickly but he had strained his fire magic. The first day he woke up, he felt a strange emptiness. He couldn't do anything. There was no question of searching for the Avatar in this state. Only three days ago he managed to create a flame large enough to burn the wood in the fireplace. The healer, like Iroh, claimed that the condition of his tired soul was responsible for his illness. So, to heal it, he did all sorts of things. Starting with weeding the garden, sorting medicines and ending with cleaning up after Aiiro. The big, blue peacock gave him the most problems. The extremely proud animal did not like to move. He had to push it as hard as he could to get it to move. Sometimes it even snapped its beak but it never hurt him. After feeding, he felt like hitting it with a broom but he always remembered that it was that thing that had brought him to the temple, so he refrained.

Zuko took the tea leaves, the kettle and the clay cups. He put it all on the tray and headed back towards the living room. However, a familiar voice caught his attention:

— I'll say it one last time. They are my guests. You have no right to demand that I hand them over! — [Reader] was standing at the entrance to the temple.

— Consider this, even if we leave them alone according to the law, they can still convict you of treason. I say this as a friend.

The prince looked at the man behind the door. Slightly worn, green clothes and a straw hat marked the farmer. He must have come from Hefei. There were no other settlements nearby large enough to farm.

— Is this a threat? — The girl clenched her fist. — My family has been serving people for generations. We don't ask who they are, we just treat them. My grandmother delivered your mother, my mother delivered you and I delivered your children...

— That's different! They murdered innocent people! Our entire nation suffers because of them! — Hate burned in the man's eyes.

Zuko knew that look well. Almost everyone looked at him that way. The Earth Nation, the Water Nation, the Fire Nation after they were banished, the Avatar, his sister and most of all, his father. Everyone wanted him gone. He missed his mother. He had the feeling that apart from his uncle, she was the only one who truly loved him. And now he met [Reader] and for the first time in a long time he felt that someone had truly dismissed his mistakes. She looked at him, believing that he had changed, even though she knew how much evil he had done in the past. It was like a warm ray of sunshine after a long winter. That's why he froze with his tray, listening for the answer. He was scared. However, it was not that if he was extradited, he should run away. He was afraid of rejection. A girl standing a few steps away gave him hope. He didn't want to lose her.

— Go away! — The healer pointed to the stairs.

— Pack your bags!

— Are they coming for us? What a pity. I didn't have time to finish my tea. - The general put down his cup sadly.

Zuko was used to his uncle's calmness but [Reader's] composure told him something was wrong.

— Why aren't you packing? — he asked, leading Aiiro out.

— Because I'm not going anywhere. — The girl calmly handed him the saddle.

The prince froze as he reached for the item.

— You're not serious, are you?

— My family has lived here for generations. It is my house. We even survived the Fire Nation War. I will stay here like everyone before me.

The healer passed the boy and began to saddle the peacock. The bird sensed anxiety. He began to pace impatiently in place.

— It's stupid!

— Do you think years of tradition are stupid?

— Yes! If there's a chance you'll die from it, then yes!

Zuko grabbed the strap of his bag. He squeezed it as tight as he could.

— You can heal people anywhere — he added. — I think your ancestors would have wanted you to do this, even if not in this temple.

— I won't be able to help. There are all the plants and books here and…— Her voice broke. — Here's everything I know, Zuko. I grew up here. How do I leave it? — Tears welled up in her eyes.

— I know what it's like to leave home — he took a deep breath — but it will get better with time.

The moment of exile flashed before his eyes. When his father declared him a traitor, he lost his home. Since then, he has been desperately trying to get it back. Every step in recent years was supposed to bring him closer to his goal. His search for the Avatar brought him to this place. So did he have the right to ask her to leave? If he could turn back time, would he oppose the general? Would he agree to Agni Kai with his father? He wasn't sure. Yet he tried to force someone to voluntarily abandon their home.

He looked over the white marble columns. Over a dozen or so days, he managed to like the atmosphere of this place. The scents of lemon trees and flowers surrounded him. There were many little creatures living in the garden. He saw frogs, butterflies and birds. Even snails, although they destroyed crops. [Reader] didn't have the heart to kill them. Fat koi fish swam lazily in the pond. He felt at peace as he crossed the bridge over them. He felt like the last time he felt this feeling was when he and his mother were feeding the ducks. He was a little boy then. The times when they formed a family together with Azula and their father seemed very distant.

And now he had the impression that he was on vacation on the Amber Island again and like a child he didn't have to worry about anything. The curtains on the temple terrace fluttered slightly. He sat in the shade on soft pillows. A healer was sitting opposite him in the sun. Iroh poured tea for everyone while explaining the rules of pai sho. He set up the board, chattering happily. Zuko paid no attention to the ongoing conversation. He smelled fresh laundry. It was hanging on a string a little further away. His nose also told him that another batch of herbs was drying nearby. He took a sip of the warm drink. It had a mild, chamomile aftertaste. He bit into the cereal cookie, enjoying the crunch of the dried fruit. He glanced at [Reader] and saw Ursa for a moment. However, the impression quickly dissipated. He laughed at his uncle's weak joke as he moved his pawn. He knew he was losing because he wasn't focusing on the rules. He should be annoyed. After all, he was wasting his time and Aang was still enjoying his freedom. Still, this moment seemed too beautiful to care. The undisturbed idyll was stuck in his head. For some reason, he remembered this ordinary afternoon the best. He felt that it would come back to him again.

It was difficult for him to leave this place. It was hard for him to admit it to himself. Waking up at dawn on a cold morning, breakfasts with freshly brewed tea, hand-dug vegetables for dinner, afternoon walks in the shade of trees, afternoon teas with games, dinners by the warm fireplace and nightly reading of books — all this would now become just a memory. He knew he would leave this place one day, so why did it hurt inside like he was thirteen again?

— Zuko, get in, we don't have time! — The general grabbed Aiiro's reins.

Is it really about the place? This question occupied his mind.

He looked at [Reader]. He realized that he had been wrong so far. This house was not created by shapes, colours and smells but by her. Without her, none of the images flashing through his head would exist.

The boy threw all his supplies out of the bag and handed it to the girl.

— What are you...

— Take all the seeds and books you can fit in here. We will hold them until your return! — The flame flared up above the prince's fingertips.

— Better late than never! — Iroh, pleased, pointed to his nephew's fire.

Was this the balance they talked about so much? Now had his soul finally found a good reason to release the embers?

He created a wall of fire. It burned as brightly as when he fought Azula. He felt strangely calm. There was no nervous, battle fever about it. It was replaced by composure mixed with the belief that what he was doing was right.

Zuko looked up. That night, the starry sky was decorated with hundreds of constellations. The moon lit the way and the dense summer beneath them. Aiiro flapped his powerful wings, creating strong gusts of air. Uncle's loud snoring could be heard from the saddle.

— Zuko. — The girl's quiet voice woke him from his thoughts.

— You're not sleeping yet? — he sighed.

— I could not fall asleep. — She moved closer.

Up there it was hard to hear what others were saying. The wind effectively drowned out the words.

— Me neither — he admitted.

He knew it would be a long time before he forgot about the hill temple. The envious inhabitants of Hefei used his fire in anger. They burned everything that could be destroyed. From the peacock's back he saw first a burning glow and then thick, gray smoke. Ash danced in the cool air along with shreds of pages from ancient books.

— Thank you. — [Reader] wrapped the blanket tighter around herself.

— What for? For burning down your house? — There was regret in his voice.

— You know very well that you didn't burn it.

The prince knew that what she was saying was true. And yet he didn't realize how much he needed to hear it from her.

— If I had stayed there, who knows…— She looked behind her. — Maybe I wouldn't be here anymore.

— I couldn't leave you there because…— The unspoken words hung between them.

He was afraid of another loss. That was the truth. He managed to trust someone and didn't want to face the pain again.

The healer spread her arms. He tentatively snuggled into her. She still smelled of flowers and herbs. Her hair tickled his face. For the first time in years, he allowed himself to cry. He didn't know why he was crying anymore. Was it from longing for a temple or a palace? Was it for family and a future that could never exist or for [Reader] who could be dead? Was he crying for himself or for others? It didn't matter. He sobbed like a little child, who deep inside he still was. In the cool air, hundreds of meters above the ground, the firebender found warmth.

[malum-forev]

Bingo - “you deserve better”

the reader has a boyfriend but he treats her poorly and Bucky notices, something like that i can’t wait to read it

Hiii I decided to incorporate this ask into my other work! Hope you like it!

One single droplet of sweat traveled from the back of your neck down your back. Had church always been this hot? Maybe it’s the incense? Yes- that’s the reason. Who are you trying to convince? Your brain shot back. The aisle was covered in a rainbow reflection coming from the stain glass windows.

Suddenly, there was a knot the size of an apple in your throat as you heard the organ start to play. The large wooden doors opened, the guests stood up and there he was. Hair slicked back into a bun, his black suit pressed to perfection and a nervous hue of pink adorning his cheeks. 

Bucky licked his lips and took the first step, his eyes were on you and only you. He saw your chest rise and fall quickly, not able to stop the smile forming on his face. The mask you put on for the world crumbled at the sight of him and he couldn’t be happier. Your icy and rough exterior was chipped away with each step he took closer to you. 

All too quickly, Bucky was at the end of the aisle. You were even more beautiful up close. He thought. Your hair was pinned up perfectly, your makeup enhanced your already stunning features and your dress, God how he wished he could sneak you into the back room and do impure things to that body of yours. It would be effective- he thought- commit a sin then come out and conveniently repent only a few steps away.

It was only when he heard Richard clear his throat that Bucky realized he’d been holding up the ceremony. To his right, Rebecca squeezed his arm and looked at him with wide eyes. Bucky quickly nodded and cleared his throat, finding it hard to rip his gaze away from you. Bucky let go of his sister’s hand and lifted the white lace veil covering her face. He kissed both of her cheeks and then turned to her future husband. 

Bucky brought his right hand up to the back of Richard’s neck, making sure his signet ring pressed against the bones. 

“Ricorda, il mio sangue viene prima. Benvenuto in famiglia.” Bucky repeated the same words he’d heard your father say a million times. 

Richard’s face drained of color as he nodded furiously. 

Bucky glanced one last time to you, taking in your light pink dress as you stood next to his sister at the altar. 

Children ran around your family villa’s garden, laughter and clinking glasses were everywhere. The sound of the nation’s top singer filled the large space. Lucky for Rebecca, he happened to be your father’s godson so when your father had “suggested” he come to her wedding, the singer dropped out of his tour and traveled to upstate New York. 

You twirled your champagne flute between your fingers, watching as the bubbles appeared at the top. 

“Did your father ever tell you not to play with your drink?” Bucky’s cheeky voice appeared next to you but you kept your eyes on your drink. “Are you going to finish that? Some of us actually want to forget their sister just got married.”

“Do you ever think of your wedding?” You met his blue eyes. 

“My wedding?” Bucky wasn’t one to laugh too often but this time he couldn’t help the bubbling sound coming deep from his chest. “I once remember you telling me I was too repulsive to look at. Creating feelings of nausea on women all around the world.”

“That was before I saw what you looked like in a suit.” Your smirk was challenging. 

Bucky threw his head back with a smile. “I wear a suit every day.”

“Not a wedding suit you don’t.” You picked a piece of lint from his shoulder but quickly backtracked, looking around to see if anyone had spotted you. 

Bucky saw in her eyes the look of something he’d seen many times but never from you. He’d even taken advantage of that kind of look many times before, especially in situations like the one you found yourselves in. 

Let me offer you a piece of advice James. Your father had told him once. Weddings make women desperate. The fact that someone their age has already completed what they have not makes them look around for a suitor. That’s where you come in my dear Jamie, you swoop in like a knight and in return. Well I think we both know what you’ll get in return.

 Although Bucky thought your father’s words seemed a bit old fashioned, they turned out to be true. But looking at you, the happily unwed, giving him the same look, it felt… Wrong. 

“What about you? Huh?” Bucky tried to lighten the conversation. “Will you wear a traditional white dress or surprise no one and walk down the aisle wearing black?”

You snorted. “By the looks of it, I’m going to end up marrying William. If I do, there will be no wedding if it’s not traditional.” 

Bucky grimaced at the sound of your boyfriend’s name. He looked around the garden for William but couldn’t find him. 

Bucky had told everyone he was a terrible fit for you ever since you accepted his first date. There was something about him that didn’t sit well with Bucky and sadly, it took only four months of you dating for him to find it out. 

Bucky grabbed your elbow and took you to a hidden part in the garden. You complained every single step of the way, trying to free yourself from his grip.

“Stop manhandling me, you animal!” You whispered. 

“I need to tell you something.” Bucky said, holding your face between his hands. Your expression changed from annoyed to hopeful in a matter of seconds. 

You gulped at the sound of his words, praying he would say the three words you’d been thinking about over and over again ever since he came into your room all those months ago. 

Bucky tucked a piece of fallen hair behind your ear. “It’s about William.”

Your shoulders slumped at the sound of your boyfriend’s name.

“William-“ Bucky was trying to find the correct words, as to not hurt your feelings, he settled on three words. But not the ones you wanted to hear. “You deserve better.”

You rolled your eyes and crossed your arms. “Is that what this is? A talk about how he’s not good for me coming from someone who thinks he’s my authority?”

 “Please listen to me for once.” Bucky said, trying to loosen the knot on his suddenly constricting tie. “I saw William with-“

You looked down at the floor. “I know.”

“No, you don’t understand. He went into the Continental Hotel wi-“

“I said I know!” You yelled. 

“You know?” Bucky’s eyebrows furrowed. “How can you be with him?”

You let out a dry laugh. “James, I’m past the age of pretending to be offended when someone isn’t faithful. You know what my mother’s friends call me? What they think of me? All because I haven’t wed. It’s a vicious society.”

“But your family, your father-“ Bucky argued.

“Whoever marries me knows they will never be head of our family. Because everyone knows who the next in line is.” You didn’t need to say his name for Bucky to know you were talking about him. He’d never considered it before. Your powerful family meant nothing if whoever was to marry you would never be next in line, all because Bucky stood in your wary. 

Bucky shook his head. “You can’t possibly consider marrying someone who isn’t faithful. You should be with someone who worships you, who makes sure to put your needs in front of his. Someone-“

“Someone like who?” You whispered, your eyes piercing his blue ones. 

The air surrounding the two of you became thick. Bucky knew it should be him, but he couldn’t. 

“You deserve better.” Bucky repeated, looking down at the floor. He vowed to protect you but it had to be from afar. Even though his body burned to be with you.

“You should leave now.” You said, holding your head high, trying to stop your tears. “I don’t want people seeing us together. Not when I wish William to ask for my hand.”

0-0

Pleaaaseee be sure to comment, like and reblog if you enjoyed it! Remember, one comment = one kiss on my forehead! <3

Hi hiiii This is part of my 1k Celebration, if you like this please be sure to look at the Bingo Card and ask for a prompt! Love y'all <33

And you can find the Bingo master list and what prompts are still available here!

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*I have tagged those who commented and reblogged my last Mafia!Bucky story, I hope that's okay! If not, please message me so I can take your @ off the tagged list :)

[roxannepolice]

I understand where the "RTD is pulling an obscure past villain in a supposedly new audience focused season" take-with-critical-flavour comes from but. Like, this may be one of the things that make his writing for me, but all of these past situations hardly ever required lore literacy?

Nastene consciousness is a very simple concept that neither benefits nor loses from having seen TotA. The Daleks' focus was entirely in reference to the Time War. Cybermen in s2 were specifically parallel universe Cybermen. The Sontarans were simply on their usual bullshit. Ice Warriors were only brought up as Mars's natives that would explain were the Flood came from (you remember that, right? that the Flood was Ice Warriors' weapon?). Dammit, Rassilon being Rassilon is only established in one line and apart from added epicness of literally fighting your technocratic god this doesn't give or take away much. The Toymaker got one flashback to remind that yes, he and the Doctor already know each other and there's a pinch added bitterness but no, this isn't a revenge story, this is "humanity is fascinating with their little nation dolls and war games" story.

And I left him for the last, because even THE MASTER wasn't there for "history between us" nostalgia fest sake. Yes, the childhood friendship had to be brought up because it's too important in this case, and the times the Doctor stopped the Master as well as the times they cooperated had to be brought up to show how they differ in their perceptions of their relationship, but that's pretty much it and you get all this from the story on its own. You can get an added rush from the little threegado nods but that's just the aesthetic.

Like, the universe is large, multiverse even more so, but sometimes you're just going to run into the same anthropomorphic or zoomorphic personification of pure concepts, and the only thing you can do is deal with it again, with the caveat the gods can't be tricked twice?

[scrambledpancakes03]

Before the presidential debate...

I've got some thoughts.

While I know that even the "best" presidential outcome feels like a loss at this point, you do have to vote.

I totally understand not wanting to vote for Joe. There are a lot of reasons for that, some more valid than others. That's not my point rn. There's many genocides happening: read how joe is handling it from verified sources and make your own choices, I trust you'll do what you think is right. I'll just be here full of endless dread no matter what...

But for fucks sake before we all lose hope please remember...

Vote down ballot.

Conservatives win repeatedly all over the country and have been able to make life substantially harder for every individual working person, especially those with marginalized statuses... and it's not primarily due to the shit they've pulled in the Oval Office... it's because they're getting elected to sheriff's offices and school boards and zoning commissions and STATE LEGISLATURES.

Don't let your disillusionment with the president keep you from showing up for candidates you won't hear about from national news... because they are the ones who can save us.

Without progressives, leftists, and even more moderate liberals in local offices, every aspect of life gets substantially harder. Local programs shut down, public services are cut from city budgets, and police keep getting more and more absurd militarized resources. And in that environment, how would we ever stand in solidarity with people suffering around the world? Or even people marginalized here in the US?

Here are some (but not all) elected offices that may be on your ballot in the fall that need your attention in no particular order:

1. Secretary of state: oversees the states record keeping... including voting. Don't let them be fascists.

2. School Board: they decide pretty much everything to do with public school's funding, curriculum, and sometimes even personnel matters or district geography. They decide what your kids learn, where, how, and with whom. Don't let them be bigots.

3. District Attorney/Prosecutor: they decide what crimes have charges brought against them, and in what manner. They're the difference between a teenage kid being tried as an adult or a child for a felony, as well as other matters like that. Don't let them be racist.

4. Sheriff: have insane amounts of power over how criminal investigations are conducted and how a community is policed. FOR FUCKS SAKE STOP ELECTING RACISTS. Also we should just... reconsider the concept and maybe try not having sheriff offices at all. But that's a whole different goal.

5. Planning and zoning commissions: if you are struggling to get housing or stay housed, they are the reason there is little to no affordable housing in your area, because they decide what gets built or maintained in your area. Businesses, parks, houses... yeah. Don't let them be corporate puppets.

6. Public works commission: they control the utilities, the water, the trash, and the recycling. This is one of the main places the environmental movement should be looking to make change. They write regulations that can be used and enforced to reign whole groups of people and corporations in to make real collective change in the way we generate power, consume resources, and manage waste. They are also how we prevent more crisis situations like the one in Flint, MI.

7. City, state, and federal legislators. They write the laws. They appropriate the spending of your tax money. Stop narrowing your focus to the federal executive branch when the left needs to gain momentum writing laws at every level. Don't discount local change, because it adds up.

I know we are all focused on the genocides going on around the world right now. The best way we can continue helping as November comes and goes, is to elect local leaders who will support global liberation by writing laws and regulations that protect our free speech, ensure the quality and equity of our education, and commit to divestment from violence all over the world.

Okay? We all got this?

Can we all just agree to do this part, and we can fight about biden separately, please?

TLDR: Fuck you, vote in all the local races.

[renatogpadilla]

Lux, On The Clock.

Ever seen a horse do a double-take?

Starfire certainly did.

It was good to know, Jinx thought, that even the horse realized how radical the change had been. Impressions were important!

That said, she was still unsure of her, regardless of how much more she fit the setting now.

"Alright, Star, darling, Jinx is coming with us today, so be a lady and behave, alright?" Lux was trying to be cute. Jinx didn't know if that worked with horses, but she appreciated the effort.

"I'm not gonna eat you, I promise." Jinx replied, putting a hand on the horse's side. She didn't kick her, so she must've been getting used to her. Or maybe Lux being cute did work. Or maybe this was just a badass warrior horse who simply got bad vibes from her calling herself a witch rather than being scared at all. But whatever the case, Lux got on the horse no problem and extended a hand to her.

"Alright, up you get!"

"Full disclosure: I've never ridden a horse before." Jinx wondered if it would be like a rollercoaster. "She's not gonna bump me off halfway through the ride or something, right?"

"Nah, she's harmless!" Lux mused. She thought she was, at least. Never really been put in a situation where her horse had to fight... She honestly hoped she never did. "Just hold on to me and you'll be fine."

"Well, you're the expert". Jinx handed Lux a small rucksack she'd brought with her and climbed on Starfire. She immediately felt weirded out by riding a living being. Gods know the last time she'd done it had been a little rushed, but this was waaaay different... Just the thought of being rummaged around like luggage made her slightly queasy. She put her hands around Lux and waited for the ride to start.

As soon as Starfire took off and Jinx pressed against her, Lux had a thought. She remembered those old story books she used to read as a kid, about knights and princesses and dragons... And here she was, with her own rogue-turned-witch-turned-princess on a white steed and everything!

This felt nice.

It might not just be Jinx that got to pretend for a day. Wouldn't that be something! Being able to just relax... Today was going to be great!

She probably didn't notice how fast she was going... Or that Jinx was holding on for dear life.

Probably.

******

Jinx had to admit, for a nation full of xenophobic prudes, Demacia itself was exceedingly pretty.

The shining city itself looked straight out of a fairytale book: Curved roofs, broad, stocky houses, white and blue everywhere and a few fountains here and there to liven the mood.

She could not have hoped for views like these growing up...

The place Lux had taken her to eat was the quaintest little hole-in-the-wall. A little bakery with a wooden interior, a few tables littered about and a cozy hearth that only made the smell of the baked goods behind the glass showcase inside the counter that much more powerful. This right here is the life!

They took a table in a corner and sat opposite each other. Lux went off to order and Jinx couldn't help but notice the lady behind the counter jump a little when she saw her. 'Right.' she thought. She was so worried with how people would see her that she forgot her friend was a big deal here. 'Big name.'

"Not on watch today, Ellie. Don't worry." Lux told the baker lady, and she looked over her shoulder at her friend with the cherry hair. Made a face like 'nice catch, kid!', (or at least that's what Lux thought it meant. She didn't let it get to her. It wasn't like that!) and got to serving.

Lux returned to Jinx and sat down with a big smile on her face.

"So, first time out in public in a while! How does it feel?"

"I thought it'd be louder, honestly... I'm glad for the peace and quiet, tho. The city's nice and the vibe is cozy, so I'm doing great!" Lux saw her physically relax, putting her arms on the table and plopping her head on top of them.

"Glad you like it! And hey, maybe if we ever end up at your old neighborhood, you can show me around!"

Lux meant that genuinely, but Jinx would NOT have this girl within visual range of Zaun if it was up to her...

"I appreciate that you'd want to, but reconsider."

"Oh, so your criminal underworld is too much for a trained soldier?"

"We clobbered an army of Noxians." She lowered her voice and the catscratch returned. "Sparkles or no, the Undercity would eat you alive, Flashlight."

"Don't threaten me with a good time, Firework!" Lux chuckled. Like threats were gonna work on her! That was half the adventure!

"Lady Luxanna!" Jinx answered with exaggerated outrage. "I did not take you for such a prude!"

She was laughing again...

"There's a lot you don't know about me, my witch. And I, for one, am glad to tell you if you ever ask! Not a lot of it is going to be prim and proper..."

"I would HOPE not!" Jinx had to ask now. "Okay, before everything turned rebellious, what was your biggest adventure?"

Lux actually had to think about it. When was the last adventure she'd had before embracing her powers...?

There had been one time, she thought. If she could even consider it...

"I wouldn't call it an adventure." she said, and she genuinely realized how boring her life had been before the glow. At least Garen got to go places in his campaigns with the Dauntless Vanguard! "More like... the promise of one. One I didn't take."

For once, it was Jinx's turn to perk up.

"It was a few years back. I had just started wearing these." She tugged at her gloves. "I was out in a small garden with a view of all High Silvermere, my home city, when I got this unexpected visitor."

She remembered the boy now. Scrappy, with a mat of brown hair and the look of someone who hadn't stayed in a single place for a long time. Bit of a twink, but hey, she was nobody to judge!

"He called himself 'Jarro Lightfeather', but we both knew that was a lie. I got him to tell me his name in about 2 minutes."

"Ooh, an alias and everything? I'm starting to sense a theme with you, Lux..."

"Hey, it's not my fault that mystery's just naturally drawn to me!"

Jinx wasn't so sure about that.

"So anyways, there I was, freaking out at this stranger on my balcony garden-"

"Humble, by the way."

"-and he starts telling me all about how he's this daring treasure hunter that's traveling the world in search of glory and adventure... We got to talking and he eventually told me a bit about his home. That's how I first heard of Piltover, actually!" She hadn't thought about Ez in years! She wondered now, if at no other moment, if the dashing and daring boy she'd met in the garden that day had found the glory he so eagerly sought... She'd have to seek him out and catch up after the rebellion was over.

"Eventually, he offered to take me with him." Lux realized, now that she'd said it out loud, that that's not the kind of opportunity that just drops on your head every day. She also noticed how taking him up on that deal would have undoubtedly ended with her dead in a ditch somewhere, but she still had appreciated the gesture. "Maybe he could see that I wasn't happy being stuck in the house all day, or maybe he just wanted to have someone to travel with and figured a princess from a mansion in the middle of Knight's Rock would be the perfect company... But either way, I turned him down. He was a bit hurt, but understood. I remember he jumped out of the balcony and just... vanished. His laughter was all that remained. Some days I thought I'd imagined the whole thing... But there was something about him that felt so... Fantastical. Like a fairytale character comes to life. I hope he's doing okay, wherever he is."

"The full 'Thief-Meets-Princess' Routine, huh?" Jinx mused. She wondered if that's what it had been like with Vi and Caitlyn for a moment, before being disgusted at the thought of taking interest in her sister's love life. "What is it with Pilties and unceremonious adventuring? Bet you must've been swooning!"

"Well, he was pretty, I'll give him that... But ultimately, I'm glad I said 'no'. After all, if I hadn't, we probably wouldn't have met!"

"Daaaaawwww!" Jinx meant it jokingly, but hearing that did warm her heart. "You big, bright softie, you."

They were in the middle of feeling warm and fuzzy when their order came up.

"Oh! Speaking of happy surprises!" Said Lux, promptly getting up and bringing over their food.

She put the tray on the table and Jinx could feel her stomach grumble.

"This one's for you! I honestly didn't know what to get for you, probably should have asked, sorry about that, but you did mention coffee, so here you go!" She passed her a steaming hot mug and a glass full of sugar cubes. Jinx could not have been more excited.

"Hello, my love! Oh, I've missed you so much..." She said, practically lunging at the mug. "Come to mama!"

"You two need a room?" Lux jested. My, that's an awful lot of sugar...

"Oh, we'll behave, beautiful, don't you worry..." She mused, taking her sweet time slurping up that hot cup of goodness she'd missed so terribly. Had she called Lux 'beautiful' or the coffee...? Eh, either way, she felt appreciated.

"Well, if you're sure..." She put her hand in a bag on the tray. "I also brought these, if you want."

She produced a muffin. A big muffin with cream on top. Jinx's eyes twinkled.

"Oh, Flashlight, I could kiss you!" She scarfed down the muffin.

"Do it, coward. You won't." She nibbled on her own muffin as she said it.

Jinx bit her muffin slower. "Heh, now who needs a room?"

They found themselves giggling. This was a moment Lux wouldn't have minded staying in for a while...

So when they heard the screams from outside the building, she was doubly pissed.

"What's going on?" Jinx finished her muffin and pulled up her dress. Oh, she's still wearing the other outfit under that! Okay! For a second Lux had been worried she would have had to explain how that had taken all her attention. She was just looking at the holster on her thigh, she swears! Wait a minute... Zapper was strapped to her thigh.

"You've had that on you all day?" Lux said, like it wasn't taking all her willpower to just stare at the gun. A gun! She'd taken a gun to lunch! "Do you take weapons everywhere you go?!"

"You don't?" She said, and she pulled the rest of her dress over her head and stuffed it in her rucksack.

On the Spirits, she was about to burn through those gloves.

"N-no! It was supposed to be a cozy dinner! I'm off duty, I wasn't gonna-"

Another scream. Banter would have to wait.

Lux got up first. She scarfed her muffin and was halfway across the room before Jinx could finish getting up. After shotgunning her coffee mug, of course. Wasn't wasting that!

When they hit the street, they saw smoke coming from a few blocks down. People running in their direction, screaming like a monster was chasing them.

A guard started running towards the commotion. Lux stopped him.

"Knight!" She said, and there was a steel in her voice Jinx hadn't heard before. "What's going on? Do we know what's attacking?"

"Ma'am, go inside-"

"I am Illuminator Luxanna Crownguard." She flashed the family crest. "My brother is Lord Commander Garen Crownguard of the Dauntless Vanguard. Sit-rep, now!"

"Of course, my lady! My apologies. Reports of flying lights around the south of town hit about 10 minutes ago. There was an investigation ongoing when... THAT started." He pointed at the fire that was now visible from the the rooftops.

"Mages...?"

"Seems to be sir! Sorry! Ma'am!"

"Then you have a new mission, soldier." There was authority in Lux's words. Jinx had seen her fight before, but this was the first time it had sunk in that she'd been trained as a soldier. "Go to the Vanguard and ask for Garen. Tell him his sister calls for him. Tell him she's buying him time. He'll bring his men and end the threat. Now go!"

"But my lady-"

"THAT'S AN ORDER. GO!"

Jinx didn't think anyone could bolt that fast in full plate, but the guard made it work. She was trying to process how she felt about seeing Lux like this when she turned to face her. She caught herself sweating. What the hell had been in that coffee?!

"Jinx, find Star and ride home. I'll help deal with that!"

This was not the same girl who was laughing with her a mere moment ago. This was Lux on the clock, and she was not to be argued with...

Good thing Jinx had spent a lifetime undermining authority!

"Haha, you're hilarious." She answered dryly. "You can't light up, remember? I'm helping too!"

"Yeah? And when they see lightning come out of Zapper? What then? They won't ask if it's magic or not!"

"You are not going alone! I won't shoot if you don't want me to, fine. But at least let me help out! I'm no civvie either and you know it!"

Lux didn't show it due to the nerves, but she was grateful she wasn't going into whatever that was alone. They'd fought a demon scarecrow together! They could handle a few mages, surely!

"Alright." She nodded her head and they both took off running. "You're fast as hell, so I distract the mages and you get anyone you find out of there. Once there's nobody else, come back for me. I am NOT going to deal with THAT on my own!"

"That an order, Illuminator?" She enjoyed ribbing her a bit too much...

"Not the time to get cute, Jinx! Move!"

'Yes, ma'am!' She thought to herself, and the two bolted into the flames.

********

The fire wasn't the main problem. Lux could see just fine, and Jinx seemed to not mind the smell of rising smoke. One perk of growing up in Zaun, Lux guessed.

The moment they heard the scream of somebody trapped under a house, Jinx was off like lightning. The people would be safe, at least, she thought.

Now came the hard part. Who was causing this?

She snuck (as much as she could sneak through burning debris) to the source of the flames. She'd been making the light bounce of her eyes a little less, changing the saturation of the smoke so she, and only she, could see through it better. She was really proud of how her powers had evolved! She wondered just how far she could push that if the need arose...

Focus, Lux. Lives are at stake!

She had gotten to the rubble near the center of the street when she heard the voices.

"You think this is big enough?" A husky voice reverberated.

"It'll get their attention, that's for sure. Sylas worries too much! He knows how easy it was to take the city the first time!"

Hearing that name almost made Lux choke. Two men, down in the street, mages, the both of them. One was lean and had fire for powers, the other was big and buff and seemed to have a metal chain on him as a weapon. Real original. Even his minions had to steal someone else's whole shtick to make anything work.

"Can you imagine his face when we finish what he started?" The lean one lit a fire under a door he'd seemingly missed. Immediately, a scream ripped through the street. And another. A woman who hadn't been able to get out... Maybe a daughter too. She didn't sound very old... Time to move.

She wished she'd taken a crossbow from the guards before coming here, but hey, hindsight was 20/20... And besides, she had something much more powerful than a crossbow, if it really got that bad.

"If we get that far. The boss will kill us himself if he finds out what we're doing and it doesn't pay off." The tall husky one with the chain replied.

So they're not working on his orders. Good. Sylas was a cunning bastard. He'd make much more of a ruckus than one burnt neighborhood... and if he wasn't here, then maybe she wasn't as defenseless as she thought!

Lux circled around them. Pick off the lean one first. Contain the fire.

Then they noticed it. The screaming woman was quiet. The daughter too. In fact the only sound other than them was that of the flames burning around them...

"That's odd." Said the lean one. "Usually they scream louder before they burn."

Then a knee hit him in the face, faster than the eye could track.

Jinx had taken absolutely everyone out as fast as she could. A couple of kids, a wife and her daughter, a man and his father stuck under some beams of what was left of a once beautiful family home... But everyone was out now, so all that remained was to go back for Lux. She tied her cherry red hair into a ponytail (not her thing, but not the time either!) and she charged at the first mage she saw.

She really did love hitting those knees! There was something SO satisfying about feeling the 'crunch!' of a bitch's face at mach-whatever!

The guy hit the floor like a sack of potatoes and didn't move again. Lux hoped Jinx hadn't killed him. If Garen could get him to talk, they might find out where Sylas was hiding...

She didn't have time to finish that thought before the other Mage took initiative. A swing of his massive chain would have taken her head off, but Jinx limbo'd under it with ease. She weaved another swing and got ready to rush the guy when Lux jumped him from behind and put her arm around his neck. Maybe with all the smoke he'd suffocate quicker!

No, that would have been too easy. He rammed his back into a building and Lux was forced off by the impact.

Jinx's turn. She rushed again, before he could swing, but she didn't expect him to just clock her in the face. Those junkie powers came in clutch. She managed to grab a hold of his arm while she reeled back and pulled him towards her. A dash upward and she felt her knee connect with his jaw. Something something 'if it ain't broke'...!

Lux caught what breath she could. Jinx was holding her own pretty well!

She got up and caught sight of the big guy getting absolutely assaulted from every possible angle by Jinx. A rib, cracked, a knee, buckled... If he hadn't been so bulky, he'd be unconscious. What he was at the moment, though, was lucky.

He managed to block a kick and Lux thought she saw something move along the edge of his chain... Like a shimmer of light. His own brand of magic.

When Jinx hit the chain, she yelled. A sharp pain shot through her leg as she was sent reeling back. Lux did NOT like that one bit. Jinx caught herself by rolling into a re-stance and started playing defensive, dashing away from everything chain swing, dodging by mere inches. Lux noticed that she could actually track her dashes now...

She looked around and grabbed a dislodged brick from one of the burning buildings and ran at the big bastard.

He swung wide at her and Lux had to slide under the chain in order to keep her head. She slammed the brick against the knee Jinx had buckled earlier and allowed herself to feel some satisfaction as the bastard howled in pain.

Jinx was never one to miss an opening, and she immediately reached into her rucksack, pushed the dress aside and threw one of her Chompers at the mage as she saw Lux roll away from another swing. The little grenade bit him in the arm and got another scream from their enemy.

But the bastard was more metal than Jinx would have liked to give him credit for... He saw the little grenade stuck to his arm and immediately ripped it off with his other hand, tearing off a chunk of flesh from it, and threw the Chomper away.

It blew up over a rooftop in a cloud of pink and blue, sending the tiles and the brick tumbling down onto the street, and some over them.

Lux appreciated the distraction. Hey! More bricks! Don't mind if I do! She grabbed another one and threw it at the mage, who blocked it with his chain, that shimmering light crackling back and making the brick explode on contact.

That chain was starting to get on her nerves... And she was getting on his. He swung at her hard. The first swing, she rolled no problem. The second was a fake-out: He swung just high enough that Lux could duck it, and then in the same move turned around and went to swing at the lunging Jinx.

Once again, the Chemhead reflexes saved her life. Dodging mid-air was always a bitch. She put her hand on the chain, felt a shock again, and pushed off of it before the rest of it could crack her across the face.

Her arm was numb, but at least it was still there. She tried a kick as she landed and got her leg caught, lifted and found herself being thrown at Lux like a flail.

Lux braced and caught her witch as the force of the impact dragged them both back against another wall. Too much force this time. Her head hit the brick and for once it was Lux who was blinded by the lights. When she realized what was happening: The chain was flying towards her already. No time to dodge! Get Jinx out of-!

But she was in danger too, and Jinx was done losing people.

A flash of purple. Lux knew it all too well by now, but she didn't realize what had happened until she heard the aftermath. Until she heard Jinx scream in pain at the top of her lungs, holding her... She'd flipped herself at the last second. She'd saved her life. She took the hit for her... If not for her enhanced endurance, she would have been torn in half, nevermind Lux!

She crumpled in her arms, moving, barely, shallow breaths and moans of agony reached Lux's ears and she had to hold back tears... Her friend... Her witch... Battered to shit to keep her safe!

"How is this bitch still alive?!" Said the mage, rearing back for another whipping. Lux didn't grace that with an answer.

Fuck subtle.

She grabbed at Jinx's thigh holster, pulled out Zapper and shot the mage immediately. His body started to convulse when the bolt hit him. His chain reacted too. It must have dispelled some of the lightning, because he was immobilized but his chain was also absorbing the shock... He wouldn't stay still for long. His eyes were shut from the pain.

Good.

Her left glove came off. She'd never shot anyone before. She'd never wanted to kill with her magic. She'd never wanted to kill at all! But right now, seeing Jinx struggling to get up, hurting the way she was? She didn't think about that... No, that was a lie. She did think about it.

She simply didn't care.

She didn't do full-blast out of respect for the local architecture. Yes, it was on fire, but there was still a house to build back up after the fire was gone behind this fucker.

She sent a single, targeted beam at his chest and the mage was sent flying so hard he got put through a wall. Good. Let him feel what it's like.

"Jinx?" She shook her friend as gently as she could. "Jinx you didn't have- why would you-?!"

"You... would have..." She wasn't wrong. Spirits, her voice was so small...

"Can you walk?"

"Yes..." She said, getting up slowly. Very slowly. The smoke was starting to become a problem.

"Gotta go. We can't be here when Garen gets here." Lux said, and she started carrying her friend by the shoulder, using herself as a support until they were out of the frying pan...

*****

They were out of the fire in a few moments, and to Jinx it felt like forever. Everything hurt. Whatever that big bastard's chain did was still keeping her weak. She actually tried to dash forward at one point, just to see if she could.

Nothing.

There had been a few times where she wished a healing factor had been included in the powers package... This sure was one of them.

They made it to a narrow alleyway a little farther from the site of the battle. They needed to stop to catch their breath. They leaned on a building and let the sounds of the footsteps of the Dauntless Vanguard's arrival soothe some of their worries for a moment.

"Are you okay?" Lux asked. She knew the answer, but she wanted to show concern. Like her face didn't do that enough...

"I'll live... Believe it or not, I've walked away from worse." Her voice was still ragged, but some of her spunk was back. That's good.

"That is not as reassuring as you think it is, Jinx."

"Yeah, sorry. Still reeling a bit..." She said, and her eyes softened. "Oh, Lux, for me? You shouldn't have."

She put a sooted finger to Lux's face and wiped away a tear the Illuminator didn't know she'd shed.

"Well, can't say you didn't earn it." She tried to play it off but she was too tired to pretend. "Let me see that."

She turned around and Lux felt the tears well up again.

"Is it as bad as it feels...?"

"Well, it's not exactly pretty..." Lux placed her hand on the wound and felt Jinx flinch. A gross, crude, almost cauterized wound, like she'd been struck by lightning, running the length of her back. "Bright side is it'll leave a great scar, at least."

"There we go... Positives." She was almost smiling. She felt Lux slowly press herself against her, hugging her from behind.

"I'm supposed to be the knight. I'm supposed to save you. Thank you." She could feel the tears on her back.

"Well, see the difference is I got it wrong. Saving the girl? That's the job of a knight in shining armor." Said Jinx, squeezing her friend's hand. "You're a shining knight in armor, so really I just put that expectation there for nothing. Honest mistake, my bad!"

Lux turned her around and wiped the tears of her own face... Oh, her hair is blue again. When had she dropped that?

"Here. This has a nasty sting." She gave her back Zapper and Jinx tucked it in it's holster.

"Not the only one, though, is it?" She'd noticed her glove was gone.

"Oh, yeah. Kinda had to impro-"

The sound of a chain hitting the corner of the alleyway cut her off. And what she did next was more out of panic than any plan.

He hadn't seen them yet, and Lux would make sure he didn't. She pushed Jinx against the wall, and when she winced in pain Lux put her bare hand over her mouth.

She had thought it was possible in theory, but this was pure instinct. She pressed herself close to her witch and asked... begged the light around her to listen. She could see in the dark by changing the way light bounced off her eyes. She could change the color of things, and the opacity of the smoke... But that had just been her changing the way people saw things, not the things themselves... This took so much out of her she nearly passed out from the strain, but she still begged... And the light answered.

And it avoided them completely.

Save for two tiny specs of light in their eyes, smaller than grains of sand so the two wouldn't go blind, Jinx and Lux were completely invisible.

Nobody but them could see them, and when the mage stumbled in the alleyway, hurt, bleeding and with a burn mark in his chest, looking like he was hunting something to take with him to the grave, the two stayed still as death.

It really was a narrow alleyway...

Lux felt her friend's hot breath on the palm of her hand. It was taking all she had to concentrate on the spell... She looked into Jinx's eyes and her witch looked back. Such gentle eyes they were right now. They were the ones who were invisible, but to Lux it was like nothing else existed in the world but them. She saw her gaze soften. She noticed the strain... This way of using her power was the polar opposite of everything she'd ever done. Ever been. And Jinx could see it. Just with her look she tried to tell her. 'It's okay. I get it. Don't hurt yourself. I'm proud of you.'

She hoped Lux got the message.

The mage came closer, lumbering in their direction. He got dangerously close...

Jinx took initiative here. Lux felt her hand around her waist as she got pulled closer to her friend. She took a sharp breath, and Jinx lifted two fingers and pressed them to her lips.

And it wasn't the time. It really wasn't! But Lux just... Was. Not thinking of how she was going to maintain her spell, not thinking of how she was going to explain this to her brother. Not thinking of who she was becoming as her powers grew, in this very second.

She just lived in the moment, pressed against Jinx's torso... Toned, hurt. Hurt for her. She could feel her breathing steady a bit... And then she felt... She must have imagined the kiss on the palm of her hand, but it was enough to keep her grounded in the now... Now, pressed against her abs... Her chest... Her eyes. Gods, her eyes. Violet and beautiful. And... and... so... Soft.

And ironically, she first saw her witch in a new light. And her eyes said 'I trust you.' And Lux could have lived in hiding if it meant living like this... Her arm moved before Lux knew where it was going, caressing the wound on her back, just softly enough not to hurt. That shirt was screwed... Guess she'd have to go without it for a while...

Oh. There's those unholy thoughts.

She wondered if Jinx noticed her kissing her fingers back...

And then, pain. Sharp and sudden. Too much. Held the spell too long. She barely suppressed a whimper, but from her face, Jinx could tell that Lux was at her limit. Her eyes said 'I'm sorry'. Jinx thought she didn't have to be. She nodded her head, and Lux saw her eyes start to glow. She wondered how that looked from the outside...

Jinx made her intentions clear. She turned to look at the mage with venom in her eyes.

Oh, look, more unholy thoughts! Lux knew she was at her limit. Usually she could keep a pretty tight lid on those!

She rearranged herself to face the mage and crouched. Everything hurt, but she only needed one blink to get him down while Lux got her strength back. Then they'd just jump him. Simple!

Her legs felt like they were on fire but it worked. Just one dash and she grabbed the bastard's head and smashed it into the alley wall. That rang his bell! How he wasn't dead was beyond her.

Lux fell to her knees and both her and Jinx blinked back into existence. The mage was alone, and he looked at them with rage in his bloodshot eyes. The Vanguard would be here soon. He knew he wasn't walking free at this point. He was gonna try to take them down with him...

Lux ran at him as Jinx tried to tackle one of his stocky legs. Gods, that knee was cooked! And just as she'd hoped, it buckled under the pressure. He took a knee and now it was Lux's turn to land her own knee to the face. In her head, Jinx was running out of 'attagirl's today.

Bastard still had some fight left in him though, little though it was, and he grabbed Lux by the hair and backhanded Jinx into the floor. He barely got up, carrying the Illuminator like a doll that was about to learn the meaning of "rough-housing" the hard way... She yelled in pain.

"He always said... You'd be trouble... Entirely too much." Whimpered the mage. Lifting a hand with a chain on it, crackling with magic, ready to turn this girl that had bested him to a bloody stain on the floor. "I can see why he likes you."

Lux heard the massive boots before she saw them. Only one person in the whole Vanguard wore plate boots that large!

"Hope you liked the view!" She snarled, and she raised her hand to his eyes and burned as bright as she possibly could.

It was a disgusting thing, seeing a pair of eyes melt due to heat exposure like that, let alone so quickly and so painfully, but the fucker had it coming. He howled in pain, blind and disfigured as he took a few steps back to the mouth of the alleyway.

Lux hit the ground and immediately went to check on Jinx. She was clinging to consciousness, barely. Super-endurance doesn't mean super-stamina, I guess... The two slowly got up, leaning on each other, and faced the blind mage, who held his own face in excruciating agony.

He tried one more swing. There really wasn't much room to miss, and these two couldn't dodge anymore. This was it. He raised his chain high...

And then Garden's giant broadsword, Judgement, was protruding from his chest.

"You've done enough." Said the Lord Commander, and with a spin he split the blind bastard clean in half.

(Well, 'clean' metaphorically. The whole alley was red now, but you get the point!)

As both halves of the mage dropped on the floor, Garen immediately focused on his sister.

"Glove!" He whispered, looking back at, presumably his men, coming to join them.

She'd almost forgotten about that. She put it on immediately and as soon as it was on her hand Jinx's knees gave out.

"Goddesses, sister. Are you alright?!" The military mask was gone. He was fully her big brother right now, as he came to help her friend stand up.

"I'm not going to lie, brother. I've had worse. But not often..." She was panting those words. The exhaustion was kicking in.

Garen held her face in his huge hand. He'd almost lost his sister! He'd almost... Almost...

But he hadn't. Because she hadn't been alone.

He looked at the strange, raggedy woman next to his sister. She had a nasty wound on her back that Lux wouldn't stop holding a hand against. Had she done that for her? "Blue hair... You must be Isha." He gave his sister a look and she instantly faced away.

"And you must be the Lord Commander... Nice entrance! She wasn't kidding..." Jinx breathed out. "Those shoulderpads ARE huge..."

"You saved my sister's life. Just Garen is fine." And Lux saw her brother really meant that. Bless his heart, he was actually getting emotional.

"Garen then... That's nice..." She looked at Lux. Bright, radiant Lux, battered as she was, and alive, holding her upright. There was a light in her eyes that hadn't been there before... Jinx found it weird. A good weird. Something else to figure out together. "You were amazing."

And with that, her strength was gone, and her world went black...

[aphroditestempleimagines]

The Obsidianite Jewel

A fem!reader x Chevalier Michel Fanfiction

18 + !!! NSFW

Chapter 13 -> Chapters Masterlist

Words: a fuck ton

Warnings: nsfw, fingering, vaginal sex, handjob, overstim, kissing, nipple play

Summary: It all started when your fiancé, Prince Gilbert, brought you to the palace of Rhodolite. He hoped he would find the secrets of the princes. Instead, he lost your heart to the brutal beast. However, Gilbert is not going to let your heart wander away easily

A month had passed as you stayed in the fortress. Gilbert was still chained underground. You visited his dungeon every day at first, mixing his medicine with his food in secret. Despite his imprisonment, his sickness started to withdraw, although the bags under his eyes grew in volume. At some point, he asked you to stop visiting. He had his back turned on you from you when he begged you to leave him alone. You did not ask why. You did not have to. You both knew how each of you hurt the other.

After a month the negotiations for peace were seemingly going well. Jade retreated and Benitoite joined Rhodolite's side is shutting down the last of Obsidian's generals. Even so, the ebony empire was vast and far too unpredictable. Too many times in the past it had feigned defeat, only to come back stronger. You had seen nation after nation bend to their knees as they were engulfed by the empire's shadow. More importantly, your kingdom's safety depended on your marriage to the man currently in the dungeons, and your loyalty to the Obsidianite crown. If word got out that you were roaming freely in the Rhodolitian camp the rumours would not be far from the truth to start spreading about an alliance between you.

"Chevalier?", Nokto repeated your words, "I think he's already in his room"

"Oh I see", you said sorrowfully, "thank you"

You return to your room to meet your sorry bag. You had laid each one of the dresses given to you on the bed. A knight brought them to you the next day after you arrived at the fortress. They were simple but not plain, their cut clean to suit your figure but lacking any eye-drawing embellishments usually worn by royalty. You sat on the bed and run your hand over the blue fabric of the one closest to you. Blue, white and gold, those were the only colours the dresses had. It was such a subtle detail that could easily go over one's head and so it would not draw any attention. That genius idiot...

You smiled, your fingers crinkling the fabric of the beautiful dress. The one you wore paled in your eyes in comparison even though, although tattered from the fall in the river, it was adorned with jewels from all the kingdoms conquered by Obsidian. You let out a sigh. You had long decided to leave, yet kept postponing it in an effort to see Chevalier again. You had caught glimpses of him as he raced through the corridors, venturing out for scouting and coming back bloodied from top to bottom. But there was no delaying it any longer. You had to go back. Every day you weren't either publicly announced as a hostage or returned to Obsidian or your homeland as a runaway cast suspicion over your relation to the kingdom of roses. You had to leave. But you also had to see him again. At least one more time. It could have been the last.

You don't remember how you ended up in front of his bedroom's door but soon you were knocking three times on the wooden surface. There was no sound at first but as you were turning to leave you heard Chevalier's voice from inside saying "Just come in". You stood silent for a moment, contemplating what to do. Going inside would be out of the question in a normal situation; you could not risk raising questions about what was happening behind the closed door. But now? This was your last chance to see him. You looked around. There was no one. You hesitantly put your hand on the handle and opened the door.

Chevalier was sitting on his desk's chair, leaning back as he read his novel. He held the book in one hand and supported his head with the other, elbow on the desk. His sword was leaning sheathed next to him. A smell of soap and roses surrounded him, the stench of iron and blood nowhere to be found anymore.

The door quietly clicked behind you. He raised his head. He immediately put the book down the moment he met your eyes. "Princess y/n", he said formally.

"I...ah...I had to see you", you said. You tucked your hair behind your ear. You could not look him in the eyes, despite your brazen claim. You lowered your gaze. "I'm leaving", you stated, "I'm departing for Istidor come dawn"

"Why?", he stood. It was not long before his face twisted as he answered his own question.

"Yes", you replied to his thought, "I can't draw more attention. The emperor will punish my kingdom for it"

The silence was deafening. You knew in your heart you had to say it. You hated to admit how right Gilbert was but you knew you would be filled with regret if you left with it weighing on your heart. You did not expect anything to change. It was probable that you would never see Chevalier again. But still...

"I....", you stammered. You looked away again. "I love you", you finally spat, "I'm sorry, but...I love you. I know you don't feel the same way about me. But I can't help how I feel about you. And I....", at this point tears had begun streaming down your eyes, "Maybe you'll think less of me now that you know this, but..."

His shadow suddenly enveloped you. You had not taken notice of when he had moved to stand in front of you. He was so close. You looked up at his crystal blue eyes as they gazed upon your face. His hand cupped your cheek, thumb gently brushing over your skin again and again. He leaned in. His lips hesitated just an inch before they touched yours. You could feel his breath cascading upon your face. Your eyes had already fluttered closed, your heart too weak to pull you away.

And then he kissed you.

He smelled like roses and parchment and tasted like sweet tea. His hand moved from your cheek to the back of your head, fingers entwining between your locks. His other hand gently pulled you closer by the waist, barely touching your body. You cupped his cheek as you switched sides on your kiss. Your fingers caressed his cold skin.

His lips remained close as the kiss ended. "Why do this?", you asked against them, "I did not know you could be so cruel"

"Perhaps I could be", his husky voice was louder than ever. He touched his forehead to yours. "But not this time", he said.

You pulled away. You had to retain your logic. You could not be pulled into a place you could not return from. Chevalier's expression was as frozen as ever now that you were looking at him once again. He could not have meant it, could he? Chevalier was the most incredible person you knew. You knew he had a beautiful heart which he suppressed each day under the weight of his duty. He always acted with purpose; the only purpose he could have to say such a thing would be to weaken Istidor with a war with Obsidian, something that would probably not interest him in the slightest. But the alternative, of him having meant it, was even more improbable.

"What are you s..."

"What do you want?", he cut you off. His hand returned to your cheek as he held you, eyes locking.

"It does not matter what I want"

"If you want a new life you can return to Istidor", he said, "Perhaps you should want that. You would be the happiest"

You laughed. "I wouldn't, but I have no choice"

"Yes, you do", his voice was cold but now both of his hands held your face, "You do"

"Chevalier, you know I don't", you sighed, "The emperor..."

"Is in the dungeon of this fortress", Chevalier completed nonchalantly. You furrowed your brows. It did not take long for you to realise he meant Gilbert. Chevalier scoffed. "He did not tell you", he muttered, "Of course he didn't. He preferred to create a persona to keep you with him, the messiah."

"Gilbert is not-"

Chevalier let go of you. "I should not have told you", he said, "I have every reason to lie and therefore am not a reliable bearer of this news. But you can verify them once you reach your homeland". He passed you by and reached for the door. "Your future is finally yours", he said behind you. You heard the door open. "You should find someone who makes you truly happy before they try to marry you off again"

Maybe it was the fact that you could not see him anymore and relied solely on your ears, but you detected the slightest hinge in his voice when he said those words. An almost undetectable hesitation that was uncharacteristic of his nature. You turned towards him and pulled him so he would face you. It was the first time you saw him truly surprised; but there was something else, deeper, peaking under his expression now that you had caught him off guard. It was sorrow.

Your eyes widened. This time you pulled him in for a kiss. He reciprocated. It was much more intense than the first. His hands scrambled around your waist, needy enough to pull you close but too scared to do so with all their might. His kisses left your lips and moved towards your neck. You let out a sigh. Your back hit the door and the two of you were knocked back into reality. He looked away.

"You should go", he said coldly and walked back to his desk.

"You said the choice was mine"

"So you shouldn't waste it"

"I'm only going to ask you this once", you said, your anger evident in your tone, "How do you feel about me?"

"That much is clear"

"Do you love me?"

"Are you saying you can't tell as much?"

"Chevalier, do you love me? Yes or no?"

He rushed back to your side. His lips collided with yours in another fervent kiss. His hand pulled at your waist. Your arms wrapped around his neck. He continued kissing you again and again until he was out of breath. He touched his forehead to yours, his thumb pulling at your lower lip as he warmed it with his heaving breath. "You simpleton", he said, "You should know the answer to that already". His face was still lacking expression, yet his ice-blue eyes had caught fire, and so had his voice.

You stayed quiet for a moment, still processing what had transpired. "Then shut up and stop pushing me away", you said annoyed as tears spilt from your eyes. Chevalier raised his eyebrows in surprise. You could tell he had not planned for such a reaction.

You pulled him in once again. He pushed your bodies together against the door as he kissed you. You blindly searched the space behind you until your hand found the key and locked the door. Your other hand was still holding his white linen shirt, pulling him towards you so he would not escape even though he seemed to have no intention to. His lips were devouring every inch of skin they could find. You felt him slow down as he reached your cleavage. His hands were hesitantly hovering above the buttons of your dress. You reached behind your back and pushed his hands towards them. He played around with the first one until he was able to unhook it, then easily undid the rest. He untied the ribbons of your skirt and petticoat. You shook your dress until it pooled around your feet.

Your hands worked on his own shirt until you were able to pull it off of his shoulders. You traced his toned torso, the bandages of his wound still wrapped around it. You dropped your gaze and your head as your fingers traced the white gauze. His crooked finger hooked underneath your chin and raised your head once more. He kissed your lips, hands tracing your figure until they reached your waist. You gasped when he lifted you up, letting your legs wrap around his hips.

"Chevalier your wou-"

"I can do so much", he waved your concern away. He carried you to the bed. He let out a grunt of pain as he tried to place you softly upon the mattress, the weight pulling at the muscles he shouldn't move.

"Don't", you told him. You sat on your knees and cupped his cheeks before you kissed him. His breath relaxed, the warm air breaking on your skin. You broke the kiss and looked at the bandage. He placed his hand above yours as it passed over the wound. He moved them together towards his heart. You met his gaze. It was intense; determined. Without any words, he told you that the worst pain he had had to experience was in his heart when he was apart from you.

He slowly climbed on top of you, kissing and biting at your neck and collarbone. His fingers hooked under the fabric of your chemise and lifted it until he exposed your honey pot. He traced the lips with his digits as they grew wetter. You took a sharp inhale as his thumb pressed your bud. He raised his head. His eyes examined your face as his thumb drew circles over and over again. He leaned for a kiss when he plunged a finger inside your walls. He was slow, careful as he drank every sigh and moan he pulled out of you. You opened your legs further for him. He thrust another one of his thick fingers inside you. You broke from his kiss to let out a cry of pleasure. He stopped for a moment as he examined your face, quickly returning to his good work. He scraped your walls with the pad of his fingers and your neck with the edges of his teeth. You combed his golden hair, pulling on the strands as he picked up the speed of his thrusts.

You called his name in his ear. He leaned to your neck and planted a loving kiss. Your bodies danced together, the tears they had shed while apart were turning into a fiery passion. You did not know if you wanted to cry out of joy or out of the sheer pleasure his fingers were granting you. He pulled your corset right under your breasts to expose them and took one in his mouth. Your fingers curled. You could feel his smile as his tongue circled one of your nipples. You could feel a coil building up in your body, curling up like a spring underneath your belly. His hands were both at work between your legs, one thrusting and one circling your rosey bud. He suddenly switched breasts and the coil burst. You panted and trembled as you covered his fingers with your essence. He slowly pulled his hand away. His fingers lightly pressed on your oversensitive entrance. You shuddered at the feeling, hips both running away and moving towards him.

He brought his head to his bandaged stomach. "Dammit", he muttered. Before you could pose further questions, he sat next to you, back on the headboard, and pulled you between his legs. This position reminded you of something yet you could not name this thing even as you searched into the depths of your memory.

"Chevalier", you said before he covered your eyes with his palm. The darkness made the kisses on your neck even more intense. It made the way he cupped your breasts feel more direct. His breath was on your nape. And that was when it clicked: There were not a lot of romance stories that you read, but there was this one you knew all your female friends had read. You had jokingly mentioned it once in front of him, never expecting him to actually read it. Goodness, you hoped he would not after you contemplated further on the vulgarities contained in this particular book. But he did. And he knew. And though you had mentioned it mockingly, you did not believe there were many women who would not be turned on by the things in that book.

He nipped on your ear. "I wanted to tell you", you felt rather than heard his words, "You enjoy some pretty interesting books". His fingers held your entrance open. "But I would like to hear what you want coming from your lips", he lifted you and led you onto his length, "Personally, I would prefer to look at you while you're making that face"

You felt the kiss he planted on your shoulder as his length stretched you. He continued to kiss you repeatedly as you got used to him inside you. He helped you as you moved up and down. You called his name. You heard his grunts loud and clear with your heightened ears even though he tried to bury them in your neck. He started moving more ferociously, more passionately. Your back arched against him as you tried to keep your breath steady, with no success. Your head leaned back to lie on his shoulder. At some point, his hand slipped away and you were met face to face with the expression he hid from your behind your previously obstructed gaze. His heaving chest, his rose-coloured cheeks, his feverish forehead, his hungry gaze....his everlasting and ever-burning love. It was too late for him to hide again; he probably realised it. He caught your lips in his. One hand dived underneath your arm and cupped your cheek, keeping your lips locked with his as he thrust inside you. The other pinched and circled your bud. You moaned. His tongue was entwined with yours. Your legs wiggled at the weakness of your breath. You reached behind you and hooked your arm on his nape. You aided his fingers as they urged your release. Your cries of intense pleasure were nectar drunk by his thirsty lips.

He kissed your nose. He was panting. He was not hiding anymore. His hands held you close, begging you to stay, even if his lips would never ever express such a wish. He was not a man who would succumb to his desires, but that did not mean they were not there.

"Lay down", you said as you raised your hips. You cupped his cheeks as he fell onto the pillows on the side. Your lips kissed every inch of his handsome face. His hands held your waist, thumbs tracing the dimples of your hips. You kissed every patch of skin you could find between the bandages on his torso. He pulled you back up mid-climbing down. He combed your hair with his fingers. You wrapped yours around his length. Your thumb traced the head and he bit your lip. You moved your head up and down. He was still determined on kissing you, yet you could taste the sweet moans he himself now left, and the sway of his hips towards your hand. His hand wrapped around yours. At first, you thought he was going to stop you, but he merely urged you to continue faster.

He came, panting against your face, his warm essence shooting from his length. He cupped your cheek before moving his hand to your nape and pulling you into his embrace. His hands wrapped around you. He softly kissed your back. You pulled him close, your own arms diving underneath his. He held you as if you were the most precious treasure in the world. His thumb rubbed on your skin and you knew he was tracing the marks that he himself had left.

"I'm coming with you", you said against his chest, "To Rhodolite"

Chevalier tightened his embrace. "Good", he said.

[ceiling-karasu]

Have you ever thought about what an equivalent to the former states of East and West Germany would be like in the Squirrel and Hedgehog universe? (Apologies if you've already made a post about this)

I haven’t actually! Also thank you for bringing this up, because that is possibly something important that I would need to address I my own AUs.

If I remember correctly, East Germany may have been one of the first countries in Europe to recognize North Korea as its own nation.

Also, oddly enough, Germany is the only Western Nation to have a statue from the North Korean Mansudae Art Studio, that builds monuments, palaces, statues, and other artworks to send to overseas clients.

Specifically, they gave Frankfurt Germany the Fairy Tale Fountain.

It’s a rebuilt version, actually, since the original was melted down in World War Two for scrap.

In modern days relations are not that great, but when the shoe came out they might have been pretty good.

In the actual show, outside of my AU? It would depend on if some type of World War Two happened. North Korea and East Germany knew about each other due to the Soviet Union and the split between East and West. East Germany recognized North Korea but not South Korea, while West Germany recognized South but not North, so that would probably be mentioned (although I don’t think the concept of the international community recognizing Flower Hill as its own nation comes up).

It’s a propaganda show at its core, so the wolves would be running West Germany and everyone in there would be super miserable, while East Germans would be comfortable and happy with what they had.

I’m sure they would have a great relation with Flower Hill, and they would send aid and delegations back and forth. I can see Geumsaegi being sent as an envoy by the Weasels to help the wolves running the West Side, and having to meet with the East Side and pretending not to recognize anyone.

East Germany would probably help Flower Hill with Espionage, and there would be a plot of Geumsaegi trying to get information to them. West German citizens would probably be portrayed as brutal like the wolves or seen as something to pity with their hard and unfulfilled lives but not something to worry about.

They might still want to reunite due to separated family members.

Other than the Uncle Gom metaphor, I don’t think we have seen much of a Soviet Union that would be able to take over that region.

I think the general idea is that Rabbit Village represents China. China assisted North Korea in the war, especially with troops, but we don’t see a large rabbit force helping Flower Hill soldiers outside of what happens in Operation: White Snow. Although, China actually split from the Soviet Union at some point.

We don’t see a large Russian Soviet force appearing in the show, either, with Uncle Gom supposedly representing the Soviet Union as bloated and failing in episode one. A Soviet Union existing would result Flower Hill getting a lot of soldiers, orders, and equipment from their benefactors, or at least have them mentioned with high praise.

As such, Flower Hill appears to be going at it alone, with no Soviet Union, which would suggest that an East and West Germany situation is not happening. Germany was split from 1949 to 1990, and the first episode of Squirrel and Hedgehog came out in the 1970s (Korean War being in the 1950s) so the friendly relations would have been known, and could have been brought up at some point. Maybe they could have been going there had we seen more of S2, since the wolves that supposedly represented Americans appeared, which could have led into such discussions. But, we do not see any sign of this, so it could be up in the air.

Then again, given Uncle Gom, the writers appeared to know that the Soviet Union wasn’t going to last much longer with how it was growing, so they might not have bothered.

As for the AU, though?

I have the village of Dol Jogagga in chapter 6 that does sculpting and artwork for international clients to help relations between Flower Hill and other nations. International relations are mentioned a few times in the show itself, so that checks out close to canon enough to work.

So, since I am sort of working with blending Squirrel and Hedgehog with real North Korean relations, I did have the idea that Flower Hill did send some artwork to the Germany nation.

Unfortunately, that’s as far as I had gone with the idea at the time, other than some trade. I haven’t even come up with a fictional name yet.

Personally, I had the idea that the world wars, or at least the Second World War, did not happen in my AU due to species’ biology prohibiting wars on such a larger scale. Which means less of a Cold War, which means the split between West and East Germany would not have happened.

If there was a split between East and West Germany, the wolves would be in West Germany, and some other group would be in East Germany. I can’t create absolute union without scrapping everything and starting over at this point, and I have no intention of doing so since I figured that there was no huge Soviet Union due to the above reasons.

Which now makes me realize that I’ll have to come up with a reason for the Germany country to be friendly with Flower Hill, since the original friendliness came from being occupied by the Soviets.

I did kind of have the idea of using the silk trade (since I have a massive silk trade going on in Flower Hill due to the prevalence of silkworms for food in the Koreas), since Germany had a longstanding tradition and history with silk leading back into the 17th century, although I hadn’t decided on if they would be competitors acting friendly or a very good client (production wise, possibly the former since I already have Chaand Hadia and the Jindo Empire as major clients).