#idk im sitting here while water drops on my foot from hair sticking to my leg after i washed it

[bolithesenate]

you know, there's a particular brand of eldritch to having really long hair.

it's just... there. Dead outgrowths of your body falling over your back and limbs when you sit and lie and walk. Having to stretch your arms to the limit qhile tying it at the back of your head. Finding a little hair sticking out from a sweater and pulling and pulling and pulling and pulling until it comes free. Maybe it doesn't ever.

because at some point the hair is everywhere. it's like a n additional appendage you have no control over

it has control over you

[doyouevenshipbr0]

gruvia fic: a song of ice and water

chapter 3

author's note: someone suggested i make an ff.net and......i TRIED BUT IM TOO STUPID IDK HOW TO WORK IT WGWFWUWGSG im baby omg. ok but would it be easier to read itnon ff.net? if so i will try it again but idk my 5 brain cells might not be up for it. ok this season of game of thr*nes was trash btw. its so fucking bad. thats all lol. i hope u guys are liking this fic and its not too hard to follow! i try keeping it as simple as possible in terms of the game of thr*nes aspect. ty for the feedback it means sm<3 enjoy!!!<333

*

Gray watched over the courtyard, looking down on it from high up in one of the towers. He enjoyed just watching, a lot of the time. Watching over his people made Gray feel at ease, and it reminded him what his purpose was.

A small commotion caught his eye. He looked in a corner to see Juvia. She was training with a water magic teacher they found nearby for her. Gray silently commended her for still wanting to stick to her training, even in a foreign land.

After a few moments, he realized his eyes had been stuck on her. He'd never seen anyone move like that before. Every move she made had purpose, and it was all one continuous flow. Nothing was ever harsh and brute. Everything seemed carefully thought out and smart. She was moving like she was actually water. Gray's eyes widened when he saw her defend an attack by turning her body to water, and letting it flow right through her.

"She's intense." Gray jumped at the sound of Ur, his trainer's, voice. He looked over his shoulder and saw her standing right behind him, peering down into the courtyard just as he was.

"Who is?" Gray played dumb.

Ur rolled her eyes. "We both know who I'm talking about."

Gray paused. "Yeah. She's intense." He said, quietly.

"I've been observing her fighting style since she began training. I even sparred with her one time." Ur walked over and stood beside Gray at the window.

"You did? When?" Gray looked at her.

"You wouldn't know. You've been too busy sulking about this damned wedding to even take a second to notice her until now." Ur remained looking out onto Juvia.

"That's not true!" Gray defended.

"Yes it is." Ur said, immediately. "Everyone has been telling you to give her a chance, but you haven't even tried. What good is a lord that won't listen to his people?" She finally made eye contact with Gray.

Gray stood and thought for a moment. He supposed Ur had a point. It wasn't that Gray necessarily had anything against Juvia herself, it was just what she was there to do. He didn't want to take a wife. Because of this, he seemed to be ignoring Juvia altogether, for the most part.

"I've seen the way she looks at you and speakes to you." Ur spoke again. "I'm not sure what it is, or what you did, but she seems to adore you. Don't tell me you haven't noticed?"

Gray paused. He really hadn't thought about it. He didn't think about Juvia at all, actually. "No." He said simply. "I haven't."

"Well you should at least give her the courtesy of attempting to spend time with her." Ur said.

For a moment, Gray wanted to argue back, but he decided not to. "You're right. Thank you, Master Ur."

"I'm always right." She ruffled her hand through Gray's hair before turning around and walking out the door.

Gray smiled admirably at Ur as she left the room. She was his master and like a second mother to him. When he was little, he wanted to be just like her when he grew up, and now that he was practically grown, he still found himself having that same dream. She was his absolute role model. After thinking fondly of Ur, he looked back down to Juvia, still training as hard as ever yet didn't seem to be breaking a sweat.

He continued to be hypnotized by her motions and fluidity. The teacher they found for Juvia was considered to be the best water mage in the north, but he and Juvia seemed to be neck and neck. As he watched her, he thought back to Ur's words.

It truly seemed he really wasn't giving her much of a chance.

-

Juvia panted heavily as the spar between she and her trainer closed.

"You're just as all the stories say." Master Syrio said with his foreign accent, his breath not quite as heavy as Juvia's.

"So Juvia has heard." Juvia grabbed her water bottle and began chugging.

"You certainly did not disappoint me, rain drop." His lips curled into a genuine smile.

"Nor did you, Master Syrio. Juvia has heard tales of you as well." She matched his grin.

"I'm glad. I look forward to teaching you in the future. Though I don't know how much my expertise will help, since it seems you are already familiar with the Water Dance of Braavos." He nodded, in a way of acknowledging her technique.

"Yes. It is not only the origin of water type magic, but it is its truest form as well. Juvia's teacher in Riverrun studied it for almost all his life but never actually got to sail to Braavos and practice it in its native land. Juvia is looking forward to learning it from you, someone who is actually from the beautiful city." She smiled, imagining her old teacher. Her master Mercuphobia was the most extraordinary man she ever met. He was an incredible wizard, teacher, and parental figure for her, since her father wasn't much of one.

"Mercuphobia is an old friend of mine. We've trained together in the past, actually. For a man as stubborn as him, he captures the flow of water more beautifully than anyone I've ever seen. Your style reminds me much of his." Syrio approached her.

"Well, thank you." Juvia nodded. "That means a lot."

"While your skill resonates much with Braavos, I can still see The Riverlands run thick through your veins." Juvia's smile dimmed a bit. While she was proud of her land, the thought of it didn't bring much joy to her. "The 'water body' spell you use was first discovered in Riverrun, though, I'm sure you already know this."

"Yes." Juvia nodded.

"It's quite an impressive spell. No one has been able to learn it for years. Not me, nor Mercuphobia." Syrio said.

"Yes, well, to master it you must be one with the water, and with the curse of the rain, water was certainly a great part of Juvia's life." She smiled sadly.

"But the rain in your life is no more, and the spell still stands." Syrio gestured his arms open, notioning to the sunny sky, a sight Juvia never got tired of looking at. "That is a testament to your ability, little rain drop."

Juvia blushed. Even as great as Mercuphobia was, he was never as generous in his praising as Syrio had been.

"Hello, Ser." Juvia turned at the sound of Gray's voice. Gray nodded to Syrio. "My Lady." He bodded to Juvia.

"My Lord." Juvia and Syrio greeted at the same time.

"Master Syrio, do you mind if I steal away my fiancée for the day." Gray said seriously. Juvia's blush increased tenfold. He'd never referred to her as his fiancée before.

"It is hardly stealing, My Lord." Syrio bowed and held an arm out to Juvia. "The Lady is yours."

"Thank you." Gray smiled. He then turned to Juvia. "Would you like to go for a walk?"

Juvia couldn't speak. She responded with vigorous nods.

"Alright. Let's go." Gray turned and began walking.

"W-wait! Juvia should bathe first. I've just been training for quite a while--"

"We're just going for a walk. No need to get all dolled up." Gray looked back slightly and shrugged. Juvia stammered for a bit, but followed along.

After a bit of walking and no conversation, Juvia finally asked. "Where are we going, Gray-sama?"

"The Godswood. Have you been there yet?" He raised a brow.

"No, but Juvia's been wanting to go." She replied.

"Well, you'll finally get to." Gray said, Juvia smiled back in response.

The Godswood was filled with dozens upon dozens of thick, old trees. She'd never seen anything like that before. It felt like she'd stepped foot in a time traveler and stepped out centuries earlier. It felt like she was in a fairy tale forest that she'd heard about as a child in stories. Not to mention, the forest was somehow warm, even at the wake of winter.

"This is incredible." Juvia said in awe. "Juvia's learned all the history of this place, but never actually thought it would live up to my expectations." She paused and did a few turns, taking in all of it.

"When I was little I used to think this place was haunted." Gray said with a chuckle, and Juvia gave a small laugh as well.

"Juvia can't blame you. This does seem all so much for a child." She noted how the trees draped over each other and seemed to fold in the most beautiful, perfect way.

"If you were so interested in this place, why haven't you visited yet?" Gray and Juvia walked over to a hot spring, and Juvia figured that was why the air was warmer.

"Before Juvia left for Winterfell, my father told me that Juvia should he introduced to the Godswood by a Fullbuster. If Juvia wandered in here on her own as an outsider, the gods would be irritated." She decided to sit on a nearby rock.

Gray snorted. "And you believe all that nonsense about the gods? The old and the new?"

Juvia shrugged. "Juvia knows that her father can be cruel, so she just follows his orders for the most part."

"Oh." Gray looked down. "I didn't mean to-" He stammered. "I mean I've heard about how your father is-- harsh."

"Oh, there is no need for Gray-sama to apologize!" She quickly defended. "Juvia didn't mean anything by it! And besides, Juvia is here with Gray-sama now, so I don't need to worry about my father's cruelty anymore." She sweetly smiled.

Gray furrowed his brows and looked away. "Yeah. Sure."

Juvia's eyes softened as she looked at Gray. Ever since he took the rain away, Juvia had been enamored by him. Everything she did was to get closer to Gray; she really could not get enough. She didn't know just what it was that got her so hooked, but what she did know that he was one of the only people to stick up for her like that, and he was the only person who'd taken her rain away. Unfortunately, Gray didn't seem to feel the same. Whenever she tried to talk with him, he usually kept up small talk for a short while, and then came up with an excuse as to why they had to part ways. She could tell he was annoyed with her, but she didn't mind. She adored him, regardless.

"So you don't ever think of going back home?" Gray finally asked.

Juvia shook her head. "No. Of course I miss the place, but the people, not so much."

"I could never do it." Gray looked down at the water.

"Do what?"

"Leave me home and be shipped off to marry a stranger." He said, bluntly.

Juvia shrugged. "My father always told me he'd marry me off as soon as he got the chance. Juvia's been prepared for this her whole life."

"Sheesh." Gray scratched the back of his head. "Your dad sounds swell." He said, sarcastically.

Juvia softly chuckled. "Like Juvia said, it doesn't matter anymore. Now Juvia has you!" She gave him an excited smile.

Gray didn't reply. He fought a small blush that lingered on his cheeks and kept his eyes on the water.

"But enough about Juvia's father." She followed Gray's eyes onto the water. "Your father, however, Juvia has heard he's a great man."

"He is." A side of Gray's lip curled up.

"Juvia can't wait to meet him."

"That'll be awhile." Gray sighed. "With this war going on, and all."

"Juvia is sure he is doing everything in his power to get back to Winterfell as soon as possible." She said, surely.

"Oh yeah?" He peered up at Juvia.

"Yes. If Gray-sama loves him so much, then Lord Silver must feel the same about him. Feelings are always connected between two people, no matter how far apart they may be. Since Gray-sama and Lady Mika and all of Winterfell's feelings are so strong, Lord Silver must be feeling that love. If Juvia had love like that, Juvia would do everything in her power to get back to it." She gave a reassuring grin to Gray who couldn't help but grin back.

"That's a nice way to look at it." He said. "I hope you're right."

"Juvia is certain about it." She and Gray exchanged grins. "Juvia wishes he could be here for the wedding." She looked up at the trees, imagining how their wedding would look under them. "Speaking of, do you know when our wedding is to be?" Juvia asked. Gray almost choked on air.

"No." He quickly said.

"Neither does Juvia. Maybe your mother would know?" She turned to him.

"Not sure." Gray avoided eye contact.

"Hm. Well maybe-"

"Look, I already said I don't know anything about the damn wedding!" Gray prompty stood from the rock and looked right at Juvia. "Our marriage is the last thing on my mind. I have much more important things to worry about." Gray began to walk away from where they sat, or more like stomp.

"Gray-sama, Juvia-" She stood up and reached out for him.

"Don't follow me." He turned his head momentarily before continuing his exit.

Juvia didn't say anything. She put her hand back down at her side and slowly sat back down. She remained in the Godswood for a little while. She sat and thought about Gray.

As soon as she began to melt the ice around his heart, he seemed to freeze it all up back again.

And she was determined to thaw him completely.