#idk what i tagged these as before but eh

[mercurymacaroons]

arrives 15 min late with a latte

......sup

[justaz]

wait,, in the lightning thief it was established that hades visited olympus on the winter solstice since it was the darkest day of the year and all the ancient/evil magic stirred, right? but in the titans curse, percy and co visit olympus on the winter solstice but hades isn’t present. it could be a moment of rick just forgetting his previously established world building but i propose that it was hades in mourning as his daughter just died like two days prior so he didn’t want to bother with his family and their bickering

[chibishortdeath]

Labeling this one mature cause it’s artistic nudity, which isn’t something I usually draw but yippie! Scar and anatomy reference! :3

I have explanations of where most of these scars come from, so I’ll go through them :)

The massive one covering his whole upper back is the one Dracula gave him and the one that bares the curse. I tried to make it kinda gnarly looking, but still distinctly claw marks. There’s a couple other scratches near it from other creatures.

The ones on his arms come from a couple things. I imagine he uses his arm bracers a lot to block things and sometimes hits are still enough to leave a mark under them. The scars also come from an effect of the curse: rotting. Rot usually starts at extremities and would leave some nastiness there, probably exacerbated by moving a lot. The first three images have the legs not visible but I usually put something similar there too.

Speaking of, the very large ones on his lower legs in the fourth image are burn scars from the scene of X68000 and Chronicles where the rooms before Dracula set on fire! I guess some of it might also be from walking in the cursed swamp too.

Most of the random smaller ones are just generally from fighting monsters. Tbh I’d be more surprised if he didn’t have any scars from having axes and bones and fire and fleamen thrown at him all the time lol.

In the third image there’s a couple bite marks and yeah those are from Drac too. I’ve seen some folklore about vampires being able to drain people long distance or while not being entirely corporal and yeah that sounds like something he’d do through the curse just to make Simon’s life worse. Idk, I have the novel Dracula and I should be reading it for other ideas for stuff tbh. This one might change entirely eh who knows. Either way, I think the curse’s ultimate goal was to make him suffer and then turn him after he dies from it so I wanted to add some more implications that he’d become a vampire if he failed to break the curse.

There’s some other things of note that aren’t scars. I try to make him look a little frailer and thinner in Simon’s Quest cause well yeah the curse. I don’t think it’s noticeable here since the fourth image isn’t the Simon’s Quest design and he doesn’t look much wider whoops. I’ll have to try to keep how ripped he is more consistent in later drawings 💀. Uhh I also try to make his eyes look significantly more tired, way larger eye creases and a bit of dark. If this was a colored drawing there’d be a little red under his eyes and he’d be paler than the last image. Just details to make him look sick ig.

Yeah, these are mostly doodles just for me to look back at and make sure I’m drawing him consistently d(^^ ).

[cuteniarose]

I'm bored and can't sleep because of cramps so I decided to mess around with an incorrect quotes generator using the latest OCs @katkastrofa and I created that I unfortunately cannot talk about in detail here because I'd get nerfed in an instant:

[keeps-ache]

buttered noodles 💫💛🍜

[goblin-enjoyer]

Ok concept: seadweller trolls live in the ocean right? all high class and crabp. going by "series that has an aquatic people in it that they don't delve too deeply on if they are freshwater or saltwater" rules it would be safe to assume that they could live in water. concept convergence: violet troll that lives in like a lake,river or swamp or something. I will be pondering this while I go try and find a fanfiction that sounds interesting that i saw fanart of on twitter.

[transfemzedaph]

Omg I'd so totally buy Hermitcraft patches :3 I have a couple vests and a pair of pants I'm filling with patches rn and having something fun and silly that reflects my interests would be Soo cool - @helsex

!!! hell yeah

[dutybcrne]

Me, chilling vibing: :)

My brain: So, what if Diluc also had time spent in the Abyss while in his jaunt in Snezhnaya bc he'd fallen to it in trying to escape pursuit by the Fatui/a Harbinger, and thus his particular pursuit of the Abyss Order happened to result of the things he'd seen there and the creatures that tried to prey on his grief/negative emotions, thus wanting to protect the people of Mondstadt from such things. Part of the reason he was able to survive using the Delusion constantly happened to be unwittingly being tainted by it. Though not without price-

[yanderespamton78]

do you ever watch a relatively small youtuber and think "this persons gonna hit it big some day. this guy is gonna be among the big shots like Kurtis Conner and Danny Gonzales and Spamton.G.Spamton in a few years. No doubt about it"

(im not even gonna hide it this post if referring to LOUIS MCCLUNG GO SUB TO HIM HE IS VERY COOL AND SWAG)

[cryptidofthekeys]

Ah

Well guess that gives me the incentive FHGDJKFJDK- so yeah I had a ‘lucid’ dream with the big man himself, the big fucking bastard-

Trigger Warning: A SLIGHT bit of gore

but uh yeah again, very iffy with the lucid term on this but uh- I’ll try to describe it the best way I can? Also gonna get a read more bc it’ll be a bit lengthy

--------------------------------

So uh, to start off with I was in Boys n Grills- like near the back section of it essentially- I remember I was about to head out a doorway into the main like DINER area n shit- but before I could- Bob comes through the doorway and to give a better picture of this, it was v e r y much- like a irl kinda thing? like he didn’t look realistic, he still looked- like- uh...

----------------------

2D? i-is that what ya call it? jhfkdldj either way, it was all the spooky month style essentially but I was like fully in it, looking around as myself cause usually my dreams have a camera pov- no this was all me looking around so first thing to note, we all know hes a big fella right? Yeah uh lemme just say, to say hes a big guy is kinda an under statement to me now

...His hand was probably bigger than my entire fucking face ngl

but either way- my point is-

This man is fucking HUGE, im a big person, not in height- oh god no lmao im 5′5″ but im a fat dude,, this man dwarfed me not only in height but weight too jfvdfksdds but he was taller than the fucking doorframe, he literally had to somewhat lean down to come through, it was like looking up at a skyscraper

-----------------------------------------

...okay m-maybe that is a LITTLE bit of an over-exaggeration but my point is, man was fucking h u g e and dwarfed my ass in more ways than one- oh i forgot to mention hjfdkjdks he WAS in his devil costume- ya know, signature red turtleneck, face paint, horns, etc-

--------------------------------------

I can’t remember if he spoke or not, tbh i was,, actually pretty fucking terrified i remember that- he was grinning also like usual- he started advancing toward me and i just kinda,, started backing away- neither of us spoke or said anything- but eventually my back kinda hit a wall

--------------------------

and fucking hell he’s not only a huge dude he’s strong as HELL,, picked me up with one hand like I weighed NOTHING and slung me over his shoulder, I remember fighting, hitting at him, etc but i can’t remember if i said or anything or screamed or cried i feel like i might’ve??? but that detail’s blurry-

anywho-

oh yeah btw THE O N E AND O N L Y redeeming pro of this entire thing was that he was actually really soft and warm but other than that, he fucking reeked- he smelled of blood and death and i mean given he’s a cannibal ...fair enough-

--------------------------

He started carrying me to the back fuckin dead by daylight style- carrying me to the room with the meat hanging up (it smelled like raw meat obviously ...eugh the smelling part and the feeling parts were the most HORRENDOUS btw) and that’s when I realized something...

...He’s carrying me to a hook

---------------------------------

I remember fighting even harder but that did nothin to this fuckin- slasher mfer- so i got carried to a hook and put up on it- like- it was on the right side of my back- before it could possibly get any worse though i shot up in my bed, grabbing at my back- bc keep in mind y’all, I could see, feel, smell, and hear things

meaning i could feel the EXTREME pain that was going through my back

-------------------------------------

after waking up and scanning my room in a fucking panic i realized ...oh,, just a dream, there wasnt a hole in my back either but ...it did still kinda get MUCH LESS bad pain but still phantom pain throughout the day

--------------------------

So in conclusion, I can tell y’all, meeting Bob in my ‘lucid’ dream if you can call it that-- was... While I am excited bout it now a day later hjfdkjdska bc holy fucking shit my first dream like tHAT- where i could feel, hear, etc things ya know? ...But man that shit hurted-

....Overall, 0/10 would not recommend meeting him tbh- It was incredibly terrifying to see him like I would see a person in an irl situation- meaning THAT close to me-

----------

oh also i did also write this in my first story with him so i guess y/n’s friend is giving me karma apparently via ‘lucid’ dream? lmao i mean i guess deserved

[cosmicdenro]

Hey! I know the others have said that you are probably shadowbanned and it looks like you are, since I couldn't see your posts in either the copperright or the henry stickmin collection tags. I don't know if anyone else had mentioned to you about your posts not showing in the tags though, so I wanted to just let you know.

OHHH DAMN I SEE. NO YEA OTHERS JUST MENTIOEND IT TOO INmy last drawing i posted i just saw the tags!! thank u guys for letting me know!

[after-nine-at-the-oasis]

AAH promo time 😬😬

OHHH NOOOO

Wait he better not blame TK for this :O >:OO

Not mad at Carlos mad at the writers XDD

That better get sorted before he leaves

Oh nooo 😭😭 Carlossss my poor boy :'(((

Themm <33

OPE oh no a body :o :(( 😬😬

I don't think it will be

😬😬😬 hey 126 :'))

That crying smiley's for me trying to smile xdd

Ahh okay so Owen's fine too that's good lol

We know he ain't kidnapped if he's here XD

AAAHHHHH

Nah there's no way

😭😭😭 Oh NOOOO Carlosss 😭

Nah nah she gotta be alive she gotta be xdd

I don't think that's her <33

It BETTER NOT BE anyway >:((((

A H okay xddd

I live in fear :')

That's the last of my last thoughts, now it's time for the. . .

REVIEW

I absolutely LOVED this episode!!! I thought it was amazing :DD. It was super funny lol, but it had some really great heartfelt moments throughout too! And some other stuff too, like drama o.o 👀👀. It's 40 minutes later since I was catching up on my liveblogging and I'm STILL freaking out lol. I was heating up some food and I was literally like "I am having so many thoughts about blorbos" while staring hauntedly in the distance XDD.

Lol, anyways, time for the individual bits!

I was missing Paul, Mateo, and Marjan this episode 😭😭. Ever since the beginning lol (not like they were missing which they were but I mean I miss them xD) - I don't think we saw them once after that call XDD. But, hey, at least they were awesome during the short time we did get to see them :D. The rescue was really cool!! With Marjan of course being awesome lol. And good on Paul for finding the route!! And Mateo, I love you 🥰. Lol, I don't think he did anything specific, sorry bud XD. Anyway, yeah, they're my babeys and I love them :)).

Same for Nancy - I love her lol. But, at least we got to see more of her this episode :D. Than the others lol - not bc her over them or whatever but yk. I mean, it was still only one scene, but it was basically two, so it was long, and she spoke a lot more than the others xD. Anyway lol, she is of course an icon 🥰🥰. We got her and TK siblings content :DD; amazing as always. And, we got her and Tommy content!!! Also amazing as always :DD. Her making fun of Tommy for this whole situation is the funniest thing ever XDD.

Grace and Judd!! My lovelies 🥰🥰. I love Grace trying to get Tommy to let herself have this, but also for supporting her either way. And giving her a little nudge when she treated the poor guy like that XDD. Plus, in her calls, she was of course amazing :)). She was, as always, an icon <333. Also I love how Judd was just there lol, at the dinner XD. Man was just vibing, had no idea what was going on (not that he knew it) and he did not care lol (though again, he didn't know XD). Amazing lol, an icon <33. And of course for the rest of the time too 🥰🥰.

Plus, AAAH, Charlie sighting!!! My little girl 🥰🥰🥰. Her <333, your honor :'DDD :)) ❤️❤️❤️. I love them (their family) so much :')) <3333.

Anyway, Tommy! And the reverend guy lol. I should really know his name xdd. Anyway XD! Their scenes were HILARIOUS lol! I was just dying this whole episode XD (and at some bits from the drama). Plus, her conversation with Owen? Pure gold, lol. Anyway, it was fun seeing her off-kilter lol :). We only really see it concerning her love life, and I think it's fun :D. And clearly, funny XD. But I think her conflict over the whole situation was completely valid - that's something kinda crazy XD. I'm glad she went with it in the end though :)). Even if she invited the poor man over for a group dinner under false pretenses XD. This poor guy lol. But, AAHHHH THAT KISS!!! THEY KISSED!!! :DDDDD Good for them :)). I'm really interested to see where their relationship goes in the future! I think it'll be a fun journey to watch :D.

And can I just say again that I'm so glad we got rid of Julius 😭😭😭. XD As a love interest, that is. Although imagine if he shows up at some point and it's awkward- o.o . Hmmm, interesting 👀👀. Anyway, lol.

Owen timeee!! I really enjoyed his plot this episode! It almost had some really hilarious moments XD. Just a second ago I was thinking about how funny the episode was and somehow I completely forgot about him for a second lol. Anyway, this plot is really interesting!! I really think Sergeant O'Brien's undercover. They like misdirects and what not (apparent from that promo - I ain't believing that's Iris XDD), and I just think they wouldn't throw this in here. Plus, he covered for Owen, he just didn't want him coming back. But hey, they also like drama lol, so who knows! It's certainly interesting, though 👀. Anyway, I'm nervous for where this is gonna go, and Owen 😬😬. I mean I'm sure he'll be fine, but yk, I guess how everything's gonna down with him wrapped up in this lol. I definitely think it's gonna be interesting, and he's not gonna stop trying to stop them - be that by request of the FBI or not. Also, I'm just wondering where O'Brien took him 👀. I was kinda joking to myself that imagine he goes missing as well as Iris XD (while I was talking about O'Brien saying let's go when catching up on my liveblog lol, so I'd already seen the ending), but then I remembered that he's in the promo. Given said promo though, it looks like we'll be picking right up after the end of this episode, so I wouldn't be surprised if we get a scene near the beginning between Owen and O'Brien, wherever he took him. Idk though! Also, OWENNN STOP MAKING ENEMIESSS 😭😭 XDD. Bro walks in as undercover and calls people Nazis lol - like I respect it, but man, you're on a secret mission xD. Also "as undercover" is kinda a weird way to say it but idk it kinda makes sense so we're going with it xD. Anyway, lol!

Now, of course:

TK and Carlos :DD - and Iris, of course :). If you'll excuse me, ahem, AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! XDD. Y'all how dare they do this to me 😭😭😭😭. The DRAMA this episode!! Though lowkey I loved it lol. The drama, but also the plotline and episode as a whole xD. Anyway, let's go in chronological order here lol - TK doing the rescue with Marjan 🥰🥰🥰. Amazing, 10/10 lol. But genuinely, I thought that was really cool :D. AAAAHHHHHHHH that scene with Iris! Oh and of course TK stressing beforehand (😭 <3 my heart - just like Carlos is TK's hAURGH-), them being sweet 🥰🥰🥰, and Carlos's joke lol. We wanted TK to make those jokes but I'll definitely take Carlos lol - I didn't think he would XD. But I do think he was mostly trying to make TK laugh lol. Not quite accomplished but hey, he tried XD. Presumably lol. Anyway! Back to the scene with Iris lol. It was. H I L A R I O U S XDDD. Dude, possibly the funniest of the entire episode lol. Maaaaybe Tommy and what's his face talking at the station, or her asking Owen for help, but idk lol XD. Anyway, I've said most of my thoughts on the first half of this scene already because of the promo, but I'll say them here - especially now that we have everything xD. No, I don't think Iris was out of line with the questioning; we knew she was blunt and so did they, it may have come off as a bit rude but she wasn't trying to be. And also, just- Carlos supporting TK :'D. He loves Iris, obviously, and he wasn't against her or anything, but those little looks of reassurance, saying "Yes, don't worry about it, it's okay" :'))). Amazing <3. The tarlos body language and expressions in that scene was just 😭😭. Amazing, thank you Ronen and Rafa :'DDD. Continuing on! AGH I wish Iris would've been more clear about the papers, but I'm assuming she didn't know she was gonna go with annulment yet. Still 😑. It was funny though, I'll give her that xD. But tarlos going :DDD!! And then :D? And then -o- XDDD amazing lol. Also Carlos saying that they love each other and that's all that matters - stop 😭😭❤️❤️❤️. And not that I don't want them to get married, far from it, but Iris is kinda right in that they basically already are. Still, though, everything's gonna change for me when they get married 🥰🥰🥰. Not that anything actually will but idk, it's just different XDD. When they want to get married, anyway lol. But yeah, amazing scene 🥰🥰🥰.

Okay I was gonna try and hurry this up but clearly that's not happening XD. I just wanna get through everything without it being TOO long, lol. But, eh, whatever, let's just roll with it xD. Now, I'd already seen it mentioned in an interview, but I love love LOOOVED what TK said about getting legally married. He's so right - they (we) fought for rights for so long, and he definitely wants everyone to know that they did, and that he and Carlos got married :'DDD. It's also super sweet :'))). And of course, love him and Nancy <3. Especially since she suggested talking to Iris :p - because I definitely don't think it's TK's fault she went missing XD. And it did bring about the angst of knowing what she meant with exactly what she expected, but otherwise it would've been later angst or just the unknown, and this meant that we found out about the annulment sooner :DDD!! Bc I'm sure she would've told them eventually, she had to XD. Anyway, TK being so adamant about his love for Carlos - STOPPPP I'M DEAD 😭😭😭😭😭❤️❤️❤️. It was just so amazing :'D. Like I said, they're giving us plenty of dramatic love declarations, and I think it's making up for the storyline /hj /lh XDDD. But seriously, I love them <33. The declarations, but also Tarlos :D. And TK saying "he's mine" 👀👀👀. Aight, I see you XDD. And even though obviously Iris isn't jealous or anything (thank GOODNESS, I would've hated that), we love to see it :DDD. I think he deserved it 😌😌. And it was iconic too, lol. Plus, I saw it on the subtitles and I was like o.o but I did NOT expect it to be that intense lol - TK said it even more intensely than I thought he would, and it was awesome lol xD :D >:D. Anyway, AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH AN ANNULMENT 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🎉🎊🎊. THANK GOODNESS!!!! And hey, now all the people who've been wondering why it hasn't been can be satisfied lol. It was just for the drama XD. But like, AAAHHHH!!! A) we don't have to go through the drama (just like all that it involves) of a divorce, and B) aGH yes, TK deserves to be Carlos's first and last husband 😭😭😭😭❤️❤️❤️. That is amazing :'))). Also, of course, it's great that that was the reason she wouldn't sign lol. But you could've said it earlier girl XDD. Jk lol, I know it was for the drama and I can respect that lol - I'm the one watching the drama show, after all xD. But anyway! YESSSSSSSS!!! Also that hug was so cute 😭😭😭😭😭❤️❤️🥰🥰. Now xdd. The angsty, dreaded bit lol (not really, just kinda 😭😭 now the angstttt agh feelings lol). Then of course, TK had to ask what she meant 😭😭😭 xD. I mean, I'd rather this then it just be left forever lol, unknown, or that it comes out later, but still xD. And like TK's face and his voice in that scene 😭😭😭. AGH I don't deserve it xdd. It was nice that Iris said they were more :'D, and life long project is KINDA sweet, but not really 😭, girl, wrong words XDDD 😭😭😭.

And then of course, that brings us to that last scene with TK and Carlos. Though, not the last one of one of them lol - we'll be there in a minute xD. Finally, we're back to Carlos lol - no offense TK, it's just been a hot minute. I was like "wait I'm not talking about Carlos at all in the tarlos section, not for a while anyway" lol. Anyway! 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔😭😭😭😭😭😭😭. Y'all that S C E N E!!! I did not deserve that 😭😭. I did not come here to be ATTACKED, have angst about my boys thrown in my face like that 😭😭. Luckily it wasn't really and "I relate" kind of attacked, but still lol. Anyway, TK SAYING MAYBE THIS MARRIAGE IS A BAD IDEA 😭😭😭❤️. Sir how dare you xdd. I don't deserve that lol /lh. And Carlos's "That surprised me." XDD. But seriously, the domesticity 🥰🥰🥰🥰. With TK looking like the most heartbroken man ever in the foreground xdd. Kinda ruining my vibe, man XDDD, lol /j. Anyway, it was such a good scene 😭😭😭😭. The vulnerability, the comfort <333. Them and their weird sitting positions xD. I do wish we saw a bit more of a conversation, but having just re-watched it to see what I thought, I'm feeling better about it :). I still would've liked it little more, but TK did seem to be feeling better by the end :)). And I feel like "You're a hot mess. But you're my hot mess" is kinda proving that Carlos doesn't see him as a project - he loves TK, hot mess and all, and isn't trying to fix him. Like I said, I do think it could've been a bit better (and we may see a bit more about it in the future, but I doubt next episode with everything going on, and idk about the likelihood after that - still, it's possible), but I really loved the scene, so I can move past it :D. Oh and also, totally different times, but "He's mine" and "You're my hot mess" 😌😌😌👀. Cinematic parallels XD. Anyway, Carlos saying "the day I met you" 😭😭😭 :')) I knew it <333. I suspected he would say that lol. And also those KISSES AAAGH!! They were so tender and sweeeet 😭😭😭😭❤️❤️🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰😍😍. And TK's little "Shut up" and "I hate you" xddd, he is adorable your honor <333. Also Carlos's little "yeah" as he leaned in to kiss TK again reminded me of 3x04 🥰. And about the conversation itself, I like how Carlos explained it - he didn't marry Iris because she was broken (not that she was showing signs of schizophrenia at that point - which I only say because TK specified, and I'm glad he did so that Carlos could point that out. It's something I feel like needed to be said), he married her because he was. Or. thought he was, anyway - and he found out he wasn't when he met TK. Like. Y'all. 😭😭😭😭😭❤️❤️. That is the most adorable heartwarming thing xdd. Also, it's another thing that's actually answering TK - Carlos wasn't broken, and neither is TK. I only fully registered that as I was writing this lol xD. But yeah, I love that :')). Anyway, then the CALLLL AHHHHHHH 😭😭😭. By the way I think TK starts looking slightly concerned there (I think so, you can just barely see it - I might judt be reading into things though lol XD maybe it's just the remnants of his sad boy face xDD), which just- augh 😭❤️. Oh, also, I figured while watching that Carlos would figure out or ask (or both if TK was cagey lol) what brought this on, and I was s bit confused when he didn't. But, having seen the promo, I now see it's for the drama :D lol. It wasn't strictly necessary he realize there, but it does make room for the drama of him finding out/figuring it out (again, probably a mix, unless they find out she was seen with a man who'd never been at her place of work before earlier in the day lol, and had a description or something XD - as in Carlos might figure it out lol) next episode :). So, it would've been easier now, but even though I'll probably scream and shake and throw up and die, I love me some angst so I'm glad we get it next time :D. Hey, at least we get to see it lol. I'll take that with Tarlos XDD (not that they're particularly bad about that, show wise I mean, but yk lol. I'm pretty much that way with any of my ships XD). Anyway, I loved this scene <333. It was adorable 🥰🥰🥰🥰.

Lastly, the final scene 😬. AAAHHHHHH IRIS IS MISSING!! Also how dare he call her Carlos's wife 😤. Lol, I'm mostly joking xD. Too bad they couldn't have been the annulment papers left in there, though xd. Also, Carlos just looks in shock this whole scene 😭😭😭. Or most of it, anyway. And the way he looks up immediately when that guy said Iris's name - :((((. She doesn't deserve this 😭😭. And he doesn't either :'((. I hope she's okay <333. Anyway! I have absolutely no idea as to who took her, but given that in the promo we saw Carlos carrying someone while in uniform and it might have been Iris (I don't remember but I think some people said it was), and we've also seen him get hit over the head, I'm wondering if whoever it was gets Carlos but Iris is kept somewhere else. Idk! I'm also wondering if they specifically have a fridge against Iris or they were just kidnapping people ┐⁠(⁠ ⁠∵⁠ ⁠)⁠┌. Although I will say, Carlos's comment made me think: "She used to be one of them". Iris's case will probably not be taken too seriously since she has a history of mental illness and disappearance. That would add extra reasoning to why Carlos is immediately going to search for her - there's a good chance she's not very high on the priority list. And speaking of a history of mental illness - she was taken without her meds, most likely. So, if she, for example, were the one to hit Carlos, I wouldn't be surprised. Or at least, it would make sense. Not only would (I imagine) her schizophrenia symptoms would return, but it is Not a good idea to go off meds suddenly. So, idk! It'll certainly be interesting though :O.

But yeah, it was heartbreaking 😭😭😭💔💔. I imagine next time will be even worse xd. Even just in the beginning, lol, from Carlos - the promo definitely makes it seem that way xD. Speaking of the promo, I think he may half-blame TK in the heat of the moment, but TK will realize it's just because Carlos is scared and emotional, and that they'll leave that behind before Carlos leaves. Also, since that's almost definitely the same night as the end of this episode, Ronen saying that still was Episode 3 and not Episode 2 makes more sense now xD. I was like "huh, yeah, Carlos can repeat shirts I guess lol", even though the next episode would be kinda soon, but this makes sense XD. I may have vaguely considered that they were just super close together in time, but eh lol, I didn't think about it for that long xD. Anyway, I loved TK and Carlos this episode :DDDDD :')))) 😭😭😭😭❤️❤️🥰🥰🥰🥰😍😍. Also Iris 🥰🥰🥰❤️❤️. Loved her too :DD. And all three of them together - that was fun lol :D. Anyway, t h e m <333.

Overall, I absolutely loved this episode!! I thought it was really great, and it was just SO FUNNY XDD. But, it definitely had a lot of drama too! Overall just a really eventful and good episode :). I did miss seeing more of the 126, but I'm sure we'll see more of them next time :). Though I imagine it'll be largely focused on Iris, with maybe some of Owen's storyline. Still, we know they're there for the rescue (or whatever you would call it)! Anyway, the calls (call?) today were amazing :D. I just checked, it was only the one xD. Besides Grace's side of that 9-1-1 call lol. But, to be fair, it (the real call) was 10 minutes long, so it makes sense that there was only one xD. Anyway, it was cool :DDD. Plus, Marjan being lowered from a helicopter!!! It was cool, and bringing in O'Brien (plus him owing Owen a drink) set it up nicely for him to show up at the Honor Dog's bar. Well played! Anyway, all the storylines were amazing, and I'm excited to see where they lead :). I'm also very scared for next episode! Less of an immediate conflict thing, more just :(( and I hope Iris is gonna be okay. She better be, lol xD. But yeah, I'm a little nervous for the tarlos bit at presumably the beginning, but I don't think it'll be too bad. Mostly when I say I'm scared I just mean I'm tense and stressed, about next episode but also the situation as a whole lol. Still, I think it's gonna be amazing!!

So, yeah! I really loved this episode. It was so funny, which balanced the drama. I'm super interested in seeing what happens next! This has been my review of. . .

9-1-1: Lone Star, Season 4, Episode 2: The New Hot Mess

It was so good! I'm really excited for the next one, if a bit scared. I'll be back next time for my review of. . .

9-1-1: Lone Star, Season 4, Episode 3: Cry Wolf

See you next week!

[chibishortdeath]

Hmmm I kinda want to make a side blog for RPG Maker game development related things to be able to talk to more experienced people in that community, but at the same time I both don’t really think I’d get much attention and don’t want to accidentally spoil my own game (^^ ; ).

I have a rough story, concept doodles, a tileset, some character sprites, an enemy that walks around but can’t initiate battle yet (if I even decide to have a battle system), a couple rooms with some events, and a functioning run button, but I’m still lost on how to do much else at the moment. Especially since this program has the ability for scripting, meaning I’ll probably have to learn and actually retain another coding language.

So, I’m not very far at all lol. Idk how well that’d go over on the established fandom website, but eh.

[kavehater]

OHMYGOSH I cant believe my eyes …

[screampied]

ੈ✩‧₊˚ TWENTY THREE MISSED CALLS — G. SATORU

☆ sum. you had always nagged to your boyfriend satoru to answer his damn phone. it’d always go straight to voicemail—you told him in your own words, ‘toru, what if something ever happened to you?’ but this time, it was far too late.

wc. 1.7k tags. gn!reader, angst, nickname(s) 'baby, angel.'

an. idk how to write angst much but i was sad so came up w this. merry christmas :)

“hey heyy, it’s satoru. uh, you’ve reached the—eheh what does that lady say again…? you’ve reached the voicemail box of.. gojo satoru. leave a message after the beep, beeeeep. heh, bye.”

such a dork.

you lost count of how many times you listened to that automatic message over and over again. the playful cheekiness in his voice, you could just see his smile. the dumb dimples that poke out against both of his cheeks whenever he grinned.

a cute dork. your dork.

besides that though, it’s been at least twenty three times of you ringing him, but to no avail. each time it went straight to voicemail—sucking your teeth in confusion, you started pacing around your bedroom. it was christmas morning, and gojo promised he’d be here before you wake up.

he couldn’t be…

no, he’s gojo satoru. he always wins, right?

right..?

the more you waited, the more impatient you became. the room grew colder and colder, despite the heat being turned on. you sat on gojo’s side of the bed, inhaling his scent, as if he was here right now.

he’d always fill up the room with his loud cologne scents—you’re always telling him how it’s too strong and he always kisses your cheek, muttering, “eh really? i don’t smell it that much, baby..”

the scent was always sweet, a mixture of cinnamon and multiple other spices—you glanced at the roségold alarm clock that rested against your nightstand, the time reading six thirty am.

he still wasn’t here.

it was hard to not overthink, think the worst, gojo was always so good at calming your nerves. you’d be one to constantly overthink. his trick to stop that was to simply hold you in his arms, stroke your hair and tell you in a soft cheery voice, “hey angel, everything’s gonna be okay. i’m okay, we’re okay.”

but again, he still wasn’t here.

gojo mentioned to you before he left last night around midnight he had to ‘take care of something’ — his code word of he’s about to go into battle or fight, but he didn’t want you to worry about him.

that’s the very last thing he wanted. and if anything, he always assured you he’d be okay. even if he was beaten to a pulp by his enemies, he’d always return back home to you with that stupid lovable grin on his face.

so what made christmas day any different?

you swallowed the thick, nonexistent lump in your throat, trying to snap out of your deep melancholy thoughts. dragging your feet,

you rubbed your eyes from the sun just barely shinning through the curtains scattered throughout the house.

with a soft sigh, you made your way towards the christmas tree — the pretty lengthy tree the both of you decorated together last minute, a tiny smile went on your face at remembering how gojo kept accidentally breaking all of the ornaments, so he had to constantly keep buying new ones.

lights, glimmery multicolored lights, a plethora of ornaments and a pretty sheeny star sits at the very top. you sat on your knees, before glancing down at the various presents — one caught your eye, it was a tiny box. a velvet heart shaped box, and gojo told you it was the biggest surprise yet.

you paused, glancing down at your phone that was about it to die soon, wondering why gojo still hasn’t returned any of your calls.

he’s been gone for hours, and the knot in your stomach continued to tighten—it felt like something inside of you was squeezing, tugging you from the inside.

was this what a gut feeling feels like? something was telling you, screaming at you that something wasn’t right.

with shaky hands, you went to his contact for what seems like the millionth time, staring at the image that was his picture, him and you.

the both of you were being goofy, it was a old polaroid picture a few years ago of the both of you during your birthday.

he spoiled you so much that day, but as always he never forgot to repeat how much he loved you.

the phone rang three times and your mind pretty much knew mentally he wasn’t gonna answer, it was a bit foolish for you to continuously keep trying. but something in you told yourself, it’s satoru. he’s gonna answer. anything to reassure yourself, this happens a lot — gojo’s the type of person who always has his phone on silent, or he says he’ll call you back but ends up forgetting.

after a few rings, the same automatic voicemail plays, and just hearing his voice again, no matter how many times — it never fails to make your heart swoon.

“hey heyy, it’s satoru. uh, you’ve reached the—eheh what does that lady say again…? you’ve reached the voicemail box of.. gojo satoru. leave a message after the beep, beeeeep. heh, bye.”

you intake a sharp breath, closing your eyes before bringing the warm phone up to your ear, pressing it against your cheek before speaking in a voice.

a voice you hardly recognized, “…toru?” and you were on the brink of tears, it was easy to hear and you tried not to let your emotions get the best of you but at this point..

was it really worth holding on to?

fifteen long seconds passed and you forgot the phone was still in your hand.

you sniffled, gathering yourself briefly before continuing in a soft drowsy voice, “h-hey, um. i don’t mean to blow your phone up but, you aren’t responding and i’m getting kind of scared. are you okay?”

you pause again, feeling the sting of tears nearly escape through your eyelids before you squeeze your eyes shut, lightly squeezing your left thigh to prevent any more emotions from revealing themselves.

“i um, just wanna say i love you, and i hope you’re okay. i didn’t wanna open my gifts until you got here but you’re taking forever..”

and you manage to crack a tiny smile that purses against your lips—yet after a while, it fades and your heart feels like it’s just walking on egg shells. “but anyway, yeah. i love you satoru, text or call me back so i know you’re alright, please? and just get home safe okay? bye.”

you hung up the phone and a single tear ran down your cheek.

so much time had passed, and he still wasn’t here. it was nearly seven in the morning now, and your dumb curiosity got the best of you—you wondered what gojo’s big surprise gift was.

he wanted you to wait to see your reaction, but you were just so curious, so enthused.

you started to peel the pretty striped velvet wrapping paper off, one at a time, it was neatly wrapped with a perfect red and blank bow tied on the top.

once you opened it, it had a tiny black box, and your eyebrows raised, a note sticking out the side. grabbing it, you revealed it and it read in neat handwriting:

“hi baby!! merry merry christmas, i’m kinda tearing up while writing this, and i know i know you probably just wanna see the gift but first read this ‘kay? just wanna say i love love you so much, and i’m so glad we’ve been together for almost four years now. you mean everything to me, you’re so sweet and kind, always there whenever i need to talk my feelings out, or even if i just need to lay on you and fall asleep. but anywho, you know who loves you? this guy! hopefully i made you smile as you read this, im probably not at home yet but ill be back soon. don’t worry your pretty little head, alright? i love you baby, merry christmas from your honored one, xoxo.”

tears were in your eyes—and it was like you could hear him, he was right, you did manage to smile. sniffling, you placed the note aside before opening the small black box.

once you pulled the top back, your eyes widened, seeing a small coruscating ring. your heart sang, blinking twice to make sure your eyes weren’t playing tricks on you.

gojo was planning to propose..?

the ring was so pretty.

various scattered crushed up like pearls around the top, and once the tears started, they kept streaming down your face. you quickly pulled it out, sliding it on your ring finger and it was a perfect fit — in a frail sob, you mumble, “y-yes, i’ll marry you satoru.”

yet — that’s when you wake up, finally snapping back to reality. confused with tears still streaming down your face, burning.

“satoru?”

no answer.

you get up from the bed, your eyes widen before you look at your right hand — and the engagement ring was still there. a sigh of relief exits your mouth, and that’s when you make your way towards the kitchen.

nothing to worry about, maybe you just fell asleep while opening the gift. yeah, that had to be it.

although, the atmosphere of your house felt different. taking a quick glance in the living room, the christmas tree wasn’t there anymore, it wasn’t snowing, and it was almost as if you lived by yourself.

“satoru?” you called out again, before pulling out your phone — scrolling towards your messages and your heart suddenly sank. the last message you sent him was two years ago, a subtle ‘satoru, it’s christmas and you’re still not here? are you okay?’

christmas…?

you pulled a tab down on your phone — and the date read march 17th. approximately two years later from when you last sent that message, and you were so confused.

but the further you scrolled down, you saw messages from others, sending you their regards and condolences for your loss….loss?

the recent message was from geto — and your last reply was, ‘thank you, i’m doing okay. i just still can’t believe he’s gone.”

. . .

you felt sick — tear after tear racing down both sides of your face before coming to the sudden unfathomable realization.

gojo never came back home for one reason and one reason only. he died a painful death those long two years ago, even though he swore he’d come back to you on christmas.

perhaps everything was all a lie.

sometimes people don’t win all the time, not even the honored one, the love of your life, gojo satoru.

[revasserium]

Hey, can I request zoro x reader (established relationship) where the Strawhats end up going to reader’s home island (unknown to anyone in the group aside from reader), and the reader is super nervous and refuses to leave the boat, so the crew goes out and walk around and they find a missing/wanted poster of the reader and find out she’s a run away princess that needed to be. Later they coke to find out that reader ran away cause her parents and the servants mistreated and was about to marry her off to a violent prince

opla requests are: open

lips on every cross

opla!zoro; 5,989 words; fem!reader, semi-established?? relationship, posessive!zoro, strawhat!reader, no "y/n", reader gets kidnapped, fluff and angst, very brief! mentions of past familial abuse and trauma, nicknames ("Princess"), slow-ish burn???, more plot than not

summary: zoro has never thought himself a holy man. but he'd kiss every cross if it meant finding his way back to you.

a/n: idk why every opla fic i write is like... more plot than i bargained for but here we are. literally, this fic was just supposed to be "zoro calls the reader 'princess'".

01. when love arrives

(“Hey Princess —“)

The nickname starts, as almost all things do on the Going Merry, as a joke. And, as with most jokes made amongst the rag-tag crew, it sticks. He’d said it because he’s sure you’d mentioned your name once or twice already, but he’d been napping or eating and he didn’t feel like looking like an asshole right that moment.

The ribbon in your hair had caught the light in just the right way, pale pink satin — such a strange, soft color amidst the careening, careless ocean, and the word just… slipped.

“Why’dyou call her that?” Luffy asks, lounging back against the main mast as Zoro works through the umpteenth rep of single-armed pushups.

Zoro puffs out a breath and switches arms.

“Dunno. Seemed like it fit.”

Luffy slates you a long glance, blinking owlishly.

“Really? Eh — I guess… well, she is really pretty.”

Zoro only grunts, jumping up and stretching both arms over his head with a long, steady breath. His eyes flicker towards you as well, laughing with Nami on the foredeck, sipping on cocktails, Sanji probably simping somewhere nearby.

He thinks back to where they’d found you, hood pulled low over your eyes, the tell-tale signs of distress carved into every line of your body, from the curve of your spine to the bend of your shoulders.

Luffy hadn’t asked questions, so Zoro hadn’t either.

Curiosity, the fatal flaw that runs so sharp and obvious through the entirety of Luffy’s being, hasn’t always been rewarded well in Zoro’s experience. And he’s learned by now that “truth will out”, or so they say.

(“C’mon, Princess, I thought you said you could drink.”)

Caution, on the other hand, is Zoro’s oldest friend. You are cautious, if nothing else, and the first time he sees you relax in his presence, he wonders to himself if there’s a drug in this world strong enough to induce this feeling.

Later, he would learn that this is simply called falling in love.

He isn’t the only one who notices how you casually dip a silver fork or knife into every single drink before you take a sip, or that sometimes, you blurt out the word “no’ like a promise to yourself, and “sorry” like a plea for help.

And he’s spent long enough being a hunter to know what being hunted looks like. So he doesn’t ask, and you don’t answer, and somehow, you still manage to make yourself a home in the dark caverns of his chest, curling up there till he can’t count his heartbeats without it sounding like the shadow of your name on the midnight wind.

02. a study of light and dark

The drinking game starts off innocently enough (and don’t they always), but it takes half a round for the questions and subsequent answers to devolve into loud laughter and debauchery, delirium and debasement.

“Alright, alright —“ Sanji holds up a hand, tossing back his shot to raucous cheers, “worst thing you’ve done in a closet. Go —“

Zoro rolls his eyes and takes the shot, foregoing his answer. Nami simply grins, catlike, swirling her own drink around her glass.

“In your wildest dreams, cook,” she says before taking her shot as well. Sanji lets out a contemplative whistle, followed by a good-natured wink.

“Define worst, cause… I mean, I’ve puked in like… most of them back in Syrup Village,” Usopp says. Sanji only chuckles, shrugging.

“We’ll take it, we’ll take it.”

Luffy hums, frowning for a second before smacking a fist into his open palm, grinning, “I took a nap!”

Everyone laughs, helpless and buoyed up by the casual effervescence of a night like this — when the moon is dark and the stars are bright and thin wisps of silver clouds mar the sky like tendrils of lost daydreams, caught on the wrong side of sunset.

When the laughter settles down, everyone turns to you.

You purse your lips, feeling the weight of your answer pressing down on the tip of your tongue — I hid. And I waited. And I tried not to listen.

As the silence stretches on, Zoro leans forward and uncrosses his arms, reaching out to nudge a full shot glass towards you.

“Times up, Princess — drink,” and though there’s nothing soft or even forgiving in his voice, but you feel yourself relax as everyone boos and you take your shot.

The heat of Zoro’s gaze only lingers on your skin for a moment longer before he leans back again, that familiar almost-grin tugging lazily at his lips as he turns half-lidded eyes towards the rest of his crew.

(“Talk to me, Princess.”)

When you find him later, fumbling in the dark of the hallway just outside his room, you kiss him without saying “thank you” and he doesn’t question it when, pressed beneath him on the rough linen of his sheets, you ask to keep the lights on.

03. etymology

Princess — it’s a nice word, Zoro muses to himself. The light pop of the ‘p’ rolling into the warm, round ‘r’, thinning out into the sensual layering of the double ‘s’s, till you’re left with nothing but a hiss, a shadow, a memory.

It’s a regal word; a pretty word. Though its origins might be anything but.

From the Latin primus “first” and cept “catcher”, or so Robin had told him over the pages of an ancient book he hadn’t bothered to ask the name of, because Princes and Kings have always obtained their powers through taking, and never asking. Reaping, and never sowing.

Zoro thinks then that this, too, is a form conquest — you over him. The totality of your power stunning to behold, if only because he has to let you take it in the first place. And he does so willingly.

He wonders if you, too, are as multifaceted as his nickname for you — delicacy and desire wrapped around a darker something, lace laid over a knife’s unforgiving edge.

The first time he dares to kiss you, he feels you kissing him back, the sharp canines of your teeth catching on his lower lip, drawing out a soft grunt from him. You’d paused, and then you’d bitten down harder just to hear him gasp into your mouth.

He knew then, without ever having to ask, that you are.

04. tip of the iceberg

It is winter when they arrive — but then again, it is always winter here. Here, the cold runs so deep it drives frost crystals into the marrow of your bones. Here, the wind howls like a wounded animal and the night falls with a savage, carnal vengeance, all black velvet and a blood-tinted moon.

Here, the snow storms turn living, breathing heroes into song lyrics and poetry rhymes.

You inhale a single breath before turning and heading back below deck.

Zoro frowns, and at a single look from Luffy, he follows you beneath, only to find you rummaging around the kitchen, tugging a bottle of moonshine out from under the sink.

“Whoa,” Zoro says, reaching out to stop you from uncorking the bottle, an eyebrow raised. He doesn’t miss the way you shiver, “bit early, isn’t it?”

“Bit rich, coming from you,” you snap, eyes sharp, voice stinging.

Zoro only cocks his other eyebrow in tandem and pulls the bottle from your hands before turning and grabbing two glasses from the cupboard. He takes his time filling them both with ice, and then pouring a finger into each glass.

You don’t meet his eyes as you reach out for your glass, but he catches your wrist.

“A drink for an answer,” he says.

You pause, your lips pressed into a thin, white line. And he knows it’s unfair, to turn this game around on you, because he can tell from the hard set of your shoulders that this is so much more than a drinking game but if this is what it takes to get the truth — then so be it.

“Fine,” you say, glancing away, voice clipped.

You move to take a sip, but Zoro pushes down your hand again.

“No lying.”

You scoff, narrowing your eyes, “Obviously.”

He eases off, picking up his own glass and clinking it against yours before taking a light swig, “You know this place.”

This time, you’re the one who turns around with a cocked brow.

“Got a question in there somewhere?”

Zoro’s lips twitch, “Yes, or no.”

You sigh, tapping a finger against the edge of your cup, “Yes.”

Zoro hums, “Your turn.”

You chew on your lips before taking a sip, “Why do you care so much?”

Zoro ticks his tongue against his teeth, “Stupid question. Next.”

You huff, “That’s not how this game goes.”

Zoro swirls his glass before setting it down on the counter with a loud clack, “Because I care about you.”

You pause with your own drink halfway to your mouth and look up. Zoro doesn’t shy away from meeting your gaze and for a moment, time statics to a halt around you.

Then, Zoro sighs, unclenching his jaw as he attempts a lopsided smile.

“Hey, talk to me,” he reaches out to trail a finger along the high of your cheekbones, up to the shell of your ear.

The ‘please’ hangs silent in the air between you; the ‘Princess’ is implied.

And for the first time, he thinks he sees you flinch. He makes to pull back but you tug his hand forward, pressing your cheek against his palm.

“This island,” you say, finally, the tremor in your voice like a hairline fracture snaking through a porcelain vase, “it’s… well, it used to be… my home.”

05. the secret history

It is the most beautiful place any of them have ever been.

The castle is made entirely of ice, the cold winter sun refracting the light into a million and one unseen colors. Giant ice-carved sculptures dot the crystal-flower gardens, and it takes them all a few minutes to realize that the gorgeous, delicate blooms are made of glass, blown and shaped to mirror real-life snowflakes — each unique, glittering, and eternal.

“Dude… how long do you think all this took to make?” Usopp asks, his head turning as if on a swivel, his jaw hinging off his face in awe.

Robin sighs, “Too long, perhaps.”

Zoro stays quiet, and beside him, so does Nami.

You’d insisted on staying back, to guard the ship, you’d said. But the space you usually fill in the group hangs solid in the air, a gaping hole of lack when there should be none.

Luffy hums and he marches out in front of them, ever the dubious, fearless leader. Though most of the crew has now come to terms with the fact that “courage” and “sheer bull-headedness” are often two sides of the same coin for him.

It’s Sanji who pauses first, causing Chopper to ram into the back of his knees.

“Ouch! What’dyou do that f —”

“Look,” Sanji says, pointing at a poster pasted to the slick outer wall of the castle gates.

And they do, leaning in, crowding too close. Zoro grunts as Chopper jumps and scrambles up his back to peer over his shoulder at the face plastered on the dew-soaked poster, the words LOST PRINCESS: 120,000,000 FOR ANY INFORMATION THAT LEADS TO HER WHEREABOUTS printed in giant, familiar block letters along the bottom.

Beside him, Zoro can feel Nami swallowing. Hard.

“A hundred and twenty million berry…” she murmurs, her breath going shallow as they all stare, dumbfounded at the poster of what is unmistakably you.

You, with your exquisite features schooled into something like solemnity, your usually wind-swept hair twisted up into a tight braid across the crown of your head, a diadem of ice-white silver and light-cut jewels jutting up from your severe updo like so many broken teeth, sharp and unforgiving as stalagmites.

If none of them had known, it’d be impossible to reconcile you with this cold, distant portrait, your eyes rendered lifeless and dull by the depthless black ink.

Luffy, however, only blinks and turns to stare at Zoro.

“Did you know?”

“What?”

Luffy continues to stare, “When I asked why you always call her ‘Princess’.”

Zoro sighs, turning his eyes back to the WANTED poster before shaking his head.

“No. Like I said… I thought it just… fit.”

06. eternal day

Zoro is itching to get back to the ship. There’s a fish-line sliver of worry tugging at the place behind his chest where his heart should be, and he knows implicitly that something is wrong.

“Don’t worry, she can take care of herself!” Luffy says, smiling bright, his confidence unwavering.

“No Luffy, Zoro’s right — someone should be with her. What if —” and here, Nami glances at Zoro before turning her attention back to Luffy, “— she might need the backup,” is what she finally settles with. And to Zoro’s great relief, Luffy agrees.

And then, to everyone’s horror, off in the distance, your voice rises over the wind in a blood-curdling scream.

07. endless night

By the time Zoro makes it back to the ship, you are already gone.

08. torn asunder

Gone, gone, gone. The word echoes like an ill-fated alarm bell, ringing through Zoro’s entire body as he catapults himself through the ship, slamming open every door, checking every nook, corner, and crevice. Signs of a struggle, that much is clear, scuffs on the freshly waxed planks of the aft deck, nail marks along the railings, and —

Zoro’s breath freezes in his chest.

A smear of blood that drips over the side of the ship, trailing down the ladder.

A flash of pale pink catches his eye.

Your satin hair ribbon lies abandoned on the wharfs’ boardwalk, the faintest splatter of red soaking its ends.

He picks it up between gentle fingers and tucks it deep into his pocket.

His vision blurs red as he thinks about the things your captors might’ve done to you before dragging you off. He’s seen you fight and it wouldn’t have been easy to bring you down.

And by the time the rest of the crew reach him, he’s already sprinting back towards the castle, his jaw set, his teeth gritted.

It takes the combined effort of Sanji, Luffy, and Robin to stop him from charging through the castle gates and tearing the whole place down.

“Runnin’ round like a headless chicken’s not gonna do her any good, mate,” Sanji says, a smoke already caught between his teeth. A pre-fight ritual of his.

Zoro jerks his arm out of Sanji’s grasp, stalking down the street with a huff.

Robin strolls after him, somehow keeping pace, looking unhurried as Zoro tamps down the blind urge to slash the entire island in half.

“We’ll find her,” Robin says, her voice level, even as her sharp eyes scan the white-specked horizon, the usually amused half-twist of her lips laid flat by worry, “and she’s stronger than you think.”

At this, Zoro whips around, “I know —” but he bites down the venom threatening to surge up the back of his throat with a sigh. Robin doesn’t flinch, and Zoro attempts a steadying breath before repeating himself in a slightly softer tone, “I know… I’m just…”

Robin nods, and Zoro is thankful that he doesn’t have to finish his sentence.

09. the tower and the throne

The cold greets you like a scorned lover— a spiteful, savage mistress. Tendrils of frost creep along the walls of your old bedroom to caress your cheeks. You shiver and wrap your arms around yourself, sitting on familiar satin sheets.

“Dinner is soon, darling,” your mother’s cool voice calls from outside your bedroom door, “and make yourself presentable — we’ve got guests.”

The sadistic lilt of her voice as she says the word ‘guests’ makes you jerk your head up, staring at the door as if you might be able to bore through the thick wood with nothing but your eyes. And, almost as if she can feel you staring, you hear your mother’s cold, tinkling laughter.

“Hurry now… I had your favorite dress put out for you. It should still fit — and we don’t want to keep them… waiting.”

The slow, sanguine pause before her last word makes you want to rip out your hair and scream into the wind till your voice gives out.

Instead, you push yourself up and reach for the dress laid out at the foot of your bed with shaking fingers.

The dress fits you like a second skin, the delicate lace trim barely sweeping the floor as you adjust the bodice, grimacing at your reflection in the large, floor-length mirror. It is as if the last ten months had never happened, as if you’d never escaped this terrifying hellscape of a winter wonderland. As if you’d simply dreamed every single sun-filled afternoon, every star-strewn night spent laughing and singing amongst your new-found crew.

Here, in the fragile glass reflection, you are once again a girl trapped behind her own ribcage, with a destiny carved into stone and ice, with no hope of summer in sight. You take a long breath and tighten the ribbons of your dress.

You are still and silent as the maid slips in through the door after a single knock and begins to twist up your hair. Tighter and tighter, till it sets your teeth on edge. When she pins the crown in place, it takes everything inside you not to fall apart, to shatter at the weight, the sight of it sitting on your head. You swallow as the maid dips her head and backs out of the room with a murmured dinner is served, Princess.

For the first time, you wince openly at her words.

10. waiting for the rain

The hall is just how you remembered it, huge and cavernous, gaping like the empty maw of some petrified monster, the ceiling hanging with so many cold, sparkling chandeliers, ice-carved statues jutting up from the floors like teeth.

You’re marched in like a show animal, the great marble doors swinging open before you as you step forward and feel your breath freeze in your chest.

There, strung up on a massive statue of some long-forgotten saint, is Zoro, cuts and bruises marring his already scarred and puckered torso. But he smirks as he sees you come in, his eyes bright as he spits a mouthful of blood onto the seemingly endless white floors. Around him, the rest of your crew sits, tied and slumped over in chairs like so many sleeping mannequins.

“Hey there, Princess. Just in time for dinner.”

You nearly wince at the raspiness in his voice, the faint trickle of blood that leaks out the corner of his mouth.

“Silence,” your father’s voice echoes out from the high-backed chair at the head of the ludicrously long table. You don’t have to see to know his face is as smooth as just-applied plaster. But Zoro only has eyes for you — and he continues to talk as if he hadn’t been interrupted.

“If you’d told us we’d be welcomed like this, we might’ve packed differently.”

You bite down on your bottom lip so hard you almost taste the metallic tang of blood.

“Our daughter has always been a skillful liar — though it’s a habit we tried to… rid her of in her youth. The lesson never seemed to have stuck.” Your mother this time. And now, you can see the muscle ticking in Zoro’s jaw as he scoffs.

“Really? And here I always thought she was shit at lying.”

You swallow down a whimper as the maid wordlessly leads you to the far end of the table, where Zoro is still tied. You drop into the seat between a snoring Luffy and an eerily still Nami, and it’s all you can do not to turn around and retch onto the silk embroidered rug.

“Be that as it may…” your mother’s voice drops a few degrees — an admirable feat, as her voice is usually just on the other side of frigid, “it’s bad luck to kill on the eve of a royal wedding.”

At this, Zoro’s head snaps around and you shrink back in your chair, your eyes fixed on your fists, clenched in your lap.

“Mother,” you grind out, finally forcing your head up so as to meet her piercing, blizzard-bright gaze, “I’ve told you, I’ve no intention of getting married. At least not to the mongrel you’ve decided to set me up with.”

You spit out the last sentence, trying to remember all the snark, all the confidence that’d built up inside you over the past weeks and months. Away from this dreaded castle and on the sun-soaked bow of the Going Merry, it was the first time you’d begun to discover who you are — the things you liked, the ways of life that you yearned for.

Your father slams a hand on the table at the same moment that Zoro lets out a bark of laughter.

“Insolence!”

“Damn, Princess — you never told me you could bite.”

And, to your horror and perhaps deep-seated pleasure, a blush works its way into your cheeks at Zoro’s words. Your eyes snap towards him, catching his gaze as he smirks at you. And even though his shirt is slashed, his sword hilts hanging woefully empty at this hip, his hands twisted painfully behind him on the statue, he still manages an easy, condescending air.

You seize at this tiny tendril of normalcy as you force a wane smile.

“I might be persuaded to do more than that… if you ask nicely.”

Zoro’s snicker is drowned out by your mother’s sharp gasp. But you don’t look away, holding Zoro’s gaze for as long as you dare — in it, you find an entire abyss of barely concealed rage (and is that… amusement?), his entire body straining against the shackles that hold him. Then, his eyes slip from you to a point just over your shoulder.

It’s then that you realize: Luffy’s not snoring anymore.

11. to reap and to sow

You’re never quite certain of how the Merry’s crew seems to always just wriggle out of frankly gruesome and untimely deaths, but here you are, racing for the docks like your lives depended on it. Because, well, it kind of does.

“Remind me —” you shout between pants, one hand clutched firmly in Zoro’s, the other doing its best to lift the ridiculous dinner dress they’d put you in — a confection of lace and tulle, the bodice laced with pale pink satin ribbon, “how the hell did you guys manage to trick my parents into thinking you’d eaten the spiked food?”

Sanji flashes you a toothy grin, “Ah love… you know how it is — ask us no questions, and we’ll tell you no lies!”

Luffy, however, whoops as he launches himself from a pair of solid brick buildings, catapulting himself over your sprinting crew.

“We just — pretended to eat! I mean — I did kinda actually eat a bit — but — it wasn’t that bad!”

You resist the urge to pinch your nose bridge at the nonchalance with which Luffy is talking about consuming poisoned food, but you’ve only got two hands and both are equally occupied at the moment. You settle for an exasperated sigh.

“That was — really stupid! — What if — they’d — poisoned the food — with something — other than — sleeping medicine?!” you ask, forcing air into your lungs as finally, you all round the bend onto the bustling pier, the Going Merry’s unmistakable shape silhouetted against the misty horizon.

“We can talk when — we’re all back — on the ship!” Nami calls as she sprints passed you, reaching out a hand for Luffy, who’s elongated arm grabs her and slings her onto the deck of the ship. You barely have a second to breathe before Zoro’s arm loops around your waist and you’re being pulled tight into his side.

His breath is hot against your collarbone as he smirks, “Hold on tight, Princess.”

It’s all you can do to listen as you’re suddenly whipped through the air like a doll on a drunken marionette’s string. A bright peal of Luffy-tinted laughter later, you thud onto the deck of the Going Merry, the breath knocked clean from your lungs as the world spins and spins. You’d expected to hit solid wood, or maybe even the railing or the mast but —

Zoro groans beneath you, and it takes you a long second to realize that he’d cushioned your fall, your bodies pressed chest to chest, hip to hip, your arms still wrapped around his shoulders, his still steady around your waist.

“O-oh! Sorry —” you try to pull away but Zoro’s grip on you only tightens.

You freeze as he blinks up at you, eyes slightly narrowed.

“Crown’s crooked,” Zoro finally says, that tell-tale smirk twisting the edge of his lips as his gaze flickers upwards. Your hand jumps to the crown, somehow still clipped into your now disheveled hair, lopping to one side as the braids start to come loose. You purse your lips.

“I never liked it anyway…” You make to tug it out but Zoro reaches up to right it, though he lets his hand linger as he falls along the side of your face.

“Nah, looks good on you.” His voice is so low, and suddenly, air is such a language that you’re certain you’d forgotten how to speak. Slowly, he pushes up till you’re both sitting, you still pressed against him and him still pressed against you. Distantly, you can hear shouting, Usopp’s voice raised high over the wind as the Merry careens out of port and towards the open sea.

But strangely, no one makes to pull you away from him, or him from you.

“I should’ve told you guys…” you say, eyes casting down as you rest your palms against his chest. Beneath it, you can feel his heart — pounding, pounding, pounding. There’s a light sheen of sweat glimmering on his honeyed skin as you swallow, looking back up even as he chuckles.

“Sure, but we should’ve asked.”

You bite your lips, “I think you did.”

Zoro grins, shrugging as he helps you up, somehow managing to keep his arm slipped around your waist.

“Well. Should’ve asked better, then.”

12. lost stars

It takes you a while to tell them the story — the real story, the whole story. And there’s drinking involved, but it’s mostly just you clutching at your half-filled glass, Zoro’s knee pressed comfortingly against yours, even though his eyes are closed, his head leaned back, his arms crossed loosely over his chest.

You tell them about the dark underbelly of royalty that everyone knows but no one wants to talk about — the blood and teeth beneath the silk and silver. You tell them about being raised a bargaining chip, of being sold and promised like a prized heifer on auction day.

You tell them about the moonless nights when the only thing you had to keep you company was the cold, about the “lessons” your mother would teach you, about how the maids would be instructed to hide the bruises just so, about the Prince who you were set to marry and the rumors that plagued his castle —

“They say that he’d take the prettiest girls from the surrounding town as his maids and that none of them ever walked out of his castle again,” you say. The moonshine burns on its way down your throat as you finish your drink.

Wordlessly, Zoro reaches over to pluck the glass from your hand and set it on the table. It’s only then that you realize your fingers are white and trembling.

“Did he hurt you?”

Zoro’s voice is not loud, but everyone turns to look at him. You shake your head, clasping your hands in your lap.

“No. I only ever… met him once, at a dinner party. It was after that that I… ran away.”

Zoro hums, leaning back again, “Good.”

Across the room, Sanji blows out a series of smoke rings and frowns.

“Were you about to offer to hunt him down?” Robin asks, sounding amused.

Zoro shrugs, “Wouldn’t have offered — would’ve just done it.”

“He sounds like the kinda guy we should hunt down anyway, no?” Luffy asks, cocking his head as he looks back at you, “I mean, I’m glad he never hurt you but… he’s still hurting people!”

“Luffy’s got a point,” Sanji says, stubbing out his cigarette.

“For once, I agree with Sanji,” Nami says.

There’s a light squabble during which Sanji makes an aggrieved noise and Nami rolls her eyes, and then everyone is laughing and chatting and more drinks are being poured. Next to you, Zoro reaches out to wrap his arm around your waist again. It’s something he’s been doing more lately, and you can’t honestly say that you mind it much at all.

“We don’t have to,” he says, leaning forward, almost as if to brush his lips by your ear, “if… if you don’t want to.”

You shiver at the base rumble of his voice, at the way his eyes are so warm and full of some uncertain promise.

“No, I… I do want to. It’s just…”

Zoro’s fingers trace small, absent-minded circles into the skin of your waist and you fight down another shiver.

“I don’t plan on letting you get kidnapped again, Princess.”

Your gaze snaps up to meet Zoro’s, and there’s a faint smile kissing the line of his lips. And suddenly, the lightness of his touch doesn’t feel so thoughtless as heat curls out from the place where his palm meets your skin, radiating out till you’re breathless with it.

“Oh?”

“Never liked people trying to take what’s mine.”

And the dark possessiveness with which he says mine leaves little room for interpretation, even as you lick your lips and try to think of something witty to say.

“I don’t remember agreeing to be yours.”

It’s the best you can come up with; Zoro’s only response is a soft, contemplative grunt.

“What’s that saying? ‘Actions speak louder than words’?” he flashes you a satisfied grin as you narrow your eyes at him, swatting at his chest as he laughs.

“I meant it though,” he says, a moment later, as the rest of the crew all chatter around you, “about calling it off if you don’t want to. But…” he reaches up a free hand to tug a strand of your hair free from the ponytail it’s tied up in.

“Figured you might sleep better at night knowing he’s gone.”

You let out a breath you hadn’t been aware you were holding, your whole body softening as you lean into him, pressing your palms to his chest as he looks at you.

“Yeah… I think I might. And… like you said… it’s not like I’m gonna get kidnapped again.”

You smile, letting your eyes flicker down to Zoro’s lips. His smile is pleased and just a little jagged as he tugs you up by the hand and the pair of you slip from the room.

Above deck, the sun is setting, and the warm, slanted light casts the entire ship in a glaze of gold that looks almost gilded. You lean against the railings, closing your eyes and letting the warmth of the sun seep into your skin, chasing away the chill that’d been lingering at your fingertips since you’d all made your spectacular escape from your home island.

You feel rather than hear Zoro join you. You take your time breathing in the salty tang of the humid sea air before opening your eyes and slating him a side-long look.

“Thank you,” you say.

“For what?”

“For coming after me.”

Zoro scoffs, turning away from the roiling waves to lean back against the railings, his head cocked as he looks you over.

“Like I said… I don’t like it when people try to take what’s mine.”

But this time, you laugh, nodding, “So you’ve said. But still… thanks.”

“Hn.”

Zoro closes his eyes, seemingly enjoying the last vestiges of the setting sun as it sinks ever-lower along the horizon. Then, he opens one eye to peer at you.

“Though I’ve been meaning to ask —”

“Hm?”

“What’s this about doing more than biting… if asked about it nicely enough?”

You try to duck your head but Zoro catches your chin in his fingers.

“I — I just… knew it would piss off my mother if she —”

“Mm, sounded like more than that to me.”

Your breath hitches as Zoro’s thumb traces a rough line along your bottom lip.

“How about… I show you?” and the offer is barely out of your mouth before Zoro is kissing you, his mouth seeking out yours with a soft groan that betrays all the lightness in his touch as he trails his free hand down your arm to pull hard at your waist.

And it’s not the first time you’ve kissed. It’s not even the first time a kiss with Zoro has become more than just a kiss, though you’d always been careful before to make sure that he knew (though thinking back, it might’ve just been an ill-fated attempt at lying to yourself) that the pleasure shared between bodies was just that — pleasure and bodies.

But this — this kiss becomes, and becomes.

It becomes breath and heartbeats, pleasure and heat. It becomes truth and promises and the tantalizing taste of fairy-tale endings.

“Z-Zoro…”

“Yes Princess?”

You hiss as his teeth grazes along your pulse point and your fingers fist in his hair.

“Y’know…” your voice comes out as nothing more than a soft pant as Zoro tugs you over to one of the reclining chairs beneath the orange trees and pulls you over his hips, “I’ve never liked being called that but…”

“But?” his thumbs inch beneath the material of your shirt, circling your hipbones as he smirks up at you.

“I don’t mind it when it’s you.”

Zoro’s grin goes wide and wolfish. Above him, the first stars spark into being as the sun finally sinks beyond the far horizon. For a second, his smile softens as he reaches up to toy with the end of the pale pink ribbon in your hair. Then, he gives it a single, solid tug, and your hair falls open around your shoulders, tumbling down in waves.

Zoro leans up to press a light kiss to the blood-stained satin before letting it flutter off in the wind, twisting into the rapidly darkening night.

“Good… cause I ain’t about to let anyone else call you that either.”