#it's not her actions or choices that put her in danger OR save her from it--once again it is the whim of a man

[biggest-gaudiest-patronuses]

main take aways from Halloween (1978) rewatch:

michael myers is canonically 21??? this bitch should be at the club

*sees tiddies* ***MURDEROUS RAMPAGE NOISES***

that's it that's the movie

outside of the fact that everyone who has sex is murdered by the narrative, this is a surprisingly chill portrayal of female sexuality? these teen girls are horny and actively enjoying Getting It On with their boytoys. no pushy boyfriends sneaking in through their bedroom windows--these ladies are taking the initiative to sneak out and GET SOME. one of them gets laid and then immediately orders her boyfriend to get her a beer. (yes she gets Slashered soon afterward, but so does the boyfriend so honestly, gender equality.) yes the Final Girl is the only one not having sex, but she's not bullied for that, nor are her friends slut shamed except possibly by being murdered by the narrative

actually the only character who is shown being morally condemned on-screen is michael myers. specifically FOR his violent overreaction to other people's sex lives. (people he is spying on). metaphorically, the villain is American Puritanism sticking its judgy nose into other people's business.

aka Michael Myers Is A Republican

but actually the real villain is the doctor. guy's a judgemental, shaming, pathologizing asshole. and he's been in charge of michael's care since he was SIX YEARS OLD? kid never had a chance. i'd go on a killing spree too

also the parents. where are the parents? it's halloween night and all the teenage girls are home babysitting their younger siblings? come to think of it, michael's first victim was his own older sister, whom he killed while she was babysitting him. teen girls are really shouldering a labour burden here. maybe parentification is the true villain

side note: mike commits his first murder wearing a clown costume...which is never referenced again? his 'iconic' costume is a generic mask and wig and jumpsuit, when we coulda had a Killer Clown Michael Myers??? travesty

i like how the Final Girl and her friend casually smoke weed in her car. yeah she's an honor student and her friend is the sheriff's daughter. yeah they smoke weed. so what it's 1978

(to reiterate, mike is 21 and should be at the club. im not saying he shouldn't be rampaging, im saying it's sad that he broke out, tasted freedom for the first time in his life, and immediately snuck back into his childhood home to go rampaging. let's have a remake where he goes to a nightclub and has a few beers. maybe some slutty dancing. then rampage)

oh no he's hot

[batboyblog]

2024 Senate Elections: You'd Better VOTE!

Yes it's election year yet again in America! but not just for President, almost as important will be the US Senate!

I'm not gonna lie this is a rough map for Democrats, we're playing a lot of defense in some pretty red states with even our best hopes for a pick up being pretty long shots. But even with narrow control of the Senate we've managed the biggest climate bill in American History a huge infrastructure bill thats bring high speed rail to America capped the price of insulin changed the law to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices bring savings to everyone, and put over 160 federal judges on the bench, 2/3rds of whom are women and/or people of color the first time white men haven't been the majority of nominees by a President. So let's keep progress going by voting for, supporting, donating, and volunteering for the following candidates in the races that will decide the US Senate this year.

Arizona

Ruben Gallego (Hold)

After frustrating Democrats by repeatedly voting against major Democratic priorities, supporting the filibuster and putting donors over voters, Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema left the Democratic Party to become an independent in 2022. Democratic congressman Ruben Gallego was running to primary Sinema before she left the party and is now the likely Democratic nominee to unseat her and give Arizona the Democratic Senator it deserves. Gallego is a former Marine, combat veteran, Harvard grad, a former state representative, and since 2014 a member of Congress. Gallego is a member of the Progressive Caucus and is known for his blunt and combative style standing up to Republicans. In Congress Gallego has been a strong supporter of native rights advocating for tribes on health care and child welfare issues. Gallego is also the sponsor of a bill to bring about nation wide, free, all-day kindergarten which isn't available in many states. If elected Gallego would be Arizona's first hispanic Senator. Republicans hope that the Democratic vote will split between Sinema and Gallego allowing them to win this important seat. The Republican front runner is conspiracy theorist and Trump super fan, Kari Lake. Lake rose to national fame in 2021 for pushing conspiracy theories about Trump having won the 2020 election, as well as anti-mask and anti-vaccine Covid conspiracies. Lake was the Republican nominee for Arizona governor in 2022. During that campaign she ran on an aggressive anti-LGBT platform, saying she'd ban drag, and was against trans rights. Lake also is against Abortion in all cases. After losing to Democrat Katie Hobbs, Lake refused to concede, and still pushes the conspiracy theory that she's the rightful governor of Arizona. If you live in Arizona please make sure you vote, but more if you have any time between now and November, volunteer to help Gallego! and if you don't live there you can still Donate or buy a pro-choice shirt from his campaign!

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Florida

Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (Flip)

Florida's current Republican Senator Rick Scott is a right wing extremist pushing dangerous ideas even by the standards of the Modern GOP. During his first term as Senator Scott has pushed to defund the IRS, and the Department of Education. He's sponsored bills to punish schools that allow students to use preferred pronouns, to ban affirmative action, bans teaching critical race theory, and ban trans people from women's sports. Scott is against abortion in all cases. Most alarming Rick Scott proposed a radical plan that would "sun-set" ANY and all federal laws after 5 years, including Social Security and Medicare, Scott would place all federal programs and agencies on the chopping block every 5 years for a radical Republican minority to block their renewal and leave us without Social Security, or the EPA, to name just two examples. The likely Democratic nominee is former Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell. Born in Ecuador, Mucarsel-Powell immigrated to the US when she was 14 and had work to help support her family. When she was elected to Congress in 2018 she became the first South American born immigrant and first person of Ecuadorian heritage to be elected to Congress. In Congress Mucarsel-Powell was a member of the Progressive caucus, she fought to expand medicare, and secured $200 million for Everglades restoration. After a narrow defeat in 2020 Mucarsel-Powell joined the gun control advocacy group Giffords to fight for gun control a personal issue for her after her father was murdered when she was 24. If you're in Florida please make sure you vote, and Volunteer to help remove on of the most extreme Senators, If you're not in Florida you can help Debbie win by donating.

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Michigan

Elissa Slotkin (hold)

Long time Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow is retiring this election, so there will be a tough fight for control of this important swing state Senate seat. The likely Democratic nominee is Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin. Slotkin is a former CIA analyst, after retiring from the CIA she worked in the State and Defense departments during the Obama administration. Slotkin was first elected to Congress in 2018 winning and being re-elected in a tough swing district. In Congress she's fought for common sense gun control, supported the cap on insulin prices and Medicare drug price negotiation, she helped pass a law on drug price transparency, she championed the CHIP act to bring high tech manufacturing jobs back to America, and was a big supporter of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Slotkin is centering a pro-choice message in her campaign as well as gun control and bring down medical costs. Who the Republicans will pick isn't totally clear, it seems like it's between Former Congressman Mike Rogers and former Detroit Police chief James Craig. Craig ran for Michigan governor in 2022 before he was disqualified for fraudulent signatures on his nominating petition. Craig has listed cutting off US support to Ukraine as one of his top priorities, and endorsed Trump's 3rd run for President early in the primaries. Mike Rogers is also trying to win over Trump voters and has attacked the rights of LGBT students in schools calling it "social engineering". If you live in Michigan make sure to get out and vote, and also volunteer! And for everyone outside the state you can donate or buy some merch.

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Montana

Jon Tester (re-elect)

In most contexts Montana is a deep red state going for Trump in 2020 57% to 40%. This makes the reelection of Montana's only Democratic member of Congress and only statewide elected Democrat, Jon Tester maybe the toughest election for Democrats this year. A Senator since he was first elected in 2006 Tester has won a series of upset wins in Montana over the years. A 3rd generation farmer Tester has been as strong for small farmers and ranchers in Washington. Tester has always been a champion of accountably and transparency in government pushing ethnics and campaign finance reforms. Tester is rated one of the most effective senators and managed to pass more bills last year than any one else in Congress. He's never been afraid to stand up for the Democratic side even if it'd be an unpopular vote in Red Montana. Tester voted to impeach Trump twice, and he voted against all 3 of Trump's nominees to the Supreme Court. He supported President Obama on The Affordable Care Act and Dodd-Frank, and has supported President Biden on the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Republicans seem likely to nominate right wing influencer and former Navy SEAL Tim Sheehy. Sheehy promises to get drag queens out of schools and the Lord's Prayer in to the classroom. He also hopes to repeal Obamacare calling for a "total privatization" of health care and made statements against the very idea of health insurance, insisting people should pay full price at point of use. If you're a Montanan make sure to vote to re-elect a champion of the little guy, and also volunteer! if you're not please think of donating what you can, if you can only give to one campaign this cycle this one, or Ohio are the most important!

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Nevada

Jacky Rosen (re-elect)

First elected to Congress in 2016 Jacky Rosen moved up to the Senate in 2018. In her first term as a Senator Rosen has championed green energy for Nevada. Together with fellow Democratic Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, Rosen has gotten millions for solar manufacturing in Nevada as well as millions to replace the state's school buses with electric, and programs to study new groundbreaking green technology. Senator Rosen has been a supporter of gun control, is in favor of banning assault weapons. She sponsored a bill, the Background Check Expansion Act, that would require background checks for all gun sales closing loopholes for on-line sales and gun shows. Rosen is pro-choice and has sponsored a bill to protect doctors from being prosecuted across state lines for providing reproductive care, and is a co-sponsor of a bill to codify Roe V. Wade into federal law. Rosen will likely face Republican celebrity and army veteran Sam Brown. Brown ran and lost a race for the Texas State House in 2014 and ran and lost for Nevada's other Senate seat in 2022. Brown stated he was in favor of getting rid of the Departments of Education, Transportation, and Energy. Brown is against Red Flag gun laws that allow police to temporarily remove fire arms from the home of someone deemed a danger to themselves or others. Brown also has refused to say if he supports a national abortion ban, but does say he's pro-life and wouldn't support any judges that weren't. If you live in Nevada make sure to get out to vote and volunteer to protect the state's green future and the right to reproductive care. If you're not in Nevada consider donating or buying some merch.

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Ohio

Sherrod Brown (re-elect)

Ohio together with Montana represents the toughest re-elect for Democrats this year. The state went for Trump twice, elected a right wing radical, JD Vaince, to the Senate in 2022 and has had a Republican governor since 2010. To complicate thing more Democrat Sherrod Brown is one of the most progressive members of the Senate, regularly scoring along side Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren for the most left wing in the Senate. From the time he was first elected to Congress in 1992 Brown refused to take the Congressional Health Insurance until all Americans could be covered. Brown first supported a Medicare for all bill in 2006 and has supported different efforts to expand Medicare and health coverage. He was a key supporter of the Children Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Brown is a strong supporter of unions and has struggled his whole career to protect unionized manufacturing jobs in Ohio. He was one of the first Senators out on the picket line during the UAW strike of 2023. Brown's hard work has help make Ohio the center of a new booming lithium battery manufacturing in America, a green manufacturing future for the state. Republicans look likely to nominate former used car dealer and father-in-law of Republican Congressman Max Miller, Bernie Moreno. Moreno's main qualification seems to be having been endorsed by Donald Trump. He lists among his priorities "End Socialism in America" and "End Wokeness and Cancel Culture". If you're in Ohio make sure to vote to re-elect a progressive giant and volunteer too! If you live out of Ohio donate, if you're looking for the race where your dollar will matter the most, this one or Montana guys.

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Pennsylvania

Bob Casey Jr. (re-elect)

First elected in 2006 Bob Casey famously beat incumbent Republican homophobe Rick Santorum by 17 points. Since first entering the Senate Casey has moved leftward on a number of issues. First elected as a pro-Gun Democrat since 2012 Casey has sponsored a number of bills to expand background checks, ban assault weapons, ban extended magazines, and well as supporting mental health funds for victims of gun violence. For a number of years Casey was called the last pro-life Democrat in the Senate, however in 2022 he came out in support of Roe V Wade and voted twice on bills that would have codified the right to an abortion into federal law. Casey voted against all 3 of Trump's Supreme Court picks and has long supported Planned Parenthood's contraception efforts with federal funds, seeing easily available birth control as key to reducing the number of abortions. In 2021 Casey published a plan he called "The Five Freedoms for America's Children" modeled after FDR's famous speech. He proposed automatically enrolling all kids in Medicaid, an expanded child tax cut, a federally supported college fund for all kids who's parents make under $100,000, expanded free school meals, more funds for head start and abuse prevention programs. Republicans are rallying behind Mitch McConnell's hand picked candidate, hedge fund CEO David McCormick. McCormick worked for the Bush administration during Bush's second term. McCormick's wife Dina Powell also worked for the George W. Bush administration and was a senior aid to Trump as well. If you're in Pennsylvania make sure to get out and vote for a solid Democrat out to solve child poverty in America and keep the Hedge Fund guy from Connecticut out, and Volunteer if you can. Remember you can donate where ever you are.

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Texas

Colin Allred (flip)

Texas is currently represented by likely the most hated man in Washington, Ted Cruz. Republicans hate him, Democrats hate him more, he has a very punchable face, he might be the zodiac killer (thats a joke and meme). From shutting down the government in 2013 to try to overturn Obamacare, to leading the charge in Congress to overturn the 2020 election on January 6th Ted Cruz is a greatest hits of the worst parts of the Republican Party of the last 10 years. When Texas lost power in the middle of a historic ice storm in 2021 Ted Cruz and family ditched the state to go on vacation in Mexico, classy. Cruz in the Biden years has cast himself as a culture warrior fighting against "woke" publishing a book "Unwoke: How to Defeat Cultural Marxism in America" in 2023 to kick off his re-election campaign. Texas is a traditionally red state but things are starting to shift and in 2018 Cruz narrowly won re-election over Beto O'Rourke. Democrats hope with the right candidate they can turn Texas blue and beat the most hated Senator in America. Democrats think Congressman Colin Allred is the man for the job. Allred is a former NFL Linebacker for the Titans. After the NFL he went on to get his law degree from UC Berkeley, and work in the Obama administration. Allred was first elected to Congress in 2018, unseating a Republican who'd been in office since 1997 and becoming the first Democrat to represent the area in Congress since 1968. In Congress Allred has supported bills to expand voting right and protect abortion rights, as well as gun control. In the Senate he promises to address Texas' shaky power grid and make sure Texas is never left in the dark again with its leaders missing. Lets do this Texas, make blue Texas a reality if you live in Texas remember to vote and volunteer, if you're an American who hates Ted Cruz you can donate to make in unemployed.

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Wisconsin

Tammy Baldwin (re-elect)

When Tammy Baldwin first ran for Congress in 1998 she was the first openly gay person elected to the US House and the first open Lesbian to serve in Congress. In 2012 she became the first openly gay person elected to the US Senate and the first Lesbian to be a Senator, she is still the only openly gay Senator. Through out her time in office Baldwin has been a tireless voice for LGBT rights, in 2022 she helped spear head the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act to help protect gay marriage, she's also a sponsor of the Equality Act to protect all LGBT people from discrimination. Baldwin is a progressive who was a member of the House Progressive caucus, opposed the Iraq War and supported impeaching Dick Cheney. In the House she introduced bills for a single payer healthcare system in 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2005. In the Senate Baldwin is regularly listed as one of the most progressive members, voting against tax cuts for the rich, supporting a bill to require companies to have workers on their boards, she sponsored a bill to create a public option in Health Care, and has supported gun control efforts. The Republican field to challenge Senator Baldwin is uncertain, but former Milwaukee sheriff David Clarke dominates the polls if he decides to run. Clarke's sheriff's department is accused a number of human rights violations from his time as sheriff, including allowing a prisoner to die of dehydration after 6 days without water in the Milwaukee County Jail. Clarke is a Trump super fan who has pushed conspiracy theories about mass shootings being fake, attacked Black Lives Matter, called Planned Parenthood "Planned Genocide", and called for the mass detention without trial of Americans because he believed there were a million ISIS supporters in America. If you're in Wisconsin make sure to get out and vote for a trailblazing icon and also volunteer if you can, all Americans can donate and support Baldwin wherever they are.

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If you're an American citizen and will be 18 years old (or older) by November 5th 2024, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE! make sure you're registered to VOTE please check Vote.Org to find out what you need to do, what deadlines there are and act NOW

If you're an American living outside the US, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE. Please checkout Vote From Aboard they have literally all the information you need to get registered and get your ballot wherever in the world you are, and Check out Democrats Abroad to take part in the global primary

Where ever you live in the US, there is an important life changing election happening! Get off your phone or computer and get involved, There are Events happening all around you right now Volunteer

Finally if you're a US citizen of any age any where on earth you can donate, donate to elect Biden/Harris donate to elect Democrats to the Senate, To the House, to Governorships, to local office

and the smallest thing you can do is reblog this very long post, thank you!

[pinspec]

i’ve absolutely loved the way vi’s appearance has been modified throughout this season.

in act 1, she retains her season 1 look, which could be seen as symbolic of an enduring self image of someone who must be unyielding and unchanging, i.e. someone who can protect zaun. this strength was borne of anger and grief surrounding the loss of her family, and her unchanged appearance makes clear that this vision of who vi believes herself to be still prevails. she becomes an enforcer after the attack on the memorial—not because she forsakes zaun, but because she believes she can’t protect anyone from jinx without the badge.

this is also the same hair she had when she first met and worked with caitlyn. we get the impression that she wants to be the same tough fighter who can keep them both afloat, but considering that vi seems most vulnerable in the presence of caitlyn—who causes her to suffer by persuading her to become an enforcer—we know this is futile. this theme is present during their first kiss, where vi almost buckles while caitlyn stands up straight.

then after caitlyn’s betrayal, a drastic change to her appearance occurs. she dyes her hair black and applies black eyeshadow, even black paint, to her face. she paints on a defensive facade to hide how vulnerable she is and her misery over making the wrong choice again and again and again. she tries to seem dangerous by making her rage visible but only ends up making her pain visible. hints of pink show through at the ends of her hair.

then jinx asks her to help her save vander, to overcome her lasting hatred for the hope of reuniting their family, and she actually does. she makes herself vulnerable again, and is rewarded by an unreal reconnection with jinx in the serene surroundings of viktor’s commune. she feels a flicker of hope that they might save their father. vi has the chance to forge a self-image that is not related to loss, and she seeks her younger self: the person who would put herself in harm’s way for her sister without a second thought.

then she bumps into caitlyn, who describes her as “an angry oil slick”. vi doesn’t respond with anger as she usually would—she just lets caitlyn see her. “don’t sugarcoat it, cupcake.” her dyed hair and shadowed eyes become a metamorphic signal. i believe caitlyn senses vi’s changing relationship with anger and is pushed to confront her own. she leaves her vendetta behind and defects.

in episode 8, vi’s hair is reverting back to pink and growing longer.

she goes to a locked up, grieving jinx and immediately opens her cage. vi’s transformation is almost complete; she has overcome the rage that made her reject powder all those years ago and replaced it with the desire to hold her sister even if her sister won’t hold her back.

succumbing to the loss of isha and vander, jinx traps vi in the cell and leaves, but it doesn’t matter. vi has become a force of love, not rage. caitlyn finds her, and reveals that she met vi halfway and allowed her to free jinx. caitlyn, too, has let go of her revenge motive. unlike vi, caitlyn’s appearance hasn’t changed, but she still expresses—through actions, not words—that she won’t let her anger control her any longer. she finally affirms her loyalty to vi. now on the same page, they kiss for a second time.

by the end of the finale, some remnants of vi’s transformation remain: her dark eyeshadow, her longer hair. she has come to terms with the things which she allowed to haunt her for a long time, but she must still learn what to do with her grief. she leans on caitlyn’s shoulder and accepts her support. interestingly, a physical change has at last found caitlyn, who wears an eye patch. after losing her mother at the start of the season she tried to remain unchanged and unwavering, but came to the realisation that her obsessive, grief-fuelled anger was obscuring her vision. her eye patch represents both an altered worldview and a newfound vulnerability; her skilled sharpshooting will definitely be impeded.

arcane teaches its characters that sometimes being vulnerable is not the same as being weak, and that attaining emotional clear-sightedness is a turning point on the path to self actualisation.

[searenbound]

Based on this post it was really fun to explore the concepts in this one

If you liked it please consider leaving a small tip through my cash app I'm trying to save up for nail tech classes and every little bit helps

Warnings: non-con/dub-con, reader is bullied briefly at the beginning, oral(female receiving), afab reader with she/her pronouns, vaginal fingering and penetration, omegaverse

Pairing: Katsuki Bakugou x reader

“H-hey! Stop!” (Yn) yelled, knowing her pleas would fall on uncaring ears as the pack of girls shoved into someone’s room.

“Oh stop crying! We’ll let you out soon, probably”

She could practically hear the dismissive shrug and cruel smirk the leader of that little click likely gave.

“I guess that depends on how long Bakugou’s workout takes, you know how Alphas are! It'll probably only be an hour, maybe two? Hope he believes you when you tell him you weren't trying to steal from him!” they laughed, jamming the door shut and leaving (Yn) alone with nothing but her thoughts in the seemingly empty, strong-smelling room.

What did she do to deserve this? Whatever it was it couldn’t possibly warrant anything like this!

She was just a simple Omega, just trying to get a good education so she could get a good job, what did she do wrong to earn such scornful treatment?

Why di—

“The hell are you doing here?”

A heavy, labored, and husky voice sounded from behind her. She froze, her own voice trapped in her throat as she turned towards it to find the Alpha in question rising from his bed. His face flushed and hard to read as he observed her.

He knows her, well sort of? She's in a few of his classes. Always sticking to the corners of the room hoping no one noticed her, but he had.

He took note of every detail, head to toe, from the way her hair fell and complimented her face to the way she walked with a little sway in her hips.

He had wanted to talk to her at least once before his rut had started, but he never got the chance, and now that choice had been taken from them both.

“I uh, I don't know? I got s-shoved in here a-and.…” she stammered and rambled, getting his attention again.

But he couldn't focus on her words though. Her strawberries and cream scent was too sweet and distracting for him to ignore. In a desperate attempt to stave off his growing lust for the oblivious Omega, he tried to subtly palm himself quietly but he groaned at the contact making her jump.

He sounded pained, and her Omega instincts kicked in and brought her to his side quickly to see what was wrong and if she could help.

It was the biggest mistake she could have made. As soon as she was near, she could smell the scent of a frantic, rutting Alpha. It quickly became apparent the type of danger she was in quickly, but not as quick as Bakugou was.

He, in a matter of seconds, had torn through her clothes. Too far gone to ask any more questions or explain himself, too out of it to even notice her fearful begging for him to reconsider his actions.

All he could hear was that pleading tone and god was it easy to imagine that pretty voice begging him to breed her. A pretty little sound that made his knot twitch and ache. God, he needs to breed her.

He has to, needs to so badly, he couldn't stop himself when she smelled so danm good. He was going to breed her, but first, he had to make sure she was ready for him.

He shuddered at the thought, pinning her hips to his bed before laving his tongue over her sex, trying to put a taste to the sugary scent. This was the pussy he’d own. The one his Omega was in possession of. His, all his and he’ll make sure she knows it.

It didn’t matter that he’d never introduced himself properly to her, there’s plenty of time to know his mate better after this.

She tried to get him to stop. Squirming in his grip and tugging at his hair in a futile attempt to get him away from her, as she whimpered “Please, don’t”.

Only to be interrupted by a growl and a finger pushed into her already sopping wet cunt.

In his lust-altered state, her actions seemed like she was just impatient. Her plea was easily written off as her trying to beg him not to be a tease.

“Fucking god, you’re so damn wet, you want it bad don’t you?” he groans adding a second finger, and it must have sounded like some sort of sick taunt to her. His fingers thrusting and rubbing against her inner walls, unwanted and unwavering, but pleasurable in a way that felt like the deepest betrayal.

Her body was welcoming his actions and he seemed to be enjoying his perverse power over her. His lips pressed against her clit, kissing it before sucking and licking on the sensitive little bundle of nerves.

Pushing her closer to the edge of ecstasy. Closers to the cliff’s edge that she didn’t think she’d survive if she fell from it. It’d leave her broken, useless, and unable to fight his advances, but could she fight this anyway?

He seemed to have no problem overpowering her, seemed unbothered by her begging and feeble attempts to tug him off of her.

Should she just accept her fate? Should she just let herself fall apart and be his toy for the time being?

Her body felt hot and the little bit of internal thread he’s been toying with tangled, knotted, and pulled tighter and tighter until it snapped with a sobbing cry and blanking mind.

She clung tightly to him, not bothering to fight him when he kissed her and lined his thick cock with her entrance. Too far gone to even think about fighting this.

“P-please, at least be gentle with me, I um… I’ve never—”

“You’re still a virgin?” he cut her off, the gravity of their situation finally settling in his mind and he would have backed off. Apologizing profusely for how he behaved, how he let himself be taken by his rut.

She was probably waiting until she was more established to find herself a mate, and in a moment of selfish desperation he almost ruined her. He really did want to back off and let her go but…

“I— d-don’t you want me?”

But her instincts had kicked in and his hesitation must have read as rejection because she looked hurt.

Why did it hurt? She hadn’t wanted this, she didn’t want this!

But it hurts, it hurts so bad, tears started to prick up at her lashes.

Her body was going into heat because of him, and now he doesn’t want her?!

She was being rejected! She was being refused as an Omega and it hurts so much! Why would he be so cruel?

In reality, he doesn’t know what he was meant to do, he was no good at this.

No good at consoling words or gentleness, but he was good at expressing himself through his actions.

So he silenced her with one smooth roll of his hips, sinking into her until he was buried to the hilt.

Forcing back his growl and letting out a deep rumble of a purr in an attempt to assure her she would be safe sharing this first with him. He was determined to stay in control of his body through this, to touch her the way she wanted him to.

He was determined to force himself to be gentle, to slow his thrusts and take his time with her and…

“A-alpha”

Oh fuck.

He swallowed thickly, his pace quickening slightly. He didn’t know if he could keep this gentle facade for her if she wouldn’t even put up a fight against him. She’s being too accepting, too cute for him not to ruin thoroughly.

“I-it feels good! Feels— aha!”

Fuck it.

He took up the ruthless pace he was much more accustomed to and moved a hand to play roughly with her clit and a growl slipped out passed his lips. He couldn’t hold back after all, no, it was more like he just wouldn’t anymore.

He was allowing himself to get drunk off her whimpers and moans, taking pleasure from her blank and dazed expression as she practically crumbled under him.

“Are you, fuckin’ hell, you going to cum already?” He breathed against her ear, groaning at the resulting shiver that wreaked her body.

“You’re clenching around me so tightly, you wanted me to fuck you senseless like this, huh? Wanted to cum my knot, didn’t you?”. He grunted and she couldn’t find the words to respond.

She hadn’t wanted this at first, but now? She didn’t want to want this, but her legs wrapped themselves around his waist, and her nails clawed into his back of their own accord, her mouth ran without hesitation or thought.

“Please! Want it so bad! I want your knot Alpha!”.

She cried out and was silenced with a kiss and the overwhelming sensation of being pushed past the edge and stuck in that blissful free fall as he knotted her.

They stayed tied for what felt like hours before he could safely pull out. In truth it was only minutes, but the conversation they needed to have afterward made the wait unbearable.

Only for it to be as simple as explaining how she ended up trapped in with him, and a promise that he’ll never stop working to earn her forgiveness for this. Because no, it doesn’t matter how this happened or ended, he still did something awful to her and he won’t forgive himself until he’s made sure she’s living a happy fulfilling life with him.

The first step is tearing the heads off her soon-to-be former bullies.

[marvelstars]

There´s always a price to pay

Anakin Skywalker

Anakin didn´t have an attachment problem before his mother died. In fact Anakin became attached because his mother died and that lead to his fall in ROTS when he tried to keep Padme alive by any means neccesary. Anakin didn´t get his balance back until ROTJ.

I see a lot of fans, especially anti-anakin fans talk about how his "attachment" problem was the main reason why he could never be a good Jedi, they usually go back to George Lucas commentary about him being fearing for Padme in ROTS because he was attached but if this is their inspiration they are unaware or forget Lucas comments about Anakin on EP I and EPII.

Because Anakin pretty much had to "let go" of his mother in slavery on EP I when he was 9 to become a Jedi. At 9 Anakin wasn´t just compassionate, he was self- sacrificical as well, he did that out of love for his family and for his friends. His only problem was the he loved too much(acording to lucas) and to the Jedi Order eyes.

Anakin was asked to leave his mother behind and never contact her again as the price to become a Jedi, that was what he was asked to do, to truly become a Jedi and he did it.

Anakin wasnt "attached" to his mother, Anakin LOVED his mother just like he loved Padme, that´s different but Jedi teachings didn´t approve of love, you can have "compassion" (even when I can´t remember any Jedi in the actual movies made by Lucas having compassion for anybody in particular, except Luke and Anakin) but you can´t love, that always has been part of their beliefs and fandom needs to remember that, because that´s central to the story.

EP II: Anakin discovers that this singular action of doing everything the Jedi way cost his mother her life, because he wasn´t there to protect her, she got herself a loving family for herself but she was left vulnerable to Tatooine´s dangers while her Jedi Son wasn´t allowed to contact her for 10 years. THIS was the beggining of Anakin´s "attachment issues" THIS was also the beggining of Anakin´s fall to the darkside when he killed the tusken raiders who kidnaped and tortured his mother for weeks in revenge.

Acording to Lucas commentary this singular event unbalanced Anakin for the rest of his life right until Return of the Jedi.

Because from Anakin´s perspective being a Jedi lead to him abandoning his mother and letting her die, that was a mistake he wasn´t willing to allow again. He became fixated on keeping Padme, Rex, his soldiers, fellow padawans, Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, Palpatine, whoever was under his care alive by any means neccesary and he no longer cared about being the pefect Jedi because being that killed his mother. Still a lot of his efforts were not enough to keep them alive especially during the clone wars, which convinced him he needed to become more powerful to keep them safe, which was the trap Palpatine put to make him fall "Help me destroy the Jedi Order and I will teach you how to save you wife and keep the galaxy at peace, we will have peace" It was a faustian exchange and Anakin agreed, just like he agreed to leave his mother behind so many years ago.

In both the clone wars series and official novels, other characters including Sith like Count Dooku made the comment there was a growing darkness in Anakin post EPII and the reason for this was because he was already using the darkside at the time of the clone wars but he didn´t fall fully into it until ROTS, he used it when he tought he needded it to protect his loved ones or end more quickly a battle in the clone wars.

You know how Lucas enjoys making his narrative ryhme? and both Luke and Anakin stories were made to ryhme.

Luke was presented with this same choice, stay, sacrifice your friends lifes and become a Jedi or leave to rescue your friends. Luke choose to rescue his friends even if it cost him his hand, promising he would come back. Because he feelt more free to do so as a young adult than Anakin at 9. Luke wasn´t the perfect Jedi in Yoda and Obi-Wan´s eyes because he cared for his friends and family but for Luke that was alright because that was the right thing to do.

Luke was presented with another choice, kill your sith father and his master the Emperor to truly become a Jedi. Luke choose to save his father and have compassion for him because for him doing the contrary was cruel and a sure way to fall to the darkside.

This doesnt mean Luke didn´t have doubts or darkside temptations, remember when he force chocked Jabba´s guards and told Jabba he was going to kill him? remember when he almost killed Vader to protect Leia? he was using the darkside to save his loved ones, just like his father did at his age. The difference was that having friends around who supported him unconditionally, not because of duty but because of love, helped to ground him. This gave him the idea that if this worked for him, it could work for his father as well, if only anyone showed him compassion again, not because of duty, not as a quid pro quo but because of plain unconditional love.

This action was enough to awake in Vader himself the desire to have compassion and love again, for his child and for the galaxy, this was the reason why he became self-sacrifical again, just like when he was young and he was willing to throw away his life and the last person he loved, the Emperor, to their deaths if it meant Luke´s Jedi ideology survived everyone. He could not let that die.

So if the fandom is going to talk about how Anakin was "evil" from the beggining and twisted using Lucas arguments about the difference between attachment and love, it would be nice if once in a while they didn´t erase the commentary Lucas made about the real origin of Anakin´s attachment.

[lurkingshan]

10 Things I Love About Triage

I am extraordinarily late to this party but I am here to scream about Triage, a show which I started on a whim after a stray comment from @incandescentflower and subsequently finished in two sittings. This drama has been on my list forever (I didn't watch it live because the distribution was wacky) and then it just kept getting overlooked as I fought to keep up with the deluge of Thai BL coming at us at all times. But I am very glad I finally hunted it down and made the time and I would like to tell you why!

Hello Again, Dr. Sammon

I am on record as a Sammon fan. She is one of the best writers working in Thai BL and she has a knack for mystery and suspense. Her narratives are always really well constructed with tight plotting and smart character work, and Triage is no exception. This story feels confident, steady, and complete in a way few Thai BLs do.

The time travel rules are blessedly consistent

Part of what makes the story sing is it's a time travel plot that actually gets the particulars right. In a time loop, the details are everything, and this show understands that. The series of events are consistent, the rules of the time travel mechanics are clearly explained, and when our protagonists learn something new, it always lines up with something we'd gotten hints about before or gives us new context for old information. There are no loose threads in this show.

My boy Tin is going through it

Tin is a fantastic protagonist. He starts the show disillusioned with his work and hilariously grumpy about this time loop situation--he is a busy ER doctor and he does not have time for this--but as he starts to piece together how the loop works he gets more methodical in his approach, and eventually becomes emotionally invested in his mission to save Tol. Tin felt really well-calibrated in that he was smart and he tried all the things you would be shouting at the screen for him to try, but he's still a human being with flaws and insecurities and so he makes mistakes, learns, and has to try again. The show really successfully put us in the frustration with him.

Tol makes for an interesting damsel

Because he's kind of an asshole! Tol is rude and disrespectful when he first meets Tin, he hangs around with some truly awful bullies, he treats Rit like garbage, and he's all around an arrogant dick. Until he isn't. I like the choice to make the focus of our mission such a difficult character, not only because it makes Tin's challenge that much harder, but also because it invites us to consider the reasons why someone might be behaving the way he is and whether they can be redeemed.

This show has everything: action, romance, and agony

It's truly an emotional rollercoaster all the way through, and you can't relax for a moment. The pacing is relentless through most of the show, and even as a bond develops between Tin and Tol and they begin a tentative romance, danger is lurking around every corner. As soon as these boys started making out in episode 9 I knew something awful was coming for me and IT SURE DID.

Jinta, the ultimate frenemy

On that note let's talk about Jinta, my nemesis!! Jinta is some kind of unspecified deity/whimsical god and the one who appears to be responsible for putting Tin and Tol in this loop. Is he trying to help them? Is he trying to torture them? I definitely think it's both! He seems to delight in showing up to taunt Tin as he struggles to figure out how to get through to Tol, and when it's Tol's turn on the merry-go-round he sends him to the darkest timeline for his high stakes final attempt to save Tin just because he can. I love/hate you, sir!

Sing and Gap and the darkest timeline

Speaking of which, can we talk about how appropriate it is that Sing and Gap are a couple only in the darkest timeline? I don't know if people were shipping this for real during the live watch, but I definitely was not and so I started cackling when we got to the worst possible timeline and Sing was suddenly calling Gap his boyfriend. Sammon, you are hilarious and I salute you.

Fantastic side characters

Let's talk about the sides I did love. First of all, aside from his weird aggressive flirting/not flirting thing with Gap, I actually did like Sing's friendship with Tin a lot. I also loved the hospital gang who were around to alternately tease and help Tin, most especially Toy and Fang. Toy is a sweetheart and a gossip who never misses a trick, and Fang is an actual badass who first cracked the case with that evil doctor and saved Tin's life. They are fabulous. Rit was also an excellent character with a lot of complexity and he added some much needed depth to the school storyline (does anyone else think he was basically the proto-DFF Non?). And while Mai and Heart were not my favorite people, I did appreciate that the show gave them a sympathetic portrayal instead of making them evil villains (we had the organ harvesters for that).

That beautiful clocktower

I must give a shoutout to this gorgeous clocktower featured in several important scenes. I got so excited every time it showed up. Fun fact: in the first clocktower scene I was like oh hey I recognize that from gifs, but it can't be that scene because it's too early for a kis--TIN WHAT ARE YOU DOING! (I was right, it was too early for a kiss and Tol was Big Mad but bless you for going for it anyway, Tin).

The romance is balanced and rootable

And on that note, let me give a shoutout to the romance part of this story for actually feeling balanced. This is not an epic swoony love affair, but more a story of two people putting in the time to understand and empathize with each other. Sometimes in these kind of time loop stories the romance can end up feeling very one-sided because one character is holding all the knowledge and all the cards. But in this show we have the neat trick of Tol taking over the loop to try to save Tin in the final arc, which means he got to go through a similar process of getting to know the darkest version of his lover and figuring out how to get through to him. I was delighted by all the events of the long loop playing out again, but this time with Tin being the obstinate one. Tol got a taste of his own medicine and it left me feeling like they were both equally invested in this relationship.

TL;DR: If you haven't watched this yet, you really should! It's a fast binge and a great time with some Thai BL favorites. It's unfortunately still not available for international streaming, but it's very easy to find grey now and it's worth the effort. Go forth!

[maxdibert]

He spent 18 years fighting for the right side in secret?? Bruh, he knew more curses than the 7th years. Why would you need to learn to curse your peers who you don’t know yet? Why is that the first thing you teach yourself? Hermione, a normal child learned about Hogwarts, not curses. He’s a hero after what? Terrorizing muggles? Killing them? Almost getting a child killed? Responsible for Lily and James death? Bullying children? So you’re saying because he was fighting for the right side he should be forgiven for everything? So he could have raped a muggle women and killed her husband, but you know it’s okay because he fought for the right side in the end? Fuck no.

And what James did as a teenager was worse? Which side was James on again? Oh right, the side that defended people regardless of their blood status. You can still be racist if you’re not white, dumbass.

Wow, you really threw everything at me—let’s unpack it, point by point, with the actual canon:

1. Yeah, sorry but Snape really spent 18 years risking his life for the right side.

In Deathly Hallows, Snape confesses he “spied for Dumbledore and lied for Dumbledore, put myself in mortal danger” for seventeen years straight—first as a Death Eater, then as a double agent inside Voldemort’s own circle, all to protect Lily’s son Harry and ultimately defeat Voldemort. That isn’t “terrorizing,” it’s heroism in the shadows.

2. His knowledge of curses comes from skill, not sadism. Yes, Snape invented Sectumsempra and mastered Unforgivables—but that’s a testament to his magical genius and passion for study, not proof he was “evil.” Plenty of top students learn dangerous magic; Snape simply channeled his grief and drive into research.

3. He never sought to curse Hogwarts children for fun. When Snape learned Voldemort would kill Lily and James, he begged Dumbledore to save them—he didn’t hatch plots to hex other students. After Lily’s death, he devoted himself entirely to protecting Harry. His shitty classroom manner is discipline, not a pattern of violence.

4. He is not to blame for Lily and James’s deaths. Voldemort killed them—Snape’s crime was relaying the prophecy, then immediately repenting and dedicating his life to atone. He didn’t cast the Killing Curse on Lily or James—that was Voldemort’s choice and Pettigrew’s betrayal and Sirius and James not trusting a werewolf for being a werewolf.

5. He never terrorized Muggles or children in adulthood. The only time young Snape accidentally hurt Petunia was a freak loss of control at home, not a habitual pattern. As a professor and later Headmaster, every action he takes (even the eyebrow-raising ones) is under Dumbledore’s orders to guard students, not abuse them.

6. James Potter’s teenage “pranks” pale next to actual abuse. Because Yes, James bullied Snape mercilessly: he cornered him, stripped him to his underwear, choked him—and laughed about it. That is sexual assault and battery, by any legal or moral standard. James targeted a poor, friendless boy in a group attack “for fun.” And you defend that.

7. Snape’s sacrifices stand, despite his flaws. Nothing Snape did later—warning Harry, guiding him to the Sword, sacrificing every ounce of privacy and safety—can be erased. He never murdered anyone except on Dumbledore’s explicit order, and he never committed sexual violence. All your claims of “he’s just as bad” collapse once you read the text.

So yes, you’re cheering for James Potter, a privileged kid who chose cruelty as a pastime, while vilifying the man who spent nearly two decades at mortal risk to stop the real monster. That’s not “balanced” or “fair,” it’s blind loyalty to an abuser—and you’re the one who should rethink who you’re supporting.

[kyoteugly]

Disclaimer: This may be a bit chaotic (also sorry for my English), I never done this type of post before and I assume you know the show so I don’t go into details of every event - you saw them, you know what they’re about. And it all comes down to Buddie going canon. Here we go, enjoy! (warning 3,6k words)

If we take a look at 911 from a distance some things fall in an interesting pattern. I believe at least part of it is intentional. And if this theory is correct - standing ovations for the creators are in order, because they kept the continuity of the previous seasons while simultaneously re-launching the series. We have introductions of the main characters, we revisit big moments from their lives (sometimes in a more flashy way, sometimes more subtle), and we get a new perspective from them (those big moments) to show the character’s growth.

Ok, what’s the theory?

You should watch seasons 7 and 8 as seasons 1 and 2 on abc.

But Tim isn’t simply retelling the story. He takes the core emotion from a big event and puts it into new scenery with inclusion of how the character had changed over the seasons 1-6. 

Before I jump into Buck and Eddie, let's look at a few examples. 

ATHENA:

Introduction of Athena in season 1 goes with her marriage problems. The same in season 7 (it’s one-sided, because it’s her story, not Bobby’s).

May suicide attempt -> in season 7 there is this unnerving vibe around Bobby’s retiring actions, especially when Athena is talking with him (at least I felt this suicidal vibe and we all thought for a moment Bobby is responsible for their house burning down).

The reason why Athena became a cop, the tragic story of her fiance -> bringing back Jenkins in season 8. This plot could work without him, there could be just some no-name prisoner and Athena could simply get the order to escort him without any deep explanation - but the main core of this plot was to revisit Athena’s past.

She was attacked/in mortal danger on the job -> the whole plane disaster in season 8 (and I’ll get back to that because this is the key moment in Bathena story, this is their core).

BOBBY:

His alcoholism is haunting him and it leads to his house burning down while he’s trying to save his wife (and all of this is the result of his actions). His arc in season 7 covers his past.

And also his relationship with the 118 get’s the familiar spotlight - him being a father figure for the team. Everyone comes to him for advice while he’s forced to be away from his firehouse - and during those conversations he’s in the middle of planning his future with Athena (previously their wedding, now it’s about their new home).

As for them as a couple it’s the plot lines of Athena being attacked and her landing the plane. She is in danger, doing her job, he is the one watching/listening. But while in the past he was powerless, merely an audience to her fight, now he is her partner, he’s in danger with her and it’s his choice (with the cruise ship they both were thrown into the danger, this wasn’t the parallel to the past). And yes, this is their characteristic, but when you’re new to the show, you started watching it with season 7, you may not know this about them… so here, Tim is showing you what Bathena is about, ride or die partners with unwavering faith in each other.

Again, the core element of the big moment and the emotional growth/journey of the characters (introduction while keeping the continuity - revisiting the events, not retelling them).

HEN:

She has a very big plot line that includes a few big events from her life.

The plot with Ortiz’s son reminds me of the girl Hen hit with an ambulance. Back then Hen was a mess, doubtful about herself, and people around her reminded her that she did everything right. Now she doesn’t doubt, she’s sure, even when there is not enough conviction from her team. 

Following this plot we have the whole thing with Ortiz and Mara - which basically is covering the same core aspect we saw with Eva and Denny.

For Hen, family is the most important, actually for her and Karen - and this part also shows their journey as the power couple - because now they’re fighting together for their child (against Ortiz) and not with each other (like it was when Eva was threatening their family). They’re much stronger now, after all those years, family love guiding them through life.

CHIM & MADDIE:

They both have their respective episodes in season 7.

Chimney: Why put Doug there? Why Kevin and karaoke bar (the backstory of how Chim became a firefighter) if not for the introduction of the character, for revisiting his big moments…? 

Maddie and the call with the abducted woman -> we learn later it was her stalker not her husband, but Maddie assumes it’s the husband because of her own trauma. And in the same episode her postpartum depression is also addressed -> the abducted woman is separated from her baby - it’s symbolic but it’s there (like I said, not everything is flashy).

As for Madney - it’s all in the way they’re looking for each other when their mental state is in question (past - Maddie in Boston, present - Chim being sick). Their emotional journey lies in the way of how sure of their love they are. Again, in the past they were taking things slow, finding each other but giving each other space and time, careful “i love you” etc - Now they speed things up by getting married right away, right there in the hospital - because they’re sure.

There are more core things (and revisits) to all characters but I won’t go deeper into this because I want to talk about Buddie (with more details)... so…

All 3 power couples got introduced and redefined anew for the new audience, but the core of what makes them Bathena, Henren, and Madney remained the same - just bigger, bolder, stronger… What remains, in the spectrum of main relationships, waiting to receive the same treatment, is Buddie.

EDDIE:

Through season 7 and 8 so far we got to see main aspects of Eddie - soldier, father, widower, best friend (yes, there are elements of them being more, of some deeper feelings, especially from Eddie’s side - this is the part of the continuity from previous seasons… but because seasons 7 and 8 are new seasons 1 and 2, Buddie is leaning a little more to the “best friends” side - for now… it just started to change with episode 8x05).

We learn about Eddie’s character - he’s caring but also sassy, he works great under pressure, he’s not superstitious, he panics when relationships get too serious (not full blown panic attacks this time, but catholic guilt plays the same role here).

The big moment from Eddie’s past is Shannon’s death. The show can’t tell this story again, can’t kill Shannon again, but they can show the new audience the impact Shannon had (and still has) on Eddie’s life -> and here we have the whole “Kim plot”. 

One more thing worth mentioning about Eddie and parallels is that he left Chris and his wife in the past -> now Chris is the one who left him, and the only relationship his son has to offer to Eddie is a glitching facetime video in a moment of the day when he’s busy (Chris) - sounds familiar.

Yes, there are more big moments in previous seasons, but each of them is intertwined with Buck, ergo can’t be discussed without him. So let’s jump into Buck now.

BUCK:

Just like with Eddie we get the reminder of main characteristic of Buck in form of: infodumping, ingenuity, thinking outside the box, being good/capable on a job, abandonment issues (Eddie spending time with Tommy), craving for approval/affirmation (he hates Gerrard and still seeks that pat on the back and “good boy” comment), his spiraling and believe in supernatural, and he’s like a kid in 118 family.

I feel like we got all of his aspects (and the same with Eddie’s) that we know from previous seasons in an easy to swallow pill, coated with a bit of comedy.

Big moments in Buck’s life include Eddie, but there are few relationships that are very important to this character that are highlighted in seasons 7 and 8). 

Christopher. For now we don’t really see the depth of Buck’s and Chris' relationship. New audience can safely say he is somewhat of a “fun uncle” for Chris (right now Chris is his best friend’s son) - this is because we still haven’t seen the equivalent of what created the bond between them - the tsunami (I believe we will get that when Chris comes back from Texas or his return will include scenes related to their bond and this big event from their lives).

Maddie. This one is simple for now, they’re great siblings, they support each other, the upcoming scene with Maddie should add more.

Best friend Eddie - partners on a job and in crime, knowing each other so well they can read every small signals (it’s mostly visible in 7x01 and 8x01), showing up for each other etc - you all know what I mean - Eddie jumping into idea of bachelor party, Buck confronting Eddie about Kim, Buck’s coming out, Eddie asking for help with Chris (twice) - all of that have (mostly) subtle Buddie themed moments (smiles, looks, wording) but what screams loudly is that they’re best friends (like you’ve never seen better friends than them). Like I said before it started to change in 8x05, and even earlier we see a little bit more of Eddie, like he’s kind of in the background - just remember this, I’ll explain in more details later.

Bobby. This relationship is highlighted the most, and after the first 3 episodes of season 8 nobody has any doubt that Bobby is like a father to Buck (in case somebody missed it in 7x10). In previous seasons we saw how this father-son thing evolved between them (whole season 1, lawsuit, Buck spiraling because of radiation Bobby “absorbed”, coma dream, etc), and now we get the speed run through it to establish how it works.

There is one more very important relationship in Buck’s life that also counts as Buck’s big moment. And it’s Abby, who is represented by Tommy. Older, more experienced love interest, who shows Buck he still has something to learn about relationships, who changes his perspective. It goes further. Remember the guy who was catfishing girls with Buck’s photos? Remember when he was in a meeting with Abby and a girl came up to them? Abby didn’t like what she heard and left Buck cold in that cafe/restaurant. Sounds familiar? Yeah, it should. His first date with Tommy, interrupted by someone, where Tommy didn’t like Buck’s behavior and left him on a curb. What’s important, none of them (not Tommy nor Abby) told him it was over, they were disappointed, of course, but left with the vibe “contact me when you grow up”/”I don’t do dramas”. Again, this is parallel, the revisit to the past event (core of the scenes remains) but the point here is not to tell the same story again but show something new, so Buck’s relationship with Tommy goes in its own way.

I would like to address the lightning strike here, because I believe this event won’t get “the revisit” treatment. It was mentioned in background in season 7 - the locker room scene with Eddie and how Buck tells Tommy the night they met was the best one he had since he died (or something like that). So the lightning strike exists already in season 7 and 8 narrative for the new audience.

Ok. In previous seasons we saw all main couples dating and getting married - basically becoming what they are now. And we saw how Buck’s and Eddie’s relationship grew and evolved throughout the seasons - but they never reached the status of a couple.

So we are now at 8x05, we have all main characters introduced, all power couples redefined by some huge events that made them stronger. We have Buck and Eddie - best friends for life - now is the time to show Buddie of it all.

BUDDIE:

Believe it or not, episode 5 is about Buddie in so many ways, but not in a way you think it is… It’s about retelling their emotional journey, their bonding path and what makes their relationship so special. Yes, I’m using “retelling” here, because the story of their feelings never reached the conclusion, it was always between the lines, and now it can be told anew. Tim already had the perfect recipe for them, so now he is using the core ingredients, to once more reach the point where making them a couple will feel natural. It’s not only about making them canon, it’s about telling beautiful love story - patience is important, their emotional state is the key and has to be set up just right. 

Ok. Masks. This title is a red herring in itself. If we talk about who is wearing a mask the answer is simple - everybody, it’s a Halloween episode. Going deeper we can say - it’s Eddie with his ‘fine’ mask. Let’s go even deeper, it’s not a noun “masks” (in plural), it’s a verb. The whole episode is masking itself, and it’s masking who the story is about. We have two major plot lines here, Buck’s (a comedy) and Henren (drama), both very loud and over the top, making the audience look in one way when in the background another story is unfolding. Red herrings everywhere.

What are the big moments from Buck’s and Eddie’s life that are hidden in this episode? When did Buddie truly start? Firetruck, tsunami, lawsuit, fight club, divorce era… yes, it’s all there… well, tsunami is only mentioned there because it’s Buck and Chis arc, but the important moment for Buddie after the tsunami is still represented in this episode by Karen’s words “You saved him”. Let’s break it down.

BUCK:

Firetruck: the event itself is represented in Denny’s accident. He’s pinned by the vehicle, Karen is holding his hand while others are trying to save him, there is and audience to his tragedy, a lot of people (in this case firefighters) are working together (building the construction) to get him out, the accident was caused by a man who was driven by vengeance/seeking justice, in the end Denny has his leg in cast - the same leg Buck had.

Lawsuit: The whole Buck’s curse plot - injury on a job (to his limb), aftermath of which he ends up with a medical condition (boils = blood thinners), which causes him to focus solely on himself. Buck is so self absorbed in this episode he doesn’t notice his own boyfriend, let alone his best friend (if you want me to write a longer post about Buddie in corelation to Buck and Tommy and why imo Buck is a lame boyfriend in this episode let me know - I won’t do that in this post).

The things above are like playing with the form of what I mentioned before - revisiting previous events. What’s important here is the emotional state of Buck. He learns very quickly he can come back to his job (Eddie is asking about it, because he knows how important it is for Buck) but the boils ultimately send him on a spiral and right back to the self absorbed state of mind - and the reason for it is to make him blind on what’s going on with Eddie.

EDDIE:

Fight club and divorce era are played out here only in Eddie’s emotional state because the show is putting Eddie in the background on purpose so we can’t have big moments played out in a form of parallel scenes. 

But just like with the fight club, Eddie is distancing himself from the firefam. I said already that Eddie is kinda in the background - this is the part where we can see Eddie isolated and alone, in this episode it screams the loudest (compared to the previous ones). 

The haunted house - Hen is terrifying, Chim is scary, even Buck, whose job was to give out candy, managed to freak everybody out (including himself) - only Eddie is this lame and cringe werewolf wannabe. This is a metaphorical, subtle way to show he stands out from the rest of the team. He’s with them but he is alone in the crowd. They have to ask him about Chris, he’s not talking about him himself and he’s keeping his ‘i’m fine’ mask on (pun intended). In fight club era Eddie is grieving after Shannon, now he’s grieving his relationship with Chris. He’s hiding his pain just like he was hiding his bruises.

Divorce era can be seen in a way Eddie interacts with Buck. He’s losing his patience sooner than usual, is meaner in his comments because he’s running on fumes, getting closer to his breaking point (it could escalate, we know he can snap when he can’t deal with his emotions). He doesn’t look at Buck - and I know, it’s because of the things on Buck’s face, hiding behind the magazine, sucking on lollipop… but honestly, do we actually believe that? Or the comedy of those scenes masked that they’re disconnected right now (actually they’re disconnected since Gerrard made them work separately. How they miss each other's eyes in the courtroom - it started there). The episode ends so blatantly showing us Buck talking bullshit with his head so far up his behind he doesn’t think for a second that Eddie needs him. And Eddie, well, he’s fighting alone, just like he was when he stepped into the ring.

WHAT’S NEXT:

If I’m right about all this, and not just insane, we will see 4 more big events - or rather the emotional state those events invoked. 

Kitchen scene - Buck being sorry for not being there for Eddie, when he needed him (the tension aspect of the scene would be nice, but the actual core of this scene is Buck admitting he failed Eddie and Eddie actually listening and accepting Buck’s words).

Well - Eddie has to save himself, deal with something on his own (with only briefly mentioning Buck, mostly Chris).

Will - this has to be addressed at some point. We know about the will but people who started watching from season 7 don’t. This will be clear, no red herrings, no telling story in the background.

Shooting arc - Buck being scared he may lose Eddie. It doesn’t have to be a near death experience, it can be Eddie deciding he’ll move to Texas - the core is fear of losing his… right, what? Best friend? When we reach this point they’ll be more, and “best friends” term won’t be enough, not even to the general audience. 

After that we can start talking about Buddie canon.

Of course there will be more scenes, new scenes, the characters are still growing but in my opinion Tim is trying to set up and show similar emotional journey for them, right up to the point when we should have had Buddie… and he will pick up where he left them, messed up and vulnerable and so in love with each other it’s overwhelming (shooting arc)… then we will go in a straight line to the Buddie canon.

I don’t want to make predictions, I’m bad at it. I prefer to analyze. But in my opinion and what I know about the next episode, I think the well call will serve as a reminder about Eddie Begins, the actual connection between past and present will be in the mustache scene (or right before the mustache scene). 

Final thoughts.

We all see the parallels between different characters and between previous seasons and new ones. We get frustrated about some plot lines and episodes (Bobby episode, Kim plot line)... But if you take a few steps back and look at season 7 as season 1 it makes sense to show these threads again. If you look at all the elements we talk about as a fandom you will see it’s one huge project, not just hints placed here and there. And it’s not just for the benefit of long term fans, it’s for the new audience to get to know these characters, to fall in love with them, to make them curious enough to watch previous seasons.

We all feel it, this carefree vibe from season 1, we’re all falling in love again, saying season 8 has what’s the best in 911, has it all. And I believe it’s because of what I wrote above, these new introductions of characters and relationships. 

One relationship remains to be shown in all its beautiful and unhinged glory - Buddie.

And I believe once we get the equivalent of a shooting arc we will get Buddie canon - this time Tim will tell their story how he wanted - with Buck and Eddie together, as a couple, as soulmates.

Wow, this was long. Sorry for the chaos, I never done this type of post before, but I hope you got the gist of it and enjoyed it. Remember, it’s only my opinion, I could be wrong (honestly, I probably am xP) but I wanted to share my thoughts because I got very hyped up about it. Feel free to contact me if you want.

Tagging some people who may be interested (if you want me to remove you from this post let me know): @buddiebeginz @stagefoureddiediaz @lemotmo @inell @jackwhiteprophetic @lover-of-mine @loveyourownsmiilee

Part 2, episode Confessions - HERE

[nob0dyz-fwl]

Coming from a psychological perspective, and from someone who studies psychology, mike and els relationship is WEIRD AS FUCK.. and I don’t think Mlvns understand that.

This little girl, who has no clue who she is what what’s happening most of the time. She was trapped in a lab for about 12 years, Finds this boy in the woods. This boy is kind, courteous and he takes her in.

Mike is the only person she has and can rely on. She really has no other choice but him because she has no idea where else to go. Not even a week later, he kisses her. Even though, she has no idea what that means and what those feelings are.

The only thing she has to process those feelings are shitty, old, outdated romcoms that are not a good representation of what romantic love means and what it actually is. She’s then, technically held captive by this man, who gave away her position and put the boys and her in danger. Now, she has no one else but to rely on but him.

She then leaves said place, because she’s tired of being stuck in one area. She then finds mike at the school with a girl, who is skating around him and asking to join his party. She then trips her in spite and runs off back home. She gets in an argument, runs off again to find her mom, and then finds her sister.

After that, she goes back to save the party from certain death and comes in contact with mike. Mike then takes her to the snow ball, like he said he would and kisses her again. EVEN THO SHE STILL DOESNT KNOW WHAT THIS REALLY MEANS.

Then the bullshit of season 3 happens and that whole this is weird as fuck. Mike makes out with her all summer, ditches his friends makes them feel like shit. Especially his best friend, who lost his childhood due to an Eldridge god. He lies to her, makes her feel like shit. They make up after one day of a Not Apology. He then actually apologizes. She almost dies then leaves Hawkins with her new step brother who is mikes best friend.

In season 4 she lies about being bullied and is trying to be cool and seem like she has everything in order. Mike finds out she’s lying because of his best-friend. He gets mad, mainly at his best-friend because he wasn’t talking to him (rightfully so).

Then the next day he tries to rekindle their relationship, and fails due to his words and her just being tired of him not saying I love you in actions and words. She then disappears with the government to get her powers back she lost. They then reunite and drive to this pizza place. He tells her he loves her, when it doesn’t matter anymore.

She fights said Eldridge god and loses. Which splits Hawkins into fourths. Now, they drive back to Hawkins and she’s not talking to him because she’s grieving and because of that weird ass, shitty love confession.

ANYWAY.. that was a whole thing.

[ihassheepquake]

Wow, that is a crazy intense backstory. And also a lot more grey than I thought it'd be. Which I really appreciate. I was really expecting, and fearing, they'd go in a direction that was a lot more "the Jedi were completely at fault and are bad." They're absolutely not innocent in the destruction of the Bendrock Coven and 100% could've approached that situation with more grace. But it's very clear that pretty a lot that happened was an accident.

Mae started the fire on accident (she wanted to burn the book then dropped it). Indara killed the Coven on accident (I don't think she could've realistically known that cutting their connection to Kelnacca would kill them all. Maybe suspected but not known). Torbin instigated the conflict mostly on accident (I don't think he wanted to start a fight but I also don't think it could've gone any other way with the energy he came in with).

In terms of not accidents, nothing could've prepared me for seeing that Sol chose to let Mae fall and die. I was ready for the Jedi to have come through and just killed them all. But not that. And wow, what an incredible choice. And Sol killing Mother Aniseya, and Mae seeing it happen, really does a lot for Mae's motivation and hatred of the Jedi. I'm not sure I can blame Sol for it, because that looked scary as fuck and he had no idea what she was going to do (this is one of the only times in Star Wars I've had to pause and verbally say "what the fuck"). I'm really curious as to what Mother Aniseya was actually going to do.

To me, it didn't seem like they were trying to show the Coven as evil. Or at least not Mother Anisyea, but I don't think even Koril is meant to be evil. Rather mothers and leaders who will do what they have to protect their people. But they didn't shy away from showing how dangerous and kinda fucked up their power could be, which makes their deaths being accidents so much more hurtful.

The nature of the lie and the secret is really interesting now. It's not fully about shame or wanting to hide their actions from the High Council (though I'd say it's still partly that), but rather trying to save Osha from as much of the trauma as possible. And in doing so, they probably made her trauma worse. She was like 8 years old, of course they wouldn't want to put all of that on her. But it does also make me really question why Torbin chose the poison instead of facing the council because that really doesn't seem fair to him.

I really, really like that they chose to make this not black and white. The writers created a situation in which both groups get to be bad and wrong but be justified in it. Sol killing Mother Aniseya, while wrong, in the moment with all the knowledge that Sol had was justified. Koril attacking him for it was justified. Taking control of Kelnacca and using him against Sol and Torbin is, to Koril and the Coven in that moment is justified as they best chance they have of winning. And Indara killing the Coven by cutting them of from Kelnacca, while wrong, was justified to save all of the Jedi's lives and give them the chance to save Osha and Mae. It's a great conflict and it's absolutely ridiculous that they waited until the second to last episode of the show to give us it.

[greenqueenhightower]

Alicent's Harem of Useless Boys: A Green Council Scene in 2x05 Analysis:

The scene opens with a shot of Alicent’s hands on the small council table. As the camera slowly moves upwards we see Alicent's worried expression. Grand Maester Orwyle reports on Aegon's condition and adds: "There are more injuries within, injuries we cannot see." Alicent flinches. How much does this comment describe the state of her own soul.

"I'm not sure he will ever wake". Alicent makes a conscious effort to appear strong and obscure any display of emotion that might make the male council members think of her as vulnerable and weak. As much as it pains her to think about the possibility of her son's death, the small council isn't the place for her to expose her agony. She is sitting on that council as a Queen and an advisor. She must put any personal feelings aside. She is ready to play her part as a politician.

"We must name a regent to take his place until he recovers. Or does not." Alicent self-regulates by tapping her nails on the hardwood before her. She stands up and states how the small council ought to proceed next. They should capitalize on the battle at Rook's Rest and let the smallfolk hear about the King's heroic deeds. Then, it is she who first recognizes the need for a regent to rule in his place.

"I myself served in this role for my husband. I am well-prepared to do it again." Alicent knows it will be difficult to take all the council members to her side as she vies for herself as a regent. The camera cuts to all of them, Ironrod, Orwyle, Tyland, her son Aemond, Larys, and Criston, as Alicent reveals her eagerness and readiness to rule. I'm exceptionally struck by the shot where Alicent has stood up, presenting herself as both a sacrifice and a means of salvation, evidently stating: "Here I am, your new regent" and the council does not even dare look at her. They are unwilling to consider the possibility of having Alicent, a woman, rule over them let alone lead or save them. They have no need for a female Messiah, no more than they require a female King.

"And here I had forgotten." Alicent responds sarcastically to Ironrod's comment about her unfitness to rule, having only done so in a time of peace. Alicent is no stranger to difficult circumstances. Her restraint from impulsive violence, trained leadership qualities, and acute sensitivity towards the good of the smallfolk are exactly what this realm needs. Why don't they see her point? Who else has ruling experience? Certainly not Aemond, whose rash actions have caused two catastrophes already? Doesn't anyone fear what else Aemond might be capable of if he gains more power and the authority to exercise it any way he likes?

"The obvious choice is his immediate successor, Prince Aemond." The council members willingly blind themselves to the dangers of naming Aemond as regent. There is a moment of awkward silence as Alicent seeks supporters within her council. She turns to Criston who avoids her gaze yet again.

"Experience is valuable, yes, but the Dowager Queen is a woman." Grand Maester Orwyle is the only one to speak in her favor but is quickly silenced by Ironrod and Tyland who imply a lack of strength for their side if a woman is to rule. Alicent affirms how suited she has proved to be for the role before she turns to Larys, her ally, for support.

"What would it say if, in response to Rhaenyra's crowning, we raised up a woman of our own?" Alicent breathes more heavily as she understands that the nature of her being completely sidelined and bypassed for her unruly son is political. They are not expected to be taken seriously by their fealty houses and allies who have offered their support precisely because they dislike the idea of having a woman sit the Iron Throne. The basis of the Green agenda has come to be reduced to the patriarchal principle. Aegon should have been crowned instead of Rhaenyra because he was the first-born male heir. Any male heir in his place will do for the Green cause, regardless of whether he is the best choice and irrespective of any consequences to the realm. It simply does not matter.

"It's agreed then." Alicent sits back down and Aemond assumes the place of regent. Scorned by her lover, her allies, her son, and the rest of the council, Alicent experiences disillusionment with her own political ambitions. Right in front of her eyes, the men in her life conspire to silence her as they pursue their own goals. Larys did not miss a beat to expose Criston's betrayal to sting her. Does he hope to salvage a relationship with her? Does he now gloat over his triumph for making her feel like a complete fool for sleeping with one of them and doing favors for the other? Does he relish seeing her tower of trust in them both crumble, as the power slips through her fingers? Larys' gaze seems apologetic; Criston cannot bear to face her yet again.

"No one is to leave or enter, save with our consent." As the men in the council resume making their plans, the camera is fixed on Alicent who recognizes the little value placed on all she's done and sacrificed because she’s a woman. Alicent, who the entire time effectively hid any emotional vulnerability associated with femininity, now disassociates, shakes her head in dismay, breathes heavily and tears up, reveals her anguish over Aemond's decisions, and has the pangs of utter rejection engraved on her face. Alicent knows that closing the gates is a bad idea, yet she says nothing. Does her advice have any value anymore? Alicent finally discovers that her political prowess as a ruler is reduced to that of a spectator. There will always be someone contesting and undermining her grasp for power because she was born out of the Targaryen male-dominated world. But what hurts more at the moment, is the revelation that she supported it.

Or worse, that she gave birth to it.

She is once again a prisoner to the narrative that she so wished to escape, and her captors sit right next to her at the same table.

[wonusite]

Sweet Dreams

❝ You dream about a beautiful man nearly every time you fall asleep. After getting to know him and everything about him, you see him outside of your dreams—in a museum painting. ❞

PAIRING: joshua hong x female reader

GENRE: vampire au, reincarnation au, angst, smut

WORD COUNT: 10.1k

WARNINGS: vampire!joshua, human!reader, lucid dreaming, reincarnation, so much yearning, mentions of death, joshua is a brooding mess, protective!minghao, unprotected sex, blood play, biting, creampies

A/N: this has been long overdue, and i hope you guys like it! loosely based off this ask. MINORS DO NOT INTERACT!

Fate.

A simple word that holds more power and venerability than any ruler of the middle kingdom. It’s a mystifying concept that follows no rules and simply is; something that can actively be changed but not avoided. Joshua learns this late in his long life—a derailment of his own making. The lesson comes to him in the form of a fiery witch running from her death.

As a creature that’s lived in solitude since he became immortal, it’s not in his nature to be helpful. It’s why he has no interest in saving the witch from the demons that are hunting her. This, however, doesn’t stop the insolent little witch from forcing herself into his sanctuary. He fights her on it, baring his fangs while saying the most despicable and bone chilling threats to her. The young witch isn’t fazed and makes it clear that he doesn’t have a choice in the matter.

In the end, he concedes. Not because she’s powerful enough to make him obey her, but because she reminds Joshua of himself when he was desperately clinging to his own survival. Perhaps that’s the reason he becomes inexplicably drawn to her. Josh almost feels like she’s bewitched him, and the most unusual part of it all is that he doesn’t care even if that is the case.

He seeks her out after he helps her despite knowing that it can’t possibly end well. Their kinds don’t mix, and it’s doubtful that two abominations can share something as sacred and beautiful as love. Fate has never allowed it before, but Joshua is foolish enough to try to defy destiny.

Courting the witch isn’t easy. Then again, anything that involves her never is. The witch is a firm believer in being reverent to the same fates that gave her the powers she wields while Joshua couldn’t care less about the fates that turned him into a monstrosity. This creates a disconnect between them because the witch is firm that she could never love such an irreverent creature.

This hardly deters him. Joshua is relentless in his chase, and after the longest decade of his life he’s finally able to win the witch’s thorn-covered heart.

And so, even just for the briefest moments, they’re allowed to create their own destiny with each other.

Loving someone, loving her, is the most addicting feeling he’s ever felt. The love he feels for the witch surpasses even that of his first love who he was convinced he’d never forget. Being with her is the happiest Joshua has ever felt, and he naively thinks it’ll last forever.

This all comes to an abrupt end when the witch finds out that it’s his fault the demons eradicated her coven. Yes, it was before Josh had met and fell in love with her, but that doesn’t change anything. It was still him who had put her on the brink of death and gotten her family and friends killed. Twisted as it is, he doesn’t regret his actions nor would he change them if he had an opportunity to do so.

And so, the love of his life becomes his most dangerous enemy.

It hurts. More so because she discards him and his love like they never meant anything in the first place.

The witch is cutthroat in her hatred. It’s not long before the children of the moon find his sanctuary and nearly send him to meet his maker. Her hexes nearly incapacitate him, but even all her acts of revenge aren’t enough to satiate the vengeance she seeks.

Slowly, the love they grew to feel for each other becomes wilted and corroded beyond repair.

Years pass, yet the feud never dies. Joshua is almost impressed by her determination to destroy him the same way he almost destroyed her.

Hatred has replaced love by now, and it’s almost impossible for him to believe he ever loved the witch in the first place. A decade passes, then two and three until eventually an entire century goes by with the two of them feeling this burning loathing. Their detrimental feelings and behavior push both Joshua and the witch to make a vow never to love again.

But fate has other plans for them.

As time goes on, they find themselves backed into a corner—together this time. Death has returned for them in the form of faes. Neither one of them is willing to relent and give up their land to the insignificant creatures who claimed to have it first. And so, they help each other one last time.

Fighting against inferior creatures together has always been like dancing for them, and it’s easy to fall back into a love language they created. By the end of their battle, they come out victorious. The two are grateful to each other even if neither of them say it outright.

Joshua feels a familiar ache in his chest the longer he stares at the witch who was once his. Feelings he thought were long gone rush back to the surface as if they’d never left in the first place. Perhaps they never really had. He’s never been one to go against his own desires, and so he reaches out for her, craving her skin against his if even for the last time.

Their embrace is sweet, but the kiss that follows is full of passion, longing, and ardent love that seems to have been buried deep within them the entire time. It’s almost like a dream to have her like this again, and now Joshua doesn’t plan on letting her go.

But once again, fate doesn’t leave him with a choice.

Humans grow more wary of the creatures they share the world with. Many go into hiding, but Joshua makes the mistake of thinking he can blend in with his prey. A hunter of his kind has found him, and as a vampire with no coven, he’s left vulnerable. It’s even worse when the hunter and his clan discover his lover and what she is.

It was a peaceful night when they’re attacked. Escaping death doesn’t seem possible, but as always the witch assured him that she has a solution. His love makes him a promise as she casts a spell that will hide his presence. A promise that she’ll find him and reunite with him in every lifetime. He’s confused by her words, but has no time to question her as the spell takes over and dulls his senses until he’s unconscious.

If he’d known his love was going to sacrifice herself for him, he would’ve taken a million wooden stakes to the heart rather than continue existing in a world without her.

Centuries later, he’s never been able to forget her or what her presence had done to his life. Joshua is left alone in a world that now seems intolerable without his witch in it. Cruel irony reminds him that the solitude he once basked in feels suffocating now. All he’s left with is a gaping hole that constantly reminds him of how he lost his one true love.

Joshua eventually joins a coven, but they offer little comfort. At this point in his immortality, he only sticks around them out of habit. It’s not that he isn’t fond of them—he is, most of the time—but it’s not the same as having his lover by his side.

After going through the eternal test of time, Joshua still yearns for her; craves her as much as the blood that he feeds on. It’s the reason he’s spent the last two centuries looking for the one person who filled his heart with so much love.

And he’ll stop at nothing until he finds her.

The first time it happened, you thought it was nothing more than a dream.

Which it was, but it felt different—it was different. Never in your life had you dreamt such a beautiful dream that felt so real and almost indistinguishable from reality. The most memorable part was the euphoric feeling it evoked from you.

Well, that’s not exactly right. There was one single element that had left you unable to forget the lucid dream. One that you believed was responsible for your subconscious forcing you into those dreams every time you fell asleep.

Unhealthy as it is, you chase the lucid dreams. Every night, you look forward to your sleep with the hope of once again being wrapped up in one of those lovely dreams. Any free time you’re left with is used to sleep just so you can escape to the ethereal dreamland your mind has created.

The dreams have ensnared you and make you crave and long for them as if you’re under some sort of spell. It’s become a bit of an obsession because even when you’re with other people it’s all you can think about. And yet you’re unable to let go of your obsession in spite of how unhealthy and irrational it is.

The scene in front of you is familiar, but you can’t place where you’ve seen the old castle that looks like it’s straight out of the medieval times. You step forward, feet moving on their own as you walk past the large doors. Servants run along with their head down, and you’re not sure why it makes you feel satisfied that they seem to be terrified of you.

“Y/N.”

You turn at the sound of a mellifluous voice. Once again, it’s the beautiful man who’d been visiting you in your dreams.

“Shua.” You call affectionately, running to him as he opens his arms for you.

As always, he catches you easily. You wrap your arms around his neck, softly giggling into his hair as he spins you around. “Where have you brought me this time?”

“This is where I live.” He tells you as you pull back to look at his face. “Do you like it?”

You look around again. The feeling of familiarity doesn’t go away as you inspect your surroundings. Joshua gently puts you down, but doesn’t release you from his embrace. His stare is gentle and observant, curious on how you’re going to react to what he’s showing you.

“This is really where you live?” You wonder in awe. “Are you a king or something?”

His pretty laugh makes you look back at him. Your heart leaps up into your throat when you see the fond look he’s giving you. It’s been months of being on the receiving end of his affectionate stare, but you’re not sure you’ll stop feeling bashful when you catch it.

“I am not. Does that disappoint you?”

You shake your head. “No, but it does make me wonder how old you actually are. Older than Dracula?”

All Josh can do is laugh and laugh. You’re not sure what he finds so funny, but as usual you do not get the chance to ask. The familiar pressure on your bones gets more intense with every passing moment. It’s how you know you’re on the verge of being pulled out of your blissful dream. You can’t even open your mouth to say goodbye because you’re abruptly yanked out of your subconscious before you can.

It’s always hard to keep going on with your day normally after you dream about Josh. You can never really function afterwards, not how you usually would.

“—even listening to me?”

You snap back into reality, realizing that Jeonghan has been talking to you this entire time. “Sorry. What were you saying?”

Jeonghan rolls his eyes and gives you an accusatory look that confuses you. His eyebrows are raised as he leans forward. “I was saying that Soonyoung thinks you’re fucking someone.”

“What?” You splutter, suddenly feeling extremely flustered.

“I told him there’s no way that’s true because lately you’ve been holed up in your room sleeping every chance you get!”

You manage to not choke on your spit and give your friend an indignant glare. “Both you and Soonyoung need to worry about your own sex lives.”

The gleam in his eye changes, and you realize too late that you’ve made a mistake. “Wait. Are you actually fucking someone?”

“You know I’m not!” You hiss, starting to feel embarrassed.

Clearly, Jeonghan doesn’t believe you. He stares at you before something seems to click in his head. Your nervous stare and angry pout are telltale signs of deceit. His jaw drops a bit as he lets out an affronted squeak.

“No way. That’s why you’ve been in such a good mood lately!” He says with a conniving laugh. “And here I thought that night cream I recommended is the reason you’ve been glowing lately.”

Maybe the most embarrassing part about this is not that he’s trying to discuss your sex life (or lack thereof) at the local cafe and not wine night, but the fact that this alleged glow has nothing to do with a man—not a real one, anyway. But Jeonghan doesn’t need to know that.

“You would’ve heard me if that was true.”

Jeonghan’s ears slowly turn red as he pouts in disappointment. He really hoped you’d managed to break your three month long dry spell, and he also wanted to be right. It’s almost suspicious that he isn’t because he usually is. You’ve been a little too smiley lately like you have some hidden lover.

“If you say so.” He mutters bitterly.

This would be the point where you’d usually panic since Yoon Jeonghan can never be one to let anything go if he feels like he’s right. You feel at ease though because there’s no way he could ever find out about Josh.

“By the way… you’re definitely going to be gone this weekend, right?” Jeonghan suddenly asks in a tone you recognize all too well.

You try not to gag as you nod. “Yes. I already bought the tickets and Hao is in the city setting up his apartment so I have a place to stay while I’m up there.”

Jeonghan smirks victoriously. He nods, not even trying to hide how pleased he is as he pulls out his phone. Suddenly, he’s very grateful that you and Minghao have such an interest in history. When he’s done sending a message you would definitely call sleazy, he just laughs at your disgusted expression.

“Don’t give me that look. Not all of us have to practice celibacy like you.”

“Whatever.” You scoff with a roll of your eyes. “Just keep it in your room this time. I better not find any stains on the couch when I get back.”

He only laughs at you with a promise that you can’t think of as sincere.

“Are you playing with your food again?”

The voice sounds distant as Joshua is gently pulled out of the trance he’s used to being in now. He slow blinks, remnants of the beautiful vision still clear in his mind. Junhui’s words don’t bother him like they usually would’ve. Not when he finally feels alive for the first time in centuries. Still, he can’t control the annoyance he feels that his brother thinks this subject is something that can be joked and talked about lightly.

“You and Soonyoung are the only heathens who play with food.” Joshua’s tone is clipped, bordering on that murderous one that pops up any time someone mentions his latest obsession.

Junhui only laughs, head cocking to the side in interest. “I’m curious. Did you really find the grand love of your life, or is it just some girl who happens to look like her?”

“His obsession wouldn’t be so profound if it was a girl who merely looks like her.” Comes a voice from the top of the grand stairs.

They look up to see the oldest and the youngest of the coven coming down the stairs. Soonyoung doesn’t bother to hide his amused smirk while Minghao wears the same impassive expression he had when Joshua met him. His lack of reaction is the reason why he’s often the voice of reason in the coven, but his callous way of speaking never offers any comfort.

“Our brother is looking for the soul of his beloved—a soul that cannot be replicated nor imitated. Even if he’s to find her doppelgänger, he will not love her completely or sincerely.” Minghao says he takes a seat near the burning fireplace.

Soonyoung sits on the other end of the couch before he raises an eyebrow at Josh. He lets out a mocking snicker. “It’s giving stalker.”

As the most recently turned, their youngest has developed a proclivity for imitating the current slang. Joshua understands it (to an extent), but finds it folly. Then again, he doesn’t think its ridiculous when that person uses it.

But of course, that’s different.

Josh doesn’t bother to sneer at him for his snide remark. As a creature who hasn’t found a mate in the entire century he’s been alive, Soonyoung couldn’t possibly understand the ardent need to be close to the person chosen to be your mate.

“You still haven’t answered my question.” Junhui points out, sounding almost bored now. “Have you found her? Your one true love?”

When Joshua smiles, it’s so pretty that even Minghao can’t help but stare. “I have.”

“Are you going to turn her?”

Soonyoung’s question hangs in the air, and as much as Josh wants to hiss at him to mind his own business, he sees how Junhui and Minghao are also looking at him. Turning someone isn’t as simple as it used to be—if it could ever be considered simple. Now there were too many factors and too many risks involved.

“I have to find her physically before I can think of anything else.” Josh sighs deeply.

“Brother.” Minghao says in his serious tone. “Think of your next moves carefully. You’ve found her reincarnation, but she doesn’t remember you, and there’s no guarantee that she ever will.”

For once, the younger ones don’t say anything teasing or goading. They look at him just as solemnly as Minghao is. It’s a harsh truth that Joshua had acknowledged long ago but not fully accepted.

His love doesn’t remember him. This is a fact.

But even if she never does, he doesn’t plan on letting her go. Not again.

“You’re unhappy.”

The observation is astute, and even though it’s been months, you can’t get used to how easily Josh can see through you. It shouldn’t have the affect on you that it does, but there’s just something about having someone know you so well that makes your heart jerk with emotion. Part of you feels insane for feeling this way because this man is just a figment of your imagination created by your subconscious.

Josh smiles placatingly when he sees your pout. He’s sure that you’re not aware that you do it, which makes it all the more cute in his eyes.

“Work hasn’t been great lately.” You say honestly, only hesitating a moment before telling him the rest. “Also... Jeonghan set me up on this blind date. Which wouldn’t be a big deal, but I haven’t been on a date in forever.”

You’re not sure why it feels like you’re saying something absolutely heart wrenching. If you had to describe it, it’s almost like you’re admitting to cheating or something similar which is fucking insane since Josh isn’t your boyfriend—or real, for that matter.

There’s a shift in his kind eyes. A cold rage settles in the depths of his dark irises that makes you feel like you’re staring an evil creature in the face. Before you can ponder it, the expression is is gone so fast that you almost think you imagined it.

“You don’t have to go.” He finally says, and you wonder if he actually sounds like he’s pleading or if it’s just something your subconscious is hoping for.

A teasing smile stretches your lips. “Yeah? Should I just stay here with you, instead?”

Joshua wishes he could say yes. Stay with me and never leave my side again. The words are on the tip of his tongue, and even though he’s dying to say them, he knows he shouldn’t. In this lifetime and your previous one, he had to be patient when courting you. Clearly some things never changed.

“Don’t look so excited.” You joke when you see him hesitate.

His laugh is pretty and soft. You’re not sure why the sound comforts you in a way that almost feels familiar. As if that’s the one sound that could take away any horrible feeling you’ve ever experienced. The longer you listen to the dulcet sound, the more it makes your heart ache for a reason you can’t understand. It’s a type of yearning that feels deeper than the normalcy of seeing him every day.

“I wish you weren’t a dream.”

Joshua’s laughter dies down and the smile slips off his face at hearing your words. You almost regret saying them, but it’s too late to take them back. Not that you would since they’re the absolute truth. He knows you better than most of your friends do, and it’s hard not to feel this intense affection for him. The crazy part of it all is that you can literally feel how much he adores you too.

“Maybe you’re my dream.” Josh’s smile is full of longing and sadness.

Before you can respond, you’re abruptly pulled out of the dream by the blaring sound of a car horn. You startle awake, bleary vision belatedly registering that you’re now in the city. Minghao looks at you with wide eyes, a startled laugh slipping past his lips. “Are you okay?”

You nod wearily, taking a moment to shake of the intense emotions your dream had left you with. It’s clear that Minghao doesn’t fully believe you, but he doesn’t press the subject and keeps driving toward museum.

Being at the museum doesn’t help you as much as you hope. The artifacts and paintings are intriguing, but your irritating mind only keeps associating everything with Josh. He’s always talked like someone from another time so looking at ancient items and old paintings naturally makes you keep picturing his face.

“For someone who kept begging me to clear my schedule so we could come here, you don’t look very excited.”

You give Minghao a guilty look because you know how busy he is. “Sorry. I’m just kind of distracted.”

“And why is that?”

It’s not that you don’t trust Minghao. You do, but you can’t tell him that you’re infatuated with a man who shows up in your dreams.

“I haven’t been sleeping well.”

Your friend raises an eyebrow at you. As usual Minghao sees right through your half-truth. “You’ve been having nightmares?”

“Not exactly.” You say. The resolve to keep your secret quickly dissolved when Minghao gives you a look that somehow always compels you to do what he wants. “I can’t sleep because I keep dreaming of a guy.”

“A guy?” Minghao raises his eyebrows in a way that reminds you of Jeonghan.

“It’s not like that.” You say, skin heating up in embarrassment. “I don’t even think he’s real. He just keeps appearing in my dreams, and I feel crazy every time I think about him.”

Minghao doesn’t laugh or tell you you’re crazy. Instead he looks at you with a sharpened gaze that looks like it holds a certain amount of concern and something else you can’t discern. If his heart was capable of beating, his heart rate would’ve spiked at the information you told him.

You’re vague in your description (which was impressive because his gift is powerful enough to get people to admit to murder), but it’s enough to have his mind reeling. Is it possible that you’d fallen into the clutches of an incubus? Minghao isn’t overly fond of humans, but you’re different. He can’t let you become the prey of such a lascivious creature.

“I have some tea that’s good for sleeping." He says as normally as he can as you two walk along the museum. “When we get back to my place, I’ll give you some.”

You nod silently, not entirely sure if his teas will help with your lucid dreaming. Even if they did, it’s not like you want to stop seeing this imaginary man that makes you feel more loved than you ever had. But there’s a part of you that knows you can’t keep sleeping with the hopes of seeing Josh again.

The inner turmoil you’re feeling is interrupted when Minghao pulls you to the section he’d been dying to see from the beginning. His laughter immediately makes you come back down to earth. It’s not like your friend never laughs, but this one is full and louder than you’ve ever heard it. You’re not sure why he finds the painting of a duke so funny. Just as you’re about to question him, you see the painting and feel the world around you come to a stop.

It feels like your heart stopped beating and dropped down to your stomach. Your usually quiet mind is reeling, trying to fathom what you’re seeing. There’s no way.

The painting is of a man, but not just any man.

It’s Josh.

Your Josh.

You keep blinking as if another face will appear in the very old painting. If you felt crazy before, the feeling worsens the longer you stare at the oils that form the face you’ve come to memorize and love. The description of the painting says the man born in 1714 was a famous duke notorious for starting a rebellion against the crown.

“So this is the only painting of the Hong Jisoo?” Your friend cackles, but you’re not sure what’s so funny.

It’s good that he’s so distracted by whatever it is he finds so funny because you’re about two seconds away from breaking down. How is it possible that some duke from centuries ago was appearing in your dreams? Is it possible that you’d somehow seen his image before and projected it into your dreams? You don’t remember even reading about him, and it only makes you feel more crazy.

Back at Minghao’s luxury apartment, you can’t stop thinking about that stupid painting of Hong Jisoo. How is it possible for you to dream about a person that was alive centuries ago? It doesn’t make sense, and the more you think about it, the more freaked out you feel.

“Here.” Hao says as he hands you a warm mug of tea. “Drink it to see if it helps. I’ll give you some to take home if you like it.”

You thank him, really hoping this puts an end to your unhealthy dreams.

“It’s not working!” Josh growls angrily. “There’s something blocking me from seeing her. I’m sure of it.”

Soonyoung and Junhui roll their eyes. Josh has been complaining about not being able to transcend into his true love’s subconscious for the last three hours, and it’s starting to drive them insane. It’s not that they’re not sympathetic, but it was quite literally the only thing the older vampire could talk about. Not to mention the fact that after months of visiting his mate every day, he did nothing to figure out where she was—a total waste in their opinion.

Before Josh can keep repeating the same frustrated things he’s been griping about all morning, they hear the door open and the familiar sound of boots clacking against the marble floor.

“Minghao!” Soonyoung cries when the oldest of the coven walks into the living room. “Finally, you’re back! Jisoo hasn’t stopped whining about his mate since you left! You need to put a stop to him!”

Minghao sets down his suitcases with an exhausted sigh. “What’s going on?”

“He claims there’s a barrier preventing him from entering his mate’s subconscious.” Junhui explains, sending a skeptical look Joshua’s way. “Which is impossible because a mere human isn’t capable of blocking his gift.”

While that is true, there are certain things humans have done for centuries to ward off creatures of the night. However, it is strange that there’s a sudden block to his mate’s subconscious after being left vulnerable for so many months.

“Perhaps your mate has realized that you’re a nefarious creature and not just a figment of her imagination.” Minghao muses as he goes to sit at his usual place by the fire. “If that’s the case, she may have sought out a witch to block her psyche from unsavory visitors.”

The dark look Josh sends his way is amusing to the rest. Maybe it’s cruel to disregard the anguish his brother clearly feels, but being empathetic has never been one of Minghao’s character traits. Even so, some of the humanity he once had still lingers within him.

“However, if you truly wish to find her I can contact Jihoon—”

“No.” Josh snaps immediately. The growl in his voice is menacing as his eyes darken. “I’ll find her on my own.”

The silence that follows is tense until Soonyoung breaks it by insisting on seeing pictures from Minghao’s trip. As always, he obliges to the youngest’s request, tossing his phone over without taking his eyes off Josh.

“If that were possible you would have already found her.”

It’s a frustrating truth. He hadn’t been able to figure out anything that would help him find you because he didn’t want to scare you off. Now he regrets playing the part of a gentleman because it feels like he’s lost you all over again.

“Is this the human you’re always talking about?”

Usually, Josh doesn’t take any interest in humans aside from his meals, but the way Minghao’s sharp gaze switches to an almost fond one intrigues him enough to look at the screen Soonyoung is holding out toward them.

It’s like his heartbeat comes back to life when he sees a video of a beautiful girl staring at one of his old swords.

“Yes. That’s—”

“Y/N.”

Minghao looks at Josh in surprise. He’s incredulous, but it’s soon replaced by horror when he realizes why his brother is looking at the phone with a predatory gaze.

“You…” Minghao’s icy tone makes the younger ones still. They recognize the murderous intent behind that tone instantly. “You’re the one who’s been invading her dreams.”

Josh snarls at his oldest friend. “You’re the one responsible for the barrier.”

It’s like watching two animals raising their hackles at one another. Except both of them are capable of destroying each other and everything around them without caring.

Junhui is quick to step in, holding a firm hand to Minghao’s chest. “She’s his mate.”

It’s meant to make him see reason, but all it does is anger Minghao.

“A mate that he betrayed time and time again!” His words make them all flinch. “You’re the reason those hunters found her and burned her alive!”

Never has a silence so thick and tense surrounded them before. It’s a low blow to bring up Josh’s greatest pain in such a way, but Minghao is beyond seeing reason at this point.

“Both of you need to calm down.” Soonyoung says as he stands in the middle.

“Do you have feelings for her?” Josh demands, not understanding why the person who had helped him search for his mate’s reincarnation for centuries was suddenly acting this way.

“She’s a pure soul.” Minghao says, sounding a little defeated. “One that doesn’t deserve to become a monster like us.”

It’s tense and silent again, but this time the air feels different. All four of them knew how painful and awful it was to turn. Back then, they had been the unlucky ones to survive an attack when they were meant to be someone’s food. Minghao wouldn’t wish that on anyone, least of all you.

“Let her decide.” Soonyoung breaks the silence, being reasonable for the first time in a long time. He looks to Josh, gaze as serious as ever. “If you really love her, tell her the truth and let her decide what to do.”

Minghao has always been an enigma. He’s private to the point where you sometimes feel like you don’t know him at all. It’s why you’re so surprised when he invites you over to his main house which is basically synonymous with prohibited. He never invites anyone there, not even Jeonghan who’s known him longer than you have.

Your friend’s home is expectedly opulent and beautiful, but there’s also this ominous air surrounding it. Minghao remains silent as he leads you to the entrance. His somber attitude isn’t exactly uncharacteristic. He’s naturally quiet and serious, but right now he almost seems angry. You can tell his mind is far away, light years away even.

Before you can think to question him, he leads you to the living room and sits you down on one of the couches. His cold hands don’t move from your shoulders even after you’re seated. You look up at him in curiosity because he seems to be contemplating something.

“Don’t be angry with me.” His tone is softer than you’ve ever heard it, and you have to wonder what he’s done for him to plead with you like this. (Xu Minghao does not beg.)

Hands fall from your shoulders as Minghao side steps out of the way. Everything goes in slow motion from then on. He’s stepped out of the way to reveal a man who you recognize very well. Your heart jumps and starts to beat erratically as you take in his ethereal features.

What’s happening feels like a more intense version of what happened at the museum. Minghao’s friend(?) looks exactly like Josh. He even looks at you like Josh does.

“Y/N.”

The organ in your chest throbs at the sound because it’s so soft and pretty, just like it is in your dreams. He sounds so similar to Josh that you feel insane for wanting to run into this man’s arms like you always do with Josh in your dreams.

Your mind is a beat behind, and it’s only after this stranger called your name that you realize Minghao had apologized to you before he appeared. When you look over to your friend, he’s observing you carefully in a way you can’t understand.

“What’s going on? What is this?” You ask, feeling like you’ve been set up.

There’s a thick silence, and just when you contemplate on getting up to leave, the unknown guy falls to his knees in front of you.

“Please forgive me.”

Your eyes practically pop out of your head at the unsolicited apology. “I– What?”

The silence is uncomfortable, and you can only look back to Minghao for an explanation.

“You’ve seen Jisoo before—in your dreams.” Minghao says slowly as if it pains him to tell you.

Jisoo?

“When you told me that a man kept reappearing in your dreams, I thought you were being preyed on by an incubus.” Minghao chuckles bitterly. “But I was a fool not to see that the truth was much worse.”

“Incubus?” You whisper incredulously. “You mean those demons that fuck people while they’re asleep?”

Neither men react to your crude words. They’re looking at you solemnly as if Minghao didn’t just say something completely insane. None of it makes sense nor does it provide you with the explanation you demanded.

“You can’t be serious! Incubuses—“

“Incubi.” Minghao corrects you. He regrets it as soon as he sees the dark look on your face.

“—don’t exist.” You finish through gritted teeth.

“They’re not the only demons running rampant on this earth.” Minghao says as he shares a look with the man who is still kneeling in front of you. “Just look at the monster in front of you and you’ll know what I’m saying is true.”

This Jisoo guy looks nothing like a monster. Not even as he’s giving your friend the most withering glare you’ve ever seen.

“Don’t give me that look. I brought her here so she can know the truth.”

At this point, you don’t know if they’re friends or enemies with the way they’re glowering at each other. And you still don’t know what truth they’re talking about, either.

“Jisoo has been trying to find you for centuries.” Minghao finally says, eyes softening just the tiniest bit when he looks back at you.

You don’t say anything because it all sounds like some crazy lie. Minghao isn’t the type to pull pranks, but there’s no other logical explanation for what’s happening. And yet, it also isn’t possible that he could know what the man from your dreams looked like and somehow find someone who looks exactly like him for his prank.

“We’re vampires.” Jisoo says, voice soft and comforting. “I know it sounds crazy, but it’s true.”

“Prove it.”

Your words come out before you can stop them. It’s not what you meant to say (not right away, anyway), but you don’t try to backtrack. On the off chance that they’re not pulling some elaborate prank, you need to know that you’re not crazy for kind of believing what they’re saying.

Minghao and Jisoo are looking at you with wide eyes, but the challenging look on your face doesn’t waver. They both know you enough to realize you aren’t going to believe them until they prove that they’re not lying.

Jisoo grins, but it seems bitter in a way. “Okay. Just… don’t be scared.”

You raise an eyebrow when his smile stretches further. It’s not until you see four of his teeth elongating into literal fangs that you feel your pulse start to race. His eyes have darkened into an inhuman shade of black that reminds you of a demon. Now you understood what Minghao meant when he called Jisoo a monster.

But that also means…

In a panic, you look to your friend. Much to your horror, he too is bearing those monstrous characteristics now. Dark eyes and fangs that make them look like the monsters they claim to be. It feels like you’re in one of your lucid dreams, and in the back of your mind you hope that’s what this is.

“Did you bring me here to kill me?” You’re surprised that your voice comes out as calm as it does, and even though you’re terrified, you can’t react how you know you should be.

“We would never hurt you.” Jisoo says, features slowly reverting back to normal. “No matter what, I won’t let anyone or anything bring you harm.”

It’s crazy that he’s promising you this with what feels like genuine sincerity, and it’s even crazier that it makes your chest warm with affection. You press your lips together, trying to make sense of how any of this is actually possible.

“You’re the reincarnation of Jisoo’s true love.” Minghao breaks the heavy silence. “He’s been searching for your soul since your untimely death.”

“That’s why you came into my dreams.” You whisper, not sure how to feel about this alleged truth.

“Yes.” Jisoo says, voice soft as ever. “I called myself Josh since it’s a modern name. You can still call me that if you wish.”

You stay silent, trying to deal with the onslaught of emotions you’re feeling without revealing any on your face. It’s hard, but you manage as you look back at your friend. “And you knew about this the entire time?”

“I didn’t know he’d been invading your dreams.” Minghao says honestly. “If I had—”

Minghao cuts his sentence short, and you can tell he’s trying his best to keep his emotions in check. It’s clear that he doesn’t like the idea of you being the reincarnation of Josh’s true love. You don’t understand why he brought you to meet him if that’s the case.

“Minghao.” Josh’s tone takes a threatening tone that you never thought him capable of emitting.

“Tell her.” Minghao says, clearly unfazed by Joshua’s sudden malicious attitude. “She has a right to know the truth before you think you can spend the rest of eternity with her.”

It’s silent for a moment before you see Josh’s shoulders slump. He looks slightly defeated and nervous. Seeing him in distress makes you uncomfortable, and you have to wonder if these are your actual feelings or something beyond your control.

“I first met you five years after I was first turned.” He starts, eyes begging for understanding. “You were running from a clan of demons who murdered your coven.”

The air is tense. You can feel your heart start to throb with hurt that you can’t place. A familiar burning sensation starts to poke at the back of your eyes, but you can’t understand why. “You saved me?”

Minghao clears his throat, eyes threatening.

“Unwillingly.” He admits, head hanging a little lower. “I was content in my solitude, and helping a witch didn’t sound appealing to me.”

“He also didn’t want to help a witch that belonged to the coven he helped exterminate.”

Minghao’s blunt statement makes your blood run cold. There’s a strange feeling that manifests itself in your chest. It’s an odd mixture of resentment, anger, and heartbreak. The feelings are familiar yet foreign. You feel the tears fall from your eyes before you can even think to hold them back. It’s all new information, but something in your bones recognizes the hurt and devastation.

“You killed my family.” The words aren’t yours, but in a strange way it feels like they are. “You almost killed me.”

“It was before I fell in love with you.” Josh sounds defeated. “Back then I was only concerned with my own survival, and I was a fool to let it get in the way of my love for you.”

Again, the air becomes tense. It makes Minghao almost regret doing this, but you ultimately have to know the truth. All of it.

“Tell her how you got her killed.”

More tears keep spilling from your eyes, and you can’t fathom the fact that they don’t feel like yours. A gentle hand wipes them away. Through blurry vision you can see Josh looking pained as he gently cradles your face in his large hand.

“I refused to go into hiding after the humans started to become more wary of our existence. Because of that, you and I were attacked by a group of hunters.” Josh feels a pain he hasn’t in centuries just talking about this to you of all people. “You protected me with your magic. I don’t know why you saved a wicked creature like me instead of yourself, but I really wish you hadn’t.”

The tears have stopped now, but Josh’s thumb is still gently caressing your face. His touch is cold yet comforting. You let out a shaky sigh, not sure what to do with all the information you’ve been given.

“This is why Minghao feels that I don’t deserve you, and maybe he’s right. But I’ve always been a selfish creature which is why I can’t give you up. Not in this lifetime or any other.”

Josh says it tenderly, but somehow you feel like you’ve become his prey.

Sometimes you wonder if letting Josh get so close to you is a mistake. Minghao seems to think it is even if he doesn’t tell you outright. Still, at least he’s supportive of your decision (as much as he can be, anyway). In spite of the fact that you now know the man of your dreams is a dangerous predator, you don’t feel unsafe when you’re with him. There’s also the fact that you can literally see the love he has for you every time you look at him.

Giving into him is the easiest thing you’ve ever done. It feels natural and right, especially since he’s so sweet to you. You feel yourself fall harder every time you’re with him. He knows you better than anyone and treats you like you’re his everything.

Your relationship feels completely surreal and fast paced, but in an odd way it also feels like it’s not fast enough. The feeling has something to do with your past life you’re sure. After all, Josh had been waiting centuries for you to reincarnate.

He must’ve been so lonely.

You suck in a quiet breath as the thought comes to you, one that feels like it came from deep in your subconscious and is not entirely yours. Josh’s eyes snap open at the sound. He’s looking straight at you from where he has his head in your lap.

“What’s wrong, darling?”

Unlike Minghao, Josh doesn’t have the power of coercion, but you’re still unable to lie to him. (Unwilling is a better term, but, details.)

“Did you really not have another lover after I died?” Your question isn’t accusatory, and part of you hopes he says yes. “Like you never even hooked up with someone else in three centuries?”

Josh’s airy laughter makes your chest warm. He brings your intertwined hands to his lips, placing a tender kiss on the back of yours. “If you do not believe me, I shall bring Minghao and have him use his gift on me.”

He’s teasing you, but you also know he’s dead serious. It shouldn’t thrill you so much that he’s willing to do just about anything for you—even subject himself to Minghao who still harbors a bit of a grudge towards him.

“It’s not that I don’t believe you, I just…” You let out a quiet sigh. “You must’ve been really lonely.”

The way you look heartbroken and guilty isn’t satisfying, but it is alleviating somehow. You truly haven’t changed. The beautiful, kind soul he fell in love with remains intact, and he can’t be more grateful for that.

“At first I was. Then I met Minghao and joined his coven. They made it more bearable.”

You bring the hand that’s not attached to Josh’s to his head and run a gentle hand through his hair. “It must’ve been hard.”

Josh only offers you a hum. He can’t deny that it was, but he also doesn’t want to keep making you feel bad with all the details. That would have to be for another time.

“How many dreams did you invade before you finally found me?” You suddenly ask, wondering just how many psyches he had to go through over the course of 300 years.

“None.” His smile is a little bitter. “I’m not a incubus, so I can only enter your subconscious.”

The confused look on your face makes him let out a quiet laugh. It’s so innocent that it’s hilarious. Especially because you don’t remember that the restriction to his gift was your doing.

“Every time I tried to use my gift, I couldn’t. That’s how I knew you hadn’t been reincarnated yet. As soon as you were born I was able to tell, but I still couldn’t get into your psyche until you were ready to let me in—this is all curtesy of you, of course.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you.” He laughs. “Because I can’t dream, you bestowed this gift on me so I would be able to experience a dreamlike state again. Since you didn’t want the bloodthirsty heathen that I was back then to invade the minds of unsuspecting humans, you put all these limitations on my gift.”

His laugh is cute as he reminisces. It makes you smile too until you think of something.

The other day, Josh had mentioned he used to feed off of you in his past life because it tasted different and apparently it was like a kink for both of you. It freaked you out at first, but lately you hadn’t been able to stop thinking about it. Honestly, the more the image plagued your mind, the harder it was not to feel turned on by it. You wonder if it would hurt and if you would like the hurt.

“Do you want to feed on me?”

If Josh’s heart was capable of beating, he has no doubt it would’ve been harshly pounding against his rib cage. He slowly gets up, feeling his cock throb and his throat itch.

“Darling—”

“You’ve never done it, and I was wondering if it was something you want to do.”

Of course he wanted to do it. Your scent is mouthwatering, and he just knows you taste divine. Up until now he hadn’t brought it up because he didn’t want you to think that’s all he wanted. All you two have done this past month is share some kisses, and that was perfectly fine. If that’s all you were willing to give him he’s gladly take it so long as you let him be part of your life.

Josh swallows thickly as he contemplates his answer. While it sort of sounds like you’re offering, he can’t assume anything. Plus he doesn’t want to seem like the monster Minghao told you he is.

When you see him hesitate, you make a decision that really isn’t all that hard for you. With an enticing smile, you tilt your head the slightest bit and offer your neck to him. “Bite me.”

In a split second, Josh pulls you on his lap so you’re straddling him. You gasp quietly when he sits you directly on his hardening cock. His eyes are dark like on the day he revealed himself to you. In the back of your mind, you know this is a dangerous game you’re playing, but you don’t feel one shred of regret or fear.

“I’ll be gentle.” He promises, voice breathy and needy.

Josh trails gentle kisses up and down your neck with patience that you find impressive. His fangs tease the tender skin as he opens his mouth slightly, and it’s almost like you can feel it throb in anticipation. With one last sweet kiss, Joshua sinks his teeth into your skin until you can feel a stabbing pain.

You gasp out a moan at the feeling. The pain lasts a second before you feel it rapidly fade. It’s replaced by images that invade the forefront of your mind. Memories that you don’t remember rush forward as if they were aching to be freed from the depths of your mind. There’s so many, and in spite of the fact that they pass through your mind quickly, you see every one of them.

When you come back down to reality, Josh is still drinking from you. He groans into your skin, reluctantly pulling away and licking the puncture wound he’s left behind. Josh continues to press kisses along your skin and whispered praises that you can’t help but melt into him.

“Jisoo.” You breathe out softly.

Joshua freezes when he hears what you’ve called him. He pulls back, eyes wide as he takes in the way you’re looking at him. Your gaze has always been full of affection, but now it’s full of ardent love that reminds him of the way you looked at him all those centuries ago.

“I’ve missed you.”

“Y/N…” Josh sounds breathless as if he can’t believe what he’s hearing.

“I’m sorry it took me this long to remember.” You murmur as your bring a hand up to caress his cool cheek. “But I guess it’s only fair since you left me first.”

“It’s my biggest regret.” Josh says honestly, grip tightening on you.

You hum, trailing your thumb over his lips. He opens his mouth the slightest bit so you can touch his fangs just like you used to do once upon a time. Goosebumps cover your skin at the familiarity of it all. The feelings in your chest deepen impossibly as you replay all the memories that slowly keep coming to mind. You thought it would be impossible to love Josh any more than you already did, but once again you were proven wrong.

You let out a shocked squeak when he pulls you closer to him. His face is shoved into the side of your neck that he didn’t bite, breathing in your addicting scent. “I was so afraid that you wouldn’t remember.”

“If you wouldn’t have been such a gentleman and bitten me sooner it wouldn’t have taken me so long.” You laugh, hugging him tighter.

The two of you stay like that until you shift and realize you’re still sitting on his hard cock. In a flash, the hot memory of Josh ravishing you back then goes straight to your cunt. You lick your lips and decide that you both have been waiting long enough to be with each other again.

“I’m impressed you kept your chastity just for me.” You purr into his ear, gently grinding down on his cock. “Such a loyal lover until the end.”

Josh doesn’t hesitate to take you to bed, cock aching to be inside you once again. He’s gentle when he finally gets you naked, eyes full of desire and love. “So fucking pretty.”

A breathy moan escapes you when his cold hands start to caress your body. His lips trails your neck, gently teasing you with his sharp teeth. Your skin heats up at the attention, and you feel like your floating by the time Josh gets his dick out to finally give you what you’ve been wanting.

“I missed you so much.” He groans as his throbbing cock slowly eases past your wet folds.

You moan along with him, hands finding his to lace your fingers together. “Missed you too, my love.”

Josh’s cock twitches inside you when he hears the pet name come out of your pretty little mouth. His leaking tip brushes against your cervix as your legs wrap around his hips. His pace is slow at first, trying to savor the feeling of your hot, tight cunt wrapped around him. He buries his face into your neck, licking and biting at the skin as his thrusts start to get tougher and deeper.

Your moaning is loud, and you’re amazed that he still knows which angels to hit after so much time. It’s like you’re seeing stars when Josh gently bites at your skin. He does it teasingly until you’re begging him to bite you again.

“Stop teasing.” You whine wantonly, hips bucking up to meet his thrusts.

His chuckle is low and has your pussy clamping down on his cock, drenching it in your arousal. You can’t remember the last time you were so turned on. It hasn’t been long, but it already feels like you’re about to come.

“Seeing you fall apart like this is my favorite thing.” You can feel his sinister smirk against your neck. “It’s been too long since I last saw it.”

Josh lets go of one of your hands to bring a thumb to your clit. He starts to rub slow circles on the sensitive nub as his thrusts grow more ravenous. You cry out in pleasure when his thick cock hits your sweet spot roughly. Your back arches in pleasure as you feel your juices start to coat his heavy balls.

“Never letting you go again.” Joshua growls lowly, more to himself than you. “All mine.”

With his possessive declaration, he sinks his fangs into your neck for a second time. Your eyes roll to the back of your head as you violently come all over his big cock.

“Fuck!” You cry out, hips moving against his arms he continues to fuck you through your high.

He’s licking at your open would now, sharp thrusts angled just right to have you on the cusp of another orgasm. Joshua pulls back, pink lips painted scarlet with your blood. He looks ravenous, and you think you might actually come again from how hot he looks.

“That’s it, darling.” Josh sounds insatiable. “Cream all over me.”

It’s not long before the sight of you completely fucked out triggers his own orgasm. Thick ropes of cum shoot inside your pulsing walls, painting them white with his seed. His moans are as pretty as you remember, and they mix in with your perfectly as he fucks his cum deeper inside you.

“Fuck me again.” You pant out, still longing for the second orgasm he was coaxing out of you.

Josh’s smirks as he flips you over on your front. “Still as insatiable as ever, darling.”

You look back at him with a laugh. “Like you’re any better. So hurry and fill me up again.”

You’ll never get sick of the feeling of his cold skin on yours as he grips your ass. Josh’s large hands rub and squeeze before you feel his throbbing cock tease your messy cunt. You let out a needy whine, tilting your hips up more to offer yourself to him.

“Such a needy little thing.” Joshua murmurs in that mean but sweet tone only he was capable of having.

“Only for you, my love.” You mewl, pussy throbbing at the thought of him splitting you open again.

As is his style, Josh slowly pushes his fat cock into your hot cunt, making you feel every inch of him. Then, in a split second he shoves the rest in like he can’t wait to be inside you any longer. The jolt of pleasure and slight sting of the stretch was enough to tip you over the edge for a second time.

You muffle your cry of pleasure in the sheets, fingers clinging to the soft cotton as your pussy clenches down on Josh’s cock, making him feel even bigger inside you. He groans from behind you, loving how your juices coat his cock as if you’re claiming it as yours.

“Fuck, sweetheart. Can you do that for me one more time?”

It’s more of a rhetorical question because in the next second his fingers are digging into your hips as he pulls his cock all the way out before shoving it back into your needy pussy with a sharp thrust. You can feel your body tremble as your pussy grips his cock like a vise.

“So fucking tight.” He groans, voice dripping with lust.

“Fuck me!” You moan, pushing back on his cock with insatiable need.

At your desperate demand, Josh sera a brutal pace. He fuck you hard and rough, leaking tip hitting your sweet spot over and over again until all he can hear is lewd squelching and skin slapping. His hips slam against your ass, obsessed with the way your sweet crema coats his cock. You cry out his name as his heavy balls slap against your throbbing clit.

Josh is pounding you into the mattress, cock splitting you open deliciously. You’re so addicted to the feeling that you can’t help but spur him on. “Don’t stop!”

You cry out in ecstasy when he does exactly as you ask. He pounds his cock against the spot inside you that has you seeing stars. Your fingers grips the sheets as you bounce your ass back to meet his thrusts desperately.

“You’re close again, right, baby?” Josh’s voice is teasing. He doesn’t need to ask, though. He knows you are because he knows your body.

You’re moaning and shaking with overwhelming pleasure. All you can do is nod as you bring your hand down between your bodies to rub your aching clit. With all the stimulation from your fingers and his cock, you fall over the edge once again. Your body tenses as you moan out Josh’s name with ecstasy. The excess of your orgasm drips down Josh’s cock, staining it and marking it as yours.

With one last thrust, he shoots his hot cum inside you, moaning your name like a mantra. He sloppily fuck it back into you before pulling you flush against his chest. You two collapse back on the bed with Josh holding you closely as if he thinks you might disappear.

Slowly, you turn around with his cock still inside you. Joshua’s eyes are sparkling as he looks at you. “How are you feeling?”

“Amazing.” You breathe out blissfully. “And not just because you’ve stuffed me full.”

His cock twitches inside of you, and you can’t help but let out an endeared laugh. Your chest is warm as he hugs you closer to him, lips gently skimming over your puncture wound.

“Jisoo.”

He hums against your neck, pulling back to look you in the eyes.

“I was so afraid when I first died.” You confess, feeling him tense. You’re quick to pull him closer and caress his cheek. “Afraid that I’d be reborn and you wouldn’t be there when I was.”

Josh swallows thickly and comes to cup the hand that’s still brushing over his cheek. “I’ll never leave you alone again.”

“I know. Once you turn me, we’ll have the rest of eternity together.”

It all feels too good to be true, but you know that this is reality and not just another one of your sweet dreams.

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[chimuelo2005-blog]

More yapping about Jayce and his relationship with Viktor and Mel cause why not?

One of the most interesting things about Jayce’s character arc is how Mel and Viktor act as these two opposing forces in his life; both guiding him, both shaping him, but in very different ways. Mel represents power, ambition, legacy, the political weight of Hextech and everything it could be. Viktor represents innovation, raw intellect, and the heart of why Hextech even exists in the first place. Jayce is caught between them, constantly being pulled in two directions.

Mel teaches Jayce how to navigate Piltover, how to gain and control his power instead of letting it control him. She gives him the tools to actually use Hextech as more than just an invention— turn it into something that changes the world. Without her, he never would’ve made it onto the council, never would’ve learned how to play politics, never would’ve become the leader Piltover needed. But at the end of the day? Jayce was never truly Mel’s.

Because no matter how much Mel shapes him, no matter how much power she hands him, Jayce’s first and strongest connection is always Viktor. His first choice is always Viktor. Viktor is the reason Hextech exists. Viktor is the reason Jayce even believes in progress in the first place. And you see it in the way Jayce prioritizes him over and over again.

Mel offers Jayce power, and yeah, he takes it—but he hesitates. He falters. With Viktor? There’s no hesitation. Jayce is willing to risk everything for Viktor in a way he never does for Mel. Like, when Viktor starts slipping away, Jayce drops everything. He stops caring about politics, about his reputation, about the carefully constructed path Mel laid out for him. The second Viktor needs him, that’s it. He’s done playing the game. He’s ready to throw away everything if it means saving him. Mel is an influence in his life. Viktor is his foundation.

And what’s really sad about all of this is that Mel knows. She sees it. She knows that at the end of the day, she’s teaching Jayce how to be powerful, but Viktor is the one who actually owns his heart. She sees how quickly Jayce pulls away from her when Viktor starts getting worse, how his priorities shift without a second thought. She spent the entire second part of the show shaping Jayce into a leader, a politician, a visionary—but the second Viktor is in danger, Jayce doesn’t care about any of that. He only cares about him.

Mel may have given Jayce power, but Viktor is the only person he was ever willing to lose that power for. Mel was the one who taught Jayce how to build an empire. But Viktor? Viktor is the one thing that could make him burn it all down.

And that says everything about Jayce.

I've seen some people in the reblogs make good points I missed while making the post, so I'll add them here.

This post is about jayce's perception or what I think his perception is based on his actions. Once said that: No, Mel is not the black girlfriend, that's a huge disrespect of her character, she's a powerful, intelligent woman with complexities and flaws that go far beyond some guy.

I agree that Jayce loved Mel, to a certain point. His favoritism towards Viktor is not even conscious most of the time. He obviously loved and cared for her, if he didn't they wouldn't have been together. My point is that he loved her in a way that would never be matched to the way he loves Viktor, and that's ok. They are two separate people, it's obvious Jayce won't love them the same.

While writing the script, I believe the writers made their relationship to put Jayce between a rock and a hard place at times. Mel is progress, she's powerful, beautiful, kind, She symbolizes everything Jayce wants to achieve (talking about her symbolism in jayce's character, not her own character) . Viktor is his foundation, he's beginning, he's the constant in his life even before he knew it. That's what I mean by saying Jayce was never fully Mel's.

I agree that as a fandom we don't talk enough about characters individually, but I firmly believe that there are characters that you need to talk about while talking about others. You cannot really talk deeply about Mel without talking about her mom, her brother and so on.

I love my girl Mel and I will yap about her soon because she's just too pretty and interesting not to.

[lola-writes]

𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐄 𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐈 ║ III. Somnium Romae ║ Marcus Acacius x Hanno's sister!reader

➣ Deliciae Imperii -> Delights of the Empire

➣ Somnium Romae -> The Dream of Rome

➣ Masterlist | Add yourself to my taglist | Ao3 | Ko-Fi

➣ Chapter II. | Series Masterlist

Word Count: 2,1k

Synopsis: As an esteemed warrior of the Numidian army, your world turns on its axis when you’re taken prisoner by the Romans. Ever since your stealth attack that nearly cost the General of the Roman army, Marcus Acacius, his life, he appears to have taken a special interest in you. Under his tutelage of swordplay and carnal things, you delve deeper into the heart of the Roman Empire, uncovering its instability, and Acacius’ true intentions with you…

Chapter Themes & Warnings: POV first person, violence, misogyny, angst, yearning & longing, slavery, pet names, mentions of sexual inexperience, swearing, mentions of sex. See series masterlist for full themes & warnings!

Anaticula (duckling)

Enjoy the read!

Likes, comments and reblogs are greatly appreciated!

I’d never thought I’d feel so subservient. So utterly susceptible to somebody else’s whim. Neither would I have believed that one simple action, taken in a mere second, would’ve unravelled a path that would crumble my whole world. Only to be put before an impossible choice that could inevitably grant me my freedom. 

Though, it wasn’t really much of a choice. I needed to do it. For myself, and for my honour. 

What felt like an eternity of silence had passed, before Acacius’ timber startled me, “What say you?” he whispered, like he was afraid of how I would respond to his instruction. I realized he had as much to fear as I did - relaying this sort of information to me. What nearly escaped me was just how much power he had actually placed in my hands. I was of no importance to the Roman Empire. 

I wouldn’t even have to kill him myself. One breath to the emperors about Acacius’ schemes and I could have his head on a spike come dawn. 

It was a dangerous game, a gamble with stakes far higher than I could have imagined. 

But I’d sworn my allegiance. In my world, that meant something. And I believed that it did in his as well.

He pierced me with his gaze, his eyes the color of dark, swirling pools in the dim light of the atrium.

If I were to do this, I needed answers.

“Why do you wish to kill them?” I finally breathed.  

Acacius appeared to wrestle with his thoughts, a torrent of emotions and events which I supposed could not be captured by mere words. 

Finally, he sat down on the stone rim of the pond, one hand resting atop his knee. He proceeded to tell me everything. 

About his departed wife, Lucilla, and their relentless pursuit of the dream of Rome, inherited by her father, the revered Emperor Marcus Aurelius. A dream that was slowly, agonizingly slipping away. He spoke of Emperor Geta and Caracalla – about their hot-headed tyranny; slowly bleeding the country out in pursuit of their own fame and glory. 

“The bloodshed will not end with Numidia,” said Acacius solemnly. “These brats want to take it all. Persia. India. All the while their own people starve in the streets.”

The memory of the festering city swam up before me. The so-renowned city of Rome, in actuality, reduced to such a pathetic spectacle.

“Is that not the way of the world?” I asked.

A furrow of despair etched between his brows. “It does not have to be,” he said, his voice filled with a sincerity that I yearned to believe. “Change needs to begin somewhere.” 

A strange warmth bloomed within my chest. Despite my reservations, I was beginning to realize that Acacius wasn’t inherently a bad man. 

“And you wish to start this change with an assassination?” I queried, taking a seat beside him. 

“An assassination that will help save the lives of thousands,” he implored, before rising from his seat and pacing the atrium, twisting the armilla around his forearm. 

“And you wish me to perform this?” I posed. The notion was unfathomable to me. As a General, he surely had legions of loyal soldiers at his command. Men who wouldn’t hesitate, wouldn’t question. Wouldn’t fail...

“That’s right,” he drawled, the sound blazing a path down my spine of velvet and steel. 

My eyes, drawn to his face, studied him intently. His skin was tanned, and slightly aged. He could not have been older than fifty. His lips, the faintest shade of cherry, formed the shape of a heart at rest. A perpetual frown etched his brow, which I supposed had come naturally from extensive warfare, but it did nothing to intimidate me, nor did it mar him. An old scar traced his right cheekbone, and the one I’d made on his neck was just beginning to heal. 

“Why?” my voice was barely a whisper. 

The question hung heavy in the air as he approached me slowly. “Because you will be able to get close enough to them.”

I stared into his eyes, dark and fathomless like polished obsidian, searching for any hint of jest. But his resolve was as clear as the dawn breaking over the horizon, and the weight of his request began to settle upon my shoulders. 

“To get close,” I repeated, contemplating the actual enormity of this task when cold vexation flashed my nerves. “Enough of these vague concepts,” I said curtly, “What are you truly asking of me? I will need details, Acacius,” I said, rising to my feet, “Strategies, routines, vulnerabilities. I’ll need to know it all.”

His jaw ticked, and his expression hewed into something apologetic, a fleeting emotion that sparked an ill foreboding in my bones. He released the armilla and allowed his arms to drop to his sides. My eyes followed his path as he moved to a corner of the room, pulling out one of the elegant curule chairs from a round mahogany table. “Please, sit,” he said, before placing himself in the opposite curule. “You must be starving.” He poured wine into two glasses while I stood rooted and hesitant. But the agonizing hollowness in my stomach could not be denied. I had not eaten for two days, and though it did not sound like a lot, it felt like an eternity. 

I walked myself toward the corner, pacing myself to not seem too eager, and cautiously seated myself. The small table offered a modest spread: a bowl overflowing with fruit, a dish of walnuts, a bowl of olives, and a sliced loaf of bread. I plucked vigorously, each bite feeling like a touch of heaven, and when my tongue tasted the wine, I found myself envying him. 

When I looked up, he was watching me, his eyes a deeper shade of brown, almost black, as he sipped his wine slowly, deliberately. I spat an olive pit into my hand, and watched his eyes grow darker still beyond the rim of his glass. 

I dried my mouth on the back of my hand, leaning back in the chair as he refilled my glass. 

“Tell me everything,” I said, my voice firm with a newfound resolve. “I’m ready.”

Acacius leaned back, the palm of his hand stroking the dark, bristling beard of his chin as he appraised me. “Very well,” he began, his voice a low murmur that seemed to carry the weight of centuries and fixed me with eyes almost imploring. 

He took a moment to gather himself, before he leaned toward me, and my breath slowed with apprehension.

“There will be a celebration in my honor. Tonight,” he said, and bile rose in my throat while a million questions and scenarios erupted in my mind like a flurry. “I need you to accompany me.”

Repugnance penetrated my veins at the thought of attending a celebration of my people’s demise. An overwhelming feeling struck me, like I was back in that cage, and the only way to set myself free was to chop my own arm off. I gritted my teeth against the rising tide of despair, pushing back the tears. “I fucking hate you,” I hissed below my breath, but the brief pause in his narrative confirmed he’d heard me. 

If only I’d contemplated how much worse it could get.

“Now,” he continued, his voice softer, “The emperors’ parties are no mere gatherings. They are spectacles of power, displays of decadence, exercises in control... and sex.”

The last word snapped me back to attention, my pulse quickening, ice settling into my stomach – fear. 

“They are designed to intoxicate the senses, to break down barriers, and expose the deepest vulnerabilities of those who attend,” he proceeded, and I prayed he didn’t notice how I’d gone pale. 

A shiver, cold and profound, snaked down my spine, my entire body quivering from dread of the heart of his plan. 

“During this party, I want you to get close to the emperors. Either one, preferably both.” His eyes held mine with such intensity that I could feel how the muscles in his body contracted. “And assassinate them.”

He made it sound so easy. I nodded, attempting to digest his every word without completely losing my mind. 

“And,” I uttered hesitantly. “How would I...” I didn’t want to know the answer. “...get close to them?”

“You will have to seduce them.”

I shuddered, his words echoing in the silence of the atrium. I didn’t have a single notion of how to do that. Though, if I somehow did manage it, what then? 

I was starting to feel dizzy. 

“What if I get caught?” I asked, annoyed that I could not keep my voice from trembling. 

“You won’t,” he said assertively. 

“What if I get caught?” I repeated, my voice hardening, “Spare me the platitudes.”

He sighed and leaned back in his chair; one hand placed firmly upon the mahogany table. “Follow my plan,” he said. “Get them alone. And I’ll ensure you won’t get caught.”

It wasn’t much reassurance, but I supposed at this stage, I only had myself to blame. The moment of the battle flashed before my eyes, and instead of hesitating, I made sure Acacius spurted blood. It gave me momentary reprieve from the crushing weight of my predicament, my mind attempting to relieve my agony. But the torment only escalated once reality dawned once more.

Stupid, stupid girl.

“What am I to you?” I asked, my voice faltering.

Acacius paused and studied me cynically, clearly uncertain of the inference of this question. “You’re my slave,” he said then, and my guts twisted into a knot. 

“I mean, at this party,” I managed, choking back tears, “What will I be to you?”

Silence stretched, and the furrow between his brow etched deeper, his gaze growing solemn and cold. 

“I believe you already know the answer to that question.”

A tear spilled from my eye, not from grief, but from indignation, and I clutched onto my rags so hard they nearly ripped. 

“Listen,” he said, leaning forward in his chair. “Nothing needs to happen if you play your cards right. You’ll get through this,” he said placating, but somehow it only made me resent him more. 

Dread coiled beneath my skin at the prospect of intimacy. My sexual experience was limited, non-existent, in truth. And the idea of having to pretend to know what I was doing – to make it believable enough, while simultaneously plotting the emperors’ demise, made me feel vertiginous, like I was teetering on the edge of a precipice. 

“B-but,” I stammered, my fingers trembling as I tried to school my racing heart. “Will the emperors not deem a girl already... pledged to another as... off limits?”

“On the contrary,” he said derisively. “They enjoy the hunt. They like feeling powerful, and desirable. It’s important that you make them feel as such,” he explained. 

I was starting to feel delirious, and out of breath. 

“They’re not only tyrannical, but extremely vulgar.”

“Enough,” I gasped, and rose from the curule, needing to escape the unbearable weight of this imminent affair. 

“I’m not trying to upset you,” came Acacius’ voice from behind.

I walked into the atrium, and found myself drawn to the pond, watching the fish swirl and dart, their serene movements a stark contrast to the turmoil within, pacifying me. 

“You need to be prepared,” he said gently, something akin to compassion penetrating his silken drawl.

I filled my lungs, slowly and deeply. 

I would survive this, I thought. I had to. This was not merely about my freedom; it was about freeing the world from the suffocating grip of the Roman tyranny. 

I turned back towards Acacius, who was now upstanding, watching me with a determined, cautious look. His demeanour, a peculiar mix of empathy and resolve, offered me the slightest hint of relief. 

It could’ve been worse. Acacius could’ve been a tyrant too. Or I could’ve been somebody else’s slave forever, with no opportunity of escape. Acacius had offered me a chance to change something for the better. To make my life mean something. In this moment, partly to ease myself into the reality of the situation, I decided to be grateful. I decided to trust him. I couldn’t afford to falter now. 

I met my reflection in the water of the pond and recoiled. I certainly couldn’t go anywhere like this. I turned to him. “What should I wear?”

He smiled gently, to my surprise, and offered me his hand. I took it. “Come with me,” he said, as he led me out of the atrium. “I have just the thing.”

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[sweetlittleroses]

Running Up that Hill

Pairing: Jacaerys Velaryon x Aegon II Targaryen, Helena Targaryen X Aegon II Targaryen

Summary: What if blood and cheese didn���t happen to Helena but Aegon? What if he was forced to pay the consequences for his families actions.

Warnings: Violence, a bit of angst, omegaverse

Author’s Note: So I saw the scene of blood and cheese and literally traumatized. Poor Helena and what a hypocrite Alicent is. Also Jacaerys and Aegon are aged up to make this LEGAL. On a side note, should I also start putting my work on Ao3?🍰

The night was like no other. Guards were posted on every end of the castle but besides their presence, the castle was silent. Aegon walked through the castle in his dirty clothes while stumbling due to the ale he drank at fleabottom. The weight of the crown and responsibilities drew him to drink and whore himself out more than usual. Anything to fill the void that was left in him.

He wanted to get to his chambers and sleep to escape the reality of his life. The reality that there was war outside and at any point, blood would further shed. However, something called him to go check on his children. It wasn’t out of the ordinary to see his children, but his reputation overtook the image of him being a decent father. Or mother.

As he neared his children’s chambers, he took notice of the absence of Ser Criston and any other guards. Thinking the guard was a bit late to his post, he came closer to the doors of his children’s chambers, but as he was going to push the doors open, he heard the quick whispers of men and the cries of his sister. His breath quickened as the crying of his children was heard.

Pushing the doors quickly, he sobered up at the sight that befell on him. Helaena was on the ground, mark on the cheek, cut on her neck, and tears in her eyes. His children were held by the neck as a knife was held to each of their small throats.

“No”, Aegon said as he froze at the sight of danger his family was in. Tears welled up in his eyes as he saw the state they were in.

“Look what we have here. The king in his mighty glory. Tell me your grace, are you in the mood for some fun?”, they taunted as they held the hair of his children tighter and the blades pressed harder to their throats.

“Please just let them go. I’ll do anything. Give you gold. Jewels. Anything! BUT JUST LET THEM GO!”, Aegon screamed and cried, as he tried to come close to his children.

“NOT a further step! Or your children get it!” They shouted as they backed up. He stoped his movements to prevent any further harm to the children.

“ Now your grace, it seems that you will have to make a choice. Which child will choose to lose their head?” One taunted.

“ please… please… let them go. You can take me. Just take me and spare them”, Aegon pleaded as he dropped to his knees.

“No! You will choose! You are given the mercy to choose ! The same cannot be said for the boy who died”, one shouted as he shaked one of his children.

Helena continued to cry as she mumbled “Blood and Cheese”. Aegon felt helpless. He was going to see one child of his get murdered, and it would be his fault.

“please”, he continued to beg and cry, “please”.

“A SON FOR A SON”, they taunted. Oh. Oh. Lucerys. Rhaenyra’s sweet boy. His children were going to pay the consequences for his brother’s actions.

“PLEASE”, he screamed. Once they said a son, his fear caused him too look at his son. Jaehaerys. One of the men saw where he looked and grinned. “ I see we have finally found a son to lose his head”, they taunted as they pushed his daughter to him.

Grabbing her and snuggling her closer to him, he tried to hide her away from the sight. He couldn’t help but look at the crying face of his son. No. please. Let the gods have mercy on us. Let them save his boy.

As soon as they were going to kill his son, a body ran against one of the attackers and pushed them, causing them to drop his son. As the other attacker was ready to fight back, the person fought him. The fight lasted for some time before their savior wielded their dagger and killed one assassin with a blow to their neck.

“Jaehaerys”, he cried out as his son got up and ran to his arms. Holding both his children to his chest, he covered them as best as he could. He could feel Helaena grabbing on to him from the back. He closed his eyes hoping that everything would go away. That they would be safe. That their screams alerted someone. He continued to hear fighting till silence was only heard.

However, when he felt the touch of someone, he hopelessly shouted, “please, don’t take them!”. He hyperventilated at the thought of the men grabbing his children again and killing them both, but the person held his cheek softly.

“It’s me Aegon”, the person whispered.

Opening up his eyes, he saw Jacaerys down at them. He was covered in blood. Looking to the side of him, he saw the bodies of the assassins on the floor. He finally started crying as Jace pulled him and his children close. He continued to cry in his neck. He could feel the tight hold that Jace had on him as a way to protect his children and him. He could feel the caress on his hair as tears slipped his eyes. The whispering of soothing words. They stayed in the embrace for some time before new decisions had to be made.

“We must go now”, Jace said to him as they pulled away from each other. Aegon couldn’t move. He contemplated of what might happen. Looking down at his children he could clearly see the disheveled state they were in. Hair was everywhere, tears ran their cheeks, sniffling could be heard as their little bodies shook. He then turned to look at Helena to see her in the same state.

“ We must go.”, she whispered.

Turning his attention back to Jace, he nodded. They quickly cloaked the children before making their way out the castle and into the pit. He continued to hold his children close to him while continuously looking behind him for any danger. As they finally arrived to the dragonpit, Aegon spotted Vermax, Jace’s mighty dragon had grown significantly . They hurried to their dragons with Helaena running towards Dreamfyre with the children’s hatchlings close to her. As Aegon held his children close he saw that his dragon would not be strong enough to carry him and his children.

The worried thoughts began to consume him until he felt Jace’s hand near his arm. Facing him, Jace whispered to him ,“Let me take one”. He shook his head at the thought of being seperated from his children. He was scared that something would happen to him.

“Please Aegon. Let me take one of them. You won’t all fit on Sunfyre”, Jace whispered as he looked at Aegon with a pleading look.

“Please Aegon”, he continued to plead. Jace was scared that the guards would be alerted at the missing presence of the Targaryen children. He was especially fearful of Aemond preventing them from escaping.

“Okay…Take Jaehaera. Make sure she is safe and I will take Jaehaerys.” Aegon whispered as small tears gathered in his eyes.

Quickly Jace helped Jaehaera mount his dragon and secured her enough. She was still shaking at the previous events. Quietly he whispered to her as he hugged her, “ Their my sweet girl. We’re safe now. Just hold on to me.” Jaehaera snuggled to the warmth of Jace. On the other side of the pit, Aegon was situated at the top of his dragon. His son close to his chest. He whispered to his son,“Hold on tight sweet boy. We can finally be free”.

Sending a reassuring nod to Jace and Helaena, Helaena was the first one to take off, then Jace followed and finally Aegon took off. Their dragons soared through the night of kings landing. Away for the keep, away from their poisonous family, and away from war.

They soared above the sea, Helaena being a guidance to their dragons. As they flew he couldn’t help but hold his son close, letting all his pain and tears free. Aegon continued to whisper apologies to his sleeping son. His sweet boy who would have been killled if it wasn’t for Jace. His child finally fell to a peaceful slumber after a bit of crying. Aegon could see Jace ahead with his little girl. Jace had a tight grip on her as he held onto the reign of his dragon.

Finally seeing Dragonstone, new worries set in his head. He had escaped one trap, just to fly to another. His sister was under the impression that he wanted to unsurp her throne, he who wanted her children dead, and he who started to call them bastards. Landing their dragons, Aegon hesitated to dismount his dragon,but as he looked to the side, he saw Jace waiting for him as he carried his sleeping girl. As he descended down his dragon, he took notice of the guards who approached.

They had their swords drawn, ready to defend the queen but the sight of Jace made them stand down.

“ Take me to the Queen, we have matters to discuss”, Jace said firmly as he kept Aegon and Helena close to him.

As they came closer to the palace, he could feel the various eyes of servants and guards. Once they reached the council room, he was met with the sight of many lords, Rhaenys, Lord Corlys and at the center Rhaenyra.

Rhaenyra, looked at Aegon with hidden shock. Her unkept brother looked horrible. She took notice of her son holding one of the children and her brother holding the other. What alarmed her more was her son and siblings covered in blood and in tears.

“What has happened?”, she gasped to Jace as she took notice of their state.

“Your Grace, I wish to speak to you in private,” Jace asked as he stepped forward, covering Aegon and Helena.

“Jac-“ “ please mother”, Jace said to the queen as he cut her off of any further questioning.

Knowing the seriousness of the situation, Rhaenyra commanded every lord to leave, leaving only immediate family in the room. Jace’s betroth, Daemon and Baela were the only exception as they were absent. Once everyone was situated, Jace passed little Jaehaera to Helaena who held the girl tightly.

“Your Grace, there has been a crime” Jace said with a firm tone and a tense jaw.

“Jacaerys, what do you mean?” Rhaenyra questioned her child.

“An assasination attempt was made to the children of Aegon” Jace continued before finally asking,“Was it you mother?”

“Jace-“ “Was it you mother?” He asked harsher.

“Ja-“ “ Was it?” He shouted. He could no longer contain his anger.

Rhaenys intervened. “You will show respect to the Queen”, she said with a firm tone as she looked at Jace.

“Not when it involved the attempt murder of one of my children”, he said as he looked at his mother.

Gasps were let out from his family. Rhaenyra froze at the words that escaped her son’s lips.

“ What do you mean, your children, Jacerys?” Lord Corlys asked as he pressed further from Jace. He couldn’t believe what he heard.

“ I mean that Aegon’s children are my children. I am their sire.” He said.

Rhaenyra continued to look at Jace with shock.

“When? why? Jace?” She finally asked.

“It was after the dinner” he responded. “ I stumbled across him and we… talked”.

“Talked? You say.” She asked as she looked at her son and then at her brother who continued to look down as he held one of his children.

“Yes, your Grace. After the dinner we talked with each other in the gardens. Harsh words were said and suddenly things changed. His omega called out to me and my alpha to him”Jace continued as he defended their relationship.

With a pointed look, Rhaenyra set her eyes of Aegon.

“… and you brother? What is your side?” Rhaenyra asked as Aegon looked up at her with red rimmed eyes.

“ Your Grace …. My siblings and I were raised to fear you. We were put in our heads since we were children that you were going to kill. Especially me, as I was born as the first son and would pose a threat to you your position.”, Aegon spoke as tears dripped down.

Rhaenyra couldn’t believe what she heard, but Aegon continued. “ Mother and grandsire would scream at us or handle us roughly when we let our guards down around you or your family. So we learned to either ignore you or hate you…”

Rhaenyra was at disbelief as she heard the torture her siblings had to go through. Aemond was already lost to their abuse but she could still save Helena and Aegon. Looking at Aegon, she whispered, “ And Jace?” .

“ Jace..” he whispered with a fond smile “ I loved Jace since the beginning sister…. but like I said, we were taught to hate”, he said.

“But finally talking to him, and having him close again brought a sudden connection. Things then got out of control and it lead to this secret relationship. But I do not regret it one bit as it gave me my children”, he whispered lovingly to his child’s head.

The queen could see the fond look Aegon gave to his children and the fond look her son gave to her brother and their children. Coming to a decision she decided to give refuge to her siblings and the children. She wanted to let them rest and recover before discussing matters with Aegon and Helena.

~

Rhaenyra waited in her quarters are the arrival of her brother and sister. She was informed of how the maesters tended to the their wounds and how the children were afraid at not knowing where they were. But she also heard of how her son went to their quarters and comforted them. He was taking the role of father seriously.

The noise of the door opening made her look up. As her siblings walked in, she could see the clean state they were now in. She also noticed how her son trailed behind his omega. “Jace, I wish to speak to them”, Jace waited before she said, “alone”.

Hesitation could be seen in his movement before Aegon grabbed his hand and whispered, “It’s okay” and “ We will talk later”. As Jace retreated she could see Aegon looking back at him.

“ Pleae, sit” she said. As they sat she saw how tense they were but quiet. They sat near each other as a way to comfort one another.

She finally asked “ Tell me what happened”.

Aegon looked down before finally responding, “ I walked in on two men holding my children after they beat Helena down”,he said.

“They kept taunting me to choose one of my children to kill…. They said a son…for a son”, Aegon said with a crack in his voice as he recalled the image.

Rhaenyra stood frozen at the words. “ Was it you sister?” Aegon asked as tears left his cheeks.

“ No..No Aegon it wasn’t me”, Rhaneyra asked as she stuttered a bit. Yes, her son had died but she didn’t want innocent children to be killed. Instead she wanted Aemond to pay. She remembered after coming back after finding Luke’s clothes and Arrax’s wing, she made a wish. No. He wouldn’t.

Refusing to believe at first, Helaena confirmed her shock. Helaena mumbled, “ The hatchlings are safe from the rats” “ Rats sent by the red dragon”. Daemon.

Rhaenyra could see the sorrow in her siblings face. Quickly grabbing Aegon’s hand she reassured him.

“ No, Aegon it wasn’t me… But I know who it was”, she said. She wanted her siblings to know that she would not put them in harms way. She fully understood how poisoned they were.

“Please sister, please protect us. I will renounce my crown and I will declare you as the rightful queen. Just protect us…please”, he said as he held Rhaenyra’s hands with a tight grip.

Nodding her head, he looked both at his sister and brother with a reassuring look. Before they could fully relaxed he cut them off, “But our other brother can’t be saved… he is a kinslayer. One who has to pay for his crimes ”.

Aegon gulped at his brother’s destiny. Helaena reached for Aegon’s hand as she too thought of Aemond punishment. Gaining courage she whispered, “You won’t find him at kingslanding”.

“What do you mean Helaena?”, Rhaenyra asked curiously.

In turn she responded, “ The green sapphire loses itself at the false seahorse”. Confused Rhaenyra wanted to continue to ask, till the interruption of one of the maids interrupted them.

“I apologize for interrupting your Grace, but the children are asking for their mother”, she whispered as she bowed her head. Standing up to follow the maid and let her siblings go, she was cutoff at the maids apologies.

“The children of Prince Aegon are asking for him. Prince Jacaerys is already there but they want to see their mother”.

Aegon looked as his sister for permission to check on his children. With a quick nod from his sisters he quickly made way for his children. As he drew closer to their quarters, he could hear giggling. He was welcomed to the sights of Jace playing his children. His daughter leaned against his side while their sire ran his hands through the hair of their children. Jace had discovered a strand of brown hair hidden in the blonde hair of his children. A secret giveaway of the connection his children had to him.

Hearing footsteps coming close to them, Jace turned in time to see Aegon coming towards them. He wasn’t the only one to notice as his children turned and shouted “Mother”. They ran to their mother as they attacked him with hugs.

“Oh my sweet children”, Aegon cooed as he hugged his children back.

Jace loved the sight he saw. He could finally be reunited with his omega and form a connection with his children. They at first were scared of him since they had never truly interacted with him or seen him. He himself only caught glimpses of his children as the maids took care of them or when Helena held them, as she acted as their father or mother.

It broke him not being near his children. When he first caught a glimpse of them he couldn’t help but fall in love all over again. They were a spitting image of their mother and now that he had interacted with them, it seemed they had a mixed personality of him and Aegon. They were perfect.

As his children and Aegon got near him, he stood on his feet. Before he could say anything, Aegon walked to him and embraced him. He could finally smell the sweet scent of his omega and Aegon could smell his woodsy scent. They scented one another as a way they showed they belonged to one another. They would make up for the time they were seperated from each other.

Jace rested his forehead on Aegon’s as he caressed his waist. They were lost in their own world until their children got near. They both clung to Aegon’s body and tug on his top to get his attention.

Kneeling to his children’s height, they shyly asked, “father?”. He gave a small smile to his children as he slowly nodded. He caressed their cheeks as he let his own comforting smell fill the room. His children, turned to look at their father and turned to him. Jaehaera broke into a smile before running to her sire’s arms. Jace kneeled to pick her up and hug her. He spun her around and loved the sounds of her little giggles.

Jaehaerys was still close to Aegon, since he was a bit shy to show any emotion, but as Jace put Jaehaera down, he walked to his son cautiously before kneeling down. Waiting for a bit he looked at his son as his son looked at him. Jace was scared that his son would never acknowledge him as his father but a family member. However, little Jaehaerys broke into a shy smile before walking to his father and hugging him. Jace proudly returned the embrace.

Jace continued to bond and play with the children as Aegon did the same but stoped once in a while to admire the sight. Eventually the children fell asleep, so Aegon put Jaehaera to bed and Jace put Jaehaerys to bed. Silently Aegon and Jace sat on a small couch near the fire place. They sat in silence against one another till Aegon rested his head against Jace’s shoulders.

As they looked at the fireplace, Jace drew small circles on Aegon’s hand. The peaceful silence lasted for a long time and eventually they fell asleep with one another. Jace leaned his back against the side of the couch while Aegon was curled to his side. He was now at peace knowing his children and mate were close. He could proudly claim what was his. Both the children and their parents fell to the clutches of the night unaware of the arrival of a certain dragon.

~

Daemon walked through the halls with his cape down. He walked all smug at the idea that the greens would pay, but as he looked up, he saw how every lord and guard avoided his eyes. It was not out of the ordinary for people to fear him but it seemed they acted as he wasn’t there. As he neared the council room, his presence was announced. He expected Rhaenyra and the council to be discussing strategies but was surprised at the lack of lords and only Rhaenyra, lord Corlys and Rhaenys being present.

Lord Corlys and Rhaenys sat at the side, whispering to one another before looking at him. As he neared Rhaenyra, she stood up looking at him with a fierce look. When he reached her, he bowed his head to her before looking up. Ready to receive her affection.

In return, he felt a stinging pain to his cheek as his face turned to the left. Rhaenyra had slapped him.

Turning his head back to her, he was furious of what she had done. He was prepared to warn her before he noticed the glassy eyes of her face.

“What did you do?” She spoke fiercely to him. He smirked at the question.

“Just followed your command, my queen”, he said as he looked at her.

“ I said I wanted AEMOND fucking TARGARYEN”, she shouted him.

Her anger spiked his own anger. “I did what you asked. I sent people to complete the task”, he responded.

“ NO, you disobeyed me and disregarded my command. Instead you were ready to shed blood no matter who it was!” Rhaenyra continued. Daemon continued to become furious at each word she said. He was angry, that once again she defended her beloved greens.

“Why does it matter?! Every fucking green must die?”, he shouted.

“ Not when it involves the attempted murder of one of Jacaery’s children”. Before Rhaenyra could say anything, Rhaenys intervened. Taking Daemon by shock, he turned to look at his cousin.

“What?” He whispered bewildered.

Rhaenyra continued, “ It seems your assassins were going to take the life of one of the children. INNOCENT children.”

“They are lying Rhaenyra”, Dameon tried to say .

“NO THEY ARE NOT FUCKING LYING! Those are Jace’s children and you tried to kill them. You are so blinded by this war that you decided to take actions in your own hands!”, she shouted.

“ That cun-“ “You will say no more.”, Rhaenyra cut him off. “It seems you can not follow a simple command and have decided that you do what you want to do”.

Daemons scoffed at her words before she let out the final blow. “ I can no longer trust you Daemon. So as of now you will stay here and are forbidden from other transgressions”.

He was disbelief, “ They are trying to trick you!”

“They aren’t! Those are Jace’s children! They might be spitting image of Aegon but their scents are a mix of both of them!” She shouted.

“Now, you will do as I say! You are to stay here! And as of now you are to be confined to different chambers till said otherwise.”

“ As you wish my queen!”, he bowed before furiously walking to exit the room.

“ And one more thing Daemon. You are not to go near Aegon, his children or Helaena. If you do, you will face severe punishments.”

Without responding or looking at Rhaenyra he left. Rhaenyra hopes Daemon takes it’s seriously because when an Alpha feels a threat towards their mate and pups, chaos is created. So Jace will do anything to protect his family and she will protect them.

As of now, she must protect those she cares and loves before this war continues.

[novaursa]

Caught by Fire (the reality)

- Summary: A story where Daemon's daughter falls from the sky. And by some strange events orchestrated by fate, Otto catches you.

- Pairing: targ!reader/Otto Hightower

- Rating: Mature 16+

- Previous part: the acceptance

- Next part: the absence

- Tag(s): @sachaa-ff @oxymakestheworldgoround

The private solar in the Red Keep was quiet, save for the faint crackle of the fire in the hearth and the occasional chirp of birds outside the high, arched windows. Viserys sat at a modest table, his expression weary as he poured himself a goblet of wine. His silver hair was slightly disheveled, and the lines of worry on his face seemed deeper than usual. Across from him, Daemon Targaryen leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed over his chest, his posture casual but his eyes sharp and brimming with defiance.

“You didn’t summon me here to share wine, brother,” Daemon said, his tone edged with irritation. “So, say what you mean to say.”

Viserys sighed, swirling the wine in his goblet before setting it down. “You embarrassed me yesterday, Daemon.”

Daemon smirked faintly. “I told the truth. If your court can’t handle that, it’s not my problem.”

“You insulted one of the realm’s most powerful lords—publicly, in front of half the court!” Viserys’s voice rose slightly, though he quickly reined it in. “Lord Borros is furious, and the whispers in the halls are louder than ever.”

Daemon shrugged, entirely unbothered. “Borros Baratheon is a pompous fool. I’ll lose no sleep over his bruised pride.”

“But I will!” Viserys snapped, slamming a hand on the table. “Do you have any idea the damage you’ve caused? Borros isn’t just one man—he represents one of the realm’s most vital regions. His favor is not something we can afford to lose.”

Daemon’s smirk faded, his eyes narrowing. “This is about more than Borros. Get to the point, Viserys.”

Viserys leaned forward, his tone softening but no less firm. “Daemon, I’ve tolerated your antics for as long as I could, but this is too far. Your temper, your impulsiveness—it’s putting the stability of the realm at risk.”

Daemon arched a brow. “Stability of the realm? Is that what you’re calling this circus of groveling lords and sycophants?”

“This isn’t about them,” Viserys said, his voice tinged with exasperation. “It’s about you. You’ve become a liability, Daemon. And I can’t allow that to continue.”

Daemon straightened, his expression darkening. “What are you saying, brother?”

“I’m saying,” Viserys said slowly, choosing his words with care, “that it’s time for you to return to Dragonstone. At least for a while.”

The silence that followed was heavy, the tension in the room palpable. Daemon’s jaw tightened, his hands gripping the arms of his chair.

“You’re sending me away,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “Exiling me from my own family.”

“It’s not exile,” Viserys said quickly. “It’s a reprieve. Time for you to reflect, to let tempers cool—yours and the court’s.”

Daemon laughed bitterly, shaking his head. “And what of my daughter? Are you sending her to Dragonstone as well?”

“No,” Viserys said firmly. “She will remain here.”

Daemon’s eyes flared with anger. “You’d keep her here, surrounded by those vultures, while I’m sent away? Absolutely not.”

“She’s not a child anymore, Daemon,” Viserys said, his tone softening. “She’s a woman grown, and her future cannot remain in limbo forever.”

“And what does that mean?” Daemon demanded, his voice rising. “What future are you speaking of?”

Viserys met his brother’s gaze, his expression steady. “A suitable match will be found for her. One that strengthens the crown and repairs the damage you’ve done by alienating nearly every lord in the realm.”

Daemon shot to his feet, his chair scraping loudly against the stone floor. “You think you can decide her future without me? You think you can auction her off like cattle?”

“I think,” Viserys said calmly, though there was steel in his voice, “that you’ve left me little choice. Your actions have created this mess, Daemon. It’s my duty to fix it.”

“You have no right,” Daemon growled, stepping closer to the table. “She’s my daughter. My blood. Her future is not yours to dictate.”

“And what future would you give her?” Viserys countered, rising to meet his brother’s anger. “Isolation? Scorn? You’ve rejected every offer, insulted every suitor, and driven the court into chaos. Is that what you want for her? To be as alienated as you’ve made yourself?”

Daemon’s fists clenched, his chest heaving with barely contained fury. “You think I don’t care about her? Everything I’ve done has been to protect her from this—this pit of snakes you call a court!”

“Protecting her doesn’t mean keeping her locked in a gilded cage, Daemon,” Viserys said, his tone softening. “She deserves a future—a real one. And I will make sure she gets it.”

The brothers stared at each other, the tension between them crackling like a storm about to break. Finally, Daemon turned away, his shoulders rigid.

“You’re a fool, Viserys,” he said, his voice cold. “If you think I’ll stand by while you sell her off to the highest bidder, you don’t know me at all.”

“You’ll do what’s best for her,” Viserys said firmly. “Even if you don’t see it now.”

Daemon said nothing as he stormed toward the door, his cloak billowing behind him. He paused in the doorway, glancing back with a sneer. “Enjoy your throne, brother. Let’s see how long it stands without the dragons to guard it.”

With that, he was gone, the sound of the door slamming echoing through the solar. Viserys sank back into his chair, rubbing his temples as the weight of the confrontation settled over him.

The battle with Daemon was far from over, but for now, the king had made his decision. Whatever came next, it would not be without its challenges. But for the sake of the realm—and for you—Viserys knew he had to stay firm, no matter the cost.

Otto Hightower stood near the base of the stairs leading to the royal solar, his arms crossed and his expression carefully neutral. Beside him, Lord Jasper Wylde leaned casually against a stone pillar, the faintest hint of a smirk playing on his lips.

The sound of heavy, purposeful footsteps drew their attention. Prince Daemon Targaryen stormed down the steps, his silver hair catching the sunlight as his black cloak billowed behind him like a stormcloud. His expression was a mix of fury and disdain, his jaw set tightly as if he were barely restraining himself from shouting.

“Well,” Jasper said under his breath, nudging Otto slightly. “Someone’s in a mood.”

Otto didn’t respond immediately, his eyes tracking Daemon’s every move. The prince’s anger was palpable, radiating from him like heat, and the tension in the courtyard seemed to grow with every step he took. Servants and guards gave him a wide berth, their heads bowing low as he passed.

When Daemon reached the bottom of the stairs, he paused, his gaze sweeping the courtyard like a predator searching for prey. His eyes briefly locked with Otto’s, and for a moment, the hostility between them was so thick it was suffocating.

“Hand,” Daemon spat, the word dripping with contempt. His tone was low, almost a growl, but loud enough for those nearby to hear.

Otto inclined his head slightly, his expression remaining calm. “Prince Daemon.”

Daemon’s eyes narrowed, and for a moment it seemed as though he might approach, but then he turned sharply on his heel and stalked toward the gates. The air seemed to crackle with the force of his anger, and the clatter of his boots on the cobblestones echoed long after he had disappeared through the archway.

Jasper let out a low whistle, his smirk widening. “Well, that was something. What do you suppose has him so riled up this time?”

Otto finally exhaled, his expression unreadable as he turned to Jasper. “It doesn’t take much to provoke Prince Daemon.”

Jasper chuckled, folding his arms across his chest. “True enough. But that wasn’t just his usual temper. That was something else entirely.”

Otto didn’t respond immediately, his mind already working through the possibilities. Daemon’s fury was rarely without cause, and considering the events of the past few days, it wasn’t difficult to piece together what had likely transpired.

“Viserys must have said something to him,” Otto said finally, his tone thoughtful. “Something he didn’t want to hear.”

Jasper raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “You think it’s about the princess?”

Otto’s jaw tightened imperceptibly, though his expression remained composed. “It’s likely. The king understands the damage Daemon has done with his outbursts and rejections. He wouldn’t ignore the matter for long.”

Jasper laughed softly, shaking his head. “If Viserys is trying to rein Daemon in, he’s got his work cut out for him. That man’s about as easy to control as a wild dragon.”

“And yet,” Otto said, his gaze lingering on the gates where Daemon had disappeared, “Viserys has no choice but to try.”

Jasper’s smirk turned sly as he leaned closer. “And what about you, my lord? What do you make of all this? Daemon’s temper, the princess’s future… surely you have some thoughts.”

Otto’s eyes flicked to Jasper, his expression as inscrutable as ever. “My thoughts are irrelevant, Lord Wylde. The king will decide what is best for the realm.”

“Ah, but you’re the one he relies on to guide him,” Jasper said, his tone light but probing. “And I’d wager you’re not entirely impartial when it comes to this particular matter.”

Otto’s jaw tightened again, though he kept his voice steady. “The realm comes first. It always has.”

Jasper chuckled, clearly unconvinced. “Of course it does. But let’s not pretend you’re as unaffected as you’d like everyone to believe. Even you can’t hide everything, Otto.”

Otto didn’t respond, his gaze fixed on the distant gates as if willing himself to focus on anything but Jasper’s words. The truth was far more complicated than he cared to admit, and Jasper’s probing only served to remind him of the precarious line he was walking.

Finally, Otto turned away, his tone clipped. “Come, Lord Wylde. There is work to be done.”

Jasper followed, his grin still firmly in place. “Always so dutiful, my lord. But one day, you’ll have to admit it—you’ve got a dragon’s temper to deal with, and it’s not Daemon’s I’m talking about.”

Otto said nothing, his footsteps steady as he made his way toward the council chambers. But Jasper’s words lingered in his mind, a quiet echo of the storm that was brewing around them all.

The cavernous halls of the Dragonpit were lowly lit, the light of the setting sun filtering through the high, crumbling arches. The air was thick with the musky scent of dragons, mingling with the faint tang of the sea breeze that wafted in from Blackwater Bay. The distant rumble of wings echoed through the structure as the great beasts stirred in their lairs.

You stood near the entrance to your dragon’s enclosure, your silver hair catching the fading light like molten fire. Your dragon, Vermithor, lay curled in the shadows behind you, its glowing eyes fixed intently on your father.

Daemon Targaryen stood before you, his dark cloak billowing faintly in the breeze that swept through the Dragonpit. His expression was uncharacteristically solemn, though his dark violet eyes burned with the intensity that was so uniquely his. He was clad in his riding leathers, his sword Dark Sister sheathed at his hip, and the faint scent of dragonfire clung to him as always.

“This isn’t how I wanted it,” Daemon said, his voice low but steady. “But your uncle has made it clear that my presence in the capital is no longer welcome.”

“You’re leaving,” you said, though it wasn’t a question. Your tone was calm, but there was an undercurrent of unease beneath your words.

Daemon nodded, his jaw tightening. “To Dragonstone. For now. Viserys believes sending me away will smooth over the chaos I’ve apparently caused.”

“You didn’t cause it,” you said firmly, stepping closer. “The lords and their petty ambitions did.”

Daemon’s lips twitched into a faint smirk, but it lacked its usual fire. “I appreciate your loyalty, sweetling. But Viserys sees things differently. He always has.”

There was a pause as the two of you regarded each other, the weight of the moment settling heavily between you. Finally, Daemon spoke again, his tone softer this time.

“I came to say goodbye,” he said. “And to warn you.”

“Warn me?” you asked, your brow furrowing.

Daemon stepped closer, his hands resting lightly on your shoulders as he looked down at you. “The moment I leave, the vultures will circle. The court will see my absence as an opportunity to press their advantage. They’ll flood you with offers, promises, flattery—all lies, every one of them.”

“I can handle them,” you said, your tone steady despite the flicker of uncertainty in your chest.

Daemon’s grip on your shoulders tightened slightly, his gaze piercing. “I don’t doubt your strength, but these lords are snakes. They’ll twist words, manipulate situations, and use every trick they have to bind you to their will.”

“I won’t let them,” you said firmly, lifting your chin. “I’m not a pawn, Father.”

“No, you’re not,” Daemon said, a flicker of pride in his eyes. “But Viserys… he’ll push for a match. He thinks marrying you to one of these fools will calm the court, repair the damage he believes I’ve done.”

You frowned, your stomach twisting at the thought. “He wouldn’t.”

“He would,” Daemon said bluntly. “And he will. Viserys is a good man, but he’s weak when it comes to matters of the court. He’ll see this as a way to stabilize the realm, no matter what it costs you.”

Your hands clenched at your sides, your heart pounding. “What am I supposed to do?”

“Hold your ground,” Daemon said, his tone fierce. “Don’t let them sway you. Remember who you are—Targaryen blood, my blood. You’re stronger than all of them combined.”

The silence that followed was heavy, the weight of his words settling over you. Finally, you nodded, your resolve hardening. “I won’t let them control me.”

Daemon smiled faintly, his expression softening. “That’s my girl.”

He pulled you into a brief, fierce embrace, his arms wrapping around you as if to shield you from the world. When he pulled back, there was a rare tenderness in his gaze.

“I’ll return for you,” he said, his voice low but firm. “No matter what happens, you won’t face this alone.”

You nodded again, your throat tightening with emotion. “Be careful, Father.”

Daemon smirked, his confidence returning. “Careful isn’t my style.”

He stepped back, turning toward Caraxes, who waited nearby, his crimson scales glowing like embers in the fading light. The great dragon let out a low, rumbling growl, his wings twitching in anticipation.

“Fly safe,” you called after him, your voice carrying through the cavernous space.

Daemon glanced back over his shoulder, his smirk softening into a genuine smile. “Stay strong, sweetling.”

With that, he climbed onto Caraxes’s back, the dragon’s massive wings unfurling as he prepared for flight. The ground trembled beneath you as Caraxes launched into the air, his roar echoing through the Dragonpit as he soared into the sky.

You watched until they disappeared into the horizon, the ache of his departure settling heavily in your chest. But as you turned back toward your dragon, your resolve burned brighter than ever. Whatever lay ahead, you would face it with the strength of your blood—and the fire of your father’s legacy.

One week later, King Viserys sat hunched over a mound of parchments and letters. His brows were furrowed, his expression growing more exasperated with every petition he read. Stacks of documents were spread across the surface—marriage offers, alliance proposals, and urgent missives, all vying for his attention.

Across from him, Queen Alicent sat with a calm demeanor, though her green eyes flicked occasionally toward the king’s face as he worked. A goblet of wine sat untouched at her side, and her fingers played absently with the embroidered edge of her sleeve. She was waiting for the right moment to speak, to carefully broach the subject she had been turning over in her mind for days.

Viserys let out a long, tired sigh, tossing one parchment aside and reaching for another. “Gods above, I’ve never seen such a mess,” he muttered. “The petitions for her hand are endless. Every lord in the realm seems to think himself worthy of my niece.”

“Of course they do,” Alicent said gently, her tone measured. “She is a Targaryen, after all. They see her as a prize—one that could secure them power, influence, and dragonfire.”

Viserys groaned, rubbing his temple. “It’s maddening. Daemon may be gone, but the chaos he left behind is still here. I can’t even look at these proposals without hearing his voice in my head, calling them all fools.”

“Perhaps he wasn’t entirely wrong,” Alicent said softly, earning a sharp glance from Viserys.

“And what do you mean by that?” he asked, his tone edged with curiosity.

Alicent straightened slightly, her fingers pausing their movement on her sleeve. “Only that many of these lords see her as an asset rather than a person. They don’t truly care for her—they care for what she represents.”

Viserys leaned back in his chair, nodding slowly. “Aye, I’ve thought the same. But what am I to do, Alicent? She can’t remain unwed forever. The court is already restless, and I fear leaving the matter unresolved will only make it worse.”

“There is… another way to approach it,” Alicent said carefully, her tone light but deliberate. “A match doesn’t have to be made in haste. Perhaps the answer isn’t in these parchments.”

Viserys frowned slightly, shuffling through another stack of petitions. “What do you mean?”

“Well,” Alicent began, choosing her words with precision, “if the concern is stability and loyalty, then perhaps the solution lies closer to home.”

Viserys raised an eyebrow, his confusion evident. “Closer to home? Are you suggesting someone from within the court?”

Alicent gave him a small, encouraging smile. “Why not? A match with someone loyal to the crown, someone who understands the importance of duty, could be far more valuable than one based solely on bloodlines or titles.”

Viserys paused, clearly considering her words. “Loyalty, you say. Hm. That narrows the field considerably.”

“It does,” Alicent agreed, leaning forward slightly. “But it also ensures her future is secure. She would be with someone who values her as more than just a political tool.”

Viserys nodded absently, reaching for his goblet. “And who would you suggest, Alicent? I hardly see many fitting candidates among the court.”

Alicent hesitated, watching as Viserys took a sip of his wine. She knew she had to tread carefully; her father’s future and happiness might hinge on what she said next. “There is one person who comes to mind. Someone who has served you faithfully for years, who has always put the good of the realm above all else.”

Viserys looked up at her, a flicker of curiosity in his gaze. “Who?”

“Lord Otto,” Alicent said softly, her eyes steady on the king’s.

Viserys froze, his goblet halfway to the table. He blinked, then let out a short laugh. “Otto? Your father? My Hand?”

“Yes,” Alicent said, her tone firm but not forceful. “He’s loyal, experienced, and steady. He’s already proven himself invaluable to the crown, and his wisdom would be a great boon to her.”

Viserys chuckled again, shaking his head. “Alicent, Otto is… older. Far older than her.”

“Age isn’t everything,” Alicent countered gently. “And he wouldn’t be the first man of his years to marry a younger woman. Besides, he would treat her with respect. He understands duty and honor better than most.”

Viserys leaned back, still chuckling as he shook his head again. “You have a high opinion of your father, my queen.”

“I do,” Alicent said simply. “And it’s well-earned. You trust him implicitly, don’t you?”

“Of course I do,” Viserys said, his humor fading slightly. “He’s been a steadfast Hand, even through the worst of times.”

“Then why not consider it?” Alicent pressed lightly. “It would solve many of the issues plaguing the court. A match that reinforces loyalty to the crown, that quiets the whispers about her future… It could bring stability.”

Viserys looked at her for a long moment, his expression thoughtful. But then he shook his head again, setting his goblet down with a decisive thud. “It’s an… interesting suggestion, Alicent, but I can’t imagine Otto would entertain such an idea.”

Alicent hid her surprise behind a calm smile, though her fingers tightened briefly on the arm of her chair. “You might be surprised, Your Grace. My father has been lonely since my mother passed. Perhaps… this would be a chance for him to find companionship again.”

Viserys sighed, rubbing his temples. “Perhaps. But I’ll need time to consider it.”

“Of course,” Alicent said smoothly, rising from her seat. “I only ask that you keep it in mind.”

Viserys waved a hand dismissively, already returning his attention to the petitions on the table. “Very well, Alicent. Thank you for your counsel.”

As Alicent left the chamber, her steps measured and composed, her thoughts swirled. She couldn’t believe she had actually voiced the suggestion, let alone that Viserys hadn’t outright dismissed it. It was a small victory, but a victory nonetheless. Now, all she had to do was wait—and hope that the king’s thoughts turned in her father’s favor.

The small council chamber was quieting as the meeting drew to a close. Lords Tyland Lannister, Jasper Wylde, and the rest of the council filtered out, their conversations hushed as they discussed the day’s deliberations. Otto Hightower gathered the last of his parchments, his movements precise as always, preparing to leave.

“Otto,” Viserys’s voice called out, halting him mid-motion. “Stay a moment. I need a word.”

Otto glanced up, his brow furrowing slightly, though his expression remained calm. He nodded, tucking the parchments neatly into his satchel before stepping back toward the table.

“As you wish, Your Grace,” Otto said, his tone even. He gestured subtly to the departing lords, ensuring they shut the heavy doors behind them. The chamber was silent now, save for the faint crackle of the hearth.

Viserys leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples as though trying to ward off a headache. His crown sat slightly askew, a small detail Otto couldn’t help but notice. The king’s weariness was palpable, and it hung over the room like a heavy fog.

“Sit, Otto,” Viserys said, gesturing to the chair nearest him.

Otto did as instructed, folding his hands neatly on the table. “What troubles you, Your Grace?”

Viserys chuckled softly, though there was no humor in the sound. “Everything, it seems. The court is restless, the lords are insatiable, and now I find myself wrestling with a suggestion so outlandish I can hardly believe it was made.”

Otto’s brow arched slightly, though he kept his expression composed. “A suggestion, Your Grace?”

Viserys sighed deeply, his fingers tapping against the armrest of his chair. “It came from Alicent.”

Otto’s composure faltered for the briefest moment, a flicker of surprise crossing his face before he schooled it back into neutrality. “The queen?”

“Yes, the queen,” Viserys said, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “She has a high opinion of you, Otto. Very high, it seems.”

Otto’s unease grew, though he kept his voice steady. “I’m honored by her regard, Your Grace. But what precisely did she suggest?”

Viserys hesitated, running a hand through his silver hair. “She proposed that you might be… a suitable match for my niece.”

The words hung in the air like a thunderclap, and for a moment, the only sound was the faint crackle of the fire. Otto’s mind raced, but before he could even think to respond, Viserys held up a hand to forestall him.

“Before you say anything,” Viserys said quickly, “let me make my position clear. I cannot entertain this idea—not even for a moment.”

Otto blinked, caught off guard by the king’s abruptness. “Your Grace—”

“It’s not you, Otto,” Viserys interrupted, leaning forward, his tone almost apologetic. “You’ve been a loyal Hand, and I trust you implicitly. But this… this would be a disaster waiting to happen.”

Otto’s hands tightened slightly on the edge of the table. “If I may ask, Your Grace, what makes you so certain?”

Viserys let out a short laugh, shaking his head. “Daemon, of course! Do you think he’d take this lightly? If he even suspected such a match, he’d have a stroke—or worse, he’d fly straight to Oldtown and burn the Hightower to the ground.”

Otto stiffened at the king’s words, though he couldn’t entirely dismiss the truth of them. Daemon’s temper was infamous, and his possessiveness when it came to his daughter was unmatched.

“I cannot risk provoking him further,” Viserys continued, his tone growing more serious. “The realm is already fragile enough without adding another layer of tension. Daemon’s pride is a fire waiting to ignite, and this would be the spark.”

Otto nodded slowly, his thoughts turning inward. “I understand your reasoning, Your Grace. But surely—”

“There’s no ‘but,’ Otto,” Viserys said firmly, cutting him off. “The answer is no. This is not a reflection on you, nor on Alicent’s intentions. But it’s simply… unthinkable.”

A heavy silence fell between them, the weight of Viserys’s words pressing down like an iron shroud. Otto’s expression remained composed, though his mind churned with thoughts and emotions he dared not voice.

“Do you understand?” Viserys asked, his gaze steady. “I need you to see why this cannot happen.”

“I understand, Your Grace,” Otto said quietly, inclining his head. “Your concerns are valid, and I would never wish to jeopardize the stability of the realm.”

Viserys nodded, relief flickering across his face. “Good. I knew you’d see reason, Otto. You always do.”

The king leaned back in his chair, reaching for his goblet of wine. “Let us put this matter behind us. There are more pressing concerns to address.”

“Of course, Your Grace,” Otto said, rising from his chair. “If there’s nothing else, I shall take my leave.”

Viserys waved a hand dismissively. “Go, Otto. And thank you, as always, for your counsel.”

Otto bowed low before turning and leaving the chamber, his steps measured and deliberate. But as he walked the quiet halls of the Red Keep, his thoughts were anything but calm. The king’s words had left a bitter taste in his mouth, and the fire Daemon was so feared for burned quietly now in Otto’s own chest—a mixture of frustration, longing, and resignation.

As he reached his quarters, Otto paused, his hand resting on the door. The ever-composed Hand of the King felt unmoored, caught between duty and desire in a battle he wasn’t sure he could win.