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donutloverxo · 3 years ago

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A Royal scandal 4

Modern royalty au

Image from Instagram

cowritten with @lizzygal

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Summary - Modern ruler, His Majesty King Steven G Rogers, is on a quest to make his long term secret relationship the real thing. He is a man in love and wants his lover and partner to be his queen.

Warnings - Smut (m/f), dub con/non con, sex tape, scandals, mentions of past domestic abuse, soft dark Steve, possessive Steve, spanking, power imbalance, mentions of previous domestic abuse, somnophilia, talks of virginity.

Pairing - King!Steve x reader

Word count - 7.8k

Story masterlist

Valkyrie, or simply Val, watched the entire thing unfold before her eyes and was helpless to stop any of it. All of it. All she could do was watch. Much like one would watch a train accident happen before their very eyes.

She had tried. In truth she had.

However, Sarah was the Queen Mother and Val was a member of the Royal Guard.

There was little she could do.

“Your Majesty,” she purred one last time, in one last attempt to save a situation that she knew deep in her heart was not going to go well at all. “Perhaps you would prefer to go inside and I’ll bring them into the reception area?”

Everything was wrong. So very wrong.

Outside the palace was normally empty.

As it was located in the center of the capital. An old historic building from imperial days that covered numerous city blocks, was where the government was run and where King Steven resided. Press knew better than to hang around outside the imposing palace gates as the king never left out them and was uninterested in opportunities to have his picture taken. As did the Queen Mother.

And yet, that morning, a whole gaggle of photographers were lined up and waiting for the visiting royals. Or so they had shared with Val.

Her Grace, Hope van Dyne, never went anywhere without getting her picture taken. In Val’s opinion, she probably had the phone number to every tabloid office in the world.

Sarah’s voice was kind. Soft. Gentle. It made Val want to wrap her queen up in a blanket and make her go inside so she could deal with their unwelcome guests. She stood beside Val at the top of the steps of the palace, provided with a great view of the black sedan that had pulled in through the gates. The flashiest possible way to enter the palace instead of through the underground garage like everyone else.

“Oh no. That’s hardly necessary. They wanted a scene. Let us give them one.”

Not liking the sounds of that at all, her brown eyes flickered over to look at the slim woman with a head of artfully styled strawberry blonde curls, a button nose and rose petal lips. She was every bit as regal as her title, even if she had not a drop of royal blood in her body.

“You can’t think that they actually called the press to say that the Duchess Hope was the woman with His Majesty on the video from the royal banya?”

Sarah’s cool blue gaze flickered to her royal bodyguard before returning back to the sedan so she could observe her former friend climb out, followed by her raven-haired daughter who waved to the photographers on the other side of the iron gates.

That was exactly what Sarah suspected the second she’d seen it in the morning paper. Though she doubted she would ever find out who had started that rumor.

“Have you found out why they’re here?”

Grimacing, Valkyrie shook her head, unhappy to not have an answer for her queen beneath the cloudy chilly winter day. “Not yet Your Majesty. We have reached out to the Maharaja’s Staff and are waiting to hear back. Soon though we suspect.”

Any second now Val hoped her phone would ring so she could tell the queen.

Which led to Sarah turning her head to look away from her guests as they climbed the stairs. She looked away from the large fountain that the sleek luxury car was parked beside and gave her last true smile for what she suspected would be till lunch. Reaching out, she placed her hand on Valkyrie’s wrist. One of her preferred bodyguards. She’d been loyal and had on two occasions nearly given her life in service of her country. “I trust you will find out and inform me as soon as possible. Do not fret. I doubt they will be leaving anytime in the near future.”

Only a lifetime of service kept Val from cracking a smile.

Instead, her dark eyes watched the silver haired Queen of the Netherlands climb the steps towards them. Smiling. Dressed expensively with a heavy coat made from numerous small furry animals.

Queen Janet van Dyne approached as if it hadn’t been years. She came to stand beside Sarah and greet her in such a way that would make for a perfect picture. Or so Sarah noticed. She greeted her as if they were still friends who spoke frequently on the phone and still sent one another gifts. As if their children had married and everything was fine.

“Sarah! How wonderful to see you, you have not aged a day.”

Janet reached out with gloved hands trimmed in mink, leaned forward to place a polite kiss on Sarah’s cheek in greeting and was more than a little surprised when Sarah stepped away. Her own hands remaining clasped in front of her and out of Janet’s. Greeting or otherwise.

“Janet,” was all that came from Sarah’s mouth. A look went from Janet’s coat down to her dress and then shoes, pausing there before coming back up. “Is that the dress you wore to Lizzie’s grandson’s wedding?”

Surprised by the greeting, or lack thereof, Janet paused and then smiled brightly, knowing that though the cameras could not hear them they could capture this image on film. “Yes. We’re focusing on becoming sustainable out in the west. Going green isn’t merely a project meant as royal busywork.”

Sarah could actually feel Valkyrie stiffen beside her at mention of the Green Initiative that Steve had tasked her with and had been far from busywork. It was something that Sarah could go on and on about, one of her many efforts that she busied herself with and yet, she found she didn’t want to expend that much energy on her once friend.

Hands still in front of her, fingers laced together where she could feel her wedding band. Sarah tilted her head slightly to the side. “I wouldn’t know. We remain a governing monarchy here.”

Janet blanched. Her lips formed a straight line, nearly as straight as the way her spine stiffened.

Though Sarah was unable to enjoy it as she turned her attention to the daughter. Hope van Dyne. Formerly Princess Hope but now Duchess Hope, after having been stripped of her title and recently reinstated to a lesser one, in Sarah’s opinion anyway.

Hope looked lovely as ever.

Tanned. Dressed exceptionally well. Smiling exuberantly.

It almost warmed Sarah’s icy heart.

“Sarah! How are you? You look wonderful!” Exclaimed Hope, sounding genuinely thrilled to see the woman who might have been her mother-in-law had things gone differently. She stepped on up with outstretched arms and was greeted with a serene face that looked at her in confusion.

Sarah said nothing. Not a word. Sarah maintained eye contact and looked at Hope as if waiting for the younger woman to say or do something.

Thus leading to Hope blinking in confusion and lowering her arms, looking to her mother for assistance as this clearly was not the welcome she expected.

“Is something wrong,” Hope asked a bit nervously as a winter breeze ruffled the fur on her mother’s coat. Sneaking under the cashmere of her own, as she hadn’t had time to properly shop for winter here. This was her mother’s idea. It was her last hope. Her father had refused to hear her and not even her mother could plead her case this time. This was it.

“I was about to ask you the same.”

Val watched Hope’s confusion and fought hard to not say anything at all, and it was becoming painful to watch in her opinion. Her gaze veered over to all the photographers that were watching more than taking pictures. Even they seemed to realize this visit was not starting off smoothly.

“I’m-I’m sorry?”

Val risked a look over at her queen. Her queen who was peering at the young woman who had referred to Val’s people as ‘war criminals’ or ‘superstitious backwoods fools.’

Unable to take another moment of it, Valkyrie cleared her throat.

Finally making Sarah take mercy on Hope who really should have known better in her opinion. “In civilized societies, a duchess would curtsey to a queen. Perhaps things are different for those who are merely ceremonial in purpose.”

***

Someone called your name and for a second, you were terrified that Wanda had come for your ass.

Not that you could blame the best friend you’d had since high school.

Upon heading into the offices of the royal palace that morning, you had intentionally avoided her , secure in the knowledge that she was pissed at you and you really did not want to have the fight you knew was coming someplace public like the office.

So, you’d been groveling via text and promising to go out with her that night for a girls night, swearing on your honor that you would tell her everything! Because Wanda was no fool.

Wanda saw the new dress you had on. Wanda saw your new shoes. Wanda noticed your perfect makeup and styled hair. Wanda also brought up the facts that you’d not been home that night or early morning, as well as the crucial one regarding your flatiron that was still in the bathroom the two of you shared.

Needless to say, you had a lot of explaining to do.

There was no getting around it. You were going to have to tell her about Steve. Sure, you’d swear her to secrecy until everything came out. The palace had made its announcement this morning about King Steven being in a relationship that he would make public soon. A second public statement had come from the Palace PR Guru, Maria Hill, stating that without a doubt, the king was not involved with Duchess Hope after a few rumors had burnt their way through the palace and news cycles.

Besides, Wanda should know. Wanda deserved to know. You and Wanda had come on this adventure post university together. Wanda had to know before it came out in the form of an official palace announcement, or else Wanda might very well skin you alive.

Hearing your name on a female tongue had you snapping up, your attention diverted away from the emails you were checking.

Wanda?

No.

It was not Wanda.

It was an Indian woman in a well-tailored pantsuit. Her dark hair was swept up in a chignon. Her lips a shade of red that had you lowkey thinking about asking for the name and shade of said lipstick. Her dark eyes bore right through you. As if spearing you from your chair and to the wall of your office.

“You are the King’s Chief of Staff?”

While your natural first instinct was to report that was what it said on your door. Professional-you put the kibosh on that right away. Inner you was somewhat intimidated by this powerful woman who looked as if she knew your every last secret.

Head held high this woman so informed you in a tone that let you know she was here for nothing less. “The Maharaja has sent us. Duchess Hope of the Netherlands has stolen from us and is here with the intention of pleading political asylum. While the Maharaja would like nothing more than to have her brought back for trial of the theft of our priceless treasures. I will settle for what was taken and no less.”

Ok. Well. Maybe you thought too soon.

Maybe Wanda was preferrable over this person.

“Oh…goody…” came from your lips with a frown.

“General Odinson sent me here. He told me that you would be able to help resolve this issue for me post haste.”

Oh of course General Fucking Thor Odinson would send this person your way so he didn’t have to deal with this international nightmare of an incident.

Letting out a deep breath, you held up a finger. “Let me just send this out real quick…what’s your name?” And you typed as quickly as humanly possible on your encrypted laptop.

“Ekta. I am with the Maharaja’s Royal Guard.”

Because of course she was. Why wouldn’t she be? Why wouldn’t Hope have stolen from the Maharaja and bounced? Though you’d never had the pleasure of meeting her face to face, you’d heard more than your share about the infamous Duchess, then Princess, Hope.

Typing. Typing. Typing.

“You’ve got any pictures or detailed descriptions of what the items stolen look like? I’m sure His Majesty will be very curious. And, you know, the more information of what we’re looking for the better.”

And done.

With a tap on your laptop, you’d sent out an email to the Finance Minister. Then up you stood.

“Of course,” Ekta answered coolly.

Not that you blamed her. If you were in her shoes, you would have been super pissed off too. Being robbed was never fun.

“Let’s go see if we can track down His Majesty. If not, we’ll make an appointment with his secretary and then go see who is in the office of our Royal Guard. Someone is always in there and I know that Carol, she’s Captain of the Guard, is working right now.” You explained, as if you felt that telling this unhappy woman all these things could somehow make everything right. Probably not. But you still had to try. It was in your nature to fix problems and you most definitely wanted to fix this problem.

Ekta said nothing.

She merely followed you out of your office and into the hallway which was lined with doors and walls of tasteful and probably expensive original art.

You looked to the left.

Then to the right and nearly died then and there at your luck.

How had you gotten so lucky?

There, mere feet away and closing, was not just Carol but His Majesty, deep in discussion about something that was irritating them both.

You had an inkling that you knew what was at the heart of their discussion.

The sight of you made them stop talking and pause in their tracks, which told you that you had been the one that they were seeking.

Before anything could be done, you bowed. “Your Majesty, just the person I was hoping to find.” Up you flourished your hand to gesture at Ekta, who you could feel was beside you, practically putting off rays of righteousness. “We have a visitor from the Maharaja’s Royal Guard. This is Ekta. She is here because of something that concerns the Duchess Hope.”

The reaction that came was almost immediate from both Steve and Carol.

A look as if Steve had suddenly smelled a dead animal came over his face. Carol however cocked her hip to the side, lifted her chin in a dark blue pantsuit, almost demanding in a knowing sort of way. “What’d she steal from you guys? Art or jewelry?”

For the first time ever, you noted a moment of Ekta’s veneer breaking. Like she was taken off balance. “The duchess stole from you too?” Then, almost as an afterthought came, “Your Majesty?”

And this was news to you too.

You had no idea that Hope had taken souvenirs with her that weren’t free to take when she fled the Royal Palace for India all those years ago.

When Steve spoke, his teeth were clearly clenched together. “Yes. Both. She raided my mother’s room as well as the halls for art and pieces that are priceless. Sacred treasures from my countries history that can never be replaced. She filled her suitcase with on her way out.”

“Every now and then an item will appear on the black market. We can only assume that she is selling them when she is in need of money.” Carol helpfully added.

Beside you, you could practically feel Ekta tremble. Shake out of control one could say.

“Is the Duchess Hope here?”

For that you had no answer.

Carol however had one. “Yes. Her Majesty is taking tea out in the gardens with the Duchess Hope and her own mother.”

After being brought abreast of that development, you had a statement to make. One you thought was obvious. But none-the-less, out it came. Maybe none of them knew? “It’s snowing outside.”

Thus leading Steve to turn his attention on you. Finally. And when he did so, he looked at you as if you were only his Chief of Staff. He looked at you kindly without the heat in his eyes from earlier that morning, when he’d woken you up by pushing himself deep into your body until the both of you reached a climax that made your eyes cross and left an impression of his teeth broken into your shoulder.

“Yes. Mother wanted to be sure that the Duchess Hope did not steal anything else from within the palace walls whilst they are here.”

Well then.

Even you had to admit. The Queen Mother could be downright frosty when the occasion called for it. Pun intended.

“She’s having tea with Queen Janet and Duchess Hope outside? In the frigid temperatures?”

You couldn’t quite make yourself believe it. You blinked. You looked from Steve who appeared casual after his statement, like he just told you the winters here were cold. Over to Carol who was pulling out her phone from her pocket. Acting like you hadn’t said anything out of the normal.

“Your Majesty, I’ll take care of Ekta and deal with this issue. If anything arrives concerning this issue. I will contact you. Nakia will come fill my place today.”

If Steve was greatly upset by any of his, he made no outward indication of it other than a nod of his head that he both heard and understood and accepted what Carol had told him. His attention was instead focused on you.

“I have a meeting concerning the Switzerland trip about the proposed embassy. Go get your notes. You’ll be joining me.”

***

Her Grace, the Duchess Hope van Dyne, had finally made it in the palace after that psycho, the Queen Mother Sarah, had the audacity to serve tea in the garden as flakes of snow drifted down. And if that weren’t barbaric enough, afterwards, she then led them around the winter garden as if Hope gave a damn.

Hope had problems and Queen Sarah was not very receptive to any of her attempts to thaw the ice that had formed around Sarah’s heart. Nor did her mother, Janet, have much luck.

When did Sarah turn into such a bitch?

Sarah should have been ecstatic that Hope would even return to this shithole. Sarah’s son was still single, he needed a queen and his backwoods hovel wanted a queen and Hope had royal blood. What more did Sarah need? Did she need it written down?

When did Sarah turn into such a horrible host?

Hope remembered a distinctively different Sarah. When she had lived in this palace, Steve’s mother had coddled her, practically waited on her hand and foot to be sure that Hope was happy and settling in so far from civilization. Where was that Sarah now?

Somehow, Hope had managed to break away, pleading a need to use the powder room around the time her toes and fingers went numb. As she hadn’t had the time to properly shop for clothes to wear in this frigid shithole. India had been so gloriously warm. She’d loved India. Hope would have loved to stay there but things had gone south.

Eventually, like everything else, it’d blow over.

Until then though, she needed someplace safe to stay. She needed to stay somewhere that the Maharaja couldn’t get her. What she needed was diplomatic immunity. However, that wasn’t going to happen since her father refused to even see her, so she’d just have to settle for sovereign immunity. Granted, Hope hadn’t expected it to be this difficult to see Steven and tell him that she was ready to get married now. For crying out loud, he should have been groveling at her feet for her to come back to him. Especially after that sex tape which had been burning up the internet and royal circles. If there was anything that Hope could do, it was bounce back from a scandal.

This was just ridiculous.

The Queen Mother should have been inviting them to this lunch with her son, instead of practically throwing Hope and Janet out. Which was exactly why Hope was wandering the halls in the search for Steven’s office. Toes tingling in her fashionable pumps. Her fingers burning from the warm air in the administrative offices.

Hope would need a whole new wardrobe once she got Steven onboard with her plan. As his current plan of ignoring the sex tape was absurd. These things needed to be tackled head on. With her as his queen by his side, Hope could handle all of it.

Ah, she found herself pleased at the sight of the royal seal over a doorway marking it as the king’s office.

Valkyrie followed her closely. That bitch.

As soon as Hope was queen, she’d be one of the first on the firing block. Following her around like some manner of commoner who might fill their pockets with royal gold. It was absurd. Hope was born a princess and one day she would become one again.

Hope remembered Valkyrie from when she was a young member of the guard and now, she was a Captain and just as irreprehensible as Carol, who Hope also despised. Both of them had to go. Reaching out with a hand that held a ring belonging to the sister of the Maharaja, Hope opened the door and marched right into the office of Steven’s secretary. Who was apparently gone for lunch.

Not that the room was empty.

Nakia, who had been seated on a couch in the office, stood. Dressed in a dark blue suit that all the royal guard wore. Her face stony at the sight of Hope and then darkened further in disgust. She stood tall. Regally. Holding her head high when she spoke down to the former princess. “The king is busy.”

Not that Hope would settle for anything less than seeing Steven in person immediately. She stepped forward. “The king is having lunch with his mother in fifteen minutes. I know for a fact he’s not doing anything of importance. Get out of my way, or I’ll have you selling souvenirs from a cart outside the palace when I am queen.”

At such a statement, Nakia found herself wanting to both laugh and spit in the face of this western woman. One who had referred to her people and country as little more than a backwoods hellhole full of illiterate stone pounders.

How often Nakia had dreamt of being so close to the Duchess Hope, how she thought of ripping out this woman’s forked tongue.

“Let her in,” came Valkyrie’s voice in their native tongue from the eastern regions of the land.

Sending Nakia’s dark eyes past Hope. A knowing expression claimed her features. “His Majesty is in there waiting for our queen.”

A shrug came from the senior guardswoman.

Nakia would be the first to admit, she had not been hopeful when the crown prince had been coronated as a teenager. No one in the country had been particularly hopeful but now, nearly everyone supported their king. His Majesty was a good king who served them all as much as they served him.

Nakia was protective of her king. She wanted her king to marry his Chief of Staff yesterday. Her land was in need of a queen, a woman’s touch one could say.

Knowing what was at stake with the coming lunch that her king would attend with his mother and lover, a visit from the Duchess Hope would not put him in the best of moods. The Queen Mother always grew quiet when King Steven was in such a mood. Why would Nakia allow such a thing to happen?

“Perhaps if he tells her she isn’t wanted here she’ll leave sooner? Let her in. That is an order.”

Pursing her lips unhappily, Nakia stepped back.

She wasn’t about to open the door to His Majesty’s office for this interloper. However, she would no longer stand in the way. Nakia even made sure to send a look that screamed impending homicidal violence. Spurring Hope quickly through the door without another syllable directed at Nakia.

Which was fine with Hope.

Hope couldn’t get away from Nakia quick enough.

Wanting distance sent Hope into the king’s large office without much thought. Looking as if it belonged in an old Victorian estate with dark wood, so many books, old art and thick dark Turkish Rugs.

What Hope did not expect was how much the prince had grown.

No longer a gangly young man whose mother had to have padding sewn into the robes that he was coronated in. This man sitting at his desk was big in every way. Exuding power in a manner that most could only dream and for a second, seeing Steven look at her with shocking blue eyes and stubble darkening his face, she was rendered speechless.

“What do you want Hope,” came Steven’s voice, more than a little annoyed. Far more emotion than she’d ever seen from the young man. Who was now very obviously a man.

This was not the Steven she remembered.

Before her was not the young man she remembered at all. Every last bit of him was very much a king and Hope suddenly, possibly for the first time in her life, found herself regretting many of the past choices she made. It seemed her mother was right. She’d been far too hasty in her youth. Her mother had told her that the prince would mature like a fine wine. Hope had written that off as nonsense meant to trap her into an arranged marriage like so many women before her.

Now?

Now she was looking at a tall powerful man close a very modern looking laptop and turn his attention on her in such a way that made her gut coil. What would it have been like to be the woman in the video? And where the hell did that thought come from? She had been wrong. So so very wrong.

Finally, gathering herself, Hope peered around the office and fussed at the pearl buttons on her coat. “I saw the video…” A noise came from Steven that she’d never heard before, yet, she went on. “…and since we’re still technically engaged, I thought I would return to help you put out the fires of this scandal.”

Another noise came from the king, a derisive snort.

“Wow. That’s cute. Highly amusing coming from you.” Though there was no hint of heat or passion in his words that had been so evident on that video. In her opinion, he didn’t even sound bored. Worse. Steven then leaned back in his seat, peered around her and asked, “Who let you in here?”

Those words, those uncaring words as if she were little more than the two guards outside his office made her burn, bristle.

Which had Hope clearing her throat, bristling one could say. “Actually, it’s more than cute. If you recall, I come from a distinguished royal house. Our engagement is a legally binding agreement.”

For the reaction she got, she might as well have told him it was showing outside.

As she was prone to when there was silence that needed to be filled, Hope pushed the waves of dark hair over her shoulder. She shifted from one foot to the other and watched Steven lean back in his chair.

Finally, as if sensing that she wasn’t going to leave, Steve offered her a shrug. Finding the mere sight of her numbing. He could have cared less what she did one way or the other. So long as she stayed out of his room. He had valuable things in there that he was fond of. “I’m not marrying you. Do with that as you will, you’ll find no sanctuary here.”

This was most certainly not the Steven that she had left all those years ago. It took Hope a second to collect herself, to steel herself. No one had spoken to her in such a way in quite a while. Her brain screamed at her that damage control needed to be done but she was not sure how. In what way? What did she say?

Hope’s brain screamed at her that the plan was failing, everything was going wrong. This was not supposed to happen this way and now she was failing horrendously. What did she do? How could she fix this?

Pricks of pain came from her fists as her nails dug into her palms. Telling Hope that when she unclenched her fists, she would see blood. “You have to marry me!”

Oh this was bad.

This was really really bad.

Across the expanse of his desk, Steve remained calm. Almost to the point of uncaring and such demeanor was reflected in his words. In the way his broad shoulders shrugged and how he rubbed his rough cheek, as if that were more interesting.

“I do not need or want your assistance for anything, forget that video. There is no reason for me to be ashamed of it.”

“Steven! Listen!”

He could see the desperation on her face, hear it in her voice and after so long, he wished he could say that it was rewarding. He wished that he could say it made him feel better after everything that had happened.

It didn’t.

There was just nothing. Little more than cold numbness. Steve felt absolutely nothing.

Nothing was there anymore.

When he looked at Hope there was nothingness.

It reminded him of his father. He hated when he felt that way, when he thought of his father. There was no one on this earth that Steve loathed more. It was his very purpose for being, to not be his father. To end that cycle. To let it die with him.

Most irritably, he shifted in his seat. His eyes found the picture of you both on his desk from a trip to Scotland.

Hints of his father swirled with every syllable only furthering his inner revulsion with himself, his genes and heritage.

“When you left, I did not officially break our engagement as a common courtesy to your father. No more no less. I am a king. You cannot compel me to do anything.”

Pools of blue found Hope again though. A little bit of serene malice hovered between them.

“If you continue to be an annoyance, I will. I am a king now. I have a country to govern. I do not have time for the childish games and pursuits that occupy the western families.”

“Steven this is serious! I could go to prison! In India!”

May his ancestors help him, his first initial response would have been to remind her of her place, remind her of how he should be addressed.

His Majesty.

Exactly as his father would, he swore he heard his father’s voice in his ear.

“You have to help me out! I’m begging you! I don’t care about that other woman. You can have all the mistresses you want!”

A peek down at his watch told Steve that he had minutes to wrap this up and go collect you. Minutes. He had minutes to regain his sanity before he saw his mother.

Minutes.

“Steven!”

Standing from his chair, he shook his head. Doing his best to silence the sound of his father telling him he was not good enough, was not worthy, was not fit to rule. His voice was soft because Steve would not yell like that man. “No Hope. I’m sorry, but no. You remind me of my father. You make me feel like him. You bring him back to life and I cannot live with his ghost. So no. You will have to deal with the consequences of your actions like the rest of us.”

Her eyes went wild.

Steve could see it and was glad he wasn’t within reach of her. He watched her grab a Fabergé Egg from the end of his desk.

Colorful glass accented in gold with rubies around the middle. It fit in her hand but only just, being the size of an ostrich egg and then it went soaring through the air where it smashed loudly into a wall. Denting the dark wood and shattering. Smashing into dozens and dozens of colorful pieces that fell to the floor.

Having felt the very loss of hope itself, she turned to set her storm on him. “You’ll regret this, Your Majesty.” Before turning and leaving, slamming his office door behind her as hard as possible. Leaving Steve with the sound of his father telling him that he wasn’t worthy.

***

Lipstick?

No lipstick?

It was a question for the ages.

A swipe or two of lipstick always gave you the courage you needed in any occasion. But then again, this was not merely any occasion. This was lunch with your boyfriends mother to officially meet her and get to know her, because you were in a serious committed relationship with her son. Because you loved her son.

Oh, and her son was the king, so there were expectations on that already plus with her being the Queen Mother, that was sorta already an expectation of its own.

Lipstick?

No lipstick?

You wanted to look your best because the Queen Mother always looked immaculate. But you also didn’t want to risk getting lipstick on your teeth. Leading you to peer once more into the bathroom mirror.

No. No lipstick. If you put on lipstick you’d be thinking about your lipstick and you needed to focus on making a good impression.

Otherwise, your makeup looked fabulous. Really. Five stars. Two thumbs up.

This had you stuffing your makeup back into your purse and kinda sorta looking up when the bathroom door opened, shut and was locked. Because really. Why would the door be locking?

In the art deco styled bathroom, Steve’s form was very clear and your eyebrows shot up.

Luckily, you were alone, considering how beyond pissed off he looked. One hundred and ten percent not fit to have lunch with his mother. Not with him in this condition.

You had no idea what happened, but something had happened.

He crossed the red and white marble tiled floor. Walked past the gilded edged stalls and stained-glass doors to where you stood at one of four sinks with bronze fixtures and ornately framed mirrors.

To be honest, it was your favorite bathroom of all time. Your Instagram was full of pictures of this bathroom, selfies in this bathroom, up-close pictures of the stained glass.

“Are you ok?”

Beneath his smoothly shaven face, his jaw twitched. “Fine. Are you ready?”

He was tense enough you wouldn’t have been shocked if his joints started to pop, or his teeth cracked from how hard he was clenching his jaw.

Seeing him like this was a no go for Queen Sarah. Everyone knew that she hated to see her son like this and at first you never knew why, not until someone had told you that her husband had the same mannerisms. Steve’s father done the same thing when he had been angry.

While it was common knowledge that Steve was not his father, Steve would never hit his mother.

Some memories could just never be wiped clean.

Having Steve like this was not how you wanted this first lunch with his mother to go. Not one bit. Both of them needed to be on cloud fucking nine. Meaning you were going to have to do something.

“Almost,” was what you told him. A plan already set into motion as you grabbed a few paper towels from the bronze dish that held them between sinks.

One last peek at your hair and you were set. Purse in hand. You stepped on over to press your lips to the flat firm line that was Steve’s mouth. “Could you hold this for me?”

Steve never questioned you or thought twice.

Whether it was from love or trust, or he was too angry over whatever? No one would ever know.

But you seized the moment! Pounced on the opportunity.

You acted as if you were going to check your pumps and instead, set down the paper towels so you could kneel at his feet. Before Steve even had a second to think about it, you had his pants unbuttoned, unzipped and down around his knees. Knowing that the king went commando that morning worked seamlessly into your plan.

His dick hung softly between his muscular creamy thighs.

“What are you doing?”

“Hold my purse with both hands, Your Majesty.”

Though soft, his size was still above average. His penis was solid. Thick. A pink tip peeked out beneath foreskin that was stretched over his member. Soft as velvet, you kissed his slit as you pushed his foreskin up to reveal his shaft.

“Remember the first time I ever saw your dick?”

You sank down on his soft flesh after, sucking him in till nearly all of him fit in your mouth. It rarely happened. Only when he wasn’t erect. When Steve was erect, it wasn’t physically possible unless you unhinged your jaw and didn’t have a gag reflex.

“Oh god…” he gasped out at the warm and wet sensation of your mouth closing around him. Cold air on his ass cheeks. Exposed. Vulnerable. His sac hanging heavy and you down on your knees, taking nearly all of him in your mouth.

Steve clung to your purse like a lifeline.

Thinking back, you hummed out thoughtfully, knowing how fantastic the vibrations felt on him. Knowing that the warm softness that was his dick would soon harden. Until then, you enjoyed how you could take him like this. You relished the smell of him, musky and male. Savored how smooth his skin was on your tongue. Reached up and cupped his testicles that hung down for you.

It’d been at a fundraiser.

A black-tie affair for something or another, who could remember?

The two of you had stolen away towards the end, snuck off when everyone was mingling together and socializing. Slightly tipsy or buzzed from the open bar.

Not the two of you.

No.

Both of you had barely drank. Focused instead on getting away so you could steal some moments together. Moments like these. Moments where your hands were all over one another, your mouths hungry for one another. Frantic for that connection between your bodies that nature demanded and you both were trying so hard to make happen.

Tonight was the night though.

You were determined.

Sucking him deep. Swirling your tongue around him. You could feel Steve starting to thicken up which had you popping off his mouth and surveying the sight of his dick taking on a pinkish hue as blood filled it.

“Are you thinking about it, Your Majesty? About how fucking big your cock is? About how it shocked me? Remember?”

Based alone on the sound that came from Steve, you could deduce that he remembered. Possibly even vividly.

“I remember,” you cooed, licking his pink head and suckling on the end of his dick. Flicking against the hole with your tongue. Massaging his balls. Taking his hardening shaft in your other hand. Needing him to feel only you. Needing him to be here with you. “It was the biggest dick I’d ever seen in my life.”

”You don’t have to.” He had whispered to you in a dark corner of the atrium. Hidden by plants and furniture.

Not that you’d cared.

By that point he had gone down on your countless times and you’d never seen it. Only feeling it through his pants when you’d made-out or groped him, when your bodies rubbed against one another in a frantic urge for completion.

“Jesus Christ Steve! You’re the only man I know who doesn’t want his dick sucked.”

“It’s not that…” he came back with, pausing and finally giving in, allowing you to unzip the black pants of his tux and yank them down. Pull them down and out it popped.

Erect.

Hard. So hard.

Foreskin drawn back to reveal an angry red head smeared with pre-cum.

It was massive, a beast, the hugest dick you’d ever laid eyes on and from on your knees, in a ballgown, made up to feel like a princess. You gasped. You straight up gasped like you were a teenage girl seeing your very first penis. Albeit, the one that was so full of blood it bobbed eye level with you, pointing upwards, was considerably more impressive and probably five inches longer than that first ever dick, easy. As you didn’t exactly have a tape measure on you for comparison.

“Oh my god…” you whispered, well aware that your eyes were wide and mouth was very likely a perfect O. “It’s so big! It’s like the biggest I’ve ever seen! Steve your dick is huge! What do you feed it?”

His voice was a bit concerned. Embarrassed even?

Was he embarrassed about this behemoth in his pants?

“I’m sorry, I know. It can be uncomfortable to give me oral sex. You really don’t have to. I don’t expect.”

But you had cut him off with grabby hands wrapping around his erection, pushing up his foreskin and licking the salty jizz that was starting to ooze out. “Shut up, Your Majesty. Tell me how you want it.” In your ministrations you had lifted up his generous manhood and set eyes upon the heavy balls that hung down between his thighs. “Holy Canada! You have a set of balls to match. You have no idea how much fun I’m going to have fitting those in my mouth.”

When you finally ripped your eyes away from his sexual organ, you shook your head and admonished him severely. “I cannot believe you’d keep this from me!”

Exactly how you knew Steve liked, you sucked on his head and played with the tip of your tongue on his hole. You took him as deep as you could as his erection grew harder and harder in your mouth. Tracing your tongue along the sides and pumping him with your hand until his girth grew so wide, you were unable to touch your fingertips around him.

Up and down you sank on his cock. Till he was rigid beneath your lips and you drug your teeth along at times to heighten the sensation.

Slurping. Squeezing his balls. Hollowing out your cheeks and swallowing any salty release that began to dribble out. You savored the sight of his fingers clenching your purse tightly and his eyes screwed shut.

Between languid trips up and down his length, you pulled off to lick his blunt tip with the flat of your tongue.

“What are you thinking about, My King?”

At first, you didn’t think he would or could answer, which was fine. Your attention was on the round edge of his organ. Licking it. Flicking it with your tongue. Playing with it till you sank back down.

After a few seconds.

After a deep breath from Steve.

After that, he managed to get out.

“Thinking about that night. The night I took your maidenhead.”

Your maidenhead?

Well, that was a trip to past. It sent your eyes up and your mouth back off him so you could speak without a mouth full of dick. “Mmm. Thinking about how you went crazy? How you went all feral and popped my cherry?”

In your hand his penis twitched.

It was too perfect an opportunity to not pounce upon it.

If you couldn’t make him come from saying these filthy disgusting true things to him, did you really deserve to marry this man? “Your Majesty? Does it turn you on to think about my having been a virgin? About how you’re the only man to ever be in my body? Do you remember how tight I was? How hard you had to push to break my hymen?”

Little motions came from Steve. Whether he knew it or not. He was making small thrusts into your mouth that you hummed around, sucked on.

Something hit the floor.

Hands were on your head, fingers were in your hair. A wicked smile curled over your lips and Steve was methodically pumping into your mouth.

He sounded strained. He sounded like he was in pain.

“Felt so good. You’re so good to me. My angel. You were so tight.” He declared, announced, would have shouted to the heavens if he was capable. Each word came out in cadence. Almost in a chant. “Felt so good. Feels so good still. You’re mine. You’re mine. You’re mine.” On top of feeling you sucking him deep. Paired with your fingers holding his testicles tight. Mixed with your fist wrapped around his base. It was a glorious storm coming together to make him shatter.

Steve was going to come. He was going to come like right now.

It sent his thoughts spiraling along with his words.

“Love you. Love your body. Love being in you. So warm and tight and mine. All mine. All of you is mine. Want you. Want to fill you. Want want want.”

Gasping out. His breath gone. All air left his lungs when Steve climaxed into your mouth. A pitched noise did come that was followed with his fingers pulling your face against him, his pelvis pushing into you. A moan that made him weak in the knees followed that told him you were pleased with him. You were happy.

If he died in the next moment, he would have been a happy man.

All Steve could feel was pleasure. It consumed him body. It whited out his mind. It made his balls empty into the warmth of your mouth, till he was certain that nothing remained.

Even then you weren’t done.

Helpless. Awestruck.

Hopelessly devoted, Steve watched you drag your tongue around him to clean him up. Catching the last few spurts of ejaculate on your tongue before you showed him, then swallowed his seed.

Rendering him panting and sweaty.

He dropped down onto his knees and he kissed you. Mindless. Unable to think about anything else other than your mouth and being lucky enough to have convinced you to be his woman. Steve kissed you deeply, uncaring about the fact he could taste himself, unconcerned when his tongue curled around yours that he might have gotten some of his own ejaculate. His Majesty didn’t care.

Nor was he overly concerned about his knees being on the cold marble tile when he groaned against your mouth. “Love you. Love you so much. Love you to the moon and back.”

#steve rogers x reader #chris evans x reader #steve x reader #captain america x reader #steve rogers x you #marvel x reader #avengers x reader #chris evans x you #chris evans x y/n #modern royal au!steve rogers #king!steve x reader #king!steve rogers x reader

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onceupona-chaos · 4 years ago

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Why keep an open mind about Elain

(And why her book will slap hard)

When I was writing this one-shot right here, I read a few posts about Elain as a spy, some of them liked the idea, others didn't. Which is totally ok, if you don't, of course. I also reread a lot of scenes from the books to understand better how this could play out.

But I came across some comments about how Elain being a spy would make her "lose her characterization" or be "out of character". So I wanted to talk a little about it. This post will be discussing those comments specifically and why you should keep an open mind about Elain.

NOTE: As usual, sorry for any mistakes, English is not my first language. I really hope I made myself clear. If you have any comments, I would love to hear them. Be kind!

1. Elain as a character

The first reason I don't believe that argument is because ACOSF made it clear that we know very little about Elain. So how can we say it would be something out of character for her when we barely know her as a character?

So far, we only have other characters points of view on Elain: a person who has a sweet temper. But ACOSF came to tell us that there is another side of her. Nesta expected Elain to cry because of Graysen. She didn't. Elain didn't back down from her fight with Nesta, she didn't hesitate when it came to the Trove or the Hewn City, she laughed when Nesta told her to fuck off. In every single of those moment, Elain's behavior is emphasized by one reaction of the others: surprise.

"You think I’m to blame for his death?” Challenge filled each word. Challenge—from Elain, of all people.

"Elain showed some teeth," I observed. "I wasn't expecting that."

And this is nothing new. Look at what we have in ACOFAS:

and Elain—Elain—had taken up Azriel’s dagger and killed the King of Hybern instead.

The last two books highlight that 1) we don't know everything about her and 2) we expect one behavior from her.

But most importantly: she often doesn't correspond to what it is expected of her, especially in ACOSF.

And then we have this:

With time and safety, perhaps we'll see a different side of her emerge.

But I also think we haven't yet seen all she has to offer.

And before this makes someone think Elain will not get a book because we don't have much on her character, this is exactly what books are for. To develop a character. Before ACOSF, Nesta didn't have much development either. We had seen ACOFAS lay the background for her, the same way ACOSF laid the background for Elain's story.

Elain will surprise us. Sarah is practically screaming that at this point. So before judge something as out of character, we need to have in mind that Elain will have her arc and by the end of it, she will be different, she will grow. Which leads me to:

2. In order to be developed, characters need to change

Before ACOSF came out, lots of people said Nesta would never be a warrior, especially because of this line:

And why must I train at all? I am no warrior nor do I desire to be. (ACOWAR)

And I understand. I really do. But we went from that to Nesta not only becoming a Valkyrie, but also thinking about starting a small unit of females. Yes, that line is back in ACOWAR. However, in ACOSF Gwyn and Emerie said the exactly same thing:

Gwyn gestured to Nesta's fighting leathers, the overlapping scales. "I'm not a warrior".

Emerie's face yielded nothing, as blattle-hardened as Azriel's. "I'm not interested in a warrior's training".

There's a difference between developing a character and doing something out of character.

Elain already is passing through an internal change, which means SJM is preparing her for her arc. So we have to keep in mind that Elain will pass through challenges, changes in her journey, where she will learn new lessons, abilities. She will face and deal with her traumas and flaws, because she will be developed as a character. Of course, her essence will still be there, but in order to grow, she needs to change as well.

At this point lots of things happened to her, now we will see Elain making things happen. Changes like that are inevitable, necessary, but not out of character.

Now, if Nesta, Gwyn and Emerie became warriors, why would it be so out of character for Elain to become a spy?

Personally, I think if Elain became a warrior, that could be considered out of character, because Sarah already told us that her strength comes from a different place:

Elain had always been gentle and sweet—and I had considered it a different sort of strength. A better strength. To look at the hardness of the world and choose, over and over, to love, to be kind. She had been always so full of light.

Of course, this is Feyre's Pov, but is also SJM talking about Elain's nature.

We have to understand the difference between characters' point of view and what SJM is trying to tell us. For example, Nesta in ACOSF had one perception of Elain ("she is like a dog"), but SJM emphasized Nesta's perception as not correspondent to Elain's behavior. How? Using that scene where Elain talks about Nesta's dancing. in that moment, Cassian and the readers realized Nesta's point of view was biased, non correspondent to what Elain was showing us in that scene.

I'm saying that because there's a difference between narrator and author. But this is another discussion entirely.

But I truly believe from what we have seen so far, Elain isn't the warrior type. And despite the fact that we had just read ACOSF, therefore another book about warriors training doesn't sound so appealing, from what we had seen until now, Elain's has potencial (build up) to go to another direction, one that we haven't seen yet.

3. Elain already has what it takes

I want to look at this:

I wondered if Rhys’s spymaster often got his information through stone-cold manners as much as stealth and shadow.

My sister Elain can convince anyone to do anything with a few smiles.

For the record, Feyre said this in ACOWAR and these both scenes are very close to each other.

Spying is not all about shadows and stealth. Azriel works from the shadows, but if Elain can be so lovely and convincing that anyone would do anything for her, she could be a different kind of spy. And with her Seer powers, she could be a valuable one. As much or even more than the Night Court spymaster. Look at this:

Shadowsingers are rare—coveted by courts and territories across the world for their stealth and predisposition to hear and feel things others can’t.

We know Elain can be almost as stealthy as Azriel. And she is a Seer, which means she can See and hear things others can't, too. Not to mention we already have seen that she is observant and knows how to keep a secret.

Elain pushed, “We keep it secret—we send the servants away [...] No one will know.”

“I think she’s got you beat for secret-keeping.”

Elain saw every single thing Nesta had done, and understood why.

Not only she is observant, but also knows how to read people, to understand them. Look at these scenes where Nesta said basically the same thing, but Feyre didn't understand her. Elain on the other hand...

With Feyre:

“Father would want you to—”

“Don’t you finish that sentence.” Despite the sound shield around us, there was nothing to block the view of my sister baring her teeth. The view of her fingers curling into invisible claws. A scene. This was about to become a scene in the worst way. (ACOFAS)

With Elain:

"[...] if Father were here—”

“Don’t ever mention him.” Nesta bared her teeth, but kept her voice low. "Never fucking mention him again.”

Pain slowly washed over Elain’s face. And understanding. “Is that what this is all about? Father?” Silver lined Elain’s eyes, but her voice remained steady, sure. “There was nothing that could have been done to save him, Nesta." (ACOSF)

Elain understood exactly what was going on with Nesta.

Nothing is more telling to me than this, and I highly doubt SJM didn't want to show us not only Nesta's internal issues, but how Elain can understand and read very others very easily as well.

Elain also understood when Feyre wasn't sure about buying gifts. And not get me started on Azriel's bonus chapter, where it's emphasized repeatedly that they can read and comprehend each other without necessarily saying what they meant. This shows a connection between them, yes, but also a skill.

Just imagine how valuable and rare she would be for the Night Court.

And the best part is it wouldn't be out of character, because she already presented those features. Besides, Elain can be lovely, delicate and be a bad ass spy (or whatever she wishes to, tbh) . Even better: she can use those characteristics in her favor.

Do not forget what Rhysand said: Elain is sweet and she is not afraid of get her hands dirty. We just haven't seen that yet, because SJM will show us that in her book. Simple as that.

4. Elain being a spy attends SJM's pattern

In every book (or series) so far we had a female character learning something new. Feyre learned how to control her powers (and to read), Nesta learned how to be a warrior. I think it's safe to say that Elain will learn something in order to be developed as a character.

You could argue she could learn anything, which is fair. But in ACOSF we learned that Elain can be stealthy as well. SJM emphasized it again and again, and there is no way in hell she did that just for fun. It's safe to say by now that even if she doesn't become a spy, this ability will play a role in her book.

A few examples that we all know too well by now:

Elain spoke from the doorway, having appeared so silently that they all twisted toward her, “Using me.”

"You came,” Elain said behind her, and Nesta started, not having heard her sister approach. She scanned Elain from head to toe, wondering if she’d been taking lessons in stealth either from Azriel or the two half-wraiths she called friends.

She'd leave her gift amongst his other, opened presents, subtle and unnoticed.

What is curious is that stealth is associated with Azriel, but also with Nuala and Cerridwen, Elain's friends. (Here, I highly recommend this amazing post for more on this friendship and what it means to Elain’s future).

I don't have a doubt the next book is about Elain, it will be her book. So you can't tell me the fact that her friends and love interest are spies is just a coincidence or that won't mean anything. Not when Elain herself has already started to show that she can be just as stealthy and subtle as any of them.

In this scenario, we have:

Elain learning how to be a spy with Azriel, whilst they work together to find the Trove and help each other to heal from their issues.

A female main character learning something new with the help from her love interest whilst they work together to solve a problem connected to the main plot and help each oher to heal from their issues.

I PRESENT YOU THE SJM'S PATTERN.

I know some people like or don't like this theory because that would mean Elain would have a connection to Azriel or because they don't like her becoming "similar to Azriel".

But the thing is: they already share a connection, they know each other for almost two years now and most of their interactions happened "off-screen", so they don't need her to become a spy to want to be together. They already do.

And mostly important, she wouldn't become similar to Azriel, because Elain already has the required features. We don't know much about her, but so far what we do know is: she is stealthy and a good secret keeper. She knows how to read and understand people. She can hear and see things others can't, because she is a Seer, and she can be convincing af.

Most of those were emphasized again in ACOSF concomitantly with Elain's another side. (Tell me again the next book isn't about her).

And again: a female character learning something with her love interest is SJM's pattern. We've just read a book that follows this exactly structure. Are we going to say Nesta or Feyre lost their characterization because they learned and now share the same abilities as Cassian and Rhys?

SJM already answered that for us in ACOSF:

“Does it undermine my image as a warrior to be with you?”

“No. Does it undermine Feyre’s when she’s seen with Rhys?”

This is so telling, I literally stopped my reading at this. We tend to put this passage aside because of what comes next (Cassian being very discreet and screaming he's Nesta's mate to every single soul in Velaris to hear), which is totally fair. But right there, SJM is telling us that female characters sharing abilities with their love interests is no reason to undermine them. On the contrary, in her books this is a way for them to heal togheter.

Knowing SJM, Elain being a spy along with Azriel, Nuala and Cerridwen wouldn't be nothing new. We have seen this story over and over again.

We have so much build up for this, I could go on and on and on. And before someone says this won't work because Azriel has to stay away from her, just take a second to think about how much tension we would get if they are forced to work together in order to find the Trove (or any other reason that SJM will come up with). We'll have a story full of secrets, tension, drama, angst, passion, desire, love. Things too easy don't make a good story.

But at the end, even if she does not become a spy, I just think we have many possibilities for Elain and an amazing story ahead of us. I really want people to keep an open mind about her and her book and not judge too harsh amazing possibilities as out of character. If Nesta hadn't became a warrior, we wouldn't have known the Valkyries. So maybe, when you judge a possibility like that, you are closing yourself to an amazing journey.

And also, Nesta was once judged and hated. A lot of people ended up changing their minds, which is great because she is awesome. So I think we already learned that lesson.

We will see another side of Elain emerge and she will surprise us. That's not me, that's SJM. She already told us that. Repeatedly.

All of this just to say: keep an open mind about Elain. She has what it takes and will surprise us - and I can't wait to see her becoming a badass.

#pro elain #elriel #a court of silver flames #acotar 5 #elain archeron #spy elain #acotar theory #azriel #nuala and cerridwen #elain x nuala x cerridwen #acotar theories #pro elriel #elriel theory

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kingandfireheart · 4 years ago

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Starfall

A/N: this one had been sitting in drafts for a while, but it a part of my whole "Sarah robbed of us two months of HAPPY Nessian" thing, so enjoy, I guess!

'Summary: This one is basically all the scenes that could have happened instead of in addition to the Amren apology on Starfall. It's fluffy. It's a lot of the Inner Circle. There's a Mor apology. There's a sweet Az moment. And of course happy established Nessian. Clearly all of these things wouldn't happen in one night. But its fanfiction, so you know. Mostly canon-compliant.

Words: 2274

A few minutes after Amren left her side, Nesta felt two people approach. She didn’t need to turn her head to know exactly who it was.

“I’m glad you’re enjoying it” Elain spoke, her voice full of awe.

“It’s beautiful” Nesta rasped, as her sisters came to either side of her.

“Did I ever tell you two about my first Starfall?” Feyre asked.

Nesta shook her head. “It was before I had accepted the bond. Rhys and Mor didn’t tell me what to expect at all, so when some of this,” she gestured to her silver streaked cheek, “landed on my face, I thought I was going to lose an eye.”

“Rhys wouldn’t stop laughing at me and I nearly chucked him over the balcony. But... this view and his laughter made me realize that I wanted to paint again. That after everything that happened under the mountain and with Tamlin, I was ready to accept this life... to live.”

“I think that’s why Starfall is so special, right?” Elain said, “it reminds of the beauty of this life, even if it wasn’t what we originally planned”

“The Priestesses said there are spirits passing through or something, but I like your explanation much better” Nesta said, chuckling softly.

“I know things have been tough between the three of us, and I just wanted to say that I’m sorry. And I’m glad that you’re both doing better and that we're together." Feyre said, laying a hand over her stomach. "All I want for him is to be surrounded by family, and to give him the childhood we never had.”

“He will be very loved,” Elain said, happily.

“By both of his aunts” Nesta added. “We can teach him to read, and dance, and garden.”

“And how to deal with his annoying uncles” Feyre added, looking over Nesta’s shoulder, at where Cassian and Mor were dancing.

Nesta laughed. The idea of Cassian playing with a child was... exciting, adorable... and something she would have to think about later.

“Enjoy yourself” Feyre said, pulling Nesta, and Elain, into a hug.

"I missed this” Elain said quietly. "Come find me if you need anything."

Then both sisters smiled, disappeared into the crowd.

------

Nesta turned back to the view before her, taking it in, appreciating her sisters and Amren, and how far she'd come.

“Five hundred years, and I’ll never get used to the sight” Mor said from behind her, startling her back to reality. "I thought you could use some refreshments" she said.

Nesta laughed, turning to her, and accepting the cup of water he extended to her.

"Thank you." she said,

"I suppose I could have dressed up for the occasion" she shrugged.

“I would have loved to dress you up again, but it’s not like we won’t have more occasions for that” Mor said. "Plus, it doesn't feel right if someone isn't in leathers." She added.

Nesta smiled softly, unsure what to say.

“I wanted to apologize” Mor said suddenly. “For what I said, how I treated you. I thought I was being protective and you deserved better than that. I’m really sorry”.

Nesta shook her head in disbelief, “I judged you before getting to know you, and I’m sorry for that.” She said sincerely.

“I heard you cut the ribbon and completed the blood rite qualifier. That's impressive." She said. "I would have loved to see the look on Devlon's face."

"He didn't seem pleased" Nesta said. Mor was one of the best warriors out there, Nesta assumed this was a part of her training too, "I've seen you in battle...Have you never....?"

"Only as a training exercise, but I never beat it on my own. You need a unit to win something like that. I hear you have a pretty impressive one."

"They're wonderful. I think you'd like them."

"Maybe we can get to know each other better during training?” Mor offered. Nesta saw it for what it was. A peace offering. They would put the past beside them for Cassian and Feyre.

“I’d like that, Mor.” Nesta said, and she would.

Mor squeezed her shoulder, and said, “The dress I got for you should be in your rooms, if you want to wear it later” she said, and then sauntered off. "

---

“Here,” Azriel said, extending the plate to her. “The party will last until sunrise, so you should eat ”

Nesta nodded in thanks as she accepted the plate. Was Azriel... fussing?

"You seem to be enjoying yourself." Azriel said, elbowing her softly, as he moved toward the railing."I prefer this version of you. Real. No masks or disguises."

Nesta added dryly, “And covered in sweat" Azriel laughed at that. "I don't know how Feyre wears the crown, I hated it."

Azriel laughed, mischief in his eyes, "They do say heavy is the head that wears the crown."

"I prefer you without masks too, Az". Nesta said before she could stop herself.

Azriel smiled softly, and gestured to her food. She picked up a few berries and cheese.

When she was finished, he asked, "Would you care to dance?" extending his hand to her, his siphon gleaming in the light.

Nesta took his hand, and let him lead her to the crowd, where the others were dancing.

Even as exhausted as she was from training and the stairs, she enjoyed every moment of dancing with Azriel, as she had done on Solstice. Azriel led her, easily.

"Is it always like this? the party? she asked after a few moments.

"Mostly. We didn't use to have guests from other courts, but since the world knows about Velaris, I think Feyre and Rhys saw it as an opportunity to share."

"I like it. I think you were right about holidays" Nesta said, into Azriel's shoulder.

"I'm glad." Azriel said.

He was right. Feyre was right. This was life, this was living. The music. The view. The friendships. Her family.

She didn't say anything else, comfortable to enjoy the music and Azriel's company as they danced.

---

At some point, Helion had stepped in for Azriel.

"Lady Nesta." Helion greeted her.

"High Lord" Nesta responded.

"Interesting attire for a party" he said.

"Training ran late" Nesta said, shrugging slightly.

"Is that what Cassian is calling it nowadays?" Helion joked. Nesta blushed. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised. The General Commander and Lady Death." he mused.

Nesta said nothing in response, just returned his gaze, as if to say your point?

"I didn't quite believe the stories about your dancing, Lady" Helion started.

"What kinds of stories?" Nesta asked.

"I heard you brought Eris to his knees at Solstice." Helion said.

"I may have danced with him." She responded smugly.

"Is that a part of your training? Bringing commanders and high lord to their knees by way of dance? When you aren't too busy wielding Made objects?"

Before she could respond, she felt claws, scrape against her shields. While Rhys's were usually like midnight, Feyre's were different. She lowered her shields enough to hear her sister.

If you would like someone to save you from Helion, say the word. He's rather persistent tonight.

I'll let you know.

Nesta snapped closed her shields before responding, proudly. "I'm actually training with a small group of female warriors."

"Ah yes, your sister mentioned to Vivianne that you're resurrecting the Valkyries" he said as he spun her.

"We're combining Illyrian techniques with Valkyrie ones." she said.

"Impressive" he said. "The Valkyries were formidable. Once you're organized, perhaps you'd enjoy seeing the Day court's female forces. Lady Vivianne has been helpful since the war." He said, looking where Kallias and Vivianne were dancing.

"I'll think about it." She said. Maybe she wasn't ready to face the real world yet, but maybe... in a few months, or years even, she could be ready, and Gwyn and Emerie could be too.

"And if you ever tire of the Cassian"

FEYRE, she practically yelled in her head, throwing open her shields. She knew exactly where this was going.

"or want someone else to join you..."

FEYRE. HELP.

"and your m-"

"I think I'd like to dance with my sister-in-law" Rhysand said smoothly. Before she knew it, Rhysand was sweeping Nesta into the dance, barely a beat missed.

"Think about both my offers" Helion said from behind her.

---

Rhysand laughed, and in this light, with the silver on his face, Nesta could see what her sister described. A light that had been less present the past few months.

"See. Persistent" Rhysand said. "He made a similar offer to Feyre, Azriel, and Mor within an hour of arriving."

"Why doesn't that shock me?" Nesta said. "I'm surprised you cut in."

"Feyre promises. I deliver." he said. "I'm surprised you came tonight" Rhysand responded.

"I live here. I just climbed the stairs" she said dryly, before deciding to make an effort. "Thank you, for rescuing me" she said quietly. Rhysand seemed a bit shocked to hear her.

"Helion is unrelenting." He explained. "I didn't think Cassian would appreciate another male asking me for you hand... And I thought I owed you...After Eris...And threatening you."

"You did, but thank you nonetheless." Rhysand nodded.

They continued dancing for the rest of the song. Nesta didn’t speak, and neither did Rhys, but his eyes had lit up with amusement, as the song came to an end.

"Mor, you owe me 50 gold marks." Rhys said, as he spun Nesta away.

---

Before she understood his meaning, she landed in Cassian’s arms, but not in a position for dancing. Cassian’s arms were around her waist, his chin resting on her shoulder, as her back pressed to his chest.

"Hi." he said.

“Enjoying the party?” Nesta asked coyly, as she turned to face him.

“I am now.” Cassian said, placing a kiss to her temple. When he pulled away, his lips were covered in the starfall dust. He guided her away from the dance floor, where Mor had taken her place in dancing with Rhysand.

Nesta smiled and stood up on her tiptoes to kiss him, only pulling away when her legs screamed in pain. She supposed completing the Blood Rite qualifier, climbing down and up 10,000 steps, and dancing would have that effect on her calves.

Cassian wasted no time in picking her up fully, cradling her to his chest. Nesta gasped in surprise, and then looked sheepishly out to the rest of the party.

“They’ve seen us do much worse, Nes” She laughed and Cassian joined her, brushing his lips to hers once more, as if he wanted to taste that smile. She may always be a little embarrassed by what had happened when she scried. But things were different then- they were together now, and the way Cassian was looking at her now... it was, well it was better than any wine she'd consumed in the past year.

“I suppose they have,” she said, hiding her face in his chest. She let herself enjoy the moment, savor how it felt to be held by him.

Cassian laughed, "It should be winding down now, but there is a better view, if you would like to get out of here."

Nesta nodded.

Cassian flew up to the higher balcony that overlooked the Verdana. "Rhys and Feyre usually hide up here, but they are too busy playing hosts tonight" he said, before setting her down on a blanket, only to pull her into his lap moments later.

She reached up to brush some of his hair out of his face. "You look nice," she said, running her other hand over his cheek, where the starfall dust collected.

"And you're beautiful" he replied, smiling. It was not too long ago that Cassian had struggled to compliment Feyre, and now he hardly hesitated before saying such things. Nesta felt her cheeks redden.

"You’ve had an eventful night” Cassian said. “I thought I'd barely get a chance to dance with you”

Nesta snorted. “I prefer this” she said, leaning into him further.

“I’m in awe of you” Cassian whispered, as his fingers pulled her hair from its messy braid. “You’ve come so far. Conquered so much”

“Thank you.” Nesta said. “For doing it all with me.” Nesta turned in his lap to face him fully, her hair now falling over her shoulders.

“Always” Cassian said, before bringing his lips to her first kiss. “I’m yours. And you’re mine. No matter how many pretty males you dance with.”

“You could have stepped in at any point in time.” she said.

"The others placed bets on how long it would take for me to step in... and I wanted you to enjoy tonight, for this to be a good memory for you.”

“It is. I'm happy” she said softly.

“You’re happy?” He whispered, a half question. She kissed him in response.

"I'm happy too." Cassian said.

"And you're prettier than them." she whispered. Running her thumbs over the silver that coated his lips, and likely coated hers as well.

"Really?" Cassian asked, almost incredulously.

"It was always you, Cass" she said, as it wasn't even a question, because it wasn't. Since they met they were two forces on a collision course, nothing she could have done would have stopped it.

"And I always knew it would be you, Nes" he said, before kissing her again.

She didn’t know how long they stayed there, but after the stars had stopped falling, and the sun began to rise, Cassian carried them back to her rooms.

Nesta fell asleep absolutely exhausted by the day she had. Her body ached, but her heart, her soul, was happy. It was one of the best days since she’s become fae, likely before that even.

#nessian #nezriel brotp #nessian fluff #acotar series #kp writes #archeron sisters #rhysand #morrigan #helion spell cleaver #mtp

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feysandandnyx · 4 years ago

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I watched a live from Sarah where she explains Nesta's relationship with Gwyn and Emerie. I really understood Sarah's intention, to want to give Nesta something that was hers, her own pack, to use her own words. I understood that, I even understand how it is easier to talk about what is broken with new friendships.

However, I still have a huge frustration about it, because although I understood the function, I found that for the circumstances it was a little pointless. Basically, I decided to read acosf because of Nyx and because I wanted to know Nesta's point of view about her sisters and especially to understand her relationship with Elain. I confess that as the story drew to a close, I skipped pages because I could not believe that the book did not bring a moment of real confrontation between the sisters, especially between Nesta and Feyre. So Nesta starts the book in a place of anger and she is simply having bad or negligent thoughts about Feyre for most of the book. About Elain, discoveries that the mystery of his exclusion from Nesta's healing process was because Elain, according to Nesta, chose Feyre over her. Just like Amaren. The character is alienating her family, not the other way around.

Her sisters have repeatedly tried to reach out or help, without success. But Nesta has always had the support of both and even the IC. At the same live, Sarah claimed that Nesta felt like a stranger to the IC, although she was not really. All of this is something that is in her mind and in the way she sees the situation and justifies her loneliness. She felt that she didn't have a friend. Then the House became her friend and quickly Emerie and Gwyn too. It's always good to make friends, right? I agree with that. But then Nesta is acting as if Emerie and Gwyn are the family she never had and she is establishing that they both always supported her as horrible as she looked.

But wasn't that what Elain and Feyre were doing in the same book? I'm not going to say that Nesta has to feel that she has an obligation to think that Feyre is her friend just because she is her sister when Feyre herself admits that her real sisters were Amaren and Mor. But there is a huge difference between the need for Feyre and Nesta to choose families with whom they had no blood relationship. For Feyre, this need came from a place of absence that was not just her own invention. Feyre never really had the support of her blood family, so it is simply a relief when she meets people with whom she can develop this type of relationship. Nesta not only had the support of her sisters, but she was expected to show more at least in relation to Elain. Not to mention that suddenly Emerie and Gwyn are her new family, after she resented Feyre for calling the IC family as if the Archeron had a problem.

So why are you doing the same and for reasons that are essentially childish because you believe your sisters are matching bracelets while you were excluded when in fact it is you who are excluding both? And I'm sorry, for me these feelings come from the most selfish parts of Nesta, the ones that she never showed Emerie and Gwyn because Nesta gave them the respect and kindness that she had not yet shown to Feyre and Elain who had always witnessed the most horrible parts of Nesta and yet they never stopped supporting her.

Then she suddenly establishes that Gwyn and Emerie are her sisters like Feyre and Elain never were, because they don't judge her for things that to begin with, they never suffered or witnessed. So even though I understood Sarah's intention in making friends for Nesta, I found the construction futile, to say the least. Worst of all, Feyre needed to be sacrificed once again (dying) in order for the sisters to be connected again. I honestly don't even know how anyone can find this plot line interesting.

the idea of the Valkyries is a good one, I’m not saying that Nesta couldn’t have friends or families to call her own, but the reasons that led her to this seemed just selfish to me. And this is not even the fault of the character itself, but of the way Sarah chose to approach the relationship between Valkyries x Archerons Sisters.

She wanted to deliver a devastating moment in the end, when she didn't have to. I was already devastated when Feyre died under the mountain and Rhys during the war for much better reasons. Seeing the two of them go through that pain again was just stupid and lazy for me.

#feyre archeron #feyre stan #pro feyre #anti nesta stans #anti nesta #anti nesta archeron #elain archeron #anti acosf

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heyovivi · 4 years ago

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ACOTAR 6? (MAJOR SPOILERS FOR ACOSF)

Okay! I just finished A Court of Silver Flames and absolutely love Nesta’s journey and this is coming from a person who didn’t really like Nesta from the beginning. Her journey of healing and finding herself was beautiful and her journey with Cassian was heart-wrenching and sexy and I just loved it all! But anyways, more on that later, I have some predictions for the next book.

So I usually don’t go into anything without spoiling myself so before I even picked up ACOSF from a bookshelf at Target (don’t worry I was able to read both bonus chapters; meaning Azriel’s and the Feyre and Rhys’ chapters) I knew a little about ACOSF already. Now, ACOSF wasn’t deeply plotted and there wasn’t any world building like there was when we read the first three book--although it didn’t really matter to me I still enjoyed the book. ACOSF was all about Nesta and her journey and an insight to her thoughts and why she is the way she is and although I felt that at some points I hated Nesta I could still understand her frustrations and I could understand that she was deeply flawed as a character--which is fine.

Now, even if ACOSF didn’t have a huge plot there were some key elements that will probably be very important in the next book such as Koschei, the remaining Mortal Queens, the Band of Exiles, Azriel’s journey, and Elain’s journey. But one key thing I noticed was Eris. Now he didn’t appear that much in the book and if he did it was during moments where his presence was essential to the plot (such as being kidnapped by Queen Brialynn and Koschei), but in that last chapter he appeared in it seemed like there was more to the story, to his story specifically. I think that maybe we might be getting a book on Eris.

A lot of people say that ACOSF is reminiscent of Tower of Dawn from the Throne of Glass series, where instead of following Aelin in her quest to free her kingdom and stop Maeve, we instead venture into a Chaol-centered book where we kind of try to understand his point of view and character growth. So maybe, and this is just a theory or prediction, maybe we’ll get a similar thing with Eris.

From that one little conversation we get with Cassian and Eris, it appears that Eris is kind’ve jealous of the Night Court and it’s relationships with the other courts in Prythian. A lot of people have already pointed how much Eris could be a lot like Rhys in the manner that Eris wants the Autumn Court to be seen not as the fiery court of rage and misery, but instead wants to be a beacon for those who dwell there. And you do see some parallels between Rhys and Eris and their upbringing with their fathers being very strict figures in their lives but with Eris there was an emphasize of abuse somewhere along the line.

Now I’m not saying that Eris is getting a book or that his book even next, but I think that we have not heard the full story of what happened between both him and Mor, and I really want to know the entire story of what had happened in Eris’ life to make him seem like such a conniving person. But if I’m being honest I would much rather read a book about Eris’ efforts to lift the Autumn Court than a book about Mor--just my preference you don’t have to agree with me.

Now here are my runner ups for who could be the possible voice of ACOTAR 6.

Azriel

Elain

No, not Azriel and Elain, but Azriel or Elain. Now there were a lot of people saying that the book is either about Elain and Azriel, or Azriel and Gwyn, or Elain and Lucien--and I’m not going to shut down anyone’s theories but I’m going to share my own. Again, if you feel peeved about what sides or ships I support then stop reading when you get pissed because I can live with the fact that not everyone is going to agree with my theories.

First off, Azriel.

I’m going to be honest, from what I read on Tumblr mainly I thought Azriel’s role in ACOSF was going to be way bigger, but I still enjoyed his dry humor and presence when he was there. Though when it comes to Miss Sarah J Mass we have to pay attention to every little detail in her books and if you caught onto his distance from Mor during the Solstice party or his reluctance to hold baby Nyx because of his scarred hands then I think it’s pretty telling that the next book could be about Azriel and his journey with coming face to face with his trauma, his past, and maybe his unsteady relationship with the Illyrians; not to mention his five century one-sided love with Mor.

If you know me, or looked at any of my content, you should know that I am a hardcore Gwynriel shipper. I love Gwyn and fell in love with the ship almost immediately so much so that I’m embarrassed that I entertained the idea of shipping Azriel with Emerie or Clotho. I think that she might play a pivotal role in his journey to healing and that he might also play a large role in hers as well. Through his bonus chapter we can kind of see the sparks of something starting between them, I’m guessing it’s tied to theories that they are mates or to the theory that Gwyn could be a possibly lightsinger. All I know for sure right now is that Gwyn’s story is definitely not over with and I except see more of her in the future along with the other Valkyries as well.

Finally, Elain.

Now I don’t think the next book is about Elain but I do feel that out of all of the other characters her story is in the making? I’ve been told numerous times that Elain will be getting a book of her own, but we don’t know when and we don’t know what it is going to be about. Now, I’m not the hugest fan of Elain and it all goes back to her and Nesta just sitting around when Feyre was in the woods fighting for her life and there's as well. I know that she apologized and felt guilty afterwards but her excuse was “we gave up and she didn’t” just did not do it for me.

It was in this passage from A Court of Thorns and Roses, where my distaste for Elain blossomed:

The mercenary transferred the coins to my waiting palm, and I tucked them into my pocket, their weight as heavy as milestone. There was no possible chance that my sisters hadn’t spotted the money--no chance they weren’t already wondering how they might persuade me to give them some.

...I felt my sisters sweep closer, like vultures circling a carcass.

Like at least we knew Nesta was the “wolf” as she described herself. We knew she had a sharp-tongue and we knew she could be a bitch with her words. But Elain, she was described as innocent and nice, and yes when you paint her in a garden with flowers and frilly dresses she does just seem like some Cinderella-like character but after five books, especially after ACOSF my hate for Elain has just grown. Like after ACOWAR, I just thought she was boring--yes, she had a hand in killing the king of Hybern but that hype was kind’ve stolen away when Nesta ripped his head from his body.

Since then, we haven’t really, really got a full look through with Elain and a large part of that is because we haven’t gotten her point of view, like not even in A Court of Frost and Starlight. From what we know about her, canonically, no theories or anything, she likes to garden, she likes to cook, her friends are Cerridwen and Nuala, she doesn’t want to confront that bond she has with Lucien, and she has an attraction to Azriel. But beyond that we don’t know anything--there were things that I kept out even though they were mentioned in ACOSF but there is also a lot of mystery around the things she said and claimed to do--even Cassian questioned them but didn’t approach her about the topic.

I don’t think we have enough of a story to build up on Elain. For the most part I feel like her presence in ACOSF was mostly there to just piss Nesta off. Literally, in every scene she has with Nesta, she is pissing her off, setting her off, making her yell or scream, or making the silver flames ignite. And this is extremely out of character for Elain. Yes, we don’t get enough of her, but from what we can gather, Elain usually is not one to push buttons but I wonder why she did with Nesta.

Here are a few passages that I just found beguiling while reading Nesta’s interactions with Elain:

Elain stepped closer, brown eyes wide. Undoubtedly wholly convinced of her own innocence, her innate goodness. “It’s the truth. We did this because we love you, and we worry for you, and if Father were here--”

“Don’t ever mention him.” Nesta bared her teeth, but kept her voice low. “Never fucking mention him again.”

Mentioning their father? A very taboo subject for Nesta. And Elain stans like to argue that Elain is quiet and docile because she is an observer. She takes things in and she tucks them away in her memory, but if she’d paid so much attention then why would she mention their father to Nesta? Feyre noted Nesta’s relationship with their father in book one, so there is no way that Elain herself didn’t know about it.

Here is another line from their conversation I thought were very weird to read about and I’ll explain why:

Elain crossed her arms and said calmly, sadly, “Feyre warned me this might happen.”

Bullseye. Nesta doesn’t like to be talked about, to be judged. We learned that in ACOSF and again if Elain was this person who sees and pays attention she should’ve known this or caught on.

I think in this scene, Elain was purposely trying to set off Nesta.

Nesta cleared her throat. “Cassian said it might be good if I came.”

Elain’s eyes flickered. “Did Feyre pay you, like last year?”

“No,” shame washed over her.

Elain sighed, glancing over Nesta’s shoulder to the open doorway across the entry. The party within, only for their small inner circle. “Please don’t upset Feyre. It’s her birthday, first of all. And in her state--”

“Oh, fuck you,” Nesta snapped, and then choked.

Nesta was actually trying to get better at this point. She even risked going to a party despite not feeling welcomed just because Cassian told her it might be good for her to be surrounded by her family and for her not be alone on the holiday. You could even tell how by the way Nesta is keeping herself away she is still uncomfortable but the thing is she still showed up which is a sure sign she is improving.

I don’t know why Elain started talking about the year before or about upsetting Feyre--literally wanted to slap the bitch in this scene. Like I just want to know why Elain pressed so hard. Then afterwards she waved it off as if she hadn’t just said what she said and acted normally. I can not tell you how mad I was at this--like especially for a sensitive character like Nesta who is ALWAYS In her thoughts and always takes things to a deep level. Like what Elain said could’ve just broken a vital part of Nesta and caused her to relapse.

Anyways, I think Elain’s behavior in ACOSF could hint at the Evil Elain theory. Although I don’t think it’s going to come in the next book--it might build in the next book but at most I think Elain’s story will come to fruition in ACOTAR 7 or 8 and isn’t going to be about her journey or soul searching but maybe we’ll be getting the point of view of a villain. Like there were many mysterious hints dropped in ACOSF and the way I interpreted them is that Elain is planning something and if her behavior matches her actions, it’s something that could possibly affect her sisters.

Plus, you have to wonder how Brialynn and Koschei knew everything. They knew all the IC’s moves and all of Nesta’s moves...but how? A lot of the time when Nesta was given a mission by Rhys it was in the River House and we also know that Elain has been getting better at sneaking around without being detected so it’s not too farfetched that Elain could be the spy. You don’t have to agree with me but I think it’s a pretty solid theory as far as they go.

But do tell me your thoughts I would love to hear them. I’m sorry if I offended anyone in the end but we all have to just respect everyone’s opinion so no fights or slander, especially in my comment section.

#eris vanserra #azriel #elain archeron #gwynriel #gwyneth berdara #nesta archeron #evil elain #cassian #a court of silver flames #a court of thorns and roses #acosf spoilers #acosf #acotar6

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ellanainthetardis · 2 years ago

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A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas My rating: 5 of 5 stars Hold me while I cry. HOW is it that sometimes you struggle on a 300pages book but somehow SJM's 800 pages behemoths always go too quickly? Remember when I said ACOTAR was my least favorite series of hers? Well, I've got news for you XD No, but seriously this one was my favorite in the series. Obviously, it helps that we switched to a third person pov that allows for multiple povs (because let's face it ACOMAF and a ACORAW suffered from Hunger Games syndrome at some points, being stuck to Feyre's pov) and it also more than helps that this book features my two favorite characters as main. The best part though? This book was EVERYTHING I wanted for Cassian and Nesta. The character development? Beautiful. The way SJM writes trauma? Perfect. The romance? Swoon worthy. So sure, the main plot in this book isn't socks rocking (and by that I mean the plot of the grander scheme of things) but I think this books clearly lays down foundations for what will come after that. More than anything else, this book is a journey of healing and I'm so down for it. ALSO the sisterhood. You know how my favorite thing in TOG was the Thirteen and how I just loved Danika and Brice in CC... Well... THE VALKYRIES. Enough said. I just love the friendship, the sisterhood, the found family trope... I love Emery and I love Gwyn and I can't wait to see them again in future books. This book honestly went too fast for me. I didn't see the pages go and now I'm upset because as soon as I read HOSAB I will be caught up with all SJM series and WHAT WILL I DO WITH MY LIFE???? (write or read nesta and cassian fanfictions most likely) View all my reviews

#i read stuff #this was SO GOOD #i need all the fanarts now

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elainsshadows · 3 years ago

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I have a theory about Elain’s powers and how she can see the future, find things in the present, and possibly see past events.

In ACOWAR Feyre went to Elain to see if she could find the Suriel since she needed to ask it questions. She was able to find it with her abilities. And that got me thinking more about her powers. There is no telling what she can do just like with Nesta and her abilities.

I think that it would be cool if she could glance into the past. I think that this could help the IC figure out more about Koschei. Imagine if Elain could peer into the past to learn more about him. It would give them an advantage they need in order to defeat him, and possibly how to break the curse on Vassa and all the other women he has imprisoned. If they can understand how he did it then they may be able to break the curse.

Some people that can see into the past from popular media are as follows:

Phoebe Halliwell (Charmed TV series)

Alex and Cameron (Twitches Movie)

Believix Fairies (Winx Club)

Cisco Ramon/Vibe (The Flash)

Eye of Agamotto (Marvel, not a person but it can help whoever is wielding it see into the past)

I know in Charmed Phoebe original could just see things before they happened. I have not reached the part where she can see into the past, but I know she can due to her wikia page. I think it would be interesting for Elain to be like Phoebe in the sense that as she grows into her powers, her powers start manifesting differently as well.

Most people when they think of a seer they think of being able to predict the future (or at least that's how I always viewed it). I think Elain will stumble upon this knowledge by accident. Maybe she's alone and trying to master her powers, maybe she working with someone (one of the twins, Az, her sisters, the list could go on). Maybe Amren or Rhys knew a seer back in the day and can learn to help her that way. Or here's a thought: Helion. He has all those libraries so maybe she could go to the Day Court and start her own research. (I just really want to see different courts and I think if we go on the plot line that Elain could possibly be trained as a spy this works really well because it could also become part of her training).

Whether she researches it or she figures it out on her own there are several ways this could go:

Accidental

One way is Elain could be around people and maybe touch an object or a person and see something from the past. Maybe she touches Rhys and we see him and his sister. Maybe she's with the Valkyries and it triggers something that shows her the Valkyries of the past.

On Purpose

If she does go looking for answers or if someone in the IC knew a seer they can tell her what they know of a seer's abilities and she she tries to recreate them whether in a controlled environment or on her own. But she's the one that trying to test out her abilities and that's when she discovers that it's not just the future she can peer into but the past as well.

Teacher

This would involve meeting a whole new character. Someone that is a seer and can help Elain navigate her abilities. Tbh I think this one is less likely, but you never know what could happen. Plus I think it would be nice if Elain had someone that understood what being a seer was like and could help her grow until she knows how to master her abilities a bit more.

But if Elain is able to peer into the past this would give us more information on Koschei. Right now he's one big question mark, we don't know much about him. And I would really like to catch glimpses into the past. I think that it might gives us more insight to the characters we already know and help us understand the villain of this set of books.

There's so much about Elain and her powers that we don't know and I can't wait to explore them in her novel. I also think it would be a wasted opportunity not to have Elain's powers evolve in this way and has great potential to set up future story lines and possibly even spinoffs if Sarah wanted to do that (I can think of a few characters I wouldn't mind seeing a book for). But this is just my thoughts, feel free to add yours or expand upon this, I'd love to discuss your theories with you all!

#Elain Archeron #ACOTAR Theories

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anthonyed · 5 years ago

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you know that term; life flashes before your eyes when you die/ on the brink of death? what if, it’s not your life but your soulmate’s life?

like when tony carried the nuclear missile through the wormhole with the staticky connection of call to pepper grating in his ears, he closes his eyes to a battleship bigger that life and he sees steve’s life flashing in front of him

he sees a five year old deck his jaw in 1925 and his nose doesn’t stop bleeding in some mouldy back alley. he sees bucky hauling him up to his feet from behind the church and he sees his mother – steve’s mother – cough blood one last time and stops breathing at once

he sees his own father in flesh, kissing one blonde and one brunette with a hovering car on stage and he feels the ache in his chest when he couldn’t fit his – steve’s – head into that faceless army man in a glass framed poster with a bunch of other army men

he feels the physical pain that comes with vita ray blasting at his face, chest and everywhere and oh, god, when bucky falls off that train he feels like someone has just ripped his limbs off of him

he feels the ice on his face, the way the shards come together and poke and freeze his lungs and heart and for a brief moment, he cannot differentiate whether it’s steve who cannot breathe or it’s tony; himself

he feels the sharp pang in his chest when the lights go completely off and when he opens his eyes, there’s steve in real life and hulk and thor and – “what the hell? what just happened?”

and the thing is, there are no studies out there done on people who’d just licked death and survived. even if there were, no one in their right mind came up to say “urm.. I think I saw like flashes of someone else’s/my so’s/ my friend’s life.” because even if they did, what could they have thought about it?

so tony spends months trying to figure it out; because sure he knows rogers. sure rogers’s voice was the last thing he heard before he passed out – or died, whatever. but that doesn’t warrant him too deep insights into steve rogers’ life. not to the extent of experiencing it from the rogers’ himself’s point of view

he’s stumped for once in his entire 42 years of life

he got JARVIS running through all researches on death and afterlife and one night while he’s signing off the confirmation to rebuild the entire penthouse, JARVIS pings him an interview done by some unknown nepalese journalist that translates into ‘kamar taj and magic’

he zeroes in on the paragraph JARVIS helpfully highlighted for him and he sees the word ‘soulmate’ and his first reaction is to laugh

two weeks later, he is terrified

three months after, he decides to brush it off because what would rogers want with a selfish man after all – if he was into man at all

then he hears that SHIELD became a dust and he arranges a plan for the tower to house the rest

and steve’s in the hospital, wires hooked to chest, to his arms and legs and they’re transfusing fluids - blood, plasma, hartmann - into him, they’re running lab tests and there’s a defibrillator on standby next to his bed

they use it on him at exactly 0045 on sunday the 13th when his heart stops for the very first time since he 1918

he’s in daze when the light flashes in front of him. his big hands are small.. so much smaller that they’re of a child’s

he’s dressed in a mini tuxedo with shoes costing more than his monthly rent. he got his heart thudding wildly in his chest like he’s entering a battlefield and when a huge fist connects to his cheek he feels the wind wiped out of him entirely

he’s with a whirring motor powered toy – some kind of technology, a robot of sort – when he sees howard – wrinkled but oh, too familiar he wants to ache but this isn’t his memory. this is someone else’s and they only have fear in their chest upon seeing howard approach them

the broken part of that robot is kicked to the corner, opened door blocking half of its death when he smells whiskey beneath his nose; “this will put hair on your chest, boy” and steve wants to crash the valkyrie straight into howard’s face

he doesn’t have to wait till afghanistan to know it was tony stark’s life being played in his head. But when it happens, nonetheless –

when it happens, steve wonders how is that man still alive even after all that

he feels the suction in his lungs as he sees a spaceship blast into pieces

he feels the pain of death and coming back alive and it feels so real that when he finally wakes up, he wonders whether it was his own or if it was stark’s instead

the difference with steve though, he’d grown up on folklores his mother lulled him to sleep and he absolutely believed it was some soulmate shit

but he’s too scared to say anything; what would stark want to do with a lab experiment? when stark already has ms potts’ hand in his?

so they spend the rest of their life pining but never telling; holding intimate details of one’s life in the other’s palm and ultron happens and steve breaks tony’s heart in siberia with heavy regret

then thanos wipes half of the universe out and tony rams his words into steve’s face like a gauntlet donned knuckles and they trip and part

tony gets a life; his second chance. steve tries to be happy for him but fuck, it’s too hard to even pretend

then tony with his brave, brave heart once again comes across death. only this time, he greets it like an old friend

and once again, steve’s life flashes before his eyes

1925 – sarah rogers – bucky – ice; and there are more this time

there’s tony

tony’s smile

tony’s laugh

tony’s harsh words like bullets flying, and steve’s own shattered heart

there’s pain, pain and love

So much love that tony almost feels suffocated by it

so much lo- oh! and there is steve.

oh.

but he can’t breathe. he-

he can’t –

#stevetony #stony #soulmate au #i've clearly got my head spinning with soulmate stuffs for this pair #canon #absolute canon shit #can we put tony's face here in the end of the ae battle and he's looking straight at steve cause oh!#heh #fic

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yazthebookish · 4 years ago

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One of the most important plotline for Azriel's book has been set up in ACOSF

It's to do with the Illyrians.

• His mother is still alive.

• His two half-brothers are still alive.

The following reasons is why I'm pretty sure Elain will have no role to play here and because I will highlight on the Valkyries and Gwyn's role later on:

She has no affiliation with the Illyrians, she will likely find them too brutal and barbaric, she has no reason to help Azriel change his perspective of his people when she knows nothing or has no connection to them, she won't suddenly have a new perspective in one book and push him to view his people differently when she doesn't even know how he feels about them or why he feels that way about them especially if it came from a person that has no knowledge about them. Even if they were on a mission to retrieve the 4th item or were in a mission to go under Ramiel I doubt it will happen: 1) it's hard to believe Az would bring Elain to the Illyrians he despises willingly. 2) even if they went there, still, what role Elain would play that would help resolve the Illyrian issue? Nothing.

Who will play a role in helping Azriel view his people in a different light will be mentioned down below but we need to highlight a few things first.

Azriel hates the Illyrians. He despises them. He wouldn't mind if Ramiel collapsed on their camps. I think his hatred of them roots back to his family especially with how his mother was treated.

“The Illyrians are pieces of shit,” he said too quietly. -- “They train and train as warriors, and yet when they don’t come home, their families make us into villains for sending them to war?” (ACOFAS)

“They’re hypocrites.” “And what would you have me do, then? Disband the largest army in Prythian?” -- “I am not going to disband the Illyrians. There is nowhere for them to go, anyway. And if we try to drag them out of those mountains, they might launch the very assault we’re trying to defuse.” (ACOFAS)

“What, we’re doing some role reversal? Az gets to lead the Illyrians now?” “Don’t play stupid,” Rhys said coolly. Cassian rolled his eyes. But they both knew Azriel would sooner disband and destroy Illyria than help it. Convincing their brother that the Illyrians were a people worth saving was still a battle amongst the three of them. (ACOSF)

We expected that in Cassian's book, the Illyrians will be one of the important plotlines but it actually wasn't the Illyrians, it was the Valkyries. Sarah apparently changed the plan from having Nesta train in Illyria to adding the Valkyries into the mix. If the Illyrian plotline was not present in Cassian's book, whose book will likely feature it and which ACOSF set up for it? It has to be another Illyrian. It's definitely Azriel.

In one of my previous posts about Gwyn as an MC, I mentioned that she would contribute to this plotline because of her quotes and the fact that she is a Valkyrie. I think I would like to clarify that in this post because I do think Gwyn and the Valkyries will play a role and this will include Nesta and Cassian because Sarah said Nesta will stay have a role to play on the future books. Since that was a purely Gwyn post, I did not elaborate on the Valkyries. So, let me share some quotes from ACOSF here:

“Are there truly no female fighting units amongst the Illyrians?” She hadn’t seen any during the war. His smile faded. “We tried once and it failed spectacularly. So, no. There aren’t.” “Because Illyrians are backward and horrible.” He winced. “Have you been talking to Az?” “Just my observations.” He untied his hair, the thick, straight locks falling around his face. “The Illyrians … I told you. Progress is slow. It’s an ongoing goal of ours—me and Rhys, I mean.” “It’s that hard for the females to become warriors?” (ACOSF) < so what is the issue here? There are no female fighting units among the Illyrians. The Valkyries established themselves as a female fighting unit thus them having a role in breaking this rule and helping and encouraging the Illyrian females. This is still an unresolved issue.

“But we wanted Devlon—and whoever he tells—to understand that you’re as talented as any Illyrian unit. This was the only way they’d get it. Being a Valkyrie means nothing to them, and you certainly don’t need their approval, but …” He glanced to Emerie again. “I wanted them to know. What you’ve accomplished. That even though Valkyries don’t have something akin to the Blood Rite, you’re as trained as any warrior in Illyria.”

Fear bloomed, so vast and broad he could barely breathe. It was a message—to the females for thinking themselves warriors, and to him for teaching them, for defying the Illyrians’ archaic hierarchies and rules.

“I want to take the road that no one dares travel, and I want to travel it with you two. No matter what may befall us. Not as Illyrians, not for their titles, but as something new. To prove to them, to everyone, that something new and different might triumph over their rules and restrictions.”

“So we climb Ramiel. We take the Breaking. We win to prove to everyone that something new can be as powerful and unbreakable as the old rules. That something no one has ever seen before, not entirely Valkyrie nor entirely Illyrian, can win the Blood Rite.”

Gwyn laughed hoarsely. “The Illyrians are going to be furious about our winning, you know. Especially because I have no intention of being called Carynthian. I’m content with being a Valkyrie.” “Oh, they’ll be in hysterics for decades,” Emerie agreed, grinning.

I think these quotes establish that:

1. Azriel's hatred towards his own people is an issue that needs resolution in his book and that means redeeming the Illyrians in his eyes.

2. The Valkyries will be targeted by the Illyrians being the new all-female fighting units in the Night Court. That means more Illyrian females will be encouraged to join and that will piss off many Illyrian males. Not only that, but they also broke the rules of the Blood Rite by using weapons. I will explain how each of the three Valkyries might play a role in this though I know they will collectively contribute to this change with the support of Cassian and Azriel (I am still talking about this being a plotline for Azriel's book)

• Nesta: Nesta will be the support to both Emerie and Gwyn and will encourage the females to join and become Valkyries. She is the one that suggested to Cassian to train the priestesses so her role is important because she started this movement. This change is also one of Cassian's goals and they both share it.

• Emerie: being an Illyrian herself, the first Illyrian female Carynthian, I think it's possible to witness her become the leader of the fighting unit or even in the future become the general of the Illyrian army if the change they pursue for Illyria comes to fruition. She as a Carynthian and a true warrior will have great influence on the Illyrian females, she will persuade the females to join and to push against their rules knowing how chained they are to the same rules, the same traditions she had suffered from. I think she will likely bring an end to female wing clipping and the restriction on females training and joining the army. Because if the males failed, then a female will do the job since she knows hands-on what it is to be a female living among a hateful tribe. I'm sure we will see more of the impact of this change if Emerie gets a book which I think she will share with Mor if they become a thing.

• Gwyn: Gwyn's role, if she is confirmed to be Azriel's love interest, will be crucial to Azriel himself. She is the love interest of an Illyrian blinded by his hatred towards his people after all. Neither Rhys or Cassian succeeded in changing Azriel's perspective on the Illyrians however, I do believe that pushing for that change will help Azriel in realizing that his people are worth saving and Gwyn will help open his eyes and realize that there is hope for his people, there is a bright future for the Illyrians especially since he is involved with the Valkyries and they will play a role and bringing the change and starting a movement within Illyria despite their rules and traditions. If Gwyn is indeed Azriel's love interest, she will play a significant role in this being the first non-Illyrian female Carynthian in history. She will contribute to the change and may persuade Az to embrace this change and help the Valkyries push for it to help the Illyrian females. Before someone says I am reducing Gwyn's role as his love interest only and her actions are tied to him, if it's a Gwynriel book then we will have Gwyn's POV and usually the love interest is the supporting MC to the main MC (Feyre/Rhys + Nesta/Cassian) but she will have her own goal and healing journey to achieve, this is the part I speak about how she will help Az see his people in a different light because if Rhys and Cassian failed to convince him, who will except for someone who will understand him on a deeper level and understand the root of this hatred without judgement?

3. Azriel's actions are often impacted by some moments that trigger his memories of the past and how his father treated his mother. Azriel's past is also tied to the Illyrians and his family. His mother is still alive and his brothers are still alive which I think we are likely to meet them in his book. We will revisit Azriel's childhood home and this is where we will be exposed to the root cause of his hatred towards his people and that should be acknowledged. It's not a coincidence his mother was mentioned in ACOSF.

4. Balthazar could be the Valkyries' new friend and also befriend Azriel. You can't tell me SJM introduced him and threw him there just like that. Yes, I do believe Azriel needs another Illyrian male to befriend out of the IC so to get a fresh perspective on his people and to realize that not all of them are bad. I support Azriel getting to know to new friends

5. No, I do not think his book will focus on solely Valkyrie training again like it did in ACOSF. The conflict will be between Illyrians vs Valkyries and this whole issue. The Valkyries did win the Blood Rite, but the Illyrian issue is not resolved, I think Valkyries winning the Blood Rite will ignite it.

• I wanted to add another point that Mor will be joining the Valkyries training and may likely play a secondary part in this issue. This also might set up the closure scene between Azriel and Mor because will be within his periphery. Mor's presence also ties her to her potential romantic plotline with Emerie who may end up as a couple.

This is one of the possible plotlines that I think will be included in his book and it's based on what was foreshadowed and mentioned in ACOSF.

It ties many things together (Azriel's hatred towards his people, pushing for change in Illyria, facing his past that is tied to his healing journey, Valkyries expanding means another army unit for the upcoming war, witnessing the Valkyries growth).

I do think Koschei and the human Queens and the whole dread trove will still play a role in his book, I am not dismissing it. But, it's only logical for Koschei to be defeated in the final book and not in Book 5. Azriel and co may find something that will help in their search for the fourth trove and defeating Koschei.

It seems to me all of that will be dealt with in Azriel's book and it will include Cassian and the Valkyries.

#acosf #acosf spoilers #gwynriel #azriel #gwyneth berdara

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acourtofthought · 1 year ago

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I love your blog. I'm a huge fan of Elucien and I look forward to their story, although, I admit I do not think their book is next. Selfishly, I'd love both books back to back, but I know Sarah does not write as quickly as she once did, now that she has a growing family. I sure miss the TOG/early ACOTAR days. YES, Elucien are in in the book and SJM plots major seeds of their future in ACOSF, but in terms of the plot in "present" terms, Azriel, Nessian and the Valkyrie make most sense in the chain of events. Sarah said Nesta's story is not over and it make most sense now that we know she will have some involvement in CC3, the 8 point star was always a huge clue, and because she has a budding friendship with Az, and Az may be Gwyn's mate, her story would continue in a Gwynriel book, not an Elucien book. It just seems SJM main focus right now is the crossover and the characters most likely involved. Of course, we have yet to read the book and Elucien could be involved, not sure how, SF made it obvious they'd go to spring court and travel, but we never know. I'd be ecstatic if we got some elucien clues.

SJM is managing a lot of characters' a lot of plots, it not unheard off to put some initial favorites and plots "on hold" when new ideas come to mind.

I think some people are not ready to admit SJM is favoring other characters and plot lines more right now, it does not mean she does not love Elucien, I'd be so sad if she didn't do them justice, and if I'm being honest with myself, I rather she write their story when she is inspired and focused on THEM vs this crossover! Gwynriel make sense in the crossover, she set up the leg work for them to be involved, so I can envision it. Whereas Elucien, I just can't right now. I get what you're saying about how would Elucien be set up in a Gwynriel book, well, that is kinda why I think the rumors of a novella could be true, one to set up a tandem. But if not, I can still see Gwynriels book next, a Novella of some sort, then Elucien, but she is signed up for more books, so things could change.

But just given her recent interviews its night and day how she talks about Az. All she said about Elain recently was we'd see some form of her, and she did not sound excited at all, I think she was annoyed and not personal about Elain, but still, the interviews promoting ACOSF, before and after, she was overjoyed talking about Az. She specified his crumbs. If it was Elain and Lucien, I'd imagine she'd start to tease and hype readers, not keep it so secretive while talking about someone else, it makes no sense. When has an author ever kept the next main characters from conversation and major present plot lines?

He just seems to be a character she's grown attached to recently, maybe because she was able to write him into some of these CC3 plot lines, because you are right, before he did not have any major plots outside loving Mor in the triology! He seems to be the perfect candiante to work into the crossover and maybe that is when expanding his character and wanting to tell his story grew! She's done it before, she originally only planned for Chaol to have a short novella but she was so excited to tell his story it became a novel, he met the love of his life and I think it is some of her best work, even though it delayed KOA. I kinda look at Elucien as KOA.

With all that, if we do get an Elucien book next I would be happy! Like I said I love Elucien, Elucien was my first fave ship aside from Feysand, so I've been looking forward to their story for a very long time, so it is a win win for me no matter what, but if you held a gun to my head and asked me who's book I think is next, it is Gwynriel just given recent interviews since 2021 and the books right now.

I think you're in good company and that's what a lot of Elucien's / Gwynriels also feel so there's a good chance I'm the one viewing this all wrong. I won't bore you with all the ways I see it differently because I know I've done that with a lot of my recent posts. And I do see where the Gwynriel as ACOTAR 5 arguments come from, I'm not going to sit here and pretend they aren't completely valid. Really, it's a me issue. When something doesn't add up in my mind, I become very fixated on it, trying to twist it and view it from every which way until it all makes sense to me. And when I take at all the info, past interviews and plotlines, and add into it what we know of Elain as sort of this "mystery" as well as the only female to have a bond immediately snap, Elucien next and Gwynriel setting up the next round of ACOTAR books related to the crossover is how my puzzle pieces finally come together. But, the way my brain works is not any more valid than the way someone else's brain works (it's just different). And there's a good chance that SJM's thought process is more in line with what the masses are thinking and I'll end up the odd one out. I'm ok with that though. I want to put out my ideas just in case but if I'm wrong, it's no big thing and I'll be happy for everyone who ended up predicting it correctly.

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ticklikeabomb · 7 years ago

Text

The Marvel Parody - Chapter 6

Pairing (in the futur) : Chris Evans x Plus Size!Reader

Warnings : Language ; spelling mistakes

Word Count : 970

Author’s Word : Don’t know why, just feel that this chapter is not that good comparing to the others. Hope you like it anyway :)

Name Changes : Wong = Who ; Carol Danvers (mentioned)

Prelude Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

After Anus defeated half of the characters on stage with a pretty cool fighting choreography and visuel effects, the two standing were you and Tonya. You were trying to ‘recover’ from the fake punch and in the meantime she was confronting Stark.

« Why are you doing this ? », asked Tonya

« You have no idea what is like to grow up with a name such as Anus. Do you know how much bullying I suffered? You don’t and now is my time to take revenge and end all of this. You can’t understand. »

« Bitch, I’m a Black woman. My people have been suffering for more than 400 years, so don’t tell me you had it bad just because you have a stupid ass name, literally! », exclaimed Kelly (Tonya). From your point of view you could see people clapping for this statement.

« It’s too late to go back now. The motion has been set. I just need the Time Stone and the Mind Stone currently on Earth. You fought well, I hope they remember you once I’m done. »

Anus fake stabbed Tonya … « No!! Don’t kill her. I’ll give you the Stone », you said weakly. The Mad Titan came up to you, took you eye necklace and opened it. You started giggling ‘weakly’. « You really thought I would just hand it to you?! »

« Where is it? », shouted Anus

« I have no idea », you mocked with wide eyes.

« Who has it? »

« Yes exactly Who has it. »

« That’s what I just asked? »

« And I said ‘who’ has it? »

« Are you mocking me? »

« If I was, I would have start with your name which is not helping considering the fact that it’s the reason why you hate everyone and I’m not well placed to joke about names », you said.

« I’m gonna ask you one more time. WHO HAS THE STONE? » yelled Anus.

« I already said that WHO HAS IT!! » you shouted back with gritted teeth.

« You know what it doesn’t matter who has that stone, I will get it. »

« Ok now I don’t know if who has the stone anymore. I’m getting confused. »

Anus left you on the ground and turned to the audience : « I see you shiver with Antici…pation »

« How dare you quote the best movie in history?!!! If you think it’s gonna make us feel for you, you’re wrong. » you said bitterly.

Anus just laughed and disappeared.

Quill, Mantis and Parker came back to them and joined us.

« What happened? », asked Quill

« She’s gone », answered Stark

« Now what? » - Parker

« We wait », said Mantis

On screen we could see the ones on Earth disintegrate in glitter. Two minutes into lecturing how Quill fucked it up, Mantis declared that something was happening. It was then her turn and Quill’s to vanish. The effect was possible by angling the lighting as a certain way that would create that sort of disappearance.

« Why did you save me? », asked Stark

You released a breath you didn’t know you were holding and turned to her : « Remember when I said that we got ’99 problems and that bitch was one’ ». « Yes. » « Well the remaining problem was our victory. Or was it the Anus problem and the 99 others were the solution? », you wondered. « Sorry, I have no idea what I’m talking about. Forget it », you ended. And it was your turn to ‘vanish’.

‘Finally over’ you thought to yourself.

Parker was the last to go and Tonya turned to the audience and took her phone.

« Carol Danvers? Get you ass from the Past. We need you in the Future, cause the Present sucks », Stark exclaimed.

The lights went out and the audience began to clap.

On the screen appeared the credits of the parody. At the end, the phrase « The Remaining Avengers will return » appeared such as a countdown. In that 2 minutes time, we were backstage putting on our final costume to salute the public. You decided that it would be cool to dress as the characters that didn’t appeared in the Infinity War movie instead of the original 6. So you were dressed as Hawkeye, Sarah as Ant-man, July as the Wasp, Emily as Valkyrie, Jen as Captain Marvel and Kelly as Nakia.

The Marvel song started and each one of you went out there to greet and give a bow. Gazelle came around and began to introduce us.

« Give it up for our heroes : Kelly in the role of Tonya Stark and Natasha Romanoff ; Jen in the role of Okoye and Petra Parker ; Emily in the role of T’Chicka and Mantis ; July in the role of Brune Banner, Drax and Anus ; Sarah in the role of Stephanie Rogers and Petra Quill and finally the girl responsable for this parody, Y/N in the role of Becky Barnes, Loki and Dr. Staphanie Weird. »

Oh God, you couldn’t believe that G said that. You stepped a little in order to give a bow but shook you head and indicated to your team in order to say ‘no it’s thanks to them’. You went back to your place. The audience was standing. You couldn’t believe it, the whole cast was doing a standing ovation. You were starting to get emotional not only because you just had the privilege to perform in front of such amazing artists but also because of all the pressure that was slowly leaving your body. You were doing your best to hold your tears back, because there’s no way you would cry in front of them.

As show post credit scene, Sarah dressed as Deadpool appeared on the screen. « You still here? It’s okay, we close at 4am so you can keep going on drinking, dancing, chitt-chatting. » As she was about to leave « Oh and be nice, don’t forget to tip the waitresses. Actually be nice in general. »

... « chicka chicka »

*gifs not mine, credit to the owners*

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thevalkyriesonline · 6 years ago

Text

Nine Worlds; One Valkyries Trip To London’s Inclusive Fan Convention

Conventions appeal to different fans for different reasons, whether it be comic con, a game expo, YouTube/Blogger convention or whatever the medium but one common factor in all of these conventions is the possibility to meet other like-minded fans! As well as hopefully getting the chance to meet your idols!

There is a Con though that really thrives on fans, it is called Nine Worlds (London’s Inclusive Fan Culture Convention). A Con with a difference – the difference being it is made by fans for fans to meet other fans and just enjoy and celebrate their fandom in all it’s crazy geekiness.

It has been going since 2013 when it was first set up but I only heard about it last summer (2017) when I discovered that one talk held there was titled “It’s research! Or Why it is ok to play over 100 hours of Dragon Age when you really should be writing.” This, as a huge Dragon Age fan since discovering Inquisition, spoke to me on a level that none of my immediate friends understood or appreciated. Unfortunately I was unable to attend Nine Worlds in 2017, but the fact that there was a time and place to have such a discussion on such a unique fan-based topic inspired me to endeavor to attend in 2018. So as soon as the Early Bird Tickets became available I put my money where my heart wanted me to and I began to plan and save for a big solo adventure to London for Nine Worlds 2018.

I also made another bold and brave and foolish decision to sign up as a Content Provider for Nine Worlds 2018!

Why? – because why not? I have been a mega reader, hoarder and fan of all fiction featuring, adapting or retelling Norse Mythology for years and Nine Worlds provided me with the ideal and probably only platform where I could take the chance to share my enthusiasm and passion for the genre of Norse Fantasy. The Nine Worlds Team accepted my proposal, so, on top of saving for the hotel room on-site and booking train travel I also had to plan a lecture/talk – I was both really nervous and really excited! The months, weeks and days soon dwindled down to departure day and then I was off down to London for what I hoped would be a fun and busy weekend.

Now on to the fun bit – the various sessions and events and panel discussions! These were the ones I attended but over 50 were held each day of the convention so this is just a small sample of what fandom and genres were covered.

Session One – LARP (Live Action Role Play). Speakers; Penny Jackson, Adam Dinwoodie, Mx RA Madgwick and Haplocke Spence

As I am attending my first ever LARP event, set in the world of Dragon Age in November this was a must for me! The panel was made up of experienced and new-ish LARP players and they gave a great insight into how LARP’ing works, the various types and systems involved, clothing and equipment, rules for both play and player protection and more.

Session Two – The Only Toilet in Thedas. Speakers; Sarah Gordon, Phil Dyson, Angela Cleland

Now who couldn’t resist that title? Especially when you are a Dragon age fan. This panel discussion was the most interesting because it covered not just the world of games but also of books, TV and Film. It made me realize how much in Fantasy the practical matters of hygiene from toilets to sewers to bathing are just not address yet in Sci-Fi it’s more visible. The panel discussed whether it was a taboo or simply a matter of too much detail on a very personal and private matter – for instance do you want to know how long the hero, heroine, villain or indeed any character takes on the toilet? If they wash their hands or not? – but then again social, religious and cultural practices exist even within the bathroom and so perhaps it should be represented more?

Session Three – Know Thy Enemy. Speakers; Adrian Tchaikovsky, Jeanette Ng, Ms Anna Stephens

This was a panel debate all about the nature and representation of Villains. I found it fascinating to discuss Villains and their nature, one panel member made the very good point on how it is wrong to see the Villain as the champion of Chaos and the Hero of Order for it is in fact the other way around. In many scenarios across all mediums it is the Villain that has established some type of order whether through politics, society, culturally or religious or just geographically or financially but it is the Hero who emerges to disrupt that form of order and thus bring about chaos. This made me instantly think of Katniss in the Hunger Games, she is rebelling against the ruling society and its cultural practice of the Games and thus brings war to the capital city and thus chaos. Another issue discussed was whether the viewer/reader must be sympathetic towards Villains. The panel debated hard on this topic and in the end agreed that sympathy isn’t necessary for a Villain to be a true villain or a good villain but what is necessary is that the viewer/reader gets a sense of the Villain’s journey to their villainy – they must see where, how and why the character has become the Villain, whether for good or bad, and so enjoy the Villain’s redemption or come-uppance by the hero.

Session Four – D&D (Dungeons and Dragons) for Young People. Speaker; Elizabeth Prais

In my day job as a college Librarian I had recently learned of a lunch-time Dungeons and Dragons group being set up by a teacher after some students expressed an interest. So, I was eager to learn more tips and tricks to either host such a group in the Library or pass on to my colleague. The lady who hosted this session hailed from America and was very open about how she ran her local residential D&D group for her daughter and some local children. She gave some great recommendations and advice on timing, kit, planning, preparation and how to adjust and adapt the large and complex set of rules for a younger more impatient audience.

Session Five – Philosophy and Mass Effect. Speaker; Michael Duxbury, Emily Marlow

Now this was the first session I wasn’t entirely clued up on as I myself am still stuck half way through playing Mass Effect 2 by Bioware so a lot of the moral/ethical dilemmas they talked about I hadn’t actually experienced yet, or I couldn’t remember what I chose in the ones I was familiar with. Yet it was interesting and food for thought on how the scenarios were portrayed, and the fixed set of options provided resulted in the moral and ethics becoming such a personal dilemma for players. It wasn’t always a case of choosing the lesser of two evils but how the player and indeed the character depending on their Renegade to Hero balance would pick. Some panel members and indeed people in the audience felt that more choices would improve and increase the dilemma levels instead of just A or B. The panel also discussed how often, at least amongst themselves, they would pick based on the benefit or not long term, not the short term and play with a view of working towards achieving success or a goal.

Session Six – Beyond Marvel and DC – What comics you should be reading. Speakers; Angie Wenham, Stephen Lacey, Kate Barton, Ram V

The panel mentioned a great many titles, artists, apps and webcomics that they recommended as alternatives to Marvel/DC and then invited the audience to contribute. I recommended Nimona* by Noelle Stevenson and I Hate Fairy Land by Skottie Young.

* Interested in Nimona? Check out our review!

I Hate FairyLand

Nimona

Session Seven – Disney Sing-A-Long

This was the true highlight for me as an eternal child thanks to the magic of Disney. I wasn’t the only adult in the room, it was a very popular event and there were children of all ages and their parents and even a few Disney cosplayers too. We were all able to sing-a-long via screen projecting the words, or handouts or follow a link online. A whole range of songs was sung and Frozen ‘Let It Go’ proved to be a major popular one with a member of Con Staff leading a friendly stage invasion and then everyone proudly showed off all the right moves to the lyrics. I honestly was in tears with joy as some of the most powerful songs were sung by young and old alike.

The final event I will review was the FABULOUS MMORPG SHOW. Speaker; Misha Anker, Paul Flannery

Which was a blend of audience power and D&D – we basically had the Game Master who set up a story, invited some members of the audience to join him on stage and fill in character sheets but they had to be as unconventional as possible and then he would invite the audience to provide character names, objects, powers etc. to the story narrative and the players would roll a giant D20 (20-sided dice) to determine the outcome. This was a whole lot of fun and silliness and the story involved a Bee with a Human Leg, a Swarm of Wasps and a Wizard whose greatest spell was making Jam, they had to find the Cheese Board for the Duck of Doom! You had to be there to believe the story and it was amazingly resolved within the 1 hour and a half session.

Norse Fantasy, My own presentation!

Was scheduled bright and early on a Saturday morning the night after the first big disco (alas Becky did not go dancing due to a very painful wisdom tooth spoiling things) and yet the room quickly filled up much to my delight. Despite not having the colorful presentation I spent hours on, due to not having my own laptop to plug into the screen, I was still able to explain, explore and introduce so many of my favourite authors and titles to a new audience. Some of the audience also proved to be fellow fans of many of them and a good number took photographs of my favourite title list to go away with to look at later and thanked me for the session, which was an awesome feeling. I was even complimented on my choice of t-shirt for the session – my own Valkyrie t-shirt from Redbubble. It says, “Valkyrie of Odin – Midgard Original – Since 793”. If you are interested in my presentation, I am planning on doing a written version of it for the Valkyries Blog so stay tuned!

Last but not least was the fab mini Geek Market that was on all weekend and as it was also my birthday, I indulged myself in another t-shirt from Genki Gear, some D&D themed tea, tea strainer and mug, two new bookmarks, some funky acrylic necklaces featuring a book and a fox in a bin, some super cute little clay keyrings of Flynn Rider, Thor and Pizza and of course BOOKS! Each attendee got a surprise free book in their bag, but I got two based on libraries and books, The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman and Bookworm by Christopher Nuttall – expect a review on here once I have got around to enjoying them.

Now the managing team have recently stepped down to consult with attendees and invite new members, as they are reviewing their constitution to try and make it more inclusive and representative of those who attend. Although from what I witnessed their inclusive and equality practices were out of this world compared to other cons I’ve been too. I do hope the new organizers can continue what has already been established and continue to make improvements where they feel it is needed. I for one enjoyed it all – despite my wisdom tooth being a very literal pain throughout – for I definitely would attend again.

Did you attend Nine Worlds? What did you think? What was your favourite presentation?

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A Valkyrie at Nineworlds! @london_geekfest #nineworlds Nine Worlds; One Valkyries Trip To London's Inclusive Fan Convention Conventions appeal to different fans for different reasons, whether it be comic con, a game expo, YouTube/Blogger convention or whatever the medium but one common factor in all of these conventions is the possibility to meet other like-minded fans!

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alfonsomurph013-blog · 7 years ago

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nudes ftv - The Nuiances Of Monica Ftv

If you've read my stories before they are normally celebrating the poly and hotwife lifestyles of my wife, trusted fwbs and I. I figure that if we are clogging up the feed with pointless metas I'd contribute too. I'(M) married, she has a LT boyfriend and we ftv models pics babes photos both have fwbs. What's the topping of this pizza? SECRET KIND OF EASTER EGG FOR THOSE WHO OPEN THIS POST&. Last night started with me getting in late from work to find the kids had already gone to bed which always upsets me. My beautiful wife Haley (35) was showered and in her silken nightie and gown which always falls beautifully around her pale breasts, the deep blue of the silk playing beautifully off her long red hair. Patience gentle reader all will be revealed but first sex. It's early so I thought we might Netflix and Chill. She doesn't use Netflix and Chill as a phrase and the tired look made me wonder if it was a slip of the tongue. She was curled up in the L of our sofa with a tired smile on her face while flicking through Netflix. IT'S A GONEWILD STORY! Haley: The girls passed out on the sofa so I took them up. She replied with the same tired smile and stretched out her arm in a way that said "cuddle" so I cooled off the engines and went to bundle up with her. She curled into the crook of my arm and I started to chill and weigh up the film options when the shower turned on. I rarely miss saying goodnight to them but when I do its heart wrenching. The shower is always on in my house. Haley: Oh yeah I told someone they could take a shower here. I tested the waters by giving her my best horny smile. They'll wake the kids! The only two people who can reach it are cuddled on the sofa. Haley: Go see for yourself. It's fiendishly powerful and will go from glacier water to kettle heat if you choose so it's used to wash us, the kids, the dogs, paint covered clothing etc etc. The kids are at granny's. I gave a confused smile and headed up the stairs. Her proud tone of voice suggested that I'd particularly like who I was about to see. The naughty smile I always long to see in her returned. I was looking forward to drinking in the sight of her pert dark-nippled breasts and her neatly shaved swollen mound. I ordered Marcos for a treat. I decided I would play it cool and just chat ftv blonde hot girl while taking in the sight of her body and let the girls lead in what was clearly their plan. I was pleasantly surprised by who I did see. Beautiful and Valkyrie like in stature she has broad shoulders, full round breasts, a honed flat stomach and an apollos belt, hips, ass and legs that any female pro wrestler would love to have. I concluded that it must be Laura an ex-co-worker and fuck buddy with a curvy petite body and long dark hair that falls in ringlets around her shoulders. Shes been fascinated by our lifestyle which she says "she could never do" and has bombarded Haley with questions ever since either out of sheer curiosity or using Haley as her very own sex guru. If you have read my stories about Sarah she's this shy, blushing, stuttering girl who has been blushingly receiving kiss and tell details from Haley for some time (see my previous stories). It only hit me after a minute that the girls can't reach it and the dogs have no opposable thumbs. I stopped myself, smiled and resumed my original intention of starting up a conversation. Haley told me to come here. The hot massage head does this thing to your back where if you don't move around it pounds your back until it's numb! I love the homemade soap as well. (she scooped some of our homemade patchouli gel soap out of the pot and started to liberally soap up her gigantic tits) It smells amazing (she said breathlessly while blushing and unable to look me in the eye). I turned and looked at Haley and the tired smile was gone replaced by shining eyes full of energy and mischief. Standing I shower a good head and shoulders taller than the woman I expected was Haleys friend Sarah. Me: It's an amazing shower isn't it? Me: I haven't tried that yet. " I stripped in full view of Sarah before getting into night clothes. I was about to apologise and leave when it hit me. I got dressed and went downstairs with Haley. Knowing I was fully hard at this point I made a show of pulling down my boxers and allowing my cock to spring up fully erect and then looking Sarah straight in the eye. She exhaled sharply as I backed away and Haley appeared at my shoulder and said "let's leave Sarah to her shower". Sarah was sharing some fantasies with her and they got teasing each other with what-ifs. I pointed at my dressing gown and PJ bottoms on the heated towel rail and said "Sure but I need to get dressed first. She knew that she wanted to be discovered in the shower - check. She is also 99% sure that she wants to sleep in the same bed as us "and if Haley and I get up to anything in the middle of the night she would find it a huge turn on". Her natural blonde hair darkened as it clung wet to her body and her crotch was perfectly shaved to hairless leaving her labia poking out in a way that too many women are conscious of but it's an awesome sight. When downstairs Haley told me what she could. I could definately do that. Okay that would make sense. Haley said there were other things discussed with the usual dos and donts but she doesn't want to get my hopes up or bore me with the minutae. (I get within inches of her neck and breasts at which point I think she stopped breathing and took in a deep breath) Mmm you are right. She was still blushing and flustered (I found out later on that she used the shower head on herself). She positioned herself on the other side of Haley and they went through the film choices. After hearing about our good times her fantasy is to be at ground zero but not necessarily involved. A few hours later they had set up this surprise but Sarah was unsure of how far she wanted it to go. At one point Sarah undid two buttons of her shirt which made her breasts look about to fall out. I'll fast forward as we genuinely watched 2. We normally take the opportunity to sleep nude when the kids are away so I looked to Haley for what to do. The pizza arrived but we barely touched it. Every so often Haley would stroke me through my PJs and Sarah would look at the outline of my stiff cock. We cuddled up and after a mock goodnight in the style of the Waltons the lights were off. Haley jumped on the opportunity and complemented her breasts while "innocently" sliding her hand inside my clothes and gripping my cock in a slow wank. We enjoyed the warmth of being cuddled together (Haley REALLY enjoying being in the middle with ftv meet the those breasts pressed against her) for a few minutes but then things started to happen. Haley and I started running our hands all over each other while kissing and once I had started playing with her moans and gasps were heard. If you have any type of inquiries regarding where and the best ways to use hot girls f, you could call us at our ftc girls own web-page. Sarah meanwhile was playing possum on the other side of the bed with her heart pounding in her chest. "Stop" I said in a mock low voice "as much as I want to pump this load down your throat it's better that I save it up for later yes? Sarah came down in a traditional set of PJ''s trouser and shirt-like top but the buttons were straining against her large tits so that the middle ones gaped allowing a peep hole to her body underneath (this set was an old tight set she deliberately put on for this effect). A subtle shake of the head told me to stay clothed and so we went to bed with me on one side of Haley and Sarah on the other. With Sarah watching her hand moving under the fabric and me looking at Sarahs amazing tits heaving with every deep excited breath it was no surprise that we decided we were "tired" and went to bed. " I pulled Haleys clothes off ignoring a gasp from Sarah and pausing only briefly to kiss Haleys pert tits then I grabbed her ass and dove face first into her crotch. Her thighs and ass were soaked in her juices when she moaned "fuck me oh fuck me now" and a moan came from her right. "Yes" Haley gasped and I replied "where's that amazing cunt? After a while Haley roleplayed "I think Sarahs asleep get your clothes off" and I obeyed. She took me in her mouth and gave me the loudest, sloppiness blow job (she's normally a master at keeping it quiet) she stopped and said "fuck my mouth" and I noisily thrust between her slurping lips until I felt the first twitches. Sarah came hard and I was surprised. I lifted Haleys legs high and placed her ankles on my shoulders so I could get nice and deep then entered her with a moan. I growled "where do you want this cum" and Haley wailed "shoot it onto my cunt! We didn't need any build up and within seconds the bed was shifting like an earthquake and the air was filled with the sounds of my balls slapping her ass and my hips hitting her wet buttocks. She opened her legs wide and parted her pussy with her fingertips. With a bellow I shot all over her cunt, belly and chest. I kneeled up on the bed and hoped my cock was visible in the moonlight as I pumped my cock furiously while growling, moaning and saying Haleys name. I licked, sucked, slurped (I don't usually) and fingered her noisily until she wailed and bit her lip. Haley was blown away and laughed "you missed with some" and for show she wiped some off her chest and sucked it off her fingers. She then said "shall we get dressed" to which I replied "don't bother". It turns out my split focus distracted me from coming and Haley kept going but now she had arrived I felt the pressure telling me I was about to explode. As I savagely pounded my wife into wails of ecstasy I noticed the area near Sarahs crotch writhing as she played with herself with her eyes barely visible in our direction like cats eyes in the moonlight. I didn't talk but made all the right noises suggesting that I was loving what she was doing. I clenched my pelvic floor with each shot to make some shots go further in the hope Sarah would see it fly through the air. She explored it a little but then squeezed it and started stroking it. Haleys face was grinning in the moonlight at me so I started kissing her. I allowed myself to get caught up in the situation just in case Sarah got a case of nerves and before too long I trembled "I'm coming". Sarahs hand wrapped around the head of my cock to receive the cum and I let go a fair amount considering my previous display. The next act blew our minds as she withdrew her cum soaked hand and started vigorously jilling her brains out with it. I need to feel it hit my clit". I brought up coffee for all three of us before we had to get dressed for work. We thought that that was it all over but about 40 minutes later we heard a panting come from Sarah and she fidgeted and then with a suddenness which said [just do it or you never will] Sarahs hand reached across Haley and found my cock. Haley reacted almost immediately by slipping her own hand between her legs but I batted it out of the way and finger fucked her to orgasm while teasing her pink sensitive nipples with my mouth. We carried on kissing and giggling in the bed as a way to ignore the noises of Sarahs fingers pumping into her pussy but stopped short to listen to her breath trembling as she came. So at the time of writing this I'm eating the poor abandoned meat feast, deep pan pizza that was shunned the night before for breakfast while the girls jump into Haleys car with crazy grins on their faces. This morning Sarah was bashful and despite smiling couldn't look us in the eye. We were all naked and made no attempt to cover up. Haley and I looked at each other and pounced on Sarah sucking on her boobs and then tickling her. We made sure Sarah was okay and she bashful said that she was but she was surprised that we didn't play with her boobs or something. I had a certain amount of pride when each of us hit the shower and the smell of sex came rolling out of the bathroom.

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