#leo and chase i cannot hate either of you

[cursed-elements-blog]

Creatures in Heaven is a Chase and Leo song right? I can imagine it now, Leo's POV is the singer and Chase obviously the subject of the song and the speaker's affection.

ouuuoghhhh like "I don't think I realize just how much I missed you sometimes. We were young and so in love. We were just creatures in heaven" OUUUGHH!!! AAARRRGHHH!!! THAT'S THEM AFTER THE BREAKUP!!! ooough

their relationship is a new level of tragic to me cause they were best fucking friends. they grew up together, learned about the world together, made friends, learned about themselves with each other and then they fell in love and it fucking all fell apart and OUOUUGHH OOOOWWWW

[sunsetsandsunshine]

Oh wow 😧

I wasn’t expecting so many people to like the TMNT 2012 headcanons I did! Tysm for the support you guys 💕✨💗💞! Part two upon ye

~ TMNT 2012 Tickle Headcanons (pt.2) ~

This gif is so dumb I hate them sm /j

You cannot convince me that Raph’s melt spot isn’t his neck- me and @tickleebug were talking abt this and just,,, IT MAKES SM SENSE I CANT EXPLAIN IT

Tickling his neck just makes him super giggly and squirmy and just an absolute PUDDLE of laughter- it’s so adorable 

Mikey’s brother’s 100% give tickly kisses on his freckles- FIGHT ME.

And boy does he absolutely LOVE and HATE it-

I feel like Donnie would be a ruthless Ler

Not as mean as Leo or Raph but pretty close

He would just playfully mock his Lee and laugh while he tickles them 

“Are you really this ticklish???”

He’s the best at gentle tickles and it drives his other brothers absolutely INSANE

Like, I can just imagine Donnie gently scribbling his fingers against one of his brothers sides or something and the convo would be something like this:

“STAHAHAP!”

“Stop? Stop what~?” 

“YOHOU KNOHOW WHAHAT! 

“No I don’t~!”

Then proceeds to tickle ANOTHER tickle spot that absolutely CANNOT handle light tickles as his Lee just CRUMBLES

“What? Don’t tell me you can handle this either!” 

“I’m barley tickling you! This shouldn’t even be considered tickling!”

Do you see my vision???

He be completely devious- we need more Ler!Donnie y’all…

Mikey will 100% try and bargain with whomever he’s ticked off 

It never works but give the guy points for trying 

Leo uses wake up tickles for his younger siblings all the time 

Sometimes, the 3 will purposely stay in bed to get tickled awake 

Mikey loves tickle chases- literally his most favorite thing 

Raph won’t ever admit to being ticklish (his brothers already know well enough how ticklish he is) but if you sneak up behind him and squeeze his sides, he will jump through the roof

It’s a hilarious sight to see

Leo snort/hiccup laugh >>>>>>>>>

When Raph and Mona started dating, Leo, Donnie and Mikey gave her a full on HANDBOOK on how to completely wreck Raph

(Pt.1)

[https-lawrenceslittleone]

PJO Stoner/Weed Headcanons :3

A/N: This is literally just for fun. Nobody asked for this. Also this will contain cussing sorry. :(

Percy Jackson-

Tbh, I don’t think he does it very often, despite what a lot of people would think. It’s not his choice, though. If he could, his ass would be hitting a bong DAILY. But considering he’s like always on a quest or doing some important shit, he cannot. He smokes every chance he gets, though.

Annabeth Chase-

I don’t think she does it very often either, and when she does, it’s way less often than Percy. She’ll smoke a LITTLE bit if she just needs to relieve some anxiety, but that’s about it. She doesn’t like not feeling totally in control of her own body and brain.

Jason Grace-

This motherfucker took an edible by complete accident ONCE and afterwards announced that he’d rather kill himself than touch the shit again.

Piper McLean-

STONER!!! Makes edibles and also has the prettiest bongs ever. And lighters. She has a fucking Hello Kitty lighter and it’s so cute. She smokes regularly, often with Percy or Leo. One of her favorite activities is to get high and just snuggle.

Frank Zhang-

Okay. Controversial opinion. Sometimes. This man needs to calm the fuck down and this is something that helps him. He feels ashamed about it and he makes sure to limit himself; he does not smoke nearly as much as Piper, Percy, or Leo, but he does smoke a semi-regular amount. He owns one bong and that’s it.

Hazel Levesque-

Okay, another controversial opinion. Also sometimes. Does it whenever Frank does it. Mainly because he doesn’t like to feel alone. 💀 But also because it does help her calm down as well. It takes a while for her to warm up to it, though, and she doesn’t exactly go around telling people.

Leo Valdez-

ANOTHER STONER!!! This mf has SEVERE ADHD and DESPERATELY needs to calm his ass down. He does it to help with attention and hyperactivity problems. It also makes him much less anxious and he doesn’t hate himself as much. He smokes joints. He’s also the type of guy to blow smoke in your mouth and give you a smug little smirk.

[kisstheassassins]

A Kiss Away

Just an OC x Canon fic between my character Rosalina and Ezio. Self indulgent -3-

By now Rosalina has become accustomed to Ezio’s charms, including his sly advances and flirting. She tries to play it off and most of the time it works, making the man flustered in return, mostly because he was unsuccessful. However there are moments where he is successful in his attempts, especially as of late. 

And this time it’s in the workshop belonging to a close friend of theirs. 

Rosalina Aluino (OC) x Ezio Auditore

~~~~~

It was a rather quiet evening in the city, a bit different than the norm. Most of the time the streets were bustling with people going to and fro, on with their lives whether it be a job, running an errand or simply out to enjoy the day; for an assassin and such little crowds to blend into it was hard to keep away from peeping eyes now.

At Leonardo’s workshop however nothing seemed different than it was outside the walls. Leo is rushing back and forth to one spot and to another, seeming to find different things to work on every few minutes.

There is a knock on the door and he freezes his hand from making a stroke of paint at his canvas. He sets the brush aside and wipes his hands on an old cloth that is stained with new and old paint. There are even a few spots on his cheek he seems to miss.

He peeps through the door hole and smiles as he then opens it, arms wide for a hug; Leo’s friend graciously returns one.

“Rosalina!” he chuckles happily, “what brings you here?”

The woman smiles contently and pulls out what appears to be a rolled up piece of paper, detailed with golden and black outlines. Leo’s face lights up at the sight of it and gently takes the Codex page to open it slowly. 

“You and Ezio never cease to amaze me,” Leo states with a smile. Rosa follows him to his work desk.

“Is it worthwhile?” The Assassin inquires. “It better be, for what I went through to get it.”  Sewers weren’t her favorite thing to be searching through on a daily basis.

Shrugging his shoulders, he peeks over at her quickly. “I suppose we shall find out,” Leo replies. He sets the paper flat on the wooden tabletop, and it only seemed like seconds and the man has already come up with solutions. It still amazes Rosa at how smart he is; she’s almost jealous.

Leo turns to Rosa with the Codex in hand.

“If you wouldn’t mind,” he begins, “I will decode this for you. It may take some time however. This page is a lot more complex than the others you have given me.”

The woman shrugs her shoulders, gesturing to his work place.

“Be my guest,” Rosa smiles, “I can wait.”

“Perfetto! (Perfect)”

Amber eyes watch Leonardo as he trails off into another room, and not wanting to disturb him Rosalina stays behind. The bookshelves catch her attention nearly instantly after her friend is gone. The shelves were at least either feet high, she deducts, and every slot is filled with a book.

“What sort of reading are you into Leonardo?”, she questions softly to herself. Rosa takes a book and begins reading. Much of it is foreign to her, words in Italian that she has not yet learned. Another book she takes is in Latin; that immediately gets returned. 

Thirty minutes into her time at Leo’s workshop have gone by. Rosa eventually settles herself into a chair with a book about the Greek Gods. Mythology wasn’t her strongest suit but she didn’t want to fumble with anymore of Leo’s books, fearing he may of had a system for the way he organized said books. 

There’s a knock on the door, and the woman’s attention is shifted immediately. She places the book down and walks to the entrance with a hand on the hilt of her blade.

What’s a cause for such defensiveness? Past encounters on Leonardo’s life, none of them good, resulted in her defensive stance. 

She sighs though once she sees who it is when looking through the peep hole, and her hand drops down to her thigh while the other pulls open the door.

“Ezio,” she greets, her bodyweight shifting against the door frame. The taller man chuckles and bows his head to her.

“Princessa, (princess)” he returns. Rosa shakes her head and rolls her eyes, clearing the way for him to enter. 

She closes the door behind him.

“You know I hate that name,” she grumbles, following him soon. Her eyes catch his as he turns to look back at her. Ezio is smiling warmly at her, and now she realizes her face feels flushed at the eye contact.

"I have many others,” Ezio chuckles deeply. His head tilts slightly at her. “I will just use those as replacement.”

“Or just my name. That’s sufficient,” she comments, walking past him and turning to lean against the wooden table. Rosa’s eyes glimmer a small amount when she sees the taller man takes a few slow steps towards her. Her arms fold across her chest to appear more broad. He was intimidating, and right now in a good way. “What are you even doing here? I thought you were in Monterrigioni?”

“I have some things here to take care of,” Ezio begins, slowly getting closer. “I’m starting to realize you know where I’m going even before I do.”

His hand reaches for the back of her jawline and slowly traces it to the front with a feather like touch, taking in the fact that he notices she hasn’t retreated away from him. Maybe even shifted her weight just a slight amount to rest into his palm.

A deep chuckles erupts from his chest.

“You are not following me are you?”

Another roll of the woman’s amber eyes and she gently removes his hand away, not flinching when it settles just beside her on the desk.

“Not every woman wants to chase after you Ezio,” she replies, shyly looking up at him. His laugh is intoxicating, practically feeling his chest hum as he reels in closer. Rosa has to look away from him and down to the floor. However he wasn’t having it, wanting her to look at him. It was rare times he was able to get this close to her and not have her back away. 

A finger rests on her chin, another under it as he lifts Rosa’s face to look at him. She has no choice but to.

“Only a jealous woman would say such a thing.”

Rosa chuckles sarcastically and rolls her eyes, still held captive by Ezio’s hand under her chin. 

“Your charms do not work on me Ezio,” she says, pushing his hand away once again, and like the other it rests on the other side of the table. The man manages to wedge himself between her legs.  He tilts his head again, smiling down at her. The woman can feel his breath on her lips and nose. 

“Yet you have not told me to stop,” he whispers, beginning to gently sway with her. “Perhaps they are working more than you think.”

“You have me wedged between a table Ezio,” she replies softly as well. “I cannot really go anywhere.”

Another chuckle from him, and this time it makes Rosa reach for the sides of his belt, grasping at the leather gently to rest her hands.

“That wouldn’t stop a woman like yourself,” he smiles, inching his face closer. Ezio watches her lips slightly part and her eyes drift down to his own. Now his other hand comes to cup the other side of her face and she then fully leans into his touch; it sends shivers down his own spine at how content Rosa looked. “Do you want me to stop?”

Immediately her eyes shoot up at him, dazed and shimmering from the lanterns around them. They almost seemed. . . to plead.

Her mouth opens to speak as Ezio’s gets closer, enough to possibly connect, when the curtains separating this room to the one beyond it part ways and flutter like wings of a bird. Ezio’s hands slide off of her, as well as Rosa’s off Ezio, and the woman looks down at the floor sheepishly while Ezio swallows thickly. 

“Oh,” they hear Leo gasp, “I- I did not mean-” He then spins around quickly and fixes his hat. “I shall come back in a few moments!”

Ezio clears his throat and speaks up for Rosa, as she can’t look anywhere else but the floorboards at the moment.

“Va bene (it’s alright), Leonardo,” Ezio sputters. “I just came to check up on you. It seems Rosalina has beaten me to it.”

Leo’s hands fidget with the tail of his belt, turning slowly and awkwardly to look at them. Rosa finally has the courage to peer back at him. She stands now beside Ezio, however with her arms still crossed.

“I was uh, successful in decoding the page you brought me Rosalina,” the artisan speaks. He walks slowly to the desk she was once sitting on and lays the paper flat. He smooths out the page and exhales sharply while the other two peer beside him.

“It is simply an upgrade for your blades,” he says, “it is more lethal in design which provides more speed when using it. It will be so light you might as well be slicing the air open.”

“Funciona para mi (works for me), Leonardo,” Rosa smiles, giving him a friendly pat on the shoulder. He smiles in return. “Anything you design is always worthy.”

With a confident smile and attitude Leo collects both of their silver and takes it to the back of his home again. Within only ten minutes he has returned with both blades and they are looking as sleek as ever. Rosa takes hers in admiration and holds it up to the lantern, watching her reflection on the blade. She then turns back and takes a few steps away to swing her blade effortlessly to test it; Leonardo never ceased to amaze her. 

Holstering it where it belonged on her belt, the woman turns to the men with a smile on her face.

“Muchas gracias (thank you so much), Leonardo. You’re doing God’s work with these Codex pages.”

The flattered and flustered man waves her off as he turns to his desk to sit down. He watches Ezio still admiring his blade and then putting it away. He nods to him and smiles.

“She speaks the truth amico, (friend)” Ezio says.

Another chuckle as Leo sits back in the chair, smiling up at them.

“Enough you two,” Leo prattles, “now go on, you have more important things to do.”

Ezio then turns to Rosa and gives her that cheeky smile he had moments ago where they were. . . closer than they are now.

“Indeed we do.”

She catches on immediately, and her face begins to burn once again. Rosa makes haste for the door as she waves goodbye to Leonardo over her shoulder.

“Adiós amigo!” Rosa calls back. However when she calls Ezio’s expression drops and he looks to Leo; he was hoping Rosa would have waited for him. Leo laughs joyfully at the exchange.

“You better catch up to her,” he says, “she was raised by La Volpe, no? She may be long gone by now if you don’t hurry.”

The assassin huffs and hurries for the door, giving his friend a wave goodbye before leaving. He sees her just outside waiting by a merchant stand, leaning against the brick wall dividing the city from the countryside.

“I figured you would have left me,” he comments, huffing as he gets to her.

“Why?” she questions, “after what happened in there?” The woman huffs as she begins walking with him.  Ezio is baffled a moment, unable to speak before he can finally say anything.

“Well. . . si, actually. I did not mean to make you uncomfortable.”

“Who says I was?”

Once again is trying to register what she had said. 

It hits him eventually, and he is wearing an even dumber smile that makes Rosa wish she had kept her damn mouth shut, and she begins to walk faster to try and lose him.

Ezio takes her hand and she stops to look down at it, surprised at his actions. This place was not the time nor location to do this. To even have this conversation.

“Is that right?” he chuckles, making her huff and walk off. He grabs her hand again and she snaps it away.

“We shall not speak of this any longer,” she points an angry finger at him, legs forcing her to walk again. Ezio is close behind.

“Did you enjoy it?!”

“Ezio, por favor. . .”

The man laughs. “You did!”

“I am going to hurt you in a second, cállate! (shut up!)”

[axwalker]

We used to be friends

To catch up : One decision.

Book: The Royal Romance (half AU/half canon or my HC anyway…)

Pairing: Drake x Mc Drake x Liam (friendship?)

Disclaimer:  Drake, Liam and Valtoria belong to Pixelberry.

A/N: This is  Prompt #32 “I’ve never lied to you” from @emceesynonymroll​  Wacky Drabbles (Thank you for hosting this!)

Word count: 1500 (Sorry! I really tried)

This is my personal opinion on the reasons that drive Liam and Drake to act as crazy as they are acting in TRH. 

Tagging: @emceesynonymroll​ @mskaneko​ @pedudley​ @burnsoslow​ @princessleac1​

Liam and Drake usually met on his personal quarters but when Drake had called, the solemn tone in his voice had made Liam set the meeting at his royal office. He didn’t know what Drake wanted, but something told him he wasn’t going to be pleased about it.

He sighed thinking about their friendship, it definitely had taken a toll since the day Drake had finally come clean about his feelings for her.

Well, come clean was not really the best way to describe it, after all, he had discovered their relationship when he was on one knee, proposing. He could still feel the pain, not only because of her rejection but because of his best friend’s betrayal. Months and months of lying and deceiving from the person he trusted the most in the world.

Their friends didn’t judge Drake because they only saw one lie, one deception. But they both knew it was much more than that. It was the hundreds of nights drinking whiskey in his bar while he talked hours about her as Drake listened and nodded without once hinting that their friendship had become something else. It was all the times he had confided in his best friend after she had canceled on him once again, and Drake had comforted him while knowing that he was the reason behind it. It was the day he had told him he was going to propose, and Drake had congratulated him without admitting the truth.

So no, it wasn’t one lie, one time. It had been hundreds of them, months of them.

Of course, he was aware of how emotionally crippled Drake was. Liam knew how difficult it was for him to admit he was capable of feeling anything at all, let alone falling in love for someone, and accepting that that someone loved him back. He knew about all the women that had thrown themselves at him only to get close to one of the princes. And he was grateful. Drake had always been there for him and had dropped his life no questions asked to support him when he had needed him the most, he also knew that Drake would give his life for him. They were brothers and Liam would never forget that.

All those reasons had allowed him to forgive Drake and try to move on. Except he hadn’t. Giving her Valtoria and naming her child heir of the kingdom had been both a blessing and a curse. As he had intended, it had allowed him to spend time with her, but also to be a sad witness of how in love with Drake, she was.

After a while, he had tried to get her out of his system by dating numerous women and focusing on Cordonia’s future. He had even been the best man at their wedding. One of the worst days of his life, he didn’t wish on his worst enemy the pain of seeing the love of his life marry his best friend. He had done it, but it hadn’t been enough to forget her or to mend their friendship. Even if they saw each other regularly, they were with Max and Leo, or watching a horse race or a football match. Their conversations never ran very deep, he didn’t want to hear how happy they were together, it was painful enough to see it written on both their faces. At least until recently. Lately, he had noticed that Drake was almost as bitter as he was before her. And Alexis wasn’t happy anymore, her contagious laughter had almost disappeared and the passion he loved so much about her was gone. He wondered if that was the reason Drake wanted to meet him. Had he lost her already and now he came to him for comfort? Could it be…?

Drake parked the car at his usual spot in the Palace and stop the engine. He stayed inside the car a few minutes to collect his thoughts, he didn’t doubt their decision for one second, but he knew it would be a shock to Liam. Again.

He sighed thinking about how much he had hurt Liam in the past years. It hadn’t been their intention, they had even tried to ignore the strong pull they had for each other, but their relationship had seemed unavoidable. From those early days when he had doubted her intentions and tease her incessantly, to the strong friendship they had built during the social season, and the consuming passion that had started with that kiss on the Beaumont’s study, every moment of their relationship had been a step closer to each other. He hadn’t lied to Liam intentionally, Drake had truly believed that Alexis was going to choose the king at the end. So, he decided to keep quiet about her because it would hurt less when she’d finally left him. 

Nonetheless, the truth was that he had hurt Liam so deeply that his friend seemed unable to move on even after all that time. And the last year had been torture for the three of them. Drake knew his best friend was a good, generous man, but he couldn’t help but doubt his intentions behind giving her Valtoria and naming their daughter the heiress.

Finally, he got out of the car and went to meet Liam who was already waiting for him in his office. He was sitting on his desk with a scotch lost on his thoughts.

Drake entered and they greeted each other with a nod of the head, as Drake poured himself a scotch from the bottle next to Liam and took his usual place across the young king.

“Well, here we are, Drake. Why was it so urgent that we meet?” Liam asked in a commanding tone. 

Drake cut to the chase, there was no point in delaying it anymore “We want to leave Valtoria, Liam. We’re not made for the noble’s life. Either of us”

Liam furrowed his brows “Helena cannot be the heir of the kingdom if you are not nobles Drake, you know this”

Drake looked at him knowingly.

The realization hit Liam. “Oh, you don’t want her to be the heiress anymore either,” he said as he leaned back on his chair.

“I’m sorry, we didn’t realize the amount of sacrifice it would be for us, and especially for Lena. She’s barely one and already engaged, Liam!”

“I told you we were going to get out of it, just give me a little more time,” Liam said tiredly.

“It’s not only that. We simply don’t want to be nobles anymore. This can’t be a surprise for you Li, you know that I’ve always hated this stuff. We both do”

“We? You keep talking for the two of you, but I don’t see Alexis anywhere. It looks like it’s you who want to quit, and you are using her as an excuse. You’re only thinking of yourself but she deserves-”

Drake raised his hand interrupting him “What? More than I can give her? The life of a queen? Believe me, I know that,” he gulped his drink. “I also know that for some fucked up reason she doesn’t want any of it. She’s miserable there”

Liam stood up holding his glass. “Maybe that is what you want to think. Maybe she’s quitting to make you happy.”

Drake didn’t take his eyes off of his friend. “That has always been the problem, Li. You don’t know her”

“Thank you for bringing that to my attention, Drake, but I think it was made perfectly clear that I didn’t really know either of you.”

Drake raked his hand through his hair.  “It’s been two years, you have to let it go. Let her go.”

Liam walked towards him “Oh, Drake, I have. That doesn’t mean that I had forgotten what you did to me. She came here for me. Did you forget I was the reason she left New York to come to Cordonia?”

Drake felt the old pang of jealousy at Liam’s words, so he stood up angry as well.

“No, I haven’t, but she fell in love with me while you were engaged to Madeleine. Have you forgotten that? You’re rewriting history, Liam”

They stood a few inches from each other. “You’re right Drake, I made a lot of mistakes concerning her. I shouldn’t have chosen Madeleine at the coronation or let the guards take her, and it was certainly a big mistake to ask her to be my mistress. So, I’ll admit it, when it comes to Alexis I can see where I failed. But you?” He cocked his brow “I’ve only been a brother to you. You deceived me for months, and I’ve never lied to you. You stole my only chance to be happy” He was so angry he barely realized he was shoving Drake.

Drake raised his hands bawling at him “You have never lied to me? Do you really think I don’t know why you gave her that damned duchy seconds after proposing? Do you really think I can’t imagine why the hell you named our daughter, her daughter the heiress?” He pushed Liam back “Don’t say you have never lied to me because you’re fucking doing it right now, Liam. You might be entitled and oblivious but I’m not. You’re still in love with my wife”  

[theartofimaginaryfriends]

Chapter 1 - Pranks and Surprise Visits

Fic Series: The Final Straw (HP/PJO Crossover)

Premise: Two Professors visit Camp Half-Blood.

Masterlist

Taglist: @ilvermornymascot

Word count: 1, 219

A/N: I have family in town and I love them, but they hardcore drain my energy because they're very extroverted and I am not. Whenever they visit, my sister's energy rises more than usual and good lord I'm exhausted. Either way, I'm not oligated to spend all my time with them, and therefore have the time to continue writing. On another note! Tower of Nero has now appeared in my Ebook library but I can't read it until my friend is finished and it's killing me :/ I have a bunch of tags blocked, so if y'all post spoilers please use the spoilers tag. In regards to this fic, please let me know if you want to be in the taglist, and please comment as well! It helps motivate me. Hope you enjoy chapter 1 :)

Nova Sterling wasn’t a prominent demigod at camp. The children of Hecate were known to use magic to take shortcuts, and many demigods hated it. This caused Nova to keep to herself and steer clear from conflict. The only time she actively talked to anyone outside Cabin twenty were when Connor and Travis needed their help for a prank.  

The latest prank was on the seven, who were hanging out at the docks on Leo's new and improved Argo II. All Nova had done was supply the brothers with a Dungbomb from her favourite prank supply shop back in Diagon Alley – Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. She explained to the brother how to activate it, and they managed to sneak on the ship and set them off. Nova tried to suppress her giggles as they ran, watching the seven chasing after Connor and Travis.  

Once the Stolls had come out mostly unscathed, they begged Nova to supply them with more products from her friend's shop. She laughed and shook her head, knowing how dangerous it would be if they got their hands on it. Soon, they'd want to meet the creators and the witch couldn’t let that happen.  

She was telling her siblings about the prank at lunch, as everyone had noticed the commotion. Nova was in the middle of the story when two visitors appeared at the entrance of the dining pavilion. Silence and confusion spread, and everyone watched as Chiron made his way over to the guests. He greeted them like old friends, and invited them to sit and eat with him and Mr. D at Table twelve.  

Nova avoided looking at the witch and wizard as they sat with Mr. D and Chiron, delving into a deep discussion. Lunch ended up being filled with a tension in the air, none of the demigods not knowing what to say or do. Many kids were clearly suspicious of the newcomers. Their robes made them stand out more than their age. It wasn't every day they saw people dressed in unusual fashion.

When lunch ended, Nova attempted to leave undetected when Chiron placed a hand on her shoulder. "Nova, would you please come with us to the Big House?" 

Knowing that she couldn’t say no, Nova obliged. The stares of everyone around her as she followed the adults to the Big House was hard to ignore, but she avoided eye contact with everyone as much as possible. The last thing she wanted at the moment was attention.  

As soon as they gathered in the living room, Nova allowed herself to make eye contact with Professor McGonagall – the headmistress at Hogwarts, and Professor Tahamente – the headmaster at Ilvermorny. "Hello, Professors." 

"Hello Miss Sterling," McGonagall gave her a small smile.  

"I hope your summer has been uneventful," Tahamente greeted his student.  

"What brings the two of you to Camp Half-Blood?" 

"A new prophecy arose a month ago, that requires us to bring wizards and demigods together," Professor Tahamente explained. "Professor McGonagall tells me that you were a good friend to many of the students that will be transferring to Ilvermorny in September. I believe it is in everyone's best interest that you help bring everyone together, in order for it to succeed." 

"We wish to handle this situation better than it was handled last summer," Chiron explained, Nova knowing that he was referring to Percy Jackson's disappearance due to Hera. "No one will go missing, and we will be putting everyone in a few shared classes." 

"Could I see the prophecy you’re referring to?" On the inside, Nova was nervous but she didn’t let it show. She may have been well respected at Hogwarts and Ilvermorny, but the demigod camps barely knew her. She preferred to keep a low profile. Chiron handed her the same sheet of paper he had given McGonagall a month before, and they fell silent as she read the words three times over. "This seems incomplete." 

"We believe that it is," McGonagall explained. The headmistress explained what they believed to be true, and why they believed the program would be the best option for everyone involved. She refused to fall into Dumbledore's tactic of manipulation, and wanted Nova to go into everything with open eyes. "As we figure out more information on this prophecy, we will relay this information back to you. All we ask is that you do the same with us." 

"Minerva, is that really wise?" Chiron tried to mask his worry.  

"It is much safer for the child to know rather than be kept in the dark," she said, stubbornly. "I will not go to such lengths as give vague information and tell a student to face any sort of danger without proper preparation. A wild goose chase is the exact opposite of what we need." 

"We are just looking out for our students, Chiron," Professor Tahamente assured the centaur. "Nova, we need to ask you to do one thing for us." 

"Of course, what is it?" 

"Do not relay this information to anyone," he said. "They cannot know until the right time." 

"I understand, Professor," Nova nodded, not at all eager to tell anyone about this in the first place. The headmaster reached into a pocket in his robes, and brought out a letter, handing it to Nova.  

"The rest of the owls will be arriving soon to bring everyone their letters," Professor explained. "But I thought it would be best to deliver yours in person."  

The witch nodded, and took the envelop from the elder. They dismissed Nova, and she made a beeline for her cabin. Campers would stop their activity to stare at her, only making the demigod move faster. Once she entered her area of the cabin, Nova ripped open the envelop, and took out the letter. Before she began to read, she found a pin in the shape of a crest, bearing the words "Head Girl" on it. Without hesitation, she hid the pin in the trunk under her bed, and unfolded the letter. 

Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry 

Headmaster: Don Tahamente  

(International Confederation of Wizards) 

Dear Miss Nova Sterling,  

We are pleased to have you back for your final year at Ilvermorny. Expect this year to be the busiest yet, with the Horrifically Advanced Required Examinations (H.A.R.E.s) you are expected to take at the end of the year. 

 As well, we would like to congratulate you on your new title as Head Girl. Please understand that this is a big responsibility, and we will not take it lightly if you do anything that could jeopardize this role. 

When you arrive to Heawood Station, please make your way to our new Gamekeeper, Ember Willows, and lead the transfer students to the castle for the sorting ceremony. The Head Boy will be joining you.  

You will find a list of everything you will need for the coming year enclosed in the envelop as well. See you on September 1.  

Yours Sincerely,  

Trinity Yellowbird  

Deputy Headmistress 

Nova looked at the list for what she needed, and then put the letter in the trunk with her new badge, and laid down on her bed. The school year was bound to be interesting, and she was worried about how her two separate world would react once they collide. 

[thesunnyshow]

Name: Alison O’Brien

Writing Blog URL(s): @httpangelicjimin

What fandom(s) do you write for?: BTS, although I wouldn’t mind writing for other groups. Often, I have other idols that make cameos in my stories.

Age: 21

Nationality: Portuguese + French

Languages: Portuguese + French + English + Spanish

Star Sign: Leo

MBTI: ENFJ

Favorite color: pastel blue

Favorite food: pizza no doubt 

Favorite movie: I’m gonna have to be a sucker and say monster’s inc. bc who doesn’t love Pixar

Favorite ice cream flavor: I’d say coffee, tho I love a good ol’ chocolate ice cream

Favorite animal: wolf, it’s my spirit animal 

Coffee or tea? What are you ordering?: Coffee, for sure. Iced coffee or mocha

Dream job (whether you have a job or not): Ever since I was little I always wanted to be a singer but I guess I’m too shy for that ahah so I’d either say writing or advertising.

Go-to karaoke song: Break My Heart by Dua Lipa

If you could have one superpower, what would you choose?: The ability to change shape at will.

If you could visit a historical era, which would you choose?: The Victorian Era sounds brilliant to me. I would be a sucker for the dresses. Although, I also would’ve loved to be able to live in the ’20s. Great Gatsby made me dream countless times of all the amazing parties, with jazz playing in the background. The fashion was impeccable, and of course, to be alive at the same time as F. Scott Fitzgerald. I could even run into him at one of those glamorous parties. 

If you could restart your life, knowing what you do now, would you?: I don’t think I would. Life has taught me some valuable lessons along the way but I was happy. Even when surrounded by those who didn’t have the best intentions in mind. If I had known all that I know now, I wouldn’t have lived as freely and carelessly as I did. I cherish those memories, even if they weren’t the best for me.

Would you rather fight 100 chicken-sized horses or one horse-sized chicken?: Alright so… that’s a weird one. And what makes it weirder is that people have made that same question with me; it was either one horse-sized me, or 100 me-sized horses. Huh… I do have some background with chickens chasing after me, so I’d go with the 100 chicken-sized horses.

If you were a trope in a teen high school movie, what would you have been?: I would 100% be the sucker that falls for the bad boy… ah… how I miss the high school bad boys.

Do you believe in aliens/supernatural creatures?: I don’t. Although I have no problem getting lost in those amazing universes where such creatures exist. 

Fun fact about yourself that not everyone would know?: I absolutely love mango-flavored things but I cannot eat mango. Just the texture of the fruit…. Yuck. 

Do you write fluff/angst/crack/general/smut, combo, etc? Why?: I write everything. So far, in the 2 years, I’ve been writing, I have experienced a little bit of everything. I think writing all those genres are important to complement the story. 

Do you write OCs, X Readers, Ships...etc?: I never wrote anything that was mxm but I am ok with that. Besides, I have two stories out with an OC and the others are mostly with female readers, mostly because I write thinking about me with a member or one of my friends.

Why did you decide to write for Tumblr?: I was already using Tumblr to read other people’s work. When the thought of starting my own writing blog came to mind, it seemed the most logical option to use. I have only recently learned about AO3 so… yeah, Tumblr seemed the most “at reach” app.

When did you post your first piece?: The first thing I wrote was called Wonder and was posted on a private blog. I started writing it a couple of days after Euphoria by Jungkook BTS came out.

What inspires you to write?: Everyday situations are always a good base for me. I like to write moments that I have gone through. Besides that, I find inspiration on movies and tv shows and some Pinterest albums. Sometimes it’s just a random thought that comes to mind ehe

What genres/AUs do you enjoy writing the most?: I’d say college/high school aus. I did a collab with another writer from a college au and it was a lot of fun. Additionally, I have some wips I am meaning to work on and will soon be presented on my blog! 

What do you hope your readers take away from your work?: I think that I wanted them to feel okay. Life can get pretty hard and reading, for me, has always been like a getaway. So, whenever I write, I hope that I can distract my readers from whatever is happening in the real world. 

What do you do when you hit a rough spot creatively?: Whenever I’m struggling in life, it’s almost as if I lose my ability to write. I get really stressed, especially when I set deadlines. I try my hardest to push through. I believe that writing, even if it’s not to our liking, is better than doing nothing. I try to read more, to sleep better, and to seek inspiration. 

What is your favorite work and why? Your most successful?: I don’t think I have a “most successful” work. I am pretty recent to Tumblr and am still growing bit by bit. As for my favorite, I’d probably say Dr. Love. It started out as a fun Valentine’s Day fanfic and I have some good stuff outlined.

Who is your favorite person to write about?: As I said, I love to find inspiration in my friends. Getting the feedback and how much they enjoyed reading what I wrote really is a heartwarming feeling. 

Do you think there’s a difference between writing fanfiction vs. completely original prose?: I don’t think they are so different. Because when writing fanfiction, you’re not obliged to go 100% with the idol’s personality you’re writing. You have the freedom to marvel around in the worlds you create and make them do whatever you feel like would work best. So sometimes, it can be just like creating a whole new character from scratch. 

What do you think makes a good story?: There’s a lot of things that are needed to make a good story. I mostly value the storyline. I don’t like it when things are rushed and prefer to read something others may find unnecessary but get more context. I love the small little details about characters that make me relate and emphasize with them. Also, a plot twist. I love to read stories that completely blow my mind and catch me off guard. Creativity is everything.

Would you ever repurpose a fic into a completely original story?: Why not? I don’t have a problem with giving different names to my characters as long as the story stays the same.

What is your writing process like?: I prefer to write at night. But, as I said before, sometimes there’s just an urge to write and I have to grab my laptop, or even the pull out the notes on my phone and type out some words for the story I’m currently working on. I try to create a coherent storyline as well. Plus, I have an amazing beta reader that always helps me with the plot and hears my ideas and complements them. 

What tropes do you love, and what tropes can’t you stand?: I love the typical “good girl falls for bad guy” trope. I don’t care if it’s cliché, I just love it. Although, I hate those where the girl is portraited as weak and as if she would ever be completely happy and fulfilled if the guy is by her side; as if she’s helpless without him. Girl power you know? Aha

How much would you say audience feedback/engagement means to you?: It means A LOT. I think there’s no better feeling than receiving a piece of feedback, despite how small it might be. There’s always room for improvement and just the simple fact to know that someone took the time to read my work and found it interesting enough to send me their thoughts, I really cherish it.

What has been one of the biggest factors of your success (of any size)?: I believe that my growth for the past months I’ve been on Tumblr could be due to how active I am. I always try to engage with the people I follow and even when I’m not posting my works, I try to be around. I have big dreams for my blog and hope to one day have a large audience to read my stories, but for now, I am happy with the ones by my side already.

Do you think fanfic writers get unfairly judged?: Yes. A lot of people think that fanfic writers are mostly horny/crazy teens that are obsessed with some famous wannabe that couldn’t even care less for their existence. I think that’s one of the biggest issues with how society sees us. But I consider those to be amongst older people (perhaps 40+yo). 

Do you think art can be a medium for change?: Of course. Art is one of the most personal ways of showing emotions, I believe. Being brave enough to show with the world your creations takes courage and I admire those who do it proudly. Art can be interpreted in so many ways; it overcomes all the barriers that there might be. 

Do you ever feel there are times when you’re writing for others, rather than yourself?: The feeling can get to me sometimes but I immediately shut that down. There was a time when I was forcing myself to write things I didn’t appreciate or that didn’t follow my storyline just to make others happy and I had to give up on those projects quickly because it was driving me insane. I strongly believe that if we don’t write what we are passionate about, it will either come out sloppy or we will hate it. Writing what we like, even if some might consider it bad, is what we should do.

Do you ever feel like people have misunderstood you or your writing at times?: I don’t think so. Although, I don’t receive as much feedback as I’d like to, so I’m not certain. 

Do your offline friends/loved ones know you write for Tumblr?: Only my boyfriend does and he’s totally cool with it ehe

What is one thing you wish you could tell your followers?: A big big thank you! I am so happy to have you here and I hope you can take some time to read over my works ehe I am always open to talk if anyone needs~ 

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers who might be too scared to put themselves out there?: Just do it!!! I know there are so many great writers out there and you might feel like you would bring nothing to the game but that’s not true. You don’t need to be scared ok? It will be alright. Just give it a chance. There was a time where I was scared too and now I have made so many great friends and meet so many great people through my writing. You can make it too! 

Are there any times when you regret joining Tumblr?: No. 

Do you have any mutuals who have been particularly formative/supportive in your Tumblr journey?: Yess!! I have made so many friends thanks to Tumblr! I mostly have to thank the amazing people of @bangtan-headquarters for accepting me into their network and making me part of their discord server. I’m not going to be @/ing everyone but I know I have made friends whom I will forever keep in my heart uwu 

Pick a quote to end your interview with: “Life has no limitations, except the ones you make.” - Les Brown 

[lihikainanea]

Vibe of the Week 09/08

First of all, step aside Bill, because you’re not the most important Leo in my life.

A big, huge, resounding happy birthday to the King of my family--my old man. He’s the greatest dude I know. He can fix seriously anything, he has guided me my whole life, he’s a phenomenal story teller and he’s just....he’s the best guy I know. I have high standards in men because my dad has loved my mom so intensely for their entire marriage (44 years and counting), and he still does. He buys her flowers. He writes her songs. They have date nights every week.

August, and particularly the first 10 days in August, are so weird for me. I have so much history and it’s all in sequence--a past love, his birthday was August 7. Bill’s is the 9th. Pop’s is the 10th. There’s more but it’s just...man, that Leo energy. It exhausts me.

Last week we talked a bit about embracing the change that’s coming, starting to reap the harvest for our efforts. The universe gave us a bit of a break.

This week’s Oracle deck is the Shaman Wisdom Cards, and the Tarot is the Llewellyn Wizards Tarot deck (which like, look, I love these cards--but I cannot even express how much I HATE the design on the back. It is so fucking obnoxious. Why would you design something that bright for these cards? Ugh I hate it.)

The Oracle card this week is Agate:

The affirmation: Adapt to the situation and communicate your intentions

Words to meditate on: Courage, brave, recognition, abundance, growth, balance

This is quite a lovely card. It’s the striking of the match--something is being lit up here, and you’re about to be stimulated in a million different ways--love, relationships, creativity. Something here is lighting your interest, and there’s a lovely sense of rejuvenation. The cards are not kicking our ass anymore this week (thank you, cards). This card speaks of collaboration, of group work, of fulfillment, a sense of community. Deeper than that, a loss of individual self (the good kind), where the “I” becomes the “we” and we’re all stronger for it. Fortifying your group, man. WHERE MY BITCHES AT.

For the Tarot this week, I did a Celtic cross spread just for something different. Also, I am so determined to master a riffle shuffle which I cannot do to save my life. I’m awful at it.

Anyway:

1)  Page of Wands

2)  Seven of Pentacles

3) Ten of Wands

4) King of Pentacles

5) King of Swords

6) King of Cups

7) Six of Cups

8) Queen of Cups

9) Eight of Cups

10) Eight of Wands

Overarching theme: The Empress (Major Arcana)

Okay so look, a few things here. First of all, as far as spreads go, you can’t get more meh than this.

Second of all, I get bummed when I don’t see a Major in a spread but I had forgotten to pull the overarching theme card and when I did, MY GIRL THE EMPRESS answering my call.

Interesting that last week, we also had a Major Arcana as the overarching theme (The Hanged Man). You know what other Major appeared last week?

My girl’s boo, the Emperor.

Now, third and final point before we dive in: Christ on a cracker, WOULD YOU LOOK AT THIS OVERABUNDANCE OF MASCULINE ENERGY? My god, Leo season is just...it’s just so...Leo. My dudes, tuck it back in. Stop trying to pee on everything and stake your claim to it. It’s gonna be okay, guys. No need to be all alpha male about everything.

Alright here we go, buckle the fuck up because....ugh, Leo.

First impressions: All of the Suits represented in near perfect balance, which could mean harmony or like...a fucking battle. We’ll see.

The Empress - overarching theme

My badass bish. Abundance. Nourishment, but of the soul kind. A burst of creativity and passion, a rejuvenation in life.

1)  Page of Wands - the situation right now

A willingness to learn. Something is exciting you here, some new prospect that has you wanting to absorb everything you can and act on it, but a bit of ego and lack of confidence might be holding you back. You’re stuck on yourself, not letting yourself move forward.

2)  Seven of Pentacles-- the conflict

Getting in your own way is alright sometimes, because you’re evaluating. You’re laying out all your options, reflecting on it. What strikes me here is you’re weighing value in some capacity--like, is it worth it to pursue this? Because whatever it is, it seems to come at a high enough cost (actual, or figurative) to have you taking a step back. And this is actually quite remarkable, because in Leo season we’re all just fucking roaring and ready to jump head first into anything--but not this. Not here and not now. There’s such careful deliberation, and that’s okay.

3) ��Ten of Wands - the atmosphere around the situation

Burdens, obligations, responsibilities. Just because we want something very badly doesn’t mean it’s going to work out for us--previous obligations and responsibilities, our role in our lives and the lives of others--these are very real things which make our wants and dreams not a possibility in our immediate future. Sometimes the timing is just bad.

It also...it also looks a bit like you’ve been burned here before. You know this tale. It ended differently for you last time. You wanted something, were passionate about something, went after it with everything you had (like you’re supposed to) and man did you fall on your face. Hard enough that it stayed with you, that feeling stayed with you.

4)  King of Pentacles - the base of the matter, what is really behind the drive

balanced, practical, cautious, generous. My boo, you want stability. You are chasing something so hard because it will bring you stability, reassurance, in a way that you need and in a way that you haven’t felt in a long time.

5) King of Swords - past influences

Oh bubs, somebody done you wrong. You thought you had what you needed before--and god again I’m a little taken aback at how masculine this reading is, boys are so dumb--somebody tricked you. Somebody knew what you needed, what you craved--authority, stability, communication, logic. A manipulator roped you in knowing that you needed all those things, and they provided them to you--for a short while, and on a superficial level. But you were so desperate for what you needed, that you took it.

And it burned you. So now, you’re focusing this fight internally--you are out here like a Queen, trying to be this force for you. YAAAAAAS.

6) King of Cups - forthcoming influences

You’re getting there, boo. Whether or not this is someone who Is going to enter your life, or if this is just you coming into your own....I’m not sure. The cards ain’t telling me. But it is showing me that the forthcoming influence is BALANCE, and channeling that masculine energy. The energy of being assertive but not rude, the energy of balancing emotional needs with rational thought, just...balance balance balance. Evenness. Kindness.

Finding ways to give your heart what it needs, while also leaving space for responsibility, rational thought, and growth boo. GROWTH.

And like, I am most definitely not one of those people like “love is coming to you” but like....babe it kinda looks like it is?

It doesn’t have to be a dude if you don’t bat for that team. It could be somebody who embodies all of the best characteristics and traits that we deem masculine.

7) Six of Cups-- in the “bitch where the fuck am I” position

You’re back refocused on the little things that matter. If we’re talking romantically, think of how like....a huge weekend getaway to a private vineyard somewhere in the countryside that took a lot of planning and is just this wild gesture of passionate love--that’s sweet, right? That feels nice.

But a small note on the coffee machine when you wake up, that says “You’re going to do great today, I love you” referencing a meeting that you mentioned to your significant like a week ago and said you were nervous for it. That...man, it’s the little things.

Right now, you’re coming back to centre. You’re reeling your scope back in, and you’re determining what really matters to you.

But there’s also a bit of caution here, in those small gestures--small gestures can alter our future in literally every single way. Be mindful of your actions, and their impact. Don’t be haunted by your past, but also...kid, don’t be nostalgic for it. This is so not the time.

8) Queen of Cups - the view of others

Ohhhh isn’t this a trick. Ha, lookit that Queen. This is how others view you, bubs. As this powerhouse badass woman who is in complete control at all times, reserved yet cut throat, elegant yet deadly. People view you as a person of envy, someone who always seems to have it all together.

9) Eight of Cups - hopes and fears

You’re worried that this quest or this search you’re on, this need to feel something in your past but in a much better, more fulfilling way....you’re worried it doesn’t exist. You’re worried that what you seek isn’t actually out there. You hope it is--but there’s enough doubt in you (hello! Get the fuck back there, past experiences and stay the fuck there!) that you’re terrified.

Your journey can’t be explained logically. And this is that fucking Leo sun shit, you know? If it ain’t logical or practical, then it either 1) doesn’t exist, and/or 2) you shouldn’t go anywhere near it.

Fuck that Leo side of everything.

What you seek is out there. It is not rational, but it doesn’t have to be rational to be real. The heart has reasons that even REASON doesn’t understand.

What you seek is out there, and it’s yours to find. Go.

10) Eight of Wands - Potential outcome

Listen, I love this idea of serendipity. Of self fulfilling prophecies. Because this card...mmm, what a phenomenal card to end on.

The very fact that you are out there and that you had the courage to seek this out, means that 1) it exists, and 2) that you will find it.

You taking the action of following your heart is going to set into motion a whole series of karmic reactions that you will also need on your journey. This card is travel, it’s communication, it’s a satisfying journey, it’s the jackpot. You keep putting one foot in front of the other, you keep following that heart of yours, and result will be what you expect it to be.

tl;dr: fuck this Leo energy. You do you boo, stay gentle.

[gatesofember]

Summer Grass

PJO Arranged Marriage/Royalty AU Part 8

Rating: M | Pairing: Solangelo

Prev | Next | AU directory | Read it on AO3 (Recommended) | Arranged Marriage AU Masterpage 

Summary: Reyna has business in the City of Enlightenment and Prince Nico tags along to visit Will. Since confessing their feelings, Nico and his fiancé have grown even closer...and Nico has even more trouble keeping it in his pants.

They had stopped at the Sun Palace once more along the journey from Neptune to Pluto, but only for a day.  Some nights they stayed at inns along the road and other nights they stayed as guests in noble estates, but sometimes, they only stopped to exchange horses before continuing to travel throughout the night.  Nico and Will had fallen asleep against each other in the carriage on more than one occasion, and although Reyna’s expression made it clear that she did not approve, she did not stop them.  They separated after reaching Divitia, when Will went to continue his studies in Venadica and Nico remained at the Palatium de Divitae.  Nico bid him farewell with a few kisses and the promise to write, reminding him that it wouldn’t be long before he accompanied Reyna to the City of Enlightenment when she renewed her Sororal vows.

Will had started to be a bit more bold.  He was always well within the boundaries of appropriate behavior, of course, but Nico’s confession in Neptune had given Will confidence.  Nico appeared to like Will’s boldness, too.  Whenever Will initiated some form of touch—even just to rest his hand on top of Nico’s—Nico rewarded him with at least a smile, but sometimes a kiss if he was especially pleased.  Will was slowly starting to feel more comfortable with being affectionate towards Nico.  Although he’d never attempted to hide his admiration, he’d always been careful to keep his behavior polite and gentlemanly; he hadn’t wanted to upset Nico’s chaperones or to make Nico uncomfortable by being too open with his feelings.  After spending so much time alone with Nico while traveling, it became more natural for Will to casually touch him.  He stopped questioning whether his feelings were welcome and started to trust Nico’s love for him instead.

When Nico arrived in Venadica that summer, the sky was still bright but the sun was descending.  Will greeted him at the carriage door and was nearly knocked off his feet when the Prince’s huge bloodhound jumped out first.  He sniffed Will’s stockings happily while waiting for his master.

“Will!” Nico said, nearly pushing Reyna out of the way to see him.

“I’m happy to see you, Your Highness,” Will said.  He offered his hand to help Nico step down from the carriage and wasn’t surprised when Nico didn’t release it.  However, he was surprised when Nico immediately kissed him there in the middle of the city without regard for the Sororal officials who had come to greet him.  Reyna sighed in resignation as she stepped from the carriage, but Hedge looked like he might have a seizure.  When Will turned back towards his aunt and the others waiting for Nico and Reyna, he noticed that Thalia seemed amused and Hestia had raised an eyebrow.  He could already imagine Artemis teasing him about it later: “It seems there were a few developments in your engagement you neglected to mention to me,” she would say.  “I must have done well to arrange your marriage.”

When they entered the palace, Nico and Will trailed a few steps behind Reyna and Artemis and her attendants.  Normally, it would have been expected for Nico to walk beside Artemis, but because he was merely accompanying Reyna rather than acting as an official guest, it wasn’t very rude for Nico to ignore the Matestra in favor of his fiancé.

“I really am happy to see you,” Nico said.  “I’ve missed you.”

“And I have missed you,” Will answered.  “I’m glad you decided to visit.  This time, I have a clear schedule.  I’m staying at the palace, as well.”

“Not in your own rooms?” Nico asked.

Will shook his head happily.  “My aunt offered me a place to stay for the week,” he explained.  Like his first visit to Venadica, Nico would stay at the Sororal Palace for the duration of his stay.  The palace had been full of guests during the Expo, but now had plenty of vacant rooms available for Will, too.  He was grateful; the time it would have taken to travel from the consor dormitories to the palace every day would have left less time for Will to spend with his fiancé.  “There are so many places I want to take you,” he said.  “Last time, the city was so crowded that I couldn’t show you what it’s like normally.  My friends and I used to have secret meeting spots when we were children—there’s a little nook at the bottom of the Cronius Turris in the square, then there’s the tunnel system in the palace.  And we found plenty of places to hide in the children’s ward.”

“I’d love that,” Nico said.  “Will you show me where you live?”

“No, I hadn’t planned to,” Will said.  “It’s only a small room with a bed and a trunk.”

“I would still like to see.”

Will cleared his throat uncomfortably.  “Your Highness, the way I live as a consor in Venadica is very different from the way I live as the son of a duke in Diana.”

“I know,” Nico said shortly.  “This isn’t the first time that you have refused to show me this sort of thing.  Last time I was here, you were hesitant to show me your lab and you didn’t want me to attend your lecture—”

“You know that’s not true at all,” Will interrupted.  They’d had the same argument on more than one occasion.  As patient as he tried to be, he was growing wearing of discussing that incident.  Either Will and Nico had very different memories of what had happened, or Nico only kept arguing because he liked to argue—which seemed plausible, knowing Nico.  “Of course I wanted you to attend the lecture,” Will said.  “The problem was that I didn’t know you were interested.”

“Well, I am interested in seeing where you live.  So why won’t you show me?  Surely you’re not ashamed.”

“No, of course I’m not ashamed, I just...Your Highness, my living quarters are very small and uninteresting and I admit that I don’t take much pride in it—”

“I’m not expecting dormitories to be glamorous—”

“—but it’s not the size or plainness that is the issue.  You must understand, I live quite independently here in Venadica.  I dress myself, I sometimes cook for myself, and I clean after myself.  But my living quarters are not a high priority and I often neglect them—”

“Ah.  So it’s a mess,” Nico surmised.

Will sighed.  “I may be unintentionally fostering a few colonies of bacteria, in fact.  Out of respect for your safety, I cannot take you there.”

Nico snorted and laughed, loudly and unattractively.  Will knew that Nico hated his own laugh, but Will loved it.  It served as a reminder of just how human Nico was—imperfect and flawed, just like Will.

It wasn’t long after Nico’s arrival their meal was held.  The dining hall was crowded, noisy, and full of life, just as it was every time Will went to the Sororal Palace for supper.  While Artemis was also fond of small, private meals, she usually took her suppers in large gatherings.  Will liked the variety, as well; sometimes, he preferred to have his aunt to himself when he visited, but Will always enjoyed himself at full sororal suppers.  That evening, however, Will wished he could have eaten alone with Nico.  He couldn’t have paid attention to the conversation around him even if he had wanted to.

“I love you,” Will said, quietly enough so that no one would overhear.

“I love you, too,” Nico answered.

Will didn’t even realize he and Nico had been leaning closer to each other until Reyna made a subtle gesture to get their attention and silently shook her head to indicate her disapproval.  She didn’t stop glaring until they reluctantly scooted their chairs a bit farther apart.  For the rest of the meal, Reyna kept a close watch on them, but Nico and Will kept their ankles secretly locked together beneath the table until supper was over.

“I have a meeting to attend until late in the evening,” Reyna told them after they left the table.  “You may either—”

“I’m staying with Will,” Nico announced, his fingers clutching Will’s arm as if to demonstrate that he would not tolerate being separated.  “He is going to take me through the city for the rest of the afternoon.”

Will had no memory of discussing that, but he wasn’t opposed.

“I am not able to follow you around the city,” Reyna said.  “Unless you would rather have Hedge chaperone, I suggest you both stay with me.”

Nico scowled and Will flinched.  To his credit, Hedge wasn’t nearly as overprotective as he had once been, but he still had a short temper and was quick to snap at Will.  He was far from the ideal chaperone.  In fact, Reyna had banned Hedge from chaperoning duties unless absolutely unavoidable.  But as bad as having Hedge as a chaperone sounded, attending Reyna’s meeting did not sound much more pleasant.

To Will’s surprise, Hestia stepped forward.  “I will chaperone them, if you and Her Divinity allow it.”

“I can handle the rest of the day without my aide,” Artemis said.

Reyna looked Hestia over thoughtfully before nodding.  “But I must warn you that His Highness will take any opportunity to cause trouble.  Do not allow them to leave your sight.  Physical contact is to be kept to a minimum.  If kisses are unavoidable, they must be chaste.”

Nico looked pleased with the arrangement, but Hestia looked concerned, like she was wondering exactly what she’s just volunteered for.

Will took Nico to the children’s ward first and they spoke to Emmie and Jo, but as it was already getting late in the day, they didn’t stay long.  As they left, Will found Cal and Leo putting the youngest to bed and stopped to give them a quick greeting before letting them get back to the children.  Before Will became engaged to Nico and before Cal and Leo started courting, Will and his friends had planned to run the children’s ward together when Emmie and Jo grew old.  Will wondered if the two of them still shared that dream.  He could imagine them chasing after the children together—Cal would teach the children to sing and Leo would entertain them with his inventions.  Would they marry and have children of their own?  Would they grow old together in Venadica?

Not for the first time, Will realized just how much he was giving up to marry Nico.  He would leave his friends and family and would never live in Venadica or Diana again.  He might visit, but the rest of his life he would live in Divitia.  He would suffer through Plutonian winters every year.  He wouldn’t be there to watch his sister Kayla grow into a brilliant and beautiful young lady.

But he would have Nico.  He would find a second family and more people to call his friends.  In time, he would learn to call Divitia home.

Before he finally managed to escort Nico back outside, Will was stopped several more times by children coming to see him.  “I’m sorry for the delays,” Will apologized as they left the ward with Asterion and Hestia following behind them.

“It seems that children are fond of you,” Nico observed casually.  “You will make a good father.”

Will blinked a few times as he stared at Nico, unsure how to react.  Nico didn’t seem to think he’d said anything odd, but there was no doubt that Will had heard correctly.  Even though Nico wasn’t a student of medicine, surely he must have understood how procreation occurred?

“But...Your Highness, we won’t have any children,” he said.

“Why, that’s absurd,” Nico said humorlessly.  “Then who will help me raise Asterion?”

Will looked from Nico to his aging dog, then back to Nico, who was still wearing a serious, earnest expression.  Finally, the corner of Nico’s mouth quirked up and Will tilted his head back and laughed.

“He is a good son, as you’ll soon discover,” Nico went on, patting Asterion’s head.

“Gods above, I love you,” Will said.

Nico frowned.  “That’s not fair,” he said.

“And why not?” Will asked.

“You can’t say that and expect me to not kiss you.”

Will laughed again.  “A kiss would be quite welcome, Your Highness,” he said.

So he gave one.  But a single kiss was not enough for Nico.

By the time Hestia forced them to separate, it was starting to get dark, so Will took Nico to the Venadican Library to enjoy the rest of their evening in the quiet, peaceful atmosphere.  Nico, however, seemed to be after a bit more than peace and quiet.

While he was reading, Will saw Nico moving out of the corner of his eye, but didn’t think much of it until he felt Nico’s fingers trace over his knuckles.  “Yes, Your Highness?” Will asked, glancing up from his book.

“You look beautiful,” Nico said.

Will hadn’t been expecting that.  “Oh,” he said when he finally managed to find his voice.  “Thank you, Your Highness.”

“I want to ask my sister to paint you,” Nico added.

Will was flattered but confused by the sudden attention, and he couldn’t help wrinkling his nose in distaste at the idea of being painted.

“No?” Nico asked.  Will thought he might have looked a bit disappointed.  He could still have trouble reading Nico; his expressions were sometimes too subtle to make sense of.

“I don’t like sitting for portraits,” Will explained.  He couldn’t stay still without anything to do long enough to pose and people always shouted at him for it.

“I’d like a portrait of you reading,” Nico said.  “You may sit and keep yourself entertained with a book.  You look pretty when you read.”

Will’s mouth felt dry.  He tried to think of something to say, but all that came to mind was, “Thank you.”

“I always think you’re pretty,” Nico said.  He put his knee on the seat beside Will and his forearm by Will’s shoulder on the back of his armchair.  “Everytime I look at you, I want to kiss you.”

Will swallowed and his book fell forgotten on his lap.  When Nico’s fingers grazed his jaw, Will closed his eyes and tilted his chin up.  He felt Nico’s hot breath against his lips, then—

Across the room, Hestia cleared her throat.  “Your Highness?” she said.

Will quickly pulled away while Nico turned to glare at their chaperone, but obediently moved to sit in the chair beside Will’s.  He made it very clear that he wasn’t pleased, however; he slumped into his seat, crossed his arms, and grumbled to himself incoherently.  Will bit his lip to suppress a grin.  Nico could sometimes act like a spoiled child, but Will didn’t mind.  He even found it endearing.  Nico was rebellious but good-hearted, which made his defiance entertaining rather than annoying.  When Will gently put his hand on Nico’s elbow to soothe him, Nico relaxed so immediately that Will felt warm with joy.  Although his moods were sometimes amusing, it made Will happy to know that he was able to calm his fiancé.

Hestia must have also found it entertaining, because she politely stifled a giggle behind her hand.

“Don’t laugh at me,” Nico demanded.

“I am trying my very hardest not to,” Hestia assured.

Hestia and Nico exchanged a glance that gave off an air of familiarity, and Will tilted his head curiously.  How could Hestia address Nico so casually?  Even Will, Nico’s fiancé, used formal language when speaking to him.  Although Nico had once mentioned that he and Hestia would occasionally chat, Will suspected there was far more to their relationship than Nico had let on.  “If you don’t mind me prying, how long have you known each other?” Will dared to ask.  “How did you meet?”

Nico and Hestia glanced at each other again before Nico said, “Almost ten years, I think.  She was a kitchen maid in the estate where I lived during the outbreak of the Scarlet Delirium.”

“I see,” Will said, but the answer only gave him more questions.  How did a kitchen maid become an aide to the Matestra and a friend of a prince?  Nico was always vague when the topic of his stay on the countryside was brought up, so Will was careful not to ask more questions than Nico was willing to answer.  He did wonder, however.

“One day, I will tell you the story,” Nico said, then he gestured to Will’s book.  “What are you reading?”

Will decided not to comment on Nico’s quick change of topic, but he noted to himself that he would have to ask Nico about his relationship with Hestia again later if he was willing to discuss it.  “It’s a collection of essays on theories of poverty,” Will answered.  “At the moment I’m reading ‘Concerning the Origins of Human Inequality’ by Penia.”

“I’ve read it,” Nico said with a nod.  “It contains some good points, but wasn’t very well-written.”

“Better than Euthenia, in my opinion,” Will said.  “At least Penia’s direct.  Euthenia somehow manages to fill entire pages without saying anything.”

“Oh, I hate reading Euthenia,” Nico agreed.  “You mustn’t tell Reyna, but I never finished ‘A Treatise on Economic Disparity.’”

Will laughed humorlessly.  “Truthfully, I think very few people other than Lady Reyna have finished it.  I did, but it took a month to get through it.  Personally, I prefer the works of Ma’at to either Penia or Euthenia.”

“Ma’at?” Nico asked, the syllables sounding awkward on his tongue.  “I’m not familiar with name.”

“She is an Aegyptian theorist,” Will explained.  “I was fortunate enough to attend a lecture she gave at the Expo last summer.”

“Ah,” said Nico.  “I forgot that you spoke Aegyptian.”

“Yes, Your Highness.  Many of the most brilliant scholars in the world come from Aegyptia.  I have access to translated works, but sometimes ideas are lost in translation.  Master Asclepius is fluent in Aegyptian and encouraged me to learn the language.  Which reminds me: the Venadican choir and orchestra are preparing to perform an Aegyptian opera.  Opera is only just starting to become popular in Aegyptia and the blend of traditional Aegyptian music with Romanus opera style is fascinating.  Many musicians in the orchestra have even learned Aegyptian instruments just to perform it.  The parts I have heard are brilliant.”

“Then you haven’t seen the opera in its entirety?” Nico asked.

“No; the show doesn’t begin until after you leave,” Will said.  “But if you’d like, I can arrange for us to watch a rehearsal.  It won’t be a polished performance, but it would still be nice.  We would have the theater to ourselves.”

“I would love to,” Nico said.  “What is the story about?”

“It is the story of the king of their gods, Ra.  I can find a collection of Aegyptian stories for you, if you would like.  There’s an excellent translation of poems you might enjoy.”

When Nico answered that yes, he would like that, Will offered Nico his arm and led him through the aisles, Hestia walking quietly behind them as she read her own book.  Asterion remained behind dozing until they got far enough away for him to feel obligated to get up and follow his master.  Nico occupied himself by examining the titles on the spines while Will searched.

“I thought the Palatium de Divitae had a good library, but I was mistaken,” Nico mused.  “You must love this place.”

“I can spend entire days here,” Will answered.  “I may have even fallen asleep here once or twice.”

Nico laughed softly.  “Some of these books look like they’ve been here for centuries,” he went on.  “They must have been here even before the Scatinavian invasions.” Will heard the slide of Nico taking a book from the shelves looked over in time to see him blush and frantically shove it away again.

“Is that Sappho?” Will asked, glancing at the print on the cover.

“I didn’t mean to—”

“I like Sappho.  Her work is so interesting, don’t you think?”

Nico stopped trying to shove the book away and looked at Will curiously.  “Interesting?” he asked.

“Of course,” Will said.  “She was banished from the sorority for writing love poetry and breaking her vows.  Don’t you think that’s at least somewhat interesting?  Even today, her life and her poetry are surrounded by debate.”

“Oh,” Nico said slowly.  “So you don’t think it’s...well, scandalous?”

“Certainly it’s scandalous, but her poetry is still rich in artistic and literary value.  She’s frank and her depictions are so vivid that her work is still banned in some areas, but it was her poetry that brought to public attention that sometimes, sorors fall in love, and when they do, it’s passionate and painful.”  For a long time, Will had suspected that there was more to Emmie and Jo’s relationship than solely friendship.  There was a subtle dynamic between them that he, Cal, and Leo had picked up on over time, but the three of them had agreed to protect Emmie and Jo’s secret.  Will suspected that his aunt was deliberately turning a blind eye to it, but she wouldn’t be able to continue to do so if someone reported it to her directly.  The Soror’s Oath was sacred; breaking it was a serious offence.  Will wasn’t certain exactly what would happen to Emmie and Jo if there relationship was discovered.  They would be expelled from the Sorority, but he wasn’t naive enough to hope that would be the end of it.  Although the Sorority rarely condoned the death penalty—there had only been one formal death sentence in the Romanus Terris during Will’s lifetime—that was little comfort to Will.  The kind of public ridicule and ostracism that would come from being excommunicated did not seem to be much kinder than a death sentence.  Will didn’t want to see what happened to Sappho happen to Emmie and Jo.

“I’m surprised you have read Sappho,” Will said, trying to forget about how much danger Emmie and Jo could be in.  “I was under the impression that her work is still banned in many places in Pluto.”

“The only time Sappho was ever mentioned in my lessons was when my tutor expressly forbade me to read her work,” Nico said as he leafed through the pages.  “Naturally, when I stumbled upon a collection of Sappho’s poetry a few years later, I read it anyway.  And I was horrified by it.”

Will laughed quietly.  It was very like Nico to be both intrigued and scandalized by the work of Sappho.  Nico’s opinion could be difficult to predict and often depended on how rebellious he was feeling that day.

“And are you still horrified?” Will asked.

“Maybe.  But look at this.” Nico stepped closer so that Will could see the page he was looking at before he started to recite it outloud.

“Your lovely laughter, which, as it wafts by, sets the heart in my rib cage fluttering; if I glance at you even a moment, I can’t say a thing,

and my tongue stiffens into silence, thin flames underneath my skin prickle and spark, a rush of blood booms in my ears, and then my eyes go dark,

and sweat pours coldly over me, and all my body trembles, suddenly paler than summer grass am I, and I appear to have nearly died.

“How can I hate poetry that is so beautiful?” Nico asked.  “Yes, it’s horrifying, but exhilarating.  And it’s less shocking to me now that I’m in love.”

Will had expected the sentence to end with “now that I’m older,” so it took him a moment to process what Nico had actually said.  He felt his face burn in embarrassment when he figured it out and he couldn’t help but wonder if Nico had said it just to see his reaction.  Will thought he would laugh at his embarrassment, but Nico took a step closer instead.  “You make my heart race so fast that it hurts,” he said.  “I sometimes become so nervous around you that I can’t speak.  My mouth gets dry.  I can barely think.  I feel like I’ve lost my mind.  Do you ever feel that way?  Do you ever feel like your skin is on fire?  Does your heart ever beat so hard that you fear it might burst?”

“I do not think I have to fear that my organs will spontaneously rupture,” Will blurted out.

Nico opened his mouth to say something, but then stopped.  For a second, he looked confused, then few indecipherable expressions flickered across his face before he settled on a grin.  “Will, I swear to the gods,” he laughed.

While Will hadn’t actually been trying to make Nico laugh, he decided to pretend that he had indeed made a witty remark rather than the first comment his garbled mind could think of.  “It’s the part you read first that I liked the most,” Will said, tapping the book in Nico’s hands. “‘Your lovely laughter, which, as it wafts by, sets the heart in my rib cage fluttering.’  I am sure that my heart is perfectly healthy, but it’s true that it beats harder for the sound of your laughter.  I want to make you laugh every day.”

Nico looked at Will quietly for a moment before carefully closing the book.  “And I like your voice,” he said, running his thumb over Will’s lower lip.  “It’s warm.  Soothing.  I want to hear to your voice every day.”

Will reached up to hold Nico’s hand steady and kissed the back of his fingers.  “I want to kiss you every day,” he whispered.

“Then I think you ought to make up for all the days you missed these past few months,” Nico said.  He carelessly tucked the book in the shelves and grabbed the front of Will’s coat to pull him closer, then—

“Good evening, Your Highness; Lord William,” said a devastatingly familiar voice.  Will and Nico slowly turned to find Reyna standing at the end of the aisle beside Hestia and Asterion, her arms folded and her expression like stone.  Hestia was wise enough to take Reyna’s appearance as her cue to leave, but Nico and Will weren’t so fortunate.

“I think it’s time for you to escort His Highness to his chambers for the night, Lord William.”  Her voice was clipped and cold, like the soft but ominous rumble of faraway thunder before a storm.  Will would have preferred it if she’d shouted.  Instead, she stepped aside and motioned for them to go ahead of her.  Will quickly scrambled to put the book of poems away properly, hoping that Reyna hadn’t noticed what they were looking at.  The entire way to Nico’s chambers, he felt like her eyes were stabbing into their backs.  Apparently she liked to keep them on edge, because Reyna waited until they were outside Nico’s door to lecture them.

“Lady Hestia has informed me that she refuses to chaperone for you again,” she said.

Nico gasped.  “But—”

“Perhaps if you had behaved yourself, she would have felt more comfortable being around the two you,” Reyna snapped.  “Instead, I heard that you attempted to climb on your fiancé, then proceeded to read him Sappho, of all things.”

“‘Climb on’ is a highly exaggerated phrase—”

“So for the rest of our stay in Venadica, you will remain with me at all times.  If I must attend meetings for an entire day, then you must attend them with me.  The two of you may sit in the corner of the room and whisper about Sapphic love poems as much as your hearts desire, but under no circumstances are the both you to leave my sight at the same time.”

“Reyna—”

“No arguments,” Reyna interrupted.  “Say goodnight, Your Highness.”

Nico sighed and turned back to Will and despite her anger, Reyna stepped back to give them some privacy.  “I wish we could marry sooner,” Nico said.  “I hate being separated.  I miss you too much and I’m tired of being forced to listen to chaperones.”

“It won’t be long before I join you in Divitia,” Will said.  “Then we’ll be together so much that I worry you’ll tire of me.”

“Impossible,” said Nico.  “I will have the best husband in history.”

Will laughed shyly.  “I love you,” he said as he traced Nico’s cheekbones with the back of his fingers.  Nico’s cheeks darkened, but he held Will’s eyes.  Will stepped closer.  “May I...?”

“Yes,” Nico interrupted eagerly.  He blushed harder and averted his eyes when Will chuckled.

“I didn’t finish my question,” Will said.

“I know what you were going to ask.”

“Are you sure?”

“Well, I....”  Nico frowned.  “Surely I wasn’t wrong?”

Will smiled.  “You weren’t wrong,” he assured.  “But you really ought to listen to the whole question before answering.  What if I’d asked for permission to keep Asterion or throw you in a lake?  I once ruined an entire day’s work because I didn’t listen to Master Asclepius properly and assumed he wanted the particles absorbed in water rather than adsorbed from water, so I didn’t prepare the charcoal samples and—”

“Will, please.”

“My apologies.  I...what were we talking about?”

“You were going to kiss me.”

“That’s right,” Will said with a grin.  “Except I didn’t actually say—”

“Will.  I have been waiting very patiently for you to kiss me.  Are you laughing at me?  Don’t laugh at me!  Gods, Will, I swear....”  Nico grabbed the front of Will’s coat to pull him into a kiss.  Will laughed against Nico’s lips, but then Nico kissed him again, and then again, and Will suddenly wondered why he’d wasted valuable time teasing Nico when he could have been kissing him instead.

Will wasn’t sure if they ever would have stopped had Reyna not interrupted.  “Your Highness, that’s enough,” she said.  “Bid Lord William goodnight.  Now.”

Nico pulled back far enough for Will to see his displeased expression.  “I think you may have earned another lecture,” Will whispered.

Nico smirked.  “I can handle a lecture if it means I can kiss you,” he said.  To illustrate his point, he leaned closer to kiss Will’s cheek.

But the kiss didn’t come.

“Meet me later tonight,” Nico whispered against his skin.

Will shivered as Nico’s breath tickled his neck.  His knees felt like they’d crumble beneath him and he wanted to go limp against Nico’s shoulder.  “Where?” he asked.

“By the fountain in Aether’s square,” Nico answered.  “That’s where we first met, isn’t it?”

Will swallowed and nodded.  He didn’t trust his voice to remain steady.

“I’ll be there as soon as I’m able to get away.  Don’t make me wait.” As Nico pulled back, he brushed his lips against Will’s cheek.  Will wanted to reach out and keep him from leaving—and perhaps steal a dozen more kisses—but he felt frozen.  He could only blush when Nico offered him a secretive smile and turned away before disappearing into his room.

*   *   *

Nico hadn’t expected Reyna to be so strict.  Despite her declaration to not be lenient after the maze incident in Delphi, Reyna seemed to be getting lighter on Nico’s courting restrictions.  Nico had discovered that Reyna could rarely refuse him when he looked at her as innocently as possible and said, “but it would make me so happy, Reyna.”  In fact, it was so effective that during the journey from Neptune to Pluto, Nico had once even managed to get Reyna to agree to join Hedge on the bench at the back of the carriage for a while, leaving Nico and Will alone inside.  He and Will had sat opposite each other at first, shyly talking about unimportant things.  After a few awkward pauses, Nico had gotten up to sit beside Will and then kissed him.  They’d proceeded to spend most of their allotted alone time kissing.

Even Hedge appeared to be warming up to Nico’s fiancé.  One day during the journey to Pluto, Hedge aggressively informed Will that if he even thought about unbuttoning Nico’s breeches, he’d find himself chained up to a tree naked for a night—an image that Nico might have liked a bit too much.  Will, eternally polite and pleasant, had quite sincerely told Hedge that he had only the highest respect for Nico and would never dream of doing anything that Hedge would disapprove of.  Then Will had looked at Nico with the softest, purest smile and Hedge had nearly burst into tears.  He’d reached up and patted Will’s shoulder, saying, “good man, Lord Solace, you’re a good man,” and then he’d walked away, sniffling and dabbing at his eyes.  Nico would forever deny having been a bit disappointed when Will assured Hedge that his intentions were entirely pure.  The thought had occurred to him that if any breeches were unbuttoned, it was much more likely to be Nico who was unbuttoning them.  He’d quickly buried the thought in embarrassment, but he’d be lying if he said he’d never thought about it again.

Truthfully, Nico thought about that sort of thing fairly often.  Nearly every night during that journey, Nico had lain awake in bed for hours, staring at unfamiliar ceilings and thinking about Will.  On several occasions, he’d seriously considered sneaking out to visit his fiancé, maybe even to spend the night in his room.  He’d tried to convince himself that he would be content with merely lying beside Will, but then his imagination would get the better of him and he’d end up lying on his belly and whimpering into his pillow as he wished away his arousal.  He sometimes even dreamed about Will—strange, heated, impure dreams that he would never admit to outloud.  And as shameful as those dreams were, Nico could not deny enjoying them.  He enjoyed them quite a bit, in fact.

Although Nico knew restrictions were necessary, he’d come to the conclusion that it was alright to push the boundaries a little bit.  Nico had once again decided that he would kiss his fiancé as much as he liked.  If that meant he had to sneak out of the palace late at night, then so be it.

Escaping wasn’t difficult, but Nico ran into a few problems along the way.  There was a guard posted outside his door at all times, so Nico was forced to exit through the window.  Asterion wouldn’t stop whining every time Nico tried to leave.  Worrying that the dog would alert someone to his absence, Nico was forced to bring Asterion along with him.  Although Nico was on the ground floor, there was still a raised balcony outside his room.  It wouldn’t have been difficult to climb if it hadn’t been for Asterion, who was starting to have hip trouble in his old age.  It was a bit of a challenge to carry the dog when he kept wiggling.  Then, after taking a few wrong turns in the garden, Nico managed to navigate his way to the fountain in Aether’s square, where he found Will waiting for him as planned.  He looked happy and beautiful with the yellow light of gas lamps dancing in his eyes.  It made Nico want to kiss him, so he did.

“I wasn’t expecting you to bring a friend,” Will commented, gesturing to Asterion.

“I hadn’t planned to, but he insisted,” Nico explained.  “Have you been waiting long?”

Will laughed.  “Only fifteen years or so,” he said, looking at the stone faces of the goddesses adorning the fountain.  “When I first came to Venadica, I used to sit in this spot for hours every week and I’d imagine you coming to join me.  I had a plan to introduce you to all my friends and impress you by having so many.”

“I can’t believe that the memory of meeting me once as a child was so important to you,” Nico said.  “Are you sure you’re not lying just to flatter me?”

“Meeting royalty is always a memorable experience, Your Highness,” Will said.  “But what’s more memorable is when you fall instantly in love.  I thought you were amazing.”

“I must have thought very highly of you, as well,” Nico assured.

Will laughed.  “No, you pitied me,” he said.  “You were concerned that I didn’t have any friends and you thought that I didn’t have a tongue, then you lectured me for being a clumsy dancer.  But I was so smitten that for years, I’d come here and imagine meeting you again.  I was always a bit disappointed that you didn’t show.”

“I’m here now,” Nico said.

“Yes, you are,” Will agreed.  “In fact, you arranged to meet me here alone, scandalously late at night.  I can’t help thinking this is a very bad idea.”

“I know it is,” Nico admitted.  “But I don’t particularly care.  Do you?”

Will grinned.  “No.”

“Good,” Nico said, stepping closer and reaching for Will’s hand.  “Because right now, I would very much like to be alone with my fiancé.  I haven’t seen you in months.”

Will cocked his head to the side curiously.  “But we’ve been apart longer before,” he pointed out.

Nico pursed his lips in frustration.  As much as he adored Will, he couldn’t help feeling impatient when Will didn’t understand his intentions.  Nico had always had trouble finding the right words to express how he felt and what he wanted, but he’d been working to improve that for Will.  He was doing his very best to be honest and express himself clearly, so it seemed that the very least Will could do was work a bit harder to understand.  Sometimes, Will could be a bit too innocent—too chaste, too pure....

I can change that, Nico immediately thought, then he flushed as he vividly imagined himself sullying Will’s virtue.

“We were together for a long time this spring,” Nico stammered.  “It felt strange to suddenly not be together and—”

Will squeezed Nico’s hand.  Nico fell silent almost instantaneously when he looked up and found Will smiling at him.  “I know, Your Highness,” Will said.  “I was teasing.”

“Oh,” Nico breathed.  So maybe Will was working harder to understand.

He noticed that the corners of Will’s eyes wrinkled when he smiled.  It was distracting.  Nico wanted to reach out and gently run his thumb over Will’s golden eyelashes.  He wanted to trace the lines of Will’s face.  He wanted to touch Will.  Anywhere.  Everywhere .

“Would you like to go to the laboratories?” Will said, breaking their eye contact and pointing the opposite direction.  “I’d love to show you around my workspace again.”

Nico sighed.  Then again, maybe Will couldn’t read Nico’s intentions at all.  He’d wanted to kiss Will, not tour his lab.  He pretended to happily agree anyway.

“I actually haven’t spent as much time as I usually do in the labs lately,” Will admitted as he offered Nico his arm.

“Why not?” Nico asked.  “Has there been trouble?”  Will had explained that research could often be stalled if there was not enough financial support.  He’d mentioned several projects that he and Asclepius had wanted to take on, but were unable to pursue due to a lack of funding.  Sometimes funders were uninterested in his research or prefered to invest in different projects.  Will had even once mentioned that he worried Asclepius was being funded less frequently now that he was in his older years and had started to acquire a reputation for being forgetful and scatterbrained.

But Will shook his head.  “No; no trouble,” he answered.  “I’m still assisting Asclepius and Hygeia in the infirmary, but lately I haven’t had much time to spend on other medical studies.  I’ve been devoting more time than usual to my other studies—trade, history, political theory, and such.”

“Why?” Nico asked.  Although Will was enthusiastic about all his studies, he prefered to focus on healing and medicine.

Will bowed his head and blushed, then looked at Nico out of the corner of his eye and smiled shyly.  “Because in less than one year, I’ll marry a prince,” he answered quietly.  “I want to be a good consort for you.”

Nico wanted to tell Will that he already thought he was perfect, but his mouth felt dry.  It was impossible for Nico to say something so embarrassing.

No, Nico reminded himself.  It was very much possible; he was just afraid.

“You’re already perfect,” Nico forced himself to say.  It came out sounding stiff and uncomfortable, but he meant it.  “But thank you,” he added, so that he sounded a bit more grateful.  He was so flattered that he wanted nothing more than to pull Will close and kiss him.

Admittedly, he always wanted to kiss Will, but he was still flattered.

The summer night air was pleasant; cooler than it was in the heat of the day, but still warm.  Nico couldn’t decide if Will’s body heat was soothing or thrilling.  He teetered between feeling calm and feeling like he was on fire, but the longer they walked, the more he leaned towards fire.  That made him quite irritated when Will started babbling about medicine instead of kissing him after they got to the lab.

It was nice to see the way Will lit up, however, so Nico allowed Will to ramble on for a while.  He smiled, nodded along, and tried to pay attention, but his thoughts kept drifting to other things Will could do with his very nice lips.

Finally, Nico put his hand on Will’s arm to stop him.  “I think you should kiss me,” he said.

Will, who was holding a bundle of plants in each hand, tilted his head to the side and looked confused.  “This doesn’t interest you?” he asked in a hurt voice.

Nico cursed Will for being so adorable.  “Of course I’m interested,” he said gently.  “But you can tell me about this another time.  Right now I’d rather take advantage of the fact that we don’t have any chaperones and—”  Nico broke off when he noticed Will smirking.  “You’re teasing me again,” he realized.  “Gods, Will, why do you do these things to me?”

“I admit that I can be a bit slow to pick up on your intentions, but I’m not completely hopeless,” Will said, putting the plants back down on the work table behind Nico.

“You should focus less on teasing me and more on kissing me,” Nico said, running his fingers down the lapel of Will’s coat.  “Have I made myself clear enough for you?”

“What I don’t understand is why you haven’t just kissed me yet,” Will said.

“Gods, Will, you weren’t always this difficult,” Nico growled, but he tugged Will close and kissed him anyway.  Will’s laugh felt nice when it tickled his lips.  His laughter was always contagious, even when it made it difficult to coordinate a proper kiss.

Nico heard Asterion whimper in the doorway, so he cracked his eyes open to check on him.  The dog was watching with pathetic, droopy eyes, and his tail started to wag when he noticed Nico paying attention to him.  Will broke away from the kiss and followed Nico’s eyes to Asterion.  “Is—” he started, but Nico forced him to turn back and kissed him again.

“Ignore him,” Nico said against Will’s lips.  “He’ll be fine.” Asterion whimpered again, but Nico just waved in his direction to silence him before focusing on Will’s kisses again.

That time, they didn’t laugh.  Nico felt unbelievably good, like a part of him that had long been empty was suddenly whole now that he had Will.  But he needed more.  Nico wrapped his arms around Will’s neck and pulled him closer.  He pushed his chest against Will’s, hoping that Will would touch him back, but Will’s hands remained lightly on Nico’s upper arms.  “Hold me,” Nico mumbled between kisses.

“How?” Will asked.

Nico was so frustrated that he almost bit Will.  “I don’t know,” he growled.  “Just hold me.”

Will’s hands hesitantly reached for Nico’s waist before he slid his arms around Nico’s back.  Then Nico hungrily pushed against Will’s lips and Will pushed back, tightening Nico inside his embrace.  The pressure of Will’s arms around his waist, the feeling of Will’s lips on his, the heat of Will’s breath...it was too good, too intoxicating.  Nico tugged Will closer and Will stumbled forward, pressing Nico against the table behind him.

“Too tight,” Will gasped, tugging at one of Nico’s arms around his neck.  Nico mumbled an apology when he realized he’d been choking Will, but didn’t stop kissing him.  Will didn’t stop, either.

He felt hot, so hot, like he was burning alive and he needed Will to live.  A voice in his head growled for more like a mad, predatory beast.  His thoughts were filthy and scandalous, yet Nico wasn’t bothered by that.  He wanted to be filthy.  He wanted to make Will filthy.  He wanted to shred Will’s clothes off his body and touch his skin, then put his mouth on Will and taste him.  And Will’s legs, his legs— Nico wanted to look at those legs.  He would get his hands on Will’s thighs and feel the strong muscles working beneath his skin, then he would bite them and listen to Will’s responding cries of pleasure.

Nico imagined Will underneath him, legs wrapped around Nico’s waist while Nico pounded into him.  Or perhaps Will could be astride him, his thighs on either side of Nico’s hips.  And what would it be like to feel the force in those powerful legs when Will took him?  How would it feel when Will slammed inside?  Would Will drive into him hard and fast?  Would he make Nico scream?

Nico gasped against Will’s lips at the thought.  More, growled the hungry beast inside him.  Nico pulled Will closer, pressed their bodies against each other—

It took far too long for Nico to realize his mistake.  So occupied with his obscene desires, Nico had neglected to consider how his body might react to his fantasies.  He was unable to suppress a pathetic whimper when Will’s thigh pressed against his groin, sending a wave of heat scorching through his entire body.  Delirious with pleasure, Nico rutted against Will’s leg once before the belated horor finally set in.

The fantasies he entertained about his fiancé were crude and shameful enough, but at least Nico’s thoughts were private.  He could imagine the most debauched scenarios without revealing them to anyone, keeping his name clean even if his mind was corrupted by wanton desires.  Nico had assuaged the feelings of guilt and shame with assurances that it was all in his head and that he would never act on them.  And yet, at his first opportunity to be alone with his fiancé without chaperones to control his behavior, Nico’s filthy desires had taken over his body.  He was unmarried—an unmarried prince, at that.  His behavior was unacceptable, disgusting, vile...and it felt good, so very good.

Nico quickly pushed Will away before the cloud of lust settled back over him.  He prayed to the gods that Will hadn’t noticed his body’s predicament, but it was clear that Will had.  His eyes were wide, his face was red, and his gaze briefly flickered to Nico’s breeches.  Thankfully, Nico’s waistcoat was long enough to hide his problem, but that offered Nico little comfort.

“It’s not...I’m not...I didn’t mean....” Nico stuttered.  “Please forgive me.  I didn’t mean for that to happen.”

Will stared wordlessly and Nico had to bite his tongue to keep himself from rambling apologies for being so rude, knowing that he’d only make it worse.  After a second of silence that felt like a century, Will cleared his throat.  “It’s quite alright, Your Highness. It’s a typical, automatic reaction of the male body in...um...in that sort of situation.”

Male body.  Will had a male body.  A very nice male body.  A male body that must have those same ‘typical reactions.’  Nico wanted to see Will react that way.  He wanted to make Will react that way.  He wanted to touch Will, to tear off Will’s clothes, to run his hands over Will’s bare skin, and to bite....

Nico blinked away the vivid, enticing scenes infiltrating his mind and realized that Will was still talking.  “—so no apologies are necessary,” Will was saying.  “It was unintentional, I understand.”

It had not been completely unintentional.  The reaction of his body had been automatic, and rutting against Will’s thigh had been an almost reflexive response to the pleasure of being touched, but the thoughts that had led Nico to his predicament in the first place?  Those had been very much intentional.

Nico decided that there was no reason to correct him.

“I...” Nico started, but he couldn’t think of anything to say.  Will didn’t ask him to continue.  In fact, Will didn’t say anything at all.  Nico wanted to run back to the Sororal Palace and hide under the blankets on his bed forever.

And then a voice called, “Will, is that you?”

Will and Nico’s heads both snapped to the door.  The awkward tension fizzled away, but was quickly replaced with terror as Nico realized they were about to be caught.  Will glanced at Nico and looked like he was about to say something, but then he hurried to the door and left Nico alone in the room.

“Aw, look at you dressed in your fancy clothes,” cooed the voice.  “I saw the light on from the woodshop and I thought it might be you.  Have you got a minute to help me with—why is there a dog in here?”

“I...I don’t know,” Nico heard Will say.  “I’ll come if you’ll give me a moment to clean the lab.”

“I can help.”

“I can do it on my own.  Just go back to the shop and I’ll—”

“Why are you standing like that?  Are you hiding something in there?”

“Leo—”

“Let me—”

“Leo, no—”

Nico didn’t realize that he ought to hide until it was too late and Will’s friend had already poked his head inside the room.

“Oh,” said Will’s friend.  “That’s interesting.”

“Leo,” Will said, pulling him from the doorway.  “Please give me a moment and then I’ll come help you in the shop.”

“Right, yeah, of course,” said Leo blankly.  “Take your time.  You have to...make sure the lab is clean....”

“Leave,” Will ordered.

Nico hated his body and he hated that he couldn’t help shivering at Will’s tone.  He’d never heard Will use such a commanding voice before.  It opened up all sorts of new scenarios for Nico to imagine later on.

With Leo’s footsteps fading away, the room fell silent again.  Nico pretended to be looking at the floor and prayed that Will would follow after his friend quickly so that Nico could wallow in misery alone.

But instead, Will cleared his throat and stepped back inside the room to approach Nico again.  “I’ll escort you back,” Will said.  When Nico glanced up, Will’s cheeks were pink and his gaze fixed on his shoes.

He doesn’t want to be around me anymore, Nico realized.  He’d made Will uncomfortable.  He’d disgusted Will.

“I can do it on my own,” Nico said.  “Your friend is waiting for you.”

Will shook his head, but still didn’t meet Nico’s eyes.  “I can’t leave you to walk through the city alone at night.”

“I have Asterion,” Nico pointed out.

“At least allow me to escort you to the entrance of the palace,” said Will.  “I’d like to see you there safely, if only for my own peace of mind.” Will’s eyes finally flickered up and he held Nico’s gaze for a second before blushing and looking away again.

Nico sighed.  “To the palace,” he agreed.

Will offered Nico his arm, but Nico knew it was only to be polite.  The entire left side of his body felt like it was burning with Will next to him, like Will was sending over waves of fire to sear off whatever Nico’s touch was contaminating him with.

They didn’t talk.  The only sounds were their footsteps and Asterion panting beside them.  Nico’s throat itched and he wanted to cough, but he didn’t dare make a noise.  He only wanted the walk to be over as quickly as possible.  It seemed that the gods had cursed him by making it stretch on for an eternity.

“I’ll meet you again in the morning,” Will said when they finally reached the palace.  “Sleep well, Your Highness.”

“Sleep well,” Nico answered.

He made to turn away and leave, but Will touched his shoulder and held him back.  Before Nico could even react, Will brushed his lips against Nico’s cheek.  Nico felt a spark of hope, realizing that perhaps he hadn’t disgusted Will—but hope was quickly replaced by dread, because Will’s kiss was so chaste that it felt like a rejection.

Will turned away first, but Nico didn’t wait for him to leave before he escaped with Asterion back to the side of the palace to climb back into his room through the window.  He quickly picked Asterion up and climbed onto the balcony before helping him back inside, then he ducked into the room to hide in his blankets and pity himself for the rest of his life.

But then a voice said, “Perhaps it would have been easier to use the door.”

Nico whirled around to find Reyna standing in the dark, the moonlight illuminating the hard, disapproving lines of her face.  Her arms were crossed and her lips were pursed, her dark eyes burning with anger.

“I was...I...” Nico started, but he faltered when Reyna crossed the room to stand in front of him.  Her glare felt even more crippling up close.

“Hedge had the sense to check your chambers at the start of his watch,” Reyna said.  “Imagine how worried he was to find you missing.  For all we knew, you could have been kidnapped.”

“I wasn’t—”

“I know you weren’t.  Fortunately for your reputation, I assumed that you’d run off with your fiancé and I kept your disappearance quiet.  When your guards searched the palace without finding you, I nearly sent out the city’s night watch.  Imagine the scandal it would have caused if you’d been discovered alone with a suitor at night.”

“Reyna—”

“I won’t cover for you again,” Reyna interrupted.  “I shouldn’t have covered for you at all!  What if I’d been wrong?  What if something had happened to you and I didn’t do anything about it?  Do you have any idea how dangerous it is to be out after dark in such a large city?  Even Venadica has its crime, Your Highness.  I need to be able to trust that you take your own safety seriously.”

“I know,” Nico said before Reyna could lecture him further.  “I won’t do it again.”

Reyna looked both skeptical and perplexed by Nico’s lack of resistance.

“I learned my lesson,” Nico added.  “From now until the wedding, I’ll be sure to stay with a chaperone every time I meet Will.  I won’t sneak away again.”

Reyna drummed her fingers against her elbow.  She looked him over silently for a moment, then pointed to a chair by the window and said, “Sit.”

Nico wanted nothing more than to fall into his bed and wallow in self-pity until the morning, but he obeyed.  Reyna lit a standing gas lamp in the corner of the room before joining him.  She did not sit; instead, she stood over him, her expression still so harsh and disappointed that Nico slumped into his chair in defeat.

“Your posture,” Reyna reminded, and Nico forced himself to sit up straight.  “Tell me exactly what happened,” she said.

Nico shook his head.  It had been so mortifying, so unspeakable, and he had no desire to relive it.  He’d never tell anyone what had happened.

“You won’t tell my father about this, will you?” he asked.

“I am obligated to report to His Majesty,” Reyna said.

“But—”

“I have already kept enough secrets for you,” she reminded.

“Please, Reyna,” Nico said.  “I won’t ask you to do this again.  Telling my father won’t accomplish anything other than making me more miserable.  I’ve learned my lesson and I won’t cause any more trouble—I swear it.”

Reyna was quiet as she carefully looked him over.  “Alright.  I’ll trust that you are being sincere.”

Nico let out a breath in relief.

“But,” Reyna went on, and Nico tensed again.  “If something went wrong while you were off frolicking with your fiancé—” Nico tried to object to the word ‘frolicking,’ but Reyna ignored him, “—then I need to know what happened.”

Nico felt the blood drain from his face.  “No.  I can’t say.”

Reyna sighed and when she spoke again, her voice was softer.  “You won’t be in any trouble, Your Highness.  I only need you to tell me if Lord William did anything that I, as a chaperone, should be aware of.”

Nico frowned.  “What? Will?  No!  Do you think Will is the most problematic of the two of us?”

“No, but I assumed you would be boasting about it if it had been your fault.  Was I wrong?”

“It wasn’t exactly my fault, either,” Nico said defensively.  “I didn’t mean for it to happen, I just...just...Will said it was normal!  An automatic response!”

Reyna’s eyes widened before Nico realized he’d said too much.  “Do you mean...” she trailed off and vaguely gestured to Nico’s lower body.  “And it was unplanned?”

Nico’s face burned, but he couldn’t deny it.  “I do have some shame,” he snapped.  “I didn’t sneak out with the intention of bedding him.  I just...got excited.”

“And Lord William noticed?”

Nico whimpered.

It was rare to hear Reyna laugh.  While she smiled at Nico and sometimes softly chuckled, full laughs did not happen often.  But when Nico was unable to do more than whine pathetically, Reyna laughed so hard that she clutched her sides and doubled over.

“Stop laughing at me!” Nico demanded, but Reyna did not obey.

“Impossibile,” she said.  “You see: laughing, much like the engorgement a certain part of your anatomy, is an automatic response to certain stimuli.  You cannot order me to stop laughing any more than you can order your physiology to stop functioning.”

“I don’t appear to have very good control over my anatomy,” Nico grumbled.

“I would say that you got what you deserved, but I must admit...that is too severe a punishment,” she said, dabbing at her eyes.

Nico was outraged—was she crying from laughing so hard?  “And that is why I’m promising to behave!” he snapped.  “I have suffered enough already, so stop laughing!”

“I shouldn’t taunt, I know,” Reyna said.  She took a deep breath and used her sleeve to wipe tears from her eyes.  Sighing, Nico pulled a handkerchief from the pocket in his coat and offered it to her.  She thanked him and tried to compose herself.

“It’s nice to know that the most embarrassing moment of my life offers you some amusement,” Nico said sarcastically when she offered the handkerchief back.  “At least some good came out of it; that makes it entirely worthwhile.  Now do you believe that I will behave?”

“I believe you for now,” Reyna said.  “Once the embarrassment wears off, I’m sure you’ll go back to causing trouble.”

“I wouldn’t—actually, that’s true.  But for now, I am mortified and you ought to console me.”

“I’m sure your fiancé understands your automatic anatomical troubles.  After all, he has the same equipment and he is a student of medicine.”

“Thank you, Reyna,” Nico grumbled, not feeling any better.  “But you won’t tell my father, will you?”

“No, I won’t tell your father,” Reyna promised.  “That would be uncomfortable for everyone.  But that being said, there is no need to be ashamed of your feelings, Your Highness.  Of course I have to make sure you behave a certain way, but that does not mean that your love for him is shameful.  Now, I may be from Mars, but I understand that Pluto is more strict about this sort of thing than Jupiter is.  I respect Pluto’s modesty and I have chaperoned you with Plutonian standards, but I do worry about what sort of pressure that has put on you.  I was not in charge of your sexual education—”

Nico flushed.  “Reyna, must we talk about—”

“Yes, Your Highness.  I think it is very important that we discuss this, no matter how uncomfortable it is.  As I was saying, I was not in charge of your sexual education and I do not know how you were taught, but I suspect you were led to believe that desires were shameful.  Is that correct?”

Still embarrassingly red in the face, Nico nodded.

“Then allow me to assure you that there is absolutely nothing shameful about your body or your physical desires.  No, I can’t allow you to act on them until you are married, but you ought to know that there is nothing wrong with your feelings.  They are perfectly normal.”

Nico sank into his chair.  “I shouldn’t think about Will that way.  It’s disrespectful.”

“I do not believe you would would ever want to hurt or disrespect him.  It seems much more plausible to say that he was surprised, not offended.”

“I suppose so.  But...it’s disgusting.”

“It’s not,” Reyna said.  “And I cannot speak for Lord William, but I think I can promise that he does not find you or your attraction to him disgusting.”

“Reyna, I just can’t stop thinking about him and it scares me.  Then I started feeling like this and I was so afraid that he’d find out, but now he has found out and I don’t know what to do.  What am I going to do next time I see him?  What if it happens again?”

“It won’t happen again because from now on, I won’t let you out of my sight,” Reyna assured, with surprisingly little anger.  “Not only will you have to stay by my side for the remainder of this trip, I am also going to request that you are moved to a room on a higher floor to keep you from sneaking out the window.”

Nico sighed.  “I knew that was coming.”

“Then you know that you won’t get another chance to be alone with him until your wedding.  After that, I won’t stop you.”

He blushed and avoided Reyna’s eyes.

“As for tomorrow: you will smile and wish him a good morning,” Reyna continued.  “I will take you to a private balcony for breakfast.  I’ll give you enough space for you to talk with him openly.  It may be uncomfortable, but I want you to at least try.”

“I’d rather just stay in bed all day,” Nico muttered.

“When have I ever allowed you to do that?”

“I keep hoping.”

Reyna smiled at him fondly.  “We’ll worry about it tomorrow,” she said.  “For now, it’s best if you get some sleep.”

“I don’t know if I can,” Nico mumbled.

“Then at least rest,” Reyna said.  “And if my opinion is worth anything, I don’t believe that it will take long to work this out.”

*   *   *

Will wasn’t sure how Leo had gotten him to agree to help, but it was already in the early hours of the next day and Will was still locked up in one of the wood shops, working with Leo on a section of the spinning machine he and Calypso were inventing together.  Jo was helping them build it, but she had to take care of the children and Calypso had evening rehearsal for a show with the Venadican choir.  To Leo’s credit, he hadn’t mentioned the awkward scene he’d walked in on earlier in the evening—in fact, Leo had such a short attention span that Will wouldn’t have been surprised if he’d forgotten about it.  Still, Will was tired and his mind was still spinning from the incident with Nico.  He wanted nothing more than to go to bed.

“At least let me finish the roller,” Leo said when Will suggested they turn in for the night.

Will sighed but resigned himself to staying awake a while longer.  His arm was sore from spinning the lathe so Leo could carve one of the machine’s rollers.  The carpentry shop Leo liked to use had plenty of treadle lathes, but Leo claimed to prefer using the two-person one because his foot got tired from spinning it himself.  Will thought that was only an excuse so that he didn’t have to be in the shop on his own; despite his enthusiasm about eliminating the need for manual labor in favor of automatic machinery, Leo liked the company.  So Will was stuck with his friend in the carpentry shop late at night, nodding along sleepily while Leo shouted to be heard over the sound of the knife scraping against the wood.

“Hydraulic power is easier to harness, but soon the steam engine...Will?  Are you even listening?”

“I’m trying to,” Will answered.  “Leo, I’m meeting the Prince tomorrow and I’d like to at least get a bit of sleep.”

“Oh, fine,” Leo sighed, putting aside his knife.  “Jo is better at carpentry than I am, anyway.  I’ll ask for her help tomorrow.”

Will let his arm fall to his side, relieved to finally get a rest.  While Leo put away his tools, Will sat by Leo’s bench and let his eyes shut in exhaustion.  He could feel himself starting to drift to sleep.

Suddenly, against the back of his eyelids, Will saw Nico—Nico standing so close that their chests touched, Nico gazing at him with that odd, predatory look in his eyes, Nico kissing him, Nico’s face painted red in embarrassment after Will accidentally felt between his legs.

Will blushed and snapped his eyes back open.  As a student of medicine, he was rarely uncomfortable with any aspect of anatomy.  Will had also learned about breeding and seen the way animals behaved during their mating seasons while growing up near his family’s ranch.  Although many people around his age were embarrassed or aroused by the topic of physical excitement, Will rarely felt particularly bothered because he simply viewed it as a natural phenomenon.  Erections were the male body’s involuntary response to direct stimulation.  Nico’s reaction had been typical for someone of his sex, even indicative of good health.

Will couldn’t remember ever feeling so flustered over something as trivial as anatomy.  Although he had assured Nico that it was a physically normal reaction, he couldn’t help but think that it had been a bit more complex than an involuntary anatomical response.  There had been no “direct stimulation” prior to Will accidentally pressing against Nico; all they had done was kiss.  If Nico had felt aroused while kissing Will, the only explanation was that Nico was attracted to Will.

Of course Will had considered the fact that he and Nico would eventually enter into a sexual relationship, but he hadn’t put much thought into it.  It had been something in the back of his mind, something that seemed far off and not immediately important.  The only time Will had actually worried about it was when Octavian had mentioned offering Nico his “services”—which was, quite possibly, the most repulsive thought that had ever been forced into Will’s head.

But if Nico was attracted to Will, did that mean that Nico wanted to sleep with Will?  Nico had told Will that he loved him, but that didn’t necessarily imply he wanted to be with Will that way.  Or did it?  After all, Will had a tendency to misunderstand or even underestimate Nico’s feelings for him.

The idea had entered Will’s mind several times—mostly when his older siblings were teasing him about it—but Will couldn’t remember actively desiring Nico that way.  When Will touched himself, he sometimes considered the fact that he’d eventually touch Nico the same way, and the idea certainly hadn’t been unappealing.  Intimacy with Nico sounded nice.  Will would be happy to share that with Nico, if it would bring Nico pleasure.  The wedding was still months away, however, so there was no need to worry about it yet.  Will wouldn’t touch Nico that way before they married.

Of course, he knew that marriage was not a requirement for intimacy.  If Apollo’s complex web of lovers wasn’t enough evidence of that, Will was also an accidental witness of the fact that Cal and Leo were in a very active sexual relationship.  But Nico was a prince.  Cal and Leo didn’t have the same pressures that royalty would.

“Are you ready?” Leo asked, suddenly pulling Will from his thoughts.

“Right, of course,” Will said, getting to his feet and brushing off his breeches.  He sighed when he realized that he may very well have ruined his suit with the dust in the woodshop.

“So,” Leo started casually as they walked outside.  “Is there anything you’d like to share?”

“Not particularly,” Will said.  “Leo, do you remember the time that I went to your room without knocking and accidentally walked in on—”

“I try to forget,” Leo answered.

“What is...why...how do you...?”

Leo looked unimpressed.  “I think you know how it’s done, Will.”

“I don’t mean physically.  I mean...how did you know she wanted to?”

Leo laughed.  “I admit that I have trouble understanding other people, but Cal wasn’t shy.”

“How did you know you wanted to?”

“I don’t know; I just did.  I’ve been attracted to her for a long time, same as you and your prince.”

Will had been in love with Nico for a long time, not attracted to him, but he decided not to correct Leo.  “Sometimes he looks at me in an odd way, like you and Cal look at each other before you drag each other off somewhere alone,” Will said.  “And he kisses me a lot.  I’m just a bit confused—”

“What is there to be confused about?” Leo asked.  “I’m fairly certain that I witnessed something I wasn’t supposed to this evening.  He obviously wants you.”

Will frowned.

“Your body,” Leo explained.  “More specifically, your genitalia.”

“I understand that, Leo,” Will sighed.  “Today, he kissed me and I accidentally rubbed against his—”

“Gods, Will, I don’t need that much detail,” Leo interrupted.

“Right,” Will said, deciding to give up.  He wasn’t quite sure how to express what he was thinking and feeling, and Leo didn’t appear to understand.  He bid Leo goodnight and set off for the Palace on his own, still feeling confused.

Will had enjoyed kissing Nico earlier.  He had started to feel less concerned about the rules of courting a prince and instead had felt excited when they escaped from their chaperones.

Will reached up to touch his lips, remembering the Nico’s passionate enthusiasm—the way he’d kissed Will, held Will, pulled Will closer.  And when Will wrapped his arms around Nico....

As much as Will loved to kiss Nico, nothing felt better than holding Nico in his arms.  Nico’s build was firm and strong.  When Will held him, it was like he’d found something safe and solid to keep himself steady in a storm.  Will had wanted to cling to Nico and to squeeze him tightly against his chest.  He’d wanted to press his nose into the top of Nico’s head and hide his face in Nico’s black hair so that he could pretend that nothing else in the world mattered.

Will sighed when he got back to his bedchamber and barely managed to undress himself before falling onto the bed in exhaustion.

The idea of sharing a bed with someone felt foreign to him.  It seemed foolish not to have considered it more; after all, their wedding was only months away.  How had Will neglected to consider intimacy for so long?

Perhaps Will still hadn’t completely grasped how real Nico was.  Although Will had grown so much closer to him over the past year, he’d admired Nico as more of an idol than a person for much of his childhood.  The idea of a physical relationship with someone who existed only on a pedestal was so absurd that Nico may as well have been an object rather than a person.

But Nico was a real person, no different from Will.  Yes, he was a prince, but Nico and Will were equal in dignity and value.  Will had slowly been realizing that since the beginning of their engagement, but he had failed to consider other ways in which they were equal.  As Will had been recently reminded, he and Nico were also the same physically.  Nico had an ordinary male body and experienced ordinary desires.  It shouldn’t have been surprising that Nico had reacted to Will the way he did.  The surprising thing was that Will remained so far behind.  Why hadn’t he noticed Nico’s attraction?  Why hadn’t he reacted the same way?

Perhaps the real root of Will’s problem was that he had never completely understood ‘desire’ to begin with.  Did he even want intimacy?

I wouldn’t mind, said a voice in Will’s head.

He wanted to be close to Nico, that much was certain.  He would feel comfortable lying beside Nico, kissing Nico, and opening his heart to Nico.  But as for touching Nico that way?

Will closed his eyes and imagined that Nico was with him.  They were in the Palatium de Divitae, sharing a large, soft bed.  Sheer curtains covered the windows for privacy, but they could see the night sky outside.  They had been watching the stars together, then Will had turned to look at Nico instead.

“I love you,” he whispered.  His fingers curled in the bedsheets, imagining that he was holding Nico’s hand.  In his mind, he saw Nico smile and heard him whisper the words back.  Nico leaned closer, touched Will’s shoulder, and kissed him.  The kiss lasted so long that Will forgot how to tell time and turned to liquid under Nico’s hands when they started to roam over his body.  Will imagined himself responding and answering Nico’s touches with his own.  Every time Will’s hands felt him, Nico’s skin would flush, his body would arch, and he would make the most amazing, mesmerizing sounds.  They would whisper words of love over and over again, even when it was over, and then they would hold each other until morning.

Yes, Will decided; intimacy with Nico sounded quite nice.

*   *   *

Nico did manage to fall asleep at some point, but he woke up feeling groggy and confused.  When he remembered what had happened the night before, he groaned and hid back under his blankets.

“Get up,” Reyna demanded, pulling the blankets back down.  “There’s no point in lying around feeling miserable.  Today, you’re going to put on a nice suit and walk to breakfast with your head held high.”

“Impossible,” Nico scowled, trying to dive under the blankets again.

“I will raise the kissing quota if you stop acting so pathetic.”

Nico pulled down the blankets a little bit to peer out at her.  It was rare for Reyna to resort to bribing.  “You’re lying, aren’t you?” he said skeptically.

“I’m not,” Reyna assured.  “I will allow more kisses per day if you get out of bed right now and wear a smile.”

Nico considered.  “It’s not worth it,” he decided, then covered himself in blankets again.

“I swear to the gods!” Reyna shouted.

After a bit more bickering, Reyna did manage to get Nico out of bed.  Unfortunately, he’d missed the opportunity to raise the kissing quota, but he wasn’t sure if Will wanted to kiss him anyway.

But when they got to the balcony, there was Will waiting for him wearing a sunny smile like nothing was wrong at all.  If anything, he looked happier than usual.

“Good morning,” Will said.  “I hope you slept well?”

“Yes, thank you,” Nico croaked, even though he hadn’t.  “And you?”

“Very well, yes,” Will answered.  He sounded surprisingly genuine.

“Good,” Nico said.  “Well, shall we—”

“Wait,” Will said, grabbing Nico’s arm before he could sit down.  “I wanted to tell you that...I mean...I wanted you to know...uh...I love you.”

Even after what I did last night? Nico wanted to ask, but Will didn’t give Nico the chance to question him.  He kissed Nico for so long that he started to feel dizzy from holding his breath.  With Will’s warm lips moving slowly against his, Nico was melting, falling into Will.  Yet he was weightless—his feet were lifting up from the ground and all that kept him from floating away was the need to touch Will.

Nico’s fingers grasped Will’s sleeve firmly to keep himself grounded.  For the first time, it was like Will understood the way he made Nico’s heart race, his mind spin, and his body ache.  Will knew exactly what he did to Nico.  And Will wasn’t disgusted or afraid; he chose to touch Nico even though he was aware of the way Nico reacted to him.  And yes, Nico was afraid that he’d become aroused and ruin everything, but he knew that if he hadn’t scared Will away before, he certainly wouldn’t that time.  Nico loved Will, he wanted Will, and maybe it wasn’t completely shameful that he felt the way he did.

When Will pulled back and waved for Nico to take a seat at their table, Nico glanced over his shoulder at Reyna to confirm that he hadn’t imagined that Will had, in fact, kissed him.  Reyna just smiled at him and took a few steps back.

Nico turned back to Will and cleared his throat as they sat down.  “We should talk about....” Nico gestured vaguely between them.

Will nodded in agreement as a maid in silver came to pour their tea.  Nico waited until she left for Will to speak, but even after they were alone, Will just watched him patiently like he was waiting for Nico to start.  Nico cleared his throat again and tried to think of how to start.  Finally, he said, “I was afraid that you’d be disgusted.”

“By something like that?” Will said with a disbelieving shake of his head.  “No, of course not.  It was normal physiology.”

Nico took a deep breath.  “But it means...you know what it means, don’t you?  About how I feel about you?”

Will was silent for half a second before answering.  “Yes.  I know.”

Nico waited.  Will didn’t continue.  He took a deep breath and asked, “What about you?”

Will’s smile wavered and he glanced down, away from Nico’s eyes.  “I intend to follow the rules of courting, Your Highness.”

“That wasn’t what I asked.”

Will nodded.  “I know.”

Nico waited, but Will didn’t add anything else.  “Never mind,” Nico said, trying not to sound disappointed.  “It doesn’t matter right now anyway—”

“Wait,” Will interrupted.  He started to say something else, but stopped.  After trying a few more times, he smiled sheepishly.  “Last night, I stayed awake for hours planning what to say, and now I’m suddenly too nervous to talk,” he said with a shy laugh.  “At least give me the chance to explain?”

“What do you mean?” Nico asked.

“I mean that we went too far yesterday, but I didn’t dislike it,” Will said.  “When we kissed like that...I felt good.”

“Oh,” Nico whispered.  “I...I did, too.”

“Yes, I noticed,” Will said, his cheeks reddening.  “And I think that I would also like...uh...with you.”

Nico was so distracted by how pretty Will looked wearing that embarrassed expression that it took a moment for him to understand what Will had said.  “That’s...you would?”

Will nodded and he put his hand on the table between them, palm up.  Without even thinking, Nico took it.  “I love you,” Will said simply and easily, like he wasn’t at all embarrassed or uncomfortable about his feelings.  He put his other hand over Nico’s on the table and squeezed it.  “Yesterday, you asked me if I’d ever felt the things Sappho wrote about, and I have—with you.  I know what it’s like when your heart beats so hard that it hurts.  I get cold chills when you whisper in my ear.  My limbs feel numb every time you kiss me.  And this is all new to me, but I think when it’s with you...that would be very nice.”  He cleared his throat.  “We can’t, of course.  I think it would be wise for us to have someone chaperoning at all times to ensure that what happened yesterday doesn’t happen again.”

“I understand,” Nico said.

“That being said,” Will continued, “I know that you have a tendency to break the rules.  So perhaps it would be alright to push the boundaries a little bit.”

“Oh,” said Nico.  The taste of Will’s mouth was still lingering on his lips, but it was fading.  Suddenly, his desire to kiss Will came roaring back and he had to bite his cheek to distract himself from his desire to pounce on his fiancé.  “What did you have in mind?” he asked.

“Well, I did enjoy what we did yesterday,” Will said, running his thumbs over Nico’s fingers.  “And as long as we don’t let it get out of hand...I said having a chaperone would be ‘wise,’ but I think we can be wise enough on our own.”

“Reyna caught me coming back in last night,” Nico said with a shake of his head.  “She’s moving my room to the upper floors so that I can’t sneak out the window at night again.”

“Pity,” Will said.  “Well, we’ll have to think of something else.  I’m sure there will be another opportunity to sneak away at some point this week.”  He raised Nico’s hand to his lips, kissed it, and gave Nico a reassuring smile, and they spent the rest of the meal plotting their escape when they weren’t too busy kissing.

Next

[ellanainthetardis]

And here we are, at the beginning of the end. With this chapter starts the 10 chapters long epilogue. (yeah cause I can’t be short and I wanted closure on every loose thread). And a very happy birthday to @100years-to-live who’s the best trash musketeer one could ask for.

[ff] or [ao3]

70. 12 Months & 2 Weeks

April’s birthday party was a smash.

Finn, Eileen’s girls, Timotheo, Bryden and April were having the time of their young lives running around the backyard and Effie couldn’t help but smile when she saw Baby Fanny and April trying to keep up with Finn who was himself trying to keep up with her nephews and Eileen’s eldest: Livy. Snowball was either chasing them or being chased, eager to play and being cuddled. The adults all seemed to be having a good time too. The sun was shining, the sky was blue, the air smelt like spring and it was warm enough that they had all shed their jackets.

Her parents were having a polite conversation with Annie; Haymitch, Jo and Liam Clarke were laughing near the pen; Lyssa, her boyfriend and Eileen were keeping an eye on the children; Katniss and Peeta were sitting at the table they had dragged outside… Effie couldn’t help but smile when she saw them kissing. They did that in front of people more and more often. She hated to have caused so much trouble to everyone during her pregnancy but it seemed to have made the children grow closer.

Even Katniss… She had been different since she had come back from her road trip with Johanna – more confident, a little bit more mature perhaps… But looking at her now, Effie couldn’t help but see a woman where the young girl used to stand. She had blossomed at some point, had shed the shell of the burned damaged bird and evolved into someone new. Someone who was now able to let Peeta know how much he counted for her. And Peeta… Well, it had been a long time since Peeta had been a boy but she was proud of the man he was today.

It had been a long road and it left her with a bittersweet feeling.

The children didn’t rely on them as much as they used to, if anything it was Haymitch and her who kept asking for favors. And it was natural, she supposed, but watching Katniss and Peeta grow up into independent functional adults was a little sad because they didn’t need them anymore. Yet she was so proud of them…

Aidan chirped and she looked down, immediately smiling at her son nestled in the baby sling. He loved the sling, it was the only thing that calmed him down when he was fussy. She gently rubbed his back, shaking her head at her own stupidity while retreating to the kitchen.

“Your mama is very silly.” she chuckled, fetching the pretty plates from the cupboard one-handed. “Katniss and Peeta are going nowhere and we have at least eighteen years of you and April to look forward too. Nothing is ending.” Aidan let out a series of noises and she hummed in agreement. “I know, I am just a little nostalgic. I cannot believe it has been a year already! I feel like I just held your sister in my arms for the first time… Time goes too fast, my darling. It goes too fast…”

“That is quite a melancholic speech for such a small baby.” Lyssa teased as she waltzed in the kitchen as if she owned the place. Not that she meant it that way but… Her sister always seemed to fill the space she occupied.

A couple of years earlier it would have made Effie bitter. Right then, it just made her smile.

She was happy to see her.

Bryden had caught the flu and Lyssa had been forced to delay her visit, which had disappointed everyone – except perhaps Haymitch who had been desperate for some semblance of normalcy and calm – but it had also made Effie really eager to see her sister, her nephews and the infamous boyfriend.

“How is my precious nephew?” Lyssandra asked, outstretching her arms in an implicit request. Cradling the baby closer was instinctive but she forced herself to take a deep breath and to remind herself that Aidan was as safe as could be, healthy, and that her sister was not going to hurt him. If anything, Lyssa had fallen in love with him at first glance. She carefully handed the baby over with an unnecessary reminder to watch out for his head that her sister ignored because she knew how to hold babies. “Hello, my darling.” Lyssa crooned to Aidan’s obvious delight. “Hello… Did you miss me?”

Effie shook her head again, her smile so wide it almost hurt, and kept on piling the good plates on the table, wondering if she could take the cake out by herself or if she should ask Peeta for help. The cake was huge and occupied half the space in her fridge. He had outdone himself. It was shaped like a castle covered in pink frosting with little fairytale characters on it…

She had taken a thousand pictures of every angle.

Then again, she had been taking picture after picture for days.

“So…” Lyssa drew the word out. Her tone was a mix of excitement and mischief and Effie knew her sister’s gossip face enough to know she should forget all about the cake and pay attention. “What do you think of him?”

There was no doubt as to whom she was referring to and Effie automatically glanced through the window over the sink, immediately spotting the lawyer in his turquoise blue suit. The groups had mixed since she had retreated to the kitchen: Jo and Annie were with Katniss and Peeta now, Eileen and Liam were having a friendly – or as friendly as could be but they had learned to know each other in the last couple of months – chat with Elindra and Tadius had joined Haymitch. Her father and her husband were now talking with Lyssa’s boyfriend and from Haymitch’s stance alone, she could tell it was going relatively well.

She hadn’t had many interactions with him yet. He had come with Lyssa to meet the new baby but she and her sister had had a lot to say to each other and aside from noticing he had perfect manners and didn’t seem too conceited, she didn’t have much time to form an educated opinion.

She had noticed the boys seemed to like him a lot though. And she had yet to see him dismiss either of them when they came to him. He seemed happy to bond with Lyssa’s children and he had seemed even happier to be introduced to the extended family. Not over-eager or weird like people sometimes got around victors and the Mockingjay but… Happy to be integrated into Lyssa’s family.

“He is very handsome.” she answered, peering more closely at him through the window. Then again, she wasn’t expecting her sister to come home with someone who wouldn’t look like a god. She was far too good-looking to attach herself to someone average – or not successful. The lawyer had brown hair that were starting to go grey at the temples, clever green eyes, aristocratic features and a very nice smile. “And he is clearly head over heels for you.”

That much was extremely obvious.

He wasn’t assiduous like she had seen men be with her sister – or with herself – desperate to please and coming out a little pathetic as a result, but he was attentive. When she was next to him, he kept at least one hand at the small of her back or on her waist… It was discrete, not a show of being possessive but a genuine mark of affection. His face always softened when he looked at her and every time they talked together he smiled as if she was his whole world.

And she looked at him the same way.

It had been a long time since she had seen Lyssa in love, so happy and, above all, at peace.

“We are moving in together.” her sister announced, almost glowing with happiness.

“Truly?” she asked, a little surprised because that was the first she heard of it – and with her mother around, she was usually made aware of gossips much faster. “Congratulations!”

“Thank you.” Lyssa grinned, looking down at Aidan with a small blush. She laughed at her own silliness. “It was becoming a little ridiculous, truth be told… We have been together for almost two years now and… I spent most of my time at his house. I was reluctant to make it more serious because of the children… I did not want them to think… I did not want them to think I was replacing their father…”

“I am certain they understand. And Rufus… He would not have expected you to remain single forever.” Effie offered hesitantly. They had never really talked about Rufus before. Lyssa had blamed her for his death and…

Lyssa didn’t look at her, she rocked Aidan carefully, watching him rather than her. “I do not know what Rufus would have expected. Being with Leo…” She licked her lips. “They are two very different men.”

“To be sure.” she muttered before she could help herself. Mostly because she hadn’t caught Leo staring at the younger women or trying to grope a feel here and there like Rufus had always done with her.

“I was not oblivious.” Lyssandra said suddenly, finally meeting her eyes, a little defiantly. “I know you wondered. I was not oblivious. I knew he had affairs. I pretended I did not know, even to myself sometimes, but… I loved him, Effie.”

“I know you did.” she whispered, reaching out to place a hand on her arm. Lyssa flinched but didn’t shrug it off like she would have four years earlier. “I am sorry. If I had been able to help… For your sake alone I would have…”

“I know.” Lyssa cut her off. “It took me a long time to… let go of my anger. Leo helped a lot with that. Like I said… He is very different from Rufus.” The sadness left her sister’s face to be replace by unmistakable tenderness. “He always puts me first. I never realized how selfish Rufus was until I started dated him. And he is good with the boys. He always knows what to say. And he makes me so happy…”

“Should I prepare Mother for the announcement of upcoming nuptials?” she teased, playing with the butterfly necklace resting on her collarbone.

Lyssa laughed, a pretty blush on her cheeks. “Perhaps but not in the near future. First I need to tell her me and the boys are moving out.”

Which their mother would probably be torn about. On one hand, Leo was a successful lawyer with the right pedigree for her eldest daughter, on the other and for all her claims that the house was too small for so many people, Elindra loved having Lyssa and her sons home.

“She will be sorry she missed the last few months with you.” Effie winced. “And I fear that is my fault.”

“She stood by me for four years.” Lyssa denied. “It was high time she did the same for you.”

“It will be strange not having her around anymore.” she admitted, with more sadness than she had ever thought she would feel at the thought of her mother’s departure. Her parents were scheduled to leave the next day. Her father had used the opportunity to check on his business in Twelve and had made a few trips to Eleven but he couldn’t stay away from the Capitol and the company too long. And Elindra, she knew, was impatient to go back to civilization.

“I am glad you finally found each other.” Lyssandra offered, transferring Aidan in her left arm so she could wrap her right arm around Effie’s shoulders. “The rift between you always saddened me.”

Effie hugged her sister tight, closing her eyes and breathing in her favorite perfume with a lump in her throat. “I am so glad we found each other again.”

It felt like it used to be when they were little and Effie worshipped the ground her big sister walked on. It changed afterwards, when she had become a teenager and had grown envious of how proud her parents were of Lyssa. After that… It had never been Lyssandra’s fault but Effie had imposed a distance. And now… She had never thought they could get that close again.  

“Hush or you will make me cry.” Lyssa protested, her voice cracking as she held her tighter. “I do love you so much, Effie.”

“I love you too.” she whispered, biting down on her bottom lip to try and keep herself collected.

“Everything’s alright?” Haymitch asked, clearly surprised, when he walked in the kitchen only to freeze at the scene they were making.

Tadius had followed him inside and seemed equally taken aback.

They stepped aside, gracefully dabbed at their shiny eyes, exchanged a glance and then pounced on their father like they hadn’t done since they were very little indeed. He actually took a step back, startled when they both hugged him at the same time.

Haymitch swiftly rescued Aidan, muttering to the baby about crazy Capitols.

Lyssa and Effie laughed even as Tadius tentatively embraced them back.

It didn’t last more than a few seconds but it was enough for something to definitely settle in Effie. She might doubt sometimes, despite everything, but she knew, deep down, that she had her family back now and that nothing would change that.

Lyssa eventually stepped away and grabbed the plates Effie had taken out of the cupboard before going back outside.

“What has gotten into the two of you?” Tadius asked, still blinking in confusion.

Effie’s only answer was to laugh and plant a kiss on Haymitch’s lips because he looked completely puzzled and it was adorable.  

“I’m guessing you’re having a good day and not a mental breakdown, yeah?” he frowned. “Just checking, sweetheart.”

She swatted his arm and scooped her son back. “Will you take the cake out?”

“What did you think we came here for?” he grumbled, pressing a soft kiss on Aidan’s head.

The cake was welcomed with all the proper exclamations and Peeta’s face grew tomato red with all the compliments he got. Haymitch gave everyone generous portions and helped April eat hers. Effie wasn’t sure their daughter grasped the concept of birthdays but she did love cake and she seemed to be having fun.

She decided that the best picture she had taken that day was the moment April tried to fed Haymitch some cake from her plate by smashing her sugary hand directly on his mouth.

Elindra might have a point when she had lamented over April’s stained dress but it was entirely too cute.

It was less cute when Haymitch handed April over to Peeta and kissed Effie hard on the mouth just to smear frosting over her face. She raged at him but everyone laughed and she ended up kissing back anyway.

“Good thing they broke the mold ‘cause the way they’re going we’d have had a dozen babies before Trinket reached menopause.” Johanna commented, loud above the voices.

Laugher grew tense and awkward and everyone jumped on Annie’s suggestion to have coffee.

“You’re okay?” Haymitch asked, after glaring at Johanna for her tactless remark.

“Of course.” she dismissed, turning to wrap her arms around his neck. “I would not have minded having a dozen babies with you but I am quite happy with the ones we have.”

He pulled her even closer and kissed her again.

He would never have done that in public before April.

“It is high time for the birthday girl to open her gifts!” Elindra declared loudly once Annie had poured everyone some coffee – and truly, Effie should have been the one doing that. She thanked Four’s victor quietly and was rewarded with a small smile and a promise that it didn’t bother her.

Lyssa had somehow gotten a hold on Aidan again and Effie couldn’t help but smile when she saw her sister grinning down at him with open adoration. Leo quietly stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around her, propping his chin on her shoulder and peering down at the baby. The look on his face…

Perhaps nuptials weren’t the only thing she should prepare her mother for. Lyssa was a little too old for maternity but that was what surrogates were for, she supposed.

Confident her son was safe, she lifted April to sit her down on her lap, peppering her cheek with kisses and helping her unwrap her presents – not that she needed much help on that front because she was very good at tearing paper. Haymitch sat next to them, quiet and content to observe and test the toys April received for their daughter’s enjoyment.

There were entirely too many gifts.

She and Haymitch had already gone slightly overboard. They had grabbed almost everything in the toy store they thought she would enjoy… But they hadn’t expected the others to do the same. Effie was actually starting to get concerned with where they would put everything.

“You spoiled her.” she half-complained, half-laughed when Leo pushed another present in front of them – at least the sixth since they had began unwrapping them.

“Well, she is my first niece.” the Capitol man shrugged with a sheepish smile. “I was not quite sure what she would like so I thought better safe than sorry.”

It was a bold move to claim April as his niece given that he was a relative stranger but Lyssa was beaming so hard that Effie couldn’t find it in her to protest. Haymitch shifted a little next to her but she kicked his leg under the table and he kept his peace.

“I like him.” he told her after they were done with the gifts.

April and Fanny were busy with one of the new toys under Eileen’s supervision. Aidan was now in Elindra’s arms and Effie wasn’t sure what her mother was telling her son but it seemed like a long speech. She carefully did not think about what the next day would bring. She doubted it would be any more easier for Elindra to leave April and Aidan than it would be for her to see her parents go. She focused on what Haymitch was saying instead, happily hauling Finn on her lap when he wandered by asking for a cuddle.

“He’s not so bad for a Capitol.” he continued, his eyes on the lawyer who was talking with her father. “Got a sound head and he’s not too full of himself. You think your sister’s gonna keep him?”

“I think it is safe for you to consider him your brother-in-law, yes.” she replied, amused. “You can befriend him.”

He rolled his eyes at her and made a face at Finn. “You know what, buddy? Your aunt is silly.”

“Aunt Effie is the best.” Finn retorted loyally. “She always gives cuddles.”

“Ah.” she triumphed, her blue eyes sparkling. “Did you hear that, Haymitch? I am the best.”

He shook his head, a smirk on his lips. “That you are, sweetheart… That you are…”

“Uncle Haymitch?”

Haymitch turned to the new voice, always looking a little surprised to be addressed like that by Lyssa’s boys. Bryden stood there uncertainly, a soccer ball under his arm. Effie couldn’t help but smile at how flushed and disheveled the boy looked, certain that Lyssa or Elindra would have something to say about that at some point. Her nephews had been allowed to run wild because it was a party and the other children were all playing but they were still supposed to somehow behave like little gentlemen. Still, it was good to see them act like children for once.

“You need something, kid?” Haymitch asked in a softer voice than the one he used with adults. She had come to think of it as his father’s voice. He always used it when he talked to April or Aidan.

“We were wondering…” Bryden hesitated. “That is to say… Timotheo and I would have liked to play a game of ball but it would be funnier if we could make teams. Would you care to play?”

Haymitch blinked and took that in stride. It was always a little disconcerting for him to see such a small child express himself in such a perfect articulated way. However, given April’s quick appropriation of language, she thought he should get used to it.

“Sure. I’d care to play.” he snorted.

The teasing flew high above the boy’s head and Bryden grinned. “Sweet!”

“Can I play too?” Finn asked, perking up at the thought of playing with the bigger boys.

“You can play with me.” Haymitch agreed, plucking Finn off her lap to settle him on his shoulders, to the child’s obvious delight.

Timotheo came by, dragging Leo with him.

“I see you have been enlisted too.” the Capitol man chuckled.

The two boys soon had their teams but so many people wanted to play that Effie quickly suggested they moved the match to the meadow, wary of her backyard getting destroyed – and of someone accidentally kicking the ball into the geese pen, she didn’t care much for the birds but she didn’t want to see any of them hurt either.

It was a joyful affair.

Those of them who weren’t playing all settled on the grass, on picnic blankets, to watch.

“Is this really proper?” Elindra sighed, deliberating for a good five minutes before finally sitting on the blanket between Effie and Lyssa. Annie, Peeta and Tadius were sharing another one. April, Fanny and Snowball seemed happy to entertain themselves so Effie made sure Aidan was alright in the baby sling around her shoulder and focused on the goals they were setting up on either side of the meadow.

Bryden’s team was composed of Haymitch – and Finn on his shoulders – Jo and Katniss. Timotheo’s was composed of Leo, Livy, Liam and Eileen. Which created a conundrum.

“It is not fair.” Bryden argued against his brother. “Finn cannot kick the ball.”

“Then pick someone else.” his brother granted.

Bryden immediately turned toward their blanket. “Aunt Effie?”

“No.” Haymitch cut in before she could politely decline, probably not confident that she would. “Aunt Effie’s still hurt. She can’t run.”

“Aunt Effie can answer for herself, thank you very much.” she hissed, narrowing her eyes at him. “Truly, Haymitch, how rude must you be?”

“Mother?” Bryden tried next.

“Oh, certainly not.” Lyssa refused. “Imagine that. No, darling, my apologies.”

The boy’s eyes settled on Elindra next but she huffed. “Do not entertain the thought.”

“Too bad.” Effie heard Haymitch snort at Leo. “Would have been funny.”

Leo was too smart to answer that but the twitch of his mouth said it all.

She thought either Annie or Peeta were going to volunteer – without much pleasure but not to spoil the children’s joy – when her father cleared his throat.

“Well.” Tadius hesitated. “It had been a few decades but… Yes… I believe I would not mind giving it a try.”

Effie wasn’t sure who was the most shocked of her, Lyssa or Elindra.

“You will break something!” her mother immediately protested.

“I am not yet ancient, dear.” Tadius retorted, hauling himself off the grass and joining the players.

“Oh, my goodness.” Elindra almost chocked. “What has this District made of us? Oh, my goodness… If anyone saw… The scandal it would cause…”

“He is playing with his grandchildren not murdering someone.” Effie tempered, amused despite it all.

“Still.” her mother hissed.

Once the game started, it was hard to keep Snowball from running on the field after the ball. He was a third team all by himself, sometimes stealing the ball from under their feet and refusing to let go of it until someone actually managed to catch him. She rebuked him several times but they all actually seemed to like the game better that way so after a while she let it be.

Eventually, Aidan woke up and started fussing as was his habit – there wasn’t much sleep to have with him, he refused to sleep the night and he usually refused to sleep through his nap – so she stood up and walked around, rocking him and humming softly.

Peeta fell into step with her at some point.

“Did you not want to play?” she asked quietly after a couple of minutes of silent walking, her eyes often darting to the match. She wasn’t particularly interested but she felt compelled to check on Haymitch, worried the exercise would be too much for him. Sobriety was good for him but… she worried. He wasn’t as young as he used to be.

And the view wasn’t unappealing. She loved it when he was all sweaty, sleeves rolled up, his damp shirt sticking to his skin, his hair all over the place…

“I wouldn’t be able to keep up.” Peeta shrugged. “Not with my leg.” In the distance, Katniss shrieked as she stumbled over Snowball and fell down. The dog barked, the girl glared as she got back to her feet and everyone laughed the accident off to start running after the ball – and the dog – again. Peeta’s smile was soft and he stopped walking to watch her so Effie followed suit. They were far enough from the others that nobody could hear them. “I’m going to ask her to marry me.”

She turned her head so fast something snapped in her neck. “Aren’t you already engaged?”

Although the engagement had been kind of forgotten in all the drama surrounding her pregnancy, she supposed and that made her feel a little guilty. The children had certainly never brought the subject up with her again.

“I guess it was more of a commitment proof.” he said with a small smile. “She… Well, when she came back from her road trip with Jo… I thought I had lost her, you know? I thought I never really had her in the first place, to be honest…” She remembered. Those weeks the children had spent broken up hadn’t been easy for anyone. Peeta went on, still smiling. “I was being an idiot. She wasn’t shy about telling me that straight.”

“I can imagine.” she chuckled.

“But I think she realized… We’ve been better at communicating since then.” he confessed. “She asked me to marry her because I told her I wasn’t sure she had ever chosen me. She said I was an idiot and that if all I needed was proof of her choosing me then she would just marry me and that I could shut up about her not loving me enough because… She does.”

“Of course, she does.” Effie grinned. “It is a lovely story.”

“We agreed it would be a long engagement though.” Peeta pointed out. “And I think it’s not a bad idea to wait a little more but… She doesn’t have a ring and I kind of want to ask her because I have been planning it for a long time and she stole my thunder.”

“You have a plan.” she repeated with blatant excitement, the romantic in her swooning at the mere thought. “Tell me everything.”

He did. He told her about how he planned to steal the pearl he had given her during the Quell from her nightstand drawer and have it mounted on a ring. He told her how he was planning on lighting the bakery with candles and ask her there because even if it had been destroyed and rebuilt it was where their story had first really started, with him tossing her a burned loaf of bread. He told her how he hoped she would like it even though she wasn’t the most romantic person.

The match was over by the time he was done and if people were puzzled by her hugging the boy half to death and her misty eyes, nobody commented. Except for Haymitch who naturally caught up with her as they all started the long trek back to the house. He had treaded Finn for April at some point and he looked exhausted. April had fallen asleep with her head nestled in the crook of his neck.

“You’re being all weepy today.” he frowned.

“My baby is turning one and my other babies are all grown up. I am allowed to be a little emotional.” she retorted, looking down at the sleeping infant in the sling. “You can never grow up, Aidan. I forbid it.”

“How improper!” Elindra exclaimed from a few feet behind them. “Look at you! You look… You look… You look like a ruffian!”

Effie glanced behind her, noticing her father truly looked the part. His once upon a time pressed white shirt was sticking to his torso, the sleeves were rolled up, it was unbuttoned at the collar… She had never seen his dyed blue hair so much in disarray… To be fair, she had never seen – nor had she ever dreamt of ever seeing – her father so disheveled and with such a neglectful appearance.

“Does it turn you on, dear?”

If Haymitch hadn’t caught her elbow, she would have tripped and crushed her baby to death. As it was, she couldn’t help but cough, eyes wide and ears ringing with the shock of what she had just heard. Given Lyssa’s wrinkled nose and the way she hid her face in Leo’s shoulder, she must have heard too.

Elindra huffed and puffed and huffed again but then she cleared her throat and loudly made it known they would stop at the inn on their way back to the house so Tadius could get presentable again.

“I am going to be sick.” Effie informed Haymitch.

He made a face. “You and me both, sweetheart.”

It was late by the time the party ended, nobody seemed in a hurry to leave, knowing that they would have to say goodbye the next day. Annie and Jo were staying a few days more but it never felt like enough.

Still, despite everything, Effie couldn’t help but feel some relief once the house was empty again and it was just Haymitch and their children.

The day’s excitement had gotten to April and she could barely keep her eyes open. She hugged her ragdoll tight all the while Effie put her pajamas on and didn’t even protest when she lifted her up to place her in her crib. She made sure the mobile worked, smiling when April tiredly reached for the dancing stars and unicorns, humming along the familiar melody to lull her to sleep.

She leaned in to brush her fingers in her daughter’s hair, unable to believe she had been holding her for the first time a year ago. She couldn’t remember what her life was like before her. She didn’t want to remember.

“Happy birthday, my little shrimp.” she whispered. “Mama loves you.”

“Mama…” April mumbled, her eyelids closing.

“Yes, Mama is here. Mama will always be here.” she promised. “Mama loves you.”

“Mama uv…” The girl mimicked like she often did,  without real intent or knowledge. She was good at copying sounds. Effie wasn’t sure if it really counted as talking but she usually was too proud to doubt it for long.

“Yes, Mama loves you.” she smiled. “Do you love Mama?”

“Uv Mama…” April babbled sleepily.

She sucked in a deep breath and bit down on her bottom lip but it wasn’t enough to stop a couple of tears of joy from rolling down her cheeks. She was perhaps a little too emotional that day.

“What about Papa?” Haymitch complained behind her but the huge smirk on his lips denied any annoyance. “Does the shrimp love her papa?” April was already asleep though. He faked a sigh. “Figures.” He leaned in next to Effie to gently stroke their daughter’s tummy. “Happy birthday, princess… You’re the best accident I ever had.”

“Haymitch!” she hissed. “You cannot tell that to our child!”

“Why not? It’s the truth.” he shrugged, turning to face her and pursing his lips when he spotted her wet cheeks. He gently wiped them with his sleeve. “What’s with all those tears today?”

“I am just so happy…” she whispered, leaning against him. “I did not know I could be so happy.”

“You’re gonna be less happy in a couple of hours when Aidan wakes up.” he teased, pressing a kiss on the top of her head. “Bed?”

“Oh, yes…” she agreed with a long sigh. She was dead on her feet.

But being dead on her feet when you had two small children was a luxury you couldn’t afford, which was how they found themselves staring at each other blankly over a cup of coffee the next morning, April happily babbling in her high chair and Aidan being fed a bottle in the baby seat. From the noises outside, she thought the geese weren’t having a better morning than they did, chased around by Snowball as they were.

Meeting her family at the station was emotional. She hugged Lyssa and her father tight but it was her mother she had the most troubles letting go of.

“Now, now…” Elindra chided right in her ear because she was clinging to her just as hard. “This is absolutely undignified. We are being ridiculous. We will see each other soon.”

“Thank you for everything.” she whispered.

“Nonsense.” her mother dismissed. “I will call when we arrive. Do send pictures as soon as possible. They grow up so fast… I do not want to miss a thing.”

“You could always stay.” she suggested half-heartedly.

“Do not tempt an old woman.” Elindra snorted, forcing herself to let go first.

“You could never be old.” Haymitch mocked, squeezing Effie’s shoulder. She appreciated the comforting gesture but it didn’t stop the lump in her throat to grow so big she thought she would choke on it. He never let go of her, not even when he wrapped Elindra in a quick one-armed hug. “Don’t be a stranger. Mother.”

The Capitol woman rolled her eyes but a smile was tugging at her lips and she patted Haymitch’s back twice. “I do not need to ask you to take good care of my daughter and my grandchildren, I trust?”

“Got it covered.” he smirked, stepping back to wrap his arms around Effie. “Have a safe trip.”

It was difficult to watch Lyssa and Tadius pass April and then Aidan to Elindra. It was difficult to watch her say goodbye to her children. Aidan was too young to realize what was going on but April seemed to know and soon she was wailing, inconsolable long after the train was gone and Effie had cradled her close to her chest.

Even Haymitch seemed less happy than she would have thought to have seen them off.

She shed a few tears in the privacy of the kitchen, under the pretense of taking care of the numerous dishes from the previous day. When she walked back in the living-room after an hour or so, Haymitch was lounging on the couch with Aidan on his chest, lazily handing April cube after cube with his free hand. Their daughter was building a colorful tower that would soon collapse.

She placed two mugs of tea on the coffee table and sat next to his head. “Are you alright?”

He rolled his eyes but snorted, his hand gently rubbing up and down Aidan’s back.

“You, Trinkets… You grow on me.” he accused. “Seriously, sweetheart… How did I end up feeling sad about your mother leaving? Explain that one to me.”

She chuckled and started petting Snowball when he hopped on the couch and very much settled on her lap even though he was far too big and heavy to do that anymore.

“As Johanna told me more than once…” she hummed. “Love is weird.”

But it was also amazing, she thought.

[weightofworlds-blog1]

GIANT CHARACTER SURVEY

[ tagged by ]: @eloquated [ tagging ]: if you’d like to do it, feel free!

G E N E R A L

[ name ]: Catarina Loss [ nicknames ]: Cat, if you must.  [ birthday ]: I know that it was in early to mid August, but keeping track of the date was difficult in those days, and my mother was uneducated. But really, what does it matter? I’m immortal. Birthdays are hardly an occasion.  [ birthplace ]: Lisbon, Portugal [ age ]: Don’t you know that it’s rude to ask a lady her age?  [ eye color ]: Naturally, they’re blue. Under the glamour I usually wear, they’re dark brown. [ height ]: 5″4 [ weight ]: Really? First my age,  and now my weight? I’m fit, according to the BMI index, and since I’m a nurse, I would know. [ nationality ]: That answer to that question is a bit more complicated than it seems. My mother was originally from Africa, but taken to Portugal to be a slave. I was born there. My father, however -- well. He has no nationality, nor do I care. [ astrological sign ]: Leo [ location ]: My apartment in Brooklyn, New York.  [ siblings ]: My mother had no other children. I suppose I could have some half siblings, somewhere, but I have never cared to find out.  [ pets ]: I’m a nurse. Having pet hair all over my clothing would be unhygienic. Besides, I’m never home enough to take care of one. Perhaps when Madzie is older, though! [ in the morning i’m ]: either coming home from a shift at the hospital, or on my way to one. [ all i need is ]: coffee and a great deal of patience.  [ love is ]: the reason we are all here. The love of our parents, the love of each other -- ultimately, it is why I live the way I do, why my life is dedicated to healing and the daughter I’ve adopted.  [ i’m afraid of ]: loss. Being unable to protect Madzie. Failing at the job I’ve chosen. I’m afraid of many things, but the centuries have taught me to live despite these fears.  [ i dream about ]: Usually? Camping trips far away from civilization. 

H A V E . Y O U . E V E R ?

[pictured your crush naked?] Oh, for heaven’s sake. Yes. I suppose I have. [ used someone? ]: I have lived for a long time, and I have made mistakes. Yes. I have.  [ been used? ]: Yes.  [ been cheated on? ]: Technically, I suppose so. But I was not invested in the relationship, and he knew it -- so I’m not sure he can be blamed for that decision. [ considered cheating? ]: No. If i don’t want to be in a relationship any longer, I end it. [ been kissed? ]: I am not a nun, so. Yes.  [ done something you regret? ]: Can anyone live for as long as I have without regrets? I find it unlikely. 

F A V O R I T E

[ food? ]: Lately, I’ve been rather partial to Kung Pao chicken.  [ fruit? ]:  Apples. [ candy? ]: Snickers. I eat an embarrassing amount of them from the vending machine in the hospital break room.  [ color? ]: Embarrassingly enough, I’m partial to blue. [ number? ]: I can honestly say I have never had a favorite number. [ animal? ]: Doves. The symbolism behind them is rather beautiful. [ drink? ]: Coffee. Or craft beer, depending on the circumstance. [ soda? ]: Coke. [ book? ]: The Princess Bride. Harlequin romances. [ room? ]: My living room. Or Ragnor’s office, though I certainly wouldn’t tell him that! [ movie? ]: Gone With the Wind

D O . Y O U ?

[ have a boyfriend/girlfriend? ]: No.  [ like cleaning? ]: Absolutely not. For that, I use magic. [ have a tattoo? ]: No.  [ have any piercings? ]: My ears are pierced.  [ cheat on tests/homework? ]: I never had a formalized education, so I never really had the opportunity.  [ drink/smoke? ]: Drink, yes. Smoke? That’s a repulsive habit, even if I am immortal and cannot die from lung cancer. [ swear a lot? ]: I suppose that would depend on your definition of ‘a lot.’ I try to keep it to a minimum around Madzie. [ like watching sunrises or sunset? ]: If I have the time, yes.  [ pray? ]: Not in a long time.  [ go to church? ]: No. [ have secrets? ]: No, of course not. No secrets at all.  [ have a best friend? ]: Magnus Bane or Ragnor Fell -- I refuse to even attempt to pick between them. Magnus would pout for ages, and Ragnor would become even more prickly.  [ like your own handwriting? ]: I may not be a doctor, but my handwriting tends to resemble that of one, unfortunately.

A R E . Y O U ?

[ obsessive? ]: Does anyone admit readily to being obsessive? I suppose some people may think my dedication to healing is obsessive, but it isn’t. [ excited? ]: Under the right circumstances! [ bored? ]: I live with a five year old, and have a high pressure job. When do I have time to be bored? [ happy? ]: Most days.  [ missing someone? ]: Always. [ confused? ]: Only when discussing fashion with Magnus. [ tired? ]: Again, I live with a five year old and work in a hospital. What do you think? [ mad? ]: At this moment? No. [ sleepy? ]: Are sleepy and tired two different things now? I’m not answering this twice.

D O . Y O U . E V E R ?

[ wait around just to talk to someone? ]: I’m not a teenaged girl, so no. [ write about those ‘special’ moments? ]: No.  [ wish you were a member of the opposite sex? ]: I used to, frequently. Men could become doctors, officially, and had many more opportunities in the medical field. I am happy with where I am, now, but I would have liked the opportunity to do something different.

W H O . W A S . T H E . L A S T . P E R S O N . W H O ?

[ you talked to? ]: Magnus -- he called to check in an hour or so ago. [ you hugged? ]: Madzie, before bed. [ you kissed? ]: Also Madzie, on the forehead, after I tucked her in. [ sent you a letter? ]: Do fire messages count? I believe that was Tessa. [ you sent a letter to? ]: A response to Tessa, most likely. [ you laughed with? ]: One of the other nurses. Humor in the ER is always important. [ slept in your bed? ]: Madzie, after a nightmare. [ you shared a drink with? ]:  Does Magnus stealing sips of my wine count? [ you went to the movies with? ]: I have no idea. I haven’t seen a movie in a theater in a very long time. [ yelled at you? ]: Ah, a parent of a patient I could not save. The girl was only thirteen, and her mother was distraught. I didn’t blame her for yelling. [ you called? ]: The babysitter, to be sure she was still able to watch Madzie during my shift today. [ you kicked? ]: I haven’t kicked anyone in recent memory -- is that something that people normally do? [ you saw? ]: Madzie, before I put her to bed.

W H O . I S ?

[ the most handsome person you know? ]: Hm. I’ve always thought that Ragnor was rather nice to look at.  [ the weirdest person you know? ]: Most certainly Magnus. [ the funniest person you know? ]: I think I’ll award that one to Simon Lewis. [ the loudest person you know? ]: That would be my darling daughter, after she has had a chance to warm up to everyone in the room.   [ the quietest person you know? ]: Tessa, maybe? [ the sweetest person you know? ]: Though she has been gone for many years, this title will always go to my mother -- a woman who risked her life every day for eighteen years to look after a blue, magical child. [ the most serious person you know? ]: Ragnor, I expect. [ your best friend? ]: Again? I still refuse to pick between the two of them. [ the person you hate the most? ]: Valentine Morganstern. If what he did to the Downworld was not enough, what he did to Madzie would have put him at the top of that list on its own. [ the person you see most? ]: Madzie. [ your soul-mate? ]: I don’t believe in this nonsense.

W H A T . I S ?

[ the first thing you thought of when you woke up? ]: Madzie - she was bouncing at the edge of my mattress! [ the song that best describes you? ]: This one. [ your best feature? ]: I’m rather partial to my hair.  [ your most treasured memory? ]: When I was very young, my mother took me to the river near our home. It was always just the two of us -- this was long before I knew what a glamour was, let alone how to use one -- but I got to leave the cottage, and was able to run around and chase after butterflies while my mother watched. I treasure all of the time I spent with her, but these memories are some of my favorites.

I N . T H E . F U T U R E

[ what is the age you hope to get married? ]: I hardly thing age is the important factor in that decision. [ number and names of kids? ]: I have raised a child already, and his name was Aurelio, and now I have Madzie. I can’t say that I will never take in another, though I’m fairly content now. [ where do you see yourself at age twenty? ]: Oh, for the love of --  [ describe your dream wedding? ]: I have no idea. I’ve given up on dreaming of such things, for the most part. [ when and how do you want to die? ]: This is a fairly morbid question! I suppose I’d like to die peacefully, somehow.  [ what are your career plans? ]: I’ve been a healer for hundreds of years, and don’t plan on changing that anytime soon. [ some place you’d like to visit? ]: I’d like to return to Portugal, someday. I always enjoy London, as well. 

L A S T . T I M E

[ last time you went out of state? ]: The last time I went hiking with Ragnor, before his death. [ last time you were outside? ]: On my way home from the hospital this evening. [ last time you had a snowball fight? ]: I don’t think I ever have! [ last time you were listening to music? ]: I have jazz playing now, actually.

O T H E R

[ how many people would you say are good friends of yours? ]: Friends that are still alive? 2.  [ what hurts the most, physical or emotional pain? ]: Emotional.  [ have you felt this recently? ]: Grief is the worst sort of emotional pain, and we have all suffered loss, lately. [ what do you wear to bed? ]: sweats, usually. [ when’s the last time you slept with a stuffed animal? ]: Madzie brought her bear to bed last time she had a nightmare and climbed in with me, so then, I guess. [ have you ever used a ouija board? ]: No. I prefer not to interact with the spiritual realm. [ how many rings before you pick up the phone? ]: Admittedly, I’m awful at answering the phone. Usually, it rings until it goes to voicemail, and I have to call back later.

[estebanana-fana-blog]

La tempête parfaite

Post Season 2.  The MC, Paige Turner, is forced to do an interview of Vincent for City of Love: Paris.  She flies to his vacation home in Vermont and some bad weather hits.

Rating: T for mild kissing and references to sex.

Special thanks to @boughtmywayintopopculture being a co-writer for this piece and helping me along in both the editing and writing processes!

Paige held her eyes closed for a moment, desperately hoping she was hallucinating.  However, when she opened her eyes the slip of paper left on her desk with her latest assignment still read the same: Vincent Karm, CEO Karm International, EPD: ASAP.  Not only did they want her to do an interview with Vincent but, they had the expected publish date set to as soon as possible?!

This is ridiculous! Paige thought to herself as she balled up the paper in her hands and flung it into the waste bin.  As if working for my ex isn’t awkward enou- Paige’s eyes narrowed Raphael! He had to have something to do with this!

Shouldering her bag, Paige left her cubicle and stormed into her boss’s office.

“Where is Raphael?”  Paige demanded closing the door behind her and taking a seat.

“Well, hello to you too Ms. Turner.  Please, do sit down.  I’m fine, thanks for asking.” Her boss replied sarcastically as he tried to adjust his combover so the bald spot was concealed; he wasn’t fooling anyone.

Paige just glared at the man expectantly, waiting for him to answer her question.

With a dramatic eye roll her boss explained, “Raphael is not in the office.  He is in Italy where he will be working with the City of Love: Rome office for the next two weeks.  And yes, before you ask, he had everything to do with your latest assignment,” he held up his palm to stop her from interjecting as he continued. “Don’t blame Raphael though, it was the only way.”

“The only way what?!” Paige asked not only angry but curious now as well.

“The only way Karm would agree to an interview.  He asked for you specifically when Raphael reached out to him.  He said it was either you or no interview; he only expects the best quality writer, not some subpar newbie.  His words not mine, not that everyone here doesn’t know you are our best writer.”  He replied relaxing down in his chair and folding his hands together over his abdomen.  “Listen, Paige, Raphael wants this article.  He is the boss and what he says goes.  I got your flight all set -”

“My flight?! Why do I need a flight to do an interview in Paris?!” She interrupted, jumping out of her seat.

“Well, here is the thing.  Vincent is currently vacationing in Vermont.  He was gracious enough to start the interview this week and supply you lodging at his cabin.  Which works out great because we don’t have to worry about covering hotel expenses now.” He said as he straightened in his seat.

“Vermont?!  I have to fly all the way to America to do this interview and you think I am just going to share a room with Vincent Karm for however long this takes?!”  She spat gesturing wildly with her hands which often happened when she was upset.

“You won’t be sharing a room with him.  He rents out his cabin as a bed and breakfast when he isn’t there.  When he is, he likes his privacy and has the place to himself.  You will have your own room.  If you share a room with Vincent Karm, that is none of my business and all on you.”  He said as he started typing on his computer, clearly losing interest in this conversation.

“I cannot believe this… I’m taking the day off and going home.” Paige stated as she grabbed her bag off of the floor, turning towards the door.

“Paige, like I said before you are our best writer.  However, if you don’t plan on making this interview happen, don’t bother showing up tomorrow.”

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath as her hand hovered inches above the door handle.  Through gritted teeth she asked, “When is the flight?”

“Thursday, 8:45 am.” He answered, a certain smugness in is voice.

With that Paige opened the door and stormed out of his office going only to her desk to collect her coat, scarf, and gloves before heading towards the exit.  Before she reached the exit, she turned on her heels and walked back to her desk, reached into her waste bin and pulled out the crumpled ball she had thrown in there earlier, shoving it into her bag before heading back to her apartment.

Rain pelted the window of the plane as Paige scrolled aimlessly through her social media feed before she had to put her phone on airplane mode.  She was desperately trying to distract herself from the thought of having to spend a minimum of three days with Vincent Karm.  She didn’t hate the man, she didn’t even dislike him; he just made her feel uncomfortable.  She hated feeling awkward in her own skin.  Vincent had that effect on her, along with some other effects she’d prefer not to think about.  They definitely had a history together and Paige didn’t know what to make of it.  They worked together once.  She didn’t like to think about the events of Kat, her best friend’s, death.  But, truth be told, without Vincent’s help her killer may have never been caught.  

I shouldn’t have kissed him.  Why did I initiate that kiss… I was just caught up in the moment.  I mean, yeah, it was good.  Okay, it was a lot better than good but, still it was a mistake.  I just made everything awkward for myself.  In my defense I didn’t invite him up!  Even though I wanted to…

Paige’s internal fight was interrupted when the stewardess came to offer her a pillow and a blanket for her flight.  Her bosses may have been too cheap to get her a hotel room but at least they splurged and booked her a first class ticket.  

Paige gratefully accepted both luxuries she was offered and made herself comfortable.  She felt her eyes grow heavy, as she hardly slept due to anxiety and last minute packing.  The last thing she remembered thinking to herself before she was lulled into a dreamless sleep was, This change in timezone is going to be the death of me.

When she awoke her mouth was so dry it felt like her tongue was sandpaper.

I wonder if this is how Whiskey feels all the time, she thought idly as her mind wandered to her cat who she left in Leo’s care.

She stretched her arms above her head and rolled her head side to side hoping to alleviate the twinge she felt in her neck.

She still had 4 hours left in her flight but she was surprised by how long she was actually asleep for. She stood up to open the overhead compartment where her carry-on was stored.  She pulled out her laptop and pressed the call button before sitting back down.  Before her computer had even booted up completely, an attendant showed up. She politely asked for a bottle of water.  She drank half the bottle then she opened up the document she was working on.

By the time the plane had landed she had a basic outline for what she wanted to get out of the interview and had played roughly seven games of solitaire.  She lost every time.

She gazed up at the enormous cabin in front of her.  It looked as if it was right out of a travel magazine that featured log cabins in the woods, only double the size.  

No wonder this place can be used as a B&B when he’s not here.  It’s huge! She thought as she hitched her duffle back higher up on her shoulder.

As she walked up the driveway, a fresh layer of snow crunched beneath her boots and she heard barking coming from inside.  She felt her stomach sink as she heard the cab pull away, fighting back the urge to chase after it despite the driver’s lack of social skills and noxious B.O.  She had tried so hard to just avoid Vincent for the past couple of months but, all of that ended here as she reached the front door.  She grabbed the bronze knocker and tapped it two times on the door.  The barking, which had subsided, picked up again.  A smile played on her lips as she remembered how much Vincent adored his four-legged companion.  So much so, he had portraits of him in multiple locations.  She mentally chastised herself when she realized what she was doing.  She had been avoiding Karm for a reason.  She was here for one purpose and one purpose only: get the interview done and leave.

The door opened and she was pleasantly surprised when she saw who opened the door.  The red-haired man smiled enthusiastically at her as he gestured for her to come inside from the cold.

“Eugene!  I’m so glad to see you!” Paige expressed genuinely as she embraced Vincent’s employee.

“I was so happy to learn that you were coming!” Eugene replied clapping his hands together. “Vincent is just freshening up before dinner.  Let me show you to your room, Ms. Turner.”

“Thank you, Eugene.  I would appreciate that, it’s been a long day.” She stated as she shed off her winter coat and scarf and placed them in Eugene’s outstretched hands.

As Eugene hung up her belongings,Paige heard Esteban before she saw him slowly making his way towards her.  He gave little snorts as he tried to get to know her scent.  

“Esteban, assis.” Eugene said in a firm voice to the pug, who immediately sat down.  “ You can pet him if you’d like.  I don’t believe you’ve met Esteban before.  He is Vincent’s pride and joy.  He is also quite well behaved, when he feels like it.” The man stated with a soft laugh.

“So, you’re Esteban.” Paige said as she crouched down to the pug’s level and began to scratch behind his ears. “I’ve heard good things about you.” she told the dog as he opened his mouth allowing his tongue to hang out as he panted, clearly enjoying the attention.

After a moment of acquainting herself with the pug, she followed Eugene to her room.  The room was spacious yet cozy.  A queen sized bed with a antique looking quilt was at the center of the room.  In the corner, an arm chair was placed next to a bookshelf.

“There is no wifi here but you can plug your laptop directly into the internet via the telephone jack by the desk.  If you need assistance, I would be happy to help.”  Eugene explained.  

While inconvenient, Paige was not completely unfamiliar with the technological throwback.  She glanced at the clock;  Eugene told her to take her time making herself feel at home and he would come get her in a half hour for dinner.  Taking advantage of the time she had; Paige began to unpack.  She grabbed her laptop and placed it on the desk, letting out a relieved sigh that she remembered to pack her chargers with the correct adapters for American outlets. She just finished connecting her computer to the internet when she heard a knock at the door.

She didn’t realize that it had been a half hour already but, she figured Eugene must have finished dinner early.

“Come in Eugene!” Paige called still on her hands and knees under the desk, making sure the cable connecting her computer to the wall was secure.

She heard the door open and the sound of dress shoes on the wood floor, muffled once they reached the ornate area rug.

“Actually, I figured I would let Eugene finish up in the kitchen and that I would fetch you myself instead.”

Vincent’s voice deep and smooth was a shock when she had not been expecting it.  Paige, in her surprise, tried to stand up quickly but ended up hitting her head on the underside of the desk.

“Ouch!” Paige yelped as she held the back of her head as she got to her feet and turned to face Vincent.

“Are you okay? Would you like me to get you some ice?” Vincent asked, his eyes wide with concern.

His sincerity shocked Paige.  She figured he would laugh at her expense for being so clumsy, especially after she had denied his advances after their kiss.

“No, I’m fine.” Paige stated tersely.  “Thank you though...” she added after a minute, recognizing that she had no reason to be rude to the man.  It wasn’t his fault that she felt so awkward, after all.  

Although, it is your fault for being so damn attractive.  Must you look so good in a three piece suit?!  

“If you’re sure, Ms. Turner.” Vincent stated his eyes still searching to make sure she was in fact okay.  “Well, I wanted to welcome you and tell you to make yourself at home.  I apologize for being unavailable when you first arrived.”

“I got to meet Esteban in your absence, he’s quite adorable.”  Paige stated.

A small hint of a smile played on Vincent’s lips so briefly that Paige wasn’t entirely sure it wasn’t her mind playing tricks on her, or a side effect of bashing her head so hard.

“Thank you for saying so, Ms. Turner.  I am very fond of my canine companion.”  Vincent responded.  A smirk formed and Paige knew the smile she had caught was real.  “Dinner is ready if you are.  You must be famished after your flight.”

“I am, thank you.” She sighed at her shortness with him.  This trip was going to be very painful if she didn’t learn to get over her awkwardness with Vincent.

Thankfully dinner went by without a hitch and, despite the pounding in her head after her incident with the desk, she actually… enjoyed herself.

Vincent was unwilling to talk business at the dinner table and after dinner her jetlag was catching up with her.  The two mutually decided that they would begin getting to work the next day.

Paige had changed in to her pajamas and was about to get into her bed when she heard the soft rap of knuckles against her door.

“Yes?” She called out while she took a makeup wipe to her face.

“Is it okay if I open the door?” Vincent’s voice resonated through the door.

“Umm, just a second...” Paige answered hastily tossing the used makeup wipe in the trash and hopping into bed and pulling up the covers.  She wasn’t prepared to have Vincent Karm see her in the flannel short shorts she was wearing to bed.   “Okay, all set.” she announced as she ran her hands over her hair, rolling her eyes at herself. When did she begin to care so much about how she looked in Vincent’s presence?

The door opened barely more than a crack and Vincent stuck his head in the opening.  “I just wanted to see if you needed anything before bed.” Vincent spoke softly.

Paige was about to answer when a tan blur came hurtling onto the bed to her.  Esteban circled twice then plopped down with a grunt.  

Vincent gaped for a second at the scene that just unraveled.

“Esteban!” he chastised the dog.  “I am so very sorry!  He is never like this with anyone…” Realizing the dog was paying him no attention, he questioned whether he should enter the room and physically remove the dog.

Paige let out a soft giggle.  After the long day she had the pug’s presence was welcome.

“It’s okay, Mr. K-” Paige began but was cut off.

“Please, call me Vincent.” He stated firmly, a trace of something Paige couldn’t identify in his voice; almost sadness.

“Okay, Vincent, but you have to call me Paige then.” She replied hoping that the room was dark enough that he couldn’t see the blush rising to her cheeks.   “And If it’s okay with you, I’d actually prefer that he stay.” she continued.

She laid a hand on the sleeping pug’s back.  Having Esteban there sharing a bed with her was nice.  It helped her feel more at home, as she was used to sharing her bed with Whiskey.  

“If you insist.  Did you need anything else?” Vincent asked, still perplexed over the odd behavior of his four legged companion.

“No, I have everything that I need,” She answered while trying to stifle a yawn.  “Goodnight, Vincent” she stated signaling he was free to go and that she was ready for bed.

He gave her a quick nod and pulled the door closed until the the latch clicked.

Vincent stared at the doorknob, mentally berating himself for being so hesitant and reserved.  His confident facade had faded and he half-wondered if this was how Raphael felt all the time.  It was uncomfortable to say the least.

He requested her in hopes of finding out whether or not the tightness he experienced in his chest was still there when he saw her.  A mere thought of her made his heart jump as he recalled how challenging she had been, protective of those she loved and cared for.  

Several months and an ocean apart had done nothing for the overwhelming intensity of what he felt for the woman on the other side of the door.

Who is here to do a job.  He reminded himself.  

It broke his heart to hear her call him what everyone else did, by his surname.  She used to call him Vincent and he never once asked her to do so.  That he had to ask her, after everything they had gone through, hurt and twisted in his gut like a knife.

He had seen the faint color in her cheeks when she asked for him to call her by her first name, in turn.  He should have just suffered through the annoyance of being called Mr. Karm if it meant she was comfortable.  

He found himself envious of his own dog, both because he wished he could be so open with affection and because Esteban was the one sleeping next to her.  Keeping her warm and safe.

He suddenly found himself longing to be the one next to her.  Vincent wondered what it would be like to wake up with his arms around her, her head on his chest as she slept.  To see her face at peace, something she deserved after the past few years.

She couldn’t know what he felt for her; he couldn’t allow her to find out.  Not yet, at least.  She was here to do what Raphael asked her to do. He couldn’t scare her off by letting her know that months, even years if he counted his time in prison, had done nothing to soothe the ache in his chest that came with every thought of her.

“Goodnight, Paige.” Vincent said softly to the door before heading to his own room to get ready for bed himself.

When Paige awoke she felt surprisingly refreshed.  While she was normally an early riser, waking up well before sunrise, the time on her phone revealed that it was almost noon.   She looked down at the bed to find that Esteban was no longer with her.  Eugene or Vincent must have retrieved him earlier in the morning to let him out and give him his breakfast.

She freshened herself up and dressed before she left her room to go find Vincent.  She wanted to get on with her job.  The faster she finished her article, the faster she could leave.  Then, maybe, she could fall asleep thinking of something other than Vincent Karm in bed only a few doors down from her.

Paige found Vincent in the living room, his eyes glued to his laptop, wired much the same way as hers for internet.  He was holding what smelled like coffee, steam wafting from the ceramic mug.

“Ah, you’re finally awake.”  He glanced at her before he took a sip from his mug, eyes scanning the screen again.

“That’s twice now, that I’ve left you waiting for me while I was unconscious.” Paige said, taking the offered cup and plate of food from Eugene, who silently slipped in and out of the room with ease.  She mouthed a thank you to the manservant as he left the room.

“Yes, well, hopefully this isn’t as...traumatic as the previous time.”  He said softly; if anyone from her time in Paris was aware of her suffering from her friend’s death, it was Vincent.

“I wouldn’t call that whole night traumatic.” She replied.

She kept her gaze firmly planted on her plate of food as she realized what she just said.  She stabbed a piece of egg with more force than she expected, the metal making a sound against the porcelain.

She was afraid.  Afraid to face whatever happened between them months ago, afraid of the feelings she harbored for the man who once tried to take over Paris.  The gut wrenching frustration with herself from earlier in the week came back but she was determined to push it aside.  She was here for one thing: his side of the events of the floods.

You were supposed to get here, do the interview, and leave.  No flirting. No awkwardness. But no, you had to go and screw that up, Paige.  Damn him.  Damn him for being...attractive and caring and a hell of a good kisser beneath that devilish persona.

Paige cleared her throat after a sip of coffee; it was probably one of the best homebrews she had, second only to Kat’s.  And the food was delicious, even for simple breakfast fare.

“What time did you want to start?  Is there a place you’re most comfortable?” She asked, eyes darting up just to see Vincent’s back to her, that he had shifted to face his computer again.

Thank goodness.  That meant she had a little time to hide the creeping flush across her cheeks.

“I was actually hoping we could take a walk.  Vermont this time of year is simply beautiful.”  He stated as he closed his laptop and turned to face her.  “If that is okay with you of course.” He added and something flickered in his eyes; hope.  

She was being hard on him, she realized; it was only fair for her to concede.  Plus, he was agreeing to do this interview.  Vincent, while used to being in the limelight, remained very private.  This interview was meant to be candid; he agreed to open up, to the readers yes, but primarily to Paige.  

“Sure, that would be fine.  I’ll go put on something warmer and grab my recorder.” She told him as she turned to head to the kitchen to place her dishes in the sink.

Once she was finished changing she met Vincent by the front door.  He was throwing an emerald scarf over his dress coat.  He was dressed impeccably as always despite the fact that they were going for a walk through the snow.  Paige noticed his choice in footwear; a pair of black leather Hermès boots.  If her time with TJ had taught her anything, it had taught her just how much he probably spent on those boots.  

“All set?” She asked as she began to realize for the first time this trip they would be completely alone together.

“Ready when you are.” Vincent answered simply.

The pair exited the cabin together the snow made soft crunching noises beneath their boots.  

It was pretty mild in temperature, at least for winter in North East America.  Paige had checked the weather forecast before her plane had taken off the day before and there was talk of a storm.  With the weather as temperate as it was, it didn’t seem possible for more than a light flurry.  Paige took her recorder out and pressed the red button.  She began asking some basic questions as she would with anyone to ease them into the more in-depth material she was looking for.

She continued to ask him questions; he pointed to various parts of the property while he answered.  Paige nearly had everything she needed for now.  She would work with what she got from the interview once she got back to her room.  After that, she would figure out where the gaps where and see what she needed to add.  At that moment, only one question was left for her to ask.

“What motivated you to even help save the city?” Paige began, looking over at Vincent when she asked the question. “ You clearly were trying to push boundaries the night I was arrested, considering you basically summoned me to your cell.  What possessed you to break out of prison to help?”

He inhaled, a little sharper than he probably meant to.  “One of those answers I can’t give.”

“On the record, then.” She specified.

“I couldn’t stand the idea of some base destroyer taking the city from me, from anyone.  Paris is the city of love, of light.  Of hope.  It was, and is, a refuge for artists, for musicians, for those who felt they didn’t belong elsewhere.”

He continued his train of thought and she waited until he finished before she turned off her recorder.

“And off the record?” She asked, her heart beating in her chest like a drum.  He clearly had something to hide and she would find out what.

His adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, hesitating in his words.  A first for Vincent Karm.

“I couldn’t stand seeing you in agony, after that night.  I told myself I would find a way to help so you would never have to feel that pain again.” He replied with nothing but sincerity.

This was not something she had either expected or prepared for.  A silence lingered between the pair as she was at a loss for how to respond to this earnest expression.  

“So, why Vermont?” She asked for the sole purpose of changing the subject and breaking the awkward silence.  

“Honestly?” He asked as she looked at him expectantly, urging him to tell her.  “I have a weakness for maple syrup.”

Shocked by the utter simplicity of his answer Paige began to laugh, trying to cover her mouth to stifle herself.

“What?” Vincent said with a grin, amused by her laughter.  It had been awhile since he had seen her so at ease and carefree.  “Nothing compares to freshly tapped maple syrup!”

“Oh, so Vincent Karm has a sweet tooth, huh?” She asked teasingly, finally managing to get her laughter under control.

“That shouldn’t surprise you, considering the company I’m currently keeping.” He replied smoothly with a small grin making eye contact with her.

Yet again, the slightly awkward tension returned.  She knew her cheeks were turning pink but, whether it was from the cold or his compliment she couldn’t be sure.

Is he flirting with me? She thought as she hoped her blush wasn’t obvious.

“You know what my favorite part of winter is?” She asked as she stopped in her tracks to stick her gloved hands in the snow.

“What?” Vincent asked in reply, eyebrows raising slightly.

“This.” She stated as she pelted him with a snowball.  

His eyes widened as he realized what had just happened, that maybe he should have seen coming.  

“Paige…” He began.

“Yes?” She replied with a laugh.

“This is war.” He stated calmly as he bent down, forming a snowball of his own.

The snowballed arched, hitting Paige square in the shoulder, causing her to squeal in surprise.  It became an all out brawl, snowballs thrown back and forth between the pair.  Vincent’s deep chuckle mixed with Paige’s girlish laughter and shrieks of delight.

Paige felt a snowball hit her on the back of her neck and icy fragments were sent down the collar of her jacket.  She yelped against the cold on her flesh.

“Oh, you’re going down, Karm!” she cried as she dashed toward him.

As she neared the man, she stepped on a patch of ice hidden under a layer of snow.  She felt herself slipping and reached out for Vincent to steady herself.  She grabbed hold of Vincent’s arm but only managed to pull him down with her.  When they fell, he took the brunt of the impact, only to have her land on him.  They both stilled for a moment, realizing just how close their faces were to each other.

Paige felt her mouth go dry as Vincent took her hand placing it over his chest.  She felt his heart beating rapidly through his jacket and coat.  Her eyes locked on his, realizing this gesture was very unvincentlike.  It was unlike him to put himself in such a vulnerable position when he was so used to being in control.

Unable to maintain eye contact, her eyes drifted down to his lips, not that that was much better.  She knew he wanted to kiss her but she couldn’t let that happen.

“I want to but… I… I can’t do this again.” her voice barely above audible.

“Kiss me or be hurt again?” he asked, his voiced pained.

What if there isn’t a difference between the two.  There wasn’t with Raphael.  Paige thought to herself.  She was both scared that they had been so close to kissing and disappointed that she couldn’t allow herself to let it happen.

“...I don’t know.  But, when I do, I’ll tell you.” She replied her voice still soft.

She shifted off him and stood, brushing excess snow off of her before offering Vincent her hand.  It was the least she could do, considering she was the reason he fell in the first place.

They made it back to the cabin cold and wet from all the snow that they threw at each other.  The heat of the indoors warmed their cold skin as they both remove their outerwear.  

Paige excused herself to her room with the excuse of wanting to get some of her ideas down while they were still fresh.  As soon as she got to her room, she turned on her computer and set herself down to write.  All she could think about was Vincent, and not the things she needed for her piece.  

Like his emerald eyes and his lips, small but soft.  Or how she had never truly seen him smile until now.  Or laugh without a darker meaning behind his words.  This was a different side of him, the man beneath the metaphors and sinister intent.  A man who owned a house in Vermont strictly because of his taste for maple syrup.

That’s why he wanted me to do this interview.  Who else but the person he helped to capture an image other than the one he’s known for?

Paige opened her work document and set about transcribing her audio files.  

Vincent watched Paige disappear into her room before noticing Esteban in an armchair, the pug watching him in turn.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Vincent muttered.  

Esteban gave a whine, his tail wagging lazily from side to side.

“She needs her space, you can cuddle with her later.”  Vincent walked over and scratched the dog behind his ear.  

His clothes still held the chill from outside but that chill had followed them inside and clung to the air.  Had he been too forward?  He knew she still hurt from Raphael, from going too fast too quickly only to find out his jealous streak ran far deeper than she originally thought.

It hurt, to hear her words.  That she would deny herself what she wanted.  What they both wanted.  But she needed to decide that for herself, in time.

He hadn’t forgotten how her light brown hair smelled, how beautiful the freckles across her nose were, or how endearing the flush across her cheeks could be.  But for her to be so close, in that moment, and not be able to…

Vincent let out a breath through his nose and cast his gaze back down the hall.  She would be busy for the rest of the day and it was probably best if he let her be.

A shower would do him good.  He needed a clearer head.  Maybe hot water would at least remove the chill he couldn’t seem to get rid of.

He left a trail of clothes behind him after he closed his bedroom door and made his way to the bathroom.  The tile was warm under his feet; heated floors were a necessity in such a climate.

He hissed when he entered the shower, finding the water to be too hot.  Or, maybe he was just too cold.

It wasn’t like him to be so...open with his intentions, at least with most people.  Then again, Paige wasn’t “most people” and she often demanded for him to be straight with her.  She did from the start.  She had earned that much from him, certainly.  

She earned my bloody heart without even trying.  Vincent thought darkly.

Vincent began washing his hair, his thoughts of earlier coming back.  She reached for him rather than flail helplessly and he hadn’t wanted her to fall; he was hoping they wouldn’t fall at all.

He expected to catch her, to hold her against him for the briefest of moments before letting her go.  He fell with her instead.  It wouldn’t do for her to hurt herself or, worse, have a concussion.  It was purely instinctive for him to hold her so he took most of the impact.  He doubted he would have done it a few years ago.  

He thought of Paige again, her laugh as she threw a snowball at him, her hazel eyes glancing down at his lips, her weight on him.  He wondered what it would be like to kiss her, to press his lips to her neck, to her warm skin, and show her that the pain she seemed to anticipate would never come.  Not if he could help it.  

He swallowed hard as he rinsed his hair.  He thought back to the night they first kissed.  She straddled him, grabbed him by his tie, and kissed him hard and long and sudden.  Very few had ever gained the upper hand with him so easily.  He was used to women throwing themselves at him but this...was something else entirely.  It was, for the first time in a long time, genuine in its passion.

Or so he hoped.

He remembered how close they were that night, how close they had been just under an hour ago.

Vincent finished the rest of his normal routine before he shut off the water and dried off.  He wrapped the towel around his waist as he went to peruse his closet for a clean set of clothes.  Once he was dressed, he returned to the living room to pick up where he left off on his emails.

Paige ate dinner quickly, barely making eye contact with anyone before dashing back into her room.  She felt awkward, watched, and she didn’t mean to be so closed off; the relationship of an interview went both ways.  But every time she even thought about approaching Vincent again, fear gripped her gut and she was left resorting to small talk and no eye contact.

The following morning, she curled up on the couch in the living room.  Esteban was on her bed down the hall last she knew, enthusiastically chewing a well-loved banana toy.  Eugene and Vincent were discussing something near the study; the conversation darted between English and French, and she distantly wondered if they did that in Paris as well.

Paige skimmed what she had so far of the interview, catching snippets about weather and generators and gasoline.  She glanced out the window to see Eugene placing several orange gasoline containers in the trunk of the black sedan warming up.  She switched to her internet browser to check the forecast; the storm had two paths, it seemed, but the pattern was unpredictable and no one wanted to make a call, it seemed.

She went back to working on the interview, forcing her eyes to focus on the screen as she heard soft footsteps pass by on the way to the kitchen.  He had paused and it took everything in her to not turn her head and look at him.  To get up from the couch and brush her lips over his, to give in to everything they both wanted.

She still didn’t have an answer for him.

The wind started to pick up just as an emergency weather alert went off on her phone.  The notification stated the storm predicted to hit tomorrow evening had gained strength and had shifted directly towards the area where they were staying.  

Paige felt nerves begin to stir in her stomach as she looked out the window realizing how little she could make out through the falling snow.  She worried about Eugene, who had left a little under an hour ago with four bright orange jugs to get gas for the generators in the event the cabin lost power.  It was getting dark and the wind was whipping the snow around creating large drifts outside of the windows in Paige’s room.  

Esteban, who was curled up at the foot of her bed for most of the afternoon had woken up from a nap.  His ears went back as he let out a few soft whines; he was clearly not a fan of the storm.

You and me both little guy. Paige thought as she rubbed the dog behind the ears and reciting calming incantations in efforts to soothe him.

The lights flickered briefly before the power went out all together.  

Paige gave a yelp in surprise as the sudden shift to darkness.  She felt Esteban shift beneath her touch.  Paige pulled her phone out of her pocket the light providing only enough illumination to see directly in front of her and nothing else.

“It’s okay Esteban.  You’re a good boy; everything is okay.” She whispered.

“Paige?”  Vincents voice echoed down the hallway.  “Are you alright?”

Vincent arrived in the doorway holding a flashlight, which was a lot more useful than her phone.

“Yes, just a little startled that’s all.  I thought the generators were supposed to kick in only a few seconds after the power went out…” She began but trailed off.

“They are.  They must have had even less gas than Eugene and I had expected.” He replied.

“Shouldn’t Eugene be back by now?  Do you think he’s stuck in the storm?” Paige felt panic rise in her gut.  She already lost someone dear to her; she couldn’t bare to see any of her other friend’s get hurt.

“I was on the phone with Eugene when the power cut out.  The storm hit town before it came here and they closed the roads.  Eugene made it to a hotel but even if the roads were open it wouldn’t be safe for him to drive.” Vincent stated in a calm voice.

“As long as Eugene is safe.  I guess the heaters won’t be working with no power, huh.”  It was more of a statement that she was hoping Vincent corrected her on rather than a question.

“No, they won’t.  But I will get a fire going in the front room and there are plenty of blankets.”

Paige gave a weak nod, wishing she wasn’t as anxious as she was.

“I’ll get the fire started.  I brought you a flashlight, would you mind bringing some blankets for us?”

“Yes, of course, I can do that.”  Paige responded, taking the flashlight Vincent held out for her.

She gathered the quilt from her bed and a few more she found in the trunk at the foot of the bed.  The case closed with a sudden thud after she pulled out the covers, startling her for a moment.  Paige carefully made her way down the hall and into the living room, arms filled with blankets and flashlight balancing precariously atop the pile.

In less than an hour, the pair was sitting in front of a fire, each wrapped in their own blanket.  Had the situation not been as stress inducing as it was, Paige actually would have enjoyed this.

Despite the warmth that the blankets and fire provided, a chill ran through Paige and she wasn’t entirely sure it was completely due to being cold.  Her involuntary shiver caught Vincent’s attention.

“Are you still cold?” Vincent asked with genuine concern.

“Only a little but the fire is very nice, it helps.” Paige stated hoping he accepted the answer without further questioning.

Vincent, who was sitting next to her, moved closer to her.  Their arms were now resting against each other.  “Is this okay?” Vincent asked gently.

Paige nodded in reply as she continued watching the fire.

“I...I’m sorry about before, by the way.  And about my behavior this whole trip.  I’ve been cold toward you and it was unnecessary.  The truth is I’m scared.  Terrified really.”

“I terrify you?” Vincent replied maintaining his calm but clearly hurt by her confession.

“No, no, you don’t terrify me!  I’m just not sure I can handle getting hurt again…When I was with Raphael…” she trailed off but Vincent let her collect herself without interupting.  When she found her words, she continued. “When I was with Raphael, I really thought I was happy...for a while.  Until I realized that I was probably the farthest thing from happy I had ever been, up until Kat died that is.”

“Paige, you’re shivering, let me get you another blanket-”  Vincent rose to grab another blanket from the pile.

“No!” She reacted, reaching out and grabbing his hand, startling the man “I’m sorry, please, don’t leave. We’ll just sit closer if that’s okay.”

Vincent sat back down and Paige shifted, instead positioning herself between his legs with her back against his chest.  She could feel the warmth emanating from his body, feel his heart beating hard against her back, and she felt his breath hitch as his arms wrapped around her waist tentatively.

“Okay?” He asked.

“Warmer already.” She replied; it was the furthest thing from a lie.  She continued now that she was warmer, “I should have listened to your warnings about him… you are the only one who ever told me the truth about Raphael.  I guess now would be a good time to say ‘I told you so’”

“Paige, I would never say that to you.  Especially over something that has so deeply affected you.” He said sternly. “And, you don’t have to apologize.  You came here to do a job and I am sorry if I complicated things for you.  I have been wanting to kiss you from the moment you arrived, and yesterday I realized I pushed the boundaries farther than I should have.”

It was at Vincent’s apology that caused her to realize Raphael was the exception, not the rule.  Yes, he hurt her, but that didn’t mean Vincent would hurt her.  She was so upset at Raphael for holding her back in their relationship and now she wanted something, wanted Vincent, and she was holding herself back.  She was no longer with Raphael; if she wanted something, she could go for it.  Should go for it.

“You have nothing to apologize for either, but, thank you.” She rotated slightly so she was sitting slightly sideways toward him, one leg bent, her knee resting near his. “I’m definitely warmer sitting like this.  But, there is one part of me that’s still cold.  My lips.  Can you help me warm them?”  

Vincent leaned in, allowing her to come in the rest of the way.  As she felt his lips against hers she knew that one night was not just a fluke.  Kissing Vincent was like no other kiss she ever experienced.  The effects of the kiss radiated throughout her entire body sending warmth to every inch of her despite how frigid the room was.  Their kisses became deeper and more desperate until they ended up in a position similar to when they fell on the ice.  Vincent allowed her to be on top of him; be in control, set the pace.  Eventually they both fell asleep, a tangle of blankets and limbs intertwined.

Paige woke up warm despite the coldness of the room.  Vincent, still asleep, was holding her close to him; keeping her warm.  The weight of his arms around her made secure, happy.  A rush of emotions engulfed her at all she had shared with Vincent last night both emotionally and physically.  Memories of the kisses they shared last night flooded back to her.  

Paige smiled, realizing she had been brave enough to follow through with all of the desires she had regarding Vincent.  Well, not all of them.  A blush spread across her cheeks thinking about the one thing they hadn’t done last night.  Neither of them had wanted to move too fast.  However, the desire was there last night and it was back again now.  Especially with her body so close to his, feeling him pressed up against her.  His morning condition was of little help, which she noticed when she shifted her thigh slightly.  She watched him as he slept.   His hair was tousled from sleep and she realized she had never seen him look more peaceful or relaxed.

The wind was still pretty strong from what she could hear and she was so nice and warm.  She closed her eyes and let herself drift back off to sleep; a pleasure she more often than not denied herself.  This morning though, wrapped in Vincent’s arms, she allowed herself this small pleasure.    

Vincent woke with a start.  It took him a moment to wake up and realize that he was finally able to do what he only was able to imagine.  He was able to wake up with Paige in his arms.  He would be lying if he hadn’t wanted this all along when he first learned City of Love: Paris wanted an interview but, after the way Paige acted after their snowball fight lead him to believe this would never happen.  He was extremely glad that he was wrong, which was a first for him.  

My God, she’s beautiful.  He thought to himself as he ever so lightly brushed a strand of her hair away from her face tucking it behind her ear.  

As much as he hated the idea, he had to disentangle himself from her and get up.  He needed to check on Esteban and see if Eugene had tried to get in contact with him at all.  Cell service was not very good; texting was possible but took awhile.  

He pressed a kiss to Paige’s forehead before peeling back the covers.  He was careful not to wake her, replacing the covers so she wouldn’t get cold.  As he went about his business, his mind kept playing last night’s events.  He was hardly complaining; in fact he wouldn’t mind a repeat incident once Paige woke up.  To hear her open up to him and realize that she trusted him enough to let herself be vulnerable with him was… everything.  

Vincent fired off a text to Eugene, hoping his message would send before his phone battery died.  He placed the phone near the window to make the best of the poor service, only made worse by the storm.

On a positive note, the wind had begun to die down.  Snow was still falling but not with the intensity as it had been throughout the night.

Vincent walked into the study and turned on his laptop.  It had been charging when the power went out; it still had a decent charge left to it and because it was wired directly to the phone jack, he still had internet access until the computer died.  The joys of archaic American technology.  He tried to check the weather but the only updates were claiming the storm was dying down.

He was startled as Paige knocked on the door frame.  She was wrapped in one of the thick fleece blankets they had slept with and she held a mug in each hand.  He could see steam rising from each.

“I put the kettle over the fire to heat the milk.  I’m sure it’s not the best quality but it’s warm.”  She said as she offered a mug of steaming hot chocolate to him.

Vincent took the mug from her and took a deep sip, savoring the warmth of the beverage.

“It’s too cold in here.  Come back in front of the fire with me?”  Paige asked a hint of shyness in her voice.  As if despite all that they shared last night there was still a part of her that was afraid he would turn her down.

Vincent shut his computer and grabbed Paige’s free hand in his bringing it up to his lips to brush light kisses over her knuckles.  Hand in hand they walked back in front of the fire and wrapped themselves in each other as they watched the snow fall outside the window.

“Beautiful.” Paige stated as she was captivated by the wintery wonderland outside.

“Yes, beautiful.” Vincent replied, looking only at Paige.

Paige turn to look at Vincent, a blush rising to her cheeks.  She opened her mouth to speak but, before she could the lights flickered on.

“The power’s on!” She squealed in excitement as she wrapped her arms around Vincent’s neck.

“And look who’s back.” Vincent stated as he held Paige with one arm the other pointing to the window.  Paige followed his arm to the view of the driveway, a black sedan visible on the crisp white snow.

Esteban barked, running in a circle before jumping onto the nearest piece of furniture to look out the window.  His tail wagged as he caught sight of Eugene getting out of the car.

Paige turned to place a kiss on Vincent’s cheek once Eugene was hidden by the trunk of the car for a moment and untangled herself from his arms, as much as she didn’t want to.  “I’m going to make breakfast, I’m sure he’s exhausted.”  

Vincent hummed an agreement and let her go, scooping up Esteban moments later.  He turned and watched Paige head into the kitchen as he scratched the pug behind his ears, a faint smile on his lips.

[nooowestayandgetcaught]

Can you believe it’s been A WHOLE YEAR since the last episode of YOI/the first season ended? I’ve been doing this project for 52 weeks, every week until now, and it’s been great, but alas, this is where our journey ends. I had a lot of fun and laughs, and met so many wonderful readers, and I love you all deeply. Thanks being here. ♥

Full collection

Week 1: Viktor/Yuuri, Explicit, 1363 words -- “Slacking Off”

In which Yuuri raws Viktor under the mistletoe. (A lot of mistletoe. A whole ceiling's worth.)

Week 2: Otabek/Yuri, Explicit, 1126 words -- “Impulsive”

But somehow, Yuri can always surprise him as well—ignoring everyone else and leaping into Otabek's arms. Unlike any of the drab, dreary colors around them, Yuri is a balefire in his costume glittering in reds and golds, with stripes of onyx mesh against his abdomen. There's even a dusting of gold to Yuri's eyelashes, and clinging to his pale cheeks.

Week 3: Yuuri/Phichit, Explicit, 1513 words -- “Reminiscent”

He meets Phichit while figure-eighting silently, wistfully across the empty stretch of rink.

Week 4: Otabek/Yuri, Explicit, 1294 words -- “Something More Intimate”

Dating usually brings up personal stuff Yuri dreads to let anyone know. It's probably why he avoided it all together. Without trying, Otabek sees Yuri for who he is. He accepts what Yuri tells him without question or taunting.

Week 5: Phichit & Georgi, Gen, 867 words -- “#nochill”

Georgi's makeup looks disastrous. Phichit knows exactly how to fix this, and he'll do it with or without permission.

Week 6: Mila/Sara, Mature, 946 words -- “Hook Up”

Emil invites Mila to a key party. House keys, car keys, they're all fair game. The endgame is to find the key's owner at the end of the night. 

Week 7: Katsuki Mari/Anya, Teen, 707 words -- “Chance”

An unlikely encounter leads Mari to a very beautiful woman needing a rescue.

Week 8: Christophe/Mystery Guy, Teen, 703 words -- “Perfect, Perfect You”

Christophe loves riling up his boyfriend first thing in the morning. Even if he misses his interview.

Week 9: Otabek/Yuri, Explicit, 630 words -- “Bending, Not Breaking”

Otabek cares more for the physical vibrations of Yuri's moans. The sensation follows up his own fingertips and straight into Otabek's chest, unearthing that inescapable desire he's buried down deep.

Yuri is not the only one who wants. So badly.

Week 10: Otabek/Yuri, Teen, 1758 words -- “Chasing After a Maybe”

There's a faint, teasing smile on Yuri's lips. "Is this you getting mushy on me, Altin? I don't like it."

Week 11: Michele/Emil, Teen, 1305 words -- “Common Observation”

Emil leaps onto Michele's cot, smiling and rubbing his newly shaven jaw. Out of the corner of his eyes, Michele can glimpse the little red bumps along Emil's pale cheek where the razor irritated his skin.

"I like your glasses."

The earnestly spoken compliment heats up the surface of Michele's ears.

Week 12: Viktor/Yuuri, Gen, 1159 words -- “Better Than Ever”

They're getting old, Yuuri realizes. There's little crow's feet around Viktor's blue eyes. It's getting harder to lose weight for him, and Viktor doesn't snub his thick thighs and belly. More to love about you, as he puts it.

Week 13: Otabek/Yuri, Teen, 647 words -- “Reborn”

Everyone starts out looking dead—pale grey skin, colorless eyes, never feeling too warm or too cold. One of the constantly irritating things is the permanent sore-scabs on his lips, festering over Yuri's bottom one.

(In which you're only alive when you meet your soulmate.)

Week 14: Mila/Sara, Mature, 1147 words -- “Everything You Want”

"We should just date," Sara murmurs thoughtfully, eyes lidding. She pushes a loose, wavy stand of Mila's red hair behind her ear. A sandy fingertip presses gently against one of Mila's sterling silver piercings.

Week 15: Otabek/Yuri, Not Rated, 1767 words -- “Our Lives”

That's when Yuri notices the item dangling underneath his cat's turquoise, studded collar. A ring made of highly polished and black titanium.

Week 16: Viktor/Yuuri, Teen, 1282 words -- “Blackhole Dreams”

"I believe in you, Yuuri. Nothing more, nothing less."

His voice washes over him, heady and rumbling. Yuuri sucks in a deep breath, cheeks flushing hotly. After all of these months training to fight, physically and mentally for the evils coming, and listening to V.I.K.T.O.R.R's advice… it's not possible to have these feelings for a talking WALL, is it?

Week 17: Victor Nikiforov/Other(s), Christophe Giacometti/Victor Nikiforov, Explicit, 881 words -- “Filthy Hot”

Viktor doesn't hate intimacy, but a lack of control. He experiments with this notion in a public bathroom.

Week 18: Mila Babicheva/Sara Crispino, Michele Crispino & Sara Crispino, Mature, 1039 words -- “Beautiful In Knowing”

Sara knew she was a girl, even if nobody else did or believed her.

She ordered Michele to call her "Lady Sara" from now on. He would roll his eyes and grumble, but never attempt to misgender her. She liked "Sara" — it meant "lady, princess, noblewoman". And she would never go back to her deadname.

Week 19: Katsuki Yuuri/Victor Nikiforov (main), Katsuki Yuuri/Lee Seung Gil, Lee Seung Gil/Victor Nikiforov, Teen, 536 words  -- “Kiss-Fiend”

It's only a matter of time before someone else makes a mess of themselves at another GPF banquet. Only this time — Yuuri stays far away from the champagne and behaves. Seung-gil, however, does not. 

Week 20: Lilia Baranovskaya/Nikolai Plisetsky/Yakov Feltsman, Mature, 1133 words -- “Faded But Not Forgotten”

A very long time ago, before Yuri's birth, Nikolai fell in love with his neighbor and her boyfriend.

Week 21: Katsuki Yuuri/Victor Nikiforov, Mature, 206 words -- Unusual

He loves the sound — Viktor's heartbeat. Comforting, mesmeric and tormenting all in one.

Week 22: Ji Guang-Hong/Victor Nikiforov, Explicit, 426 words -- Fantasy

Viktor would kiss him like when the world turns to dawnlight, awestruck and sleepy, and worshiping every inch it could reach.

Week 23: Katsuki Yuuri/Yuri Plisetsky, Explicit, 457 words -- To Bleed For

Eros loved someone who did not love the way he wished for. Out of his brothers and sisters, Agape has been most precious to him. Brighter than Apollo's vestige, more clever than Hermes — he's a wicked thing, perhaps more than Hades himself.

Week 24: Phichit Chulanont/Lee Seung Gil, Teen, 904 words -- Bare Emotions

There's still intensive schooling and extracurricular, for a professional skating career — and it turns out Seung-gil attends online courses, including drawing and illustrative art. Phichit can't be too sure why Seung-gil approached him outside the plaza, for the favor, but he's happy to help. Even if it involves stripping off his clothes in the heavily air-conditioned room.

Week 25: Otabek Altin/Yuri Plisetsky, Mature, 1045 words -- Precious

Yuri's cat ends up with a surprise pregnancy. Otabek keeps Yuri from having a mental breakdown.

Week 26: Katsuki Yuuri/Victor Nikiforov, Explicit, 730 words -- Forget The Ordinary

It's like not Viktor can help it — Yuuri, his incredible and handsome Yuuri, deserves everything. Every brilliant, faraway star in the constellations if Viktor could pluck them out and set them in a ring. Maybe Yuuri will settle for the usual wedding ring instead.

Week 27: Otabek Altin/Yuri Plisetsky, 953 words -- Careless

Yuri maneuvers through the dance floor, looking around with wordless purpose. His v-neck revealing more pale, hairless skin than what's necessary. Otabek's black leather jacket hangs off Yuri's muscular-slender frame, just a tad too big for him, but he still looks fucking amazing.

That's when their eyes meet, as the square floor-tiles light up ambrosial-pink, under the thick soles of Yuri's combat boots.

Week 28: Katsuki Yuuri/Detroit Hockey Team, Phichit Chulanont & Katsuki Yuuri, Explicit, 1694 words -- Favor For a Favor

In order to have the ice rink, and without any protest from the hockey team, Yuuri agrees to a consensual gangbang.

Week 29: Katsuki Mari/Okukawa Minako, Katsuki Mari & Katsuki Yuuri, Teen, 198 words -- Ache

She misses everything about Minako. Hasetsu isn’t the same — too quiet, too empty of joy and laughter.

Week 30: Mila Babicheva/Sara Crispino, Gen, 1288 words -- The World Above

Mermaids do not exist. It’s supposed to remain that way, for an eternity if not longer — exposure to their realm, to Sara’s family and friends, would allow great upheaval and tragedy, war, loss. Human cannot be trusted with the truth, even if it’s within their reaches.

Week 31: Katsuki Yuuri/Victor Nikiforov, Explicit, 821 words -- Idée fixe

It's not exactly a deep, dark secret. Especially since Viktor indulges him.

Week 32: Leo de la Iglesia/Ji Guang-Hong, Explicit, 913 words -- Closer, Slower

Blasphemy tastes syrupy-sweet on his lips when it's followed by Guang Hong's name.

Week 33: Yuri Plisetsky/Nishigori Yuuko, Yuri Plisetsky/Nishigori Yuuko/Nishigori Takeshi, Explicit, 296 words -- Anchorage

To her, Yuri feels like experiencing opia. Pieced, whole and rejuvenated — and then disconnected, wandering in the shadows without a lantern. Falling bottomless into piercing green eyes. He's so sharp, tactile and vulnerable, always lashing out.

Week 34: Katsuki Yuuri/Victor Nikiforov, Phichit Chulanont/Katsuki Yuuri, Explicit, 1178 words -- Wish Fulfillment

Phichit doesn't get jealous with Yuuri. Viktor has never fussed about him dating Phichit either, even after their engagement. He only wanted Yuuri's happiness, and spoke with Phichit about how they all wanted to handle this. Yuuri appreciates both of his partners being mature, levelheaded about expectations and limits.

Week 35: Mila Babicheva/Sara Crispino, Not Rated, 1471 words -- A Little Less Conversation

Despite the bullies in her past, Sara isn't scared of leers or even nasty, filthy words. She's hot — and can punch anybody's lights out, if they didn't know their place. (In which Sara poses for a life drawing class, and Mila rescues her dignity.)

Week 36: Otabek Altin/Yuri Plisetsky, Explicit, 3890 words -- Ruined Expectations

Otabek Altin does not fuck his clients. He takes on an amateur pornography job as the cameraman. As a Beta, he's less distracted by what goes on and has no interest in staying on permanently. Nothing ever works out like it's supposed to, and that's clear when he meets Yuri ruining his life in the best way.

Week 37: Katsuki Yuuri/Victor Nikiforov, Teen, 1152 words -- Always Found

Viktor still remembers hours after getting married, feeling elated and light on his feet. The world had been pure, undulated sunshine, flowering warmth over every crevice, banishing every shadow.

Yuuri said nothing to him then, only grinning so handsomely and affectionately. He hoisted a visibly astonished Viktor up into his arms, carrying him bridal-style through the entrance of their apartment.

Week 38: Michele Crispino/Sara Crispino, Explicit, 540 words -- Pretend

Michele hopes — somehow — that she can read his desires, his secretive, restless thoughts. But they really are different now.

Week 39: Otabek Altin/Jean-Jacques Leroy, Explicit, 569 words -- Not That Big

JJ knows he deserves the best. Because he works hard and succeeds, and has the assortment of gold medals to prove it. There's nothing wrong with wanting the best things all for yourself, whether it's a luxury hotel in Beaconsfield, UK, or getting a long, hard fuck on Otabek's Altin's cock.

Sometimes it's both things at once.

Week 40: Sara Crispino/Lee Seung Gil Michele Crispino/Lee Seung Gil, Teen, 1288 words - Switching It Up

Sara gets frustrated by how Seung-gil keeps ignoring her calls and texts again and again, determined to get to the bottom of why he's so cold towards her… by full-on masquerading as her twin brother. She soon figures out he is way more interested in what "Michele" has to say than anything else.

Week 41: Christophe Giacometti/Christophe Giacometti's Boyfriend, Katsuki Yuuri/Victor Nikiforov, Mature, 1994 words -- If You Dare!

Christophe inherits an old, fancy manor from his late aunt. Upon hearing that it’s haunted — and much to Yuuri’s reluctance — an overly excited Viktor insists on a seance.

Week 42: Mila Babicheva & Yuri Plisetsky, Mila Babicheva/Sara Crispino, Teen, 1348 words -- Chills & Thrills

After getting pranked by Yuri for weeks, Mila decides to get a little revenge around Halloween. He hasn't heard yet about the legend of the eretica: a woman who sold her soul to the devil and visits in the form of an old, vampiric woman in rags.

Week 43: Leo de la Iglesia/Ji Guang-Hong, Phichit Chulanont/Katsuki Yuuri, Not Rated, 1728 words -- Jeepers Creepers 

Guang-hong invites his friends over for some late night scary movies. Phichit, Leo, and Yuuri accept the invitation during their visit in Shanghai — Yuri reluctantly accepts too, as long as there's still free food and drinks as promised. He hasn't tried to get into any fights, so Guang-hong considers this a decent sleepover so far.

Week 44: Katsuki Yuuri/Victor Nikiforov, Teen, 1109 words -- Monsters On Parade

Viktor and Yuuri are persuaded into dressing up and chaperoning Lilia's grandkids for trick or treating.

Week 45: Otabek Altin/Yuri Plisetsky Yuri Plisetsky/Other(s), Explicit, 891 words -- Tantalization 

This is hell. The most exquisite hell Otabek has ever witnessed.

Week 46: Anya/Georgi Popovich, Explicit, 756 words -- Wake Up

Georgi's lips, smeared all-over with electrifying purple gloss, hovers over hers. He can be the long-awaited hero for his princess — his one and only true love. To break the eternal curse on her. Forever.

Week 47: Katsuki Yuuri/Victor Nikiforov, Teen, 277 words - Enraptured

They're sheltered away from the brilliant, flashing lights, and reporters with their prying and endless questions. He tugs off Yuuri's skate-guard, examining the blade, tracing a gloved, russet fingertip over the siding. It's replaced with Viktor's mouth, pressing a feather-light, teeny kiss to the silvered metal.

Week 48: Katsuki Yuuri/Victor Nikiforov, Explicit, 3047 words -- Every Deed of Mercy

Yuuri tightly covers up his nose and mouth, pressing himself against a wall, his mind racing. His laptop and his mobile are both sitting out on the kitchen counter-top. Too far away. There's a bedroom window on his right, but it's straight to a thirty foot drop onto the crowded street. No ledge. No way to draw attention to himself in time or safely. It's likely burglars that invaded the apartment — he never heard the door-jab snap open or the lock being jiggled.

Week 49: Celestino Cialdini/Katsuki Yuuri, Explicit, 757 words -- Distractions

He's unsure if this is Yuuri's anxiety, or due to his unusually low score—but then Celestino remembers the storm. Yuuri has an irrational fear of thunderstorms, for as long as he has trained with him. "Yuuri," he whispers, dropping his voice and approaching from behind. "I'm right here." Celestino puts his hands atop Yuuri's tensing shoulders, rubbing softly.

Week 50: Mila Babicheva/Sara Crispino, Explicit, 139 words -- Love and Beauty

That's one thing Mila loves about her — Sara's hands.

Week 51: Otabek Altin/Yuri Plisetsky, Explicit, 632 words -- Once Gone

They’re calling what happened in the subway station biological terrorism. (In which Otabek and Yuri are hit with sex pollen.)

Week 52: Katsuki Yuuri/Victor Nikiforov, Explicit, 1566 words -- Yearning For Acceptance

There's just one big surprise left to unveil before Viktor will marry the love of his life. Something the entire world must know, but more importantly, Yuuri must.

[aesarctic]

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Ship of the Dead, by Rick Riordan

The third book in the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard trilogy. Finished it a month ago, but I just got the review done.

Read on Goodreads

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

FOR THE SUPER NON-SPOILERY AND THE NON-SPOILERY PEOPLE: This is the third book. Can't say much. Here: The Sword of Summer

FOR THE SPOILERY PEOPLE: Oh. My. Dear. Gods. Let's talk about my thoughts pre-book. I got this book maybe two days after it came out--in my defence, it was a busy time in my life. Marching band is a big deal. Marching band ending in my senior year of high school is a bigger one. After marching band, school got in the way. I wasn't able to read the book. A sad life, I know. I was looking forward to this book for forever at that point. (Where "forever" = about 1 year) But then. A four day weekend was coming up. It was time. I picked up the book. And I read it. Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Ship of the Dead is an end-book. The last book. It's the last book in the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard trilogy. I've read three other end-books by Rick Riordan: The Last Olympian, The Serpent's Shadow, and The Blood of Olympus. The Last Olympian is by far my favourite of the three. In fact, it's high up on the favourite-end-books list. It's amazing. TLO SPOILERS:  The entire thing is dedicated to the battle that has been built up for four books. The battle is amazing. There was the right amount of death. The ending was near perfect. I loved it. END SPOILERS To be honest, I don't remember much of The Serpent's Shadow. If I wasn't on a rereading ban, I'd probably reread that series. And then, Blood of Olympus. We all have feelings about that book. Mine aren't the best. Not the worst, but not the best. The point is, I didn't know what to think about this book. Was it going to be a good end-book? Would it wrap up everything? What the heck was going to happen? Percy Jackson is my all-time favourite character in any Rick Riordan book in the history of Rick Riordan books. When I finished the second book, Annabeth ended the book by saying it was time to meet Percy.I remember thinking that this meant Percy was probably going to make a cameo at the beginning, teach Magnus a couple things, and be on his way. AND I WAS RIGHT. Some people I knew thought that he'd be throughout the book, and they were angry because of it, but no. Nope. Personally, I'd love more books with Percy as the main character. I know he needs a well-deserved break, but he's still my favourite. I'd even go for a series that just follows his current life. Anyway, I loved the beginning. And we finally got to know what Percy's baby sister's name is! Estelle! It feels like such a difference from the other names in these books, and it caught me off guard at first, but I actually really like that name. And he's so excited to be an older brother! I love Percy. Moving on, fast-forward to looking through Randolph's place. We get to see more of Alex's sass, which I love. The whole cast of characters in this series is fantastic. I didn't really think much of anyone other than the main four until this book, but now I love all of them. Which I'll get into later. Spoiler for The Shadowhunter Chronicles: Anyway, so originally, when naming Magnus Magnus, Rick asked Cassandra Clare if he could use the name Magnus, since Cassie also has a character named Magnus in her books. And Magnus gets together with Alec. In these books, Magnus gets together with Alec. I don't ship either, but I love the parallels. When we meet Sam, we find out that it's Ramadan, and I think this is really cool for a children's book to touch on. It also shows how powerful Sam is. She's an amazing fighter, and she can do all of it while going through the month of Ramadan. Talk about a powerful character. She's incredible. Sam has been struggling with her shape-shifting and resisting Loki when he tries to control her. Magnus says to her,"You'll find a way. A way that works for you." And it's never really mentioned in the book if she does. It's highly implied, shown in pages 363 and 373 (hardback, first edition) when she resists Loki. I do kind of wish we got a line about figuring it out, though. Chapter nine: I Become a Temporary Vegetarian. This needs a shout-out because this was definitely one of my favourite moments of the book. Aegir asks if there are any dietary restrictions. Sam imediately says that it's Ramadan. Aegir: "I see. Sorry. Yes, I don't think dwarves are halal. I'm not sure about elves." And I love this, because Sam then says, "They're not, either. In fact, it's Ramadan which means I need to break my fast in the company of dwarves and elves, rather than eating them or being around anyone who does eat them. It's strictly forbidden." Conclusion: Sam is amazing. But it gets better: Magnus claims he's a vegetarian and Alex claims he has green hair. Green hair of course means that he can't eat dwarves or elves. There are so many other funny moments and lines I wish I could highlight on, but I don't have the time to type all of them out. When Magnus challenges Loki to a flyting, Loki refuses. This made me so excited. It didn't occur to me that he might refuse. Probably predictable, but I was excited for the plot twist. Very, very excited. Then a couple pages later it turns out they're having a flyting and I could never describe the disappointment that arose from that. I have to say though, Magnus' speech had me kind of speechless. And embarrassed. I really liked it. I'm a sucker for friendship stuff, and it made me feel. In the end, we get a phone call between Magnus and Annabeth. This next bit contains spoiler's for Riordan's Trials of Apollo series. ToA and MCGA take place at the same time. In The Dark Prophecy, Apollo joins up with Leo and Calypso, they go through some times, and then the book ends with Apollo meeting (waking up) Grover Underwood. I admittedly don't remember too much, but that's what I think is a good summary. So, I don't know about you guys, but Grover coming back to reality seems pretty good to me. I missed him. So, when Annabeth seemed to be crying, you have no idea how badly I wanted the third ToA book. What happened? What's the bad news? Gods of Olympus I need to know. It was intense over on my end when I read that chapter. END SPOILERS Magnus and Alex opened the mansion for homeless kids in need, and I thought that that was incredibly noble and true to Magnus' character. I loved it. All in all, the book was good, I'm not sure where I'd place it with the other books, though. The first was my favourite, then maybe this one? I really liked getting to know the characters in this book. However, as a series ending, it wasn't the strongest. I expressed earlier how worried I was that it would be a bad ending, and it definitely wasn't the best I've ever read. I think major battles should feel major--not a couple pages long. Also, every Riordan book ends with a huge meet-and-greet with the gods at the end. I've read it so many times, I'm ready for something new. There must be some other way to end these books. A lot of our characters develop in this book, or we get to know them better, and I thought it was incredible. Here's some highlights and thoughts: Alex: She seems to be a lot happier in this book, and her relationship with Sam is strong The piece of evidence I have on me right now is on page 168, where Alex is texting Sam because she wouldn't just leave Sam on the boat without updating their cellphone plans and making sure they're able to text at all times. Alex even says, "Well duh. Gotta keep in touch with my sister." Maybe it's small, but as someone who is close to her sibling, it means a bit more to me. Also, her relationship with Magnus went through some major developments. Most of it was pretty embarrassing for me, and I really don't have much to say about it. Speaking of Alex, she has a lot of moments where it seems like she's forcing gender identity into the reader's face. I think that this is good. This is a children's book, and it's good to introduce kids to these things, because they're reallyimportant, to some more than others. It may even help out someone who's reading the book. It's also important to just educate the audience as a whole. And if you're wondering how I'm deciding to use which set of pronouns, I use the pronouns that match the section of the book I'm talking about, and if I'm talking about a generalization, I use she/her pronouns because that's when Alex said to do in the second book. TJ: He cannot back down from a fight. This is why he must fight Hrungnir, and we get to know a lot about him. We got a glimpse of what his life was like and how he came to be involved in the war. It was glimpses, but it's also a huge deal. Mallory: First, we learned how she died, then we learned who her godly parent is (Frigg, only the queen of the Aesir), where she is told that she's the key to retrieving Kvasir's Mead. Mallory then kills all the thralls, which of course gets them a step closer to getting the mead. That's a really short version of it all, but it made me from hating her character to liking her, and I was impressed. I still don't understand why Magnus wants to call her Mack, though. Halfborn: We start learning about Halfborn when he tells Magnus that they're heading towards the places that Mallory and Halfborn died. It gets worse as the crew heads towards Fläm, and it's revealed that that is Halfborn's hometown. Sixty pages later, we learn that Halfborn wanted to get out of Fläm--he wanted to be known. Be famous. Then, later on in the book, Fläm gets insulted, and Halfborn was not having it. He has a rather one-sided conversation about it with Magnus, and it was really nice to have a bit of closure to Halfborn's mini get-to-know-him arc. Halfborn's not my favourite, but at least I can respect him as a character now that he actually is one. I was really happy to know that we were getting to know his story as well (because this was before I knew we were getting to know everyone's stories.)

[airmom]

airmom. tumblr. com/post/159215839296 is the mars post I was talking about you doing for the rest of the signs. it's simple, to the point, and informative. I like it a lot. lol.

ooo hehehe ok sure

Aries Mars:-anger e over everything- 1, 2, 3 action! (cannot handle laziness)-loves competition, either gym rat or athlete monstr-hates waiting -angr e sex could be a strong desire-strong risk-takers, u either try or die trying-loves the chase-actions speak louder than words!!!-str8 to the point-wants to play basketball w ur feelings probably-wants to live their life to fullest

Taurus Mars:-likes to touch rather than talk-process things slowly and steadily (not saying they’re slow, I meant by approach)-takes patience to understand them heh-might b a sugar daddy/sugar baby-obsessed with their things, so don’t b surprised how protective they can b abt u-so calm, so hard to read-keeps sexual activity like a secret, sh-might forget that sex is abt creating a bond, bc they are so focused on their own pleasure oopz

Gemini Mars:-so unpredictable omgknjvnsjvnd-like to makes things abt themselves sometimes-likes to learn, hit them with that new math problem u learned at school-double-texters imo-want someone to keep up w them-so easily distracted, and scattered o no-have a way w words oo la la-likes to talk over the phone, might have a phone sex kink (shrug)-prefers variety and to keep their options open-needs their space, does not like to rush into things

Cancer Mars:-will talk about having children-cute girls > hot girls-protective-huge homebody oo co zee-most likely to come off really cute!!! cute energy!!!-v smart, will make the effort to the things they want to achieve-hides in their shell, so ppl don’t see their true intentions-takes a while to get with these bad bois (eas e peas e? ya u tHouGht)-likes to observe the ones they like-might give u a quiz, n will see where the relationship is going from there (might make platonic or romantic move on u, and see ur response to it)-might come off harsh if they feel trapped -want to feel secure!!

Leo Mars:-anger e over everything pt 2-lazy but are very goal-oriented-confident over the person they r trying to pursue (might not always b the case)-need to learn to slow their roll, 100/100 likely to go straight into flirting-likes attention n affection hehe-when they aren’t trying to seek a partner, they r busy doing something artistic-loves everything art-wants to make themselves n the ppl around them proud!!!-super stubborn grrr-loves the adrenaline they get when they r in love ahh, thats y they like falling love-enthusiastic, and warm makes them v cute partners-pretty much a top

Virgo Mars:-keeps it one hunneh-likes to pursue things n not make a big deal out of it, they know they did good-strives 4 success-polite conversations > flirting-calm, and quick-minded-dont get in their way bc they’ll just push u aside-has sharp-tongue (b careful when u french kiss them o no)-can turn calm into detached, ya theres a difference-hit them with that correct grammar and that advanced english-old-skool loverz-they remind me of….office sex-another earth mars that keeps things secret sh-prefer to do things thru experience 

Libra Mars:-another air sign that has a way w words oo la la-commitment is not in their dictionary (ehehe jokes)-most likely to win ur heart (fUcK)-so charming, alluring, and kno how to grab ur attention-dont kno what they want -decisions r so frusTurAtInG-when they become weak when they are being pressured (sorry I’m exposing u like this)-struggles to be fair, what other ppl want and what they want-want to have fun, so rushing things will b ur downfall heh-like to b complimented and shown any type of attention-likes dirty talk probably, sexting may b?

Scorpio Mars:-hates losing, losing is not an option-prefer to have a few goals, so they can b focused in order to achieve them easily-possessive & controlling -will sit back n think whether u r worth the effort-digs deep into things-probably a stalker (love to research and find out things for themselves but that doesn’t mean u should b dishonest w them)-very hard to befriend -takes a while to gain their trust, lots of patience pls-pls proceed w caution-very good healers, very strong fighters-fascinated w occults, death, dangers, and things that r unanswered

Sagittarius Mars:-adventure seekers-change their wants everyday probably-always coming up w ideas-likes someone who keeps them entertained-not a cheesy/corny lover-fun > emotions-quick-witted, and r very fun to have a conversation w-funny!!!!! so funny!!!!-they r so spontaneous -always going thru new experiences, wisdom is key!!!-can never finish projects bc a new idea always pops up o no!!-will dip when things get 2 serious 2 soon

Capricorn Mars:-DADDDY KINKS I SWEAR TO GODDJSKJLF-sorry but reality is harsh and so are Cappys-goals come first-very serious & straight-forward, lets cut to the chase-work-oriented, especially when they r pursuing someone!!!-patient-can b cold when u c their bad side, move aside, they want to achieve-love and sex is a slow-burning pleasure yummy-they strive for success like the other earth signs-can control their anger-old-skool as heck-plans for the future!!!-make great spouses tbh-dry dark sense of humor ):

Aquarius Mars:-rules? never heard of her-r not obvious lovers-prefer to b ur friend first!!!-they think instead of express, they r an air sign not a water (ahem)-can be very detached, anything expressive or physical can give them discomfort-reasonable, and calm-kink e-they like to experiment ((((;-idealists, they know what they abt to do to u -logic & reasoning, logic & reasoning-have a very headstrong approach to everythinnnnnnng-independent!!! quirky!!!!-”me, myself, and ego”

Pisces Mars:-things change their moods v easily n they won’t notice!!!-goes thru things unconsciously-will like u one day then won’t answer ur texts the next (wauw)-so indirect-if they want to pursue something they need to b emotionally committed ):-go-with-the-flow-never know where their feelings r coming from when they express them (y r they sad? tHey DOnT KnOW)-things like money, power, security, etc will not tempt them-they r v soothing, feels like u r rocking in the ocean when they hug u (try it)-patience pls for this water sign (aside Cancer & Scorpio)-difficult, u r in for a ride!!!!-should meditate when angered+ I got some lil understandings from this site

[queenofairandsnarkness]

okay so: canon AU where the Tyrells get Sansa to Highgarden and she marries Willas, BUT ALSO AU bc House-relevant magic is a Thing in Westeros.

1.) The Stark girl is a witch, they say. She has strange powers, and creatures bend to her will, and she heals from wounds with peculiar quickness.

“Should I point out…” Garlan starts, furrowing his eyebrows and trying not to laugh.

“I shouldn’t bother,” Margaery said, golden eyes alight with mischief. Then she pauses, biting her lip. It was a habit Garlan thought their grandmother had trained out of her when he was little, and a sign of weakness in a widowed pretender queen, draped in black. “But why do they speak of how quickly she heals?”

2.) She is a fragile, hollow-eyed thing, this would-have-been queen.

Margaery sees her fight down her fears, realizes why the people accompanying Lord Baelish commented on how quickly she healed. She warns Margaery of what he has done, of the unbalanced state of Joffrey’s mind.

Loras will not stay silent if- when, it is almost certainly when- Joffrey turns on Margaery. Garlan will not stay silent when Joffrey can no longer hold back from harming Sansa, much less Margaery. She needs to fix this, to keep her brother’s best qualities from making them end as Brandon Stark did.

Well, she fancies, she doesn’t really want to be Queen. Being loved is one thing- she adores it, every part of her Tyrell gifts responding as much to love as fear. But playing Queen to Renly was one thing- Loras trusted Renly, in a bone-deep way Margaery suspects she will never be able to do. Renly was ambitious, and sharp, in ways most didn’t see, and chasing frivolities to remind himself that the monsters would never come back.

(In her darkest moments, she wonders if Renly seduced Loras as a way of taming the monsters.)

She merely needs to plan.

3.)

It is when she takes Sansa hawking with her cousins that Margaery is certain of her plans. Sansa is perfect with her mount, if slightly stiff in the saddle. But the mare adores the girl, adjusting her gait to help her catch on. And Jocelyn…

The falcon was possibly a nasty prank from Merry, who is the sister of the Master of Arms at Highgarden, and sometimes considers herself Margaery’s guard. Jocelyn was a gift from the Tarlys- Willas had visited, and charmed his hosts into allowing the bitter and spiteful bird with them. She is not entirely sure why Jocelyn is with them- Willas is the only person who can handle her, most days. Perhaps Leonette, who adores the birds almost as much as Willas.

But Jocelyn does not make an attempt to savage Sansa, not after Sansa raises her eyebrows and holds out a gloved hand.

Not that the bird is docile- but the temper is focused on dives and so on.

Margaery writes to Willas that night, sending her message through Garlan.

4.) Margaery is almost convinced that her plan is ruined when Oberyn Martell comes to King’s Landing.

She has dealt with so much to get to this point, not the least of which was Tywin Lannister. But Alysanne finds giving little nudges to people fun, and no one suspects tiny, giggling, simpering Alysanne, more interested in games of Come-Into-My-Castle than great debates, to act as a spy. Especially when Alyce Graceford, who was born to House Footly, is there, showing the curve of her belly and openly tired.

House Footly is small and oft overlooked, but can cause sharp, stabbing pains with their wills. When Tywin Lannister breaks his leg walking down the stairs, Margaery wonders if it is worth the risk to also to harm to the High Septon.

Then Lord Tyrion falls ill from bad wine, and Margaery Tyrell looks at her brothers with her best version of Mother’s glare.

“Leo Costayne,” Loras whispers. He is not much for subtle, most days, but he has a good heart and no love for the Lannisters.

Oberyn Martell is skilled at poisons, loathes the Lannisters, and Grandmother hates him for Willas’ accident. (Margaery does not like him, either, but Willas gets irritable and points out that there were multiple factors in his accident. Oberyn Martell controlled not of them, and they should all remember this.)

He could ruin all of her plans- in a fit of whimsy, to strike at Grandmother for her insults, because the stories are true and it was not the children of Rhaegar Targaryen who died, just aspects of shadow, blood, and illusion crafted by Elia Martell.

But he does not- he speaks with Sansa, true, dark eyes intent on something, insults the Lannisters terribly, and generally makes Margaery nervous.

Lady Jynessa Blackmont makes friends with Sansa, as well as Deria Sand, the bastard daughter of Lewyn Martell who is perhaps a little older than Margaery herself. The two ladies are as thick as thieves, all dark eyes and laughing voices, Sansa’s bright red hair standing out like a flame.

Of course, then, there is a message sent by the Prince, in the early hours of the morning, saying that he needs to speak with the future Queen on a matter of deep importance. He recognizes that it is the day before her wedding, but, well, some things could not wait.

Willas is there, entirely Hightower-seeming except for the honey-wild eyes, leaning on his cane and trying not to smile.

“Sweet sister,” he says, “I heard you were planning my wedding, and thought I might like to know a bit more about it.”

Sansa looks entirely smitten, a dusty book on her lap, a battered old black tom at her feet, and her eyes focused entirely on Willas.

Margaery feels vaguely smug, for all that her brother attempted to outwit her. She had to admit, trying to manage the “kill Joffrey as soon as possible after they say their vows” and “get the sister of a traitor and convenient scapegoat to Highgarden” was tricky. Garlan had pointed out that Queen Cersei was angry and prone to lashing out, and killing her beloved only son would make her as volatile as wildfire.

(It was much easier to plot when everyone behaved as rational human beings.)

5.)

Willas smiles and shrugs and plays his part to perfection, ignoring Garlan and Oberyn’s amused looks.

When questioned, he admitted to using the Hightower transportation gift to check on his sister, who is “young and sweet and prone to sentiment”. He says that he was enchanted with Lady Sansa from the beginning, crafting his words to match what that vile little shit on the Iron Throne would want to hear.

(He does not blame Margaery for wanting to kill Joffery before enduring her wedding night. Though he hopes she realizes the rumors she will bring on herself, two husbands violently dead in such close succession.)

Ellaria and Deria will set Sansa straight if he cannot, he tells himself, trying not to look at her.

Joffery is more than happy to think that everyone is secretly as vile as him, sees a crippled lordling with one younger brother married and a younger-still sister nearly wed. Loras has taken the white, but rumors of his impotency have spilled as far as King’s Landing, he notes.

(Oberyn laughs at that, when he complains later, and Ellaria laughs as well when his face turns bright red.)

Joffery taunts them both, but seems to think that this is an appropriate form of “punishment” for Lady Sansa. He does not notice the hard looks on most of the Reacher lords’ faces at his sharper jibes, the insult he is dealing them.

He banishes them from King’s Landing before anyone else can speak, telling Willas that he is to use his Way and return promptly to Highgarden with his wife, never to return.

Margaery will smooth things over, Willas knows, and that is what he tells the furious, wild part of his nature inherited from the Gardener kings, the well-hidden legacy of Garth the Green.

The next morning, while Sansa nervously sews, he cannot help but pace, nightshade and Jennylace and hellebore nipping at his heels.

“May we go to river, ser?” his little wife asks.

He blinks. “What?”

“The river,” she said, blue eyes too wide and voice a trifle to high. He’s frightened her, and he feels guilty. “It is a habit I learned from my mother.”

They slowly make their way to the river, Jocelyn flying above somehow and one of his hounds following. There is pumpkin vines and snow peas growing behind him, because he is not in a rage, now, but he still is alarmed. Willas had a talent for going terribly practical when things grew tense, as Margaery teased him.

They come to the Mander, and Sansa removes her boots and stockings, tucking up her skirts and revealing rather a lot of leg as she sat on a stone and ducked her feet in the river.

“It is soothing,” she said, eyes closed. “Mother says the Tullys take their strength from the river, you see. Any water, really. She loved Winterfell so because of the hot springs, and the water piped through the walls. It was like being constantly surrounded by water. Robb and I were never ill, because we inherited her gifts, and we assumed Rickon…” She turns white as a corpse, pulling her shawl closer and covering her neck. “They say that after they slit my mother’s throat they gave her to the river.”

Willas maneuvers to balance on the stone, not bothering to remove his shoes. It was too much work, and he did not want to ask Sansa to help him just yet, not when she is so fragile.

Instead he tells her the stories of Garth the Green that not even the Maesters know, of the Dead Hunt and the rage passed to the Gardener Kings and their Tyrell successors, of the rides that still echoed through the Reach to this day. Why every Tyrell was buried with roses and a knife.

She does not flinch, the young lady who hid behind her courtesies and tried to make clever, practical uses for her talents in the nightmare she found herself facing.

“Is the Hunt bound to the Reach?” she asks, instead, something sharp in her pretty blue eyes.

He grins, wicked and grateful he did not need to hide everything he was with this woman. His father’s genuine bluster and bluntness hid the Tyrell gifts, as Garlan’s honor did, as Loras honed it as sharp and well-controlled as any sword. Willas showed his piety, focused on his hawks and hounds and horses, and let himself be thought of as a dull, forgettable man, if he crossed people’s minds at all.

Sansa understood that, and he was unutterably grateful.

When the raven arrived, stating the lamentable death of the King, he held his wife, and wondered how things would go from there.

After all, he so rarely knew of a chance to use the Dead Hunt for good.