#like come on in his ceremonial robes the moment it's just completely him do you hear that music?

[justanotherfanfolks]

Wait wait wait wait wait wait wait everyone just shut up for one second!

I just realized this vignette is going to show me something I've been dying to see for 2 years:

Cater alone.

SHOW ME THIS MAN'S PSYCHE WHEN THE CAMERAS ARE OFF!

(Also I see you in those more neutral colors I know what you are)

[skyahri]

Arranged Marriage |Zuko X Reader| HC

Summary: Caught up in his personal conflict, Zuko completely neglects his marriage.

Warnings: Arranged marriage, forced marriage, whatever. Mentions of violence. Angsty Zuko and reader. Fem pronouns.

Masterlist Ko-fi

- - - - -

You'd married Zuko a little over a year into his reign as Fire Lord. You're the oldest daughter from a noble family, and the council decided it was best if Zuko married someone well liked by the community.

He didn't take it well. He was still hoping Mai would come back to him, and you being there completely obliterated those chances.

Not that there was a shot to begin with. Mai had made it abundantly clear that she wanted nothing to do with Zuko, even if she admitted to still having feelings for him.

Your relationship was staged to be perfect in the eyes of the people. Young love against all odds sort of thing.

The marriage ceremony was beautiful. Your robes were elegant, the flowers were perfect, and even your soon-to-be husband was handsome.

Zuko was charming towards the guests, really selling the story and gaining a lot of trust with his people. He was awkward but personable, something everyone ate up.

But he wasn't like that with you.

As soon as the two of you were away from public eyes, he didn't so much as look your way.

You slept in different rooms and ate at opposite ends of the table. He excluded you from as many duties as he could, stating something about him not wanting to concern you.

Life in a palace was pretty isolating. The only people you could talk to were servants, and even then, your topics were extremely limited.

You'd taken to the gardens as much as possible. It felt nice to be outside and even better to see the plants and animals.

Tending to the flowers was one of the few things you were allowed to do without constant eyes on you. The lonely atmosphere felt intentional instead of forced.

But after a year of this, not even the newly budding flowers could heal your disdain. Your once bubbly exterior had been chipped away by the dread and disappointment that lingered in your heart.

You were truly just a shell of your former self by this point.

There was no change with Zuko. He'd made no effort to get to know you or even just not hate you. Any attempt you'd made in the beginning to soften the relationship had been put out the moment it left your lips. It seemed like public pleasantries would be the extent of your marriage.

You'd long given up on trying to befriend the older women who waited on you. They had no desire to be anything more than the people who got you through the day.

You'd given up on trying to sneak away with the kitchen staff to the market. They feared being held responsible for you, even if you claimed to be plenty capable of taking care of yourself.

All that was really left to do was to just stay quiet and look pretty. The sad fate of the Fire Lord's wife.

You'd been laying in bed all morning. It was one of the few days where nothing was planned. No meetings, no guests, no events- nothing.

Well, at least you thought.

"Miss Y/N, Lord Zuko has requested your presence. We must get you ready immediately."

They'd dragged you out of bed and stuffed you into a pair of your nicest robes. They're doing your hair up and rushing to cover your face in makeup.

"Why am I being summoned?"

"The Avatar and his friends have arrived. They were the ones to request you."

"I see."

It made sense. You had met the Gaang at your wedding, and they were everything you'd expected; kind, loud, and passionate. Just like Zuko was said to be.

At the time, they'd promised to come by often, but you hadn't seen them since. You'd heard something about the rebuilding of the air temple and having some unexpected issues arise, so they just hadn't had time until now.

You met Zuko at the front gates. His friends arrived just after, allowing the servants to take their things to their rooms. Without a word, Katara grabbed your arm and dragged you away with the other girls. You turned back to see the same happening with Zuko and the boys.

They pulled you all around the surrounding area. For the first time in a long time, the dread started to fade away.

You'd bought some new incense, hair pins, and seeds for the flower beds. They were small purchases in comparison to the others, who had gone all out with new clothes, trinkets, and a heap of spicy snacks for Sokka.

You'd suggested several times over the last few hours that it was time to head back to the palace, but only now that it was growing dark did the trio actually listen.

Just as you had begun packing up, a string of explosions started on the next block and made its way towards the plaza you were in.

Toph was quick to make a stone barrier, but that didn't stop the cloud of soot from staining your skin and clothes.

A group of men had emerged from the smoke and revealed themselves to be Ozai supporters. Not everyone was pleased with the fundamentals Zuko was running the country on, so rebels had started causing a bit of an uproar.

Katara, Toph, and Suki did their best to take the men down swiftly, but that didn't stop you from getting injured in the process.

Your forearms had been severely burned when you'd covered your face from an attack. Katara offered to heal you, but it'd have to wait until you got back to the palace where her spirit water was.

The trip back was uneventful. Some of the local guards stationed in the city had insisted on escorting you guys back, which at this point you couldn't deny.

Apparently, word had already gotten back to Fire Lord Zuko, who was waiting at the front doors of the palace for your arrival.

He immediately stepped forward and picked up your hand, letting the scorched fabric fall and reveal your burn. He did the same with the other and sighed.

"Please give us the room."

You watched as everyone filed out of the room, the guards towards the exit and your friends towards the south wing.

"These are severe,"

He cupped your face in his hands and tilted your head so he could get a good look. His thumb swiped over some of the soot on your face.

You were confused by his actions, but the pain from your burns created a bit of a blur in your mind, keeping you from thinking too hard about it.

"The others couldn't protect you?"

"They did what they could. I apologize for the hassle-"

"Why are you apologizing? None of this is your fault."

You opted to stay silent. You weren't sure what to say. This is the longest conversation you'd had in private since you'd met, and you were finding it hard to navigate.

It was silent for a minute. The vibe was awkward, and you desperately wanted to hide away from all of it.

His face contorted slightly, like he wanted to say something but couldn't. You didn't pry. It didn't feel like your place to ask.

"Why don't you head to your room for a bath, and I'll have Katara meet you in there once you're done."

You nodded and made your way down the corridor. You stripped down and opted to just toss your clothes in the trash. Between the ash and scorch marks, there was no saving anything.

The second the water touched your wounds, you winced. Tears pricked your eyes as you watched small bits of charred skin go down the drain. The pain quickly went from a sharp sting to almost mind-numbing. You sat down and let the water just run down your body while you waited for the brunt of the discomfort to pass.

In your hazy state of mind, you hadn't heard the knock on the door, so you were surprised when Zuko entered in much more casual clothing.

When he saw you hunched over on the shower floor, he didn't say anything. He moved to the side of the tub and went to touch you, but you weakly swatted his hands away.

"I'm not comfortable with you being in here whole I'm naked."

"I'm your husband-"

"You're a stranger."

Ouch. Harsh but fair, and he knew it.

"Look, I know I haven't been good to you over the past year, and I'm sorry. We can talk about it more when you're feeling better, but for now just let me take care of you."

Satisfied with his response, you stopped resisting his help. You let him wash your hair and scrub your skin. His touch was gentle despite how rough his hands were.

He never once made you feel uncomfortable. He was thourough but never lingered. It was almost as if this was a normal occurrence.

When he was done, he offered you a towel and left you alone in the bathroom to get dressed. When you entered your bedroom, Katara was on your bed, but Zuko was nowhere in sight.

"Just me. Sorry to disappoint."

"No, no. I'm glad you're here."

You sat in front of her on the bed and let her examine your burns. She positioned your arms for easy access and opened her canister. You watched the water glow and the skin slowly heal itself. It was amazing, nothing like anything youd seem before.

"So," she broke the silence, "Has he warmed up to you at all?"

You were surprised by her words. You weren't sure how much they knew or what all you should say. Last thing you wanted to do was incriminate him.

Sensing your hesitation to respond, Katara clarified her question.

"I know everything, at least, from his side. You can be honest with me."

"Honest?"

"Honest."

A small smile crept onto your face.

"I think you're friend is an ass."

"I couldn't agree more."

You told her everything; the loneliness, the isolation, the lack of, well, everything in your relationship and life. She listened, something you're eternally grateful for. It felt nice just to get it off your chest instead of suffering silently.

"Today was the greatest day I've had in a long time. I got to leave the palace and talk to people and for once it felt like my husband didn't hate me."

"Zuko doesn't hate you."

"Could've fooled me."

"He doesn't hate you. Just talk to him. I know he has a lot to say, and it seems you do as well."

Once your arms were healed good as new, Katara left your quarters and returned to her own. You'd crawled under the covers and passed out, completely exhausted from the day.

The next day, you took Katara's advice and decided to speak with Zuko. You woke up early, before the sun had risen and made your way to his room.

He was surprised to see you, much less in your nightwear at such an hour. He invited you in nonetheless, where you then entered and decided to sit on his bed. You patted the spot in front of you, and he hesitantly sat.

"Katara said we should talk."

"Okay."

Sensing that he wasn't going to be the one to initiate anything, you decided to get the ball rolling.

It was a long conversation. Zuko confessed a lot of things, mostly about bitter feelings towards life and guilt over his actions. He apologized for everything and listened to everything you had to say. He made a lot of promises to be better.

He stuck to his word. He began including you in anything you were welcome to. Dinners became more personal, and eventually, you started sleeping in his room like a proper married couple.

By the time team Avatar had visited again, things had visibly changed. You were both happier, and your once fake marriage had become real. You meshed into the group just fine, making the pseudo family that much bigger.

All thanks to a simple conversation.

[mydear-corinthian]

Birthday || Cillian Murphy x reader

Synopsis: Cillian arriving on his birthday back to your shared home after an exhausting Oppenheimer work. Pairing: Cillian Murphy x reader Warnings: SMUT +18, squirting, praising kink, rough sex, p in v, creampie Notes: ENTIRELY FICTIONAL. No hate to Cillian's wife! (we love her) Happy (advance) Birthday my man, Cillian Murphy <3 Click here to see the MAIN MASTERLISTClick here to see the CILLIAN MURPHY masterlist

Cillian is finally free to rest. For the past few months, he has been traveling all around the world with Oppenheimer's premiers, interviews, new promotions with different brands, and of course, the awarding ceremonies.

Due to the busy schedule your husband had, you weren't able to talk to him physically, kiss him, touch him, go out with him, or complete your day with him for months. During the busy period, both of you will hop on Skype or Zoom every week to talk about what's happening.

Now that the promotions and other interviews are finished, Cillian can finally come back home to his hometown in Cork, Ireland with you and his family. He'll arrive no later than May 23, just a day before his 48th birthday.

Currently, you're in your shared home, alone. Laying down on the massive queen-sized bed. With your phone in your hand, you texted him.

"Hello, love. Where are you already?" you typed.

After a few minutes, your phone buzzed, and a text notification popped up, showing Cillian's name.

"I'm in Ireland already. I'll let you know if I'm in Cork. I love you." Cillian replied.

"Alright. Have a safe trip, Cill. I love and miss you." you texted the last time, smiling like an idiot before turning off your phone, and placing it on top of the nightstand beside you. Getting comfortable, you pulled up the comforter up to your chest before turning off the lamp and sleep.

<>

You woke up to the sound of the front door being opened.

Yawning, you stood up, rubbing your eyes as you grabbed your white robe that was hanging on the back of your shared room.

As you walked down the stairs, you saw Cillian. His hair was longer than the last Skype call you had and you find it hot. His luggage and his carry-on bag were dropped on his side when he saw you.

You sprinted over to embrace him tightly and warmly, taking in his scent before planting a quick kiss on his lips. You felt planted in the moment, protected and cherished in his familiar hug. Everything else seemed to fade away as your heart was filled with the delight of being reunited. You drew back just enough so that you could meet his eyes and saw the same joy in.

"I've missed you, Cill," you said, smiling.

"I missed you so much, (y/n),"

Your lips and his made contact again. The both of you exchange a sweet and short passionate kiss.

You broke the kiss, letting out an exhale, your face still smiling.

"You must be tired, darling. Just leave the bags there, the kids will handle that tomorrow," you said, guiding the way to your shared bedroom upstairs.

You were shocked to feel Cillian's hands grab your face and give you a hard kiss as soon as you two got to the door. Your eyes widened at the quick action, but you were also craving for this. You haven't felt or seen each other in months. You gave him an aggressive kiss back, and as the kiss increased, you reached out to hold his neck and tasted one other's melting tongues once again.

"Cill - Aren't you tired? We can do this tomorrow," you interrupted.

"Oh fuck no. I want you now, love. I've missed you so much," Cillian replied.

"The kids aren't home, by the way. They're both in a sleepover with their friends."

"That's good. No one can hear you scream then,"

Cillian lowered you onto the mattress carefully and kept his kiss intact. You took off your sleepwear shirt and robe, exposing your hard nipples and breasts, as he carefully undid his shirt. Cillian bit and sucked you as he marked you as his, his lips moving from your jaw to your neck. You gripped a fistful of his hair and groaned with ecstasy.

"Fuck - you're so pretty .. and hot .." he muttered in between kisses, adorning your whole face and neck.

Cillian slowly kissed you lower and lower until he reached your covered cunt. Your black panties soaking from the recent touch. He chuckled, putting his face in front of your wet and needy cunt.

"So fucking wet for me, huh?" he teased, biting his lower lip at the sight.

"Oh yes, Cillian .. please,"

"Please what?"

"Fuck me, Cillian. Fuck me, please .." you begged, clenching your cunt feeling wetter and wetter every time he speaks.

Cillian let out a soft chuckle before removing your black lace panties. Tossing it on the floor. You can feel his breath in your cunt.

Finally, he devoured you. His tongue circled around your clit and sucked it harshly making you whimper loudly. The sound of his tongue doing magic to your cunt echoed throughout the room, eating you like a thirsty man.

"I missed you. I missed your touch. I missed your taste .. God, fuck, you taste so good," he praised, continuing to eat you out.

Your back arched at the pleasure, taking a fist full of his hair, pinning him down your cunt deeper, your thighs locking his face.

No words can come out of your throat to feel the kind of pleasure. You let out a series of moans and gasps, not even worrying if the neighbors can hear you.

Feeling a knot in your stomach performing, your legs trembled, digging his face deeper and deeper as you let out a very loud moan, your cunt clenching.

"Mhm cum for me, baby .. yeah that's right .. fuck," Cillian muttered as his tongue flicked your clit even faster, helping you to reach your peak.

"Fuck!" you let out a loud moan as you started to squirt. Your juices squirting all over his mouth and on the bedsheets. A white substance leaking out of your cunt.

"Shit, that was hot," he commented.

"No, Cill .. please, I need more .. I need you,"

"You've missed me that much, huh? Well, since you asked properly,"

Cillian removed his pants alongside his black boxers, tossing them on the floor. His cock sprung open, pre-cum leaking.

His hand strokes it for a while before entering you slowly, feeling how your tight cunt takes him. Cillian let out a low groan as he entered you fully. His pace started out slow, allowing you to adjust to his huge size. Your breasts bounce at each thrust as you felt his cock inside you. Slowly, he started penetrating faster and deeper, allowing him to pleasure all of your sensitive spots. You moaned out loud as you felt your g-spot touch his cock, your hands crumpling the bedsheet. His pelvis hit your hips as he thrusted harshly making a series of loud skin-clapping sounds.

"God, you feel so good, (y/n)," he groaned, his eyes fully shutting, feeling every spot of your cunt inside you.

"Yes yes yes yes! Oh, Cillian .."

You felt a huge difference with his cock and the toy that you have in your closet. When he was away, you would fuck yourself with a toy, imagining lustful scenarios of him fucking you harshly. His cock felt better.

"C'mon, baby .. let the neighbors know how much I fucking please you,"

You let out a much louder moan as you felt your orgasm coming again. Cillian's fingers toying with your hardened nipples as he harshly pounded you.

"I'm gonna - I'm.. fuck! I'm cumming .. I'm cumming, oh!" you shouted, feeling like bursting at any second.

"Me too, baby .. Oh yes,"

After a few harsh pounds, you finally came and so did Cillian. Letting his seed pour inside your walls, filling you up. Your legs trembled as you clenched your cunt on his cock.

Cillian finally pulled out, a huge load of your cum and his leaking out of your penetrated hole, staining the bedsheets again.

"Look at you dripping at my cum. You're such a good girl," he praised before kissing you but this time, more softer and passionate.

"I love you, Cill."

"I love you more, (y/n),"

You looked at the wall clock, checking on time. When your eyes saw the time, you smiled. It's 12 midnight.

"Happy Birthday, love." you greeted.

"Oh, it's my birthday now? I guess I deserve another round of gift, hm?"

Chuckling at his response, you playfully hit him on the shoulder before grabbing his face and kissing him again.

The two of you ended up sleeping at 4 in the morning that day. 

[bradleysass]

Cloak - @into-the-jeggyverse - wc: 713

James Potter had never intended to use the cloak.

It had been passed down from his grandfather to his father and, eventually, to him with great ceremony and talk of responsibility and legacy. But, really, have you seen it? It was old and ragged-looking, the fabric tattered at the edges and dull with age. It wasn’t even a particularly good cloak—not lined, not warm, certainly not fashionable in any sense of the word. The only thing it had going for it was the whole invisibility thing.

Which, James had decided, was kind of cool. Not enough to actually wear the thing, mind you, because he was James Potter, and James Potter did not wear ugly cloaks, but cool enough to keep folded under his bed, just in case.

‘Just in case’ turned out to be ‘when he found himself in an empty corridor with his best friend’s younger brother pressed against a wall, hands tangled in his perfectly messy hair, breath stolen from his lungs.’

Regulus Black was a problem. A problem James had not intended to have. A problem that started with a single glance across the Quidditch pitch, followed by stolen insults exchanged in hushed tones, then a maddening realization that the boy had somehow crawled under his skin and made himself comfortable.

Now, here they were—hidden between two towering suits of armor, James pressed up against Regulus as if he could somehow pull them both into the stone itself and disappear. Which would have been great, actually, because footsteps were approaching, and James was fairly certain that was Sirius’ voice.

James pulled back, heart hammering. “Oh, shit.”

Regulus blinked up at him, lips still red and kiss-bitten. “What?”

“Sirius,” James whispered urgently. “Sirius is coming.”

Regulus stiffened immediately. “You have got to be kidding me.”

“Do I look like I’m joking?” James hissed. He wasn’t. He never joked about his impending death, which would be imminent if Sirius caught them.

Regulus exhaled sharply, already glancing around for an escape, but the corridor was a dead end, and they were trapped.

Which was when James had a thought. A horrible, brilliant, ridiculous thought.

“I have an idea,” he said. “Don’t kill me.”

Regulus’ eyes narrowed. “That depends.”

James dug into his bag, fingers closing around the smooth, familiar fabric of the cloak he had sworn he would never use. He yanked it out, draped it over them both, and grinned triumphantly as the world around them shimmered and disappeared.

Regulus inhaled sharply. “What the—”

“Invisibility cloak,” James murmured, tugging him close. “Family heirloom. Sirius has no idea I have it.”

Regulus was still staring at him, wide-eyed and incredulous, but there wasn’t time for questions. Just as James tightened his hold, Sirius rounded the corner with Remus at his side, still talking loudly about something completely irrelevant to the fact that James Potter and Regulus Black were currently pressed against each other under an invisibility cloak, sharing the same breath, and hoping for dear life that Sirius didn’t suddenly develop a sixth sense for secret snogging sessions.

“…so I told McGonagall, ‘Professor, you can’t prove it was me,’ and she said, ‘Sirius, you wrote your name on the wall,’ and honestly, Moony, I think she’s got it out for me.”

Remus sighed. “You did write your name on the wall.”

“Okay, but how do we know it was me? That’s all I’m saying.”

Regulus rolled his eyes, barely breathing, his hands clenched around James’ robes. James bit his lip to keep from laughing.

The moment Sirius and Remus disappeared around the next corner, Regulus shoved him off. “That was stupid.”

James, still grinning, let the cloak slide off his shoulders. “That was genius.”

Regulus scoffed, adjusting his rumpled collar. “That was reckless and ridiculous and—”

“—effective,” James finished for him, leaning in again. “And if you want to snog me again without getting caught, we might need to keep it handy.”

Regulus glared at him, but there was color high on his cheeks, and he didn’t pull away when James nudged their noses together.

“Fine,” he muttered. “But if Sirius does catch us, I’m telling him this was all your idea.”

James smirked. “Deal.”

And then, because James Potter was nothing if not an opportunist, he kissed him again.

[papervenom]

✩ chapter five: the new student ✩

summary: you’re a third-year transfer from the states with magic that turns heads — and veela blood that makes it impossible not to be noticed. you didn’t ask to get caught up in their world, but now you’re in it, and nothing is going to play out the way it was supposed to. a slow-burn, character-driven take on prisoner of azkaban, told through your perspective.

word count: 3.1k

INCEPTION MASTERLIST⋆˙⟡

September 1st, 1993

I found out that the big, hairy man's name was Hagrid. 

He saw me with Harry, Ron, and Hermione, and was apparently quite fond of them— telling me how there were no better friends I could've made and I completely agreed.

We traveled across a black lake in little boats, all of us staring up at the great castle that was Hogwarts in mesmerized silence. 

It was a very tranquil moment, and I almost forgot about how embarrassed I was for being amongst the ten-year-old First Years. 

Once we arrived at the castle,  we were greeted by a very stern-looking older woman with emerald green robes. Her eyes immediately landed on me, being the tallest amongst the group. 

"Welcome to Hogwarts," said the woman, leading us inside to the entrance hall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important Ceremony because, while you are here, your House will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your House, sleep in your House dormitory, and spend free time in your House Common Room."

The group was barely listening— too in awe by the interior of the castle. 

The stone walls rose so high that the ceiling wasn't visible. There were flaming torches illuminating the corridors and marble staircases that led to the second floor. 

"The four Houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each House has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your House points, while any rulebreaking will lose House points. At the end of the year, the House with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever House becomes yours. The Sorting Ceremony will take place in just a few minutes in front of the rest of the school."

My eyes widened as I straightened my posture. 

I was feeling so anxious I felt like I was going to yack. 

I didn't want to become the laughingstock of the whole school for walking in with the First Years, and I especially didn't want to even fathom being sorted into a House that would rip me away from the friendships I already built.

"Now, form a line," the stern woman instructed us. "Quickly, quickly." 

Before I could reposition myself, she approached me.

"You must be our American transfer. Welcome to Hogwarts. I'm Professor McGonagall, please stand at the front of the line. Come with me."

I didn't have the chance to introduce myself properly before she pulled me to the front. I was standing in front of a very familiar redheaded boy, who I recognized to be the kid I harassed for Harry's amusement back in Diagon Alley when we were searching for Ron.

"Hi, Ron" I smiled down at him— making him jump and glance at me nervously. 

The pair of double doors in front of us opened and we soon entered the most incredible place I've ever seen. 

The Great Hall was filled with billions of candles which were floating above four long tables where students were already seated. 

The ceiling above resembled the rainy night-sky outside, which I remembered reading in Hogwarts, A History that it was bewitched to do. 

There was a distinct long table where the teachers sat in the back of the hall that we were being led towards. 

After getting over how gorgeous the room was, I took notice of the hundreds of faces staring at us, looking especially ominous under the flickering candlelight. 

I was bracing myself to hear the laughter of all the Hogwarts students once they took a good look at me, but instead, the Great Hall started growing louder with whispers and murmuring. 

I was even surprised to see some of the students go to the extent of waving and smiling at me enthusiastically.

"Settle down, settle down..." Dumbledore spoke from the podium, raising his hand to calm down the sudden commotion from the students. 

I looked around nervously and spotted what seemed to be the Gryffindor table. Harry, Ron, and Hermione waved giddily and both of the Weasley twins winked at me. 

Somehow, this made me feel less alone.

"Before we commence our Sorting, I would like to introduce our new transfer student. For the very first time, Hogwarts is opening its doors to an international student. (Y/N) has come all the way from America, and I do expect you all to be welcoming, for she is part of our family now. (Y/N), would you please step up for your Sorting?" 

My cheeks were burning hot with how much I was blushing, but still I smiled bashfully at Headmaster Dumbledore and approached Professor McGonagall who was holding up a beaten-up old hat.

The Great Hall was silent and all eyes were still on me.

The moment I sat down, Professor McGonagall dropped the hat over my head and I waited.

"Hmm," I got startled when hearing a voice that seemed to be coming from inside my head.

 "Not easy. Not easy at all. You're loyal. Dependable. Good-hearted. A wonderful friend. All traits that would do well in Hufflepuff."

My eyes flickered to the Hufflepuff table and the first face I noticed was of a handsome boy who seemed slightly older than me. Possibly Fred and George's age. He was smiling at me in a very gentle way and suddenly Hufflepuff house didn't look so bad.

"But! You're also ambitious. Bold. Talented. A perfectionist. You'd do great in Slytherin House as well, hmm..."

I turned to look at the Slytherin table behind the Gryffindors and immediately met Draco Malfoy's cold, blue eyes. He was staring intently at me, and once he saw me looking back, one of the corners of his lips raised into a smirk.

"But your heart's already made up its mind, hasn't it? Yes... I guess that will do... That will do well...GRYFFINDOR!" 

I didn't realize I was holding my breath until I sighed in relief and all but ran towards my table. 

The Gryffindor table was cheering noisily, my name being shouted as I was greeted by people I didn't even know. I recognized Dean and Seamus amongst the crowd leaning forward to shake my hand in congratulations. 

As soon as I found my friends, I collapsed in an empty chair in the middle of Harry and Ron and rested my head on Ron's shoulder.

"That was so stressful." I sighed out.

"Y-yeah I bet it was" Ron stuttered, suddenly going very tense.

"Oi, (Y/N), you just won us a bet with some idiot from Hufflepuff. Cheers!” Fred leaned over to whisper to me as the First Years were finishing up their Sorting. "He bet 6 galleons that you'd end up in their House. Wishful hoping, I suppose,” added George as he counted the coins.

I scanned around the hall and saw everybody talking amongst each other or glancing at me. 

I sunk down on my seat timidly. 

"Why is everyone chatting? The Sorting hasn't finished." I mumbled, feeling self-conscious again as to why I was still getting stares. 

"No one pays attention to the Sorting," Harry said matter-of-factly as if it were common sense.

"Everyone was paying attention to mine!" I said defensively.

"Well yeah, it's because it's you, isn't it?" Ron mumbled, diffidently.

"Everyone wants you in their House. You're a point of interest." Hermione remarked before immediately shushing us when Professor Dumbledore stood back up on his podium. 

"Oh, finally. I'm starving." I heard Ron mutter to Harry.

"Welcome, welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I would like to say a few words before we all become too befuddled by our excellent feast." Just as Dumbledore said this, Ron's stomach made a loud gurgling sound, making everyone around us snicker. 

"First, I'm pleased to welcome Professor R.J Lupin, who's kindly consented to fill the post of our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Good luck, Professor!" The Great Hall broke into applause, my friends and I clapping the hardest, deciding that we were quite fond of him after his help with the Dementor earlier. 

Professor Lupin stood up from his seat in the front of the room and bowed. 

He looked rather untidy next to the other Professors.

"As to our second new appointment, I am delighted to say that our very own gamekeeper, Rubeus Hagrid, has taken on the job to teach you your Care of Magical Creatures lessons." 

There was another applause as Hagrid stood up from the table. 

He looked very teary-eyed, with a wide grin plastered amongst the black beard of his.

"We should've known!" exclaimed Ron as he, Harry, and Hermione stood up to clap. "Who else would have assigned us a rabid book that bites!?" 

Dumbledore waited calmly as the applause died down, his expression serene but somehow much more grave than before. 

"Finally, on a more serious note. As many of you are unfortunately already aware, our school is presently playing host to some of the Dementors of Azkaban, who are here on business for the Ministry of Magic. They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds, and whilst I've been assured that their presence will not disrupt our day to day activities,  Dementors are not fooled by tricks or disguises. Dementors are vicious creatures, they will not distinguish between the one they hunt and the one who gets in their way.  It is not in the nature of the Dementor to understand pleading or excuses. Therefore, I must warn each and every one of you, give them no reason to harm you."

There was an eerie silence as the students glanced at each other nervously. 

"Well, I think that's everything of importance," said Dumbledore. "Let the feast begin!"

The students resumed their chatter when the golden plates and goblets on every table filled with food and drink. It was as if there was no prior talk about Dementors. The hall echoed with talk, laughter , and clatter of utensils. 

My mouth fell open at all the food options in front of me. Roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops and lamb chops, sausages, bacon and steak, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, fries. I turned to look at Ron to find him stuffing his face already.

I was half-way into enjoying my meal when we were interrupted.

"Potter. Potter!" 

We all turned around to find Draco grinning mischievously at us. I didn't even realize that he was sat right behind me.

"Is it true you fainted? You actually fainted?" His face contorted in disgust as one of his moronic friends placed the back of his hand against his forehead and pretended to faint. 

The Slytherin table started cackling as if the joke of the century was just told.

"Shove off, Malfoy!" Ron started getting a rise.

"You just don't quit, do you? Are you obsessed with Harry or something?" I teased, giving Malfoy a wry smile, and he tensed up. 

"I'd advise you to shut up, princess." He spat, causing me to laugh at how quickly it took to get him angry.

"Yeah, alright." I said aloofly and turned around to face my table.

"Honestly. This school is going to shite if she was about to be sorted into Slytherin. Little blood traitor associating with Muggleborns. Quite appalling if you ask m—" Draco couldn't even finish his sentence before I turned around and kicked his chair in, making the food on the fork he was holding splat down on his trousers. 

The people from my House started roaring in laughter, cheering as Draco stood up quickly and tried cleaning the food off his pants. 

He glared at me furiously, as I glared back at him with the same intensity and he stormed away towards the exit of the Great Hall.

I faced my friends once more with a smug smile, feeling quite proud of myself as my housemates reached over and patted me on the back. 

༻✦༺

We finished our dinner and went up to the teachers table to greet Hagrid. 

I learned that no matter how intimidating he might've seemed because of his stature, he was actually a big softie. 

I was looking forward to attending his class. 

Professor McGonagall requested that I visit her office after I finished eating, and Hermione decided to tag along to consult with her about the plethora of classes she was taking. 

Hermione was leading me through what seemed to be endless corridors before we approached the door we were looking for and knocked. 

Professor McGonagall stuck her head out the doorway and raised her eyebrows high when she saw Hermione.

"Ms. Granger, what are you doing here?" 

"Professor McGonagall, I was wondering if I could talk to you about my classes for this term..." 

The Professor seemed to consider it, her lips pulled into a straight line before she opened the door widely.

"Alright, then. Come in."

Professor McGonagall's office was a small room but it had a big, welcoming fireplace. She beaconed us to sit down, which we quickly did. 

"Ms. (Y/L/N), I see you have befriended Ms. Granger. How fortuitous that you already have a brilliant student to be able to guide you and show you the ropes around the school." Professor McGonagall took her seat behind her desk and looked at us through her glasses

Hermione beamed at the Professor and I nodded, feeling very lucky.

"Now, do you mind that she stays while I talk you through some things?" McGonagall looked at me promptly and Hermione and I glanced at each other. 

I didn't think there was anything that could be said that I'd hide from Hermione so I shook my head.

"I don't mind, Professor."

"Very well." She rummaged around her desk where there were piles of parchment until she found the one she was looking for.

"(Y/N) (Y/L/N), American witch. Exhibited advanced magical abilities since the early age of three months old. You've shown the ability of Transfiguration and Charms, being able to turn pillows into Canis lupus familiarise and being able to levitate and move items. Correct?" She peered at me from the parchment and I smiled timidly and nodded. 

"Correct, Professor."

"Then," she continued, “At the age of five, you were put in countless academies who taught you nothing but to suppress your abilities, and you haven't done magic since. Yes?"

"Yes, that's right." 

"Alright then." She put the parchment down with pursed lips, folded her arms, and set her gaze on me. "Our next steps are to be able to test you to see which classes are correct for you. We don't expect to bring you down a year, but if you need the extra help, we'll schedule some Remedial classes with the necessary Professors so you'll be able to catch up. You will be tested tomorrow morning. At seven. All the Professors have constructed some tasks for you to accomplish. They'll be waiting for you at The Great Hall. After you've completed all the tasks, a schedule will be made for you in time for you to have your first day with the rest of the students. Any questions?"

The thought of the Professors getting up early in the morning so they could test me on things I couldn't study for was mortifying. I recomposed myself and shook my head, having no questions in mind.

Professor McGonagall gave another look down at the parchment in front of her and up at me again. She had a curious expression. 

"Tell me, (Y/L/N), has there been any oddities happening?" 

"Oddities, Professor?"

"Yes, (Y/N), oddities. Have you been getting more than the... usual attention from boys? Have they been making fools of themselves around you?" 

This was such a weird question to be discussing with Professor McGonagall who didn't seem like the gossipy type at all. 

I glanced nervously at Hermione and she had the same puzzled look on her face. 

I suddenly did mind that she was sitting in on the discussion.

"Uhm... A little bit...boys and girls... I mean it's a given, isn't it? Everyone being curious that I'm the new transfer student?" 

My face was getting hot from embarrassment.

"Well, yes, I suppose so. But have you considered that it might be your Veela bloodline causing a commotion? You're aware of it, are you?"

I immediately remembered Dumbledore informing me that he found Veela ancestry when researching me. It never crossed my mind that that's why some people were being overly-friendly.

"Yes, Professor, I recently found out. Professor Dumbledore told me it was a distant relation, though, but... It could be possible. I haven't really considered it."

"Right. Well, it only becomes more intense with age. You just let me know if the boys are acting much stupider than the usual. I'm sure it could become quite the distraction." McGonagall gave me her tight smile and I was relieved that, even though she scared me a bit, I had her to rely on if anything.

It was Hermione's turn to talk to the Professor, so I waited outside because Hermione seemed like she wanted for it to be a private conversation. 

I was out in the hallway, wondering what they could've been speaking about that I couldn't hear. 

After all, Hermione heard every detail of my conversation.

About ten minutes later, Hermione left the office with a big smile on her face but still didn't say a word. 

She led us toward a tall portrait of a bigger lady wearing a white dress and turned to me.

"This is the entrance to Gryffindor House. There is a password that changes every few weeks. This week, it's Fortuna Major, remember that!" She cleared her throat and turned to the portrait. 

"Fortuna Major!" 

The portrait swung open to reveal a doorway. We climbed in and walked into the homiest Common Room in the world. The Gryffindor colors of red and gold were plastered everywhere. There were comfortable-looking armchairs and a warm fire that I really wanted to curl in front of. 

Hermione allowed me to look at the room with a prideful smile, and once I had seen all of it, she led us upstairs towards a staircase to a tower. There was another staircase on the other side of the room that I assumed led towards the boys' dormitories. 

As we climbed up the staircase, we passed floors. Each floor had two rooms, one where the girls slept and a bathroom. We finally got to the third floor, and I found everything I packed at the foot of my four-poster bed, which was next to Hermione's. 

There were five beds in total and the other three were occupied by sleeping girls who I didn't know yet.

The exhaustion hit me hard, as I brushed my teeth and got ready to sleep. 

When I finally got to bed, I felt Crookshanks make himself comfortable right next to me and I smiled— feeling like I was home at last.

✩ next chapter: first day ✩

[sovonight]

invaluable | xan/radri, bg2

—✧—

[A while after this exchange:

Xan: I wanted to enchant a ring for you, but this one overshadows everything I will ever be able to give you. How ironic that it comes from the Shadowmaster of Athkatla.

Radri: And how unfortunate that none of us can even wear it, our equipment being what it is. I would rather have your ring, instead.

Xan: A mere bauble will not protect your life, and I have no time to enchant it properly. Perhaps in the future... but no, I have distracted myself from what I wanted to say.]

Radri: I've been thinking about your ring.

Xan: My ring...? Ah, the one that has yet to be made.

Radri: But it already has, hasn’t it? You’ve carried a ring with you ever since you returned from Evereska.

Xan: You noticed? I can slip nothing past you, I see. But it is not complete, Estel'amin—as I alluded to before, it is unenchanted, and as such, it is yet nothing.

Radri: It is not nothing. Its current form is to its advantage: enchanted, it would have to compete with the other enchanted equipment I carry, but unenchanted, I can wear it always.

Radri: Even now, it would bring me courage—or, would you rather that it raise my sense of self-preservation, although as I keep trying to convince you, it is already appropriately high?

Radri: I... I suppose we speak so much of the future now, and of dreams of a quiet life, and when we’re so far from all of it, I’d feel one step closer to…. Oh, never mind. I feel like I’ve stolen a secret from you; I'm sorry, I won't mention it again.

(She looks away, out across the cityscape; in the sunset, even the slums district appears awash in glittering gold. Beside her, Xan remains quiet for a moment, then retrieves something from the pocket of his robes.)

Xan: This ring has been passed down in my House. Through trial and tribulation, and the endless march of time, its magics are gone, having long served their purpose; it holds only its history now. I carried it with me from Evereska thinking, perhaps, that I would give it new life—that when it was ready, I would present it to you in ceremony...

Xan: But perhaps I have been thinking too long.

Xan: Here. My ring, unfinished and unpresentable as it is. If it pleases you, even in such a state as this, it is yours—but I promise you, I will strive to make it worthy of you someday.

Radri, meeting his eye warmly as she accepts it: I love it, Tahlimil. It is already worthy.

Xan, embarrassed and relieved: Why does my mind insist on tormenting me with thoughts of your judgment, when my heart already knows what you will say? Though now that it is on your finger, perhaps it is time to let go of my frivolous dreams of holding a formal ceremony. We may as well just find a quiet spot in which to say our vows.

Radri, kissing him on the cheek: No, we must still have the ceremony. Because you wish for it, it must be so, and it will be grand and beautiful.

—

Radri: I lost it.

Xan: Lost what?

Radri: I lost it! Linvail's ring! I had already been thinking of getting rid of it since it only takes up space in my backpack, but—to not even be able to recoup the barest fraction of its value by bringing it to a shop?! Oh, I can't believe I—Xan?

(Radri looks up in time to see Xan shaking in silent laughter, which then bursts out in a full laugh.)

Xan: Of course! Of course, you would care so little about a ring powerful enough to belong to royalty that you let it be misplaced! What an absurd life it is we lead!

Xan: Meanwhile, mere trinkets are given the treatment of kings—even the blooms I had set upon your hair a year ago were kept carefully preserved in your journal, as though they were imbued with a lifetime's worth of magic and not merely painfully ordinary. Sentiment will not save your life, but you hold it dearer than the things that could.

Radri, half insulted: I think I strike an appropriate balance between sentiment and practicality.

Xan: Oh, Estel'amin, smooth the furrow in your brow; I do not laugh at you, but at myself. I see that even if I spent centuries in study, you would not love the ring I enchanted for you for its boons, but for my efforts. What pointless, pointless jealousies I bear…

(His rare mirth fades as he sobers once more.)

Xan: But I am sorry that the ring was lost—it was truly in a class of its own, and now you will earn nothing for it.

Radri, still in shock and awe of what she’s just witnessed: No, I... think in the end, it paid for itself.

[frootloopscos]

What’s with all the Demons?! (Chapter 2)

Welcome to the Villians’ World (2)

The two, unfortunatley didn't find any information on (Y/N)'s home county, much to the Enby's dissapointment. It was then that Crowley truly believed that the demon slayer was from another world completely. (Y/N) was upset to say the least, one moment asleep in the butterfly mansion, and the next in this random world. However Dire Crowley was "very kind" in his words and informed them that they could stay in the definitely not abandoned dorm known as ramshackle. 

He led them to said dorm, it was on campus and seemed to look like an actual home....it reminded them of their pop's mansion. They missed their moms, pop...and dad... it was then that they realized Crowley was speaking to them and they looked to him, catching up on the last bit of the speech. "And because I am so kind you will be staying here as a janitor and guard for the school, you do have the tools required after all." (Y/N) looked at him confused, "guard?" They asked, "if you're talking about my blade, then I suppose if demons arrive I'll slay them, that is my job after all." They stated crossing their arms. "Wonderful!" Crowley said with a smile, "I'll let you get settled in then, and you'll get your first assignment in the morning!" 

With that the demon slayer walked into the run down dorm, "I can see why they call it Ramshackle now." They mumbled to themself as they began walking around. Eventually going up the stairs and entering one of the rooms, it was in a bit better shape than the other ones so they decided that was to be the room they'd sleep in. They spent a good thirty minutes or so cleaning it out until it looked decent enough. They smiled at their work and moved to the closet to see what may be in there, opening it up their eyes widened. Their haiori, two other swords, their spare demon slayer uniform, and the bird seed bag they usually kept on them were all in there. "How?" They questioned and quickly removed the ceremonial robes they were wearing, hanging them up in the closet, then they took their haiori and hugged it before putting it on. 

They took their other swords and attached them to the other hip, "now I'm complete again." They said with a sigh and left the room, closing the door behind them before going back downstairs. "I suppose I have to clean the other rooms in here as well...it's still early so I could probably get the living area and the kitchen done..." they said to themself as they walked to the other side of the living area, only to realize that it was raining outside....and the rain was coming through their ceiling. "Of course," they mumbled to themself before beginning to look for a bucket. While in the kitchen they heard the front door open. "Is that crow man back?" They asked themself as they walked back to the living area, only to find the cat demon from before complaining about his claiming ears potential going out. 

"Nyah?! What are you doing here?!" The cat asked seeing the Enby, said Enby glared at him and grabbed at their singular sword. "I could ask you the same thing demon." "Hah?! I told you already! I'm no demon! I am the great and powerful grim and I will be the greatest mage!" The Enby unsheathed their sword and pointed it at him, "why are you here? I thought that person had banished you." The demon cat crossed his arms with a frown, "they can try all they want but it was easy to get back on to campus!" He said, a smirk now placed on his face, the Enby sighed and sheathed their sword. "Well, if you're going to stay with me, you need to earn your keep demon," they said crossing their arms.

It was then that some of the previous residents of the dorm decided to show up...as ghosts. "I just don't get a break do i?" The slayer asked themself as they took out their sword, the cat fired literal fire from his mouth. (Y/N) smirked getting an idea, "you said your name is grim right? Well, this is how you earn your keep. Get rid of these demons with me and you can stay for two weeks." They said before crouching down and inhaling deeply, "flame breathing, First form," they said before quickly moving forward and slicing through two of the ghosts, right where their heads would be. "Unknowing Fire." 

Only for nothing to happen, the ghosts began to laugh at the slayer. "We're ghosts! Already dead!" They said to the Enby. They narrowed their eyes at the spirits, "then begone, this is my home now." They said putting their sword away as Grim began to freak out. "I thought you didn't have magic!" He yelled, they looked down to him with a raised brow, "I don't, I'm a demon slayer, I use breathing techniques." They said bluntly and pointed at the ghosts, "use your fire to get rid of them." "You want me to get rid of them?!" Grin yelled, his ears flattening to his head in fear before he closed his eyes, "grrrr, I'm a master sorcerer! I ain't afraid of any dumb ghosts! RRRRRAHHHHH!" And he blasted blue flames at the ghosts...only for him to miss. 

"Grrrr, they keep disappearing and reappearing!" Grim yelled in frustration, "calm down, your eyes are closed, you'll set the dorm ablaze." (Y/N) said to the fire cat, "Shut up! I don't need any lip from you, human!" (Y/N) sighed in annoyance, "perhaps if you beat them the headmage will let you enroll?" Grim's eyes widened as he stares at them, "hmmm, well how come I can't hit a single one of them?!" He yelled to the ghost's amusement. 

This only made the cat angrier, "you're hanging up on us! Y-you're a bunch of cowards!" (Y/N) hummed trying to think of something before they smiled, "Grim, fire to your left." They said seeing a ghost approaching the furry creature. The ghost shrieked as it was hit with a blast of fire and Grim grinned happily.  "Got one! You keep telling me where to hit 'em human!" "Right!" 

Together the demon slayer and the monster successfully removed all of the ghosts before Crowley finally returned. Seeing Grim in the dorm, holding onto (Y/N) as if his life depended on it he was shocked. "Child what is that creature doing here?" He asked (Y/N) as they gently patted Grim's head, "removing your ghost problem! You're welcome by the way!" Grim yelled at Crowley as he leaned into (Y/N)'a affection. After explaining the situation to Crowley he hummed in thought before nodding, "I see I see so you two joined forces to drive them away." He stated, "That's not how I'd describe it. More like I drove 'em all away and the human watched. And I only did it 'cause I want tuna! Hey wait! You still owe me tuna human!" He yelled jumping away from (Y/N). "I never said I'd be giving you any tuna." (Y/N) said raising a brow and looking at the cat. "Would you two be so kind as to demonstrate your eradication method you used for me?" Crowley asked the two. 

"One, no I already wiped 'em all out! And two, no where's my tuna?!" Grim yelled, Crowley crossed his arms, "I'll play the part as the ghosts. As for tuna, you'll receive it when you defeat me, oh how generous I am." He mumbled to himself with a grin. Then pulling a vial of some liquid out of nowhere and drinking it he turned into a ghost. (Y/N)'s eyes widen, one of their hands going to their sword at their hip. "Grim, this is your chance, are you willing to do it once more?" They asked the now grumpy cat, "hrmph, fine! But you owe me a lot more tuna!" He yelled before jumping in front of (Y/N). 

—————

Hello everyone! I'm so sorry I haven't posted in so long! Updates will be coming more frequently I promise! 

Word count: 1366

Published to Wattpad: Aug. 30th, 2023 

Published to Tumblr: Jan. 30th, 2024

Edited: n/a

[morefictionlesslife]

Till death brings us together

It is a continuation of my last story, but I guess you can read it as a stand-alone. Enjoy :)

Aoife/Niten

Niten was standing in front of a mirror wearing a black outer robe with white inner layers. His family crest was embroidered on both sides of his kimono – it was a discreet white crest with two arrows flying beside each other.

It reminded him of her.

Of his fiancée. They, too, had been flying beside one another for so long that he forgot to even hope to have his feelings returned. Until he died and was brought back to life by Tsagaglalal and Prometheus’ aura.

He remembered her strong small body embracing him, calling out to him, getting angry at him. The last one wasn’t surprising. It happened from time to time. But then he had taken the leap he had feared for so long. He had told her how he felt, because then at least, she would know the truth, if nothing else. She teased him, breaking his heart in the process, then she had accepted and kissed him.

Aoife had kissed him.

Niten smiled to himself when he thought about that moment. It was engraved in his mind forever.

He was so in thoughts that he completely missed the dressing room door being opened. Although, he would never admit to such a heinous accusation. He had a reputation to uphold.

“How fares the groom? Having cold feet?” teased Prometheus from the corridor leaning heavily onto the doorpost. When Niten turned around to look at the man, he couldn’t help but smile along. The Elder looked good for his age and the events that had occurred. His reddish hair was somewhat recovered, only a small portion of grey hair peeked through the red. His suit was…acceptable, not Niten’s personal choice, but clothes did not matter to the man. It was already than enough to have the elder man there, even though his orange suit made the groom’s eyes water.

“Never,” promised the swordsman, smiling even wider. How could he ever, when this was everything, he had ever wanted?

Prometheus huffed and straightened himself up. “Alright, alright. The first one out of the two of you, who would break this up, would probably be my niece.” Niten’s eyes betrayed his shock, and his hands trembled. Did Aoife say something? Do something? Was that why the older man was there? Had she changed her mind? Did she not want him anymore?

“Ah, you misunderstood me, my friend, I was merely being hypothetical.” The younger man gave the Elder a warning look. His shoulders slumped as his breathing became regular again. The swordsman had really lost a considerable number of years just from the teasing of this family. The number of times, he had had a heart attack, because one of the redheads or their uncle decided to be playful and lead him astray with their words, was astronomical. He could have grey hair just from those three. Not counting their grandmother, who said would show up for the wedding, making the Japanese swordsman sweat even more.

She had made her threat come true, because Niten had already gotten a glimpse of her when he had checked the garden if everything had gone according to plan. He had contemplated whether to approach the Witch of Endor and risk losing his head for asking Aoife’s hand or just pretend he didn’t see her and bolt. His immaculate upbringing hadn’t allowed him not to greet his fiancée’s family member. But the Witch had decided for him when she turned her back to him and went to greet her brother. Somehow the Japanese had known that she had known he was there. When he turned back to get dressed, he felt a big mirror to his left watching him.

The Elder moved closer to his soon to be son-in-law. He considered the twins to be his daughters so… “She is getting ready for the ceremony just as you are.” Prometheus bowed down to whisper into smaller man’s ear. “And, honestly, being even more nervous than you.” He pulled back. “She is fidgeting around the room like some ancient god is about to attack her. But then again, she would probably be even calmer if that were the case. Aoife can fight with everything…hold a decent conversation and talk about her feelings…not so much. The fact that she is doing both with you, means you are the perfect one for her.” Aoife talked with him about her feelings to a degree, would have the Japanese added, but kept it to himself.

Niten smiled for the hundredth time this day as he thought about his future wife. It was too good to be true, but over time the Japanese had learned to take everything given to him. It would only take a second to be lost, so he intended to make every moment count.

“And your purpose here is to make me even more nervous?” asked the Japanese with a grin as he straightened his kimono and pushed away dust particles, that had found a way to his robe.

Prometheus grabbed an apple form the wood cabinet standing near the door and took a huge chunk from it. “Exactly,” crunched the older, making both laugh. “No, actually I am here for the free food and alcohol, messing with you is just a bonus.” Niten heard him laugh in the corridor as he left the Japanese alone again.

The ceremony was about to start in 30 minutes. Niten couldn’t be happier and more rigid at the same time. In an hour he would be Aoife’s husband to take care of her, to be there for her and fight beside her. And she in return, would be there for him.

So why couldn’t he stay calm? His heart was beating like crazy; his hands were all over the place and his controlled breathing, he had worked for so long and maintained throughout his immortal life, was nowhere to be found. What a swordsman he was when he couldn’t handle his own wedding?

Perhaps, it was his biggest challenge yet. And the most rewarding one. Being Aoife’s husband was both terrifying and everything he could ever want. What if he disappointed her?

“Knock, knock,” said an angel or a demon, depended on who to ask, from the doorway. Though, the man was almost a hundred per cent sure, that he was the only one, who would call Aoife of the Shadows an angel. Even her uncle considered the twins to be little rascals.

Niten stood with his back to the door, but he could see the smiling redhead, when he looked at his fiancée from the mirror he was standing in front of. When their eyes met, the man gave her his biggest smile, which reached almost to his ears, and his dimples framed his already happy face.

“You know, in some cultures the groom should not see the bride before the ceremony,” said Niten to his wife-to-be, who had begun to sneak towards him with inaudible steps. His beloved wore a long black cape that covered most of her dress. Some of the green material still peeked through the opening in the front, leaving Niten no doubt that she will look gorgeous in it. The colour matched the green of her eyes perfectly.

Aoife smirked at him: “And there are cultures, where the bride will feast on her husband’s heart after the wedding.”

He chuckled and turned around just in time to catch Aoife securely in his arms, when she jumped at the man without much thought. The redhead put her hands in Niten’s combed hair, making a mess of it within seconds, and wrapped her legs around his body, taking him into her strong embrace. The cape and the dress underneath it, did restrict some of her movements, but both paid it no heed, while smiling to each other.

The Japanese proposed, while supporting his future wife with his hands around her back: “How about we disregard both of these traditions?” He caressed his beloved’s spine with his right hand, making the woman lean in even closer.

“Mm, and I so looked forward to the second one,” said Aoife slily, while sliding her fingers across his husband-to-be’s face making the swordsman’s face flustered, before finding Niten’s lips with her own.

Showing intimacy in public or even in their own home hadn’t come easily for the warriors. Niten could tell that most of the time, she was worried that she had crossed some lines, even if he had stated many times that she had a permission to kiss and hug him whenever she felt like it. Even the man was not sure, how much he could allow himself to do, what she was comfortable with. That required talking and while Niten had no problem talking to others, it seemed that every time he looked at Aoife, his breath caught, and his face started burning. She made him nervous. So, both held back in fear of hurting or insulting the other.

Some days felt like the old days, like nothing had changed, like they hadn’t gotten engaged or expressed their affections. Niten would wake up alone for Aoife needed very little sleep, Niten would make breakfast, they would go hunt demons or other creatures or the couple would practice or watch TV. The night would roll, and the man would go to bed.

Niten didn’t know how to break the cycle until one rainy day, he took a leap, because the last time he allowed himself to chicken out, he became to regret it a little too late.

The Japanese had sat on a couch and read a fairly good book, when he couldn’t take it anymore. He wanted Aoife to know the depth of his adoration for her. After that morning at the bay, when he had poured out his heart, and occasional words, he hadn’t really had a chance or rather given himself a chance to convey his devotion to her.

“Aoife,” started Niten carefully and stared at the woman training with her nunchaku inside their apartment near the pier, where his boat was. He sat in his reading corner as Aoife had once called it, while she destroyed yet another training doll in the living room. She wore black training clothing, not even a strand of hair out of place, when he drew her attention to himself.

She looked back at him with curiosity in her beautiful eyes. “What is it?”

“Would it be agreeable if I expressed my love for you?” asked the swordsman. He wasn’t satisfied with how the question came out, it left out so much, but it would have to do.

As expected, it brought more confusion than clarity. The redhead blushed, brought her weapon to a standstill, and stammered abashed: “Like right now or…?”

Niten stood up and placed the book on the counter. The Japanese offered the warrior a little smile while explaining: “I meant…always.” The woman put the nunchaku silently on the table and came closer her eyes searching for his. Have they always been that green? That beguiling? “Maybe not always, but more often. You accepted my hand in marriage and yet, sometimes I don’t see any difference, while I loved what we had before my death,” Aoife flinched, her lips grimaced at the horrible memory, “now that you know my feelings and aren’t repulsed by them, I don’t want to keep them silent, I would like to say, you mean the world to me, many worlds, I would like to hug you once in a while and…”

Niten stopped abruptly to shake his head. In his enthusiasm, he had completely forgotten that the redhead could decline any time and decide she didn’t want his affections to be expressed every day. To mend his mistake, he switched the theme and offered quickly: “If you don’t want, I, of course, will…”

Aoife wrapped her hands around his neck to put her head against his shoulder. Niten, while freezing for one second, recovered fast and pressed the woman as close as possible with his hands around her slim frame. He lowered his face into her soft spiky hair to breath his love in. While not having spores, Niten could swear she did have unique smell to her that he could recognize anywhere. To him, she smelled like home.

“Niten,” whispered Aoife, her warm breath against his neck making Niten shiver.

“Yes,” he wasn’t sure, he should add that little endearment, but couldn’t hold himself back, when his heart was overflown with love for his fierce warrior, who clutched him so firmly to her, “my love?” The swordsman had called her that also on that fateful day, when he felt, he could do anything.

The redhead blushed furiously against him, but the man didn’t miss the small smile that had crept up her face and refused to go away.

“What is it?” repeated Niten overjoyed with happiness of being that close to the one he loved.

Suddenly, Aoife looked up at him and removed her hands from around him, letting the cold air hit against his neck once more. She stepped a few steps back and began waving with her hands in no direction: “It’s just, I don’t know how to…to do all of this. I’ve never been engaged before; I’ve never had someone I…someone I…someone I love. Romantically at least, that much. You will have to tell me, what I must do and when I do something wrong.” Niten’s face lit up seeing her saying the words once more. He never doubted the sincerity of her feelings, but it was nice to hearing them out loud.

She remembered an error in her earlier words and added: “Well, there was Cuchulain.”

Niten didn’t think there existed anyone he hated more than Cuchulain. The human had lived hundreds, if not thousands, of years before he was even born, but that did nothing to quell his rage for him. Partly because he was the core reason for so much of Aoife’s sadness; this man had separated her from her beloved sister. While not entirely his fault; the twins should have communicated better or, from Niten’s understanding and few pieces of information from Aoife, at all; the Japanese found himself hating the human.

The second reason was a little bit silly and a lot more personal. Cuchulain had been in love with Aoife, the woman he loved. While Niten was busy pining over Aoife, the unattainable warrior, she had confessed that there were some romantical feelings involved from her part with this Irish warrior. Although Scathach seemed to have been the one that had been falling harder for the man, it had come as a shock to Niten when the object of his affections had said that she had feelings for this ancient fighter.

The night after this discovery was one of the very few nights immortal Niten, the fierce Miyamoto Musashi got absolutely wasted. He didn’t remember half the things he did the next morning, only the ugly emotion of jealousy that had clouded his mind and heart. Aoife made a few comments about his unusual behaviour but didn’t pry further. The man wished she had, maybe then he would have had the courage to state his feelings, but no, he sulked in the shadows and trained harder than ever, so his dreams would not revolve around the happy couple, making him sick and broken-hearted.

Niten really hated the man, this Cuchulain.

It was a few years back, when they heard about the Las Vegas incident with Scathach and Billy the Kid of all people. Cuchulain or Setanta, like he had called himself, had, in fact, survived and tried to kill Scathach, blaming her for his fate. Niten had to physically restrain Aoife from going to Las Vegas and destroying the entire city. The swordsman hadn’t the faintest clue, what that would accomplish, but he felt the urge to do the same. The man he had hated had somehow survived and going after the twins.

Not on his watch.

Their fury was unnecessary, because Scathach had already killed him. Niten didn’t want to know, what Aoife would have done, if the immortal had harmed or, even worse, killed the twin, Aoife’s baby sister.

So now, he took a deep breath and reminded himself, that Aoife loved him and not the dead warrior.

At the same time, he had contemplating bringing back Cuchulain so he would kill him himself, Aoife muttered quietly to herself: “Aoife, you coward, you can fight anyone, but can’t say Niten you love him?” She kicked a cardboard box lying on the ground towards a small ocean view window.

The man watched her adoringly. Niten told Aoife as she finally made an eye contact with him: “I love you, too, very much. I, too, have no previous experience in marriage or that kind of companionship. But…Every romance I have read or heard about is different, unique. I don’t think there is one right way to do things.” The Japanese began to cross the room with steady steps. “It is just us. Do what feels right because our relationship isn’t defined by someone else’s. It’s ours. So, kiss me when you feel like it, hug me when you like it or don’t, and I promise to do the same. If we don’t cross each other’s boundaries and talk about those things, it will be whatever we make of it.” He came to stand in front of red-faced Aoife and held his hand out for her. “So, would you like to learn and explore together?”

Aoife hesitated only for a second before taking his hand and pulling him down to kiss her.

After that, things got easier. Niten allowed himself to hug her from behind when he found her irresistible. Only when she knew it was him because he didn’t wish to end up dead. She kissed him sweetly when he made her a warm drink on a cold winter night.

It was good. Very good.

This was how things got to this point that these two ended up choosing January the 3rd as their wedding date.

“We are not having sex before our marriage ceremony,” told Niten breathlessly as he slowly and regretfully pulled back from Aoife’s relentless kissing, his lips swollen and his black hair like a bird’s nest.

Niten had stumbled, after the first few kisses, Aoife clinging to his shoulders and feet like vices around his midsection, backwards into an armchair, while losing his common sense and deciding that 30 minutes before the wedding would be the perfect time to have a make-out session.

But how could he deny her anything, when she looked at him like he was her world?

Aoife smirked happily and not flustered at all for she didn’t need to breath: “You want to wait until marriage?”

The man smiled slyly: “A little late for that, I think.” Aoife lowered her lips to his neck to bite there, being careful with her vampire teeth, and Niten would have let her; even when a horrible image of him standing in front of the altar with a visible hickey on his neck, came to his mind; when a shriek filled the room, making the woman hop to her feet in less than a second to fight whatever was coming their way. Niten was not far behind.

“MY EYES! I never want to see this ever again!” came an upset voice from the doorway. It was a pitch higher than Aoife’s. “You have 20 minutes to get ready and you two decide to…Never mind, you will have to come. And soon.” Scathach had covered her face and was grimacing while backing away from the dreadful scene that had unfolded before her very eyes.

“Well, you will have to because I am going to kiss my husband in front of everybody,” declared Aoife victoriously. The groom shook his head at the twins. She laughed at the sulking twin: “Nice dress, by the way.”

Scatty looked at the verge of killing the bride before the wedding in her pink bridesmaid’s dress. Niten didn’t think the dress was that bad, but clearly the Shadow thought something else, if her expression was anything to go by.

“I can’t believe I agreed to this,” muttered Scatty to herself and crossed her arms. Then, still upset from walking in on them, she directed her next saying at the man. “Niten, and I thought you had some sense of property. Clearly, I was wrong! I hate both of you.”

With that she walked away but was back half a second later: “You have 20 minutes, well, 19 now. Hurry up! Or you are not getting married!”

Then she was gone.

“Don’t worry,” murmured Aoife catching her fiancé’s arm, rising to her tiptoes, and whispering into his left ear, “I quite like this adventurous part of you.” She let her lips linger on the swordsman ear.

“Was I not adventurous before?” asked Niten with a sly smile. After all those wonderful trips to various Shadowrealms; fights, encounters with strange species and narrow escapes; he still wasn’t adventurous enough for his darling wife?

Aoife smirked close to his face. He felt her breath on his lips; that reminded him of the sweetness of her kisses. Unknowingly, the swordsman licked his bottom lip and Aoife’s gaze was taken over by lust.

She leaned closer so she could touch his lips with her own: her hand found a way to his hair. Niten drew the warrior closer by putting both his arms around her to flush her against himself. Had she always been this soft?

Aoife whispered: “Scandalous.”

Niten snapped. Their lips finally moved against each other, and their tongues danced together. The Japanese lifted the woman up and curling her into himself, while she threw her both arms around his neck and held onto Niten like she never intended to let go of him. The swordsman reciprocated the action. After all, she was his future, how could he ever let go?

A faraway gong brought the couple back to reality, only to realize that they had exactly ten minutes before the ceremony. And they, in fact, were still very interested in getting married; they had to control themselves. To some, it was easier (not easier per se, but they had more control over their desires), to some, it took a bit of persuasion and promises of making it up to them, to get them finally to let go.

The swordsman suggested quietly, while still holding her between his arms: “We should tidy up lest we make it very clear to everyone out there, what we did in here.”

“And how is that their problem? You are to be my husband, I can do what I want with you behind closed doors,” answered in her usual challenging way.

“The door was not closed, my love, as your sister demonstrated,” brushed Niten her unkept hair out of her eyes, “also, I believe I saw your grandmother. Do you want…”

“Tidying up is an excellent suggestion, husband mine,” said the woman quickly and letting the man slip from her grasp to take up a comb. Niten laughed.

Aoife hesitated for a moment in the doorway with a strange expression. The Japanese looked at her in worry.

“I’ll be the one in green,” stated Aoife a little bit wobbly. It was finally here! Their wedding. It was not happening in his dreams. This was reality.

He smiled blindingly at his one and only, at his love, at the reason he still felt alive after 400 years, at his Aoife. He knew that she was nervous. It was his honour to reassure her.

The swordsman placed the comb on the table to cross the room and take Aoife’s hands in his own. “It’s just me out there. Like I said, it’s for us. This wedding is a way of telling everyone what we already have. Do you plan on running away?”

“No,” came an instant reply.

“Do you think I will abandon you at the altar?”

“No,” came a strong answer, but Niten detected a look of fear behind those gorgeous eyes.

He smiled at his wife and didn’t bother on correcting himself because that’s ultimately what she was – his other half. “Alright then, we have nothing to worry about. The only essential people in the wedding are the bride and the groom. And the last time I checked; they are here.”

“Well, there is the one who conducts the ceremony…”

The swordsman sighed. “You have a way of turning my every romantic declaration into…something else.” He was loss for correct words.

“It’s just my charm,” smiled Aoife, but turned serious quickly. “Also, thank you.” She kissed his cheek sweetly.

The Japanese caught a glimpse of her forest green dress underneath of the black cloak. That reminded him. “Beloved, I don’t need anything to recognize you from the others. Never fear that.”

“You can’t just say things like that!” declared Aoife with reddening face. She pulled her hands free at his scandalous behaviour. Ah, so the make-out sessions are fine, but his darling drew a line at romantic nothings. Too bad.

“It’s my wedding day, I can say whatever I want to my bride,” said grinning Niten turning her earlier words to work in his favour.

Blushing woman grinded her teeth. Aoife said an ultimatum: “I still have a chance to not show up!” Both knew that to be a playful bluff.

Niten couldn’t help but take advantage of this. He sighed with a mournful expression: “Well, then I have to preserve them for someone el…” Before he could finish, he had an armful of furious warrior, who would make sure that every single one of his romantic sayings would be directed at her. She would just have to put up with those, because the thought of not having his love was too much, a reality she didn’t want to live in. As if he would ever have anyone else.

She was his forever.

“Don’t you dare! You are mine, Miyamoto Musashi!”

“I have been yours since the moment I met you, Aoife of the Shadows,” assured Niten to Aoife with all his heart.

[the-cursed-recruit-story]

The cursed recruit (AO3)

By Symon Pude

Chapter 5 - The young priestess

I awoke in the room I was in before the ceremony. When I took a deep breath, it felt like someone pinched me where my wound had been, but it was just an annoyance. I put my right hand on the bruise and massaged it. The memory of the tingly feeling was still there. It had felt divine, like being granted from a higher power as they claimed.

But with my mind clearer now, I looked at it from a more logical perspective. The priestess, who didn’t seem to have much physical power, healed me and then she collapsed. A good explanation was that she had overexerted herself to heal me. That sounded way more plausible than a god showing mercy on me that they never did before.

But it felt so real.

My stomach grumbled, so I stood up and fetched myself some of my provisions from my rucksack and returned to the comfortable bed.

A knock on the door broke my peace. The monk that carried me off the carriage entered. 

“Your general has requested you to be released early. So, pack your belongings.” A tiny pitch in his voice told me he was happy to get rid of me. “Would you like to see Lady Hezkova, the priestess who healed you before you leave?”

I took a bite from my bread. “Why?”

“It is common for healed patients to say their thanks to their healer. It puts a great strain on them to channel the Maker’s power.”

I scoffed as I stood up from the bed. 

"Trying to drain me for money I don't have, huh?" I said so silent that he didn't hear.

I dressed again and turned to the monk.

“Alright then. Where is she?”

“I’ll lead you to her.”

I pushed the last remains of my provisions back into the rucksack and put it on my back. I followed him through a labyrinth of hallways, until finally we came to a door. He knocked.

“Who’s there?” Her voice was sweet and innocent. 

“Brother Benjamin with the patient you healed today.”

“Come in.”

Brother Benjamin opened the door. A room not unlike the one I stayed in laid on the other side. A bed stood in the corner between a wardrobe and a table with parchment on it. Sunlight fell in through a small window. The young priestess sat in the middle of the room, still wearing the same pure white robe with the red finish. The monk bowed to her, then gestured me to sit on the chair opposite of her, which I did.

“I will take my leave now,” the monk said.

The zivot girl took a moment to answer. “Yes.”

The door closed behind me and the priestess turned to me with tired eyes. “How do you feel?”

“It’s ok.”

She suppressed a yawn. “Great.”

“Thank you for healing me."

She didn’t seem to hear me as she placed her red gloved hands on her chest. “Let’s thank the Maker for the blessing you received today. Lord in Heavens. Thy name is praised above all others…”

I rolled my eyes. “Stop.”

The zivot girl stopped for a second, then continued, “...You lead us to the promised…”

“Really, stop,” I said. “You’re obviously still weak from healing me, so rest.”

“But I need to…”

“Did they say you need to get the pious patients to give even more to your monastery? I don’t believe in half the shit you preach and I wouldn’t even have money.”

Her hand dropped from her chest back to her lap and she sunk deeper into the chair. With her gaze to the floor, she looked like she could fall asleep any second.

“Come on, let’s get you to bed,” I said.

She gave a small nod and pushed herself up, before stumbling to the bed and collapsing onto it. I thought she had fallen asleep completely, but her eyes remained open.

Silence settled in the room. I used the time to take a look at the parchment on the table, but I couldn’t make complete sense of them.

“Can I ask you a favour?” Lady Hezkova asked. “Can you describe the scenery outside the monastery?”

I looked through the small window, but it only showed a courtyard. “It’s not very special, there are rolling hills with brownish fields and woods with some leafless trees here and there.”

“What about flowers? Are there flowers?”

I scoffed. “Not now, it’s still soon after the winter. Only a few snowdrops and wood anemones.”

“Can you describe them?”

My brows furrowed. How could she not know about this? “Both white, one looks a little bit like a bell and the other has six pedals.”

“I wish I could see them with my own eyes.”

I turned to her. “Can you not?”

“No.” The zivot girl paused. “I was chosen from a very young age to become a priestess in the service of the Maker. My days were filled with praying and learning all the skills I needed, never leaving the estate of my family. At least there was a garden. Now, all I see from the outside is through this window.”

I turned to her, sympathy welling in my chest. “That’s awful. Why don’t they let you go outside?”

“Priestesses need to stay pure to invite in the Maker’s blessing. For that I have to stay within the holy walls. No contact with the sinful populace.”

“That’s bullshit.”

Lady Hezkova gasped and placed a hand on her chest.

“What? It is.” I said. “Have you ever tried to run away?”

The priestess looked at her bedsheets. “I think about it. Sometimes even breaking my personal prayer to fantasise about getting out. It is easy to get out of the monastery, but there’s nowhere I could go where they won’t find me.” Her eyes widened. “I heard you’re a soldier in the army. Can I come with you? They probably need a healer. You may be able to convince the general to shelter me from the church’s eyes in exchange for my abilities.”

“That is one of the worst ideas I've ever heard."

"Why?"

"You want a few reasons? You barely can heal one person before you collapse, and being alone with a lot of blue-balled men won’t turn out well for you. Even if the general does things that don’t seem to make any sense, he wouldn’t go so blatantly against the church.”

“There must be some way." She almost shouted, still weak. "I saved you, so do something to help me.”

I remained silent.

The young priestess’ lips pursed, and she closed her eyes. Tears fell down on her pillow and got soaked up by the linens. I looked at her for a few seconds; feelings of guilt welled even further up my chest. I couldn’t help her, unless…

I put my palm on my face. “I’m so gonna regret this.”

Stepping to the table, I grabbed an empty piece of yellowish parchment. I dipped the quill into the inkwell. The lines of the drawn roads were squiggly as I struggled to draw a map of Hazelbrooks without my fingers smearing my work.

Lady Hezkova pushed herself up a little, wiping the tears from her eyes. “What are you doing?”

I finished the crude map and blew on it to dry. “There is somewhere where you can go. If you go east, you’ll come to a small village with a chapel in about a day. North of it there is a small farm, where my parents live. If you tell them that I sent you and you need a place to hide from the church, they’ll take you in.” 

I held the map out to her. 

She shook her head. “I can’t accept this. I want to leave, yes, but if they catch me there, your family and you will be hanged. I couldn’t live with that.”

“So you just have to hide very well. With a lot of grime on your face to hide the translucency, and your hair shaved off and replaced with some plastered-on brown one, you might even pass as a young lad that got sent away to become a farmhand.”

She reached up to her curls. “I need to shave … my hair?”

“Well, yes. This dark red colour is a dead giveaway. Any problem with that?”

“It shows how long it has been since my first healing. It would be disrespectful for a priestess to get rid of it after receiving this power from the Maker.”

“If you take that map, you won’t be a priestess anymore.”

She looked at the piece of parchment. “Are you sure you want to endanger your family just to help a complete stranger like me?”

I made a dismissive hand gesture with my free hand. “They need someone to help them on the fields anyway.”

The young priestess pursed her lips again. Then she slowly reached out and took the map with her hand. “Thank you.”

I followed her thin, red cotton gloves as she put the map under her pillow, when an idea came to mind. “Give me your gloves.”

“Huh?”

“Your gloves. If you manage to escape, they will look everywhere for you. And when they find those west from here, who would think to look where you actually went?”

After a short pause, she nodded and removed the clothings. Her rosy-translucent skin on the back of her hand reminded me of that godly feeling they had roused the last time. I felt a twinge and I looked away, only glancing back shortly to take the gloves. They were soft to the touch, the seams not even noticeable. 

I put them in my trouser pocket when a knock on the door made me jump.

“One other thing,” I said, “Can you also take away the health of people?”

She leaned back, bringing distance between us. “Why?”

“Yes or no?”

She retreated even further “I don't know. Never tried it. But why?”

“If my father starts drinking again, you could at least try to do that. Mess him up real good.”

Another knock at the door. The voice of Brother Benjamin came from outside. “Is everything okay, Lady Hezkova? You’ve been speaking with your patient for quite some time now.”

“Yes, everything is okay. We just finished. You can come in,”  Lady Hezkova said.

The door opened and the monk appeared in the frame.

“Again, I thank the Maker for his blessing. And I hope you get better soon,” I faked.

“It is okay that you were not able to show your gratitude in a material way. Your thanks are highly enough.”

I took my rucksack and went to the door. The monk bowed. I turned around and did the same. When I straightened again, she smiled at me, with real joy in her eyes. 

She mouthed a “Thank you.” Her pointy canines were easy to see.  Even my lips twitched upwards a little. 

I hope she succeeds.

[capriciousvisage]

1. Envoy

The wind whipped his robes around and kissed his face. His knuckles lightened with the intensity of the grip he had on his pack, situated in his lap. There was no danger of it flying off—it was certainly too heavy—but there was the possibility it could. Mostly, though, it was his nerves, and the pack was simply the closest thing that he could squeeze the life out of without anyone yelling at him.

‘Twas his first time riding an airship, and he found that he wasn’t a big fan. His stomach churned, and a solid lump filled his throat. He had made the mistake of peering over the railing once, and he’d regret it for years to come, long after he stopped riding airships for his sanity.

Why did he agree to this, again? It had seemed simple—even trivial—when Sister Kan-E suggested it to him, and Brother E-Sumi’s strong encouragement spurred him on even more, perhaps inflating his confidence a tad too much.

You, E-Nishka-Aosh, will become Gridania’s envoy, Kan-E had said, for the Elementals have already given their Blessing.

It was exceedingly rare for a Padjal to be granted leave of the Twelveswood by the Elementals. Usually, when a Padjal left, they were no longer a Padjal and they left for good. The Elder Seedseer was generally the exception, though others had done so as well, but more often than not, the Padjals were to stay and attend to the Elementals and other general affairs within the Shroud.

Five years had passed since he had taken part in the Battle at Carteneau. E-Nishka was never one to boast even a little confidence, and the destruction after Dalamud’s fall only worsened his perceived self-worth. Year by year ticked by, and on some level, he was aware of just how poorly he was doing. But what could he do, really?

What was there to do? That he was capable of?

He tried to swallow his airsickness again, tried to push it down along with the sickness brought on by worrying too much.

It wasn’t even as if he were to be an envoy forever. E-Nishka had already spoken with Admiral Bloefhiswyn, in Limsa Lominsa. He just had to speak with the Flame General of Ul’dah, and he could go back home, where he could prepare for the anniversary ceremony and never set foot beyond the threshold of the Wood again.

He squeezed his eyes shut tight, and he held his bag close to his chest.

“Ser,” someone called to him a little while later, “the airship has docked. Are you alright?”

Cracking one eye open, he looked for the source of the voice. The Miqo’te’s eyes were full of worry, and he looked down and away, apologetic. He stood up, finding the railing of the airship, then the steps down onto solid ground.

“I... I appear to have fallen asleep,” he explained. “Airships are quite... relax...ing. Do you nnnnnot—” He nearly tripped over himself as he began making his way to the exit gate, slinging his pack onto his shoulder. For a few moments, he wobbled in place like a newborn calf. “... ahem. Do you not agree?”

The attendant nodded slowly, as if she were missing out on a joke. “Are you sure you’re alright?”

“I’m...” E-Nishka’s voice cracked. “... I’m fine. Thank you. I will attend to my duty, then... Sorry for any trouble.”

He almost tripped again as he entered the lift, but thankfully, there were no more incidents, from then until he returned to the Lotus Stand.

(Where he would be told, of course, that his duty as an envoy was not yet complete... Another ride to Limsa Lominsa was in order...)

[kodokberjamur]

Im so glad I can open your eyes to new Jade ships 😔😔😔 he’s just so banger I fear …

Being a multi shipper means more fanfics and all that but it starts to suck when it’s a complete rare pair and they are very little fics about them (I think I only read two good good jadevil fics 😔😔😔)

ROOKFLO 😭😭😭😭😭 I appreciate them greatly 😭😭😭 but Floyd ships just aren’t the easiest for me to fully get into (I prefer his brother LMAO)- I think I prefer florid and floace over rookflo but I still like them 💔💔 (I’d love for more info on florook tho 👀👀 or any other potential floyd ship- I’m trying to broaden my horizons when it comes to Floyd and his love life LOL)

Rookjei is literally just freak4freak (like treyjade) but they are open freaks which makes it so silly to me 😭😭

and jeikali is literally all in my head LMAO I like to think that Azul made a silly deal with Jamil one day- like if Jamil comes to live with Octavinelle for a week- Jade will take his place in Scarabia for that time. Why jamil agreed to one of azul’s idea??? plot. And he needed a break from kalim LMAOO… and I think over that week- Jade did all that Jamil does + MORE (he was able to handle the high maintenance that is Azul, Floyd and VIL.. VIL!!.. so can definitely handle kalim) while also being incredibly sweet to kalim where Kalim starts to develops a crush on him. Jade never once acted like it was a “chore” doing all that he did for kalim and Jade is just a charming fella man.. who can resist his charm truly 🙄🙄

SORRY I YAP TOO MUCH- IMA SHUT UP NOW- GOODBYEEE

HAVE A GREAT DAY/NIGHT ❤️❤️❤️

That's true.... We're multishippers, but at what cost...? ;-;

It's completely understandable, that's usually what happens when you have your own favourites!! I don't actually know a lot about RookFlo myself—I've only seen crumbs from Rook's ceremonial robes SR. But I just find them really cute!! Floyd is usually off-putting to others, but here he is, creeped out by Rook LMAO it's so funny that he has a more reasonable reaction to Rook compared to Jade, who only does his typical creepy laugh when he realizes that Rook has been watching him extremely closely...

AWWW KALIM DEVELOPING A CRUSH ON JADE IS ACTUALLY REALLY ADORABLE WHAT...... I LOVE IT I LOVE IT THAT'S SUPER ADORABLE. Jamil probably wouldn't trust Jade at all but then I remember this scene from the comic anthology (I forgot which one...) where Jade and Trey help Jamil cook, and he finds it surprisingly easier that way, and he gets to enjoy his beloved curry!! He has seen how competent Jade is, so maybe he'll—alright, I still can't see him trusting Jade enough that he'd leave him alone with Kalim, but who cares about that??? What matters is that you have fun and genuinely enjoy your headcanons <33333

Kalim viewing Jade as this charming gentleman... Jade has the power to charm literally anyone he comes across... If only he cared more about that (dude has no problem with acting creepy); he would be a dangerously unstoppable force...

AND PLEASE DON'T APOLOGIZE ABOUT YAPPING, you can yap as much as you want and I'll enjoy every moment of it JSJDJSJDK I love learning all about the ideas that you have!!! Thank you so much for opening my eyes (AGAIN!) <33333

[legends-of-time]

Amelia’s Story (BBC Merlin Story)

Chapter 39: The Eye of the Phoenix

Masterlist

Amelia's POV

Amelia and Gwen find Anne and Merlin in the Antechamber to the side of the Throne room, peeking their heads through the doors.

They come up behind them and the four of them watch Arthur, in a white ceremonial robe, kneel in the Throne room.

"What's he actually doing?" Gwen whispers.

"Thinking," Anne replies.

"About?"

Amelia can imagine the sly look on Merlin's face as he replies, "You."

Gwen hits him and Amelia snorts.

"Shhh." Merlin hisses as he closes the door while the others snigger.

Merlin turns to Amelia and Gwen once the door is closed. "He has to decide upon a quest."

"Wait is this the one where he has to 'transcend' his body so he gets a vision of the quest?" Amelia pulls a face as she speaks.

Gwen looks at her confused. "How's crouching on his knees all night going to help?"

"Somehow it does," Anne mutters.

"And both of you are going to stay here and watch him?" Gwen asks looking amused.

"Gwen, this is one of the most important days in a prince's life." Merlin retorts.

"Oh." Gwen presses her lips together so as not to laugh while Amelia doesn't bother at all.

——

Amelia tries to hold in her laugh when she finds Anne and Merlin asleep on the floor the next morning as she follows Uther and the Council down the steps and into the Throne room, which causes the couple to wake.

Uther touches Arthur's shoulder, startling him out of the trance. "It is time." He declares. Arthur stands and turns to them. "What is the quest you have chosen?"

"I can see but one path, Sire. I am to enter the realm of the Fisher King and find the golden trident spoken of in the legends of The Fallen Kings." Arthur announces.

"You do understand that if you are to prove yourself worthy of the throne, you must complete this task alone and unaided," Uther asks.

"I do."

——

Gaius warns them that the Perilous Lands is not somewhere people return from. Legends says that despite the Fisher King being wounded in battle, some believe the Fisher King's still alive, kept from death by his magic.

Amelia, Anne, Gwen, and Morgana shop in the Market in the Lower Town. They are observing the fabrics at one stall when an old woman suddenly grabs Amelia's arm causing her to startle. Morgana turns to her in worry.

"Please, please, just spare me a few minutes of your time, Sisters." Morgause. Amelia reluctantly nods and she and Morgana go with her.

"My Ladies?" Gwen calls out in concern. Anne sends Amelia a look, a look that says 'is this a double agent situation?" Amelia gives her a nod and Anne relaxes.

"It's alright, Gwen. We won't be a moment." Morgana replies calmly.

The three sisters slip round the corner and hide in a secluded corner. Amelia already feels dread before Morgause opens her mouth, she can already imagine what her older half sister will ask of her.

"We must be quick, Sisters. This enchantment will not hold for long." Morgause urgently tells them. "Tell me, what has Arthur chosen as his quest?"

"He sets out tomorrow for the Perilous Lands." Morgana diligently reports.

"How perfect." Morgause grins. Amelia tries not to react at the glee on her face. Morgause pulls out a bracelet with an orange jewel in the middle that glows. "Present this to the Prince as a token of your good wishes." Amelia reluctantly takes it. "When the time is right, one of you must make a likeness of the Prince and bind it to the gift using the skills that I have taught you both. When he does not return, you, Morgana, will take your rightful place as sole heir to the throne of Camelot."

Amelia and Morgana quickly return to the stall. Amelia's good mood is no longer there.

"My Ladies! Are you alright?" Gwen immediately asks them.

Amelia looks at her confused. "Why wouldn't we be?" She lets out a slight chuckle that ends when she sees Anne frowning.

"I... I thought..." Gwen stumbles.

"That poor woman didn't have a penny to feed her family. We felt duty bound to help her, Gwen." Morgana tells her. She pulls Amelia away with her. Amelia glances back at the two women in worry.

——

Amelia knocks on Arthur's door anxiously. Morgana had lovingly given the job of giving Arthur the bracelet to Amelia, who hadn't been able to refuse or warn the others so Arthur doesn't wear it as Morgana will get suspicious.

"Yes?" Arthur calls through the door. Amelia opens it and sees that he sits at his table.

"I'm sorry Arthur," Amelia says as she enters.

"What is it?" Arthur asks.

Amelia wrings her fingers together as she walks over to stand by the chair at the table. "I'm worried." She really is. She's worried about whether they'll succeed in stopping her sisters.

"That is not like you," Arthur remarks.

Amelia chuckles, trying to stay calm. "I can't help it. I keep thinking something is going to happen to you."

"I'll be fine," Arthur reassures her.

"I'm serious." Amelia insists. She wishes she could tell him everything. "Listen to me Arthur, it keeps going round in my head."

"Amelia, I really..."

Amelia quickly sits. "I want you to do something for me." She needs to get this over and done with.

"What?" He asks fondly, which makes Amelia feel worse as she pulls the bracelet off her wrist and shows him it.

"Wear this? It's to keep you safe." The complete opposite really.

Arthur takes it. "Thanks." He almost looks quite touched.

"Of course you do not have to. I will understand." Amelia quickly adds.

"I have to or Morgana will get mad that I didn't accept a gift from you." Arthur jokes somewhat seriously.

"But I—"

"Amelia, I want the bracelet."

Amelia smiles reluctantly and stands, glad to have it over and done with but annoyed. Arthur stops her. "But in exchange you both have to do something for me."

Amelia rolls her eyes fondly and chuckles. "Of course."

"Will you both look after my father when I am gone?" Arthur requests.

Amelia swallows uncomfortably before giving him a smile, which she thinks is a bit tight. "Do not worry, we will." She reaches forward and hugs him tightly.

——

In the Main Square Arthur bows to Uther, Amelia, and Morgana, who stand on the stairs with the Council standing behind them, and they bow back. They watch as he mounts his horse.

"You look troubled, Sire," Morgana says with false concern.

"He is sole heir to the throne, Morgana." He tells her.

"Don't worry. I am certain a Pendragon will rule over Camelot for a long time to come." Morgana smirks with Amelia, whose smile drops once Morgana looks away.

Arthur and Merlin nod to each other. Amelia sees the moment Merlin's gaze is magically drawn to the bracelet. He and Arthur exchange a few words before Merlin looks at Amelia with a questioning look on his face. Amelia responds with a worried look.

——

Amelia rushes to warn them and eventually finds them in the Library where they're already searching. Anne and Gaius are flicking through books while Merlin stands on a ladder, looking through the shelves.

"Oh, good," Amelia says when she arrives. "I was coming to tell you."

"We cannot find anything," Anne says. "Merlin insists it is not a jewel and we have searched every stone imaginable."

"Merlin is right. It is enchanted and Morgana and I's job is to drain Arthur with a binding." Amelia explains.

"That means..." Gaius grabs a book from a shelf next to Merlin's legs. "Here." He points at a page that shows the bracelet.

"Gaius, that's it!" Merlin cries, jumping down from his ladder.

"Then it's not a stone, Merlin. It's an Eye of the Phoenix." Gaius declares.

"Phoenix?" Anne questions.

"Some call it the Firebird. Its eye burns with a fire that consumes the life force of anybody it comes in contact with." Gaius explains.

"I have to go after him," Merlin concludes.

"I will come with you." Anne declares.

"This is not a task to be undertaken lightly. You both will need help."

Anne and Merlin ride out of Camelot. Amelia can't go with them to save Arthur as Morgana will be suspicious. So, she reluctantly stays behind.

To excuse Anne's disappearance to Gwen and Morgana, Amelia and Gaius say she is unwell. Amelia uses this as an excuse to get away from Morgana, explaining it as visiting Anne to 'check on her health'.

——

Amelia grimaces as she makes an effigy and sets it on fire that night. She prays that Arthur will keep alive until Merlin, Anne, and Gwaine, who they had gone in search for, get to him on time meanwhile Amelia has to play her evil spy part. Morgana had decided that they should take turns doing it as they should both receive the satisfaction of destroying Arthur. Amelia can't refuse as why wouldn't she want to and she can't pretend that she can't do it because of any limits in her magic as she and Morgana are of equal strength. Pushing it onto Morgana will also make her just as bad as she feels right now as she uses magic to relight the burnt effigy in a box.

Using magic, Amelia relights the burnt effigy in an oriental box Morgana has given her. Suddenly the door opens without so much of a knock. Amelia snaps the box closed and stands up as Gwen enters. She places her body in front of the box so as to hide it.

"Gwen?!" Amelia exclaims in surprise. "What is it?" She realises her tone is a bit sharp when Gwen looks a little alarmed.

"I just wanted to see if there's anything you needed," Gwen murmurs.

Amelia gives a shaky smile but it's the best she can do right now. "Oh, no, no. I am fine, thank you, Gwen." She wants to explain everything to Gwen but to do so, many other secrets would be revealed.

"Is something burning?" Gwen then questions. Not good.

"It's nothing. Incense box of Morgana's." Amelia hurriedly explains. "She did not really say only that I had to keep a hold of it.

"Are you sure? Do you want me to go and get her?"

"No!" Amelia yells, startling Gwen. Amelia knows she's looking at Gwen with wide, fearful eyes. "I-I mean I am fine. You should go see to Morgana." Amelia realises herself that her voice is a bit high pitched. She thought she had improved on the lying front but apparently not.

Despite looking suspicious, Gwen leaves.

——

Anne's POV

They eventually find Gwaine in the middle of a Tavern brawl it seems as they have to dodge flying objects and watch Gwaine be shoved across the bar.

"Hello, Gwaine!" Merlin greets cheerfully. Anne looks around at all the angry faces uncomfortably.

Gwaine looks up. "Ah! Merlin! Anne! How are you?" He stumbles as he gets up to stand beside them.

A man clears his throat, drawing their attention. "Give me my money." He demands.

Anne, Merlin, and Gwaine glance at each other before fleeing. They run through the town, chased by the man and his friends. They duck behind a table. Anne peeks out and sees the man has seen them.

"Guys. Run!"

They again run, ducking into an archway of a stone fort and climbing up the stairs to be at a higher level. They pause for a moment.

"Remind me again what you two are doing here." Gwaine huffs.

"Arthur is in trouble, we need your help," Merlin explains.

"What kind of trouble?"

"There!" The man chasing them cries and they bolt again.

"He's gone to the Perilous Lands," Anne tells him.

"What, you serious?"

"Yeah."

They reach the end of the fort and all that lies below them is a cart of hay near their horses. The group chasing them has now reached the top of the stairs of the stone structure.

"Just now, sounds pretty attractive. All right." Gwaine remarks as he looks at the men chasing them.

Anne, Merlin, and Gwaine climb onto the fort wall and look down.

"All right, go for the horses," Gwaine says.

"You have got to be joking." Merlin huffs.

Gwaine shrugs and throws Merlin over the edge of the Castle wall onto a stack of hay, then he turns to Anne. "Ladies first."

Anne rolls her eyes at him to appear annoyed with him but the smile on her face gives her away. She jumps, landing next to Merlin with Gwaine landing next to them soon after.

"Come on." Gwaine urges.

They laugh as they ride away.

——

"So, how has Camelot been since I have been gone?" Gwaine asks as they slowly trot through the forest of Ander.

Anne snorts. "You mean how has Amelia been?"

"Look, I tried to be subtle." Gwaine defends.

Merlin scoffs. "You are the least subtle person we know!"

"All right. Though how is she? Has she missed me?" Gwaine wiggles his eyebrows.

"Oh yes, she pines for you and stares longingly out of the window wondering when you will ever be able to return," Anne remarks sarcastically in a dramatic fashion.

Merlin laughs while Gwaine rolls his eyes.

——

Amelia's POV

Amelia sits at her dresser as Gwen fixes her hair while Morgana lounges on one of the chairs in the Chambers. The air is tense and Amelia feels herself shaking, worried about what will Morgana do if she thinks Gwen has worked them out.

"You're so good to us, Gwen. Thank you." Morgana says sickeningly sweet. Amelia had mentioned to Morgana that Gwen might be suspicious but she seems to be laying it on a bit thick.

"It's nothing." Gwen hurriedly dismisses though it is clear she's lying.

Morgana gives a pointed look to Amelia through the mirror. Amelia swallows thickly knowing it is her turn. "You're upset with me. I know, I was sharp with you last night. I'm sorry."

She meets Gwen's eyes through the mirror and hopes the pleading look and the fear in her eyes will get Gwen to let it go, particularly in Morgana's presence.

Gwen frowns but then shakes her head dismissively. "It's forgotten." She answers. Amelia relaxes and gives her a grateful smile.

"What can we do to make it up?" Morgana asks cheerfully. "How about we give you some time off considering all the extra work you have been doing since Anne has been ill." Gwen looks suspicious and looks at Morgana. "Don't look at me like that. I'm sure we can look after ourselves for one night."

"That's very kind of you, My Lady," Gwen replies after some slight hesitation.

Amelia sighs and stands as she speaks, "Well, I am glad that is sorted."

Amelia and Morgana move to leave the room, but Gwen stops them. "Before I go, I'll make sure everything's ready for both of you when you return."

"That is sweet. But do not stay too late." Morgana insists before they leave the room.

"It does seem she didn't really see anything." Amelia hurriedly says once they are walking away from the room.

"Seems so." Morgana murmurs. "But we mustn't let our guard down until we are completely sure."

"Gwen wouldn't dare." Amelia insists, trying to keep her friend out of danger.

"Maybe, but, if necessary, we will have to use the information that she has feelings for Arthur if we need to put a stop to her." Morgana decides.

Outwardly Amelia smirks, pleased, but on the inside, it feels as if everything is twisting up and she feels sick.

——

Gwen's POV

Gwen cannot keep her mind off what was happening with Morgana and Amelia. Something is going on and by her behaviour, Gwen believes Morgana is getting Amelia to do something she does not want to do.

As she is tidying the Chambers of the two wards before taking her time off when it crosses her mind to do some snooping in their Chambers, particularly Amelia's as she had been hiding something the night before.

Gwen begins opening the cupboards when she sees an oriental box that she swears is Morgana's. This causes her to pull it out to have a closer look. She opens it to find a mound of some material she cannot work out. Gwen leans forward to give it a sniff and realises it has the same smell that she had sensed the night before. This must be it.

Before she can do any more, Gwen gets startled by movement near Amelia's Chambers and hurriedly puts the box back where she had found it. She slips behind a screen just in time as the door opens and Morgana steps inside.

"Gwen?" Morgana calls out. Gwen holds her breath and stays still.

Morgana seems satisfied that no one is inside and closes the door before walking straight towards the cupboard Gwen had been rummaging in before. Gwen watches as Morgana pulls a box out of the cupboard, and sets it on the table as she watches from behind the screen. Morgana closes her eyes and when she opens them, they are golden and a small fire erupts inside the box.

Gwen stands there in shock, just about holding in a gasp of fear and surprise as she watches Morgana smile at what she had done. Does Morgana have magic?! And God knows what she has been making Amelia do, the poor girl had been terrified ever since last night. Also, if Gwen thinks about the two wards ever since they had returned, Amelia had been more in her shell, more skittish every time she is around Morgana but always seems very relaxed and carefree when she is not around.

——

Anne's POV

They reach the bridge that leads to the Perilous Lands. Gwaine motions for Merlin and Anne to stay put while he scouts the bridge. They nod and as soon as he leaves, head straight for the bridge.

Suddenly, a short man appears in front of the bridge. Merlin automatically reaches out and grabs Anne's arm, pushing her behind him protectively.

"So, Magic and Hope have arrived." He speaks.

Merlin's eyes bug out of his head. Anne does not blame him; this man knows about Merlin's magic somehow. "What?" He stammers.

The man shakes his head at Merlin. "There is nothing to be afraid of. Your presence is essential if Arthur is to succeed on his quest."

"How do you know about Arthur? Who are you?" Anne demands to know.

"The Keeper of the Bridge." The man reveals. "I only wish to see the Fisher King's lands restored and prosperity reign again. Until your and Hope's mission is complete, this cannot happen."

"It's not our mission, it's Arthur's," Merlin says in confusion.

"That's what you choose to believe." The Keeper of the Bridge shrugs. "It's no accident that Arthur chose this path or you two chose to follow him."

Anne hears footsteps behind them, and Merlin and her turn around to see Gwaine walking up to them.

"Ah, finally! Strength has arrived, the quartet is complete." The Keeper of the Bridge exclaims.

Gwaine draws his sword. "Who's he?"

The Keeper of the Bridge quickly turns Gwaine's sword into a large flower. "I mean no harm to either of you. And I'd thank you to mean no harm in return."

"Where's my sword?" Gwaine questions.

"It will return to you once you reach the other side." The Keeper of the Bridge replies calmly.

Gwaine grimaces and crosses the bridge. The Keeper of the Bridge turns to Anne and Merlin.

"The Fisher King has waited many years for this day. Do not deny him what he wishes." He tells them. Anne and Merlin nod and walk across the bridge. "Remember, nothing is as it seems."

——

Gwen's POV

Feeling frantic, Gwen hurries to Gaius' Chambers that night. She had wondered about talking to Amelia about it but decided not to in case she is wrong about her and she tells Morgana. She cannot talk to Anne either as she is unwell and Gwen does not want to bother her.

She knocks frantically on the door until Gaius opens the door and Gwen quickly steps in.

"I'm sorry to wake you." Gwen apologises.

"Don't be silly," Gaius reassures her as he closes the door and turns to her.

"I'm not sure who else I can talk to." Gwen shakily admits.

"What is it, child?"

"It's Morgana. Just her I-I think." Gwen tells him.

"What's happened?"

Gwen swallows thickly before explaining, "Amelia had this box, I, I thought it was hers but Morgana took it and h-her eyes, it was like they were on fire. What do I do, Gaius? Morgana is using magic."

"Everything may not be as it seems, Gwen." Gaius dismisses but Gwen shakes her head.

"No, no. I know what I saw." She argues. "I have known Morgana for so long, I didn't want to believe it, but she... she isn't the person I knew. She has changed, Gaius. I have seen the way Amelia fears her, how she acts falsely when with her. She looks terrified. I don't think Morgana means well to any of us anymore."

Gaius sighs. "I wish I could say otherwise, but I fear you're right. Amelia is doing her best to keep an eye on her and we must help her."

Gwen stares at him in shock. It is one thing to wonder and another when it is confirmed.

——

Anne's POV

They had camped for the night and continue moving the next morning. Anne had not been able to sleep as the sounds of large pheasants screeched during the night. Anne, Merlin, and Gwaine soon reach The Dark Tower.

When they stand on a hill looking at the tower in the distance, they soon spot some sort of creatures flying in the sky. It is quickly realised that they are hunting something and that something is Arthur.

It is only once they are closer do they see that the creatures are quite like the Dragon, only smaller. Gwaine explains them as being Wyverns, distant cousins of the Dragons. They quickly crawl under the portcullis that covers the entrance to the tower and split off in search of Arthur.

Anne cannot find him but then hears what sounds like Arthur yelling and quickly follows the sound, meeting up with Gwaine along the way.

"How many times do I have to get it into your thick skull? I am supposed to be doing this alone!" Arthur yells at what Anne assumes is Merlin.

A Wyvern is about to attack them, but Gwaine stabs it through the back and kills it before it can. Anne can see Arthur from where she is standing, he looks weak and sweaty, but he is still alive.

Anne is still behind Gwaine, so Arthur cannot see her as he grumbles, "Great. This just gets better and better. Are Amelia, Anne, Gwen, and Morgana here too? Are we going to have a tea party?"

Gwaine moves a little out of the way, and Arthur's eyes practically bug out of his head when he sees that Anne is in fact here.

Anne waves a little as she says, "Hello, Arthur... so... how is the quest going?"

Arthur turns to Merlin and thunders, "You idiot! How can you bring her here too?! She is going to tell Amelia everything, who will then tell Morgana, who will tell everyone!"

"Excuse me!" Anne exclaims in mock outrage though she knows he is somewhat right though she knows Amelia will not be telling Morgana anything.

"We don't have time for this." Gwaine cuts in. "There're more Wyverns on their way. We need to get out of here."

"I'm not leaving without the trident." Arthur protests as he stands up and strides off and out the door. "It was the whole point of this quest."

"Do you want us to help you? Or do you want to do this alone?" Merlin calls after him.

"Merlin!" Arthur exasperates.

Gwaine rolls his eyes while Merlin and Anne exchange smiles before they shake their heads and go after him. As Anne passes Merlin, he passes the Eye of the Phoenix to her.

"Can you keep that safe?" He whispers, and Anne nods as she pockets it.

——

They all trail after Arthur up a spiral staircase when Merlin stops them, "Look at this. Looks like a Throne room."

Anne, Gwaine, and Arthur come back down the stairs to see Merlin had stopped to look through a doorway.

"If the trident's going to be anywhere..." Arthur murmurs.

Anne takes a step inside of the room and immediately the stone beneath her foot depresses. She gasps as the trap door is triggered, but Gwaine, who thinks quickly, pushes Anne into the room to prevent her from being squashed by the trap door.

"Anne, watch out!" He calls out as Anne drops to the ground.

Too late; a stone door had fallen into place, trapping Anne inside of the Throne room. She immediately scrambles to her feet and begins banging on the stone door. "Merlin! Arthur! Gwaine!" Anne calls out, hoping one of them would answer back. She groans when she does not get a response.

"So, Tarian, you have arrived." A voice from behind Anne whispers and she nearly jumps out of her skin at the sound.

Anne spins on her heel to see the back of a throne. Cautiously, she walks toward the throne and gasps at what she sees when she gets to the front.

It is, in fact, The Fisher King. He looks eons old. He seems too lively to be considered dead, but he looks too old to be considered alive. He is pale and slim, his cheeks caving into his face. The only thing keeping him alive is whatever shred of magic he has left in him. Anne's eyes travel down to the golden trident that he is holding tightly in his hands.

Anne clears her throat before asking, "Are you the Fisher King?"

The Fisher King slowly blinks as he nods his head. "Yes, Tarian."

"Wait, who is Tarian?" Anne asks with a frown.

"Why, you are." He confirms. "That is what you are known as amongst the Druids. 'Tarian' means 'shield', and you are Emrys' shield, his protector."

Anne does not quite understand but moves on. "So, you are still alive." She more states than asks.

"For now."

There is a loud slam against the wall, and Anne looks up sharply to see it starting to shake from her friends trying to save her. "That is—"

"Your friends, Courage, Strength, and Magic." The Fisher King confirms. "Without their help, you would not be here."

"But why am I here?" Anne questions. "If anything, Merlin should be. He is the one who is Emrys."

"Yes, but he is not the one that needs to speak to me." He says.

"What is it you want?" Anne asks.

The Fisher King sighs. "I want an end to my suffering."

Anne looks at him sympathetically. "You want to die." She cannot imagine what this man has been through all this time.

"I have been waiting all these years for the arrival of a new time: the time of the Once and Future King."

Anne smiles slightly. "I have heard these words before."

"You will hear them again." The Fisher King confirms. "You are Emrys' shield and protector, he will need you by his side with everything that he does. As the time of the Once and Future King dawns, my time can finally come to an end. This is why you were brought here. For this is not Arthur's quest, but it is yours. Arthur thinks that the prize is the trident—" He lets it go, the trident making a loud clanging noise as it drops. "But the real prize is something far greater."

The Fisher King holds up his hand, and a closer inspection reveals a small vial of water. "Water from the Lake of Avalon. I've kept it safe these years, waiting for the right person to claim it. And that is you. You are the chosen one."

"You have got this all wrong." Anne insists. "All of this is Merlin's destiny, not mine!"

"Yours and Emrys' destinies are intertwined, Tarian." The Fisher King states. "You are his destiny, and vice versa. You must help him in everything he does as he helps you. You must give this vial to Emrys, for Albion's time of need is near and during that time, the two of you will be separated. You must have hope that the bond between the two of you is strong enough to save Albion. Emrys' powers are great, but he will need help." He holds out the vial. "Tell him when all seems lost, this will show him the way."

"Thank you." Anne takes the vial from him.

"I have given you a gift. Now you must give me one in return." The Fisher King tells her.

Anne frowns. "But I have nothing to give."

The Fisher King stands, moaning in pain as he does so. "I think you do."

Anne mulls it over, then pulls out the Phoenix Eye bracelet. "If I give you this, you will die."

The Fisher King holds out his arm and nods. Anne nods, drops to one knee, and places the bracelet on the Fisher King's wrist. The Phoenix Eye glows. Anne looks away as the Fisher King is whisked away in a cloud of smoke.

She looks back at the throne tearfully when the wind dies down and hears a, "Thank you," whisper in her ears.

The stone door opens partially then and Arthur rolls under it. Anne quickly gets up, whipping the tears on her cheeks.

"Anne." The Prince murmurs.

Anne sighs and gives him a small smile as she steps around the throne. Arthur walks forward and slaps her on the arm while looking around. Merlin pulls her into a tight hug and kisses her for a few moments. Gwaine sighs and gives Anne a hug himself when she and Merlin pull apart.

"Ha!" Arthur exclaims causing them to turn to him. "Look what I found!" Arthur holds up the Fisher King's trident. "Let's get out of this place."

Anne, Merlin, and Gwaine exchange a look. Gwaine scoffs and follows Arthur out of the room. Anne looks back at the throne.

"Anne?" Merlin calls from the entrance to the Throne room.

"Coming," Anne replies and leaves the room.

——

The four of them reach Camelot's border at the edge of a field where they stop.

"This is the border. By Uther's decree, I can go no further." Gwaine announces.

"I'm sorry, Gwaine. Nothing I can do to change that." Arthur apologises.

"Maybe one day," Anne suggests.

"Yeah. When Camelot gets itself a half-decent King." Gwaine remarks cheekily.

"Careful..." Arthur warns. Anne and Merlin snicker. "He is my father."

"Well, you can't have everything, heh?"

"Where will you go this time?" Merlin questions.

Gwaine licks his finger and sticks it in the air. "I think I'll ride south."

"You can't keep living like that," Merlin tells him.

"Yeah, but it's fun trying."

Arthur nudges his horse forward and begins walking his horse through the field.

"Thanks, Gwaine," Anne says with a smile.

"Hmm." Gwaine nods. "Say hello to Amelia for me."

Anne chuckles. "Of course." She and Merlin nudge their own horses after Arthur.

"I'll remember this, Gwaine," Arthur calls over his shoulder.

——

Amelia's POV

Gwen lights candles in Amelia's Chambers. Amelia approaches the window and sees Arthur riding into the Main Square. Her shoulders drop in relief and shock. She hardly notices her hand going lax on the cup she's holding; the water pours out until she drops it entirely.

Amelia barely hears Gwen move to stand by her and say, "My Lady?"

Amelia feels like she's going to sob in relief as she watches Arthur dismount in the Square.

"Arthur! Oh, thank God!" Gwen gasps.

Amelia recovers enough to turn to Gwen with a wide smile. "Yes, thank God! I must go see him!"

She runs past a surprised Gwen and towards the Castle entrance. Amelia knows she needs to calm down a bit so Morgana doesn't get suspicious of why she is so pleased.

Amelia runs into Arthur in the corridor and wraps him in a big hug. Arthur laughs tiredly.

"I'm all right Amelia." He says softly with a smile.

Amelia pulls back and smiles at him. "Good."

Arthur then looks over her shoulder and says with a grin, "Morgana! Are you not pleased I am back?"

Amelia's smile dims slightly when she hears her sister's name and her fake response, but she doesn't think Arthur notices as he pushes past to wrap his sister in a hug. Amelia watches Morgana's smile drop into a glare as soon as her head is over Arthur's shoulder. Amelia plays along and pulls her own face of annoyance and irritation despite feeling the complete opposite.

——

Arthur presents the trident at Court the next morning. Amelia sits next to Morgana, who is barely concealing her hatred that her brother is still alive.

"Arthur, I don't know what pleases me more," Uther declares, "to be in possession of such a precious artefact, or to know that you have finally proved yourself to be the man I always hoped you would be." He clasps his son's shoulders in some sort of hug.

"Thank you, Father."

"I have no doubt that you will one day make a fine King." Uther praises. The Court applauds as father and son walk out of the room. Amelia and Morgana stand to do the same but Amelia sees the hate in her sister's eyes and it frightens her to the core.

——

The Fisher King had been alive but had asked Anne, who had met him, to end his suffering with the Eye of a Phoenix bracelet but before she did so, the King had given Anne a vial of water.

Gaius holds up the water vial as the four of them observe it in the man's Chambers.

"It's from the Lake of Avalon?" Amelia asks.

"That is what he told me," Anne affirms.

"Interesting," Gaius murmurs.

"You think?" Merlin questions.

"Well, it must have some significance," Gaius says.

"Maybe..."

"Do you believe his warnings?" Amelia asks Gaius.

"Well, we already know of one enemy within our walls," Gaius says.

"Morgana," Merlin utters.

"Her abilities are growing. Whether the Fisher King is right or wrong, we'd be foolish to ignore his words."

——

A/N: Please leave comments on how you're enjoying this story and what you think.

[sommer-girl]

Badass | Self Para

Date: 16 June 2023

Anna faces some anxieties as graduation approaches.

Between all the logistics Anna had to figure out for her very last-minute Arendelle move, she almost didn’t have time to worry about what Danny was doing.

Almost.

Because it occurred to her now and then, in the quiet moments, when the hold music played over the phone or the line barely inched along at IKEA or when she was just about to fall asleep at night, that she had no idea if he was okay or if he was scared or if he was in danger or if he was even alive. And then it paralyzed her. 

Was she a bad friend? Was she totally heartless, that she was thinking about other things while who-knew-what happened to Danny in Elfhame? Shouldn’t she be helping him? Before, she hadn’t known, so that had been her excuse, but now…

It almost freaked her out as much as the simple fact that Danny was in Elfhame. And every day he didn’t come back, it got worse. Anna found herself mentioning it to random people— telling the agent from the real estate company that she had a friend who was traveling, observing that the weather might be bad for her friend was on the road when it rained (had she mentioned she had a friend who was traveling?) 

Was this what it would be like now? When Anna was in Arendelle? Even if Danny made it back from Elfhame, would he be okay with her so far away? He’d always been so quiet, so reluctant to tell Anna something was wrong. And that was supposed to change, after their last conversation, but would it be different with Anna in another country? Maybe this was a mistake. Maybe she shouldn’t go. Maybe—

Maybe Anna was projecting a little bit, she told herself, because all of this was so freaking scary, all of it, not just the faery stuff, the idea that in forty-eight hours she was going to be on a plane to the next phase of her life and she had no idea what she was really doing. Her father’s words echoed in her mind. Even if she’d told him she was doing this anyway, there was a small part of her that couldn’t really shake it off…

She woke up early on graduation morning, far too early. But she couldn’t bring herself to go back to sleep, so Anna rolled out of bed anyway. She took her time washing her face, putting on makeup, curling her hair. She sent her parents a detailed explanation of how to get to the football pitch for the ceremony. She double checked her flights and her messages back and forth with the landlord and all the details she had worked so hard this past week to confirm. There was nothing left to do but wait.

Anna’s classmates swarmed on the pitch, a sea of black robes and pointed caps. She took a deep breath and looked around. You can do this, she thought to herself, even though she didn’t really believe it. Maybe if she just found Olaf…

And then, of course, as always, looking completely unbothered and unhurt and, most importantly, alive, there he was. Danny.

Anna tore across the field, knocking into a few people and ruining some photos. Oops. “Danny!” Anna cried, tackling him into a hug. He jumped, looking a bit confused, but then he hugged her back.

They didn’t exchange any words, but they didn’t really need to. Because Danny was here, and he was solid, and he was alive, and later they could talk about everything, but for now, he was here. And that was enough. And maybe, Anna thought, maybe she had underestimated Danny a bit. He was always surprising her, wasn’t he? What was that she had called him, when he told her about his scheme to run away to Swynlake and tell his mother he was studying abroad in the Balkans?

“Sorry, I just… oh, Danny, it’s really good to see you,” Anna said, misty-eyed all over again as she pulled back from the hug.

A badass. He was a badass. And he had survived before, and he would survive again, and he would live to tell Anna the tale. Anna just knew it. 

[banana-can-do-art]

GRIM IS FIIIIINE.

Omg Jamil really does want to cancel Azul’s life subscription lol. Yeah the Scarabia situation is extremely messed up. But omg I love every vingette that Jamil and Azul have together where it’s just bickering. They have one of the funniest dynamics in the game. Like Azul is like omg Jamil you’re so awesome, join my mlm company. And Jamil is just like… which kind? Like idk if I ship them or not but it is really funny to joke about it bc I know Azul is trying to get him to make deals and all that but omg the dialogue comes off like simping. Like he pesters everyone else but he backs off at least momentarily when they’re like nah I’d rather not join a pyramid scheme today, but he just won’t seem to relent on getting Jamil into the fish mafia club. Idk it’s entertaining to me, me and my friend have many octosimp jokes.

Here’s a meme my friend made that I find extremely funny.

You bringing up Lilia is reminding me of the absolute chaos caused by him and Floyd during the beach episode excuse *cough cough* I mean stitches even. Like those two are so insane that everyone freaked out before they could achieve their maximum trouble potential. Like the moment they express the desire to split from the group together everyone is immediately like noooo those mischief makers are not to be trusted! They know that Lilia and Floyd would be absolutely unstoppable force of chaos if they were allowed to join forces lol.

Yes Riddle would be the first to implode if they wound out they were living the truemen show, followed by everyone else… wait, isn’t this joke theory kind of giving… DANGANRONPA!!! Omg heeelp.

Yes while it is realistic for the character development to happen slowly and not really involving Yuu that much, like I still wish we got to see more of it. I like that no one does a complete 180 with their character and is like wow by the power of friendship my issues that I have learned from trauma are gone! But I still wish we could see the character development a bit more closely. I agree, I wish they utilized sadder vingettes more. Like I love seeing them be silly, but those are such a good opportunity to get some more lore. Like the only sad vingettes I can think of are Ida and Ortho’s ceremonial robes. I also like when they have a touch of bitter to the happy vingettes too though, like how in one of Ruggie’s birthday cards you get some more lore about what happened to his parents and why he lives with his grandma. Also the characters healing is not a linear process, so I just wish we could have gotten to see more moments of past overblotters backsliding a bit or coming terms with things. I do think that bringing them back for book 6 really did help though. I think we really got to see some change. Even in in the dreaded tower chapter. Bc as much as I despised the gameplay there, the story showcasing how the overblotters were bettering themselves a bit was really good. I also like how the previous overblot focused form gets to play a big role in the following book. But omg let the characters have a bit of angst after their overblots. I think Riddle is probably the one with the clearest character development especially since he was the first overblotters, like how in his vingettes it shows him learning to be less strict and to help his dorm mates learn. Also in book 4 he talks about talking to his mother over the break, even though in book 5 we see it didn’t go too well. It speaks a lot to his character development that he even tried. Although that’s another thing I wish we’d gotten to see. Like I want to know how that conversation went down so badly! I know Yuu wouldn’t be involved, but there’s plenty of events and stuff where we follow other characters without Yuu. Like the tangled event would have been perfect to drop that lore, but no :(. I guess it’s interesting to speculate but udhdhehdbheiensheikshdue.

I agree that book 7 did a good job at showing their character development though. Although, I do feel like the dreams were pretty hit or miss and some were really fun while others dragged a bit. I think it kind of exemplified which characters were lacking in development compared to others. Like Jack, my boi, your dream wasn’t even really about you!!! But also some of the dreams has peak comedy, omg the orb bois, buff Epel, sparkly anime eyes Azul. Incredible. And some of them really dug into the psyche of the character and were pretty sad, like omg Riddle’s was insane. I loved Ruggie’s balance between comedy and sadness as well. Also Rook’s fanboy simp theatre kid bedroom is crazy. You can’t tell me Neige isn’t his celebrity crush after that one. Although that’s another thing much was obvious from Neige saying he assumed R was a girl thus implying he thought they were a simp. And I mean, they still are. Like a know Rook is flirty and gay with everyone but come on now lol.

NRC group therapy let’s gooooo!!!

Guys, I need to know who the housewarden before Riddle was. Like what freak of nature was so off the walls crazy, and so unbelievably lax with the rules that even though the students are upset with how strict Riddle is, they still don’t want that guy back or talk about how they wish he could be in charge again. Like who was this menace to society?

[twistedwonderlandsimps]

Little Misfortune!Yuu

I'm just here to mix-and-match different kinds of Yuus with different kinds of personalities to see what monstrosity I can make. That being said,,, Little Misfortune!Yuu brainrot!

Finally, the promised thing is here. I did say I was going to make this one day in one of my earlier asks. Well, here it is.

Yuu isn’t a child here. They’re all grown up but they still have the same morbid humor.

And who’s with them when they get transported into another world? Well, Mr. Voice, of course!

Mr. Voice is a limitedly omniscient being and probably lives in the 4th dimension or something. He’s just hanging around Yuu and acts as a father figure/narrator because he practically adopted Yuu and didn’t have the will to kill them when they were young and now here they are.

Or maybe he was successful and Yuu died but they were adopted by Mr. Voice soon after, whatever floats your boat.

Anyway, the only one who can hear Mr. Voice is Yuu.

Yuu also has that very distinct accent from the game because I say so. It’s cute and makes the morbid things that comes out of their mouth more horrifying.

Also, Mr. Voice probably sometimes lovingly refer to Yuu as ‘little misfortune’ as a nickname.

“Mr. Voice, I don’t like being trapped in here.” Yuu worriedly says once they woke up to find themselves trapped inside a coffin. “Can you help me get out?”

“Don’t worry, Yuu. I’m sure you’ll be out soon. Ah! Speaking of, here comes a cat. What might this little creature be doing to come here? Perhaps they’re going to help you get out of that coffin? It seems so! You might want to brace yourself, little misfortune.”

The moment the coffin opens up, Yuu faceplants on the ground with a loud ‘oomph!’.

“Are you okay, Yuu?”

“I’m okay, Mr. Voice.” Yuu says, pushing themselves off from the ground and dusting the dirt off from their clothes. They then looked around their surroundings and said in a voice full of awe, “Where are we?”

“We seem to be in a completely different place. Maybe even perhaps a different dimension?” Mr. Voice replies in his ever-so-calm manner.

“Woah! For reals? Are we going to have an adventure? I like adventures! Hehe.”

“Well, if you want to, then yes.”

The father-child moment gets broken by none other than Grim who butts in, “Who are you talking to, human?! Gah, nevermind that, give me your robe!”

Yuu manages to escape Grim safely with Mr. Voice’s guidance. That doesn’t last long because Grim finds them soon after.

Trust me when I say Mr. Voice was ready to throw hands at that moment.

Remember, Mr. Voice might not have a body but he can affect Yuu’s plane of existence.

Causing destruction or whatever, as long as the scene is within his ‘screen’ or in other words his point of view, is child’s play for him.

Luckily for Grim, Crowley arrived.

Guess no punting Grim to the horizon for today. Can’t say the same for the future overblot boys, though. May the Great Seven save their souls.

Anyway, they’ve arrived at the Mirror Chamber.

Yuu was hesitant to go in at first.

“There’s a lot of people inside. I don’t know how to feel about this, Mr. Voice.”

“It’s alright, Yuu. You don’t have to worry about anything. I’ll always be with you.”

“For reals?”

“Yes, for real. Now go in and show all those people inside you’re not someone to be messed with!”

“Hehe, okay!”

Yuu is not threatening at all. Not one bit. They like to think they are and Mr. Voice likes to encourage them and make them believe they are but no.

Anyway the ceremony goes off without a hitch, aside from Grim almost burning it down that is, and Yuu’s brought to Ramshackle.

“Creepy and spooky!” Yuu exclaims with a small giggle but they don’t seem worried or scared.

“Now, now, Yuu. It might look rundown on the inside but I’m sure it’s better on the inside.”

[Cut to Crowley and Yuu standing inside Ramshackle where it’s obviously not much better than the outside.]

Mr. Voice: “Well, alright then.” *proceeds to trip Crowley as he was heading out, making the Headmaster stumble, fall, and break through the dilapidated floor and down through the basement*

Mr: Voice: “That should take care of him for now. What say we go upstairs and find a nice comfy bed you can sleep on?”

Anyway, imagine Yuu and witnessing overblotting.

Someone: *overblots*

Yuu: “Yikes forever.”

And when the overblot’s finished, Yuu just sprinkles the overblottee a fistful of glitter.

“I hope you feel better now. Glitters always make me feel better.”

“You eat glitter, my little misfortune. I don’t think eating glitter makes anyone feel better.”

“Hush now, Mr. Voice.”

Where does Yuu even keep their seemingly infinite source of glitter from? Even Mr. Voice, as omniscient as he is, doesn’t know.

Now that I think about it, they’re probably going to be constantly throwing glitter all over the campus since they sprinkle it everywhere that they believe needs happiness, and it cheers them up.

And NRC is a very gloomy place.

My god, can you imagine that part where Riddle insult Yuu, their parents, and their education?

The braincell group gets angry, Ace punches Riddle but then Yuu just casually pipes up with:

“Hey! That’s rude, you know. My mommy and daddy were always busy arguing with each other and drinking juice so sometimes they forgot about me.”

“As I said before, their behavior isn’t an excuse for them to neglect you, Yuu.” Mr. Voice says.

“Really? Damn.”

“Language.”

Mr. Voice was slightly conflicted since technically Riddle was mocking Yuu’s parents and was trying to mock Yuu’s upbringing through them. Of course it doesn’t really work that well since Yuu’s parents weren’t the best people so he was kind of right.

Also imagine Yuu approaching Riddle post-overblot and asking, “Do you have your own Mr. Voice, too?”

“Mr. Voice?”

“Yeah! He talks in my head and knows a lot of things. He takes care of me because my mommy and daddy can’t.”

“I don’t think I have this… Mr. Voice you speak of.”

“Oh… Ok! I’ll just share him with you then and he can take care of both of us.”

Also, I like to think that since Mr. Voice is in another plane of dimension that’s beyond Yuu’s is that he can see what the players can see.

That means that he can see the overblot boys’ flashbacks and tells Yuu all about it.

“I don’t like Riddle’s mommy. She sounds mean. Can’t you do anything about this, Mr. Voice?”

“Unfortunately, I can’t. The only one who can make a choice regarding this is Rosehearts himself. The only thing we can do is give him support and help him when he needs it.”

Also, I don’t know why but I ironically think Mr. Voice would have a favorable impression on Ace.

Not at first, of course, since they insulted Yuu and all but he was thoroughly impressed with the Heartslabyul student when he defended Yuu later on and even called Trey out for being a bad friend to Riddle.

Anyway, Yuu probably doesn’t hide that they can hear Mr. Voice and even talks to them but since no one else can hear Mr. Voice, they seem a wee bit weird talking to thin air and staring off into nothing.

Except for the braincell trio and maybe some other people. They, at some point, start to believe Mr. Voice exists.

Because really?

Cater: “Prefect, do you know anything about how Trey got injured?”

Yuu: *silently looks to wherever Mr. Voice is*

Mr. Voice: “I believe this problem has something to do with the… Savanaclaw Dorm, was it? Specifically, someone by the name of Ruggie Bucchi. The one that Grim traded his lunch with the other day ago, remember him? He’s the one who has been causing all these accidents.”

Yuu, turning to the others: “Mr. Voice says it’s because of Ruggie Bucchie from Savanaclaw. He said that he was the one causing all the accidents.”

Ace: “Alright, case closed. Now let’s get the pitchforks.”

Unfortunately since they had no evidence yet and can only rely on Mr. Voice’s (someone who the majority still believes is just a product of Yuu’s overactive imagination and is in no way real) word, they can’t do anything but they do keep a closer eye on the Savanaclaw Dorm.

Also, I like to think that Lilia would want to adopt this Yuu.

Like, hm? Your parents were crappy and neglected you your whole life? Sometimes even hurting you? Well, well, well, would you like to instantly get a parental figure and immediately be adopted?

Mr. Voice has a contender for the parent role and it’s not Crowley.

“Mr. Lilia, Mr. Voice told me to tell you that ‘You are not going to be taking my ward away from me you overgrown bat.’”

Speaking of Crowley, every time he’s within Yuu’s vicinity, and subsequently in Mr. Voice’s point of view, dead birds will fall from the sky no matter if he’s inside a building or outside.

Mr. Voice is just that petty.

Also, just thinking about when the braincell group visit Ramshackle, gets bored, and goes over through Yuu’s stuff and they see a bloodstained rock that had a sad face drawn on to it.

“Hey Yuu, what’s the deal with this rock? Why does it have blood on it?”

“I got that stone when daddy threw it at me once. I call him Stony because he’s a stone.” Yuu said and giggled, not noticing the silent horrified looks their friends gave them.

Wait, wait, I just thought of something…

What if the reason Yuu got their name was because their parents couldn’t be bothered to think of a name for them and just constantly called them ’you’.

[writingsofwesteros]

I'm not saying I'm all for it, but come on it's GoT and Matt SMith we're talking about people! So (this is AU so take it as it is people) , Yns is Viserys and Daemons younger sister(maybe a year or so than Daemon ) and considered the jewel of the court AND her and Daemon are married (don't judge me) and because she's so loved by the people( for real, she's a good woman) king Baelon Targaryen choose Daemon as the king instead of Viserys. BOOM! in my defense, they really love one another

AN: Hi, I hope you like it x

NSFW

The day of the great council had finally arrived. Thousands were descending on the capitol for the verdict. It wasn’t something you cared for in many ways; you were happy with the life you had. “Brother..” You whispered to a sleeping Daemon as you moved to straddle him. Your hands moved over his bare chest.

The silk sheets that had covered your bare body slipped from you. You leaned closer and brushed your noses together. Daemon groaned and moved to hide in the pillows; his displeasure of an early morning was well known. You could only giggle as you slowly moved your body against his; his cock began to harden.

You hummed when his hands moved to your waist, slowly guiding you as Daemon’s eyes finally fluttered open. “Well, this is a good morning.” He whispered up to you as his hand moved to gently cup one of your bouncing breasts. His fingers moved over your pebbled nipple as you slowly moved over his cock; your soaked lips spreading. You whimpered when your clit was hit and if only you could stay there but there was so much to do. Daemon was distracted and looked down to watch you. His cock slowly moves to slip inside you. Your legs shook and you knew your wetness was completely soaking him but you had to be strong.

“We should get ready.” You nearly pant out as you removed yourself from the bed. You reached for the robe to cover yourself. “Fuck, I’ll punish you for that.” Daemon purred his promises as he watched you giggle and run into the bathroom. His hand moved up and down his cock, moving to tease his head and clear his mind.

THRONE ROOM

Daemon’s two hands rested on your hips as he stood behind you. He whispered high valyrian in your ear about the lords and ladies in front of you. His hold on you only tightening as he saw the looks coming his way. You tried to keep focus and not allow your giggles to sound out as your husband joked. You looked towards the King as silence flooded the great hall. Your eyes looked towards the two heirs and knew Viserys was going to be chosen. Daemon only concentrated on you and the soft, mouth watering scent moving over him. It wasn’t your fault most of the talk moved past you both without much thought.

“I have decided to name the heir after much talk with all the people of my realm.” The King began, which caught your attention. It seemed to be going in a different direction, you thought and shared a look with Daemon. He only looked at you in confusion before gently stroking your cheek to calm you. “My heirs are now Prince Daemon and Princess Y/N.” The king’s voice echoed around the room and your heart nearly stopped. You hadn’t seen this coming and for a moment you could only stare as the cheers rang out. Maybe you shouldn’t have been so surprised you thought; it wasn’t a secret how much the people adored you.

You looked back up at Daemon who had easily kept his face from showing any surprise whilst his hand still softly stroked up and down your sides. The looks from the would be heirs were worrying but you couldn’t think about that as the King moved from his throne and began to hug you both. You shared a look with Viserys and his pregnant wife before Daemon’s arm was quickly back around you. You knew he was happy; he enjoyed power and you knew he would be a good ruler..you just worried about the threats that could follow this decision. “The ceremony will be tonight.” The King announced.

It was all happening so fast but as you looked at the crowd of lords, ladies and smallfolk; it all seemed well. It was what Daemon was whispering in your ear also as he gently led you from the room. “What just happened?” You whispered up at him as you both moved down the corridor. Daemon as ever kept you close. “It seems the people have spoken.” He teased you with a soft chuckle as he guided you back into the private chambers. You still looked at him in shock as your heart was slowly quietening down now. Daemon didn’t even wait for the door to fall shut behind you both before he gently cupped your face and soon your lips met.

You softly gasped and your arms looped around his neck as he gently pushed you against the wall. “I guess we should make a start on our own heirs.” Daemon purred into your ear as he moved your legs around his waist. You softly gasped; your eyes widening as your head fell back. His hands moved up your inner thighs, bunching your dress to your waist. “You are eager.” You whispered out as your body hummed in desire. “Always with you.” Daemon purred into your ear as he slowly moved to unbutton his pants. “You think I’m going to allow our position to stay weak?” 

You whimpered at his words; only growing in arousal as he slowly moved his cock towards your already soaked folds. “We already have the people’s support..don’t worry about anything.” He whispered into your ear and hardly gave you a chance to reply before he pushed his hard cock into you. You cried out as he finally bottomed and stayed there; teasing you like you had done to him this morning. Daemon didn’t forget anything, especially when it was about you. “Beg.” He ordered into your ear as your soaked, sensitive walls tightened around him. “Daemon.. Please…” You began to babble out. 

Daemon only smirked and leaned in to passionately capture your lips as your begging continued to sound out. “I got you.” He purred as his hand moved to cup your clothed breast and began to move. His thrusts were slow and deep; too slow for your liking as you tried to buck against him but he pushed you against the wall. The guards as always would know what was going on as you whimpered out his name without care. You had stopped caring so long ago now as he touched your soft spot and had you nearly spasming around him. “Good girl. Taking me so well.” He whispered sweet nothings into your ear.

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