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clockworkgraystairs · 4 years ago

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Everything I didn’t ask for #3

JURDAN FIGHT CLUB AU

Rating M

Warnings: slight violence (?) Mentions of blood.

After discovering Jude is one of the main fighters, Cardan tries to process what on earth is going on.

In the meantime, worrying about gettin out of that job alive.

Chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 [coming soon]

EIDAF Masterlist General Masterlist AO3

Tags: @dontfwithlibrarians @flowersinvegas @jurdanhell @slightlyrebelliouswriter23 @demydreamer-otaku-and-book-lover @sensitivehighlord @judexcardanxgreenbriar @thesirenwashere @absolute-dissapointment

[if i forgot to tag someone i’m sorry! and please let me know]

AFTER

Cardan remained kneeled next to the unconscious girl. His eyes wide and still locked to Jude’s. Around them the crowd still roared, but for him it was just blurred background noise.

He felt words trapped in his throat. The urge to tell her something. Anything.

Jude. What the fuck is going on? What are you doing here? Are you ok? You need a doctor.

Nothing came out.

She didn’t say anything either. She kept looking down at him with that odd expression. It was as if the mischievous and teasing girl from before had vanished. In front of him was a fighter, with a look that promised pain for whoever stood in her way.

A hand on his back snapped his attention back.

“Move, Cardan.” Locke reaching for the girl on the floor. “We need to get her out of here.”

He quickly helped his friend lifting the girl’s feet. Before leaving, he gazed back to Jude one more time, but she had already turned away as a tall man raised her hand above her head and paraded her in front of the audience.

They kept screaming for The Queen as Cardan crossed the door to the room where he and Locke had left the other unfortunates.

After leaving the girl, Cardan leaned his back against a wall and once more tried to make sense of what he’d just saw.

“It seems like you go for the tough ones, don’t you?” Locke teased, a little hint of nervousness in his words.

“I didn’t know… I mean,” he said. “I thought she was only a guest here or something.”

His friend shrugged. “Maybe she is. People sometimes gets into this things for money or for sport.”

Suddenly, he remembered the exact point of what he’d wanted to say to Locke for the past hours. He straightened and pushed his friend’s shoulder. “What the fuck are we doing here anyway?? You said this was a good job dumbass!”

“Well it is!” He answered, crossing his arms. “If it was a safe or legal event, I didn’t ask. Bartenders who make a lot of questions are not usually hired. And here, my friend, we are making some good money.”

Cardan stared at him. He was right, he knew that. But still, underground fighting events were deeply illegal. They were since pretty much always but about a decade ago, a similar event had ended up in chaos because rival gang members started a riot. Many people, involved or not, had died. The place was burned down in the process. And it had uncovered several cases of well positioned people involved in drug dealing, women trafficking, among other things.

Since that day, police had fiercely hunted illegal fighting pits. There were some, of course. But it was rare for anyone to hear about them.

Then again, Cardan knew what it was to have family involved in illegal stuff. And thankfully he’d been able to leave Balekin before he’d messed up more. Or at least he tried.

Even if he didn’t work with his brother anymore, he was forced to give a fee every month to repay him after one night when Cardan, highly intoxicated, left a warehouse unguarded and several merchandise was stolen. Expensive merchandise. He was going to spend his entire life repaying that mistake. But at least he was on his own, not having to answer any other of Balekin’s calls.

He took a deep breath. He needed to get his shit together. After all the events of the night his thoughts were running full speed, not to mention the headaches the sight of blood and beatings caused him. There was still a faint ringing noise at the back of his mind.

The door opened and Madoc entered, eyeing all the unconscious bodies laying on the beds. “Good. Leave them there and go back to the bar. Someone will take care of this.”

As they walked back, Cardan eyed the remaining guests. Almost half of them had started to leave after the last encounter, but several other remain. Going back to the gambling tables and talking to each other. He wondered if Jude would still be there, maybe if he-

A hard bump on his shoulder stopped his trail of thoughts, followed by a growl and a hand grabbing his shirt roughly. “Watch it, idiot.”

He frowned and look up, finding a pair of cruel defying eyes staring back. The same ones he saw when the guy was beating the other one near death. Valerian.

His face and hair were cleaner now, he’d probably washed away the blood after the fight. Still, his expression remained the same.

Cardan said nothing, if the guy was waiting for an apology he wasn’t going to get it. He might not be a fighter but he was certainly sick of bullies like him. The grip on his shirt didn’t loosen. Grabbing Valerian’s hands he jerked himself off. “I could say the same thing.” Cardan snarled, walking away with Locke.

He only managed a couple of steps before he was pushed to the ground.

The roughness of the floor scratched his forearm. He turned just in time to see Valerian’s fist merely inches from his face.

The next thing Cardan knew, a sharp pain erupted on his jaw throwing him down completely. He could hear Locke yelling something, but before he could turn to face his friend, a heavy body settled on top of him.

People started gathering around them.

Valerian grabbed his shirt again and another blow connected near his eye, blinding him for a moment. Something warm slid down his face. He snarled and grabbed the man’s arm, pushing him away. His fist raised again and Cardan braised himself for the next blow.

One that never came.

From one moment to another, the weight over him disappeared with a grunt. He quickly got up, looking at his attacker, who now had a slender arm pulling against his neck. Hard.

Valerian arched and coughed, rage dancing on his eyes. Behind him, Jude kept janking the man back until they were at safer distance. Then, she let him go and move to stand between him and Cardan. She’d cleaned up too, Cardan noticed. Though she was still wearing the clothes from the match, her hair was loose and the dirt and blood were gone.

After spitting on the floor, Valerian turned to Jude with gritted teeth, raising up with closed fists as if he were to throw himself against her. Jude just glared at him, fists clenched too. A slight smirk tugging up the corner of her lip.

“Is there any problem here?” Madoc’s strong but calm voice startled him, pulling him out of the scene in front of them.

The two fighters dropped their defensive pose, eyes still locked at each other’s.

“There isn’t, General, my apologies.” Valerian muttered. “The barman and I had a little disagreement.”

“You being a jerk is common knowledge, not a disagreement.” Jude snorted.

The venomous glare he gave her send a shiver through Cardan’s skin.

“Enough. Everybody back to work now. And you two,” Madoc hissed, pointing at Jude and Valerian. “Drop it. I don’t have time for another of your quarrels today.”

That said, he left, dragging some of the curious spectators back to the gambling tables.

Cardan stood there, not sure if he should approach Jude. Yet.

“You heard your General,” She purred. “Walk.”

Valerian gave a step towards her, baring his teeth. “You won’t be the boss’ favorite forever, bitch.”

Then he was gone.

Cardan let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding.

“Hey man, are you ok?” Locke asked, laying a hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry, you know I suck at fights, I should’ve-”

“Yeah, it’s ok.” He touched his brow, were Valerian’s blow had opened his skin. His fingers came back bloodied.

“You should get that checked.” Jude’s voice softer now, the fierce eyes she’d worn at the end of the fight had disappeared too. “I’ll send over a healer.”

She turned to leave, but Cardan reached for her arm, stopping her. “Hey.”

Pulling back her arm, she fixed him an alarmed look. Right, they weren’t supposed to be seen together. He hesitated. The bruise on her cheek looked less swollen now, but it had started to gain a slight purple stain on the center. “Are you alright?” He mumbled, as casually as he could.

Jude tilted her head and smirked. “Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”

She noticed his clenched teeth and rolled her eyes. “I’m fine, go.”

Cardan nodded and turned to Locke, walking back to their assigned spot. There, Roach ran back and forth, mixing drinks for the clients gathering there. He’d look funny if it wasn’t for his panicked eyes, searching for his partners among the crowd.

“About damn time!” He growled. “I’ve been attending all of our side for ages! Come here and- shit, Cardan what happened? Did you-”

“We’ll tell you later, let’s get this place free first.” Locke interrupted him, taking his gaze back to his friend’s wound. “You should get that cleaned, I don’t think people will appreciate blood-flavored drinks.”

They both chuckled as Cardan pressed a wet cloth to his brow.

With Locke’s help, the bar was empty again in a couple of minutes. All the remaining guests were now minding their own business elsewhere.

Roach sighed, resting his elbows on the table. “This is why I prefer to collect the money, rather than preparing the drinks. All those people are impossible!”

“Well that’s the fun part too.” Cardan sat on the floor, the cloth now extended all over his whole forehead. The places where he’d been hit throbbed harder now than a couple of minutes ago.

“Yeah, as fun as being beaten just for walking.” Roach laughed. “Man you really have some bad luck.”

“Not as bad as you’d think! Otherwise he wouldn’t have left with that gir-”

“Shht!” Cardan silenced him, feeling his cheeks slightly warm. “Let’s not talk about that here, her request.”

Locke barked a laugh, throwing another cloth at him. “You’re scared of Madoc, aren’t you? Fuck, I don’t blame you. He seems just ready to shot anyone anytime. But is he scarier than your girl? I wouldn’t dare getting on her way either.”

They were going to mock him till the end of times, Cardan was sure of that.

“You must be Cardan.” An unknown voice said, startling the three of them.

He looked up, taking the cloth away.

A short, slim woman stood behind the bar. Her short hair, frizzled and oddly white, framed her fine features. She wore a blue scrub, and carried a small first aid kit in her right hand.

The healer, he assumed.

“That’s me.”

She nodded and started taking things out of the briefcase, alcohol, cotton wool, antiseptic and god knows what else. “Sit here please.” She motioned at the stool in front of her.

Once he did, she started attending his wound. Fast, quiet, efficiently.

“Did Jude send you?” He whispered.

The healer hummed and nodded in response. Not much of a talker it would seem.

“Is she coming too?” He tried again, feeling dumb. But he needed some answers.

“Miss Jude has already left the building.”

Oh. Something sinked inside him. He let her work in silence, wincing just a bit when she pressed some first aid tape over his eyebrow. Had Jude treated her injuries already? He should probably stop thinking about her. She’d left already.

“I’m done.” The woman’s voice pulled him out of his thoughts. All of her items already packed except for a little pill box. “It will probably sting a little, but it won’t leave any scar. If you experiment any headaches, take one of this pills.”

Cardan nodded. “Thanks, I will. If you see Jude, tell her I say thank you... Please.”

The girl stared at him. Pondering. Her gaze felt like it could pierce his skull. At last, she sighed. “I will.”

She extended her hand to him, he frowned. An awkward hand-shake, considering she hadn’t gave him one when she arrived. Still, he answered back.

Then he felt it.

Something folded between her fingers.

Trying to keep a steady face, he took it, immediately putting it away from curious eyes. She grabbed her bag, ready to leave when Roach appeared next to them.

“Uh- excuse me miss, I don’t mean to bother but I cut my finger with a glass a moment ago. And I was wondering if you could- you know.” He babbled and raised his hand, a small gash running along his index.

The healer considered him for a moment, then pulled something from her bag and left it next to Cardan’s pills. “Sorry, I cannot stay.”

She walked away stiffly, soon disappearing behind some doors. Cardan watched her go.

A muffled laugh sounded behind him. He turned to find Locke covering his mouth in order to avoid the cackle that threatened to come out of it. Roach’s face was the embodiment of embarrassment and failure.

On the table was a little pink band-aid.

“Nailed it man, NAILED IT!” Locke mocked him. “Please tell me you didn’t actually cut your finger on purpose just to talk to her.”

“Of course I didn’t you ass! But I might have cut myself because… I was looking at her and didn’t pay attention to the damn broken glass.”

Locke and Cardan looked at each other before both erupted with laughter. Roach’s red ears didn’t help much.

Their jokes continued for a couple of minutes before vanishing completely at the sight of Madoc walking towards them.

“Well gentleman,” He greeted them. “Your work for today has come to an end. Clean everything and meet me in the kitchens.”

It didn’t take much since they were used to clean as they worked. But still paid a little extra attention into leaving everything impeccable. The last thing they wanted was to owe anything to those people.

Back in the kitchens, Madoc stood at the center. Waiting. Both of his hands behind him.

“I trust,” He started, glaring deeply at them. “That no word about what happened here today will leave your mouths. Am I correct?”

Cardan didn’t need to be a psychic to know that one of the hands Madoc kept unseen held his gun.

“You needn’t ask.” Locke answered. “When we accepted the job we knew our lips would be sealed about it, and they’ll remain like that.”

Well that first part wasn’t entirely true. But his friend had a clever mouth, specially when he needed to save his ass.

Roach and Cardan swore too they wouldn’t say anything.

“And if I find out that any of you slipped even the tiniest detail about this, you agree that I’ll have to kill all three of you.” Madoc smiled. “Well not that I’m really asking, but you’re aware of it now.”

The group remained silent, breaths caught in their throats.

Once that was cleared, he put away his gun and gave each one a small yellow envelope. “As promised. With a little extra since I had no complains for your work, a difficult thing to accomplish here.” He turned to Cardan. “About the incident with Valerian, I know it wasn’t your fault so, don’t worry about it.”

Inside the envelope was pure cash. Enough to make Roach whistle. They thanked him and put away their envelopes.

“There are three steady spots available for our bar zone. The last group, well, liked to gossip a bit too much.” Madoc sneered, clearly enjoying their reactions. Cardan was certain he could notice his pulse under his neck. “Same rules apply. One night every one or two weeks. Same payment, in case you’re interested of course.”

“We are.” Roach and Locke turned to him, wide eyed. The steadiness of his voice surprised even himself. “Consider it done.”

“Good. Keep the uniform then. There is a cab for you outside. I’ll let you know when you’re needed.”

Outside, they found out most of the cars were already gone. Small groups of people gathered around some of the remaining vehicles to smoke and talk. On the opposite corner, a lonely cab waited for them.

As soon as they crossed the door, his friend bursted into questions.

““We are”?? Cardan what the hell were you thinking?!!” Roach nearly shouted. “I won’t deny this is well paid but agreeing to this… I don’t know man-”

Locke didn’t say anything, but his frowned brow was enough.

Cardan stopped in front of them. “Do you really think he was asking? After what he said? We were in this since we arrived, and saying ‘no’ Madoc would’ve only gave him another reason to get rid of us. You can’t- just refuse here, not with this kind of people.”

A kind that, to his misfortune, he knew quite well. He sighed and passed a hand through his hair.

“I get it, I guess I just need to get used to the idea.” Locke mumbled, looking back to the building.

Roach panicked gaze was still on Cardan. “So this means there’s no way out? Not even a-”

“Fuuuck!” Locke suddenly whispered. “Guys isn’t that Garrett? There, next to the white Audi”

They turned to said car, where a small group of young men shared a bottle of whiskey. Cardan narrowed his eyes a bit but indeed, there he was.

Garrett had worked with them at the bar a couple of years ago, and even though he was a little introverted, Cardan had been good friends with him. Still, he’d left to enter the police academy. At least that’s what Cardan last heard. His normally sandy-coloured hair was dyed black, but that irreverent smirk of his was recognizable anywhere.

“What is he doing here?” He asked, mostly to himself.

The cab driver honked, hurrying them.

Just before closing the door, Cardan glanced back to the group. Garrett stared directly at them, taking a long puff from his cigarette. Then the car started.

Halfway back to the city, he remembered the paper the healer gave him. With a quick movement, he took it out of his pocket and unfolded it. I was a napkin. With a note.

I wouldn’t normally offer two for one, but since I didn’t get to say goodbye the way I intended, hopefully this allows me to make up for it some other day. J.

Under it, a cell phone number. Her cell phone number.

He grinned and without really thinking about it, he took out his phone and send her a short message. Fuck, would that make him seem desperate? Hopefully not.

Roach and Locke were talking but he didn’t really paid attention.

It was until he was folding back Jude’s note that he realized there was something printed on the opposite side of it. Something that made his stomach turned to a knot.

He’d memorice that form since he was a little kid. But the Greenbriar’s shield he’d grown to, had a small “B” at the center in honor to his brother Balekin.

This one though, had a “D” at that same spot.

Dain’s.

*************************

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE!

It took me like forever to reorganize my ideas for this au but IT’S BACK BABY!

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livinglargebylivinglittle · 4 years ago

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Harrison Fort in the snow. #LivingLargebyLivingLittle #GlobalHitchhiking #lilliving #travelphotography #photo #photography #picoftheday #instagood # #travel #follow #like4like #follow4follow #indiana #harrisonfort #indianapolis #indianaphotographer Https://lilliving.com/blog https://mraymus.medium.com https://medium.com/global-hitchhiking (at Indianapolis, Indiana) https://www.instagram.com/p/CLYUG-agOhk/?igshid=1dfa6f1d82dke

#livinglargebylivinglittle #globalhitchhiking #lilliving #travelphotography #photo #photography #picoftheday #instagood #travel #follow #like4like #follow4follow #indiana #harrisonfort #indianapolis #indianaphotographer

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murderofcrowsss · 3 years ago

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jurdan sick ficccc 😋✨

OKAYYYYY HELLO GUYS IM BACK (with a banger ;)

requested by the lovely @justdaphne!

Forever Winter

part 1

.................

Jude gets sick while Cardan is out. She hasn't told him. Cardan is about to rage Hellfire.

..................

Jude opens her eyes and waits for them to adjust to the bright light of the morning sun. She'd been sleeping for 10 hours now. That realization came with a wave of guilt for ignoring her duties as the Queen. But, right now, she couldn't care less about those. She felt as if she was on fire - it was burning her from the inside out. She touched her forehead and let out a hiss, realizing how serious this was.

She'd been suspicious of her having fever since yesterday, as she noticed a slight change in her body temperature. She didn't think of writing to Cardan, it wasn't that serious then. She'd only had this once before when she'd just arrived in Elfhame. She hated it.

Jude mustered up every bit of strength she had left and got up. She put on her slippers and walked towards the throne room, looking for Lilliver and The Ghost. They were both there, talking to each other in hushed voices.

"Hello Lilliver, Hello Ghost," Jude called out.

"Your highness" They replied.

"Oh please, it's too early for this."

"How've you been feeling?" Lilliver asked.

"Like I've been walking through fire."

She went quiet for a moment. "Jude, I know it's not my business but, don't you think we should tell Cardan?"

"Why? So he could take more stress upon himself than he already has? I know where you're coming from, but I'll be fine, Lilliver. "

She nodded "But please, don't work yourself out. Go rest. We'll handle everything."

Jude sighed as she made her way back to her chambers. All she could think about was sleep right now. And Cardan. Cardan Cardan Cardan. Sleep Sleep Sleep. Cardan Cardan-

And she drifted off to her dreams.

...........................

part 2 will be up shortly </3

#jurdan fic #jude x cardan #cardan greenbriar #cardan my beloved #jurdan is literally everything #jude duarte #the cruel prince #jurdan #jurdan headcanons #tfota fanfic #tfota #the folk of the air #the wicked king #the queen of nothing

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clockworkgraystairs · 4 years ago

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BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA EM 🤣🤣🤣

THAT'S 10000% CARDAN WTF I CAN'T

Also,the Bomb looking at them like:

the court of shadows: *proposes new scheme*

cardan:

#sorry i just love the idea of Lilliver being all: can you behave??#skjsjsjdjw #jurdan

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folfar · 2 years ago

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obviously now with my main distraction [jeeves fic] out of the way I should be thinking about finishing sb so I am instead thinking about milf laurent!! it’s the law!

Anyway so in von trapped Laurent is obviously being drugged and as they wear off he’s going to be such a bitch because he’s miserable and he’s going to go after every single one of Aimeric’s siblings bc they’re there but it’s just going to make them like him more. aimerics narration like ‘wow he’s such a bitch’ vs the sibs like ‘that’s my mOM!!!’

Anyway like, case in point:

[laurent had just verbally flayed Claude and L for the yellow clothing]

“Thankyou mother,” Liliver said shyly. The prince- Lau- HIS- hands stilled.

“Your kindness means so much to me.”

“Kindness” he said, brow raised.

Aimeric braced himself for the inevitable excoriation.

Liliver had never been stellar at body language. Her marriage to Claude was evidence enough.

“Yes,” she said. “The late lady of the castle - well she was very capable. But she never warmed to me.”

Aimeric rolled his eyes. It was hard to warm to one as terminally obtuse as Liliver.

“I don’t like yellow either,” Liliver confessed. I rather think it makes me -

Sallow, Aimeric mentally substituted.

“Sallow,” Liliver said, much to his surprise. A soupçon of self awareness? Say it wasn’t so.

“But Claude did spend such a lot of money on it. And the late lady would never have approved of such wastefulness. To own something and not wear it…”

“Yes,” he said. “I have family who feel the same.” He pushed his hair behind his ear, as if to - well, push the hair out of his face. Aimeric wasn’t going to ascribe meaning to the his actions in case he noticed and said something about it. But Aimeric did notice a mark on the lobe of his ear, like a piercing had sat there, once.

Boring, Aimeric thought, and fiddled with his own pretty garnet bobs.

So what, he thought. Mother had liked things to be useful. Aimeric had always got the feeling that he wasn’t - in her eyes - a useful thing himself. And that was why he had gone to Arles, when the others stayed tucked under her wing, so that he could learn to be useful. And he had. He’d done something for their family.

Lilliver had never learned to be useful, so it didn’t matter if her feelings were hurt. She’d never even tried.

Mother never acknowledged his new usefulness. But it didn’t matter. He dealt with that fine, so Liliver could just put up with it.

sidenote what the fuck is up with these linebreaks

#aimeric #captive prince #hweat is this

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slarxsa · 2 months ago

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Tfota PowerPoint night?

Cardan: My Childhood traumas! (chronological order)

Jude: some very complicated fae politics (aimed) (at Cardan and Oak)

Madoc: The Art Of Death (tw: emotional)

Wren: Ranking my outfits

Oak: Jurdan baby name suggestions! (pls have a child pls pls) ( I don't want to be king)

Vivi & Heather: smth normal (couple goals)

Taryn: top 10 times I was a good twin sister

Lilliver: B O O M (explodes)

Van: TUTORIAL: ring stealing rizz (actually works)

The Ghost: My Life As A Tree

#tfota #tfota memes #the folk of air #the folk of the air #holly black #cardan greenbriar #queen jude #madoc tfota #oak and wren #oakwren #jurdan #the bomb #the roach #The ghost #tree ghost #jude duarte #the cruel prince series

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thekingdomofelfhame · 4 years ago

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Jurdan Fanfic: Highschool AU Part 1

Summary: Much to Jude's annoyance and surprise, she and Cardan have been paired for a school project. Cardan's feelings, on the other hand, continue to blossom when he arrives at Jude's apartment only to witness something beyond his comprehension.

Warnings: Mild cursing

This will be an alternative between Cardan and Jude POV just to get a good look at how their feelings develop.

Cardan POV:

She keeps staring at the ring enclosing her finger, her gaze never shifting to the notes scattered on her dressing, her walnut eyes intense with emotion. She kept humming the same tune over and over, her voice as smooth and soft as butter as she traced invisible patterns on her ruby studded ring, its bright red colour magnifying the beauty of her hand.

I had never seen her like this: bursting with emotions. Standing before me was the same girl who lived in impenetrable walls, walls that I had been trying to overcome only to lead us down a path of hatred. She was the girl of steel, no titanium, and yet she melted away like snow in early spring when no one was around.

Her voice echoes in the room which-surprise, surprise- is a mess of pillows and papers. This girl had been haunting my dreams since sophomore year but my foolish imaginations were nothing compared to the beauty that stood before me and when she starts vocalizing, I swear my heart skips a beat.

As she turns to pick up her phone, her eyes find mine and I am robbed of the melodious voice that had filled this room a few seconds ago. I am pretty sure I see her eyes swimming in tears but she immediately blinks them away. She has trained herself well.

I hadn't even realized she was in her bathrobe until she stopped singing and am left with her perfectly masked yet startled cuteness when she becomes aware of her current state.

"Why'd you stop?" I say clearly disappointed, "your voice is beautiful"

"Weren't you supposed to be here at 11 30?", she says completely ignoring what I just said, tightening her robe around her.

"I clearly said I'd be at your place by 11", my eyes skim over her robe and am pleased to see her cheeks flush with colour as I say, "maybe I'll make a habit of coming early"

"How'd you even get in?"

"Your roommate let me in and, oh, she told me to inform you that she will be staying with her boyfriend for a while"

"Wow. She and Van are really speeding things up", there a short pause that feels like eternity before she says, "Okay, now could you go wait in the lounge while I get ready?", she says and something tells me she is not asking. Though I would very much prefer to stay, I obey her orders for she is The Queen of my heart.

Jude POV:

I walk out of the room, no longer dripping, and am utterly surprised to find Cardan lounging on the white sofa, one of his legs draped over the arm rest. He looks...comfy.

I think about the way he was looking at me in awe when I found him leaning against my door, his dark black eyes peering into mine. I had never seen him so captivated. How long had he been standing there?

Your voice is beautiful...

His words ring in my ears and I can't help the faint pink rising on my neck. Cardan Greenbriar had complimented me; that was a first. I was surprised he didn't make fun of me just like he has been since the day I set foot into school. He didn't mock me as he usually would, seeing my emotional outburst. This was Cardan Greenbriar, the most spoiled rich kid who never gave a fuck about anyone.

I had never once let anyone past my defenses, not even my family, foster or not. No one knew about this small world of mine and I liked to keep it that way. That is, until today when I saw a pair of iridescent coal black eyes bewitching me into wanting to tell him everything about this tiny world I had created where I would doze off to whenever I wished. That was when reality hit me and I was reminded of why I had lived in an armour for so long, why I had never let anyone get close to me.

I snap out of my thoughts when Cardan interrupts, "Like what you see, huh?". I scoff and I didn't realize I had been staring at him as he further added, "Should we get on with the project or are you gonna stand there all day, thinking about me?"

"Asshole. You wish", I snap right back at him and he lets out a soft laugh as I go through his notes.

We had agreed on double-checking each other's notes before we started the project, and by the looks of it, we had a lot of work to do. Surprisingly, Cardan's notes were not only correct and authentic, they were thorough and much more organized than mine. He had even used fancy words like serendipity- I mean what does that even mean?

"Jude, I think some of your notes are missing", he says raising his black brows and a book with torn pages.

"Oh, yeah. The torn notes are in a green file right over there", I gesture to the stack of books behind him as he leans over to find it only to frustrate me further when he says, "Uh, Jude. There is no file here".

"It should be there. It cannot go anywhere", I stand up and walk towards the mountain of books.

That was when I realized my foot is asleep and I stumble over a book, covering my face with my hands, ready for impact. Only I don't hit the ground; instead I feel arms slide around my waist and when I remove my hands from my face, the first thing I see are Cardan's eyes partially covered by his black locks.

I almost get lost in the moment. The world stops when he runs his hand through his hair as if he is nervous and he stares back at me. That is, until I remember who he is.

Ughhh....

"Looks like you're falling for me, Jude", he teases.

I abruptly push him off of me and start looking for the notes. Despite my foot still being asleep, I try to walk as if nothing happened but the bastard still notices.

"Here. Let me help you", he reaches for my hand but I stop him with a gesture and he does.

Looks like my defiance all these years really did have an effect on him.

"If you want to help, start by looking for a green file. It is unlabeled, no fancy decorations what so ever"

"What else to expect from the boring Jude Duarte"

"Well, at least I am not like one of those stupid girls who are so easily charmed by you"

"Did you just say I am charming?"

"Fuck off"

"Okay, okay", he raises his arms in defeat and I go to my room to look for the file. My eyes shift to the scattered notes over my bed and my dressing and my carpet.

Shit.

This is going to take longer than I thought.

Cardan POV

As I search through her notes, my thoughts keep drifting to the moment I had her in my arms, her body fitting right into my hands. I battled with the urge to get lost in her deep brown eyes or to drop a kiss on her cute nose.

No, no, no. Stop.

Wine. I needed wine. I needed wine right now.

Jude hated me and I should hate her. She was the one person who had refused to let me get my way and would continue to do so. She could never want someone like me, let alone love. This was just a project and as soon as it would finish, we would go our separate ways.

And yet, I cannot help but think about her all the time.

Jude POV

I return to the lounge drenched in sweat, panting and gasping for air. I had been rummaging in my room for the past hour and had finally found that file.

I slam the file onto Cardan's face and he doesn't dare reply when he sees my tired state. I sink into the sofa, one hand covering my eyes the other blindly searching for the glass of water on the front table.

"What happened to you?", Cardan asks as I open my eyes to find him completely shocked but instead of answering him, I gesture towards the file while gulping down my third glass of water.

"Let's continue. I don't want to waste any more time", my voice is dry as I open my laptop to start typing in the outline and he continues to examine my notes.

"God, your handwriting is horrible", his voice is filled with surprise as he brings one of the papers closer to those haunting, dazzling eyes to get a better look but gives in and throws it back onto the table.

"If you can't read it, why don't you make me something to eat instead?", I say robotically while looking at my screen and had not expected him to actually go to the kitchen in search for food.

My eyebrows furrow together as I walk up to him and say, "I was joking! Come on, we gotta get this done"

"I know you were joking and I know we have to this done but I am hungry and if you are not going to ask me then I am going to make myself", he complains as he looks around, opening cabinets and drawers.

"I didn't know you could cook", I say clearly perplexed by his actions.

"There are many things you do not know about me, Duarte", he continues his search and when I have had enough of his noise I say, "Stop! Okay, stop making noise! God, it's like raising a child or something", I grab the spatula from his hands but he takes it back saying, "Well, I am hungry and I can't work when I am hungry and by looking at you, you should be too"

As much as I would hate to admit it, I was hungry and I felt like I hadn't eaten in ages.

"Fine, you cook and I am going to take a break and watch some Netflix", I say right before telling him about where I keep the food and where the utensils are.

"One more question. Should I make sandwiches or hotdogs?"

"Lilliver usually does the cooking so, whatever you want", I turn on the television and continue to watch Shadow and Bone, each episode more intriguing than the last.

I hadn't realized an hour had passed when Cardan came with sandwiches.

The room is suddenly filled with the smell of freshly made sandwiches and that does nothing to satiate my hunger as I reach out for the dish set in front of me but Cardan quickly grabs the dish before I can get my hands on a sandwich.

"Patience is a virtue, dear Jude", Cardan says raising a long slender finger in the air.

"First of all, never and I mean NEVER call me dear", I glare at him as I grab the dish back, careful not to break it, "And you took so long making sandwiches that I got hungry"

I take a bite of the sandwich and if I am being honest, I had never tasted such sandwiches in my life and Cardan must have noticed me and my increasing craving for his delicious sandwiches that only seemed to make my hunger more insatiable when he said, "Either you like them", he gestured towards the half-bitten sandwich and its cheese dripping from the side of my mouth, "or you haven't eaten all day"

"Hmm. Yeah, I think it is the latter", I lie through my teeth with ease as I take a second one into my mouth.

I would never compliment him to his face, especially since I don't want him spreading the story in school.

"Why are you acting like this?", I ask out of nowhere before I can even process what I just said out loud.

"Like what?", he asks dumfounded

"I don't know, you seem a bit more... tolerable, I guess", my voice almost drops to a whisper as I stare at my third sandwich, suddenly looking for something more interesting in a piece of food that would soon be in my mouth.

He doesn't answer but I am able to see his mood shift as his body language completely changes and his muscles become more stiff. His pupils become dilated and he looks every bit as horrifying as he did when he once threw dust into my food after I had punched him.

All of a sudden, I regret what I had said and cursed my stupid mouth for opening itself.

We don't speak to each other for the rest of the night and though I hated Cardan with all that I had, one small part of me felt that there was more to this person, that he was more than just a bully and that I had missed an opportunity to get to know the real him.

Let me know if you wanna be tagged! Also, I will now on follow a policy of following back those who follow me, just to spread a bit of kindness!!

Taglist: @wanderingpages @thatrandomfangirlll @slightlyrebelliouswriter23 @acourtofhearts @aelin-queen-of-terrasen @aesthetics-11 @angelpaulene @annihliation @anyaskywalker23 @ashlightgrayson @augustintodarkness @awkward-avacado-s @babycardan @beholdyourqueen1 @booklover-sleeplover @booksandothersecrets @booksofthemoon @b00kworm @cabeswater-and-camaros @cardaans @cardan-greenbriar-tcp @cardanslittletail @cardanstrickytail @courtofjurdan @feysand-babies @firestarsandseneschals @fizziefaerie @highladyofthefangirlcourt @highqueenjudeduarte @hizqueen4life @hoegreenbrair @hopefullyanauthor @hurema @iammissstark @im-wintermelody @iminsanenotobsessed @ireallyshouldsleeprn @jessacarstairs @judiecardan @junipersuns@jurdanhell @justtryintolivemybestlife @jyoti96 @katexrenee @katsemkitgostadetog @kevin-day-is-bi @kingandfireheart @kittkatandbooboo @knifewifejude @lady-thea-of-narnia @larrysaturn @leaff-life @lemon-check @life-in-black-lines @lifeminuspickles @livelovereading123 @localgoof @lordoftermites @greenbriarxrose @queenofbunnies13 @fanficreader435 @nightspeckle @thewickedkings @the-cruel-prince-cardan @myqueenjudeduarte @florafey

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moon-ina-cup · 3 years ago

Note

My day is seriously being made and I’m gonna be riding this high forever lmaooo

you’re literally kaye fierch my guy

I am LITERALLY going to cry

#I’m??????? thank you????? that is literally all I could ever want #and again I still don’t understand why you give off Lilliver vibes but you really do in the best way #i think it’s her self assertion and like. confidence?#idk if that’s accurate to you at all lol but you definitely give off that energy

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jurdanhell · 4 years ago

Text

Spirits

Heavy in December

Read it on AO3!

Part I | Part II | Part III

Word Count: 2,379

TW: death, descriptions of blood

do not read if these may be potential triggers for you; your health is more important than a piece of fanfiction

Jude picked up her bedroll and tucked it beneath her arm. She cast a sideways glance to the Bomb and the Roach talking by the small fire they were supposed to be putting out. Their soft conversation flitting over to her, Lilliver’s gentle laugh singing through the air and over the calm crackle of the fire. She stepped over the remaining kindling from the fire they started the night prior, Jude tucked her bedroll into her pack, and did an about-face.

She hadn’t gotten three steps before someone’s voice made her nearly jump out of her skin. Their voice was a deep rasp, something guttural and calm, floating to her on the wind. “I pity you,” it said. She saw their eyes first, cold and cruel, like winter taken form. They sat unmoving beneath a half-dead tree. Silently scolding herself for not seeing anyone in their make-shift campsite, Jude felt for the handle of the dagger strapped to her side, clasping her fingers around it tightly. Her knuckles turned as white as the snow beneath her.

The person before her bore no sympathy that their words may have once portrayed. Their fingers frost-covered, their skin ice, voice colder than the snow around them. Jude wondered if they were cold. She had half a mind to end them where they sat. “Congratulations,” she said instead.

They hummed in amusement. “Queenly one, I have an offer for you.” Their voice was brittle, and old. Jude’s spine hummed, her feet urging her to scramble far, far away. They wore no glamour, did not even try to hide away from her, sat right within their campsite, unnoticed. Run. Jude’s feet stayed planted in the snow.

She straightened, one hand resting near her hip, the other silently slipping a dagger out of its sheath. “So do most folk.”

“Yes.” They smiled. It was all-too-many too-sharp teeth. Their smile split their face open like it’d been carved there. “They do,” they said, smile widening, “As do I.”

Jude unsheathed her small blade. Any blade was better than no blade, she decided. “I don’t want it. Whatever it is you’re about to offer me, I don’t want it. Save it for some other fool.”

“A mortal ruling immortals. How can you ever truly understand your subjects if you are not one to be like them? If you can never truly understand the way they live? To be one with them fully, to know the life of an immortal in its fullest?” The more they spoke, the more solid their voice became, no longer traveling to her like a flurry on the breeze.

“I don’t need to.”

“Don’t you? You don’t have the slightest idea of what you’re missing, to begin with. How else will you know what else you do not know? You did not even see me sitting here.”

Jude furrowed her eyebrows. “I-”

“I offer you this, young queen. A life of an immortal like no other. You would remain yourself in every sense, an immortal in its truest form, forgotten be of death to you. An immortally mortal Queen of Faerie.”

Jude’s voice caught in her throat. It was true that she hadn’t seen them, had never heard their footfalls, didn’t know they were sitting there. They could’ve killed her and she’d never have known anyone had breached their campsite until it was too late. What else had she been missing?

She coughed, melting away the words caught in her throat. “Why would you offer me that? You have no reason to.”

They smiled with their eyes this time. No kindness radiated from them beneath that blistering cold appearance.

Jude narrowed her eyes. “What kind of immortality?”

“Ah,” was all they said for a long moment as they folded their hands in their lap. “An immortality like no other. You would truly be greater than any of the folk you rule over. It is an immortality fit for a queen.”

“What do you want in return?” Jude’s voice was cold in her throat. It was a kind of cold that fed heat to her cheeks, would’ve burned the forest around them to the ground if it had been any warmer, a heat that reached her eyes, that radiated off of her in waves.

The faerie sitting in front of them cleared their throat softly. Jude made no show of hiding her dagger, the moonlight glinted off the blade and fueled the light of the snow. It sent both light and shadow dancing across her face. “Each time you die,” they started. Jude raised a brow. “One year of your life will be mine. For example, should you live to be eighty years and manage to only die once before then, you will live to be seventy-nine. Die twice, seventy-eight. Thrice, seventy-seven.

I’m going to imagine you can do the math from there, young one.”

“What do you want with my years?”

“Does it matter? They won’t be of any use to you, especially if you’re already dead.” This was a horrible idea.

Jude walked back to where the Bomb and the Roach were putting out the remnants of the fire, their small campsite depleted at their feet. A branch snapped in the distance and, weapons drawn, all three of their heads shot up in unison as they watched a deer wander into the small clearing. It nibbled against the frozen bark and sniffed at the ground. Then, as if suddenly noticing it wasn’t alone after all, darted off the direction it came, twisting around trees and bouncing off the snow like drops of blood.

With everything they’d had strewn out in their campsite compressed into their small packs, they wound their way through the trees. Soft conversation drifted to Jude, her mind still on the odd folk who’d offered her that deal. The one with the ice-covered skin, with the frost-covered eyes. She shivered.

As the quiet settled back over them, masked only by the sound of their footsteps, Jude took a deep breath. “So,” she said.

An arrow shot past her ear and grazed the soft curve. The three spies ducked behind the trees for cover as another arrow shot past them, whistling against the cold. Jude lifted her fingers to her ear and recoiled at the sting, wincing softly.

The Bomb lifted her crossbow and shot the archer half-hidden behind another tree several yards away. The arrow sang through the air, planting itself right between his eyes. They dropped into the snow and loosed the arrow they had drawn into the snow beneath them. Three more arrows dripped down from the trees, struck themselves at their feet. With a single, quick glance, they bolted.

Ditching the packs they carried onto the frozen ground, they braided themselves through the woods as quickly as their feet would let them. They raced against the bolts that made the trees shiver, that made the ground ache. Something in Jude flickered at the thought. The heat rushed back to her cheeks, the anger boiled under her skin, her rage a living thing. She should’ve said something sooner.

Jude slipped her own crossbow free from her belt and unsheathed an arrow from her quiver. Crossbow propped against her knee as she leaned back against a tree, she pulled back the string and placed the arrow along the groove. The bark dug into her back. A twig snapped to her right as she turned to meet an arrow lodging itself in the tree in front of her. Another archer stood several feet away from her, readying to loose another arrow. The world froze around her as she squeezed her trigger finger, watched the archer’s body swallow the fletchings along the arrow whole, and loaded another. Load, aim, release, repeat. The snow enveloped them entirely as each archer fell, their anchor in ice depleting with each arrow fired.

The Bomb fired the final shot. Jude tried not to wince at the heavy sound of their body crunching the snow. They stayed as they were for a minute: sweat on their brows and weapons in hand, loaded. Jude watched her breath curl quietly in the air, it’s white mist disappearing along the bright sky. She listened as each snowflake met the snow on the ground, could feel every breath of the wind chasing the sky, ripping against her skin. Jude shivered again.

“Well,” Lilliver said, “that’s one way to make a point.”

Jude huffed a laugh. “Let’s go,” she muttered.

The walk to the palace was considerably uneventful. Not a single archer, not one animal nor their tracks. It was quiet. Awfully so, Jude decided.

The palace, however, was in sight ahead and she was aching to see Cardan again. It wasn’t that she’d been gone long, and it wasn’t not that she missed him. She wanted him to be the first to know about it, if she had any say in the matter. If she had a choice, Cardan would know about her deal first.

He probably wouldn’t be happy about it, her striking a bargain. But it was none of his business. What she did with herself was up to her. He’d learn to live with it, especially now that she needn’t worry about death like any other mortal. It’d be fine. He’d get over it eventually. And now she’d have the time to see it, in all of her immortally mortal life.

Jude stepped into the palace gardens, fingers wrapping around the closed bud of a rose. It bloomed in her palm, it’s fragrance a hefty perfume among the rest of the garden. “Jude.”

Cardan stepped into view in front of his wife. He leaned over the bush between them and pressed a kiss to her temple. She looked up at him, her face revealing none of the secrets she held, and smiled something bright. Cardan thought it could crush the stars.

He pressed his lips against hers. She tasted like Jude; like starlight and heaven colliding, like the warmth of a hearth fighting the cold. Jude tasted like home.

Cardan walked around the bushes to wrap himself around her again. She was safe.

There was a whistle, and a shout. Jude gasped softly as her hand flew to her stomach. Cardan’s brows furrowed as Jude collapsed into his arms. The point of an arrow threatened to tear through his clothes, eating away at his skin. His white, flowy shirt stained red, Jude a mess of gasps and pants against his chests.

Cardan shouted. He shouted until his voice was raw, until the gods above and below heard the ache in his voice, his desperation. Until the trees withered away with age and the flowers compressed to ash beneath him. He was being cleaved apart.

Jude placed a hand to his cheek, her mouth open, her words smothered and strangled by the death that held her throat. Cardan might have thought she was trying to tell him that she loved him. He screamed again. The nurses’ footsteps echoed down the hall. The Bomb was telling him something about the arrow protruding from her stomach, he thought. She broke the tip off and tied a knot of fabric around her chest, pulling it tight, before slipping the shaft of the arrow out from behind her.

Jude lay on the cold ground, its empty ache a mirror to her own. Rain pattered against her cheeks in thick droplets. They rolled down her skin in a melancholy embrace. The darkness devoured her, ensorcelled her with its cool relief against the hot agony veining from her center. Jude had no want left in the world other than the calmly quiet that the darkness provided; its feverish cling heavy like molasses. She wanted Cardan to hold her again.

Jude shot up from where she lay on the withered ground, her clothing littered with flowers and stained with what looked like ink and smelled deeply of iron. There was no ache, no pain. No arrow wound gaping through her, gouging out her stomach, causing Cardan’s true ruination. Another archer lay dead on the ground.

Jude stripped off her shirt and tossed it to the ground, giving herself a quick once over in the mirror, realizing slowly that there wasn’t so much as a scar in place of the arrow she’d taken in the gardens. There was never even proof that it was there. But it was. She knew it was. She knew, if for no reason other than the way the medics looked at her as she passed them. The way Van and Lilliver gave her an unsteady look, a look that was nothing short of bewilderment. The way Cardan looked at her. He looked afraid. Shaken, fairly so. But afraid. Afraid of her.

His hands brushed her hair to one side of her neck, he pressed a chaste kiss to the cool skin that was once beneath, wrapping his arms around his waist. Jude leaned into the touch and Cardan flipped her so she was facing him. He hadn’t been soaked in the rain, and strangely, neither had she beyond those few droplets against her face. He pressed her to the wall and cupped her face in his hands. Jude looked up at him for the first time since she’d taken an arrow to the belly, swiped a stray tear from his cheek. “I’m okay.”

It was his undoing, those small words. Cardan collapsed into himself, letting himself feel every once of what had been built in short the time she’d spent away with him, and the time after. Jude wrapped her arms around his middle. She wasn’t sure how long they’d stayed like that, nearly keeping herself together and pressed up against the wall, holding Cardan to her, stroking her hands through his hair.

He looked to her again, eyes rimmed red in fatigue, in anguish, and rested his forehead against hers gently. So, so gently, as if he pressed himself against her too tightly she’d blow away like smoke on the wind.

“How?” It’s the first thing he’s said to her, the first thing he could manage. His lip wobbled anyways.

Jude took a deep breath, steeling herself before she had a chance to talk herself out of it. Before something else came up.

“I may have made a deal.”

Masterlist

i’m aware that this. isn’t exactly what you asked for, @larrysaturn, but i kept the general element of it & i definitely have plans so uh.. enjoy?

Tag List:

@lexisntthatweird @cardan-greenbriar-tcp @slightlyrebelliouswriter23 @whoviantalibah @snusbandxknifewife @goddess-of-writing @storiesandschemes @thesirenwashere @aelin-queen-of-terrasen @andromeddea @clockworkgraystairs @hizqueen4life @highqueenjudeduarte @the-chick-of-the-air @dorkzrul @sassylunars @justabunchoffandoms @queenofgreenbriar @fandomfanatic987 @df3ndyr @brittneyal @woodsbeyond1 @clouds-and-peonies @mis-lil-red @aelinfeyreeleven945tbln @b00kworm @bisexual-bibliophile @greenbumblebee @illyrianwitchling @sevenfreckles-for-sevenloves @ireallyshouldsleeprn @vanessa172003 @addies-invisible-life @potterpasties @nahthanks @foreverscreaming @anonniemousefics @larrysaturn

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lovingmyselfcore · 4 years ago

Text

Protect You

I promise as we move along more things will happen in each chapter and I’m not really sure what exactly this is but we’re moving forward so yay

Chapter II: My Sister’s Getting Married and I Get Drunk. It’s a good system

Every time I looked at Taryn all I could think about was the betrayal that came with discovering your twin was in a relationship with your boyfriend, and she had been for a while. I know that Vivi didn’t expect me to just ‘get over it’ but I could tell she wanted me to. She pushed me and Taryn as close together as she dared without risking my wrath as she called it. That gleam in her eyes when I would actually look Taryn in the eyes with something other than hate. She wanted her sisters back, I could understand that, but I doubted we could ever get back to where we were, once.

“Jude,” Taryn’s sing-song voice invaded my mind, curling around my brain and ruthlessly squeezing the sleep out of it.

Light flooded my eyes as she shoved my curtains open. “I noticed you didn’t wake up early like you always did.” Her mouth formed a delicate frown. I wanted to punch it.

“No,” I said, sitting up. “I didn’t have to go in today and recently I’ve been so exhausted I decided to sleep in,” I narrowed my eyes, “Until somebody ruined it.”

Taryn crossed her arms over her chest. “It’s my last day visiting, Jude. I thought you might want to spend it together.”

I just stared blankly at her.

Disappointment flashed across her face, “Fine. But hurry and get ready. I have news I’ve been scared to tell you, but Vivi convinced me I should.”

Now that caught my attention but I quickly schooled my face back to unconcerned.

Her mouth lifted slightly like she knew I wasn’t completely unaffected.

Without another word, she strode out of my room. I scowled at her back and stuck up my finger once she’d turned the corner.

I threw off the covers and reached for my phone.

I’d gotten a text from The Bomb.

Bomb: It’s been about a week since you started guarding Dain with us, we want to get closer. Come for drinks tonight.

Jude: I have a sister thing tonight, I can’t.

My finger hovered over the send button before I pressed it. I don’t know why I didn’t accept. Going for drinks with them sounded like it would be much more fun than what was awaiting me at this very moment.

I groaned and tossed my phone on my bed, moving for my closet.

I walked towards the living room and was immediately assaulted. My little brother, Oak threw himself at me, wrapping his tiny arms around my hips.

“Hi, buddy,” I murmured.

“I’ve missed you, Jude!” I leaned down and picked him up, swinging him around my body, relishing in his giggles.

“Jude,” I set him down at the sound of Oriana’s voice. She stood in the doorway, eyes flitting in every direction like she was looking for the nearest exit. I knew the feeling. She pursed her lips. “The family is waiting.” Not our. Never our. She still didn’t like me. Hadn’t ever. She’d slowly warmed up to Taryn and even Vivi over the years but every time she was in a room alone with me she looked like she would rather claw her own eyes out.

I nodded, peering around her to see Vivi, Taryn, and Madoc in the living room. I wouldn’t ask why they were here. I wouldn’t give Oriana the satisfaction.

I sat next to Vivi, pulling Oak into my lap. I didn’t miss the quick look Oriana shot me as she settled down, angled towards me as if to pull him away. I held him tighter.

“Jude. I have something very big to tell you.” Taryn’s voice held a forced lightness.

She shifted uncomfortably, twisting her hands in her lap, drawing my attention to them. Or more specifically, what was on them. A single finger, specifically.

Something in me twisted. “You’re marrying him.” It wasn’t a question.

She nodded and I squeezed Oak. “Good for you.” I transported Oak onto Vivi’s lap, he went willingly, wrapping his arms around her neck as she tickled his sides.

Even the sounds of his laughter and the humming of the furnace and every other appliance in our house could not help what felt like a deafening silence blanketing the room.

I nodded to myself, making to stand. “Good for you,” I repeated.

“The engagement party is in two weeks. I’d like for you to be there.” Her eyes shone as she looked up at me and that something twisted again.

“Sure.” I found myself saying. “I’ll be there.”

Everyone was still staring at me so I announced, “I’m going to get breakfast from that cafe down the street.”

“Bring me some scones!” Vivi called after me as I shoved my phone in my back pocket, threw my coat on, and walked out the door.

“Sure!” I called back as I slammed the door closed behind me.

~~~~~~~

I sat in the cafe, at a table against the wall occasionally sipping my coffee and picking at my muffin.

I didn’t love him. I’d figured that out pretty easily after the initial ordeal all went down. I was definitely more hurt by her betrayal than his. Actually, I was never that hung up over him. So why did I hate the idea of her marrying him so badly? Well, it wouldn’t. I took a deep breath forcing myself to do one of my best talents. I took my feelings and wrapped a thick wool blanket over them, rolled them over an invisible hill, and pushed them off the edge.

I stabbed my muffin with a plastic fork and slumped in my seat, closed my eyes, and tried to let the classical music drown out the world.

“My sweet nemesis,” A voice purred. “How lovely to see you here.”

My eyes flew open, Cardan was standing above me.

He grinned as my surprise morphed into a glare.

He peered around the cafe carefully before shrugging off his coat, probably something Italian and worth more than my life, and sat down in the seat across from mine.

My eyes lifted instinctively and I saw someone slide into a seat nearby. His security guard, probably. He followed my eyes and let out a long-suffering sigh. “I couldn’t get rid of them all.”

I rolled my eyes, “They’re here to protect you, you know.”

“But you’re here,” He smirked. “You’re all the protection I need.”

Something in my brain woke up. “I’m what you need protection from,” I snarled.

“There she is.”

“What do you want, Cardan?”

He lifted a hand to his heart and pouted. “Come on, dear. You can’t expect me to only be here because of you.”

I raised my eyebrows and looked around the cafe, neutral tones, plants, a generally calm environment. I looked back at Cardan, glitter smeared across his eyelids, winged eyeliner painstakingly applied to perfection, midnight-black curls in disarray. Breath smelling of wine and something else I wasn’t sure I wanted to identify.

I scoffed. “Right. This is definitely your scene.”

He grinned again, “Not really yours either, Jude.”

I shrugged, “I needed to escape.” I was shocked at the honesty and for a second it appeared he was too.

“From what?” He asked.

I rolled my eyes and stabbed my muffin again. He watched with a small smile. “Like you care.”

“I do, actually.” He leaned forward, resting on his forearms and I found myself leaning slightly forward too. “Tell me your troubles.” He was close enough I could see his clear eyes. He was looking at me like he really did want to know, so I told him.

“Taryn is marrying Locke.”

“Yes.” He said. “This is news?”

I furrowed my brows. “This isn’t?”

“He told me he was going to do it quite a bit ago, but that doesn’t matter. Why does this trouble you?” Something I couldn’t decipher flashed across his face and his voice got tight. “Do you love him?”

“What? No, of course not.”

“Good, he’s not good enough for you.” The sincerity in his tone caught me off guard and I went quiet. He did too.

We sat there in silence, watching each other. “Jude.” His voice was quiet.

“Yes?”

“Be careful.”

I sat up straighter, “What do you mean?”

He glanced around, his eyes flitting from the security cameras to his own guard and back again. “With my brother.”

“I can take care of myself.”

“Maybe, but getting involved with him. With us, in the way that you are,” His voice was strained. “Just, be careful.”

“What are you talking about?” I demanded.

He sucked in a breath. “I can’t, Jude. Just,”

He stood up and shrugged his coat back on. He hadn’t met my eyes, he was still watching everything and everyone around us.

“Be careful. Or you’re going to get hurt. Badly.”

~~~~~~~

Cardan’s warning stirred something in me, something that caused me to, as soon as he was out of the cafe with his security in tow, pick up my phone and text the Bomb.

Jude: Is that offer for drinks still open?

Bomb: Definitely

Jude: Just tell me the time and place. I’ll be there.

~~~~~~~

“What made you decide to come?” Bomb - or, as I just found out, Lilliver - asked as I waved down the bartender for a refill.

I shifted in my seat.

“Nothing good, then?” Ghost - Garrett - asked.

I looked at him and he grimaced, “Your body language is screaming at me.”

I let out a noise between a laugh and a groan.

“Spill, girlie.” Roach - Van - demanded.

“I just found out my twin sister is marrying my high school boyfriend.”

Van whistled, low.

“Damn,” Lilliver said.

“Oh,” I said. “It gets worse.”

I explained to them how Locke had been with Taryn longer than he’d been with me, but the two of them were in a secret relationship. And Taryn knew about me and him the whole time.

“How’d you find out?” Van’s speech was slurred as he leaned forward. He sloshed his drink and Lilliver slid away gracefully to avoid the spill.

“Oh,” I sighed, resting my head in my hands and letting out a humorless laugh. “He told me.”

Garrett leaned forward then, eyebrows raising. “So he grew a conscience?”

I shook my head, rolling my eyes.”Of course not. He just thought he had me deep enough in his grasp that he could.” I brought my hand to my chest as if to contain the hiccup. It didn’t work. “He thought he could keep dating both of us.”

“What the fuck.” Lilliver said, Van and Garrett, echoing the sentiment.

“Wait,” Lilliver held up her hands in a pause motion. “I’m drunk so I’m kinda slow right now but, Locke.” She waved her fingers. “Isn’t that one of Cardan’s friends?”

Van looked like she’d just explained why the sky was blue. He looked at me for confirmation.

I nodded, taking a deep drink. “That’s how I met the Greenbriars. Cardan and I were in the same grade. Vivi and Rhyia are close.”

“So you were in the same circle?”

I laughed, “God no. Exact opposite ‘circles’. Cardan and I declared each other sworn enemies day one, Valerian and Nicasia despised me on sight and Locke for the most part had stayed out of it.”

“Until he decided to date you both just to see if he could.”

“Yeah,” I sighed.

“Did Cardan and the others know?”

“Kind of?” I shrugged. “I’ve never been clear on how much Valerian knew. But, Nicasia found out he was dating one of us and told Cardan.” My voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, “Neither of them liked it very much.” Van snorted. “Locke decided to out me and him to the school,” I waved my drink through the air. “We dated publicly for a little while and then at senior prom I found out what was going on with him and my sister. The rest is history.”

Lilliver winced, “Prom?”

“Oh yeah,” I said and grinned. “Great memories.”

Garrett looked at me sympathetically, “I’m sure.”

“Oh!” I declared, accidentally slapping Van in the arm, “I got into a physical fight with Taryn after, too.”

“Did you win?” Lilliver asked and at my grin and smug nod she cackled. “Atta girl.”

I hiccuped and set my drink down. “I’m going to dance,” I announced and wormed out onto the dance floor.

I danced for what felt like hours, the music had burrowed into my blood, my bones. I couldn’t stop. People were passing me drinks and more that I can’t even remember. The world was a blur. Somewhere, I recognized familiar voices but I drowned everything out aside from the pumping in my ears.

I know I threw up on some girl at some point because a high-pitched voice was yelling at me, I couldn’t make out a single word she said but almost immediately after a hand wrapped around my upper arm. “Come on, Jude. You have to go home.”

I resisted but clearly, I wasn’t coordinated enough to fight back because their grip only tightened. “Stop fighting,” The voice hissed, pulling me through the groups of people, I opened my mouth to call out for someone, anyone but my voice was caught in my throat. “It’s just me.”

“Cardan?” My voice came out in a whisper and the world sharpened.

It was Cardan, he was holding me tight against him as we exited the club. He looked down at me with an indecipherable look in his eyes. “Some guys were watching you, and you'd already had enough to drink. I’m taking you home.” His voice was harsh.

“I can take care of myself.” I spat, finding the strength to pull away from him, but he kept his hand on my arm.

“I know you can, Jude.”

"Dain's going to kill me for getting this drunk when I'm supposed to be on call isn't he?"

Cardan's silence was answer enough.

"Are you sure you don't love him?" Cardan asked suddenly.

"Who?" I furrowed my brows. "Dain?"

"Well, I certainly I hope you don't love Dain. But I'm talking about Locke."

I tried to look at him but he wouldn't meet my eyes. "I'm sure. Why?"

His grip tightened. "Getting basically blackout drunk the night you're told he's marrying your sister is on the more on the extreme side of the scale."

I laughed despite myself. "I don't love Locke. But even if I did, why do you care?"

"I don't," He snarled.

I hummed, "You can let go of me now, I can walk."

He snorted, "Sure you can." Suddenly he released my arm and I stumbled, throwing my arms out for balance.

Cardan crossed his arms, watching me, amused while I stumbled on the sidewalk like an infant.

I flipped him off but it was the wrong move. It took my concentration from keeping upright and I stumbled sideways just enough to slam into a streetlight.

I winced and my hand flew to my head. Cardan stepped forward slowly but lunged when my knees buckled and I collapsed.

"That's going to be a wicked bruise," He grinned down at me.

My eyes were heavy as he swept me into his arms, “I’ll kill you. You and I both know I can.”

I felt myself being lowered into his car but he didn’t let go. Settling us both into the backseat, I felt his laugh more than I heard it. “I know, Jude.”

The last thing I heard before I passed out was him giving his personal driver my address.

Tag: Let me know if you want to stay on the tag list for this. I wasn’t sure but I tagged you anyway :)

@foreverscreaming @ladyofbloodandroses

#the folk of the air #protect you au #the cruel prince #the wicked king #the queen of nothing #qon #tcp #tfota #tfota fanfic #jude x cardan #jude duarte #cardan greenbriar #jurdan #judecardan #twk #hthkoelths

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acciomanorian · 4 years ago

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hey babe! could you do 31 for lillivan from the october prompts? thanks!!

Thanks for the request babe. I had fun writing this (although I may have taken a different path than what you expected)

“Let’s go trick or treating.” Those were the last words that Lilliver wanted to hear from her fiancé. Yet, those were the words that were said as they sat at the breakfast table that morning. Halloween, Lil’s least favorite holiday, especially the act of trick or treating, which in itself mocked her Wiccan heritage, the traditions that had been in her family for millennia. That she followed for every All Hallows Eve.

Van laughed, as though he knew what those words would mean to her, which he very well did. After all, it had been him who had accompanied her to the graveyard, to welcome those who came to the surface on the day when the veil between the living and the dead was at its weakest.

“Come on, Lil, it’ll be fun.” Van was oblivious to the glare Lilliver was giving him, helping himself to another heaping bowl of cereal. “Seriously, how often are we going to have a night to act like kids, before we have one of our own.” He gestured to Lil’s stomach, a slight bump that wasn’t there a week ago, evident against her tight shirt. A gift from the gods. He smiled, grabbing her hand in question, his other laying against her stomach.

Unable to help herself, Lil smiled at her fiancé’s softness, and nodded her head. Maybe one night of trick or treating wouldn’t be so bad. “As long as you know that we will be in the graveyard tonight. I suppose that it might be fun to let loose a little bit, even for some ridiculous reason.”

“Good, because I already got us tickets for a haunted house. I just had a feeling that you would say yes. And I got us costumes, vampire costumes.”

“If you suggest that I be a sexy vampire for Halloween, I swear to the gods that I will slit your throat.”

Van gasped in fake shock. “You underestimate me, my love. I am the sexy vampire… you are my pregnant consort of course, although I would love to have a knife to my neck.”

“You’re starting to sound like Cardan,” Lilliver laughed, referring to her best friend Jude’s husband. Lucky for them, they were currently on vacation in Europe, something about Cardan wanting to “trace his roots.” She wouldn’t be subjected to the tortures of the American Halloween.

“Mhh.” Van got up from his chair, placing his cereal bowl in the sink before coming around the counter to plant a kiss on Lilliver’s forehead. “I love you, stay safe, and I’ll be home later.”

“I love you, too. And have fun at work. Tell Garrett I said hi.” Van nodded, and left for work, some computer company for the government. Lil said it was the government’s certified stalking company, as much as Van denied it.

As for herself, Lil did the same thing she did everyday. Cleaned the apartment, had coffee on the terrace with Nicasia and Taryn, the couple who lived next door, and watched her favorite tv shows: Law and Order SVU, and Deadly Woman. Her child would be raised on these shows, and the two would form an unlikely mother-child killing duo. At least, if Lil had her way. Van might disagree with some of these teachings.

Around three in the afternoon, Van got home, earlier than normal but he had the excuse of Halloween on his side. They were ready in record time, their tickets for the haunted house reading 4:30 pm (for which they were always punctual). After many scares and screams, Lilliver was thrilled to be out of that house. Away from the masks and monsters, and away from her fiancé, who, although he held her hand throughout it all, still laughed at every scream, mocking his “lovely murderess.” Lilliver would show him murderess, alright.

After a delicious dinner of chili fries and pickles (pregnancy cravings are the best), the couple began their walk through the neighborhoods. They weren’t on the hunt for candy so much, as watching the children run around. Even though Lilliver may hate how untraditional All Hallows Eve had become, she had to admit that when her child was old enough, she would be taking her trick or treating. She would enjoy watching the excitement in her little one’s face as they received their candy, only to run back to their parents and share the bounty. She would enjoy sharing her own traditions with her child, the graveyard and the prayers, helping those spirits cross over and not get stuck on the wrong side of the veil.

Van smiled as he watched his wife watch the children, knowing that motherhood was going to be good for her. He had started a family tradition, whether he knew it or not. Exempting the haunted house (at least for now), their family would grow on Halloween and All Hallows Eve, in the streets collecting candy and in the graveyard greeting souls.

I’m just going to use my general TFOTA tag list for this. If you want to be added, just let me know and I will happily oblige.

@charrise @ireallyshouldsleeprn @theoceanfaewriter @snusbandxknifewife

@starborn-faerie-queen @slightlyrebelliouswriter23 @clockworkgraystairs

@illyrianwitchling @b00kworm @poeticbrownmermaid @misskillerdarkness

@emmabookworm08 @jurdanhell

#the folk of the air #trick or treat #lilliver #van #the bomb #the roach #modern au #domestic #pregnant #tusermonique

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