#lily; musings | [ what makes magic so magical? ]

[lostxdrcams]

Tag Drop | Lily Evans | Harry Potter

[donteattheappleshook]

Not Broken at All Chapter 18/?

Summary:

A season 1 Neverland AU. Emma is still trying to adjust to her new life as Sheriff of Storybrooke and mom to Henry, who still believes everyone in town is a fairytale creature. When she finds a badly beaten, one handed man while patrolling, she’s convinced he’s crazy. He is, after all, rambling about fairies and shadows and crocodiles. But when Henry is suddenly taken out the window of a house everyone believes is haunted, the madman in the hospital might be her only hope of getting her son back. Whether he likes it or not.

Rated E

Catch up on Ao3 (where my italics work) or on Tumblr 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Oh hey! What's up everyone?

I know it's been a while (shocking) but it's Solstice today and the muse decided something needed to be posted for this fic in honour of the fairy orgies XD

This was written super fast and not really re-read because it's already 10pm so I'll probably edit it later but I'm giving it to you all now.

Happy Solstice and I hope you enjoy this chapter! <3

********

Part 18

“Doesn’t look so bad,” Will shrugs when they stand outside the mouth of the cave the next morning. Emma and Wendy roll their eyes at the same time. It does look that bad. For a place called Echo Cave she’d had expected something bigger, something louder. But all she can see as they approach is a narrow tunnel in the rockface, no sound escaping from within. So she jumps when Tiger Lily’s voice suddenly comes from within. 

“You’re late.”

“Apologies,” Killian nods. “The forest has changed a fair bit since I last made the journey - it took us longer than anticipated to find the path.” 

“You have a habit of doing that,” Tiger Lily scoffs. “Misinterpreting time.” 

The reply is so quick, and Killian’s sigh so exhausted, that Emma has to hold back a snort of laughter.

“We came as fast as we could.”

“Come then, let’s not delay any further. The others have gathered.” 

“Who are the others?” Emma asks Hook quietly as they follow.

“The eldest of those who were here before Pan. They were barely more than children when it happened, but They have some memory of how things were.” 

“I thought you said they’d forgotten all their magic.” 

“We did not forget,” Tiger Lily snaps from the entrance. Emma watches as the faint, gold dusting of magic that covers their skin, the only light in the otherwise pitch black cave shimmers and slides over their arm, cascading like water down through their fingers  that they trail along the  rocky wall, leaving flecks of sparking, gold dust in their wake.  “It was taken from us. Through slaughter and cruelty. When the children who were left behind grew enough to become a threat to Pan, we were forced to lock away what little we remembered or meet the same fate.” 

Every time she thinks it can’t get worse, it does. The massacre of Tiger Lily’s people and the destruction of their history, the torture and killing of the Lorelei, the horror of the murder of those boys on the beach. There’s no end it seems to Pan’s cruelty, to his thirst for blood. 

Emma reaches for the shimmering of light that remains along the wall, glittering and moving with the flow of the rough surface. It glows brighter beneath her touch and something swells from deep within her, rushing to meet it, warm and electrifying, before she yanks her hand back and stumbles the rest of the way though. 

The walk is long, this cave buried deep in darkness and stardust. She’s not sure she even hears it at first, a small whisper of a voice from far away, the words too quiet to make out, but repeating. As they continue along and a dim light starts to appear in the distance, they grow louder. It’s a child’s voice, rolling against the walls of the cave - wish I’d never come here… just want to go home. Just want to go home. Just want to go home….

She feels Killian’s hand on the small of her back and realizes she’s stopped walking. “It’s alright, love. It’s just an echo. The last secret that was shared here.” She still hesitates, not wanting to get any closer to the haunting voice. “Whoever they were, they’re not here anymore.”

“His name was Ruffio,” Will says, nearly as quiet as the first echo. “He’s been gone a long time.” He only meets her eye for a moment before clearing his throat and continuing as though he hadn’t said anything. She can’t blame him. She knows by now that nobody in Neverland ever goes home. “Come on - we’ve got secrets to spill.” 

The light ahead grows until finally they emerge into a massive cavern. The stone that surrounds them black onyx - gleaming faintly against the dust that covers the ceiling like a galaxy above them. The space feels boundless, endless like the darkness could go on forever and she’s reminded of their flight here, of the endless sea of stars they’d sailed in on. 

There are four people standing in the center of the chamber on a platform of the same black onyx, all of them with the same sharp, androgynous features as Tiger Lily, all with the same loose-fitting clothes and cropped hair, and all with that same shimmer of living magic glowing faintly in the dark. Tink stands with them, waiting. None of them are any older in appearance than herself, but she knows better by now than to judge age or power by appearance on this island. 

The Constant. 

They follow the rest of the way to the narrow, stone bridge that connects the ledge to the platform on which the others stand. When Emma takes a step to follow Tiger Lily onto the bridge, Killian puts an arm out, halting her in her tracks. Emma watches, heart in her throat as the bridge crumbles after Tiger Lily, stone falling away behind every step until they reach the end and there’s no bridge at all. 

“The Constant keep no secrets,” Killian explains. “The cave can’t compel anything from them. We, on the other hand…” 

“Of course they don’t.” No wonder they wanted to use this place. Easy to make others share their deepest darkest secrets when you’ve got none of your own to divulge and nothing to risk. “What about Tink?” she asks, nodding at the fifth person standing with the Constant.

“The fey have wings.” 

Right. “So how does this work?” 

“From what I remember, you step out onto the edge and call out your secret. If it’s truly your darkest, the cave will echo it back to you.”

“And then we get across?” 

“Aye, easy as that,” Killian attempts a smile, but it comes out as a wince. “I’ll go,” he offers though he looks like he’s dreading this as much as she is. She’s just thankful she doesn’t have to start.  He lets out another sigh, bracing himself and then, “I kissed Emma.” 

Fuck. Her heart drops into her stomach. He’s been a pirate for two hundred years - How the hell can his darkest secret have anything to do with her?

Will smirks. “Kissed? Is that what they’re calling it these days? And I think you’re forgetting that we were all there when she jumped you at Solstice.” His smirk deepens. “And when Emma came back all wet.” If Emma could reach him she’d smack him. 

“I literally walked in on you,” Wendy deadpans.

“I’m not talking about Solstice,” he sighs, not rising to the bait. “It was…” She knows when it was. We’ll keep each other safe, they’d promised. She doesn’t need everyone else to know though. Not when she’s not even sure what any of it meant or what it means now. “It doesn’t matter,” Killian shakes his head. “It was what the kiss - what all of it - exposed.” Fuck. fuck. fuck. fuck. “My secret is… I never believed that I’d be capable of letting go of my first love, of my Milah.” He breathes her name like a prayer and a wound. “To believe that I could find someone else.” His eyes lift to hers and it’s only by sheer force of will that she’s able to stop herself from taking a step back, from running away from the way he’s looking at her. Because she needs to hear this. They all do. If she wants to get across this fucking bridge, if she wants to talk to the fucking Constant, if she wants to get her son back - she needs to hear this secret as much as he needs to tell it. “That is, until I met you.”

She doesn’t know what to say or if she’s supposed to say something, can’t bring herself to look at Wendy or Will or look away from his eyes still burning into hers. And then before she even can do anything, Killian’s voice echoes through the cave, ‘until I met you’ called back to them like a ghost. A rumble follows as a section of the fallen bridge rises back from the depths below them, rock by rock, rebuilding itself. 

Killian lets out a humourless laugh. “So, who’d like to go next?” 

“I will.” Wendy stands with her shoulders straight, like she’s ready for a fight rather than a confession. Emma gets a sinking feeling in her stomach from the way she’s making herself look at Killian, with shame and guilt. He doesn’t look surprised - he looks like he expected this to hurt. “Sometimes… Sometimes I wish you’d never found me. Sometimes I wish you had just kept on walking that day when Pan left me to die.” She winces. “I’ll always be grateful to you for saving my life, for taking me in but…” 

Killian nods when she hesitates, her eyes damp with unshed tears. “Go on, it’s alright.”  

“You trapped me here, Hook. You’re the reason I have to live in this neverending nightmare. Forever. You knew what that water would do to me and I know you couldn’t ask but… you didn’t give me a choice. And I think that if I had one now - if I could have had a say in the next hundred years of my life… I’d rather you’d just let me die because this -” she gestures at herself, at everything around them.  “It’s worse than death. And because of you I’ll never leave.” She lets out a bitter laugh. “I can’t even die if I want to. Not unless Pan decides that’s what he wants. You forced this life on me, Killian, you cursed me to live because it made you feel better and I don’t… I’ll never forgive you for that.” 

Tears stain her cheeks now, jaw tight as she refuses to let any more follow and Emma can see the heartbreak on Killian’s face. “Wendy…” but she shakes her head and he stops the step he’d taken towards her. 

“I’m sorry,” she chokes and he shakes his head this time. Her secret echoes around them like a taunt this time - ‘never forgive you for that’ - and another piece of the bridge rebuilds itself. The silence hangs between them, louder than any echo, until Will steps up. 

“I suppose I should go next - while we’re on the topic of never being forgiven.” He takes his own steadying breath. “I’m dying.” 

Wendy’s face falls. “... what?” It comes out cracked and small and frightened. “What do you mean you’re dying?”

The look Will gives her - there’s so much guilt there, so much pain and self-loathing and love. Emma may not know much about it but she can recognize it now in his eyes, in the way he looks at Wendy. “I lied when I told you I didn’t know what Pan did to my heart. I’ve seen him do it before.”

“One hundred years…”

Will nods, a self-deprecating smile falling flat. “I really hoped that I could keep it from you for a little longer. Neverland will slow it down but… he squeezed a hundred years from my heart. I’ll start aging faster - a lot faster - and pretty soon…”

“How long?” He hesitates a beat longer than Emma can handle - and Wendy… gods, she can’t imagine. “How long?”

“I’ll be dead in a few months - three, maybe four depending on how long I would have lived if I’d aged like a normal person but - I’m so sorry, Wen. I didn’t want to tell you, I -”

Whatever he was going to say and whatever she might have answered  is stolen by the cave calling back to them in Will’s voice, ‘dead in a few months’. Nobody looks as the bridge puts itself back together, all of them too focused on the cruel revelation. He did it for her, Emma realises, for all of them but… he’s dying because of her. Wendy’s losing him because of her. Even Killian looks solemn at the news. 

“Your turn, Emma,” Will chokes out with the palest attempt at levity she’s seen him manage since she met him. “Wouldn’t want to be left out of all the fun, would you?”

She looks out towards the chasm between them and the Constant. She doesn’t even know what she expected to confess, or what she’d hear confessed by those with her, and now, with the truth of Will’s fate hanging in the air, nothing feels like it matters in the grand scheme of things. 

What even is her deepest secret? That she gave up Henry? That she had her heart broken by a selfish man who used her and then left her? That she spent a year of her life in jail? That she’s spent her whole life searching for the parents who left her behind? That between Neal and her parents she doesn’t think she could ever trust someone again - could ever let herself love someone again, or let them love her… That she might be anyway? None of it feels like enough; none of it even feels like a secret anymore, not since Henry found her and brought her to Storybrooke. 

And then, like bile and sick, she feels something being forced up from her throat, words clawing their way to the surface and past her lips of their own volition. She can’t stop them. She doesn’t even know what she’s going to say until they come spilling out. 

“I wish Henry had never come to find me. I wish he’d never brought me to Storybrooke.” The confession leaves her gasping, tears in her eyes as though she had been sick. She wants to be, hearing such a horrible truth being spoken out loud. Killian looks at her with sympathy, but she turns away from it. And once it’s started, she can’t stop it. “I never wanted to be a mother. I gave him away because I knew he’d be better off without me - but also because I knew I’d be better off without him. He’s a beautiful, amazing kid and I love him more than anything… but I never asked for this. Every day since he showed up at my door I’ve been terrified - every minute of every day. Those few minutes in the Fae forest when I couldn’t remember him were the most peaceful I’ve felt in months and when it all came flooding back it just reminded me of how much simpler my life was before I had to be anything to anyone. I don’t want to lose him. But I never wanted to find him either.” 

The bridge rebuilds itself, completing the path across as the worst thing she’s ever said, ‘never wanted to find him’,  is echoed back to her cruelly. She feels drained, numb, and she wonders if the others are feeling this horrible emptiness too. She looks out at where the Constant wait. If this is their idea of having them prove their allegiance, they better be ready to give theirs in return.

“Come on, Swan,” Killian tells her, leading her across the bridge. None of them say a word, Will and Killian both casting glances at Wendy who won’t look up from her feet, and the silence follows them the whole way across. 

“That sounded rough,” Tink comments when they reach the platform, the five Constant talking in harsh whispers in a language she doesn’t recognize. 

“How lucky of you to have missed it then,” Will snips. He must be feeling worse than Emma realized.

There’s an argument starting, still in that foreign language, but she can tell just the same. Every few words there’s a glimpse of something that feels familiar, a syllable from another language she’s heard, a word that could be French or Spanish, a glimpse of English, not one language but many - like every language spoken at once.

“This meeting has been a topic of some controversy,” Killian whispers. “But I think Tiger Lily might be on our side.” 

“You can understand them?” 

He shrugs. “One picks up a few things after two centuries.”

There’s a small scoff from Tink. “Yeah, all that pillow talk was really educational.”

Killian ignores the quip. “They’re the keepers of the last of the forgotten history of the old Neverland.” He nods at each as he names them. “That’s Philodendron, Halcyon, Alder, Jacaranda, and you know Tiger Lily.

“Tiger Lily is one of them?” 

“Tiger Lily was the oldest Constant to survive the massacre. They were just shy of a century when Pan took over.”

“A century?”

“The Constant are eternal, love. A century is nothing.” 

The Constant have gone silent, a tense, begrudging conclusion to their argument that Emma can feel even if she doesn’t know the words. 

Finally, Tiger Lily speaks. “Tinkerbell tells us you wish to unearth the secrets of the island - secrets that were buried to keep us safe.”

“Secrets that could return the island to the way it once was if you ally with us against Pan,” Killian counters. 

“If our knowledge could have defeated the boy,” Alder interjects, “we would have done so a millenia ago when he first laid waste to this island.” 

“Maybe your knowledge alone couldn’t defeat him, but we have the Lorelei on our side, and the fae,” Wendy adds, gesturing at Tink. 

Alder scoffs. “You have one fairy. One who’s been without magic for almost five hundred years, who’s magic was corrupted by the very demon you seek to destroy. Our magic was born from the innocence and dreams of children, the purest light magic there is, and even it was snuffed out by Pan’s darkness. What chance have you with a weakened fairy and the duplicitous sirens?” 

“We have more than that,” Tink interjects, bitterness and insult obvious in the bite of her words. “We have her.” It takes Emma a moment to realize that she’s the one being gestured at and now every set of eyes is on her. 

“Me?” 

“Her?” Wendy frowns. 

“You can’t honestly tell me you haven’t noticed. She practically reeks of magic. It’s spilling out of every pore. I clocked it as soon as she got here.” 

“I don’t have magic.” The Constant continue to stare, questioning, doubting. “I don’t. Don’t you think if I did I’d have used it by now to get Henry back?” 

“Not if you weren’t aware of it, love,” Killian offers gently.

“Okay but I’m not some fairytale character; I’m from Boston - the land without magic. I don’t have any power.” 

“Oh for…” Tink swears under her breath, crossing the room and grabbing Emma’s wrist. Faster than she can stop her, the fairy pulls a small blade from the complicated twist of pins and leather that keeps her mass of blonde hair piled on top of her head, ivory handle embellished with gold runes, and slashes it across Emma’s palm. 

“Ow! What the hell!” Emma shouts, yanking her hand away. That fucking hurt. Tinkerbelle doesn’t resist, the rest of their small crew moving to intervene, but all at once, they freeze. Emma follows their gazes to her hand, clutched tightly in a fist to her chest and her breath catches. There’s light seeping through the cracks in her fingers, golden and swirling like smoke, shimmering like the magic that flows over the Constant’s skin. 

Jacaranda reaches a hand out to her, palm upturned in a request and Emma looks to the others before carefully placing her hand in theirs. Carefully, the Constant unfurls her fingers, examining the light that shines from her wound with a careful touch. Their eyes go wide. “This is our magic,” they say, voice soft and tinged with awe. “Ours and… something else.” 

“May I?” Philodendron asks, extending their own hand. Emma nods, even as the urge to refuse shouts at her. You don’t have magic. You’re not magic. You’re a goddamn bail bonds person from Boston, not a fairytale character. Philodendron looks at her after taking a moment to examine the wound themselves. “This is light magic,” they confirm. “It’s raw and untapped but powerful, more powerful than anything I’ve seen since before Pan’s time.” They twist her hand a bit, trying to look closer, to read something in whatever they see that Emma can’t. “But this isn’t born of belief and dreams as ours is, it's the product of something else… of -”

“True love,” Emma breathes out, so low she doesn’t mean for anyone to hear it. Henry had said that hadn’t he? That she was supposed to be the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming, that she was supposed to be the Saviour. 

“Yes, that’s it,” Philodendron nods slowly. “You were right, Tinkerbelle. This is more powerful magic than we anticipated.” 

“Can you use it?” Emma asks, still not believing it really, but if it means they’ll help her get her kid back, she doesn’t care what she has to do. 

“That depends,” Halcyon takes a step forward. “Can you wield it?” 

“No, I…” she doesn’t even know how this is possible. 

“I can.” They all turn to Tink, Emma cradling her hand to her chest once more. “If you tell me what we need to do, I can guide her. But you’ll have to let me.” The last bit is directed at her and she hesitates… Tink hasn’t exactly made a secret of the fact that she’s not a fan of hers, and she just slashed her damn hand open… Trust already isn’t her strong suit to begin with. “I’m not going to steal it,” Tink snaps and looks genuinely offended and Emma remembers that she knows what it is to have her power taken from her. 

“I know you won’t. I just… what if it doesn’t work?” How powerful could this magic be? She’s not anything special, she never has been. Why would this be any different? 

“Then I guess you don’t get your kid back.” 

“Tink,” Killian warns but Emma can’t help but appreciate the fairy’s bluntness. 

“What do we need to do?” 

“This cavern, ” TigerLily starts, taking a knee and placing a hand reverently on the stone, “used to be a sacred place. It held all of the secrets of Neverland, and the dreams of children who visited - the purest and most honest of truths of all - fueled the island as it did our magic. This was its source - the source of everything. 

“But then Pan tainted this cave with his twisted version of secrets as power, as something to be wielded, and forced us to sacrifice the last of the light magic that still breathed life into Neverland, the cavern shielded itself from his darkness. Now it echoes truths rather than accept ones taken maliciously. This place… has seen nothing but darkness for centuries. It has not been sleeping, but fighting, the last of the resistance against Pan right under his nose, keeping the darkness at bay and it has hardened. We need to remind it what the light looks like.” 

“It can have mine. Whatever this is. If it can help and if this place can defeat Pan it can have all of it.” 

Tiger Lily smiles kindly. “Not all of it. It would never snuff out your light. But even the slightest kindling can spark an inferno and with it you can breathe magic back into the island.” 

“How?” 

They nod to Tink who retrieves her knife again, slashing her own palm this time, the light that glows from her wound a shimmering green, and holds her hand out to Emma. Heat burns across her skin when she takes Tink’s offered hand, the light between them growing, shining and mixing. Tink places her other hand on Tiger Lily’s shoulder and the Constant flattens both their palms against the stone beneath them. After a moment, they look to Emma and she knows she’s doing it wrong. She’s not doing anything but she’s doing it wrong. 

“I’m sorry.”

Tiger Lily shakes their head, their smile not malicious, but understanding. 

“I have met so many lost boys and girls on this island. So many broken, hardened children lead here by fear and hurt and neglect, so afraid to trust, to love, to admit or even accept what they want, what they desire more than anything - what has been robbed of them. This place is born of dreams and truths and you, dear Swan, strong Swan, brave Swan… frightened Swan, have locked yourself away from both.” 

“But I already told this place my darkest secret.” But she doesn’t need Tiger Lily to tell her - this place echoes darkness, resists darkness. That secret was Pan’s magic - not Neverland’s. 

“What do you dream of, Emma? What truths do you keep from yourself?” Emma opens her mouth to speak but Tiger Lily holds up a hand. “Do not tell them to me. Tell them to the lost girl. Unburden her.” 

What does she dream of? Things she can’t have, things she’s never had, things that were taken away. She wants to find her parents, that’s no secret though, she’s always known that. She wants them to have never given her up in the first place. She wanted a family, the one she could have had with Henry and Neal if he hadn’t turned out to be the vile person he was, the life that she’d had just a glimpse of after one missed period, before everything went to shit. She doesn’t want that anymore. She hasn’t let herself want any of it since then, not love, not family, not hope… 

Her skin begins to warm, something flaring beneath the surface. Liar. She doesn’t know if it’s the cave or herself or her magic but it echoes through her like her secret against the walls. Tiger Lily accused her of locking herself away from her dreams, from her truths, but can they even still be truths if they’ve been silenced and stomped down for decades? 

She thinks of the lost girl she was, abandoned, a runaway on the street, burning the last of her childhood, of stupid fairytales and stories to keep warm in a world that was only ever cold. What had that girl wanted? Powerless, lost, alone. That girl who felt like nothing, who meant nothing to anyone, who had never mattered and never would, who had only herself to take care of her. She wanted to matter - to someone, to herself, she wanted people to matter to her, to be able to let them. She didn’t want to be alone anymore. Even as she pushed away every foster parent, every friend, every lover as she grew older, she didn’t want - she doesn’t want - to have to do it alone. 

That’s what she dreams of, what she refuses to admit that she dreams of. That for all of her rightly earned distrust of everyone, for all of her caution and her fear of abandonment, of love and hope, she wants to be able to let them in, let them matter. She wants to believe that she could have that happily ever after that she’s scorned all her life. 

Images flash in her mind as the heat builds, her body tingling, a faint glimmer of light shining against her shut eyelids. Henry smiling in her doorway in Boston, Mary Margaret offering her a home, Killian bringing her to Neverland, Wendy helping her hide from Pan, Will sacrificing himself for her, Killian nearly sacrificing Milah’s name - sacrificing his memories, all of them banding together to help her save her kid, even Tink now, helping her to wield magic she doesn’t understand. 

She’s not alone. She’s not in this alone. For the first time in her life she has people she can count on. People she can trust. She thinks of the smile Henry gave her when she let him know she wasn’t going to leave Storybrooke even though she could, of Mary Margaret’s pep talks, of shared hot chocolate and drinks and advice in their apartment, of Killian in that dank brig after one of the worst hours of her life - perhaps I would - of his words whispered in the quiet darkness of his cabin - I’m here. You don’t have to ask - of his confession echoing around them - until I met you. She does matter to people. She’s not nothing. She was never nothing. She matters and she has people who matter to her. 

Her whole body alights, the blood in her veins not blood anymore but something else, something powerful and she can feel it surging beneath her skin, pulled by a force as it rushes through her and towards that opening in her palm. The white of her light overtakes the green and Tink’s body jerks like the surge of magic is as jarring to her as it is for Emma. Tiger Lily gasps, the ground beneath them starting to glow, tendrils of golden light snaking towards them across the stone like rivulets. Their body starts to shimmer, the dusting of gold shining brighter until their skin is swallowed by it completely. 

Emma can feel sweat beading on her skin, the salt mixing with the tears she hadn’t realized she’d been crying. She doesn’t know how much longer she can keep this up, the power coursing through her overwhelming. Tink’s hand is shaking in hers, both their palms damp and slippery and white knuckled and she can’t imagine how much more effort the fairy is putting in as the one actually channeling all of this. 

“There’s so much,” Tiger Lily says in awe. “We’ve forgotten so much.” Their eyes are glowing with the same gold that covers their skin, their mouth pulling into a smile even as tears roll down their cheeks. 

“I can’t -” Tink starts, but doesn’t let Emma release her hand when she tries to stop.

There’s another moment, the light engulfing the Constant almost completely, so bright Emma has to look away, before finally, suddenly, it stops. The three of them slump against the ground with a gasp of exhaustion. Emma doesn’t even turn when she feels hands on her shoulders, helping her to sit up, she knows it’s him. Wendy is at Tink’s side helping to support her as well as the Constant circle around Tiger Lily, all of them holding one another in a moment that feels beautiful and private as joy and heartbreak play over their faces. 

“Can you. Stop him?” Tink pants out. 

“I… I think so. There’s just - there’s so much. I need time to sort through it all.” 

“We don’t. Have. Time.”

“All of the secrets of Neverland, millennia’s worth, have just been poured into my mind. It will take me more than a few minutes to understand it all and find what will help us.” 

“How much time?” Emma asks. Henry’s already been here too long - too long without knowing that she’s here, that she’s coming for him. 

“I don’t… give me a few nights at least. Come back in three days. That should give me time to make sense of what is needed at least.” Their eyes are far away, like they’re not seeing the cavern around them but something far bigger and far more extraordinary.  

Emma nods. “Three days?” 

“Three days. And then we’ll rid this island of its false king forever.”

***********

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[petals2fish]

Read on A03

Written for day 1 of Jily Week 2024

“How does he manage to look like that straight off his broomstick?” Lily Evans hissed to Marlene McKinnon. “It’s an absolute fuckin' tragedy!”

The girls were huddled in a corner of the common room, a short distance from the group of boys clustered by the fire, still decked out in their Quidditch gear. At the center of the chaos was James Potter, gesticulating wildly as if he were casting spells with his hands, while tiny magical figures darted around him, mimicking his every move. The only girls on the team, Fawcett and Fawn, the third-year twins, sat on the periphery, barely paying attention.

“Pay attention!” James barked at them, and they looked up, their faces a picture of remorse.

“Ugh,” Lily muttered, tilting her head towards the ceiling as if seeking divine intervention.

She had an uncharacteristically feral appreciation for the deep, resonant tone in his voice, but it seemed he almost regretted it, as he nervously ran a hand through his hair. Lily absently tugged at the ends of her frayed French braid, struggling to tear her eyes away from James and his gloriously disheveled hair. It was a love-hate relationship—she adored the glorious mess of it but loathed how it made it impossible to ignore her feelings for him.

"What’s the matter with you?" Marlene asked, barely glancing up from her Witch Weekly.

"James Potter’s the matter with me!" Lily nudged her urgently. "Just look at the state of him!"

Marlene glanced up, surveyed James, and then returned to her magazine. “He looks normal to me, Lily. See? He’s even ranting about quidditch.”

He was ranting loudly, almost everyone in the common room was watching. A few people snickered, knowing he was feeling the pressure of the upcoming match against Slytherin. It was James’ only match each year where he grew worried, not that he’d admit it out loud. 

“I’m not talking about his ranting, Marlene,” Lily huffed. “I’m talking about his hair.”

“Aye,” Marlene mused. “I told Mary McDonald that half the boys in our year need haircuts—James Potter and Sirius Black especially.”

Lily let out a strangled, but still hushed, “you want James to cut his fucking hair?! Marley?! Are you kidding me? James Potter’s hair looks like it came out of a fucking quidditch magazine. Look at it. So wavy and perfectly messed up. It’s practically hairography.”

“What the fuck is hairography?” Marlene asked as she threw herself into the spare beanbag chair behind them. 

“Like pornography, but hair.” Lily fell into the beanbag next to her. “I mean look at it. Have you ever seen a lad with better looking hair? That’s the hair of a snogging icon, I’m telling you.”

“You'd best be tellin' him that,” Marlene waved, “I can’t be bothered to care about anyone’s hair if it doesn’t come with a set of tits.”

“Just because you’re a lesbian, Marlene, doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate a man like James.” Lily shot back. 

“He’s just a boy,” Marlene said. “In two years you’ll be bored of him and his mediocre hair.”

Lily said confidently, “Nah, I bet the hair in the streets, matches the hair in the sheets.”

Marlene shot an eyebrow up. “He’s a rich nerd who happens to be good at catching a ball, Lily, I just don’t see the reason you’re so caught up on him all of a sudden.”

“No one else has that hair.” Lily sighed, placing her chin in her hand, supported by her elbow on her knee. “Or those biceps, God, remember when he used to be rail thin?!”

“He’s still a rail, he just got older.” Marlene blew her yellow bangs away from her forehead. “He’s not even conventionally attractive, not like Sirius Black. James Potter’s hair looks like a rat's nest compared to Black.”

“James’ hair looks like James just got off a broomstick.” Lily said just as James ruffled his curls, making them even messier. 

Marlene smirked before she sang, “or like he just got off you.”

Red snuck up Lily’s neck at the suggestion. “There are first years nearby, Marley.”

“You’re the one who compared his hair to porn.”

“It was just an expression,” Lily argued. “Besides, he doesn’t even fancy me like that anymore.”

Marlene actually snorted from disbelief. “Says who?”

“Says everyone,” Lily muttered with an eye roll. “The whole school was talking about how he was at Hogsmede with Tina Karloff just last weekend.” Lily’s nose scrunched up unhappily. “Remus Lupin said James took Tina to see the shrieking shack up close just to scare her. You know why he’d want to scare her? To freaking hold her hand, Marlene! It’s Boy Flirting 101! Trust me! I know boys!” 

“Everyone knows boys better than me,” Marlene winked. “But either way, you’re being a drama queen. Just because he took out another girl doesn’t mean his crush on you is gone.”

“That’s exactly what it means.” Lily crossed her arms. “He’s gone and moved on to Tina Karloff, who probably doesn’t even appreciate his hairography.” 

“What kind of name is Tina anyways?” Marlene chuckled as she reopened her magazine. “Imagine having sex with a name like that. There’s no sexy way to moan ‘Tina’ in the heat of the ‘mo.”

Lily crossed her legs as she replied, “but Tina’s a catch, Marley. Just two weeks ago I saw she had the Jezza Witch hat from Diagon Alley and she looked fuckin' amazing in it! Plus, she’s wearing a C cup bra now, according to her roommates. That is the largest in our year besides me.”

“She probably stuffs her bra with tissues.” Marlene mused wickedly. “You still have the best tits, Evans, take it from me. And they're real.” 

“Tina Karloff’s tits are real,” Lily hit her friend’s arm, “we see enough cleavage since she never buttons her shirt all the way up.” 

“How’d Tina Karloff afford a Jezza hat anyways?” Marlene asked jealously as she furiously tabbed to her lost magazine article, still caught up on Lily’s points against herself. “They’re at least five galleons! I thought Tina’s Dad worked at the misuse of the muggle artifacts department. They get paid like shit.” 

But Lily didn’t answer her friend. James Potter had stopped talking. Another member of the team had taken center stage, while the handsome Quidditch captain leaned against the fireplace, his eyes fixed on her. She squeaked and looked away as soon as their eyes met.

“Oh Merlin, Lily,” Marlene laughed, throwing her head back when she noticed who was staring. “Just go ask him for a quick snog and stop acting like a wean who’s seen the boogeyman!”

“But what if I snog him and then don’t like him anymore?”

“What?!” Marlene dropped her magazine in disbelief.

“Come on, Marlene,” Lily said. “It’d be just like Sarah Jackson. She went on and on for weeks about Amos Diggory until Amos finally took her out. Sarah told me that when he kissed her, it was like kissing a waterfall—he had so much drool, she nearly threw up right then and there. Can you blame me for being worried James Potter will be a waterfall kisser?”

“There’s no such thing as a waterfall kisser.”

“How would you know? Have you ever even kissed someone?”

Marlene shot Lily the finger. “Not many openly gay girls around for me to snog, are there Lily?”

Sheepishly Lily apologized, “sorry, Marley.” 

“Just go talk to him before I shove you into the broom closet with him,” Marlene pleaded. “And for Merlin’s sake, leave hairography out of the conversation.”

Lily groaned but got up from her spot. “Fine, I’m going,” she muttered, tossing a half-hearted glare at Marlene, who just grinned and waved her off. Lily wasn’t sure how she ended up in these situations. One moment, she was monologuing to Marlene, and the next, she was being forcefully encouraged to navigate the tangled mess of feelings in her head.

She wandered over to him from her safe bean bag chair, her heart pounding as she reached the thick of the quidditch players. And there he was, leaning against the fireplace, eyes zeroing in on her as she pushed between his two beaters so she could stand beside him. Lily felt her palms go clammy. 

What was she doing? 

But before she could turn and retreat, James smiled. 

“Hey, Evans,” he sang out, moving away from the fireplace toward her. “What’s up?”

Lily fiddled with a strand of her hair, hoping her face didn’t betray how nervous she felt. “Nothing much, just—uh…” She glanced down at her shoes, feeling ridiculous. 

“Yes?” He encouraged. 

And then, Merlin smite her, she actually said out loud, “I like your hair.”

James blinked, caught off guard. “My hair?”

Lily nodded, not daring to look at him. “Yeah. It’s… fluffy.”

He scratched the back of his head, clearly not used to being on the receiving end of compliments. A faint blush crept onto his cheeks. “Uh, thanks. I like your hair too. It’s… really nice.”

Lily finally looked up and smiled, feeling a strange warmth spread through her chest. There was something disarmingly endearing about how flustered he seemed. Maybe Marlene had been right. Maybe he did still fancy her. 

"Really?" she asked, more to fill the silence than anything.

"Yeah, really," James said, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "It, uh… always looks perfect. I don’t know how you manage it."

Lily's stomach fluttered, and she let out a small laugh. "Well, I’ve got this potion..."

James grinned, his usual confidence creeping back. "Sleekeazy’s?"

Her eyes widened. "How’d you know?"

His grin grew even wider. "That’s the hair potion my dad invented."

"No way!" Lily gaped at him, incredulous. "You’re full of dragon shit."

James chuckled, ruffling his famously messy hair. "No joke. Dad’s been trying to tame this wild mane his whole life, and passed it down to me."

Lily raised an eyebrow. "And what’s your excuse for the hurricane you call hair? Don’t you use the potion?"

“Nah.” James leaned in closer, his nose almost brushing hers. "I embrace the chaos."

Lily’s breath caught as James leaned in, the warmth between them almost tangible. For a moment, her mind went blank, thoughts of excellent hairography and disastrous snogging vanishing entirely. Instead, she found herself hyper-aware of his closeness—the gold in his eyes, the crooked smirk on his lips. He had freckles dotting his nose from the summer sun. She’d never noticed that before. 

"Is that so?" she managed, her voice softer than she intended.

"Mhm," James murmured, his gaze dropping briefly to her lips before flicking back up to her eyes. "Keeps things interesting, don’t you think?"

Her heart raced, but she refused to let him see her nerves. Instead, she smiled. "I suppose it does."

For a brief moment, the air between them crackled with something unspoken, almost charged with a deeper connection. But before it could escalate, a hand landed on both of their shoulders, and they jumped in surprise. Sirius grinned widely between them.

"Sorry!" he said, squeezing Lily's shoulder and shooting James a mischievous look. "Just... checking in."

James groaned, covering his face with his hands. "Sirius."

Lily bit her lip, quickly averting her gaze as Sirius eyed her with a knowing smirk, clearly wondering what was happening between them.

"Well," she said, straightening up and trying to hide her growing blush, "I should probably get going. But... thanks for the chat."

Peeking out from behind his fingers, James half-waved. "I’m down to discuss hair anytime, Evans.”

Sirius tugged on Lily’s braid mischievously. “Has he told you that he has a thing for redheads?”

“Oh, I think Marlene is calling me.” Lily squeaked, making her untimely departure as swiftly as possible. “Bye!”

As she pulled away from Sirius' grip, a wave of relief and embarrassment washed over her. Maybe things with James weren’t as complicated as she thought. Yet, judging by the disapproving glance James threw at Sirius, it was obvious he had more he wanted to say. She wondered if he did actually have a thing for redheads. 

She cast a glance over her shoulder just as James wrestled Sirius into a headlock, Sirius’ laughter echoing loudly. James looked up and caught her eye just in time. She offered a soft smile, and he smiled back, releasing Sirius so abruptly that the troublemaker crashed to the floor with a yelp. She waved once more, feeling a flutter in her stomach that she couldn't quite ignore when James waved back. Something very much like butterflies danced inside her as she nervously twisted her red braid, considering that maybe she’d find another reason to speak to him again soon. 

Or maybe she’d just back him up into an alcove when no one was looking, kiss him, and finally run her fingers through that magnificent hair of his. If Sirius black was right, he’d probably enjoy tangling up in her hair as well. Lily smiled to herself. 

Hairography, indeed.

[tealeavesandtrash]

🎄 Sweet Dreams of Holly and Ribbon: Part 5 - 14 Days Until Christmas 🎄

Read in full || Part 1 || Part 4 || Part 6

On Saturday, Teddy comes round for a sleepover - apparently, something that started back in September and is now a fortnightly tradition alternating between the Potters and Teddy’s dad hosting. James makes Dal Tadka for dinner which is delicious and tastes of childhood nostalgia for Effie’s cooking. 

Teddy and Harry spend the evening racing around the house and getting under everyone’s feet, caught up in a game that Sirius can’t begin to figure out but seems enjoyable nonetheless. Harry announces that he and Teddy are going to stay awake the whole night, but they’re both fast asleep by nine o’clock (which according to James is still very late for them.)

The next morning is a little calmer, by which their excitement is still just as high as last night but is channelled into a slightly less destructive outlet than tearing around the house at full speed. Instead, the boys have somehow managed to get their hands on Lily’s makeup bag. They present it to Sirius and, with pleading eyes and dazzling smiles, begging him to let them do his makeup. And Sirius Black was not built to say no to his godson, especially not with those puppy eyes which are so obviously inherited from James, and which Teddy mirrors effortlessly. So Sirius sighs, and relents because at the end of the day as long as they don’t poke his eye out,  it’s nothing that a little face wash can’t undo. 

He sits cross-legged on the living floor, eyes closed and patiently waiting as Harry and Teddy get to work. It’s all stubby fingers, poking and prodding all over the place, but for the most part surprisingly gentle although the same might not be able to be said for the state of Lily’s makeup, but they can cross that bridge when they get to it. 

“Can we use this?” 

Sirius cracks an eye at the question. Teddy is clutching a sticker book in both hands, looking expectantly up at him. 

“Ooh yeah!” Harry adds, setting aside the bright lipstick that he had been clutching in his fist. “Please, can we Padfoot?”

“Only if you promise to make me look pretty,” Sirius says, “And only if I get to do this.” He plucks the book out of Teddy's hands. He flicks it open to a random page, peels off two animal stickers and sticks them in quick succession on Harry and then Teddy’s forehead as they explode into giggles. 

After Sirius’  makeover is finished off with what feels like a hundred stickers plastered all over his face, Harry presents him with a fistful of nail varnish bottles. “We made you pretty, so you have to make us pretty,” he explains. “Mummy says only grown-ups can play with these so you have to do it.”

“Well I suppose that’s fair,” Sirius muses. “I get a free make-over, you two get to visit the very exclusive Padfoot nail salon.”

Harry drops the bottles on the floor, scattering them across the rug as he sorts through the colours. He settles on three and thrusts them eagerly in front of Sirius’ face. “I want these.”

“What’s the magic word?”

“Please?”

“Good kid,” Sirius praises as he ruffles Harry’s hair. “Do you know which colours you want, Teddy?”

Teddy shakes his head but keeps his eyes fixed on Harry’s hands as Sirius gets to work. 

“Do you want to pick some out while I do Harry’s?” He prompts and Teddy nods, tearing his gaze away to look through the collection Harry had acquired. 

Once Harry is done, Sirius moves on to Teddy who has selected purple glitter. It doesn’t take long at all to paint both the boys' nails, it takes more time for them to sit and copy Sirius as he shows them how to blow on them to dry. Lily might forgive him ruining half her makeup if he offers to replace it, but getting nail varnish all over the sofa and carpet under his watch is a different matter. 

The doorbell chimes in the background, followed by some muffled chatter. 

“Teddy, your dad’s here,” Lily calls as she pushes open the living room door. There's a moment of silence while she takes in the scene before her. “Is that my makeup?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll clean everything up,” Sirius starts to say, turning as he talks to meet Lily’s eye. 

“Right, well, Remus you’ve met Sirius, right?” Lily says as Sirius watches in mild horror as Remus steps through the doorway after her. 

He has one eyebrow raised as he assesses the situation. “Briefly,” he mutters before meeting Sirius’ eye, “nice…this,” he says as he gestures to his own face. Sirius feels his cheeks flush under the sudden attention, completely unaware of just how much of a mess his face is at the moment. 

“Daddy, look!” Teddy calls as soon as he sees Remus, scrambling to his feet and rushing over to show him Sirius’ handy work. “Pads painted my nails, aren't they pretty?”

He waits with bated breath as Remus leans down to examine his son's nails because as much as he would like to have faith James and Lily wouldn’t befriend someone who’d have an issue with this - and Remus doesn’t seem like the type to have an issue - it’s a small rural town and Sirius isn’t naive enough to assume that everyone is as relaxed as he would like.

“They’re very pretty,” Remus says gently and Sirius lets out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. 

Teddy grins at the compliment, then turns back to Sirius, “Can you paint my daddy’s nails?”

Remus and Sirius share a look and Sirius swallows. “I mean, I’m not sure your dad has time for that.”

Teddy turns to look back up at Remus, and Sirius can watch his resolve quickly dissolve away under what he can only assume is the same puppy dog eyes that Sirius has already fallen prey to. 

“I suppose, as long as it’s okay Sirius?” Remus says cautiously as he glances back at Sirius. Sirius gives a shrug, shuffles over slightly and pats the floor next to him as an invitation. 

Remus approaches slowly, picking his way through the mess the kids have made. He sits gingerly next to Sirius, although opts for the sofa instead of the floor. Sirius shuffles around so they’re facing each other.

“Any colour preferences?”

“Um,” Remus says slowly, glancing over the array in front of him, “what do you think, Teds?”

“We should match,” Teddy says earnestly, reaching for the same glittery purple he picked out himself. 

“Excellent choice,” Sirius agrees, then turns to Remus. “Do you mind?”

“Why would I mind?” Remus asks as he gives his first hand to Sirius. 

Sirius shrugs, “Some people have an issue with it.” 

“I suppose,” Remus says quietly and Sirius hums in agreement, although his attention is more focused on the fingers in his hand, skin smooth under his touch as he holds Remus’ hand steady and gets to work. 

He spends a lot longer on Remus’ nails than he did either of the boys - enough so that Harry loses all interest and disappears, but Teddy wriggles his way onto Remus’ lap halfway through.  

When he’s done, Remus and Teddy start to make a move. In the space of the manicure, all the energy seems to drain from Teddy, the excitement of the weekend hitting him all at once as he refuses to let go of Remus. Sirius wordlessly helps pack up Teddy’s things - Remus obviously struggling to do it one-handed while he also balances Teddy on his hip, but refusing to outright ask for help. 

“I would stay longer, but I think someone overdue for a nap,” Remus says. Teddy is still cuddled up into his side and Remus bounces him slightly as they loiter in the doorway. “Thank you,” he says sincerely as he holds Sirius' gaze, “for making sure Ted had a good time, and for the nails.”

“Anytime, he’s a great kid. And you’re a great salon client.”

Remus huffs out a laugh, cheeks lightly flushed, “I’ll see you round Sirius.”

“Yeah, see you round.”

Read in full || Part 1 || Part 4 || Part 6

@annaliza999 @marigold-hills @veganbutterchicken (If you do/dont want to be tagged in next parts lmk <3)

scene inspo below

[devildom-moss]

Roses for You (9)

This had all started when you noticed a link between a book on the language of flowers you had borrowed from Satan’s room and the current lessons from your Seductive Speechcraft and Magical Potions classes.

In Seductive Speechcraft, you had just reached a section on the effectiveness of spells using non-verbal communication: enchanting glances, dance, and offerings. Meanwhile, in Magical Potions, the professor had been discussing the significance of using specific quantities when concocting potions; they had spent fifteen minutes just providing examples – including adding petals from two different flowers when using them for a love spell.

You couldn’t resist discussing the use of flower language – utilizing the type, color, and quantity of the flowers – to specify the magical intent of an offering as a form of seductive speechcraft. Asmo and Solomon listened intently. The same idea popped into both of their minds, and before you knew it, everyone was looking into color and number meanings, searching for the perfect combination to convey their feelings for you and try to put you under their spell. The only rule for their little competition to charm you? Only roses are allowed.

Will you be charmed by their attempts?

Nine Roses - Barbatos

Word Count: +1,500 (sorry. I think my bias is showing.)

Eternal love

“Hey, Barbatos, why did you want to see me today?” You stood at the door to the Demon Lord’s castle.

Barbatos chuckled and stepped aside to allow you in. “What would you say if I told you I simply wanted to see you?”

“I’d say, ‘I’m glad you invited me because I missed you, too.’”

You missed the brief widening of his smile. He was delighted by your response, but the thought of someone walking into the foyer and seeing him practically fawning over you caused him to suppress that joy.

“Actually,” Barbatos started with a hint of something between hesitation and musing. “I was finishing up a task that I believe you might enjoy. Would you like to try your hand at making a flower arrangement?”

“I don’t know if I’d be any good at it, but it sounds fun.”

“Excellent. Come with me to the garden.” Barbatos turned, hiding the sudden appearance of a grin, and led the way. Perfect, he thought. It was no coincidence that you “caught him” in the middle of this particular task. He had worked hard to complete his necessary duties ahead of time so that he could spend the entire afternoon with you. This last task had been postponed until you were on your way with the hope that it would spark your interest – with the expectation that his plan would come to fruition. “I have a table set up in the garden where I was previously making arrangements. The flowers around the castle required refreshing. Although, as you can see, I’ve already completed a few.”

There was a vase slightly ahead of you on a table in the hall. You recognized the purple basil and black calla lilies, but there was something else in the arrangement – some alien- or Devildom-looking plant. It was a large dark reddish-brown, almost black, with petals that resembled wings – some pointed, demonic version of an orchid. Even stranger were the long, whisker-like tendrils that jutted out from the center. You’d never seen anything like it. “What type of flower is that?”

“I take it you mean the black bat flower?” Barbatos hummed and stopped in front of the vase.

“Is it native to the Devildom? It’s incredible. I half-expected it to growl at me as we walked by.”

“No, my dear,” Barbatos chuckled. “This plant is from the human world, but it tolerates Devildom conditions quite well; in fact, it flourishes here – much like yourself. I’ve heard about your recent interest in flower meanings, would you happen to have learned about any of these?”

“Well, I’m not sure if it’s the same for purple basil, but basil is usually a symbol of love, right?”

“It is now, although I’ve read that it once symbolized hatred. It was said to drive men insane. What an interesting turn of events. Both the calla lilies and the bat flower symbolize transformation, strength, and mystery. However, the black calla lily has a rather unique association.” Barbatos paused and turned to face you. His tail wrapped around the back of your thighs and pulled you closer to him. He held your gaze seductively and spoke, slow and heavy: “forbidden love.”

Barbatos had brought you here on purpose – both to see that particular arrangement and because the hall was quiet and not prone to foot traffic. He gave you a gentle smile that smothered the spark of heat you had felt in his eyes.

You found yourself searching for something to say – to cut the charged tension in a still-very-public part of the castle. “It’s a beautiful arrangement, Barbatos.”

Barbatos chuckled and shook his head. “Oh, dear, I lost myself momentarily. Shall we continue to the garden?”

He didn’t wait for a response before he turned and began to walk. You immediately felt his tail drop and encircle one of your calves, pulling you along with him.

The table Barbatos had set up in the garden was filled with a variety of flowers. You could see that he had nearly completed another arrangement before you had arrived. Barbatos added a few more hell roses and a sprig of black grass before he wrapped it carefully. “I’m going to place this in an empty vase. You’re welcome to use whatever you’d like to create your arrangement.”

“Will you display it in the castle when I’m done?”

“I’d like to, yes – if you don’t mind.”

You grinned to yourself as Barbatos walked away. The thought of Barbatos looking at an arrangement you made throughout the week as he went about his duties left you nervous but eager to please. Instinctively, you reached for a blue anemone. Sure, you probably should have considered what would suit the castle and the potential surrounding décor, but all you could think about was Barbatos. You added a few purple hyacinths, and cursed baby blue eyes, rotating the placement of each selection, but you felt that something was missing. The pale blue glow of hell jasmine called to you. Strange; the scent of hell jasmine was said to make a demon extremely needy. Why would Barbatos want to display these in the castle? That seems a bit dangerous. However, on closer inspection, the scent had been hampered significantly compared to other times you had run into this plant.

“Let me guess,” Barbatos spoke up as he returned to the garden. “You’re wondering if that hell jasmine has had an effect on me today?”

“Sort of.”

“Worry not. This variety has been modified. Its scent has no power over me. That honor is all yours today. It’s perfectly safe to use in your arrangement.”

“Oh!” You felt the heat rise in your face. You weren’t sure you believed him with all his sweet-talking. But that didn’t matter. If the hell jasmine was safe to use, it would make for the perfect final touch. You wanted to surprise Barbatos with your creative decisions. “Close your eyes, please.”

“As you wish.” Barbatos made no attempt to get closer and shut his eyes. You finished your arrangement and brought it to Barbatos, holding it out to him like an offering.

“Okay, you can open your eyes.” You watched as a look of pleasant surprise was sketched on Barbatos’s face. The smile on his lips filled you with an unfamiliar pride – so warm and encompassing as if you had performed a miracle. There was no restraint in that smile. “I made it with you in mind.”

“Oh my.” Barbatos brought the knuckle of his index finger to his mouth. “I beg your pardon, but would you indulge my selfishness and put your arrangement in my room? There’s an empty vase on the table near the door.”

“You want to display it in your room?”

“I would feel better knowing something so thoughtfully crafted by you was in my room. I’m afraid I would feel quite jealous allowing someone else to admire it. That is, I want the sole joy of seeing it and thinking of you each day. Is that okay?”

“Are you certain the hell jasmine has had no effect on you?” You looked at him suspiciously as if that would distract from the way he flustered you.

“I’m afraid not. This seems to be a consequence of thinking about you so much today. Now, will you do me a favor and deliver those to my room? I believe you’re adept at finding my room on your own by now,” Barbatos added a seductive tinge to the last sentence. He turned you towards the entrance and gave you a gentle nudge. The warmth of his hand lingered as you headed to his room.

When you returned, Barbatos was carefully wrapping a bouquet of blue roses and darkness thyme – likely both of which were cultivated by Barbatos. It was simple, but the blue roses were stunning, and their rarity was only complemented by an equally rare herb. Barbatos tied a silky blue bow around the bouquet and held it out to you with both hands – an oddly elegant gesture.

“Where would you like me to put these?” you asked.

“No, my dear, these are for you.”

Your eyes widened and you took a closer look at the bouquet. Nine blue roses. Nine was for a timeless, eternal love. Blue roses signified mystery and uniqueness, but they could also mean something unattainable or impossible. You frowned. “Eternal love is impossible?”

Sure, maybe Barbatos wouldn’t love you forever, but that message seemed a bit cruel.

“Not quite.” Barbatos laughed at you softly. Had his laugh not been so sweet, you might have been upset. “Blue may represent the impossible, but here it is – a dream come true. If I can be so bold, you are a dream come true – the only one I could adore like this for all of time.”

The frown fell from your face, and you were left with shock and shyness. Something must have gotten into him today. In truth, the thought of the others giving you roses only encouraged Barbatos to charm you as much as he could, and that meant he would need to bare his heart to you. Barbatos pulled you in close and kissed you with a sweetness that matched his words.

“For a demon such as myself, eternal love is a rather serious proposal; will you still accept it?” His thumb ran across your lower lip.

“That would be a dream come true.” It was your turn to kiss and fluster him now. Hopefully none of the little D.s would go into the garden that afternoon.

Lucifer (1) | Mammon (2) | Leviathan (3) | Satan (4) | Asmodeus (5) | Beelzebub (6) | Belphegor (7) | Diavolo (8) | Luke (10) | Simeon (11) | Solomon (12) | Thirteen (13) | Raphael (14) | Mephistopheles (15)

[formerlycookierunauprompts]

I just finished watching King Kong (2005) and this idea hit me like a truck: Shadow Milk Cookie as King Kong and Y/N Cookie as Ann Darrow!

i have never seen king kong but i sorta understand like... the tiniest bit about it.... So uh, Reader's getting kidnapped for this one as that's pretty much the only thing i know from King Kong.

Requested Prompts #44 - 💓

" White Lily Cookie! Don't! It's a trap!" You try to scream out, but no matter what you say nothing can reach White Lily's ears as she was trapped within your captor's maze. You watched as the flurry of the new guardian's magic went towards the fake tree, reviving it almost instantly to the shock of the eerily real-seeming fake Shadow Milk Cookie. You were the only one to have realized that it was fake, so he'd given the group a question that he knew they'd get wrong no matter what. Thus he'd taken you prisoner back in the 'real' world, one that looked a lot like the world within the Maze of Deceit except the key difference was that there was a lot more goopy, abyssal shadows littered with blue eyes staring at everything. You silence yourself with a yelp as one of the beast's fingers press into your head, because yes he does have actual hands apparently. " Ah ah ah!" You heard him tut, " I don't believe that this play needs any input from the audience, does it now?" Shadow Milk hummed, bringing you up to his face so you could look into his calculating gaze. " Besides, they can't hear you anymore anyways, so why even bother?" You hesitate, he was right and you knew it. You almost instantly deflated, your prior determination to escape filtering out of you like air from a balloon with a hole in it. " Aw, you look so cute when you're all hopeless like that! It's almost making me reconsider your position as prisoner!" He cooed, poking at your face with his claw(not the tip of it though). " I doubt that there's anything worse than being a prisoner to you." You groan, leaning away from his touch. A shriek is pulled from your throat as Shadow Milk grabs onto the sliver tree, or at least what remains of it. He spins around it like those character in musicals sometimes do with poles before hoisting himself up to sit between the branches as if they were a throne. " I' wouldn't be too sure about that~!" He teased, holding you up in front of his face. You doubted that, and it showed on your face. " No offense, but I doubt that there is." You said rather un-enthusiastically. " You really think so?" The beast grinned in an almost wild manner, you got the feeling you said something you really shouldn't have. " Because i can think of a lot of things! Of course, I won't be listing all of them for the sake of our family friendly audience. But there are much worse fates than being a prisoner to me!" " Like... like what?" You asked hesitantly. " Hmm..." He leaned in close, eyes shining brightly as he stared down at you. Some kind of deranged hunger slipping into his expression as he did so. " Like being a little snack." You froze up, the pause between that and his next statement being far too long for your liking. " Oh I'm only joking! There's no need to fret, I don't intend to cannibalize you... yet." You squeaked with fear, leaning away as much as you could as he threw his head back into a maniacal laugh. " Oh you're just so gullible- it's adorable!" He mused, a grin that was still far too wide plastered on his face. " I think I might have to keep you, even if Silly-Lily tries to seal me back up in the tree for real!" Well, at least now you know that unless the others save you you're probably screwed. Yippee.

[greenunoreversecard]

Are you Sirius? -Prologue/setting the background

A/N: transsexual was the historically correct term for transgender in the 1970s. I will try to be time accurate. Also, Im sorry british people. I am american, and a loser.

Prologue- Reader POV

I honestly didn’t expect things to turn out the way they did. But In retrospect, the irony of it is rather obvious, in a sense. Those who are shattered try to mend another. It’s an endless cycle and one that many authors view as great promise for an enticing story.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

It was my first year, and the journey from (T/N) to the middle of nowhere Scotland was rather tedious on my childhood self, but I’d grown rather accustomed to strain. But I think what did me in was the prospect of magic. And possibly the fact I got to be away from home for 9-10 months of the year.

It seemed like heaven, but the squeaky posh voices from the compartment next to me destroyed that musing rather quickly.

“Hey, Lookit here, another mudblood! They really just let anyone into Hogwarts these days, don’t they?” A posh young voice calls out. He has black hair that seemed to shine like the dark cosmos as the noontime sun lit his silhouette, his loose ringlet curls bouncing lightly as he gently jostled the blonde boy next to him, eyes gleaming for just a speckle of attention from the aforementioned.

The blonde slaps the elbow nudging him, and turns towards me, previously facing the window the boy with black hair was sitting next to. He seems a few years older than the other, maybe 2 or 3 or so. He looks rather disinterested, as his empty, piercing gaze scrutinizes me. 

“They do, don’t they Sirius? Such a shame to taint the once-great palace with filth” The boy agrees, turning back to where he had his attention on the window. It wasn’t long before more of the blondes’ colleagues entered, kicked the boy with black hair out of the compartment, and whipped the door shut.

The rest of the train ride was rather uneventful, I never saw the blonde nor the black-haired boy, and didn’t seem to be bothered much.

I befriended a sweet young girl who sat with me in my compartment. Her name was Lily, and she was a sweet girl. Seemed very emotional. We both were of non-magic origin, and we both have an ornate curiosity about everything, as well as a love for books, comedy, and adventure. 

And, as luck would find it, we got the same house. 

Gryffindor, house of the lion. House of those with courage, bravery, and determination. House of those who also seem to lack impulse control as well, if the loudness and slightly bigger mess is any indicator. Me and Lily share a look. 

I end up having a decent conversation with another quiet fellow, named Remus, as Lily makes friends with a few other first year girls who got Gryffindor.

After supper, the head of our house, Professor McGonagall, leads us down the winding halls and staircases. She leads us through and grandiose space, which she says is the “common rooms” to a stairwell split into two. 

“-And here we have the entrances to the dormitories. The left side leads to the male dormitories, and the right is the female dormitories. The stairs on the female dormitory are charmed to not allow any one of the opposite sex in. “ She pauses, glancing around at the crowd before continuing her lecture,”Now, do be aware, there are instances where someone with one set of genitals does not align with the gender of their sex, and thus unable to enter the assigned dorms. In su-”

“So the stairs recognize trannies?” A student pipes up.

McGonagall scowls a bit, but corrects the student with grace. 

“‘Transsexual’ is the correct term. But yes, the charms recognize transsexuals as the gender of which they align most, and in most cases, this happens before the student realizes such. In these cases, I recommend the student use the dorm of the desired gender, but cases can be arranged. I ask if this occurs for the student to come and talk to me.” 

McGonagall clears her throat, gesturing to the right side of the common room to the stack of luggage. 

“Now, with this out of the way, please grab your luggage, and find a dorm on the first floor. As of right now, you are allowed to choose your dorm mates, but I can say right now there are going to be five of you to a dorm room. The first floor is reserved for first-year students, so you needn’t worry about going any higher.”

As she finishes her speech, most of the students go to crowd the luggage in search of their own. I decide to wait for the crowd to disperse, instead deciding to look around the vast common room. It seems like Lily and Remus had the same ideas as me. Lily comes and stands next to me.

“Do you think we should be in the same dorm? I’ve already agreed to dorm with some girls I chatted with at supper. There was I believe a Marlene, a Mary and then you and me, and then maybe one other person as well, I can't remember.”.

I hum lightly in agreement, and we wait a few more moments. Soon enough, almost everyone has gone and chosen a dorm. A girl with blonde hair calls down to us from halfway up the stairs telling us not to be late, and Lily turns to me telling me that’s Marlene. 

We go together to get our luggage and are now at the beginning of the daunting steps. I look to the left of me, and see the same black-haired boy from earlier, being called by another young boy with glasses. 

“Sirius, cmon mate, let's share a room!!”

He follows after him, but glances back at me warily. I start walking up the stairs to the girls' dorm before I’m suddenly at the bottom. I blink rapidly and watch as the stairs go from the slide it had turned to back to the steps they were.

Well.. to say I’m shocked is an understatement. 

“Are you alright, dear?” McGonagall pipes up from behind me, lifting me by my armpits. 

“Uhm.. Confused and slightly startled, but physically fine, I suppose.” I say, mind blank and blinking rapidly. Because at this point I think maybe if I blink enough the situation will have dissipated. 

“It seems like-”

“F/N! Come-”  

Lily and McGonagall seem to speak in unison, before being cut off.

“Oh, Uhm-” my head snaps to the boy who had spoken. It was the guy with glasses. The boy- Sirius- gently nudges him as if to get him to stop, a look of slight terror in his eyes. 

“If you can’t use the girls, you’re free to dorm with me and Sirius, if you need”

Lily looks at me wide-eyed, going from me to McGonagall to glasses boy.

I look at McGonagall for approval, and she slightly nudges her head towards the boys, as if telling me to go on.

So, instead of processing I’m a trans-whatever, I decide under the rug it goes until tomorrow, and follow the duo. Luckily, this time around I don’t ungracefully take a slide to the bottom,  but am still wary as I step through to the top.

Lily seems to understand what has happened and goes up to her room.

I’m quiet as I follow the boys, mind whirring. I follow them to the end of the hall, near another set of stairs that likely leads to the upper year’s dorms. We enter the door on the right, into a big room, which already bigger than the flat me and my family live in. There’s five twin-sized beds, each with canopies to close for privacy, as well as a small desk and dresser on each side of said bed.

“Are you sure you won’t be weirded out by sharing a room with someone who’s technically a girl?” I speak up, softly and hesitantly.

“I mean, it’s pretty straight forward innit? You're Basically, a guy, cuz the stairs said you were. I don’t got much of a problem with it unless you do” Glasses pipes up, taking the bed directly across from the door. It’s almost underneath the window in the room, but the desk next to it is directly under it.

“I mean, I don’t got a problem. Just worried you might,”

“Then it’s settled. No problem with me. I’m James, By the way. Do you got a boy's name picked out yet? Don’t think F/N will work all that well”

“Uhm…. Not yet, I suppose,” I look around, arms hugging my torso as I stand next to the entrance of the dorm, stressing my bottom lip. What I assume is the bathroom door is on the right of the shoewell I stand in.  “Do you know what beds aren’t taken?”

“Well, that one next to the door isn’t, and then the one on the other side of Sirius’s. Remus has the bed next to the one that’s next to the door.” James points to the two empty beds. “Pete hasn’t picked his yet.” 

“Shouldn’t we see if the other three are fine with me here?”

“I’m down,” Remus says, exiting the bathroom. “Good to see ya again, I had a good chat with you at supper”

“And the blacked-haired boy? Sirius, you said? Is he ok with it?” At the mention of his name, his head perks up from the paper he had been folding. An origami swan, or a bird or something. He has the bed next to James. 

“Sure.” His answer is short and avoids my gaze, a guilty look on his face. “Sorry about the train.” Is added swiftly after, quiet and timid.

“Don’t know what's wrong with what happened there, so forgiven I guess.” At this sentence, he winces lightly, as if he knows something I don’t.

“What happened on the train?” A blonde boy chimes up, stepping into the shoe well next to me, on my left. “ ‘M Peter, by the way.” He holds his hand out, and I shake it. 

“Nothing of importance, I guess. I’m F/N, and have yet to decide on a ‘Boy’s name’ Which, are you fine with me being here? I-”

“I don’t mind, I’ve got friends like you” 

“Right on. Which bed do you prefer, then? Since I’m the last to join this motley crew, I’m guessing you should pick first. James said the one next to the door and the one on the left of Sirius are the two that’s open.” 

I’m praying he doesn’t pick the one next to the door. Despite knowing what I want I don’t want them to think I’m annoying or bossy or picky. I’m not sure if Peter catches my longing glance to the bed next to the shoe well, or if god himself finally heard my prayers, but he picks the bed next to Sirius, and we both go to put our trunks in front of the respective beds.

After I set down my luggage, I quickly open my trunk and grab some sweatpants and my jumper, before beelining to the bathroom. I quickly change out of the uniform I was in, and get into my other clothes. After I change I put my uniform on my bed, and assume it best to go back downstairs and talk to McGonagall.

…

It’s going to be a long school year. 

End of prolongue!!! i wont start any chapters until i get the polls out of the way, so this was just a teaser. also, lmk if you wanna be @ for the story.

speaking of @ing people;

@cursednevermore

be fed, child.

[wrrrenff]

Our First Valentines

Stardew Valley Elliot x F! reader. Synopsis: You and Elliot have been dating for a few months now. Being the romantic he is, Elliot went all out for the woman he loves of this special holiday. Warning: n/a

Valentine's day was approaching. Everyone with a partner in the valley was practically buzzing with excitement, speculating what plans their loved ones have planned for them and sharing what they themselves have planned. It was sweet. You had never really had a valentines day that was more than a 'fancy' (chili's) dinner and sex right after. Not that you hated that, it just wasn't anything magical. You were very happy to have probably the most loving boyfriend you ever had to spend the holiday with this year. Thinking about your time together, you started preparing you gifts for your man.

In his cabin, Elliot was busy at work making Valentine's preparations. He has always wanted to go above and beyond for his love and now was his chance. How could he not celebrate the greatest person he has ever met? You're the woman who changed his life, became his muse, inspired him to finish his novel! He got up extra early to begin preparing, going as far as to travel to Zuzu City to get supplies for today. After hours and hours of work, it was almost time to pick you up at the farm for the big night. Elliot walked over to his mirror, made some final adjustment to his outfit, and he was off.

Just as you finished up putting yourself together, there was a knock on the door. "Coming!" You put on your shoes and headed to the door. You were greeted with you devilishly handsome boyfriend. He was wearing a play on his normal attire. A sleek red blazer, a white button down, a vibrant green tie that paired nicely with his matching slacks and a pair of dress shoes. As you were taking him in, he was admiring you just as much. You decided you wear a beautifully fitted red dress that showed of all your best assets and a pair white heels that extenuated your legs. He wanted to drink you up, but he resisted like the gentleman he is. "My darling, you look incredible. Like a work of art." He took you hand in his and kissed it leaving you a blushing mess. "You look so handsome my dear." You replied, walking up close to him to give him a proper kiss. Elliot composed himself. You were not making it easy to control himself. He extended his arm to you. "Shall we?" You accepted him arm and you both headed off towards his home.

Arriving to his shack, he leads you in an you notices the lengths he went to celebrate your relationship tonight. Candles decorated the room, flower petals trailing around the room, the table set with a lavish meal, and the ting that impressed you the most, a bouquet of white lilies, apple blossoms, baby's breath, red camellia, honeysuckle, and of course, red roses. Elliot had told you about the language of flowers after researching it for his book. After this, you two would use this language to send each other meaningful messages. You were speechless. You turned to Elliot and captured him in an emotional hug. "You didn't have to do all of this. Thank you so much. I love you." Elliot pull back from the hug and locks his eyes onto yours. "I would walk to the ends of the earth if it would make you smile. This is nothing." You both laughed at his cheesiness.

"Now I feel like my gift to you is dumb." You looked at the ground feeling embarrassed. "You don't have to give me anything princess. You being here is plenty." Before you could worry much more over it, you handed him a carefully wrapped box. He opened it up to reveal a few bottles of squid ink. Now was Elliot's turn to be speechless. You worried he hated it so you started rambling. "I'm sorry. I know it's lame. I just remembered you mentioning when you got to try writing with squid ink but couldn't keep doing it due to the rarity and expense so I thought I'd raise some squid on my farm and-" Before you could realize it, Elliot and set down the gift and captured your lips. The kiss was filled with with so much love and adoration for you. It almost brought you to your knees. "Y/N, this is the most thoughtful thing anyone has ever done for me. You truly are the best thing to happen to me."

After that, you both headed to the table to eat. You had complimented his cooking, surprised at how good it was considering Elliot claimed to be a terrible chef. Sheepishly, Elliot admitted to having Gus cater your dinner. It didn't matter at all to you though. Just the amount of thought put into the night was enough to solidify this is the man you were meant to spend your life with. The love and care he has shown you time and time again only supported this. After your incredible dinner, Elliot put a record on the vinyl and you two danced for a while. It felt perfect. Everything felt perfect with him. Swaying in his arms, you couldn't imagine anywhere else you'd rather be than here with him.

[alltheyoungmoons]

The Gift - pt. II

G - WIP - Part I/? - 1k words - ATYD timeline compliant.

“You’re going to help me?” Lily’s pink lips stretched into a wide smile, her hopes restored.

“Of course, anything to make our Moony happy”, Sirius nodded, chivalrously. “So, let’s start with the things you want to avoid? Easier if they’re out of the way.”

“Alright, so: definitely no sweets, chocolate or cigarettes,” she eyed him severely at the latter, but with a smirk “…he’ll get enough of those as is. No more hand-knitted items either, I just don’t have the time, even if I enchanted my needles to do it on their own - and I’ve been gifting him those since second year anyway…” she kept reasoning out loud, keeping track on her fingers. Sirius was nodding along, realising at that moment how long and how well she knew Remus. She probably was the only other person in the world who knew him as well as Sirius did…almost. Sirius relished in the thought that he would always be number one in that regard “…and no more studying supplies! I’m looking for something that will last far beyond school.”

“Ok, that’s a great starting point” Sirius agreed. “So - books are always a safe choice with Moony, but let’s just keep them as a last resort for now, if you really want to impress him. If we don’t figure out anything better.”

“I agree… he really doesn’t need to do any more reading until the end of school!” she chuckled, “I don’t know how he manages, it’s a miracle he’s still got perfect eyesight!” She shook her head fondly. 

Sirius chuckled at that, too, thinking of all the times he caught Remus with his face so buried in a book you’d think he was snogging it. 

“Right? You’d think he’d be half as blind as James at least, by now” he shrugged, smiling, lowering his voice considerably “I guess being a dark creature has his perks after all…did you know he can see in the dark?”

“He cannot!” Her surprise poking through her whisper.

“Oh yes” Sirius nodded. He was now swinging back and forth on the back legs of his chair. “Caught him strolling in the dark many times - the maniac. First time he gave me a right fright, too."

Lily shook her head disbelievingly - for all she knew about Remus, she must’ve never inquired on the extent of his lycanthropy. 

“Speaking of James,“ Lily grinned “have you ever tried his glasses on? He took them off the other day while we-“ her whole face changed to red “Anyway I put them on, and..” She blinked slowly, leaving her facial expression to convey the sheer shock of this discovery. 

“Of course I’ve tried them on!” Honestly, who did the woman think he was. “Once, in first year, we bet who could last longer, me with his glasses or him without. They made me so sick I took them off after a few minutes, but of course he couldn't see I had, so I just waited until he admitted he couldn’t find our dorm room door to go down to breakfast.” 

Lily rolled her apple green eyes, but she was smiling. 

“It’s incredible how thin the lenses are, too,” she mused, “Muggle glasses for such a prescription would be as thick as butterbeer glass bottoms! A kid in my primary school class had them - they made his eyes so small!”

He tried to imagine James with such a contraption on his nose, struggling to hold in his barking laughter - he was terrified of Pince. He was also quite uneasy in libraries still, but Lily’s presence made it much more bearable. 

“So, books aside then…” Lily went back to wondering what to get their friend. “Isn’t there maybe another magical contraption that could work? Like that compass?”

Sirius knew she was asking him because, being the heir to one of the oldest and most traditionalist “Pureblood” clans in the country, he was basically the resident expert in magical paraphernalia. He felt his thoughts starting to race, raking through the images of the countless useless knick-knacks sitting in display cases in Grimmauld Place, Kreacher polishing them with the care reserved for an infant... Though now, being surrounded by books, it was hard to concentrate on any other object - the more he tried to avoid thinking of them, the more it felt they were the key to solving their problem. Surely the library stored some sort of catalogue…? 

“And to think that when I met you, at any mention of reading you’d have squirmed away as if you’d been chased by a Boggart” Sirius had teased the taller boy as they made their way into Flourish & Blotts, that past December, just before- “Yeah” Remus gave him a sly smile “You’ve created a monster.”

Sirius felt as if he was struck by lightning and slammed the front legs of his chair on the floor. He was grinning madly, and Lily was staring at him. Everything had fallen into place.

“Oh spill it, you peeve me so when you act like this!”

Sirius didn’t have time to argue back - not only was this a great idea, better-than-perfect even, but he was sitting across the only other person who could truly understand the impact of it. 

“So you know how dear ol’ Remus is always reading…”

“Yes, we’ve established that, but we said-“

“But when we first met him,” he interrupted “he didn’t. He couldn’t. I know you know about it, you made him that invisible thing in second year.”

“It’s not invisible, it’s transparent.” She corrected. A note of embarrassment then started in her voice “But yeah… I knew about your spell, too. It was dead impressive, still is, to be honest, but he couldn’t use it during the summer, you know.”

He didn’t know, though, he hadn’t thought about that, and of course Remus had never brought it up. Sirius silently cursed his purebloodness. 

“Right, so, if you were able to turn that plastic sheet into a reading aid…”

(He hoped he pronounced “plastic” correctly. He had mispronounced it once and Mary didn’t let him live it down for weeks.)

“…then you could do the same with glass! Glasses!” Lily was beaming, getting the suggestion right away. The girl was truly smart as a whip.

“Reading glasses” Sirius nodded, grinning wildly. He knew, this was going to work. 

[thelasttaleofthepari]

I passed my finals and am free from the prison that they call school (for a few weeks) so time to continue my AiStars Rewrite because I am better than Bandai

(also I am prone to forgetting things so if I repeat information from the last post,,,, just be patient w/ me please 😭)

Season 1 (continued???)

Main characters as usual are Yume, Koharu, Rola, Mahiru, Ako, and Haruka Ruka 

I said that S4 only had Yuzu, Yozora, and Tsubasa but we’re changing that– Lily now is also part of S4 and takes Hime’s spot since,, yk,,, Hime’s missing 

Hime disappeared a while before the S4 Selection (so she was there for her second year at FSA and was in S4 for one year, but is not there for her third year when the series takes place) 

Hime disappeared after an S4 concert (the same one that Yume and Koharu attend to in Episode 1 of AiStars)-- and Yume was the last person to see her (and the rainbow power was accidentally given to her here idk how just bear with me) 

Anyways uhhhhh what else 

Brands in the rewrite aren’t under a specific type; they don’t fall under cute, cool, sexy, pop coords specifically (so they can make coords that vary in types) and idols can choose what coord they want based on their preferred idol type 

We’re deleting that one FSA rule where you can’t make a brand if you’re not in S4 because I think that’s lame and stupid and doesn’t do much for the plot anyways 

So some characters still have the same brands (Lily w/ Gothic Victoria, Yozora w/ Romance Kiss, Yuzu w/ Shiny Smile) but some don’t 

Ako, for example, uses a brand that’s story themed– this brand is heavily connected with a film production agency and the agency and brand correlate stories (like if the brand released an Alice in Wonderland collection, the film agency would then release a movie based on Alice in Wonderland) 

I wanted to lean more into Ako’s acting side and thought this would be a good fit 

Haruka Ruka uses a brand called “DECO●LOUR MY WORLD” that follows a decora and candy concept

Oh and she’s also the princess of this land called “E-Magi Nation” (pronounced “imagination”) and everyone thinks she’s putting up a persona because there’s no land called the E-Magi Nation silly! Except no she’s dead serious she’s a literal princess from the E-Magi Nation and her home palace is actually made of gingerbread and candy canes thank you for asking 

Romance Kiss’ official concept says that its a “brand that travels around the world” and takes inspiration from different ethnic cultures, so I was thinking this brand would have a whole bunch of branches in different parts of the world with different top designers and such– Yozora (and later Mahiru) is the top designer of the Japan branch 

The muse of Romance Kiss is in charge of representing the different cultures of the brand 

The school coords in Four Star Academy also has various silhouettes rather than the typical “different tops- same skirts and shoes” pattern 

Here’s an example with an Ako Star Coord I designed 

(I didn’t design anyone else guys I don’t have any ideas I tried with Hime and it was a disaster so please be nice about the Ako design I tried my best) 

Also people can enter the magic fitting room thingie (I forgot what its called HELP) by using their Aikatsu mobile instead of their Aikatsu pass because idk I thought it’d be cool I’m not too sure about this idea though

Lets move on from most of the plot points and go to the end of the season 1 where the S4 Selection happens because I forgot SOOOO many things!! Yay me!

In Wind Dance, Haruka Ruka loses to Yuzu (but since everyone in S4 is a third year including Yuzu, Haruka Ruka gets the spot for S4 next year) 

In Bird Theatre, Ako wins the spot for S4 by beating Tsubasa 

In Moon Beauty, Mahiru beats Yozora and inherits the muse position from Yozora

Its here where Yozora announces that she’s taking a hiatus from being an idol to focus on being a designer (for Romance Kiss) (guys I need reasons to get the 25th S4 Gen out of Season 2 okay bear with me) 

In Flower Song, Lily wins over Rola and Yume,,, however, Rola wins over Yume and gets the S4 spot; Yume becomes Flower Song Class’ admin

TLDR: basically Rola, Ako, Mahiru, and Haruka Ruka are the 26th generation of S4 and are the S4 for Season 2, Mahiru (or Ako I’m not sure) becomes the leader for S4 and we say goodbye to our previous generation of S4 

Oh and Hime shows up at the finale! But like in a super mysterious way where we know its her but no one sees her and she’s just quietly lurking and its basically a hint to her being in the next season

Season 2

Ohohohohoho here’s the fun part 

OKay SO 

The top idol Hime Shiratori has shown up to Four Star Academy… with the Perfect Idol Elza Forte 

Idk why they’re there its probably to try to steal S4 away from FSA 

Anyways Elza does her big performance and she gets her Star Wings and everyone’s in awe and she’s made her name as a perfect idol you guys know the drill 

Hime says that she has returned to help her friend Elza collect perfect idols and get all the Star Wings like they’re Pokemon 

And because of this, she is currently residing in Venus Ark (not as a student she just stays there as a guest of Elza’s) 

The normal shenanigans happen, some Venus Ark characters get their pretty wings 

Oh and later, Hime does a performance (which is her big return back to idoling (which she kinda hates), just for Elza to get her sun wings) and gets the Earth Wings 

A big thing here is how Hime truly trusts Elza and wants her to achieve her dream, doing the one thing she hates (being back in the public spotlight) just so Elza can get her mom’s approval (this is important later) 

But you may be wondering…. if Hime got the Earth Wings… what wings does Yume get? 

LOL HAHAHA GUYS 

she’s not getting any wings 

(I swear I love her she’s one of my favorite characters I just gonna make her struggle… sorry) 

The lineup for the wings goes like this: 

Kirara has Mercury as usual 

Mahiru gets Venus (guys guys calm down I know that Elza has Venus canonically but I swear I have a good reason!!!) (the good reason being that I like Mahiru and Rola together and if Rola gets Mars then Mahiru should get Venus because in mythology-)

Mahiru got her wings due to a plot point in Season 2 where she has multiple muses in Romance Kiss to show the many faces of beauty in different cultures rather than just one– she implements this officially in a festival celebrating different cultures and does a performance and BAM SPR 

Hime gets Earth because it made the most sense to me 

Rola gets Mars and Aria gets Jupiter, like in canon 

Ako gets Saturn (I kind of pushed out Yuzu and Lily in Season 2 so that they play roles similar to Yozora and Tsubasa and Hime in the canon Season 2 of AiStars, so that Ako and Haruka Ruka can get their pretty wings) 

Rei gets Uranus and Elza gets Neptune (because *mumbling* the Sailor Moon ship) 

Haruka Ruka gets Pluto and her wings are made of candy because I said so 

Oh and Koharu’s back! She was in France for a bit learning more about fashion and Elza took her in and now she’s a cool fashion designer who loves Venus Ark with all her heart and having the time of her life 

Aria and Hime also have a sweet relationship– Hime actually meets Aria in Season 2 (rather than pre-show in AiStars), and the two connect 

The main reason they connect is because they were both muses of My Little Heart. My Little Heart was Hime’s brand before she disappeared, and after she did, the whole brand was running around to pick up the pieces 

They had a little reboot and got a new muse (our little fairy Aria) who became the new muse of My Little Heart 

Hime is sorry for the trouble and hate that Aria received after she became the muse but Aria’s very sweet about it with her– they get along quite well because Aria sees Hime as this cool older sister and not a top idol, and Hime is truly at her calmest with Aria 

Oh speaking of brands, Hime has a private brand in Season 2 to avoid the same thing that happened with My Little Heart (she’s planning to leave the spotlight again after Elza gets the Sun Wings) 

We’re gonna skip a lot of plot points because.. again… I forgot a LOT of the ideas I had I should really write these down 

Hime finds out that Elza was just using her the whole time and gets really really upset,,, and pulls a little revenge 

Can you guys guess what it is 

Lol Hime gets the Sun Dress… surprise(!!)

I know Hime is out of character here compared to canon but then again this is my rewrite and I can do whatever I want and I think she should be able to destroy a few dreams because of the betrayal she feels 

And everyone was like “WOAH!! How did she do that!! Gasp!! The Sun Dress is here again??!” 

So the main rival of Season 2 shifts from Elza to Hime

Uhhh skipping more plot points,,, but Yume is doing pretty great! She was kinda moping around after she didn’t get an SPR but she and Koharu made up and created a new brand called “Rainbow Berry Parfait” Yay!! 

So she’s kinda vibing because her best friend is back 

OH MY GOD WAIT I FORGOT TO MENTION 

So at the end of Season 1, because she lost the S4 Selection and was exhausted due to the rainbow power, she took a small hiatus 

She still trains a LOT, more than she used to, so she learns to control her rainbow power again idk how 

But you may be wondering,,, Yume has no SPR nor a sun dress, how the heck is she gonna beat Hime in the finale? 

Basically, Yume and Koharu,,, craft a Moon Dress by themselves– its not given from the system or anything but they literally make a dress that can rival the Sun Dress 

Each one of Yume’s friends help her too, like Mahiru making the crown, or Haruka Ruka helping get certain fabrics? Stuff like that 

And then in the near finale of the season, Yume performs in this Moon Dress (without wings) 

She activates her rainbow power and has a super powerful aura,,, except the rainbow from her aura then goes into her back,,, and forms a pair of wings 

And its sort of basically the system deeming her “worthy” of the Wings of Stars 

Yume wins the competition and beats Hime– so both of them sort of get what they want? Yume is at the top now because of her hard work and now her super rainbow power and Hime is finally lifted the burden of being the top idol 

Also Rei, Aria, and Kirara get Elza’s mom to give her a hug and they sort of mend their relationship from there 

And in the end of the season, Yume beats Rola in the S4 Selection, Mahiru, Ako, and Haruka Ruka win their S4 spots again

Rola decides to go to England to find out what being an idol means to her (and makes a cool rock band because I think that’s what she deserves) 

Koharu is now the top idol of Rainbow Berry Parfait– she leaves Venus Ark and opens a boutique that is also a candy shop because why not 

Ako is the top actress,,, ever; she’s getting film deals everywhere, every movie she is in sells out completely, she’s a big hit 

Mahiru is a supermodel, she’s constantly traveling the world for brand deals; one of the most influential people in the world 

I’m ngl I barely talked about Haruka Ruka,,,, oops I swear I love her 

I imagine that she gets her own talk show that’s super successful- I also remember making her have a rivalry with Yuzu so she probably beat Yuzu sometime in Season 2 but I never mentioned it until now 

And Yume is the top idol of top idols; she’s now the leader of S4 with her super successful career and now she’s just vibing 

Elza and her mom are working to mend their relationship good for them good for them 

Also Elza apologizes to Hime for using her because I think Hime deserves that apology; they don’t end up being friends again but they do end their little,,, whatever they had going on, amicably 

Venus Ark leaves Japan at the end of Season 2 and they’re gonna go to some other country to girlboss and be better than other idol schools good for them 

Hime actually stays in Japan! She now helps with Hotaru’s (Moroboshi’s sister) flower shop! 

Yozora is the top fashion designer for Romance Kiss in the Japan branch 

I think Tsubasa starts an idol agency because I think it’d be cool to have one of those and no one would do it better than Tsubasa 

And Yuzu and Lily make their own idol unit its literally a canon event 

And I think those are all my ideas so far for the series but if I remember any more ideas I’ll probably reblog this with the new ideas 

Also if you read this whole thing, I APPLAUD YOU BECAUSE HUH??? One of god’s strongest soldiers fr 

(Note: I swear the characters, especially the main six, are very close to each other I was just trying to get my ideas out so I didn’t focus on much on the relationships between characters) 

Also I definitely planned more for lore building like the origin of the rainbow power and how the aikatsu system works (because that thing is definitely sentient,,,) but that's all in Season 3 + 4 where there are new characters (,,,,my ocs,,, STOP SCREAMING I AM BUT A GIRL WHO WANTS TO INDULGE HERSELF IN HER LITTLE DELUSIONS!!!) so that may be a different post,,, maybe

(special tag for @elcall, I hope I did Ako justice 🫶)

[rose-of-the-grave]

Birthday Party

Pairing: Harry x Hermione

Happy early birthday to one Harry James Potter! I finished this early and couldn't wait to post it 😄 This is based off of these two requests! As always I'm the author (please don't repost)

Masterlist. Read on Ao3

Warnings: fluff, Harmione being cute, Hermione and Lily bonding, James and Lily are alive and well

Word Count: 603

Description: Harry Potter celebrated his birthday with everyone he loves, including Hermione who ends up bonding a bit with Lily over the similarities in their relationships with Harry and James respectively.

Taglist: @sylveryfire, @fuckyeahsuperheropowercouples

Everybody was gathered around the table, singing Happy Birthday to Harry. The room was packed with friends and family, whether it was all of his parents’ friends that were like aunts and uncles to him or his friends from school. Ron and Hermione sat on either side of him as he leaned forward to blow out the candles, making a wish.

He looked up, grinning as everyone started cheering. Lily started to cut and serve the cake, giving Harry the first piece. It was a chocolate cake shaped like a snitch and covered in gold frosting.

Taking a bite, he exclaimed, “It’s really good! Thanks mom!”

“Anything for the birthday boy!” Lily said, teasingly before continuing to serve the cake.

“This is really good, Mrs. Potter!” Hermione said from where she sat next to Harry.

“Oh, please. Call me Lily.” His mom said.

Hermione smiled. Harry looked over at her and they shared a shy smile, they had started dating only a few weeks ago and not many people knew, including his parents. He knew that they suspected that there was something more between them but up until now they had just been friends.

The guests started to wander around into the living room and outside where games had been set up for the party. Lily and James were clearing up some stuff from the dining room, leaving Harry and Hermione virtually alone.

Harry had just finished his cake and was about to get up before realizing Hermione wasn’t quite finished.

“All done!” She said, a small piece of cake on the side of her mouth.

“There’s a…” He motioned at it before giving up and deciding to get it himself. He wiped it away with a finger before slowly leaning in for a kiss.

A plate clatter in the background and they pulled away, laughing a bit.

“Mmmmm… you taste like chocolate.”

She giggled,”That’s because I just had some, birthday boy!” Her eyes lit up with joy. She was beautiful. The two of them were lost in each other, not paying attention to their surroundings while Lily and James came back in from the kitchen.

“Seems they finally are official, James” Lily said.

“It would seem so.”

“Harry, get out here! I need a partner for this game!” Ron yelled from outside.

“I’m coming!” He yelled back before apologizing, “Sorry, ‘Mione.”

“It’s fine, I’ll see you out there.” She said before standing up and starting to gather some of the plates to take to the kitchen.

“Oh, you didn’t need to do that dear.” Lily said.

“It’s no problem. I was actually wondering if you needed any help cleaning?”

“Well, since you’re asking…” She gave her a rag and started her on wiping the dishes she was cleaning. Even though Lily could have easily done so with magic she had always preferred to wash dishes by hand.

“So, how’s school been going so far?”

“It’s been good. I’m waiting for the OWL results right now.”

“Right, of course. That should be any day now.”

“Hopefully.”

They shared a smile before returning to the task at hand. From where they stood they had an excellent view of the backyard where Ron, Harry, and Sirius were facing off against Fred, George, and James in a game of three on three quidditch.

“It’s funny, isn’t it Mrs. Potter?” Hermione mused.

“What do you mean, Hermione dear?”

“Both of us fell in love with a boy with glasses, who plays quidditch, can be clueless but still an adorable dork. Sometime, history does repeat itself, huh?”

Lily smiled, “It sure does and I couldn’t be happier.”

[peppered-moths]

six-petaled promise

scott doesn't use salt in his cooking anymore. it all tastes horribly bland. he's never been the best cook anyways.

he had been the one who did that for them. scott still can't say his name, except when he wakes up, calling out for a life long gone.

he misses it. it feels... painfully obvious, to say the least. there had been a future where he didn't have to claw for power, to vie for even a chance of living beyond the competition, and he misses it. he misses thunderstorms. he misses fresh-baked bread. he misses lilies, white, six-petaled. he misses... god, he misses life.

so yes. maybe he is crazy. maybe that's what the others say about him, along with the fact that he's cold and heartless and dead, on the inside and outside both.

(and, well. the heartless part isn't strictly untrue. he has feelings. but, well. necromancy has its ups and downs. there is always a new sacrifice to make.)

scott doesn't use salt in his cooking anymore. he can't remember the last time he ate something for the sake of enjoying it. everything is sustenance, fuel to push onwards.

he has to win. no matter the cost. he knows he's not the only one- he sees the constant blue tinge of pris' face, the way she breathes air like it's not quite natural anymore. he's watched joey, manic, fever higher than any normal person should be able to survive, throwing himself into a block of ice for some relief. he's listened to shelby cry storms at the death of a bee, seen the fresh lightning burns on her hands.

yes. they all lose something. it makes it worth it. it doesn't make it fair. power is power, at the end of the day.

scott pretends that the lichen crawling up his fingers is simply a result of too much magic at one time. that it will go away, slip back down his wrists without a trace. he would make scott scrub it off. scott will do it when he's back.

scott doesn't use salt in his cooking anymore. it burns his tongue, his throat. his arms are mottled with pale scars. oh, the sacrifices he makes for him. it doesn't matter; they'll adapt. they always do.

how does it feel to be a real witch? a real lich? cleo laughs at him. he doesn't think they're actually laughing at him. her eyes are distant, far away as ever. she glows now, in the dark, the lichen budding on her skin.

pinocchio, pinocchio, a real boy at last, they muse, steepling their hands in front of them. tell me, why do you still dance to their puppet strings?

scott doesn't understand. he doesn't understand so many things. that's why he has to practice. he has to get better. be the best.

cleo looks away from him. she looks-

(at you. she looks at you. don't do this to him. it isn't fair. nothing is fair. learn to live with it.)

scott blinks. nothing has happened. nothing has changed. it has always been like this.

go home, scott.

there's no home left to go back to. he says it, nonchalant. if he had a heart, it would be beating in his chest. nevertheless.

then go anywhere.

scott doesn't use salt in his cooking anymore. scott doesn't cook anymore.

(when does the question turn from who am i without you? to who am i at all? where is the line? how do you learn how to stop, to just let go? i don't think any of us know.)

the earth hums beneath his feet. he can feel death, old bones rattling, waiting. there is a graveyard twenty minutes' walk from his house.

there are two graves side by side at an abandoned home. scott thinks there ought to have been a third. he thinks he ought to have carved their names on their graves, let them be remembered. milo. maxwell. really, he ought to have done a lot of things.

(he is the corpse and he is the vulture circling overhead and he is the mycelia beneath and he is and he is and he is-)

he is all that is left.

scott doesn't use salt in his cooking anymore.

[sea-owl]

Spring's Rebirth Epilogue

AO3 Link: Here

Penelope giggled as she twirled around the poppy field dancing with others as the muses play. The sweet pomegranate wine Michael had made just for her wedding celebration was keeping her warm. Actually she could use another glass. Oh there's her friends!

As Penelope moved her way through the crowd she was greeted with many "My Lady," and "Your Majesty." She honestly kinda missed the time when these immortals used to ignore her. At least she could get through a damn crowd faster!

Breaking free Penelope plopped herself next to Phillip who was growing ginger. Penelope's hand glowed green as she added her own magic to the plant, bumping up the potency. If Penelope had to guess Kate and Sophie needed it.

Penelope's guess proved true when the lily nymph and demigoddess muttered their thanks and took huge bites.

"Are your headaches that bad today?" Simon asked.

"Yes," Kate groaned while Sophie only nodded. "So unfair you don't get headaches anymore Pen. What's the secret?"

"Honestly they stopped when I connected with the Underworld," Penelope replied. "Maybe if you got married yourselves they'll stop."

Kate snorted while Sophie playfully rolled her eyes.

"Oh and who should we marry Penelope?" Sophie asked playfully.

The small redhead glanced from her friends to her brother in-laws. "I mean the royal cure got rid of my headaches."

Kate made the face she always makes when someone mentions the High King in her presence. Sophie's face flushed red. The boys just laughed.

-

In the same grace as her sister Felicity plopped herself next to Hyacinth, who by the request of Penelope was not isolated away in corner with all her siblings.

"Felicity?" Hyacinth asked hesitantly.

It had been months, almost a year since Felicity made her vow not to speak to Hyacinth. Despite Hyacinth missing her friend it never felt right to approach her.

"Hey Hy," Felicity said, resting her head on Hyacinth's shoulder. "I missed you."

The old nickname loosened some of the tensions in Hyacinth's shoulders while hope began to creep into her chest. Taking a breathe Hyacinth said, "I missed you too. I thought you didn't want to see me anymore."

Felicity shook her head. "No, I didn't want to see you until I saw my sister again." The nymph pointed at her sister. "I see her and I'm going to be seeing a lot of her since I'm going with her to the Underworld. So now I'm here to see you too."

"I missed you," Hyacinth repeated. "I missed my friend and I'm so sorry for keeping the truth from you all those months ago."

Felicity lifted her head, now fully looking towards the moon goddess. "A part of me is still angry you hid that secret, but I find I miss you more than I am angry at you. Come visit me in the Underworld within the next six months? I know Penelope would like to see you too."

Hyacinth laughed. "Of course, we have to make sure there's no funny business going on with the new couple!"

Felicity laughed. "Speaking of new couples, I got money that the High King is the next one to get married."

Hyacinth burst into giggles. "Anthony? With that stick up his butt? Nah I'm betting on Daphne."

Gregory's voice was heard from behind. "I agree with Felicity and I want to add extra on that Anthony is gonna marry Kate."

Hyacinth rolled her eyes while Felicity laughed. "That's just your wishful thinking Greg."

-

"King Colin may I speak with you privately?" Lady Portia asked.

Colin nodded and offered his arm. While he may not get along with his mother in-law Penelope still loves her and for that he will at least try.

"Penelope is to return to the Underworld for the next six months," Portia said simply.

Colin nodded. "Yes."

Portia sighed. "I will be honest I may never truly stop mourning for her and how she came to be your wife. You broke the innocence all my daughters had before this, and that I will probably mourn until the end of time."

"You plan to let the Earth wilt again?" Colin asked.

Portia shook her head. "Not entirely, I'm not a monster, just a mother grieving. Penelope has developed plants that will grow in the cold. My fields shall be filled with those."

Colin paused. He turned to take in the agriculture goddess' face. For as long as he has known his mother's friend she has had a hard edged exterior, known to pick herself back up and push forward. Looking at her now Colin would probably describe her as tired and maybe a little bit numb.

"I am not sorry for marrying my wife," Colin eventually said. "But I am sorry for causing your pain."

Portia sighed. "So long as my daughter is happy I shall be okay."

-

"Michael I must congratulate you on this wine," Penelope said as she sipped her glass.

"And I must congratulate you on making a new fruit to make wine out of. We must really collaborate again, next time with Phillip too!" Michael said. "And of course throwing this fabulous wedding so I could finally make one of my friends wedding wine." Michael turns to the rest of their group pointing a finger at all of them. "One of you needs to hurry up down to the altar now so I can make more wedding wine!"

The group of friend's burst out laughing. Some making jokes about how two of them should take one of for the team so Michael gets his wish.

Simon eventually looks out into the crowd. "Uh oh. Pen you may want to go save your husband from your mother."

Penelope looked behind her and indeed her husband and her mother were off talking to one another. Neither looked ready to throw the other in the mud. But they've only been frosty to each other at best since Penelope started dividing her time between the Earth and the Underworld. Not that she thinks either would purposely cause drama at her wedding but best to safe than sorry.

Penelope stood, her legs a little shaky from the wine. Thankfully Phillip steadies her.

"Here I'll escort you over Penny," Phillip said offering his arm.

Penelope wine giggled. "Thank you Pip."

"Will you be part of the escort down into the Underworld after the celebration?" Penelope asked as they begin their walk.

"But of course," Phillip said. "Guiding any soul into the Underworld is part of my job."

Penelope nodded. She paused, but soon continued. "I shall need a right hand now that I'm officially coming back as Queen of the Underworld. One that can travel with me up and below."

"Yes you will," Phillip agreed.

Penelope looked at Phillip. Phillip looked at Penelope. Penelope raised an eyebrow and Phillip's eyes widened.

"You couldn't just let me be a hermit in my forest?" He groaned.

Penelope burst into giggles. "There's no one I rather have Pip."

Phillip groaned again. "'And you break out the nicknames Penny."

Just as they reached Colin and Portia Phillip gave Penelope's arm an affectionate squeeze. Portia hugged her daughter before accepting Phillip's offer to lead her back to Lady Mary and the Dowager Queen Violet.

Colin wrapped his arms around Penelope. "So did Phillip accept his new position?"

"He did," Penelope said. "And did you decide which of your siblings you're gonna play matchmaker for when I come back up in six months?"

Colin grinned. "I did! Don't you think Anthony and Kate would make a beautiful couple?"

"Oh you will need all six months to plan for that."

Colin pulled Penelope closer. "Or I can spend the next six months with my beautiful wife."

Penelope blushed as Colin pulled her in for a kiss. The sound of the crowd of wedding guests she had forgotten about cheering around them.

Beneath them the red light of the poppies glowed brighter.

[roalinda]

contribution to @prongsfoot-microfic

Let's pretend it's still April 🙏

April 20 - Lovesick

It was raining when they first kissed. 

They were in the Potter manor greenhouse, working on their Christmas herbology assignment. It was foggy and cold outside, yet the lull of heat enchantments kept them warm inside, soft magic and mellow aroma of exotic flowers buzzing in their core. 

Sirius didn't know how it happened. Maybe it was the soothing way James kept whistling while working on mandrakes or maybe it was the magic of colourful roses climbing against the alcove, charming more courage into his Gryffindor heart.

He remembered James winking at him before offering a lopsided grin, reaching out his muddy hands like a needy toddler in search of contact and who was Sirius to deny him? 

He let James pull him close. He let James' succulent lips devour his heart, shamelessly yearning for more. He let James to be his dementor, his personal monster who sucked his soul and locked it away in a cage.

He let James be his downfall.

James smiled at him adoringly, like a dazed artist at his muse. "Beloved…my beloved star," he whispered before putting a red camellia in his hair and planting the seed in Sirius' heart.

 

****

It was raining when they first made love. 

He blamed it on alcohol for it was so wretched of them to be carnally intimate in less than a month after James' parents' passing. They had no right to kiss like starved animals, biting and scratching each other raw. It was so wrong of them to combine wine and sin, drunk on grief. 

Thunder roared outside and they rolled between silk and satin, heartbeat against heartbeat, skin against skin. James obscenely offered himself and Sirius selfishly took him, painting him black and blue with his teeth and savouring his broken moans. He pulled his hair and took him relentlessly, shedding tears at the same, mourning the loss in their own twisted way. 

James looked numb and blissed out after, staring at nowhere with unfocused eyes, blindly reaching out and searching for him in something akin to desperation. Sirius grabbed his hand softly, kissing it tenderly. James shuddered and Sirius realised that he was weeping as well, whimpering pathetically.

"Never leave me beloved…my beloved star…" he sobbed and his grip on Sirius' hand tightened 

It was nothing but comfort sex.

The seed started to germinate.

****

It was raining when James first told him Lily had accepted his proposal.

Sirius was not surprised, not really. He didn't look up from the astronomy chart he was working on. Tonight, the sun and Sirius were dysfunctional, bursting and burning more energy than ever. He kept writing, complicated formulas splashing against the paper in the form of finest ink and elegant charts. 

James looked as if he was given the world, as if he was floating in another dimension. He kept giggling to himself like a child and babbled on and on about how he wanted to make everything special for Lily, how he loved her. 

"Stop with those boring stars and listen to me, " James snapped grumpily and crossed his arms. "It's my love life we are talking about!" 

'What about me?' Sirius wanted to ask but all he did was offer a dim smile. 

"Yes, stars are boring," he said quietly. "Congratulations."

The roots started to spread.

****

It was raining when he left James.

There was no point in staying, not when Lily wanted to move in. Their messy living room was now neat courtesy of Lily's spells and he hated the crystal flower vase on the dining table, filled with fresh lilies and the way James kept swooning over it. 

It was easy to leave unnoticed by James. He was busy with his wedding plans after all. He didn't pack anything. It was just him, his leather jacket and his precious bike as he walked out of the flat and out of James' life with a heavy heart. 

He was just an easy fuck to james, a safety net when he needed it. He was not appreciated, not in a way he longed to be. James loved him, of course he did, but that was not what he wanted. 

He was a failure, an envious man who had let himself to believe there could be more than benefits in this mirage, something like romance. 

The roots wrapped themselves around his heart steadily.

….

It was raining again.

Sirius knew he was dying. His body was long ruined, nothing but a vessel, a rich soil for camellias to bloom and roses to grow. His lungs were filled with petals and thorns were wrapped around his heart, a constant pain to remind him of a lover that was not his.

His magic was gone and his lungs had collapsed. Without Regulus' magic he would have been long dead. He didn't care. He didn't have the strength to argue with his brother. His time was limited, he could sense it. Camellias had bloomed in his once beautiful grey eyes today, using his tears as water and  long lashes as a fancy flower pot for the world to see his misery.

Hanahaki was not pretty, it was a curse, an ugly disease. He already looked like a decaying corpse in an unknown forest, wrapped in wild flowers, forgotten and torn.

Tears and petals fell from his eyes and he coughed, blooms sloshing in his lungs painfully. Blood ran down his lips and camellias exploded through his veins, destroying his heart. He reached out blindly, searching for something to grab on, for someone to hold on to. 

He dreamed of James and his selfish desire for him, of his unwavering love. On and off…he dreamed and faded. 

Someone grabbed his lifeless hand and caressed his sweaty hair. It felt like James. What a sweet dream, of James being here with him instead of being with Lily. 

"Beloved…" he heaved. Fever and hallucinations were taking over.

"Beloved…my beloved star…" a distant voice was calling out to him. 

"I'm sorry love. I am sorry. I was blind…I was stupid." The voice sounded like James.

Delusions were painful, yet Sirius let himself to believe. Maybe he could pass on in peace. He struggled with more coughs, petals and blood falling from his lips. Breathing was hard now.

"Beloved…don't reject me…believe me…" 

In the back of his mind, Sirius could hear heartbreaking sobs. They were frantic yet they lulled Sirius to sleep like the most pleasant lullabies.

He always loved James' voice. 

****

It was sunny when he opened his eyes. 

There were no flowers in his eyes anymore. They had withered and his sight was back, as sharp as ever. There was air in his lungs now without magic stabilising him and the horrible pain was gone. 

He looked around, confused. 

James…James was there by his side, glasses askew and hair messier than ever. He looked haggard and awful as if he had aged a century, as if he was the one with the Hanahaki.

The moment he saw Sirius, he didn't hesitate. He pulled him close, kissing him frantically, touching his face with shaky hands to assure himself this was not a dream.

"Give me another chance. Please let me love you " he begged brokenly before Sirius could even open his mouth, shamelessly crying.

Sirius smiled tiredly, nodding against his chest. He had missed James' warmth. "Don't mess up this time," he said simply,

and James didn't. 

[readercognito]

Palladium x Reader

A Mortal Trial Chapter 4

Masterlist

(Y/n) had gone with Athos to his homeland as soon as she could pack and say goodbye to her friends and family. The ceremony would take three days to properly prepare, but Athos had asked (Y/n) to come and stay for a week beforehand so she could get used to his homeland. (Y/n) had readily agreed, excited to see the world her soulmate had come from. Athos had given her his guest room to stay in, so they could get used to each other before a physical relationship was formed.

(Y/n) had quickly fallen in love with the Elf Kingdom. It was beautiful and always bright and sunny, and was covered in all sorts of mind boggling flora and fauna. Athos, always happily showing and explaining bits of the nature of his homeland. It was clear that he was an avid nature lover, even more so than the rest of his race. So when he told her that he was the herbology and nature magics teacher at Alfea, (which apparently was a very prestigious fairy school), it just made sense. Even though his homeland was astonishing to (Y/n), something that she found increasingly endearing was that Athos never disparaged her, or gardenia in any fashion. Though the magic realms and the elf kingdom itself was far more exquisite than her home.

Which, despite Athos’ cheerful and kind manner, had her feeling self conscious about the whole thing. The elves matched the beauty of their homeland, breathtaking and exotic. Which made (Y/n) feel like a toad amongst lilies, making her wonder if Athos actually cared about her at all. Or if she was just a means to an end for him. Being forced to act so kind to her since she was the holder of his magic, the appearance of Cerilla hadn’t been much help in this line of thinking.

Cerilla had been friends with Athos since they were children, everyone had expected they would be fated. Or at the very least get together at some point. Athos’ friends and family had been obviously shocked when he had brought (Y/n) home, telling everyone that she was his fated other half. Let’s just say they didn’t exactly jump for joy. They were kind, but the disappointment was obvious. Which just made poor (Y/n) feel even sorrier for herself, it had been fine for the first few days. Athos had been a delightful distraction, showing her around and telling her everything he knew. He had even managed to give her a tour of the school, which was still in session for the summer programs. The students were sweet and it amazed (Y/n) the extent of things that could be done with magic, Athos even letting her try out a spell or two. It was basic, but it thrilled (Y/n) to even lift a small stone.

But day four, had brought Cerilla… The gorgeous childhood friend of Athos Palladium. It really didn’t help that the Palladiums were as close to her as he was. And the slight feeling of being left out went into a full blown isolation. And during a particularly lively little get together with the Palladiums and friends, (Y/n) had excused herself to a rather small balcony, as far away from the party as she could be without outright leaving.

As she spent a few minutes out on the balcony, she contemplated what was going to happen in the next few days. (Y/n) was worried about the ceremony, and what would happen afterwards. Would she be discarded? Thrown away after returning the magic back to Athos? So many similar questions flooded her mind. But one main worry sat at the forefront…

Did Athos love Cerilla?

They had been rather close ever since she came. Which made sense in a way that (Y/n) hated to admit. But Cerilla wasn't just a beautiful elvish woman, she was a close friend and old one at that. (Y/n) felt like a stranger when she was around them both… Telling stories, and having inside jokes that she didn't share.

But her melancholy musings were knocked out of their spiral by the opening of the balcony door. (Y/n) was tempted to hide, but she chose to stay at her place by the banister. A familiar voice made her turn.

“This feels familiar.” Athos said with a smile. But it quickly faded as he felt the energy of the room.

(Y/n) tried to hide her expression behind a smile. But her downcast demeanor wasn't lost on Athos.

His brows furrowed in confusion, he wondered what on earth could make (Y/n) feel so down. His family hadn't been the warmest yes… but that hadn't bothered her before…

“(Y/n)? What's the matter?” He says approaching her with an open and sympathetic expression.

(Y/n) sighs and shakes her head, turning back to the stars. “It's nothing really.”

(Y/n) wasn't really sure why she had said that, but a flicker of hope, and dare she say affection lit in her heart as Athos said.

“(Y/n), I can tell it's more than ‘nothing.” He gets closer, standing next to her. She leans into the warm hand he puts on her shoulder. “Talk to me (Y/n)…” He says, almost pleading.

(Y/n) takes a deep breath, it shakes as it leaves her. “I just don't know how to phrase it, it feels so silly… But I can't help but feel down…”

(Y/n) looks at Athos, seeing nothing but warmth and patience reflected in his amber eyes.

So she continues, “to be honest… I'm worried, and I feel out of place…” She trailed off. Unwilling to unload her feelings at this party.

But Athos wouldn't have any of that. That was, until someone else opened the door.

It was Cerilla.

[formerlycookierunauprompts]

a few head cannons you might find interesting in writing or doing stuff for shadow milk cookie all so you are a fastttt writer!

-cookies dont need to eat to stay alive but they still do feel hunger and eat so you can imagen the annoying pain you would get from not eating and they have been trapped for a LONGG time

-it would be really hard to even rest or sleep in the things the Beast cookies where jailed in so it would probably lead to them being very tired

-being jailed like they where for so long would basically be hell so i would imagine that he would not like letting his guard down or sleeping and resting which would make his tiredness worse

-he would probaly pass out now and again even in fights or situations because of the other two ideas above (small idea with the him passing out in a fight if your up for it)

from Little Silly Idea Trash Box

Box Anon(is it okay if I call you that?) I am in love with these.

Requested Prompts #5 - 💔

Shadow Milk Cookie blinked rapidly, struggling to keep his eyes open so he'd stay awake. He never knew how Eternal Sugar could just sleep so carelessly in their prison of silver, did she not realize that so long as they stayed here, their power would be drained? Without them physically fighting off the drainage, they'd lose their power a lot quicker. It was so boring in here, there was quite literally nothing to do except sleep, and wait. He could feel his hunger ravage through him, even though cookies don't actually need to eat anything he still felt it. And it always bothered him, always. Then, he heard it. A crack. And that made him curious, just what could make a noise like that in a place like this? Curiously, he trotted over to the bars of his prison of silver. He didn't feel the usual drain when he touched them, so then what was going on? They bended so easily under his grasp too, he might as well just- Creeaaaak- SNAP! " Oho?" He mused to himself, almost delightedly. Had the time finally come? Could he leave this awful, awful place and grace Earthbread with his presence once more? He couldn't wait~! Ah, right, shit he forgot about the vine seal. Pesky White Lily Cookie and her stupid plant magic things. He stepped out from the remnants of his cage, the shadows within the small pocket dimension eagerly swimming to great him. He greeted them in a nonchalant manner as he walked over to the vine seal, close enough to notice it's decay. Is this really happening? He didn't fall asleep, right? He bites himself (ow) just to make sure. Yep, it's real alright. Oh how he missed the world, and with the vine seal crumbling before him, well, he can't miss this opportunity to pop in for a visit, no? He could just tell the others about it later, after all, he has an audience to entertain, doesn't he? He'll have to deal with his annoying hunger as well, after all he can't properly entertain with an annoy stomach telling him and almost everyone else that he needs to eat.

....

Or, what happened before the Vine Seal broke, told from the perspective of Shadow Milk Cookie. Plus bonus headcanons!

After his initial introduction, the battle with Shadow Milk was more of an endurance battle as he still hadn't recovered his full strength.

If I want to lead into my self-insert au in this then once Shadow Milk gets tired out Pure Vanilla tries to seal him and it actually works somehow??? I dunno but now we have a sealed shadow milk cookie.

He did, in fact, consider trying to eat part of himself or another cookie. i think Shadow Milk should be allowed to partake in a bit of cannibalism.(influenced by silly friend worming their way into my brain.)