#lulu reads when i arrived at the castle

[libraryleopard]

Adult gothic horror graphic novel

A nameless woman arrives at a countess's castle on a dark night and finds herself entangled in a dark game of predator and prey

Sinister & erotic

Unsettling, vivid art

[hah-studios]

Wish Rewrite

Okay so I got this outta my system. I'm in no way saying this idea is better than the movie. But at least I'm getting my Star Boy fix!

Prologue read via old timey story book:

Once upon a time, not so long ago, there was an island called Rosas. While beautiful, Rosas became terrorized by a monster. The brave, good people of the island tried to slay it, but they were beaten each time.

Then, out of nowhere, came a powerful sorcerer named Magnifico; with his abilities he slayed the beast and freed the people. Rosas was so grateful they named him and, his his beautiful wife, Amaya, king and queen.

The new king would go on to prove how generous and good he truly was: by using his magic to grant wishes…

We are introduced to Asha, who was reading the history of Rosas to her baby goat, Valentino. Several books are surrounding her at home, one of which Valentino is trying to eat. Through talking to the small goat the audience learns more about Asha, while intelligent and hard working, she is shy and a workaholic, always studying and offering tours to visitors. Today is the day she applies to be the apprentice to King Magnifico, like the rest of Rosas she idolizes him and believes following in his footsteps will give her a sense of self. She will look at a picture of her late grandfather who raised her, promising that she will help make wishes come true in honorof his that was never granted.

She goes to guide the newest tour (Welcome to Rosas, with an added on segment talking about the love the king and queen share) where we learn of how King Magnifico and Queen Amaya benevolently rule the island. When citizens turn 18 they offer their wishes to Magnifico who will protect the wish until it is time for it to be granted.

After the tour Asha goes to the royal kitchens were her best and only friend Dahlia is a royal baker. They talk about Asha’s application. Dahlia reassures Asha that she will get the job, and admits she hopes it’ll give her a boost of confidence to maybe make some new friends. Asha says she already has Dahlia and doesn’t need anyone else. It is then Queen Amaya (holding her skinny tabby Lulu) arrives to escort Asha to the king. This version of Amaya feels untouchable, her voice calm and collected as she tells Asha to not waste time, don’t ask to see the wishes, and yes they had received the several letters Asha sent asking for an interview.

Asha is then left in a study where she notices a peculiar door, but Magnifico arrives before she could examine it. He is a charming man, his presence seeming to fill the room as he carries a staff with an emerald tip. Asha is clearly intimidated but he’s polite as he introduces himself, even offer his condolences for her grandfather’s passing-knowing she’s an orphan. Trying not to trip over herself Asha praises the king for his hard work and shows off her knowledge of magic and Rosas. Magnifico is impressed. And after Asha passionately tells him how her ‘wish’ is to help protect Rosas, it’s people and wishes, Magnifico decides she’s worthy to be his apprentice and they’d have the announcement that night.

The people crowd before the castle that night, Asha hurries to tell Dahlia the good news. But Gabo overhears her announcement and makes a snide remark about her overworking and ‘sucking up’ to the king and queen. He is quickly shushed by Bazeema who looks almost afraid of Asha now that she has such a high status. But she returns to the stage to witness Amaya whisper in Magnifico’s ear. He then announces the person to have their wish granted that month; a woman who wants to be a professional dress maker. After using the staff to grant the wish he makes a joking comment that she can now make his wife hundreds of beautiful dresses. He then summons Asha forward to announce her as his new apprentice. Asha happily exclaims how excited she is to help the people, but she is given a frosty reception, murmuring about how they find her weird, are resentful for failing their own applications, and don’t know how this shy girl who never engages with the locals outside tour duty, could become someone as great as their king. Asha takes the doubt but once she can she leaves the stage, tripping in the process and embarrassing herself further. She runs off with Valentino into the forest (This Wish) and ends up noticing one of the brighter stars. She remembers hearing how once upon a time, wishes came from stars. Not seeing any harm to it she wishes to become a wonderful magic user and become as great, if not greater, than the King himself.

The star suddenly seems to glow brighter and get bigger, Asha realizes too late it’s because it’s getting closer. She is knocked into by a human sized ball of light, rolling across the grass before kicking it away from her. It’s to her great shock that the ball of light was…a boy. A handsome boy he glows faintly, his hair a pure golden color that flows like he is underwater, he dusts himself off as he hovers off the ground. They have an awkward but cute introduction, the Star not understanding personal boundaries and getting right up into Asha’s face, giving her a too enthusiastic hand shake when offered and floating around as if there’s no gravity. Asha quickly deduces he’s a star that came down when she summoned him. Her hypothesis is further proven when he tosses some dust on Valentino who then starts to speak. (He is not voiced by Alan Tudyk in this rewrite, instead he will have a voice that better fits his character design. He will be a mixture of Olaf and Jiminy Cricket in terms of personality/role in the story). Asha asks Star to give her the same dust so her wish will be granted, but Star shakes his head. He is mute and tries to explain using sign language, but that’s one book Asha hasn’t read yet. She decides to call him Star before leading him back to the city, he can stay at her house until she figures out what to do with him. On the way he fonds over the animals, hitting them with a few clouds of golden dust (ex. A brown squirrel turns red, a bird’s nest gets an upgrade).

The next morning Asha brings Dahlia over and shows her Star (both he and Valentino would be hiding out in the chicken coop). Dahalia is at first concerned her friend has a man hidden away, but after Asha explains they agree to take him to King Magnifico to see what he has to say. However they want Star to stay under the radar and not get noticed by the townspeople. This is when Star reveals he’s a shapeshifter, transforming into a copy of Valentino, the only different is his eyes are still gold.

The four arrive into town and while things go to plan at first, Star’s natural curiosity has him running off to explore the town, Asha and friends trying not to lose him. He comes across Simon who looks miserable and exhausted at an outside table. Empathetic, Star discreetly puts some star dust in his cup of tea. When he drinks it he’s suddenly energized and is flabbergasted. He turns around just as Asha appears and picks up Star, he asks her if she’s already learned magic from Magnifico, even stating he had just been wishing he could take something that would make him less tired. Asha is awkwardly silent, not wanting to take credit but also not wanting to reveal what Star is. But Simon pays no mind and drags her to his friends so he can show them he’s no longer tired. There is then a montage of the seven dwarves based characters showing off their problems and Star uses his abilities to grant these small unspoken wishes (he gets a jar of honey for Safi to help with his allergies, a chicken coop so Dario can have his own chickens, dancing shoes for Hal, a stress toy for Gabo, Bazeema’s secret introverted hide out, and even a bag of a very rare ingredient for Dahlia so she could make a special recipe she mentioned at the beginning of the film). Throughout this scene we see Asha opening up a bit more to the characters, starting to form friendships. While in Bazeema’s new hideout they talk of having a little party with dancing and treats and in his excitement Star accidentally drops his disguise and reveals his true form. The group is shocked and Asha is forced to explain who he is, though when Gabo tries to accuse Asha of tricking them Star immediately puts himself in front of her, defending her from the accusation. The other characters also come to Asha and Star’s defense and Gabo relents, though snarkily asks if they should tell the King there’s a wish granting, shapeshifting guy from space in Rosas. Asha will go alone to ask, leaving Star with the others.

She arrives at the castle, King Magnifico and Queen Amaya are surprised to see her so soon as he hadn’t summoned her but lets her in. Asha, feeling uncomfortable to just out and say what had happened, asks Magnifico what he knows about stars. The king looks momentarily surprised but quickly shrugs it off, he tells Asha that many years ago stars would grant peoples’ wishes, but only so they could have the human indebted to them. They were malicious creatures pretending benevolence so they could control the masses, one of the worst things was granting evil wishes and having people turn on the ones who wouldn’t make wishes. Amaya retells her how her parents were oppressed by stars after merely asking for food and a roof. Eventually it was decided that the newer generations would never wish on another star, and Magnifico dedicated himself to learning magic so he could help good people have their wishes granted without having to pay him back. And, unlike stars, he has a moral compass, so he would not grant any wishes that would harm people. He then looms over Asha and asks her if there’s something she needs to tell him. Asha looks visibly torn, her respect and admiration for Magnifico clashing with what he told her. Star is not at all like he had just told her, and Asha ends up reassuring him that no, she has nothing to tell him.

She returns to the hide out feeling like a traitor, wanting to talk to Star alone. But the group is already starting their party, dancing and making music. Star, spotting Asha, immediately pulls her onto the dance floor. The group cheers her on as they dance around, and Asha’s anxieties melt away as she’s swept up into the dancing. A spark is lit.

Asha, Star, and Valentino return to her house and this time the two go to her living room where he admires all her books and notices the picture of her grandfather. She tells him how much she loved the man, how he had taken care of her after her parents died, how much she missed how, how she wished his wish could’ve been granted. Star comforts her in her grief and she feels safe enough to tell him about what Magnifico said. Star reassures her the king is lying and Asha finds herself believing him, and yet the King is a great man who has done so much for Rosas-why would he lie to her?

It is Valentino who suggests they go do some snooping (not him though, he’s going to eat a cook book as soon as the two leave).

Star carries Asha into the sky, unable to resist showing off to her first. Asha let’s herself enjoy the feeling of being in the air, feeling like she could reach out and touch the star or hold the moon. They slip inside via the highest balcony, Star transforming into a mouse and riding on her shoulder as Asha sneaks through the castle. They are only spotted by Lulu who tries to eat Star before Asha reaches the study and slams the door, the cat slamming its face into it.

Said study is empty and at first Asha thinks to skim through the books for answers but Star notices the door. Transforming into a flea he slips under the door and opens it from the other side. It leads down a dark stair case with a golden light at the bottom. The two share a glance before starting to go down-only for green light to envelope them both and drag them back up the stairs into the study.

The King and Queen are standing there, Lulu on Amaya’s shoulder, clearly the one who had warned them of the intruders. Magnifico tells Asha she didn’t have to sneak in to deliver them a star, the young girl immediately puts herself between her friend and the king. She tries to tell them he’s not like they think, he’s a good kind person who helped people grant wishes without asking for anything in return. But with his staff Magnificio wraps the green energy around Star like chains and Amaya drags Asha away from him. They call Asha a fool if she thinks they’d let one little star ruin the years of work they’ve put into maintaining their kingdom. That they picked what wishes are to be granted. That the people worshiped them. Asha is forced to realize the kind rulers she wanted to be like-are a lie. Magnifico comments to his wife that Star’s power could be very useful to them. In an act of desperation Asha kicks out, knocking the staff out of the king’s hand. Amaya, not expecting Asha to lash out, looses her grip on her. Once the staff hits the ground the green chains evaporate and Star transforms into a giant golden bird, grabs Asha and flies out of one of the study’s high windows.

Magnifico is furious that they got away but Amaya calms him down, reminding him that the people of Rosas would not believe those two over their loving rulers. She remarks that maybe it’s time to grant Lulu’s wish. Magnifico agrees and his magic mutates the cat into a sabortoothed giant tabby that runs out of the room to go hunt down Asha and Star. The king and queen reprise the segment of Welcome to Rosas dedicated to them, now in a minor key with new context.

Asha and Star escape into the forest, where they first met(they are next to a lake). Asha is crying, heartbroken and scared over what will happen next. Her whole goal in life was built around a lie. How will they stop people as powerful as the royal couple?

Author’s note here; this is a part where I’m not sure how to go about it. My idea is Star comforts Asha and it will lead into a duet, because the demo version of At All Costs is heavily romantic-coded and is perfect to show how much the two have grown to care for each other. But my version of Star is mute so I haven’t figured out how to work around that besides the song being sung over them instead of being sung by them. So please hold that thought

The two share a romantic scene, flying in the sky, dancing among the clouds and coming this close to sharing a kiss.

They are interrupted by the arrival of Lulu who tries to attack them, Star transforms into a giant cat as well, putting himself between Lulu and Asha. But before the Queen’s cat can attack them, Dahlia and the others suddenly appear via carriage and accidentally knock the giant cat into the lake. Lulu splutters out of the water and runs back to Rosas.

The gang tells the two they saw Star flying away and then the king and queen made an announcement that Asha is a traitor and trying to usurp them and ruin Rosas. The news not sitting right with the group they decided to follow, worried for the two. Asha is grateful for their help and touched when they point out its what friends are for. But now they must go hide because the whole town will be looking for them.

On the way back Asha tells them what had happened. Like her they are shocked the king and queen could be villains, but they also don’t think Asha and Star are liars. So they have to make a plan to figure out what the two are hiding and, if necessary, defeat them. (What I Know Now, which adds in a segment for the king and queen ‘lamenting’ that their people don’t know what’s best for them). There is a short moment during this song where it’s revealed Valentino knows sign language, having learned to read from Asha reading to him-and making a point to read books before he eats them. Asha tells him there’s a saying she’d like to learn but the scene cuts before we learn what it is.

The plan is that Star will dash the group with some dust to make them glow and they’d run through the town and forest ‘pretending’ to be Star. This would serve to distract the king and queen long enough for Asha and Star to go back to the study and go through the door. Star also gives Asha a stick and blesses it with his magic for her use. The plan is going off without a hitch, Asha while trying to find information in the study comes across a small journal. She reads it aloud as they open the secret door and go down the stairs:

Years ago, Magnifico wished for magic. A star came down to grant his wish, admiring his ambitions. However Magnificio turned on the star and trapped her, now absorbing her power to grant peoples’ wishes. They reach the bottom of the stairs to see an older woman chained to the ground; the star from the journal. Asha and Star are horrified by this revelation, but before they could free her Magnifico appears having expected them to come back.

Asha accuses him of lying about the stars being malicious, and the king instead says the stars were too scared to risk coming down to grant a human’s wishes. “Except that one, it seems.” He glares at Star and tells him that he would be his new battery and help lead Rosas to even more triumphs. In fact, why stop at Rosas? He could grant wishes of people all over the world, they’d be so grateful they’d do whatever he asked.

Furious Asha lunges at him but Magnificio stops them with his staff and drags them back upstairs to where Amaya is waiting. He offers Asha to his queen, not needing her. Amaya then reminds the young girl of the history of Rosas, how there was a monster that terroized the people…Asha watches in horror as Amaya transforms into a large dragon-esque creature. She is able to escape the study and Amaya chases after her. Star, furious and terrified transforms into his own version of a golden dragon-esque creature and manages to escape Magnifico’s grasp.

Asha is chased outside, nearly killed by Amaya before Star arrives and knocks her away. While the two giants fight Asha hurries back inside to deal with Magnifico.

We cut to a scene of Dahlia and co being surrounded by the villagers, but the townsfolk are starting to waver having seen how much happier the group is thanks to Star granting their wishes. Lulu then appears, prepared to eat them. Valentino, leading an army of the animals Star befriended, chases the big cat off into the woods. Disillusioned the townsfolk follow Dahilia, Valentino, and co back into town to witness the rest of the battle.

Asha, still brandishing the wand Star gave her, witnesses Magnifico dragging the star out of her cell and absorbing so much of her magic that the woman loses the rest of her glow and falls to the ground. Asha tries to attack him but the king teleports the two of them to the roof, ready to throw Asha off and strike Star with his magic. Asha is able to use her wand to keep him from hurting her or Star, but eventually he is able to snatch the wand from her and break it. Desperate, Asha tries to physically wrestle the staff away from him.

 Suddenly there’s a scream, Amaya having bit down on Star’s neck. Magnificio moves to fire at Star to finish him off, but Asha with her own hands still on the staff is able to redirect it and the blast hits Amaya instead. She is evaporated and Magnifico cries out in horror and rage. However the damage is done for Star, transforming back into human form he floats up to Asha slowly losing his golden glow. He holds her cheek for one moment before falling on the roof, completely gray and presumed dead. Asha cries and hugs him, unable to believe this is how the story ends. But then Magnifico grabs her with his magic and drags her away, Asha desperately trying to fight against it, only able to hold onto Star’s hand. The king summons storm clouds to completely cover the sky, vowing revenge against the entirety of Rosas, against the entirety of the world for killing Amaya.

All seems lost, yet Asha starts to softly sing (This Wish (Reprise)), and after a few moments her friends and the townspeople below start singing along, wishing for Star to be revived. We have a short scene of the star woman waking up and hearing the singing from outside. But everyone's sincerity in the wish allows Star to be revived, glowing brighter than ever. Asha, relieved and full of hope, gets up to face against Magnifico. He tries to shoot her with magic but Star’s glow serves as a wall of protection for her, and as she slowly walks toward the man he gets more frantic and desperate, unable to see because of Star’s bright light. He continues to step back until he reaches the edge, loses his balance and starts to fall, Asha grabs his staff as the man vanishes into the roiling ocean below. She then shatters the staff on the roof. The magic shoots out into the sky, wishes given to Magnifico returned to its owners and the star woman brought back to her full strength.

Star is flying around the sky, ecstatic. Asha calls his attention and we see her sign/say the words: “I love you.” (having learned them from Valentino). It is like a firework goes off as Star happily picks her up and twirls through the sky with her, Asha laughing gleefully before finally kissing him.

When the two return to the ground they receive a group hug from their friends. They find the broken stick Magnifico had tossed and Asha apologizes to Star for breaking it, but he simply puts it back together. Dahlia comments that her magic use was pretty impressive considering she had had no real experience. Valentino smugly saying she was greater than the former king. It’s then Asha realizes that Star had helped grant her wish-she just needed to meet him halfway. He winks at her when she makes this realization.

The star woman then appears, stepping out of the castle, looking poised and formidable. Asha tells the townspeople what Magnifico and Amaya had done to her and the people are filled with shame that she had suffered right under their noses. Asha gives her a formal apology and after a moment the star woman nods and smiles kindly, having been impressed by the goodness in these humans. She had thought they would all be vile like the king and queen.

She starts to float, planning on going back to the sky. She looks expectantly at Star, expecting him to come with. Asha is stricken at the thought but reassures him she wouldn’t be like Magnifico and force him to stay. In response Star holds Asha’s hand and gives the star woman a resolute look. She blinks, looking a bit surprised, but then nods and even gives them a small curtsy as if they were royalty. She then shoots upward to become the brightest star in the sky.

At the epilogue Asha and Star are learning all they can on how to lead Rosas, the town wanting them to be their new king and queen. She is getting better at her magic and signs fluidly. They have Dahlia and co be a sort of council for them. With Star’s encouragement people are doing their part to make their wishes come true. Valentino is in charge of Lulu who is going through a program to be nicer, it’s a work in progress.

The final shot is Asha and Star standing at the balcony, sharing a kiss as the scene pans up to show the night sky. The stars look brighter than ever.

Credits roll.

[holylulusworld]

Dishonored

Title: Dishonored

Summary: You fell. For his lies. For him. From grace.

Pairing: Prince!Steven Grant Rogers x Princess!Reader; Lord Barnes x Princess!Reader (no polyamory)

Warnings: heavy angst (I’m not joking), lies, manipulation, hurting people for revenge, implied loss of innocence, unwanted/unplanned pregnancy, Steve being the worst, sadness, hopelessness, desperation, suicidal tendency/suicidal thoughts, attempted suicide, fluff, we stan Bucky in this story

Rating: Mature

Words: 2,7 k 

Square filled for @anyfandomfluffbingo: Square 9: “I never loved you.”

Square filled for Lulu’s Winter Bingo 2022: Square 4: Winter

Square filled for @steverogersbingo: C3: Free space – Royal AU

Square filled for @buckybarnesbingo: C2: Sharing body heat

Please heed the warnings for this story. It contains triggering content such as attempted suicide.

You fell. For his lies. For him. From grace. 

How do you move on when your honor and grace get ripped away by the man who promised you love and devotion?

He lured you in – sweet-talked you into giving him the one thing you cherished the most. Your honor and innocence. Reserved for your future husband, and the man loving you unconditionally.

Lies. All lies.

It was a moment of weakness making you stumble and fall. Into his bed. Into his arms.

He took you apart, gentle, and slow. A miracle to you when you think about the aftermath.

A few months earlier, your father’s castle

“I can't believe Prince Steven came to woo me,” you mumbled to yourself. The prince arrived earlier this morning and you hoped your dreams would come true. You always felt a deep connection to the prince, and now, he’s here to talk to your father.

“Princess!” Your chambermaid scolded. “You shouldn’t be out here in the cold! Your father called for you. He wants you to meet Prince Steven. He will stay at the castle for a few weeks until he travels to his uncle’s castle.”

Your face fell. He came here to sit out the approaching snowstorm, nothing else.

How could you have been foolish enough to believe he came to ask for your hand?

“I’m…coming,” you tried to not cry. All your hopes and dreams ended up on the ground - shattered and torn. “We cannot let our guest wait.”

“Father,” you stepped confidently toward your father to peck his cheek. He was always soft on you, and let you break a few rules. Especially when it came to etiquette. You’re his little thunderstorm, a wild child with a bright mind and softness that’s hard to find among royals. “I heard we have a guest.”

“He’ll be here in a minute,” the king softly said. He ran his hand over your hair and patted your head. “I need you on your best behavior. I angered the prince, and we don’t want him to tell his father the king about it.”

You wrinkled your forehead. “What? I don’t understand,” you whispered so no one could hear. Your father is one of the kindest people you know. How could he possibly anger the prince?

“Your Highness,” Steven walked inside the throne room, accompanied by his best friend, and confident Lord Barnes. The brunette watched you with interest while the prince’s eyes drifted toward your brother and his fiancé, Lady Margaret Carter. “I see the princess will join us for supper.”

“Your Highness,” you turned your attention toward the prince. “It’s a pleasure to meet you again. It’s been too long.” 

Steven eagerly took your offered hand to press a chaste kiss to the back of it. “The pleasure is all mine. Thank you for having me.”

“Lord Barnes,” you smiled at the brunette. Last time you saw him he was reading a book in the garden, chuckling at something he read. “I hope you’ll enjoy your stay. The library is always open for you.”

“Princess,” Lord Barnes smiled wildly. “You look as beautiful as ever.”

“Oh…my…you are too kind, Lord Barnes,” you replied gracefully and batted your eyelashes. “It’s always a pleasure having you around.”

Supper was more than pleasant. Lord Barnes kept the conversation flowing while the prince watched you the whole time. He complimented you and raised his glass on your beauty and grace.

You were surprised. His eyes seemed to be glued to your brother and his fiancé. Out of a sudden Prince Steven turned his attention toward you. He even stopped his friend from talking to you.

Your cheeks heated up, and you felt warm when he placed his hand next to yours, subtly brushing your pinkie with his finger.

It was the first time he was so close, and you allowed yourself to bask in his attention for as long as it lasted. 

The next days felt like a dream come true. Steven asked you to spend time with him and go for a walk in the gardens. For propriety's sake, a chaperon accompanied you and Steven. But you didn’t care at all.

The moments spent with the prince were the best of your life. He made you smile, and laugh and your heart flutter.

All that mattered to you was his smile, his soft blue eyes, and the way he looked at you. It was the same way your father looked at your father and your brother at his chosen bride.

“I wish these days will never end,” you dared to hope Steven would say the same.

He took you by surprise when he replied. “Even if they end,” he looked you deep in the eyes, leaning a little closer to whisper, “I’ll always come back to you."

The prince was about to press a soft kiss on your forehead when your chaperone stepped in.

“Your Highness, please do not forget you are wooing for a princess, not a wench. Remember your manners,” she tutted. “We should head back inside. It’s getting colder, and I can smell the snow.”

Marjorie, your chaperone was right. Winter came faster than expected, accompanied by a snowstorm that wouldn’t let up.

The whole country was suffering from the cold weather and the snow masses.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. The snowstorm and unforgiving winter kept Steven and Lord Barnes from leaving your castle.

You didn’t mind. Most of the time you spend with Steven, chatting about his kingdom, childhood, and love.

Yes. Love.

You held hands, and when your chaperone wasn’t looking, he even stole kisses. Steven promised you that love is the most precious thing to protect in this world.

He played you well, you give him that.

Your heart couldn’t take being apart from Steven for a single moment. So, you gave him everything you had to offer, and what he was craving. 

On one of these cold winter nights, you let him sneak into your bedroom, and take you to bed. He kissed you, and when he settled between your thighs you believed he would make you his wife and love you forever.

When it was over, he smirked, and his eyes grew cold. Your heart dropped as he hastily redressed. “Steven, what are you doing?”

“My plan went well, didn’t it?” He looked at you, making you feel ashamed of yourself. You grabbed the blanket to cover your body. The one he ruined with his touch. 

“I don’t understand, Steven. My love. What has gotten into you? You said you love me.” You cried as he looked at you, wrinkling his nose at your disheveled state. 

“I never loved you,” he coldly replied. “Your father forced the woman I love to marry your brother,” he sneered and curled his lips. “I stole his beloved daughter’s innocence. What will he do if he finds out you are carrying my bastard under your heart?”

“Steven, I don’t…” Your voice trembled. “Why? I…”

“I came here to ask your father to stop this insanity and let me marry Margaret. I love her dearly. He refused and wanted to send me away.”

You remember now. Your father told you that he upset Steven.

“But…she came here, begging my father to help her. She wanted to marry my brother. Margaret wasn’t my father’s first choice. Some princesses and ladies were more beautiful and with a better reputation. He agreed because she was in love with my brother and threatened to kill herself if he didn’t allow her to marry my brother.”

“What?” He looked a little shell-shocked at your words but shook his head. “Lies!” Steven yelled, making you flinch. “Shut your mouth, wench. Never talk about Margaret like that again.” 

He left without looking back and slammed the door shut. Leaving you devasted, heartbroken, and ruined.

After that night, he never looked at you. He declared that he was going to stay at the guest wing until it was time to leave.

One month later, …

Hopelessness is the only thing left in your life. You can feel a new life growing in your womb. Every passing day brings you closer to doomsday. 

Soon you won’t be able to hide the secret. Soon everyone will know you got dishonored.

Foolish girl letting a man take what should have never been his.

You run your hand over your belly, choking out another sob. If you want to save what’s left of your honor, you must take matters into your own hands.

Shakily you glance at the balcony parapet again. If you do it now, you can save your honor, and your father’s. 

Stepping toward the parapet you release a shuddery breath.

What if it’s not high enough? What if you survive? What if they ask questions?

“No,” you step away from the parapet. This is the wrong way to go. You must let it look like an accident. Or maybe, if you can find someone selling you a potion, you can end your life painlessly and fast.

The river looked inviting to you. You looked at the floating water, fascinated by its power and grace.

Once upon a time, you were gracefully too. 

That was until your grace and innocence got ripped away from you like it meant nothing to him. “If I step into the river, it will be over soon. Maybe they will believe it was an accident. I slipped and fell into the river.”

Slowly, you stepped toward the water, closing your eyes for a moment. This was the only way to save your honor. The water would wash away the sin you committed and take your secret with it.

You took another step, and another until you felt the cold water kiss your feet. “Cold.” You whispered but walked farther into the water, feeling it tug at your gown. “It will be over soon, my little stardust.” You rubbed your belly. “I’m so sorry.”

The water surrounded you, almost reaching your waistline as you heard someone call for you. “Princess! NO!”

It was Lord Barnes. His heart stopped beating for a moment when he saw you in the river. He knew something was wrong with the way his friend acted out of a sudden.

“Nooo!” You heard the water splashing and then, two strong arms wrapped around you like anchors holding you in this world. “What are you doing, princess.”

“I cannot…he dishonored me,” you choked out a heartbreaking sob. “I cannot remain. No man will want me. Not after he took my innocence and…the baby…it will be a bastard.”

Lord Barnes stiffened when the words floated out of your mouth like the water in the river. He couldn’t believe his friend and confidant would do such a thing to you for revenge.

“My love. No,” he dragged you out of the water, and wrapped you in his arms, letting you cry in his chest until there were no tears left in you. Lord Barnes said. “Stay with me, my love. I’ll keep you warm. We need to keep each other warm.”

“But I—” You lifted your head to look at him with tear-clouded eyes. “You should’ve let me die. Father will…”

“He won’t know. Not about what happened with Steven, nor what you did today. What a coincidence I came by when you slipped and fell into the river,” he whispered and kissed your temple. “I came back to ask for your hand, and to wed you in spring.”

Your heart thundered in your chest at his words. “I’m…ruined. You don’t want me, or my bastard child.”

“I will love it like my own, my love,” he kissed your cheek. “You are not ruined, princess. Only a little broken. But we can fix this. I got my heart broken once too. We will heal together.”

“My lord, the babe…it’s not yours…I can’t…you can’t.”

“It’s cold, let’s head back to the castle and get you warm. I’ll call for a healer…”

“Not a word about her condition except for the cold,” Lord Barnes warned the healer. “If you say a word about the other thing,” he patted his sword, “you won’t be able to spend all the gold you’ll get.”

“Not a word,” the healer nodded and walked back inside your room.

“Marry my daughter?” Your father eyed Lord Barnes warily. He came back a few days after Prince Steven and he left the castle. Alone, and with a grim expression. “But…what about the prince?”

“He’s a foolish man, my king,” Lord Barnes growled. “He lost his heart one too many times to a pretty face. I cherish your daughter, her grace, and her kindness. If you allow me to woo her, I’ll be forever grateful. I’m not a prince but love her dearly.”

“She admires you too,” the king replied. “She talked about you, and that you love to read as much as she does. If my daughter agrees, I’ll agree on your bond.”

Lord Barnes didn’t wait until spring to wed you. He insisted on marrying you within another month. 

You watched him with sad eyes as he desperately tried to fix his friend’s mistake.

“Lord Barnes, you can still find a better bride,” you took his hand to press a soft kiss on his knuckles. “I’m thankful that you tried to save my honor, but I cannot make you miserable for the rest of your life.”

“My love,” he whispered. “I fell for you the first time we met. If only I knew about Steven’s plans, I wouldn’t have stepped back and let him woo for you.”

“It’s not your fault, only mine,” you sniffled, and wiped your eyes. “I wasn’t raised to become a wench. I decided to let him do this to me…”

“Y/N, you’re not a w-.” He shook his head. “Never use that word again,” he angrily said. “He was the one stealing the light from you. You’re still an innocent angel.”

“I know that I’m not,” you hid your face in his shoulder, allowing yourself to let the mask you wear so well slip. “You’ll get damaged goods, my Lord.”

“Call me James, or Bucky, my love,” he gently rubbed your back. “I promise, you are far from damaged goods for me. You are going to be my wife and I’ll love you. And the babe will get all my love too. They are going to mine.”

“What a beautiful pair, don’t you think?” Your mother asked. “She looks happy, my love.”

Your father smiled wildly as he watched you and your groom share the first dance. You smiled and laughed as Bucky twirled you around.

“I was worried about our daughter for a while. Prince Steven’s departure left her heartbroken,” the king held out his hand for his wife. “Let us join them and celebrate their union.”

The queen smiled and took your father’s offered hand. She didn’t have the heart to tell him the truth.

A mother always knows when her child is in need. 

She will never break her promise to herself and tell her husband that she saw you at the river when Lord Barnes saved you, or that she heard what you confessed.

“He is a good man, my love,” the queen whispered. “Our beloved daughter couldn't find a better man.”

While everyone celebrated your wedding and danced, Steven stood in a corner, watching you and his best friend happy together.

He squared his jaw and balled his hands into fists. His heart dropped watching Margaret and your brother join you on the dance floor. 

Everything he did was in vain…

Tags in reblog.

[s-creations]

Legacy (Yellow, Purple, Red, Green Story)

Peach was told 'A princess will know' when she was younger.

The problem was, she wasn't sure what she was supposed to know.

Fandom: Super Mario & Related Fandoms Rating: General Audience Audiences Warnings/Additional Tags: Original Characters Named, World Building, AU World Building, Minor Death Characters

It was an absolute mess outside. The wind and rain rattled the small structures that made up the large town. Between the late night and heavy rainfall, it was impossible to see outside. Even with how hard the storm raged, the citizens inside paid it no mind. 

They had all sheltered down the moment the winds began to pick up. Warm meals shared while the fire coming from the family room crackled softly. Same room where the members would retreat to once the food had been consumed. Either to play a game or read a book, passing the time until it was time to turn in for the evening. 

Those in the castle were no exceptions. 

While all should be asleep, the young princess, eight-years old, of said kingdom was wide away. Even with how late it was and how tired she felt, she just couldn’t fall asleep. The heavy pink duvet hooded over her head. Wide eyes filled with fear were stuck watching the rain pelt against her window. Flinching when lightning flashed in the sky. Letting out a small whimper at the rolling thunder that followed. 

Deciding she couldn’t take it anymore, Peach slid out from her bed. Making sure to grab her blue star plushie before going to the door.

The creaking sound of said door opening drew the attention of two passing guards. 

“Princess Peach?” The blue-capped Toad walked closer. Barely able to see the vivid blue eye peeking out from the crack. “You should be asleep.”

“Um…” Peach shifted weakly before lifting her plushie up, “Lulu couldn’t sleep… Can you take us to mom and dad’s room?”

“Of course, princess. We’ll take you there right away.”

Plushie clutched in one arm with the other clinging to a Toad, Peach attempted to look brave as they traveled the darkened hallway. But couldn’t help the look of relief upon seeing her parent’s door. 

The guard who was not being desperately clung to walked forward to knock on said door. There were a few moments of silence before it was opened. A large Toad casually peered out. Structure more similar to that of a human than a Toad. However, facial features were clearly that of the locals. Large, multi-colors spotted cap adorned his head. Small black eyes, barely open, peered around the hallway until they found the new arrivals. A black beard twitching as a small smile appeared on his face. 

“What seems to be the issue?” The King asked, voice naturally deep with an added layer of heavy sleep. 

“We’re sorry to disturbed you, King Matsutake. But it appears Lulu can’t sleep because of the storm and Princess Peach is worried.”

“Oh?” The smile grew as he turned towards his daughter, “Would Lulu feel better if you two stayed with us for the night?”

Peach silently nodded.

“Come here. Thank you two for bringing Peach here.”

Both guards gave a salute before going back to their rounds. 

Peach was easily lifted into her father’s arms and carried into the room. A small light had been created by the bedside light. The other occupant in the four post bed was sitting up, rubbing sleep from their eyes. 

“Mat, what’s wrong?”

“It appears Lulu can’t sleep.” The King replied softly. 

Peach reached out for her mother as they neared the bed. The female human let out a small laugh as she collected her daughter. Pale blue eyes filled with exhaustion still crinkled at the corners with her wide smile. Tucking brilliant blonde hair past her shoulder so Peach could rest comfortably against her mother. 

“Oh, my sweet little Peach,” Dahlia whispered as her husband climbed back into bed, “You’re such a wonderful person, worrying about others.”

The princess didn’t reply. Instead hid away when another roll of thunder sounded. 

“Would Lulu feel better if I told a story?”

Peach nodded.

“Very well…what story would they like to hear?”

Vivid blue eyes peeked out from the queen’s shoulder. A clear internal discussion happened, Peach eventually whispering, “The one when you and daddy met.”

Dahlia let out a gentle laugh, “You’ve already heard that one before.”

“But Lulu hasn’t.”

“Alright then, how could I argue against that?” Shifting so all could sit up properly, Dahlia collected her thoughts before starting.

“Well, let’s start with where I come from.”

“The Kingdom of Earth!” Peach eagerly whispered, “It’s why your ears are round.”

The queen laughed. “Hey now, this is my story. Also, it’s just Earth my sweetie, but you are correct. I do come from Earth. I was living my very ordinary life when I stumbled across something so strange. A large green pipe. Larger than me, hidden deep in the forest of the nearby mountains. It was indeed a  strange sight to see. But I wasn’t afraid when I saw it.”

“I was extremely confused and adventurous. I wondered ‘Who would build such an enormous pip and then just hide it?’ . Instead of being safe, going to ask for help, I walked into said pipe. I thought it would just go to the other side of the mountain.”

“Technically, it did.” Matsutake said with a smirk. 

“Well, the other side of my mountain, not yours,” Dahlia rolled her eyes, “Anyway, I was only a few feet in when I saw this bright light suddenly appearing on the other side of the pipe. And this light just grew and grew until it was everywhere. Then I was floating and before I knew it, I was being sucked down.”

“I felt as if I was falling. Falling past colors and clouds and other pipes. Down, down, down, I fell until I was spat out onto the other side.”

“Which is where I come in,” Matsutake leaned in closer, clearing his throat. Peach couldn’t help but giggle while Dahlia gave her husband an exasperated sigh. 

“So there I was, Prince Matsutake, out on my morning stroll. In the large mushroom forest just outside of these castle walls. Deep in thought as I contemplated how I would handle the title of King when it was rightfully passed down to me.”

“Weren’t you pouting because Papa wouldn’t let you duck out of some fancy meeting?”

“Sweetie, it’s my turn to talk.”

“Oh, I am so adding my commentary.”

“ Anyway, ” Matsutake emphasized his words by leaning further onto his wife and child, “as I was explaining my wonderful tale, I heard a very strange sound. Following it led me to uncover a large green pipe.” 

“Like what mama found!” Peach exclaimed.

“The very same! And, before I could fully figure out what in the world I was looking at, wham !” 

Peach jumped as her father’s hands clapped together. 

“Someone was shot out of the same pipe I stood in front of. Hit me hard and knocked me down. It took me a while to collect myself and when I did, I was met with a vision of absolute beauty.” 

“Aww, aren’t you just a charmer.”

Peach let out noise of complaint and covered her eyes as her parents shared a kiss. “Ew! What happened afterwards? Please continue!”

“Well,” Dahlia continued, “I was welcomed as a guest and…I stayed. I made a life for myself here.”

“What about Earth?”

“The pipe closed up once your mother arrived. We never figured out why or how to get it back open.” 

Peach pouted at that, “Never ever?”

Dahlia smiled softly, “Never ever. But I’m happy here. I met your father, married him, helped rule over a kingdom, and was able to meet you. I’m so happy.” 

Still pouting in thought, Peach nuzzled further into her mother. “...Did you always want to marry daddy?”

“Well, no, we started as friends and grew closer over time. We only had our first date a few months after I arrived here.”

“ Months? ” Peach’s mouth dropped open, “But that’s like forever! What about my story books?”

Matsutake laughed softly, “I’m sorry to say ‘love at first sight’ doesn’t really happen, love. It’s more of ‘looking back, you definitely caught my attention when we first met’ kind of thing.”

“There are many things that your stories don’t go over my dear,” Dahlia said softly, “But that’s why we’re here. Mom and dad are here to make sure you understand how the world works to the best of our knowledge. You come to us with your questions and fears, we provide the answers that we can.”

“But what if there’s something you can’t answer?” Peach whispered softly, “What if it’s something so confusing that I can’t put into words? How am I supposed to know who I’m supposed to marry?”

Dahlia laughed softly, placing a gentle kiss on Peach’s cheek. “You’ll be able to make your own answers when you’re older. You’ll find someone that you’ll unknowingly connect with until they’re someone you rely on for everything. You’ll know. A princess always knows.”

_____________________________

A pair of small feet pattered against the stone floors. Excited giggling echoed between the two princesses as they raced each other through the long hallways. The soldiers merely shook their heads as the girls passed. One dressed in garbs of pink and one of yellow. 

“Wait, wait, this way.” Peach quickly grabbed Daisy’s hand and turned them towards another hallway. One rather dark and clearly empty. But neither seemed bothered by it. In fact, they seemed even giddier upon seeing how alone they were. 

They slowed as they neared a small red pipe. Already hearing voices pouring out from it. The tone carried was angry and heavy with worry. 

“How did you find this?” Daisy whispered.

“I was curious why no one came down here,” Peach replied back softly, “I think everyone just thought this hallway was closed up.”

They were soon settled by the opening, lying on their stomachs as they listened intently. 

Peach’s father was first heard fully, tense, “We don’t need to be this worried about something that we know very little about. These are just rumors. Nothing more-”

“You weren’t there the first time this kingdom rose to power,” a cranky voice interrupted. A ping of something light hitting the ground, making a sharp snapping sound. 

Peach frowned. “I don’t recognize that voice.”

“That’s King Cranky Kong,” Daisy answered, “Papa says King Kong has been alive for years longer than I can count.”

“That long? So he’s a grandpa?”

“No, well, not sure. But he does have a lot of kids. One’s our age.”

“I never heard of him before.”

“I don’t think a lot of kingdoms are fond of King Kong. Says he thinks too far outside the box sometimes.”

“If the reports are true and taken to value, the Dark Lands have crowned a new ruler. We are in serious danger. This is not something to just…just toss aside!” Cranky Kong’s voice sounded again. 

“It would be more worrisome if there were any paths out of that kingdom. Their land is still in exile.” Daisy’s father, King Olivine, attempted to inject calm into the conversation. 

Cranky Kong scoffed, “If they’ve selected a new ruler, then they’re trying something. Trying to make a comeback. We need to think of a solution to this problem now.”

“Inciting terror will help no one. We’re not even sure what they’re planning, if anything. They may just… This might just be a want to rebuild their kingdom in a better way-”

“A better way? Are you daft or just stupid? You know that kingdom has a lineage of tyrants, they want nothing more than destruction. This is leading towards disaster.” 

“Cranky, you are really-”

“Mat, don’t you dare try and sway my position on this! If you really want to keep everyone safe-”

“Do not assume I am not looking out for the well-being of my kingdom.” 

“Then you need to start taking this seriously.”

Peach and Daisy exchanged worried looks.

“I’ve never heard dad sound that angry before.” Peach whispered fearfully. 

“Same…”

“Do you know where the Dark Lands are?”

“Papa says that’s where naughty children are sent to. No one likes it there, it’s scary.” 

“Now, what are you two doing here?” Both princesses let out a small shriek before standing quickly. Dahlia, dressed in a long, light blue dress, with silver accents of jewelry, an elegant crown resting upon her done up hair, stood before them. Hands clasped before her while she gave a knowing smile to the two girls. 

“You should know better.” The queen whispered.

“We were just curious.” Daisy muttered weakly. 

“These are not discussions children should be having, even if they’ve reached double digits in age. Come along, how about we have some afternoon tea until your father’s are done?” Dahlia shepherded them along, making sure to keep the girls in front so they wouldn’t run off. 

Even with her favorite spreads of treats before her, Peach couldn’t pull her thoughts away from what she heard from the red pipe. “Mom?”

“Yes, Peach?”

“Why is dad worried about the Dark Lands?”

Dahlia’s teacup paused halfway to her lips before letting out a small sigh. Placing said cup back down, gesturing to send the nearby guards away. Answering only when the doors closed behind them. “How much did you two overhear?”

“Don’t answer that, it’s a trap!” Daisy frantically whispered. 

“Sweetie, that’s not really helpful advice if I can hear you.”

Daisy flushed, giving a sheepish smile while Peach replied, “That the Dark Lands have a new king and King Kong is really not happy about it. Dad was upset with what he was saying.”

Dahlia tapped a finger on the table top, thinking for a few moments. Eventually clearing her throat and sitting up a little further. “Neither of you are allowed to bring this up with your fathers. These are not secrets that I’m sharing. These are notes that I want you to take to heart. Do you understand?”

Furious nods in response. 

“The Dark Lands are home to the Koopa’s Kingdom. They are a tyrant kingdom, they’ve threatened numerous lands to try and gain power. Years ago, long before your father or even his father were kings, those ruling over the Dark lands were…defeated.”

Peach frowned at the pause, but didn’t ask. 

“While the kingdom is powerful, they were lost without a ruler.”

“They’re so messy that they need a king?” Daisy asked in amazement.

“More of they’re that destructive. Without a ruler to command them, they’d sooner turn on each other than continue their ruler’s work.”

“Weird.”

“But it did benefit those they tried to destroy before. The armies were pushed back to their own lands.” Dahlia picked up a biscuit and held it up for the girls to see. “Once they were all back, the sections of Rainbow Roads and Warp Pipes that tied the lands together were broken.”

Peach couldn’t help but wince when the biscuit let out a loud snap as it was broken in half.

“They were banished to their own kingdom and will remain there if we have anything to say about it.”

“Then why is dad so upset? Or why King Kong is worried about a new king?”

Dahlia let out a slow sigh. “I’m…not really sure how to explain.”

“Are we going to war?” Peach asked fearfully.

“No! No, your father will never allow that to happen while he’s here. Even with their new ruler, the Dark Lands are still cut off from the rest of the worlds. Unless they suddenly gain the ability to fly, we’re still safe.”

“But why is dad so scared?”

Dahlia’s mouth opened slightly, only to pause when the door opened. King Matsutake walked in with a dramatic yawn. 

“Goodness, what a long meeting. And how are all you ladies doing in here?”

“We’re wonderful dear,” Dahlia smiled softly, “Just having a bit of tea with some gossip.”

“Well, hopefully you all didn’t fill up too much. I was about to invite you all to lunch.”

Peach and Daisy gave worried glances at each other before silently following along behind the adults.

_____________________________

“You really sure you should be hanging out with us? Pretty sure Toadsworth will blow a fuse if he sees us with you again.”

Peach, 17 years old, peered up at Wario’s question. Book placed in her lap as she eyed the brother’s current contraption. “What are you two even creating over there?”

“Self-operational grass cutter. And don’t you go changing the subject on me.” Wario argued back. Leaving Waluigi to focus on the final touches to their creation. “I figured you’d want to be at the castle…considering…”

Peach snapped the book closed. 

“Yes, my mother is ill. There’s…nothing I can do to help though. Our best healers are doing what they can. As well as dad’s been so paranoid lately. Between mother’s decline in health and more whispers about the Dark Lands and Bowser… I just really don’t want to be home right now.”

“Wait, wait, wait, what’s the news about this Bowser now?”

“Who’s Bowser?” Waluigi called out. Eyes still on the mechanical wonder.

“New ruler of the Dark Lands,” Wario replied with a frown, “You know this, I’ve talked about it before!” 

“Oh yeah… Wait, isn’t his kingdom in exile? Like, to the extreme?”

“People are worried that he’s trying to bring his Kingdom back to power.” Peach replied.

Waluigi let out a laugh. “As if. The only way he’ll be accomplishing that is if he makes his castle fly.”

“Is that possible?”

Wareio shook his head. “Unless he gains access to a lot of magic suddenly and knows how to use it well.”

“And I’ve never heard about anyone ‘finding’ magic,” Waluigi finished, “I’m gonna fire this baby up!”

“Do it away from us.”

“Alright, you whiner.”

Wario grumbled before turning back to Peach, “You sure you don’t want to… Do you at least want to talk about it?”

Peach puffed out her cheeks. “Only if we talk about your mother, if we’re being vulnerable.” 

A little blindsided by that request, Wario stepped back slightly, But he eventually nodded. “Fine…but not loud enough for Waluigi to hear.”

They looked over when there was a loud roar, followed by some choice words by Waluigi. Who was cursing at the black spew of smoke pouring out from the machine.

“I think he’s a little distracted at the moment. But can do.” Peach said.

“Fair. So…” Wario sat down, waving his hand for the princess to continue.

Peach sighed softly. Picking at her fingers before saying, “I’m really scared. We don’t know what’s wrong with mom. Mushrooms aren’t working. Everyone's so confused as to what could be happening and…and… Wario, I don’t think she has long to live. But she keeps smiling. Like she’s not close to death and that she’s living her best life! I-I don’t get it.”

“How’s your dad handling this?” 

“Horribly. He thinks he’s putting on a brave face for everyone. But if he’s not obsessing over making sure mom’s comfortable, he’s worrying about the Dark Lands.”

“I mean…I know the stories about that place and their past rulers. But what is your dad so frantic about it?”

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out!” Both winced at Peach’s sudden outburst. Giving Waluigi a small wave when the younger brother looked over. Who frowned but turned back to the machine.

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out,” Peach continued in a softer tone, “Cranky Kong’s words constantly ring in my ears, he knows what’s causing dad’s worries. No one will explain anything to me. I think dad’s told them to keep quiet around me. That's why I’m pulling these from the library.”

She lifted the book from her lap. “I’ve been reading over every history book I can get my hands on. Either from the castle library or the local one.”

“Found anything?” Wario asked.

“Not really. Just that the Mushroom Kingdom and the Koopa Kingdom have never gotten along. Always at each other’s throats, the Koopa’s seem to be the instigator in some way. But there was never a full reason given as to why this is. No explanation as to why it’s the Mushroom Kingdom that’s being fought over. It’s absolutely maddening.”

“I know you’re curious. But this clearly isn’t helping you.”

“It’s the only thing helping me focus on anything else besides my crumbling life. I feel like I’ll fall apart if I think about what’s going on around me.”

“Well…okay…”

Peach let out a slow sigh, tucking hair behind her ear. “...How’s your mom?”

Wario shrugged, “I mean, she’s alive. Suppose that’s the best I could say. She’s still convinced dad’s somewhere…out there…”

“You haven’t heard from him yet?”

“No…” Eyes darted over to Waluigi, “Bro thinks he went back to Earth.”

Peach blinked in surprise at that. “What? There’s no way. We would have known, dad has Toads stationed at the Warp Pipe.”

“You’re assuming there’s only one Warp Pipe to Earth.”

“...Do you really think he just…left?”

“Honestly, I don’t give a shit. Didn’t do too much for us when he was here. I’m more worried about keeping a roof over my head. Since mom’s determined to glue herself to the couch waiting for that ass to come back.”

“Do you need any help-”

“No.” Wario didn’t miss the way Peach flinched back. Shoulder’s dropping as he softens slightly. “Sorry, just…I’m fine.”

“You just need something to focus on.”

“Yeah…”

They both looked up hearing the machine roar to life once more. Waluigi let out a cheer of triumph that quickly turned to panic as the creation suddenly took off. 

Peach abandoning her book as she and Wario quickly got up. Following Waluigi as all three tore after it. Calling out frantically as the machine headed straight towards the gardens.

“Stop it! Toadswoth will be absolutely cross if anything’s damaged!”

“I’m working on it!”

_____________________________

The halls were deathly quiet. 

Heavy black drapes cover the windows, the castle only lit by torches and candles. The soldiers stationed were attempting to hold their heads high. But were clearly silently mourning, even after the time that had passed since the funeral. 

Even when walking along the carpeted portions of the halls, Peach felt as if her footsteps were echoing. Hands gently grasping the front of her black dress. Eyes focused on the path before her. Heart caught in her throat, thudding painfully as she drew closer to her destination.

Upon reaching the familiar bedroom door, she let out a slow breath before knocking on it.

No response.

She shouldn’t be surprised. But she’d be lying if she wasn’t hopeful. There was an allowance of a few minutes to be answered by someone before Peach pushed the door open. The bedroom was hidden by heavy shadows. The large fireplace offered the only light, which just made the shadows that much worse. 

Slumped over in the heavy armchair was King Matsutake. Dull eyes staring into the dancing flames, but clearly not seeing the fire before him. Even with how dark it was, it was easy to see that the colored spots had all changed. Either a dark brown or black. 

Even with how young she was, Peach knew what the color changing meant. Toadsworth told her once. 

“Brown just means aging, nothing to worry about. However, any darker than what I’m currently showing… Well, that just means that Toad has lived a fulfilled life.”

It had been the kind way of saying that a Toad was close to passing. Old age. No one said anything about a broken heart causing this.

Peach crept her way in. Stopping by her father in hopes to not startle him. “...Dad?”

Matsutake jolted slightly from his stupor. A little life drawn to his eyes as they turned towards his daughter. “Oh, Peach, when did you get here? Did your mother let you in? Where is she?”

It felt as if a knife had been stabbed in her heart. Peach swallowed down her sorrows and tears, weakly replying with, “M-Mom’s gone, remember? She…She went back to Earth, yeah? She s-said she loved us but couldn’t stay, even thought s-she really wanted to.”

“Oh, yes, that’s right. How wonderful that she gets to see her home. I do hope to see her again one day.”

Peach reached out to take her father’s hand, tears silently falling. “Well…hopefully it’s not too soon…”

“No…No, of course not. I hope I can stay with you for as long as possible.”

“M-Me too…”

.

.

.

It took everything for Peach to not collapse at the foot of the large tomb. Eyes focused on the horizon as her father’s casket was carried inside to be placed next to her mother’s. The dark gray sky seemed to be a perfect reflection of her internal sorrow. She couldn’t cry, just as there was no rain, but she was as bleak as the sky. 

She barely heard the words as citizens said their farewells. Ears filled with the rushing wind as her mind was filled with white noise. Her skin was ice cold, but overall, she felt numb. 

Peach was only broken from her stupor when a warm hand was placed on her arm. Her muscles felt stiff as she turned towards Toadsworth. 

“We need to be going my dear.”

“...Okay…”

She allowed her hand to be collected into one of his, following behind Toadsworth slowly as they made their way back to the castle. Dull blue eyes landing on her caretaker’s cap. Heart throbbing painfully seeing the brown spots mixed with the slowly dulling red. 

“You won’t leave…” It wasn’t a question, but it wasn’t fully a statement either. If anything, it was a quiet plea. 

“You’ll be with me for a very long time. I promise.” Toadsworth offered a weak smile, but faced forward when it was not returned. 

The sky finally opened up when they entered the castle. Rain fell heavily, as if the world wanted to give their own final farewell to the departed royals. 

_____________________________

It was all too much.

She had no one to turn to.

Daisy had her own kingdom to worry about. Even more so now as her father was demanding her to be more aware of her kingdom. A grim reminder to have her be ready in case something was to happen to him. 

Wario had closed himself away when Waluigi left home. No matter how many times Peach attempted to reach out. 

The Jungle Kingdom had closed their doors the moment of King Matsutake’s passing.

There were furious and fearful whispers almost everyday of Bowser’s growing power. All wanting to know what Peach’s plan was on defending against him when the worst came about. 

But Peach was just as lost as everyone else was. She’d never been prepared for something like this. Her entire world was crumbling and there was no one for her to turn to.

It truly felt as if the world became further separated when her parents passed.

She should be in bed, resting, ready to face the new day with energy. But she felt an itch in her bones that wouldn’t be quelled with sleep. Instead, deciding to wander the halls she’d not been down for so many years. Passing by doors that held better memories that left a bitter taste in her mouth. 

Eventually she arrived at her parent’s old room. Heart hammering as she stared down the wooden door. She’d not been there for years. No one had. The room had been trapped in time. 

Letting out a slow sigh, Peach walked in.

Besides the layer of dust, nothing had changed. The bed was made. Closet and drawers close. Curtains drawn, fireplace cold and dark. It was all as dead as her parents.

What a terrible thing to think.

Peach’s footsteps seemed to be muffled, either from the thick carpet or dust, as she walked further into the room. Eyes traveling over everything, as if the answer to all her problems were weaved into the area somehow. But it all remained unmoving. 

She stopped before the fireplace. A shaky breath escaped her as she placed a hand on top of it.

“...Please…” Peach whispered softly, “Please, I don’t know what to do. I fear the worst is on the horizon and now one’s here to help. I-I need answers and you’re not here. You said I would know, but I don’t! I don’t… What am I supposed to do?’

The answer came in the form of a loud click. Seeming so much louder in the heavy silence. 

Peach jumped away from the fireplace in surprise. Wide eyes watching in disbelief as it slowly swung away from the wall. Revealing a darkened stairwell that disappeared into the depth of the castle. Fire Flower resting right at the entrance for use. 

Even with her heart hammering, curiosity won over. 

Peach activated the Power-Up before descending. The smell of damp, aged dirt hung heavy in the air. Peach feeling the child even with the activated power. Stairs soon evening out to level, tapered down dirt. The princess now finds herself in a shallow room, with one of the walls a flatten slab of stone. Peach let out a small gasp as the light fell over it. 

A colorful mural had been placed there. Two humans, Peach able to tell by their rounded ears, stood side by side. One dressed in red, the other in green. Hand closest to the other clasped together. The first ring surrounding the pair was a mix of deep red fire and vivid green lightning. The second ring seemed to be depicting a battle between light and shadows. Both parts intertwined, ebbing and flowing as one. The rest of the outer area was filled with familiar sigils. Those of the kingdoms Peach had once called close allies. Some that she’d never seen before. Some even floating in the darkened, starry sky.

Words written in a language she didn’t understand weaved its way in a single line around the mural. Shimmering in gold and silver, standing out among the painted mural, even more so with the fire Peach held.

“What is this?”

_____________________________

Peach was pulled from her thoughts hearing Wario echo the same question she’d asked when arriving here the first time. Eyes going over to where he and Waluigi stood. Both raise their lights higher to get a better look over the piece. 

“As far as Toadsworth and I can tell, it’s the announcement of the brothers arriving. Except, when I found it the first time, I had no idea what this was.”

“Were you able to translate the lettering?” Wario asked. 

“No. It’s in a language no one in this Kingdom uses and I haven’t been able to ask anyone outside the borders to look this over.” 

“A prophetic photo…” Waluigi muttered.

When the younger brother didn’t continue, Wario said, “So, this is the thing that told you that the twins were the heroes.”

Peach crossed her arms. “Well, how would you interpret this?”

“Well… No, those are the brothers. It’s weirdly uncanny. Who would have even made these?”

“No idea. They’ve been here far longer than anyone I know… Waluigi, do you have anything you want to add to this?”

“I think it’s a timeline in some way, possibly,” Waluigi instantly answered, “Also, I’m really worried about what that second ring is depicting.”

“Care to explain?” Wario frowned. 

“I was getting there! Jeez… If the brothers being in the center counts as announcing their arrival, then moving out almost counts as ‘milestones’. The first ring out seems to be talking about them developing their powers. Even with the mix, fire’s more on Mario’s side with Luigi having more lightning.”

“Huh… You’re right.” Peach whispered.

“What about the next ring?” Wario asked. 

“Ah, well…this is where I’m getting a little concerned,” Waluigi started, “I’m going with the idea that it’s depicting ‘good’ versus ‘evil’. You know, a fight against light and dark. But paired with the previous observation, Luigi has way more of the ‘dark’ on his side.”

Wario frowned, “So…he’s more in danger of being targeted?”

“Wait, wait, the lightning and fire related to them getting a power,” Peach said quickly, “It affected them directly.” 

“Wouldn’t what I just said qualify for that?”

“I- well, yes, but…”

Waluigi turned to Peach, tense and clearly upset. “Are you saying that Luigi is…evil? Going to become evil?”

“Look, you pointed it out first! And…” Peach bit her bottom lip, “maybe it’s just possible influence?”

“Are we talking about the same sweet string bean here?” Wario asked. 

Waluigi crossed his arms. “He wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

The princess quickly shook her head. “I’m not saying that Luigi is evil or is planning something. But…if Waluigi’s statement is true…”

“So, possibly pushed into something?”

“Maybe…”

Wario waved his hands, “How about we take a step back from this. We’re just making guesses and that's not helpful.”

“Yes, you’re right,” said Peach, “Our first concern should be trying to translate what’s being said on here. Any ideas?”

“None, don’t recognize it. And there are a lot of languages to go through.” said Waluigi.

Wario huffed, “I’m not even sure where to start or who to ask… Let me copy this down and see if I can find anything.”

Peach gave a small nod before turning to the mural once more. Arms wrapped tightly around herself.

[monocryl]

The Knight and The Dragon

Prompt: "That's how the story goes."

When Childe's daughter arrived home after playing outside with her friends the whole afternoon looking forlorn, he knew trouble was at hand.

If someone made his daughter cry, oh, he’ll make them regret it.

“And what if it was other children?” Zhongli asked.

Well, Childe was definitely going to have some WORDS with their parents, he answered his husband. 

Childe scooped his daughter up, “What’s the matter princess?”

“Well, Lulu’s baba got her a storybook from Fontaine…”

If Childe’s daughter wanted a storybook from Fontaine, or from any other nation, he’d buy and give her one in a heartbeat. 

“We read the book it a while ago…” she continued, “And… and…”

“And…?”

Tears started to form at the corner of her eyes, as she let some of her adepti features appear. Two small amber colored horns materialized at the side of her head at the same time, a long brown scaly tail with a soft puff at the tips similar to Zhongli’s very own, wrapped around Childe’s arm like a snake. 

Childe wanted nothing more than to ease whatever problem his daughter was having.

“I don’t want to be a bad dragon and I don’t want to eat other people!” She shouted then tucked her head on the side of her father’s neck. 

“…Huh?”

—

Meiling then told him about what they had read about on the storybook. How the dragon kidnapped the princess, ate the people and reigned terror on the town until a brave prince slayed the dragon, saved the princess and the town. 

“But my Baba said dragons are friends and they protect the people!” She told her friends. 

“Not in Fontaine, they’re not. They have evil dragons that eat people!”

Then her friends started to role play the story and that had made her a lot more upset so she ran back home. 

—

Childe was scratching his head after his daughter recalled the events that afternoon. But at least, she looked calmer now.

“Is me and Dimi gonna eat people someday?” She asked in a small voice, looking at her father, worry evident on her eyes. 

Now, Childe knew he wasn’t a bad father at all, but THIS was Zhongli’s forte. He would know how to explain to their daughter about her own adepti heritage, how different and similar she (and her baby brother) was with other children her age in a way a child could easily understand. 

But Zhongli was currently asleep in their room after nursing their infant son. Dimitri had been fussy all night. He told Zhongli he’d take care of it, but his husband insisted that Childe just go back to sleep as the baby was probably just hungry again. Although, he was pretty sure Zhongli would definitely not mind to be awakened for this scenario.

No. He doesn’t want to bother his tired husband. Childe can do this. He had listened to Zhongli’s lessons about the nature of Liyue’s dragons to at least soothe his daughter’s concerns. 

“Baba is a dragon too… just like you and Dimi, isn’t he?”

She nodded.

“Liyue’s dragons are different from Fontaine’s. They’re… special!” Child said, “They’re very kind, very gentle and they protect the people they love.” He tapped Mei-Mei’s nose with his index finger, “Just like Baba, you and Dimi.”

Mei-Mei sighed, “I wish I have a storybook about dragons being friends with people.” 

“A storybook, huh…” The Traveler once mentioned making a story for the Yuheng so she’d pause being a raging workaholic for the Lantern Rite. Maybe…

—

One day, a handsome knight came across a large castle. He said, “Oh! This is the place the townsfolk where talking about! Now’s my chance to save the Princess and finally fight a worthy opponent!” So he bravely marched inside, sword on hand.

The castle was gorgeous and was decorated in gold and red, but was totally empty! With no other people on site to talk to, the knight continued his search inside and around the castle. When he finally reached the big courtyard, there it was… the dragon! It was finally the knight’s chance to fight it! But sadly, the large dragon was sleeping soundly and the knight thought it wasn’t very knightly of him if he attacked it while sleeping. 

The knight walked towards the sleeping dragon, “Hey! Mister Dragon! Wake up and let’s fight so I could save the princess!”

The dragon woke up with a big yawn and stretched its long body, “Oh, but Mister Knight, there are no princesses here, but…” The dragon glowed gold and when the bright light disappeared, there was a very beautiful prince on its place instead! The knight fell in love at first sight and decided to stay so that the dragon won’t be alone anymore. 

One night, the knight and the dragon noticed that the town was glowing orange… it was on fire and was being attacked! They quickly went to the town and defeated the bandits trying to burn the whole town down. 

And that was when the townsfolk realized that the dragon was actually really kind! They thanked the dragon and the knight for saving them all and haled them as heroes. 

—

“And that’s how the story goes!” Mei-Mei finished her story with a large grin on her face, blue eyes shining brightly. 

Zhongli chuckled and kissed his daughter on the forehead before tucking her in bed, “Its a beautiful tale, my dear. I’m sure your friend would love it.”

The girl beamed, “I hope so! Papa said its from Snezhnaya! I’m so excited to tell it to them tomorrow…. Do you think Dimi would love it too?”

“I’m sure he’ll love it as well.”

“Goodnight Baba, I love you.”

“Sweet dreams, I love you too, dear.”

—

“The Knight and The Dragon, hmm?” Zhongli sat beside Childe on their bed.

Childe rubbed the back of his neck feeling a little bit shy now that he heard his made up story from his daughter, “Ahahaha, I swear, I could’ve done better if there was more time.” His daughter did put him on quite a spot after all. 

Zhongli shook his head, “No need to be embarrassed, Ajax. It was very creative, in fact, I enjoyed it. You have a talent for storytelling.”

“Eh,” He shrugged, “I did something similar for my younger siblings when they were still little.” 

The two silently relaxed on their bed cuddling, enjoying their alone time and basking on each other’s presence.

Hmmm…

“So… for the story continuation… what if the knight and the dragon decided to make little princesses and princes, what do you say?”

Zhongli raised a brow.

“I’m just kidding!” 

Or was he? 

[deiliamedlini]

And Into the Fire

Summary: Zelda's job as an emergency dispatcher has made her good at handling stressful situations that force her to keep a level head, even when the person she has to send into a dangerous fire just so happens to be her boyfriend.

*note: I am not a dispatcher or a firefighter, so if any of this information or the instructions Zelda gives are drastically incorrect, just pretend it's fine hahaha. I tried to do research, but I ended up taking many liberties with stuff I couldn't find.*

Also on Ao3, which I always think is easier to read

Word Count: 6595

~~~

“Engine 2, what’s your status?”

Zelda stared at the screen, and impatiently tapped the outside of her headset, waiting to input the arrival time of the firetruck to the scene. It was in response to a fall down some stairs, and as unfortunate as that was, Zelda felt sickened by the relief she felt when it wasn’t a real fire.

She had her reasons. And they were beyond selfish, but she had them all the same.

It was the feeling she’d felt almost every day since taking the dispatch job working for the City of Hyrule. It wasn’t that she wasn’t trained for what to do, or that she felt unprepared to deal with it. She’d literally walked people through CPR on the phone, been on a call with someone hiding in a closet from an intruder in their home, and helped frightened strangers through car accidents. She worked the lines anytime someone called the 991 emergency line, and the standard lines whenever someone called the station to report a crime. She worked with the paramedics, and the police.

But she dreaded every single time she had to work with the fire department.

“Engine 2 to 853: we’ve just arrived on scene at 174 Castle Drive.”

“Received Engine 2,” she said into her headset and proceeded to type the information into one of the three screens in front of her. This one had the status log of everyone on duty for the day.

She always had her cheat sheet of codes nearby in case she needed it, but after enough time on the job, she knew nearly every combination of numbers and colors there was. The main frequency, Zelda and the other dispatchers, was ‘853’, so that was what people used to communicate with every dispatcher as a sort of home base, essentially. Then everyone else had their codes.

Zelda was 853. Ravio’s team was Engine 2. Ruto and Lulu were Car 3. She knew them all.

So, as she clicked and typed, she didn’t even need to pause to think, inputting locations and numbers with a typing speed that had only improved over the last few years.

What didn’t improve was her patience in the quieter moments while waiting in the dark room that was only lit by the harsh glow of blue and white lights from the screens for the next call.

She grabbed a twisted chip from a bag and chomped on it loudly. Even after all this time, she still sometimes worried she’d left her mic on while doing something obnoxious like talking or chewing. But the light was off, so she grabbed another chip and bit into it with a deafening crunch.

But of course, with her mouth full of three more chips, the 991 phone rang.

“Paya!” she practically choked out, half mumbled and unintelligible.

Paya turned and saw Zelda struggling to swallow her food and took the call instead while Zelda quickly chugged her water down.

Zelda had long since tuned out the other calls happening in the room. There were four of them working in this section at once, two more in another room who were working with another department, and two more who were on their dinner break for that hour. The room could get loud very easily on a busy day.

Unfortunately, this was a busy day.

Almost as soon as Zelda had swallowed her water, the words from Paya’s typed note crossed her screen, a line in blue that requested Zelda’s action. A structure fire at 729 Eldin St. She put her headset on and was very quickly reminded by the twisting nerves in her gut why she hated fires.

Still, she cleared her throat, making sure she wouldn’t choke on any remnants of the chips before speaking. “853, 853. There is a 2-9 in progress at 729 Eldin Street.”

Her eyes kept skimming the notes, some of which were spelled almost illegibly in Paya’s haste to record information while on the phone. Zelda began typing as she spoke into the radio, looking at a map of the city that had each police car, fire engine, and ambulance’s last reported location on it.

More notes popped up, and her eyes darted to the side where her other co-worker, Granté was also on the phone. At least two callers reporting the fire, from the looks of the notes.

“Caller reports active fire, flames and smoke in the vicinity. Reports from outside the building say flames are visible from the… south side.” She pulled up the address. “Structure is a multi-level office building. Requesting nearest unit to respond immediately to the scene. Engine 2 is currently unavailable.”

“Confirming the address is 729 Eldin Street?”

Zelda’s heart clenched and she closed her eyes for a moment, remembering exactly why she hated fires. She recognized the voice on the other end all too well.

But this was her job, and that was his. She’d been well aware of that from the beginning. So she signed to herself, giving all her nerves an exit before she hit the button again. “Affirmative.”

“Engine 6 is approximately three minutes from the scene. Will reroute from station to the scene.”

“Received. Engine 6 headed to 729 Eldin Street.” She pushed her hair from her face and reluctantly grabbed her mouse, clicking into the search bar to type the one name into her computer that she never enjoyed typing.

Link.

She clicked his name and changed his status from yellow, which meant he was returning to station, specifically after responding to a car accident with injuries today, to red, which was busy or in route to scene.

The status of his entire team changed to red.

She could hear several of the police cars responding over the radio, and she acknowledged each of them as she kept typing in information, changing status’, and especially transferring calls off her screen. She wasn’t meant to answer calls today; she was on the radio.

More notes crossed her screen and she grimaced before hitting the button again. “853 to Engine 6: multiple reports of alarms sounding nearby. Be advised, callers are reporting that the smoke is thick and covering the area.” Without a breath, she tapped a button to switch channels from the fire trucks to the police cars as she checked her other screen. “853 to Car 14: reports of onlookers close to the scene. They have been informed to get back, but according to the caller, there are few who will do so. Car 12 is also en route. Please assist.”

More notes across her screen. She flipped back to the channel connected directly to the fire trucks.

“853 to Engine 10: two women have left the building. Caller says they appear to be coughing heavily, though they have stepped away from the immediate area. Reports that there are more inside on their way out. Requesting rescue immediately.”

“Engine 10: Received. On our way.”

“Engine 4: Should we head out?”

Zelda made a face to herself, clicking Engine 4 on her screen where they were still listed as busy.

“853 to Engine 4: Have you cleared your 5-8?”

“Affirmative. Just finished.”

Zelda groaned. They were her biggest pains, rarely reporting times or calling in. She turned to check the time. “853 to Engine 4: I will clear you at 15:37, please head to 729 Eldin Street to assist Engine 6. Engines 11, 3, and 17, please confirm you received the summons alarm.”

She was typing again, each engine reporting in as they headed to the large fire. Link’s team was arriving first, but with the press of a button, Zelda had already sent out the alert to the others to provide their assistance.

Time passed infinitely slowly and all at once as she relayed information. Occasionally, she checked in, but mostly, she was listening to communication between the trucks among themselves.

From the radio chatter, she could tell Link was almost there. Grabbing her phone, she quickly tapped her texts. He was easy to find. The top one. “Be safe.”

Almost immediately, he responded with a heart emoji, and she put the phone down again, content with his response. She felt like she should probably break the habit, but whenever Link was sent somewhere that was considered dangerous, she couldn’t stop herself from sending him that text, even if it meant distracting him for a moment.  

She began shifting uncomfortably in her seat as she kept reading the notes from the calls. It was an easy way to pass the time, but also to keep in the loop. Most of it was information that wasn’t necessary to relay over the radio: caller’s name, address, etc.

“Engine 6 has arrived on scene.”

She typed the time. “Received Engine 6.”

Zelda’s phone buzzed with a news alert about the fire, and she swiped it when it said there were photos.

“Oh shit,” she breathed. It wasn’t a fire. It was a fire.

She turned to see Paya off the phone, and she slid her chair over. “Did you see this?”

Paya grimaced. “Yikes. That happened fast.”

“Yeah. You wonder how they didn’t see it earlier, or what made it spread so fast.”

“I wasn’t wondering, but now I am. Thanks Zelda.”

Zelda smiled and scooted her chair back to her desk.

For some time, each police car, firetruck, and ambulance began arriving. People were coming out of the building, and everyone was focused on that while a few engines worked to douse the flames. The communication on the radio was mostly to each other rather than to her, back and forth with information that Zelda understood to an extent, but not in all its technicalities.

Link had explained some of it to her when she’d complained that she had no idea what he was saying about a hose once.  She freely admitted that she wanted to eavesdrop on his calls and to know what he was talking about when he said he started going off about master streams or egress or something to that effect.

He’d taken her to the fire station on one of her days off, and he thankfully hadn’t been called out until after she left. That’s how, on her day off, she’d gone home to listen to his scanner, knees bent up close to her chin, bouncing her foot with anxiety. He’d crawled through collapsed rubble that day, and there was nothing she could do from her couch. It’s the main reason she preferred working whenever Link went out somewhere. At least then, she rarely felt helpless.

Why couldn’t he just have to respond to people falling? Or someone needing assistance breaking into their own cars? That was safer.

But she’d always known what she was getting herself into.

They’d met at a bar, both getting off from work around the same time. Zelda’s hours were absurd, and she was still getting used to them even after close to a year on the job. Link was with a group of his coworkers after they’d been called out that night. She’d even seen him there several times before, and she recognized their names as people she often spoke to over the radio every day, but she still drank alone, just needing to relax after work rather than socialize. She just wasn’t interested in drinking in her apartment by herself.

Though she was usually more assertive when it came to relationships and friendships, there was something different about Link when she saw him. She didn’t want to mess up their non-existent relationship by doing anything. At least if she said nothing, she could admire him from across the room. If she had to change watering holes because she’d embarrassed herself trying to talk to the most attractive firefighter on the force—in her humble opinion—she’d die a little bit. So, she was beyond surprised when he’d broken from his group one night and offered to buy her a drink once he also realized she was the voice on the other end of the radio.

He’d spoken first, but hours later, Zelda had been the first one to offer her number. And that’s how Link realized he’d left his phone at the station.

“I really am not lying! I’m not trying to blow you off or anything. I… do you have a napkin or something?” He’d been frantic, patting his pockets and having his team member, Urbosa, call his phone repeatedly.

Zelda thought it was cute. “I can just text you. What’s your number?”

He’d frozen. “I—uh—I don’t know. It’s in my phone. I broke my old one and changed carriers, so it’s new, and I don’t know it yet.” She’d rolled her eyes, feeling like she’d completely blown it, embarrassing herself by trying to give him her number when he didn’t seem interested. When he’d seen her expression, he’d grabbed her hand. “No, wait! One of them will have it.”

“Are you sure you want my number?”

“Gods, yes!”

His enthusiasm was what had her smiling again, and she held his hand tighter while she reached over the counter to grab a pen from a cup. Then she spread his hand out in hers and wrote her number on his palm like a middle schooler.

“Don’t sweat it off,” she winked, grabbing her bag. “I have to get up in a few hours for my next shift, but if you do lose it, you know where I work.”

“Right. Right, I do. That’s right.”

He was cute and easily flustered. Even still, after almost three years into their relationship, she knew how to make him stutter nervously.

“I’ll… I’ll text you as soon as I get my phone. So, you know who I am.”

She’d laughed as she pulled her jacket on. “Okay, Link. I’ll talk to you soon, I hope.”

“Yeah, absolutely.”

“Goodnight, Link,” she’d said with a smile that had melted him that first day and every day since.

“Goodnight, Zelda.”

She snapped back to the present when she heard the 991 phone ring at her desk.

Looking around, she saw everyone else was busy, and Paya had run to the bathroom. She wasn’t really meant to answer calls while on the radio, but the light kept flashing and no one else was available. She switched headsets and pressed a button that answered the call.

“991: this line is recorded; what’s your emergency?”

She was already clicking into the system to start a new call log, her fingers poised over the keys. Zelda flinched as she was met with muffled noises loud in her ear.

“I’m sorry, could you repeat that? What’s your emergency?”

“—and there’s smoke everywhere and I don’t know what to do! I have my son and my father here. He’s in his nineties and—”

“What’s the address of your emergency, sir?”

“—the handle was hot so I don’t know what to do here—”

“Sir, please, you have to remain calm so I can help you. What’s the address of your emergency?”

Caller panicked. Mentioned smoke. Son and father present. Address _

Zelda listened to the man compose himself as she typed.

Address 729 Eldin St. Shocker. Another call about the fire.

“I don’t know what to do!” the man cried again.

“Sir, we already have firefighters at the scene. Can you tell me your location exactly?”

“Um, um, we’re on the fourth floor. My office was down the hall, and my father was here to drop off my son, but he’s old and he’s having a hard time breathing, and I don’t know what to do!”

Zelda’s eyes bugged out and she looked at the notes. That couldn’t be. The manager stated everyone was accounted for.

“Could you just confirm for me: you’re inside the building, correct?”

“Yes! The fourth floor! Oh gods, the smoke is so thick. Please, my son is here!”

“Sir, you need to leave the building immediately. Help is outside and they’ll look at all of you.”

“I can’t! There was fire on the stars, and now my office door handle is too hot and that means the fire is on the other side of the door—right?— and the smoke is in the room and my son and father can’t stop coughing!”

“Okay. Is there another exit you can use?”

“I- I don’t know!”

“Stop and think. Is there a second door out of your office that you can try?”

“No! No, it’s just the one.”

“Is there a window in your office?”

“Yes!”

“Good. Is there a fire escape out your window? You need to get out of the building, sir.”

There was a shuffle, and Zelda took the pause to frantically type her notes. Spelling errors, abbreviations, everything to get the information down for someone to relay over the radio.

“I can’t get it open, and my father is struggling!”

“Okay. Stay calm. What I need you to do is to use anything you have to block the underneath of the door, okay? Use a towel, a jacket, anything. You want to stop the smoke from coming in so quickly.”

Her voice was level, but she couldn’t help the rising panic she was feeling as no one else was taking the call over the radio.

“Okay, okay, I did it!”

“Good. What’s your name?”

“Thadd.”

“Thadd. Is your father breathing, Thadd? Can you check for me?”

A pause. Zelda spun in her chair, looking around as everyone else was still occupied.

“He is. He’s breathing, but it’s sounding raspy.”

“Keep him low to the ground. Smoke rises, so you’re better off close to the ground. How old is your son?”

“He’s ten.”

“Okay, have him keep an eye on your father for a moment. I need you to try to open the window again. Don’t hang up. I’m here. I’m letting the firefighters know where to find you, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Okay.” She switched to the handheld mic, muting the 991 call and interrupting the chatter between the ambulance and one of the other trucks on the way. “This is 853: there are three people trapped on the fourth floor, east side of the building. Room is rapidly filling with smoke. Occupants are the caller, his elderly father, and his ten-year-old son. Caller’s name is Thadd.”

There was a long pause, presumably so everyone could yell at each other on the scene. She let go of that button and unmuted Thadd. “How is it going?”

“I can’t!”

“Break it, Thadd. You need to get it open. You need air, and a way out.”

“They’ll make me replace the window! I can’t afford that!”

Zelda scoffed to herself that that was his first thought. “I guarantee you, that’s not going to happen. You need to break it.”

“Okay, okay, what do I use?”

“Anything heavy. How old are you Thadd?”

“I’m 43. This has never happened to me before! We were just swapping my son after he’d spent the night with his grandparents.”

“It’s okay. We’re going to get you all out. Break the glass.” The other radio called her, and though she recognized Link’s voice, she couldn’t understand his words. “Keep trying, Thadd. Don’t hang up.” She muted him again. “853: repeat please?”

“You’re sure they’re inside? The manager says everyone is accounted for.”

“I’m on the phone with him right now, Link. He’s in there. Fourth floor. Forty-three-year-old male, struggling to get his window open. Door handle is hot to the touch. He’s blocked the smoke underneath his door, and says the stairwell was already on fire when he and his family tried to get out. His father is struggling to breathe, but he still is. The young boy is monitoring the grandfather’s condition so the caller can try to break the window open for rescue.”

“Shit,” Link muttered, not taking his finger off the button fast enough.

“I got the window open! There’s nothing! No fire escape! What do we do now?”

“Get everyone near the window. Get some air if it’s safe to move your father. He’s still breathing?”

“Yes.”

“He didn’t sustain a fall or other head injury, correct?”

“Right.”

“Get to the window then, and stay low to the ground. Help is coming. Stay by the window; they’ll likely try to get you out from there.”

“Okay, okay.”

Zelda muted him again before her head whipped to Paya, as she entered the room again. “Paya! I need you to take over the radio for me now! I’m on a call with someone inside the building still. Three people.”

“Oh, shit!”

“No kidding.”

She slid her headset back over her ear and unmuted Thadd, began typing some of her backlogged notes, starting with him getting the window open. “Thadd, can you give me some more information about where to find your office? Does it have a number on the door?”

“Yeah, it’s room 4F. The door is blue, but I think that might be too—”

“F as in Fronk, or S as in Selmie?”

“Fronk. F like Fronk!”

“Alright. And it’s at the end of a hallway on the fourth floor. Is there another door in that hallway, or any other halls? What side should they be looking at? We want them to get directly to you if they have to go inside.”

“No, no, no, no the end of the hall. Straight at the end. It’s the only one, they can’t miss it!”

“Okay, Thadd. You’re doing great. Just hang on. Someone is—” she froze for a moment, realizing it was Link’s name in the notes. Link and a few others were going in. The alley to get to Thadd’s window was too narrow for the trucks. Of course it was his team going. “—someone is coming in for you right now. They’re already inside, so I need you to stay calm and stay near the window. How is your son doing? Is he breathing alright? Are you?”

“I’m fine. I’m fine, it’s my father!”

“How about your son? What’s his name?”

“Azu.”

“Azu is okay?”

“He’s in my arms. I have him near the window. I have you in my other hand.”

“Okay, good. Now how’s your father? He’s still breathing, correct?”

She could hear him say yes, but her attention drifted back to the busy radio. And her breathing picked up when she heard each member of Link’s team struggle to make it up the stairs in the rapidly crumbling office building.

Her hand shook as she pressed the button to speak. “853 to Engine 6 Team?”

“Go ahead, Zel.”

Zelda smiled slightly. Link slipped up far more often than she did on the radio, but she’d already messed up today too. Their names came out of each other’s mouths before they could even think about any numbers they were meant to use.

“Caller reports that the room is at the end of a hallway, directly down the hall on the fourth floor. There are no other halls to be confused with on that floor. The door is blue and marked as 4F. That’s F as in Fronk.”

“Received; 4 Fronk.”

Letting go of the button without saying anything else was always difficult, but she returned her attention to Thadd until she heard the radio go off again.

“Get it out of the way!” Revali shouted, and it was clear that he didn’t realize their radios were clicked on in the first place. “Move it, Link!”

“I’ve got it,” Daruk’s voice said steadily. There was a thud.

“Mipha! Look out!”

Another crash.

“The building is shaking,” Thadd whispered, bringing her attention to a dividing point as she tried to keep listening to them both.

Zelda swallowed hard. “It’s probably the wind. Don’t worry. Nothing is going to happen to you or the building. They’re almost to you.”

“Revali, hand me that axe!” Urbosa called out over the radio.

“I’m going up this way,” Link grumbled.

“Don’t! That’s not going to work!”

“Daruk, help me up!”

“No problem, Little Guy.”

“Link!” Mipha shouted, panicked, before the radio turned off.

Zelda pressed her hand to her mouth to stop a noise from squeaking out. She turned to Paya, who was already looking at her sympathetically before the girl held down the speak button.

“853: be advised that exchange was broadcast.”

“Engine 6 Team: we have a possible injury. Requesting medical team on standby for physical injury as well as smoke.”

“I heard something!” Thadd said, his voice low and trembling.

Zelda spun back to her desk, shaking. That was Link. Link was injured, but she couldn’t request more information, or even pay attention to the radio. She had Thadd to worry about, and that was her job. “That’s help coming for you. You’re going to be fine.” She let go of the button to wipe a tear from her eyes and shake her shoulders out so her voice didn’t shake. “Tell me what you can hear without leaving your place by the window. Is it voices you can hear, or just noises?”

“I can’t…” Thadd was coughing heavily now. “I can’t tell.”

“It’s okay. You’re doing so well. Just another minute, okay? They’re nearly to you. Just keep staying low.”

“Okay. Oka—” he whispered just before there was a thud on the line, the sound of a bang, and then raspy breathing and coughing on the other end.  

“Thadd? Thadd? Can you hear me? Are you there? Thadd? What just happened? Hello?” Each time, she paused, but each time, she heard nothing but the raspy breath of someone near the phone. “Is anyone else there?” She hoped she’d been on speakerphone.

She kept trying, her attention divided between listening for a response, and listening to the chatter on the radio, occasionally turning to Paya for good measure.

A bang on the phone brought her back.

“Thadd, is that you?”

“Thadd?”

Link’s voice, muffled though it was, rang out clear in her brain. Zelda let out a long breath of air as she heard Link trying to communicate with the three of them in the room before his voice was distant and turned away. “Revali, get the kid! Daruk, the old man! Mipha, go with them! Zel said he was the one struggling. Get him oxygen ASAP.”

“Link?!” Zelda tried into the receiver, though she doubted he’d be able to hear her through the phone that was not on speaker, with the fire around him, and all his gear on.

“I’ll bring him down,” Urbosa said. “You’re hurting.”

“It was a just scratch,” Link said dismissively.

“Okay, sure. That’s what I’d call it.”

“Just don’t tell Zel how I got hurt. I don’t want her to worry.”

“She’ll figure it out. It was on the radio.”

Zelda squeezed her fist together and her palm hit her desk several times. “Link! Get out already!” Not that he could hear her. Paya turned around with a curious glance though.

“Come on, we have to get out of here,” Urbosa said, making a strained noise as she lifted Thadd. The line disconnected with a final thud as the phone presumably fell.

Zelda sucked in a deep breath and wrote her notes quickly before pulling her legs up to her chin while she swiveled on her chair as she stared at the radio.

“—confirmed: we have the ten-year-old boy and the ninety-year-old male. They are in the ambulance now.”

“Good, where are Link and Urbs—”

“Shit!”

A deafening bang.

Zelda was on her feet, both hands covering her mouth as she started to pace. Paya stayed on the radio as she checked on Zelda.

There were a thousand silent seconds. The world stood still in that infinite moment where Zelda existed, and the sounds on the radio existed, and nothing else.

There were no other thoughts in her brain, no subconscious commands telling her to breathe or blink. There was nothing to stop the silent tears that rolled down her cheek, and nothing that allowed her to process any of the words on the screen, over the radio, or even Paya’s voice behind her.

Her fingers itched to grab her phone, to call Link just because she knew he was in danger, but there was nothing she could do about it. It was like she was sitting at home while he crawled through collapsing rubble all over again.

It wasn’t until her ears pricked at the sound of Link’s voice in the background of someone else’s radio call that she could breathe again.

She sat back down in her chair as the world came back to her. The notes on the screen read: Thadd has been brought to Engine 10. All accounted for. Building clear. Structure unstable. Gas lines potentially causing explosion in the breakroom kitchen, allegedly.

Wiping her eyes, Zelda grabbed her phone and sent Link a text. “You’re okay?”

“I am,” he sent back almost immediately, as if he’d already been reaching for his phone to text Zelda first. He continued to type. “Can’t talk. They strapped me to some oxygen. I should probably come home early today.”

“I agree,” she responded, choking out a laugh. She added the laughing emoji for good measure. She was going to simply say she’d see him later, to let him go back to work. But she ended up typing “I love you,” instead.

“I love you too.”

Zelda set the phone aside and put her headset back on, nodding to Paya that she was ready to swap back to the radio.  

Paya gave her a thumbs up just before the phone rang, and she Paya answered it before typing.

A note came across Zelda’s  screen.

She cleared her throat. “853 to Car 7: there is a 7-5 in progress on Veiled Avenue. White sedan, travelling northbound on highway 10 out of the city. Informing the kingdom police that it will likely cross the jurisdiction line.”

“Car 7 to 863: we are in pursuit.”

“Received.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Zelda returned home to an empty apartment. Link’s car wasn’t in the lot yet, and it gave her a minute to set her keys down and put water on the stove for tea.

Paya had been willing to swap her dinner break with Zelda so she could leave early instead to get home a little sooner, and though Zelda would normally have turned down the offer, she hastily accepted it and hurried home.

She sat on the couch in her leggings and a loose shirt that she’d sleep in. By the time she’d drank half the cup of tea, she heard the rattle of keys in the door’s lock, and she set the mug down.

Link pushed the door open and locked it again before he dropped his keys into the bowl by the door. When he looked up and saw Zelda, a large smile broke out across his face.

She was already heading across the room towards him, but he held out a hand to stop her.

“I didn’t have a chance to shower. I reek, and I’m still covered in ash. It’s going to get all over you.”

“I don’t give a shit, Link,” she muttered before wrapping her arms around his neck.

He chuckled and his arms went tightly around her waist, even lifting her up playfully before he kissed her.

She wasn’t content with just the brief kiss he offered, and she snaked her arm up to his neck to guide him right back to her again. And again. And again.

She didn’t even care that he absolutely reeked like smoke, or that it was like kissing a campfire. His lips were chapped, and he was grimy, skin stained with soot and dried sweat, hair matted and stiff.

Finally, he pulled back laughing at her enthusiasm. “Let me shower first, okay?”

She whined and put on the pouting face she knew Link struggled to resist.

“Oh, stop,” he snorted, kissing her again. “You did good today.”

“Just today?” she joked, noting that he was distinctly hiding a limp. She crossed her arms and waited for him to admit to his injury.

“Yesterday too,” he teased, going to the pile of laundry to grab some clean clothes neither of them had put away.

“I’d say you did good, too, but you’re hurt, aren’t you?”

He froze and bit his lip before turning to her. “Maybe.”

“What was it?”

“Piece of wood got me good.”

“Where?”

He cleared his throat and undid his belt, tossing it to the ground before he stepped out of his pants and tossed them into the empty laundry basket. His entire thigh was a mess of blacks and blues and purples and reds.

“Link!”

“They already made me get it X-rayed, just in case. That’s why I was late. It looks like it’s just a bad bruise, not a break or sprain or whatever.”

“I heard you tell Urbosa you were going to lie to me. That guy’s phone was on when you were in there.”

He didn’t seem surprised that she knew, but apologetically grabbed her hips and pulled her close enough that he could lightly run the tip of his nose along her ear, which always tickled Zelda and sent a chill down her spine. “Well, I didn’t tell her to lie. I told her not to tell you how I got hurt so you wouldn’t worry.”

“Did you think I was going to miss the massive discoloring of your leg?”

“I’d hoped you might have, at least for tonight.”

She scoffed and nuzzled her face into his neck, still too relieved to be annoyed.

His hands went soothingly through her hair several times, before she realized that he was the one shaking, not her.

“Link?”

His expression was distant when she wasn’t looking at him, but he smiled as soon as she looked back at him. “I was just thinking. You know how much I love hearing you on the radio when I’m out there? And then I come home and I get to hold you. And, lucky bastard that I am, I get to do that anytime, even when I’m not in a burning building.”

“Save a kitten tomorrow, Link. I’ll hold you then, too, and I think we’ll both breathe easier.”

“I want to marry you.”

Zelda froze for a moment, and pulled back to look at him. “You what?”

He nodded and sighed. “I love you. I think about you all the time. I want to be with you until I die. And I want you to be safe, protected and taken care of if anything were to happen to me at work.”

Zelda let out a breath. They’d talked about marriage before as some vague future plan. They’d talked about death and re-written their wills one night when Link had gotten into this mindset and then gone to their lawyers the next day to make it official. But they’d never put the two concepts into the same sentence. Both seemed inevitable, but Zelda didn’t want them to be spoken in the same breath.

“Nothing is going to happen to you, and you shouldn’t ask me to marry you just because we had a rough day at work. You’re fine. I’m fine. Nothing is going to happen to either of us, okay? I won’t let it. You have me on the radio with you, so obviously you’re going to be fine. Ask me another time, okay? Tomorrow, maybe, when it’s not so morbid and spur-of-the-moment.”

Link nodded again a wide smirk on his face at her non-answer answer. “You’re right. Can you grab my socks from the top drawer for me? My leg, you know?”

She made a face. “Why’d you put your socks there?”

“Safekeeping.”

She rolled her eyes and laughed. “Okay, weirdo.” Sure enough, she pulled the drawer Link used for his trinkets—bookmarks he wasn’t using, a gum packet filled that he’d pop into his mouth at random—and saw one single pair of socks. “You’re so strange sometimes, Link.”

But when she grabbed the fat, rolled up ball of socks, it wasn’t soft. She met with the sharp corner of an object inside.

Glancing at Link in confusion, he just watched her, his eyes on hers with a slight gleam in them, one he was trying hard not to show.

Suspicious of his expression, she unrolled the socks and for maybe the fifth time that day, she absolutely froze. It was a ring box.

“Can I open it?” she asked in a surprised whisper.

“Well, it’s yours if you want it, so of course you can.”

Inside was a simple diamond on a gold band, one that Zelda recognized immediately.

She closed the lid and bit her lip as tears aggressively sprang to her eyes, and she crossed the room to throw her arms back around Link, burying her head straight back into his neck. When she pulled away, her tears left two streaks of clean on his dirty skin. Still, she couldn’t bring herself to care and kissed him long and hard.  

“How long have you had this?”

“Two weeks or so? I spoke to your father a while ago about it, but I had to get it sized.”

“And was willing to give it to you? He gave up my mother’s ring?”

“Well, he gave it to you, technically. I’m not the one wearing it.”

She wiped her eyes and held out the box. “So, this actually isn’t spur of the moment?”

He shrugged, “I was thinking of asking on our anniversary, so maybe the timing is a little bit, but not the sentiment.”

“Please, don’t get on your knee, but will you do me the honors?”

“Of course,” he said, grabbing the ring and tossing the box onto the bed before sliding it onto her finger, letting out an audibly relieved breath.

Zelda pulled him into a quick kiss before giggling giddily. “Why are you so nervous? Did you actually think I’d say no?”

Link made a face. “No. I thought it wouldn’t fit. I borrowed one of your other rings and just prayed to the Goddess that it was a ring for the right finger.”

“You’re so cocky, Link,” she chuckled.  

“Just in love.”

“Shut up,” she laughed before she really found herself laughing. “Oh Goddess, Link… you just proposed to me in your underwear.”

He looked down, bruise on his thigh still glaring at him. “Yep, I did. On par with us though, I think.”

“We’ll have to leave that detail out when anyone asks.”

“Why? Do people really think you’ve never seen me without pants before? We’ve been living together forever.”

“Oh sure, let me remind my father that I’m used to seeing you without pants.” She shrugged in mock disgust.

He chuckled and spun her so she was in front of him, and he rested his chin on her shoulder. “Maybe not, but speaking of no pants, I really do need a shower. And since you’ve been jumping all over me, you now also reek of fire and need a shower. And it just so happens I know one that’s about to be running.”

“Is that so?” she laughed. “And I thought today was going to be a bad day when you had to run into a burning building.”

“Nah, I had someone I trust calling the shots on the other end of the radio. Hearing her voice while I’m stressed at work is never a bad day.”

Zelda pulled him by the hand towards the bathroom, her ring shimmering in the lamplight. “No, that’s not a bad day at all.”

[favefandomimagines]

I Never Planned On You 4

AN: chapter 4! i’m basically writing this for my own entertainment now since it’s ultimately flopping lol but maybe other people are enjoying this as much as i am

wc: 3092

taglist: @x-lulu​

Fred, George and Kendra arrived back at Hogwarts, making small talk with one another as the stairs moved towards the common room. They saw a large crowd of Gryffindor students in front of the Fat Lady’s portrait. As they got closer, Kendra noticed a few tares across the canvas and there was no sign of the Fat Lady. 

“I wonder what happened here.” She commented. Kendra would soon receive an explanation as Percy shoved his way through the crowd. 

Not forgetting to remind everyone that he was Head Boy. “No one is to enter this dormitory until it has been fully searched.” He instructed. 

“Why would it need to be searched?” Kendra asked aloud. Shortly after, Filch and Dumbledore made their way to the painting. 

The headmaster examined the tares before instructing Filch to round up the ghosts and search for the Fat Lady. “There’s no need for ghosts, professor.” Filch replied. With a shaky finger, he pointed to a distant painting and spotted the Fat Lady. 

Students rushed to the painting as fast as they could on a moving staircase. Kendra stopped in front of George as Dumbledore spoke calmly to the Fat Lady. 

“Dear lady, who did this to you?” He asked. “Eyes like the devil, he’s got,” She cried. “And a soul as dark as his name. It’s him, headmaster. The one they all talk about. He’s here, in the castle. Sirius Black!” She finished. 

The crowd began to whisper and gasp, a few eyes landing on Kendra as George placed his hands on her shoulders. They couldn’t possibly think that she had anything to do with it. But the rumor mill at Hogwarts is one of mythical proportions. Word will spread like wildfire that Kendra’s father was in the castle and that she may have had some involvement in it. 

She swallowed the lump in her throat, Dumbledore telling Filch to secure the castle. “The rest of you, to the Great Hall. Except for you, Ms. Black. Come with me.” The man said. 

Kendra frantically looked at George, as if he could potentially help her but they both knew he had no power in the situation. Percy grabbed her wrist gently and tugged her away from George and hoards of people around her. 

The girl was brought back to the headmaster’s office, Dumbledore excusing everyone else who was there. 

“Ms. Black, were you aware of your father being in the castle?” He asked. “No. I swear, professor. I had no idea.” She answered honestly. “He was undoubtedly here for you and Mr. Potter.” Dumbledore muttered. “Kendra, you will return to the Great Hall with the rest of your house. But, if your father makes contact, please let me know.” He told her. 

“What will you do?” Kendra asked. “Don’t worry about that now, dear.” Dumbledore said, dismissing her. Kendra nodded her head and did as she was told. As she was walking down the corridors, she could make out the shapes of the dementors that were on the grounds. She knew her father was innocent. She would never turn him in to suffer a fate at the hands of the dementors.

When she re-entered the Great Hall, eyes fell to her as she walked down the aisles of cots that were being set up. Fred and George spotted the girl and hastily made their way towards her. “What happened? What did he say?” Fred asked. “Are you alright?” George added. 

“I’m fine. He asked if I knew anything about the Fat Lady.” Kendra answered. “Well, obviously you don’t. You’re terrible at keeping secrets.” Fred commented. “I am not!” She protested. “Yes, Kendra, you are. But that’s not the point. Do you think your father is here for you?” George asked. “I don’t know. Would he even be able to recognize me?” Kendra replied. 

The sky soon grew dark and Professor Snape told them all that they would be sleeping in the Great Hall until the common room was searched thoroughly. Kendra couldn’t sleep though. Not when she was sleeping on a very thin cot on the stone floor of the Great Hall. That, and her rampant thoughts keeping her up. 

Everyone thinks Sirius is trying to kill Harry. But if Kendra knew anything for certain, it’s that her father would never harm Harry. At least that’s what she hoped. 

“I didn’t really expect him to linger.” Kendra heard Dumbledore say. “Remarkable feat, don’t you think? To enter Hogwarts Castle on one’s own completely undetected.” Snape added. “Quite  remarkable, yes.” Dumbledore replied. “Any theories on how he might have managed it?” Snape asked. 

“Many, each as unlikely as the next. Don’t insinuate Kendra, Severus, she was just a child when he went away. She has no knowledge of her father’s whereabouts.” Dumbledore answered. “My concern is not that of Ms. Black. You may recall, prior to the start of term, I did express concerns about your appointment of Professor Lupin.” Snape said. 

Remus? They were suspecting Remus of helping Sirius inside the castle? Kendra thought it was highly unlikely, surely he would have mentioned that to her to prevent her from why her teachers has such a sneaking suspicion of her. 

“Not a single professor inside this castle would help Sirius Black to enter it. No, I’m quite convinced the castle is safe. And I’m more than willing to send the students back to their houses.” Dumbledore interjected. “What about Potter? Should he be warned?” Snape questioned. 

It was now clear to Kendra that everyone seemed to think that her father was after Harry. She didn’t know what her father was planning but she knew he wouldn’t hurt anyone. Kendra didn’t want him to prove everyone right. 

__

The next morning, Dumbledore let the students back in their common rooms. Kendra had never been so relieved to sleep in her own dorm instead of the floor. But everyone was still whispering about her. Her own housemates, students from other houses, the teachers. She felt like she was under a microscope. 

As she was walking to the Defense Against the Dark Arts room, luck was not on her side as she bumped into Draco as she turned the corner. 

“Watch it, Malfoy.” She snapped at him. “Or what? Have your lunatic father come after me?” He sneered. “No, I’ll just send a letter to your father. Wonder how disappointed he’d be if he knew you were boasting about having Pansy Parkinson do all of your homework. What would he always say to you? ‘Don’t boast, Draco?’” Kendra replied. 

Draco clenched his jaw at the girl’s words before pushing past her harshly. Kendra rolled her eyes and continued on her journey to Remus’ classroom. She was very early because she needed to ask the professor if he knew about her father being on the grounds. 

She stepped inside the empty classroom as Remus was preparing his lesson for the day. “Ah, Kendra, you’re here early.” He commented upon her arrival. “I wanted to speak with you about something actually.” She said. 

“What would you like to talk about?” He asked. “Did you help my father into Hogwarts?” Kendra asked. Remus paused momentarily as he stood up from his desk. “I can assure you, Kendra, that I did not help your father. Surely I would tell you if I had.” Remus replied. “Professor Snape thinks you did. I overheard him and Professor Dumbledore talking about it.” She said. 

“Professor Snape has never been fond of me or your father. He’s holding grudges from our days in Hogwarts. He has always been a suspicious man.” Remus said. 

Kendra nodded her head as she fished out a letter she received from Andromeda. “I got a letter from Andromeda. Apparently, she’s thinking about pulling me out of school for my safety.” She said. “What? Why?” Remus questioned. “Because she thinks other students are going to hurt me. She’s very paranoid but Remus, you can’t let her do that. I can’t leave Hogwarts, all of my friends are here. George is-” She started before she stopped herself. 

“You don’t want to leave Mr. Weasley, is that it?” He asked. “Of course I don’t. I don’t want to leave any of them.” Kendra said. “Kendra, I see how you look at him in class. Especially when you saw your Boggart.” Remus said. 

During Remus’ lesson over Boggarts and the spell to get rid of them, it had been revealed that Kendra’s Boggart was the infamous Bellatrix Lestrange. Mainly due to the fact that Kendra had to watch Bellatrix kill her mother right in front of her. The woman was mad and that had been enough to solidify the fear Kendra held for her. 

George was the only one aside from Remus who seemed to have any idea who the woman was. Out of just sheer habit, the person she looked to for help was George. It seemed he was always the one saving her when she needed him. 

“Remus, please don’t let Andromeda take me out of school. I need to stay here.” Kendra begged. “I will do my best. But you know how she is.” Remus said. Students soon began to fill the classroom and Kendra took her seat, waiting for Angelina.

__

The next morning, Kendra was woken up by the sound of Angelina and Alicia chanting the Gryffindor quidditch cheer. “Can the two of you quiet down? Some of us want to sleep.” She groaned. “Kendra! It’s quidditch day! We have our match against Hufflepuff today!” Alicia yelled, tossing a pillow at the girl. 

“But it’s Saturday morning and I’m tired.” She complained. “You forget that a certain Weasley has declared you his good luck charm.” Angelina teased. Kendra sat up in bed and rolled her eyes as her roommates laughed. 

“You wouldn’t miss a quidditch game for anything. Even for the rain.” Alicia said. “Let’s be honest; the only reason Kendra even likes quidditch is because she likes seeing George in the uniform.” Katie Bell chimed in. 

“Why am I even friends with the three of you?” She questioned. “Because you’d be lost without us.” Angelina answered. 

The four girls left their dorm and headed to the Great Hall for breakfast. Though she couldn’t forget Angelina’s words. Had George really said she was his good luck charm? He had never said it to her. So that meant he talked about her to people. 

Was she reading too much into such a small statement? Maybe. But a part of her hoped it was true. 

They took their usual spots at the Gryffindor table, casually chatting about their assignments and the upcoming quidditch match. All three of Kendra’s friends were on the quidditch team so she picked up on a lot of the technical terms.

And thanks to the twins, she grew a fondness for professional quidditch. Of course she wasn’t a true born fan like the Weasley’s, she appreciated the sport.  

Fred and George walked in shortly after the girls had sat down and Fred heard his brother’s breath hitch before he stopped walking. He followed his eyeline and spotted Kendra sitting at the table. 

“This is truly getting ridiculous, George. Just tell her you like her.” Fred said. “It’s not that easy, Freddie. You are notoriously better at this stuff than I am. I can barely form two words around her when we talk about our feelings. I can’t have her turn me down and then lose her as a friend.” George replied. 

Fred cursed Kendra for making him swear to secrecy when she told him she liked George. It would’ve made things a lot easier if she hadn’t. 

“Everything will be fine. Now can we please go eat? I’m starving.” Fred complained. 

The two Beaters approached the table and George squeezed his way in between Kendra and Alicia. “This seat taken?” He asked the two girls. Kendra rolled her eyes playfully and nudged him gently. 

“Excited about the match?” She asked. “Oh, I’m ready. We are going to destroy Hufflepuff. Especially, when I have my good luck charm in the stands.” He said, a smirk adorning his lips. 

“Who’s this good luck charm?” She asked, though Kendra already knew the answer. “You of course.” George replied. Kendra smiled at him as giant butterflies kept flapping in her stomach. 

She hated how those small little comments made her feel. A person should not feel that way about their best friend. It was a recipe for disaster. 

Soon the girl was sitting with Hermione and Ron in the stands of the quidditch pitch. It was cold, rainy and Kendra was miserable. 

But supporting her friends was more important than the potential case of hypothermia she was contracting. The game was well underway and it was a rough one due to the weather. 

Making Kendra’s nerves skyrocket as she watched George and Fred fly around on their brooms. Alicia was already out of the game because her broom caught fire. Kendra didn’t want Fred or George to suffer the same fate. 

Everyone lost sight of Harry in the storm clouds as him and Cedric Diggory went after the snitch. But Cedric came back down, not in the best state, and Harry hadn’t come back down. “Where is he?” Kendra asked herself. She tried to keep her focus on the two redhead beaters and the rest of the team. 

Though her focus was soon back to the sky when Harry started to fall through the clouds. Kendra panicked over all of the screaming. Harry was her friend and if something didn’t stop his fall, he surely wouldn’t survive. 

Chalk it up to her natural born impulsivity, Kendra took out her wand and pointed it at Harry. 

“Kendra what are you doing?” Hermione questioned her. “Arresto momentum!” She shouted. Harry then started to slow down until he was ‘safely’ on the ground. 

Kendra knew it probably wasn’t wise to stop Harry on her own but she felt she had to. The stands cleared soon after Harry was taken off the pitch, and Kendra, Ron and Hermione made their way towards the castle to check up on Harry. 

“Kendra!” She heard George call. The dark haired girl turned around and saw the redhead jogging towards her. “That was incredible! How did you know to do that?” He asked. 

“I-I panicked and felt like I had to do something. Maybe it has to do with the impulsive behavior we both have in common.” She replied with a strained laugh. 

“And this is why I call you my good luck charm. Apparently you’re Harry’s too.” He said with a warm smile. The two walked back to the castle and met the other at Harry’s bedside. 

“Kendra, that was amazing! You saved his life!” Neville exclaimed. “It was nothing. How is he?” She asked, desperately needing the attention off of her. “He’s okay. Better than the alternative.” Hermione answered. 

“He looks a bit peaky, doesn’t he?” Ron commented. “Peaky? What’d you expect? He fell over 100 feet.” Fred said. “Yeah, come on, Ron. Let’s walk you off the Astronomy tower,” George started. 

“And see what you look like.” Fred finished. “Probably a right sight better than he normally does.” Harry groaned. Everyone smiled and let out simultaneous sighs of relief. “How are you feeling?” Hermione asked. “Oh brilliant.” He replied. “You gave us a right good scare there, mate.” Fred said. “What happened?” Harry questioned. 

The group of students exchanged looks before Ron answered. “Well, you fell off your broom. And Kendra had to use a spell to save you.” He said. “Really? I meant the match. Who won?” The boy asked. 

“No one blames you, Harry. The dementors aren't supposed to come inside the grounds. Dumbledore's furious. As soon as Kendra saved you, he sent them straight off.” Hermione said. 

“There's something else you should know too.When you fell, your broom sort of blew into the Whomping Willow, and...well...” Ron trailed off, presenting Harry’s broken broom to him. 

It was clear that Harry was upset about his broom, soon falling back to rest his head against his pillow. 

“Alright, give him some space. Let him rest.” Madam Pomfrey instructed the teens. The students gave Harry some goodbye’s and well-wishes before leaving the hospital. 

“That was quite a show.” George commented, swinging his arm over Kendra’s shoulder. “Ew, get off of me until you shower. You’re all sweaty.” She grimaced, pushing the boy away. “So then after he showers you want him on you?” Fred teased. “Shut up, Fred. That’s not what I meant.” Kendra rebutted. 

She rolled her eyes and walked ahead of the twins, the two still snickering about how easy they can get under Kendra’s skin. They all arrived back at the common room, the girls splitting off to rid themselves of boys covered in sweat after both participating in and cheering for quidditch. 

Kendra made plans with George to meet in the common room after he washed up so she could help him with his Defense Against the Dark Arts homework. He somehow thought that her being Lupin’s favorite student meant that she knew everything. 

She was sitting on her bed, staring at the letter from Andromeda, hoping to Merlin that Remus could talk her out of taking Kendra out of Hogwarts. She was so deep in thought she didn’t realize it was half past five and George was probably waiting for her. 

The dark haired girl gathered her books and her notes and headed down to the common room. She stopped short when she heard a few boys bring up her name. 

“Kendra had to have helped him get in the castle. Who else knows Sirius Black?” One said. “It makes sense. She’s probably helping him with his murder plot.” Another added. “What murder plot?” George’s voice questioned. 

It was the sound of George’s voice that hurt Kendra the most. He was there, listening to these people talk poorly of her and he’s doing nothing to stop it. “Is that what you all think?” Kendra questioned aloud. 

The boys cowered in their seats, George being the only one to stand up and face her. Kendra glared at the redhead before turning around and retreating towards her dorm. 

She only made it halfway up the steps when someone caught her wrist. “Kendra, please, wait.” George pleaded. “You let them say awful things about me. And all you had to say was ‘what murder plot?’ You’re supposed to be my best friend.” She snapped, tears stinging her eyes. 

“I am.” He started. “No, George. You’re not. You just let them talk. You didn’t even stop them.” She said in a more hushed tone, wriggling out of his grasp and going up the stairs.

 George just stood there, too dumbfounded to move. Kendra was right though. He should’ve shut them up. He didn’t know why he just sat there, maybe because he knew the truth and he knew none of it was true. 

But now he hurt the one person he swore he’d never hurt. And he had no idea how he was going to make right. George had to forget confessing his feelings to her and just focus on getting his best friend back. 

[jakes-eyebrows]

Beauty and the Beast AU

Pairing: Danny/Jake

Word Count: 3K

AN: I wrote this for Lulu because she gave me the idea... I hope you like it! @imacrowcawcaw​ 💕💕

Jake is Belle

Danny is Beast

Josh is Cogsworth

Sammy is Lumière

“I don’t like where this is going. If he’s falling in love with that young man we may never change back to normal.” Josh begins, he sounds worried.

“Why not? If the master falls in love and that boy loves him back, that can break the spell.”

“No, Sam. The spell will break only if he falls in love with a woman and said woman loves him too.”

Sam looks skeptical “Are you sure? It can’t be… He just has to prove he’s capable of loving.”

The pair continued talking…

Little did the clock and the candelabra know that Prince Daniel was standing right outside the kitchen listening to them. Hearing this conversation brought all kinds of questions to his head.

For a moment, the beast had hoped the spell was going to be broken soon; he was in love and he had the intention of confessing to Jake. He wanted to make it very special, even if he was not entirely sure the beautiful boy returned his feelings. He had to tell him because it felt like the right thing to do. He was convinced.

Daniel went back to his chambers where he began thinking back to the conversation Sam and Josh were having and that made him doubt himself. What if Josh was right? What if the only way to make things shift back to normal is by finding love in a woman. He can’t clearly remember everything that happened the night when the sorceress came to the castle looking for refuge. He treated her poorly, yes, and in consequence she had placed this cruel spell on the prince and everyone else living in the castle.

For the longest time they felt like they were doomed. No woman was ever going to love him back, no woman was ever going to look through the façade of the beast. Even so, the prince always held a tiny ounce of hope in his chest.

It’s safe to say everything changed when Jake arrived. Daniel felt very guilty for the way the young man had come into his life. He felt guilty for what he did to Jake’s father in the first place; he let the older man go but kept his son captive. Soon after letting the man free he regretted how he handled the situation, he made the decision blinded by his anger.

That man was surely going to alert the people in the village about the heartless beast living in the palace; no woman, no one really, was ever going to dare come close to his property. Which just about ruled out any possibility of meeting a lady.

Him and Jake had a difficult start. At first Jake refused to talk to him, didn’t want to see him and only ate in the same room as the beast because he felt obligated.

A couple of weeks passed before Jake tried to escape one night. He found a way to climb down from his room’s window. He got on his horse and ran away. It was Josh who noticed the boy was missing when he came into the room to escort him to dinner.

“Jacob, dinner is served.” The clock said as he walked in but Jake was nowhere to be found. Josh quickly spotted the window wide open and some sort of rope hanging there.

“Master, the boy is gone! I think he jumped from the window.” An agitated Josh announced.

“Oh no! You need to go find him, it’s a very cold night and it’s dangerous too!” Sam said not even trying to hide his nerves.

The prince didn’t think twice and rushed outside of the castle to go after him. It was a very cold night indeed and it was starting to snow, soon everything will be covered in white; he hoped the boy hadn’t gone too far.

He ran and ran until he heard the loud howl of a wolf, he followed the noise. He finally stopped when he arrived at the frozen lake and spotted Jake on the other side, him and Philippe were surrounded by at least four wolves. In that moment the beast acted out of pure instinct, he didn’t stop to think about the potential danger of getting in the middle of it all. One of the wolves launched itself on Jake but the prince got to them just in time.

He stood there between the boy and the pack furiously growling at them. Maybe it was all the adrenaline or maybe it was something else in him, but he wasn’t going to let them come closer to Jake. He jumped then ready to fight them all.

The beast managed to harshly throw one of them against a tree, the others launched themselves at him biting and scratching all over his arms and his back. In the end the prince defeated the pack and scared them away. He was injured and he felt exhausted; the last thing he remembers was turning back to look at Jake who was still in shock before he passed out.

Jake saw the beast hit the ground and feared he was dead. He could have gotten on his horse and leave him behind, but he couldn’t bring himself to do so. He approached the body on the ground to carefully inspect it, he was still breathing. He had a big wound on his back but it wasn’t as severe as he imagined. Jake immediately took off his cloak to cover the beast, as soon as he felt the warmth he opened his eyes slowly.

“I want to help you, you need to stand.”

The beast struggled but managed to get himself on the horse. They returned to the castle.

Something changed that night.

Jake carefully tended to the prince’s wounds. He was still afraid of the large beast but he also felt gratitude, after all he had risked his own life to save him.

For the next few days Jake insisted the prince needed to stay in bed to rest. He realized he had no choice but to keep him company while he recovered. This gave him a good excuse to go through Daniel’s bookshelves to find all sorts of interesting reads.  

And that’s how they started bonding over their love for literature. Jake was impressed, maybe the prince was not an asshole after all. He turned out to be a very cultivated and kind guy, he was a good listener too. He would quietly lay there listening to Jake talk about his favorite books and stories.

They shared another common interest: music. There was a piano in the prince’s chambers. Jake discovered it covered in dust, so he cleaned it one day and sat down by it. “Do you mind if I…?”

“I don’t mind at all. Please go ahead.”

Jake began playing a sweet melody and the prince felt himself relax hearing him play just for the two of them.

“Whoa, not so bad. I haven’t played since I was like ten years old.” Jake admitted.

“Really? You’re a natural then.” Daniel responded.

“It’s fun. Hey, come over here come play with me.”

The beast got up from bed and made his way to the piano. He figured Jake wasn’t terrified of him anymore, he sat down next to him. Jake started playing again. The beast only sat there watching, he looked down at his paws and sighed, Jake noticed this and carefully grabbed one of his paws…

“I’ll help you if you can’t remember how.” The boy offered and scooted closer to him, he placed his much smaller hand on top of the beast’s and guided him.

The prince felt his heart beating a little faster, Jake was sitting so close to him and touching him. It was a strange feeling, but it was definitely a good one.

The next weeks went by fast. Jake and Daniel had become very good friends, they spent hours talking about anything and everything. The prince was impressed by the young man too, he wasn’t like the other peasants he had met. Jake was very intelligent and well spoken, he had a good sense of humor, he was interesting and on top of that he was beautiful.

“A real beauty he is.” The prince thought.

Jake made him feel so many wonderful things he almost forgot about the predicament he was in. His time was coming. He came to realize he loved Jake but he couldn’t tell him that now. If he told him how he felt and maybe, just maybe, Jake loved him back… Then what? He had to remind himself that won’t probably end the spell. He couldn’t do that to his servants, they were his only family. Finally, he came up with the decision of letting Jake go.

A knock on the opened door interrupted his thoughts.

“Daniel, can I come in?”

Hearing him say his name made his heart jump. Still, since he’s made up his mind he thinks it’s best to keep a distance between them from now on.

“What is it, Jake?” Asked the prince with a cold tone in his voice, not even daring to turn around, he needs to stay strong. Facing Jake would probably make him slip.

Jake figures he can still try “Well, it just started snowing again. Why don’t you come outside… come play with Philippe and me.”

“I don’t have time for games, Jake. Did you need anything else? I’m busy right now.”

Daniel’s sudden change of heart makes Jake feel strange. He’s acting cold again.

“Oh… I understand. I’ll leave you to it then.”

Jake was left a little confused but that didn’t stop him. He put on his thick cloak and went outside to watch the snow and play with his loyal horse. Sam and Josh were outside too watching the young man enjoying himself in the snow.

Daniel was watching from the window, he sighed, he could hear Jake talking and laughing with his two trusty servants. His heart longed for him, he wished he could hold him, he wanted to be the one making him laugh. Suddenly, Jake looked up and caught him looking from the window. He smiled and waved at him. Daniel didn’t smile back and simply closed the heavy curtains, blocking the view.

Sam noticed the boy looked hurt. “Is everything okay, Jake?” Jake didn’t have to lie. “No. Daniel’s been acting different. I don’t know what I did.” He answered sounding somewhat disappointed. What bothered him too was not understanding his feelings, why did he care so much? It’s not like the prince and him were anything…

“You know how he is, Jacob. He’s probably just having an off day.” Adds Josh.

“Yes, don’t worry about it. Listen, let’s go inside now. You can try talking to him after dinner tonight.” Sam suggests.

Jake agreed with him. He wanted to know what was going through the prince’s head.

That night after dinner.

Jake got up from his chair, walking to the other end of the large table to sit down next to Daniel who had been lost in thought all this time.

“Can we talk?” Jake began.

“Yes, I need to tell you something important.” Was Daniel’s response.

“Good. You go first.”

It’s now or never the prince thought before he spoke again. “Listen, Jacob. I’ve been thinking and I’ve concluded that I- don’t want you anymore.”

“What?” Jake looked surprised.

“Sorry, I am sorry…” the prince shakes his head and tries again “…What I meant to say is that you don’t need to stay here anymore. I am setting you free.”

“Are you being serious right now?” Jake asks, he can’t understand the heavy feeling in his heart.

“Yes. I’ve kept you here long enough against your will. I want to give you back your freedom.”

“Well yes-yes I- that’s how it used to be but… I like to be here.” For once Jake doesn’t know what to say.

“No, Jacob. You think you like it here, but I know better. You’re still so young and have your whole life ahead of you, I’m letting you go so you can live it.”

“You don’t mean that, do you?”

“I mean it.”

Jake can’t help but feel like he’s being rejected. He’s confused and sad. Part of him knows he should be happy knowing he can walk out of the castle right now and go back to his father, back to the village, back to his life… and then what? He eyes fill with tears, he doesn’t want to cry in front of the beast so he runs up to his room.

Sam is standing by the door when Jake runs out visibly upset.

“Oh dear, what did you say to him?” the candelabra asks as he approaches his master.

“I told him I’m setting him free.”

“Was that all? Are you sure? The boy looked very upset.” Sam presses.

“He’s just confused. I told him I don’t want him here anymore, I don’t wish to keep him against his will. That’s all.”

Sam sighs “I’m sorry for what I’m about to say, master, but are you blind?”

“What do you mean?”

“Jake is in love with you! And I know very well that you are in love with him too. Don’t you get it? He’ll be the one to break the spell.”

“That’s not how it works, Sam. And I do love him, yes. That’s why I have to- I have to let him go.” The prince’s heart breaks a little after saying that.

“No, you need to tell him how you feel! Don’t be a coward.”

“Don’t push it, Sam.” That’s Josh walking in the room.

“I never meant to hurt him. It’s not fair for him, it’s not fair for you either. Even if I love him, even if he loved me back. That can’t end the spell, it had to be a woman.”

“That’s ridiculous.” Sam sighs.

“Master, you should tell him how you feel. We were talking about that the other day, but maybe Sam is right, love is love.” Josh tells the prince.

Daniel thinks it’s worth a try, he wants to be honest with Jake and confess his love before letting him go. He excuses himself from the table to go up to the boy’s chambers.

He gently knocks on the door. No response, he knocks again.

“Go away, Josh. I want to be alone.”

“It’s me.” Jake feels his heart sink when he hears Daniel walk in. What now?

Jake turns away from him and wipes the tears from his face with his sleeve.

“Are you here to kick me out?”

“No, I came to apologize.”

“For keeping me here against my will? Don’t worry, I won’t hold a grudge. I’ll leave right now if that’s what you want.”

Hearing him say that makes Daniel’s heart ache, he wants to make things right. He sits on the bed, Jake still won’t face him. He’s looking out through the window he once used to escape.

“Please listen to me. I didn’t mean to upset you. I do want you here, just not against your will.”

Jake finally turns around to look at him, a gentle beast.

“You don’t know what I want. Please don’t presume you know what I want. If you knew…” he’s sniffling.

“I love you, Jake.”

“What did you say?” Jake can’t believe his ears.

“I love you. That’s why I can’t… I have to let you go.” Daniel’s voice breaks, his heart sinks when he thinks about never seeing Jake again.

“That’s all you needed to say.” Jake’s heart fills with joy, he wipes his tears again and walks up to the prince, he puts his arms around him and whispers “I love you too.”

Daniel couldn’t believe he really said it back. He held Jake tight like he’s been meaning to for a long time. They shed more happy tears as they held each other close.

The prince has never felt this happy in his life, he felt like his heart was going to burst. Suddenly, Jake noticed the prince stopped breathing, he got irresponsive and fell down on the bed. His eyes closed.

What did just happen?

“Dan-Daniel… hey, wake up! Come on can you hear me? Open your eyes!” Jake starts crying because he doesn’t know what to do. He screams for Sam and Josh.

He kneels by the bed and just sobs. Josh and Sam get to the room as fast as they can, by the time they get there they see the prince lying unconscious on the bed and Jake crying on the floor. The pair know the time for them has come too.

“Jake…” Sam calls out for him but he can’t finish that, he stays frozen in place and Josh is too. Jake looks up and sees them standing there by the door, lifeless and grey.

What’s going on? Jake has no clue, he just lays there sobbing. Did he dream it all up? What happened to the magic castle and all the living creatures in it? He cried until his throat ached and he fell asleep right there on the floor.

Hours passed. Jake only woke up when he felt the warm ray of sunshine directly on his face, the window was open. He opened his eyes, looking around, his head hurt and his neck too ‘Did I fall from the bed?’ he thought “Oh no!” he quickly got up.

Remembering last night’s events, he started feeling desperate again, he felt lost… until he looked around the room. He saw a young man laying on his bed. “Who?” he asked himself as he approached the man. He came close enough to see he was just sleeping. His chest slowly raising in falling.

He noticed the man’s shattered and oversized clothes, he was very handsome too, he had dark long hair and perfect eyebrows. Jake felt his face heating up… his thoughts were interrupted when he heard snoring. He saw the snores were coming from the two boys sleeping on the floor by the door.

Wait, it can’t be…

Suddenly, the man sleeping on his bed stirred, Jake took a few steps back to give him space. He heard the man take a deep breath before sitting up, he looked down at his human hands and then at Jake.

“Jake! Oh my god, I am so happy to see you!”

Jake kept staring at the man and his heart started racing, his eyes couldn’t believe this.

“It’s me! Jake it’s me!” Daniel said enthusiastically standing up and moving closer to the shorter man.

“Daniel?” Jake tried as the man stood closely in front of him, he looked up and stared into his eyes looking for his answer. He recognized the look right away.

His heart knew the answer before he could voice it. “It’s you! My Daniel.” They both had tears in their eyes, they smiled at each other then slowly very slowly got closer to let their lips touch for the first time.

The prince gently held his beloved’s body close. He placed one hand on Jake’s neck and kissed him deeply. They shared a long passionate kiss until they had to pull apart to breathe.

“Uhm…” someone cleared his voice “…excuse me.” That got Jake and Daniel’s attention, they looked back at the door to discover two naked guys standing there.

“See! I told you it was going to work.” Sam concluded, looking triumphant.

“Go put some clothes on, please.” Daniel said.

“It’s funny you ask us to go put clothes on when you two are probably about to take off all of yours.”

And you know what, maybe Josh was right this time.

[sunsetscurving]

CHASING STARS

Ch. 11

ao3 link

In a world where reincarnation is common and expected, people stopped to care for a reason or how many times they already lived – they have no memory of their past life anymore.

But Lucas Lallemant can feel that this isn’t his first life, some shreds of his former life still present in his new one. He has this feeling that something from his past life tied him so much to it that he has to find it again in his new life.

Something. Or someone.

When Lucas finally woke up again, he was alone, wrapped tightly in a blanket which faintly smelled of something familiar and was still warm from another body. As Lucas opened his eyes slowly, the memories of the past night came rushing in so fast and heavy, that he shut his eyes tight again, wanting to treasure this moment of peace while being wrapped into Eliott’s blanket and his scent in general.

Eliott didn’t ask any question as Lucas just cuddled into him.

He was just there, taking care of Lucas and chasing away the nightmares with his tight embrace.

How the fuck am I supposed to sleep alone again after this?

Eventually, Lucas opened his eyes again, the sun already high in the sky. It had to be around noon and his phone was probably blowing up with notifications and new messages by now. But all he cared for right now was where Eliott was and why fate decided it wasn’t suitable for Lucas to wake up next to him.

Suddenly, Lucas heard some sort of music from the kitchen.

If you could even call this noise music.

He stood up, wrapping the blanket around himself and walked slowly through the hallway towards the kitchen, the music getting louder with every step he took.

And when he arrived at the doorstep of the kitchen, a wide and bright smile was spreading over Lucas’ face.

Eliott was making breakfast.

Well, at least he tried.

The toast he saw on the counter was burnt and the egg in the pan didn’t look so well either. But that was not the thing that made Lucas smile in the first place.

No, it was the way Eliott made breakfast.

He made breakfast while dancing around the whole room. He was so into the music, which Lucas now recognized as some kind of Dubstep, that he didn’t even realize Lucas standing there, watching the other boy swirl around to the steady beat, having a good time by himself. A smile was on Eliott’s face, silently mouthing the sounds with his mouth along with the music. He was still only wearing these boxers and this shirt and damn, was it even allowed to look that good? His hair was sticking out all around his head and Lucas couldn’t even remember a moment which made him smile this much, which made his insides warming up this much.

Lucas slightly shivered.

If someone would ask Lucas when he fell for Eliott, he would always recall this very moment where he was sure that he was in love with Eliott Demaury.

“You listen to Dubstep?”, asked Lucas a little bit loudly over the music, chuckling quietly as he Eliott swirled around and nearly stumbled over his own feet as he saw Lucas standing in the doorway. Eliott turned down the volume immediately, his cheeks surprisingly starting to redden.

Gosh, this is so fucking cute.

“How long have you been standing there?”

“Long enough to recognize your fine dancing skills.”

Eliott and Lucas laughed unison and Eliott took some steps towards Lucas, looking down on him as he was standing in front of him. If he was kind of embarrassed because they literally cuddled all night long without a real reason to do so, he didn’t show it and Lucas was very grateful for that.

“How are you feeling?”, asked Eliott quietly and the kindness in his voice and the way he looked down at Lucas, made Lucas feel all the things.

“Better, I guess.”

“Good”, said Eliott and the smile on the other boy’s face made Lucas smile too. The events from the past night were quite distant by now, everything that happened seemed like some bad dream or something from a movie. And Lucas didn’t want to continue thinking about it anymore – he had other things to think about, positive things. Like Eliott.

“Would you like to have some breakfast? I—”

Eliott turned around and froze as he saw the “mess” he made with the burned toast and the weird-looking scrambled eggs in the pan which were slowly but surely starting to have some kind of black color too.

Eliott sighed dramatically and Lucas huffed a laugh.

“I really wanted to be a gentleman and make some breakfast for you. But the last time I properly cooked, I burnt the kitchen down.”

Lucas was really holding himself back to not laugh out loud.

“I appreciate your effort”, said Lucas with a grin on his lips and laid a hand on Eliott’s arm. And Eliott smiled this beautiful smile again which made his knees go weak. Suddenly, Lucas’ phone ringed with a new message. He left it on the hallway last night and got it from there before returning to Eliott. He sighed deeply after reading the message.

“My dad wants me to come home now”, said Lucas quietly and gave Eliott an apologetic look. But Eliott only nodded, looking over his shoulder.

“Perfect excuse to flee from my delicious breakfast.”

Lucas halted and started to protest but Eliott only laughed, silencing him with that.

“I’m joking. Of course your parents want to see you.”

“I’m sorry…”

Eliott shook his head.

“Don’t be.”

“I…” Lucas didn’t know how to start.

“I just want to thank you. Again. For everything”, Lucas said quietly, quiet satisfied with his words but it still wasn’t enough.

“I would always do it like that again”, said Eliott with a serious voice, Lucas believing him every word and his heart was beating faster at that. Eliott was still taking another step towards Lucas, the scent of him and the presence of his body so close to his own making Lucas go dizzy.

“I don’t regret any decision. I don’t regret coming to that party, I don’t regret drinking with your friends, I don’t regret dancing with you and I don’t regret staying behind to get you and to hold you while you were sleeping. So don’t think that I only did it because I thought you wanted me to. I did because I wanted to do it.”

Lucas couldn’t say anything at all. He was speechless. A very rare occasion, to be honest.

And before he could overthink it, he was standing in Eliott’s arm, hugging him and snuggling into his chest. It felt right at that very moment. It felt right because Eliott apparently was feeling familiar things when being around Lucas. It felt right because Lucas felt safe in his arms, words not being enough of how thankful he was for the very fact that he came into his life like some kind of thunderstorm. Eliott didn’t wait a single second before laying his arms around Lucas.

Don’t make me fall even harder for you than I already did, Eliott.

But it was too late for Lucas anyway.

.

The next days passed and Lucas was under really high protection.

His parents didn’t allow him to leave the house after it went dark, at least not alone. His parents, and also Lucas, were still slightly shocked about everything that happened. Lucas actually wanted to talk with them about the attack, discussing how what they should do now or how they could prevent something like this from happening again. But his parents kept their opinions and their words to themselves, processing the events on their own. Their only reaction was to keep an eye on Lucas the whole time, forbidding to go out at night without even telling him what they knew of this attack. So he also kept his feelings to himself too, only talking with his friends about the events.

But no one was there with them as Lucas lost it, panic so intense in his body, that he couldn’t even breath for some minutes. No one understood what had happened back there.

No one but Eliott.

He really wanted to see Eliott, to talk with him. He wanted to be in his arms again and feel as safe as he felt back then on the couch with only an inch between the two of them. He wanted to see him dancing to this dumb dubstep music again and he wanted to hold his hand, their fingers fitting together perfectly.

But instead of messaging Eliott, Lucas kept dreaming about leaving his golden castle for one night, spending time with Eliott. All of that while being too afraid to message the other boy because he didn’t want to be some kind of annoying.

y4z4s: anyone up for drinking some beers at my place?

basile_simple: when where how

monvoisintuturo: you could at least try to hide your excitement, bas

Lucas was laying in his bed, his usual place since that mess happened, staring at his screen and the messages from his group chat. He sighed deeply as he typed a reply, desperately wishing that his parents wouldn’t occupy him 24/7. Sneaking out had been easy in the past, but it was unthinkable right now.

lucallemant: I’m still under protection

y4z4s: oh c’mon lulu, it’s been a week

lucallemant: tell this to my parents, yann

basile_simple: mec, we’ll drink a beer for you

lucallemant: how heroic of you, basile

monvoisintuturo: another topic: has eliott messaged you recently?

Lucas looked up from his phone. Since he told his friends that Eliott kind of saved his life, they literally formed an “Eliott-Demaury-Fanclub” and under different circumstances, Lucas being more than a friend for Eliott, he would be very happy about all of this and the acceptance his friends finally had for Eliott. But Lucas was still not sure about Eliott’s feelings towards him, afraid, that he misinterpreted the signs between them, that he interpreted too much in all of this. His friends, on the contrary, were one hundred percent sure, that Eliott was totally into Lucas. And Lucas secretly hoped, that they were right.

lucallemant: nope

monvoisintuturo: have YOU messaged him?

lucallemant: nope again

basile_simple: lulu, you should definitely message him and ask him out. he’s probably losing his mind because he’s missing his bby

lucallemant: and then he can save me from my lonely tower or what? I’m still not allowed to leave the house, if you forgot about that

y4z4s: then you need to find another way

Suddenly, his phone vibrated with another message and his heart stopped to beat for a moment.

lucallemant: he just sent me a message

basile_simple: HA THE LOVE MASTER WAS RIGHT AGAIN

monvoisintuturo: what did he wrote?

y4z4s: aw, eli misses his boy

I think it was better when they hated him.

lucallemant: I’m gonna update you later

basile_simple: GO GET YOUR BOY

Lucas took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a second before opening the message from Eliott. This boy had such a strong effect on him, it was not even normal anymore.

srodulv: hey biker boy ;)

lucallemant: hey hero

srodulv: oh, from stranger to hero, that’s what I call development

Lucas quietly chuckled to himself. The sun was slowly setting and another days was over where he just sat around in his room, his only adventure the way from his room to the fridge and back.

srodulv: you up for an adventure with your hero?

lucallemant: an adventure?

srodulv: I would like to kidnap you

lucallemant: I actually have enough from these kind of adventures

srodulv: come on, it will be fun – you’ll love it

Time with him alone. Something like a date. Only Eliott and him.

This is what dreams are made of.

But then Lucas remembered some tiny, little problem.

lucallemant: my parents forbit me to leave the house at night because of reasons you know

srodulv: oh

Lucas never thought that you could feel so many emotions through only one word.

srodulv: can’t you sneak out?

lucallemant: they’ll know

srodulv: you are surely not allowed to be out at night ALONE, right?

lucallemant: yeah, why?

srodulv: because when I’m picking you up from your house, you won’t be out alone

Lucas had to grin. Eliott was right – Lucas could just bent the rules a little bit.

This could actually work.

lucallemant: when will you be here?

srodulv: look outside

Lucas frowned, nearly falling out of his bed while trying to get to his window as fast as possible. As he drew the curtains aside, his jaw literally dropped. There was a car in front of his house and a tall and slender figure was leaning against it, the hood hiding his messy hair but not the grin on his lips as he looked up to Lucas now, the light from his phone screen illuminating his face.

And Lucas was grinning now too.

lucallemant: how did you know I wouldn’t say no?

srodulv: I just hoped so

lucallemant: I’ll be there in a second

Lucas never got dressed this quickly, throwing his Romance hoodie over himself and nearly tripping over his feet, as he made his way over to his own balcony. He usually never sneaked out this way but drastic times asked for drastic measures. He took a deep breath, aware, that Eliott was watching him the whole time, while Lucas started to climb down the ivory twine which was thankfully all over the façade of his whole house. He surprisingly didn’t had any difficulties getting down, the adrenaline rushing through his veins by the thought of being alone with Eliott. He jumped down the last few meters and suddenly felt hands on his waist, catching him slightly.

Lucas’ heart skipped a beat as he turned around, taking in Eliott who looked fucking hot again.

Is it even allowed to look this good?

“Are you ready for our little adventure?”, asked Eliott quietly into the tiny space between the two of them. And Lucas could only nod, a smile slowly spreading over his whole face.

“Let’s go.”

.

“No fucking way, Eliott Demaury.”

“Oh c’mon Lucas, it’s gonna be a lot of fun. You’ll love it.”

“Now I know how you murder people – you’re bringing them here and then they kill themselves by accident.”

“You can really be a dramatic little bitch.”

Lucas huffed a laugh while staring at the roller skate track in front of him, the music loud and the people dancing on while driving round after round on their roller skates. But Lucas had no fucking clue how to stand on these things, which were dangling from his hands, in the first place. He had to admit that he always wanted to try it, being a sucker for adrenaline and for everything connected to speed. But Eliott couldn’t possible know this and Lucas never tried it at all so…

“I’ll hold you, I promise.”

Lucas sighed and turned his head to Eliott who was grinning at him with light in his eyes.

The fucker knows which strings to pull.

“Okay”, said Lucas now with a resigned sigh, “Okay. I’ll do it.”

Lucas was not sure if he imagined it but it looked like Eliott made a little jump, excitement really clear on his face. And it made Lucas’ heart skip a beat to see the other boy so happy.

Lucas pulled on the shoes, Eliott being way quicker and it took him a lot of time to even stand up from his sitting position these devils on his feet. He slowly made his way to the entrance of the track, Eliott holding his hand the whole time while being fucking graceful on his roller skates as if he was born with them. And Lucas must have looked like a little kid who just tried to walk for the first time next to him.

Lucas stood at the entrance of the track for some seconds, his heart beating fast as he saw all the people rushing past them, being all safe on their roller skates.

“Eliott, I cannot—”

“You can. Trust me. I’ll catch you.”

Lucas looked over to Eliott now and the reassuring look in his eyes made him brave, made him sure that this was going to end well.

And after Lucas took a deep breath, Eliott was slowly pulling him onto the track, clutching his hand the whole time.

The first few meters were hell for Lucas. He had the feeling to fall down at any moment and he probably would have been on the ground numerous times by now if Eliott hadn’t been there. But he was. And he never let go of Lucas’ hand, speaking reassuring words and encouraging Lucas to keep going. He was very gentle, maneuvering him through the crowd of people having fun on the tracks. But for Lucas, it was like they were alone in this hall, just the two of them, feeling safe around the other one.

“Lucas?”

“Hmm?”

“You’re driving on your own.”

“What?!”

Lucas hadn’t realized that Eliott had let go of his hand after some time, Lucas moving on his own, driving on the roller skates and with the flow of the other people. And Eliott was driving next to him, a big smile on his face and something like pride in his gaze. And Lucas felt like cheering.

But his sudden mood change weren’t that good for his balance.

“Eliott!”

Lucas lost balance, stumbling as he tried to gain it back but he couldn’t find it anymore and was about to fall down backwards. But Eliott was there, again, catching him and holding him gently but tightly in his arms, making sure that he was okay with one quick glance over his body. The music was loud, the beat throbbing in Lucas’ head but he could still hear his rapid heartbeat over all the noise, looking straight into Eliott’s eyes.

“Should we quit for today?”, asked Eliott gently, his gaze all soft.

And Lucas started to grin, shaking his head.

“I ‘m just getting started.”

.

“This was fucking amazing”, said Lucas with a laugh, his hands buried into the pockets of his hoodie. They had spent several hours in the roller skate hall and Lucas nearly forgot the time and everything around him, like he always did when he was with Eliott. They were on their way back to Eliott’s car now, the moon high on the sky, shining down on them.

Eliott laughed his beautiful laugh, making Lucas’ smile even more.

“I knew that you would like it. You’ve always been a sucker for things like this.”

At this, Lucas frowned slightly.

“How do you know this? I haven’t told you about it yet.”

Eliott stopped in his tracks for a moment, seeming to think about what he just said. Lucas was not able to see his impression since Eliott’s back was turned towards him. But instead of being confused, Eliott looked over his shoulder, a smirk on his face.

“You’re flirting with poles while biking, coming out of it with a wound and you still keep biking. If your need for adrenaline isn’t obvious, I don’t know what is.”

Lucas laughed and looked down, being slightly embarrassed by the fact that this was Eliott’s and his second real conversation, the other boy still talking about it.

They were still some meters away from the car, when a lightning stretched over the sky and thunder could be heard in the distance. Lucas looked up, squinting slightly.

“Oh, I think it’s going to rain s—”

And before he could even finish his sentence, the sky was opening up. Eliott stared at Lucas and Lucas stared at Eliott and they both started to laugh loudly, shifting towards each other as if they were two sides of a magnet.

“We should probably run back to the car”, said Eliott with a laugh, standing close to Lucas while saying so and turned around, ready to go.

But Lucas laid a hand on Eliott’s wrist, holding him back from walking away.

This is it.

Lucas looked into Eliott’s eyes, both of them already wet to their bones from the rain. The drops were running down Eliott’s and Lucas’ face, blinding his sight slightly. But Lucas didn’t care. He only cared for the boy in front of him, for the light in his eyes and the smile on his lips and his slightly pink-tinted cheeks and the way he held Lucas on the roller skate track and the way he picked him up from his golden prison and how he saved his life and…

Lucas didn’t want to wait anymore.

Lucas would be brave now.

And in the next second, their lips were crushing together.

Lucas felt that Eliott wanted all of this as much as he wanted it. He felt it in the way the other boy’s arms wrapped around Lucas immediately, in the way Eliott kissed the fucking life out of him, in the way he could feel Eliott smiling at his lips, as if had waited all the time for this exact moment.

As did Lucas.

Lucas’ eyes were closed the whole time, his body flooded with happiness and joy and…

Oh my fucking god.

Lucas’ eyes opened rapidly during the kiss, their lips still locked while Lucas’ mind was suddenly flooded with pictures and moments and memories and…

Everything shifted into place.

It’s him.

And suddenly, he remembered.

[unfortunate-stranger-losers]

The Incomplete History of Secret Organizations - How to Crack the Code

Now that Season Three of A Series of Unfortunate Events has aired, I feel it’s about time to finally tell y’all the Code from The Incomplete History of Secret Organizations- for those of you who can’t get the book, haven’t read it yet, can’t figure out the code, or who just don’t wanna spend time finding it out yourselves. 

On page 188 of The Incomplete History of Secret Organizations, the key to cracking a code sprinkled throughout the book is provided: 

WARNING → THERE IS A SECRET MESSAGE IN THIS BOOK

You may have noticed a cross-referencing technique that appears throughout these pages, looking as such: (See: Notorious Researchers, pg. 30). This device is a helpful way to direct readers to relevant information that can be found elsewhere in a text. 

It is also a handy way to send a secret message. 

Every librarian knows that books contain secrets, and hiding a secret message in the pages of a book is a frequent VFD tactic. Volunteers who cleverly cross-reference will discover the message, while their enemies, who rarely finish a book, remain unaware. 

If you have read this far, you may be wondering how to discover this message yourself. First read the book carefully, making note of any parentheticals shaded an unusual hue. This is no printer error; it is a key informing you that part of the message can be found on the suggested page. Follow the references and locate the letters colored a corresponding hue. These letters are scrambled, not unlike an anagram. Once you have unscrambled the word, write it on the color-coded line of this telegram. Completing the telegram will reveal the answer to a question that has stumped philosophers, police inspectors, and even Lemony Snicket: 

What comes after the end of The End? 

Next to this description is a photo of a telegram, which is fourteen words long: 

___ ____ __ _______ 

____ ___ __ _____ 

____ ____ _____

__ _____ _____

And, indeed, each word is underlined in a different color. 

Now... onto cracking the code.

As referenced, there are occasional cross-references in the text. And sometimes, the See: is in the color you need to look for. 

If you follow each See to its corresponding page, you’ll find letters scattered across the text that are in the color you need to find. These letters make up each word. 

Word-by-word, let’s see what we can find: 

The first word, in dark purple, is on page 133: The Reptile Room. To be honest, this is the hardest word to find: the dark color is very close to the color of the actual text. There are three letters here, in the following sentences: 

You always want to do something new, but at the same time, I wanted to see if there were clues I could integrate into the design. 

This flips it so the priority is the reptiles, and his own living space is sort of diminutive. 

And in “The Reptile Room,” [Monty]’s delighted to share his world with these kids. 

otw

The second word is on page 99: Toupees for Toddles, in an orange-ish color. There are four letters, which can be found in the following sentences: 

“Well, we can’t put a wig on a baby.” 

It’s one of the oddest things I’ve ever done in my career, applying a little wig on a baby. 

When we started the second season, Presley had grown her hair long enough that we could actually create the ponytail with here own hair, which was a relief. 

ests 

The third word, in a hot pink, is on page 130: Mr Poe’s Office. There are only two letters, which can be found in the following sentences: 

It can be goofy, but it’s never goofy-stupid. 

He’s the guy that’s literally standing between Olaf and the Baudelaire fortune. 

of

The fourth word, on page 110: How to Dress for a Masked Ball, in a gray-blue color, can be found in the following sentences, with seven letters: 

The flashback that opens “The Carnivorous Carnival” is set at a Venetian-style masked ball, where masks conceal a number of familiar faces. Cynthia Summers designed each mask with the character in mind, including Dr Orwell’s “eyeglasses,” a Medusa-inspired snake mask for Uncle Monty, and theatrical comedy/tragedy masks for the Snicket Brothers. (Jacques wears the comedy mask, while Lemony, of course, is tragedy.) The ball also marks the first on-screen appearance of the mysterious Beatrice, described in the script as “a beautiful woman dressed as a dragonfly.” 

eidnrsf

The fifth word, four letters long, is on page 45: Olivia Caliban/Madame Lulu, is in gray: 

A dangling thread from Season One was a certain book on secret organizations discovered by Justice Strauss - a book whose title will be familiar to anyone reading this. 

Still, they liked the idea of a character finding The Incomplete History of Secret Organizations and having the book change your life, as it will no doubt change yours. 

While the book’s version of Olivia is a veteran agent of dubious morality, the show reinvents her as a noble school librarian struggling against institutional corruption. 

There, disguised as Madame Lulu, she fulfills her mission of passing the book to the Baudelaires - and sacrifices herself at the lion pit to save their lives. 

jtsu 

The sixth word, colored light orange, is on page 109: How to Dress for a Career in Food Service. The three letters can be found here: 

Author Daniel Handler explains that the VFD agents we meed in the show are the types of people whom children notice by adults overlook. 

You’re going to notice things that are invisible to the adults talking over your head. 

Take a good look at the restaurant’s terrifying logo. 

uto

On page 141: The Miserable Mill is the seventh word, in two red letters: 

“The Wide Window” left us with no more stage space, so it forced us to shoot the mill at a real location, an old dock building which we then tried to make look like a stage. 

Klaus comes back from the eye doctor, but he isn’t quite himself. 

fo

The eighth word is on page 97: The Real Sugar Bowl. There are five light purple letters: 

According to Esme, it was stolen from her by Beatrice, and according to Olivia, it may have been the reason for the VFD schism. It’s not the first sugar bowl to play a vital role in a work of classic literature (interested parties may seek out We Have Always Lived in The Castle at their local library), but Daniel Handler muses on another possible inspiration: “There a whole sugar scene in the movie Midnight (See: Snicket, Jacques, pg 44) that must have seeped into me when I was a child. Somehow I think that was one of the sugar bowls of literature that ended up sneaking in.” 

The existence of four identical sugar bowl [props] may be of interest to Esme Squalor, or at least her actress, Lucy Punch, who requested to keep one when the series wrapped. “My character was so desperate for it,” says Punch. “It seemed appropriate.” 

eahrc

The ninth word, in blue, is on page 172: The Carnivorous Carnival. There are four letters: 

There’s literally no program you can watch that’s any wierce. 

The aesthetic of carnivals and circuses is naturally creepy and absurd to begin with. And then you add the overlay of our material, where everything is filtered  through the Baudelaires, so the sets are designed to be seen as if you’re a vulnerable child glimpsing this horrible world and trying to maintain hope. 

Count Olaf arrives at Caligari Carnival, where he hopes the fortune-teller can help him. 

wlli

The tenth word is on page 89: The Many Faces of Barry Sonnenfeld. There are four green letters: 

and in “The Vile Village,” he’s the fire chief posing with his Dalmatian int he firehouse-turned-saloon. 

A common ancestor to our series’ interconnected families? 

Barry birthday is April Fool’s Day, and for his birthday, I decided to knock off a painting with him in it. 

We’re shooting the Hotel Denouement right now, and the whole hotel isi based on the Dewey Decimal System, and each floor is a different subject. 

eetm

On page 64-65: The Sinister Songs, you can find five magenta letters for the eleventh word: 

“I was a huge fan of the books in my twenties, and I  was also a huge fan of Barry Sonnenfeld, so to see those two come together and actually be a part of it was unreal.” 

Count Olaf introduces himself to the Baudelaires with this song and dance - ignoring the fact he’s already met them. Handlers says, “Singing is perfect for Count Olaf because he imagines himself so wonderful.” 

All of the dance numbers were choreographed by Paul Becker, who pulled double duty in the first half of “The Carnivorous Carnival”.

She’s had quite an exciting / Time on the road

agina

On page 24: Violet the Inventor, there are two gray letters for the twelfth word: 

But now those inventions, like the Baudelaire mansion itself, are gone. 

She promised her parents she would always look after them, and while Count Olaf’s schemes have put that promise to the test, Violet’s managed to stand strong in even the most unfortunate situation. 

on

Pages 116-117: Deciphering Code: Using the Dials of the Spyglass, has five purple letters for the thirteenth word: 

As a volunteer, you already know why and when the spyglass was created (See: Motion Picture, Pg 10) but we will briefly recap its history here.

A permanent mark has its advantages, since even the most absent-minded member rarely leave the house without their ankle (See: Peg Leg, pg 86), but it has its drawbacks too, particularly if the organization undergoes a schism, so that the same symbol that once stood for comradery and literacy suddenly represents treachery and pyromania now that it is inscribed on the ankles of your enemies. 

But just as a movie might be more than a movie, a spyglass can be more than a spyglass. 

Critics called these films terrible, which was the point: Sebald wanted to ensure that no one would want to see them besides other volunteers, who would be more interested in their secret messages than their artistic value. 

The cinema’s projectionist assigns the film a production code made up of a unique combination of numbers and symbols. 

riynb

The fourteenth and final word can be found on page 32: Who is Lemony Snicket? There are five pale green letters: 

He is currently investigating the lives of the Baudelaire orphans,  though his reason for doing so is unknown, as are his whereabouts. 

Mr. Snicket can be identified by his dry wit, his tailored suits, and his ankle tattoo, as well as his tendency to launch into wordy monologues containing Very Frequent Definitions. 

But when developing the series for Netflix, Barry Sonnenfeld and Daniel Handler independently felt that their Snicket should be seen as well as heard. 

And they both independently thought of Patrick Warburton, a frequent Sonnenfeld collaborator whom Handler had loved in a little-seen film called The Woman Chaser. Volunteers who track it down will note that it features Warburton speaking to the camera in a suit and a deadpan style that one might call Serlinig-esque - or Snicket-esque. 

haebc

The Code

So now we have all the words:  

otw ests of eidnrsf 

jtsu uto fo eahrc 

wlli eemt agina 

on riynb haebc  

Which do not take a long time to unscramble... 

What comes after the end of The End? 

Well, it turns out... the code is a couplet... 

Two sets of friends, just out of reach 

Will meet again on Briny Beach.

[solani-and-ashe]

Lulu as the Goblin King is hot but so is him with a riding crop 😩💦 just yes please!

HERE U GO BONCH

The tap of the riding crop on stone was utterlytormenting. You’d wanted to make a deal to get magic- to be gone with yournormal, human life, and instead become a witch, but like the ones in the farofflands. But your frustrated cry, to exchange your life for power was notanswered in the way you thought it would be. Goblin King made you think hewould be ugly, malformed. But no, he was handsome, imposing, and every bit thefae he was.

He’d heard your bargain and took you up on the offer. Montaghe called himself. High Fae and King of the Goblins and the EnchantedLabyrinth. When you expressed distress and demanded to return home- he gave youa challenge. Reach the castle beyond the goblin city by the 13thhour, and he would return you home, magic and all. Fail however, and you wouldremain here, with him as one of his subjects. Magic, and your old life lost.

 The 12th hour, you had managed to get to the city, butwith no way in, you were starting to panic. You didn’t want to become a goblin,you just wanted a bit of excitement. A bit of magic. Not this-

“Having trouble?” He liked to do that. Appear behind you,teasing every hour or so, giving you unhelpful clues and hints. He also seemedto have been flirting with you, abet, poorly.

“Well, given I can’t climb up your stupid town walls,yes, yes I am having trouble.”

He kept tapping his riding crop against the stone.

“You could give up you know; fear me, love me, doeverything I say-“ He purred, two long stride closing the distance until he wasright next to you, smirking. “-And I would be your slave.”

You pushed him away, stumbling back against the stonewall. “I will never give up.” His pout returns, the same one he makes after youreject his inevitable offer.

“Perhaps not. But tenacity will only get you so far.” Youblink, and he’s gone, yet his voice lingers. “You’ll need luck for the rest.”

 You wanted to cry. You reached the castle gates as theclock struck 13.

 You reached it, but did not managed to make it inside,the doors open even, as if mocking you. Tired, resigned, you collapsed to yourhands and knees, knowing you were a fool. You should have just begged to be letgo, offered something else. Now you’d become a goblin, a stupid, ugly, magicalgoblin serving a king who looks like the stuff of a fairy tale.

“Why are you crying my little sunbeam?” His words offeredno comfort. His victory loomed in your mind. “You made it. Almost. It was agood effort, but you did lose in the end. Pity for you, that.” The tip of hisriding crop slid under your chin, making you look at him.

“Why the tears. This is what you wanted, a new life,magic. I only gave you what you desired.” You shook your head. Not like this.Not trapped here forever.

 “I ask for so little. Fear me, love me, do as I say, andI will be your slave.” He lets you face fall, running the crop down the side ofyour face. “Is it so terrible? Your fate? To spend your days here by my side?It does not have to be made of tears and sorrow my sunbeam. You should thankme. Never to grow old, never to be touched by illness- you would have everythingyou desire, and all it takes is you to accept.”

 You look at him, tears running down your face. Hisarrogance, his beauty, his charm- he’s a fae. He’s a liar. You don’t answer.The crop hits a nearby goblin who’s instructed to take you to your new home. Inthe castle.

 It’s a room. A proper room. Filled with fine things younever knew existed. Why, is the question that runs through your mind. Why thislavish living space? Why the castle? It doesn’t make sense. But then the faerarely do.

As the day ends, answers are no closer. The goblins yousee call you mistress enchantress. One kindly answers the question as to why.You belong to Montag, the king, and you are to be magic soon. Magic like king’smagic. Dinner is served in your room. Warm fresh bread, a vegetable soup andwater. Nothing fancy, but filling.

 The next day was a mix of sounds and strangeness. Wakingto what you thought was the caw of a rooster was actually a yelling goblin. Youhad clothes waiting you at the foot of the bed, a lovely dress that sparklesand was softer than silk. It was beautiful, and wearing it felt almost like amockery, a crime. Montag, who lounged in his strange throne was pleased by bothyour arrival, and appearance.

“Hello starlight.” He crooned. “You look even more lovelythan you did at the ball.”

“That was real?” You ask, shocked. It hadn’t felt real…

“Sweet sunbeam, you really ought to not be so surprised.Have I not done so much already? Given you magic, turned back time, turned theworld upside down and back again- is a ball where we celebrate your arrival so beyondwhat you think of my abilities?”

You blushed and shied from his outstretched hand. “So shy. What happened to your fire, that brightness?”“Oh, it’s still here.” You whisper, almost hissing at him. “But I’m about tosquander my remaining time as a human.”Montag stared at you before breaking into laughter, his goblins joining him.

“Still human? Darling, you haven’t been human since themoment you ate the food last night.” Your face paled as he smiled. “You haveeaten our food- and willingly. Magic was to make you mine, but the food to keepyou- ageless, immortal. You are as I am.” He did not bother with respecting yourpersonal space, coming close enough to touch, yet not.

“You are my prize for your lost wager. A companion, amember of my kingdom.” You whimpered, looking away from him as he grinned.

“Remember my offer sunbeam. Fear me, love me, doeverything I say-““-And you will be my slave.” You remember. But that does not make the realityhurt any less. You cannot eat breakfast, and lunch and dinner are taken in yourroom.

It goes on for a few more days before finally, Montagsummons you, the throne room empty.

 “Do you think to starve yourself? That I would allow such?You will eat sunbeam.” He snapped. “You do not have to love it here-“ He was mercurial,mood changing on a whim. One moment scolding the next, gentle and soothingcupping your face. “But it is your home. I would have you happy sunbeam. If onlyyou would-““I will not give you what you want.” His smile was cruel.

“You will sunbeam.” He let you go. “You will sooner orlater.” Needless to say, you ate your food.

 Weeks as his ‘companion’ and Montag did everything in hispower to both remind you that you belonged here, that you were a member of hiskingdom while also showering you with gifts. It grew tiring, resisting. It grewtiring hating him out of spite. And slowly, you came to understand- he had beenkind to you. He didn’t demand anything, didn’t force you to do anything, heonly asked.

 And like Montag said, eventually-

“Montag.” You said, looking across the table at him, the goblinking reading a missive of some sort while he ate.

“You terrify me.” A few of the goblins heard you, fallingsilent.

“I care for you, deeply.” More of them went silent.

“And from now on, I will listen to you.” White eyes likepearls looked up, alight with mirth.

 One moment at dinner, the next in a lavish room of silkand gold.

“I know what you intend.” He crooned, that damn riddingcrop of his gliding along the slit of your dress.

“But those are not the words I need to hear.”“I-“ You were afraid to say them. They carried so much weight, and for fae,words were stronger bonds than any steel.

 “Show me my sunbeam.” He leaned in, a lick running up theside of your neck. Sudden, intruding upon your person, yet the wickedness of ithad you gasp and arch into the touch.

“Bend over my bed.” You knew what he wanted. To show youwould obey. Blood rushed to your face, yet you did so, rear pushed out.

“Do you fear me?” He asked, the tip of leather running upand down your thigh. His hand running down your spine until it reached the dipbefore your ass.

“No-“ Not really.

“A mistake then.” The crop came down on your ass a sharpsting of pain making you cry out in shock. “You should fear me my sunbeam.”Again the crop came down, the fabric of your dress blessedly buffering hisstrikes.

“Ah!” He did not stop at two strikes, or three. He administered them acoss yourbackside, taking his time to pause on occasion, soothing your muscles with hishand. Caressing you, kneeding the flesh until you relaxed, only to strike youagain.

“What a disobedient thing you are.” Montag smirked, blonghair looking a touch wilder than before. “But you are taking punishment sowell.” You sighed as his hand once more began to sooth the tender spots he’dcreated.

“Now strip sunbeam, I must make you learn what it is tofear me.” You felt like you were back in the ballroom, in a haze, his wordslike honey and sugar. Hands at you back, you did as he said, letting the starlightdress cascade down you body onto the floor.

“All of it.” He purred, and just like that you yielded,bra and panties joining the dress in a pile.

 Naked you gave into his hands, letting him guide you tolay upon his bed, still bent over, but no longer propped up, fighting to stand.Instead, pliant, relaxed on his silk sheet.

“You did as I said.” He groaned as he ran the crop alongyour inner thigh, parting your legs until you glistening slit was exposed. Theleater tip dragged across your labia, moving your slick back and forth overyour out lips, teasing you with a feather light touch.

 A tap to your clit, you gasped, jerking as the ridingcrop continued to tap against the pink pearl that commanded your desire.

“Do you fear me sunbeam? Fear what I can do?”

“Yes-“ You response was breathy, and you moaned when thecrop was dragged firming down towards your ass.

“Say it my darling.”

“I fear you.” Your reward was a sharp slap across yourthigh, making you jerk and shake, more of your slick forming to the point itbegan to run down your thighs.

 “Do you love me?” You sighed, pushing back to the handthat caressed the marks he’d left on you.

“Montag-“ “Well sunbeam?”

You mewled as his finger slipped between your legs, rubbingyour clit with slow deliberate motions.

“I need to hear it.”“Yes.”

“Yes what?” His finger pushed in, stretching your walls,making stars dance behind your eyelids.

“I love you.”

 His finger was removed and the whine that left you wasdesperate, needy. You wanted this- wanted him.

“Lovely my sunbeam.” His praise warmed something in you,made you blush. It felt nice, his approval. “Now- tell me what you desire.”His skin on your own, you moaned. This was the magic of fairy. The lust andlove and pleasure they could bring when one gave into them and their charms.And you had- willingly even.

“You-“ You pushed back, firm heat rubbing against thecleft of your bare ass. “I want you.”“Command me.” He growled. “For I am your slave.”

 His cock moved, slipping to rub along your sensitive fold,wetting and coating itself in your desire.

“Fuck me Montag.” Your demand was met with his movement.A smooth, long thrust right into your core, your voice was lost, stolen withthe sudden mind blowing pleasure of him.

Sex had always been sex, but this? This was otherworldly,this was magic.”

“You fear, me, love me, do as I say.” He thrust into you, hard length fillingyou perfectly, rubbing and touching every place that make your whimper and moanfor more.

“So now, I am a slave to you.” Over and over he move,dragging his cock against what felt like every nerve ending in you, making youkeen and mewl as your legs shook, desperate for more.

“My queen.”

 A hard slap of his hips, You screamed for him, pushingback as he hilted himself. You moaned and rocked against him as he took hispleasure and gave you your own. Your ass, already tender and sore flared witheach slap of his hips against your own, only serving you make you clench andcry out around him.

 Soo enough, the pleasure, just as quickly as it came,reached a crescendo, Montag’s thrusts becoming wild and erratic as he groaned,swirling his hips as he made you chase your orgasm.

 “Come for me my darling.” You gripped the sheets, eyesfluttering as his cock dragged across your g-spot, as stars danced in youreyes.

His command, you were bound to obey. Your orgasm tore ascream from your throat, and you shook under him as he grunted, pushing deep,lifting your hips to get just the right angle as he came after you, pushing hisseed deep. Your whine of bliss was matched only by your lover’s heavybreathing, his grip tight on your legs, keeping you lifted just enough so youcouldn’t move.

 Eventually, the fae king sighed, his own bliss completed,and pulled out, a pleased hum leaving him at the sight not only at your abusedand red ass, but your swollen cunt, white cum dripping from you as you laythere, moaning and sighing, euphoria not yet vanished from your mind.

 “Do you now see my sunbeam, my starlight?” He lifted youeffortlessly, taking you to lay in the bed properly, by his side.

“All you desire shall be yours.” His fingers ran throughyour hair as you curled into his body, his smile wicked as it was loving.

“My little witch, my darling fighter, my sweet sunbeam,my precious starlight.” He kissed you slow and deep- he tasted of magic and mystery-a fae king given flesh.  

“My perfect Queen.”

[disaster-fruit]

Okay lets try to get back to this, we're almost done with it i think (if we accept the "not entirely happly ever after yet but working towards it and bond to get there eventually" as our happy ending). Anyway

On the voice's fake backstory, i think we could go for cursed soul. Him being cursed explains why martin can't see him, by all accounts he just ddoesnt have a body to be seen. But he isnt able to roam free because the curse keeps him tied to the castle, tied to that horrible beast he refuses to ever talk to (so if martin asks the beast about the voice, luciano can just deny saying anything). And him as the voice can go on and on about how lonely and sad he is and try to connect with martin through both being prisoners. Maybe for some extra spice, he claims the voice was once a common villager very long ago, before the beast was cursed, and tell him about how they used to have a prince, who as charming and fun and loved by everyone, until one day the beast arrived and idk ate the prince in a bite and took the castle and terrorized everyone.

I dont think theres much more to say plot-wise, reading it all again after all this mini-hiatus (sorry abt that lol). I like the idea of martin being visited by the other former 'sacrifices' and thus getting more and more confused.

I do think the love confession works better when lu is already in his castle, in his final moments. Giving him time to run back to the castle feels like a little TOO MUCH time yk we need more hurry. I think we can keep luciano wanting to visit the village one last time, but before he gets to martin the village spots him and we get the angry mob. Martin hears about it, everyone expects him to join the mob obviosuly, but something in him cant help but try to outrun them and reach luciano first, to find him maybe right by the last flower/tree in his last moments. Martin doesnt know if he's already turned fully into a beast, until he steps closer and then boom love confession

another thing i do think i want to keep is martin being the one to 'kill' him at the end. He knows lulu will turn into a mindless beast, either he does it or lets the village do it, and he can see in luciano's eyes he1d want it to be him. So he does it after the love confession, just to regret it immediately and curse the heavens for not letting there be another way, and luciano transforms in thhe middle of his tears. IDK bro i just like the angst better.

In a short of epilogue fashion, now that luciano is human, he has a lot of stuff to sort out. The villages around were too long without their price (its a fairy tale so lets just roll with the monarchy = good here), he's disoriented and confused and having to get used to his old-new skin, and he really wants martin by his side, even if just as a friend. Just... there, with him, so that he doesnt feel so alone and confused. Martin hesitates, but he cant say no for too long, so he agrees with this distant friendship of sorts. But he was already too in love from the beginning, and as luciano turns more and more into his real self as he settles back into his life, the less martin can really be angry at him for wanting to lift his curse. And also luciano can use all his Voice strategies to woo martin back, (maybe in a twist to the original story this is the point tincho is gifted the library in the castle, we know he likes books) , but this time attached to his beautiful face. Who can blame martin for falling all over, really

First BrArg Sunday of the year? 👀 maybe beauty in the beast AU or something else you have in mind (if you want to/aren’t busy etc)

I literally entered twice to your inbox thi morning to send a beauty and the beast au ask but went back like “no i shouldnt, we’re close to the secret santa dead line and knowing us im sure we’re all busy” but you come to my door I CANT SAY NO FUCK YES BEAUTY AND THE BEAST AU LETS GO

Sooooooo before we let imagination lose, we need to settle a very important very difficult query: which one of our boys is the human and which one is the beast?

[volcanofireflame150]

Wings of an Angel

Story Series; Ch12

Chapter 11

    Yami and Ayno are the most confusing people I have ever met, Yami always tells him that he should not treat her like a lady but then 5 minutes later she gives up, Ayno is different because Yami always tells him to put on a shirt and he says that he'll only do that when necessary but like another 5 minutes go by and he has a shirt on. They are perfect for each other I swear they are fit each other because I would like his attitude if I was with him but I'm not, I'm with Baekhyun.

    Speaking of Baekhyun, everytime I am not around he becomes harsh on Reyn because he hired Reyn as one of his butlers, but when I'm around he becomes patient towards Reyn. That is not right, apparently Reyn is not welcomed here, I went to him and he was crying all because Baekhyun could not stop being harsh on him. I asked, "Do you want to move somewhere else, Reyn?" "Anywhere but here and the Heart Kingdom," said Reyn. I managed to snuck out of the kingdom with Reyn and Baron, I asked the centaur, "Can you take us to King Jongin's Kingdom please?" "The Nature Kingdom? Sure," said the centaur.     We were off to the Nature Kingdom, Reyn was now calm and relaxed, thankfully I left a note saying that Reyn and myself are going somewhere and there was no way for him to talk me out of it. We arrived the Nature Kingdom, it was really full of nature, Reyn was welcomed because a fellow satyr greeted him, "Hello fellow satyr." This was a female, Reyn asked, "May I know your name?" "My name is Elora," she said. Reyn smiled and said, "I want to stay here forever." "But we need to let King Jongin know that you are moving here," I said to Reyn.     We went to Kai's castle, Kai was in the middle of steaming it looks like, I asked, "What's wrong, Kai?" "Fluorescence, now is not the time," said Kai. I said to Reyn, "Looks like that's a no, Reyn, I'm sorry, I'll find somewhere else for you to live in." That made Kai turn around and he said, "He can stay just don't bother me at the moment." I let Reyn go on his own so I can ask, "What's wrong, Kai? Maybe I can help." "I don't need any help," Kai shouted. That tone of voice was rattling my chain, I gritted my teeth and said, "Watch that tone, mister!" "What are you gonna do? You are not a queen yet!" he shouted again.     I looked at his maids, butlers, and guards, they immediately left the room they saw my eyes turning blood shot red and black. Kai didn't see the sudden change of my eyes but he heard my change of voice when I said, "Don't tempt something that you want to regret this!" "What happened to your voice, Fluorescence?" asked Kai. Then he turned towards me, saw my eyes and asked again, "What happened to your eyes?" "This is what happens if you rattle my chain of my true nature," I warned him.     He got the message quick then said, "I'm having an issue trying to hide this sudden urge to dance, but I can't because that's not how a King would do." "So? Every king is different, if you want to dance that bad then what is stopping you?" I asked, making a very good point. Kai thought about on what I said and said, "Why didn't I think of that? I could dance whenever I want. This is my kingdom, I rule it, and if I want to dance no one is going to stop me, not even my guards could stop me." "Well, you do have power over them so they have to listen to you no matter what," I said.     Then I saw some moves from Kai that almost got me to dump Baekhyun for him but I'm preventing that happening because it was wrong for me to think that way. I ended up walking out of the castle, I saw Reyn hanging out with Elora, they were holding hands. Apparently they got together quick, how sweet and very cute, I went back to the Light Kingdom, expecting someone who is unhappy on what I did with Reyn.     My prediction was right, Baekhyun was unhappy with me but didn't see Reyn with me, he asked, "Where is Reyn?" At this point we were in the bedroom, I simply told him, "I moved Reyn to Kai's Kingdom, he didn't feel welcomed at all for what you were doing to the poor satyr." "So, you snuck out with him behind my back," he said, accusing me for doing something right. I asked, "Are you accusing me for doing something right?" "I don't know, it seems like I am," Baekhyun mouthed back.     I didn't even hesitate when I said, "You know what, I don't want to start something so I'm going to bunk with Yami." So, that's what I ended up doing, I went to Yami's room then I forgot that Ayno is in her room so I bunked with Baron, my brother. Baron asked, "What's wrong with Baekhyun right now?" "I don't know ever since we've brung Reyn to this Kingdom it was as if Baekhyun has a hatred towards satyrs, I find that hard to believe," I said, "When I came back, he accused me of doing something right on Reyn's part because Baekhyun was treating him differently."     Baron let me sleep on his bed while he sleeps in a separate room. Then morning arrived, I was still in Baron's room, feeling great that I stood up for someone who is being treated unfairly. I decided to contact Queen Lulu to explain to her on what happened with Reyn, myself, and Baekhyun. When I told her all of that, Lulu said, "Baekhyun doesn't have a hatred towards satyrs, he's just hard to understand when he's trying to be a King and be a friend at the same time." "But that's impossible, I even saw Kai trying to be a King and a friend at the same time but I told him to drop the King act and try to be a friend to someone that you can trust," I said to her.     Lulu said, "Sehun, he's nowhere like them, he's a King towards everybody else, minus us 2, my sister, Yami, Ayno, Baron, and the other Kings, because he wants to let them know that he is ruling his kingdom but at the same time he's trying to figure out if he's doing the right thing." "But, last night Baekhyun accused me of doing something right," I told her. She just looked at me in shock and asked, "He did what?" "You heard me, he even admit that he was accusing me," I said to her, "I even warned him before to not mess with my true nature, my true nature's chain is rattling still from what he said."     After that interaction with Queen Lulu, I saw Baekhyun coming into the library because I'm always there when I need to read to get something off my mind. When he got closer, I just ignored his existence by going to another section of the library. I heard him call my name in the most stern like voice, I was not moving from my spot, yes I'm hiding from him. He got close enough to know that I snuck out of the library and went to the courtyard to just be lost in the garden he had.     Ayno sees me and asked, "May I join you?" "Go for it, Ayno, just don't let Baekhyun see you," I said to him. He did exactly that because of my tone of voice, I ended up falling asleep in Ayno's arms in the garden, it took Baekhyun a while to find on where I am. When he did, I was awake with my back facing him, Baekhyun asked, "Why are you avoiding me now?" "Hmph," all I said. I'm giving him the cold shoulder, Baekhyun asked, "Was it because I accused you?" "Oh, gee, I wonder why," I said, "because that's exactly why I am avoiding and giving you the silent treatment all because Reyn wanted to move away from this Kingdom, I did something right that should have never been accused of doing in the first place!"     He almost snapped at me when I said, "Stop treating other people that who is not an Angel, an Elf, A Dark Elf, a Demon, and a human, because that was unfair on your part treating a satyr like he didn't belong here." He is just quiet at this point, then this got his attention when I said, "Apparently equality doesn't even matter to you anymore, so why am I, Ayno, Yami, and Baron are here?" "Please, Fluorescence, I don't want to lose you," said Baekhyun. I gave him a stern look and said, "Then I guess we just need a break from each other because I do not want to unleash my true self and you are not going to like it."     I went to Kyungsoo's Kingdom so I could ask him a favor, when we greeted each other, Kyungsoo asked, "Do you want to stay for a while?" "Yes, Baekhyun and I are taking a break from each other," I said. Then he said, "But there's more to it on why you are truly here." "Yeah, wedding cake," I said. Kyungsoo said, "Say no more, I'll make the perfect cake for the both of you." "And make one for my sister Yami, please?" I asked.     After all that, I decided to wonder around the world then I spotted a fellow angel, his angel wings had a hint of yellow, I asked, "Do you need any help, sir?" "Yes please," I hear him say. He has such an angelic voice for a guy like him, I did a curtsy and greeted myself, "I'm called Fluorescence." "My name is Jeonghan," he said, "It's a pleasure to meet a fellow archangel." "Archangel?" I said, in confusion. Jeonghan explained, "Your wings are golden yellow and mine has a hint of yellow, meaning that we both are Archangels, the ones that has both yellow and white are wannabe Archangels, the ones with the hint of light blue are soon to be Archangels, same with the ones that have hints of yellow, and the ones with the pure white are just your average Angel."     "Oh, I learned something new today," I said to myself. He asked, "Didn't you read that somewhere in a library?" "Where I am from, reading was forbidden," I said to him. He stopped and said, "Those parents are wrong to do that." "Yeah, the library was my only escape," I told him. Then he said, "I was told that I had 2 sisters, I'm currently looking for them." "What are their names?" I asked. Jeonghan looked at me and said, "Their true names are Yin and Yang." I stopped dead in my tracks, I looked at him and said, "My true name is Yang." "Is it weird that we happen to end up meeting each other?" he asked. I answered, "Yeah that's kind of strange." "Well, I was told by a King of the Frost Kingdom that people named Yami and Fluorescence are living here at the Light Kingdom," he said.     When I introduced Jeonghan to Ayno, Baron, and Yami, Yami was in tears because she knew on who was our lost brother, Baron said all that so Yami doesn't be sad the entire day of that day. I took Jeonghan to a room that he'll be staying, then he said, "Thanks but I want to spend time with my sister to see on how she is doing." "Are you sure?" I asked. He nodded, then I told him, "Well, all I'm doing is planning a wedding for myself and my love interest." "Oh, I can't wait to meet this partner of yours," said Jeonghan. Then I told him, "Well, you will eventually run into him, this is his castle after all." "Wait what?" he said, in confusion.     Speaking of my love partner, Baekhyun came walking down the hallway seeing me and Jeonghan interacting with each other. Someone is jealous even though Jeonghan is my lost brother, then he sees Yami and Baron come up to us, Jeonghan noticed Baekhyun then asked, "Is that the owner of this castle?" "Yes he is and he is the King of the Kingdom," said Yami. Jeonghan held his breath while Baekhyun came closer and asked, "Who is this?" "This is Jeonghan," I said, "My long lost-." "Your long lost partner?" Baekhyun accused. Jeonghan said, "Eww, no! I'm her brother, dude, that would be so weird." "Brother?" asked Baekhyun.     Jeonghan spoke up for me and said, "Yes and from what Fluorescence, the true Yang, has told me that you are wrongly accusing her for doing something right! She deserves someone far more better than the likes of you. A King?" Then he chuckles as he continues, "A King of what? The King of Jerks? Is that what you are? For a King, you should never treat a lady in any kind of disrespect. For a King, you are a terrible one." Baekhyun had to stop him by saying, "I'm not terrible!" "Oh really, then why did Fluorescence tell me that you were treating a satyr different than you were treating her? That is very wrong for a King to do, she was doing something right for once and you had the nerve to accuse her of doing something right," said Jeonghan.     I'm avoiding eye contact on Baekhyun, then Jeonghan told him, "She took that Satyr somewhere that he should've been welcomed in the first place, she took him to Kai's Kingdom, which is called the Nature Kingdom right?" "Yeah," said Baekhyun. Jeonghan was getting to him, Yami was noticing something different about Jeonghan and myself, it's true, Yami is not my twin, Jeonghan is my twin, but the Weeping angels are still Yami and myself.     After all that was said and done, Baekhyun now realized not to mess with Jeonghan in any way possible. Which is good on my part because he has my brother to deal with. I met up with Queen Lulu, she noticed the certain changes, Baekhyun's kingdom is not only white and grey anymore, it's still white but also yellow and blue. I also helped with the greenery, I mean if the woodland creatures are wanting to live here you need to have some greenery or woods in your kingdom.

[noplanwithavan]

ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME…AND ETNA.

Most parents avoid putting their children in harm’s way.  If there was a “Parenting for Dummies” handbook, surely the first piece of sage advice would be:

1. ”Children have a limited sense of danger, and are reliant on parents for protection. Failure to do so may result in premature expiration of said offspring.”

With that guiding principle in mind, I wonder how we came to find ourselves heading straight for Europe’s most active volcano, right after it had just erupted..Oh, maybe because point number 2 of that handbook should read, “Life is there to be lived. Always choose adventure over fear.”

And so it came to pass. We found ourselves making a bee-line for the football just off the boot of Italy, otherwise known as Sicily. When we read an account of a BBC journalist fleeing for her life under attack from projectile lava last week, it was a done deal. “How do you feel about going to see Mount Etna girls?” asked Marcus, eyes glistening before images of dramatic fireworks and oozing red rivers. I could sense a mission coming on, a plan forming. There was a split second when we pondered if this was such a great idea. And then it passed. After all, what’s a volcano without an element of risk? Surely that’s part of the appeal.

It’s been a whirlwind month so far, veering from extreme sports to ancient history all within a few weeks. We started March in Andorra - meeting up with Marcus’s family for a ski holiday. We are so grateful to Ros Beck for her generosity and patience in spearheading a frenetic but fun-filled week! Six grandchildren in one place, all vying for the title of extreme fearlessness is not anyone’s idea of a relaxing break. But we were all bowled over at how well the kids adapted to the slopes, lapping up the kind of intuitive instructions which makes it so much easier to acquire a new skill than an adult learner. Legs in “pizza” meant snowplough, whereas “chips” was parallel. And with those two ideas in mind, they got it. Lulu earned the nickname “ski bomber” after trailing along in a caterpillar behind Caspar, Willem, Delphi and Sam. Too small for ski poles, she couldn’t shoost herself along so well as the others, but quickly worked out that by crouching as low to the ground as possible she could really turn on the gas. It was a pose reminiscent of “Eddie the Eagle” - short on finesse, but blessed with a low centre of gravity.

When the Becks left en masse we were somewhat bereft. Since Morocco, Andorra had been our last significant landmark - something to head for, dare I say it, a plan. Now what we were supposed to do? Well the first thing was to take advantage of Andorra’s tax-free status to buy a new iPhone. We had scared family half to death with our prolonged periods of silence. After a month of more tragic than comic attempts to replace the one I lost, buying every gadget under the sun to bolster a secondhand Gibraltan rip off, with as much life in it’s battery as a dead parrot, enough was enough. And with that accomplished, we found a new urgency to take things under control, to be masters of our fate. “Let’s go to Italy,” I ventured. “There’s a ferry from Barcelona to Civitavechia, just north of Rome.” It’s moments like these I love about the life we’re leading. The pure beauty of the fact you CAN. No need to fill your time with anything you don’t want to do. To wait or put off today what you hope for tomorrow. And after nearly 7 months on the road it’s still thrilling, the realisation that you can pose the question, “Where do we want to go?” And then…just go.

Our battles with batteries were not over yet however. With just a few hours to spare before we boarded the overnight ferry, we returned to the van to discover the headlights had been left on. I had that prickling-sweat-on-the-back-of-the-neck feeling at the sound of a lifeless ignition. We asked around for jump leads but without success, so Marcus decided to try and use the spare leisure battery to kick start it. He didn’t look confident, and kept muttering under his breath about how this could be “really bad.” After all, up until now the principle role of the leisure battery had been purely in keeping the freezer cold enough to make ice for our Gin and Tonics. The girls and I knew better though - with blind faith we stepped back and let him get on with it. Within minutes, the engine roared. We were going to make our sailing. “I knew you could do it Daddy!” they cried. “ He’s REALLY GOOD at fixing things isn’t he?” I heard them gossiping to each other.

Emerging from our cabins the next morning, we meet a Swedish couple during breakfast, and later a father and son from Argentina. We are clueless about free camping options in Italy, whereas the Argentinians seem to know something, or at least they said they did. Marcus returns triumphant just before we’re about to disembark. “We’re going to team up and travel in convoy,” he beams. “This should be fun!” Before long a welshman, an Argentinian and a Swede snake their way out of port, and I chuckle at how we make an eclectic international mix, full of camaraderie and a willingness to help complete strangers. The bonhomie fades somewhat when the duo from Buenos Aires lead us on a merry dance - and the Swede starts to question their navigational abilities. But after a few dead ends and detours, they deliver the goods, pulling up alongside Castle San Salver by the sea.

It never fails to amaze me how happy the girls are in whatever environment they find come the morning. At one point there was a lot of sibling rivalry going on, but they seem to be getting on a lot better now. And with no toys, and no-one but each other to play with, their creativity really shines. While I sit there worrying that we need more direction and a new focus, they play happily - making dens, building sculptures, mixing potions, setting up shops, even at one time creating their own imaginary city and offering guided tours. I’m invited into this game and it’s fascinating to hear the jumble of ideas and influences come spilling out. Elsie’s verbal diarrhoea really flourishes under such circumstances. At one point she explains we’ve arrived at the town square, “That’s where the government is,” she says. “He’s very corrupt, but the good news is he’s not actually a dictator.”

Maybe its the impetus from the signs of Spring we see all around us. Purple wisteria decking the walls, beech nut trees in early bud. Or perhaps its the invigorating sight of bountiful produce in the supermarkets. (Italy has much more variety than Spain, and we’re now spoilt for choice in the cheese, fresh pasta and salad department). Whatever it is, a new phase is beginning, and it’s time to make our next move. We hold a family meeting about what we want. Top of the list comes Romans, followed by danger (in the form of volcano hunting), and finally working again on a farm. After a few enquiries we receive a reply from a family with an 8 year old daughter in Southern Italy, near Bari. It’s a tense moment opening their message. I’ve discovered the following paradox: potential rejection feels most absolute precisely when what you are offering is free of charge. Yet success! We’ve been vetted as volunteer workers and deemed desirable. They would love for us to come and stay. Now we can afford to bargain..yeah sure we reply, we’ll be there, right after we’ve hit the historical and geographical highlights this great country has to offer.

We skirt the nearby Lago Bracciano, and from here, of course, all roads lead to Rome. It’s time to crack open the heavyweight research material, a voluminous tome that will tell us all we need to know about this ancient civilisation. “Here we are girls,” I say, brushing off one of the few essential textbooks we’ve brought along on this trip. “Finally, it’s time….for the “ROTTEN ROMANS!” It whets their appetites and sets in motion a series of stories and gruesome tales which leaves them spellbound for the next few weeks. The route towards the capital is our first real taste of Italian driving. It’s predictably awful - a terrifying cocktail of aggressive drivers, crazy spaghetti junctions, and jarring pot holes. “They may have given us roads,” remarks Marcus, “But they’re not great at repairing them - some of these don’t look like they’ve been filled in since Roman times.”

We leave our van in a secure parking garage, and its location puts me in mind of another Roman story. We’re on the Via Appia, where early Christians were crucified, and where Spartacus met his death along with his band of rebel slaves. For the next two days of sightseeing, his story sets the tone. The girls walk for hours, listening to me narrating, fuelled by Gelato, Pizza, and the cliff-hangers I leave each chapter dangling upon. Spartacus helps bring alive the gruesome, gory details of the Colosseum, which they love. They’ve always had a penchant for the macabre. And the part about the trapdoors underneath the arena spewing out terrible creatures to maul defenceless victims appears to really fire their imaginations. For a slightly more accurate historical perspective we found a great alternative to the pricey tour guide touts. Rather than pay astronomical fees of over 100 Euros per site, we dowloaded a free app by Rick Steves, with an audio commentary the kids could easily follow. I can’t get over the fact we’re actually in Rome, it is everything and more than I hoped. At the heart of the old city, each direction you look is truly awesome, and there can be nowhere on Earth which holds a candle to such imperial grandeur.

We visited the Vatican and missed the Pope. It was a Sunday and he was addressing the masses at the beginning of Lent. Arriving at St Peter’s Square and going against the flow of incoming crowds, we thought there was enough time to nip in for a quick sandwich before we caught a glimpse. There wasn’t. As we emerged, the scarlet flag hanging from a window up high (which apparently indicates  his presence) was just being rolled in. Stomach before Religion. My poor Irish Catholic Grandmother would not have been impressed.

Next stop is Pompei. The long drive is a seemingly endless urban sprawl, but the monotony is broken up when we pass a place called “Angri”, then spot another sign saying “Foof”. The girls find this particularly amusing given it’s the name they use to refer to their vagina. Never one to miss out on toilet-based humour, Elsie pipes up, “There was a town called ‘Poo’ in Spain too!” The story of Mount Vesuvius erupting in 79 AD and destroying Pompei is one of the girls favourites. It’s long been a source of fascination, hearing about whatever fictional characters I can summon managing to escape the deadly pyroclastic flow that fateful day. They’re excited to finally see it all with their own eyes. We only do a portion, picking the best bits, and they love many of the small details. The wide streets with the stepping stones for pedestrians, the holes they can spot in the pavements for fixing rings to harness a horse, the cats eyes in the flooring made from white marble to help people see at night, and the fantastically preserved mosaic of a dog by a front door which reads “Cane Canum (Beware of the Dog). Less cultured is their preference for pointing out big willies whenever they see one - and there are quite a few - on the many exquisite frescos. Towards the end we visit a brothel, complete with stone beds and even pillows. I have a go at explaining what they are, “Good luck with that,” says Marcus, drifting away. In the end I settle on a description as a brothel is a place where lady slaves have to work, lying down next to smelly sailors who want to look and kiss them. This seems to suffice, and they don’t push me on why its necessary to do this lying down.  

Ten years ago Marcus and I spent a few days in Naples, and loved it. Our only regret was that we failed to get a seat at “Pizzeria da Michele” - one of the top pizza joints in town. It filled up early, but this time we’re prepared, catching an early train in. By 11.45am there’s still a queue, but we’re soon seated, and presented with only two choices, Pizza Margherita (tomato, mozzarella and basil) or Pizza Marinara (tomato, garlic, oregano). The girls loyally proclaim their dad’s pizza tastes better cooked in our pizza oven at home. But I have to disagree, even Marcus can’t compete with Napoli’s tomatoes. We’re keen to show the girls the city’s gritty, scruffy charm. We’ve noticed on this trip how much they love to watch people making things, any form of artistic endeavour draws them like moths to a flame. They love the street dedicated to model makers, edging closer to peer at the mechanised scenes and study tiny ceramic legs being carefully painted. Marcus buys some small body parts to replace ones he bought here a decade ago which got smashed when he turned the music up too loud. There’s plenty of life to feast our eyes upon as we wander down the narrow intersecting streets rising upwards, layered washing hanging above us like flags.

All that remains is a volcano, and after taking a vote we decide to pass on Vesuvius and head instead for Europe’s most active volcano, Mount Etna. It’s going to cost a lot more money - driving all the way down to Italy’s toe, catching the ferry across to Sicily, and paying for the compulsory guide - but if you’ve got the chance to choose, why not make it into a real adventure? Spirits are running high, we camp by the beach across the water from Siciliy. That night to shake off the long drive there’s a disco in the van, playing the tracks loud and flashing patterns all around with a green laser we bought in Rome. Next morning Marcus spearfishes a bass and the girls collect bottles to put messages inside, casting them overboard on the short crossing, now our fifth ferry ride . We’re over in 20 minutes, and make straight towards Mount Etna, the landscape turning black and craggy as we approach. Climbing up into the wilderness we camp on the South East side, at the foot of the Valley de Bove. It’s one of the best wild spots yet, and you can lie in bed watching the crater pumping out smoke overhead.

Higher up, it becomes other-worldy. Snow, ash and black rock combine to create a kind of lunar scene. At it’s summit, 3,350 metres high, there are numerous craters. Pockmarking the flanks we spot several nest-like sink holes, reminders of previous activity. There are warning signs informing visitors its forbidden to go beyond 2,500 m without a guide (due to a series of eruptions this month). After some investigation we calculate it’s going to cost us 250 euros to get as near to the central craters as the authorities will allow - 100 euros for us to go up on a cable car, and a further 150 to be taken higher up in a specialist piste basher snow mobile with a guide. In a move to save money the girls agree to hike as far as they can. Fuelled by more chapters of Spartacus and a spin-off series by Marcus called “Fartacus”, 2 hours later we make it to the top of the cable car. From here its a typically Italian ramshackle affair, and people appear to be ignoring the instructions not to wander off alone. Sighting tourists crunching their way over hardened snow wearing only slip-on shoes, we ask if the girls can make it a bit father. The promise of extra Easter Eggs provides the incentive they need, and we creep ever higher, ignoring the warning signs, past the piste bashers and within sight of sulphurous rock at the peak. To our side are long roads of humped black lava flow, and a metallic sound alerts Marcus to peer closer. A heat shimmer is coming off of one, and on closer inspection nestled within is the glow of red lava, rocks tossing and tumbling over each other as they prepare to settle into a solid mass. I’m not sure what I’m more amazed by - this sight, or the fact the girls managed a 5 hour trek without one single meltdown. The next week is filled with volcano-wonder, trekking into the Valle de Bove to see the ancient swirling lava fields, gazing across up high at Etna from the Greek temple of Taormina, and visiting the Etna Museum. Despite keeping a watch we don’t see any fresh eruptions, but it doesn’t matter - we’ve made it our mission to have one big adventure in Italy, and so far it hasn’t disappointed.

[lucycolemn]

don’t be afraid to start over

Lucianna was working late three evenings per week when she had unexpected calls from the parents who were stuck at work or in traffic, but also when she booked meetings with potential clients. She did not have room for many kids at once, so whenever one left due to personal reasons, the place was quickly taken. And as snow slowly fell down outside and the temperature would be perfect for a walk with a latté in her hand, she had to stay in and finish the cleaning. Maybe it was the season, but the children were more excited than ever and put all their energy in making a real mess inside. She did not mind, she honestly preferred them happy than grumpy and sad because their parents dropped them by earlier; at least it occupied her before the next meeting.

She gathered the dresses for the dolls and set them in their drawers before she crawled over the playground to gather the lost, colorful wooden blocks in their box, all ready to build castles and towers tomorrow. She gave a look over the new toys that arrived: most of them were donations by older siblings of the kids she baby sit, others where her own or bought in stores that fixed them and sold them at smaller prices. It was not because she invested all of her money in this kindergarten that she could provide the newest arrivals at toys stores for everyone. All she hoped was that kids appreciated the thought of having new things to play with.

Lucy selected a couple of crayons and colored paper that she set on the table where she would meet her client in a couple of minutes. She had just enough time to finish her lunch and take a look at the emails she printed and files she wrote to keep in mind the key informations: she would welcome Mia Rose, a four years-old girl and her recently divorced father, mister Kinney. His daughter did not need any special arrangements, besides the usual help to introduce her to the other kids. She ate the last spoon of her granola and strawberries yogurt and cleaned the small jar up as the door bell warned her that someone had walked in. After drying her hands with the towel that had small apples on it, she went to greet the guests.

“Hello there and welcome to the Apple Tree!” She smiled at them and shook hands with the, very handsome, father. “Let me help you with your coats and you may want to wait for me by the table on your right.” Easily, she grabbed their winter clothing and hung them up before she hurried to get closer to them again. “My name is Lulu and you must be Mia, I believe?” She bent over to the small child who shyly nodded, but suddenly lit up at the view of the crayons. “Yes, you can use them. It’s to make the wait funnier, as your Dad and I have to discuss a few things. May I borrow you one so I can write too?” The child agreed and gave her the red one, proudly. Lucianna could not help but giggled at how adorable the little girl was acting. She then looked over at the parent, only smiling more. “What a cutie! I like her already!” She told him as she invited them to sit in front of her. “Mr. Kinney, I read that you would need her to be there on most days and during your work hours, is that right?” In all honesty, it was better if she took care of the serious topics first before she looked too much like a creep for being so enthusiastic around the child. She was always like this, but it seemed a little awkward for a first impression.

[favefandomimagines]

I Never Planned on You 3

AN: chapter 3 even after the first two parts kind of flopped but hey i like this series and i’m hoping it’ll get better since harry potter tiktok is still somewhat thriving 

sorry for going awol!! i was on a family trip and wanted to unplug for a bit! but i appreciate your patience and i’ll try to have a more structured posting schedule! i also apologize that this was so short, the next chapter will be much longer!!

taglist: @x-lulu​

After Kendra’s talk with George, she knew that she needed to find Harry. Professor Trelawney said that he was the only other student to have the Grim in his tea leaves. What were the odds that both her and Harry Potter had the same fortune? 

She caught up to the young before he entered the Gryffindor common room. “Harry!” She called. “Oh, hi Kendra.” He greeted her. “May I talk to you for a moment?” She asked. “Of course.” He said. Harry told Hermione and Ron to go on without him as he hung back with Kendra. 

“What did you need to talk about?” Harry asked. “This afternoon in Divination, Professor Trelawney saw something in my tea leaves. She said that you were the other student to have the same thing.” She started. “You had the Grim too?” Harry questioned. 

Kendra nodded her head slightly before Harry spoke again. “Do you think it has anything to do with your father?” He asked. “I-I really don’t know. Everyone thinks I know what’s going on but I don’t.” Kendra answered. “I believe you. You haven’t spoken to your father in 11 years, how would you know anything?” Harry replied.

“Thank you, Harry.” She smiled. The two entered the common room, splitting up to go to their respective friend groups. 

“Kendra, we need to have a little discussion.” Angelina said as Kendra approached her three friends. “And what might that be?” She questioned. “What’s going on between you and George?” Alicia asked. “What? Nothing, we’re just friends.” Kendra said.

Angelina, Katie and Alicia all exchanged a look before looking back at Kendra. “He’s always the first person to defend you and the first person to check on you. Especially with recent events.” Angelina said. “Fred is also your friend and he doesn’t do that nearly as often as George.” Katie added.

“We’ll just wait and see tomorrow. We’re all going to Hogsmeade, maybe he’ll personally invite you.” Alicia teased. “Actually, you can count me out for Hogsmeade. I’m not really feeling up to it.” Kendra said. “What?” The twins interjected in unison. “Kendra, you have to come. We’ve been waiting all term for this and even with recent events, they’re still letting us go.” Fred said. 

The older twin nudged his brother, knowing if anyone could make Kendra join them at Hogsmeade, it was George. 

“Please, Kendra. We haven’t been able to hang out like we did over the Summer before you left.” George said. “You’re really laying it on thick aren’t you, Weasley.” Kendra commented. “If it’ll make you say yes.” He replied. “Fine. I will come to Hogsmeade. But I’m only doing it for you.” She finally said, earning soft cheers from friends. “Only for George, aye?” Fred poked. “And for all of you.” Kendra corrected herself before shooting Fred a glare. 

Fred had been trying to set up his brother and best friend since third year. To no avail. They were both too scared to tell the other in fear of ruining their friendship with each other. But Fred knew better. He knew both like the back of his hand and if they needed a few friendly nudges, then so be it. 

Later that evening, when everyone went to bed, Kendra couldn’t sleep a wink. She tried everything and she didn’t want to bother Madame Pomfrey at such a late hour. So she resorted to sitting on the velvet couch in the common room, reading a muggle book Hermione had lent her. 

As she was just reading about the tragic affair of Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan, the sound of shuffling knocked her out of it. 

“Oh, Kendra, I didn’t know anyone would be up.” Harry’s voice alerted her. “Oh, hi Harry. Couldn’t sleep either?” Kendra questioned. “You can say that.” The boy replied. “Well, we can be insomniacs together.” She said. “I actually wanted to ask you something.” Harry said. “Of course, go right ahead.” She told him. 

“Do you remember anything about my parents? I know you were young when they died but you said you knew them.” He asked. 

Kendra closed her book and turned her attention to the young boy in front of her. “I don’t remember much but I do remember one thing. It was before my mother was killed and we were at your house. You were just born and my mother was good friends with yours. It’s my earliest memory actually. I was sitting on the floor, my mother and Lily were fawning over you,” Kendra started with a laugh. 

“And your father sat down on the floor with me and gave me this little doll made out of scraps of clothing. Lily had made it in case they had a girl so James gave it to me. He made sure I wasn’t going to feel left out. He was a very kind man, your father. Knew how to make people laugh, so Remus told me.” She finished.

Harry smiled at the recollection of Kendra’s memory. “So you knew Professor Lupin on the train?” He asked. “Yes. When I lost both of my parents and I was sent to live with the Malfoy’s, Remus did everything he could to get me out of that house. Him and my aunt Andromeda made sure I wouldn’t be forced to share the same ideologies that made the Black’s a very infamous pureblood family. That’s putting it lightly.” She answered. 

“This might be a sensitive subject but do you think your father wants to kill me?” Harry questioned. “Of course not, Harry. My father could never hurt you or anyone who is innocent.” Kendra said. 

Harry nodded his head curtly before Kendra stood up. “Seems talking with you as done the trick to make me want to sleep. So I thank you for that. Goodnight, Harry.” She said. “Goodnight, Kendra.” Harry replied. 

—

The next morning, an abundance of students stood out in the courtyard of the castle, handing their permission slips to Professor McGonagall.

Kendra handed her’s to the older woman. before going to join her friends off to the side. “So, where to first?” Angelina asked. “Let’s go to Honeydukes! I told my brother I’d send him some chocolate frogs!” Alicia answered. “George and I need to run to Zonko’s. We have some new products to plan.” Fred commented. 

“Kendra, where do you want to go?” He added. “I’ll come with you to Zonko’s. I really don’t need to be tempted by Honeyduke’s.” She joked. “Well come on then, Kendra! We have so little time!” George exclaimed dramatically.

The younger twin grabbed her wrist and pulled her along towards the village, leaving their friend group behind. “George, slow down! You’ll rip my arm out of its socket!” Kendra called with a laugh.

George came to a slow stop, allowing Kendra to catch her breath. “Is that better, your highness?” He teased. “Indeed it is.” Kendra replied. “Why were you so adamant on me coming to Hogsmeade?” She asked.

“Because we never spend time together just us. It’s always us and Fred or us and Ginny or us, Ron, Hermione and Harry. Do I need a reason to want to spend time with my best friend?” George explained.

George noticed Kendra’s smile falter ever so slightly before she quickly recovered. “No, you don’t need an excuse. You never need an excuse, Georgie.” She replied.

Though the word ‘friend’ was a word she didn’t like hearing from George. “So we’re just going to ditch the rest of our friends?” Kendra replied. “That’s exactly what we’re going to do.” George answered. “If I know Angelina, she’s already convinced Fred to go to Honeyduke’s with her.” He added

Kendra wanted to say she felt bad that they were leaving their friends behind but whenever she was able to spend time alone with George, she took it.

The two arrived at Zonko’s and George looked like a kid in a candy store. He’s been to the joke shop a million times and yet each time still amazed him.

“So what exactly are we looking for?” Kendra asked the boy. “I don’t know, anything that creates the greatest prank in the history of Hogwarts.” George answered. “You’ve already done that by now. At least I think you have.” She said.

“You’re biased, love. You have to think our pranks are the best.” He said. “Oh really? I have to think that?” Kendra questioned. “Of course you do.” George replied. “Alright then. If I’m being honest the last one you did with Peeves wasn’t the best. The execution was sloppy.” She told him.

George paused his browsing and looked at the dark haired girl for a moment. “Sloppy? My execution was sloppy?” He questioned. “It could have been better. That’s why Snape caught you. If you would have taken my advice, you wouldn’t have had detention for two weeks.” Kendra answered. 

“You’re a minx you know that right?” George asked with a laugh. “What can I say, I get it from my mother.” Kendra said, flipping her hair over her shoulder. 

George smiled down at her as she stood at his side. He hoped that she couldn’t hear how loud his heart was beating or if she could tell that his palms were clammy. He just thought she was so pretty he could never think straight around her. 

“Did you hear me?” Kendra asked him. “What?” He questioned. “I said did you want to go to the Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer before we go back?” Kendra asked. “Uh, yeah, yeah, sure. I’ll pay.” George stammered. 

“If I didn’t know any better, Weasley, I’d say you were considering this a date.” Kendra teased. “No, no, definitely not a date.” George lied. 

He wanted nothing more than for it to be a date but he didn’t have the courage to ask and what if Kendra said no? It would ruin their friendship forever. Kendra ignored the way her heart felt as if it were tightening in her chest at his words. 

Would going on a date with her be that bad to him? Then again, she didn’t want to jump to conclusions. But she also didn’t want to ruin the friendship she had with George if she were to confess her true feelings. 

So Kendra did what she did best when it came to her true emotions; and that was to hide them for as long as she could.