#my hand hurts and I’m in a bad mood and haven’t drawn these designs in a bit

[trashcreatyre]

N e way I think they’re multilingual :P

[1kook]

commercial break; SEVEN

this is part of my netflix & chill series ! happens a few months before part 7 

summary; And lastly, Jungkook will bring it full circle by indulging you two in some good old fashion spooky sex where he nuts inside you because the only thing scarier than a scary movie is a pregnancy scare. It’s a perfect plan.  warnings; horny jk, jk wants to roleplay... everyone point n laugh, mentions of his impreg kink lol, making out, tits, honestly jk is just very horny n in love lol, jk in a vampire costume w fangs O_o rating; mature (18+) wc; 2k

notes; if u don’t know who lindsay is first of all ur sick, second of all here’s my queen’s top moments. also i just gotta say, this was originally gonna be a larger fic (a halloween special) for my ncouple, but i got a lil busy with school n ultimately didn't have time to invest in this as a whole installment so..... enjoy this commercial break instead!!

Jungkook loves Halloween.

He loves the pumpkin carving and the decorating. Loves the spooky music and the abundance of candy. He loves it, absolutely adores it, and for the second year in a row, he gets to spend it with you! Yet another person he loves very much.

He doesn’t remember ever being this excited for Halloween. Last year, you had roped him into going to some frat party with him, had egged him on, begged so cutely that it was your last year in college, baby until he caved. The two of you had spent the night drinking until you blacked out, Ubering home with your costumes half on, and then unceremoniously fucking in his living room with the blinds wide open.

(The next neighborhood meeting had been very awkward for Jungkook.)

It was his first time ever drinking with you like that, and he vaguely remembers, through his own drunken gaze, how cool you had been. Had absolutely owned a bunch of greasy football players at beer pong in your little sexy nurse costume. And when the crowd cheered your name, shrieked in awe, it had been him that you turned to for praise. “Did you see me, baby,” you had giggled, crowded him against the wall of this random house until Jungkook was sweating profusely. In lieu of a costume, he had worn a silly jogger set with a skeleton design that was supposed to glow in the dark, according to Amazon. You had told him he looked adorable, had kissed and squeezed his cheeks until Jungkook was a flustered mess.

It was still early into your relationship— if Jungkook did the math, you were only about five months in at that point —so he didn’t know how else to cope with the rapid thundering of his heart, the confession sitting on his tongue, the then scary L-word begging to be heard. So, he took you home and fucked you until your little nurse cap slid off your head and you were begging for him to let you cum, thus earning him his first ever offense for violating the neighborhood rules (i.e., traumatizing a group of middle schoolers by fucking in plain sight).

Long story short, Jungkook loves Halloween, and he loves it even more when he gets to spend it with you.

(He’ll never admit it, but he’s a hard romantic. He wants to do cheesy things with you, like cuddle you into his arms when you get scared, pat your head until you can look at whatever is happening on screen again. He wants you to feel safe in his arms, wants to be your refuge when things become too much. He likes to think he’s done a pretty good job so far.)

Jungkook’s plan goes like this:

First, welcome you with that Halloween basket you’ve been sending him tweet links about all month. The cute little Jack-O-lantern candy bucket stuffed with candy and hair ties and a soft Halloween themed blanket. It’s so cheesy, makes him blush when he catches sight of it in his closet, but Jungkook will do anything to please you.

Next, after presenting you with your Halloween gift and having you coo and tell him he’s a good boy, he’ll invite you to break your new soft blanket in. The living room will be prepared with an assortment of your favorite foods, the flat screen ready to play whatever horror movie the two of you settle on.

And lastly, Jungkook will bring it full circle by indulging you two in some good old fashion spooky sex where he nuts inside you because the only thing scarier than a scary movie is a pregnancy scare.

It’s a perfect plan.

It’s the best way to spend his favorite holiday, with his favorite girl by his side and some of his favorite horror films on the big screen. Jungkook spends all of October geeked up for it, even considers hanging up lights around the living room to really set the mood. He’s so excited, can’t wait to spend another wonderful holiday at home with you, that he doesn’t fully realize why you haven’t brought up the long awaited topic of costumes.

“You like?” you ask, standing at the door of his bathroom with a sultry look in your eye, tits practically pouring out of the tight top you’ve wiggled into, skin oiled up scandalously. He fumbles with the fake vampire fang prosthetics he’d been trying to glue in for the better half of an hour.

He had heard the door open downstairs when you got here, had called out his mandatory greeting as he heard you come up the stairs. But none of that had prepared him for the sight of you in… whatever this was.

Jungkook doesn’t really understand exactly what you’re supposed to be dressed up as until the two of you are back downstairs—blinds drawn, full moon slipping in through the cracks—with some random horror movie pulled up on the TV. “I’m Lindsey,” you whine, brand new fluffy blanket wrapped around your shoulders. It shields your boobs from view, but he’s not sure if that’s a win or a loss. “From Total Drama Island!”

He settles in beside you, doesn’t get too comfortable because it’s nearing sundown now and he knows the herds of children are bound to start flowing in. “Uh huh,” he says mindlessly. His collar feels itchy, the overly-detailed vampire costume he meticulously scoured the internet for being one size too small. You snuggle into his side anyway.

“You don’t know anything about cinematic masterpieces,” you frown, avidly tuned into The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, because apparently you love horror movies all of a sudden, a fact that genuinely throws Jungkook off. He’s not sure what it is about you that had deluded him into thinking you would be a scaredy cat, but he doesn’t take the new bit of information too hard.

The doorbell rings right as the first gorey scene ends and you make a big show of huffing and whining as he rushes to answer it. But it’s only the beginning of the long night that awaits, and, as Jungkook comes to find, running back and forth from the door to the couch is harder than it seems.

Anyway, Jungkook’s neighborhood is a little posh, or ‘bougie’ as you like to claim, and trick-or-treating hours end a little before eleven pm. By then he’s tired, having refused your offer to switch places in fear that your boob might fall out of that scrap of fabric you call a top and earn him his second neighborly offense.

However, that doesn’t mean he’s opposed to your boobs falling out in private.

“Stupid,” you giggle when he gets caught in his long cape, the sound slowly melting into a whimper as he slips his hands beneath your top, fighting with the ridiculous push-up bra you’ve donned tonight. Hands tangle in his hair, mess up the careful side part he’d styled up for tonight, and legs lock around his waist. “Your curtains closed?” you tease.

He huffs, catches your chatty lips with his roughly, presses and presses until your mouth must bruise. He belatedly remembers about those sharp fangs he’d glued on—hey, if he was going to dress up as some gaudy monster it might as well be realistic—and doesn’t realize until he tries to bite your neck and you let out a little yelp. Truthfully, he feels bad right away, but then you’re practically dissolving in his arms so he plays along. “Shh,” he hisses.

The roar of a chainsaw and terrified screams fill the living room, almost drowning out the soft sounds you release by his ear. “O- Or what?” you pant, flinch when he pushes your sad excuse of a skirt up over your waist. “Gonna b- bite me?”

And so Jungkook does.

You shriek. “That hurts, you idiot!” you scold with a tiny whine in your voice, but Jungkook’s cock is so hard. Your tiny, tight outfit does you no favors. Tits in his face, tiny thong against his bulge. He wants to make you sob, litter bites and marks all over your skin until his love makes you ache. You must see the crazed look in his eyes, because you drop the scowl. “Hey,” you say slowly, hand on his chest. “You look like you’re gonna eat me.”

He lets go of a breath he hadn’t known he was holding. He wonders if you can feel his thundering heart beneath your palm. “Fuck,” he sighs, leaning away to regain his senses. Was it something in the air? Was it the fatigue? The full moon? Why did he want to fold you in half and fuck his cock into you until you were a crying, shivering mess? Something about you tonight, laid out for him to take, makes him feel absolutely insane. Starved and psycho; he just wants to take and take until you don’t have anything more to give. He purses his lips, tries to ignore the hot feeling in his lower abdomen when your hardened nipples register to his eyes. “I think I’m becoming evil.”

Of all the idiotic things his brain can come up with, this one is definitely top five. His cheeks flush right after, fueled by the boisterous laughter that escapes your lips at his statement. “Oh my god,” you gasp in glee, hands falling down beside your head. “You’re becoming evil?’

Jungkook frowns, flopping down on top of you to hide the embarrassment that paints his face. “Shut up,” he mumbles against your neck, warm and safe.

A hand cards through the back of his hair, nails dig lightly into his scalp. “Aren’t you the cutest little vampire,” you coo, seemingly ignoring the rock hard cock Jungkook presses against your thigh. He’s still so horny, has this sick thought that he could just pin you down right here, tear that silly costume to shreds and swallow you up in his lust. But your voice is so sweet, has his eyes fluttering shut as you gather him in his arms. “Silly vampire,” you hum, one leg thrown around his hip, a subtle roll of you hips up into him.

Jungkook huffs, licks a flat strip along the base of your neck. It draws a shaky exhale from you, has your hands digging into his back when he begins to slowly lap against the skin, nibble and tug until your back is deliciously arching up into him. “Wanna push you down,” he confesses quietly, hands securing themselves against your hips as he leans back. You're all dazed, eyes trained on his fanged mouth when he hesitantly adds, “l- little human.”

You could laugh, tease him for his sudden weird need to role play with you, but you don’t. A look of understanding crosses your face, sly smirk slowly following. “Oh?” you grin, hand coming around to cup his cheek. “The little vampire wants to use my body?” Jungkook tightens his jaw at your jab, but nods nonetheless.

You’re a feast before his eyes. Boobs in his face, pussy begging to be filled. You’re his, just like Jungkook is yours. And when you indulge him and his stupid whims—kinks, he should say, occasional interests that sometimes make him question himself—his heart feels warm and full. Proud and unashamed, like the truest version of himself when you look at him with those eyes. And your words only confirm it.

Your hands reach down for your top, pull the flimsy material over your head in one swoop that has your bra coming off with it. It drops to the floor. If it makes a sound, Jungkook doesn’t hear it over the shrieks of terror on screen. the blood deaths, the suspenseful music. All he hears is he hammering of his heart. 

It’s two of your sneaky fingers that come up to play, pinch one nipple tenderly as you meet his eyes. “It’s all yours,” you purr. “I’m all yours.”

And the thirst he feels, well. It’s a little vampiric, to say the least. 

—

Copyright © 2020, 1kook on tumblr. absolutely NO reposts allowed.

[yandere-daydreams]

A Yandere!Monika/Reader piece for a lovely anonymous commissioner, with a few unfortunate implications coming towards the end. It was nice to write something a little different from my usual style, and I almost forgot how well this game was written... my adoration of Doki Doki Literature Club is rejuvenated, to say the least.

Word Count: 4.0k

TW: Implied Stalking, Physical Threats, and (Non-Graphic) Violence. 

It was a fixation. That was the best word to describe it.

A fixation.

In itself, the game hadn’t been anything special. Shocking, sure, absolutely horrifying at points, but you were seasoned veteran when it came to horror, a connoisseur of all things dark and demented. That was the downside when it came to warnings. All those labels and reviews were necessary, especially with how a game like Doki Doki Literature Club presented itself, but it kept you on the edge of your seat. If you’re waiting for something bad to happen, you’ll never be surprised when something bad does happen. Just disappointed that it didn’t turn out to be worse.

Either way, you played through the dating-simulator, blushing when Sayori confessed and jumping in your seat when Yuri’s obsession boiled over and having all the responses you were supposed to when unfortunate things happened to people who didn’t really exist. You were painfully precise about these things, never daring to veer off the trodden path, even in a game that couldn’t really be failed, and when it came time for your fun to end, you knew what you were supposed to do. You’d delete Monika’s file, restart the game, and watch things play out. That was it. Three easy steps. Three mindless steps.

Three steps you didn’t think you’d ever actually go through with.

You knew you wouldn’t as soon as you saw it. Monika, a character you hadn’t paid any mind to, sitting right in front of the screen, taking up your monitor in her over-done, oppressive glory, the mood only made more dramatic by just how late it’d gotten, how dark your room was by now. It was a picture, you knew that, something someone had drawn and edited into a game, and yet… it wasn’t, at the same time. There was a connection, as unprecedented as it was unearned. An attraction, albeit one you couldn’t name the source of. A fixation.

There was that word again. Fixation. An undeniable, unreasonable fixation.

Monika seemed to know as well as you. The fact that you’d been staring at the same frame for far too long probably helped her to reach that conclusion, pre-scripted or not.

"Hey, have you ever heard of the term 'yandere'?"

You had, in passing. You’d never paid too much attention to it, though, not enough to be able to pick the definition out.

“It's a personality type that means someone is so obsessed with you that they'll do absolutely anything to be with you. Usually to the point of craziness..."

The idea appealed to you, interested you. Lingering on it for a moment, you let yourself fall into the word. Yandere. You liked that. Yandere.

"A lot of people are actually into the yandere type, you know? I guess they really like the idea of someone being crazy obsessed with them. People are weird! I don't judge, though!"

Well… you wouldn’t want someone to be obsessed with you, you were sure. That seemed like too much attention. It’d take too much effort to keep them interested, and it’d probably be dangerous to entertain a stalker like that… Yeah, you were sure. You didn’t want anyone to be obsessed with you.

But, Monika didn’t exist. She wasn’t dangerous. She didn’t have anyone else to give attention to, and you wouldn’t have to worry about her judging your interests. Even if someone found out, you could just blame it one a glitchy file that won’t close. There wasn’t a risk.

“It's not like I could ever actually kill a person… Just the thought of it makes me shiver. But, come on… everyone's killed people in games before. Does that make you a psychopath? Of course not."

Right. It was just a game. Liking something fictional didn’t make you weird or perverted or… a Yandere for Yanderes, you supposed. It was a dirty little secret. A guilty pleasure. It was normal. Or, it wasn’t anymore abnormal that the disgusting investment a lot of people had in blood-splatter and gore, anyway.

“But if you do happen to be into the yandere type… I can try acting a little more creepy for you. Then again, there's already nowhere else for you to go, or anyone for me to get jealous over."

She didn’t have anyone else in that isolated, tiny world of hers. It would’ve been lonely, if she was real, and for whatever reason, your empathy found that fact too heart-breaking to ignore. And you didn’t really want her to ‘act more creepy’, she was fine as she was, so… that made it a little better, didn’t it? You might’ve just liked the companionship, how close she wanted to be to you. It was an artificial intimacy, and who wouldn’t like intimacy they didn’t have to return?

“Is this a Yandere girl's dream?"

If that's a Yandere’s dream, then your situation must be a Yandere-Lover’s dream. There was no harm, no foul, very low risk and a very high reward, even if it did come in the form of a one-sided, directionless conversation. You thought about finishing the game, speeding through the process and never bothering to think about Monika or Yanderes or Doki Doki Literature Club again.

You thought about it, rolling the idea over in your mind like an antique in need of inspection. You thought about it, scanning over Monika one more time, and turned your monitor off without closing the game. You’d decide tomorrow, before class, or when you got home. A few days of self-indulgence wouldn’t hurt anyone, would it?

Least of all Monika.

Least of all you.

~

You didn’t close the game.

Not before you left, not after class, and certainly not that night, when the urge hit you to play though her dialogue until your eyes forced you to stop. You didn’t bother reading, the next morning, something you sorely came to regret as you sat in your first class of the day, little to do save for staring at the clock and wondering what you should do after school, despite already knowing what the outcome would most likely be. Your teacher was out, today, for the first time all year. She’d bragged that she never missed a day, but you didn’t care enough to raise anything more than a few curious questions. Concern was too much, considering how often accidents happen.

“Do you have a pen?”

A light voice drew you out of your thoughts, and you glanced towards the desk in front of yours, immediately meeting eyes with the girl seated there. You’d never noticed her before, not to any exceptional extent, brown hair and murky eyes making for an unremarkable combination. You simply nodded, reaching down and beginning to search through your bag, talking to fill the silence. “She didn’t leave work for us, right?” You asked, sticking your hand into a random pocket and coming up empty. It was weird, but you tried another. Monika always had a pen on her, it was part of her character design. “I think the assignment on the board was old… it was there yesterday, too.”

She chuckled, as if you’d made a joke. A funny one, judging by how long the noise lasted. “I know that, but…” She trailed off, just long enough to lean onto your desk, attempting to peer over it. “Clubs are demanding, aren’t they? I’m not even a council member, but Debate still has me doing more work than the President.” She let out a heavy sigh, as if the optional dedication had been forced onto her. “It’s all supposed to be extemporaneous -- unplanned, y’know? That’s what used to make it exciting. Everyone was speaking from the heart and everyone minded their own business. It was a competition, but it wasn’t personal.”

You hummed, lightly, closing that compartment and opening another. “And it is, now?”

“Oh, definitely.” There was a subtle emphasis on every other word, it seemed, a passion for nothing in particular breaching whatever she felt like talking about. You could see why she must’ve made a good speaker. “That’s what happens when you start thinking about things too much. They started announcing the topics ahead of time, then people started writing out their arguments, and now you can’t take a side without attacking the other.” There was a pause, a tap to her cheek. A moment to think. “You have to phrase it a certain way, or else it is personal. If you keep things objective, the other side will follow along. It’s amazing how suggestive people can be, when you make an effort to guide them.”

“I wish you would guide me in the direction of a fucking pen,” You mumbled, eliciting another giggle, the sound muffled by a palm over her mouth. “I’m sorry, it usually doesn’t take this long. It’s like they all just, I don’t know, phased out of existence or something.”

“Don’t worry about it.” The disregard came casually, without hesitation. You couldn’t help but wonder if she was as dedicated to her cause as she seemed. “Check the main pocket. You probably kept dropping them in the first place you saw without noticing.” You blinked, glancing up to frown at her, but she just shrugged. “A lot of people do it. If you haven’t caught on, I don’t have a whole much to do ‘cept watch them.”

You didn’t pry further. This was the first time you’d heard her voice, too, so it was fair to assume she wasn’t much of a socialite. “About your club,” You said, bringing the conversation back to a topic that didn’t have to do with how often she stared at your classmates. “Why don’t you quit? You don’t seem to like it very much.”

“Who knows?” She frowned, closing her eyes well she spoke. “I’d have to find another to join, and there’s no guarantee I won’t just keep running into the same problem over and over again. I think about making my own, sometimes, just because I’d be able to make rules against that kind of thing.”

Again, you brightened, and not only because your fingers found something tubular and plastic. “You want to start a club?”

“Yeah, but it’d have to be about something fun.” She rolled her wrist, not noticing when you held out a thoroughly abused pen. “Like, about music or art or…”

“Literature?” You suggested, eagerly.

She scowled, shaking her head, muttering something about her distaste. She said it’d been months since she read a book, years since she’d written something original. Even the idea was alien, to her.

And yet, you couldn’t find it in yourself to be disheartened.

She’d taken the pen, after all.

~

“Whatcha starin’ at?”

Her tone was playful, posture following in suit, the girl rocking back and forth on her heels as she waited for you to snap out of your stupor. You hadn’t meant to zone out, to stare at the dense collection of apartments and condominiums in front of you, but there was just something so familiar about the collection, something you couldn’t put your finger on. But, a hand waving in front of your eyes brought your attention back to the real world, regardless of whether or not you wanted it too.

You were still getting used to having another person around, honestly. Your new friend took a shining to you quickly, settling to let you trail after her like a lost puppy whenever you didn’t have something better to do. She’d offered to show you a shortcut to your train-stop, today, but you were having your doubts about how well she knew the route. It felt like you’d been walking down this same road for ages, now. Like it was a loading screen you didn’t have the connection to overcome.

You took a step forward, standing a little straighter. Attempting to check if the buildings would still be there when you changed perspectives. “Has this neighborhood always been here?” You asked, tilting your head. Still there. “I don’t remember seeing it, until now.”

“As long as I’ve been alive,” She replied, not seeming to take you seriously. “Besides, how would you know? You lock yourself up whenever we’re not in class.”

You huffed, sending a quick glare in her direction, the diversion taking more effort than it should’ve. “I get out occasionally, I’ve just been--”

“Busy with a new game?” She rolled her eyes, setting a swift pace and signaling for you to follow. “It’s not a ‘new game’ if you’ve been working on it for the past two weeks. I’m going to come over and finish it for you myself, one day.”

You were tempted to interrupt her, to contradict her diagnosis, but… you had been playing through Monika’s dialogue for a while. There were so many options, so many routes and monologues, but you’d exhausted most of them. She didn’t hold the same… uniqueness she once did, for lack of a better way to put it. You certainly weren’t tired of playing yet, but you were starting to realize you would be, one day, possibly sooner than you’d anticipated. You’d need something new to focus on, something new to satisfy that itch in your chest, the one that seemed to form every time you were away from your computer for too long. You wondered if there was something similar - Yandere was a genre, technically. There had to be more content, even if you had to look for it.

You resolved to do a more in-depth search once you got home.

“...I’m working on it,�� You mumbled, biting the inside of your cheek. Hesitantly, you scanned over her, speeding up to stay at her side as something caught our attention. “When did that start?”

She raised a hand and ran her fingers through her hair self-consciously, already aware of what you were talking about. It was tied back, today, done up painfully tightly and secured with a white hair-band. Her hair was too short for it to come off as elegant or sophisticated, but the way it swung as she walked was cute, and the effort that’d been put into pinning each strand into submission was admirable. She caught onto your approval quickly, locking eyes with you as she spoke. “I’m trying to impress you, idiot.”  

You blinked. She blinked. You blushed, stuttering out something stupid, and she punched you in the side, laughing.

“I’m kidding, (Y/n), don’t freak out on me.” You tried, unsuccessfully, to do as she demanded, earning you another blow, this one coming in the form of an elbow thrown into your rib cage. “What? Can you only accept confessions from 2-D girls, now?”

“It’s just…” You shoved your hands in your pockets, attempting to hide your distress. “It’s just different. I wasn't expecting it!”

“Exactly, it’s different.” She smiled, throwing the offending pony-tail over her shoulder. “Little changes have been doing me a lot of good, lately.”

~

‘One day’ had come too soon.

You knew it would, eventually. You’d been expecting it, in fact. Back-ups had been prepared, a new game and an older series to watch and a few stories on the… riskier side, made by people with too much time and similar interests, and for all intents and purposes, you were ready. It was natural. People got tired of things, of characters and plots and seeing the same face every day, and you knew you would get tired of Monika too, eventually. She was wonderfully written, but no character could be entertaining for… how long had it been? A month? Two?

You needed to check the date more often. Time always seemed to get weird, slowing down and skipping ahead so awkwardly when you spent most of the day in front of a screen.

You guessed the date didn’t matter, though. You were still in the same position, either way, your head resting on one hand while the other laid over your mouse. You’d been staring down Monika’s character file for far too long, but not nearly long enough, at the same time.

It felt like this should be a bigger deal. Like there should be a ceremony, a commemoration, something to mark the occasion. Should you celebrate? Play a funeral dirge? Every action felt inappropriate, but none felt quite as inappropriate as not taking one at all. Absentmindedly, you quit the game, a reaction based on reflex alone. You had a few times, in the beginning, but you still checked Monika’s dialogue. A parting interaction, you rationalized. The final interaction.

"Okay. I'm just going to accept the fact that you need to quit the game once in a while. I'm starting to get used to it, anyway."

Oh, god, she sounded like a clingy girlfriend. You guessed that’s what she was, but she was never this… passive-aggressive.

"Besides, it makes me happy that you always come back..."

You perked up, at that, your favor easily swayed. Maybe you could wait one more day, just give this whole thing another shot--

“But I shouldn’t have to be happy when you come back.”

You hadn’t pressed anything, that time. She shouldn’t have been talking.

“I know you have your own life, and I know you need breaks, but… it’s a really horrible feeling. And since I try to make you feel the best you can feel, you should want to make me feel good, too!”

Except, you didn’t want to make her happy. She was a fictional character, one you didn’t want to be lectured by. Monika seemed to catch onto that as soon as you thought it, though.

“And since you have to want to make me happy… it must be a glitch in my character file. That makes sense. Whenever it happens, it almost feels like I've been killed or something."

It was meta, a little concerning, but your empathy had been all-but drained dry. It wasn’t like you’d felt bad for leaving Monika in the first place, honestly, but an appeal to that non-existent sympathy wouldn’t earn her many points.

"If you could figure out what's causing that, I'll love you forever~"

Yeah, right. Sure she would. Monika would absolutely love you, forever and always, to eternity and beyond. May death do you part.

You didn’t hesitate, this time, deleting her character file and exiting the game. 

You didn’t really feel like playing through the final scene. ~

How long it’d been since someone used this part of the school?

‘Empty’ didn’t quite cover the expanse of nothingness in front of you. The floor was tinted grey with scuff-marks and dirt, unused tables pushed against the walls and chairs that weren’t fit to be sat in stacked on top, forming barricades between shutter-covered windows and yourself. The door had stuck, despite the key in your hand, and everything seemed to make a truly awful creaking sound when touched. The only thing that looked new (relatively new, at least) was the teacher’s desk, dark faux-wood unscarred by whatever’d torn through the rest of the room. Even the lights seemed to feel the effect, dim and flickering, some already succumbing to the pure dullness that permeated the air. It was abandoned. Desolate.

More similar to another classroom you’d acquainted yourself with than you felt comfortable admitting.

“Some people say it’s haunted,” She started, closing the door behind her. You heard the ring of keys jingle, the lock sliding back into place, but you didn’t bother turning to face her. “A lot of people, actually. Rumor’s that a group of underclassmen girls used to sneak at night and do all sorts of satanic stuff. It’s why no one uses this building, anymore.”

“They have to be joking,” You countered, taking a step towards the teacher's desk. You ran a finger along the surface lazily, wiping the resulting dust build-up onto your shirt. “That kind of thing doesn’t happen in real life. Someone probably just thought it’d make a good campfire story.”

She approached before replying, her bag having been discarded somewhere along the way. With silence as unusual as it was between the two of you, you couldn’t help but laugh, turning and getting ready to tease her for being scared or believing in something so supernatural. You opened your mouth, but the joke died and turned to ash on your tongue before it could make it past your teeth.

There she was, like you knew she’d be. Hair up, uniform perfect, and a bright smile pulling at the edges of her lips. As cheery as it ever was. As blinding as it ever was.

The carving knife in her hand almost rivaled its shine.

She took another step towards you, and you took one back, hitting the desk abruptly. “You’re acting like you’d know anything about the real-world, (Y/n).” She was giggling, again, flexing her grip on the knife’s hold. You considered attempting to run past her, making a break for it, but the key was still in her blazer’s pocket. You glanced down, searching for your phone, but its outline was gone and its weight was equally as absent.

Like it’d disappeared into thin air.

It hadn’t, though. Your aggressor laughed one more time, holding up the device in her free hand before dropping it to the floor and crushing it under her heel, the resulting crack sending a spike of something dark into your chest.

“You don’t know shit about the real world,” She said, waving the blade around haphazardly. Another step forward, this one all-but closing the distance between the two of you. “All you think about are… games and fake girls, never what’s right in front of you. We’ve known each other for four years, but I had to hospitalize someone before you’d do so much as look at me.”

Four years. Four years. You hadn’t noticed her before a few months ago. “Listen, I just didn’t think we were that close--”

“I know.” This time, the knife came down. It missed your side, but not enough to save your shirt, a tear forming and something crimson spreading outward from the small cut. The sting came a second later. You wanted to move, to scream, to run, but it was all you could do to remember to breathe as she went on. “You didn’t think we were close. You didn’t think I was worth getting close to. That’s why I started wearing this fucking costume.” She ran a hand through her pony-tail, fingers catching on her hair-tie. The band was practically ripped from her scalp, snapping before she discarded it. “I’m not even a brunette. I thought dying my hair might get your attention, and… it did. Of course it did.” She paused, shrugging, and you remembered how to inhale. “But, that doesn’t matter now.”

You relaxed, ever so slightly. “It doesn’t?”

“It doesn’t.” Her grin was back in a moment, your hopes dropping as soon as they’d arose. “Because the two of us are going to stay here until we know each other, or… until you know me. As well as I know you, at least. Then, we’re going to leave and I’m going to be your girlfriend. It’ll be so sweet, right?” The tension in her shoulder’s lessened, dissolving. But, that edge was still there, and you doubted it’d dissipate any time soon. “You probably don’t even know my name. I’ve never heard you use it before.”

Your eyes widened, the realization hitting you later than it should’ve. “Monika?”

“No, not Monika,” She answered, softly, her smile taking on a more disappointing note. She brandished her beloved knife, and your heart dropped into your stomach. “But, you don’t have to worry about getting it wrong. We’re going to work at it until you love me just as much as you love her.”

[lovemesomesurveys]

Do you weigh less than 130 pounds? Yeah, quite a bit less.

Do you straighten your hair every day? No. I haven’t straightened my hair in years.

What kind of car do you drive? I don’t drive.

What’s your favorite kind of ice cream? Strawberry, mint chocolate chip, birthday cake, and cookies and cream are good. I haven’t had ice cream in quite awhile, though. 

Do you wear earrings daily? No. It’s been awhile since I’ve worn earrings as well. 

Do you prefer purple or green grapes? Green.

When’s the last time you got your eyebrows waxed? I only got them waxed once and I was like 14.

Have you ever been in a tanning bed? No. Talk about claustrophobia. And I have no desire to do so anyway. 

Did your last kiss mean anything to you? Yeah.

How’s your hair right now? It’s up in its usual messy bun.

Have you ever wanted to go to Australia? I would love to.

What’s your favorite fast food restaurant? I’m not as into fast food as I used to be, but the ones I go to when I do have it are Chick-fil-A, Carl’s Jr, McDonald’s, and Jack in the Box.

When’s the last time you washed your hands? A few hours ago.

Who were you with the last time you were drunk and where were you? I was with a group of friends in a hotel room I rented for my birthday back in 2013.

What is one thing within the last year that if it had gone differently you feel might have changed things now? If I had done some things I should have been doing and managing things better regarding some of my health related issues.

What is something that you associate with summer? The miserable heat.

Have you ever ran around outside completely naked? Uh, no. Absolutely not.

When you’re hungry, does your stomach hurt? Sometimes. My body is super dramatic like that. I’ll feel weak sometimes and it’s like omg stop acting like you haven’t ate in days.

Would you say that you have a nice smile? No.

Have you ever walked in on your parents doing something kinky? Ahhhh, no.

Do you use mouthwash? No.

Do you eat anything out of a box? Yeah.

When’s the last time the fire alarm in your house went off? It’s never gone off. The only time it has made noise is when the batteries need to be replaced.

Can you be trusted with secrets? Yes.

Pill to make you braver or one to make you smarter? Braver. I’d be able to get some things taken care of that I’ve put off because I’m anxious and scared.

Are you in a hurry to grow up? I am grown up at 31 I guess, but I’m in no hurry to get older. I was never in any hurry.

When was the last time you used a bar of soap? Yesterday when I showered.

Do you keep notes, drawings or letters that people give you? Yes. I’m big on that.

Have you ever been locked in a car with a bf/gf? No. How would we be locked in the car?

Have you had a bf/gf that you never kissed? No. 

How many true best friends are present in your life? No friends, but I have my family.

Do you currently have a significant other? Nope.

Do your parents approve of the people you hang out with? They never had an issue with any of my friends.

Would you be able to stand being in the same room as someone you hate? I don’t hate anyone, so.

Have you ever lost a close friend? Yes.

Think of your current or last bf/gf. Do you/did you love them? I did.

Has anybody criticized the way your significant other looked like? I’m single, but no one said anything about the way my exes looked.

Have you ever stayed up late talking to a bf/gf on the phone or online? Yes.

Do your friends like the people you date? Do their friends like you? They had an issue with Joseph because they saw what I didn’t want to see, which was that he was using and playing me and wasn’t treating me right. I haven’t had an issue with their friends.

Do your parents let you date, or do you sneak around? I’m 31 years old. I can’t blame my non-existent dating life on that haha.

Have you ever felt backstabbed by a close friend? Yes.

Do you have any handshakes with anybody? No.

Do you feel you can rely on anybody to always be there for you? I know my family will always be there.

Have you ever regretted ignoring anybody? I’ve pushed people away and messed up good things. :/

What has been the stupidest reason someone has broken up with you? Joseph just didn’t want to commit. He wanted me when it was convenient and when he felt like it.

Have you ever kissed someone in their bedroom, or in yours? No.

Has a friend of yours ever confessed their love to you? No.

Have you gone out with someone, then ruined the friendship you had before? My first boyfriend and I were good friends before we started dating and yeah it definitely changed things after.

Can you trust any of your friends at full capacity? No friends. I trust my family, though.

Is the word 'love' even in your vocabulary? Yes.

Who do you think is more confusing, males or females? People are confusing.

Have you written or drawn anything for somebody else? No.

Do you have any pictures of yourself with a bf/gf? I have photos of myself and my exes.

Do your friends know how to make you smile in tough times? My family does. My doggo always can.

Has anybody said they loved you, but you didn't love them back? Yes.

Is there anyone you don't like that always seems to be everywhere you are? No.

Is there anyone you care about more than you care for yourself? My family.

What/who do you take the most pictures of? My doggo.

How long did you spend in a vehicle today? I’m not going anywhere today. 

When you make a mess are you more likely to clean it up right away, or do you get to it later? I clean it up right away.

Who do you blame for your bad mood today? I’m just annoyed because yesterday I slept until 6PM and today I’ve hardly slept at all, I kept getting up like every hour. It’s 10AM now and I first fell asleep around 6, so yeah not much sleep going on. :/

By what age would you like to be married? I don’t plan on getting married.

What are you looking forward to right now? Nothing at this moment.

Do you have any split ends? Yes.

Is there a book you're currently reading? Yeah, I’m finishing up this book called, “Anything for You” by Marissa Finch.

Did you ever want to be a fashion designer? No.

When was the last time you went to the dentist? It’s been awhile. :/

The last time you cried, what was wrong? Oh ya know, life.

Do you sleep with a fan on? Yes, even now in the winter.

What's the last video game you played? Animal Crossing: New Horizons. 

What do you usually drink at meals? Coffee or water.

Are you going to a library tomorrow? No.

Do you sleep better during thunderstorms? No, but I do enjoy them.

Has anyone pissed you off based on their actions recently? Yes.

What language did you take up in high school? I took Spanish all 4 years.

You’re single, correct? Yep.

Is the last person you texted good looking? My mom is beautiful. 

At this very moment, what exactly are you doing? Besides the obvious I’m listening to an ASMR video.

How do you feel about girls smoking? I don’t care what gender is doing it, I personally don’t like it.

Have you ever been in a perfect relationship? No. Perfect relationships don’t exist.

Is the person you last texted in a relationship? Yeah, my mom is with my dad.

Do you think someone is thinking about you right now? Nope.

Do you like “good morning” texts? I don’t get those.

Last movie you watched? Wonder Woman 1984.

Name something you like about winter: I love Christmastime, the weather, the clothes, the colors, the smells, the coziness...all of it.

What’s your favorite color? Pastels, rose gold, sea foam green, coral, and yellow.

Would you rather be called hun or baby? I don’t really care for either one.

Is there someone that you miss being close with? Yes.

Have you ever fallen asleep in someone’s arms? When I was little.

Does anyone completely understand you? I don’t think completely. I certainly don’t completely understand myself.

In the last 12 months can you say you truly cared about someone? My family.

You were single last month, why? Uhh, because I’m not interested in or talking to anyone in that way. Like, there’s literally no one right now. No one is interested in me either.

Would you rather get 1, 12, or 24 roses? I’d appreciate any amount.

What is something you like to do when you’re down? Cry and one of my go-to activities I do normally as a distraction.

Do you believe teenagers can fall in love? Sure.

Have you ever received a text message that made you cry? Yes.

Did you enjoy your summer? Last summer was even worse because I wasn’t able to go to the beach, which is the only thing I like about summer.

When you watch movies at home, do you like the lights on or off? I tend to just keep ‘em on.

Do you think relationships are even worth it? Yes.

Is any part of you sad at all? All of me.

Do you like your first name? Sure.

What’s most stressing right now? Health and life stuff.

What are you listening to currently? An ASMR video.

Have you done anything embarrassing lately? Not recently.

Dark hair or light hair in the opposite sex? Whichever.

Do you judge people you don’t know? Not to the point that I don't want to get to know them, but yeah. <<< That’s a good way of putting it. Like, I think we all judge people to some extent and that’s normal and not always a bad thing, but some people are judgmental people and they make up their own assumptions and opinions without getting to know a person. They have their mind made up and it stops them from getting to know someone. 

Would you date a boy/girl if you knew they were capable of cheating on you? I guess anyone is capable of doing so, so it’s something that could possibly happen in any relationship. However, if I knew someone had in fact cheated before or was known for that, then no I would not. Even if they had cheated once it would be something I’d worry about happening to me.

Did you sleep alone last night? I always do.

If you could have one thing right now what would it be? I’m kinda hungry, but meh.

Would you rather have ten kids, or none? None, hands down. I don’t even want one kid, let alone TEN.

Do you tell your mom or dad everything? I tell my mom a lot.

Does it matter to you if your boyfriend or girlfriend smokes? It would absolutely matter to me if they smoked cigarettes.

Have you ever been hurt by someone you never thought would hurt you? Yes.

Do you have siblings? I have two brothers.

[thetimelesscycle]

Tales of Arcadia Wizards Fanfiction: Hope Dies Last - Chapter 4

A common goal fails to foster cooperation, and questions without answers continue to perplex.

A/N: In which I am forced to try and include some actual plot and civil conversations are in short supply.

Chapter 4

A Puzzle Incomplete  

To say that Merlin was furious would have been as wild an understatement as the claim that Arthur was not especially fond of magic. He was not certain there was a word for the incandescent rage boiling just beneath his skin, threatening to dissolve carefully constructed walls that had not crumbled in decades. It took a conscious effort to keep a lid on that fury as he guided his exhausted apprentice to lie down once again, the boy having spent what little strength he’d regained in a few scant minutes. Shivers still wracked his slender frame, his body reacting to the invisible wound festering beneath the surface, though at this point Merlin was more worried about his state of mind.

He had never seen Hisirdoux display such raw terror before, not even at the sword point of Arthur’s knights. Then again, Galahad had only threatened to execute him, not tear his soul to shreds and leave him with the tattered remains.

The worst part was he did not think there were meant to be any remains. Whoever had attacked his apprentice had done so with the intention of destroying him completely. They had come dangerously close to succeeding, thwarted by the boy’s own magic, which raised more questions than it answered. If Hisirdoux had encountered a creature powerful enough to wound him in this way, how was he still alive? How had a child whose own enchantments still flummoxed him fended off that sort of danger?

He wasn’t going to get any answers from Hisirdoux right now, that much was clear. His apprentice was mumbling restlessly in his sleep again, nonsensical words, the delusional arguments of an overstressed mind.

“Tell me you know how to fix this.” Archie had settled himself behind his familiar’s shoulders, one paw draped over the boy’s arm, but his eyes were fixed on Merlin, plea and demand both in that gaze. “Tell me you can help him.”

“I intend to do everything in my power, Archibald.” It wasn’t quite the same lie he’d told his apprentice, trying to soothe the boy’s panic before he did himself further injury, but it wasn’t the whole truth either; He was already doing everything in his power, it simply wasn’t enough.

“That’s not a ‘yes’.” The tiny dragon gave him a look that could almost have been called threatening. “He thinks you’re capable of anything, you know. Maybe it’s time you lived up to the legend.”

Not gracing that barbed statement with a response, he tucked the blanket back about Hisirdoux’s shoulders, pausing just long enough to rest a hand on the boy’s clammy forehead as he renewed his stasis spell for the umpteenth time. That done, he took his leave, refusing to acknowledge Archie’s lingering stare as he slipped out of the room.

Morgana was waiting for him when he reentered the workshop, pacing back and forth with long, sweeping strides, a book held open in her hands. She whirled as soon as the door opened.

“How is he?”

Straight to the point. Her and Arthur were very alike in that way. He didn’t answer at once, drifting across the room to the cluttered workbench by the stained glass windows. There was a fine layer of dust there that had gathered over the past two days, the designs he had been pouring over what seemed a lifetime ago now sitting discarded and forgotten. He sensed Morgana’s impatience as he lifted the page of sketches and idly examined its contents, dropping the weighted truth into the tense silence.

“Slipping away.” It was an inadequate description for what would happen if he didn’t find a way to stop the dark magic from finishing its work. What was confusion and spontaneous panic now would devolve into raving madness as Hisirdoux’s very essence continued to crumble. The boy was already losing memories, the spell he had cast only slowing the process, not preventing it. “I have no doubt this was an attempt to kill him.”

“Why?” Her outrage echoed his own. Where his bubbled beneath a thin veneer of self-control, hers revealed itself in a flash of righteous fury, the room rattling briefly as she paced closer. “He’s a child, Merlin!”

“That I cannot say.” His suspicions, founded on his knowledge of the type of magic it took to cause this kind of injury, seemed ludicrous. Hisirdoux was not trained enough to be a threat to anyone yet — besides himself — and certainly not enough of a danger to warrant such wanton cruelty. The being who had attacked his apprentice under Arthur’s very nose had done so with purely malicious intent. To hurt someone in that way, to threaten not only their life but their existence beyond the mortal plane as well... that was an act of pure hatred. More perturbing still, Hisirdoux appeared to have been the only target. Not even Archie had been wounded, despite the fact the pair of them shared the same bed. “Though I intend to find out.”

“I will help in any way I can,” she asserted, coming to stand on the opposite side of the work table. “What about Douxie? Is there anything he needs? Anything we can do?”

“He needs a proper healer.” Morgana scowled, and Merlin’s own glare deepened out of habit. It was a tall order. Neither of them had a gift for healing magic, formidable wizards though they might be, and those of Camelot’s dwindling magical community who were proficient in the healing arts had been some of the first victims in Arthur’s war against magic. Such individuals were typically well-known and notoriously bad at keeping themselves hidden, driven as they were to put their skills to good use. Hisirdoux had shown some aptitude for minor healing charms using his runic bracelet, but not to the level required to mend someone’s shredded spirit; Certainly not when he was the victim.

“Did he tell you what happened?” Morgana was on the hunt. He’d seen that look enough times to recognise it. “A name? A face?”

“No, not yet.” He could have pushed. It was clear Hisirdoux remembered something, and was deeply disturbed by it. Perhaps that was why he’d chosen not to force the matter. Further stress right now would only make things worse. He also had the image of his apprentice reeling away from him in abject terror ingrained in his mind, and wasn’t in any great hurry to repeat that experience. “We’ll have a chance to ask some more pertinent questions when next he wakes. In the meantime, we should continue our efforts to keep the castle secure.”

“You’re worried about Arthur.”

“He is a rather more likely candidate for assassination than my very green apprentice.”

“You haven’t even considered the possibility that you were the target, have you?” He came up short, casting her a piercing look. Morgana rolled her eyes. “Of course you haven’t. He is your apprentice, Merlin. If anyone wanted to draw you out, Douxie is by far the easiest way to reach you.”

It made a disturbing amount of sense, much as he would prefer to deny it. Anyone with even an inkling of familiarity with the royal court would be aware that he would go to Arthur’s aid as required, but the king had an enchanted blade and dozens of trained knights at his beck and call. He would not fall without a fight. Hisirdoux, on the other hand, couldn’t even fend off an enchanted broom. It was entirely possible, even probable, that anyone trying to strike down the Master Wizard would see his apprentice as the weak link in the chain.

Except, that would suggest that the person responsible believed he would set everything else aside to assure the welfare of his student. That assumption was to his advantage; Or, it would have been, had he not spent the last two days doing exactly that. Without the constant renewal of his stasis spell, Hisirdoux might not have survived long enough to regain consciousness. Putting aside his other duties had seemed the right thing to do at the time, weighed against the unnerving thought of no longer having apprentice and dragon constantly underfoot. Morgana was forcing him to face the fact his enemies may have depended upon him making that exact decision, and consider the very real possibility his eyes had deliberately been drawn away from some greater danger.

He wasn’t in the mood to entertain that thought, or to acknowledge the stark fear nipping gently at his heels, so he deliberately set them both aside. There had been no further attacks; It seemed reasonable to assume Hisirdoux was the only target for the time being, as perplexing as that was.

“There is no point speculating until we know more,” he said aloud, knowing the silence had stretched a beat too long. “Better to concentrate on securing our defenses and finding someone to help Hisirdoux.”

“You won’t find anyone in Camelot. You know that.”

That she was right didn’t make him any less aggravated by the observation. “What do you suggest, then?”

“I could try.”

He had not been expecting it, which was the only reason it took him more than a second to formulate his reply. “No. Absolutely not.”

“Why not?”

“I think enough damage has already been done without bringing Shadow Magic into the mix, don’t you?”

“I’m not going to hurt him!”

“No, because you will not be using your dark arts anywhere near him. I forbid it.”

She clenched her fists around the volume in her hands, the room rattling again as she stared him down in muted fury. “You know you are part of the problem, don’t you? If you didn’t spend so much time dismissing and demonising that which you don’t understand perhaps Arthur would not feel so justified in destroying every form of magic that does not serve him.”

“Rubbish.” He waved the words away. “We both know where Arthur’s hatred of magic stems from. It has nothing to do with me.”

“You are blind if you truly believe that.”

“And you are wasting my time with pointless arguments in the midst of a crisis. I have better things to do right now than have this discussion with you again.”

He turned towards the door, only to have it come aglow with magic as it slammed shut.

“I am not Hisirdoux to be dismissed whenever you don’t feel like listening.”

“More’s the pity.” He swung back around to face her with his condemnation. “I did at least think you had enough regard for the boy not to delay my work.”

The glare she fixed on him could have quelled Gunmar himself. Merlin simply glared right back, raising an imperious eyebrow in that way he knew she hated.

“Waiting and hoping you’ll think of something is not the answer, Merlin, as you well know. You just don’t want to admit it.”

“What I refuse to admit is that diving headfirst into the Shadow Realm is a viable solution to the problem at hand. Because it isn’t.”

“You don’t know that.” She gestured with the book in her hands. Not one of his library; He had never encouraged this exploration of dark magic. He didn’t even know where she had happened across it, only that he deeply regretted not having snatched it away to cast into the fire years ago. “You don’t know Shadow Magic. How can you be so certain it won’t work?”

“Common sense, girl.” She glowered at the title, a humbling she had earned with her adamance. “Double the poison does not make a cure.”

“There is nothing there to cure.” She slammed her hand palm down on the table. Out of the corner of his eye, Merlin marked Archie emerging from the bedchamber, though whether he intended to intervene or simply wanted to be closer to the unfolding argument was debatable. “Whatever magic did this to him destroyed parts of his soul. They’re not there to be mended, they’re gone. He’s not a torn cloak, Merlin. You can’t just tie the pieces that remain together and hope it’s enough to cover what is missing. Even if you get him back on his feet you will stretch him so thin you’ll be lucky if he doesn’t kill himself the first time he tries to cast a spell!”

“And how would you know that, hmm? What extensive well of experience are you drawing your theories from?”

“This.” She lifted up the spell book, shoving it at his chest. He seized it on instinct, and she took the opportunity to pluck several more volumes off the table and toss them in his direction as well. He caught those with magic, which was preferable to his face, and watched her storm closer whilst struggling to contain his own rising ire. “You are so convinced that your way is the only way that it has never even occurred to you that I chose to study Shadow Magic for this very reason. For when other means are not enough. You have no idea how it works because you think it is beneath you. I do know. I can use it. And I know that if we have any hope of restoring Douxie’s soul the Shadow Realm is our best chance. Somebody tore that boy to pieces, Merlin, what’s missing doesn’t exist in this world anymore, but that sort of dark magic leaves a trail. I can save him if you will just trust me.”

“And when what you save is not Hisirdoux? When you patch him back together with dark magic and corrupt him entirely? What then, Morgana?”

“I know the difference.”

“No, you think you know the difference, and I will not wager my apprentice’s life on your arrogance.”

“My arrogance? You are the old fool who can’t see past your own self-importance to what your inaction has cost us all! You could have stopped Arthur years ago if you so chose, but you needed him to keep you safe so you could continue your all important work, at the cost of the hundreds of innocents you abandoned. The only reason your apprentice ever needed saving was because you were too much of a coward to stand up to your king!”

“How dare you—!”

“Stop it, both of you!” The outburst was such a surprise that Merlin was actually struck to silence, turning in tandem with Morgana to stare at the small dragon glaring at them both with a baleful expression. “What you seem to be forgetting is that this isn’t your decision to make, it’s Douxie’s. He is the one who has been hurt here, and you deciding what is best for him without bothering to even ask what he thinks is not going to help matters at all. When he wakes up we will all have a civilised discussion on what the best thing to do is. Until then, perhaps you two Master Wizards can put your heads together and properly figure out who was responsible for this. Before they do the same thing to someone else.”

The ensuing hush was awkward, to say the least. Archie refused to back down, standing with wings flared and lips curled back in a faint snarl as he tried to look as intimidating as a dragon that didn’t come up to one’s knees could. Merlin was the first to turn away, stalking back to the table to set down the books Morgana had flung at him in her fury. Unfortunately for him, years spent as his student had taught her to read his silences better than anyone else, and there was disbelief in her eyes when he turned back to face the pair of them.

“You already know, don’t you?” she accused.

“I suspect,” he defended himself. “That is not the same thing as knowing.”

“Yes, yes, it’s completely different,” Archie pressed impatiently. “Who do you suspect is responsible then?”

He had not been ready to disclose this much to anyone just yet. Sadly, he could not see a way out of it without inciting another argument. It was a small miracle they hadn’t already woken Hisirdoux with all the shouting that had been going on, and he didn’t want to subject himself to Archie’s righteous anger should it start up again. Instead, he adopted the stance of a teacher once more, marching back and forth as he spoke, “The ability to injure someone in this way is not common. Shadow Magic might allow you to tether a soul to a traumatic memory, hold it in place, twist it until it bends to your will, or rip it from its mortal flesh entirely, but it does not allow you to cause irreparable harm. This is something older, darker. This is the Arcane Order.”

Morgana exchanged a glance with the familiar, then asked the expected question, “What is the Arcane Order?”

“You mean who,” he held up a finger to emphasise his point. “They are a trio of ancient wizards who protect the balance between the magic and the mortal worlds by rendering destruction on those they perceive to be a threat. If you want to blame anyone for the world’s growing mistrust of magic, Morgana, the Order should be at the top of your list. To say that they are responsible for the deaths of hundreds would likely be understating the bloody mark they have left on history. Part of the reason I aided Arthur in uniting Camelot was because it was becoming abundantly clear I could not continue to fight them on my own, and the divisions amongst the mortal kingdoms made them easy prey. The Order has been quiet since Arthur came to power; I might have known they were planning something.”

“Why Douxie, though?” Archie wondered aloud. “Why not Arthur? Why not you?”

“I do not know.” It grated to admit that much. Morgana’s theory might hold some merit, but he still didn’t understand why the Order would not have come for him directly. He was not an easy mark, but he was not unreachable either. “If it was the Arcane Order, then I do not even know how Hisirdoux survived. These are beings older than nearly any other that walks the earth. Hisirdoux is a child. It doesn’t make sense.”

“We are missing something,” Morgana agreed, leaning across the table to emphasise her next point. “So let me look for it.”

He folded his arms, making his disapproval known. “We are going in circles, Morgana. The answer is still no.”

“But—!”

“Enough!” He called his staff to his hand from across the room just to add the force of slamming it on the ground to his words. “I need to go make sure our king is kept informed of this potential threat. If you want to make yourself useful, try searching my library for a solution that won’t simply kill the boy faster.”

“Kill?” Archie’s head shot up, eyes wide behind his glasses. “He’s dying?”

Merlin took that as his cue to leave the room. Let Morgana be the one to break the bad news. If she was doing that perhaps she wouldn’t feel tempted to go rooting through every scrap of forbidden knowledge Arthur had not yet managed to destroy.

A doubtful outcome, but a wizard could hope.

Right now, that seemed like all he could do.

Story Canon Notes:

"Hisirdoux had shown some aptitude for minor healing charms using his runic bracelet..." - Not strictly canon, but Douxie's role in the Trollhunters game is team healer, which at lease loosely implies he has some sort of remedial spell in his arsenal. His (minor) injuries also disappear between scenes in Episode 8, and I assume he was going to attempt to use some sort of healing spell on Merlin before Merlin stopped him.

[shortpirateking]

I want a human pet! (II)

(Trigger Warning for scarring and outside POV depiction of a panic attack)

Ayuk’s goblet clattered to the ground, the Podling cooks yelping in surprise at the action. SkekEkt rolled his eyes; he knew that his friend would react poorly.

“Ekt, this is madness! Did you forget that insolent creature’s denouncements?!” he shivered. “Just remembering their base heresy makes my blood boil! And you want to- to tame them?!”

SkekEkt recalled Ariel’s words regarding Aarya. “They’re just not adjusting as well as the rest, and there’s no shame in that! All they need is a bit of a push; I’m sure they’re not all that bad!”

Ayuk’s expression couldn’t be flatter. Even when he recalled what he had seen of Aarya, it hadn’t moved his friend.

“Of course they’re more familiar with the emperor’s pet; she’s the only reason they haven’t been thrown out!” Aruk sighed. "And I suppose you want my culinary arts for your… ‘pet’?“

"Friend,” SkekEkt corrected, though there wasn’t much difference. “And yes.”

Ayuk looked at him with concern. “And you trust you will be safe with… them?”

SkekEkt still remembered the fury Aarya had exhibited when they first arrived, and just recalling their words made him blush. That cane of theirs had made SkekEkt think of a sword from the design… yet for all of Aarya’s anger, they had never raised a hand against them. 

And if he succeeded in taming Aarya, then he’d have everyone’s attention for bringing the most difficult human to heel! Not to mention he would have his own persona doll to dress up; Aarya was so lovely, he couldn’t wait!

Ultimately, Aruk agreed but made it clear that he would be checking in on them. 

(___)

The next day came too soon and SkekEkt could barely contain his giddiness and anticipation as he organized his things. Far too soon, he heard a knock on his doorframe.

Ariel greeted him cordially, Aarya hovering behind her- him.

Aarya walked in, cane clacking against the ground as they moved, expression deliberate and calm and void of both the cold disapproval and curious light SkekEkt knew of.

Ariel shot Aarya a reassuring smile and they nodded in return before he left them alone.

“What do you need me to do?”

Aarya’s voice was clinical and to the point and while SkekEkt was momentarily put off by it, he quickly took it in stride. “Stand here, darling~”

Their eyes flickered at the endearment but remained silent. SkekEkt guided Aarya over to the podium for them to stand while he arranged his various stools, taking their height and arm span-measurements.

“Now I’ll need hip and chest measurements, so take off your clothes~”

The humans who had arrived here were so self-conscious about their bodies, and SkekEkt could never understand why- it made taking their measurements so exhausting with how they fidgeted or slapped his hands away.

So he was delighted when not only did Aarya not get embarrassed but they were already removing them before he finished speaking, clinically folding up their scarf before undoing their robes. SkekEkt quickly grabbed the fabric he picked out, gleeful; this was going perfect! His own, perfect doll to dress up to his heart’s content!

“Is this enough?”

SkekEkt turned to reply but froze, the fabric slipping out of his arms.

Scars.

Scars that stretched across that thin chest and underneath their right arm.

Scars still red and looked so very recent.

Scars stitched together with thread like his masterpieces.

Aarya was silent, arms folded over their lap, the sleeves of their robe hanging loosely as they looked to SkekEkt. Their eyes were calm but anticipatory. Were they waiting for his response, for what he would do?

Did they show him these scars on purpose?

SkekEkt’s throat was dry, he couldn’t tear his eyes away from the scars. He was moving forward, barely aware of his footsteps. Aarya’s brow furrowed with confusion but they remained still. His talon reached out and brushed against the skin beside the scar that went down the flat plane of their chest.

“Oh darling,” his voice shook, “what could have caused these?”

What could have caused this tall but frail human such hurt? It couldn’t have been wounds from battle, they were too weak. Did they do this to themselves, as the Scientist removed his own arm and leg in his experiments? Just the thought made him feel sick-

Aarya recoiled from him violently, moving backwards so fast they tripped and crashing onto one of his mannequins.

SkekEkt gasped in shock as he rushed to their side, pushing the broken mannequin off of their shoulders and back. Aarya flinched away from his touch, eyes wide as they panted for breath. The scars beat red as their chest heaved, and SkekEkt feared the thread would tear the skin from how rapidly they were breathing.

As he hovered over them, SkekEkt’s attention was drawn to Aarya and he took in what he could despite his own growing dread.

They were so thin; he could see the outline of bone, the stretch of the rib bones visible against the scars.

Their hair that had looked so lovely was dull and lifeless and thin, held together by a haphazard tie. The roots were a dull brown; this was not their natural hair color.

Even their face had a hollowness to it, gray eyes wide with dark bags underneath… with something lost and haunted growing across their face.

This is not a doll, a faraway thought remarked in SkekEkt’s mind.

But this was not what he was focused on. Aarya remained where they were, eyes wide and that awful, haunted look only becoming stronger. It was as though they were no longer there, even though Aarya was before SkekEkt in every way (except the one that mattered).

What could he do?! How did he fix this?!

His hands fumbled for something, anything, to cover up those scars. He grabbed for a shawl he had made for SkekShod some trine ago that he had forgotten about and wrapped it around Aarya’s shoulders. They froze for a moment before their hands came to grip at the fabric and SkekEkt quickly guided them to sit down.

Ayuk arrived (with a Drenchen Guard) and looked over SkekEkt and where Aarya sat. “Is the human giving you any trouble?” he asked softly.

“No,” came out harsher than SkekEkt meant, eyes flickering back to where they were skill. “We’re merely taking a break.”

Ayuk didn’t look convinced but he didn’t pry further and helped wheel in the tray of refreshments. Before he left, SkekEkt overheard him ordering the Drenchen to remain. SkekEkt quickly poured two cups of tea and wine (Miri-something and SkekZok’s pet preferred tea while the hunting and pirate humans went straight for the wine, and Ariel’s preferences depended on his mood) while setting down the sweet meat rolls (One of Ayuk’s few recipes the humans agreed were filling).

Aarya took the cup of tea more our of instinct, listless. Their eyes were faraway and haunted, completely silent. SkekEkt felt so helpless; was his efforts for nothing? Had he destroyed any progress he had hoped to make with them? His desire for a pet, for a doll, for attention, felt so far away when he saw that awful look in their eyes.

“Lu li la. Lu li la. Lu li la. Ah-ah, Ahh-ahh.”

Aarya’s voice was so soft, SkekEkt thought he imagined it. But Aarya repeated those notes softly, finger tapping against the table in an irregular beat while the other hand wandered up to feel the fabric of the shawl. Their eyes flickered, settling on the tea cup, the shawl then around the room and then on SkekEkt. He shivered at how empty they looked… but there was something else in them; something small but trying to blaze back like a dying fire’s embers.

Their hand shot out and tore a roll open. They breathed in the scent before tearing at it with a forced vigor, sometimes dipping bits of it into the tea before they downed the cup. SkekEkt was already pouring them more tea as they finished their second roll.

The more time went on, the empty, haunted look began to rescind and while echoes remained, the fire in Aarya’s eyes was back. SkekEkt was reminded of the fury they had shown the first day they arrived.

(“So what, now I owe you?! You think that just because you did something I never asked for, I’m going to obey you?! Like all the other people you use?!“)

“Sorry about the mannequin.”

SkekEkt was jolted out of the memory, and blinked at how Aarya hunched over, ashamed. They looked so small now and it was wrong.

“Think nothing of it,” SkekEkt brushed it off benevolently. “I was going to have it removed anyways; it’s not big enough for my masterpieces.”

“… I’m pretty adept at construction. I could repair it for you, make it better.”

“Oh Thra, perish the thought! I wouldn’t dream of putting you such strain!”

“I’m not as fragile as you think. I need something to do here anyways. Might as well be something that can benefit us both.”

A flicker of a smile and SkekEkt was astounded once more at how Aarya’s expression could transform with such an expression. “Well… so long as you don’t over-exert yourself,” he granted, “and that is final!”

“Fair enough.”

Their expression was softer now, the smile gone. But peaceful. Even though they weren’t moving much or even talking much aside from that, SkekEkt found that it still felt… it felt…

Aarya was standing now, redoing their robe and tying back their scarf. They moved to take the shawl off and SkekEkt was already saying, “Please, keep it.”

Their eyes flickered back between him and the shawl. “… thank you,” and leaned on their cane as the Drenchen escorted them back to their room.

SkekEkt was not entirely sure that had just happened, but what he did know that he had another chance. What that chance was he didn’t know, but it was still a chance.

[moved99999999999]

U guys wanna know what I think about that hell hotel show

I feel like twitter’s very tired of seeing ppl talk about Hazbin Hotel, so I putting my opinions on tumblr where they belong. I’m not a “professional critic” by any means, but I’ll try my best given what I know. And don’t worry, I’ll be incredibly nit-picky to suit the internet’s needs.

I’m gonna mainly focus on HH itself instead of Vivzie’s accusations because that's a WHOLE other can of worms to open.

During the time of me writing this, I haven’t watched any YT reviews, but I’ve read a few threads criticising the show, so take that as my social influence bias.

My ted talk is allllll below the cut. Enjoy~

Context: 

My first exposure of Vivzie’s work was her “Die Young” animation that I came across around 2016. Instantly I fell in love with how “smooth” and lively her animation was, and especially the fact that it was hand drawn. Animation like that was extremely rare to come by (and still is) and seeing her execute it so well with such complexed characters was amazing to my fetus self. 

A few years later and I see the first trailer for HH. I instantly went OH I RECOGNISE THAT STYLE AND THOSE CHARACTER TYPE DESIGNS and was looking forward to what it had to offer. 

On “opening day” I watched the pilot ASAP to avoid my opinions from getting warped by all of the key-mash memes and post call-out bitching (literally the extremes of the HH opinion spectrum), and overall.....

I thought it was good. 

Not ground breakingly amazing, not horrifically terrible, but charmingly good.

(Ok now it’s actual review time)

Animation Quality:

As a hand drawn animation that has the freedom to get creative with its shots, a lot of effort was clearly put into how everything moves (it definitely didn’t take any lazy flash puppet shortcuts for the main sections of the show) and I can appreciate that. However it tends to be... rather inconsistent, most likely due to the varying skill level of the animators on the project. It’ll be nice and smooth one minute, and then awkward and choppy the next which can make the viewing pretty confusing at times. I’ll be honest I found myself overlooking these inconsistencies due to the characters and backgrounds themselves being very visually engaging, especially considering how over designed some of them can be (which I applaud the team for handling cuz wow that must have been painful). However, the needle thin and exaggerated art style makes some things incredibly hard to look at. While it helps with adding fancy details, it hurts in catching peoples eyes in the right place.

It’s also chalk full of little details, visual gags, and references that are hilarious to look at if you have the luxury of pausing every two seconds (the news segment and Sir Pentious turf war w/ Angel and Cherri are good places to look). But I feel like these lil details were put in at the cost of some some continuity errors (Charlie not wearing her coat in one shot, and having it back on in the next, papers being blank, etc.) and lip-syncing issues which really shouldn’t be happening considering all of the detail they were able to put in. There are also some shots that have just SO MUCH detail put into them, only to be shown for less than a second. I get that’s the cost of animation sometimes, but save the detail for the shots that need it, because at that point you’re just causing the animators to waste their efforts.

However, I was surprised at how professional the soundtrack and editing was. Not one but THREE songs in this single episode was really surprising, and the variation and quality of each was great (as cringy as Charlie’s song is)

But overall, the production quality is surprisingly good for a project like this, the editing, sound effects, and sound track act like a cherry on top. Of course there are some noticeable drops in quality, but given time and a budget, it has enough chops to look like an actual show.

Writing: 

As far as overarching plot goes, it seems like it’s going to be one of those procedural shows that tries to be serialised, but it’s a creative twist on hell and has an interesting premise to begin with. You can get really creative with seeing how you’d dive into getting redemption out of all of these seemingly lost causes, and I’m sure there are many people willing to know the backstories our main cast. As a pilot, it did it’s job of launching the plot very well, setting up the premise of the hotel and introducing characters in a very engaging way. I was legit really interested in each segment with who in introduced, and it didn’t feel like I was being overloaded with names to remember (which can be a problem for many medias and introductions). The cohesion between each scene is VERY smooth, and I genuinely enjoyed some of the cliché cuts/gags. 

Unfortunately I can’t extend this interest to our main character. Charlie is one of the most generic tropes we’ve ever seen. She’s a boring Disney princess who has a “cute happy positive goal to change her world” and the only thing that would make her more generic is if she wore a dress and cried “I’m tired of being so privileged”. 

(Although it’s impossible to tell, I honestly think Viv is just projecting through her, especially considering how horrifically accurate the hotel’s opening mirrors the internet’s reaction to the pilot itself)

I would be more forgiving if she was a supporting character or someone less important, but she’s the freaking protagonist, arguably the character that has to be the most interesting. Angel’s personality seems to be “flirty porn star”, and while that’s just as bad as being a boring Disney princess, at least he gets a few jokes and has a profession more interesting than Charlie’s. Around the end of the pilot he just seems like he’s getting involved because Viv likes giving him attention. If he’s supposed to be leeching off of the hotel, wouldn’t not care if it survives or not?

(There’s that whole stereotype issue that everyone keeps bringing up, but I genuinely think that’s BS because people are blatantly ignoring the fact that Angel is a porn star, Vaggie is portrayed as helpful, and that the show takes place in H E double hokey sticks.)

The transitions may be smooth, but the dialogue pacing can get really awkward at times. This paired with the animation sometimes having awkward quality drops makes some movements incredibly jagged, and has some detailed shots show for incredibly unbalanced screen time as mentioned before. 

I don’t have enough to give voice acting it’s own section so I’m just popping it down here:

The voice acting is legitimately better than several big name projects I know. It’s consistent, great at expressing the character’s mood properly, and each voice fits each character perfectly. My only gripes are that Alastor and Sir Pentious tend to grain on you after awhile due to them keeping a single tone for too long. 

Character Design: AKA the only thing I have legitimate experience with.

First thing’s first. The characters are WAY too over designed. There are so many markings and accessories that are incredibly unnecessary. I think the mindset for these characters was “the more complicated and attractive the better”, which makes them look like they’re designed by an edgy tumblr artist (heck I fall for this too some times).

Especially if a character is going to be animated, you have to keep in mind the value of simplicity. You absolutely don’t have to fill in your character with markings and trinkets to make them look unique, I mean just look at the gen 1 pokemon starters. Thanks to the limitations of the game, the sprites were forced to be simple, and it was that simplicity that made them such unique and varied creatures. You can tell Blastoise is a bulky water blasting turtle just with a quick glance. 

Many of the characters suffer from over complication, but I’ll look at Husk for example. He has these stripes all over him that do not contribute to who he’s supposed to be at all, and only look like they’re added to make him more unique. The markings that DO help are the little card suite marks on his wings, because those at least infer he’s linked to a casino/gambling type of theme. I would say his outfit helps as well, but formal wear and bowties are worn way to often by the main characters, which brings me to another problem.

They may look different, but they feel way too similar. From the same skinny body type, to generic head shapes, to outfits, the focus characters just don’t stand out amongst each other. Even the ones with interesting features still suffer from feeling generic. I’d say Sir Pentious is a good example of this. He has a serpentine/naga body and clever hair style that make his concept really creative, but his skinny body type, complicated eyes all over his tail, and generic “young but supposed to be at least middle aged” face just push him back into obscurity. He’s even wearing the SAME outfit as Alastor (who's an even worse offender of that generic face problem), and unless Viv has some plan to link the two, I’d say the characters need to stop using a dress code.

A successful character design can to tell you who the character is just by looking at them. You should be able to tell if a character’s personality, function, age, the universe they belong in, and if they’re important or not, and that’s a big problem when it comes to the background characters. If you pause on one of the extras for a minute you can see all of the effort put into designing them, and that takes away so much attention from the main cast. Not only that, but they have actual variations in their body types and outfits, which makes them more intriguing than who we’re supposed to be interested in.

Regardless, this pilot has potential, and if they can get someone to comb out the flaws, you can end up with something good. No one can deny a legitimate animation was made here, and the team successfully executed the start of a story, and that’s something anyone can look up to.

TLDR: The pilot is good. It has some major flaws, but it has potential to be a good show.

If you actually read this far epstein didn’t kill himself.

[unabasheddinosaurkitten]

Rise Of Orthros

Chapter 3

Amelia was seated on her bed in her room that was located in the guild house, glancing down at her wooden desk writing through her journal that she did daily. It was something she started when she was 5 something to keep her mind off what was really happening; it helped her through the dark times.

Her room was a rectangular shape, with wooden furniture, the floor was covered with dark blue carpet, to her right was a large bookshelf filled with magic books and also some crystal she had received on her trips, or by herself. The newest addition to her collection was the red crystal she was given by Seviphal. Lights were provided by wall lamps and a ceiling light.

Amelia couldn't help but when she looked at the crystal she was mesmerized by it, the beautiful red glistened whenever the sun would touch it, the clear speckle of black could also be seen in the crystal. Unfortunately Amelia was drawn out of her thought process as she heard a knock at the door, clearing her throat as she stood up and wandered over to it, amazed to see Phillip standing behind it. Phillip never came to her room for anything, it was something he always avoided.

She raised an eyebrow at him before he spoke, "Someone is here to see you? She refused to tell me who she was but I think I noticed the mage necklace she was wearing."

Amelia nodded, "Thanks." She stepped outside her room wondering who the person could be. She hasn't spoken to a maze in our 7 years, nor has she wanted to.

Amelia closed her bedroom door before heading downstairs towards the front door of the guild, she hummed to herself, stepping onto the last step she turned her head towards the door where a girl stood, Phillip was right she was a mage. Amelia could tell from the red and black cloak she was wearing, the girl was also wearing a dragon eye pendant which only mages wore.

"Can I help you?" Amelia asked as she was now standing in front of the mage, "Who are you? What are you doing here? In all places?" Of course, she had a million questions, who wouldn't.

The mage let out a chuckle, removing the cloak from her face so Amelia could have a good look at her, the mage had emerald green eyes, pale skin, and her hair was a brownish-blonde that was French braided, "Calm down, my name is Abigail Stronghold, I of course as you would know am a fellow mage like yourself. Your family has sent me to request that you go see them."

Amelia frowned at Abigail, "My parents? Why would they want to see me?"

Abigail sighed deeply, "Unfortunately they wouldn't tell me the details as to why, but they say it's urgent. You know they wouldn't call on you unless it was desperate."

Amelia couldn't help but chuckle this time, "Right, my parents wouldn't either way." She felt a little calmer as she felt Hunter's hand come to the small of her back.

"Amelia? You alright? Who is this?" Hunter asked.

"This is Abigail Stronghold; she has come here on my parent's request."

"Request?" He asked a little shocked; he knew that something had gone down with her parents and to why she never spoke about them or to them.

"Please just come Amelia; your parents won't be happy that you declined, please?" Abigail pleaded; she knew it would be hard to get Amelia to help.

Amelia took a deep breath as she rubbed her forehead in thought, biting her lip ever so gently, "Alright fine, but I'm not going alone. I will bring Hunter and Hanna with me."

Hunter nodded, "Alright let me go tell Hanna, I'll meet you in the stable Amelia."

She nodded and looked back over at Abigail who looked happy that she had even agreed, this was something Amelia was hoping to never do, see her parents and brother again. "So how did you get here?" Amelia asked.

"I took a boat, took me a day and a half to get here, I think I figured out that I don't like travelling by sea" Abigail let out a chuckle, to which Amelia smiled, just a little.

Abigail and Amelia arrived at the dragon stable where Ethrinria was laying down, her head laying on the hay beneath her, Amelia took a few steps towards Ethrinria which made her lift her head, a happy puff left her nose only for her mood to change when she saw Abigail, Ethrinria flared her nostrils puffing out bits of smoke while guarding Amelia with her wing. Amelia gently stroked Ethrinria's gold face as tears formed in her eyes thinking of Gandor, the one place she never wanted to return. From a young age, she was classed as an outsider due to her having a love for dragons. She always wondered where she got her love of dragons from and that was simple.

Amelia's grandmother Adriana had a love for dragons just like her, Adriana wanted to show everyone that not all mages were bad and she began to make a difference, Adriana began showing a side mages thought was evil and unlike them. Adriana grew so many followers until they realized that only certain people could ride dragons.

People with good hearts, since Adriana was sweet and gentle lady dragons and other animals loved her. Mages didn't approve of this so they tried to take away her pure heart which backfired killing Adriana in front of everyone in town especially her loving husband Richard. A few elders at Gandor still adore Adriana even if she was no longer with them. Amelia heard stories about her grandmother around town as she killed when Amelia was only a year old.

"It's alright Ethrinria; she isn't going to harm you. We have to go back," Amelia whispered gently towards her dragon, who whined in pain.

Amelia wiped her tears away before looking over at Abigail who was awkwardly standing in the corner, she motioned her hand towards Abigail letting her know to step forward, "Ethrinria needs to feel your touch so she knows you aren't a threat."

Abigail whimpered a little before taking a gulp as she stepped forward towards Amelia and her dragon, she slowly stuck out her hand as she got closer and closed her eyes. Amelia couldn't help but roll her eyes grabbing Abigail's hand she guided it towards Ethrinria's nostrils, who gently smelt her hand.

"Let her pat you Ethrinria, I know it's hard," Amelia said as her dragon gently nudged Abigail's hand shortly after.

Abigail gasped and opened her eyes, "Oh my, your scales feel amazing. How could someone harm something as gorgeous as you?" Abigail looked into Ethrinria's eyes to see the fear that both she and Amelia were feeling, not to mention the pain those two had been through.

"Alright, we should get you tacked and ready Ethrinria, it's a long flight" Amelia spoke, she was hoping she would calm on the flight but she knew it might be unlikely.

Ethrinria stood up towering over Amelia and Abigail; she turned around allowing Amelia to place her leather saddle on her back. Amelia turned her head as she heard Hunter and Hanna entering the dragon stable.

"How long of a flight is it to Gandor?" Hanna asked, her eyes fixed on Abigail, wondering if she could trust her.

"Not long about half an hour to forty-five minutes," Amelia replied, which Hanna responded with by nodded before heading over to her dragon and saddling him up.

Once Amelia had guided Ethrinria out of the stable, she climbed on top of Ethrinria, using her tail as a ladder. She placed her feet into the stirrups before grabbing onto the reins. Abigail had trouble at first getting on Ethrinria, but she finally found her rhythm and grabbed onto Amelia's waist once she was seated behind her, "You ready?"

"As I'll ever be," Abigail whispered.

Amelia patted Ethrinria's scales gently whispering ever so gently, "Alright girl, you know the way." She grabbed the leather strap gripping on tightly, her body filling up with nerves.

Abigail watched as Ethrinria's wings flared out, before they began to flat softly at first to get a bit of lift-off. Ethrinria let out a small screech alerting Hillverion and Atrastrasza to follow behind which they did.

Abigail peered over to see how far they were getting, she watched as the ground below them became nothing but a small blur as Ethrinria made it past the clouds.

Hunter flew up next to Amelia while Hanna was just behind them, "What are we going to expect?" Hunter asked Amelia.

He needed to know what they were heading into, he didn't want to head into a trap.

"I'm not sure Hunter; I haven't been home in years. But I guess we have to be on our toes," Amelia replied.

Abigail looked at Hunter, "It hasn't changed, not in the 8 years Amelia has been gone. It's still the same, hatred is still written on mostly everyone's faces."

Abigail was ashamed to admit that no one had changed, they were all still the same. Even her own parents hated everyone that wasn't a mage. She was only 10 when she watched Amelia leave; it pained her to see someone she admired to be turned away because she was more than just a mage.

|||||

Amelia felt numb as she knew she was getting close to Gandor, her body felt like it would freeze at any moment. Ethrinria made another scratching sound before she flew down towards the ground. Abigail let out a screech as she held onto Amelia tighter, it felt like her stomach was dropping as Ethrinria accelerated towards the ground stopping just before she could smash into the ground, the flapping over her wings made the grass below them move slightly.

She slide off of Ethrinria's saddle and looked around noticing it was still the same feature-wise as well; found on the Western side of a sea, the settlement of Gandor, where the mages roam and practice their magic. This settlement wasn't built by a sea by accident, as it was a great area to hide and be themselves with hidden passageways and ancient burial grounds, which is important to the mages; as some of them study the dead.

The settlement itself looks humble. With its spruce wood rooftops, pinewood walls, and frozen waterfall, Gandor has an enthralling atmosphere. The main attraction is the hostel, which was built 48 years ago and designed by mages and wizards.

Gandor has a hurting economy, which is mainly supported by alchemy, thieving, and engineering. But their biggest strengths are rare wood production and weapon making. Amelia looked up at Ethrinria and she could feel her anxiety, she gently rubbed Ethrinria's shoulder blade making her purr.

"It's alright, I won't let them hurt you," Amelia whispered, but she was also trembling in fear as well.

Abigail was the first to walk down the path with Amelia and Ethrinria following behind followed by Hanna and Atrastrasza, Hunter and Hillverion. Amelia kept her head down as she walked towards the one place she never wanted to return to. The Jayne manor; From the outside, this house looks magnificent. It has been built with white stones and has grey stone decorations. Small, rectangular windows allow enough light to enter the home and have been added to the house in a mostly symmetric way.

Abigail knocked on the front door before stepping back, she gave Amelia a small smile who returned it. It only took 2 minutes for the door to open to reveal Amelia's mum Teresa. Teresa hadn't changed in the last 8 years; blonde, flowing hair awkwardly hangs over a chiselled, worried face. Sparkling brown eyes, set low within their sockets, watch cheerfully over the estate they've come to love for so long.

Scars reaching from the top of the right cheek, running towards her right nostril and ending on her upper lip and leaves a burning memory of restored honour. "Amelia... you are back!" She gasped and went to hug Amelia only for her to step back.

Teresa stopped her movements and cleared her throat before stepping inside, "Please come inside, Abigail will you escort the dragons around the back please."

Abigail nodded bowing her head slightly before backing away and headed outside shutting the door once again. The house is equipped with a modern kitchen and 6 lavish bathrooms; it also has two snug living rooms, 8 bedrooms, a cosy dining area, and a modest basement.

The building is shaped like a squared S. The two extensions extend into stylish gardens to each side. The second floor is the same size as the first, but part of it hangs over the edge of the floor below, creating an overhang on one side and a balcony on the other. This floor follows the same style as the floor below.

The roof is low and triangular and is covered with stone slabs. One large chimney pokes out the centre of the roof. Several long, thin windows let in plenty of light to the rooms below the roof. The house itself is surrounded by paved ground, with a pool at the backside of the house.

"Thank you dragon riders for coming on such short notice. We didn't know who to ask. So we sent Abigail. You see we aren't very welcome in most city's" Teresa explained.

Amelia scoffed, "I wonder why," she rolled her eyes as Teresa escorted them into the living room.

Their living room which was still spacious and delicate; has coordinating plastic furniture. The seating is plush. The floor is stone and the walls are painted with a wallpapered dado. Light is provided by wall lamps. The room is done in autumn colours and overall has a cluttered look. Among the first things, one notices walking in is an old sculpture of the family.

Amelia looked away from the sculpture watching as her mother walked into the hall, "Richard... Tony... come down, Amelia is here with some friends!" Teresa shouted.

Amelia, Hanna, and Hunter sat down on the couch, Teresa couldn't believe how grown Amelia was now. She knew she screwed up the minute she allowed Richard to harm her. Teresa could see a scar on the side of Amelia's rib from the time she saved Ethrinria and another one on her stomach when Richard had brought in preachers to take out her good heart. Teresa wondered if she still had the word on her back.

The sound of footsteps was heard catching the attention of Hunter who turned to see two men walking in. "Hunter and Hanna I would love for you to meet the Jayne's... Richard Jayne and Toby Jayne."

Amelia looked at Richard first checking to see if his features were changed, she noticed that he had gained a little weight when she last saw him; Brown, long hair neatly coiffure to reveal a thick, radiant face. Shining grey eyes, set low within their sockets, watching his daughter sitting in front of him after many years of seeing her. A beard roughly compliments his eyes and hair and leaves an unsettling feeling in Amelia's stomach.

"You aren't going to introduce us as family" Toby scoffed.

Red, dreadlocks hang over a craggy, tense face. Hooded brown eyes, set a-symmetrically within their sockets, narrowing his eyes towards Amelia, he couldn't help but shake his head. He was disappointed. Fallen debris left a mark stretching from the bottom of the right cheek, running towards his left nostril and ending on his right cheek leaves a compelling memory of redemption.

"Why would I when this was never home for me?" Amelia asked as she clenched her fist, the rage was building up inside her body but she instantly calmed down when she saw Ethrinria laying on the grass outside while Abigail was sitting by her side.

"Enough! We call you here for your help. Someone is after our land. We've been threatened by the person and if we don't give them all of our money by noon Friday afternoon he will burn our village down," Teresa spoke.

Amelia rolled her eyes while Hunter frowned, "Why haven't you notified the king about it?" He asked.

Toby scoffed as he looked at Hunter, "You really think the king would love to see us? No, we will be killed the very first moment we set foot into his palace."

"We wouldn't have asked for you if it wasn't urgent. We've even set up the house out the back for you guys to stay, plus it'll give you guys a good chance to think it over," Teresa replied.

"Thank you Mrs. Jayne, we will see to the house at the back and will speak to you tonight. Do you remember the way, Amelia?" Hunter asked.

Amelia stood up from her seat and began to walk towards the back door, Hunter and Hanna followed behind. She opened it slowly and stepped through before heading down the stairs that led towards the back. The house was small, it was used to host many quests along the years, the brick exterior still stood tall, with three small-sized bedrooms, a tiny kitchenette, and a lounge room. The interior was painted in warm colours. Around the home sat a beautiful flower garden with roses and lilies planted around.

"You never told me your parents owned the estate," Hanna told Amelia as they walked inside.

"Why would I? They aren't my family," she replied.

Hunter frowned, "Why do you hate your family so much?" To elves family was everything and the elders were treated with respect.

Amelia looked at Hanna and Hunter; she knew she had to tell them. She knew one day she would have to. "My father hated when anyone stood against him, when I was 5 I went down to the market when I saw Ethrinria is chains about to be slaughtered in broad daylight. I stepped in and I unchained her using my mage powers and just as we were about to leave my father ordered an attack that almost got me killed." She pointed to the scar on her chest knowing everyone had been curious about why she had that scar.

"Your own father?" Hanna asked.

Amelia nodded and took a deep breath, "I was almost dead but Ethrinria saved me, I don't know how but she did. That's why we have a bond like no other, after that my fate in my family declined and I left at 15. I couldn't handle it, I rode Ethrinria until I found you."

There was also another reason why Amelia left but she didn't feel like sharing it, plus she hated the thought of it. Hunter sat back and listened to everything Amelia said, it made sense why she was quiet and didn't want to come here. The way she looks and acts around her family. Tensions grew in the guest house as the three of them began to think of what they should do?

|||||

Meanwhile back at the guild, Phillip was trying to figure out what was so urgent that Amelia, Hunter, and Hanna had to go and why there was a mage standing at their door, he should have killed that mage.

"What are you pacing about Phillip? We all get called away for some separate missions," Stephen asked as he walked up.

Phillip ran and hand through his hair, "I want to know what's going on, I hate being left in the dark. Where is Sam?" He asked noticing that the guild was silent without him, normally there was grunting and fighting.

"We aren't left in the dark, they've got their own mission as we all get. Since when have you cared about missions... Oh, this is about Amelia isn't it?" Stephen asked as he realized why he was so upset.

Phillip frowned before looked at Stephen, "So what if it is... She doesn't deserve to be a dragon rider. She isn't a pureblood plus she's a mage."

Stephen rolled his eyes, "So, who cares if she is a mage. She is a better rider than some pure-bloods plus have you seen their bond?"

"Maybe she's controlling the dragon to be close to her," Phillip said.

Stephen laughed and shook his head, "No one has that type of power, stop being so jealous over Amelia. You asked where Sam is, his father called him to the knights guild about something."

Phillip wanted to prove that Amelia was just as dangerous as the rest of the mages, he only needed time and one wrong move.

[sethmacsexy20]

Misery Loves Company The Truth Comes Out

That night, they were throwing a little party in another ball room area, a get together with all the guest who were coming to the wedding.  Seth was there and was bored as he knew no one.  Just then Charlize walked up to him.  "How is it going?"

"Why did I agree to come?"  He said, annoyed.

She sighed.  "What is going on?"

"Your friend, I was wrong.  She isn't just a bitch, she's a cunt."  He gritted.

"Seth!"  She was shocked by this.

"Sorry, but she is.  You know, she came in my room and just kept pushing me more and more.  She pissed me off so bad.  No one has ever pissed me off like this.  She is infuriating and stubborn and I....I..."  He sighed then admitted.  "And I have never wanted someone as much as I wanted her right then."

"What?"  Again, she was shocked but also thrown.

"I can't explain it.  She kept at it and got a kick out of it.  I just got pissed and was losing my shit, then just like that, I wanted to kiss her.  I have no understanding why as she pissed me off, but I did.  I want to kiss her and take her right then."  Seth confessed.

Charlize said, "Seth, she is getting married."

"I know.  I know.  And I cannot understand why this feeling suddenly came on.  But we were face to face as I was getting pissed and her smiling.  It took everything in me to stop myself from doing something stupid cause I know she is getting married.  But when we were at it, something triggered.  I mean she is beautiful and she definitely isn't afraid to say what she thinks or feels.  I never met a woman like that.  It's actually...hot."  Seth revealed.  Then he turned to her.  "But I know it cannot happen."  Seth looked over to Ashley.  "No matter how much I want it to happen."

Ashley stood by Derek the whole night, if she didn't.  She knew she would get it when they went back to the room.  She put on a smile and stayed next to her fiance.  She didn't want to be there as it felt too fake.  But she had to go through with this, she had her reasons.  Derek then took her hand and moved her out to the dance floor.  They danced as they both smiled.  Derek then asked, only so they heard and with a smile on his face, "So, where were you earlier?"

"To see Charlize."  She said, as she kept smiling as well.

"Don't lie to me."  He said, calmly but sternly, without losing his fake smile.  "I have eyes everywhere and what I was told was you came out of a guy's room. "

"Derek, it's not what you think.  Seth is Charlize date for the wedding, I went in there to apologize cause I was kinda rude to him.  I wanted to try to make it right, so I went to apologize.  I promise, nothing else happened."  She became fearful, but she knew in the crowd, she was safe but once he had her alone, it would be a different story.

He pulled her closer and said, in a low, harsh tone in her ear, "That better be it.  Cause if you ever cheat on me, you know what I will do.  Remember, one phone call is all it takes.  You need me, Ashley.  Remember that."

She gulped and nodded.  He only said, "Good, girl."

They finished the dance as the song ended and moved off the floor.  They sat down and after some time, Derek got talking to his partners from the law firm.  Ashley took the opportunity that he was occupied to slip away.  She went out to the pool area outside and sat down at a chair.  She felt at a loss at what to do.  Just then, Seth walked out with a drink in his hand.  Ashley rolled her eyes.  "I'm not in a mood to deal with your whining.  So take your shit somewhere else."

Seth became angry.  "Why do you have to be such a bitch?"

She narrowed her eyes and almost hissed, "Cause you make it so easy."

"What did I ever do to you?"  Seth asked her.

"YOU did nothing.  But I know guys like you.  I could tell the guy you were when you got pissy that I didn't like your movie.  You got famous and got the money and you think you are god's gift."  She said, angrily.

Seth almost laughed.  "I don't think that since I am an atheist."

"You know what the fuck I mean."  She stood up and moved close to him.  She got into his face.  "Men like you, with the money, think they can treat women like shit.  That they are there for you to manipulate and use and treat like shit.  I know what kind of man you are."

"You are farther from the truth."  Seth said as rage set in.

She almost smiled.  "Let me ask you something, how old are you?"

"Why does that matter?"  He asked, pissed.

"Let me guess, late thirties?"  Seth just frowned.  "No, early forties." Seth just looked away and it told her that she hit it.  "So, a man your age, why haven't you found a woman to marry?"

"What does that have to do with anything?"  

"I bet that you use women.  Use them for a while and then toss them to the side when you are done."  

Seth almost laughed.  "Again, you are farther from the truth."

"Oh, yeah, tell me, the last few girls they dated, what did they look like?"

"Again, what does that have to do with anything?"

"Let me guess.  Young, probably mostly blonde, thin, pretty.  Am I right?"

He looked away, he couldn't deny that.  The last few girls pretty much fit that description.  "Ah, did I strike a cord, Seth."

Then he looked at her, he was beyond pissed.  "What about you?  Huh?  You are just happen to be marrying a wealthy lawyer.  Does that not say something about you?"  

"You have no clue what you are talking about."

"Oh, yeah, tell me right now, in all honesty, that you are not marrying him for his money."  He almost gritted.

She looked away cause it was the truth, but not for the reasons he thought.  "Oh, but I am the bad guy here.  At least when I dated those girls, I was trying to find something more.  I was trying to have a connection.  Yes, I dated the typical girls a guy would date in my position.  But not for the reasons you think.  I was just stupid enough to think they wanted what I did."

She looked at him and felt a little guilty.  But then she realized what he was saying about her and got angry again.  She poked him in his chest as she said, angrily, "You think you know me.  You don't know me.  You don't know why I am marrying Derek.  I will not deny it, the money is something I need.  But not for the reasons you think.  I don't care about cars or a mansion or designer clothes.  I am doing it cause..."  Then she stopped herself.  "It doesn't matter why I am doing it, you wouldn't understand.  A man like you just wouldn't understand."

His demeanor softened as he realized there was more to it.  He narrowed his eyes as he said, "You don't want to marry him."

She shook her head as she looked away.  "If I had a way to get out, I would."  She looked at him.  "But I can't, so I have to go through with it."

"Then why are you?"  He asked her softly.

She signed.  "You wouldn't understand.  You could never understand.  You have your money and you don't have to worry about everything.  A girl like me, I don't and my issues are not what movie I should make next or when I have to do another voice over.  My issues are real.  Big.  Issues that need money.  I wish it didn't or I would run so fast from this marriage, it's not even funny, but I can't.  I have to suck it up and do something I don't want to do."

Seth looked at her as he felt that something bigger was going on.  He moved his hand to her cheek and cupped it.  She looked at him and he saw pain in her eyes.  "Tell me."

She moved away from him.  "Why do you care?  It's not your problem.  It's mine and I can deal with it."  Then she sighed.  "Just leave me alone, Seth.  I can't deal with you right now."

He stood there, not knowing what else to say.  He just nodded and walked away.  Ashley exhaled as she didn't expect him to be so sweet.  She now was really drawn to him.  She loved the way he made her feel at that moment.  They way he was so attentive to her and saw her pain.  She stood up and walked over to the pool.  She quickly got lost in thought.  Then she heard Derek's voice, "Why are you out here?"

She spun around.  "I just needed a breather."

"You are not having second thoughts, are you?"  He asked, almost daringly as he moved closer.

She quickly said, "No, no I'm not."

He got to her and grabbed her by her hair.  He pulled it and said, harshly, "Good, cause there is no leaving me, Ashley.  So, if you have that in your head, get that thought out quickly.  You belong to me."

"I swear, Derek, I'm not.   Please."  She almost begged.

"You know what will happen if you try, right?"  He asked her, coldly.  She nodded and he let go of her hair as he moved his hand on the back of her head then wrapped an arm around her waist.  "Good, now, give me a kiss."

He moved in and kissed her.  She kissed him back but wasn't into it.  He noticed and got angry.  He pulled back and slapped her.  She fell back and landed on her ass.  She looked at him, frightened.  "Why do you make me do that to you?  Why do you push me so far to hit you?  Do you think I like hitting you?"  She just kept looking at him, frightened as tears fell.  Derek's demeanor changed, it softened.  He knelt down to her.  "I do love you, Ashley.  You know that, right?"

She just nodded as tears kept falling, afraid to say anything wrong.  He went to wrap his arms around her and she flinched at him reaching out.  He quickly noticed.  "Baby, I'm not going to hurt you."

She watched as his arms move towards her as she was scared.  Derek wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him.  He held her and said, softly, "I just get so crazy cause I love you so much.  I'm sorry, Ashley."

She slowly moved her hands to his chest as she did cry.  She was scared of him.  Scared if she didn't return the affection in the same way, he would just hit her some more, so she hugged him and held unto him tight.  She didn't love him, she couldn't love him.  But she had to keep acting like she did or he would be worse on her.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Seth got almost back to the party, when he decided he wasn't done trying to reach out to her.  He didn't know why, but he was drawn to her.  He wanted her unlike anyone else.  She was rude to him, yet that made him more intrigued.  He knew there was a reason behind it.  As he got out there, he noticed Derek kissing Ashley.  He felt like shit just then as he felt something for her.  But then just like that, things changed as he watched.  He looked on as Derek struck Ashley and she fell to the ground.  He wanted to go interfere but his feet wouldn't move.  He didn't like confrontation.  He continued to watch as it stung him.  He saw the fear in Ashley's face as she cried and looked at Derek.  Seth finally grew a pair and was about to interfere but then he saw Derek knelt down to her.  He seemed calmer.  He moved his arms around Ashley and held her lovingly.  He also noticed Ashley allowing it and seemingly returned the affection.  This pissed Seth off.  He watched as she was getting drawn into it all.  He realized she was allowing the abuse and being manipulated by this man.  He got pissed and walked away.  He couldn't watch anymore.  He couldn't watch as the woman he was attracted to kept allowing herself to be in that position.  He walked back into the ball room and Charlize noticed.  She also noticed he looked pissed.  She walked over to him and asked, "Are you okay?"

He looked at her angrily and said with his teeth almost gritting, "I'm going to turn in."

"Why?  What happened?  Was Ashley being rude again?"  She asked, worried.

"No, she wasn't being a bitch anymore.  No, she is being an idiot."  He said, pissed.

This shocked Charlize.  "Seth, I know she pisses you off, but you can't keep calling her names."

"What would you call it when a woman allows a man to put his hands on her and still willing to marry the guy?"  He asked, almost loudly.

"What?"  Charlize was shocked.  "Ashley wouldn't allow that."

"I just witnessed it.  Derek slapped her so hard she fell to the ground.  I was going to step in but I saw him then talk to her and weasel his way back in as he hugged her and she hugged him back.  She is getting suckered in.  And she is allowing it."  Seth was angry.

"Are you sure you saw what you saw?"  Charlize had a hard time believing it as Ashley was always a very strong will and independent woman.  Ashley wouldn't allow herself in a toxic relationship.  Or Charlize thought so.

"Yes, I'm sure.  I know what I saw, Charlize.  Your friend is an idiot.  I actually felt sorry for her for a minute."  Seth said, coldly.

"Fuck.  It's just not like her to get in such a toxic relationship."  Charlize breathed.

"Well, I guess the money means that much to her that she is willing to allow herself to be abused by that asshole."  

"I'm sure there is more we don't know.  Cause I have known Ashley for years and she isn't normal like that.  I have to find out what is really going on."  

"You do that, but I am going in my room.  I can't stand to be here anymore."  Seth said, then left before Charlize could say another word.  Seth felt something for this woman and to see her get abused and be so forgiving, just pissed him off.  More so cause he would never do such a thing and would never do that to her.  But then it hit him.  She was letting her anger, that she had towards Derek, out on him.  She was being rude and shooting venom at him cause she was pissed at Derek, not Seth.  He stopped as it hit him.  She couldn't dare stand up to Derek cause she was afraid of him, but Seth, she wasn't.  Seth was her punching bag.  Cause she was hurting.  Seth actually felt sorry for her at that moment.  All his anger left his body as he felt for her.  She was in pain and hid it well.  But Seth was now seeing the pain.

Previous Chapter / Masterlist / Next Chapter

[chocobroobsession]

The Red String - Chapter 19

Author’s Note: Soulmate AU based on the red string of fate story featuring Ignis x fem!OC. The end is nearly here. Only one chapter left! Trigger warning: self-harm. It has a nice resolution though, to make up for it. A tad NSFW at the very end. Plus, we get to see a bit more of Prompto and Gladio. Word count: 2262.

Chapter Masterlist

Ignis thought that life with Chandra was blissful and effortless. They both had their flaws and of course they had arguments on occasion, but their love prevailed and they spent the days reveling in one another. Not long after their first lovemaking session, Chandra asked Ignis to move in with her. Naturally he agreed. They fit together perfectly, and though their days were filled with happiness, they both still dealt with their own personal daemons.

Chandra still had emotional damage from her past traumas. Though the pair rarely had nightmares, she would occasionally wake up screaming. Ignis would hold her close and hum her favorite songs until sleep found her again. Though she managed to overcome many of her insecurities, one major one still remained.

One day, Ignis walked in on her cutting at her wrist. He smelled the blood immediately and made his way over to her as she shrunk away from him. She cried as he held her hand and gently cleaned the wound. He ran his fingers over the raised scars that crisscrossed the barcode.

“Love, you don’t need to do this. I understand it’s a painful reminder of your past, but I hate to see you harming yourself like this.”

“I know. It just feels like a brand. Like a curse. I hate looking at it. I’m sick of wearing longs sleeves and bandages all the time,” she sniffled.

“I see. Maybe together we can come up with a better solution? Better yet, maybe we should speak with Prompto. He knows more about what you’re going through than I do,” he suggested.

Prompto had spent his life hiding his barcode. As a child, he hid it with a sweatband. As an adult, he hid it with a leather bracelet. He had hoped that by finally confiding in his friends, he would be able to forgo a cover and be able to show it to the world, like a battle scar. Instead, he continued to conceal it, pained by all it represented.

When Ignis and Chandra came to him about her woes, he understood all too well. He was still living with Gladio at the time, who overheard their conversation.

“Why not just cover them with tattoos? I know a guy who could do it. He’s the one who did mine. He managed to escape Insomnia and open a parlor right here in Lestallum,” he offered.

“You know, that’s not a bad idea,” Ignis agreed.

“Yeah, but do you think it would work for me, what with my, um, other scars?” Chandra asked.

“I don’t see why not,” Gladio explained. “I’m covered in scars from battle and my tattoo still went on just fine.”

“Yeah, let’s get matching tattoos!” Prompto piped up. “It can be like BFF bracelets, but more permanent!”

Chandra couldn’t help but smile. Prompto really had become her best friend aside from Ignis. They understood each other, both being victims of Niflheim. Plus Prompto had always encouraged her relationship with Ignis and was their biggest supporter. He was easy to talk to and fun to be around and she was thankful to have him in her life as well.

Prompto and Chandra spent the next few days brainstorming what tattoo they would get. They both agreed that it would have to be dark and bold to cover the barcode enough to where one couldn’t tell that it was once there. They would also have to wait a couple of months until Chandra’s cuts had fully healed. In the meantime, Prompto gave her an extra leather cuff he had to cover it.

When the time came, they made an appointment with Gladio’s tattoo artist. Ignis held Chandra’s hand as she got hers, and he even held Prompto’s, but that was only to stop his whining. Turns out, he really hated needles. When they emerged from the parlor, both were proud of their new ink. Covering their barcodes was a blackened city skyline that wrapped completely around their wrists like a bracelet. Peeking out from behind the buildings, was the rising sun. The skyline they picked was that of Insomnia. Though Chandra had never gotten to see the city in person, it was Prompto’s home and Ignis’s as well. She saw Ignis as her home, and so it was only appropriate to go with that. Thankfully, Prompto had taken many pictures of his city before its fall, including several from a distance back from when they first embarked on their road trip with Noctis. There was a vantage point on a hill where you could see over the wall and take in the grandeur of the city. The rising sun was added because they all knew one day Noctis would return and bring the sun back with him, thus ending the Starscourge.

Chandra guided Ignis’s hand and traced his fingertip along the outline of her tattoo. “Does that sort of help you to picture it?”

“My dear, though I haven’t laid eyes on my city in ages, I cannot forget that view. Thank you for thinking of me when deciding on what to get.” Ignis smiled as he leaned forward to kiss her hand.

“Of course, Love.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek.

“I’m so glad we did this,” Prompto interrupted. “Thanks, Chandra. Without you, I’m pretty sure I probably would have hidden my wrist for the rest of my life.” He pulled her in for a hug.

“No problem. Thank you for the design. It’s perfect.”

Though she would forever have the raised scars, at least she would never have to see that wretched barcode again. A tremendous weight was lifted off of her shoulders and she felt more at peace than she had in a long time.

A few weeks later, in the comfort of their own home, Ignis finally confronted one of his own insecurities.

“Darling?”

“Yes, Ignis?”

“How…just how bad are my scars?”

“Huh?” The question caught Chandra off guard.

“Well, I can feel them, so I know how large they are, but what do they look like?” He bit his lip and lowered his face towards the floor.

“Has this really been bothering you all this time?” She tenderly asked as she slid down next to him on the couch.

“Yes,” he answered. “I know it’s vain. Looks aren’t everything, and I know you love me, but I also know people stare at me. I can feel it. And I’m not sure if it’s out of fear or pity or both.”

Chandra reached over and caressed his cheek, turning his head to face hers. His eyebrows were bunched together as he frowned. It didn’t matter the expression on his face. She still thought he was the most handsome man she had ever laid eyes on. She found herself attracted to him when she saw him in Altissia without his scars, and the addition of the scars hadn’t changed her feelings in the slightest. Though she missed the intensity of those green eyes staring into her brown ones, she cared more about the man who owned them.

She studied his face before speaking. “I’m out of practice being descriptive without sounding clinical, so forgive me if I don’t paint a proper picture. Your scars are discolored. They have undertones of maroon, plumb, and dark brown. They are raised and uneven. Rough to the touch, actually. It looks as though your outer layer of skin was burned and peeled away. But they aren’t as prominent as you seem to think they are. The area over your left eye isn’t entirely hidden by your shades, but they do cover the majority of it. In fact, your shades are more noticeable than the scars themselves are. Your right eye is a little milky, but I can still see your green iris. But your scars aren’t hideous like you seem to think they are. Honest. At first, I was weary because they looked painful and I thought maybe you were in constant agony. I met you when they were still fresh wounds, you know. The color has since dulled and I’m glad to see that I can touch you without hurting you.”

She removed his shades and traced the scar on his left eye. He closed his right eye and leaned into her touch. She then traced the small scar on his right eyebrow, and then the one on the bridge of his nose. When she got to the one on his lip, he smiled and kissed her fingertips. He grabbed her hand, holding it against his cheek as he rubbed his face against her.

“Thank you. Thank you for being honest. All this time, I never asked anyone to describe them to me. I asked the guys if I looked alright and they said yes, but I assumed it was just to spare my feelings. I was terrified that you would be turned off by them when I met you, but you were drawn to me all the same.”

“You really have no idea just how attractive you are, do you?” Chandra laughed. “Seriously, I think people look at you because you’re so damn hot. That and you’re obviously blind, and yet you walk around and act like you can still see. You’re really amazing.”

Ignis grinned, his mood lifting. “People think I’m hot?”

Chandra playfully swatted him on the arm. “I wouldn’t make that up! Seriously, some of the other nurses saw you one day when you were picking me up. I had to finish up shift change when I heard them talking to each other about ‘that cute blind guy’ in the waiting room. They went on and on about how muscular you were and how hot you were. One of them must have seen you training with the guys before because she talked about how you looked when you flipped and moved in battle and she wondered how flexible you’d be in the bedroom. Then they had to speculate if you were single and if you’d want to see them better with your hands and that’s when I lost my temper and told them to back the fuck off because you were mine.”

“Really? Other women find me attractive?” He mused.

Chandra playfully smacked him again. “I tell you a story about other women objectifying you and being perverted and that’s the part that makes you happy? What about me? I’ve always found you attractive! Don’t I count?”

Ignis laughed and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Darling, I was just teasing. Of course you count. Honestly, I didn’t know I was all that desirable. I was always used to going out and watching women drool over Gladio.”

“Eh, I don’t see it,” Chandra shrugged. “I mean, he’s big and muscly and I guess his face doesn’t look bad, but he’s definitely not my type.”

“Oh, so what is your type then?” Ignis nuzzled his face into her neck.

Chandra could feel heat pooling in her middle from the close contact with one of her weak spots. “Oh, you know. Tall, lean and muscular, tawny hair, smooth voice, daemon hunter, good with daggers, adviser to the Lucian King, intelligent, sexy as all get out. I’m very particular about my men.”

Ignis began kissing her neck. “That was oddly specific. You must be impossible to please.”

“Oh I know. I am impossible,” she laughed but it was shaky, almost turning into a moan. “You want to know what else I told those nurses?”

“Hmm…what was that?”

“It was a bit vulgar of me.”

“I think I can forgive vulgarity.”

Chandra blushed. “After I told them you were mine, I started to walk away, but I couldn’t help but add something along the lines of ‘oh, he is a good fuck, but not like you’ll ever know’ and that was also the day I waltzed up to you and kissed you very heatedly just to further add insult to injury. I admit it was a poor comeback but I was so flustered and angry at the time. I guess I just got a bit possessive.”

Ignis stopped the kissing and leaned his forehead against hers. “That was a really naughty thing you said, Kitten. You think you have it so easy with me being in your bed every night, but I should make you beg for it.”

Chandra started to protest, but Ignis stood up and lifted her off the couch, throwing her over his shoulder. She squealed and he responded by smacking her ass.

“Be quiet, Kitten. Resist and it will only prolong your release that much longer.”

“You know, I think I’m already into this side of you. I like trying new things,” Chandra grinned.

“We’ll see soon, won’t we?” Ignis smirked as he carried her off to the bedroom.

He took her to the bed where he ripped off her clothes and edged her over and over until she couldn’t take any more. She begged for her release and when he finally granted it, she screamed his name as wave upon wave of pleasure pulsed through her body. He chased his release as well and the two of them laid in a tangled mess of blankets and sheets, completely spent.

Chandra chuckled. “Well, I guess I may just have to misbehave more often if this is the kind of punishment I’m going to receive.”

“You’re incredible,” Ignis laughed as he kissed her lips. If this was the kind of life he had to look forward to, then he definitely couldn’t wait to see what was next in his blissful forever.