#noa saving his girl

[rosemilo]

"NOAAAAAA"

[tinderbox210]

Fairytale AU (or the KOTPOTA/Tangled/Shrek mashup AU no one asked for)

Once upon a time, in a far away land, the Eagle Clan gets abducted by the evil Proximus Ceasar. To save his clan, the young ape Noa strikes a deal with Proximus and sets out on a journey with his tutor Raka to rescue a "magical" human princess to be Proximus' bride.

The bride-to-be turns out to be a girl named Mae with "magically" long hair and who's been entrapped in a remote high tower for years as one of few humans still able to speak. She agrees to leave with Noa, provided that he would take her to an old observatory for her to see the stars that she always dreamed of seeing. To escape from the beast guarding the tower, they cut of Mae's hair and flee on horses.

On the way back towards Proximus' camp, Noa and Mae grow reluctantly closer with them finding that they have more in common with each other than expected, and when the time comes to hand Mae over to Proximus, Noa can't bring himself to do it.

Together, Noa and Mae fight to save Noa's clan and gain Mae's freedom.

[ceruark]

the runecaster diaries, part 1.

❥ inspired by the apothecary diaries. [various! blue lock x fem! reader. royalty & magic au.] synopsis: after being kidnapped and sold to the palace, you find yourself serving as an attendant to general snuffy. you don't disclose your skills in the realm of runecasting— however, your secret comes out when you have to use your knowledge to save lord kaiser from an assassination attempt. wc: 8.2k disclaimer: this particular piece is meant to introduce the world/au. there is not explicit romance in this one, however, i still recommend you read it if you're interested! you may want to view the potential suitors before you commit to this story, though :> a/n: don't ask me how the magic works i'm literally making it up as i go

By some twist of misfortune, you find yourself in the position of servant girl in Emperor Noa’s grand palace. 

Well, it’s not like it was totally unexpected; you’d known the sudden passing of your mentor would leave you homeless and vulnerable. The elderly man had raised you as his own after your biological parents left you on the doorstep of his workshop. As such, you’d grown up around magic and he taught you everything he knew, turning you into an incredibly skilled runecaster. 

Had he lived longer, you likely would have taken over the workshop and his clientele. However, you didn’t have the practical experience needed to match your knowledge, and your father’s clientele turned you away in search of other runecasters once he passed. You couldn’t pay the landlord or tax collectors, and as a result, you lost the workshop and were forced to wander the streets.

So, all things considered, it should be unsurprising that a group of thugs ended up kidnapping you and selling you off to the palace— at the very least, you have guaranteed shelter and food, now. Certainly, your talents go far beyond that of a servant girl’s and you could be reassigned, but you’d sooner die than accept a promotion that will line the pockets of your shitty abductors.

Besides, your placement could be far worse. Currently, you are assigned to tend to General Snuffy’s estate within the Gold Pavilion, which is overseen by Lord Loki. Snuffy is one of the most intelligent strategists in Emperor Noa’s army, but to your delight and relief, he’s rather mild-mannered and incredibly pleasant to be around. He always thanks his servants for their hard work when he sees them in passing and treats them respectfully, which is already a lot more than can be said about most other high-ranking individuals that reside on palace grounds.

Furthermore, Lord Loki is also a polite and agreeable individual, also treating those within his section of the palace grounds with utmost kindness. He can be a bit arrogant at times, but it doesn’t apply to those serving beneath him and that’s what you’re concerned with, anyway. Besides— arrogance comes with the title of being one of the emperor’s potential heirs, and Loki is the one of the four heirs who has the greatest control over his pride. 

Emperor Noa had taken control over the land not by bloodright, but through power and admiration. At a very young age, he’d become a decorated war lord and genius general who outlived the previous emperor and his sons, and was unanimously recommended by both the emperor’s remaining council and the people to become the new ruler of the kingdom. Apparently, the man did not wish to have any children, for he did not believe the title of emperor was something that should be claimed through bloodright alone; thus, the four courts were created on the palace grounds, and Emperor Noa invited the kingdom’s most notable youth to try their hand at claiming a seat as one of four heirs, and ultimately fight for the right to become his only successor. 

The Gold Pavilion takes up the southern part of the palace grounds and, of course, is overseen by Lord Loki, a skilled knight who had rapidly ascended the ranks due to his wit and masterful interweaving of magic into his combat. He’d been recommended into the palace by Emperor Noa’s very own former teacher and had secured his place on the Gold Throne seemingly overnight with his amiability, tenacity, and talent.

The eastern palace grounds are home to the Opal Pavilion, overseen by Lord Luna. The eldest of the heirs by quite a few years, Lord Luna had actually served in the military with Emperor Noa for a time and is the only heir to have been permitted into the heir ranks on his own recommendation. Though his charm is not as genuine or convincing as Lord Loki’s, he is still outwardly kinder than the other two lords, and reserves his most scathing criticisms for his rivals rather than his subordinates or other palace hands that reside off of his grounds.

The Jade Pavilion occupies the western palace grounds and is overseen by the controversial Lord Itoshi. Itoshi Sae had been recommended by Emperor Ego— the ruler of an allied kingdom— to serve under Lord Luna as an apprentice, and he had excelled in that position enough in the mere span of a year to receive recommendation from one of Lord Luna’s own councilmen to become an heir himself. Emperor Noa’s acceptance of the recommendation had been met with an uproar, many a people discontent over the thought of a foreigner potentially seizing the throne one day, but the emperor swiftly shut down their complaints, claiming that an heir’s origin did not matter so long as they proved capable of bringing prosperity and glory to the kingdom. Lord Itoshi’s blatant arrogance and condescension certainly does him no favors in winning over public favor, but at the very least, his cold and detached demeanor make him far more tolerable than his more flamboyant, obnoxious counterpart in the northern part of the palace.

The northern palace grounds house the Cerulean Pavilion, overseen by the equally admired and loathed Michael Kaiser. The man possesses a reputation that precedes him, word of his massive ego that is justified by his ever-improving skills in magic, combat, and strategy reaching every ear on palace grounds and even extending well beyond it. He was rather notorious for switching between cold neutrality or cruel mockery when it came to his treatment of others, which is why you steered clear of the Cerulean Pavilion whenever you could help it. Though his recommendation is of unknown origins and his background is something his rivals try and fail to pry into time and again, he still somehow managed to secure his place on the Cerulean Throne and is the heir who receives the most personal training from Emperor Noa. 

“It’s all just formalities at this point,” General Lavinho had said one day as you served him beer during one of his impromptu visits to Snuffy. “We all know that the throne’s as good as Kaiser’s. Noel doesn’t even try to hide that the bastard is his favorite little pet.”

“Lord knows why,” Councilman Prince muttered under his breath, which Lavinho raised his glass to.

So, needless to say, you find yourself rather content with your place in the Gold Pavilion, experiencing each day with ease as you partake in pleasant chatter with your fellow palace hands and tend to the needs of a kind, aging general.

Today’s work finds you strolling into the central palace grounds. You watch as the pathway lined with marigolds slowly transforms into rows of deep red calla lilies, marking the end of the Gold Pavilion and the beginning of the Ruby Pavilion, residence to Emperor Noa himself. It’s not often that you leave the grounds of the Gold Pavilion, but today, you’re being sent to fetch some supplies for an upcoming training session being held by Lord Loki.

The runesmith of the palace has a small workshop set up by the southern entrance of the Ruby Pavilion, much to your convenience. You’ve met the elderly man a few times during one of his tune-ups on Snuffy’s equipment, and he was quite sweet, having the habit of sneaking the servants some pre-charged runes that could be used to make completing daily tasks easier. However, the man is always busy and can hardly ever be found within his own workshop.

Which is why when you enter the smithery, you’re met with his apprentice instead of the man himself. Charles Chevalier waves to you enthusiastically from behind the desk separating the lobby from the back of house where all the runes are stored. You’re quite familiar with him, as he also resides in the Gold Pavilion when he’s not working for the runecaster; he’s the only runecaster in all the pavilions that Lord Loki had seen fit to take under his wing and provide individual training to. You offer Charles a smile and curt nod as you stride up to the desk—then, you promptly startle when you realize who’s standing next to you.

The other apprentice, Benedict Grim, stands beside Charles at the counter, reviewing a rather lengthy list that the person beside you had handed to him. At your arrival, Alexis Ness turns to you and offers a polite smile, something uncanny that, prior to this encounter, you’ve only ever heard people say doesn’t quite sit right on his face. (Now, you can confirm such sentiments yourself.)

Alexis is the designated runecaster for the Cerulean Pavilion, in addition to being Lord Kaiser’s personal attendant. One of the highest-ranking runecasters at the most esteemed magic school in the kingdom, Lord Kaiser had scouted him and requested for him specifically to serve him during a diplomatic outing with Emperor Noa. The man takes his duty very seriously, and stops at nothing to ensure that Lord Kaiser is always as safe and comfortable as possible. 

You’ve heard of Alexis’s casting—it’s difficult not to, given that his spells incorporate elements that make it damn near impossible to invade the Cerulean Pavilion. The man somehow manages to masterfully weave herbal essences into his magic to further reinforce the barrier surrounding the Cerulean Pavilion; this additional factor of natural magic reads into an individual’s soul, meaning that those who enter the pavilion with ill intent will be affected by a poison or incapacitating spell of some kind. Nobody is quite sure what exactly Alexis uses to pull of such a thing, but its efficacy has certainly been confirmed; Lord Luna never officially commented on the fiasco and Emperor Noa never pushed him for one, but the Opal Pavilion soldiers who had turned up passed out from a mild poison just outside of the Cerulean Pavilion were enough to dissuade anyone else from attempting to infiltrate again. 

You can only speculate what kind of spells Alexis interweaves into typical protective runecasting to trigger such a result; you figure there must be a high concentration of finely-ground lily of the valley involved, since they can be used to read the purity of an individual’s soul when ingested. The opal soldiers who had turned up weren’t covered in any kind of powder, though, so he had somehow managed to integrate into the barrier’s very constitution so that it couldn’t be bypassed. Knowing for certain would mean investigating the barrier up close, and you’d sooner transfer to the Opal or Jade Pavilions than be caught acting suspicious near the Cerulean Pavilion, thank you very much.

However, your own preconceptions about the Cerulean Pavilion and its ruler aside, you do still deeply admire Alexis’s work, and you can’t quite help yourself from eavesdropping on his conversation with Grim while Charles disappears into the back to fetch the items from your own list.

“What does his royal highness need juniper for?” Grim asks, setting the list down. “You’ve never worked with that before. Those aren’t even in season right now.”

Alexis’s smile grows a little tighter. “We’re trying something new,” he answers vaguely. “I’ve determined that juniper is the only flower that will yield the desired effect.”

Grim lets out an exaggerated sigh and pushes himself away from the counter just as Charles returns from the back with a box full of runes and manuals. “So he’s paranoid again,” Grim mutters under his breath, which Alexis chooses not to respond to. “We might not have all of this, but I’ll see what I can do. Give me a minute.”

A comfortable silence falls over the room as Charles helps you sort the runes and other materials into smaller bags that will be easier to hand out during the lesson, and as Alexis awaits Grim’s return.

“I heard from Julian the other day that we’re gonna have visitors soon,” Charles says eagerly as you turn a rune over in your hand. It’s one used in more sophisticated protection spells—seems Lord Kaiser’s not the only paranoid one around here.

You raise a brow at Charles and spare a quick glance at Alexis, but he seems to be paying you two no mind. You know that Lord Loki doesn’t care if Charles is casual with him, but he could get in trouble for being so informal outside of the Gold Pavilion. “I would assume so,” you respond, placing the rune into the leather bag and pulling the drawstrings to close it. “Would it be so odd, with the Sunrise Festival right around the corner?”

The Sunrise Festival is an extravagant gala held every year that takes place over the course of three days. It’s a celebration of the anniversary of the day Emperor Noa slayed the corrupt king of the neighboring kingdom and brought an end to the years-long war that had plagued his own kingdom since he was a child. The nobility of all allied kingdoms were always in attendance, along with noteworthy merchants, generals, and courtesans.

“I’m talking about after the festival,” Charles says, pausing to wave a hand through the air animatedly. “Though, these visitors might be here for that, too. But, anyways, he said that Emperor Noa has agreed to let some of Emperor Ego’s own apprentices study here for a prolonged period of time.”

More egotistical young men vying for a throne of some sort? You can already feel a migraine coming on. “How lovely,” you say airily, but Charles picks up on your disdain immediately and starts laughing.

“It should be fun,” he says, eyes sparkling with mischief. “I hear that Mikage merchant’s son will be with them. Lord Itoshi’s younger brother, too.”

You sigh, and Grim’s return saves you from having to force some kind of positive comment on the presence of yet another Itoshi on palace grounds.

“I managed to find everything but adder’s tongue,” Grim announces as he places a bundle of flowers and a bag of runes on the counter. 

You furrow your brows. Adder’s tongue is an extremely common item used in medicinal casting, so it’s usually always on hand here. It’s scarce this time of year, but there should be at least a bit in storage. Alexis seems confused by this as well, for he asks, “How are you out of adder’s tongue?”

Charles and Grim share a look. The corners of Charles’s lips twist downward as Grim answers, “Our supply went missing a few nights ago. We’ve informed Emperor Noa, but the investigation is still ongoing.”

That just confuses you even more. Who in the world would need to steal adder’s tongue? If the injury is that bad, they should just go to the infirmary. As Grim continues to go over Alexis’s requested materials, you and Charles pack the bags into a larger box for easier transport. As you lift the box into your arms, Charles bids you a cheery farewell. 

The events of that day have faded into the back of your mind by the time the Sunrise Festival arrives.

You and every other attendant are running around the Gold Pavilion in a frenzy. It’s early morning during the first day of the festival, and you all have just a few hours to get the pavilion in top shape before guests start arriving. 

Your diligent work the past year and a half has caused you to be one of the few servants entrusted with the position of overseeing all the other attendants during the festival. Whenever you aren’t pointing in a direction and giving orders, you’re running around ensuring that not a single flower in the yard is out of place, and that the festivities being held in the Gold Pavilion have everything they need to run smoothly.

You’re giving some younger servant girls advice on how to mix ground up butterfly wings into some water so that the flowers appear shiny and dewy when you hear your name called somewhere behind you. You hand off the mortar and watering can to the eldest of the group, wiping your hands off on your skirts as you turn around.

You gasp, then immediately dip into a curtsy. “Lord Loki,” you greet, dipping your head. “How may I be of service?”

Loki gives you a smile that is equal parts warm and sorrowful. “My apologies for making you do this, but Snuffy and Charles both speak highly of you, so it’s something I feel I can entrust you with.” He reaches his arm up, extending out his hand between you two to reveal a velvet jewelry box. Based on its shape, you presume there’s a necklace inside. “Lord Kaiser had the jeweler on our grounds craft this for the lady he’s been courting. He, of course, had some last minute changes made to it overnight, and she’s meant to arrive today. Could you deliver this to the Cerulean Pavilion?”

You bite down on your lip to keep yourself from openly sneering at the thought of going to the Cerulean Pavilion. You’ve somehow managed to avoid it for damn near eighteen months now, and yet your first trip there would require you to approach Lord Kaiser himself. Great. 

You dip your head again, more to hide your grimace than to show respect. “Of course, my lord,” you say, carefully accepting the box into your hands. “I’ll see to it that it is delivered to Lord Kaiser safely.”

“My greatest thanks,” Loki says, offering you a genuine grin. You startle as he clasps an encouraging hand on your shoulder, which draws a small chuckle out of him. He holds your gaze just a moment longer before setting off to tend to other duties. You shake yourself out of your stupor, then begin the agonizing trek to the Cerulean Pavilion.

You’re dragged out of your misery and bitter mumbling once the pavilion actually comes into sight. It is nothing short of gorgeous, of course; Lord Kaiser wouldn’t accept living in a place any less maintained in beauty than he himself is. But the paths lined with blue roses and elaborate fountains of water aren’t what take your breath away—no, it’s the shimmering, pale blue curtain marking the border of the Opal and Cerulean Pavilions that catches your attention. Alexis has casted the protective barrier to appear almost like a thin veil of water, and when you put your arm through it, it feels like a gust of cool, refreshing air brushes over your skin. You marvel at it; it’s masterful, the way it’s not even apparent that he’s interwoven natural magic into the protective runes.

You sigh as you pass through the rest of the barrier, the full beauty of the Cerulean Pavilion hitting you. You don’t have the time to investigate further, no matter how curious you may be. You follow the main path—a road marked with intricate patterns composed of sapphires—to Lord Kaiser’s residence. As the extravagant villa comes into view, you notice a woman being escorted inside by Gesner, a high-ranking official in Lord Kaiser’s army.

It must be the lady Lord Loki mentioned, though she’s arrived far earlier than everyone else. From your distance, you can’t hear a word she’s saying, but you can see her just fine. A gorgeous pastel purple dress billows around her, the corset pulled tight to flatter her well. Her hair is pulled up into a braided bun, and a few buds of baby’s breath and white cherry blossoms have been delicately tucked behind her ear. 

Lady Petra, you think as you take in her sharp green eyes and pale blonde hair. She’s the eldest daughter of one of the wealthiest merchants in the kingdom. She had resided in the palace for a time before you arrived, when her brother was one of the many young men competing for the Cerulean Throne. Apparently, she had charmed many men while she resided on palace grounds, and her father hadn’t been too upset by his son losing the throne to Kaiser because he figured he could marry Petra off to someone of status. It seemed to be working out well for him.

You reach the villa’s back entrance long after Lady Petra and Gesner disappear inside of it, so you should be able to steer clear of her when getting the necklace to either Lord Kaiser or Gesner—whichever she’s not with at the moment. You rap gently on the door, and the servant that answers the door lights up at the sight of the box in your hands.

“Oh, good, good!” She cheers, ushering you inside. You squint as the incomprehensible amount of marble inside practically blinds you. The whole floor is made of it. “You’re just in time! Come here, quickly.”

You trail after her, marveling at the intricacy of the villa’s interior. Everything within it is grand, from the perfectly polished floors to the elaborate paintings on the walls and spotless pieces of furniture carefully positioned in each room. You can’t even complain that it’s too much, because everything is so meticulously placed and considered that, somehow, nothing clashes.

The woman stops suddenly, nudging you slightly backward and making a shushing motion. You peek around her shoulder and catch sight of Lady Petra sitting in what seems to be a sunroom. There’s an entrance on the other side of the room, where Gesner is speaking in a hushed tone to someone who you can’t see—they’re blocked by the door frame of the entrance the other servant has nudged you away from.

In the center of the floral-patterned couch, Lady Petra’s attendant makes a few last minute adjustments to her hair. She slides one more pin into place to further secure the braid in place. Up close, you now see that on the ear opposite of the one decorated with baby’s breath and white cherry blossoms sits more baby’s breath, with some adder’s tongue weaved into it. The sight of it nags at something in the back of your mind, but you dismiss it as the necklace around her neck catches your attention instead. It’s a simple, delicate thing, a thin golden chain with a garnet carved into a teardrop shape. 

Lady Petra reaches up and runs her hand along the chain. The garnet, impossibly, flickers weakly, a gleaming light pulsing for just a moment before going dormant again.

Your heart plummets into the ground.

It’s no garnet—it’s an illusory rune, one typically used to bypass barriers and the like. Normally, such a thing on its own wouldn’t be able to get through the intricate barrier Alexis has surrounding the pavilion, but it’s been crafted into something that can be on Petra’s person, meaning that can interact with other essences also on her person. Baby’s breath, which in natural magic, represents innocence and purity, along with white cherry blossoms and adder’s tongue, which both signify deception. When combined with an illusory rune, the cherry blossoms and adder’s tongue would work together to mask the true nature of Petra’s soul, utilizing the essence of the baby’s breath to replace her true intentions with the guise of innocence.

Of course, this incorporation of natural magic could combat the pavilion’s elaborate barrier, but that begs the question: how does Lady Petra know the specifics of Alexis’s barrier and how he casted it?

The servant lady clasps a hand around your elbow and drags you away from the room. Your heart races, panic surging through you.

“Come now,” she whispers, “we’ll catch up with Lieutenant Gesner on the other side, and he’ll hand it off to Lord Kaiser when he has a moment away from Lady Petra.”

If that moment ever comes, you think to yourself. The flowers could be chalked up to a coincidence, but when combined with the presence of an illusory rune? Certainly not. Lady Petra had come in here with the intent to bring harm to the Cerulean Pavilion, and needed a way to bypass the barrier that would pick up on it.

“I wasn’t aware Lieutenant Gesner was tending to Lord Kaiser today,” you say. Luckily, the servant lady doesn’t know you well, so she doesn’t pick up on the tremor in your voice. “I figured Knight Alexis would still be in charge of his well being for the festival.” No, seriously, where the hell is that guy? There’s an intruder actively in the pavilion!

“Oh, Knight Alexis is busy with preparations elsewhere.” She waves it off, as if there’s not a massive threat sunbathing with her lord as she speaks. “He reinforced the barrier just a few days ago to ensure that Lord Kaiser would be fine without him at his side.”

You practically choke on your own blood at that. You’re pretty sure that after this, Alexis isn’t going to let Lord Kaiser leave his line of sight ever again.

You round the corner, coming up to the other entrance of the sunroom. Gesner is just about to shut the door completely when he spots the box in your hands. Distracted, he lets go of the doorknob and crosses the rest of the distance to you and the servant lady. The door is still halfway open, and you can see Lord Kaiser sitting beside Lady Petra, facing the door. He’s focused on her, though, exuding nothing but charisma. It’s so abhorrently feigned, but you can’t bring yourself to be disgusted in your state of panic.

“This is it, then?” Gesner says, gesturing to the box in your hands. You open it, but you can’t even take in whatever intricate piece Lord Kaiser has commissioned, because you refuse to take your eyes off the threat sitting beside him. It must be impressive, though, because Gesner lets out a low whistle at the sight of it. “Well, looks like those changes paid off. Hopefully it’s at least a little satisfactory for him.”

You watch as Lord Kaiser turns around, beckoning to a servant on standby. The young boy walks over, and nods at whatever Kaiser whispers to him before heading toward the other entrance. During this exchange, Lady Petra produces a tiny cloth bag from her purse.

“So long as the lady likes it, things will be just fine,” the servant lady responds.

Whatever he requested must be a quick task, for Lord Kaiser doesn’t turn around, waiting for the servant boy to return. Petra spares a quick glance at him before opening the bag and pouring a powdery substance into his glass of wine sitting on the table.

“Of course she will,” Gesner says, but you hardly hear it over the blood rushing in your ears. “He’s far more of a diva than her.”

The boy returns with a slice of bienenstich and places it down on the table in front of Lady Petra, bowing as he does so before retreating to his corner of the room. The woman tilts her head and instead reaches for her own glass of wine, raising it in cheers. Lord Kaiser picks up his own, raising it as well.

The servant lady cries out and Gesner grunts as you barrel past him, flinging yourself forward as quickly as possible. By the time you’ve thrown the door open and crossed the distance from the entrance to the couch, the commotion has caused Kaiser and Petra to both stare at you, the latter in bewilderment and the former in irritation.

Before either one can say anything, you smack the wine glass out of Lord Kaiser’s hands. Petra shrieks as the glass shatters against the floor, the wine spilling all over the white marble floor. Kaiser’s face contorts with cold fury, but you’re already whirling on Lady Petra by the time he’s getting to his feet.

You seize her by the shoulders, grip iron. Petra pales as she stares up at you, both of you knowing exactly why you barged inside. “Did you really think you’d get away with something like this?” You hiss lowly, “Emperor Noa will have your head when he hears about your little scheme.”

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Kaiser yells behind you, oblivious to what you’ve already put together. Not that you can blame him—even with all his skill, this kind of scheme could only be planned and identified by individuals who have devoted all their studies into magic.

A firm hand comes down on your shoulder, and you grit your teeth from the pain that shoots up your arm. Knowing what’s about to happen, you shoot a hand out and latch onto Petra’s necklace, grabbing onto it just as Kaiser pulls you roughly away from her.

The clasp of the necklace snaps, the rune clatters to the floor, and Alexis’s magic takes hold of her immediately. Petra sucks in a sharp breath before collapsing to her knees, her skin going from white to a pale blue, likely a part of the spell meant to visually mark her as a threat. Her hands come up to her neck as she begins coughing violently. Slow asphyxiation, you think to yourself. It seems Alexis had made the effects of the spell akin to that of an allergic reaction.

“Oh,” you say smartly, watching Petra writhe around on the ground, the poisoned wine staining her skirts. “So that’s what he needed the juniper for.”

Kaiser turns to you. The fury is gone, and so is the faux charm from earlier—in fact, there’s absolutely nothing, just an eerily blank expression as he considers you with guarded eyes. “You knew she came here to hurt me?”

“I saw her poison your drink,” you answer, gesturing toward the entrance you came from. “The door was open while I was handing the necklace you commissioned off to Gesner.” It’s not the full truth, but it would have to do.

“You also knew that removing her necklace would harm her.” He looks down at the piece of jewelry, before looking back at you. His gaze is sharper now, sending a chill down your spine and pinning you in place. “How did you know that was a rune, and that it was shielding her from Alexis’s spell?”

Damn it. Of course he would be able to piece together that much.

You open and close your mouth pathetically a few times. Before you can scrape together an acceptable answer, though, a loud cry of rage comes from somewhere beneath you.

You turn just as Petra uses the last of her strength to launch herself at you, slamming into you and tackling you to the ground. Your head smacks against the floor with a sickening crack, and the world around you goes black.

“You don’t have to do this now, you know.”

You sigh heavily. It’s been just about two days since the start of the Sunrise Festival, but all festivities were brought to a grinding halt after Lady Petra’s assassination attempt on Lord Kaiser. When you first awoke, you were informed that Emperor Noa was calling for an emergency full court meeting with you as soon as possible, but understood if you needed time to get over your concussion.

You still feel a bit nauseous, but you’ve heard the other servants talking about how unbearable Lord Kaiser has been since the incident, and how antsy even the other heirs seem to be.

You smile tiredly, but gratefully at Snuffy. “Thank you, sir, but the sooner we get this done, the better.”

He returns your smile, his a bit pitiful. “If you’re sure,” he says, turning back to the doors before the two of you.

You’re standing just outside the entrance of the Gold Pavilion’s strategy room, the only room in the entire pavilion large and elaborate enough to host the Emperor and all his heirs. When Lord Loki visited you this morning, you told him you felt well enough to have the meeting this afternoon—a decision you were now regretting.

Snuffy nods at the soldiers guarding the doors, and they nod back at him before pushing them open.

Immediately, all eyes snap to you, and you feel your lungs get crushed under the pressure of the stares of the most important people in the kingdom.

Likely out of desperation for familiarity, your eyes find Lord Loki’s first. He seems tense, but he still offers you a polite, encouraging smile. Standing behind him is Charles, whose cheery wave feels severely out of place in the suffocating atmosphere of the room.

Sitting next Lord Loki is Lord Kaiser, whose gaze is still as piercing as it was before Petra tried to do you in. He rests his head against his hand, arm propped against the chair’s armrest. Every part of his face is tight, and he looks far more displeased and agitated than you’ve ever seen him be in your time at the palace. Beside him, Knight Alexis stands with his hands clasped behind his back and wears his usual polite smile, but he watches you with a sharp, critical eye.

On the other side of the room is Lord Itoshi, whose face is as blank as ever. He doesn’t seem disinterested, though, which you suppose is because his safety is concerned; an attempt was made at another heir’s life, and there was no saying that whoever planned it wouldn’t go after the others as well. Behind him stood Shidou Ryusei, a warrior from Lord Itoshi’s home who had been brought over to serve him when he claimed the Jade Throne. A smirk spreads across his lips when you lock eyes with him, so you quickly look away and to the left of him.

Lord Luna sits in the chair beside his former apprentice, his polite grin visibly feigned in comparison to Loki’s. It almost borders on a sneer when you meet his gaze, and you feel yourself shrink back slightly. Behind him, Knight Cavasoz gives you a bored look.

Sitting directly across from where you stand, in the plush chair that is usually occupied by Lord Loki, is Emperor Noa himself. His stare is heavy and keen on your shoulders, but not necessarily unkind or untrusting like some of the others.

You suck in a steadying breath, and turn to each person once more as you address them. “Lord Loki. Lord Kaiser. Lord Luna. Lord Itoshi. Emperor Noa.” You bow deeply, folding over completely at the waist. “I apologize for making you wait to have this meeting.”

“Your recovery is of great importance to the Gold Pavilion,” Noa answers. “Rise. We have already collected Kaiser’s account of Lady Petra’s attempt on his life, but there are still missing details that only you can answer for us.”

As you straighten up, Snuffy comes to stand by your side, a steadying presence under all the pressure. 

“Let’s start from the beginning,” Lord Loki says, taking charge of the investigation before any of his less merciful peers can. “Why were you at the Cerulean Pavilion?”

“I was there on business assigned to me by you, my lord,” you answer. “I was asked to deliver the necklace Lord Kaiser commissioned from the Gold Pavilion’s jeweler. According to you, it was meant for Lady Petra, who was arriving that day, and needed to be delivered as soon as possible.”

“And while you were delivering the necklace, what prompted you to rush into the sunroom where Lord Kaiser and Lady Petra were speaking?”

“While handing off the necklace to Lieutenant Gesner, I noticed that he had left the door to the sunroom partially open. When I looked up and inside the room, I saw Lady Petra pouring something from a small bag into Lord Kaiser’s glass of wine.”

“Lord Kaiser did not notice this?”

“His back was turned. He was awaiting the return of a young servant boy, who brought back a dessert.”

“One that Lord Kaiser informed us was requested by Lady Petra. Do you believe this was purposeful?”

“Given that she would need him to be looking away while she poured the poison into his drink, I would say yes, the request was intentional.”

“And once you noticed his drink had been poisoned, why didn’t you say anything?”

“Everything was happening too fast. I saw him lifting the glass, and panicked. By the time I informed Gesner or the servant lady of the situation, he would have already ingested the poison.”

“Then, you took it upon yourself to save him?”

“Yes. I knocked the glass out of his hands so that the wine could not be consumed. Then, I launched myself at Lady Petra, intending to apprehend her.”

“Why did you go for her necklace?”

You turn to Kaiser, who interrupted Loki with a question of his own. “I’m sorry?”

He bristles—you both know you’re being evasive. “When I grabbed you, you grabbed onto her necklace.” He tilts his head to the side, tone accusatory. “You knew it would snap when I pulled you off her. You knew it would allow Alexis’s magic to affect her, which is how you intended to apprehend her. How did you know that?”

“I didn’t know that would happen,” you deflect. “I was going for her neck, but you pulled me back too fast.”

Kaiser’s eyes narrow. “Don't waste my time pretending you didn’t realize what would happen. You even made a comment that the reaction was caused by the juniper Alexis picked up from the runesmith.”

Good grief. Nothing gets past him, does it?

Before you can answer, Noa produces a golden chain from his coat pocket, then places what you recognize to be Petra’s necklace down on the table.

“Kaiser told us that you were able to recognize this as a rune, which Alexis later identified as an illusory rune.” Noa turns his attention to Loki. “Loki, is this subordinate well versed in runecasting?”

Loki spares you a glance, before looking at Snuffy. “Not to my knowledge, but General Snuffy would know better than me.”

Noa turns to Snuffy, who sighs. “She has always been more competent than other attendants at utilizing runes for menial tasks, but besides that, I do not believe so. She did not report having any knowledge or skills in runecasting when she was brought into the Gold Pavilion.”

“So she lied, then,” Luna says, eyeing you with disdain.

Noa holds up a hand, silencing him before he can make any more accusations. He turns back to you, expression terse. “Let me be clear with you. You may have saved Kaiser’s life, but because you continue to deny your knowledge of runecasting, you are being marked as suspicious. Even if you had nothing to do with this assassination attempt, we may have to imprison you, as your motives for this secrecy are unclear.”

Seriously? I saved the most abhorrent heir in this damn palace, and you think I have bad intentions? You sigh, shoulders slumping forward as you exhale. “Then I will answer any questions you have for me, Your Excellency.”

Noa nods, then asks, “Why didn’t you report your prior experience with runecasting when you came to the palace?”

“I was brought here by kidnappers, and I would rather not do anything that gives them a bigger payday. Being a palace runecaster would do just that.”

“Where did you study?”

“I studied under the runecaster of a small village in the south,” you say, expression growing distant. “He took me in when I was quite young and raised me as his apprentice.”

“And where is this runecaster now?”

You avert your gaze to the floor. “Six feet under. After he died, I had no place to go, so I wandered. It’s how my abductors managed to get me. I stayed here because it guarantees me food and shelter.”

“I see.” Noa ponders this for a moment, then continues. “Is there anything else you can tell us about the assassination attempt, based on your experience and knowledge?”

You bite down on your lip, then fess up the whole truth. “Before the servant lady took me to meet with Lieutenant Gesner, I had noticed Lady Petra sitting on the couch with her attendant. Lord Kaiser had not entered the sunroom yet. The attendant was fixing her hair, so naturally, my eyes were drawn to the flowers tucked into her hair and adorning her ears: white cherry blossoms, baby’s breath, and adder’s tongue. Nothing noteworthy on their own, but then I saw the necklace around her neck.”

You gesture to said piece of jewelry laid out on the table. “At first, I thought it was just a garnet, but then she reached up to touch it. It glowed for just a moment, but it was enough for me to realize it was a rune. Based on the color, I identified it as an illusory rune, and from there, the presence of the flowers made more sense. Word gets around about how the Cerulean Pavilion barrier is able to recognize an individual’s intentions, and the essence of white cherry blossoms and adder’s tongue, when combined with the rune, could effectively hide the true intentions of whoever has them on their person. Factor in the baby’s breath, and their intentions are made out to be pure and innocent. It’s a clever scheme, objectively speaking.”

As Noa mulls this over, Loki asks, “How would someone figure out that this would work? Infiltration of the Cerulean Pavilion has failed in the past.”

“The individual would have to know that the barrier is imbued with natural magic,” you answer. “The barrier failed when Knight Alexis first started experimenting with it, and people weren’t aware. Furthermore, they would have to know exactly what flowers are being used in the casting in order to figure out how to counteract it.”

From the other side of the room, Sae hums, then says, “It’s as we expected, then. She had someone on the inside help her.”

Luna raised an eyebrow. “Someone from the Cerulean Pavilion?”

“Not necessarily,” you say. “As I mentioned, most everyone knows that Knight Alexis imbues the barrier with natural magic, even if they don’t know the specifics. If we leave it at that, it could be anybody within the palace walls. However, given that this individual knew exactly what plants to use to circumvent it, I would say they are very familiar with the inner workings of the barrier and the casting behind it, which within the Cerulean Pavilion itself, would just be Knight Alexis and Lord Kaiser.”

You turn to Charles. “You and Grim said that the palace runecaster’s supply of adder’s tongue went missing a few days before the Sunrise Festival.” Next, you look to Noa. “I understand that Lady Petra hails from the same region you grew up in, Your Excellency. Is adder’s tongue plentiful there this time of year?”

“It is not,” Noa confirms your suspicions. “In fact, it doesn’t grow there at all.”

“Then I would say whoever helped Lady Petra pull this off is either an apprentice or palace hand serving the runecaster,” you conclude. “They know every material Knight Alexis uses for casting the barrier, and they would be able to supply Lady Petra with everything she needed to bypass it.”

“Only high-ranking apprentices and attendants have been allowed to assist Alexis,” Kaiser says, shooting an accusatory glare at Charles.

Loki tilts his head back, meeting Kaiser’s gaze head-on and blocking Charles from his view. “Rest assured, a proper investigation will be conducted at once. Am I correct, Your Excellency?”

“We will start looking into it immediately,” Noa agrees. “Until then, no action is to be taken against any apprentice or attendant, but they will all be placed under supervision until proven innocent.”

Then, the emperor turns back to you. “That only leaves the matter of what to do with you, then.”

You feel your heart skip a beat. “I— I’m afraid I don’t understand, Your Excellency.”

“You’re far too knowledgeable to just let you be Snuffy’s attendant.” Luna scoffs. “It would be wasted talent.”

“He’s right,” Noa says. “I assure you that any earnings you make will now be paid to you in full, and I will have the ones who turned you over to the palace detained. However, I would like to make you a palace runecaster, effective immediately.”

“Pardon me, Your Excellency,” Loki interjects, “but the Gold Pavilion already has a runecaster in training, as do all the other pavilions. Where will she be assigned?”

“She won’t be assigned anywhere. She will be at the ready for any pavilion that may need extra assistance in the realm of casting.”

Kaiser scoffs. “Only a pavilion with an incompetent caster would need help from an outsider.”

Sae side-eyes him. “We’re here because someone bypassed your caster’s barrier and the outsider is the only one who noticed.”

The blonde scowls in response, and behind him, Alexis bristles.

“That’s enough.” The emperor turns back to you, his features smoothing out ever so slightly. “If you wish to continue residing within the Gold Pavilion, that’s fine. But if you are going to continue serving us here at the palace, I would like for you to put your skills and talents to use.”

Uncertain, your gaze slides over to Loki. He gives you a firm nod, and the anxiousness in your heart settles a bit.

“Thank you, Your Excellency.” You bow deeply again. “I am very grateful for this opportunity, and will not disappoint you.”

“I look forward to seeing the results of your work.” He takes a look around the room, then nods. “That concludes this part of the investigation. We will continue to interrogate Lady Petra and investigate the palace runecaster and those in his service. Until then, you are dismissed.”

You stay in your bowed position until Emperor Noa and his attendants pass by you, and you hear the sound of the doors opening. As you straighten up, Snuffy places a gentle hand on your shoulder.

“Good job hanging in there,” he says, giving you a reassuring smile. “I’m sure you’ll make a fine caster.”

“Let’s hope so,” Luna says as he passes you two on his way out. “We don’t want another incident like this happening. At least, not to the Opal Pavilion.”

You and Snuffy frown at his words, but neither of you deign to comment as he leaves. Sae trails out a few feet behind him, both he and his personal attendant sparing you one last glance as they exit.

You’re just starting to relax, the tension slowly leaving your shoulders when Knight Alexis walks up to you, prompting you to snap ramrod straight again. He tilts his head at you, that eerie smile looking even more forced than usual.

“You have my sincerest thanks for saving my lord in my stead,” he says, dipping his head in a short bow. “You’re very skilled. I look forward to working with you in the future.”

“Ah, thank you,” you mumble, flustered. “I look forward to working with you, too.”

His smile appears more genuine as he bids you farewell, his eyes crinkling shut as he grins at you. You have roughly half a second to revel in it before Kaiser enters your line of vision and swiftly tramples over your easing nerves. His gaze is cold and likely meant to intimidate, and his face is tight with a sneer that doesn’t surface fully, for whatever reason.

You blink up at him, unamused. Honestly, would it kill him to be at least cordial with the person who saved his life?

Keeping your face as neutral as possible and your tone dry, you say, “Glad to see you’re safe and doing well, Lord Kaiser.”

Charles snorts from the corner of the room, which is swiftly followed by Loki shushing him. Kaiser’s face twitches, and the sneer overtakes his face as he glares down at you. You smile up at him, pleasant if not for the smug sparkle in your eye. 

Kaiser mutters something under his breath before turning and walking briskly out of the room. Alexis trails out after him, offering you an apologetic smile before he goes.

With only familiar faces left in the room, you sigh heavily, allowing yourself to slump against the wall behind you. Loki and Charles walk up to you, the former appearing a bit weary but still approaching you with kindness nonetheless.

“I’m glad things went fine for the most part.” His smile falters a bit as he asks, “Will you be leaving the Gold Pavilion? If you’re to be of service to everyone, the Ruby Pavilion would be the ideal location for you.”

You can’t think of anything you’d like less than living under the critical eye of Emperor Noa. (That’s a lie, actually—you’d probably take that over the Cerulean Pavilion.) “If it’s alright with you,” you begin, “I’d like to stay in the Gold Pavilion as long as I’m permitted to.”

Loki’s smile softens around the edges. “Of course,” he answers, “we’d be happy to have you. If you’re willing, I’d like it if you could also start administering lessons to Charles.”

You look at the blonde, whose pointy canines are on full display with how wide his smile is. You laugh, and nod. “I’d definitely be willing to do that.”

Charles cheers loudly and latches onto your arm. “I can’t wait!” His eyes glimmer with mischief. “Things are about to get really interesting around here.”

You sigh to yourself. A new position necessitating you to be at the beck and call of all of Noa’s heirs, not to mention the ones that would be visiting in the near future. Interesting would be putting it lightly.

But you would be a mere runecaster, expected to cast your spells and nothing more. Certainly, things wouldn’t get too chaotic where the heirs were concerned, right?

[cursedvida]

The fact that they wanted us to see Noa forced to choose between saving Soona’s life or betraying Mae, and he DOES NOT CHOOSE is telling. Like, the movie hints at a potential love triangle (if they’d dare do it) and that moment does more than hint, it hits you in the face with it.

This is something I've debated a lot around here, and it's something that, for me, has a pretty clear meaning. Many people say that Noa can't choose because he has hero-like characteristics, and heroes have an ethic by which no one is expendable, so he hesitates between the two. But then I wonder (and many others do too): Why choose Soona, whom they try to present as his supposed love interest, and not choose Anaya or his mother? Why juxtapose in a life or death choice two female characters with whom he's supposed to have a connection? They could exemplify Noa's ethical dilemma with more characters, but they choose precisely the one who's supposedly his crush. To me, it seems quite intentional narratively and not at all casual because, in the end, it's like, whom do you choose? The one who's supposed to be your sweetheart, or this girl you just met but have been intensely looking at throughout the movie?

There are things that don't make much sense if there isn't something underlying in the relationship between Mae and him. One is the decision scene, and the other is the scene where Mae asks him if he likes Soona. Like, why include that scene? Why would Mae care, especially in that context, whether Noa likes Soona or not? Why would someone like Mae be interested in someone's love interest whom she's supposedly using at such a critical moment? It's totally out of character but still there.

I don't know, if these things don't imply anything, it seems like textbook lazy writing to me.

[milaisreading]

Crossdresser!Yn AU:

Loki: Sooo...

CD!Yn, while looking at a game: What?

Loki, putting an arm around her shoulder: Isn't it fun how we get along so well? We should go and eat dinner when this is over-

Noa, entering the room: You think that?

Loki, jumping away when he hears Noa's voice: Mister Noa, sir! I was just keeping an eye on your adopted son, who I otherwise don't know!

Noa, eyeing Loki suspiciously: Really?

Loki: Y-yeah!

CD!Yn:..

CD!Yn: Adopted what?

------

CD!Yn, while eating past: You were right! It tastes much better with the original tomato sauce than the store bought one!

Lorenzo, smiling proudly: I know it does! We should definitely meet up a lot more often and try the different recipes I- Oh, we can make dates out of it!

CD!Yn, nodding along: Sounds good-

Snuffy: What are you kids doing?

Lorenzo: Nothing much

CD!Yn: Lorenzo and I are planning dates.

Lorenzo, noticing Snuffy's lips twitch: Are you alright?

Snuffy: Of course! I will join you guys on these dates as well. Is that alright?

CD!Yn: Fine with me. And you, Lorenzo?

Lorenzo, looks at Snuffy's warning glare:...

Lorenzo: ...Sure...

----

Chris: What a nice day-

Charles: Come on!! Please! Just one!!

CD!Yn: I don't know... I think you should save that for your partner-

Chris, while eavesdropping: Huh?

Charles: But I want you! Please! I even brushed my teeth for this!

CD!Yn: The way you said it makes it sound like you usually don't brush them-

Charles: Please just one kiss! Please!

Chris:?!

CD!Yn: Fine-

Chris, slamming the door open: Kids, let's go and practice!!

Charles, grumbling: You are not one of our coaches!

Chris: True, that's why I will bring you back to Loki and you, Yn to Noa! Far away from each other.

Charles: What?! No!

CD!Yn, oblivious: Ok

-----

Lavinho: Otoya. No.

Otoya: Come on! Yn and I always cuddled while we slept!

Lavinho, while pointing at the sleeping girl: Shush. No, you will not cuddle him while I am around.

Otoya: You act like I can't be trusted

Lavinho: Nothing personal, kid. I don't trust any of you around Yn. Now, be quiet. The poor boy is all tired from his previous game

Otoya: Fine... Can I at least kiss him when he wakes up?

Lavinho:???

Lavinho: No. Leave him alone.

Tag:

@someprettyname

[satrs]

Look at me, look at me,

you lookin'?

ᥲ/ᥒ ꜝꜝ ✎ I wanted to thank you for 1.025 followers! It really means the world to me and I am shocked and so happy of how far and big this blog has gotten in just a couple months. Thanks to every single one of you, I love you all!!! Bigggg big BIG hugs and smooches to all of you MWAH MWAH!!!

ꜱʏɴᴏᴘꜱɪꜱ; friends with benefits trope with them.

ꜰᴇᴀᴛᴜʀɪɴɢ; various Blue lock men/jjk men x fem!reader

TAGS; NSFW CONTENT! MDNI. unprotected intercourse. fingering. nicknames(pretty, princess, pretty girl, baby). size kink(?). mating press. doggy. oral(fem!receiving). dirty talk.

ALL CHARACTERS ARE 18+[proplayers]!

TRUE FRIENDS

when two preexisting friends decide to start having sex.

It was a give and take between you both, as true friends would. One hand washes the other, right?

"So fucking tight." His grunts and your moans filled the room beside the slapping of naked skin. Your moans turned higher in volume as the pistoning of his hips increased, your legs sore from being folded in half for what seemed to be an eternity.

"You feel that?" His hand pushed down onto the pit of your stomach, pornographic mewl rushing past your lips at the pressure, his tip kissing your cervix "Right in your tummy. Feels good?" Your frantic nod caused the man's heart to swell with pride.

"That's what friends are for."

ISAGI. Loki. KUNIGAMI. Ness. Snuffy. Ur fav

Suguru. Yuji. TODO. Inumaki. Ur fav

NETWORK OPPORTUNISM

when two people agree to serve as “backups” for each other in situations where neither of them can find another partner for the evening.

"That asshole couldn't give it to you anyway." Your moans got muffled by the pillow your head was buried in, ass in the air as his hips moved in sync to yours, hand harshly ripping the flesh of your back, red handprint on your rear. "But that's alright," His movements showed no sign of stopping, motioning you to hold the headboard for stability. "Best friend ‘s here to save your day."

The movements of his hips increased, curses falling from his lips. "There’s nothing better than this." His hand wrapped around the back of your neck, pulling you up against his chest, his breath tickling your neck. "What do you say, princess?"

A strangled mewl left your lips at the new angle, feeling him impossibly deeper in you, mind feeling hazy. "Y-yes!" You felt his chuckle against your neck, goosebumps visible on your skin.

"That's right."

OLIVER. SAE. Bachira. Nagi. Otoya. Ur fav

SATORU. Shiu. Hiromi. Hakari. Ur fav

SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION IN

when someone intentionally uses a FWB as a stepping-stone into a romantic relationship.

Your hands tangled into his hair as his head buried between your thighs, his hands on either side of them, holding you firmly in place. "Can't get enough of this perfect pussy." He looked up at you, mouth and chin glistening in your juices, cheeky grin on his lips.

His fingers slide through your folds, his breathing ghosting over your aching heat. "So pretty. All mine, my pretty girl." His mouth was back on your cunt, sloppily making out with your lips, whining into your pussy, hips subconsciously buckling against the sheets.

Your thighs locked around his head as you felt your orgasm washing over you, your angelic moans still reaching his covered ears, and he swore, he felt like he was in heaven.

His first step did indeed lead him to cloud nine.

Noa. RIN. BAROU. Chigiri. Sendo. Ur fav

Yuuta. CHOSO. MEGUMI. Nanami. Ur fav

TRANSITION OUT

when romantic partners decide to maintain a sexual relationship after a breakup.

"Pussy s' made for me." You bit your lip as his fingers deliciously curled up inside of you, teasingly caressing your g-spot. Your breathing turned erratic as his wrist speed up, leaning to your ear, his hot breath tickled your neck. "Still as good as in the good. Old. Days." With each word that rolled from his tongue, he accompanied sharp thrusts of his fingers.

"How about we try it again, hm?" Your eyebrows furrowed while sinful sounds escaped your lips, a chuckle erupting from his throat. "I'm just playing." His thumb attached to your sensitive bud, causing you to see stars, nearing your release. His head hung in your neck, attacking it with his lips, sucking marks onto it.

You let a mewl escape you at that, the familiar but also uncanny feeling of his lips against your tender skin bringing you closer to the edge.

"Can't hide this from your new plaything, you know that, right?"

KAISER. SHIDOU. Karasu. Chris. Ur fav

TOJI. Mahito. Sukuna. Naoya. Ur fav

©︎𝐊-𝐀𝐙𝐔𝐒. all rights reserved. Do NOT plagiarize, copy, modify, republish, or translate my work in any way!

[brucoenthusiast]

NoMae Server coming to the conclusion that if the writers wanted us to believe Noa and Mae's relationship was platonic, Proximus would've held Anaya at knife point, NOT Soona the apparent love interest. Noa couldn’t decide to save his girlfriend or the girl he just met?? I ain’t buying it. There’s something deeper to him, even if he’s too scared to pursue it because of their differences.

[harry-styles-obsessed]

Don’t you call him baby

Request: hi! I’ve been obsessed with the song ‘cherry’ lately and was wondering whether you could write something about it? I’m so hyper fixed on it and AH I just need something smutty and angsty if possible? Thank you!!

A/n: I haven’t mentioned it but I went for a job interview… and… I got the job!!! Hooray!!

©️ please do not copy or translate my work.

Minors please do not interact! 18+ only. Thank you.

Warnings: smut, exes, toxicity, mention of arguments, angst… jealous Harry. Protective Harry. Dominant Harry. Degrading/ praise. Cheating kinda? Rough… as well. Very sexual scenes. (Make up sex pretty much) if this isn’t your thing/ it makes you uncomfortable please scroll past. But if you read and are easily effected by some strong/ tense scenes please read at your own discretion. Much love, A. x

Harry styles x fem! Reader

Inspirations from cherry:

don’t you call him baby

did you know I still talk to them?

—

“How is she?” His voice cut through the silence, Harry had decided to meet up with one of your closest friends. It took a lot to convince her but she eventually gave in to his constant requests of knowing how you were doing. Noa sat opposite Harry her chin resting on her knuckles as she gazed at him “harry I know you care about her… but y/n wants to move on. It’s time to move on.” She spoke calmly and sensibly. She never got involved between drama or toxic relationships but you had been constantly stressing over the fact that Harry was so bluntly concerned about you. You hated it. In fact you despised him and wished he would go and find a new girl to date… but Harry didn’t want that. He didn’t want a new girl. He wanted you. “I know, Noa.” He muttered to her his hands rubbing against each other slightly before he sighed “is she okay though? In herself? I haven’t seen her in a while…”

Noa stared at the man, deciding to give him the benefit of the doubt and believe he only wanted the best for you. “She’s okay.” She nodded her head smiling, “she’s happier.” Those words tore him apart, selfishly so, you were happier without him? That alone was difficult to comprehend yet he forced a smile “that’s good.” Noa nodded her head “yeah… she misses you though. I’m sure you both miss each other. But she’s moved on… and you have to as well.” Harry should’ve listened- but those words but she’s moved on made his heart plummet. What did she mean by that? Did you have a new boyfriend? Someone who made you happier than ever? Was Harry truly not enough for you? He felt jealousy creeping up within him yet on his perfectly sculpted face was nothing but calmness. But under that was a storm brewing.. messy and huge. “She’s got a boyfriend?” He soon asked gawking at her and Noa gazed at him, clearly not wanting to discuss anymore and Harry quickly cut her off before she could’ve said anything else:

“You know what. Never mind… I’m sorry it’s none of my business.” he smiled falsely before shaking his head “it was nice meeting up with you again. We’ll have to do it some other time… yeah?” Or in better words- we’ll meet up to talk about y/n more. Harry didn’t like to admit it but he was a tad bit crazy. But in a way that he adored you and loved you… so much so no one else could love you the way he loved you… he was frankly obsessed with you. You were the one who made him happiest. The one to make his whole world light up around him… you dragged him out of the darkest pits of hell and saved him. You both had history with each other and that was clear. He missed you. It angered him that you had moved on so quickly but he had decided then and there that he wasn’t going to let you live that down… he would make you realise all over again just how much you missed him… all of him.

And so that’s exactly how it played out. Harry still had a key to your apartment from when you were together and so he allowed himself in before situating himself on your bed laying against the headboard as he simply awaited for you to stumble upon him. He wasn’t sure how you would react… maybe scream at him? Hit him? Punch him? But he found himself praying that you would kiss him and tell him you loved him still. But love wasn’t that easy now was it? He was a jealous man but he refused to see his jealousy. You didn’t even split from each other because of anything horrible like cheating or whatever- it was just a dumb argument. But seeing it now it was incredibly stupid and if Harry could’ve turned back time then he would’ve. All he wanted for you was for you to be happy.

About twenty minutes passed, you had just finished up a small date with your new boyfriend. You loved him. You truly did. But he wasn’t Harry. You missed Harry terribly, neither of you spoke to each other and every day you found yourself wanting him more and more. You missed the smell of his cologne, the way he would run his fingers through your hair… you just missed him. A soft sigh left your lips your key held in your hand as you slowly pushed the key into the keyhole before unlocking the door and opening it. You shrugged your jacket off, hanging it up and locking the front door before heading straight for your bedroom. You were tired and just wanted to sleep… but you missed Harry. Sleep usually helped ease your mind but no matter what it would always be difficult. You were craving his love, his attention, his touch… all of him. But that was so wrong, wasn’t it? You slowly walked into your room before freezing at the sight your eyes widening, lips slightly parting as you stared at the man on your bed. The man you still adored. You blinked, a shaky breath leaving your lips. “Hi,” he spoke with a smile but you just stared unable to react before eventually you shook your head “Harry you need to leave.” You murmured softly but the way his eyes travelled up and down your body subtly made your heart flip upside down your breath catching in your throat. “You want me to leave?” He asked raising his brows slightly “Harry please…” he slowly stood up from the bed as he walked towards you “you’re just saying that.” He murmured gently his eyes searching yours that had a look of need, urgency and fire in them “I know you. I love you. I want you.” Your lips remained parted and you stared at him in shock… he wanted you? What did he mean by that? “What do-“ “I mean I really… really want you.” The look in his green eyes told you it all, your wide doe like eyes widening even further before you shook your head lightly “I can’t Harry. I’ve got a boyfriend…” you spoke quietly and the man smiled slightly “I’m aware of that, sweetheart…” but before you could’ve even asked how he knew he was already talking again “he doesn’t give you what you need, does he? He doesn’t fuck you long and hard right? He doesn’t grab you by the throat and tell you who you belong to. Does he?” His eyes bored into yours your breathing now more frantic, your stomach fluttering dangerously before his slender ring adorned fingers reached up gently grabbing a hold of your chin before he leaned in looking more deep into your eyes “does he?” You blinked your eyes, breathing faster now before you shook your head an accomplished smirk forming on those pretty lips of his, “do you want that? Do you need that? Hm you pretty thing?” And you found yourself nodding frantically feeling butterflies travel elsewhere throughout your entire body, some fluttering down straight into your already throbbing heat, eyes wide as you clenched your thighs together attempting to be subtle about it whilst also attempting to add enough pressure to take the edge off of it.

“Good thing I’m here then” he spoke smiling before he pulled you in roughly his lips colliding with yours in a hot passionate kiss, the kisses were slightly sloppy, your hands resting against the sides of his neck as he soon wrapped his arms around your waist gripping onto you tightly, his fingers soon sliding underneath your T-shirt which he soon slid up your body before discarding it on the floor, which were then followed by your jeans his hands gliding up and down your body skilfully, creating all those little goosebumps which had your knees weak, his lips remained connected to yours before he trailed the sloppy kisses down to your neck leaving open mouthed kisses against your soft skin before he pulled away gazing into your eyes “get on the bed. Get comfortable.” Those words alone had another flurry of butterflies consume your stomach and you rather quickly got onto the bed, backing up until your back was against the headboard your hungry eyes remaining on his “good girl, I see you can follow orders hm?” See how long that lasts… your eyes remained on him trying to guess what he was going to do next but you watched as he remained standing still, hands lightly crossed over his chest his eyes scanning shamelessly all over you watching how your chest raised and fell so angelically whereas your thighs clenched together so incredibly tightly. He didn’t speak, allowing you to listen to your heavy breathing and indefinitely the sound of your heart racing in your ears. He found it adorable how your cheeks were already flushed…. He hadn’t even started and you were already a mess. “Oh my poor pathetic baby, hm?” A soft chuckle left his lips before he walked closer to the bed until his knees were touching against the end of it “reach down.” He demanded you feigning a slight confused look. “Don’t be stupid, darling. Use that pretty head of yours… you know what I’m asking of you.” You remained still. Eyes on him your breathing increasing all over again before he smirked “fine. Play with yourself.” Those words made your eyes widen, but your hand, like it was being controlled by a puppeteer slowly crept down, your hand moving your panties to the side your fingers immediately getting to work. You were already soaked… embarrassingly so. Your head lightly tilted backwards, lips parting as a low gasp left your lips your fingers gliding teasingly up and down, before one started circling around your clit a whimper leaving your lips.

Harry’s hungry eyes remained on you, watching as you played for him, watching with careful eyes. Listening to your reactions… “mhm just like that sweetheart. Just like that.” He spoke softly his lips parted as he just watched you play for him. “You sensitive baby?” His tone was accusing, your brows furrowed slightly as you were too lost in your own pleasure. Usually your fingers didn’t help you whatsoever but with Harry just watching it made the moment more intense. More insane. Incredibly hot. You didn’t respond, making the man tilt his head to the side “hm? Is that a no? Darling you know that I know you. You cant fool me…” he watched your brows furrow deeper and deeper and he smirked before slowly walking round to the edge of the bed where his large hand soon wrapped around your wrist, stopping you from toying with yourself before he used two of his fingers to drag up and down your slit, your hips jolting and he smirked cockily staring down at you, your eyes glossy from the ceasing of pleasure “you are sensitive” he analysed gently before chuckling gently “how many times?” His tone was dangerous and your lower lip trembled “I-I don’t know…” you whispered softly and he stared deeply into your eyes “so you played with yourself… yesterday? Did you?” Your cheeks became flushed again and he chuckled “darling don’t go shy on me. It’s okay if you did…” his tone was so comforting but you knew him as much as he knew you. “I did… but…” you paused and he raised a brow “but?” He trailed off and you studied his eyes “I played whilst thinking of you.”

Those words stunned the man yet they also turned him on that much more the bulge in his jeans larger, making his jeans more uncomfortable. “Jesus Christ baby…” he whispered before he abruptly and without warning grabbed a hold of your hips, pulling you to the edge of the bed so your hips were dangling off of the edge before he helped pull your panties off his knees soon buckling as he knelt down, pulling your legs to rest over his shoulders arms locking around your thighs, pulling you impossibly closer “don’t you dare close your eyes. Look at me. Got it?” You nodded your head furiously, feeling his breath fan against your sopping cunt “verbal sweetheart c’mon” he cooed out and you whimpered “yes.. yes!” He smiled large hands gripping onto your thighs before he lowered his mouth down to your aching core “what a good girl hm?” He spoke, before his licked a stripe up your slit a low groan leaving his lips before his lips wrapped around your clit, tongue starting to flick mercilessly against it as he began sucking against it slightly your head tilting backwards in awed making the man you dream about slap your thigh slightly reminding you to keep your eyes on him- your eyes locking with his as he stared deeply into your soul. Whilst doing that, his fingers paid close attention to the hole that clenched around nothing before his slid one of his fingers in beginning to thrust in and out slowly and carefully, your eyes squeezing shut “y/n…” he growled out sending vibrations throughout you and you moaned out, yet your head flew forwards eyes locking with his again, a second finger being eased in, his fingers thrusting in and out steadily and slowly- curling ever so slightly hitting that spot within you making your back arch slightly from the fact that you had been so touch starved recently and you were now getting what you wanted. Exactly what you wanted. His eyes pierced into your own and you panted, he felt the way you clenched around him and instantly quickened his pace soft whines leaving your lips “louder” he demanded, your whimpers turning into loud moans as your hips attempting to buck up into his mouth and fingers yet from the grip he hand on your thighs you stood no chance.

“h-harry I-I’m gonna-“ you felt the coil tighten to the point you knew it was inevitably going to break, but all that came to a agonisingly teasing halt as Harry stopped. Your desperate body writhing, attempting to get more of his touch. “Ah ah… you don’t get to cum. Not just yet.” His eyes bored into yours and he smirked your flushed face contorted with need, before a little chuckle left his lips “tell me why you want to? Why you deserve to, hm?” Your eyes glared into his hungrily that soft smirk on his perfectly sculpted face “i-I’ve been good… i- I just need you…” you whined out in that whiny voice that he loved so much, his head soon tilting wanting to hear more of it “and? Come on baby, sooner you get it over with sooner I can make you feel good…” he was so arrogantly calm about it all, yet under all of that facade he was wanting to fuck you hard. You breathed heavily, panting, eyes squeezing shut as moans of need left your lips before you panted out a very soft: “I love you…”

And that was all he needed to hear before he tapped your thigh three times with his index finger, asking for you to move, and so you did- laying on your back on the bed. You watched as he took his belt off, his clothes being discarded hurriedly but rather lazily all at the same time your mouth practically watering at the sight of him before he clambered on top of you, lips smashing against yours, your lips moulding with his- connecting like the last piece of a puzzle before he aligned his cock with you before he thrusted in, your eyes instantly rolling to the back of your head, your legs locking around his waist- nails digging into his back as you panted heavily “fuck fuck fuck” you whined out, soft grunts leaving his lips his face buried slightly into the crook of your neck his hair a mess making him look that much more hot “feel so good” you spoke breathing heavily as he found a perfect rhythm the only sounds being a mixture of both of your moans and skin slapping against skin. He left kisses against your neck, hickeys being littered all over your warm silky skin. “Don’t call him baby again… don’t… don’t…” he spoke through slight grunts “do you understand me? Don’t want you seeing him again.” His tone was dangerous, possessive and needful, you nodded your head weakly your walls clenching desperately around him your nails scratching into his back “good girl. Good girl.”

“Who makes you feel this good?” “You do Harry…” your voice was pathetically weak from the pleasure rocketing throughout you and soon enough that coil was tightening all over again, his thrusts had become more sloppy and his moans were growing louder. His lips connected with yours, his head slightly pulling back making a string of saliva pull from both of your lips before snapping as he kissed you again “cum…” he groaned out against your lips and just like that the euphoria wrapped around both you and him your moans being muffled by his lips, his loud moans soon too being muffled as he dug his teeth into your shoulder, his thrusts continuing- helping you through your high before he stopped, body slumped against yours, heart to heart- bodies hot and sweaty your lips slightly swollen from how hard and rough he had kissed them but you didn’t care… the pleasure didn’t stop. It was continuous. But you loved it…

His green eyes soon met yours and you smiled lazily up at him his hand soon cupping against your cheek “love you so much” he muttered softly and you smiled pressing a gentle kiss to his lips “love you too…” your eyes searched his before he kissed you again “missed you.” He murmured softly and to say those words were highly reciprocated was an understatement. You both missed each other terribly… and finally… you were back together again. Finally.

Literally my first time writing long smut so please excuse how terrible it is😭 hope you liked it! Anyways if you’d all like a part two or another smutty story then lmk! Or just send in a request! All the love always, Amber x

[inkmonster21]

Hearts Across the Divide

5.) A Special Day

Noa x Fem!Human!Reader

Series Masterlist

~oOo~

From the start of your life, you knew that you were different. Your mother, Gemm, could sense this difference in you and made it her mission to provide you with the knowledge and experiences that you craved. She didn't want to lose your unique identity, but she had to be careful in balancing that with providing you the education and understanding of humans that you longed for.

As a young girl, you clung to your mother as she walked through the thick brush, your small body bouncing against her back. As you near the camp, Gemm sets you softly down on the ground. She signs slowly, “Must be quiet.” You nod quickly and turn your head to observe the camp.

Humans were everywhere, the camp bustling with activity as they went about their daily tasks. Most of them were too preoccupied to notice the two of you watching from the shadows.

They were there for months, only leaving when the winter became too harsh. But in the months they were there, you and your mother spent most days observing the humans within the camp. You paid attention to every detail, your mind taking in all the information possible.

You watched intently, studying the subtle nuances of their speech. From the way they pronounced their words to the inflection of their voices, you absorbed it all.

Very slowly but surely, you began to understand the complexities of human emotion, picking up on the subtleties of their expressions and body language.

Considering the years that had passed, you couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride in the fact that you had honed and developed a more mature and civilized mindset.

Most humans might not immediately recognize the depth of your intellect, given your upbringing among apes. However, you found comfort in knowing that you had shaped yourself into a unique individual that transcended the norm.

~

You sit by the fire, the moon high in the sky, most of the village has gone to bed leaving very few others roaming around. Unbothered by others, your nose is tucked in the pages of a book you’ve read many times over.

A dimly lit castle chamber. The princess, Liora, is kneeling by the bedside of her wounded knight, Sir Cedric. His armor is scratched and stained, revealing the fierce battle he fought to save her. He lies pale and weak, and Liora trembles with emotion. “Cedric… You fought so valiantly. I can’t believe you did all of this… for me.” Cedric struggling to speak, “I wouldn’t have it any other way, my lady.” He pauses to catch his breath, “Your safety… was worth any cost.”

Liora's tears are streaming down her face. “But your life…” she kneels beside him, taking his hand, “Please, you cannot leave me. Not like this… not after you saved me from the dragon.”

Cedric smiles weakly, “You are brave, Liora. Braver than many knights I know,” his breath falters, “If I must go, know that… with every beat of my heart, I love you.”

Liora sobs, “No! You cannot leave me, Cedric”, she leans closer, her forehead touching his, “I need you.”

Cedric's eyes start to close, “I’m afraid there is little time…” a slight cough erupts, “But remember this, my love, when the stars shine bright… I will always be with you.” The Princess gathers herself, and her breath catches, “I would traverse any realm to find you, Cedric. I will not let you go.” She leans in closer, “Let me prove my love…” Cedric speaks, his voice barely above a whisper, “A kiss… my princess.”

As you get immersed in the story, the passages about the deep devotion and love between the characters in the book stir up something within you. You find yourself blushing, the heat creeping up your cheeks as you become engrossed in the romantic tale unfolding on the pages. You find yourself reading the sentence slowly, your fingers tracing the word 'kiss'. The character's wish for a kiss, for a moment of intimacy before his end, strikes a chord within you. Your heart beats a little faster as you imagine the tenderness and the desperation behind the character's desire.

Your thoughts shift momentarily from the book to the culture you had grown up in. In the ape culture, such intimate acts of love and devotion were not as prevalent or necessary as they seemed to be in the book you were reading. However, the romantic tales and stories still held a certain allure, and you couldn’t help but feel a pang of longing in your heart as you turned the page.

Your reminiscing leads you back to the times you had observed humans showing affection with what was described in the book as a “kiss.” However, the kisses you had witnessed between humans were more perfunctory and not nearly as passionate and deep as what the book portrayed.

The thought of love, its existence, and its chances of being real nag at your thoughts as you turn the pages. You wonder if such deep, passionate love could exist in your world, where intimacy was not as freely shared as it was portrayed in the tales. Despite the doubts, a small part of you desperately hoped that true love, as described in fiction, could be a reality.

“Alway with your nose… in pages.” You lift your gaze from the page, startled by the unexpected voice that interrupts your thoughts. Looking up, you see your mother standing there, a warm smile on her face. You shrug, “helps me escape.”

Your mother nods in understanding, the smile never leaving her face. "Sometimes… we all need to escape…somewhere to run away… in our minds." Your mother approaches, sitting down next to you and resting a hand on your shoulder. The touch is gentle yet reassuring, a bridge of understanding between you two. Your mother, having come from a different clan and having had to earn her place within your current village, had indeed understood your feelings to a certain extent. She had experienced her own battles and struggles with acceptance.

“Tomorrow… is your birthday.” Mother says with a smile. “Special day for you. For everyone here.”

The mention of another year passing and the idea of fate brings a slight frown to your face. At your age, many apes – and even humans from what you have heard – had some idea of their destiny. However, you still felt like you had no clue about yours, the uncertainty causing a twinge of anxiety in the back of your mind.

“Loui has told me… he’s having a party… for you.” Your mother says, her smile growing wider. You look at her with narrowed eyes. “Loui is going to have a party?” She nods,

"He told me…It is your day… wants it to be a special day," she says, a hint of excitement in her movements.

You raise your brow, “and does father know of this party?” A smirk appears on your mother's face at your question. "No… he does not," she says with a slight mischievous twinkle in her eye. "which makes it… more exciting?" She knew your seek for thrill and if it took distracting your father while you and your friends could safely have fun, then she would gladly do so.

You shake your head, “and you and Loui say I’m the troublemaker.” Your mother lets out a soft chuckle at your response. "Oh, you’re both troublemakers… in your ways," she speaks with a smile. "Loui may be the one to do the big things… but you, my dear… have your way… stirring things up."

You couldn’t help but think of Noa. That was more than stirring trouble. A slight blush dusted your cheeks as you thought, remembering the times he had stirred up your emotions, leaving you more than just a little flustered. Noa had a knack for causing a different kind of trouble, the kind that made your heart skip beats and your thoughts whirl into a chaotic mess.

The thoughts and feelings you harbored for Noa were a secret you had to keep, a source of trouble in its own right. It was a burden to hold such affection in your heart for someone you weren't supposed to desire, but the pull of your emotions was too strong to ignore.

“Mother,” you pause, your nerves running hot. Your sudden pause catches your mother's attention, and she turns to look at you curiously, a mix of concern and anticipation in her expression.

"What is it, dear?" she signs, her movements gentle. You look down at your book. The word love sticks out. “Do apes love?” You look into her eyes, “do you love Father?” Your mother's expression softens at your question, her eyes reflecting a complex mixture of emotions. She pauses for a moment, gathering her thoughts before responding.

"Love..." she says slowly. "I think apes can love… can be a messy thing." She sighs softly. "Your father... I do care for him. We share a life and a family…. But love… human love… more complicated than just caring… don't you think?"

You shrug quickly, “I just… I’m not sure… it’s in my book. It’s a bit confusing to understand.” Your mother's expression softens even further as she looks at you. She knows that your understanding of love has been shaped by the books you read, but she also knows that love is a concept that is difficult to grasp through pages.

"Love..." she says once more, "hard to…explain…. different for everyone…sometimes not what we expect," she says, her words tinged with a hint of melancholy.

The uncertainty of understanding these feelings and the unknown territory of love left you feeling overwhelmed. It was as if you were standing on the edge of an ocean, the vast, dark waters of the unknown stretching out before you. The thought of diving into these emotions, of exploring the uncharted waters, was both thrilling and terrifying.

Your mother looks at you, “Have you found… love?” Your mother's question catches you off guard, and you feel a sudden rush of heat in your cheeks. You try to keep your composure, but it's clear that she has seen through your facade.

"Wh-what do you mean?" you say, trying to act casual but failing miserably.

Your mother leans in closer, a playful yet gentle look in her eyes. She looks around as if searching the area for any potential mates among the village. Pondering in her head just who you spend most of your time with. Come to think of it, you weren’t seen with any apes from the village much out of communal activities. Always by the falls, near the river’s edge, where the land divided.

"No one," you speak too quickly, trying to hide your nervousness. You fumble with your words as you stand, the heat of your blush betraying your denial. With numb legs, you take a step back, trying to keep your emotions in check.

"I... I have no interest in… that," you speak, your movements a mix of nerves and determination. But despite your insistence, your mother can see the blush on your face, a dead giveaway to your true feelings.

You knock into Loui as you back up. “Oh! Sorry, Loui… Um, goodnight.” You quickly turned and walked to your hut. As you rush off, Loui looks after you, his expression filled with confusion. He turns to your mother, who has been silently observing the exchange.

"She has been acting strange," Loui says, his words tinged with concern. Your mother smiles slightly, a knowing look in her eye. "Just growing up, son," she says, trying to reassure him.

Loui had always seen you as that little girl, the one who would swing from the low branches with carefree abandon. To him, you represented innocence, and the thought of you growing up and experiencing the complexities of life was hard for him to accept. As much as Loui tried to hold onto the image of you as the little girl he knew, he too was growing up. His father's expectations for him to take on the role of the next chief weighed heavily on him, forcing him to grow up faster than he might have wished.

Frustration and heat coursed through your body as you sat in your bed, the emotions swirling within you like a tempest. The events of the day - your mother's question, the potential for your secret feelings to be discovered - had left you feeling agitated and overwhelmed.

The memory of the kiss you'd planted on Noa's hand flashed in your mind, causing you to feel embarrassed and a little foolish. You bury your face under the pelt blanket, replaying the scene in your head.

"Stupid," you mutter to yourself, feeling a wave of shame wash over you. "He probably thought it was weird." The thought of Noa being disgusted by your gesture makes your heart sink.

The thought of being too wrapped up in your books crossed your mind. Perhaps you had let your imagination run wild, projecting the romantic ideals from your stories onto Noa and your interactions. Feeling foolish for letting your emotions get the better of you.

All would become clearer with a night's rest, right?

You blinked sleepily as the bright sunlight hit your eyes. You felt achy from sleeping on the solid ground but you didn’t mind.

You sat up, stretching your arms and legs to relieve the stiffness from your sleep. The sun was high in the sky, indicating that it was late morning or early afternoon.

You still completely. Sunlight shouldn’t be in your eyes… Your mind coming to Noa. YOU’RE LATE! You stand up quickly. As you hurriedly pull your dress over your head, you lose your balance and fall to the ground. You land with a thud, wincing as you hit the hard ground. Frustration and worry fill you as you realize just how much time you've wasted in your clumsiness.

You hurried out of the hut, your chest heaving from the combination of your brisk pace and the anxiety that coursed through you. You could only hope that Noa was still there waiting, but you had to find out quickly. Without slowing your stride, you pushed onward, moving as fast as your legs would allow.

As you ran through the village's outskirts, you greeted the villagers with quick smiles, your mind too preoccupied to stop and chat. You continued onward, moving deeper into the woods and onto the familiar path that led to your usual meeting spot.

You were on the verge of breaking through the treeline into the forest when you suddenly heard a familiar booming voice call out behind you. “Where are you going?”

You came to a stop and turned to see your father standing there, tall and imposing in his traditional attire, his staff gripped firmly in his hand. “Father.” You greet your father with a respectful bow of your head, trying to keep your voice steady even though your heart is racing. "Good morning," you murmur. He simply hums in response. "Afternoon," he corrects, his tone disapproving. “Where are you going?” He asks again.

"I'm just... going for a walk," you reply, trying to sound casual. You avoid his gaze as you answer, feeling the weight of your lie.

He shakes his head in disapproval. “No. It is a special day. Come.” He opens his arm, having you wedged underneath his grasp, leading you away from the trail to the waterfall. Away from Noa.

Noa had been waiting at the waterfall, his eyes constantly scanning his surroundings in anticipation. Every rustle of leaves or snap of a twig made his heart skip a beat, hoping it would be a sign of your arrival. The minutes seemed to stretch endlessly, and his impatience only heightened with each passing second. He fidgeted with the grass in front of him, his mind filled with worry and confusion. He had no idea what could have caused you to be this late, and his thoughts swirled with anxious scenarios.

As your father led you into the room, you were greeted by the rest of your family. Your mother, Loui, and your friends, Keli and Teko, were all sitting at a large table. They smiled widely as they saw you, standing up to greet you with open arms. Your father led you to a chair next to your mother and patted your shoulder before taking his own seat at the head of the table.

You tried your best to stay present and enjoy the meal, the delicious food, and the cheerful company of your family. But your mind couldn’t help but wander to Noa, your thoughts filled with worry and disappointment about your missed meeting. You tried to push those thoughts aside and focus on the conversation, but now and then, your eyes would drift towards the door, longing to go to the falls.

You continue to eat, forcing yourself to savor each bite even as your thoughts keep drifting back to Noa. Your family engages in light conversation, laughter filling the room as you all enjoy the meal together. Your friends, Keli and Teko, however, notice your subtle hints of distraction. They glance at each other, their eyes filled with curiosity. Teko leans closer to you, a sly smile playing on his lips. “You seem distracted today,” he teases, nudging your shoulder playfully.

Teko chuckles at your reply, enjoying the banter between the two of you. “Of course, I am,” he replies, puffing out his chest in mock arrogance. Keli laughs, joining in on the teasing. “we can tell… something on your mind.”

Keli and Teko had been your closest friends for a long time, and you felt comfortable enough to share anything with them. You knew they would listen to you without passing judgment or revealing your secrets to anyone else, unlike Loui. They could tell that something was weighing on their mind, and they weren't going to let it go easily. “Meet me after this.” You whisper to them.

Keli and Teko hear your whisper and exchange a curious look. They both nod, their curiosity piqued. You continue to act casual as the meal continues, but you can feel your friends' eyes on you throughout the rest of the breakfast. Teko and Keli seem restless as they finish their food, their anticipation growing with every passing moment.

Your father stands and gestures with his hand, signaling that everyone is free to leave. Just before you walk away, he turns to you, a small smile on his face. "Happy birth day," he says before walking out of the room. You reply with a quick nod and a polite “Thank you,” forcing a smile onto your face. Despite the happiness of your family around you, you couldn’t shake the guilt and worry you felt about missing your meeting with Noa.

Teko practically pulls you out of the structure and off into the fields where you would have some privacy. Keli's voice rings out, "Teko! Not so rough!" she exclaims, trying to catch up with your rapid pace.

Teko eyes you with a curious gaze as you take a seat in the grass. Keli sits beside you, silently waiting for you to speak. Teko leans closer, his eyes fixed on you. “Come on now.” He presses, his voice betraying his impatience. “Acting strange months... Tell us.”

You roll your eyes not knowing where to begin. “I… I think I met someone.” You say in a hushed manner. You can’t believe you’re saying these words. Teko and Keli both lean in closer, intrigued by your confession. Teko's eyebrows raise in surprise, and a sly smile dances on his lips. Keli's eyes widen with both shock and curiosity. "You met someone?" Teko repeats, his tone laced with disbelief and excitement.

Keli's gaze remains fixed on you as she quickly fires off another question. She seems to be just as curious as Teko about the identity of this mystery person. "Human?" she asks, a hint of confusion in her voice. "Like you?"

You pause for a moment not sure if you should say. Would they be disgusted to know you found yourself interested in an ape? Or would the only acceptable answer be human?

Teko and Keli notice your hesitation, their eyes watching you closely. Teko's smile has faded, replaced by a look of concern, while Keli looks at you with expectancy. Teko's voice breaks the silence. "Well? Is he human?"

You shake your head silently. Both Teko and Keli stiffen slightly at your answer. Teko's expression hardens into a frown while Keli's surprise seems to deepen. They both remain silent, processing your revelation. The air between you all is thick with tension as they wait for you to continue. You look at them in stress, “Say something please.” Teko and Keli exchange a brief glance before looking back at you. Teko hesitates, his lips pressed into a thin line, but finally, he speaks. “You mean… ape?” his words are almost a whisper. You nod once more. You can feel the weight of their stares as you nod in confirmation. Teko's eyes widen in disbelief, while Keli looks at you with a strange mixture of shock and awe. Teko finally breaks the silence. “You… like an ape?” his voice is filled with disbelief. Teko's initial disbelief turns into hooting laughter as the words sink in. He throws his head back, his laughter ringing out through the field. “Loui… going to kill him!” he exclaims between bouts of laughter.

You throw a few leaves in Teko's direction, trying to shut him up. "Shhh!" you scold him, your eyes darting around nervously, concerned that someone might overhear. While Teko continues to laugh heartily, Keli's eyes turn toward you with a softer, caring expression. She asks you a question, her voice laced with genuine concern. "Who?" You feel a pang of worry at the thought of revealing too much, but you don’t want to remain silent either. You decide to keep it vague and share just the essential details. “He’s not in our village,” you tell them, hoping that it will be enough information for them to grasp the situation.

Teko’s laughter dies down and he looks at you with a mixture of intrigue and curiosity, waiting for more information. “Where then?” You’d love to say. To reveal how proud you are of Noa being the leader of his own clan, but you remain quiet. “From a Clan. Not far from here.”

Teko and Keli both fall into silence as they try to recall any information of nearby clans. However, they are coming up blank. Chief Wuka always limited the exploration area, ensuring a safe distance from potential dangers, which explains why they are unaware of the existence of other clans.

Teko leans closer to you with a mischievous smile on his lips. “What's his name?” he inquires, his curiosity piqued further. You can't help but roll your eyes at his persistent questioning. "As if I'd tell you his name," you playfully retort, a small smirk tugging at the corner of your lips. Keli pushes her brother over into the grass. “Leave us! Females are speaking.” Teko flops onto the grass with an exaggerated huff, feigning offense at his sister's actions. "What? Was just… getting interesting!" he grumbles, a playful pout forming on his lips.

Teko finally relents to Keli's insistence and gets up from the grass, grumbling under his breath. However, he doesn't go far, instead settling down nearby, clearly intent on listening in on your conversation from a distance.

As you sit with Keli, basking in the familiar comfort of her company, you realize how much you have missed these moments of connection with your friends. The whirlwind of emotions and experiences with Noa has consumed your life lately, causing you to neglect your bonds with those closest to you.

“Sorry, I’ve been sneaking off a lot.” Keli looks at you with a gentle smile, her eyes filled with understanding. "Do not apologize," she replies softly. "makes sense now.” You spill out the details of your encounters with Noa, recalling the moment you saved him from the cougar, how his loyal eagle had guided him to you after hearing your song, and how the whole ordeal seemed like a page out of your own worn romance novel.

[rosemilo]

Noa's face when Mae was being chased

Protective Noa incoming 🔥

[aphrmoosun]

#NOMAE moments

(basically all the movie)

Recopilation vid of the nomaes moments

• Noa is scared of Mae or not knowing how echo could react to an ape, to him. It is like an animal that could react well or bad. This time she robbed food.

• Noa screams at Maa

• Raka presents Noa to Mae

• Raka wants to help Mae since she is cold with Noa's mother cloth and he denied but end up agreeing

• Noa saw the sky for the first time through a telescope and sees Mae looking through it too having the same reaction as him

• Noa decided to leave Mae and Raka behind with other echos but come back quickly when he knows they are in trouble

• Mae's first world (that not only Noa hears for the first time but also we as an audience) is his name

• Noa saving Mae when he saw her in trouble (cheek kiss)

• "She... Called my name" HE WAS MORE SURPRISED SHE CALLED HIM THAN SHE SPEAKS HELPPP

• Mae speaking about her mother and about she is now alone and Raka said they now have each other and NOA GIVING HER NOW HIS MOTHER'S CLOTH WITHOUT ANYONE ASKING HIM TOO BUT BC HE WANTED TO GIVE IT TO HER

• Proximus calling Noa to his present bc he thinks Noa is important for Mae so he should know something.

• Noa angry and asking explanations to Mae bc he was hurt she lied to him

• Even though she lied so much he still helps her bc he cannot leave her behind anymore HELP

• They making the moment of Soona and Mae (taking Anaya out of this) bc they wanted to make this moment some triangle thing between Mae Noa and Soona

• So Mae starts to think Soona and Noa are something and ASK ABOUT IT "Do you like her". WHY DO YOU CARE GIRL 👀 and THOSE ZOOMS TO THEIR FACES when he responds

• When Trevathan said "your monkey" when he wants to HURT HER HELLO AND HER REACTION PLSSS

• Noa and Mae moment going to the top and the moonlight and the closeness and their eyes searching eachother PLSSS

• Proximus knows Soona is important to Noa but he thinks Noa would betray Mae if he makes him choose between Mae and Soona and Noa COULDN'T DECIDE OMFG

• Mae saving Soona bc she knows she is important for Noa too

• The final scene when he said 'CAN APE AND HUMAN LIVE?" IM SORRY IS IT ON SINGULAR NOT PLURAL OR IM NOT HEARING IT WELL

• The moment of the necklace where he grabs her hands and stays there wtf

• And finally when they look at the sky at the same time even though they are not together oOOKKK

I love them very much!!!!

[ceruark]

the runecaster diaries - potential suitors

❀ inspired by the apothecary diaries ❀ [various! blue lock x fem! reader. royalty & magic au.]

By some twist of misfortune, you find yourself in the position of servant girl in Emperor Noa’s grand palace. Through a series of even more unfortunate events, you find yourself to be the general runecaster on the palace grounds, at the beck and call of all the potential heirs to cast whatever spells their hearts desire.

(you can read the full introductory piece to this series here.)

Emperor Noa's Court

❥ Lord Loki is the kind, benevolent overseer of the Gold Pavilion, where you currently reside. He’d interacted with you a few times during your time serving as an attendant in Snuffy’s residence, though he’d already developed a good impression of you thanks to Snuffy and Charles speaking highly of you. He often drops in on your training sessions with Charles (something the boy loves to repeatedly tell you he didn’t do in the past) and can be a bit prickly when the other heirs come into the Gold Pavilion requesting your services.

❥ Lord Itoshi— Sae, that is— is the overseer of the Jade Pavilion, and his cold, disinterested demeanor draws in suitors like moths to a flame until they are eventually met with his arrogant and condescending nature. It’s not often that you find yourself in the Jade Pavilion, but when you do, the task that he has requested your assistance with has less to do with casting and more to do with interrogation and piecing together parts of a mystery. During your debriefs following an investigation, it almost feels as though Lord Itoshi knows more than he lets on but withholds his knowledge for whatever reason, causing you to overexplain yourself and extend your stay.

❥ Lord Kaiser, the overseer of the Cerulean Pavilion, is equal parts adored and loathed by those residing in the palace, as well as the kingdom at large. His arrogance, like Lord Itoshi’s, is well-deserved, and his masterful mask carved from charisma has suitors throwing themselves at the doorway of his villa. Those within the palace know him for the cold, cruel individual that he is, though, and not even saving his life has earned you his respect. He begrudgingly allows his personal attendant and caster to request your help with certain spells, and insists that his lingering when you’re in the Cerulean Pavilion is just to ensure you don’t mess anything up. The more you’re requested to report to the Cerulean Pavilion, though, the more you realize that the tasks you’re assigned are ones that Alexis could handle just fine by himself— which always leaves you wondering why Lord Kaiser has assigned this to you in the first place.

❥ Knight Alexis is Lord Kaiser’s brilliant personal attendant, and the most skilled runecaster in the entire palace excluding those who are assigned to Emperor Noa. You’ve always admired his work from afar, keeping your dwindling skills sharp by trying to figure out what materials and casting methods he used in his spells during your time as an attendant. Working with him makes him even more impressive, though, and he often grows flustered when you watch him cast with wide eyes filled with admiration. You’d been warned by Grim in the past that Alexis tends to get territorial where his work and his lord are concerned, and though you’d gotten that impression at first, it’s hardly there anymore. He doesn’t mind working with you at all— if anything, he seems to perk up at the sight of you crossing into the Cerulean Pavilion, and loves to present his other projects to you for you to give feedback on (and, hopefully, to praise).

Emperor Ego's Court

❥ Lord Isagi is the shining hope of Emperor Ego’s heirs, the poster child of what every successor should strive to be. Polite, charming, skilled, and above all else, genuine, Isagi Yoichi is definitely your top pick for the throne, and you don’t even live in his kingdom. And just when you think he can’t get any better, you catch him heatedly arguing with Lord Kaiser in the Cerulean Courtyard— and winning. Lord Isagi spends a lot of time in the Gold and Ruby Pavilions, so it’s not uncommon for him to seek you out and ask to be trained in casting, since it’s his weakest point. You don’t think he’s giving himself enough credit, though; he’s a very quick learner and performs new spells almost as if he knows exactly what he’s doing, but checks with you to make sure he’s doing it right, just in case.

❥ Lord Itoshi— Rin, that is— is a picture-perfect snapshot of elegance, grace, and beauty, up until the point where he opens his mouth and proves to everybody in the palace that the condescension runs in the family. His behavior is incredibly similar to his brother’s, though he seems to be a bit more openly competitive and aggressive than Sae— at least, that’s the impression you develop of him when you run into him while carrying out an investigation for Sae that he insists he can perform and solve for his brother quicker than you can. Against your will, it ends up becoming a recurring thing, and at this point, you can’t tell if he’s seriously trying to solve the case faster than you, or if he’s actually trying to work with you. It’s not like you can ask him— you like him better when he’s being cooperative and would rather not piss him off, thank you very much.

❥ Lord Reo— Mikage, really, but he insists against being called that— is charismatic, sociable, and was raised to be royalty from the moment he was born. However, you hear from the servants of Ego’s other heirs that he’s a deeply jealous individual, which can sometimes be as inhibiting to him as it is encouraging. You bear witness to this when he’s prickly with you during your first meeting, obviously upset that his personal caster is cooking up the stupidest spells known to mankind with you rather than tending to his young master. However, things seem to smooth over after that, as he comes to be impressed with the work you get accomplished with Nagi, and even the work that you accomplish for him on your own— which he seems to be requesting you do more these days. Nagi often whines that you’re gonna replace him, which you think is a joke, until Lord Reo insists that two personal casters are better than one. Well, if he’s serious, he’ll have to take it up with Noa, you suppose.

❥ Lord Chigiri possesses the kind of beauty men start wars over, and his confidence in his skills and appearance only draws others in more. To your delight (and surprise— the prettiest heir around these parts is also the prickliest), he’s also rather friendly and loves gossiping, often bribing information about Noa’s heirs out of the palace attendants. You’re no exception to this, and the first time he requests your assistance, a spell that should only take a single morning to execute ends up taking the whole day because you’re too busy complaining to him about all the arrogant heirs and relaying to him your most dismal encounters with them. Your gossip sessions end up becoming a weekly meeting, disguised as “tune-ups” if the other heirs ask. Lord Reo ends up attending them at some point, and after overhearing a conversation between the two while actually working through a spell, you suspect that the two are scheming to convince Ego to try and get Noa to release you to their palace.

❥ Knight Bachira is a bundle of energy that you believe would fuel a million spells if he could be harnessed. Eccentric and cheerful, he somehow both contrasts and compliments Lord Isagi perfectly as his personal attendant. One day, when Lord Isagi approaches you with a private request, you’re surprised to learn that Bachira’s power doesn’t come from runecasting, but rather, from a curse— he was born with a demon latched onto his spirit, which had caused him and his mother to be exiled from their village. Bachira ends up becoming interested in you when start teaching Isagi spells meant to help Bachira control and coexist with the beast rather than suppress it. He can be a bit much to handle when you’re trying to carefully brew a spell, but you can’t bring yourself to be upset when his laughter never fails to brighten up your workshop.

❥ Knight Nagi is just as brilliant of a runecaster as Alexis is, though he has one fatal flaw: he’s lazier than a dog. Your first few assignments from Lord Reo are agonizing, as he doesn’t help you at all and you have to do the work of two casters all on your own. It’s not until he catches you crouching behind some bushes in the Gold Pavilion, cackling to yourself as you put together a new spell to be used in your and Charles’s escalating prank war, that you finally catch Nagi’s interest. After that, Nagi can often be spotted with you crouched over a brewing station, the overgrown man draped over you as you two bicker over which combination of ingredients would yield the most sinister effects.

all posts for this series will be tagged with #ceru.runecaster

my requests and comments are open if you want to let me know who'd you like to see an interaction with! if you'd like to be added to a tag list, please feel free to comment on this post! :>

[sshassh-sshout-you]

"Creation" Chapter 3. Fantasy Vision

A/N: I hope the surprise was a success. This chapter is a bit short, but the next one, I promise, will contain more paragraphs and events

Word count: 3,4K

Warnings: not much detailed descriptions of nudity, voyeurism, brief mentions of murder, death and violence, swear words, a pinch of adult thoughts (a veeeery small pinch, bunnies...)

🎧 Sleeping At Last — As If in a Dream

The splash of troubled waters. The glare of a yawning crescent moon. The chirping of forest dwellers. Everything fades and becomes silent in one second.

Only the curves of your body remain.

A graceful neck – and marks of strangulation. A sloping shoulders – and cuts. A thin waist – and a healed wound. A narrow back – and traces of a whip. A rounded hips – and a fresh scar of a knife wound. Hair falling in waves. Shiny drops running down the skin. Plump lips closed in fear...

Noa can not take his eyes off you. No matter how hard he tries.

Your body is exhausted, but despite all the pain, all the suffering and torment you have endured, your body radiates femininity. A completely different femininity than that of the females in the clan. You are a ringing echo, a blossoming human girl. And of course, you are different from the female chimps. From the top of your head to the tips of your toes.

Noa intrigued by you.

***

It had already happened when Noa first met people on the way he was taking. It had interested him then, as everything unknown interests him. Then another human girl had disappeared from sight as suddenly as she had appeared, taking a different way. It was regularity. People need other people, they seek out colonies of sane survivors – and they live completely different lives. It had been an accident then, for rethink the present.

And then Noa could not imagine that his path would once again intertwine with the path of the echo. With the path of the human girl who does not disappear, but remains.

Because this human girl cannot go back to people — after all, only a painful, perverted death awaits her there.

It was a measure of coexistence then. To have a shared experience, to say goodbye, to exchange the last important words – and never meet again because of different aspirations. Different truths. Then the echo went to other echoes. Noa hopes she found what she was searching.

But you will not living to next to apes, among echoes like you. You are going to live with apes. That complicates everything.

What are you aspirating for? What is your truth?

Certainly, that you were not aspirating for a life among all that was alien. And Noa has already learned part of your truth from your eloquent, caustic gestures. Noa does not condemn you at all, and even more so, does not feel offended — how else can you defend yourself?

Back then, Noa was solve people out without understanding them – and that interested him as a conundrum. As a task that requires a strategic solution. Now, that interests him in a different way.

All, that Noa knows about you — is your name. Trying to solve you out yields nothing but vague guesses. Maybe it will be like this in days, weeks, months. No answers to questions. No one tactics help get closer to you. Honesty breeds more doubts in you. Acts of kindness make you distance yourself. Care makes you choke on sobs. What did they do to you in the place you managed to escape from? What did those from whom Noa saved you do to you? What did your past do to you?..

Understand you — is to choose the path that leads into the unknown.

Noa tries to understand you, and when he succeeds, even just a little — it is attracting.

It is tempting. And it is impossible to resist.

Your fragility enchants Noa. And it is unlike anything he is ever experienced before.

Noa justifies himself by that he is obliged to protect you, so fragile — and only for this reason is he glued to you, as if sticky resin.

Knowing that you were defenseless against all the dangers lurking in the light and in the shadows, that could break you again, Noa followed you. The whole way you traveled, he protected you. Even if without your knowledge. Otherwise, you would not have allowed it. If you knew that Noa was coming for you, you would again break your voice in begging to leave you, not to touch you, not to look... Not to care...

But who knows, maybe there are other ruthless men hunting for you?

Having learned how vast and multifaceted the world outside his home was, Noa now explored the forests and plains to find lost, dusty knowledge. These were the remains of human science, human creativity, and human culture. A legacy, not worthy of oblivion.

Staying late one evening, Noa saw you. Wounded. Consisting of a scarlet mess and hopeless rags.

You shook and cried, scraping your skin against the thorns of the bush. And the scavengers stalked your trail. Noa had heard everything, all their foul intentions. Noa had heard that they had decided to use you, torture you to death — but before, fulfilling every lustful desire. Not the desires that were part of courtship and mating rituals. Not the desires that offered fidelity and asked for reciprocity, no. Obsessive, base desires. The human curses they spat out, and the way they guffaw as they discussed their cruel pleasures was incomprehensibly vile.

Noa did not believe that someone's mind could be so corrupted. But they reveled in the upcoming reprisal on you — and Noa could not remain idly.

Noa learned how senselessly cruel the world can be, when two monsters threw you into a ravine.

Prepared to attack and heard you fall, Noa scolded himself for hesitating. That, you did not die there from your broken bones right away — miracle.

Attacking them, who mocked you, taking away your almost cut-off life, Noa seemed himself like a monster.

Noa hated himself for the way you saw him that night. Killing two and looking like an sinister angered shadow.

Their dead bodies were a nightmare. Even as they took turns trying to deal Noa the killing blow — he did not want to kill them. He wanted to send them back to where they came from. To keep their smell from being in a place where the soles of their boots should not be. When Noa's palms turned crimson, he regretted.

But if Noa had not done this, he himself now would be dead.

And you would be dead. But first — vulgarized.

Why did they want to abuse you, huddled against the ground and cobblestones with hopelessness frozen in your pupils, so filthily? Noa thinks that killing two scavengers — is not the same as ruining two souls. But the justification still seems insufficient, guilt scratches at him from within.

Guilt that also for that now he is no better than them in your eyes.

That is why, as soon as you regain consciousness, you always recoil from Noa, like from fire. You are afraid of what you saw that night. You are afraid of what you ran away from - and you are afraid of where you ended up. Fear takes root in you.

Something tells Noa — someone from the past you left behind can still cause you irreparable harm.

And you will not be able to save yourself alone, running away and trying to be brave. Your trembling, the tears shining in the corners of your eyes and your racing heartbeat are noticeable even in the short moments when you forget about everything that scares you. But then you go to the lake alone, and the evening falls on the forest like a darkening blanket. What would you do if the events of that ill-fated night were repeat? What would you do if Noa had not followed you like a silent shadow again? You are so improvident, that Noa would like to say everything he thinks to your face.

The determination to do so would have prevailed - if at that second when Noa thought of everything that could happen, you had not hastily started to take off your clothes.

If Noa came to you now, you would dismiss his behavior as instincts.

Taking a deep breath, Noa straightens his back. Every his muscle, every vain tightens.

As you untie the scraps of your shirt, Noa nods to himself, remembering your recent words in the bird pen. This is why you came here. As you pull down the shreds of your pants, leaving the robe he gave you on the sand, Noa approaches on two legs, bristling his fur. To protect you if necessary.

Lying to himself — is shameful and pointless. The excuse Noa gives for every thought that comes to mind, sounds out of place in his own head.

***

Even if there was no need to protect you, even if you were not hurt and could handle it yourself, Noa could have not leave. The grass around Noah’s feet is tangled in the coastal grass — and as much as he wants to turn around, walk down the beaten path, and go back to his usual business, leaving you alone in the darkness, — he cannot leave.

Noa admires you as a graceful, flawless work of art. But the admiration is mixed with something else, unknown and inexpressible, beyond any definition Noa knows, no matter what he tries to find.

When you take off your shirt, soaked in blood and healing ointment — Noa gets on all fours, furrowed his brows and swallows.

So as not to lose balance.

If you turned even an inch, Noa would see your firm breasts.

When you enter the water, Noa cannot control his breathing. The world freezes, everything seems like an unimportant backdrop. You turn around, covering with your hands, looking up at the trees that are growing in a solid wall. Flowing strands of hair fall on your collarbones. The smoothness of your hands and wrists framing your breasts takes the ground under his feet. Standing right beyond the treetops, Noa gasps for air, unable to stop the mad knock that pierces his ribs.

You appear to him absolutely naked.

This should not have happened. Fate is playing tricks on him, like a fool.

Although, why would fate fool Noa, if he had already fooled himself?

Allowing himself to stare too long, Noa chides himself. But it is no use. He cannot move, mesmerized by you. The way the water embraces you — so pure, so vulnerable, — takes Noa back to the moment when he once saw human art celebrating beauty.

Drawned in pencil wonderful woman with a fish tail, holding a baby in her arms. Also with a fish tail, but small. She seems to be looking out of a drawing, overflowing with the joy of motherhood. Peace, care and awe emanate from the graphite strokes. The immaculate beauty of the moment envelops the paper, barely touched by time. The woman holds the child in such a way that the loving, tender touch seems not depicted, but the most that is real...

Must be, people call these amazing entities mermaids.

This is a myth. People have invented many myths. Good and evil. Instruct and absurd. Seductive.

Noa thought, he knew what that word meant. Delightful lie, that could never come true.

But seeing you now, Noa realizes that he was wrong — what else were you now, if not a myth in reality?

As you dive under a boulder, Noa imagines the how the azure scales on your feet and ankles shimmering. How the fins wriggling along the lines of your body. You are surrounded by an aura of magic and innocence. Noa feels like if he takes one more breath — you will immediately dissipate into a mist. That kind that spreads along the surface of the water in the morning.

In the spring, the evenings here are especially long. They come in all shades of pink, red, and gold — before the darkness takes the place of light. Noa sees you shining, wrapped in the rising stars. As bright, as if the brightest hour of day still lasts.

Can Noa look at you like this? Can Noa gaze at you, in the spilled moonlight, like this?

Can Noa admire you?

Swearing under his teeth, Noa curses himself for what he feels.

You circling like an underwater nymph. Hiding, you disappear like a fairytale vision. Noa exhales awe that permeates him to the bones, to the heart and to the pain.

Above the water only your eyes peering into the april twilight.

Noa looks at you from a distance of two outstretched, clasped hands.

You heard a presence. And you were scared.

Looking for a place further away, a place to hide, you swam up to Noa. And you did not realize it yourself. Cause you do not feel his smell.

Breathing in and breathing out, Noah smells you too clearly - you smell like lake coolness, fragrant flowers, and something else... Something that seeps from his nostrils straight into his consciousness. Something that confuses.

Your concern? That, should be, what it is.

You are truly worried that someone will attack you again. Hearing every sound, feeling every touch, you are afraid of new blows and encroachments. But Noa voluntarily laid responsibility for you on his shoulders, how can he not keep you?

No way. From now on, Noa will do anything, to make sure no one dares to even think about breaking you. In any way. No matter what it takes.

You — mermaid, almost caught in a net. You — flower, almost crushed to crumbly. But Noa would not let anyone catch you and crush you. Not for anything.

Noa assures himself, that he does this out of an unspoken duty. Out of principles. Out of justice, after all.

But Noa's thoughts are in mess.

Noa's thoughts are feverish. Like he is gravely ill, like he is dying. Like Noa knows he is going to have a disappointing outcome. And it does. Noa places his hand where his heart beats — where the memory of your weakening touch is still fresh.

To think that, Noa touched you. His hands touched almost every curve of your body — almost everything he is so absorbed in right now. It seems unreal now, when you are seems like a maddening miraculous illusion.

You are beautiful. More beautiful than anyone or anything, that Noa has ever seen.

You are so beautiful, that Noa feels, like in you merged all the things that can inspire veneration.

And if all the thoughts that flashed through Noa's head were obvious, not requiring comprehension and acceptance — with this thought, filling his mind quickly and irrevocably, Noa cannot come to terms. You charmed Noa at your first meeting, despite the circumstances. Covered in blood and dirt, tearful and scared, but trying to fight... Holding you in his arms, Noa saw the fading glow. You no longer hoped for anything, and the glow faded into a lonely ember.

That morning, Noa hoped that the glow emanating from you would not fade, but flare up brighter — but Noa was not prepared for the fact that now, washed from all troubles, healing, you shine even more unbearably beautifully.

Noa close his eyes so you don't blind him, like a fallen, blessed star.

Must not, Noa must not look at you. For now it is only the absorption of your image — but later, Noa is sure, he will think of you something, that he will desire and be ashamed of. Something, that is an inherent part of nature intent.

Noa does not know how to deal with the thoughts of you, that are rushing through him turbulent current.

All that Noa knows — he has to stop right now. Has to turn away, forget about this. Wait until you're dressed — and then follow you, still silently, ensuring safety.

And Noa certainly should not become like a scavenger. After what happened to you, you are free to not let any man touch you. The lingering thoughts about you — that what will only make Noah feel worse right now. He is not even a human man. He is a beast that you will continue to hide from, no matter what your life in your new home is like.

Noa rely — if he does not indulge his own fantasies, everything will remain the same.

World sounds and moves again, but the rhythm is completely different. The dark silence is filled with repercussions and undertones. Noa watches as you peer fearfully into the leaves rustling from his strained breathing.

World will never be the same for Noa again.

Noah curses himself for his uneven thoughts, as your wet hair shines, clinging to your tempting silhouette.

But he is obliged to hide all thoughts more reliably than you hide, again clutching on boulder.

In order not to disturb you, not to make a single unnecessary sound, Noa clenches his jaw. His larynx is constricted with frustration. What is he hoping for? He is an ape. You can hardly trust him. You have absorbed the fear of apes, probably, from the moment of birth. People teach their children to be quiet and afraid, so that they survive this invisible, multi-year struggle. People teach their children both to avoid battles and to fight apes.

Noa feels captivated by your beauty. Losed in this battle. And the strength he used in the fight will not help him free himself from this captivity.

Beauty shimmers in every your fleeting movement, in every flutter of your eyelashes. Beauty is at your fingertips. Beauty is in your voice, when you threaten the thick evening, assuring that you are armed.

If it were anyone else here right now — these would be the last words left on your lips.

From your body and your soul would have be nothing but scraps. You have just literally pointed the hunter to you, the victim.

Listening to the melody of your voice, Noa almost falls to his knees — as if you finished him off, relieving him of torment. Listening to your voice, when it is full of confidence and shoreless, just as the lake enveloping your body is shoreless now, is a blessing for Noa. Unexpecting. In response to any action of Noa you hide, scream and cry — in the short time spent with you, he got used to this and decided that for his ears you will not sound any different.

But you talk to the forest in a way that makes Noa petrified. He would give anything, for you to talk to him like that.

It seems like a dumb wish — Noa would do anything, to you say something to him. At least even just one word, eye to eye.

But what needs to happen, for you do this?

Perhaps, even if snow covers the slopes in the middle of summer — inside you nothing will grow instead of fear. Noa laughs in vexation — no matter what he does, you will always feel like you are a little cornered animal and someone's gaping maw is about to eat you up.

Standing unacceptably close, Noa growls gutturally. Unrecognizable — so that you decide that the forest beast has taken you for prey. So that you think about how to protect yourself on your next willfully foray. Because, obviously, you will go off alone to who knows where more than once.

***

Noa leaves the worst, most menacing thing in him in a growl that resound for miles. He barely recognizes himself, but he continues even more louder — so that you do not guess anything.

You will never know he saw you like this. So enchanting, so pristine.

Because you are destined not for his gaze.

You turn your head back and forth, making splashes. Water hits Noa's bristling fur, sobering him up. Silently retreating step by step, Noa thinks, this is conveniently. Otherwise, he was not have been able to cope with the unknown feeling you have kindled in him. He walks away to the glade, where the flower petals shared with you their scent.

The leaves, surrounding the lake, no longer rustle.

***

From the thundering growl you afraid to drop your heart to the bottom of the lake. You count the seconds, until the inhuman noise stops. You wait - and dive into the depths to reach the shore unnoticed.

At first, heard breathing among the trees, you thought — they has come to kill you.

Damn bastards of the settlement. When you were a child newly trapped in their rusty dungeon, they punish with death a woman who had climbed to the surface. Said she was infected, cursed by demons swarming the surface, that she would bring death to all unless she was gotten rid of. Shot her. Carried on, as nothing had happened, their fanatical blathering, as if it were the for edification.

That terrible event deprived you of any desire to escape. But you kept inside you your only truth.

They lied and jeered. Hell was there. Find a way out was impossible.

You would have accepted your fate sooner or later, like everyone else living here. If they hadn't done the same thing, that you hated them for, once again. When you were so small you could barely pronounce your own name — you could't help your blood mother and father. And even as an adult, you couldn't have time to save your foster mother and father — there no way you could have overtake two fired from a pistol bullets.

But you were able to find weapons there, where you weren't allowed to enter without order.

You were able to kill one of them.

You were able to escape so far.

If it were them — you would have to pray to God, that death would take you before they could carry out the punishment, that awaits you for every broken rule.

But when the growl rang out, you felt that anxiety dripping from you along with the water.

Anything more stupid, than rejoicing at the growl of a hungry beast, you can't even imagine.

But they are cowards. You've heard a lot of their dead drunk talk while exploring the dungeon corridors. They know where the prey is found, and where the predators is found. And they've never hunted where they could be attacked by those who rightfully own the land above. It means, they sure don't turn up over here.

So, whoever made that deafening roar — you thanked fate.

Approach the shore, you reach out to the light-blue fabric to quickly put it on and tie it around yourself. All that remains is to wash the dirty rags, which you do in a hurry.

Still, Noa asked you to come back before dark.

Darkness descended the forest without warning. Your tank top and shorts are drying right on you. From barely squizzed shirt, that you've wore over the thin fabric, dripping drops. The wind is pulling your hair in all directions, heralding a cold night to come.

Along the way, you look back to wish the flowers survive the badweather.

The path leads you to the apes's huts. To your hut, where you have to settle in and tidy up. The dwellings are visible, hanging lights show the way. All the work for today is done, everyone is probably heading to the nests. You yawn.

You look ahead. The routine arranged by the apes is boiling, just as it was when you came here as a stranger. Surely, you didn't hallucinated, due to wounds, exhaustion and cold exposure, and life here flows peacefully?..

You turn carefully to tap your look at the doe with her little deer. They seem as like hugging.

They not afraid of you, not at all.

They see you, and they don't hide in the forest, as you take a few short steps toward them. You stretch out an open hand, and with your fingertips you stroke the doe's honey-brown fur. You know from books, that deer are not easy to see. They wary and unnoticeable. Why then does this forest mother like speak to you about something? Her dark eyes look at you and the top of the fawn's head. She allows you to caress her baby, and it cuddles into your palm.

You smile, transforming all yourself into a carefulness, so as not to disturb them. You would stay in this moment forever, standing next to the doe and fawn.

It's similar to what were taken away from you twice family warmth.

The glade illuminating, as if it were a sunny morning. Embracing you in-deer maneer, the mother and child leave. You know for some reason, that you will see them again — after all forward there are many sunsets and sunrises.

Seeing your hut, you walk faster.

Questions that were scurrying through your head this morning are still scurrying. The clan's abutments still seem strange to you, because you yet know almost nothing. You are healthy, but still weak. But now you feel a warming hope.

And in any case, you cross the threshold of a new home, thinking not about yesterday, but about tomorrow.

[milaisreading]

What if CD!yn gets hit in the the face so hard with a ball she forgets everyone in Blue Lock like the amnesia one with Manager!yn

🌱🩷: Hii! Hope you liked what I came up with! Thank you for the request!

Warnings: Reader is crossdressing as a guy here, so it's a mix between he/him and she/her. Requests are open

⚽️Blue lock belongs to Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura⚽️

The long-awaited and highly anticipated game between Bastard München and PXG had finally started. The spectators, and members of the PIFA board watched the two teams, all eager to see how the match will play out. This was a big thing for the Blue Lock project, and for the 3 specific players as well. Itoshi Rin, who was the current #1 and had the highest bid from PXG. Isagi Yoichi, taking up #2 and who was currently sought after Bastard München. Then, the third player being (L/n) (Y/n), Blue lock's current #3, with the highest bid coming from Spain's Re Al.

'I swear. I better get kicked out of the top10 by the end of this match.' (Y/n) sighed as she watched Rin and Isagi, then looked back at Gagamaru, who looked a little nervous.

"Gagamaru, are you alright? You look really pale?" She asked in worry as the goalie looked back at her, for a moment not looking at the other players.

"I am alright. Just nervous since this is our last game. And it is a big deal." (Y/n) smiled at him in sympathy and was about to to speak up again, only for Hiori and Isagi to scream at her.

"(Y/n), duck!"

"Watch your head!"

"Huh?" She looked back, only for her vision to go black as she felt something collide with her head. Whatever happened after, (Y/n) couldn't really process what was going on. She felt herself lose balance and a pair of arms grab her as something wet started to slide down her face.

"(Y/n)'s head is bleeding!"

"I am killing you, antenna freak!"

"Oh, so now it's my fault that Mr. Golden boy isn't looking?!"

"Shidou, Rin, shut up!"

"Noa-san! We need a medic!"

"Save my midfielder!"

"He isn't yours, gremlin!"

"Oh, shut up, Kaiser and Charles!"

"(Y/n)! Don't fall asleep now!" Hiori's voice was heard, but the girl couldn't see or make out from which direction it was coming from.

"I got some wet towels!"

"(Y/n), look at me! Don't close your eyes!"

"The wound looks bad."

"We need to cut off the match!"

'Kurona... Yukimiya... Kunigami... Isagi... I can hear them, but not see them.' The girl thought in panic as she closed her eyes, going limp in Gagamaru's hold.

"(Y/n) fainted!" Gagamaru yelled in panic as the rest looked on in worry.

While (Y/n) was sent to the medic room, it was announced that the final match will be resumed at a later time when she wakes up and recovers. As much as the JFA protested the idea, not wanting to lose money because of this accident, they had to agree. Ego and Anri arguing that none of the players were in a good condition to play to begin with. And while Anri was doing damage control with the media, Ego was losing his nerves with the manager of Re Al. As the team did put a lot of money into (Y/n), they naturally did worry about her condition in the future.

'Greedy and money hungry, a great combination.' Ego thought sarcastically as he rolled his eyes while the manager kept talking through the phone.

"What do you mean we can't see him?! Who are you to tell me anything?!"

"I am your coach, so yes, I can." Lavinho said as he stood in front of the door, preventing Bachira and Otoya to leave the place.

"But, (Y/n) is our friend, we have a right to see him. He was literally bleeding on the screen." Otoya argued as Bachira nodded his head furiously.

"That's right! We just want to see him and make sure he is alright." The dribbler said, trying to move past Lavinho, but was tugged back by the coach.

"You both are staying here. Noa and Ego both said to not let anyone see (Y/n) while he is asleep. I know and understand that you are worried, but I am not letting you leave. Not even his own teammates can see him right now." Lavinho argued, giving the duo a firm glare.

"This isn't fair..." Otoya sighed.

"Hmph!" Bachira pouted as he stubbornly sat on the ground.

"Barou, listen, I know that you are worried about your friend. But, the doctor said-"

"Screw what he said! I want to see him now! Now!" Barou glared at Snuffy, who gave him a stoic look as Aryu chimed in. The boy was a lot calmer than Barou, but equally worried about the midfielder.

"What Barou wants to say, we really need to see him. We all saw the blood and how he just went unconscious. We are all worried and want to see if we can help." Aryu said calmly as Niko nodded his head, holding back his tears.

"Y-yeah. Maybe he needs blood or something." Niko said as Barou was losing his cool slowly.

"If he needed blood, we would have been told that. Please, all of you sit down and stay here until Ego doesn't give us the green light to see him. The less you all stress out (Y/n), the faster he will recover." Snuffy said calmly as he patted Barou's shoulder.

"No, Nagi, you are not leaving the stratum."

"But, Chris-san, what if (Y/n) would want to see us. Nagi and I, his closest friends."

"Since when are you his closest friends?" Chigiri rolled his eyes, earning offended looks from the duo.

"What? You two were the ones to insult him, weren't you?"

"We already apologized for it. And why are you even being offended over it? It's something between (Y/n) and us." Nagi gritted his teeth, but before Chigiri could argue back, Chris spoke up.

"And this is exactly why you three aren't leaving. (Y/n) needs to recover and not listen to all of you arguing and blaming each other for this."

"But-"

"Reo, no. If you all care so much about him, then you will leave him alone for the time being." With one final glare, the trip shut their mouths, not wanting to anger the blonde more.

"Nope, you are staying here." Loki said, grabbing the ends of Charles' shirt, stopping the boy from leaving for the German stratum.

"I can't! What if (Y/n) wakes up and is scared?! I need to comfort him!" Charles said back, earning an irritated glare from Rin.

"Shut up and stop being so much around him! Are you blind or do you just not see how uncomfortable (Y/n) is around you?!"

"And you shut up-"

"Ok! Ok! That's enough! All of you calm down." Loki clapped, glaring at Tokimitsu and Karasu who were about to leave the room.

"We are all to respect what Ego-san ordered us to do. For now, nobody is seeing him until he wakes up and is able to see all of you."

"But, what if he really needs us?" Tokimitsu protested.

"Or wants to see us?" Karasu added in.

"Then we will be told that. For now, all of you sit down and eat."

Now, while the other stratums were pure messes, the German stratum was uncharacteristically quiet. Noa wasn't really used to Kaiser, Ness, and Isagi not arguing. Kunigami looked even more depressed than usually. Gagamaru kept blaming himself for what had happened, to which Sachs, Gesner, and Grim always had to chime in and tell him it wasn't his fault. Noa noted that Kurona was also less enthusiastic to play, Yukimiya and Hiori just sat to the side, not saying anything. Noa knew that the players were worried, even Kaiser and Ness, which they would never admit to. He also knew that he wasn't making it better by banning them from seeing (Y/n), but for her own sake he had to do it.

Already, a few days had passed since the accident, the pressure from PIFA and the JFA was getting more suffocating on Noa and Ego, but they refused to contthe match without her.

Then, one night while the BM team was eating their dinner, all solemnly, the door opened.

"And this is the dining area. This is where you are mostly with your teammates, aside from the training area." The said team stopped eating as they saw Anri walk in, followed by (Y/n), whose head was still bandaged up.

"Ah... I see..." (Y/n) nodded, looking around the place.

"(Y/n)!!"

"Oh thank God!"

"We were so worried!"

"Why are you walking around like that? You should sit down!"

The girl watched in surprise as Yukimiya, Hiori, Kurona, and Isagi ran up to her, followed by Gagamaru and Kunigami.

"Isagi is right. Please don't walk around like that."

"Do you want some water? Or my food?"

Surprised, and a little scared from the crowd, she hid behind Anri, surprising the team.

"Who... who are all of you?" (Y/n) asked, looking around the room in confusion. Kaiser's spoon slipped from his hand as he heard the question, his eyes widening in terror as he realized what was going on.

"What... what do you mean by that? Nice joke." Ness nervously laughed as Anri cleared her throat.

"(Y/n) has a temporary memory loss. He doesn't remember anyone or the events that happened in Blue Lock. Please, be cautious around him and try to make him remember what had happened. Ok?"

A silence fell among the players as (Y/n) gulped nervously, not liking the attention she was getting.

"Ehmmm... hi, everyone."

To say things were back to normal would be a huge, huge lie. For the next few days the German team tried their best to regain her memories. Isagi, Hiori, and Kurona would give her small tours around the stratum, telling her funny stories that had happened to them, but she just smiled apologetically saying she couldn't remember anything. Yukimiya, Kunigami, and Gagamaru decided to bring her to their monitor room and show her the different matches she played in, hoping that would help. But, that was useless as well. The Blue Lock players were slowly losing their minds, they knew they had to bring back (Y/n)'s memories somehow, or they would lose her in their team. Who would let a player with amnesia play?

Heck, even the German part of the team tried to help her out somehow, but their plans were futile as well. Especially when Kaiser and Ness started teasing and making fun of her. What was usually met with (Y/n) insulting them right back, was now met with the girl crying. That alarmed Noa, so he basically forbade them from talking to her.

Soon enough, the rest of Blue lock heard about (Y/n)'s condition, and they would have rushed to her side if the coaches didn't stop them. They knew it was selfish to overwhelm her now, but the players were just worried and wanted to see her. And they will do that, no matter what.

So, one night after everyone went to sleep, the Blue Lock team, plus Charles, Ness, and Kaiser held a small meeting inside the dining area of the German team.

"Does anyone have an idea what we could do? We tried everything by now?" Isagi asked, looking at the other players.

"How about showing him some pictures? I heard they help in these cases." Otoya raised his hand.

"We tried it with videos already, and that didn't work."

"But, maybe pictures will work, Yukimiya." Kurona protested, not liking the frown on the boy's face.

"Cooking his favorite food, maybe?"

"That's a good idea, Bachira. If there is anything he loves, it's food." Reo nodded in agreement as Nagi showed Isagi his phone.

"Or I show him some video games we used to play. He might not remember me, but he definitely remembers those." Niko could see the sad look on the boy's face, but ignored it as he showed Kunigami his manga stash.

"(Y/n) and I used to read manga together, that might provoke something."

"A nice spa day with me could work as well! We used to do them during the 2nd selection together." Aryu smiled as he remembered that time fondly.

"Or! (Y/n) and I could spend a day watching the anime shows he talked to me about." Tokimitsu smiled at the idea.

"I am still more for Bachira's idea. That boy loves food way too much, I think that will provoke him." Barou said.

"Mhm! Or, we could braid each other's hair. We always used to do that together." Chigiri suggested.

"Rin, do you have any ideas? You are awfully quiet." Karasu commented as the boy sent him a side-glare.

"I am mostly out of ideas. Whatever the majority thinks we should do, I will do it." Rin shrugged his shoulders, trying to hide the anxious feeling he had.

"Charles, Kaiser, Ness, do you three have any ideas?" Gagamaru wondered as the attention was now on them.

"Just let him spend a day with me! I am sure I can help him was better than anyone else can." Charles said while pouting.

"You don't know him that well to claim that!" Reo, Nagi, and Barou yelled.

"I don't care, whatever works, works. I just want him to stop crying whenever Ness or I speak to him."

"It's so annoying." Ness rolled his eyes, ignoring the heartbreak he felt when he remembered all the times (Y/n) cried when they spoke to her.

"You all don't worry, (Y/n) will be his old self again. Right, Isagi?"

The said boy looked over at Hiori, giving him a nervous smile in return.

"Yea... Yeah, of course! He will be back again."

"We should hurry up, then. If we don't get him to regain his memories, his journey here in Blue Lock is over." Karasu spoke up, earning alarmed looks from the others.

"What?! What makes you say that?!"

"This isn't the time for jokes, crow-head."

"You are not funny, Karasu!"

The said boy ignored Rin, Kaiser, and Barou's comments and spoke up again.

"I heard Loki and Snuffy-san talk about it in the hallway today. PIFA and the JFA are tired of waiting. They said if (Y/n) doesn't get her memories back by Friday, it's over. He is getting kicked out." An eerie silence fell among the group as they looked at Karasu in disbelief, but they knew the boy well enough to know he wasn't lying.

"Those money hungry bastards..." Ness clenched his fists as Kaiser and Charles just glared at the ground.

"But.... Isn't Friday tomorrow?" Tokimitsu asked in panic, alarming the rest.

"Don't worry! We still have time!" Kunigami gulped, now even more worried about the oblivious captain.

The next day...

"Hm?" (Y/n) frowned as she put Nagi's phone down.

"Do you remember now?" Nagi asked as Reo, and Chigiri looked at her in excitement.

"No... sorry. I wasted your battery for nothing." The girl said apologetically.

"It's ok! Don't apologize!" Reo said quickly as he took his phone back.

"This isn't good. My method didn't work. Otoya's didn't work, Bachira and Barou's didn't, and now yours failed as well. What now?" Chigiri whispered to Nagi, who for once looked genuinely worried.

"I don't know-"

"(Y/n), there you are!" The girl jumped in surprise as she saw two other players approach her.

"Oh, hi... Niko and Aryu, right?" The girl asked slowly, earning a quick nod from them both.

"That's right. I wanted to ask you to read some mangas with me."

"And I will put on a face mask on you in the meantime."

"Mangas? Face mask? I used to do those things?" The girl blinked in confusion as Aryu and Niko pulled her up.

"Of course! Let's go!"

"Hey, I am coming with you!"

"Me as well!" Charles and Tokimitsu yelled, running after the trio.

"How much time do we have left?" Chigiri asked in worry as he looked back at Reo.

"A good... 3 hours. The JFA president won't be here till 16 o'clock. Karasu, Kurona, and Isagi are keeping an eye out for him." Reo said back as Nagi groaned and laid his head on the table.

"I want (Y/n) back..."

"We all do..."

With (Y/n)...

"So, this is the manga I always read with you?" (Y/n) wondered as she sat with Niko while Aryu had put a face mask on her.

"And I used to put on a face mask as well?" She asked, looking at the two, who quickly nodded their heads.

"Do you remember anything now?" Charles asked, smiling nervously as he gently grabbed her arm.

"Yeah... is this working by any chance?" Tokimitsu gulped nervously. They all looked at (Y/n) as she looked around the place. Truth be told, she did see some foggy memories, but couldn't put a finger onto anything. Nothing was familiar at all.

"No... sorry..." She sighed, looking down at the floor. Charles and Tokimitsu looked at each other in worry as Aryu and Niko started panicking a little. What now?

But, before anyone could say anything, the door had opened and outside was Anri, looking at the 5 players in relief.

"Oh, you are here. Uhm, (Y/n), there is someone who wants to speak with you." Anri said sadly, which caused alarm bells to ring inside the other players' heads.

"And who would that be?" The girl asked, rubbing her head as she got up.

'No... it can't be over...'

'I thought we still had time!'

'This can't be it!' Aryu, Tokimitsu, and Niko thought nervously as Charles had an uncharacteristically stone cold look.

"You know, before that accident a few days ago, you actually had a huge bid on your name from Re Al, a Spanish team, you still do. But, considering we failed to bring back any memories of yours back, your football career might end today. The captain of that team just wanted to speak to you one more time. You are a huge fan of his. Leonardo Luna is his name." Anri explained, trying to hold back her own sadness as the girl numbly nodded her head. Seeing her stoic reaction to the Spanish players names caused the boys to flinch a little. Their are used to seeing her fangirl over him... not act like this!

"Sure! I don't remember really anything, but it sucks that I have to leave."

Alarmed Charles got up from his seat and ran over to the girl, not caring how fast he was going.

"Wait! You can't just leave me like that! This isn't fair! We were supposed to play against each other at the World Cup!"

Without a warning, he ran into (Y/n) and hugged her tightly, which caused her to lose her balance and fall down.

"(Y/n)!"

"Not again! Now he will lose his memories completely!" Tokimitsu yelled as Niko and Aryu ran over to get Charles off of her.

"No! I am not letting you all take hin away from me! No way!" Charles cried out as his hold around (Y/n)'s waist tightened. Seeing the boy cry caused the others to move away a little.

"It isn't fair!" The French boy said as Anri tried to talk some sense into him, but it wasn't working. (Y/n) groaned as she rubbed her head and slowly sat up.

'Now... now I remember!' The girl thought as a rush of memories went through her mind. Everything that had happened prior and during Blue lock, and even everything leading up to today.

"Huh?" She muttered as everyone looked over at her, minus Charles who was busy crying.

"What is going on? And what do you mean I won't play football anymore. I am completely fine! And... and did you say Leonardo Luna is here?! I look like a mess! I can't face him like this!" The girl blushed as she looked at Anri and then down at the clothes she was wearing. Aryu and Tokimitsu's eyes widened in surprise as Anri held in a breath, waiting for what will happen next.

"Do... do you remember everything now?" Niko asked nervously as (Y/n) looked over at him while patting Charles' back. The French boy had stopped crying as he looked at her as well.

"Yeah, now I do. I don't know how, but the memories are back where they should be. You can all stop worrying now." (Y/n) smiled as Charles, Niko, and Tokimitsu tackled her into a hug.

"I will inform the rest!" Aryu said, quickly running out the door as Anri let out a few relieved sobs.

"I will go inform Ego-san and Noa-san!" The woman said as she ran out of the door as well.

[cursedvida]

The romance with Noa and Soona feels shoehorned lol. It was like halfway through the film the writers remembered that the main lead needed a female love interest. I feel no chemistry between them, and Noa never gives those intense gazes or even looks at Soona for longer than a few seconds, (as compared to a certain somebody *ehem* 👀). I also don't want poor Anaya to become a third wheel all of a sudden 😔

Usually, I tend to stick quite closely to the canon of the stories, and it would surprise you to see how I'm quite a shipper of couples that are very unpopular in some fandoms, but if they're not canon, they're almost like they are, and I defend them to the death even if I'm alone in the battle. But they always have in common that they are well constructed, the characters have chemistry, and there's consistency. In the case of Noa and Soona, it feels very forced to me. I mean, yes, I understand the childhood friends-to-lovers trope, but honestly, throughout the entire film, you completely forget that supposedly Noa has a crush on her. They have to remind you narratively several times, and that clashes with the main idea of any script, which is precisely 'show don't tell.' For me, the most WTF scene when it comes to taking Noa/Soona seriously is the fact that when Proximus makes him choose between her and Mae, he doesn't know what the hell to do. I mean, I get that Noa is a good guy and has quite a few ethical principles and clearly he doesn't want anyone to die because of his decisions. He's the hero, I get it. But come on, you're choosing between a girl you literally met like four days ago and your childhood friend who supposedly is also your crush, shouldn't your first instinct be to save her even if you later reconsider and have moral doubts? It's something I don't see, and honestly, if they really intended to make Noa's attachment to Soona seem realistic, they should have approached everything differently. And I'm not saying this as someone who has other ship preferences but as a simple script analyst here.

[fuckyourchampionship]

Unfortunately I agree with you. Sure in the moment it seemed sweet but ultimately I don’t think Lando did that for Oscar, he did it for himself. Fair play it’s a level 1000 iq pr move, but if people are thinking he did it for the good of Oscar alone, I doubt it.

Especially considering his rabid fan base and how they immediately jumped on Oscar, opening up another round of ‘gifted win’ discourse.

And his comments immediately after, devaluing the race as just a sprint that he’s not here to win, yet he couldn’t wait a lap before jumping on the radio and whining to swap positions in Brazil, it just seems so fake to me. And the most irritating part was when he radioed ‘do you want me to save him’ when referring to giving Oscar drs - like what a passive aggressive comment considering Oscar was defending for his life against George anyways.

Ugh, next year is going to be a blood bath, and his fans are just becoming as toxic as any other cult like fan base

exactly, btw his cult scares me, what happened yesterday was a massacre on twitter, probably here too, and on tiktok, this one girl with such a terrifying look, I think her name is noa, And all of Norris's PR went to hell because of that TikTok.

When he takes one step forward, his fans push him ten steps back.