#nowadays it IS a storyline

[the-sprog]

I've been kinda getting back into MHA and I'm a slut for crossovers ok. So I really want to write one for Sanders Sides, but I'm stuck on why the FUCK someone like c!Thomas would go to a hero highschool in Japan. And not having a hero or provisional license would prevent any of them from using whatever power I come up with. Which is like. The whole point of these kinds of crossovers. So tourist moment is also not on the table.

I also do not remember what the law status of quirk usage in the usa is (been a good 5 years since I've last caught up w the manga).

Also, how would it go with the sides not technically legally being people? Would Thomas get in trouble if Roman got caught vigilante-ing?

It's a lot harder than a Marvel or DC crossover. Although Marvel is easier than DC because of their superior power origin categorization.

There IS the exchange student route, do a little bit of Pony copy moment. But it would still be a bit of "why is c!Thomas in a hero school in the usa?" although we did have that backstory little gem in "Moving on" where they talk about wanting to help the planet, hence the unused college degree.

I just also think that Virgil wouldn't be able to let Thomas do something so dangerous. Although it WOULD be a Thomas that at this point in history kinda mostly listens to his Morality, even though Virgil is scawy. We know that Virgil scared him in the moment, but that Thomas didn't used to let him in the driver's seat for long term decision making.

Ugh I'm here all "this has to make sense. LOGISTICALLY" about a guy who splits into 6 himselves and the anime where the answer to the question s"what kind of superpowers can people have?" is "yes"

[pavo-ocxllus]

heheheh hihi! i’d like to drop a request for bb geppie.. you can choose any reader for this i really don’t mind. butbutbut i’ve been thinking about him having a crush on a friend or even band partner of serval’s😞 serval teasing him abt it and sets them up

𝟏𝟏:𝟑𝟔

"you really like that track in particular, hmm?"

GEPARD jumped at the sudden sound of his sister's voice in his ear, clattering a bunch of vases packed full of flowers in front of him. quickly, he straightened them out and placed them in their original positions on the display, but a glare was fixed on his face (of course, not because of the flowers.)

"what did i say about approaching me like that during my break?"

"what did i say about spending a lot of time here without buying anything?"

the younger brother could only retort in a sigh as serval laughed heartily, red coating his cheeks. he wasn't the best with comebacks anyway—looking at the pretty flowers trying to clear his head was a much easier task.

"...it wasn't playing that loud, was it?"

"you would put our concerts to shame, geppie."

the red on his face bloomed further as he yanked out the single ear bud in his ear and stuffed it in his pocket.

"i don't blame you, though... [name]'s got some nice pipes."

gepard started to frantically look around the area in a burst of panic. "don't mention their name so loudly!!"

"[name]?"

serval didn't seem to fit into gepard's requirements for 'quiet,' so he started to groan with noises that didn't seem comprehendible to anyone other than her.

"relax, i'll let you shoot your shot with them!"

"i assure you, i'm not 'shooting' any 'shots' anytime soon."

it was then his older sister's turn to sigh.

"fine..." she trailed off while her eyes wandered to stare blankly behind gepard. suddenly, serval perked up. "ah! do me a favor and buy those ball peonies for me? give them to the first person you see."

"...what?! that's ridiculous-!"

"just trust me on this!"

gepard simply grumbled—whatever, at least his older sister would leave him alone for the time being. serval took it as an acceptable answer and left the scene satisfied, beckoning the eversummer florist's shopkeeper over to purchase a small bouquet for him.

"gepard?"

once again, he jumped at the sudden voice, immediately recognizing who it was. swiftly, he tried to conceal the flowers behind his armor, hoping his hastiness was left unnoticed.

"i—uhm—" he cut himself by coughing, trying to compose himself. "h-hello there."

the pieces of the confusing puzzle were already getting put together in gepard's mind.

"hello to you, too," you giggled. he never understood how you simultaneously make him feel relaxed and nervewrackingly anxious at the same time. "those flowers are lovely."

you prodded at the arrangement, carefully nestling the petals in between your fingers.

"say... it's not often that people would buy ball peonies, especially for their price. what do you plan on doing with these—?"

"I'D—i mean—i would like to be extend these towards you," the words shot out of his mouth and the next thing he knew, his arm jolted out robotically. "...on the behalf of my sister."

it was just then when he finally realized what serval set him up to do.

to his horror, you simply blinked owlishly. he personally thought that the simplest of gestures were more intolerable than grander ones—it only clouded up one's intentions, only making it more frustrating for gepard to understand what was happening.

"uh, i'm quite flattered, heh," you rubbed the back of your neck sheepishly while embarrassment quelled within him. gepard didn't know what was worse, the fact that he caused this mess for serval or that he was supposed to be the one doing this. "but... i'm not interested in your sister."

of course, he was elated at the news on the inside... but he wasn't going to show that! instead, he decided to focus something else that was itching the back of his mind.

"i deeply, deeply apologize for causing you all this trouble—"

"—no, no! it's fine!" you knew he was about to go through this song and dance that could easily be substituted with two words, so you spared him the trouble by snatching the flowers out of his grasp. forcefully, you pushed your hands into gepard's to take his attention off of his apology.

"to be honest, you're really the one who caught my interest..." you flushed, much to gepard's confusion. if anything, he was the one that should be embarrassed (not that he wasn't.) "although... how about we take this more slowly?"

"i-" he sighed, a letting small smile on to his face as the tension in his shoulders disappeared. "that's what i was hoping to hear."

note: according to the hsr wiki, it's implied that ball peonies are believed to have one's significant other say yes when asking for their hand in marriage!

𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝 <𝟑

[soultel]

confession time..

i acrually think the dsmp is suc h entertaining media but the fact that some of the creators in it are absolute dogshit ,,,,, it just got absolutely ruined

[jonathanssweatercollection]

you still resent nancy and jonathan for getting together???? for “hurting steve’s feelings”??? despite the fact that he verbally supported their relationship like 2 hours after seeing them together. this from a season that released 6 fucking years ago. a season prior to him saying that he was NOT in love with nancy anymore. do you want me to call shawn levy and tell him of your dilemma. bestie do you need to rewatch the source material

[lottieurl]

s2 just has issues with pacing imo

[yousignedupforthis]

I've said this before but now all the more reason why we should go back to really popular books being made into absolutely iconic movie series because there's just a Vibe there that is not replicated in tv shows and also now there's the fact that tv shows are under constant threat of cancellation

[carcarrot]

old man yells at cloud about constant sequels

[dapperrokyuu]

Fact about me that will only be understood and potentially found amusing by a niche amount of people: oddly, the first Vocaloid project I found myself getting into was Shuuen no Shiori and then Kagerou Project. I clicked on a Kagerou Days thumbnail thinking it was a PART of Shuuen no Shiori, lol.

[rose-n-gunses]

y'all know the grimace shake trend? yeah eddie thinks it's hilarious and convinces chrissy to help him film his own video (she gets so into it and writes a script and gives it a plot and everything)

[youtappedout]

why do twitter locals bully solo sikoa 😭😭 i read he's deactivated his account there

because of 10 y.o. 'i hate math' tweets good god 😭

[whysamwhy123]

You know how I always bitch/point out that the commentators on Collision always immediately start talking about men during the women's matches? Well, this week they outdid themselves and started talking about men during the women's ENTRANCES 🙂🙂🙂

[you-will-be-found]

if you like rdr2 i’m BEGGING you to get into the roleplaying streams, specifically wildRP, on twitch because it’s legitimately the best content out there period

[nalapup]

me building a new sim save…. again…

[thundertide]

✼, ❝ ❞, ✄, ◑ The last two for Kag, Saiki, and Cee especially <3

It's Munday~! <3

✼ When it comes to worldbuilding, what are some ideas you’d like to explore in rp?

The units under the Fatui control, for one. I know we've talked about this recently, but I'd love to explore more of the ranks of the Fatui? I want to explore more about Snezhnaya, how the Knights of Favonius work in Mondstadt, how Northland Bank works and continues to operate in Liyue especially after the AQ there- How exactly does the Akademiya work, with more detail? On top of that, all these gods and beings that 'once existed in Teyvat', I want to explore all of that! <3

And while I know we have some plans already in the works that link up ridiculously well, there's just so much that gets left as either a mention or never expanded on, or even just dropped after being made out to be a big deal at first (like the Akademiya, we get to know so much about the security but not how the school itself really runs? The ages of the students, how people are sorted into darshans, etc? Why is a darshan a big deal and people talk about which one they want to be in, but never tell us how people get sorted into them or if they choose their own?), and it's never gone back to. I want to expand on these? I want to make them make sense and be able to explore it so that writing threads and drabbles and such is easier to understand and follow, but I also LOVE linking things together and it making sense from a canon perspective, too. Which is why I have so many plans in the background I'm not going to explain here for Reasons(tm) >w> <3

But yeah, I have a lot of ideas that all revolve around filling in gaps for completed plotlines and how my muses fit into these gaps, or how they affect the muses, and that's why I'm starting to come up with worldbuilding tags~!

❝ ❞ Is it easy for you to write dialog for your muse? Do their speech patterns come naturally to you while writing?

Yes and no! For Kagota, it's super easy? She can be super blunt and blurt things out as they come to her mind, and she's more calm with Childe and her unit and their family, but Kag doesn't often think for long before she speaks unless she needs to be cautious with her words, or she's relaxed. And for the most part, this applies to most of my muses - They're chill and reasonable and while mostly they think more than Kag does before they speak, their dialogue and way of speaking is very easygoing, and it's pretty natural to write them.

But there's certain muses I'm not as in tune with, and those are usually the ones that're newer or I haven't written in a while, resulting in dialogue specifically being a little harder to write - ESPECIALLY canons. Thoughts, mannerisms, actions... Those are still easy to write either way, but if they're a newer muse or one I haven't written for a while, it's harder to get back into writing/learning how to nail their dialogue and not making them sound like a cardboard cutout, or exactly like another muse of mine - And this is doubly so with canons, who're more difficult for me to learn how to write in general. Muses like Rosalee and Mizuki are a little harder right now because they haven't been around as much, while Ayaka is just because she has a very specific way of speaking I haven't completely figured out yet, too, but I'm learning and working on this. <3

Tl;dr: No if they're a muse around fairly often, yes somewhat if they're a brand new muse or if I haven't written them in ages. <3

✄ What is an idea you originally had in mind for your muse, but ended up scrapping? Why?

For Kag, that was actually how I started writing her - That she and Childe just couldn't stand each other and yet somehow fell in love despite a lowkey relationship brewing in the background for a while. She was also a lot more of an asshole for the general sake of being an asshole, bucking literally every authority figure she could, and was from somewhere else in Snezhnaya, far from Morepesok. I originally was thinking of keeping her more magic aligned than sword, a nod back to her origins years back for a totally different series I like, but... That got dropped super quick, too, right along with the idea of making her just a random side soldier. A lot of this really got shelved because Kag grew as a character pretty quick, though, and was all because I was still new to the game when I added her into things, so it's more like the entire original version of Kag got scrapped instead for one far more fleshed out and detailed. <3

For Saiki, when I first created her, she was far more of a 'I'm not listening to anyone and doing what I want' kind of girl? So when I originally added her to a different blog, I kept a part of that intact, making her more independent and on her own, and basically making her 'that knowledgable camper you find when lost in the woods who helps you get home', and more earth-alligned. The earth/Geo allignment got scrapped pretty early on, but I can't say the 'knowledgable camper' part did completely - she's still smart and really skilled at being on her own? But she's evened out in her temperment, and the 'I'm FINE ALONE' side got scrapped completely for something softer and more easygoing.

Also a fun fact: Saiki was originally made with her 'I'm looking for my twin!' backstory for the Soul Calibur series, but got that standoffish "I CAN DO ANYTHING I WANT' personality scrapped HARD before I ever put her on any blog, not just here. Major rehauling happened and has continued to happen to make her the Saiki she is now, a MUCH better and stable character. <3

Cettra though... Cee is kind of a special case in that I originally made her yeaaaaaaars back as a character for a friend's ( @velveteenlop ) story she was writing, based around wolves and shapeshifting. From what I remember, the story itself didn't get too far off the ground, it's been a looooong time since she started it, but Cee's entire mature but lowkey silly and kind of 'well if you won't then I WILL' mentality got roundabout adjusted to the more playful and silly but reasonable and concerned wolf she is now. There's still remnants of the original 'Cee' in there in how she acts when serious, keeping her mature and focused outlook in place, but everything else got not quite scrapped, but more adjusted into a shapeshifter who just wants to live, and the original story that friend was writing got scrapped overall, with permission to take Neil alongside the shapeshifting wolf ideas granted a few years later.

Neil on the other hand... Cee's backstory got entirely scrapped and rewritten alongside her brother's personality with only a few nods to the original left, and I was going to rewrite Cee into being a totally human form only youkai with a tail and wolf ears, but... Nah. <3

◑ What is a side to your muse you want to show off, but haven’t had the chance to yet?

For Kag, that's more of her abyssal side, but also her with her loved ones overall. She's always with Childe and I love that, but I want a chance to show off her with her kids, with Kyr, Ren and Rei... I want to show off her with her unit and her feelings towards them, and just how much of a big sister/mother figure/guardian she can actually be. I'd also love to show off her more work-focused side and how she tends to her job despite her feelings towards it, and how she actually works, but also I'd LOVE to explore and show more of her feelings towards her abyssal abilities and the tightknit bond she actually has with Childe, Leandros, and Kalistratos as a small group. Some of these we've started showing off but they get a little sidetracked? Or I don't get to delve as deep into them as I'd love to? But that's definitely some Kag I'd LOVE to show and explore more <3

I'd also love to explore/show more of Saiki with the Kamisatos and her comfort and relaxation with her found family and husband. I want a chance to get to show Saiki's braver, bolder side, her ability to stand on her own and deal with things, how she deals with the stress and strain of being the bearer of her mother's actions when they can't get to her mother... I want to show just how much she's grown since marrying Thoma and finding a home and work within the Yashiro Commission. I also want to show how much of a big sister she is with Gaming and let the siblings reunite in full (she'll never be sorry Heizou <3) and how well she can/does/could work with Heizou? She's finally on her feet after recent events again, so I'd love the chance for her to be able to show it while she navigates "I'm learning who Saiki is" and "what's okay for me to do/say, actually" over a lot of things~!

As for Cettra, I want to show her more serious side, be it dealing with family stuff, working with Heizou, of dealing with Neil and her clan hunting her down. She's so much more than just this goofy dork of a wolf who chases chickens and loads them up into the house to get them out of the rain and such, so I'd love the chance to show more of that? There's been a few signs of it, like her debates with Heizou and when he questions her to test the skills she's been learning, but I'd absolutely love to get to show off any side of her that isn't 'no, I didn't sleep with the local sheep and then spook a Nobushi into jumping into a stream for fun'. XD Don't get me wrong, goofy wolf is a BLAST, but I wanna let those around her see she's not just a dork living off fun, too! <3

[earthtooz]

you're the only one that can tame diluc's anger. reader is called 'lady' but other than that no pronouns are mentioned, fluff, diluc being a softie in this, 1.2k wc.

your husband is notorious for being the stoic, level-headed character that he is. unperturbed by all things so long as mondstadt was safe and at peace, and when the city had someone as diligent as diluc protecting it, there was virtually nothing that ever made him falter. as much as you love and adore his rationality and straightforwardness, there was nothing that you hated more than his unwillingness to compromise in an argument.

his bullheadedness caused you to storm out of the manor, trek through the expansive fields of the winery in order to reach mondstadt. there, you calmed yourself down with a quick bite from good hunter before heading to the library because a quick rant to lisa would generally soothe the anger you felt. 

however, your original plans of returning to the winery changed when a book that was recently returned caught your eye. noticing your fleeting glance, the electro-user recommends it, detailing its popularity and captivating storyline.

when lisa feels so passionate about something, how could you not be curious? she rarely gets a sentence out without a yawn nowadays so to hear her speak animatedly about a book is bound to get your attention.

without a second thought, you postpone your plans of returning home and find a comfortable couch to sit on before reading.

you must have spent longer than planned, and a favonius soldier barging through the library doors indicates as such, whose expression so panicked you would have thought there was a hillichurl invasion. he takes a quick scan of the room and relief floods his posture when his eyes land on you.

“lady y/n, you must come with me this instant,” the soldier demands after a quick salute.

“what is the issue?” you ask, undeniably curious.

“master diluc is searching for you and i fear that he is very angry. not even barbara can calm him, some of flora’s flowers have been singed, and he might burn down monstadt next, please come with me before it’s too late!”

you know that the soldier is merely exaggerating because as long as you were in mondstadt, diluc would never dare harm the city. moreover, he would never dare lay a finger on the city he loves, but his anger is nothing to take lightly, and you understand the knight’s fear.

although, you really don’t want to meet your husband.

“fine, i suppose i can classify this matter as urgent,” you sigh. “lisa, could you please let me borrow this book? i’ll return it in two weeks.���

“not a problem dear. better run along now before your husband supposedly burns down the city,” the librarian waves her hand, beckoning you to go, so you do.

the knight leads you to the whereabouts of angel’s share and before you could even turn the corner, you hear a mix of kaeya and diluc’s voices.

“i don’t know where y/n is, which is why i have my knights running around to find-” exclaims the calvary captain, beginning to sound perplexed at his brother’s uncharacteristic display of irrationality and franticness. 

observing the scene, you see your husband right in kaeya’s face and suddenly you understand why the knight who brought you here was so frightened. the air had risen significantly in temperature and if you were a moment too late, he actually might have drawn out his claymore.

his red eyes glance behind the navy-haired to see you and in the blink of an eye, the red-haired pushes past the knights before storming down the street, right towards you. 

“where have you been?” diluc asks, stopping only two feet before you. the deep frown on his face is evident of his displeasure, but the concern swimming in his eyes tell you that you don’t need to be scared.

“i was reading in the library,” you gesture to the book you were holding. “enjoying a peaceful afternoon until i got word that you were creating a ruckus.”

the winery owner visibly relaxes, tension flooding from his shoulders whilst a gloved hand runs through his hair, causing his bangs to fall messily in front of his eyes. “let’s talk about this at home,” he states, tone returning to normal as he takes your book from your hand, his vacant hand finding yours. diluc’s grip is tight and unrelenting, leaving no room for you to slip away as he turns to apologise to the knights of favonius.

then, the two of you leave through the main gates. 

“are you still upset?” your husband asks and you squeeze his hand.

“a little,” you murmur before a small laugh escapes your lips, “but i wish you would have seen how terrified that knight was when he found me. it entertained me quite a bit, guess a thank you is in order for that.”

diluc doesn’t say anything but the guilt dripping from him is practically tangible, pooling around your feet and reminding you of the unpleasant argument you had earlier. as the sun begins to dip below the horizon and the sky turns a calming shade of orange, you realise just how long you spent away from him. no wonder why he was so frantic about finding you. 

“the next time you storm out of the winery, can you at least let me know where you are going?”

you laugh at his proposition, unsure of how to respond but he stops. you’re forced to stop too when his unwavering grip makes you turn and look in the ruby eyes that set ablaze in the gold of the setting sun. diluc’s beauty is truly undeniable, and it’s moment like these that make you feel a little jealous that he was graced with such a gift. 

“i’m serious, y/n, you worried me to end when you didn’t return after three hours. i thought something might have happened to you.” his gaze falls downward with his soft confession. “your safety is the most important thing to me, even when things between us are rocky, because- well, you know…”

your heart tightens and the step you take closer to him is instinctual, letting go of his hand to hold his face instead. “i’m sorry, i didn’t mean to worry you.”

“no, you have nothing to apologise for, it was my fault for being so unbearable in the first place,” the red-haired shakes his head, his hands finding a home on your waist. “i’m sorry too.”

“i forgive you,” you hover a kiss over his nose, causing it to scrunch at the sensation. when you lean back, the softness in his eyes and smile is unmatched and you’re grateful that you’re the only one with the luxury of seeing him as such. the only person he’s let into his kingdom of concrete walls is you, gifting you a more vulnerable side of him that the rest of the world has not seen in years. 

“i love you,” you murmur and diluc hums, tapping your waist three times in response. “oh but diluc, you must tell me how worried you were over me, i think i deserve to know.” 

the red-haired rolls his eyes before dragging you down the hilly path back home. you are perhaps the only one in mondstadt who could perplex him to no end, but that is just another testament of the love he holds for you. 

© EARTHTOOZ 2023, do not steal, translate, repost my fics and do not recommend my fics onto any other site.

[imjustreadinglmao]

BLUE

Paring: Azriel x Reader, Lucien x platonic!Reader

Summary: After Azriel and Elain‘s courtship is revealed, their mates, Lucien and Y/N, are left to deal with the consequences. While fighting against Koschei and for Prythian‘s freedom, Y/N has to navigate her emotions and learn how to live with the heartbreak of a one sided mating bond. But what happens when long kept secrets are revealed and everything turns out differently than they thought?

PART I

word count: 3k

A/N: this is part 1 of BLUE. I changed the beginning a bit to fit the storyline. Please be nice this is my first fic :)

Warnings: light angst, unrequited love, mention of childhood trauma/ mention of ãbuse (not described)

part 2

I stir my black tea as Rhysand files through the report I handed him just seconds ago.

The steam from the tea rises, curling in delicate tendrils, carrying with it a sense of fleeting warmth that I desperately cling to.

Rhysand’s office is both grand and simple.

Bookshelves line the walls, filled with volumes on history, strategy, and magic. A fireplace to the right. Above it, a large portrait of Velaris shows the city bathed in a soft, ethereal glow. Feyre gifted it to him last starfall.

Heavy velvet drapes in shades of midnight blue frame the windows, ready to be drawn shut for privacy.

In the distance I can make out the mountains with their snow-capped peaks and the Sidra winding through the valley below.

“I have to say, I’m impressed you were able to convince Devlon so fast.”

I look up at Rhys and chuckle, the sound hollow to my own ears. “It does help if you threaten to cut his balls off and stake them to the wall for everyone to see.”

Rhys lifts a brow and barks out a laugh. “I see.”

I rarely go on missions anymore, choosing to work as an advisor for Rhysand.

Missions used to be exciting, but nowadays I prefer the comfort my room provides. The sense of security it brings is a balm to my soul, now more than ever.

I take this as a sign to stand up and lift my bag from the floor. I sling it over my shoulder and make my way to the door.

“Don’t forget tonight’s family dinner,” Rhysand calls after me. I don’t look back, just give him a thumbs-up and close his office door behind me.

As I make my way downstairs and through the foyer, I spot Lucien strapping on his sword. Presumably getting ready for training, he has always been an early riser.

“How did the mission go?” Lucien doesn’t need to look up to see that it’s me approaching.

I let out a sigh and rub my temples. “Good.” I stop beside him and flop onto the recamier right next to the front door. “Well, as good as paying the camps a visit can get.”

Lucien cracks a smile at that, his amber eyes twinkle with amusement. He knows exactly how difficult it is to convince Devlon of something he isn’t particularly fond of.

“Are you coming to the family dinner tonight?” I ask, my voice betraying a hint of reluctance.

Lucien sheaths his blade and nods. “Feyre will have my head if I don’t show up. I already missed the last one.”

I cringe at the mention of the last family dinner. The memory alone sends a sharp pang through my chest.

———————

I walk into the dining room, ready to face yet another family dinner. I spot Mor right away, radiant in her blood-red gown. The sight of her is always one of familiarity and comfort.

“Hey, got another one of those?” I point to the wine glass in her hand. She arches a brow and hands me one filled to the brim.

“Are we so exhausting that you need liquid encouragement to get through the night?” she muses. I just roll my eyes, trying to hide my amusement.

Right as she opens her mouth to say something, the back of my head begins to tickle. He is here.

I turn around to see Azriel walk through the door, and he is not alone. Elain is beside him, their hands intertwined.

Even though I was expecting it to happen soon, the sight still hits me like a physical blow. It was always just a matter of time till Azriel and Elain decided to go against Rhys‘s order and make their love official.

I‘m glad, Lucien isn’t here to witness this. I can’t imagine how it would be for him.

Since only my side of the bond snapped into place, seeing how in love they are, is somehow… manageable. For Lucien it would be almost deadly.

I look back at Mor, her expression as shocked as mine. “I didn’t know,” she whispers, her face now bearing a look of worry and pity.

To say the dinner is awkward would be an understatement. Nobody really knows what to say after Elain and Azriel walked in holding hands.

I just shove the potatoes on my plate around, too nauseous to eat anything. The lump in my throat makes swallowing impossible.

Cassian clears his throat and points to Azriel and Elain. “So how long has this been going on?” Nesta jabs her elbow into his ribs, which earns her an “oww”, and throws me an apologetic look.

Besides Mor, only Lucien and Nesta know about the bond between me and Azriel. Their concern a constant reminder of the bond I try so hard to ignore.

“Well…” Azriel coughs, noticeably uncomfortable with being put on the spot. “It all happened very quickly. We spent a lot of our nights up and talking and realized we didn’t want to hold back anymore.”

He gazes down at her, smiling. I recognize that look. The realization twists the knife in my heart.

That’s how I look at him.

—————————

“Are you even listening?” Lucien waves a hand in front of my face to snap me out of my haze. His voice pulls me back to the present, but the ache remains.

I rub my eyes. “Uh… sorry. What exactly were you saying?”

He crosses his arms and looks down at me. “I was asking if you wanted to go training with me. But it seems what you really need is some sleep.”

I roll my eyes and stand up. “You know me so well, Lu.” I pat his shoulder and walk out the door. “See you at dinner tonight.”

Velaris is most beautiful at night, but nothing can beat the quiet and peace of the early mornings.

I walk down the high street, greeting some of my favorite vendors with a smile, until I reach the familiar townhouse.

After I officially became part of Rhysand’s inner circle, he offered me to stay at his townhouse.

It had many perks: no rent, right in the heart of Velaris, and an endless wine supply thanks to Rhysand’s "secret" wine cellar.

There is really only one downside.

“I didn’t think you would be back so soon.” Azriel sits at the dinner table eating breakfast. He has his fighting leathers on, probably on his way to the House of Wind for Valkyrie training.

Cassian and Azriel still train the Valkyries every morning. Sometimes I join, but only when Nesta drags me up there.

“Well, sorry to disappoint.” I laugh awkwardly. “I’m going to head upstairs to rest. Say hello to Nesta for me.” The words taste bitter, a poor attempt to mask the hurt.

I turn around before he has the chance to say something else, the lump in my throat threatening to choke me.

Yes, that is the downside. The constant reminder of what I had lost and could never have.

Him.

——————

The dining room buzzes with conversation as everyone settles in for dinner.

Azriel and Elain sit together, a vision of contentment that sends a pang through my heart.

Across the table, Lucien’s jaw is tight, his gaze fixed on his plate.

“Thank you all for coming,” Rhysand begins, standing at the head of the table. “I have an important announcement to make.”

He glances at Lucien and me, a hint of apology in his eyes. “We’ve decided to support Eris in overthrowing Beron.

Lucien and you,” he points at me, “will lead the mission to the Autumn Court.”

A murmur runs through the room. Lucien looks up, his eyes meet mine.

There is a mixture of determination and vulnerability in his gaze that makes my heart ache.

The Autumn Court doesn’t hold great memories for either of us.

But before I can fully process Rhysand’s words, Azriel stands abruptly, his expression dark and tense.

“Why them?” Azriel’s voice is sharp, a stark contrast to his usual calm demeanor. “Why not send someone else?”

Rhysand frowns slightly, clearly not expecting this reaction.

“Both of them have a unique advantage given their history with Eris and the Autumn Court. It’s a strategic decision.”

Azriel’s eyes flicker to me, a storm of emotions swirling within them. “I don’t like it. It’s too dangerous.”

I feel a surge of frustration. Azriel’s protectiveness, though touching, is misplaced and completely out of character.

“What’s your problem, Azriel?” I snap, unable to hold back.

“I’m more than capable of leading this mission. Or do you think I’m not good enough to do my job?”

His eyes narrow, the tension between us thickening. “That’s not what I meant,” he retorts, his voice lower but no less intense.

“I just don’t think it’s wise to send specifically you two into such a volatile situation. You can’t just throw yourself into danger like that.”

My heart pounds in my chest. “That’s rich coming from you. You’re always in danger, always risking everything. How is that different from this mission?”

“It’s different because—” Azriel stops himself, glancing at Elain, who is watching us with wide eyes. He seems to struggle for a moment before finishing, “It doesn’t matter, just let someone else do the mission. You’re an important asset to this court.”

Before I could respond with something I’d surely regret, Elain’s voice cuts through the tension.

“Azriel, stop.” Her voice is calm but firm, a hint of desperation in her eyes. “This isn’t helping.”

Azriel turned to Elain, his expression softens slightly, but the tension remains. He takes a deep breath, trying to regain his composure. “I’m sorry. I just… I worry.”

Lucien’s gaze hardens, “We’ve faced worse,” he says, a challenge in his tone. “We are capable enough to lead this mission, we don’t need your approval, Shadowsinger.”

Azriel’s jaw clenches, a muscle ticking in his cheek. “It’s not about capability. It’s about safety. I don’t want to see anyone get hurt.”

“Anyone?” I echo, my voice rises. “Or just Elain’s mate?”

The words hang in the air, charged with emotion. Azriel flinches slightly.

“This has nothing to do with Lucien being Elain‘s mate,” he says, though the slight tremor in his voice betrays him.

“But it does, doesn’t it?” My words laced with venom. “If Lucien were to get hurt, it would cause Elain distress, that’s how a mating bond works. And we can’t have that, can we?”

Elain looks down, her face unreadable, while Lucien’s gaze flickers between Azriel and me.

“We all know the risks,” Lucien says more calmly this time, “And we’re prepared to face them.”

Rhysand interjects, his voice low but authoritative. “Enough. We’re all on the same side here. This is a mission we need to undertake for the greater good. Personal feelings need to be set aside.”

I take a deep breath and try to steady the storm of emotions within me. Rhysand is right, the last thing we need is Azriel and me fighting.

Rhysand sits down, his tone final. “This mission is vital. We need to trust each other and stay focused. We’ll discuss this further tomorrow. For now, let’s try to enjoy the evening.”

The atmosphere is strained as we resume our meal. I can feel Azriel’s gaze on me.

Lucien reaches over, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. It was a small gesture, but it meant everything in that moment.

I don’t say a word throughout the whole dinner. Choosing to stay quiet instead of lashing out.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that this mission would change everything.

---

The garden of the River House is a haven of tranquility. Blooming flowers and lush greenery everywhere Elain truly is a talented gardener.

I find Lucien leaning against a stone pillar, his gaze lost in the Sidra's gentle flow.

I approach him quietly, the cool evening air brushing against my skin. “Mind if I join you?” I ask softly.

Lucien looks up, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. “Of course not. I was just enjoying the peace before the storm.”

I halt beside him, the tension from the dinner still coils tightly in my chest. “Quite the announcement, wasn’t it?”

He nods, his expression thoughtful. “I knew something like this was coming, but hearing it confirmed… it’s different.

Eris must be desperate if he reached out to Rhysand.”

I sigh, running a hand through my hair. “Yes, it’s a lot. I wish Rhys would have told us separately. This topic is already very emotional I really didn’t need Azriel’s… concern too.”

Lucien’s eyes darken at the mention of Azriel. “He’s protective, that’s clear. But he doesn’t have the right to undermine your abilities.”

“It’s not just that,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. “His words, his actions… they confuse me. One moment he’s distant, the next he’s overly concerned. I don’t understand him.”

Lucien’s gaze softens, a flicker of understanding in his eyes. “He cares about you. He might not be aware of it but you’re his mate, bond snapping into place or not, it’s his priority to keep you safe. That can’t be changed, even if he’s in love with someone else.”

I look away, the garden blurring before my eyes. “It hurts, Lucien. Seeing him with Elain, pretending to be something they’re not. I don’t know how to deal with it.”

Lucien reaches out, his hand covering mine. “You’re not alone in this. We’ve all got our battles to fight, and sometimes the hardest ones are with our own hearts.”

A moment of silence stretches between us, the night air filled with the scent of blooming flowers.

“And what about you?” I ask, turning to look at him. “How are you handling all of this? Eris, the Autumn Court… it can’t be easy for you.”

Lucien’s expression grows somber. “It’s not. But I’ve come to terms with my past and everything my father did to me. I knew this was going to happen. Eris has the chance to change things, to make the Autumn Court a better place. I can’t turn my back on that.”

He smiles at that. “And maybe, when all of this is over, we’ll find some semblance of peace.”

As we stand there, the garden enveloping us in its quiet embrace, I feel a sense of calm settle over me. Whatever challenges lay ahead, I know we have each other’s backs.

—————————

The war room in the House of Wind is filled with dread as we gather around the large oak table.

Rhysand stands at the head, his usual easy demeanor replaced by a grave seriousness.

To his right, Amren sits with her usual enigmatic expression, while Cassian leans against the wall, arms crossed and a stern look on his face.

Azriel is on my left, his gaze unreadable, and Lucien sits across from me, his eyes focused and determined.

Rhysand unfurls a detailed map of the Autumn Court, its forests and strongholds marked with meticulous detail.

“Eris has provided us with information about Beron’s movements and the layout of his court. Our objective is to infiltrate the main stronghold, gather intelligence, and support Eris in his efforts to dethrone Beron.”

Lucien nods, his jaw set. Rhys continues. “We’ll enter through the southern border. Eris has arranged for a distraction that will draw most of Beron’s guards away from the main stronghold. This will give us the opportunity to slip in and meet with Eris.”

Amren leans forward, her sharp eyes assessing the map. “And what about Koschei? He’s been a wild card in all of this. His alliance with Beron could complicate things.”

Rhysand nods in agreement. “Koschei is a concern. According to Eris, Koschei has been providing Beron with dark magic. We need to be prepared for any magical traps or barriers.”

Azriel’s voice cuts through the discussion. “I’ll handle the reconnaissance. I’ll fly ahead and ensure the path is clear before they move in.”

I glance at him, he hasn’t looked at me or said a single thing to me since yesterday. If I didn’t know better I would say he was sulking.

Rhysand continues, “Once inside, our main goal is to secure the throne room and neutralize Beron’s guards. Eris will confront Beron directly. You,” he gestures to Lucien and me, “need to be ready to support him.”

Lucien nods again, his eyes meeting mine across the table. “We’ll be ready.”

Rhysand’s gaze softens slightly as he looked at us. “This mission is dangerous, but it’s necessary. Any questions?”

I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of the responsibility settle on my shoulders. “What if things go wrong? Do we have an extraction plan?”

Amren smirks. “We have a plan. Azriel and I will be your backup. If things go south, we’ll get you out, girl.”

Azriel nods, his eyes meeting mine. “You won’t be alone out there. We’ll be watching.”

There is a moment of silence as everyone absorbs the gravity of this mission.

Finally, Rhysand speaks again, his voice resolute. “We leave at dawn. Get some rest and prepare yourselves.”

As we all stand to leave, Azriel catches my arm. “Can I talk to you for a moment?” he asks, his voice low.

I nod, following him to a quieter corner of the room. “What is it, Azriel?”

He hesitates, searching for the right words. “I know you’re capable. But this mission… it’s dangerous, and I can’t shake the feeling that something might go wrong. Just promise me you’ll be careful.”

His concern should touch me, but I can’t help and feel angry. “I know the risks, Azriel. And I’ll be careful. But you need to trust me to do my part.”

He sighs, running a scarred hand through his hair. “It’s not that I don’t trust you or your abilities. I just… I can’t lose you.”

Before I can respond, Lucien approaches.“Ready?” Lucien asks, his eyes flicker between Azriel and me. I nod, giving Azriel one last look.

“Ready.”