#ooof i went ham at the end

[twstinginthewind]

🐲 & ⚔️ for The carder twins and Zayn methinks! You can see I have a tinsy tiny bias

Ooooh, excellent menu selections, Miss! That's one Diasomnia combo with a pair of goofers and one bookworm, coming up! (And don't worry - biases and strong preferences are always welcome here. Picking faves is half the fun!!)

I'll go with Malleus Draconia first, because he's royalty, after all. He isn't particularly close with any of these three at the moment, but over time (and especially in one timeline) he will at least get to know them in a positive way.

twst character relationship asks!

Joker Carder has been curious about him since she first heard about him attending Night Raven College, even before she and her brother were enrolled! A mysterious prince from far away, at a school where all you really need is magic? So he's there with, like, just anyone? That's so crazy. Malleus strikes an impressive figure, so Joker was a little stunned when she first saw him at the opening ceremony at the start of the year. After she became friends with Lilia through the Pop Music Club, though, and got to hear some stories about him? He became less of a mystery and more of a friend of a friend. And one day, she might even get the courage to invite him to one of the club's performances! Malleus has heard quite a bit about her from Lilia and the others, too, and thinks she would be an amusing addition to his acquaintances.

Punch Carder isn't quite as in awe of the prince as his sister, but he does have a lot of respect for him. He's seen some of what Malleus is capable of, both magically and physically, and although he's impressed, Punch thinks that what Malleus is doing to help improve relationships between humans and the fae is his most admirable feat. He'd like to get to know him better; Punch thinks Malleus would be interesting to talk to, and honestly? He looks like he could use a friend. Something about the guy strikes him as lonesome. Malleus, in turn, has noted the tall, quiet freshman's patience and dedication, and thinks of him as a scholar who will eventually make waves.

Zayn Weatherwax is always a little flustered when his Highness comes into his bookshop, and not just because some of the rooms that Malleus likes to browse have low ceilings! Zayn is a little in awe of him, and while he'd never actually say so out loud, he had always sort of daydreamed about being spirited away by a dark and mysterious royal type. Shame this one's a student, isn't it? Aside from that, Zayn knows that whenever Malleus comes to shop, he'll be able to close early for the day; Mal drops some SERIOUS coin on books, and is usually quite impressed by the man's ability to acquire unusual or rare volumes. Malleus is fond of the sprightly little bookseller, and enjoys his occasional visits to the shop.

Sebek Zigvolt has the (dis?)advantage of being in the freshman class with the twins, so he is a bit closer to them than his liege is. In one particular timeline, he gets very close, indeed...

Sebek has respect for Zayn, most likely because he is a human that Malleus holds in regard. Since Zayn is better-read than most, he knows more about the shared history of humans and fae than average, and knows how to treat his Briar Valley patrons properly! Zayn sees Sebek, however, as a bit of a nuisance. If he's accompanying Malleus, Zayn is prepared to have to shush Sebek a lot, and the walls often echo with the young man's thunderous voice despite the shopkeeper's pleading. That said, Sebek can often be relied upon to come back later in the week, alone, and purchase copies of whatever it was that Malleus bought on his visit. Zayn never minds those visits, not one bit.

Punch and Sebek have a sort of a mixed relationship. They are a bit competitive over their grades, and ranking within the class. They also sometimes find themselves pitted together athletically, and Punch appreciates the challenge that competing with Sebek provides. But Sebek is often dismissive of Punch, and Punch sees Sebek as being ridiculously stuck-up, so while they are civil enough with one another, neither really goes out of his way to befriend the other. Over the course of a few years, the story might change, but as of right now, they're just polite acquaintances.

Things begin to get a little more interesting with Joker. Regardless of what timeline she's in, she sees Sebek as a hilarious try-hard fanboy in their first few meetings, and despite herself, is always quite taken by his looks. He's ripped, and has beautiful, unusual eyes, and that face ain't half bad, either. And Sebek finds himself frequently verbally jousting with Joker; she challenges his elitist attitudes, and often tries to get him to loosen up and smile. Over time, they do become friendly with each other, and most of the campus agree that they are the two loudest members of their class.

(Specific timeline details below the cut!)

Now, if one particular event happens (a flying accident in phys ed, where a petrified Joker is saved from falling by Sebek), their relationship goes down a different path. They wind up doing a series of unasked favors for one another, like her baking him a tray of snacks, or him just happening to have in-depth, thorough notes to help her study for an upcoming quiz in a weak subject, and so on. They grow closer over time. He begins to appreciate her sense of humor and love of music; she is impressed by his loyalty and drive to become better every day. It takes being caught in a chance rainstorm (or is it by chance, when his dear prince controls the weather, really?) for them to be able to realize that there's more than just a feeling of camaraderie between them, and they begin a slow, awkward courtship together. That is, Sebek would like for it to be slow, just like Lilia taught him, but sometimes when their discussions get heated, they find themselves settling things with kisses instead of words. Their story is long, complicated, and winds up at a happy fairy-tale ending after several years, once Sebek is settled in as the Captain of Malleus's guards, and Joker has succeeded in becoming a touring musician. Because this timeline brings Joker in close to one of Malleus's most trusted people, she also befriends him more closely. And Sebek being happy with Joker makes Malleus happy, too. They are proof, to him, of his movement to help bring their respective people together in harmony.

[punkpoemprose]

December 8th- NyQuil and Lumberjack Fantasies

Universe: Modern AU

Rating: T (Teen & Up Audiences)

Length:1516 Words

A little bit of fluff based on this really cute post that @kristanna sent me. And if you’re thinking, oh, Emily only ever writes sick Anna when she’s sick then you would be 100% correct. 2018 is taking one last shot at murdering me and it’s right before the holidays. I might not finish Advent this year, but I’m going to try my damnedest.

Anna sneezed for what felt like the hundredth time in an hour and wiped her nose with the sleeve of her hoodie. She’d recently finished a bowl of soup and crackers and had the feeling that she’d be falling asleep on the couch very soon. The reruns of Star Trek on the television no longer held her attention and she knew that it was for the best anyway. A long nap might provide her immune system with some time to work against whatever evil had invaded her body.

As soon as she laid back onto the couch and closed her eyes her cell phone rang and with only slight irritation, she lifted it to her ear and croaked out a scratchy greeting.

“Ooof, not feeling better then I take it?”

Anna pouted, less so due to the comment and more because of her own irritation with her illness. She would get sick right before the Holidays. It was her luck entirely to fall ill on one of the busiest times of the year for her. She was only lucky that as a school teacher she was already on break because the only thing that was worse than being sick during the holidays was being sick and working on the holidays.

“I feel like I’ve been run over by a reindeer,” she groaned, her head had been pounding all day as if she had been hit quite hard, but it was all due to whatever bacteria or virus had made its way into her system. She still hadn’t managed to figure out what illness she’d caught from her students, but she was mentally cursing out their parents for not keeping them home. It always seemed like she had the greatest number of ill students right before winter break and she was sure that it was because the looming threat of having the kids home all day made parents try to keep them in school for as many days as they could before.

“At least it’s festive,” he mused from the other side of the line and Anna could hardly be upset with him. Despite his teasing he was truly sorry for her illness and although he had to go in for work, he’d spent his morning making her tea and setting her up on the couch.

“I’d much rather be decorating the tree or baking,” she said in return, “though it’s not all bad, because it means you’re out doing the last-minute shopping and I’m not trying to elbow an old lady away from the last ham in the city.”

He snort-laughed and she grinned, closing her eyes against the light in their Livingroom and imagining his smile instead. He had a perfect smile, the sort from which there was no doubt that he was happy or amused. He didn’t half smile, when he was pleased, his face all but glowed.

“Luckily for me I’ve already got the bulk of the shopping done. I just thought I’d give you a call because I wanted to pick you up a last little something. I thought we’d snuggle up on the couch together tonight…well after I Lysol it…”

She booed him while smiling in response and then let him continue with a chuckle.

“Anyway I thought we’d sit together and read. I know you’ve finished everything on your shelf… maybe even twice, so I’ve got a few books here and I’m going to read you their back blurbs and you’re going to pick one.”

“Kristoff Bjorgman! You can’t be giving me an early gift! It’s Christmas Eve Eve!”

“I think you’ll see that I can Princess. Now I’m going to read and you’re going to pick one or I will. Later I’m going to give it to you completely unwrapped and we’re going to relax and while you read it I’m going to love the sick right out of you.”

Anna couldn’t help but agree. It was very rare that Kristoff was the insistent one and she could hardly say no to the prospect of his pampering her. She’d be half mad not to accept.

“Okay so this one’s called Mistletoe & Murder, ‘Veronica Marsden gets the Christmas gift of a lifetime when a rakish nobleman asks for her hand in marriage. As an educated woman beginning her own detective agency in the man’s world of 1920’s London she’ll have to decide whether her heart lies with her work or with Lord Reginald Kingsley. Everything is complicated when a murder occurs beneath the mistletoe at the biggest society event of the year and her beau finds himself at the center of the investigation. Will Veronica be able to clear his name? And what of his proposal? Will she have her Christmas Pudding and eat it too?’”

“Sounds promising if not a bit involved… what does the cover look like?”

“Well it’s got a mostly naked man on the front with a woman wielding a gun who otherwise looks straight out of Downton Abbey.”

“Oh, very promising then.”

“Alright book number two has a man in similar undress on the cover, but this time the woman’s half naked as well and her hands are on his chest. They both look like they’re pretty oiled up. It says, ‘Elenore was thrilled to spend the week before Christmas travelling abroad to the castles whose architecture she’d studied in college, but she quickly changes her tune when she finds herself snowed in and spending her holidays in a remote village in the heart of Romania. The dark and handsome lord of the castle is charming but harbors a dark secret. She begins to wonder whether she’ll need more than her favorite turtleneck to survive the season, and more importantly whether she wants to survive it at all.”

Anna smiled, “A remnant of the great vampire obsession of ’08?”

“No, Christmas with the Count is shockingly not a bargain book and the copyright is from just last year. It was collecting dust though and I know you love an underdog.”

She laughed at that, feeling a bit less exhausted now that he had her attention faced towards bad romance novels. He always did know how to cheer her up. “I do love an underdog, one gave me a wedding ring.”

“Hey!” he said, feigning offense, “Just because I had no idea how to talk to you when we met and had to ask you if I could kiss you before I even attempted on the end of our second date doesn’t mean that I’m an underdog.”

“Well given what that vampire probably gets from that oiled up college grad without a first date, I think you might be a little bit of an underdog, but hey, I picked a good one didn’t I?”

She heard him try to stifle a laugh and snuggled down into the couch a bit more. She might nap yet, but only for the short while it took for him to finish his shopping and arrive back home. She did want to be well rested for his return. She was going to hold him to a bit of cuddling.

“Alright, last one I’ve found for you. It’s called Christmas at the Cabin and the blurb reads, “Belle Christian has always played it safe, but when her car breaks down on her way to her sister’s annual Christmas party she finds herself on the doorstep of a stranger’s cabin with no cell service for miles. The roads quickly become too unsafe to drive on, the power goes out, and she finds herself totally reliant on sexy stranger and expert woodsman Geoff Johnston as they spend the Holidays trapped in his cabin. Belle decides that playing it safe isn’t nearly as fun as finding creative ways to spend their time together.”

“Oh I do love a good lumberjack fantasy.”

“I wonder why?” he said, certainly proud of himself and in excellent humor. Given the fact that they often went camping together and that he as such was quite often found with a axe in hand, her reasons were very clear to them both.

“All I’m saying is if the book is good enough, I feel well enough, and you wear a flannel you might end up with an early Christmas gift as well.”

She was feeling better already.

“I take it that you’d like that one then? And a bottle of non-drowsy nyquil?”

“You know me so well Mr. Bjorgman.”

“I try my best Mrs. Bjorgman.” Her heart still fluttered a bit at the sound of him calling her his wife, “I’m going to pick up a few more gifts for my folks and Elsa if you think I can be trusted and then I’ll head home and start dinner?”

“That sounds like a dream come true.”

“Like a lumberjack fantasy come true?”

She smiled, “Well that depends on you now doesn’t it?”

She hit the end button on the call and pulled the throw blanket up over her waist before closing her eyes again. She had a feeling he was running toward the check out and the bookstore that very moment.