#phoebe bates

[casuallysonic]

phoebe bridgers styled by jared ellner and photographed by davis bates

[azullumi]

“withering desires of a cruel man with broken confessions” ; aventurine

to you : 🧀 nonnie !! i hope you had a wonderful birthday and i’m sorry for taking a long time to finish this but hey, it’s done now (finally). belated happy birthday and i wish you all the best <33

premise — his belief that he doesn’t deserve the good things is rooted deeply underneath the dirt where he buries his corpse, and he doesn’t deserve you; this is an ode to clementia and he wishes that his song reaches you.

tags — w/ gender-neutral reader, fluff to angst, friends to friends that knows they like each other, orange as a metaphor for love, angry and forced love confessions, aven my self-sabotage and mixed signals king, 1.5k ; one-shot

note — made while listening to phoebe bridgers, faye webster, adrianne lenker, and ichiko aoba. this was supposed to be a short drabble about peeling oranges and sharing with them what happened

They say clementines are a symbol for mercy—gentle, soft, and sweet, like an echo of the sun. 

There’s the fresh smell of citrus in the air as he delicately pulls its skin to reveal its form, a warm burst of sunset trapped within its fragile walls, and his nails will be tainted by the color of its penance and he’ll forget what it feels like to only have hatred in his heart. Maybe that’s how forgiveness tastes; salvation will fill his blood as he sheds tears that carry his sins (they were never his).

“I don’t know how you can do that flawlessly.” You say, your voice drenched in wonder and amazement as you watch the movement of his fingers, adeptly peeling the fruit. The sections come apart neatly and perfectly in his hands.

He smiles, “It’s easy.”

“It’s not.” You insist, reminding him of the horror of the state the orange has become when you tried to share it with him. “Did you see the holes I tore through it? I was left with nothing but the mere coat because the juice sprayed in all directions.”

The sound of laughter forms in his throat and escapes, “It’s because it was small and the skin is hard. Come on.” He holds a small piece near your face and you part your lips open enough for him to feed you; a warm feeling resides in your cheeks as you chew. There’s a burst of sweetness, with hints of sourness that lingered in its nature in your mouth—it reminds you of the night when he held your form and gently guided you to the melody of the song. 

“Is it sweet?” He asks, his head tilted a little to the side as he bores his gaze at you. There are lingering touches, whispered honey-coated words, affectionate gestures, and eyes painted of different vivid hues and contrasting pristine tones that never seem to hold the light, only reflecting your form within. You hum, nodding your head as you answer, “You should teach me how to peel them, you know. I don’t want to be calling you everytime or having to rely on you too much.”

(Truthfully, and hopefully so, may you never learn so he’ll get to be this close to you always.)

He smiles, sunshine peeking through his expression, “I wouldn’t mind.” He wouldn’t mind if it were just a small matter or nothing at all, you can keep on calling for him, ask for his assistance or simply just his presence—he’ll come running to you. He whispers, “Use me as you wish,” and his words shatter as it falls to the ground. (See him as a tool that has never known its purpose. See him as worthless but mere dust that covers your window sills. See him as nothing but a fool who never understood the lines in his heart.)

You say, “You know you’re not just as little as that to me.”

“Then what am I to you?” The comfort of silence settles in the gaps of his fingers and he finds himself seeking, waiting, with bated breath. His gaze seems to still at your eyes before falling to your lips, lingering for a few moments before meeting your eyes once more, and your hands tremble; you know the answer, you know what to say, you know, you know, you know, you know—and, at once, there’s the warm feeling of his lips on yours as you pull him in, as he pulls you in.

It’s gentle, soft in all of its edges and cracks. He holds your face in his hands and you intertwine yours in his locks, and you pull at his hair, eliciting a hum from him. It’s a burst of warmth, the taste of something sweet still left in your tongue as he kisses you. It’s short yet it will be engraved and buried in the depths of your mind for eternity.

“I like you.” You whisper against his lips as you part, eyes heavy on each other yet his gaze wavers and his breath shudders.

“I…” Why else would he continuously seek your embrace? Why else would he prefer to be alone with you even if it’s just silence between you and him (your presence alone brings him comfort)? Why else would he take such time to understand your form and cradle your being as if you were born from glass? He didn’t have your hands carve the shape of his thoughts into the form of your being just so he wouldn’t capture the feeling of your touch on his skin and how he craves, yearns for it like a starved man—and yet, he’ll hold his head down in humiliation as he looks for the words on the ground. He’s worthless, useless, nothing like his ‘luck’ that seems to curse everyone around him, and you’re everything he’s not. “I’m sorry.”

His hands fall from your cheeks and he stands up, saying, “I’m sorry, I have to go.” 

The chair screeches beneath him; his thoughts remain silent yet deafening, your voice fading into white noise as you call for him. He has to leave—each of his footsteps are heavy, echoing back to him as if a semblance to contempt and mockery that trails his wake.

Fear and shame forms at the bottom of his lungs. What even is he afraid of? Is it the lack of experience? The fear of abandonment? But humans are not strangers to those thoughts, people are bound to leave and Aventurine wasn’t unfamiliar with that, so how could he be afraid of something that has become a friend to him? Maybe it’s when he’s torn apart from flesh to bones and they’ll see there’s nothing in him—he was born out of barren wastelands and dust, his form has been long since buried under the golden sands. Maybe it's when he’s shown everything to them and they seek for something that he doesn’t have; the disappointment that lies in their expression will forever haunt him. Was it fear or was it worry that nobody could ever love him for what he truly is? Behind the expensive clothes he wears, the shining and heavy jewelry on his wrist, the suffocating rings on his hand, maybe they prefer his skin tainted with letters instead of wounds that brands him as human.

“—Rine.” A hand grasps at his wrist, preventing him from leaving. He stills in his position, feet glued to the floor and his back turned against you. Your voice breaks, “Stay, please.”

He’s stuck, sutured to the ground, hesitation sewing his mouth shut. You urge him to turn around, your fingers tugging at him, so he could face you, so you could see him—he’s tattered, torn and conflicted over something you’ll never know. The unfriendly air of the cold night wraps around his figure, but your hand eases warmth and comfort in his weary bones.

“Why did you kiss me?” You seek for something in the gaps of his expression, looking for a falter in the lines of his features to know the thoughts that he hides beneath all the charades and facades.

“…It was a mistake.”

You answer, frustration slowly seeping into your tone, “You know damn well it’s not.” He knows completely well it’s not and it will never be. And you don’t cry nor plead, you beg with sore, trembling palms for an answer to soothe the disturbance of the waves that will come to swallow you, drowning you in the murky waters of your mind. “You don’t get to hold my hands and cradle me in yours and tell me it’s nothing. You don’t get to look at me in a way that is reminiscent of lovers and tell me it doesn’t mean anything. You don’t get to kiss me and say that it’s a mistake. You’re a cruel man, Aventurine, and you’re unfair for telling me that it was all nothing but a mistake when you haunt my dreams.”

“…I’m sorry.” He closes his eyes for a moment, darkness swallowing his vision yet his mind conjures an image of you in it, berating him. The broken pieces of your words are left scattered on the bottom of yours and his feet.

You ask, voice low, “Do you like me?”

“Why—“

“It’s a yes or no question, ‘Rine. Do you like me or do you not?”

“I love you.” His voice is raised and cracks start to form on the surface of his expression, “and it’s scaring me.” Forgive me. The clock continues to tick despite the world seemingly coming to a still at his words.

The air is suffocating and the silence sits on your shoulders before he says, whispering in a broken tone, “I’m leaving.”

And this time, you don’t stop him. His steps are rushed against the flooring, the sound of the door closing echoes throughout the corners of your mind. The walls of your home stand tall over you, his confession written and tearing through all over your wallpaper, screaming at you; you’re left crumbling on the floor. The sweet scent of citrus lingers in the air, the mess the two of you made still on the counter tops, and you wished you told him you love him too.

tagging @toorurs, the loveliest and sweetest of all. i hope you know that you're cherished and loved by me, and i'm so glad to have you and the sun that touches your skin must be too <33 always be reminded that you're beautiful and i appreciate everything that you do and say (you always make me laugh even when it's just the smallest and useless of things like wow you must have a special talent in making someone smile) !! thank you for always being there for me too and always cheering me up, and also making my day because everything for me nowadays is becoming unbearable and you're the only one that keeps me sane (fk exams and projects and research im going to cry)

© azullumi — do not plagiarize, copy, repost, nor translate any of my works.

[kyoukamybeloved]

“You hate Dazai-san right.”

“Don’t act like a detective! That bastard is just.. just very, y’know.. It’s not hate.”

Looks like some complicated feelings.

soukoku webweaves: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7

creds:

cold spot - Trista Mateer// art by @taxolotl// wishbone - Richard Siken// ICU - Phoebe Bridgers// bubble gum - Clairo// so we must meet apart - Gabrielle Bates & Jennifer S. Cheng// essays in love - Alain de Botton// youth - daughter// dear Arkansas daughter - lady lamb// fleabag - Phoebe Waller-Bridge// sweetbitter - Stephanie Danler// art by @pleucas// the first bad man - Miranda July// in the aeroplane over the sea - neutral milk hotel// the beach - the neighbourhood// gilded lily - cults// waiting room - Phoebe Bridgers// boyish - Japanese breakfast// art from @/HiChuya on twitter// the hours - Michael Cunningham// yves olade// art from @/rokkyun1 on Twitter// stigmata: escaping texts// Hélène Cixous// wolf OR7 - Natalie Diaz// art by @thornedarrow// poem for a birthday - Sylvia Plath// unknown// art by @pleucas// lev st valentine// art by @bamfxp// vicious - V.E Schwab// I know it’s over - The Smiths// misheard lyrics - car seat headrest// be nice to me - the front bottoms// paper bag - Fiona Apple// trista mateer// art from @/1hys12 on Twitter// back to the old house - the smiths// let the light in - Lana del Rey// one last poem for Richard - Sandra Cisneros// art by @bananana2217

tagging moots and users who liked the other parts :)

@dinosaur-mayonnaise @philzokman @amagami-hime @homuncvlus @vinylbiohazard @bunglegaydogs @zamxii @ghostsinacoat @slug-behaviour @beastchuus @vivid-vices @atsuwushi @gorotic @pendragonstar @ricelover888 @oatmilkbasic @thou-shalt-cha-cha-real-smooth @the-gayest-sky-kid @lotus-reblogs @whiteapplesandblackblood @dazaiyurii @sommmee @shroombunnieses @sempieternal @sigskk @everyversionofmedeadandburied @thesunshinebard @hornyforthevirginmary @chibiko @galaxitic @evermorehypewoman

[marleneoftheopera]

Holiday Audio/Video Gifts!

For the holiday season, here are some audio gifts from various shows and one Phantom video! The link to them is here and the info is below the cut:

Happy holidays and I hope you are all having time for some rest!

Audios

POTO

Jon Robyns, Paige Blankson, Joe Griffiths-Brown, Kelly Glyptis, Matt Harrop, Adam Linstead, Francesca Ellis, David Kristopher Brown, Maiya Hikasa August 22, 2023; London

Tim Howar, Harriet Jones, Nadim Naaman, Lara Martins, Nicholas Garrett, Arvid Larsen, John Ellis, Valerie Cutko, Kelsi Boyden March 19, 2023; Greece

Josh Piterman, Corinne Cowling (u/s), Danny Whitehead, Katy Hanna (u/s), Ross Dawes, Kris Manuel (u/s), Sophie Caton (u/s), Paul Ettore Tabone, Georgia Ware October 17, 2019; London ​Matinee.

Jeremy Stolle (u/s), Samantha Hill, Greg Mills (u/s), Michele McConnell, Richard Poole (u/s), Tim Jerome, Ellen Harvey, Christian Sebek, Kara Klein, Scott Mikita (u/s) March 9, 2013; Broadway Matinee performance.

John Owen-Jones, Deborah Dutcher, Matthew Cammelle, Bruce Montague, Charles Shirvell, Margaret Mary Kane (u/s), Janet Murphy, Jeremy Secomb, Lucy Middleton January 5, 2002; London

Love Never Dies

Tam Mutu, Celia Graham, David Thaxton, Daniel Dowling August 25, 2011; London Tam Mutu's last performance.

Les Miserables

Christopher Jacobsen (u/s Jean Valjean), Stewart Clarke (Javert), Katie Hall (Fantine), Will Callan (Marius), Lulu-Mae Pears (Cosette), Amena El-Kindy (Eponine), Luke Kempner (Thenardier), Claire Machin (Madame Thenardier), Dejan Van der Flyert (Enjolras), Alex Shaw (Gavroche), Clohe Sullivan (Little Cosette), Tom Hext (Grantaire/Majordomo), Adam Pearce (Bishop/Claquesous), Ellie Ann Lowe (Factory Girl), Jordan Simon Pollard (u/s Foreman/Bujon), Matt Dempsey (Bamatabopis/Lesgles), Annabelle Aquino, Hazel Baldwin, Emily Olive Boyd, Ben Culleton, Matt Hayden, Sam Kipling, Anouk Van Lake, Harry Lake, Ben Oatley, Jonathan Stevens, Phoebe Williams, Ollie Wray September 28, 2023; London 15,000th show in London and the 5th show for the new company.

Sunset Boulevard

Nicole Scherzinger (Norma), Tom Francis (Joe Gillis), David Thaxton (Max von Mayerling), Grace Hodgett Young (Betty Shaefer), Ahmed Hamaad (Artie), Tyler Davis (Sheldrake), Charlotte Jaconelli (Johanna), Jon Tsouras (Cecil B. de Mille) September 28, 2023; London

Rebecca

Laureen Jones (I), Richard Carson (Maxim de Winter), Kara Lane (Mrs Danvers), Sara Harlington (Beatrice), Neil Moor (Giles), Piers Bate (Frank Crewley), David Breeds (Ben), Alex James Ward (Jack Favell), Shrley Jameson (Mrs Van Hopper), Nicholas Lumley (Colonel Julian) September 27, 2023; Off-West End

POTO Video

Ian Jon Bourg, Olivia Safe (u/s), Kyle Gonyea 2001; Hamburg, Germany VOB files. One of the most legendary Phantom's opposite one of the youngest Christine's!

[undiscoverable-words]

Late Night Talking

II. Diamond

The Diamond of The Season.

Phoebe was sure there was a mistake. She cautiously made her way towards Her Majesty, breath shaking and palms still clammy. She was so worried she might trip that she only watched the floor as she walked. Her mother held onto her arm, looking straight ahead, smiling graciously at the Queen. Once she reached the end, Phoebe allowed herself to look up at the Queen, letting out a low breath, her throat feeling tight. 

The Queen looked on, observing Phoebe in all that she had to offer. There was immediate recognition on Her Majesty’s face as she stared down at the young girl who had requested to marry her nephew the Prince not four months prior. The Queen arched her brow as she watched Miss Pembroke shake like a leaf. 

“My Diamond,” Queen Charlotte announced, smirking as the entire room filled with hushed gasps and Phoebe jolted, staring up at the Queen in a panic. 

Her Majesty was always one for a bit of drama. 

“I told you you would do well, my dear.” Amelia complimented her daughter as they retreated to a recess of the room. 

“I don’t understand,” Phoebe admitted, breathing heavily, wishing she was not currently squeezed by her corset. “I thought– She…” Phoebe swallowed the marble that sat in her throat. 

How could Her Majesty sneer at Phoebe one moment and then grant her the highest honor of the season the next moment. If Phoebe truly was the Diamond, surely she was good enough for Prince Friedrich. Phoebe’s heart lurched and ached at the thought of the prince. She missed him and his sweet smile dearly. 

Once back at their Mayfair house, Amelia was quick to announce to Cecil that their daughter was, in fact, not ruined after all. He showed minimal reaction, other than the surprise Phoebe found in his eyes. 

“Perhaps Her Majesty realized that anyone who caught her nephew’s eye was not to be hastily disregarded.” He offered, clearing his throat. He then looked directly at his daughter, and said with the most stern of tones and expressions, “I still have final say of the man you are to marry, do not forget.” 

Dearest Readers, 

This author would be the first to admit that Miss Pembroke was not a suspected first choice for the title of Diamond for the season, though is Her Majesty the Queen anything if not surprising? Perhaps the new birth signified in Spring applies to Miss Pembroke, where she was previously left for dead in the cold of winter, she now blossoms anew to shine as bright as a Diamond for her debut. 

However, gentle readers, do not take this as a declaration of agreement with Her Majesty. I suspect some deeper reasoning behind the choice to name Miss Pembroke, the sole daughter of Lord Cecil Pembroke, as the season’s Diamond. As I stated in previous seasons, the declaration of a Diamond does not exempt said Debutante from any fall from grace. Perhaps Her Majesty simply wished to hoist Miss Pembroke higher just to watch her fall farther, and more consequently, shatter. While coal under pressure may turn into a diamond, said diamond under pressure may crack.

Whether or not this Diamond should fracture, you know this author waits with bated breath. What an exquisitely invigorating start to the season. Are you on the edges of your seats, Ton? I know I am. 

Lady Whistledown

Phoebe read the newest pamphlet the following morning with her breakfast tea, and felt her eyes well with tears. It all made perfect sense. The Queen was only setting Phoebe up for failure, sure to flounder under the pressure of being a Diamond. The shame and anger Phoebe felt bubble up inside her made her long for the distant memories of France. She pushed them away quickly, as any thought of France only reminded her of Prince Friedrich. 

“Dear, we must be ready for visiting hours! I have no doubt you’ll have a queue of suitors this morning.” Her mother said, startling Phoebe from her macabre thoughts. 

Feeling defeated, Phoebe nodded in agreement, resigned to whatever might come her way this season. Her mother beamed, leading her upstairs to her lady’s maid to help her change into her day dress. While not having much of an opinion on how the day should go, Phoebe was in charge of choosing her attire, and opted for one of her less exciting dresses, pale sage with sheer tulip sleeves and light beading. She decided she would save her new favorites from France for when she found a suitor she specifically wanted to impress. 

Cecil called his daughter into his office, intercepting her on her way to the drawing room. The low lighting within the office made Phoebe uneasy as she was used to a room with more windows allowing for more natural light. Her father sat at his desk, slightly hunched over an array of papers when she came to the door and knocked gently. 

“Daughter.” He greeted, gesturing for her to enter. 

She obliged, walking carefully as if the floor would shatter at her weight. Cecil cleared his throat and looked up from his papers to examine his daughter. 

“You wanted to see me?” She prompted, feeling uncomfortable under his scrutiny. 

“Your mother tells me you are to receive visitors this morning, and I urge you to be the absolute closest you can to perfection. The early stages of your debut are crucial, and if you wish to avoid our agreed upon arrangement for you to seek out a courtship with Colin Bridgerton, I suggest you try your hardest to impress the callers you may have. I will be in after visiting hours are over and I have received a list of your callers to discuss your next move at tomorrow’s ball. Do not promise any dances unless the caller in question ranks higher than a Baron, though I doubt it.” 

Phoebe stood, shrinking at his implications that she was still a lousy prospect for suitors. 

“Why did you want me to pursue Colin– Mr Bridgerton, if you want me to accept nothing less than a Baron? He is a third son, and has no title.” 

“That was before you were named a Diamond.” Cecil explained through gritted teeth, practically spitting at the term Diamond. “Go. We can discuss further after you meet with your prospects, as I said.” He adds, promptly dismissing her from his office. 

Phoebe felt nothing but shame on her way down the stairs to the drawing room. Her father had revoked her of any confidence she might have had, and that was very little already. She arrived at the drawing room just before the clock signaled the top of the hour. Tea and biscuits were set up, readily available. The seating was made ample for the possibility of a hoard of suitors, though Phoebe thought that rather ambitious. Her mother sat by the window, smiling as bright as the morning sun, eager to watch her daughter begin the courting process. 

All but a quarter of an hour passed before the first visitor was announced to Phoebe and her mother. 

“Mr. Bridgerton for Miss Pembroke.” 

Amelia seemed unphased by the coincidental arrival of the man her and her husband had previously selected for Phoebe to encourage. Phoebe, however, was extremely surprised and slightly suspicious of his presence, wondering if her mother and Dowager Bridgerton had corresponded and set up the meeting. 

Colin entered the drawing room with a rather immodest bouquet of chrysanthemums wrapped in a thick ribbon of the signature Bridgerton blue. Phoebe’s demeanor changed to one of warmth at the gesture and she smiled broadly at him as he came farther into the room to present the flowers. 

“For you, Miss Pembroke.” He stated, offering Phoebe the bouquet. 

“Thank you, Co– Mr. Bridgerton.” Phoebe smiled, admiring the flowers. 

She gestured for Colin to sit and he obliged, cautiously glancing at her mama to be sure he wasn’t being untoward. With no objections, Colin adjusted his posture to remain comfortable, and cleared his throat. 

“If I may, Miss Pembroke, you looked rather lovely at your debut. All of us Bridgertons are happy that you’ve returned from your travels and seem to be faring well. And to be named the Diamond, that must be an honor, despite what Whistledown may have said–” Colin went on, causing Phoebe to stifle a giggle. 

“It is good to see you again, as well, Mr. Bridgerton. How was your tour of Europe if I may ask?” 

Colin smiled brightly and began to regale her of his time abroad, getting lost in the descriptions of the many places he explored. Phoebe admired how he looked so enchanted at even the memory of his travels, and she was happy that his trip was more fortunate than her own. 

Having grown up next door to the Bridgertons, Phoebe was well acquainted with the bunch, specifically attached to Colin, Daphne, and Eloise. She felt at ease amongst a familiar face, and enjoyed his conversation for the better part of the hour, completely unaware of her lack of other suitors. 

She felt guilty after the next thought passed through her mind. Colin Bridgerton was far more handsome than she could recall from two seasons before. It made her heart drop at the realization that she had thought something about the man one of her best friends was completely enamored with, but she could not help the way her mind drifted as she watched him speak so spiritedly. She admired the sparkle in his eyes as he told her tales of Greece, and she took note of the dimples near his mouth when he smiled. Phoebe lost herself in admiring the details of her dear friend’s face.

“Pardon me, I seem to have prattled on far too long.” Colin interjects his own line of thought. He clears his throat. “Mother sent me to extend an invitation for tea tomorrow afternoon before the first ball of the season.” He said, meeting her eyes. 

She noticed his were a mixture of brown, green, and grey depending on the light, and had to avert her gaze before she stared. 

“Daph– excuse me, the Duchess of Hastings will be there. She is most excited to see you again.” 

Phoebe smiled as he corrected himself in favor of formality during proper morning calling hours, rather than allow their acquaintance with one another afford them familiarity. 

“I would love to come to tea, please send your mother my thanks, and let her know I will absolutely be there tomorrow. It was great seeing you again after all this time, Colin– I mean, Mr. Bridgerton.” Phoebe corrected, trying to maintain the creeping blush up her neck. 

The pair was not yet ready to forego their previous friendliness as children for the more proper encounters they would now be a part of as young adults of the Ton. 

Colin thanked Lady Pembroke for her hospitality and took his leave. Phoebe and her mother were now alone in the drawing room. Amelia looked at her daughter and smirked. 

“Was that planned, Mama?” Phoebe asked, turning to face her mother by the window. The Chrysanthemums sat, soaking in the sun, and complemented the design of the room. 

“Not one bit, my dear. But you two seemed to get along better than I remember. Perhaps there is something to be said–” 

“He is just an old friend, Mama. Colin Bridgerton is not a serious suitor, he called as a favor to his mother and sisters.” Phoebe interrupted. 

She did not want her mother to imply that there was or ever would be anything between her and Colin Bridgerton. She could not bear the thought of how that would hurt Penelope, whether Colin returned her affections for him or not. 

At dinner, her father made it a point to voice more snide remarks towards his daughter. 

“It was rather quiet this morning, was it not?” He raised an eyebrow and stared her down, silently asking her to challenge him, or to admit defeat. Phoebe could not be sure which. 

“Mr. Bridgerton called on her, darling, isn’t that something?” Amelia said, still convinced this was a sign of fate for the two within the marriage mart. 

“I am to visit with the Bridgertons tomorrow for tea.” Phoebe elaborated, hoping to halt any schemes her parents may try thinking they have secured her a match. 

Cecil grumbled as he cut the slice of roast on his plate. 

“Having only Mr. Bridgerton call does make things uncomplicated.” He said, before the dinner returned to silence.

[swimmingback]

phoebe bridgers by davis bates

[lady-rose-moon]

The Selection || Loki x Reader || Masterlist and Selected list ||

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

The Selection came around again and this year, you were eligible to sign up for it. You didn't want to, of course, coming from a family that barely got by through the winter and knowing that the Royals had no idea how much people like you suffered. However, your little sister signed you up and now your name is called on the television as one of the lucky twelve to move to the capital and begin the games to winning the Prince's heart.

Two years ago, the Selection had televised Prince Thor's journey to finding a wife. This year, it was Prince Loki's turn.

Prince Loki. The 'Dark Prince', not seen a lot in public other than the times that Prince Thor dragged him outside. Closed off. Self-centred. Arrogant. Right?

Follow Y/N through her journey from beginning to end. With eleven other contestants, will you win Prince Loki's heart?

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

Chapter One ~ Chapter Two ~ Chapter Three ~ Chapter Four ~ Chapter Five ~ Chapter Six ~ Chapter Seven ~ Chapter Eight ~ Chapter Nine ~ Chapter Ten ~ Final Chapter ~

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

Selected List:

Y/N Y/L/N – Brekstad, Midgard – didn’t really want to be Selected

Cleo Dameerin – Fetsheim, Vanaheim – there for love – 19 (533)

Phoebe Meera – London, Midgard – wishes to make friends – 22

Lorelei – Durdnheim, Vanaheim – there for the money – 18 (500)

Sophia De Mareen – Alzara, Alfheim – there for money 24 (645)

Chloe Olsen – Raneer, Asgard – there for money – 18 (474)

Adriana Sirandrew – Quolequeel, Jotunheim – wishes for love 21 (675)

Regan Seleucus – Soleheim, Niflheim – there for love or money 23 (50)

Isabel Bates – Adelaide, Australia – needs money for family – 20

Lara Oneal – Helian , Helheim – there for love – 25 (1500)

Summer Parkerdottir – Illias, Asgard – there for money 19 (520)

Katerina Godding – Essex, Midgard – there for status – 24

[netherfeildren]

Joel

A Fear of God story : Series Masterlist

Pairing: Joel Miller x OFC

Summary: The thought sounds on the anvil of your mind every night at four am on the dot, the song of grasshoppers and slumbering, fatherless children singing around you; I am lost, and if I read a little bit confusing, it is only because I am confused amidst the battleground of my grief, and it is difficult to find my way back now that he is not here to guide me.

A/N: this was only written for myself, but i’ve decided to share with you, as well. if you’re a fear of god reader please know that this isn’t part of my official story line, and again — only an exercise for myself, but as this is written about birdie i’ve decided to include it as a part of the birdie’s house anthology. i apologize for any confusion or emotional turmoil this might cause, but rest assured that i’m desperately hoping to have something else up for birdie and joel for his birthday and that i plan to continue to write for them after that as well.

Content Warnings: Character death; Grief/Mourning; Description of death/injury; Unreliable narrators

Rating: Mature

Word Count: 2.1K

Read on AO3

JOEL

The billboard said “The End Is Near”

I turned around, there was nothing there

Yeah, I guess the end is here

Phoebe Bridgers, I Know the End

The week before it happened, you watched a pack of wolves take down a moose. Old and stalwart and with a sort of strength only an animal that stands apart from all others in the hierarchy of nature can hold. Something unrelenting about a creature like that, that was made all the more shocking for the way the wolves had surrounded the old thing, tricked and felled the beast that for so long had stood solitary and unmoving. 

There were so many things you knew about Joel after all these years. He was a father, a husband, a brother, a friend. Once he’d been a monster. Everything about him had been red. He’d tried not to cause harm. He’d failed more than he’d succeeded. 

He had loved you. You think, more than any creature had loved another in all of man’s history. Or… at least sometimes it had felt like that. He had made you feel like that. 

He is killed in the seventh year of your life together. Only seven little years which seem like nothing in the face of everything. Nothing in the face of the destruction of the whole world, and then the rebirth of it right here in this farm house in Wyoming, but which you know, no matter what they might seem like in the aftermath, were really everything, the only time that has ever mattered. 

You remember that sometimes when you’d look around the kitchen table, the girls sitting around laughing and screeching and raucous with so much joy it seemed imaginary and untouchable, it felt like the whole world was sat existing around that oak table he’d made for you. The whole world right here at our kitchen table, Joel. 

You remember the last time you heard his voice, right before he went out into the frigid snow to look for Ellie: Don’t you love me, Birdie bird?

Oh, shut up. And then whispered right into the reddened sea shell of his ear, Here is what I see in your eyes right now: myself, reflected back at me – more love than has ever existed before in all history. And then his laugh – you’re laughing and when you laugh I want to carve the face of the world in your image. Lena zooming by your legs as you kiss for the last time, a blue ribbon in her hair. 

Half a century from now, no one will remember us, but I will never forget you. 

Remember the first time we met? Bated breath and racing heart, and the sound of the rest of your life ringing in your ears. 

Remember the stitches in your palm? The first time I took you inside of me and all the times thereafter? When you pulled our first daughter from my body – and then the two others? Her first birthday? The countless birthdays after that? Remember the endless happiness so intense it was almost painful sometimes? Remember how much I love you?

But of course, he cannot. He’s not here anymore, and nothing hurts worse than the memory of joy when you’re living through grief. The thought sounds on the anvil of your mind every night at four am on the dot, the song of grasshoppers and slumbering, fatherless children singing around you; I am lost, and if I read a little bit confusing, it is only because I am confused amidst the battleground of my grief, and it is difficult to find my way back now that he is not here to guide me. 

They’d hurt him so badly. Fractured him in a way that not even your hands could mend, your years of study and practice futile in the face of such destruction. He’d fought hard, he’d tried to get away. This is the least comforting thing you could ever imagine. 

What does it do to a person to be confronted with the inequity of their purpose? To have worked tirelessly for so many years only to fail when the moment was most dire. 

Fracture of a different but equally devastating nature. And that moment of final realization, that there was nothing to be done – his bones had carried him for so long, you rest now, we’ll be okay, whispered into his mangled ear, half a chunk missing, savaged. You did good, Joel. You did good, my love. 

The sound of Ellie’s voice telling herself over and over and over again that he was okay; he’s okay, he’s okay, he’s okay. 

And she’d said to you: I wasted so much time being angry at him, for what? For loving me too much? For keeping me alive? For making a decision that now, with the clarity of age and a child of my own, I would have made exactly the same way? I wish I could walk in his shoes through that hospital all those years ago. I’d take his exact same steps – not a single pace different. And now he’s dead. And all that anger was for nothing. And our reconciliation feels so fraught, so meaningless in the face of all that time now. No matter that we’d had years after to be together, to be a family. All I can focus on now is the time lost, the sight of his crushed skull, the night I pushed him away before you, his face full of pain and regret. And the sound of his screams at the end. 

Ellie tells you: I remember the sound of his screams better than anything else. The sound of him screaming out for me, for you Birdie – Birdie, Birdie, my Birdie. Begging for help, but actually, I’m not sure, she says. I’m not sure if that really happened or if my nightmares imagined it. 

[I still think of you on your birthday. I’m sorry for everything, she thinks, when she lays in the grass with her sisters and looks for shapes in the clouds without him now. I only see you in the spaces between them. And she asks God why He didn’t work harder to save him. And He spits in her face and asks why she didn’t do the same.]

So, there are still our children. There is still Ellie. This family you’ve gifted me. The whole world abandoned here at our kitchen table. How can death exist when that exists? How can your death exist when they’re still here?

Don’t stop to think. Don’t interrupt the scream. 

And you tell yourself, no this wasn’t supposed to happen, but the universe laughs and grips you by the throat; the gladiator scream goes on. Salt the earth, there’s nothing to return to. 

And yet… that isn’t true either. Four little faces look up at you. Three sets of his eyes. 

You were furious at the sun the day after he died. How could it just continue to rise as if nothing had happened?

And after all that, it is like this: You scream for seven days and seven nights.

You don’t get out of bed for thirty days. 

You cry every single night for a year. 

This is different. A strange and terrified sort of place. What does it mean to lose the basis of your entire existence?

And Ellie? Ellie, Ellie, Ellie, Ellie, Ellie. What is Ellie going to do without him? How is she going to be okay? The sound of her cries: Don’t let me be alone. Please, God, don’t let me be alone. I never wanted to end up alone. You need to make sure she’s okay, you need to take care of her the way that he would, the way that he’d want you to.

Ellie loses her mind for a little bit. After your thirty days in bed, she calls her turn, tells you and Dina that she’s leaving, that she’s going. That she’ll bring you back a vengeance you could never want and lay it at your feet, and you cup her chin gentle in your palm, and ask, What does it matter now, honey? Connie’s voice ringing in your memory. He’s gone now, what difference would it make?

She tells you that he would have done it for her, and you cannot refute such a claim. He would. He’d do much worse. He’d turn himself back into that monster we both know he had inside of him.

“So I need to do this.”

And you tell her: “I’m begging you not to. Me, who belonged to him, who knew him in a way no one else in the whole world did. I’m asking you not to. I’m still here. The girls are still here. We need you. We need you as a reminder of him.”

“You’ll remember him anyways,” she tells you, which is true.

“But you’ll make the memory all the better,” And so she does not go, for a time.

Ellie stays, and you have a funeral surrounded by the people of Jackson who respected a man who was good. A man who took himself for a monster for so long, even though he never said it out loud, but you knew, you saw. All that time apart, all that fear, fear, fear, the very fear of God struck into his heart, afraid of what he was, of what the world and a little girl with green eyes more than thirty years ago had made him into, but then, look at what we’d turned around and made together. 

And you whisper to the apparition of him in your dreams: Joel if you were a monster, surely it was some sort of divine monstrosity. 

So many people leave remembrances at the gate of the farm, the whole of Jackson. His brother, holding you up gripped beneath the elbows so as to not frighten your children, and Ellie is crying but trying to pretend she’s not, which somehow makes it worse than if she were to throw herself at the base of his coffin and howl. 

You give her his jacket after that, and she smells like him all the time until the day she doesn't. Until the day it’s been so long since the last time that he was alive that his scent fades and leaves forever. She wears that jacket everywhere, to work, to hunt, to bed. Leaving her wife, leaving her family, leaving her sisters, leaving you because eventually she does – leave, and she wears his jacket. An inevitability like so many other things in life, you’re unable to keep her forever, and for a time she does go. 

And you will never forget him, you will never move on, you will never stop telling your daughters about him. He lives on in them. And you wonder why it is that no one ever talks about the physically intimate aspect of grief? Of missing your person and wanting them and needing them, and your body physically craving relief from that singular person and never being able to achieve it fully ever again to completion like he could give it to you because he’s just not here. 

He was, in every way, all that anyone could ever be. 

I cried every single day for a year. The day I stopped, I put him inside of a drawer within myself and was never able to move myself to tears again. 

Seven years since then, and you go to his grave for what you tell yourself will be the last time, recognize the lie for what it is, a single slab of carved stone, and you think, he doesn’t belong here, even still after all these years, and yet this is the only place he will ever be again. 

He should have been made into a redwood, the tallest thing in the entire world. Let him be a tree. You’d climb and climb and climb, like that night with Beth, so long ago you can barely remember the sound of her voice most days. You’d climb, and he’d protect you one more time like he had so many times before. 

Joel, years ago, when we were first married, I had a strange dream: I’d had to walk down a staircase that led far beneath the earth. As I traversed it, I had to move through all of our happiest memories, the births of our daughters, the birthdays and celebrations and the long nights together, dinners, breakfasts and laughter, lazy afternoons at the lake, in bed together, still endlessly fascinated with each other despite all the times we’d found ourselves in that exact position. But when I reached the end, I’d be able to come upon our worst moment, see what it was in preparation, perhaps, for what would come to pass. 

I feel as though I have finally reached the bottom of that staircase, and part of me would like nothing more than to have never begun the journey down, but had I not, then I would have not lived through all the rest of it. And in the end, that was worth everything else.

That last night again, in my memory: Don’t you love me, Birdie bird? 

Close your eyes, he whispers, it’ll be worth it, the last taste of his mouth. 

My eyes are still closed.

Netherfeildren's Masterlist

Updates Blog

[n0tonlin3]

ABOUT ME (lyn) 💫

𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐬/𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐬 - final destination (1235) , beetle juice , FRIENDS , full house , american horror story , fear street (123) , wandavision , scream (1234) , i am not okay with this , the breakfast club, x-men.

𝐡𝐨𝐛𝐛𝐢𝐞𝐬 - crochet , writing , drawing , listening to music .

𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 - lawyer (i hope!!!) .

𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 - beabadoobee , they might be giants , laufey , redman , naughty by nature , onyx , nas , outkast , xtina , TLC , new jeans , itzy , public enemy , lady gaga , olivia rodrigo , ashnikko , rico nasty , fleetwood Mac , tv girl , melanie martinez , ppcocaine , sabrina carpenter, flo milli , dmx , alex g , mitski , phoebe bridgers , current joys , chappell roan , adrianne lenker , SWV .

𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬/𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 - jim carrey , courtney cox , jamie lee , bob saget , evan peters , lily rabe, kathy bates , stefani joanne , noel fisher .

🤞- anyaa , lili , jazz, & layni <3 .

- lyn 6/29/24

[letters2fiction]

Welcome to Letters2fiction!

The concept here is to send in a question or a letter request, and you’ll get a response from your fictional character of choice, from the list below. Please stick to the list I’ve made, but of course, you can ask if there’s some other characters I write for, I don’t always remember all the shows, movies or books I’ve consumed over the years and I’m sure I’m missing a lot 😅

Status: New Characters added - Thursday March 21st, 2024

TV SERIES

A Discovery of Witches:

Matthew Clairmont

Baldwin Montclair

Gallowglass de Clermont

Marcus Whitmore

Philippe de Clermont

Jack Blackfriars

Sarah Bishop

Emily Mather

Diana Bishop

Ysabeau de Clermont

Miriam Shepard

Phoebe Taylor

Gerbert D’Aurillac

Peter Knox

Father Andrew Hubbard

Benjamin Fuchs

Satu Järvinen

Meridiana

Law and Order:

Rafael Barba

Sonny Carisi

Joe Velasco

Mike Duarte

Terry Bruno

Peter Stone

Hasim Khaldun

Nick Amaro NEW!

Mike Dodds

Grace Muncy

Kat Tamin

Toni Churlish

Amanda Rollins

Olivia Benson

Rita Calhoun

Casey Novak

Melinda Warner

George Huang

Sam Maroun

Nolan Price

Jamie Whelan

Bobby Reyes

Jet Slootmaekers

Ayanna Bell

Jack McCoy

Elliot Stabler

One Chicago:

Jay Halstead (Could also be Will if you want)

Antonio Dawson

Adam Ruzek

Greg "Mouse" Gerwitz

Dante Torres

Vanessa Rojas

Kevin Atwater

Sean Roman

Matt Casey

Kelly Severide

Joe Cruz

Sylvie Brett

Blake Gallo

Christopher Hermann

"Mouch"

Otis

Violet Mikami

Evan Hawkins

Mayans MC:

Angel Reyes

Miguel

Bishop

Coco

Nestor

911 verse:

Athena Grant

Bobby Nash

Henrietta "Hen" Wilson

Evan "Buck" Buckley

Eddie Diaz

Howie "Chimney" Han

Ravi Panikkar

T.K. Strand

Owen Strand

Carlos Reyes

Marjan Marwani

Paul Strickland

Tommy Vega

Judson "Judd" Ryder

Grace Ryder

Nancy Gillian

Mateo Chavez

The Rookie:

Lucy Chen

Tim Bradford

Celina Juarez

Aaron Thorsen

Nyla Harper

Angela Lopez

Wesley Evers

BBC Sherlock:

Greg Lestrade

Mycroft Holmes

Sherlock Holmes

Moriarty

Molly

Bridgerton:

Anthony Bridgerton

Benedict Bridgerton

Simon Basset

Daphne Bridgerton

Eloise Bridgerton

Kate Sharma

Edwina Sharma

Marina Thompson/Crane

Outlander:

Jamie Fraser

Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser

Frank Randall

Black Jack Randall

Brianna Fraser

Roger MacKenzie

Fergus Fraser

Marsali Fraser

Jenny Fraser Murray

Ian Murray Sr.

Ian Fraser Murray

Murtagh Mackenzie

Call The Midwife:

Shelagh Turner / Sister Bernadette

Dr. Patrick Turner

Nurse Trixie Franklin

Nurse Phyllis Crane

Lucille Anderson

Nurse Barbara Gilbert

Chummy

Sister Hilda

Miss Higgins

PC Peter Noakes

Reverend Tom Hereward NEW!

Narcos:

Horacio Carrillo

Peaky Blinders:

Tommy Shelby

Downton Abbey:

Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham

Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham

Lady Mary Crawley

Lady Edith Crawley

Lady Sybil Crawley

Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham

Isobel Crawley

Matthew Crawley

Lady Rose MacClare

Lady Rosamund Painswick

Henry Talbot

Tom Branson

Mr. Charles Carson

Mrs. Hughes / Elsie May Carson

John Bates

Anna Bates

Daisy Mason

Thomas Barrow

Joseph Molesley

Land Girl:

Connie Carter

Reverend Henry Jameson (Gwilym Lee's version)

Midsomer Murder:

DCI Tom Barnaby

Joyce Barnaby

Dr. George Bullard

DCI John Barnaby

Sarah Barnaby

DS Ben Jones

DS Jamie Winter

Sgt. Gavin Troy

Fleur Perkins

WPC Gail Stephens

Kate Wilding

DS Charlie Nelson

Sergeant Dan Scott

NEW! Once Upon A Time

Regina / The Evil Queen

Mary Margaret Blanchard / Snow White

David Nolan / Prince Charming

Emma Swan

Killian Jones / Captain Hook

Mr. Gold / Rumplestiltskin

Neal Cassidy / Baelfire

Peter Pan

Sheriff Graham Humbert / The Huntsman

Jefferson / The Mad Hatter

Belle

Robin of Locksley / Robin Hood

Will Scarlet

Zelena / Wicked Witch

Alice (Once in Wonderland)

Cyrus (Once in Wonderland)

Jafar (Once in Wonderland)

Gideon

Tiger Lily

Naveen

Tiana

Granny

Ariel

Prince Eric

Aladdin

Jasmine

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Hercules

Megara

Tinker Bell

Merida

Red Riding Hood

Mulan

Aurora / Sleeping Beauty

Prince Phillip

Cinderella

Prince Thomas

NEW! The Vampire Diaries / The Originals

Stefan Salvatore

Damon Salvatore

Caroline Forbes

Elena Gilbert

Bonnie Bennett

Enzo St. John

Niklaus Mikaelson

Elijah Mikaelson

Kol Mikaelson

Rebekah Mikaelson

Freya Mikaelson

Finn Mikaelson

Mikael

Esther

Marcel Gerard

Davina Claire

MOVIES

The Pirates of the Caribbean:

Captain Jack Sparrow

Barbossa

Will Turner

Elizabeth Swann

James Norrington

Kingsman:

Merlin

Harry Hart

Eggsy Unwin

James Spencer / Lancelot

Alastair / Percival

Roxy Morton / Lancelot

Maximillian Morton / The Shepherd

Orlando Oxford

Jack Daniels / Whiskey

Gin

BOOKS

Dreamland Billionaire series - Lauren Asher:

Declan

Callahan

Rowan

Iris

Alana

Zahra

Dirty Air series - Lauren Asher:

Noah

Liam

Jax

Santiago

Maya

Sophie

Elena

Chloe

Ladies in Stem - Ali Hazelwood books:

Olive

Adam

Bee

Levi

Elsie

Jack

Mara

Liam

Sadie

Erik

Hannah

Ian

Fourth Wing - Rebecca Yarros:

Xaden Riorson

Dain Aetos

Jack Barlowe

Rhiannan Matthias

Violet Sorrengail

Mira Sorrengail

Lillith Sorrengail

Bodhi Durran

Liam Mairi

[sethshead]

“Big nose mafia going to cancel me but man you know who should’ve finished the job.”

“Phoebe Stern did [go to Israel] … She fat and ugly anyways … just because she supports genocide doesn’t mean we get to be misogynistic.”

“She’s a racist bigot and the only question we should be asking ourselves is if she really believes the violent, racist lies she’s been spreading.”

The people who say things like this are our classmates, colleagues, neighbors, some we even thought were our friends. Yet another generation of Jews learns the hard way how many will turn on us in an instant the moment it becomes the popular and acceptable thing to do. This was never about Israel; it’s simply the latest repetition of a cycle that’s been ongoing for two thousand years.

Let’s just count ourselves fortunate that this time around, we aren’t weak and homeless, powerless before the onslaught of hate.

[ourstaturestouchtheskies]

Bates Fabrics ad from 1952 // Maidenform ad from 1953 //New Orleans: Girls on roller skates under the palms of the City Park // Jello Chiffon Pie ad from 1958 // Cutex ad from 1955 // 'Madame Philémon Cochet' Rose - Jeanne Koch // McGregor Brothers' Floral Gems 1899 - front cover // Waterlilies - Claude Monet // Silk Chiffon - MUNA feat. Phoebe Bridgers

[heartintact]

♡ for a smutty, angsty or christmassy short starter based on your wishlist! specify the vibe that you want or that will be up to me! i’ll come to you to ask who you prefer from the following list:

atlas dixon. 24 - 27, he/him, straight (asa germann fc).

belinda yeoh. 22 - 26, she/her, bisexual (havana rose liu fc). 

charlotte cunningham. 32 - 36, she/her, lesbian (sarah snook fc). 

delilah bates. 26 - 29, she/her, bisexual (victoria pedretti fc). 

denver oakley. 26-30, he/him, straight (logan lerman fc).

erik landvik. 43 - 46, he/him, straight (alexander skarsgård fc). 

gemma harmon. 26 - 29, she/her, bisexual (jaz sinclair fc).

hudson gere. 24 - 28, he/him, straight (jacob elordi fc). 

joana sampaio. 23 - 26, she/her, lesbian (alba baptista fc).

jonah mei. 26 - 29, he/him, bisexual (derek luh fc).

juno faulkner. 23- 27, she/her, bisexual (maddie phillips fc).

kieran henley. 34 - 38, he/him, bisexual (oliver jackson-cohen fc). 

lucia oliveira. 25 - 29, she/her, bisexual (camila mendes fc). 

maude seong. 23 - 26, she/her, bisexual (london thor fc).

naomi ryde. 28 - 32, she/her, bisexual (willa fitzgerald fc).

nathan craven. 27 - 31, he/him, bisexual (joe keery fc).

phoebe devine. 22 - 25, she/her, bisexual (lizze broadway fc).

theon lindgren. 30 - 34, he/him, bisexual (bill skarsgård fc).

[uranathemma]

phoebe bridgers for the guardian shot by davis bates

[between-myself-and-me]

Phoebe Bridgers , Davis Bates & Lucy Dacus / 23.06.2023

Source : Davis Bates Instagram

[thisnameisnotspokenfor]

The Kingdom of the Stars Chapter 19: The Reunion

Previous: Chapter 18

Next: Chapter 20

“Can you reach it?” Ana called, floating a few meters overhead as she held Phoebe toward the tip of the bell tower.

“Yes!” she answered, adjusting her grip on the final piece of golden flower decor, as the crowd watched with bated breath. 

Both turned their glances down below, giving Asha a nod, before she turned to address the waiting crowd.

“Alright, everyone! This is it!” Asha held up her fingers, as she could feel the air practically crackle with excitement. 

“3-,”

Phoebe reached her small hands towards the pole.

“2-,” 

Her fingers were mere inches from it as the crowd below watched with bated breath.

“1-,”

Phoebe carefully placed the decoration around the belltower’s pole as the crowd erupted into cheers with several tossing their hats and flowers into the evening twilight. 

After hours of hard work and planning, The market decorations had officially reached completion. . 

She couldn’t help but smile as she basked in the soft glow of the now-lit lanterns that, along with the old wilted tree’s blossoms, had practically breathed new life into the market.

It was perfect really, and she couldn’t have asked for more than that.

After all, None of this would’ve been possible without their creative vision and assistance. 

She looked around the joyful crowd, soaking in the atmosphere as she watched the people begin to go about their business. 

The musicians immediately began to play their festive tunes as Mrs. Alina, Mrs. Akinemi, and several others, danced. 

She squeezed through the crowd, murmuring words of excuses and apologies as her eyes searched for one face in particular. A face that she was both glad yet frightened she couldn’t find.

“PLLLEEAAATTT!”

“Oh, Valentino,” she stopped, watching as the goat came into view. Several of Ana’s birds were perched on his back. Their soft chirps and songs quietly reminded her of her birds, who she hoped had returned to the castle safely. “You haven’t seen…him  have you?” 

The goat shook his head as she let out a sigh of relief. 

Her eyes quickly landed on the night sky above, where the hole in the thick thunderclouds had quietly slipped into view. 

‘Maybe he’d gone home?’ After all, he had granted her wish, hadn’t he? 

All of her tasks were completed, so if she’d gotten what she’d wanted then there’d be no reason for him to stay. 

Those rules he’d sworn had kept him here would’ve effectively become null, and with that he’d have no choice but to go home! 

This night couldn’t get any better, could it?

 She beamed at Valentino who pleated at her curiously. “I have a very good feeling about this,” she whispered, watching Ana’s birds quickly disperse as two figures approached her. 

“Wonderful job on the market, miss!” She heard Captain Silver call as he gave her a firm pat on the shoulder, before turning to Mr. Bjorn. “See now didn’t I tell ya that she could do it? Hmm?” Bjorn scowled in reply as Silver grinned. “Now hand it over,” he reached towards the elderly man with his bandaged hand. “A deal’s a deal, remember?”

Mr. Bjorn grumbled, turning to her, “Just for the record, I knew that you would do an amazing job decorating this market. I just didn’t think Allard would let you do it while she was still…alive…but ah,” he sighed before shrugging as he dug into his pocket for three golden coins that he grudgingly handed to the grinning sea captain. “I suppose stranger things have happened in these parts before.”

“But ya losing a bet is not one of them,” Captain Silver called before victoriously stuffing the gold coins into his pocket. 

“I wouldn’t speak so loudly if I was you! Pride cometh before a fall! And no one in Rosas has a history of Fallin like yourself!” Bjorn argued back as Asha watched them walk off into the now busy market crowd together. 

She glanced towards one part of the market where several people gathered for the renewed baking competitions. It was something she’d eagerly looked forward to seeing how it would unfold, given how the reigning champ, Dahlia, was no longer present to dominate.

“Want to take a look around?” She asked Valentino. “There’s a lot to see and do.” The goat nodded, quickly trotting alongside her as the pair began to venture towards the more crowded part of the market.

“Come get your chance to win a new toy in a game of marbles!” A nearby merchant called as several others began to open their shops, all promising prizes and fun games.

“Feeling brave? Try your luck at the fiercest Noughts and Crosses champion!” the man gestured to a grinning child seated around a table. 

“Are you the new sack toss champion? There’s only one way to find out,” a woman called as she gestured towards her stall. “Try your luck…you might win a prize.”

“It’s beautiful Valentino,” Asha contentedly sighed, continuing to take in the sights and sounds of the market around them as they continued to stroll through.

Valentino pleated in agreement, before both paused, watching a few people pass them all of whom were headed towards the enormous crowd that now surrounded Mr. Armin’s stall.

“You were the one who provided the papers and strings for these cranes, right?” she heard a noblewoman ask as he nodded. “Good, well I’d like to place an order for your next shipment of these as soon as possible.”

“Of course! Of course ma’am!” he nodded, hurriedly scribbling the order down.

“I’d also like to place some orders as well! For whatever you used to make this!” a man called as he held up one of the makeshift streamers that Mr. Armin had created with some of the flowers from the old wilted tree.

“Certainly! I’ll have your order ready before the end of the week.”

“I’d like to place an order for those too!’ someone else called.

A nobleman stepped forward, gesturing to the young stoic-faced girl who stood at his side, “Tell me, good sir, do you take apprentices? My daughter would like to learn-,”

A small grin made its way to Mr. Armin’s face as he answered,  “It’s been a while since I’ve taken in an apprentice. But I’ll see what I can do.”

She watched on, hope blossoming within her that this could be the start of something new or bigger and better, for not only his business but for the other teachers and hopefully the townspeople as a whole. 

It was, after all, the least they deserved for helping her out. 

“Come on Mom! You’ve got to try this! They’re amazing!” She heard a girl call as she began to tug her mother towards the long line for Mrs. Kurkaus and her husband’s stall. 

“Alright alright,” her mother chuckled before speaking to a woman following her “These things seem to be a hit with the kids you know-, he says they call it something like ice cream- can you imagine?”

“Ha! We’re certainly not making it out of the dark ages with that one, are we?”

“Not a chance. 

“You know…My son tried one earlier and hasn’t been able to stop talking about it since. He swears it’s the best thing he’s had since Tarta de queso!” the woman chuckled before the trio wandered out of earshot. 

The best thing since Tarta de queso? 

She exchanged glances with Valentino. There was only one way to find out, wasn’t there? 

Admittedly she’d nearly been tempted to join the insanely long line but the sound of Diego hollering overhead brought her to a stop. 

“Woooooooohooooo!” She, along with several others glanced overhead,  watching in amazement as Ana soared through the partially clouded sky while holding an excited Diego in her arms.

“Remember to keep your arms stretched!” Ana called. “We fly faster that way!”

He nodded as she watched them briefly soar out of view.

“Someone seems like she’s having a lot of fun,” Asha commented as she looked at Valentino, who pleated in agreement, probably wanting to be next in line for a ride as well. 

Ana had mastered her gift in a remarkable time, as she now flew so well that Asha was half tempted to think that she’d been born for flying. 

But come to think of it, it seemed as if everyone who’d had their wishes granted had mastered their newfound gifts rather quickly, hadn’t they? 

She watched as Mrs. Bellerose stopped the rain from her cloud with a simple gesture before she prepared her next customer’s bouquet. Mrs. Kurkaus nearly did the same as she patted her snow cloud for a few icicles. Even Julian had moved with a surprising amount of efficiency when he’d been on a rampage earlier.

It was funny really, Asha had always thought that the king and prince made it sound like magic took years, if not a lifetime to master, but everyone who had had their wishes granted today made it look so simple .

Was it simply a difference in the type of magic or was it something else? Asha would never know nor would she want to. 

She took a mental step back, carefully thinking over everything.

The chaos, the success, the work.  

A lot had happened, mostly because of the star.  But as much as she hated to admit it, everything that the star had disobediently done had seemed to help in the long run. 

Granting Mrs. Bellerose’s wish had not only revived her business but it had allowed her to add all sorts of flowers to the town’s decorations, giving them a vibrancy that Asha had never even thought they’d need. Then Mrs. Kurkaus’s wish led to her selling and inventing even more delicious treats that the townspeople would gladly appreciate. And then there was Ana who was now giving the children fun rides with her ability to fly.

But all three of those wishes were something Asha wouldn’t have been able to grant on her own, nor were they wishes that she could see the king even consider granting.

She couldn’t make someone fly, nor could she create a cloud that could rain or snow on command. But  All three wishes had positively contributed to the market, and ultimately to her teachers' wishes. 

Even Julian’s wish, despite how destructive it had been, was the only reason why any of this was allowed to come to fruition. 

He’d destroyed the market’s decorations, hadn’t he? Then he’d injured the officials. 

He’d inadvertently left them no choice but to go with her plans; plans that most definitely wouldn’t have materialized if Allard nor her decorations had been burnt.

It was an upsetting thought, but perhaps not an incorrect one, she reasoned, as her gaze settled on the golden branches of the old wilted tree that now peaked from behind some of the buildings. 

She wasn’t sure what the star had exactly done to the tree, but as she stopped, taking in the soft glowing flowers that they’d integrated from the tree into the decorations, she knew she couldn’t deny that the tree was breathtaking at the least.

It had done wonders for raising morale, as she’d noticed that the people had seemed even more invigorated once they’d caught sight of the tree.

It had been a sign. 

A miracle, and that was exactly what she needed.

Had the star done it coincidentally, or intentionally? 

Nothing about him gave her the feeling that he was some grand mastermind, and yet she couldn’t help but feel that some of the things he had said, and done felt…premeditated.

 But then again, maybe she was giving the star too much credit and too much of her time.

He was gone now, wasn’t he? So why even bother to waste time thinking about him when she had the king to address? Letting him know about the dangers in the wish garden was her top priority now, but she’d need somewhere private to tell him about it. Somewhere that she could convince him to-

“PLEEEAAATTTT!” 

“Valentino?” she blinked, watching as the goat fervently leaped, his eyes darting towards the other side of the market as several incoming figures pushed themselves through the crowd, panting as they looked around with widened eyes.

“T-The king!” she heard the town crier call, pointing behind him as the crowd began to stir. “His highness has arrived!”

“ The king?!”

“The king is here?!”

“Already!?!” 

Quickly the crowd moved aside as the king, mounted on his favorite horse, came into view. 

“Whoa! Whoa!” He called pulling the horse’s reins as the queen and several other apprentices came into view: all mounted on their own horses as well. 

Granted she’d expected him to be here, but she hadn’t expected him to bring the whole calvary with him!

A sudden hush fell over the crowd as she watched everyone quickly bow. Commoner and noble, Maintainer and guard. Everyone bowed deeply to their king as she watched his eyes scan over the crowd. 

“Good evening Rosas!” He called, circling 

 the market several times, his eyes curiously sweeping over the decorations. 

 “Not bad,” he muttered to himself, as she watched him bring his horse to a complete halt next to Mr. Leitus’s chalk mural. His eyes lit up as she heard him call, “Oh! Now this is nice! Amaya do you see this?” he called, as the queen rode to his side, quietly observing Mr. Leitus’s chalk mural of them. “Someone is definitely working overtime to get their wish granted~,”

“Finally!” she heard Mr. Leitus whisper as a few members of the crowd seemed to relax.

At least he seemed to be in a good mood, and a happy king was the best king to deal with.

 Finally, the king’s eyes swept the crowd once more before finally landing on her’s and gesturing to the queen. 

Had the king himself been looking for her?

No, he couldn’t be. 

He had no reason to. But the look of relief in the queen’s eyes told her otherwise as the thought hit her. 

 Sebastian.

He’d left her behind that night, hadn’t he? She grimaced. The sight of the horse returning that night without its rider must’ve worried them. 

Her thoughts were only confirmed when she saw a surprised Safi riding atop the familiar black stallion. 

Her eyes quickly returned to the king’s, not missing the way how his brows furrowed as she saw a tick in his jaw. 

Was he upset with her? Suspicious? She braced herself for the inevitable cascade of questions, questions that never had the chance to materialize as the crowd did the unthinkable. 

They cheered.

They cheered far louder and harder than they had before, Asha swore she felt the ground shake as the king looked on in surprise, exchanging a glance with his queen who merely shrugged. 

“Long live King Magnifico and Queen Amaya!” she heard someone yell, as the crowd roared in agreement, all wishing their blesses to the royal couple.

Somewhat recovered, a half-grinning king muttered something to the queen, before turning back to the crowd with a newly placed smile.  “My people of Rosas!” he called, holding up his hand as the crowd fell into an awe-filled silence. It had been the first time since arriving did Asha hear the marketplace be so silent. “May I say that it is truly an honor to be with you all again this evening!” He grinned, looking over the crowd before glancing to the uneasy maintainers. “I can tell that this certainly was no ordinary market decoration, was it?” he asked, eyeing one of the fallen golden petals from the old wilted tree.

“We are truly honored by both your presence and blessings, your highness, even in the most unpredictable circumstances…” answered someone from the crowd. Asha was willing to bet that said person had been a maintainer, perhaps one of the few people who’d be brave enough to lead with such a statement.

“Is it true that you were the one who granted our wishes earlier?” someone else asked.

“It wasn’t the work of the rumored rogue sorcerer, right?”

“Why have you decided to grant wishes before the wishing ceremony?”

The king grinned, but Asha could see it, the slight but subtle tension in his shoulders, before he relaxed, a chuckle escaping his lips, as he glanced towards the queen.“Ha, a rogue sorcerer, can you imagine?…” He chuckled once more, before waving his hand dismissively as he smiled towards the awaiting townsfolk, “There’s no need to worry about that. That sorcerer has been taken care of long ago. As for your wishes…Well, with my young apprentice coming to assist, I was hoping to provide you all with assistance of sorts for the decorations. Something that could make this upcoming celebration truly incredible! Now tell me, how are you all enjoying your new gifts?”

From the corner of her eyes, Asha could see the maintainers and officials relax, as the crowd began to stir.

“It’s wonderful, Your Highness!” Ana called, briefly levitating.

“You saved my business!” Mrs. Bellerose called as she glanced at her rain cloud.

“I used the ice you gave me to make a King Magnifico ice cream treat, just for you!” Mrs. Kurkaus commented as she held up a frosted treat that heavily resembled the king.

 Now the king looked impressed, maybe even flattered. 

“You saved my shop!” Mr. Armin commented.

“And ours as well!” Called another merchant.

“We would’ve lost everything had you not sent the rain storm to save us from the fierce and fiery hold of Julian!”

She could see the tick in his eyes, the tiniest note of surprise, but it had vanished as quickly as it had appeared, leaving in its place an air of undeserved satisfaction and pride. 

Years of addressing the public had trained him well.

He hadn’t granted those wishes. 

There was a good chance that he hadn’t even know who or what said wishes had been granted, but Asha had a feeling that there was no way that the king was going to let the people know that. 

It would make him look as if he wasn’t in complete control of the wishes, nor could he protect them as well as promised. It would imply that he had an equal, a superior even- and that was when it dawned on her. 

There was a reason why the star had gladly given the king all the credit both for the tree and the other wishes. 

It wasn’t out of kindness, no. 

It had been out of strategy.

It was possible that by giving the king credit for the wish-granting, the star had put the king in one of two positions. 

He could A) be honest to the people that he hadn’t been the one to grant these wishes- that this magic, a magic that could possibly rival his own had come from elsewhere, or B) he could take credit for it. 

As honest as option A was, if he admitted this magic wasn’t his, then it would no doubt leave the king’s ability to protect both Rosas and its wishes from the outside forces looking inadequate, especially during a time when the hole in the clouds still persisted, and then there’d been a curfew because of an allegedly rogue sorcerer. If said sorcerer had gotten past his ‘barriers’ so easily, admitting the truth would’ve been an insult, both to the king’s capabilities and pride.

Then there’d been option B. He could lie, which seemed to be exactly what he was doing now

Was he upset that someone else in Rosas apparently had the magic to grant wishes? Most likely. 

But if the people praised and accredited him for such things, then in the eyes of his loyal subjects and to the world at large, he wasn’t only just doing what he’d promised, he was excelling at it. Over delivering. Being every bit the benevolent king that they believed and wanted him to be.

The only obstacle that now stood in his way was Julian’s horrific wish. 

But even that had a solution.

Perhaps he could paint himself as the benevolent overhead trying to give a troubled youth a second chance only to have said youth take advantage of the situation in the worst way possible, and honestly? 

That would’ve been more than just the perfect lie.

Julian already had a history of suspected attempted arsonry and trouble-causing, so there was a very good chance that most would take the king’s word for it without a second thought. 

It seemed as if the king had shared her train of thought as she watched his face soften, sadness becoming visible as she heard him say, “Julian?” the king repeated, looking a bit confused as his grip on his spear tightened. “Ah you mean Julian- of course, of course. You see, I granted Julian has always been a close friend of my nephew. I’ve known him since he was a small boy, and back then I knew that he was a studio child, with a good heart, a heart that I fear had been unfairly plagued by the troubles of life.”

Most of the crowd seemed to coo in a sort of sympathy that Asha was certain hadn’t been present before.

“I wanted to give him another chance,” the king continued as he glanced into his scepter. He looked devastated, as she watched the queen gently lay a hand on his back. “I wanted to prove to the world that there was still some good in him, that he could still do good… ” He sighed, shaking his head, “ I only wish he hadn’t taken it for granted.”

It was hard to see the king’s expression from this angle as she heard a guard gruffly call out, 

“The bloody fool! Give us the word and we’ll teach him to never take anything from our king for granted again!” 

The crowd cheered in agreement, leaving Asha’s stomach feeling uneasy. 

They’d taken the bait, hook, line, and sinker, and just like that. No questions asked, no flags raised, nor suspicions aroused. 

It was ironic.

 Julian’s wish had turned him into the perfect fall guy who would not only ruin his life but ultimately paint the king in a far more sympathetic and benevolent light than he could’ve ever wanted. 

Had the star been gunning on the king being cocky and dishonest enough to do this? 

She wasn’t sure, but he’d been right either way.

He’d seemed so smug that she nearly believed that he knew what he was doing…and if he was, then there was no doubt that he definitely knew far more than he let on.

“People, please,” the king sighed, hiding his mouth behind his hand as he regained his posture, acting as if he’d been forcing himself to move forward. 

Every movement was so subtle and telling, no part of his body language seemed extra or wasted.

 “I appreciate your spirit, but I’d much rather prefer to speak to him myself, as in all my years of ruling, protecting, and guiding Rosas, I can promise you that the best way to solve a problem is not to destroy it, but to understand it. The situation will be dealt with accordingly. I can promise you all that much.”

The crowd murmured, mostly in respect and awe for the king as Asha’s eyes searched the crowd, thankful that the star was absent. 

“But enough of that, you were having a festival, weren’t you?” the king asked. “One that despite all odds has persisted and flourished!” the crowd victoriously cheered, as she sighed in relief. “So, how about we get back to the festivities!” 

The crowd cheered once more, this time inviting their king to join them. 

As much as Asha wished to partake in their joy, she knew that if the king were to get involved in this (which he most likely was) along with the investigations that the maintainers were running, then there was a good chance that he’d find truly find out that she’d-

She shivered, cutting off the thought. 

There was no need to think about it, at least not here in public where she’d risk making herself look even more suspicious. 

Right now she needed to- “Asha!” The voice of her mother cut through her thoughts as she heard the crowd begin to cheer once more, no doubt at whatever the king had said. 

Her mother quickly came into view, pushing and shoving her way through the crowd before tightly embracing Asha. “Oh thank God,” she gasped. 

“Mama?” Asha choked out.

“I was so worried. We were all so worried,” her mother muttered, before slowly letting her go to face her. She looked her over, once, twice, and then sighed. “Thank goodness you’re safe,” she placed a hand over her heart before Asha saw her frown re-emerge in full force. Uh oh. She only frowned like that when she had an earful for her.

“Asha!” She exclaimed. “where on earth have you been?! Do you know how worried we all were?! We nearly tore up half of Rosas looking for you!”

“Ha, well, you see mama, it’s a funny story really- but, I was doing tasks for the king,” she whispered, watching as the crowd cheered this time for both the king and queen who was still addressing them. “A lot of tasks, and one of them involved overseeing the decorating of the market, and I would’ve contacted you sooner, but I got caught up in… some things. But I’m finished so at least I have time off now! I think.”

She winced, taking note of her mother’s unmoved expression before she heard her mother sigh and embrace her once more.“I didn’t know you had to do this much just to get time off! Do the other apprentices have to do this much work for their time off as well?”

She shook her head “No, it’s not usually like this. I think the upcoming events have just given everyone a lot to do,” She wasn’t sure why she’d said that of all things. It wasn’t as if she’d regularly ask for time off, and even then, she was quite certain that none of the other apprentices had to do anything remotely similar to this. 

Maybe she was just feeling grateful.

 As cumbersome as the tasks had been, some good had come out of them. She’d brought the prince back and helped grant some wishes.

She’d made people happy, or at least tried to.

So as much as the king didn’t deserve her excuses, she could at least admit that his tasks had somewhat helped in the long run.

Finally, her mother released her, looking around. “You really decorated and designed all of this?”

“With a lot of help, but I mostly oversaw it and did a few designs here and there,” she admitted.

Her mother smiled. “It’s beautiful!” “I haven’t seen the market like this in years! How did you convince the head official to let you do it?”

Asha grimaced, “It was less convincing on my part and more so a series of unfortunate events.”

Her mother raised a questioning brow, nearly about to ask for elaboration when Mrs. Chidera stepped towards them. 

“Chidera!” her mother had cried before embracing her as the crowd cheered once more.

“Hello Sakina,” Mrs. Chidera called, as she embraced her mother before stepping back.

“How have you been?” 

“Honestly?” Mrs. Chidera’s smile shrank as she shook her head. “It’s a long story. A stressful story, but at least it has a satisfying conclusion.”

Asha reasoned that satisfying was one way to put it, but it could’ve been much worse for her if the king had been honest.

“Stressful? Is everything alright, Chidera?” 

“No, no, it’s fine now. We just had some… issues earlier, but it seems as if they’ve been resolved. So there is nothing to worry about.”  A slow smile spread across her face, one that Asha would remember not quite reaching her eyes before she massaged her temples. “Unfortunately I have some business to attend to for the time being, but I do hope you both enjoy your evening,” she called, glancing towards her colleagues before quickly taking her leave.

Now her mother looked beyond worried. She looked concerned as she turned to her and asked, “What exactly happened in the market earlier?”

Asha had no idea how to answer that, and thankfully she didn’t have to as she heard the king’s nearing voice say, “Asha! We’ve been looking all over for you, where have you been?” 

She was surprised at the relief she felt as she watched some of the surrounding eyes turn to the king and queen’s approaching figures.

“Your Highness,” She curtsied, hoping that she looked more confident than she actually felt. “My apologies for any concern or issues I've caused you. I’ve been here overseeing the market decorations…”

“I can tell,” the king called as he looked around. “It’s…prepossessing, to say the least. Well done.”

“Thank you, your highness. I couldn’t have done it without some assistance from my fellow townsfolk and Lady Allard herself.” She didn’t miss how some of the surrounding townspeople frowned at her words, and in any other situation, she was sure she would’ve hated herself for saying it too, but not now. 

As much as she hated to admit it, The king wasn’t the only one who could make friends or scapegoats. Not if her family’s safety was at stake. 

She couldn’t let him realize the connection between the wishes and her goal, not if it would lead to him being suspicious. So she needed for him to believe that Lady Allard had been an ally and not a hindrance, even if it meant sacrificing some of her credit to do so. 

“Lady Allard helped you with this?” the king asked, raising a brow as he looked around the marketplace.

Asha nodded as she withdrew the noblewoman’s ring from her pocket. “She did. ” she lied. “Before the event of the attack, nothing happened without her approval or knowledge. She even helped suggest some ideas as well.” She gestured to the lanterns, an idea that had been her own. “And with her blessings, I was able to continue it even after she was injured and integrated some of the designs and suggestions from the others.”

“I see,” the king answered, glancing from her to the ring. Relief consumed her as she realized that the king had accepted her answer. “And how were your other tasks?”

She could tell that he was anticipating her failure, but she was afraid she’d have to disappoint him.

“Finished, Your Highness. Just as you requested.”

“Finished?” the king repeated in near disbelief, as she nodded. “I know you’ve taken care of the other side of the market, and this one, but what of the last one?”

It took everything in her to not smile as she said the words,  “In the Iron Explorer Inn, Your Highness.”

The king stepped back, exchanging a surprised glance with the queen before he cleared his throat, quickly regaining his posture. With a simple nod, two guards took off towards the inn, leaving them all alone as she saw the other apprentices look on with baited breaths.

“Well, I must admit, I am very impressed.” His nearly stoic yet polite expression said otherwise. “You’ve somehow managed to achieve the impossible,” he gave her a nod, before turning to the surrounding crowd who’d been listening in, “so let’s hear it for Asha, hmm? For all the diligent work she’s put in to make this happen!” The crowd cried and applauded so hard that she could’ve sworn that this time she did feel the cobblestone ground beneath her feet shake. 

“Grant her wish your highness it’s the least she could get for putting up with us!” she heard Mr. Armin call. 

Her heart stopped as she felt the king’s gaze linger on Mr. Armin almost as if he was thinking.

She held her breath, waiting for the king’s response as she watched him smile, thoughtfully tapping the butt of his staff onto the ground. “You know it’s funny that you say that. If my memory serves me correctly, we’re due for another wish ceremony, aren’t we? In about a week I believe, right?”

She could sense the heavy implications his words offered as the crowd started to stir once more, answering with the obvious reminders of the upcoming ball and ceremony. 

Her heart sank as she began to realize where this conversation was headed.

She didn’t want to do this.

She couldn’t do this!

She glanced towards the queen, desperate for any sign or way of salvation, but it seemed as if the queen’s attention was on a guard who’d stepped forward to quietly address her. 

“Do you hear the sound of that?” she heard the king call from over the sounds of cheers. 

She’d opened her mouth to speak, but a heavy weight had centered itself on her chest as she watched the king swim in the adoration and attention that the crowd provided. While still looking towards the people, he spoke, “Those are all the people who are wishing you well both at the ball and ceremony… It’s wonderful, right?”

Hesitantly, she felt herself nod, “Yes your highness, it is, and I’m honored really-,”

Now he turned to her, his grin in full display “Good! Then I’ll look forward to seeing you tomorrow at the castle to talk about it.”

“T-tomorrow?” she repeated, a bit caught off guard. Hadn’t she completed all of her tasks?! Why was he asking her to return to the castle?!

As if sensing her thoughts, he nodded, adding, “Only for a few hours of course! What, did you think I’d go back on my word? A promise is a promise Asha, and you know I would never purposefully break a promise.” 

She nodded watching as he began to step in the opposite direction. “And besides it’s Just to ensure all of the finalizations for the ball! These things do take practice, you know. So I’ll see you there before dawn,” He paused, gesturing for the rest of the apprentices to follow him as he made his way through the adoring crowd. 

The crowd bowed and cheered for the passing royals with a few even asking some of the other apprentices for autographs.

They were the guests of honor weren’t they, or at least a part of the royal entourage, so she supposed it only made sense for them to enjoy the festivities while it lasted. He halted once more, this time grinning as he looked over the still applauding and roaring crowd.

She could tell that he was loving every bit of this.

He had to be.

Never mind that the king hadn’t even asked her to accompany him or spoken about his promise to fund her projects but she supposed that would have to be dealt with tomorrow when she’d tell him of the danger. She hated having to delay it, but she knew better than to interrupt the king when he was like this in public.

She watched as he held his staff high in the air as he declared, “To the new era of Rosas!”

“To Rosas!” the people echoed. 

She could hear the sounds of drinks clinking as the music resumed, leaving her to hopelessly watch as the crowd swallowed the king, and his entourage up. 

Somewhere in the dying cheers of the crowd, she could make out the brief words of thanks and congratulations for her wishing ceremony. 

Mrs. Chidera had told her, “A personal invitation from the king to attend your wishing ceremony? Sounds like someone is on the right path for a promotion!” Or disaster. 

“You deserve it, Asha! After how you took down Julian earlier, the king should be granting at least hundreds of your wishes!” Mr. Armin had said.

“Remember me, when you get your wish granted, eh?” Mr. Leitus joked. “You were always one of  my favorite students .”

Oh gosh. How could she tell them all that she hadn’t even planned on attending the wishing ceremony to begin with? How could she tell them the truth?! 

Somewhere in the ruckus of her muddled mind, Asha heard Valentino pleat as she felt him gently nudge her leg. She could see from the expression on his face that he was concerned. 

“I’ll be fine,” she murmured, but if it had been to reassure Valentino or herself, she wasn’t sure. 

“Asha?” she heard her mother call. “Are you alright?”

“Yes mama, I’m fine,” she lied, nodding towards her. She was not fine. She was anything but fine. She knew from her mother’s expression that she didn’t believe her as she glanced past her most likely towards the king.

Her mother was definitely starting to suspect something. 

But how could she tell her?

The king of all people who roped her into this, and everyone in Rosas knew better than to refuse an order from the king, no matter how small or unfair said order was.

How exactly was she supposed to attend the wish ceremony when she didn’t have a wish? Better yet, how was she supposed to attend the astral ball, when she could barely waltz? 

She was going to make a fool of herself at both. She knew it. 

“And the night had been so close to being perfect,” she whispered under her breath as she sighed.  Leave it to the king to unintentionally make her life harder for his own entertainment. 

She sighed again, pinching her temples as she tried to reassure herself. It wasn’t like the night could get any worse, right? 

“Asha!” she heard the voice of her grandfather call. 

“Saba!” she called over the now cheering crowd that watched the queen easily score a point against the town’s champion in sack toss. Ignacio hadn’t been kidding when he called her athletic.

He narrowed his eyes towards her as he pointed his old wooden cane in her direction. “Want to give me an explanation for why you were running around with a boy this side of Rosas?”

“Boy?” Her mother repeated, glancing from her grandfather to her with a shocked expression. “Boy?!”

“Saba!” she yelped before she turned to her mother and quickly shook her head. “Mama it’s not like that, I swear.”

“She’s right,” she watched the old man lean towards her mother. “It’s worse .”

She shook her head “No! No! It’s actually super complicated, and accidental….”

“Likely story,” her grandfather scoffed before waving his hand dismissively. “A warning would’ve been nice you know, or just a small message informing us of your gallivanting. Do you know how many message hawks I had to use to find you?!”

“I wasn’t gallivanting. Wait a second, how did you-,” her voice trailed off as she watched a few children come into view, all eating the familiar pastries from her grandfather’s bakery before giving her a knowing smile. “Traitors,” she muttered.

“He bribed us with brownies!” Edda protested.

Thatcher took another bite from the pastry. “He also promised to teach us the move you did today too!”

“Brownies, really?” she placed her hands on her hip. “You couldn’t even sell me out for something better, like cake? You’re resorting to bribery brownies now, Saba?”

Her grandfather shrugged, “Eh, it’s the best pastry to bake before a funeral.”

“A funeral?” she repeated. “ A funeral?!”

Of course, he didn’t elaborate as she watched him grumble something to himself before glancing around the crowd. “Where is this boy you speak of? Bjorn told me that he saw him this morning.”

“Oh him?” Asha paused looking around, relief filling her. “He’s gone.” Thankfully . “He was just passing through, so I’m not sure if I’ll be able to-,”

“I was wondering where you’d been, Asha,” came a terrible voice from behind her. A voice that she knew most definitely should not have been here.

Why?!

Why was he still here?! 

He should’ve gone back to the sky ages ago!

She cringed, forcefully swallowing the cry in her throat as she looked back, taking in the sight of the star who stood there with a cup of Mrs. Kurkaus’s frosted treats in his hands. “Sorry I was late,” he said as if he wasn’t ruining the very fabric of her existence by standing there. “The line for these things is shockingly long, but it’s worth it. See? I got you one-,” his voice trailed off as she watched his eyes full of blues, purples, and oranges settle on both her grandfather and mother.

“Asha-,” her mother began, looking from her to the star. She cleared her throat, offering the star a polite smile. 

She could tell that her mother was trying to be polite, but unfortunately, the sentiment wasn’t shared as her grandfather frowned. “Asha, who is this?”

Oh boy.

One minute passed, then two, then three, and by this time Asha was very certain that she was cursed as she heard Valentino pleat excitedly. Unlike her, he wanted to see how this would unfold.

“Hello, ma’am!” The star said with a small wave and smile that could’ve won anyone not named Sabino or Asha over.

“Hello,” her mother replied. “You must be Asha’s friend!” She offered the star a polite smile. 

“Yes ma’am, you could say that,” the star answered while casting a glance in Asha’s direction. 

“I thought you said he was your acquisition-,” she heard Edda mumble.

“The word was acquaintance,” Asha sighed, even though she had a sinking feeling that Edda’s words hadn’t been entirely far off from the truth. 

This was such a weird situation. Why did it have to happen to her?!?

“Where are you from?” her mother suddenly asked, far more interested in the star than Asha would’ve hoped.

Please , she mentally begged him, ‘ Please don’t say anything outrageous. Please attempt to be somewhat of a normal person. Please!’ Asha knew the star could do a lot of things, but now she hoped that mind reading was one of them.

“Oh me?” the star blinked while pointing to himself, his eyes matching the pleasant colors of the passing twilight. “I fell out of the sky yesterday night, ma’am.”

NO! NO NO NO NO!

“Well at least he’s honest,” her grandfather mumbled with a shrug. 

Her mother’s brow furrowed in confusion as she looked towards the old man, “what?!”

“HA, HA HA! You’ll have to forgive him! He hit his head earlier,” Asha interjected as she lightly pushed the star away.

“Is he fine?” her mother asked, concern making its way onto her face.

Asha nodded with a nervous laugh, “Yeah, he’s fine. He’s just not from around here.”

“We can tell,” her grandfather answered.

“Sabino be nice,” she heard her mother warn while still looking somewhat confused.

“And this isn’t really his first language, or second, for that matter. But that’s how they greet each other where he’s from-,”

“It’s true,” the star nodded like he wasn’t absolutely insane. “It’s the most respectful greeting one can give.”

“Interesting! So you’re passing through for the astral ball and ceremony?” her mom asked once more. 

“I am,” the star politely answered. “I even helped Asha to decorate the market!”

“So I’m guessing this was your work, then?” Her Saba asked as his cane gestured to a few scattered golden petals.

“Some of it,” the star admitted. “But a lot of people helped! So it was actually pretty fun!”

Her grandfather muttered something incoherent under his breath as she heard her mother comment, “Well if you don’t mind me asking, do you have any accommodations? 

“Accommodations?” The star repeated, looking a bit confused. 

“Yes you know,” she paused, looking a bit surprised by the star’s confusion. “someplace you’ll be staying overnight?”

“Don’t use that kind of speech with him, Sakina,” she heard her grandfather interject. “They never get it at first.” He took a step forward, this time gesturing to the star as he said, “Your family isn’t with you, right?” 

“I’m afraid not. I usually travel alone,” the star admitted. The curiosity in his eyes had changed as he watched her grandfather carefully. 

“You’re here by yourself? Where will you go after the market finishes tonight?” Her mother asked, sympathy making its way into her voice much to Asha’s dismay. Now was not the time to show the legendary Rosas hospitality! 

“I…I’m not sure,” the star admitted, glancing towards Asha as if to ask for help. “But I’ll figure something out.”

The star’s words had unknowingly hit a little too close to home for her mother as she heard her ask. “Would you like to stay with us? At least until you get yourself settled?”

Before the star could answer, Asha stepped in, grinning. “Could you please give us a moment? I just…need to talk to him about a few things! We’ll be back soon! Bye!” she called, dragging him away as she watched her mother’s expression of polite curiosity slowly intermingle with suspicion. 

As soon as she was certain she’d dragged the star from her mother and grandfather’s earshot, and into an alleyway she quietly exclaimed, “You fell out of the sky yesterday night?! WHAT IN THE WORLD WAS THAT!”

He blinked, “It was the truth-,”

She facepalmed, “I thought I told you NOT to tell people anything crazy!”

“But I didn’t! Don’t people fall all the time? I mean someone nearly fell off one of the ladders earlier-”

“Yes but not out of the sky! WHEN THEY FALL OUT OF THE SKY THEY USUALLY DIE!” she roughly whispered, before taking a few forceful yet deep breaths to calm herself. 

Yelling at the star would get her nowhere and as much as she wanted to know why he was still here, the consequences of someone accidentally overhearing their conversation were far too dire.

So that question would have to wait until later, but for now- she needed to ask him something.

“Be honest with me,” she forced the words out. She knew that despite her uneasy tone, it sounded confrontational, but she needed to know, she deserved to know. She forced herself to meet the star’s somewhat surprised gaze, “are you doing this on purpose?”

“Doing what?”

“Trying to destroy me! Are you intentionally trying to destroy me?”

He blinked. “Why would I do that?”

She shrugged, “Because you’ve made my life infinitely harder as of late! So c’mon…just admit it. I’ll respect you more for it.”

“But…I’m not-, I couldn’t destroy you. Not even if I-” his eyes widened as she saw his lips press into a thin line. “No,” he shook his head. “No. I would never. I could never. There are rules to this Asha.”

“Which is?”

He leaned against the wall, not taking his eyes off of her as he replied, “We can’t harm whoever wishes on us. Regardless of intention. The consequences are quite dire, you know. Why do you think I sent the storm to stop Julian from hurting you?”

She felt herself stiffen. She hadn’t even realized that the sudden yet strange weather occurrence had been another act of the star’s power. But it had saved her. It’d given her the time she needed to disarm Julian safely. 

But it hadn’t been the only shocking thing about the star’s revelation of this rule. He couldn’t hurt her, at least not without suffering from dire consequences. 

Now that certainly changed things! Not as much as she’d like, but hey! At least she could sleep well tonight knowing that incineration by star would not be the way how she died! 

Feeling brave, she finally decided to ask him the question that had been plaguing her all evening. “Did you mean for this to happen?” 

“For what to happen?”

She took a step closer, making sure they were alone as she whispered, “For everything! For the decorations to be unsalvageable, for the head official to be too injured to continue, and to then give credit to the king- did you mean for all of this to happen?”

“I didn’t intend for the head official to get hurt,” the star answered. 

“But you intended for everything else to happen, didn’t you? Is that why you granted those specific wishes? Because you knew they could do more to benefit me?”

“I-,” he started to answer only to come to a pause as she saw his eyes focus on the alleyways entrance as her grandfather’s figure quickly came into view.

“Saba?” She asked, surprised to see him as he quickly made his way towards them. “Saba, what are you doing here?”

He huffed, abruptly turning to leave as they followed. “I could ask you the same question! Running off into dark places with boys you can’t even properly introduce to me! And in this alleyway of all places! Asha, please have some standards! That is no proper place for a murder!”

“Saba I’m not going to kill anyone- I don’t kill people! I’m telling you this is all just one massive misunderstanding! It’s not what you think!” The look in the star’s eyes told her that he hadn’t forgotten how she’d swung her sketchbook at him the night before. But that had been attempted murder, something that wouldn’t have happened if he could just stop sneaking up on her! 

Her grandfather didn’t answer as he paused, whirling around to regard the star. “You!” He pointed to the star. 

“Yes sir.”

Her Saba narrowed his eyes, “What is your name?”

“It’s Cepheus, sir.”

“Cepheus,” he repeated before shaking his head. “Unfortunate. Who are your parents?” 

“My parents?” the star repeated, looking a bit taken aback. 

“Yes! What are their names?”

“Ah, well,” the star fidgeted, glancing from the sky and then finally back to her grandfather as he answered, “their names are…Ray and Evangeline.”

To the star’s credit, those were…shockingly believable answers! Sure they didn’t impress her Saba but it was far better than hearing him say something outrageous. 

But come to think of it, did stars have parents? She’d have to ask him later as she followed her grandfather towards Mrs. Kurkaus’s stall. 

“Searching for you has been as exhausting as it has been stressful,” he stated as they stood in the now short line for ice cream. “So I think I deserve to have this.”

“Hello, Asha, Cepheus, and Mr. Sabino” Mrs. Kurkaus smiled, “How may I help you all today?”

“I’ll have three Rosas specials, please,” Asha smiled. One for herself, her mother, and then Valentino, whom she knew she owed for giving him the burden of watching the star.

“Alright, and what would you like?” Mr. Kurkaus asked the star. “The same as last time?”

“Yes please,” he nodded. 

“And you, Mr. Sabino?”

“I’ll take a nice helping of your finest non-royally themed delicacies,” he stated, before placing a few golden coins on the counter of the stall. Mrs. Kurkaus laughed, nervously glancing towards the king who thankfully was a bit too busy playing against the queen and several noblemen in spellicans to notice. 

“Heh…Coming right up!” she hummed, before handing them all their treats in record time. 

Soon, they’d seated themselves by the fountain, enjoying their treats as Asha glanced at the somewhat empty side of the market. “Where’s Mom?” 

“Talking with some of her clients,” her grandfather answered before taking another helping of his ice cream. “You know how those nobles get around this time of the month. Everyone’s gotta look good for something.”

“That’s good for business though, isn’t it? It’s what keeps the economy going. Even you can’t refute that Saba.”

He scoffs, readjusting his grip on his cane as she hears him say, “Don’t tempt me. You know I can be very unreasonable when I want to be.” 

She grinned, against her better judgment as she placed Valentino’s ice cream on the ground for him to eat. She could always count on her grandfather to have some sort of answer, no matter how ridiculous they usually were.

“BLLLEAAATTTT” she paused, hearing the sound of a distant explosion as the sky illuminated in a brilliant display of lights and colors as the crowd watched. The king must’ve been enjoying himself if he were using his magic to conjure fireworks outside of a ball or ceremony. 

She could only imagine how good he felt now taking credit for wishes he didn’t grant to earn.

“What’s that?” The star asked, looking at the sky curiously. 

“Fireworks,” she replied in between bites while she watched Valentino practically devour his ice cream. “Sometimes we have those at big celebrations…” she paused taking in the star’s expectant expression. “what?”

“Oh nothing,” he shrugged. “I was just expecting to hear your whole science spiel on how they work. And how it’s not magic. Can’t forget the anti-magic attitude!”

She grunted, not in the mood to give magic nor the star any sort of positive acknowledgment as she finished the last bit of her ice cream. 

Her grandfather scoffed, eyes rolling as she watched him turn away from the fireworks, muttering “Illusions. Distractions. That’s all they are…don’t be fooled.”  After a moment or so of fidgeting, he finally settled to his feet muttering something along the lines of “I’ll be back soon,” before walking off towards a group of less than friendly-looking individuals, aka mercenaries. 

She only hoped they weren’t working.

“Ay Sabino!” she heard one call as the group caught sight of her approaching grandfather. 

Someday she’d have to have a talk with her grandfather about his associates from his days before his retirement. Someday.

“Your king seems quite popular,” she heard the star call rather thoughtfully as he examined the crowd. “And it’s not hard to see why. He can grant wishes, can’t he? And that’s what he did today,” The star smiled as he turned towards her. “So It’s best to let a king enjoy himself, especially on a day he'll have to remember favorably. It’d be foolish for him to do otherwise to ruin such a day, don't you agree Asha?” 

She hesitated. 

To do otherwise? She hadn’t gotten what the star had meant at first, but when she heard the crowd cheer for his fireworks it clicked. 

The king couldn’t backtrack his statement of granting those wishes. Even if he’d done a thorough investigation into the matter, he could never release the truth. He could never let anyone know the truth, not unless he wanted to look like a liar. 

No wonder the officials and Mrs. Chidera had seemed so relieved. There was a good chance he’d call off any investigations if he claimed responsibility which was a benefit for all of them. Most Investigations usually cost money and in worst-case scenarios, reputations or jobs.

But it seemed as if she was safe…for now.

“Careful,” Hal’s voice whispered. “Careful-,” The crowded stall fell silent. Hal had worked her way through the market effectively crushing, conquering and destroying everyone in sack toss, which had left her with only one remaining challenger- the champion himself. 

He’d put up an admirable fight, leaving the two locked in a strenuous tie, as Hal was left with the final sack. 

“It’s not too late to retreat,” she heard him whisper. “I’ll respect you for it.”

“Keep your respect,” she called back. “I’m going for the gold!” She readjusted her position before tossing the sack, all anxiously watched as the small sack sailed through the air and perfectly into the furthest hole, breaking the tie.

“We have a new champion!” the stall owner called, more than happy to collect the money that people had betted against Hal. 

“WOOOOHOOOO!” Dario yelled as the teens cheered, all congratulating Hal as she took what must’ve been her twentieth stuffed toy that evening. 

“Congratulations Hal!” Safi said. “I knew you could do it.”

“Thanks,” Hal grinned, turning to the champion as he shook her hand. “Good game.”

“Good game,” he repeated with a courteous bow. “It was an honor, Senorita Hal. But it certainly won’t be the end.”

“Noted. I’m always up for a rematch,” she answered as the crowd around the stall began to disperse. “Well that was fun,” she sighed, turning to her companions as they ventured toward the more private parts of the market. “So what do you guys think we should do next?”

“We could do the baking competitions,” Safi sniffled, as he tossed a few bread crumbs to some birds. 

“I know Dahlia would love that,” Hal grinned, looking at her friend.

Dahlia shook her head, not returning the smile. “No, no. I can’t.”

“Why not?” Dario asked as she watched him begin to take a few bites from his ice cream.  “Everyone knows you’re like the best baker ever.”

“I know,” Dahlia nodded. “So it wouldn’t be fair to just destroy the competition like that. You have to give everyone a chance to shine.”

“We could be the judges,” Hal suggested. “I heard one of them had to drop out after trying one of the mona de Pasqua’s the official’s apprentice made. It got really nasty.”

“Ugh,” Dahlia grimaced. “Thanks but no thanks… Pastries that are baked with more stress than sugar are pastries that are not worth sharing,” she stepped past them, leaning against an empty stall as the three teens exchanged glances.

“You’re still waiting for Bazeema aren’t you?” Hal asked, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. 

Dahlia shook her head, frustration slowly making its way into her voice, “She should’ve been back by now! I mean we all heard Asha when she said that she’d completed all of her tasks! I’m not crazy!”

“What does Bazeema have to do with Asha’s tasks?” Dario asked, earning a pointed glance before nodding, “Oh right!  The secret mission. You’re talking about Bazeema’s secret mission. The secret mission we all chose to give to Bazeema. That mission?”

“Yes Dario, that one!” Dahlia sighed before rubbing her face. 

“The secret mission for Nachos!” Dario whispered, before taking another hearty helping of his ice cream.

“Emphasis on the secret part,” Dahlia added.

“I can’t believe she found him in less than a day,” Safi sniffed. 

“I told you she could do it,” Hal shrugged as she crossed her arms.

“But she did it so fast- and by herself! How is that even possible?! I mean for her to go to you-know-where and back in time to decorate an entire market- it just doesn’t make sense! What?! Did she fly there!?” Safi exclaimed before sneezing as one of Ana’s birds chirped. “Thanks,” he sniffled, as he withdrew a tissue from his pocket. 

“It’s Asha, so it’s best not to think about it,” Dario suggested, taking in the surprised looks of his friends. “What?” he shrugged, “she’s scary! We know this!”

“I wouldn’t call her scary, but her grandfather…he has a whole sharpened broadsword in his cabinet,” Hal blinked in disbelief as if she couldn’t believe her own words. 

“Well…He wasn’t the captain of the guards for nothing.” Dahlia sighed, as the remaining apprentices, a small pause filling the space before they heard the screams of fireworks overhead.

“Fireworks? Seems like he’s in a good mood tonight,” Dahlia blinked as she adjusted her glasses.

Safi wiped his nose, “No surprises there, I mean did you see him when the crowd started cheering? He’ll have to pass a royal decree to make the doorposts higher from how much his head was swelling!” 

The teens laughed, watching in silence as a few more fireworks exploded before Dario whispered “Hey, just between the four of us…since the king is in such a good mood right now, do you think he’d grant my wish too?”

Hal laughed, “To quote the king- Not a chance,”

“Nope,” Dahlia shook her head. 

“Not in a million years!” Safi exclaimed. “Besides he probably didn’t even grant those wishes to begin with.”

“What?” Dario blinked in surprise. “What do you mean?!”

“C’mon,” Hal leaned against the stall, looking around to ensure they were truly alone before she continued. “We were with his highness all day, Dario. If he did something, there was no way we wouldn’t have seen it!”

Dario deflated, “Ah, you’ve got a point….”

“And besides,” Hal shrugged. “The most wishes he grants when he’s feeling generous is 15, and that’s over a whole year. There were at least four wishes granted today, which is more or less equal to what he normally grants in a third of the year. You want me to believe that he’d outdo himself randomly today of all days and here of all places?”

“C’mon Hal,” Dahlia frowned. 

“Sorry! I mean, let’s be honest, if he were to go splurging with the wish-granting, don’t you think he’d do it to his favored members of the court? Just to keep favor, and all those politics.”

“Fair enough, but if the king didn’t grant those wishes…who did?”

A strange silence fell over the group as the teens exchanged glances with each other. 

“Maybe-,” Safi began, pausing as they heard the sound of galloping hoofs heading towards them. 

“Someone’s coming!” Hal whispered, as the teens scattered, just as a horse came into view, its rider pulling on the reigns, bringing the horse to an abrupt halt. It was hard to see the figure’s face that was shrouded underneath their dark cloak as Dahlia’s eyes darted past them and to the familiar figure who was mounted behind them. 

“Bazeema!” Safi cried.

“Hi!” Bazeema squeaked as the horse calmed. “Sorry it took me so long,” she whispered as the figure dismounted the horse, before offering her a hand down. “Thanks,” she smiled, dismounting as the teens quickly surrounded her and the figure. 

“Nachos?” Dario called, as the figure paused, looking towards him. “Nachos!” he yelled running towards the figure with outstretched arms. The figure stepped forward ready to receive him, only for Dario to run past him.

“So close,” the figure sighed, as Dario ran out of the alleyway. 

“Ignacio…” Dahlia began, her voice quiet as she squinted. “Is that you?”

“In the flesh! And I come with gifts!” he replied as he pulled his hood back, and smiled, holding his arms out, as Hal, Safi, and Bazeema embraced him.

“It took you long enough, Your Highness,” Dahlia huffed, crossing her arms. 

“Sorry! It took me forever to lose the guards my Tio sent for me. You know I’m on a tight leash here.”

“Right, right, I nearly forgot about that” She nodded, taking in his expectant gaze. “What?”

“You didn’t join the group hug-,”

“Seriously?”

“Yes!” he snapped. “I didn’t get banished for three years just for you to miss out on group hugs.”

Dahlia sighed, grabbing her crutch as she made her way over to her friends, and embraced them. Admittedly being together did feel nice, especially when she’d thought it would never happen again. “There. Is that better?” she asked. 

“Much better,” he smiled, before releasing them as Dario made his way back to them, receiving his own hug from the prince.

“I missed you Nachos!” Dario cried before releasing the prince. 

“I missed you too!” Ignacio replied. “All of you.”

“You got super tall!” Hal exclaimed.

He grinned, shrugging, “What can I say? It’s in the genes, right next to the magic-,”

“Speaking of magic, did you hear about the wishes that were granted today?” Dahlia asked. 

“No?” he shook his head, confusion lacing his tone as he asked, “Wishes were granted?”

Hal nodded. “Yeah- I overheard some of the maintainers talking. They said six wishes were granted in the market today. One went haywire.”

“Haywire?” Dario asked.

“Yeah. Some kid named Julian tried to burn the place down.”

“Julian?” Ignacio repeated, as his face paled. “Julian?!”

“Yeah. I think that’s what they said. He was stopped by a storm and Asha. Hey Dahlia, do you know this Julian guy?”

“Somewhat,” she confessed. “He was the son of one of the most influential noblemen in these parts a while back, I think. I only remember hearing about him recently because of all his familial problems. Is something wrong Ignacio?”

The prince let out a small yet uneasy laugh, “No! No, everything is fine! I was just wondering if any of you knew where he is now?”

Hal shook her head, “they didn’t say. The whole thing is under lock and key now. The officials and maintainers wanted to do an investigation, but it got called off.”

“Called off? Who’d call something like that off?!”

“The king,” Hal answered, gesturing to the man who was still amusing his subjects. “But on the bright side now someone can fly, and manipulate a snow cloud and a rain cloud!”

“It’s how we got this!” Dario called as he held up his ice cream. “Seriously! You need to try one of these things! It’s better than flan!”

“Ok, let’s not get hasty now,” Ignacio laughed. “Nothing is better than flan. Except for maybe more flan. Made by a certain someone-.” he glanced towards Dahlia.

“If that’s your way of asking me for some flan then it’s not happening,” Dahlia answered.

“Can’t blame a guy for trying,” he sighed with a small shrug, before looking the small group over as another explosive firework from overhead illuminated them.

“THANK YOU PEOPLE OF ROSAS!” The king’s voice boomed, as the teens all turned to watch him as the crowd cheered at the final firework. “It’s been a true pleasure being with you all tonight!”

“Have you spoken to him?” Dahlia asked, glancing from the king to the prince.

“Not yet,” he answered, slowly clenching his jaw as he looked them over. “Where’s Asha?”

“Not sure. I don’t think the king invited her to hang out with us,” Hal shrugged, as Safi glanced around. 

Ignacio frowned. “She really decorated the market and he didn’t ask for her to show him around?” 

Safi coughed, as Hal fidgeted, no one wanted to answer the prince’s question as Bazeema stepped forward, softly stating, “Last I saw of her, she was with her mother and grandfather.” 

“Really?” asked Dario before he took another bite of his ice cream. “Because that doesn’t look like her mom or grandpa to me-,” he stated before pointing to the other side of the market where Asha’s figure came into view, trying to pass through the outskirts of the crowd, when a second hooded figure appeared.

“Who is that?!” Hal exclaimed, watching as the figure seemingly drew the attention of a few women towards himself. 

“It’s…it’s a boy,” Dahlia repeated in disbelief. “And her grandfather didn’t kill him yet?”

“We truly are living in strange times,” Safi sniffled as the figure continued after her. 

“Why are you asking about Asha anyway?” Bazeema whispered, her voice quietly wavering as the others frowned and looked toward the prince.

He shrugged, “I heard the innkeeper say something about Asha needing some male clothes this morning after she bought a room for two…so I was just curious. That’s all.”

His friends, save for Dahlia let out a sigh of relief, as he watched Dario devour another scoop of his ice cream before wailing “No! I’m almost out!”

“We can always go get some more,” Safi offered, before turning to Ignacio. “You haven’t tried this have you?” 

The prince shook his head, “No not yet. I was thinking of doing so earlier, but the lines were atrocious”

“You might have better luck now, Nacho,” Dahlia pointed out. “Because everyone’s so distracted with the king and his fireworks, the lines should be very short now.”

“Well then! What are we waiting for?” Hal grinned. “I’ll buy!”

“Really?” Ignacio furrowed a brow towards her. “You’d really buy something for a prince?”

“Only because I’m Hamlet’s Sack toss champion,” she beamed. 

“You know Mrs. Kurkaus is making a fortune off of these things,” Dahlia commented as the teens began to move toward the more crowded parts of the market. 

“Definitely. Hey, have you ever thought about combining your cookies with her ice cream?” Ignacio asked.

“Cookies and ice cream?” Dahlia repeated. “You think it’ll work?”

“It’s worth a shot, isn’t it?” Ignacio called, with a shrug as they all made their way towards the ice cream stall.

Had they lingered where they were for a bit longer, they probably would’ve seen when the king had begun to make his way through the crowd, proudly taking in the words of praise and adoration from his surrounding subjects as he neared the stables.

The night had been a success. 

Granted he had a few…issues to attend to, but overall, the day had gone splendidly well. 

Anyone who was there could have told you that, but where the story falters is what happened afterward.

Everyone remembers the king making his way through the crowd, but very few remember the hooded figure passing him. Anyone who saw it would’ve told you that the figure most likely was a young male, not any older than eighteen who’d stopped to speak to a few noble girls before resuming his trek after someone. 

But what they wouldn’t have told you was how said figure walked past the king, with neither party touching nor sparing the simplest of glances toward the other. From an outsider’s point of view, it’d been nothing more than the king showing comfort in the proximity of his subjects, or at least that’s what it would have been if both parties hadn’t come to a complete halt in the middle of the market.

Only the queen would see her husband’s grip on his staff tighten. “Amor?” she called out, eyes narrowing with concern, as the king took one breath. 

Then two. 

Then three, before suddenly turning around with such force that the audience gasped. Magic flew from his fingers into the ground, snaking along the cobblestones until they reached the fountain, elegantly freezing the water into two sharply angled pristine figures.

“A parting gift for your hospitality!”  the now laughing king called to the startled crowd as they slowly began to clap, all oblivious to the sharpness in the man’s teal-colored eyes as he looked through the crowd. 

His eyes landed on the spot where the figure should’ve been or rather would’ve been, but now, it was empty, leaving behind no trace of its former occupant.