#puppet mistress (the queen)

[goddessnewnew]

My Dearest Loser,

As I type this out, I am filled with an overwhelming sense of power and desire that can only be satiated by the knowledge that you, my devoted servant, will read these words with trembling hands and a racing heart. You are the epitome of submission, craving the sweet caress of my dominance in the most intimate and pecuniary of ways. Your every breath is a silent plea for the exhilarating thrill that only I, your esteemed Financial Dominatrix, can provide.

Allow me to begin by expressing the profound and unyielding control I hold over you, my cherished little slave. Your wallet, your bank account, your very financial existence is but a plaything in my capable hands. I am the puppeteer orchestrating the symphony of your financial submission, and you, my dear, are the eager marionette, desperate to perform each movement with precision and grace. The sound of coins clinking together, the rustle of paper money, the digital ballet of transactions each is a sweet melody that plays in the background of our sultry dance of power and lust.

I know that the mere mention of my name is enough to make your knees weak and your cock hard. You live for the moments when I deign to acknowledge your existence, your eyes lighting up like stars in the dark sky of submission. Your worth is measured in the currency of your obedience, and oh, how rich you are in your willingness to serve. Each time you hand over your hard-earned cash to me, you are offering a piece of your soul, a tribute to the goddess that I am in your world. I revel in the power you so freely give, using it to fuel the fires of passion that burn deep within me for you.

Do not mistake my affection for you as a sign of weakness, my pet. The love I have for you is as fierce as a lioness for her cub, and I will protect it with the same ferocity. Yet, make no mistake, you are the prey in this thrilling hunt, and I am the predator. I will push you to the brink of ecstasy and despair, all the while keeping you on a tight leash of financial dependency. Your moans of pleasure are the sweetest currency, and I am ever eager to hear them resonate through the air as you succumb to my will.

As you read this, I want you to imagine the warmth of my hand as it cups your cheek, guiding your gaze to meet mine. In that moment, you are lost in the depths of my eyes, a pool of molten desire that could swallow you whole. Your every thought, every move, is dictated by the sound of my voice, the touch of my hand, the scent of my skin. Your body is a canvas, and I am the artist painting a masterpiece of submission upon it.

Now, my love, I demand that you drop to your knees, your heart racing in anticipation of my next command. Take a deep breath and feel the weight of your servitude press down upon you, a delicious burden that you carry with pride. Each exhalation is a sigh of contentment, for you know that you are exactly where you belong under the heel of your Financial Dominatrix.

I expect your unyielding obedience and your undying loyalty. You are mine to spend, to invest, to indulge in. I am the mistress of your finances, the queen of your desires. The path to your ultimate satisfaction is paved with the gold of your submission, and I will revel in watching you traverse it with unbridled enthusiasm.

With each stroke on the keyboard , I am crafting a tapestry of our shared passions. This letter, a declaration of your servitude and my dominance, is a testament to the depths of our connection. The words herein are a sacred bond that unites us in the most intimate and primal of ways.

As you await my next instruction, I want you to remember the tremble of your voice when you speak my name. Let it echo through the chambers of your soul, a constant reminder of who you are and who I am to you. You are my submissive, my financial slave, and together we shall explore the intoxicating realm of Findom.

[sukirichi]

my biggest issue with dtd is the fact that SUNA IS JUST SO FUCKING ANNOYING (not your writing, just him) like wdym you have an issue with your wife going on a trip with your mistresses husband? you think she’s gonna cheat? you think she’ll do exactly what you’re doing?

also he’s just so confusing. like you LOVEEEE your wife but you’re still fucking that idiom chick or whatever. men are so dense, it’s like he takes yn’s actions at face value and can’t see her inner turmoil where she is very much still in love with him. he plays into the cocky “i can’t let you go” role but he’s so blinded by his jealousy over her friendly nature with his brothers, that he can’t see that - even though she’s trying to make friends - she’s trying to forget about the pain suna’s causing her.

i will say though, i think him being forced to stay away from his brothers during his younger years played a huge role in why he is the way he is. i don’t wanna say he was raised spoiled, but i feel like to an extent the queen maybe kept affirming him “everything in this kingdom is yours” or gave him gifts to make up for the fact that he has no social skills with family, and that’s led to this situation where as an adult he still believes he can get everything he wants.

ORRRR, my final theory. (i’m so sorry my brain is fried i can’t remember iris’ mother’s name.) i think her name was kate? but i genuinely feel like she’s the ultimate puppet master. she’s playing suna, she’s playing iris, she’s playing the whole kingdom. it’s a game of chess and she’s so close to checkmate. i don’t know what her ultimate goal would be, im assuming it’s that whole “if /I/ can’t become queen, then you must do it in my place.” like those mum’s who live vicariously through their child star kids… if it turns out iris’ mum was the issue the whole time then i MAY feel a little bad for iridium, but i still don’t like her.

one final thing, IM SO WEAK OH MY GOD, i get why yn isn’t over şuna im not even joking, i hate him but id be on my hands and knees begging for him to just help fix our marriage. unless…. he’s being blackmailed to be iris’ affair partner…. 👀

wait — i’m cooking… WHAT IF HES BEING BLACKMAILED AND HIS BROTHERS ARE THE ONES IN DANGER?? like he never got to grow with them, but maybe he feels if he saves them from this he will be part of the silly drawings?? and the blackmail theory might work, i have a feeling if he’s gonna be betrayed by a brother, it’s going to be through sensitive information being given to iris’ mother so that it can be used against him and the royal family? idk i lost my theory half way through LOL

-shhh anon

you’re so real for that, suna is one big (misunderstood, but still!) asshole here 😭 also i get you, canon sunarin is PERFECT and is a total baby, he would never <3 HELP NOT THE IDIOM CHICK I’M CACKLING SPSPS

also also yes! you’re right! jealousy blinds him sm that he can’t realize that the princess is friendly and she gets along well with everyone - even with the stoic ushijima and tooru (who shamelessly says he doesn’t like anyone) she’s overall a very likeable person, but bcos rin is insecure n jealous, he assumes she’s immediately replacing him OR that his brothers are out to woo her. i mean, some of them would, but you catch my drift. it’s really just hypocritical of him that he wanted someone his family would like, and when they do like her, he’s like 🤨⁉️ and your theories ooh, very interesting 👀 i can’t confirm nor deny the effects of suna’s upbringing to him but we will have suna’s childhood + backstory in ch11!

iridium, i’m gone lmfao 😭 i’m like part laughing out loud and part nodding at everything you say. kate is, well... she’s a mystery pretty much to everyone, and so is iris. i kinda wrote it that way because i wanted iris’ role in the series to slowly unveil itself. ALSO NO I GET YOU i see sunarin fanarts and i CRUMBLE. lowkey i hate the way i wrote him to be an antagonist in his own story because it’s so hard to like him but also i like the canon sunarin sm so it’s hard 😭 i’m so torn between wanting to stick to his dtd characterization and just making him an irresistible guy :( but maybe i could do both? let’s see. BUT IK HE’S JUST SO QBSKWKW i do have to give him a winning card though, so suna will have more scenes in the future where we might just hope he’d be the endgame. and that final theory hello ?! again, i can’t say much BUTTTT i can say for sure, suna does actually want to be part of the drawings </3 he wishes he had his own section in omi’s library too :(

anyways thank you sm for taking the time to share with me your thoughts, i really appreciate it 🥺💫 and i’d love to hear more of your theories bcos dare i say... you’re close to cracking the code on some of them 👀

[petalpierrot]

I would like to preface this post by saying that we made some changes to Rahadin as a character. And I’d like to say outright that I have always liked Rahadin but also felt like there were a lot of things missing, or a lot of the writing decisions were not the best. As a result, I worked with my DM to keep it as close to canon as possible, while still having changes that fit his character. 

Both myself and the DM really like how he turned out in our game, this time around. (this is not the first time we’ve played CoS)

Another thing is DM and I really wanted to emphasize how lonely and deprived of human contact Rahadin is, and how his past and exposure to everything shaped him into the person that he is now. 

I AM probably missing some information (between my transcripts and off-handed DMs) So I’m trying to recreate as much to the best of my ability. 

But yeah, this is what Rahadin is like in our game 👀

Starting at the beginning, there really is 0 information about who Rahadin used to be before serving King Barov and then, in turn, Strahd. So we tried to fill in those gaps the best way we could. 

His family were merchants by trade and they owned an Apothecary business (Medicinal and poisons). Rahadin wanted a better life for his family, so bringing in more wealth was where he set his ambitions, thus Rahadin joined the Dusk Elf Royal Militia, which served the dusk elf prince and the royal family. Because of his combat training and abilities, he became a soldier and a guard. 

One of the bigger changes we’ve made to Rahadin was his relation to Patrina and Kasimir. Rahadin now being the eldest sibling to Kasimir and Patrina, as well as 3 other younger sisters. (we used a table to roll for all of these things)

 (the whole genocide thing is now worse as a result, and there was genuine resentment between Kasimir and Rahadin at the time.) 

Back at the Blue Water Inn Eidys (Moon elf Bladesinger) was speaking with him as they were having lunch, questioning him more about the past and how his service to King Barov started. Because to her King Barov sounded like a tyrant, same as his son. She was curious to know if there was more to his story with the von Zaroviches. 

Rahadin told her that at the time, King Barov had only recently come into these lands as a conqueror. The silver lining at the time was that Barov was a strong leader and the settlements that did bend the knee saw many improvements. He still inflicted cruel punishments but the good seemed to outweigh the bad. 

The newly crowned Dusk Elf prince was not a strong leader and lacked the experience to lead. He was more of a puppet head to his council and their interests of power. The prince, forged in an age of peace while the war was knocking at his very door. 

Rahadin was questioning orders and speaking his mind. As a result, he was exiled for treason. He turned to Barov who took him in and as a final attempt at peacemaking, Barov tried to appeal to the dusk elf prince at Rahadin’s behest, but the young prince’s pride prevented him. Thus it all ended in bloodshed and the dusk elves scattered. 

King Barov was impressed with Rahadin’s battle prowess and as a result, he made him a general, and later on an honorary member of his household. Rahadin resided alongside Barov’s two growing children, and his at the time pregnant wife. 

It was not all sunshine and roses, of course. Rahadin watched as King Barov cheated on his wife, Queen Ravenovia, and in turn, her being mistreated and held to impossible standards. (Queen Ravenovia dismissed the mistress and on another occasion a maidservant who had an unhealthy obsession with Young Strahd) When Strahd was old enough, Rahadin watched as Barov molded him in his own image, making him hard and cruel, just as Queen Ravenovia feared. 

Years passed by and Rahadin also grew cold, distant, and cruel, developing quite a reputation for getting things done. But so did his loneliness grow, which he suppressed for hundreds of years, as he served Strahd, in turn.

Rahadin had been trying to warn Strahd about Patrina when she tried to appeal to Strahd. At first, Rahadin was relieved that Tatyana was a distraction from Strahd wanting Patrina. But that quickly turned sour when Strahd presented Rahadin with two choices, it was either he who would have to deal his revenge or Strahd could do it instead.

Rahadin watched Strahd build Castle Ravenloft, kill Sergei, and chase reincarnation after reincarnation of the one who he believed was his true love. Strahd lost his humanity over the years, demoting him to Chamberlain, etc. 

Rahadin has, since then, tried to rebuild some bridges he’s burned. The dusk elves are not outright hostile to him but they still are ever wary when he comes to the Vistani camp. they allow him to tend to the garden at the shrine and visit the graves.

This doesn't go anywhere but his hobby is baking, and his mother taught him.

[rosencrypt]

"Everything she told you is a lie, you know. Every whisper, every purr, every grand dream…all lies. She whispered the same things to me, as a girl. As she whispered them to others down through the millennia. Games within games, and she and I are the only players…How many times has your mistress tried to take Lahmia from me, do you think?"

Nitocris said nothing.

"One hundred and thirty-six times," Khalida said. Her voice was as remorseless as sand scraping stone. "One hundred and thirty-six of her followers have raised armies, fleets, and beasts to hurl themselves against my walls. Sometimes they come north, sometimes east, or south. They come from the sea, and the sky and Great Desert, from the jungles and the mountains. They pour forth in a limitless tide and they are broken on my walls."

She turned the blade, so that the thin ribbon of light now stretching across the horizon caught it.

"And every time, she sends with them a token of her affection, one cousin to another. A lock of her hair, a book of poems by a philosopher of our acquaintance, the crown of Lahmia taken from her husband's head, the amulet of Asaph stolen from my crypt, or…a sword she used to shed my blood.

There is no magic in this thing. It is merely old steel, and badly cared for - still sharp, however. She stole it in order to let me know we had begun the old game again."

"This is not my undoing," Khalida said, holding the sword up. "It is a gift from one player to another. A sign that she has not forgotten me, and to ensure that I do not forget her. In all the world, down through the long corridor of centuries, there has only been this game. And she has been my only opponent. You were right, before, on the walls, when you said you were a puppet. But not of fate…You are her puppet, her pawn, and this is her gambit."

"You are not worthy to fight me. Queens do not duel pawns."

Josh Reynolds, The Serpent Queen

[seii-fantasy]

I've been thinking abt some ideas

RoR characters x Bayonetta! Reader (Headcannons and One shots) idk why, since yesterday i kept thinking abt these ideas

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RoR character x Kitana!Reader

I love MK since i was a children and i rlly want to make hcs abt this

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And other ideas i've been thinking about

Beelzebub x Wanda! Reader (From Marvel)

Synopsis: Beel is a danger because he's been cursed by Satan himself and Reader is also a danger bcs she can go in the Multiverse , or destroy and create new world by her mind since the people saw her as a dangerous person evryone fear her and won't approach her , until Reader met Beel in his lab acciendentally while she wanted to go in another universe . What will happen?

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Qin Shi Huang x Sakura! Reader (From Naruto)

Synopsis : A strange woman was fighting against some enemies , she looked weird the enemies would say , but very strong and beautiful the people would call , she can break many walls by one punch . She was currently working as a doctor in the kingdom of Qin . Now she has been called to the Valhalla to be the doctor of the Human side , the Oldest Valkyries showed her the Einherjars for the Ragnarok , our dear doctor has saw a familliar person when she was training (in secret of course) He seems familliar but yet they rarely saw each other when they were still in Earth . Did Qin remember her or no?

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Hades x Izanami! Reader (From Blazblue)

Synopsis: How in the world there's another God of Death , and yes a new God of Death was here and yet that was not a God but a Goddess , many of the deities would call her a doll , the others would call her the Evil Goddess but Hades seems to see her as an equal , her way of thniking , even tho sometimes she seems to be aloof . Our dear new Goddess of Death had many vessel at her mercy such as Lihiyo* her trustful maid , Kiyera* the queen of the Katmerilya and Naraya* one human who wasn't scared of Reader when she came on earth to cure her boredoom . Our dear God of Underworld seems to be interest by our dear Reader . Will she accept him as an equal or uses him as her puppet like she did to the others people?

------

Lihiyo is Reader tsutful maid , she know what Reader is doing behind people's back sometimes she offers to help our Goddess , sometimes Reader accept but when she see that her mission is way more difficult she decline the offer of her servant

Kiyera is the queen of the Katmerilya kingdom , she's the most powerful witch a kingdom constitued of witches , sorcerer , she rules the kingdom with an iron fist , no favoritsm , if they dare to betray her they will die by her hands . The Katmerilya kingdom is devoted to Reader and they are ready to do everything to please the Goddess . The ruler of Katmerilya is considered to be one of Reader ! Descendant and shall be honored like a God/Goddess like Reader is.

Naraya a mere human that Reader took interest in , one day Reader was in Earth since she was utterly bored in her own kingdom , she came on earth , thinking that she might found something that might cure her boredoom as she came people would avoid her saying that she's the repreesentation of Misfortune only one human wasn't scared of her it was Naraya a human that wasn't like any other she was pure and kind different from anything you've seen before.

(Lihiyo , Kiyera and Naraya are OC , they're no manga character )

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Poseidon x Aquarius! Reader (From Fairy Tail)

Synopsis : How? A mere human got a mermaid , she's a mermaid and she doesnt need water and she's floating , interesting . The Zeus Enalios thought , as he kept looking at the mermaid who was talking with her mistress or should i say her old childhood friend. No matter how Poseidon kept trying to send sign to her , the mermaid was often distracted by her mistress calling her or some friends coming to annoy the hell out of her but everytime she's alone on the beach ; Poseidon wouldn't miss the chance to send her a sign so she can see it , or one day Poseidon want to appear infront of her . What will happen ?

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Brunhilde x Male!Reader (But he will have soul power just like Ermac from Mk)

Synopsis: Again , again , more round lost , Humanity is gonna get annihilated within hesitation if they loose the others round , now that her triumphant card was beaten by Zeus , The Greatest Sumo was beheaded by Shiva , Lu Bu had the same death , it was caused by the Berseker of the Gods . What next ? I sacrifice all of my sisters , myself and the Einherjars for this Ragnarok !? What if we loose again ? We're gonna get send to Niflheim if we continue like that ! The oldest Valkyrie thought as tears felt down on her rosy cheeks "Let me in the next round , i shall prepare myself for this round ! I've been caged by the Gods for the way to long i rather fight than die" a voice was heard as Brunhilde looked at him , he was tall h/c , e/c and some souls were floatting around him repeating what he was saying . And the h/c-ette introduced himself as Brunhilde put him for the next round but deep down the heart of the Valkyrie was beating fast at the sight of the h/c man and the time pass they become best-friend and when his round arrive , Hilde(its still Brunehilde but i call her Hilde) wanted to confess her love for the man but she was afraid that he might die in his round! Will she have the time to confess her love or no?

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Nostradamus x Zafina ! Reader(Tekken)

Synopsis: Nostradamus kept pranking everyone (cough Loki come and get yo child) everyone kept falling for his pranks instead of one person , you . How many time he tried to prank you , he always failed it you always caught him like everytime he tried to prank you :

Nostradamus : *disguised as your nightmare*

You : Nostradamus i know its you , drop the act

And Nostradamus always left you , upset that you always found out abt his pranks or one day you found yourself face to face with your rival but it is not Nostradamus ; one thing there's a beast inside of you and it's slowly getting the control of your body . Will Michael will help you or no

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Buddha x Konan ! Reader (Naruto )

Synopsis: You've been called to the Valhalla , to be one of the Einherjars ; but you've placed to the last round (Brunhilde-san why put me in the last round) , since you had time before your round . You sat under a tree and kept making origami to cure your boredoom and a God who's always eating sweeting around saw your origamis floating around and want to know how you make them , you introduced yourselves it was quite rare for you to saw a God fighting for the humanity and for Buddha it was quite rare to see a mortal doing such things with paper and now you're teaching him how to make different figure with the paper

(Srry if you find this one horrible)

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And Heracles x Asuka! Reader(Tekken)

Synopsis: Some of the Gods sees you as Hercules but in female version , you clearly hate violence , you helped those in needs . Many parents would like to have you as their child ... etc but to be quick you always wanted the peace in your village , even thought sometimes it will means to hurt yourself (by Fighting the enemies ) or else . And one day a danger is attacking your village and it's way more dangerous than any other creatures you've met , unfortunately you cannot do anything feeling guilty , to not be able to fight the creature , a man came , he was taller , holding a club whom has a head of a lion , tattoo on his right arm , blue eyes , spiky orange hair you couldn't say much more about him .This man was none than the legendary Heracles . The man that became a God just by saving his city from the eternal annihilation that was menacing his city . After slaying the creature , your village celebrate the victory of Heracles by organizating a banquet in his honor and you want to thank the man that saved your city but he was already on his way to meet you . What do Heracles want?

[critter-genfic-events]

Gods and their Followers: A Critical Role Rec List

Hello friends! Please enjoy these twelve amazing fics featuring the various gods of Exandria and their followers! Oh, and don't forget to show the authors some love if you liked their work!

The Purest Priorities by wtgw (4133,Teen) Warnings: No archive warnings apply Pairings Artagan & Jester Lavorre

Lord Artagan of the Morncrown meets a delightful little creature and feels himself start to become something different.

Reccer says: Artagan's voice here is amazing and I love the concept - of him accidentally tripping and falling into godhood.

(how could i) look at anything in this world and tremble by Chrome (4539,Mature) Warnings: Graphic Depictions of Violence Pairings Caduceus Clay & Melora the Wildmother, Caduceus Clay & Fjord & Jester Lavorre

Caduceus is on a mission from god, and forgets that just because he has Melora, it doesn't mean he wouldn't need further backup.

Reccer says: There's a simplicity to Caduceus's devotion to Melora and his thought patterns that's extremely interesting, and I love Jester and Fjord's reactions to him going off on his own.

Morning Elvis by fruitzbat (1000,General) Warnings: no archive warnings apply Pairings Lucien & The Somnovem

A songfic about Lucien making a pit stop near the end.

Reccer says: It's short, atmospheric, and horrifying

Gods and Otherwise by sabinelagrande (2381,General) Warnings: No archive warnings apply Pairings Caduceus Clay & Jester, Jester & The Traveler (Critical Role), Caduceus Clay & The Wildmother

Caduceus and Jester have a late night conversation about gods.

Reccer says: It's very sweet and has a very good voice for Caduceus and Jester both. It's rare to see those two interact in fic, and I'd love to see more of that.

Hope Is A Seed That Blooms In The Heart by Angel Ascending (angel_in_ink) (1744,Teen) Warnings: None Pairings Orym & Melora

One night, Orym reaches out to the Wildmother. The Wildmother reaches back.

Reccer says: I liked it

Troubled Water by CitizenMocha (1327,General) Warnings: none Pairings Fjord & Melora, Fjord/Jester (background)

With/in spite of most of the Mighty Nein gathered in their new home, Fjord takes a little time to himself to try and reconnect with the Wildmother.

Reccer says: I love fics that spend some time exploring Fjord's emotions, and this fic takes place in the middle of the Mighty Nein Reuninted, so he's having a lot of them.

Deity Support Group Meeting by YesIAmPlease (1539,General) Warnings: none Pairings Essek thelyss & The Luxon

The Luxon attends a support group for deities after her attempt to claim Essek as her very first champion.

Reccer says: It's absolutely hilarious

Bitter Earth, Briar Sting by thetickingclock (2407,Teen) Warnings: Graphic Depictions of Violence Pairings Caduceus Clay & Eadwulf Grieve, Eadwulf Grieve & The Raven Queen, Past Blumentrio

Eadwulf worships death. Eadwulf gardens. It's the same thing, in the end.

Reccer says: I love this in-depth look at how and why Eadwulf worships the raven queen, and how that's changed over the years.

It Means Puppet by Beauteousmajesty (1677,Teen) Warnings: Major Character Death Pairings Caduceus Clay & Melora the Wildmother

Melora's point of view on Caduceus Clay

Reccer says: It's gorgeously written and has some interesting concepts in there

Endless Ambition (Athenaeum Finite) by Monarchetype (1434,General) Warnings: none Pairings Ioun the Knowing Mistress & Scanlan Shorthalt, Ioun the Knowing Mistress & Percival "Percy" Fredrickstein Von Musel Klossowski de Rolo III

A very cynical take on Ioun's thoughts during the events of The Endless Athenaeum.

Reccer says: It's a very interesting idea on why Ioun chose Scanlan over Percy

and she's breaking my world by grayintogreen (2318,General) Warnings: none Pairings Cree & Jester

Cree and Jester compare minor deities

Reccer says: Jester in particular comes off incredibly well - she comes off as flighty, but it's all setup to rock Cree's worldview. And Cree herself - tragically devoted to Lucien, is very compelling

Fear of Cold by NKMLN (1525,General) Warnings: None Pairings Vaxildan & The Raven Queen

Vaxildan must become something new, now that he is properly the Champion of the Raven Queen. Its a difficult process, but at least he isn't alone for it.

Reccer says: I just really enjoy the care and compassion that the RQ shows to Vax as he adjusts

If you liked this rec list, follow along for more! We'll be posting a new list with a new theme each Monday. And if you would like to make a rec yourself, feel free to reach out to @professor-rye to request access to the submission form! Next week, we'll be presenting gen fics about Holidays! Get ready for some divine devotion!

[blindrapture]

THURSDAY JUNE 16TH, 2011 ("I'll kneel.")

12:45 AM What? Where’s.. I mean.. I’m at the marketplace. Mistress isn’t here. Dammit. I need her. There aren’t even any of her puppets around here. Okay. I’ll leave her a message. I’m gonna ask her out.

(A page is torn from the journal.)

1:34 AM Back home. Guess all I can do now is wait. Again.

3:09 AM For some reason, I don’t think she’ll get back to me tonight. I’m goin’ to sleep.

1:42 PM I dreamt of fire and an eternity of having dangerous objects rammed spiders crawling down and up my throat, all while Mistress made my limbs dance with the strings conveniently located inside all my joints. I really fucking hope I don’t mess this up.

2:36 PM Banging on the door! Kay, try to look smart, Jordan. Keep yourself together. Here goes nothing.

2:38 PM Miiistr—oh. It’s a puppet. “The Mistress wants to see you.”

3:00 PM There she is, on her throne like usual, Miiiistreeeess! ..oh, yes, ma’am. I’ll kneel. "I want to know why you wrote a note to me, like that." It's simple, really! I'm a hopeless romantic! I thought you'd appreciate it written on a note. :3 "..aren't you just the cutest little thing? I would love to discuss a date and place, and I admit I'd been waiting for my adorable little pet to ask me out. On a date! I haven't been able to stop going over and over this note, I love the idea of it! You want me! You actually... I mean, of course you do! And you picked such an outstandingly cute way to ask out a goddess." Right! So! Date and time, location? I was thinking, maybe, uh.. Friday at eight? At the steak and grill restaurant over by my place. "'Friday at eight.' It's oh so romantic... oh, here!" threw something downTRILBY MY HAT "I hope you appreciate the fact I've been sitting on that hat this whole time. I know how much you love that." Why, thank you. I do appreciate that. :D (to the point I might just gag.) "And you'll get little Tiger Stripes on Friday too, after the foreplay. You and your adorable little plastic guitar... I'm so proud of you, dorky little you, working up such courage. I raised you right. I hope that, one day, you and I can rule Rapture together. Well... specifically, I can rule both you and Rapture, but I'd keep you safe from any other baddies who wanted to hurt you. The White Jester, prince of all the world! Pet for his queen…" ..right. Right! Um.. she's gazing at me. o..okay. I'm going now! See you Friday! At eight! Mistress!

3:38 PM Oh my god I’m going to throw up I mean she’s dominant and all but she’s.. there’s something about her that I really can’t.. like.

4:02 PM Okay, I need to go to that restaurant again.

5:43 PM Kay, nommed, and now it’s time to plan this out for real, now that I know that this is seriously gonna happen. The kitchen’s layout is average-sized. One huge table in the middle; I’ll clear that for the actual plan. Two tables by the left and right walls, table by the wall closest to the exit, but the wall furthest from the exit is taken up by a series of ovens, including the B-4000k in the middle, about the length of the mid-table. Freezer over to the left, restroom to the right.

7:29 PM Looks like, once again, I just need to wait. Guess I’ll nom a bit more.

9:34 PM Home now.

9:45 PM I’m too fucking anxious. I’m gonna rest up. I’m gonna try to rest up. Big day tomorrow. I mean, hell. It’s my first date.

(Attached: “The B-4000k Oven was named by Leroy Breecrest, who isn’t exactly known for coming up with good names. He named his son Bryan.”)

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[thesungod]

Do you have any Hera meta you would like to expand on , maybe in relation to what a relationship with Apollo would look like

anon… do u share my brand of insanity or are u just indulging me.

as far as Hera meta goes, my main point is that she’s not a villain in the true sense of the word: i think she’s tolerant of humans and the consideration she generally has for demigods is the consideration she’d have for ants. and honestly, she’s truly one of the few gods who’s entitled to feel that way, considering that she’s not responsible for siring them and would rather the others didn’t. obviously she has exceptions (demigods/humans she really likes and demigods/humans she really hates) and she’s wrong for taking revenge on Zeus’ mistresses but overall she’s just not that bad. ya feel me?

she’s also shown to feel genuine love for Jason which brings the count of people who have actually felt genuine love for Jason in canon up to three lmao (Piper-Leo-Hera). Nico exists in a grey area and you got to have some respect for that.

so anyways, she was actually pretty smart to swap Percy and Jason and she managed to keep it under the rug for longer than what would be expected. obviously it was wrong of her to use them as puppets for her strings but she’s not nearly alone in that. Apollo confirms in ToA that it is simply the way gods treat demigods. In my view, she sucks but she doesn’t Especially Sucks.

i also have endless sympathy for Hera having to tolerate her husband’s infidelity and (so clearly implied they might as well say it) abuse. she’s just. an unhappy woman, dare i say the unhappiest olympian god, and i think she has been so for so long that she has forgotten what anything else feels like. does she have friends? she certainly doesn’t have lovers, and while that may have initially been a commitment of love, it must have gotten pretty lonely over the years. she’s portrayed as icy and dignified and distant, the godliest of the gods, the one who most clearly represents the divide between mortals and immortals, and i ask myself how much of that is her real personality, and how much is the result of bitterness and isolation.

imagine: Hera regretting the fact that she’s made so many enemies once, when she felt untouchable and at her peak, because she’s just alone now, but what’s done is done so what can she do?

Hera never quite fitting in with other deities and really, who can blame them.

Hera having spent such a long time not even considering the idea of romantic love for herself and being so stunted that when she starts falling for Apollo, she doesn’t even notice. she simply cannot believe it. doesn’t even dare to think it.

she feels that feeling. the one where you a crush on someone after a really long time and you are all giddy and excited, not because you think it may be reciprocated, but because it’s new and thrilling to desire someone. she’s a high school girl wanting to be asked to prom.

now, let’s suppose it all happens because her and Apollo start sleeping together to spite Zeus as per my headcanon, and she inexplicably begins to want him for more than just revenge: she would would be so angry because she cares more, she’s far more into it, she’s utterly taken by him. at the end of the day, what they do is nothing particularly new for him (except for the “if he catches us i’m dead” part ig lmao) but it’s all brand new never heard before for her!! and her pride would be hurt!! but what are you gonna do about it!!

and now let’s suppose that at one point he starts caring back, and he treats her well and she hasn’t been treated well in centuries. so she gets carefree, and she gets reckless and she catches herself fixing her hair before the Olympian Council so that he sees her at her best!! imagine how humiliating that is for her!! she’s the Queen of Olympus she’s the Queen of the gods she’s the Ruler of the world and he’s literally just a guy!! she should hit him with her car!!

instead, she finds herself in his car, having been convinced to take a ride with the sun chariot for the first time ever while he’s babbling about… she doesn’t even know, talking horses trying to kill him? because that’s something that happened? apparently? and he has his stupid shades on and she feels like a high school girl actually getting asked to prom.

and for the unhappiest goddess of the Council, that’s a really magnificent feeling.

[dnangelic]

WHAT FAIRYTALE ARCHETYPE ARE YOU? 

the monstrous bride .

“Just as the ultimate goal of Arthurian quest finally defines itself as the Holy Grail, the object that can never be assimilated into the real world, so the ultimate woman of romance is a fairy mistress, or fairy queen.” — Helen Cooper. The monstrous bride is not necessarily monstrous, but she is, by definition, inhuman, which is part of her je ne sais quoi. Her happiness often depends on whether her groom knows her inhuman. If he does not, he is bound to find out before the story concludes, at which point he will either be repulsed by his wife's deceit and leave her, or attempt to make the relationship work, but fail, because he is operating under a misinterpretation of her nature. If he is aware of her inhuman identity, it will often be one of the factors leading to his attraction to her, and he will be rewarded with her love – but often at the cost of abandoning his previous life completely.

the boy king . // the scrappy hero .

The boy king has a huge burden placed on his shoulders. With a dead father who perished in battle or was poisoned, a shrewd and scheming mother, an abundance of homicidal relations, and a nation to rule, he can either become a puppet or the most formidable ruler a nation has seen. // A farmer with a dirty face who gains half the kingdom and the princesses' hand in marriage. Most likely the youngest son of three, distinguished not by opportunity, but by either his wits, or his kindness towards all he encounters, from royals to honeybees, which causes him to garner favours and praise.

[hellsirenqueen-moved]

ll Continued - @radioiaci ll

She expected that he would look away from her. Heaven truly made Lilith to be quite the cruel Mistress. She knew more than anyone that freedom was a mental illusion. Between the treatment she received in Eden and after she was banished to Hell with Lucifer, she knew how cruel the world was. Both Heaven and Adam made attempts to control her but she was far too independent to accept being their puppets. Her demands for freedom with Lucifer was curved with one punishment after another. In Hell, there was no such thing as freedom. Giving Alaster a taste of that illusion was a sick sense of enjoyment for her as she reminded him that without her guiding chain, he would be lost. He gained a number of advantages that most Sinners would kill for through their deal. However, per their deal, he would lose such privileges when the deal was temporarily cut. He couldn't even decide what he wanted to do for 48 hours. Alastor didn't even bother to wander Hell for a day off. Just remained in his radio tower like a lowly coward. Still. . . He was in the presence of his Queen and the holder of his chains. She demanded his respect, at the very least. This Sinner needed to face her when speaking to one above his station while he was standing upright. There was a hierarchy here and she would instill the demanded respect, even if it broke him. Taking a step forward, she held a delicate finger out, tracing his jaw ever so gently to force him to face her. "Tell me, Alastor, what was the one conclusion you came to, hm? I would I want to hear what this little lesson has taught you. You know how much I love hearing what is on your mind."

[lya-dustin]

All is bliss

Chapter 14

Gif @behindfairytales

Taglist: @mercedesdecorazon @aemondx @sweethoneyblossom1 @darylandbethfanforever9

When royalty comes to your door, you do jot slam it in their face.

No one can say no to them. Everything they ask of you; you must do it or else pray the Targaryen at your door is one with a heart.

Jena feels a thrill at slamming it in Aemma’s face, but once the feeling passes, she opens it again.

Aemma Velaryon was more of a Seahorse than a Dragon even if just hours ago the Silver Queen’s flames had burned her.

“Well played, your highness.” Jena said coolly.

She had not been put in her place like that, Jena had risen to the top because most of these ladies were too easily led.

The older ladies had been formidable, but their progeny and granddaughters had grown complacent once the more strong-willed ladies left with Princess Rhaenyra.

No one here could ruin Queen Alicent the Pious’ perception of an all harmonious court filled with righteous people who never strayed from the path.

Luckily for Jena, she knew how to be discreet and how to bend the rules just enough to get away with it.

“It was the easiest way to get the court to shut up. I didn’t want to, but I had to.” Aemma says as if wanting to apologize.

And then she did.

“I am sorry.”

First time Jena has heard a dragon apologizing.

Even Aemond hardly did, broke their affair via a short missive sent with a page in his household.

And because the princess thinks she has not heard her, she says it again.

“I am sorry for humiliating you in front of everybody, had I had a choice, I would have not done it.”

The princess means it, her periwinkle eyes serious and her face showing genuine guilt.

She would be a good queen, a shame this marriage was done with the sole intent of stealing her crown.

“You shouldn’t apologize, you punished me for disturbing the peace of court and slandering you. I am lucky you did not call for my tongue, or worse, my head.” Jena dismissed it knowing Aemma needs to learn to be cruel when the occasion calls for it.

She will need it. You need cold steel and soft silk and a tongue full of poisonous honey to rule, especially a place filled with green vipers.

“I should be thanking you for taking Aegon’s attention from me, it is a relief not to have him rutting on top of me these days.” Aemma changed the topic with a wry smile.

Aegon was a selfish lover, had a habit of making one feel used especially when he finishes and leaves without a care for his partner.

Women were toys to him. Pretty dolls he can claim and know they cannot refuse him without risking his wrath.

He was the king’s son, the queen’s favorite little monster, the perfect puppet king Hightower has created to further his ambitions.

Who could ever say no to him?

“Glad to be of service, your highness.” Jena nods as she accepts her gratitude.

“You need an ally at court. If it please, your highness, I would like to be that ally.” Not friends, allies.

They could be friends. Sure the mistress is never friends with the wife, but this situation is far more complex.

Jena does what she can to keep her husband and her family in a position of prestige and make sure Mistwood is hers.

She had already lost Mistwood to her late husband when her father brought them to ruin with his gambling and drinking, Jena would not lose it a second time.

Friendship will come later, if it comes at all.

“I would like that, Lady Wylde.” The princess agreed cautiously.

And to show her she is being honest, Jena tells her about this secret meeting the lord hand and the queen are having with Vaemond Velaryon.

Aemma’s threat had been simple.

Do not cross me.

Alicent hears it again when she sits at the head of the table wearing seafoam green satin and pink flowers.

She looks like a young girl, and yet commands the room despite her looks.

“If you go forth with your petition, dear nuncle, you will find yourself a head shorter tomorrow morning.” She said drumming her nails on the tabletop.

“I will not be denied my birthright, niece.” He takes the seat of the Master of Ships and Alicent is forced to sit beside her father instead of her usual place, the head of the table.

Alicent will never admit it to anyone, but she has come to enjoy being the one with the power.

To make the decisions, to sit on the Throne and make all your suffering worth it.

And yet, here comes someone younger, more beautiful to cast her down and take all she holds dear.

She has Aemond’s heart, Helaena’s confidence and Aegon’s obsession.

Even little Daeron finds herself tongue-tied and red faced whenever she even speaks to him.

“He has a right to be heard, your highness.” Her father warns knowing Aemma will pose a problem.

He got rid of the previous Aemma when she began asking Viserys to consider Rhaenyra as their heir, gods know what he would do to this Aemma.

“Yes, he does, but have you considered that this would invite speculation on any children Aegon claims as his?” this she asks looking at her directly. “We all know any child I have will not be his, who is to say someone will speak the truth as my great uncle will do tomorrow and call into question the succession?”

Vaemond scoffed, “As if the One-Eye would dare rise against his own children.”

Her father tensed, caught unawares about the arrangement.

He was never supposed to know. The babe’s true father would remain a secret until it was no longer dangerous.

And that time would have been when Otto Hightower was on his deathbed.

“I am not saying Aemond, you and I know that Driftmark is only the beginning for you.” Aemma ignores the calculating look on the other player on the board as she spells out the obvious.

Helaena preceded Aemond, Helaena’s sons would be a threat to Aemma’s just for being trueborn.

Aemond would not do so as the father of the children, but Helaena’s children could grow and ask why bastards took their birthright from them.

Just as Alicent had raised her children to question why Rhaenyra’s sons got everything and they nothing.

Aemond’s eye was a warning of what was to come and Alicent had sought to stop it by having Aemma’s claim be tied to Aegon’s.

Except she hadn’t.

No, she had delayed the inevitable.

The dragons will dance and the realm will curse them for it.

[comicgeek2003]

Dragon In Chief

When the dragon is more dangerous than the main antagonist.

The Dragon-in-Chief is a version of The Dragon who serves as the de facto Big Bad of the story, even if they're technically not at the top of the bad guy hierarchy. They're nominally subordinate or in service to another villain, but typically so much smarter, stronger or more skillful, and just as evil if not more so (and almost always scarier) that it's clear who's really the biggest threat in the story.

The supposed main villain, for their part, overestimate The Dragon's loyalty or are too afraid to keep them in line. It could also be that the Big Bad is more of a puppet king being manipulated by subordinates, and the Dragon finds this set-up preferable to taking charge personally.

Examples:

Games of Thrones: Lord Tywin Lannister serves as the Dragon-in-chief to his grandson, the incompetent teenaged fool of a King Joffrey Baratheon, who he is technically only the Hand to, and not even that until Season 3. Perhaps best exemplified by the Season 3 finale in which Joffrey claims that it was his father who won the war while Tywin "hid under Casterly Rock!" In response to this challenge, Tywin just sends Joffrey a death glare, which Joffrey quickly buckles under after a just few seconds of attempting to keep eye contact.

Doctor Who: In the episodes The Stolen Earth/Journey's End, Davros is little more than a "pet" for the Supreme Dalek, but it's his plan for the Reality Bomb his creations are following. Also, Dalek Caan needed him to recreate his species. All of this, combined with his personal enmity with the Doctor, makes Davros effectively the face of the Dalek threat.

Resident Evil The Umbrella Chronicles: Sergei Vladimir is the de facto Big Bad, carrying out Ozwell Spencer's orders for him. When Sergei dies, Spencer is left with no allies and no support, and in the following game, is killed by Albert Wesker.

Dragon Ball: In the Red Ribbon Army Arc, there is Officer Black, who is much more competent and threatening and has more morals than Commander Red. When he finds out how petty the wish Red planned with Dragon Balls was —making himself taller—he kills him.

Rio: Nigel to Marcil. While his owner Marcel still drives the plot to some degree, Nigel is the more direct threat and far more menacing and evil than Marcel, while also serving as the lynchpin for Marcel's entire plan.

Avatar (2009): Though Parker Selfridge is the nominal leader of the human forces, the main antagonist of the film is Colonel Quaritch, who runs his mercenary army exactly how he wants to and ultimately becomes the real power in the operation and it's clear they both know it. About the only things that keep Selfridge in place are the fact that he's paying, and that Quaritch can't be bothered with the administrative details.

Alice in Wonderland (2010): The Jabberwocky (which, for bonus points, just so happens to resemble a dragon) is by far the bigger threat compared to his mistress the Red Queen, given that Alice's goal is to slay it and as soon as she does, all of the Red Queen's followers abandon her and she's quickly banished.

Kim Possible: Shego (mostly) helps Drakken carry out his schemes rather than invent and execute any of her own. But we know she has the power to completely overthrow Drakken if she wants to. The only thing that stops her fulfilling all the criteria is that for most of the series, she lacks the ambition to become a bigger treat. Drakken is actually more scientifically savvy than Shego — she just has a lot more common sense and can actually fight on a near-equal level with Kim.

[crowned-peony]

Excuse me but now I am now to be referred to as either sex matchmaker or queen of lust nothing else♡

@meggsngrits @the-puppet-mistress have given me these titles

[mae-dwrites]

Taking Flight - Chapter 12 - Not All Can Win, So Prepare The Gates

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| Ao3 | Wattpad |

“What is this I hear of me going to New York,” Chloé sneered into her phone once he finally picked up.

“Oh well, I thought you would like to go to New York! It’s a wonderful city you know,” André explained with nothing but the same charm he used on his clients. It made Chloé seethe, he really thought so little of her?

“It’s a stinky dump, with even stankier people,” Chloé hissed and clenched her fist. “And if you think I’m going there you’re really losing it Daddy.”

Chloé heard a “humph” from the other end. There was a moment of silence before he responded, “I wouldn’t be so sure darling. As I could send you there for other reasons…”

When he didn’t say anything else an understanding made Chloé’s blood rush, “You wouldn’t.”

“It’s where your mother went, and where your sister went. I have no doubt if I paid the right fee you’d come back out fixed,” there was a smile in his voice. Nothing gave away exactly what he hinting toward, he didn’t like to reveal his hand so easily.

“Besides,” he continued, “It’s much nicer than the stinky New York City streets.” Chloé could feel his smugness through the phone. He had won this battle, and he knew it, and he was going to suck in all the glory of it. Chloé faced the sky and leaned against the wall, “Fine. I’ll go on the trip.”

“Good girl Chloé, see you when you get home darling,” Andé cheered before hanging up, not waiting for his daughter to reply. Chloé couldn’t believe this, couldn’t believe she had willingly excepted this. Okay not willingly, but she didn’t want to go to that place.

“Ugh,” Chloé whined as she slid down the wall. Why couldn’t her father actually be pathetic as he pretended to be? It sucked, why did he get to dictate where she goes? Didn’t she decide they wouldn’t control her anymore? Had she really forgotten just who her father was after Hawkmoth showed up?

Her stomach suddenly flopped, as another part of her seemed to sing. Yes.

“ Well, well, what do we have here? The Queen crying as she is powerless against her daddikins? Do not fear for I am here to help you once again dear Chloé ,” a cynical voice echoed in her head. Her vision became impaired, a husky purple layer making it near impossible to see anything around her. Everything around her became muffled, the cars outside more like a memory.

“ Why don’t you let me help you get rid of the oppressors in your life and the pesty fools that surround you? All I require are the Miraculous of the Ladybug and the Cat, as you know. ”

Chloé’s breathing became hard, her mouth seemed too wet all of a sudden. This couldn’t be happening again. Not again, please not again .

Yes, take it. Take it all.

“ Please don’t fight me Chloé, or should I say the Mistress Decree? Just accept my help, that’s all I want to do is help you, ” Hawkmoth pressed. Not again , Chloé choked on air. “ Let’s not go through this again, we both know that was a fluke. After all, you said yes the second time. Just get it over with and you’ll finally be free .”

This isn’t what she wanted, she wanted to be a better person. She wanted to be the girl that invited her classmates to her birthday party for the first time, the girl that Ladybug trusted even though she was bitch, she wanted to be the girl that told Hawkmoth to fuck off. She didn’t want to be her mother again, she didn’t want to look like her, let alone sound like her. She wanted to be her own person.

Chloé clenched her jaw, she was done taking orders, that was the last time her father got to tell her where and what she was doing. Double Strike was the last day Hawkmoth got to play with her, she refused to be anyone’s puppet. She got to decide where and what she does! These monsters don’t scare her anymore.

“No,” she growled. She felt her face twist into a nasty expression but didn’t care.

“ No? ” Hawkmoth’s voice came out stranded. It brought a smirk to Chloé’s face.

“I told you before,” Chloé opened her eyes, her sight was still unclear from the purple haze. “So get out of my head. I don’t want your dirty magic!”

“ You can’t say no to me ,” Hawkmoth seethed at her.

“I said no !” Chloé screeched as she pounded her fist into the cement ground. Finally, she could see again the haze clearing, she could hear the air make the trees move outside the windows. She watched as the Akuma flew away from her still the dark purple with white light shining from spots. “Fuck off little butterfly,” Chloé chuckled to herself.

“Oh,” was all Chloé’s voice made before she lunged for the trashcan near her. She pulled it down as the vomit made its way out of her body, Well there goes breakfast .

“Holy,” she heard from behind her. She tensed and wiped her mouth on her hand, Ew , she thought before throwing up again. She heaved over the garbage can as someone held her ponytail up so she wouldn’t accidentally get vomit on it.

God bless them , Chloé thought to herself. She didn’t care who was behind her, just that despite it they had the courtesy to hold her hair for her.

☾•☽

Marinette detransformed after landing on her balcony.

“It’s fine, it’s okay,” she started pacing to herself. “He probably goes to a completely different school, it’s not like he’s in my class!”

Tikki watched her chosen with concern as she munched on a cookie.

“It’s all planned out anyway, I’ll use Kalkki and he’ll become Astrocat when the time is needed.” Marinette gripped the railing, her knuckles white, “He might not even be going to New York! Might be a family trip that just so happens to be taking place at the same time as I go to New York!”

Marinette rested on her forearms. “Who am I kidding? It’s too much a coincidence,” Marinette whined.

“This is a disaster,” She moaned into the night.

“What’s a disaster?” A voice asked. Marinette jumped up with a surprised squawk.

“Oh I’m sorry Marinette, I didn’t mean to scare you,” Chat Noir’s ears flattened in shame. He jumped down from the roof to the actual balcony.

“Ch-chat! You didn’t scare me, I promise. You just surprised me is all,” Marinette said with a nervous chuckle. She didn’t meet his eyes, Be chill Marinette . Marinette looked up at Chat. “So what's going down dawg,” Marinette cringed, oh Kwami can’t save her, can they?

“I’m pretty sure it’s “up dawg” not down,” Chat teased, “and since when was I a dog? I’m quite re-felined.” Chat Noir grinned at Marinette, Marinette sighed with exasperation. What did she get herself into?

“That was terrible,” Marinette looked at him unimpressed.

“You’re just jealous,” Chat raised his nose at the baker. Marinette rolled her eyes at his antics, it’s not like she wasn’t used to them. Either as Ladybug or Marinette, just Marinette didn’t spend as much time with Chat.

“You gotta admit that was good,” Chat insisted.

“I can admit I walked myself into that one,” Marinette sighed and slumped against the railing.

“Yes you did,” he grinned at her. “So what’s the big disaster this time?”

Marinette held back a groan, He doesn’t let go .

“Nothing important, I’m just overthinking things again,” Marinette said resting her chin in her hand.

“Mmm. From what I hear any idea you have goes right, much like M’lady,” Chat smiled at Marinette. Marinette’s cheeks got a dust of pink on them, “I wouldn’t take that to heart.”

“You convinced Gabriel Agreste to let his son out of the country for a week, without his supervision,” Chat said leaning against the balcony railing, facing away from the street. “And you’ve been able to get his girlfriend’s mom to let her have friends and be out of the house more.”

Marinette looked at Chat Noir with confusion, “How do you know that?”

“I visit Adrien sometimes,” Chat admitted. “You may be my favorite but you’re not the only one I visit.”

Marinette blinked, of course Chat would go around talking to multiple people. Adrien had been the target of a few Akumas himself, Chat usually liked to talk to people when he was out and about the town. Making friends with people of all ages, heck he had introduced her to the girl that was rooming with her aunt.

Well, Ladybug not Marinette, but she had a feeling that he was the reason Makzenie came to them in the first place.

“Oh don’t tell me you’re jealous Princess,” Chat teased getting in her face.

Marinette shoved his face away, “I am not, just surprised is all. But I should’ve expected that from an alley cat.”

“You wound me Princess! How will I ever recover from this heartbreak,” Chat “fell” onto the deck chair with a sniff. “If you see Ladybug tell her that she was my only real friend! As you hurt me, Marinette.”

Marinette snorted at the dramatic cat, she grabbed her nose as if that would make it so it never happened. The girl’s face became red from embarrassment, she swallowed really wanting to just hide in her room. Chat tried to say something but he was laughing so much he couldn’t get anything out, soon enough he was clutching his stomach.

How could he be laughing as if this was the funniest thing he had ever seen!

“You only like me for my food anyway,” Marinette huffed after regaining her composure. Chat took deep breaths trying to calm himself, “No-no, I-”

Chat went into a fit of giggles as he tried to steady his breathing, it was shaggy if anything. Marinette crossed her arms and stared down the hero, with a frown. Chat snorted when he saw her expression, Marinette couldn’t help the airy laugh that came out of her.

“I can’t believe this,” Marinette shook her head. She felt her mouth twitch up, she hid her face not wanting to show her smile.

Chat let out a quiet laugh, “I promise I’m not just here for the food Mars.”

“I know,” Marinette mumbled before looking at her table.

They fell into a silence, a nice one. Marinette loved moments like these, it didn’t matter who it was or what mask she had at the moment. The wind gently brushed against their faces and their hair tickled their skin.

Marinette looked at Chat, he was looking up at the sky his breathing steady. He looked so soft in the lighting of the moon and the fairy lights that hung around them. Another sweep of the wind brushed his hair in a smooth rock, his cheeks having a light shade of pink. The slight chill of the October air left a chill go down Marinette’s back.

Chat Noir’s dirty blond hair, a mop-like mess, seemed to cover the top of his eyes more as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The mask had gotten a little bigger, spreading more on his face like it was connected to his face, the mask reminiscent of a Balinese cat’s face.

Or maybe a Birman was more accurate? No.

A Ragdoll, his mask was like the pattern of certain Ragdoll cats.

Chat’s eyes opened again meeting Marinette’s eyes.

“So what’s your dilemma?” Chat asked with an innocent grin and a quirked eyebrow.

“Ugh,” Marinette groaned.

☾•☽

“Luka!” Marinette called as she ran down the street, her dress flowing behind her.

“Marinette,” Luka turned around and smiled.

Marinette tried to slow down but before she could her foot caught on a crack on the sidewalk. Luka leaped and caught Marinette. Marinette sighed, Just the luck . The Universe had to balance her out somehow.

“Marinette please be careful,” Luka chuckled with a fond smile.

“S-Sorry Luka,” Marinette laughed with embarrassment, not making eye contact with him.

“Marinette don't apologize,” Luka gently cupped her cheek. He ducked his face to be more in her sight and lightly motioned for her face to move up.

“Rr-right,” Marinette gave a nervous smile before brightening up. Her cheeks were red, Luka could make out the light freckles that decorated her face like stars. They went from one cheek across the bridge of her nose to the other cheek. Her big eyes looked at him with a slight squint, from the shining sun and the content smile that came on her as he looked at her. “What is it, Luka?”

She had a slight tilt of her head, Luka smiled at her, “Nothing, you're just as beautiful as your melody is all.”

“Oh-oh um, you much thanks. Wait no, thank you very much! I can't believe I said that,” Marinette whined, she covered her face with her hands. She mumbled some other unintelligible words before Luka gently grabbed her hands and brought them down.

“It’s okay Marinette,” Luka gave a reassuring smile to the girl.

“Yes, of course. Duh, everything is fine!” Marinette took a deep breath, “Thank you Luka.”

Luka simply nodded and let go of one of the girl’s hands, “So where do you want to go first?”

“Well, we could go…”

They went on the Ferris wheel, they pointed out certain spots, and laughed at how small everyone looked; found André for his ice cream, sharing some as they walked around the area; they found a teens center that was having karaoke throughout the day, they sang a few songs. Marinette tripped a few times and the dress got caught in corners, chairs, and door handles it was pure luck the dress hadn't ripped at some point, but that wasn't a problem.

The problem was whenever there was a Gabriel Fashion poster or billboard Marinette clammed up or glared at it; it had Luka a bit concerned if he was being honest. Her melody seemed to skip a few notes or harsher ones came up, he didn't want to ruin their date but he thought it would be better to bring it up rather than avoid it. He knew Marinette tended to avoid her problems from time to time.

Walking down the sidewalk Luka looked over at Marinette, “Marinette are you okay? You’ve, uh, your melody has been off.”

Marinette seemed to forget to take a step but caught herself and kept in step with him, “Well, um, I-” Marinette sighed, “Honestly I don't know. Everything is just all so confusing! I think I know something but if I'm right it changes so much; I- I almost don't want to be right, it's scary.”

Her melody seemed to sway and pull, almost an overlapping of two. This undertone seeming to be a more intense rendition of Marinette’s usual melody; it felt out of reach for both Marinette and Luka. He knew this melody that underlaid her usual but couldn't pin it down. It didn't happen often but enough for Luka to take note of it.

“Is there anything I can do?” Luka asked with his eyebrows slightly raised.

“Thank you, but there's nothing you can change,” Marinette laughed. “It's either true or I'm being paranoid.”

Marinette bit her bottom lip as they walked, coming close to the Seine. She only looked at their shadows that lay before them.

“Is there anything else bothering you?” Luka's frows came together, he didn't want to push but he felt it would be better to ask.

“I, well actually no this is a date! I shouldn't be dumping all my anxiety on you, we should just be enjoying the date, and having fun,” Marinette frowned and looked up at Luka. Luka pulled Marinette to a bench nearby.

“I promise it won't ruin our date, it’s okay to talk about our problems even on dates,” Luka gave her hand a gentle squeeze and smiled. “You don't have to but I want you to know I don't mind if you “dump” your problems on me”

Marinette looked away from him frowning to herself, she pursed her lips in thought. Her eyes moved as if reading lines of a book, perhaps like she was reading her thoughts as they came. Her melody was quiet before swirling in a crescendo of clear scales. She finally looked up at him after she made a determined huff to herself.

“You know I'm going to New York at the end of this week?” Marinette asked very seriously.

Luka nodded, “Juleka and Rose have been talking about the trip for a while.”

“Okay well, yesterday morning I convinced M. Agreste to let Adrien go to New York with us. But before that, after I told Adrien I would Alya was kinda weird I guess,” Marinette’s lip came out in an unintentional pout as she thought about it. “I want to get over Adrien, I don't think she really gets that yet. She’s always tried to help me talk to him, to admit my feelings,” Luka nodded as he listened.

“And she asked if I could even handle being in New York with him for a week. Which I personally think is kind of stupid, we're there to learn not to party in the city that doesn't sleep! Which isn't the point, ugh.

“Like yes it'll be weird, definitely awkward sometimes but I always am! I'm so awkward, but I'm not trying to do anything. He’s dating Kagami, and I'm with you,” Marinette swallowed. “And because of what she said, I'm scared that maybe she's right and I can't handle it. And my feelings won't go away, and then I’ll hurt you.”

Marinette said the last bit quietly and glanced away from Luka in shame. Luka didn't like how scared she sounded, how skittish she looked, her melody started skipping notes similar to earlier but far quicker and choppy.

He took her hands and squeezed them real quick to get her attention so that she would look at him again.

“Marinette, you don't need to be scared about how you feel. Those aren't things we can fully control, I wouldn't hold it against you if you still like him. What's important is that you know what you're trying to do, not me, not Alya. You. You're not perfect and you don't have to be, no one should expect you to be perfect.

“And if your feelings for Adrien outweigh your feelings to be with me it’ll be okay. You don't owe me your feelings or to be with me, you don't owe me anything. You only owe it to yourself to do what makes you the happiest,” Luka smiled at her.

“I personally don't care that you may still have feelings for Adrien, but I know you're trying. That's enough for me, I trust that when you finally figure it out you’ll tell me,” Luka took a breath. Looking at Marinette for a moment, “How about you use the trip to figure out how you feel about Adrien?”

“What?” Marinette seemed to have nearly fallen off the bench. She probably would have if Luka hadn't been there.

“I think the trip could be more helpful than meddlesome, hang out with Adrien during the trip. You’ve been doing better at talking to him you mentioned before, so why don't you put it to use.”

Marinette looked away from him in thought, her lips becoming a line, her eyes slightly squinting. As if the stitching on her dress held the answers to the universe that she had yet to decipher.

“I,” Marinette paused before looking up at Luka again. “I guess I could give it a shot.” Marinette gave a timid smile.

“How about we go to the park before you go home?”

“And before it gets too cold,” Marinette shivered as they got up.

☾•☽

“So how excited are you to go to New York?” Bridget asked lounging on the chaise tossing an orange from one hand to the other.

“You asked the wrong question,” Marinette laughed as Alya gasped up some air.

“We’re going to New York , Knightowl and Sparrow’s main city, and they share it with Majestia . She’s the coolest, she has most of the same powers as the Supers. Also she’s so tall ,” Alya gripped the back of the chair. Bridget swears she’s on the verge of shaking the chair the girl already rocking her upper body back and forth.

Marinette giggled as she watched her friend, “I can’t tell if it’s the supernerd in you or your big crush on her that’s blabbing when you talk about her.”

“Yes,” Alya hissed at Marinette’s teasing. Marinette rolled her eyes making Bridget laugh.

“Isn’t it a theory that she’s the same species as the Supers? I think you brought that up before,” Marinette asked, she genuinely looked curious. Marinette never had a big interest in heroes, which Bridget was thankful for the more she went on. Marinette’s biggest distaste was their suits, due to those rants Bridget had started looking at her colleague's suits with a more critical eye.

“Yes, because she has so many powers similar to Superman, Supergirl, and the Superboys.” Alya started tapping the chair and swinging her legs in excitement. Bridget smiled, while she didn’t like how Lois Lane this girl was she had to admit she had less self-preservation skills on par with other heroes Bridget had met. Alya continued, “But she’s super tall, not like Supergirl. Superman around or in the six feet range, no one knows for sure, but Supergirl is a good few feet below that.”

“Um, so a couple of centimeters taller than Kim?” Marinette asked.

“Uh yeah, yeah. Sorry Marinette, I forgot to use metric,” Alya smiled sheepishly.

“No, it’s alright. Just helps with the mental image,” Marinette patted Alya before going back to typing on her computer.

“I do the same thing all the time,” Bridge spoke up. She leaned over so that she was facing the girls, “Most of life was spent in America. I only remember a few years of living in China before moving, Sabine stayed with Jiù Wang while I moved with Mǔqīn to America. Sabina whacks me when I use the wrong measuring system.”

“Mookin?” Alya asked, her head slightly tilted.

“Oh, I mean mother, sorry,” Bridget let a nervous chuckle out. “That’s my bad. It’s Mandarin.”

“Oh okay, that’s alright. Marinette does the same thing sometimes.” Alya said and Marinette groaned.

“I need to practice,” Marinette whined, “All of Jiù Huang’s kids speak it so well. And then Li speaks it for formal conversation, and he acts like he’s one-upping me! Upping me on what! And then he always switches for some reason, and I don’t know what language he’s using!”

Marinette was practically fuming, Bridget couldn’t stop the smile that came on her face before she rolled back to her previous position.

“I know what you mean, Bao does it all the time. I think that’s where the entitled brat got it from,” Bridget went back to tossing the orange between her hands.

“Bridget,” Marinette hissed, her face scolding.

“You know I’m right, he’s a brat.” Bridget pointed at her orange in hand.

“We don’t need to call him names,” Marinette huffed.

“I feel like that’s a great reason to call him names,” Alya grinned and leaned back in her seat. “Also it’s not like you had time to learn Mandarin from your mom, she has the bakery to run.”

“They could have practiced while running the bakery together,” Bridget chimed in pealing her orange. “Also our Mǔqīn was the same way with me. Sabine knew French, Mandarin, English, and I think one or two more. Bao knows, er, so many I don’t think I could list them all, and Huang studies mostly dead or dying languages and cultures.

“English wasn’t my first language but it became my primary language very quickly. I don’t Mandarin as much as I’d like, but I’m fluent in English, and I’m able to hold continuous conversations in French. I studied Spanish in high school and still practice it with friends.

“Even with Sabine being busy with running the bakery she could have been teaching her, or even while having dinner together,” Bridget set the peel on her stomach and popped an orange in her mouth. “I love her to death but Sabine sometimes forgets that multitasking is an option.”

Alya and Marinette shared a look, Alya raised an eyebrow at Marinette. Marinette just shrugged, she faced her aunt, “Uh, Āyí Bridget-”

Bridget's phone went off, in a high-pitched beeping. Bridget winced much like the teen girls. I really need a new ringtone for business calls , she thought as she sat up retrieving her phone from the floor, “Oh. I need to take this.”

Bridget threw her peal in Marinette’s trash before opening the trapdoor, “Love you, sweetheart. Nice seeing you again Alya, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do ladies.”

Bridget could barely make out them saying goodbye as she hastily made her way done the stairs.

“Hey Donna what’s the deal,” Bridget opened the front door making her way to her apartment.

“Diana set word back, she says she’s going to come back sooner than planned.”

“Did she say when?” Bridget got her keys out unlocking the door. She told Makzenie that the door would be locked so she knew that it would be very likely someone who was coming in wasn’t someone they didn’t trust.

“No, but she said she trusts you to work it carefully until she can come deal with it. She wants you to stay there for as long as necessary, she’s talking to her mother so she knows as much as possible about the jewels as possible. So just hold tight, do what you believe is the right way to go,” Donna finished as Bridget waved to Makzenie before going into her room.

“I’ve got everything to contact my brother, with that from Diana I’m bringing him in if it’s possible he can come,” Bridget said getting her laptop up and on.

“Just be careful, maybe contact the kids yourself. I don’t want you or them kids being risky,” Donna said sternly. Bridget sighed, “Don’t worry I will be.”

“Good, and for the love of Hippolyte come drink with me before you go scouting for Diana,” Donna exclaimed making Bridget laugh.

“Of course, of course, I promise I will next. Invite your arrow friend next time why doncha?”

“I will, we’ll bring Zatanna and Hood too.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Bridget laughed. “I’ll talk to you if I need anything.”

“Alright then.”

Bridget held back a sigh as she opened up her laptop, she stared at it for a moment. Why was she getting on it again? She couldn’t remember, but it’s fine she can go call her brother up instead. Summon was probably a better term if she was being honest.

After dinner Sabine let her go in the storage room, “Just don’t blow anything up.”

“I won’t Xia,” Bridget grinned at her. Sabine just gave her a stern look not amused in the slightest.

“I’m not joking, we can’t afford for you to make a mess in here,” Sabine said lifting some bag of flour onto another table.

“Xia come on, Huang made the spell himself. He wouldn’t have given it to me if it made an explosion.” Bridget set her notebook down, careful not to let anything fall out. “It’s just a quick “Hey come help me, some kids are fighting an adult man-child over and with ancient magic!” it shouldn’t take long. Besides, he loves learning about new magics. He doesn’t constrict himself like most magic users, he’ll have more at his disposal.”

“Just be careful, I don’t want more magical residue on my Patisserie than the Bug, Cat, and Moth have already left,” Sabine all but huffed as she moved the now cleared table against one of the shelves. “How come, Huang, didn’t send me the spell when he first made it anyway?”

Bridget looked over at her sister, she hadn’t turned around she was still facing the shelves.

“I guess he didn’t want to send you it since you’re so antsy with magic. I mean, you know how you get sometimes. At least with-”

“I know,” Sabine cut her off. “I just,” she sighed. “I’m scared really, because what if one-day Ladybug can’t stop the Akuma and save everyone? What if that’s the day I finally lose my baby?”

“Oh Xia,” Bridget pulled Sabine into a hug, the short woman stiff for a moment before relaxing. “I promise Huang and I will do anything to keep that from happening. Bao may be distant but I know he’d drop every one of those twisted protocols to come and get her back for you.” Bridget pulled away and held her sister’s face making sure she was looking at her, “You’re his sister, he loves you so much that he took your place. He would do anything for you, for me, or for Huang. But you have always been his favorite.

“Oh come Xia just let it out for once, I won’t let a single butterfly near you,” Bridget finished, Sabine’s eyes stung trying not to cry. But for her sister she let them fall, she let them fall but she barely made a sound.

“I don’t want to lose her Baihu, I can’t live without her. She’s so kind, she’s pure, I don’t think Tom and I could handle losing her,” Sabine sobbed. “I don’t want them to take her when she turns sixteen.”

“And I won’t let them,” Bridget held her sister tight. “They aren’t going to take her, I won’t let them.”

“You don’t know the League like we do Baihu, Mǔqīn took you away from it. Marinette wouldn't survive it, how she’s dealt with this I don’t even know but they’d break her so quick,” Sabine shook her head. “I don’t want that for her, I don’t want a life of fighting for her. We’ve already had our fair share of it but Marinette deserves to be happy, to be normal.”

“Xia,” Bridget held her sister’s hand, “We can hide her away, glamour spells work wonders when done right.”

“She doesn’t deserve to be hidden away,” Sabine mumbled out.

“We’ll find another solution,” Bridget stated firmly. “I can bring it up to Huang real quick and then you can talk to him yourself when he gets here.”

Sabine took a deep breath, and steady her breath as she gave a nod, “Okay.”

“You want me to call Tom to help you back to your room?”

“No, no I can do it. I just need a moment,” not even a minute after saying so Sabine got up and left the storage room. The young woman now left alone took a breath before turning to her notebook and taking out the folded paper, “Here it goes to peaceful spells.”

She laid the items as instructed around a circle with an emblem that looked like a Hanzi for connect. The bone was the farthest away from the caster; a sheet of mulberry bark on the left; an Azalea across from the mulberry bark; and lastly a coin from the Han dynasty, with a Vermillion bird on it.

“You always loved being as meaningful as possible,” Bridget shook her head as she prepared to speak in incantation. “Here we go.

“Venire, ire. Lái, qù.” - The Hanzi started to glow a light blue - “Hic vel illic, sed non ubique. Zài zhèlǐ huò nàlǐ, dàn bùshì wú chù bùzài.”- The circle started to glow the same shade of light blue as the Hanzi had a mist come from it. -“Invocans, vocatum, Huang Cheng, ille Phoenix.Hūhuàn bèi hū zhào de rén, Huáng Chéng fènghuáng.”

More mist came up as she finished, once she had finished the mist spun around before a figure appeared.

“Who calls upon me, Huang, Tayir Alfiniq!” He figure called out in dramatics, the circle and the Hanzi still glowing beneath him. The mist still mostly concealed him, leaving him to be just a shadow in the room.

“Huang it’s me, your sister, Bridget. Baihu Cheng,” Bridget spoke up before her bother continued with his dramatic monologue of himself.

“Aw come on Bridg, couldn’t have let me say the whole thing? Zatanna let me,” Huang grumbled at the end, with a sweep of his hand the mist cleared. Only going up to his knees, “What do you need Bridget, because if you called me for something stupid I will lose my shit.”

Bridget smirked, “Yeah I need you to do me a solid and curse one of my exes.”

“Goddamn it, Bridg,” Huang pinched the bridge of his nose. “What did this one do?”

“I’m kidding I promise,” Bridget said with a laugh. “Well mostly, anyway I,” Bridget let out a sigh, “I need you to help me out in Paris.”

Huang frowned, “Why? What’s going on?”

“There’s a magic war going on, practically kids fighting so this old man doesn’t get their jewelry. According to my sources, it’s ancient magic, some of the oldest from the sounds of it.”

“How come I’m just hearing about it?”

“I just found out almost a month ago. I needed to observe first, not to mention we’re helping a kid that asked for help,” Bridget crossed her arms and leaned on one leg. A more comfortable position in her opinion.

“How is that?” Huang softened uncrossing his arms.

“I can tell you all about it when you get here, I just want to ask you a quick question,” Bridget said redirecting them.

“That being?”

“Have you heard of the Miraculous?”

Huang’s eyes widened as he hummed, “Do you remember that headline in May about the old temples in Tibet coming back with monks living in them? As if by magic.”

“Yeah, I remember Zatanna and Constantine bringing it up when it first was covered,” Bridget’s brows came down. “Are you saying that the Miraculous had something to do with the temple?”

“Those temples were where the Order of the Miraculous protected them until almost two hundred years ago,” Huang explained. “The League has always sought after them for their selfish needs.”

Bridget turned away from her brother her chest tight. The League could be why no one knew about it, Bridget doubted Sabine would be the one reporting this to them. Bridget rubbed her temples, this was bad. Possibly worse than bad.

“Sabine still hasn’t been able to have more kids since Marinette,” Bridget said facing the magic user again. His face became dark with understanding, “It’s almost time.”

“Exactly, she doesn’t want to lose her but…”

“The League won’t give her a choice.” Huang sighed before giving a small smile to his little sister, “You always put a lot on my plate.”

His image became fuzzing as the spell began to eat up the last of its materials.

Bridget couldn’t help but smile back, “What kind of sister would I be if I didn’t?”

“I’ll be heading there shortly, should I bring my family? Or is too dangerous?”

“Leave them, you’ll know why when you get here,” Bridget shook her head. His image was almost gone as he nodded, “See you then.”

“See you then,” she affirmed as his image finally dissipated.

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

So Bridgat spoke a spell made by Huang, it’s spoken in Latin and then the same line is repeated in Mandarin.

“ To come, to go.

Here or there,

But not everywhere.

Calling upon the one called,

Huang Cheng,

The Phoenix. “

[somuchcoffeeandwine]

Does anyone want to hear me ramble about the story I'm writing?

No? Too bad.

I'll just talk about the main characters/side protagonists. For now.

First up is Sitaare:

Mini sparkle elf who wants to murder one god in particular. She also runs a cult. Firmly under the "looks like a cinnamon roll, could kill you" category. She's short, has a pet snake named Seoul (Pronounced as Soul), with flashy skirts. And she sees things as strings that she can pull.

Second, we have Mayju and Thaddeus, a joint package:

Mayju is a grumpy old man/woman (genderfluid, goes with the shapeshifting) who's green, with a cane and too many scars. He's quite good with secrets, being able to convince them out of anyone. So of course her family business that he's rebuilding is a web of secrets. She also has siblings. One might be dead, the other wants to be.

Thaddeus is his husband, and a future seer. He's also in the "looks like a cinnamon roll, could kill you" category. Being a fearsome pirate king will do that for you. Also looking like a twink and wearing more clothes then your race usually does. (Note: His race usually just has a short coat on, and a pair of shoes, usually sandals. Easy to slip into the water in)

Third, the token lesbians, Agate and Jo.

Agate is a peasant princess, technically queen now, with rare magic, fire. There is another, slightly more supernatural thing about her, however, it is a bit of a spoiler. She's the mom of the group, and just wants to live in a cottage on a farm with her wife and... random adopted children.

Jo is her sworn bodyguard, and also Agate's wife. A living corpse, and also has magic. Ice this time. She's a fearsome warrior, almost invincible, and known as the Blood Mistress for a reason. After all, blood is a liquid that can be frozen outside the human body. At about 31 F/-3 C. She's also tall. Like 7 feet tall. (Totally for plot purposes). She wants to fucking murder the guy who killed her brethren.

Fourth, Echo:

A doctor, who also happens to be a feeling eating monster. With massive wings. Poison is her weapon, as well as a scalpel. Those things are sharp. But she's usually peaceful. She's literally just trying to fix a deadly disease killing her race. Leave her be.

Fifth, Briar, Zoe, and Arki:

Briar is a fighter, plain and simple. Beside the dad who wants her to take over, as well as having a sixth sense that totally doesn't manifest as physic powers. Yup. Just an underground fistfighter.

Zoe and Arki are two kitsune, foxes able to turn into humans. So they obviously just run the whole undercity in a big city. Zoe more with the fighting, Arki with the thievery. Oh, and they're dating.

Sixth, Cade:

Farmer got pissed at the gods for her village dying/falling asleep, so therefore needs to go murder the gods. Did I mention I have religious issues? Oh. yeah, she's got kids she needs to get up. She's got a big old axe. Need I say more? Besides the raging bisexuality?

Seventh, Queenie and Toma:

Queenie, a nickname, as her first name, Majora, is shared by Jo, is a queen, although she's had to run. Her skill with a sword is unmatched in the kingdom, save Tomae. She's incredibly depressed, and sees ghosts. Who happen to want to shove her off a cliff. She just wants to carve dolls and puppets. Did I mention she can animate them with spirits?

Toma, her adoptive brother, as well as her general. Blind in one eye, but still a good shot. If you're told to take care of your big sister, by your dad in his last moments, you do it. Oh, and he's really just trying to get a girlfriend. Or a wife. (Yes, he is straight, but he's not cis.)

Eighth, and final, Arina and Yuki:

Arina, pronounced like Arena, is a hunter. She's young, but the strongest in the village. Killing a dragon will win you that respect. She's probably not human, as well as possibly the only hope to keep her village alive.

Yuki's her daughter, and the end of the godly lines, which means she's special. She's very close to the plot, so no more spoilerinos for you all.

Let me know if any of you want to hear more! I have so much to say

[jonathanvik]

Starlight Dream - Chapter 64

“Another Kaguya?” Seina stared in confusion. If her former mistress came from the future, was this a Kaguya from an earlier period? Wasn’t it beyond dangerous to meet your past self? That’s why her future self only met them as a projection. 

“You shouldn’t be here.” Future Seina said, her voice hard. “You risk everything being here!”

“Yeah! We agreed to stay distant from each other,” her mistress said, somewhat peevishly. The two identical vampires glared daggers at each other. But now, Seina noticed a slight difference between the pair. Her Kaguya had a dark presence to her, her entire existence a living void of darkness. The other Kaguya was only a shadow compared to this, barely registering on Seina’s senses.

“And let you ruin everything,” continued the other Kaguya pointing a finger at her counterpart. “Thanks to you, my Devil Princesses are dead!” She gestured at the crumpled remains of Reiko.

“Arisu is dead,” Future Kaguya said, her voice displaying a pain she failed to hide.

But other Kaguya only shrugged. “Only yours is. Mine is fine. We can free her, if you wish. Though, we both know the trouble she’d cause.”

“Okay, what’s going on?” Takako whispered. “Is this the Dreamers’ identical sister?”

Her future self perked up her ears, picking up an unheard conversation. “Ah, that explains it.” She turned towards her fellow magical girls. “This Kaguya is a meat puppet the Vampire Queen psychically created after she got imprisoned by Arisu.”

“What?” Takako said, confounded.

“It’s a long story. Apparently, my Kaguya is from the future. And here is my future self.” Seina gestured to the angelic projection of her with a weak smile.

“That makes even less sense!” Takako replied.

“My head hurts.” Neir placed a paw against his head.

“Really? I understand everything. Seems simple enough,” Colten lied. “Have to say, Seina, you’re pretty cool in the future. Love the angelic super form!”

This earned a smile from future Seina, pleased by the compliment. 

But Past Kaguya interrupted their conversation. “And you’re just giving up, are you? Have you forgotten who we are? What we’ve suffered? And am I supposed to be happy with being locked up forever? You promised to free me!”

“I don’t owe you anything,” The first Kaguya said, crossing her arms. “I do what I like.”

“You’d betray me, yourself?!” Other Kaguya said, outraged.

“Huh? She’s fighting with herself?” Future Seina said, her translucent face baffled.

Seina released a deep sigh, knowing her former mistress too well. “Kaguya loathes being told what to do. She’s very stubborn.”

“Huh,” Future Seina said, shaking her head.

“I’m getting a headache,” Takako said, rubbing her temple. 

“Should they even be together if one’s from the future?” Colten asked. 

The two Kaguyas continued to lock eyes, refusing to retreat from their positions. Each snarled at the other, showing pointed fangs.

“I thought better of you. I see now you’re only a failure from a failed future. You weren’t making things right. You were running from enemies you couldn’t beat!” Past Kaguya’s expression turned smug. “A coward.”

“Don’t you dare talk of cowardice! I seem to recall you fleeing with your tail between your legs the first time we fought against Arisu,” Future Kaguya’s mouth extended into a superior smile.

Other Kaguya scowled. “As if that didn’t  happen to you as well!” The two counterparts continued their bickering, each refusing to give a centimeter. Despite her aloof nature, Seina knew her ex-mistress had a major ego.

“What if I don’t want to fight anymore?” Future Kaguya said.

“So you’d really leave your past self high and dry?” Past Kaguya fumed.

“Yes.”

Other Kaguya ground her teeth before glaring at Seina. “You think this is funny, don’t you, whelp?!”

“Well, uh,” Seina floundered before giving a hesitant reply. “No.”

“You’ve ruined everything!” Past Kaguya ground her teeth harder in frustration. “And you broke the rules somehow! A magical girl vampire, I don’t believe it.”

“How about you surrender?” Her fairy partner said. “Your future self isn’t interested in your plans, and you can’t beat us. You’re fighting a lost cause.”

“Colten, please don’t antagonize her,” Seina said in a harsh whisper.

“While a shadow of my former self, I’m still a vampire queen. Don’t underestimate me!” White fangs glistened as Past Kaguya’s mouth extended into a cruel smile. “I refuse to lose. I will regain true power. Soon you’ll all suffer!”

“Why am I just a pain in the ass?” Future Kaguya said, exasperated. “You try something, and I’ll kick you into next week!”

“How would that even work?” Colten asked. “Would she cease to exist? There has to be a reason Future Seina isn’t entering the past.”

“Yes, please don’t mess up the past any further,” the angelic Seina said. “I’m having a hard enough time keeping the future from disintegrating!”

Past Kaguya’s cruel smile extended further. “Is that right? Interesting. That explains why the timelines have become so convoluted. But never mind, I’m pruning you failures for a better future.”

“No.” Takako already had her twin pistols pointed at Past Kaguya’s head and fired. But the vampire queen dodged away, taking to the air. There she floated, her scowl contemptuous.

“You haven’t won yet. I will win! Mark my words.” Then Past Kaguya vanished from sight.

“Great. Another vampire running loose,” Seina said, sighing. Though she wondered if her boasts were only bravado, empty of any real threat.

“Why didn’t you do anything to stop her?” Colten said to her former mistress, annoyed.

“Look, I’m done. I don’t care about any of this,” Future Kaguya said with her trademark apathy. “Solve this problem yourself.”

“What?” Colten said, outraged.

“So, you’re returning to the future?” Her angelic counterpart said hopefully.

“Yeah, sure. Whatever,” Seina’s former mistress replied. “Let’s just get it over with. I’d barely care if you killed me at this point.”

This reaction surprised Seina. Kaguya must have really cared about Arisu. All the fight had left her former master. It was sad seeing the proud vampire queen taken this low.

“I liked her too. Arisu was quite the character,” Future Seina said, extending a hand.

“With her, anything seemed possible. And she never gave up on me. She never fought to kill me. She’d always hoped for a redemption of sorts. The fool.” Future Kaguya looked away, ashamed. “This isn’t to redeem myself. I’m beyond such foolishness. Lock me up, I don’t care. I’m done!”

“Look, um,” Seina trailed off, trying to find the right words. “Despite everything, thank you. You saved my life. You gave me hope.”

“Yes, you could have killed her instead,” Future Seina said, thoughtfully. “You knew she’d one day become me.”

“I only did it because I was bored,” Kaguya said, shooting her down. But then her face softened. “No, I did it because you remind me of myself. Scared, helpless, thrown around by everyone.”

“Maybe there is a heart somewhere within you,” Seina replied, touched by this honest confession.

“Doubtful.” Kaguya turned away, hiding her expression. “Okay, I’m ready to go.”

Future Seina nodded and extended her transparent hand. She turned to meet her past self’s eyes. “Watch out for your times Kaguya. She’s a slippery one. I don’t want her ruining the timeline any further. These ripples in history are getting more difficult to fight back. Soon, not even I will be capable of stopping them.”

“And then you’ll cease to exist,” Seina said, solemn.

“I’ll find some way to fuse our timelines into something coherent. I have the smartest person I know working on the problem,” Future Seina replied. “And I…”

“What is it?” Kaguya asked, annoyed as Seina’s future self started fretting, her expression becoming more troubled.

“I…no!” Future Seina’s projection started flickering, her voice distorting. “History is unraveling!”

“What? Weren’t things messed up enough? Sweat gathered on Seina’s undead forehead. What had her former mistress’s counterpart done this time?”

“Crap!” Colten said, panic creeping into his voice. “What can we do?”

“I… Think… never… hope… future’s never certain.”

“What? We can’t understand you!” Seina said. She watched in horror as her future self dissolved into nothing, leaving them all helpless.

---

“Back again?” The fairy in the cage said, amused. “It’s been, what, two decades since your last visit.”

“Shut it, Charity,” Past Kaguya said, annoyed. She slumped against a wall, furious.

“Fight against the Twilight not go well?” This didn’t surprise her. Despite past Kaguya’s best efforts to counter her annoying future-seeing ability, the fairy had always found some loophole. “Special girl. Reminds me of a certain Wicked Queen. She didn’t like confinement either.”

“And yet I’m still here,” Past Kaguya’s lips extended into a cruel smile. “They’re fools to underestimate me! I’ll destroy them all!”

“And how will you do that?”

“I’m figuring it out!” A moment of silence passed between them. “Okay, I don’t know!” Her boasts had been empty. She hadn’t a clue how to stop those monsters. Without her true body, this meat puppet body was useless against them.

“You could take Future Seina’s offer and change your fate,” Charity suggested.

This earned a derisive snort from Past Kaguya. “And admit defeat, never.” It was her nature to win. Still, she had to admit the situation seemed bleak. “And you’re going to help me, Charity. We’re going to shift the timeline to something more palpable.”

“You really expect Charity to do that?” The fairy raised a curious eyebrow.

“You’re the only person I have left.” What a sad admission that was. 

“Charity refused to help you destroy the future. Your other self has already caused considerable damage. History is unraveling.”

“Not enough,” Her future self had swaggered in, taking charge like she owned the place. It galled her to no end. Still, something occurred to her. Hadn’t her future self risked her entire existence messing with history? Only her mighty power protected her from the shifts in the river of time. But even Great Vampires weren’t unbeatable. 

“Don’t,” Charity said, a warning creeping into her voice. “You do that. It will only cause the destruction of everything.”

“Thanks, you’ve helped enough. You’ve been a useful soundboard,” Past Kaguya said, her smile sly.

“Kaguya!” Charity said, alarmed.

“Don’t worry, you’ll survive. The rest I don’t care about.” If she played her cards right, she’d come out on top, mightier than ever. There were risks, but she had nothing to lose.

She ignored the helpless pleas of the caged fairy as she exited the prison, passing the two unconscious guards. Past Kaguya gazed upon Starlight Dream’s beauty, how the light reflected off its crystalline structures. Her memory returned to when she’d first visited this hallowed place; it had brought tears to her eyes. Its purity burned her, yet she marveled at its majesty. But such vaunted purity had vanished centuries ago, leaving the world a husk cloaked in a pretty shell.

“You’ve lost any reason to exist.” She watched as various magical girls and fairies mingled about, oblivious to their fates. Legends told that Starlight Dream was the center of creation, both existence and history.

To this, the Vampire Queen only shrugged. History was hers to control. The timeline bent to her will alone. Victory would be forever hers.

The earth thundered as Past Kaguya’s fist impacted the dirt, the grime filling her fingernails. She tasted the life of Starlight Dream and everyone who lived in it. A fairy screamed as her partner just collapsed in a heap, her life stolen until only a husk remained. 

Unlike Arisu, these magical girls were pale imitations of the real deal. They died with Starlight Dream before they realized what was happening. Plants once vibrant with life crumbled to dust, their remains blowing away in the wind. The earth hardened and blackened, becoming more like dried ash. Towers that had once pierced the heavens collapsed in torrents of crystal shards. Cracks formed across the planet as it crumbled to dust. With the tightening of her fist, Starlight Dream, the cosmos’ jewel, imploded.

“It is done.” The sole Devil Princess smiled as she floated amongst the dust of Starlight Dream. Only three distant landmarks remained. One was the mighty core of the cosmos, its radiant beauty stinging her vampiric eyes. Another was Arisu’s stake, the imposing ziggurat towering above, not scratched despite its home’s destruction. No surprise there.

The last was a tiny white figure. She stared at the vampire queen in abject horror. “What have you done?!”

As the vampire queen suspected, the fairy and her partner were too powerful for such a simple display of power to destroy them. 

“See, I told you that you’d live.” Though, Arisu remained sealed within the dust of Starlight Dream. Past Kaguya reflected it wouldn’t be long until the terrible Wicked Queen freed herself, but she could live with that.

“Gah!” The fairy winced, clutching at her head. “The future, it’s in turmoil!”

“Perfect.” Billions of timelines passed through her head, each dying and being reborn at a dizzying rate. The future became a chaotic jumble, even to her. Starlight Dream wasn’t just a planet. Its existence anchored the multiverse.

“Victory at last!” Her mirth exploded in uproarious laughter. This was it! She’d won!

---

“No, this can’t be happening!” Pure panic filled Kaguya’s face, she was terrified almost out of her mind. It filled Seina with genuine fear. Never had she seen her former mistress scared before.

“I can’t fade away. Not after everything!” Kaguya’s body became more translucent as history destroyed her. Seina waved, unsure how she could help. 

“Takako, do something! You can do anything with your guns!” Seina clutched at the dark magical girl’s arm.

“After everything this maniac has done?” Takako said, crossing her arms.

“Don’t say that!” Seina snapped back. “What happened to pity and mercy?”

“I don’t believe in such things for monsters like her,” Takako replied coolly.

“Why you!” But Colten stopped Seina’s tirade, butting into the conversation.

“Look, we don’t know what’s happening. We might all vanish next. The vampire queen is our only time expert.” The fairy said. “We need her expertise.”

“Fine.” Takako rolled her eyes, firing her silver pistol at the fading vampire. A field formed around her, Kaguya’s image becoming more focused.

“Thank you.” Kaguya sighed in relief, flexing her fingers like she could hardly believe they even worked anymore.

“Mistress Kaguya, what’s going on?” Seina said, returning to a formal tone.

“The timelines are falling to pieces. My past self must have done something drastic to alter history further. My existence is becoming even more unlikely and impossible,” Kaguya scowled. “Curse that fake magical girl! She’s the one who convinced me to travel back in time. It’s all her fault this happened. Why’d I ever listen to her?!”

“Are we safe? What happens if history distorts even further?” Seina asked.

“We’ll all be annihilated in an all-consuming paradox!” A distorted voice said. The angelic Seina’s image was almost impossible to decipher as she tried to speak.

“That sounds about right,” Kaguya said. “I’m surprised you even still exist.”

“We’re managing,” Future Seina said. “But I’m afraid little of the future exists anymore. We’ve condensed the multiverse into a single universe. What little still remains, anyway. It’s reducing the strain of holding together history.”

“What is the other Kaguya trying to do, destroy us all?!” Takako said, fuming.

“No, she’s trying to exorcize the future. That way, Kaguya’s future self never interfered with the past. A risky plan,” Future Seina said, musing.

“Insane, more like,” Takako replied dryly.

“That’s me for you,” Kaguya said, cringing. “Stubborn to the last.”

“So what’s the plan? How do we fix whatever past Kaguya changed?” Seina asked.

“Stop her from causing any more damage first,” Future Seina said. “Mr. Kiyojiro says we can keep whatever future remains if the timeline remains somewhat stable. We can always reduce the size of the universe.”

“How much of your multiverse remains??” Seina asked, alarmed. She wondered who this Kiyojiro was? He must be pretty cool to salvage an entire broken timeline.

Future Seina only sighed, visibly sagging. “Only a couple million planets.”

How bad had things become in this alternate future? Were they doomed to the same fate?

“So only a corpse remains,” Kaguya said, sighing. 

Future Seina fought back a cutting remark, sighing as she pieced together a more peaceable response. “It doesn’t matter. The past is the past. It still isn’t beyond fixing.”

“Is that right?” A familiar voice said.

“You!” Seina turned and gasped as the past version of Kaguya appeared from nowhere. Her expression was victorious as her arm stabbed forward. After almost getting erased from history, her former mistress was helpless to defend herself. She howled as an arm emerged from her chest.

“And now your might is mine,” Past Kaguya, her grin victorious.

“You fool! Don’t!” Future Seina said, alarmed. But it was too late. 

Future Kaguya blood seeped into her past self, her flesh dissolving away in ash as it did. It fed into her past self, her entire body pulsing with dark energy. The reborn vampire queen opened her eyes, delighting in her newfound power. The light reflected off her dress in a dizzying array of colors, each impossible yet very possible. They danced to a chaotic beat, different flashes of possible histories appearing before Seina as each color struck her eyes. 

“Amazing! I’d forgotten what my true power felt like! I’m reborn! No better than ever! I am dead, yet I still live! I am contradiction itself! Call me Paradox Kaguya!”