#rather than an ambassador who genuinely wanted to find a better way to end the war))

[disillusionedjudge]

((absolutely fucked up thought for the night: Gylfie being absolutely and utterly manipulated by Takrin (and possibly even by House Solidor), resulting in her killing Theodric instead of Takrin under Takrin's orders because it would be the only thing that could prove her loyalty

[jaskiersvalley]

Oh my god im the anon with the cuckoowitcher ask. I've been running around all day trying to have a few quiet Moments to read! I really loved it thank you so much. I've been reading all your lovely Storys but I have to say I have a Soft Spot for cuckoo Jas. Thank you for responding and writing something so sweet. Still love your writing and it still helps a hell a lot! Lots of love! Hope to see much more

Some people get stuck in my head and you, cuckoo Jaskier Nonnie, are one of those people because you’re always so polite and sweet. So while I may not have more cuckoo Jaskier stories at the moment, I wonder whether you’d like something else. There’s a lot of warlord Geralt going around, with Jaskier offered up as a tribute. But has anybody ever considered warlord Jaskier before?

It had started off as a side gig, Jaskier would always be adamant about that. He had wanted to be a bard. Sing songs, witness adventures and maybe be adored by the masses, that was his grand plan for life. Unfortunately, being a travelling bard didn’t pay well and people weren’t as quick to laud him as Jaskier had hoped. However, according to Redanian Secret Services, he was in the unique position to help them gather intelligence. So, on the side as Jaskier collected materials for his greatest works yet, he also picked up intel on armies, prisoners, relationships between factions, species and kingdoms. It was quite eye opening.

The only problem with it all was that Jaskier wasn’t stupid. He could see where wars were brewing, what allegiances were being forged. And, really, Jaskier thought he could do so much better. The information he was returning back to Redania wasn’t being used in the best way possible. So Jaskier started tailoring the information to ‘help’ them along. He had also managed to make friends with a few of the other intelligence officers, namely Valdo and Priscilla. Between the three of them, they had quite a spread of information and spent many a drunken night gossiping over maps, discussing how they would solve the problems of the continent.

One thing led to another and suddenly Jaskier had more than two fellow spies at his beck and call. Somehow he’d ended up with the loyalty of the dwarves, Zoltan and his crew being quite helpful. Then Filavandrel and his elves entered a truce with Jaskier, followed by Triss Merigold and a handful of sorceresses. It was haphazard at best but word travelled. And suddenly Jaskier was being approached by the Redanian Secret Service not as a spy but as an equal. They wanted to trade information and Jaskier almost laughed. Except, after Redania came Nilfgaard, offering riches in exchange for information and good relations. Not like Jaskier had an army or lands or anything like that. Did he? The dwarves and elves had their own regions, Redania was trying to save face that their own officers had done a better job of keeping the peace. Well, there was no harm in keeping on good terms with Nilfgaard, they had been the thorn in the continent’s side for a while. Maybe by being friendly, Jaskier and co could actually help settle issues.

When Temeria took umbrage at Jaskier’s meddling, it was one hell of an awkward moment because Redania, Nilfgaard, elves, dwarves and even Aedirn joined forces to quiet the unrest. Which was a turning point of sorts. Suddenly, every kingdom great or small came knocking on Jaskier’s door. He’d returned to Lettenhove because home was home. The steady stream of well wishers and ambassadors was, frankly, embarrassing. Jaskier had a hard time keeping up with everything.

Then there was the matter of Kaedwen. They were trying to be fiercely independent and up in arms. It just wasn’t going to do and, for the first time in his life, Jaskier asked his newfound allies if anyone was willing to raise arms against the threat. Unsurprisingly, Nilfgaard was down for a battle or two but they were joined by the elves. Redania offered medical assistance while the dwarves and trolls helped with supplies. It was all rather anticlimactic, an army marching to Kaedwen, only to be greeted by a white flag.

Not all battles were so easy though, sometimes factions arose, Cintra was being a royal twit and the war fought with them and Skellige was brutal. In the end though, they were defeated, Queen Calanthe had to admit defeat. Despite this, they weren’t prepared to roll over and play nice. In an attempt to display might and dignity, they sent the most extravagant offerings to Lettenhove. It wasn’t riches, no silks, no finery or gold. Instead, they had captured the most difficult of offerings. A witcher.

He was trussed up in his own silver chains. Silver for monsters as witchers had been known to say. It was a warning from Cintra, they had caught the most feared of beasts, the monster designed to kill all monsters. They wouldn’t bow down to a warlord, no matter what the kingdoms thought and did. The witcher was tied to a horse and made to walk behind it though a shuffle was a more apt description.

Jaskier stood in the hall of Lettenhove and watched as the half starved wretch was shoved to his knees in front of him. A hungry witcher was a weak one, much easier to subdue and manage.

“A gift, from Cintra,” the messenger had declared and stepped away with a bow.

Approaching the witcher, Jaskier ignored how every eye seemed trained on him, hands on swords and prepared to leap to his protection. Rather than pay them any attention, Jaskier sank to his knees in front of the witcher.

“Hello,” he offered. There was no response, the witcher’s head was bowed, whole body tense, trying to exude disdain and an air of threat. Up close, Jaskier could see the fine tremors through muscles though. He stood up. “Please pass my thanks to Cintra, I accept your fealty and this offering. Though I would request no more live tributes. Or dead ones! Gold, silks, food and shared knowledge is more than enough. Court dismissed.”

Nobody moved for a moment. “Everyone out!”

Jaskier stood next to the witcher who hadn’t moved throughout the exchange. As soon as they were alone, he was crouching down, tugging at the silver chains.

“You poor thing, how could they treat you like that.” Gradually, the witcher was freed from his bonds and as soon as he could, he had Jaskier’s own dagger at Jaskier’s throat. “Harsh,” Jaskier observed, “but fair. Can we save the killing for after dinner though? I have always found having a full stomach helped with most decisions.”

He didn’t expect the witcher to waver, the dagger fall from his hands and for him to collapse on the ground in a dead faint. It seemed that springing on Jaskier had really been the last of his energy. What a waste.

Needless to say, there was no killing after dinner. Jaskier learned that the witcher was called Geralt, he’d been to Cintra to collect his child surprise but Queen Calanthe had different ideas. Trapped, Geralt had been helpless to do anything which was how he’d ended up becoming an offering to a warlord.

That had Jaskier laughing. He wasn’t a warlord. If anything, Jaskier was a failed bard and a very bad intelligence officer because he thought he could do better than those he worked for. It wasn’t his fault people were pledging their allegiances to him or that he had to ask if anyone was willing to help deal with a threat to the peace that he was bringing to the continent. No, Jaskier wasn’t a warlord because he helped bring new rules to kingdoms and enforced them. Oh shit. He was a warlord. His parents were going to be so pissed off when they found out.

“I think they already know,” Geralt had interrupted Jaskier’s internal panic. “You might have been the last person on the continent to find out.”

“But I didn’t mean to become one.”

“I didn’t mean to become a witcher. Destiny is a bitch.” Geralt had shrugged. “At least you get to choose who you will speak to from different kingdoms. Is Emhyr over the fact you won’t talk to him yet? That you picked some general of his army as a representative”

Jaskier rubbed the back of his neck with an awkward grin. “I mean, I just figured the Emperor of Nilfgaard himself wouldn’t want to deal with me. So I picked someone who would and who I liked. Then I heard of what Emhyr’s like and just decided I liked my pick better.”

Over the course of a week, Geralt ate and rested, gaining back his strength and resilience. Jaskier admired from afar, astounded by how quickly his witcher seemed to bounce back. Not his witcher. Geralt didn’t belong to anyone. Even if Jaskier quite fancied the idea.

“You’re free to come and go. I’ve set out a new law that’s making its way round the lands. Witchers are to be lauded and appreciated for their hard work,” Jaskier said as he stood, facing Geralt by the stables. His witcher was ready to head out on the Path again, hopefully it was going to be a little easier for him from now on.

“Thank you.” The thing was, Geralt sounded so earnestly genuine. “I was wondering, could you keep something safe for me until I return?”

An unusual request but Jaskier would help if he could.

“You’ve been a wonderful guest, even if your arrival wasn’t the most wholesome one. I’ll keep anything safe for you.”

He didn’t anticipate Geralt leaning in to kiss him chastely. “Keep my heart safe. I’m leaving it in your good care.”

The bastard then had the gall to hop onto his horse and ride off without a backwards glance. Jaskier was going to tell him exactly what he thought of that tactic when he came back. Until then, he would treasure Geralt’s heart, even if he didn’t have time to officially give his own in return.

[ssa-jennifer-prentiss]

And When I’m Holding You the World Makes Sense

i finallyyyy got to writing some more jemily! this one is based on the song “My Side of the Fence” by Dan + Shay (it very much so reminds me of something Emily would sing to JJ)!

this one is also dedicated to my love, @the-bipsycho. thanks for pushing me to write something and hyping me up! i love youuu!

pairing: jj/emily

words: 2386

tw: alcohol mention

read on ao3

-----

These fancy things in magazines

Diamond rings and beauty queens

But nothing seems to sparkle like you do

These fine cigars and caviar

Expensive cars and movie stars

But everything I need is in this room

Oh, and I've seen the lights from New York to Vegas

And I've tasted wine from Venice to Paris

And I've seen the sights

Nothing comparin' to you

-----

Emily stood in her day old sweats staring into her closet. The team had arrived home late yesterday afternoon from a very tough case. They never worked a “good” case, but some were harder to leave behind than others. This one in particular involved missing children and not every family had received the happy handing they hoped for.

Seeing the toll it took on his team, Hotch allowed them to go home as soon they landed and told them he didn’t want to see them until the following Wednesday. It had been Friday afternoon when they arrived home and Emily wanted nothing more than to spend the next few days cuddled up with her girlfriend, snacks, and the dumbest TV show they could find.

Emily’s plans of a few peaceful days were ruined when her and JJ arrived back at their apartment that evening. When Emily was in the kitchen grabbing a bottle of wine for her and JJ, she caught a glimpse of the calendar hanging on the fridge. She had completely forgot her mother’s gala was that weekend.

Their Saturday morning was spent arguing as Emily attempted to use every excuse she could possibly come up with to convince JJ into not attending the event. JJ knew well that if they didn’t attend, Emily would never hear the end of it from the Ambassador. Emily was aware that would be far more painful than a few hours out with her beautiful girlfriend.

The closet in front of Emily was filled mostly with work clothes, both hers and JJ’s, but at this point it was near impossible to distinguish between the two. Towards one end, there hung a few of their nicer outfits. Tucked behind JJ’s skirts from her liaison days were a few dresses Emily kept on hand for occasions such as these.

She carefully looked through her options, taking each one of them in. Emily was not the kind of girl who enjoyed dressing up. She hated it even more at times like this. She spent far too many evenings and weekends getting all dolled up, so she could help improve her mother’s image.

Eventually she settled on a shorter red dress that she surprisingly enjoyed the fit of. It dipped lower in the front and showed off her figure perfectly. She also knew how much JJ loved her in red, it was her color. She slipped into the dress, zipping it before making her way to the bathroom to do her hair.

She decided on only curling the ends in an attempt to keep it simple. Her dark, nearly black hair looked sharp against the vibrant shade of red both her dress and lipstick possessed. She was just finishing fixing up her makeup when she heard faint footsteps come up behind her.

“So, what do you think?” Emily turned to see JJ standing in the doorway, her hands out to the side and a huge smile on her face. She had on a tight blue dress that matched her eyes perfectly. The spaghetti strap dress showed off her toned arms and shoulders. JJ looked at her girlfriend and giggled as Emily gawked at her. “Quit drooling Em, and tell me what you think!”

“I think,” Emily stepped closer and slipped her arms around the blonde’s waist, “we might not make it to the party after all.” She pressed a firm kiss to her girlfriend’s lips.

“Nice try,” JJ murmured between kisses, “we’re going.” She pulled away from a now pouting Emily to step farther in the bathroom. She quickly finished up her makeup before walking back into the bedroom to meet Emily. The two slipped on their heels and jackets then made their way to the car.

-----

So I ain't looking over fences trying to find a better view

My search for all that ended when I first laid eyes on you

And the grass is always greener

'Cause the sun shines when you smile

And when I'm holding you the world makes sense

On my side of the fence

-----

JJ decided to drive the 40 minutes to the gala’s venue, leaving Emily to relax in the passenger’s seat. However, Emily didn’t seem to be relaxing much. JJ could see her fidgeting with her hands in her lap. She was picking at her fingers like she did when she was nervous or stressed. Seeing this, JJ reached over and took one of Emily’s hands in her own. Intertwining their fingers and squeezing tightly, JJ smiled at Emily.

“What’s on your mind, Em?” she squeezed her hand again, pulling Emily’s attention to her.

“I just really hate these events, Jen,” she leaned her head against the seat and closed her eyes. “I hate having to put on a show. This isn’t who I am at all. I hate the dresses. I hate the snobby rich colleagues of my mother. I hate the looks everyone always gives us. I hate that I’m not the perfect daughter of an ambassador that I’m supposed to be.”

“Woah, woah, woah baby. First of all, who you are is perfect. You shouldn’t have to be some certain way or meet some outrageous expectations to be seen as valued in your mother’s eyes. The fact that she only sees you at events like this is truly her loss,” she glanced over at Emily, giving her a sincere smile.

“And second, I don’t give a fuck about what all those people think of us,” she held Emily’s hand tighter. “I love you. I want to spend tonight with my beautiful girlfriend, dancing and drinking and having the best time we can. I promise you, if it gets too much, say the word and we are out of there okay?”

“Okay.”

“What’s the word?”

“Blackbird,” she smiled for the first time since they entered the car. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” JJ said as she pulled into a parking spot outside the venue. “Are you ready?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

-----

If I ever win the lottery

It wouldn't mean a lot to me, 'cause I already got you to hold my hand

And if a genie gave me a million wishes

I'd spend them all on all your kisses

And save just one to stay right where I am

-----

The two women exited their car and made their way inside the building. With each step forward, Emily’s grip on JJ’s hand tightened.

“Hey,” JJ glanced over at Emily, catching her eye, “Just focus on me. We get to spend all night together. Just you, me, champagne, and the dance floor.”

Emily nodded as they reached the entrance. She pulled the door open for JJ, allowing the blonde to step in ahead of her before taking her hand again. Per typical Ambassador Prentiss fashion, the venue was vast, expensive, and filled to the brim with high class people Emily wanted absolutely nothing to do with.

JJ tugged her hand, pulling her towards a small, empty table in the back corner of the room. A kind young waiter made his way to their table, and offered them two glasses of champagne. Emily felt for the boy, knowing she would never want to be one of the people who caught the unfortunate shift at work and would have to cater an event for Elizabeth Prentiss. The pressure that comes with being associated with her mother in any way, was not something she would wish on anyone.

The room was covered in simplistic, yet clearly expensive decorations. Both the added decor and the structures built in were far too fancy for Emily. Every bit of the gala reminded her of growing up in large extravagant houses that never truly felt like home. She may have had more money than she could ever want or need, but she learned early on that it wasn’t going to make her happy. Even if she could have whatever she wanted.

Besides, Emily had the best thing she could ever ask for sitting beside her, and money couldn’t buy a Jennifer Jareau. JJ didn’t love Emily for her money. Their favorite date nights included sweats, cuddles, cheap wine, and Chinese take out. They didn’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy their time together. Emily wasn’t truly sure if her girlfriend was completely aware of just how much money she really had.

JJ could practically hear the thoughts running through the brunette’s head. She knew how much Emily hated her mother’s events, but she also knew Emily hated extra conflict with her mother more. If they wouldn’t have made an appearance, Emily was sure to receive angry and persistent phone calls from the Ambassador in the weeks to come.

Wanting to give Emily a break from her mind, she reached over and gently placed a hand on her girlfriend’s thigh. Emily jumped slightly as the contact broke through to her. Her face softened as she turned to look at JJ, giving her a small smile. JJ turned the hand on her leg palm up, asking for the older woman to take it.

“May I have this dance?” JJ smiled and rose from her seat. A genuine smile made its way to Emily’s face as she took JJ’s hand and allowed her to lead her to the dance floor.

-----

So I ain't looking over fences trying to find a better view

My search for all that ended when I first laid eyes on you

And the grass is always greener

'Cause the sun shines when you smile

And when I'm holding you the world makes sense

On my side of the fence

-----

They approached the dance floor where only a few other couples were at the moment. Soft, slow music was being played over the speakers. The chatter in the room was rather quiet, allowing the two women to focus solely on each other.

Emily slid her right arm around the blonde, while JJ put her left around Emily’s waist and pulled their bodies as close as she could. JJ laid her head against Emily’s chest, breathing in the perfume that was so distinctly Emily. She took her free hand and tangled her fingers with the brunette’s. She let her eyes close as she listened to the steady beat of her girlfriend’s heart beneath her.

They stood swaying back and forth in silence for a while, enjoying the closeness and comfort of the moment. After a few songs, JJ felt Emily press a soft kiss to her forehead. She smiled and snuggled impossibly further into Emily. Another moment passed and the silence was broken by two words:

“Marry me?”

It took Emily a moment to realize she had said the words out loud. It occurred to her that she had when she felt JJ tense and freeze in her arms. She felt the blonde lift her head from its place on her chest. Tear filled cerulean eyes met her equally teary brown ones. Emily was worried she had ruined everything, said those words far too soon, but before she managed to form any real words JJ spoke.

“Are you serious?” JJ tried to keep the smile off her face and the tears from falling before she was sure Emily meant it, but she failed miserably.

“Of course I’m serious!” Tears made their way down Emily’s cheeks as well. “God JJ! This is not how I wanted to ask you. Hell, I don’t even have a ring!”

“Baby…” she reached up to wipe the tears from Emily’s cheek, “I don’t need a ring or some fancy proposal. All I need is you.”

“My love, you are the best thing to ever happen to me. I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you by my side. You make me so fucking happy, and I fall even more in love with you every single day.”

“Say it,” JJ smiled. “Ask me again.”

“Jennifer Jaraeu, will you marry me?”

“Yea,” her voice was filled with emotion. “Emily Prentiss, I want to be your wife.”

-----

You're the rain on the roof in the summer

You're the leaves in the fall changing color

You're the whisper I hear in the thunder

On my side of the fence

You're the reason my heart is beating faster

You're the tears falling down from the laughter

You're the only one I'm after

-----

Emily leaned forward to kiss JJ. Both women had tears streaming down their faces. JJ could barely keep the smile off her face as she tried to pour every bit of her emotions into their kiss. After a few moments, their need for air caused them to pull apart.

“I love you so much,” JJ whispered as she leaned her forehead against Emily’s.

“I love you, fiancée,” Emily spoke just as softly as JJ had. “Shall we head home?”

“I believe we shall,” she giggled, slipping her hand into the brunette’s again. “Fiancée has a nice ring to it.”

“It does!” Emily beamed. “And I know you said you don’t need one, but you’re getting a ring.”

“Seriously Em, you are enough.”

“Hey! We’ve got to show all those cops who think it’s okay to flirt with you that you are officially off the market. We’ll make them so jealous.”

“Oh shush! They never stood a chance against you,” she placed another kiss to Emily’s lips. “All yours forever, baby.”

“Good,” she kissed JJ once more before moving to get into her side of the car. “Now let’s get home, fiancée.”

-----

So I ain't looking over fences trying to find a better view

My search for all that ended when I first laid eyes on you

And the grass is always greener

'Cause the sun shines when you smile

And when I'm holding you the world makes sense

Baby, when I'm holding you the world makes sense

On my side of the fence

You know it does, baby

On my side of the fence

-----

thanks for reading! please let me know what you think!

[giuliafc]

Betrayal -- Chapter 19 and 19bis: Inside the Mind of a Criminal (snippet dal 30) + Pigella (LadyNoir July day 30)

<< 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10 – 11 – 12 – 13 – 14 – 15 – 16 – 17 – 18 -- 19: Ao3 || FFN – 19 bis: Ao3 || FFN -- 20 >>

Betrayal Chapter 19: Inside the Mind of a Criminal

Written by: JuliaFC

Beta: Agrestebug and MyImaginationFlows

Summary: We learn the background story of Lila's father, Richard Sphinx, the new Papillon, and how he's going to be much, much worse than the first one...

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by (c) Thomas Astruc, TS1 Bouygues, Disney Channel, Zagtoon, Toei Animation. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

TW: mention of extreme manipulative and obsessive behaviour and cruelty against family

Written for the "Snippet July" challenge of the Miraculous Fanworks Discord server @miraculousfanworks

oOoOoOoOoOo

"Well done, Lila. Now head back to the monk and get his staff. If there are more jewels like these, we need to get our hands on them!" Richard sat at the desk of his office, staring at the nothing in front of him. His elbows pinned on the wood of the desk, his face resting on the length of his hands. His body was wrapped in a purple and grey suit and a grey mask covered his face, making his green eyes shine.

Briefly, he broke contact with Lila's akuma and stood up; he slowly paced the room to the fireplace. His gloved hand picking up a photograph on the mantle, portraying a woman with short brown hair wrapped in an elegant blue tailleur.

He still remembered the day he'd met Melania, Lila's mother. She was a petite Italian lady who exuded elegance and genuineness at a celebrity party. She looked so out of place, and her cheerful smile was like a breath of fresh air in the hypocrite atmosphere of the ball room. He still remembered his burning passion, how much he'd wanted her—her and all she represented. She was the daughter of a rich Italian family of ambassadors, with excellent connections all over the diplomatic world he wanted to be part of. When his charming politeness managed to raise her interest, he thought he'd hit the jackpot.

Their story had been short but intense, their relationship the final tassel in the puzzle that brought him to the limelight. Before their engagement of 5 years ended, FERG, his company, was quoted in the stock exchange. Quickly rising to be one of the top companies in the market.

Everything was perfect. Then, Melania fell pregnant and had her baby. For reasons that Richard couldn't understand, she somehow started distancing her husband — him. He suspected that the accusations of him having committed several cases of fraud, and having caused several suicides, may have been part of it. But Richard had done it for her. Nobody else was important in his mind. He had to protect his family. He had to protect the people who mattered for him. How could Melania not see that?

"You're a heartless monster!" she accused him instead, when she tried to leave him and go stay with a friend; but he found her almost immediately and locked her up in her room.

The more he clenched his grip on Melania, the more the woman became distant, almost terrified. Eventually, she dared to ask for divorce and deny him the rights to see his daughter.

"His obsessive behaviour is harming me and my daughter! I'm afraid for our safety, Your Honour," she told the judge. "Only the money is important to Richard! He puts his company before the safety of his family."

Needless to say, she won the case. Since then, she kept as far away as possible and had tried to keep Lila away from him too. She had changed her surname to the plain Rossi, and changed her job many times. Until Lila was old enough to make her own decisions, she succeeded at keeping him away.

But Lila was a clever girl. Her thirst for power and her quest for attention were second to him. She knew what was important in life, that power and money were the only things that mattered. As soon as she had gained the use of a mobile phone, she contacted him (lying to her mother). They had been plotting against Melania ever since.

Now it was their time to obtain their aim. When Papillon trusted Lila to be his second in charge, Richard advised his daughter to gain as much information as she could about those powerful jewels that gave him power. Now all that hard work was paying off.

He squeezed Melania's photo in his hands, breaking the frame with his strong hold. How dare she run away from him? How dare she disregard his burning passion?

"You don't love me, you think you own me," shouted Melania when she left him, taking away his only daughter with her. "I don't want you to be a bad influence on our daughter. You terrify me."

How dare she. She was his wife, his other half, his property.

"You're mine. MINE. No judge can take you away from me."

He stared in a daze at the blood flowing from his gloved hands, where the shattered glass of the photo frame had pierced the skin underneath the suit. His eyes gleamed of madness. "I will be victorious. I will get the Miraculous of Ladybug and Chat Noir. And when I have the most powerful jewels in the world, you will come back. You will love me again. If you won't, I’ll force you to."

oOoOoOoOoOo

Gabriel closed his eyes as he placed a single red rose between Emilie's palms and squeezed her hands gently before closing the glass cover of her coffin one last time. He rested his hand on the glassy surface for an endless moment; the hand of Lieutenant Raincomprix falling on his arm way too soon for his tastes. He sighed and gave one last glance at the peaceful face of his sleeping wife.

"It's time to go, M. Agreste. Mlle. Sancoeur," said the officer.

They had spent a long time talking to SentiAdrien in Adrien's room. The boy had confirmed most of the wrongdoings that his teachers and friends had accused Gabriel and Nathalie of, and had pleaded completely non guilty regarding any involvement in his father's terrorist activities.. M. Raincomprix had decided to be safe, and was arresting both Gabriel and Nathalie.

"Mlle. Sancoeur will most likely be released when the heroes witness her double agenting, but better safe than sorry," said Raincomprix.

Gabriel glared at him as the officer moved his and Nathalie's hands behind their back and handcuffed them. He shot one last, languid glance at the blonde figure in the coffin, before having to follow Raincomprix and walk away.

To be continued… Day 30.2 — Bonus chapter

30.2 - Betrayal Chapter 19 bis: Pigella

Written by: JuliaFC

Beta: Agrestebug and MyImaginationFlows

Summary: Ladybug struggles to understand how to win against the vacuum akuma, but Volpina has to eventually face (temporary) defeat. (1687 words)

Written for the LadyNoir July @ladynoirjuly Day 30 — Rose.

oOoOoOoOoOo

"Hey, Vacuum Lady, Aren't you tired of collecting dirt?" shouted Chat Noir as he used his baton to propel himself up. He smirked and added, "Probably not, since you've got Volpina with you. She's the biggest piece of dirt in existence!"

"How dare you," hissed Volpina and the Vacuum akuma at the same time before they both followed Chat Noir out of the way.

Ladybug gazed at the two akumas following her partner gratefully; then she put her hands to her temples and closed her eyes shut to concentrate. She picked up her communicator and dialled Alya's number.

"What's the plan, Ladybug? I saw Chat Noir jumping away with the akumas, I thought he may be trying to distract them."

"You were correct. Listen, Alya, I need you to use the water dragon. Water passes through surfaces so you will reach me in no time," whispered Ladybug to her Bugphone.

Alya smirked. "Right-o, I'm on it!"

Just seconds after their conversation, Ladybug saw water seeping through the barrier of books that towered in front of her. And, in a whirl of magic, Dragonbee Alya appeared in front of her. She wore a red outfit with the symbol of the dragon at the centre of her chest and curvy golden lines separated the red from sections of gold and black stripes. Her hair was combed in a twirly ponytail that looked like the sting of a bee. Ladybug didn't waste time and picked up her phone again, dialling Chat Noir's number this time.

"Chat, bring your whiskers back here immediately, before your transformation wears out!" she said before he could even say meow. With a gracious jump, her partner was again by her side seconds later.

"M'lady called?" he asked with a little smirk that Ladybug would have loved to take off his face with a kiss, but she knew perfectly well it wasn't the right moment.

"Alya, Chat and I’s timers are running out, we must be quick. Use the wind dragon and swoop us out of this alley and back on a rooftop."

Alya's eyes gleamed. "As you wish, Ladybug. Wind dragon!" Ladybug and Chat Noir were wrapped in a current of wind and next thing they knew, they were on a rooftop next to Nino (or rather, Thueban Jameel (1), as he has called himself), far away from the Library Maze but still keeping it in sight. The two heroes hid behind a chimney to release their transformation and feed their kwami without being spied on, and in no time they were up and running again.

"Okay now…before the akumas find us and we get stuck into that maze again. Lucky Charm!" called Ladybug. A red and black polka dotted single rose fell into her hands. "What?" she muttered, scratching her head.

"Are we going to declare our love to a vacuum cleaner?" was Chat Noir's snarky comment. But before Ladybug could say anything, the rooftop they were standing on disappeared and they all fell on the ground, facing yet another massive wall of books.

"Shoot! Here we are again…" cursed Ladybug.

The vacuum akuma reached them as well. "There you are, you fools. Did you really think you could escape? What a bunch of idiots! Tricksters, like that thief. I'll sweep you all away from existence. I wish I didn't always try to help people. I wish my heart hadn't been so kind. I'll take all the tricksters away, so maybe my boss will forgive me. I need my job!"

The four superheroes had to forcefully separate again trying to escape from the strength of the vacuum's sucking power. Before jumping off, Ladybug took a good look at the akuma and noticed that the akumatised object must be a book, which the victim was holding in her hand to create the vortex of sucking power.

Something in what the akuma had said was nagging at Ladybug. As she ran to hide from the vacuum, she went back to what the akuma had previously said: someone had stolen a book from her library and she was upset about it.

"What do you mean by trickster?" she asked when the akuma reached her once more.

A smirk popped on the victim's face. "That liar tricked me. He told me a sappy story about his family and convinced me to lend him the book without opening an account, but in the name of someone else. He promised me he was going to bring the book back in a couple of days. I'm too nice, too gullible. I wish all the tricksters would disappear!"

Ladybug's gaze fell on her lucky charm and her eyes widened. OF COURSE! How could she be that stupid to not realise before? She unified Kaalki and Tikki, becoming Pegabug. Then, with a smirk on her lips, she called for a 'Voyage' and jumped out of the maze, stepping inside the Couffaine's boat.

"Ladybug? Is there something wrong?" said Rose. That was a strike of luck: Rose was in Juleka's room, but her girlfriend was nowhere to be seen. "Jules is in the bathroom, if you're looking for her," added Rose when she noticed that Ladybug's gaze had darted around the room.

"No, I was looking for you, actually." She opened her yoyo and took out a pearl anklet. "Rose Lavillant, this is the Miraculous of the Pig. I need Pigella's help to win against this akuma."

Rose grabbed the anklet and put it on, allowing Daizzi to come out in a buzz of magic. "I still can't believe how cute you are," said Rose when she looked at the little kwami. Then, she muttered the transformation phrase and changed into Pigella.

It didn't take long for Pegabug and Pigella to find the vacuum akuma again, just in time to see Chat Noir being sucked in the vacuum when he got distracted by their arrival. The sound of Ladybug's scream echoed in the empty alley of books.

"You've got another one with you, Ladybug? I'll suck her in too!" drawled the akuma victim. But Pigella's gaze had a determined gleam.

"Why is your heart so full of sorrow? You should rejoice and be happy!" said Pigella with the sweetest of smiles on her face.

"Don't get close to me! I'm going to suck you in!" warned the akuma, but Pigella didn't just get close to her. She hugged her. The akuma was so baffled that she got petrified on the spot.

"Gift," murmured the pink superheroine and in a flash of light, a beautiful scene appeared in between the two girls, picturing a room full of books and everyone loving each other and being nice and friendly with each other. The akuma victim had tears in her eyes.

"Why are people so nasty? Why do people do wrong things, like lying or stealing? I want everyone to be happy!" The akuma leaned in Pigella's embrace and hugged her back, dropping the book that created the vacuum in the process. As soon as the akuma's grip on the book weakened, Ladybug caught it. She broke the book to release the butterfly, which she hastily captured, cleansed and released.

"Bye bye, little butterfly," said Ladybug as the white insect flew away in the sky. Then she picked up the lucky charm and threw it in the air, releasing the kaleidoscope of ladybugs. The instant Chat Noir reappeared, she was in his arms.

"I'm purr-fectly okay, M'lady," said the feline but this didn't stop the polka-dotted heroine from crying.

"Why do you always die for me? I don't want you to do that anymore!"

Chat Noir smiled softly as he hugged her tight, then he broke the hug to wipe her eyes and stroke her cheek. "I'm sorry, ma Buginette. I'll try to pay more attention, okay?"

"This new Papillon seems very dangerous, especially because he has a cunning fox like Volpina at his side. We need to pay even more attention than before!" said Ladybug as she hugged him again. He patted his hand on her back, gently drawing circles on the material of her suit.

"I'll be okay, as long as I'm with you," murmured Chat Noir into her ear.

oOoOoOoOoOo

"I'm very disappointed, Volpina." Richard's voice was tense as he spoke through the ethereal connection of the butterfly. "We were so close to achieving our goal, and now we have to start all over again! I've no time for losers!"

Far away on a rooftop, Volpina lowered her head and closed her eyes, clenching her fists. "I'm sorry, Father! I still have my Miraculous though, and the akuma."

She groaned thinking back at how Pegabug had immediately found the tracker she'd put on Su-Han's bag. She had completely underestimated how strong and skilled the monk was, and she hadn't been able to steal his staff. Besides, Su-Han seemed to have the annoying ability to see through her Illusions, which she really didn't expect.

"I will come up with a new plan to submit to you, Father, don't worry!" she said, seething in a low growl.

Richard's stern expression didn't soften. "You better. Did you get Melania to sign the document I gave you?"

Volpina took a paper from her pocket and looked at it carefully. It was a request to cease school and start homeschooling, signed by her mother. It had taken her much more than just a trick to obtain her mother to scribble her signature without noticing what it was all about. "I have it here. I told her that the school will be closed because of all the attacks and that I would stay with a friend of mine for some time." Pain flashed through her eyes as she added, "I doubt she would have noticed anyway, as busy as she is with work."

Richard smirked, hearing the hurt in Volpina's voice. "Worry not, my daughter. When we make the Wish, she will have all the time in the world to dedicate herself exclusively to us." His smirk widened when he felt the strength of her emotions. "Together we will succeed."

He cackled, and from her rooftop, Volpina sneered.

To be Continued… Day 31

Notes:

Thueban Jameel: "Beautiful Snake", from the Arabic for beautiful, "Jameel" (جميل) and the Arabic for snake, "Thueban" (ثعبان). (Thank you so much to my Beta, MyImaginationFlows, for her assistance with Arabic!) The peacock is the symbol of beauty, so I thought it would fit.

Author's Note

Hey! Here it is, this is a bonus chapter I had to write because the snippets didn't give me enough space to wrap up the battle and all loose ends. It's a second part for chapter 19, based on the LadyNoir prompt for day 30, "Rose". Let me know what you think of it.

I hope you will like it anyway and will leave me a comment. You know that comments are my bread and butter!

You're lucky today because you're getting even the epilogue and the end of the story. So… until I finish updating that, a temporary 'bug out'!

[mc-critical]

What are your thoughts on Ibrahim? For me it went from indifference and dislike in season 1 to liking in season 2 and becoming my favorite male character in season 3 tbh. Actually the only good male character by season 3 (season 4 has many other options too). He is probably the most complex and well written character and I really sympathise with him. His arrogance was his downfall but if Suleyman wasn't such a bitch it wouldn't have been lol. He wasn't wrong in that imo. He was a slave, a fisherman's son but his intelligence and skill took him farther than anyone else and it's not wrong to be proud of such a feat. He deserved the pride more than just about anyone, even Suleyman. What I dislike the most about him is his treatment of Nigar after their relationship ended. She's my favorite character and although their relationship itself was my favorite in the whole show (other than Nurbanu and Selim) it ended really badly

Ibrahim is one of my most conflicting characters on the series: one time I feel like I don't get the appeal, especially not the stans in one Bulgarian forum, he doesn't elicit such a strong emotional reaction in me as he does in others, but then once he hits an incredibly strong arc and I begin to analyze his character and all its dimensions, I come to love him for what he is and realize how much effort has gone in conceiving and developing him. He's certainly the most well-written male character that isn't a sultan or a prince in the entire franchise. (the sultans aren't the brightest, but the bar is so high when it comes to their writing. There isn't any of them that is badly written. The princes are also well developed, but now that I think about it, Ibrahim surpasses some of them as well!) He's delightfully fleshed out with every detail; his actions, while morally ambiguous at times, are very understandable and you can clearly see the deeper, nuanced reasons why he does what he does. His arc was a sight to see from beginning to end and watching it reach its inevitable tragic conclusion was heartwrenching. At a point he became so important to the narrative, whether it was intentional or not, that the show (or actually, S03B in particular, because S04 was absolutely fantastic!) began to lowkey miss something without him. He had such a strong presence that couldn't be matched by anyone else after him.

[To be brutally honest though, I find his dynamic with Hürrem in terms of screentime to be kinda overrated. Not that it's bad or anything, quite the contrary - their chemistry was great, they were consistent and fun to watch, they had quite a few great scenes that were definetly more than Hürrem and Mahidevran's, I dare even say this is one of the most solid antagonistic dynamics of Hürrem's writing-wise, but I just find it sometimes gets way too much credit? It's weird, I know.]

The most interesting thing about him is, without a doubt, his fatal flaw that I... actually don't think is arrogance. It's not up for argument that Ibrahim can definetly come off as arrogant, but the arrogance is rather a manifestation of his fatal flaw, not his fatal flaw itself. I believe that it's precisely his inferiority complex that is the root of his vulnerabilities: as you said, he's been only a fisherman in Parga, and his background is both a source of memories where he can recall his more "innocent" days with his family and a tough spot for him where he is consistently reminded of something that is already in the past after all he has achieved. He did want to return to Parga, to see who he used to be one more time, but after that it's as if he never gets a chance to forget, to put it behind him. He pretends he has forgotten, but that consistent reminder of how he has started seems to be constantly haunting him to the point he begins to remind himself of it. It's not only people like Figani, Iskender Çelebi or the other members of the divan in early S01 that don't let him forget, it's as if he himself doesn't want to forget. It's undeniable that he had climbed up to heights he wouldn't dream of and the role of a grand vezier needed getting used to and to be dealt with with care. On one hand, we could argue that he reminds himself of Parga as a way to preserve his moral compass, in a way, to realize when and how he has screwed up or remind himself of the limitations of how far can he go, for Süleiman is his friend and companion who he wouldn't want to disappoint. But on the other hand, the more he rose in the hierarchy, the stronger became a wish for him to exceed these limitations placed upon him by everyone around. Süleiman is able to give him everything if he wishes, so why not let it happen? Then he's going to prove to everyone, prove to his inner demons, this sense of inferiority that he, in fact, can not only become the most politically adept grand vezier there is, but a person who has his own country within the country and can rule it with ease. The political arena ultimately becomes a target of his inner conflict where he projects more power than anyone else, is most influential and does the best in order to gain the goal, not only to gain SS's approval, but show that, yeah, he can do his best for the role he's put in, fixating on the Ottoman country he claims to be a ruler of and his apparently endless rights. It turns into a coping mechanism where he can escape his past and background and he gets so sucked in it that his self awareness becomes less and less. That's where his arrogance comes from and I feel that if he didn't possess that complex of his, he would've managed things way better and had more self control, as a result. He was a very good politician in the show, setting in motion many good strategies (his strategy gave them the Mohacs victory after all), having a strong, pragmatic mind and many innovative ideas and if he didn't try his hardest to convince himself he's worth something that isn't just the story of the fisherman in Parga, Hürrem wouldn't stand a chance against him.

This inferiority complex is the reason for his infidelity, too. He loves Hatice dearly and he never expected that she of all people would do the very thing he dreads the most. Her pulling rank on him came as such a shock for him that it seemed he would never forget or forgive. It put infinetly more salt to the wound, deeply hurting his ego and the self-esteem he was just beginning to gain. That's why he let himself in Nigar's hands for so long, for she would only want to please him, for that relationship would have no limitations whatsoever and wouldn't restrict Ibrahim in any way. It was something that was his, something the dynasty would never touch or learn about. I love Nigar and Ibrahim's relationship, too. Principally, I'm not a fan of love triangles at all, but that one is a notable exception for how wonderfully, but crushingly psychological it is. It wasn't added in only for the sake of the drama, it was set up for very long and it was like the characters actually got there through their own actions and they had to truly face that struggle to flesh out and evolve. But there wasn't genuine love there, not in Ibrahim's part. That was his biggest weakness speaking, causing the illusion of love, not the real feeling of it. He wanted to preserve this relationship as the fisherman in Parga, but to me, it felt like he showed something more similar to his own confident assertions of the power of a grand vezier than actual regard for Nigar's feelings. It all was a lie he wanted to believe, because of his ego's denial, and he believed it so much he told Nico that Nigar was the person he truly loved in E51. And when he did get out of the lie (the monologue in E57), see how he reacts differently in front of her now - he turns off every single try of hers to give him affection, he reacted very badly when he learned she was pregnant, it was as if he wanted her to wake up from the dream and move on, too? And due to his inner conflict that perpetuates his arrogance grew even more in S03, he got over Nigar, but not over her child. Esmanur's birth made him return to and enforced his old habits that made him consider that child as another piece of solace, something out of the dynasty, also only his, trying so desperately to have her live with him and Hatice. The infidelity and the way he treated Nigar after he realized the error of his ways are ones of the worst things Ibrahim did, along with Leo (now, I get he wanted to knock Hürrem down a peg, but that was admittedly much for me.) and while I understand why these events and interactions came to fruition, I can't justify him for them.

I agree that had Süleiman not given him as much power, his inferiority complex would be highly downplayed, at the very least. He underestimated the possible consequences of Ibrahim's rise and it really doesn't look like he knows him as much as he thinks he does. Whether he did it to test him (SS's lasting reminders that Ibrahim gets closer to death) or because he loves him dearly and wants to embrace his potential ("I want you to use that mind only for me!") or both, it's like he gave him both too much freedom and too many boundaries at once. I mean, I understand why SS executed Ibrahim: his affirmations, no matter their backstory and how metaphorical they are, pose a definite threat for a padişah and along with his growing paranoia of betrayal, he couldn't be sure how far he was going to go anymore. It's as if Ibrahim crossed every line, openly acting like he controls the padişah and his state in front of the fellow pashas, efendis and ambassadors and that couldn't be controlled anymore. It's as if he had done his best efforts to bring him down to earth, but since none of it was working, he decided to act accordingly. The many "failures" of Ibrahim have been piling up in the narrative in the span of 81 episodes and I get why SS would finally snap for what was the final straw. However, doing so much unprecedented stuff for a grand vezier was bound to bring disasters for the padişah due to the chance in his mind that he would try to question or prevail over him, hence Süleiman should've realized that it was only natural one would want more and more. And that happened with S03 Ibrahim - he fought more and more with his inner demons, hence wanting to have more and more to be validated by the others and by his own ego that perhaps wouldn't feel satisfied regardless.

While his fatal flaw underlines his complexity, it also gets complimented by his many positive qualities: his love for Hatice was very sweet in the beggining and after the Nigar plot, it turned out to be really genuine - their reconciliation was very telling in that aspect; his relationship and loyalty to Süleiman deserves respect, even though his inferiority complex came in the way, he still would never give him up and never once lost hope in his recovery when he was in his deathbed and while that may become up for debate in S03, he would never openly stand against him and would gladly try his best to please him; his bond with Mustafa is amazing, too - I love how he practically raised that kid and gave him sound advice as well as his mother; that said, his relationship with Mahidevran deserves more appreciation and it is one of the most reciprocal and understanding, soft and "carefee" dynamics of the show; I love his dedication to his family and how he loves them as much and remembers them with the same fondness as ever before. In short, when going in depth, this multifaceted character has so much to offer, like, wow!

Okay, when I first watched the show, there was that point where I felt Ibrahim overstayed his welcome and I even wanted for Hürrem to finish him already (heh, those were the days! 😅) but now when I've rewatched and reexamined MC many times, I see that despite of his few negative traits, everything about this character flows so well and so organically and it's one of the characters in the series that have aged really well with time in my eyes. And I respect him so much for that.

[catracorner962]

Beautiful Children Ch. 6

Now back from hiatus!

Adora and Catra have a good time, Adora suffers a dinner party and a betrayal.

Like what I do? Consider buying me a Ko-fi! <3

*Warning for mentions of child abuse and trauma*

“Yes, of course! We can set course for Rarion in,” Adora glanced at Glimmer from her gilded chair in the throne room; the Queen of Brightmoon eyed her from her own throne, mouthing an unmistakable,

In six turns, through her lips.

“In six turns!” Adora repeated aloud. The Rarion delegation exchanged a confused glance between themselves, muttering in a language Adora could not discern.

“Pffftl!”

“Shhh!” Catra hissed at Finn, holding them out as far away from her as possible while still keeping them on her lap. Adora gripped the bar of her chair tightly.

No, shhh, please Finn, quiet! I promised Glimmer you’d be good.

The tallest Rarion, the leader of their group, glared at her wife and their-not-yet-but-hopefully-soon-with-some-convincing-permenantly-adopted-child.

Even as Shera, the Rarion ambassador sneered,

“My people have waited eons for the magic of Rario to be awoken! If Queen Glimmer and her champion would rather babysit kittens then do their duty, perhaps Etheria is not deserving of their own magic.”

“Pffftling! Ahhh! Hehehe! Ghaaa!” Finn reached for the rattle Catra held in her hand, trying to grab at it and stuff it into their mouth. Adora focused on the sight of it, trying to dampen her rage. Still, the familiar shine of magic flashed behind her eyes, nearly summoning her sword.

This is not what I meant when I wanted to continue working as Shera!

“Ambassador,” Glimmer stood from her throne with a reglaness that still surprised Adora, “Shera and I look forward to bringing the rightful magic of  Rario back to your people. But we still have many duties here on Etheria still,” Adora could feel Glimmer’s eyes on her back,

“we will go to Rario in six turns. No sooner, no later. That is my offer. Do you accept?”

“Plllfffinging! Goooogaa!” Finn shrieked, their blue eyes widening as they tried to leap forward at the toy. Catra cursed not so subtly, trying to hush them once more. Her heterochromatic eyes burned with suppressed anger, towards the ambassador or Finn, Adora didn’t know. The uncertainty sent a chill through her spine.

Your Shera, get it together! You said you wanted to do more work around the palace and help Glimmer...even with Finn, this is what that looks like! And you already embarrassed the entire court with your uncontrollable child! The ambassador insulted Glimmer and it is all your fault!

“Eeee!” Finn exploded in giggles, catching the toy at last and biting into it with furious gluttony. It had been five months since they were initially brought back from Brightmoon and they were finally starting to make louder, more frequent sounds...and show an interest in stalking and hunting their toys. Adora flinched at the otherwise tense silence, the Rarion delegation turned once more to scrutinize the baby, and Catra with judgemental disapproval.

She watched her wife rise, with Finn, and held her breath.

Catra...please...don’t…

“Apologies,” she muttered through clenched teeth, “I will excuse myself until the kit has settled. Queen Glimmer: permission to leave?” Adora watched the once former Horde Force Captain adjust Finn to her hip.

“Granted,” Glimmer quipped. Catra bowed to her, then turned to the delegation:

“Your….excellencies,” she tried. “Rest assured I will deliberate with the Queen on our mission to Rario and send you reports in due time. Six turns and your planet will be as magical as Etheria.” Adora’s chest swelled with pride, trying poorly to conceal her beaming face at Catra’s decorum. She bowed again one last time to the ambassador and carried Finn from the room, still squealing and gurgling with their rattle.

“I expect reports from you and your adviser in one turn,” the ambassador snipped. He bowed stiffly towards Adora, then to Glimmer before motioning his delegation from the throne room. The doors shut with a clang and Adora let out the breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding.

“I’m sorry,” she managed, wiping her forehead with the back of her hand as sparks dissolved, now back to her usual size. Glimmer sighed, descending from her throne.

“It’s fine Adora, apparently my mom said Rarion has always been a difficult planet. They’re the ones who’ve been leading the: Etheria-was-better-off-in-Despondos movement.”

“I know Finn was a distraction, I’ll figure something out...I know it’s been turns but...I just...we don’t have a nursemaid, I can’t ask the princesses and the last guard  we left them with got clawed.”

Bow’s warm hand landed on her shoulder, soothing as ever.

“Hey, it’s okay. Glimmer and I said we’d help you. It’s fine that Finn is in meetings,”

There’s a but, there’s always a but...he’s trying to find a way to put it nicely.

“ Maybe just bring a bottle or something with you next time for them to feed on while the adults are chatting?”

“Good idea,” Glimmer piped up, her icy demeanor from earlier evaporating.

“I didn’t realize what I was signing up for when I said I wanted more Shera duties,” Adora managed a nervous laugh.

“I told you we didn’t have as much need for her!” Glimmer laughed as though it were a good thing. “You don’t have to come to these meetings! I’ve told you, as long as Catra can be here for part of it, it’s fine and even then I can always debrief you both afterwards if needed.”

Glimmer was trying to be reassuring, and helpful of course but Adora couldn’t quell the sourness in her stomach,

No matter how nice Bow and Glimmer are about it, I know it’s not ideal. Why is raising a baby so lonely even with good friends helping?

“Thanks guys,” Adora smiled, genuine, thanking Mara for friends like these even when it was so isolating. “I better go check on Catra.”

Bow and Glimmer nodded, opening the large throne room door for her.

“Oh! Don’t forget Lonnie, Kyle and Rogelio arrive tonight!”

“That’s tonight?” This time Adora could not suppress the groan in her voice.

“Yes, we talked about it in the meeting this morning,” Glimmer reminded her gently.

“I wasn’t at the meeting,” Adora replied, guilt eating at her again. “You said I didn’t have to go because I was up all night with Finn?”

“And I was right!” Glimmer smiled, “Adora it’s okay. I’m just telling you since you weren’t there.  They are visiting for the next few days.”

“I’ll be there for the next meeting, I promise!”  Adora vowed cheerfully.

Even if Finn has another bad night. I can do it. I don’t need as much rest as Shera, I could just transform into her all day tomorrow if I need. I did it last week for three days. It’s worse afterward but...I can be Shera and Finn’s mom. I got this.

“Okay, well, we’ll see you tonight in the banquet hall, and have Catra come to my study sometime this afternoon okay?”

“You got it!”

“Thanks!”

Glimmer grabbed Bow’s hand, teleporting them away in a plume of pink glittery magic.

Adora let out a long breath, shoulder’s sagging. She rubbed her heavy eyes and stretched her back,

“Mmmmmgh! You got this Adora,” she repeated to herself walking back to her and Catra’s quarters, “you’ll go back, congratulate Catra on her wonderful show of diplomacy, kiss her,” a silly little grin came to her lips at the thought,

  Hug Catra and then play with Finn, make sure they eat before the dinner, get ready, get Catra to Glimmer’s study...well I should do that first before getting ready for dinner...oh and have to make sure Finn takes a nap,

her never ending list of to-do’s scrolled through her mind as she climbed the stairs. She was almost thankful for the long walk back. Walking to and from different priorities for the day had become her only alone time.

Not long enough, as Catra burst through the door to their room as soon as Adora turned down the long corridor.

Must have heard me coming.

“There you are!”

“Sorry, I…”

“It’s fine,” Catra grumbled, her hair falling from it’s ponytail all over the place, her ears pinned to the back of her head.

“Is Finn…?”

“Finn’s fine, Adora, just fine. Now that they ruined a meeting and made us look like complete idiots with a planet we’re trying to forge an alliance with. They won’t stop chewing their rattle and then getting angry when they can’t bite through it.”

“Who knew magikits get their teeth so much sooner than other species,” Adora wondered aloud, shutting the door behind her as to keep the rest of the palace from Finn’s hysterical hisses and screeches.

Catra scoffed, walking briskly from their sitting room to the bedroom.

“We looked like total fools!” She shouted.

Finn, adjusted their newest toy, a stuffed scorpion in their mouth and tugged at it, drool dripping onto their fattened little fists.

“Finny, you’re going to ruin the toy Aunt Scorpia gave you!” Adora’s mood instantly improved, beholding Finn, enamored with their toy.

“What did they do when you were teething?” Adora tugged at the toy playfully.

“They beat me with whatever I was chewing on.”

The light died in her chest instantly.

I shouldn’t have asked. Oh stars of course they did, how could I be so stupid?

“Catra,” Adora stood, turning from Finn to walk towards their bedroom.

“Sometimes it was a sock or a mat. Other times a stun baton. Usually a stun button,” Catra tugged the elastic out of her hair and shook out her brown locks.

“I didn’t know Catra, I’m so sorry.”

“Yeah well, you’ve never been very observant.”

Her words hit like a punch in the gut, Adora bit her tongue, standing awkwardly.  From the mirror on her bureau Catra paused, dropping her arms from her hair and coming to sit beside Adora.

“No, that was mean of me. I know growing up there wasn’t easy for you either.”

Adora managed a painful smile, nodding.

“It wasn’t.”

Catra took her hands, squeezing them and lifted a finger to kiss her knuckles.

“I shouldn’t have insulted you. You were doing what you had to do to survive.”

“We both survived,” Adora returned kisse to Catra’s own fingers.

“That’s right. We did,” her wife affirmed.

“Eaaaahhh!” Finn dissolved into tears. Catra moaned, rolling her eyes, the hair on her tail puffing and pupils dilating.

“I’ll get them,” Adora gave one last kiss to Catra’s cheek.

“No,” Catra stood, “you’ve been running around all day, sit.”

Adora watched her saunter from their room, tail swishing idley behind her in tune with her hips.

“Hey you little shit,” Adora could hear her wife murmur from the other room, whether it was affectionate, genuinely annoyed or both she couldn’t quite tell. To her credit, as far as Adora had observed, Catra had somewhat calmed her initial refusal at Finn’s presence in their lives. She was no longer outwardly hostile to them and on occasion, like today, even took initiative to look after them. Still, Adora forced herself to quell any rising hopes that Catra would embrace any semblance of motherhood with open arms. It wasn’t as though she was doing perfectly with it either.

Just yesterday I got Finn’s tail caught in the door, and then scared them during peek-a-boo. Who knew transforming into Shera and surprising them would freak them out so much!

Catra had adjusted insofar as she would assure Finn was content and more or less safe. Not loved, not happy...but cared for adequately.

Am I pushing her too hard? Bow said maybe we could just foster Finn until we found someone else to raise them. She agreed to that. Is it too much to ask for more? Am I demanding too much? After everything? She’s accepted Shera...accepted my duty...fought with us against the Brotherhood of Prime, married me. If I am asking her to be a mother too...Is that too much?

“Adora, Etheria to Adora!”

She blinked out of her contemplation to see Catra in the doorway. Hip cocked and tail flicking. Her gold and blue eyes gleaming in the mid-afternoon sun.

“H...hey Catra,” she whispered through an embarrassed giggle.

“I got them down for now, who knows how long it will last.”

“Thank you,” Adora’s chest swelled with appreciation, for all her resignations, Catra was trying.

“We should make the most of it, don’t you think?” Her wife’s tone instantly changed, one hand coming up and touching Adora’s face, fingertips trailing her jaw. Adora shivered pleasantly allowing that warm touch to dissipate any fear or doubt.

“Glimmer wanted you to meet her in her office,” Adora sucked in a breath at Catra’s lips now kissing her neck, nibbling at the tight skin there.

“Sparkles can wait,” Catra continued kissing, pressing her weight down on Adora and lowering her down into the bed.

“Mmmm but we have that dinner tonight,” Adora’s mind ping-ponged, from Catra’s fingers minstrating against her sides and her kisses to the ever ongoing monologue of worry.

“That’s hours away,” Catra kissed her lips before Adora could protest, allowing her wife to take the air from her words. “We hardly ever get time for this,” she continued running her fingers up Adora’s sides, retracted claws barely grazing against her flesh up and down. She shuddered happily.

She has a point, between Finn’s recent teething fusses waking them every two hours and the combined exhaustion of the two of them, they usually ended up just going to sleep they crawled into bed together.

She’s right. More time taking care of Finn means less time for things like this.

Adora reached up, tangling her fingers through Catra’s brown curls, eliciting a small groan from the woman. Catra rolled her hips, bracketing Adora’s on either side.

You can want this Adora, it’s okay to want. To desire. What are you doing? Don’t just lay there! She’s kissing you, her hands are on your….oh, now on your breasts, she’s straddling you! Do something!

Hoping it wasn’t loud enough to wake Finn, Adora allowed herself to transform fully into Shera, the magic of desire and need and love, oh such devotional untold amounts of love, poured from her as she grew.  Transformation complete, she wasted no time, taking Catra’s slim waist in her hands and rolling the woman over onto the bed, pinning her with her knee between her legs.

“Ah!” Catra all but squeaked out, face flushed. Adora, now Shera loomed over her, taking in every inch of that beautiful, flustered lithe body.  She bent down, kissing her lovingly, unabashed, wet and full and panting. Adora slid her hands upward, across the plane of Catra’s torso to her breasts, taking one fully in her palm and cupping it just tight enough to make her wife squirm with need. More confident as Shera, Adora pressed her knee just slightly against Catra’s pelvis, leaning into the pressure. Catra’s lips parted mid-kiss, with a breathy gasp. She rolled herself against the pressure there, undulating gracefully and rhythmic. Adora kissed her lips, each of her six freckles, each other eyes, against the soft sensitive lobe of her inner ear. Catra gasped, her claws partially released on instinct, gripping Shera’s muscular back. The sudden sensation only sent another fervor of lust through her mind. She yanked Catra’s shirt off altogether with ease, nearly shredding it.

“Sorr…”

“S’fine!”

Catra assured her with more kisses, more greedy rolls of her hips. Her own claws undid Shera’s white and gold attire frantically.

“I love you,” Adora whispered through her kisses against her wife’s collar. In answer Catra kissed her back, fingers pulling on her blonde hair.

“Love you,” she gasped as Shera rocked against her once more.

“Mmmmg...fff...waa..” something far away sounded in Adora’s periphery. But Catra’s hands, so warm and smooth against her, every part of her….her head fogged over in pleasure, in Catra, Catra, Catra. Her tongue, her breath, her sweet smell, her bony hips.

“W...w...wahhhh!”

Finn?

A growl sounded from somewhere, deep in Catra’s throat. Adora could feel the thrum of her chest, the vibration of her lungs. Through their kisses, Adora took in her wife’s own air, the sound of her growl and kissed her deeper. Her hands, slid lower, down the contours of Catra to her hips, to the V of her…

“Waaahhh!!”

Finn!

“Argh,” warmth was lost from Adora as Catra squirmed out from under her, reaching for her clothes.

“Maybe they’ll go back to sleep?” Adora tried, missing the echo of Catra’s warmth against her.

“No, they won’t. We know they won’t. I’ll get them just...stay there.”  Adora frowned, sitting up on the bed, twiddling her hands, deflated.

Though her hearing was nowhere near as precise, she could hear Catra grumbling, picking up Finn and trying to shush them soothingly.

It’s fine. It’ll be fine. Catra will put Finn back to bed and come back here and we’ll pick up right where we left off. It’s still daylight, she noted watching the golden slants of sunlight glow through the curtains. It’ll be okay. You’re Shera. You’re Shera! Maybe I should go check on them? What if this throws off Catra’s whole mood? It’s happened before. Plenty of times.

Many, many times. Raising Finn came with more than just parenting difficulties.

Adora waited, listening to Finn’s fussing rise from mewls to full on screaming sobbing, back down to meek whimpers and then again to screaming.

“Finn, Finny, you have to calm down,” she could hear Catra soothe from the other room. “You already messed this day up enough just please nap for a little while before this dinner.”

“Whh...w...waaahh!”

Adora fiddled with her own clothing, nervously ringing the fabric in her fingers. I really should go check on them...no...no Catra can handle this. It’s fine. She can do this.

“Waaahhh!!!”

“Finn! Come on now, I’m not kidding!” A pause, probably her patting them on the back or something. “I mean it! Go to sleep or I swear I will….”

“I swear I will make sure you never see outside this chamber again!”

Adora’s mind flashed to that fateful night.

Shadow Weaver caught us outside the barracks, trying to get to the kitchens. She took us both to the Black Garnet Chamber.  Even as Shera, she shuddered with nausea at the memory of that night. She tortured Catra, restrained her, and worked some spell to make it so that Catra felt stuffed to her stomach, bursting, gagging. I held her hair back for her later when she vomited in the latrine….

Adora stopped. It was easier to pause the spiral of her anxieties as Shera. A balm against her greatest fears.

Catra...and Finn, they’ve stopped talking, stopped crying.

“Shhh….shhh...that’s it...nice and easy now.”

Whatever threat Catra had meant to say, she had stopped herself. Replacing the ominous words with gentle whispers.

Shera’s own thoughts of Catra...of Catra’s hands and her warmth and her noises, her lips...danced back and forth through Adora’s mind. Distractingly so.

“Catra, everything okay in there?”

“Fine!” She whisper yelled, a very specific tone  all too familiar with them now. Adora nodded, waiting. The heat below her belly button had not ceased throbbing. She waited for Catra to get back, determined not to interrupt.

She can do this, no need for Shera to jump in. Just relax. It’ll be okay, it’ll...

Catra walked back into their room unceremoniously, blinking slowly, rubbing her eyes in exhaustion.

Oh no, this is happening, Adora stood, crossing the room in one easy step. With Shera’s bravado and renewed passion. She looped an arm around Catra’s middle, shoving her against the wall.

“Catra,” Adora breathed, her lips grazing her wife’s as she tilted her head downward. The height difference now exaggerated. She braced Catra’s shoulders with her own toned arms. Catra’s breath came heavy, her shoulder’s rising and falling, the hollow of her neck prone.

Adora relished in watching her whole body shudder, bracing against the wall.

“A...Adora,” Catra whispered, voice breaking, looking up at Adora through heavy lidded eyes.

Fire and ice, Adora swept her up, hands going around her wife’s legs, pressing her up and against the wall kissing her ruthlessly. Catra groaned, arching backward, into Adora’s touch. She threaded her fingers through the waistband of Catra’s pants, reaching every downward.

“A...Adora,” she panted against ear desperately, “p….please.”

Catra, my Catra. Mine, Shera’s propensity for domination, from the battlefield to the bedroom, could hold back no more.

Not with Catra quivering against her, kissing her, grinding against her. Adora thrust forward, careful of the extra power she now held, and slid her hand further until her fingers brushed their mark. Catra buckled,

“I got you,” Adora assured her, holding her firm against the wall, Shera’s long golden hair falling between them as she worked her fingers delicately but persistent. Catra threw her head back and Adora reached up, cupping the back of her head, fisting her hair with one hand, the other still occupied. Luckily Shera’s sheer brute strength kept Catra where she was. Small bites from her fangs dotted against Adora’s neck, her skin, her chest, slick with sweat.

“Adora,” Catra repeated her name as a mantra. Husky and low, wanting, almost pitiful. But humbling, Adora thought; to have Catra, so battle hardened and tense like this before her. Open and needing, unafraid and unabashed. To be soft, to be vulnerable, begging, and the trust that lay therein. It drove Adora forward, rolling her hips with each thrust of her fingers.

“Yes, Adora, baby...almost there, come on…”  Adora almost laughed in sheer joy, Catra wanting her, Catra needing her. Her body beseeching with each twitch of muscle and stroke of fingers. Her own hands clutched around Shera’s broad shoulders, pulling at the skin there, taut across her back.

So...good, stars I love her, love everything about her. I want to take every part of me and put it inside every part of you.

Is that sexy or creepy or weird?

I want all of her. I want to give all of me to all of her. Catra...

“You feel so good,” Adora moaned still pushing deeper. Catra’s form tensed, holding her in a death grip. Beyond the point of speech, Catra made a low lusty sound, then stopped, holding her breath, her body tight, so tight. Adora panted, holding her there at the edge. Catra’s legs gripped tight against Shera’s hips, trembling.

Yes, oh yes, Catra...Catra we can still love like this. Every night, every day, every moment we aren’t with Finn we can. I love you, I love you so much. All I want is you, is this.

With Shera’s strength and form, Adora cupped her fingers upward and inward right to that secret, tender, deep spot within. Catra’s body convulsed, claws digging painfully good into Adora’s back.

“A….d...Ad...Adora...a..a!”

Adora’s heart soared.

Even as Shera, she wants me. Adora. As I am.

She pressed harder, drawing it out,

“I...l...love...y..you,” Catra spoke through  clenched teeth, holding Adora impossibly tighter.

“Catra! Adoraa--aaaaaa!”

Pink shimmering sparks filled Adora’s vision. Startled, she scrambled backward, wincing at a loud “OOF!” of Catra, no longer pinned against the wall, now crumpling to the ground.

“SPARKELSS!” The magicat seethed.

Shera dissolved as quickly as she’d appeared. Adora, very naked and very much still enamoured with Catra’s breath against her skin just moments before, crossed her arms to cover herself.

“SORRY! GLIMMER SO SORRY!”

“WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOING?!”

“Having sex Sarkles!” Catra seethed, picking herself up off the ground and gathering her clothes. “With my wife! In our room! That is private! That has a door, for knocking!”

“Sorry Glimmer!”

Adora’s face flooded with heat, trying to search for her garments. Catra handed her Shera’s cape.

“Sorry! But I tried knocking and there was no answer!”  Glimmer put her hands to her hips, glaring at them both.

“Hmmm no answer? I wonder why that could be?” Catra yanked on her shirt, tail bristling at the sound of Finn’s wake-up wail.

“I’ll get them!” Adora bolted from the room, grateful to save herself from further humiliation.

Though that’s like the tenth time this has happened. Maybe we should talk  put  protective wards around the room for anti-teleportation.

“Sorry Finny,” Adora scooped up the crying kit, who only screamed louder at the shouting from Catra and Glimmer.

“We have dinner tonight! With dignitaries from the former Fright Zone in twenty minutes! They’re already here!”

“Psh! They’re not dignitaries Sparkles, it’s Kyle Lonnie and Rogelio. They are like the least dignified people I’ve ever met.”

Finn kneaded at Adora’s chest, adding additional red marks to her skin though she minded neither.  Kissing the top of their blonde curls she smiled, breathing in the calming scent of their fur, walking them slowly back to her wife and Glimmer.

“Maybe we’ll send you an invitation next time Sparkles!” Catra sneered, pulling on her pants, “really put Arrow Boy’s...arrow to the test!”

“Can we not do this in front of the baby?” Adora covered one of their little velvet ears protectively. Finn only sniffled, grabbing their tail in their and tugging it forward, attempting to stuff it into their mouth.

“Your disgusting Horde Scum! Shut up and get dressed for dinner. Banquet Hall in twenty! And put Finn in that nice outfit I got them! They’ve never worn it.”

“Yeah, because it’s ugly!”

“It is not!”

“Catra, Glimmer! Can we talk about this later? We have to...Finn that’s not going to work sweety,” Adora gingerly put her hand between their puckering mouth and their tail.

“Use the door next time Sparkles! Like Everyone else!”

Glimmer huffed, rolling her eyes.

“See you in twenty minutes! Bye Finny!” Glimmer waved towards the magikit and stuck her tongue out a Catra before teleporting away.

“Waaahhh!” Finn threw their head back in rage against Adora’s chest as they tried to fight her hand.

“I’m sorry Finn, you can’t eat your own tail!” Adora jostled the enraged magikit.

“Don’t apologize to them!” Catra snapped, turning on them both. “They can’t eat their tail. That’s that. You don’t need to say sorry. It’s not your fault.”

That’s...that’s not what I meant...Finn please just...calm down. Please for my sake?

“I know it’s not my fault,” her voice hardened. “I meant sorry for making them cry.”

Catra’s ears pricked back, hands folding across her chest.

“You didn’t make them cry,” she explained as though it were obvious. “You did the right thing. If they cry that’s their problem. If they’re going to try and eat their tail, we’ll bind it back.”

What? No! We can’t do that….Catra, you out of everyone should know what feels like! Shadow Weaver would bind your tail when we were kids. You always told me how much it hurt.

Adora stole a breath for herself, walking towards Finn’s room to change them despite their fit. She could recall it clearly, herself no more than five, and Catra only three. The binds Shadow Weaver would constrict to keep her tail up, out of the way. One of the many abuses directly aimed at suppressing or destroying Catra’s more….feline features. Adora herself could undo the bandages right now if she imagined it hard enough. Each finger twerking and jerking to pry loose the binds, her own hands bore blisters.

Catra’s wounds were more important. More severe.

“Finn! Hold still!” Adora wrestled with their flailing arms and kicking legs, the swiping tail in question, bat against her forearm. She tried to stuff them into the outfit Glimmer had bought them, pastel purple with so many frills it was hard to tell which hole was for the head, which for the legs, which for the arms.

Catra’s right, this is kinda ugly.

But she didn’t have the energy to argue.

“Please can we just get through this dinner with no upsets? From you or Catra?”  Finn wailed louder, little claws scraping against her skin.

It’s okay, I’m used to it.

---

Bright smile, friendly voice, open arms. You can do this.

“Lonnie! Kyle! Rogelio!”

“Good to see you Adora,” Lonnie stood from her seat always with balanced dignity and put an arm around Adora’s shoulder.

Didn’t realize how much I missed her!  Adora’s forced smile now changed to genuine.

“Catra,” Lonnie acknowledged, cool but cordial.  Adora gave her wife a slight nudge to the arm that was looped around her.

“Lonnie,” Catra returned with the same ambivalence.

“Sorry we’re late! We had to get this one dressed,” she giggled Finn on her hip who was at last content with a stuffed arrow Bow had made for them. They beat it against Adora’s arm in glee.

“And who’s this one?” Kyle asked, bending down to Finn’s level and wiggling his finger in the baby’s face.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Catra advised. Finn tried to shoot forward at the hand, their pointy teeth snapping.

“Ahh!” Kyle scrambled back toward Rogelio’s side.

“They bite,” Catra finished. Adora laughed, scooping down to get the dropped toy and edged herself closer to their seats.

“Is that your baby?” Lonnie asked, going to take her spot between Rogelio and Kyle.

Yes! Wait...no? Yes? I...they’re my baby, but I don’t know if they’re Catra’s? Say something Adora! Think!

“Uhhh, it’s…”

“Time to eat!” Glimmer teleported into the room as the double doors opened once more, chef’s from the kitchen streaming in with platters of food.

“Just in time,” Adora laughed, getting Finn settled into the little chair Glimmer had set up beside her. The queen only nodded, understanding.

“Welcome to Brightmoon!” She announced, turning once more to her queenly duties. Adora sat down, allowing herself a brief breath of relief.

“He says we’ve been here before,” Lonnie translated for Rogelio. Glimmer nodded, awkwardly. “We were at Catra and Adora’s wedding.”

“Well, we’re glad to have you back!” Glimmer quipped, clapping her hands, signaling for everyone to eat.

Adora reached forward, staking her plate with as much food as she could. Eager to avoid any additional awkward conversation.

“You want to try some Finny?” She scooped up some soft ikchi and felt her anxiety dissipate, Finn launching themselves face first toward the spoonful.  

“Well? Is that your baby?” Lonnie pressed again, while cutting her chevlin meat. Adora wiped Finn’s face, helping them with another spoonful.

“We found them on a mission,” Catra answered shortly. Lonnie exchanged a look with Kyle and Rogelio. The lizard man growled something Adora could not discern, even after all these years.

“Mamamamaggg,” Finn kicked at the table trying to get more. Catra wordlessly took the spoon and offered them another portion. Adora watched her face remain neutral even as Finn laughed adorably, orange goo all over their face.

“You found them on a mission?” Kyle asked between bites of food, “like me! That’s where the Horde found me anyways, after...a...a battle in Plumeria.”

“Makes sense,” Adora pondered aloud, pushing food around on her plate, appetite suddenly gone. “We were all orphaned one way or another before the Horde kidnapped us.”

Rogelio growled, shaking his head fervently. He put down the utensils he’d been struggling to hold, in favor of trying to gesture with his large claws. Adora watched him carefully, but cocked her head, unable to read.

“What’s he saying now?” Glimmer looked to Lonnie.

“He says speak for yourselves, both his parents met in the Horde and became Force Captains. He grew up with them, remember?”

Not really, Adora thought absently, I was too busy trying not to get punished to notice Rogelio’s family life. Or anyone else's upbringing...apart from Catra’s.  

“Then Prime came and well, we weren’t the only ones who left after,” Adora watched her former squadmate glare at Catra before quickly continuing, “...after Hordak disappeared.”

“Well, I’m glad you found them Rogelio!” Glimmer answered for all of them. Rogelio only nodded, picking up his fork and poking at the steaming baked tyrin fish.

“I knew my parents too,” Lonnie kept her eyes trained evenly at Adora. “I was one of eight sisters!”

“Me too!” Bow waved from the other head of the table opposite Glimmer.

“Well, I was one of seven brothers!”

Lonnie nodded, a smile coming to her lips. She let out a terse laugh, as close to being friendly towards former rebels as she got.

“So you know how it is!  My family’s been sending one child from their family to serve the Horde for generations ever since the Horde got here. I was happy to come…” she faltered momentarily. “We’ll I thought I’d be happy.”

Adora nodded, ignoring Finn’s grabby hands trying to reach for the plate before them.

“If anyone should’ve been promoted to Force Captain, it was you,” she looked at her once squadmate in earnest. Lonnie’s bright hazel eyes widened for a moment. “I mean it,” Adora continued,

“You were just as good as I was at fighting and on missions. You were always the most competent….I know now that all Shadow Weaver or Hordak ever saw in me as far as potential was...my connection to magic and Shera but,” Catra’s light hand on her knee under the table squeezed gently, grounding her. She swallowed, trying to calm her breathing;  

“You’re a true born leader Lonnie.You should’ve been made Force Captain.”

Adora stopped herself before she could continue the word vomit, but it was true. Between all of them, even herself, Lonnie always worked hard, managed to balance commitment to training with empathy, at least towards Adora, Kyle and Rogelio. Her and Catra’s relationship was...we.., rocky to say the least as far as Adora could guess. The two were always at each other’s throats...almost too similar in their protective and stubbornness. But it was more complicated than that, Adora recalled Catra confiding in her that while she’d been in her own hellish spiral...Lonnie had taken on the mantle of managing most field operations and looking after the soldiers well-being. Not for nothing. Catra would never say it to her face, but Adora was certain there was respect there for their squadmate, maybe even a modicum of like minded agreeableness. Deep under everything else.

“Thanks Adora, and...who cares about Hordak and that old witch? If you hadn’t left, you’d be a great force captain too.”  Her squadmate smiled sheepishly. Sentiment was never one of her strong suits, another commonality with Catra.

“So...that means just Adora Catra and I are orphans?”

“Kyle!” Lonnie and Catra reprimanded in unison.

“I was an only child,” Glimmer offered, cutting into her orvo steak. “I thought my dad died when I was a baby but,” she laughed,

“We all know how that turned out.” she joked.

“My mom was so afraid something would happen to me so she tried to keep me safe.” Adora felt her gut twinge with another pang of guilt. But Glimmer only took a deep breath, wistful,

“But safe also meant boring! Luckily things got a whole lot more interesting when Adora turned up!”

Kyle, Lonnie, Rogelio nodded, smiling in agreement. Beside her, even Catra chuckled.

“Mamamamamammmm!” Finn yanked at the delicate tablecloth, taking advantage of the momentary distraction, dishes jerking where they stood.

“Finn, come on don’t do that!” Adora lifted them from their seat, sitting them in her lap.

“They’re really cute though!” Kyle commented happily. Pride made Adora’s chest inflate.

“They are, aren’t they?”

“Looks like someone got food all over their face!” Adora stood up from the table with Finn, wriggling as ever in her hold.

“Let me clean them up, I’ll be back!”

“Let us know if you need help!” Bow called.

---

“Finny, really with the food?”

“Maaaaag!”

Adora chuckled, wiping their face with a damp towel, glad to have some reprieve.

“Teething or not little buddy, you’re going to get a good night's sleep tonight...let’s hope.”

I could use a good night’s sleep.

Sleep and...other things, Catra’s hot breath against her lips echoed in her memory. The slick wetness of her. Her stomach flipped, a pang going through her.

Towels drifted to the floor, Finn having swiped at them playfully. Adora, now shaken from daydreaming, sighed, bending to pick them up while still holding the baby.

She tidied Finn as quickly as possible, made somewhat more difficult by their constant kicking and grabbing for things to chew.  Finally, she eased them up, caring them back to the banquet hall.

Not too much longer, you can do..

“Why would I take your kid Catra? You don’t think Kyle and Rogelio and I have other things to deal with?”

Lonnie stretched forward almost across the table, holding her fork in fist. Catra crouched in her seat, tail lashing.

“They’re not my kid! And you raised that creepy imp didn’t you?”

“Catra?” Glimmer’s concern carried over the table, mirrored by Kyle’s helpless wide-eyed expression, he placed a hand on Lonnie’s arm to no avail.

“Yeah, we did! But we’re not running an orphanage!”

Adora held Finn tighter on instinct, wandering back to her seat beside Catra with care.

What is she playing at?

“I know that,” Catra growled, slamming her fist down on the table. “That’s not what I’m asking! I want to know if you want this magkitten! Just one! You and Kyle and Rogelio can raise it together, it’ll be like a bonding thing.”

Rogelio growled something, though by the shake of his head Adora imagined it was a no. Kyle only looked between them, terrified as ever.

“Maybe we should talk about this calmly,” Bow interjected, leaning forward.

“I’m not cleaning up another one of your messes Catra. You’re not Force Captain anymore.” Lonnie all but snarled, that old vitriol rising.

Catra’s...trying to... the realization came slowly as Adora sat down beside her wife, holding Finn to her no matter how they wiggled. Magic flared through her eyes at the thought of it, ...giving Finn up? No, Catra wouldn’t do that, we’re becoming a family! We’ve been over this!

“I think this meal is over,” Glimmer pronounced, getting up from her seat with a flourish. Magic sparking in her hands.

“Fine by me,” Lonnie scoffed, shoving the table in front of her and standing. Kyle and Rogelio followed suit, though Kyle pushed his chair in awkwardly, placing his napkin back onto the plate.

“What do you want, Lonnie?” Catra demanded, “you want my old Force Captain badge?”

“I don’t want shit from you,” Lonnie leapt across the table in one move, jabbing a finger at Catra. “You’ve done enough. Not my fault you got stuck with some kid you can’t handle. That’s you and Adora’s problem, add it to the list.”

She couldn’t take it anymore. Adora stood, rounding on Catra.

“Lonnie enough, Finn isn’t going anywhere.” Both Lonnie and Catra stared at her. Finn reached out, trying to go to Catra but Adora held them firm.

“Glimmer thank you for dinner, sorry for the mess. Kyle, Rogelio, Lonnie, it was nice to see you but I think you should go now.”

Kyle nodded, sheepish, taking Rogelio and Lonnie’s hands, trying to pull them from the hall. Lonnie only glared, allowing herself to be led, but muttered something under her breath Adora could’t hear. Whatever it was, made Catra’s tail stiff with rage. Before she could leap forward, Adora grabbed at her wife’s arm.

“How could you?” She forced Catra to face her.

“Guys,” Bow inched forward, as the cooks hesitantly moved around them trying to clear the table.

“How could you?” Adora repeated, trying to articulate the thousand and one emotions surging through her.

Hurt, betrayal, anger, sadness.

“You said we were only going to look after them until we found someone more permanent!” Catra’s claws dug into the edge of the table in anger, “it’s been five months!”

I...I did say that didn’t I? Adora realized, regretting it instantly. I thought she’d forget about it….I should’ve known.

“You need to make your choice!” She continued, despite Glimmer opening her mouth to try and speak, “do you want this family or not?”

Catra’s eyes burned, her ears flat. Adora watched her look at Finn, who tried to lunge towards her.

“I want them to be safe!” Catra tried, “I want them to have real parents who can look after them! And I want you!”

“You want me to yourself,” Adora countered, the magic within her now making her eyes shine icey blue. Even Finn’s warm little body could’t calm her.

“Magdaaaaa daa faaah,” Finn babbled trying again to leap forward. This time, they were quick, Adora let out a startled yelp, Glimmer instantly teleported forward to try and catch them as they arched through the air, tail up, claws forward.

Adora watched Catra instantly reach her arms out, grabbing them before they hit the ground. Finn only smiled, ears pricked forward, their tail switched playfully proud of themselves.

“Catra, you got them?”

Bow asked as Glimmer materialized. Catra nodded, mute.

Adora took a deep breath,

Calm down, they’re safe. You're mad, yes. Think about why, articulate Remember what Perfuma said.

“You went behind my back,” she started over, hopefully more calm. “You waited until I left the room before asking Lonnie, Kyle and Rogelio of all people if they wanted Finn. You wanted to sell them like a skiff!”

Catra looked at the magikit in her arms, even as they tried to crawl up over her shoulder. Her expression filled with some semblance of remorse and confusion.

“Adora, maybe Bow and I can watch Finn while you two…”

“No,” Adora interrupted, insessed. “You can’t go behind my back. We talked about this, we said we’d make it work.”

“Yeah,” Catra’s cockiness caught up with her, “and how’s that working out for us Adora?”

So far not that great, she admitted to herself the thing she’d refused all this time. Try and she might, Catra had not taken to motherhood, not well. Not willingly. Thing’s between them had tensed, their patience towards each other stretched.

Maybe she was right, maybe can’t do this.

Adora stared at Finn, who’d wound themselves around Catra’s shoulders and was now trying to nibble at her ears. Adorable under any other circumstance.

I can’t choose, please don't make me choose, her heart wrenched.

“It hasn’t been going well,” she forced herself to speak the truth. No more covering things up, no more stewing in unspoken emotion. Her wife nodded in agreement. “I don’t know if it’s you, or me, or what was done to us as kids but...you clearly don’t want this and I do...I want you both...but..I don’t know if I can.”

Catra opened her mouth to speak, eyes somewhat softer now,

“I think,”

“M...aa..ma...mama!”

Adora stopped, Catra’s ear twitched, Glimmer let out a little gaspt, instantly covering her mouth, Bow quelled an “awwwe,” behind his hands.

“Mama!” Finn chirped.

“Are they talking about Adora or Catra?” Bow whispered, Glimmer shrugged.

Adora looked to her wife, then back at the magkit. Catra lifted her arms up, taking Finn gently in them and holding them out to her at arm's length.

“That’s it, go to mama Finn.” Heterochromatic eyes looked everywhere but at Adora, who accepted the magikit into her hold once more, though no more comforted.

Like what I do? Consider buying me a Ko-fi! <3

[beware-of-you-98]

Hello yes u are an amazing human being and I just read your angsty Em hcs and they made me feel pain and I would like to feel more pain so... I’ve come to request Emily childhood angst hcs? Your headcanons are adorable and also your Jemily at the cat cafe was adorable :)

I’m about to create an environment so angsty (also i decided to focus on her coming out/coming to terms with being gay rather than focus on her childhood in general since i already had some hcs about it!! n this is au as hell bc i don’t care about canon x)

note: whoops this got long and angsty and way past emily’s childhood oops

tw: drug use, homophobia, abortion mention, drinking, smoking (ye i still don’t know if i should put a tw for that but i do anyway 🤷‍♀️)... yeah the first half of this isn’t happy at all

emily knows from a really young age she’s different

since she’s homeschooled up until she’s 12, her only other interaction with people is with nannies and the teachers the ambassador hires

but her only other interaction to the outside world is through story books

all the princesses in her story books want to be rescued by handsome knights or princes

emily always wants to be the one to rescue the pretty princesses

her nannies buy her disney princess merch and disney movies

emily’s favorite princess is belle or jasmine bc they’re so pretty 🥺

she doesn’t think anything is wrong with it until she’s talking with her nanny about how pretty jasmine is and her nanny’s only response is a short “oh”

emily doesn’t know why, but the way she says it makes her feel guilty and so she stops talking about jasmine

and when the nanny starts to talk about aladin, she barely pays attention

(she thinks jasmine deserves better than him anyway— aladin lies to her right away and how is that supposed to be true love?)

emily keeps her thoughts about girls to herself after that day

and compartmentalizes those feelings because she hates the guilt associated with them

it’s not until she’s enrolled in the all girl’s boarding school that the feelings come back and it’s almost too hard to ignore

every other girl talks about their boyfriend or guys

emily never feels the need to talk about guys; they hold no appeal to her

(she talks about guys once or twice to try and fit in, but her stomach always flips in unpleasant ways and she always feels bad because she knows she’s lying to the other girls and herself)

her heart doesn’t flutter around boys and they don’t make her feel anything

audrey from her chemistry class makes her heart skip a beat and butterflies to erupt in her stomach

her hair is soft, her laugh is so cute and everytime she gives emily a hug, she can’t help but melt in her arms

when she kisses emily in the woods behind the school, lips tasting of strawberry chapstick, it’s as if things suddenly make sense

kissing audrey makes emily feel like she’s finally found a part of herself she didn’t even know was there and it’s glorious

when the ambassador drags her off to rome, emily snaps

she goes off the deep end because, after all the years she’s been crying for her mother’s attention, it’s kissing audrey that makes her finally pay emily any attention?????

the school emily’s enrolled in is co-ed and she immediately clings to the first group to pay her any attention

she becomes a hardcore partier

she skips class

she smokes

does drugs (weed and on the occasion, ecstasy, but once her friends convince her to do a line of coke)

(she hates the way it makes her nose run so she doesn’t do it again)

drinks and gets blackout drunk every single chance she gets

the ambassador is a lot more present at this point in her life and emily starts fights with her every night

she doesn’t even know what she’s doing anymore

her life is spiraling and she feels hopeless

and when anyone, anyone, shows her any attention, she throws herself at them

she sleeps with one of her male friends once and ends up pregnant and suddenly her life comes to a screeching halt

she’s terrified and keeps it hidden from her mother

matthew is her saving grace and never judges her once

he even holds her hand when she gets the abortion

afterwards, it’s just the two of them

matthew has to sneak out to see her because his parents loathe emily, but he manages to do it

they always go to the local park and split a joint, a cigarette or a bottle of booze between the two of them and sit in silence

emily breaks down to him one night and tells him she doesn’t know what’s wrong with her

she feels so lost and doesn’t even recognize herself anymore

matthew holds her as she cries, silently comforting her

and when she asks him what she should do, he just simply suggests that she live her life for herself and stop trying to please everyone around her

“if you’re not happy living a life trying to please other people, try living for yourself”

while the advice might be cliché, emily swears its the best she’s ever got

she works her ass off the rest of her he years (i forgot what it’s called over seas oops) not bc the ambassador wants her to, but bc emily wants to do better for herself

when the ambassador moves her back over seas, she get accepted into yale

she doesn’t label herself in college and she’s comfortable with that

she only has like one boyfriend at the start of her freshman year

but she wasn’t feeling it, so she breaks up with him and starts to date her roommate

n then she goes steady with fiona duncan for the remainder of the time she’s in college

she immediately enrolls in the fbi academy when she graduates bc she doesn’t want to do politics

as soon as she’s certified, she’s assigned the undercover position as lauren reynolds

she doesn’t like to think about those years bc they’re just as confusing as her teenage years

she likes to separate herself from lauren as much as possible bc she feels as if lauren is the embodiment of the past she wants so desperately to leave behind

she barely looks back once she’s done with the undercover mission

she spends a few years finding jobs to keep herself busy

then she joins the bau

its the first time in a while she’s around people she genuinely enjoys spending time with

she’s comfortable with the team within a few months of joining

it’s here when she officially starts to label herself as a lesbian!!

(it feels so right to say she’s a lesbian— it sounds great coming from her mouth and it makes her feel warm and whole)

she kinda keeps it hidden at first but also kinda doesn’t

no one really asks until they’re all hanging out at te bar and penelope points to a group of guys and asks her which one she thinks is cuter

emily just shrugs and gestures to the female bartender

penelope and derek take her to gay bars a lot!!

and after some persuasion, jj and reid tag along

emily notices how jj kinda stays behind at their table instead of interacting with people and is like ???

but then she notices the longing gaze and the same sad expression on the blonde’s face as she watches everyone confidently mingling around and just... knows

when she drives jj back to her apartment later that night (they carpooled), emily finally asks jj what’s wrong

and jj just goes “do you ever feel like there’s a part of you that’s been hidden so long and all you want to do is just... let it out? but you’re too scared of what others might think and that you’ll lose so many people because they can’t accept who you are? but you don’t want to live that life anymore because you’re not happy and you just... don’t know what to do?”

it sounds like rambling

but emily’s heart goes out to jj because she knows exactly how that feels

emily tells jj the same thing matthew told her all those years ago— “if you’re not happy living the life others want you to, why don’t you start living for yourself”

jj just whispers “is that what you did? wasn’t it scary?”

emily tells her of course it was!! but she had a really good friend by her side to help make it less scary and that she’ll 100% be that person for jj if she wants her to

jj comes up to her a few weeks later in private and comes out as bisexual

she’s trembling and she’s nervous but emily just beams and tells her how proud she is of her

a few years later, they’re gfs bc i said so

n emily’s finally happy!!

she has people aroun her that finally love and accept her for being herself

and that’s all she ever wanted

[sithsecrets]

hiii, can I request a Kylo with Needing a date fic? Ty💕

Kylo + Convenience Dating

You’re sure you’ve heard the Supreme Leader incorrectly when he says that he’d like you to accompany him to a ball on Valdera at the end of the week.

“Me?” you ask stupidly. Who else would he be talking to in this empty corridor?

“Of course,” the Supreme Leader affirms, and if you didn’t know any better, if you were a more arrogant woman, you might think he looks nervous as he awaits your answer.

You’re dumbfounded to say the least, stammering over your words. “I— I would like to, I just have no idea what I’d wear to something like that.”

And you don’t. You spend most of your time in a uniform, and most of your leisure clothes are rather casual as well. Fancy parties are a foreign world to you in every way, and you don’t know how you’ll scrounge up an appropriate outfit in so little time.

The Supreme Leader, however, seems unphased by this. “I’ll have an appointment made for you with a tailor then. I’m sure he can make you something by then.”

That’s not at all what you were expecting him to say, but you don’t move to argue.

---

The Supreme Leader’s personal tailor works at your feet, sticking pins in the hem of what’s truly the most beautiful, opulent thing you’ve ever put on your body. Finely cut and made from rich fabrics, you’re sure this gown is worth more than your life.

“Are you sure that this ins’t too much? I really don’t need something so extravagant,” you say, afraid that maybe you’ve overstepped yourself by allowing the tailor to make you something so expensive.

“The Supreme Leader insisted that you have whatever you want,” says the man on the floor casually, sparing you nothing more than a quick glance. “He said to spare no expense.”

Your heart skips a beat at that, and not for the first time do you wonder why the Supreme Leader chose you as his date.

---

The Valderan ball is as opulent as you imagined it would be, the venue draped in fine decorations and dotted with the most important people in the galaxy. Wine flows like water amongst the guests, everyone around you flushed and happy from drink and lively conversation. It’s almost overwhelming, all the finery and the food and the drinking, for you’ve never been to an event like this before in your life. Being an officer in the Order, you’ve been to a few state dinners and the occasional holiday party, but never anything this grand.

To make everything even more disorienting, you’re constantly in the Supreme Leader’s presence, the both of you walking through the party together side by side. He looks very handsome, you must admit, dressed in a black evening outfit unlike anything he usually wears. If you felt more comfortable, you might tell him so, but you decide it’s probably best not to.

Though the Supreme Leader invited you to this party, it’s almost as if he’d rather not be here at all. Every time some pompous Valderan mineral magnate comes to kiss his ass, he scowls, and even the attention of members of the Order seem to sour the Supreme Leader’s mood. You hope with all your heart that it’s not your presence that’s making him feel this way, but something in your gut tells you not to worry.

There’s more meet and greets with a few people, and then the Supreme Leader is asking you if you’d like to go outside for a moment. It’s grown a bit hot inside, so you say yes, stealing a couple glasses of water off a tray as you walk out to the balcony together.

The night air is cool on your skin, and you’re happy to have a moment’s reprieve from the noise of the party. The Supreme Leader is grateful for the glass of water you offer him, and the both of your sip in silence for a minutes as you take in the glittering expanse of Valdera’s capital before you.

“Are you enjoying yourself?” the Supreme Leader asks, eyeing you with a look that you can’t put a name on.

“Oh yes,” you reply simply. “Are you?”

The Supreme Leader nods, though you don’t think his heart’s in it.

Suddenly, you feel very brave.

“Are you sure?”

Kylo Ren’s mask slips then, and you’re surprised to see something akin to a smile playing on his lips.

“Alright, so perhaps I’m not that enthralled to be spending my evening dodging ambassadors and playing nice with people I can’t stand,” he concedes, earning himself a giggle from you. “I’ll admit that I don’t like parties all that much.”

“Then why are we here?”

“Because I thought that maybe you’d like something like this,” the Supreme Leader explains, gesturing about to the balcony and the city and the party going on through the doors at your back.

“But… But you invited me to…” You trail off, dumbfounded by the way your companion lowers his eyes like he’s been caught in an indiscretion. “Are we… Supreme Leader, was this supposed to be some sort of date?”

A beat, and then, “If I said yes, would you be offended?”

Your heart skips a beat in your chest, stomach churning with nerves at the realization that this was far more than a friendly outing.

“You could have just— I mean, this dress, and the party…” you say, stammering like a fool.

“I have no regrets about the dress,” the Supreme Leader declares, conviction melting into sheepishness not two seconds later. “You’re the most beautiful woman here tonight, I promise you that.”

That statement sucks every word possible straight out of your throat, your thoughts all in a tangle as you realize just how badly you’ve miscalculated the entire situation.

The Supreme Leader must mistake your silence for disinterest, for he begins to apologize. “I’m sorry,” he says, “I’ll have someone take you back to the ship. I suppose I should have—”

“No!” you say quickly, the word coming out far louder than necessary. “No, I— I just mean that you didn’t have to take me to something like this if you don’t like it, that’s all. Parties aren’t really my speed either.”

You glance back through the door, finding the room still incredibly crowded with guests.

“It’s not even that late,” you point out. “Let’s go do something else. What do you like to do on Valdera that doesn’t involve diplomatic work?”

The Supreme Leader looks rather taken aback by your suggestion, but he’s not turning down the invitation.

“Well… Sometimes, if I’m staying on the planet, I like to fly around the cities at night and look at all of the lights. I know it doesn’t seem like fun, but—”

“That actually sounds incredibly fun. Please take me to do that instead, I’m tired of wearing these heels.”

For the first time, you see the Supreme Leader genuinely smile.

[greatneedtotakeanap]

i binge read

the finale, episode 15 - the tower of nero

!!!SPOILER ALERT FOR THE TOWER OF NERO!!! this post under the cut will be completely riddled with spoilers, as it is a personal account of my views on the book as a whole. 

it will be spoiled!!

(obviously.)

I’m almost too heartsick to write this omg. It’s been such a long, heartwarming journey, and it came to such an electrifying ending.

I’m quite proud of Apollo. I knew I was going to be, but the way he realized it, the way he realized everything... how Nero’s abuse mirrored Zeus’ and affected him just the same, how much of an asshole he’d been because of it. He made the conscious choice to change, and he decided he could love. He was capable of true love, he was capable of moving forward and being better. And he was. I was just,,, I was so proud of him. Seeing him mature was a really eye-opening experience, especially in this book, when he talked so much about the small complexities of Nero’s abuse, how every move was calculated and how it affected Meg. We’d seen wisps of discussions of abuse before, mostly in the lightning thief (smelly gabe) but we’ve never before gone into the complexities of emotional abuse. The way it was described was fantastically clear, in a way that undoubtedly painted Nero as the true villain, but also gave us the chance to see him try and convince his children that he was good. Apollo breaking down his every move was good for the audience to distinguish the meaning behind his words. Fantastically portrayed. The way it helped him realize his own abuse, too, was good.

And Meg. My sweet darling Meg. What an absolute baddie, I swear. She made the same decision - she went back to Nero to fight him, to test her own strength and power of will. Her decision to drop her rings and refuse to dual wield anymore was strange to me at the very beginning, but I understood it later. It was her refusing to use the weapons he forced her to use, to even defend herself against him. It was her turning her back on the methods he’d armed her with and deciding to take her own path. “The Beast is dead” is the rawest f-ing line in this entire novel, the Beast representing Nero’s psychological abuse. “I killed him” - she liberated herself by believing she was better. I’m so insanely proud of that girl, too. She’s come a long way as well.

Okay. After that analysis, let me just say:

THE GAYS WON.

I spent this entire book terrified that Will Solace was doomed. There was a line in the prophecy about the terrible ending of ‘Apollo’s flesh and blood’, and I figured that meant his offspring - his son, rather than his human form. I kept muttering to myself ‘Will’s gonna die Will’s gonna die and it’s gonna BREAK Nico’. I was just so worried. I didn’t think anyone, even William Andrew Solace, could survive Rick Riordan’s patented Blond Boy Curse.

But he was fine in the end! As fine as you can be. Solangelo boyfriends lived to fight another day. And their development as a couple was also quite nice. I loved their dynamic. We only saw a little of it in the hidden oracle. Though it was great there too, we were able to go more in depth and explore how they truly function. Nico’s dry sense of humor combined with his whole lord-of-the-darkness aesthetic x Will’s genuine compassion and joking nature combined with his glow-in-the-dark-ness was fantastic to see.

Speaking of Solangelo - they not only got stronger as a couple, but as individual people as well. To be completely honest, we really haven’t seen much in the way of Will Solace. He healed, he was nice, yeah, sure, but what about him? What was his personality like outside from other people? In this book we find out. He’s kind, compassionate, easily flustered, overly protective. He craves parental approval, hence him repeatedly referring to Apollo as ‘dad’ and being so watchful over him. He gets embarrassed when asked to glow on command and upset when people mistake him for a lamp. He’s impulsive and a little hypocritical - he follows his instincts (being led off into the tunnels by a random voice) but gets very worried when Nico pulls the same thing. He’s a fantastic character, and his contrasts to Nico and the rest of the ton crew were great.

Nico - he seriously was the hero of this book. Or at least the secondary hero. He saved them all so many times over - he took everyone through shadow travel away from the bulls, he met the troglodytes, saw an opportunity, prepared an offering to said troglodytes because he saw an opportunity, became an underground ambassador, later saved Apollo’s life again by turning a germanus into a skeleton. He led this quest, and you can pry that from my cold dead hands. And that one paragraph about him enduring all this shit?? MASTERFUL. He’s had such a boatload of trauma and still he stands. One of my very favorite consistent Nico traits is this: no matter where he is or what he’s doing or how he feels, he ALWAYS takes the chance to talk with those who feel alone, because he knows what it’s like to be truly fighting one’s battles alone and he’d never wish that on anyone. It’s consistent, too: him being the only one to talk to Hestia at the hearth in Camp Half Blood, him talking to and befriending Bob the Titan, him talking to the troglodytes. And I have really gotten to see his progression firsthand, sped up - I read the Titan’s Curse in my binge read series maybe two weeks ago, back when he was this hyperactive ten-year-old with a Mythomagic obsession and now he’s this prince of darkness saving people with an adorable glowstick boyfriend and man. I love this kid. If he wasn’t my favorite character in this universe, he is now.

Also, even though with this book Rick has closed the gateway to this world (sad), the end alluded to a possible journey through Tartarus again to look for what’s been calling him, but this time he’ll have Will. Rachel Dare even whispered a prophecy at the end, probably pointing to it (but we’ll never know for sure). Will and Nico through the depths of Tartarus - now that’s a series I’d want to read for sure. It’s really too bad we’ll never get to see it in canon. Sigh.

SPEAKING OF CANON.

Another way the gays have won: Piper Mclean.

She has a canon girlfriend!! We really struck gold. I figured she was aro//ace when reading the Burning Maze - her whole monologue about being forced into love - but it turns out she’s just wlw!! I love this, I love this. We seriously won with this book.

Other noteworthy thoughts I had while reading below:

- The scene with Apollo defeating Python and hanging on the edge of Chaos was great. Especially when the goddess Styx came out. I was wondering how all of his broken oaths would serve him and come back to haunt him. It was quite well portrayed. A serious rip to the Arrow of Dodona though. I always loved it,,, a lot. It made me laugh and sometimes grind my teeth in frustration, but it was always a nice presence.

- Apollo’s return to Olympus was better than anything I ever could have hoped for. I was really hoping that returning would give him a new insight, not just of being mortal, but of Zeus as well. And it did. It did! I’ve said it before but I am quite proud of him. His new perspective on the Olympians was refreshing. You can really see the change in narrative if you go back to the Hidden Oracle.

- It is always always always nice to see Sally Jackson. Woman of many talents, including novel writing, blue chocolate chip cookies, and excellent seven-layer dip. She was my favorite character at the beginning of this binge-reading frenzy (as stated in the first post). Now she is still very up there. Definitely top 5.

- Why does Estelle have Percy’s green eyes?? I thought Percy had his father’s eyes????

- Grover knew about Jason dying. If Grover was on the cross-country field trip with Percy and Annabeth, and they didn’t realize Jason was dead until they got to New Rome, then was he just sitting on Jason’s death this whole time??? Rip to Grover, he must have been seriously traumatized for THAT to have happened.

- The last two chapters were basically just Apollo making his rounds and wrapping everything up, so Percabeth isn’t just in a perpetual cross-country ride and Piper doesn’t live out her life forever in a grief-stricken taxi. I’m glad those chapters were there, though. Nice to see everybody again in their element.

Okay but you don’t understand the fear in my heart. I seriously thought Will Solace was a goner. I cried out of relief because he DIDN’T die. It just makes me love the two of them all the more.

This post has been way too long already, but I gotta add an obligatory outro - I read these books once as a little kid, and the past two weeks has been amazing getting back into them. It’s been magical and wonderful, falling in love with these characters, and I’m so sad to leave it.

[yoonguurt]

The King

A/N: I got excited and decided to post the first part a day early. Oops. I am so happy to start off this series and I love this so much. This amazing moodboard was made by the even more amazing @bopping-to-my-kpop​! I love it so much!

Seungcheol knew this day would come his entire life. He has been preparing to become king almost from the time he could speak. Being the eldest has its perks, he can always pull rank when Ji-yoo and Chan were arguing with him about something and to be honest he loved that, but now the role he was born to play was upon him. Sitting in front of all of his people, he put on a smile and gave a bow. “As king, I promise to always do my best to make sure our entire kingdom flourishes. Thank you for all of your support” he spoke loudly as he gave a finally wave and disappeared behind a curtain. 

He could hear the chatter on the other side of the curtain and he let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. He dragged his feet on the way back to the meeting room only to receive a scolding coming from his right. “Pick up your feet. You were raised better than that. Why are you acting like this is the end of the world? You knew this day would come eventually.” Jeonghan, his best friend and adviser walked beside him with a slight scowl at his behavior. He knew Jeonghan was right, this wasn’t the end of the world, and he was happy that he was king. He had so many ideas on how to improve the life of his people, it was just that suddenly despite all his preparations, he didn’t feel at all prepared. 

You stood in the hallway with the new maid, trying to keep the smile on your face. This one had managed to step on the curtains and cause a huge tear. You remember being new in the palace so you had sympathy, but this was the third accident she had caused today. You were thinking of sending her to the kitchen where at least her accidents could be contained to where important eyes couldn’t see. “Seo-yun, it’s ok, accidents happen. Let’s go to the kitchen to talk to Mingyu about helping him out, yeah?” You spoke softly, not wanting to upset the girl further. You had always made sure not to talk harshly to those under your leadership, you didn’t feel like that helped anyone in the long run.

You had begun working as a maid at the palace in your early teens and you had thoroughly enjoyed it. The head maid at that time was definitely strict, but she had never given up on you. You worked your way from scrubbing the bathroom floors, to taking over your mentor’s position when the time came for her to step down. She had told you she had chosen you to take over and you were flooded with happiness, but you weren’t sure you were up to the task. She had always said you were a great worker, but you were a little too soft. When you brought your worries up, she gave you a tired smile and told you to use that to your advantage, just because she was rough around the edges didn’t mean you had to be. Use what worked for you. So, you had and it had worked. You had an amazing staff under you and you were looked up to.

Leading Seo-yun down the hall to the kitchen, you came across Seungcheol and Jeonghan, and you quickly stopped to curtsey before the new king. You had known him for years, and you knew he hated when you did it, but he was king now and you knew to show the proper respect. You heard a sigh and lifted your head to see a slight pout on Seungcheol’s face and a narrow eyed Jeonghan. “You know I really hate when you do that, Y/N” he spoke to you in a rather casual manner. Moving your eyes to the girl on your left and back to his quickly you gave him a quick “Just showing the proper respect, Your Majesty” causing a snort from Jeonghan before he quickly recovered. The adviser’s eyes suddenly grew wide in recognition, “You! You’re the one who broke the vase this morning! Do you know how important that vase was?” You cleared your throat before he could start in again. Seungcheol took that moment to tell his friend to calm down. You took that opportunity to curtsey again before giving your parting words. “It was an honor as always, Your Majesty, but I really need to get Seo-yun to the kitchen to see if that’s a better fit for her.” you shifted your eyes to Jeonghan before shifting them back to Seungcheol and continuing. “Have a good day, sir.” You gave him a genuine smile, and hurried your newest maid down the hall, while your heart tried to resume its normal pace.

Seungcheol watched you walk away, invisible strings tugging at his heart, and Jeonghan nudged him signaling it was time to continue towards the meeting room. As he reached his old familiar desk, he let out another sigh, prompting another scolding from his trusty adviser. He flipped through the papers on his desk, looking to see what business he had to attend to in the coming days. Most were routine things, there would be some visiting nobles, an ambassador from the neighboring kingdom, and it seems he had a theft case to review which was not something he had to do much. Once paper in particular caught his eye. As his eyes scanned the words on the page, they widened the farther along he got. 

“Why so soon? I JUST got crowned today. Why are we already planning balls to find me a wife?” His tone gave away just how annoyed Seungcheol was with this process. Sure, he’d always known that he would need a queen, but he didn’t realize he’d need to start the search this soon after being crowned. “Can you calm down, you’re giving me a headache.” Seungcheol watched as his friend rubbed his temples with a sigh as he continued speaking. “Who knows how long it’s going to take you to choose someone, especially since I have to make you stop watching Y/N walk away. It’s better to start the process now.” He knew Jeonghan was right, but that didn’t mean he liked it. Doing his best to force a smile, he looked up. “So. When’s the ball?”

“I mean, she’s a little accident prone, but you can work with that. Please, Mingyu? I can see she works hard, she just needs a starting point.” You knew Mingyu would give in to you, he may have been a big man, but he was sweet. “Ok fine, but she needs to try her best. Jeonghan just informed we that we have a ball next weekend and I have a whole menu to plan and execute” Ball? You hadn’t heard anything about a ball? Jeonghan must have forgotten to tell you when he was busy yelling at Seo-yun. You gave Mingyu a hug, thanking him immensely and told Seo-yun to try hard and to be careful before turning and heading to search for Seokmin to see if he knew anything about this ball.

As Seungcheol lay in his chambers, he thought over the events of the day. Being crowned had felt like such an honor and he was very happy to have the crown, but the other things not so much. He wanted to set into motion helping his kingdom, did he really have to marry someone for that to happen? And someone he didn’t even love at that? Without really meaning for it to, his mind shifted. He began thinking about the encounter in the hallway. He knew that you had only curtseyed like that to set an example for your new maid, but he still hated it. He hated when you acted as if you were below him, because in his eyes you weren’t. You were just Y/N who he had known for years. Just the one woman who owned his heart. 

You awake before the sun the next, heart a little heavy. You had tried to talk yourself into not feeling this way, but it was no use. You didn’t want there to be a ball to find a bride, but you also knew there was no other option. He was a king and you were simply just staff, you had grown used to that feeling, but today it hurt worse.

Seungcheol sat at his desk in the meeting room, finalizing the guest list for the ball. He had been at this for hours and he just needed a break. He stood and stretched, moving into the hallway to walk about the palace. He thought it might be nice to visit with some of the staff, keep up a good relationship with the people he employed. He passed the visiting noble, Seungkwan, in the hall and greeted him with a small hello and kept about his way. Thinking on it briefly, he turned to head towards the kitchen. He knew you spent a good amount of time there, but if anyone asked, he could tell them he was checking on the menu. As he neared the kitchen, Jeonghan came storming out, covered in flour. Seungcheol opened his mouth to ask what happened only to be met with a hand and a swift “Don’t.” Chuckling to himself, he turned into the kitchen.

For you, watching Seungcheol walk into a room was like looking directly into the sun. He always seemed to just shine and light up the whole room. He came in, eyes searching the room until he found yours. He gave you a large, genuine smile before turning to Mingyu. You could hear them discussing the menu for the ball, and your heart did that nasty twist again. You tried to focus on your task of sweeping, but that proved difficult. Especially when you heard him say your name. “Oh,and Y/N while you’re here. Do you mind walking with me? I’d like to go over some details for the ball.” You had never wanted to say no to him more than you did right now, but you did your best to smile and nodded.

Walking through the halls, you were both silent. Seungcheol wanted to speak, but he couldn't seem to make himself. When you had finally reached the ballroom, he had finally talked himself into letting the words flow, but it seemed his mouth and his mind had two different plans. "We've decided to use blue and gold for the decorations." That was in no way what he had wanted to say. Why had that come out?  He didn't want to talk about decorations, he wanted to ask you if you would be attending. Looking toward you, he saw you give a small nod and look around the room to start your planning. After staring at you for a few beats, he opened his mouth to speak again. 

“Will you be attending the ball?” You heard the words come out of his mouth, but you weren’t sure you were hearing them correctly. Why did it matter if you were attending? And why would he want to know? You continued to look around the room, deciding what was going to go where. You could hang nice royal blue curtains from the window on the right, and do gold curtains on the left. You knew there was a nice gold and blue rug you could have placed at the door. You needed to make sure the floor got polished so it would shine while guests were dancing.”Y/N?” you heard him call you and you realized you had been so lost in your preparations that you hadn’t answered his question. He looked at you with soft eyes, awaiting your answer. “I hadn’t planned on it. It’s my night off and it isn’t really a place for me.” You spoke softly, eyes on the floor, silently hoping that would be the end of it. Your heart couldn’t take this conversation, and to be honest you really weren’t sure you could hide your disappointment. Seungcheol was quiet for a moment, seemingly taking in your answer before he gave you one of his own. “I’d really like you to be there. It would mean alot to me.” Right then you knew, there was no other option for you. It would hurt to watch him with the many women that would certainly be attending, but you wouldn’t tell him no.

On the morning of the ball, Seungcheol found himself rather anxious. He knew there was a lot riding on tonight. He didn’t HAVE to choose a lady to court tonight, but he knew that it would look good if he did. He didn’t want to rush this process, though. He had hopes things would go his way, but he was ready to fall to a backup plan if they didn’t. He had thought long and hard about his decision and he knew that he had to at least give it a shot. He spent the day making final decisions and making sure everything was as he wanted it. He stood in his room getting ready for the ball with Jeonghan at his side. He gestured to the corner to his right, looking his trusted companion in the eye. “Have that delivered to Y/N’s room.” He could tell his words had somewhat shocked his friend, but they had also talked about his thoughts and though Jeonghan had told him to really think hard, he knew he would be supported if this was what he really wanted. “Are you sure about this?” Jeonghan’s words made him chuckle slightly, before he nodded. He had never been more sure of anything in his life.

Once you were done with making sure everything was absolutely perfect, you headed to your room. Of course you had told Seungcheol you would be at the ball, despite your better judgement, but now you had no idea what you were going to do. Sure, you had some nice clothes, but nothing fitting of a ball. You opened your door, ready to just flop on your bed for a moment to think about how you were going to handle this night, and stopped before you could fall to the bed. Something was amiss. Laid out on your bed was a dress, a dress that you had never seen. It’s long dark blue fabric spread over your bed, ends falling off the edges. Placed neatly on top was a card. “I’d be honored if you wore this tonight- Cheol”

Seungcheol had sweaty palms as he waited to see if you were actually coming. He had already had a few dances and while they were pleasant and beautiful women, they weren’t you. Their smiles didn’t light up rooms and their laughs didn’t make his heart beat faster. As his dance ended, he shifted his weight between feet, knowing someone else would approach him soon. He just happened to look up at the perfect moment. There you were. The dress fit you just as perfectly as he had hoped, and they blue went nicely with your skin, gold trim at the bottom making the look complete. It was like he lost all ability to think. He just stood there for a moment, mouth agape before Jeonghan drifted by and closed muttering to him about just going.

You looked up to see Seungcheol walking in your direction, and he looked divine. His dark hair fell just slightly into his eyes, and you weren’t sure you had ever seen anything more beautiful. His smile lit up his face and your heart just melted right then. All the nervousness and worry you had felt before stepping inside the room melted with it. He stopped in front of you, smile still prominent on his face. “You look beautiful, Y/N.” You blushed slightly at his words, looked down and mumbled a thank you. Lifting your head, you noticed his hand was outstretched towards you and you gently placed your hand in his. He led you to the center of the floor, and while you could see the many disgruntled looks you were getting, you couldn’t find it in yourself to care. If he was going to marry someone else, you would at least have this dance. 

Seungcheol held you close as the music began, nervousness still slightly present. As the two of you moved, it seemed to him as if time had slowed. He could still see and hear the people around, but only a little. He felt as if he had never belonged more than he did in that moment. Neither of you dared speak, afraid to break whatever spell had been cast on you, you just danced. When the song ended, he could hear the soft, sad sigh you made and he felt his heart twist. He never wanted you to be sad and if there was anything in the world he could do to keep that from happening, he would. A woman came up to his left, trying to catch his attention. He gave her a small smile, before letting her know that he would be dancing another dance with you.

You couldn’t hide your surprise at his turning way of the noble woman, but he just smiled before bowing and asking for another dance. You quickly agreed and the music started up again. You were expecting silence again, but Seungcheol seemed to have other plans.”Y/N, I want to thank you for accepting my invitation. I’m so very glad you joined me tonight.” You hid your face slightly, telling him it was no big deal. “Oh, but it is. It means the world to me that you came.” You couldn’t stop the word from falling out of your mouth, even though you wanted to. “Why?” The look on his face was a mixture of confusion and hurt, and you wished you could take it back. He quickly regained his composure, stopping the dance to hold your face in between his hands. “I’m supposed to be looking for someone to be my queen, but I don’t need to. I think I had decided on a queen years ago, it just took me until now to say it. It’s you, Y/N. Always has been. Will you be my queen?”

Your face was a mess of shock, you could just feel it. Seungcheol’s eyes never left your face, waiting for you to answer him. Tears pricked the edges of your eyes. After all these years of pining for a man you could never have, the emotions finally let themselves out. Your hand left your side and landed on top of his hands, and the worry hit. You looked around the room, expecting to see many angry faces, but were met with more smiles than scowls. Even Jeonghan had a small smile. You looked back to Seungcheol and gave him a wide smile and a nod. He gave you a smile back, before planting his lips firmly on yours for a brief but passionate kiss. You were slightly shocked still, but the happiness outweighed that. It was odd to think that you would be looked at as queen one day, but then again, you never could tell Seungcheol no.

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tag list: @kwanisms​ @kpop---scenarios​ @bopping-to-my-kpop​ @sadienita​ @lilithpooped​ @jookyunhoevercoupshoe​ @soundofseventeen​ @trishmarieco​ @klessii​ @heroesfan101​ @oncetheearl​ @nocommitment-17​ @onlygotafewdollas​ @mingyulonglegs​

[x--daughters-of-darkness--x]

9 ways you can help your favourite band

Cancelled tours mean one thing for touring musicians: no income. But you can make a real difference

9 ways to help your favourite acts

1. Keep buying tickets For small acts, this is the most direct and immediate way they can make money and it is a critical part of their income. Buy tickets in advance (rather that walk up on the night) as the venue, promoter and act will be closely monitoring sales – and shows can get pulled if ticket sales are slow. Even if the worst comes to the worst and the show is cancelled, you will be refunded. Buying tickets now is a very public display of support, especially for a band that's rescheduled its tour for November.

2. Buy merchandise from band's online stores If a band are not able to tour, their online store is a good place to show support. Rather than buying their CD or LP from a “tax-efficient” online retail behemoth, buying direct from the act means that more of the money actually goes to them. They still have fulfilment costs, but the margins in selling this way are much higher. Plus they generally have nice limited-edition items (e.g. signed or coloured vinyl) and offer good deals on bundles (e.g. album + T-shirt + ticket) that can keep the wolf from the door in the lean times.

3. Pre-order the album If your favourite act has a new album coming out later this year, check if they have pre-orders open on their website, on iTunes or other online retailers. Buying it in advance not only means that some cash is coming in, it also sends a message to the retailers that there is growing anticipation for the release. Strong pre-order numbers can see the album pushed up the pre-order charts on download stores and online retailers, resulting in extra editorial support that it might not otherwise get.

4. If they have a Bandcamp presence, buy music there Bandcamp is an enormously important platform for new acts as it lets them easily sell music downloads and merchandise items direct to fans – and they get to keep the bulk of sales income. On top of this, Bandcamp has a subscription feature that means acts can make money from fans taking out a monthly or annual subscription in exchange for access to a wealth of things like live recordings, demos, interviews, early access to shows and more. It also means acts know what money they have coming in each month and can budget accordingly.

5. If they have a crowd-funding page, fund it The ugly and painful collapse of PledgeMusic at the start of 2019 had catastrophic effects for a multitude of acts as projects they were trying to get off the ground either fell apart or their profits were wiped out. It exposed how important crowd-funding is for so many acts.

Thankfully there are many other platforms – such as Patreon, Kickstarter, Indiegogo, ArtistShare and more – offering acts ways to get much-needed money to bankroll their next record or tour. They all have targets to hit otherwise the project gets cancelled or scaled back (depending on what platform they are using) so every pledge counts. Now, more than ever, it is critical to show your support, not just for what an act has done in the past, but also what they want to do in the future.

6. Get political: campaign for better deals for acts Musicians have to do much more these days just to keep their heads above water and sometimes they are fighting against unfair systems or seemingly insurmountable odds. There are, however, schemes and bodies out there that are trying to tilt the balance back in their favour. In light of this, lobbying from fans can genuinely change things.

Take Sofar Sounds, for example, which allowed acts to play in a host’s home – a great way to get in front of new audiences. Except acts felt they were not getting paid properly. The company, seeing the groundswell in favour of the musicians and being dragged over the coals and fined by the New York Department of Labor over how it treated “ambassadors”, changed things and said it would move to give acts better payments.

Meanwhile bodies like Music Venue Trust are fighting to keep grassroots venues open. Supporting these initiatives and signing petitions is not so much digital landfill: it really can change things for the better for acts at the sharp end.

7. Treat streaming as “try before you buy” The record business has been back in recovery position in recent years (after a decade and a half of steep decline) and streaming is a huge part of its financial renaissance, making up almost half of global revenues in 2018. But this digital windfall is not always making its way down to the smaller acts. The fractions of a penny per play paid by a service like Spotify or Apple Music add up if you’re doing hundreds of millions of streams but not if your average track does 40,000 streams. Treat these streaming services as a tasting menu and a way to discover a new act; but when you find that album you can’t stop streaming, instead of hitting repeat, go and buy it from their online store or Bandcamp page.

8. Sign up to mailing lists & subscribe to channels This might sound a bit innocuous or even dull, but signing up to an act’s mailing list is one of the most supportive things you can do for them that doesn’t actually involve putting your hand in your pocket. The way social platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter work is that “organic reach” (i.e. getting in front of people without actually paying) is pretty much non-existent today and bands have to shell out to promote their own posts on the platforms that stand between them and fans.

A mailing list, however, is theirs and they own it, meaning they have a way to talk to fans that is virtually free. Also following their official profiles on Spotify and Apple Music as well as subscribing to their channel on YouTube lets the platforms know that not only are you a fan but that these acts have the kinds of fans who want to know everything about them as soon as they can. That all sends up positive messages to the algorithmic gods that decide what acts get pushed up their recommendations and when. It also means you get notified when they have new music so you won’t miss out.

9. Tell your friends That’s the joy and the power of being a fan – that compulsion to be a total evangelist for the new act you have just discovered and love. Talking about the new album on social media, posting YouTube links to the new video, telling everyone that you have bought tickets to the tour – the cumulative effect of that can be significant.

Personal recommendations are always better than someone seeing an ad as it cuts through the noise and those who see your passion will often be intrigued and play the music. Word of mouth was always the best way for acts to build a following. Now you have a loudhailer and your advocacy can be the best weapon your new favourite band will ever have. May your enthusiasm be undimmed.

[calenheniel]

Queen of the Ashes, a frozen fanfic | Part VI

Frozen | Alternate Universe | Hans x Elsa | Romance, Drama | T+

They meet as children, each with a secret. Plagued by tragedy, their paths cross again many years later, and their secrets are unraveled.

Author’s Note: I realize that everyone already knows what the “twist” is going to be in this fic from the title and the many unsubtle clues I have left along the way. So I am just going to try to keep you all in suspense anyway with how exactly I’m going to get there. Coincides with Day 7 of (makeup) Helsa Week 2020. @helsa-week​

Read it on: AO3 | FF.Net | Wattpad | or read below

Follow updates: #QueenoftheAshesFrozen

»»————-　❈　————-««

VI.

Breakfast was a considerably more pleasant affair the next morning, the queen demonstrating little of the animosity which had come to dominate her interactions with the prince over the previous week.

“Last night was rather interesting,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard someone try to recite Shakespearean sonnets and play the violin at the same time. Sort of impressive, in its own way.”

She laughed mid-chew, placing her fork down as she fought to swallow her bread. “Yes. Can’t blame them for trying, anyway.”

“And what about that flautist?” he added with a grin. “I’m all for contemporary, original compositions, but…”

“It sounded like a dying bird,” she finished. “A very loud, dying bird.”

The princess, perplexed by their easy rapport, was quiet as she picked at her food in-between glances at them.

The queen eyed her with a smile. “Anna? You’ve hardly touched your toast. That’s unlike you.”

The younger woman’s nose wrinkled. “I’m just surprised,” she said with a sniff, staring at her sister suspiciously. “You’re not usually so chatty in the morning.”

When the queen looked down in embarrassment, the princess quickly added: “Not that that’s a bad thing. Actually, I like the change. It’s good for us. Plus, who wants to hear me yammer on all the time? We all need a break from that, including me.”

“You don’t ‘yammer,’ Anna,” the prince protested through a half-smirk. “I like how you talk. It’s genuine and… frank.”

“He’s right,” the queen agreed, and admitted: “I can hardly hold a conversation by comparison.”

The princess waved away the comments. “I can tell when you’re lying, Elsa. And Hans—you’re a better liar than she is, but your smooth talk gives you away.”

He leveled a lopsided smile at her. “Is that right?”

“It is,” she replied, her chin raising with confidence. After a beat, she noted with a sly look: “But don’t let that stop you from giving me compliments. Even if they’re fake, I’ll take ‘em.”

The prince and the queen chuckled, and as their gazes met, their faces pinked, and they promptly directed their eyes back down at their plates, resuming their meals in silence.

The princess picked up the conversation again a few moments later, relating some anecdotes from her lessons and recent meetings with ambassadors and various nobles. Her sister and the prince nodded along, adding comments occasionally, until the clock struck nine.

The queen blinked. “I lost track of time,” she excused herself as she dabbed her lips with a napkin and rose from the table. “I have to be off, now. I’ll see you both later.”

“Elsa, wait!” her sister called, rising and rushing to her side. A small, furtive smile played on her lips. “Can we talk for a minute?”

The queen glanced at her pocket watch. “Fine. But only for a minute,” she agreed, and turned to the prince. “If you’ll excuse us, Hans.”

He bowed. “Of course.”

The princess led her older sister away to a secluded corner of a narrow hallway some distance from the dining room, her eyes bright and curious. “So? Did you two kiss and make up?” She grinned. “I saw you leave together last night at the end of the concert.”

The queen’s face flushed. “We… came to an understanding of sorts, yes,” she replied, and frowned. “But no kissing was involved.”

“An ‘understanding,’ huh?” the princess repeated, her grin growing. “What exactly does that mean, Elsa?”

“Not what you think it does, apparently,” her sister said, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms. “We just talked, that’s all.”

The princess raised her hands in surrender. “If you say so. I’m just happy you’re talking to him again.” Her eyebrows waggled with interest. “Did my little speech to you help, after all?”

The queen sighed, her expression relaxing. “Maybe a little bit,” she conceded. When the princess gave her a pointed look, she clarified: “Okay—maybe a lot. Anyway, it’s resolved now.”

“Good,” the princess nodded, smiling. “I’m glad.” She curtsied to the queen, who responded in turn, and then began to walk away. After a brief pause, she looked back at her sister over her shoulder, her smile becoming devious again. “So you won’t be mad if I tell you that I told Hans to meet you this afternoon in the rose garden, right?”

The queen stood stock-still, her skin the color of a ripe strawberry. “Anna, you…” Her hands fell to her sides, and she stuttered, flustered. “That’s the middle of the day, and you know I have—”

“Meetings and paperwork and other business, yes, I know,” her sister finished, her smile unrelenting. “Don’t worry—this won’t interfere with any of that. I checked your schedule with Kai last night while you were gone, and told him that we were going to take a walk together today for a break from all of the guests.” Her expression grew softer. “Don’t be upset with him, though; he seemed really happy about us spending time together. Otherwise, I don’t think he would’ve told me a thing.”

The queen opened her mouth to protest, but no words came out.

The princess smirked. “Anyway, he’ll be expecting you around two. Don’t keep him waiting.”

And with that, the younger woman skipped out into the hallway, humming the strange, cacophonous flautist's tune from the night before.

»» —— ««

Against her better instincts, the queen found herself walking toward the rose garden at the appointed time—though she deliberately walked very slowly so as not to be too punctual, or seem too eager.

She cursed the meeting under her breath as she traveled, as the thought of seeing him in such a place – and of her sister’s maneuvers in arranging it – had distracted her the entire morning, making her appear inattentive and careless at some of her meetings. Recalling the strange warmth of his hand, she had even smudged the ink of her signatures on various papers, and had had to send them back to be re-written.

She had sworn at various points that she would not go to meet him after all, and by noon she had convinced herself that she was going to disappoint him and the princess in order to keep her own sanity intact.

When the old steward had noticed her distraction and asked if she was feeling unwell, she had said yes; this half-truth had given her an excuse to leave her last engagement early, so that she could collect her bearings alone. In solitude, however, the temptation to go grew ever larger in her mind, to the point that when the clock struck quarter past one, she rose from her bed as if possessed, and left.

Initially passing many servants and courtiers on the way to the garden put her in a nervous state, and so the queen took a more circuitous path through discreet hallways until she reached a small side door by the servants’ quarters, exiting onto the kitchen gardens. By that time in the afternoon they were quiet, and she was able to slip relatively unnoticed around them, finding a well-trodden dirt path towards the meeting place.

A tall hedge and locked iron gate separated her from it, and she groaned a little at realizing that she had forgotten her keyring in her bedroom. She jiggled the lock on the door as she peered through the bars on it, and her surprise at seeing no one in the gardens within caused ice to spark from her fingertips, breaking the lock in twain.

The queen jumped back, startled by the sound of the iron as it clattered to the ground below, and then pressed her offending hand to her chest with a red face, exhaling deeply.

“There’s another unlocked gate further down the hedge, you know,” the familiar voice of the prince said from the other side of the hedge, and her head shot up at the intrusion. “No need to inflict more property damage.”

She sighed through her nose. “I didn’t mean to, I just—never mind,” she said, frowning. “Which way is it?”

“To your left,” he replied. “Just follow my voice.”

She continued along the hedge and onto softer grass shadowed by tall trees, keeping her hands close by her sides. Her face was still red. “I don’t know this path,” she said.

“I’m surprised to hear that,” he remarked. “I would’ve thought, being confined for so long, that you’d know every inch of this place by now.”

Her forehead wrinkled. “I was confined indoors, mostly. I’m not as familiar with the gardens, because…”

She paused when she came to the very edge of the natural wall, and she turned to face the hedge, her eyes widening as they met his. The only thing between them was a short wooden gate secured with a latch, which the prince lifted easily.

As she stepped through it and looked up, a soft gasp left her lips.

Tall arches wreathed with red roses in full bloom surrounded a dirt path just a few feet from the gate, and from the state of the vines and leaves encircling the arches, she could tell that they had not been properly pruned for some time. The shine and heat from the afternoon sun was lessened in the wildness of that space, its disuse casting an odd, green light upon the ground where sunlight filtered through the leaves.

“Your parents didn’t allow you here?” the prince resumed their conversation, standing behind her.

She glanced at him over her shoulder, then approached the side of an arch, reaching out to graze the edge of a rose before withdrawing it. “It wasn’t like that. They wanted me to come out more, actually. But… I was afraid to. I didn’t want to spoil things.”

“Spoil? You mean—”

“Well, freeze them, yes,” the queen clarified, irritated. “My mother was very fond of these gardens, though I can’t remember ever coming to this part of them.” Her gaze tightened at the rose she could not bring herself to touch. “I guess the staff haven’t kept it up since she died.”

He was quiet for a while before coming to stand at her side, regarding the same flower. “You haven’t spoken much about them.” At her warning look, he continued: “I know that their passing was unexpected and tragic. But I imagine, before then, that you must have been quite close to them.”

“I was, and I wasn’t,” she said, her lips pressing into a thin line. “They did their best to keep me safe, and love me in their own way, despite the circumstances. But I pushed them away.”

His brow lifted. “‘Loved you in their own way’?”

Her cheeks flushed. “I wasn’t an easy child to care for; I gave them many hardships. It’s a wonder that I haven’t hurt more people, and I have them to thank for that.”

He was silent at her reply, and then his hand reached out to the rose, his fingers drifting over its petals.

“You know, Elsa,” he began, “roses are actually rather difficult to grow. The conditions have to be just right, with plenty of sunshine, well-drained soil, and in areas free from pests, since they’re so susceptible to disease. Without regular attention, it’s unlikely they’d survive.” He eyed her pointedly as he added: “So it’s a wonder that these are still here, and blooming as beautifully as they are.”

The queen did not miss the look, her eyes darkening. “I’m not a rose, Hans. I don’t require sunlight, or pruning, or ‘regular attention’ to endure.” She stood taller, her chin raised, and directed a withering stare at him. “You’re prying by means of flattery, but I already told you that won’t work.”

His hands came up, yielding to her. “You’re right,” he conceded, “it was a bad comparison. Forgive me.”

She crossed her arms. “What were you trying to say, before?” she said. “It’s not like you to drop a line of questioning, once you’ve started.”

He smiled a little at the observation. “Yes, that’s true,” he agreed. The smile faded as his brows knitted together. “It’s just… you speak so poorly about yourself and your powers. Calling yourself a ‘hardship’ to your parents, saying that you pushed them away—all because of one incident from your childhood, which your sister obviously recovered from.”

“It wasn’t just that one incident,” she countered, her hands curling around her biceps. “That was the worst of them, yes, but there were many others after that which created cause for concern. You’ve seen it yourself—what happens when I get worked up, when I feel out of control.”

She pressed a hand to her forehead, cooling the skin there. “This curse is my burden to bear, alone.”

“Curse?” the prince asked. “Is that how you see it?”

She glowered at him. “What else could it be?”

He was quiet for a time, studying her irate features, and then stepped into the shadow of an archway. The green light flickered against his skin, dappled by the roses’ red. “I used to wish that I had your powers, when I was a boy,” he said, staring up at the sunbeams obscured by vines. “When my brothers would torment me, each act of cruelty more petty and vicious than the last, I fantasized about suffocating them with snowdrifts, or turning them into one of your spectacular ice statues—anything that would make them stop.”

His eyes closed tightly, lines of pain visible at the edges. “Even realizing that doing so would make me the same as them, I couldn’t help but imagine it, and it brought me some comfort during the hardest years of my childhood.”

When the prince opened his eyes again, there was a dark honesty in them that the queen had never noticed before. “I know what it’s like to feel cursed, Elsa—to feel like a burden. To feel as if I should never have been born. But I couldn’t have lived this long if I kept feeling that way about myself. And I don’t think you could’ve, either.”

Her face reddened, and her hands throbbed as they fell to her sides.

“Conceal,” she told herself, swallowing. “Don’t feel.”

“What was that?”

She blinked and stared at him, her lips parting but unable to form a reply.

“Don’t let it show.”

“Elsa?”

Snow fell lightly at first, and then all around them as if in a waking dream, and she gripped the sides of her dress tight enough to cause tears in the fabric.

Conceal, she heard the mantra again, don’t feel.

“What are you saying?”

Don’t let it show, she finished, silently mouthing the words.

Through the snow, the prince’s hand reached out to the side of the arch, forcing itself into the barbed stems.

Conceal, don’t feel, don’t let it show.

He plucked a single rose from the bush.

“Elsa.”

His voice was, at first, intermingled with her father’s, and she found it hard to focus on him through the snowdrifts, her vision obscured.

“Come back, Elsa.”

The second time she heard her name it was clearer, and as she squinted, the drifts began to dissipate.

“I’m here.”

All at once, the snow was suspended in the air, and she could clearly hear – and see – the prince in front of her, holding a single red rose. At his side, his right hand hung loosely, blood trickling from the fingers down into the earth.

She gasped at the sight, instinctively seizing the injured hand and tearing one of her gloves off, wrapping it around his pricked fingers and palm, pressing there. The snow that was suspended, as well as the drifts that covered the earth, disappeared. His skin was hot to touch.

“What were you thinking?” she exclaimed, her face still pale from shock. “You know they have thorns.”

He stood in stunned silence watching her tend to him, her thumbs pressing upon the uncovered skin of his wrist.

“Elsa, you…” he managed before growing quiet again, allowing her to focus.

She glanced up at his red face. “What? Don’t you have anything to say for yourself?”

He gaped at her, fish-like, before closing his mouth, suppressing a larger smile.

“No,” he replied softly. “I suppose I was trying to prove something, but… clearly, I just ended up making a fool out of myself.”

Some color returned to her face, and her grip on him relaxed a little. “Yes, you did,” she agreed, not looking at him.

He nodded, looking down at his hand still in hers. “I see that now,” he said, and her blush deepened. “But what about your glove?”

The queen realized what she had done, and almost recoiled from him in surprise. “I—I’ll just have it washed when I get back. I’ll tell Gerda I tripped.”

“Thank you, Elsa,” the prince said, bowing his head. “I really am grateful.”

She nodded in return, a hot tremor coursing through her hand as it finally let go of his. She caught sight of the rose still in his right hand, and pursed her lips. “You’d better let go of that, before you hurt your other hand.”

He followed her look and examined the flower in question before carefully inserting it into the chest pocket of his jacket. “There, that’s better.”

Her brow rose. “Really?”

He shrugged. “It’s a waste to throw away such a beautiful thing, even if it can hurt me.”

She blushed at the long look from the prince that accompanied his remark, and crossed her arms.

“You’re incredibly unsubtle,” she told him, frowning. “It’s very irritating.”

“Then I shall strive to be cleverer with my innuendos,” he said, a half-smirk tugging at his lips. “Wouldn’t want you to get sick of me—not just yet, anyway.” His humorous expression dissolved as he regarded her for a minute, and then his gaze returned to the glove covering his left hand, the light between the arches casting striped patterns across the stained fabric.

“It seems as though the bleeding has stopped,” he said, and unfurled it from his fingers. “Are you sure you want it back? I’m happy to clean it for you, and return it in a more presentable condition.”

She snatched the glove from his hand. “No, thank you,” she snapped, and then added more gently: “It’s just something I need to take care of on my own.”

“You’ve been saying that a lot,” the prince observed. “Needing to handle things, alone.” He continued before she could interrupt him. “And I understand that, since I’ve often thought that I had to do the same. But…”

The queen swallowed. “But?”

He smiled. “Perhaps we can rely on each other.” He glanced down at his thorn-pricked hand, and then up at her again. “It certainly paid off for me, today.”

She clutched the bloodied glove. “You’re asking a lot of me.”

He nodded. “I know. But I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t believe you were capable of it.”

Her blush faded as she stared at the rose in his pocket. “I just… don’t understand why you do.”

He cradled his injured hand thoughtfully. “Because you don’t see what I see in you.”

“No, I don’t,” she admitted, and pressed the stained glove against her stomach, her grip relaxing. Her eyes met his in the next moment, and a deep, unbidden desire was spoken.

“But I want to.”

»» —— ««

She returned to her bedroom a little while later by the same winding route she had taken to go outdoors, her sullied glove balled up in her bare left hand and pressed to her side, out of sight. She exhaled with relief once inside her door, quickly changing out of her torn dress and laying the glove on a side table.

“Your Majesty?”

She held back a sigh at the sound of her trusted steward’s voice on the other side of the door.

“Yes, Kai?”

“May we speak for a minute? I know you still have a many meetings ahead of you today, so I won’t be long.”

She grabbed the dirtied glove from the table and hid it behind her back as she opened the door, waving him in. “Come in,” she said, and nodded at the guards outside to close the doors behind him.

Her brow furrowed a little upon observing his tense expression and bearing, unused to seeing him so concerned. “Is everything all right?”

His lip twitched. “Well, Your Majesty, I heard a slightly… worrying report just now, from one of the kitchen staff.”

The queen’s eyes snapped open. “Oh?” she asked, trying to appear nonplussed. “What did they say?”

The steward’s gaze grew more pointed. “That they saw you going out the back door to the rose garden. They said it looked as if you were meeting someone down the hidden lane to the wood gate—the one your mother and father used to use, when they walked there together.”

At her twitching features, he continued: “The maid who looks after the guestrooms also mentioned that she saw Prince Hans go out not long before then into the same garden, before she lost sight of him.” He paused. “I was surprised to hear this, since I thought you were going on a walk with Princess Anna this afternoon.”

She frowned. “Are you having me followed?”

The steward was mortified by the accusation. “No, of course not, Your Majesty; I wouldn’t dare. I assure you that these reports came in to me independently, completely of the staff’s volition. I gave no orders to them.”

Her stare was still suspicious. “Fine. But what is your purpose in coming to me with these reports? What business is it of theirs, or yours, where or with whom I choose to take an afternoon walk?”

The older man rose to meet her eyes again, and swallowed. “Well, Your Majesty, as you know, your father charged me with looking after your personal well-being before he passed, and so I feel that I must speak up when I observe something that may… endanger your health and happiness.”

Her nose wrinkled. “Endanger my health and happiness.”

“Yes,” he affirmed, his posture more assured. “In this case, endangered by getting too close to a certain southern prince.” At her annoyed look, he continued: “You remember the many months we spent discussing the fires in the Isles, and their curious origins—the research you sent me to do, and that you did in turn about the prince’s family, as well as him? And now suddenly he is here as a valued guest, at the princess’s side during many social events, at family meals, and with you on private walks of the rose garden.”

His lips curled. “You know, Your Majesty, that innocent or not, he is a man of ill repute in his own lands, and is seen as suspect here in your own court, as well. There are already some rumors around him and the princess, and should word reach our guests of your meeting with him today…”

He paused at seeing his queen’s face grow more and more twisted with anger, but went on to conclude: “I can see how his appearance and manners would be charming to you both, and can understand the temptation to overlook his dubious character. But, respectfully, I do not think it wise for you and the princess to associate yourselves further with this young man, Your Majesty.”

The room crackled with an invisible energy, the queen’s power barely contained as she remained silent, her fingernails digging into her palms.

Don’t feel.

She almost spat at the words as they filled the empty air, her seething breaths cold as she swallowed them down.

Don’t let it show.

Her gaze lifted to meet his. “Before my father left on his last journey, he told me to be strong—for myself, as well as for Anna. I told him I would try in order to please him, assuming that he and my mother would be back in a few weeks.” Her expression grew dark. “I thought I could go on as I was, keeping to myself, believing Anna was better off on her own.”

She stopped for a beat, feeling her fingernails draw blood from her palms. “But I was wrong, Kai; they never came back, and Anna was left without parents, and without a sister.” Her eyes were as hard as coals. “But now I am queen, and I must protect her. And I can tell the difference between good and ill intent well enough myself.”

He swallowed again. “Your Majesty, I’m not questioning your judgment. I know you’re—”

“Good,” she interrupted, smiling thinly. “Thank you, Kai. I appreciate your concern. You can go, now.”

He was taken aback by the abrupt cut off, and even shorter dismissal; nonetheless, he bowed, and made his way towards the door. “I’ll see you this evening, Your Majesty,” he said, and left.

Alone, the queen’s hands finally relaxed, and she exhaled through her mouth, sliding down the side of her bedpost to the carpet. Closing her eyes, she lifted her left glove until it was propped up atop bent knees, her heart still racing.

When she opened them again, she saw that the blood from her palms had become intermingled with the prince’s on the fabric.

[ladylunasolis]

Zutara Week 2020 - Day 3 “Fuse”

Ahhh I think this is my favorite so far.  This could also be seen as lightly connected to “Reunion” | (AO3)- you don’t have to read one to understand the other but thought it was really cute to think of it that way!  Took a shot at Katara’s POV this time, hope I did her justice.  There’s also a first kiss... (; This might be my favorite one so far.  Please enjoy!

You can find it here on AO3 :)

“This”

Rating: Teen and up

Fuse: (intransitive verb) To become fluid with heat. (Noun) a continuous train of a combustible substance enclosed in a cord or cable for setting off an explosive charge by transmitting fire to it.

Katara looked left and right, saw no sign of the Fire Lord, and darted quickly down the hallway.  She didn’t have much time and she only had a slim window to execute her plan.  It was something she had never tried, but something she needed to get right.

But it was already 15 minutes until midnight and she still couldn’t find a damn flint!

What made midnight so important?  The Fire Lord was completing another trip around the sun.  Katara was reminded of this fact a few weeks ago when she received word of the next Fire-nationwide celebration.  That was when she first arrived on ambassador business.  She brought it up to Zuko the next time she saw him.

“Hey, Zuko - I just realized this is going to be the first time we’ll be able to celebrate your birthday!”  She nudged him as they walked together by the pond, both having a short reprieve between different meetings and obligations.   Zuko chuckled and shrugged, hands in his robe sleeves.  The sun glinted off his crown.

“That’s really the best part about my birthday…” he replied, eyes on the ground.  “To be honest, I don’t even like these big parties.  I’d rather have it just, I don’t know, you and me.  Plus the rest of the gang and uncle, if any of them were able to make it.”

And so, earlier in the night before the staff closed down the kitchens, Katara had gone and baked him a small birthday cake.  The staff made no fuss about her as they were already used to seeing her around the grounds.  She was determined to surprise him at midnight, and with the rest of the gang showing up later in the day for his celebration.  She smiled to herself - it was not an easy task coordinating with everyone who was in different lands but it worked.

She went into the next kitchen, and still no luck with anything to strike a fire.  Katara grimaced to herself. I guess it makes sense in a palace with firebenders, you usually ask the closest one to help you out.  At this time of night no one is expected to make any food.  She exited and continued her search.

She wasn’t exactly sure when it was that she noticed her feelings were more than that of a close friend.  Obviously, she and Zuko were close friends but she thought about him often.  In the time apart she would find herself thinking about her hands over him as she healed him a few times after his agni kai, his look of appreciation as he peered up at her.  How his lips would form her name: “Thank you, Katara.”

She would feel butterflies, which she hadn’t felt since Jet.  Because of her history with Jet, she had become wary of the feeling.  That flutter meant she could be blinded, or fooled.  She never thought Zuko and Jet were the same but she knew herself and when she felt like that about a guy, she was scared of feeling too much.  Besides, Aang really cared about her and he had proven that many times.  Even gave up the ultimate Avatar state for her…so that meant something, right?

It turns out down the line that still meant they were destined to be best friends.  Over time both Katara and Aang grew older, priorities and interests changed.  It was a completely mutual and kind parting of romantic ways, which Katara was thankful for.

Katara groaned.  She was running out of time!  During her trip down memory lane, she still hadn’t found a way to light his candles.  She hastily made her way back to the kitchen closest to Zuko’s quarters and did a once over of the kitchen.  She retrieved the small cake and inspected it.

She knew he would be awake, as they would often sit up together and vent about their day.  One of the tough things about politics was working with people you didn’t really like, but knowing there was a benefit to a professional relationship and it was ultimately to do good.  Zuko was able to stand up for himself, and set boundaries when needed, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t be annoyed with a personality.  Katara found he was quite funny when he opened up, and made horrible impressions of his most outspoken diplomat.

Half the time she wondered if he really liked doing impressions, or if he just liked seeing her crack up until she wasn’t even making a sound.  At times, she would double over and end up falling onto his bed, and stay there as the rest of the conversation would continue.  Zuko would tell her about his progress in the search for his mother, share the guilt he sometimes feels regarding his younger sister.  About the first times he learned to be happy while wearing green, and kissing a girl before running away.  He would listen as she talked about her journeys to clean the rivers, Ozai-loyalists she would leave stuck in ice after they would challenge her (and bad mouth Zuko).  About when the sky has lights that change color yearly back home, what kind of person she wanted to be five years from now.  About the first guy who broke her heart and why it didn’t work out with Aang.

“I kinda know what you mean.  Me and Mai, eventually we just didn’t want the same things anymore,” he replied.  “She’s a great person, but there was just something more.”

The last night she visited him, Zuko turned to face her.  They were both on their sides, space between them, but maybe a little less space than there needed to be on his huge bed.  His voice was more quiet now, a little more gravelly.  His hair was down, longer than before, and his black locks were overlapping the ends of hers.  Katara idly wondered what it would be like if it was their fingers that were intertwined.  They had stayed talking longer than usual and Katara was beginning to drift off.

“I know we always vent,” she chuckled, eyes closing slowly.  “But what’s your favorite part of your day…?”

Katara chalked it up to Zuko thinking she was already asleep.  She almost was, until after a few moments she heard him sigh.

“This.”

The butterflies were flapping their wings strongly in her stomach now, no big deal, just a mini maelstrom.  Katara never brought that word up, and neither had Zuko.  She had woken up barely before he did, and slipped out of the room to avoid any weird rumors.  But things between them had been good, though different.  It was like they were both keeping a secret from each other, and at the same time hoping the other would find out.  Maybe it really was just a dream?  Either way, she couldn’t get it out of her mind, couldn’t stop that word from repeating itself in that damn bedroom voice.

With a sigh, she carefully made her way to Zuko’s quarters.  She knew he wouldn’t think any less of her, but what kind of cake came without lit candles?  She stood at his door and paused, knuckles hovering above the wood.  She couldn’t shake her nerves and told herself to get it together Katara, you’ve knocked on his door before!  

Zuko opened the door shortly after her staccato knock, a smile on his face when he met her eyes, and his expression changed to one being impressed when he saw her offering.

“Happy birthday, Zuko,” Katara sung, genuinely happy to be here for him.  He moved aside for her to step in and she did so, making her way to his desk.

“Thank you, Katara, I’m…I’m really surprised,” Zuko managed to say.  He put his hands up, “I don’t know what to say.  No one’s ever done this for me at midnight.  Thank you, Katara.  This means a lot.”

“Well, I wanted this to be special…” she turned and frowned, before giving a sheepish smile.  “But as you can see I couldn’t find anything to light the candles with at this time of night!  I’m sorry.”

“This is definitely special.”  Zuko chuckled and moved closer to her, placing her between him and the desk.  His eyes remained on her when she felt a heat by her hip.  She looked down and saw a small, controlled flame in his hand and smiled.  “Don’t you worry about the flame…I got it covered.”

He lit the candles and Katara instructed him to sit down, and sung him a little song.  Zuko closed his eyes as he made his wish.  Katara took this chance to admire his face in this moment of vulnerability, thought of kissing him if it weren’t for the fact she would burn herself in the process.  Hell, maybe it’s worth the risk.  Zuko blew the candles out in one breath and Katara clapped lightly, giving a small cheer.

As she removed the plates that were stacked underneath the cake, and utensils from her pockets, she couldn’t help but wonder.  “So…what did you wish for?”

Zuko gently took the plate she offered in his left hand and placed it on the table, before taking her right hand in his.  Katara’s heart raced as he stood up to meet her, the table no longer in the way.  He placed her hand on his heart and she felt the steady thrum underneath her palm.  She was pretty sure the butterflies in her stomach were close to dying with how erratic they were flying around.  Zuko’s golden eyes searched hers for any protest, other hand going to her cheek, before dipping his lips close to hers.

“This.”

And he closed the gap between them, gently, giving her a chance to pull away if she wanted to.  Katara did not want to and as a matter of fact, she found herself letting a breath out that she didn’t even know she was holding.  She turned her head for a better angle, and was the first to deepen the kiss.  Her hands went to the base of his neck, into his hair, and his hand that was freed dropped to her waist to pull her even closer.  She reveled in the feel of his strong hands, his body against hers, and leaned into him so much Zuko eventually leaned on the table himself.  He was a better kisser than she even thought he would be, and yet respectful enough to let her lead the way for this first moment of contact.  Firebenders could heat their body up right?  Because she was on fire from his touches.

They eventually pulled away, Zuko resting his forehead on Katara’s.  They were both flushed and breathing heavier than before, but they were both happy.  He kissed her forehead and she giggled, tilting her face up towards him.

“Honestly, that’s the answer I was hoping for.”

And Zuko grinned at her before capturing her lips with his once more.

Ohhh I was so close to taking this up a notch and making it a mature piece...but then I wasn’t sure.  If anyone would be interested in reading a second part that does go into that, please reply/send me an ask/DM me and let me know!  As always, thank you again for reading <3

[smhalltheurlsaretaken]

Birthday prompt #5

Read on Ao3 Birthday prompts masterlist

@aini-nufire

[Ok, how about Cris saves Picard from some danger (jumps in front of him/pushes him out of the way) and gets hurt himself and we get some feels from Dadmiral Picard?]

After what the brass had dubbed the “Coppelius stunt,” Jean-Luc Picard owed Starfleet so many favors that he was hardly in a position to refuse Clancy whenever she requested that he and his unorthodox crew go deal with the odd diplomatic mess. Many non-Federation worlds reacted better to him personally than to Starfleet envoys, it seemed, and it was often very useful. Right now, staring at half a dozen arrowheads all pointed at him and Rios, Picard sincerely wished he’d told the Commander in Chief to get lost.

(The bows were originally ceremonial, but the reinforced tritanium arrows looked operative enough. Picard could feel Rios’ glare from where the Captain was standing.)

“I fail to see what you are trying to accomplish here,” Picard tried to reason. “Harming us will not make the Federation listen to whatever demands you might have.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m aware,” the demi-King said with a genuine laugh, his accented Standard quite informal for the leader of a third of the Keetureh planetary system. “And that’s partly the point. To be honest, this really hasn’t much to do with the Federation.” He waved one of his four nigh-translucent hands around, gesturing to his people surrounding them. “You have just no idea of what killing you guys would do for my approval rating.”

Picard’s eyebrows climbed to vertiginous heights. He stared, quite dumbfounded, and a quick glance in Rios’ direction was enough to determine that the younger man was just as confused.

“This is about getting re-elected?” Cris attempted to clarify. Picard could tell that he was offended by the notion.

The demi-King nodded in confirmation, a vaguely contrite smile on his lips.

“Sorry,” he apologized with a half-shrug. “I would bet that you’re both used to being threatened for more personal reasons. The truth is, most of my people are backwater idiots who are dying to see me ‘take action’ against big evil Starfleet and all of you offworlders. I wouldn’t risk killing an actual ambassador, but I figure they won’t know the difference.”

Picard’s perfectly regulated synthetic heart managed to skip a beat as hope ignited within his chest. He stepped forward, ignoring the wary soldiers’ growls of warning, and held up his hands to get the demi-King’s attention.

“Then let my friend go,” he offered before the man could order his troops to shoot him, or knock him out. “His name will mean nothing to them, and my death alone should suffice to impress your electorate.”

It was a rather bold – reckless – move, but the opportunity was too favorable to pass up, and Picard had spoken before considering much beyond the obvious need to secure Rios’ safety. He was taken completely by surprise when the strong negative reaction that he was preparing for didn’t come from the Keeturehan, but from Rios himself.

“Fuck that,” Rios snarled, and before anybody had the time to react he dived for his comm badge, which the demi-King had carelessly left lying on the table. “Raf, beam us out,” he barked in the device as he snatched it up.

The demi-King shouted something in his own language and the gears of the mechanical bows turned, leaving a mere half-second delay between the twang of the strings being released and the woosh of air rushing past Picard’s ears as he was tackled to the ground. Rios’ muffled grunt was lost in the transporter beam.

When they materialized on the transporter pad at the back of the ship, Rios was the first to get to his feet, getting up before Picard could fully register that the younger man had been shielding him with his body. The crew’s surprised exclamations were what got him too look up, dizzy as he was from the experience. He froze.

Rios was wobbling unsteadily, his right hand stretched out as he tried to find the bulkhead for support, his left hand pressing against his lower abdomen and the Keetureh arrow protruding from it.

“What the—” Seven swore as she rushed to steady him.

Raffi crashed to the ground next to Picard, her hands hovering nervously as she tried to ascertain whether or not he was injured as well. He batted her hands away impatiently, getting to his feet with Elnor’s help just as Rios’ refused Seven’s offered support.

“I’m fine,” the man growled, before – to their collective horror – gripping the end of the arrow’s thin shaft and breaking it off. He tossed it to the ground right as the EMH flickered on.

“Captain!” the holo exclaimed as he came online, “Sir, are you alright?”

“I think tritanium messes with your scanners,” Rios deadpanned, pushing the hologram out of his way as he stumbled toward the stairs.

The medbay was down there, but so were his quarters. Agnes seemed to realize this as she jumped in front of him and tried to block his way.

“Cris, wh— what are you doing?” She stammered, voicing their shared incredulity. “You need to sit down!”

Rios’ expression softened minutely, but he brushed past her off the same. It was all Picard could take before the irritation that had been steadily swelling up his chest exploded into anger.

“Rios,” he snapped, “what exactly do you think you’re doing?”

That got the Captain’s attention, and his dark eyes dropped to Picard’s. They were stormy and unreadable, and Picard was not in the mood to indulge Rios’ aggravating tendency to brood.

“What?” Rios asked through gritted teeth. As he was wavering on his feet, the blood stain on his shirt growing larger, Picard assumed that the strained voice was because of the pain.

“Rios, you will sit down and you will let the EMH examine you before we move you to sickbay,” Picard instructed, gesturing at the half-arrow still sticking out. “And for goodness’ sake, do it before you collapse. You have been foolish enough for today.”

That had apparently been the wrong thing to say, but Picard didn’t realize it until Rios slumped against the wall and glared at him with all his might. The others hovered awkwardly in the background, aware that their help would not be welcomed.

“Foolish?” Rios repeated hoarsely.

Later, Picard would look back on that moment and rightly beat himself over his appalling lack of sensitivity and common sense. At the time, he pressed on, somehow convinced that a stern commanding voice and clear orders were what a stubborn ex Starfleet Commander needed to start acting rationally.

“Taking such a risk on my behalf was reckless and ill-conceived. Now sit down so you don’t add your death to my conscience,” Picard said firmly.

And just like that Raffi flinched badly, and Seven let out a low “damn.” Before Picard had time to consider why, Rios’ face went from stony to downright furious, absolute rage etched on each line of that face they only knew as cool and collected.

“Yeah, because it was all about you,” he spat. The hand clasped over his wounded side was trembling badly, Rios’ legs shaking, sweat trickling down his neck as he conjured the last dregs of his strength in an a desperate effort not to collapse. (Even propped against a bulkhead and his blood puddling on the ground, he still managed to stand taller than Picard.) “It’s always all about you old Starfleet cabrónes and your grand heroic moves and your fucking egos and your Messiah complexes. Aweonao.”

But after that he deflated, and he looked impossibly tired. When he staggered from the wall and made his way to the stairs with the EMH following worriedly, nobody stopped him.

“He is very sad,” Elnor stated when Rios had disappeared from their field of view. And then he turned to Picard and frowned at him. “And I think it is your fault.”

“What happened down there?” Soji asked, the only one who had not once voiced her opinion or tried to intervene in any way since Picard and Rios had beamed up.

“Seems clear enough to me,” Raffi muttered, shooting a glare at Picard. She suddenly clapped her hands, startling them. “Okay, here’s tonight’s rule, and you’d all better respect it. No following Cris, no talking to Cris, no trying to get Cris to open up. I’ll make sure he’s alright.”

Elnor, Soji and Agnes all looked like they were ready to protest, and Picard felt like it too, as he considered that he deserved some form of explanation for Rios’ outburst, but Raffi shut them up before any of them had time to voice their complaints.

“Guys, no offense to you, but I know him. He won’t want to see any of you,” she said in a tone that brooked no argument. “I know you’re worried, but that’s really not the important thing here.”

And with that, she strode after their Captain and disappeared in the belly of la Sirena, leaving Picard to ponder what he had done so wrong and how he could best apologize once he understood. Seven noticed his troubled look, and she walked to him and snatched his arm, leading him to the bridge before he could protest.

“One of you activate that stupid Hospitality Hologram to clean up all that blood,” she threw over her shoulder to their three younger shipmates. “And you,” she told Picard with a hard look, “you and I need to talk.”

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

When Picard sneaked past Raffi’s quarters late that night and made his way to Rios’ room, he was fully prepared to get thrown out and have to face the wrath of the whole crew. She’d told them all that she and Cris had talked a bit, drunk a bit more, that he was as good as cold be expected, and that he was still off-limits. Picard imagined that Rios had locked himself into his quarters, away from prying eyes and careless words. It thus came as a surprise when the door slid open at his simple request, welcoming him into the very heart of that ship he now called home but had yet to fully know.

Rios was facing away from him, sitting in one of two armchairs with a book in his hands and a new shirt on. He didn’t look up at the whoosh of the door panel, probably out of indifference. Picard rapped his knuckles against the door frame, awkwardly clearing his throat when it was clear that Rios didn’t intend to react in any way.

“May I come in?” He asked softly, because he had done his day’s share of overstepping.

Rios finally deigned looking up and eyed him warily. Then he closed his book and gave a nod – a sharp jerk of the head, really, motioning for Picard to enter. Picard slowly came closer, moving to stand right in front of his host. He didn’t dare examine the room for too long, lest he appear rude, but he still noticed the spotless surfaces, the tidiness, the appearance of perfect life-discipline that might just be a cover for a near-pathological need to clean up and keep things ordered.

As his eyes landed on Rios again, Picard couldn’t help but notice the slight bulge under the shirt then, the red tinge of that slightly wet patch on the fabric, just under the ribs. Still no dermal regenerator, apparently.

“Are you alright?” Picard inquired carefully, because he hated to think that Rios considered mere bandages an adequate substitute to tissue regeneration.

The man probably had no interest in painkillers either.

Rios raised an eyebrow at the question, a bit weary, a bit sardonic, just enough Rios that it helped put Picard’s mind at ease.

“What do you want?” Cris asked flatly.

Was Picard like that to most people? A riddle wrapped in an enigma, keeping all emotions to himself and leaving his friends and acquaintances to fruitlessly try to guess what it was that he was thinking or feeling?

Taking in a deep breath, Picard gave Rios a sheepish smile.

“May I?” He inquired again, pointing at the second armchair.

Something shifted in Rios’ stony demeanor, like another defensive wall going up, but he didn’t say no, and so Picard sat. Rios stared at him for a few moments before smiling wryly, a sight that Picard had dearly been hoping to see.

“If we keep answering questions with more questions, we’re never going to get any talking done,” Rios commented with that smirk of his. He poured himself a glass of alcohol and downed it in one gulp, absently holding his left side. “Go ahead.”

Picard cleared his throat again.

“It has come to my attention— Well, Seven and Raffi ensured that it came to my attention— that I have behaved quite tactlessly upon our return from Keetureh.” Rios snorted but didn’t interrupt him, which encouraged him to continue. “You said something, about being all about me… I don’t think I understand.”

“I don’t think I care,” Rios said back, pouring himself another drink. “You’re kinda making it all about yourself right now.”

Picard sighed.

“Rios, I can hardly apologize for something I don’t know I have done.”

Rios got up without drinking his second glass of brandy and walked to the opposite wall, leaning against it with his forearm and staring at the soft lights above his bed wordlessly.

“This is about Captain Vandermeer, isn’t it?” Picard pressed gently.

He had forgotten earlier that this Captain before him wasn’t the fearless lone spaceman that he often pretended to be.

Rios’ vulnerability had been on display the day after Nepenthe, when he’d brought Soji onboard. That day too, Picard had somehow managed to make a mess of things by failing to see the depth of Rios’ anguish. But that day they’d also talked, the young Captain had opened up, and Picard had caught glimpses of a bright and optimistic Starfleet XO eager for the approval and respect of his superiors.

He now remembered how Rios had once called him “old man” when that nickname apparently belonged to his late commanding officer, how he’d said “jefe” to him. So Picard waited, confident that this connection at least would get Rios to give up a snatch of information, or the merest hint of a confidence.

Rios stared at the lights for a long while before rubbing his eyes tiredly with two fingers. It lasted just too long to be a simple symptom of fatigue, and the hitching breath that followed was just too short to be from the physical pain. Rios breathed in through his nose, though it sounded almost like a sniff, and giving up all pretense, he wiped his eyes.

“Damn,” he muttered. “Yeah, it’s about Captain Vandermeer. It’s always about Captain Vandermeer.” He gave Picard a weary look and let out a slow, pained chuckle. “It’s always about Captain Vandermeer because he couldn’t wait ten minutes before blowing his brains out. He just had to do it there, right in front of me. It’s always about you because you’re the retired Admiral with a brain abnormality that flies away with my ship to commit suitably heroic suicide, and still has the gall to beam down at the last possible minute because your death wouldn’t dramatic enough if you kicked the bucket on my bridge.”

Picard blinked, taken aback. Rios wasn’t done.

“It’s always about him and you because you always have some red stain to wipe off your ledger, some nasty thing to clear off your conscience, some big screw-up you can’t live with and have to atone for. And nothing else in the world matters.”

Picard was beginning to get the picture.

“I supposed that you’re entitled to be angry at my self-sacrificing tendencies,” he gently acknowledged. “It would be hypocritical of me to deny you that after my own outburst.”

Rios’ eyes hardened.

“I’m angry at you assuming that you have the right to make me live through anything like my Captain’s death and your death a third time,” he corrected harshly. But then his voice faltered, and he looked away again. “I’m angry at you thinking that you have the right to choose between saving my life and adding to what you’ve already made me carry.”

I am terrible at this, Picard thought as memories of all his similarly awkward conversations with Elnor, Soji, Raffi or Agnes flashed before his eyes. Of their seven people crew, it really appeared like Seven of Nine was the only one who had no need for his paternal guidance. Trust the universe’s twisted sense of humor to make Jean-Luc Picard the fatherly figure to an entire ship full of badly damaged adults and youngsters. His Starfleet crews had been mostly emotionally balanced – or at least bound to stay professionally distant.

“I’m truly sorry,” he said softly, because words of comfort seemed pale and inadequate here.

Rios nodded slightly before wincing, the sheen of sweat again visible on his pain-creased brow. He crossed the distance to his bed and all but collapsed on the mattress. He didn’t lie down, sitting up as straight as his injured side would allow, but it was clear that he badly needed to rest.

“It’s okay,” he said tiredly. “I’m not— I’m not that angry.”

And here it was, the vulnerability, the easy forgiveness of a young First Officer who held Captains and Admirals in too high regards, weighing his own faults as heavier than all of theirs, endlessly comparing himself to those he looked up to and founding himself lacking. Picard had seen it many times, had seen the same behavior in young ensigns and decorated officers alike.

“I was very worried about you,” Picard confessed, because it felt important.

Rios deserved to know that he cared, as clumsily as he did. To shoulder such a burden of pain and trauma without the assurance that of reciprocated affection would have been intolerable. And it was the core of the problem, wasn’t it? Vandermeer and Picard had both ultimately failed to prove that they cared. They’d made it about them.

“No need,” Rios quipped, his speech now slightly slurred. “Wasn’t even the first time you’ve seen me with tritanium stuck somewhere.”

“I don’t much care for a repeat, frankly,” Picard gently admonished, although he was disappointed that Rios had addressed the physical aspect of the issue and neglected to acknowledge the underlying message. He studied Rios’ waxy complexion and he took in the tremors running through his shoulders. “Do you want me to leave?”

“Don’t really care,” Rios shrugged. He finally lowered himself onto his back and stared at the ceiling without a word, breathing in and out, and Picard hated to leave him like this.

“Thank you,” he finally said. “For getting us out of that mess. And for saving my life.”

“Hmm,” Rios eloquently answered. “You’re welcome.”

Just as Picard was getting up to go, the inexplicable urge to check on Cristóbal one last time forced his steps towards the bed and not the door. The Captain was already asleep, his skin clammy and the red patch on his shirt larger, his pained breaths escaping through slightly parted lips. Picard had never been one for physical displays of affection, but he couldn’t help the hand than strayed to Cristóbal’s forehead, brushing away some of the wayward curls.

“Pops,” Cristóbal breathed out in reaction to the touch – whimpered, almost – causing Picard to withdraw his hand immediately, feeling oddly guilty.

The EMH decided to silently appear right then, the medkit materializing at his feet. His gaze met Picard’s and they exchanged a nod.

“Go,” the EMH – Emil – murmured. “I’ll take care of it.”

Picard left, still a little troubled, still a little humbled. He’d have liked to stay longer, to make sure, perhaps, that Cris was alright.

But that had been today’s lesson, hadn’t it? It really wasn’t about him.

[gaelstudies-blog]

A new university year (or rather, the first university year) is starting for University students all across the UK. As I am going into my third year this Monday, I thought I would share some of my tips and advice.

1. Don’t beat yourself up if other people seem to have it easier

Sometimes it can feel like cliques develop straight away, which if you’re struggling to make friends can make the experience even more isolating. I remember turning up to my first ever class and there was already groups of friends who had bonded well. This made me feel really anxious and hesitant to  make friends incase I was intruding on friendship groups. The reality is that you can make friends at any point in the year, and a lot of people don’t limit how many friends they have. 

2. Your Freshers friends might not be the people you stay friends with

I know a lot of people who had big groups of friends during Freshers and then not long after classes properly started, these friendship groups no longer existed. These people stuck together because they were scared of being alone, and because they didn’t want to miss out on fun events. Which is completely normal and fine. But it does mean that when people feel more confident in themselves and when they branch out more in classes that they might not want to hang around with you anymore. Plus you’ll often find that conflicting timetables, different campuses, and high workloads can put a strain on even the most genuine of Freshers friendships.

3. Don’t slack off just because other people seem to 

There will be a lot of people that simply won’t turn up to a lot (if any) classes, or do any of the readings for seminars or any lecture preparation. And this can make it really tempting to do the same, after all, everyone else is doing it right? But don’t let your grades suffer because you don’t want to stick out. It’s better to be the nerd of the class than make your workload so much harder on yourself. I made the mistake of doing readings before every seminar until a lot of people weren’t doing it, and then I stopped because it felt like there was ‘no point’ to it. But the point is to learn, and that preparation could’ve made exams and assignments a lot easier for me. 

4. Reach out for help - be that mental or academic

As scary as it can be, reaching out for help at university is so crucial. Don’t understand an assignment? Your lecturer will have contact hours and will likely be pretty responsive via emails. You’ll also have a personal tutor that you can flag up issues with. Struggling with mental health issues? Be sure to let your university know so they can put support in place. Your university will have that support available, but sometimes it might not be so well advertised, so be sure to have a look at your university website and ask your lecturers for help. Your university lecturers want you to succeed, and they’ll be really happy to put in the extra support you need to boost your grades.

5. Take first year seriously

For a lot of university students, first year won’t count towards their end grade. Which is why they’re often told to be laid back and just have fun. And whilst not overdoing yourself and having fun is essential, so is putting in the work. Use this year to experiment with different study techniques, use this year to experiment with how you dedicate your time to studying. This way you can really see what works for you and what doesn’t, without you having to worry so much that a mistake can mess up your grade. A lot of people will find that their old study techniques don’t work for them quite so well now that they’re at a higher level and potentially tacking topics in a different way. Instead of desperately trying to make ineffective techniques work, branch out and learn new ones.

6. Don’t overdo yourself with non-course related commitments 

A lot of people will stress the importance of getting involved in societies, trying to build up volunteering experience, as well as having a social life. And again, yes this is important, but it can come at a cost. You might find that this can be really draining for you, leading to mental health complications. You might find that this gives you a lot less time to study which impacts your grades. Be realistic in your expectations for your social life. You don’t have to have something planned every day, or even most days. Try and ease yourself into it, starting off with 1 or 2 commitments and increasing / decreasing later on depending on how your schedule goes. Try and avoid getting involved in any commitments that you can’t back out of, because this can also have a negative impact on you. Be sure also to not miss any classes because of non-course related social events because often times classes cover 1 topic per class, so it can be really easy to fall behind or miss out.

7. It’s never too late to sort out your studying

If you find yourself later in the year not doing much (or any) studying or preparation for classes, don’t be afraid of taking a step back and sorting out your priorities. It might be harder to get back on track, but it’s important to try and get back into studying. At my university, my first lots of assignments are often November or December, which can be a big gap between when I start and when I get proper work to do. This can mean it’s really easy to end up closer to those times having fallen back on my studying. Instead of letting it overwhelm you, choose to get yourself prepared for your next lecture and do some studying straight after having it. This way you can focus on your upcoming lectures and not neglect them for lectures you’ve missed out on in the past.

8. Look out for lectures and events outside your course you can attend

My university often invites speakers in from places like Buzzfeed, Vice, BBC, etc to give lectures which are open to all students. They also host networking events for different industries. Getting involved with these can be a great way to network, develop career knowledge, and also potentially learn things that can improve your own studies. Sometimes I’ve attended a lecture by a speaker for a course outside mine and they’ve touched on a topic which I then studied up on to apply to a current assignment. I also know people that have gotten work published because they spoke to journalists after their talk who were more than happy to help them gain connections or give them advice. Don’t neglect your own classes for them, but be sure to consider them next time you’re bored and looking for something to do. A lot of these will be free also, so it doesn’t matter too much if you end up not enjoying it.

9. Talk with your lecturers

This is one which is often talked about, but I find that a lot of people talk about it in the wrong way. I really would not recommend meeting up with your lecturers every time they have office hours like some people suggest. Instead, meet up with them for the purpose of answering questions that you’re struggling with. Are you struggling with sources? Are you struggling with formatting or understanding an assignment question? They can be a great source of knowledge. Also look to see what work they have published and actually read up on it. This can be a great opportunity to not only find new sources that are likely relevant to your studies but also discuss it with them so you can have a deeper understanding of it. This can also be a great way to build up a relationship with your lecturer. I’ve had lecturers send me free books or give source recommendations because they’ve been interested in what I’ve had to say in class and would like to give me something back in return.

10. Don’t be afraid to turn down drugs  / alcohol

So for a lot of people, Freshers events will have finished. But these opportunities can present themselves again further down the line. Here’s the thing, if people are pressuring you into drinking, smoking, or doing drugs then they’re not your friend. If someone is insistent on you trying drugs or drinking (especially for the first time) then it’s because they want you to embarrass yourself so they can have a laugh. Don’t be afraid of standing up for yourself and saying no and meeting new people who won’t pressure you. You’ll often find that even if you like drinking, sometimes you’ll get invited to nights out when you have a lot of work to do. Again, if they’re your friends then they’ll understand you have other priorities. Yes, it can suck to miss out on things but remember that there’ll be plenty more opportunities to go out and have fun but those hours spent out drinking and being too hungover the next day to study won’t be something you can do over. 

11. Get involved with the student union and other university jobs

Your university Student Union is a fantastic resource, where they can help you if you’ve been accused of plagiarism or any other academic misconduct. They will represent you against the university to ensure that you get the best possible outcome. They can also assist you with housing issues, financial issues, and a whole host of other things. Additionally, they will often put on great events and the student union can be a chilled place to hang out. As a university student, you’ll automatically be a member of your student union so be sure to check it out and get to know more about your one. They often provide students with jobs, which are usually extremely flexible to fit your timetable. Additionally, at my university there’s a student ambassador scheme. Where I get paid to help out at open days, visit schools to tell them about university life, and more. I sign up for shifts, so I can tailor it extremely well depending on the time of year and my timetable. Be sure to check out if your university has this or anything similar. As it can be a great way to make money alongside your studies, without having to worry so much about having a boss that wants you to prioritise them instead of your studies. I know a lot of people that have had bosses schedule shifts for when they’ve had classes which can cause a whole host of problems. Because I work as part of the university and as part of the student union, this isn’t an issue for me - so it’s definitely something to look into and consider. 

12. Get involved in mentorship schemes or workshops

A lot of universities will have a mentorship scheme in place. Be that, a 2nd or 3rd year student helping a student in the year below to improve their studies or having someone from a particular industry come in and help a student with improving their career development skills. My university puts on a lot of workshops where they will go over your CV and help you improve it, as well as offering tailored workshops for industry particular CVS (e.g. making or improving an engineering CV). They also have workshops where they help students improve their academic writing, or their English (if their native language isn’t English) and many more. I also know that the same is true of a lot of other universities. So be sure to have a look out for these events and put yourself forward for them. Having a mentor can be invaluable for networking, improving study skills, improving grades, or knowing how to get your foot in the door to a particular industry and all sorts. Doing workshops might seem boring, until they help you get in to the job you want or help you know what job it is you want. A lot of them will be free, and they’re definitely worth giving a go. Remember that whilst university life is about your academic success you want to then be able to get a good job at the end of it.

I hope you all have a fantastic first year, and I’m always happy to answer any questions you may have. I’m a third year Global Politics and International Relations student in London, I also transferred courses in my second year. I’m a student ambassador and I’m a worker in the student union. So don’t be afraid to ask me any question, no matter how silly you think it might be.

If you liked what I had to say and/or found it useful in any way, then consider donating to my ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/gaelstudies

[onemistresstorulethemall]

Chapter II. The announcement

The series continues with setting their plans in motion. Nothing spicy yet, but it's coming. I also have no self control and posted this as soon as I finished it instead on putting in the queue. 😅

Word count: 2025

Spicy level: 1/10 jalapenos

In this one Rose naps with the twins, so it deserved a pepper for this.

On the long dreaded morning of her departure a gloomy atmosphere ruled over the dining table, as everyone in the house of lamentation served their breakfast. She did not inform the demons of the delay of their separation, but soon enough they were going to find out. It saddened her, however, to see Beel's appetite lacking, Asmo's dark circles from the lack of sleep and Mammon's eyes which were clearly puffy from crying. The other ones seemed to be masking their emotions alright. Even Lucifer's anger seemed to have dissipated. After all, he thought she was leaving for good. No reason to hold a grudge, right? Little did he know...

Eventually they all ended up gathered in the exact same spot where Rose arrived in Devildom. Although Simeon, Solomon and Luke were supposed to leave before Rose either way, after all that happened, there was a new reason for them to be present. Respectively, to listen to Diavolo's announcement.

"I would like to take a few moments to thank each and every one of you for making all of this possible and for making the exchange programme a success. I hope you had a good time here in the Devildom and that you'd consider coming back every once in a while", his characteristic smile throned on his face, "There is another thing which I would like to announce here, in front of all of you", he paused for a second, scanning the faces of everyone in the room, "Not all of you will leave Devildom today. One of you is going to stay behind.", he held his hand out for Rose who grabbed it and stepped closer to him, standing on his right and smiling, "Rose chose to remain in Devildom and after a fruitful discussion we decided that she'd be a great fit for the position of human ambassador of Devildom."

Six out of seven brothers were thrilled to hear the news. One, however, looked like he saw death with his own two eyes.

"Congratulations, Rose! I'm sure you'll be a great human representative!", Simeon cheered for her.

"You want to stay? Are they forcing you? Blink twice if-"

"Come on, Luke. Nobody's forcing her. She loves it here. Isn't it obvious?", Solomon giggled at Luke's insinuation.

A few replies exchanged later, it was time for the three of them to leave. Solomon said that he'd return and Simeon and Luke insinuated a future meeting with Rose when she was going to reach heaven, without the knowledge that it wasn't possible anymore.

That night, instead of dining at home, Rose and the seven brothers were invited over to Diavolo's castle to celebrate.

In fact, it was a nice facade for covering the fact that Rose and Diavolo were going to talk strategy and make preparations for setting their plan in motion. It was easier and safer to talk in person rather than over the phone or over text. While having them all there, Diavolo could make sure they were distracted and not in a position to interrupt or overhear their discussion. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

She wore a turtle neck black midi dress with a slit on her right thigh and a heart cutout at the chest, showing off some cleavage. The dress was chosen by her one and only personal stylist, Asmodeus.

"I'm so glad all of you were able to attend tonight's festivities. We're lucky to have you, Rose", Diavolo took her hand into his and kissed the top of it before making small talk with the seven brothers.

They were all, well mostly all of them, thrilled that their human got so stay. Even more happy as she now held an important position. They knew their human was special.

"I wouldn't have gotten out of my room tonight if it wasn't for you", Leviathan whispered to Rose while passing by to take a seat at the table.

"I can't wait to eat all this delicious food with you and Belphie.", Beel's smile was brighter than the sun.

"I told ya she's great. I wouldn't hang out with just any human, ya know?", Mammon boasted as he usually did.

"Well, now, I guess we didn't run out of time to have that book club meeting, huh?", Satan's smile seemed genuine for once.

"Let's nap together after this is all done, okay?", Belphegor followed after his twin.

"Come on, darling. Sit next to me!", Asmodeus grabbed her hand before Lucifer even got the chance to say anything to Rose.

In retrospective, she didn't mind it as the first born probably had nothing nice to say to her anyway.

After the starters, most of the demons present rushed to take over the dance floor. Rose already knew her feet would hurt by the end of the night as all of the gazes turned to her as the music started playing. Surprisingly enough, the first one that asked the redhead to dance was the one and only Lucifer. Wasn't he supposed to be mad at her? He was plotting something, she could feel it.

Reluctantly, she extended her arm and grabbed his hand, letting herself be lead over to the dance floor.

"I'm glad that I was able to get you alone here for a second.", he stated without any noticeable emotion in his tone.

"Well, what can I say? You're welcome.", she chuckled.

"I am... disappointed but not surprised that you are still so impertinent.", his grip on her hand got stronger.

It wasn't the first time he tried to intimidate her like this. If then she was angry, now she was bored. A lot has changed since then.

"I bet you thought you've seen the last of me, huh?"

"Can't say I enjoy the idea of keeping you around, but I'm not one to question Diavolo's judgment."

"Look, before you threaten to kill me again if I ever harm the ones you love, let me just say that I'm sorry", she took a look at Lucifer who seemed to tell her 'go on' without even moving his lips, "Although I still stand by the meaning of my words, I don't think I used the right ones to express myself. I do not want us to be enemies. After all, we're all trying to protect the same people, so, how about you let it slide just this once? You don't have to like me, it's enough for you to tolerate me."

She hoped it was enough to convince the demon to change his mind. It would make everything so much easier if he did. She couldn't fulfill her duties if Lucifer was suspicious of her and angry. It's not as if she feared his wrath, it was rather an annoyance.

Much to her delight, he agreed.

"As long as you don't come between me and my family, I can tolerate your presence. But the second you hurt my brothers or do anything to put Diavolo in a bad spot, you're going to wish you were dead", his condescending smirk made a reappearance.

Although everything seemed sorted out, she still needed to be cautious. After all, once you upset the Avatar of Pride you'll always have to watch your back.

Six songs and two meal courses later, Rose found herself back in Diavolo's study.

"I see they kept you pretty busy. I wanted to ask you for a dance myself, but after seven songs, I think you're exhausted.", he confessed while sitting down at his desk.

"We could dance after we finish our meeting if there is time left. After all, I'd do anything for my king.", she smiled at him.

Diavolo chuckled softly before pushing the discussion into a different, more serious direction.

Approximately two hours passed since they entered the study and finally they had a rough draft of their plan. Barbatos was kind enough to bring them both dessert as they missed it being served.

In a week's time Rose was going to go home and talk about her choice to stay in Devildom, giving interviews and trying her best to promote her story and bring attention to it, sparking controversy and brining the issue in the attention of the public. That was going to be their starting point. From there, Rose would be able to arrange diplomatic meetings which would lead to strengthening the relationship between the two realms.

On his end, Diavolo was going to push the continuation of the exchange programme and urge the next one to be created in the celestial realm.

Eventually, in both realms there was going to be a party at some point or as angels would call it, a small gathering. One in the human realm with the Devildom's representatives and the human realm's government and one in the celestial realm to celebrate the success of the exchange programme. With a little bit of synchronization both would happen at the same time and with the angels distracted, what would be a better time to strike?

Pleased with the outcome of the meeting, Diavolo did end up asking Rose to dance. Although there were other demons on the dance floor, they all stopped and stood aside, leaving the whole thing to the pair. Diavolo was a far better dancer than his human partner, but he lead in such a way that you couldn't realize the skill difference unless you paid close attention.

After the dance was over, Diavolo grabbed two glasses of a bubbly alcoholic drink that looked like champagne, offered one of the glasses to Rose and held up his, wanting to make a toast.

The redhead was more than grateful as she did not sip any liquor that night, wanting to keep her mind clear until all the details of the plan were discussed. That glass was going to be the first one for her it relaxed her a bit.

"The hard part is only just beginning", she told herself.

Although gloomy thoughts were filling her mind, she kept a smile on and pushed herself to stay in character for just a little longer.

Every demon follow in their suit and picked up a glass, awaiting the words of their future ruler.

"For new beginnings, new allies and a new path for Devildom!", he raised his glass.

"For loyalty and bonds that cannot be broken!", she added before Diavolo and her clinked glasses and drank up their contents.

The room filled with the sound of glasses clinking and cheers. The following hours for Rose were filled by making small talk with Diavolo's guests and attempting to prove herself and her importance in Devildom.

Not long after, the party died and every demon went back to their house. The redhead made no exception. For once, she was so happy to drift to sleep. Usually, she wanted to be up and doing something, but just for that night, she wanted to put her head on a pillow and forget about any and every worry that ever filled her head. She longer for all of it to disappear.

Just as she promised Belphie, she was going to sleep with him, so that night she crashed into Beel's and Belphie's room. It took a bit of convincing to get the others off of her back, but she promised she'd sleep with all of them eventually, so they had nothing to be jealous of.

Finally wearing something comfortable and with her face free of make up, she drifted asleep while sandwiched between the twins. For a moment, before everything turned to black and she faded into unconsciousness, while feeling the twin's heartbeats and feeling their chest move as they breathed, Rose felt happy. Their smell was comforting, making her feel safe. For a little while nothing else existed. It was just the three of them, that bed and the night. No worries, no war, no lies, no strategies, no hidden meaning. It was a safe heaven where the three of them could be happy. Nothing else mattered. It was a moment she'd daydream about when things got tough. However, it didn't last long as she was exhausted and soon her mind left her body.