#red threads of fate (that bind us together)

[rosesnink]

Red Threads of Fate (That Bind Us Together), Arc I- Black Thorne, White Rose (Pt. 1)

Author's Notes

Je suis back!! After months of not touching this series due to rl craziness, I'm back with COP stuff babey!! This arc will be an interesting one, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it. That being said, read the warnings and bon appetit!

English isn't my first language, so please forgive any typos/grammar mistakes

Some parts of the fic will look like they're highlighted. This is an editing errors due to my Word doc crashing many times, losing excerpts because my computer crashed. I know it's annoying, but please try to ignore it and enjoy the read

If you want to be tagged in my COP writing, let me know!

If you want to read more of my ILITW, TRR & D&D stuff, check out my masterlist!!

Summary: Nerea has been in Drakovia for a while, yet she feels very lonely. Meeting a certain Thorne will be eventful... to say the least

Word Count: 2.9k

Category: Romance, coming of age

Pairing: Vasili Thorne x F!OC, Sebastyan Thorne x F!OC (eventually) Marguerite Thorne x F!OC (Nerea Rose) (eventually), mentions of F!Trystan Thorne x F!MC (Neera Rose)

Rating: T

TW: There is a suggestive scene at the end, as well as mentions of discriminations against Romani people, reader's discretion is advised

Book: Crimes of Passion

Two months, six days, a hundred and two minutes and seven hundred minutes.

That’s how long Nerea Rose had been in Drakovia, and not one friend she had made. Sure, there were groups and people she had things in common, but she didn’t seem to have her crowd.

If one didn’t count Juliana Georgescu, but everybody got along fine with the countess. What a life she must lead, Nerea thought. Nevertheless, it seemed that power and wealth had a price, for her mothers had found her a suitor. The Crown Princess, no less. Absorbed in her own thoughts, she bumped into someone, dumping coffee and books all over the place. A small curse in Drakovian was spit, and Nerea did her best to apologize in an accentuated Drakovian “My apologies, I did not see you at all! Please, let me help you—,” She froze in place when she caught sight of the brown skin, dark eyes and glasses “Y-Your Royal Highness! Do forgive me—,”

A thread of apologies began between them both “It’s alright,” he answered in perfect English “I was quite absorbed myself. I did not hurt you, did I?”

“I could ask you that myself! Good heavens, your jacket is ruined! Here, let me…” He put his hand on hers and smiled reassuringly.

“I wanted to get rid of it eventually. I should’ve seen you—,”

As she collected her last book, when she saw the face of the poor man she trampled, recognition and shame came upon her “Oh my, I’m so sorry, Prince Vasili, I should’ve known—,”

He chuckled “Do not fret, I should’ve seen where I was going as well. I suppose we were both distracted.”

She shook her head “No, I should’ve seen where I was going, and now my latte is all over your surely expensive coat!”

He helped her up “Nothing a good rub won’t fix. Please, allow me to walk you to class and buy you a new latte. My treat.” He smiled, and my, what a beautiful smile that was.

“I can’t ask you that—,”

“I’m offering. Besides, I’m afraid my espresso is all over your beautiful dress too. My lady mother would be mortified if I maimed such a beauty. You are…? A beauty like yourself must have a name.” He extended his hand.

“Nerea. Nerea Rose.”

His grip was firm, yet gentle and warm, welcoming even. His eyes swept her before they too widened in recognition “Ah, I’ve heard about you! The American genius who has been travelling throughout Europe’s best universities. Your thesis on the advantages and abuses of AI was formidable. Truly a work of art. My siblings got tired of my gushing about your nuances and the way you expressed it. Not even professionals ten years ahead of you could’ve explained it as well and as richly as you.”

She blushed deeply and bit her lip “I’m glad someone appreciated it. I’m afraid my father didn’t understand much ‘technological mumbo jumbo’ and my sister couldn’t even finish it because the language was too complex.”

He smiled “Shame. It’s a true work of art. Do tell me, what brings you to Drakovia?”

“Well, since I’ve dipped my toes in technology and martial arts, I was thinking of getting a masters on Classical Languages: Latin, Greek, Ancient Egyptian, the works.”

Vasili looked at her, delighted “I am a humanist myself. Not many scientific minds appreciate the arts and humanities. Science may give us answers and make us advance as humanity, but it is art that nurtures the soul.”

Nerea smiled fondly “That’s what my mother used to say.”

Vasili frowned “’Used’?”

Nerea fidgeted with her fingers “She disappeared. Police assumed since she was a Romani—despite her ID clearly stating she was Andalusian—she just escaped with a lover, which she would never do.”

Vasili made a face “To hear the injustice in America is one thing, but that is too far.”

“Not to mention blatantly racist. But it was long before I could even have a conscience, so there isn’t much to do save do her proud, wherever she is.”

“You already have.”

She looked at Vasili, touched by his words, but before she could say something, the professor called “Ah, Miss Rose! Do come in, we have been waiting for you.”

“Your Highness—,”

“Please, just Vasili.”

“Very well, ‘just’ Vasili. I’ll see you around.”

During the small recess, as she walked around the campus, enjoying the small sandwich she made and the unusual sunny weather in the cold Drakkos, she spotted a little boy with gorgeous green eyes towards her. She smiled at him “Hello, sweetie! Are you lost?”

She noticed he held a bonbon, and made a gesture to give it to her. She chuckled “That’s sweet, darling, but I can’t. It’s yours.”

The boy insisted, his eyes making that face that made her melt. She sighed, defeated “All right, all right. I’ll take it. May I give you a thank you huggie?”

Wordlessly, he hugged her and she smiled, and a minute later, he took off to his bewildered mother. She gave her a smile. Just because this wasn’t the first time that a child smiled at her or even went as far to go to her didn’t mean it was strange. A good strange, but strange nevertheless.

“Nerea!” Juliana called.

She turned around and strid to the countess, who seemed to hold court with a few of her classmates. Many of them observed her curiously “What was all of that about?”

Nerea shrugged “I don’t know. It’s not the first time, but it’s still… odd.”

While Vasili did not have many friends, the ones he did were genuine and quite interesting. It was nice, hanging out with people who were as smart or nearly smart as her, not feeling for once like she once set the room quiet with a scientific joke.

As she observed her new group, her eyes stopped on Juliana, and as she talked and interacted, something in her body woke. For a moment, she lost her breath and one voice in her head told her that something terrible would happen to her. Then, it was gone.

When she opened her eyes, Vasili had steadied her and looked at her concerned “Are you alright, Nerea?”

“I… It’s nothing. Silly stuff of mine.”

“It didn’t seem like nothing.” He insisted.

“I just… I got a gut feeling that said that something terrible would happen to Juli. Stupid, right?” She chuckled, brushing it off.

They all looked at one another, obviously creeped out. She excused herself, going to the bathroom. After taking a few deep breaths, she washed her face, and that’s when she observed that Juliana had followed her.

She turned around, and observed that the countess observed her closely “How often do you get these gut feelings, Nerea?”

“Not very often. Only when a tragedy is bound to strike.”

Instead of looking at her like a madwoman, she leaned close, intrigued “Such as?”

“Before my mother disappeared or my Uncle Jimmy died, I got the same gut feeling. I suppose I also know when someone’s trouble.”

She nodded “And you got a feeling that I may be in trouble?”

She shrugged, “I suppose. I know it sounds ominous, but it’s yet to fail me.”

She placed a hand on her shoulder “I will keep it in mind. Thank you, Nerea. You’re a good girl.” 

As they came back, they had begun a debate about what prompted the child’s behavior. “…That was amazing! Children are a great judge of character. Has it always happened?”

“Since I turned sixteen, yes. I suppose I’ve always had a wide maternal side and connected well with children. Many stared at me when I’m out, for some reason.”

Vasili added to her surprise “That is a scientific proof that you are beautiful. I’m afraid I’m not children’s favorite prince.” He shrugged, “Trystan and Bas are.”

One of their friends clapped the prince’s shoulder, remarking that he was the group’s favorite by default. Nerea shyly said “Just because children don’t tend to look at you doesn’t mean that you aren’t handsome. It’s… what, one fact among many? I’ve seen gorgeous people who were awful to children.”

Vasili looked at her with interest before smiling “You have a point. You’ll fit well amongst us, Nerea.”

Christmas finally came around the corner, and Nerea had packed everything when she decided to look outside the window… to find it all covered in snow, even some cars! She turned on the news as the weather guy kept talking about how it’d be snowing like this throughout most of the winter, making it impossible to get out of the country. Her phone ringed, and of course, her flight had cancelled due to said weather. Sighing, she sat down and put her head in her palms, letting out a grunt of frustration.

Just then, Vasili called her. He rarely called, preferring text over call. She picked up, intrigued “Hello?”

“Nerea! I suppose you’re on the plane back to New York?”

“Nope. My flight got cancelled due to the weather, and I have nothing but yoghurt and ramen on the fridge. Why do you ask?”

He cleared his throat “Well, I was on the way home when the snow trapped my car, and your house is just above it. Perhaps I could… crash in there? Until they clear out the road, that is.”

She flushed. For months now, she had developed a complicated crush with Vasili, and the idea made her flustered “O-Of course! I’ll open the door for you. It’s—,”

“Portal 26, second floor, door 3B. I remember, Nerea.”

She smiled “Good. See you then. Hope you like cheap ramen.”

She hung up, looking at herself in the mirror, fixing her hair and spraying the special ‘Amor Amor’ perfume by Cacharel and putting on some lip oil before going to the kitchen, pretending to be preparing dinner.

The door closed behind her, and a snow-covered Vasili stepped into her view, his glasses foggy and covered in specks of snow, as well as his coat and boots. She beamed for a minute before giving him her usual friendly smile “Please, take off your shoes and coat! The heater is right there,” she pointed “and the guest room is next by mine. It’s not a palace, but it’s comfy. Can you tell me if there’s warm bedsheets there?”

Vasili obeyed the host, leaving the damp shoes by the door and hanging the coat and craned his head to the small but cozy guest room. He called out “All clear! Thank you, Nerea. I didn’t know who else to call.”

“You’re my friend. I’m happy to help. Please, sit.”

It was then when she took off her eyes from his face and noticed the large bag. She raised her eyebrows “What is that?”

“Ah, well, Marguerite had asked for Thai takeout, but I suppose that is no longer an option…”

She smiled “I love Thai. Here, let me plate it.”

“May I help?”

“Sure! Cutlery is in there.”

They both plated the Thai food and went to her desk, which was a gateway to the kitchen, and chatted animatedly about what they had been looking forward these holidays. Soon, they exchanged holiday-themed childhood stories “…Poor Nina. Swallowing snow sounds unhygienic.”

Nerea laughed “Curiosity killed the cat indeed. Despite my warnings, she didn’t listen, and we had to hospitalize her. Ever since, she listened to me more often. Well, as often as an eleven-year-old could.

They chuckled “Your sister sounds like quite the character. You must miss her.”

A pang of sadness washed over her “Very much. I’m bummed I can’t see her now. It’s… my first Christmas outside the US.”

Compassion could be read all over Vasili’s face “I can’t imagine how hard that must be. Is there any way I may be able to make it amenable while I’m here?”

She shrugged “It’ll be weird, to not cook an entire feast for the family. We always spent time with my father, sister and the Ginovesis. I’d make my special dish of huevos rotos, followed by migas and my stellar homemade turrón. I do have the ingredients here, but not an audience.”

Vasili gave her an amused look “What am I, Nerea, chopped liver? I’d be happy to be your audience.”

She shook her head “I can’t ask you that.”

“You’re not. I’m offering.”

She smiled widely “All right. But you’re helping, mister! Number one rule of the Rose Christmas; you want to eat; you have to earn it!”

He teasingly made a military salute “Aye aye, Captain!”

For two hours, they cooked, an intimate synchrony between them that neither could explain as the food was made, a certain unaddressed intimacy between stolen glances, the occasional hand brush, and how each looked at the other’s body. Especially the lips.

At last, the food was made, and they dug in, and Vasili seemed to hold back a moan of delight when he tried the huevos rotos. “Mm. The richness of the egg, the meat and the softness of the egg yolk is simply divine, and the spices really give it a kick. You truly are a talent at everything you do.”

She blushed “Thank you. I was nervous that it wouldn’t be to your tastes…”

He chuckled “I may be a royal, but I am capable of appreciating the simple things in life. And this is too delicious to ignore because the ‘commoners’ eat it as well.”

Nerea smirked “It has been a while since we’ve considered royalty some sort of demigods.”

“Thankfully so.”

They clinked their glasses, Riojan wine sparkling red “To family.”

“And those close to your heart.”

Smiling wide, they drank and kept talking and exchanging tales “You’re telling me that Patryk dared Kaspar to put on the prime minister’s underwear and streak across the building in it? No offence, but gross.”

“Not as gross as mudpies. That poor guy.”

“Hey! In my defense, he cheated on me!”

Vasili looked at her intensely “A crime indeed. Such a shame that beauties like yourself don’t get appreciated. If you were mine—,” His eyes shoot wide, and he cleared his throat “Apologies. It seems like the wine made me overstep.”

Nerea must’ve been affected by the wine, for she surprised herself when she blurted out “If I were yours, what would you do?”

He took her hands in his, an intense look on his face making her gasp “I’d worship you day and night. I’d give you the world. Every other woman would cease to exist.”

“Vasili, that is—,”

The strong wind slamming open the window interrupted the moment. Bolting up, the both rushed towards the window, where both forced it closed and panted, the effort being visible, as well as the tension of the moment.

“Whew! I need another glass after that.”

“I’ve had enough alcohol. I could use the turrón, though.”

She let out a breath “Coming right up.”

The morning after, Nerea had overslept due to the many glasses she ended up drinking. She remembers Vasili taking her to her bed, taking off her make-up and pulling the covers so she wouldn’t be cold.

She woke up and, remembering she had a guest, quickly brushed her hair with her fingers and checked her breath. Smelled like wine, of course. Taking a mentos from her drawer, she looked for something cute yet discreet. Ignoring her headache, she lifted her head and tried to have a pleasant smile on her face.

Coming out of her bedroom, the sight before her gave her heart flutters: Vasili had his shirt half-open, his hair was messy, and he was making breakfast. It smelled delicious. He seemed to notice her presence and smiled widely “Nerea! Please, do sit. I’ve made the liberty to make, ah… what do you call it? Pankays?”

Nerea chuckled “Pancakes, and it smells divine.”

He gave her a wry smile “I’ve decided to give it a Drakovian twist. It’s not as good as yours, but I believe it is how it’s done.”

He gave her the plate, and their hands brushed again. He cleared his throat “Look, about last night, I didn’t want to overstep, but… I like you, Nerea. Very much. You draw my eye like no other, and of course, you don’t have to return my feelings, but—,”

“I do return them,” she interrupted.

His gaze lifted, what it seemed like hope “Truly?”

Armoring herself with valor, she struts towards him and gave him a small peck. For a moment, he was surprised, and next thing she knew, he was kissing her passionately, a throaty moan escaping him. Next, her hands were on his hair and shirt, completely forgetting about breakfast. She chuckled “I probably reek of alcohol.”

“I rather like the taste of cherries and wine. A very sophisticated mix,”

He lifted her up with surprising strength, and she chuckled as he kissed her neck, gently dropping her to her bed. He looked at her like he was a hungry man and she was his last meal on earth. Taking off his shirt, he climbed towards her and whispered “Do you want this?”

She nodded frantically “Yes,” her voice was hoarse with desire.

He smiled devilishly “It is a good thing we haven’t eaten yet. What am I about to do is not fit for a full stomach.”

Their lips locked again, and as the sun came up, only them and their rampant tension seemed to exist for a few hours.

As in that day, Nerea didn’t feel so alone in Drakovia.

[flamingpudding]

The Ghost King is my Uncle Drabbles

A/N: The original this sorta ties too: Original One Shot

>>Masterpost

Shovel Talks

Constantine swore up a storm of course only mentally. It wasn't like he was going to voice any of his thoughts right now. Not when he was faced with the good damn Ghost King. All he wanted was to summon one of his contracted demons to gather some information and what did he get the fucking Ghost King.

"Trench coat! We meet again. You worked on your manners, I hope?"

"Of course your majesty." Well he didn't but he avoided the freaking bats like crazy.

"Well I gotta thank you. Well you and my In-Law that's busy and asked me to substitute for your call since we meet and before and so on." The Ghost King casually waved his hand in a dismissive manner before looking around with his eyes sparkling in recognition and it sent a shudder down Constantine's back. "You are giving me the perfect opportunity."

Did… did the Ghost King just pull out a green glowing sword from a fucking portal and why did he have that glint in his eyes? Constantine paled. Why did this have to happen to him?

"If you will excuse me for a moment. I need to look for a Kryptonian real quick. I will deal with your problem right after. Promise."

With that the Ghost King phased through the floor apparently in search of Superman who just happened to be in the watchtower today. Fuck. Constantine run out of the room in mild panic and pushed whoever was on communication aside as he dialed for the bats. The moment someone on their end pick up he didn't bother to explain anything and just shouted for one of them to get their fucking ass here as fast as possible or superman was going to be history!

Okay that might also have sent the people witnessing his panic into chaos but this was a fucking emergency.

It was only minutes later that Batman did indeed arrived together with Nightwing and Red Robin with the Zeta-Tube at the watchtower to bear witness to Superman getting cornered by the Ghost King with Constantine bound by echo-bindings for apparently having annoyed the Ghost King with his pleading to spare the Kryptonian.

"Now I am sure I don't have to repeat myself but, IF you ever hurt Baby Bat a fate way worse than the Soul Shredder and the Nightmare Realm will be the least of your problems. The last guy that hurt my family is still in there and I will gladly make you permanently join him."

A cough resounded and Danny turned his head, a bright smile on his face as he spotted his little nephew and two of the little babies.

"Baby Bat, Baby Menace and Baby Stalker! I will be done in a little bit!"

"Ghost Ki-"

"Uncle Danny."

Batman let out a suffering sigh as Nightwing and Red Robin snickered.

"Uncle Danny. Why are you threatening Superman?"

"Because Jazz forbade me to use the Soul Shredder on humans but Superman is not human so I am allowed to use it on him."

"Uncle Danny, why do you want to use the 'Soul Shredder'" -as a joke Nightwing used air quotes- "on the him in the first place?"

"Shovel talk."

Batman chocked and Red Robin spluttered as Nightwing had a hard time suppressing a laugh. Constantine and Superman gapped at the Ghost King.

"You… are threading him for shovel talk purposes? What even is the nightmare realm?"

"A place you don't want to be in. Very traumatic and perfect to externally punish anyone that hurts my family in any regard as long as I am allowed to dump them there."

There was an added barely hearable grumble of "I would have sent the Joker and Ra's in there long ago if Clockwork weren't such a stick in the mud about keeping the timeline straight and their roles and bla bla bla."

Red Robin did a double take. Did the Ghost King just admit that he would have liked to sent their rogues into a place that was most likely hell? Wait didn't he mention sending someone in there permanently earlier.

No one noticed Superman slowly inching away from the blade still pointed at him while the Ghost King's attention wasn't on him. Well the bats noticed but didn't react to it, deeming it safer for the Super.

"Uh you said you dumped someone permanently in there?" Red Robin tried to keep the attention on them.

"Well yea." The Ghost King casually shrugged, adjusting the blade so Superman could no longer inch away from him. "I looked away from the Ice Mirrors for a week and someone dared to hurt Moma Bat. Of course I was enraged and snatched that guy off the street to permanently drop him in there."

There was a beat of heavy silence. Batman under his cowl bluescreened especially with how casually Danny just admitted at having snatched up his parents murderer to punish the man. Well that explained why he never found the culprit.

"Now If you excuse me little Babies I am gonna finish this talk with the Kryptonian and make sure he knows what will happen if he hurts Baby Bat."

With this the Ghost King turned back to the rapidly paling Superman with a feral grin. The Birds sweat dropped as Batman was still not mentally present, his mind still working through the information.

"Think I would be able to borrow that sword?" Red Robin suddenly asked as Nightwing eyed Batman worringly. "He only said that Great Grandma forbade him to use it on humans. He never said we couldn't."

"Don't let Robin or Hood hear that." Nightwing said, even if he wanted to borrow it himself too. With B mentally still checked out he had to act as the responsible one. That wouldn't stop him from asking their Ghost Uncle later if he could borrow the sword anyway.

[stayuntilthefoglifts]

"If there is no red thread binding us together, I'll grab a string and do it myself, loop it twice around our wrists, tie it with a knot, and a kiss for good measure. Fate has no business telling me who to love. I've been yours since we met."

[sapphicseasapphire]

Living in a world as populated as it is by mortals, it is rare to come across a being who is not so. Rarer still is it to come across one who is both mortal and immortal- those who toe the line between Life and Death.

Reapers are abundant but undetected, doing their work for the spirits while hidden in a mortal body. They are bound to no Gods, serving only the lost souls of the land and answering only to the inevitability of Life and Death.

Hylian legends depict Death as a woman clothed in flowing white fabric, serene and tranquil, everlasting and inescapable. Some fear her, some hate her. Most bunch her up with the Goddesses.

She is not a Goddess.

She is… a promise.

And just as they’ve cast Death’s image onto a Goddess that doesn’t exist, they attribute Life’s gifts to Hylia, singing her praise. Hylia, the little sister of the Golden Three, tasked with protecting this world, is not Life.

Life has existed here for far longer than Hylia has. Some say that she was created with the breath of Farore, others speculate that she came before.

People think that Death exists in Life’s shadow, that they are entirely separate from one another. One brings joy, the other brings pain. This is, wholly and entirely, untrue.

For Life and Death wear matching white cloth, and they stand so closely together that they are indistinguishable from each other. One cannot exist without the other. They are… the same, in nature. They are patient. They take nothing more than what they are given; they give nothing more than what they take. It is balanced, in that way.

Everyone must face them, one way or another. Even Gods cannot deny the push and pull of Life and Death.

Although, there are occasions in which they can be swayed. In the case of a young boy who’d met his end during his quest, so beloved by the spirits, Death chose to wait. She did not claim his soul, not yet. She heeded the pleas of the spirits and allowed him to continue on- to finish what he had started. But this was not without a cost.

The boy- only twelve years old- was named Link, and he was not unique. Those who are favored by the spirits and succumb to illness or injury are often granted these second chances. They may never remember that they had died, but they are forever changed.

These people are known as Reapers. They recruited by Death to guide lost spirits to the afterlife. They have heartbeats, they breathe, they require sustenance. Reapers are mortal, normal people.

Until it becomes time to do the reaping, that is.

In order for a Reaper to find and guide spirits, they must use spirit magic. Spirit magic is as potent and variable as any other type of magic, except its power source is distinct: it is fueled by the power of an untethered soul. It comes naturally to Reapers, except in order to use it, they must free their soul.

Reapers have the ability to separate their souls from their bodies, becoming nothing more than a spirit. Once freed, they are immediately pulled to the nearest lost soul and it is their duty to aid them in their journey to the next life. The pull of a Poe is just as potent as the pull of a portal: demanding and unavoidable. Reapers feel it physically.

When their soul is outside of their body, a Reaper will appear comatose to the waking world. Unresponsive and unmoving, almost like they’re asleep. Their hearts still beat, their lungs still breathe. They still live but there’s nothing there. If their body is moved during this time, the Reaper will have a difficult time returning to it. Their survival will depend on whether or not they can find their body.

Link is one of many Reapers that serve under Death, and he is not unhappy. He sees the Threads of Fate that bind all things- the red ones of the living, the black ones of the dead, and the white ones of the immortal- and he takes pride in helping wayward Poes follow these threads home. He… has experience guiding souls, after all.

Link doesn’t remember when exactly he died, but he knows it had to have happened during his quest to rid the Demon King from Princess Zelda’s body. With her spirit by his side, he felt unstoppable. And his new job isn’t much different. He doesn’t feel sadness when he guides a Poe to their next adventure. No, he feels… at peace.

Death is extremely welcoming to him, for she knows that in time, he will return to her. Just as all things do. Link- our Spirit- admires Death. He serves under her but he is not opposed to it. He’s wholly dedicated to his job. He takes pride in it. It doesn’t interfere with his waking life too much and even as he cast on another adventure, it’s not too much to manage. Death treats him well, and he’d never denounce her.

When he’s reaping, he’s making a difference. He’s helping people. Is that not what a hero should strive for?

He’s… home.

Some notes!

• This kind of turned into a post about Reapers specifically and less about Spirit, but ehhh lore is lore

• Spirit and Wind are BEST BUDS. I’ve been referring to them as “the twins” in my head this whole time

• Spirit’s pupils glow when he is looking at the Threads of Fate. He can’t see them all the time, just when he really focuses on them, or else he’d be blinded by all the string everywhere!

• More on that- he doesn’t only see the threads that bind people to each other. He also sees the threads that bind people to objects. Everything has a memory, everything has a story.

• Something about Spirit’s presence is so inherently peaceful. He speaks quietly and clearly, he moves like a whisp, he smiles so gently. He can 100% be a little goblin in his own right, but he can be incredibly comforting when he wants to be.

• He cannot swim. Wind is APPALLED.

• He knows that Time is a God right away. His string is white. He doesn’t tell anyone, though, because it’s not his place. Everyone has their secrets, everyone should have the right to reveal themselves at their own pace.

• He and Wild sure do have a relationship. Yep. Just. The Reaper- the one who is tasked with guiding lost souls. And the literal spirit, actual ghost. Uh huh. They. Um. Yeah, they definitely have a dynamic. (This dynamic is the reason that I was convinced to add Spirit to my Cryptid Chain)

• A spirit is any soul without a body. A Poe specifically refers to a spirit that is lost. Hopeless. One who needs help. Wild is not a Poe. (Kind of)

• Spirit is like Time in the sense that he has not fully ascended, and won’t until his mortal lifespan is over. When he dies, he will continue to be a Reaper, but much more powerful as he will not be bound to a body. But that’s far, far off. He’s twelve, I won’t be cruel to him

• hehehehe

• He’s so incredibly good at playing the pan flute.

• Also this kid’s hilarious without even trying. (Spirit Tracks is the funniest Zelda game of all time)

• NERD. HE LOVES HIS TRAINS. HE IS IN PHYSICAL PAIN THAT NONE OF THE OTHER LINKS EVEN KNOW WHAT A TRAIN IS!!! SEND HELP!!! TELL HIM ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE TRAINS!!! HE MISSES HIS TRAIN!!!

• He has the unique ability to talk to Poes and Spirits directly, so he’s gonna be the best bet when it comes to translating for Wild. If Wild will let him come close, that is.

• “Don’t disturb me guys, I have some reaping to do,” he says, and then takes a nap. The others can’t tell.

• Or, mid battle, the decides they could really use a blast of spirit magic to aid them. So he just. Separates his soul from his body, as one does. Falls limply to the ground as the monsters they were fighting just suddenly all die. What just happened???

• Do monsters have souls? Do they become Poes? Thoughts that keep Spirit up at night.

[a-court-of-mischief-and-madness]

Midnight revelations

Part 4------Part 5

Eris vanserra x rhysand sister reader!

Summary: with the mating bond between her and Eris revealed. Rhysand isn't too happy and asks her to use it to get information out of Eris. After being invited to a ball in the Autumn Court she isn't too sure if she wants to do that anymore.

A/n: sorry for the delay guys, this chapter is a bit short coz it was finals week and I did not get any sleep at all. Hopefully you guys enjoy this one!

Warnings: slight romance, mentions of blood! other than that nothing else.

A few weeks later, the tension in the Night Court was palpable. Rhysand received a note from Beron, summoning him to the Autumn Court. Rhysand, ever wary, gathered his inner circle for the meeting. They all knew Beron rarely summoned anyone without ulterior motives, and his intentions were never benign.

When they arrived at the Autumn Court, Beron was waiting for them, his eyes glittering with malicious delight. Eris stood by his father's side, his expression unreadable, though his eyes flickered with a mix of defiance and resignation.

"Rhysand," Beron greeted, his tone deceptively cordial. "I'm glad you could make it. We have much to discuss."

Rhysand's gaze was cold as he responded, "Get to the point, Beron. Why did you summon us?"

Beron's smile widened, a predator baring its teeth. "It's come to my attention that there is a bond of great significance between our courts." He glanced meaningfully at Eris, then back at you. "Eris, it seems, has found his mate."

Gasps echoed around the room. Rhysand's face contorted with fury, and Mor looked utterly betrayed, her eyes flicking between you and Eris with disbelief and hurt.

You shook your head vehemently, your heart pounding in your chest. "I haven't felt anything," you insisted, your voice trembling with the effort to remain calm. But just as the words left your mouth, your eyes locked with Eris's, and a powerful surge of energy rippled through you.

In that instant, the mating bond snapped into place, the golden thread tying your fates together. It was like a jolt of electricity coursing through your veins, an undeniable connection that sent shivers down your spine. You felt it as a magnetic pull, an unseen force binding you to Eris with an intensity you couldn't ignore.

As the bond solidified, a strange, tingling sensation spread across your scalp. You reached up, instinctively, to touch your hair, your fingers brushing through the dark strands. Before your eyes, the color began to shift, the deep brown transforming into a vibrant, fiery red that matched Eris's own. The change was mesmerizing and terrifying, each strand shimmering as it took on the new hue.

Gasps echoed around the room, and the entire inner circle watched in stunned disbelief. Rhysand's face contorted with fury, and Mor looked utterly betrayed, her eyes flicking between you and Eris with disbelief and hurt.

"What is happening?" Mor whispered, her voice filled with anguish.

Your heart raced as the realization settled over you. The bond was real, and it was changing you in ways you couldn't have imagined. Your hair, now the same shade as Eris's, was a visible mark of the connection between you, one that couldn't be hidden or denied.

Rhysand's fury was palpable, his power crackling in the air around him. "No," he growled, stepping protectively in front of you. "I won't allow this. She isn't going anywhere."

Beron's smile was triumphant. "You have no choice, Rhysand. According to the laws of Prythian, she must be given the opportunity to meet with her mate. She must visit the Autumn Court every week."

Rhysand clenched his fists, his anger barely contained. "I don't care about your laws, Beron. I won't let you use her for your schemes."

Beron raised an eyebrow, his expression mocking. "This isn't about you, Rhysand. This is about the bond between them. Denying it will only cause them both pain."

You could feel the truth of Beron's words in the depth of your soul, the bond tugging at you, demanding to be acknowledged. Despite your fear and uncertainty, you knew you couldn't ignore it.

Mor stepped forward, her face pale with a mix of betrayal and concern. "Do you want this?" she asked softly, her eyes searching yours for any sign of your true feelings.

Torn between loyalty to your family and the undeniable pull of the bond, you looked at Eris, his red hair and amber eyes reflecting a mixture of hope and fear. "I don't know," you whispered, your voice breaking.

Beron seized the moment, his tone authoritative. "Then it's settled. According to the ancient laws, she will visit the Autumn Court every week to explore the bond. It's only fair."

Rhysand's eyes flashed with defiance, but he knew the laws were binding. With a heavy heart, he turned to you, his gaze softening with concern. "Are you sure about this?" he asked quietly.

You nodded, feeling the weight of the decision pressing down on you. "I have to," you replied, your voice steady despite the turmoil inside.

Beron smirked, victorious. "Very well. We expect her next week."

As you left the Autumn Court, the reality of your situation settled over you. The bond with Eris was undeniable, but the path ahead was fraught with danger and uncertainty. You couldn't help but wonder what the future held and how you would navigate the treacherous waters of both your courts and your heart.

--------------------------♧--------------------------------

Returning to the Night Court after Beron's revelation felt like walking into a storm. You had barely stepped into the House of Wind when Rhysand summoned the entire inner circle to the grand hall. The tension was palpable as everyone gathered, their expressions a mix of shock, concern, and anger.

Rhysand paced back and forth, his fury barely contained. "I can't believe this. Eris, of all people."

Feyre stood by his side, trying to calm him. "Rhys, please. Getting angry won't change what's happened. We need to think this through."

You sat on the edge of a plush armchair, your heart pounding. You could feel everyone's eyes on you, but it was Rhysand's intense gaze that made you feel the most vulnerable.

"He’s dangerous," Rhysand continued, his voice rising. "And now he’s bound to my sister by the mating bond."

Mor, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly stood up. "Rhys, this isn’t her fault. The mating bond isn’t something anyone can control."

You looked up, surprised by her support. Mor had every reason to be furious, but there was a calm determination in her eyes.

"Mor, how can you defend this?" Rhysand's voice was incredulous.

"Because I know what it feels like to be judged for something out of your control," Mor replied firmly. "And because she’s our family. We need to support her."

Nesta, sitting next to Cassian, nodded in agreement. "Mor's right. This isn’t her fault. Blaming her won’t help."

Cassian crossed his arms, his expression serious. "We need to focus on what’s important. Protecting her and figuring out what Beron might do next."

Azriel, who had been silent until now, spoke up. "Eris might be her mate, but that doesn’t mean we trust him. We need to stay vigilant."

Tears welled up in your eyes as you looked at the supportive faces around you. "I’m sorry," you whispered, your voice breaking. "I never wanted this."

Feyre came over and knelt beside you, taking your hands in hers. "We know. And we’re here for you, no matter what."

Rhysand let out a deep sigh, running a hand through his hair. "I just... I don’t want what happened to Mor to happen to you."

You nodded, understanding his fear. "I don’t either. But I can’t deny what’s happening. The bond is real."

Rhysand's expression softened slightly, the anger giving way to concern. "We’ll figure this out. Together."

Feyre squeezed your hands. "Yes, we will. And no matter what, you’re not alone in this."

Mor stepped forward, placing a hand on your shoulder. "We’ll get through this. All of us."

Nesta gave you a small, reassuring smile. "And we’ll make sure you’re safe."

As the tension in the room began to ease, you felt a flicker of hope. Rhysand seemed extremely uncomfortable with the events of tonight and you hoped he would calm down before anything else was to happen with the Autumn Court

Later, in the privacy of your room, you examined your reflection in the mirror, the fiery red of your hair a constant reminder of the bond. You knew from ancient lore that this transformation was not just cosmetic. Your hair would remain this vivid shade until the bond was consummated, until you mated with Eris.

The thought sent a shiver through you. The bond demanded recognition, and until it was fully acknowledged, you were marked by it. The vibrant red was a symbol of the passion and desire that tied you to Eris, an intimate and undeniable connection that changed everything.

--------------------------♧--------------------------------

The invitation to the ball at the Autumn Court arrived unexpectedly, a beautifully crafted scroll sealed with Beron's crest. Rhysand gathered the inner circle to discuss it, his expression a mix of caution and curiosity.

“We’ve been invited to a ball,” Rhysand announced, holding up the scroll. “Beron wants to finalize the peace treaty.”

Cassian scoffed. “Sounds like a trap.”

“We have to be careful,” Feyre agreed, her eyes scanning the faces around the table.

You sat quietly, your heart pounding at the thought of returning to the Autumn Court. Since the revelation of the mating bond, your interactions with Eris had been fraught with tension and confusion. Rhysand noticed your silence and gave you a concerned look.

“You’ll be coming with us,” Rhysand said, his tone brooking no argument. “But stay close. I don’t trust Beron or his sons.”

The night of the ball arrived, and you found yourself dressed in a stunning silver gown that shimmered with every movement. The fabric was delicate and flowing, clinging to your curves in a way that made you feel both powerful and vulnerable. The plunging neckline and open back revealed just enough to be tantalizing without being overtly scandalous, and a high slit ran up one leg, adding an edge of daring to the ensemble.

The grand ballroom of Beron’s palace was a spectacle of opulence and decadence, every inch dripping with gold and crystal. The air was thick with the scent of exotic flowers and rich perfumes, the music a haunting melody that echoed through the high, vaulted ceilings. You entered the ballroom, feeling the eyes of the Autumn Court upon you, your silver gown flowing around you like liquid crystals. The dress hugged your curves in all the right places, the deep neckline and intricate lace detailing drawing more than a few appreciative gazes. Your heart pounded in your chest, both from the anxiety of being in such a hostile environment and the anticipation of seeing him.

As the Night Court entourage entered the grand ballroom of the Autumn Court, you were struck by the opulence and the flickering warmth of the firelight reflecting off the gilded decorations. Nobles and courtiers filled the room, their eyes turning towards your group with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.

Eris was there, standing near the center of the room, his golden eyes locking onto you the moment you entered. He wore a tailored suit in rich autumnal colors, looking every bit the princely heir of the Autumn Court. The bond between you hummed with an almost tangible electricity, drawing you towards him despite your better judgment.

Rhysand kept a protective hand on your shoulder, his gaze wary as he scanned the room. But Eris approached with a confidence that belied the tension between the two courts.

"Dance with me," he said, his voice a low, seductive murmur that sent shivers down your spine.

Rhysand hesitated, his protective instincts warring with the necessity of diplomacy. After a moment, he nodded curtly, releasing you. “Be careful,” he whispered.

You placed your hand in his, the contact sending a jolt of electricity through you. He led you onto the dance floor, the crowd parting to make way for you. The music swelled, a dark and haunting waltz, and you found yourself swept up in his embrace, the world around you blurring as you moved together.

Eris’s hand rested possessively on your lower back, his touch scorching through the fabric of your gown. "You look stunning tonight, red is a good look on you" he murmured, referring to your hair, his lips dangerously close to your ear. "But don’t think I’ve forgotten who you are."

His words were a reminder of the delicate dance you were both engaged in, a game of power and seduction that neither of you could afford to lose. Yet, beneath the barbs and the tension, there was something else—a pull that neither of you could deny.

"Nor I, you," you replied, your voice steady despite the fluttering in your chest.

Eris twirled you expertly, your gown flaring out around you like a flame, drawing the eyes of everyone in the room. The twirl brought you back into his arms, your bodies aligning perfectly, his breath mingling with yours. The world seemed to spin with you, the music and the crowd blurring into a distant echo.

His hand slid lower on your back, his fingers pressing into the curve of your spine with possessive heat. "You think you can manipulate me with this bond?" Eris whispered, his breath hot against your skin. "You think you can use it to get what you want?"

You met his gaze, your eyes burning with defiance. "And what if I am?" you challenged, your voice a seductive whisper.

The air around you crackled with tension, the music and the crowd fading into the background. Eris's grip on you tightened, his eyes darkening with a mixture of anger and desire. "Tell me you don’t feel this," he growled, his voice a raw, dangerous edge.

Your heart raced, the bond between you thrumming with intensity. "I feel it," you admitted, your voice barely more than a breath. "But that doesn’t mean I trust you."

Eris’s eyes blazed with a fierce, possessive light. "Then we are at an impasse," he said, his voice a dark promise. "Because I won’t let you go."

He spun you again, your skirts flaring out, and when he pulled you back, his hand was firmer, more insistent. Your bodies moved as one, each step a seductive dance of defiance and desire. His fingers brushed the bare skin of your back through the cutout of your gown, sending shivers down your spine. The heat from his touch was both thrilling and maddening, his presence consuming.

As the music slowed, Eris’s hand slid down further, his fingers trailing down your bare legs. Your breath hitched, the intimate touch sending a wave of heat through your body. He smirked, his eyes glinting with amusement and something darker. "Look who's excited," he murmured, his voice a teasing caress.

The dance was a battle of wills, each step a carefully calculated move. His hand tightened on your waist, pulling you closer, the heat of his body overwhelming. Your breaths mingled as you moved, the friction between you a tantalizing promise of what could be. The way he held you, the way his body pressed against yours, it felt as if you were the only two people in the room.

"You’re playing with fire," he murmured, his voice low and intimate, sending another shiver down your spine.

"Maybe I like the heat," you replied, your voice a soft challenge.

His eyes flared with something dark and dangerous, a predatory gleam that made your pulse quicken. The music reached a crescendo, and with a final, dizzying spin, the dance ended, leaving you breathless and trembling in his arms.

Eris's eyes bore into yours, a silent challenge that left you reeling. "Remember, little bird," he murmured, his lips brushing against your ear. "This game is far from over."

He released you then, stepping back and leaving you standing alone on the dance floor, the heat of his touch lingering on your skin. The crowd around you resumed their revelry, oblivious to the battle that had just played out in their midst. Your heart pounded in your chest, your mind racing with the implications of what had just happened.

As you made your way off the dance floor, you couldn't help but glance back at Eris. He stood at the edge of the crowd, his fiery gaze still locked onto you, a promise of more to come. The game between you was far from over, and you knew that the next move was yours.

-----------------------♧-----------------------------------

Later after the dance, you looked around the ballroom for eris but didn't seem to find him. You found yourself wandering off into Autumn Court, looking for him.

A few hours earlier

The day had come for you to go the Autumn Court for the ball , a place that had become a maze of emotions and conflicts. The knowledge of your newly discovered mating bond with Eris had created a whirlwind within the inner circle. The tension was palpable, and the uncertainty weighed heavily on everyone. As you prepared to leave, Rhysand summoned you to his office.

You stood before your brother, his expression a mixture of concern and determination. Feyre was by his side, her presence a comforting anchor in the storm of emotions.

"You know why you need to go tonight," Rhysand said, his voice steady but laced with underlying tension. "But there's more to this visit than just the mating bond."

You frowned, sensing the gravity of his words. "What do you mean?"

Rhysand exchanged a look with Feyre before continuing. "We need Eris to sign the peace treaty. It's crucial for the stability between our courts."

Your heart sank. Convincing Eris of anything, let alone a peace treaty, seemed an insurmountable task given your current situation.

Rhysand seemed to notice and asked with hesitation in his voice "you don't plan on accepting this bond do you sister?"

Your eyes met with his and you firmly said "no, brother I would never betray you or our family that way"

"good, that's what I like to hear" rhysand gave you a warm smile

"And you think I can do this?" you asked, your feet shifting and trying to change the subject, doubt creeping into your voice.

Rhysand's gaze softened. "You are stronger than you think. And you have a unique connection with him now. Use it to our advantage."

Feyre stepped forward, placing a comforting hand on your arm. "We believe in you. Just remember, you have us backing you every step of the way."

You nodded, drawing strength from their unwavering support. "I'll do my best"

--------------------------♧--------------------------------

The grand ball in the Autumn Court had been a dazzling affair, with the glittering lights and the melodious music setting an enchanting atmosphere. You had danced with Eris, feeling the intensity of the mating bond thrumming between you, even as Rhysand had watched with a guarded expression.

Later that night, after the festivities had wound down, you found yourself wandering through the quiet halls of the Autumn Court palace, seeking out Eris. You knew he was in his study, and despite the tension between you, you needed to speak with him about this, about the treaty, about what was going to happen next.

The heavy oak doors to his study were slightly ajar, and you pushed them open cautiously. Eris was there, sitting behind his desk, a tumbler of amber liquid in his hand. His face was hard and unreadable as he glanced up at you, his eyes narrowing.

"What are you doing here?" he asked sharply, his voice tinged with bitterness.

You stepped into the room, feeling the weight of his anger and the pull of the mating bond between you. "Eris, we need to talk," you said, trying to keep your voice steady despite the tumult of emotions inside you.

He scoffed, his gaze darkening. "Talk? About what? The mating bond?" He rose from his chair, his movements tense and controlled. "I've made myself clear. This... thing between us changes nothing. You need to stay away from me."

His words stung, but you refused to back down. "Eris you came to me, you started this at the unification ceremony, when i came to visit Lucien, right now at the ball" you gripped your hair strands, frustrated.

He chuckled "Don't you understand? We are all pawns in his game, all that I did was just a game, it didn't mean anything i can promise you that, you didn't seriously think all my gestures meant anything? Did you now?" he responded ruthlessly making your heart swell with sadness and anger

"Eris, I know you're afraid of your father, but I won't let him control us," you said firmly, taking a step closer to him.

He laughed bitterly, a harsh sound that cut through the air. "You have no idea what my father is capable of," he retorted, his voice low and dangerous. ''He wants your wings, and before you ask, no I did not tell him he practically pried his way into my head"

You gasped upon the revelation of the news that you just heard. Your mind raced with thoughts of what Beron wanted to do with your wings and that made you shudder.

The sexual tension between you was palpable, a volatile mix of desire and frustration. You could feel the heat radiating from him, drawing you in even as he pushed you away.

"Eris, I can protect myself," you insisted, your voice softening as you reached out to touch his arm.

He jerked away from your touch, his eyes flashing with a mixture of longing and fear. "Don't," he warned, his voice hoarse. "You don't understand what you're dealing with."

You stood your ground, your heart pounding in your chest. "Then help me understand," you pleaded, your voice cracking with emotion.

For a moment, he looked at you with something akin to despair in his eyes. Then, with a sudden, decisive movement, he closed the distance between you, his hands gripping your arms firmly. The intensity of his gaze bore into yours, his breath mingling with yours.

"You need to leave," he said roughly, his voice low and urgent. "Before it's too late."

But you couldn't tear your gaze away from his, couldn't deny the pull of the bond that bound you together. "I can't," you whispered, your voice barely a breath.

With that he holds your face, you feel the cold rings on his fingers digging into your skin. He towers over you, his height making you feel small and vulnerable pushing you against the harsh surface of the wall. His elbow leans against the wall, trapping you between his strong body and the unyielding surface behind you. His eyes bore into yours with an intensity that sends shivers down your spine. You can feel the heat of his breath against your face, his presence overwhelming and intoxicating.

For a moment, you think he's going to kiss you. His face hovers so close to yours that you can feel the warmth of his lips. Your heart races, your breath catching in your throat as anticipation builds between the two of you. But just as quickly as he moved in, he pulls back slightly, a smirk playing on his lips.

"You have no idea what you're getting into, we can never be anything more, we are just a game" he whispers, his voice low and dangerous.

You swallowed hard, your pulse racing with a mix of fear and something else you can't quite name. His proximity is maddening, his touch sending a jolt of electricity through you. You know you should push him away, to resist the pull he has over you, but your body betrays you, frozen under his gaze.

"I... I need to go," you stammer, trying to break free from his grip.

Eris's smirk widens, his eyes darkening with amusement. "Run away if you must," he says softly, his voice dripping with mockery. "But you'll be back. They always come back."

With that, he releases you and steps back, leaving you breathless and confused, your heart pounding in her chest. You gather yourself and hurry out of the room, Eris's taunting words echoing in your mind.

Taglist: @lilah-asteria @blackgirlmagicforever @sunny1616 @st4r-girl-official @krowiathemythologynerd

[fabled-lady-twilla]

Shiga in 99.9% of the scenes I've written for my ShigaDeku Soulmate AU fic, lmao!

He's like… ugh I don't wanna sit through any boring PLF meetings plotting to take control of all Japan, I just wanna grab my green-haired boyfriend/reluctant hostage and run away to my room. Heh.

Anyways! Under the keep reading link below is an excerpt from a flirty, slightly spicy scene between Izu and Shiga that happens later on in my fic. It's where they're past the chaotic, angry, violent 'enemies to lovers' stage of the story and Shiga has just discovered that he can touch/manipulate what I'm calling a 'soul-cord' in my AU, which is basically a spiritual link that connects two soulmate's souls together and helps them find each other.

The idea of a soul-cord comes from the concept of the 'red string of fate' and is basically a floating metaphysical cord/thread/string (not 100% sure what I'm calling it yet) woven from strands of each soulmate partner's soul, binding their destinies together and ensuring that always meet. By default, a soul-cord wraps around each soulmate partner's pinky finger, but this can be changed.

The thing is, with the way I integrated the soulmates trope into this AU along with Quirks, only soulmate partners with Quirks can see/interact with their soul-cords. By the time the main story line comes around, Izu has lost OFA and Shiga still has his Quirk (Decay). So, only Shiga can see/mess around with their soul-cord but both of them can feel it. Which is why Izuku is like, what the actual fuck is going on right now in the scene below lmfao. 🤣

Also, do you think the name 'soul-cord' is a good name for this? Or would 'soul-thread', 'soul-string', 'soul-braid', 'soul-weave', etc. be a more fitting name for it? I wanna know your opinion!

Pretty pretty pretty please let me know what you thought of this scene and if you'd like to see any more ShigaDeku excerpts! If you'd like to be added to the tag list for the story, please like, share, comment, or send me a PM. Thank you for reading! ❤️❤️❤️

Keep reading for 900+ words of flirty, slightly horny ShigaDeku interaction below:

“Is there a problem?” Izuku said, crossing his arms across his chest as he glared up at the other man. Tomura’s attention had been honed in on him since breakfast and Izuku had finally had enough of it. "You’ve been staring at me all morning. If you’ve got something to say to me, either say it or leave me alone."

Tomura leered down at Izuku through a half-lidded gaze, crimson eyes glinting in the soft orange lights of the hallway. Paying explicitly close attention to the way their silvery blue soul-cord looped around Izuku's pale throat over and over and over again, all nice, tight, and pretty. Right where Tomura wanted it. Right where it looked the best: wrapped around Izuku’s pale, freckled neck.

Right where it belongs, Tomura thought possessively, his cock twitching in agreement in his pants. The same it had been doing all morning long, causing him to have to constantly readjust his slacks.

The longer Tomura ogled him, the more Izuku’s frown deepened, and Tomura noticed the younger man’s glare taking on a heatedness that caused the green in his eyes to darken, contrasting beautifully against the silvery blue soul-cord wrapped around his neck.

Oh, yes. Tomura could definitely get used to this sight.

"Just admiring my handiwork," Tomura finally said, offering a wolfish grin with far too many teeth.

"Handiwork? What handiwork?" Izuku asked, brow furrowing with suspicion.

Tomura's only answer was a slight quirk of his lips.

Suddenly, Tomura thought of a wonderful idea, and his grin took on such a quality of wickedness that Izuku was immediately put on guard.

It was never a good sign when Tomura smiled like that. If that manic grin was directed at someone else, it meant someone was about to harassed, maimed, or something much worse. If it was directed at Izuku, it meant Tomura was up to something no good and Izuku, willingly or not, was about to find out exactly what that ‘something’ was.

Tomura backed away from Izuku, watching as the distance between them increased the floating length of their soul-cord. Tomura grasped the slack and gently looped it around his hand multiple times until it was almost completely pulled taut.

“What are you doing?” Izuku looked at Tomura like he’d lost his mind, what with his waving his hand around in the air like a lunatic. “Looks like you’ve finally gone completely insan—"

Without warning, Tomura roughly yanked their soul-cord towards himself, like he was yanking a dog backwards on a leash. Izuku found himself being jerked forward by an unseen force, tripping over his own two feet and nearly tumbling to the floor were it not for him crashing straight into Tomura's chest.

Izuku’s eyes widened in shock. Not only from what had just occurred but from the feeling of something warm, ticklish, and wispy stroking the length of his neck as Tomura made strange hand movements in the air.

Bewildered, Izuku ran his fingers over his Adam’s apple and around the back of his neck, where the warming sensations were the strongest. He grabbed at nothing, could feel nothing, only adding to his growing confusion at what the actual hell was going on. Did Shigaraki get a new Quirk?

Tomura hummed, seemingly delighted. He made another quick hand motion, fingers circling around nothing and making to grab at something in the air before pulling it closer.

Izuku felt it again, even stronger than before. A thick, deliciously warm pressure around his neck, not quite cutting off his air supply but toying the line of doing so. He couldn’t stop the flush from entering his cheeks at their sudden, close proximity, nor the shiver that ran down his spine at the feeling of something so snug and… protective closing in around such a vital part of his body.

Izuku bit his bottom lip, chewing at worryingly.

Tomura ate up the sight of Izuku’s nervous arousal with a quiet sort of hunger. With their soul-cord still looped around his hand, Tomura softly, ever so slightly, pulled it just a bit tighter.

Izuku gasped, pretty green eyes growing to such a comically large degree that Tomura could not help but let out a mean laugh at his expense, entertained by the younger man’s reactions.

“You!” Izuku hissed accusingly, snapping out of his stupor and narrowing his eyes into angry little slits, “What the hell did you do to me!?”

Tomura grin grew so wide and predatory it nearly split his face in half. “Maybe if you’re a good boy today and don’t get into any trouble, I’ll come by your room later tonight and tell you all about it.”

At Izuku’s utterly scandalized face, Tomura smirked. He swiftly untangled their soul-cord from his hand right as Izuku forcibly pushed against his chest, propelling himself away and out of Tomura’s grasp.

Izuku grunted from the force of his back thudding against the wall of the hallway. He splayed his hands against it and quickly but cautiously inched himself along the wall away from Tomura, mouth slightly parted as he stared at the other man with an expression that was so distrustful Tomura couldn’t help but let out a huff of amusement, his canines popping out past his cracked lips.

“D-don’t you ever do that to me again!” Izuku managed to stutter out, the words coming out way less confident and threatening than he wanted them to sound.

But god, this unhinged man-child was quite literally driving him up the wall and Izuku wanted no part of anything to do with Shigaraki Tomura.

Izuku took a couple of cautious steps backwards, regarding Tomura like he would a rabid wild animal he didn’t want to turn his back to lest it pounce on him.

Tomura just stared back, crimson eyes gazing at him with an intensity that frightened Izuku more than anything else that had just transpired between them.

Izuku noped out and made a break for it.

Swiftly pivoting on his heel and rounding the corner, Izuku fast-walked down to the end of the hallway towards his room, Tomura’s raspy laughter reverberating off the walls and following him every step of the way until he slammed the door shut.

[mxyirin]

Yandere! Diluc Ragnvindr

― 𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗕𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗗 𝗢𝗥 𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗘?

▸who didn't know master diluc?

▸the youngest cavalry captain who later on became the pinnacle in the wine industry

▸rich, handsome, authority

▸these three words described diluc perfectly

▸one of the most famous bachelors of monstadt

▸other one being his brother

▸and if you knew diluc, then you would surely know his darling

▸[name] [last name]

▸a scholar from the akademiya who now settled in the city of freedom, more specifically in dragonspine

▸after all, you and albedo were conducting research together

▸and as soon as the redhead, he was enamoured with you

▸he looked at you with a flowery filter, as if a light was shining from behind you, a red thread intertwining your fate with his

▸and if the thread didn't bind you to him, he'll forcefully chain you to him

▸he was quick on his feet, doing everything in his power to aid you

▸openly pursuing you as soon as he could

▸because who would dare go against master diluc, the only living member of the noble ragnvindr clan, the biggest tycoon in the wine industry, former and the youngest cavalry captain

▸he was an intimidating man

▸so ofc no one dared to harbour any ill thoughts about you

▸they wanted their head on their neck thank you very much

▸diluc was not possessive not at all

▸his yandere tendencies included isolating you from anyone who could 'threaten' you

▸he was overprotective

▸but he was such a sweetheart

▸that you would never believe that under his gentlemanly demur lied a hidden beast

▸though he was never one to deny you of anything you wished for

▸the moment you even glance at an object a second too long, diluc moves forward to get it for you

▸monstadt consists of many sharp and cunning people  like his brother kaeya, sister rosaria and even your own research partner albedo

▸the redhead is cautious in every way possible

▸never letting harm fall on you

▸as a rich kid who was probably spoiled with the best things possible and was always given what he wanted

▸diluc believes all your affection and attention should belong to him, him only

▸as soon as you pay more attention to someone else when you're with him, he will get all grumpy

▸a dark aura would radiate all around him and he would scowl angrily at the person talking to you

▸eventually they make an excuse and run away in fear

▸no one wants to mess with the ragnvindr head after all

▸"diluc, you didn't have to scare him away"

▸"my dear, i have done no such thing"

▸no matter what you do, he would never admit such a thing to you

▸in his mind, he must maintain his best appearance in front of you

▸so no matter who comes, you'll never get impressed by them and forever remain by his side

▸in honesty, even as a yandere, diluc is not too bad

▸he never raises his voice at you nor gets violent

▸diluc gets you whatever you want

▸"diluc, there's no need for that-"

▸"no. we shall get it."

▸yes, even if you say no to him, he'll buy it regardless of the price

▸after all, all his mora is there to spoil you or what else is the use of being one of the richest men in teyvat if he can't even give you what you want?

▸he has nothing but patience for you

▸but that does not mean he is patient with everybody

▸just as I said before, he likes to be a gentleman in front of you

▸but when you're not there

▸diluc ragnvindr is nothing but a monster

▸he prefers wearing black clothes because blood is easy to hide

▸and with him working  as a bartender, the heavy scent of alcohol would cover up the metallic scent of blood

▸"calm down captain obvious," kaeya teased

▸the blue-haired (hot, sexy, handsome-) man was used to seeing his estranged brother show most of his emotions due to you

▸and he couldn't be more grateful to you

▸but of course, like the sharp guy he is, he had noticed some interesting quirks of the redhead

▸so whenever there was a problem with fatui or a person who was in the way he would make you cosy up to them

▸you agreed to help him whenever he promised to give you some interesting reports of your research

▸no one said you weren't as crazy as the others now did they?

▸you calmly responded to the drunk fatui flirting with you

▸and even with the obvious and heated stare boring on your head you acted obvious

▸kaeya chuckled seeing diluc tightly clench onto the glass he was cleaning

▸'ah, cracks have appeared in the glass' his lone eye clouded with amusement

▸and that night when diluc calmly took his place beside you on your shared bed, he placed a chaste kiss on your forehead as you slept soundly in his arms

▸at the same time, the beloved cavalry captain patrolling the city to catch a certain someone saw the figure of the person who had been flirting with your earlier

▸"oh dear, he has done in it again." he called out loudly to his subordinates

▸"huffman, another one has been found!"

▸"the serial killer sure is persistent no?" kaeya laughed lightly as he glanced at the battered body

▸from the darknight hero to this

▸diluc sure had fallen

▸and it was all because of you

[bharv]

Comyrian Red

982 words, GaleZelHeart, M rating (I've finally contributed a tiny fragment to this whole thing. Go read other stuff by @plethomacademia and @smoreofbabylon. Partially inspired by this art)

Read on Ao3

The bottle of Comyrian red was just a little too drinkable, which was just as well, as there were two more bottles that Shadowheart demanded that they needed to drink, lest they have to share it with the rest of their party on their return, which made sense at the time. Or at least now it felt like it made sense, as he drained the last of his cup and felt the warmth of it spread through his body.

At least, he thinks that is what he is feeling.

Having an actual roof, and a tub and a firepit and even the luxury of real bed has made him feel softer around the edges, even with the knowledge pressing on him that Mystra is watching (for of course she is, she always is, but now she is surely watching with great interest in his new reading patterns) and he is, he will confess, happy to allow himself to breathe just for a moment, even if just for tonight, while the rest of the world keeps moving forward, while Wyll and Karlach and Astarion and Minsc deal with… whatever it is they are dealing with (Jaheira and Halsin are gone as well, but he knows better than to question why that is) and while the threads of fate that bind them seem to pull ever closer together.

Tonight, he can lean back and find somebody to catch him.

He turns his face to the side and is met by the warmth of Shadowheart’s neck, strands of blonde hair falling around her ear. She smells so good, and he has to stop himself from pressing a kiss against her neck.

It feels rather rude to, given they have company, and given that until quite recently, this combination of company had felt rather… complicated.

“You have limbs of water, Gale,” Lae’zel tells him, and he can hear the smile in her voice. “Who knew that you could not control yourself when you imbibe?”

It feels good to be teased by her again. Mere weeks ago it felt impossible that she would ever forgive him for taking Shadowheart away from her, but it was love, he knew it was love, and what Lae’zel had with her was no doubt important but… well. Was it truly different from the passion he himself had shared with her, built on curiosity and care for each other’s opinions, then for each other’s needs, then for each other’s bodies? Certainly, they had been quite… vigorous.

The thought of it makes his cock stir, and he feels a spike of shame at it.

“Oh, I’ve seen him worse,” he hears Shadowheart say as she pushes him gently to sit up. “This is only half way to completely useless.”

“I’m glad. I would make use of him yet.”

He looks up to see Lae’zel stand, and he almost groans. “Oh, do we have to? Surely it’s late enough to just relax-”

“You doubt me?” She narrows her eyes as she holds out a hand to him, and he knows better than to refuse her. He feels the gentle push of Shadowheart’s hands on his lower back, and the soft wrap of her arms around him as he fails to quite find his feet. She nuzzles at his neck, and he feels a short pang of shame at being so brazen. Lae’zel, if she feels any anger or irritation, does not show it. Instead her other hand moves to guide Shadowheart’s over his chest, and he looks down in awe at their fingers interlacing on his flesh as she holds his hand.

“Lae’zel… we should go to bed.”

He can hear Shadowheart laugh against his skin as she presses a short kiss to his delicate skin that makes him shudder. “Perhaps we should, love,” she teases, moving her hands across his body in a way that feels indecent.

“Shadowheart-”

“Tell me to stop, and I’ll stop, I promise.”

“We shouldn’t…”

“We shouldn’t, or you do not want to?”

Shadowheart palms at his cock and Lae’zel lifts his head with a tenderness, the razor of her clawed hand as soft as the paw of a kitten as she looks into his eyes. She smiles at him, that confident smile that he realises in an instant that he loves. Did he know that? Did he know that he had fallen in love with the corner of her fang poking through her lopsided grin? Did he take a moment to think of that softness in how she looked at Shadowheart, and did he ever realise that perhaps he wanted that look for himself, as much as he wanted to carve it away in jealousy?

“Zhak vo'n'fynh duj,” she tells him, and before he can ask what it means, Shadowheart tells him with a whisper in his ear.

“Source of my joy,” she tells him, and then Lae’zel kisses him and Shadowheart’s hands move and he feels like perhaps he should pull away, this wasn’t what they had decided, this wasnt…

But it all just seems so simple, in a way it did not seem so simple before. Perhaps it is getting into the city again, but more likely it is getting away from the heavy curse that lay on them back then. He knew he was to die, he was sure of it. Shadowheart was to abandon everything and dedicate herself solely to her Goddess. It seemed so urgent, so important to scoop up and gather all the tiny fragments of time that they could together, to somehow be the sole people in each other’s orbit for the short time they had left, and Lae’zel seemed so certain in the heavy red of her vengeance, like she did not need them at all. Now he looks into her eyes, and they seem impossibly soft, shining like a beacon in front of him.

It all seems so simple.

[rosesnink]

Red Threads of Fate (That Bind Us Together)

Nerea Rose is a gifted girl that has spent her life studying abroad in the best universities in Europe. But when she arrives in Drakovia, her life seems to go the way she always dreamt of. That is, until her dear cousin comes with the former crown princess behind to solve the mystery of her old friend's death, Juliana Georgescu.

Part One: The World Is a Napkin

Sinful Crushes (after pt one but before pt2)

Part Two: All Too Well

[greenhorn-art]

It Starts with a Dream by Autumn_Rain @ciaolongbao

Fandom: 全职高手 | The King's Avatar

Rating: General Audiences

Category: Gen

Words: 6 566

In a collaboration with Make-a-Wish Foundation, the Glory Professional Alliance hosts an event in Shanghai so that the children could meet their idols and heroes. It was a normal publicity stunt and charity event until it stopped being one. Trust Ye Xiu to always derail the Alliance's plans, but this time no one could blame him, or Han Wenqing, for that matter. Who would expect them to be so good with kids?

About the book:

FONTS: Crimson [Google Fonts], Roboto [Google Fonts], and Georgia

IMAGES: Equalizer background from Rawpixel (ID: 3119862); Gamepad icon (Image# 5358929) by pictranoosa on The Noun Project; Heavenly Domain image from The King’s Avatar Wikia.

MATERIALS: 20lb 96 bright 8½”×11”multiuse paper; 0.057" chipboard; Ruby red Iris Bookcloth; Neenah bright white 8½”×11” 65lb cardstock; 30/3 waxed linen thread; wheat paste (1:4 flour to water).

PROGRAMS USED: typeset in Affinity Publisher 2; cover designed with Affinity Designer 2 and Affinity Photo 2; imposed with Renegade's Community Imposer (settings: Quarto, snug against binding edge, signatures of 2 sheets).

Textblock printed with laser printer, covers printed with inkjet printer.

BINDING: Quarto size (quarter-letter, 4.25"x5.5"), sewn board binding with French-link stitch and breakaway spine.

Trying New Things 2: Electric Bugaloo!

Though it's not my first time making a quarto size book, it's my first sewn board binding and my first breakaway spine. Will not be my last. (I'm fact, as I'm writing this I've already bound another QZGS fic using this method!)

Much like Coptic, the sewn board binding technique bypasses the exact things I dread about making a case bound book: making the cover and casing in. Haven't gotten the hang of spines or hinges yet. Or pasting down the endpapers when casing in. (Art imitating life: my books aren't straight and neither am I lol)

Drumming things on (use of minimal glue, only on edges where necessary) is a lot less stressful and means there is less moisture to worry about. However I have my doubts about the structural integrity and longevity of sewn board binding when compared to case binding. With minimal glueing there's less holding it together, and the particular method of covering the boards means that they're partially exposed, in all their onion-y glory (by which I mean 🧅layers✨).

Onto the design:

The endpapers are an image of Glory's heavenly domain, acquired from The King's Avatar Wikia (I just cropped out the pro teams' logos, then resized and cropped to fit.)

The covers were designed as one image so that the contents will flow and connect from one cover to the other.

A major theme of this story, I felt, was connection: the kids are meeting their heroes; HWQ and YX stun everyone by connecting so well with the kids, playing with them, encouraging them, and inspiring them; YX opens up about his backstory and reveals a similar dream to a kid; that same kid going on to become a pro with New Excellent Era.

To pull some quotes from the story: "Everything started with a dream between friends… but now that dream will end with a legacy", "after all, you're never going to be walking alone. Glory has never been mean to be played alone", YX "[continued] inspiring new generations of gamers long after he had retired."

Following that theme of connection, the controllers on the covers are physically connected with a pinkish-red wire. For that I went with a red string of fate, thinking along the lines of fate and a love of Glory. The wire is also in the shape of a cancer awareness ribbon on the front cover (hence why the red is skewed pink).

The black and white controllers are like Player 1 & 2, and they're connected. To each other, to Glory.

I traced the gamepad icon with the pen tool in Affinity Designer, creating filled in curves of each component, for ease of recolouring and resizing without losing quality.

An equalizer background image, stretched and with low opacity, adds texture to the cover. It also reminded me of pixels from holograms. (The idea of the pros and kids' game playing out on stage with massive holograms really stuck with me).

I also wanted to directly reference Make-a-Wish in the cover design, so I looked up which font they use in the logo/branding. Search results turned up Georgia being used in relation to the brand, so I exclusively used that font on the covers. And added a little star above the 'i' in 'with', like in 'Wish' for the Make-a-Wish logo.

(also first attempt at nail art. Armed with a toothpick, I made Ye Xiu from The King's Avatar themed nails! 😾Sullen Kitten; 🌶️Unrivalled Super Hottie; ☂️Myriad Manifestations Umbrella; 🍁One Autumn Leaf; 😊Happy)

[choicesficwriterscreations]

CFWC F/AotW: May 12 - 18, 2024

✒️ = Fanfic | 📱 = Text Fics/Edits | 🎨 = Fanart Ⓜ️ = Mature Content 18+ | 🔥 = Explicit/NSFW 18+ 🏳��‍🌈 = LGBTQIA

BIG SKY COUNTRY

A Miracle Baby ✒️ | Sawyer Oakley x F!MC - @eadanga

THE BILLIONAIRE'S BABY

Mother's Day ✒️ | Cole Stone x F!MC - @eadanga

BLADES OF LIGHT AND SHADOW

Forest Fun 🎨 | Mal Volari x F!MC - @/artbyainna (IG) C: @storyofmychoices

CRIMES OF PASSION

A Rose & A Thorne ✒️ | M!Trystan Thorne x F!MC - @jerzwriter Part 1: The Discovery Part 2: The Resolution

Red Threads of Fate (That Binds Us Together) (Series) ✒️🏳‍🌈 | F!Trystan x F!MC - @rosesnink Chapter 1: The World is a Napkin

IMMORTAL DESIRES

A Pinch of Sugar ✒️ | Seth Olsen-Cooper, Terri O'Rinn - @aria-ashryver

Starlight Smut Supercut - In Bloom; A Respite ✒️Ⓜ️🔥🏳️‍🌈 | M!Cas Harlow x NB!MC - @aria-ashryver

Starlight Smut Supercut - These Bright and Beautiful Things ✒️Ⓜ️🔥🏳️‍🌈 | M!Gabe Adalhard x NB!MC - @aria-ashryver

MOTHER OF THE YEAR

Happy Mother's Day to Laura 🎨 | Levi Schuler x F!MC - @bayleedraws-sometimesx C: @storyofmychoices

NIGHTBOUND

Sleepless ✒️ | Nik Ryder x F!MC - @ladylamrian

OPEN HEART

Complete Open Heart F/AtoW List - Week Ending May 18

THE ROYAL ROMANCE

All That She Wants (Series) ✒️Ⓜ️ | Multiple Pairings - @angelasscribbles Chapter 6: Unvarnished Truths Liam Rys x F!MC, Drake Walker x F!MC

Capitulo (Series) ✒️ | Liam x MC - @belencha77 Chapter 18: Fiesta En La Playa Chapter 19: Cascada Del Olvido Chapter 20: La Manzana De Su Ojo Chapter 21: Una Noche Para Recordar Chapter 22: Tan Dulce Como un Pie

[iloveassandweed]

Chaewon x Y/N: Stuck in the Glue

In the bustling city, amidst the chaos and noise, Chaewon found peace in the simplicity of moments shared with you. As a member of Le Sserafim, her life seemed like a mess, but it was when she was with you that time slowed down.

Under the moonlit sky, the lyrics of "glue song" by beabadoobee resonated in Chaewon's mind, capturing the essence of the feelings you share. There was an undeniable magnetic pull, an unbreakable bond that held you together.

One evening, as you both sat on a park bench, the melody of the song playing softly in the background, Chaewon turned to you with passion in her eyes.

"Y/N, every moment with you feels like I'm stuck in glue," she confessed, her voice laced with both vulnerability and affection. "No matter how hard I try to resist, my heart is drawn to you, and I can't escape."

You smiled, understanding the depths of her emotions. "Chaewon, I feel the same way. We're connected by an unbreakable force, an invisible thread, like the red thread of fate, that binds us together. And to be honest I wouldn't have it any other way."

As the days turned into weeks, your love blossomed, each passing moment strengthening the adhesive that held your hearts together. The world around you seemed to fade into the background, leaving only the two of you entangled in a dance of love.

But as time went on, the weight of Chaewon's responsibilities and the demands of her career began to tug at her. Doubts and fears crept into her mind, threatening to loosen the grip of your bond.

One day Chaewon confronted you her eyes filled with tears. The echoes of "glue song" reverberated through her soul.

"Y/N, I'm scared," she whispered, her voice trembling. "The pressure of my career, the fear of losing myself in the spotlight, it's tearing me apart. I don't want to lose you, but I'm afraid I can't give you the love and attention you deserve."

Your heart ached at the pain spread across Chaewon's face. With gentle hands, you reached out to cup her cheeks, your touch soothing the storm brewing within her.

"Chaewon, our love may be sticky, but it's also resilient," you reassured her, your voice filled with unwavering determination. "I believe in us, in our ability to overcome any obstacles. Let's face this journey together, supporting each other every step of the way."

Tears mingled with smiles as Chaewon leaned into your touch, finding comfort in your unwavering support. In that moment, you both vowed to navigate the challenges ahead, knowing that your love had the power to conquer even the stickiest of situations.

Chaewon's career soared, but through it all, she never lost sight of the glue that held her heart close to yours.

And as you stood side by side, facing a future filled with uncertainties, you knew that no matter how sticky life became, your love would remain unyielding and forever bonded in a bond that defied time and distance.

[mosylufanfic]

5 Times They Almost Met (and after they did)

Merry Christmas, @koltarmi! You asked for “the red thread of fate” and here is what I came up with! I hope you like it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I was also delighted to remember that red was the color of the Force and Force worshippers, as per the costume designers on Rogue One.

5 Times They Almost Met (and after they did)

When she was very small, and still believed in magic and the Force and that her mama and papa would always be there, Jyn heard about the red thread for the first time.

Her mama, who often wore a red sash when they were at home, used it to tickle her nose. "The Force," she said, "binds the universe together. It's a thread through all of us. And sometimes it pulls - " She looped her sash around her daughter's waist and tugged so Jyn tumbled, giggling, into her lap. "People together."

"Like you and Papa," Jyn said confidently, weaving her fingers through the fringe on the ends of the sash. 

"Yes, like me and your papa." 

"Can you see it?" Jyn looked around herself as if she could spot thin red lines tracing themselves in the air around her. 

"No, only its effects. It'll pull you toward the people you're meant to know, over and over again. You might walk by each other in the street. Meet their eyes across a room. Something they do will affect you, but you won't know it was them, not yet. Then you'll go your separate ways, not knowing how important that person is going to be to you until the day you finally meet, the way you were meant to do."

Jyn snuggled into her mother's arms, eyes still searching the air for invisible threads connecting her to people she would one day know.

"Lyra," her papa said. "If you tell her things like that all the time, she's going to start to believe them."

"Good," Mama said. "That's the point."

17 BBY

Papa was hard-faced and silent, and Mama was tense, and both those things made Jyn's tummy hurt. She was whiny and pouty until Papa snapped at her and Mama snapped at him and then she curled up in a ball in the corner of the speeder's seat and shoved her hot face into the squeaky cushion. 

Papa sighed and put his heavy, warm hand on her head. "Stardust," he said. "I'm sorry. None of us want to be here. Hang in there and we'll be gone soon."

"Why did I have to come?" she muttered into the seat cushion. "Why couldn't I stay on the ship and play?"

Nobody answered her. When she looked up, her mama and papa were looking at each other with that grown-up expression of things they weren't telling her. She sighed and hugged Stormy, tucking him under her chin. 

After another eternity of dull silence, she sat up and pressed her face to the window to see out. They'd spent so long in hyperspace that even the dull, grey, rainy outside was interesting to her. 

"Who are they?" she asked, pointing at the line of men winding away toward the hills in the distance. They were all wearing the same kind of blue jumpsuits, their shoulders and hair darkened with rain. 

"Prisoners, darling." 

"What did they do?"

Her mama's eyes tightened at the corners. "I don't know. Shh."

When her parents said Shh like that, Jyn knew to shut up immediately because if she kept talking, someone other than her parents might not like it. Like probably the guard - no, she'd got the word wrong, the guide - who was driving their enclosed speeder and wore a big heavy gun on his hip. 

The guide said, "They're going mining for us, little girl."

Jyn scowled. She wasn't little. She was four, and she could put on her own clothes now and everything. 

"The hyperbarite?" her mama said.

"Nothing else worth mining in those hills."

"It's industry standard to use droids to mine hyperbarite," Mama said. "Due to the dangerous nature of the mining process."

"But these are much cheaper," their guide said, and laughed. He laughed a lot, at things that weren't funny. Jyn didn't like his laugh. There was something mean about it.

Mama didn't laugh. She looked angry, her brows pulled together.

Papa said, "Lyra," very quietly, and then neither of them said anything else. 

Jyn stood up on her knees and put both hands on the transparisteel. Nobody told her not to, so she watched out the window. Then she saw the boy. 

He wasn't her age. He was a big boy. But not grown-up. Almost grown-up, maybe.

The almost-but-not-quite-grown-up boy had a big pot in his hands. It looked heavy, and every so often as he walked, a little something would slop over the edge. 

His dark eyes met hers through the window. His hair, as dark as his eyes, hung dripping wet and curling around his face. He was wearing the same clothes as the grown-up prisoners, the cuffs of his pants rolled up but still dragging in the mud, the sleeves pushed up to his elbows.

"Mama," she said.

"Yes, darling."

"Why is that boy here? Where are his mama and papa?"

"I don't know, sweetheart." Her mama reached out and scooped her into her lap. "Don't look."

Jyn put her head on her mama's shoulder and looked out the window for the boy again. But he was gone.

On the ship back to Coruscant, her parents had a hissed argument while Jyn was in bed, with occasional words leaping out like fishes. "Prisoners . . . a boy! A child! Fourteen if he was a day!" "Can't . . . Krennic . . . " "We have to - "

And a month after they got back, they left again, fleeing Coruscant with only her very favorite toys and some clothes shoved in a bag. But she was all right with that, as long as she was with her mama and her papa. 

5 BBY

It was supposed to be a quick job. Stand around with a blaster, shoot anyone who got too close. Get a cut of the take. Not really a cut, if the size of it was anything like she'd heard. More like a shaving.

But that was fine. She hadn't done the hard work, after all. And even a shaving would feed her for a week or so, which was more than the contents of her pockets would do now.

Jyn Erso was sixteen years old and on her own, and behind the hard expression on her face, she was terrified, all the time. Every moment. She was hoping this job, and the handful of credits it promised, would soften the sharpest edge of that terror.

Her lip hurt where it had split. But that short, nasty fight over a picked pocket had caught the attention of her current employers, who'd peeled her off the street and said, "Want a job, kid?"

She knew full well that they'd almost tossed her back anyway. She looked too small and delicate and, well, young. Nobody here had ever heard of the Lion of Onderon, or his Cub. This was as good a way as any to start establishing her rep, before the world outside the Partisans ate her alive.

But the so-called quick job had stretched out to two hours, then three, as they waited around in a cantina for the call from Balyag's contact. She hadn't minded it at first, as they'd bought a round of drinks, and she'd eaten three bowls of bar snacks down to crumbs. But she was getting antsy. 

At a table against the wall, her employers muttered to each other. The other muscle hired for the job muttered to each other too, especially after one of them detoured close enough to the back table to overhear the conversation.

Jyn wouldn't unbend far enough to ask, but she tipped her head to hear the conversation. 

"Where are they coming from?"

"Aldhani, they said."

"They're late."

"Had some trouble. They stopped to get medical."

"How long?"

"Another half a day."

"Half a day?" Jyn tossed her drink back, scooped up the crumbs of the fourth bowl of bar snacks, and said, "Kriff this." She made for the door. 

The man who'd hired her stepped into her path. "Where are you going?"

"Got another job." She didn't, but she'd found this one. She could find another. "I can't afford to be sitting here with my thumb up my arse."

"We paid you good money to sit around with your thumb up your arse."

She glared up at him with all the ferocity that the Lion's Cub could muster. "You haven't paid me anything, karkface. Now let me through or I'll cut my way through."

5 BBY - a month later

When Jyn saw the prices in the bar, she winced. She'd avoided the city center where all the tourist traps were, but apparently the locals' cantina was as jacked up as the rest of this stupid planet.

Still, she bought herself the cheapest beer they had. If she was going to try and pick up work, she couldn't get kicked out by an annoyed bartender.

The being behind the bar gave her something that might have been a sympathetic glance and refilled a bowl of bar snacks, pushing it down toward her. Even knowing they were probably thirty percent salt to make her thirstier, Jyn pulled it closer to herself. Food was food to her echoing belly, and there’d been many a day when bar snacks were all that filled it.

He turned and started wiping down the bar. When the door swooshed open to a gorgeous woman with explosive curls, he called out, "Windi! Haven't seen you around lately. What did you, pick up some tourist?"

"Yeah, but he hoofed it yesterday morning. Went out 'for a walk'" - she made quotes with her fingers - "and that was the last I saw of him. Rental kicked me out today."

"Easy come, easy go," the barkeep said, not without sympathy. "Working the beach again, are you?"

"Yeah." She took out a deck of fortune cards. "Let me practice on you?"

"Oh, you've told my fortune plenty of times." He nodded down the bar. "That one there, she could use some good words about her future, I think."

Windi turned to her, smiling a bright, sparkling smile. “Well? Want some help with the mysteries of the universe?”

Jyn shot her a suspicious glance. "How much?"

She looked her up and down. "Free for you, little bird. I'm rusty. I need the practice."

Jyn considered, then shrugged a shoulder. What could it hurt? Saw always said - 

Never mind Saw. He certainly wasn't thinking about her. 

"What's your name?" Windi asked, shuffling the fortune cards with a dexterity that Jyn tried not to be impressed by.

"Kestrel," Jyn said, plucking the name out of the air. 

The other woman's sharp eyes flicked up to hers. She smiled a little. "Maybe I'm not so rusty. Here." She held out the deck. 

Jyn didn't take it. "Why?"

"Needs your touch, little bird. Shuffle them, cut them a couple of times, and think hard about what you need."

She shuffled, staring a hole in them. Just cards. Just stupid fortune cards. But - I need food. I need money. I need security. 

"Three card spread, I think," Windi said. She plucked them from the middle of the deck and laid them out in a line, face-down.

The first was a tower, lightning striking the top, figures falling from the windows. "This is your past," Windi said sonorously. "You've had a shock. Something broke, something was destroyed. Your world fell apart."

She gave Jyn a sympathetic look.

Jyn avoided her gaze, trying not to think of Mama falling into the wet grass. 

"But you're strong. You can begin again. As many times as you need." She traced her fingers over the back of the second card. "For the present . . . " She flipped it over. The picture was upside down, showing a wizened old man in a cave. It was hard not to think of Saw again. "The hermit. You're alone."

Jyn couldn't help herself. She snorted. She hadn't needed the cards to tell her that.

Windi smirked at her. "You're angry and resentful. Not without cause, I think. Still, you need time to come to terms with what happened. Maybe with your past." She tapped the tower. "You also don't let your feelings surface."

"Believe me, that wouldn't do anyone any good," Jyn said caustically.

"Maybe, maybe not." She fluttered her fingers over the last card. "And now for your future." She flipped it. "Ahhhh," she breathed. "The Galaxy."

It was a work of art, this card, all glinting paint and clusters of stars, and two fat babies reaching up for it. 

"Let me guess," Jyn said. "I'm gonna roam? Lots of glamorous travel?"

"Nope. You're going to achieve your goals."

Her goals of having food in her belly and a roof over her head? Well, fine. All right then.

"The Galaxy, upright, means success and happiness. You're going to celebrate, and be celebrated. Lots of joy." She smiled. "It's a good future."

Jyn suppressed another snort.

Windi considered the cards. "All major cards," she said. "Some say that means you're at a crossroads in your life, and you really need to pay attention to what they're telling you."

"Do they?"

"But I always think it means your life is going to have huge effects." For a moment, the glittering, twirling Galaxy card reflected in her eyes. "Things look dark now, but you, little bird - you're going to rise like the dawn."

Jyn swallowed hard. "Nice," she said. "Nice scam. You make a lot of money at that?"

"Oh, enough." She scooped her cards back together and shuffled the deck again. "What's your line of work?"

"Fighting, mostly."

"Fighting," Windi echoed. "I don't know how you got here - "

"Ship," Jyn said. And a captain who thought he was entitled to more than he was paying her for. 

"Mhm. This isn't a fighter's town.This is a scammer's town, and unless you've got some scammer's skills, the bucketheads'll have you in front of some judge and packed off to an Imperial prison for the rest of your life before you can say boo. You've got good hands. Ever done three card monte?"

"No?"

She held up the card with the queen on it. "Watch the lady."

She taught Jyn the card game, including the deft movement necessary for hiding the lady away before you started moving the cards around. 

"Why would you teach me?" Jyn asked once she'd got a handle on it. "Now I'm competition."

"No," Windi said. "You, with that sweet innocent little face - "

She felt herself flush hotly. "My face is not -"

"Oh, it is, and nobody will ever expect you to be running a distraction while I pick pockets."

Enlightened, Jyn gave a short grunt. "Then I get half of the total."

"Twenty percent."

Jyn got up. "Good luck with that."

Windi laughed. "Okay, little bird, forty percent. I'll be doing the hard work. Let's go."

Jyn considered it and decided forty percent wasn't bad. The hard bit would be the patter. But Windi said she could insult people. That would be fun. 

As they walked toward the beach and the tourists all waiting to be fleeced, Windi grumbled about the man who'd left her high and dry.

"Never known a Keef who wasn't a dumbass," Jyn contributed. She'd never known a Keef, period, but she did know that women who'd been dumped by men enjoyed hearing them bashed. 

Windi sighed. "Stupid name, but he had money. And he was good in bed." 

Jyn shrugged. Her experiences with that, thus far, had been unimpressive. 

Windi gave her a sly smile. "Just remember, little bird, nice guys finish last."

3 BBY

Shouts echoed behind her, and Jyn's eyes darted around for a hidey-hole that she could still escape from if cornered.

Stupid, she cursed herself as she ran. Stupid, stupid! Check around for their backup before trying to kick the shit out of a stormtrooper, even if he'd been trying to shake her down for bribe money first. 

There! If she wasn't mistaken, that alley fed out onto a busy street on the other end, and even if they saw her go in, she could lose herself in the crowds when she went out.

She swerved, her shitty boots skidding on the icy streets, and scrambled into the alley.

Fuck.

She'd been mistaken.

It was a fucking blind alley too, one end boarded up into a dead end.

She allowed herself two seconds to curse in rage before clamping her lips shut and tuning her ears to the sounds of her pursuers. Who were - yeah. Closer. 

Dead end indeed.

She looked around frantically and found a ladder, stretching up the side of the building next to her. But the lowest rung was just above her flailing fingers. Hissing to herself, she backed up as far as she could, took the few steps the alley permitted at a run, and leapt.

Her right hand slipped but her left hand closed around the lowest rung. Her body swung and slammed into the brick wall, forcing a grunt from her lips. She braced her feet on the wall, got her right hand on the next rung up, and hauled herself up as fast as she could go.

Not quite fast enough. 

A voice echoed. "I've got this one! You all, take the others!"

Just shy of two floors off the ground, and about eight floors from the roof. She swung herself around the ladder and wedged her body in between it and the wall. Her heart slammed itself against the cold rung pressed to her chest. She breathed as slowly as possible, mouth open to let the air drift in and out without making a sound.

Was she far enough in the shadows? Did her drab clothes blend with the dimness? Or did she stand out like a moth on a snowbank?

She slid her hand into her jacket and curled it around the butt of her blaster.

The officer stepped into the alley, eyes flicking around. He was young, with a sharp line of beard running down his jaw and chin, and a crisp olive-green uniform, slightly crumpled and rumpled with all the running. 

Don't look up, she chanted in her mind. Don't look up. 

Funny that he hadn't brought troopers with him. Didn't that type always want backup?

He looked down at the ground. Her throat knotted as she realized that her boots had left scuff marks on the plascrete. 

His dark eyes roamed upwards. Jyn's stomach folded in on itself, her throat tightening up. Her finger clenched on the trigger of her blaster. If she shot him, she'd give away her position - but if he shouted out, that would give away her position too. 

He turned away. "Nothing down here," he called out.

She kept her finger on the trigger until his footsteps had faded away. Then she shoved the blaster in her jacket and scrambled for the roof.

She'd been so damn lucky he hadn't seen her, she told herself once she was well away. So damn lucky. 

His eyesight must be shit, though. She could have sworn he'd looked right at her. 

3 months BBY

"Can you shift it or not?" Jyn said.

The woman behind the counter of the shitty little market stall looked over her magnifiers. "I can shift it," she said. "Problem's the timeline. I can take it on consignment. Could probably get two hundred, maybe three hundred with the right buyer."

"Consignment? You mean I'd have to come back here for my money?"

"Never said that. You got a holonet account I can drop your credits into?"

She snorted. "Not on your life." She'd sliced into enough of them not to trust any holonet based money account. She believed in cold hard credits, and occasional cred-cards, with little enough on them that losing them wouldn't be a disaster.

"Well, if you want credits on the table today, I can do you a hundred fifty."

"A hundred fifty?" She reached out for the heat sink. "I'll find that three-hundred-credit buyer on my own, thanks."

The woman shrugged and flipped one of her long braids over her shoulder. "Good luck with that."

Jyn wavered. The smirk on the other woman's face told her that she'd have a far more difficult time finding a buyer than this woman would, market stall or not. She scowled. "A hundred seventy-five, and a fifty percent discount on whatever I need from here."

"Twenty percent discount."

Jyn hissed through her teeth and slapped the heat sink back onto the counter. 

"Watch the merchandise," the woman said absently, crouched down to unlock what was probably a safe. "If I have to repair it, I'll knock it down to one-twenty-five."

Jyn poked around the stall, feeling as if she ought to make use of that twenty percent discount now that she'd argued for it, but mindful of not using up too many of her hard-won credits. 

A burly man ducked into the stall and she felt herself go tense. But he walked past her and up to the counter, leaning over it to kiss the woman hello. 

"What are you doing here?" the woman asked, kissing him back. "Something happen down at the docks?" She leaned back, studying him as if counting all his limbs.

"Don’t worry, love. I just knocked off early. Got a special cargo come in." He gave her a significant look. 

She frowned at him, then her eyes widened. "He said he couldn't make it for a visit until after - " She rested a hand on the swell of her belly.

Jyn didn't know why anyone would bring some poor kid into this craphole galaxy, but whatever. It wasn't her lookout. 

"Work brought him through,” he answered. “Thought he should stop by in case he couldn't later. He was going to come with me, but I told him things were too hot around here. He's at the house, but he can't stay. Probably just for dinner."

They both looked at Jyn. She pretended to be examining a case of vibroblades, just as deaf as could be.

"Let me get rid of this customer and I'll close up."

She poked around the shelves for a few minutes, just for the look of it, then brought a couple of pieces up. Whoever it was that had come into town for dinner, the owner of the stall was eager enough to see him that she actually gave an extra five percent on a vibroblade when Jyn pushed for it.

Unfortunately, it got taken off her when she was arrested and tossed in Wobani. But it had been a good deal, anyway. 

5 ABY

"Look at us," Jyn said, settling into her seat. "All respectable. Flying under our own identities, even."

Cassian shivered. "Don't remind me."

She tossed her leg over his knee, grinning into his face. "Not too late to fake our scandocs and double back to cover our trail."

He snorted, acknowledging that he was being ridiculous. 

It was strange to be taking regular transport, after years of bugging out on whatever transport the Rebellion could scramble up, having multiple extra identities on their persons at all times, and tensing up every time they saw stormtroopers. 

Almost like peace. 

She'd never known peace. Neither had he. Watching it dawn on the horizon was mildly unsettling. 

"These friends of yours," she said. "How long did you say you knew them?"

"Since I was young," he said. "Brasso was like a big brother to me when I first got to Ferrix."

"And Bix was your first love."

"Mmmm. They've been married - damn, it must be seven years now."

"Hmmmm." She rested her cheek against the window and watched the planet retreat below them.

He slid his arm around her. "Bix might've been my first love," he murmured, kissing her ear, "but you are my last."

She elbowed him. "Stop being mushy somewhere I can't jump you. And I know that."

He kissed her ear again. "Then what are you worried about?"

"I - " She slouched into his side and muttered, "What if they don't like me?"

Normally she would have said kriff anyone who didn't like her. But these were good friends of Cassian's. He'd taken time to see them more than once over the course of the war, when free time was something he had to scrape together like smeared clay. They were his last connection to the planet where he'd spent his teens. He'd lost so much over his lifetime - multiple homes, his entire family twice over. This couple was all he had left of his past. 

If they didn't like her, he'd be caught in the middle.

"They already do," he said.

"What'd you tell them?"

"Only all the best stories. But you've met them."

She sat up, frowning at him. "No, I haven't. When?"

"You remember Ganji Moon?"

"I went so many places, Cass." And she'd rarely wanted to remember any of them.

"Water moon," he said. "They mine and fish out in the ocean and bring it into about three or four different islands to get exported off-planet."

She shook her head at him, smiling incredulously. Cassian's head for details was so astonishing, and sometimes he thought everyone else remembered like he did.

"It would have been a little before you went to Wobani. You traded a heat sink at a market stall and bought a vibroblade."

A vague memory came swimming back. A woman with long braids and a huge belly, and her man, a massive cargo worker of some kind. "I - maybe. Yeah, could be. She haggled like a demon, that woman."

"She said the same about you. Bix is a hustler. She appreciates hustle."

She poked him. "Why didn't you say something before?"

"I wanted to see if you'd recognize them. Thought it would be a funny story. I didn't know you were so worried about meeting them."

"I wasn't worried. Exactly."

"Mmm."

She slid him a sidelong look. "How'd you know we met, anyway?"

"I was in the area the same day because I was tracking you."

"Me?" Right, yeah, right before Wobani, he would have been. 

He nodded, mouth curling up at the side. "I took a gamble and stopped by for a few hours. Their first son was due in about a month and I didn't know what the war was going to do. I showed them your holo because I thought Bix might run into you. She did a lot on the grey market then. They both recognized you as her last customer before Bix closed up the stall to come see me."

"You're joking."

"Nowhere near. I went running to the market and then the spaceport, but you were gone. I caught your trail, but didn't catch up to you again until you were in Wobani."

She shook her head. "You mean if you'd come with Brasso to the market the first time, we might have met that much earlier?"

"You would've bolted," he said. 

"Well, yeah. But who knows what would have happened from there."

He took her hand and kissed it. "Chirrut would say everything happens the way the Force wills it. Near misses and all."

"My mum used to say something like that," she said. "That the Force drew people together over and over until they finally met." She rested her head back against the window, smiling at him. "Wonder how many times we've almost met?"

"It can't have been more than that one time," he said. "It's a big galaxy, and that was when I was looking for you."

She shrugged. "Who knows, right?"

FINIS

[aalissy]

Soulmates

Anddd here is my final chapter for Marichat May :). I hope you enjoyed this set of prompts from me for this month. If you did, please feel free to join me for Ladrien June <3

AO3

Chat Noir bounded across the rooftops of Paris, his heart beating in sync with the rhythm of the city below. The moon cast a silvery glow over the landscape, but it was the thought of Marinette that truly illuminated his path. He landed softly on the rooftop of her bakery, his boots barely making a sound. He loved visiting her, especially during these quiet, late-night hours when the world seemed to shrink down to just the two of them.

He tapped lightly on her balcony’s trapdoor, brushing a hand through his hair like he had done countless times before. Moments later, Marinette appeared, her eyes sparkling with joy and a soft smile playing on her lips. She opened the trapdoor, and he slipped inside, his heart fluttering as it always did in her presence.

"Hey, purrincess," he whispered, wrapping his arms around her in a warm embrace.

"Hey, kitty," she replied, nuzzling against his chest. "I missed you."

He pulled back slightly, just enough to look into her eyes. "I missed you too. Every moment away from you feels like an eternity."

They settled on her chaise, the familiar comfort of her room enveloping them. Chat reached out, taking her hand in his, their fingers intertwining as he squeezed her hand. He could feel the warmth of her touch, goosebumps rising on his skin from the glide of her thumb along his.

"Do you ever think about soulmates?" he asked softly, his voice filled with a mix of curiosity and wonder.

Marinette tilted her head, considering his question. "I do. I think about it a lot, actually. Why do you ask?"

Chat took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "Because sometimes... it feels like we're more than just partners. Like we're connected in a way that goes beyond everything else. Do you... do you feel the same?"

Marinette's smile widened, and she leaned in to rest her head on his shoulder. "Yes. I feel that too, mon minou. It's like we were meant to find each other. Like our souls were always destined to be together."

He tightened his grip on her hand, his heart swelling with emotion. "You know, there's a legend about a red string of fate. It says that two people connected by this string are destined to be together, no matter what. No matter how far apart they are, or what obstacles they face, the string will always bring them back to each other."

Marinette looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with tears. "That's beautiful. And it feels true, doesn't it? Like there's an invisible thread that binds us."

Chat nodded, brushing a stray hair from her face. "Yes, it does. Every time I'm with you, every time I see your smile or hear your laugh, I feel that connection. It's like you're a part of me, Marinette. My other half. The better part of me."

She cupped his cheek, her touch gentle and reassuring. "And you're a part of me, mon Chaton. My heart, my strength, my everything."

Their lips met in a tender kiss, a silent promise of how grand their love was. As they kissed, Chat pulled back just slightly, their faces still close. His eyes searched hers, filled with a mixture of vulnerability and love.

"Marinette," he whispered, his voice trembling with emotion, he picked up her hand, rubbing at her ring finger. "I think we're soulmates."

Her eyes widened, gazing down at their hands. "I think so too. I think we were always destined to end up together."

"Me too," he replied, his voice steadying. "I've never felt this way with anyone else. It's like... we were always meant to be together. Like there's some invisible string that just keeps pulling us back to each other. Helping us to find each other. Again and again."

Marinette smiled, her heart feeling like it might burst with the depth of her feelings. "That’s so sweet, Chaton. And I believe it. I believe it with all my heart."

They kissed again, the certainty of their love strengthening with every moment. In that quiet, intimate space, they knew that their souls were intertwined, destined to be together for all time. And as they held each other close, they felt the invisible thread that connected them, unbreakable and eternal.

"I love you, Chaton," Marinette whispered as they held each other tight.

"I love you too," Chat murmured back, his heart overflowing with love and certainty. At that moment, beneath the moonlit sky, they knew their bond was unbreakable, a testament to their eternal love.

As they continued to embrace, the night around them seemed to grow even quieter, as if the city itself recognized the significance of their connection. The gentle hum of Paris, the distant sounds of traffic, and the soft whispers of the wind all seemed to fade into the background, leaving only the sound of their intertwined breaths and beating hearts as they gently kissed each other.

Chat couldn't help but marvel at how right everything felt in Marinette's arms. He had always admired her strength, her kindness, and her unwavering spirit, but it was in these quiet moments that he truly understood the depth of his love for her. She was his anchor, his guiding light, and he knew he would do anything to protect her and make her happy.

Marinette, too, felt the profound weight of their relationship. She had slowly fallen in love with Chat from afar, never imagining that he could be her partner in both life and love. Now, with his arms around her and his love shining in his eyes, she felt complete. The journey they had taken together, filled with challenges and triumphs, had only strengthened their connection, making it clear that they were meant to be.

The night wore on, but neither of them felt the passage of time. They talked about their dreams, their hopes for the future, and the adventures they would face together. They shared secrets, laughter, and quiet moments of reflection, each conversation leading to more kisses and solidifying their belief in their destiny as soulmates.

As the first light of dawn began to creep over the horizon, Chat knew it was time to go, but he was reluctant to leave. He kissed Marinette's forehead, promising to return as soon as he could. She held his hand until the last possible moment, her eyes filled with love and a quiet determination that mirrored his own.

"Until we meet again, purrincess," he whispered, leaping gracefully onto the balcony and disappearing into the early morning light.

Marinette watched him go, her heart full of love and certainty. She knew they would always find their way back to each other, no matter the challenges they faced. They were soulmates, destined to be together, their love an unbreakable thread that bound them for all eternity.

[delumineight]

dark (2017-2020) — martha and jonas as ariadne and theseus

obviously spoiler warning if you’re currently watching/haven’t watched or plan to

no i don’t care that she’s his aunt. everyone in that damn show is related anyway!

EVERYONE seems to make the adam and eve connection, of course, because that is what they go by in their +66 year versions of themselves. it makes perfect sense too, considering they are the creators of the time loop. the creators of their entire bloodline, their child (unnamed/origin) is the father of tronte nielsen in both universes.

however, the ariadne and theseus connection is also canon. the very first scene in which we meet martha she is reading her lines for the play ariadne where she plays the lead. the next episode jonas enters the theater during rehearsal, where she’s giving the big monologue.

“the spinning wheel turns, round and round in a circle. one fate tied to the next. a thread, red like blood, that cleaves together all our deeds. one cannot unravel the knots. but they can be severed. he severed ours, with the sharpest blade. yet something remains that cannot be severed. an invisible bond.”

then immediately after this they share their first kiss unless you’re counting the couple in 206 when jonas goes back in time and kisses her. when jonas enters the bunker for the first time he finds a red (like blood) thread tied in a knot.

and then during the actual play she breaks into tears on the stage when katharina has to run out and rush her off stage. this is also the night that jonas time travels for the first time.

greek mythology:

ariadne is the daughter of king minos of crete. minos has a deal with athenians to send 7 boys and 7 girls annually to dedalus’s labyrinth as to sacrifice them to the minotaur. soon minos put ariadne is charge of the labyrinth. one year the sacrificial group included the athenian king’s son, theseus. he immediately volunteers to kill the minotaur instead of being eaten by it. ariadne falls in love with him for his bravery. before he traveled into the labyrinth, she gave him a sword and a red ball of yarn so that he would be able to leave it in his path and know his way out. after this they eloped and went to the naxos island where theseus ended up abandoning her. when he had realized what he had done, it was too late for him to come back and save her.

dark

obviously, this is all season 1+2. the volunteering of theseus can only be mirrored with jonas’s willingness to go into the caves after the disappearance of mikkel. we later find out in 206 that martha had a crush on jonas (and it was reciprocated) before micheal committed suicide and jonas finds his body, leading to his mental hospitalization.

with the red string and sword though, it can get a bit muddy in terms of comparing these two to the myth as +33yrs jonas gives him the map of the caves, the flashlight, and tells him to follow the string. however the string is very obviously red and it’s shown as jonas and others use it to guide them through the cave. the abandonment would come in with jonas being trapped in time. when he finally comes back, he reunites with her for minutes before adam comes in and kills her.

furthermore ariadne dies in childbirth. which doesn’t happen to martha, but she is pregnant when she… dies? or bursts into dust? whatever happened there, we know that she was carrying the origin and that his birth would trigger the loop to happen all over again.

and the play itself and red string isn’t the only thing that implies this connection. when they have sex in the third season, when they conceive their origin, the song playing the background is the labyrinth song by asaf avidan.

“oh, ariadne, i am coming, i just need to work this maze inside my heart — i was blind, i thought you’d bind me, but you offered me a chart — oh, ariadne, i am coming, i just need to work this maze inside my heart — if i’d known that you could guide me, i’d have listened from the start — … — oh, ariadne, i was coming, but i failed you in this labyrinth of my past — oh, ariadne, let me sing you, and we’ll make each other last.”

another detail we know about original martha is that she’s big into theater. on her bedroom walls she has posters for ariadne, macbeth, and romeo and juliet. i believe each of these have a connection with the story, ariadne being the biggest connection.

macbeth: a story of a married couple killing everyone so that macbeth can become king. an endless slaughter. much like what adam and sic mundus attempt to by trying to find a paradise.

romeo and juliet: though martha and jonas aren’t technically from two different households, they are raised as such. martha’s father ulrich and jonas’s mother hannah are, well, constantly fucking. katharina finds this out pretty early in the series. when she meets +33yrs jonas with martha she threatens him and when she travels back to 1986 she threatens a teenage hannah. there’s also a line in 206 where ulrich teases the ongoing crushes that martha and jonas have on each other by calling jonas “romeo.”

god, has anyone else here even watched this show? i doubt it. i highly suggest it and it is very binge-able. if you have seen it please let me know if you want to hear me talk about it more. i’ve only watched it through once and im so engaged by the lore and theory and the issues of it all.

[arylleth]

if there is no red thread binding us together i'll grab a string and do it myself, loop it twice around our wrists, tie it with a knot and a kiss for good measure. fate has no business telling me who to love. i've been yours since we met.