#rose and dimitri went through this

[grangcrmalfcy]

I can’t believe I have to go through this shit AGAIN

[viktoreznovs]

a little reznov rant i sent in a server i'm in

i love viktor reznov no one understands him like i do ( because i am him but thats beside the point ) ( will be referring to myself in the 3rd person so people dont get confused )

i love his characterization i feel like treyarch did an amazing work but i also feel like his mental issues are often overlooked . and it's so ironic because people always talk about reznov being some strong cold alpha hero or smth who doesnt need coddling and doesnt have any trauma and it's just . you fell for the character's facade meant to be dismantled by the player / viewer ! ! ! plus, their depiction of him is often way over exaggerated . like yes he is strong and sometimes cold towards his allies but he does care . he is most likely the most progressive person in the game i'd say ( these are my thoughts ) . deep down he is still a broken person just like the other characters , yet people don't acknowledge it because they can't see through his facade . they're at war , of course he isn't going to break down crying about his issues , but that doesn't mean he doesn't have issues .

think about it , he's been in that prison for 18 YEARS . there is not doubt he developed a lot of mental issues during that time period . we can already see this when mason writes about reznov and dimitri in his journal . mason knew in detail about the battles and journeys reznov had gone through with dimitri . mason says reznov often told him he saw dimitri in him . this man has been in prison for eighteen years yet he still has a perfect memory when it comes to his dead " best friend . " this attachment grows so unhealthy he starts seeing dimitri in other people . this delusion of his grows so strong he constantly puts himself in danger just to protect mason . where have we seen that behaviour before ? oh , right , with dimitri . ( he already shouldn't be putting his life on the line for one man but i digress ) . an example of this is the beginning of their vorkuta escape plan where reznov PLANNED to get beaten up by that guard just so mason could kill the guard and take the keys . plus , he quite literally admits just a step later ( step 2 : ascend from the darkness , on the elevator ) that he trusts mason with his life .

he takes the whole " victory cannot be achieved without sacrifice " saying way too seriously , but he has always been like that ( the most obvious example being mason's reprogramming done by his hand ) . another example would be when he sacrificed himself ( even though he ended up surviving ) just to get the guards off mason's back so mason could escape

also , in a cut content scene from waw , chernov wasn't supposed to die immediately by the burns and instead was meant to get shot by reznov / dimitri . reznov tells dimitri that chernov is suffering and that " he knows what to do " . if dimitri waits too long , reznov outright puts chernov out of his misery himself . in his eyes , he was giving chernov a quick and less painful way out , instead of trying to treat his wounds . it is shown so many times he believes death to be merciful .

all of this is not the mindset a " normal " or mentally stable man would have , but of course most fans will never acknowledge it because they can't even see past his whole hero facade that he puts on .

obviously this isn't to say that he hasn't done bad shit and that his trauma justifies what he has done to mason , but he wasn't some normal man who knew EXACTLY what he was doing . he was blinded by his need for vengeance . he always has been , and this behaviour most likely rose from his father's death : the undying loyalty to his motherland and the self - destructing need for vengeance .

he most likely regrets what he did to mason . will mason ever forgive him ? probably not . does mason owe him forgiveness ? fuck no . i like to think that's why reznov went along with the whole death thing after vorkuta . in his eyes it was better for mason to move on without him than for him to be a constant reminder of his trauma . did that help at all ? according to bo2 woods : not a goddamn bit .

[retiredficwriter]

stumbled on this post about crazy ex-girlfriend songs applied to thg. as someone equally obsessed with cxg, va/bloodlines and just va/bloodlines in a musical setting, YOU KNOW i had to mix both.

but me being me, i went an extra mile and decided to tell (an exaggerated version) the plot of series through the songs.

vampire academy

i'm in a sexy french depression - lissa

feeling kinda naughty - rose

woman gotta stick together - mia

what u missed while u were popular - christian

let's have intercourse - dimitri

frostbite

a boy band made up of four joshes - christian

where's the bathroom? - janine

greg's drinking song - adrian

getting bi - adrian

maybe she's not such a heinous bitch after all - rose

you're my best friend (and i know i'm not yours) - mason

shadow kiss

i'm a good person - rose

what it'll be? - adrian

this session is going to be different - rose's therapist

i gave you an uti - dimitri

back in action - rose and christian

after everything i've done for you (that you didn't ask for) - rose

blood promise

i'm just a girl in love - rose

i’ve got my head in the clouds - sydney

i give good parent - rose and the belikov family

you go first - lissa and rose

real life fighting is awkward - rose and dimitri

settle for me - adrian

i love my daughter (but not in a creepy way) - abe

spirit bound

friendtopia - rose, lissa and eddie

slow motion - rose, lissa, eddie and adrian

the group mind has decided you're in love - rose, adrian, eddie, mia

hello, nice to meet you - rose and dimitri

don't be a lawyer - abe

you stupid bitch - rose

last sacrifice

this is my movement - lissa

trapped in a car with someone you don't want to be trapped in a car with - rose, dimitri, sonya, victor, robert and sydney

i want to be a child star - jill

we should definitely not have sex right now - rose and dimitri

nothing is ever anyone's fault - rose and dimitri

scary scary sexy lady - tasha

after everything you've made me do (that you didn't ask for) - adrian

the end of the movie - josh groban (c'mon... who else was going to sing this?)

be on the lookout for the bloodlines version!

[clover4found]

I’ve been rereading the Vampire Academy books and so far they’ve been just as amazing as when I read them before.

Although as I’m nearing 23 I find it so weird to think about finding a 16/17 year old attractive.

Another thing is that Rose is a lot of great things. But sometimes she just comes across as a huge complainer. And she really is soooooo stubborn.

There are times when I’m reading the book and I’m like girl why would you say that or do that? But that’s the difference in mind set with age.

Back when I read these books when I was like 18/19 I completely thought she was a 100% valid for everything. Except when she lead Adrian on. And then cheated on him. Adrian was so good to Rose and he definitely deserved better. Even if it would have made things uncomfortable and awkward she should have told Adrian that she still loved Dimitri and now that he was back from being Strigori, it was different.

And don’t get me wrong, I love that Dimitri and Rose end up together because they really do belong together. After all they went through and the fact that Rose was never gonna let him go makes it seem like no one would ever fill the void of Dimitri.

And I know that when your life is so crazy and busy that sometimes it hard to slow down and figure out how you actually feel about someone.

Except now that I’m older I understand that the 7 year difference was really creepy. And yet I also understand that Rose isn’t a normal teenager in the story. She could die at any time by Strigori and she knew that one day she would become a Guardian and might not have a life since she never wanted to part from Lissa. So in a way it makes sense how she rushed so many things.

And Dimitri, while I do love the way that he cared for her and showed up for her when she needed him. There was a power dynamic there. And he never should have had sex with her while she was a minor.

Anyways putting some of those things aside for now. I really disagree with some other things about how she handled stuff with Lissa. And her mom.

And I REALLY wish there had been a scene with Dimitri going back to Russia with Rose and seeing his family. Like that would have completed me inside to have known that he reconnected with them. But we didn’t get it.

Anyways all those things aside, the books are great. Even with my mindset change, I still found myself enjoying the books and relating to some of the thoughts and feelings that Rose had. And I’m glad she didn’t get stuck in a jail cell for life for a crime she didn’t commit.

Anyone else feel the same?

[writerbythewater-blog]

Prompt: This is your last chance

Dimitri wondered why he hadn't become a snack for the Strigoi or turned yet. The team that went into the cave had been forced to leave him behind. He knew the risk when he joined the team, and was just glad that Rose had gotten out safely. He had come to terms with his fate. Of course, he hoped they would kill him rather than turn him, but he knew it was out of his hands now.

The Strigoi had broken his legs before tossing him against the wall of the cave. The large group gathered in the center of the cave to whisper about their plan. Dimitri didn't like the way they kept looking over at him like he was a prize to be fought over. The way they would smile at him made his skin crawl. Enough time passed that his broken legs stopped hurting before two of the Strigoi broke away from the group and walked over to him. He snarled at them as they came close.

"Oh, it seems he still has some fight in him." The older Strigoi said in a playful tone.

The one next to them laughed. "Yes. It's cute isn't it."

"Very." The elder said kneeling in front of him. They grabbed his leg sending a stabbing pain up it. Dimitri held back a scream glaring at them.

"Might be hard to break him." The standing Strigoi said.

"Everyone breaks in time, my friend. Now little Gaurdian I have some questions for you. If you help us we might even let you go." The smile they gave him was sickening sweet. Their lips pulled back slightly to show their fangs.

Dimitri pretended to think about the offer. It was tempting and if he were a novice he might have been foolish enough to believe it, but he wasn't. He knew that no matter what he did he wasn't getting out of this with his soul intact. The Strigoi could make all the pretty promises they wanted to. He knew they were all lies. Dimitri spit in their face.

"I don't make deals with demons."

The Strigoi reared back wiping the spit off their face. They glared at him the grip they had on his leg tightening till Dimitri felt the leg in his bone break further. They growled waving the other Strigoi away to go rejoin the group. Dimitri watched them walk away before focusing on the one holding his leg.

"That wasn't very smart little Gaurdian." They said in a low growl.

Dimitri shrugged trying his best to mimic Rose's I-don't-give-a-fuck smirk. His zen attitude wouldn't help him here, and as wild as he had been when he was younger it was still Rose's attitude he tried to mirror now. Her sarcasm and wit. If he got out of this alive he could tell her about it. She would get a kick out of it he was sure. Besides he wanted his last thoughts to be about her.

"How about we try again? We want you to help us get our hands on that Moroi you were guarding. The last of her line."

Dimitri turned his head away crossing his arms. Nothing would make him hand over his charge. Lissa was his charge and more importantly, she was Rose's best friend. He'd never hurt Rose by handing Lissa over. The Strigoi sighed. Out of the corner of his eye, Dimitri saw it reach out toward his chest. He hissed as they broke one of his ribs.

That was how they spent the next few hours. The Strigoi asking questions about Lissa and Dimitri refusing to answer. For each unanswered question, one of his bones was broken. Halfway through he had started screaming, but he still hadn't answered a question. He was a Guardian. He wouldn't break. After nearly all his bones were broken the Strigoi grabbed a fist full of his hair. Dragging him by the hair the Strigoi walked him over to one of the others.

"One last time little Gaurdian. How can we get to Valissa?"

Dimitri shook his head and was yanked up higher. His head held straight and the Strigoi nodded at each other before they both bit down on his neck. They fed from him together until he was lightheaded. When they were done he was dropped to the floor of the cave.

"He'll pass out soon but should recover by the time we get back to base. We'll hand him over to the boss when we get there and they can choose what to do with him. If he's changed he'll make a good Strigoi, and if not. Well, his blood is sweet, and I'm sure we can find other uses for him."

That was the last thing Dimitri heard before passing out.

[earlgreyandanime]

The silver stake Rose pulls from the vault is not the same one that was taken from her, but considering that it was just sitting right on top of a box out in the open, it was probably a more recent addition to the collection.

So, what are the odds that she used the stake of an academy Guardian who died in the attack, like Yuri? What if that stake was even Dimitri's personal one that was taken from him after he was turned?

There's something truly bittersweet and even poetic at that thought.

If it was a stake belonging to an academy Guardian, a Guardian who no doubt knew and probably respected/liked both Rose and Dimitri, it's almost like Rose wasn't alone in what she went through. As soon as she picked up that stake, the memory of her fellow Guardian would have been with her. They could have been helping her face the love of her life while their spirit faced their former friend.

If it was Dimitri's stake, well then, it's like his soul, the very essence of who he used to be was there with Rose, guiding her, giving her some final form of protection as she worked to set him free.

[dontneedmemories]

continued from [x] @curse-of-the-phoenix

It happened before Felix fully registered what was going on. One moment, he had just slain one thief and was turning around, only to come face to face with another who'd tried to poorly sneak up on him. The next moment, he saw a flash of royal blue, and reeled back as a figure hit the ground right in front of him. No, that was—that was Dimitri. A storm of emotions rose in Felix's throat, threatening to choke him; he shoved back the tempest and went for it.

The thief who'd dared strike Dimitri fell, dead before he hit the ground, right as an arrow zinged by and found its target in the prince's side. "Damn you, boar—" Felix growled, pulling his blade from the corpse and stalking off, crimson dripping from the steel. And as he thrust his sword, running the archer through, he spared a thought—was this was Dimitri had felt that day Felix looked at him and saw a wild beast instead of a young man? Was this the blood-red rage that soaked his vision, turning every enemy he saw into a target that deserved revenge?

A glance around him told Felix that his allies had the rest of the battle handled, so he went back to Dimitri, dropping to a knee at his side. "I'm fine, boar, now stop drawing attention to yourself," Felix snapped. "Let me see..." Shit, that didn't look good. It wasn't pretty, but it seemed mendable—right? Felix's hand hovered over the wound for a moment, trembling, before he clenched his fist and swore under his breath. "Can you stand? You need to see Mercedes. Come on. You're not bleeding to death right now, you hear me? Not before..."

Not before I finally tell you all the things I've wanted to say.

Felix pushed the thought away and left it to gather dust in the attic of his mind. "Before I tell you how asinine that was," he said instead.

[jetsteelyourheart]

Vampire Academy Book 4: Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

Listen, I'm a Dragoway truther, and I support Rose, Lissa & Christian as a Polycule. But Ship literally whatever you wanna ship in this series, its silly and fun, and anyway my OTP of all time is Sydrian - speaking of, shout out to my first ever attempt at a Sydney -- hilarious to me now because I changed her whole design pretty much completely.

Anyway, here's a book 4 group shot before I put those in an actual setting with real visuals.

Excerpt from the end of Blood Promise, Chapter 30

Adrian had said seeing me in dreams couldn't compare to seeing me in person. The same was true with Lissa. Being in her head was nothing like being near her in reality. The door opened, and it was like an apparition materializing before me, some sort of heavenly messenger descended from above. I'd never been away from her for this long, and after all this time, part of me wondered if I was imagining this.

Her hand went to her mouth, and she stared at me wide-eyed. I think she felt the same way -- and she hadn't even had warning of my visit. She'd just been told I was coming "soon." No doubt I seemed like a phantom to her too.

And with that reunion... it was like I was emerging from a cave - one I'd been in for almost five weeks - into the bright light of day. When Dimitri had turned, I'd felt like I'd lost part of my soul. When I'd left Lissa, another piece had gone. Now, seeing her... I began to think maybe my soul might be able to heal. Maybe I could go on after all. I didn't feel 100 percent whole yet, but her presence filled up that missing part of me. I felt more like myself than I had in ages.

A world of questions and confusion hung in the silence between us. In spite of everything we'd been through with Avery, there was still a lot of unresolved business from when I had first left the school. For the first time since I'd set foot on the Academy's grounds, I felt afraid. Afraid that Lissa would reject me or scream at me for what I'd done.

Instead, she drew me into a giant hug. "I knew it," she said. She was already choking on her sobs. "I knew you'd come back."

"Of course," I murmured into her shoulder. "I said I would."

I mean, come on, there's murmuring for god's sake. How are they not cannon??????

[eddiemelrose]

Can't sleep. Should be sleeping. Instead I'm going to drop a list of almost names of my OCs lol.

Madelyn Sage's name history isn't that dramatic but I'll include it anyway. As I've said before she was my first ever next gen OC. Can't remember when I came up with her but it was probably like 2015-2016. She was originally named Madeleine. When I started creating all my other OCs I decided to change it to Madelene though tbh I don't remember why. But I went to highschool with someone named Madelene and people were always reading out her name wrong so I changed the spelling to Madelyn to try and counteract that lol.

Alma Rosemarie was initially Christina Rosemarie. I think. Maybe it was the other way around but it was definitely Christina somewhere. But I really like the name Alma and that's Lissa's paternal grandmother so I changed it.

Alexander Eric went through so many name changes lmao. At first he was Ivan Eric, because I read about a trope where the youngest son in Russian fairytales is always called Ivan. I really liked it but then I settled on Ivana's name so I was like hmm I need to change this but I couldn't figure out what to. I was tossing between Daniel or Alexander for quite a while, Daniel being for Lissa's mother and Alexander for the Queen Alexandra they keep yapping about in LS. But Daniel felt too casual lol so I went with Alex. (Like 'Lord Dan' or 'Lord Alex'? One sounds more regal than the other lol)

Ivana Vasilisa was always going to be named after Lissa, because Rose and Dimitri literally wouldn't be alive without her so they wanted to name their child after her. So originally she was named Vasya (with no middle name I think) but it just didn't feel right. I kept thinking about how Lissa didn't like her full name and that if this kid had the Russian nickname she'd probably hate that too eventually. So I went oh well it can be her middle name then but Vasilisa not Vasya. And I picked Ivana as her first name for Ivan Zeklos. It turns out that Ivana isn't actually the feminine form of Ivan in Russian but I'm too set on it now and love Ivy as a nickname lol. But of course Ivana is six years older than Alex so I had to go and change his name because that's just poor world building to have two characters with such similar names. Oopsie.

[cacchieressa]

Eight Days in April

1. I broke a glass, got bloodstains on the sheet: hereafter, must I only write you chaste connubial poems? Now that I have traced a way from there to here across the sweet- est morning, rose-blushed blonde, will measured feet advance processionally, where before they scuff-heeled flights of stairs, kicked at a door, or danced in wing-tips to a dirty beat? Or do I tell the world that I have got rich quick, got lucky (got laid), got just what the doctor ordered, more than I deserved? This is the second morning I woke curved around your dreaming. In one night, I've seen moonset and sunrise in your lion's mane.

2. Moons set and suns rise in your lion's mane through LP kisses or spread on my thighs. Winter subsided while I fantasized what April dawns frame in the windowpane. Sweetheart, I'm still not getting enough sleep, but I'm not tired, and outside it's spring in which we sprang the afternoon shopping after I'd been inside you, O so deep I thought we would be tangled at the roots. I think we are. (I've never made such noise. I've never come so hard, or come so far in such a short time.) You're an exemplar piss-elegance is not reserved for boys. Tonight we'll go out in our gangster suits.

3. Last night we went out in our gangster suits, but just across the street to Santerello's, waited past nine for wine. We shone; the fellows noticed. "You have a splendid linen coat," Dimitri told you as he sat us down. (This used to be my local; now it's chic.) A restaurant table's like a bed: we speak the way we do calmed after love, alone in the dark. There's a lot to get to know. We felt bad; we felt better. Soon I was laid back enough to drink around the bend. You got me home, to bed, like an old friend. I like you, Rachel, when you're scared, because you tough it out while you're feeling it through.

4. You tough it out while you're feeling it through: sometimes the bed's rocked over tidal waves that aren't our pleasures. Everyone behaves a little strangely when they're in a new neighborhood, language, continent, time zone. We got here fast; your jet lag's worse than mine. I only had Paris to leave behind. You left your whole young history. My own reminds me to remind you, waking shaken with tears, dream-racked, is standard for the course. We need accommodation that allows each one some storage space for her dead horse. If the title weren't already taken, I'd call this poem "Directions to My House."

5. I'd call this poem "Directions to My House," except today I'm writing it in yours, in your paisley PJ's. The skylight pours pale sunlight on white blankets. While I douse my brain with coffee, you sleep on. Dream well this time. We'll have three sets of keys apiece: uptown, downtown, Paris on a sublease. Teach me to drive. (Could I teach you to spell?) I think the world's our house. I think I built and furnished mine with space for you to move through it, with me, alone in rooms, in love with our work. I moved into one mansion the morning when I touched, I saw, I felt your face blazing above me like a sun.

6. Your face blazing above me like a sun- deity, framed in red-gold flames, gynandre in the travail of pleasure, urgent, tender terrible—my epithalamion circles that luminous intaglio —and you under me as I take you there, and you opening me in your mouth where the waves inevitably overflow restraint. No, no, that isn't the whole thing (also you drive like cop shows, and you sing gravel and gold, are street-smart, book-smart, laugh from your gut) but it is (a soothing poultice applied to my afflicted part) the central nervous system and the heart

7. The central nervous system and the heart, and whatever it is in me wakes me at 5 am regardless, and what takes me (when you do) ineluctably apart and puts me back together; the too-smart, too-clumsy kid glutted on chocolate cakes (me at ten); the left-brain righteousness that makes me make of our doubled dailiness an art are in your capable square hands. O sweet, possessives make me antsy: we are free to choose each other perpetually. Though I don't think my French short-back-and-sides means I'll be the most orthodox of brides, I broke a glass, got bloodstains on the sheet.

— Marilyn Hacker from Love, Death, and the Changing of the Seasons

[starres-stuff]

FFXIV Writes 2023 | Day 23 | Suit

Dimitri catches his sister Vi rummaging through his suits when he returns home to his loft.

“Oh, my dear sibling, what are you doing in my bedroom?” Dimitri was leaning against the door to his room, staring in at the wide open closet door and he knew who it was; he could smell the scent of rose water and vanilla in the air from the time he arrived in the entryway. It also didn’t help that a fair bit of rummaging around was going on inside the closet that couldn’t be missed.

“Oh, nothing brother! Just browsing your choice in suits.” her voice called back, followed by more rummaging and the drawers to his dresser squeaking shut. It has been his Mother’s dresser and it was another of the Jienuex family heirlooms. When he first moved into the loft he had spent hours trying to get that awful noise to cease but no matter how much oil he used on the metal runners it still squealed every time causing him to cringe like nails on a Sharlayan chalkboard did.

“I am going to count to three Viviane, and then I am going to come in there.” He warned, while there was a lack of amusement in his voice, there was plenty of it in the look he gave the door. It was well known that Dimitri stood just over seven films while his sister had experienced stunted growth and just recently reached five fulms ten ilms where she stopped growing again much to her dismay.

“Please do not do that!” Vi squeaked back in reply, followed by more rummaging, a yip from Kit, and a loud bang as she slammed the door on the standing chest where he kept his suits. This was becoming more and more interesting by the moment he even felt his fingers twitch, there was nothing more important than good suits. One simply could not get by without them. There was a suit for every occasion, some of which had caused him millions of gil to have been made since his taste in clothing was both flamboyant and extravagant. The thought of her in that chest formed a lump in his throat and a panic in the pit of his stomach. He was trying to give her the benefit of the doubt but the truth was the more uncomfortable she was about him coming in to find her, the less he trusted what she had been up to.

“Do I want to know what you did?” Dimitri tried to keep the sourness out of his voice. He wasn’t mad at her per se; he didn't want her to think so. He was rather flattered; she chose his closet to rummage through since she had two partners of her own not to mention Qiha who was far closer to her height and fit more closely to her stage styles. There had to be something about his suits that attracted her and he was quite interested in finding out just what it could be.

Across the bedroom floor, he moved, in a slow and nearly quiet fashion. He had been around Laurent too much lately, those times he went on the three-day duty with him had filled his head with new techniques some of which were quite stealthy. He hadn’t tried them on Laurent yet but eventually, he would. The Wailer was brilliant at sneaking up on him, making him jump out of his skin at least once a day when they were together with how quietly he moved. Now it was time for Dimitri to pull that on someone himself, and once he was close enough to the open door he leaned around it carefully to peer inside.

What he saw was the petite woman in one of his suits, his favorite. It featured a long silken jacket, an open poet-style shirt with flowing ruffles, and a pair of short pants that he liked to wear when it was too hot out in the summer months. All of it was far too big for her small frame and the fact she topped it all off with a pair of his expensive dress shoes just made it one of the most adorable sights he had seen. It reminded him of his adoptive sister Patience and how she would dress up in her Mother’s clothes to be a fancy lady when she was little. A bit of nostalgia hit him of those memories of youth, but then the realization came to slap him with a stern reminder. This was the first time he had that experience with this sister. The one that shared his blood, and this made him swallow hard. At least there were no expiration dates on making new memories.

“Well if that isn’t one of the most adorable things I have seen in my entire life.” A warm chuckle came from him as she spun around to gawk at him, her eyes wide and her fangs bared as if she was prepared to bite him for sneaking up on him. Thankfully for him, it was only a reaction to being snuck up on, and once had a grip on who he was the fangs disappeared back behind her lips but the wide eyes remained.

“I told you not to come in,” Vi murmured, her cheeks were red and her ears were flushed. “I wanted to put everything away and then I would have come out. I like your jackets, so I was trying on things to get ideas for a suit for myself.” This only deepened the red color on her face and Dimitri found himself thinking about their conversation from a few days earlier, his face contorting when he realized how much he had embarrassed her just then and guilt settled into his heart.

“Fuck I’m sorry Vi, I wasn’t thinking. I can go wait out in the living room if it helps?” his hand lifted effortlessly and he pointed his thumb over his shoulder, a sheepish smile spreading on his lips at the same time as he tried to make up for what an idiot he had just been. “I would have thought you would have done that in Clement and Kovalt’s closet.”

Vi giggled then though she remained red, her small hands holding up Dimitri’s short pants and he noticed she was still wearing her clothes under the poet's shirt. “I have! I performed in one of Clement’s button-down shirts at the Bare show and I wear Kovalt’s tunics like pajamas when I want to relax!” If her cheeks got any redder they would mimic the shade of their hair, and Dimitri found himself just watching her. She was an explorer in her own right, that natural curiosity he saw in her eyes suited her better than anyone he had ever met.

“I love both of their styles! I even borrowed some of Qiha’s clothes when I dropped off cookies over there and he wasn’t home. He just hasn’t noticed yet because he has more things than you do. I swear he is addicted to buying clothes. He has no room left and his closet is bigger than yours.” Vi hummed softly, picking up a few things she had carefully set around the closet to return them to their proper places. Mostly they were belts to hold up the pants Dimitri noticed and a pair of his thicker socks to try to keep the shoes on.

“If you would like, I could introduce you to my tailor. He is exceptionally good and non-judgemental about what his clients are looking for. That way if you enjoy fitted looks he can create them according to your measurements and your coloring.” He wanted Vi to know he wasn’t mad and that he wanted to be there to help her as he needed it. It was something he wished he had when he was trying to answer his own questions years into his past now.

“Oh, that would be good! I like the fitted waist on your jackets, even most of your suits have it! It reminds me of corsetting but you do not wear corsets. It is a very fashionable style” As she talked Dimitri brought out his tombstone, and he flipped through the list of contacts he had until he found his tailor in Ul’dah. With one push of a button, he sent the frequency to Vi’s tombstone for her to accept later.

“There that is the information for him. He does require appointments if you are looking to purchase, you can go just to browse any old time. If you do not want to go alone once you get your appointment with him I can go with you. I have been meaning to stop by the shop for a copy of the fall styles anyway. This just gives me an even better reason to go.”

Out Vi’s lower lip stuck, and it even quivered a little bit. This made Dimitri wonder how many times a day Clement and Kovalt saw this face as she grew day by day. “You do not have to do that.” she started out saying, then her overall tone changed and she added “But if you would like to come with me I would enjoy the company. I want to take Clement to a nice restaurant.” Her eyes lifted to Dimitri’s, and while she failed to articulate the words that would explain her thoughts her eyes told the tale of the surprise she had in store.

“Ah ha! Now that explains why you were in my closet” The Sharlayan lifted his hand and pretended to fluff his hair, his nose lifting into the air in a show of pride. “I do have the best suits for fancy dinners. I often have the best suits on in any of the fancy places I go to." While he was not normally a vain man, he was enjoying the sounds of the giggles that kept coming from the smaller Elezen as she watched him, a thankful smile appearing on her face.

“He always does such nice things for me, and before we leave Gridania to explore Coerthas for a time. I want to do something for him.” down she looked, and she swayed from side to side the blush in her cheeks reforming right before DImitri’s eyes.

“Well, then we will get you the perfect suit,” Dimitri assured his Sister “Why don’t you get out of those things, and I will make drinks. You can tell me what you are interested in and I can draw the suit for you to take to your appointment. That way you do not have to explain yourself in a situation where you are likely to be flustered.”

There was a nod of her head then, followed by a bit at her lip. Words burned at her mind as she did this, Dimitri could see it on her face but no sound came out. It was that very moment he decided to let her have a bit of space and around he turned heading out of his room and even closing the door behind him to create a sense of privacy for her.

[howdybesties]

A Night to Remember

Haha, HSM song title for a 10 Things I Hate About You AU. I could have chosen a fluffier scene. But I was watching the movie and I had an idea during the prom scene. 😈

For @rose-dragomir

Also Adrian is in this as Michael’s role. A little OOC but I had fun writing this.

—

She spots her date waiting by the entrance as she approaches. Dimitri Belikov. Intimidating to most due to his tall stature, but some people aren’t as scary as they seem.

“I didn’t know you could look so good in a tux, Comrade.”

Dimitri turns around at the sound of her voice. His brown eyes take in her appearance and his smile turns into a grin.

She threw in the nickname to keep it casual, but Rose really did mean it. He looked good. But so did she. Her simple blue dress looks plain compared to Lissa’s gown, but in under his gaze, she feels like the most beautiful girl at the prom.

“You look good too,” he compliments. He presents her with a rose that matches the one on his jacket.

“We can be good looking together then,” Rose quips as she accepts the flower.

She normally despises roses given as a gift. It’s a cliche, she thinks. She’ll make an exception this time and not just because he is smiling at her like she’s the sun. Especially not because of the warm feeling rising to her cheeks.

He lends her his arm after she has affixed the rose in her bun. Wear it up, his voice had echoed to her as she was getting ready earlier that evening. They enter the hall together as a handsome couple.

Rose is shocked at the transformation of the bland ballroom into a sparkling dance floor, due to the shining mirror ball twirling on the ceiling. Rose has to admit, the student council knows how to throw a party.

“Ready for the Prom?” Dimitri asks as he leads her to the dance floor.

She about to say yes when she hears Lissa squeal. Her panic rises as she scans the crowd for Lissa’s blonde locks. Dimitri also scans the crowd and spots her first. He leads her closer to her but twirls them back around.

Rose relaxes as she sees her best friend enjoying herself with Christian. Lissa squeals again as Christian dips her in time with the upbeat song. Her hardened stare softens as she sees the joy in their expressions.

“Those two really belong together, don’t they?” She asks Dimitri as they turn their attention back to each other. A threat no longer imminent. 

Dimitri looks at her and she swears she sees a twang of guilt in his eyes.

“Yes, they do. But not as much as you and I,” he responds.

He leans in to kiss her. She kisses him back. Rose can confirm, the rumours about his kisses, are very true.

—

They’ve retired to the bleachers after dancing for an hour straight. Rose may be athletic but heels are still a torture device. Rose is pointing out some observations she’s made, mostly about how Coach Alto is clearly uncomfortable in this social setting. Dimitri is listening and adding his own notes.

Dimitri takes her hand to bring her attention to him.

“You asked me where I was last year, right? I was back home in Baia. My best friend died. We were as close as brothers, like you to Lissa. I just needed some time.”

Dimitri’s somber confession surprises her.

“I’m so sorry Dimitri, I can’t imagine what you went through.”

“I want you to know the truth, not just some rumours.”

Rose is about to respond when a clearly inebriated Aaron Drozdov spots them and rushes forward. His hands point accusingly at Dimitri before shouting at him.

“What is Lissa doing here with that pyromaniac? I didn’t pay you to take out the help so some orphaned loser could beat me to the Dragomir heir!”

The second Aaron lays his hands on Dimitri, he reacts. One punch and Aaron Drozdov is kissing the floor.

Adrian rushes to the scene with Christian in tow, hoping to prevent their scheme from being revealed but the damage is done.

“Go for me, not Lissa” Rose repeats Dimitri’s proposal from last week.

There is an intensity behind Dimitri’s eyes normally, as if he’s debating with himself prior to each action, each sentence uttered. But not now, his shoulders slump, Dimitri looks defeated.

“That’s what you said, right?” Rose asks, the tone pleading with him to look at her.

Dimitri doesn’t dare return her look, knowing the fire behind them is blazing.

Rose feels the venom returning to her veins as she storms out.

—

“Rose, please let me explain,” Dimitri pleads.

They’re far from the hall now. Good, no witnesses, Rose thinks.

“Explain what? How you were paid to keep me away from Lissa by the person that hurt her in the first place? I knew you were too good to be true.”

“Roza, you’ve seen more of me than anyone I’ve ever known. You know the real me.”

“Really, then why don’t I believe you? It’s clear you can be bought.”

“No, I didn’t care about the money! I cared… I care about you.”

“For someone who’s so honourable, you sure have loose morals,” Rose hisses as she shoves him aside. Dimitri lets her.

She’s descending the stairs and turns back to look at him. He is frozen in place.

“At least you’re a really good liar, Dimitri. You actually made me believe someone cared about me for who I am."

She runs down the remaining steps. She thinks she hears him calling her name, maybe even calling her Roza. She can’t be sure because all she hears is the sound of her heart pounding in her chest.

—

She’s been back home for a while. She hears Christian’s car sputter as it drives off and Lissa’s light footsteps treading to her room.

Rose looks at her reflection in the vanity, her expression the opposite of what it was just a few hours prior.

Her hair is still tied up in an elaborate bun, the rose now wilted.

She tosses the bud in the trash and lets her hair down.

Lissa is safe and well. That’s all that matters, she reminds herself as she is laying on her bed moments later.

Dimitri was right about one thing. It was a night to remember.

[nobilisseoblige]

and she wrote: "my body is here, yet i am not. i know my name, but i feel alienated. i'm afraid. i'm afraid." and he wrote: "i've lived my days in lies, seeing faces i know aren't real. i wonder how hard it will be to get back on my feet." and they wrote: "somehow i'm sorry. i've lived a full life and i'm still sorry."

all first-hand witness accounts, all of them with their names attached. somehow they all claimed to have been trapped somewhere—somewhere incrementally different than here. it was apparent that they all claimed to live a great many days in the span of one night, but, they weren't reported to have disappeared nor had they been physically taken from their dormitories. Ferdinand could not fathom how this could have occurred right under their noses. he ran the rounds with Prince Dimitri—but there was fairly little they could do for reports where the victims were bound to a time and space beyond the tangible. it felt wrong, really, to give such a lackluster response to a victim's plea. "no report. we deeply apologize." "no evidence. we're still looking." "i'm sorry, we..."

believe you? is that something he could say with a good conscience? by the very light of the Saints, he did not. and he wasn't a liar.

so there was the lack of empathy. and the failure to meet someone down the middle.

he wondered if it was karma, then, for them to end up in a place like this. this morning, Lady Rhea herself called him into her room to discuss his performance at the latest choir practice. he noticed that her hair was a deep, emerald green, and wondered if he should get his eyes checked. she chuckled, unfurling and re-braiding the ribbons in her hair, as though she were remembering someone she loved. the next morning, a strange Reason professor went cackling down the hallway, crows following him from chandelier to chandelier. when ferdinand tried to chide him, he opened his pinprick slits to the most frightening red eyes. there were books out of place in the library. the chandeliers were made from a different type of crystal, not obtainable in such grand amounts as this. the roses were blue this season.

"Dimitri— if I may call you that—" there was an urgency in his voice that he would stake his own life on. "do you notice anything different about the academy?"

"and if you do, would you give me some kind of sign? I feel like I'm finally understanding that this isn't all smoke and mirrors... this is some kind of..." he doesn't have the word for it. deceit? was an entire world before their eyes a brand of deceit?

he gestured nondescriptly, rolling his wrist. "it feels... off."

in the dining hall, the windows were stained with pictures of some kind of history he did not recognize. when he raised his glass of cranberry juice, the rainbow of light glimmered through like crystal stars. "this is my sign."

@blaiddllodi

refraction of light { ferdinand & dimitri

※ distress || unending dream

[writerbythewater-blog]

Lissa was draped over Rose's shoulders as Rose made her way down the hall. Christian and Dimitri were staying in a different room since the college didn't let male and female students share rooms. There was blood flowing down Rose's leg where a large piece of glass was stuck, and cuts along her arms. Lissa was thankfully unharmed. The queen would kill Rose herself if anything happened to Lissa.

The only reason they were even allowed to stay on campus was because Abe gave them extra Guardians to help watch Lissa, and Lissa promised to learn to take her place as Queen after she graduated. Turning the corner Rose saw the male Gaurdian Abe sent standing outside Christian's door. He looked her way when he heard her footsteps.

"What happened?" He asked running over to take Lissa from her.

"I was standing guard outside the room when something hit the floor in the room. When I opened the door to check the sound two Strigoi were in the room and my partner was already dead. Lissa is fine she felt like she was getting a cold and took some medicine before going to sleep, Nightquly I think, so she slept through the whole thing. I took out the two Strigoi before grabbing Lissa and coming here." Rose explained.

"We'll have to send your father a report after we tend to your injuries." The man said leading her to Christian's room.

He kicked the door in a pattern she was sure meant it was him and that it was safe to open the door. Dimitri opened the door letting them in. His eyes roamed over Rose noting each injury before going to get the first aid kit. Lissa was laid down on Dimitri's bed, and Rose pointed to a desk chair before the man went back outside.

"I'll the Alchemist and have them deal with the bodies. After that, I'll call your father." He told Rose before he closed the door.

Rose still wasn't sure how she felt about Abe. The man had all but stormed into her life after the attack on the academy. Dimitri had still been recovering when Abe showed up with Dimitri's family in tow. Abe had been having his weekly tea with Dimitri's grandmother when the family was called with the news. No one knew if Dimitri would live with his injuries, and the family had been heartbroken. They didn't have the means to fly to the States to see Dimitri, so Abe flew them over on his jet. Rose met the family and Abe while sitting at Dimitri's bedside.

Abe had looked at her like he was seeing a ghost. The two stepped out of the room to give the family time with Dimitri and talked. Abe told her about his and Janine's falling out. How she took their daughter and ran from him. How he looked everywhere but hadn't found their daughter only Janine who told him their daughter was gone. He mourned for his daughter. He had thought gone meant dead not given away. He would have kept looking had he known. Would have raised her himself.

The two agreed to try to be father and daughter, but Rose wasn't sure she needed a parent in her life. She had gotten pretty far without one, but Abe wanted a child and was willing to do anything to prove he would be a good father. After she told him Dimitri was her partner he flew the best doctors he could find out to get him the best help possible.

Their relationship wasn't perfect but it was much better than her's and Janine's. They now met up once a month for dinner and a chance to catch up. They also texted throughout the month as well. She was sure when he heard about this he would fly out to check on her himself.

Dimitri walked back into the room first aid kit in hand and locked the door while making his way to her. Setting up the kit he got to work cleaning the cuts on her arms. He glanced at her a look asking her what happened.

"Damn Strigoi stabbed me with glass while I stake their partner. I think they thought it would slow me down, but it didn't. I wasn't going to let Lissa get hurt." Rose told him rolling her eyes.

He nodded moving on to the glass in her leg. She yelped when he tugged it out waking up Christian. Christian jolted up in bed looking around the room for a reason for the sound.

"Go back to bed Sparky," Rose said as his eyes landed on Lissa. "She's fine."

Christian looked her way taking in the blood and Dimitri tending to her. He blinked and rubbed his eyes before standing and walking over. Opening the drawer next to her he pulled out painkillers handing them to her then going back to bed. He was back asleep before his head hit the pillow. Rose read the label on the bottle before popping two of the pills in her mouth and swallowing them. What was their life that one of them would wake up give someone painkillers and pass back out? Honestly.

The next morning Abe strolled into the room waking them up. Rose didn't remember going to sleep but she woke up in bed with Lissa. Abe had five new Guardians in tow, two men and three females, the females introduced themselves and then left to deal with the mess in Lissa's room. Rose filled Lissa and Christian in on what happened while they were asleep, and Abe fussed over Rose's cuts.

The Queen had been told, but Abe calmed her down by adding more members to their team. Thankfully with the extra help they weren't being called back to the court, because Rose was pretty sure Lissa would riot if that happened. Rose was off night duties until her leg healed and the new members of the team would work her back in as soon she was better.

Rose spent the rest of the day filling out reports for what happened and relaxing in her and Lissa's room.

[jetsteelyourheart]

Combo: Bloodlines Book 4 The Fiery Heart

& Book 5 Silver Shadows by Richelle Mead

Illustration of Book 4 Chapter 24

If I could have the cross, if I could have that connection... then surely the obstacles between us would mean nothing. Surely I could endure whatever torturous challenges they threw at me.

This is one of them, I realized. This carrot they're holding out. They wanted me to take the cross. If I gave in, If I acknowledged their accusations, I wouldn't be closer to Adrian. No matter how much I wanted the cross, accepting it would mean I was going against him, turning my back on all I'd worked so hard for. Slowly, painfully, I withdrew my hand and clenched it into a fist. I needed no physical object to remind me of his love. I already carried it in my heart, and it would be enough to get through this.

"I have nothing to confess," I said through gritted teeth.

Illustration of Book 5 Chapter 10

I managed to sit up and saw I'd been lying on a hardwood floor, which explained the ache in my back and head. Glancing around, I saw a few other partygoers in similar shape, rustling themselves up and heading for the door. Satisfied I was on my way, Ada rose from her kneeling position and went to kick out the next unwelcome overnight guest.

"Thanks for letting me stay," I called after her. "Great party."

At least, I assumed it had been, if I'd crashed on the floor. An empty bottle of vermouth lay near where I'd slept, but I didn't know if it was mine or not. I hoped not. Getting drunk on vermouth was just sad.

...

His words hurt, not just because they leveled judgement at me -- judgment I'd already been giving myself -- but because they again reminded me of Sydney. Sydney, who'd always said I was so much more. Well, I'd done a damned good job of proving her wrong. I'd failed her. Dimitri's words had driven that home, even if he didn't realize it.

I went back to my room and downed a couple shots of vodka before crashing into my bed and falling almost instantly asleep.

[eddiemelrose]

yk the whole issue of neil not wanting to be associated with declan at all would have been solved if he was made declan's guardian instead of eddie. if there were no eddie fans left i'd be dead but. why split jill and eddie up after making them endgame and leaving neil awol. what kind of ending is that when an easier solution is possible. adrian is a royal who could request a guardian (hence eddie) and with rose and dimitri knowing the truth they could have helped make sure the assignment went through. damn do I gotta think up all these plot resolutions myself.