#rufus just got dragged into it but he's fine with this

[stusbunker]

Spotless: Trill

Chapter Seventeen

Featuring: Dean Winchester/Reader

Other characters: Rufus (mentioned), Annie/Bobby, Kevin, Cas, Billie, Kelly Kline

Word Count: 1944

Warnings, etc: Mutual pining, dream sequence in italics, minor character death, grief, Non-Jewish people trying to honor a Jewish friend's life, reader keeps putting out fires, unbeta'd

Series Masterlist

Dean leans over the edge of the hot tub, dripping wet. He is smirking and coaxing you to join him. It’s warm, the height of summer somehow and you tell him it’s too hot for it tonight, but you can’t stop looking at him, at every exposed inch of his torso.

He pushes up on his forearms, thick shoulders somehow distracting you from his husky voice. He tells you it will be alright, it will feel better once you’re in the water.

With him.

You look over and Sam’s coming onto the patio, fully clothed in jeans and a flannel, hair flapping as he starts asking you about an interview. You look for your phone, but you look down to find you have no pockets, a swimsuit you wouldn’t put on on your best day is all that you’re wearing.

Dean chuckles and suddenly, you’re beside him, water warm and soothing as he drags you onto his lap. Your phone buzzes somewhere and you can’t find it on the ledge of the hot tub. Instead you feel Dean’s hands running over your hips, and he’s gone quiet, waiting for you to look at him again.

“You deserve to be kissed,” Dean’s voice reminds you and you look down and find he disappeared. A phantom kiss on the nape of your neck is what finally makes you look behind you and you’re standing in Elizabeth’s cafe, staring at the mural you’d been mesmerized by on New Year’s Eve.

Your phone buzzed again.

You stared at the screen, dumbfounded, then quickly got out of bed.

You made it to Bobby and Annie’s in less than an hour, which was practically a miracle even in the middle of the day. You didn’t even knock, instead you let yourself in through the back gate and stepped into the now somber kitchen.

Annie appeared suddenly. “So you heard?” she asked softly, pulling you into a hug.

“Yeah, I — How is he?” Bobby was the only thing on your mind the whole way there, not bothering to even post a condolences post from the band until you knew how he was handling the loss of his best friend and biggest pain in his ass.

“Oh, you know, fine— if you ask him. He hadn’t seen him in months, but the secret diagnosis and the shock has him more pissed than anything,” Annie filled you in as you sat down at the island and let her pour you a cup of coffee.

Bobby had known Rufus for over thirty years, having worked as his roadie for most of the eighties. A prolific piano player and notorious grump, Rufus had been one of the first actual celebrities you’d come to know through the band family. Now that he was gone, it felt like one of the elders was missing from your California tribe.

An end of an era.

“What’s he doing?”

“Sitting Shiva. Though I think that’s supposed to be after the funeral,” Annie added offhandedly.

“Have you heard anything about services?”

Annie shook her head. “I texted his daughter asking if she needed anything and she just said that they’d be in touch.”

You wanted to go give Bobby a hug, but you knew it was best to let him sit with the quiet for a while longer. Unfortunately, Dean didn’t get that unsent memo.

A loud banging rattled the front door and before you or Annie could rush to open it, Bobby was yanking it open and bellowing “what in the hell is this all about?!”

Dean gave him a pointed look. “Lunch,” was his only reply before stepping into the foyer, arms full of take out.

“What’d you get?” Annie asked, trying to ignore Bobby’s aghast expression as everyone returned to the kitchen.

“I stopped by that little Kosher deli Rufus always liked, and got one of, well, everything. I figure, whatever we don’t eat will keep,” Dean explained, unpacking submarine sandwiches and more sides than you tried to count.

Bobby tried to storm back to his study, but Annie wouldn’t let him. You all ended up just eating in contemplative silence and letting the food soothe some of the ache. You were so grateful for Dean’s thoughtfulness in that moment, you almost forgot about your racy dream and everything that led up to it.

It wasn’t the time or the place to get all hot and bothered anyhow.

After the food was done filling your bellies and Bobby’s and Annie’s monster-sized fridge, you pulled out what you had brought along to honor Rufus’ memory, an unopened bottle of Johnny Walker Blue.

You set the bottle down in the middle of the table with a thunk. Bobby whistled and Annie tried to get up for glasses but you waved her off, you knew where they kept them. Dean was reading the label when you returned with four cut crystal tumblers and a side of ice, you could never remember if Annie took it straight, she drank the hard stuff so infrequently.

He cracked the cap open and then your phone buzzed, but you ignored it. He poured doubles all around, but served Bobby first. 

“To that dick, may he play on in glory,” Bobby toasted.

“L’chaim,” Dean replied and you and Annie followed suit.

The stories started after Bobby’s second glass, with Dean filling in bits he’d heard from Rufus or had witnessed himself from after he’d earned the man’s rare respect.

One time Rufus actually asked Bobby to help him bury a body, but it turned out it was Rufus’ neighbor’s dog and the lady was too heartbroken to do it herself. Another time they had been mistaken for federal agents due to their matching suits, but that was just because they had to walk passed an active crime scene on the way to Bobby and Annie’s wedding ceremony.

It felt good to laugh, even while it still hurt.

You got up to get everyone some water and finally checked your phone. What greeted you was a huge reminder that it was still a work day. And you needed to get back to it.

“Oh, fuck me,” you groaned, scrolling through the rest of the comments.

“Where’s the fire?” Bobby asked, the managerial voice coming out strong.

You looked at Dean and he could tell it wasn’t great, but you weren’t sure if you needed to bring Cas up at a time like this.

“Everybody alright?” he asked, testing the waters.

“For now, until I kill them,” you muttered, thumbing your screen until you could get to your contact list. You felt everyone’s eyes on your back as you started to pace as the phone rang, but Annie was the only one with the sense to find out what had made you so upset.

“Those morons,” you heard her say as you got sent to Kevin’s voicemail.

You hung up and called a different number. After three rings, someone finally picked up.

“Castiel’s phone, how can I help you?”

“Kevin?”

“Trouble?! Why are you listed as Y/N Y/L/N?”

“Cuz that’s my name, dumbass,” you snipped. “Where are you? Is Cas there? Why didn’t you answer your own phone?”

“Relax! I just got out of the chair, Cas’ stencil is just getting set. I would have called you back in like five minutes.”

You exhaled. “Okay. Few things. Field trips with rival schools require prior permission, you get me?”

Kevin had the nerve to laugh. “It’s just Cas, it’s not like I’m dating Ruby or hanging out with those wannabe Ghostfacers.”

You rolled your eyes. “Okay, but the band does have a designated artist. Who you— very publicly— didn’t use. You don’t piss off somebody like Billie, Kevin, you just don’t.”

“How was I supposed to know?!”

You did not feel sorry for the kid. “Put Cas on the line— speaker if his arm is busy.”

You turned around and raised your eyebrows in question to Dean, mouthing, ‘you want to hear this?’

Dean swallowed and shook his head. And you kept the phone call one-sided for your audience.

“I’m here,” Cas’ deep voice greeted you over the line, low and private.

“Who's your publicist?” you asked, not bothering with formality or reprimanding a forty-year-old man who knows better.

“Kelly, she’s also our manager and—.”

“Jack’s mother. Oh, Cas.”

“Don’t pity me, it’s fine. She’s good at what she does.”

“Okay, well text her my number and we can try and ease the backlash, but you’re gonna have to grovel to Billie on your own.”

“Right,” Cas bit out like he forgot who had covered half of his body in color.

You let the awkwardness hang in the air, but sighed when your curiosity got the best of you, “what’re you getting anyway?”

Cas hummed. “A quote from ‘Good God, Y’all’ looping around his earring.”

It was one of Rufus’ most loved albums, but not the most popular.

“Where?”

“Inside my left upper arm— Kevin’s is just below the seam of his elbow.”

“Did he cry?”

Cas sounded like he shifted positions, or maybe he was distracted watching the artist’s hands. “No, but it wasn’t his first one.”

“Pity. Okay, well I will be in touch. Don’t forget to talk to Kelly for me.”

“I won’t.”

“Bye, Cas.”

“Goodbye, Y/N.”

You hung up and slumped in annoyance and minor relief.

“What’d they say?” Bobby asked, breaking the silence of the room around you.

“Nothing too damning, but still enough to piss me off,” you replied. “I’ll talk to Cas’ people. Figure this out. I’m sure I have a million messages from Becky and Billie and probably even Crowley to sort through. Assholes couldn’t give me a day off.”

“You want me to talk to Kev?” Dean’s voice broke through your mini-rant.

“Only if you want to, I kind of gave him a piece of it already.”

Dean nodded and finished his glass.

“Damn idjits, even when they mean well.”

“Tell me about it,” you said over your shoulder, heading to Bobby’s study to get to work.

As it turned out, Kelly Kline was a stand up manager, both competent and protective. You figured out their niche and tried to work with it, though your fans were louder and more numerous, you didn’t want the frenzy of the matching tattoos to become a question of loyalty, for either Cas or Kevin.

You had Bobby read over your post memorializing Rufus and got that out into the world before you left to head back home. Dean offered to wait with you on the porch. You sat, once again, in silence, letting the sunset and breeze off the ocean ease some of the tension from the day. When your driver was two blocks away, he finally turned to face you.

“How’s he doing?”

You sighed and shrugged. “He seemed good. But from what I gather, he’s got a lot on his plate.”

Dean nodded. “Right, new band, new set list to master.”

“No, Dean, I think over everything else, the music is the easiest thing Cas has to deal with.”

“Huh.”

“Yeah.”

Dean spotted the little hybrid approaching and he stood to give you a hug. “Thanks for coming, I mean, I know it was for Bobby, but it was nice to see you on a day like today.”

“You too.” And you meant it. You squeezed him one last time as the driver called out to you through the passenger window. “Thanks for lunch.”

“Be safe.”

“Take care.”

You felt Dean’s eyes on you as you were driven away, back to the house he had bought with Sam way back when, where you were always, glaringly alone.

Tagging:

@deans-spinster-witch

@mrswhozeewhatsis

@cosicas-cuquis

@fics-pics-andotherthings-i-like

@suckitands33

@ladysparkles78

@deans-baby-momma

@stoneyggirl2

@sassy-pelican

@leigh70

@globetrotter28

@winharry

@lastactiontricia

@rockhoochie

Chapter Eighteen: Mordent

[cmrosens]

Fantasy Castle Thoughts

Wandering around castle ruins on the weekend while thinking about my fantasy WIP had me thinking about more worldbuilding stuff in fantasy (the obvious ones being covered by others, such as, where does the shit go? How do they get water? How do they not poison themselves while answering Qu 1?):

That film where they erased the entire town and the castle was sat there for no reason (meant to be Rochester) - look, even if your castle is a strategic fortress in the back of beyond, it will have some kind of nearby settlement. Because: who is building it and how long does it take and where do they all live while they're constructing it? Where do they go afterwards? How do the garrison get food (easier to grow crops and raise livestock nearby than have vulnerable wagons bringing it in and being ambushed).

A lot of castles were not built by locals, because you can't trust the fucking locals, that's (usually) why the castle is THERE. If you don't need a defensive structure you build a manor or a stately home. If you're building a castle, it's usually to subdue the population or to defend against the neighbours, but either way, what often happens is that the king or whoever will round up people from his patrimony he knows he's already whipped into shape and can trust, then force-marches them across country and re-settles them in the area the castle is meant to be. They are the ones who then farm and raise livestock, and push out the locals to do so. Over time, you get some intermingling and after a few gens it's a very different demographic, but you have a story of settlement going on with tensions bubbling under the surface. See also: William Rufus wanting to subdue the North of England, forcibly uprooting his tenants in the South of England and making them build and settle in Carlisle, where he built his castle (11thC); the Earl of Lincoln dragging a load of Yorkshire and Lancashire and Lincolnshire men to re-settle his newly bestowed North Welsh lordships, pushing the Welsh into the uplands while the settlers took over the lowlands (12th-13thC).

The settlers around castles bring their own forms of folk religion, superstition, folklore, dialect, and naming patterns, which are specific to their original region. These may be very similar to the ones where they've been settled. What does that look like? Is the culture of particular villages and settlements a little bit different or maybe strikingly so the closer you get to the castles in your world because of this? What are the issues faced by settlers and by local people, how do they get resolved (or do they)? You'd imagine settlers are favoured in court disputes, but depending on the politics, they may actually be overlooked in efforts to appease the locals, leading to some lords really upsetting the very people they took for granted that they could trust. What's going on with all this local level stuff? By the way:: 21stC "my religion is better than yours" is so fucking boring and overdone imo from Western fantasy. Not every fantasy people has to have a US Evangelical approach to faith. Maybe they just don't care, or as soon as they hear something new they're like oooh this is interesting let's incorporate that! And they do. And it's fine. And that's a normal attitude to have. That might be a lot more fun, because then you get multiple variations on a theme, which create lots of little layers and nuance to your world, rather than a very one-dimensional impression of "homogeneity" with the danger of slipping into ye olde "X Bad, Y Good" dichotomy.

Technology and adapting tech: building castles requires tech, and once you know how long something took to build, you know what the tech was and can work out how it may have developed since then. Also think about how it can be adapted. If you've got a world where castles are required because fighting happens, you have a world full of disabled people. War causes disability. Even tournaments were EXCEEDINGLY dangerous. Henry VIII got permanent brain damage at one. Other knights were left paralysed, many died, some were amputees as a result. People get their legs hacked off due to gangrene from wounds. People get arrows lodged in their spines. People get sick from malnutrition and develop conditions like osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, etc. Picture this: your lord gets severely injured and may never walk again just by falling from his horse (common). Unfortunately, the castle steps are DESIGNED to be difficult to get up and down, because it's a defensive structure, and you DO NOT want to make it easy for enemies to just stroll up to the upper levels which are the most defensible. Bear in mind that the majority of a castle is empty space: the ward. The domestic quarters are built into the walls, usually the inner walls of a concentric castle. Your lord had an upper floor room. In a castle, space is at a premium. You need all the space on the ground floor and it's already occupied. What do you do? Well - you remember that pulley system for heaving big tons of dressed stone up to the top of the scaffolding when constructing the tower? Yeah. Yeah you're going to use that. And if your lord is now permanently disabled and cannot use the stairs, you can work out how to refine that. But right now, you need to get him into bed so the physician can look him over, because if he dies right now this would be terribly politically inconvenient . Even if this hasn't happened in your current story right now, if this was the case for the lord or two BEFORE, the equipment may all still be there, and still be in place.

Anyway if you like this, you might like my newsletter and podcast, and the books I write.

[pennyblossom-meta]

Thank you @maevearcher for the tag. Sounds like a fun prompt! :)

I'll approach this interview in the voice of my OC, Anna Green, from The Ides of April (Harry Potter x Death Note crossover).

---

OC Interview Game

01: Were you named after anyone? R: Some of the oldest Pureblood families in Britain have an almost obsessive inclination towards Astrology for its deep esoteric undertones, thus naming their children after constellations. Being an accidental half-blood myself due to 'tainted' maternal blood I wasn't given the honor of maintaining the tradition; in fact, I was told many times how my mother insisted that my name should reflect the duality of both worlds: magical and non-magical. In short, she made an extremely elaborate argument to justify naming me after her own mother. My other grandmother wasn't pleased in the least. And father agreed with everything mother said, without question.

02: When was the last time you cried? R: It wasn't at all a full cry, but the stress of getting kicked out of class (and dragged out by a Muggle, no less) definitely came close. I was this close to hexing someone — Hideki Ryuga will never know just how lucky he was that day.

03: Do you have any kids? R: Nope. Perhaps I'll give it a think after 40-ish; witches and wizards live well into their 100's, after all.

04: Do you use sarcasm a lot? R: Does the eagle fly?

05: What is the first thing you notice about people? R: Overall appearance is important. Bearing and demeanor can tell you a lot about someone's personality, though it's not nearly the most important thing to consider. And sometimes, it's really just an onion that you'll have to peel in your own time.

06: What is your eye color? R: Blue-green, depends on the light. Mildly appropriate given my surname.

07: Scary movies or happy endings? R: Never watched a movie before. But as a thought experiment, I'm fond of bittersweet endings for literary purposes.

08: Any special talents? R: An uncanny affinity with felines, in particular cats and Kneazles. I'm also rather good at sewing.

09: Where were you born? A few ways off Windsor, Britain.

10. Do you have any pets? R: An elderly Kneazle called Rufus and Percival, a lovely barn owl that Millicent got me for my 23rd birthday. They both bite.

11. What sort of sports do you play? R: I know how to ride a broom just fine. Playing sports would be a waste of my time.

12: How tall are you? R: Around 1,63m or 5'3.

13: What was your favorite subject in school? R: Ancient Runes and Herbology, the only two subjects I got an Outstanding during my N.E.W.T.S.

13: What is your dream job? R: For the whimsy I'd be keen to try Curse-Breaking for a year or two, though I'm sure it wouldn't go over too well. I'm better suited for less exciting work; perhaps I'll open a clothes shop in Diagon-Alley to compete with Madame Malkin. I'm sure Millie would badger me for a friends discount.

Super fun, as expected! I highly recommend this prompt :) No pressure tagging for @lunalit-river, @pinkcloss and @senualothbrok

[loveaffairxc]

Emily nodded, taking in Esther's words, but they struck a deeper chord than she wanted to acknowledge. They felt too real, too final, as if marking the end of something she once cherished. The freeing feeling of her easy connection with Frank—the way it had been just the two of them, out in London, the ease of being able to see him whenever she wanted—was fading. She thought back to those nights after charity events, when her feet would ache from the heels. She’d walk barefoot up the stairs to his apartment, the cold floor beneath her feet a small relief as she knocked impatiently, knowing he’d open the door for her without question. It had felt natural, simple, like she had a place in his life that no one else did. Her eyes flicked to Esther, standing there with that damn dress, carefully stitching as if nothing about this moment bothered her. Everything about her irritated Emily—the restrained smile, the stiff way she held herself, like she was always ready for something. Esther felt more like a barrier than anything else, and the fact that she hadn’t even invited her in—it only deepened the sense of displacement.

"Some do, I suppose" she said in a low voice. Then Emily's voice shifted back to that bright, bubbly tone as she made her goodbyes, the forced cheerfulness ringing out and carrying up to where Frank stood at the top of the stairs.

It was so nice seeing you Esther!

He watched her retreat, the echo of her voice still hanging in the air. Slowly, he let his arms drop from the banister, feeling the weight of the exchange pressing down on him.

He turned back toward the bedroom. There, on the bed, Thomas lay sprawled out, completely at ease. The cat was stretched on his side, legs splayed out, his soft belly exposed, and his head resting against the pillow as if he had claimed the spot for himself. Oh, to be a cat, Frank thought to himself, watching Thomas sleep in complete peace, utterly free of the complications of human life. No guilt, no obligations, just the luxury of stretching out on a warm bed without a care in the world.

The guilt settled heavily inside him. He knew it was fine to miss a call sometimes; life got in the way. But this felt different. Emily was going through something—he understood what attending a funeral did to a person. He knew loss, and the weight of it. And now, the thought that he might become one of those bad friends added an extra layer of unease. With a heavy sigh, he let go of the gun, placing it back on the bedside table. His fingers brushed against the pack of cigarettes he kept there. He pulled one out and lit it, the familiar flicker of the lighter and the first drag of smoke calming him a little. As he exhaled, he shrugged on a shirt and walked towards the window, the cigarette between his fingers. He stood there, staring out just as he heard the sound of a car engine starting below. Emily’s car. The rumble echoed in the still morning air, a reminder of her leaving.

He could just go after her, he thought, try to explain that whatever happened, he'd be there for her. Yet, he felt almost frozen. Just as this thought crossed his mind, Rufus wandered towards her, his heavy panting audible even from where Frank stood. "Now, Rufus, be a good boy for me, won’t you?" Emily’s voice floated up from outside, faint but cheerful, as she patted the dog’s head. He heard the clink of metal as Emily adjusted something in the car, and the subtle creak of the door as it swung open. Then, in a moment that felt like slow motion, she looked up toward the upper floor where he stood, veiled by the curtain in front of him. For a heartbeat, their gazes seemed to connect across the distance. His chest tightened as she glanced around, her expression shifting. But then she looked down again, closing the door with a soft click. A knot tightened in his stomach as he wondered if she had sensed his presence, and how much worse—or better—that might have made things. It was odd how the closer he grew to Emily, the more distant he was from Esther, and now, as everything shifted, he found himself wondering if it was possible to be close to both without tearing himself in two.

Esther lifted her gaze from the dress in her hands to Emily once more, each word sinking into her like a needle pricking the skin. She kept her composure, but inside her thoughts were racing. The way Emily spoke of Frank was so familiar, grating on her nerves. It wasn’t just what she’d said, but how she’d said it, as if there was a possessiveness to it.

Her jaw clenched, but still, she stayed silent. The words Frank had spoken to her last night and the promises he’d made echoed in her mind. He loved her more than his own life. But the doubts Emily was planting, subtle as they were, took root.

“War pulls people apart, there’s no denying that.” Esther said quietly, her voice calm but laced with a quiet resolve. She met Emily’s gaze, holding it for a moment longer than necessary. “But some pull closer too, once they’ve seen what really matters.”

She allowed the words to linger in the air, a silent declaration that she wasn’t going anywhere. No matter what Emily thought, no matter the history she shared with Frank, Esther was here. They were here. Together.

[explorer-of-art]

My NRC kids with Yuu and Grim

How the kids see Yuu, the MC, the isekai protag, and Grim. assuming we're going by game!Yuu aka the camera in human form while Grim is the mouthpiece dragging Yuu into many situations

Rufus is okay with them. There's not much to say. He knows them as friends of the two freshmen who dueled Riddle.

Bernard knows them as the ones who investigated the injuries just before the Magift tournament. Other than that, he's apathetic about them. Big oof for Yuu who took a Magishift disc to the head even though they survived and seemed fine after that?

Simon was entertained with the two during the sorting ceremony. He finds them interesting and would be down with befriending them but there's a lack of common ground that would bring them to become friends.

Rashad didn't want to pity Yuu, but he pitied Yuu. Being magicless and isolated in a school full of assholes must be horrible. Over time, he commends their resilience. He doesn't know how to interact with Grim. Grim is like a spoiled brat but a person spoiled brat seems more reasonable to teach to unlearn that behavior compared to Grim the tanuki-monster-thing. And he still remembers Grim as the one that committed arson back at the sorting ceremony.

Ivy avoids them. Grim is annoying and where Yuu goes, Grim is probably with them.

Varius is somewhat interested in witnessing the destruction Grim causes but at the same time, it would suck to be at the scene of the crime. Someone has to clean that up and it won't be him! Yuu is cool in his book.

North avoids them. Even though she and Yuu are both from Earth even if it's different Earths, she has no reason to interact with them. She'll be nice and civil with Yuu but not with Grim. Grim has the personality type that she hates.

Regulus has beef with Grim and won't hesitate to fight him. Once they fought over Yuu because while Grim and Yuu are supposed to be partners/two halves of a whole student, Grim causes trouble and drags Yuu down with him, so he proceeded to square up, comparing their friendship with him and Erwin's to insult Grim. Needless to say, Regulus, Grim, and Yuu by extension, got in trouble. Don't let Regulus go anywhere near Grim. He sees Yuu as weak and defenseless but also strong to even be in NRC.

"Control your kid," Erwin says. Even though he didn't like that Regulus and Grim fought, he will NOT apologize for Regulus' behavior. He doesn't like Grim. Yuu hasn't got on his bad side yet so there's no verdict. He's a year above them so they're not going to meet often.

[heartlessfujoshi]

the horndog and the prince(ss) - a rufusreno multichapter fic

Title: The Horndog and the Prince(ss) Chapter: 4 of 10 Fandom: FFVII Compilation Pairing: RufusReno (Rufus Shinra x Reno) Rating: Explicit (Explicit Sexual Content - Timeline what Timeline - Sex with Clothes On) Word Count: ~3,345

Ch 1 Ch 2 Ch 3

--- “Tseng returns tomorrow, yo.” Reno commented, a cigarette perched on his bottom lip as his arm was firmly around Rufus’ body. “I gotta sleep out there tonight.” 

“Tonight.” Rufus snorted, shaking his head as he adjusted himself. His naked body was tucked against Reno’s lithe one, his muscles more defined than Rufus thought they would be. Reno was a gym rat, so it would seem. “You act as if it’s not already one in the morning.” Rufus’ hand found its way to Reno’s defined stomach, letting his fingers walk down towards the streak of red that was coming up from a spot he’d become rather fond of over the last week. 

The cigarette bounced on Reno’s lip. “Ya know what I mean, Princess.” Rufus closed his eyes and hummed softly, his fingers now playing with the short hairs below Reno’s belly button. “And if ya remember, we haven’t really discussed anything.” 

Right. They hadn’t. Over the past week, after office hours they went back to Rufus’ apartment and got right down to business in the bedroom. There had been no time to discuss whatever this arrangement was, or what it meant. If it meant anything at all. Rufus wasn’t sure how this was going to work, seeing that Tseng would be back to watching him twenty-four seven. 

“I’ll figure something out.” Rufus mumbled, not at all interested in trying to figure out what to do later. He was happy to be in the moment right now, and right now his hand was dipping down further. His fingers touched Reno’s soft cock, but as soon as his fingers began to play with it, it started to grow hard for him. “What do you want it to be?” He asked, curious to hear how Reno would respond. 

He felt his shoulder lift him up, and then cigarette smoke clouded his face as Reno exhaled his drag. “I dunno. Yer a beast, Ruf’. I dunno if I could handle ya.” 

“I am not.” Rufus had no idea what he was talking about, and frankly didn’t care as he was more interested in what was in his hand. He kept moving his fingers along Reno’s length, enjoying how it was growing harder by the second beneath his fingers. He brought his lips to Reno’s neck, and left a few kisses there. “If you want this to stop, then fine.” 

A hand grabbed on to the back of his neck, and squeezed tight. Rufus gulped, and felt his adrenaline skyrocket. “I didn’t say I wanted it ta end, ya fuck.” Rufus was pushed towards Reno’s chest as he let go of his neck. “Why do ya gotta go to extremes, huh? I jes’ said that I don’t think I can handle ya.” 

“You’ve been doing a pretty damn good job so far.” Rufus breathed out, his hormones going wild at the display of dominance from Reno. It was such a turn on for him, to be manhandled by his Turk in a way that no one else would ever dare touch him. “Why stop now, when we could see what sort of fun we could have together?” 

“Yer gonna make me fuckin’ hate ye, aren’t ya?” Reno’s hand returned to his neck, but this time the grip was less threatening, and more loving. Rufus couldn’t help but drop his head back against Reno’s chest, as his hand now made a fist around his cock. 

He stroked his cock slow, savoring the way that it felt against the palm of his hand. “You already hate me.” It didn’t bother him. A hateful fuck was just as good as a fuck with feelings behind it. They were different kinds of feelings, and Rufus preferred it that way. Any other feeling was stupid. Unnecessary. 

“That’s true, yo.” 

Smirking, he lifted his head and caught Reno’s green eyes looking at him, the cigarette now gone from his mouth. “I say let’s see how it goes. If it doesn’t happen again, fine. I won’t bother you.” 

“Easy for ye ta say.” Reno pulled him up towards him, the hand on his cock being pulled away as he tried to find a way to balance himself in Reno’s arms. “Now, how’s about ya stop toying wit’ me, and let me fuck that pretty ass of yers again, hmm?” 

Warm lips descended onto his, kissing away the response that Rufus struggled to make, but then gave up as Reno was too insistent with his kisses. Rufus really liked the way the redhead kissed. It always began the same - an urgency that seemed to be unabated. His tongue would thrust into his mouth, and Rufus felt the world melt away as their tongues began to flick and touch one another. And then, when he thought Reno was going to pull away, the kiss would last another twenty seconds, leaving him gasping for air as their lips finally came apart. 

He was holding his arms tight around Reno’s neck, not wanting to let go but he knew he had to as Reno had to get a condom on. “Hurry.” He moaned low, anxious to have him back inside of him. 

“I know, I know.” 

As Reno slid back into his body, Rufus released a deep moan, pushing his ass down to receive more of it. It always felt amazing, that first push into him. Reno was so skilled with his hips, that Rufus knew that he was going to be coming again far sooner than he wanted to. If this was going to be the end of things, he wanted every second to last a lifetime, as the sex was so good. He felt Reno thrust forward hard, making a moan turn into a gasp as it left his mouth, Rufus clinging onto Reno’s shoulders as he was pounded into. 

“Gods, I love yer sounds…” Reno moaned into his ear, as Rufus struggled to say something in return. His entire body was consumed by the way that Reno was moving inside of him. Everything was burning, and it felt so good. “Ya wanna come, Princess? I betcha do.” 

“N-No…” He shook his head. “N-Not yet…” 

Reno understood, and as soon as he felt his lower belly begin to burn, Reno’s hand was around his cock, squeezing the life out of him. Rufus moaned and whined, bucking his hips to get the pressure to stop, but the redhead wouldn’t relent. “Ye said ya wanted it to last.” Reno murmured into his ear, sending a sharp wave of pleasure rushing through his body at how he spoke to him. “Make it last, baby.” 

He listened, and clung tight as they began to move again. Rufus held on for dear life, as the bed creaked and groaned with every rough thrust that Reno took. Rufus knew it was impossible to hold off any longer. With a hedonistic yell, he began to come hard, his body shaking from the intensity of his release. Reno moaned his name, bucked his hips wildly, and then he felt his hips stutter, the redhead finally finding his own peace. 

Rufus let go of him, and fell back against his pillows. He watched Reno get up and dispose of the condom, then returned with the towel they’d been using tonight, and got him cleaned up. Then, Reno turned the lights off and laid down next to him in the bed. Rufus’ eyes adjusted quickly, and he could see Reno’s face turned towards his. “What time are you leaving?” He asked, speaking quietly. 

“Soon.” Reno replied. He could hear there was a touch of sadness in his voice “Better that way.” 

“I know.” Rufus didn’t like it, but he understood. There was no way he was going to be able to explain to Tseng why Reno was in his bed naked without sounding like a moron, so it was probably better that they separate sooner rather than later. “Thank you for taking care of me this week.” 

“If I ask ya a question, will ya tell me the truth, Ruf’?” 

“Depends on the question.” He wasn’t an idiot. If Reno asked about something that was classified, he wouldn't be able  to answer, and he thought that the redhead would know this. But anything was possible. 

“It ain’t about work, yo.” 

Relaxing, Rufus gave a small nod of his head. “I will.” 

“Do ya fuck Tseng?” 

He blinked, not at all expecting that question. “No.” 

“Does he fuck ye?” 

“No.” 

“Are ya tellin’ the truth, Princess?” 

Rufus could see Reno was staring right at him. He reached up, and put his hand on his face, his thumb touching one of the marks just below his eye. The red marks that had been there since he’d met the Turk. He always wondered how he got them, but never bothered to ask because it wasn’t any of his business. Reno had other tattoos on his body, the artwork truly beautiful. But he’d never bothered to get a good look at them, as he didn’t want to impose on the redhead. He kept his eyes locked onto Reno’s, and nodded his head. “You’re the only Turk I’ve slept with.” 

“Bullshit.” 

“You asked me if I was going to tell the truth, and when I do, you don’t believe me.” He smirked, not at all annoyed. “You’re impossible, Reno.” 

“Why me?” 

That was a very good question. Why had he gone to the bar that night, to look for him specifically? “I guess I wanted to see what it would be like.” Rufus answered truthfully. “I would never attempt to do this with anyone else.” 

“Ye better not.” Reno brought his head closer to his, and then kissed him gently on the lips. The tenderness made him startle, but then he sank into the kiss, moaning softly as Reno kissed him with a sweetness that had yet to appear in their affair. “I don’t wanna hear about ya fuckin’ anyone else on the team.” 

“You won’t.” He breathed out, his heart beating faster than it had in a long time. 

“Ye’ll be punished.” 

Rufus moaned low. “Is that a promise? Or a threat?” 

“Ya know what it is, yo.” 

He nodded his head. “Very well.” 

Another sweet kiss touched his lips. “Sleep good, Ruf’. I’ll be out there, keepin’ watch. I may not be here when ya wake up.” 

“I know.” Why did it hurt hearing him say that? Rufus chose not to care at the moment. “Good night, Reno.” 

“Nighty night, Princess.” 

Reno left his bedroom, closing the door behind him with his clothes in his arms. Rufus stared at the closed door, hating that they were now separated, when they’d been together all week long. Reaching for the pillow that Reno had been using, he brought it into his arms and held onto it. It was a poor replacement for the body he wished he could be curled up against. But it smelled like him, and that helped ease the ache in his chest. Rufus hoped that when he woke up, that the redhead would be laying next to him again. Reno would sneak back into his room and kiss him awake, and they’d have sex again, like they’d been doing each morning since Reno had been assigned to him. 

But he knew that would never be, so he fell asleep with the pillow against him. 

---

Rufus took a long, hot shower in the morning, not bothering to move fast as he knew that there was no reason to. He didn’t have any pressing meetings this morning, nor did he have any this afternoon. Today was a day where he would be holed up in his office doing boring office work. Shit he hated with a passion, but was a necessary evil. 

Looking down at his body, he could see Reno’s hands everywhere. There were little dots on his skin where the redhead had manhandled him, and he touched those with a pleased smile on his face. If they couldn’t be together again, this was a good reminder of what they’d shared this past week. And that was good enough for Rufus. 

He put his suit on, then walked out to his living room where he saw Tseng sitting at his dining table, drinking a cup of coffee and reading the newspaper. “Good morning.” Tseng greeted him, as he walked over to pour himself a cup of coffee. “How’re you, sir?” 

“Great.” It was a lie. He was anything but great, but it was the normal response he gave his bodyguard. “How was your trip? Successful, I hope?” 

“It was. We’ll debrief you later this morning.” 

“Wonderful.” Rufus grabbed a donut from the box that Tseng had brought, and saw that there were a few missing. Tseng really didn’t care for the sweet treat, so he knew who had taken those missing donuts. He felt his chest ache, and hated the feeling. 

“How was the week with Reno, sir?” Tseng asked, as he sat down at the dining table with him to eat his breakfast. “I hope he behaved.” 

It took every ounce inside of him to not make a noise at the comment. Reno behaved perfectly. “He did.” Rufus didn’t bother to elaborate, as there was no reason to. Tseng had asked a question, and he gave an answer. 

“Good. I’m happy to hear that. He looked a little more tired than normal, which is why I was asking.” 

Rufus shrugged his shoulders, and grabbed a section of the newspaper he cared about. “Didn’t notice anything strange while he was on duty with me.” 

“Very good, sir.” 

He finished his breakfast and coffee, and then the two of them headed to their offices a few floors below where he resided. He saw Elena, Rude and Reno in the breakroom, Elena telling a story that had the others laughing. Rufus looked at Reno and wanted to pull him away, wanted to keep him all to himself. There was a different kind of pang in his chest now - I have no reason to be jealous. But he was, nevertheless. Jealous that Reno could act the same as always, while he had to pretend he wasn’t dying to touch the redhead. 

His office was a prison to him today. With Tseng in the corner standing guard, Rufus was forced to do work that he didn’t care to do. He typed replies with hard, fast strokes on the keys, clearly manifesting his anger through his typing. He didn’t care if he was being a child. He wasn’t feeling great, and the cure for his aches and pains wasn’t a viable resource anymore. 

Tseng’s PHS rang. “Yes?” Rufus tried to ignore the conversation, as he didn’t care one way or another what was happening. He was still typing angry responses, hating every single second of his work. “I’ll be right there.” 

This got Rufus’ attention. Lifting his head, he saw Tseng dial someone on his PHS. “I need you in Rufus’ office right now.” The call ended abruptly, and then the Turk turned to look at him. “Sir, I need to leave.” 

“I’m capable of keeping myself out of trouble.” Rufus reminded him. The door to his office opened, and in walked the source of the pain he’d been feeling all morning. And suddenly, that pain disappeared as he saw Reno standing there, with an annoyed look on his face. 

“How long ya gonna be gone, yo?” Reno asked, his EMR balanced against his shoulder. “I was jes gonna go and get some food.” 

“An hour, tops.” Tseng pocketed his PHS. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.” Tseng left without another word, the door to his office slamming shut with a definitive noise. 

Rufus set his hands on his desk and looked over at Reno. “You look like you’re in a shit mood.” 

“Could say the same for ye, Princess.” 

Instantly, Rufus felt better at hearing that nickname he’d loathed for so long. But hearing him say it now, he knew they were back to where they were only a few hours ago. He stood up from his desk and approached the redhead. “Are you miserable because of me?” He asked, standing directly in front of him now. 

“What do ya think, yo?” Reno put his EMR back on his waist, and he put his hands on Rufus’ shoulders. “Ye got under my skin, ya asshole.” 

“I did not.” 

“Ye did.” 

“Shut up and kiss m-” 

The redhead listened to his request, and slammed his mouth down onto his hard. Rufus moaned, lifting his leg to wrap it around Reno’s waist, needing to physically be closer to him. But then, their kiss came to a quick end as Reno’s PHS began to ring. The redhead yanked it out of his pocket, and brought it to his ear. “What!” 

Rufus pulled him over to his desk and pushed him down onto the chair. He sat down on Reno’s right thigh, needing to be able to get up quickly if necessary, so rather than straddle his lap he chose one leg to sit on. Reno kept the phone pressed to his ear as his hands settled on Rufus’ hips, guiding him to move himself on his thigh. 

He bit his lip as the pressure in his pants grew, his cock swelling to an engorged length. Rufus kept rubbing himself against Reno’s thigh, dying for more but was settling for what he could have right now. Reno was yelling at whoever was on the other end of the line, but his hands were gripping tight to Rufus’ ass, encouraging him to move faster. Rufus knew he was going to make a mess like a teenager, but he didn’t care. All he cared about right now was that Reno was here. Reno was with him again, and so soon after they’d last been together. 

Reno pushed his hand up against his crotch, and Rufus had to bite down on his arm to stifle the noise that wanted to come out of him. He rocked himself back and forth on Reno’s thigh, his orgasm coming hard and fast. Reno kept pushing his hand against his cock, and then Rufus was tossing his head back with a silent moan, his cum now flooding his pants as he came hard. 

The PHS was slammed closed, and Reno’s lips were back on his, kissing him with a fire that had Rufus’ head spinning. “Sorry about that, yo.” Reno murmured against his lips, as his hand reached down into Rufus’ pants to collect some of the mess that was there. Reno brought it to his lips and licked the mess off, making Rufus’ eyes roll back in his head. “Can’t do anymore right now, beautiful. But I promise I’ll find a way ta get back to ya, okay?” 

“O-Okay.” He nodded his head, then stood up off of Reno’s thigh. The dark spot was hardly noticeable, which was good. Rufus went into his bathroom and got himself cleaned up, then returned to his desk, feeling much better than when he’d first come into his office this morning. Reno stood by the door, with a smile on his face that was making his chest ache all over again. When Reno winked at him, he couldn’t help but chuckle, pleased to have the redhead in his presence again. 

Tseng returned thirty minutes later, looking mildly upset. “Did anything happen?” Tseng asked Reno. 

“Nah, boss. Everything is quiet in here, yo.” Reno shrugged his shoulders. “Can I go now?” 

“You may.” Tseng replied, then took up his post in Rufus’ office. “Everything okay, sir?” 

Rufus nodded, as he watched Reno leave. He knew Reno would try, and that was all that mattered. He’d get to play with him again, and hopefully soon. “I’m good, Tseng. When did you want to debrief me again?” 

“We can go now, if you’d like.” 

Pushing his chair back, he fixed his bangs, and then fixed his coat. “Yes, let’s go now.” He walked past Tseng and left his office, his mood much improved after that lovely reprieve with the redhead. 

---

Cross-posted to AO3

[countenanceblog]

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

The dusty parking lot of Fort Retard was illuminated by the soft glow of the moon and the dim light coming from the adobe mansion's windows. Francisco, Rachel, and Aleister stood together, their eyes searching for any sign of life amidst the junipers and bushes that surrounded the single-story mansion. As they waited, Lazarus Typuggio emerged from the shadows, his tall figure casting an imposing presence. He was about six foot six, and his companion Jonah Siebolds was beside him.

"What's good, fam?" Lazarus greeted them with a smirk, taking a fast, deep drag from his cigarette, as if using an inhaler. "Seems like y'all are eager."

Rachel's bright blue eyes narrowed, wary of Lazarus' intentions. "You too, huh? How much do you know?"

Lazarus chuckled, exhaling a cloud of smoke. "I got my sources, girl. Now let's cut to the chase. I know y'all were lookin' for answers about Raj and his big little run-in with Elite Tactical."

Aleister, who polished his black glasses, joined the conversation. "So, what's your stake in all this, Lazarus?"

Lazarus leaned against a juniper, his dark eyes never leaving the group. "Let's just say I'm intrigued by the power play goin' on here. Raj ain't your average Joe, and the Elite Tactical ain't playin' games. They're on a mission, and it ain't gonna end well for anyone caught in their crosshairs. And today, that's lookin' to be us."

Jonah, the quiet listener, finally spoke up in his characteristic short sentences. "Tell 'em, Laz."

Lazarus smirked, his cynical demeanor not faltering. "Here's the deal, bros and babes. We're in this together already. But you better believe this ain't no charity case. You scratch my back, I scratch yours."

Francisco's ego bristled, not keen on trusting this dark figure. "And why should we trust you?"

"Trust?" Lazarus let out a humorless laugh. "Trust is for the naive. I got information you need, weapons you don't have, and you got skills that might come in handy. It's a mutual benefit thing, ya dig?"

Rachel weighed the options, her blue eyes locking onto Lazarus'. "Fine. But if you screw us over, you'll regret it."

Lazarus raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his expression. "You got spunk, girl. I like that. Now, let's talk about Raj and his powers. Elite Tactical ain't gonna let that slide. They see him as a threat, and they're gonna be after everyone who knew him."

As the five characters huddled together, enveloped in the smoke of their cigarettes, they knew that their lives were now dangerously intertwined. Finally, the garage door opened. Gwyneth Campbell, tall and dark of hair, was standing somberly next to Ralph's B.B. Sagittarius inside the garage. "Get your asses in here."

With that, they filed into the building. Inside the spacious kitchen of Fort Retard, the atmosphere was heavy with tension and uncertainty. Gwyneth Campbell's stern gaze met each of the newcomers as they entered. She stood tall and resolute, her dark hair cascading over her shoulders.

Rachel, Francisco, Aleister, Lazarus, and Jonah gathered around the large wooden table at the end of the lengthy room. Gwyneth wasted no time in addressing the situation. "So, you've come seeking answers about Raj," she said, her voice firm and commanding. "You should know that Elite Tactical is relentless, and they won't stop."

Francisco glanced around the dimly lit room, realizing the gravity of their predicament. "We need to know what Raj was involved in. Why did they target him?"

Gwyneth's amber eyes locked onto Francisco's, her expression serious. "Raj possessed a gift, some sort of superpower, really, that attracted unwanted attention. He could move shit with his mind, and that's something Elite Tactical couldn't ignore. They fear what they can't control. That's what Rufus says, anway."

Aleister leaned against the kitchen counter. "Can we trust you, Gwyneth? We need to know where we stand in all of this."

Gwyneth's lips curved into a faint smile. "Trust is a delicate thing, especially in times like these. But I can assure you that I have no allegiance to the state. I'm not one of their puppets. Fortunately, no one in the crew but Wayne wants anything to do with the government."

Rachel couldn't help but be intrigued by Gwyneth's aura of authority. "What's our move, then? How do we stay ahead of Elite Tactical?"

Lazarus, never one to mince words, chimed in. "We need a plan, and we need it now. Time's runnin' out, and we ain't gonna last long if we don't stick together."

Gwyneth nodded in agreement, her gaze moving from one face to another. "Rufus will be crucial in this. He knows things, things that can turn the tide in our favor. We're talking about trying to contact the Resistance."

Jonah, the quiet observer, finally spoke up. "I'll go get the rest of 'em. How many people are here, anyway?"

"Me, Maggie, Karen, Rufus, Wayne, Xander, uhh, Corey too. Oh and Yuki is around here somewhere," replied Gwyneth. Jonah nodded and took off.

Rachel's blue eyes softened with a sense of security. "Thank you, Gwyn. We'll need all the help we can get."

As the group settled into a strategizing huddle, the sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway. Rufus sauntered into the kitchen with his signature sarcastic grin, and Wayne followed, exuding his usual air of superiority. Quiet Jonah trailed behind them.

"Well, well, well, what's the occasion?," quipped Rufus, leaning against the counter next to Aleister.

Gwyneth glanced at Rufus and raised an eyebrow. "We're facing some serious trouble, and we need to come up with a plan. Raj's situation is just the beginning. Elite Tactical won't stop until they have us all."

Wayne scoffed, "Oh, please. I doubt they care about the rest of us. What are they going to do, abduct a bunch of attractive young people? Without explanation?"

Rufus rolled his eyes. "Leave it to Wayne to be completely clueless. This is bigger than just Raj. They're going after anyone with powers, and they're not going to be satisfied with one or two captives, Wayne. They're already coming out saying that Raj was David Griffith's second in command. We're in deep shit. Actually, deep shit is an understatement, my friends. We're practically drowning in a puddle of trouble here. But hey, who am I to complain? It's not like I have anything better to do with my time." He took a dramatic pause, his eyes scanning.

Rachel couldn't help but roll her eyes at Rufus' dramatics. "Cut the theatrics, Rufus. We need to focus."

"Yeah, yeah, boss lady," Rufus replied, feigning a salute. "So, what's the grand plan, huh? Are we going to stand here, basked in the glory of . . . Wayne? Or are we going to do something useful?"

"Useful?," Wayne shot back. "At least I look good on paper, asshole. You work at a pizza place."

"Yeah, and you live with your mom. Shut up," Rufus told him. "Your only idea so far was turning ourselves in."

Lazarus, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke up in his slang-filled manner, "Yo, enough of the ego battle. We need all hands on deck if we wanna survive this mess. Rufus, you got info, spill it. Gwyneth said you know stuff. How's that, anyway? Your pops?"

"Well, I know that Agarthan Intelligence would've taken him by now," began Rufus. "And I know that they have a secret facility where they dissect psychics. It's underneath Cortez. So, look – "

Aleister interjected. "What do you mean, underneath it? Cortez? That's in the middle of nowhere. It's a village."

Rufus smiled widely. "You know ATS? The Transit System? There's a secondary one, only the elite, intelligence people, etcetera, can use it. Subways." Aleister lowered his glasses for perhaps the first time ever. The others listened closely. "Me and Jack used to explore the tunnels under Air Town, some of them connect to government facilities underground. Sometimes huge ones. Oftentimes they're abandoned. This is what the elite are really doing, building stuff deep underground."

Francisco, who had been quiet for some time, piped up. "We need somewhere better to talk, Ralph or Timmy are viable to pop in anytime. Where are they, anyway?"

Rufus chuckled. "Neither of them checks the news until the morning. We told Ralph we were throwing a chiller. Let's go to the war room." Francisco nodded curtly.

[isabellafoster13]

Chapter Twenty-Three: Russian Roulette

WARNING: GAMBLING AND GUN USE! BRIEF MENTIONS OF DEATH AND PREVIOUS PANIC ATTACK!

DISCLAIMER: YOU SHOULD NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES PLAY RUSSIAN ROULETTE! IT IS A HIGHLY DANGEROUS AND VERY STUPID GAME! I DO NOT CONDONE PLAYING THIS GAME!

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

Rufus stepped out of the bedroom that he was sharing with Midnight, dressed and intending to wait for the other three to rouse themselves and get ready for either more gambling or to leave la Cour de Velours. He walked over to the couch and sat on it, quickly spying a communication lacrima on the coffee table. He reached for it and held it in his hands, deciding to give his friends a call. 

It didn't take long for Sting to pick up. Rufus could see that his Guild Master was at Fairy Tail, the sound of the destructive guild has difficult to miss. Sting greeted him, "hey, what's up man? How's the mission going?" 

Rufus answered, "we've collected a fair amount of keys, but we have many more to go. If I remember correctly, there are eighty-eight keys in all. Lucy currently has," he counted up the keys that Lucy had by now in his head, "thirty-four keys." 

Sting exclaimed, "nice! So, you've got fifty-four left to go!" 

Rufus nodded. He was about to ask how the others were doing when Sting was pushed away and Natsu appeared and questioned, "hey, Rufus, how's Luce? She hasn’t gotten hurt has she?" He stared at the blonde man with a critical eye.

Rufus, unfazed, answered, "she's doing fine." 

"Where is she? I wanna talk to her!" 

"I'm sorry, but she is still asleep. I'll tell her that you wanted to talk to her so that she can call you when she has the time." 

"Fine!" 

It was at that moment that Sting took the communication lacrima back. He grinned at his friend, inquiring, "so, have you made a move yet?" 

"Pardon?" 

"You know what I mean! Have you made a move on Blondie yet?" 

Rufus stared at him with widened eyes, his cheeks heating up in a blush. The question reminded him of Lucy's visit to Sabertooth, about a month ago even though it felt like it was years ago. He remembered having "made a move" by flirting with her and then was about to propose a date when she had been dragged away. He diverted his green eyes as he answered, "I...No, no, I haven't." 

"What?! Well, you better get on that because nearly every member of our guild has a lot of money riding on you getting with Blondie!" 

Rufus looked right back at him, thoughts of dating Lucy gone from his head. "What do you mean?" 

Sting chuckled before he revealed, "we've been betting on who will get with Blondie first. All of Fairy Tail is betting on Freed, Crime Sorciere is betting on Midnight, and Minerva is the only member of Sabertooth who isn't betting on you. She says that she doesn't want to bet at all, but Orga and I are sure that we've almost gotten her convinced to bet on you." 

Rufus sighed before the dragon slayer's words sunk into his brain. He gave Sting a sharp and serious stare as he questioned, "what do you mean that Freed and Midnight are being betted on?" 

"Huh? Well, it's obvious that they've got a thing for Blondie, just like you." 

"What?!" 

Rufus had suspected such, but to have it confirmed was different. He tightened his grip on the communication lacrima as he demanded, "do you know anything about Freed's and Midnight's intentions?" 

Sting hummed before he answered, "I have no idea. Hold on! I'm gonna get Mira!" 

Rufus was alone for not even a minute before Mira hopped in front of the communication lacrima with a big smile on her face. She answered Rufus' previous question, "Freed was planning to get closer to Lucy so that his chances with her would increase, however, Midnight is either unaware of his feelings or is in denial." 

Rufus gave a short hum. He'll have to keep an especially close eye on Freed. Midnight wasn't particularly worrying if he really wasn't aware or accepting of his feelings, but nevertheless, he was still one to watch. The memory-make mage nodded to Mira, silently thanking her for the confirming information, 

Unfortunately, the white-haired woman didn't want to leave just yet. She instantly probed, "so, have you thought about names for yours and Lucy's babies? I have a list if you'd like to hear them! I'm, of course, betting on Freed, but I don't mind helping with baby names..."

As Mira continued on, Rufus silently ended the call. He sat the communication lacrima back on the coffee table. He leaned back, only to jump slightly when he heard Lucy ask, "who were you talking to?" 

Rufus looked over to see the celestial wizard walking over to the couch and sitting on the opposite end from him. He noticed that she was dressed in a long-sleeved, form-fitting, light blue shirt, along with a pair of form-fitting jeans. It was strange to see that she had changed her style of clothing in such a way, but it wasn't his place to question it, so he instead pushed it out of his head and answered, "I just wanted to call Sting and see how everybody was doing." 

"And? How are they?" 

"They're fine. Natsu wanted to talk to you. I suggest that you call him when you have the chance." 

Lucy nodded as she looked down at her bandaged fingers. Rufus followed her gaze. There was a smile on her face, but something about it was sad. His mind went to the previous day, when Lucy seemed to have an attack of some kind. It was a painful thing for him to watch and he wished that he was able to wipe the memory from his mind. He hated that he had just stood there, not knowing what to do. 

Worry wrapped around his heart as he gently asked, "Lucy, are you alright?" 

She looked at him, her smile widening but not reaching her eyes, and she responded, "of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?" 

"Well, considering what things have happened so far, I think that maybe, you aren't as 'alright' as you say that you are." 

"Rufus, I'm fine. I promise. Are you alright?" 

He blinked at her, confused. He didn't think that he had been acting off. "Why do you ask?" 

"You were close to Yukino and Sorano, especially Yukino. How have you been since their deaths?" 

Rufus stared at her, his eyes having widened just a bit. He hadn't thought about it. Perhaps he was just too busy to think about his friends' deaths or he just unconsciously didn't allow himself to think about it, but he wasn't able to give an answer. Wanting to divert the topic of conversation, he stood up and asked, "have you looked at the scroll? It would help us know if there are more keys here are not. I'm not interested in staying here longer than necessary." 

Lucy nodded, "yeah, I did. It didn't change, so I assume that there are still more." 

Rufus nodded before he turned and walked to the bedroom he had previously exited, saying, "I'll wake Midnight and Freed so that we can get a move on." 

Rufus followed behind Lucy as she opened the door and walked into the gambling den. Inside, a small woman was sitting on a chair in the middle of the otherwise bare, dimly lit room. Well, almost bare. The only other piece of furniture was a small table that had a single drawer in it, sitting against the left-side wall. She looked up at the small group and grinned, greeting them, "hello!" She then stood up. The woman appeared to be only slightly bigger than Levy. Her wavy, white hair reached her hips and her blue eyes shinned through the dim light of the room. She was dressed in what looked like a strapless, black leotard. On her feet were black flats. 

"Who will be playing my game?" She gestured toward the chair that she had been sitting on. 

Rufus remembered watching Lucy and Freed play. Knowing that his pride wouldn't allow him to let Freed show him up in being the only one to play besides Lucy, as well as figure out the cheat that Mo and Lilith had tried to pull. He also knew that he could just let Lucy take all of the gambles. So, just as Lucy took a step forward, he surged forward and sat on the chair, shooting Lucy a teasing smirk in response to the surprised look on her face. 

The den owner clapped her hands as she cheered, "yay! I'm happy to play against a good-looking fellow!" 

Rufus gave a small chuckle, "that's kind of you." He then looked back at her asking, "could I see the keys, please? I'd like to make sure that they are real." 

The woman chirped, "yes, of course!" She jogged over to the table. She dragged it over and let it rest a few feet in front of Rufus. She then took her place next to it and opened the drawer just enough to reach her small hand inside. She retracted her hand and handed Rufus two keys. 

The blonde man examined the keys, one at a time. The first one was silver with a blade that was shaped like a bird's head, its beak pointing forward, as though it was in flight. On the circular bow was the black profile of a crow. He tested the validity of the key before he returned it to the den owner, nodding his affirmation that it was real. He then repeated his examination on the second silver key. Its blade was moon-shaped and on the circular bow was a black silhouette of a howling wolf. Once he was sure that it too was real, he handed it back. 

The two keys were slipped back into the drawer as the white-haired woman said, "by the way, I'm Abyzou." 

"I'm Rufus." 

"That's an awesome name!" 

"Thank you. Your name is quite interesting." 

"Thanks!" 

Abyzou smiled down at the blonde man. After a few moments of silence, she stomped her foot. A purple light appeared from beneath Rufus. He looked down to see a purple magic seal underneath his chair. Before he could properly react, purple ropes erupted from the magic seal and wrapped around him, tying him to the chair. Rufus struggled to free himself, but stopped when Abyzou pressed her finger against his nose and cooed, "this is necessary for the gamble." 

"I fail to see how!" He almost shouted at her and shook his head, trying to shake her finger off of his nose. 

Abyzou simply giggled and snatched his hat off of his head. He looked over at the rest of his group, seeing that Lucy, Freed, and Midnight were banging their fists against a wall of purple runes, the sounds of their shouts and the banging of their fists soundless on his end. Abyzou giggled again before she revealed, "they can't pass through that rune barrier, but we can pass through it. It activates once my ropes trap my opponent. Also, they can hear us, but we can't hear them." She swiftly tossed the hat in her hand at the rune wall, Rufus watching as his hat passed through it and landed on the ground beside Lucy.

Rufus gritted his teeth before he shouted, "release me! I'm not doing this!" 

The woman responded calmly, "I'm afraid that that isn't how it works. This is my gambling dem which means what I say goes. You accepted the gamble, so you are stuck going through with it." 

Unable to use his magic to free himself and seeing no other escape besides participating in the gamble, he sighed, "alright. What is the game?" 

Abyzou's grin widened and she reached back into the drawer. She pulled out two dice and handed them to him, asking, "want to check them for loading?"

Rufus nodded, despite not knowing if he would actually be able to. The den owner waved her hand over his left arm, causing the ropes to loosen just enough for him to pull out his left arm, however, that was about it. He turned the pair of dice around in his hand, analyzing for any tampering and weighing them in his hand. When he was sure that they weren't rigged, he handed them back to the woman. In an instant, his arm was being held tightly against his side once again. 

He watched as Abyzou reached back into the drawer, pulling out a small box and a revolver. Rufus's eyes widened and his heart picked up its pace significantly. He demanded, "what the hell are you doing with that?" 

Abyzou stared at him and blinked her eyes at him innocently, answering, "it's for the game, of course." 

This wasn't a game, it was a plot to kill him! Rufus began struggling to free himself again, trying with all his might to activate his magic and save himself. When nothing happened he shouted at Abyzou, "you just want to kill someone! Let me go!" 

The woman sighed and drew back her hand, bringing it down swiftly to deliver a hard slap against the side of Rufus' face. The blonde was silenced, his green eyes still wide in growing fear and surprise. He snapped his head back around to stare at the small woman in front of him. 

Abyzou explained, "the game is a variation of Russian Roulette." She sat the things she had drawn out of the drawer on top of the table before she picked up the black die and continued, "this die will determine how many rounds we will go." She then sat it on the table and picked up the white die. "This die will be rolled at the beginning of each round. Whatever number it lands on, I will put that many bullets in the revolver." She sat the die back on the table and picked up the revolver, toying with it in her hands. "I will spin the cylinder, put the gun to your head, and pull the trigger. If it doesn't shoot, then you will be given the option of me pulling the trigger again or re-spinning the cylinder. If the gun doesn't shoot twice, then we will move on to the next round and I will roll the white die for the new round." She sat the gun back on the table and asked, "understand?" 

Rufus hesitated before he nodded his head. How was this nothing more than a plot to kill? It didn't seem to be much of a gambling game. 

He watched as Abyzou rolled the black die, determining the number of rounds. It rolled on the surface of the table before it landed on one of its sides. Five. Five rounds. Rufus gulped, his heartbeat quick and his stomach already twisting and turning. 

Abyzou then rolled the white die. Rufus watched it intently. Two. Two bullets. 

The woman picked up the revolver and deposited two bullets into the chambers as she announced, "first round." She then turned it around to let Rufus see the position of the bullets. They were right next to each other. Abyzou then closed the cylinder and spun it. When she stopped it, she pointed the gun against the middle of Rufus' forehead, the cold metal sending chills down his spine. Rufus screwed his eyes shut as he waited for the trigger to be pulled and either a click to sound or for his life to be ripped away from him alongside an accompanying bang. 

When the click of an empty chamber reached his ears, he breathed a sigh of relief, but tensed again when he remembered that he was far from finished. He opened his eyes to see Abyzou smiling down at him. She pulled the gun away and asked, "re-spin or no re-spin? Take your time to decide." 

Rufus thought about it, running the math through his head. If the cylinder was spun again, then the likelihood of it landing on an occupied chamber would be the same as it was with the first spin. Two bullets, six chambers. That is a one in three chance that he will die. This means, if the cylinder is spun again, then he will have a 66.7% chance of surviving. 

On the other hand, if he chose for her to not re-spin the cylinder, then he would have a 75% chance of living. The key here is that the bullets were put into the cylinder adjacently, meaning that the two chambers are followed by four empty ones. Either the chamber that the gun is currently on is next to a second empty one, or it is next to a bullet. This gave him a three in four chance that the next chamber is empty. 

Deciding that his odds were better if he chose the second option that she gave, he finally answered, "don't re-spin." 

Abyzou pressed the gun against the middle of his forehead again. Rufus closed his eyes tightly and waited for what would result. 

Click. 

The next chamber was, indeed, empty. 

Rufus opened his eyes and sighed, relieved that the first round was over, but still aware that he had four more rounds to go. 

Abyzou rolled the white die again. Rufus watched it with bated breath. One. One bullet. He allowed a small smile to appear on his face. A one was the best number he could hope for. 

Abyzou took one bullet out of one chamber and spun the cylinder. She then said, "second round," before she pressed the gun to the middle of his forehead. He closed his eyes and waited. 

Click. An empty chamber. 

He opened his eyes as the white-haired woman asked, "re-spin or no re-spin? Again, take your time to choose." 

Rufus didn't need to think about it much. It was just one bullet. He had a five out of six chance. That translated to 83.3%. It was an easy choice. 

"Don't re-spin." 

Abyzou nodded and pressed the gun to the middle of his forehead again. Rufus closed his eyes once more. 

Click. 

The second round ended with another empty chamber. 

Abyzou rolled the white die a third time. Rufus watched it, silently begging it to land on a low number. Three. Three bullets in the third round. 

Abyzou opened the cylinder and deposited two more bullets into it. Before she closed it, she let Rufus see the position of the bullets. The chambers were alternating, with one bullet in the top chamber and two beside the empty, bottom chamber. The den owner closed the cylinder and spun it. She announced, "third round." She then pressed the gun to his head once again. 

Rufus closed his eyes tightly. A bead of sweat rolled down his temple, soaking into his red and gold mask. He waited for his fate to be decided on pure chance. 

Click. 

He opened his eyes and stared down at the table in front of him. He wanted this to end. His hands shook despite being bound against his thighs. He didn't want to do this. He didn't care if it made him a coward, he just wanted to get out of this room and away from this cursed nest of gambling dens! 

Abyzou asked, "re-spin or not?" Was it just him or was her smile bigger and more menacing? Her grin reminded him of the one of sadistic glee that he had seen way too often on Minerva's face. He banished the memory from his mind with a whimper that he hoped nobody, especially Abyzou and Lucy, had heard. He forced his mind to calculate the current probabilities. 

The loaded chambers were arbitrarily located. This left him with a 40% chance of survival if he chose no re-spin. If he chose for the cylinder to be spun again, then he would have a 50% chance of surviving. 

He cleared his throat before he answered, "re-spin." His voice wasn't as strong as he had hoped it would be. It was obvious that his fear was bleeding through. 

Abyzou spun the cylinder again and pressed the gun to his head. Rufus looked up at her, accidentally catching her eyes with his. She stared down at him, a sadistic grin on her pretty face and malice swimming in her bright blue eyes. Rufus, unable to look her in the eye any longer, closed his own eyes and waited, silently praying for another empty chamber. 

Click. 

He released the breath that he had been unknowingly holding. He watched with wide and quaking eyes, his mouth slightly agape to accommodate his heavy breathing, as Abyzou rolled the white die again. 

Two. 

That wasn't a bad number. 

Abyzou took out a bullet. She let Rufus see the placement of the bullets. One bullet in the top chamber and another bullet in the chamber on the left side of the bottom chamber. He flinched when the cylinder was snapped shut. Abyzou giggled as she leaned away. She spun the cylinder as she announced, "fourth round." 

She pressed the cylinder against his head, the metal still cold, but not as much as it was the first time. Rufus closed his eyes and gritted his teeth. He balled his fists as much as he could. He waited.

Click. 

"Re-spin or no?" 

Rufus didn't open his eyes this time. Instead, he kept them screwed shut as his entire body shook within the confines of the magic rope that he was bound in. His mind raced to calculate his probabilities. 

If he asked for no re-spin, then he had a 60% chance of surviving. However, his chances of surviving if he asked for a re-spin were slightly higher at 66.7%. 

He spoke, his voice now having a noticeable quiver to it, "re-spin." 

He listened as Abyzou spun the cylinder again and his trembling body tensed upon feeling the gun press against the middle of his forehead. His lips quivered and his throat clenched. 

Click. 

Rufus accidentally let a choked sob slip. He clenched his teeth and screwed his eyes closed. He couldn't let himself cry. He was already showing way too much weakness. He couldn't unravel completely. He needed to keep hold of what little dignity he had left and maintain what little pride was remaining. The knowledge that he had reached the last round gave him very little comfort. 

He heard the die roll. When it stopped, he peeked at it. 

Five. Five bullets. 

He was dead. He knew that he was dead. 

He closed his eyes and listened as Abyzou loaded the cylinder and spun it. The sound was loud in his ears. Almost deafening. He was tempted to lash out at the sound, feeling strangely angry at the sound and wanting it to stop. 

The gun pressed against his head again. Knowing that was going to certainly die, he was tempted to confess his love to Lucy, but bit his tongue to refrain. She didn't need that knowledge. She didn't need to live with the burden of knowing how he felt about her. He couldn't do that to her, make her feel worse than she does now. He resolved to take his feelings for her to his grave and watch over her as she completed her mission and found the happiness that she deserved. 

Click. 

The silence of the room was deafening to him. Rufus was barely able to register his unbelievable luck in getting an empty chamber. 

"Re-spin or no?" 

That was a stupid question and it could be heard in her voice that Abyzou knew it was stupid. There were no other empty chambers. Rufus knew that all he could do was ask for a re-spin and pray for the mercy that would be the chamber being empty. 

He opened his mouth to speak, but no sound resulted. When he tried again, he choked out, "re-spin." 

The cylinder was spun again and the gun was pressed against his head. 

Rufus tightened his closed eyelids and sucked in a breath before he clenched his teeth so tightly that his teeth started to hurt. Tears welled up from behind his eyelids and his body trembled. His heart was hammering against his chest, a sound that he was able to hear and muffled any other sound that might be heard by the other people inside the room. His hands were balled, his fingernails digging so deeply into his palms that he might draw blood. His breathing was heavy and sweat either soaked into his mask or slipped past it and rolled down the side of his face and dripped off of his chin, onto the rope that prevented any movement he could hope to make. A few whimpers slipped through his pursed lips. 

He waited for the bullet that would bring his death to get released from its chamber. 

A loud bang rang out, reverberating off of the walls of the room. 

Time stopped for Rufus. He was stuck where he was bound in the chair, struggling to hold in the sobs that threatened to escape him. When his mind finally caught up to what had just happened, he slowly peeked open his eyes. As his breath shook audibly, he looked to the side, seeing that the gun was moved just enough for the bullet to miss him. He turned his head around just enough to look at the wall behind him. There was a hole in it, cracks surrounding it. 

Rufus looked back at Abyzou. His mouth was slightly agape and his heartbeat wasn't decreasing at all. His breathing continued to be heavy as tears slipped out of his eyes and soaked into his mask, only a few slipping past his mask and rolling down his cheeks, mimicking the way that his sweat had run down his face. 

When the magic ropes unraveled from around him and disappeared, he fell out of his chair and onto his hands and knees. His breathing became more labored and he was hit by a tsunami-sized wave of relief as he slowly realized that he was alive. The gun had gone off, but he was spared. 

He brought his hands up to feel his face, his fingers brushing against the slight wetness of his mask but not registering it. He heard the sound of something metallic clattering onto the floor in front of him. Still trembling, he looked down to see the two keys on the wooden floor. He looked up at Abyzou and uttered, "w-why..."

Abyzou giggled. It was an infuriating sound that caused Rufus’ hands to itch to punch her into unconsciousness. He looked back down at the keys. 

"Rufus!" 

Lucy's voice was slightly muffled by his ongoing state of shock. He flinched away from the woman's hands when he felt them grip his clothes. He watched with wide, tear-filled eyes as Lucy backed away, her brown eyes matching his green ones. She knelt next to him and held up her hands in front of herself. She muttered just old enough for him to hear, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Rufus." 

Rufus looked up at Freed and Midnight, who both stood behind Lucy. Their faces were clearly fear-stricken and shocked at what had just unraveled in front of them. 

The memory-make mage shook his head as he pushed the keys to Lucy. He stood up and wrapped his arms around himself, muttering as he walked past the three, "let's just go." 

[fireemblems24]

It's weird because 3 Houses showed 4 unique perspectives on Fodlan, but this one only has 2 - Edelgard's and AG's.

More below the cut obviously :)

Claude admits that he's untrustworthy, that he purposefully comes across that way. If it's racism, then it's racism in the writing of Claude's character and not specific to AG/Blue Lions. Who, by the way, have no problem with Cyril, Dedue, Shamir, Hapi, or Petra - so darker skinned, foreigners, and even Almyrans aren't a problem. Claude is a problem.

To be fair, the game never drags Dimitri for killing Rufus. They did everything they could to make it as justified as it could possibly be - civil war, attempted murder, abuse, refusal to communicate, etc . . . It's just Dimitri struggling with killing a family member, which would be OOC for him not to.

I was kind of bummed that Hopes confirmed that Patricia was so evil. I wanted her to have more complications to her actions, even though the most straight-forward and obvious answer is the one we got. I do wish we had a decent mother-daughter relationship (because, yeah, Sothis-Rhea is yikes, even in Houses where Sothis comes across a lot better). This game ignores motherhood in general, which wouldn't be so obvious if it didn't have so many detailed father-child relationships explored.

The trust Shez in AG vs not trust Shez in SB definitely feels deliberate. Edelgard doesn't trust anyone, but Dimitri doesn't have that issue, so it's fine. For Shez, though, it's obviously better to have allies that trust you and don't make everything about you into your mysterious power, so AG for the win. I agree with your other comment about how Faerghus culture would definitely promote tighter friendships and friend groups, and that's def reflected in the writing.

OMG, the recruitment for Shamir in SB is so wild. Especially later when the Empire has to face the possibility of fighting Catherine and Shamir's just "shrugs." It would've been fine since colder merc, ok, I can role with that, but she literally only joins Edelgard under extreme duress and to rescue Catherine. It's so bizarre. I generally don't have a problem with Shamir or her recruitment, but in SB it's really bad.

I'm guessing you mean that Claude-Dimitri conversation? I knew that line would upset some people, but it didn't me as much. Religion shouldn't have any sort of political authority. Fodlan games are wildly inconsistent with how much CoS has, but any at all is bad, and I'd want any leader not to embrace them having too much power, esp Dimitri because it must suck to feel like he's obligated to another institution regardless of how good/bad it is. I don't think Dimitri blames Rhea for arranged marriages and racism like Claude does and clearly doesn't think getting rid of her will fix human nature (or else why would he protect her? He never mistrusts her either). But they didn't have time for Dimitri go to, well I agree with this and this and this and not this and this and this and 95% of people don't want to read that anyways. I think Dimitri's the ONLY leader with a balanced outlook on the church. He acknowledges and sees first-hand the good it does, doesn't use Rhea as a scapegoat bc he fails to grasp nuance, understands how necessary it is (right now) for the mental wellbeing of his people, but also believes it could use some reform. That seems pretty fair. Because the writing is so unfair towards the Church, then it comes across way, way worse and harsher than it would if Rhea/the CoS got supports or their own route like SS.

You know, I didn't think about that at all about Miklan's mother. My guess, and this is only a guess, is that the vast majority of people with power in the Empire thinks they're the superior nation to the other two. For Faerghus, specifically, they see them as barbarian, uncultured Northerners. Edelgard gets no pushback from anyone for her land grabbing. There's lines from multiple characters suggesting the Empire huffs their own farts. But everyone? Of course not. For every Ferdinand, you've got a Linhardt that just doesn't give a shit.

Yuri is pretty openly pro-Church in this game, to be honest. There's map dialogue towards the end of SB and GW where he straight-up says, I'm only here because you're going to win, and he questions who's actually going to be allowed and benefit in Edelgard's world (it's not like a hopeful, but a doubtful). In AG, he says something totally different that chapter - a more generic observation/we're about to win/etc. There's also dialogue where he cuts himself off in SB and GW, not telling you things, in AG, he just tells you (noticing these things is why I play them back-to-back, I would've never picked up on Yuri trusting Shez in AG and not in SB/GW if I hadn't). His Dimitri support ends with him partnering with Dimitri because he believes the future Dimitri wants will accomplish his own goals (which, I'm guessing, has something to do with protecting/improving the downtrodden). He also low-key agrees to do any dirty work necessary to protect Dimitri's reputation and safety from that kind of work. Dimitri protests anyone doing anything bad in his name, so Yuri's like ok, ok but it's still pretty obvious that's exactly what he intends to do regardless and the part of the reason he intends to do so is because Dimitri's the kind of person who protested lamo. Honestly, he comes closer than any non-student character to openly declaring a side in this game regardless of what side you're playing.

Seteth giving a pro-crest view is interesting. Crests in themselves aren't bad things. It's human greed that turned them into a burden. And, of course, he'd see them as good. They're obviously some kind of "soul" or "spiritual energy" or something of Nabateans given to humans to help them (either get strong enough to defeat Nemesis or save their lives when sick or etc). He sees them from a different perspective and it's literally part of who he and all his family is.

I love the devious side to Flayn. You're right that it's never malicious, it's more playful. She'd be a lesser character without it.

I'm actually kind of shocked how badly Petra got treated. It seemed the fandom never played up how awful it could've been because Petra and Edelgard are friends, but I guess I just never gave Petra enough attention (there's so many characters), but did Petra ever have a choice? It's in her best interest to befriend the person who will one day have the power to destroy or free Brigid of anything in between.

Sylvain probably hates and wants to make peace with Sreng. He often has pretty complicated relationships in general. In GW, he tried to make peace and they used that to spring war on them, a war that killed his father. So, at this point, Sylvain has given up on peace and given into his hate. Since his father just died, that's a reasonable emotional reaction (if not a helpful one). Who knows if, in 3 years, he'd still feel the same way or circle back to "it's complicated, but I want to at least try."

I agree somewhat about your take on Dimitri being the only one who bothers to figure out "why" and even feel guilty about attacking others. It's part of why he's my runaway favorite. But when looking at the writing a a whole, it's a bit sus to only have the one getting attacked care when the ones attacking almost never bother to remember they're killing human beings and the whole thing ends up looking really victim blamey from a country that refuses to acknowledge when they were playing Edelgard in real life. BUT, I don't think it's a big mystery how Dimitri would react to questioning a Caspar or a Nadar who are openly bloodthirsty and for shallow reasons. He'd go and fight and kill them and feel a whole lot less bad about it. Even when he understands the enemy enough to know how badly he'll come across from their perspective, he still gives the command to attack if he thinks it's in Faerghus' best interest. If their reasons are evil, then he'd just go do it again.

AM Dimitri is better off mentally, but that doesn't mean AG Dimitri can't get there. How I see it is AG!Dimitri is what the writers would've done with AM!Dimitri if they had more time. People overplay how Dimitri just "turns around," but it is a valid criticism even if you understand the constraints. I think AG!Dimitri is showing the growing pains. So you'd get initial timeskip -> Grondor -> AG -> AM. Except in my fantasy world, Rodrigue doesn't die at Grondor, but just almost dies, lamo. Also, it could make sense with his friends too. They aren't able to reach him until post-Grondor because they're too tied to the past that's haunting him. So someone he loves almost dies to save him -> he sinks to rock bottom and wants to leave everyone but Byleth convinces him not to -> he and his friends start opening up to each other again -> slowly works towards Savor King. And it's in that "friendship is now back on the menu" when you'd throw in a lot of the AG and some immediately post Grondor AM stuff.

I totally agree about how they did Dedue dirty in AM though. AG redeemed that.

Manuela is from the Empire. For me, it's as simple as that. All her family and friends are there. It's also why I can't fathom the vast majority of the characters joining the Empire either. You'd have to have some crazy high convictions to openly take up arms and be willing to kill your own family, friends, and everyone you grew up around.

When I read people saying that Byleth is so effective because they're a new element, it made a lot of sense to me - especially for the Blue Lions because so many of them are haunted by their pasts. There's too much complicated shared tragedy among the Blue Lions for them to be able to talk about it to each other like they can to Byleth. There's def some annoying self-insert worship going on too, but it still does make sense and there's just good and bad parts to it like any other piece of writing.

That's 2/2 for Dimitri being the one lord that doesn't make a big fuss about the self-insert's powers. It's even better in AG though, since in AM, it's not even commented on. In AG, Dimitri knows that Shez's powers could go crazy one day, but just doesn't care. Shez is a person first and foremost and not just their abilities. (Though, I love it in AM too, that Byleth's powers play no factor at all in their relationship, to the point it's barely talked about. It's very sweet for Byleth to know that Dimitri only ever saw Byleth and not their super powers). Given that Faerghus actually needs super powers more than the other nations, it just makes it even more heartwarming how they put less emphasis on what the powers can do for their country than on valuing that person as an individual separate from God powers.

Azure Gleam Ch 11

Spoilers below for AG Ch 11.

STORY

RODRIGUE is back. You have no idea how happy I am that he got more screen time (and is now playable!)

Ashe's not happy that some nobles kept their titles after turning coat, but they can't afford the chaos changing things would create right now, but they plan to in the future.

I am living for the Big Dad energy Rodrigue always has.

Do we get to kill Caspar's Dad? Please let me kill Caspar's dad.

Felix asking the right questions - asking if they can trust Claude. Annette doesn't trust Claude. Ingrid neither, but doesn't think he's as bad as Annette and Felix.

Gustave and the Knights of Serios are keeping the Alliance in check.

Once again, people asking if Dimitri can kill his step-sister. But Dimitri's like, guys, I killed Rufus. I can handle it.

Ohh, a letter from Patricia? If it doesn't have new info, why bring it up? Something disturbing. Confirmation she was always bad.

Yep, she helped plot Duscur. I mean, we all guessed she was an awful human being, so now we know.

Like, I don't blame Patricia for missing Edelgard or whatever, but setting your child step-son to get butchered alongside tons of other innocent people is straight-up evil.

Dimitri's worried about Shez, and she's opening up to him. It's pretty sweet. It's also so sweet how much they trust Shez even if she doesn't trust herself.

Honestly, Dimitri and Shez are so cute, as friends or more, it doesn't matter, they have a great relationship.

Shez would rather die than kill her friends 😭 We won't let that happen (it better not happen)

MAP/SIDE BATTLES

Seteth said he trusts me 😭😭😭

Rodrigue got to say two things this time, which means he made up for lost time last chapter.

Ok guys, Shamir just went up in my books. She said as a mercenary she'll get hired to kill anyone, but prefers killing bad guys, like the Empire. I love it. She hasn't said anything like this in GW or SB.

SHEZ & RODRIGUE B

LAMO, omg, I love Shez.

So it starts with Rodrigue taking Shez very seriously as Shez talks about how the war may be over by next winter because she . . . wants to have a snowball fight, like all the Kingdom kids got to do.

It's actually kind of sweet, seeing Shez want to just play and have fun with the Blue Lions.

Rodrigue, of course, love the idea.

And takes snowball fighting too seriously, talking strategy. Of a snowball fight. OMG I love this. I love him.

He'd do full-out battle with Lambert and go with kids.

Rodrigue lost, lamo.

So Lambert would rush into battle alone, and Shez thinks like father like son with Dimitri.

I also love how Rodrigue thinks Gautier is cowardly for laying and ambush for Lambert, but is totally fine with his own sneaking and waiting to strike.

It ended with them getting cussed out by Ingrid's dad for not taking the mountain seriously.

Shez can invite Rodrigue to join in.

Oh, man, I wish I got to see this fight. I can only imagine Felix when he realizes Rodrigue is involved and thinking it's dumb for taking it seriously, then taking it seriously. Ingrid being an absolute tyrant ordering people to follow her strategies. Dimitri scared he'll knock someone's teeth out. Mercedes being absolutely savage. And so on...

DIMITRI & YURI C

Excited for this.

Yuri's told a "funny knight" who's really strong is helping everyone out who sometimes sounds sheltered and obtuse and sometimes not. Yep. It's Dimitri.

Yuri's not happy seeing Dimitri in dangerous allies. Worried about him. But Dimitri wants to learn how the commoners live so he can help them rule better.

OMG, Yuri's like "you don't have an heir," worried about the civil war that will happen if Dimitri dies.

Yuri is determined for Dimitri to live a long and happy life because the people of Faerghus like Dimitri and Yuri likes the commonfolk of Faerghus.

Also love how Yuri points out that if war breaks out, nobles will die, but commoners get slaughtered. Wish he'd tell Edelgard that.

Haha, he says to bring Dedue at least.

OMG, I love Dimitri. He then just asks Yuri to be his bodyguard.

And Dimitri won't ask Dedue because he knows Dedue will just forbid Dimitri from coming, like a nanny, lol.

Yuri's entertained that Dimitri asked him to be a bodyguard.

SYLVAIN & DEDUE B

Dedue is impressed with Sylvain for interacting with a woman like a normal person lamo.

"Don't expect praise for merely doing your job." I love Dedue. That's savage af.

Sylvain was motivated to mature by Felix and Dimitri. He said they're both like brothers, which is why he wouldn't get left behind. I love this group.

Oof, Dedue "had" a sister. And now we're getting to learn about her. 😭 She liked flower crowns and was determined when she set her mind to it.

Dedue wants Sylvain to visit Duscur after the war, to visit her grave together 😭

SYLVAIN & FELIX A

Felix got into a fight with soldiers . . . . because they were making fun of Sylvain.

Felix called it the "worst decision in his life." Of course. Felix being Felix.

Felix didn't tell Sylvain because he was worried about Sylvain hearing the details about what people said about him.

I love the idea of Felix getting into a fist-fight with people insulting Sylvain lamo.

Sylvain thinks he deserves his bad reputation because of who he used to be. Felix challenged why Sylvain didn't change sooner. Sylvain has no defense lol.

Felix is ok with people making fun of Sylvain, but only certain people lamo.

Felix is blushing after saying something nice lol. Now he's pissed at Sylvain. And insulting him. Very typical Felix.

Sylvain says he's 7% more cunning than Felix lamo.

This one did go more into ship bait. I was surprised how un-shippy their C was, but I'm sure Sylvix fans loved this one.

DIMITRI & MERCEDES A

They're traveling to a village together. It's the one Mercedes used to live in. Dimitri likes how calm it is.

Mercie called Dimitri her friend 😭😭

Dimitri claims he's a king's knight lol. He catches himself. Also village woman finds Dimitri handsome. She has taste.

Mercedes and Dimitri talk about how open minded the church is and give credit to the overall teachings (lamo, eat shit, Claude)

Mercedes is grateful to Dimitri to taking in the Central Church because it helped the village out. It's why she brought him there, so he could see the good that comes from protecting the church.

Mercedes plans to show him around the town and introduce Dimitri to her mother and the priest.

Dimitri's nervous lol. Hahaha, Mercie says she'll tell him he's someone "very important" which flusters him lamo.

She made him laugh and smile.

This support was adorable. (and feels like it couldn't possibly be the same writers as SB and GW lamo)

MERCEDES & DEDUE B

Sad they only get one support. Their Houses one was amazing.

Mercedes is teaching cooking. The little girl gets scared of Dedue when he arrives to fetch Mercie.

Poor Dedue frightens children and animals :(

Mercie says lots of the kids are orphans, so they're scared, and that Dedue looks intimidating. She has a plan to make him not look as scary.

I KNEW IT! He's handing out flower crowns. I was going to say it was something with flowers.

Now all the kids love Dedue. Good. He's the sweetest man in Fodlan.

Dedue teaches them how to make the crowns.

Dedue is happy with Mercedes, but Mercie says it was Dedue's kindness who won them over. Of course they both give each other credit.

They both have such strong mom and dad energy.

SHEZ & ANNETTE A

Annette's up late working on music lol. Shez thinks the notes look like bugs lol.

Annette won't sing it though :( Her songs are legendary.

She wants a song that makes people feel happy when they sing it. Very Annette.

She heard the song Shez passed around getting sung by a dying mercenary, who died happy though because they appreciated the song. It made Annette appreciate the song more.

She is such a sweetie.

It's sweet to have a whole support revolve around Annette realizing her songs make people happy and help people. She'd love that.

OMG, I love Annette. Her new song is about a feast, then they go to get more ingredients, and then get into a death battle with a bear. Truly a child of Faerghus.

RAPHAEL & FELIX C

Raphael is drooling over Felix's food, so he gives it to Raphael, and Felix offers to go buy more.

Felix thinks he hears thunder, but it's just Raphael's stomach.

Felix is being nice, lol, insisting Raphael eat some of his food.

But now he's annoyed that Raphael called him a "meat buddy" or a bit. Felix likes the idea of hunting that Raphael suggested.

Raphael is so nice not even Felix can manage to get mad at him.

SYLVAIN & IGNATZ C

Sylvain feels bad because he interrupted Ignatz painting. He wanted Ignatz to look at a painting he brought home.

Sylvain knows painting styles (he knows it's not a common Faerghus style). But ofc Sylvain is interested in how pretty the woman in the painting is lamo.

He's curious about the woman's identity, but it doesn't seem in a fuck boy way, but a curiosity over a favorite piece of art way.

That Sylvain is into art just made him even cooler.

Religious art often has their symbols in the art (and Flayn's is fish lamo, good).

As a major art fan, I love this support adding little tid bits about Fodlan art.

Lamo, Sylvain studied art to impress ladies at first, but now he actually likes it.

SETETH & YURI C

Yuri chatted with a scholar, wanting to learn about the 10 elites because he didn't get a good education.

It's a support to explain how crests came to be and their powers

Yuri trusts Seteth with his crest secrets (partly because he knows Seteth already knows, and partly bc Yuri has taste)

Seteth encourages Yuri to cherish his crest and the power it brings

So is Yuri the son of an elite or something?

FLAYN & SHEZ B

Flayn thinks Shez looks good because she's dirty and that suites her lol. I love Flayn.

Flayn is wearing perfume. Seteth probably doesn't know lamo.

Flayn talks about how perfumes coming in trend shows that even in dark times, it's not all consuming. Very Flayn of her.

We're going trend shopping. She doesn't get to shop often.

Flayn is straight-up making shit up, lamo. She invented that Shez wanted to shop to raise Shez's spirits, not hers.

It's this more -uh - questionable side of Flayn that keeps her from being a one-note, overly sweet character. I love it.

CATHERINE & SHEZ C

Count Charon asks Catherine for more soldiers, but only Dimitri or Rhea could give that order.

Shez didn't know Catherine's family. She stays vague about it when Shez asks about her past.

Catherine, unsurprisingly, says she'd fight for Rhea if had to choose between her or her family.

Catherine asks why Shez is here. Oh, I can pick too - for friends, money, or to fight Byleth. Def picking friends. I think that suits AG Shez best.

Catherine looks happy with that answer.

Oh, I like that, live in a way that makes your past self proud.

ASHE & FELIX B

Their only support.

Oh, Felix is confronting Ashe about how he's a knight working for Dimitri. Should've known it would be about this.

Ashe defends Felix when he calls Dimitri a boar and tiresome lol.

Ashe says Dimitri does his job for him, omg, Dimitri, stop (but that's he's getting better).

Felix is like - you have to steal your job back from him!!! Use force if you have too - I love this, lamo

Dimitri promoted a lot of commoners to be knights, and there were some minor misunderstandings at first, but now no one cares

Felix asks Ashe if he's a noble or commoner, and Ashe is like kinda both actually, which is true

Awww, Dedue comes to Ashe's aids when he needs it (and Dimitri, but Ashe mentioned Dedue too)

And now Ashe is singing Dedue's praises, and ofc Felix insults Dedue, saying that blind loyalty will get him killed

And omg hahaha, Ashe is like that's sweet Felix, that you care about us, I always knew

I love how almost no one takes Felix's tsun seriously. They're all like "aww, look, he's chewing my old slipper!" energy

Ashe putting Felix in his place round 2, I love this. Ashe and Felix is always gold

Felix is like, it's just because more work for me if something happens to you!

Then he's finally nice, telling Ashe he does a good job

ANNETTE & SYLVAIN B

Their only support

This time it's Sylvain who catches Annette singing. Annette seems relieved rather than embarrassed.

Sylvain thinks her song is creepy (covers that, saying creative) and that only Annette could make it (affectionate - maybe)

Why is Annette always singing about swamp beasties?

Sylvain wants a song about something cute instead, so Annette naturally jumps to huge bears lamo

We need an Annette Bernedetta support about finding creepy stuff cute

Annette doesn't seem upset with criticism

Also, this is the second time Sylvain talks to Annette like a person and doesn't really flirt with her, more like siblings vibes it's cute

Annette's next song is even creepier lamo But Sylvain likes it anyways

DIMITRI/RODRIGUE/SYLVAIN PARALOGUE

This one is easy since all 3 are leveled up. I want to do other ones, but I may wait to save some cash lol.

They're up north, so Sreng? Yep.

So they're preparing for a Sreng raid.

So a hostage that grew up in Faerghus is now leading the raid. And Margrave Gautier treated him well even though he felt bitter about Sreng killing his wife. So Miklain's mother?

And now the Sreng hostage is using Fodlan knowledge against them.

Haha, Sylvain was going off about being lazy forgetting his dad was right there lol.

It's cool seeing papa Gautier and Rodrigue together.

The Sreng commander really came across like a dick. Rubbing in Miklain's death, not caring about all the men he got killed.

So did Claude do this in AG too? Incite Sreng? They guess Cornelia and someone from Adrestia too, which could be the case in AG.

Gautier takes credit for the fall. Sylvain got through to the guy apparently.

Dimitri's just happy they share a language now. He would know how important that is since he learned the language of Duscur.

I'm glad they fight over land. It's way more interesting and realistic than whatever the hell they did with Almyra.

Aww, Sylvain is dedicated to reaching peace with Sreng. Of course his dad is harder edged because they killed his wife.

Sylvain being so bent on peace and diplomacy just makes the people who claim he makes sense in CF make even less sense.

I had Shez believe in Sylvain, because AG!Shez is nice Shez.

Sylvain and Dimitri both hate resorting to violence and using warfare first. Both want to avoid it at all cost. I like the future of these two both being important in Faerghus.

Oh, cool, talk between Rodrigue and Matthais. I love the little stories we get of all of them. They were trouble makers lamo. They snuck out the night of the festivities.

Lambert wanted peace with Sreng and Duscur. Dimitri's half-way there, and he and Sylvain are working on the other half.

Gautier now agrees with Sylvain, Lambert, and Dimitri and a pathway to peace.

Aww, Rodrigue advised that he apologize to Sylvain, and he's going too.

Oh, I got the lance of ruin! Cool. Sylvain has his weapon now.

FINAL BATTLE

Not Dimitri being more understanding of the Empire nobles who''ll follow any leader that promises them more land than Edelgard does him and the other Blue Lions

He's thinking from the other's perspective, how it looks to them, not what it actually is - Claude and Edelgard could never

Shez is like, no need to feel guilty, hell yes

Felix is worried about Dimitri, in his very Felix way, meanwhile Dedue is like "we trust you"

I love so much that the importance of his friends' support is stressed so much more in AG.

Oh, I get Constance and Linhardt this battle. Cool.

Felix got lectured by Rodrigue lamo, he wanted to break ranks to chase after Monica

Lamo, Manuela's defeat quote is that she won't die single. Ngl, glad she just retreated.

It's really something that the Blue Lions show way more sympathy towards their enemy than the other routes do. They're the only ones that feel guilty for "invading." When the others are invading.

Glad they're bringing up that if they don't do this, Adrestia will not stop until Faerghus is destroyed.

Rodrigue has such a nice voice.

Felix got angry with Rodrigue when he said all the blame for invading will fall on Dimitri, but then Rodrigue said it's up to Felix to support him through it. This really is Dimilix the route, lamo.

Felix is like, duh.

Why is Shez talking to Rodrigue while it's late. I'm getting flashbacks. He died last time this happened.

They're both worried about Dimitri. And it's cannon that Dimitri falls asleep at his desk. Sooo much fanart of that lol.

Apparently Lambert did the same. Like father, like son.

Lambert had a shorter temper than Dimitri, but are very similar. Unlike Rodrigue and Felix. I get to disagree with Rodrigue there, so I will. Because I think they're more alike than they both think.

Ok guys, we finally got it. Why Felix is miserable outside of AM. He can't live without a great purpose pushing him forward. And in SS, VW, and CF he finds no great purpose, unlike in AM where working with Dimitri towards his version of the future does work.

When Lambert died, Rodrigue struggled to find another reason for being. So he devoted himself to his promise to Lambert, to make sure he sets his won back on his proper path is he loses his way.

Shez feels like Dimitri's been helping her, but she's helping Dimitri too. Like what Rodrigue is doing.

Rodrigue says he's only Dimitri's retainer, that's so false. But he says Shez is in a unique spot since she's a friend first, then he's her leader. Which makes me happy.

More teasing about Shez's origins.

Rodrigue says though that Shez's background or powers aren't what's important, it's about who Shez is as a person. I love so much how the Blue Lions keep repeating this idea, that it's not Byleth's or Shez's power. It's their worth as a person that matters.

Arval just called Rodrigue a wonderful human being. Based.

xxxx

[queensconquest]

@ofsavior​​​​ said: ❰❰ ARM ❱❱ sender puts their arm around receiver (Gray to Rufus)

( EXTREMELY INDULGENT MEME ) ❰❰ ARM ❱❱ sender puts their arm around receiver

   Amusement  paints  his  features  as�� Rufus  feels  Gray’s  arm  around  his  shoulder.  “  Are  you  voluntelling  me  to  this  job  ?  “  Well  ,  it  wasn’t  like  Rufus  minded  in  the  slightest.  But  it  was  rather  amusing  to  be  dragged  into  this  little  competition  that  seemed  to  be  brewing.  Not  a  sight  that  was  abnormal  in  the  Sabertooth  hall.  Even  with  the  change  in  leadership  ,  competitions  were  still  encouraged  as  long  as  they  were  with  restraint  and  in  good  nature.  Otherwise  it  was  a  duel  more  than  a  competition.  

   “  Very  well.  “  It  made  sense  that’d  he’d  be  selected  out  of  anyone  given  Rufus’s  ties  with  Gray.  A  cunning  grin  appeared  on  his  face  -  certainly  an  expression  that’d  make  one  glad  Rufus  was  on  THEIR  side  and  not  the  opponent.  Especially  when  he  remembered  everything.  He  turned  towards  Gray.  “  Shall  we  start  then  ?  “

[thithesandofferings]

“Touch Starved” FF7 Crew pt. 2

Part 1

∆ Note: I could've slept two more hours, but the brain, she was really after me with this one. P.S. I was not supposed to make another one but here we are.

∆ Minors DNI!! 18+. NSFW themed. GN! Reader 

∆ Characters: Rufus, Genesis, Angeal, Zack, Reno....Jenova

∆ Tags: overstimming, edging, public themes- Jenova... Tentacles

Rufus

SFW

- is touch starved, and everyone knows it

- But if you say something, you're definitely dying.

- Will kill really anyone if they so much as brush past his shoulder

- cannot and will not show weakness

- He has to have respect for you even before you get to touch him.

- Small doses please.

- You gotta sneak them in. Touch on the arm briefly. Maybe a kiss on his ring finger when you look up at him devotedly-

- he seems like the type to like that.

- When he figures you're loyal to only him? Its over for you.

- Hes already figured out where you liked to be touched without ever having to touch you.

- Will always touch with intent, even if its the mindless kind. Its there to get a specific reaction out of you.

Nsfw

- a menace

- Especially when you have all eyes on him

- Tug at your hair or grip the back of your neck when he calls your name or to get your attention.

- you can hear him just fine, but he rather prefers the gasp when he tightens his hold a little.

- Mindless finger that brushes up and down your leg until youre squeezing your thighs and trying to lean away.

- He'd stop, but he got his point across and I hope you remember what you did, cause he will.

- will not ever let you come. Edging you to oblivion and then will leave and say he has a meeting. 

Yes, youre coming too.

- Keeps you next to him so he can play with you under the table too.

- Chuckles when youre whining and squirming. Has absolutely no problem smacking your thighs to be still and behave.

- Fucks you on the conference table and depending on how much you beg, maybe he'll let you come.

- if he's in a good mood.

Genesis

SFW

- Despite his fan group and his love for love, he does not have the pleasure of being touched often.

- Theres a good amount of trust to be had to have Genesis give you his ok, even for a simple hug.

- Will ask in a "romantic way" to hug you.

- dont tell him no, otherwise you'll have a sulking Genesis.

- You'd have to let him touch you first, when he got the courage and was ready for that.

- In his head, youre practically his forever when that happens.

- Will always have some part of you connected to him at all times when he can manage.

- He thinks that his lap is the best spot for a cutie like you

- likes to say something cocky before he kisses you on the forehead as a farewell.

- Be ready to recite Loveless at ...any time.

-Nsfw

- He no longer can complete the book without making you come.

- Fingers you slowly until hes at the last chapter, ignoring your tears of frustration.

- shushes you and tells you that you know the routine.

- Cant help your hips back and forth when you are on his lap. Wants to make you come just from that.

- Has you keep the rest of your body still as he drags his cock- doesn't care if hes making a mess.

- Sometimes doesnt care where you are when he is grinding up into you.

- You wear a skirt and is his mind, youre practically asking for it- you know what it does to him.

- his moans are so-

- Likes to place kisses on the back of your neck when you whine for him.

Angeal

SFW

-I think everyone thinks that Angeal is so strong and can take care of himself. Which is completely true but

- When you go out of your way to care for him- well he gets a little dizzy about that.

- is that a blush?

- Its not that he avoids touch, its moreso he thinks he doesn't need it- or will try and turn it around and give you the same thing youre asking of him.

- You kinda gotta force your hand a little with him.

- when hes really tired from a mission, just immediately have him come home and sit so you can rub his shoulders or neck

- Playing with his hair will make this man melt.

- initiating a kiss unprompted will really have him seize up in surprise and confusion- and just kiss him more.

- You wanting to do something for him will rock his world.

Nsfw

- the man who really deserves a blowjob as soon as he gets home.

- might come a little too fast if you surprise him like that.

- If its a routine, then hes trying to stay inside you as long as possible and he'll ask for you to just sit there with your mouth around him. Petting your head as you swallow him down.

- is surprised consistently when you want to initiate touch and youve got that look in your eye.

- Angeal thinks through everything- but when you ask him to come inside you...well thats your fault isnt it

- mayyy or may not have the biggest breeding kink.

- Please dont say you wanna have his kids when he's fucking you, you wont get out of there alive.

Reno

Sfw

- Reno wants you to think he gets his fill.

- He absolutely doesnt.

- Wants to, but no one gives him the time of day.

- please- id gladly-

- anyways

- Initiate first and initiate a lot

- He'll brush you off first as being a weirdo or a fan, but just...keep going.

- Especially when hes really vulnerable- hold his hand. Lay your head on his shoulder. Hold his pinky while he's talking about something.

- he'll stutter, but he'll continue on what hes doing like nothing happened.

- if you dont touch him one day, he'll tease you

- "what so youre done fanning all over me?"

- thats definitely reno speak of "why aren't you touching me?"

- asks if you need a hug, but its really...

Nsfw

- you start something, you'd better finish it. Or he will make it his job to do so.

- Always teams up with you on stakeout so he can fuck you while watching for enemies.

- keeps the headsets low, but doesnt turn them off. Likes the rush.

- one time he just didnt care and fucked you while the rest of the team was listening.

- You should feel guilt, but no one stopped you.

- Hes got a prickly feeling that it should become a regular thing.

- fucks you slow and deep when youre having a terrible day. Cant stop touching you and that moment.

- it may or may not have been because you cried on his shoulder, but hes not gonna tell you that.

Zack

SFW

- The thing about Zack is that hes technically not touch starved.

- But he acts like it.

- Greedy greedy thing.

- Wants to touch you, be around you all the time.

- is always plastered on your back no matter where you go or what youre doing.

- he always has to be touching you.

- youve told him many times to stop fighting with one hand on his sword-

- but he just wants to hold your hand at the same time!! He cant help it.

- Everyone is over the PDA. You even try to run from it at times.

- he just grins and says challenge accepted.

Nsfw

- Accidentally overstimms you both all the time.

- he just cant stop rutting his hips into your warm heat over and over and over.

- cant help it if you squeeze so tight and drag your nails down his back, hes gonna have to fuck you again.

- shushes you gently when you whine "too much-" he knows it is, but you fit so perfectly how can he stop.

- you may have passed out a few times from exhaustion- his stamina is out of this world.

- sagely thinks that your thighs wrapped around his head are the real heavens gate and he won't take no for an answer.

Jenova

SFW 

- back at it again with the chaos

- youre entranced by her so of course you want to touch her.

- i mean, your mind might be possessed if ya get to close- but sacrifices must be made right?

- you only get to graze her skin if you do something for her

- like destroy the world and its lifestream.

- if she wasnt in a bottle, she'd cradle you into her chest, her faithful servant.

- she also might kill you- but, thats life you know

Nsfw

-...tentacles

-is that- are you getting the picture?

-she knows your mind, so she probably saw the nasty thoughts in your head.

-likes hearing you whimper and cry.

-those teeth were made for marking prey like you.

-has those tentacled wrapping around you (especially around your throat) like an hanime scene.

-youve come and passed out a few times, only to wake up to another tentacle filling you up.

-are you wanting to experience the little AND the big death?

-its a roll of dice.

-but if your survive?

-best believe shes playing with you again.

Keke~

[michaelmilligan]

Endversetober Day 24: Home

(explanation post) (compilation post)

It took a while before Michael and Adam had recovered enough to get out of bed, and then some more time until they managed to do anything more exhausting than to walk a few paces.

Comparatively, the recovery was quick, of course. They had broken so many bones that most at the camp had believed they would never stand up again at all.

Still, for Michael, it was a very slow and difficult process. Adam tended to agree, though at this point he had practice with just hanging out in the back of his own mind and waiting for things to happen.

By now, Adam had introduced himself to the people at the camp, and had given them a brief outline of who Michael and him were. At first, a lot of people didn't seem to believe them, but as time went on, they could see the difference between them, clear as day.

Michael's posture was different, Kevin had told Adam once, so he could spot if it was him even when he had his back turned to him. That plus the different ways they acted, down to the way they talked, eventually convinced people that they were separate people.

Whether or not they believed that Michael was a supernatural being differed from person to person. Some seemed to think Adam just had a split personality.

Adam didn't argue with them. If they didn't want to believe in angels, that probably fell under religious freedom or whatever.

One day, though, it got more difficult to ignore the theological implications in the room. It was the day that more survivors walked into the camp.

Angel survivors, to be precise.

Raphael was the one who asked to speak to the leader, which made people lead them to Rufus's cabin. They talked for quiet a bit in there, angels and humans loitering outside, throwing each other wary looks.

Gabriel had stayed outside with the others, possibly to keep them calm, since he was busy mingling with his own, and obviously trying to draw them into conversation with the humans.

At some point, he dragged Samandriel over to a group of people Adam stood close to.

Upon noticing him, Gabriel seemed to forget he still had a hand around Samandriel's arm, and just blinked at Adam. “Michael?” he asked incredulously.

“No. I mean, yeah, technically, but not right now.” Adam sighed. “Hang on a second.”

To everyone's credit, they only flinched a little bit as Michael and Adam traded control. Apparently, with Michael's grace still low, their eyes didn't flash so much as they rolled back into their head.

It was a neat party trick, Adam supposed, though he could have lived without children running away from him screaming.

“Gabriel.” Michael looked his brother up and down, eyes coming to rest on the sad excuse for wings that were just barely visible to him anymore. “You look horrible.”

“Thanks. Right back at ya,” Gabriel said sarcastically. “Where the hell have you been?”

The other angels, who must have heard their commander's name, drew closer. In turn, the humans started backing away.

“Incapacitated,” Michael said, and glanced at Samandriel. “I'm sure you know the feeling by now.”

Gabriel nodded seriously. “Something is wrong. Even our powers are failing.”

“Heaven is closed to us. Our connection to our Father...” Michael broke off, shaking his head.

“I haven't been connected to Heaven for a long time, and I was always fine,” Gabriel argued. “But now... it's like someone turned off the tap. The well is running dry. We're out of gas in the middle of a-”

“I get it,” Michael interrupted his brother's rambling. On second thought, Gabriel looked a bit frantic, the measly remains of his wings twitching erratically.

“Can we stay here?” an angel asked anxiously, stepping forward.

As Michael fixed his eyes on them, a pang of sadness echoed through his grace. There was still a glimmer of something non-human in his brethren, but it was so weak he had trouble making out who this even was.

“That's not my decision,” Michael simply said, much to the chagrin of the group.

“Well, will you ask them for us?” someone else asked hotly.

Michael narrowed his eyes. “Raphael is already doing that.”

They just want to know you're on their side, Adam told him. They're scared, they need to know someone is taking care of them.

Raphael is, Michael said curtly.

It was still weird that his voice was so small, no longer the booming voice of an archangel. Still undeniably Michael, though.

You were their leader for centuries, right?

Millions of years, actually.

Oh, okay. Wow. Um... you think maybe they're used to you calling the shots, so now they're looking to you to call the shots?

Probably.

Adam sighed. And are you gonna take that responsibility, or are you gonna be a little bitch about it?

I'm not a- I don't have to listen to this, Michael grumbled.

You kinda do. With Michael being so weak right now, he couldn't just keep Adam down. Not that he'd ever really done that, except during his fighting frenzy, which had probably been unintentional. But he could have, at any time during their acquaintance, and there was practically nothing Adam could have done to prevent it.

Now, it would be an almost even struggle.

“Don't mind him, he's just being a stubborn ass,” Gabriel told the congregation at large, just as Adam and Michael traded control again.

“I'll put in a good word for you.”

Gabriel looked at him suspiciously, searching his face until he apparently found something. “And who are you?”

“Adam.” He extended his hand, but Gabriel didn't take it. “I'm the original owner of this body. You know. Before the archangel rented it out. Grew it myself for nineteen years.”

Actually, your body is a reconstruction. Your brothers burned the original one, Michael said.

“Damn, for real?” Adam asked, then realized he'd said that out loud. “Uh, I mean... if Rufus is being difficult, I can ask him to reconsider. Or I'll ask Linda, and she'll yell at Rufus until he caves.”

Gabriel looked him up and down. “You know everyone in this camp?”

“Uh, yeah? We kinda live here now.”

“I mean, like... Michael lets you out?”

Adam shrugged. “Not like he's got that much of a choice anymore. But also, yeah, he's been doing that. Occasionally. He always makes me do kitchen duty. Potato skins are like, his mortal enemy.”

It's beneath me to peel a stupid veget-

Yeah, yeah. And it's not because you cut yourself on the first try, I know.

Michael pouted. With his emotions being a lot less overwhelming to experience now, just like his voice, you would expect that they would be far more clearer cut. Instead, they seemed to be a bit more vague, more muddled.

But Adam could still recognize a pout when he felt one.

He would have teased Michael about it if Rufus hadn't chosen that moment to come back out of the cabin with Raphael.

“Attention, everyone!” Conversations died down as people turned towards him, humans and angels alike. “Raphael here has explained to me what the situation is. These people are basically refugees, in some – hell, in pretty much every sense of the world. I'm sure you have more questions-” Rufus' voice became louder as murmuring started up “- and Raphael has agreed to answer them in a public forum. But for now, how about we get these guys put up in some of the empty cabins, yeah?”

“There's too many!” someone from the human side of the crowd shouted.

“They can share. Apparently they don't need much sleep or food, so space and supply shouldn't be much of a problem. Think... you know, think Michael and Adam, times twenty or whatever.”

There was more murmuring, but there were also some nods, as several people seemed to accept the situation.

“Where's the rest, anyway?” Adam asked Gabriel while Rufus divided everyone into groups to organize the integration of the angels. “There's a lot more angels than the guys you brought, right?”

“We're not actually sure where they are. I mean... some died.” Gabriel watched grimly as people scampered off to clean and repair the unused cabins. “Others, we lost contact with when our powers started fading. And then some... I don't know.”

He straightened as Raphael motioned for him to come over, and then he walked off. Looking after him, Adam could feel Michael's contemplative mood.

Did he regret leaving his brethren behind in favour of burning himself out killing zombies? Or was he just wondering how this would all play out, now that he was reunited with them?

Whichever it was, Adam would be there to talk it through with him. Not that he had much of a choice in the whole 'being there' thing – just as Michael wouldn't have much of a choice in the 'talking about it' aspect.

Adam was going to make sure of that.

[emmikmil]

wiaww Day 3

Pairing: Jack “Agent Whiskey” Daniels x f!Reader

Prompts: Books / Pets / Christmas or String Lights

Warnings: just fluff for this one!

Word Count:  705

A/N: Credit for the challenge is all @cyantomatos 

You take a deep breath as you step out into the cold Kentucky morning. The sun was shining brightly on the rolling field in front of you. As you curl up into a rocking chair to bask in the sunlight, you relax and your mind drifts to your husband. 

You two have only been married a few months, but you knew Jack for quite a few years before you two started dating. The man would flirt with damn near every person he was around, including yourself. You knew of his past and didn't take the sugary sweet words to heart. Until he asked you on a date with the most serious and earnest expression you had ever seen on his handsome face. His warm eyes matching his name, a pool of whiskey that glittered in the light. 

Now you sit on the farm you both own, with a few horses and chickens, the kind of life you two would talk endlessly about wanting. Something slow, a respite from the crazy world and his intense job. This was a rare weekend morning where Jack was home, but he kissed your head as you sleepily grabbed for him early this morning, saying he would be back later.

 As you sip your coffee and wonder just where he ran off to, you hear the crunching of the driveway as he drives up in his truck. You can see him beaming at you from the windshield as he pulls up to the front steps. You go to stand up and greet him when he rolls down the driver window and sticks his head out. “Hold up now sugar, turn right around and get in that house for me, I got you a surprise.” 

His grin is devilish and the sun glints off his sunglasses, glittering just like you know his eyes are underneath. You cock your eyebrow but turn anyway, padding back into the house to settle on the living room couch.

You smile as you hear him fumbling with something as he comes through the door, low curses spluttering out as he huffs. You turn your head to ask what he’s up to but your jaw drops at the sight in front of you. 

Cradled in either one of his arms are two small puppies. One seems to be sleeping peacefully in his arms while the other one wiggles around trying to get free. You gape as Jack takes a step and plops the wriggling puppy in your arms.

“I know, despite you saying that you're fine, that you get lonesome when I have to travel. These two lost their mama and I figured we’d be perfect for them.” Jack beams as he talks, looking amused as you stare in shock as the puppy licks your face and whips his tiny tail around. 

“Jack, are you… You really...what?” All you can do is sit and laugh as you look at the two sweetest puppies you've ever seen. “Oh, they're so cute, you’re gonna love living on a big farm, huh?” you coo at the puppy in your arms. Obviously the answer is yes judging by the way the puppy continues to lick away at your hand. 

Jack takes a seat next to you, gently placing the other puppy down and grabs you hand. “After you get dressed sweet thing, we can go buy some supplies. If you want to keep them of course.” Jack’s grin widens as you gasp and hold your puppy closer to you. The one sleeping in his arms rouses and crawls towards you to sniff at your pants. “Last time we did that video call when I was out of town you looked too damn pretty to be propped up in our bed all sad. Besides, maybe they can keep that damn rooster in line.”

You glare at his last words, Rufus the rooster was perfect of course, but you still lean in to give your husband a kiss.

“Thank you so much my love,these two are perfect and what I've always wanted...just like you.” you drag Jack against you by his collar to continue with some sweet kisses as your puppies wander around the living room inspecting their new home.

**I have not set up any sort of taglist just yet but if you would like to be tagged in this month’s challenge/ other writings please shoot me a message!

[magickastiel]

day one of @tootiredmotel's 500 follower celebration!

✨ prompt one: blue | tattoo | "I can't believe you" ✨

_

Dean can’t stop looking at it.

Even as Castiel Novak talks in a dry, amused tone about the time Sam broke the printer and got in an argument with everyone in IT Support. Even as Sam retaliates by regaling them with the story of Castiel rudely spitting out black pudding entirely on reflex when breakfasting with British clients. Even as Bobby pours them all drinks and settles them in the living room.

Castiel Novak has a tattoo.

It’s not an earth-shattering revelation by any means, but every time Dean tries to focus on something else, his eyes are drawn back to Novak’s ankle. He’s wearing loafers with no socks on (usually douchey, Dean thinks, but he pulls it off annoyingly well) so he’s got a good view.

It’s a sprig of lavender, elegantly designed with flowing lines and just a hint of colour.

It’s a nice, pleasing design to look at.

But Dean’s damaged mind is wailing a warning alarm that shakes his eardrums. It’s too soft, too feminine, too...obvious.

Castiel Novak is gay.

Sam knows that, Bobby knows that. Dean definitely knows that.

So, a small tattoo of a flower really isn’t breaking any boundaries here.

Dean shakes himself and drags himself back to the conversation. He even manages to laugh along while Bobby tells them about his and Rufus’ latest escapade and chips in a comment or two. Castiel seems to relax into the couch and shifts, crossing one leg over the other. Dean doesn’t look.

He’s doing fine until Sam speaks. Because of course he does.

“Dude, didn’t know you had a tattoo.”

“Oh.” Castiel looks down at his ankle like he’s never seen it before. “Yes. It’s...lavender.” He laughs and sets both feet back on the floor. “Obviously.”

Sam keeps talking because apparently Dean’s didn’t raise him to mind his own business. “Did you get it because it’s a queer symbol?”

Dean chokes on his whiskey and his throat burns almost as hot as his face. “I-is it?!”

“It is actually.” Those blue eyes focus on him for the second time since he came through the door and he feels pinned in the chair. “You...didn’t know that?”

“No! Why would I know that?” Dean answers far too quickly.

There’s a pause. Bobby drinks from his own glass a little too loudly. Sam’s eyes dart between them with far too many questions on the tip of his tongue.

Dean’s face burns hotter than his throat. “So, that’s why you got lavender then? ‘Cuz it’s gay?”

Sam huffs. Bobby sighs.

Castiel Novak just looks amused again. It’s an irritatingly good look on him.

“No, that was just a perfect coincidence.”

He takes another sip of his whiskey before delivering the killer blow.

“I chose lavender because the first boy I ever kissed once gave me a bunch of wild lavender.” He smiles and Dean feels like someone paused his lungs. “It didn’t work out, of course – just a fling. But it was a very life affirming time. I wanted something to remind me of that whenever I felt like it wasn’t worth fighting to be myself.”

“Huh, cool.” Sam says and Bobby shrugs like it’s incredibly normal to have a gay guy sat on his couch in a thousand dollar suit with a girly tattoo on his ankle.

Sam drains his glass, stretches and stands. “I think we better head off. Gotta look over the papers before the meeting in the morning.”

“Yes, of course.” Castiel finishes his whiskey and sets the glass carefully on the table.

“You sure you won’t stay here?” Bobby asks Sam but is still polite enough to glance at Castiel to make him feel included. “Wouldn’t be any trouble to make the space - ”

“Nah, it’s ok.” Sam claps him on the shoulder. “The firm booked us two suites for as long as we need.”

“And my family are notoriously difficult to get money out of, so we should make the most of it.” Castiel smiles and shakes Bobby’s hand. “Thank you for your hospitality. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten a better chilli.”

Bobby puffs up with pride. “Anytime. So long as you’re doing good by Sam, you’re alright with me. And good to meet an old friend of Dean’s.”

“Yes.” He turns and Dean’s engulfed in blue again. “It’s good to see you again, Dean. Perhaps we’ll be seeing a bit more of each other while I’m here.”

It’s a perfectly innocent thing to say. No one bats an eyelid at it. Dean sweats under his flannel.

He reaches out to shake Castiel’s hand and is taken back fifteen years.

He remembers the sharp chill in the dusk air, he remembers the annoying pimple on his chin, he remembers his hand quivering around slender green stems. He remembers the heady scent in the air as he passed a bunch of wild lavender to a blushing seventeen year old Castiel Novak.

“Y-yeah.” Words stick in his throat, like they always do. “Yeah, maybe.”

____________________________________________________________

all of these are from the same story but hopefully they make sense alone too 💖

read the other parts: one | two | three |

[multi-fandom-imagine]

The SOLDIER and The Baker || Cloud Strife || Pt6

Part 1 || Part 2. || Part 3 || Part 4. || Part 5.

A/n: Oh boy oh boy...do I apologize this took me for ever. and this is another short chapter but I really wanted to put something out.

The next part is going to be much longer since it is going to have all the action...like the Train scene { though I am going to be changing a lot }

The scene with the Pillar not dropping thanks to the votes with the reader preventing it from happening.

and the Reader sharing moments with Rufus along with her father and Cloud realizing his own feelings after he speaks with Tifa

Falling....it was a rather odd feeling, everything felt slow even though everything was rushing past you. 

Was how you were going to die?

Squeezing your eyes tightly shut you braced for the impact of the ground, you waited for the inevitable and as you did so you missed a bright light engulfing you and the others as everything went black.

--

When Cloud woke up the first thing he felt was a dull ache in the back of his head. Feeling a tightness in his chest he pushed through the pain as he finally got a barrings of his surroundings. “Sewers....wonderful” Now standing, his eyes adjusted to what little light their was. Eye’s going wide for a moment he spotted Tifa, Aerith...then finally you. From his position he could see something on your face.

Not thinking he rushed off to your side as his fingers moved to the nape of your neck. Letting out a breath of relief he was happy to feel a slight pulse under his finger tips. Holding you close he frowned looking for any injury but the only thing he noticed was some bleed leaking from your nose.Gritting his teeth he used his gloved hand to wipe the blood away from your nose.

Groaning, you stirred in the mans arms. Your eyes slowly opening, feeling a wave of nausea hit you, you waited for it to pass.

“You alright?”

Blinking a few times you glanced up noticing that Cloud was holding you. Fighting back a blush, you managed to give the man a weak smile. “I’m alright.”

Letting Cloud help you to your feet you glanced over spotting Tifa help Aerith stand, the woman’s hand lingering on hers for a moment.

“God it smell’s horrible down here.” The ringing in your ears didn’t help at all either.

“Cloud....we have to get back to the slums right now.” Tifa stepped closer to you both though she suddenly frowned as she looked over at you and Aerith. “But I don’t want to drag you in on this y/n....or you Aerith.”

“Tifa....it’s okay...we already agreed to help you.” You have the young woman a bright smile as Aerith quickly nodded her head. 

“That’s right....you’re not gonna get rid of us that easily.”

Sighing, you turned to your friend, your hands grabbing Aerith as Tifa pulled Cloud aside.

“How do you three know each other?”

“After I saved her...Aerith she took me to meet y/n...she’s a baker and Aerith thought I’d like something sweet....one thing lead to another...it’s just complicated.” Cloud rubbed the back of his head.

Tifa glanced at him, she was still trying to wrap her head around it all.”Is that all?...you know Cloud it’s alright if you like her....everyone deserves a little happiness.”

“Right.” Tifa deserved happiness, so did you and Aerith but him, no he didn’t think he did. “Can we just talk about this later.” Waving the woman off he glanced over to see you and Aerith peering out of a large hall.

Letting out a frustrated sigh, Tifa rolled her eyes. “You’re....hmp fine but we are going to talk about this later.” Rushing over to where you are, she gave you a smile. “Good thinking, all the sectors will be connected and if you’re lost then smell the air and follow the stench.”

“I’d rather be smelling y/n cookies.”

Laughing you glanced back at Aerith, giving her a smile you let your hands clasp behind your back. “Well how about this! Once we save everyone...I’ll bake everyone’s favorite dessert.”

Aerith let out a small squeal as she grasped onto Tifa’s hand. “Oh! you have to try her cookies! Y/n is an amazing baker.”

Laughing you shook your head feeling your cheeks grow warm, that was Aerith for you. “Well lets stop talking about me and just focus on getting out of here.”Feeling your chest tighten you continued to walk down the pathway, ignoring the rubble on the ground.

“So there should be a big waterway just up ahead, we should get to or find that first.” 

Frowning you nearly stumbled over a stone, if it wasn’t for Cloud catching you, you were positive that you would have cracked your head open. “Oh...thank you.”

Cloud cleared out his throat then turned his head away as he held out his hand for you to take. “Here, take my hand...it’s dark and I rather you not trip.” he states.

Smiling softly you grasped his hand enjoying the warmth. “Thank you Cloud” Biting your lip you two continued on your path as Aerith and Tifa chatted behind you though your body tensed when you heard the name Shinra.

“He want’s power....he is a horrible man....I..I used to be friends with his son Rufu’s then ....well memory has been a little fuzzy.”

Feeling Cloud squeeze your hand you did your best not to look at him as your heart pounded in your chest, you could’t wait to get out of this darkness.

[vanserraseris]

END OF PART XIV - I feel like I should say that things don’t really get any happier?? A few years have passed since the last part and Eris is a little ooc. Just a warning that there are mentions of character death and blood. Thank you to everyone who reads.

omfg i am SO sorry it took me forever to get this part up. anyway im crying

Prince of Ashes. Part XIV.

masterlist.

Eris sat on his stool once more, the old wooden legs creaking under his weight. He was well aware that the small, ugly tavern was well below an acceptable place for him to be, but he’d needed a break. Pity, Eris thought, that he hadn’t been able to find one. He shook his head, little pieces of broken glass falling from his hair and onto the sticky bar top. He felt blood dripping down the side of his face and wiped it away with the back of his hand.

The female behind the bar had pressed herself up against one of the shelves, had put as much distance between the two of them as was possible. Eris simply pushed the glass in front of him towards her, no emotion in his voice as he said, “I’ll have another, if you don’t mind.” Her brown eyes widened before she whirled around, quickly grabbing the already open bottle of cognac behind her. With shaking hands, she poured the drink into his glass.

Eris could hear her rapidly beating heart and scowled, bringing the glass to his lips and draining its contents. The female rushed to refill his glass just as the doors to the tavern opened. Eris didn’t turn to see who it was, he didn’t have to. He recognized his friend’s scent, scrunching his nose as he wiped at more blood that dripped down his face. Eris’s ears twitched at the sound of Lagos walking towards him, his boot-clad feet crunching the broken pieces of glass on the floor.

Eris tried not to breathe in too deeply as Lagos pulled a stool towards the bar, the wooden legs dragging through a pool of blood, it’s iron scent burning through Eris’s nose. 

“Have you been doing that all day?” Lagos sounded very disappointed as he sat down. 

Eris wasn’t entirely sure whether Lagos was talking about the drinking, or about the two dozen faeries he’d killed. It didn’t really matter, his answer remained the same, “Just started.”

“It’s unlike you to drink without company.”

Eris raised a brow, turning his head in his friend’s direction, but looking past him. Eris stared at the dead faerie slumped against the dark wood of the bar as he spoke, “Are you here to join me?”

Lagos sighed, moving so that Eris could look at him instead. “I’m here, Eris, because Rufus told us where you’d be. He’s worried, we’re worried, and you won’t tell any of us a thing.”

Eris scowled, turning away from him to face the female behind the bar.

She was staring at him differently now, the fact that she recognized who he was evident in her lovely features. “How much for the whole bottle?”

“Ten coppers,” she said, voice clear despite her obvious nerves.

Eris shoved his hand into the back pocket of his brown pants, placing ten gold marks on the table instead. “I’m buying the bottle and I’m buying your silence.” Eris made sure there were flames in his eyes as he looked at her.

Eris hadn’t known that the rebels he was looking for would be sitting in the tavern he’d entered. They’d paused at his arrival, their loud talking turning into hushed murmuring as he’d sat at the bar. Eris had seen the leader, had recognized her from the large scar over her brow, and wished he hadn’t. They’d all put up a good fight, would have made excellent warriors had they not chosen to fight against Beron.

Eris had decided to spare the young female behind the bar, the only survivor, because she’d reminded Eris of his mother. She placed the bottle in front of him, nearly dropping it as she said, “Yes, my prince.”

“I think it would be best if you left,” Lagos advised, tilting his head towards the door.

Eris only briefly watched the female as she grabbed the gold, as she scrambled out of the tavern, stepping over a dead male as she practically ran away from the bar.

Eris sniffed, swirling the cognac in the bottle as he slowly pushed his full glass towards Lagos. Instead of speaking, Eris chose to lift the heavy bottle to his lips.

“You aren’t going to find happiness at the bottom of that bottle,” Lagos muttered, running a hand through his long, dark hair. The gold tattoos on each of his fingers seemed brighter than usual in the gloom of the tavern.

Eris rolled his eyes, “I’m not trying to find happiness.” He raised the bottle in his friend’s direction before he took a long drink, “I��m trying to drown my sorrows.”

Lagos furrowed his brows, “I think you’ve had enough.”

“I’ve definitely not had enough.” Eris shook his head, the scent of blood making him dizzy. Perhaps if he drank a little more, he wouldn’t be able to smell it. “I finally understand why Cato was always in such a foul mood, though.”

“Eris—”

“The High Lord has me taking over some of his duties,” Eris waved a hand, eyes scanning the small space around him, looking over all the dead faeries. Eris hadn’t known the extent of what his father had been making Cato do all these years, had never bothered to ask his younger brother what his duties had been outside of questioning prisoners at The Forest House. Being in Cato’s shoes as Beron worked to find his replacement had Eris feeling absolutely dreadful.

Lagos took a deep breath, “This is what Cato did?” Of course Lagos would be horrified. Eris had been sent to the small town outside Calchas to find the steadily growing rebel group, and had been ordered to kill them if he did. Rebel groups in Autumn seemed to be getting more and more popular; Eris wasn’t surprised.

Eris faced his friend, looked into his dark brown eyes. “Horrible enough to drive anyone mad, isn’t it?”

“It would explain why you yelled at Rufus this morning.”

“Fuck off, Lagos,” Eris snapped, “Honestly, if you’re here because Rufus is worried, you’ve come here in vain.”

“I’m here,” Lagos snarled, “Because if Rufus can’t get through to you, I’m not sure anyone else can.” Eris couldn’t count the times his friends had tried to talk to him after Lucien had left Autumn, after Cato and Owain had been killed. Eris hadn’t wanted to talk to them, had pushed them away when they tried.

Eris huffed a humourless laugh, “You don’t have to worry about me, I’m fine.”

“Evidently,” Lagos grabbed the bottle from Eris’s hand just as he’d been about to bring it to his lips, “Of course you’re fine, Mother forbid anyone worry about you.” He slammed the bottle onto the bar.

“Don’t start with this shit again,” Eris was tired, he’d had a long day, he didn’t want to listen to anything Lagos had to tell him — he’d heard it all before.

“This is an intervention,” Lagos waved his hand, “I’m intervening. I’m not going to sit here and watch you drink, following your father’s orders as you try to win a throne you’ve never wanted.”

Eris wiped at the blood on his face again. “Who says I don’t want it?”

“You!” Lagos raised his voice a bit, “You’ve been saying it since I’ve known you!”

“Well, I changed my mind,” Eris ran a hand through his hair, he’d given this issue much thought lately.

“I’m going to steal my father’s crown and I’m going to rule Autumn.” Beron wasn’t good for this court, he’d always been too selfish, too power-hungry, too cruel. Maddox wouldn’t be a good High Lord, he was better off leading the Royal Guard. Priam was just as likely to abandon Autumn as he was to rule it well. And Rufus didn’t want the throne, even if Eris thought he would be the best one on it.

Lagos sounded frustrated as he said, “And how do you plan on doing that?”

Eris flashed his friend a smile, “Not sure yet, but I’m a patient male, Lagos. I’ll wait another 300 years for that crown if I have to.” Eris had never been humble, it was easy for him to see that he was the only reasonable option, the only one of his brothers who could be a decent High Lord after he got rid of Beron.

Lagos sighed, reaching out with a hand, “Eris—”

Eris growled when Lagos placed that hand on his arm, “Don’t touch me.”

“I’m taking you home,” Lagos snapped, no longer touching him though, “Obviously, we need to talk. Unless you’d like to fight this out, just like we used to.”

“Tempting,” Eris lifted his chin, “But I just spent a good hour fighting out my anger.” That, and Eris had never beaten Lagos in a fight, and they’d fought countless times in the years they’d known each other.

“Fine, let’s just,” he held his hand out to Eris, an offering, “Let’s go home.”

There was a time where Eris would have taken his friend’s hand without question. Lagos, who had stayed by his side for nearly three centuries and was in danger because of it. Eris looked at Lagos and saw a brother, just another brother he could disappoint, another brother he could fail. Eris pushed his stool away from the bar, “You’ll have to drag me there,” he declared as he stood up.

Lagos rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt, “Don’t fucking test me, Eris, I’ll do it.”

Eris waved a hand dismissively, “Go ahead.”

Eris hadn’t truly believed Lagos would do it, but when he fell to the ground, the back of his head smacking against the hardwood floor of the tavern, he guessed he’d been wrong about how much shit Lagos was willing to take from him before he snapped.

“What the fuck?” Eris snarled, kicking out one of his long legs.

“You fucking asked for it,” Lagos said through clenched teeth, his arms around Eris’s torso as a bright light flared around them.

Eris vaguely realized that Lagos had winnowed them somewhere, most likely to the yard outside his cottage.

Eris and Lagos tumbled and rolled in the long grass, fists flying. They were both punching and hitting and swearing, Eris was keeping a tight leash on his flames the whole time, still self aware enough to prevent burning one of his best friends. Eris heard Micah, would have recognized his voice anywhere, as he called out to them.

“Following orders blindly,” Lagos growled as he tried to pin Eris underneath him, “Being horrible to Rufus, ignoring your mother.” They tumbled a little more in the grass, “You’re better than this.”

Eris pushed Lagos roughly with one of his hands, “Am I?” Eris didn’t really think he was, not after all the things he’d done. Eris wasn’t a good male, that much he was certain of.

Before Lagos could respond, he was wrenched off Eris by a livid Widge. “I can’t believe you would fucking do that.”

Eris sat up, raking a hand through his now messy hair. He couldn’t remember the last time Widge had been angry, and almost felt bad for having played a part in it. Micah got down on his knees beside him, placed a hand on his shoulder, it took all of Eris’s strength not to shrug him off.

“You can’t seriously be angry at me,” Lagos growled, staring up at Widge, incredulous. “Our friend just killed over twenty people — decent, hopeful, hard-working people — because they wanted to overthrow the worst High Lord in Prythian, and you’re angry at me?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Widge started, “But I think we’re all old enough to use our words instead of our fists.”

Micah shook his head, looking at Lagos with furrowed brows, “This isn’t what I had in mind when I said we needed to work things out.” Eris stiffened at the thought that his friends had been discussing him when he wasn’t there, but Micah continued speaking, anger clear in his tone. “I’m certain this was uncalled for, Lagos.”

Lagos threw his hands in the air, “You’re on his side?” Lagos seemed more surprised than hurt, “Why are you on his side, Micah?”

Micah sighed, his other hand coming up to rest on Eris’s arm. “Because he’s upset.”

“I’m not upset, why would I be upset?” They all seemed content to ignore Eris as they continued talking.

Lagos snorted, “Right, that’s the reason.”

Micah flushed, opening his mouth to respond, but Widge spoke first. “I think everyone needs to just take a breath,” he helped Lagos to his feet.

“You can take a breath, I’m not done speaking,” Lagos muttered.

Widge looked slightly panicked as he brushed some dirt off of the other male. “Enough, Lagos, just… just stop for a minute.”

Lagos ignored him, turned to face Eris, brown eyes glowing gold, “I always saw through your unbothered, arrogant, asshole act. Always. Tonight, I could not.” Lagos shook his head, “Keep the mask on long enough, Eris, and you forget what’s underneath.”

Eris held his oldest friend’s gaze, “There’s no mask.” Eris wasn’t some secret hero, he wasn’t some misunderstood male with good intentions, “I’m just my father’s son.”

Micah tightened his hold on Eris’s shoulder, “Lagos,” he said in the tone he usually reserved for ordering soldiers around, “Leave him alone.”

Lagos didn’t look like he wanted to leave Eris alone, he looked like he wanted to hit him.

Eris couldn’t blame him, but he felt oddly at peace knowing that he’d probably pushed Lagos too far. “I’m leaving,” Lagos muttered, “I’ll return when you snap out of whatever mood you’re currently in,” that statement directed at Eris. Eris wasn’t planning on snapping out of his mood anytime soon, but he watched as Lagos winnowed away without another word, jaw clenched so hard it hurt.

Just as Lagos left, Micah placed gentle fingers on Eris’s chin, moving some of Eris’s hair to look at him closely. “You’re bleeding.” He didn’t need to ask the question he so clearly wanted to, Eris knew what he wanted.

“One of the faeries I killed tonight threw a bottle at me,” Eris mumbled as Micah tilted his head to the side, trying to get a better look, “She had a very good arm.”

“It’s very unlike you to follow such orders,” Micah’s emerald eyes looked troubled.

Micah wasn’t wrong, Eris had gotten very good at talking his way out of orders he didn’t like. Eris felt blood trickle down the side of his face, and Micah leaned closer to him, pressed the clean sleeve of his shirt against Eris’s brow.

“My father doesn’t trust me.”

“Do you want him to?” Micah stopped pressing his sleeve against Eris’s face, his hand replacing the fabric as he held onto Eris, his thumb resting gently on Eris’s cheekbone.

“I need him to.” Eris hadn’t realized how close he’d gotten to Micah.

“What is the cost?” Eris shuddered when Micah’s thumb slowly stroked his cheekbone, “What will it cost you?”

Eris knew the cost. He hadn’t been determined enough, hadn’t been focused enough on becoming High Lord all these years. He’d liked spending time with his friends, liked spending time with Rufus and Lucien. He’d liked trying to charm pretty females and handsome males, liked getting wasted on faerie wine and pixie.

He needed his father to trust him — that was the first step in taking his crown — and that meant Eris needed to get his hands dirty, needed to follow those orders with a smile on his face. Eris knew what it would cost — his friends, his brothers, his mother — and he was prepared to pay the price. Eris looked into Micah’s clear green eyes as he answered, “Everything that matters.” Micah bit the inside of his bottom lip, nodding once.

Eris froze when Micah inched closer to him, their noses almost touching, eyes half-lidded. “Eris, please—”

Eris didn’t really want to hear what Micah had to say, so he simply decided to close the distance between them. Eris tilted his head, mouth slanting across Micah’s, eyes fluttering shut when he didn’t pull away.

Micah’s lips were soft against Eris’s, the hand cupping Eris’s face was firm as he pulled Eris closer in a breathless gasp. Eris’s tongue brushed against Micah’s, and Eris felt some of the control on his magic slip.

Eris lifted his hand, tangling his fingers in Micah’s light brown hair, everything about the other male familiar. He decided that this would be the last time, his other hand fisted in the blades of grass by Micah’s hand.

With one final tender kiss on Micah’s lips, Eris pulled back, resting his forehead against Micah’s, eyes closed. “I need to sit on that throne,” Eris bit the inside of his cheek, tasting blood. He loosened his hold on Micah’s hair, “Maybe then I can fix this court.”

Micah pulled back, moved his hand so that it rested against Eris’s neck. “You do what you have to, Eris, but I don’t — I know I am selfish for it, but… I don’t think I can sit back and watch you.”

Eris’s eyes snapped open at the sound of Micah’s wavering voice. Micah wasn’t selfish, he was anything but selfish. Eris hadn’t been expecting Micah to be so upset, his cheeks were flushed, tears streaming down his face. Eris had to remind himself that this was for the best, that if he stayed away it would keep him safe.

“Don’t waste your tears on me, Micah,” Eris murmured. He would have kissed them away if he didn’t think it would make things infinitely more difficult.

Micah took a deep breath, wiping at his eyes with the back of his hand, “I need to go.” Eris felt the sudden urge to beg him not to. Instead, he just sat frozen as Micah stood to leave.

Eris stared at Micah’s feet as he walked away. He vaguely heard Widge trying to stop him, had nearly forgotten that Widge was still there. He ripped at a patch of grass, loosing a long breath.

Eris was still staring after Micah when Widge dropped down to sit beside him. “They’ll be back.”

“I don’t want them to come back,” Eris snarled, “I want to get rid of you, too.”

“I don’t think it matters what you want,” Widge ran a hand through his copper hair, “I mean, obviously it does,” he cringed. “What you want matters, it should always matter, it’s just that I think you’re lying.”

Eris wondered if it was possible to both want them to come back and want them to stay as far away from him as possible. “You’re not leaving?” Eris asked, turning to face Widge.

Widge flashed Eris a small smile, knocking his shoulder into Eris’s. “Not a chance.”

“I’m going to lean on you, then,” Eris muttered.

Widge shifted closer to him, “You can lean on me whenever you like.”

Eris crossed his arms, kicked his legs out in front of him, and slumped against Widge’s much smaller frame. “Everything I touch, I turn to ash.”

Eris felt Widge shake his head, “That’s not true.”

“It is, though,” Eris sighed, “Over two centuries of friendship just went up in flames.” Which Eris had to keep reminding himself was what he had wanted.

“They’re just worried,” Widge said, sounding very sure, “They’re also probably too proud to admit that they’re also a little afraid.”

“Afraid of what?” Eris wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to know the answer. The last thing he wanted was for Widge to tell him that they were all afraid of him.

“Afraid of losing you.”

Eris stared at his boots, the brown leather stained with blood. “Oh,” he said, feeling rather stupid for not having anything better to say.

“And I think you should know, Eris,” Widge continued, “That you’re nothing like your father.”

Eris didn't think that was true, but he was glad someone thought so all the same.