#scarf girl is my oc jane

[valleyvalerie]

idk why i dont draw madohomu more,,

[clementinesmustyhat]

traditional art mmm yes

some of these were made when i was still tryna find my art style so that’s fun ig (jane mitchell, marina, vyx, the burnt brisket looking mf, and the futakuchi-onna girlie, are actually my ocs!!) also marcia’s last name isn’t winters, it’s just a name headcanon i made cuz she wasn’t given one in the books or the movie

[333creolelady]

Lady Of The Blue Bakunawa Ch.3

Afab! OC (black) x Roman Reigns (pirate au)

Chapter Warnings: mentions of past discrimination, racism trauma, angst (with happy ending). Minors DNI

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Next -> chapter 4

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Songs this chapter : the vote, whisper of a thrill.

Alternative songs this chapter: This night has opened my eyes, Warning sign, Scott street

All reblogs will receive a sneak peak to next week’s chapter.

Jane*

Dinner tonight was extra hearty with root vegetables, soups and thick breads. Dessert was even better per the request of the captain. Baked goods stuffed with cream made from milk. Being on the ship meant using spoilable items first. Jane decided that she would come along for every supply run if it meant getting to try more sweets.

After dinner she headed back to her cabin for a relaxing bath. Roman had Caden delivered the gifts to her cabin despite her insisting to help. When she was finally alone, Jane had time to relish in the beautiful items she now called her own. She scrubbed her skin soft and bathed in the most luxurious scents. Vanilla and peony. She finally got the expensive soap she always wanted with bits of flower encased on the inside. She miraculously found hair products that agreed with her hair which meant that she could finally wear her hair down for a bit. The moisturizer was the icing on the cake. She didn’t have to heat it on her hands in fear of a white cast. The cream was slightly opaque and smooth. It smelled spectacular. Then came the tooth powder which came in different flavors. Never in her life had she heard of tooth cleaners coming in different flavors. Back at home tooth cleaning was bitter, sour and strong. For the first time she could clean her teeth and not grimace at the taste. Mint. Minty tooth powder, a step up from the dull powdery tasting kind she’d been using.

By the time she was finished prepping for bed she realized her arms were sore. Never in all her years had she spent so long grooming herself. Back in London she got 10 minutes in the bathroom after a long day—Even less if she was getting ready for work. She shared a single bathroom with 8 other girls. Now she didn’t have to wait for anyone.

As she added oil to her hair she realized that she enjoyed taking care of herself more than she realized. Now she had time to look at herself in the mirror—really look at herself. The more she stared at her reflection the longer she’d realized how alienated she’d become to herself. Who was the person looking back at her ? With the hustle and bustle of life she never had time to do more than what was necessary.

Where had her 15 year old face gone ? Had the years flown by that quickly ? The baby fat of her cheeks were fading. Her eyes gleamed with a solemn understanding about the world. Her full lips were still there, so was the nose of her great grandmother and the almond upturned eyes of her father. Her long neck reminded her of the regality of her mother. On her face etched not only the pain of her past but distant faces she had no pictures of. It was in her reflection could she see every single person who once loved her. Her grandfather, mother, father and more lived in her features. The longer she looked the more the grief crept towards her. She put the mirror down and wrapped her hair in a silk scarf. She figured it would be better not to end the night in a sad mood. She slowly pulled on a silk nightgown and climbed into bed with a book beside her. She didn’t make it to the next chapter before falling into a deep sleep.

Roman

Roman stared out into the crashing waves trying to decide his next move. Roman never worried much about storms but now things were different. Jane was only just days apart from being terrified of him and everyone on the ship. Now she was to relive the very event that changed her life forever—a storm. This would be the biggest storm of the season which meant a very rocky night for everybody. He hoped that perhaps she could sleep through the storm if the weather turned in his favor. He knew to be realistic when it came to the ocean.

“ Lower the sail and batten down the hatches. Tie up the loose ends and hold fast!”, Roman snaps to his crew. Men climbed up the ropes leading to the sails to lower them.

Roman’s Helmsman Cortez agreed with his decisions as he slowed the ship to an almost complete halt. “ Good thinking Captain. Wouldn’t want to piss her off anymore than she is now”.

Her …meaning the ocean. The ocean was undoubtedly a woman for all the good and the bad it encompassed. It was vital and a mother to all life. The ocean had to be listened to and reasoned with. Where he came from, the ocean is a god. A god that was to be respected in every way possible. While Roman was far away from the stories of his culture after all these years, his love and respect for the ocean remained.

Jane

The ship rocked violently, nearly tossing her from the bed. She sat up in panic and watched her vanity slide around the room. Books and boxes flew as she tried to gain her footing. She grabbed her robe and scrambled to her door, flinging it open to see a rush of men shouting and running around the second floor. This is what she was dreading. Everything seemed to slow down as she watched what felt like the inevitable destruction of this ship.

“ What’s going on ?!”, she yelled from across the room at Caden.

“ We hit a bad storm. We couldn’t sail ahead of it but don’t worry, we’ve got it under control. Get back into your cabin!”, Caden shouts back, covered in water.

It sure didn’t seem like it. Her heart began to race as she headed for the top deck. If this thing was going to sink she’d rather be at the top than the bottom. She raced up the stairs of the ship coming out to see monstrous sized waves coming towards the boat. They were so high they nearly blocked out the light of the moon. Jane froze and she couldn’t seem to catch her breath. Strong arms picked her up and carried her into a warm dim room.

She’s in Roman’s Quarters. He’s covered in water but he seems level headed unlike her. He holds Jane and places her at his table, kneeling in front of her. Her eyes are round and wide with panic. “ Alright, I’ve got you”, he whispers to her and he holds her head in his hands. She’s clutching at her chest, hungry for air.

“ I have to get off! I have to go! ”, she wheezes and begins to pull from his grip. Her feet push into his stomach as she desperately tried to claw herself from him. She was no match for his solid strength however.

“ You’re fine…you’re fine— here. Focus on just my voice. Jane…focus on my voice ”, he soothes. Jane becomes even more belligerent. Her cries fill his cabin and she sounds almost wounded. Her whimpering nearly sweeps away his composure as hot large tears wash over her cheeks.

“ I-I can’t do this again!”, she panicked. Her breathing became even more erratic. Roman shushes her and places a hand on her chest and his.

“ Watch me”, he breathes through his mouth and out of his nose. She follows suit, desperately grasping for relief in the noise of her panic. “ Again”

She follows suit mimicking him the best she can. She’s not in the clear yet but she repeats it over and over again as he whispers soothing words to her. He grabs a handkerchief from his table and wipes her wet face. Roman looks down to see how tightly she was holding his hand.

“ I often forget how scary a storm on a ship can be through the eyes of someone else. The waves are huge and it seems like the water goes on forever. But you must have some faith in us Jane. We’ve been sailing for a very long time. You are safe here”, he reassures her. Another thump of the ship sends her crashing into his arms. She stays there for a few minutes trying to slow the rate of her heart.

When Jane finally calmed down and she became aware of the fact that he’s cradling her face again. He’s looking at her like she’s the most delicate thing in the world. This is the closest they’ve ever been. His thumb brushes softly against her cheek as she studies his face.

He’s insanely beautiful. So beautiful in fact that the scar faintly running from his eye into his eyebrow is simplyan accessory. A few slow breaths later and the roaring in her chest becomes a hum. Her breathing has slowed and the tremble in her hands reduced to a twitch. She lost her train of thought in the depth of his warm eyes. Has his beard grown in the last few days? Why does he smell so good—like cedar and herb laced cigars? God, his hands are so warm and calloused. She only comes back to herself when she realizes their noses we’re about to touch. She goes stiff in his hands with a gasp and he immediately drops them from her face. She stands up and steps back in a panic, stopping just as his door.

“ Jane please forgive me” he reached for her but she walked quickly out of the door before he could finish.

Roman *

A week passed since that night and Jane has regressed back into herself. She doesn’t wear the dresses he bought her. She barely looks at him. If he could turn back the clock and redo that night over he would have. The warmth of her gaze is gone and he’s snapped back to the reality of this situation. Jane does not want to be here and she’s waiting for him to find her a place to stay. Another week of her avoidance passes and he realizes that in three days they’d be sailing up to Totoguam. It was a small island with beautiful infrastructure and a good mixture of people. This would be where he would leave Jane. This is what she wanted.

However, this isn’t what he wanted at all and that scared him. He didn’t know what she thought of him now. Perhaps she thought that his generosity was all a ploy to get her in his cabin. He hated that thought because it wasn’t true. Roman had absolutely no plans on taking advantage of Jane but how could he explain that to her? That he hadn’t even thought of kissing her and then suddenly he did. That he was just as surprised as she was when he caught himself. There was no point in explaining. He would make this right. In the afternoon he finds her in the library and he can see that she’s caught off guard. She stands defensively but her eyes do not meet his own.

“ I’ve found a place for you to stay. It’s called Totoguam. It’s far enough away from England and there are no British soldiers there. It’s relatively peaceful. We can get you set up there with a place to stay. It’s one of the better places for women who are alone.”

“ I see”, she raises her gaze to meet his. He doesn’t look happy. They both knew that this would come regardless of what transpired. She nods, “Thankyou”.

“ It’s no problem at all M'lady. Good evening”, Roman tips his hat and leaves the library. A familiar ache in his chest. Disappointment.

Jane*

Totoguam was beautiful and faintly reminded her of the Caribbean. There was music and beautiful men and women. Their faces were sun kissed and speckled, ranging from glowing tans to deep rich browns. Stepping onto the dock she understood why women like it here. It’s because there were so many of them working alongside the men.

She followed quietly behind Roman as he led her to an inn with a pub. It was loud and lively as men drunkenly sang and drank the mid afternoon away. A tall woman standing at least 6 feet waved as she saw Roman from behind the counter.

“ Cap’n Roman! that you ya’ big lug ?!” Her eyes widen as she throws a rag over her shoulder and shoots him a big smile. She had both a feminine and masculine air about her. She was muscular with a beautiful face and short red hair that came just over her ear. Her ears were covered in gold piercings and she dressed in men’s casual attire. Her lips were painted with red lip rouge.

“ Alicent! How are you?”, Roman leads Jane over to the bar and they sit.

“ I’m well. At least as well as I can be dealin’ with these imbeciles. Oy’! Put that chair down or i’ll give ya’ a Glasgow kiss!!”, she yelled at a man from across the bar. He immediately sits down. Alicent seemingly ran a tight ship.

“ I see you’ve got your hands full”, Roman takes off his hat and places it on the bar. Alicent slides him a pitcher of ale.

“ This your lady?”, she eyes Jane.

“ No. She’s a guest on my ship and she’s actually the reason I’m here”.

“ Nice to meet ya. Alicent and you are…?”, Alicent holds her hand out to Jane and Jane takes it smiling at her. She already liked Alicent, she had a warm comforting air to her.

“ Jane”, she smiled

“ So, tell me what favor do I owe?”, Alicent rolls her eyes playfully at Roman. Roman slams his glass down on the table refilling his glass.

“ The lady needs a room to rent and a job—aaaaand possibly a new name too”.

“ She in trouble with the law?”

“ Yes, wrongfully accused. However they likely think she’s dead. The ship she was on sank”

“ Can you cook?”

“ Y-yes ma’am. I used to be one”, Jane clears her throat nervously. Alicent slides a glass towards her and fills it with wine.

“ You’ve got yourself a job. Can you start tomorrow by any chance ?”

“ Of course”, Jane smiled thankfully.

“ After this I owe you no more favors. We’re even”

“ Of course”. Roman drops three coins on the table and Alicent playfully pockets it. “ You two make yourself comfortable. My shift ends in about 30 minutes. I’ll show her around and get her set up”.

“ You’re a life saver Alicent”, said Roman. She playfully rolls her eyes and heads back towards the customers. Their corner of the pub turns quiet. Jane takes a slow sip of her wine as she sets in their looming goodbye.

“ So….”, she begins. Roman turns to her. Something is bothering him and she can tell but he’s hiding it. “ Where do you know Alicent from?”

“ She was my Quartermaster. You’re in her old room actually”

“ But I thought only men could be pirates ?”

“ Pirates are criminals little Dove, we make our own rules. And while pirates are traditionally men, it didn’t matter much to me. Where I come from women make the rules alongside men. Half the time they controlled the decisions of the house. It used to be matriarchal.”

“ Oh wow. Hard to imagine a world where women were in charge. It’s never been like that for me.”

“ Well that’s why I figured it be good to get you under Alicent’s wing. She’s respected here and this is her Inn. She won’t let anything happen to you”

“ Thankyou Roman…for everything”, Jane looks him in the eye this time. The warmth of her gaze heating his face like the morning sun. He took a picture of her face with his mind, wishing he could frame it.

“ It’s the least I could do…and I wanted to say sorry about….”

Janes brows wrinkle in confusion. “ Why are you apologizing ?”

“ Well because I didn’t want you to think me a liar. Especially after what I said on the dock”

“ I believe you to be a man of your word Captain. I was just …overwhelmed is all. I am not close to many people….I get nervous at times. My head was swimming and I—don’t be sorry”, she stuttered. She wanted to say more but she stopped herself. It didn’t matter now.

His brows raise in relief. “ Okay” he says.

“ Okay ” she sighs. A silence settles over them but the tension eventually melts away from the drinks. “ You’re very tall”, Jane blurts flatly. “ I think you’re the tallest man I’ve ever seen. Are people tall where you come from ?”

“Many are… some aren’t. I didn’t think I was tall but rather the people overseas were small and weak from the food they ate. Boiled meat and soggy bread can only do so much for a person ”, he snorts. Jane giggles, holding her mouth. Roman smirks at the sounds of her muffling her laugh.

“ Oh? I didn't know your disdain for the food ran so deep. Was it not seasoned to your liking? ”, she laughed.

“ No…and ya’ know…For people who claim that their god favors them so much, you’d think he’d give them better food and less barren crops”, Roman loosened his hair and propped his feet up.

Jane's eyes widened at his whitt. He sure had a point. They were constantly battling famine with wet rodent filled crops and terrible weather. Sounded like a curse to her but who was she to pretend to know the intent of God? “ Do tell me your other opinions Mr. Roman”, Jane chuckled and took another swig of her wine.

“ Ahh let’s see…”,, Roman rested his hands behind his head as he thought. “ I think all monarchs have rats for brains. And judging from what I’ve seen crawl from under their wigs, I’d say my guess isn’t that far off”.

Jane bursted with a loud chuckle, this time covering her entire face. Roman joined her, loving the sound of her abrupt laughter. He liked this version of her. Her guard was slipping. It was just a shame this would be the last time he saw her smile.

“ I can’t argue with you there. I used to work for an Earl and his lady wife. They had me clean their wigs and one day as I was shaking them out, a mouse jumped on my hand. I’d never screamed so hard in my life. They had the nerve to shout at me like I was crazy,” Jane snorted.

“ These royals I tell ya’. All the money in the world and the dirtiest people of all. I had to watch where I stepped back in Germany. The ball room seemed to be a favorite toiled of theirs”, he shivered.

Jane made a playful gagging noise “ That’s just strange”.

“ Strange isn’t the word. It’s uncivilized. But my people are the savages ? Last time I checked my people my people don’t defecate where they walk. Not even a dog will sleep in it’s own excrement if it can help it”.

Roman tried to adhere to every code and every rule established for him. He was exceptional by force. He had to be great or he was disposable. He spoke foreign languages, traveled, studied hard, out fenced his peers, and even earned the best marks. All the hard work and submission to his situation got him nowhere in the end. He was bitter for a long while—not because he felt betrayed but because he thought he could stop his fate. No matter how special he was for a savage…he was still just that to them. A savage. He unlearned his gods, put away his religion, he left behind the names of his father and his great grandfathers and adopted the life of someone else. Someone more simple. Someone not him.

“ You have a point”, she shrugged.

“ Maybe. Maybe not. I’m just all vinegar”.

“ I find you to be very sweet”.

He grumbled, “quite a few people would disagree with you m’lady. Here”, he pushes a plate of fresh bread towards her and she accepts. The two fill their bellies while people watching and dialing into the conversations around them. She felt safe with Roman, especially in a place with drunk men. No man would harass her with him around.

“ So what do you plan to do when I’m gone ? I know you’ll be working as a cook but what else ? What did you do for fun back in England ?”

“ I didn’t have a lot of time to do what I wanted. I worked 6 days a week. I loved to read but I was constantly working and by the time I got off my shift I was exhausted. I hope I have more time to read in my privacy here. Even if it’s just for a day.”

“ I’ll put in a word to make sure Alicent gives you good hour.”

“ Oh you don’t have to do that Roman.”

“ Consider it my final gift to you.”

Roman notices her face drop. She can’t hide that the disappointment hits her like a truck.

“ New life….new name. This will be good for you”, he encourages.

“ I suppose so. I did it once before, what's another go at it right ? But what about you ?”

“ What about me?”

“ Once you find this treasure what will you do?”

“ Whatever I desire. I’ll always love the sea. I’m sure a day will come when I decide I’ve had enough and when that happens I’ll have the funds to do so.”

“ I wish you the best of luck Roman”, she smiles sadly at him.

The pair are interrupted by Alice who tiredly sat at the table and threw back a cup of ale.

“ So Jane, how about a tour ?”, says Alicent.

“ Let’s do it.”

Alicents pub sat underneath a three story high inn that held 24 rooms. The kitchen was relatively small with only two other cooks. Alicent was also a tenet of a small home with small bedrooms to rent. This is where Jane would be staying and paying a small price to live. She was used to living with strangers so it would be no difficult feat for her.

Although the space was cramped, it was pretty clean and tidy. Alicent seemed to care about it and it reflected in the quality of the home. Roman however, was not pleased at all.

“ Alicent can I speak with you for a moment?” He asks his old friend. They walk outside as Jane continues to take in her new home. Moments later they both walked back into the room.

“ Change of plans…and residency. We have something better for you”

“ Are you sure ? I’m okay here. This is the nicest place I’ve seen for servants.”

“ I assure you it’s not a problem. Follow me.”

A five minute walk down the road brought them to a cottage about 5 minutes from the outskirts of town. They walk inside of an empty house. It was relatively small but beautiful.

“ This is much better and she’ll have enough land for a few animals too. A nice side job for any extra income that she needs— “

Jane’s face contorted in confusion.“ Wait, you— what ?”

“ This is the house you’ll be staying in. I bought it.”

Jane grunts with disapproval. “ Roman— I”

“ It’s not problem”

“ It is. This is far too generous Roman. I’m okay living with other people, I’ve done it all my life. This is far too expensive and kind for someone you barely know.”

“ I don’t care”, Roman says in a final tone. The two stare at each other with challenging expressions.

Alicent eyes the two.“ Well you two sure do bicker like you know each other”, she chuckles. They glare at her.

Alicent crosses her arms tired of the silence wafting between her two guests. “ Alright. Do you want the house or not?”

“ This is final. I bought it. It technically belongs to me so you don’t have to worry about anything. The payments for the house are low. It’s stable…it’s actually got some ventilation. I thought you’d be happy ?”

“ I am happy I just….”, Jane sighs, giving up expressing anything.

“ Well then it’s settled”, Roman insists.

Roman *

He didn’t understand this sudden change in demeanor. He thought she’d be jumping with joy from a gift like this. Now she wouldn’t be surrounded by sweaty sailors. She’d get her wish no matter how much he wanted her to stay.

Later on that evening Earl and few of Roman’s crew helped bring her belongings back to her home. Caden shopped at a nearby livestock farm picking a few animals for her. Roman watched her sit quietly in the corner watching helplessly at the entire interaction. What isn’t she saying? Why is she looking at him with such disappointment ?

When everything was settled he watched Jane's eyes rest in defeat. She insisted that they walk down to the dock together so that she could say goodbye to Caden and see them off. He obliged and the walk back was quiet. Caden and Jane talked quietly eliciting a few giggles from her. She seemed very comfortable around him. He imagined that the reason for her sadness is losing a friend in him.

“ Goodbye Caden. It was nice meeting you”, she held out a hand to him but he pulled her in for a hug. She looked a bit startled but exchanged her surprise for a warm smile, hugging him back.

“ Goodbye Caden. It was nice meeting you”, she held out a hand to him but he pulled her in for a hug. She looked a bit startled but exchanged her surprise for a warm smile, eventually hugging him back.

“ Nice meeting you M’lady. Shame you couldn’t come with us. Maybe we can visit after all this? Though I can’t promise it won’t be for a long while. Maybe next winter after this one ?”, he turns to Roman expectantly . His expression is hopeful, almost like that of a child to a parent.

“ I suppose if it is alright with her”, Says Roman.

“ Visit me anytime. Always happy to see my old friends who helped me out so much”, she smiled sadly.

Caden went ahead before them with the other sailors. They awaited in the distance giving the two some space. Roman put on his tricorn hat which gave his eyes some room for honesty. The two looked around the bustling dock filled with workers running from left to right. The sun was setting and people would soon be retiring for the day. He could see Alicent in the distance having a drink outside with her co-workers. His eyes fall over the beautiful Jane again.

The sunset suits her beautiful skin. There’s a glow that reflects off of her, making her look somewhat benevolent in this light. He notices how watery her irises appear and he realizes in that moment that maybe he should have begged her to stay. She shamelessly wipes a tear away and closes the distance between them. He towers over her frame but yet her hug feels as big as him. She squeezes him tight and he returns the embrace, cradling her head to his chest like she was made of glass.

He imprints the smell of her hair into his memory. He tries to memorize the feel of her against his chest—her hands that dug into his flesh desperately. The way he could feel the flutter of her little heart against his stomach. She pulls away too soon but he hides the ache of it. This was inappropriate. This hug was inappropriate and far too familiar. A man does not hug a lady he barely knows. Her expression slowly fades to formal again and she slowly lifts her dress and slowly curtsies with the utmost respect. In return he tips his hat to her and turns away, returning to the paddle boat headed back to his ship.

“ You sure this is the right thing to do cap’n?”, Caden asks as he pushes the oar in sync with another ship mate. Roman doesn’t answer. Everytime Roman looks back it appears that Jane has gotten closer to the edge of the dock. Every alarm is going off in his body. As they docked the ship his heart began to race in objection. It felt as if she’d attached a rope to him and the further he went the more his body bent against the pressure of it. Pain. He felt pain somewhere that he hadn’t in quite some time.

As he barked orders he went into himself. His mouth shouted commands he couldn’t hear. Sweaty palms rubbed against the sides of his trousers. He looked back to see her standing at the edge of the dock. The ship sets sail and her tiny frame becomes smaller and smaller.

“ Go back for her ”, Caden says firmly.

“ No. She wants to be here.”

“ That’s not true and you know it Roman.”

Roman looks at his cabin boy incredulously for his tone. Caden’s firm look doesn’t falter. They continue to sail and Roman points his spyglass at her tiny frame. It magnifies her but only so much. He can see the outline of her body sitting on the edge of the dock now. His body screams at him. This isn’t right. Caden isn’t done fighting.

“ Go back for her!”

“ I- i can’t”

“ Why?”

“ She’s—-she wants a new life”

“ She’s safer here. You want her here just as much as I do. Go back for her.”

“ I- “

Roman paces the weather deck impatiently. His crew took notice but said nothing, continuing to set sail East.

“ Captain…I’m not the only person on this ship who saw the way she looked at you. She didn’t want to go and she was my friend too! You can’t just leave her.”

Roman wanted to rip his own ears off.

“ You will regret this for the rest of your life if you do not turn around and get her ”, Earl spoke up in his tremulous voice. Roman paused at that. The older man’s regretful tone stunned him because it sounded as if he experienced it himself. “ Go to her”, Earl adds silently. His voice was the final nail in the coffin.

As if his body was simply waiting for his permission, Roman speeds into action. He quickly begins to untie the rope to the paddle boat alongside the ship. Earl and Caden assist him. He dives into the water and climbs into the paddle boat, beginning a frantic paddle back to shore with his oar in the water.

Soaking wet and paddling back to shore for the woman of his dreams wasn’t something he foresaw in his near future. When he finally docked it was almost night fall and Jane was gone. There were barely any people on the dock now. He looked around frantically for her. He checked the pub but Alicent was no longer there. He asked around about her but everyone had not a clue of who she was quite yet.

He made the journey back to her house and just half way there he spotted her. She was walking slowly back to her new abode. As if her body sensed him before her mind could, she stopped. Jane slowly turns around to see Roman standing there drenched in water. He was panting and his expression was unsure. He felt foolish as she took in his frame but her eyes reaffirmed his decision.

“ I’m sorry. You…probably think I'm an absolute fool and you’d be right but —everything in me told me to turn around. I don’t know why Jane”, he rushed. It was cold now. The sun was just about to disappear behind the ocean and the chill of the night was getting to him.

Jane looks at him for a moment. Her eyes were swollen and so were her lips. She’d been crying and that breaks his heart. He hated the idea of how she’d fair if he hadn’t come back. If maybe he’d done more harm than good.

“Come with me Jane….please”, he says firmly. Though his expression is anything short of afraid. Her eyes well up in relief as she puffs out the tension building up inside of her. The remaining tears she was saving for the privacy of her home spilled over onto her cheeks. A watery smile spreads across her face.

“ Okay ”

[fancyfeathers]

Society of Protection (Yandere Bungo Stray Dogs x reader x original characters) (normalized yandere au)

Chapter Sixteen

Moscow Nights

Prologue and oc intro

Chapter one

Chapter two

Chapter three

Chapter four

Chapter five

Chapter six

Chapter seven, part one

Chapter seven, part two

Chapter eight

Chapter nine

Chapter ten

Chapter eleven

Chapter twelve

Chapter thirteen

Chapter fourteen

Chapter fifteen

Mori led you into the large tower, taking you to one of the upper floors. He gave you clean clothes to change into, a simple black turtleneck and red dress, along with a new coat, gloves, and scarf for when you’re ready to leave. You made a mental note to stop on the way back home to check for tracking devices, couldn’t have anyone else know where the Society headquarters are after the Guild incident. 

After you got changed you stopped by Mori’s office like he requested, just to talk he said. The office was just as nice as Miss Jane’s, a familiar decor, just a lot darker. Mori sat in a velvet chair, facing the window that looked over Yokohama, fitting. On the ground next to him was that little blond girl he asked you to help find all those months ago, Elise you think. Lastly in the chair next to him was that red head in the fedora, the one who bought flowers from your shop, that Fyodor went on to frame for breaking into your apartment, Chuuya. The two of them seemed to be discussing something important. You knocked on the doorframe which caught their attention. Mori smiled and waved you over, interrupting their conversation. “Miss (Name), please come in and may I say you look lovely.”

“Oh thank you, Mr. Mori.” You stepped into his office, closing the door behind you. “I’m afraid I can’t stay long, I have to be back home, I promised William to-“

“I understand you’re a busy woman, Miss (Name). So I’ll get straight to the point.” Mori interrupted you, picking up something on the coffee table in between himself and Chuuya, it was a file. “I know about your charity ball, and I know there is an auction happening on one of the floors above. If any of the Port Mafia member goes in there they’ll be recognized. That’s where you come in.”

“M-me?” You should have realized that Mori was up to something when you came in here. Gaston was right, you can’t trust anyone outside of the society. 

“Yes, Miss (Name), come here.” You walked up nervously and took the file he was handing you, most of the information was blacked out but the lot number was there, lot six-six-five. “It’s files under the guise of a first edition book, you probably are not familiar with the organization the Rats of the House of the Dead, but I do trust you are familiar with their leader, Fyodor Dostoevsky.”

Your eyes unknowingly went wide in shock and horror, this hasn’t gone unnoticed by Mori and Chuuya. Mori chuckled and Chuuya sighed. “Boss, now you’re just scaring her.”

“The first to make a move wins, but there is no need to fear about the demon. Earlier today I have received word from one of my executives that a bounty hunter he hired caught him.” Part of you calmed when Mori spoke those words, but you know Fyodor, he was almost able to outsmart Gaston, keyword almost. You know how Gaston triumphed in the end, making them all dance like actors on a stage, that composer scared you sometimes. But Mori’s words quickly caught you out of your thoughts. “Now, we’ll be giving you a cap of a million to bid on this item and afterwards you will meet Chuuya here outside the hotel to give him the files or report that you lost it and return the cash and tell us who bought it and we’ll deal with it as such.”

“And if I don’t?”

“Well I could always make good of my promise of making sure you never see the light of day again.” A wicked smile comes across Mori’s face and you took a step back in unease at that. He chuckles and shakes his head. “But something about your reaction tells me that you’ll accept, and don’t worry for the information you’ll get us, you’ll be probably compensated, information perhaps? It’s negotiable.”

“I guess I don’t have much of a choice, it’s a deal then.” You respond and Mori smiles, not as madly as before.

“Wonderful, now then you are welcome to stay and chat if you would like to, if not I can have one of my men escort you back-“

“No thank you, I’ll be fine. I’ll be calling one of the society’s chauffeurs to pick me up. I can’t be having you know where the Society’s headquarters is, now can I? I do wish you well, and I trust we’ll be in contact.” You cut Mori off with a smirk and pull out your phone, glancing back at the two of them before you step out into the hall. “Chuuya, one thing, a question.”

“Huh? What do you want?” He asked, not necessarily angry, even sounding too tired to be angry.

“That day when you bought those flowers, roses I remember, why and what did you do with them?” You looked away, still in thought. “It’s a weird question I know, but that same evening my apartment was broken into and framed to make it look like you did it.”

“Well, I got them because I felt bad cause I was just bothering you at work, I put them in my room.” He answered your question bluntly and almost a bit nervous. “Do you know who broke in?”

“I do, he’s the most dangerous individual I have ever met.” You began dialing up the number of your chauffeur as you spoke. “Fyodor Dostoevsky.”

You watched as a slight look of shock came across their faces. “But… how did he possibly know about the roses I bought?”

“Apparently he has been watching me, it must have been easy work for him to do so.” You stepped even farther into hallway, ready to hit the call button for your chauffeur. “My final word of warning if what you say is true about Fyodor being in your custody, I would be careful. This is a game for Fyodor that you are unknowingly pieces in, I have made that mistake of underestimating him before when I didn’t listen to Gaston’s warnings. So listen to mine, never let your guard down, never trust anyone outside your close allies for it you do it may mean your end and as much as I hate to admit it this city needs the Port Mafia. As a member of the Society this city can go on without me and it will one day when I leave it when the Society’s purpose is done here.”

“You’ll be leaving? I know you’re not from Yokohama but this is your home, isn’t it?” Mori asked, his curiosity peaked. You nodded with a smile.

“Yes, I will be. I was indeed born in England, and now I have mystery I want to solve. It’s the mystery on where my father is, call it a hunch but I think he’s still alive.” You laugh to yourself and wave goodbye. “Now, that’s enough of my crazy thoughts, I’ll be off now.”

—————————

You arrived back at the apartment building, it was late when you got back, practically everyone was asleep but judging by the sound of music from a certain composer’s room you knew someone else was awake. You walked over and knocked and the music stopped and Gaston answered, looking slightly disheveled like he normally does after working on his music. “Oh (Name), welcome. I was just composing but you are are always welcome.”

“Thanks Gaston, but I need to talk to you.” You stepped inside as you spoke. “It’s about Fyodor.”

Gaston grew silent for a long moment before sighing. “I’ll get the whiskey.”

You sat down on the couch in Gaston’s lounge as he went to the drink cart and poured two of glasses of whiskey for the two of you. He sat down on the couch across from you, setting your drink on the table in between the two of you. He took a long drink before sighing and setting his drink down on the table. “Now, what is this about Fyodor?”

“An unknown Port Mafia executive had a bounty hunter capture him, apparently it was successful.” You replied before taking a long sip from your own glass.

“And who told you this?”

“Mori Ougai himself.” And as soon as you said this Gaston took off his glasses and pinched his nose, and running his hand the his hair. You could hear small swears from under his breath.

“This isn’t good, he’s obviously playing them. He wants something.” He stood up from his chair and gripped his hair and swore even more under his breath. “You warned them, right?”

“I did, if they take me seriously not is up to them, they may not out of pride or a need for vengeance for what he has done.” You responded as you watched Gaston picked up his drink and downed the rest of his drink. “I don’t know what we’ll do, I don’t know what his ability or even how to deal wit-“

“I know his ability and someone to deal with it, he’s a Society of Protection member as well. He just tends to be a tad busy.” He sighs and looks out the window and the snowy landscape before you all. He stared out at it for a long time before walking over to the piano and he picks up one of the picture frames on it. He looks at the photo for a long time like he did with the snow. “I’ll give him a call here soon. We just need to have patience. The strongest of all warriors are these two — time and patience.” He paused and laughed to himself. “God, I even sound like him.”

 You downed the rest of your drink like him before standing up. “I’m going to bed, I’ve had a long day. Good night, Gaston.”

You walked towards the door and you heard his voice call out as well to you. “Sweet dreams, mon ange.”

—————————

In the snowy city of Moscow sat a young man. He lived in a large manor, no, palace would be a better word. He sat in a lounge chair, tea set out on a side table next to him along with a old telephone, like one of the roaring twenties and a photo of the young noble with an all to familiar Gaston Leroux, old friends. His eyes were firmly fixed on the storming city outside, snow so thick it was hard to see. The room was silent until soft clicks of heels broke it.

“My liege, there is call for you from a Mr. Leroux.”

The young man looked over his shoulder at the butler and nodded. “Put him on the line.”

The butler nodded and ran off and soon the phone next to him began to ring. The man picked up and a smile came across his face as he spoke. “What do I owe this pleasure, Mr. Leroux? It has been quite some time.”

Across the world on the other end of the line was Gaston standing in his luxury apartment all the way in Yokohama. “Good morning your highness, I was just wondering if you remember the job I did for the European Union three years ago?”

The Russian man paused at his old friend’s question. “Yes, I do. Is this about Fyodor?”

There was a hum on the other end of the line. “Yes, yes it is, see Fyodor is here in Yokohama and I believe he wants it to be war between us…”

“So you need peace to balance the scales…” The Russian man finished his friend’s sentence before taking a sip of his tea. “You realize that while I may be your friend and member of the society, I am still royalty.”

“Yes, I know.” There was a chuckle from Gaston. “But who better than a Royal to teach our friend that Crime and Punishment mean nothing to War and Peace. Isn’t that right, Prince Leo Tolstoy?”

There was silence as the Prince sat there, pondering the question before turning to his butler. “Make preparations, I shall be off to Yokohama tomorrow morning.”

“So I take it that you’ll be here soon then?” Gaston asked on his end on his phone. The Russian laughed and took a sip of his tea before setting it aside.

“Most definitely, my dear old friend.” He leaned back into his chair with a closed eyed smile. “It has been far to long, perhaps I have forgotten what my fellow man means so me. Fyodor may not carry a sentimental attachment to his own, but I don’t think I could ever loose my love I have for my compatriots. Especially you Leroux, after all, three years ago when you first faced Fyodor, you saved my life.”

“I know, no need to bring up the past. Gaston said with a light laugh on the end of the phone.

“Oh but how could I, after all the past is what keeps me bonded to you all. We must seize the moments of happiness, love and be loved! That is the only reality in the world, all else is folly. It is the one thing we are interested in here.” The Prince sighed and smiled, eyes still closed. “I think it is time for Fyodor to learn that we can love a person dear to us with a human love, but an enemy can only be loved with divine love and that God may not smile on him for much longer.”

[raindancer2004]

The Other Swan

Word Count: 6,033. Demetri x OC Swan. Part one. Warning: Angst and Fluff

March 2006 Daniella and Bella go with Alice to save Edward in Volterra, Italy.

Edward starts to step outside without his shirt on when Bella runs into his arms, asking to him to open his eyes and to go back inside. “I needed to make you see me one last time so you don’t feel guilty. I can let you go now” Bella says to Edward, his hold on her tightens a little as he replies “I love you and I can’t live in a world where you’re not in it.” Edward captures Bella’s lips in a loving kiss as Demetri and Felix enter the hallway and make their way towards them “I won’t be needing your services after all gentlemen” Edward tells them “Still we should take this conversation to a more appropriate venue” Demetri replies. Edward nods and says to Bella “Go and enjoy the festival” “The girl comes with us” Felix says without missing a beat “No. Go to hell” Edward replies.

The large doors burst open as Alice enters with a human close behind her. “Come on gentlemen, you don’t want to cause a scene” Alice states with a smile and removes her sunglasses and scarf. “You wouldn’t” Felix replies. Demetri ignores the conversation between his friend and the female vampire as his eyes focus on the girl standing behind Alice. She has dark blonde wavy hair and light blue eyes. He feels a slight burning in his throat and a strange pull towards her; the need to hold her, protect her and then he realises he is looking at his mate. The mate he had given up all hope of ever finding after 1000 years alone. He feels very protective of her and keeps his hand on her back as they all follow Jane, making their way to the throne room to meet with Aro, Caius and Marcus.

Once in the throne room Demetri keeps the girl next to him with his hand still on her back. Aro takes Edward’s hand seeing his thoughts and the fact that Bella and her sister are immune to his gift. Aro steps back and asks “I’d like to see if Bella & Daniella are immune to my gift too” Demetri tenses slightly at this, keeping her in his line of sight the entire time whilst observing the interaction between Aro, Edward, Bella and Daniella. Aro then states he cannot read Bella or Daniella’s minds, and wonders if they are immune to Jane’s gift too. Jane is frustrated that her gift did not affect Bella and then turns her attention to Daniella.

During Jane’s attempt on his mate Demetri moves closer to her ready to catch her and hold her in his arms should she fall to the floor as Edward had done just moments ago. Aro laughs as he realises both girls appear to be immune to all their gifts. Demetri immediately goes to Daniella and pulls her into his side; protectively wrapping an arm around her waist, quietly purring relieved to have her close again. Daniella felt a little confused that the vampire beside her was holding her so close considering what Edward had them about the Volturi and their disregard for humans.

Edward and Felix then fight as Edward tries to stop Felix from killing Bella. Felix has Edward kneeling on the throne steps with his head in his hands ready to remove it, when Bella cries out “Kill me, kill me, not him, not him” Aro holds his hand up to stop Felix and then looks to Bella “You would give up your life for someone like us, a soulless monster?” “You don’t know a thing about his soul” replies Bella.

After Alice shows Aro her vision of Bella becoming one of them, he then turns his attention to Daniella “What are we going to do with you?” She stiffens in Demetri’s hold and he growls at Aro holding her even closer to him. Marcus recognises the mate bond and calls out “Brother” getting Aro’s attention, before getting up from his throne and offering his hand to Aro. Aro sees Marcus’ thoughts and sees that the girl in Demetri’s arms is indeed Demetri’s mate.

Edward having read Aro’s mind looks back at Daniella and says “I’m sorry.” She looks at Aro and then up at Demetri as his grip tightens slightly around her waist. Demetri leans down and whispers in her ear “Mine” He rests his head on hers, breathing in her scent, as Aro announces the news to everyone in the room. “It would seem that our dear Demetri has finally found his mate.” Daniella gasps in shock and mutters sarcastically “Great. I’m gonna have to learn to say no to you and your ideas Bells” Bella doesn’t say anything, still trying to process the information herself. Edward nods, confirming Aro’s declaration.

Aro explains that Bella, Edward & Alice can leave once evening arrives but that Daniella has to stay with them; she shakes her head “What? No, I-I can’t stay” “You cannot leave my dear, you belong with Demetri” Aro replies smiling at the two of them. “No! She’s just 15” Bella says loudly. “I’m 16 in a few months” Daniella instantly replies, unsure why she said that. “But I need to go home, my family is there, my stuff is there, I-I can’t stay. Please let me go home Aro. I will keep your secret” She replies. “I’m afraid that’s not my decision. You will need to ask Demetri, my dear Daniella” Aro replies looking at Demetri.

She turns to Demetri now with tears in her eyes “Please let me go home to my family. Let me finish high school. You can come visit whenever you want; I could come visit in the holidays? I’ll come back when I’m 18 and finished school. I promise” Demetri looks down at her resting a hand on her cheek and says “I’m sorry cara mia, but I have waited over 1000 years for you, and I cannot let you go. You are my mate and I want you by my side forever” He presses a kiss to her forehead still holding her in his arms.

Demetri leads them out of the throne room and to the reception area, where Daniella says a tearful goodbye to Alice, Edward & Bella. “Look after her Edward” Daniella says to Edward and he replies “I will, I promise. Look after her Demetri” He nods at Daniella. Demetri nods in response “I will” He wraps an arm around her waist once again.

Demetri takes Daniella to his quarters “You cannot leave this room without me or a guard escorting you. The same goes for leaving the castle. I’ll be back later” He tells her before leaving to return to the throne room to feed. She just stands there at the window beside the balcony doors overlooking the garden with tears running down her face. After a while she goes to into the en-suite bathroom to wash her face, eyes now red from crying. She then goes into Demetri’s walk-in closet, amazed at the size of it and picks a black shirt to wear to bed as she has nothing with her but a small backpack.

Demetri comes back to the room seeing her walk from the closet in just his shirt. She blushes slightly before speaking to him “H-hope you don’t mind…but I needed something to sleep in” Demetri nods and replies “I’ll take you shopping tomorrow. Good night cara mia” “Aren’t you staying?” She says in a low voice “No. Do you need anything before I go?” He asks “No” is her only reply before he watches her climb into his bed and lay facing the window, more tears falling down her cheeks. The door closes softly behind him. “Felix, keep an eye on her. Please” Felix just nods and stands by the door in the hallway.  

Sometime later she hears the door open and a voice say “Here, I got you a glass of water. If you need anything else, I’ll just be outside the door” She turns over to see Felix placing the glass on the bedside table and mutters “Thank you” Before seeing him leave the room.

In the morning, Demetri comes into his room and gently wakes her up and hands her some toast and a glass of fruit juice. “Morning, once you’ve had breakfast get changed and then we can leave” She nodded “Thank you for breakfast” She watches as Demetri went into his closet to get some jeans and a shirt before entering the bathroom to get ready. Demetri leaves the bathroom and takes a seat on one of the sofas picking up a book from the coffee table and began to read.

Daniella ate her toast and drank her juice, then went into the bathroom to get washed and ready. She put the jeans and strappy top on from the day before and exits the bathroom seeing Demetri still sitting on one of the sofas. “Do you mind if I borrow a shirt please?” She asked quietly. Demetri nodded and got up and walked to his closet and handed her a shirt “Here” “Thank you” She replied and put on the shirt, tying it at her waist. Demetri smiled liking how she looked in his shirt. She noticed that his eyes were no longer red, in fact they were a shade of blue and she guessed he was wearing contacts so he’d blend in with the humans. “Ready Daniella?” “Danni” She said softly “Sorry?” He asks “I prefer Danni” She replies. “Danni it is” He smiled at her.

Demetri placed one hand on her back and guided her to the underground garage and over to his car. Demetri opened the passenger door of his black Lamborghini and Danni climbed in thanking him as she did so. He then made his way around to the driver’s side and climbed in. They sat in silence whilst Danni looked out the window at the passing landscape. The weather was warm despite light clouds in the sky.

Demetri parked the car in the mall carpark and got out of the car and made his way around to the passenger side and opened the door for Danni, holding out his hand to help her out of the car. “Thank you” Demetri smiled at her and took her warm hand in his cold one and started to walk towards the mall entrance, liking how her hand felt and fit within his own.

As they approached the first shop Danni said “I won’t take long, I don’t have a lot of cash with me so I’ll just get a few things” Demetri looked down at her and replied “Today is on me, after all I am the reason you are staying here without your things” He smiled at her and Danni went to refuse his offer when he spoke again “I’m your mate and I said I’d look after you and I will” He kissed her hair and Danni nodded, blushing and taking her bottom lip between her teeth whilst looking up at him through her lashes. Demetri smiled at her reaction thinking to himself how beautiful she looked in this moment.

They entered the first shop and started to look around. Demetri picked out a blue sleeveless dress and silver sandals thinking how nice Danni would look in them when he took her out for their first date. Danni meanwhile had picked out a few vest tops, some t-shirts, 2 shirts and some other tops. Demetri led Danni to the changing rooms and handed her the dress and sandals. “Here, try these on please.” Danni tried them on staring in the mirror and she had to admit Demetri had great taste. She slowly stepped out of the cubicle and Demetri instantly looked her up and down before complimenting her “Stunning, the blue really brings out your eyes” Danni blushed again “Thank you” She replied before returning to the cubicle to change.

Demetri paid for the clothes thanking the sales lady and took Danni’s hand again leading her out of the shop. They entered another clothes shop where Danni picked out some jeans and a pair of flat shoes. Demetri bought himself a new a pair of black trousers and a smart jacket. He also picked out a black waist length jacket for Danni.

Demetri took Danni to a coffee shop and she ordered a vanilla latte and a piece of lemon drizzle cake. Once Danni sat down Demetri spoke “I’m going to take these bags back to the car and I’ll be straight back. Stay here, please” She nodded in response. Demetri bent down slightly, inhaling her scent and smiled to himself. He returned less than 10 minutes later and took a seat opposite her. Once Danni had finished they got to up to leave, Demetri taking her hand in his again.

“Demetri” Danni said quietly, “Do you mind if I go in here and buy some underwear” She pointed at Boux Avenue. Demetri smiled at her “Of course not, come on” He led her into the shop and Danni pulled her hand from Demetri’s and started to look at the lingerie. He followed behind her, making a mental note of the size and style of underwear she went for. Danni picked out two white bras, two black and a navy one to go with the dress, before picking out matching lace shorts. She then noticed a cerise pink set hanging up next to a peach set. She added a set of each to her bag. Demetri couldn’t help smiling to himself, imagining how good his mate would look in the underwear she had picked. Danni found the pyjama section and picked out a short and vest top set with a picture of vampire fangs on it with the words “Bite me” Danni let out a small chuckle and added them to the bag. She then picked out two more sets of short pyjamas and two sets of long pyjamas. Demetri paid for the underwear and pyjamas and then took Danni’s hand back in his and led her to a shop where she could buy toiletries, he picked up some items for himself too.

Demetri led Danni back to the car and held the door open for her, she looked up at him and smiled. Once Demetri was in the car Danni turned to him “Thank you for today and for buying me clothes, I appreciate it” “You are very welcome cara mia” He replied with a smile “A perk of working for the Volturi and being around for over 1000 years, the money just adds up over time.”

Once back at the castle, Demetri escorts Danni back to his quarters and places the bags in the walk-in closet and tells her the left side is all hers. He hangs his purchases up inside the wardrobe. “I’ll get you something to eat from the kitchen whilst you unpack” Danni just nods and looks at the left side of the room, thinking to herself that she is unlikely to ever the fill the closet space he has given her.

Demetri returns ten minutes later with a bowl of pasta “Gianna cooked enough for you too, hope you like it” “Thank you, it’s delicious” Danni replies after trying some. Once she had finished her pasta, she gets up and makes her way to the closet getting a pair of pyjamas before heading for the bathroom “I’m going for a shower” Danni says quietly, not wanting to disturb Demetri too much as he was reading his book from earlier.

Danni showers and washes her hair before getting dried and putting on the pyjamas with the vampire fangs and the slogan “Bite me.” She plaits her hair and steps out of the bathroom. Demetri looks up as the scent of Danni’s coconut shampoo hits his nose and fills the room. Danni makes her way towards the seating area and Demetri cannot help but chuckle at Danni’s pyjamas. “Nice pyjamas” He tells her “Thank you, I saw them and couldn’t resist” She giggled “That could be seen as an invitation you know” Demetri smirked and winked at her, hoping she would know he was joking with her. Danni smiled at him and looked over to the bookcase behind him. “May I read one of your books, please?” She asked “Of course. They are yours now too” They sat across from each other on the sofas with the fireplace crackling low warming the room. Danni soon fell asleep whilst reading her book and Demetri gently picked her up and put her in his bed and pulled the duvet over her, before leaning down and placing a kiss on her hair “Goodnight Danni” He whispered. He then returned to the sofa and picked up his book and continued to read whilst she slept.

Danni awoke in the morning to find Demetri still sitting on the sofa, but he was reading a different book. He looked up when he heard Danni get up from the bed and make her way to the bathroom. She came out a few minutes later and noticed Demetri had left the room. Danni sat on the sofa and picked up her book from the night before and began reading it again, just then the door opened and Demetri came in holding a tray with a plate of toast and a glass of juice. He set the tray down on the coffee table “Morning Danni, I am on guard duty today so please stay in this room. Gianna will bring you lunch and dinner and I will be back this evening.” “Ok, have a good day” Danni replied. Demetri nodded and left the room.

Danni spent the morning on the sofa reading until Gianna knocked and entered the room with a tray “Hi Danni, I’m Gianna, I have bought you some lunch” “Hi Gianna, thank you so much” After lunch Danni got a new book from the bookcase and took a seat on the balcony to read whilst enjoying the sun. At 6pm Gianna knocks on the door and enters with a different tray. “Danni, I’ve bought your dinner” “Thank you” Danni ate her dinner on the balcony and continued to read.

Demetri returned around 8pm and noticed Danni wasn’t in the room or on the balcony, although the doors were open. He closed his eyes and tried to reach out to her, feel the tenor of her mind, before realising he can’t sense her. Then it hits him, her scent strawberries and vanilla with a hint of champagne. Looking to the bathroom door he smiled to himself, relaxing knowing she was in the bathroom, safe. He loved the way she smelt, his mate, his human mate, who he would love and protect no matter what.

Demetri closed the balcony doors and lit the fireplace, then laid down on the sofa facing the bed and began reading waiting for Danni to finish in the bathroom. Danni came out of the bathroom and made her way to the sofa facing the fireplace and sat down “How was your day?” She asked “It was good, thank you. How was your day?” He replied. Danni smiled “It was ok; I read most of the day, in here until lunch and then sat on the balcony this afternoon. Gianna seems nice too.” Demetri nodded and said “She is the only other human in the castle. It might nice if you had lunch together sometime, become friends even” Danni smiled at him “That’d be nice.”

Danni had been in the castle for a week and she was getting used to her new routine. She had helped Gianna the previous afternoon on reception and had enjoyed doing so.

Danni woke to find Demetri was not in the room, but soon the door opened and Gianna entered holding a tray with a plate of pancakes and some juice. “Morning, Danni. Demetri sends his apologies, but he was called to the throne room early this morning. He has had to leave the castle on business and won’t be back until tomorrow. I thought we could have dinner together tonight if you’d like” “A change of scenery would be nice. Thank you for bringing me breakfast” Danni replied “You’re most welcome.”

Later that day around 6pm, Gianna comes and collects Danni and takes her to the kitchen where they cook dinner together and get to know one another. Around 8pm Gianna walks Danni back to Demetri’s room and bids her goodnight. Danni gets a book from the bookcase and climbs into bed to read, before falling asleep a few hours later.

Demetri returns to the castle the following morning and heads to the throne room for the trial of the rogue vampires he, Felix, Jane and Alec bought back to the castle. Once the leaders had passed their judgement, he and Felix made quick work of ripping them apart and burning the bodies. Demetri then made his way to his quarters, needing to see Danni and to take a shower following the events of the last twenty-four hours.

When he entered his room he noticed Danni was lying on her stomach on the bed facing away from the door reading. “Afternoon cara mia, I hope you have been ok in my absence. My apologies, I couldn’t say goodbye before I left” “Afternoon, that’s ok. Gianna explained you had business to attend to outside of the castle. I stayed in the room except for dinner last night, which I ate in the kitchen with Gianna. How was your trip?” She asked “Eventful” Demetri replied pinching the bridge of his nose with his fingers, whilst walking into his closet.

Danni got off the bed and made her way to the en-suite and began to run a bath. The running water and the scent of lavender and camomile coming from the bathroom got Demetri’s attention. ‘So much for a shower’ he thought to himself. Danni came to stand in the doorway of the closet “Demetri” She said softly gaining his attention. He liked hearing his name come from her lips. “Hmm” He responded “I’m running you a bath; it should help you relax” She turned and went back into the bathroom. Demetri couldn’t help smiling to himself at the thoughtfulness of his mate.

“I would have lit some candles but you don’t appear to have any. Do you have a phone?” Danni said as Demetri appeared in the bathroom doorway “It’s ok about the candles” He chuckled “Yes, I have a phone, why?” “If you don’t mind, can I borrow it a second?” He entered the passcode and handed her his phone. He watched as she seemed to be searching for something, and then he heard soft music playing and looked at her surprised. “I downloaded a music app on your phone, so you can listen to soft music whilst you relax in the tub” She smiled at him “Thank you” He nodded. “You’re welcome, I hope it helps you relax.” With that Danni left the bathroom and closed the door behind her. Demetri laid in the bath feeling the hot water relax his tired muscles whilst listening to the soft music. ‘I could get used to this’, he thought to himself. It had been a while since he actually used the bath, normally opting for a long hot shower after long or stressful missions.

After a good soak he got out of the bath and dressed in some lounge pants and a t-shirt and made his way back into the bedroom to find Danni lying on the sofa facing the fireplace reading. “Feeling relaxed?” She asked. “Much, thank you” He replied. “I know you don’t sleep but I have closed the curtains and put your book on the nightstand” He nodded and made his way to the bed and got comfortable “Join me? Please” He asked, looking at Danni. She slowly got up and made her way to the bed and climbed on beside him. They lay beside each other reading, her steady breathing and heartbeat soothing him.

Danni looked to her left to find Demetri had put his book on the nightstand and had laid down with eyes closed. If she didn’t know any better she’d say he was sleeping. Demetri felt her shift on her side of the bed and opened one eye to see Danni was now lying beside him with her eyes closed facing him. He turned on his side to face her and watched her for a minute before closing his eyes again. Although he knew he couldn’t sleep, laying this way next to her relaxed him and he couldn’t remember the last time he felt this relaxed.  

A little while later he felt like he was being watched and opened his eyes to see Danni’s beautiful blue eyes looking at back at him. “Sorry, didn’t mean to disturb you. You looked peaceful; almost like you were sleeping” She said quietly “You didn’t disturb me Danni, in fact I’m feeling rather relaxed thanks to you.” Danni smiled at him and he noticed the slight blush that coloured her cheeks.

Over dinner later that evening Demetri answered Danni’s questions about the Volturi and the position he held in the castle. She found the idea of his gift interesting and he was more than happy to discuss it with her and explain how it worked. “I’m a tracker. I pick up on the essence of someone’s mind and can follow it like a scent over any distance. To be able to do this I have to either have met that person physically or anyone who has met the person in the past” “Will you show me how it works one day?” She asked smiling “Of course I will. We can play hide and seek, although I must confess, I usually win.” Danni laughed “I bet, but I think I could hide from you…for a bit anyways. I always beat Bella and our friends at hide and seek” Demetri smiled liking the idea of a challenge, if only a small one. “How old were you when you were turned?” “I was 21 at the time” He responded “Wow! You look good for your age Demetri. I mean you’ve been around for over 1000 years, if I remember correctly?” “Yes, I have and thank you” He chuckled, if vampires could blush his cheeks would definitely be rosy.

Demetri became intrigued when she talked about the vampires in one of her favourite TV shows ‘The Vampire Diaries’, finding it funny that they couldn’t go out in the sun without a ring and that there were veggie vampires in the show. Danni became curious when he pointed out that vampires can go out in the sun, but don’t because they would expose themselves to humans. He promised to show her what he meant the next time it’s sunny and he has time off.

The following morning whilst Danni was eating breakfast Demetri caught her by surprise when he asked “How would you like to go on a date with me tonight?” “You mean leave the castle for the evening?” She asked a little excited at the thought of leaving the castle, if only for a bit. “Yes, I believe that’s how a date works” He chuckled lightly “I’d like that Demi, thank you” He smiled at the nickname and was happy that she agreed to go out with him. “I’ll have Heidi come and help you get ready. Please wear the blue dress and silver sandals I bought you” She smiled and nodded “Will do.”

Demetri left the room to organise things for his and Danni’s date. First stop was Heidi’s room; he knocked on the door and waited for her to answer. “Come in” Demetri entered her room “Heidi? I need a favour” “In here” She called from the bathroom “How can I help?” Demetri took a seat on one of the sofas and waited for Heidi to come out. “I’m taking Danni on a date tonight and I was hoping you might help her get ready. I bought her a blue dress and silver sandals especially” Heidi smiled at him “Of course, leave it with me” Demetri thanked her and left the room to prepare for his date with Danni.

He booked a table for two at an Italian restaurant and bought a bouquet of red roses. He removed the thorns so Danni couldn’t cut herself. He planned on taking her dancing after dinner. He returned to the castle and went to Felix’s room to get ready, having put his new black trousers, navy shirt and new black jacket in there before he left the castle that morning.

Meanwhile, Heidi arrived at Demetri’s room and knocked before opening the door “Danni? It’s Heidi” “Hello” She replied as she walked in from the balcony, closing the door behind her. “Demetri asked me to help you get ready for tonight. So, the first thing to do is to have a nice bubble bath to relax” Heidi went into the bathroom and started to run a bath. Once ready she called Danni into the bathroom “Get in and I’ll wash your hair.” Danni did as Heidi said before letting Heidi wash her hair. Heidi then held up a towel for Danni and once dried Danni put on a robe and sat on the chair that Heidi had bought into the bathroom. Heidi then started drying Danni’s hair before tying the front back so she could start on her make-up. Once Heidi had finished Danni looked in the mirror to see Heidi had created a smoky eye look using different blue and grey eyeshadows. Danni’s lips were now a rosy pink with a shimmer. Heidi then began to curl Danni’s hair and pulled the front back and secured it with a silver clip.

Heidi then led Danni into the walk-in closet and handed her the navy-blue lingerie set and got the navy dress and silver sandals from the closet. Once dressed Heidi led her to the full-length mirror “What do you think?” “Wow, thank you” Danni replied with a smile, a little shocked at her appearance “You’re welcome sweetie. You’ll take Demetri’s breath away” Heidi said and Danni just blushed.

Just then there was a knock on the door. “Speak of the vampire” Heidi said with a smile “Come in” Demetri opened the door to his room and stepped inside, after a few seconds Heidi led Danni out of the closet and into the room. “You look stunning” He said looking at her, Danni blushed and looked down taking her bottom lip between her teeth “That dress really does bring out your eyes cara” Demetri said, stepping forward and taking Danni’s hand in his and placing a kiss to the back of her hand. “Here these are for you” He handed her the bouquet of roses “Thank you Demi, they’re beautiful. You scrub up well by the way” Danni said smiling although she was nervous about her date. Demetri chuckled “Ready?” “Yes” She replied. “Here, I’ll take those and put them in water for you” Heidi said, taking the roses from Danni “Thank you for today Heidi” “My pleasure. Enjoy your night” Heidi replied smiling and watched as they left the room.

Demetri held Danni’s hand and led her to the garage. He held open the car door and helped into the passenger seat before climbing into the driver’s seat. He drove them to an Italian restaurant about 30 minutes outside of Volterra.

Demetri took Danni’s hand in his and led her into the restaurant where they were seated at a table at the back of the restaurant. They were the only ones in this section. A waiter came over and introduced himself “My name is Mario and I’ll be your waiter tonight. Ready to order?” “Chicken Ravioli please” Danni replied “And for you sir?” “The same please” Demetri replied “Ok, and drinks?” Mario answered “Lemonade please” Danni replied “Same” Demetri said “Of course, I’ll be back shortly.”

“I thought vampires didn’t eat human food” Danni spoke softly leaning over the table slightly “We can eat human food, but it tastes like dirt and we have to bring it back up later as our bodies cannot process it” He responded quietly “Oh, ok. You didn’t have to do this Dem, I don’t want you to be uncomfortable because of me” She said and Demetri nodded “It’s our first date cara mia, I wasn’t going to sit here and watch you eat as that would likely draw attention to us, and no doubt make you uncomfortable” He replied “Thank you Demi, that’s very considerate of you” She smiled at him, how he loved her smile.

The waiter returned with their drinks and ten minutes later bought out their dinner. “Thank you” They both said together. “Mmm, this is nice” Danni says after tasting her meal, looking up at Demetri as he takes a mouthful of Ravioli trying not to show his disgust. Danni giggled quietly, causing him to look up at her “Sorry” She mouthed. Once they have finished their mains Mario came to collect their plates “Dessert?” “Tiramisu please, with two spoons. Thank you” Danni replied and Mario nodded “Of course.” Demetri looked at her confused, an eyebrow raised. “I figured if we ‘share’ a dessert it’s less food for you to have to deal with later” Danni answered as if she knew what he was going to ask “That’s very considerate of you, thank you” Demetri said smiling.

After Demetri had paid the bill, he led her down the street to a dance hall. When they entered Danni saw couples dancing and drinking and felt nervous again. Demetri took Danni’s hand and led her to the dance floor “I’m not too good at dancing” Danni said quietly “Don’t worry I’ve got you, just follow my lead” Demetri responded. Danni smiled and nodded as Demetri proceeded to lead Danni through various routines, Ballroom, Latin, Salsa and Swing. After an hour or so Demetri and Danni left the dance hall and made their way back to the car. Once they were in the car Danni spoke first “Thank you for tonight, I had fun” “You’re welcome darling and so did I” Demetri responded with a smile.

Once back at castle they made their way back to their room and Danni went into the closet to get changed into her pyjamas, “Demi, can you please unzip my dress?” She called out when she realised she couldn’t fully unzip the dress by herself. “Of course” He replied and unzipped her dress, his cold fingers lightly brushing down her back in the process. He then took out a pair of lounge pants and a t-shirt and went into the bathroom to get changed. Once Danni was in her pyjamas she knocked on the door “Are you ok?” Demetri knew what and why she was asking “I’m ok, I’ll be out shortly” “Ok” She replied and made her way over to the seating area to wait for him.

Once ready he went and took a seat on the sofa next to Danni “Here let me” He gently took the book from her and begun to read aloud to her. Danni shifted closer to him and took the blanket from the back of the sofa and placed it over the two of them, whilst listening to Demetri read to her. He smiled at her actions and continued to read aloud until he noticed that her breathing had slowed and she had fallen asleep, her head resting on his arm. He closed the book and gently lifted her up and carried her to the bed. He pulled the duvet back and carefully laid her down before placing the duvet over her. He looked down at her and gently kissed her forehead before whispering “Goodnight mi amore.” He then went back to the sofa and began reading, although he wasn’t fully focused on the book as he found himself thinking about his evening with Danni and how much he’d like to take her out again and soon.

[xalygatorx]

Worthy (2015) | Chapter 18, "His Clarity"

Disappearing sporadically in public spaces quickly becomes Cora Dempsey's least concerning problem when suddenly she captures the attention of the forming Avengers Initiative, the World Security Council, and Asgard's fallen prince all in one week. And the universe is only just getting started with her.

Worthy is a slow-burn SFW Marvelverse (films) romance between Loki and a female OC. For additional details on what canon is used, see the Prologue post.

Summary: Thor brings Jane to Asgard following her strange disappearance from Midgard during the Convergence. Frigga and Cora both continue to visit Loki in the dungeons, still hopeful they might reach him. An attack is launched by alien ships upon Asgard’s gates.

Pairing: Loki x Fem!OC

Warnings: None

Word Count: 2.7k

"The Convergence?"

Heimdall nodded briefly. "It is a thinning of the realms and their boundaries. It allows an easier passage, sometimes unintended. Gravity shifts, voids sometimes open… It only occurs once every five-thousand years and this is the first since I took my place as Asgard's gatekeeper."

Cora tilted her head a little as she peered at the stars beyond the BiFrost's window panes. "Is it visible?"

Heimdall chuckled. "To some, yes. Do you see it?" Cora shook her head. "Do not let that bother you. Very few can."

"What does it look like?"

He smirked. "What makes you think I can see it?" After she gave him a pointed look, he laughed and said, "It is chaotic. But it is beautiful chaos."

"Will you get fired for straightforwardness or something?"

"Just as you would for not being—as your people say—a smart-ass."

Cora was caught entirely off-guard for a moment before she cracked up laughing, that having been among the last things she would have ever expected the uprightly formal gatekeeper to say. Heimdall laughed some, too, his smirk lingering afterward when he turned back to the sky. She followed his gaze and asked more seriously, 

"Do you think she's okay?" Cora had walked up at the tail-end of Thor's conversation with Heimdall just before Thor had left for Midgard immediately when Heimdall noticed something was wrong with who she’d put together was Thor’s girlfriend, Jane.

"I do not know; I simply know I cannot see her. And that means she is not in Midgard."

"How could she have left the realm?" Cora wondered before answering her own question. "Do you think it has to do with the Convergence, too?"

"I know not, but the prince will find her," Heimdall said with confidence. "And he will be back soon enough."

Cora nodded and spent a while longer talking to Heimdall about the stars and other realms before going back to the palace, running into Sif almost immediately after crossing through the glistening foyer. Word had spread around the palace by then about Thor's departure, though Cora wasn't sure why Sif looked a little cross. "Everything okay?"

She glanced at Cora, a bit startled. "Oh, yes, why?"

"You don't look very happy about something."

"What makes you say that?"

"Well, you're kind of pacing," Cora said pointedly and Sif stopped in her tracks, looking a little sheepish. They stood in somewhat awkward silence a moment before Cora suggested, "Wanna do some training?"

Lady Sif let out a breath and smiled faintly; it always struck her how much Cora seemed to understand her. "Absolutely."

Sif was helping Cora perfect her form while wielding a sword when they saw the familiar bolt of raw energy connect with the BiFrost terminal, which signaled Thor's return. Cora looked toward Sif, who had paused to watch as well before the goddess of war returned to what she'd been saying about squaring one's shoulders. When Thor passed by around ten minutes later, he was with a petite woman in skinny jeans, boots, and a grey jacket with a scarf around her neck.

Cora's eyes widened at that—those were Midgardian clothes. So she was the girl he was missing? They hadn't gotten more of a chance to talk, but Frigga had mentioned her and that her name was Jane Foster. Cora had heard the name maybe once in a segment on the New Mexico incident, but only knew she was a scientist and she ran in the same circles as Erik Selvig, who had given a lecture at her university a handful of years ago.

She might've said hello, but they looked like they were in some kind of hurry and instead when Jane looked over at them in the courtyard, Cora just flashed a quick smile. When she looked back at Sif, she arched a brow before realizing what was really going on. "You like him."

Sif glanced at her with an arch to her brow. "Of course, he is my friend. We've fought and feasted many a time together."

"No, I mean you like him."

She squinted a little. "What are you implying exactly?"

Cora elaborated, "Do you see him as more than a friend?"

Sif paused and sighed, glancing toward the hall before taking up her own training sword again. "It is complicated…"

"Try me," Cora suggested as she blocked one of Sif's swings, her movements more fluid after a fair amount of practice.

Sif smiled approvingly at her block before trying again with a more underhanded attack. "His mother approved the match, his father more than approves…," she murmured with a frown. "I suppose I just thought my future was laid out for me. And now it's simply not and it's by his own choice. I do not want him to do anything against his wishes, but I also worry for his heart."

"Because in around a hundred years…," Cora began with a small frown as they did some footwork.

Sif nodded. "Exactly. And it pains me to think how much that will hurt him." She paused in their practice fight, leaning against the training sword after planting the tip in the ground. "I…also never figured I would be jealous of a mortal."

Cora frowned faintly. "Sorry, I shouldn't have asked."

Sif shook her head, "No… In a way, I am glad you did. It has clarified things for me somewhat."

She smiled a little and nodded. "Okay. If you ever want to talk, just let me know, all right? I'm a good listener."

Sif smiled. "Thank you, I am sure I will take you up on that some time. Perhaps multiple times," she said with a laugh.

"No worries, it's a limitless offer," Cora reassured her. "We'll pick this up later, okay? I'm starving."

"Sounds good, I will see you later," she said lightheartedly, taking the training sword from Cora and putting them away before going inside the palace. Cora was soon to follow and headed to the dining hall to get something to eat. She briefly considered going to talk to Loki, but decided she would do that later; Frigga had mentioned going to see him around this time and she didn't want to interrupt.

Armor clanked and roars sounded throughout the dungeons as the Warriors Three and a few other soldiers in Asgard's golden plating escorted in new prisoners, one a beastly creature and looking quite formidable. Loki only briefly wondered why he was putting up so little fight, however he quickly disregarded the creature to glance over the others as they filed through. "Odin continues to bring me new friends… How thoughtful."

"The books I sent, do they not interest you?" Frigga asked curiously, wondering what she could do to make this easier. Perhaps a different genre or something different altogether. Parchment to write or sketch upon? They had been talking for a short while now and, while he'd been a bit more amiable, he was still sarcastic and cold.

"Is that how I'm to wile away eternity?" Loki drawled as he turned around, an arch to his brow. "Reading?"

Frigga pursed her lips briefly in an expression of maternal disapproval he knew rather well by this time. "I've done everything in my power to make you comfortable, Loki," she reminded him gently.

Loki sneered. "Have you? Does Odin share your concern?" he asked mockingly. "Does Thor? It must be so inconvenient, them asking after me day and night…"

Frigga sighed. "You know full well that your actions have brought you here."

"My actions…" Loki paced like a lion simply waiting for an opportunity to break the bars of his lowly cage. "I was merely giving truth to the lie that I've been fed my entire life. That I was born to be a king."

"A king?" Frigga repeated. "A true king admits his faults. What of the lives you took on Earth?"

Loki sighed silently. It always came back to Earth, the pathetic race… Weaklings, all. And yet Frigga and Cora's coupled disappointment in him were beginning to shift his opinions on the war he'd waged. The tiniest fragments of guilt were beginning to splinter into his certainty. "A mere handful compared to the numbers Odin has taken, himself."

"Your father—" Frigga began, but never got a chance to finish.

Loki's reaction to the two simple words was explosive. "He's not my father!" he yelled back at her angrily, though Frigga looked into his vivid emerald eyes and saw hurt beneath the hate.

She paused before reluctantly asking, "Then am I not your mother?"

Loki hesitated visibly and he calculated his answer, running through every possibility before arriving at simply the only thing he could say and remain resolute in his anger and bitterness. The only thing that would keep his words of Odin not being his father true and keep him cold to all who tried to warm him. "You're not," he said in a quieter tone and though, technically, this was true, the words felt like acid on his tongue.

It physically pained him to see how Frigga—his mother, no matter what he said—stopped and still made efforts to smile at him although her eyes glistened with tears. "Always so perceptive about everyone but yourself," she said softly as she held her hands out to him.

Loki looked at her and then down at her hands, his warring emotions written across his face as he could no longer help himself. He stepped forward and moved to place his hands in hers, but they passed through and the illusion dissipated before his eyes. When she'd faded completely, he pursed his lips and looked down, sighing heavily before going to sit against the wall, leaning his head back and closing his eyes.

He remained like that for an uncertain amount of time before he heard someone coming down the stairs and opened his eyes lazily to see Cora on the other side of the shimmering prison wall. "And what do you want?" he asked in a grumble.

"To partake in your unmatched, uplifting company," Cora tossed sarcastically back, making him smirk faintly as she sat down on the ledge on the other side of the wall, matching his sitting position. Had the prison barrier not been there, they would've been side-by-side, he noted. Then again, she probably would've also tried to push him over, given his attitude. She simply wasn't afraid of him. She never had been, but he'd figured she would be terrified of him, at least hate him, after everything that had happened since they'd met. Yet, here she was. "Are you just going to stare at me?"

"What would you rather I do?" he asked in a daring tone and she rolled her eyes at him, giving a disgruntled sound as he smirked and looked away.

He grimaced when he heard her begin to ask slowly, "Where were you? Before New York, I mean… From what I hear, it all happened over the course of a few days. What were you doing before that?"

"Assembling an army, what do you think?" he asked in a rhetorical, bored manner.

"Loki, cut it out," she murmured frustratedly and he looked over at her again to find her looking down at her hands in her lap. A crease formed between his brows. She tended to do that when she was genuinely upset. Well, why would she not be? You killed her kind. "I'm serious. What made you do this?"

"Being scorned from succession, I suppose," he murmured.

She looked up and made eye contact with him, genuinely surprised when he didn't look away. "It wasn't just that and we both know it," she murmured. "You've changed. Immensely. And I worry about you."

His eyes narrowed. "Why?"

"Because it seems like someone messed with your head. A lot."

Loki's eye twitched very faintly. So faintly, Cora nearly didn't notice. Memories of pain, torture of all kinds, pain again, and sheer agony of soul and body flashed through his mind and sent chills through his blood. "And what if someone did?" he said very quietly, but while retaining his calm, searching her eyes.

"I'll kick their ass," she muttered tersely and that was enough to make him lose his composure and glance away, a smirk cracking across his lips as he chuckled softly. Cora smiled at seeing that, her features softening as she looked at him. She hadn't missed the look on his face before he'd answered her and now she knew at least part of who he was now had been forced into him by something terrible. The rest was bitterness.

He looked over at her and saw her smiling at him, but seconds later, a guard walked down to patrol and looked over at her. "What brings you down here?" he asked sternly and the look on Cora's face before she turned her head to regard the soldier made Loki laugh.

"The scenic views, what else," Cora murmured as the guard gave up and walked off, seeing as she wasn't causing any trouble and he had a round to do. She looked over at Loki and smiled briefly. "I'll see you later," she told him as she stood up to go, not wanting to cause unwanted suspicion or anger the armed guard.

Loki watched her go before glancing down at his hand, retracting it from the prison glass. His fingertips were reddened with faint burns from where he'd begun to press his hand subconsciously against its harmful golden surface. Shaking his head at himself, he stood and walked over, languidly lying down on the cream lounge chair his mother had provided, snatching a decorative tumbler from the table nearby and hurling it up into the air, catching it nimbly.

He could remember what her small hand had felt like in his and he could remember how he'd clung to that memory while bleeding against jagged rocks, Chitauri slithering through the darkness around him. She kept him sane and what a feat that had proven to be.

Not an hour had passed and Cora was just looking for Frigga to tell her about the progress she felt she'd made with Loki when she ran into Sif instead. "Sif, have you seen Frigga anywhere?"

"Not that I can recall, last I saw her was hours ago before she stole away to speak to Loki." She uttered the name with some distaste and Cora could understand why, though she didn't share her feelings. After all, with the trouble and misery Loki had caused Thor and Frigga, both, Sif was well within her rights to loathe him on their behalf. "Something is wrong with the human woman Thor brought back."

"I know you're not happy about her, but—"

"No, Cora, I mean something is wrong. That is why she's here," Sif insisted, troubled.

"What do you mean?" Cora asked, frowning.

"A relic has taken hold of her as a host, though Odin thought it impossible. It is an ancient power called the Aether," she explained grimly. "It was never supposed to be within a living being's reach again, but with the Convergence… It was some strange twist of chance that she stumbled through a void which led her to it."

"Is she going to be okay?"

Sif shrugged. "I do not know. No one seems to know. Thor is terribly worried though he doesn't show it… Then again, how could he not be?"

"But what exactly does it—" Cora stopped speaking when a rumble sounded from through the floor. She frowned and murmured, "…Did you hear that?"

Sif nodded and glanced around, her eyes widening as guards began to flood toward the dungeon stairway. "Stay here," she said urgently to Cora as she hurried to see if she could help.

Cora was left in the hall, nervously watching more and more guardsmen run to the stairs as the noises grew and an inhuman roar split the air from below. She stood by a few moments before going to find Frigga with even more urgency, at least until she heard a strange, but faint, metallic moan from outside. She hurried to a window, her hands catching the sill as she peered out, paling at the sight of an enormous black ship which resembled a fang careened toward the water, not because it was crashing…

But because an entire fleet was appearing in its wake.

Next chapter: Chapter 19, "Sacrifice"

[hydrate-or-diedrate]

I don't even know what day it is

(It's day 20)

(Specifically of reading homestuck)

Point and click with John wahoo

What are we just going to the crashed car and moving on?

Oh it just wouldn't let me click the arrow for a bit I see

Hi Roxy!

Elevatorstuck, with Meows

sup

I so very badly want to know what their options actually were 👀👀👀

So "something something loss" was the other option great to know x)

Not to be a filthy little Legend of zelda fan in the honestuck live react but this is such "fanon idea Link of link's awakening waking up from the dream and having to battle with himself over whether it was even real" vibes

Off we go, into the blank ass yonder x)

"Rumble royal with mangaka dudebro, lord of the shitwanks" gotta love roxy

John this is very much not the right place or time

WOAH PASSWORD STUFF?

I also can't believe that worked

Vriska and Meenah's friendship is very cute

Slowly rotating horse cylinder

SGDJHDGDJ TEREZI DRAWING HER OWN CHALK OUTLINE LMAOOO

Hi dead Jane!

YES MORE TROLLSONAS

Making OCs at the drop of a hat is self care you can't change my mind because I'm right

Oh fuck you Terezi, I do have to remember the numbers in the passwords >:/

"Ooh, look! Another space tragedy."

Popped into a girl's bedroom, stole a stuffed dragon, nbd

snif

"you don't need him." Well that's vague

Oho? This Jane's story is different than I remember

Oh yeah this is way different

Oh damn funeral time

That I'd such a shallow grave, Rox

The witness has been deployed

HMM THATS A VERY SUSPICIOUS SHADOW

John your extra notes are worrying me

HONK

Uh oh the girlies tripped off a cliff

They rollin

I swear if they do the cheesy "whu oh we fell on top of eachother guess we gotta kiss" thing

GODDAMIT

CUEBALL GO AWAY FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU

HELL YEAH JOHN FUCK HER UP

Oh gosh Terezi stop trying to grab the scarf

Karkat is here

Everything is falling apart again aw beans

Ah how I miss when Karkat could be angry about stupid things instead of life threatening things 😌

Awww John and Roxy are holding hands

Aw fuck, bye bye everything I guess

shes8ack, whatever that means

Dang we got the monument valley music and everything

NO JADE I WANT TO KNOW THE WHO DAMMIT

Oh they're not dead?

Vriska!

Okay I guess it has been a while since Caliborn's Fuck Around and Find Out Hour

Homosuck Swan Song

I don't appreciate that Caliborn has apparently drawn pictures of Callies supposed safe space

STOP MOTION?

Shit, this is actually good stop motion! Congrats on developing your style Caliborn (but also fuck u)

"IT LOOKED LIKE I COULD USE MY RAINBOW SEIZURE FIELD TO OVERPOWER HIS MASSIVE GAY HOPE BUBBLE. ALAS."

Yogurtboner

SFJSGDKDJJDKDH CAL CONSPIRACY SEQUENCE

Vriskagram

Okay fine Vriska you're off my shitlist since you've been being a good girl

Help this is too cute

I find it funny how Vriska was so important to shit not going sideways but I still do not appreciate her self-centeredness lol

Them

Lalonde reunionnnn

I just want to mention that we have yet to see Dave bleat like a goat unless I'm stupid and missed it

Piss

[casejsaisi25]

Keiko Iwao (My Hanna-Barbera Cinematic Universe OC)

Name: Keiko Iwao

Age: 13, later 14

Occupation: Professor Pat Pending’s student assistant

Weapons: modern technology, mythology, ski poles

Backstory: Born in Little Tokyo, California to Suyin and Hiroshi Iwao, Keiko was happy as any child can be. When she just turned ten on a cold November (the following week), Keiko and her parents went to a ballet in New York City but upon leaving the theatre, a horrid snow storm appeared and despite Hiroshi’s cautious driving, their car crashed into the woods. Keiko survived, but her parents were gone. Now, Keiko lives with her aunt Miyuki and uncle Jiro Chirko, studying with Professor Pat Pending.

Personality: As her own parents died, Keiko is worried that the people she connects with will be gone the second she blinks, so she is mostly spends time with her dog, Bijou (My other HBCU OC) at malls or the tranquility of the forest. She keeps her mother’s necklace from childhood, unknowingly by her made by a young Dick Dastardly as his only gift of love before turning to a life of crime.

Keiko is friendly, street-smart, helpful, book smart, and even motherly in heart, but her insecurity and tragic past makes her shy and lonely. She is engrossed in modern technology but is very sweet to animals from the tall to the small.

Keiko may seem like a strong willed girl but is easily a damsel in destress: if she is about to fall off a breaking bridge or needs a help (for example, to save her from monsters), someone close will come to her rescue. She knows all elements in both modern and ancient history. Despite her fragility, Keiko can be very acrobatic and uses her ski poles to swing her body over anything from ice to stone.

Inspiration:

Her last name comes from Hanna Barbera artist Iwao Takamoto.

Pocahontas (Disney): They have connection with and hold the knowledge of nature and have necklaces of their mothers.

Jane (Return to Neverland): They both wear sweaters over their night gowns.

Tabitha Templeton (Boss Baby: Family Business): both are scientific, intelligent students

Dorothy Gale (The Wizard of Oz): both are girls who are easily frightened and tend to cry.

Tarzan (Disney): Keiko’s athletics and speed

Densia (Hanna Barbera Smurfs): Keiko is loosely based on Densia, both black haired girls who hang out with main villains (Densia with Gargamel, Keiko with Dastardly) but friends with his enemies (Densia with Smurfs, Keiko with the other Wacky Racers).

Role in Hanna Barbera Cinematic Universe:

Keiko chases her scarf while playing ice skating, which heads up in Dastardly’s airship version of the Mean Machine, discovering Dastardly’s soft side. Caught by the surprised Dastardly, who is angry with Muttley for not returning with motor oil for their ship, she runs away in fear and unwittingly reminds Dastardly of an old childhood friend who tragically died. Then by the third encounter, they spark a new friendship and Dastardly treats her with respect due to his constant reminder of her resemblance to his deceased childhood friend. However, he isn’t aware of Keiko is Suyin’s daughter as she isn’t aware of her mother’s friendship with Dick. Dastardly thought Suyin (or Su as he called her when they were kids) died when she fell in a frozen lake. He was a young teen and she was four or five, they had a close bond. When he tried to rescue Su, Dastardly thought he was too late and didn’t see if she was okay due to the cruelty of his father, who threatened both Dastardly and his brother, the Dread Baron until their mom stepped up and took the boys away out of fear. But Su did survive, thanks to the necklace he gave her, only lost hearing in her right ear. They never saw each other again. But Keiko does remind Dastardly of her mom, but they do not know the truth until later on.

Muttley immediately liked Keiko before Dastardly’s first meeting with her, and the feeling is mutual.

The Wacky Racers, especially Professor Pat Pending, Peter Perfect and Penelope Pitstop, are happy upon learning Dastardly and Keiko’s newfound friendship, and they do their best to unite the two loving lonely hearts. Keiko loves Peter and Penelope like parental figures.

Hanna-Barbera series

1960s to 1980s Voice: Lucille Bliss (the original Smurfette voice)/Katie Leigh (Densia voice)

2020s Voice: Probably have any newcomer Japanese-American actress should voice Keiko.

Trivia:

Keiko is presented here as if she would be in Disney series, despite being a Hanna-Barbera OC.

[wigs-and-wonder]

Changes for Tatiana and Holly:

Tatiana Rose never was a theatre person before, but being in the ensemble of a musical this summer was pretty fun. When the chance comes along to try for an even bigger role in the next play, Tatiana learns that there’s more to a role than just memorizing lines, and that something new can still be familiar at the same time...

Holly Rose has an idea: she had so much fun with her summer D&D group, so surely she and her friends could have a game of their own! But it’s a lot harder to run a game than Holly realized, and even harder to tell if her friends are happy with it—Holly’s never been one for making a fuss, but sometimes, speaking up is the only option...

...The move from California changed a lot for the Rose twins, but the past year and a half in Virginia might just have changed THEM in ways they hadn’t realized yet.

 Continuing on with writing the books for my modern, OC-dolls, here we have the sixth and final book for the Rose twins, Holly and Tatiana, Changes for Tatiana and Holly! (The link leads to where the books are posted on my AO3 account.)

Holly’s ‘Winter Outfit’: The ‘Class Act’ outfit from Our Generation, though swapped the backpack for the shoulder bag that was supposed to go with Tatiana’s outfit from last time (OG’s ‘Perfect Score’ outfit). I wanted a look that, at least to me, was a cute ‘book lover’ kind of look, and then I saw the cat ears on the hat and knew I’d found the perfect outfit for my cat-loving writer girl!

Tatiana’s ‘Winter Outfit’: Another theatre costume—this one the ‘Towns Guy’ from The (Somewhat) True Tale of Robin Hood. I based it off the costume a friend of mine wore for the same role when  we were in middle/high school, so it’s sort of cobbled together from a few places: the shirt pattern I mocked up by combining a few shirt and blouse patterns to get the length, sleeve length, and puffy sleeves that I wanted; the jerkin/vest is an adaptation of the Liberty Jane Tank top pattern; the hat is from the Tam Cap & Ruffled Scarf pattern by Flossie Potter (Pixie Fair), and the pants are from the Sherwood Tale outfit pattern by Doll Tag Clothing, also a Pixie Fair find (I do intend to use the whole pattern to make Kit’s Robin Hood costume, and maybe another surprise much later...)

 (Other books in the series:)

Book 1: Meet Tatiana and Holly

Book 2: Tatiana and Holly Learns a Lesson

Book 3: Tatiana’s and Holly’s Surprises

Book 4: Happy Birthday, Tatiana and Holly

Book 5: Tatiana and Holly Save the Day

 See Also—

Changes for Alex

Changes for Maddie

[calciumcryptid]

This is an all girls school btw!

The uniform

scarf = maroon

gloves = can be either grey, white, maroon or black

blouse = white or light grey

skirt = same colour as the scarf and

shoes = black

ribbon for hair = red (keep in mind that wearing the ribbon is optional)

for the skirt like it's mainly knee-length, but there's also another option where you can have an even longer skirt

and also white socks if the girls are wearing anything like boots, sneakers, mary janes shoes and such

^^^ edit: this was a prototype design of the uniform, it has been changed

im projecting on how my primary and secondary school is onto this au

there's six forms [grades or years for the non-caribbean ppl]

form 1 is for 13 year olds

form 2 is for 14 year olds

form 3 is for 15 year olds

form 4 is for 16 year olds

form 5 is for 17 year olds

form 6 is for 18 year olds

secondary school expirence stops at form 5, but i wanna include form 6 in this au

witchery is the main subjects you learn in the school. normal stuff like maths, language arts, etc. are like side stuff but it isn't the main thing. however, i will say stuff like science, invention and physics plays a huge role in the school, as it might help with some of the witchery and such, dunno for what reason but it does.

for the uniform sheet, i accidentally made an oc! Her name is Kiyomi Aoki! Which probably means Beautiful Green tree. She's a 6th form witch

But regardless, this is the design.

^^^ AGAIN , PROTOTYPE UNIFORM

and that's just the ribbion, i just decided to make it a bow

1st form is pretty much for the newcomers, in the 1st form they teach you the basics, they sometimes sprinkle a bit of stuff that's too advanced for their level [don't worry, it isn't hard]

there are two types of students as in the whole school. i mean as in the whole of the 1st forms

ones who don't have any expirence of witchcraft, and it's their first time doing so

and the ones who've been practising for years, probably because they come from a family of wizards and witches

2nd form now, most of the classes and stuff are like guessing games, you gotta think wisely—again it isn't anything intense. in 2nd form, the students actually get to do their witchcraft without supervision from a person whose more experienced.

now, 3rd form.

note: every two forms is one level

1st and 2nd form = easy

3rd and 4th = medium

5th and 6th = hard

if we're doing the math, most of the bnha girls [that are still in school] are like 16-18

so most of them are gonna be in 4th-6th form in the au

3rd form = basically, you'd get to go out and spend atleast two weeks with well known and experienced wizards and witches, basically internships in canon divergence. how you behaved with that specific wizard/witch kinda plays a very big role in the grading system/your grades.

if you didn't behave good...then you'll get a negative grade, and reduce your grade by -5

and if you DID, you'll get 5+ more points i guess

This is the form where science, physics and invention plays a hella big role in witchcraft

The 3rd form is one of the most important forms in the whole education industry/system of witchery

in 3rd form, it'll be like u.a. sports festival but you're competing with other schools

there's also a school that's the same as the school i'm talking about right now, but for boys

instead of the scarf and bottom part being maroon, it's a dark green, like earth green or something

it's a boys school to sum it up

it also goes thru the same process and the education system there is the same

so basically, they meet the other schools in 3rd form

during the sports festival

In 4th form, they team up with either the students who are in a lower/higher grade than them, or different students from different schools. the students from different schools can also be in a lower/higher grade than them too.

Also note: in every form, normal witchery takes place, i'm just highlighting the important stuff that takes place in each form

Don't know for the 5th form but I will say that

For 6th form, the students get recruited to go around the world and such. dunno the reason but they do their thing

I love this???

Just a whole school of wlw!

For the record, I am aware of the existence of Little Witch Academia. I haven't watched it because I heard it gets serious later on which kind of drained out my interest.

[forlornmelody]

I was tagged by @alyssalenko to create my OCs using this picrew. Wait. You mean, ALL of them?? Well then. XD (We’ll do the human ones, at least.)

Since this pic crew dubs itself the “Most Lesbiancore Picrew You’ve Ever Seen,” I gotta start off with the Normandy’s resident lesbian, Artemis Shepard.

She’s way cooler than you’ll ever be. And that stars and moons shirt was PERFECTION for her look. 

Colonist // War Hero// Infiltrator // Paragon // Ashley, later Miranda

Next up is my Jane Shep. And she is 100% that girl who walks out with a tank top and a scarf. And sunglasses. She was born and “raised” in Raincouver, okay? 

Earthborn // Sole Survivor // Vanguard // Paragrade // Kaidan & Jane Doe

Now I can’t have my Jane Shep, without her Clone Shep, now can I? Here she is! Identical facial features, except for the lack of scars or freckles, and a very different sense of style. She also parts her hair on the opposite side, with her requisite side shave. 

Clone // Identity Thief // Vanguard // Renegade // Dreya T’Vasi, later Kaidan & Jane Shep

Last but not least, we have Cass Shep, daughter of Hannah Shepard and *ahem* Admiral Hackett (shh). She’s probably the most fasionable of the bunch. 

Spacer // Butcher of Torfan // Engineer // Renagade // Kaidan, later Joker

Tagging: @bardofheartdive​ and @illusivesoul​, if you want to.

[punkandsnacks]

Between Wolves & Doves, Chapter Four; Acquaintances.

Author: @punk-in-docs​ & @adamsnackdriver​

Also on AO3-

Trigger Warnings: Nothing much to trigger in this chapter - just as the title suggests, a swooning moment or two perhaps-

Synopsis: Vampire!Kylo x OC love story. Inspired by BBC’s Dracula. Also inspired by Austen’s Pride & Prejudice.

He’s been stalking this earth long since civilizations can possibly fathom. Before records even began. He sneers at the fact that this pitiful young world has only just begun to see his reign of it.

He’s dined with moguls, emperors, princes. He’s consorted with bloodthirsty ruthless Queens in their courts, and whispered into the ears of powerful King’s, whose names still echo through millennia.

In his myriad of centuries gifted to his immortal self he’s been many many things. He’s been a lowly pauper. A crusading knight. An assassin. A sell sword. A soldier. A wanderer. A simpering suitor and a voracious unyielding lover. Aimlessly lost in time- besieging this earth. Ripping it apart and drinking what’s left.

He was made in the hinterland between snow and dirt and pine trees. Crusted with ash and blood and gouged from battle. Born anew. Sired from the hell-mouth of war. He was made in 789 AD.

He’ll come undone, one bitter winter night, in England, in 1816.

~ ~ 🥀  ~ ~

The sky remained hard. Resolutely letting snow sift from the thick great heavens, like icing sugar drifting down. The ground also continued to be frosty hard and scattered with patches of hidden silvery ice.

 No sooner than the sun had risen over the tumbling flat frosty vista of Hampshire hills and frost crusted meadows, than Iris is up, and going about her daily chores all in the life of a gently bred - yet unwed- daughter, of fairly considerable means.

 She takes food parcels to the poor. Calls on sick relatives or companions for tea. Pays calls. Fetched supplies for cook from the butchers or the grocers, or the fishmongers in town.

 When one of the maids is ill, or is suffering a passing heartbreak until the next suitor comes along, Iris is the one to step into the void and fulfil their tasks. She collects the eggs from the chickens at the farm, or makes the ailing girl a hot milk posset or a cup of hot chocolate to cheer them.

 It seemed like every other week their maids, Meg and Julia, seemed to go getting their hearts broken. Some farm hand. Or the boy from the butchers shop. The milliners son, or the strong handsome one who works in the drapers shop. As ever; Iris steps into the fray when - another - devastating crisis comes their way. She helps cook in the kitchen with supper. Or she helps out with idle cleaning around the house. Or see’s to the chores on the farm.

 This morning is no different. Meg took to her bed with an ailing heart of the most acute kind. For the boy she fancies had become engaged to another girl. Iris brings her a cup of chocolate after breakfast and lends her a handkerchief and a shoulder so she can have a good long cry about it.

 So household tasks fall onto her today. Fetching in what cook needed from market for supper. Even though she’d have liked to have spent a morning reading her book, or helping Julia get on top of the household washing. She’s wanted to take down the parlour curtains and give them a good scrub, for weeks now.

 Or today she had ideally wanted to lend Flora and Posy a hand in drying some flowers, and french lavender and roses. For perfumes and bathing oils. They had to use their home grown stock from the gardens carefully. It was a long winter. And the convenience of summer blooms are far off yet. Dried flowers cost a pretty penny up the market.

 Her duties are endless. She’s got calls to pay. Off to the butchers to buy sweet meats and game for the jugged hare cook is making tonight. She needs to buy beeswax candles and salt, and some more soaps.

 And Posy and Flora are allowed to purchase two new ribbons each. They’ll walk into the village with her. No doubt nattering all the way there about what colours they want. And all the way back that they should’ve chosen different ones.

 Iris steps outside in her wintry best and her cracked leather boots. Two pairs of wool stockings this time. Her navy blue wool pelisse over a thick white cotton dress. For good measure, she puts a bonnet on to keep her ears warm, and wraps a gold embroidered shawl around her shoulders.

 Posy and Flora are trussed up as if they’re off to go personally meet the Prince Regent. Flora is in her gold pelisse with her pink dress under. And Posy had her powder blue coat over her mint green dress. They’re both wearing bonnets that they made up themselves. Their hats staggering under the weight of ribbons and cloth and trims and flounces.

 Iris’s was far simpler - No fuss. No trims. A gold straw bonnet with grey ribbon tied under her chin.

 Iris has to chide Posy, when they step out of doors, for forgetting to wear her gloves. She insists she hasn’t a decent pair and slips back into the house to go up to Iris’s room to conveniently borrow her grey rabbit fur lined gloves. Making her elder sister roll her eyes. The plot was clear.

 They had a heavy basket each to carry. Some old granary loaves, soused herring, and some jars of Jam from their kitchens to go to the poor. They’re not even at the end of the drive and Flora is whinging about the weight of her basket. Iris heaves a sigh and grabs it off her.

 She trudges behind them. Both arms carrying heavy baskets.

 Her and Posy link arms, giggling, walking along merrily, animated and discussing last nights ball. Or, more accurately; making sport of the people who’d attended.

 “Did you see that awful Lavender gown Jane Penwell had on?”

 “I thought it suited her very ill indeed.”

 “And did you hear about Lawrence Fisher? Apparently he’s now to be courting Lucy Miller.”

 “I cannot stand her. Last night she was so boastful about the lace trim on her dress. She’s vile. And I haven’t had any new lace on my dress for over a year! Not since last summer. I’m sure she does it deliberately, just to vex me.”

 “You are far prettier than Lucy Miller. She has ten million freckles and no conversation at all. She’s a pale ugly little thing.” Posy’s insisting fiercely to her younger sister.

 Iris is amused by the sheer frailty of their worries.

 “And besides, Mama said she had a letter from Mrs Thornby today, and apparently Lord Ren and Iris were the talk of the ball all night, last eve.” Flora says cheekily.

 Turning over her shoulder to scrutinise her sister with a smug grin that flashes her straight little row of teeth.

 Iris rolled her eyes. Strongly suspecting that as of now, her and Lord Ren would be gossiped about in front parlours for weeks. This was a sleepy country village with little amusement and not much variety to sustain it.

 Mama’s and girls of the Ton would fall on the new shred of tittle-tattle like wolves.

 “He left the ball last night without talking to any other girl, mama said.” Posy explains.

 “The poor man probably didn’t have time enough to get through all the desperate Hampshire girls, eagerly throwing themselves at him to make an acquaintance.” Iris thinks aloud.

 They walk up Westwell’s frosted drive and out onto the snowy lanes that cut through quaint countryside and woods.

 The golden sun is in its early rising, striping ribbons of thick satin gold through the trees. The ruddy browns and ash greys and ochre coppery rusts of the Turner-esque English countryside. Of fields and hedgerows and treetops. The grass is no longer green. It’s a musty white. And that same cloying powder clings onto the dead taupe leaves and branches of every tree. The air is bitter to breathe in.

 Iris takes a deep lungful of it, and its like a chest full of sharp pins. Needling at her lips and her neck. She should’ve thought to employ a wool scarf. As it is she can only tuck her shawl tighter around her shoulders. Tucking the heavy baskets into to dig deeper into her elbows. The frost numbs her feet, and sneaks up her skirts and snatched cruelly at her legs.

 She clenched her numb fingers, scrunching and unscrunching them up in her much too thin gloves.

 Posy and Flora continue their giggling and swapping tidbits of gossip about Lord Ren.

 “You know he didn’t even dance with anyone!”

 “A great sin, I’m sure. Punishable by death.” Iris thinks to herself under her breath.

 “He probably didn’t have time-“ Posy remarks.

 “Or he doesn’t know how.” Flora supposed.

 “A man that lofty, of course he can dance. Maybe he prefers not too.”

 “Maybe he has a false leg, or, or a war wound!”

 Iris rather wishes her ears were purely ornamental by this point.

 Give me a pair of vestigial ears anytime you wish. She idly prays. Turning her eyes skywards.

 “Maybe he’s shy-“ Flora squeaks. Posy clasps her hand over her mouth and laughs so loudly it startles the chaffinches out the trees.

 “I don’t think he can afford to blend into the wallpaper with a stature like that.” Flora grins.

 “His shoulders were twice the width of me.” Posy says dreamily.

 “Did he have soft lips Iris? For you must’ve felt them through your gloves... Were they heavenly?” Flora demands to know. Both sisters walking in step alongside her now.

 She side eyes them. “That is not a proper thing to discuss. And well you know it Flora Jane Ashton.” Iris insists. Concealing her secrets to herself.

 She wasn’t telling her sisters how her whole body burst into shivers popping and skipping up her spine. How his touch made her skin feel like it was dancing of its own accord. Free from her body. She shivered yet she was blushing hot.

 His lips were the softest, sweetest things that had ever come into contact with her body.

 Her whole arm felt dizzy afterwards. It wasn’t possible. But that’s how it felt. Hours after she was still rubbing the patch where his lips had lain on her satin gloves.

 When she got home after the ball, she peeled her glove off and looked at her hand.

 It still looked ordinary. Her skin wasn’t red or marked - but it felt like it should be. It felt as if something utterly astounding had happened to her.

 The memory of his eyes gazing their arrow-striking glare into her own haunted her head all night long. Swam behind her closed eyelids in her sleep. Those opulent piercing eyes.

 “We won’t tell a soul.” Posy promises

 “Oh, look. Here is the Barton’s cottage. Flora pass me the ointment for Mr Barton.” Iris demands.

 Seeing the little boxy cottage coming into view. Roof thick with iced thatch. Walls butter yellow. With fat pink sickly rose vines creeping up the walls. Iris sees the chimney is smoking. They must be home keeping warm on this frigid morning. Acrid woodsmoke from the house drifts across the woods.

 They deliver the ointment into Mrs Barton’s hand. Along with some jam, a loaf, and pickled goods to see them through the wintry cold week. They were a frail elderly couple after all. And Iris likes helping people. She always had. Her mother always insisted she’d been cursed with an unshakable vein of kindness.

 Which often meant as a child she was forever taking in birds wounded falling out their nests in the gardens. Leaving carrots out for the wild rabbits. Seeds for the birds. Feed for the little monk-jack deers. She shared all her dolls as a girl. Forever saw to caring for the people and creatures which surround her. She visits the infirm with medicine. Reads to the lonely old matrons who’d lost all the grandchildren of their own.

 Now she’s grown that inclination hasn’t left her. She likes making sure none of the infirm elderly, or the more impoverished friends of her acquaintance suffer through the bitter cold climes. They never have to struggle alone. Iris is a balm to the hurting. She gives what she can. And is a friend to everyone kind enough to recognise it.

 Before long, the trio of ladies dispense their generosity upon those who need it. Giving what sustenance and leftovers they can spare. It’s not much really- when all is said and done. But it’s helping in any little way possible. And that’s what matters.

 They come eventually into Pembleton high street. The every busy and jagged row of higgledy Tudor houses. Separated by a lane of sticky brown mud where horses hooves and carts churn up the dirt. Carts and stalls line the streets. Modest shopfronts sell their wares. The air is full up of woodsmoke and the scent of roasting nuts from the brazier on the stand nearby.

 Iris loses Posy and Flora very quickly to the haberdashers, where the ribbons hang from great silken trails in racks from the ceiling. Every colour Imaginable.

 She sees them fussing over Belgian lace and leaves them be. She steps into the butchers for Cooks desired hare and sweet meats. She buys the candles, salt and the paper wrapped little cakes of soaps from Mr Milton’s shop next door.

 She crosses the street to the grocers. Fills her basket with green leeks, onions, potatoes and carrots. She tucks everything in her basket, around the poor lamented hare with its fur still on, and covers it with a patterned linen cloth.

 She has a shilling spare- she wanders over to Mr. Greeley. The proud proprietor of the roasted nuts stall. She buys a bag of warm, buttery sweet chestnuts.

 Hides them from Posy and Flora. This was her one little indulgence for today. She sneaks one of the hot things onto her tongue and savours it.

 She strides back up the line of shop windows. Looking and listening to the clack and bustle of the street behind her. Clopping hooves, rattling carts, ponies and traps clunking along the high street. Friends and acquaintances stopped to gossip and chat in the street. Young and old. Of every walk of life.

 She looks in the drapers window. The reflection off the glass, showed her a watery image of a gaggle of matronly mamas stood behind her across the street, loudly gossiping in her direction. Pointing and gesturing toward her.

 She rolls her eyes in huffing annoyance.

 She wasn’t enjoying being the inconstant centre of attention. Open to such censure and fascination in odes to the Hearst’s ball last night.

 Also in odes to the mysterious new stranger to these shores, too. The dark, dashing, and taciturn Lord Ren.

 Every wet-behind-the-ears girl in all of Hampshire was busy envisioning their swirled initials joined with his in their embroidery. A big handsome stranger from far off lands. It was the precursor to the stuff of romance from drippy novels. A harbinger of a great love story.

 Maybe not hers. Lord Ren may have kissed her hand and called her handsome. But so have countless other rich suitors, and then two months later them and their pretty blonde heiress of ten thousand pounds, are lavishly married and installed in a house in Brunswick square. She’s sure he’ll eventually find some far more moneyed girl to march into matrimony.

 It won’t be her- not her turn to pick out her wedding clothes. It never is.

 She lets the whispers and doubts about her, flourish from unimportant mouths.

 She never cared for the savagery of society. She won’t start being missish about it all, now. It won’t serve her any purpose-

 She can only hope the next scandal or engagement or elopement, or any other source of fascination to the bored inhabitants of this county, comes flooding in quick to snatch away all unhealthy - and rather undue - interest in her.

 She waits outside the haberdashers for her pair of silly sisters. They eventually come out. Comparing their new ribbons with each other’s. Flora has a pink, Posy has some frothy white lace.

 Posy hands Iris a teal silk ribbon. “For your hair. It would become you so well. And it will go with your eyes.” She insists.

 Iris smiles. Wrapping the long length of satin around her grey glove. It was very pretty.

 “Pray how did you afford this?” Iris narrows her eyes in smiling suspicion at the pair of them.

 “I saved up my allowance.” Posy insists plainly. Iris continues her look. She tilts her chin down a notch. Let’s her eyes harden to steel. Arched her muddy shaped brows.

 “...And the haberdasher’s son is so very obliging.” Flora beams. The younger Ashton’s giggle together knowingly.

 Iris sighs again. Strongly suspecting she could safely boast that she had two of the silliest siblings in the entire country. Hell, in the entire British Empire.

 “Let’s take our leave shall we...” Iris says. Slowly heading away. Down the street in the opposite direction they came. It took them home down on the woodland path.

 She picks up her pristine white skirts and steps over the mud. Baskets heavy with her goods now thunking against her hip as they walk. One filled with meat. The other with candles and potatoes and other luxuries for supper.

 Posy and Flora trail behind her. Discussing how best to use their ribbons. On bonnets or around the waistline of their favourite dresses. Iris drowns them out and listens to the crunch of her feet on the frost. The silver wisp of her breath as its whisked away up into the reach of the sky. She likes how sun glimmers off frost like sparkles and diamonds and gems. Like something fine and rich.

 They just come across a curve in the lane. Leading through an open meadow full of frosted grass and withered wildflowers. When a thundering sound gallops into being, hitting the hard ground in succession from beyond the bend.

 Iris looks up, attention captured swiftly by the beast of a large rider atop a colossal shimmering black horse, moving quick towards where they are walking along the quiet little lane. The peace shattered by the horses hooves pounding the earth.

 A great hulking beast of a man sits astride it. Who indeed almost matches the brutally-enormous muscled intensity of the creature he rides.

 Lord Ren.

 Iris startled and went to move aside. But he sees them and is already slowing the horse. She draws a deep breath and watches as he tugs the reins to reel in his galloping mount. Reducing to a canter, a trot and then to a slow stop. Hooves churning up frost and spitting wet and crushed muddy grass, under its enormous stomping treads.

 The sun in fiercely shining behind him. So Iris can only make out the silhouette at first. There’s no mistaking that singular body for another man. The primal size and bulk of him is unmistakable.

 But then he shifts forwards on his horse as it stops. Lumbering towards them all. And that winter sun shines amber over his shoulder and she’s met with the full face of the handsome man she became acquainted with yesterday. His breath and that of his horses turn to silver smoke in the cold air

 He passes the strops of its black reins into one gloved leather hand. His attire not much changed since yesterday. Still all black. The shining calf riding boots. The breeches that sit entirely too snug to the sturdy trunks of his legs and hips. The tailored black wool coat. White shirt tied with an elaborately knotted wine coloured cravat. Diamond pin studded central into the tie of the cloth.

 His hair is free and rumpled by the wind. Desirable and untamed. Wild. He wears no top hat on his head like most gentlemen of civility did, when out riding.

 Something about that lack of full dress she admires. Maybe he likes to feel the wind tangle his hair. The suns kiss his pale skin. The wind stinging at his cheeks. Likes galloping across the terrain at full speed on his mammoth sized beast of a horse.

 “Good morning ladies.” He nods to them all. Still seated on his horse.

 “Miss Ashton.” He smiles directly down at Iris as his horse shifts and stomps and nibbles the dewy wet grass below.

 She ducks her head and curtseys. “Good morning. Your Lordship.” She says politely. Dwarfed by his horses shadow.

 He holds her gaze for a second and smiles. Eyes more opulent charcoal in their shade than ever, this morning. He even had a kiss of pink colour in his cheeks. He looks healthy. Less alabaster pale. She strongly suspects its because of the icy wind stinging his cheeks as he rode.

 He unlatched his right boot from the stirrup and smoothly swings himself off the horse. Grips the pommel at the front of the black saddle and swings himself down. Feet land to earth with a crunching thud. Frost and grass crushed underfoot.

 His long wool riding coat flaps at his knees. Billowing open at his chest to show just his white shirt beneath it. Such thin layers. He must’ve been freezing.

 “If I may be so bold, Miss Ashton, allow me to see you along to your intended destination?” He asks kindly. One big hand patting the solid flank of his horses shoulder when it huffs at his dismounting.

 Iris’s cheeks go flaming red. She’s sure of it. Throat dry she manages to answer.

 “Oh. Forgive my impertinence Lord Ren. But I don’t wish to take you out of your way. Only we are heading in the opposite direction to your path.”

 “With your permission. I should like to walk with you. I’ve done a sufficient amount of riding for this morning.” He tells her.

 Iris smiles. Flattered that he’d rearrange his ride, just to see her safely home. Just to walk with her for a moment or two.

 Posy digs a sharp elbow into Flora’s ribs. Which jolts the youngest into speaking. “Iris. We were just going up the lane here to call on Charlotte Morris.”

 Iris gazes pointedly at Flora with a piercing state that could’ve rivalled a dressmakers needle. “How remiss of you not to bring it up until now...” Iris glares a little.

 “Should you mind?” Posy asks. Fluttering her lashes.

 “Of course not.” Iris says flatly. “Mind the hour home and do for heavens sake be sensible.”

 “We are the very vision of sensibility.” Flora beams.

 Iris quirks a wry brow at the both of them. Teeth grit.

 The two most transparent pests on the planet. Their plot was clear as day- One of sneaking away and leaving their elder sister unchaperoned and alone with him.

 They turn away giggling and make for the little lane opposite. Gabbling and whispering all the way. Loud giggles follow them like fluttering birdsong.

 When she turns back to Lord Ren he looks slightly amused. She blushes.

 “I feel I ought offer an apology, your lordship. They are- most puerile and trying at times.” Iris offers as she shifts to step nearer to where he is.

 He smiles gently. “They are young girls who fancy themselves cunning, I wager. No apology is necessary for that.” He declares affably. Patting his horses neck.

 He brings the big horse around. Holding the gathered reins in his left hand. He leads his gigantic horse around with a click of his tongue and some soft words in urging Bavarian. The big creature follows his lead. She moves and alters the heavy baskets on her arms.

 He sees this. Kylo frowns at the heavy weights at both her elbows. She shouldn’t be tasked with fetching and carrying like a damned pack horse. He extends a hand. “Allow me, Miss Ashton.”

 “Oh, no it’s- I couldn’t.” By the time her protestations die on her lips. He has one basket in one hand, the other, he tied the handle to a saddle bag strap on his horse. Lays it rest against the saddle.

 She’s mortified that a Lord offers to carry her basket for her.

 “That’s truly a magnificent horse. I’ve never seen the like before.” She says. The steeds eyes glitter as if it knows it’s being discussed. “What’s his name?” She asks rummaging in her basket he holds. Hand slipped under the cloth.

 “Erland.” Kylo says. The horses ears twitch.

 “Erland. A majestic name. For a majestic beast.” She smiles at him.

 She steps up to the horse and strokes her gloved hand down the flat bone between his eyes, leading down to his snout. Scents of hay and oats and animal sweat pour musky off his coat.

 “He’s a lovely animal.” She says. Stroking his solid flank.

 “Percheron. He’s a French draft horse. His breed originated in the Huisne valley in western France.” Lord Ren tells her.

 “Bred for use as war horses, and pulling stagecoaches. This one has a fair mount of Arabian blood in him too. Makes him far too proud and headstrong.” He announces. Erland flicks his swishing tail at his owner. Snorting at him.

 “I bought him with me from Bavaria. He’s the best riding horse I’ve had for a while. Stubborn temperament.” He offers. He watches her stroke his head. Touch the soft spot behind his ears.

 “You like animals, Miss Ashton.” He states.

 Most girls, as far as he’s aware, deigned horses as smelly, ugly creatures, whose only purpose was beneath them. Or to pull their carriages. She seemed to like this big equine creature very much.

 “I do. Especially ones who are as beautiful as him.”

 “Careful. Or else that flattery will shoot right to his ego.” He warns lightly.

 She smiles.

 Erland’s hairy velveteen muzzle cheekily nudges at her shoulder for more affection. He clearly likes her touch. Kylo tugs on his reins and frowns at him.

 “Benehmen Sie sich.” Kylo rumbles in a firm Bavarian command at his horse. Calling him back. Telling him to be good. Rubbing his stocky shoulder. The round strong bones of him and the hot silk of his coat underneath his gloved palm.

 She smiles. Lets the carrot she fetched from her basket, sit in the flat cradle of her gloved palm. She offers it to Erland, who snuffles it up and crunches on it. Breaking the frail vegetables skin with his big teeth. Munching it all down. Nuzzles her for more when he’s done.

 He snorts when Kylo speaks up. “Anymore and you’ll get fat. You great beast.” He assures his horse in that soft foreign dialect. Shoving his snout into Miss Ashton’s hand for yet more treats. Erland’s head was so big and his power so strong, he could’ve very realistically knocked her over with one push.

 She steps back and takes her place alongside a Lord Ren so they can continue in their walk. He’s a busy man. She doesn’t wish to hold him up. They fall into step easy. Her on Kylo’s left, Erland in his big lumbering enormity on Kylo’s right. His master has his right hand holding his stallions reins. The other easily carries her basket for her.

 “Did you enjoy your introduction into Hampshire society, Your lordship?” Iris can’t help but ask him with mirth creeping into her voice and on her smile.

 He turns his head to look at her. “The sheer amount of handsome and accomplished young ladies hereabouts is staggering.” He comments with dry humour. “I wonder if this isn’t the most accomplished county in all of England.” He states.

 Iris finds herself smiling. Every desperate mother worth her salt last night would be crowing her daughters praise to high heaven. Enough to induce the possibility that her very accomplished, pretty and upstanding daughter might have a chance at landing him.

 “Mothers can be so very domineering when the subject of marriage arises.” Iris promises. Looking down to step over a particularly frosty puddle.

 Kylo looks across at her. Watches her profile. Along the curve of her nose and the swell of her smiling lips. It occurred to him then, that she didn’t know of her beauty. She was not aware of its potency. He could sense it; this was a girl who overlooked her own worth and highly underestimated her attractiveness.

 With her pebble-ash eyes shining in the marigold sun like that, sparkling as if made of moonstone gems, and her rosy smile so unguarded and free. She didn’t see her beauty then. Not the way he could. Didn’t see it lay in the kiss of pink in her cheeks or the merriment of her face. On the geniality of her laugh and smiles.

 “I know I shouldn’t comment on such things. But I do feel so dearly for every new suitor who comes to this village. Every Mama and every daughter must veritably drown poor men with their female offspring.”

 Kylo raises one brow. “Rest assured. I’m not a man so inclined to favour polite safe conversation.” He promises her. He doesn’t tiptoe around propriety.

 “And I will admit I lost count of the young ladies I was introduced too last eve. My ears were quite ringing with names and sickly smiles by the end of the evening.” He confesses.

 She smiles wide again. Looks across. “I do sometimes wish that the people here could look beyond the scope of their own ignorance. To look beyond the defining goal of matrimony.” She confesses.

 “Why should a woman’s worth be tied onto who she weds? Can she not be her own person and find a man to suit that.” She avows. Letting her stalwart brain run away with her rather passionate mouth.

 “That’s very forward thinking of you.” Kylo says to her with a kind smile. Her face falls. She’s inspired insult with that comment.

 She’s flushing with embarrassment.

 “Mother would faint if she heard me confess that to you. Do forgive me, for the impertinence of my tongue.” She begs. Face wrinkling into a worried frown.

 “You have a mind. Miss Ashton.” Kylo says. “It’s entitled to make itself known.”

 “I’m a gently bred, unmarried, woman. And the eldest daughter, Lord Ren. My mind should be silent at all times. And possessed only, night and day, by thoughts and longing for matrimony.” She says. Quoting one of her mother’s rants.

 “Well. You have my word. I’m most blessedly glad it’s not.” He says. Turning to look deep into her eyes.

 She seems curiously confused. “You are?”

 “Indeed.” He answers plainly.

 “It means you are the one woman in this entire county with whom I can conduct a refreshing conversation. One that doesn’t revolve around reminding me again and again, that I’m a rich man who desperately needs a wife.” He offers.

 “I’m glad to hear it.” Iris says laughing. “Not often I happen find someone on the same page as myself.”

 “English men may find your so called ‘impertinence’ intolerable, Miss Ashton. For they were raised to know no better. But I am not a English man. Where I came from, it is applauded that a woman might speak her mind and have judgements and executions of her own.” He supplies.

 “Our way of life here must seem so strange and strict to an outsider.” She dares. The defining pinnacle of English country society was its savage nature, after all.

 “I don’t see much of the society in Bavaria.” He explains. “I see to the welfare of tenants on my land. I go hunting every season to pass the time. I’m afraid I rarely indulge in attending parties and balls.” He tells.

 “A castle must be an incredible home.” She guesses.

 “Even so- it can be very limiting being confined to it in the cold dark winters. Very little company. Little to entertain. I found myself wanting a change of scene. I had looked for some land opportunity’s to enclose in over here. When Hellford became available. It seemed a good opportunity to travel. Sink my teeth into a new venture.” He smarts. Eyes darkly roaming over her face with that handsome smile.

 She nods. “I quite understand.” Erland clops alongside them in the misty morning sunshine. Snorting breaths silver and wispy still in the biting air.

 “What are the winters like in Bavaria?” She enquires.

 He smiles. “Beautiful. But bitter.” He explains. “The snow can be deep. As tall as me some days when it falls.” She smiles at his description.

 “The castle stands out of a tall pine forest. A lake and a river to the east. One of the biggest woods in the country. Full of wolves, boars, and deer. It’s quite a wilderness in its own right.”

 “Goodness- wolves. Isn’t that terribly dangerous?” She frets.

 Not as much as me. He thinks. Matter of fact, when he steps foot in that forest, he is the most bloodthirsty dangerous animal in it.

 “The beasts respect the boundary of my castle. I respect the forest is theirs. It’s a symbiotic relationship.” He tells her.

 “Surrounded by wolves. You must feel very at home here too, then.” She jokes.

 He laughs. “There’s something familiar I grant. Though the wolves back home don’t don lace caps and thrust all their daughters at me.”

 She laughs at his remark. And suddenly, she goes spinning off course. Her worn boots slipping on a sneaky patch of frost and ice. No grip to their soles in this devilish cold. A yelp leaves her mouth as she skids. Blood flashing flushing hot and terrible suddenly. The shock of slipping stabbing at her stomach.

 He acts quick. He lets go of Erland’s reins and steps that big form forwards and snatched one arm out to grab her. Slips back around her waist, cups the back of her hip, and yanks her tight to him to stop her falling.

 She gasps and trembles as her vision spins, to be quickly halted by a sheer wall of cold, dark clad muscle. She barely registers where she is now.

 Because she’s pressed right up into Lord Ren’s redoubtably firm chest. Her palms crushed flat on his lapels. His arm seizing her back and cupping her onto him to stop her slipping. She can feel under her coat how her breasts are crushed flat to him. Can feel his breathing heaving up and down, much like her own.

 A shaky gasp leaves her mouth as she looks up, peering past the peak of her bonnet with flaming cheeks. Realising that they are slanted very close together. His face is right there, and he’s gazing down at her.

 She’s in his arms. Buried into his chest. And it feels incredible. Such musculature and sheer masculine mass under her palms. Her head swims. He’s dizzying. Hypnotising.

 Eyes as dark as burnt-ember molasses flecked with gold, and his lips look so invitingly pink ripe and soft- she curses at herself for that treacherous thought and her blush rises more. His wool coat and cologne nearly smacks her in the nose as she almost collided into his pectorals.

 Kylo can hear her fluttering heartbeat. Like a racing preys pulse beating wild. Frail and fast, like a baby birds. A huge drift of her fragrance absolutely drowns him, pulls him under. Clary sage, French lavender and peppermint. Sweet and calming. Addictive. He wants to lean down and taste the salt of it off her neck...

 It seems an eternity passes before he speaks.

 “Are you hurt?” He asks. Making sure she didn’t turn one of her ankles. Or damage the bone

 “T-Thankyou. I’m, I’m well.” She gasps. “I’m so sorry- I” She explains moving her hands down off his chest. He nearly swept her up off her feet. Now only her tiptoes brush the icy ground. The only part of her barely rooted to earth. Lost in those eyes.

 Domineering, commanding, brutal, eyes. Eyes that had seen this world ten times over. But never gazed upon anything comparable to her-

 Erland brings them both back down to earth. Snorting and fussing. Swishing his tail and nudging his nose at his masters shoulder.

 Sense swims back through the fog of attraction and the heady bloom of lust. Kylo unleashes her back and her hip from his hold.

 Quite liking the feel of her he accidentally - and literally - caught underneath her coat. The plump of her thighs and the shapely flesh of her hip and her bottom. There’s doubtless a figure to rival Venus herself, under this shapeless coat and thin dress. She slowly drags her hands off his chest and steps back. Avoiding the ice beneath her toes. Her gloves rasp on his fine wool coat.  

 “You fell. Miss Ashton. No need to be sorry for such a thing.” He tells her.

 “You’ve a steady hand, Lord Ren.” She compliments. Thanking him further. He still held her basket in the arm that had not reached out to catch her. He looked as if he barely had to flex out an arm to catch her. Just twisted his body. His reflexes were sharp and cunning. As strong as he was.

 He reached out and retook Erland’s reins.

 They continue walking carefully along the little lane. For Westwell is just beyond the tree line now. It saddens her that she’ll be home soon.

 Back to her daily chores. Back to scrubbing curtains, and helping cook roll pastry and mediating the silly shouting screeching arguments that Posy and Flora have over who gets to take turns to wear their favourite bonnet

 She reflects how restoring it is to talk to someone so fully - without having to watch or guard her tongue. It’s even more enlightening to talk to someone such as him. Someone who, like her, feels like an outsider. Never fully fits in. And harbouring no desire too.

 She feels her heart sink, morbid mournful and grey settling in her ribs, when they come to the meagre gateway along the short drive to Westwell. The twin stone pillars signifying the gateway were old and crusted with frosted moss.

 Kylo calls Erland to halt. She pats the wonderful beasts strong shoulder in goodbye. He rubs the great velvet plain of black his forehead at her. Kylo untied her basket and handed it to her.

 “I’d have no hesitation in seeing you to the door directly. But I fear your mother might see fault with our being left unchaperoned.” He disclosed. Giving her back the groaning full wicker basket with a clever grin.

 She shivers when their hands brush. If she had any doubts in her attraction, that betraying little Judas of a tingle that thrashed her body, made her realise otherwise.

 She likes him-

 “Astute observation, your lordship. I Thankyou for your discretion.” She blushes. Hooking the baskets back on her arms. Adjusting the shawl where it had slipped down from her shoulders.

 She looks down into her basket, and smiles. “A token of gratitude.” She explains before handing over the still warmed bag of chestnuts across to him.

 He cradled them in his leather gloved hand. Appreciative of the gift. He rarely ate food. There wasn’t much need for it and it wasn’t the manna that’s sustained him. He had little joy in any human sustenance - apart from humans themselves.

 When he did eat food, it was red meat that was still rare, juicy, and dripping blood. And he only drank sharp deep red wine.

 He reaches over and took her hand. Once again dropping Erland’s reins. He took her dainty hand and brought it up and bows to kiss her palm.

 He’s tired of satin and calfskin under his lips. He rather wanted to grasp a taste of her skin. Soon.

 “Always a pleasure, Miss Ashton. I hope the experience of your company repeats itself shortly.” He compliments.

 She smiles, apples of her cheeks creasing dimples with her widened smile. She nods politely and curtseys. “Your Lordship.” She curtseys gently. Bonnet tipping forwards. Criminally covering that beautiful face of hers.

 She turns and he watches her walk up the pale lane to home. Sun striping through the trees onto her bleached linen white skirts. Bleached by sunshine. And softly scented of fresh cotton and French lavender.

 Miss Ashton is made up of good intentions and possesses a giving heart as pure as gold. Pure. That’s his little dove all over-

 He looks down in his hand and weighs the small bag of nuts she’d gifted him. He lifts it to his nose and inhales their scent. Buttery, sweet, burnt and acrid.

 He tips his eyes back up to watch her. Thought creases up his brow. He’ll never know how it is to have such a virtue as a kind heart.

 She was made up of honour and purity and softness. Doves feathers, lavender and rose petals. And he is made of cruelty. Of war and broken glass and shards of steel. He was made between ash and snow and a landscape soaking swimming festering in blood. 

There’s no kindness in him. No mercy. Barely any love in him either. 

 He cares little for humans. After he was turned. That’s just how he became. They became meaningless specs of nothing to him. She has no idea what he is- who he is- he’s sent entire scores and countries of men shrieking to their deaths and writhing in agony into hell, cursing his name on their lips.

 And here she was handing him this little harmless gift, like he wasn’t one of the most fearsome beasts put on this earth.

 She’s not far away when she turns back - just as he’s about to mount Erland to ride back to Hellford Park once more. He tucks her meaningful present into his coat pocket.

 “Erland... Is that a Bavarian name?” She turns and asks curiously. A kind frown on the lintels of her eyebrows. She tilts her head curiously. Her grey eyes glitter innocently off the sun like honey poured onto slate.

 She’s so innocent. And it strikes him so deeply right then. How much he admires that.

 He hoists himself into the saddle using the pommel. Feet slipping in the stirrups. Hips resting back onto the cantle behind him.

 “It is a Norse name.” He calls to her. Erland is whinnying excitedly. Stomping his hooves to get out to the open fields and get his blood pumping. Kylo can feel the excitement shivering through his stocky legs.

 “What does it mean?” She seeks.

 “In old Nordic tongue, I believe it means ‘Outsider.’” He tells her.

 She smiles. “Well. I trust you both know you have atleast one friend in this Hampshire county.” She smiles.

 “Good day, Lord Ren.” She beams brightly. She turns away and she’s already missing the gaze of those melting cocoa eyes appraising her warmly.

 Her skin still thrashes from the memory of his touch. All over her skin is alive with the memory of that strength of his. His chest under her hands she’s never felt the like- he was as cold and solid as marble. Some Greek god manifested out of carved stone and come to life.

 He turns Erland back onto the snowy road. Clicks his tongue and urges him to run with a sharp dig of his shoe into his side. He feels the ice and the wind sting his skin for all the ride home.

 He thinks about her parting gift and her touch against his body for the rest of the day - truly he does. It’s moved him.

 He hasn’t been moved so much by another being in all of his years.

   ~ ~ 🥀  ~ ~

[haledamage]

OC Questionnaire

I was tagged by @actualanxiousswampwitch and not so much tagged as challenged by @queen-scribbles​ :P 

I am tagging/challenging you both back if you have more OCs you want to talk about, plus anyone else who has an OC you want to talk about! really, I want to know about your muses, please share them with me <3

I decided to go with Lexi from Mind Blind because she’s currently my most vocal muse, as well as Ari because I realized I’ve never done one of these for her? not sure how that happened

Lexi Wiseman

GENERAL

name: Alexandria Jane Wiseman

alias(es): Lexi, Lex, Button, Cadet Wiseman

gender: cis female

age: 20

place of birth: Chicago, Illinois

spoken languages: English, sarcasm, probably some coding language? took Spanish and German in high school, but really only remembers how to count to ten and ask where the library is

sexual orientation: bi bi bi

occupation: student at Unity’s Aeon Academy

APPEARANCE

eye colour: hazel

hair colour: brown

height: 5′8”

scars: not any major ones? She scars really easy, so even little things like paper cuts leave a scar, but except for things like that and old scars from scraped knees and elbows as a kid, Lexi doesn’t really have any scars worth mentioning. (or as Lex would say, “my scars are all mental ;)”)

burns: not really many burn scars either. a small and perfectly circular one on the inside of her right ring finger (accidentally bumped into the lit end of a cigarette), a faded line on her right calf from grazing the exhaust pipe of a motorcycle, but that’s really it

overweight: No

underweight: No

FAVOURITE

colour: green, especially darker ones like hunter green or forest green

music genre: loves music, all kinds. most of the covers she does are older pop songs, the songs that have made it into the collective consciousness, but she will listen to or sing anything :)

movie genre: action. loves a superhero movie and not afraid to admit it.

tv show: don’t think she’s much of a tv person. more likely listens to podcasts or watches twitch streams/youtube shows. I feel like she’d be a big Buzzfeed Unsolved fan. occasionally enjoys a cooking competition show like Chopped or Iron Chef, something you can enjoy without having to commit to it. Watches them with Nick because his commentary is the best part.

pastime: music (plays guitar and piano/keyboard, and knows her way around a sampler/MIDI controller), video games (especially fps, co-op or team-based online games preferred)

food: anything Nick cooks, but especially cinnamon pumpkin cookies

drink: cherry coke, sweet iced tea, iced white mocha

book: she’s not a really big reader (not that she doesn’t enjoy it, she just has other ways she’d rather spend her time), but she’ll read just about anything on the occasion she has time to. adventure, romance, mystery, poetry, whatever. really enjoys sci-fi especially, and comic books!

HAVE THEY

passed university: she didn’t go to college per se, since Aeon isn’t technically a college so much as a very particular and multi-year job training course, but she took a few courses at the local community college. Computer programming, music theory, whatever struck her fancy. Probably found something weird that she’ll never need in real life just for the hell of it.

had sex: no

had sex in public: no

gotten pregnant: no

kissed a boy: yes

kissed a girl: yes

gotten tattoos: no, but she wants one. eventually. once she settles on a design

had a broken heart: sure, in lots of different ways. the situation with her mom could certainly be considered heart-breaking...

been in love: she would deny it if you asked her, but yes. Very yes.

stayed up for longer than 24 hours: sure, yeah, why not? sleep is overrated anyway

ARE THEY

a virgin: yes. look, when you live with your brother who is a mind-reader and you have literally no way to stop loudly projecting your thoughts, sex is a tricky and awkward situation. better to just avoid it until someone comes along that’s worth it.

a cuddler: yes, very much so. Maybe a little touch-starved, despite Nick and Sally’s efforts. Someone please give her a hug.

a kisser: sometimes

scared easily: startles easily, but doesn’t actually frighten easily

jealous easily: not really. envy, on the other hand...

trustworthy: yes, but she’ll be the first to tell you not to tell her any secrets. She can’t promise what people can hear from her thoughts

dominant: not really. Can be assertive, but prefers to kind of go with the flow

submissive: not really submissive either, though maybe leans more toward it than toward dominant

in love: with her brother’s best friend. Has been for years now, expects she will be for the foreseeable future. She accepts that she will spend her life pining from afar. It’s not like Gray could ever feel the same, right?

single: yep

RANDOM QUESTIONS

have they harmed themselves: nope

thought of suicide: I don’t think so

attempted suicide: no

Wanted to kill someone: no

rode a horse: nope

have / had a job: her situation makes it a little difficult to work normal jobs. I would imagine she makes money through patreon with her music, and she will eventually have a job at Unity as a MIV, once she finishes at Aeon

have any fears: loss of control (again), not being good enough, abandonment, rejection (specifically being rejected for things she can’t change; she’s fine if people don’t like her for her personality, some people just have bad taste)

FAMILY

sibling(s): older brother Nick, relationship status: besties against all odds

Parents: John and Hope Wiseman, relationship status: fucking complicated

children: none, she is baby

pets: none

---

Aurienne the Sparrow

GENERAL

name: Aurienne the Sparrow. She had a last name once, but she doesn’t remember it.

alias(es): Ari, Little Bird, The Sparrow Queen

gender: nonbinary female/demigirl

age: 23

place of birth: Andoran, she assumes. It’s the first place she remembers living, at the very least.

spoken languages: Common, Elvish, a little Celestial thanks to her sister

sexual orientation: bisexual

occupation: Queen of the Stolen Lands, somehow

APPEARANCE

eye colour: light gray

hair colour: black

height: 5′10”

scars: a thin but deep and ragged scar across her throat that she normally keeps covered by a scarf or choker or high collar; arrow puncture in her left shoulder; long line on her inner right thigh from a greatsword that almost cut her leg off entirely; a few other minor ones

burns: a few on her fingertips from accidents with her flaming crossbow

overweight: No

underweight: No

FAVOURITE

colour: gold

music genre: punk and all its subgenres :)

movie genre: she loves a musical, all musicals

tv show: dramas and monster of the week shows. wants a tv show that’ll make her cry

pastime: music (when she’s feeling confident enough to give it a try again, which is… a work in progress), reading, silly but harmless pranks. Loves to meditate a surprising amount, just sit in silent contemplation.

food: samosas, lemon macarons

drink: matcha latte with white chocolate syrup

book: has a deep and unending love of poetry

HAVE THEY

passed university: nope, didn’t go to school

had sex: yes

had sex in public: …...perhaps

gotten pregnant: nope

kissed a boy: yes

kissed a girl: yes

gotten tattoos: yes, seven sparrows down her spine. recently, the one on the back of her neck got a tiny little crown over its head :)

had a broken heart: yes

been in love: yes

stayed up for longer than 24 hours: yes, but rarely

ARE THEY

a virgin: nope

a cuddler: sort of? I think she wants to be, but is scared to let herself be vulnerable like that. Will happily cuddle with anyone who initiates, though

a kisser: not really, unless she’s in a mood

scared easily: yes, but hides it well

jealous easily: nope

trustworthy: very

dominant: not really. Prefers to let others take the reins (probably not the best trait for a queen, but as she is quick to tell people, being in charge was never her idea)

submissive: most of the time. Probably a big part of why she and Tristian took so long to get together...

in love: yes, with a literal angel

single: she’s not sure??? like, they haven’t really made anything official yet, but no one would ever look at the two of them together and not think they’re a couple. they should probably have a talk about that soon

RANDOM QUESTIONS

have they harmed themselves: no

thought of suicide: yes

attempted suicide: no

Wanted to kill someone: yes

rode a horse: yes

have / had a job: former mercenary/adventurer, former baroness, currently queen of the Stolen Lands? She’s still not entirely sure how that happened

have any fears: helplessness, losing those she loves, being silenced (again)

FAMILY

sibling(s): twin sister, Auriel the Dove

parents: both deceased (I should probably name them at some point…)

children: none. Maybe someday...

pets: an owlcat named Headchomper, a red panda named Ember, an orange tabby cat named Tiger, a giant black wolf named Baron who is technically her sister’s animal companion and also technically her nephew

[wonderwomanfantasy]

Sins of mortals part one

Slytherin! Reader x Sirius Black (eventually)

word count: 2,000 (about)

Warnings: Slow burn!!!! swearing. this is OC heavy at least for the first few chapters. 

Summary: you disliked Gryffindors, especially that no good womanizer Sirius Black. you hated him even before you properly met him. But now that he has introduced to you. you don’t dislike him, you hate him. 

you had never met the famous Sirius Black. But that didn't mean you hadn't heard of him. He was practically all anyone could talk about. You thought it was odd how obsessed everyone was with him. Especially considering he was a Gryffindor, and you were in Slytherin. Snape's talk about the Marauders was never-ending, but at least Snape would talk about them all equally, the girls in your house where the worst. 

They talked about him nonstop, what they would do to him if they got him alone, and how good he looked both in and out of his uniform. It was gross honestly, you were supposed to hate Gryffindors, especially when those same Gryffindors threw stink bombs in the common room and filled the bathrooms with Red and Gold slime monsters that ate your hairbrush. Everyone seemed ready to forgive Sirius for his misgivings just because he had a pretty face. You would admit that he was attractive, but that wasn't an excuse, at least not to you. 

“what kind of conditioner do you think he uses?” Sam Lithermyn sighed looking dreamily over to the Gryffindor table.

“What ever it is it smells like Strawberries,” Jane Hollyberry said also looking at Sirius.

“Sometimes I think he might not be human, he's prettier than any human I've ever met,” Sam spoke again. You huffed and tried to ignore them both. but after a minute you could help but follow their gazes toward Sirius. He was pretty, the morning sunlight glinted off his dark glossy hair, his cheekbones and jawline were both sharp enough to cut glass. And his eyes, deep and green with flecks of gold seemed to see the whole room. You could see why Sam didn't believe he was human, you could hardly believe it yourself. You blinked and shook your head to clear it. It was no wonder he had slept with half the girls in Hogwarts.

“Merlin, Sam! He's coming over here look!” Jane hissed dropping her eyes to her breakfast. you looked up Sirius black was sauntering over to the Slytherin table. Sirius stopped before you.

“Hello, (y/n),”

“what the hell do you want Black?” you snapped, your wand already in your hand. it wasn’t every day someone crossed the great hall to see you.

“easy there love,” he chuckled “why don't we go on a walk I want to talk to you”

“I think I'll stay right here thanks,”

“fine, you see the After the Slytherin v. Gryffindor quidditch match we're gonna have a little victory party-” you cut him off right there

“what makes you think you're going to win aye? Slytherin is going to crush-” it was his turn to cut you off.

“Listen, it doesn’t matter who wins, Friday, after the Match, party in the Gryffindor tower, you in?” you could see how annoyed he was so that begged the question, why the hell was he doing this?

“No,” you said without pausing to think.

“why not?”

“I'd be a shit time, I don't know anyone there,”

“okay listen, I’m not supposed to tell you this but since you’re being difficult you see Aaron Mole over there? Redhead glasses,” he asked you looked behind him and saw the boy he was talking at you.  “has a big crush on you begged me to ask you to the party so he can flirt with you, so how 'bout you do me a favor,”

“Nope,” you said shrugging, he groaned.

“give me one good reason why not?”

“I already have plans” you said, which was true, not that you could ever tell him what you were doing. Sirius opened his mouth but before he could speak Jane cut him off.

“I could take (y/n)'s place if you need a Slytherin girl to shake things up,” she offered. Sirius shot her a quick smile,

“Don't think that I don't want you there baby but I really need (y/n) to come for my pal.” his angry eyes fell back to you “Almost time for class aye? Want  me to walk you to class?”

“I can walk my own damn sel-”

“perfect I'll carry your books,” he said trying to grab your book bag but you snatched it out of his way. Your heart skipped a beat at the thought of Sirius of all people seeing what you had in that bag.

He talked your ear off as he walked with you to the potions room

“what is so important that you can't stop by just for one butterbeer?”

“I'm not coming, so drop it,” you snapped. That finally made him leave you alone, until lunch that is. 

“Okay so you're not coming to the party, fine whatever, but you're coming to the Match right?” he asked coming to a stop beside you.

“Hello to you Sirius,” you said rolling your eyes. “and no I'm not planning on going to the match.” everyone would be out of the castle, It was the only time no one would be looking for you. 

“The hell, you aren't! It's the First Game of the year and It's Slytherin Vs. Gryffindor, What do you mean? You can't miss that!”

“I can and I will, I told you I have plans,”  you said hotly. “Besides why do you care so much,”

“you are unbelievable! And Moles is a good friend I'd do anything for him!” he shouted. You looked at him skeptically.

“you owe him a favor don't you.”

“perhaps, Anyway, what the fuck are you doing that makes you think you can miss the Match,”

“Oh sod off you only want me to come so you can force me to sit next to Moles or something,”

“Maybe I want you to come and cheer for me, you know; wear my scarf wave a Gryffindor banner, the works”

“like I'd ever cheer for you, you're a Gryffindor and a massive prick I don't even know why I'm talking to you.” you huffed and sat down at the Slytherin table.

“Stop Harassing the girl Black unless you want me to call the prefects,” you turned away from Sirius to see Severus Snape. You didn't necessarily dislike Severus, but he did have a nasty habit of losing the house points.  Sirius shot you with a finger gun

“See you latter Baby,” he spun and ran off to the Gryffindor table.

“I'm not your Baby!” you shouted at him. You weren't used to being the center of attention, but when Sirius looked at you, everyone did. Sam, Jane, and all the girls for that matter swarmed you asking you what Sirius had wanted with you.

“looked like he was flirting, the way he was looking at you,” Jane hissed looking at you with wide eyes. she almost looked hopeful. As if Sirius flirting with you was the same as him flirting with her. 

“Black would never go so low as to flirt with a Slytherin.” you said rolling your eyes.

“Didn't he get with Violet?”

“Christ Sam, I would hook up with Violet the girl is hot,”

“does it really matter?” you asked, “he is a prick and I want nothing to do with him.” but just because you didn't want anything to do with him didn't mean he wanted nothing to you. 

You were sitting curled up on one of the black leather couch next to the fireplace in the Slytherin common room. You pretended to be focusing on the DADA homework you had balanced on your knees. In reality, you were waiting patiently to be left alone. You where normally the last one to go to bed. Finally, Glen Hourshin yawned and stood up.

“go to bed soon (y/n),”

“I will, goodnight Glen,” you said watching him leave, you tucked away “Dealing With Trolls, Not just the Ones you are related too.” and reached for a small leather book in your bag. The book your mother had given you. But just as your fingers touched the unnaturally cool spine, you heard a voice.

“thank Merlin, I thought he'd never leave.” you recoiled from the book and whirled to see Sirius appearing out of thin air.

“what the hell are you doing here?” you hissed drawing your wand.

“well I figured that the only reason you had for missing the game is your grades. So I came here to help you with homework,”

“like I would need help from a Git like you. If anything you would come to me for help,” you snapped.

“Have you mastered the Invisibility charm the way I have?” he asked cockily. that was true enough, you could make marbles and buttons disappear no problem but anything larger was tricky. Then you remembered you hadn't heard him speak. 

“oh you're probably shit at the Invisibility charm, but doesn't matter when you have an invisibility cloak,” you said triumphantly, proud of yourself to have figured it out. Sirius's smile faltered. You had him now.  “that's the one from Zonko's joke shop isn't it?” you pressed taking a step towards him. For whatever reason, this comment seemed to relax him.

“so what are you working on now? You finished the Defense homework so what now?” he asked changing the subject, he fell gracefully on the couch beside where you had been sitting.

“why are you really here? You could be kicked out of Hogwarts for this you know,” you said sitting beside him cautiously. The firelight did something strange to his eyes, making them flash for a second. Suddenly heat was rising from your chest to your face. You hatted yourself for the fact that just sitting beside him made you blush. Again you were stuck with how handsome he was. There was a stray hair hanging in front of his nose. you were surprised by the urge to move the hair back in place maybe run your fingers through his long black hair, maybe pull him close and see if his lips were as soft as they looked. You shook your head, clearing your mind. you would sooner die than kiss Sirius 

“I want to show you how far I'm willing to go to get you to come.” his voice was like velvet. You rolled your eyes

“Moles really has some dirt on you huh?”

“It will take five minutes, you come and let Moles flirt with you a little bit then tell him you aren't interested then you can leave to go out and do your thing,” he whined like a toddler. You realized with a wave of satisfaction that you were probably the first girl to ever tell him no.

“I've never talked to Moles, I might want to talk to him for a while, and for that I need time.” you teased. Sirius looked like he was ready to strangle you. He mumbled something about Slytherins all being the same

“Look, Sirius, I promise I'll go to the next party you throw, or better yet I'll go on a date with Moles if you set it up, just not Friday,” you said. 

“I can’t just set up a date you aren’t supposed to know!” he said you could see the annoyance building,” You needed him to leave before either of you started throwing spells. 

“goodnight Sirius,” you said in a bored voice standing up. Sirius glared and threw on his invisibility cloak. Sirius's disembodied voice called out to you.

“I'll see you in the morning (y/n) and I swear by Merlin's Beard I'll convince you to come.” you could hear him stop away and Slam the door. You wanted to pull the book out right there but there was a chance he was still here. You picked up your bag and went to your dorm room you pulled the covers over your head and took notes while trying to stay as quiet as possible. 

Normally you wouldn't risk reading this book when there were other people around but at least you knew Sirius couldn't get in here. It would be just your luck to have him follow you into the dungeons instead of going to the quidditch match. you supposed that it was a bit hypocritical of you to get mad at him for sneaking into your common room, he could get kicked out of Hogwarts if you ratted him out. but if he caught wind of what you were up too, you would be sent to Azkaban. 

depending on how this does I’ll probably be posting the second part soon. this is going to have multiple chapters so like with libraries and love potions if you want to be added to the Tag list just let me know and I’ll add you

[raindancer2004]

Alec’s My Best Friend

Word Count: 1,411 Alec x Child OC Warnings: Lots of fluff. Strictly Platonic relationship between Alec and OC.

Fluff prompt: Hello! I’m back! Could you also do Comfort / Fluff Prompt List for Alec Volturi? @college-is-coming

40: “Don’t you dare throw that snowba-, goddammit” 41: “Wanna bet?”

Translation: Piccolo – Little one. Principessa - Princess

Athenodora and Sulpicia often visited the local orphanage often and would donate clothes and toys to the children, something the Kings approved of as it helped with the Queens longing to be mothers. Dora noticed a blonde little girl with blue eyes who looked to be no more than four-years-old. She was sitting in the corner reading / looking at a book all on her own. Dora recalled from memory that this little girl was always sitting in the corner on her own. Dora decided she wanted to adopt her and give her a home and a family.

Dora spoke to the lady who ran the orphanage and she agreed to let Dora take the girl home knowing the little girl would be well cared for. Dora and Sia took her home and although Caius was a little upset at not being consulted prior to the child coming to the castle to live, his heart melted the moment the girl smiled at up him and asked “Are you my new daddy?” He smiled back at her as he lifted her into his arms “Yes piccolo, I am” He held her close breathing in her scent ‘apple and mint’ Dora couldn’t help but smile at the sight before her. The three blondes looked like a real family too.

Caius and Dora changed her name from Neve to Rose for two reasons; one; both Neve and Dora disliked the name and two; this would make her truly their daughter.

Everyone fell in love with little Rose, their new princess the moment they met her. Rose got to spend a lot of time with the four elite guards as they were the bodyguards of the Kings and were the Queen’s favourite guards.

Rose took an instant liking to Alec, who in return took an instant liking to her much to everyone’s surprise seeing as she was human. Jane was the only one who wasn’t surprised by his actions and noticed the slight resemblance and similar mannerisms immediately, knowing Alec did too and smiled at her brother and Rose.

Demetri recalled Jane telling him once that she and Alec had a younger sister but that she had passed away before her third birthday and how Alec had doted on her. He also knew how protective Alec was of Jane despite her being gifted and noticed that he had become protective of Rose too.

Alec had promised Rose that he would show her his new Art supplies and that they could do some painting after his shift. Rose was so excited that she told everyone she saw that morning. “Demi guess what Alec and I are doing this afternoon?” She asked with a beaming smile “You’re going to paint his toenails using Jane’s nail polishes?” Demetri guessed and Rose giggled shaking her head “No silly. Try again” “Ok ok. I know, the two of you are going to play with your dolls and have a tea party?” He tried again and she giggled harder this time “Na uh, tea parties are just for us Demi” She whispered as she looked around the corridor. He smiled down at her actions “Well, I give up. What are you and Alec doing later?” He asked as he crouched down to her level “He’s going to show me his Art stuff and then we’re going to do some painting” She replied “Well that sounds like lots of fun, doesn’t it?” He said as he lifted her into his arms “Where to Principessa?” She thought for a moment before replying “I’d like to see Heidi please” He smiled and bowed his head “Of course, she’s in the kitchen.”

Alec showed Rose his new Art supplies and she watched as her eyes lit up and she bounced up and down excitedly. They spent the afternoon in his room painting although Rose got quite a bit of paint on the old shirt Alec had given her to wear. Rose was proud of the portrait of Alec she painted for him as well as the fingerpainted butterfly for Jane.

It had been snowing in Volterra for three days now and everything was covered in thick white snow “It looks so pretty” Rose said to Dora as she stared out her bedroom window “It does, maybe later we can play out in it” Dora replied and watched as her daughter’s face lit up “Really mummy? Can Alec come too?” “Yes, really piccolo. Alec can come too if he wants to” Dora replied and watched as her daughter ran from the room, knowing exactly where she was going.

Rose ran straight into Demetri’s room forgetting to knock, luckily for her the door was open “Hello Demi. Have you seen Alec?” She asked “Why are you looking for Alec?” Felix asks before Demetri could reply “Because Alec’s my best friend” Rose replies matter of factly, placing her hands on her hips “And I want to play in the snow with my best friend” She added. Demetri chuckled at her “Come with me Principessa, I’ll take you to him” “Thank you Demi” She replied with a smile.

Demetri grabbed his coat on the way out of the room and stopped by Rose’s room to get her coat, scarf and gloves “Put these on first, then we’ll go to Alec” Demetri said softly as he helped put them on.

They found Alec in the throne room “Alec” She called out and ran straight to him, he caught her with ease lifting her up into his arms “Rose, you look all warm and snug” He replied “That’s because I’m going to play in the snow and I want you to come with me” She told him with a smile “Well if you go outside with Demetri for now, I’ll meet you after my shift. How does that sound?” “FUN!” She cried out smiling, making the vampires in the room chuckle. Alec put her down and she ran from the room “I’ll race you Demi” He chuckled and ran after her.

Ten minutes later Rose and Demetri had a supply of snowballs ready to throw at Alec as soon as he came outside. Demetri popped his head up from behind the water feature in the garden holding up two snowballs ready to throw them at Alec’s back, although he handed one off to Rose. “Don’t you dare throw that snowba-, goddammit Demetri” Alec called out and Rose laughed “It was me Alec, not Demi” Her soft giggles filling the garden and Alec just turned and smiled at her before bending down and making a snowball of his own. “Run little one or I’m going to get you” “Wanna bet?” She called out and took off running, laughing as she did so.

Demetri chuckled watching Alec run at slow human pace after the little princess. Rose threw a snowball over her shoulder and it hit the tree, missing Alec completely. Alec gently threw the snowball and watched as it crumbled once it hit back “Gotcha” He called out smiling.

Demetri made a selection of snowballs for Rose “Here little one” He handed her two more snowballs “Traitor” Alec called out “She’s only little and you’re a grown up” Demetri replied. “I’m bored of our snowball fight. Alec can we build a snowman now?” She asked jumping up and down and toppled over in the snow, both vampires laughed at her. “I’ll leave you two to build your snowmen” Demetri said and left them to play in the snow.

Alec and Rose spent a few hours in the garden and made three snowmen, varying in height and named them; Alec, Jane and Rose. Alec taught Rose how to make snow angels and left a trail of them around the garden. Her giggles filled the air and Alec couldn’t help smiling at his little friend “Look Alec, I’ve made another angel” She pointed to the snow angel behind her “It’s a bit small though” He teased her “That’s because I’m small silly” She replied shaking her head at him.

Once finished playing in the snow Alec took Rose back into the castle and made her a hot chocolate and snuggled with her under some blankets on the sofa in his room and read her a story ‘George’s Marvellous Medicine.’ “Thank you for today Alec. You’re my best friend” She said sleepily and snuggled into his side “You’re welcome and you’re my best friend too” He replied softly and placed a kiss to her hair.

[theworldofmycreations]

This is Bailey and she was a birthday gift for my dear friend Amos Martinez, an amazing artist on Instagram!

(https://www.instagram.com/amos.martinez.105/)

On the top is my design for her and since he loved it so much, he decided to take her in as one of his new OCs, which you can see on the bottom! 

Bailey is the daughter of two of Amos’s OCs, Makenna and Jett. 

Her full name is Bailey Dorothy Henderson and as you can tell, she’s inherited her mothers genes and loves to do art. Her middle name Dorothy, comes from Makenna’s mother Dorothy. 

Age: 8

DOB: 12/14/2012

Hair Color: Blonde (like Jett’s)

Eye Color: Black (like Jett’s)

Clothing

Regular Wear: A light pink t-shirt with a paint palette on it, a blue and white striped skirt, turquoise sandals, her hair in a ponytail supported with a green hair tie, and a red barrette hat on her head. 

Bedtime Wear:  Her sleep attire consists of a white T-shirt, white socks with blue dots, and rainbow striped pants. She also has her hair down.

Winter Wear:  A light blue coat, dark purple pants, white and paint splat pattern gloves, brown boots, and white earmuffs.

Fall Wear:  A light blue coat, dark purple pants, white and paint splat pattern gloves, brown boots, and pink and white zig-zag scarf. Sometimes, she wears a colorful wool sweater her grandmother made her, black pants, and brown shoes.

Swim Wear:  Her swimwear consists of the same purple one-piece suit that Makenna had as a little girl.

School Wear: A light blue shirt with puffy sleeves and white collar, a blue pleated skirt, white knee-high socks and black Mary Jane shoes. Around her neck is a Bob Ross Happy Accidents ID lanyard with her school ID card inside and a paint pallet charm on the side (https://www.amazon.com/Lanyard-Happy-Accidents-Painting-Holder/dp/B07GH7V3LQ). She also carries a colorful backpack (https://www.pbteen.com/products/gear-up-paint-palette-backpack/) and a Bob Ross lunchbox (https://www.walmart.com/ip/Bob-Ross-Happy-Little-Trees-7-75-x-6-75-x-4-Collectible-Tin-Lunch-Box/164149466). 

Beach Attire: The purple one-piece swim suit Makenna had as a little girl, her turquoise sandals, the beach hat that Makenna had as a little girl, and a blue beach towel with pink starfishes on it.

Halloween Wear: She dresses up as Evie (the daughter of the Evil Queen from Snow White) from the Disney Descendants movies while carrying a  pumpkin bucket. (https://www.ebay.com/itm/Disney-Descendants-2-Evie-Costume-AND-Wig-Authentic-Girls-Sizes-7-8-9-10-11-12-/263904926082)

Christmas Wear: She wears a red and green plaid Bonnie Jean Christmas dress with a black cardigan (https://www.amazon.com/Bonnie-Jean-Christmas-Dress-Cardigan/dp/B07ZCFFNTR), long white socks, and black boots.

Formal Wear: She wears a tie dye ruffle off shoulder dress (https://www.childrensplace.com/us/p/Girls-Short-Sleeve-Tie-Dye-Print-Knit-Ruffle-Off-Shoulder-Dress-3011344-1128) and her turquoise sandals.

Robe and Slippers: Her bed robe consists of a cream colored bed robe with dark pink roses on it with the stems(https://www.walmart.com/ip/Women-s-Rose-Print-Long-Robe-Floral-Shawl-Collar-Bathrobe-with-Patch-Pockets) and her slippers are fuzzy, and pastel colored, and look like sandals (https://www.jcpenney.com/p/arizona-girls-slip-on-slippers/ppr5007922998?pTmplType=regular&rrplacementtype=pdp3_jrecs&criteriaName=You%20may%20also%20like).

Rain Gear: Her rain gear consists of a rainbow striped raincoat (https://www.amazon.com/YNIQ-Girls-Colorful-Rainbow-Raincoats/dp/B07ZQC5VF8), black, pink, and paint splat rain boots (https://www.shopgoodwill.com/Item/86059296), and a watermelon umbrella (https://www.amazon.com/Hipsterkid-Child-Size-Umbrella-Watermelon/dp/B079ZCHFVH). 

Jacket: A black and gray varsity jacket with colorful stars on it (https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Kids-Star-Varsity-Jackets-Wholesale-Varsity_50015680613.html).

Smock: When shes painting or doing ceramics, she always wears a blue smock with dolphins on it. 

Apron: When helping either Makenna or Jett in the kitchen, she always wears her gray apron with colorful flowers and roosters on it (https://www.etsy.com/listing/696656229/handmade-polish-apron-folk-print-apron?show_sold_out_detail=1).

Riding her Bike: When riding her bike (This is her bike: https://www.walmart.com/ip/LittleMissMatched-20-Sweet-Style-Girl-s-Bike-Multi-Color/657542031), she wears a kaleidoscope patterned bike helmet (https://nutcasehelmets.com/products/kaleidoscope?variant=5147899691045) with ombre colored elbow pads and knee pads (https://fritzysrollerskateshop.com/products/triple8-saver-series-3-pack-junior?variant=33339588280364¤cy=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&utm_campaign=gs-2020-03-27&utm_source=google&utm_medium=smart_campaign).  

Life Jacket: Her life jacket is a blue and green life jacket (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32908664821.html).

Easter Dress: Her Easter dress is a pink flowery dress (https://www.amazon.com/Youngland-Little-Easter-Floral-Spring/dp/B07Q7VVZ3P) with white socks and cream colored ballet style shoes. She also carries a beautiful woven Easter basket her grandfather gave to her. 

St.Patrick’s Day Outfit: She wear her regular skirt, sandals, and barrette hat but she wears a green thermal long sleeve tunic instead of her regular shirt (https://www.citythreads.com/girls-clothing/basic-tops/long-sleeve-tops/girls-thermal-long-sleeve-tunic).

Birthday Attire: Her birthday attire consists of her regular attire but with a Disney Descendants birthday button pinned to the right of her shirt (https://www.etsy.com/listing/784433857/disney-descendants-style-birthday-button?ga_search_query=descendants&ref=shop_items_search_1).