#serpent kings not invited

[haleyusesherwords]

Hosting the next D20 premier on the commandeered river boat turned casino

Who’s coming?

[jmoonjones]

It's a Nyaxia Night Miracle! On the Eve of Nyaxia Night, a holiday celebration that's perhaps not totally (or in any way at all 😬) canon, Oraya and Raihn make their wishes. 

They don't expect their wishes to be granted - or else the Coriatae bond may have been pursued another way! - but Nyaxia lives for the drama between the Hiaj and Rishan vampires, so she made an exception ✨

The wonderful Crowns and Nyaxia series is by Carissa Broadbent. Who I hope isn't irked by my Vincentric (Vincent Centric) doodles or my unhinged sense of humour 💜

Note: When I was little, we'd burn our letters to Santa in the fireplace (so the ashes are taken to the North Pole, where Santa the polar bear would read them, natch) which inspired their letter burning. 

[enyalios-shrine]

𝘼𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥 101

Hi! I’m Raven (or Ray), and I’ve been an Ares devotee for almost five years now. You want to start worshiping him? Great! Despite what today’s media makes of him - which I will talk about a lot in this post - , he’s actually a very caring, gentle and (dare I say) beginner-friendly deity! In general, a great choice! (Also, this is inspired by another post I saw but forgot to save - so, credits for the idea goes to that person) So, let's get started.

WHO IS ARES? - MODERN MISCONCEPTIONS

Since I’m assuming you already know the broad strokes of who he is (Greek god of war, bloodshed, violent and so forth), this section will be about some of the misconceptions most people have of Him. If you’ve ever consumed any Greek mythology-related media, I’m sure you’ve seen the following caricature: beefy, misogynistic, violent, stupid jerk, rude and always looking for a fight. While, yes, He IS violent (He's the god of war, afterall), that's far from all He has to offer.

Did you know Ares is actually historically a major feminist? That’s probably the first thing to get demystified about Him when you talk to an Ares devotee or worshiper, so I’m not really saying ground-breaking news here, but since a fair amount of people don’t know about it, I thought it was a fair mention. So, let’s get into the actual myths and proofs for this claim:

Ares was the father of and supported the Amazons in battle, a group of female-only warriors and hunters.

He’s one of the only male deities in Greek mythology to not have sexually harassed or raped someone. Yes, even other deities viewed as “nice” such as Apollo and Hermes have done so (I don’t mean any disrespect for those deities here - I’m also an Apollo devotee).

Ares was held in trial for the murder of Halirrhotius, a son of Poseidon, after he raped one of Ares’ daughters, Alkippe. He was acquited of murder by the gods. Remember, back in ancient Greece, women didn’t have ANY rights - raping one was not considered a crime or even frowned upon as far as I'm aware.

One of His epithets is “Ares Gynaikothoina", which means "feasted by women". During a war between the Tegeans and the Spartans, the women of Tegea defended the city from a invasion led by the Spartan king Charilaus. After arming themselves, they defeated the Spartans following an ambush. Among the prisoners was the Spartan king himself. In commemoration, they would hold a feast in honor of Ares, to which only women were invited.

All in all, Ares is protective, just, and encouraging of His children as well as worshipers and devotees. He’s not the piece of shit jock most people think of when you mention His name. Please stop doing my man this dishonor, He deserves so much better.

BASIC INFO

His Roman counterpart is Mars. He’s the son of Zeus and Hera, and his consourt is Aphrodite (even though they’re not officially married). His divine children are Phobos and Deimos (twin daimones/personified spirits of panic and terror, respectively), Harmonia (goddess of harmony and concord), Antero (erote/god of requited love) and Eros (erote/god of carnal love), all which he had with Aphrodite, as well as Drakon of Thebes (a giant serpent), which he apparently had by himself.

As for hero children; Cycnus (a bloody-thirsty men who was murdered by Herakles), Diomedes of Thrace (who had man-eating horses for some reason), Thrax (who founded Thrace), Oenomaus (Greek king of Pisa), and the Amazons (female warriors and hunters as mentioned above).

His symbols and associations are: spears, swords, helmets, armour, dogs, chariots, shields, The Chariot & The Emperor tarot cards, etc.

FESTIVALS AND DAYS

Tuesdays are holy to Ares and are ruled by the planet Mars (again, his Roman counterpart), which means they’re associated with action, energy, strength, and courage, as well as the color red.

As for festivals, He was typically honored with special rites in times of war or just before battles. There were also two annual festivals: one in the town of Geronthrae in ancient Laconia, celebrated only by men, and one in Tagea in Arcadia, celebrated only by women, where His "feasted by women" epithet came from. There's hardly any info on exact dates (from the Attic calendar or not) or info about any other festivals.

SACRED ANIMALS

Serpents

Dogs

Vultures

Woodpecker

Barn owls

Eagle owls

SACRED PLANTS

There’s no plant, flower or tree traditionally associated with Ares, unfortunately, so I’m gonna give a list of my UPG’s. Now, I’m not a witch, so I don’t know about the magical properties of the plants I’m about to list (if you’re a witch and were looking for something like that, my bad). However, I am a florist and have a special interest in floriography, so I assign them to Him based on vibe, meaning, etc.

Amaryllis (Means “Pride”)

Basil (Means “Hate”)

Water hemlock (Means “Death”)

Snapdragon (Means “Presumption”, but I think he just likes the way it looks)

Poppy (Means “Eternal sleep”, but has a long history with wars, being the first kind of flora to start growing in abandoned battlefields that were previously considered infertile)

Nettle (Means “Cruelty”)

Magnolia (Means “Dignity”)

Yarrow (Means “Cure for a broken heart”, and is said to have been used by Achilles to heal his men on the battlefield, which is why the scientific name is “Achillea”)

Ginger (Associated with “Heat”)

Pepper, spices, etc (idk he just gives the vibes)

OFFERINGS & DEVOTIONAL ACTS

Honestly, the only slander Ares should be getting is that He likes edgy teenage boy things. That being said, here's some ideas/suggestions, first for devotional acts and then offerings:

Workout or do any kind of physical activity

Take care of your mental and physical health

Stand up for yourseld and what you believe in

Learn about past wars, battles, and riots

Do things that make you feel badass/brave/empowered

Go to a protest

Work on managing your anger (especially for my fellow BPD havers)

Pet a dog

Honor His children and Aphrodite

For offerings; any kind of meat, especially red

Anything sharp (cool knives or daggers, broken glass, etc)

Bones!!

Halloween decor (I personally have those fake plastic snakes, spiders, and a skull on His altar)

Black coffee, the stronger the better

Any alcohol, but especially whiskey

Anything spicy

WHY WORSHIP ARES? - A PERSONAL RANT

Living in an extremely physically abusive household, I had to know and be acostumed to violence from a very young age. That violence left with many things - BPD and C-PTSD, to name a few - but mostly importantly, it left me only being able to feel one thing: anger.

I was angry at everything. Angry at the world for allowing me to have to live through such a horrible situation, angry at my mom for not standing up for me, angry at my abuser, even angry at myself for not ever trying to fight back or protect myself (though now I realize that was completely out of the question. I was only 8, what could I have done against a man in his 30's that was three times my size?).

That anger didn't go away after I got away from my abuser. If anything, it grew worse. I'd yell, break everything around me, say horrible things to the people I loved - I was a totally different person. I could barely recognize myself. I was an empty shell, filled with absolutely nothing else than the purest form of resentment and wrath, things that had been brewing inside of me since I was a child. I never had the choice to become anything else.

Ares understands violence. He's the god of it. He knows when it's justifiable and when it's not, when it serves a purpose and when it's out of pure malice. He helped me realize that instead of trying to fight against my anger out of the shame it made me feel, I had to embrace it - become one with it. It's a part of me, at the end of the day. I just had to figure out how to control it instead of letting it control me.

He embraced me when I was too disgusted with this ugly side of me to even look in a mirror. I was scared of myself - he wasn't. He's seen worse. I never had someone accept me and all my flaws before, god or otherwise.

That's why it's so upsetting to see the modern depictions so many people have of him. Someone so understanding and loving being defined by the worst parts of Himself, just like I used to do with myself in the past.

Ares is the god of war, war is not the god of Ares.

[bimobuddy]

Just Like (Really) Old Times

SFW Hazbin Tickle Fic

Lee!Adam, Ler!Lucifer

Sinner!Adam

Spoilers and Swearing

AdamsApple if you squint just a little

Summary: Adam moved into the Hotel and that means living with the very people he tried to Exterminate, and with the very man he's hated for so long. However when Lucifer brings back some 'old memories,' he starts to warm up to the idea of living there.

It had definitely been a shock for... everyone.

The day someone knocked at the Hotel doors, and when Charlie opened them, she was met with someone.. familiar.

There stood Adam, now with grayer skin, red eyes, leathery wings, and horns. As he opened his mouth to speak, it was revealed that he even had fangs now.

"Uh... hi..."

He had expected for the doors to be slammed in his face, for Charlie to tell him to get lost, hell, he even expected to be killed again.

But as Charlie looked up at him for a moment, she stepped aside, and opened the door wider.

"Checking in? We have room."

♡♡♡

Weeks had gone by, and everyone was tense. How couldn't they be? The crew had to live within close proximity of the man who's been leading exterminations for years to kill them. And Adam was living within close proximity of the people he's been exterminating for years.. it was awkward as shit.

And for the first time, he felt like he didn't belong somewhere. He felt as though he had invited himself into someone else's house and was overstaying his welcome- But he had nowhere else to go.

He didn't even know what to do with himself. He had become the very creature he had sworn to destroy. The very pest he had been exterminating. His beautiful golden feathers were gone, his halo was gone.. Everything about himself, to him at least, was gone.

Lucifer leaned against the wall, arms crossed, as he watched Adam from across the room. The First Man was on the couch, looking down his his clawed hands that looked so unfamiliar to him. It reminded the king of when he had first met Adam, back when the man had been created. And back before he had fallen.

-

Adam looked down at his hands in awe. He turned them over, amazed before looking down at the rest of himself. He had been alive for about a month at this point, but he couldn't get over the fact that he was alive and existing. He loved it. He loved being able to see the world around him, being able to hear birds, the wind in the leaves, even his own voice. Especially his own voice. He had spent quite a while just sitting and speaking to himself, even just making random noises, stretching his words out, making the tone go up and down. One of the angels sent to check on him told him it was called 'singing.' He liked singing.

As Adam sat there, just making random noises to himself, he hadn't noticed a familiar white serpent approach him. Not until it chuckled at the noises he was making, startling him. Lucifer transformed back into his normal form. "Sorry for scaring you. I see you've discovered singing." He mused, sitting next to him.

Adam nodded, grinning. "It's fun, I really like it. I think it sounds nice... Um- ... I'm sorry, which one are you?" Lucifer tilted his head and laughed lightly. "Lucifer. I usually stay as a snake when I enter the garden?" The man perked up. "Oh yeah! The white one! I'm Adam!"

Lucifer couldn't help but grin at the human's enthusiasm. He adored it to be honest. "Trust me, we all know who you are. How are you enjoying life so far?" "Oh, I really like it! I like learning new things about myself. So far I've learned that I like sweet things, like fruit, and soft things like those other horse things- with the.. branches.. on their heads?" "Deer?" "Yeah, deer, I like those."

The angel smiled along with Adam, just as excited as he was about his discoveries. "You wanna know what else is soft? Here, I think you'll like it." He extended one of his wings out for Adam to feel, accidentally brushing it against his side. The human jumped and covered his side, a surprised grin spreading across his face followed by a sweet sounding giggle.

Lucifer gasped and scooted closer. "You're ticklish! I didn't know we were giving that to humans! Oh this is great, you're going to have so much fun-" "What's.. What's ticklish?"

The angel grinned, excitedly. "Lift your arms a little bit, I'll show you." Adam did as he was told, lifting his arms up. Again, Lucifer extended his wings, gently brushing them against Adam's sides. The human snorted and slammed his arms down, laughing. Lucifer pulled his wings back to avoid having them stuck under Adam's arms, instead reaching out and gently digging into the sides of his tummy.

Adam shrieked and threw his head back, laughing. Not wanting to overwhelm him, Lucifer slowed to a stop, and pulled his hands back. After a moment of giggling and catching his breath, the human looked back up at the angel, sitting up and smiling.

"Can you do that again?"

-

Adam looked up at Lucifer. "The fuck are you staring at, loser?" Lucifer raised a brow. "I'm sorry, who lost?" He asked, leaning on his cane. Adam flinched a little and looked away, back down at his hands. They were clawed, darker at the hands than the rest of his arm.

The couch dipped down, causing Adam to look back up at the angel next to him. The angel he was so familiar with. The angel he had once been friends with. Lucifer smiled. "Actually I was just remembering some things.. Back when you were still alive. Like how you told me you liked sweet things. Do you still? It's been a couple years since then."

Adam snorted. "Yeah, just a couple thousand.. Yes, I do still like sweet foods." The king chuckled. "And I remembered you telling me about the 'horse things with branches on their heads.-'" "Oh fuhuck off, I didn't know what deer were."

"But one more thing I remembered," Lucifer skittered up his side, "Was when we discovered you were ticklish." Adam jolted upright, batting his hand away. "Fuhuck off- Don't-" "I specifically remembered you asking me to do it again. Do you remember that?" He asked, abandoning his cane to gently scribble up both of his sides.

Adam immediately burst into giggles, slamming his arms down. "Fuck! fuhuhuhuck you fuhuck off noho I dihidn't!" Lucifer chuckled and tweaked his sides, gently squishing the pudge between his claws, causing Adam to shriek and curl up. "Yes the fuck you did, you liar," he laughed along with him, "That wasn't the only time either, buddy. It seemed any chance you got, you were asking me to tickle you."

Adam was blushing, and blushing hard. He grabbed ahold of Lucifer's wrists, but couldn't really push him away as he was giggling so hard. The king continued, "You loved it so much you introduced Eve to it, I remember that," He gently kneaded into Adam's ribs, earning some squeals, "You're not as sneaky as you think you are, Buddy."

Lucifer raked his fingers down Adam's ribs, and gently skittered across his belly. The sinner tried to curl up and bat his hands away, letting out a snort. "Dohohont- Shuhuhut the fuHUCK uhuhup!" "Oh, don't shut the fuck up? Alrighty~!" The teasing got to Adam. He gave up fighting back and just covered his face.

"I know during our fight I said you 'let yourself go,' but you know what, I think this is better," he started to scritch at his tummy, "Now I have more tickle room." Adam's face turned an even darker shade of red at this, growing more and more flustered.

"Fuck- st- nohohoho!" "See? Even now you're still stopping yourself from saying 'stop.'" Adam started to bat at him again, grabbing for his wrists, "SHUHUT THE FUHUCK UHUHUP!"

Lucifer pulled his hands back, grinning as he watched Adam just go completely limp, his giggles mixing with his panting. "Question for you Addy," "Don't you ever fucking call me that again." "When you were an angel, were your wings ticklish?"

Adam's black and red eyes snapped open. Instinctively, his wings folded over his body, as if he were cocooning himself. "Don't you fucking dare, Lucy."

Lucifer stopped.

"You called me Lucy." Adam paused a little, too. "Yeah.." Lucifer smiled a little. "You haven't called me that since Eden." The sinner looked away momentarily. "I guess.. All this sort of just.. reminded me of the Garden," He looked back down at his claws, "Things were.. so much simpler back then."

Sensing his discomfort with his new body, Lucifer took one of Adam's hands in his own. "You don't look bad, y'know. I know it's different, scary even, but it's not bad." He turned Adam's hand over so it was resting palm-up. He softly traced it, watching as the other's claws twitched from the soft ticklish feeling. "It'll take some time, Adam, but you'll get used to it. Comfortable, even-" "That's what I'm worried about.." Adam looked down at him, being a full two feet taller. He sighed and pulled his hand back.

They sat in silence for a bit before Lucifer broke it. "You know, Charlie is thrilled that you're here." Adam scoffed, "After I destroyed the place and nearly killed you guys?"

"She's happy that you chose to be here. You made the decision to check into a Hotel meant for redemption. That means somewhere deep down, you at the very least have hope. And that's a good start."

Adam huffed. "What if it's not possible..?" The king looked up at him. "Then I guess you're stuck here with us." He offered a smile.

The sinner couldn't help but smile back. As much as he would have loathed the though even just a week ago, it didn't seem so bad now. Lucifer seemed to want to be his friend again, and Charlie was a sweet kid who truly seemed to believe in him.

Back in Heaven, he had a lot of power, sure. He was The Man. He always got what he wanted, whether it was power, bent rules, or sex. But here? He was seen as an equal, as someone who was flawed, someone who had been human. And he was surprisingly okay with that.

His soft smile, turned to a smirk. "I remember something, too." Lucifer tilted his head, curiously. Adam continued, "I remember the first time I retaliated, and found out your wings were ticklish as fuck." "Shit- you back the fuck off-" Lucifer hopped up and took off running.

Adam unfolded his wings, which seemed to be stronger than they once were, and with a powerful flap, immediately caught up to him.

Who knew the King of Hell hiccuped when he laughed?

[five-miles-over]

Tom Hiddleston Characters: How They Would Propose (To You)

(Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters or images. This is just a fun listicle, not designed to offend anyone. As always, please feel free to leave comments and/or constructive criticism below. Thank you, and without any further ado, please enjoy!)

Characters in this list: Will Ransome, King Henry V, Prince Loki Odinson, Loki of Asgard and Jotunheim, Bill Hazeldine, Coriolanus, Jonathan Pine, Robert Laing, Magnus Martinsson, Oakley, Thomas Sharpe, James Conrad, and Jaguar Villain! Tom Hiddleston.

Also, my sincerest apologies - they all turned into mini-fics.

Will Ransome from The Essex Serpent

Reverend Will would propose to you after a Sunday roast dinner, after your family invited him to your home. You were helping to clear the table with the rest of the ladies in your family when Will coughed to announce his presence. At once, everyone cleared the dining room, leaving you alone with the vicar.

"A word please?" He politely called you by name, his hands clasped in front of him. Will sat you down in one of the empty chairs. Gods how he wanted to reach out and tuck one of your stray hairs behind your ear in that very moment, one of the intimate things that he longed to do with you. Intimate things that would be proper in the eyes of God if you were his lawfully wedded wife. He did not sit down, and gently began talking to you. "For some time, I have been charmed by you. Not just your looks, that is not to say that you are not a lovely woman. You are most lovely, but I have also been charmed by your kindness, your humility, and your…virtue."

Will knelt before you, looking up with the most earnest gaze. "If you will bestow upon me the fortune of being your husband, then in return I shall do everything to keep you safe and comfortable.  I shall speak to your father, and we will be wedded in holy matrimony. You and I shall walk together upon this path of life, and I have no doubt that a virtuous woman like you will aid me in carrying out what the Lord decrees of us. My sweetest, please say that you will marry me."

Henry V from The Hollow Crown

With Henry, there was not much of a proposal to begin with. The marriage between you and the King of England was arranged by your father and his men, along with the king and his men. Still, Henry coaxed your father into having at least one private audience with you before the wedding ceremonies, so that he may properly court you as any suitor would. 

'My dearest lady," Henry began as soon as he was alone with you in his study while your father and his men stood vigil outside. "Lower thy veil, and let me behold your face." He reached forward and removed the hood of your cloak, smiling as he beheld your beauty for the first time. "Cheeks rosier than the flowers that bloom in springtime. Your lips and eyes are so enticing, they call to me like sirens. Yours is a face that I shall never tire of seeing.

I confess to you, my lady, that words are not my greatest strength. Were it so easy that I could simply strap on armor or fire an arrow into a target or vault into my saddle for a wife, I should quickly vault for a wife. Alas, tis not so. For a woman's heart is truly one of the most difficult conquests to embark upon. Nevertheless, tis a conquest that I shall duly pursue if you can deign to love me.

If you can love such a man as me, someone whose words are not their strongest suit and someone whose fidelity to you is true, then take me. Take a soldier, and in taking a soldier, you will take a king." Henry knelt before you and offered you his hand. "Sweetest of all maidens, canst thou love me?"

Prince Loki Odinson of Asgard

"I have called you to discuss a matter of great importance, my lady." Loki enunciated the formal title at the end in an attempt to conceal the butterflies in his stomach. He summoned you to the palace gardens at the house before twilight, when the sky would be decorated with streaks of orange and pink. You walked alongside him through the bushes and the groves of flowers. Loki clasped his hands behind her back, walking as if he ruled every inch of earth on which he stepped. 

He continued, "Yes, tis true that Thor, my brother, is the one whom my father has decreed to ascend the throne of Asgard," The younger prince of Asgard looked forward with a solemn expression while you listened with intrigue. "But he is incompetent." Loki turned to you. "He is idiotic and brash. You know as well as I do that he does not encompass the values of a king.

"Was he not the one who wished to invade Jotunheim alone, my prince?" You stopped in your tracks, just as the sun began setting into the horizon behind you.

"Yes, he was. It was all his idea, my lady." Loki did not bother to include his role in instigating Thor, it would not help him in this moment whatsoever. If he delayed this moment any further, he was convinced the words would be stuck in his throat, forever unable to escape. "You are one of the few people with whom I can share these thoughts, my lady." He sighed, his gaze fixated upon you and your beauty. "It is why I have called you here. In the coming future, I will need to protect Asgard from my brother's foolishness. And for that I should like to have a worthy companion by my side."

Loki conjured a shining dagger with a gold hilt out of thin air and promptly fell to one knee before you. The hilt of the dagger was engraved with the words, 'Min hærr, duonningen av mitt hjerte' (My beloved, Queen of my heart) Still on bended knee, Loki looked up at you with an expression of innocence that you never knew existed within him - wide eyes, baited breath, a meek expression. As if all his life were being wagered on a single thing right now. 

"I wish to make you my wife," Loki declared, his lips trembling. "Should you accept, I will bring my proposal to your family, and then we will be wed with due ceremony. And if you decide otherwise, then I shall…" he swallowed, "I shall respect your choice."

Loki of Asgard and Jotunheim from the Marvel Cinematic Universe

"This looks like something stolen from the Graham Norton Show." You raised an eyebrow when Loki handed you an orange and purple card.

"It's a scavenger hunt." Loki said with a twinkle in his eye. "Every clue leads you to the next one."

"I know how a scavenger hunt works, Loki." You rolled your eyes and flipped over the card. "Was this your idea, or is this some ridiculous team-bonding activity put together by Steve Rogers?"

"No. You see,…I have some errands to do, but at the same time, I have an obligatory excursion with the Lady Valkyrie."

You crossed your arms. "So why the scavenger hunt?"

Loki brightly answered. "Well, it makes the errands all the more fun!"

"Alright, but you owe me, Loki." 

"Good girl." The God of Mischief kissed you not the cheek and disappeared into thin air.

You glanced down and saw that the first card, which told you to pick up six cupcakes ordered under Loki's name. The cupcakes were from a specific café….that just so happened to be the place where you and Loki had your first date, which was set up by a far-too-enthusiastic Thor. The moment you got there, a waiter brought you a "complimentary" cupcake of your favorite flavor…along with another orange and purple card. 

The second card took you to the library, on the pretext of picking up a book that was on hold for Loki. There, the librarian handed you the book - Divine Comedy by Dante - and another book that you recognized. It was Pride and Prejudice, one of the first pieces of "Midgardian literature" that you introduced to Loki, a book that you were all too happy to fangirl over. But inside the book was - yes- another orange and purple card. 

The third card sent you to pick up Loki's dry-cleaning. (Really, Loki? Dry cleaning?) At the dry-cleaners, the person at the register handed you a transparent garment bag containing a black tuxedo with a ruffled white shirt. And then you were given a second garment bag with an emerald green gown embellished with diamonds. You couldn't help but stare a few moments at the pretty, expensive-looking gown. Before the person at the register could hand you another card, you made a mental note to ask Loki about the gown and whom it was for. You guessed it was probably for himself for the times he was feeling fabulous. Actually, Loki also liked to wear absolutely nothing when he was feeling his most fabulous…but that didn't matter right now.

The fourth card took you to the park where Loki confessed his love for you for the first time, on the pretext of picking up Loki's forgotten jacket and buying a bouquet of white flowers.

The fifth card took you across the city just to get a particular bottle of liquor that Loki had liked. Okay, now this guy was having a little too much fun with you right now. 

You were relieved when the sixth card, given to you by the liquor store clerk, led you back to the Avengers compound, to the same room where you began this entire scavenger hunt. You huffed a little, setting the box of cupcakes, the books, the two garment bags, Loki's jacket, the flowers, and liquor gently on a table. "Loki? Loki, where are you?"

Loki stood in the middle of the Avengers' common room, wearing polished gold armor over a black and green leather tunic with long, dark trousers. His hair was combed perfectly in place, and his hands clasped behind his back. He stood surrounded by a few candles and fairy lights hanging against the curtains.

"Okay, I need answers…" You sighed, already tired from running around all afternoon. "Loki, I got your things, just tell me what the gown is for and the…the liquor and the…Are you throwing a party or something?"

"I'm getting married."

"What?!" You gulped, reaching for the nearest couch. "I…what? You're getting married, why didn't you tell me? And…" You felt your head start to spin, preparing yourself for the worst. Whatever happened to all the times he said he loved you? Was he just using you to put together some kind of romantic gesture for someone else, just a tool?! Perhaps this is what you get for letting the God of Mischief into your life. Betrayal. "Well, I hope they make you happy, Loki." You relented, putting your head in your hands.

"She does." 

"Good." You murmured, trying your best not to cry in this moment. That was the last thing you wanted him to see. "Is that gown for her too?"

"Hm-hm. Of course, it'll probably end up on the floor after the engagement party, hehe."

"Loki, I am in no mood for your jokes right now." After a few moments, you looked up. 

"Come on,…have a sense of humor."

"NO!" You yelled, getting up from the couch. "No, I will not have a sense of humor right now! You used me! You used me, and lied to me. You told me to do all of these errands, like picking up dry cleaning, and buying liquor, without telling me that you were going to propose to someone else! You could have at least told me, just so I'd have some kind of closure. But no, you couldn't even think to do that. You told me it was a scavenger hunt, like I wasn't worth knowing the truth.

I...I did this because I care about you, Loki! I care about you like some kind of idiot who actually thought that you might like me the same way that I liked you. That right there, making me like you might just be the worst thing you have ever done me." You took a moment to breathe, and ran your hands through your hair. 

"Ugh…And you made me even pick up her engagement dress! What kind of person makes someone do that?!" You couldn't even think about the words you were spitting out, too busy with the hot tears clouding your vision. 

"The kind of person who knows how good it'll look when you wear it."

"What?!" You were taken aback all of a sudden. 

Loki approached you with a hint of nervousness. "Darling, you are one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I know I'm not easy to be with, that I drive you mad sometimes, and I make you put up with a lot. I...I should've practiced this more." He laughed under his breath. "Why didn't I?" Blinking, he pushed his hair back before continuing. 

"What I'm trying to say is,...my life has never been the same since I met you. You're the most steadfast ally, a wonderful friend, and best of all, you are the most passionate and loyal person I have ever known. I could never imagine my life without you, and I never want to. That's how much I love you."

The God of Mischief fell to one knee, and held up a small emerald ring with a gold band.

"Will you marry me?"

Bil Hazeldine from Suburban Shootout

"Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise, sweetheart." Bill pulled his father's car into a driveway, and took your hand. "Just close your eyes, alright?"

"Alright…" After a few steps, you could hear Bill opening a door and the sound of a shopkeeper's bell, along with the muted conversations of various patrons. The scents of vanilla and grease reached you almost immediately. 

Bill held you close and whispered that you could open your eyes now.

When you opened your eyes, you laughed a little. "We haven't been here in a while…"

"You remember it?"

"How could I ever forget?" You kissed him on the cheek, and let him find a table for you. 

Bill's proposal began with him taking you to the milkshake diner where the two of you had your first date. After a bit of small talk over a banana split, Bill not-so-discretely excused himself. While you sat at the table with your spoon and checked your phone, Bill made his way to the jukebox with his hands in his jeans' pockets, feeling the small box inside. He'd almost thought about wearing a suit for this occasion, but his mum said it would make you suspicious. And his father suggested hiding the ring inside your ice cream to be more romantic , but Bill was terrified by the idea of you accidentally choking. Yes, keeping the ring with him was a better idea.

Bill took a deep breath and slipped a coin into the jukebox, flipping through the various tracks to find one of the songs you enjoyed. When he found one, he pressed play and called your name. Bill extended his hand out, offering to dance with you. He twirled you, and the two of you swayed in time with the music, smiling all the while. At the end of the song, Bill proudly kissed you on the lips.

He gently said your name, and pushed a bit of hair out of your face. "You're the one I want to dance with to every song…There's just no one like you, no one I could ever dream of that's just as wonderful as you are." Bill reached in his pocket for the small box, and fell to one knee, not caring who might be watching you in the diner. Inside the small box was a 0.3-carat diamond ring with a silver band. "Would you make me the happiest man in the whole world, and marry me?"

Caius Martius Coriolanus from Coriolanus

Coriolanus invited your family to dine with him and his mother one night on the pretext of an important matter concerning two important families of Roman nobility. It was not the first time he'd done such a thing, inviting your family to break bread with him and his mother. He had even visited your father's home before, sharing wine with your father and your brothers from time to time. It was through those meetings that Coriolanus fell more in love with your smile, the way you bit your lip when you were thinking,…and even the way your laugh infected him like a plague. And if there was anything more deadly to him than your simple, unadulterated laughter, then it was your beauty which had him fighting the urge to smile whenever you walked into a room or whenever he heard your voice.

But despite his best efforts, it became quickly aware to everyone in your family how besotted the general was with you. The way his head unintentionally bowed whenever he was in your presence, as if you were the sun and he would go blind if he looked you straight in the eye, never went unnoticed. The fact that you were the only person who could make him laugh, and that the simple mention of your name was enough to make the powerful General and conqueror of Corioles lower his usual barking voice made your family - and anyone else in the general's presence - giggle under their breath.

So when everyone had finished the prima mensa, Coriolanus stood up and raised his cup. "I have called you here tonight, to make a proposition," he declares with the same voice that he would use to speak to the Senate. "An alliance between our families…" The general turned his gaze to you for a moment, and exhaled to calm his racing heart, which only quickened when you looked back up at him. "If you will bestow upon me this honor, I wish to make your daughter…my wife. She is virtuous, and kind,…endowed with a noble background."

He waved for two of the servants of his household to present your mother and father with gifts of imported silk and valuable coins. And for you, the general had his servant gift place a set of golden jewelry - a girdle, five bracelets, and a layered necklace with rubies - in your lap. Underneath the girdle was a small piece of parchment with the words,

"I long to see you wearing these on our wedding night, my lady. Only these."

You turned red, and looked up and the general, politely expressing your thanks. 

"Should you accept," Coriolanus gave you a nod and turned to your family. "We shall make our alliance official in the presence of the gods. Your daughter shall be my wife, and I her husband. I will defend her from harm and protect her, as I have defended Rome time and time again. Your daughter will be cared for, and all I ask for in return, is your fidelity. Pledge to me your allegiance, for I shall need your influence when the time comes for the elections in the Senate.

Instead of a dowry give me your loyalty, and I swear that your priceless gem of a daughter will want for nothing for as long as I live. Do I have your word?"

Oakley from Unrelated

"Let's get married." Oakley off-handedly said while the two of you stood outside, leaning against the wall while he smoked a cigarette. 

You raised an eyebrow. "Are you kidding?"

"No." He took another drag of his cigarette and turned to you with his ocean blue eyes and tousled, dirty blond curls. "We should get married."

"Who are you and what have you done with Oakley?" 

"What, you don't think I'm good enough to marry you?" He protested. 

Shaking your head, you laughed. "No, it's not that…"

"Well, then what is it?" Oakley crossed his arms and furrowed his brow at the sight of you laughing. "We have fun together, we make each other laugh,…we look good together, especially when naked-"

That was enough for you to playfully hit him on the shoulder, causing him to chuckle. He continued, "We like each other. We have this great relationship."

"But are you sure this is what you want?" You asked. "Don't you want to explore, try things? Do stuff before you're tied down?"

"Why would I do that? When there's this…beautiful, funny, smart, and sexy girl right there with me, I'm not even looking at anyone else." Oakley simply countered. "I like what we have, and i don't want to let it go. We can travel, explore the world, and I'll do it all with you." There was no sign of hesitation in his voice, but maybe it was just the cigarette fueling his courage. He came closer to you, and looked dead serious. "I don't want what we have to be just something we try for as long as we can, something we leave up to chance. I want forever with you."

"Forever?"

"Forever." Oakley knelt before you, his eyes going from a vivid cyan to a soft, almost pale bag blue. "I don't have a ring but…" He removed his necklace and presented it to you like an offering at an altar, calling your name. "Marry me."

Jonathan Pine from The Night Manager

Jonathan had been working with MI-6 for almost two years, embarking on various mission for them after he gained acclamation for helping to carry out Operation Limpet. He, along with officer Angela Burr, took down the infamous arms dealer Richard Roper once and for all.

Since then, Jonathan found himself a new home in London and got back in touch with you, the one who stole his heart back when he was still working as a night manager. He didn't know how much he truly missed you until you answered his letter, telling him about the twists and turns your life had taken since your last encounter with Pine. After about three weeks of exchanging handwritten letters - simply because they reminded you both of a simpler time and felt more personal - with Jonathan using a pseudonym to protect you, he invited you to visit London for a holiday. 

And those five days you spent in London were some of the best five days of Jonathan's life. He delighted in your innocence, the way you happily took his arm and strolled through the city, randomly surprising him with kisses. Arm in arm, without a care in the world except for each other, enjoying all that life would have to offer…This is how it should be, Jonathan thought to himself as he gazed at the sparkle in your eyes, the color in your cheeks. He listened as you talked about everything you liked about London, everything that disgusted you, and everything you hoped for in the future, simply taking in the opportunity to just be with you. 

After a few moments, you asked him about what he wanted in the future, and all Jonathan had to say was one word.

"You."

You looked up from your cup of tea. "Me?"

He took a breath. "Yes." Jonathan affectionately said your name, and reached for your hand. "I never grew up in a house with both parents, doting on me." He told you about how his life up until joining MI-6 was an abominable quest for order. How his time in the military and working in the hotel business was part of an aim to find a direction in his life, and how little happiness it truly brought him. How alone he felt whenever his life wasn't being threatened. 

Jonathan sighed, not used to telling so much about himself in a single conversation, laying his heart out on the table to be cut into and devoured. "I promised myself that I would find the one person that I could care deeply for, and love them. I promised myself that I would make friends, find a home…a place to belong. Maybe someday become a parent."

You looked upon him lovingly. "That's beautiful, Jonathan."

He raised your hand to his lips and kissed it. "I want all of those things, and I want them with you." Jonathan declared, quiet enough for the two of you to hear. "These past days with you have been…incredible. When I look at you, I see everything that I have wanted, the life that I want to be living five years from now, ten years from now." 

He continued, "You make me believe in a future that's worth building. The way you smile…, the way you look upon me and everyone with stars in your eyes…I want to be the one who keeps that smile on your face, the one who makes you laugh. I want to be the one who kisses you good night, and the first one you see in the morning. I want to be the one you come home to every evening, the shoulder you lean on." 

Jonathan stroked the back of your hand with his calloused thumb. "I know it's soon, but if there is anything that I've learned, it's that when you see something worth keeping in your life, you do everything you can not to let her go. You just do it." He looked into your eyes. "Marry me?"

James Conrad from Kong: Skull Island

It was the third time this week James had a nightmare. After thrashing and groaning, fighting an invisible beast, James found it in himself to call you - his neighbor whom he'd been dating for two years - on the telephone. His forehead and his chest were dripping with sweat, his expression one of agony, when you approached his bed. It was obvious that he had been in a lot of pain. 

James wasn't the type of person who wanted to expound upon the terrors he was feeling; he was a man of action who preferred expressing his emotions nonverbally. So, you respected that and simply talked about mundane things, things about civilian life that would temporarily distract James. As you both fell asleep, you made a mental note to remind James setting another appointment with his therapist, the one MONARCH had prescribed for him.

You woke up to an empty bed. It wasn't unusual for James to go out on an early morning walk to be alone with his thoughts. It was one of the things he'd learned from his therapist when he asked about how to be a better sweetheart to you while recovering from his trauma. You washed your face and brushed your teeth with a heavy heart, hoping it wouldn't be too long before you saw James again. 

While you styled your hair, you heard the door unlock. James walked inside, carrying a bag of breakfast pastries. "Good morning." He greeted you in a low, casual voice. 

"Good morning…" You would've asked if he slept well, but given the events of last night, that question made no sense. "I'm sorry I stayed over."

"No need to apologize." James set the pastries down and placed a kettle on the stove. While the water rose to a boil, James unwrapped the two chocolate croissants he bought, and glanced up to find you standing in the kitchen. You walked up to him slowly, and without missing a beat, James gently kissed you with an arm gently holding your waist. He murmured your name again, his breath warm against your lips. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." 

James gave you a chaste kiss on your forehead before going into his bedroom. "I brought breakfast for us both. Should I make us some eggs?"

"No need…" You watched James open one of his drawers. "Before I forget, do you want to make an appointment with your therapist?"

"Uh, I will." James returned to the kitchen with a small box in his right hand. "Thanks for reminding me."

"What is that?"

James took a deep breath. "Just something to thank you for last night,…and for everything you've done."

"James, you really didn't have to-"

"No. I've been wanting to do this for a year, it's time." 

Your breath caught in your throat as James opened the box to reveal a small, simple sapphire ring. He began, "I should've done this sooner, and I'm a fool for not doing so." James fell to one knee, and you gasped. "Darling,…Over the years I've known you, you have helped me…become a man again. You've remained by my side as I've made attempts to return to civilian life. You've comforted me during my worst hours, and you have given me something worth living for."

"James…"

"You're someone worth fighting for." He laughs a little. "I love you. And if you let me, I will spend the rest of my life making you feel loved and caring for you in the ways that you have cared for me.

Darling, will you marry me?"

Magnus Martinsson from Wallander

"Marry me." Magnus groaned with relief when you brought him a plate of eggs, some coffee, and an aspirin. He was laying on your couch, hungover after a night out with you and some of his mates from the police station.

You simply rolled your eyes and laughed a little. "Eat your eggs, you'll feel better with some food inside you."

Magnus kept his eyes on you while you both drank coffee, his headache slowly diminishing. "That a yes?"

"No, Magnus." You flatly said. "You had a lot to drink last night. Just…eat your eggs and finish your coffee. I'm not saying yes to a guy that passed out on my couch after throwing up into the bushes outside."

He grimaced. "I did that?…Sorry." Magnus looked down and shoveled a forkful of eggs into his mouth. "Whatever, it was just a question, not like I meant it or anything." He pretended to brush off the matter. "You doing anything else today?"

"Tidying the house. You?"

Magnus closed his eyes for a moment to taste the savory flavor of the eggs. "i have a few things to do at the station for Kurt. Won't take long."

You and Magnus finished breakfast in silence before Magnus thanked you for letting him crash on your couch. "I'll see you soon." He said, giving you a kiss on the cheek.

You almost found it funny, the way he groaned for you to marry him, and chuckled to yourself. For all of his sarcastic quips and his cold exterior, there were times Magnus was an unintentional sweetheart. You'd known him for about seven months, how endearing he was whenever he tried to show off at darts or pool. You thought about the time he brought you soup every night when you had a flu that lasted for a week. And during that one time he showed up late to one of your date nights because of a case, he spent the rest of the evening simply snuggling with you until you fell asleep in each others' arms. It was one of the first times you'd ever seen him smiling so blissfully like a newborn baby.

About a few hours later, you could hear it rain outside, a bolt of thunder rumbling across the sky. While caught up in some trashy television, you heard a knock on the door. 

There was Magnus, standing outside drenched from head to toe. 

"Magnus, what are you-"

"I meant it." He confessed while the raindrops rolled down the sides of his face. "Marry me." He repeated when you asked him what he was talking about. Magnus reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small gold ring with three tiny diamonds. "You're the most perfect person in this entire world. And it's not just because you make the best eggs." He said, making you laugh. "You're stunning, even when you've just woken up. You put up with a lot, and…I can't really say what it is you do to me, but I can't help it. I…I…"

"I love you too, you crazy detective!" You finished.

"So, is that a yes?" Magnus asked again, with a big grin on his face as he presented the ring to you. 

Robert Laing from High-Rise

"We need to talk." Robert broke the silence while the two of you shared a candlelit dinner in your flat. 

All traces of a smile disappeared from your face instantly. Usually nothing good ever followed those four words. 

You put your fork down. "What did you want to talk about?"

Robert looked you in the eye. "I moved to this high-rise to be alone, to be away from people. This…a relationship was the last thing that I wanted." He blinked, looking down at his plate for a moment. Then, he wiped his mouth with a napkin. 

You tensed in your seat, preparing for the worst. God, Robert. If he was trying to break up with you, then he just picked the worst time possible. 

The doctor stood up. "I thought I wasn't built for love…So I tried to be alone as much as I could, avoiding every chance to be attached to someone." He swallowed. "And then you came."

You let out a sigh, assuming that Robert was going to say something awful about your relationship. 

"It was like I couldn't even recognize myself anymore. What you did to me…" Robert called your name and walked over to you. "I cannot go a day without hearing your quippy words…, without seeing you when I come home,…without kissing you. It's more than anything I have felt in years." He confessed, his fingers tracing the back of your chair. "If you were to disappear from my life, it would feel like losing everything I've ever known. And…truthfully, the idea of that terrifies me. Maybe I could live without you,…but I don't know if I would be able to call it living.

"So what are you trying to say?" You murmured.

Robert sighed. "Forgive me, I'm not used to having these conversations."

"It's okay."

"You did it again." The doctor remarked. "You're making me fall in love with you, sweetheart." Robert went to the coat closet where he kept his blazer, and pulled a small box from one of the pockets. He returned to your side. "What I'm trying to say is,…that I'm in love with you. I'm in love not only with you, but with the way that you make me…feel things. The way that you remind me that there's a future ahead of us both. A future that can be much more than just dreary parties and squabbles between the upper floors and lower floors. You make me very happy, darling, and I think that you should know that." 

Robert took a deep breath and fell to one knee, next to your chair with the box opened to reveal a silver ring with a diamond heart. "Would you marry me, and make me an even happier man?"

Thomas Sharpe from Crimson Peak

You were sitting on the swing set in the garden of your family estate, enjoying the mid-morning sun and the gentle breeze. Idly moving your legs back and forth, you played with a small cluster of Baby's Breath in your lap. It was nice to be away from the bustling drama and the incessant gossip, and instead be surrounded by fresh air. 

"My lady." You were awoken from your reverie by a smooth, vaguely familiar baritone that belonged to none other than Thomas Sharpe. He was a guest who'd been staying at an inn near your family's home, having joined your family for supper at least ten times in the past two weeks. In your eyes, he seemed mysterious and yet full of stories to tell, always having an anecdote about a place he'd visited or a trick to show you and your siblings. There was something about him that made you drawn to him as soon as he walked into a room, you were unable to articulate what it was. 

"Good morning. What brings you here, Baronet?" 

The baronet gave you a smile, and leaned against a tree, watching you enjoy yourself on the swings. "I was speaking to your father and his, erm, associates about a business venture."

"About clay, right? Mining it?"

Thomas nodded. "Precisely, my lady. And you, have you been enjoying your morning?"

You blushed as he took a step closer. "Yes, Baronet."

"No need for such formal titles now, my lady. We're not at a ball, nor are we at supper. ''Thomas' will do." He gently said. "May I share your company for a while, my lady, if it would not be much of a bother for you?"

You allowed him, giving the Baby's Breath to him as a token of affection. No, not a token of affection. Simply a nice gesture that would hopefully give you a place in Thomas's good books. Maybe he might even ask you for a dance at the next ball.

"Will you be attending the ball this Saturday, Bar- I mean, Thomas?"

He nodded, taking a moment to smell the flowers. "You?"

"I will." 

"And have you chosen a gown, my lady?" Thomas decided to humor you a little. He smiled while you sheepishly described the dress that you had your eye on for that special occasion. "Well, I'm sure you will look divine wearing it, my lady. Do you often spend time here in the gardens, all by yourself."

"Yes. I enjoy the flowers, and the breeze. It's beautiful when the weather is pleasant."

"I can imagine, my lady. It's been a long time since I have relaxed in a garden." Thomas places the Baby's breath in his front pocket. "My lady, there is something I wish to know of you."

You stopped swinging, and asked him what it was.

"I would like to know if you would be interested in marrying me." Thomas knelt by your side, looking up at you with eyes that bore the same hue as a cloudless sky. "For some time, my lady, I have admired your numerous charms from afar. And with each passing day, my affections for you have grown stronger. I find myself thinking about you at the most unpropitious times of day." He sighs, "While I may not be a man of great fame or great brawn or of great wealth, I am a man of dignity." Thomas promised you, despite knowing it was a blatant lie. "I will make sure that you lack nothing as my wife. And to treat you with nothing but the compassion and the love that you deserve. All I ask in return, is that you try to find it in your heart to give me even an iota of your affections.

Would you be willing to do that, my lady?"

Jaguar Villain!Tom Hiddleston

Ever since you moved into the flat Mr. Hiddleston bought for you, the most powerful man in London always had a designated town car sent to pick you up from work or school every day. His favorite chauffeur would show up at the same time every weekday, give you a friendly greeting, and drop you off at your flat. And once you got there, you'd be greeted by a doorman that Mr. Hiddleston personally hired to make sure that you reached safely.

Today, however, the chauffeur did not drop you off at your flat. At least, not right away. "Monsieur Hiddleston had something different in mind for today," he said with a small grin, like he knew something was going on. The chauffeur dropped you off at the nail salon for a manicure paid for by your powerful beau. 

After being pampered by the nail technician for about forty-five minutes, you returned to the town car to find a bag in the backseat with the word 'Harrods' on it. "You went shopping?" You asked the chauffeur while he drove you to your flat.

"Non, it was all Monsieur Hiddleston. He was keeping this dress on hold, and asked me to pick it up for you. He would like you to wear it tonight."

You thanked the chauffeur with a smile. Inside the bag was a beautiful Carolina Herrera gown in your favorite color. And right on cue, your phone buzzed with a text from your beau, asking if you liked his gift. As always, you texted back saying that it was perfect. 

The chauffeur dropped you off at your flat, and asked you to be ready by seven-thirty…but not before taking a good look at your manicured nails and saying an early 'congratulations'.

"Gordon owes me a favor," Mr. Hiddleston bragged a little when he arrived in front of your building at seven-thirty sharp. He opened the door of his favorite black Jaguar, and helped you inside the front passenger seat. "You look stunning tonight, darling."

"You look amazing too," you couldn't help but say. It was the truth after all. "When you said Gordon, did you mean…?"

"We're going to the River Restaurant in the Savoy Hotel, darling." He kept one hand on the steering wheel, placing the other one on your knee. "Hungry?"

"Nervous," you sheepishly said.

"I'm here, nothing can harm you." He turned his eyes to the road. "Your fears are far behind you."

The moment you arrived, the host of the restaurant immediately led you both to one of the outdoor terraces, where there was a table for two set up. Mr. Hiddleston pulled the chair for you before sitting down, and a waiter poured both of you some Dom Pérignon. 

"This is beautiful." You gushed, watching the most powerful man in London raise an invisible toast. You clinked your glass against his. 

 He replied with a dramatic flair.  "Nothing compared to you."

"So…what did you to get this favor?" You leaned in and asked him while the waiter placed a charcuterie board for the two of you to share. "This is a seafood place, charcuterie isn't on the menu."

A twinkle in his cerulean eyes, Mr, Hiddleston fed you a piece of cheese. "That's confidential, darling. Just enjoy the night."

"I will."

The two of you made small talk about your day, and about Mr. Hiddleston's upcoming business trip to Paris. You would be going with him of course, Mr. Hiddleston would make sure of that. The waiter refilled your champagne, and your beau discretely gave him a twenty-pound note, whispering that it was time for the main course.

The waiter took about fifteen minutes to bring your elegantly-arranged entrees out onto the terrace. And as he came out, you could hear an orchestra from inside the hotel begin to play "All I Ask of You" from Phantom of the Opera.

"Enjoying yourself?" Mr. Hiddleston leaned forward with a smirk as he noticed you listening to the music.

You admitted this was one of the songs you enjoyed, and said it reminded you of the first time you'd ever heard of the musical. How much you wanted to be Christine in that moment, serenaded with the promise of a life with no more darkness.

"Well there's one more thing I have for you tonight, darling." With a smirk, Mr. Hiddleston reached into the pocket of his blazer, retrieving a small box labeled 'Harry Winston'. He slowly got out of his chair and made his way towards you. 

You gasped, covering your mouth almost immediately. You swore you could feel your heart stop just for a moment when his eyes met yours. It all made sense now: the manicure, the accidental 'congratulations', the gown,…

 "Oh my god…"

Mr. Hiddleston fell to one knee and opened the box, which contained a 1-carat diamond ring with a platinum band. "Love me. It's all I ask of you."

Tag list: @thatdummy-girl @icytrickster17  @mischievoushiddleston,@lokischambermaid , @lady-rose-moon , @lokisgoodgirl  , @lokisninerealms  @jennyggggrrr  ,, @tom-hiddleston-imagines  , @lokiismineforever  @smolvenger  @winterfrostlovetriangle  , @the-haven-of-fiction  , @turniptitaness   @cakesandtom  ,@sallymagnoliaposts  @leahs-reading-nook  @holdmytesseract  @muddyorbsblr @evelyn-kingsley @anukulee @acidcasualties @lotsoflokilove23 @caffiend-queen

[bananaactivity]

Okay so this Morgie/Hook pic is draining me 🙏😔

I’m not even CLOSE to being done. I think I’m gonna take a break from this bad boy and work on a comic inspired by my small conversation with @kori-xo it make take a bit cause I can never stop editing comics 🥺

I willlll get into my version of Morgie and Hook 😻

This is Killian James Hook he is a rich kid who ran from home and eventually became the first lost boy. He ran away from home for 5 months ADT (Auradon time) but for him it was Five years NVRLT(Neverland time) He actually does miss his parents but he’s made friends with Peter Pan, the newest lost boy; Pete is an abandoned kid so he doesn’t understand why Hook missed his rich kid Lifestyle.

Eventually Hook returns home promising he’ll be back and never leave again, but he stays for two months, and his parents trick him into to believing he got a full ride to the Prep school he always wanted to ( they actually paid for it but Hook is stupid during his young teen times) He returns to Neverland to explain, but Pete is not understanding at all. He’s gotten new kids to join him and he cuts off Hooks right hand, feeds it to a croc and forbids him from ever returning to Neverland as he’s a “betrayer”.

Hook couldn’t beat him because he had no training in swords or fighting, Hook is so absolutely pissed off he decides to peruse a degree in Piracy and Swordsmanship and his desire for revenge becomes more blood thirsty as he grows older. He is 19 when he meets the OGVs (original villains) and they attend the same uni. Consider this a more aged up Merlin’s Academy setting.

He loves Morgie and Maleficent, he respects Uliana a lot, and he and Hades have a very “charged” rivalry if you get what I mean… everyone says the vibes are strong when they argue but if you ask them they say just hate each other soooo much. Speed running some things Hook goes for 12 months (12 years on NVRLT) to kill Peter Pan but he accidentally has Harry with some rando, I can’t think of who I just know it was an accident because Hook had “needs” and you know how that goes…and has to bring him home so he’ll actually grow beyond a actual infant. Maleficent threatens to curse Harry if she isn’t invited to ALL his birthdays with her and Hades new baby Malll💖

Morgie la Fay is the child of Morgana, the sibling of King Arther of Camelot fame. Morgana was not born with her expansive list of powers and witch craft and inflicted her body with dark primordial magic. This causes her to become unable to bear her own children, so using her blood she does some dark magic and creates Morgie after many months of bloody sacrifices and chantings. Morgie was born a horrific, lanky, fanged, pure black beast, with yellow eyes of a serpent and a long tail. He crawled on all fours and instead of baby gabble, he made guttural crows and coed often.

I’m sure you guys would find him cute, I just haven’t finalized a design yet… Arther and Merlin also had children… Archie and Marvin respectively. Morgana wanted Morgie to be close to his cousin so she presented as reformed. Arther actually accepted 💀 and eventually Morgie came into his own developing the red haired form you see above at around five years old. Marvin doesn’t like Morgie but of course Archie loves his cuz and thinks he’s the coolest primordial beast witch thing ever.

Eventually they all attend Merlin’s school and Morgie meets Hook, instantly adores him of course… Morgie chooses black smithing as his masters and he forges with gold enchanted with dark soul energy. He actually crafts, as a graduation present, a new golden hook, sword, and pocket watch for Hook.

He has a whole host of dark and ancient abilities but he still really dum so he doesn’t think quick enough. I’m having Marvin trap Morgies mom in an infinite loop of death and revivals . Which makes Morgie want to take over Camelot so he can free her. So for a 10 period after Harry turns 4 Morgie goes off to Camelot to terrorize it. He only returns after Jay and Carlos , who were looking at territory options for Mal, disturbed the small cave he was resting in. He chased them across the sea to the shores of the isle ( in his eldritch form) where Hook resides with his son. Before stoping once he recognizes Harry and reunites with Hook.

[tiny-librarian]

When most people think of the Death of Cleopatra, they think of  something like the above pictures. Cleopatra lying on a couch, or standing there clutching a snake to her exposed breast. Or, as in some of the above cases, with the fabled serpent biting directly on to her nipple. She is almost always nude or nearly so, practically inviting everyone to gaze on her body as she lies there in her death throes. She is frequently delicately pulling her gown down to give the viewer a perfect view of her breasts. Often her equally unclothed handmaidens are falling over her in their own death throes, or gesturing dramatically to better showcase their nudity. There are also usually several other people portrayed there as well, staring down at the nude, or nearly so, Queen’s corpse.

It has been, and will likely continue to be, a popular theme in art to depict her that way. It used to be a titillating thing, an excuse to paint a beautiful nude/semi nude woman. She’s been immortalized as such in sculpture, paintings, wax figures, and everything in between.

This image of her though, is a myth. Pure and simple.

Stacy Schiff, the author of “Cleopatra: A Life” describes her death like so:

Cleopatra lay on a golden couch, probably an Egyptian-style bed with lion paws for legs and lion heads at its corners. Majestically and meticulously arrayed in “her most beautiful apparel,” she gripped in her hands the crook and flail. She was perfectly composed and completely dead, Iras very nearly so at her feet. Lurching and heavy-headed, almost unable to stand, Charmion was clumsily attempting to make right the diadem around Cleopatra’s forehead. Angrily one of Octavian’s men exploded: “A fine deed this, Charmion!” She had just the energy to offer a parting shot. With a tartness that would have made her mistress proud, she managed, ”It is indeed most fine, and befitting the descendant of so many kings,” before collapsing in a heap, at her queen’s side. Charmion’s was an epitaph no one could dispute. (Nor could it be improved upon. Shakespeare used it verbatim.)

Cleopatra went to her death as she’d lived her entire adult life, as the Queen of Egypt. She had her royal robes and ornaments on, and was thus fully dressed. She knew full well Octavian and his men were going to burst in on her, were going to find her and her ladies there dead. There is no chance she was going to be lying there undressed when a room-full of strange men were going to be looking at her. Cleopatra made sure she went first, so that her ladies could arrange her so nothing inappropriate would be seen. As far as we know, the only ones there at the time of her death were her and her two handmaidens, as they had barricaded themselves inside her mausoleum.

It’s likely all the nudity also stems from propaganda spread by Octavian both during her life and after her death, painting her as a whore and a seductress. Of course she would be naked she was the decadent Eastern Queen who seduced men with her witchcraft! It’s just one of the many, and increasingly ridiculous, misconceptions that’s been spread about her since her death and one that people should realize was certainly not true. The snake is now widely regarded by most scholars as a myth as well, since it’s far more likely she took some kind of poison to end her life instead.

[justaaveragereader]

10.12 || Basilisk Yeosang

Pairing: Yeosang x Reader

Word Count: 1.1K

Warnings: Dom!Yeo, Clit Play, Mentions Of Marking, Sub!Reader, Auralism, BlindFolded, Lotsssss Of Dirty Talk, Fingering, Orgasm Control, If I’m Missing Something..🫣Let Me Know!

Kinktober Masterlist

“Just listen to me closely, my dear.” His deep voice bounced off of every wall in the cool stone room, you could hear the movement of his long body amongst the tiles to the floor. Here you were, blindfolded, legs cocked open with your hand rubbing slow circles around your clit. Biting your lip you let out a small whimper. You loved to play this game with Yeosang, his deep voice was the first thing you noticed about him. Wandering into the forbidden cave upon a dare, you heard the stories about a man whose beauty was unlike any other, it was said that he was the serpent king, and one look into his eyes, instantaneous death. Wanting to see if these rumors were true you decided to wander the cave of these tales. You found Yeosang, the serpent king, while he was godly he was nothing that they ever spoke about. He was like, caring, he had a voice so deep and inviting, with each breath he took you could tell his words came from his chest.

You came back to the cave, over, and over, growing on the cold snake skinned man, when he stepped slightly out the cave the iridescent scales shined. He had warned you the first time you stumbled across him that if you made eye contact with him you’d die instantly, opting to keep you safe he made you a blindfold. Not wanting to even take the risk of his dreadful curse taking you away from him. As you spent more time blindfolded, your sense of hearing improved, picking up on each syllable he spoke, his small lisp, the true deep tone of his voice, how with every word that made a ‘S’ sound his snake tongue dragged out the letter, he made you feel things with his voice that no one could achieve with their hands.

“Continue touching yourself for me.” He groaned out, voice thick with want and need. Yet he didn’t dare to move, he had so much self control some days it irked you to no end. Your fingers lightly played with your clit, wanting him to fill your cunt. You knew no matter how much you touched yourself it would never amount to how Yeosang made you feel.

“Fuck…you are absolutely gorgeous. You should see how good you look right now. All spread out for me. Fuck…you are going to look so fucking amazing cumming on me.” His deep voice made your head fill with butterflies, his voice so strong it could make you cum alone.

“Yeo please…” you whimpered out, wanting to hear more of his deep voice in your ears. You hear his body shift slightly, a sudden cool breeze brushes against your body. You feel his cool scaled skin brush against your back. His cool hands come up to grip your knees, spreading you more open.

“Want to know what I’m going to do to you?” His deep breath whispered in your ear, his long, forked tongue flickering out against your ear. Your body shivers, you nod your head, wanting him to proceed.

“I’m going to lay you on your stomach, and arch your back. Then I’m going to slide right into your pussy.”

Your hand pauses on your clit, Yeosang grabs your hand, pushing it right against your hole, making you insert your pointer and middle finger, he pushes your own fingers slowly into yourself, letting out a small gasp, you place your feet upright on the stone floor.

“I’m going to wait before I move. I want you to feel how hard my cock is, I want you to feel every vein pulse around your warm wet walls. Then I’m going to start moving slowly in and out of you, making sure to brush that spot that makes you see stars. Just thinking about it is making my dick hard, fuck, I love the way you feel when I slide into you for the first time, I want that feeling over and over again.” His cool breath constantly hits your jawline as he speaks, and leaves small kisses along your neck. The gruff in his tone added onto the deep meaning being each word.

“Just because I love to see your pretty ass arched, I’m going to go hard in your pussy. You know I love when it makes those wet noises for me.” He moves your fingers in and out of you faster, matching the pace you assume he’s going to use on you. His vocals are so captivating, it could draw anyone in like a moth to the flame, with your sight taken away it enhanced every single feeling.

“Then I’m going to leave bite marks all over your neck, while I’m thrusting in and out of you. I wanna mark your pretty skin for everyone to see. I know how much you love my teeth on your skin, I want everyone to know I’m the one fucking you.” With each word his chest vibrates, the timber tone floods your brain. Your fingers continue to pump in and out of you, soaking down to your wrist, along with wetting Yeosangs hand as well, guiding you in and out of your own cunt like he was the puppet master, and you were just his cock hungry puppet. Your vision being taken away made things so much better, you heard the deep breath with every word he spoke, you heard the way your arousal squelched with each finger thrust, you heard how his breath would quicken when your fingers pulled out before diving back in. You once yearned to see this man, yet the feeling of being blind to what would happen fueled more desires in you then you could imagine. He tugs slightly on the back of the blindfold, your head laying flat against his cool, sculpted chest.

“I’m going to take you anyway I want, because I know you love when I’m in control.” His thumb presses against your clit, with the movements of your own fingers pumping into you, and the pressure on your clit, mixed with his deep voice in your ear, your brain can only focus on the feeling of your pussy and his deep voice bringing you over the edge. Just as you are on the brink of seeing the light behind the blind fold he grabs your wrist stopping you from your movements. His thumb is still rubbing slow circles around your clit. Not only did you love his voice, you also desired the grunts he let out after each sentence he spoke to you.

“Then while I’m fucking you, I’m going to have you ask for permission to cum.” His heavy voice whispers into your ear, dragging out the letter S in permission. Grabbing the blind fold once again, turning your head to the side, you know his eyes are directly on yours, yet the blind fold halts any mishaps that could happen with his eye contact.

“As much as you love my voice, I love yours, I love yours so much I want to hear you beg for it.”

Taglist: @abby-grace @petsuccube @maximofftrash @tunaasan @seonghwasslytherin @pearltinyy @bubblegumbird @araknoid @mingtina @oreoqueen @dani-is-tired @8tinytings @sunwoosbaby @acetruepunk @alliecoady98 @s-unflowxr @rxnexxi @mixling-blog @staytinyinmybpack @starryskiesthings @horanghaezone @realviviboss @mikaelless @scuzmunkie

GIF and Divider @justaaveragereader

DO NOT DO REPOST.

[redtsundere-writes]

Jinx | Sukuna Ryomen

Epilogue.

Beginning. ← Previous |

Sypnosis: Sukuna is a world champion with anger issues. It's believed by many that he is untrainable. Yeah, you can't train him, but you can dominate him. Contents: Fighting. Female reader being dom. Jinx AU (the BL, not the character from lol) Yuuji, Choso and Sukuna are brothers. Some characters are out of character. Warnings: Cursed words, I only read it once. Word Count: 4855 words. Author's Note: Finally! After almost three weeks and several mental breakdowns. Here it is! Is not a masterpiece, but it is what is it. Thank you so much for supporting Jinx! I hope you guys enjoyed the ride as much as I did!

“We are here,” I said to Ui Ui excitedly as we both looked at the giant sign that read "Team Black. MMA Gym."

A smile formed on my face as I returned to my former abode. Memories fluttered around me like nostalgic butterflies. All the moments that I shared with the king of the ring until I actually met the real Sukuna Ryomen. I took Ui Ui's hand to follow me to the access elevator. Mei Mei followed us with her phone glued to her hands. Nobara looked like me when I first entered the place, excited but nervous. Geto, on the other hand, looked indifferent to the situation.

I could feel my heart pounding in my chest with every floor we reached. Since returning from Las Vegas, Sukuna and I had not seen each other. I was too busy training, meanwhile Sukuna started his physical therapy to treat his injured shoulder. Unlike when I was with that idiot Choso, we talked every day on the phone and were always in touch. So much so that Geto constantly nagged me for using the phone too much.

The elevator doors opened, welcoming us to the most luxurious gym in Tokyo. The gym looked the same as I remembered it, but I felt completely different. I still remembered when I first walked in. I was alone with my pink bag, booty shorts and an oversized hoodie. Now, I had my pink bag, short shorts and my gorgeous outfit. Unlike the baggy sweatshirt I used to wear all the time, I was now wearing the official Medusa Serpent jacket. A green windbreaker with scales print with a snake modeling the back.

The further we went into the place, the more I looked for Sukuna among the sea of familiar faces. All the gym members were gathered around the ring to admire the exhibition training fights that would be held today. Nobara and I had been invited along with other well-known fighters to participate in a mixed training with friendly sparring, striking practice and more. Gojo finally replied to the thousands of emails I sent him at the time.

“There he is, the king of the ring!” Ui Ui exclaimed when he saw Sukuna in front of the office, chatting pleasantly with Toji.

Now that I didn't feel guilty for taking a good look at him… God, this man is going to kill me with how attractive he is. His hair was a little longer, so now some hair was falling sensually over his forehead. He traded in his compression shirt for a loose-fitting white sleeveless shirt that he could easily take off and put on. He was wearing shorts that allowed me to see the curve of his thighs. For a guy who had completely given up the gym rat lifestyle and was wearing a sling, he still looked divine. Something few can achieve. I didn't want to go near him anymore because I was so nervous just looking at him.

He noticed my presence in his domain. I could no longer back down. He smiled at me, flashing me his adorable pearly smile perfect for ads. I felt a crush shoot through my heart all at once. He had never smiled at me like that before. It was intentional and warm. He wanted to make it very clear to me that he was happy I had come. I waved shyly at him from my place. Nobara looked at me disappointed in my behavior, I looked pathetic.

“Go say hello to your boyfriend," she whispered to me before pulling me towards him.

Ui Ui and I yelped at the same time. As I kept holding his hand, I ended up pulling him with me. We awkwardly approached the two intimidating former UFC champions. For being retired, they still had that dangerous aura surrounding them.

“The king of the ring and Toji Fushiguro! I'm a super fan!” UiUi exclaimed excitedly.

“How are you, little guy?” Toji greeted the boy, standing at his height. “Do you want a picture, kid?” He asked with a smile. Ui Ui obviously accepted with excitement and called his big sister to take the picture.

“One of your students?” Sukuna asked me while hugging my waist with his healthy arm.

“Yes, he is the best in his class.,”I answered with a smile.

“Is he your favorite?” He asked me, arching his eyebrow.

“Don't be silly,” I joked. “Everyone knows you're still my favorite student.”

He pulled me closer to his body to kiss my cheek tenderly, his nose brushed against my ear causing a shiver to run down my back. He was so close to me that I felt like I could fade away at any moment, but I had to remain calm first and foremost. After all, I had a heavy day of training ahead of me. I could already feel my cheeks flushing.

“Yuck! Get a room," Yuuji jokingly complained as he approached us alongside Megumi.

Since Sukuna retired from the UFC due to medical complications, he took Yuuji's position as his coach so that he would now be the new face of Team Black. Yuuji was very excited because in a month he will have his first official fight… against Megumi. Weighing about the same, they would both be fighting in the same division. I was glad that both of their first fights in front of thousands of spectators would be against someone they trusted. Maybe too much trust, since they were holding hands.

“Shut up, Yuuji. You think I haven't seen you taking nudes in the locker room?” Sukuna scolded him before hitting him on the head.

“I was just joking!” Yuuji complained while Megumi was redder than a tomato. I think I know who the pictures were for.

“It's good to see you. Congratulations on your new relationship.” I greeted them both with a hug.

Sukuna had told me in great detail how they had become a couple. They went to Yuta's championship celebration party. They both had too many drinks, danced the night away and had a great time. When they returned home, Megumi took advantage of the super honesty that alcohol gives you to confess to Yuuji how he had felt the last few months with him and that he loved him more than anyone else in the world. A feeling that was reciprocated. Sukuna told me everything as if he was telling me the plot of a romance novel. At that moment I realized why Yuuji was such a gossip, because he had an older brother who was the same or worse than him.

“You should come here more often. I need you to get him off my back once in a while,” Yuuji whispered to me with a chuckle.

“If he was already horrible as an athlete, now imagine him as a coach," Megumi whispered to me seriously.

“And just for that, 50 push-ups. Now!” Sukuna ordered, annoyed. They both sighed in annoyance and dropped to the floor. I laughed at them as I watched them serve their punishment. “What are you laughing at? You too.” Sukuna ordered me.

“What?! Why?!” I protested.

“Because I'm in charge. To the floor.” He ordered me with a devilish smirk. He was taking revenge for all the exercises I had forced him to do when I used to be his trainer. I sighed in annoyance, but I dropped next to Megumi to fulfill my undeserved punishment.

“Don't be like that with my athlete.” Geto approached Sukuna to greet him. “Can't you see she was excited to see you?” He joked.

“I do it for her sake,” he said seriously.

Yuuji had improved a lot since the last time I saw him. No longer training passively to keep up with his older brother, he was now training as if he was the king of the ring. He was focused, hitting the pads Nobara presented to him without much thought. His feet were constantly moving towards her, but she wasn't backing down easily. She wasn't about to let some random guy make her look bad in front of her team. Nobara always had that fierce spark that made her feel stronger. The crowd around us watched the training with keen interest, while Gojo and Geto supervised their athletes.

“You have trained her well," Gojo said to me, impressed.

“What can I say? I am an excellent teacher,” I joked to which we both laughed.

Then it was my turn to step into the ring with Megumi. Toji asked me to fight against him to give him a taste of fighting a world-class champion, to which I immediately agreed. It had been a long time since I had seen Megumi fight, so I was very interested to see his progress. I adjusted my bra and shorts to be as comfortable as possible for the fight. Despite being surrounded by people, I could feel Sukuna's gaze on my back.

“Be gentle with the boy,” Sukuna joked from outside the ring.

“Don't worry, I'll leave him in one piece," I continued the joke before putting on my dental protector.

Gojo announced the start of the fight and I patiently approached my opponent to clash gloves. After all, this was a friendly fight so I didn't have to humiliate him right away. Megumi tried to hit me with a couple of punches, but I dodged them by moving my torso and digging my feet in to avoid backing up. I tried to hit him in the same way, but he also dodged me nimbly. Some of his quick punches connected with my shoulder and arms. He had improved his technique a lot. His eyes were analyzing me completely to try to deduce my next move. He was beginning to look like his father. Megumi swung his arm to the left to hit me, but he made the mistake of opening wide. He still had a lot to learn. I ducked to avoid the blow and propelled myself to submit him against the ground by the chest. When we fell to the canvas, a howl of excitement emanated from the other fighters.

I could hear Megumi moaning as he tried to escape from my strong grip. As this was a training session, his father was just watching us with his arms crossed from the side of the ring as if he was just another spectator. I pushed Megumi by putting all my weight on him with the help of my legs to anchor him to the ground. I gave him just enough room to roll over, giving him the false sense that he could escape if he broke free for a second. He tried to escape under my arm, covering his head with his elbow so I wouldn't hit him in that moment of vulnerability. Once he was in the perfect position, I clamped him in a necklock while my legs choked him through the stomach.

Gojo was watching us closely to see the moment Megumi decided to let go. I lowered my pelvis to his back to force him flat on the canvas. Megumi covered his face as I hit him from the sides. The audience was clapping and cheering for Megumi to do something, but there was nothing left to do. I had this in the bag and he knew it perfectly. It didn't take long for him to tap my arm three times for me to let go immediately.

“Good fight,” I said as I stood up tiredly. Megumi smiled at me as he rested like a starfish. Toji stepped into the ring to correct everything he had done wrong in our match.

“I expected nothing less from you,” Nobara said proudly as she greeted me outside the ring.

“I agree,” Sukuna ruffled my hair with a proud smile. I couldn't help but smile at the sweet compliments.

At lunchtime, we decided to take a break and go to an Italian restaurant near the gym to celebrate that we were all reunited. We sat at a table with seats that were spread out so that we were all close together, while the coaches and managers sat at the table behind us. Yuuji, Megumi and Nobara were sitting across from Sukuna and me. Sukuna had been nagging all the way that he wanted to eat alone with me like on a date, but I ignored him. I wanted to eat with everyone.

“I always hated math. I didn't learn to count properly until I was eight,” Yuuji told Nobara with a smile on his face as if he were proud.

“Oh, come on. Until you were eight? What are you, a dumbass?” Nobara scoffed, trying to contain his laughter.

“Hey! My mom says I'm special,” Yuuji pouted. Sukuna and I laughed at his brother's nonsense.

“Math isn't that complicated. You just have to apply it to something you know,” Megumi said with the intention of helping him. “For example, if you have 10 brownies and you give me 5, how many do you have left?”

“Zero,” Yuuji answered confidently. Nobara and I couldn't help but let out a loud laugh while Megumi and Sukuna felt sorry for the pink-haired man.

“You didn't even try,” Megumi rolled his eyes while his silly boyfriend hugged him by the shoulders.

“It's because I would give them all to you, because I love you,” Yuuji said before planting a kiss on her lips while Megumi blushed.

“Aww,” I sighed with tenderness.

“You guys disgust me,” Sukuna muttered before rolling his eyes.

“What right do you have to say that?!” Yuuji exclaimed in amusement.

“I agree with the lovey dovey,” Nobara said amused as she looked at me and Sukuna with sinful eyes before high-fiving Yuuji. These three were a dangerous combination.

Before long a waitress arrived to wait on us. I knew she was doing her job, but I didn't like the way she looked at my boyfriend. When she handed us the menus, she smiled even more when she handed one to Sukuna and asked him if he was famous. I couldn't help but feel jealous.

“I'll have the caesar salad without the dressing with extra chicken and a glass of water,” I asked with a fake smile so no one would notice my jealousy. Besides, I knew our coaches were watching us from their table to make sure we were following our strict diets to the letter.

“I want the same thing,” Megumi followed me.

“I want a cheeseburger with a chocolate shake.” Yuuji smiled, challenging Sukuna directly. His coach didn't hesitate to give him a slap with his free hand. “Oh, I'm kidding! I want the same thing,” He complained, handing the menu to the waitress while rubbing his bruise.

“And for you?” The waitress asked as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Bitch.

“The double cheeseburger and a chocolate milkshake,” he said with a smile from ear to ear, taking revenge on Yuuji for his little joke.

What he didn't expect was that we were all shocked to hear his order. Even Nanami and Gojo, who were at the other table, peeked over to see him in disbelief. Sukuna Ryomen ordering something other than chicken, rice or protein? Make a wish!

“What?” Sukuna asked reluctantly.

“You asked for a hamburger…" I replied in shock.

“…with double meat…" Megumi followed me.

“…and a chocolate milkshake,” Yuuji finished, blinking several times. Making sure he wasn't dreaming.

“A man can't order a hamburger!?” Sukuna asked, offended by everyone's reaction.

“But you are Mr. Chicken and white rice!” I exclaimed in surprise.

“You haven't eaten junk food since you were 17!” Yuuji exclaimed in surprise.

“It's no big deal…” Sukuna mumbled in annoyance.

“I still remember the birthday where your mother replaced the chocolate cake with a tray of sashimi in the shape of a cake,” Megumi commented as if he was having war flashbacks.

“Did she really do that?” Nobara wondered in surprise.

“Yes, all our cousins were very disappointed,” Yuuji shook his head.

“Well, I'm not the world champion anymore, so it doesn't matter…” Sukuna mumbled in annoyance.

Silence pervaded the table at the sad statement. He understood how he felt completely. His career had collapsed in front of his eyes and he had only himself to blame for what had happened. Ever since he recovered from his surgery and began treating his shoulder regularly with Shoko, he had been very depressed. Despite the happiness of finally being together, he knew that his glory days would never return. I was also sad that I would never get to see him in the ring in all his glory, but at least I was grateful for all the times I got to see him live. I laid my head on his healthy shoulder and patted him on the back a couple of times to comfort him. He was like an angel who had just lost his wings.

“But you will always be a legend,” I encouraged him with a smile.

“You're an inspiration to me and everyone else who follows you,” Megumi added.

“Right! God screwed up your shoulder because he knew you'd be too powerful if you kept going,” Yuuji tried to cheer him up.

“Thank you, guys,” Sukuna mused, blushing slightly at the sweet words. He looked so cute, I couldn't help but want to give him a sweet kiss on the cheek.

The rest of the meal was spent laughing and catching everyone up on what had happened over the past few months. I was happy to see Sukuna eating something he really wanted and not having to restrict himself because of his career. Yuuji, being his usual gossipy self, told me that Choso got away from everyone for his own good and took a trip around the world for self-discovery, plus he started going to therapy to get over the trauma that Yuki had created for him. I was actually glad that he was doing better. I hope that in the future we can get along and put it all behind us.

Lunch time had come to an end and we went back to training. This time I was paired with Yuuji to give him a basic floor fighting lesson like I used to teach Sukuna. It brought back so many memories of all the things he put me through for wanting to antagonize me. All the arguments, fights and insults now gifted me with nostalgia. How all that gradually transformed into respect and finally love. Unlike Sukuna, Yuuji listened to me and did everything I asked him to do. It took him a little more practice to do the exercises he wasn't used to, but I could tell he was putting his all into it.

The afternoon went by faster than I would have preferred and the day's practice came to an end. After a quick shower and resting my muscles while eating an energy bar, it was time to head home. Nobara and I bowed to Toji and Gojo for training us this time. I hugged Megumi and Yuuji tightly, letting them know that I would miss them a lot, but that we would see each other again soon.

“Thank you for training me, coach," I bowed respectfully to Sukuna.

“You know perfectly well that I didn't do anything," Sukuna replied, ignoring my gesture of respect.

“I still wanted to do it," I smiled before hugging him. He reciprocated and kissed my head tenderly.

“Why don't you stay at my place tonight?” He whispered so I could only hear him.

“What? Really?” I asked excitedly.

“Why are you so surprised? You used to live with me.” Sukuna looked at me funny.

“It was different back then, we were just roommates because you forced me,” I explained. “Now we are boyfriend and girlfriend. It's different.”

Sukuna laughed and kissed me on the lips as I smiled stupidly at how happy I was to be back in the place where my luxurious home used to be. After telling Geto and Nobara not to wait for me for morning training, I followed Sukuna to his car. I offered to drive so he could relax his shoulder for the ride.

We arrived at the penthouse and I sighed at how much I had missed this place. The beautiful furniture, the air conditioning and the beautiful paintings hanging on the walls. Once I took off my shoes and left my backpack at the entrance, I walked across the hallway to the gigantic window that had a wonderful view of the rest of the city. My sight was stretched to the limit to see every luminous detail with attention. A strong arm wrapped around my shoulders to hug my back to a large protective chest. Sukuna rested his jaw on my head to observe the view with me. He closed his eyes to enjoy that we were together and that nothing would ever separate us.

After sharing a nice dinner for both of them that they ordered out because neither of them felt like cooking, Sukuna lent me one of his T-shirts and boxers so I could sleep comfortably. Then she helped him change so he wouldn't move his injured shoulder too much. He let out a few moans of pain, but he managed.

Sukuna put on a random movie on Netflix before revealing his true intentions. He pulled me to him to kiss me softly. His hand ran down my body until it reached my flushed cheek. I caressed his chest, careful not to hurt him. The desire and need was felt with every move we made. Only Sukuna could transport me to places full of pleasure and lust. He worked magic with her lips and tickling fingers. Despite having only one hand free, she still worked miracles.

“I missed you so much,” Sukuna whispered against my lips as he caressed my waist with his thumb.

“I missed you so much too,” I reciprocated with a smile.

“I was thinking…" Sukuna moved a little away from me to look me directly in the eyes. “Why don't you move to Team Black? You already know the guys, we can support you in everything you need and we'll spend more time together,” he explained.

It was a tempting offer, but I knew I could not afford to accept it. I would know that I would have no problem bringing Geto to Tokyo, but Nobara has his family in Nagoya, Mei Mei has to worry about Ui Ui and it would mean that I would stop teaching my classes. It would be a big sacrifice for everyone just because I want to be closer to my boyfriend.

“I can't do it, Sukuna. My life and everyone's life is in Nagoya,” I explained as I turned away from him to get serious. “It would be very selfish of me to make a change like that,” I commented as I watched a bit of the movie that had been put on the screen.

“What about us?” Sukuna asked me.

“I know it's hard, but we can plan to see each other more often,” I explained before kissing his cheek to leave a trail to his neck.

“I guess." Sukuna was not very happy with my answer. He moved a little away from me to watch the movie.

“Are you upset?” I asked with a pout.

“No, no…” Sukuna said, but he regretted pretending. “A little bit. Don't worry, I'll get over it,” he said, downplaying the matter.

“Are you sure?” I said. At that moment, a light bulb went off in my head with a brilliant idea. “Because I know how I can make you very happy,” I smiled mischievously at him before crawling under the covers.

“What the fuck are you going to do?” Sukuna asked me amused. I reached up to his crotch to stroke his cock, which went numb to the touch. “Hey!” He exclaimed in surprise.

I pulled down the elastic of his pants amidst naughty giggles to pull out the old friend I had yet to greet. I kissed the tip for good luck and popped it into my mouth without giving him any warning. I felt his body tighten with each suck. My mouth was filling with saliva, so it didn't take long for his cock to start sloshing. I tucked my lips over my teeth to avoid hurting him.

“Shit, I missed that too,” I heard him moan as I pushed my head back to guide the intensity.

Even though it tasted like nothing, it was so satisfying to hear Sukuna's stifled moans. My tongue fiddled with his glans delicately. Sukuna pulled the blanket off me to get a better look at me. He grabbed my hair to choke me on his cock several times. My eyes watered from the depth he reached.

I spit on his cock before sitting on his lap to remove my shirt in front of him. His smile widened as soon as he saw my tits bounce from the movement. He pulled me to him to suck on one of my nipples. I moaned his name as I stroked his back. I wiggled my hips against him from the excitement. I was starting to get wet with all the attention he was giving me.

“You look so good in my clothes," he growled, lowering his hand to the elastic of my underwear. “But you'd look better without them,” he purred before leaving me completely exposed in front of him.

“Tonight I'm going to please you,” I purred before kissing his neck.

“I expect no less,” he said before kissing me.

I smiled a mischievous smile before I turned around and positioned myself on top of him. I moved my hips to rub my pussy against his hard shaft. Sukuna grabbed my ass to keep me as close to him as possible. I positioned myself on top of him and shoved it in all at once. God, I missed having him inside me so much. My body melts around him. How I wish I could melt next to him so we could always be together. I started riding his cock hard. I hadn't seen him for two months. I missed him too much.

Sukuna spanked me to make my ass bounce faster on his monstrosity. My ass clap against his skin sticky with sweat. I leaned back against the bed to get him in deeper. Once I touched the indicated spot, I moved in circles to gently rub myself against the tip. Sukuna threw her head back and groaned in pleasure.

Sukuna pulled me by the waist with a jerk to press me against his chest. Even though he had stopped working out, he was still stronger than me. He kissed my neck as he spread my legs to stand between them. He reached up to my vagina to rub my clit eagerly. I moaned from deep in my throat at the tickling. He was rubbing me with no compassion for my poor intimacy.

“'Kuna…” I whimpered at the over stimulation.

“Use your words, my love," he whispered with a mischievous grin.

“Put it all in me,” I ordered with my eyes closed.

“As you wish.”

Sukuna sucked his fingers full of my goo to take me firmly by the waist. He slammed his cock into me, to which we both moaned in unison. He began to hammer his cock against me until he reached deep inside my soul. His balls bounced with every thrust he put into me. I forced myself to keep my legs spread wide so he could drill me all the way in. My moans, his grunts and the squeaks of the bed blended together to create a sexual symphony that only turned me on more. I didn't want this to end.

“I can’t take it anymore,” I squealed with saliva escaping from the corner of my lips.

“I'm almost done, my love," he growled as he gave me to go.

His hand traveled to my clit to stimulate me even more than I already was. His powerful cock, his magic fingers and his lips kissing my naked body. I felt like I was in paradise itself. I was so happy I couldn't hold it in any longer. I grabbed his arm tightly until I squirted. I moaned in satisfaction as I felt his hot cum invade my body. Sukuna grunted in satisfaction before lying back on the bed without letting go of my embrace. Our sweaty bodies melted into a sticky embrace as our tired sighs intertwined.

“You drive me crazy, you know that?” Sukuna whispered to me before pulling his cock out of me and placing me gently next to him.

“Don't blame me,” I joked. “You were already crazy before you met me.” Sukuna laughed and kissed my forehead.

“In that case, you're driving me nuts," he teased. We both laughed as we hugged each other. I closed my eyes as I melted into his body. This is where I wanted to be. Sweaty, tired and always next to him.

Tag list: @maskedpacific @thepurpleempath @mazzd4 @charlie-xo @s0uldarling @sunako-0120 @berranurates @00frenchfries00 @crownedgemini @alialucille @azuremyst99 @dorck26 @esposadomd

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[throughtrialbyfire]

𝐖𝐈𝐏 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 ♥

hello, i hope everyones having a good wednesday!! my brain, for some unknown reason, believes it to be late fall right now. maybe i'm just craving that chill in the air AHAH

thank you to the fantastic @skyrim-forever and @umbracirrus for tagging me this week!! <33333

tagging the amazing @thequeenofthewinter @oblivions-dawn @orfeoarte @changelingsandothernonsense

@viss-and-pinegar @saltymaplesyrup @archangelsunited @dirty-bosmer @totally-not-deacon !! as always, there's no pressure, but i'd love to see what you're working on. <3333

this is a section from the very rough draft of chapter 39 of Cycle of the Serpent. the trio are becoming intrigued about varnius junius' plea, and have decided to do something about it.

Falk Firebeard, the steward to Jarl Elisif, had been here a great many years. He said so as he talked to the trio, his voice inviting, with the faintest hint of surprise that they were back. At first he must have assumed they were here to petition for the Burning of King Olaf, a sigh heaving down his lungs and his hands rubbing at his face. When Emeros explained the real reason they were here today, he visibly appeared to relax, and made a comment about the man that the Bosmer had mentioned being jumpy at the best of times. "I'll be honest with you, I was planning to let that go," he admitted in a half-hush, apparently unneeded, as the court made it clear the prior day that they did share his opinion. "If it were anything, I'm certain that Sybille's scrying would have picked up on it." The court wizard, seated near the Jarl, gave Wyndrelis a curious look, her eyes practically luminous under her dark hood. He swallowed an uncomfortable lump in his throat. He didn't enjoy the way she scrutinized him, or his friends. Her eyes, a particular shade of citrine which looked to be peering right into him and down to the veins beneath his skin, set the mild panic to rise, sensation a slow crawl up his back of something very off about the woman. "Yes, but what if there's something the scrying hasn't picked up on? I'm no stranger to magic," Wyndrelis managed out, "if there is something going on, wouldn't it be better to investigate?"

The man rubbed his face, hands fidgeting with one another idly. His glances to Elisif, her housecarl, and other figures in the court landed him with approving nods, and Falk again spoke up. "There have been reports of... weird happenings near Wolfskull Cave. Travelers disappearing, odd lights. I suspect wild animals or perhaps bandits." "Travelers disappearing?" Emeros repeated, his eyes wide as the words left him half-breathless. "And you didn't think that this was worth an investigation?" "Again, I thought it might be wild animals and bandits," Falk justified, enunciating the statement. "We all did. They've taken advantage with the war going on, all this uncertainty, no one is truly safe. But I digress, if you really think it's worth looking into, then I will make sure that you three are repaid for your work." A housecarl nearest Falk scoffed into a drink, prompting the court wizard to scowl. "Is there something funny, Erikur?" "No, no, not at all." The man rolled his eyes as he sipped from his goblet, a sort of wine from the smell of it. "I just find it a bit interesting that we're sending three strangers to investigate Haafingar's matters. This should be the work of someone from our own Hold, not these elves who had to get a military pardon when they first arrived here." Phoebe, over at her desk, winced. She looked to Erikur, a sharp, probably dangerous gaze on anyone else that merely served to make her appear like a mouse scolding a wolf. "Besides, our coffers are emptier by the day. What can we even reward three would-be bandit-slayers when they inevitably return without having spilt so much as skeever blood?"

"Erikur," the hulking figure on the other side of the throne snapped, "that's enough." Erikur shrugged, and took another long drink from his goblet. Elisif looked over the trio, her face worn into a dreary resignation. "Then what do you propose? We've already sent a detachment to Dragon Bridge, and Sybille's scrying has shown nothing, yet, I must admit that the idea of leaving this uninvestigated makes me uneasy." Erikur's focus darted around the room. "We should send a handful of our own soldiers. Perhaps discuss it with General Tullius? See if he will offer some help." The room descended into murmurs of agreement, the idea clearly tantalizing to the court. Wyndrelis frowned. He looked to Emeros and Athenath, both equally unsatisfied with this resolution. "I will send word to Captain Aldis, and ask if he's any new recruits he might test by sending them that way. Phoebe, draft a letter to the Captain, and deliver it as soon as possible," Elisif commanded, tension leaving her as she watched the pale-haired girl scratch something down into a new roll of paper. Athenath spluttered, "but what if it's something- I don't know, important?" "Then our soldiers will have it taken care of, instead of recent strangers dirtying their hands." Erikurs cavalier reply left the Altmer again struggling for words, Emeros placing a gentle palm on his shoulder. Wyndrelis shrunk back, his steps taking him to the stairs. A few mutters from the Bosmer, and Athenath was moving to the stairwell, face scrunched in a look of intense frustration with the dismissal. As the trio left the Blue Palace, the sneer never quite fell from Athenath's face, and Wyndrelis swallowed down the urge to ask of it, or to pry into why Erikurs words prodded so harshly into them as to leave their features twisted, until the Altmer ran a hand down their face and features relaxed, like he'd wiped it all away and resigned to the outcome. This wasn't ideal, but when was anything the trio had been through in the past few weeks?

[aziraphales-library]

hellooo,

before i get into this i just wanted to thoroughly thank you guys for the help i’ve gotten from you in the past, one time quite recently! i really really appreciate it! you are true angels on earth and deserve the world 🌎🩵

now i just had a thought and i thought i’d ask, are there any fics out there where crowley and aziraphale potentially have a run in with any of the 4 horsemen throughout history? (i feel like i maybe read one or two like this back in the day, i think they were perhaps death and pestilence in those works) i’m not necessarily looking for those specific fics, they’re probably in my bookmarks somewhere. but i just was rewatching episode 2 where war comes in and it said about how she’s been killing time “for so long” and i thought that might be interesting to see a & c coming across them sometimes and how they interact with each other. i’ll take future fics, but i think i’m more looking for past/historical settings

thank youuuu! and feel free to take your time, i’m in no rush.

love you, byeeeeee

Hiiii! Here are some fics where Aziraphale and/or Crowley meet one or more of the four horsemen through the ages. Mind the tags on some of these!..

Oilslick Feathers by sylveondreams (G)

After an unexpected encounter with Pollution, Crowley finds himself with wings soaked in oil and panic building in his chest.

How To Arrange A Meeting by Winds_of_Inspiration10 (T)

Aziraphale has come to Egypt to set forth the next step in the Great Plan - arrange a meeting between Joseph and the Pharaoh. That might be a bit difficult when Crawly informs him that the former has fallen from Potiphar's favor and is now in prison. How will these hereditary enemies get out of this one?

The Great Mortality by The_Jade_Goblin (T)

It's 1347 and the Black Death is stalking the better half of Europe, and Aziraphale is ready to be swept up in his despair. Waves of human populace are being wiped out in the blink of an eye, cities left empty and villages lie barren. There's no end in sight, no stopping this Biblical Plague from destroy humanity. But Crowley isn't willing to give up just yet. Or Aziraphale and Crowley are determined to do SOMETHING, ANYTHING, to help during the Black Plague, even if God Herself can't be bothered. And Aziraphale learns a little more about his demon companion at the same time.

Behold A White Horse by Aubergion (M)

And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. —  Revelation 6:1–2, King James Version The white horse has had many riders in the last six thousand years.

The Feathered Serpent by WaneMoose (T)

1521- Aziraphale has been working as an interpreter for the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés in his mission to bring Mexico under the heel of Spanish colonialism and the Roman Catholic Church. When they arrive in the wondrous city of Tenochtitlán, the angel is shocked to discover that Cortés and his invading army have been invited to stay. Even more disconcerting is that invitation was the suggestion of a demon posing as the Aztec high priest for the god Quetzalcóatl, the winged serpent. Naively believing peaceful coexistence is a possibility, Aziraphale and Crowley bear witness to the Toxcatl massacre and the Fall of Tenochtitlán.

The Angel of Dunkirk by imnotokaywiththerunning (M)

Springtime 1940: Hitler's army has started its march across Europe and Aziraphale is worried. Another war so soon after the last was almost unbearable. He and Crowley have decided to stay well out of it, but a visit from the Archangel Gabriel sends Aziraphale headfirst into a war he never wanted to see.

- Mod D

[talonabraxas]

Khamael , Archangel of Mars Talon Abraxas

Samael is the Archangel of Mars – prince of the fifth heaven, lord of war and pestilence, and angel of death and destruction. He is the Sathan (Adversary) who visited wrath upon Job, slew the firstborn in Egypt, and (as the Guardian Angel of Easu) wrestled with Jacob. As the Sathan he accuses men of their wrongdoings in the Divine Court. Samael should not be confused with the modern Christian concept of Lucifer or the Devil. Samael is not the source of all evil, nor did he ever wage war upon the Throne of God.

He was, however, cast down to Earth when he refused to bow to Adam as the Image of God. (He had previously sworn to never bow to anything less than God Himself.) Once here, he took Lilith as his wife and has acted as the Divine Accuser, Enforcer and Angel of Death ever since. While he is still very much in the employ of God, he persecutes and seduces mankind when he is ordered to do so.

(Some sources equate Samael with Shemyaza, the leader of the fallen Watchers from the Book of Enoch. This is likely due to both Samael and Shemyaza being punished for disobedience, yet each retaining their positions as celestial angels. However the angels share no other characteristics, and this similarity does not prove the two angels are one and the same.)

The ancient Gnostics elevated him to the position of Demiurgos (the Creator) and interpreted his name to mean “Blind God.” They also called him Ialdabaoth and Saklas. His form was described as a lion-headed serpent. He and his angels (called archons) had created the world as a prison where they could feed upon mankind’s suffering. Later forms of Gnosticism, however, did not equate Ialdabaoth with Samael.

Samael was at one point regarded as the Patron Angel of Rome – and it is likely in this aspect that we see him (as the Dragon with Seven Heads) engaging in single combat against Michael (the Patron Angel of Israel) in the Revelation of St. John.

More recent tradition has given him the name Khamael (Camael, Camuel, etc) – the result of mistranslating a Hebrew Samekh (S) as a Kaph (Kh). In this form he is regarded primarily as the Angel of War and Divine Severity.

Invitation to Samael

I invoke thee, Samael! Holy Archangel of the Martial sphere! I call upon thee within thy realm of Severity and Fear!

Samael, Powerful, Bloody, Sword-bearer, Bold, Untamed, Terrestrial Fire, against whom none can defend himself, thou who destroys the strong and powerful, Lord of fiery heat – and of the planet of blood!

Samael, who art the Adversary, accusing men of their wrongdoing. Fearsome warrior and divine enforcer! You who inflicted Job with sorrow, who slew the firstborn of Egypt, and wrestled with Jacob. It is you who bears the wrath of God unto the Earth! You who overthrow nations and cast kings down from their thrones!

O Samael, we have called upon you [here list the reasons you have called him in the past, if any, and the positive results that came from those workings]. For all of this we thank you!

Come thou forth and partake of these offerings, which we have prepared in thy honour and to the glory of Elohim Gibor. May you find them pleasing and empowering. I ask that you offer your blessings to my home and family, and bear our offerings and prayers of thanksgiving to the Divine Court. We petition thee for strength and protection in all of our undertakings, for defense of our home, and that the light of thy wisdom should guide and keep us at all times. In the name of Elohim Gibor. Amen.

[agirlsawalittlerose]

SILK STRINGS

Aegon x OFC

Aegon Targaryen wanted nothing to do with that cursed crown. So, he fled to Volantis, hoping to live the good life amidst spiced wine, exotic whores, and strange customs, all paid for with the gold he'd stolen from the throne. But when he awoke outside the Black Walls of East Volantis, with no memory of how he had ended up there, he found himself entangled in the machinations of the Triarchy’s elections. With the help of an unlikely ally, he would come to understand the true value of power.

TW: Eventual Smut, Non-Con, slavery, sexism, inaccurate lore, canon divergent

Chapter 1: Volantis

Dila Maegyr sat by the latticed window of her chambers, high above the Black Walls, gazing out at the sprawl of Volantis.

The amber light of late afternoon gleamed over the wide, winding river Rhoyne, which curled like a serpent below the towering structures of the Old Blood.

From here, she could see the temples dedicated to the gods of her ancestors, the Black Walls keeping them apart from the common rabble, and beyond, the endless horizon where the sky bled into the sea. It was a view she’d known her entire life, a view she was supposed to treasure as a birthright of Valyria’s first great city. But today, it felt more like a gilded cage.

Her reflection stared back at her—pale skin, sharp features, and that unmistakable hair, silvery-blonde with hints of gold. The blood of Old Valyria ran through her veins as surely as it did the dragons that once ruled the skies. And yet, when she peered into her own eyes—blue, not violet like those of her Valyrian ancestors—there was something in them that always set her apart. A difference. A distance.

Her thoughts wandered, as they often did, to Westeros. She had read every book she could find on its history, its languages, its people. Those kingdoms fascinated her, not because of their disunity or their petty kings, but because they were everything Valyria had once feared and everything it had scorned. How little those people must understand about the true order of things. How little they must know of the legacy that had once dominated the world. She longed to see it with her own eyes. She longed to understand it.

A sharp knock pulled her from her reverie.

Qorlo. Her husband’s voice came even before the door swung open. “Dila, you’re needed.”

He didn’t wait for an invitation. He strode into the room with the confidence of a man who thought the world owed him deference, and most of the time, it did.

At thirty, Qorlo was everything the Tigers needed in their next Triarch: brash, ambitious, and utterly ruthless. His dark hair was slicked back, his robes embroidered with the deep red and gold of his faction. He wore the tiger proudly on his chest.

Dila turned her gaze from the window but said nothing. She knew the routine by now. There would be an event. Qorlo would be making another of his endless appeals to the Tigers, convincing them of his worth. And she, ever the dutiful wife, would be by his side. A symbol of power. An ornament, beautiful and pure, just as her lineage demanded.

“What is it this time?” she asked, her voice lilting with just enough disinterest to irritate him.

“A gathering of the Tigers,” he replied, his jaw tightening. “The elections approach, and I need you there.”

Of course he did. She was Trianna’s great granddaughter, after all. Her bloodline, her face—it all added to the image he needed to project. The Tigers craved Valyrian supremacy, and who better to remind them of their ancestral glory than the most beautiful woman of the Old Blood? She knew this game well.

And she hated it.

“And what would you have me say, husband?” she asked, letting the sarcasm drip just enough to provoke him.

Qorlo paused, irritation flickering in his violet eyes. “Say nothing. This is not one of your debates, Dila. Just be there.”

She rose from her seat, graceful and deliberate. “Is that how you see me now? A silent ornament?”

“I see you as what I need you to be,” Qorlo said coldly. “My wife. The perfect example of Valyrian supremacy.”

She smiled, sharp and sweet. “I’ve always been what you needed, haven’t I?”

His eyes narrowed, but he said nothing more. They both knew the fight was old and tired. Their disagreements had long ago passed the point of argument. Now they were locked in a silent war, each waiting for the other to make a move.

Qorlo was weak, like every other man. Dila could see it in the way he spoke, the way his pride would always take over and make him say the most foolish things. Worse still, the other men never noticed. Every freeman, and especially every Tiger, was completely captivated by Qorlo’s simplistic thoughts. He would shout diplomatic tales to the Elephants and whisper obtuse promises to the Tigers, and Dila couldn’t help but despise him.

The Triarchy would be different if more women like her ancestor held power. The whole of Volantis would be different. But the men were too blind to recognize their own flaws: the Elephants, ever the soft souls, with their obsession with peace. There was a reason why Trianna’s faction had survived this long, but they lacked drive, they lacked ruthlessness. On the other hand, the Tigers were brutish, witless creatures, just like her father.

Alios Maegyr wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed, but in one thing he was right: the proud Old Blood of Valyria should prevail.

Yet these men... Their bickering was a constant nuisance in Dila’s ears. Every time she saw one of them throwing a tantrum at the opposite faction, it was like children comparing their cocks.

After several failed attempts to be the voice of reason amid that sea of testosterone—well accompanied by Qorlo’s reprimands—she had learned how to play the game from behind the curtain.

With this thought, she stood and walked toward Qorlo, who sighed impatiently at her deliberate movements. When Dila placed a hand on his hip and traced his lower lip with her tongue, Qorlo’s sighs turned into a light moan, as Dila once again asserted her dominance. A reminder to herself of how easily men could be manipulated.

Before she could respond further, a commotion arose outside—urgent footsteps approached. One of Qorlo’s guards appeared in the doorway. His face was flushed from the heat of the day, but there was something else in his expression. Something strange.

“M’lord, m’lady,” the man stammered, bowing deeply to Dila before turning to Qorlo. “You’ll want to see this.”

Qorlo frowned. “What is it?”

“A stranger, never seen before, found near the Black Walls,” the guard replied, his voice uneasy. “He—he has Valyrian features. We believe he must have fallen from the Walls.”

Dila’s heart skipped a beat. Her pulse quickened with curiosity. She didn’t believe the story for a second. A traveler, perhaps? Definitely a way to break the boredom of yet another Tigers gathering.

“Where did you find him?” Qorlo demanded sharply.

“Wandering near the outskirts,” the guard replied.

“He claims not to remember who he is. Says he has amnesia.”

Dila tilted her head, intrigued. “Amnesia, you say?”

The guard nodded. “He’s… unusual. His hair, his eyes—he looks like Old Blood, but there’s something different about him.”

Qorlo was silent for a moment, thinking. Dila could see the wheels turning in his mind. A Valyrian stranger, lost and wandering near the Black Walls?

“Bring him to me,” Qorlo commanded finally.

Dila watched as the guard left, her mind spinning with possibilities. A Valyrian stranger in Volantis. Someone who looked like them but wasn’t one of them. Her curiosity, always her most dangerous trait, flared to life.

**********

Aegon felt the dry heat of the Volantene sun against his skin, even within the cool stone walls of Qorlo’s estate. He shifted uncomfortably on the low-backed chair in the great hall, trying to focus. His body ached from days of wandering, his throat was parched, and his head throbbed with a dull pain that hadn’t left him since he’d woken on the outskirts of Volantis.

His last clear memory was barely a blur—half-formed thoughts and the lingering scent of jasmine. He remembered a woman, a red-haired whore who had cost him nearly nothing. Her lips had been soft and skilled around his cock, her laughter like music. Then, darkness.

When he awoke, it was as if the world had shifted. The smell of the sea had been replaced by dry air, and in the distance, the Black Walls of Volantis loomed like a great beast. He’d stumbled to his feet, disoriented and hungover, and wandered through the outskirts of the city until the guard found him.

Now, he was here, in front of the owner of this palace—a man they called Qorlo. The man was tall, broad-shouldered, his violet eyes much like Aegon’s, but sharp as they studied him. Qorlo was no fool. Even through Aegon’s ruse of amnesia, the man sensed something off about him, something different.

“You don’t remember how you came here?” Qorlo asked, his voice more curious than accusatory.

Aegon hesitated, his hand tightening slightly on the armrest of his chair. “I remember… pieces,” he lied, keeping his voice steady. “Waves. Wind. Then nothing. My name... it escapes me.” He glanced up through the tousled strands of his silver-gold hair, trying to appear convincingly lost.

Aegon said nothing. He didn’t need to. His memory—still vivid about everything except the previous night—dragged him back home. The coronation that should have been his, the wars that would rage over his name, the throne that haunted his every waking moment—it all felt like a noose tightening around his neck.

He’d heard the whispers that the women of Volantis could do things no Westerosi whore would dare, and, in his drunken stupor, the thought of leaving King’s Landing had seemed not just appealing, but necessary.

So he’d fled.

There was a twisted irony in the way Qorlo had gotten close to him, perhaps too close, inspecting the color of his eyes and touching his silver hair. All Aegon wanted was to forget that he was a Targaryen, to curse the name and the family that had condemned him to a life of expectations and duties he had no interest in fulfilling. He remembered his last words to his brother: “I have no wish to rule! No taste for duty! I'm not suited!”

Whatever was happening in King’s Landing now, Aegon was sure they would manage without him. Perhaps even better. Free from his troublemaking, free from the shame he carried, free from his incompetence.

A life of indulgence, bought with the coin he had taken from the crown’s fortune, had seemed the most exciting prospect. Yet, once again, his blood betrayed him.

He knew the weight his features carried in these lands—perhaps more than in the Seven Kingdoms. Valyrian blood meant something here. He could see the wheels turning in Qorlo’s head, calculating, deciding whether Aegon was an enemy or a tool to be used. Perhaps even an ally.

Before Qorlo could speak again, the door opened, and in walked a woman.

Aegon turned, and his breath caught in his throat.

She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

Her hair shimmered silver and gold in the dim light, falling in waves down her back. Her skin was pale as moonlight, and her eyes—like the sea on a stormy day—pierced through him. She moved with the grace of a queen, but there was something sharper about her, something that cut through the air as she entered.

His heart thudded once, hard. Rhaenyra might have been the realm’s delight once, but this woman… This woman was different. She was destined to be the whole world’s delight. She was beauty made flesh, the very image of a goddess walking before him.

Their eyes met for only a brief moment, but it was enough. Something passed between them—a spark, a recognition. He could feel her curiosity, her assessment of him. She was no idle ornament. There was intelligence behind those pale blue eyes, and ambition.

She stepped gracefully beside Qorlo, her gaze never leaving Aegon. “Who is this?” she asked, her voice smooth and measured, though there was a glint of intrigue in it.

“He claims to have no memory,” Qorlo replied, glancing at his wife. “Wandered near the Black Walls. Look at him—he has the look of the Old Blood, yet no name.”

“I don’t remember it,” Aegon quickly said, more eager to speak to the woman than to sell his lie. He immediately cursed himself for how redundant that must have sounded.

Dila’s gaze flickered over him, and Aegon could feel her eyes studying him, as if weighing his very soul. He kept his expression as blank as possible, trying to maintain the facade.

“Strange,” she mused, tilting her head slightly. Her lips curled into a smile.

Aegon studied her for a second. He had the distinct impression that behind her simple remark, there was something more. Suddenly, he felt exposed, as though she had stripped him of every lie he had told on his journey—and perhaps even in his entire life.

She turned to Qorlo, her voice soft but commanding. “We should keep him.”

Qorlo raised an eyebrow, surprised. “Keep him?”

Dila nodded, her gaze still fixed on Aegon. “Think of it, husband. The spirits of our ancestors have sent us another son of Valyria, right on the eve of the elections. Surely this is a sign. He has silver hair and violet eyes—every Valyrian feature exactly as it should be. We could use him.”

Qorlo’s eyes flickered with interest, though he remained cautious. “And what would we do with a man who has no name?”

“Names can be given,” Dila replied, a slight smile on her lips. “What matters is that he is here. The people will see him. They will see that the old souls of Valyria send their lost sheep to the most capable shepherd.”

Qorlo seemed to consider her words, glancing between her and Aegon. Aegon, for his part, remained silent, watching them both with careful eyes. He knew his fate hung in the balance.

Finally, Qorlo nodded. “Very well. He will stay.”

Aegon exhaled slowly, relief flooding through him. He had bought himself time.

But as Dila’s eyes lingered on him, Aegon could not shake the feeling that he had stepped into something far more dangerous than he had anticipated.

[nekohime19]

Heart behind the lie # 29 : Sworn brother

Wukong is still jelly

There was a tense silence veiling the room, only broken by Mei's uncontrollable laughter. MK awkwardly patted her back (to help her, or to stop her was still questionable), sheepishly looking at everyone that watched her as if she was struck by madness, she might as well be, this wasn't a very laughable situation, thought the sage. 

Sun Wukong tapped deep within himself to not let anger overwhelm him, breathing like his master showed him long ago, trying to not tear the peacock to shreds. He could feel the fearful gazes of the lord's servant, all willing to protect him (something that spoke of a good lord) but ultimately afraid of the great sage, too afraid to step forward. 

“I think I might have misheard.” Muttered Macaque, an obvious lie for a being like himself, he cleared his throat and straightened himself. “It's rare for me to misheard, so I'm giving you another chance to repeat yourself.” This was a clear warning, a chance for the foolish peacock to correct his words, to avoid the bloodbath Sun Wukong would unleash upon him. 

“I think I was clear? The deal is simple, I give you the lantern piece, and in exchange you marry me.” Repeated Cheng, hands on his hips, expression amused, as if he was looking at unfocused children. Sun Wukong gritted his teeth, tail lashing on the floor. 

“This is ridiculous!” Yelled the sage, he threw his arms in the air, appalled by the very existence of such a deal, and glared at the peacock. “You can't force someone to marry you because nobody wants to!”

“First of all, I am a very eligible suitor, mind you.” Huffed the peacock as he showed off his trail, the jade-green feathers long and perfectly groomed, the eyes shining like jewelry. “Second, who are you to decide for the Six-eared Macaque? Are you his mate? One of his suitor?”

“I-I'm…” The sage stuttered, face reddening. 

“He's my friend.” Replied the warrior as he glared at the peacock, fangs showing a bit.

“So he's just a friend. He doesn't have a say in this matter then.” Chuckled Cheng, Sun Wukong was trying very hard to not murder him. 

“He's… he’s special.” Weakly muttered the macaque, his own face reddening. The sage's tail swished happily at that, and he restrained the smitten coo tickling his lips. He also ignored the kids’ awing. Yes, he was special. He was the friend that Macaque could kiss, that had to be special. 

“Special? Dear, I do not mind if you're sleeping with the Monkey King, you can even take him as your lover if you want. I am very open minded.” Sun Wukong's face bursted in a furious red, he opened his mouth, but only gibberish came out. Mei's laughter became even louder. Macaque was dumbfounded once again, not any better than the King, his own face rivaling strawberries. 

“Lord Cheng, sir ?” Tentatively cut the scholar once he regained his footing. “I don't think Macaque's relationship with Monkey King is the problem. If I may ask-”

“You may.” Cut the peacock while he turned towards the fumbling scholar. 

“Why do you wish to marry Macaque?” Carefully asked Tang. 

“I need a partner.” Replied Cheng in a huff, as if it was an incredibly obvious answer. 

“Why?”Insisted the scholar. 

“... I guess you people did not come for the festival. Very well, I will explain. The former King of this city, the venerable Thousands-Winged Owl, passed away without siring any children, and without any close family. In his will, he designed the three lords that were in his service, the Stone-eyed Peacock, the Golden-clawed Crow, and the Serpent-tongued Dove, as heirs. For the throne they will compete in what the King called the dawning festival. It is basically a huge party he organized for his death, inviting everyone he knew, and everyone that wished to come. The rules for us lords are simple, we will not be the one competing against each other, it will be our partners. They will compete in three trials, one involving loyalty, the other wit, and the last one strength, nobody except the King advisor knows anything beyond that. The winner will be given the throne.”

“The guy organized a wife battle.” Snorted the dragon girl. 

“In short, yes.” Laughed Cheng. 

“In this case Macaque is not the most suitable candidate for your situation. He is weakened, he will not do well in the strength trial.” Explained the Bull's son. 

“Are you? Now, that is unfortunate, especially for someone as precious as you. I can accommodate you for your stay here if you wish.” Sun Wukong did not like how precious sounded on the peacock’s lips. 

“I… thanks?” Whispered the warrior, unsure of how to take the lord's kindness. 

“Maybe you can marry someone else?”Tentatively proposed his mentee. 

“Hm, do state all of your names and clans.” Ordered the peacock. 

“Hm, I'm Tang? I'm human.”

“Pigsy. I don't have a clan, I'm a chef.”

“Red Son of the terrific Bull clan. Heir to the Demon Bull King, son of Princess Iron Fan.”

“Mei, part of the dragon of the east clan!”

“I'm MK, I'm not sure what a clan is?”

“My successor.” Clarified Sun Wukong with a growl. 

“In that case, I cannot marry any of you. The mortal will be too weak, the chef too. Even if we ignore the fact that you three are kids, I don't want to anger any of your families. And I cannot marry Sun Wukong, he's a King, more powerful than me, if I marry him I'll have to follow him in his kingdom. Furthermore, I can feel his murderous intent.” 

“At least you're aware of it.” Huffed the sage as he crossed his arms. 

“Is it really specified that your partner must be your wife?” Asked Tang with furrowed eyebrows. 

“The will says exactly : the one bound to you by an oath. Marriage is the easiest oath to make.” 

Tang lit up at that. 

“Well maybe sworn-brotherhood can do then!” Exclaimed the scholar. “Normally, sworn-brotherhood does not need any formal oath, but we can do one for this occasion.”

“Maybe, it could work. Who will be my sworn-brother then?” They all turned towards the sage, Sun Wukong stuttered, caught off guard, and turned away. 

“No way!” Shouted the King. 

“Don't make this difficult, King.” Groaned the pig. 

“You are the strongest, the most likely to win.” Retorted the Bull's son. 

“You don't have to if you don't want to.” Calmly replied the macaque, resolution blooming in his gaze. The sage sighed when he caught sight of this unrelenting gaze. He really didn't want to be associated in any way to this bastard of a peacock, but he didn't want Macaque to be associated with him either. 

“Okay, okay, I'll do it. I'll be the peacock sworn-brother.” Grumbled the sage, his voice becoming more poisonous at the word peacock. 

“Wonderful, Sun Wukong is certainly powerful enough to seal my victory!”Cheered the peacock, he turned towards the King and asked : “What are you wearing?”

“Hm, hoodie and sweatpants? With shades?”

“Prosperous! What are you, rat man? Servants ! Give this monkey proper clothing, take him to Bolin, I refuse to let my sworn-brother be anything less than beautiful! We will do the oath when he's ready!” The lord turned away. “Mui!”

“Yes, my lord!” Replied the parrot. 

“Take the rest of them to their rooms, give them anything they ask for, especially our dearest shadow!”

“Of course, my lord.” The parrot, or Mui, bowed to her lord and walked towards the group. 

“Ah Lam! Take the lantern piece! We will trade when the deal is sealed!” One of the tallest guards approached MK and softly reached out, his mentee hesitated a little, but finally relented the piece. The peacock disappeared in his bathroom, aided by a few of his guards to reach it.

Sun Wukong was taken away by the guards, he pushed them away when they tried to touch him, and followed them with a whipping tail. He saw, from the corners of his eyes, Mui guide the group in another direction. 

The guards guided him to a huge wardrobe, filled to the brim with clothes. They bowed before the lavishly clothed demon swan pacing in the room, the man seemingly high ranked here. 

“The lord asked us to properly clothe this man. He is to be the lord's sworn brother.” Informed the guards. 

“Sworn brother? I see… this could work for the will as well.” Muttered the swan as he let his gaze swept over the sage. “He definitely needs a change of clothes. Our Cheng is picky with appearances. Thanks for guiding him here, you can resume your duties.” The guards bowed and left the room, leaving the sage alone with the demon swan. “You are the Monkey King, aren't you?”

“I am.” Replied the King, daring the other demon to do something with his tone. 

“I am Bolin, our lord's tailor. They call you the Handsome Monkey King, let's see if we can bring that out.” The sage gasped, greatly offended, but he didn't have time to complain, Bolin was already pushing him in an adjoining room, one filled with baths. “Girls!” Immediately a flock of four swan younglings rushed towards them, each dressed in white, elegant gowns. “This is Sun Wukong, the Monkey King. He is to be our lord sworn brother, so let's make him shine like a diamond!”

“Yes, father!” Replied the swan younglings, each with utmost seriousness. 

“Monkey King, sir, what type of fur do you have?” Asked one of the younglings as she intently eyed his sun colored fur, she was a bit skinnier than the others. 

“Short type? I don't have a thick underfur.” Mumbled the sage, a bit caught off guard by their seriousness. 

“I think monkeys are more used to grooming. Can a bath damage your fur?” Asked another, a bit shorter than her sisters. 

“Grooming is for the twigs and bugs. I can take a bath.”

“Perfect !” 

They ushered him to one of the steaming baths, one with lukewarm water according to Bolin (to not damage his fur, they said). Fortunately, they gave him the privacy to change behind a folding screen. He awkwardly removed his clothing and hid his manhood with a white towel he tied on his hips. When he stepped out of the folding screen, they waved him over and made him sit before the bath. They groomed him with a soft brush, untangling all of his knots while Bolin was looking over products and asking some questions about his coat. When his fur was well-groomed (from the tip of his tail to the edge of his toes, they always asked if he was comfortable with touch before grooming a particular area, something the King appreciated), he lowered himself in the bath. 

They added some good-scented products in it, and perhaps some oil that made his coat shinier. The younglings massaged him while he was bathing, delicately treating each of his strands of fur as if it were a treasure in itself. He learned their names while they treated him. The one massaging his shoulders, and doing a wonderful job at it, was Bo, she was seemingly stronger than any of her sisters, and on the brasher side. The skinnier one was named Hua, she was the most knowledgeable when it came to fur care, she did most of the grooming earlier. The shorter one was named Ping, she was the most leveled of the flock, and the most respectful, always asking for his boundaries and reminding her sisters to ask as well. The last one, the rounder one, was named Shu, she was quieter than any of them, and from what he gathered she was the most skilled when it came to make-up. She did ask him what colors he liked, and what he was comfortable with, which he appreciated. 

Once washed and oiled, they dried him with fluffy towels, asking now and then if everything was alright. He was then sitted in a comfortable chair, before a silver mirror. They sharpened his claws, whitened his fangs, oiled his lips and delicately cut his fur to make it even. His eyebrows were brushed and straightened, and the heart-shaped patch of fur on his chest more defined. Once they stepped back, he blinked at his reflection. The glamors he applied on a daily basis were certainly at play, but he looked good. His fur had never been shinier and softer, it looked like the sun itself blessed him. Sun Wukong admired the man in the mirror for a bit, before following Bolin out of the bathroom. 

The swan talked with one of her daughters, Ping, to know what sort of colors would suit him better while the others asked what he was comfortable with, according to them one could only truly shine when they liked what they were wearing. They settled on a peach colored hanfu embroidered with lotus flowers, one he found particularly pretty, with a red slashes. After they dressed him, Shu took care of his make-up while Bo picked jewelry to adorn him. 

Once he was ready, he looked at the man in the mirror and had to restrain his purr. Those swans certainly knew how to dress someone, he almost felt like some sort of deity blessed with heavenly beauty. 

“You look good, Monkey King, sir.” Praised Ping as she softly adjusted his slashes. 

“As expected of the Handsome Monkey King.” Chuckled Bo as she puffed out her chest. 

“You all did a good job.” Muttered the King with reddening cheeks. 

“Alright, girls. I will escort the Monkey King to our lord, clean the room.” Cut Bolin, the swan younglings all sung “Yes, father!” before disappearing in the bathroom. 

Sun Wukong followed Bolin out of the room, they walked in a peaceful silence towards the dining room (when Bolin asked a passing guard, they told him the group was there), their steps echoing in the corridors. The servants that passed by them always made an effort to bow at Bolin, Sun Wukong could see the deep settled respect in their eyes when the swan returned their greeting with a short nod. 

“Are you really just a tailor?” Asked the sage after a bit, his curiosity getting the better of him. 

“I am. Our lord value apparences a lot.”

“He's vain.” Grumbled the sage, his anger sparking anew at the mention of the lord. Bolin looked at him with a raised eyebrow, before letting out a soft chuckle. 

“I know our lord can seem…particular. But he's not bad.”

“I have trouble believing that! He was ready to force someone to marry him.”

“Hm, for the will.” Mumbled the swan. 

“If he wants the throne so badly, he can take it for all I care, but he can't involve others in this.” Huffed the King. 

“... The marriage would have been temporary.” Explained the swan, his tone a little harsher than before.

“Still.” Bolin stopped walking, he turned towards the sage, a storm brewing in his eyes. 

“I know Cheng doesn't seem like the most caring, and mayhaps he offended you in some way. But I will ask you to not talk about our lord in this manner. He is to be your sworn brother, you will see then what kind of person he is.”

“Yeah, I'll see.” Replied the King, tone a little bit softer. He didn't want to offend Bolin, but the feeling brewing inside of him, the ugly beast called jealousy, pushed him to be spiteful towards Cheng. The sage wasn't used to this feeling, thus he had troubles to reign it. 

The rest of the walk was more tense, both decided that silence was better if they didn't want to argue. The dining room was filled with watering smells, all kinds of plates and food, some the sage never even knew existed. The whole group was eating leisurely around a lavish mahogany table, they all turned towards him when he arrived. Bolin bowed to Mui, who was at Macaque's side, and left the room with elegance. 

“Wow, you look good Mister King!” Chuckled the dragon girl. 

“Thanks. I feel good.” The sage turned towards the warrior, who was gaping at him with a flaming face, eyes wide, hands frozen before his plate of mangoes. Sun Wukong felt a pleasant tingle skim above his kin, he walked, deliberately slowly, towards the macaque and sat on the unoccupied chair on his right. He relished in the way Macaque's eyes roamed over him, stuttering for a moment on his hips. “You have something to say, Mac?” Asked the King. 

“What? I, hm, I-I, what ?” Stammered the warrior, his tail trashing the chair's legs. The kids were choking on their own laughter, while the adults were either rolling their eyes or smirking openly. 

“You lost your tongue?” Purred the sage as he leaned over the other, Macaque almost fell out of his chair, his hands tightly gripping the table. Sun Wukong wanted to keep teasing him, but he had to stop once the peacock arrived. 

Cheng was dressed in red, the cloth flowing around his figure like a river of blood, striking against his jade feathers. He had an ebony cane in his right hand, something he used with ease to navigate. He sat in the tallest chair, the one made of pure gold.

“I hope everything was alright for you. I will accommodate you to the best of my ability until the end of the festival.” Started the peacock. “Now, I cannot see you, Monkey King, but I trust Bolin did a wonderful job.” Cackled the lord, Sun Wukong wanted to retort, but unfortunately Bolin did, in fact, a good job. “Concerning this deal of ours, I want it to be clear. Sun Wukong is to aid me as my sworn brother during the dawning festival, of course he will try his best to win, but even in case of defeat, I will give you in exchange the lantern piece you desire.” The sage was quite surprised by the terms, particularly because he wasn't even obliged to win the festival, it almost felt like a trap. “Of course, I will not give you the lanterne piece if I feel that the Monkey King is insincere, and does not do his best to give me victory.”

“... I accept the terms.” Sighed Sun Wukong, he groaned when he caught sight of the blooming smirk on the peacock's lips. 

“Wonderful! Now, for this oath of ours… Normally I believe sworn brotherhood is only made with a promise, but we will need a formal oath that binds us.” The lord sat up and walked towards the sage, his hand tracing the edges of the table to guide himself. Sun Wukong raised himself once Cheng stopped before him, they stood in a tense silence for a second, thoughtful, and then the lord offered his hand. The sage grimaced, and reluctantly took the bird's hand. “I, the Stone-eyed Peacock, Cheng, will take Sun Wukong, the Handsome Monkey King, Great Sage Equal to Heaven, as my brother. As long as he wishes, I will treat him as my blood and flesh, as my friend. I swore on my name and my honor, that I will see in him my own.”

An oath, for demons, was a matter of honor. It was one of the ultimate promises, made with witnesses. Losing honor was a fate no demons wanted, it was worse than death itself. 

“I, the Intelligent Stone Monkey, Sun Wukong, will take Cheng, the Stone-eyed Peacock, as my brother. Until we both gain what we want, I will honor him as my friend. I swore on my name and honor, that I will see in him my brother.” They shook hands before the eyes of Cheng's servants and Sun Wukong's friends, sealing their promises. In the end, an oath was nothing but words, what mattered was what those words meant for the two parties involved. 

“Well, now that this is sealed. If you ever need something, Mui, there, will serve you.” The parrot demon nodded to them, her colorful feathers shaking with her nod. “The festival starts in one week, we do not know the kind of trials that await us. I will not force you to do anything, brother (Wukong cringed at the word) as I know your abilities. But it will be better for us if you follow me to the library. I want you to know what kind of opponent you will go against.” The sage was ready to refuse, not wanting to go anywhere with the other, but Macaque cut him before he could even open his lips. 

“Mui told me you had a lot of books regarding shadows in this library of yours.” Cheng turned towards the macaque (or at least his general direction) and his smile widened, Sun Wukong did not like this look. 

“Yes! I do! Shadows are fascinating. You can accompany me, and Sun Wukong if he accepts to follow, to the library ! I'm quite curious about you, after all.” Macaque rose from his seat, perhaps ready to follow the peacock, but Sun Wukong immediately went in-between them, tail lashing. 

“Let's go to this damn library.” Grumbled the sage, Macaque looked at him with a raised eyebrow, while Cheng tried to hide his chuckle in the crook of his claws. They nodded towards the other (Cheng took back his cane) and they walked away, the sage made a point of walking in-between the two, allowing absolutely no contact. 

“Jealousy does not suit you, brother.” Snorted the peacock. 

“I think you better shut your mouth right now if you value yourself, brother.” Spat the King, a growl echoing in his tone. 

“Can't you both be civil? We're gonna be here for more than a week.” Sighed his moon as he rubbed his forehead. 

“I'll try, but he's really fun to tease, dearest.” Snickered Cheng. 

“Do not call him like that!”

“See, he's fun.” Cackled the peacock, Sun Wukong wanted to bite his head off for daring laughing at him, for daring even breathing in his direction.

“This is gonna be a hellish week.” Grumbled the warrior, and Sun Wukong couldn't agree more. 

Ch1 / Previous / Next

[achaotichuman]

THE GARDENS THE FRUIT AND THE SERPENT

The prequel to A Witch A Warrior And A Reckoning, the story of Dahlia Fairburn and how the next generation of A Court of Thorns and Roses tore down the most powerful tyrant of history.

This prequel will be updated alongside the main story, though the main fic does not need to be read to enjoy this one. (Link for AO3 at the bottom of the post)

Protagonists

Dahlia Fairburn

Elain Archeron

Azriel Shadowsinger/Vanserra

Nyx Archeron

(Main) Relationships

Azriel x Eris Vanserra

Nesta Archeron x Cassian

Dahlia Fairburn x Eve Almila

Summary

Years after the killing of the Deathless, Koschei, the Lords and Ladies of the Courts of Prythian have settled down, and their children freely roam the land, preparing for the day they may take on the Crown.

Dahlia Fairburn, the daughter of Tamlin Fairburn, the wildcard of her father's household, unpredictable with the same shimmer of gold her father has. Her wants are to serve her people, and hone her natural predatory skills in the dance of battle. And perhaps if she can score an invitation to work under the new King of Vallahan, she might get her chance she's looking for.

Azriel is trying to move past the feuds with Rhysand that drove them apart, settling into his life in the Autumn Court alongside Eris Vanserra. Still the ghost of what happened haunts him, and he sees in the now dull eyes of Nesta Archeron. The heaviness of his past weighs down, and he can only hope to shield his daughters from what had happened to him.

Elain Archeron has seen visions, visions she doesn't understand, but knows they are dark. The future is undecided, but all she does know, is one day this mask will come crumbling down. And when it does, it might be helpful to have the most powerful in history under her thumb.

Tags (Tagging the same people from the tag list of A Witch A Warrior And A Reckoning, let me know if you want to be added or removed from the list):

@sonics-atelier, @sadisticdevile, @shi-daisy, @skyesayshi

@praetorqueenreyna, @futurehunt, @unanswered-stars, @mathiwrites

@honeysuckle-daydreams13

[haydenigmatic]

Lady Verena (veh-REH-na) Sarpe (/sɑːrp/)

Introducing Lady Verena, the captivating scion of one of the eight kingdoms' powerful families. Renowned for her beauty and political acumen, she weaves a complex tapestry of seduction and strategy to navigate the intricate web of courtly affairs. What twists await her?

As for a face claim there are a few: Katie McGrath as Morgana Le Fay, possibly Eva Green, even Alicia Agneson and of course she reminds me of Morrigan, all of them are a mix of what I picture her.

Now for her voice I think; Kathleen Turner the voice of Jessica Rabbit, I love her no matter what her health condition has done to her voice.

Main Family Dynamics:

Duke Veneger - The Spymaster:

Her father, is the spymaster serving the king. His absence from home due to his court duties creates a void in her life, contributing to her independence and self-reliance.

Duchess Jyne - The Ailing Mother:

Her mother, was once a significant influence in her life. However, her illness has made her unable to interact, creating a longing for the nurturing connection they once shared.

Veredus - The Heir with Reservations:

Her elder brother and the heir to the family, harbours reservations about his sister's unconventional ways. He views her with scepticism, wishing for a more traditional sister who would conform to societal expectations.

Vardan - The Second Son:

Her other elder brother, He has a knack for exploration and is often away on journeys to distant lands. Despite the physical distance, Verena and Vardan share a bond forged through occasional letters and updates, maintaining a connection despite the miles between them. He is more of a silent observer in the family dynamics. He neither openly opposes nor supports Verena's choices, maintaining a neutral stance.

Here are some random details about her:

Memorable Quote: "In this world, one's reputation is a weapon as sharp as any dagger."

Is an excellent horsewoman and loves nothing more than taking a spirited stallion out for a ride in the countryside.

Has a secret love for sweets and often indulges in them when no one is watching.

She is obsessed with collecting rare and exotic perfumes from all over the world.

Wears tight, low-cut dresses exclusively designed by a renowned tailor who understands her unique style.

Developed immunity to poisons, both a strength and a vulnerability. While it grants her a certain invincibility, it has also become a dangerous addiction.

love for the theatre isn't just limited to being an audience member. She actively participates in local productions, taking on various roles that allow her to explore different facets of herself.

Her white ferret companion is named Kavi. Originally intended as a meal for a serpent she had, changed her mind and kept the ferret as a pet. Becoming a constant, sneaking companion, often resting on her shoulder or within the folds of her elaborate dresses during social gatherings.

The illness that befell her mother left her unable to interact, creating a void that she struggled to fill, until Countess Roderick took her under her wing, she viewed her as a mother figure.

Countess Roderick became a surrogate parent, filling the void left by Verena's ailing mother and absent father. Visiting every day or extending invitations to her estate, the Countess became both mentor and confidante. However, her teachings went beyond the conventional, delving into the realm of feminine power and manipulation. Countess Roderick believed in arming her with the tools she'd need to navigate the treacherous world she was born into.

Fuelled by a mix of rage and political calculation, her father orchestrated the demise of Countess Roderick and her husband. This act, intended to protect the family's honour, irreparably fractured her trust in familial bonds and propelled her into a world where power and cunning were her only constants.

Her Network of Informants: "The Eyes of the Snake" maintains an extensive network of informants across the Eight Kingdoms. Information flows seamlessly through their channels, allowing her to stay well-informed about potential threats or opportunities.