#she just changed the plan without notifying him at all

[seven-oomen]

Listen I get that you have BPD. I get that you have a mental illness. But that doesn't excuse rude or shitty behavior.

I kinda get why people are fed up with you.

[pigeonpeach]

Too little too late <3

Summary: Diluc vs Jean x fem reader!

Did he really except you to wait? You had spent your life with the knowledge you would marry Dluc Ragvindr when you were of age. You grew alongside him and grew to like him. You two were close and you didn’t mind the arrangement and neither did he. But on his 18th birthday much happened to destroy those plans. His father died, he left the knights, he ran away with no explanation or even a note left for you his now worried fiancée. No answer when he’d come back or if he wouldn’t. To say you were stressed was a understatement.

That’s the thing about relationships, you’re not supposed to ditch your partner because you’re overwhelmed. You take a breather and talk to them about it. You had told him he could always talk to you about anything no matter what. And you advocated for him to do so, but he didn’t. He didn’t send you a letter in those 4 years he was gone. But who did was Jean Gunnhildr. Your parents rescinded the arrangement, they worried Diluc was too unstable to be wed currently. All without notifying him as they had no way to do so. Who was there to comfort you? Not Diluc but Jean. Jean who was already dealing with the fallout and such herself. Jean let you vent and cry in her lap as she visited you regularly. You two had always been close friends. You even joked you wished you could marry her instead. As a year passed with no word from Diluc you gave up your dream or expectation of his return. It was heartbreaking but necessary, you took the promise ring and gave it to Adelinde as you wished to focus on yourself rather than burden the worries of a man who wouldn’t even let you know if he was okay or not. Maybe it was wrong to hate him but the man left you high and dry with no explanation or anything to go off of! You had no choice but to assume you just weren’t important enough for him to even consider he was leaving you behind. Your heart was in pieces and you had to fix it yourself.

Come 4 years and Diluc returned to Mondstadt no longer recognizable as the man he used to be. A stoic and emotionless expression with eyes that made him seem bored more often than not. He didn’t blame you for not waiting for him. But he did notice how Jean seemed to accompany you alot now. Far more than ever. Even as she got busier would you accompany her to go out in town, your arm wrapped around hers. Maybe its wrong for him to be jealous but… he can’t help it. There’s even talks that you might end up her wife instead. Your parents don’t seem against that idea either. To them Diluc is a good businessman but Jean is slated to be the next in charge, which is a big upgrade. She’s proven to be devoted and steady even in the face of change and battle. Perhaps they consider him a coward, that is definitely cruel but they also saw how you desperately tried to reach out to him to no avail.

As for Jean however she’s always loved you. She always envied Diluc for the fact he’d get you someday. She grew up gritting her teeth in a smile each time she heard him mention your future wedding with him. She bared it for you, to stay close to you and stay your friend. When he left she swooped in to console you. She didn’t expect to earn your heart but she wasn’t complaining. She also worried about diluc even though he was her competition all these years. She couldn’t help but be upset at how he left you though. Sure the first months were understandable but he should’ve tried to at least clarify he was okay or something at some point. She can’t help but pull her darling closer when he tries to talk. She’s finally proven herself as a option to them and she isn’t going to back down now.

Its quite a predicament to be in.

[phr3ia]

Before It Ends (Jiyan x Fem!Reader) [Chapter 3 - Persimmon Tree]

[Morning...]

"I see you're quite comfortable in my bed." Jiyan teasingly whispered in your ear, gently nudging you awake.

*Snores loudly...*

"Always the heavy sleeper." he sighed, shaking his head in defeat. He playfully poked your cheeks a few times, but even that wasn't enough to rouse you from your slumber. "Oy! Wake up! It's already morning!" Jiyan exclaimed, kicking the bed so hard that it shook the entire frame, jolting you out of sleep. "Huh? W-What?" you slowly propped yourself into a seated position. Your eyes were still half-open as you stared at him. "Are you still planning to go to work or not?" He asked, crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow at you.

You glanced at the time on your Pangu terminal on the bedside table and immediately started to panic. "SHIT!!!" you hissed, hopping off from his bed as if you had been electrocuted. "I'm late!" you exclaimed, hastily grabbing your things from the table and slipping on your boots without even changing your clothes. You wwere in such a rush that you kept running back and forth inside Jiyan's quarter.

"Here, wear this." he said, tossing a pair of shorts to you. Jiyan knew they were a bit big for your frame, but he wanted you had to wear something for the bottom.

You're a doctor, and Jiyan is aware that you're accustomed to seeing exposed bodies all the time, but he doesn't appreciate it when you apply the same standards to yourself. You often forget that people outside of your work environment may have different perspectives.

Jiyan couldn't shake off the thoughts from last night, remembering how bold you had been. This only made him facepalm in utter hopelessness.

"Jiyan! Thank you! I'll see you around!" you said as you headed for the door. "I'll have some of the Rangers escort you back to the Capital." The General offered, feeling concerned for your safety. He just received a report this morning that some exiles are roaming around Central Plains And he doesn't want to jeopardize your safety. "No need! I can take care of myself," you grinned, winking at him. His chuckle indicated his awareness of your capability to defend yourself. This reminded him of the time when both of you were still trainees, you were always displaying viciousness during practical exams and showing no fear in taking down Tacet Discords.

But this didn't stop the General from insisting on having someone escort you back. "Liste-"

"Bye, General!" you hurriedly interrupted, rushing outside to take one of the horses from the stable before dashing away. Jiyan shook his head and sighed. Nevertheless, he decided to give you a call every ten minutes to ensure you were fine.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

[Jinzhou]

"Xin Ye! I'm sorry I'm late," you apologized to your most trusted staff as soon as you arrived at the emergency room. "Where have you been?" she asked, scrutinizing you from head to foot. "Oh, I see," she raised an eyebrow at you with a smirk. Xin Ye immediately deduced that you had spent the night at the General's quarters. "Oy, it's not what you think." you said, rolling your eyes at her. "Hmmm. Really? Then why are you wearing the General's clothes?" she asked, grinning at you. Ignoring her question, you proceeded to take a seat in a chair. "So, have you two... um, done it yet?" Xin Ye leaned in close to your face, eagerly awaiting an answer. "Urgh. Stop asking me those weird questions. Jiyan and I are just friends. Nothing more, nothing less." you said, pushing her face away from yours.

"By the way, why didn't you even bother sending me a message last night? I was so worried about you, and no one from the hospital knew where you went, except for that one staff who saw you rushing off with a horse." Xin Ye sat on the couch, pouting. "I'm sorry. I thought something bad had happened to the General, so I rushed to the Rearguard's base without having the time to notify anyone." you always appreciated how she worries about you.

"Geez. You two should get married already. Both of you may not admit it, but the eyes can't lie, you know." Xin Ye remarked.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I sighed, grabbing the documents in front of me to begin checking the status of my patients. "Anyway, we need to head to the Central Plains later to provide the villagers with their free monthly check-up. I'll be back in 30 minutes. Just allow me some time to prepare our materials." she said before heading back to your office. she said before heading back to your office.

You already anticipated that it was going to be a long day ahead.

"Thank you, Doctor! We always appreciate your kindness," said the old woman, who suddenly gave you a hug. It was your advocacy to provide them with free access to medical services such as antenatal care, assisted deliveries, caesarean sections, health services for children below a defined age (often 5 years), and health services for elderly people above a certain age (often 65 years). You chose these services to protect population groups deemed to be especially vulnerable, particularly low-income groups. You hugged her back and replied, "As long as I have the energy to do it, I'll keep coming back to ensure everyone's well-being." You spent the entire day making sure that everyone who needed your services was well taken care of. You even managed assisting a woman in delivering her baby.

As the sun was about to set, you decided to visit a nearby hill where you and Jiyan used to unwind when both of you were still Rangers in training. You couldn't help but take a deep breath the moment you saw the mesmerizing horizon in front of you. Seeing the beautiful scenery lifted the heavy weight from your shoulders.

"Haaaaaa!" you sighed in relief, extending your arms in the air as you took a seat under the persimmon tree while savoring the symphony of birdsong emanating from above. Exhausted, you drifted off to sleep without realizing it, your body gently resting against the trunk of the tree as the gentle breeze embraced you in its comfort.

The General went to Jinzhou after quelling the rampaging TDs around Wuming Bay. He planned to give you a surprise visit as he headed to the hospital, assuming that you were there, but to his dismay the medics informed him that you were out on a mission.

Upon finding out that you were in the Central Plains, he promptly headed there with a basket full of fruits and snacks which he personally purchased from Panhua's Restaurant. Jiyan knew that once you started working, you never took breaks. While he commends you for being a great doctor, he feels annoyed by your attitude of always neglecting yourself in the process of helping others.

Upon his arrival at the village, the people welcomed him with joyous smiles and warm hospitality. "Is Doctor Y/N here?" he asked one of the elderly individuals standing in front of him. "Oh, Doctor Y/N? She's up the hill." The old man pointed behind the General. "As I thought," Jiyan mumbled with a smile. "Thank you." he expressed his gratitude to the old man. But before he could even turn around, an elderly woman spoke up, "When are you planning to have kids? Both you and Doctor Y/N are such a lovely couple."

"I-...Doctor Y/N and I are just friends.." he stuttered, baffled by the statement. Jiyan's face burned with embarrassment as the whispers of the villagers invaded his ears. It didn't take long for the General to realize that the villagers knows a lot about you and him- as they had always seen both of you together during your training days. Jiyan mumbled an apology as he briskly walked away, feeling embarrassed by the sudden attention. He could feel the heat in his face spike at the suggestion.

Reaching the hill, he saw you, who was peacefully sleeping under a persimmon tree. He couldn't help but smile at the sight. Jiyan aimed to be cautious not to wake you up, softly placing the basket on the ground before sitting down next to you.

For a brief moment, he closed his eyes, allowing himself to reflect. "I don't know what to feel, Y/N..." he whispered under his breath. He knew that he wanted to protect you and care for you the same way you did for others. "But I won't force anything, as long as you're happy, I am too."

"Jiyan?" you softly whispered as you opened your eyes, grabbing the General's attention. "Y/N! You're awake!" he exclaimed, sounding surprised.

"Hi, what are you doing here?" you asked, rubbing your eyes in confusion. Jiyan's presence was the last thing you expected. "I came to surprise you." he replied. "I also came to return the favor as you've been doing this for me for years now."

The corner of your lips curled into a smile as you listened to Jiyan. "Awww, thank you, General." You gave him a tight hug, having your head rest on his chest. Jiyan let out a soft chuckle as he patted your head.

"I brought food for you." he said as he pointed to the basket. You retrieved it and glanced at its contents, your eyes widening. "You didn't have to do this."

"Why not? I just wanted to treat you." he said, shrugging his shoulders. Jiyan's kind gesture melted your heart as it's rare for him to show you such affection. "Would you like to eat something?" he offered. You nodded "So, how was your day?" Jiyan inquired as he grabbed a banana from the basket to offer it to you. "It was tiring, but fulfilling." you smiled to yourself, taking a bite from the fruit.

"But I couldn't be happier to help these folks." Jiyan had always admired your unwavering dedication. He took a bite of his apple, a silent testament as he listened. There was an unspoken connection between the two of you that left plenty unsaid, yet it was more than enough.

"It's a shame that I couldn't appreciate your hard work more often." Jiyan said after swallowing his bite. "I'll try my best to do that in the future." The General's expression seemed solemn, as if he had a weight pressing against his chest. "General, are you worried about anything?" You asked, staring at him with a furrowed brow.

"There's this one exile that has been causing trouble in Desorock Highland, and I can't shake off the feeling that something big is brewing." Jiyan murmured, seeming uneasy. "I can't let some scum endanger your life while you're on missions outside the Capital, do you understand?" He emphasized his last words as he gazed deeply into your eyes.

"Don't worry, General. I'll be fine, and I have faith in your Rangers." you consoled him, patting his shoulder. "And if anything does happen, I'll just call for you, so you can come and save me." you teased, playfully nudging his side.

The connection between you two was like a delicate dance, where one leads, the other follows, and both are in control. The warmth, comfort, and loyalty Jiyan displayed made it hard for anyone to deny. He had always been your shield, your best friend, and now, he could be something more if only both of you allowed yourself to accept it.

════•⭐•════

End of Chapter 3 🥀...

[pleasantspark]

Since Hazbin sucks heres a series (currently hosted on A03) of mine I am working on.

These are planned anything beyond enter, spiral has not been done yet.

Season Two 7 Sins and A Conundrum Lucifer and the Seven Deadly Sins gather to talk about the upcoming changes that Michael had done.

You can think that you're in love when you're really just in Pain Agatha has been getting on Leviathan's nerves and he's finding it difficult to spend time with Mammon without Agatha getting suspicious.

Spotlight: Cipher Cipher goes into detail of his past to Fran after an incident that Fran has.

Iblis Lucifer is worried about Jezebel getting hurt from the outrage at the new deadline and new policy from Michael so Lucifer hires a bodyguard, this goes about as well as you think.

Cherry Blossoms It's Mothers Day, and Lucifer has been thinking about his mother. Meanwhile in Heaven God tries to cope with the loss of his wife, Clara.

Enter, Spiral It's been nearly 20 years since Spiral has left Hell, and she's back, to HAVE FUN!

Water is Thicker Than Blood Leek, the Water Nymph stirs up trouble at the Resort.

Driving Me Hazy Hecate shows up to the Resort interested in redemption.

Getting To Know You There has been tensions arising in the Resort with the arrivial of Iblis and Hecate, so Jezebel thinks of some ideas to try and get everyone to be friendly to one another.

Spotlight: Lucifer Lucifer has a bad nightmare that leads to Vivian trying to comfort him.

Here Comes A Thought Lucifer and Vivian goes to Asmodeus/Viv for couples counsling and advice on fixing the bedroom activites.

Greed and Envy Mammon and Leviathan spends some time together when Agatha isn't around.

Requiem of a Broken Envy Leviathan struggles with his wifes abuse and is having a hard time opening up to Mammon about it. Losing You Jezebel thinks about Tayliea and remembers all the good times they shared, which leads to a heart to heart between her and Iblis.

Time Lucifer fears that time with his family isn't all there and wishes he could spend more time.

A Bad Omen Omen comes back for Summer Break and decided to spend some time with his family in Hell, which leads to Lucifer finding out about Nyx being in Hell.

Father of The Year God finds out about Michael's plans to kill Sinners and this time wants to put an end to it.

Chained To The Rhythm Nyx is confronted by Lucifer about her faking her own death and she opens up to Lucifer about her abuse at the hands of Michael.

Welcome Back, Jesus! Jesus makes an appearance after years of being gone, this is met with confusion and mostly anger. Hecate is finally redeemed.

The Last of Us Michael finally arrives to Hell with his new team of bandits dedicated to killing the Sinners, and a surprise revelation he faces appears. [22:20] Season Three The Golden Child Lucifer reminds himself about how unfair his other siblings were treated in comparison.

You're Not Okay Lucius is concerned about Lawrence to the point of wanting to dig around his personal life. Which leads to a confrontation and becoming close.

Welcome to Heaven, Sinners! Lucifer notifies Jezebel that God extended a invite to him to go to Heaven but he said he wanted to give the invitation to his daughter instead, this causes Jezebel to take the Hotel to Heaven.

Clara God is reminded about his dead wife, and reflects.

Spotlight: Mammon Mammon invites Leviathan over for some Biscuits and Tea where Mammon talks about his past.

The Archangels Gabriel and the other Angels hold a meeting.

Holding Onto A Little Bit Of Redemption Vixxen asks himself if he's worthy of Redemption and upon talking to himself, Nyx gives him a heart to heart.

Micheal's Last Stand Michael wants to take Nyx back, but something is preventing him from doing so.

Flashing Lights Vixxen summons up the courage to take Nyx out on a date, and she accepts, they go to a club, meanwhile Lucifer and Vivian finds out something exciting.

You're (Still) Not Okay Lucius catches Lawrence relapsing and notices that his issue is as bad as he thinks. He tries to get him to change but realized it's not easy for an addict to quit cold turkey. It Would've Been Better If You Left Me Alone Leviathan is tired of Agatha and is ready to divorce her. But she's not ready to leave him.

Lizzie Lizzie pleads with her father to understand her for feeling this way towards a Sinner, Adam isn't pleased and tried to shut her down.

Only (Boy) In The World Leviathan finalizes the divorce from Agatha but he is having conflicting thoughts for Mammon which leads him to yearning for him. These feelings causes him to feel confused.

Confident Nyx reveals her eye to the crew, and they were shocked. She is told by Vixxen to stand up to Michael. And Nyx refuses.

I (Still) Love You Nyx laments about her failed relationship with her brother even though he hurt her, she wishes that she could at least have a close friendship but it ended up with him hurting him.

Mammon's Game Show! We are introduced to Mammon's Game Show, a place where he records a Game Show with his Adoptive Son who contends with other people.

Rock and Bop Two Brothers are interested in Redemption.

The Overlords Cipher has to go to a meeting with the Overlords and he brings Fran. This leads to a confrontation with his rival.

Bryce Hankhust's Visit Bryce Hankhust visits the Resort to see if the place is operating fine.

Redemption Rock and Bop finally get redeemed which causes Jezebel to revel in the success of her operation. Season Four The Triple T's Tex, Tilly and Tesco make an appearance at the Resort, Tesco is here to start drama with Cipher.

Madam Katie Madam Katie comes to visit Cipher about buisness.

Daddy Issues Mammon notices that Leviathan is sad, he pokes a bit and reveals that Leviathan has remembered about his Daddy Issues.

What's In A Name? Lawrence convinces Lucius that he is okay, but Lucius does not believe him and is willing to try and help him. Which Lawrence actively pushes away.

I Didn't Know I Love You So Much, But I Do… Mammon confesses to Leviathan and feels like a weight has been lifted, but Agatha won't stop at NOTHING to ensure he's not happy.

I'm Supposed To Be With You… An incident happened between Iblis and Jezebel and Jezebel wants to dismiss Iblis, but Iblis doesn't want to go.

You Are Special, To Me! Lucius has enough of Lawrence self destructive tendencies and is worried for him. He finally confronts him and Lawrence confesses a lot of issues he's faced and finally confesses to him.

Spotlight: Vixxen We get a glimpse on Vixxen's past.

I Love You Vixxen admits his feelings to Nyx and the two go out with one another.

Holding Out For You Lucius is determined to stay by Lawrence's side. Weither if he means it or not. The Tides Must Turn Leek decides to try Redemption, and the gang accepts him.

From S, With Love A bunch of mysterious letters are being found by Lucifer all around Heaven with threatening messages.

Welcome Back, Charles Morningstar! Charles returns to Hell to visit his family after being gone for nearly 3 Years.

Let Me Love You Lizzie manages to contact Cipher and the two talk.

A Piece of The Puzzle Cipher is slowly changing as a person and everyone noticies it.

Mama Young Lydia Young reflects on her time in Heaven where she is only because her Husband went to Hell.

Why Do You Hate Me? Gabriel wonders why their brother Michael refuses to listen to them. They find out why.

It's Okay To Cry Leo comforts a upset Azrael who wonders if his powers is a detriment but Leo tries to help him.

Are You Happy Now? Nyx is hitting a roadblock mentally, and wonders if Vixxen is truly happy with her or just putting up a front.

The Fall of Lucifer Lucifer tells the true story of why he Fell to Jezebel because he feels guilty for what he's done. Leek gets redeemed. Season Five Heart Attack Lucifer is being dragged to Heaven by God for a meeting between the two but, Lucifer doesn't want to come up there.

Omen Morningstar, Master of Purgatory Omen lies to Mandy about his past and refuses to go to Church with her, this fight leads to Mandy storming off and Omen tripping and ending up in Purgatory, where he's unable to Leave.

If You're Really Mine? Michael argues with Neo about his true feelings on Nyx and comes to a disturbing discovery: He truly feels something for her. But in order to fix that he decided to repent.

It's You! Despite Everything… You're still… You… Nyx has a mental breakdown from the stress about how Michael has treated her.

Treat You Better (Better Than He Can!) Nyx is told by Vixxen that she deserves better.

You're as Faithful As a Nun The Letters from this S. Is getting increasingly more and more concerning as time goes on, and Lucifer is worried about something out of his control.

Save Us From a Sin Jezebel calls for help from her Grandfather as she believes that her Resort is getting somewhere but she wants to see where it goes.

Hell Is Not Forever Galim finally decided to let bygones be bygones and go down to Hell to make up with Lucifer.

What Is Love? (Baby Don't Hurt Me, Don't Hurt Me) Omen is prepared to leave Purgatory with Dex.

You're Just As Beautiful As The Day I Met You Vivian wonders if she's beautiful in the eyes of Lucifer and Lucifer reassures her. Welcome Back, Omen! Omen arrives back to Mandy and confesses to her about his true origins. She's at first skeptical and angered that he kept it from her for so long. But accepts his apology and gives him her number and leaves. On it is a confession.

S Knows Best The Letters and notes from S. is getting worse as they are now planning a war and at first Lucifer isn't that worried that is before they realized that this S. bombed a nearby place near the castle. This led to Lucifer calling for the help of The Resort.

Mia The Thrall Jezebel warns everyone about the upcoming war, and Cipher offers a friend- a Thrall who can help them. A Thrall by the name of Mia. He warns them that Mia is weird and might say weird things.

Threatening Letters From Your Past God received the same letters from this S. person and decided to warn Galim and Leroy. This gets Michael interested as he believes the only one responsible might be Seraphiel and wants to expose him.

Truth Hurts Omen gets summons from Hell and tells Mandy he has to leave but promises to come back. He learns that their home is in Danger and they need his help to protect it.

Lilith's Feelings Lilith asks Azrael out, to which, Azrael agrees but feels nervous.

Retribution S plans to reveal himself on the day of the war, and Lucifer arranges a meeting with Heaven and The Sins. Everyone noticies that Satan is nowhere to be seen.

House of Satan Brief intermission from Satan as he is busy preparing for the war with a smirk on his face, feeling like he's done something amazing.

The Rise of Roo Satan enlists the help of Roo, meanwhile everyone prepares for the war the next day. One Shall Rise, And One SHALL FALL (Series Finale) Lucifer appears ready for the fight with Heaven and Hell by his side. But it's revealed who he's fighting with is actually Satan, Satan isn't too surprised that Lucifer decided to enlist the help of people he claimed to hate but doesn't care, everyone battles and a loss from a close friend ends up happening (SERIES FINALE)

[mediocre-shark-tales]

Qsmp x Streamer reader (5)

Summary - Prison Event Day 2

Warnings - In Game/lore- Mentions of abuse/torture, Violence, and swearing.

There is a chance for this to turn into a love trope of some kind but for now there is focus on fluffy platonic-ness

This series will not be 100% lore accurate, but it will be pretty close to it.

Masterlist

I had just turned on my live video, watching as everyone slowly began to join. I smiled seeing them chat amongst themselves about if I will drop more lore. Others putting dancing emotes in chat, dancing to a few of my current favorite songs. I was currently messaging Tubbo, reminding of him to get on at the right time. NO way would I let sunny get left out today. Finally I the timer on my starting screen ended and I clicked start on my face cam. "Hey guys! we are getting back at it today! Let's go ahead and get started right away since it should have just opened."

I quickly logged in and found myself in my lonely fish cell. I was in Shark mode in the fish tank. So I turned it off and headed out into the rest of my room. Outside the cell, I saw others were already on and getting to work on fighting the mobs outside. I saw Bagi's cell, so I called out to her. "BAGI! HELLO!" She turned around and looked around for me. Once she saw me, she quickly began got yell back. "HI Y/N!" Seconds later they began to let us out of the cells. I saw tubbo join and bolted to go say hi to him.

He was yelling and screaming at the guards by the time I got over there. Fit joined us as well telling tubbo how they were roommates now. Once their conversation was over, that when I basically shattered Tubbos ears. I had turned on my voice changer so I sounded like a god. You know the overly echo-ed voice with slight increased pitch change. I had already pre-warned my chat.

"TUBBO! You bitch! left your fucking daughter alone without notifying your free babysitter!?" Tubbo yelled back. "Holy shit you are loud! what the fuck!" I laughed and turned off my voice changer. Without another word, I left him and pulled out my little diamond knife. Finding the first round of mobs to fight, while I waited for others to join.

Now that everyone was on, I knew any second now they would pull me away for my 'torture lore'. Currently we had been moved to a hallways with a lot more mobs to fight, or clean I guess. Tubbo showed up with sunny, this made me smile knowing she had someone to watch her now. I was chatting with Phil while we fought mobs. "So we getting another escape plan set up today?" I asked. "Yeah we have a few ideas, fit and I." He told me. "Cool what ide-" I was cut off as I got teleported away. When it loaded, I realized I was in the torture cell. Great.

In chat I saw Phil typing, trying to understand where I went. However I could reply as I was now stood in front of Guard 1, they were quick to hand me a book. I read it aloud again.

So, Do you want to give up the information we asked for yesterday?

Do you want to confess your crimes? Tell us where and what your master is? Give us the information we want.

Only then will all his stop, no more pain, no more questions. Give us the information and we let you go.

I returned the book to them and stared them down. I sighed and then spoke with as much determination as I could. "Once again, I will tell you that I have NO clue what you are talking about. Trust me if I knew what you were talking about, then I would most likely tell you to keep my friends safe. However, you only continue to prove to me how useless and stupid you are by not listening to me. So I know you have already stopped listening to me now. So go ahead, rip open my skin, beat me into your idea of a submissive civilian. I don't care, my only master is Poseidon, he will one day grant me the power I need to enact my revenge on you and your mindless drones. So go ahead, spill my blood however you see fit. Just remember that karma is a motherfucking bitch, you coward."

They stared at me for a few more seconds, then they pulled out a sword. This one was shaped like a katana, the blade was a shining silver with reds outlining. The base a black with red detail. This is what he used to mercilessly kill me over and over again. As the voices returned along with it. This time not only did I hear that dreaded male voice, but they could also hear mine responding to it. Almost as if I was hearing a memory.

"You will fight with us little shark, this is our home!" ~Him

"If any of your words were true, then yes! You know I would fight to the last man standing. But this is all a huge lie! YOU CHOSE A DEMON and you refuse to see the mess you created!" ~Me

"I am saving our home! all you and the others are expected to do is follow my lead, that's how this works! I saved you from those sinners!" ~Him

"You were the one I depended on the most, Yet you've let me down in ways that I can't even- (sigh) I can't keep forgiving and forgetting what you have done!" ~Me

"I never did anything to you, you don't get to say that." ~Him

"You have caused so many different problems for me, you have ruined things I loved, and hurt those I cared for. Yet I was convinced that maybe you were right. But a long time ago I realized the truth, that you were just a coward hard riven on your ways. You won't relent to allow new prosperously hopeful ideas to exist, so you tear them down inch by inch. I won't live by that anymore." ~Me

"Wait Little shark! Don't go out there!" ~Him

The voices ended with the sound of a huge explosion, at the same time that I was killed for the last time. When I respawned, this time I looked a little worse overall. More rips to the clothing had been added, and more bruised looking skin placed around my character. They then teleported me back to the group, who were now outside getting ready to build as a game.

I sighed and tried to put back on a smile as I walked over to the group. "Hi guys I'm back." They all looked at me then at Phil. Who walked up to me with Fit and the eggs. "You come over here right now." He spoke really close to his mic to sound more intimidating. "Okay." I said with a smaller voice, following right after him. Once we got to a more hidden area where only Phil, Fit and the Eggs could hear me.

"You need to explain what is going on right now. Why does guard 1 keep stealing you away to kill you million times and you come back looking worse than when you left!" Phil asked. "You have to tell us y/n, we know something is going on and we want to help you." Fit said. I sighed. "But it really doesn't concern you guys, it's just bette you don't know, so I can keep you and the eggs safe. You don't need to become potential confidants in my problem." I told them trying to get across that it's better this way.

The two looked at each other before trying again. Fit speaking first this time, "You don't have to protect us y/n, we can do that ourselves just like we have before you came to the island. Trust us we have seen the worst of the worst." I looked to him. "But this is starting to look like a lot bigger than you may have ever fought. You know about my past as much as I do, You know I can't remember anything from before the day the pirates capture me. Now things are changing, Now I can't recognize fat from fiction. I can't allow my burdens to become yours." Phil spoke next sounding a lot more sympathetic this time.

"Awe mate, you can't let yourself fight this alone. Let us help you. Give us a chance to help you, to keep you safe." This broke something in me, of course what came next was all part of my lore. "I know you want to help me, but after what I have remembered? I can't let myself trust someone so much again. It's for the better that this is how it must be. I'm sorry guys, but I just can't risk it." With those words I walked away. Hearing their voice get quieter, however I did hear a few things before their voices were too quiet. "She remember something from her past?" fit asked. "I guess so, it must have hurt her a lot for her to be this way now, she would have told us if it wasn't that bad." Phil replied to him.

I glanced at Chat, seeing them yelling that I should have told them. Angry and exhausted from the way my lore was falling, they were hilarious to read. However, I held my self back from smiling to much.

When I returned to the building area, I found out my group to build with was Tubbo and Bagi. However they were already done, mainly giving up on trying to build whatever it was. "What is this y/n?" He handed me a book, reading it I smiled. "Have you guys seen Cars 2?"

They both said they had seen it. "Well this name belongs to the red, green, and white formula FB1 car. He was the car that lightning McQueen was genuine rivals with. The one who had angered McQueen enough at the beginning of the movie to convince McQueen to sign up for the big race?" After my explanation, both seemed to have finally dawned who I was talking about. Tubbo scoffed. "Of course the American gets it." I laughed. "Hey in 5 years I while be a citizen of the UK." This made Tubbo gasp. "Wait you're staying here after your schooling?" I smiled. "Well I'm just getting stuff ready to make that decision. If I do end up finding the right connections or main job here while in schooling, then yeah might as well stay and get citizenship. BUT if somewhere back in LA was to contact me with a better job option then I'll move back home. For now, I'm living here as an international student until I decide."

Tubbo made a sound of understanding. "Well I hope you stay, it will be so nice to have you around with the rest of us." We were now running around for a free time while others finished their builds. That was until we saw some one new join the server. Charlies name popping up. I looked at Sunny, who immediately saw me and placed down a sign. Once she finished I read her sign, "Oh my god! That's my other pa!" I smiled. "It is isn't it! Hopefully they will bring him to us soon! Just stick with papa tubbo and I. Once we seem him we can go meet him." She nodded to agree with my plan.

For now we followed tubbo around as he looked for things to steal. Of course I joined him in looking for things. But soon we got bored and went to find out if we could go back inside ourselves. However right when we got to the door we ran right into Charlie. "TUBBO!" He yelled as the man in question responded with an equally happy hello.

While they chatted, I ran and brought sunny over. "Come on sweetness, time to go meet your pa!" But she stopped crouched down before placing a sign. She told me she was nervous and scared. "You hold on over here, I'll get Tubbo's attention and he can hold your hand while you meet Charlie." She gave me a small slow nod. While Charlie was in a conversation with fit and Ramon for a second, I hit tubbo who turned around questioning me. I quietly looked right at sunny then back at tubbo, whispering for him to go to her. That's when Charlie saw me and yelled. "Holy Shit! Y/n?! What are you doing here!? Since when did you join?!" I laughed "I joined like a fucking week ago man!? Somehow they already wanted to arrest me. I don't even know what I did." He laughed and then looked right at fit, talking about the crimes we are in for and how long we are in for. Finally when he walked off towards the eggs again, Tubbo spoke up. "Hey Charlie do you want to say hi to sunny?" I watched as slowly tubbo was able to drop that sunny was also his new daughter.

That's when all hell broke loose, Charlie trying to understand how he had a new daughter and why. Once sunny asked me if Charlie didn't like her or something, that's when I went into my own parent mode. I hit both boys and whisper yelled to them. "First tubbo, get back over there and explain to sunny that Charlie just needs a second to take all this in cause he just woke up from a long ass coma and is in a prison. She's over there doubting herself because of how you both reacted." Tubbo quickly walked off to support sunny. Then I stared down Charlie, giving him another hit. "And you, get yourself together, she's your kid whether you like it or not. Though I'm sure she will grow on you just as much as she has for me. Anyways, you get over there and start acting like a dad, or so help me-" He cut me off. "Okay don't worry y/n! I wouldn't be a dead beat dad, let me meet this sunny." With that he walked over and began to chat with sunny again.

I smiled and left them to interact before returning back to the rest of the gang. We were now being taken to a new room, apparently it was language class time. Entering the "Classroom" It looked almost like a mini version of the movie theater, just with the addition of a big stage. I found myself a chair at the front of the room, with a little easel in front of it. Other began to pile in, the small space quickly becoming louder and louder with everyone talking. Suddenly there was a small duck in front of me. Taking in the accessory and voice of the duck, I knew this must be Baghera. I smiled as she quacked before speaking. "OH hello! You must be y/n!" Baghera and I had never really met before. "Yep, the one and only!" She giggled. "Do you want a gift!?" Her high pitched voice changer made everything she said just a little funnier. "sure!" she giggled like a little evil duck. "Well I am the duck of love cause I love love, so you have to kiss someone to get this gift!" This caught me off guard and I looked around the room. "But no one here is really single and those who are would never!" Thinking harder, the only one who would do it for the shits and giggles was Wilbur, but that bitch was in the middle of tours and other shit. Baghera, wait I mean Quacki's giggling brought me back from my thoughts. "Don't worry, I'll find someone and give both a gift." With that she ran off and I laughed lightly before paying attention to the front again.

However almost a full minute later, right as Charlie, tubbo and fit were just entering the room. I heard a hello to my left. Standing there was Foolish. "Hey Y/m, I was told by Quacki here that If I want a gift I had to kiss you." I scoffed. "She told me almost the same thing, but I told her no one here would do it. Guess she convinced you huh?" He laughed, "Wow glad to know that's the only reason I got a chance at a free gift." I laughed with him. But Quacki walked us both, yelling "Hey, Now you kiss! on the lips! Then I will give you a gift, I am the duck of love so kiss!" I giggled a little at her with Foolish. "Okay okay, alright come here foolish." I stood up and crouched my character, he did the same thing slowly coming closer. We both made a kiss sound before quickly turning to Quacki. She laughed loudly like a school girl, spinning around in circles. "Okay! here is your gifts!" She gave Foolish and I both diamond swords. We quickly hid that into our inventories, chatting for bit before Charlie overheard something he said. Thus Charlie took his attention away and I returned to my seat waiting for class to begin.

Masterlist

[jasontoddsgaythoughts]

Okay back to our regularly unscheduled programming of “The Batfamily as a Sitcom” part two. *end commercial break*

After Cass’ and Jason’s plan fails they enter a four person group chat where they plan a way for Jason and Cass to sneak into the guest rooms without seeing Bruce. Cass tries first but is stopped by Alfred when he knocks on her door to deliver the ballet shoes she left in another room, and to tell her how proud she is that she’s putting herself out there romantically. Jason tries second but Alfred shows up to request they cook breakfast together the next morning, so Jason can show off to Rose and so Alfred can spend quality time with his grandson. As Alfred leaves he notifies Jason that he will be checking in with the rest of the family before going to bed, so Jason texts the group chat that they’ll probably have to wait until Alfred’s done before they can sneak out.

Ten or so minutes later, like a true sitcom, the plan changes to Rose and Kyle sneaking out for a minimal reason like Cass and Jason are too comfortable to move now. Rose tries sneaking out first, but is interrupted when Alfred walks in to offer more blankets and/or a tea before going to bed. Rose appreciates the hospitality but tries her best to get rid of the older man. When Alfred does leave she texts the group chat that it might take a while because Alfred’s still not in bed, and she assumes he’ll check on Kyle next. Kyle doesn’t try to even leave the room, instead he tucks himself into bed believing playing along with Alfred’s nightly visit and looking less suspicious would get him to leave faster. When Alfred enters he raises a brow at Kyle’s relaxed attitude. Instead of being warm like he was with the Batkids and Rose, Alfred gives Kyle the most intense shovel talk of his life and takes the blankets Kyle is already using under the excuse of them being dirty so Kyle will probably need new ones. Needless to say after thirty minutes of waiting Alfred just never returns.

When Kyle complains about his lack of covers to the group chat, the girls ignore him and suggest now is the perfect time to sneak out. With none of them planning anything solid now, they all sneak out at the same time, only for all four to run into Alfred who was waiting patiently for this moment. Instead of trying to lie to him, they come clean about their plans, and this is the cheesy sitcom moment of “You gotta tell your father the truth yada yada, master Jason and miss Cassandra you’re college students now you should be able to talk to your dad yada yada, yes he can be stubborn but he cares about you yada.”

And next morning when they confess at breakfast Bruce is upset, but he understands where they’re coming from after Alfred intervenes by bringing up Bruce’s own sleep over experiences. Bruce agrees to give them more freedom and trust, but the moment comes to a halt when Tim, who is still in a half sleep state, says he thought B was cool with that considering Dick is dating a red head and they sleep over all the time. And as if on cue Dick comes down for breakfast followed by Barbara, Kori, Roy, and Wally who all slept over last night. Cass, Rose, Jason, and Kyle decide they should get breakfast somewhere else as soon as Bruce’s eye starts to twitch… and end of the episode! This episode was not filmed in front of a live studio audience.

follow up to this post here

[drinkintrashjuice]

woo ep. 2 time (MID rewrite)

first off, my bad for making the 3 people that actually liked this wait for like *Wheezes* A WEEK!? It’s mostly because of planning, loss of motivation almost immediately, realizing the first ep was kinda shit, wanting to rewrite that but was too lazy, splatoon having me in a chokehold, the usual. But now I’m BACK and I’m gonna do this cus I’ve got motivation. So please enjoy and tell me if it’s ass lol. (Also I changed Lady bish’s name cus like…obviously? U can’t make serious scenes when someone has a name like that😭 so her new name is Lady Ki but she has a secret name but if I say it it’ll spoil stuff lol)

Episode 2: The Honesty of a Queen

Yakedo sits at his throne discussing the future of the kingdom with his advisor, Lady Ki. She had long, white-ish blonde hair with light blue horns. She was dressed in light blue royal robes, and had a, as describe by some Chikara men, natural beauty.

“My king, the idea is simple,” Lady Ki paces around the area in front of Yakedo’s throne. “Your own sons could handle this topic! And we both know their intelligence.”

“Are you implying that I’m dumb?” Yakedo’s claws leave marks at the arms of his throne.

“I would never say such a thing! I’m saying the plan is easy.” Yakedo knew that wasn’t what she meant, but going against Lady Ki in any sort of argument was near impossible. Even so, he couldn’t deny the results she brought back

Lady Ki has been Yakedo’s advisor for years. Affectively keeping the kingdom of Chikara at the top for as long as he’s been king. Though of course as king, he takes the credit. If his people knew that she helps him with most attacks and economical issues, they’d beg for one of his sons to be king.

"My king, I'll say this once more, we win the race while we’re ahead. We destroy the other kingdoms, take their wealth, own everything, it’ll be glorious.” Lady Ki flips her hair for dramatic effect.

“It’s not that I’m hesitant, far from it. It’s the fact they’re all already on edge. It would be idiotic.” Lectures Yakedo. Lady Ki already had an argument at hand though.

“My king! Trust in my judgement! Just leave everything to me and I-“ The doors to Yakedo’s throne room burst open, cutting off Lady Ki in the process.

”What is the meaning of this!? State your business this instant!” Yakedo’s knights immediately saluted in fear.

“My king we are deeply sorry! But we were notified that the king of Mir would like to have a meeting with you!” They hand Lady Ki a scroll and she relays it to Yakedo

“Dearest Yakedo, I know this in years royal meeting we most certainly didn’t see eye to eye, but I’d loved if we could discuss about what happened. I know that having a kingdom as high in power as Chikara can be stressful, so I thought spending a few minutes or hours in Mir will help soothe your mind. Before you worry about any of the other rulers finding out, I assure you I have a plan to get you here without even the most talented spy knowing! I hope you consider accepting this offer. With love, Garmon Smirnov.”

Lady Ki and the two knights looked at Yakedo expectantly for any type of order. Yet Yakedo sat there confused, why would Garmon ask for something like this?

“My king excuse me for my impatience but…” Lady Ki flicked her hand at the scroll, “…your response?”

“Ah yes well…” Yakedo thought for a bit, “please write a letter to Garmon that I’ve accepted this invitation.”

Lady Ki raised an eyebrow. “Are you certain of this my king?”

“Very much Lady Ki, I’d like to entertain this idea. You never know what will come of it.”

Lady Ki furrowed her brows. “I’ll do as you wish…” her attention turned towards the two knights still awaiting orders. “You two. I ask that you stay by the doors of my quarters until the letter is finished. Then, quickly bring it to a messenger who will carry it to the gates of Mir. Understood?”

the two knights quickly nodded their heads and swiftly followed Lady Ki to her separate throne room.

This left Yakedo to think on what he just did. He could’ve just accepted himself to an early grave. Garmon and Mothando are good allies afterall. Still, he’s weirdly looking forward to this meeting. The mere idea of Garmon of all people trying to take him down makes him laugh.

“hehe…” Yakedo thinks out loud to himself, “You better have a good ass plan Garmon…”

“I keep telling you guys! I don’t know shit!” Ava yelled out while being held upside down by Pierce.

They were now in her apartment, with Ava regretting she ever got out of it. By now, she was convinced that the five daemons were weird cosplayers on crack.

“C’mon! You live here!” Shouted Asch, “there’s no way in hell you don’t know anything at all about it!”

Ava weighed her options. She could wriggle her way out of Pierce’s hands, skillfully do acrobatics around all the other guys, and sprint to the nearest police station. Then she thought she’d have a better chance of having the rapture happen right then and there instead of doing all that.

What’s another way to get outta this? Kill herself? Nah, she doesn’t know what these creeps would do. Kill one of them? That’s basically the first thought but with extra steps. As in, there’s no way in hell. Which left her with one more option. Lie.

“Y’know what? Fine, I’ll tell the truth! Since my..uhh…henchman don’t seem to be as of much help!” All the daemons faces immediately lit up.

“M-My name is queen Ava! Ruler of Earth! Whatever it is what you and your people will need, I’ll gladly help!” She looked up at Pierce, “Now please put me down! I’m getting very light headed!”

Asch signaled for Pierce to do so, and Pierce gently put Ava on the couch behind him.

“Thank you tall one!” She raised her hand to shake hands with Pierce, but he didn’t get the message, so he just stared at her.

“Aha…uhm” Ava quickly stood up and regretted it as she started seeing static. Once she composed herself she spun around to meet the five men that were in front of her.

“So if one of you five could please explain to me your issues?” Asch clears his throat and steps towards Ava.

“Queen Ava, we humbly ask that you select five of your people to come back with us to daemos.” He then bows “it is of great importance that you do this or everyone’s lives will be in jeopardy.”

Ava cursed under her breath. This actually sounds kinda serious. She thought it would be just like some roleplaying shit, but the way he said that sounded way too real.

“Uhm…if you don’t mind me asking…what will you do with these five people?”

Asch’s eyes widened with slight embarrassment “Oh yes! I apologize for forgetting.” He straightened himself up

“these five people will be sacrificed to replenish the magic in our world as it’s very important for our way of life.” Ava’s eyes were practically filled with shock.

”It can’t be any five of your people though, it has to be someone who can affectively embody the five kingdoms ideologies. More specifically, pure generosity, peace, endurance, intelligence, and power.” Asch bowed again, not knowing what to do with the newfound silence.

“W-Wow…yeah I can totally do this…as long as…” she looked up at the five daemons. They all looked at her with the utmost respect. She could just point at five random people in the street and send them on their merry way, but she’s not that much of an asshole. She could just skip to her last option though, it’s not like it isn’t working so far.

“Forget that! I can do ya one better!” She thought on the spot and then blurted out the most idiotic thing she’s ever said.

“Earth has tons of unlimited magic! And whoever can win my trust and love shall rule it with me!” She was convinced that the anime harem loving side of her was talking.

All of the daemons ears perked up at the same time and they all looked at each other in awe.

“Is this correct!?” They all said in unison.

“uh…yeah?” Ava wanted to sucker punch herself.

All five of the daemons made a step towards but Ava stopped them with a raise of her hand.

“B-But for humans it’s a bit late…s-so I’ll get you guys some blankets to sleep here for the night and I’ll teach you everything on earth and about me!” Before any of the daemons could respond, she ran to her closet, got a few blankets, threw them at the five men and ran into her room.

”And no going in any other room! Or you’ll be…uhh…disqualified!” She then slammed her door leaving the daemons standing by themselves in the fresh moonlight and a mountain of blankets on the ground.

“Unlimited magic…maybe that’s what all those box things were run by! Oh all the possibilities! Once I find the materials I’ll immediately tell Lady Grandma this great news!” Rhys excitedly gushed out.

“Yeah but being a ruler of it?” Leif looked towards the window “shit…even if it’s 50 50 that’s still a lot of power…”

“Especially ruling both this place and daemos” said Asch. Leif started to snicker.

“The fuck is so funny?” Asch looked at Leif and furrowed his brows.

“Nothin’! It’s just how you think your tiny ass is gonna rule anything is all.” Leif started to laugh even more.

“What!? How dare you say such a thing to your prince!? I could kick your ass anytime!” Said Asch. Getting quite hotheaded.

“Both of you stop this foolishness! You two are being highly childish!” Rhys got between them to stop the tension.

“I agree with rice.” said Pierce. Rhys slightly winced at the mispronunciation of his name.

“With the queen of earth being this hospital to us we should all get some rest while we can.”

“Thank you Pierce.” Rhys said blankly still annoyed “It’s Rhys by the way…” he said quickly

“Okay rice.” Said Pierce. Rhys winced again, but decided to just ignore it for now.

All five of the daemons slept in different parts of the room with their respective blankets. Noi slept on the couch, Leif slept by Ava’s door, Pierce slept on the table, and Rhys and Asch in the kitchen area. Rhys was more closer to the fridge while Asch was closer to the oven as that’s where they were most comfortable.

Asch still couldn’t sleep, as he was still thinking on what Leif said.

“Hey Rhys…you awake?” He poked at Rhys’s shoulder.

“Hmm..? Yes…anything for you my prince..” said Rhys, who clearly wasn’t awake a second ago.

“What you said before we came here in my room…you meant that right?” Asch didn’t think he could take another one of Rhys’s ‘nah actually I said that because I don’t know normal social interaction I just saw two people say it!!!’ It annoyed the fuck outta him. No matter how cute it was to see him admit it. Wait what?

“If you’re talking about me thinking you’d make a great king then yes, I did mean it.” Rhys stated, feeling a bit more awake by now.

“haha…what about the me being good looking bit?” Asch said jokingly. He fully expected Rhys to pull that copying what two other people said thing now.

“Yes actually, but to be fair, it’s an objective truth.” Rhys said sounding like he was about to drift off back to sleep.

“I fucking knew it…Rhys you’re fine the way you-“ Asch then processed what Rhys just said.

“Y-You…huh?” But by that time Rhys was already fast asleep. Leaving Asch to deal with how much harder his heart was pounding in his chest.

WAHHHH once again sorry for making yall wait for this short ass chapter. Turns out story making is hard😃*dying inside* next chapter might be long it might not it genuinely depends on how I feel. also I wanna post this on ao3 one day but that requires me to not be lazy and get an invitation and wait and like…🧍🏾‍♀️I ain’t doing that like Ik it’s prob not that big of a deal but STILL. So I’m thinking wattpad but that place has a lot of MID fanfics unlike ao3 so I’ll legit just be like a drop of water in the ocean. Idk 3 people that liked this tell me what I should do. Also I didn’t do that dumb text divided thing!! Pls don’t ask me why I did that I think I was possessed by an obnoxious person. And im gonna add more tags that was lowkey a dumbass decision on my part not to lol. Kk bye now imma go jump off a cliff until next episode ✌🏾

[teecupangel]

Prompt! Desmond mistakenly time travels to Ratonhnhaké:ton's time, and Juno, who realizes what he did, tries to turn Ratonhnhaké:ton against him. I believe I heard somewhere that Juno told Ratonhnhaké:ton to hide the key to the Temple? Well what if she told him of Desmond, maybe showed him a 'projection' of Desmond killing Lucy, and says Desmond will try to befriend him only to turn on him to get the apple of that time? (Ignorant of AC3 so I don't know the timeline of events.)

Juno only talks to Ratonhnhaké:ton twice though since Juno can only talk to Ratonhnhaké:ton using the crystal ball thingie that the clan mother had. One is when he was a teenager and told to leave the village to seek out the Assassins. The next time they talked is when the villagers had left without telling Ratonhnhaké:ton and Ratonhnhaké:ton called Juno out for her lies.

And since you want Juno to talk to Ratonhnhaké:ton about Desmond during the time she tells him to hide the key, we’ll set it at their second talk, during the ending parts of AC3.

So, in this setup, this would be a Ratonhnhaké:ton that’s still reeling from having to kill Haytham, bury Achilles, and find out his village had gone and left him alone even though everything he had done had been to protect them.

Also, by setting this up during that time, we can push the timeline of George Washington showing Ratonhnhaké:ton the Apple and make it so that Juno would show him a vision of the Apple in Washington’s hands, telling him, “He plans to take the Apple from this man…” (which is true, Desmond knows an Apple would be a big help right now) “… to use for his own selfish desires…” (which is also sorta true if you consider trying to change the past a selfish desire since Desmond isn’t thinking of what kind of butterfly effect it would have in the end) “… and none shall be able to defeat him…” (and here Juno will show him Desmond willingly using the Apple to kill Vidic who, as far as Ratonhnhaké:ton knows, is an unarmed old man telling Desmond to stop then flash forward it to Desmond using the Apple to order all Abstergo goons to take their own lives). Without knowing that Abstergo are Templars in disguise (and that Desmond was saving his father and trying not to die or get captured), Juno is able to paint Desmond as a ‘bad man’ that Ratonhnhaké:ton must be wary of.

Hell, Juno goes “You must kill him.” because Desmond only needs to live in the 21st century, this Desmond is an obstacle and a wildcard that Juno can't even use.

“If you do… I will show you where your village has gone.”

And Ratonhnhaké:ton knows he’s being used but, still…

Desmond looked dangerous and if the Apple in Washington’s hands is truly powerful then no one should hold it.

In this situation, both Ratonhnhaké:ton and Desmond go to Washington first just as Washington received the Apple from an unknown person.

Washington is surprised by their appearance (Ratonhnhaké:ton because they didn’t necessarily end in good terms and Desmond because he’s a complete stranger who just barged in without anyone notifying Washington at all) so… the Apple sorta activated while the three of them are in the vicinity.

And thus we have a story idea of Desmond accidentally getting transported into Tyranny of King Washington DLC.

Unorganized Notes:

To make things interesting, Desmond didn’t relive Ratonhnhaké:ton’s memories of the DLC. He went to Washington because he felt the Apple and thought “yeah, Washington shouldn’t have an Apple. Also… I need an Apple and this is closer than the vault in Rome.”

So when he gets transported into the DLC ‘timeline’, Desmond’s just “yeah, definitely the Apple’s illusion powers. But… why is everything so… real? Oh shit. Did I get transported in a different timeline???”

Ratonhnhaké:ton’s part of the story remains the same but Desmond intervenes enough times that his mother doesn’t die. She does, however, go into a coma so we have an excuse for Ratonhnhaké:ton to feel pressured to drink from the Red Willow tree.

Ratonhnhaké:ton sees Desmond has a hidden blade and they fight a few times (with Desmond trying to insist that he doesn’t want to fight Ratonhnhaké:ton and staying more on the defensive). He also notices that Desmond’s fighting style is too close to his own but there are moments where he feels like he is fighting a different person.

Desmond sees Ratonhnhaké:ton summon ghost wolves and he’s like “Okay, we’re doing this now? Fine.” with a tone of a tired man who had seen so much shit in a short amount of time that he’s just rolling with the punches.

Desmond and Ratonhnhaké:ton team up to defeat King Washington and Ratonhnhaké:ton does start to think there is more to it than Desmond being an evil man. Also he was already sus of Juno anyway,

So when they return to the real world, Washington gives the Apple to Ratonhnhaké:ton and Desmond doesn’t do anything. He just… leaves.

Later on, Desmond is surprised when Ratonhnhaké:ton appears before him.

While he’s about to board a ship set for France (it was the ship that would dock closest to Italy).

And Ratonhnhaké:ton admits that he still has the Apple and…

He’d like it if Desmond stayed for a while.

Desmond stares at him before smiling as he says, “I’d like that.”

(You know, for someone who hated the final boss of this DLC, I mention this DLC a lot…)

[thornquillthefiendish]

Crowhawk thoughts…strap in cause it’s gonna get very long.

Au where crow and hawk are the threes parents (hawk is ftm and crow is cis), hawk was still planning with ashfur at the time, so before it all goes down he backs out without wanting to explain why and ashfur, vindicated, still goes through with it by setting up the snare, telling Firestar hawkfrost is at the river wanting to speak with him and notifying bramble and squirrel that “wow Firestar went to see hawkfrost at the border and he hasn’t come back wonder what that’s about” where the two find him barely clinging onto life.

Everyone believes ashfurs version of events because he seemingly has no reason to lie, and Firestar brings this up next gathering and Leopardstar exiles him on the spot because at this point he’s made two attempts at treason. Hawkfrost’s only defense is that he wasn’t there at that time, but nobody remembers him at camp on the day of the incident, likely because he’d snuck off to see Crowfeather, which ofc he can’t say because that’d still be a betrayal. After he makes the weak defense, he willingly runs off and Crowfeather is notably very distraught, though most think it’s because they were close during the journey (they bonded over feathertails passing).

Leafpool doesn’t 100% buy this, while speaking with mothwing she brings up hawk and mothwing admits that he was definitely planning something amongst the other shit he pulled, but also says that he’d been sneaking into the medicine den and rolling in herbs for some reason she couldn’t quite place, and that more recently he’d began not only gaining a bit of weight, (which isn’t new for RiverClan I’d like to think a good chunk of them are very rotund not only because of diet but for extra warmth in water(hawk and moth tho don’t share those genes so they struggle a bit more than other riverclanners)) but oddly, his riskier behaviors had calmed down. She also informs leafpool that she witnessed her brother on several occasions toss and turn violently in his sleep, occasionally so violently he’d hurt himself supposedly and that she’s not sure what to think of it all. Leafpool does some digging, she tries to meet with Crowfeather a few times, but he always shrugs her off angrily and in a hurry, she’s able to get Brambleclaw to fess up to training in the dark forest with his brother and father which seems to point in the direction of him maybe trying to gain weight to build muscle to kill Firestar or some shit, but eventually StarClan interrupts that line of thought with “nah dog he’s pregnant and those kits are very important” and now Leafpool has to find this man — not only because he’s about to birth some very important kids, but also he’s out there on his own with no herbal knowledge or help that’s a death wish.

She asks Brambleclaw if he’s seen him in his dreams and bramble admits he stopped going to the dark forest after he saw Firestar in the snare, she asks mothwing if he ever said anything about where’d he go if not RiverClan and she very confusedly answers that he liked the moors a lot before trying to figure out what the fuck leafpool is up to - leafpool says she thinks he might be with kits, leaving out the “god told me” part and everything clicks in place for mothwing and she just says “Crowfeather, find Crowfeather” and Leafpool, having had the worst interactions with him so far goes to squirrelflight. Squirrelflight was closer to Crowfeather on the journey here so she can definitely convince him to talk to them, but not before Leafpool tells her w h y she wants to ask him about the whereabouts of the guy who attempted to murder their father for obvious reasons, and leafpool tells the whole truth to her, StarClan included.

Squirrelflight is still iffy about this, but she goes along with it. When they do meet with Crowfeather leafpool asks him where hawkfrost is and he becomes indignant and almost walks out. When leafpool tells him Hawkfrost’s with kits Crowfeathers demeanor changes and he asks them to promise to keep it between the three of them. He leads them to a rabbits burrow covered in underbrush and foliage — where he’s been harboring his outlaw boyfriend who is not happy when he sees the sisters. Hawkfrost is instantly defensive as he thinks they’re here to drag him back to ThunderClan and have him killed, it’s obvious he’s been in a very emotional state after the exile and is definitely going through it, but leafpool and squirrelflight insist they’re just here to help. The four of them have a sit down in attempts to talk about what the plan was — Crowfeather insists he was looking for a place for both him and hawkfrost to run to, but with him this vulnerable he had to be careful and scope shit out. Hawkfrost hates crowfeathers idea and they bicker about it for too long before leafpool interrupts saying the kits cannot leave the clans, they’re too important. Hawkfrost suddenly realizes what she means and instantly becomes defensive, saying he doesn’t want whatever she or anyone has in mind for his kits, it’s his decision on where they’ll go before he attempts to chase the two out. Leafpool is left feeling guilty, but also extremely confused, and squirrelflight severely conflicted on how to feel about hawkfrost.

Winter comes, leafpool attempts to see hawkfrost again, but all attempts are interrupted by one thing or another, whether that be her duties or Crowfeather keeping her at bay from his mate. Eventually, snowfall comes, and leafpool is visited by feathertail who urges her into the woods where she finds Crowfeather, wide eyed and shaken looking for hawkfrost, terrified ThunderClan had taken him after all, even shifting to rage upon seeing leafpool. When she swears he’s not with them, he calms down before quickly returning to worry, and the two go looking for him through faint traces of an already fading scent trail he’s left. They find him in a hollow tree, curled into himself and shaken. When asked why he left by Crowfeather, hawkfrost responds he just wanted to go home, but he wasn’t sure what he was thinking when he did aimlessly try to reach RiverClan. Once he neared the border he realized they’d likely attack him on sight, and an immense sense of guilt washed over him — for his betrayal, for those he hurt, for the kits he’d just endangered, leading him to aimlessly run into ThunderClan territory in search of shelter, where he goes into labour. Leafpool isn’t well prepared, but attempts to make do with what she has, Crowfeather tries to help her, but they clash a lot. Hollykit comes out fine, but it’s downhill from there. As it starts to look really bleak — suddenly, two wispy starlit figures appear at the entrance of the hollow, the images of Yellowfang and Cinderpelt quickly replaced by the real forms of Squirrelflight and Mothwing, both with herbs in their jaws. With the extra two hands the birth is successful, though extremely exhausting on everyone involved, especially hawkfrost.

Though everyone is very happy to see the kits, squirrelflight especially, hawkfrost is notably detached from everyone, including his newborns. Instead of naming them himself, he asks the four to name them instead. Squirrelflight names jaykit, Leafpool names lionkit, Mothwing names Polliwogkit (hollyleaf), and Crowfeather names Breezekit. As the snow starts to die down they discuss what they should do, and hawkfrost, the quietest out of them asks to meet with each of them alone, he has things he needs to say.

First he meets with mothwing because, well, they haven’t seen each other in a long time and they left off at a bad note. He apologizes to her, and says she must hate him, and while mothwing says she can’t forgive him, not yet, she admits she doesn’t hate him, and that that’s why she can’t forgive him. Because he’s never been able to trust her faith in him without some underhanded tactic or fear she’d abandon him, and that hurts. He’s her brother, of course she doesn’t hate him. After a very emotional conversation, she asks him what he’s going to do, and how he feels, and he doesn’t fully know himself. She doesn’t directly mention the kits, it feels odd to do so; and he’s letting them near him, so he’s doing alright so far.

Next comes in Crowfeather, who is very conflicted emotionally. While happy at the sight of his kits and mate safe, he’s confused as to why hawkfrost would leave the burrow, why he wouldn’t listen to him — why he couldn’t make things better. He and hawkfrost have a very complicated conversation, starting soft, moving into Crowfeather bickering over how much danger he put himself into and how worried he was. Hawkfrost retorts that it all ended well enough and Crowfeather bites back with “not all your plans do though, and you know that.” They’re silent for awhile before Crowfeather asks why he didn’t want to run away. Hawkfrost says it felt wrong, but he admits he liked the idea at first, mainly because it was so fantastical, just living together with their little family away from the problems he made. It was fantasy, but that was it, it was just a fantasy. During his time with kits he realized how much of a hypocrite he was, he’d built up these ideals of justice in his head, of a world he would fix, but he’d only broken it further apart and it took getting hurt to realize it all — nevermind hurting everyone around him, including Crowfeather and Mothwing. Crowfeather argues that it doesn’t mean they can’t be happy now — hawkfrost finally agrees; Crowfeather and the kits can be happy. He doesn’t tell him it has to be without him.

Last are Leafpool and squirrelflight, the ones he knows the least. He starts with questioning what leafpool said about the importance of his kits, and leafpool concedes that it was StarClan that told her of their importance. Hawkfrost goes quiet for a bit before apologizing for his anger, afterwards asking if there’s a way to avoid that. Leafpool, unsure of what to say or do just shakes her head. Hawkfrost laughs until he cries and squirrelflight asks leafpool for a moment with him one on one, which her sister allows. Squirrelflight notices his distance from the kits and gently prods at him about it, hawkfrost responds solemnly that he’s scared, terrified he’ll be a bad father when he was initially confident he’d do well. Squirrelflight argues a bad father wouldn’t quarrel with StarClan over the fates of his kits, only a father who cares would, and he shrugs. His father wasn’t very good, so he supposes it’ll turn out the same between them. Deciding not to uncover an obviously complex problem, she asks him what he’d name them, implying she knows he gave the task to the others out of fear. Hawkfrost says he likes mothwings idea, polliwog the best, says that it suits how lively and strong the little she-kit is, but that jaykit would’ve been named jackdawkit or featherkit, though they’d likely seen the ladder coming, that breezekit resembled a rook, and that lionkit resembled a fish he’d heard of that swam down the river in warmer seasons; Doradokit, before playfully noting their names worked too, his eyes softening at them. “They’re perfect with any name.” She asks him if he’s going to run away with them and Crowfeather, and he shakes his head. He can’t be happy, not after all the things he’s done. It’s here when he asks her if she knows anyone in ThunderClan who’d take them, even as orphans, knowing the clans do not react well to halfbloods or outsiders. Squirrelflight, without thinking, says she’ll take them. That no one will ever know if he thinks it’s what’s best. That she’ll protect them. Hawkfrost relaxes, and thanks her, asking her of course to give Crowfeather the option to take the kits, which she agrees to.

The group decide to spend the remainder of the night in the hollow curled around eachother and the kits for warmth. When they awaken, hawkfrost has vanished, but the kits remain safe. Crowfeather is distraught and stresses they should look for him, but the three mollies seem to understand more than he does that the tom is not coming back. Squirrelflight announces that hawkfrost had asked her to take the kits in if anything were to happen, but she insists Crowfeather take them after seeing him upset. Something shifts and Crowfeather refuses, the other three cats are confused, mothwing loudly insisting that he should at least take breezekit since he’d named him. Crowfeather after some arguing finally begrudgingly agrees to take breezekit back to windclan while squirrelflight, leafpool and Mothwing prepare to return to ThunderClan.

In ThunderClan, squirrelflight returns with two medicine cats at her side after a sudden labour, she carries three fatherless kits in toe — fatherless before Brambleclaw without warning claims fatherhood, which is odd (squirrelbramble doesn’t happen), but most brush it off as a one time thing. The clan is nonetheless excited over the new arrivals, who later will be known as Jackdawtail, Doradocreek and Polliwogleaf (pollileaf or polli for short).

In windclan, Nightcloud delivers a litter of one surviving kit, fathered by Crowfeather who is dismissive of the newborn. Nightcloud raises the sole survivor alone with extra care and attention, and later he is known as Breezefoot, named after both his grandparents.

[daybreakrising]

@ccaptain:   after the splendid Valentine surprise Wriothesley graced him with, Kaeya has only one request for him.

   ' i promised Lisa to help her reorganize a few books today...' he starts, a finger tracing little spiral on a bare pectoral.' and i'm still sleepy, but you seem to be energetic today, ' pale diamond watches him, a little too innocent.

   ' while i get a few more minutes of sleep and steal your pillow, would you be a darling and go warn Jean and Lisa that you seized me away from them for the day? ' just a little too innocent... ' you could say hi to them too, ' he adds, smiling and kissing up that nice jawline of his. ' they haven't seen you in a while. '

   and so, his man is ceremoniously and pratically kicked out of bed, with a very pleased cat-like Kaeya rolling to sit and give Wriothesley a few more apologetic kisses before he sends him off. it's very just that the one who disrupted his schedule goes to warn poor Lisa, who is surely waiting for him with warm tea and buttery biscuits on a pretty tray... 

   it's only when the front door closes that Kaeya reveals himself to be wide awake, on the prow like a cat. the window of his bedroom, thankfully facing the opposite direction his poor fool of a boyfriend walked in, is cracked open- and, in his palm, a small bird made of Cryo takes off, flying directly to the KoF headquarters. specifically, to the window of the library.

   without another hesitation, he gathers his shirt and pants, and he's in the kitchen, fresh ingredients pulled out of the fridge, a pot already placed in a strategic place under the sink- and an apron tied around his hips and chest. 

   poor Wriothesley... falling for the rouse of a sleepy, sore Kaeya, believing that he'd simply go and notify Jean of his absence and be back home to cuddle, the ordeal taking only a few minutes at best...  he'd laugh like a villain, if he had a decent evil laugh in store.

   he really fell for it hook, line and sinker. ...or at least, if he didn't, he had the decency to still play along.

   truth is, that the Duke isn't the only one who had a surprise for him, this day. Kaeya's plan was to start preparing a certaint dish for him, then wait until evening for Wriothesley to show up- and presenting it to him as a romantic dinner, some candles on the table. and him showing up changed absolutely nothing- for Kaeya Alberich plans many scenarios ahead.

   this particular one started almost a month ago, with him tracking down a certaint melusine- which was more than happy to provide him with a certaint recipe- and give him some cooking tips after he had sheepishly admitted that he had no culinary talent. her enthusiastic encouragement filled him with determination- and filled his pocket with a sheet of paper noting down the ingredients and passages necessary. she also swore secrecy- that meeting between them shall never be of knowledge.

   and Jean and Lisa... ah, his accomplices! his partners in crime! the honest grandmaster had all the support of a much more cunning witch behind her, the latter awaiting for the little Cryo bird to signal her that Wriothesley was on his way. she would have kept him otherwise occupied with organizing books on his behalf- or something else sprung on him at the last moment, per their plan. and, just like that, the poor Duke was trapped for a while- and Kaeya had all the time in the world to cook.

   a deep breath later, the pot's contents was quietly simmering, the only accident being a small cut on Kaeya's finger and a bit too much oil on the surface of the soup- swiftly frozen over with a spoon infused with Cryo, per Fayetta's tip in how to deal with it.

   and the smell... oh, he sniffs the air with cautious wonder, wide-eyed. it's divine- it's so surprising that there were only two small accidents... and that he could make this at all. just soup for some, but this is such a special food that he cannot ruin it...

   and he didn't. he's just as stupefied with himself as the pot of perfectly cooked soup, who stares back at him in what he thinks it's disbelief, and a few carrot pieces coming to the surface. now he can tackle the had a stare down with a surprised soup off his bucket list.

   when the front door opens again, the stove has been turned off, and Kaeya is blowing softly on a ladle, an hand cupped under to prevent anything from spilling out. he meets Wriothesley with sparkling, mismatched eyes, his apron spotless, the smile on his face one of soft triumph.

   ' welcome back! taste this- and tell me what you think of it, please? '

Oh, he knows something is up. Kaeya has never, ever, kicked him out of bed for any reason. But, if his man wants to have his secrets, who is he to deny them? After all, he did surprise him by turning up early - it's entirely possible Kaeya had plans of his own that have since been disrupted. So, whilst he doesn't fully believe Kaeya's innocent explanation for getting him out of the house, he goes along anyway. And, he reasons, it's probably only going to be for an hour, maximum. And it would be nice to see Jean and Lisa again - it has been a while.

It wasn't an hour.

By the time he drags himself back to Kaeya's door, he's feeling the effects of moving bookcases around the library for what felt like an eternity. What began as simply helping Lisa reorganise some shelves turned into a full makeover of the library itself - only for her to change her mind and ask him to put everything back again once they were done.

And it was, very obviously, entirely intended to keep him busy and away from home. He's not stupid, after all.

So, he's expecting some kind of surprise awaiting him when he steps through the door, but nothing in the world could prepare him for the aroma that greets him upon entering. He stops dead, eyes wide as he is suddenly thrust back to his youth - he's on the streets, surviving on wits alone, when a smiling, friendly face leans under the pathetic canopy of his makeshift shelter, and offers him a flask of something that smells delicious-

"Kaeya?" He stares at the man before him, ladle in hand, apron on - and blinks in confusion as the image swims, blurs. It takes a moment to register that his eyes are tearing up just from that first hit of such a warm, fond aroma.

"What..." He joins him beside the stove, graciously accepts the offered ladle. The moment the soup touches his tongue the tears are shed - just a few, born of happiness, and of sentiment. He doesn't know how Kaeya has this recipe (though he can make assumptions), or what prompted him to even ask for it, but he is choked with emotion that he can't process fully.

So, instead, he plucks the ladle from Kaeya's grasp and sets it aside, then frames that pretty face with both hands. "It's perfect," he utters, voice thick with feeling, "it's... perfect." A kiss is planted, firmly, upon the other's lips. "You are perfect."

He hooks an arm around Kaeya's waist to tuck him in snugly beside him, then turns his attention to the large pot on the stove. He lifts the lid, basks in the familiar aroma, and sighs with absolute bliss. "I think... I think this is one of the most thoughtful things anyone has ever done for me."

Another kiss is pressed, tenderly, to Kaeya's temple. "I love you, so much. So, so much."

[horseshoe-bay-ledger]

Beginnings

Okay, so, it’s kind of a New Year’s thing but also… not really. Basically the idea is, what if I forced Nancy and Ace to kiss at midnight. I wrote it in like half an hour and edited it in way less so you and you’re expectations have been warned. It’s a bit contrived.  (Also please ignore the timeline issues—we’re post season 3 and The Curse TM is still in play.)

Horseshoe Bay is celebrating New Year’s Eve but a supernatural threat’s got other plans. It’s nearly midnight and the problem might require more from Nancy and Ace than they had accounted for.

———

“Back that truck up. You’re saying we have until midnight tonight to fix this or the ground might actually split and a ‘beast’ will emerge?” George asked. “Are you for real?”

“Mmm hmm, ‘Happy New Year’ to us,” Nancy said with none of the cheer this expression warranted. “Epicenter is in Stratemeyer Woods. Roots of a tree there. Ash tree. Found it before, and it had some symbols carved into it. The beast part was unclear.”

“Doesn’t sound like a good thing,” Nick shouted from the kitchen. There was never a private conversation to be had in the Drew Household.

George made a noise of agreement.

“That’s not a lot of time,” she added, quieter.

Nancy raised her eyebrows and inclined her head in response.

“And why the deadline?”

“Something about a hundred year cycle ending tonight and the relevant sacrifices not being made. You know, the usual.”

“Sounds about right.”

Rustling in the entry way notified them of Ace and Bess’ arrival. They were bickering about something behind the door but Nancy couldn’t make it out from her spot on the couch arm despite her eavesdropping. She did manage to catch her own name, though. Curious.

“You going to break the news to Bess or shall I?” George asked.

“They already know it’s not good,” Nancy said. “That’s why they’re here.”

As she looked up she made eye contact with Ace over George’s head. Her heart threatened to burst out of her chest. She did very well to keep her face from giving the game away right then and there. Or so she thought.

“Uh huh,” George hummed meaningfully which Nancy did not appreciate, drawing the sound out as she turned her head to follow Nancy’s gaze.

“Hey guys,” Bess came in with too much energy. Ace inclined his head in greeting.

Nick came back out with five glasses of orange juice which Nancy did not question even though she had heard the kettle boiling.

“Getting one more supernatural battle in before the end of the year?”

“Yeah, sorry Bess I know you had plans. We can always try and handle it on our own—"

“No, no, it’s alright,” Bess dismissed. “Besides, there’s always next year for Addy and I to have our midnight kiss.”

“Next year, huh?” George said, not unhappily.

“Yeah,” Bess gave a small smile. “I hope so.”

“Good,” George replied approvingly.

Ace hadn’t said anything but Nancy had caught his eye a few times as they both tried (and failed) to not look at each other.

This time though, when they each caught the other’s gaze something got it’s hooks in her— refusing to let her look away or get her breath back.

It was so painful, and Sisyphean, loving him now. It’s still not something she would ever give up or give away. Even though it hurt, even though she had lost count of how many times her heart broke over and over, she would not change a single thing about how she felt. She just wished she could ease some of the pain she saw reflected back at her.

Temperance’s cards had suggested one of them would lose their heart but Ace hadn’t lost his, and she hadn’t lost hers.

She thought back to her mum telling her the story of Pandora and her jar. But what stuck with her most of all was the ending in the version her mother told. Hope alone was caught behind, she would say, the lid closed so it could never escape.

But hope’s a good thing, the younger her pointed out one time.

Yes, but not always, her mother had replied. Sometimes we’re better off without it.

It was something she became to understand more and more every day. Hope could be the most evil of all—it’s that which kills you while you still breathe. Completely unbearable.

What she found in Ace’s eyes was just that: unbearable. But she also couldn’t find it in her to look away.

It took a second for her to realise Bess was asking her something, so she pulled her attention back to the task at hand and explained the situation.

She avoided looking at Ace again.

———

“Plan is to go out there tonight and prevent it somehow. We just need to figure out how to stop it.”

“I think I might have figured out how.” Bess had been looking through something on her phone while Nancy had been filling everyone in. “But there’s a few things we need.”

“Okay, what are they?”

“A lotus flower.”

“Sure.”

“We can probably blackmail Conor into letting us into Lily’s.”

“Or we could just ask Lily nicely.”

“Both viable options.”

“My mum has some at home,” Ace said.

“Okay, we also need eight eggs in place of an animal sacrifice,” Bess added flinching.

“In the fridge,” Nick offered like it was his house.

“A duck feather,” Bess continued to list.

“This is feeling like a real mix of cultures but sure. That’s doable,” George said. “What else?”

“And blood.”

“Obviously.”

“… of two tied to a new beginning.”

“Ah.”

“…under an Inguz rune,” Bess finished turning her phone so they could see. She zoomed in on a rune that looked like two arrows facing different directions crossing. The same one Nancy had seen carved onto the tree earlier.

Nancy showed them the matching photos of the trunk.

“Any more qualifiers on that last one?”

“No that’s all.”

“Well, let’s get to it then,” Ace said, swiping up his keys, “time’s a-wasting.”

———

They had divided and reformed again finding everything they needed to complete the ritual. Nancy wasn’t convinced by the blood they’d collected in storage at the morgue but it was the best they could come up with the time they had. There was a story that went with it about an elopement gone wrong.

The ground rumbled slightly beneath them threateningly as they made their way through the dark woods into the clearing with the ash tree.

As Bess instructed they laid down their offerings at the base of the tree. Nick went about carving a new rune under the freshest looking one on the trunk.

Ace stepped forward when he was done thumbing some of the blood just under in two clean strokes.

The instant he did, the ground stopped rumbling.

“Is that it?” George said cautiously.

But, almost in response, the ground started to shake even worse than before. It sounded almost like a roar.

“It hasn’t worked,” Nick pointed out.

“Obviously,” George added.

“It’s not enough,” Bess said, sounding distraught as the rumbling sound started up again.

“What do you mean it’s not enough,” Nancy said, only slightly less panicked.

“They have the blood what more do they want?”

“A new beginning.”

“How are we going to get that?”

“It’s New Year’s so maybe we could use that? Birth something new?”

“Like what?” Nancy shouted over the threatening rumble. “Are we talking metaphorically or literally?”

“I’m not finding a pregnant person and dragging them out into the woods,” George said, “even if we had the time for that.”

“Uh, what about like when people kiss at the stroke of midnight? That can be a first time. A new dawn. A beginning.”

“Very romantic,” George said. “Is that what’s about to prevent this ancient beast snapping all our heads off and running rampant? How are we supposed to pull something like that off within the next…” she consulted Nick’s watch, “two minutes.”

“I could kiss Ace,” Nick suggested, throwing out ideas.

“No, that won’t work. It needs to be to mean something to be a beginning. It needs to be a punctuation of something like the breath you take before you start to speak.”

“You should write poetry,” George replied sarcastically.

The ground underneath them, if it were possible, was starting to make a scratching sound that made the hairs on the back of Nancy’s neck stand up.

“Yeah, okay, so it needs to mean something in and of itself. Got it,” Nick said ignoring George’s bite. He was stressed but trying to remain level-headed. “Can’t just be a kiss.”

It all suddenly fell into place and Nancy knew what she needed to do. She wasn’t quite ready to admit the entire truth of it to herself just yet though. She was sure Bess had known as she had made the suggestion but she didn’t know what it would cost.

“Nick and George?” Nancy suggested immediately, desperate, knowing the alternative. Dreading it. “You two could…”

“That won’t work either,” Bess said hurriedly. “It means something but it’s not a beginning.”

Out of the corner of her eye Nancy could see Ace roll his shoulders as he’s thinking. She knows he’s figured it out too but he can’t possibly know it would be his life he would be sacrificing.

“Bess, it would be really great if you were in love with Nancy and were just holding out on us,” George pointed out, waving her arms in frustration.

“Yeah, no, sorry,” Bess said, eyes sliding quickly to Ace and then back to Nancy. “It’s not that you’re not—"

Nancy waved her off. They did not have time for this right now.

“Nancy,” Ace said, quietly and earnestly, calm and firm, cutting through all of the noise and chaos.

It was all he needed to say.

She closed her eyes for just a moment to centre herself and turned to him, meeting his eyes again at last. Her heart beating uselessly against her ribs.

Just the way he had said her name and how he looked at her now said everything.

It said, I know what’s going on.

It said, I know what we have to do.  

It said, I know what’s at stake.

It said, I know you.

It said, I know you love me, too. It said…

“I know,” she heard herself say.

Tears were coming now, thick and fast. She never even had the chance to fight them back. She couldn’t save him. She’d failed and yet she was going to be rewarded with something she had been desperate to do for a long time.

“But we can’t—,” Nancy half-hearted protested, her voice breaking. (The way she had said that, too, may just have triggered the curse in its own right.)

She was mourning a loss she had already suffered and was yet to suffer. It was entirely overwhelming and all she needed was to know the man she loved would be okay—but there was no version of this story where that was the ending.

She didn’t explain it was his life he would be surrendering. She didn’t need to, he already knew. He always had her figured out. Sometimes it was wonderful. Sometimes it was infuriating.

Right now it was both.

He said nothing else but stepped closer, his quietude started rubbing off on her as it always did. As he drew nearer she felt more and more grounded—more sure that everything would be okay even though it was about to be very, very not okay.

Strange how that happens even when it’s the last thing she thought possible.

“Okay,” she said, steeling herself. “Okay. Knife?”

Bess silently handed her a pink switchblade that was clean.

The tree was now perfectly between her and Ace on his left, her right. Wordlessly Nancy pricked her finger, swiping it over the fresh carved rune this time, tracing one of the arrows. Ace wiped the knife and did the same but on the arrow pointing the other way, also without a word.

He turned back to her and she found her hands clutch at his coat, probably staining it.

Words began to spill out of her. “I never wanted it to be like this. I—”

“It’s okay,” Ace said lowly. He was close enough now that he had raised his hands to her face, wiping away her tears with the pads of his thumbs. “There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

But there was. He was just being brave.

“How long ‘til midnight?” Ace asked.

“Uh… ten seconds.” Bess answered.

“That’s all we need,” Ace said. “Are you ready?” This question was for Nancy.

She took a shaky breath and nodded.

“Three seconds now,” Bess said, somewhat urgent.

“I…” Nancy began, feeling as if she needed to say something. In this moment she came up short; she had neither the adequate time or words.

But Ace, who under other circumstances would give her all the time and space to figure it out, surged forward instead. He wouldn’t let her logic her way out of following her own heart. Not again.

She had stumbled back half a step but his lips still found hers, a hand on her back steadying her. Despite everything, his other hand on her face—just for a second—felt a little unsure. Then she kissed him back and it felt like she was letting go of a breath she had been holding for weeks. She heard far away fireworks go off in the direction of the town signalling the new year but even the sound of them faded away as all her senses were caught up in this moment.

And it was real. It was real.

It seemed like the ground was still moving but she was realised it was just her heartbeat thrumming through her entire body, utterly disorientating. She felt every cell in her vibrate with the rightness of it, with adrenaline, with relief. Nothing in the world existed but this.

They were tangled up in it for seconds, for centuries.

It was much, much more than a kiss.

But, in the end, it was just a kiss and finally, eventually, very reluctantly they pulled apart.

The clock read 12:01. The ground calm beneath them.

There was a weightless quiet as Nancy opened her eyes. Ace swallowed deeply before he opened his. And when he looked at her, she wouldn’t think twice about living in that moment for the rest of her life.

But, of course, she couldn’t. That luxury was never afforded to them. Reality was waiting for them both.

“It worked,” Bess laughed with relief.

Nancy felt completely relieved for just a moment, then the panic came in a flood.

The clearing was eerily quiet, completely dissonant with what was to come. They’d averted one disaster but there was a another one waiting for them now.

Ace still looked unnervingly calm. Her eyes didn’t stray from him for even a second.

“There’s a curse on Ace,” she announced immediately.

Straightforward. Succinct. Detached. As it had to be.

“Temperance left it there to tempt me into sparing her life so if I—“ she hesitated for the briefest of seconds before resuming, “when I acted on my feelings for Ace it was triggered, and Ace would die somehow.”

Ace didn’t even blink. His lips tucked into his mouth, making it into a flat line. Something in his eyes shifted but Nancy could tell this was more of a confirmation than a realisation.

With effort, she pivoted away from him and was met by the other’s reactions.

Bess had a knowing look. Nick had let out an ‘ah’ and pursed his lips. George looked sympathetic and on the verge of tears, which was the worst of all. But George blinked then and squared her shoulders.

“Come on, then,” she said more resolutely and lighter than her face warranted. “These woods aren’t going to help us save my back-up dish washer from imminent death.”

George stepped toward Ace. She gently pushed and ruffled the side of his head—Ace mockingly scrunched his face as she walked beyond him.

“Unless there is some wizard in them we can make a bargain with,” her voice was slowly fading away. “You never know with this town.”

Nick shook his head slightly amused, shrugged and said, “What’s another death curse between friends?” Before following George back the way they had come.

“I’ve done some of the groundwork already, I think,” Bess said almost smug.

“What? How?” Nancy said in disbelief. None of this is what she had been bracing for at all—a burden shared, a probable way out of this.

Bess turned back and tilted her head somewhat playfully at her. “Call it… intuition. Oh, and I have this…”

She handed Ace a small package she had tucked away in her coat. He untied it and found an annulet.

“Just in case. This should temporarily suspend the effects of any curse—for now,” Bess explained. “It’s only good for a day or two. Make sure it’s touching skin or it won’t work.”

Bess stretched out to grasp them both by the shoulder for a second and sauntered off after Nick and George.

For the first time in a long time, maybe ever, Nancy had a confident hope they could work this out. They would save Ace; her heart.

Her and Ace were left alone in the clearing.

She looked at him, her mouth open worrying over something she has no idea how to say. She was overwhelmed for so many reasons.

“Hey,” he said, holding out his hand, “it might be what happens next… but it’s not the ending.”

She looked out at his hand stretched out towards her.

She took it.

It was a beginning. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have worked.

[danstupidaushit]

Negativefell Danmaged

Alright so, this one i'm not entirely sure if i actually own the au or not, but i'll go off with it being a take to avoid possible confusion.

So, this take is basically surrounded on the idea of the underground being through a war during the fall of Frisk. The war started after Papyrus was expelled from the royal guard from being too much of an asshole, but also a threat for Undyne's own position as the leader, judging he was almost as strong as her, and he knew that, making him to into such a fit of utter rage and hate that he began to form a plan on how could he take the position as the leader of a guard without having to rely on forcing himself into the royal guard, believing them to be a much of cowards for not seeing his true potential as Papyrus would soon begin to take up forces from the citizens of the snowdin to form up his own kind of Royal Guard, called The Hive, commanded of course by him, as from that point on he would declare war against the powers of Asgore and the entirety of the Royal Guard, believing himself to be much stronger than not only the royal guard, Undyne, but also Asgore himself (Yes, a completely narcissistic megalomaniac).

So yeah, the concept is pretty basic, because i never fully expanded on it. I don't have many concepts on the characters as a whole, but i do have a general idea for how Papyrus, Sans and Alphys are.

Papyrus: The leader of The Hive, being drievn by his own megalomaniac tendencies as he strives to be the strongest monster of the underground, not only in strength, but status power, wanting to take down the royal guard for good and leading the monsters to fight against the human kind himself. Extremely cruel, reckless and rage driven, treats every single one of his henchmen as uttershit, having his brother included (who he not even sees as his brother anymore, but just as another one of his goons). Took Sans eye out saying that Sans did not deserve to have such strong magic powers in his possession, and only him should have it, so, shoving Sans judgement eye in his own eye-socket, taking full control on it.

Sans: Mindless goon of Papyrus, ended up becoming so oppressed by him that he doesn't have much of a will of his own, and simply follow Papyrus orders. Tho he is shown to have mild depression, as he relies on actual drugs to keep himself "working properly", having become addicted to a drug called "The Crystals", which is the monster equivalent of Meth, and also the explanation for why sans has bluish teeth. Sans main job under Papyrus wing is to spy and steal stuff from the enemy, as he would be commonly seen carrying bags of stolen stuff.

Alphys: The second head of the Royal Guard, immediately joined in after being notified of the War breaking out. She ended up almost getting killed in one of Papyrus' attack, having to change several parts of her body for robotic appendages, turning herself into basically a cyborg in the process (Not that she minds it, she seems to greatly enjoy her so called "upgrades")

So uh, that's it, also pretty small.

Fun fact about the au: There's a concept i scrapped for Toriel where she would be a perpetrator kind of character. Basically she pretends to be nice and be a good mom, but she's in fact completely insane, slowly losing the image she made of herself for you as she goes on to threaten all the monsters in the ruins and even chase you down if you don't answer her constant annoying calls.

[voraciousvore]

In the Belly of the Giant (25/39)

***Contains vore!***

Chapter 25

Mr. Henderson felt much better after eating his cereal. His new human friend, Millie, was still hungry, so he portioned her out some more milk so she could have another bowl of cereal. While she ate, he politely excused himself so he could take care of some business. He hadn’t checked in with the school at all, and since he was feeling better he figured he’d call the vice principal just to make sure he was getting along without his help and all the affairs of the school were in order. He had taken an extended leave of absence, ostensibly due to the stress of losing his daughter, but also because privately he had been terrified he would lose control of himself and eat one of the human students. Now, he felt more confident that this latter concern was an irrational fear. 

When he checked his phone, he was surprised to see a long string of text messages he had missed from the prior evening. In his fractured state of mind, he had completely forgotten about the date he had scheduled for Saturday. He didn’t even know what day it was today. Friday? Apparently, the giantess had become frustrated with his total lack of contact. She had texted him to confirm their date was still on, and when he unintentionally ghosted her she became irate, and sent him a barrage of messages scolding him and cursing him out. Mr. Henderson sighed. He felt guilty, but at the same time he was too old for this sort of drama. He sent the giantess back a simple, respectful message, notifying her some difficult personal issues had come up in his life, and that he had to cancel the date and wasn’t interested in dating anymore. He wished her luck in love and apologized. She blocked him. 

Once he checked in with the school, and was assured that things were running smoothly without him, he dressed for the day and returned to Millie in the kitchen. She had finished her breakfast and remained on the counter, not sure how to get down. When she spotted Mr. Henderson, she gave him a warm, genuine smile, blossoming like a flower in response to the sun. The giant felt his heart flutter. She was such a sweet, kind person, and lovely too, inside and out. When he saw she was happy, it made him happy too. He offered her his hand and she gladly climbed into his palm. He gently lifted her up and conveyed her to the living room. He sat on the gigantic couch and held the miniature woman in his lap. 

“Millie, is there anything you need me to get for you to make your life here more comfortable?” he asked. 

Millie gazed up at the giant, into his brown coffee eyes that reminded her so much of her late husband’s. She couldn’t lie: She was smitten with him, deeply attracted to his magnanimous nature and his gentleness. She had never met a giant like him before and he fascinated her. All the other giants she knew had been horrendously evil and cruel. “I have everything I need here,” she replied. 

Mr. Henderson opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by his phone ringing. He saw it was Joey and hastily answered. “Any news?” he questioned tensely. Millie noticed the immediate change in his demeanor and wondered what was so important. 

“I don’t want to get your hopes up, but Ray and I came up with a plan that might help us find Eren. You know that human doctor at the hospital? We’re going to use him as bait to see if we can lure out the kidnappers and track them back to their base. Hopefully, we can find Eren, and maybe even the missing students from the boarding school,” Joey expounded. “I’ll let you know what happens.” 

“That’s good, Joey. Keep me posted.” He hung up and sighed. 

“What was that about?” Millie inquired, her curiosity getting the better of her. 

“Oh...” Mr. Henderson didn’t want to burden Millie with his troubles, but he saw no reason not to tell her. “My daughter Eren... she’s gone missing. We’re worried that she’s been kidnapped. Her boyfriend Joey works at the police department, so he’s keeping me up to date on the latest news regarding the investigation.” He frowned sadly. 

Millie shuddered. Eren’s fate struck a nerve with her. “How horrible!” 

Mr. Henderson gave her a weak smile. “I believe in Joey. He’ll find her. You met Joey at the hospital. He’s the police officer that made you pass out. I think he felt bad for scaring you; he wasn’t trying to.” 

Millie was surprised. “Her boyfriend... is a giant? Do... giants date humans?” 

Mr. Henderson laughed gently. “It’s certainly not very common, but it happens. I don’t know if you’re aware, but the human doctor you met was married to that giantess nurse too. Those kinds of interspecies relationships can be just as fulfilling as regular, same-size relationships.” 

“I see,” Millie said quietly. She stared at Mr. Henderson inquisitively, as if wanting to ask him something, with her striking blue eyes. He was mesmerized by those eyes. He wondered what she was thinking, but so much about her was a mystery. “Have you ever dated a human?” she asked suddenly.  

Mr. Henderson raised his eyebrows with surprise. “No. But I have nothing against the idea. There’s just not very many adult human females around, on the giant side of town.” He sighed. “I was married once, to a giantess. She divorced me because I’m infertile, and I couldn’t give her a child. I’ve been single since, but I ended up adopting Eren. She’s been a light in my life. Now... that light is gone...” His expression convulsed with strong emotion. Millie hugged his thumb, stroking the digit tenderly. After a long period of silence, Mr. Henderson composed himself again. 

Millie looked down at her hands. “My husband... was murdered in front of me.” She sniffled. Now it was Mr. Henderson’s turn to comfort her. He grasped her protectively in his massive hands, caressing her back with his thumb. Millie wanted to talk about all that she had gone through, since she had been alone for so long with her own thoughts, with nobody to share her feelings with, but she found it difficult to speak. Nevertheless, she overcame her mental block and pressed on. “We lived in poverty on the human side together. We had a lot of debt, and my husband borrowed money from the wrong people. When we weren’t able to pay it back... they invaded our home and shot him. They captured me, threatened to kill me if I ever came back, and sold me to giants.” 

She curled up in the giant’s hand, holding her knees and quaking at the memory. “I had never seen giants before. I was terrified, and I had good reason to be. They did... horrible, unspeakable things to me. At the time, I was pregnant with my husband’s child, and I miscarried due to the abuse and the stress. It... felt like losing the last part of him that I had left.” She wiped away tears with her arm. Mr. Henderson held her closer to his torso in a hug. She cuddled up against his shirt, soaking in his caring warmth. “I don’t know how long I was held prisoner, but it felt like a lifetime. One day, I got extremely lucky and managed to escape. I survived alone on the streets for a long time. I stayed hidden, since I feared giants and didn’t trust them. I had nowhere to go, nobody to help me, and no goals except to stay alive.” 

She went quiet, before continuing, “To be honest, I don’t think I would have lasted much longer, if you hadn’t showed up. I was starting to give up any hope of living a normal, fulfilling life. I... considered letting go, and ending it all…” 

Mr. Henderson wrapped his fingers around her tighter. “I’m glad I found you,” he said tenderly. “In some ways, you saved me as much as I saved you.” The sweet moment was interrupted by the audible growling of the giant’s stomach. Even though Millie trusted Mr. Henderson not to devour her, she still quivered with instinctive fright, almost like a Pavlovian response. She certainly didn’t associate the noises of a giant’s stomach with anything good after being forced inside one multiple times in the past. 

Her reaction made Mr. Henderson exceedingly uncomfortable. He didn’t want her to be afraid of him. “I should probably make us lunch,” he remarked, standing up in a smooth motion so as not to upset his human passenger. “It’s about that time, after all.” Millie bobbed her head with approval, making a concerted effort to calm herself. She reminded herself that she was safe. Mr. Henderson was a gentle giant; he couldn’t possibly eat her. She trusted him. 

She knew it would take some effort to get used to not being scared all the time. When she lived on the streets, she had to constantly be aware of potential threats. As a result, her nature had been warped, to make her quiet and skittish. Despite her experiences, she had made remarkable progress. She could talk now, despite not having spoken a word to anyone for a long time. And here she was, riding around in the hand of a hungry giant, in his giant dwelling, without fainting from terror. She could do this. 

Mr. Henderson didn’t feel like he could stomach any meat yet, so he decided to make some grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup. Such an entrée would be easy to portion out to human size too; he had often made the same meal for Eren, as her father. He set Millie on the countertop, as he had done that morning, and took a can of soup out of the pantry. He heated the soup in a pot on the stove, trying not to imagine the red liquid as a big vat of blood. Turning away from the pot, he grabbed slices of bread and cheese and toasted the sandwiches. While he cooked, he glanced over at Millie and his mouth started to water. She looked appetizing, like the perfect little snack to dip in his soup. He licked the moisture off his lips and distracted himself by stirring the pot. 

Millie, unaware of the depth of Mr. Henderson’s struggle with temptation, admired him as he cooked. She couldn’t deny she fancied him. He was very handsome too. She wondered what he would say if she admitted her feelings to him. They hadn’t known each other for long, but his uncanny resemblance to her husband, just blown up on a much larger scale, tipped her heart in his favor. She missed being loved, and the giant was so caring to her. All his attention alleviated the terrible emptiness and loneliness in her heart. 

Mr. Henderson finished cooking the meal and served up a microscopic human portion for his guest, by tearing off a teeny chunk of one of the sandwiches and using his smallest measuring spoon to dump some soup in her tiny bowl. Just as he served himself up with his own giant bowl of soup, his phone rang again. He excused himself and answered the phone in the other room, so he wouldn’t bother Millie while she was eating. Since her body was still starving, she polished off her meal in record time, and was left hungry for more.  

She wanted to get herself another serving of tomato soup, but she couldn’t reach the top of the pot. She looked at the giant’s soup bowl. His spoon was propped up on the side, like a bridge. She walked up the spoon to the edge of the bowl and leaned forward to dip her own human bowl in the lake of soup before her. As she strained her arm to reach, she slipped and lost her balance, tumbling forward into the liquid with a splash. On her way down, she grabbed at the giant’s spoon, but instead of arresting her fall the spoon flipped forward and smacked her in the head, knocking her out cold. She floated unconscious in the soup. 

“Sorry about that interruption, Millie,” Mr. Henderson apologized, stepping into the room. His stomach was rumbling fiercely. The cereal he ate earlier hadn’t been enough to sate his gargantuan frame. He was feeling confident he wouldn’t throw up this time, and he had a voracious appetite, so he decided to eat what he could before his mind rebelled against him. He set aside his spoon and picked up the entire bowl, bringing it up to his lips. He started chugging the soup, enjoying the feeling of the warm, nourishing liquid running down his throat to his eager belly. 

Millie woke up to loud slurping sounds. She was surrounded by heat. Confused, she felt herself sliding back. She opened her eyes to behold a sea of red sweeping her away. She flipped around and was horrified to see a giant pair of lips, suctioning down the soup. Before she could make a sound, the tide pulled her in and she was sucked through the lips into the giant’s mouth. She found herself inside a cage of enormous teeth and pink flesh. She was rapidly drawn toward the gullet, where she could see the throat muscles contracting, loudly gulping down gallons upon gallons of soup. In a panic, she paddled away and clung to the edge of the giant’s slippery tongue to save herself from being swallowed. 

“Mr. Henderson, stop eating! I’m inside your mouth!” she screeched in terror, hoping desperately that he could hear her. 

As he drank down his soup, Mr. Henderson felt an odd, solid lump enter his mouth. The lump stirred and stuck to his tongue, and he suddenly realized with horror that the thing was alive. Oh God, it was Millie. He could hear her scream. He stopped gulping his soup and lowered the bowl right away. As her little body pressed against his tongue, he could taste her. She was even more delicious than he had imagined. Swallowing her alive would be so satisfying. Despite himself, he began to salivate profusely. He was sorely tempted. She was already inside him, halfway there. One little gulp, and she’d be in his belly. 

Mr. Henderson recoiled at these thoughts, but he could barely stop himself. He vacillated, unable to swallow but unable to spit her out. She wriggled on his tongue, exciting his hungry urges. The predator within him was ready to strike, like a coiled snake. His digestive tract whined for food. He was losing the battle against the intense cravings of his flesh. It would be so easy, just to swallow. 

Yet, Millie was alive. She was a person, a tasty person small enough to fit down his throat, yes, but still a person. She had her own thoughts and hopes and dreams. She had come so far, suffered through terrible tribulations, only to find herself in the mouth of a giant—a giant she believed in and trusted not to harm her. She had said so herself, he wasn’t capable of eating a human. He was too kind. 

Mr. Henderson insisted to himself, firmly, that he wasn’t a monster. He wouldn’t be able to live with himself if he ate her. Overcoming his powerful impulses, he opened his mouth and dropped her wet body into his hand. She shivered. He found himself breathing heavily, covering her with his warm breath, strings of drool running down his lips. 

“W-why were you in my soup bowl?” he asked with forceful agitation. His heart was racing. His fear at the immoral act he had very nearly committed made his tone sharper than he intended. 

Millie heard the edge in his voice and flinched. Nothing terrified her more than an angry giant. “I’m s-so sorry!” she stammered, and started to wail. “Please don’t be mad at me! It was an accident!” 

“Oh no, that’s not…” Mr. Henderson’s face fell. “I’m the one who should be apologizing! I nearly swallowed you! I’m so, so sorry Millie!” He rushed over to the sink and ran some warm water so he could wash the soup and saliva off her body. He rinsed her off, but recognized it would probably be easier for her to just use the human bathroom instead, and then she could change into fresh clothes. He carried her over to the human suite and set her down gently. 

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry!” he repeated again. 

“It’s okay, Mr. Henderson. I know it was an accident,” she replied shakily. “And I knew you wouldn’t eat me on purpose.” Her voice cracked, but she still smiled at him, then walked into the human rooms to clean herself up. 

Mr. Henderson looked after her with guilt. She was correct, in that ultimately he wasn’t able to carry through with the deed. However, she had no clue how close he had truly been to eating her. He hoped she would never find out either. He was just grateful he had been able to contain his ravenous compulsions in time. He went back to the kitchen and scarfed down his grilled cheese sandwiches. He never wanted to reach the point where he was that hungry again. 

Chapter 26

Chapter 1

[adleryoung]

"Yes," Ash confirmed. "I really think so. Elves do not lie. Burnside is the most experienced person currently in your employ - aside from Lana and myself, of course - and is therefore the most logical choice. Being an elf makes her inherently more valuable and more likely to succeed than any of your lowfolk underlings. And if things go sour, Burnside's combat experience will allow her to extract Oonagh and Didelphis and make good her escape. Either way, that will still be a successful mission."

"But if it comes to violence," I protested, "Oonagh's reputation will be forever tarnished. She'll be permanently labeled a witch. She'll never be able to show her face in town again."

"True," Ash agreed. "But what of it? You should have thought of that before putting her in this situation. Our intention is for you to rule Faerie some day. A monarch must THINK before he acts. He cannot always expect that others will be able to step in and clean up his messes."

"Every ruler has people serving and supporting him," I pointed out.

"Right, but one should not become over-reliant on them," Ash pointed out. "Perhaps I shouldn't remind you of this, but the one who cleans up the king's messes has power over the king. He could topple the throne simply by deciding not to do his job. Now then, to get back to the subject at hand, let me make sure I understand the plan. Burnside will show up at the trial at a dramatic moment, disguised as Didelphis. Without actually lying, she will imply that child Didelphis is her relative having an out of control tantrum. Then O'Hoppity - if he knows what's good for him - will step forward and declare that he was mistaken. The mob will be appeased and all charges against Oonagh will be dropped. Have I got all of that correct? After this call is finished, there will not be time to change course."

Ash seemed much too happy about my choice of Burnside for this mission. That alone was enough to give me second thoughts. Was he playing mind games again? Should I choose someone else just to spite him? No, I decided that would be petty, and doing the opposite of what he suggested would still be letting him control my actions. I needed to choose my own course and stick to it regardless of what he said.

"Well?" Ash impatiently interrupted my musings. "Time is running out. We both have preparations to make. You are in charge here. What do you want me to do?"

"Yes," I decided. "This is the plan we will to go with."

"Very well," Ash confirmed. "I will make sure the members of the jury are favorably disposed towards Oonagh and I will make sure O'Hoppity knows what is expected of him. The trial is in two days. Have an Ixie tail me so I can notify you of when the exact time will be once everything is finalized. In the meantime, train your personnel and make sure Burnside knows exactly what she is to do."

"I will take care of it," I declared.

"Excellent. Always a pleasure. Take care."

The Mumble-Mug went silent, and I lowered it from my ear. The worst part about speaking with Ash was that even when he said I was in charge, he somehow managed to make it sound condescending, like he was speaking to a child. I shook my head and glanced over at my entourage.

"Well?" Rebecca inquired. "What do you want us to do?"

[tehuti88-heritage]

My Dad, Part 8

(June 4, 2024)

Today might be kind of hard for me to share.

To refresh my memory I had to search back through my Twitter feed, where I was keeping a running account of what was happening since I didn't have anywhere else. Somebody actually replied to me there, which I appreciate, though eventually Melon Husk ruined the platform for any kind of actual personal interaction & the only attention I got anymore was bots. I quit a while back...no point staying.

On June 3 2023, the doctors put in my dad's internal pacemaker. They didn't notify us ahead of time, so when my mother returned & told me, it caught me by surprise, & I was actually a little angry. She said that he seemed to be doing much better, though...he'd even tried getting out of his bed unsupervised once, & they saw him on camera, & put up a sign telling him not to try again.

UGH that infuriated me. Typical of him! Pulling that kind of stunt! He'd call me stupid if I tried it!

I again looked up pacemakers & their restrictions late that night. Got myself so agonized. If he was willing to try something as stupid as getting out of a hospital bed without help, he would try anything equally stupid, including going down to the basement, or even driving to town, before he was fully recovered. I just KNEW it. I had no idea how I was going to keep an eye on him or convince him not to, when I couldn't even convince him to call 911 after his heart attack in the first place!

And oh yeah, I forgot to mention his already-known history of CONCEALING SYMPTOMS. He never would've even told us about a heart attack if he hadn't been feeling so miserable. He never did admit he'd nearly stopped urinating. So frustrating. So of course, the thought of caring for him once he returned home was a terrifying one. I can hardly even care for myself, much less him, now.

I posted my frustrations on Twitter.

On June 4 2023, my mother & I returned to the hospital to visit him. I finally felt okay enough to, now that he was doing much better. We arrived & sat to wait to be called in. I was actually feeling hopeful, though afraid still that he'd be mad at me for calling 911.

After a while, a doctor called us to talk to him privately...not in Dad's room. This wasn't how it had gone the last time. This didn't seem good. My stomach knotted up again. I thought maybe he'd taken a turn during the night.

That wasn't it at all. The doctor explained that although he & the rest of the medical team had spent literally hours talking with him, my dad had decided he was well enough to return home, against medical advice...just a day after getting his pacemaker put in. A mere week after dialysis & 4 days on a ventilator. Yep! He was good to go, he'd decided, & none of the professionals could talk him out of it. It was just Ma & me to look after him now.

I was numb with dread at the thought of this. The doctor accompanied us to my dad's room, to help explain what we would need to do to look after him--not that we were prepared! We aren't professionals or nurses! Just earlier that year, Dad had privately told me my mother's health wasn't good enough for her to attend a summer craft show she'd planned on. Imagine, HIM, saying SHE wasn't healthy enough! And now here we were, & he decided he was okay to come home & have US care for him...how??

He was in a good mood, & when I apologized for calling 911, he wasn't mad, he said I'd done the right thing. When I meekly said I really wished he wouldn't leave AMA, he said well, if he was meant to die, then he was meant to die, he'd rather do so at home. Such a nice selfish thought to have, he didn't think how that might affect Ma & me, or how dying might not be as quick & clean a process as TV makes it seem.

TV never gets heart attacks right.

When a character on TV has a heart attack, it's either quick & it's over with in minutes, or they make a COMPLETE recovery, & not only that, they learn a lesson from the experience, & change their lives accordingly.

It was not like that at all with my dad. He hadn't learned a thing, wasn't going to change, & although he was still alive, he was incapacitated, & expected non-professionals with their own health issues to care for him now. I think also, though, that he really did believe he could handle a lot on his own. I don't know why he thought this, yet he did.

He could barely even speak. His voice was very low & hoarse, probably because of the ventilator. And of course he couldn't walk unassisted...why did he think he could handle this on his own?? I'll never understand that, nor why he thought it was so okay to put Ma & me through this. He always said I was the selfish one.

I never had a heart attack. I had a radical cystectomy. I was in the hospital for 11 days with tachycardia. I recovered well, but it took SIX MONTHS for me to feel 100%. I still have trouble with stairs for some weird reason. But SIX MONTHS. Not six weeks, like many sites say is a good recovery time for major surgery or something equally drastic. SIX MONTHS.

A day after pacemaker surgery, a week after 4 days on a vent--an experience that can take months itself to recover from, all my reading in the early days of the pandemic taught me--& oh he's good to go!

I felt he was not in his right mind, but there was nothing the hospital could do to make him stay. We gathered his stuff, they wheeled him out to the car, & he sat up front where I'd sat just earlier while I got in the back. He cheerfully told me I could look on Facebook for a used wheelchair for him. That's how I know he was not just suicidal.

I'm not even on Facebook.

When we got home, he couldn't even make it out of the car & into the house. We tried everything...it was humiliating. He couldn't lift himself out of the car. We put a pillow on the concrete & he got on his knees. Then couldn't get up. Crawled to the back door. There are 3 steps up to the inside door. He could not manage them. He tried for a while, then told me to get a rope from the garage. What do you want it for, we asked? He said the one funny thing I remember from this entire experience, & it was funny only because I knew he did not mean it: "To hang myself with."

I fetched the rope, although by now I knew this was a losing battle, because hey, he would not listen to me. He wouldn't listen to the doctors! We knotted it to the handrail, & he tried pulling himself up the steps. Of course it did not work. He lay there a while, then asked us to call 911 for a lift assist. To be put on the couch. That was all.

Like...okay, after the lift assist to put you on the couch, then what?? How are you going to get up & move around the rest of the time?? He seriously thought all he needed was the walker (actually the walker they gave me when I was in the hospital, I never needed it). Just get inside to the couch to rest for a bit, & he'd be fine.

I called 911, EMTs came, helped him inside to the couch--I placed a garbage bag there, expecting him to be unable to rise so he might soil himself as he sat--& then left. We then started trying to pretend everything was okay but the rest of the night was just...

I tweeted all throughout the ordeal. Trying not to cry. I was so miserable. He'd made it seem like he planned to stay there on the couch all night, but as time went on, I knew he was going to try to get up. How, why, did he ever think this was feasible??

Oh. I actually skipped something, I forgot, that's how much it hurt, & still does. After the EMTs got Dad into the house & left, & I got him something to drink, I looked around &...my mother was gone! Just...gone! I had no idea where, she hadn't said anything!

I hurried outside. Her car was gone too. She'd just...left us there, alone!

I went back inside, ready to burst into tears, but couldn't, in front of Dad. Kind of mumbled that I had no idea where Ma went. I had no idea what to do.

She showed up maybe ten minutes later. She'd gone for a drive around the block. Unannounced, while I was hurrying to help out Dad. I know why she did it. She needed to get away from all this. I understand that. But still. For her to just do that so easily while I was so scared & lost just...I can't explain how MUCH that hurt. That she could just disappear without a word, when I needed her most. That still hurts my heart. A lot. I would NEVER do that to anyone.

To this day, I've never told my mother just how badly that hurt me. Because I know why she did it. I escape every night, through sleep. That's the only escape I have, I don't have a car, or a friend to go anywhere with, or a group to visit to take me away from my woes. She does, so that's what she did. I'm not mad at her for the idea of what she did. I understand why.

It's the fact that she DID do it that hurts so much. But I can't tell her, because it's like dangling it over her head. Plus, like Dad, she doesn't understand that emotional stuff, thinks I'm just exaggerating or trying to make her feel bad. I'm not, but I can't explain it to her. It just really, really hurts that she basically bailed out on me at a very bad moment. I know, she came back, it was just a few minutes, but what if Dad had gotten up, had fallen, had had another incident, anything? I had nobody to turn to but her...& she wasn't there when I needed her.

Anyway...moving on.

Indeed, soon he started trying to get up to go to the bathroom, but couldn't. So he said he'd try again later.

After a while, we got him a bottle; he would try to urinate in that. We went in the kitchen to give him some privacy. I thought he'd hold it under himself as he sat, but he tried to get off the couch & on his knees. Then ended up on his side, unable to get up or aim properly. He pretty much peed mostly on the floor. Then could not get back up on the couch. He rolled over & tried various things but couldn't manage...so eventually...he just fell asleep there, on the floor.

When he woke, he wanted to try all sorts of stupid things to try to get up. Had my mother get the walker & he held on while she tried to pull him into a sitting position. Of course that didn't work. He had me fetch the ladder, put it against the wall, I knew he wanted to pull himself up it, but he knew it wouldn't work, so didn't even try. He lay there a while longer.

Finally, my dad murmured, "I don't know what to do."

I knelt beside him. Started begging, imploring, threatening, exclaiming, arguing, pleading. Everything I had, everything I'd been thinking & feeling, I tried it. I told him he'd tried everything he could, he couldn't do it on his own, there was no shame, obviously Ma & I couldn't give him the help he needed, either. (I mean...it was obvious, by now. Here was my dad! Vietnam War vet! Lying on the floor in his own urine while he tried to grab on to walkers & pull himself up ladders!) I BEGGED him for maybe ten, fifteen minutes straight as he lay there silently. It was the kind of speech you'd hear somebody give in a movie, you know, that moment somebody gives the big speech that resolves everything & everyone is convinced to take action. I gave up everything I had, begging him to listen to reason.

When I fell silent, he quietly said in that lecturing voice, "Rachel, I'm not going back to the hospital."

I've mentioned this tone of voice before. "Rachel..." in the tone that makes my nape prickle as I think, what have I done wrong this time? He used that tone on me now, lying on the floor, unable to move. I had just poured out all my heart & guts to him. And all he had to say was...nope...not going back.

I retreated from him then. Figured, FINE, let him do this himself, I'm not enabling him further. My mother kept doing what he requested her to try, more stupid ideas that didn't work. (She couldn't figure out why he wanted the ladder, I had to explain it.) Me, though, I sat on the couch & pretty much ignored him. I figured if I would just pour myself out like that & get brushed off, I would brush him off too. No reasoning with stupid, right?

It really hurt, though. Despite everything, they've always been there for me when I didn't deserve it. But I'd offered all the help I had, it wasn't enough, & yet he STILL refused what he needed.

My dad tried dragging himself down the hallway to his bedroom. But of course, he could not get up into the bed--shades of that first awful morning--& kind of just got stuck halfway in the doorway.

It was after 10PM--about 5-6 hours after this had started--when he finally said we should call 911 for another lift assist. He said he would THINK about returning to the hospital...tomorrow.

I knew if he waited that long, he would change his mind. Think yet again, he could manage on his own. When the EMTs arrived--a pair of women barely able to lift him--I privately pleaded with them to try to convince him to return to the hospital, because none of us could handle what was happening. I stood at the end of the hall & listened as they went into his room, helped him up on the bed, then started talking to him.

One of the EMTs noticed some of his military stuff on the shelf. Asked if he was a Marine. He said yes.

That female EMT managed to do what I'd failed to do all along. She convinced him to go back.

She mentioned being in the military herself, & that was the opening. Similar to me, she told him there was no shame in being helped, he'd done his part, now let somebody else take charge. I guess I'm just not convincing enough as his daughter, but at last, he agreed to let them take him back.

I went into Dad's room--he was lying on the bed where they'd placed him--leaned down, & awkwardly hugged him. Told him, thank you, thank you. They gathered his things (he asked me to get his antacids, but I couldn't get them to him in time) & took him back out. It was dark, nearly 11PM. This was the only time I did get the chance to say goodbye. Ma & I stood & watched as the ambulance left. Turned to each other. Let out our breath. Finally it was over.

Finally Dad knew he couldn't do it alone, & was in good hands. He could get better now.

Will share more as the days go on.

[shelbeetaylor]

Chapter Twenty-One | The Statue

-> story masterpost

-> previous chapter

Cassandra didn’t change before having a meal with King Guillame. She didn’t have time. Theo didn’t end up having time either because of her. She just needed him to help her compose herself before anyone else saw what a wreck she was. 

Bastien was actually the only one out of the three who ended up changing into nicer clothes, and he made his annoyance known as the three of them made the walk to the dining hall. “I am the only one who bothers to look nice for these things.”

“Mm-hm,” Cassandra said.

“Yup,” Theo replied simultaneously.

None of them meant any of it, but they didn’t have anything else to talk about. They didn’t speak again until they had all sat down to eat with the king. It was quiet for a long time though, even after the meal had begun. Cassandra poked at her food with her fork.

“I…” King Guillame cleared his throat. “I am aware you want to visit Henri.” Not his grave, him. “I will take you tomorrow.”

Cassandra's voice barely forced out a hoarse, “Thank you.”

The weird silence filled the hall again, tension wrapping around each of their throats like a rope being tightened. Even the boys seemed to notice its presence, and they looked really uncomfortable.

“There are more things I wish to talk to you about,” King Guillame said.

“Go right ahead.” Cassandra honestly tried to sound nice, but it might’ve come across meaner than she intended.

The king shifted in his seat a moment. “First and foremost, I must warn you all. We have received reports that the assassins who attacked your mother have been seen around the kingdom, getting closer to Bellesailles.”

“Do you know who they might be after?” Theo asked, stepping into his role of her protector.

“I am not sure, but I would assume they are either after myself or Cassandra.” Theo nodded, his eyes starting to glaze over as if he was already making plans in his head. “I have notified the guard, and everyone is on high alert.”

Theo smiled and dipped his head in acknowledgement, but Cassandra could tell Bastien just found out he was going to have to listen to Theo for the rest of the night talk strategy with him.

“But, that aside, the people are expecting you to give a speech before you depart.” Cassandra debated if she needed to check the floor for her stomach, because it certainly fell out of her body and dropped maybe even through the floor. “Most of them barely know who you are, so you’re a strange princess inheriting the throne that belonged to their beloved prince. I certainly think it best you tell them about the relationship you had with him.”

Cassandra exchanged glances with Theo who certainly saw the horror in her eyes, but she mustered up the ability to reply, “I shall certainly begin working on one.”

Her response seemed to make the king happy, and he ate a few more bites of his meal before speaking again, the hint of a smile on his lips. “How much do you know of the history of my people?”

“Not a lot.” Just the bits and pieces that Henri had shared, like the fact that Valoran’s land was controlled by the Second High Priestess Raîne Caradas as a part of the larger Altadalir territory in ancient times.

“We are a free people now,” he began to explain. “Our lands once belonged to the kingdom of Markthude.”

Markthude was directly east of Valoran, its borders surrounding almost all of Valoran. Marthude was significantly larger than Valoran, closer to the size of Nevernia, which would make sense if they seceded from Markthude.

“How long ago did this happen?” Cassandra inquired.

“A few hundred years ago. My ancestors led the revolution, fighting for our people’s rights. They fought against the severe poverty they forced us into, fought for us to celebrate our culture without discrimination– they fought for us to have life. Many of them were assassinated by the Markthudans. My people elected my family to rule over them after we won our war against the rest of Markthude.”

“Your ancestors were brave for that. Revolution is not an easy or simple thing.” Cassandra meant every word. 

“All they did was fight for the right, for the good. It is no different than what you did in Draves.” Cassandra found it hard to swallow at the mention of her destruction. “In any case, Markthude to this day discredits my family’s achievements, and claims that Valoran and its people belong to them. Valoran belongs to the free and to those who believe in freedom.”

This time it was Bastien who spoke, seeing the distress Cassandra was in and knowing she would not speak for fear of losing all composure. “That is the noblest of causes to exist for. I don’t think there is a single person in Nevernia nor Valoran– not one farmer, drinker, or knight– who would disavow that statement.”

“I wholeheartedly agree,” Theo joined in, “and I think that every one of your citizens will soon understand that Cassandra is the perfect person to inherit your kingdom. She stands for everything Valoran is founded upon, and she’s proven she will fight for it.”

Cassandra couldn’t control her smile, even though it was still filled with sadness. Hearing Theo and Bastien not only come to her aid, but also… This was all started to protect people’s right to live in peace. She lost sight of that through all of this horror. It was good to be reminded of that.

“Perhaps discussing something lighter is in order,” the king suggested. “I heard the chaos in the city caught your eye?”

“Indeed,” Cassandra said when she was able to speak again. “One of your servants told me it’s a yearly celebration.”

“The Fox Festival is quite a spectacle to reign in the autumn season. You all should take home some good memories from this trip.”

“We will certainly check it out,” Theo said. “It sounds like a lot of fun.”

Theo and Bastien carried the bulk of the conversation through the rest of the meal, probably because Theo noticed that Cassandra hadn’t touched her food at all. She did her best to eat as much as she could, but her stomach just felt like it was being ripped apart by her emotions. She would at least try. For him. 

By the time Cassandra had returned to her room, Bastien apparently had dropped off some bread that he snagged at the meal. Theo probably told him to do it, so he could make sure she had something to eat if she got a little hungry.

“My lady, do you wish to change?” Marguax called from the other side of the room. She must have stayed through the entire meal to unpack and organize all of the things Cassandra had brought from Vale Serine.

“I do.”

“What should I get for you?”

“I’m not sure.” A thought popped into Cassandra's head. “Is it common for the nobility to attend the Fox Festival?”

“Ah, of course! Nobility and common people alike go to all of the celebrations in the city. Actually it’s quite common for nobility and peasantry to be around each other here– I heard it's common in your kingdom for there to be separation between the people.”

Cassandra must have really scared this girl earlier. She had done her research in the brief amount of time Cassandra had been gone to dine with the king. “Whatever you think is best then.”

Margaux nodded in acknowledgement, then muttered to herself as she looked through the newly organized wardrobe. Cassandra sat down on the bed, the scabbard of the sword pressing into her back. The maid hadn’t moved it from its initial resting place. The princess grabbed the sword and just held it in her lap, feeling the weight of it in her hands as she listened to the scraping of hangers against the metal bar they rested on in the wardrobe.

“Would you recommend what to do at the festival?” Cassandra mumbled.

“Sorry?” Margaux called, the scraping stopping for a moment.

Cassandra was doing her best to sound nice to the servant, but it was proving more difficult to get the words out than she initially thought. “...Would you… recommend… anything to do at the festival?”

Cassandra looked over at the maid, and she looked down at the dress in her hands as she tried to hide a small smile. “Of course, my lady. Is there anything in particular you were thinking about?”

The princess looked off to the corner, refusing to look Margaux in the eye as she spoke. “I don’t know. I’ve never been to one of these, so whatever you think is vital to the experience, I guess.” Cassandra threw one of her hands up into a shrug, then was able to look back at Marguax’s face.

The maid didn’t hide her small smile this time. “I can certainly do that for you.”

Cassandra simply nodded in response and returned to the heavy sword in her hands.

The sun was approaching the horizon when Bastien, Theo, and Cassandra left the castle walls and began exploring out in the town. There were hundreds, if not thousands, of colorful banners strung up above the streets, fluttering against the rainbow of pastels making up the sky. There were little silhouettes of animals painted onto the banners, presumably characters from the children’s stories that Margaux had mentioned to her.

The sounds of laughter and joy off in the distance caused a sick feeling in Cassandra's stomach, and Theo must’ve noticed the look on her face because he nudged her in the arm. “C’mon. This is gonna be fun.”

She wouldn’t look at him either, just let out a breath as she forced her jaw not to freeze up. “If you say so.” Cassandra twisted the rings on her fingers as she stared ahead at the gathering of people, trying to muster up some sort of want to enjoy herself.

The stands that lined the streets sold anything one could think of. From visiting merchants trying to sell their wares or locals offering up their work for the festival, one could find masks and costumes, toys, jewelry, clothes, food, drinks, wooden swords, stuffed animals, paintings and drawings, pottery… anything.

Throughout there were several different performers and performances groups. Some were dressed in more elegant versions of the costumes and masks being sold, acting out the children’s stories on tiny, temporary stages for large groups of citizens. Acrobats flipped around the festival, offering passerbyers to help them perform elaborate feats of skill. Jesters walked about, pulling harmless, silly pranks on the innocents walking by. Minstrels, bards, and troubadours produced some of the most lovely music in the native language and the Common Tongue, singing songs about everything under the sun.

Margaux was right about both nobility and peasantry attending. There was intermingling of all classes as they enjoyed the entertainments of the festival. Cassandra at least felt a little less out of place seeing noblewomen who walked by in just as nice if not nicer dresses than hers.

The boys’ eyes widen as they saw games set up towards the center of the festival. There were entertainers calling out to the crowds about showing feats of strength by swinging a hammer, winning a prize by knocking down bottles with a small ball, enter a play swordfighting competition and prove your worth… stuff like that.

“Maybe we should enter the swordfighting competition and request to fight each other,” Bastien suggested with the biggest, most teenage-boy grin ever. Of course Bastien would want to enter a play swordfighting competition. 

Theo laughed with him, but ultimately gave him no clear response. Instead, he focused on her. “You want to get anything? I brought some money along in case you wanted something.”

Cassandra shrugged. “Maybe, I’m not sure.”

“Oh, come on. I am literally offering to go shopping with you, you’re not turning down this opportunity, are you?”

“I don’t know, Theo,” she breathed. Because shopping for new things was totally the first thing on her mind at the moment.

Then she felt pressure on her lower arm and was yanked in another direction. Theo had actually grabbed her by the forearm and was dragging her to the booths set up on the side of the road. Bastien and Theo were giggling and simultaneously taunting her.

“Stop it!” Cassandra told them, trying not to laugh at the ridiculous way they were behaving. “Let me go!”

“Awwwwww,” Theo mocked. “You wanna goooooo.”

“No, I dooooon’t.” She could’t keep herself from laughing at that point, and she ended up giving in. 

That specific stand was a locally-owned shop selling jewelry. There was some very plain pieces that were probably made for the common person to purchase, but there were finer pieces too. Beautiful works of art with prpecious metals and gemstones that one would find on being sold by merchants pandering to the upperclass.

“You made all of these yourself?” Cassandra ended up asking the owner.

“I did indeed,” the owner smiled. He appeared to look like any common blacksmith with worn hands and messy aprons. He looked a bit cleaner than all of the other commoner blacksmiths that she had met, like he made sure to clean himself up for the festival.

Cassandra held one of the more expensive looking necklaces in her hands. “Your work is incredible.”

The owner rubbed the back of his head, sheepishly grinning. “I sincerely appreciate that, my lady.”

Cassandra gave him a small smile before continuing to admire the jewelry on display. Her eyes stopped at a display full of necklaces with charms on them. They were nothing incredibly special, just little silhouettes of animals like the ones painted on the banners above. Yet, even Theo had his hands on one. 

“Those are pieces I made specifically for the festival,” the owner explained to the two of them. “The children love them. I’ve got one for each of the characters.”

By now, Bastien had joined them in front of the display too. Theo said the owner, “We’re not from around here… what’s all of this about?”

“They’re children’s stories about talking animals.” The owner pointed to the pendant in Theo’s hand. “That one there is the main character, Gaelle the Fox. She’s who the festival is named after. She’s a trickster, deceiving everyone in acts of self-preservation. The adventures in the stories are always brought upon by her shenanigans. Next to her I have Pierre the Cat and Sacha the Donkey, her two allies. Pierre is her best friend in The Court who helps her out with her problems, and Sacha is his servant, sidekick, and the comic relief of the story.”

“Well, if that isn’t the three of us, then I don’t know what is,” Theo chuckled.

“Who’s the donkey?” Bastien asked.

“You,” both Theo and Cassandra said in unison.

“Why me?”

“Bast, face it,” Theo told him, putting an arm around the knight, “you simply are the comedic relief around here.”

Bastien made a face, but didn’t disagree. Cassandra laughed at the knight while Theo reached for the bag of money.

“How much for the three of them?” Theo inquired. He  exchanged the money with the stand owner, and proceeded to throw the Sacha necklace at Bastien who sighed as he caught it.

“I feel like a ridiculous version of Enoch,” Bastien complained as he put on the necklace.

“That’s redundant,” Theo said, motioning for Cassandra to turn around. She did so, lifting her hair off of her neck. He gently fastened the Gaelle necklace around her neck before putting on his Pierre one. The cool gold pendant rested just above her breasts, right by her heart. She turned back around to show the boys.

“Now look at us,” Theo declared with the stupidest grin ever. “Best friends with best friend necklaces to prove it.”

Bastien ran a hand down his face, sighing once again, but Cassandra knew he secretly enjoyed it. Theo clapped him on the back before the two of them ran off, probably to enter themselves into that ridiculous play swordfighting contest. Cassandra chuckled quietly at the thought of it, rolling her eyes as she ventured off on her own as well. She began to wander aimlessly, just taking in all the people and performances around her.

There were so many children around her, more than she had ever been near before in her life. The nobility in Nevernia rarely consorted with the commoners, especially during festivals like this. The celebrations were kept very separate… but maybe that wasn’t all what it was cracked up to be. There were a few holidays and festivals in Vale Serine that she could feasibly integrate as queen.

Wow. That was the first time she thought about that, meaning changes she would make as queen. There were the obvious ones she knew she would always do: laws protecting magical people, legalization and protection of the queer community– stuff like that– but… She didn’t know. There was just something about seeing these people around her from all walks of life coming together for a celebration.

Like, just across the street from her was a noblewoman and a commoner holding their babies, laughing with each other– probably swapping hilarious motherhood stories. And not two steps from her was a circle of kids playing children’s games together. Right there, twirling around each other, were children who would work for the rest of their lives to provide for their families, ones who would inherit titles and govern cities, and those who would inherit the family business and travel about the world. Yet, they were playing as though they were no different from each other, and the adults were doing just the same as they enjoyed the entertainment and conversed. 

Cassandra was ripped from her mental admiration for the sight as she felt a light tug on the skirt of her dress. She looked down to find one of the children had stopped playing to speak to her. “Excuse me, miss?”

“What is it?” She worked extra hard to not sound mean and intimidating.

“Would you like to play with us?”

“Why would you want to play with me?” The words slipped out without a thought. Her mind was blank even after saying the words.

“Well, you looked a little sad, and we thought going to the statue and playing would cheer you up,” the child replied. There was something so inherently silly about how the kid said it, like it was so matter-of-fact and without missing a beat that she couldn’t help but laugh a little bit.

“Sure,” she told the kid. “Why not.” 

The child beamed at her, taking her by the hand and leading her towards the rest of the children who were waiting for a response.

“Everyone!” the child called as they approached. “This is… wait, what was your name?”

Cassandra debated for a moment giving her real name, but she decided it best to keep a low profile for the time being. Just a passing noblewoman. She could have some relative peace while enjoying the festival. Besides who knew what their parents thought about her appointment. “Lady Casdra.”

“Oh, cool!” The kid turned back to the rest of the group. “This is Lady Casdra. She’s gonna play with us!”

There were various vocal reactions from the children. Two of the girls, a commoner and a noble child, tentatively approached her. The commoner’s kid said very shyly, “I like your dress.”

Cassandra gave the girl a small smile as she looked down at her dress. Marguax had chosen one of her blue gowns, specifically the aqua one with yellow and teal detailing and a wide belt that cinched her waist. She had decided to save her blue and gold one– the other blue dress she brought– for when she gave the speech. “Thank you.”

“My mother makes dresses like this,” the girl explained. “She’s teaching me how to too.”

“What’s your name?” Cassandra asked her.

“Esther Blanchard.”

“Well, Esther, I will certainly have to have you make me some dresses when you’re older.”

That kid smiled so widely, Cassandra was infected by it and smiled back. The noble girl immediately jumped in on the conversation.

“I’m Viscomte Harmonie De la Croix!” the noble girl stated. “My father is a diplomat!”

“Your father is Comte Louis De la Croix, yes?”

“Mm-hm,” Harmonie said.

“I believe I recall seeing him in the palace in Vale Serine,” Cassandra lied. She had actually had conversations with him and sat in on his and her mother’s negotiations before, but she was committing to her noblewoman persona. 

“He’s been there a lot,” Harmonie nodded. Then, in classic child fashion, the conversation did a one-eighty. “You’re really pretty.”

“Oh,” Cassandra said, a bit surprised by the turn, “thank you. You are too, both of you.”

“We’re best friends,” Esther declared, hugging Harmonie as she did so.

“Oh, best friends?”

“Mm-hm,” both of them replied.

Cassandra decided to kneel down to be at their height as she spoke to them, giving them a melancholic, small smile. “Having a best friend is the most wonderful thing in the world. It doesn’t matter if you live in different kingdoms, if you are from different walks of life, even if you’re completely different in every way shape and form.” Cassandra's eyes glazed over a little as she herself was seeing all of her relationships play out in her mind. “You might fight, you might disagree, but you can always talk to them– and you always find a way to make up.”

The two girls were hanging onto every word she was saying, listening so intently as she tried to not get randomly emotional in front of these practical strangers.

Cassandra snapped herself out of it, giving some parting words before she slipped into an emotional rant that the two of them wouldn’t be able to understand yet. “You two cherish this bond forever. You’re lucky to have each other, and now you’ll always have one another.”

The girls nodded, smiling brightly as they ran off to join the others.

“Come on!” the kid who initially dragged her over there shouted. “Let’s go.”

The child took her hand again after Cassandra had stood back up and began running, Cassandra being yanked as she tried not to lose his grip. It was a little awkward, the way she had to bend down a little as she took such small yet quick steps. She was trying not to let go, but trying not to step on and trip the kid, but also trying to keep up… Luckily, it was over quite soon as they reached the statue.

The kid let go of her hand as he joined the other kids in a circle, yelling, “What should we play?”

Cassandra initially began chuckling at the kids, but her face slowly fell as her eyes took notice of the stone statue in the center, towering over everything. A golden, almost red, light was cast onto it, illuminating the piece in all its grandeur. There in golden-lit gray was the face of Henri, his curls and cape blowing in a nonexistent wind as his sword was driven into the ground by one hand. There was no emotion in his face of stone, not even a hint in his blank eyes.

Cassandra hadn’t noticed she had broken down into tears until the first one dripped off of her chin, but at that point there were already too many on her face to conceal them. She just tried to keep her labored breathing quiet, but the child before her had noticed almost immediately.

“What’s wrong, Lady Casdra?” the child asked.

Cassandra's gaze never drifted from Henri. There was no hesitation in Cassandra's voice, but most surprisingly it didn’t waiver or falter. “That was my best friend.”

She heard the distant echoes of Theo and Bastien calling her name which kept her from slipping into her memories or completely breaking down.

“Hey, Cass, we–” Theo stopped as she turned to them, tears streaming down her face. She laughed softly and sadly at them, and they glanced over at the statue, realizing why she was crying in the middle of this joyous festival.

“He’s right here,” she said, her voice breaking and cracking as both of the boys wrapped their arms around her, joining her in staring at Henri. Surely attention had been drawn with the sudden display of emotion, but that was the last thing on her mind. He was right there, and Cassandra smiled as she cried.

-> next chapter