#she just has a thing for men in armor who used to be part of organizations opposed to her freedom

[feeshies]

I’m going to make Chitra in DAI 🤘

[kneelingshadowsalome]

Salome!

"La Belle Dame sans Mercy" ("The Beautiful Lady Without Mercy") - A ballad by John Keats

"The poem is about a fairy who condemns a knight to an unpleasant fate after she seduces him with her eyes and singing." please

This screams Knight!König x Fairy!Reader to me.

I just know König would gladly die by the hand of such an ethereal being.

"She looked at me as she did love, and made a sweet moan."

"And sure in language strange she said—'I love thee true.'"

That’s it. Thank you.

I swear this artwork kills me everytime I see it....

Ok this became the silliest fairytale ever 🩷✨️

CW: Historical AU blending with mythical/supernatural AU. König being a dreamy mess of a knight who doesn't fit in "normal" society. Reader is part of faefolk. Heavy Arthurian Romance vibes.

König returns to the castle one day. The son of a great liege lord, a warrior through and through, but some people say he should’ve been a poet: so dreamily he looks beyond the battlements at times, sighs after drinking too much wine, stares off into dark corners of the room while tending to his sword and armour as if he can see little pixies dancing there.

His siblings sometimes hit him on the back of his head, or wave a hand over his eyes when he’s about to slip into the fairy world, a forgotten plane that is not supposed to reach the castle. But the castle stones were taken from the moors and the woods, the old land not bending to the priest’s will no matter how many crosses they brought here. Fragile souls are wanton prey for the elves and the fairies who would take them to their land the moment they drop down their guard, and only prayer and fasting hold them at bay. In the fairylands, there is no toil or sorrow; the food is golden honey and wine, the dance and love everlasting, and the fae girls more beautiful than any human maid.

It sounded too good to be true, and it was: God had created men to work and women to give birth, and all the land was theirs to use and cultivate, it was not made to simply run and frolic upon. Some say that these were just old tales and that Christ would banish these creatures away, turn the land to yielding crops and tame firewood.

But some still believed.

When he was a child, the mighty son of the feared lord took porridge and almonds to the woods. “For the fairy people,” he said with bright, trusting eyes. Stole food from under the mistress’s nose, and no one ever dared to say anything about it.

But when this nonsense carried on to adulthood, people had to intervene. There was work to be done, war, harvest and building, and no matter how many coins this man paid to the visiting bards, it would never turn their stories true.

His arm was strong and his strike was true, but his head seemed to be filled with dandelion wine, even when he hadn’t been drinking. Sighed after this maiden or that, wished to travel to foreign lands, courted every nobleman’s daughter who visited the castle, but no one ever took him seriously.

This man had to watch how lady after lady chose some other valiant knight as their husband, some men whose heads were not filled with fairytales and dreams. They did flirt with him, for who could’ve resisted the temptation of making this giant a little sweaty under all that armor? Armor that demanded plate for two people, and a smith who had the talent to forge such a beastly thing.

Nevertheless, he was always left without a warm embrace, and so he was usually found outside, looking at the full moon or spending time in taverns, choosing the company of thieves and rascals over his serious kin.

And now he has returned from the woods, having been gone for months.

People thought he had finally left to fight for some other lord, posing as a simple footsoldier, a disguise that would relieve him of his tedious duties as a knight. Or to court some “lovely peasant girl” he always talked about – such talks were usually crushed by his father, demanding him to be sensible for once in his life.

But he doesn’t prattle about peasant girls now, nor does he ramble about screaming ships at the bottom of the sea. He doesn’t hold a speech about forgotten stone circles in the forest, the ones that already grow moss. No, he has finally lost it completely.

His eyes are wild, as is his hair; his armour is nowhere to be seen, and his sword is without its sheath. He doesn’t talk about what he saw in that forest to anyone, nor is he willing to tell where he has even been these past few moons.

He seems very shaken when he’s told they were worried he wouldn’t make it to the May Day feast, and asks for how long he was gone, drives a hand through dishevelled hair when he hears that he was away for three full months.

“Three months…” he mutters to himself, then leaves to his room, the huge sword dragging against the stone floor as he goes. He has always, always made sure it wouldn’t dull, but now he’s treating it like it’s become a part of him, confused and lost.

He doesn’t eat, hardly speaks after that.

The food tastes like ash, he says, and the ale tastes like bile. But the following evening, when his mother orders someone to pour her poor son some more wine, he looks up helplessly like a child.

“I have to go back,” he says.

A clamour arises, huffed exclaims of “What on earth is he on about” and “Sir, you only just got back!” His father rises from his chair and orders him to stop this nonsense at once. But this time, there is no embarrassed sweep of hand through hair, no red colour that rises on this peculiar knight’s cheeks. His lips only make a thin line before he rises as well and leaves the hall with a weight on his shoulders and dark determination in his stare.

At the stables, a stout Moorland pony and poor stable boy get to witness the drunken bawls of a forlorn knight. The wine sack almost slips from his hands to the dirt as he slumps against the timber of the stall, distorted face coming to rest against a wide, shaky palm.

Luckily, a friend of his knows where to look, and the stable boy sneaks into the shadows, slightly scared of the sorrow of such a big, intimidating man.

But even the companion who always listened to every enthusiastic story since they were kids and ran across the moors, throwing little rocks at his father’s soldiers and laughing when their helmets made a funny clinky sound, can not understand the drunken babble that comes out of König’s mouth this time.

He starts from the middle, which is highly unusual, and talks in strings of sentences that don’t make sense. “She was real, I just know it,” he repeats, over and over again in the middle of confessions about how beautiful she was, how her hair was like the softest spun yarn, her body incredible, naked and wild when she came to him. That her laugh was like the chime of little bells or the sound of the loveliest harp, a song on its own when she walked to him.

She was fascinated with his sword, especially the pommel and the handle interested her, and the curve in the middle of the blade she brushed with her fingers as if it was an entire vale.

He had never seen a woman touch his sword like that… They were never interested in such things, but she was, and she asked him so many questions.

Had he ever felled a tree?

Did he like squirrels?

Were his thighs as hairy as his chest?

She took him down the river, or he followed her; he can’t remember. Her step was so light it didn’t make a sound, and the moss seemed to turn brighter every time her little foot stepped on it. Her hands were tiny too when she wrapped them around his neck, pressed her body against his, and kissed him until there was nothing left of him: no helmet, no sword, nothing but sun and her, her hands and her lips.

Her mouth was still on his when she whispered she didn’t like his armour because it was so hard and rigid and cold, oh, she wondered if there was a man inside there at all.

So of course he showed her.

She giggled at the sight of him, especially his thighs, knelt down on the moss to see how hairy they were.

And would you believe the way she touched him then? It makes him heady even now…

Yes, he took her. But not the way a man takes a woman. She came to straddle him and laughed again, and the things they did together… He can’t even speak about them, but he knows the sun always shined when they rolled on the grass. Her giggles and moans surrounded him, her soft little thighs were stronger than they looked, her breasts so round and soft, so perfect he swore he had gone to heaven.

He bathed in her, with her, all day long. And the nights… You wouldn’t believe the nights: there was song and dance and more giggling women, and also a man dressed all in leaves, so big and thick he first thought he was a tree. An old king, she said, nothing he should worry about. And the wine tasted like summer and honey and gold; it was red, perhaps, but also like sea amber and sun…

She fed him flowers and laughed, caressed his face and said he’s the biggest and hairiest human she had ever seen. She let him lick honey from her fingertips and caressed him with heather and ivy, opened her mouth before feeding him a soft, sweet piece of cake, showing him how he needed to open his mouth as well if he wanted it on his tongue.

She kissed the crumbs from his lips and trailed a finger down his chest, all the way down, until…

Oh, he can’t talk about it.

It was better than he ever even imagined: better than the stories they tell in the taverns. It was like his wedding night, over and over again, it was like he was Lancelot, and she was his Guinevere.

No, no, she was not an enchantress, although everything about her was enchanting... All the stories came alive with her, even the moon was bigger than anywhere he’d ever seen, the deers ran past them while they made love, and the birds sang even at night.

He told her he loved her, but she didn’t know what it meant. When he explained it to her, she looked at him gently, so gently…

He cried from joy then, but she never mocked him. She only said it’s a sign that he’s hers. That he will never forget her. She said he’ll always find her, even when he’s old: she will make him young again. He’s welcome here if he wants: she has so many places to show him.

He thanked all the saints for having found her, Saint George and Saint Mary first, but stopped when her little brows furrowed with sorrow. Her eyes, filled with starlight and love, turned so sad that his heart couldn’t bear it, not for one beat.

The sea is far wilder here: he should come and see the ocean as it was at the dawn of time. The ivy is so strong you can use it to climb the trees and see the whole world from atop the tree, the whole land, covered in forest, such as it was before humans came. There’s no smoke or fire or war: just green everywhere, wild rippling streams and honey bees and berries and fish for everyone who ever feels hungry... They can make love day and night, and she’ll teach him all the songs of old. Humans only remember bits and pieces, but she knows how things really happened, she can tell him everything about heroes, kings and queens.

She said she wanted to sleep, and so he took her from the feast and laid her on the grass… She might’ve sung to him, he can’t remember, but it was like an angel’s caress all over him, somber and sweet before the dreams took him, a dream within a dream.

He slept for ages, it seemed, saw so many dreams, each more beautiful than the last until he woke up and saw that the forest had turned grey.

There was no maiden in his lap, no dance and song in the distance, no scent of flowers and dreams and springs to be found. The sun was up in the sky, but it didn’t paint all the colours with gold or fill the streams with light. The forest was half dead to him, just old, thick trees around him, a green-grey forest floor and a shaggy squirrel who chirped and squeaked at him as if it was his fault that the fae folk were gone.

He searched for her, called for her, but she didn’t answer, and how could she have? He didn’t even know her name. He only knew how lovely she felt, how soft her hair was when it fell to cover him like a veil, how adorable her sighs and tiny little gasps were when he filled her, over and over again.

His armour was nowhere to be found, and his sword was somewhere downstream, half covered with leaves and dirt, rusty and beaten by the wind. It was early spring when he came here; the land was still barren and grey, but now, everything was green. Still, it was not the green he wanted. It was not the green that filled his vision entirely, bright, blooming green that pulsed with lush joy. It was just… earth and grass and dirt.

So you see, he has to go back. He has to find her, whatever it takes. She promised he could always come back… She promised…

He cries once more, head bowed and mighty shoulders trembling from the force of his sorrow, and it is no use to tell him that the fae folk are evil. That they’re from the Devil and only want to make good, decent men like them forget. Forget their duty, their laws, their Christ.

It’s no use to tell him that it is not natural, the place he has seen. No doubt he has been somewhere, but it cannot be anything good… No man can survive on flowers and spring water for three months; they cannot frolic with the faeries for days on end without losing their mind and soul.

And König is already lost; he was lost since he was a child, rambling about how he received flowers, sticks and stones as tokens of the faefolk’s gratitude because he brought them food.

He tries to tell the boy who never grew up, the mightiest man in this kingdom, the dreamiest knight there ever was, that he needs to return to the real world. No fae woman would have him as a husband, they are only after his soul. But surely some human lady would take him into her bed, think about it, for God’s sake, please... He has duties here, people who love him, his father would make him a lord if he only put himself together. What kind of knight would abandon his sword, helmet and armour for the sake of an elf who despises the saints...?

But in the morn, König is gone.

His rusty sword is on the floor, the wooden cross taken off the wall. There lies a honeycomb and a flower on his window, a blossom so sweet it cannot be plucked from any field around here. Too exotic and bright, especially when placed atop the rough, grey stones, it looks like it could never wither from how beautifully it blooms.

The peasants now tell a tale of a man that haunts the woods: a huge giant dressed all in green, donning a leaf cloak of some sort and a beard that grows ivy. But they say he is not evil: he only shows himself to hunters who are about to fall a deer, or children who remember the land with little gifts.

Old men say they saw a green man when they were kids and brought bread and milk to the faeries, they swear to this day they saw a man who greeted them with a smile. And when they looked again, there was nothing but a tree where this giant stook, a young oak, sighing with the wind...

[lostintransist]

This Bunny Bites | Part 7

Check out part 1 here. Shout out to @gildui for the use of divider!

Elbow deep into scrubbing Mrs. Johnson’s bathroom your phone rings. Using a mostly dry knuckle you accept the call and put it on speaker. The phone sat on the closed toilet lid and had been blasting your cleaning playlist.

“The boss I assume?”

“That would be me, was told you requested a call.” The deep voice matched what she remembered of the bearded man.

“Have you had a moment to review the changes I made to the contract?” You scrub a particularly stubborn ring of yellow around the wall of the tub.

“I have, I have no counters to the changes you made.” Sounds from his end of the line drowned out the last few words.

You could have sworn it sounded like three grown men yelling. The sound cuts out. Glancing at the phone you see the call is still going but must be muted on his end.

“‘pologies about that. Someone thought it would be a good idea to turn on a game to watch. Now back to the contract. Did you have any questions about the job?” He sounded slightly harried but mostly annoyed.

“Several. The contract didn’t explain what exactly you would need me to be doing. What do you need me for?”

A moment of quiet before he replied.

“That is not something to be discussed over an unsecured phone line. Would you be willing to join us for dinner at our rental to answer all your questions?”

“Will my brother be there?”

“Soap will be here for dinner, yes. As he is an integral part of the team you two will need to be able to work together for the foreseeable future. Do you have any preferences or restrictions for food?”

“If you are close to the club I would recommend getting takeaway from the Indian restaurant two doors down. Get the naan, the pumpkin curry medium, and the lassi, and I will be there at six.” You hang up the phone before he can respond. You really do need to learn the man’s name.

A text dings your phone, an address. Good, you would need to finish up here and shower before heading to dinner. The best armor was a done-up face in these parts.

A minute before six you stand on the doorstep watching your phone. When the clock ticks over you put your phone in the back pocket of your jeans and knock.

The door is opened immediately. Johnny stands on the other side of it, dark circles below his eyes. The warm smell of spices drifts out to you.

“Johnny,” you offer cooly.

“Bunny,” he replies eyes drifting over you.

A crack of thunder behind you signals the start of the rain.

“You going to invite me in or should I ring the bell until someone else comes to move you?” The brow you raise at him tells him exactly what you think of these options.

Johnny steps back, cursing under his breath. Something about being raised with another person left you with the tools to needle them with a word, a look, a sneeze even.

Stepping through the front door you put your purse and umbrella on a side table that looked made for just that purpose. The space is clean, styled, and clearly a rental. A sitting room opens right off the main walk, joined with the kitchen by a walk-through. To the left, a tall set of stairs leads up to what you assume would be the bedrooms.

You don’t wait for Johnny, striding down the hall towards the kitchen instead of cutting through the sitting room. As you expected from the entryway a large carpeted space surrounding a TV abuts the kitchen. Gaz has claimed one of the couches, glancing up from his Switch when you clear the hallway. Movement from the kitchen pulls your gaze to Ghost. The counter is dotted with boxes, steam escaping the seams.

He stands close enough to touch.

“Didn’t realize how short you were.”

“Must be pretty scary to see short people huh?”

Gaz barked a laugh. He stopped when you sent a pointed look his way.

Looking back to Ghost you find him squinting down at you.

“Boss man here? He and I have a few things to discuss.”

Johnny is the one who replies.

“He’s on the back porch having a smoke.”

“Think I’ll join him then.”

The back door opens inward, the back porch is a concrete slab hosting two metal chairs. The roof juts a tad beyond the concrete pad. Fat raindrops splash against the grass. You take the open seat, the ashy smell of cigar smoke filling your lungs.

“Saw you got my recommendation. You a fan of Indian food?”

Bossman looks at you out the side of his eye, pulling a slow drag from his vice. He blows out a smoke ring.

“Can’t say I’ve had it enough to make a decision about it.”

You cross one leg over the other.

“Shame, it’s a favorite of mine.”

You sit in the silence of the rain, letting time pass.

One thing you learned after Johnny left? How to slide through time, to wait out an opponent. Existing in the moment, or fleeing mentally from it as needed had been come to be a useful skill.

When the cigar is finally burned down boss man puts it out on the bottom of his boot. He stands, offering you a hand up. You take it.

Standing eyes to chin you realize Ghost is just absurdly tall, you are not as short as he made you feel. You let go of the hand in yours as soon as you’re stable on your feet. You glance up and find a shrewd pair of hazel eyes scouring your skin as if looking for a stray piece to pull and expose your soul.

Keeping his gaze you wave towards the door. “Let’s go, boss man, that curry is calling my name.”

His look of contemplation crumpled, “Boss man?”

“Well you all have this bad habit of not giving your names so I have to call you something I’ll remember.”

He laughs through his nose, sticking out a hand for you to shake.

“John Price, call me Price.”

You shake it firm, catching the brow raise at the solidness in your grip.

“Price, good to meet you. Now I really am heading in, I’m starving.” You let his hand go and turn to see three sets of eyes dart away from the back windows that looked onto the patio. “Not subtle are they?”

Price hummed behind you, “They are good on a job, but off? Bunch of buffoons.”

Pushing the door open you step into the kitchen. Skirting around Ghost you start opening cupboards and drawers until you find a bowl and a spoon. Ignoring the eyes tracking your movements you serve yourself a dish of pumpkin curry and a piece of naan. Johnny lingers near the hallway and Gaz hasn’t left the couch. Price pulls a beer from the fridge, cracking it open.

The space has no dining room table, so you choose to post up at the chair opposite of the couch where Gaz sits. He raises a brow at your forwardness.

“Got a problem lover boy?” you spoon some rice into your mouth.

Johnny’s head snaps between you and Gaz. Let him wonder.

Gaz, catching the death look from Johnny glares at you and turns off his handheld console. He brushes past Johnny and stomps up each step heading upstairs. You smirk into your bowl.

It takes a few minutes but everyone dishes up some food and takes a seat around a low coffee table. Johnny chooses to sit directly within your line of sight. Ghost takes the seat next to yours, and Gaz and Price pile onto the couch with Johnny.

“So, what top secret mission requires a sex worker?” you focus on Price as you ask.

Johnny’s flinch isn’t small. Why beat around the bush, you worked in the business of sex, ergo you were a sex worker. Sex work comes in many flavors these days.

“Know of a man by the name of Dutson?” Price took up the conversation.

“I might. Depends on whether you are asking about the famous Elvis impersonator who busks downtown or the politician famous for his love of leggy women with a sharp tongue. Word on the street is he has a degradation kink.” You look around your chair and realize you failed to grab a drink. You look over at Ghost. “Can you grab me a beer?”

Turning back to Price you wait. Price’s eyes flick between you and Ghost. Your face shows nothing but innocence and a willingness to wait for the answer to your question.

Price swallows a swig of his own beer and continues.

“The politician is our target. Hence where you become needed since none of us fit is preference.”

“And what exactly,” you pause to take the drink that edges into the top of your vision. You pull it down, see the lid still tight, and peer up at the mask pointed down at you. “You must struggle to please a lover if you can’t anticipate their needs.”

You don’t need to see his full face to know he is sneering down at you attempting to decide how close he can toe the line before falling over it into manslaughter.

Gaz pops up, pushes past Ghost, effectively shoving him back into his seat, and pulls out a bottle opener from his pocket. The keys it is attached to jingle happily. You set your bowl down on the table.

“Knock it off bunny,” Johnny growls at you. You flick your gaze to him now.

“Excuse me Johnny what was that? I thought you were just trying to pretend to care, you should lie a bit better if you want to convince me.” You can’t help the bitter words.

Gaz sits down. Snatching up the bottle you swallow down the beer, as well as your anger and disgust with your brother. You chug three swallows before setting it neatly on a coaster dotting the table. The nearly empty bowl goes down next. You readjust in your chair, tucking your feet close together on the cushion. You lean back stretching one arm across your popped-up knee and the other along the arm, a nice open posture.

“Now, Price. Since you’ve brought me on that means you need something from politician degradation that I imagine is in a safe in a secured room on a private estate. Am I getting warm?”

The temperature of the room chilled; nailed it. These men were used to working in secret; you trafficked in them.

“And how did you come to that conclusion?” Price’s even tone doesn’t mask the rising emotions of the four men.

You look at him for a long moment, simmering in the stress.

“Men talk John. Men especially like to talk to a captive audience as their little head is stealing all their ability to think about why sharing sensitive information might be a bad idea. The things I could tell you about some of the largest companies in the area? I could destroy the economy with a single sentence.” You pause for dramatic effect. Let them work through the fact you aren’t a threat, that you’re just damn good at your job. “Sex workers can tell you when a recession is coming months before an economist can.”

“Stop calling yourself that,” Johnny explodes from the couch, standing as he yells at you.

“A what? A sex worker? That’s what I am Johnny. It’s what I have been since dear old dad put pictures of me naked on the internet for strangers since my half-brother fucked off and left me for dead.” You stare deep into his eyes as you drop this bomb.

Let him choke on the ashes of his decisions. You hope he suffers with the knowledge that you dance naked for a living because he didn’t love you enough to come back and save you from the monster you shared.

All the fight drains out of him along with his color. He drops to the couch as if his legs can no longer hold him. You stand, keeping his eyes with your own.

“The half doesn’t matter,” his defeated voice stabs at you.

How dare he claim that now? You stand, unable to remain sitting.

“It mattered a lot once, it will matter again,” you swallow hard, and sniff back the tears that threaten to scorch down your cheeks.

Flicking your gaze to Price you take in the neutral face he and Gaz both have donned. You turn and leave the room, not caring a single fig for the fact you stepped on Ghost’s feet on the way out. Giant shouldn’t take up so much space if he didn’t want to be stepped on. Pausing in the entryway you pull your purse over one shoulder and loosen the strap holding your umbrella closed.

You get to the end of the walkway before the door opens behind you. You are surprised to find Ghost walking beside you as opposed to Gaz who you expected. He doesn’t say anything as you walk down the street. You had parked at the club. You had a feeling you would need a walk after talking to your brother.

“First meeting with Dutson is set for two weeks on a Friday night. Price will text you the address and dress code. One of us will be playing bodyguard, your profile is already being built and your name is inserted on invitation lists.” The grumble of his voice drifts between the drizzle.

“Have Gaz drop off the file on him, I’ll be ready,” you swipe at your nose, hoping he can’t see the tears leaking down your face with the umbrella angled towards him. “The further out you can tell me of events the easier it will be to ensure I am off work for the night.”

You finish the walk to your car, tears staining your face and a stoic brute splashing through the rain bedside you. When you drive away you catch Ghost watching your tail lights until the darkness hides him from view.

Part 6 | Part 8

Masterlist

[absurdthirst]

The Mercenary and the Whore {Pero Tovar x F!Reader}

Rating: Explicit

Word Count: 9.3k

Warnings: Sex work, prostitution, vaginal sex, unprotected sex, rough sex, bathing Tovar, bath sex, riding, parting company, angst, confessions of love, oral sex (female receiving), mentions of child planning

Comments: When Pero Tovar comes to your brothel, he makes sure to monopolize your time. Wanting to spend every second he can between your thighs. Unable to tell you how he feels before he leaves for the East and you are sick with worry for your favorite client who is much more than that to you.

Co-written with @storiesofthefandomlovers

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|| MasterList || Pero Tovar MasterList ||

Click Keep Reading only if you have read the Rating and Warnings and understand the warnings may not be complete to avoid listing spoilers. As AO3 says 'creator chooses not to use warnings'. You also agree that you're the right age to be consuming anything here.

It’s getting closer to when he will arrive. The mornings are getting shorter, the chill of the air starting to make your breath a white cloud in front of you when you do what chores you need to before you have to work. He always comes when the weather turns. Once then, then again three months later. Sometimes he would visit often during the summer if he had taken work nearby. But he always came during the colder months. You anticipated his arrival, knowing he would monopolize your time and keep you from taking other clients. Pero Tovar was greedy for his time between your thighs and it left little time or energy for anyone else. 

Pero grunts at the matron of the brothel, giving her your name, and she nods, realizing who he is. He strides up the stairs, two at a time, his armor and weapons clanging, and finally he’s knocking on your door. When you answer, his stomach twists and he feels like he’s home. Something he would never admit to anyone else. He offers you a rare smile, saying your name. “Hola, hermosa.” He murmurs, his eyes trailing down your body, covered by the thin tunic but he knows what’s underneath, has dreamed about it since he last left your bed.

“I know you are eager to strip off your armor.” You purr, giving him a winsome smile and stepping back so he can push into the room that you live and work out of. It’s not ideal, being a whore, but it keeps the roof over your head and your belly full. All things that you had been in sore need of before you had arrived at this brothel. He won’t bathe yet, too desperate for you, and you will let him touch you despite the grime from the road. “It has been too long, Tovar.” 

“Too long, hermosa.” He murmurs, working on the ties to his armor as his cock starts to harden . Even just the smell of you has him aching for you. “I thought of you. Many nights.” He promises, not wanting to tell you about the days. Riding on his horse with his thoughts for company once William had run out of things to ramble on about, he thought about you and what you are up to. He sets his armor down and reaches for his tunic, pulling it over his head.

“You thought of me while you were between another woman’s thighs?” You have no delusions about this thing with Tovar. He pays for your cunt, even as well as he treats it and despite your own traitorous heart, he does not want a life with you. “That is not well done of you.” You chide playfully, pulling your thin tunic over your head so you are bare when he throws his own to the floor and glares at you. 

Tovar shakes his head, “no one else. There was men only and I am not that way inclined. Some are. I only dreamed of your wet cunt.” He promises, shoving his trousers down after kicking off his boots. When he’s bare before you, he steps closer to grab your ass, dragging you against him and he presses his nose into your neck. “Always smell delicious.”

Closing your eyes, your fingers find and tangle into his dirty hair. Not caring that it is slightly oily. You have him here, even if it is just for a week or so before he disappears again. “Just for you.” You hum, knowing that he enjoys the clean scent of your skin and the flowers that you press into the soap you use. Letting you scrub him with the same soap when he finally gets into the tub that will be brought to your room. “My wet cunt is ready for you.” 

Tovar slaps your ass and growls, ready for you and he will be rough this first time. Your pleasure won’t be his priority but he always makes it up to you in the sex following this frantic coupling. He guides you over to your cot, laying you down and he spreads your legs so he can see your dripping cunt. Humming in contentment, he slides his fingers through your slickness, “who made you this wet, chiquita?”

“You, Tovar.” You aren’t lying, although you can see that he doesn’t believe you. His shoulders are broad and his body is fit. The body of a mercenary, littered with scars and you know that one of the days he will occupy your bed, you will trace them making note of any new ones and fussing slightly over them. You whimper when he presses his fingers to the little nub beneath the curls of your sex. His cock is jutting out and the thick head is purple when he pulls the skin back. “How do you want to fuck me, Tovar? Like this? Or do you wish to watch my ass while you fill my cunt?”

“Yes.” He hisses, “from behind. Want to - fuck. Want to see your ass.” He murmurs and pulls his hand away, jerking himself slowly while you shift onto your hands and knees. He groans when he shuffles closer so he can notch his cock at your entrance and he pushes into you with a low whine, eyes closing as your hot walls envelop him.

You keen, always loving the pinch of pain when it comes to taking Pero for the first time after so long apart. You won’t claim that you are as tight as you were when you were innocent, but the Spaniard has a big cock. “Yes.” You moan, eyes rolling back when his hips hit your ass and he's buried to the hilt. “Missed this cock, Tovar.” You admit breathlessly. “Now,” you look over your shoulder. “Ride me hard and work out the need you have for me.”

Tovar groans, low and loud as he twitches inside of you. “It’s been too long without this exquisite cunt, hermosa.” He murmurs as he caresses your spine until he’s gripping your hips, grinding impossibly deeper before he pulls out. Pushing back inside in a quick motion, he sets a harsh pace, grunts escaping his lips as he watches your ass jiggle and your asshole flutter as he pushes deep into your cunt.

Tovar’s pace takes your breath away, all you can do is moan and hold on. Making sure he does not push you too far forward onto the cot. You love how frantic he always is this first time, the ache he leaves you with always growing with each time he takes you after. Long after his last time, you will feel him between your thighs even after you have bathed away the sweat and cum, washed your sheets and taken another man. If you could, you would daydream about the dark, dangerous mercenary with a long scar on his left eye while you are under another man as he grunts away. “So good, b-Tovar.” He doesn’t like you using pet names with him, so you don’t flatter him like you might another customer.

“Always good.” Tovar groans, his fingers digging into your flesh until they slide up to cup your tits. He bends over your body, enjoying how you clench around him, and he’s close. He goes months without a hot cunt around him so he struggles to last during his first encounter with you. “Hermosa. I- I won’t last. Where?” He asks, always wanting to make sure you decide.

“Inside.” You rarely go a day without drinking the tea that will prevent a child and you know how much he hates to pull out of your body to spill his seed. Unless he is in your mouth or wants to paint your skin with it when he is feeling particular. “Fill my cunt up and show me how much you have missed it.” 

“Shit.” Pero curses, his eyes clenched shut as he buries himself deep and spills his hot seed onto your walls, a low groan escaping his lips. “Fuck.” He pants, slowly rocking his hips as he rides his pleasure and he leans in to kiss your shoulder. “Gracias, hermosa.”

You smile and hum, looking over your shoulder at his panting frame. “Always my pleasure.” You tell him, knowing that even if you did not experience pleasure this time, you will several times before he leaves again. The first time with him is always quicker than the rest. He says it’s because your cunt is so good and it’s been so long since he’s had it that he cannot pace himself. 

He caresses your back and presses kisses to your skin. Beyond your doors, he is a hardened killer, a survivor, but with you, he is soft and gentle. He allows himself to be tender with you. Unbeknownst to you, he leaves his heart with you when he leaves but he would never confess that.

Your eyes flutter with pleasure. He always touches you in small ways that makes your heart quake and you fall deeper for a man you could never have. When he finally pulls his softening cock out of your cunt, you shift to your side and look at him. “Do you want me to have the bath and a meal sent up?” You ask, knowing his preferred method of relaxing.

Tovar nods, shifting to lay down on the bed and he stares at you, admiring your features. You’ve always been so gorgeous and he loves how you make him feel. He wants to feel like this all the time but he can’t. He has to sell his sword. “Have you been busy?” He asks, running his knuckles along your spine.

“Busy enough.” You shrug one shoulder and roll your eyes. “A group of Lord Crowley’s men came in a month ago.” You tell him. “Luckily it was my monthly, they put Adrina and Gwen out of work for nearly two weeks.” The men had been brutal and it had taken time for their injuries to heal.

Pero frowns, his touch freezing on your skin. He worries about you when he’s away, scared that the next time he returns he won’t find you because someone strangled you during a passionate encounter. “Men are animals. They do not realize how lucky they are to have a beautiful woman in their company. They should pleasure, not harm.” He shakes his head and worries that you will get hurt by someone one day.

“Most men do not think like you.” You remind him. “They only think of their own pleasure and Crowley’s lot have no control because their lord is just as bad.” You know that you were lucky to have been indisposed and because of that, you had shared your pay with the two girls while they were recovering.

“Bastards.” Pero hisses, shaking his head again. “They should be killed.” He murmurs, knowing he’d love the pleasure to kill them but he doesn’t have a reason to hunt them down and he doesn’t want to leave your side until he has to. “Are you hungry?” He asks, wanting you to eat if you’re hungry.

You smile, knowing he must be hungry if he is making hints. You lean in and kiss his cheek because you don’t allow kissing, not even Tovar. “I will go order your bath and meals.” You tell him before you climb off your cot and stand, reaching for your tunic to shrug on. You can clean up his seed when you come back. “Do you want ale too?” 

“Is that even a question?” He scoffs playfully and you giggle, making him smile. He winks at you and watches you disappear out of the room to tell the matron to bring the tub and the meals. He will happily pay for your meals while he is in your company.

Coming back up the stairs, you meet a giggling pair of your friends. “So we will not see you for at least a week?” Gwen asks. “We saw Tovar bolt up the stairs to your bed.” 

Adrina nods, smirking at you. “It is funny that he stays so long since I have already pleasured William and he is now drinking. I think your Spaniard is in love with you.” 

You scoff and shake your head, your cheeks burning and wishing that it were true. “He just enjoys my touch.” You tell the girls, adopting a saucy wink. “He is a creature of habit, if he had found your bed first you would be the one having your time taken up.”

The girls shake their heads at your naïveté but they don’t push their thoughts on you anymore. Pero looks up when you come back into the room and his stomach twists with the way you look at him. He doesn’t want to leave for even a second. “You’ve ordered food for yourself too?” He checks, wanting to make sure you are fed before he has you again.

“I did.” He is too generous to you sometimes, making sure you eat a proper meal while he is with you. Some men who spend hours with you don’t care if you even drink at all while they are with you, but Pero makes sure your needs are met. You move over to the wash basin and smile over your shoulder. “The bath and the meals will be up shortly. Are you already ready for the next round or should I clean up?”

Pero shakes his head, “you can clean up, hermosa. We have plenty of time. I want to talk. Tell me about how you’ve been - business aside.” He demands, wanting to listen to you talk.

“Agnes had her baby, he is so adorable.” You clean up while you talk. “I got to see him the next day, and since the baby is a boy, Eldon has decided that he would claim the babe as his own.” You don’t think much of that, but Agnes was happy. “They married when the boy, Caspian, was two months old. She moved into the house with him and his mother. We haven’t seen much of her, except when we run into her at the shops. Eldon doesn’t want her visiting with us now that she’s married.”

Pero is surprised to hear that the man took the babe on but he is glad to hear it. “He should allow her to see her friends.” Pero says, “but at least he did the decent thing and married the girl.” Pero says, knowing that it’s always a risk to get a whore pregnant but most men would abandon their bastards and leave the village.

“Yes, she’s allowed to attend church.” You roll your eyes and huff. The priest loudly damned you all to hell every time he saw you on the streets but he would sneak in the back several times a month. Thankfully, he had never come to your bed. “But at least Caspian has been baptized.”

Pero snorts, “I am not a religious man, hermosa. We sin and we die.” He says, knowing his devoutly Catholic mother would be turning in her grave but he doesn’t believe God would be so cruel as to allow some of the sins he has seen committed, some of his own doing. “You…you are my angel.” He says softly, averting his eyes.

“Then I will be your angel.” Your heart softens and you wish that you had met Pero under other circumstances. Despite his claims he would be a horrible husband, you know he would not. He’s gruff, yes, but he’s also tender. You often daydream of a little cottage, making a soft, warm home for him to rest in when he comes home. The knock on your door makes you smile, “and now your angel brings you food.” You tell him as you walk to the door to open it.

“Finally.” Pero grunts playfully and you look back at him before you open the door. The trays are carried in and Pero covers himself with the sheet while the tub is brought in with the steaming buckets of water. “We will fill it ourselves.” You tell Gwen, knowing she came in to see how Pero was lingering in your room. 

“Of course.” She says, offering you a smirk that makes Pero frown, wondering what the look was for. 

“I am starving.” Tovar groans as you set the tray down in front of him.

“Eat then.” You tell him with a small smile as his eyes roam greedily over the overloaded tray. You make sure that Pero’s portions are generous because you have seen how the man loves his food. “I will fill the tub and it can be cooling slightly while you eat.”

He nods, knowing his mama raised him with better manners but it’s been too long since he had a hot meal and he eagerly digs in. Shoveling the food into his mouth as you pour the buckets into the tub.

You hum as you set out your soap and get some of your drying cloths. You know he will want to soak in the bath, and you don’t blame him. Moving over to claim your own tray, although you hand him the bread, since he has already devoured his. You normally don’t eat it anyway, and rarely take any.

Pero knows what you are doing and he doesn’t like it. Knowing you’ll protest, he splits the bread in half and hands you back the larger piece. “You’ll need your energy.” He reasons with you and you nod, taking the bread from him. He hums in satisfaction and digs back into the stew.

He eats fast, as if it might be stolen from him. Your own meal is eaten at a more sedate pace. “How was your travels?” You ask him, as if you were his wife inquiring about his trip while he is home. “William kept out of trouble?”

Tovar snorts, “you know he can never keep himself out of trouble. Always has to show off and it gets us in trouble.” Pero shakes his head, “and then I have to save his ass. We made it back though. With plenty of coins. Always the main thing.” He says and proceeds to suck and lick his fingers clean. His mama raised him with manners, doesn’t mean he always used them.

“That is good.” You never pry about the money he spends while he is here, but it is a lot. Monopolizing your entire days while he is in your bed, he even sleeps in your room. Not that you mind. His arms wrapped around you and his face tucked into your neck while he snores softly is the safest you ever feel. “How long are you here?”

“It depends. The winter is coming and we need to earn enough coin before we seek shelter for the snow. I am thinking at least a week. More, if William can keep himself out of trouble.” Pero chuckles, “are you going to take other men?” He asks softly, wanting to know where you stand beforehand.

“While you are here?” You scoff and shake your head. “I would not have the time or the energy.” You tease him playfully. In truth, you would happily never let another man between your thighs if you could have Pero, but that was not something that was possible. He was a mercenary and you are a whore.

Pero is reassured, worried that you’d go off while he is sleeping or bathing. It’s selfish but he wishes to keep you all to himself, prepared to pay whatever it takes. “I want to bathe.” He says and stands up from the bed, the sheet falling from his body and he moves fast to step into the hot water, a low groan escaping his lips. “Do you wish to join me, hermosa?”

“What if I wash you?” You ask, finishing up your own meal and moving the trays to the door to place outside. You remove your tunic and walk naked to the tub. “When you are clean, I will join you and mount your cock while you soak in your bath.”

Tovar nods, grabbing the bar of soap so he can begin cleaning himself up. “Can you cut my hair, hermosa?” He asks, wanting to smarten up to be in your company for a week.

You had expected his request. He always wants to have his hair cut and shaved. Humming as you get out your scissors, you kneel down by the bathtub. Running your fingers through his hair and start to cut.

He tilts his head and lets you snip away at the matted locks, enjoying your fingers massaging his head and you grab the soap once you’re done to wash his hair. He groans, closing his eyes as your fingers work his scalp and his cock starts to harden at the ministrations.

“You need someone to take care of you.” You chide softly, massaging his scalp and enjoying the way that he groans. “I can see you enjoying being treated well by a wife, or mistress.”

Pero snorts, his fingers gripping the edge of the tub. “Who would wish to be mine? I am the son of a farmer from Seville. I have been selling my sword since I was fourteen when my parents died and I had nothing. I am a nobody. I own nothing. I do not have a home for a wife or a mistress.”

Your fingers still in his hair and you want to tell him that you would want to be his. Although he would not want a whore. “You will have a home one day.” You predict. “You will stop coming to see me because you have a wife with a babe under her apron and a warm bed to sleep in.”

Pero frowns, not liking to think of a life without you in it. He doesn't answer and he allows you to rinse his hair and he already feels so much better. You grab the scissors again and work on chopping off the excess beard that had become matted during his travels. "You are too good to me, hermosa." He murmurs as you grab the sharp knife to begin styling his mustache.

“You are good to me as well.” You remind him, arching a brow at him playfully before you look back down at his face as you cut the tiny hairs over his lip. Your fingers brushes his lips gently and you hum in satisfaction and lean back. “Now, so handsome.” You tell him, completely honest. He’s one of the most handsome men to you, even more appealing than William.

He blushes slightly under your intense stare and he averts his eyes as you set down the knife. “Are you joining me?” Pero asks and you nod, stepping into the tub and you straddle him, his cock now hard and aching for you. “Hermosa.” He sighs in bliss, his hands caressing your back and he leans in to nudge his nose against yours.

“You don’t have to flatter me.” You promise, whispering the words between you, and your fingers toy with the curly ends of his now shorter hair. “I want to ride you slowly.” You admit, knowing he might prefer a faster pace. “Let you relax while I do all the work, milking your cock for you.”

He can't argue with you, nodding slowly as you reach beneath you to grip his cock. You sink down onto him after notching him at your entrance and you take his breath away. "Fuck." He sighs, tilting his head back at the feel of your warm, soft cunt enveloping him.

Moaning yourself, you take advantage of the vulnerable skin of his throat, leaning in and pressing your lips to his pulse as you grind down on his length. Feeling him pulse inside you as your walls flutter. “Your cock is so good.” You praise, kissing along his jaw and neck while he relaxes into the bath. Making sure that you don’t slosh water too badly, you start at a slow pace that seems to let you feel every vein in his cock.

"Your cunt - it's incredible." Pero murmurs, caressing your spine and he imagines a lifetime with you, relaxing in a warm home...you as his wife. You with his child. It's a beautiful dream but one he can never have. He's a dangerous man who has sinned. His blood soaked hands could never have you as their prize.

Soft groans and ripple of the water is what fills the room. The moment is so tender you wish you could break your rule and press your lips to his. It’s almost love making, although you have never experienced that, you think it would be like this. His hands running over your skin and the soft grunts of pleasure making you moan.

He wants to call you 'amor' but he doesn't know if you'll understand him and he can't take that risk. His cock twitches inside of you and he ducks his head to take your nipple into his mouth after cupping your tit and lifting it towards his face.

You whimper when his teeth scrap over the sensitive skin, your fingers tangling into his shorter hair and tugging gently. “So good, Pero.” You moan, not even realizing you called him by his first name. You normally just call him Tovar because that is what he told you the first time he had visited your bed. You use his Christian name when you are touching yourself thinking about him.

He groans into your flesh, wrapping his lips around the nipple and biting down before he soothes it with his tongue. His other hand squeezes your other breast and he leans back, pushing them together with his palms. "So fucking beautiful." He rasps, cock twitching inside of you.

You moan again. “Pero, fuck.” You love how attentive he is, one of the few men you’ve ever had to care about your pleasure. You circle your hips and clench him right. “Love how you feel.”

His hand slides down your body to your clit. He was taught during his first sexual encounter with a whore to pleasure a woman and he’s never forgotten, wanting to feel that delicious tight grip on his cock. He wants you to cum so he finds that bundle of nerves and rubs circles around it.

“Ohhh, ohhh fuck.” Your own head tilts back, enjoying the pressure against the bundle of nerves and your hips jerk in response. “Pero, I- oh baby, I’m gonna soak you.” You warn breathlessly.

"That's it, hermosa. Come on, soak my cock." He grunts, thrusting his hips up so he can push even deeper and he groans your name when your walls start to flutter around his cock.

You fall forward into his chest, pressing your face into his neck and moaning as you hang on. “Oh, oh Perooooooo!” You cry out, your cunt clenching down around him.

He groans when you clamp down on his cock, making him hiss your name, and he swears he nearly cums right then but he holds strong. He strokes your back as you shake above him and he kisses along your neck.

Your hips rock as you force yourself to keep moving, loving how each roll of your hips shoots another little fissure of pleasure down your spine. “Cum for me, Pero.” You beg, “fill me up again.”

He can’t deny you, his hand leaving your clit and his hand squeeze your ass, slapping it as he rocks up into you. Water sloshes and he groans your name, so close to his orgasm. “Fuck, hermosa. I’m gonna - I’m gonna -” He pants and squeezes his eyes shut as he cums, painting your walls for the second time.

You whimper, enjoying the rush of heat as he fills you. Always loving how thick and how much Pero cums. You run your hands through his hair and sigh softly as he rocks himself through his pleasure as you flutter around him.

He buries his face in your neck, breathing you in with a deep inhale, and he swears he could die right now and be a happy man. You’re his sanctuary and he never wants to leave this moment. “Gracias, hermosa.” He murmurs into your skin, feeling more relaxed than he has in many moons.

“Anytime.” You promise, closing your eyes and laying your head on his shoulder while he holds you close. “I am happy you are here. You are safe.”

Pero doesn’t respond, knowing that any day could be his last. He caresses your spine and enjoys the feeling of holding you close. “Come on, hermosa. The water will get cold and I don’t want you becoming ill.” He says and pulls away from you.

You lift off his cock and quickly clean yourself up and swipe the cloth over his groin as well before you stand up, wrapping another cloth around your body before holding his. “Do you want me to dry you?” You ask, wanting to make sure he is relaxed and enjoying himself with you.

Pero shakes his head, “No gracias, hermosa. I can dry myself.” He offers you a wry smile and stands up once you’re out of the tub. He takes the cloth you hand him and he dries off, suddenly exhausted. “I want to sleep. Can you lay with me?” He asks, wanting to wrap himself around you.

It is times like these that you feel you cheat Pero. He pays good coin for your company and he wishes to sleep? “Of course.” You nod, moving to set the trays outside the door and hang your cloth up to dry. You will sleep nude and you are thankful you had fresh sheets on your cot. He deserves a good rest in a clean bed. “Anything you wish.”

He hums in delight when he lays down and you lay down beside him, pulling the sheets over you both. His arm wraps around you and he nuzzles his nose into your neck, breathing you in until he’s softly snoring into your ear.

You stay awake for a long time after Pero starts to snort. Holding him close in the dark as the sounds of the brothel filter dully through the walls. Closing your eyes and imagining the sounds of the woods, animals outside of a small cottage. Cozy and secluded, just the two of you, together every night. You fall asleep and dream of Pero.

**** 

“Fuck, hermosa.” Pero groans when you clench around him. His eyes watch you as you gyrate above him and he slides his hands up to cup your tits. “So fucking beautiful.” He murmurs, his dark eyes nearly black with lust. He has spent every moment in the past week with you aside from the hour he left to speak to William. He isn’t sure if he wants to leave when the time comes but he has to. He needs to earn more coins.

Riding Pero has always been something that you enjoy but this week you have been frantic for it. “So fucking good.” You moan, leaning back and letting him play with your tits. “God, Tovar, you are so perfect inside me.” You’re greedy, knowing he will be leaving today or tomorrow so you want him to remember this.

"Fuck, hermosa. Amor." He pants, lost in the pleasure and unable to think about anything but you. He moans your name again and wraps his arms around you, dragging you into his chest. He thrusts up into you, wanting you to cum for him, and he buries his face in your neck.

Your moan is loud, gasped out when he calls you amor, although you try to reason that he is caught up in the sex. Your arms tighten around him and you whimper his name. “Perooooo.” His cock hits perfectly inside you and you shatter, clenching down around him like a vice as you soak him with your juices.

“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.” He growls, his fingers digging into your flesh as he thrusts up into you, moaning your name and it doesn’t take him long to cum. Painting your walls for the umpteenth time, he bites down on your shoulder to stop himself saying the words that linger on the tip of his tongue.

“Pero. Pero, oh god.” You cling to him, making your eyes and panting breathlessly at how good it feels. Your eyes water behind your lids and you bite your lip to keep from weeping. You know he is leaving and you don’t think you can bear it.

He caresses your back, kissing the spot he just sunk his teeth into, and he relaxes beneath you. Pulling you down to rest on his chest, he doesn’t say a word, wanting to enjoy this last time before he has to leave.

You sense the fact that he doesn’t want to talk so you snuggle into his embrace and sigh softly. Listening to his head beat in his chest and his breathing whoosh in and out slowly after he catches his breath. Wondering when he is going to leave and how you are going to handle not seeing him again anytime soon.

Pero isn’t sure how long he lays there, now soft but still inside of you, and he breathes you in until there’s a knock at the door. He groans, not liking his peace being disturbed, but you pull off of him and grab your tunic, pulling it over your head so you can open the door. William stands there and nods at you, peeking his head in at his Spanish companion. “It’s time, brother.” Pero nods, stomach twisting as he shifts from under your crumpled sheets to begin getting ready to leave.

Your heart plummets to the floor and you want to slam the door closed and pretend William isn’t there, but there would be no point. Pero isn’t yours. He wasn’t going to stay with you. You bite your lip and look towards Pero. “I will have them pack a bag of food for the road.” You announce before you rush down the stairs, leaving the two men to talk.

Pero speaks to William about the plan to venture East to find the black powder and he isn’t sure if he likes the idea but the coins sound too good to turn down. He would be set for life. He could return to you, marry you, start a life with you. He nods when William tells him to get ready and he takes his time dressing, looking up at you when you step into your room.

“Your food will be ready when you go down to saddle your horse.” You hate the sight of him strapping his armor to his body. The thick leathers changed him from lover to ruthless mercenary. Instead of crying, you move to the water bowl to clean yourself. You will have to go back to work after he leaves, taking other men into your bed.

After finishing tying his boots, Pero stands up to face you. “Gracias, amor. Por todo.” He says and reaches for you to drag you into his chest, his hand cupping the back of your head to keep you as close as possible.

You hate how cold the leathers are, wishing to feel his body again. “Safe travels.” You murmur against his chest. You can’t ask when you will see him again, it is not your place.

Pero slides his hands down your body, committing it to memory, and he leans in to nudge his nose against yours, desperately wishing to kiss you but he knows you have your rules.

You almost do it. You lean in to kiss him but he knows you have to keep that off the table. Instead, you nudge his nose back and inhale steadily. “Be safe, Pero.” You murmur quietly. “I will see you then next time you decide to see me.”

He nods as he pulls back and he stares at you for a moment. “Hasta luego, hermosa.” He murmurs and grabs his satchel, walking away before he falls to his knees and begs you to let him stay.

“Goodbye, Pero.” You murmur softly, watching him walk out the door and listening for his boots thumping on the stairs before your tears start to fall.

It takes everything in him to leave on his stead alongside the Irishman who knows the feelings Pero has for you. He knows you are the woman he loves and he understands why Pero cannot take you as his own. The Spaniard is a complicated man and his emotions are even more chaotic. "She will be there when you come back." William says and Pero just grunts his response.

**** 

He must be dead. Your heart aches every time someone comes to your bed and it’s not him. Every time the door opens and it’s not the Spaniard, your sighs get a little heavier. Your friends have worried about you as you silently grieve. Pero has either fallen on a battlefield or he has found a wife like he deserved. Either way, the time for him to visit had come and gone four times. A year has passed and you finally admit to yourself that you will never see him again.

Pero looks up at the sky before he steps into the brothel. He’s been gone a year. It’s been a long time and he has gone through so much in the past twelve months. He gives your name at the desk and the matron looks weary but escorts him to your room, knocking on your door and Pero inhales sharply at his first glance at you after so long. “Hola amor.” He murmurs, his heart pounding in his chest.

You freeze, shocked at the sight of Pero in your doorway, looking tired but whole. “You are alive.” You choke out, sure that you would never see him again. You had cried so many nights when your last client had left your bed and the seasons had changed with no word from him. Swallowing harshly, you wonder why he is here now.

“Lo siento, amor.” Pero feels guilty that he didn’t send a rider to give you warning of his arrival but he’d been a little busy trying to not die in the far east. The matron glances between you and decides to leave you to it. Pero shuffles from one foot to the other, waiting for you to make a move.

You bite your lip, trying not to cry because all you want to do is hold him close and kiss him. Then slap his face because he worried you so badly. Clearing your throat, you send him a bland smile. “I am sure you are wanting a meal and a bath?” You ask, trying to keep things as they were before. “You must have been very busy.”

He can tell you’re not happy with him and he frowns, “that would be nice.” He nods and you step aside to let him into your room. “How have you been, hermosa?” He asks softly once he’s sitting down:

“I have not been the best.” You admit with a careless shrug. “I was feeling poorly early this year.” You move towards the door so you can order his bath and meal, none for yourself. “But I have survived.”

Pero frowns even more at that news, worried that he could’ve lost you before he returned. “Good. Always good to survive.” He offers you a small smile that you don’t return and you leave to go order his meal and bath. He sighs, rubbing his neck, and when you come back, he takes out the coins he had in his purse. “I want to pay for your company for a week.” He says, holding the pouch out towards you.

Your hand reaches out while you stare at him. Taking the payment for your body without even really reacting to it, beyond your heart breaking. The confirmation that it had never been more than a physical release for him. You look down at the decidedly heavy pouch for a moment before you reach back and heave it towards him as hard as you can. “I do not want your coins!” You yell, tears immediately flooding your eyes and you are blinded by them.

Pero’s eyes widen and he catches the pouch from his quick reflexes, watching you start to sob. “I- I’m sorry, hermosa. I’ll go. I won’t - I will leave you alone. I thought you wanted me here but apparently you wish for me to leave. I’m sorry. I’ll go.” He promises with a choke, heart breaking as you reject him.

“I- I thought you were dead!” You sob, rushing forward and slamming your fists against his leather covered chest. “M-my heart was broken and you-you walk back in as if a year hasn’t passed and pay for my cunt.” You know you aren’t making sense, you are just a whore to him, but he was your love. You loved him, love him still.

He reaches for your wrists, trying to stop you from hitting him. He pulls back to look at you, “amor. Amor. What - I was in China. I nearly died and I couldn’t get word to you. I- I wanted to return to you. Every night. Wanted to come home to you. I needed the coins so I could lay down my sword and return to you, to give you all of me.”

“Liar.” You sob, shaking your head and trying to pull away from his grip. He won’t let you go and you hate how much you are crying. “If-if you wanted to be with me, you would not offer coin.” You stop struggling and collapse against his chest. “I do not want your coin, I want your heart.” You whimper.

Pero’s chest clenches with frustration and he pulls you into his chest, “you have always had my heart. Since the first week I spent in your company. I gave you my coin, I give you my coin, because I wish to take care of you even in my absence, even when I cannot be here. I wish to provide for you because I - because I love you.”

You close your eyes and sob even harder. In relief, in distress for time that you have missed out on. “I love you, Pero.” You whisper. “Mi amor.” You know that you had been foolishly telling yourself that he had not meant it when he called you his love, you hadn’t dreamed to hope. “I have been saving every coin I could, wishing to leave this life behind.” You confess. “I did not think you could love a whore.”

“I don’t love a whore. I love you. Whatever you do, who you are…means nothing to me. I love you.” He murmurs, caressing your cheeks and he leans in to press his forehead against yours. “Can I kiss you?” He asks, wanting to feel your lips against his for the first time.

You lick your lips, finding them dry as you press closer. “Yes.” You moan softly. “Kiss me, Pero. I need you to kiss me.” You know that you haven’t kissed much, but he is the only man you want to kiss, to touch you, from now on.

Pero leans in, pressing his lips to yours, and it’s a little awkward. He’s never been an affectionate lover until he met you and now he’s aching for your kiss, for your touch. “Te amo.” He murmurs against your lips before he cups your cheek, tilting your head so he can deepen the kiss.

You moan into the kiss, your cunt clenching when his tongue slides into your mouth. Sliding your hands up to tangle into his long hair, you pull him close and kiss him back just as fiercely.

His hands let go of your wrists so he can slide his hands down to grab your waist. It’s sloppy and clumsy as he slides his tongue against yours but he feels like he’s home. He feels like the battles he’s endured have been worth it to just have this moment with you in his arms.

When the kiss breaks, both of you are panting softly. “I love you.” You murmur again. “I- I want you to leave with me.” You sigh. “I want to leave the brothel and find a village where I can just be another woman.”

“I have coins, hermosa. That’s why I left. I wanted to return to you with enough coins for us to build a home together in a village. Get married.” He reveals and he lets go of you, fumbling as he reaches beneath his tunic to pull his gold chain out. He takes it off and reveals the ring he has worn there since he left. “It was my mother’s. I want - I want you to have it. For you to be my wife. Will you?” He asks, eyes widen and lower lip pouting as he waits for your answer.

“Pero….” You gasp, looking down at the simple, yet beautiful ring and then back up into his eyes. “I, yes, of course I will marry you.” You promise, beaming before you lunge forward and press your lips to his again.

He feels relieved and happy, for the first time in a long time, he’s happy. His lips press against yours and he pulls back for a moment so he can slide the ring onto your finger. “I need you, amor.” He murmurs, the fire growing in his belly as his desire for you comes to the forefront.

“You always need to fuck me when you come back from the road.” This time, you are giggling as you pull back and take his hand, dragging him towards your cot. “Come, amor, I have missed you between my thighs.” You admit. “And you will be the last man between them so you should service me well.”

“Not yet.” He murmurs, gently pushing you away. “I want to be clean for my wife. Have them to bring the tub and let me clean up before we lay together. I don’t want to risk you.” He says, knowing he had to care more for your well-being now - the woman that he would lay down and die for.

Your brow raises but you do not argue. Instead, you kiss him once more and rush to the door, eager to have the bath brought in. He loves you. He wants to take you away from here and have a life together. You bring up a pail of water yourself, rushing the boys who brought the tub and other buckets inside out the door and latch it behind them.

Pero works fast to strip off, sinking down into the tub after helping you pour the water in and he groans when the steam curls up around him. “Amor, can you cut my hair again?” He asks timidly, almost shy now you have his ring on your finger.

“Of course I can.” You nod as you move towards the scissors, getting them out and smiling as he relaxes and leans back against the rim. “I like your hair shorter and your beard trimmed.” You admit. “But I will take you however I can get you.” Kneeling down behind him, you pull off your tunic and run your fingers through his hair to start cutting it.

Pero smiles softly, "even with my scars?" He asks and you nod, "especially with your scars." Pero's heart thumps and he reaches for your hand, bringing it to his lips to kiss the back of it. "I love you." He murmurs and you caress his cheek before you continue working on chopping off his hair.

Once you are done, you wet his hair down and lather soap into it. Smiling when he groans and leans back. Enjoying your fingernails scrubbing his scalp. “Does it feel good, amor?”

“Sí, hermosa.” Pero murmurs, closing his eyes as you wash his hair. “I want to do this for you.” He says, cock twitching when your nails scrap his scalp. He loves it. You finish washing his hair and work on trimming off the excess beard. Pero drinks you in, admiring your features, the way you bite your lip as you concentrate.

When the soap is wiped clean from his face, you smile, running a finger down his cheek. “So handsome.” You coo, “do you want me to wash you as well?” You ask, even as you reach for the clothe and the soap again. The quicker he is clean, the quicker he can touch you.

Pero nods, wanting your touch even though it’s selfish to make you wash him. He groans your name as you start to drag the cloth over his skin and his cock starts to harden. “Te amo.” He murmurs, watching you and his hand comes up to cup your breast.

You moan softly when he squeezes your breast. “Te amo.” You murmur in response, your heart bursting with happiness. You will let Pero rest as long as he needs, but then you will venture to find a place to settle, to build a life together. Your hand wraps around his now clean cock and you pump him gently.

“Mierda.” Pero groans when you squeeze him and he shakes his head, “amor. I want - I want to be inside of you. Please. Let me get out.” He says, pulling your hand off of his cock.

You’re surprised that he doesn’t want you to ride him in his bath, but perhaps he wants this time to be in the cot. Something more meaningful than the times before. You still pout as you stand and reach for the drying cloth as he steps out of the tub.

Pero quickly dries himself off and tosses the cloth aside, reaching for you. He pulls you into his chest, his hard cock trapped between you, and he cups your cheek with one hand as he leans in to press his lips to yours.

It’s softer and sweet, yet the kiss makes you moan. Knowing that this is real. That Pero is here and wants to make you his wife. Your arms wrap around his neck and it’s you that starts to guide him back towards your cot. “I need you.” You beg breathlessly.

Pero needs you too. Desperately. You’re all he has thought about for months. He murmurs your name as he shifts to lay you down on the cot. “Let me make love to you, amor.” He pleads softly, leaning down to wrap his lips around your nipples after positioning himself between your thighs. “I want to taste you.”

“Pero…” you start to protest, knowing that it has been only a day since the last man had been between your thighs but he silences you with a look. You’ve bathed since then, so you lean back and let him do what he wishes with you.

He spreads your thighs as he kisses down your stomach, cock twitching with the thought that it will someday be full of his child, and he inhales deeply when he settles between your thighs. “Fuck, such a pretty cunt.” He mumbles, his hands caressing your soft skin and he leans in to slide his tongue through your folds, not wanting to waste another second.

You keen, back arching your hips would rock up if it weren’t for his body and strong arms pinning you down. “Pero!” You’ve never felt a man’s tongue on your cunt and it’s a delicious sensation.

He knows this is something he will be doing again and again now that you are his. His tongue pushes deep into your walls and he groans as his nose presses against your clit, curling his tongue until he’s pulling back to flick it over your bundle of nerves.

Your eyes close and your fingers twist into the sheets as you start to chant his name. Already close to cumming and finding it to be so much better than his fingers rubbing your clit. “So good.”

He sucks on your clit, desperately wanting you to cum for him. He groans your name into your flesh and pushes two fingers into your cunt as he sucks on your clit a little harder.

“Pero!” Your scream is loud, letting everyone in the brothel hear as you come apart for him. Thighs shaking around his head and your cunt locking down around his fingers while pleasure rushes through your body.

He nearly cums when you gush around his digits but he keeps working his fingers inside of you to keep you pleasured until you’re pushing his head away. He kisses along your thighs as you pant, your chest heaving, and he kisses your stomach up to your breasts, pressing kisses on every inch of skin.

“I love you.” You whimper softly, running your fingers through his hair and smiling softly. You press your lips to his just as soon as he is close enough. Tasting yourself on his lips and humming at the sensation. “I love you so much.”

He smiles against your jaw, “I love you too, mi esposa.” He murmurs and shuffles between your thighs. Reaching down to grip his cock, he pulls back his foreskin and swipes the head against your clit. You whine and he chuckles, positioning himself at your entrance and slowly pushing into you with a low groan.

He feels even bigger, better than he ever had. It might just be your imagination, but it feels that way. Moaning softly, you pull your legs back to take him even deeper until he is buried inside you. “After we marry, I can stop drinking my tea if you would want.” You offer breathlessly, imagining being filled with his baby.

“Yes. Fuck, yes. I want - I want that.” He confesses, imagining you full of his baby has him stopping to control himself. He leans in to nudge his nose against yours, his breathing heavier. “Mi amor. Mi esposa. Mi vida. La madre de nuestros niños.” He murmurs, lost in thoughts of the future until he starts to slowly rock his hips.

“Yes.” You moan quietly. Wrapping your legs around him and sighing softly as he treats you as if you are made of glass. You can feel everything, and it’s exquisite.

He moves slowly inside of you, not wanting to rush this. He murmurs your name again and again, like a prayer, as he makes love to you. His ring on your finger as it glistens in the candlelight and his heart pounds in his chest.

This moment is one that you want to remember forever. Every kiss, ever whispered word of love between. You caress his face and look up at him, finding him even more handsome than ever.

He has fought long and hard to return to you, his lover, his reason for fighting so hard. He rocks into you, his hand gripping yours and he wants to hear the sweet cries of your orgasm. He shifts his weight to one forearm and slides his hand between you so he can rub your clit.

“Pero.” You gasp out when you feel the pressure of his fingers against your clit. “Please, amor.” You beg softly, your body getting closer to cumming with every thrust. You never want to be away from him again. Wanting to spend the rest of your life with your Spaniard.

He works your clit a little faster, wanting you to fall over the edge and it doesn’t take long for you to clamp down on his cock. He doesn’t hold back, he can’t after going so long without you. He paints your walls at the same time you soak his cock and he groans your name as he pushes deep, pressing his lips to yours as he rocks you both through your highs.

You whimper as he rocks himself through the pleasure and sigh when he collapses on top of you. “I love you, Pero.” You whisper softly, heart bursting because your feelings are returned. The mercenary and the whore, a love story that shouldn’t be, but is.

[maluuustrawberry]

Red like fire...{Part 1}

(Frollo X Edith X Phoebus)

Warnings: Some prejudiced speech, use of the word "Gypsies" (But only in Frollo's speeches since we know what kind of character he is.) Age gap, Frollo being Frollo.

Synopsis: Frollo needed a new captain to help him with the problems with the romani, but he didn't imagine that the captain would be a woman, causing many disagreements between the two of them since the arrival of the captain.

A/N: I swear I thought of this story when I was taking a shower, Lol. I decided to post this while part two of "Undesirable encounter" yet being made. And I was also surprised that there wasn't any Phoebus fic, so I thought I'd do one. This time I won't use "Y/n" I thought it would be better to create a character, but you can imagine yourself in her place and I hope you like her. Enjoy!!

Love and lust. The feelings that show the true nature of man, even man who calls himself "holy" and "righteous". These feelings drive us to commit so many crazy things just for attention, a look or even a touch. Especially when that feeling comes from someone who has repressed it for so long, hiding their true desires and monstrosities for fear of experiencing sin.

Frollo, the judge, needed help dealing with the Romanis who were entering Paris. He suspected that there was some kind of "nest" in which they were hiding and that they were spreading out from this hiding place. To help him with this task, the judge decided to call in a captain of the royal guard who was in a nearby town and who was free of missions at the moment. Luckily, he found someone, but he had no idea that the captain would actually be a woman...

Her name was Edith Chapelle, and she was the first woman to become captain. When she received the letter from the Judge of Paris, she immediately packed her things and rode her gray horse, Hermes, into town. Of course, it wasn't very common in the 15th century for a woman to hold such an important position; she was forced to deal with a lot of nasty comments and nicknames and, of course, being called a 'witch', but she managed to cope very well.

She began her career as a captain when her father, a former captain, was called up for a war, but was ill and had no male son to replace him, so Edith took his place. The impression was horrible at first, but, being clever, she gradually gained the respect of the men and put them in their place.

Unfortunately, only her surname remained on the list, which often confused the men into thinking that the captain was a man because she bore her father's surname. And as soon as she arrived, it was always a break in expectations for everyone, along with some people's thoughts about her. For Edith, it was no different with that judge.

After riding for a long time until she arrived in Paris, she began to pass through the city, a little lost and, of course, receiving looks of strangeness and disgust. Even with that, she could tolerate it. “Is it possible that, in such a big city, no one has ever seen a woman wearing pants and armor?” A small laugh burst from her lips at the thought.

She was looking for the Palace of Justice and tried to look at the map, but the city had changed a lot and the map would be of no use at the moment.

"Come on, it shouldn't be so hard to find," she thought to herself as she led the horse through the city streets and along La Cité, near Notre-Dame. The woman gazed in awe at the great cathedral, it was still as beautiful as the last time she had seen it, and a small smile appeared on her face as she remembered the good times she had had in this city, especially at Notre-Dame. She let her thoughts take her away and suddenly her horse grumbled and tapped its legs impatiently on the ground:

“Calm down, Hermes.” The redhead tried to calm her animal by patting the side of its neck. “I guarantee that when we arrive, you'll have your carrots. We just need some information...”

The woman commented as she looked around and got off her horse, looking for someone to ask for information. It was a bit difficult with the Parisians passing by and ignoring the visitor, if not, they just gave uncomfortable looks or the mothers whispered in an unobtrusive way to the little girls, who stared curiously at the woman. “Don't look, child, that's disgraceful. Such a poorly disciplined woman.”

The captain noticed a colorful cart near the cathedral, which attracted the attention of some children, who were enchanted by the music that a man in the cart sang while using his puppets to tell a story. Perhaps he was someone who empathized with children and could help her.

She walked over to the cart while carrying her horse on a lead, and the man soon stopped the story. The children also looked at the girl and the approaching horse:

“Good morning.” She greeted everyone with a small smile. “I hope I'm not in the way.”

“Not at all, miss.” The man spoke, being friendly and relaxed. The woman could tell he was a Romani from his different skin color and the ring hanging from his ear. “My stories are for all audiences.”

“Oh no, no, I just came to ask for information. I'm new in city.” She explained, not noticing the children stroking her horse, and what luck that Hermes was a very peaceful animal and liked children. “Can you tell me where the Palace of Justice is?”

“It's not far from here. Unfortunately, I can't take you there, but just go straight up that street and turn right, you'll get there easily, there's no mistake.”

“Thank you very much, sir.” The girl thanked him, noticing a hat with some coins on the counter of the Roma's cart, and took some out of her pocket and put them there. “I hope this helps.”

“Thank you, miss, won't you stay for a story?”

“I appreciate that, but I have to get to the palace, I should have been there hours ago.” She joked. “Maybe another time?”

“I understand, dear, see you later.”

She said goodbye to the Romani and pulled Hermes' leash, taking him away from the children and following the path to the palace. The captain decided to walk through the streets this time, to stretch her legs a bit and to avoid attracting so much attention on her horse.

Following the Roma's instructions, she arrived at the place and was in front of the palace. A shiver ran through her body as nervousness and anxiety took over. The place was huge, and what caught the woman's attention most were the tall towers of the palace; they weren't as tall as those of the cathedral, but they seemed to give a great view of the city. The redhead took a deep breath and walked up to the palace. There were two guards at the entrance, next to the large doors:

“Excuse me, gentlemen.” She spoke and the men looked her up and down with contempt and doubt. She was a little taller than the men and that was enough to bruise their egos a little, after all, the woman was 1.74 tall. “I came at the behest of Judge Claude Frollo.”

The guards looked at each other, holding back their laughter, and one of them asked mockingly:

“And what would the judge want with a woman?” When the guard said this, this time the redhead took on a serious tone with a little anger in her voice, and then spoke.

“Summon her as the new captain of the guard, perhaps?”

She took the judge's letter out of her bag and unfolded it, showing it to the guards. They read it and were stunned, they had to read it more than once to make sure they understood it correctly and that it wasn't a forgery, but they knew very well that it was the judge's handwriting and his own seal on the letter. One of the guards cleared his throat and spoke:

“H-He's in the main hall, ma'am. Do we have permission to put your horse in the stable?”

“I'd be grateful if you would.” The small smile returned to her face and she handed Hermes' lead to one of the men.

The guard opened the palace gate and the captain entered. The door was closed behind her and she looked around, analyzing the place. The main hall was even larger inside, and soon she heard voices in the next room, the judgment chamber, and followed the voice. It was two men, but one of them had the most authoritative, deep voice that would give anyone goosebumps.

When she arrived at the judgment hall, she saw a tall, old man in the robes of a judge talking to the guard, but the conversation was interrupted by the arrival of the captain. Nervousness hit her hard when she saw all the attention on her and the judge's deep judgmental gaze, seeming to analyze every detail of her soul, but she maintained her posture and spoke:

“Good morning, gentlemen, excuse me. Mr. Judge Claude Frollo?” She asked and the man frowned slightly.

“Yes...” He answered a little uncertainly and put his hands together. “And you are...?”

“Captain Edith Chapelle, sir.” She quickly introduced herself, bowing slightly and the judge's eyes widened slightly, not believing he had hired a woman. “Reporting for duty as ordered.”

“... Is this a joke?” It was the only thing that came out of the judge's mouth after so much shock and disappointment. “I didn't hire a woman to take care of the job.”

“Well, it's in the letter you sent me, Your Honor.” She handed him the letter and the older man took it and looked at it as she spoke. “I know that my military record only contains my surname, but...”

“Go away.” He spoke and she frowned, not believing it.

“Sorry?...”

“There's been a mistake.” He handed her the letter, his expression hard, serious and with hatred in his eyes. “I didn't hire a woman for the job and you should have this information on your military record.”

“Sir, I've come all this way...” She tried to explain herself, but he quickly interrupted her.

“If you knew how to get here, then you know very well how to get home.” The judge spoke with contempt and turned away as he spoke. “A woman, being a captain? You don't seem to know your real role in society and you're playing at being a soldier.”

“I know my role very well, Your Honor.” She spoke as she walked up to him, who stopped and stared at her with contempt, that look would make anyone shut up, but she insisted. Stubborn as she was.

“I can punish you if you continue with this stubbornness, Miss Chapelle.” He spoke, but she continued.

“Punish me for what? For being a woman?”

“Look how you talk to the Judge of Paris, woman...” The guard butted in and the redhead immediately cut him off with an authoritative and serious tone.

“I didn't ask you to talk! Put yourself in your place before meddling in a matter that hasn't even been mentioned!”

That tone made the guard quickly shut up and walk away from the two of them with his fists clenched, which shocked Frollo, he had never seen a woman with so much control and even more so insistent. The guard left them alone and she continued, it was amazing that she wasn't afraid of the punishment that would follow, as if she had a great passion for her work:

“I'm doing my duty, Your Honor. And my role is to protect the cities and justice, as I was trained to do.”

“Put yourself in your position as a woman...” The older man approached, and his expression, along with his gaze, was capable of intimidating anyone, including the captain. But she stood her ground and didn't back down. “You should be at home looking after your husband and children. In fact, I doubt that you have a husband, and if you did, he would certainly be ashamed.”

These words would surely make anyone give up, it wouldn't be worth it, but Edith continued, despite feeling upset:

“Even though you don't know my gender, you've seen my work and my achievements as a captain in my military record, and I think that's why you summoned me, isn't it? So what difference will it make, knowing that I'm now a woman?”

Claude Frollo remained silent, absorbing everything the woman said and obviously he had no more arguments for it. To his disappointment, she was right, and anyway if he were to call another captain it would take longer than necessary and he needed to do his duty as a judge. From start to finish, she showed a mature, responsible and stubborn demeanor, and she seemed to have a way with words and a certain authority:

“You've shown yourself to have an extremely irritating but endearing stubbornness and you have good posture. I hope I'm not mistaken about that, Captain.” Frollo said the word "captain" with a certain disdain, but Edith ignored it and looked hopefully at him, her hands trembling with anxiety. “I'll give you a chance, I won't tolerate any mistakes and if you commit any disobedience... don't want to imagine what comes next...” A small smile came to the judge's face and it caused the captain to shiver, it was a wicked smile that caused discomfort.

The short-haired redhead nodded and he turned away from her, starting to climb the steps to the upper room of the palace, she soon realized that she should follow him and so she did. Frollo gave Edith this chance, he thought it was ridiculous for a woman to think she could do the captain's job better than any man, he was sure she wouldn't last two weeks, but he couldn't deny that he was curious to see how far she would go, it would be satisfying for a man like him to see her so weakened and show that he was right all this time.

They reached the top floor and walked out onto the open balcony of the palace, and soon he began:

“I hope you know what you're doing, Captain. I must say that you've come to Paris at a dangerous time, and you'll need a firm hand to deal with so many pagans. Do you think you can handle it?”

“Dealing with pagans? What do you mean?” She asked and he gave a small smile.

“Gypsies, Captain. Gypsies live outside the normal order and are always breaking the law, stealing, taking children from their mothers and defiling our Christian city with their pagan ways. And they have to be stopped.” Frollo explained as he looked out over the city.

“Wait a minute, are you telling me I've been summoned from the war to arrest Romanis?” She asked incredulously, thinking he was joking, but at the judge's slight glance, she recovered. “I mean... it's just that I've never received a mission like this before...”

“Everything has a first time, Captain, and I'm playing my part as a judge in cleansing the city of evil.” Edith found the way he spoke strange, did this man think he was a God or something? Always feeling superior to everyone else? “Come with me...”

She soon obeyed him, walking with him through the palace of justice and heading for what seemed to be his office. It was a very well organized room, with several books on the shelf, a desk full of papers and a map of the city hanging on the wall of the room. The judge continued as he closed the door behind the captain:

“For twenty years I've been... looking after the gypsies.” He spoke as he walked to his desk. “One by one, yet with my success they seem to have sprouted. I believe they have some refuge, a 'nest', so to speak.”

Frollo sat down at his table, but the woman remained standing as she listened to the explanation, the judge gave a small smile as he noticed that she was just waiting for his order to sit down, it seems that she had been educated very well as a captain and recognized who her leader was, she had passed his little "test":

“Sit down, Captain.” At his command, with a small smile on his face, the redhead obeyed and sat down. Frollo continued: “Moving on, I need you to find this gypsy hideout and capture any you find wandering around the city.”

“If I may, sir. What should we do if we find the hideout?”

Frollo continued with that wicked smile, leaned his elbows on the table and put his hands together. Edith watched his movements and soon realized what he meant:

“Sir, I wasn't trained to kill innocent people.”

“But you were trained to take orders...” That smile wouldn't leave Frollo's face, with this information he knew she would give up, or at least he thought so. “And 'innocents'? Do you think that pagan race is innocent?”

“Just because one Romani has committed crimes, doesn't mean that everyone should be punished for it.”

“Don't you see that it's in their blood to be sinners, my dear?” He asked calmly.

“Yes, just as it's in the blood of every human being. If you do this, you'll be breaking a law, you'll be causing genocide, and from what I read in the law you should only kill if someone commits a crime and you have proof of the crime committed. You don't want to lose your job, do you?”

This woman was dangerously clever and had a sharp tongue. The judge's expression became serious again and his right hand clenched tightly into a fist, but in a discreet way, as if he were controlling his desire to break that sharp woman's neck, he certainly underestimated her quick thinking and tough mind. Then he had a different idea of manipulating her:

“You're a clever woman, Captain, I have to confess.” He commented as he analyzed the papers in an attempt to disguise himself. “And you've given me an idea, I think it's best just to arrest all the gypsies and when it comes time for the trial I'll draw the conclusions as to whether they deserve the death penalty or not. Since you care so much about these gypsy scum.”

“I care about justice, and about our work.”

“How thoughtful of you.” He spoke sarcastically.

“And what will happen to those who don't get the death penalty?“

“They'll be free, simple.”

That was very strange. Edith was about to retort, but kept quiet. She had already said too much, and at least he hadn't forced her to bathe in the blood of innocents. Then she returned to the subject of the mission:

“Do you have any suspicions about where the safe house is? If you don't mind, I'll need a new map of the city. Mine is old and Paris has changed a lot since then.”

“So far we've had no leads, Captain. And as for the map, I'll arrange it. You have full control of my men and you'll have to put them in line. Any more questions about the service?”

“Is there anything important you want to tell me?” As she asked this, he shifted in his chair and leaned his body slightly on the table, clasping his hands together.

“I'm only going to tell you one thing; remember why I summoned you... you must not show any compassion to those pagans. And I'm going to demand at least some information about the mission when the day is over.”

“I'll keep you informed as soon as possible about the hideout, sir.”

“Very well, you're cleared. Your service begins tomorrow and I expect good results.”

“Yes, sir.”

Edith nodded and got up from her chair, the judge's gaze on her at all times as she made her way to the office exit. And now he was analyzing the woman, noticing her height and physique. She definitely didn't have a strong body suited to fighting. Her arms, even hidden by armor, looked as thin and delicate as any woman's, and her shoulders weren't that broad. Her legs, which were long and with thick thighs, looked very nice underneath the armor, and, of course, he couldn't help but notice those wide hips.

The judge quickly pushed these thoughts aside and sighed as soon as she left; he had never met a woman like her before and was intrigued, but at the same time felt contempt for her. He was going to make this woman's life as captain a living hell...

*****

Edith left the palace of justice, and as soon as she left, she breathed a sigh of relief after so much tension with that difficult judge. She went downstairs and went to the stables to get her horse to leave. She needed to find a place to stay in the city and it was a good thing she had money for accommodation and knew a place, she just needed to make sure it still existed.

It was dusk, and riding to the place, Edith observed how the town looked. Soon her thoughts were dominated by Frollo, that judge was no ordinary man, he always seemed to be driven by hatred and punishment, he wouldn't be easy to work with, that much she knew. She had nothing against Romanis, and she wasn't one to judge someone by their appearance. The redhead had a bad feeling about this, worrying about the Romani people and, of course, worrying about the city being in the hands of such a cruel judge.

Riding through the city, she passed some familiar streets until she came to St. Michael's Bridge, hearing the sound of the river passing under the bridge. As she passed the place, she was surprised that the small apartment was still there after so many years. She still had images of the House of Falourdel in her mind from when her father used to pay for lodgings there when they would visit Paris. Edith got off her horse and left him waiting in front of the apartment:

“I won't be long, Hermes, I promise.”

She spoke before entering, the bell ringing as soon as the door was opened. The same lady who had attended to her father when she was a child was there at the counter. Edith was genuinely surprised to see that this old woman was still alive. "Maybe she was so grouchy that not even hell or heaven wanted her there…" Edith bit her tongue to keep from laughing at the thought:

“Which room?” The old woman asked, exactly, without a 'good afternoon' or even a 'what do you want?' Edith frowned, one thing she hated was rudeness, but she let it pass.

*****

Managing to book a room upstairs and a stable for Hermes to stay in, the woman entered the Santa Carta room, which was not in the best condition. The walls were almost falling apart, the bed was rusty, the window was broken and there was a faint smell of mildew coming from the walls. It had been a long time since the place had been renovated.

Tired from her trip, the woman locked the door, left her things in the corner of the bed and took off her armor, feeling relieved and more relaxed after taking off the tight, uncomfortable metal. She began to clean her body with the damp cloth and finally put on her nightgown.

She wanted to walk around the city before nightfall to get to know Paris better, but she was too tired having come all this way and had a long job the next day, so that judge managed to sap her energy. She lay down on the bed and sighed, snuggling down to sleep and get ready for her first day at work tomorrow.

Continue?...

[newtonsheffield]

Someone's about to get lifted onto a desk 👀👀👀

I do not doubt that for a single second tbh.

Also: this is Kate’s study! It’s too femininely decorated for it to be Anthony’s, even in his new wife guy era. And I love that for her.

I love that she has space for herself, and space to write her letters and run the household. I can also imagine her lips parting in surprise the very first time she saw the ledgers and she saw exactly how much money the Bridgertons have.

“Everything alright, Love?”

Kate let her eyes flick to Anthony, lounging in the chair across on the other side of the viscountess’s, of her desk. “Fine.”

“You look shocked.” Anthony sighed, “Let me guess you’re about to admonish me for letting my books fall into such disrepair but I would remind you why I haven’t had much time for bookmaking recently.”

Kate rolled her eyes, “It’s not… that. I suppose I just… knew you were wealthy but seeing it in person is another thing.”

“We are wealthy.” Anthony corrected lightly, “I hardly expect you to ask me for every little thing you want. That’s an awful way some men make their wives live.”

Kate rolled her eyes, “And here I thought I heard a rumour about you quizzing young ladies on a penchant for over spending.”

“People exaggerate. Or perhaps I don’t mind making you happy,”

It had seemed odd to Kate at first, the frequency with which Anthony seemed present in her study, especially as one of the other ladies had laughed when she’d mention that she and Anthony had been in there together.

“God, Herbert wouldn’t even know where to find it.”

But it seems normal now, having Anthony poke his head in. So much so that she doesn’t even need to look up to know who’s just slipped in and closed the door behind him.

“Viscountess, you work far too hard.”

Kate but back her smile at his use of her title. “Oh no, no, no. You’re supposed to be working. And I know what you calling me that means.”

Anthony looked at her innocently while he flopped down into the chair opposite her, “I’ve no idea what you’re talking about. I only thought Gee, I hope my beautiful wife’s not getting bored all alone like I am.”

Kate leaned back in her chair, “So you’ve come to save me have you?”

He gestured to himself, grinning cheekily. “I’m your knight in shining armor, yes.”

“And here I thought you intended to rarely see your wife, I can’t seem to get rid of you.” Kate teased, leaning back in her chair. “Though I suppose that has its merits.”

“It does,” Anthony said eagerly, “I’d be more than happy, Viscountess, to show you just how willing I am to make your afternoon just a little bit more pleasurable.”

Kate’s breath caught, “Lock the door then.”

Anthony practically scrambled back over the chair. “Yes Ma’am.”

[a-roguish-gambit]

Behold, the Brotherhood of Mutants for my turn of the century au!

You can tell I had the most fun with pietro and wanda’s designs. They are based more on upperclass wear of the time. Sadly, there was no punk going on, but you can see that in rebellion Wanda has bobbed her hair, which was incredibly controversial before the year 1920.

I based the outfits of the brotherhood boys on some different working class designs. Lance has some factory gear to help protect him from his own power. You have probably noticed that they don’t really have super suits or armor at this point in time that’s because a lot of it has not been invented yet or is almost exclusively used by military. Spandex will not be a thing for a couple more decades, and most non natural fibers right now are dangerously flammable, so they are mostly wearing clothing that suits them rather than super suits. also, you will notice that yes some of the characters have visible injuries, especially todd. They grew up in the 1900s which was an especially difficult time to be an orphaned child. This is part why they all end up being willing to stay with mystique and Irene, who have set up a “shelter for wayward boys” which in actuality is a way for them to train children for magneto (will design him later having trouble figuring out how to incorporate his helmet lol). It’s free room and board with food so they don’t have to worry about any exploitative jobs at this point in time. And all they have to do is go on missions for her which is somehow significantly safer than an up to code factory floor. being former Street kids, or in Fred’s case, a former sideshow act, they have already been a bit embittered to the world, especially to the X-Men kids who they see as highly privileged, even though several of them came from similar backgrounds of poverty, struggle, and familial loss, someone was just willing to reach out a hand to them before mystique.

Both Irene and mystique are faking being widows, living together in part of a way to claim the estate as their own, but also as an excuse to hide their relationship. The brotherhood kids could honestly care less about this thankfully because they’re loyal if you feed them, and they’ll never leave because well they need the food…mystique is not sure if that last part is good or not but its comforting to know their secret is safe with these kids. Shes still not a great caretaker for them but at least they have a roof over their head, fresh clothing, and 3 square meals a day, which is more than what they had.

[missmarveledsblog]

Is it the end? ( Joel miller x reader)

summary : y/n opens up the about the past, mark starts on his plan and well a patrol leads to an ambush , y/n face the beast of the past and this time she ready to go down to make sure he can't hurt those she has come to love even if it means she might never see them again

warnings : angst as fuck some fluffy moments but this one is also heavy , mentions of abuse in the past including SA , domestic violence , facing an abuser , violence a lot

A.N : this whole chapter is a warning if any of the following could trigger please look after yourself and skip this one (you're not alone , you got this, we are all proud of you ) hopefully see you in happier fic in future

Previous part

Maybe it was the events of the night or maybe it was because it was Joel miller. She never felt this way , something her mother described  as love it was all new and scary and yet it filled her with warmth , comfort and safety when the man was near her. How instinctively her body new he was close like sense searching him out and even in her most scared state she felt the rush of calm the moment his arms where touching her skin, his scent of  oak and musk in her nostrils and the gruff husk to his voice all those made her feel safe , all those felt like home. The man who made her feel like she wasn’t alone again . years of living hell more hell then infected hell she’d prefer them to her ex.They had more mercy , mindless zombies had more compassion then her ex to which is she didn’t get free well she would of threw herself to them. But here she was with joel sitting on edge of his bed and she wanted to be open with him completely , not hold or hide anything. 

“ i wasn’t scared because it was nigel ,it wasn’t anything to do with him it was the feeling that sent me back” she breathed out feeling the words ready to burst from her mouth like a dam every single one  that needed to be said.” he wasn’t the one that was attacking me like in my head it wasn’t him, it was like i was back there back in a past so dark it felt like a black hole, sucking the life out of me every second i didn’t even feel like a person just puppet on a string or when times seemed fit the whipping boy for when he was having a bad day”she laughed dryly .

“Jonah found me i was exhausted , starving and probably on the brink of death i thought he was my knight in shining armor like stories my mama told me about as little girl , he was on a horse and everything, brought me back to his camp and i had food and warm clothe even a blanket because i refused to ruin my brothers, then after a while i found my prince was a monster with a pretty mask , one that hid the evil he truly was start slow i would talk to passers by the first time he hit me claimed it was some sort of ptsd thing then he stopped using excuse , stopped wearing the mask every time i opened my eye i hated it , hated he didn’t just kill me like he kept telling me it wasn’t something i feared anymore it was something i wished for only thing i had was that blanket, my mama made it from some wool we found , then jonah found it made his men hold me down and he burnt it right before my eyes and something snapped inside when he went  let the melted material fall i grabbed his knife i cut him , i cut em all and ran with the bag  on my back, then there i was falling over my own feet , starved , dehydrated and my body ready to give up until a man called out just as i hit the ground ,i woke up here  in jackson and your brother as telling me i was ok , i was safe” she sniffled .

“ so when nigel hit me pushed me it wasn’t him i was seeing , smelling and hearing it was jonah like i did every single day since i was fifteen” she smiled weakly the tear that filled her waterline and once more she spent a night crying in joel millers arms feeling the weight of the past off of her shoulder. 

He just held her ,tight holding only her . she didn’t need his words to tell her how strong and amazing she was that could wait. What she need was to feel safe , to truly feel protected. How much he hated the world for trying to break her , how it made her hurt in ways a person should never hurt.  She needed to feel comfort and security to know that he had her, he was going to protect her no matter what . Tommy must have known more about his behavior to suggest it   he wasn’t going to ask. She already told him so much but he could only imagine what else the monster had done. It didn't take rocket science to see that .  He hoped his touch told her what his mouth didn’t , He meant it every sense that day he said it , she had him  in every way she wanted him .  More and more he felt him drawn to her seeing every side to the woman and she was still beautiful even more so like a flower blooming  a bed of weeds . one he will do everything and anything to keep it flourishing . he barely slept that night , watching her sleep the way her lashes touched her cheeks , the soft even breathes that pull and pushed through the pillow plush lips .  How perfect she fit in his arms like she was always meant to be there , how she should always be there and if he could it would always be that way . 

Mark wanted to leave , this needed to be over with  the longer he was gone the more danger they were in .  Jonah promised they would be safe if he did this but it even he couldn’t trust that man’s word , he did know once this was over he was taking his wife and daughter some where else far away shit he would build a boat if he needed to .  It need to end soon longer he waited the longer it would take . 

“Mark we got your present” the radio crackled as he rushed off. 

“ so fucker made it huh  he should be able give you details of the patrols , y/n does them weekends two days from now i can’t stay” 

“ two days  and i get my wife back good enough for me i’ll give you a horse and your cunts back” jonah snickered. 

“ two days” mark gritted his teeth before turning the channel off. 

Even though it was an absolute nightmare of event the night before it was the best sleep she gotten in a long time , every single time she was a sleep in his arms she had dreams  actually dreams and not nightmares that made her wake in a panicked sweat . She woke rested and calm , she was safe.  Even if it was the wake of a storm she felt safe In joel millers presence . Something about the man always made her protect something wod Seem like it was made up concept . 

“ hey love bird  breakfast Soon” ellie voice called she didn't have to look at the teen to see the smirk that was there , feeling it was enough . 

“ we'll Get up in minute go ahead” his voice god his morning Voice had her thighs clenching and her stomach In a tornado Of feeling. “ darling you wake” he rasped. 

“ do I have to” she sighed nuzzling more into His chest her head bobbed at the vibration of his sleep filled laugh . 

“ sadly you do , ya need to eat and get your head checked … I mean the wound On your head checked” . 

“ need my head checked wouldn't hurt either” she snorted as she stretched out something was different yet the same like unspoken new Development to their friendship or whatever this was . 

“ don't we all come on your grumpy when ya don't eat” he pushed her gently as he got himself up the glare she sent him was down right adorable In his eyes . Leaning down as their face so close ,Eyes locked on the each . 

“ If you're good I'll Make you a cup of the good coffee” He smirked lips ghosting over her , he could easily fall into the temptation of one simple movement And he could finally feel her soft lips . Yet he pulled back as her eyes followed his confused tilt Of her head she looked like a confused puppy . The fucker was playing with her well she could match him . 

“ I ain't ever been good  might need a man put me in my place” she whispered in his ear before heading down the stairs almost beaming when she seen ellie Standing there.  That smirk all over her face as y/n descended the stairs. 

“ looked cozy up there thought i was actually going to have to go ahead”.

“ nah couldn’t leave you to walk two minutes on your own” she giggled. 

“ my hero , hows your head that bruise isn’t as big as i thought it would be either , where’s joel?” . 

“ here i am  come on both of y’all get cranky when you don’t eat” he shot y/n a look to say whatever started was definitely not over. 

The three walked easily through town til she stopped outside that alley a shiver sent through her body until she felt his hand land on her lower back and suddenly she didn’t feel so scared continuing on their journey to the mess hall. 

As soon as she walked in it was like all eyes were on her and  they probably are few looked at her with pity , some in respect and some in pride.  Tommy had a shit eating grin on his face as he almost studied the two, ellie ran off towards dina and some of the younger residents of jackson. Maria looked  both worried as she took in the injuries so did the residents doctor making her roll her eyes. 

“ after i eat you can poke away” she finally said . 

“ oh you bet your ass you should of been brought last night” the doctor playfully glared. 

“ i also need to talk to you after if you don’t mind doing it while doc does his thing”maria ask quietly.

“ course then i want the good coffee”she turned to joel.

“Fine fine come on before benny gets there before us” he chuckled  moving her along as maria gave them an appraising look to only see her own husband watching with a big grin on his face. 

The rest of the breakfast was same the two found ways of touching each other like a couple of love struck teenagers til she was taken to the clinic  both and doc wanting to make sure the wound on her head properly taking care of  . which only good thing the man could say was it was cleaned properly but it needed stitches and should of  the night before . 

“ so you wanted to talk to me what's up may as well distract me” she laughed nervously. 

“ patrol found kid note attached erm mom was  well found not far later but was too late .. couple that was gonna take him changed there mind and maura she is watching him but she too old for kid so was wondering if he could stay with you” maria explain softly  and carefully. 

“ how old ? “  she asked wincing and gripping the chair as she felt the skin being pulled. 

“ four  his names charlie , cute little thing”. 

“ can i think about it after patrol this weekend i’ll give you an answer i mean its alot” she went to look at the woman. 

“ yeah of course i can take your time really” maria nodded . “ are you her shadow” the woman joked. 

“ something like that erm she ok”joel asked. 

“ fine but i needed stitches which i tried to tell the old fool it was my idea not come here” y/n winced . 

“ bad influence young lady” the man playfully chuckled cutting the thread. “ come back in a couple days to check it over keep it clean now off with you” he shooed her off. 

“ and i thought you liked me” she pouted.  

“ as much as a headache” the doc grumbled. 

Maybe it was the way she was raised , a couple who could of easily left her to die but choose to care for a complete strangers child not once but twice and the conditions We're  less dangerous than before  so maybe  it was something to consider .  Like a sort of paying it forward help a child like she was . She could ask ellie to help watch on patrols but then again this was big what if the possibility  Of jackson falling and then she was trying to survive with a child and watch if she screwed kid up.

  She walked Through town watching where he was . He was playing with his toys as the elderly woman watched. The way his Eyes lit Up with the snow all around til he must of felt her eyes on him suddenly he was looking right at her and wasn't charlie it was her brother lucas the way he would play , his Little chubby cheeks that went Rosie when it was cold. Yet when she blink he was gone Charlie head tilted looking at the woman . She gave a warm smile and wave although joel could see it , he knew that feeling of seeing a person of the past in someone else . 

“come On darling let's get that good coffee” he smiled softly . 

“ you think I could do it,  don't pretend you don't know “ she smiled weakly. 

“ I was one to suggest it at meeting” he nodded . 

“ you have too much faith in Me joel miller” she sighed laying her head on his shoulder As they walked . 

“  nah I just know you'll know how he feels” he said wrapping his arm around her shoulder letting himself being so close. 

“ I'll make  my choice after patrol” she nodded although he had a feeling that she Already  had her answer.  

The two could feel the shift Hell a blind person could see it . They were so close  and yet each waiting on the other to make that move . Each afraid of reading it wrong in so sort of way although  It was just more afraid. She sat closer to him, he would touch her more letting himself get closer , each so close and so far. 

They were like that the whole couple of days it was driving them both crazy  just wanting to take that step joel more so . 

“ you gonna grow a pair and make a move” tommy asked as they all were tired of the dance and just wanting the two to finally just get together. 

“ I was thinking talking to her tonight but since you got  like four of us out here I’ll have to change my plan” joel sighed although slightly relieved at the change of plan knowing it was safer in case nigel was out there .

“ well he's armed, Mark was too busy beating him to notice slimy prick taking them hence him want making it right” tommy huffed. 

“ yeah well I ain't worried about them” joel huffed as she walked past on the horse . 

“ you girls gonna keep chattering or will we get going” she smirked . 

“ you were less mean when you didn't talk” tommy playfully narrowed his eyes at her. 

“ well blame your brother is like that pardon box thing” she shrugged. 

“ Pandora box sugar “ tommy snorted 

“ yeah that too come on” she laughed as joel hopped on his own horse they all walked out. It wasn't a big one just check around make sure everything was safe make sure the cabin was empty and if it wasn't make sure it wasn't raiders. She sat on her horse humming away  eyes looking around she wasn't scared whether nigel was armed or not , he wasn't greatest a shooting and his knife or fake knife skills well they weren’t  anything to fear but she would give him on thing he was sneaky.  But he wasn't around he was definitely gone she nothing was around not an animal or infected but she stalled moment she seen the prints in snow .

“ something this way” she called bolting off before anyone could grasp her words .

“ I got her” mark headed off as joel and kai  the other man followed after. 

She kept going and going she was ahead of group something she now regret something in her stomach told her to run but before she could even turn she was knocked off the horse hitting the ground with a thud knocking the air from her lung  as the sound of footstep came towards her . The crunch in the snow was she tried to focus her vision on the blur looming over her .

“ i missed ya darling” that voice , that voice that made her stomach twist and turn , the one that made the bile rise in her throat . 

“ fuck you” she gasped feeling his boot heavy on her throat.  

“ aint something you should say your husband dear” he pulled her up by the hair. 

......

She pushed and pulled out his how not caring for how it felt like her scalp was burning in his hold. One thump to her head she was out cold. 

“ good job Mark shame was fer nothing huh” jonah laughed shooting the approaching man before his men put y/n on his horse and leaving the area hearing the ones approaching . 

When joel finally got there was two minute later ,  he wanted to scold her for taking a head  when he saw mark on ground and her horse empty  something told him that wasn't going to happen today . 

“ where is”  joel crouched voice trailing off at the sight of more blood trailing off . 

“ jonah took her  , he said he'd give me my family back if I did” mark laughed coughing as blood stained his lips . “ settlement up … fuck up north about an hour an abandoned warehouse they stay in cold months ” mark cough and spluttered. 

“ get tommy on radio now” joel growled not knowing if he should save the bastard or let him suffer. Saving him would help get y/n back . “ why didn't you ask us help stupid bastard” he pushed harder on the wound making man cry out. 

“ you don't know them like I do their worse than a rabid dog” .

“ well time put rabid dog down” joel growled.  

“ tommy and men on their way doc too” kai spat looking down at the man , the betrayal.  

“ she dies you will regret it I don't care who you think jonah is or how bad if y/n get hurt well  even devil himself will stop me” he spat . 

She woke up tied up to pole in an abandoned office it seemed as she looked around . 

“ well wife good to see your finally home , I may  forgive you some time but this ain't that time “ he slapped her hard making her head jerk to the side with the blunt force of it . 

“ you think I'm scared I got away once I can again” she laughed only to be slapped again . “ jesus you hit like a bitch” . 

“ looks like I gotta train you again I got time hell might break those legs of yours” he kicked her in the stomach making her slump over gasping for air. “ would you look at that I still take your breathe away” he chuckled. 

“ when I do get free I will make sure your dead this time” she growled feeling the hilt of her blade still there. 

 “ well our new  man here will make sure you dont” he smiled whistling as nigel walked in  face as smug as anything . 

“ ah the guy who tried rape me I'll make sure to kill him too” she spat only the mood instantly shifted as jonah head shot to the man.

“ she liar man” nigel laughed not noticing the shift. 

“ his hand will show you other wise I cut him with your knife both have matching scars now real besties” she rolled her eyes. 

“ show me your hand” jonah stalked closer. 

 “ she lying man I didn't touch her” nigel backed up his smug smile long gone . only as jonah pulled him close seeing the same blade pattern his blade across the wound .

“ you tried take what's mine huh guess both ya need teaching “ he growled knocking man to the ground kicking him hard . Giving her time to pull the knife from her sleeve cutting the binds . 

He kept kicking and kicking as the man below him stopped moving only stopping when he felt the metal touch his throat. 

“ put that down sweety and I'll forgive you”. 

“ only thing that's being put down is you , how dumb you think I am to think you would forgive you psychotic fuck” she pressed harder making him hiss only for him to slam his head back hitting hers he pulled out of her hold and she held on the knife. 

“ I don't care if it kills me but you ain't walking out this office alive “ she stood adrenaline coursing through her veins as she jumped behind the desk as he pulled his pistol out , she smiled feeling hers in her boot pulling it out she stood only for him to be right there his gun pointing right at her.  Two pulled and pushed the guns direction as she heard more shots and screaming behind her . She heard joel  calling her name that all she needed to push the gun from her to him as it went off sending her ex to the ground. 

“ I ain't that scared little child bride of yours I keep my promises now she took her own revolver shooting him in the head.  Walking needing to get to him only door open their he was standing completely in front of her .  While hers showed relief , he told different story. 

“hey what's wrong” she stood confused til she followed his line of site seeing what had him so concerned the knife sticking out her stomach.

“ why don't I feel it” she said slowly slumping to the floor. As joel and tommy ran over both ignoring two dead men  only focusing on her. 

“ I need to stop meeting you like this” she joked looking at tommy as he torn  her husband shirt off placing it around the wound . 

“ hey look at me we're  gonna get you to doc right” joel promised holding her hand. 

“ joel hour way I don't think we can..” tommy hissed. 

“ I got him , he thought was gonna be scared little girl but I got him” she smiled weakly Trying not to scream . 

“ you show em who boss” tommy felt himself getting choked up . 

“ we need to move her  some how” joel yelled feeling a sick sense of history repeating.  He couldn't watch another Person he love die in his arm not again it was good enough killing him . 

Her eyes felt heavy  everything felt sore and burning yet she felt weightless . 

Her hand lifting weakly towards his face holding it like it was last time she was going to see maybe She would See see him again  in another life more peaceful life not Filled with infected or Monsters under the guise of men . then Her hand felt and hit the ground , everything was cold and black  as she watched the sequence of her life passing by most of best parts involved joel  , she finally understood what those stories Meant , the ones of the Knight Saving the princess .  Joel miller was her Knight and she was happy she knew a good man , she was happy to fall In love . 

next part

Taglist: @harriedandharassed @vickie5446

[drenix004]

𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐝

𝚅𝚊𝚕𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚊 𝙶𝚊𝚛𝚣𝚊 𝙷𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚌𝚊𝚗𝚘𝚗𝚜

Part 2 here

Note: I plan to do headcanons of Valeria as chapters of Valeria's fanfic are published! besides, I also want to do the same with 141, Alejandro, Rodolfo, Valeria,Horangi and koning in different situations and contexts, especially if they are shapeshifters or hybrids feel free to ask for a headcanon, one shot or drable, I'll be happy to do it! And they'll be all soft, comforting and light angsty themes! Life is already too cruel and hard to make them suffer here too :)

Sadly there will be no smut or nsfw, I'm really bad at writing that kind of content, sorry. But, there will be slight superficial mentions of that as a reward.

Pairing: Valeria Garza x fem!Reader

Summary: You work at the bar of a night bar in Las Almas, you knew the menu backwards and forwards so you had a certain fame. One day you draw the attention of a certain narco when you kicked an idiot out of the establishment just as the armored van was passing by, not only did you draw attention because of the commotion, but also because not a sound came out of your mouth, not a whimper, curse or insult, nothing. Just a death stare at the man.

━━━━━━━━》❈《 ━━━━━━━

Valeria was looking boredly through the tinted window of her armored van as she was returning to one of the many safe houses she had after closing a successful deal.

A commotion catches her attention so she slaps the driver's seat to stop. Entre closes his eyes when he sees you kicking a drunk man out of the bar, he finds it odd that you don't utter a word even if it's to curse him, you just give him a death glare before re-entering the bar named "stellar".

You have caught the attention of the biggest drug dealer in Mexico.

She comes back the next night at the same time she saw you, sits at the bar and orders the most expensive tequila there is from another woman who worked with you. He sits for several hours just watching you work as a bartender before leaving, this becomes a daily routine every Sunday from then on.

You feel her penetrating gaze every Sunday, you know she watches you carefully, analyzing you, but you say nothing, you don't even look at her. The heavily armed men make it clear that she is someone with power and you didn't want to get involved with someone like that.

Luck is not on your side.

After three months of attending the bar, Valeria demands that you be the one to attend to her specifically, she has looked at you enough and has inquired about you. She knows you don't speak of your own free will and that's what's most interesting.

You feel uncomfortable to see the guards looking at you, but you still attend her without saying or making any gesture. She asks you for the Paloma cocktail and you prepare it under her watchful eye before handing it to her.

"Do the guards make you uncomfortable, bonita?" nothing escapes Valeria, she noticed your discomfort from the first instant, so she sent her bodyguards to guard the exit with the others. She tasted the cocktail you prepared for her and smiled "not bad".

From there it all started.

Every time she came, you were hers alone. You didn't attend to anyone else when she came through that door, all your attention was directed to Valeria and so you did.

She was a mysterious woman when she spoke, she was careful what she said. Sometimes she would complain to you about the idiots she herself had brought into her ranks.

Valeria looked forward every Sunday to talking to you, even if you didn't answer, your silence or answers with nods or shrugs were enough, it was a comforting thing to relax with someone she knew didn't want to kill her. Something in her stomach churned every time she saw you and talked to you.

Your interactions were weird, but she liked that, too much to admit it out loud.

You always smiled at her without showing your teeth every time she complained or talked about something that got on her nerves. You had gotten used to each other's presence in a matter of months.

Sometimes she would ask you questions, especially about your curly hair, she was curious how you managed to keep it so beautiful considering the infernal heat in Las Almas. You just shrugged your shoulders

One day you smiled openly at her without realizing it, because of something she had said about an idiot, leaving her stunned.

Valeria knew right then and there that she had fallen when she saw your smile and expression, cupid's bastard had done his thing.

Valeria Garza, El Sin Nombre, had fallen deeply in love with the curly-haired woman who made him several cocktails in one night.

As she came to terms with her feelings, a growing anxiety began to take hold of her when she didn't have you in her sights. The days of waiting for Sunday to arrive became exasperating, her temper tripled and patience waned.

She would only calm down and relax when Sunday came, just to see you.

When Sunday came and he walked into the bar he couldn't find you, so he asked for you.

Turns out you hadn't been to work all week, you weren't even answering messages.

The bloody and merciless beast inside Valeria emerged from the darkest part of her being.

She would burn Las Almas to the ground if she didn't know your whereabouts in the next 72 hours.

You had that time to show up, otherwise, the beast disguised as a narco would seek you out leaving dead in its wake.

First Headcanon I've written, I hope it's decent. :)

This has two other parts, if this one goes well I'll post the other two. reblogs and likes are much appreciated.

[genyasglockk]

it is such a slap in the face to find out that gideon has been building and hiding his forces in the ruins of mandalore. he stripped them of their home world and then shows up to face them and steal from them again while wrapped in their beskar. beskar is a piece of their religion, a part of their culture. it's something you earn. you wear it proudly and you treat it with respect. it's a holy thing. outsiders hold no real claim to beskar bc it's not theirs to have. outsiders have no right to beskar.

gideon has violated mandalorians over and over again. he murdered their people and scattered what was left. he destroyed their planet and proceeded to gut it. he burrowed his way inside and made use of the ruins he created. now he'll leech mandalore of all she has left to give and will leave nothing behind.

to dress himself and his men in mandalorian armor is to pervert it. he's made a mockery of them. it's not enough for him to just snuff them out. he wants to rob them of who they are too.

[itsclydebitches]

Cinder is a lot more sexualized then the male parts of Salem's inner circle

Like tyrian is shirtless sometimes but that does not feel as...drawn attention to, as say, the lingering shots of Cinder's butt or thighs. Or her wearing short shorts and high boots you know what I mean?

I do, anon. RWBY got a lot of attention back in the day for its anti-upskirt technology, but that doesn't give it a free pass for all the other ways you might (and it does) sexualize the cast. I've never been inclined to give RWBY too much shit in this regard because it is pulling from media with a LONG history of such designs and cinematography - it feels unfair of me to act like RWBY is uniquely responsible for such problems when I'm simultaneously willing to overlook, say, the 90's "gag" of Yusuke flipping up Keiko's skirt - but there's nevertheless a voice in the back of my mind constantly asking things like, "Why are so many of the girls fighting in heels?" and "Why are they dressed like they're going to the club and not the literal TUNDRA??" I'd kill for the whole cast, but the girls in particular, to get a re-design that focuses on fashionably compelling practicality, rather than sexy fanservice. (Though Ice Kingdom did a good job overall, particularly for Ruby.) Sure, RWBY didn't give us panty-shots, but one of the first characters we're introduced to is literally designed like a dominatrix.

If we're talking about outfits though... I'd say Emerald gets hit the worst out of Salem's minions. Yeah, Cinder is definitely sexualized in a more general sense as the tall, white (that's not a coincidence), long-legged beauty who sensually conjures fire as she prowls towards the heroes, camera focused on her hips swaying. But Emerald?

She suffers from the same problem Yang has. AKA, if your woman isn't classically beautiful (like Wiess and to a different extent Blake), or cute / child-like (Ruby, Penny), but is instead going for a sporty, comparatively masculine-esque vibe... then they've got to show a LOT of skin. RWBY makes it sexy by just denying them clothes. You're entering dangerous battles on the daily? You want to protect yourself? Too bad. The audience needs a midriff and cleavage and your whole arms to stare at. Shorten the skin-tight pants so we can see some leg too. Oh, Yang has to have long pants because she's heading into the coldest Kingdom in Remnant? Never mind that, cut a strip out to show her thigh.

"But Clyde, the girls don't need to wear armor because of aura--" then why the hell does Jaune bother wearing that heavy-ass suit? Is it weight training? Does he just think it makes him look cool? ...or does it exist in case his aura breaks and he's allowed to wear more protective gear because there are different gender expectations attached to his design? The aura argument is just a modern rehashing of the Supergirl sun argument: using made up lore to "justify" getting your women characters into skimpy outfits, despite the men rarely being held to the same standards.

Tyrian is actually an interesting exception here and if I were less tired I'd think through this argument more, but something something as the "crazy" character he's allowed more leeway in breaking those expectations. Also the open shirt shows off his scars, which likewise help sell how dangerous he is. With the exception of characters like Cinder and Nora - whose injuries are Important Character Moments the audience gets to see play out - scars are surprisingly uncommon in Remanent. Or, again, they're severely downplayed so as not to interfere with that classic beauty design (like Weiss', or even Yang who gets a perfect cut when losing her arm). So when you see a character with giant scars spanning the length of his chest, an open shirt drawing deliberate attention to them... that makes you go, "Oh shit. What's he been through to scar like that in a world where most people make it out of fights with no permanent damage?"

[photogirl894]

"Sun and Rain Part 2: Age of the Empire"

Chapter 35

"Intelligence and Spice"

A "Bad Batch" fanfic!

Pairing: Hunter x fem OC, Echo (more best friend pairing)

A/N: Still on a good roll with this, I'm actually kinda surprised! 😊 We're getting into s1 ep13 with this one, though this one will feature a couple bigger changes for story purposes and will be focusing on a storyline in the episode we didn't see as much of. You'll see what I mean! Enjoy, my dears! 💜

Taglist: @the-sad-batch , @nimata-beroya , @intrepidmare , @legolkenxbi , @tech-aficionado ,

@ladykatakuri , @d1n0-dan , @sammi9498 , @darthzero22 , @scarlettrose9901 ,

@thebadbatchscyare , @chxpsi , @ilikemymendarkandfictional , @4pplecider , @locitapurplepink ,

@l-lend , @nekotaetae , @eternalwaffle , @merkitty49 , @avathebestx ,

@idoubleswearimawriter , @techs-stitches , @fantasyproductions , @totallyunidentified , @dreamsandrosies

《 Chapter 34

》 Chapter 36

All chapters (Part 2) (Part 1)

Explanation: Now back on Ord Mantell, the Bad Batch find themselves up against a new threat and a friend's past is revealed.

“Ugh, I have officially had it with that Trandoshan hag!” Kimber exclaimed in frustration. 

“Tell us how you really feel, Kim,” Echo replied. 

“She better pay us extra for that mission,” she said back.

Wrecker then spoke up casually, “Eh, it wasn't so bad.”

A few weeks since the events on Ryloth, the Bad Batch had once again arrived back on Ord Mantell from another mission Cid had sent them on that they'd barely managed to pull off thanks to Cid's lack of information. Needless to say, they weren't happy about it as they made their way back to Cid's parlor. Kimber, especially. 

Echo responded to Wrecker, irritated, “She failed to mention the drop zone would be swarming with Gundarks.”

“It is not the first time she has left out key details,” replied Tech. 

“Yeah, which makes me beg the question: why are we still continuing to put up with her when she continues to do things like this to us?” Kimber questioned. 

With a sigh, Hunter said back over his shoulder, “We've been over this, sweetheart.”

Through a groan, she said, “That doesn't mean I still don't agree with it.”

“Now, there's a sight for sore eyes!” they heard a familiar voice cry out. 

They turned their heads and saw Lex and Irys coming their way from another part of the hangar. Kimber waved at them and the group waited for them to come over. Both of them went up to Kimber and embraced her. Echo reached out for Lex and gave her a hug and a kiss as she approached him. Irys went up to Tech and simply nudged him in the arm with her shoulder while giving him a friendly grin. He returned both gestures in kind. 

“You two stuck with the job of reporting to Cid?” Wrecker asked them.

“Unfortunately, yes,” replied Irys.

“Then perhaps it would be logical for you to accompany us as we are on our way to  give our report, as well,” Tech suggested. 

With an amused smirk at the obvious, Lex just humored him and said, “An excellent idea, Tech. We'll join you.”

They all continued on through the streets towards the parlor, numerous types of people passing them as they went. Though, Kimber noticed there were some figures wearing armor and helmets along the street just before Cid's that she didn't recognize. Hunter seemed to notice, too, because he exchanged an uncertain glance with her, but said nothing. 

However, Irys noticed the armored people and tensed up…something Lex took notice of right away. 

When they all walked inside the parlor, it was surprisingly abuzz with people inside, way more than usual. Kimber noted there were more of the armored men scattered about the parlor. The music from the jukebox was playing louder than they'd heard in all the time they'd been coming to the place. 

“When did this place get so popular?” Echo asked in disbelief. 

“And who are they?” inquired Tech, gesturing to the new masked people. 

“Not our problem. Let's find Cid,” was Hunter's response before moving on in the direction of Cid's office, the others in tow.

Two tall, alien strangers with wide heads and black eyes walked out from the back hallway and went past the Clones and the ladies. Kimber wondered what they were, but behind her, she heard Irys say quietly, “Was that…?” and then Lex added right away in a hushed voice, “Rina is not going to be happy.” Hearing that made Kimber suspicious and she got the feeling she needed to be on her guard, which didn't help with her already not wanting to be there in the first place. 

There was one of the masked men standing guard near the hallway and he stood in front of the incoming group, pushing against Hunter's shoulder, and he questioned them, “Where do you think you're going?”

No one got a chance to answer as Kimber threw her hand down onto his wrist, moving his hand away from Hunter, and kicked him forcefully in the stomach, pushing him hard into the wall. After the initial impact, he slid down the wall to the floor. 

“I don't have the patience for this right now...and don't touch my man,” she stated plainly before moving on. 

“Nice move, princess,” Lex commented, impressed, as she followed. 

When Wrecker walked by the stunned man on the ground, he told him, “She showed you.”

The doors to the back office slid open and suddenly, two more guards like the last one stood in front of them inside, drawing their blasters. The Clones and the women also all pulled their blasters out and pointed them at the guards. 

“It's rude to barge into one's office unannounced,” spoke a male voice; a male Devaronian with green skin, red eyes and dark green horns on his head, sitting at Cid's desk.

“This isn't your office,” Hunter countered. 

“Though, I will say, you're a vast improvement from its last inhabitant,” Kimber commented.

The man scoffed in amusement and said, still looking at Hunter, “Guess again.” Then his eyes wandered over and they widened ever so slightly. “Well, well, well…I wasn't expecting to find the likes of you here…Irys Montari.”

Surprised, everyone's heads turned to Irys and they saw, for the first time in all the time they'd known her, she looked scared. Her eyes were big with anxiety, even though she now had a glare on her face.

Releasing a breath through her nose, she replied to him, “I would say it's a pleasure seeing you again, Roland, but I’d be lying...not that you're a stranger to lies.”

His upper lip twitched in a sneer, but before he said anything, there was a small warbling sound and a medium-sized green and blue lizard creature climbed up into his lap that he started feeding from a box on the desk…a lizard the Bad Batch recognized. 

“Ruby?” asked Omega.

“She's my prized pet,” said Roland. When Omega questioned why he had her, he simply said, “I paid. Cid delivered.”

“And where is Cid?” Hunter asked. 

“Cid's out,” said Roland, moving out of the chair and coming around in front of the desk. “This parlor and Ord Mantell are now my territory…but if you're looking for work, I might have use for you.”

Holstering his blaster, Hunter responded, “We'll think about it.”

“You do that,” Roland replied smugly. As Hunter gestured for everyone to leave, the Devaronian also added, “And tell Irys I'll be seeing her again very soon.”

Puzzled, they all turned around and realized Irys was suddenly gone. Lex took off running down the hall and Kimber followed her, which urged the rest of them to pick up the pace. When they got back out to the parlor, they didn't see Irys around anywhere, so Lex and Kimber went running outside. As they got to the top of the stairs, they found Irys tapping madly away on a datapad.

Lex called out her name as she and Kimber ran over to her. “What are you doing?” she asked.

“I'm leaving. I'm finding passage out of here and finding a new place to lay low. I can't stay here,” Irys urgently responded, not even looking at them. 

Slapping down the datapad in Irys' hands, Lex blurted out, “Over my dead body, you are!” 

“Irys, who was that? How do you know him?” Kimber inquired. 

Though, Irys didn't get a chance to answer as Hunter came over with the others and said quietly, “We can't do this here. Head back to the ship.”

The ladies exchanged uncertain glances before following the Clones. Lex commed Rina and Kida back on the Aurora, letting them know something came up and she and Irys would meet up with them as soon as they could.

Once they were far enough away from Cid's, Hunter declared, “We're getting off Ord Mantell. Tech, prep the ship. The rest of us will gather supplies.”

Kimber couldn't help but silently pump her fist at her side. Finally, they were getting off Ord Mantell and leaving Cid. 

Hunter then looked to Lex and Irys. “I'd suggest you two and the rest of the Koriena Force leave, as well. Especially if Irys is in danger.”

“But what about Cid?” asked Omega. “What did he mean when he said she was ‘out’?”

Tech answered behind her, “Given his tone, it is a plausible assumption that Cid was either forced out or taken out.”

“We should be so lucky,” Kimber remarked under her breath just as she saw their ship just ahead. 

Though, Omega ran up in front of everyone and stopped, pleading, “Well, we have to find her and help her.”

Kimber wanted to argue, but then heard someone up ahead clear their throat. When everyone looked, there was Cid standing in the doorway of the Marauder, her arms folded across her chest.

“Nice to see one of you cares,” she stated with a sneer. “Inside. Now.”

Kimber's jaw tightened. They had been so close to being rid of the Trandoshan nuisance for good. As she walked to the ship with everyone, she muttered angrily in Huttese through clenched teeth, “Chuba! Me keepuna schutta.”

“What did you just say?” asked Lex. 

“She said she's going to shoot Cid,” Irys answered. 

Then Tech added, “Well and, technically, she called her a--”

“I know what she said,” spat Cid, peeking out from around the corner of the doorway.

Kimber halted. “You speak Huttese?” 

“The whole time, Dollface,” replied Cid.

That made Kimber feel foolish, considering she had insulted Cid to her face in Huttese before, but it just proved yet again that Cid was always leaving out key information. Kimber just groaned again and rolled her eyes as they all climbed into the Marauder. 

Apparently, it wasn't just Cid on board. She'd also brought along Bolo and Ketch, who were playing a card game on top of Gonky.

“So you all met Roland,” Cid said. “He's a former client--”

“We know, we saw Ruby with him,” Kimber said flatly.

Cid grimaced. “Well, he's also the son of--”

“Isa Durand…renowned crime boss and head of the Durand family on Devaron,” Irys stated. “It would appear he's trying to make a name for himself by teaming up with the Pyke Syndicate, which were the creatures we saw leaving the office.”

Now, it made sense to Kimber why Lex had made the comment about Rina not being happy earlier. She recalled Rina talking about her father getting caught up with the Pykes and his ever-growing debts to them and how that taught her to never mess with the Pykes. This was already going well….

“Way to steal my spiel, Goldie,” remarked Cid, annoyed. 

Hunter then asked why he was on Ord Mantell and she explained that the port was connected to several hyperspace routes that were ideal for smuggling and her parlor was in the middle of it all, which Roland saw as valuable and decided to just take the parlor from her.

“But we are taking it back,” she said in conclusion. 

“Nuh-uh, there is no ‘we’ here,” Kimber firmly refused. “We're not getting involved. You got yourself into this mess, you can get yourself out of it.”

Frowning, Cid said back, “I wouldn't be refusing so quickly if I were you. Don't forget how good I've been at…keeping secrets.”

Kimber's hands balled up into fists at her sides. The old lizard just had to bring that up. 

“I believe she's threatening us,” Tech observed. 

“You're quick,” Cid quipped back.

Omega moved herself between Hunter and Cid, facing her brother, and stated, “When we needed help, we came to Cid, remember? Now, she needs help. We can't just walk away.”

“You tell ‘em, Tiny!” Cid declared triumphantly, pleased that Omega was on her side. 

With a defeated sigh, Hunter asked, “So what's your plan?”

Kimber couldn't help but roll her eyes and shake her head. After she'd just said “no” to Cid, clearly disinterested, Hunter was still going to help Cid? Would this ever end?

“I've got an idea, but I need to make sure of a couple things. I'll be back and don't you think of going anywhere,” said Cid snidely as she walked down the ramp of the ship, Bolo and Ketch following her after she called for them. 

Once she was gone, everyone heard Lex say, “Irys, you need to tell them the truth.”

Everyone turned to face the two ladies and Tech asked before anyone else could, “How do you know Roland Durand, Irys? You know you can trust us.”

Irys, who had already sat herself down in one of the chairs, replied, “He and his family are the reason I've been on the run.”

“What happened?” then asked Wrecker.

Her hands tightly gripped the arms of the chair and Lex laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Then, with a deep breath, she explained, “I was younger and much more impressionable at the time. A contact of the Durand's took notice of my technology and hacking skills, which I was only using to show off and pull harmless pranks at the time. The family brought me in, wanting to use my abilities to help serve them, but they told me it was for research and intelligence purposes, which I believed. I knew the Durand's were influential, but I didn't know they were a crime family. Roland even pretended to be my friend to ensure I'd stick around and do what they asked. They had me finding information on other families; other people, which I later learned were their rivals. They were using my skills to learn about those they considered enemies and either outsmart them…or kill them.”

Omega commented sadly, “That's awful.”

“What did you do then?” Kimber asked. 

“When I learned the truth of who they were and what they had been using me for, I was furious,” said Irys. “In my anger, I made a very irrational choice…I released top-secret information on the Durand's to some of the other crime syndicates.”

It was then Tech took a step closer to her chair, a look of understanding on his face as he looked down at her. “I would assume that you were forced to flee and the Durand’s have been hunting you ever since.”

She solemnly nodded. “You assume correctly, Tech.” Then she shook her head and pinched the bridge of her nose. “I'm not proud of the things I did for them…and I had been doing so well at keeping myself hidden.”

“You didn't know what you were doing. They lied to you; it wasn't your fault,” Lex told her, tightening her grip on the Togruta’s shoulder. 

“We'll all protect you. Roland won't get his hands on you if we have anything to say about it,” added Echo. 

Then Tech said, “I concur. He will answer to all of us if he tries to come for you.”

Irys offered a half-smile back, but it was clear she was still a bit distressed over the situation. 

Kimber grabbed Hunter by the wrist and motioned with her head for him to come with her outside as she pulled him out the door. “We still have a chance. We should leave Ord Mantell, for the girls’ safety and ours,” she insisted once they got off the ramp.

“You heard Cid. She told us not to,” Hunter responded. 

“Are you really going to choose her over Irys?” she asked, frustrated. “Irys is our friend and Cid is scum who only cares about money and herself. She acted all offended that we weren't wanting to stick around and help…like she's given us any reason to care about her at all. Why would we stay to help her?”

“Didn't you remind me recently that we protect the innocents of the galaxy?” he brought up. 

She reared back a little and put her hands on her hips. “Excuse me? In what galaxy is Cid considered innocent?”

He seemed unsure of what to say in return. 

Kimber kept going, “She doesn't deserve our help and it's not going to benefit us in any way. No offense to Omega; I love her willingness to be kind and help everyone and normally, I would encourage that, but now, she's shown her kindness to Cid and that old lizard is going to take advantage of that every time she's in any sort of trouble. She'll appeal to Omega's compassion and innocence to get us to do her dirty work. And I can about guarantee that if ever we end up in any sort of bind and we need to reach out to her for help, she's not going to return the favor.”

“Look, I don't like it either. I was the one who said we were going to leave in the first place…,” Hunter said, “but that was before we found out about Irys. In order to help her, we also have to help Cid.”

Kimber simply folded her arms across her chest, waiting for his explanation. 

“If we help get rid of Roland, we can use that to our advantage. We can also get him to leave Irys alone. Omega can believe we're doing this for Cid if she wants, but I'm choosing to do this for Irys,” he told her, “because like you said: she's our friend.”

She pursed her lips in thought. She still didn't want to help Cid, but Hunter made a good point. Perhaps they could help keep Irys safe from the Durand's if they got rid of Roland. Kimber could feel her inner Alpha kicking in; her willingness to do whatever it took to protect the girls in her pack. She didn't like it, but it's what needed to be done.

“All right,” she relented. “I trust you, so if you think this is how we can help her, then you know I'll follow your lead.”

He gave her a pleased grin. “I can always count on you.”

Just then, they both heard Irys's voice speak to them, “It means a lot to me that you're all willing to protect me, but I can't ask you to do this.” They looked and saw her and Lex approaching. “It'll be too dangerous. It would just be better for everyone if I left on my own.”

“I'm not accepting that and as the Alpha of the Koriena Force, I forbid it,” stated Kimber, taking Irys slightly aback. “You're one of us and we don't leave our own behind.”

“She's right and you know neither Rina nor Kida would accept that either,” added Lex. Then she looked to Kimber and said, “Which reminds me: we need to make sure Rina doesn't get involved and stays on the Aurora. Since the Pykes are also a part of this, we can't risk them finding out who she is or else her life will be more at stake than Irys's right now.”

With a nod, Kimber said, “I agree. You two go back to the Aurora and inform the others of what's going on, but stay there until we give the all-clear.”

“Got it,” said Lex before taking Irys's arm and pulling her with her as they ran in the direction of their ship.

It didn't take much longer for Cid to return and the Bad Batch left with her as she explained her plan. She informed them that a buyer was coming to meet with Roland for a shipment of spice that he was stowing in her office. Tech deduced that she wanted to sabotage Roland’s deal by stealing the spice, which she confirmed was correct, saying Roland would become the Pykes’ problem when he'd be unable to deliver. She stopped in front of some metal crates in another alley and pushed a couple out of the way, revealing a tunnel entrance in the ground which she opened and told them to start climbing down into. They all climbed down and found themselves in a dark tunnel with a railway system inside, which Cid said were the planet's old mining tunnels that ran under the city. 

“It's how we're sneaking into my parlor to steal the spice,” said Cid.

“You've a secret way in and out of your office. Why doesn't that surprise me?” Kimber snarkily remarked.

“Well, why don't we just walk in there and take it? We can handle those guards,” said Wrecker with confidence. 

However, Cid said back, “No one can know we're involved. Roland is one thing, but the Pykes aren't an enemy you want to make.”

Just then, Kimber's comm chirped and everyone heard Lex's worried voice say, “Alpha, come in! We've got a problem!”

“What's wrong?” Kimber asked into the comm.

“Irys is gone.”

“What?” both Kimber and Tech asked at once.

Lex kept going, “She left a note on her datapad that just said ‘If I can't leave, then I'm ending this now’. I think she's gone to Cid's to confront Roland. We have to stop her.”

Looking between Hunter and the others and feeling conflicted, Kimber stated, “I need to help Irys.”

“Go, she needs you,” Hunter agreed. 

Tech began walking towards her. “I shall assist you.”

“No, Tech, you stay here. They'll need your help with the spice,” said Kimber. “Lex and I will handle things.”

With a nod, Tech then said in an oddly quiet voice, “Keep her safe.”

Kimber smiled under her helmet. It was nice to see that Tech had actually grown to care more about Irys recently, mostly since the Imperial gala when they worked more closely together. Even though there was still a friendly rivalry between them, they were becoming better friends and Tech showing his concern for Irys was reassuring of that. 

“You're crazy going back there,” Cid commented.

“Well, I'm going to help a friend…something you wouldn't understand, Cid,” Kimber shot back. “Besides, if anything, it'll help keep Roland distracted while you steal the spice so you can get your precious parlor back.” Then she turned on her heel and ran back to the ladder, saying into her comm, “I'm on my way, Lex. Meet me at the parlor.”

Kimber and Lex managed to meet up almost halfway and they ran as quickly as they could to the parlor together. They spotted Irys just ahead, going down the stairs to Cid's. They caught up and Lex grabbed Irys by the shoulder, stopping her partway down.

“Irys, have you lost your mind?” she said in an urgent yet hushed voice. “You can't go in there.”

“We don't know what Roland will do to you if you confront him,” added Kimber, just as concerned.

Determination in her pink eyes, Irys responded, “You all are willing to risk everything to help me, but this is my mess to fix. You've made me realize I can't keep running. I need to finish this and if it ends with me being killed or taken, then so be it.”

“I won't let you do this,” said Lex firmly. “At least, not alone. If you go, then I go with you.” Irys started to argue, but Lex cut her off, “You're my best friend, Irys. I'm not letting you throw your life away. We stick together.”

Irys was at a loss for words, touched at Lex's unyielding loyalty. It was honestly one of the things that had made her fall for Lex in the first place.

Then Kimber said, “I'm going with you, too. Don't even try and talk me out of it.”

With a small snicker, Irys replied, “I wouldn't dream of it.” 

Looking between the other two, Kimber told them, “Don't worry, the boys, Omega and Cid have a plan to thwart Roland's plans with the Pykes and they're on it right now. They're sneaking underground into the back office, so if we're doing this, we need to keep him distracted for as long as possible so they can complete their objective. Once they're done, they'll come back for us. If things go wrong for us in there, there will be still be hope for rescue. Trust me.”

“Sounds like a plan,” said Lex. 

“Agreed,” added Irys. Then she released a shaky sigh. “All right…let's go then.” She turned back, descended the rest of the stairs and walked into Cid’s bar, ready to face Roland with Lex and Kimber at her side. 

There he was, sitting at the bar and partaking in drink with a smug smile on his face, two of his guards standing by him and Ruby was curled up in the seat next to him. Upon hearing the doors open, he turned his head their way and his eyes narrowed.

“Welcome back, Irys. It's been a long time since I've seen you,” he said, his voice smooth and calm yet still with a touch of condescension. 

“And yet, not long enough,” Irys said back flatly. 

He set down his cup on the bar and stood up from his barstool, slowly walking towards the three ladies. “Quite an audacious move on your part, coming here. I thought you would run with your tail between your legs again,” he taunted. 

“You insinuate that I was a coward,” she replied. “I ran because you and your mother threatened to hunt me down.”

“You betrayed us,” he said.

Taking a step forward, Irys immediately retaliated, her tone growing stern, “You were using me for your own gain. You lied to me about what I was doing for you and using the information I obtained to harm or kill others, even innocents.”

He shook his head. “You wouldn't have understood what we were doing.”

“Oh, I understood quite well once I put all the pieces together,” she stated. She straightened up with more tenacity. “The financial rigging of the Kerlani family's podraces...interfering with the Mandragonian Mob's experiments...stealing funds from the Black Sun...locating the headquarters of the Preelos Consortium...exposing the gambling debts of the Massa family...oh yes, I remember everything.”

While Roland's face curled up into a scowl, Kimber and Lex exchanged proud glances at Irys's impressive memory. 

“You really thought I would just continue  playing along once I figured out what you were really doing? You and your mother are dumber than a brain dead Gungan,” Irys spat.

His jaw clenched in anger. “How dare you insult my mother like that!”

“How dare you insult my intelligence,” she fired back.

Roland took an aggressive step forward, but Lex whipped out her vibroblade faster than anyone could see and held it up close to his throat, prompting the guards to pull out their blasters on her. Just as they did, Kimber pulled out both of her blasters and aimed them at the guards. 

“Take one more step towards her and your mother will be getting your head delivered to her in a box,” Lex threatened Roland.

While he gulped slightly at Lex's threat, he turned his attention back to Irys and said, still trying to appear confident and unaffected, “Bringing other people here to do the dirty work for you?”

“Rich coming from the man who brought a battalion of guards with him,” Kimber said in response. 

Roland glared at her before giving a nod to his guards. They quickly fired stun blasts at both Lex and Kimber, the two of them dropping immediately to the floor unconscious and their weapons falling out of their hands. That just left Irys alone, who stiffened as she saw her friends collapse.

“Don't hurt them!” she cried. 

“Oh, I won't…if you cooperate,” he replied, getting closer to her. One of the guards went up and then placed stun cuffs around her wrists as Roland went on, “Here's how it's going to go if you want your friends to live: you're going to be a good Togruta and be quiet and not make a fuss. Then, once I've secured the deal with the Pykes, I'm sending you back to Devaron where Mother will do with you whatever she sees fit. Until then...you and your two friends are my prisoners.”

Her body felt heavy as Kimber came to from her unconsciousness. Instinctively, she moved to raise a hand to her thumping head, but found her wrists were bound by cuffs. She sat up and found she was propped up against the bar on the floor next to the barstools. To her left was Lex, who was also beginning to stir awake, and to her right was Irys, staring straight ahead. Both women were in cuffs just like her. Then she saw Roland sitting back on his barstool, just sipping on his drink. 

“Irys? What happened?” Kimber asked groggily. 

Turning to her, Irys answered, “We're Roland's prisoners…and in exchange for your safety, he'll be sending me back to Devaron once he's finished his deal with the Pykes.”

“No!” cried Lex.

“It's true,” then stated Roland, standing up from where he sat and moving in front of them, holding Ruby in his arms and stroking her head, “and you're going to witness the deal going down so you can watch everything fall apart before your very eyes, Irys.”

“You won't get away with this, Durand,” Kimber said, casting a death glare up at him. 

He chuckled in amusement. “We'll see about that.” 

Then he gestured to the three women with his head, motioning for his guards to grab them. The guards were rough in their handling of Kimber, Lex and Irys as they pulled them all to their feet and started leading them towards the back office. Having no idea how long she'd been unconscious, Kimber could only hope that her squad had managed to steal all the spice by now. 

They all walked down the hall to the office door where one of the guards pressed the buttons on the console to open the door, but nothing happened. He tried again and the door still wouldn't budge. Kimber grinned to herself. That definitely was her boys’ handiwork. Finally, Roland got impatient and just blasted the control with his blaster, balancing Ruby on his other arm. The door slid open and they all went inside the empty office. Roland looked to his right and suddenly, unceremoniously dropped Ruby to the floor.

“The spice! It's gone!” he exclaimed in alarm. 

Kimber exchanged pleased smirks with Lex and Irys. Looks like the Bad Batch and Cid had succeeded after all. 

Roland opened up the storage door and lifted the floorboard, easily finding the entrance to the tunnels in the floor. Right away, he ordered his guards to go down and find the spice. As the guards climbed down, he whipped around to face the three women. 

“You had something to do with this!” he exclaimed, pointing his finger at them. 

Lex scoffed. “I think you're just terrible at keeping track of your things,” she retorted. 

Clearly furious and also panicking at having lost the spice, he started talking out loud more to himself, “This is clearly Cid's doing. She roped you and your Clone friends into stealing from me. That's the only explanation. I didn't anticipate Cid to be so bold or foolish.” Then he looked back at them and demanded angrily, “Tell me where Cid took my spice!”

“What makes you think we know? We've been here the whole time,” Kimber replied, which wasn't entirely a lie. Even though she knew who took the spice, she had no idea where they planned to take it after they acquired it. 

Just then, the door opened and more of Roland's guards came in...followed by three members of the Pyke Syndicate, which made Kimber, Irys and Lex freeze up with apprehension. Roland, too, looked scared at seeing the Pykes suddenly barge into his office as he moved to the chair behind the desk and sat down.

“Where is our payment?” the Pyke at the front asked, his voice low and warbly, almost Droid-like.

Sheepishly, Roland responded, “The shipment was stolen. You'll get your money, but I need more time.”

Irys leaned over and whispered to Lex and Kimber, “This is not going to end well for him.”

The Pyke said in return, “We did not come to hear excuses. If you cannot deliver as promised, you are of no further use to us.”

Roland sprung up from his seat and withdrew his blaster on the Pyke, his guards following his example and pointing their blasters at the other two.

“Case and point,” said Irys.

Then Roland told the Pyke, “I said you’ll get your money. I suggest you go back to Oba Diah and wait.”

The Pyke leader’s tone grew darker and threatening upon having a blaster pointed at him as he responded, “You are out of your depth, Durand. Either you correct this grave mistake or you and your entire family will experience what pain truly feels like.”

Kimber noticed that Roland’s hand holding his blaster was trembling. He was even more afraid due to the Pyke’s threat, despite trying to appear impervious to it. His jaw tightened in anger before finally relenting and lowering his weapon.

The Pyke then told his other two associates, “Kill the guards.”

In the blink of an eye, the Pykes pulled out their blasters and shot the guards in the room, making the ladies all flinch in fright. Despite the danger they knew they were now in, Kimber, Irys and Lex all kept collected and stalwart, not wanting to show any fear to the Pykes. 

As the other two Pykes went over to Roland and placed his hands in stun cuffs, Kimber commented to the Devaronian, “Pointing your blaster at a Pyke and threatening them? Not the brightest decision you’ve made.”

“Like I said: dumber than a brain dead Gungan,” said Irys. 

Roland scowled again and the Pyke leader wandered over to the three women, eyeing them curiously. “You are this insect’s prisoners?” 

“They know who took the spice,” said Roland. 

Hearing that, the Pyke withdrew a knife and pointed it at Kimber’s throat. “If this is true, then it would be prudent of you to tell us if you wish to keep your life.”

Standing her ground, Kimber replied, “He’s lying. He’ll say anything to get out of suffering the consequences of his own incompetence.”

“She and a group of Clones were helping Cid, the owner of this parlor. I know it,” Roland persisted.

“Do you ever stop talking?” Lex asked him with a roll of her eyes.

“Enough!” the Pyke leader ordered, sheathing his blade. “Until this matter is resolved, none of you are going anywhere. You are our prisoners now.”

Kimber gulped nervously as she looked to her two friends, who were also anxious. This was not going well. Would her boys be able to get them out of this? 

Unfortunately…she wasn’t sure this time.

[medusapelagia]

Seeds of Dreams, Seeds of Truth 8\11

Rating: Mature Relationship: Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson Tags: Alternate Universe - Medieval, Alternate Universe - Magic, Regent Prince/King Steve Harrington, Knight Eddie Munson, Prison, Sick Steve Harrington, Vomiting, Attempted Murder, Poisoning, Double povs, Panic Attacks, Magic,

written for @steddiesummerexchange

Read it here or on AO3

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, (Part 9, Part 10, Part 11)

WC: 1640

The next morning, while the guards are finalizing the plan before leaving the mages' house, Chrissy gets closer to Eddie, and gives him a little vial; inside a shiny silver liquid swishes from one side to the other.

“What’s that?”

“Poison.” She declares quietly, “It’s enough for both of you.”

Eddie takes the vial and stares at the little bottle and its liquid before hiding it inside his armor. He hopes it doesn’t come to it, but when a mage gives you poison, knowing that you are going to fight a very powerful dark mage, you take it. No questions asked.

“It’s not painful, or so the book said. I never really tried it for obvious reasons.” She adds with a shy smile.

“What about the others?” Eddie asks, looking at his companions who are getting ready to leave.

“They won’t need it.” It’s the only answer she gives him before going back inside the house.

“May your path be clear and safe,” Robin says, making a little movement with her hand that looks like a blessing.

The two women remain near the door, waving at them while the men head into the woods.

“Don’t look back.” Steve says to Eddie, without turning. “You’ll never find that house again.”

“How do you… don’t tell me. You dreamt of it.”

Steve smirks at him with glee in his eyes and Eddie groans, annoyed, while he follows him into the woods.

They traverse the woods, trying to be as quiet as possible, but the air is tense. Eddie knows his men, they are strong and loyal, but they know nothing of mages and curses and they are scared of a power that could kill them in their sleep.

“Don’t be scared.” Steve says, walking side by side with Eddie. “The mages will protect us. We just have to get near the castle walls before night, and then this nightmare will be over.”

The man nods, following his king until the light permits it, and when the sun starts to set they are hiding so close to the castle that they can see the torches shine in the darkness.

Eddie feels anxious: there are just a few of them while the castle is guarded by hundreds of men and a dark mage. Even if the mages promised them that all the people in the castle would be safely asleep in a dreamless sleep, he could see the tower guards moving from one side to the other, holding their torches high. Eddie curses under his breath. It is one thing getting in and out to rescue his king, but attacking a castle with just a few is a suicide mission.

“You think too loud,” Steve tells him, sitting next to him while Eddie keeps watching.

“And you should rest.” Eddie scolds him, “You almost died, did you forget that?”

“I couldn’t even if I wanted because you keep reminding me, don’t you?”

“Is it a bad thing that I’m worried about you?”

“No, it’s really sweet.” Steve takes Eddie’s hand and turns it to look at the long scar he has on his palm, the same that Steve has.

“We were young. And stupid.” Eddie says, freeing his hand from Steve’s gentle grip.

“We were kids. And we were brave.” Steve replies, “Blood brothers.” 

It meant a lot to Eddie when he proposed to Steve to become his blood brother, they cut each other's palm in the woods, letting the blood enrich the soil while they shook their bloody hands. It was Joyce who found them and cleaned their cuts, scolding them for doing something so stupid, but they were happy.

Eddie turns toward Steve and grabs his hand, kissing the scarred palm with affection.

“I’m worried for you.” He finally confesses. “I don’t think I can protect you this time.”

“I know you are, my love, and I’m very sorry for doing this to you. But we can’t let that monster win, can we?”

Eddie doesn’t reply, but grabs Steve’s hair, tugs the boy toward himself, and kisses him. It’s neither sweet nor tender. It’s a hungry kiss that tastes like a farewell and Eddie hates it so much that he can’t stop kissing Steve, letting his tongue explore that mouth that he knows so well, licking those lips that have kissed every scar on his body.

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

And some words never sounded so cruel.

“Look!” Gareth whispers, pointing at the towers. The red flames of the torches are no longer visible and the castle's sounds get slowly muffled and then they stop, leaving the castle surrounded by an ominous silence.

“It’s time.” Steve says, “Don’t be scared.”

“I’m not,” Eddie replies, getting up with the other men.

Steve gives him a sad smile, “The throne room. You’ll find him there.” He says, taking a potion from his jacket that Eddie has never seen before, and gulping it down in one go. “Don’t go where I can’t follow you,” Steve whispers before falling on the ground, asleep.

“Steve? Steve?!” Eddie yells, but the boy is deeply asleep while his eyelids move around, searching for something, or maybe for someone.

“Come on Eddie! We have to go! The quicker we get inside the sooner we’ll save him!” Gareth reminds him, and Eddie is sure that no duty he has ever had in his life was as hard as leaving his king asleep in the woods at the mercy of a dark mage. He nods and starts to run toward the secret escape at the back of the castle, the same door that was built to let the sovereign escape and that now will let his most loyal men get back inside.

The corridor is dark and their eyes need a moment to get used to the faint light that comes from the stairs, they run toward the light, finding people asleep in the castle corridors. They stop to check on a couple of them, confirming that they are alive but asleep, so they run toward the throne room, blades out, roaring and screaming.

Eddie kicks the door open and finds King Richard Harrington sitting on his throne, his eyes closed like he was resting.

“King Richard?” Jeff calls, stepping closer, but Eddie grabs him by his arm and yanks him back.

“Something is wrong, Jeff, something is very wrong. It was too easy.” Eddie says, looking around to detect any kind of trap, but it seems that they are alone: no guards, no maidens, it seems like the entire castle is under a spell.

“You did notice, finally. I’m glad.” King Richard says, opening his eyes and revealing a pair of inhuman blue eyes with golden flakes that shine brightly. 

“What does it mean?” Eddie yells, stepping in front of his men, ready to fight to death.

“Oh, so you are not as smart as you pretend to be. You still think that you are in the castle, huh?”

Eddie turns around: he is in the castle! They have moved across the secret passages, and…

“Oh, yeah, thank you so much for showing me that secret passage. It'll make it easier to kill your little princeling when he arrives because he will, you know that right?” the King says, transforming into a tall creature with blue eyes.

“What?”

“He is fighting. For you. Such a sweet gesture. It’s a pity that the poison your friend gave you is still securely in your armor. You left your king defenseless while you were asleep in the woods. All of you. Apart from him.” The creature says, stepping closer to Eddie and lifting his chin. “It’s such a pity that the poison didn’t work on him, but I should be thankful to you: now I’ll have the opportunity to absorb his life’s essence directly, like I did with his father.”

“What?”

“Oh, dear boy, I’m so sorry to inform you that King Richard never came back from the war.” He sneers. “He had it coming. It was his ancestor’s fault if my family died. They took from me what I loved the most and now I’m going to take from your young king what he loves the most: you!”

“Attack!” Eddie yells to his companions but when he doesn’t hear the clanging of the metal he turns and sees that he is alone in the throne room and his heart starts to beat faster and faster.

“Nothing that you see here is real. I made it up just for you. You are asleep, Eddie. This is a dream. Or better. A nightmare. ”

“I would have never…” Eddie clenches his jaw.

“But you did. You fell asleep and you gave me exactly what I needed: access to your memories, and guess what? Your lover and you are connected in so many ways. It will be so fun killing you and telling him exactly how I did it before killing him too.” The dark mage chuckles, “You are his and he is yours. What did you think he did when he saw your body fly in the air? He bolted toward the castle. And he is getting close, I can feel his fear and his pain. I don't even have to look at his mind to know what his worst nightmares are, because I already know it. He will be so devastated when I show him how you died in pain, screaming his name, begging him to help you. So if you would be so kind now, I really need you to scream.”

Eddie has never been in such pain. Every fiber of his body is screaming, but he keeps biting the inside of his cheeks with a muffled moan. If Steve is coming, all he has to do is to resist long enough to give him the chance to kill that monster.

tag list: @katyawriteswhump, @themagicalari

[ahoppingmagician]

Stolitz Rant

Now before I shit on the ship and Stolas' whole character, I have to give Spindle Horse some praise. Seeing Blitzo go off on Stolas was like eating your gran's food, comforting, something that you waited for, and fulfilling. Blitzo pleading like a desperate animal for the book was actually very potent, I won't get too much into my life but I have done things similar for people in my past to stay even though it was a dysfunction mess.

Alright that's my little hat's off to you Viv. Now let's get to my problem with this ship.

Unhealthy in a Bad Way

It's unhealthy. Now that inherently isn't the bad thing, now before you judge me too hard, I'll explain. If a pairing is presented as toxic that's not my issue but rather how it is handled. Stolitz isn't really presented by the show's narrative to be a horrible mess that should of died as soon as the two grew apart in their adult life. Instead it is presented like a us verses them. Romeo and Juliet type of romance. Now it doesn't really work that way because of everything that one side has done.

Stolas Sucks

I hate this fucking rich bird man, he was such good villian potential, until someone named Vivziepop got to attached to him, and tried to change the story for him to be a hopeless romantic who has a tragic home life, a damsel in distress who needs his knight in shiny armor to save him, instead of what he is a creepy rich man taking advantage of someone, and is definitely just seeing Blitzo as a toy in every since of the word.

If Stolas wants Blitzo to fuck him then it's fine because HE wants it. If HE decided that his daughter needs to be around someone who has ruined her family then she will because Stolas wants it, not even bothering to ask the man in question if he's comfortable with that arrangement. Blitzo doesn't like how he treats him, doesn't matter because Stolas likes it. HE doesn't want Blitzo to have the book anymore and Blitzo will just blindly accept it because that's what Stolas wants. This man with a child acts like a whiny little baby because the man who he has harassed, stalked, coerced into having sex with him, and treats like some kind of exotic pet, doesn't trust him when he gives him the stupid crystals because it goes against want HE wants to happen.

All of that was to point out how self serving this dumbass is.If Stolas wants it to go that way it just will because he deserves it after having an abusive wife. Now abuse is a serious subject, but it's clear as day that Stella was made to be abusive to make Stolas seem understandable. Also doesn't help that the story neglects to inform you that Stolas and Stella had Octavia at 19 and were both victims of the higher class by being forced into this marriage at like 16.

My Big Problem

Now I'll get into the whole contract to sex thing and how morally backrupt he is. This rich man knew how vital that book was for his obsession's business, to the point that he was literally stealing it from him on his birthday. Now like a reasonable man he kicked him out and never made any terrible decision ever, sadly no he fucked him and really liked it. So sometime later the bird man was in his bathtub and called his side piece, while Blitzo is in obvious distress he gives him an offer and won't shut up till he verbally agrees, which the imp did. Now what part of this is romantic? Or even sexy in a taboo way. Like what in the Wattpad is this arrangement. This feels like a ripoff of a book that just shows a toxic relationship like it's suppose to be good, Fifty Shades of Gray. A similar dynamic to our two men here weirdly enough. Which originally was a fanfiction. Now my dear reader like I said a toxic relationship in media isn't inherently bad, but if it is written badly then we have a problem. Why? you may ask me. Simple early teens watch this show, edgy kids watch this show. I personally think kids are fucking radical little guys, but they are also easily influenced. A show that paints this unhealthy relationship as good and worth all the fighting, that it is worth all the heartbreak and trauma because one day it might get better, key word might. For some viewers maybe it was their first gay relationship they were exposed to. This could shift the way they look at LGBT+ relationships as more taboo or sexy instead of it being just another relationship.

Now I'll wrap this rant up, next will be M&M relationship a d how I think it has some accidental toxic underlining, hopefully I can also get my solutions to this and M&M out today aswell.

As always you look fabulous, I'll eat your least favourite organ if you don't say something nice to yourself today. If your having a not getting out of bed day, it's alright the world is scary and you can try again tomorrow.

[cursedvibes]

Yorozu for the character thing.

Thank you for the ask! Especially the song part for her was really tricky, but interesting to think about.

favourite thing about them

I love how inventive she is. She grew up in a rural and likely poor region, she was born with a relatively weak cursed technique and she managed to claw her way up, so that even the Fujiwara wanted her in their service. All through her own ingenuity. She has an understanding of physics that's beyond her time. Also I just love her obsessive nature. You can tell that no matter if it's people or a topic she finds interesting, she'll cling to it until she has made it her own. That obsession is what got her into such a high position. Her love for battle and bloodshed is also refreshing. We don't see that that often with female characters, especially not combined with her insect armour that would be considered "ugly" and "too masculine".

least favourite thing about them

All the interesting things I listed above are only there as little mentions or titbits that are dropped here and there. We only get a glimpse of her inventiveness and the struggles she went through. Instead Gege chose to only focus on her obsession with Sukuna and make her especially pathetic through that. Like, if you're gonna drop such an interesting backstory, expand on it at least a little bit? Instead of going out of your way to make it seem like her character revolves entirely around Sukuna. She can have her obsession with him, that's fine, but Gege really did her a disservice there, despite obviously being capable of giving her more depth.

favourite line

"Even handsome men become crusty when dried out. Elegant beauty."

"I want it all to myself. Your solitude is mine and mine alone! The one who will kill you is me!"

"Toodle-loo, I'll be waiting"

brOTP

Hm, either the idea of Yorozu and Uraume very reluctantly getting along, kind of similar to Uraume and Kenjaku (she wanted to invite them to her wedding after all and likes their cooking) or Yorozu and Kenjaku. I think her research about insects and how emulate their qualities with cursed energy and her technique would be very interesting to Kenjaku. And since I hc that Kenjaku likes centipedes or arthropods in general, I'd like to see them nerd about insects.

OTP

Yorozu/Uro! I've ranted about them plenty before, but I'd just once again like to say that they are perfect for each other. Yorozu could've been such an inspiration for Takako back in the day, show her what she could be.

nOTP

Sukuna. I think they're both better off by just moving on and finding better people. Also I don't like this at all in a sexual way.

random headcanon

She has like a full mad scientist lair. Kind of an expansion on what we see in her first flashback. It's full of books and show cases of animals and makeshift terraria where she studies insects to improve her technique. I mean, she knows what an insect's nervous system looks like, she must've picked them apart very thoroughly, probably used her CT as assistance to invent microscopes and other tools that didn't exist back then. Also, the way her servant looks, I think she doesn't shy away from human experimentation either to test a new form of Construction for example.

unpopular opinion

She isn't actually sexually attracted to Sukuna. All she ever talks about is owning and controlling him. The marriage is for her to demonstrate her ownership over him and tie him to her. Even if it's merely his corpse. While I'm all for necrophillia, I don't think that's the intention here.

song i associate with them

I don't yet have a song where I think "yes, that's her!", but I chose IC3PEAK's Плак-Плак for her defying tradition and killing her husband and Red Sex (restrung version) just because I think it embodies her particular brand of insanity quite well, particularly how connected everything about her is to her body. From her being nude in the Heian era to her insect armor. Feels sort of suffocating just like her obsession and some of the strings remind me of the sounds of insect wings.

favourite picture of them

Always gonna be her studying nude by candle light

but also of course her insect armour

and her just looking cute/deranged in general

[tobiasdrake]

So. Yeah. Mariko and Yukio haven't gotten to do much in this film.

Fortunately, they carry the final boss fight. Given that this story rightfully belongs to them moreso than Logan, that's pretty cool, actually.

While Viper's out there trying to extract Logan's healing factor, Mariko kicks us off by weaponizing her lampness. Harada comes at her like, "You'll be my lamp now, right?"

HAHAHA GET STABBED FUCKO Princess is rescuing herself from this castle.

Then she does it again immediately after. While Yashida is preparing to slice off Logan's claws with a heated adamantium sword, Mariko jumps in front like "Whatcha gonna do, stab me, YOUR LAMP!?!?"

Yashida's forced to swerve his swing at the last second and accidentally cut the chair open, setting Wolverine free. Though I'm sure there's a hilarious parallel universe where he decapitates Logan instead.

I'm honestly not sure how his sword works? Like. It's an adamantium blade that heats up to be super ultra hot so it can cut through adamantium. But. Like. Wouldn't that weaken the adamantium of the blade? If his blade is so hot that adamantium can be cut through like butter, then the adamantium of the sword should fall apart like butter.

Weird.

Harada switches sides and takes out Viper because she's about to attack Mariko. She didn't do that one on purpose but I'll count it 'cause it's still in a scene where she's weaponizing her lampness and making it work for her.

We all fight with the tools we're given. Agency isn't about how many superpowers she has; It's about what she does with the hand she's dealt.

Which is how we get to the main throwdown for the Final Boss Fight: Wolverine vs. the Silver Samurai.

Viper's fine, mind you. She gets up and starts taking off her clothes while the men are fighting because that's how her regeneration works I guess.

She has to shed her skin like a snake to heal from the arrow. Thematically, it makes sense, though it's funny that the X-franchise found a way to squeeze in another female mutant who has to get naked to use her superpowers.

They're at least more tasteful about it than the preceding films have been with Mystique, however. What you see above is all that's shown. She's shot from collarbone up just for long enough to start ripping off her face and then she's fully dressed next time we see her again.

For Logan's part, this fight goes really badly for him. He loses one set of claws on the catwalk.

And the other near the end of the fight.

He gets fucking worked over like he's never been worked before.

Harada doesn't fare much better.

Japanese Hawkeye shoots an arrow with pinpoint accuracy into the Silver Samurai's eye-slit, but then forgets that he's a ninja again and decides to go reason with him.

So. Y'know. His cause of death is being absolutely terrible at reading the room. And at being a ninja. Fantastic archer, though. Amazing at kyudo. Really should have stuck with that.

So. Yeah. The men are getting fucking shitstomped here. Wolverine does use Harada's stupid, pointless death as an opportunity to figure out the heated adamantium swords and decapitate the Silver Samurai.

But it accomplished fuck-all because it turns out that men are not actually eleven feet tall. That "head" was purely decorative to make the powered armor look cool.

"You fell for my trap of thinking that a man tall enough to wear this like normal actually existed." XD

You know, it's not that surprising that Yashida faked his death in the grand scheme of things. But the reveal that the Super Shredder over here is just a mech suit piloted by a decrepit old man is really funny.

Fortunately, things are going much better for the women. Yukio FINALLY! GETS! TO! BE! COOL!

It's by Designated Girl Fighting with Viper 'cause stories created by men sometimes get really nervous about letting male heroes fight female villains, and will rope in either male villains or female heroes to do it instead. Yeah, I see you, movie that has managed to ensure Wolverine's claws never actually come anywhere near the one female villain in the entire film.

But at this point, I'll take it. Yukio gets to fight someone cool, she gets to look awesome doing it, and she actually wins.

Hangs Viper with a cord and then breaks her neck via leverage. Fuck yes. Eat shit, Viper.

Viper can't just take off her clothes to fix that, I guess, because her neck is broken so her hands don't work anymore. Kryptonite factor.

Meanwhile, the main thrust of the Final Boss Fight is going very, very badly for Wolverine.

Yeah, he. Uh. He loses this fight. Logan loses the Final Boss Fight. In a movie called The Wolverine, Wolverine loses both of his claws, gets incapacitated by the Final Boss, and has his bones drilled into to steal his regeneration.

There will be no sudden turnaround for him. No second wind where he gets a brilliant idea and brings it back around. He just. Fucking. Loses.

Letting the character whose story this really should be instead of him be the one to put an end to it instead.

Taking Logan's own fucking severed claws for herself.

Credit where it's due, she's only able to do this because Logan cut his helmet off earlier. But it's still both surprising and refreshing that it's Mariko, not Logan, who defeats Silver Samurai.

She even does it with a sneak attack via throwing the first blade. Because unlike Harada, she fucking paid attention in Ninja Class.

Logan killsteals with his regenerated bone claws at the very end but. Like. He already has one adamantium blade in his brain and the other in his throat. Yashida had a remaining life expectancy measurable in seconds as it was.

Mariko and Yukio are, surprisingly, the MVPs of this battle. Good for them.