#she was what 12 – 14 at the most?? since she was supposed to have been in middle school during the kuwadorian thing?? | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

dollfaced-erin · 6 months ago

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𝔻𝕣𝕒𝕘𝕠𝕟'𝕤 ℂ𝕣𝕒𝕕𝕝𝕖 (Blade x F!Reader x Jing Yuan)

PART 18

PART 1 , PART 2 , PART 3 , PART 4 , PART 5 , PART 6 , PART 7 , PART 8 , PART 9 , PART 10 , PART 11 , PART 12 , PART 13 , PART 14 , PART 15 , PART 16 , PART 17

A/n :

i'm trying my best to schedule myself, but reading all the rqs i have, im getting pumped up to write again ! though i am having some trouble writing some rqs and it either may take me some time to think about it, or i'll really be stumped looking at it... these days i havent been feeling much motivated so i've been taking time for myself to reconstruct words and redevelop nice and pretty sentences again. I...also am feeling like changing the pictures i use for dragon's cradle...i'm not sure how to though...dw, i'll canva through it ! PENACONY 2.2 IS DROPPING TOMORROW AND IM SO EXCITED-- (this is pre-2.2 dont come at me please,,,) ROBIN WANTERS WILL BE HAVERS TRUST !

Taglist :

@rebeccawinters , @nayukiyukihira , @pix-stuff , @fluffy-koalala , @swivy123 , @starxao , @kaoyamamegami , @kimura-uzuri , @rsvye , @seikouryuu , @just-here-reading , @matsulovesyou, @sincerely-aaronette , @prettyliliy , @chibiduck , @hermosacolibri , @la-diablas-thingz , @farelady-fate , @everi-eve , @shadowfoxey , @helloyuki , @immahuman , @samptlay , @boomie-123

Vidyadhara elegies are the traditional music of the Vidyadhara people. The Vidyadhara use only simple castanets for musical instruments, relying on extremely diverse sets of melodies.

Originating from their folk songs, the style is generally that of mournful dirges. Vidyadhara elegies can be said to represent all of the most tragic aspects of Xianzhou culture, as Vidyadhara players tend to sing about loves lost and pyrrhic victories.

"The previous High Elders have all met with a fate worse than death..." Said an old voice, troubled by the troubles that have been plaguing him ever since his rise onto the position.

"From the first Imbibator Lunae...they have all met their demise in a way no one would expect. The challenge to overthrow them is just getting audacious by the day !" Exclaimed another voice, a woman, perhaps trying to convince someone with her thoughts and principles.

Yes...there was always the threat of assassination from all corners, and if he didn't choose well and right before his time came, be it naturally or by the hand of a forsaken soul, the Luofu shall be plunged into peril without the proper head of a scion to properly guide them...

The horned man thought deeply about this, his gaze looking out the window. His bright and intelligent eyes were gazing up at the moon, as if asking for the guidance of the entity that graced his name. He was supposed to be the wise one, guiding his people and stirring them away from chaos and destruction that may befall upon them. Be it in his time or another...he had his responsibilities set out for him.

So the dragon sighed softly, hoping that none of the Preceptors had heard his little act of impatience and negativity, apprehensive that they may assume that he was finding this all a hassle for him to think about, or even find his improper and impolite behavior discourteous.

It was...too much for him to assume alone. The matter now was in his hands, and not those before him. What he did now would paint portraits towards his ancestors and previous incarnations, and stain the names of his future reincarnations...

He looked beside him, where there was a beautiful young woman, sitting, minding her own business. On her hand was a lovely ring, a sentiment that she was taken by her betrothed. Her (h/c) hair gleamed under the moonlight's grace, letting it shine brighter that the waves of the deep ocean that submerged Scalegorge Waterscape.

Her bright eyes landed on his troubled figure, gracing him with a smile that washed away his worries, akin to a waterlily floating on the surface of the water of an untouched lake. She got up, silks embroidered by the masterful hands of the Vidyadhara craftsmen cupping his cheeks lovingly.

"What's troubling you, my beloved...?" She asked sweetly, her glossy lips still gracing the smile that he wished to protect with every fiber of his draconic being.

Though she wasn't a High Elder, and didn't possess much abilities that were deemed extraordinary to the eyes of the Preceptors. But she was the one that managed the quell the rage that continued to flare in his heart, calming him down with a mere caress of her smooth hands, smoother than the moondrop flowers growing in the silence of night.

To him...she was wiser than anyone else of their caliber.

Being childhood lovers, she watched him grow, she was by his side when he received the eye of abysm, she stood proud in the crowd once he was declared the full-fledge Imbibator Lunae.

His beloved wife.

"My...moon..." The saddened High Elder whispered, his hands rising up to cup her gentle hands that caressed her cheeks. "I...am deeply sorrowed..."

"I must choose the next descendent for our lineage..." He said, leaning into her healing and comforting touch. "Perhaps...we could choose the egg together...?"

"Like...choosing our own children...?" The wife asked, almost jumping in place in surprise. Her (e/c) eyes were wide, almost elated at the prospect of...children.

It was a foreign concept to them, since Vidyadhara's aren't able to reproduce like regular Xianzhou natives. But imagining it...

"Yes...just like--huh ? Children ?" The Imbibator Lunae said, blinking his eyes at her with confusion. Was she serious ? No, that cant be...

"Wait, not one child ?" "Huh, why just choose one when we can have two ?" "But what about the Dragon Heart ?"

"What about it ? One could have it, and we could ask the Perceptors to bind them as siblings, or...perhaps, grow them together to be siblings."

"Siblings..." Imbibator Lunae thought, remembering that Xianzhou natives and Foxians had that concept. It clicked in his mind. His lover had a point, and he had come to realize something.

This...burden of being the Imbibator Lunae...was too much for one person to handle. One responsibility too much for one soul. He...wouldn't be able to protect himself if he was too occupied with the affairs that concerned him more than his own being, like his beloved...

Even the past High Elders had met with a demise no one could foresee, meaning...that there was also no one else to back up and they only had one goal. His stress was thankfully managed by the presence of his beloved, which had grown by his side since she had broken off her shell. But what about the past Imbibator Lunae...?

It was...too much for one person. Too easy to overthrow.

But before the couple could properly choose their heir...the beloved...had fallen before he did.

In his arms, he held the dying and distraught woman in his arms, a gaping hole in her chest from the knife that pierced her without warning, leaving it to penetrate her body before she managed choose their heir together.

Today was supposed to be a joyous day...a day where the two of them would hold hands and walk with the Pearlkeepers to look at the eggs that gleamed brightly, hoping to find potential that would help the Luofu prosper more than in his time. But as they turned their backs, they were blinded by the threats that still lingered to take the couple down, and not even Cloudhymn magic could save her now...

The Imbibator Lunae roared in pain and despair, holding his beloved's dying body close to him, knowing he had to quickly rush her to the egg and let it heal her. But he just...wanted to see her one last time, and give her one last kiss.

The dragon bent down its mourning self, lips pressed against its mate's forehead one final time as tears streamed down his eyes, now dull after the tragic robbery of his beloved from his embrace.

He...couldn't survive this world without her. He couldn't bear the days where she would no longer stand by his side, holding his hand, cupping his face with her small and warm palms. He couldn't bear the days where she wouldn't smile at him, where she would no longer be able to press her lips against his.

No...he couldn't...

So he decided to take the final step, and return his beloved into the egg the Pearlkeepers had kindly provided for her, quietly leading the mourning husband to give his wife her final goodbye.

"I'll see you again, my beloved." He whispered, kissing her forehead with tenderness he had never shown her, not even on their wedding day.

"And...my heart will always be with you. Because one the day we met...you have stolen it, and had always kept it safe. So I'm giving it to you, to remember that only you will ever have my heart, be it the one pumping blood in my body, or the one that my power stems from."

"Without you here by my side...what is all this power for if I cannot protect the one I love...?"

"My dear...Saltator Lunae..."

So he chose his new descendent.

And thus...was born two dragons with beautiful horns on their heads, the older brother's arms curling around his newly hatched sister protectively. His grip was tight, arms holding her close and his teal colored tail coiling around her small form. Their embrace was too heartwarming, not even the maids dared to separate them.

Perhaps this child wished to protect her, vowing deep in his heart to never let anything happen to his precious baby girl. A dragon who had horns just like him. A little smile was etched on his face as he inhaled the scent of lilies that radiated from her soft tufts of hair even though he was deep in slumber.

The Preceptors had to hold a meeting amongst them, trying to figure out what to do with these two set of children. It seemed that they had inadvertently inherited the power of the Permanence, both with the outstanding traits of the true heir to power.

"But the boy was hatched first before the girl ! He is the one with true power to the throne !" One argued, quickly hushed by the other. "But the shell he was cast off from wasn't the one which the past Imbibator Lunae had instructed us to watch over so carefully !"

"The girl is the one with the heart. The one that had passed those trials and irrefutably inherited the power of the Dragon Heart. Both...succeeded in the Transmutation Arcanum..." the oldest of them said, his voice ruling over all other reasons.

"The boy had hatched earlier, with horns and the potential reeking from his form no one dared doubt." Said the wise Vidyadhara elder. "Even the inspectors from the Xianzhou Fanghu had acknowledged that power and potential seeped from these two eggs..."

"But no one...could have ever anticipated the birth of two individuals with draconic traits." Said another. "Everyone had experienced the tremor of incredulous potential, yet we merely betted on which would be the true successor..."

"What if...their fate was to rule together...?" said a woman's voice, loud amongst the chatter and discussion.

"The previous High Elder once wrote in a will, that shall it be a boy that was hatched from the shell, his name Dan Feng, and if she was a girl...name her Dan Jia." The wisest of them all spoke, his voice thundering through the hall as they began to rise to a conclusion.

"But those were the terms for the egg so closely guarded..." He said, little confusion at what was apparently happening.

"Born first, we had called the boy, who bore an uncanny resemblance to his predecessor...as Dan Feng." The old clan member reminded. "And for the egg that had been announced as the next heir...with the dragon heart in the small vessel...she will be named Dan Jia."

"For the first time in the Xianzhou history, let there be two High Elders ruling on the Luofu, siblings, who would equally rule and succeed in aspects failed." He said, rising upon his seat at the head of the table. "One destined for power to eliminate the abominations of celestial bodies, and the other, protecting the heart that stems greatness for them both !"

"The boy is named Dan Feng, the Imbibator Lunae as his predecessors once were...and the girl...shall be named Dan Jia. Saltator Lunae, just as the couple that reigned before they were born."

The table of Preceptors began to clap, finding this new embodiment of power astounding and magnificent, never seen before. Their sounds of clapping was thunderous, almost disturbing the pair that was sleeping a couple rooms away.

"Ngh..." muttered the young boy, curling around his little sister even further, hiding her in his chest to prevent the sounds from hurting her ears and frightening her.

The paper written for the will was yellowed, yet the words on it were still clearly visible to be read. It was preserved despite the passage of time, reflecting the man who sat by his desk, holding the brush in his hand.

"Imbibator Lunae is for the man who enjoys his drinks, watching the moon that gazes so brightly upon him. But where lies the joy of drinking such fine liquor without a desirable dancer ? For the Saltator Lunae would accompany him in his darkest days, moonlight bathing her skin and showing him the way."

(Y/n) looked at the soldier, kneeling before a Foxian healer who had...an unnerving smile on her lips. She didn't have a good feeling about this. Why wasn't this healer laying him on the ground, treating his wounds ? Or why was she standing over him, as if waiting for something to happen...?

The soldier looked as if he was really experiencing torment, his head cradled in his hands as if it were about to burst. Yet the healer did nothing, merely watching as his progress began to deteriorate.

Before (Y/n) could warn and pull March back, the unaware girl began to take her hand and rushed towards the pair.

"Here ! There are still survivors !" March said, almost relieved to see that there were still living people despite the blood battleground she had just witnessed earlier. Perhaps it was a sight to behold, as she wasn't as trained on these grounds as Welt or (Y/n) was.

But Welt seemed to catch on quite quickly, his gaze sharp as he observed the scene before him. It was as if he knew that something was indeed amiss, the same something that (Y/n) was experiencing.

"Hmm...?" Hummed the woman, turning around to face the group that had approached them. Her gaze seemed to be pleased for a bit, before it turned into a scowl. "You're not the Knights...what is your purpose here ? It's dangerous."

There was something in her tone that made (Y/n) feel uneasy. She sounded like she was...worried, but there was a certain hiss in her voice that made (Y/n) sure that she wasn't happy with them intruding in her...business with this knight.

"We're reinforcements sent by the General. Where's everyone else ?" Welt asked, trying to keep the situation under control and calm. Well...with this situation, it wasn't hard to see where it would eventually end up.

The Foxian woman scoffed, crossing over her arms as she heard what Welt had just relayed. "Tsk, resorting to short-life species as reinforcements...hehe, Jing Yuan is really running out of options..."

The taunting and worrying smile was back on the 'healer's' lips as she mentioned that Jing Yuan was possibly running low on manpower to properly eradicate the current problem. And it seems that she hadn't yet noticed that (Y/n) was with them.

It was expected, since communication the the Alchemy delve has been cut off since a few system hours ago. There would be no way for them to know of the current issue happening on the other bodies of the Luofu, such as (Y/n)'s awakening.

"They're here to escort me. The General and the Master Diviner had laid out specific orders for them to tread safely, as well as ensure my safety to tend to the casualties." (Y/n) said, stepping forward to face off this 'healer'.

"You...who do you think you--" The angered look on the woman's face was quickly replaced with shock and fear as she realized the horns that grew from (Y/n)'s head.

"You cant be..."

"All of you ! Run !" Cried out the Knight who was still weak on the ground, battling his own pain that seemed to be almost unbearable for him. "She's a disciple of Sanctus Medicus !"

All color began to drain from everyone's skin, leaving them pale and terrified at the 'healer' lady before them. March's grip on (Y/n)'s hand tightened, indicating that this was not the outcome she had expected to be. A direct face off with the supporters of the Plagues Author !

"Silence." The woman hissed, looking at the fallen soldier. "If my healing worked, you'll become one of us. Then..."

She looked at (Y/n), the grin almost impossibly widening on her face.

"It wont be just me they'll be running from."

It all happened too fast. As if on cue, the fallen Knight began his gruesome transformation. Branches began to sprout from his skin, tearing it apart. His armor began to be one with his skin, almost molding entirely with his being. His body began to surge with incredulous power, rendering his senses numb and murderous intent increasing tenfold.

"Lady (Y/n) !"

"GET BACK !"

(Y/n) quickly pushed March behind her, taking up front with Welt by her side, who came to terms with the situation faster than the younger women. With a nod to the brunette, (Y/n) produced her glass hand fan from thin air, the weapon of choice materializing in her hand quicker than light. Welt held his cane, ready to unleash the power of the black hole that he had kept sealed, hoping to never unleash its full potential.

The knight began to rush towards them, tears in his eyes as he tried his best to land his lightest attacks for as long as he remained conscious, for a soldier's dignity lies in their death. Losing control and his mind...would be a warrior's worst nightmare.

His attacks were still deadly and heavy, but he had no control whatsoever over his doings. Though he was experienced with enhanced abilities, (Y/n) and Welt did their best to fend off the regretful man, hoping to put him to rest in the calmest and most humane way.

"Please...I'm sorry..." the man pitifully cried as (Y/n) parried his attack with her fan, swiftly landing a kick to his side. The dragon woman was indeed merciful, and she had her sympathies for the man who had lost all hope of regaining his former pride.

But why couldn't she get close in and quickly put him to rest...?

Unlike the Exhalting Sanctum...she didn't have much memory of herself to full deploy and outlet her power. But now that she was aware...why wasn't she...

She felt like there were still a reign of shackles tying her down...

"Why are you apologizing ?! Didn't you all come here to the Xianzhou to seek immortality ?!" The woman screeched, watching from the backlines as more celestial beings of abundance began to advance towards them.

"You don't have to appease Jing Yuan ! The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus can grant your every wish ! To be immortal like the Natives ! To have a long and prosperous life like the Vidyadhara people !" She cackled, eyes glinting with malice and insanity as she watched the group begin to get surrounded.

(Y/n) was busy fending off the lost soldier as well as getting herself surrounded left and right by borisins and their shadow kin. Though how many times she had launched attacks, she was never able to fully push them back. She was at a loss, she was afraid and worried...

She understood now. Why she couldn't blindly charge in...

She was afraid of losing control of her power if she used it without her brother by her side...

Welt was by her side, exerting himself to his greatest ability to never cause harm, potentially plunging everyone into deep danger if he lost control. March and Stelle were backing them up, with March using her bow and Stelle with her bat, coursing with the crackling power of destruction.

They were all fighting...they were all in danger...

"Please, Lady (Y/n)..." the soldier begged her. "Let me meet the end I deserve."

"Let me die with honor..."

"Honor...?" (Y/n) whispered, her voice coming out in breaths of white, cold from the ice she produced. But the man before her nodded, hoping she'd do the best thing she could.

She was afraid...hoping to never misuse her power in fear of destruction it entails. But he was right. She had people she must protect, whether or not her brother was there to properly keep her power in check.

"I understand."

With a small smile on her lips, the dragon lady began to come close to her companions, hoping that they'll be within her protection. With a single rise of her fan, just as she had done with Yanqing, rose an illusion of an ice lotus, trapping her companions to keep them safe.

"I'm sorry." (Y/n) whispered, looking at the infected before her, before her eyes began to glow, and her tail appearing behind her. She never wished for her power to be out of control, yet to protect, one must go through lengths far beyond boundaries.

(Y/n) held her fan tight in her hand, close to her chest. With a single swing of her fan, water from the sea surrounding the delve began to rise, turning into waves as it began to sweep away the entire colony, picking up the borisins and the disciples in its way, pulling them off to the edge with their powerful forces.

For those who managed to withstand her waves, she cast upon them winds that would cut through them and hinder their sight. With a single stroke of her fan, she sent amplified ice blizzards, cutting through their regenerating skins time and time again like tiny razor blades, faster than their demonic abilities.

With fingers to her lips, her pointer and thumb forming a circle, she blew on the tips of her fingers to send out her ice, freezing those in her path, starting by freezing the droplets of water on their body, piercing deep into them, and freezing the fluids that coursed as a source of life.

It was like the sea. So gentle and soothing, yet with forces so strong to pull enemies deep into the heavy and dark depths. Some place so comforting like a warm embrace, yet terrifying with depths of unknown danger.

Once the waves had washed off the pavilion, all that was left...were the frozen bodies of the loyal worshippers of the Plagues Author. It was cleaned out from the remaining infected lives that were threatening their own, reminding her of the sins that would be washed away by the sea when they were reborn...

"Woah ! Looks like the frozen statues of the antimatter legion back on Jarilo-VI !" March excitedly said, looking at the figures encased in ice for as long as (Y/n) willed for it.

The young pink-haired woman then turned to look at (Y/n), wanting to know more and perhaps ask about if she could do the same as (Y/n). But as she turned around, (Y/n) was already walking into the 'exhibit' of her power.

"Lady (Y/n) ! H-hey, where are you going ?!"

Then she heard little voices as she walked past the frozen statues...

"Brother...shall one day we cast off our old shells...would we be able to find each other again...?" Said a young child voice from afar.

"Maybe...my little moonflower. We'll never know..." Replied a slightly more mature voice, explaining to the young child in the kindest way possible.

"But should you ever forget me...the things you've done in this life is bound to make you remember little by little, no matter how hard you try."

Before her was the fallen Cloud Knight, who begged her to end him in the most honorable way. He was on the ground, kneeling, trying to control the plague that threatened to run rampant despite his exhausted state.

"It seems...that even you...haven't found the path yet, my Lady..." The knight said, laughing bitterly, yet still respectfully. "Leave, my Lady, for they have 'converted me'. I don't have much longer..."

"I'm here...to give you one last gift..." (Y/n) said softly, cold air leaving her thin lips, frosty like the gaze in her eyes.

"One...that may even help prolong your path to your fated end." She said softly as she knelt before him.

She was tired, having exerted most her powers into summoning the tides, still unused to properly controlling it over the centuries of unending dormancy. She wanted to rest, perhaps even curl up while she cuddled her tail like a child. But now wasn't the time for it.

There were duties to be fulfilled...

Swiftly lifting up her hands, she exercised hand signs of various meanings as if it were her second nature, much more precise than that blind woman that existed before she broke those shackles binding her down.

The only way to progress in life...was to accept and adapt.

Her pointer finger and middle finger together held up before her, she shut her eyes as she began to trace the spores that existed within the man's body. With swift and precise movements, she immediately moved swift as the wind, and as piercing as a dragon's talon.

Unlike the woman that had just awoken, blind and foolish to the world that revolved around her, tossing smiles and laughter like the fleeting leaves in the air...she was no longer shackled, nor bound.

Unlike her past...she would never act foolishly again fearing the recurring pitiful demise of a dreamer who lived to dance and love.

(Y/n) stood up, a soft sigh leaving her lips as she dusted off her clothes. The team approached her side, looking down at the soldier before them, lying on the ground as if he were taking a nap from a grueling shift. Her eyes softened, the feelings of mercy and regret ebbing away at her soul.

"What...happened to him ?" March asked softly, holding Stelle's hand for comfort.

"Did you...give him his final embrace, Lady (Y/n) ?" Tingyun slowly asked, trying to step around the bubbling waters.

(Y/n) didn't turn around to face them, but instead parted her lips to give her response, a hand raised to her ear to gently touch the trinket that hung from her pointed organ. "Nothing. Just...soothed his pain a little."

Then she took in a deep breath, looking forward, as if regaining her peace by touching the windchime. "Right. Should we stumble upon a recuperation camp, let's inform them of this one. At the very least, they would be able to send this one to the Ten-Lords Commission."

Along the path, they stumbled across more bodies that have been swept up in the clashing of worlds. Divine celestial beings on the ground with wounds healing at an impossible rate, fallen bodies of the Knights that have half transformed into the forsaken, life leaving their beings before their twisted methods were complete.

There were even some which (Y/n) had them stop in the middle of the way to provide relief, either putting them to sleep to induce the pain, or freezing their cores and helping them relax as they healed after fierce and relentless battles.

But one thing caught her eye. That amicassador.

The Dragon Lady's gaze never left her being, always keeping her in the outermost corner of her sight. There was...something odd about her. Perhaps the striders of the trailblaze would've never noticed, but she sensed...a cosmical energy emanating from that Foxian girl.

There's just something...off with this girl. The way she talks, her interests, her stance during the fight earlier. Something wasn't right.

She didn't have much time to ponder. Due to their thundering steps of different weights and paces, they began to alarm the individuals standing guard past the wall they were about to round.

"Who goes there ?! Show yourselves !" Called out a clear voice of a male, sense of urgency and alert in his tone.

Cloud Knights. They had really reached their temporary base.

Welt took charge, walking ahead of them to confront the guards. "We come in peace." He said, almost making the rest of them snicker in amusement with the way he walked up to them with raised hands.

The guards, of course, didn't seem to take this lightly. But there was relief shining in their eyes when they see the esteemed guests of the General of the Xianzhou Luofu escorting the long awaited Dragon Lady.

"Saltator Lunae !" They sighed in relief. "Quickly, in here ! It's dangerous outside."

"You knew we were coming already ?" March said as they were escorted by one of the guards into the camp, the other standing guard. March was quite curious to how the Cloud Knights weren't that much fazed by their arrival.

"The Master Diviner prophesized your arrival. We were ordered to wait for you under any circumstance." He assured with a steady nod of his helmeted head.

"So...the Master Diviner is already here ?" (Y/n) asked, storing away her fan since she deemed it to be safe for her and her companions.

"Yes. The Master Diviner ordered us to remained stationed here and went to scout ahead." He affirmed again. "They're saying the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus have returned-- they haven't been seen for an age. The troops are anxious."

"I...can imagine." She said with a slight nod of her own head.

"It's good you arrived. The Master Diviner said the Knights weren't to move out until you arrived." He said, but then remembered one more important note.

"Right. While you are here, and we're awaiting the next orders of the Master Diviner, there is something that needs to be clarified." He said seriously, looking at the group. "This is as far as Lady (Y/n) will follow you, esteemed guests of the General."

The group gasped a little, but they were by no chance much surprised. They knew they were missioned to just escort her, but was it just until here, or would they re-group ? But it was the General's orders.

"May I ask what happens from now on ?" (Y/n) asked, a little curious to her next course of fate that awaited her.

The Cloud Knight nodded, standing straight before the honorable woman before him. "Yes, my Lady. General Jing Yuan himself had ordered us to have you wait here. He will come soon, and lead a separate path from the Master Diviner."

"As far as we are informed, you will be joining him on a more confrontational matter."

For some reason she felt a tingle spark up her spine. For some reason she was anxious. For some reason...she was scared.

Something bad was bound to happen.

#dragon's cradle #honkai star rail #honkai star rail x reader #honkai star rail x you #hsr x you #hsr x reader #hsr jing yuan x reader #jing yuan x reader #hsr jing yuan x you #jing yuan x you #hsr blade #hsr blade x you #hsr blade x reader #blade x reader #blade x you #hsr

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ladykailitha · 6 months ago

Text

Well Met By Moonlight Part 14

Hey all! Because I'm working strictly on Paper Hearts and Sweet Home Indiana exclusively until they're done, I thought I would put out chapters of this, Icarus (metal band), and Never Hold Back Your Step...(boy with a bat book 2) this week to tie you over until I can get back to them.

The poll wanted me to continue this one and Never Hold Back Your Step, so show me how much you love this story. Because people it is going to get juicy good and hella twisty and you really don't want to miss out on that. ;)

This is a very Nancy heavy chapter and as always she comes off very nuanced.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13

****

Steve had two thorns in his side. Tommy Hagan and Murray Bauman. Jonathan had gotten his mom and Hopper to back down by citing actual pack law.

He suspected that Nancy had given him that little tidbit to throw in their faces.

It was nice to have the younger generation on his side. Well, most of it. There was still the matter of Tommy.

But now it was time to let Nancy in on what had been going on in the pack.

“I wish you had come to me sooner,” she huffed after he had explained everything and shown her his proof.

“Would you have come to me if the shoe was on the other foot?” Steve asked sharply.

She folded her arms and looked down at the ground. Steve raised an eyebrow at her and she threw her arms in the air.

“Fine!” Nancy cried, throwing her arms in the air. “I wouldn’t have gone to you, I would have gone to Jonathan first. But at least I would have gone to another pack member instead of a keeper, Steve.”

Steve curled his lip and she took a step backward. “Keepers are bound to a scared trust and while Tommy has broken his, Robin would never.”

“Platonic soulmates, I know, I know,” she said, rolling her eyes. “So you keep saying. But she isn’t your female alpha, she isn’t even a werewolf Steve.”

Steve drew himself up to full height and glared at her. “At what has this pack done to show me any loyalty? It goes both ways, Nance and frankly all I’ve gotten since I came back to the pack is suspicion and distrust. Where’s my loyalty, huh? Where is it?”

She looked down at her feet again and sighed. “You weren’t a pack member for ten years, Steve and then you come back, in just a year you’re alpha. Like the rest of us have grown up together. Played together as children and then as puppies when we changed. We know everything about each other, but nothing about you. Then you start to change things and we’re just supposed to take it?”

“Yeah?” he said. “Okay, I’ll walk away. Hopper can take over or hell, give it straight to Murray. He’s the one that wanted it so bad after Hop was taken. See how you fare under his alphaship. If you guys have no loyalty to me, I’ve got none to you.”

He shook his head and walked away.

“Steve!” she cried. “Wait!”

Steve whirled back to face her. “What? You wanted me gone, so I’m leaving.”

“Of course I don’t want you to leave!” she huffed. “God, that wasn’t what I meant at all.”

“No?” he growled. “Because that’s what it fucking sounded like Nancy. What? You think Jonathan would be a better fit?” Nancy didn’t answer but her look said it all. “Because let me tell you, the Byers boys are the best of us, but both are straight up pacifists. They would make for terrible alphas.”

Nancy refused to look at him.

“And besides,” Steve finished with a smug grin, “Jonathan would back me in a fight for alpha, not challenge me and you fucking know it.”

She let out a long sigh. “God, how did you get so smart?”

“I’ve always been, thanks,” he huffed. “School stuff? I’m absolute shit at, but leadership and knowing the right play for the whole team? That comes as naturally to me as breathing. I don’t know it’s all the sports or if I was good at sports because of the natural ability to lead. Either way, there is no adult male in this pack better suited for alphaship and you can’t argue that.”

She looked up and stomped her foot. “I hate it when you’re right.”

“You better get used to it,” Steve said with a wink. “It’s going to happen a lot.”

Nancy clenched her fists and set her jaw. “You are the best leader for the pack as much as it literally pains me to say it, but you have to understand that all we saw was how rich and popular you were in high school. Captain of several teams, friends with Tommy and Carol even though you weren’t pack. King Steve. And then you come back to the pack after high school and the first chance you get you challenge for alpha and fucking win. That fight with Murray was the most brutal fight I’ve ever seen.”

Steve cocked his head to the side. “In what way?”

“You don’t fight like a wolf, even in wolf form,” she muttered. “You don’t even fight like an animal most of the time. It’s like... the wolf is only a vessel for you. Instead of being ingrained into your psyche like it is for the rest of us, you are still aware. You fight the way a human would if suddenly given four legs and a tail. It’s frightening to watch.”

He blinked as he thought about the implications of that. “I don’t have the socialization of a wolf pack, so I fight and think differently. That’s why everyone is worried about where I’ll take the pack. Because you think I’ll try to separate you from your wolf.”

Nancy bit her lower lip. “Exactly that.”

Steve nodded and then transformed. “So teach me how to be a wolf.”

She smiled and transformed, too. Maybe they weren’t friends, but they could be allies and Steve was okay with that.

****

Nancy had learned a lot that day. About Steve and why he didn’t know how to be a wolf and it was a secret she would take to her grave. She learned that she was only the fourth person ever to know about what really went on at the Franklins. Behind Wayne; who was there; Robin, his best friend; and Eddie, his boyfriend.

And if Steve was to be believed, and she had no reason not to, Wayne had told Eddie, not him.

So she was the second person Steve had personally told and that was a lot of trust he had placed in her.

But it also stirred memories in her mind of the day the pack had been informed that the Harrington’s were dead and that Steve was going to be living with another couple until he came of age.

She had been pretty young herself, but she remembered how Wayne and Hopper had almost come to blows about it.

Hopper had yelled that the pack was as safe as houses and Wayne said the house was a condemned building.

She remembered it because she thought the phrase was hilarious. But regardless there was someone else who was there. Someone who was fighting to keep Steve in the pack, but she couldn’t remember.

Nancy rubbed her forehead between her eyebrows as she thought.

She shook her head.

She had bigger fish to fry. Steve’s threat about banishing those that had threatened his alphaship had stirred up a lot of feelings in the pack that she as female alpha had to try and smooth out.

The pack had only banished two people ever since Hopper had taken over the remains of the shattered Harrington pack after Wayne had torn them to literal pieces.

Just then she heard an argument break out. Josh had been swapped out for Chase and she could hear his raised voice.

“What the fuck were you thinking, Pat?!” Chase hissed. “Joining these flea-bitten mongrels?”

Nancy frowned. Maybe Chase should have come to the compound first, rather than Josh, because it sounded like Chase had been overly influenced by Billy’s style.

“How about not dying?” Patrick snapped back. “Billy wasn’t going to change me and Steve was willing to try. Vampire’s don’t need consent to change you, but werewolves do. And so yeah. I fucking consented. I didn’t want to die.”

“Better dead than a werewolf,” Chase said. “Hanging out with the vamps was fun. But all this is hard work and the stench of rotting meat.”

Nancy reached a point in the woods where she could see them, but they couldn’t see her.

Patrick shook his head. “He saved me twice, Chase. Even Jason is impressed by how respectful Steve had been about the whole thing, especially since we nearly killed him.”

Chase blanched. After those six weeks at the coven, he had forgotten the reason for the whole exchange program in the first place. That they could have been thrown in jail for attempted murder.

He looked down at the ground. “Shit, man. I didn’t mean it like that. Of course you’re grateful to Harrington for saving your ass. It’s just so much has changed in so little time that I loss track of all that...other bullshit.”

Patrick sighed. “I know, it all seems like it’s from another life. But Wayne has said that he’s going to recommend to the DA that we get a year of community service under his eye and it won’t go on our permanent record so we can still go to college.”

“That’s decent of him,” Chase said. “He could have made things really bad for you.”

Patrick shook his head. “I don’t know. I don’t think Jason is being genuine. He’s still angry about getting caught by Eddie Munson of all people.”

Chase frowned. The rivalry between Jason and Eddie Munson was the stuff of legends. Jason would bully the Hellfire Club kids, and Eddie would stand on table tops in the cafeteria ranting about basketball players were only good at putting big orange balls in laundry baskets.

It was actually Eddie and not Billy who had stepped in between Chrissy Cunningham and Jason when he found out she was a vampire and not some pure Christian girl who would stay at home once they were married and pump out his babies.

Chrissy could have defended herself considering how strong she was as a vampire, but Eddie had still stepped between them. Chase was sure that if the principal hadn’t walked by just then, that Jason would have decked Eddie.

“Especially now that Eddie is the same supe Chrissy is,” he said slowly.

Patrick nodded. “I worry he’s going to get caught up in something that might get himself killed.”

“Jason is such a bone head,” Chase said shaking his head. “Why did we follow this guy again?”

Patrick threw back his head and laughed. “Because he was captain of the basketball team, dating the head cheerleader, and hot as fuck.”

Chase let out a startled snorted. “Yeah, okay. You’ve got me there.”

They moved away from the clearing and there was a tap on Nancy’s shoulder.

She yelped and whirled around, coming face to face with Murray.

“Jesus!” she hissed, putting her hand on her chest as she fought to catch her breath.

“You shouldn’t be eavesdropping on people,” he said with a smarmy smile.

She returned his smile with a tight lipped version of her own. “Well, you would only know I was eavesdropping, if you were doing the same thing. A bit pot calling the kettle black, don’t you think?”

He tilted his head and regarded her with interest. “I can see why Steve would chose you as his alpha female. So smart. Just don’t go digging holes you can’t jump out of.”

He slipped into the shadows of the woods and she felt a shiver down her spine.

She had been so wrapped up in the drama with Steve that she had neglected her duties as alpha female.

Well that changed today. She would get to the bottom of this and give Steve her full support. Like a proper female alpha.

****

Part 15 Part 16 Part 17 Part 18 Part 19 Part 20

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nebulablakemurphy · 1 year ago

Text

Moves & Countermoves (Part 19)

Summary: No one ever wins the games, even fourteen years later, Y/N is still playing. Trigger warning: discussions of trauma surrounding ‘desirable’ victors.

Prologue | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18

“Tell me about the stairs,” Dr. Aurelius says.

Y/N stares at him blankly, the stairs.

He waits a moment, tapping his pen to paper. “At the request of your husband, you will be issued a nightlock pill, to use in the event that you are captured.”

Y/N nods. One of the stipulations to Haymitch agreeing to her deployment, on this mission to rescue Peeta.

‘Show me you can reach it with your mouth.’ He tested the accessibility of her suit’s pill pocket, rigorously. ‘Show me you can still reach it with your hands behind your back.’

It isn’t something he wants her to use, but knowing that whatever Snow has planned for her would make Peeta’s captivity look like child’s play…

“By President Coin’s orders, I cannot release this… medication unless you are of sound mind.”

“You have reason to believe I’m not?” Y/N asks.

“One of your former guards told me you asked if anyone had ever jumped from the elevator.” Aurelius purses his lips.

“It was one time!” Y/N waves a hand, “and it was a joke.”

“You have a dark sense of humor.”

“You would too.”

The therapist affords her a soft smile, “you may be right. Even still, you are my patient. I need to act in your best interest. So please, tell me what happened on the stairs.”

Y/N takes a deep breath, “it’s kind of a blur. Everyone was pushing, yelling, especially after the upper levels were damaged and the rain started coming down.”

“How did you feel?”

“I felt…worried, I guess.”

“In what way?”

“About Haymitch, Madge and the kids. Worried about what was happening to Peeta. Worried about getting Katniss into the bunker.”

He jots this down.

“That was a normal response.” Y/N snaps.

“Very much so,” the doctor agrees, “not every note I make is a bad one.”

Y/N crosses her arms.

“Did you worry for yourself? Your own safety?”

You’re supposed to say yes.

“There is no right answer, Y/N.”

“There’s an answer that gets me to Peeta and one that doesn’t.”

“True,” he shrugs, “but I trust you not to lie.”

“You shouldn’t.” Y/N narrows her eyes. “I’m a good liar, I’ve been doing it since I was fifteen.”

“How do you feel about death? Is it something you long for, or run from?”

“If I die, my kids lose their mother, my husband loses his wife, my sister loses her sister. The list goes on. So it really doesn’t matter how I feel about death. All I know is that I cannot die.”

“Yet you think you could bite down on this pill?” He presents the dark purple capsule.

“As a last resort. If I have fought tooth and nail and I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I can’t get free? I could.” Y/N decides.

Dr. Aurelius nods, holding the nightlock out to her. “Best of luck.”

————————————————————————

Haymitch curses Katniss’ name, as he shuffles through the crawl space she’s gone to hide in, after refusing to make the propo saying thirteen survived Snow’s attack.

Have kids, they said. It will be fun, they said.

Though none of his biological children have forced him to squeeze in such a tight space, parenthood is not for the faint of heart.

He plops down beside her with a sigh, “so this is the end, huh? I guess we’re just gonna hide down here forever.”

“I can’t be the mockingjay,” Katniss chokes out.

“Not the mockingjay,” Haymitch tosses a bit of hair away from her face, “just Katniss.”

She blinks at him, warily.

“Look, I know I’m not good at this pep talk stuff. That’s Y/N’s department.”

“She doesn’t want to see me,” Katniss understands.

“She spent the morning getting cleared by her shrink.”

“Cleared for what?”

“They’re going to rescue Peeta.” Haymitch tells her.

“What?”

“The dam went down in district five, took out most of the power to the Capitol. Knocked out their signal defense, Beetee’s inside their system, reeking all kinds of havoc. The window is open to us, for how much longer? I don’t know, I guess until the Capitol can get the power back on.” Haymitch explains.

“And Coin?”

“I can never fully support that woman. But Plutarch got word that Peeta and the others are in the tribute center. With the power out, Coin sees this as an opportunity. She knows that Peeta is the Capitol’s weapon, the same way you’re ours. And as opposed to having you two pointing at each other, she’s going to get him.”

“I have to go help them.” Katniss springs to life.

“Woah, hey,” Haymitch reaches out a hand to stop her. “What’re you just gonna jump out of the vent and go storm the Capitol? Besides it’s already underway. Six soldiers went in, volunteer only. Y/N, Gale, Boggs and three others.”

“You just let her go?” Katniss frowns.

Haymitch admits, “she’s not the type of person you ‘let’ do things. But you know how that is, sweetheart. Between the two of you,” he lets out a low whistle, “I’m exhausted.”

————————————————————————

Madge breaks her dinner roll in half. Splitting it between Everest and Arista, the same way she’s watched Y/N and Haymitch do since they got here. Making sure little bellies are full, before their own.

Pollux approaches, motioning to the seat across from Madge, at the metal mess hall table. He sets down his tray and pulls out his note pad, to jot a message down. “Is this seat taken?”

“No,” Madge greets him, “please, sit.”

“Hi, I’m Pollux. You’re Y/N’s sister, right?”

Madge nods.

“She keeps your picture in her pocket.” Pollux smiles. “And them.” He points to the oldest children.

Everest’s eyes scan the page. “Our mom told us about you. What happened to you in the Capitol…I’m really sorry.”

“Honey,” Madge runs a hand over his hair.

“Thank you, Everest. It’s nice to meet you. Your mom talks about you all the time, she is so proud.” Pollux turns the page quickly, for more room. “Arista and Daisy too, of course. Your mom loves you all very much.”

With that the children turn back to their meals.

Madge smiles, stabbing at her food with one hand, while patting the baby in the sling. The tray moves and Pollux holds out a hand to stabilize it. “Oh, thank you. It’s ok though, you eat.”

He draws the hand back, long enough to scribble, “I’d offer to hold the baby instead, but I don’t think we’re there yet.”

Madge laughs, “funny.”

“It’s really no trouble.”

Madge shrugs, as he grips the edge of her tray, loosely. Managing his own dinner just fine.

Cressida calls him away, after a while, for Finnick’s live propo, to help jam the Capitol’s airwaves.

“I’ll see you around.”

“I’ll see you.”

————————————————————————

“This is Finnick Odair, winner of the sixty-fifth Hunger Games, coming to you from district thirteen, alive and well. We survived an attack by the Capitol, but I’m not here to give you recent news.”

“Why is Finnick doing a propo?” Katniss wonders, watching the split screen of the control room. The large, right panel is an image of Finnick. Just outside the rubble, where they asked her to film earlier, the sun has set and the lights are trained on him. The left hand side is home to six smaller panels, with the soldier’s helmet cam footage.

“It’s a lot more than that,” Haymitch informs her.

“Beetee’s commandeered the system,” Coin says, proudly.

“They’re down to generator power, so there’s a more limited range of frequencies available to them. I’m filling them all up with Y/N and Finnick. It looks like they’re both live.” Beetee assures Katniss.

“Snow will think she’s still here?” That’s brilliant.

“Not many will see it, but those who do will assume they’re just propos.”

“What they don’t know is that these broadcasts are jamming their entire system with noise. Early defense warnings, internal communications, everything. As long as one or both of the broadcasts are going through, our team should be able to get in and out without being detected.” Beetee assures her.

“You can survive the arena, but the moment you leave, you’re a slave.” Finnick narrates. “President Snow used to sell me, or my body, at least.”

“Mockingjay one, you are twenty seconds from perimeter defense.”

“I wasn’t the only one. If a victor is considered desirable, the president gives them as a reward, or allows people to buy them. If you refuse, he kills someone you love.” Finnick presses on, looking straight at camera.

“Ten seconds.” The hovercraft pilot begins counting down. “Nine, eight, seven, six.”

“Just because a victor is married doesn’t mean they’re safe.”

“Five, four, three…”

“The Capitol’s more generous patrons paid dearly to watch the wedding night, even more to witness the conception of the most beloved children in Panem.”

“Two, one.”

Katniss freezes, surely he doesn’t mean- it couldn’t be. The dress, that stupid dress they crammed her in. Why it upset Y/N so badly. Snow was taunting her.

“No response from perimeter defense, we’re inside Capitol airspace.”

“Yes,” Beetee rejoices.

Haymitch is watching the smaller screen, his jaw tense, doing his best to ignore the eyes that fall on him. Twisting his wedding band around and around. It doesn’t matter what secrets Finnick reveals, so long as he keeps jamming the signal. Keep Y/N safe.

“To make themselves feel better, patrons will offer presents of money or jewelry. But I found secrets to be a much more valuable form of payment.”

“Gear up,” Boggs orders the soldiers on the hovercraft. They are just seconds away from the tribute center. “Masks on.”

Their lenses are tinted for night vision, the red light inside makes Y/N’s heartbeat faster.

“Open the door.” Boggs says, his voice echoing through her headset. “Command, this is team leader, preparing to deploy gas. We will confirm once inside.”

“Such a young man when he rose to power, such a clever one to keep it. How, you may ask, did he do it?” Finnick is captivating, well spoken.

Katniss is hanging off every word.

“One word, poison.”

The timer for the gas grenadines finishes, on Bogg’s stop watch, “get ready to drop.”

Y/N secures her harness to the wire, giving it a firm tug. Descending through the open loading dock, releasing the wires as they reach ground.

“Clear.” Boggs, informs the team. “We’re inside, headed for target number one. Cell B forty-five, lower level two C.”

“So many deaths to well known adversaries, even allies who were deemed as threats.”

It’s dizzying, giving equal attention to Finnick’s message and the feed from inside the tribute center.

Haymitch is glued to that screen, her screen. Like he wants to reach through and bring her back with him.

Once Peeta’s holding cell is gassed, they are cleared to enter.

“Snow would drink from the same cup, to deflect suspicion. But antidotes don’t always work, which is why he wears roses that reek of perfume. To help cover the scent of sores, in his mouth, that will never heal.”

Poison, Katniss shakes her head to clear it. He’s still talking about poison.

Inside the room is a lab, full of jars, experiments. Cages. Medical equipment, some with blood still visible.

“What the fuck?” Y/N whispers, reaching out to try and make sense of it.

“Abernathy, on me.” Boggs warns, they need to stay focused.

“What is this place?” Gale asks, venturing deeper.

Their screens lights up, all of them at once. Too bright to see.

“Ahh.”

There is a collective hiss, from those in the tribute center. The power’s back on.

“Beetee?” Katniss has a hand flat against her belly, where the worry eats her alive.

“Ma’am, the Capitol air defense is rebooting. It’s coming back online.”

“They must be diverting power from another source, filtering transmissions. Another sixty seconds and we’ll be cut off.” Beetee scowls, typing furiously at the control panel.

“Get them outta there,” Haymitch demands.

“Madame President, should we call back the hovercraft?”

“Broadcast me,” Katniss decides, “if Snow’s watching this, maybe he’ll let the signal in, if he sees me. Put me on the air so he can see me.”

“Yes,” Plutarch snaps a finger. “Yes.”

“Put her on,” Coin agrees.

“Can we still do this?” Haymitch’s hands are shaking as he positions the camera in front of her. “Can we still get in?” Can we still save her?

“Yes, for the moment,” Beetee replies. “The line’s open, he will only see you.”

“Ok, Katniss,” Haymitch steps away. “Go.”

“President Snow.” Katniss says, “President Snow, it’s Katniss.”

The static continues to crackle. No more Finnick, no more footage from the tribute center. Just her.

“President Snow, can you hear me?” Katniss repeats, hoping for a miracle. “I need to speak with you, are you there? President Snow.”

“Miss Everdeen,” his voice is distorted for a moment, until the signal hones in. “What an honor. I don’t imagine you’re calling to thank me for the roses.”

“I never asked for this. I never asked to be in the games.” Katniss reminds him. “I just wanted to save my sister and keep Peeta alive. Let him go and I will stop being the mockingjay. I will disappear and you’ll never have to see me again.”

“You couldn’t run from this anymore than you could’ve run from the games.”

“Please, you’ve won.” Katniss says, “release Peeta and take me instead.”

Snow shakes his head with a smirk. “We are long past the opportunity for noble sacrifice.”

“Then tell me what to do, I’ve always kept my promises. Haven’t I?”

“You said you didn’t want a war, and that’s just what happened. I told you what a fragile thing peace was and still, like a child, you took pleasure in breaking it. I know what you are, I know you can’t see past your narrowest concerns. But please, Miss Everdeen, I doubt you know what honesty is anymore.”

“You asked me to convince you that I was in love with Peeta,” Katniss challenges. “Haven’t I at least done that?”

Snow takes great pleasure in what he’s about to say, it’s written all over his twisted features. “It’s the things we love most that destroy us. I want you to remember I said that.” He pauses. “Don’t you think I know Y/N and your friends are in the tribute center?”

Katniss feels the floor fall out from under her.

“Cut them off.” Snow says, turning away from the screen. It returns to the static hum of nothing.

They had comms back, but now Beetee’s lost them again.

“What happened?” Katniss sobs.

“Boggs, do you read me? Boggs, come in.”

“He knows they’re in there,” Katniss calls to Haymitch. “It’s a trap.”

“Katniss, calm down.” Haymitch whispers.

“We have to get ahold of them, tell them to get out. He knows.”

“There’s no signal, we can’t contact them,” Plutarch sighs.

“No, Haymitch.” Katniss crumbles, “he knew the whole time, he was taunting me! No, Haymitch-”

“No, no, we don’t know that.” Haymitch hushes her, because he has to be strong. He has to be steady, even with his world falling to pieces.

“Did I lose them all tonight? Did I lose them all?”

Haymitch pulls her into a hug. “Shhh,” he smooths down her dark waves, the same way he would his other daughters.

She holds fast, allowing him to comfort her. “Did I lose them?” The cry is muffled against his shoulder.

“Shh,” he sways them, gently.

“No, no.”

“Katniss,” Haymitch breathes, “listen to me. I need you to listen.”

She nods, unable to calm her erratic breathing.

“If Y/N died, I would feel it. I would feel it in my heart, if she was gone and I don’t. If she’s alive, Peeta is alive, Gale is alive. All we have to do is wait.”

————————————————————————

“Systems are back online.” The pilot informs them.

There’s nothing they can do. Communication with thirteen is shut down, no way to get through to Beetee. They’ll either shoot them out of the sky or they won’t. The only way out is through.

Y/N doesn’t mean to, but she holds her breath. Waiting until they clear Capitol airspace to resume a normal pattern.

Of the five other soldiers on this rescue mission, there is one medic. She begins tending Annie, Johanna and Peeta in turn. Starting IV fluids, as they are all dehydrated; unconscious from the gas.

Annie looks like herself, maybe a bit gaunt, but recognizable. Peeta is thin, so thin and covered in bruises. Johanna’s head has been shaved, cheeks hollow and ribs showing. Y/N tosses off her helmet, running both hands over her face.

“Soldier.” Boggs puts a hand to her shoulder. “You did good. We accomplished our goal. Now we can all go home.”

Y/N nods, blinking away tears.

“Take a breather, there’s a separate compartment through there,” he motions to the rear doors. “He’ll need you when he comes to.”

Peeta does not wake for some time, beginning to struggle at his bindings. No, he realizes, it’s not a binding that holds him. It’s a hand. Just one wrapped loosely around his.

It feels familiar, soft. Someone he knew once, it smells of artificial air. She is warm, the space around her is warm, gentle and kind. A second hand strokes his hair, the way he once wished his mother would.

His eyelids begin to flutter open, daring to reveal that he is conscious. If he’s wrong…if it’s not her and they’ve tricked him again, it will be his own fault.

“Peeta,” Y/N says, staring down at him.

He blinks up at her, in the too bright light. His breathing heavy as she tries to move away, to give him space, but he holds her. Squeezing her fingers.

“Peeta, do you know who I am?”

His throat is sore, voice hoarse, from screaming. “Y-yes.”

“Good,” Y/N smiles.

“Where am I?”

“We’re in a hovercraft, on the way to district thirteen.”

Peeta studies her face. There was something…something is missing, something’s wrong. “What happened to the baby?”

“She’s fine.” Y/N assures him. “Keeping her siblings and Haymitch company.”

“You’re all ok?”

Y/N nods, “yeah, honey, we’re all ok. Now we focus on getting you healthy. Ok?”

He doesn’t flee from her touch, only the occasional flinch when he forgets where he is, until she reminds him that he is safe. “You came back for me.”

“Of course I did.”

Y/N leaves him briefly, with the doctors, upon arrival in thirteen. She needs to find Haymitch, tell him she’s ok. And she is running, searching, colliding into him, with such force that they are both sent off balance.

Down to the floor, the dirty, cold floor. But no place has ever felt better. To hold him, for him to hold her and inhale the scent at the crook of his neck.

“Never again.” He pleads, massaging the back of her scalp, like he does when she’s falling asleep. “Never do that to me again.”

“I’m sorry, Haymitch.” She nuzzles the delicate skin of his throat.

“Don’t make me live in a world where you don’t exist.”

‘All I know is that I cannot die.’

Part 20

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shift-shaping · 1 month ago

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please don't stop

enaste invites solas to join her on the roof. it's going to be a cold night, you see.

rating: explicit

pairing: solavellan

warnings: 18+, solavellan

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first fic in this series

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Enaste curled on to her side, blankets wrapped around her like a cocoon, and tried again to will herself to sleep. The air on the roof smelled like the ocean and carried the quiet murmurs of distant gatherings. If she looked out past the overhang that protected her from potential rain, she could see the dense veil of stars strewn across the dark night sky. She'd even had the chance to bathe before crawling into bed. It was cool and soothing and exactly what she'd pictured when she first climbed the ladder from her room.

So if everything was so perfect, if she'd gone so long without sleep, why wouldn't it come to her?

The situation on the ground was tenuous at best. The city guard and the nobles they protected were actively hostile to any attempt Enaste or her allies made to clear the wells; they believed themselves at the precipice of a major elven rebellion, bolstered by the support of the elf-ruled Inquisition. Even the Chantry presence in the city was entirely unhelpful, dedicated as they were to permanent neutrality.

Blackwall believed they would call for backup, and Enaste sent for her own in anticipation. The nearest resupply outpost Cullen had set up for them could supply reinforcements, though in what numbers she was unsure. She also sent a crow to Skyhold updating her advisors on the situation, but any help from them would take days, at best, to arrive.

She did not want to involve her clan any more than she already had, and in a third letter she'd urged Deshanna to move them out of the area.

The lower classes of the city had been more understanding, especially after one of the more trusted dwarven merchants recognized the danger of the red lyrium. He'd said something about Kirkwall, and Bartrand, and with that alone she figured she owed Varric her gratitude upon their return. Whatever he'd been through had made their efforts to sway many of Wycome's residents to her side much easier.

So with three letters in flight and half the city preparing for battle against her and her allies, perhaps she should have expected sleep to evade her. Her thoughts swam like minnows in her head, and try as she might to slow them they kept slipping from her grasp.

What did not escape her was the painful reality of how poorly she'd handled everything. The Duke was dead, the blood mage had escaped, and her face burned where the infiltrator's arrow cut her. The wells were still poisoned with red lyrium. Her allies were exhausted and the most powerful people in the city wanted her dead. Even now she was hardly safe, protected only by the density of the alienage and the unwillingness of her enemies to enter it.

And how long would that unwillingness last? Bran wanted to prevent a purge, but she feared she'd only brought it on them faster.

Perhaps she should have stayed out of this, let Jester and Lady Volant handle this matter on their own. Since when had her presence really helped anything? The Anchor was useful, she supposed, but maybe Isabela had a point: perhaps they would all be better off if Enaste cut off her hand and left it on Cassandra's pillow.

She needed to relieve herself.

Once she'd untangled her legs from her blankets, she stood with a wince and opened the hatch back down to her room. She was careful not to make any excessive noise as she eased herself down the ladder; Solas was a heavy sleeper, but not so heavy he'd sleep through her falling on her ass.

He snorted as she slipped past him, but did not wake. There was a washroom attached to her tiny quarters with a chamberpot inside, a feature that would have been unthinkable to her less than a year ago but now, compared to Skyhold's more elaborate waste disposal, was downright rustic.

She must have taken longer than she thought, because when she re-entered the room Solas was sitting on the edge of the bed and looking up at the hatch.

"Oh, sorry," she said quietly. He looked at her, eyes shining an eerie violet in the dark. "I didn't mean to leave it open."

He shook his head. "No need to apologize. The fresh air is appreciated."

She stepped closer to him. "Are you feeling better?"

"Yes," his voice rasped, and she smirked as he cleared his throat. "And you? Have you been able to rest, Inquisitor?"

"No," she said bluntly. She looked up at the hatch. "There's too much going on."

He lowered his voice. "Are you comfortable?" His words were gentle, kind, and the compassion in them warmed her heart.

"Yes. It's nice, seeing the stars, smelling the ocean." She leaned against the ladder, standing directly in front of him. He watched her, meeting her eyes, and suddenly she was hyper-aware of how little her clothing left to the imagination: her shirt was lightweight and tight, and her leggings were essentially underwear. That she was wearing something so revealing hadn't occurred to her until now; being seen in her nightclothes had never bothered her until he was the one looking.

"I... Imagine that would be comforting," he said slowly. Her face and ears felt hot.

"You should see," she replied, a little too quickly. She looked at the hatch nervously. "The roof, I mean. It's nice."

She kept her eyes off him as he spoke, but the humor in his voice was obvious. "You did say that." Then he paused, and she didn't know what would happen if she looked at him but she wasn't brave enough to find out. The silence lingered heavy and thick and a chill raced across her skin. "I suppose I could... have a look."

She smiled, still determined not to look at him. Then she climbed the ladder up to the rooftop alcove she'd made into her bed. It was a very small space, just big enough for her nest of blankets, with a small strip of space beside it for her shoes.

"How did you bring the blankets up here?" Solas asked, sounding impressed.

She smirked. "You're a very heavy sleeper." She collapsed on to her makeshift bed, legs crossed, and yawned.

He scoffed. "Hardly that heavy."

He was wrong, but she was only teasing. She nodded to a mechanism on the side of the roof. "There are pulleys on a lot of the windows and rooftops here. Once you know which one is yours, it's easy to just pull things up."

"Clever," he said, but he was distracted. She finally looked at him again, just fast enough to catch him avert his gaze.

He'd been staring at her. She narrowed her eyes, saying nothing as he looked out over the rooftops and held his arms behind his back. Somewhere in the distance, she heard the sound of breaking glass and cackling laughter.

"You should stay up here with me," she said, finally, softly, and drew her knees to her chest. "It's warm enough now but... it'll be colder in the morning."

He closed his eyes for a moment, and even when he opened them he still wasn't looking at her. "Inquisitor..."

"You don't have to call me that, either," she corrected gently. "I don't... I don't want to be that with you." A small, sad smile tugged at his lips. "Please, Solas." She wanted him there, wanted his warmth beside her and his breath at her ear and his arm on her waist. She wanted to sleep knowing he was alive and safe beside her, that no one could hurt them because they were together. "Stay."

Then he finally looked at her, and exhaled slowly, and behind him the stars spread out like a map against the endless void. She offered him her hand, already so close she could almost touch him.

And he took it, his long fingers so strong around hers. He knelt, easing into the blankets, still holding her hand as he sat down beside her. He shifted, her hand sliding to his forearm. He looked at it, then at her face. He gently brushed her cheek with his knuckles, and time itself froze around her. Her eyes traced the hard cut of his jaw and the soft fullness of his mouth. Then he turned his hand to cup her cheek, fingers just barely gracing the edge of her bandages. He eased her close, and she shut her eyes.

He pressed a careful kiss to her hairline. His lips were warm, and soft, and even when he pulled away his presence lingered on her skin.

Her brows furrowed, her chest filled with a strange mixture of happiness and dissatisfaction. He pulled back, searching her face, and he must have picked up on her confusion. He chuckled softly, and the sound alone –rumbling deep in the minute space between them– scattered her thoughts. "You actually have to sleep, da'len."

"Or I could--"

"Sleep," he was teasing now, playful, as though she were an unruly apprentice, and that imagery wasn't helping her get to sleep any sooner.

"Will you meet me in the Fade? We could... continue our lessons." He laughed more openly now as he pulled back from her. It was such a beautiful, frustrating sound.

"If you have the stamina for it, I will meet you in the Fade." He shifted so he was lying down on his back, putting more distance between them. The bed was so small, how did he manage to be so far away? "If not, I will see you in the morning."

She sighed and gave up. Admittedly, she was tired, and just having him close made her more comfortable than when she was alone. Yet exhaustion didn't stop her gaze from wandering over his broad chest, from taking in his large, elegant hands, from wondering how they would feel if he–

"Enaste," he started, but she cut him off.

"Touch me."

A demand, a plea, two words that split the night around them. He inhaled sharply, staring up at the sky. "Please, just... please." She lay on her side, facing him.

He was quiet, and the playfulness in his expression disappeared. He shifted to his side. His shimmering eyes flicked to her face, taking her in. He shook his head slowly, as if in disbelief.

Then he reached up and traced a delicate line from her cheek to her shoulder. Her eyes widened and her body flushed with heat.

Suddenly he pushed her down into the blankets. Her breath caught in her throat and her eyes widened in shock. He leaned over her, the stars behind him, and for a moment she thought –was he scared?

"Please," she insisted. The weight of his hand on her shoulder set a fire in her core. "Please, Solas, I want you to touch me." She wrapped her hand around his wrist as he pinned her to the bed. He eased off, and in response she brought his hand down so that it cupped the curve of her breast. "I want you." Her nightclothes bore no padding –he was only a thin layer of fabric from her bare chest.

His free hand reached up to stroke her cheek, and it was so hot beneath his touch. She could see the conflict in his eyes, a turmoil she could not begin to interpret. Was this wrong of her? Was she too plain, too inexperienced, too desperate? Was she pressuring him into something he didn't want?

He leaned close and brought his lips to her neck and in his rolling, gentle tenor said: "you are so beautiful, Enaste."

The hand on her breast squeezed softly, and the thrill of his touch made her pulse pound. His teeth brushed the sensitive skin below her jaw and she shivered. She still held him by the wrist and felt the wiry muscles there tense as he palmed her full, heavy breast. His hand brushed across her hard nipple and she cried out –in need, in shock, in a bottomless hunger for more.

He paused, pulling away from her neck, and the concern in his eyes sent a wave of affection through her blood. "I'm, it's– don't stop," she sputtered, and his deep, rumbling chuckle made her feel like she was suddenly expected to survive without any bones.

"Ma nuvenin, da'len," he nearly growled the words into her skin. He grasped her breast again, its weight filling his hand, and a single stroke of his thumb across her nipple made her entire body shudder with pleasure. She bucked her hips involuntarily and a wet, desperate sound escaped her lips.

No one had ever touched her like this, except herself. That Solas was here, now, his hands toying with her breasts and brushing the skin of her neck with his soft lips was overwhelming, all-consuming. Then his teeth brushed against her ear and she briefly forgot who she was. She moaned, deep and low from somewhere base inside her. He teased her nipple between his fingers, over the fabric, making her squirm and gasp and push her chest towards him and the friction of her shirt on her skin only made it all stronger.

He pulled back from her neck, and her skin was damp where he'd marked it. He hovered over her, watching her pant and gasp beneath him. It took so little effort for him to make her weak. His hand lingered on her chest, his grip firm but not enough to hurt.

She reached up and cupped his cheek. His thumb trailed around her nipple, tantalizingly light. He leaned in to her, and she shifted to meet him.

Again he did not kiss her, and instead brought his teeth to the other side of her neck. She would have been disappointed were it not for the movement of his free hand: he stroked the bare skin of her lower stomach where her shirt had come up, and the feeling of his skin on hers was electrifying. He just barely touched her, the contact a ghost along her nerves.

Her eyes widened. The emptiness inside her cunt, the dampness she felt –he was so close, and her body was so sensitive, and she needed him to touch her. She grasped at the back of his head and pushed him into her neck, quickly, hungrily.

He groaned against her, sending shocks of pleasure across her skin. The sound reverberated through her body and sent a wave of slick between her legs. From their earliest battles together she'd wanted him, wanted to know how the hands that helped her off the ground could touch her, how the subtle music of his voice would feel against her ear, how the arms that so expertly wielded a staff could hold her.

His palm flattened against her stomach. She grasped his wrist, urging him into her leggings. He hesitated, halting as she pushed him.

"Don't stop, please don't stop," she breathed. "I want you, I need you, please don't stop." She let go of his wrist, and wrapped her arms around his back. "I want this. Solas, please."

He panted against her skin. His hesitation hung heavy in those scant millimeters between them. "Inquisitor..."

His use of her title made her heart drop. He couldn't do this, not now. "Don't go," she begged. She tried to hold him closer but he wouldn't budge. "Don't –don't leave me like this." His breath hitched against her. She gripped his shirt. "Please."

He pulled away. The force he had to use to untangle himself from her was like a knife in her heart. Her hands dropped away from him. "I am distracting you, Inquisitor. I'm sorry." He already sounded so far away in that cold night air.

It was more than that. She knew it. There was something about her that he couldn't bring himself to be with. She was too weak, too stupid, too ugly. If her magic was stronger, if she was smarter, if her decisions didn't hurt the people she was supposed to protect, if she was someone else–

But she wasn't. And she couldn't be.

"Fine," she said. He stood slowly, turning away from her. She stared off the edge of the roof, into the sky. "Go."

His presence lingered a moment longer, hovering in the space she'd made for herself. Then she heard the ladder creak, the hatch close, and he was gone.

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daitranscripts · 3 months ago

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Solas Cutscene: High Approval

Before the Anchor

Solas Masterpost

Solas: Inquisitor, I was… do you have a moment?

Solas leads the PC to the balcony of their quarters.

Solas: What were you like before the Anchor?

The PC looks at their hand.

Solas: Has it affected you? Changed you in any way? Your mind, your morals, your… spirit?

Dialogue options:

General: No, not really. [1]

General: How should I know? [2]

General: Get to the point. [3]

1 - General: No, not really. PC: I don’t believe so. Solas: Ah. PC: Why do you ask?

2 - General: How should I know? PC: If it had, do you really think I’d have noticed? Solas: No. That’s an excellent point. PC: Why do you ask?

3 - General: Get to the point. PC: What do you think is going on here?

4 - Scene continues.

Solas: You show a wisdom I have not seen since… since my deepest journeys into the ancient memories of the Fade. You are not what I expected.

Dialogue options:

General: I’m just like everyone else. [5] -Solas slightly disapproves

General: You make that sound bad. [6]

General: What did you expect? [7]

5 - General: I’m just like everyone else. PC: I don’t think of myself as different from anyone. Solas: Perhaps not in the form of your body, no. [8]

6 - General: You make that sound bad. PC: Sorry to disappoint. Solas: It’s not disappointing, it’s… (Sighs.) Most people are predictable. [8]

7 - General: What did you expect? PC: What have I done that’s so surprising? [8]

8 - Choice dependent dialogue:

Dalish PC [9]

Dwarf/Qunari/human PC [10]

9 - Dalish PC Solas: You have shown subtlety in your actions, a wisdom that goes against everything I expected. If the Dalish could raise someone with a spirit like yours… have I misjudged them?

Dialogue options:

General: Yes. [11]

General: Honestly, not really. [12]

General: No. I am who I am. [13] +Solas slightly approves

10 - General: Yes. PC: I don’t hold the Dalish up as perfect, but we have something worth honoring. A memory of the ancient ways. [14]

11 - General: Honestly, not really. PC: Most of the Dalish care more about impressing other hunters with a good shot or talking about how awful humans are. There are only a few who seem to care about the old ways. [14]

12 - General: No. I am who I am. PC: The Dalish didn’t make me like this. The decisions were mine. Solas: Yes, you are wise to give yourself that due. Although the Dalish, in their fashion, may still have guided you. [14]

14 - Scene continues.

Solas: Perhaps that is it. I suppose it must be. Most people act with so little understanding of the world. But not you. [18]

10 - Dwarf/Qunari/human PC

dwarf PC Solas: Dwarves are practical. They do not dream. The cannot even imagine a world beyond the physical. But you have shown subtlety in your actions. A wisdom that goes against everything I know of your people.

Qunari PC Solas: Qunari are savage creatures, their ferocity held in check only by the rigid teachings of the Qun. But you have shown subtlety in your actions. A wisdom that goes against everything I know of your people.

human PC Solas: Humans are shortsighted, brutish. Blind to the beauty of the Fade, their minds cast in a duality of black and white. But you have shown subtlety in your actions. A wisdom that goes against everything I know of your people.

Dialogue options:

General: What about our friends? [15] General: I try. [16] General: You were misinformed. [17]

14 - General: What about our friends? PC: I’m just one part of this team, Solas. What about Cassandra or Leliana? Solas: Cassandra separates matters of faith from those of the world, and she above all should understand how limited that is. Leliana has a brilliant mind, but her faith was damaged. To her, it is all a game of tactics now. But not you. [18]

15 - General: I try. PC: I do what I can. Solas: You are modest. So many would use this Inquisition as a blunt instrument in their rise to power. But not you. [18]

16 - General: You were misinformed. PC: It seems everything you’ve been taught by your people has some holes in it. Solas: I have seen enough of the world to know I was not misinformed. Most people are small… petty. But not you. [18]

18 - Scene continues.

PC: So what does this mean, Solas?

non-romanced Solas: It means that I respect you deeply, Inquisitor. And I have disturbed you enough for one evening. Solas leaves. Scene ends.

romanced Solas: It means I have not forgotten the kiss.

Dialogue options:

End relationship: Let it go, Solas. [19]

Flirt: Neither have I. [20]

19 - End relationship: Let it go, Solas. PC: Perhaps you should. Solas: Perhaps you’re right. I will always respect you, Inquisitor. Solas leaves. Scene ends.

20 - Flirt: Neither have I. PC: Good. The PC moves closer, and Solas goes to leave. PC: Don’t go. The PC grabs his arm. Solas: It would be kinder in the long run. But losing you would… He turns, and they kiss. Solas: Ar lath ma, vhenan. Solas leaves, and the PC leans against the doorway. Scene ends.

#dragon age inquisition #dai transcripts #dragon age #dragon age transcripts #dragon age dialogue #dai #long post #dai dialogue #solas

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thecountesstribe · 3 months ago

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House of The Dragon 2x8 Spoilers and Review.

This is gonna be a rant but I'm still putting a spoiler warning cause some people were waiting for the entire season to drop before they watched. I was spoiled during the week and I'm mad as hell about it. Yes we all know it's fuck book canon atp but at least make sure the story flows and make actual sense.

The finale was mid. I felt like there were a lot of things missing and it was kinda confirmed. We're gonna have to wait 2 long years and knowing season 3 is about to just be the assassinations of characters because season 2 didn't really do anything, nothing moved story wise except the death of Jaehaerys, the sowing of the dragons seeds and the death of one of the realest women in Westeros. It was just glorified fanfiction and most definitely not the good kind.

I'm begging Ryan and Sara to please read or at least have someone else read the source material before they get back in that writers room.

Lucerys, Visenya and Jaehaerys deaths were supposed to haunt the narrative for the entirety of the season, how they could fumble it so bad that it just feels like a drop of water on your hands while washing it is beyond me. Blood and Cheese felt insignificant as fuck considering it was also a major event that led to the destruction and death of one of the most prominent houses in Westeros, majority of the Targaryen's lineage and the death of most of the dragons. I should've known when they started promoting the 2nd season as Alicent vs Rhaenyra instead of Rhaenyra vs Aegon II, y'know the usurper, that it was gonna be some bullshit. The other major events in the second season, Rhaenys' death also felt brushed aside. This is why the show needs to be at least 12-14 episodes. Abolish the 8-10 episodes shit.

I'm gonna get hate for this but could they please let this Rhaenicent relationship go! For the love of everything that is holy, let it go. Season 1 focused on them, fine. Season 2 you gave them a reunion, crazy but okay. There was literally no reason for a second reunion. Sure the scenes were beautiful, shout-out to the actors but let it go. The plot already felt cheapened when they chalked up the dance to one big misunderstanding. Which is crazy considering, Otto and the small council literally had this entire plan set in motion since Rhaenyra was named heir and even a little before. I need Ryan to understand that sometimes friendships just end. Sometimes your friends cross the lines one too many times and you just need to let them go. Alicent overstepped and crossed the lines with Rhaenyra it was downright disrespectful for Rhaenyra to even be in her presence at all tbh. This is the same woman who made her life a living hell, raised her children to be vile, hateful, spiteful little shits towards their own sister and her children, embarrassed her and tormented her in court, started and participated in the rumors and smear campaign about Rhaenyra's character and children, essentially ran her out of her own home, lied about the death of her father and the news didn't come from her or the council immediately but after and that's only because they were holding her former mil hostage and she got away. Alicent knew Viserys was addled and delirious and out of his mind when he was rambling about the conqueror's dream (she didn't know about the prophecy but still), so nothing he said was supposed to be taken seriously and just because he said “Aegon” she decided to be spiteful/hateful and usurp the throne knowing it would've hurt Rhaenyra. I don't know why people gloss over this fact either. Aegon said it himself, his father had years to name him heir and he remained steadfast to Rhaenyra's claim. Aemond said it again this season, the small council and his mother plotted to usurp the throne. What more was there to talk about? The only talking that should've been happening is Rhaenyra signing her and the council's execution warrants for treason. This all started because Rhaenyra omitted the truth about who took her virginity btw. She didn't lie, she never slept with Daemon in that brothel. Not to mention that Alicent son also killed her child!! Let it go!

I'm gonna reiterate this point but we didn't need to spend all that time with Daemon in Harrenhal and his hallucinations. That should've taken 3 episodes top and then they could've had him work on his relationships with his family instead. Especially his daughters. The only thing I liked coming out of the Daemon hallucinations is the prophecy. DAENERYS STORMBORN TARGARYEN IS THE “PRINCE” WHO WAS FUCKIN PROMISED!! NOT THAT BUM JON SNOW. Fuckin finally. We could lay the discourse to rest. GRRM could've posted it on a billboard for the entire world to see and it still would've had the select few that will insist on Jon being the one who the prophecy was talking about. The events in the show and the book supported this btw so I don't even know what the argument was about but let's lay it to rest now. Although show wise it doesn't fuckin matter either way because D&D fucked the last seasons but book lore wise this is what GRRM intended or intends. Still waiting on the next book! The term “prince” was gender neutral. And everybody celebrates. Daemon swearing allegiance to his Queen, as he fuckin should. Raising the army in her name as he should. He's got voices in his head now apparently. Also he has a new friend in Alys, good for him.

Aemond did what he was supposed to do this season. He's still an unhinged psychopath, absolutely no one is surprised. No complaints on my end. I need him to keep his grubby hands to himself though. Helaena gave him his death notice and rubbed in the fact that nobody gave a damn about him in the end, she did that for me.

Criston even though I hate to admit it, same thing. He's still a woman hating piece of shit though and I want him dead immediately. We didn't need all those alicole sex scenes though. We got it, they were fuckin, kudos.

Larys and the small council did what was also expected.

Aegon is still fried. Now he's apparently heading to Essos. He wants to usurp the moniker “Realm's delight” too and to that I say absolutely tf not. That is reserved for pretty women only. Aegon has officially been castrated!! That was for all the women in the realm. It's what he deserved. I don't believe for one second that Sunfyre is dead. I think that'll be a swerve.

I wished we focused on Helaena more though. Her grief was explored a little more than Rhaenyra's but it was also brushed aside. Why? That would've been important to her characterization. Also why did they have Helaena astral project into Daemon's dream? She was so cool as well, like that man didn't have a hand in the death of her son.... You can't make this shit up. The scene was essentially “you killed my kid cool but since you're so good at killing could you get my brother next?” I'm convinced they are doing this shit on purpose. Why do they keep making the female characters in the show this peace seeking, docile beings when they were just as and even more chaotic than their male counterparts (with reason might I add). The men just do the most unhinged shit for glory and in the name of war sake and the women gotta be the peacekeepers even though they're the most wronged.

Alicent's character didn't deserve half the screentime she got because if you cut her scenes in half the majority of them contributed nothing to the moving along of the plot. Absolutely nothing. We already had limited time as is.

Baela and Rhaena I am so sorry you have incompetent people telling your side of the story. Sure they got more lines this season and that's a stretch but they're lacking characterization as well. Ryan and Sara scrapped the Nettles plot, okay (that was fuckin stupid). Nettles had a major role to play. Gave her story to Rhaena in the last two episodes and we still didn't even see her claim Sheepstealer. It's up in the air. Also one of the princesses of the Realm managed to escape and you mean to tell me nobody is looking for her? She just fucked off and that's it. Yeah okay. Also I hated how they wrote her relationship with Jeyne. She was so kind to her in the books and Rhaena actually had a story in the books when she went to stay with her. Sure she would've been living her princess core era life but it's what she deserves. It would've helped flesh out her character as well, led to her hatching Morning and her life after the dance.

Baela lost the majority of her characterization as well even though she's inherently more fleshed out than Rhaena. Baela was chaotic as hell in the books. They swapped her personality in a sort of way with Jace, although he does have a temper (and rightfully so. They did kill his little brother and sister and he seems like the only one who cares) but Baela is supposed to be more unhinged than him. We only caught a few glimpses of her book personality and that's it. Again why are they writing the female characters as these docile, peace seeking beings? They also completely brushed aside their grief concerning their brother/betrothed, sister, mother and grandmother. I'm tired. We kinda got something for Baela in her grief but it was the bare minimum and it was barely mentioned again. Rhaenys was a parent to those girls (more than Daemon at least) and she got a fuck all remembrance. We totally should've gotten even better Jace and Baela's relationship development. We got her being more of his support system though they were each other's. Baela's feelings weren't explored more besides her hating her dad. Unless they're planning to explore it more in season 3 but well y'know 💔. Her telling Jace to stop pouting though and him insisting he's not even though he totally was🤣🤣😭😭. She gathered him and rightfully so. Also their unspoken conversation during the dinner scene with the dragonseeds. Peak wife and husband behavior. I hope we don't have to mourn for what could've been more than we will already be doing.

Rhaenyra character this season was all over the place. They only stick to what her character was from season 1 in episode one and then after that it was like she did a 180. She was destroyed by the grief of her son, daughter and father. They completely forgot that and had her doing the stupidest stuff. She had one of her biggest supporters die as well and it was just cast aside. Development wise we got to see her more open. I'll give them that. They also brushed aside her grief. It felt like Lucerys didn't matter to her in some instances. I have a feeling they're gonna go down the “mad Targaryen” role for her as well. If a woman has to be in power then she has to go crazy. That's what that cult Rhaenyra vibes is giving. I'm not tripping, you guys see it too right? I touched on the second reunion between her and Alicent but her whacking her this last episode was satisfying. I don't trust Alicent's plan and Rhaenyra knows and hopefully she sticks to it. She knows that she has to kill Aegon now. A son for a son. This is who I wanted to see this season. It's like she got back her personality traits in the last episode. She still needs to work on her standing as queen. She had that bum Ulf disrespecting her at the table and she needed to have his tongue expeditiously. Mysaria and her are doomed yuri confirmed. Mysaria has her ear but is only telling her what she wants to hear and that is going to be her downfall. I still can't figure out her angle though but we'll see in season 3. She inadvertently hurt Jace again when she chose Addam to go to Harrenhal. It's like one step forward and then 3 steps back with them. I'm hurt knowing the possible outcome of this situation. Daemon and her reunion were good. I like how she didn't fall back into his arms. Stand on business and continue to stand on business Rhaenyra.

Corlys grief was brushed aside. He didn't really do anything this season besides deny his sons, lie to his wife in his last moments and try to make his legitimate granddaughter heir after laughing off the idea of making his other legitimate granddaughter heir. His ship is finally fixed though. “The Queen Who Never Was ” is the new name of it. I had tears in my eyes, I could admit it. I'm not ashamed. Everything that he's doing now he's doing it for Rhaenys. 😭😭😭😭😭😭 Why did he wait so freaking long to honor her properly though 💔. There is no denying he loved his wife, he just could've loved her better. I'm glad Alyn dragged his ass for being a deadbeat though. Gave his ass a reality check he so richly deserved. He hurt those boys and he deserved to know. Imagine your father could've made your life easier but he decided to be a coward while favoring his other children, a tongue lashing would've been the least he got, I would've fought him. They're on to meet the triarchy though.

Jacaerys character was developed stellar this season. He didn't have plenty of screentime and he was mugging down for most of it but the rage, the grief, the despair was all palpable. He lost a part of his soul in Lucerys and it was there for everybody to see. He didn't get anything to do until the later half but when he got to go he did. I said it before and I'll say it again I love his and Baela's relationship. Him resting his hand in her lap after her scolding and her gently massaging it. Yeah those are real lovers. His beef with Ulf is so personal to me. Like yes threaten that uncouth vermin some more. Really reminded me of his fathers there. It's crazy though how Addam and Jace parallel each other though. Two of the best boys in Westeros that deserve the absolute world. Fate was unkind to them both as well.💔

Shout-out Simon Strong. One of my favorite characters this season along with lil Oscar. I love how he didn't let that traitorous snake Alfred slide. He let his queen know immediately. I love a loyal diva.

Tyland and the triarchy were funny though. Who would've thought I could've shown a Lannister besides Cersei love?!

I'm wrapping up this rant cause it's already so long-winded. The show is only slated for 4 seasons though btw. LMFAO.

Until next time folks. Take care of yourselves in the meantime.

Until season 3 folks.

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ronnieratsdoodles · 5 months ago

Text

also credit to some sources!

byler proof:

1. Will’s sexuality has been an aspect since episode 1

if it wasn’t a major point, the duffer’s wouldn’t have any reason to subtly and continuously remind the GA throughout the entire show. they never were bold about it until season 4, because of foreshadowing, which they do a lot throughout the show; with many relationships.

season 5 is when build up finally reaches its peak.

2. “i’m not gonna fall in love scene.” coming from Will Byers, breakfast scene, joyce and Will Byers conversation. season: three. episode: chapter 1: susie, do you copy?

one tiny thing they added into the scene was Will pouring syrup on his eggs, which Mike also done, meaning they likely introduced each other to it. just tiny fact.

ultimately, this scene had to have significance, it couldn’t have been written without a point, why else would they make a traumatized boy have built up longing for his best friend? to end in heartbreak? that would just be a waste of writing, planning, foreshadowing, and most importantly their frequency of slow burning. they knew what they were doing.

3.smalltown boy being the first song on Mike’s official playlist:

spotify used to have a official character playlist up for each character, before being took down (if i’m right) either that they liked or that represented their character! (what creators felt was correlated)

(taken down 2023)

small town boy is by a artist named bronski beat, that is about a young gay man bullied, deciding to run away from home. we don’t even know exactly the reason why Mike is bullied, other than his supposed ‘frog face’

5. couples being paired up on the last episode of season four, while El stood alone. many reasons why this could have happened, but it was no mistake, lay outs always have a reason film wise.

6. multiple parallels to stancy:

again, not much to say about it, BUT stancy was a unsuccessful relationship, and Nancy ended up going with a byers, wheeler + byers. the hospital scene with the two second shoulder lean. (stancy parallel!)

7.byler funko, not mileven funko. hmm super suspicious 🤨

8.”i need you mike, and i always will” - Will Byers, van scene, stranger things four. Will is not going to fall for anyone else. he always needed Mike. while El was shown more to needing Mike, she never did as much as Will. there’s nothing satisfying about Will being with another boy, not to the audience or Will.

9.stranger things writer quote from twitter “let’s start a new party, you and me.”

10.mikes encounters with Will being focused/zoomed in on is for a REASON.

11. at the season four reunion, why did Mike not kiss El? their foreheads touched, they were inches apart, yet he looked back at Will. that would have been a perfect scene for a kiss, so why would the creators not include it?

12. Mike and Will had the first meaningful one-on-one conversation in stranger things.

13.in both arguments, the rink-o-mania they were wearing blue and yellow. their colors. when blue meets yellow in the west. they met in california. the west.

14. “Karen, where’s our son?!” Ted yells, in season 2.

“Will’s!” karen yelled back, holding a blue and yellow pen. totally on accident.

15. Crazy together being one of the most romantic scenes in the entire show.

16. the multiple scenes of Mike saying “boys only” and getting kicked out by girls. and his grossed out expression in season four, episode 1, the hellfire club, by a sign in the background saying women.

17. i love you is either platonic or lies in strangers things so far, we haven’t gotten a single i love you that wasn’t either. Will’s i am not gonna fall in love implying an actual process, it’s happening in season 5.

18.when mileven tag duffers to complain about byler, they never respond, only to byler shippers, even if it’s just a small wave emoji.

19. lighting, the creators confirmed that the lighting in each scene has a meaning. the lighting either means that it could be a way of symbolizing mikes deep care and empathy for Will in the next season, (them being on a upside down couch also empathizes/foreshadows something)

20. the creators once again were planning since the first season. season four was written in a way to begin the root Will and for byler. so, when their endgame, we will know why.

21.mileven is star crossed, (not endgame)in march, millie talked about being unhappy with El’s ending, it doesn’t show that byler is endgame, but it does show mike and El are not. in one of the season 3 scripts they referred to mileven as ‘star crossed’ in the field scene.

if any of this doesn’t make sense i apologize, it was written for my best friend<3333

#byler tumblr #will byers #byler endgame #mike wheeler #byler is canon #byler #strangerthings5 #stranger things 5 spoilers #analysis

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wildissylupus · 4 months ago

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Sorry if I rant, but what is up with the ages of characters? Did no one in lore double check if it makes sense?

Sojourn is a child soldier that joined at 14/15 and her sister is a teen pregnancy

Kiriko's age not matching up with the Shimadas

Etc etc

+++++

Most issues are with the ages of the women.

The problem appears to be that the ones in charge for some reason want to make the girls as young as possible for some reason with heroes like D.Va, Illari, Kiriko, Juno etc😬

It's like no one but Ana and the men allowed to be old with several characters having reasons to be physically younger than they chronologicaly are: Mercy with her suit, Tracer being lost to time and Mei being frozen for years

After the entire Blizzard scandal it leaves a bad taste in my mouth I want to separate the game from it but...😔

In all honesty this is a problem with media in general, mainly cause the characters do look their ages for what they do on a regular basis, physical exercise and general healthy living. The problem being we as a society having a warped view on what people are supposed to look like at cirtain ages because TV shows and movies often cast adults to play teens, and basically just cast older actors to play younger roles in general. I know several people irl that have the similar heavily active, healthy lifestyle that are older then the Overwatch characters that actively look the same age as them.

That doesn't mean I don't have my own complaints about how the art team doesn't add stress to the equation when it comes to how characters age but there's still a bit more to talk about so that'll be at the end.

There's also the fact that they did fix Sojourns age to make it make sense. So yeah that one was fucked but they did rectify that.

Another thing is that with at least D.Va and Illari there is a reason why they are so young. D.Va is not only a character that is used to show the pressures of stardom paired with the pressures of being a leader, she is also shown to be a narrative parallel to Cassidy. Joining MEKA at a similar age that he did Overwatch. With Illari her being 18 adds to the tragedy of her story, she's do young and we know it's only going to get worse because she's a child who's gone through something severely traumatic and is alone while dealing with it.

This is also why Juno is the rare occasion when I want a character to be on the younger side. It adds tragedy to Mei's story along with Juno's story presumably because the three characters she has the most connection to are Mei, Winston and Hammond. I don't know what her backstory will be but it's going to be tragic.

Kiriko here is the only one I agree with cause her lore actively contradicts itself. She was 12 when Sojiro Shimada died l, he died 14 years ago, yet she's 21? It doesn't make sense. Though I am of the opinion that her having a big age gap with the brothers adds to her story, at the very least she should be 26.

Now let's get into my complaints, that's specifically Mercy. She should look older specifically because of stress, and I don't like the idea of her nanobiotics changing that. At the very least she should have bags under her eyes. Not only is she a doctor and field medic, she also going through gifted kid burnout. She should also definitely have back problems since we only ever see her sleep at her desk. Grey hairs as well cause again, stress.

I do firmly believe that they should be adding older women characters, I push Frankie being a playable character cause canonically she is the same age if not older then Ashe. I personally believe that JQ should have been older as well. I would also love to see Ingrid or one of Torbs older children be a playable character as well since if the Crisis is happening again it doesn't make sense for them to sit on the sidelines this time. In general I really do wish there were older characters in this game.

#overwatch #overwatch 2 #overwatch lore #overwatch headcanons #analysis

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dont-blame-it-on-the-kids · 2 months ago

Text

50 Random Character Asks: Mako

OH MY GOD this took me 4 hours sitting down lmao

here you GO lins underway i am not accepting anymore FULL Asks but if you have a few numbers (up to 10) and a character i will accept those

1. Canon I outright reject

All of book 2 my fucking god. The whole love triangle never happened. He found Rina, and he fell in love. They’re married and pregnant with the twins in book 3

2. A canon or headcanon hill I will die on

His wife and twins, foreverrrrrrr

3. Obscure headcanon

He turned into the unofficial handyman for his apartment and is always helping when plumbing goes wrong or when the aircon units go haywire

4. Favorite line

I like any line where he's pointing something ONLY HE noticed out like it was obvious and just being a good detective. (also those cheesy cop lines he was practicing lmao)

5. Best personality trait

That hes pretty willing and ready to face challenges head on

6. Worst personality trait

Hes so stubborn and thick headed i love it

7. Age/height/weight headcanon

Hes like 18-22 throughout the show

I think he’s 6ft 5inch

Idk weighs probably a little underweight in book 1 cuz street rat probender, but after then lin gets him set up in an apartment and she and kya along with asami just make sure he’s got food stocked.

8. Unpopular opinion about them

I know its not mako specific but I hate Wu*ko I HATE IT

9. Scene that first made me love (or hate) the character

Him getting work at the electric plant ONTOP of being a probender, a part of the Krew, and trying to keep bolin from trouble. True big sibling activities.

10. Best moment on screen (or in the book)

I really like the scene where he fights the red lotus in zaofu. He does a good job.

11. Faceclaim for the role

Chai Hansen

12. Crack headcanon

He’s allergic to Lychee nuts but thinks Lychee juice is supposed to be spicy.

13. Dumbest thing they’ve ever done

If we’re looking at canon he fumbled BOTH Korra and Asami, my mans,

14. Most heroic moment

Honestly I know end of book 4 was a big moment for him but I think he was a hero LONG before with keeping him and Bolin safe on the streets and as out of trouble as they were.

15. Worst thing they’ve ever done

Godddddd that good intentions but ruining the investigation in book 2 i CANNOT dont get me started

16. Deepest darkest secret they won’t even admit to themselves

He hates bolin, he hates that bolin doesnt remember their parents well, he hates that he had to raise him, he hates that bolin gets to be irresponsible while he had to grow up at 8 to make sure they were okay. He loves his brother, he really does, but when he’s no longer responsible for bolin mako refuses to accept the relief that comes with that for a while.

17. Quotes, songs, poems, etc. that I associate with them

Can't Go Wrong by Phillip Phillips

Sleeping In by All Time Low

18. What they’d go to see a therapist about

Everything for reall like his parents being murdered infront of him batman style, to raising bolin, to having every adult that new him before we did in the show was abusing him (i.e. the probending owner taking his entire winnings, the triad they worked for when he was younger. My boy had it ROUGH)

19. Vices/bad habits

I think he picks up smoking honestly. I think he’s been smoking since he was like 11 with the triad and he doesnt let bolin know but he hasnt been able to kick the habit.

20. Scars

I think he's got a few thinner like knife and burn scars before the explosion scarred up his arm.

21. Drink of choice (not just alcoholic)

Milk

22. Best physical feature

Cheekbones lmao the cheekbones in that show are insane

23. If they were a scented candle, what would they smell like?

You know that moment when someone throws pine needles on the fire? And its pine and charcoal and fire and smoke. Yeah, maybe like that.

24. Most annoying habit

Sleeps with socks on

25. 3 things they’d want to take with them if they were dropped off in the middle of nowhere

Some money, a map, and his scarf he’ll make his way home lmao

26. What they would do if stuck in an elevator with [insert character of your choice from the same fandom]

Dont matter who hes with hes gonna get them all out lmao

27. Their guilty pleasure

Wood carving, he doesnt think it’s a useful use of his time and as the unofficial handyman in his apartment he’s usually rather busy.

28. How they feel about [insert character of your choice from the same fandom]

🤷idk i depends on the person lmao

29. Eating habits

Bad, bad bad until he meets rina. He gets like A cup o noodles in mid day and mostly survives off milk and juice lmao

30. Sleeping habits

He has stints of nightmares sometimes but most of the time he can sleep anywhere, unless its too soft. He cant stand soft beds.

31. If the had a tumblr what would it look like?

He would have a family blog where its pics of his family and the twins and updates and their art and stuff. Then maybe he’ll reblog some like fandom stuff from probending or a radio show he and rina listen to.

32. Something guaranteed to make them smile/laugh

His twinssss he loves them so much

33. Something guaranteed to make them cry

Theres a song that his mom used to sing all the time. He still cant listen to it without crying. Rina finds out the hard way when she was humming it cuz it was stuck in her head one day.

34. How they react when they are feeling X emotion (sad, angry, excited, scared, etc.—can specify as many as you like)

Bottle it mostly. Emotions can be dealt with later.

35. Their idea of a perfect day

Wake up and make the family breakfast, head off to work for a bit, move a few cases forwards, get home, have dinner, bathe the twins, get them to bed with a story book then cuddle on the couch with Rina until bedtime.

36. Their favorite season

He loves winter because hes not overheating and people stand closer to him for warmth lmao

37. What they really think about themselves

He thinks he’s doing well by the end of the series. In my hc world He’s married with his twins, he and bolin have found a name and a path for themselves and they’re not struggling anymore. He’s really grown up and done a lot of work. He’s proud of what he’s done and who his family is, both chosen and blood related.

38. Favorite holiday

Growing up on the streets they did not celebrate holidays for many reasons. He hated them for a long time. but seeing the twins opening gifts on the in universe equivalent of christmas, lin, kya, and asami over for dinner while korra and bolin were away during the timeskip and seeing the twins so happy and opening gifts and stuff. He found he could enjoy the holiday again and even was looking forward to the next years dinner when the twins were older and bolin and korra were back.

39. Favorite game

He enjoys playing Cabbage Land with the twins (thank you @btheleaf for the Candy Land knock off name)

40. Favorite book

He really got into the romance series lin brought with her to the stakeout once lmao hes not so slyly asked to borrow her copies. Rina, Lin, and Kya have included him on their book club meetings now xD

41. If they could have lunch with anyone in the world (living or dead, from any fictional universe or the real world), who would it be?

I think he would want to meet his grandfather (i’m excluding his parents cuz thats a copout answerrr)

42. 3 comfort items

His scarf, a tiny glass bird a homeless man made him when they were on the streets (he made bolin a small fireferret), and a photo he has of him korra and bolin from the probending team

43. 3 favorite foods and 3 they despise

Fav - strawberries, Rina’s chicken fried rice, and he was surprised he enjoyed walrus-cow chowder as much as he did in the south.

44. Their happiest memory

Hes got a few lol, when he married Rina, and when his twins were born.

45. Their favorite celebrity

He doesnt seem the kind to follow celebrities too closely honestly.

46. The person they most admire

Lin Beifong 100000% shes the reason he joined the force and he kinda is always looking for her approval.

47. Their dream job

He seems to be really good as a detective. Maybe he would have liked to stay a probender for life but the trauma from the attacks were too much to go back really.

48. Scariest moment of their life

When the dust settles in book 4 and he doesnt know where Rina and the twins are. He doesnt know if they were on the last train out or stuck in the city during the attack.

49. Favorite toy as a child

He used to have this wooden bird that worked as like an ocarina. Hes using his wood carving skills to try to make one again and maybe make some for the twins.

50. A memory they’ve blocked out

👀👀 lots of things can happen to young kids on the streets.

#mako #hc #character ask #ask meme #firecrackers #mentioned

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ivystoryweaver · 8 months ago

Text

Decadent chapter 14: FINALE

prev || Fic Masterlist || My Masterlist

Summary: An accident in the lab - and Miguel has missed what was right in front of his face (that's you)

Pairings: Miguel O'Hara x f!reader

Word Count: 5.3k

Content: nsfw, 18+ , some angst, unprotected p in v, grinding, scratching, biting, blood consumption, bondage, rough sex, not beta'd

PREVIOUSLY on Decadent...

“That’s why I want you to live here with me.” Seeing your eyes go wide, he squeezed your hands. "You can keep your apartment if you want. I'll even pay for it. But..." His eyes dipped almost shyly as he exhaled in a rush. "I love you. So...move in with me?"

"Of course I will. I love you," you confessed. "But..." Caressing his fingers, you swallowed hard, but held his gaze bravely. "First, I need you to tell me where you go all weekend."

FINALE

Spiderman 2099's unstable molecule fabric suit stretched itself across his defined muscles. His heavy cape unfurled behind him. With a sudden leap, he glided across New York - or at least this universe's version of New York, prepared to make sure this universe's timeline didn't somehow collapse.

"Uhhh, boss?" Lyla chimed, appearing in the air, near his head as he floated through the sky.

"Kinda busy, can't it wait?"

"No. You programmed me to let you know if your girlfriend were to ever be in danger, soooo she’s in danger," she fired back.

Miguel aimed for a low rooftop and came to a tumbling stop.

"Where is she? What's wrong?" Miguel had a timeline to attend to, but if you were in danger...

"There was an explosion in the lab - "

Lyla said nothing more before Miguel was quite literally tearing through the fabric of time to get back to you.

His virtual assistant may have overstated the danger you were in. When he arrived at the lab, he realized there had been a very small explosion. More of a misfire of sorts -

...which wasn't the major issue. The reason Lyla interrupted Miguel's mission soon became clear to him.

This was the part of the lab with the spiders. The explosion had destroyed some of the spiders and freed the rest. They must have scurried away. But you were lying on the floor amidst debris, unconscious, with a huge, angry spider bite on your hand.

You were bit by a radioactive spider.

"It can't be," he whispered, rushing to your side and checking you over frantically. Thankfully, you were breathing, but unconscious.

"Baby, what happened?" He gasped, pulling you into his arms and rocking you gently. Pressing a fierce kiss to your forehead, he murmured against your skin.

"This isn't supposed to happen. I'm Spider-Man here. I'm Spider-Man...how..."

Horrible dread filled Miguel's heart.

If this world already had a Spider-Man, that meant this spider bite wasn't going to turn you into a spider woman. It would most likely either kill you or turn you into a villain.

How could he possibly have missed this? How did he not see this coming?

First things first: he wanted to make sure you were okay. Which one of these spiders bit you? They were all radioactive, so in that regard, you were fucked. But it was nothing venomous...right?

Miguel placed you on a lab table and got to work, analyzing your condition and reaction to the bite, drawing your blood, watching you closely for signs of venom - rashes, difficultly breathing -anything to explain why you were unconscious.

He simultaneously had Lyla pull up everything on you - anything that could explain why you would have been bitten by a radioactive spider and he didn't see it coming, as some sort of canon event. Maybe it was just a freak accident. After all, you worked in a dangerous, experimental lab daily.

But Miguel knew the universe. The multi-verse, even. There were no accidents. Ever.

Your Aunt Jessina practically raised you, at least since your parents died at age 12. Miguel had even met Jess.

"Wait, what the hell?" Miguel gasped. Your Aunt Jess actually adopted you and changed your name. And her name.

As Lyla untangled well-hidden files, she discovered that Jess' name was Jessina May Parker. The sister of a scientist named Richard Parker.

Your last name used to be Parker?

Aunt Jess married a man named Ben, who also died. She took his name and completely abandoned the name Parker. You took Ben's last name as well. It was as if Jess wanted to erase any memory of her brother Richard, as well as the name Parker.

But Jess knew what she was doing. The paper trail was virtually nonexistent. One would have to know what to look for and exactly how to look, to find it. And Miguel simply wasn't looking for any spider-related canon events in this timeline because he was Spider-Man.

As Lyla dug deeper, the connections became obvious.

You were raised by your Aunt (Jessina) May. Your Uncle Ben died. Your parents - the Parkers, died behind a veil of secrecy.

Your friend's name was Gwen.

The guy with a crush on you? Jackson Watson. Mitchell Jackson Watson. He went by 'MJ' Watson as a child.

Your life read like a pretty common spider story. So...you were meant to be a spider. That meant he was the wrong spider in the wrong place. Typical. No wonder his entire existence felt...well, wrong. Until he met you...

Now he just had to wait for you to wake up.

You eyes fluttered weakly, struggling to open. You inhaled sharply - shakily, feeling like your skin was on fire.

"Corazón?" Miguel gasped, gently tracing your jaw with his fingertips. "Hey..."

"W-what happened?" you croaked, your throat parched and your lips dry.

"You were bit by a spider. Scared me to death- how are you feeling?” He gently questioned.

"Everything hurts,” you coughed out, struggling to sit up. "Was it poisonous?"

"Take it easy. Just lie still. Let me take care of you,” he softly admonished. "I’m running some tests but you don't seem to be having an allergic reaction. I don’t think that’s what’s happening here."

You moaned in agony, pressing the heels of your hands to your eyes. "My head is pounding- my skin hurts, Miguel please...”

“It’s okay, baby - "

“Please take me home,” you whimpered. “I-I don’t feel good.”

Miguel explained to you that he wasn’t quite done with the tests he was running in the lab, not to mention the headache of dealing with the accidental explosion and confidential cleanup. So you endured nearly an hour of waiting on an uncomfortable lab table until Miguel felt satisfied with your test results.

Then he carried you to the car, held you close in the back seat, and took you to his home.

Well...hopefully soon to be your home. Miguel had asked you to move in, but you wanted complete honesty from him first. This was way more than working together, sleeping together, or even being exclusive. Miguel loved you and wanted to start a life with you.

He had asked you for one more weekend and then promised to show you all his secrets first hand. This gave you pause, but he explained it would be easier to show you than to explain it to you.

The Spider Society was meant to be a secret, so Miguel honestly wanted to let a few people there know what was going on - how serious he was about you, and how much he trusted you.

Now, it seemed you would not only learn of the Spider Society as Miguel's girlfriend, but as a spider yourself.

Your transformation into a spider wasn't an easy one, but not atypical of other transitions Miguel had heard about and witnessed. Of course, his personal transition was a different type of lab accident, and he was quite the unique spider.

Still, your whimpers of agony tormented him all night as you clung to him, clenching his t-shirt in your firsts, begging him to hold you, to stay with you.

He groaned as you shifted against his body, pulling yourself on top of him.

"Why does it feel like this?" You cried, you lips brushing his throat. "Please make it stop, Miguel, please."

He must have whispered a hundred soothing Spanish whispers and pet names into your ear, promising you he was there - that you were safe, and this would pass.

As you drifted off into a fitful slumber, he wondered how you would ever forgive him for letting this happen to you - for not seeing it coming.

The next morning, you woke up in his arms, feeling much better. And bizarre. A trip to the bathroom later, and your new life started to make itself known.

You tried to brush your teeth, but accidentally snapped the thing in half. Next, you broke the toilet handle when you went to flush, which, made you flinch in surprise, sending your hand slamming into the counter's edge - taking the corner right off as it smashed to pieces.

"Oh my god!' you shrieked, "Miguel?" you called out, rushing back toward the bedroom, only to collide with his solid chest…

…which somehow sent him stumbling backward. All six foot, nine inches or your massive wall of a boyfriend almost lost his balance after you ran into him.

“Miguel? I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay.” He grasped your arms to calm you down Damn, you were strong. “Let me explain, okay?”

So Miguel info-dumped absolutely everything about the Spider Society, the multi-verse and your spider powers. He even explained that you getting bit was apparently a “canon event” - a life and story similar to so many other spiders.

To say your mind was blown was an understatement. The fact that you had super powers now? Like super strength, amazing reflexes and possibly something called a spider sense, where you could sense danger coming?

Not to mention a lot other people had these same powers too but they were from other worlds.

You started to understand why it took Miguel so long to tell you where he went on weekends. It would have been difficult to grasp if it hadn’t happened to you personally.

You couldn't believe your eyes when Miguel actually took your hand and led you through a portal to another dimension. A psychedelic, seizure-inducing, multicolored portal, which might have been terrifying if it weren't so amazing.

When you got to this so called Spider HQ, you clung to his hand as you passed by several other people in skin tight suits that looked like Miguel's blue one, but more of them were primarily red.

Each person knew Miguel and seemed to defer to him or acknowledge him as the two of you passed by.

Lyla was there as well, chirping away, updating him on all things multiverse.

The biggest surprise came when you got to what appeared to be the heart of the operation, or perhaps Miguel's...office, containing a rather dramatic elevated platform surrounded by several computer screens.

"So this is where you go every weekend?" You asked him, nodding around you.

"Nights too, sometimes. When we're not together." He winked down at you.

You made a face. "Baby, when do you sleep?"

"He never sleeps," a familiar voice resounded behind you. "That's why he's so damn grumpy."

The multiverse got a lot weirder when you turned around and saw your neighbor's lookalike standing there in a black and white spider suit.

"Gwen?"

Seeing your neighbor/friend's doppelgänger was shocking enough, but Miguel knew it was time to head back to your own universe when you discovered, quite by accident, that you were the proud, new owner of organic webbing.

You accidentally shot a long roped web out of your wrist and shrieked in surprise, inadvertently firing off a few more before Miguel could explain to you what was happening. He knew it could be a possibility - some spiders made their webbing in the lab and wore the tech on their wrists - while others, like you, had organic webbing as a part of your altered DNA.

There was really no way to know for sure until it happened. The thought of spiderwebs flying out of your skin freaked you right the hell out, so Miguel took you home.

After explaining things to you and making you some Mexican food, he noticed you hadn't spoken or even looked at him since he poured your first margarita.

"Mi amor?" He gently prompted, reaching for your hand. "Talk to me."

As if simply waiting on an invitation, you dove right in.

"Why didn't you tell me about all this - about the other spiders?" You whispered. "I mean...this is huge."

"I know." His gaze dropped. "I wanted to, but the Spider Society - we don't really...advertise."

"I get that," you nodded understandingly, "But I'm not just your girlfriend. I'm your research partner. Don't you think it's pertinent to our research - all those other spiders? Didn't you think maybe this information could help you?"

"There are no other spiders like me. No one had the accident I had and no one...drinks blood."

"But we don't know - there could have been something," you argued. "A-and the fact that I was working around radioactive spiders every day?"

"Well...you did know about the spiders, to be fair," he reasoned.

"Maybe, but not that I would turn into a spider-person - and that there were other universes with...us out there. And Gwen - there's another Gwen?" You pulled your hand away during your confused and impassioned speech, running your fingers over your wrists where your spiderwebs had shot out.

"And now like - I'm part spider and I am completely freaked out, Miguel, d-do you understand that?"

His scarlet eyes found yours and he nodded. "I think I do. I definitely do."

Your eyed him sympathetically, understanding his meaning. This was the whole point of your research together - the reason you met. Miguel didn't want to be part vampire spider anymore, and he never wanted to need to drink blood again. He'd spent most of his life vexed by his very existence.

"I didn't mean for this to happen to you, mi amor - you have to believe that."

"I know," you sniffled. "But what about me? Are you...friends with another me - somewhere out there? You and me - are we just carbon copies of - "

"No." Miguel's scarlet eyes swirled with uncertainty as his dark eyebrows arched pleadingly. "There is no one else like you. There never could be."

Seeing your hesitation and sensing your distress, he pushed off his barstool where you were seated at the kitchen island. Brushing his knuckles across your cheek, he struggled to find the right words as slivers of fear began to wind around his heart - a dread that somehow, he could lose you. "Corazon..."

"You're sure you haven't met a bunch of other me's?" You softly questioned, blinking up at him.

"Mi vida," he breathed, touching his forehead to yours as he stood between your legs - his hands spreading across your thighs.

With little effort, he lifted you off your barstool and set you on the counter top, easing closer until his body pressed against yours. Pulling your thighs around his waist, he shifted his hips before pressing his waiting mouth to yours.

You hummed against his lips, slipping your fingers around his neck to wind through his dark locks. He tasted you slowly, pushing his hands back up your spread thighs to grip your hips. Thrusting against you temptingly, he licked hotly into your mouth, but it didn't last long.

Touching his forehead to yours, the warmth of his breath enticed you closer, but he shook his head, murmuring your name. Miguel so often spoke through his body. Some of your wildest nights together stemmed from his anger and desperation.

One memory in particular came to mind - one Saturday in your apartment, when he admitted to you that his daughter had passed away. He tried to tell you more about it that day, but instead, he had pulled you against his body and kissed you so tenderly. You had taken him to your bed and that was the first time he was so sweet and deliberate with you.

Whispering his name, you brushed an errant lock of hair from his ruby gaze.

Shaking his head slightly, he inhaled, as if ready to speak, but somehow couldn't...stammering, instead, leaning into your touch. "I can't..."

"What," you murmured, twirling your fingers through the hair behind his ears.

"Lose you," he choked out, his gaze dropping to your lap.

Dragging your fingertips down his jawline, you lifted his face back up to yours. But you didn't answer - instead, sealing your mouth to his once more, pulling him closer still, and squeezing his torso with your thighs.

He responded hungrily, lifting you up to carry you to the nearest flat surface, which was the living room couch - his tongue tangling with yours urgently.

The two of you tumbled down, bodies pressed eagerly together as you rolled all the way down to the floor, grinding together for the friction you so desperately craved. So often, you searched for the connection needed through communication with your bodies.

It happened quickly - with both of you craving the intensity of your shared bond when your bodies joined. With only a few deliberate yanks of clothing off or aside, he pushed his way snugly inside you, the two of you a hopeless tangle of limbs and clothing.

But you wanted him closer stil. "Tear these," you pouted, pulling at your shoved-aside panties...

...but they ripped with the strength of your finger.

Before you could react, he obeyed your command, shredding the other annoying articles of clothing, easing down onto his back as your joined bodies continued a tantric rhythm.

He groaned as you worked your naked body over his cock, your tits bouncing, granting him his favorite view in all the universes he'd ever laid eyes on, or even imagined.

"Even if I met...another version of you somehow...it still wouldn't be you," he panted, running his hands all over your beautiful body.

Miguel had needed reassurance that he wouldn't lose you, but it was you doubting your uniqueness, and for the first time, you understood, even if only in part, why Miguel might feel like a freak or a monster.

A radioactive spider bite had altered your DNA and your body was a mystery to you now. You didn't know your own strength and the whole spiderweb thing really sent you...

But the biggest fear driving the vigorous use of his body beneath you was that he might discover another you somewhere.

"Tell me again," you whined, twisting your body down into his with brutal ferocity. "Tell me I'm the only one."

"F-fuck," he stuttered out - your newfound strength making his huge frame buck like a rag doll.

Wishing he could sit up and hold you while you came - to reassure you that you belonged to him, and that no one else ever could, Miguel instead found himself coming hard and instantly because he could not move - your strength rendering him incapable of lifting off the floor.

"Miguel, please," you gasped, digging your nails so hard into his chest that you drew blood, so close to your release but feeling that he'd already come inside you.

You kept on riding him even as he went soft, expecting his superhuman stamina to have him hard and ready for you soon, but you forgot one small factor:

He had to keep up with you now.

Your frustration and desperation came to a head and you finally stilled your movements, opening your eyes to find bloody streaks scraped into your boyfriend's massive chest.

Before you could even react or worry, Miguel trapped your wrists in his hands. "Está bien, cariño."

You gasped out his name, horrified, still unaware that you were literally pinning him down.

"I'm okay, it's okay," he assured you, pulling at your wrists. "Let me up."

"Oh god," you croaked, finally releasing him and staring at the angry red marks and trickles of blood. "I-I didn't mean to. I didn't even realize."

"Hey..." he caressed your cheek, readjusting as your bodies pulled apart. "Felt so good. I'm okay."

"But you're bleeding," you argued. "Look what I did..." You trailed off as he nodded, understanding, better than anyone, exactly how you were feeling right now. You hurt him - drew blood, surprising and horrifying yourself, only to have him come faster than ever, telling you how good it was.

Okay, so the tables had turned.

Miguel suggested the two of you go upstairs to clean up and get more comfortable, promising to clean up the Mexican feast tomorrow.

You were quiet - perplexed, mostly, but the tiny slivers of fear slipped back into Miguel's mind over what his lack of candor might ultimately mean for your relationship.

"Mi amor," he started again, just the way he had right after dinner. The two of you had showered and changed into pajamas even though it was hardly bedtime.

Gripping you by the arms, he ducked down closer to your height. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for this."

"It's not your fault," you reasoned, resting your palms against his chest. "How could it be?"

He simply shrugged, pulling you close to his chest for a hug. "I promise there's no one else like you," he whispered against your temple. "There are other Parkers, and other spiders, but no one else is like you."

Easing back, he took your face in his hands. "Every single person I've met - other Peters and other Gwens - none of them are exactly alike - they're all unique."

Pressing a soft kiss to your mouth, he rested his forehead against yours. "You can't honestly believe I could love anyone else."

He kissed you again, slotting his mouth against yours as his strong arms wound around your back. Then he took you to his bed and made you believe it.

Six weeks later...

Miguel turned out to be quite the capable coach - helping you understand your powers and practicing using them. He even encouraged the use of your spiderwebs outside the lab, reasoning that you needed to get used to them domestically.

A few pillows lost their stuffing and you shattered a teapot and a margarita glass, but, with practice, you adjusted.

This was an absolute must before working in the lab. Flying spiderwebs did not mix with delicate test tubes and beakers.

Your favorite part of training was when Miguel insisted you use his body for practice - testing your strength, agility and your webs while he taught you how to fight. It took you weeks to unleash your full strength on him. Your kick knocked him across a rooftop.

But when it came right down to it, he actually was bigger and stronger. Not by much. Your advantage came from your more powerful webs and your precognitive spider-sense.

Work had completely changed for the two of you, since you started focusing your time less on a cure for Miguel, and more on the needs of the Spider Society.

Miguel started to feel like maybe being a spider wasn't so bad. He used to feel alone, despite all the other spiders in the society - constantly wracked with guilt over the blood he took from others simply to sustain his life.

Then you came along - brilliant, beautiful and so full of life - challenging him at every turn - in the lab, in the bedroom. You knew what you wanted out of a career and you definitely knew what you wanted from a lover.

What started out as a wild bit of coworkers-with-benefits gave way to a twisted relationship of sorts - he used your body for pleasure and for feeding and -miracle of miracles - you loved it.

Craving the dark things he did to your body - the scratches of his talons, the puncture marks from his fangs, the weakness from blood loss and paralyzation - all while he used your body for his pleasure - it was a mirror to him of how much of a monster he really was.

But you showed him that person deserved love as much as anyone else. Miguel finally accepted your acceptance. He allowed you to love him and heal his heart. He still wasn't comfortable with hurting you, however, and remained determined to find a cure for his condition.

At least until a couple weeks ago.

The two of you were sparring and Miguel was pushing you pretty hard. He was still superior at hand-to-hand combat, simply from years of experience.

Sparring with an absolute tank of a delicious boyfriend like Miguel taught you a lot, but it also made you feral. He usually insisted the two of you calm down and cool off - keeping your training separate from your personal life.

But this particular night, you were having none of it.

Miguel had you pinned on the ground between his thick, gorgeous thighs.

"Ready for a break?" He nonchalantly and almost smugly questioned.

"No way," you huffed, firing webs to bind his ankles together.

You could feel a slightly condescending chuckle rumble through his body, so you fired another web right at his mouth, silencing him.

Your face was right next to his crotch and, as you ordered him to stop fighting you, his cock started getting hard.

Certainly not the first time that happened.

He reached for your hands to try to stop all your spiderweb nonsense, but you stuck his hand to the floor with another web.

He only squeezed his thighs together harder, keeping you trapped.

"Have it your way," you purred, mouthing him through the thin cotton of his joggers.

He mumbled out a protest, through the web covering his mouth, reaching for you with his other hand. While teasing his cock with your lips, you managed to stick his other hand to the floor and start to wiggle free.

Miguel really was stronger than you, but lost his concentration just enough to forget to keep clamping down with his thighs.

You rolled away, laughing victoriously, but knowing he wouldn't stay trapped for long. So you straddled his waist, enjoying your few moments with him bound and silenced, rolling your hips over his length, grinding down temptingly.

"I wonder if I could make you come before you get free," you taunted, firing more webs to trap his entire arms - from shoulders to wrists - to the floor. You used more webbing to secure his legs as well, loosening his ankles just long enough to secure his legs all the way down, spread apart, just like his arms.

He didn't fight you.

Instead, his ruby irises flashed with lust as you pulled your sports bra over your head. He was already shirtless, so it felt incredible when you removed the web silencing him. You laid down, your breasts mashed against his muscular chest, grinding your core against his length as you kissed him hard.

You felt him shift and strain against the webs - he no doubt wanted to run his hands over your skin, but you nipped at his lips, tutting condescendingly.

"Be good for me," you teased, ripping his pants open with no effort. He groaned as you roughly pushed your own pants down and kicked them off, leaving you naked as you draped yourself back over him, rubbing your bare wet cunt up and down his stiff cock.

"Baby, please..." he panted as you undulated - your tits bouncing as you found the friction you sought for your clit, but left him desperate to push his way inside you.

You eased down again, lying on top of him, rolling your hips teasingly as your slid your tongue inside his mouth, purposely dragging it across his sharp fang.

Miguel moaned as the taste of your blood filled his mouth, sucking your tongue, drinking your sweet nectar as you kissed him and teased him endlessly.

You sat back up after a moment, licking your lips clean of blood as your tongue healed itself almost instantly. Bracing yourself with your palms on your boyfriend's huge chest, you locked eyes with him, smirking slightly as you continued rocking your hips just enough to rub your clit pleasurably but to leave him wanting.

"Fuck me," he panted, running his blood-covered tongue over his lips - his muscles straining against your webs.

Biting your lip coyly, you paused the movement of your hips. "Make me." And you continued the drag of your clit over his tip, panting as pleasure sparked up and down your spine.

You wanted his cock inside you as badly as he did, but it was just too fun to see him squirm. Back and forth you went, faster and faster, working yourself close to your release.

"I'm so close," you moaned, concentrating on your own pleasure and loving the flex of Miguel's muscles as he struggled. Soon enough, his warm laser webs, convenient talons and sheer strength freed his arms just enough to knock you off balance.

A bit of sparring ensued - the two of you hard and wet and naked - fighting for control and desperate to fuck.

You attempted to ensnare your boyfriend in your webs again, but he dodged you, rolling away and firing his own, which bound your ankles and made you trip. Before you could hit the ground, however, you ripped your ankles free and rolled to a stop...

...but Miguel was ready, firing his laser webbing to bind your hands. He grabbed you from behind, pushing you down to the floor and pinning you there with all his weight, pushing your bound hands up over your head.

You squirmed but he was pressing down on you with all his might.

"You're going to be still, little spider, while I fuck you."

"Doubt that - " You started, but weren't surprised at all as Miguel's webs covered your mouth. You wriggled against him, but were secretly thrilled that he was using his strength on you. He had shown some hesitancy bringing his powers and his full strength into the bedroom, aside from the way he would regularly drink blood from your tongue when you purposely sliced it on his fang.

Two strong hands gripped your hips, shifting you up just enough for him to thrust his thick cock into your dripping channel. Memories of him bending you over his desk flooded your mind - times when you would cry from how good he would fuck you.

And now, as he pounded into you, with all the power and speed in his beautiful body, you felt pressure but no pain. And he felt release with no guilt.

The webbing across your mouth muffled your screams of ecstasy as he shifted his hips to hit that spot so perfect.

"My beautiful girl," he breathed on the back of your neck. "You were made for me."

His fangs tore into your flesh and he fed - the feeling of his fangs inside your skin made you come instantly - your body convulsing with the wildest, hardest orgasm of your life.

Miguel's paralytic venom could no longer incapacitate you - it merely slowed you down for a minute or two, giving him just enough time to drink his fill, feel your body submit and give out, as he pumped his seed into you.

The two of you collapsed together on the floor, panting and spent. Miguel freed you from his webs, rolled you over to face him and pulled you against the warmth of his chest.

You melted against him, satisfied, accepting his lust-filled kiss.

He pulled back a moment later, amazed as the angry wounds in your throat closed and vanished as your body healed itself.

After two weeks of feeding on your new blood, and dozens of tests to make sure your blood wouldn't somehow hurt him, Miguel put to rest the idea of looking for a cure for his condition.

"I told you - you're perfect just like you are," you whispered one night, lying on top of his chest.

"Maybe I was just waiting on my cure," he murmured back, running his hands down the curve of your bare back. "You fixed me. You healed me."

"You fixed me too. I had no idea what I was missing before super powered sex," you teased him.

He playfully swatted your ass. "We're going to break everything in this house if we keep going like this, corazón."

You smiled to yourself. "I don't know. I think we're going to have to take it easy for a while."

"Why...did I hurt you?"

"No." You pressed a quick kiss right over his heart. "I'm pregnant."

END

Thank you for taking this wild ride with me! It was fun to explore unhinged, blood-drinking Miguel. xoxo - Ivy

Miguel O'Hara Masterlist

Main Masterlist

#miguel o'hara #decadent fic #miguel o'hara fic #miguel o'hara fanfic #miguel o'hara fanfiction #marvel fanfic #across the spiderverse #spiderman across the spiderverse #spider-man: across the spider-verse #across the spiderverse au #marvel au #sm: atsv #sm: atsv fic #miguel o'hara x reader #miguel o'hara x f!reader

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foundtherightwords · 10 days ago

Text

As the Sun Will Rise - Chapter 19

Pairing: Grunauer (Overlord) x OFC, Beauty & the Beast retelling

Summary: After losing most of his unit in a disastrous D-Day mission, Derwin Grunauer returns to his hometown near Miami, body riddled with scars and heart heavy with guilt, only to find his neighbors shunning him due to his German name. He retreats into his family mansion and remains there, unwilling to rejoin the living, until the day Alba Reyes turns up at his door with a basket full of warm bread. As the daughter of a Cuban immigrant, Alba knows something of being an outsider, and when she offers to work for Derwin as his housekeeper, it is not only to pay off her father's debt to the Grunauers, but also because she feels some connection to the reclusive young man. When that connection develops into something more, they must overcome both the town's prejudice and their own doubts to find happiness.

Chapter warnings: some violence

Chapter word count: 3.7k

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7 - Chapter 8 - Chapter 9 - Chapter 10 - Chapter 11 - Chapter 12 - Chapter 13 - Chapter 14 - Chapter 15 - Chapter 16 - Chapter 17 - Chapter 18

Chapter 19

The bike ride home through the chilly December air helped calm Alba down somewhat. Luckily, the bakery was packed with customers shopping for Christmas, so there was no time for her to dwell on what had just happened with Derwin. Despite her dislike of manning the counter, she stood by Beatriz's side and served the customers late into the evening without complaint, happy to lose herself in work.

But that night, when Beatriz was snoring in bed, Alba found that there was no escaping the feelings that had been swirling around her insides all day, making her stomach feel hot and unsettled, almost as if she'd eaten something that didn't agree with her, and leaving a heavy weight on her chest. Alba realized she wasn't exactly angry with Derwin. She was disappointed in him, which somehow was worse than anger. She thought she'd made herself very clear when she told him that their relationship had nothing to do with the debt, yet now he had to go and do something like this. She thought he knew her. That was what hurt her the most, more than the cancellation of the debt itself, the fact that he was so blind to her thoughts and feelings and only did what he thought was right, without talking to her at all.

But you didn't talk to him either, a small, sensible voice, sounding rather like her mother's, piped up in her mind, gently admonishing. It was true. She may have told him to keep their relationship and the debt separate, but she never told him how she felt about the debt, about the slight but persistent feeling of shame she'd always get in the pit of her stomach whenever she thought of it, the shame that had only intensified ever since she and Derwin got together. No matter how well he treated her, no matter how kind and considerate he was, she couldn't help feeling that they were not equal, at least not until the debt was paid off.

Alba got up and went to look at the dress, the lovely yellow dress that she'd been so proud of, but now it only reminded her that she'd bought it with money Derwin had paid her. Everything reminded her of how different their circumstances were—the books he'd given her, the shoes he'd bought for her, the movie tickets she'd kept as mementos of their dates. He could afford these things so easily, but what had she done for him? Even her Christmas present for him—a leather-bound book of Goethe's collected works—had taken her an entire week's salary, and it still seemed to her rather inadequate.

She knew there were plenty of girls who would think she was being a fool—after all, the man is supposed to always pay for the woman. And truly, she wouldn't have minded the little gifts. This, however, was too big to consider a mere gift. She couldn't help feeling as if Derwin was holding the debt, and his wealth, over her head.

What could she do? If she asked him to keep the debt, he probably would, but would it make him resent her? Yet she could not in good conscience accept the cancellation. Perhaps she could talk to her father and ask what she should do. But how would she explain when Papi asked why Derwin had canceled the debt?

With a sigh, Alba returned to bed. Her eyes landed on the manuscript sticking out of her bag. In her hurry to leave the Grunauer place and the flurry of work at the bakery, she hadn't had time to mail it. Now she pulled it out and smoothed down the pages. Well, it was the least she could do for him.

Something dropped from her hand to the floor. There was a thinner manuscript stuck to the German translation. She must have grabbed both of them by mistake. Picking it up, Alba happened to glance at the cover. Under the dim light coming in through the window, she could see that it said, in English, "To my Herzchen, my dawn, my muse, my love."

Heart beating faster, she brought the manuscript over to her bed, switched on the bedside lamp, carefully shielding it to avoid waking Beatriz, and started reading. It was a collection of poems, all about her, the two of them, and the love they shared. It was all there—the first time they met, the storm, the garden, the trip to the beach, the spoonbills, even the alligator. She didn't understand all of the poetic imagery and the metaphors that he used, but the beauty of the words, and most of all, the love behind them, shone through.

A tear splashed on the page, and Alba realized she was crying. He loved her. He'd told her that he loved her, and she, with her stubbornness and her stupid pride, hadn't listened. She hadn't even said she loved him back. How could she have doubted him? How could she have accused him of such ulterior motives, such horrible behaviors? It was all for love. He did it all for love.

"Alba?" said Beatriz's sleepy voice behind her. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing." Alba quickly put the manuscript down and turned off the light. "Sorry I woke you."

"Are you—crying?" Beatriz sounded alarmed. She must have heard Alba's sniffing.

"No, no. Go back to sleep. Everything is fine."

Yes, everything was fine. She would call Derwin in the morning, or better yet, she would go to his place and apologize. As for the debt, they could talk and work it out together. Alba fell asleep, clutching the manuscript to her heart, which was now as light as a feather.

***

The next morning, Alba came downstairs at five as usual to help open the bakery. It was their last day before Christmas break, though most people had finished their shopping already, so there shouldn't be as much of a crowd. All the better, though Alba. She should have no problem dropping by Derwin's.

Papi and Frank were outside, bringing in some supplies from the truck. Alba was picking up the telephone to call Derwin when she heard Papi bellow from the back room, so loudly that she almost dropped the handset. "Alba! Beatriz! Ven aquí!"

Alba ran into the room, already warm from the heat of the ovens. Beatriz came trotting in behind her. Papi stood by the back door, holding something small in his fist, his face white with rage. Alba and Beatriz exchanged frightened glances. Frank trailed in, looking confused.

"Frank, go open the front," Papi said in English. "And shut the door."

With a worried glance at the girls, Frank went out.

"What is it, Papi?" Beatriz asked.

"I was hoping you girls can tell me," he said, switching to Spanish. "I found this wedged in the seat of the truck." He tossed the thing in his hand to the ground, like some disgusting piece of garbage. Alba's heart stopped. It was one of the prophylactics. It must have fallen out of the paper bag when she drove home on Sunday. ¡Mierda! She knew she should've brought the tin!

Beatriz frowned at the little package. "What is that?" she asked.

"If you don't know, then I guess you're innocent after all," Papi said, fixing his scowl on Alba. "What about you, Alba? Only you girls and Frank have driven the truck in the past week. Maybe I ought to bring Frank in, see what he has to say for himself."

Alba had intended to keep silent or feign ignorance, but she couldn't bear the thought of Frank getting into trouble.

"No," she said quietly. "Frank has nothing to do with it. I bought it."

Papi's eyes popped, and Beatriz also turned to stare at Alba, though more in confusion than shock. Then Papi said, in a deadly whisper, "Beatriz, go and help Frank."

"But—"

"I said, go."

Hearing the anger in his voice, Beatriz quickly retreated, after giving Alba a sympathetic look. She went to the front, shutting the door behind her. Already Alba was sweating, though it had less to do with the heat from the ovens and more with Papi's white-faced, wide-eyed stare at her. She had never seen him so angry, not even on the day of the coup and he lost his position as secretary to the mayor of Cienfuegos.

"Why did you buy such a thing?" he said, still in that deadly whisper. "What could you possibly need it for?"

Alba thought of the poems Derwin had written for her, and calmly met her father's eyes. "I'm an adult woman, Papi," she said, squaring her shoulders. "I don't think I need to divulge every detail of my personal life to you."

It was the wrong thing to say. Papi's face twisted with anger. "You may be an adult, but you're still my daughter, living under my roof," he bit out each word. Alba fought the urge to point out that technically, it wasn't his roof. In fact, it was Derwin's. Papi was angry enough without her pouring fuel on the flame. "Who have you been—dallying with?" he asked.

Dallying? Despite her fear, Alba had to roll her eyes a bit. Papi could be so embarrassingly old-fashioned at times. But she might as well tell the truth.

"Derwin Grunauer," she said.

"WHAT?!" shouted Papi, before remembering the customers outside and lowering his voice again. "So this whole time you were going to his house to work, you two have been... Did that bastard force himself on you?!"

"No! And it hasn't been this whole time, only in the last month or so. We were going to tell you at Christmas." Alba found that, strangely enough, the more Papi raged and ranted at her, the less afraid she was. He was being ridiculous, like a Victorian father in one of those costume flicks who just discovered his daughter had been out with a man, unchaperoned. "What do you have against him?" she asked. "I told you, he's the perfect gentleman, and that was even before we started seeing each other. In fact, he asked me to marry him the other day, but I turned him down because I don't want to get married just yet. What do you want from him? Does he need to ask for your blessing first? Would that make you feel better?"

But Papi would not be placated. "Don't talk to me like I'm a child!" he hissed. "How dare you flaunt your—your—sin like this? What would your mother say?"

At the mention of her mother, Alba lost her patience as well. "Sin?!" she exclaimed. "We love each other, how is that a sin?"

Papi's face went rigid. Then he grabbed Alba's arm and dragged her toward the staircase leading to their apartment. "You're not to see him again," he said. "And don't think you can use the debt as an excuse to go back to him. I'll pay it off, even if we have to sell everything."

"You can't do this!" She tried to wriggle out of his grasp, but he was relentless. "What are you going to do, lock me up for the rest of my life?"

"Yes, until you learn to respect me and my rules!" With that, he pushed her into the apartment and locked the door behind him.

Alba went into her room and plopped down on the bed, tears of anger and frustration stinging her eyes. She could only hope that Papi's fury had more to do with her attitude and not with Derwin himself. But she honestly hadn't thought that, in this day and age, she still had to ask for her father's permission to start dating. Perhaps she should wait until Papi calmed down and apologize...

Downstairs, the telephone rang. Her heart leaped. Could it be Derwin calling for her? She heard Beatriz answer, but couldn't make out the words, and then Papi shouted something, of which she only caught the word "bastard". It really must have been Derwin then. Dear God, please don't let him come here, she thought. Papi would kill him.

The morning had never crawled by so slowly. At lunch, Beatriz brought up some sandwiches, but Alba was too upset to eat. When she asked about Papi, Beatriz shook her head. "He's still very angry," she said. "Really, Alba, what were you thinking, talking back at him like that?"

"I know, I know!" Alba clawed a hand through her hair. "But he made me so angry! It's just bad luck. If he hadn't found the prophylactic, we could've told him at Christmas and I'm sure he would've accepted Derwin..."

Beatriz's round face turned pink. "So you've really—with Derwin?"

Alba blushed as well, but she tried to look nonchalant and nodded. There was nothing to be ashamed of.

"What's it like?" Beatriz asked.

"Bea! Now is hardly the time to discuss my sex life!"

"Sorry."

Since there was nothing else to do, Alba picked up the sandwich and stuffed half of it into her mouth. "Was it Derwin that called earlier?" she asked.

Beatriz nodded. "He asked for you, but I told him you couldn't come to the phone," she said miserably. "And then Papi said, 'Tell that bastard not to call here again' and yanked the phone out of my hand and hung up."

"My God."

Alba ran a hand through her hair again. Then a horrible realization hit her. Derwin didn't know about her change of heart. For all he knew, she was still angry with him for canceling the debt, and now so was Papi. What could Derwin be going through now, thinking she had refused to talk to him on purpose?

"I have to talk to him," she said, getting up.

"To Papi?" Beatriz looked at her, perplexed. "I wouldn't risk it just yet."

"No. Derwin. We—we had a fight yesterday. Now he must be thinking I'm still angry with him. I have to explain."

"But you can't," said Beatriz. "Papi won't let you near the telephone. And he's sitting in the back room keeping an eye on both doors like a hawk."

Alba was already thinking about that. She looked out the window, and an idea formed in her mind. Their bedroom window opened onto the roof, where she and Beatriz used to sit and watch tiny Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler on the drive-through screen. From there, she could climb the pipes down the side of the house. The back room had no window, so Papi would not see her.

"I need you to cover for me," she said to Beatriz, stuffing the manuscript into her bag, slinging it over her shoulder, and opening the window. "If Papi asks, tell him—just tell him something. I'll try to be back as soon as possible."

"Do be careful," Beatriz said.

"I will. Thanks." Alba swung herself over the window sill, stepped onto the roof, careful not to make too much noise, and edged toward the large drainpipe running along the wall. Feeling a little ridiculous, like a teenage girl sneaking out of the house to meet her boyfriend, she took hold of the pipe and slid down inch by inch. Once her feet hit solid ground, she took off running down the lane. Her bike would've been faster, but it was chained up in the backyard, and there was no way she could get to it without Papi noticing. But it was only three miles, and walking would give her time to prepare what she was going to say to Derwin. I love you, certainly. I'm sorry. I've been a stubborn fool. By the way, my father knows about us and he doesn't approve, but that's OK because I love you, I love you, I love—

Alba was almost at the turnoff in the lane when the roar of a car engine cut off her train of thought. She just barely managed to jump out of the way when Grant's Aston Martin came to a screeching halt next to her, boxing her in, almost pushing her into the ditch by the side of the lane. Great. As if her day couldn't get any worse.

Unusually, Grant wasn't driving. Sitting at the wheel was the rotund man with the watery eyes Alba had once seen, the one Grant called Bozo. As Grant jumped out of the passenger's seat to face Alba, she realized why he wasn't driving—he was sporting an impressive black eye.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Sugar Ray Robinson," said Grant, his lip curled up with none of the showy flirtation he used to put on for her. Now there was nothing on his face but contempt. Alba found it almost reassuring in a way, because it meant she no longer had to pretend to be polite to him.

"Get out of my way," she said shortly, "or do you want another black eye to match?"

"What a mouth you got, Alba," Grant snarled. So the stupid pet name was gone as well. "I should have you arrested for assault, you and that cripple of yours. See how big you talk then."

"There are hundreds of witnesses to say you started it."

But Grant was no longer interested in litigation. He turned his attention to her bag. "And where are you hurrying off to? Some secret tryst with your crippled boyfriend? What's this?" Before Alba could stop him, Grant snatched the manuscript out of her bag.

"Give it back, you bastard!"

Grant grabbed her wrists with one hand and flipped through the manuscript with the other. He frowned. "It's all in German," he said. It must be the Robert Frost one, which she had left in her bag. Well, at least Grant couldn't use it to make fun of her or Derwin...

Grant, however, seemed strangely excited. He flipped to the cover. "To Professor Fredrick Bauer, Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, University of Florida, Gainesville..." He glanced at Bozo. "Fredrick Bauer. That's a Kraut name if I ever saw one," he said, before turning back to Alba. "What's the cripple doing, corresponding in German with a Kraut?"

"That's his former professor, you illiterate," Alba said, trying to snatch the manuscript back, but Grant held it out of her reach. "They're collaborating on a poetry translating project."

"Poetry, is that right? A good way to hide secret codes, if you ask me." Again, Grant gave Bozo a meaningful glance, and Bozo nodded.

"What?" Alba said, bewildered.

"He's German as well, isn't he, your cripple? Lots of Germans are coming here now, for some sort of intelligence operation, I heard. A load of bullshit. Only gives them more chances to spy on us." Grant held up the manuscript. "And here I got the proof."

Finally Alba understood. "Are you stupid or something?" she said. "You think Derwin is a German spy?"

"And you probably help him. Oh yes, I got you now." Grant sounded crazy, but there was a flinty, calculating glint in his eyes. "We'll see what the good people of Cypress Grove have to say about this."

Alba's heart sank. Grant may be a fool, but people listened to him. Nobody in Cypress Grove could read German, so if Grant told them it was some sort of secret code, she could see the likes of Mrs. McLeish believing him. And what would happen to Derwin then?

"Leave him alone!" she shouted, straining to reach for the manuscript one more time. "What has he done to you? Why do you hate him so? Are you just jealous because I'm with him and not you?"

"Oh, I'm not as petty as that, my dear Allie," Grant said, and the sweetness in his voice chilled her a thousand times more than his contempt. "I have nothing personal against the cripple. Well, maybe a little. But the main thing is that he's standing in the way between me and my highrise, and therefore has to be removed. Isn't that right, Bozo?"

"Yes, Mr. Grant," Bozo eagerly agreed.

And everything became clear to Alba. All the pieces of the puzzle fell into place—Derwin's refusal to sell his land, the rumor about him killing a fellow soldier, the vandalism on the house, the red paint she'd seen in Bozo's car that one time.

"It's you, isn't it?" she said to Grant. "You've been trying to drive him off his place."

"Yes. And now, thanks to you, my dear Allie, and this little poetry project, perhaps I can finally convince the people of Cypress Grove to drive him away for me."

With that, Grant turned and gave Alba a hard shove. Her feet went out from under her, and she tumbled down the ditch, rolling through the dirt and mud and grass, until a tangle of willow and cocoplum forced her to a stop. Above her, the Aston Martin roared to life and away.

By the time Alba managed to crawl her way back to the lane, the sound of the car had died off. Her hands, elbows, and face were all scratched from the bushes, but she was thankful, because if it hadn't been for them, she would've fallen all the way into the alligator-infested water. For a moment, she stayed on the lane on all fours, trying to catch her breath and gather her thoughts. She had to warn Derwin. But in her current state, by the time she got to his house, Grant would have already gathered a mob. And how could she convince them to listen to her? She couldn't face them alone. She needed reinforcement.

Something fluttered to the ground next to her. It was a Grant's Land flyer, bearing the same picture of the highrise that she'd seen on the billboard outside the office when they came back from the beach. As Alba looked at it with new eyes, she finally realized what had bothered her about the billboard.

She'd got Grant now. Him and his lies. She could save Derwin.

With great difficulty and equally great determination, Alba pushed herself to her feet and stumbled back the way she came.

Chapter 20

Taglist: @kitkat80, @hahahafucku

#joseph quinn #joseph quinn fic #grunauer #grunauer overlord #overlord 2018 #grunauer x ofc

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dollfaced-erin · 1 year ago

Text

𝔻𝕣𝕒𝕘𝕠𝕟'𝕤 ℂ𝕣𝕒𝕕𝕝𝕖 (Blade x F!Reader x Jing Yuan)

PART 14

PART 1 , PART 2 , PART 3 , PART 4 , PART 5 , PART 6 , PART 7 , PART 8 , PART 9 , PART 10 , PART 11 , PART 12 , PART 13

A/n : -

Hi ! Sorry i've been long ! i hope yall havent been waiting until you go stale on me hehe ! I hope all of you have been well while i was gone and been good ! I just made the masterlist and im pretty happy with the way it turned out for me. I've been going through some irl issues and wasnt able to write as often. but since im warming up here more, i think i'm able to adjust to my life here and be able to write again per usual~! someone ples hit me if i forget...

Taglist : -

(Y/n) walked back to the Matrix of Prescience once again, head held high as if she hadn't succumbed to the sea of Lunarescent Depths earlier. Her body felt no pain, but the lingering feeling of being impaled was a constant reminder in the back of her mind.

"Are you sure you're ready for it ? Don't you think you need more rest ?" Bailu asked worriedly as she watched the former reigning high elder stand from the resting position she was placed in earlier.

"No. I've had enough rest. I need to get back to my loyalties." She said, looking at the princess behind her. Sorrow flashed in her eyes as they landed on the shackle on Bailu's tail.

Then she bent down to the girl's height, her heart throbbing in familiarity and familial. She raised a hand and ruffled Bailu's purple locks, a soft smile on her lips.

"Hey...when I'm back, I'll make sure I'll get those damned Preceptors to release your tail from that shackle." (Y/n) said soflty.

It didn't take a genius to know that Bailu's shackle was a Vidyadhara artisan specialty. In fact...she knew that the power that almost...resonated from the relic was used to seal her powers that overflowed from the young dragon lady.

"I'm off now." (Y/n) said, getting up and turning to leave the area. But then she felt a small force tug at her draping cloth from behind. As she looked back with a raised eyebrow, Bailu's eyes were looking right up at her, with worry and with a certain...desire.

"Yes...? Is there anything you need, Miss Bailu...?" (Y/n) said softly, eyes softening at the sight of the pouting girl.

"When...when you come back, can you...can you teach me some High Elder magic...?" she asked softly and shyly.

(Y/n)'s eyes widened before a small smile formed on her lips. "I can try, since my powers are halved without him. But first, I need to fix what I'm supposed to, and repay debts of old. Then when I come back, I'll do my best."

"Promise ?"

(Y/n)'s eyes softened as she crouched in front of the young girl, holding her pinky out.

"Promise."

As much as it all ached, she had work to do. She had regained most of her olden memories that had impacted her in her past. She had come to terms that she is indeed Dan Jia. But at the same time she was (Y/n).

But most importantly she was herself.

High Elder or not, sister to a convicted and exiled criminal or not, she had undying loyalty tied to the land she was standing on. And as the sister to the exiled prince, she had to reimburse and repay the debts that had long been buried by her slumber and his exile.

As she stepped into the Divination Commission's main divining center, she heard gasps of awe and surprise.

She supposed that her current air and facade that she withhold was no longer the same as she was before the memory resurgence from the Matrix of Prescience, the awakening of the Ambrosial Arbor, the Stellaron burst and the endless sea of Lunarescent depths.

By the flight of stairs before reaching the core, (Y/n) caught sight of a petite pink haired lady, looking quite nervous from her stance. She was a little hunched over, an arm across her chest as the other was brought to her lips, biting at her nail gently.

"Lady Fu Xuan." (Y/n) greeted, and the master diviner looked at her in surprise, her golden eyes widening in shock and masked relief.

"L-lady (Y/n) ! A-are you alright ?" The lady asked, and (Y/n) simply raised a hand to wave off her concern, and the diviner silenced herself.

"I am fine. I was brought here to seek out the meaning behind my relapsing visions and wavering consciousness by Jing Yuan. I thought that the least I could do now is come over and assist as I should." (Y/n) said simply.

Even while being someone impatient and disliked the authority of someone above her, namely Jing Yuan, Fu Xuan remained silent as she gazed at the taller woman next to her in awe.

A calm, cold and calculated (e/c) gaze, lips pulled into a small frown, eyes trained onto what lies ahead, arms crossed over her chest, the silky (h/c) hair and regal oriental clothing, the intricate earring that hung from her pointed ear and the horns that perched on her head.

She was the epitome of power and grace.

"If you wish to assist..." Fu Xuan noted, looking at (Y/n). "You might consider lending a hand to the Nameless. Currently they're on the way with a help of a guide after dealing with the spies of the Elixir Seekers lurking within the crowd."

"But I'll have to confirm with the General before I allow you to join them. He should have the last say for he is the one that took it upon himself to take any responsibility for your actions or anything regarding your wellbeing." Fu Xuan said as she began to walk in front of (Y/n), climbing up the flight of stairs.

"Come, right this way, Lady (Y/n)." Fu Xuan said as she ascended the stairs, the dragon lady not far behind her.

"Let's talk to the General for a bit before they arrive."

"Princess...how are you ? I haven't heard of you in a while and quite frankly to say, I was interested in your condition." The familiar smooth voice of the general caressed all ears that were present. Namely, (Y/n) and Fu Xuan.

The general stood before them in the form of a hologram, arms crossed over his chest as a lazy cat-like grin pulled across his lips, towering before the former High Elder of the Luofu and the Master Diviner of the Divination Commission.

"Smooth way to say you were worried about me, General." (Y/n) said with a small chuckle, earning raised eyebrows from the general at the mature and reformed (Y/n) before him.

But he chuckled, and shook his head. "Well, I suppose you could put it that way, (Y/n). Therefore, let me rephrase myself. How are you ? I heard everything and was pretty worried about you."

"I'm fine, thank you. I have...per say...come to terms with my condition and fully stand responsible for whatever has, will and would take place." (Y/n) said with a gentle smile, tilting her head a little to the side with her arms crossed over her chest.

"You never cease to amaze me, my moon..." Jing Yuan said with a chuckle, and his hologram reached out to caress her beautiful silky (h/c) hair that shone beneath the moonlight.

A slight blush dusted her cheeks as she saw the hand. Upon instinct, she would've leaned into the caring and warm hand that was large enough to caress her cheek. But she stiffened a little as she remembered warm lips that once touched her own.

Was this really okay ?

She had an unsolved relationship status with Dan Jia's past lover. Does he count as her own lover as well...? But...

She did find that man that named himself Blade very attractive and alluring. With those sharp scarlet eyes, that defined and sculpted figure and face, his beautiful dark hair and deep sultry voice. And the man does not live by his past identity. Just like how (Y/n) doesn't associate to being one with Dan Jia.

Is it selfish of her to relish in the love by two different men...?

It...isn't forbidden is it...?

Ah...she'll think about that later...

For now...she just wants to lean into his hand and relish in the warmth she knew that palm exuded from the numerous times they had exchanged small intimate gestures...

"Ahem !" a sharp coughed pulled the two out of their dazes.

Pulling back, (Y/n) face turned a bright red and (e/c) eyes blown wide with surprise and embarrassment. Her eyes averted their gaze to the ground and she heard a smooth chuckle from the general and an unsatisfied sigh from Fu Xuan.

"If you're going to show off your intimacy, please do it somewhere and sometime when the situation isn't so dire and in the eyes of the innocent public !" Fu Xuan said, irritation in her voice.

"I..I apologize. I didn't mean to react that way..." (Y/n) said, her cheeks beaming red.

"No need to apologize. I do agree that I am quite the...catch. " The general said with a smirk and the two women groaned in annoyance.

"Back to the topic at large," Jing Yuan said with a hearty chuckle. "Diviner Fu, how are things progressing ?"

We're fluctuating between the heaven and thunder trigrams. A step forward bridges no distance hence..." she said, looking down thoughtfully as she recounts what she had foreseen and received word of.

"And...for those who don't speak Fu Xuan...?" Jing Yuan asked, tilting his head to the side a little at the use of such big and fancy analogies by the small pink woman before him. Even (Y/n) had taken a moment to actually register the flowery words.

"Ahem..." she coughed, before looking at the towering general before her with disappointed and troubled eyes. "It's an utter disaster. How's that for a Divination Commission fortune ?"

"After trying to recount and retell the chapters of the past, no, even before that...the Matrix of Prescience has slowed down and stopped operating and the symbols have dimmed. There are Stellaron spirits wreaking havoc inside the commission and the Cloud Knights are struggling to protect civilians." Fu Xuan said and (Y/n) looked...worried and guilty.

Was this all her fault...? As in...was peeking into her past the reason why the Matrix of Prescience has stopped working ? Has her awakening triggered the rampage of the spirits of the forbidden disease ?

"...I want to restore the Matrix of Prescience but I have no forces available..." Fu Xuan said with a shake of her head. "And on top of that General, we still have to deal with the Stellaron Hunter you handed us. If that's not an utter disaster, then I don't know what is..."

Then Jing Yuan let out a hearty laugh. "But you're Fu Xuan the seer-- the boundless omniscient !" Jing Yuan said, trying to motivate her. "Bringing luck and avoiding misfortune is your strong suit, isn't it ?"

"You don't need to flatter me, General. It's natural for fortune to fluctuate -- there's no escaping it." Fu Xuan said with a serious frown on her lips. "The Divination Commission simply does its best to uncover the good and the bad and then make the right decisions. We have no magical means to turn the tide."

"And that is precisely why we need you in charge. When it comes to handling clairvoyant Stellaron Hunters, who better than Fu Xuan the seer ?" Jing Yuan said with a proud smirk. "As for reinforcements, you didn't think I'd be unprepared, did you ?"

"Look next to you. Standing proud and tall is the former High Elder herself, a piece of what was meant to be boundless power." Jing Yuan said, gesturing to (Y/n) whose cheeks dusted red at the compliment. "I'd warrant that her power is enough to wipe out a whole platoon with a single swipe of her fan."

"And look," Jing Yuan said, gesturing for the two women to look behind them, where the team of the Nameless had arrived by the top of the stairs.

"Help has just arrived."

"Master Diviner, I brought you the guests." Said a young woman with the brightest emerald eyes (Y/n) had seen. "Though...it wasn't your order i received."

Fu Xuan let out a sigh before turning to give the general a look and a small smile. "So, General...even the guests are on the payroll these days ?" she asked and (Y/n) laughed softly.

"Well since they're already here, I may as well make use of them."

"Couldn't you phrase that a little nicer instead ?" (Y/n) said with a laugh. "You wanted to use flowery language to convey your feelings, but have no problem with revealing intentions."

"What can I say, princess ?" Jing Yuan laughed along. "Strike when the iron is hot, they say."

"Ah, Lady (Y/n) ! Are you alright ? Qingzu told us she had sent you here before us." March said, looking at (Y/n) worriedly, noticing that there was something a little different to (Y/n).

A much more...confident and royal air to the dethroned princess.

"I am fine. Thank you for worrying, March. Don't worry, there is nothing to fret over. I merely had...some enlightenment and answers to questions that have been gnawing away at me for some time now." (Y/n) said, a kind look in her experienced (e/c) eyes.

And she saw something in March click for a moment as she said that, but dared not voice her opinion. Especially not in front of the Master Diviner. Then the Nameless were beckoned to the side by Fu Xuan, and (Y/n) was left to talk to Jing Yuan, who she hadn't seen for a while.

"General..." she started before the hologram raised its finger close to her lips.

"Shh...none of that now, princess. Call me Yuan. No need for the formalities either, for we are closer that mere acquaintances, are we not ?" The lion general asked, and (Y/n) nodded, a soft blush on her cheeks as she was left with him alone to discuss.

"Y-yes..." she said softly, bowing her head a little in embarrassment. Locks of (h/c) hair fell forward, revealing the small trinket that dangled from her pointed ear.

And Jing Yuan noticed.

"(Y/n)..." he started softly before looking around to assess that it was only them that were listening in to their conversation and other pair of ears.

"Did you meet with Blade ?"

(Y/n) froze in her position, blood running cold and palms felt sweaty. Her (e/c) eyes wide with fear and horror. She cursed in her mind, forgetting that the windchime that hung from her ear.

She immediately got up, a hand to her ear as she looked at Jing Yuan with a small smile, trying to hide and lie her way out of the mess she had created. "N-no. Of course not--"

But she was cut off by his chuckle, finding the situation adorable and amusing. "No need to lie, princess. Not alot of craftsmen in the universe are able to create something as detailed and intricated but the man on the run."

"And I understand your past relation to him--" "That's not it, Yuan !"

"Oh ?" The General asked, looking at her with a little surprise in his golden eyes at the flustered woman before him. Then he smiled warmly and teasingly, as he took in the sight of the beautiful horned woman before him.

"Don't worry, princess, I don't mind sharing. But I don't intend to go down without a fight either." He said with a dark chuckle as he leaned in to (Y/n)'s ear.

"After all...lion's are quite possessive of what they are passionate about, right ?" He whispered into her ear.

As he pulled back, he relinquished in the sight of (Y/n)'s red face. Although he was merely a hologram, his sweet whispers felt almost real, as if his warm breath had really just brushed the shell of her horned ear, as if his fluffy white hair had tickled her bright horns perched proudly on her head like a crown of sorts.

Before (Y/n) could stutter out a reply, they were interrupted by a call of (Y/n)'s name by Fu Xuan. (Y/n) was about to leave, when she looked at Jing Yuan for one last time.

"Go, my moon. And remember. Whoever he was in the past, isn't the same as he is now. For both of them." Jing Yuan said, with an affirmative nod. "Trust your heart, and all will fall in place."

As (Y/n) gave him one last nod, she left, turning around to head towards Fu Xuan and the Nameless. The general kept watch of her as her figure grew more and more distant of him, his heart pounding in his chest.

He wanted to reach out to her, to hold her close and never let her go. He knew he was sending her into the face of trouble, but he couldn't let such a pretty bird keep her wings folded forever...

So he clenched his hand by his side, watching her walk away with a loving gaze in those usually cold and calculating honey-glazed eyes of his, his lips opening to whisper a small wish he heard her heart would reach if her ears didn't...

"I trust your judgement as much as I trust you with my heart, my love."

#dragon's cradle #honkai star rail #honkai star rail x reader #honkai star rail x you #hsr x you #hsr x reader #hsr jing yuan x reader #hsr jing yuan x you #hsr blade x reader #hsr blade x you #jing yuan x reader #jing yuan x you #blade x you #blade x reader #hsr #hsr jing yuan #hsr blade

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