#so was it bad or good luck cullen. tell me.

[vultures-and-scavengers]

cullen's thousand yard stare at getting interrupted is so funny. like at this point i assume he's trying not to think the maker has it out for him specifically, considering all the Unprecedented Historical Events he keeps witnessing up close. so like. of course there's something good in his grasp and then. interruption.

[thecarnivorousmuffinmeta]

Hi👋

Why does Bella refuse to remember and/or admit that Ed intentionally killed and ate people? It is mentioned, he told her about it, but she shows no fear, no disapproval, nothing at all. Why?

I mean, she does neither of those things.

She both remembers he did this, admits it, she just doesn't care/doesn't think it concerns her or is all that concerning of a thing.

Edward tells her about this in great angst, the years he... gave into temptation, expecting her to run out the door (as he expected her to with many of the things he admits) and she goes "wow, that's a story" and then Edward decides he is not going to push his luck here.

See, Edward's long since in his redemption arc. He doesn't eat people anymore, see. And even when he did, being a vampire and not eating people is really hard and Bella understands that. And Edward at least tried to only eat bad people, so that's points for something, right?

Though to give Bella credit, Edward tells this story himself in the kindest way to himself he possibly could. He doesn't go into details, he doesn't list exact numbers/is very vague about the... many people it was, he insists his victims were all bad and does admit "but I do realize this was wrong and made me just as terrible" and he very quickly moves past it. And Bella is not partial, she wants to love Edward, and so she wants to frame everything he says as being wonderful/good/or at least not that bad.

What Edward describes is safely decades in the past, it was only regarding 'bad' people, it sounds like vampire thirst is really hard and Edward's family is very impressive for sticking to it so she decides it's not something that should worry her.

As it is, Bella is... perhaps a bit too understanding of any vampire that eats people throughout the series as sure, she prefers if people do it the Cullen way, and thinks the Volturi are deplorable for their tourist eating scheme, but she has 0 problem with the many vampires that show up in Breaking Dawn and sure do eat a lot of people.

Not to mention the time she asks why the Cullens even bother not to eat people if it's so difficult and unrewarding and Edward just... stares at her.

The thing about Bella that can be a good thing or a bad thing (but is couched in the series as a good thing always) is that she's very accepting of people on a personal level if she likes them. As such, Bella's friends and family are forgiven their every flaw, not limited to eating people, and people Bella doesn't like are... not forgiven for that time they went on a terrible movie outing together that was entirely Bella's fault.

And I do have to increasingly wonder...

How many of you anons just watched the movies? Because a good number of you show up with questions that are very much addressed in the books but just get weird one-off lines or are never explained in the films.

[crossdressingdeath]

I finally figured out why Vivienne rubs me the wrong way. To paraphrase she is a lottery winner telling the underpaid workers that capitalism works.

As throughout the Dragon Age series we see how circle fails mages (In Orgins there is books about blood magic in hopes of catching desperate mage in the act of a crime, Awakenings the templars setting a entrapment for Anders despite being a grey warden and then there is Kirkwall).

Then in the game in which mage independence is a big issue our only circle mage perspection that is a main character is Vivienne who is fine with the current system. As Vivienne will tell us the player that while the system has flaws overall is fine. Which is really ridiculous considering the last game.

What Dragon Age Inquisition needed was a Kirkwall mage who saw the worst of the circles to be a counter argument that the circles are flawed

And what I mean by Vivienne being a lottery winner is that her position is almost a miracle. As while a young mage in the circle she had to be powerful enough to be allowed to do her harrowing but also not too powerful to make the templars afraid (as I believe it is implied that mages that are too powerful are nipped in the bud in Orgins), then in a party she is charming enough that a noble takes a fancy to her which then allows her to charm the Empress and gain political power.

All of these aspects feels like sheer luck. So when Vivienne tells me the circle works I want to eat my face in frustration as I remember Jowan and Anders and Hawke's parents desperately trying not to be in the circle.

(Sorry for the rant)

I think Vivienne is ultimately a very notable victim of a lot of DAI's poor writing choices. Both in terms of character writing and in terms of the overall themes.

See, DAI doesn't want us to get any perspective that doesn't prop up the Circle and the Chantry. It doesn't want us questioning the necessity of either institution. It's not just Vivienne; think back on the mage characters we see in DAI, the ones that aren't in the Circle mostly just don't talk about it. Not even Quiz, and if Quiz tries to argue that the Circles aren't great the Circle mages go "Well you're wrong because it was great for me" and Quiz isn't allowed to say anything back. See also Minaeve going "Well the Dalish are shit and the Circle is great because the Dalish threw me away and the Templars rescued me and that doesn't contradict anything in the preexisting lore and also it definitely doesn't say anything about the Chantry that my clan couldn't support an additional mage in their life on the run and also I'm just going to blindly assume the Tempalrs were telling the truth" while Lavellan is forced to just stand there, smiling and nodding and not arguing back at all even though they logically would. DAI needed a counterargument to the "Circles are good" argument, it needed a character who'd seen the worst they had to offer, but we were never going to get that because DAI didn't want it to be a debate. It wants us to blindly agree that the Circles are good and mages wanting freedom is bad. Which is a wildly stupid decision but someone made it anyway!

DAI also does not like character growth. Not in the slightest. The most DAI's companions get is their character growth popping in all at once in Trespasser after a full game of them being completely static. Just like how Sera refuses to acknowledge how awful she's being to Lavellan until Trespasser where she suddenly asks how they're feeling about the Evanuris stuff without using it to make them feel like there's something wrong with them for having non-Andrastian beliefs or how Dorian defends slavery and then that's quietly never acknowledged again until he mentions in Tevinter Nights that "someone he met in the south" changed his mind on the subject or how Cullen... is Cullen, you're never allowed to challenge Vivienne on her beliefs because if you did that then she might change and grow as a person and DAI does not want to deal with that. Especially not when challenging Vivienne means challenging the argument that the Circles are The Best Option. Poor Vivienne gets hit hard by DAI's refusal to accept that the Chantry's bad and the fandom does not want to side with them, she's probably the single biggest piece of collateral damage to DAI's bad choices.

And the thing is it's not that Vivienne doesn't know she's lucky! It's not that she doesn't know the Circles fail people! She recognizes there's a lot of flaws, and she does genuinely want to improve things for her fellow mages! Her intentions are good! Plus honestly if you work to get her approval up she's actually one of the better companions in terms of how she treats Quiz (seriously, look at some of her high approval conversations, she cares so damn much) and she'll defend even companions she doesn't like from unjust attacks (she's got a very good banter with romanced Dorian about how she got a letter from a magister she knows somehow about how disgusting Dorian and Quiz's relationship is and basically told him to fuck off with that). Vivienne really does care and really does want to make things better, she's just been so poisoned by her life in a world very heavily controlled by the Chantry and the Templars that she can't see past their way of doing things. The problem isn't that she doesn't see how lucky she is; she knows she got a lucky break that a lot of mages don't get (although it's important to note that she didn't just get lucky, Vivienne absolutely worked her ass off to get to where she is), and she knows that not everyone could get to where she is even if they'd gotten as lucky as she did. What she misses is that you need to be insanely lucky just to be more or less content in the Circle, never mind happy or powerful. Lucky enough to escape the worst of the Templars' abuses, lucky enough to be in a decent Circle, lucky enough not to be too weak or too powerful, lucky enough to get a manageable demon in your Harrowing, lucky enough to be the sort of person who won't be completely miserable trapped in one building your whole life... The thing Vivienne misses is that she got out, she doesn't have to spend her whole life in the Circle praying the Templars are good to her, and that's not an opportunity a lot of mages get no matter how smart or skilled they are. It drives me nuts, because if we were just allowed to push her to see that her story would immediately be so much better. As it is it's a lot of potential and a strong start that never really get paid off.

[greypetrel]

Maybe 31 from the hurt/comfort prompts? For any oc you'd like!

Hi! 💜

I decided now to go for some angst and girls supporting girl, hope you don’t mind the lack of Cullen on this. Tagging also @whiskynorocks because she asked for this one too!

CW: near death, blood, major injury

From this prompt list!

31. “Don’t look at them, look at me."

It wasn’t supposed to go like that. It really, really wasn’t.

They had a solid plan, she had checked once and checked again and lost sleep on it and consulted Cullen about it and he had told her it was fine, made a couple of corrections and suggestions. They were ready as can be.

Aisling hated sieges, hated all this and hated the fucking Emprise du Lion.

Storming Suledin Keep had been predictably long and a complex puzzle, but nothing they hadn’t already done, and now with much more expertise grown in months of fighting and travelling together. It had worked, even if nobody expected Giants on the loose, and even if the numbers of Red Templars inside was higher than their estimates. They had made it, with difficulties but they had.

They hadn’t been overly tired when they had reached the shrine and Imshael. Or so they all thought. Because the battle was being particularly complex. Horrors and Fearlings all around, and Aisling had tried very hard not to think about the Nightmare Realm as she Fade-stepped away from a Horror launging at her and pirouetted on herself right behind it, spirit blade firmly in her hand to cut the demon in its waist, right in the… Well, where a living person would have had a kidney. Just a touch of lightning right in the wound as she snapped the rapier back, for good measure to fell him once and for good, but she had to keep her strength. She heard Solas actually cursing -in Elvhen with that weird accent of his whenever he spoke it- as Imshael shifted yet again from a Rage to a Pride Demon, figure bulking up to tower against them all, Bull included, roaring a challenge.

She dodged a punch, skimmed around a magical bolt sent her way, ducked one of Sera’s arrows flying from above, headed to a Bull who was forced to retreat and calling for reinforcements. Fast, don’t parry, just dodge and run, strike where it hurts. She put a hand on the Qunari’s elbow and raised a hand in time, mana crackling in the air as she wove the slowing spell as quickly as she could. A large demonic hand, full of sharp talons, lingered just over Bull’s head, not completely still but struggling to keep speed in the golden bubble around the Inquisitor, as if it was suddenly dipping into honey.

“Back up!” She urged Bull, huffing heavily as she had to put more effort in keeping the spell up under Imshael’s push. It hadn’t lied in telling them people would have died: that really wasn’t an ordinary demon.

“Got you, Boss!”

She nodded and let go of the spell, abruptly, Bull snatching her away quicker than she would have done, out of the trajectory of the Demon’s hand now falling heavily on the ground where Aisling had been five seconds ago. The battle started back, and it still left her with an uneasy feeling of deja-vu.

But, they weren’t in the Fade, nothing as bad was going to happened to them and none of them needed to be left behind. She wove her left antsily, it still didn’t feel right enough or charged enough to open a Fade Rift. So, she just ran around, trying to find a place to keep on fighting at a range. If Imshael ever let her, which he wasn’t actually doing, following her around and aiming at her first, not caring for the Qunari tanking, Sera shooting arrows from above in his soft spots, Cole popping in and out to hit or the two other mages shooting fireballs and ice at it.

Just her usual luck, actually.

Just like that, running in circles and retreating as she kept shooting lightning at the Demon, slicing his hand when it got too close, she miscalculated distances and had the demon hit a column with one of his big shoulders, destroying it and sending debris all around. Dorian, she looked, was in the way, and he wouldn’t get away in time. So, she did the sensible thing, hissed a “Fuck, NO.” and turned to cast a barrier over the Altus, effectively protecting him from falling rocks… And uncovering herself.

Next thing she knew, she was flying on the side, launched in the air like a rag doll in the hands of a too lively child. She had no time to realise what happened, that she hit the ground, hard, sliding back for metres until the walls of the courtyard stopped her. She grunted in pain, catching the breath that exited her lungs as she hit the ground, sharp pain piercing her lungs. Another broken rib or two, fantastic. At least she could keep fighting with broken ribs, and so she clenched her teeth and propped herself up. Her head hurt and she felt wet on her temple, running down the side of her head. A quick touch to check that, luckily, it wasn’t coming from inside her ear, and she tried to get back on foot.

She was too late.

She heard a loud “No!” and she was hit and crushed to the ground again, a loud whipping noise covering everything as she was yet again deprived of her breath, crushed by something heavy on her chest which smelled distinctly of sandalwood.

No.

No no no no no.

She scrambled back open, ignoring the fierce pain in her ribcage, heart in her throat and desperation creeping in. What made her fall was, indeed, Dorian, grunting in pain as a big red stain on his cloak got bigger and bigger.

The Demon laughed, she heard it muffled, groaning something from her throat as she slipped away from under him and assessed the situation, moving frantically his cloak away.

The bastard must have gotten his femoral artery: it was the thigh and there was so much blood. Too much blood, seeping quickly out.

“I’m too pretty to die.” He let out, pained but struggling to stay upkeep.

“Solas!” She cried out, in desperation, as she forgot her staff on the side and pushed on the wound with both hands and what of his white cloak she could collect, hard, putting all her weight on it. Dorian groaned in pain, but she ignored him.

“SOLAS!” She repeated, frantic.

But the other elf was on the other side of the Shrine, fighting to keep the attention of the Demon away from them. He casted her a steely glance from down there, and Aisling instantly knew what he would have said. She shook her head, more terrified. Wet under her hands, Creators no.

“It’s ok, sweetheart. Non culpa tua est, intelligi?(1)”

“Just fucking tace.(2)” She snapped at him, shaking her head. She couldn’t think of the possibility. And yet it was a concrete one, as the blood didn’t stop.

She heard steps on her side, glanced up with a last, desperate hope, but it was just Sera. Sera who, without even asking, pressed her hands on hers, mimicking her and pressing down, stronger than her. Dorian grunted more.

“Great now I see double.” He joked.

She took a mental note to swat him, later.

“Can’t you do anything, Wiseshit?” Sera asked. “Magicky hands and all and all you can do is elfroot?”

“I- I can’t- I-” Oh she knew some basics. But the last time she actually healed someone- “I can’t, Sera, I… Call Solas, please.”

“Can’t? Meaning you know?”

She stopped, tears falling down as her stomach knotted painfully and she felt the urge to throw up.

“Sera, don’t-” Dorian tried to pacify her.

“NO, Sparkly pants, she can have a meltdown later! Wiseshit, you know or not?”

“I- I know, but…”

“But??”

“… But the last time I did, I had to restore to fucking blood magic and I… And I-” I can’t anymore, not to him in particular.

If Sera was phased by the news, she just flinched once and got back on track. As much as the elf was scared by everything magical, she had an incredibly level-head in stressful situations.

“Ok, stop. STOP.” The archer said, raising one hand to cup Aisling’s cheek and bring her to look at the other. Said hand was dirty in blood, but it didn’t metter. Green, despairing eyes met warm brown ones, determined. “It’s Sparkly-pants, it’s your twinsies.”

“But- they-” She looked at Bull, Solas and Cole, still fighting their hardest to cover them.

Dorian groaned something from below, but he was slowly losing his quip, skin terribly paler. No. Aisling couldn't risk... What would they have thought? She couldn't-

“Don’t look at them.” Sera urged, pressing on her cheek. “Don’t look at them, look at me. You can do it, ok? Saw you do some much weirder shit. You fucking flew on a chair with wheels, kicked a Giant’s ass on your own and spitted in Corypheshit’s face. You walked the Fade and got back to tell the tale, opening the door yourself. You can do this. Ok? It's easy. Do something, Wiseshit.”

She was trembling like a leaf, and could feel the trauma hitting back again in full force. But… Spirit Healing. Solas explained the theory. Reach the Fade for a Spirit of Healing or Compassion and channel his power to- Wait.

She nodded, fear steeling herself and getting a grip on her nerves.

“G-go to help the others, I need… Cole?”

The Spirit poofed behind Sera, making the archer yelp and jump on her place. She casted a last skeptical look at Aisling, who just nodded, not the very image of confidence, but less of a scared, wet kitten than before.

“Go. I got it. I got it, I-”

“Hot summer, the crickets are buzzing outside, it's the dead of night but the forest is alive. He’s so little, like holding a chick fallen from his nest in your hand, but he’s not in your hands, his heart is impossibly tiny, you can feel the blood in every single vein. If you move your fingers just so, that tiny little heart will stop. But you didn’t move them and he’s alive. Desperation never reached you, you’re safe. We can do it, I can help. Can I help?”

It hit her like a running druffalo, but she had not the head to tell Cole to stop. They didn’t have time for it. So, she just blinked away tears, and nodded, channelling her magic and tentatively reaching out for Cole.

“Yes.” They told, at once as Aisling reached him.

Wide, shinging and warm, like a nice spring day full of sunlight, the smell of clean cotton dried under it, someone hugging you tight and reminding you it’s not your fault. It made her cry, and she struggled to channel everything down, down her arms and her fingers, slowly moving damp cloth away and pressing on opened skin. Dorian screamed, somewhere on her right, but she wasn’t really here. She trudged on, infusing energy and healing him, slowly, tentatively and bright.

When it was over and Cole retreated, it left her with a weird sense of void… and cleanliness, as if she wasn’t really covered in blood and grime. She opened her eyes to meet a large gash in Dorian’s trousers, showing off clean skin, intact, save for a angry red scar. It would have scarred, it wasn’t a neat work, not remotely the precision and accuracy Solas had, but…

She snapped her head on the side, fearing that… But no, Dorian was very pale but still breathing. Breathing and looking at her as if she just grew a second head.

“… I… I should have told you. I’m so-”

“Darling. Tell me you’re sorry and when I’ll be able to I’ll turn all your elfroot purple and your dresses pink.”

She laughed, hard and watery, and crouched down to fold on his chest, ignoring the protest of her poor ribcage, nuzzling the crook of his neck.

“Moriar, et ego occidam te. (3)”

They both huffed loudly as Sera -still there, apparently- launched herself on top of the both of them.

“Too much weirdness already, Wiseshit, not the weird language too.”

“Thank you, Sera, really.” She told her, snaking a arm around hers to squeeze, for lack of anything better but she was sandwiched between the two and couldn’t move. Dorian weakly raised his arm too, circling them both as he could and huffing in relief, for once at a loss for words.

“The world should thank me if this will shut you up about Elfroot.”

And that made Aisling laugh, hard and loud… and incredibly briefly as her ribs protested the motion greatly and she ouched out of hilarity.

“Never.”

She declared.

And with that, and a loud scolding from the Iron Bull complaining that it was unfair not to include him in the hug pile, the girls were back in battle.

The hug pile was properly restored the very evening, Aisling managed to drag Solas inside as well, ignoring all his grumbling and complaining -but, he put some resistance just for one minute. All was well, and maybe Spirit Healing wasn’t so much the inferior choice.

(1) "It's no your fault" (2) "Shut up" (3) "Die and I'll kill you" I haven't touched Latin in a lot so forgive me if it's not the most correct Latin ever, pop the correct form in the comment and I'll correct the text!

Also replying to the other two prompts tomorrow!

[theluckywizard]

please please please tell me about A Splinter of Light*

I love future nightmare au scenarios OBVIOUSLY

Gosh, right now A Splinter of Light is just a soup of ideas but I am so excited about tackling it. For those just tuning in, this is for the WIP Ask Game I posted before and I am talking about my Lost in the Future after In Hushed Whispers AU, A Splinter of Light which features my f!rogue Rose Trevelyan, my m!warrior Garrett Hawke, Dorian, Bethany, Lady Elegant, Felix, Carver, Alistair, Anders, Varric, Fenris, Dagna, Merrill, Flemythal, Samson, Calpernia, Corypheus... it's a big cast with a lot of cameos. At the start of the fic we already understand the following characters to be deceased: Cullen, Solas, Cassandra, Leliana, and Fiona.

First because it's my blorbos and I get to make them fall in love again (like they need encouragement).

But I'm tickled I'm just so jazzed thinking about all the ways the world is messed up, the breach having overtaken much of the sky. There's the canon ways that we know from In Hushed Whispers, and then other details I've just gone ahead with.

Dorian and Rose escape Redcliffe Castle when they fail to replicate Alexius' spell (who is dead) at start of fic and escape from Redcliffe castle by water in the bowels of the keep wearing the red lyrium amulets Alexius' lieutenants wore to safely move past demons. (Yes there will be effects).

They get scooped up off Lake Calenhad by Hawke and Co. who use the lake as a base of operations since demons cannot get to them there.

Thinking of alternating viewpoints between Hawke and Rose because they won't always be together in the fic, though the bits I have written are first person Rose POV. Might switch to third before I get too far.

Since I can't just let them be together, there are a whole lot of forces trying to keep these two apart. Not to mention a longtime occasional lover of Hawke who is really pissy about Rose showing up after all these years. "Your stupid dream was REAL!?"

First, Corypheus wants Rose. He still hasn't found his way into the Fade. So there's a chase element. He's got Samson and Calpernia and their respective crews on the case. When it becomes clear she's been hanging with Hawke they decide to separate into two groups.

Flemythal is my wildcard. The Goddess so to speak.

I might even send them both into the Fade?

I don't know. I am swimming in ideas for this fic. But there will be star-crossed love and smut and adventure and with any luck delicious bad guys we love to hate.

A lil snippet:

Hawke sits on a boulder at the edge of the lake where familiar sounds and sensations meet the alien stretch of sky above us, sallow and weak, sunlight filtered through the threadbare Veil. His knees are pulled up in front of him, one long arm wrapped around them. He tosses pebbles into the water over and over as if he’s trying to prove to himself he can have an impact on this wretched world. I know it’s his first loss in a while, but it was her. A friend and occasional lover. His oldest companion here besides Bethany. It feels presumptuous to approach him in this situation, but nobody else is and even though he puts on a good front like he prefers to suffer in silence, I sense he’d rather not be alone. “Do you mind if I sit with you?” I ask. He glances at me over his shoulder, the corner of his lips turning up slightly. It looks a little bit like relief. Perhaps I sensed correctly. “If you can tolerate me at the moment,” he answers. “I’m a bit of a bore.” I gather up a handful of rocks for him from the pebbly beach beside the rock and climb up to plop down beside him, holding out my offering. His eyes meet mine, a twinkle breaking through the melancholy and he picks up a stone from my palm and tosses it. “I’m sorry about Elegant,” I tell him. “I could see how close you were.” “We’ve been friends a long time. Were friends,” he corrects himself and then shakes his head, his lips turned in a bitter frown. “Maker.” He looks out across Lake Calenhad, stiff breezes whipping up tiny white caps on the small waves. The surface looks as muddled and green as the sky. “It’s my fault she came south.” “You can’t blame yourself for that,” I tell him. “She chose to join you.” “To clean up a mess I helped create.” “If anyone is to blame here besides Corypheus— it’s me. I was supposed to get back to 9:42 to warn everyone. Stop Alexius. Stop the Breach.” He almost smiles and then nudges me with his shoulder. “True. You really turned out to be a terrible Chosen One didn’t you?” he says, a smirk breaking through. “I was always a terrible Chosen One,” I tell him. “The Maker was amusing himself.” A silence opens up between us, and our guilt hangs in the air the way the gut-twisting bittersweet scent of red lyrium does occasionally when the winds die down. I glance over at him, admiring the beautiful cut of his profile against the ugly, altered backdrop.

[nirikeehan]

Pravin & Thalia, dramatic situations prompts: "A character angling themselves in front of another character when things get tense or uncomfortable, stepping between them and harm’s way"

HI THIS has possessed me and is now part one of something to be continued at a later date. Stay tuned.

For @dadrunkwriting

WC: 1759

CW: Introduction of an OC from Thalia's past with super bad creeper vibes.

---

The Hinterlands were ablaze with autumn color. Thalia sat on her provided wooden bench and admired the hues: burnt oranges, vivid yellows, reds as bright as flame. The afternoon air was crisp but the sun warm, the sky an aching blue. The fair weather, it seemed, was her only respite. The procession to see her spread straight out of Redcliffe’s town square and curled around a corner. 

With a nod, she allowed the Inquisition soldiers serving as her security detail to admit the next petitioner into the shade of her pavilion. It was a woman, not much older than Thalia herself, wearing dark braids and a homespun dress. In her arms, to Thalia’s dismay, she held a swaddled, squalling infant. 

“Praise the Herald!” The woman threw herself prostrate on her knees, so that Thalia was forced to look over the edge of the long wooden table where she sat. The woman held up the crying babe, mucus streaming from its nose. “Please, bless my child.” 

Thalia hesitated only a heartbeat. She raised her left hand, flashing the gash in her palm that spilled emerald light, and waved it over the child. By luck — or perhaps the anchor’s glow did have a soothing effect — it calmed. 

“Your babe is already blessed,” Thalia said with a soft smile. 

The woman climbed to her feet, equally dazzled. “Thank you, my lady. That was incredible. Thank you so much.” 

The mother retreated, and in the procession’s lull, Thalia’s cousin Pravin slunk out from behind a tent pole holding up the pavilion. 

“Nicely done,” he murmured. 

“That’s not the first snotty baby that’s been shoved in my face.” Thalia sighed, resisting the urge to rub an eye. The afternoon felt every bit as long as the line gathered to see her. “Usually waving the anchor around is enough to convince the small folk I don’t need to kiss them.”

“The best for everyone involved,” Pravin adjusted the ostrich feather in his wide-brimmed cavalier hat. Today he’d donned a doublet and half-cape of deep navy blue slashed with royal purple. “I’ve heard tell the miasma of sickness is spread more easily in close contact, especially with children.” 

Thalia smirked. “I’d rather not face Corypheus while battling a chill, thank you.”

Pravin peered at her with his sharp green eyes. “Are you tired? I can tell the guards to turn the remainder away for the evening.”

“It’s all right.” With the Inquisition’s fame spread far and wide, these sort of audiences had become both more important and more taxing. It seemed these days she couldn’t go ten feet without a crowd of people wanting to meet the Inquisitor and ask for her favor, blessing, or air any amount of petty grievances. “We’ve an hour or so before sunset; I can make it until then.” 

“If you insist.” Pravin leaned forward, picking a bit of pollen off the collar of her dress. “In that case, I think I ought to go check on your boyfriend.” 

Thalia snorted. “Don’t call him that.” 

“No? What shall I call him, then? Your paramour? Beau?” Pravin smirked and struck a dramatic pose. “Your lover—?”

“I think ‘Commander of the Inquisition’ will suffice,” Thalia cut in, her face burning. 

Pravin let out a hearty laugh. “You two can’t keep it a secret forever, you know. The puppy eyes he gives you in our war council meetings are already so obvious. And now Arl Teagan has asked him to give a speech tonight — in your honor. Do you really think his Wicked Grace face is that good?”

“I thought he turned that offer down,” Thalia said, bemused. Cullen hated giving speeches that weren’t meant to boost battlefield morale among his soldiers; he found them overlong, self-important and trite — his exact words.

Pravin’s grin widened. “I… might have persuaded him otherwise.”

“Pravin!” 

“Because it’s good public relations,” Pravin insisted. “And perhaps because I got Varric to write it for him and agreed to coach him on his delivery. Trust me, when he hits lines like ‘our beloved Herald,’ he is not subtle.”

Thalia let out an exasperated laugh. “I knew I shouldn’t have told you about us.” 

“I’d’ve figured it out. Just like everyone else will,” Pravin said with amusement. “I’m just saying. Think of making a public announcement. Get ahead of it.” He buffed his nails against the lapel of his doublet. “Now, dear cousin, I’ll bid you adieu so that you may get back to your Inquisitorial duties.” 

Thalia shook her head as Pravin strolled out the back exit of the pavilion out amidst milling townsfolk and Inquisition retainers. Sighing, she straightened her posture and lifted her chin. There was a line of people waiting, after all. “You may send the next in.” 

An hour later, her pavilion closed to the public, Thalia slipped into the gathering twilight. Redcliffe’s town square bustled around her. The lamp lighters were out, and as she stood amidst the cobblestones, she could see the fading sunset reflected on the placid surface of Lake Calenhad. The warmth of the day had given way to the pleasant chill of an autumn night. Fireflies dotted the sky, and, higher up, so did the first dusting of stars. Thalia closed her eyes and inhaled the cool air, heady with the scent of cookfires. Redcliffe was hosting a feast for the Inquisition’s retinue, and all too soon she could be called to another pavilion, greeted by Arl Teagan, and seated at a high table for another round of diplomatic mingling. 

“Thalia?” said a man’s deep, silken voice, at once strange and unsettlingly familiar. “Thalia Trevelyan?”

She opened her eyes. A tall figure loomed before her, bathed in shadow. A lingering petitioner, probably, though the way he hunched, as if used to being unable to fit through doorways, set her on edge. She’d left her mage staff in her room at the Gull and Lantern, deemed too threatening to carry while meeting the common people. She clenched her left hand, feeling the anchor’s reassuring spark. “Yes? May I help you?” 

“It is you.” The man slunk forward, face obscured by his hooded cloak. His voice brimmed with elated mirth. “My, you’ve grown.”

Thalia’s stomach clenched. “Who are you? Forgive me, I don’t recall—”

He glided into the street light. The world tilted slowly. Intense blue eyes, crooked nose, concave cheeks, limp hair falling across his forehead — he was older now, but she’d know him anywhere. She’d stared into this face for hours, once. 

“Knight-Templar Algernon,” she breathed. 

“I’ve dispensed with the title, unfortunately.” He lifted his shoulders in an exaggerated shrug. “War — what’s it good for? Never should have left our little slice of paradise, methinks.” He cocked his head, smile wide and ghoulish. “Do you ever miss it? The Circle Tower?” 

“No,” Thalia said sharply, drawing back. “I don’t.” 

Algernon laughed. “Not surprising, I suppose. Dissolving the Circles and all that. Couldn’t comprehend it would ever come to that, let alone at the hands of one of mine.” He stretched out an arm to brush bony fingers against the dark ink beneath her right eye. His voice went hushed. “How could I have known my work would one day adorn the Herald of Andraste?”

 “Hey.” In a flash of purple cape and ostrich feather, Pravin threw himself between Thalia and Algernon. “Hands off the Inquisitor, buddy.” 

The former Templar snatched back his palm. Light-headed, Thalia dug her nails into the puffed sleeve of Pravin’s doublet. 

“Forgive me, ser, forgive me.” Algernon raised his arms as if in surrender. “We go way back, she and I.”

Pravin clucked his tongue. “What a coincidence, as do I. I’m her cousin. Who the hell are you?” 

The remaining glee drained from Algernon’s face. He swayed in his raggedy cloak, eyes darting. Without another word, he whirled and stormed off into the night. 

“Asshole.” Pravin turned to Thalia, brow furrowing in concern. “Are you all right?” 

“I— yes.” She leaned against the lantern-post, the fuzzy light above gathering moths, and tried to breathe deeply. He’s alive. He’s still out there. He… remembers. She shuddered.

“Are you sure?” Pravin asked, skeptical. 

“I just need a moment.” Thalia sat on the low stone wall that separated the town square from a manicured garden, pressing her palms against her thighs. Her dress pooled out around her, whisper-soft aquamarine samite threaded with cloth-of-gold. Not for the first time, she felt as if all of this were a farce — that only people like Algernon knew who she truly was. 

Pravin watched her with a troubled expression. As he opened his mouth, her security detail rounded the corner of her pavilion. “Is everything okay?” one of them asked, breathless. “We thought we heard a commotion.”

“No, everything is not okay.” Pravin jabbed a finger in Algernon’s general direction. “While you two were slacking off, the Inquisitor was accosted by a vagabond. You can rest assured I will be reporting this incident to the Commander—”

 “Pravin,” Thalia said. “It’s all right. I came out here by myself for some fresh air. It’s my fault.” 

“Like Andraste’s tit it is,” Pravin retorted. “They have one job, and that’s to keep you safe.”

“I’m fine. Look, see?” She lifted her chin and forced herself to smile. 

 Pravin rocked back on the heels of his expensive shoes and let out a slow breath. “If you insist. But all of us are escorting you back to the Gull and Lantern — right now.” 

Thalia didn’t protest; she stood and followed her cousin and guard detail. Soon they stood in the busy common room of the Gull and Lantern. The soft light and warm, cheery atmosphere reassured her. A minstrel tuned her lute over the din of those eating, drinking and carousing, and launched into a jaunty ballad. 

In the wide, bright space, Thalia felt less like Algernon might again leap from the darkness at any moment. She sank into a chair at an empty table and put her face in her hands. It had been years since she’d been able to feel the imprint of her tattoo on her skin, but her fingers found the curves and spiky lines regardless. She traced it from the bridge of her nose, around her eye, to her temple. She rubbed the opposite eye, where the ink bisected her eyebrow. 

Pravin sat beside her, folding his hands on the tabletop. He’d worn lacy, ruffled sleeves — dressing to impress the Arl tonight, it seemed. 

“So,” he said, voice low and gentle, “are you going to tell me what that was all about?” 

[panlight]

It might be one of those things fandom hyperbolizes, but like, how were the Cullens so easy going about Alice and Jasper just showing up and Alice giving the explanation of ‘I saw a vision and we’re going to be the best family’ as a total stranger? And if Alice really can influence the future with her visions, I feel like someone like Rosalie would not be 100% okay with that?? It feels like Alice uses her visions to get an outcome she likes, which can be read as pretty manipulative depending on the situation. Like I said, maybe it’s one of those things fandom exaggerates for fics, but between Edward, Alice, and Jasper who all have invasive powers to some degree, I have a hard time imagining the rest of the Cullens are entirely okay with that and there’s not more drama going on. Obviously we don’t see it because of the narrative focus/blind spots, but there has to be some sort of behind the scenes drama going on, right?

I've thought about this before and to me it feels like it comes from this like "supportive family!!!!" fantasy. That is, to SM it's more important that the Cullens embrace the "freaks among the freaks" than have realistic issues with the lack of privacy inherent in this. There is a nuanced way to do this where they don't shun Alice or Edward and Jasper and help them hone their powers but ALSO teach them boundaries and enforce them. And certainly in fanfic I see people go that route, but in canon it seems much more like a free for all and when anyone complains (Rosalie) they're considered a bitch because poor Edward has this horrible burden he can't help it!

That is, it's mostly from the POV of the vampire with powers and the vampires without powers don't really get a voice here.

They have to be thrilled with Alice (and Jasper's) arrival because ALICE's story is that she is looking for family and belonging and they have to be that for her. SM's idea of Alice showing up and being like "Hi, I love you all, where is my room?" overrides any reaction the other characters may have because Alice is the star of that story, just like Bella is the star of the overarching story and so no one is allowed to have realistic reactions that would derail the story SM wants to tell (and if they do, they're Bad).

A major example of this, to me, is when Leah yells at Bella in BD and Bella cries about it and Edward flips out and threatens Leah for it. I feel like we're supposed to be angry at Leah, too, and be like "how dare she say those hurtful things to Bella when she is PREGNANT and already dealing with so much?" because this is Bella's story even from Jacob's POV and our sympathies are supposed to be with her. But I was like, "Good! Someone needed to call Bella out for the way she's clinging to Jacob here, it's weird and unhealthy and unhelpful."

I get similar vibes with the powers. The Cullens without gifts would be will within their rights to complain about it or take issue with the lack of privacy that comes from the gifts (while still loving the family members involved!) but SM only ever writes it from the POV of the gifted member. Like when Edward says that only Alice will play board games with him anymore like he's Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer and they've rejected him for no good reason. No? His mind-reading is a REALLY GOOD reason to not want to play board games with him! Unless it's a game of pure luck, he has an unfair advantage that wouldn't be any fun. Same with Alice. They SHOULD be the ones playing games together, it doesn't make the rest of the family jerks it's just a practical issue with their powers.

[therealvinelle]

The volturi confuses me, bella thinks their evil cause they want her shield, alice and edward powers. Everyone thinks their greedy and killer crazy, but what is the volturi Truly like?

I think they're a necessary evil in a world so brutal that they had to exist in the first place. Aro seems to me like a generous and fair ruler, and his reputation is sullied by characters who have reason to sully his reputation.

The Romanians and Amun are his ancient enemies. Of course they're going to tell anyone who'll listen all the worst things that come to mind. The fact that they don't have much more to throw at Aro than "He turned Jane and Alec! Sure, they can control themselves, but that's completely the same as creating immortal children!" and "He enforces the law!" speaks to there not being a lot of dirt to be had on the guy overall. To put it this way, if he was an evil and mad overlord, then the stories Bella heard would have been a lot worse than "stupid Aro thinks he's so important".

Edward has a gift that gives him the illusion of character insight and is a liar with heavy bias against Aro ever since Aro made himself a threat to Bella remaining human, and he bases all of his prejudice against Aro on surface thoughts he read in the space of a few minutes. If Aro laughed at a cat video, Edward would think Aro intended to employ it as part of a twelve-step plan to destroy the Cullens.

Eleazar I haven't written a full post on why I think he's unreliable. However, he comes across as decidedly unintelligent and easily influenced in his brief Breaking Dawn appearance, a man who wants to be insightful and on the top of every situation. I think it was very easy for him to reframe his recollections of the Volturi in a sinister light, once he was given the right incentive. If you look at only the facts he's relaying (the Volturi would use his gift to recruit gifted guards. Gee, Eleazar, I think we just figured out why you were employed in the first place) then they're neutral.

The one accusation that could hold merit is the accusation that Aro places hits on covens to get their gifts. However, that doesn't really hold up either, at least not if we use the examples provided to us in canon and in the Guide.

Aro set his eyes on Demetri back in the day, so he recruited him. Amun and Kebi, Aro's ancient enemies, were sad. No one died. He set his eyes on Renata, she was recruited, and again - no one died. And her creator actually was toeing the line of the law, Aro could have justified Luca's execution.

Hilda's coven is frequently used as an example of Aro placing out a hit, as they were all killed except Heidi, who was won over with Chelsea. Except, this was in the 16th century and Aro had no Eleazar to tell him there were any gifts in this coven. Why, then, had they attracted his attention? We know that Hilda created a lot of vampires over a short span over time and allowed them to go see their families. She had a coven of five very young vampires living in London.

To me, that's painting a picture of a coven who were guilty of whatever Aro accused them of. (If not: post, post, post going into this in depth. Also, this one, about what it even means to break the law.)

Given that Amun, Kebi, and Luca, each of which Aro had motive to tip into the "frame for crime" bin, all lived, I think the argument that Aro really does spare innocent covens can be defended.

(I'll also make note that, as a human, I can't really bring myself to care about the innocence of these covens. Oh, they killed humans in a less obvious way. Good for them. Aro still saved countless lives by executing them.)

Apart from that, there's Aro phenomenally bad luck. There's the Eclipse debacle, (please just check my tag for that, I'm not typing it all out) and then before the dust can settle Irina marches in and gives him solid evidence the Cullens created an immortal child. He makes to do what must be done, only the Cullens are so suspicious of him that they don't think being innocent will be enough, they gather an army. Now he must bring an army of his own, and thanks to Bella he doesn't get the chance to redeem himself in the Cullens' (and the reader's) eyes. Still, I find his choice to keep silent about Charlie telling of his true intentions that day.

(And yes, Charlie does know too much.)

The result of these lies, the belief that Aro is an unjust ruler, and the mess that is Twilight, is that by the end of the series Aro and the Volturi look bad.

Of course, the Volturi are intended by Meyer to be villains, and indeed many people prefer to view them that way. Good on them, but I find canon doesn't actually support that, for all that it tried to.

[igotathingforvampires]

Aro Volturi N.S.F.W Alphabet

CANON DIVERGENT.

Info on Reader: Reader is an Elemental Gift user like Benjamin

CW/TW: a SLIGHT MENTION of assault but NO DETAIL AT ALL (as a SA survivor I do not use this lightly but I do like representation and not having the survivor be that cliche broken doll we end abusers here thank you)

How you two met:

You…..oh you. You’re standing with the Cullens wondering how the FUCK you got here.

Why am I here? What’s with this tiny little kid who can touch me and tell me things. Awe but she’s cute.

You’re just a bored Vampire who knows Carlisle and is Esme’s BFF.

You’re a nomad, and a badass one, see your gift is the Elements like Benjamin, it’s why Amun has his eye on you and is freaked out.

You and Benji are buddies now. Benjamin specializes in Earth and Water. You specialize in Fire and Air.

So now, here you are watching a bunch of cloaked baddies stomping towards you. But Carlisle and you have spoken frequently, the Volturi aren’t bad.

However, they are cautious.

And caution bred by fear is something you know to be wary of.

So you keep yourself a bit behind Carly. Waiting and watching.

The leader— that must be Aro you think, flings his hood back and suddenly you feel your entire chest clench up and a yank within yourself towards him. “Oh what the fuck.” You growl. Glancing UP at the Old Gods you couldn’t help but snap at them “ARE YOU ALL KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW?! HIM?!”

The platinum haired man barked angrily, “who dares?!”

Aro is too busy glancing at his brother Marcus who’s smiling. He nods at Aro and huffs a bit of a sigh.

The raven haired man turns ever so slowly, casting his red gaze over the crowd and it falls to Carlisle. “Carly.”

“Aro?”

“Who is that behind you.” Aro can feel his chest hurt like a chain is being pulled.

Carlisle looks confused and glances behind him where you are shaking your head face palming—looking embarrassed.

Edward and Bella are utterly confused, before Edward listens to Aro’s and your thoughts and gets a look of disgust, “REALLY.” He barks.

You feel the rage of a thousand suns consume you. “I CAN’T PICK IT YA KNOW AND HEY WHADDAYA MEAN REALLY —ASSHOLE DON’T TALK ABOUT MY MATE LIKE THAT!”

The entire field is utterly still as you’re heaving, standing on your tip toes in front of the bronze haired vampire pointing at Edwards cringing face, “but it’s—“ he starts, you let out a growl and sparks fly off you.

Edward shuts up.

“I will light your ass on fire.” You whisper hiss.

The Volturi are just tilting their heads like WTF.

Marcus is trying not to laugh, Caius has just become stunned glancing between his brother and the woman across the battlefield.

Aro is getting GIDDY.

“And who is the girl.” He asks.

You turn, your hips swinging with attitude and your arms crossing as you scoff. “Psh, get a load of this Mother fucker,” you whisper to yourself glaring across the expanse of space. “HEY. I have a name.”

------

-----

His First Impression:

Of course my mate swears like a sailor.

Is Aro’s first thought.

His next thought is that you’re awful adorable. Awe so lithe and cute and— Much too … hm, much too adorable to be mine I would think how In the —a violent wind kicks up and flames burst out from your body enveloping your form as you take a few steps forward.

Ah there it is.

“You wanna ask me my name— darling.” You smile wide at him.

“Of course,” his purr is laced with annoyance, but he’s far too intrigued. “Who might you be?”

“I’m y/n. No last name, my parents were assholes.” You shrug. “So, we doing this trial or we figuring the whole—“ you wave your hand between the gaping maw of land between you two, “bond thing.”

Aro pauses, a twitch on his lips, “after the proceedings cara mia.”

“Ooo… love me a man that speaks Italian—” You smirk, raising a brow and cock your head to the side.

Aro makes a stifled choked off growl as his eyes go black— thank God he lost the ability to blush as arousal slammed into him like a freight train.

You’re obviously annoyed, and have as Caius mutters ‘more balls than a Christmas tree’ and you are ready for this trial to be over.

Frankly so is Aro he wants to drag you back to Volterra and bring you to heel.

Not that he thinks that’s going to happen.

But he loves playing with fire. And you’re full of it.

He watches you glance at the Cullens and the half-breed. “Alright Nessie come on let’s show him what you can do kiddo.” You scoop the girl up and you and the Cullens walk over with Jake behind you.

-----

-----

When does he know of his feelings?

When within reaching distance you set Renessme down and pat her head, “okay tiny Loch Ness, say hello.”

Bella is panicking, but she trusts you it seems, she better, you have no qualms frying— sans mate— every vampire here. They do their little song and dance. Aro tries to talk about the danger and you feel your temper boil over.

“Darling.” You croon taking a step forward with a sharp but soft smile.

You remind him of a lioness, purring softly but ready to tear into him with one movement.

He raises a brow; you are in 6 inch heels putting you nose to nose with him. “Yes carissima?” He breathes deep and nearly groans out loud, you smell so good, like spring and a heady feminine scent like perfume edged in lilacs and lavender.

“Could you pretty pretty pretty please just keep an eye on little Nessie— I hate to tell you but she’s quite important to me and I can assure you she fits in with humans better than the Cullens do.”

“And if I don’t.”

You let flames dance in your gaze. “I’ll roast everyone here except your brothers and their mates and make you start the fuck over without me.”

Aro’s done.

Cupid has struck him in his dead heart.

He’s never been more terrified or aroused or enraged at once at your dulcet threat purred from such sweet lips.

He wants to grip you by your hair to him, pick you up and haul you to somewhere private and teach you a lesson.

He wants to fight you. And it’s quite clear you’re ready to rumble, though he’s not sure you’d let him win. Or that it wouldn’t end up tangling in a bed somewhere on fire. That’s fine too.

A manic grin spreads across his face, eyes going pitch black as he snatches you up by the waist and hauls you closer loving the startled look in your eyes settling into something dark and wanting. “And if I agree?”

The brothers roll their eyes.

Go figure you’d be as bat shit as he is.

“I’ll leave with you right now.” You give him THAT look matching his almost mad grin.

A low purr echos from him making Bella clap her hands over Nessie’s ears. “Una ragazza così meravigliosa, credo che mi piaccia come funziona la tua mente.” Such a wonderful girl, I think I like how your mind works.

But your plans to drag your mate off end as Alice shows up with her witness right when he’s about to whisk you off for some obvious adult time.

Both of you sigh put out and exasperated.

Yes you just about ended an entire potential threat with batting pretty eyes and coaxing the leader of the Volturi into some fun.

But now that’s ruined because of the psychic. Alice is looking rather embarrassed as the proceedings go. Given that she probably saw how everything was about to go down.

Aro can sense you’re as annoyed as he is, that and you’re not leaving his side. And you don’t mind touching him but you’re not because oh yeah he needs to focus. But oh he can see your hand twitching towards his own.

He can easily turn his gift off and so he does and grips your hand, quickly jerking you to his side.

Electricity lights along your skin at the contact and both of you jolt a moment and glance sideways looking amused.

This was going to be fun.

——

——

How’d you end up with the Volturi?

Alice and her witnesses ease their concerns about Nessie. Aro placates the Volturi as you linger back behind him a bit. Everyone just poof! Vanishes.

“So ah, can we get my stuff first before you whisk me off around the world?” You ask sweetly.

Aro’s a bit startled, “you wish to leave already?”

You realize he would be willing to stay for a bit and let you acclimate.

“Nah where you go I fucking go, come on baby. Let’s get the fuck outta dodge.” You give him a teasing shove as you walk by making Carlisle’s coven silently shake in mirth at his surprised expression.

Carlisle murmurs, “Good luck Aro.”

“Fuck off Carly.” The King growls back before following you.

That’s all they wrote.

You were in. And you made yourself at home quite easily.

Jane and Alec adore you— you saw them and just SQUEEd. “OMG they’re so DEADLY but so CUTE!”

Jane wasn’t quite sure what to do with you picking her UP and hugging her nuzzling your nose to her cheek, “she’s just a tiny tot of doom I adore it! We’re going to burn the SHIT outta people.”

Alec just sat starry eyed as you ruffled his hair, “I know boys don’t like being picked up.”

Jane had become a koala on you. And you didn’t mind.

Well. You’re Mama now. Aro couldn’t be more pleased as you continue to help develop their skills trying things outside of the box.

See, that’s also a sort of talent you have— you can help people learn how to use their gifts because of how you think. Not a gift per say, but certainly useful.

Jane it turns out can utilize the fire element.

Alec can utilize air.

With you knowing both you’re easily able to teach Alec how to hone his targets and even allow his gift to POP UP near someone rather than from his hands.

Jane is capable of setting shit on fire now.

Aro isn’t sure if he’s proud or worried.

Bit of both. But you are STERN with their use of powers. And when Jane set Felix’s foot on fire she was forced to shine everyone’s shoes in the Volturi in the afternoon and write 200,000 times at HUMAN PACE. “We do not light family on fire.”

She never did it again.

The inner coven loves you. Caius and you are besties Marcus is like a big brother always doting on you. Athenadora and Sulpricia are of course still together as companions, and don’t worry about his ex wife— they were on the rocks she’s ecstatic someone else can keep him in line.

The coven instantly takes to you, in fact you’re now basically Mother to everyone. Scolding, teaching, comforting, you do it all. But you’re also a leader and a ruthless one at that.

A perfect fit Aro thinks.

——

——

How’d he deal with his emotions?

You are driving Aro FUCKING CRAZY.

Literally mad.

You know how to push his buttons and you are not one to do as told. So for him, he who has anyone bending to his will to see you just cock a brow at him and laugh “awe.”

He wants to choke you half to death.

You are a Queen. He tells himself. It’s to be expected that you’d challenge him.

Sulpricia finds it HILARIOUS and you two are besties. Fuck that’s all he needs. She is ever so encouraging of your independence.

He often finds himself in Sulpricia’s study pacing rampantly, “what am I going to do with her?”

“You know you like it.” Sully says lounging back on her couch. “If you didn’t you wouldn’t be so utterly ass over tea kettle.”

Aro is not good with his emotions when it comes to jealousy. And he is JEALOUS.

You’re perfect to him, utterly beautiful, you are the sun and he Icarus stupidly flying as high as he can towards you in hopes to reach the light.

You’re also inclined to let him touch you whenever you want to express things without using words— and you’ve learned to let him speak to you telepathically as well.

So often you just sit with your pinkies touching on a couch and have back and forth silently except for the occasional twitch on your lips at a humorous comment.

You’ve managed to make him huff a laugh occasionally.

But he is utterly posessive. He does not like it when men stare too long, admiring is one thing, but nothing escapes Aro.

So when a lower guard had been in trouble for an infraction and when you had disciplined him the utter disrespect for a concubine replacement was across Aro’s mind and…welll—

Guard died.

You had just looked startled and gave a ‘oh well’ kinda shrug before touching ARo’s hand. Feel better baby?

Yes you called him baby in private, so modern, and he would NEVER admit he loved it. Baby, darling, love, honey, the list went on and each one twisted his insides into ribbons of absolute adoration.

You had actually taken to the bond so well Marcus had informed him that it was practically cemented.

His only hang up was himself.

——

——

Who does he ask for help?

Didyme is no longer there— his dear sister, a deep sorrow as he was accidentally responsible for her death.

Marcus however is always there to be the voice of reason, and he sits Aro down and listens to his brother spill his guts. Aro is terrified, he is well aware he is THE monster that makes OTHER monsters keep in line.

But for you to look at him like that? He could never bear it. His heart would break.

Marcus sighs, “Aro come here.” He drags his brother to the training grounds.

Where Aro get’s to see his mate literally tear apart the entire guard with blades…. Did his eyes deceive him— were those made from vampire ash and fangs?!

You pause your onslaught, “oh hi darling!” You prance over and smile, “like them? My witch-smith friend made them for me! Fucking bastards kept coming for me after awhile and ya know I just hate the idea of wasting shit.”

Marcus glanced at Aro and gave him a I told you so.

“Everything okay?” You ask looking concerned. You are dragging him along as he partially willingly let’s you take him to his sister’s gardens. “What’s wrong?”

And so, he exhales and does the one thing he’s never done with his gift.

He touches your hand and shows you his own thoughts.

He expects your recoil. Expects you to shun him. Expects your hatred and braces himself for it.

You gasp and when he’s about to drag his hand away and you grip him tighter. “No don’t…let me…” and so you watch— thousands of years of memories over the course of a week or two. Asking silent questions as the images play, getting silent answers in return.

And so, in return, you show him your human life— a life that had been riddled with abusers, torment and lack of love, the iron in your spine that had solidified your creation when you had dragged yourself from an open alley way at dawn into the sewer system after being left to die being drained by a nomad after a brutal assault. You shared with him that it had taken a lot for you to even move after what had happened.

Esme had found you.

And so your friends made sure you were okay even if you didn’t follow their diet.

You both spend time going over your pasts, Aro gently asking questions and you doing the same to answer as best you could.

It was why Rosalie and you got along so well, there were some experiences one could only understand by going through it. And you both had learned how to cope with the trauma you had.

Aro is patient, both of you taking time to feel through each others wounds, taking time to rework into each others personal space.

Marcus is stunned to tell Aro that the bond is nigh unbreakable after this exchange.

The Kings magically -coughs- big brother Marcus loses his shit finding out and Caius leads the search party with Demetri— cough cough— find the nomad and he’s now in a box limb free 15 feet below the dungeon with a tube connecting him to the surface, his tongue removed and he only gets blood once a year. *Jane lit them on fire multiple times to practice her accuracy and aim*

You find out of course, and smile through the dry sobs as all three embrace you like a big protective group hug. For the first time in a very long time, it’s safe.

Truly safe.

——

——

What happens when he tells you?

Aro is a man of few words, and honestly not much is needed between you two with the ability to go back and forth with his gift.

So in the middle of a walk in Didyme’s gardens he merely grabs your hand gently and kisses the top of your fingers.

And you’re flooded with his emotions.

The warmth and tenderness and absolute adoration is almost enough to restart your dead heart as venom pools in your eyes. “Aro…”

He loves you, loves you more than his own life, would give anything for you to make you smile.

This isn’t the love that is complacent, to just sit idle and rust away, he wants to chase you for eternity, whatever it takes to keep you at his side.

And you flood him right back— lowering the barriers you had and after a moment he merely leans down and presses his forehead to your own, giving the two of you time to just bask in the warmth of affection that’s swirling back and forth akin to the waves of the tide under the moon and sun at twilight.

——

——

First Kiss?

The leaders of Volterra were in the throne room, the Queens having their own thrones behind their husbands but visible carved in different woods to represent their personalities with different intricate features much like the brother’s thrones holding different crowning points but all the same color.

Your own is the same color as Aro’s throne, but mingled with mahogany accents. Ruby red stones slotted at the top with a crescent moon and sun carving emboldened with gold spiked halo.

Caius' mate's throne is a pale color, affixed with branches and beautiful earth like tones, complimenting her grounded nature.

Marcus’ Witch Mate is merely embellished in a ash throne, deep red almost black gems and the symbol for the overall witch and vampire alliance above her throne.

With all three positions of Queen in Volterra taken up by a true mate, it is the most stable the Volturi have been in several millennia.

But that day in particular was rough, there were a few traitors that had been brought forward— and one of them had managed to get loose from Felix as Aro had been gaining information lunging for the King’s throat.

You moved so fast no one even saw you as you streaked forward like a ghost and lobbed the vampire’s head off holding a blade made of vampire teeth expertly with an animalistic snarl.

You had positioned yourself in front of Aro, crouched, blade poised and your eyes wide and wild, teeth flashing with a dangerous snarl.

Marcus’ witch had already shielded Aro but paused when she saw how enraged you were. Athena and Sulpricia had faltered, Caius looked utterly proud.

You spun round, dropping your blade— knowing Felix and the others had everything in hand as Aro had reached for you, the two of you locked in an embrace, his hands holding your face still as your own hands grasped his wrists. Foreheads pressed together—

The coven was used to this, a private conversation but you could feel the utter terror that had gone through him when he saw you out of the corner of his eye. If anything had happened to you—he was almost angry at you.

But he could easily sense the rage that had consumed you at the thought of someone hurting him. Despite knowing the guard and Jane would Never allow it, your instincts had taken over.

No one would ever take from you again.

And you had been frightened.

Behind that rage when he got past it was utter fear that he’d be gone and you’d be all alone again all the tender memories would be the last you’d have of him as you gave a dry sob before the venom dropped from your eyes— a true show of vampiric emotion that was a rarity.

“Carissima, no. I’ll not leave you that easily.” He murmured and not giving a flying fuck about anyone in the room kissed you full on the mouth gathering you up in a tight embrace.

“I’m sorry,” you whispered half broken against his mouth. “I’m sorry-“

“I know I know, shhh cara mia shhh,” gathering you up he merely flitted out of the room leaving the others to deal with the issue.

Tons of snuggles. He had bundled you up to him in his private rooms and merely kept your hands together enjoying the shared emotions knowing the other was close and safe.

Aro knew exactly how to calm you, he merely showed you all his favorite memories, of the coven, of his travels, the antics his brother’s got up to. He replayed the moment he first saw you.

That always made you laugh of course she swears like a sailor.

——

——

First Time?

It’s in an elevator.

Okay so here’s the thing. The Volturi have these massive events, and your official coronation happens at one of these.

Aro is so proud.

And so fucking jealous as you are danced across the floor with other vampires— who are oh so respectful and as they should be as Aro watches from the upper floor like an angel of death.

You look stunning, your smile lighting up the entire ballroom, friends from near and far are there— even then Cullens— God bless Carly he even had animal blood brought for him.

You’re dancing around with Nessie laughing and watching the girl child giggle like a fiend before handing her off to the Shifter Aro hated the smell but it was what it was.

Over the course of the evening he was getting awful tired of sharing you. And as the evening wound down to an end you both were just going to take the elevator back up to the private rooms as the Ballroom was on the top floor of Volterra.

The energy crackled in the small space and you both glanced at one another. It was like a short fuse had been lit on a stick of dynamite.

We’re so not doing this in an elevator are we?

You didn’t realize you had said it out loud even as you both gravitated towards one another and his hands tangled into your hair sending gold pins flying to the ground as his mouth found yours and you let out a deep moan as his tongue swiped your lips before you happily opened them.

“We’re going to be patient. Cara mia. ” He said sternly more to himself than you— then groaned when your teeth tugged gently on his bottom lip knowing it drove him crazy. “Sarai la mia morte. Sulla mia tomba scriveranno 'ha giocato con il fuoco ed è perito felicemente’” his voice became heated as his hands moved over your form, “non mi importa più, vieni da me mia fiamma, brucia con me.” You will be my death. On my grave they will write 'he played with fire and perished happily'. I don't care anymore, come to me my flame, burn with me.

His hands were gripping your backside and hauling you up, pressing himself firmly between your thighs before grinding against you. But when his teeth scraped your neck your brain shorted out—

“Oh for gods sake Aro just fuck me already—” your hands were scrabbling at his waist coat and shirt pleased how easily the buttons pinged off the walls of the elevator.

Your mate let out a pleased noise, one that was utterly inhuman when your hands tangled into his raven locks and knocked the golden V pin to the floor allowing the ocean and pomegranate scent of his to curtain you from the world as he bent his head down and kissed you as if it were the last thing he would get to do just then. Right before he smacked his hand against the emergency stop button jolting the ride to the private floor still.

If you thought his kisses were something to be swooning over— because he always knew what you needed.

Well his gift extends to much and he is in tune with it.

Your mind is his favorite place to be, and he brutally uses what he knows to his advantage as his fingers skim up your legs flinging your skirt over your thighs to teasingly grind himself against you till you’re almost clawing at him half feral.

“My pretty little mate—“ he croons at you, “you looked so beautiful cara mia,” kissing down your throat before biting marks into your flesh licking them before continuing on as his teeth jerk the fabric of your bodice and sleeves off not even bothering with his hands. “E tu sei tutto mio, cazzo.” And you’re all fucking mine.

You were busy molding your hands against his form, loving how it was just ratcheting up his half mad with desire motions, twitchy, greedy, desperate to touch, “What was it you joked about that one time?” He was referring to a memory with your best friends over drinks.

You gulped and shivered a bit. “I believe I said sometimes a girl just wants to ahem— get slammed to a wall and fucked stupid?”

He smirked as his hands tore fabric off you letting his fingers to glide along your skin, allowing your own to do the same and showing you know exactly what he liked through the bond of touch.

If you’d been human the air would have left your lungs as he pressed his body tight to your own, pinning you in place letting you feel what you did to him, the hard length of his cock pressed into your belly. “What do you say we take care of that, hm?”

You’re speaking in tongues before he even takes you fully, and roughly, there’s no slow tender love making and frankly you’re just glad for it.

His wild smile sliding into a predatory proud smirk when you’re just a mess; whining at him, begging, pleading, twitching against him and oh you’re just so pretty when at his mercy.

He literally has the tongue of the devil.

“Did I finally break you little one?” He croons despite his rough movements sending you into another shockwave of bliss as your nails make claw marks in the wall.

Fuck he had— you’ll do anything if he’ll just continue.

Your submission is like a drug, he’s mad on it, hands digging against you, making small fissures of cracks along your hips that make you groan gleeful as you push closer for more of his touches.

“That’s right bambi, give me everything.”

That’s all you hear before he’s fucking you into the wall of the elevator, sinking his teeth into your shoulder and neck just to relish in the pain and pleasure filled noises that escape from you as you beg for more, more, just please give more it’s all you want.

“My good bambi.” He growls as he begins it all over again, rumbling in your ear as your try to escape the onslaught of sensations— but happy you can’t as his grip has you immovable. “You’re not escaping me just yet.”

You’re both a mess, not that either of you care. Adjusting yourselves as best you can—

You’re lucky his private rooms are close and he simply carries you and flits you both into his rooms; you both end up continuing what was started.

——

——

A = Aftercare (what they’re like after sex)

He is a touch telepath, he knows exactly what you need.

But he also surprises you with what you didn’t even know you needed.

Snuggles, so many snuggles— Aro is not a tactile person— but with you?

Forget it.

He’s practically melting into your form and trying to fuse himself to you.

Massages, nuzzling your hair, biting.

Lots of biting— but not hard bites, love bites. Pressing his teeth to your skin to leave little imprints that he just can’t get over. You always poke fun at him for it.

Plus let’s face it.

Bite = Love.

He and Caius are on one mind with that.

He also took a note from Marcus and you both enjoy the heat of the baths together after a particularly long rough romp.

Which turns into a bath romp.

Because ahem *REASONS*

“I’m King I don’t need a reason to have you— now come here.” He’ll huff imperiously when you giggle at him as he drags you close into his embrace kissing you.

Okay he lies.

You looked too pretty in the bath.

Aro can’t help himself. That’s the reason.

——

——

B = Body part (their favorite body part of theirs and also their partner’s)

He is SHOOK when you tell him your favorite thing about him is his hands. You never feel misunderstood.

Even in the rare fights you simply huff and reach out to him, wiggling your fingers with a pleading glance; or if he won’t take your hand you’ll walk over sit in his lap and headbutt your forehead to his like an angry cat.

But usually Aro will take your hand and you both have a deep understanding of where you’re both coming from.

After a few moments it’s settled.

You kiss his hands, he knows you love how he plays you like a finely tuned instrument when alone.

Love when he delves his fingers into your hair and cradles you close even if you’re in the throne room— he’s the fucking king he can do what he likes damn it.

But Aro is startled by this— everyone hates touching him even though he can control his gift, they seem to think that— aside from his brothers and sister in laws— that he just loves to dive into people’s minds for funsies.

No it’s awful. Plain awful. He can barely stand his own mind why would he want to traverse someone else’s?

But that brings us to what he likes about you— he LOVES your head space. When he’s stressed it’s his favorite place to be because you have a vivid imagination, as a writer as well you show him stories you’ve thought of and worlds you’ve created with vivid detail. He finds it quite amusing to use watch your thoughts too on a daily, you like it simply because he’s close.

But aside from that it’s you.

Just You.

Just ALL of you.

He can’t pick don’t make the man pick, he would just keep you near him for eternity which you seem to have no issues with.

———

———

C = Cum (anything to do with cum, basically…I am a disgusting person…)

He is quite a posessive person.

Two Words:

Breeding Kink

You’re his and his alone, so the idea of ah— claiming you that way just sends him off into the ether.

The fact that you both have a breeding kink and literally can’t have kids is a GREAT thing because you’ve literally sat there a absolute mess after round five and thought out loud as he tenderly cleans you up, “shit thank god we can’t reproduce because I am 100% sure that’d have knocked my ass up—” which has had him shaking in mirth having to pause to control himself after a few moments.

Beg him for it.

Make that whining needy noise in the back of your throat at him for him to finally give you what you need.

He’ll just lose it, pin you by the throat and well— you’ve broken a few beds this way.

He has no shame.

Just glances at the bed, hits speed dial to the furniture store and orders a new one.

His only other favorite thing with C as he soon found out from O (you’ll see) was he adores when you swallow down everything he gives you. That’s got him rumbling in Italian about what a good girl you are and how much you please him.

———

———

D = Dirty secret (pretty self explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs)

He’s a MASSIVE Pleasure Dom. And when I say Dom.

HE GOT DOM ENERGY.

With very mild Sadistic tendencies. (Thanks a lot Caius ya pervy fucker)

However he is also a very sincere soft streak when you’re a very good pet.

He picked up pet play from his sadistic brother hearing him call his amore Bunny. One day down the rabbit hole that is Google and he was hooked.

But he calls you Bambi. It’s an Italian term for baby-girl.

It also works because you become like a damn deer in the headlights when he pulls the Dominant voice on you.

It thrums with a low purr and has the capability to just make your brain go wait what?

HE’S A FUCKING SWITCH.

You had been pissed as shit at him. “I don’t know whether I want to strangle you or fuck you to death!” You paused because you had literally throat pinned him to the wall, the stone crumbling beneath him, feeling the muscles of his neck working as he swallowed nervously.

You were about to let go but saw his eyes had gone totally black and expectant and startled but excited.

He was just as fucking confused as you both calculated in a matter of seconds what had happened.

You were first to catch on. “Oh?….OH...….oooooohhhhhhh ….. you….you son of a….” You sputtered as he got a sly grin, “you can’t just look at me like— you are so ill behaved!!”

He wasn’t far behind and raised a black brow at you looking mischievous, “…..and what are you going to do about it mia regina?”

Next thing he knew he was face planted on his office floor with your boot pressed on his cheek making him groan low. “Gonna make you regret mouthing off to me is what I’m going to do my Aro.”

Edge him. Don’t let him touch you all day till he begs. He loves when you exert your authority especially on him? Oh forget it.

Queen Slay.

Literally you are his Queen and you are the only one who get’s to fucking tell him what to do.

And you ruthlessly do so when he’s in the mood. All you hear is “mia regina?” He’ll croon at you, as your hand comes up and drags him to you by his tie.

“would you like to be of service to me Aro?”

Magic words. He’s done, let him have you and he will literally just focus on your pleasure.

Worship Kink.

You had dropped to your knees at his desk and laid your head in his lap and he almost lost his god damn mind. You purred at him, “il mio maestro”.

Aro .exe has stopped fucking working.

———

———

E = Experience (how experienced are they? do they know what they’re doing?)

Thanks to the tactile telepathy as well as the fact that he and his brothers have slept their way through history, Aro is a very mixed lover.

When I say greedy as a lover, he wants your pleasure for himself. And will literally drive you to it till you’re sobbing for mercy.

He has none.

But he does take pity on you when he knows you’re truly at your limit with touch.

You weren’t inexperienced but his own experience blew yours out of the damn water. Can literally have you on the edge in mere minuets. And is SMUG about it.

Fucking smug bastard just watching you with that smirk on his face and a ‘well?’ Kinda expression.

You have to beg if you want it.

You have to plead, you have to let him hear you or he’ll just keep going and I quote ‘hmmm I can’t hear you cara mia, you’re being so quiet you know that makes me want to fuck you harder, come now, let me hear you— don’t make me have to drag it from you baby girl. You know I love to hear your sweet sounds.”

Could probably kill you if you weren’t already dead with what he can do with his hands.

His tongue is even better.

When asked which you preferred you had just panted desperately after a hard orgasm, “any. All. Both. God just…holy fuck.”

He cracked up over that. “My poor baby I broke her.”

————

————

F = Favorite position (this goes without saying)

Loves having you in his lap.

Prefers to see your face and eyes, seems to need it.

But occasionally he just loves gripping your neck from behind and feeling you gasp against his grip as he slams into you roughly.

Adores anything that has you clinging onto him for dear life.

Likes being in a position to mark you. Favorite thing ever.

You had once tested his patience (willfully hoping for this outcome) a bit too much and he had pinned you completely immobile to the desk of his office and fucked you within an inch of your immortal life gagging you with his black tie.

“you just have to test me don’t you mia regina?” He had growled in your ear leaning over you, his hand crunching the ornate wood to splinters as you keened and whined for him to keep going. “Such a ill behaved thing you are, should just keep you here like this for when I please hm?”

He was not joking, you were kept there quite happily under his desk sitting at his feet your head on his lap waiting and absolutely willing.

He could feel your hands grip his thighs, “quit that I know what you’re trying to do and it’s not going to work—“ his voice teetered off in a guttural growl as he looked down.

You were biting his shirt looking up at him already nudging yourself between his thighs your teeth digging into his trouser zipper and tugging down.

his hands were gripping your hair jerking you up to kiss him deep, a growl against your lips, “Fucking damn it— come here.”

When you can get him to swear which is rare— yeah…

He didn’t exactly sound angry.

But he sure fucked you like he was though.

“This is what you were after hm? You brat!” A harsh laugh as he pinned you down a bit harder, “fine then I should ensure you’re good….and….sated…shouldn’t I bambi?”

———

———

G = Goofy (are they more serious in the moment? are they humorous? etc.)

Very sincere.

Teasing but only in a very sexual way.

Borders on humiliation but he respects you too much.

Very serious though when he focuses on you.

He’s focusing on all the sensations you’re sending him, letting you know what he’s feeling as well which just sets you into the damn ether.

———

———

H = Hair (how well groomed are they? does the carpet match the drapes? etc.)

It’s ARO.

The man is vain.

The man is neat.

Clean and pristine.

He’d give a regal huff of annoyance, “I am not a heathen darling.”

———

———

I = Intimacy (how are they during the moment? the romantic aspect)

Ohhh you wouldn’t know it but he’s such a god damn romantic.

He is. And he MAKES time for you. The schedules are changed so you have time together more often— something that was never done before.

Operas, romantic walks out in Volterra at night.

Sightseeing.

Your favorite was your trip to Germany in the winter with a big cozy cottage and a big fire and lots of bedding to ahem— destroy.

Aro has penguin brain.

He brings you small gifts that made him think of you— you have a bracelet that has special charms he had custom made for you, a lochness monster for when you met, a castle obviously for Volterra, a doe, different tiny items that speckled through your life, each one means something— you hardly ever take it off.

You have a collection of very sparkly stones in many jars that he found on his missions.

They are actually gemstones— insert eye roll— they set off pretty prisms through your shared rooms.

“Aren’t you going to make jewelry of them?” Aro asks.

“No darling they are perfect just as they are.” You smile.

Aro actually has the literal voice of a damn angel.

He sings to you in Italian, soft dulcet sweet tones and dances you around your rooms teasing you relentlessly.

Aro writes beautiful poetry. He will at least write one every few months when inspiration comes to him.

You have your own private box at the opera house. As well as being allowed to fund artists across the world, you’ve found incredible talent on broadway and other venues.

Flowers. Aro ensures care for a private greenhouse for you on the roof, each flower has a meaning, and they all bloom year round given the proper temperatures on the greenhouse. “Why would I send you flowers when they die so easily.” He asks kissing your cheek as you smile over the new blooms. “This is everlasting, much more fitting.” He muses.

All his poetry is in a beautiful book Caius got you for your birthday.

———

———

J = Jack off (masturbation headcanon)

Why would he do that when he has you?

He is a patient man.

He can wait.

And he has pristine control over himself.

He is too old for pre-pubescent raging hormone crap.

But he will legit melt for you if you do it for him. Prefers it slow, enjoying your touch and loves to watch as you take instruction.

You’re such a good girl for him.

————

———

K = Kink (one or more of their kinks)

Aro is a kinky bastard.

MASSIVE Pleasure Dom.

Worship Kink.

Edging.

Controlling Orgasms *you don’t get to come till he gives permission*

Collaring *your Volturi necklace is LITERALLY on a collar*

Overstimulation. *his gift allows him to know when you’re pushed to hard and when you can take a bit more. When you’re craving that over stimulus, he’ll give it happily. Knowing he can turn you into a babbling speaking in tongues, drooling, eyes rolling back mess just— just— GAH.*

Breeding Kink *Aro has a true breeding kink, ask him to fill you up beg him for it and he’s going to lose his mind.*

Gagging. *he loves to gag you, but also loves being choked by you or you grabbing onto his tie.

Wax Play *you’re a fire elemental user, bringing candles into play is just oh it’s nice. * Prefers to have it done TO him. Your air element gift also allows you to cool the wax quickly and give new sensations.

————

———

L = Location (favorite places to do the do)

Aro is private, he prefers somewhere comfortable to take his sweet time with you.

Rooms Private, hotel, somewhere he can just lavish you and enjoy everything you can give him.

He’d rather take the time to find a nice comfy setting.

But every blue moon— he’ll just look at you in that specific dress molding to your thighs.

He will drag you into an alley way and just rail the shit out of you keeping you quiet with a firm grip over your mouth as he hisses the dirtiest things in your ear.

You two once had a quick rendezvous in a changing room at a theatre. -shrug- it was empty oh well.

———

———

M = Motivation (what turns them on, gets them going)

“Master?” You bat your eyes at him

His nostrils flare as he breathes in and just knows exactly what you want and you smell so fucking good.

The tone you use.

He knows. You want him. That’s it.

Unless it’s a trial— and DO NOT DO THIS BEFORE TRIAL.

And if you happen to when he takes your hand send him your fantasies after seeing him standing there all regal and watching his mouth form syllables so well and how much better it’ll be with his mouth— ahem— busy somewhere else.

He will be so mad at you.

He’s glaring at you behind a mask of calm and you can feel the fucking tremor in his limbs.

You just bat your eyes innocently at him and smile.

His face: you’re in SO MUCH trouble.

Brat energy??? During Trial?!??! Now is that the time to give brat energy!!???

Oh. Oh. oh you are so in trouble. When he gets done with ripping some poor idiots head off— okay not really they broke the rules— stalks over to you; grabs you by your oh so pretty collar, “come with me bambi.”

And just pulls you along to your rooms with you giggling the whole way and practically prancing behind him like a— well like a doe prancing into a lions den.

He’s tossed you over his shoulder once and just flitted out of the rooms into your private chambers, hurling you onto the bed before ripping into your clothing. “You best be ready for your punishment.”

“Oooohhhhhh absolutly master.”

“that’s my girl.”

The coven just rolls their eyes. Aro is less manic with you there and you surprisingly bring ease to the coven— so ya know what if that’s what does it whatever.

————

————

N = No (something they wouldn’t do, turn offs)

Humiliation. No.

Impact play is one thing, but to intentionally hurt you no.

If he does impact play one hand is always touching you to ensure you’re okay.

————

———

O = Oral (preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc.)

Giving? The man has a wicked tongue.

His oral game is LEGIT.

Will have you in a puddle of twitching ecstasy in mere moments of teasing because he knows where to touch and that’s not just his tongue but his hands.

Will kiss you all over before even getting to the ahem— final destination.

You’re either ready to combust or ready to strangle him when he finally just begins to devour you.

Eats pussy like a man starved but has all the time to enjoy.

Smug as Fuck.

Expect him to just watch you as you’re coming back down from the absolute height he threw you up to and glaring down at his smug grin as he waits before beginning all over again.

Will go all night if you’ve been ill behaved.

Your record is 20 before you BEGGED for a break.

He finally took pity and gave you a warm bubble bath and snuggles and praises.

It wasn’t that he didn’t like receiving, however it was more just a “hm, that’s nice—“

But with you.

Especially when you had decided to walk into his office, lay your head in his lap as you had sat yourself under his desk so he could work while he played with your hair (you have a comfy cushion there who was he to argue if that was the best way to be close and he could get work done??!!)

But his work was abruptly halted when you had nuzzled his cock through his trousers dragging your mouth wide as he became painfully hard in record time.

“what is it you think you’re doing bambi?” He purred looking oh so curious.

“Nothing.” You muffled around him as your teeth found his zipper and trouser buttons with a rather feral sound.

Upon finding out you had no gag reflex and having your nose buried in his pelvis as you moaned around him he was done for and he didn’t even care.

Work was forgotten.

Loves when you pleasure him, but of course has to be in control for the most part.

Buries his hands into your hair and loves throat fucking you, praising you the entire time. “What a good thing you don’t need to breathe dolcezza.”

You had hummed around him ecstatically.

The reward for this is always drool worthy.

Play with yourself as you do and let him see you do so keeping your clothing out of the way and you’ll have him break finally, that cool haughty composure cracking as his gaze goes just utterly uncontrollably wild, his hips moving a bit harder.

————

———

P = Pace (are they fast and rough? slow and sensual? etc.)

You both fuck rough.

But you both also love the slow and sensual moments too.

Especially if you have the time to just drown in one another.

It just depends on the situation.

Rough And Fast:

Slow and Sensual is how it usually starts off, he’s so attentive, so soft and cherishes you, that is till you growl at him for more and he has of course no other option but to give you what he wants.

You’re his queen after all what kind of mate would he be if he didn’t give in?

But has today been exceedingly trying for either of you?

Or is your mate quite amped up from a particularly rough trial?

You’ve been pestering him haven’t you? Hmmm.. yeah buckle up.

You’re in trouble and therefore need to relearn where your place is— it’s in your bed, beneath him losing your mind out of pleasure.

And he is all too happy to provide that lesson if you seem to forget.

You try to forget often. You damn brat.

Slow and Sensual

However sometimes he just wants to be gentle. And frankly so do you, you want to just bask in the bond you have and slowly explore all over again despite knowing you have memorized one another to heart by now.

Doesn’t matter, you still find things that surprise you, things that make you smile.

Places that when touched cause a jolt— well that’s new.

“I could spend my entire life mapping out your body carissima.”

“that’s an awful long time in bed.”

Aro would just smirk kissing down your sternum, “oh what a pity— I suppose my brothers shall have to cover for me hm?” Bite marks being pressed into your flesh, “I plan on leaving so many of these that I forget where they are so I can find them later.”

“Such an evil overlord.” But you’re giddy, he’s going to make your entire world tilt again with those slow careful hands of his and you’re going to enjoy every second of it.

———

———

Q = Quickie (their opinions on quickies, how often, etc.)

You’d be surprised that such a patient man could be so damn impatient for you.

He’s not as impatient as Caius but not AS patient as Marcus.

So it’s a toss up when he’s twitchy during trials and catches a glimpse of you floating down the hallway in all your grandure and he mentally tosses a coin.

Nope he can’t take it that flash of leg just set him off.

“Excuse me I do belive I remembered something that needs my attention.”

The others just inwardly roll their eyes.

Next thing you know you’re gagged by his tie in his office pinned over the desk with his teeth buried in your neck and frankly you expected this you wore that damn skirt with the slit in it to tease him.

Seeing this just makes him let out a feral noise and a laugh at the end, “oh you planned that hm?” He nibbles the outer shell of your ear, “missed me did you?”

You can only nod as he continues, eyes rolling back as he knows exactly what you’re needing and it’s certainly not gentle right now.

“I have exactly fifteen minutes before my brothers come looking for me— think you can be a good girl and make me come?”

You smirk against the gag in your mouth before purring at him; and it’s off to the races.

He’s in trouble quite often for this— but who’s to argue with him.

He’s king he can do what he wants…. At times….

Okay most of the time.

Plus he’s always in a MUCH better mood.

I wonder Why.

————

———

R = Risk (are they game to experiment? do they take risks? etc.)

While Aro does love to experiment your safety is his utmost importance.

But he’s a curious bastard and you are right behind him on that scale so sometimes your games become a bit risky.

Never life threatening but oh boy do you two get a grin and just glance at one another, “you know we haven’t done that yet.”

“No…. No we haven’t….”

And that’s how it usually starts.

The worst thing you two can realize is you both utter “I don’t know”.

Well now you have to know if either of you are able to ahem— arrive— under rather dire circumstances such as utilizing your gift (don’t worry your gift doesn’t hurt him he knows how to use fire too surprise surprise.).

You almost had a heart attack though and nearly killed him after.

He just cackled that manic laugh that had you joining in after hitting him several times.

———

———

S = Stamina (how many rounds can they go for? how long do they last?)

Need I say more than one word?

Vampire.

Aro takes his time most occasions, his slow, slow sweet time.

Now— you’d THINK that the rougher encounters would last a shorter period.

You’re wrong.

So wrong.

He lives for it you’re going to be so happy you’re a vampire and can’t really get sore except for when you both leave cracking handprints on one another.

————

———

T = Toys (do they own toys? do they use them? on a partner or themselves?)

Sensory.

Crops, leather gloves, feathers, ben wa balls are huge and he likes that they are silent but give you that teasing sensation. Wax candle play is huge for both of you and you enjoy long luxurious heated baths and sauna sessions with one another.

Ooooo he loves it.

Leather gloves area huge thing for him but not for what you’d think— he likes to challenge himself.

Sure he can know what you’re feeling but he wants to be in tune with your physical responses as well and so occasionally he dons them just to test his knowledge.

Damn smug overlord is just as good and you hate it and now he’s smirking at you while popping his jaw with his hand on his elbow waiting for you to come back into your body.

“Shut up.” You rasp as your head spins.

“I didn’t say anything.” His raven hair slides across his face as he grins wider.

“Your SMUGNESS IS LOUD ARO.”

“Me?! Smug! Why I never…” -cue the dark chuckle before he starts it up all over again, “maybe once more to ensure you remember it’s not just the gifts edge hm?”

“Ohhhh I’m going to die.” But you reach for him biting his leather clad hands.

“No you won’t.” He hums happily, “I won’t let you. You’re not allowed to leave me bambi.”

————

————

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)

HE IS SO DAMN UNFAIR.

But so are you.

He’s not as bad as Caius but he is close, and he only does it with LOOKS.

His eyes are utterly expressive, as is that mouth of his, so when he glances at you in just the right way you can feel it drop down in your gut and sizzle.

And he does it during trial. Oh but when you do it you’re in trouble. Psh.

He’ll tease you and brush your hand as he walks by just to know that you’re basically twitching from frustration at the end of the day and about to boil over as he leans down and licks your neck. “Bambi, awe, was I too mean to you? Hmm I should make it up to you shouldn’t I?”

He always makes it up to you.

The man has the best ways to use his mouth aside from running the coven and giving orders.

————

———

V = Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.)

Aro was quite clear studies, and private rooms were to be soundproofed.

He’s loud, swearing (which he normally does not do), praising mess of a man, it’s needed.

And you love it.

You can practically feel the vibration in his chest when he purrs at you, less growling, he’s not as violent unless you get him too worked up.

No no no, he loves making you melt, and knows exactly what to croon at you to make your mind go blank.

———

———

W = Wild card (a random headcanon for the character)

He’s more posessive than Marcus. And that bleeds into a protective nature.

A bit controlling, but he knows very well he can’t do that to you as he had to Sulprica. BUT it doesn’t stop him from trying as gods forbid anything happen to you.

Less Jealous than Caius.

But his ah— mood swings can cause for quite an interesting feat.

Since Marcus and Caius were always the brunt of the bashing and warfare, and he the brains behind the operation, many seem to think he has no bite marks on his body due to not being in the fray.

No.

The problem is Aro becomes too violent. Especially because of his talent when touching his victims it tends to become a frenzy. Once he had decimated an entire coven single handedly because the rage they had was swamping him.

His brothers had to pin him down and try to relay calm emotions— his sister Didyme thankfully had been the one to bring him back.

You yourself are now that calm place.

At one point, a guard had been careless enough to have thought about you in ah— that way— Aro was aware you were quite beautiful, your personality no nonsense and many of the guard and lower guard considered you a maternal figure almost otherwise a very good friend.

But this guard.

Ohhh he coveted. What was not his.

But what was worse, was that on the way to the throne room he had spoken to you rather crassly, you merely ignored him; he wasn’t even worth your time. But he had glanced you over as if you were a rather tasty morsel, the imaginings of you spread out beneath him had Aro’s hands cracking his wrists.

You saw the change slightly as you were behind him. His spine went poker straight. “You dare.” It was worse, the guard had actually tried to think of how to lure you away to him— you were a queen so surely infidelity was expected—

The rumble in his chest was a whole new sound you’d never even heard.

Both Marcus and Caius were sitting straight up and narrowing their gaze at Aro before Marcus flitted over and guided you to Aro’s throne placing you on it and standing protectively in front of you.

“Marcus?” you peered behind the eldest king and he hushed you gently.

The guard was torn apart in mere seconds.

It was utterly ruthless and with no mercy.

“People tend to forget Aro is only about a thousand years younger than I.” Marcus muttered.

You blinked. Aro was at least five thousand meaning that Marcus was Six, Caius being the youngest at three.

Aro speared the entire guard with a terrifyingly cold glare before flitting over to you, gripping your head back by your hair and sinking his teeth into your shoulder and neck with a low growl.

The sentiment was well understood as the entire guard backed the fuck away from the dais— he closed the wound before his head shot up and he snarled at the coven tucking you into his embrace your face buried into his robes. “She is mine.” It was a quiet, soft voice that spoke.

“Aro.” you muffled tugging his sleeve and looking up at him.

He showed you “what he had seen and tilted his head. Would you mind cara?”

You lit the bastard on fire with a scowl aimed at the body winding your arms about Aro’s waist and nuzzling into his solid form.

A soft kiss in your hair, his body relaxing. “That’s my bambi.”

———

———

X = X-ray (let’s see what’s going on under those clothes)

Aro although he is lithe and tall….he’s not exactly easy to handle.

9” decent width, knows how to use it.

Be forewarned, he knows what he’s doing.

Tactile Telepathy, good luck remember to keep your head on straight.

————

———

Y = Yearning (how high is their sex drive?)

It’s less of a wistful like of yearning.

And more a burning bonfire of desire always in the wing of his mind ready to take over the forefront.

One glance at you and he wants you— granted he thinks it might cool down over the centuries but when you look at him like that and bite your lip and grin.

Nah.

Nope. This isn’t going away. Not at all.

He of course has excellent control so he is able to push other desires to the back of his mind, but once finished you are certainly at the front of the line.

Super high.

You both are insane.

You can be sitting reading and next moment with one small brush you’re gone from the library and you’ve tackled him through the doors of your rooms and pinned him to the floor.

Insatiable.

Good luck!

————

———

Z = Zzz (how quickly they fall asleep afterwards)

Aro LOVES resting with you.

He likes to just lay with his hands on your body and watching your thoughts, you’re his favorite mind to go through and he just adores it.

You both can spend hours like this if you were allowed—

He likes when you drag your fingers through his hair.

Makes him melt.

Kiss across his eyes and kiss his hands as he brushes your mouth with his fingers trying to learn you all over again.

“I don’t think I’ll ever get enough.” He murmurs to you lazily. He has you nestled in his arms your head tucked under his jaw.

“That’s fucking fine by me.” You giggle.

He rolls his eyes and huffs a soft laugh kissing the top of your head. “Of course she swears like a sailor…”

[daitranscripts]

In Your Heart Shall Burn Pt. 1

This Bodes Poorly

In Your Heart Shall Burn Masterpost Previous Quest: In Hushed Whispers Previous Quest: Champions of the Just

The PC and advisors are gathered in the war room.

Cullen: The elite of the templars are ready, Herald. Cullen: The best of the mages are ready, Herald.

Cullen: Be certain you are prepared for the assault on the Breach. We cannot know how you will be affected.

The scene changes to the Temple of Scared Ashes, where the PC faces the rift. Templars/mages stand along nearby ledges.

Cassandra: Templars!/Mages!

Solas: Focus past the Herald! Let [their] will draw from you!

The templars/mages begin channeling their power. The PC closes the rift in an explosion. Candra rises and approaches the PC, placing a hand on their shoulder.

Cassandra: You did it.

Back at Haven, the people are celebrating and dancing. The PC watches from afar, and Cassandra approaches.

Cassandra: Solas confirms the heavens are scarred but calm. The Breach is sealed. We’ve received reports of lingering rifts, and many questions remain, but this was a victory. Word of your heroism has spread.

Dialogue options:

General: We all did this. [1]

General: It wasn’t me, it was the mark. [2]

General: It’s too soon to celebrate. [3]

1 - General: We all did this. PC: You know how many were involved. Luck put me at the center. Cassandra: A strange kind of luck. I’m not sure if we need more or less. But you’re right. This was a victory of alliance. One of the few in recent memory. With the Breach closed, that alliance will need new focus. [4]

2 - General: It wasn’t me, it was the mark. PC: Don’t they know I fell into this? Almost literally. Cassandra: Perhaps you’re too close to judge. We needed you. We still do. We have yet to discover how the Breach came to be, and that is only the most conspicuous of our troubles. Strange days, and more to come. [4]

3 - General: It’s too soon to celebrate. PC: We don’t know what caused this. We can’t rest easy. Cassandra: I agree. One success does not guarantee peace. The immediate danger is gone. For some, so is the necessity of this alliance. We will be weary. The Inquisition will need new focus. [4]

4 - Scene continues.

A warning bell begins to ring, and soldiers and townspeople begin to scatter.

Cullen: Forces approaching! To arms!

Cassandra: What the…? We must get to the gates!

Party comments:

Solas: This bodes poorly.

Varric: I knew it was too easy.

Sera: This isn’t good, and it was never good!

Vivienne: What threat could the ground hold? You already conquered the sky.

Iron Bull: So.. Celebratory drinks are on hold.

Blackwall: Perhaps assaulting the sky drew some attention.

Cole: They’re afraid. Something’s coming.

The party moves to reach Cullen.

Minaeve: Must prepare. Who would attack us? You just saved us all.

Threnn: We have to put up barricades or something. This will be bad. Real bad.

Adan: What’s going on? We’re under attack? From who?

Seggrit: Always something! You’re “important”—go protect us!

Lysette: I’ll help here. You get to Cullen. He’ll know what to do, Maker willing.

Flissa: What’s happening? You’ll take care of it, right? That’s why she blessed you.

The party approaches the gates.

Cassandra: Cullen?

Cullen: One watchguard reporting. It’s a massive force, the bulk over the mountain.

Josephine: Under what banner?

Cullen: None.

Josephine: None?

There is banging at the gates.

Choice dependent dialogue:

Sided with the templars [5]

Sided with the mages [6]

5 - Sided with the templars:

Dorian: If someone could open this, I’d appreciate it!

A soldier opens the door to reveal Dorian amongst a cluster of corpses.

Dorian: Ah! I’m here to warn you. Fashionably late, of course.

Dorian stumbles into Cullen.

Dorian: Mite exhausted. Don’t mind me.

Dorian (met Dorian in Redcliffe): There you are! I came to tell you happened with the mages at Redcliffe. You’re not going to like it. Dorian (never visited Redcliffe): My name is Dorian Pavus, and I bring grave news from Redcliffe—an army of rebel mages, right behind me.

The scene pans to the marching forces, and shows Corypheus and Calpernia in the midst of it all.

Dorian: They are under the command of the Venatori, in service to something called the “Elder One.” The woman is Calpernia. She commands the Venatori. For that… the Elder One. They were already marching on Haven. I risked my life to get here first!

PC: Cullen! Give me a plan! Anything!

Cullen: Haven is no fortress. If we are to withstand this monster, we must control the battle.

Cullen: Get out there and hit that force. Use everything you can!

Cullen draws his sword.

Cullen: Soldiers! Gather the villagers! Fortify and watch for advance forces! Inquisition! With the Herald! For your lives! For all of us!

6 - Sided with the mages:

Cole: I can’t come in unless you open!

A soldier opens the door, where an enemy is stabbed from behind and falls, revealing Cole.

Cole: I’m Cole, I came to warn you. To help. People are coming to hurt you. You probably already know.

PC: What is this? What’s going on?

Cole: The templars come to kill you.

Cullen: Templars? Is this the Order’s response to our talks with the mages? Attacking blindly?

Cole: The red templars went to the Elder One. You know him? He knows you. You took his mages.

The scene pans to the marching forces, and shows Corypheus and Samson in the midst of it all.

Cullen: I know that man… but this Elder One…

Cole: He’s very angry that you took his mages.

PC: Cullen! Give me a plan! Anything!

Cullen: Haven is no fortress. If we are to withstand this monster, we must control the battle.

Cullen: Get out there and hit that force. Use everything you can!

Cullen draws his sword.

Cullen: Mages! You—you have sanction to engage them! That is Samson. He will not make it easy! Inquisition! With the Herald! For your lives! For all of us!

Next: Saving Haven

[americancowgirl19]

Our Little Family

Summary: You and Riley start your forever.

Warnings: smut, angst, fluff

Reader: Female Plus Sized Human Cullen Reader

Pairings: Riley Bier x Plus Sized Reader

Word Count: 2,749

A/n: Enjoy! @fyeahtaylorp​

Masterlist - Part One (So Much More - Gender Neutral) - Part Two (Yours Forever - Female Reader)

“This place is all yours?” Riley asks following you into the very large house on a secluded part of the beach in California. You grin turning toward him.

“Yep,” You nodded, watching him take in the gorgeous house. He whistles lowly. “It was the one time I managed to outsmart Edward.” Riley arches an eyebrow at you. “He was being an asshole a couple of years ago and I had enough of it. In the end, I got his beloved beach house.”

“And how did you outsmart, Edward?” Riley asks, sauntering over to you. You smirked draping your arms around his shoulders when he reached you.

“I’m a smart cookie,” You wink. “Besides, a magician never reveals her secrets,” You whisper to him.

“You know what I think?” He asks, his hands resting low on your hips. The tips of his fingers getting closer to your ass. You hum stepping closer to him. “I think you have some enchanting power and you bewitch everyone around you.”

“Is that so?” You whisper, playing with the ends of his hair. He nods bumping his nose against yours. “And have I enchanted you, Riley Biers?” You ask, tilting your head.

“Without a doubt,” Riley tells you. “And I’d have it no other way,” You grin connecting your lips with his. 

His hands glide over your ass, giving it a tight squeeze, before continuing to your thighs. He lifts you up and wraps your legs around his waist.

“How about we christen the place?” You suggest, moving your lips to his jawline.

“We’ll have to hit everyone, it’ll be back luck to leave one out,” Riley smirks, digging his fingers into your hips.

“Well, then pick a room and let’s get started diamond boy,” Riley tightens his hold on you and flashes into one of the several bedrooms. You gasp when he tosses you onto the bed.

You lick you lips watching him strip his shirt. His arrogance grows as you shamelessly watch him undress in front of you. You enjoyed the show.

When he was done, he beckoned you forward with his finger. Biting your lip, you climb off the bed. His fingers gently grab your chin, forcing you to look at him.

“Your turn,” He whispers, giving your lips a light peck before laying on the bed where you had. You turn to face him, your fingers toying with the end of the shirt. “Go on baby girl, nice and slow for me”

A deep blush paints your cheeks. You slowly lift the shirt off your body. Your eyes anxiously meet his. His eyebrows raise and that damn smug smirk stays on his lips.

The next to go are your pants leaving you in your panties and bra. Knowing that something like this was gonna happened you decided to wear you good pair. They’re even a matching set.

You breathe in sharply when Riley appears in front of you. His hands lightly brushing along your curves. They raise and cup your breasts before he looks into your eyes.

“Flawless,” Riley whispers, attaching his lips to yours. His hand squeezes your breast while the other one goes to cup your ass. In a heartbeat, Riley removes your matching set and pins you onto the bed.

“Riley!” You cry out when he thrusts into you without warning. You jaw drops, your head pushing back into the pillows as he drills into you. He growls biting at your neck, careful to not draw blood but enjoying how easily your skin bruises with his touch.

You whimper when he suddenly pulls away and out of you. He has you flipped on your chest before you can blink. You fist the sheets as he thrusts back into you going deep. His thrusts are slower than before but all the more powerful.

His hand grabs a fistful of hair forcing your head to come back. He growls in your ear before suckling on a patch of skin just below. His hand wraps around your stomach and forces you to lean back and reposition your knees. He holds you against his chest and continues his deep thrusts while whispering how well you take his cock and how beautiful you are.

After you christen the first room you and Riley make your way throughout the house. He fucks you everywhere and in every position. He bends your body in ways you didn’t know you could bend. He worships everything you consider a flaw and whispers his love for you while he does it.

It took you a couple of days to finish your christening session. He had a vampire’s stamina while you needed rest like every other human. At some point, you told him about your plans for the wedding as he wore you legs like earmuffs. You would ask for his opinion in between the moans and every time he would assure you that he would like whatever you had planned.

“You’re so good to me,” You whisper, laying on your side facing him. Hs lays on his back, his head turned toward you. He hand lifts and gently brushes your cheek. “I love you,” You declare, climbing on top of him.

“I love you, baby girl,” He replies, kissing you when you lean toward him. Your lips leave his. He lays there as you kiss down his chest and torso. He growls quietly when your hand brushes against your cock.

You smirk, your eyes flickering up to him. His bronze eyes watch you, his jaw ticking when you lightly kiss his shaft. You notice his hands clenching around the sheets the more you tease him.

He groans when your lips encase around his tip. You bob your head taking more of him every time you go down. Your hand grips the base while the other one rubs his abdomen. 

“Is there anything you’re not good at?” Riley groans. You lift off of him, your hand moving up and down as you smirk at him.

“Well, I’ve never been good at saying no to food,” You tell him Riley grins but it’s wiped off his face as you attempt to deepthroat him. You gag when his hips snap up.

His hands slither into your hair and forces your hand to stay still as his hips rut into your mouth. He groans words of praise as you continue to let him use you. His hands release your hair when he warns that he’s about to come but you stay where you are and swallow him.

“You’re just as good of a snack as I am,” You wink at him. Riley grins, pulling you up to him.

A couple of days later you get an... interesting call from Carlisle.

“She’s what?” You ask, slowly sitting down in a nearby chair. “How is that possible?”

“We’re not sure,” Carlisle says. “You and Riley should come home.”

“Ye-yeah, of course,” You nod, gripping the phone tightly. “We’ll be home soon,” You assure him before hanging up.

“I thought we weren’t supposed to leave for another week,” You gasp, turning toward Riley. He had been out hunting and you didn’t expect him to be back so soon. “Sorry, baby, didn’t mean to scare you,”

“It’s alright,” You whisper, nipping at your nails. Riley picks up on the anxiety and claims the seat beside you.

“What’s wrong? What did Carlisle want?” He asks. Your eyes flicker from him to your shoes. “Y/n,” Riley says, grabbing your hand. “What’s going on?”

“Bella’s pregnant,” You whisper. Riley tenses. Your eyes look up at him. “Edward got her pregnant and we haven’t exactly been careful.”

“You think...?” His eyes flicker to your stomach.

“We need to go home,” You whisper to him. He slowly nods, his eyes not leaving your stomach. “Riley,” He looks up at you. “We’re going to be ok... Right?”

“We’re going to be ok,” Riley assures you. He caresses the side of your face. “I love you, baby” He whispers, kissing your forehead.

The two of you left immediately. When you got home, Bella and Edward were already home. Carlisle was examining her before insisting on examining you. While he couldn’t tell if you were pregnant at the moment, you had a couple of weeks before you were in the clear.

You were not in the clear. It only took another weeks for your symptoms to show. You were three weeks behind Bella. When Riley found out, he didn’t know how to react just like you.

You were a little older than Bella but still fairly young. While you loved the idea of a family with Riley, the unknown about this baby scared you. Despite not knowing how this would turn out, you loved the baby. Unlike Edward, Riley loved your child as well.

At night, he would talk to the baby. He hoped for a boy and would tell them stories of him growing up. Some stories made you laugh while other stories made you yearn to know his family.

As the baby grew, both you and Bella started to get sickly. Riley felt conflicted. He loved the baby as you did but he loved you more. He’d rather have you than risk you to this baby but you couldn’t bare the thought of anything happening to your child.

“Riley,” You whisper. His head snaps to you and he flashes to your side. Your hand caresses your stomach.

“What is it? Are you hurt? Uncomfortable?” He asks, his hand resting on your stomach. You both smile when you feel the baby kick. “Easy little one, you’re mother’s fragile. It’s not nice to hurt her,” He mutters kissing your bump. As if listening to him, the baby stills. 

“This baby’s half vampire,” You whisper. Riley hums, his eyes looking at you. “What if he’s thirsty?” Riley perks at the idea. 

“Stay here,” He whispers, kissing your forehead. You sigh rubbing your stomach as he goes to fetch you something to drink. “Had to convince Carlisle that this was for you and not me,” Riley teases, bringing you a Styrofoam cup.

“This is a bad idea,” You mutter, holding the cup.

“You’re probably right about your theory though,” Riley says, gently caressing your thigh. “Give it a try... Think of it as trying a new smoothie or a bloody Mary,” He winks at you.

“If it’s a bloody Mary where’s my celery stick?” You ask, tilting your head. Riley chuckles a bit.

“I’ll remember it next time, mama,” Riley promises, winking at you. “Don’t smell it, just drink.” You send him a look but take his advice. “So?”

“Tastes pretty damn good,” You tell him before drinking some more. Riley breathes in relief. He leans toward you and kisses your forehead.

“We’re going to be ok, baby” Riley whispers.

Once you realized that blood was what you and Bella needed to stay nourished, the two of you became healthier. Everything was going smoothly until the wolves found out about your and Bella’s pregnancy.

“I don’t care if those mutts are your friends or if you have some treaty with them, if they come near Y/n I will kill them,” Riley growls protectively. Jake growls back at him warningly.

“It won’t come to that,” Carlisle promises. “We out number them, they won’t attack,”

“No, they’ll wait for the opportune moment and then attack. Why would we wait for them to find the chance?” Riley snapped.

“Because we gave them our word that we wouldn’t break the treaty,” Esme tells him. “You’re apart of this family now and we won’t be the ones to attack first,”

“Easy for you to say, it’s not your mate their aiming to kill,” Riley snaps.

“We’ll protect both Bella and Y/n with our lives, their our daughters.” Carlisle tells him.

“You’ll protect them as long as you don’t have to kill anyone else,” Riley tells him. “I’ll tear the entire reservation to shreds if it means Y/n and our child will be safe,” He turns to Jake. “Tell your precious band of mutts that if they try to harm my family that I will take everything from them,” Riley warns before returning to your room.

“He won’t do anything unless Y/n is hurt,” Edward assures them.

“So, we’re at a standstill,” Esme whispers.

Despite not having that many health concerns to worry about tensions continued to rise as Sam’s pack refused to let the Cullen’s hunt. Riley’s patience was wearing thin. He was ready to get rid of the wolves but knew he couldn’t do it on his own. However, that wouldn’t stop him if he felt you were in immediate danger.

Then Bella went into labor and everything escalated. Riley stayed in the your room with you. He paced across the floor as he listened to Bella screaming and her heart giving away. He looked to you when she died. He imagined you going through the same fate and his fear for your life raised.

“Riley,” You whisper, looking outside to see the wolves coming.

“I won’t let them near you,” He growls joining Edward, Alice and Jasper outside. Unlike the other three, Riley wasn’t worried about hurting them. He didn’t kill the wolves but he certainly broke bones and knocked one unconscious. 

When Jake came out claiming to have imprinted on Edward’s daughter, Riley tensed. He growled at the thought of one of those mutts even going near his daughter as he rejoined you in the room.

You were relieved to see Riley wasn’t hurt and even more relieved to hear Bella had survived the transition. Edward kept her close as she adjusted to the newborn life while your grew closer to your due date.

Your baby decided it was time to come out while you were sleeping. The pain was unbearable. You didn’t remember Riley carrying you to Carlisle’s office or anything that followed really. You just remember the pain, then the numbness and then the darkness.

Waking up, you instantly saw the world differently. It didn’t take you long to put two and two together. You were a vampire.

You moved into the mirror. Your ruby red eyes stare back at you through the reflection. You pout slightly at your curves but knew you would have to get on good terms with them seeing as they would truly be with you for the rest of eternity.

“And here I was thinking that you couldn’t get anymore beautiful,” Looking in the reflection you see Riley staring at you. You speed up to him, almost knocking him over. He chuckles steadying you.

“I guess it’s a good thing you liked my curves,” You whisper to him.

“One of my favorite parts about you,” Riley winks before kissing you.

“The baby,” You whisper pulling away.

“A boy,” Riley tells you. “He’s healthy, Esme’s looking after him right now”

“A boy,” You laugh. “Y/s/n,” (You son’s name)

“Y/s/n,” Riley nods, hugging you tightly. “Come on, let’s get you something to drink.”

As much as you wanted to hold your son, you were terrified of hurting him. It took a couple of weeks before you held him in your arms. Riley stayed close making sure you were in control.

“He’s so beautiful,” You whisper kissing his forehead. You didn’t want to let him go. You hogged him for days, only ever letting Riley take him for a little while.

“I don’t know why we bought a crib when all he does is sleep in your arms,” Riley teases.

“He’s so precious,” You whisper, kissing his forehead delicately. 

“You both are,” Riley whispers, wrapping his arms around you. You snuggle into Riley, holding your baby between you both.

Everything was perfect. But you still needed one more thing.

“You look beautiful,” Carlisle whispers. You spun around, twirling in your wedding dress. “Are you ready?”

“Hell yeah,” You nod causing Carlisle to chuckle. He offers his arm and you take it. He leads you outside where a small gathering of your friends and family are. They stand on either side of a makeshift aisle with Riley waiting for you at the end. 

Carlisle walks you toward him, your eyes flickering away just for a moment to see your son resting in Esme’s arms. Your two boys. Your small little family. You couldn’t hope for anything more. 

Your eyes go back to Riley. Carlisle gives you away to him. Your soon-to-be husband pulls you close.

“Ready to be mine forever?” You ask him.

“Wouldn’t want anyone else n the world,” Riley winks at you.

[szchaql]

Total Opposite (part 3)

PAUL LAHOTE X SWAN READER

Masterlist

This few days, Bella tried to contact Jacob. But he never answer her call, never talk to her again. This lead Bella to finally confront him. She decided to bring (y/n) with her, she has the feeling that she need to bring her. She knock on her sister room and peeking her head. (Y/n) is sitting on her bed, reading one of the novel. "Hey, you busy?" (Y/n) look at Bella, shaking her head. "Not at all. What's wrong?"

Bella lean her body to the door frame, "i'm going to confront Jacob. Want to come?" (Y/n) nod and immediately head toward her closet to change clothes. "I'll wait downstair okay?"

As (y/n) change her clothes, her mind start to think about Paul. Will she meet him there? What should she do? But soon, she shake her head throw away the thought of Paul and quickly leave her room.

Charlie is at work, so it easier for the 2 girls to leave the house without worrying him too much. They drive to the Black household in silent, one being nervous, one pissed.

Bella quickly removing her seat belt and head toward the door, knocking it. (Y/n) hurriedly follow her sister and stand behind her. The door open and reveal Billy. "Bella? (Y/n)?"

"I want to see Jacob." Bella said. But Billy answer didn't satisfied her enough. "He's not here." Bella walk past Billy and head to Jacob room, seeing him sound asleep. (Y/n) just stand outside the house, not daring to walk inside like Bella did.

Then, the sound of someone or should we said bunch of men walking toward the house make both Bella and (y/n) look at 4 men who stand a little far from the house. Bella, being Bella, decided to confront them. (Y/n) that surprised to see her sister just walk out like that, fuming to them, decided to follow her. The 4 men is Sam, Paul, Embry, and Jared as she recall as she saw them on the beach few days ago.

"What did you do?!" Bella punch Sam angrily. "What did you do to him?!"

"What did he do?! What did we do huh? What did he tell you?!" Paul ask angrily at Bella.

"He didn't tell me anything because he scared of you." (Y/n) know, the moment Bella said that, it will the start of a fight. She knew her sister so well. She decided to stop Bella to make anymore comment.

"Bella.. come on.. stop." But Bella being Bella didn't listen, blind by her anger.

The boys laugh at her comment and result in Bella punching Paul right on his face. Suddenly Paul is shaking so bad as Sam tell them to stand back.

Bella stand back, grabing (y/n) arm, looking at shaking Paul, confused. (Y/n) look at Paul as there is something wrong with him. Why did he shaking like that?

Short moment after that, Paul change into a big massive wolf, almost hurting (y/n) if Bella didn't pull her sister fast enough. (Y/n) so shocked that she freeze, terrified at the creature in front of her. Bella try to grab her sister arm and run, as Jacob run to their way and shift into a wolf too, in the middle of air. The two wolf fight with each other, breaking Billy's old boat, and rolling to the forest.

"Hey. Take them back to Emily's place." Sam said to Jared and Embry as he himself go to the forest.

(Y/n) is so shocked at what happened, as the memories of that night in Phoenix keep haunting her. Bella immediately hug her sister tightly. "We will be fine, sis..." as Jared and embry help the 2 girls to the car and head to Emily's.

"I think we should go check if Jacob is alright." Bella said as they arrive at a wodden house.

"I hope Paul sink some teeth on him." Jared comment which Embry replied. "No way, Jake is a natural. You see as he shift in mid air like that." Jared shrug it. "Come on, Bella. We won't bite." Jared said and walk inside the house.

Bella look at (y/n), she is so pale. "(Y/n), come on... i'm here with you.. you will be fine." She tried to encourage (y/n).

"I think this is a bad idea, Bells...." (y/n) finally found her voice again. "One of them nearly killed me...." Bella hug her immediately, trying to calm her down.

"Hey.. it's okay.. we won't hurt you.. it's just an accident.. Paul will never forgive himself if he hurt you... come on.. let's get you something for calming you down..." Embry walk toward (y/n), try to assuring her. (Y/n) nod her head and get out of the car, walking slowly behing Bella.

They stop just on the door, watching Emily make food. As she turn toward the Swan sister, her face shocked them. Bella immediately swift her eyes, while (y/n) look at the floor. "Who are they?" She ask eyeing the sisters.

"Bella, who else. And her sister." Jared said, grabbing a muffin. "So, you are the vampire girl." Bella shrug. "So you are the wolf girl." Emily chuckle and nod. "Well, i'm enganged to one." She then grab a big plate full of muffin and place it on the table. "Save some for your brothers and ladies first. Muffin?"

"Sure." Bella walk toward the table and grab one. That time, Emily can see (y/n) clearly and she smile widely at her. "Hi. I'm so happy that i can finally meet you."

(Y/n) give her small smile. "Come in.. let's give you something to drink and calm you down. You look so pale." She grab (y/n) hand gently, but (y/n) yank her hand gently. Bella who see this help her sister. "Sorry, Emily.. she just witnessed something terrifying... come on, (y/n)."

Emily just smile softly as (y/n) stand close beside Bella, head down, playing with her fingers. "So, what happened?"

"Just leave it to Jacob to find a way around Sam's gag order." Emily said.

"He didn't say anything to me."

"That' a wolf thing. Alpha's order get obeyed whether we like it or not." Embry chimmed in, shuffling muffin into his mouth. "Oh and hey, we can hear each other thought."

"Would you shut up? This is a trade secret." Jared said. "These cheeks run with vampires." The word of vampire make (y/n) tense up. Bella is having a relationship with a vampire? Despite that she knows about her fear about them? Bella face turn pale. Shortly she regain her composure. "You can't run with vampire.. cause they're fast." (Y/n) can't believe her sister will be so calm talking about vampire.

Jared face shows disbelief. "Yeah? But we are faster. Freak out yet?" Bella shrug. "You are not the first monster i've seen."

"Jake's right. You are good with freaks." Sam voice coming from the door as he walk toward Emily and kiss her all over her face.

(Y/n) nudge her sister arm. "I want to go home..." she whispered. But before Bella can answer it, there show Jacob and Paul in the yard shoving each other in a playfull manner. Paul walk inside and take a seat beside Embry, while Jacob lean against the door.

Seeing Paul make (y/n) moves her body close to her sister. "Sorry." Paul said turn to look at Bella with his smirk but when caught a glimpse of his imprint, standing close to Bella make him wonder. What is her relationship with Bella? The look of fear on her face make Paul feel regret that he scaring his imprint with what happened earlier. "Hey... sorry.. i didn't mean to scared you like that.." Paul voice is so soft, shocking Bella and Emily. But (y/n) didn't give him a glance as she flinch when Paul tried to grab her hand.

"Uh, Jake.. maybe you should take (y/n) back home... there're something that i have to tell them.." bella said to Jacob as he nod, before she turn to look at her sister. "It's okay.. you know Jacob.. he won't hurt you. Go home and take a rest okay?" (Y/n) nod and leave hurriedly from a den of wolves with Jacob behind her.

As they leave, everyone turn to Bella, looling for an explanation. Bella sigh before begin to explain what happened to her sister. "She's my younger sister. She just came back here a week ago."

"She's your sister?!" Paul exclaim, shocked.

"Good luck, Paul..." Jared said, half laughing.

"What?"

"Paul imprinted on your sister." Sam said make Bella more confused. "What is an imprint? Is it a dangerous thing? She just have had enough dangerous on her life. Don't make it worse."

"No, it's not dangerous thing at all. It's a wolf version for soulmate. We look at her eyes and our focus is her only. We become everything that she needs, whether it's a protector, a lover, a friend, everything. Emily is my imprintee." Sam explain shortly about imprinting.

"What?! So you imprint on my younger sister?! Out of so many girls, you decided to imprint on her?! She finally start to have a normal life, before you imprint on her." Bella get mad at Paul.

"I can't decided who i can imprinted or not!"

"We can't do anything about it, Bella..." Sam said, trying to calm the tension.

"What exactly happened to (y/n)? She looks so terrified..." Embry ask.

Bella sigh in defeat. "Back when we used to live in Phoenix, when (y/n) was just 12, her best friend got killed by a vampire in front of her. (Y/n) herself almost got killed, before Carlisle help her. It make her traumatized around vampire.. she can't sleep well for months, and keep having a nightmare, even until now. She always got scared when seeing a red eyes... that event just change her attitude around people. She hate when many people look at her, she scared darkness, and small alley. It always make her remembered what happened that night."

Hearing the story make the boys and Emily gasp. "But you run with one!" Jared said. "I haven't tell her! Okay? I don't know how to tell her. I want to tell her that Carlisle was the one who help her that day.. I wish i never tell her about Edward and the Cullen. So she can finally live a normal life. But then he imprint on her, and she knows about werewolves." She said looking at Paul.

"Will she be okay? I mean her life just got into some dangerous one, as she is Paul's imprintee and you sister as you have relationship with vampires." Emily ask worriedly.

"I don't know.. i just have to think how to tell her slowly about this..and the vampire things.." Bella look down.

"How about let Billy or Harry tell her? Maybe having one of the elder to explain it to her will help. We can't send Paul to explain, she scared of him. We will just slowly let (y/n) know us first." Sam suggest.

"Let's have Harry tell (y/n).. she really close with the Clearwaters..." Bella said as Sam nod. "But give her time to calm down.. this was a terrifying moment for her..."

"Okay.. just tell Jacob when she's ready, okay? So i can inform Harry."

The entire time, Paul just stay silent. He felt guilty that because of him losing his temper, his imprint get scared of him and the pack. He devoted in his heart that he will work on his temper for (y/n). So he don't put her in danger when she around him.

[phases--ofthemoon]

PHASES Ch. 13

Warnings: Language

Jacob

My paws pounded the ground as I sprinted through the woods riding the high of another evening with Emerson. The past few weeks had maybe been the best of my life and I don’t think I had ever been happier. Getting to know her was more than I could have imagined, she was truly an amazing woman. She was incredibly strong I could tell that and she had this huge heart but she didn’t always wear it on her sleeve. I could tell she wasn't big on being vulnerable but I was happy she was starting to open up more, to trust me but I knew there was still more she was holding back. I didn't push her though because I still had my secrets too.

Regardless of the imprint bond I was in it deep with Emerson. I knew that I was drawn to her anyway. Hell when I first saw before we locked eyes I thought she was gorgeous. Now after getting to know her these past few weeks everything I had initially felt had just kept growing. I was scared shitless but I knew I was in love with her, I realized it when she stayed for dinner the first time at our house.

Seeing her interact with my Dad and help him in the kitchen, just the way she talked so comfortably with us it felt like she was always meant to be there. As much as I had liked Bella she always had this awkwardness about her, she never quite fit but seeing Emerson in our kitchen instantly reminded me of my mom. I knew without a doubt her and Emerson would have gotten along. Dad already adored her, he loved the extra company and her cooking. Whenever I’d have dinner at her house she always sent me back home with leftovers for him. I had come to realize that was Emerson though, always thinking of others.

When I first met her I was terrified. I was afraid she’d reject me or just not want to even be friends. I couldn’t have imagined we’d be this close this fast. I was mind blown that just a few weeks later Emerson and I were more than just acquaintances or friends we were dating. Well I guess we hadn’t officially had that conversation but it was implied…

“How about you man up and just ask her to be your girlfriend?” Leah said in my head as she phased in. I kept running in the direction of the reservation so we could start running patrol, which up until a couple weeks ago we hadn’t done daily in ages. Some leech or leeches had been getting a little too close to the boarders of the reservation as well Emerson’s house. We weren’t sure if this was the new leech the Cullen's “adopted”, friends of his or just nomads passing through.

The whole pack was in agreement we wouldn't be taking any chances though our job was to protect the people and that’s what we would do especially our Imprints. I just hoped this situation would be resolved quickly because not spending the night with Emerson was killing me. Well…not doing a lot of things with Emerson was testing my will power to the absolute limits.

“Thanks for the commentary Leah.” I growled back.

“Hey I’m just trying to help you. And you know you're going to have to tell her about all this, sooner rather than later…”

“I know.” Leah and I had become a lot closer since Emerson came into my life. I hated to admit it but I had been going to her for a lot of advice lately. Leah was way more compassionate than people knew. She put up this tough girl front to everyone but getting closer to her I was beginning to see through it. I was beginning to understand how being a part of the pack was harder than she let on and other than Seth she wasn’t close to anyone else. I felt kinda bad for being kinda a dick to her before but I was thankful her and I had an understanding now, sorta like a friendship, we had each other’s backs.

“I know you don’t wanna fuck this all up but the longer you put it off the harder it will be. Look at all the guys, eventually their imprints came around, I’m sure she will too.”

“You’re right. First I think she needs to go to the bonfire and meet everyone… I’ll talk to my Dad and Sam we’ll get one set up.”

“Good luck.”

“Thanks Leah.”

By the time I got back home after patrol it was almost four in the morning. I had been running the late night shifts, it was exhausting especially since I still had work later in the morning but it was worth it so I could spend the evenings with Emerson. A little sacrifice of sleep was well worth it to see her.

Every day I looked forward to the end of the work day and today was no different. Joe and Josh took great pleasure in teasing me about Emerson like I didn’t get enough of it with the pack but even they could see how ridiculously happy I was. As it neared five I finished up what I was working on and started cleaning up. Saying my goodbyes and heading out to my car my phone rang. Instantly I thought it was Emerson but it was actually my Dad.

“Hey Dad.”

“Hey Jake, anyway you can stop over at Charlie’s and pick me up? Charlie got a call they need him at the station. An animal attack.” We both knew what animal attack meant, that meant a damn leech had gotten someone. Fuck! It better not be that new Cullen or there would be hell to pay....I would take great pleasure in tearing him apart. For the first time in a long time I was seeing red.

“Yeah no problem Dad, see you soon.” I texted Emerson asking her to come to our house for Dinner tonight. It would be safer for her on the Reservation until I knew what the hell was going on.

I pulled up to Charlie’s and his cruiser was still there guess he was waiting for me before he left. I parked and got out the scent of sickly sweet filled my nostrils flaring the rage I had just calmed down from. Looking across the street I noticed a shiny black car. Great a Cullen. I needed to calm down before I ripped someones head off. Who would be at Charlie’s though?

The front door swung open Charlie helping wheel out my Dad with Sue behind him. She waved to me and I waved back. Even though Harry was like an Uncle to me I was happy Sue and Charlie found each other after he passed. They deserved to be happy and I knew Sue as well as Leah and Seth would always help keep Charlie safe. I helped bring my Dad’s wheelchair down the steps.

“Good to see you Jake, it's been a while.” Charlie said shaking my hand once Dad was sitting in the driveway.

“You too Charlie.”

“Well sorry I gotta run and ruin watching the game. Duty calls.” Sue met him at the bottom of the steps and he kissed her on the cheek. “Bye Bells.” He called into the house. Bella. Great… Like it was on cue she walked into view in the doorway waving Charlie off before her eyes settled on me.

“Jacob.” She smiled like she used to when we were best friends. It was so weird her being a vampire now, she was Bella but also wasn’t. Seeing her wasn’t as bad as it used to be though. After she had made her decision to marry Edward, it was so hard to see her, just dark memories and a lot of heartache. The few times I saw her after that it was definitely forced. Now It was almost nostalgic, it had been years since I saw her last and a part of me almost missed her. Almost. It was like I could now see past all the pain. I guess I had Emerson to thank for that. I smiled and waved to her. She took that as a sign to come over and hi.

“It’s good to see you Jake, you look…happy.” She commented her now golden eyes scanning over me meticulously.

“Thanks, you do too Bella.” She did look happy and I was happy for her, honestly. My phone buzzed and I pulled it out seeing a text back from Emerson. “Sounds great! :) Do you need me to bring anything?” I quickly wrote back “Nope just yourself beautiful :)”

“Sorry.” I said to Bella when I put my phone back in my pocket. She was eyeing me a smirk on her lips. “What?” I asked.

“You’ve met someone, I’d know that look anywhere.” She smiled.

“Oh yeah he’s quite smitten.” My Dad said with Sue was next to him, I shot him a look and he laughed and went back to talking with Sue. I turned my attention back to Bella.

“Yeah it was unexpected but I did, she’s really something.” I couldn’t help but smile when I thought of Emerson.

“I’m really happy for you Jake.” She smiled and I knew she meant it. “I’ve got to go but maybe if it’s okay with you I could stop by and we could catch up soon?” I saw the hope in her eyes, I did miss our friendship, maybe on some level we could be friends now. Maybe enough time had passed, maybe since we were both happy it could finally happen? Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, she’s still a leech. Maybe I could use the opportunity to do a little recon on her new “sibling" though. The leech. Fuck I forgot about the attack.

“Sure.” I said and she smiled brightly and turned to Sue and Billy waving and saying goodbye and began walking to her car. I needed to see if she knew anything about what was going on. “Bella?” She turned back to me. “It is your new coven member that’s been running around near the reservation? Did he attack someone?” She looked at me I could see concern and worry there.

“No, I don’t think it was him.” The uncertainty in her voice was unsettling. How were they not sure? “Well he didn’t attack anyone… and Carlisle has told him the consequences for hunting near the reservation. We’re not sure who made the attack, we’re monitoring things closely on our end though. If we find out anything I’ll let you know.”

“Thanks.” I nodded to her and she made her way to her car and was gone. I guess I better get back to see what Sam has to say, see if he has more information.

We got back and after getting my Dad settled I quickly phased and ran to Sam’s I didn’t have much time before Emerson would be at my house so I’d have to be quick. Things were quiet I didn’t hear anyone but maybe patrol was switching over. As I approached the house I phased back and threw on my shorts. A few of the guys were in the kitchen but not the whole pack. “Guys look it’s Jake! He’s alive.” Embry joked to Quil, Seth and Jared.

“Ha Ha very funny.” I scanned the kitchen for Sam, Emily was busy cooking as usual.

“Seriously Jake we haven't seen you in weeks.” Quil said. I felt kinda bad, I hadn’t hung out with the guys at all lately, all my free time was with Emerson. Leah was taking the late patrols with me so I hadn’t even done patrols with the guys, so they really hadn’t seen me at all. I knew they understood though most of them had their Imprints too.

“I’m sorry, between work, Emerson and patrol I’ve been wiped...”

“We get it dude, when are you gonna bring her around though?” Embry asked.

"Yeah, I like Emerson and her chili." Seth joined in.

Shit. Right I had told Leah I’d have a bonfire set up soon. Add that to the list of things I needed to talk to Sam about.

“Hopefully soon. Any news on this leech situation?” I said.

“Nah Sam and Paul are on patrol now. They should be back soon though.” Jared said.

“If you guys hear anything let me know, I gotta get back home.” I said looking at the clock. Emerson would be at the house any minute.

“You got it bad dude.” Quil laughed as I turned to leave.

He was right, I did. I smiled to myself as I back ran into the woods.

Finally it was Friday. Even though I had slept through all three of my alarms and was late for work I was in a good mood. It was almost the weekend which meant more time with Emerson and as a bonus my Dad left for a fishing trip this morning with Charlie, so I’d have the house to myself. Emerson and I could have the house to ourselves…We had plenty of alone time at her house sure but maybe tonight we could spend the night together…I had patrol late...But maybe she wouldn’t notice me leave in the middle of the night? I groaned internally. I have to tell her soon.

I decided to work a little later tonight at the shop since I got in late, Joe didn’t really care but I didn’t want him to think I was slacking at my job, I took pride in a having a good work ethic and I didn’t want to take advantage of his kindness either. I quickly texted Emerson letting her know that I had to work late and that I’d text her when I was home and asked if she wanted to come over. She said that sounded great. Even if she did spend the night I wasn’t going to put any expectations on this evening no matter how much I wanted to.

It was about six-thirty when I decided to call it a night I had finished up on the car I was working on so I pleased with the work I got done today and I knew Joe would be happy too. I drove home excited for the evening with Emerson I was too preoccupied with my thoughts I didn’t even notice the car in my driveway until I got out of mine. “Sorry I probably should have called.” A familiar voice rang out bringing my attention to the black sports car and the leech smell in the air.

“Bella?” Why was she here?

“I was passing through and thought I’d stop by and see if you were home, you know catch up?” She said a little unsure. Oh shit I did agree to that.

“Sorry you just caught me off guard.” I laughed. “Yeah you can come in for a few, I do have plans though…” I said remembering Emerson. I guess I could text her in a little bit I did tell her I had to work late and hadn't said how late…

“Oh that’s fine, sorry again for just showing up.” If she was still human I’m sure her cheeks would have been tinted red with a blush. Still the same awkward Bella.

“It’s okay, kinda like old time huh?” I smiled at her as we walked into the house.

“Yeah.” She smiled.

We talked for a little bit both sitting on the couch like we used to. She filled me in on her life and her daughter, the things they'd done, the places they traveled, how fast she was growing. They had a full life and I was glad.

“So tell me about the girl, how did you guys meet?” She asked curiously.

“Her name is Emerson and well she came into the shop about a month ago, her car needed some work and she hit me like a tons of bricks. I was honestly freaking out cause I didn’t even know her.” I laughed at the memory.

“So you imprinted on her?”

“Yeah, I never thought I would. I had kinda given up on the whole thing, love in general I guess.” Sadness flashed across her statuesque face.

“I’m sorry Jake…for my part in all that.” I knew Bella had never intentionally meant to hurt me, I didn’t blame her for it anymore though. I had grown up a lot in the past few years and realized we were both young and we both could have handled things better. I had been fighting so hard for a losing battle.

“Look it was a long time ago Bella. I do appreciate the apology but if I had seen things more clearly I would have known that we weren’t meant to be. It was always him. Even when he was gone. I guess at the time I was just too stubborn to see it.”

“Maybe we can be friends again?” I wasn’t sure if that was the greatest idea, I had distanced myself from her and her clan for a reason but oddly enough it was nice catching up with her again minus the leech smell.

“Yeah, I think maybe we can.” She smiled and stood up and I did the same.


“Well I should run, I know you have plans too. Hopefully I can meet her sometime.” She said walking toward the front door. “I am really happy that you're happy Jacob, that's all I ever wanted for you.”

“Thank you.” She came in for a hug and it felt a little weird, she wasn’t the warm fragile Bella anymore she was hard as stone and cold.


“I really did miss you Jake.” She said and for a second it felt like we were just young teenagers again. Like all the heavy shit never happened, it was nice. I guess I did miss my friend.

“I missed you too Bella.” A thud from outside caught our attention and we both looked out the window we were standing in front of. Emerson? Her face had shock written all over it. I looked as she had tripped and fallen in the front yard and was sitting in the wet grass. Was she okay?

“Is that her?” Bella asked.

“Yeah. it is. Shit! I hope she’s okay.” I said bolting for the front door as Bella followed. We walked outside and Emerson’s face was anything but happy as she was standing up looking from me to Bella. Fuck. I told her I was working late, I hadn’t texted in hours, and now she sees me here with another girl… I look like a total shit bag. Way to go Jake.

[headinthestaticsky]

Frozen within the Night Wind: Jasper Hale x Fleur Swan, Book 3 Chapter 1

None of the characters in twilight belong to me, all rights go to Stephenie Meyer.

Summary: Fleur has never been in more danger than she has now. Not only does she have the revengeful and angry Victoria after her. But the Volturi is wanting to go after her as well. Will Fleur be able to stay human? Or will someone end up getting in her way?

"Baby, that isn't how they look tonight

It took the light absolutely forever to get to your eyes

And as we gaze skyward, ain't it dark early?

It's the star treatment."

Star Treatment, By The Arctic Monkeys

Those speckled stars in the midnight sky are my possibilities of life, my fate.

That ocean is the course I will float through. It may be choppy and rough.

Or that tide that the moons controls will take me under.

Now in days, it always felt like that moon was going to take me in the water, pushing me down deep. I had multiple targets on my back and many deadly people trying to shoot their shots toward me. It seemed I had grown numb to the idea of my heart not beating anymore. It felt like a fate I couldn't escape. I should've known this would happen... I was dating someone whose heart had stopped beating over a hundred years ago. I would never blame him for my problems, of course, he couldn't control my sister's mouth as much as I wanted him to.

My dreams had started to get strange...Anytime I was "in" Victoria she was always alone. I felt her resentment, nervousness, and the constant hesitance of the people around her. I was always wondering what had happened to that man she had bitten. Leah and I hadn't talked since her dad had ended up getting killed, I hadn't seen Seth either. Bella and I had been worse than we had ever been. Seeing her still makes me sick to my stomach and Edward made me just as sick too. But I knew something was coming...and I knew that we would all have to stick together, whether we wanted to or not.

I was currently making my way down to the Cullens, I wanted to see Rosalie and Jasper, and Alice too. I couldn't stand to be in that house by myself with Edward and Bella not too far away.

Tell me, how am I to feel? Tell me how... I don't know if I can chill I need to scream it loud

Female Energy PT2 by, Willow Smith

I pulled into the Cullen's driveway and jogged up to the door, knocking softly. Jasper had always told me I never needed to knock and that I could just come in but, it always felt wrong not doing it. I looked through the glass and saw Rosalie smiling, she had more bridal magazines in her hands. Ever since she found out Jasper and I had gotten engaged she was gung ho on planning our wedding. I was convinced she could be a professional wedding planner.

"Fleur! You came right on time." I walked into the house and took my sweater off.

"Glad I made it on time... my rule is when Edward enters the house, it's time for me to leave the house." I joked.

"Oh, I'm sure they're driving you nuts."

"You have no idea... Is Jasper here?

"No, he went on a hunting trip with Emmett, Esme, Dean, Carlisle, and Alice, they'll be gone for the rest of the night."

"Oh okay. What'd you find?" I asked gesturing toward the pile of magazines.

"I was looking at wedding dresses perfect for forest weddings, and when the best time to have weddings at, as well as things you shouldn't have in a wedding because they can cause bad luck."

"Rose... Alice is starting to rub off on you isn't she?" I said a smirk was plastered on my face.

"Yes... I think she is."

"So, what do they tell us about what are the best dresses to wear?"

"Well, I was seeing a lot of lace, and most the dresses were short."

"I like lace."

"Good, we've made progress."

"I was thinking about having Lilies of the Valley for the main floral arrangements."

"You are reading my mind Fleur."

We were scanning through different magazines, pointing out some things I would want to have. The distraction was nice but soon enough those same thoughts crept back into my head. Rosalie noticed this and a concerned look was replaced with her joyful one.

"What's going on in that head of yours Fleur."

I sighed

"I'm just freaked out about everything...and these dreams about Victoria aren't helping either."

"You've had more dreams about Victoria?" She inquired, her face was full of shock."

"Oh...I didn't say anything about that did I?"

"No...what's she doing?"

"Well, the first dream I had of her again was while all you guys were gone. She had attacked some man but didn't kill him. The dreams of her I've had recently are just her alone... she seems so nervous now."

"I wish I could help you out with whatever's going on but, I can't do anything for your dreams."

"It's not your fault Rose... I just wish I knew why my dreams have been so accurate when it came to things involving her. Well... there was one other thing, but I'm not sure if Jasper told you."

"What's it about?"

"I was having dreams the night you guys had left, one of them I was standing on a random street corner, and Jasper was there driving a car. When he got a second look at me I disappeared. He had called me in the middle of the night and asked me how I found him."

"Oh my god...are you sure you're fully human?" She asked playfully.

"I don't know what the heck I am at this point," I said, chuckling.

"I have to admit, it's impressive... I've never even heard a vampire being able to do that stuff."

"I wish I could control it, the dreams cut off after a while."

"I wouldn't worry about it, for now, it comes into use for us when we've reached dead ends. You have to be hungry, why don't we take a break from wedding planning?"

"Sounds good... I'm starving!"

After I had finished dinner, it was late so I had decided to spend the night there. I pulled out my phone and called dad, so he didn't freak out about anything.

"Hey Petal, I was just about to call."

"Sorry dad, I'm over with Rosalie... we spent too much time wedding planning. I'm going to spend the night here since it's so late." I explained.

"That's fine, tell Rosalie I said hi."

"I will love you, dad."

"Love you too."

"I'm going to bed Rose, I'll see you in the morning."

"Alright, sleep well." She said.

I went up to Jasper's room and collapsed on the bed the Cullens had gotten for me. I was roused awake slightly a few hours later, those familiar cold arms wrapped themselves around me. I fell back to sleep a few seconds later. I awoke the next morning, the sun was burning my face. It was one of those rare day's the sun decided to make an appearance in Forks. I groaned and buried my face in one of the cush pillows behind my head. I heard a deep chuckle from the doorway.

"You never were a morning person were you love?" I heard Jasper ask...not matter how long I was here on this Earth, I would never get tired of his voice.

"I don't wanna get up...you can't make me."

"I technically could darlin, I am a vampire you know."

"But you're a nice vampire...you love me too much to wake me up."

"Edward and Bella will be coming over soon..." I shot up and looked at him, a grin on his face told me he was joking.

"I take it back, you're mean."

"If it'll make it up to you...I'll make you breakfast."

"As nice as that sounds... I better go, dad is probably waiting for me."

"Okay love, I'll see you tonight." He said, I kissed him before leaving, I bid everyone a goodbye in the lounge room and made it toward my car. The long drive back was going well until my car had broken down.

"Aww damn it..." I said, getting out of my car. I was still in the forest, the dead leaves were crunching underneath my feet. Before I could open the engine however I heard another set of feet coming toward me. I looked up and locked eyes with someone who looked familiar to me... his eyes were blood red.

"Fleur Swan... we meet at last."

[thecarnivorousmuffinmeta]

Hi! I was wondering if given the chance and Rosalie could have/adopt a child who doesn’t age fast and die like a human but isn’t a vampire (I’m thinking kind of like a teen wolf situation), would she take this opportunity to become the parent she’s always wanted to be? Would she be a good mother? Would she and Emmet be overprotective or cold? Because they’re different, How would she and Emmet treat them and What would that look like?

My previous answers to Rosalie and adopting/turning children here and here.

I haven't seen Teen Wolf, so that means nothing to me, but we won't let that stop us.

What will stop us, of course, is that I still don't think it'll work out.

What's Wrong This Time?

The first obstacle: Rosalie's going to have to notice this weird aging not vampire child. If there's nothing else that distinguishes them, and especially if they're young enough to still be a part of society, then the Cullens probably won't notice. The kid ages slowly, sure, but the Cullens only stay in a town a few years and don't pay attention to all the humans around them. And if the kid isn't very well integrated into society (ran away, was rejected by their original family, was an orphan) the Cullens are even less likely to notice as they'll just never come across this kid.

The second obstacle: vampire noses are very sensitive to what's human and what's not. Animals smell very tasteless and bland to them, it's telling that Carlisle didn't realize animals were a solution until he was starved out of his mind to the point where he's eating the equivalent of tree bark. Shapeshifters, people who aren't quite human anymore but not vampires, smell dreadful. They smell much worse than animals.

Rosalie... took note of that with Jacob and was not a fan. This kid smells rancid? Rosalie might pity them, but probably will never get close enough with them to go "WE MUST ADOPT" and then good luck convincing Alice whose visions are probably being blocked and gets the joy of their house smelling like god knows what for eternity. As it is, the smell's probably going to be Rosalie's first impression.

The third obstacle: this would probably be an older kid, probably somewhat close to Rosalie's age, just based on where Rosalie would be likely to come across such a kid. If the kid's a baby, that thing's going straight to Carlisle and is the talk of the hospital as it's just. not. growing. This newborn has been a newborn for an entire year, something is really, seriously, wrong here. That, or the parents already know, and they're not going to dump their baby on the weird Cullen family that moved to town. Basically, Carlisle would be working overtime but Rosalie would not be getting a new baby. And if it is a kid, who's too old... why would that kid want to move in with the Cullens? And vice versa, as the Cullens would be in serious danger of eating said child or else the child smells horrible.

Regardless, the child's life would be one they may have never wanted to live: constantly moving around, never forming ties with any real people, and living this empty shell of a life.

My point being, in this situation, I'm very doubtful Rosalie gets to become a mother. And even if the Cullens do adopt the child, why her? Yes, she desperately wants a child, but she'd have to take an extreme break from the high school routine for years. And Esme's already in the house and is Mother incarnate. More likely, Esme would take over.

Would Rosalie Be a Good Mother?

Parenting, in general, is really hard. Rosalie when turned was very young and has a lot of baggage. I think Rosalie would try very hard, she would love the child, whether it's Renesmee or the unlikely to adopt child above, but I don't think she's emotionally prepared to be a mother.

More, for her, being a mother is so tied into everything she lost. She has this very clear vision in her head of what being a mother, what having a child, will be like. In both cases you describe, neither child is quite human, and the ideal will not be the reality. Adding to that is that the Cullen way of life, in general, is not the rosy vision she'd have.

There will be very hard times, and I think Rosalie will endeavor to pull through them, but I think any child (Renesmee or otherwise) will realize that Rosalie has these unsaid expectations they simply do not live up to.

I don't think she'd be a bad mother, per se, and her heart would certainly be in the right place. But I don't think she'd be the perfect mother she envisions herself to be. And I think raising a child would be a lot harder and different than what she's built up in her head.

Would She and Emmett Be Overprotective or Cold?

Emmett, I imagine, doesn't care that much. He never seemed all that hung up or interested in kids. He's doing this for Rose. Sure, he likes the squirt, but he's not overly attached either.

Rosalie, I imagine would be overprotective. With Renesmee, she lived through the worst. The Volturi came to destroy the family, to destroy Renesmee, for the crime of existing. Renesmee cannot have accidents, the family cannot have any hint of breaking the law again, and Rosalie's now always worried about what might happen next.

With... mysterious child she's unlikely to adopt, depends when it happens. Probably still on the overprotective side due to worry. The kid lives in a house of vampires, even if they're not delicious, sooner or later one of them might accidentally smash them like a bug. In fact, it's almost inevitable. Humans cannot live in close contact with vampires, this is why the Cullens left in New Moon.

Rosalie would be terrified of this happening and would treat the child as if they were made of glass.

How Would Rosalie and Emmett Treat the Different Child

Rosalie would project a human child onto them. Renesmee has marble skin and grows like a weed? Doesn't matter, we're playing dress up anyway, this is great.

New child takes forever and a half to grow. Great, they get to be in adorable toddler clothes forever.

Ultimately, this isn't good for either Rosalie or the kid, but that was covered above.

[theoriginalcarnivorousmuffin]

Can you explain Blue Moon to someone who has no idea what Twilight is about?

Ooh boy.

At a very high level, a romantic comedy but if romantic comedies were Arrested Development.

At a slightly lower level...

... How unfamiliar are we talking here? Oh god. Wish me luck anon, if you're still confused send another ask.

A Crash Course in the Twilight Saga (As Brought to You By Me and Disagreed With By the Entire Internet)

Twilight is the story of a depressed young woman who through a series of unfortunate events ends up married to Vampire Patrick Bateman.

There's a lot in Twilight though, so it's a little hard to unpack like this. What's relevant for the story is the following:

Throughout the series, Bella goes through many trials and overcomes many obstacles in her pursuit of Edward (a teenage vampire). She first meets him in Twilight, and he's very standoffish for a while and frankly a little scary. However, for a variety of reasons, their relationship takes off.

However, a little after six months of dating her, thanks to a birthday party gone terribly wrong, Edward realizes his relationship with Bella is not sustainable. Humans can't hang around vampires in the Twilight universe, it just doesn't work. Edward convinces the family to leave and uses Bella's every insecurity against her in order to help her get over him faster.

This ends up being a disastrous decision that doesn't last even six months.

Bella is utterly destroyed, becomes barely functional in her depression, and when Edward's family ends up coming back rushes into a relationship with Edward and into vampirism head first.

A few weeks later, due to a series of events, Bella ends up agreeing to marry Edward while human in order to have sex with him while human and also have him personally turn him (Carlisle, Edward's Vampire Dad, was the one originally going to do it).

Sex with humans is not a done thing for vampires, and is a very bad idea, Edward consistently tells Bella as much but he's also desperate she not be turned and desperate to marry her (this is Bella's condition for marriage along with him personally turning her). However, there was a very real chance this would end in disaster.

However, Edward really really really doesn't want her to be a vampire because of a variety of reasons. The one he states openly in canon is that he believes vampires have no souls and are barred entry into the afterlife. Bella thinks this is the dumbest thing she's ever heard and says as much to anyone who asks.

In canon, he goes through with it anyway, and we get the Rosemary's Baby arc known as Breaking Dawn's first half.

In Blue Moon there's another scene important for reference. In Eclipse, and also later in Breaking Dawn, Edward puts up the proposition that Bella does not, in fact, marry him but instead uses Jacob Black (Edward's rival love interest) as a stud in order to produce human children.

In Blue Moon the context is that Edward doesn't trust himself to have sex with Bella but also really wants this wedding to go through. He absolutely adores and idolizes his vampire dad, Carlisle, and so he asks him to do it instead.

And it's all a dumpster fire from there.

(That, in essence, is the story. The aftermath of this crazy what if decision that Edward very much could have ended up making.)

And that... should be pretty much the basics of what you need to know.

Other good things to know is there's this thing called the Volturi who enforce the vampire secrecy thing. Bella's been threatened once by them already and it's not clear if they'll take any and every opportunity to wipe out the Cullens or not.

Also, Rosalie's very hung up on not being human and specifically on never having children herself.

The rest you should be able to pick up as you go along.