#tag: minister fang | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

kingsandbastardz · 8 months ago

Text

Writing Patterns

Thank you to @mx-myth!

This is supposed to be first sentence of my last 10 AO3 works.

But I'm modifying like... everything lol - I play with format with my writing and one thing I definitely do a lot is quote lines from the canon, so I'm going to be putting first few sentences/paragraph/sequence to work past those and for consistency. And like @mx-myth I'll also be adding a few last sentences for the few published works I have, just for fun. I'm including wips because I don't have a large body work. For WIP it'll be first sentence only. lmao is this the same tag challenge at all?

01. SAMSARA ( wip - Mysterious Lotus Casebook: FangDi - with past DiHuaDi - transmigration rebirth modern AU with a deeply traumatized actor Di Feisheng trying to both rescue this world's version of LLH while also running away from him and FDB with all his might.)

Imagine this: you live, you kill, you lick dirt from the shoes of your masters. You fail to die so many times you begin to wonder if you're immortal.

02. everything looks small - we gave up on those happy endings (wip MLC - This is the story I've been torturing myself with the past 2 months: Trio + Wuyan and a random Hulijing)

"Do you not remember me at all? Does the name Di Feisheng mean anything to you?" Li Lianhua smiles as he gathers his winnings. "Of course I remember you. You're my kind and rich friend." But that can't be right, Fang Duobing thinks as Li Lianhua tells him about his recently made acquaintance over dinner, his sightless eyes shining with a familiar brightness - just for a moment. That can't be right, because Di Feisheng has been missing for months.

03. 囍 Marriage (wip MLC - There are a lot of dead brides and ruined marriages in this series so I'm continuing the tradition. fanghua with possible difanghua and difanghuajlq. Sorta.)

He wakes choking, clawing free from the ropes binding his wrists to press trembling fingers to agonized lips that are sewn shut with some kind of fine thread. There is a golden ingot trapped behind his teeth, stretching his jaw open against strained stitching. He chokes as he struggles to breathe through his nose and the lump of metal presses against the back of his tongue to slip further against his throat. He's terrified the blackness means he's also been blinded.

04. flight is something done willfully (wip MLC - fangdi, immediately post-canon - something something about having to finally deal with fdb's trauma surrounding loss and abandonment and dfs having a fuckton of patience in dealing with fdb's prolonged panic attack that mobilizes a small militias, the Minister of the Treasury, and sigu sect leadership)

You made the mistake of thinking words would finally be acceptable. After all, you are now free. A potential cure for poison has been handed over. All is well. You can relax and open your mouth and actually let real words come out. But the thing is, your tacit understanding only lasts as long as neither of you try to actually communicate.

05. The Universe of Us : When you lose a person, a whole universe goes along with them (wip MLC - timeloop and a battle between opposing spirits)

When Fang Duobing and Di Feisheng meet again, it is at the same time, on the same beach where they find nothing but the ocean, a pile of fermenting seaweed and their own memories. They are like strangers absorbed in their own grief. It's no matter. To Di Feisheng, they met because of Li Lianhua, so it’s fitting that they are both strangers now without him.

06. 羽化成蝶 Metamorphosis (DFS' core is untouchable - idk where I'm going with this but the main concept is internal vs external form)

A familiar dao thumps onto the table as a handsomely dressed giantess seats herself across from Li Xiangyi. "I have the list," she says with no introduction. Her voice is low and fuzzy, like someone who's spent a lifetime with a pipe in hand and smoke in her lungs - it wasn't unpleasant. "Di-mengzhu," Li Xiangyi greets politely as he pours her tea. A faint wildness in his eyes is his only acknowledgement that he is facing something unexpected.

07. Pear Blossoms In Spring ( wip - Mysterious Lotus Casebook: FangDi - meant to be a silly romance but turned into a comedy about a shaoye who keeps comparing the love of his life to his favorite dead horse)

“Ah, this is the Iron Head Slave. Remember?” says Li Lianhua the Lying Liar gesturing to the tall, leggy beauty blocking their path. “His name is a-Fei.”

08. the moon is as bright as it was before (my first finished and posted fic in many years and it's an experimental thought piece for Mysterious Lotus Casebook)

the existence of a torture chamber beside the wedding bedroom and its contents shouldn’t be a surprise at this point. and yet… it’s the redundancy you find offensive. she has a multi-chamber dungeon. she has a water chamber in her own quarters. why must it extend here as well?

under the moon’s blessing, you smile back and for the first time in your life, you hope for the future.

09. I, Augustus (Tour Of the Merrimack - gay space roman that can't decide whether he wants to kill or fuck an american and which is worse? who knows)

It was sound that went first. Eardrums deadened, he careened off the bridge, chest so full of metal he'd lost count how many times he'd been shot. He could see the flash-bang of incendiary rounds as they were fired from both his fellow 300 and the advancing Americans, the light momentarily coloring roiling black smoke with flashes of pink and yellow.

He dreams instead of possibility, of new worlds and unmappable futures, their patterns varied and far reaching as the ever expanding universe.

10. An Affair to Remember: The Commissar and His Snake (Warhammer 40k fandom - A Guant's Ghosts story in the style of Ciaphas Cain)

opening

INQUISITORIAL DOSSIER: IIIX:4SE:A3ASF3S:XXX COMPILED BY INTERROGATOR ANTONIUS WONG CHAU-SANG UNDER THE AUSPICES OF INQUISITOR MABODABU, ORDO XENOS INQUISITORIAL DATA-LIBRARY DATE: 999.M41 FILE START// Editorial note: I am sure that most who read this are already familiar with the work of the esteemed Inquisitor Amberley Vail who compiled her eye-opening series based upon the famed Commissar Cain's private memoirs.

ending

“Come along then,” I said as I began to walk. I lengthened my stride. My legs are, after all, longer.43 I felt Elim follow, his dark presence hesitating only a moment before he was half a step behind me, where he should be, sure and certain as any shadow. 43 I can only assume Colonel-Commissar Gaunt deliberately lengthened his stride to make it more difficult for the Major to keep up. This would be an ongoing theme in their relationship for many years to come.

Patterns:

For openings, whether it's with concept or actions/visual, I tend to drop the reader straight into the middle of a situation as a hook and then dial it backwards.

I favor punchy openings.

also like I said earlier, I like to quote or recreate a scene from the canon to quickly establish tone and position in the story

of the 3 endings I have here, all of them tend to be like the ending of a jdrama where it fades off toward a "and life goes on" vibe, rather than something stronger like "and then this happened". I don't forsee this changing much in the future. I tend to fade away by the time i reach an ending so either it's super abrupt or the wheel of life continues turning~~~

Tagging all writers and anyone else who wants to do this!

@the-wintry-mizzenmast @momosandlemonsoda @thesilversun @randomingoftherandomness @eirenical @difeisheng @busarewski @bbcphile

#tag game #mysterious lotus casebook #writing patterns #my royal ramblings

9 notes · View notes

saskiasabri · 1 year ago

Note

Going off anon because ur too cool of an artist for dat!

I DIDN'T KNOW DAUD HAD ANOTHER VERSION!!! (refering to the tags in my last ask ->) YES, I WANNA KNOW ABOUT BOSSKUR n.n

Also tysm for the post about Daud, it makes me have quite a few ideas of my own for my own fandude. I'm relatively new to the postal 2 fandom and I love everything I'm seeing on your profile <3 !

ayy thank you so much!! <3 here I go..! I couldn't come up with a proper name for him since he's also Daud.. so I call him "Bosskur Daud", "Demon Daud", or just Bosskur for short. Bosskur (or Bossku) actually means "my boss" for Malay and It can also be used for calling someone who is a good friend. I use this silly name for him because it used to be nickname we call our former prime minister of Malaysia some years back, it's funny I know. But ANYWAYS! Yes, he's kind of a bossy character. He's actually a demon version of Daud, so I guess we can call him the alternative version of Daud. there's other versions of him (P:Redux, P:Brain Damaged, P:3) but P:3 is his main design, which is this! :-

This is actually his disguise as a human whenever he visits the Earth. There are few little details of the demon features on him from the image above. (his ears, little fangs, sharp fingernails even tho they're not shown in this because it's cropped lol) While THIS is his actual demon form. (Postal Redux version of him), he's taller than his human form. So basically he's the one that caused the mass murder incident by taking control of Daud. (possession)

As I mentioned already, he's inspired by Shark, BUT ALSO by Jai, another character from KL Gangster movie franchise! (Jai from KL Gangster part 1 & 2)

Yes, his pins/nametag has meanings too! (Black hibiscus flower, "LAWAN" black flag pin, Bosskur nametag)

Black hibiscus flower - "no peace" LAWAN black flag pin - "FIGHT", or "WE FIGHT BACK!". Black flag was used to protest on Malaysia's government failure (PN) that happened back in 2021. Bosskur's nametag - "Bosskur" spelled with Arabic letters, or we just call it Jawi/Javanese.

(and that's all I guess!)

#asmoteeth #ask #answer #saskia talks #mat postal #mat daud #bosskur daud #demon daud #dudeverse #fandude

15 notes · View notes

thebansacredbanned · 10 months ago

Note

omg!! Tell me about #11 I need this in my life

#11 from the WIP Title Tag game was "MLC dad!SGD"

so this is supposed to be a short crack one shot and is probably almost finished, I just need to decide whether I want to write another scene or whether it's funnier ending as it is

Anyway the main premise is that Shan Gudao gets his girlfriend pregnant and decides to quit the jianghu altogether and go home with her. Fang Duobing is still officially adopted by minister Fang and He Xiaohui because they need an heir but unofficially he's got 4 parents

and all this backstory is for a difanghua fic where Shan Gudao walks in on his son and his shidi in bed together

#ask game #anyway sgd is extremely important to me i think he deserves the chance to be a strict but well-meaning father

5 notes · View notes

queengiuliettafirstlady · 2 years ago

Text

Knight of Love

Fandom: Ikemen Vampire

Pairing: Napoleon x OC (July niece of Leonardo)

Prompt: Day 1 [august 9th] - Ambush // "Admit defeat!"

Part of Napoleon week 2022 held by @xxsycamore and @batteryrose

Tag: Angst Fluff

Word Count: 1.037

Author’s Note: Sequel of Beautiful flaws

Demons from the past set disarray in the monarchs' hearts, but resolve not falter for a soldier who is not used to fail whose heart will be the key to defeat his enemy once and for all brushing off the clouds he carried with him, making the sun appear again on his loved kingdom protecting his Queen with his love. 🥰

Tag list

@kissmetwicekissmedeadly @aquagirl1978 @violettduchess

@nightghoul381 @william-rex @writingwhimsey

@fang-and-feather @moonstruckmelancholic

@wistfulwanderingone @rjthirsty @lichtluv

@ike-garden2024 @jollibeeshappiness @starzyquee

@maeko-kun @rkmaru

You can find me on AO3 as QueenJuliet 😊

Thank you for everyone who will like, reblog, or comment please be gentle with me english is not my first language so please do not leave rude comments I apologise for eventual errors I hope you will like it 😊

It was a sunny day in Paris, hearty laughs resonated in the palace coming from the Monarchs' bedroom no one dared to disturb, even though lively gossip was freely running down the halls along the servants whose chit chatting kept them entertained during their work.

In the meanwhile what was happening behind closed doors was pretty far from the wild imagination of the palace staff, already panicking to arrange properly a room for the future heir needs, fretting over to hear the mirth notice from the monarchs as soon as possible to communicate it to their allies, in order to announce it on the night of the ball, all this thought that so clearly uplifted the maids mood did nothing but provoke headaches to the ministers, currently doing their best to manage all the documents sitting on their desk.

“Admit defeat my feisty knight and I will be merciful with you.”

“Oui… I admit it…please ma reine spare me. he panted heavily laid on his back feeling her fingers finally stopping from the merciless tickles she bestowed upon him, a punishment for thinking so low of himself as he confessed candidly to her the day before.

“Oh the mighty Emperor admits defeat, by the hand of a woman no less ?

“Not a woman.” his voice serious as he pressed his fingers delicately on her lips correcting her mistake

“My Queen.” she sighed softly smiling as he turned the table pinning her down under him, giggling happily she laced her arms behind her back seeing a playful smile curled his lips triumphantly before he begin to pepper kisses all over her face and neck making her laugh as her fingers slid into his hair when he melted his lips on hers in as slow sweet kiss to convey all the love deep harbored in his heart only for her.

Heavy clouds covered the evening sky mocking the carefree days went by as a threat emerged from the forest to haunt him, determined to make him pay for a sin he committed alone in the mind of his opponent.

“Admit defeat Bonaparte.” swords in hand his opponent look straight into his eyes shining with sheer determination as he stood still front of his enemy shielding her with his body

“Never.” his voice a low growl, resembling the roar of a fierce lion untamable and proud as he step in to defend his mate, not hesitating to attack first when he saw the wicked light shining in his eyes while a pervert grin deformed his atavic features as he ogled at her.

The fierce flame of love burned bright in his heart, resolution burning in his eyes as a noble reason make his movements fast and precise saving no effort to protect her at any cost, not holding back from using at his advantage all the knowledge hard acquired through the lesson of fencing he had with a musketeer skilled with swords who saw potential in him, giving him the strength to bloom in what he was, a leader resolute and mighty who did not bend over to anything and anyone to protect his lover.

The clangor of swords clashing against one another resonate through the field until he successful disarmed his opponent, a scum of a man who desired to have her but to whom she denied her hand making him mad with folly as twisted plan of revenge begin to take form in his contorted mind so mad to defy the King himself, laying on his back with the monarch towering over him gave him a few minutes to question exactly what he has gotten himself into but before his thick dull brain could manage to think all of it he felt his sword being skewered in the ground next to his head, feeling his hot breath fan on his sweaty cheeks, a dangerous glimpse in his jade eyes raging with fire he leaned over to whisper “I never, ever, surrender to anyone.” a low roar erupted from his throat as he murmured “This is a promise. Next time you try to hurt her God may have mercy on you because I will not.” an oath he would have not hesitated to act on no matter the cost.

Terror settle in his muddy dark eyes taken aback by that side of his enemy, hastily he staggered on his feet running away into the forest to neve been seen or heard anymore by them.

The fierce unstoppable lion that fighted restlessly on the battlefield became no more than a domesticated fierce as he walked to her, feeling her arms tightening around his torso, engulfed in his arms he place a gentle kiss on her forehead whispering softly

“You do not have to be afraid July. concern dripping over his jade eyes and into his smile he cradled her face in his hand, brushing tenderly his thumbs on her cheeks staring right into her green eyes soft with affection and gratitude as she looked back at him, his saviour and hero, the only man she has and always would have loved, knowing to be loved just as much from him

“I will always protect you.” his words enough to melt her heart completely, keeping her warm even in a frizzy evening like this as a chilly breeze rustled around them on the cliff, her smile bright like the sun and warm as much as her sweet words filled his heart with love and pride like only she could elicit in him

“I know Napoleone, I trust you.” shyly she left a kiss on his cheek blushing thereafter hiding her face in his chest, hearing him chuckle softly at her

"You are so adorable my little, tell me how I am supposed to resist you ?"

giggling playfully she looked up at him brushing her fingers on his cheek, affection swelling in his heart he tried to convey melting his lips on hers in a sweet slow kiss they wished to last forever, prelude to a more intense and intimate activity they would have gave in one alone to show off their love to one another rin the privacy and warmth of their bedroom at the palace.

Reluctantly they pulled away, gently he cradled her face in his hand, his eyes full of concern as he asked “Are you hurt ?” a soft smile on her lips she shook her head

“Only thanks to you.” a soft sigh escaped her lips as she shyly confessed

“I was so afraid Leone, he wanted to take me away from you.”

“Do not be, I will never let anyone do that mia piccola principessa.”

he murmured softly, kissing tenderly her forehead “No one will ever keep us apart.” brushing his fingers on her cheeks he looked into her eyes “They can try all they want but I will not let them he took her hand on his kissing her knuckles “I swear on my oath as King I will protect you from anything and everything. No one will touch you as long as we are together. I will and always will be your knight to stand at your side to keep you safe and loved.”

“Merci beaucoup Leon. I trust you.”

The frizzy wind keeping them company as they strolled back home, taking their time to unwind after such a stressful day with a steaming hot bath and delicious food delivered right to their chamber where the King decided to spoil her Queen well late into the night, showing off their love to one another in a way to not brush away fears and insecurities in the smoldering sun of affection he did not shied away from showing on her until morning, prelude to a wonderful and lazy day they would have spent basking in that feeling lacing their hearts together called love.

#napoleon week 2022 #original character #my writing #ikemen vampire #ikemen vampire napoleon #ikevamp napoleon #ikemen vampire july original character #ikevamp

8 notes · View notes

rondoel · 4 years ago

Text

Masterpost:

(Titles in italics mean the parts that are not drawn yet)

…

BEGINNING

I thought I was your hero…

The right thing

Wait up

Happy to see you [part 1] [part 2] [part 3] [part 4] [part 5]

Bow to Your King [part 1] [part 2] [part 3]

…

MIDDLE OF THE STORY

Self-fulfilling prophecy

Shadow Virgil

Truce [part 1] [part 2] [part 3] [part 4]

Creative minister

Dusty Log

Stay to chat

Knowledge

…

REMINISCING

Show your fangs

Sword fighting

…

DETHRONE

One obstacle

Truth…?

Unfair

Dethrone [part 1] [part 2] [part 3] [part 4]

…

A MINDSCAPE RUN BY KIDS

A diary

Happy Ending

Padre

Satisfactory

It’s gone

Dreams

Learning [part 1] [part 2] [part 3]

Negative air [part 1] [part 2]

Performance

…

THE SPLIT

A bad person

Candy [part 1] [part 2] [part 3]

What’s wrong with your eyes

Liar [part 1] [part 2]

Key to an Apology [part 1] [part 2]

…

Extras:

…

Post-split Remus/Deceit shenanigans: [part 1] [part 2]

…

RANDOM PAGES

Oh Logic

Virgil and baby Patton

…

KINGCEIT

Dirty cheater

Ship meme

…

(this page will need to get updated cause there’s much more but that’s it for now xD Check out the tags)

…

Other people's work:

WRITING:

…

by @lovelivingmydreams:

A bond never forged

Lost in thought

Something to think about

What is a happy ending?

The worst posibble thing

Hopeless love

Might have been [part 1] [pt 2] [pt 3] [pt 4] [pt 5] [pt 6]

A King that protects

Conversations with myself

Inner voice

…

Silence (by @shelby-711)

Private lesson (by @melissa-s23)

Survival (by @marginmaster87 )

Be more careful (by @little-introwert)

To be found (by anonymous)

A mental shutdown (by @pickledpoologs)

Where has everyone gone? (by @jadespeedster17 )

Go ahead (by @themadauthorshatter)

Love (by @fandomfollowerart)

…

#sanders sides #masterpost

3K notes · View notes

ginazmemeoir · 3 years ago

Text

Here you go with chapter 2 of shakuntala :D

tagging @rudolphsboyfriend @redirection04 @gopikanyari @weird-u @aadyeah @holding-infinity-and-a-book @allegoriesinmediasres @avani008 @totallyforgotyouwerehere @dragonfairy1231 @taareginn @wtfrroch

“Please, just once!” she cried, beating the gates. A heavily pregnant Shakuntala had arrived to meet Dushyant finally, braving the dangers of the forest and the deceptive current of the Yamuna.

The journey till Hastinapur was quite uneventful. Shakuntala had set forth in a palanquin, along with a pair of warrior-priestesses who protected her as far as the river, bidding her off with charms crafted to ward off evil spirits from the mother and unborn child. From there, she boarded a ferry which took her across the Yamuna to the outskirts of Hastinapur, and then walked on foot till she reached the heart of the city, cutting through the bustling metropolis. Her garb, which identified her as a scholar and a holy woman, along with her prominent pregnant belly, helped her by drawing the attention of a kind innkeeper, who let her stay for free. After a day of rest and curing her sore feet, she set off for the royal palace.

Set in the western end of the city, built on a riverine island, the royal palace truly was a miraculous architectural marvel. Built of marble, it was inlaid with sculptures lined with gold and coloured with gemstones. Statues of elephants jutted from everywhere, testimony to the founding legend of the city – how a herd of elephants had led King Hastina, Dushyant’s ancestor, to the site of the great city. The gates to the palace itself were towering and imposing, reinforced with steel and menacing spikes. The gateway was shaped like a temple gopuram, row upon row lined with sculptures in brilliant colours all telling a story, and at the shikhara was a large figurine of the Keertimukh, a ferocious divine monster which devoured ghosts and evil spirits, his fangs bared and tongue lolling. As she approached the gates, a guard stopped her. Once again, her pregnant belly came to her rescue as the gruff sentry was replaced by a small ranking lady followed by her guard.

“O sadhavi, what has brought you to our gates today?” the lady asked.

“I am Shakuntala, daughter of Sage Kanva.”

“What great fortune! The daughter of the esteemed sage himself come to grace us! Pray tell madam, what do you seek?” A parasol and chair were soon arranged for Shakuntala, to shield her from the elements and provide comfort to her aching feet. Or rather to please her, for nobody wanted to anger the kin of a sage.

“I am here to meet Prince Dushyant. I am his wife, and pregnant with his child.” She announced.

Silence followed her statement. The guards looked at each other curiously, while the minister just gazed at her; and then quick as lightning, her nature changed from day to night. Her humble demeanour transformed, and so did her sweet-as-sugar tongue.

“How many times have I told you to keep prostitutes away from the palace? The crown prince has had enough problems as it is.” She said, screaming at the sentries.

“Oh no, I am not a prostitute, I am a scholar. And I’m speaking the truth, I did wed Dushyant!” Shakuntala protested.

“Oh yeah? Then where’s your proof?”

Shakuntala brought up her hand to show her the ring, but instead saw nothing but her naked skin. It was missing from her finger. She checked the folds of her sari and the bag she had brought along, but in vain. The ring, her only claim to her marriage, the only thing w;hich could negate Durvasa’s terrible curse, was missing. She racked her brain, trying to figure out when she might have lost the ring, when it dawned on her : the river. She had dipped her hand inside it while crossing it, and the ring must have fallen off then.

“Th-the river, my ring fell in the river, believe me I am his wife, we married through the gandharva rites!” she cried, desperate, as tears welled in her eyes.

“Look here whore, I have dealt with enough of you to tell truth from lies. The prince is very careful with his occasional romantic affairs, and there’s no way he would have even looked at jungle trash like you. I don’t want any trouble today, the royal coronation has me busy as it is. Just take your money and leave.”

Everything happened too fast after that. The parasol and seat were removed. A silk purse filled with silver coins was pressed in her hands and she was rushed out of the palace, whose doors closed with a definitive clang behind her.

She shouted. She banged her hands on the door until they drew blood, but nothing moved the guards. And then a terrible realization hit her.

Dushyant wouldn’t have married her. Her father was right. He had forgotten her already, despite having married her with the forest as their witness. Heck, he might even get married now, probably to a princess of a mighty land. The proposal would have been in the works for months, probably even before than when they had first met.

Just like that, Shakuntala’s world unravelled before her. She had loved Dushyant from the time he had stumbled in the ashram during that fateful afternoon. But to him, she was just another girl he had been with. Durvasa or not, she and him were never meant to be.

The trees who witnessed their love couldn’t defend her. And the river she grew up with sealed her fate.

Her visions plagued Dushyant. Since the time he woke up this morning, visions plagued him. He saw a woman – skin as fair and radiant as the moon, curly hair that reached her waist, her body full and toned. He saw him chasing her in a forest, her laugh and the sound of her anklets melting together in his ears. Each time he envisioned her, he felt an invisible pull, like a fish hook had dug itself inside his heart. And yet, he remembered none of it. He didn’t remember going to a forest or meeting a maiden. He didn’t remember losing his ruby ring, gifted to him by his mother and he was certain he hadn’t visited the tavern or drunk in months. None of it made sense, and the timing couldn’t be worse, for a madman who saw such nonsensical visions couldn’t obviously be made king. Dushyant didn’t know who that lady was, or if he had ever known her, but he was sure that meeting her might be the focal point of his life.

#shakuntala #dushyant #my fic

16 notes · View notes

kingcreativityau · 4 years ago

Text

SANDERS SIDES | KING AU | MASTERPOST | #king au

Tags: | #art | #ask | #comic |

...

Main Comic

(The whole story is already written, now I’m just slowly drawing it in no particular order)

(Titles in italics = parts that are not drawn yet)

…

BEGINNING

I thought I was your hero…

The right thing

Wait up

Happy to see you [part 1] [part 2] [part 3] [part 4] [part 5]

Bow to Your King [part 1] [part 2] [part 3]

…

MIDDLE OF THE STORY

Self-fulfilling prophecy

Shadow Virgil

Truce [part 1] [part 2] [part 3] [part 4]

Creative minister

Dusty Log

Stay to chat

Knowledge

…

REMINISCING

Show your fangs

Dead [part 1] [part 2]

…

DETHRONE

One obstacle

The truth…?

Unfair

Dethrone [part 1] [part 2] [part 3] [part 4]

…

A MINDSCAPE RUN BY KIDS

A diary

Happy Ending

Satisfactory

It’s gone

Dreams

Candy [part 1] [part 2] [part 3]

Eyes

A bad person

Liar [part 1] [part 2]

Learning [part 1] [part 2] [part 3]

Negative air [part 1] [part 2]

Performance

Key to an Apology [part 1] [part 2]

Disorder [parts 1-3]

Splitting

In half [parts 1-4]

...

Corrupted part [part 1] [part 2] [part 3]

...

AFTERMATCH

Remus’ Investigation: [part 1] [part 2] [part 3] [part 4] [part 5] [part 6]

…

Extras

…

Post-split Remus/Deceit shenanigans

End Of Year Comic Meme

Remy

Grey

Influenced Logic

Empathy/Morality chart

Alternative responses to “I love you” chart

Young sides as cats

Communication chart

Oh Logic

Virgil and baby Patton

Padre

…

KINGCEIT

#kingceit | #grey king |

Dirty cheater

Ship meme

L word

Dense

...

MUSIC PLAYLISTS

#music |

Main playlist

Kingceit

…

Other people’s work

#writing |

by @lovelivingmydreams:

A bond never forged

Lost in thought

Something to think about

What is a happy ending?

The worst posibble thing

Hopeless love

Might have been [part 1] [pt 2] [pt 3] [pt 4] [pt 5] [pt 6]

A King that protects

Conversations with myself

Inner voice

…

Silence (by @shelby-711)

Private lesson (by @melissa-s23)

Survival (by @marginmaster87 )

Be more careful (by @little-introwert)

To be found (by anonymous)

A mental shutdown (by @pickledpoologs)

Where has everyone gone? (by @jadespeedster17 )

Go ahead (by @themadauthorshatter)

Love (by @fandomfollowerart)

...

(old masterpost)

827 notes · View notes

mysteriouslotuscasebookreference · 18 days ago

Text

Complete character tag list

(sorted approximately by location and/or faction)

Lotus Tower:

Li Lianhua and associated tags (outfits, etc)

Fang Duobing and associated tags (outfits, etc)

Di Feisheng and associated tags (outfits, etc)

Hulijing/Fox Spirit

Sigu Sect/Baichuan Court:

Qiao Wanmian

Shan Gudao

Xiao Zijin

Shi Shui

Yun Biqiu

Bai Jiangchun

Ji Hanfo

Jinyuan Alliance

Jiao Liqiao

Wuyan

King Xunming of Yama

Yao Mo/Medicine Demon

Snow Master/Xue Gong

Granny Blood/Xie Po

Tianji Hall

He Xiaohui

He Xiaolan

He Xiaofeng

Minister Fang

Zhan Yunfei

Wang Fu

Li'er

Palace

Princess Zhaoling/Qing'er

Emperor

Xuanyuan Xiao

Yang Yunchun

Other

Su Xiaoyong

Guan Hemeng

Qi Mushan

Qin Po

Feng Qing (Wansheng Clan)

Li Xiong and Li Xiao (Xiao Yuan City arc)

Lu Jianchi and Jin Youdao (drinking buddies)

Li Xiangyi's family

Return to Tag Master List

#tag: modposting

1 note · View note

lorei-writes · 8 days ago

Text

What if... (I)

Chevalier & Esther (OC Chart: Esther) OCverse, divergent timeline Angst ~500 words Chevlebration Day #5: Memory / Burden

Continuing off from yesterday, a "What if" story. Is it canon for Esther and Chev? NO. God, no. No. NO.

But was it interesting to consider?

... Yes.

Content Warnings: none

… As such, Lady Vivienne would surly satisfy Your Highness’ intellectual curiosity, both as a conversation partner and a lifelong companion. With her many talents, she would make for the most suitable wife…

Very few things had changed following the engagement ceremony between Lady Vivienne Cappel and Prince Chevalier Michel. The lady did not transfer from her suite; no celebration took place after the modest event, attended only by the couple and the required witness; the half-hearted congratulations hardly sounded before dissipating into quiet. It was only the thin golden band that appeared over Vivienne’s right ring finger and an absence of a certain, previously persistent, presence. As he had predicted, Esther had resigned from her position as Clavis’ assistant and undertook the preparation course for the ministerial exams. Budding spring melted into ripe summer. He hadn’t seen her in months.

It was all irrelevant.

His duty, his objective, remained the same.

The corridors of the public wing of the palace were desolate in the afternoons, after all the offices closed for business. It suited Chevalier — as most people, his soon-to-be-wife lacked the critical ability to conceal her fright, thus leading to her approaching him only with terror in her eyes. Inevitable and irksome, the few forced encounters did make him prefer loneliness. Two men passed by him, their conversation quieting at once. Chevalier turned the corner.

His eyes widened, but only for a brief moment. The sight explained itself: Esther sat on the floor, hastily collecting the scattered documents, a golden pin with the rose emblem glinting from its place on – what would appear to be – her new capelet. Hair fell over her eyes, and she reached to push it back behind her ear and… she seemed thinner… brittle… Hurt.

It was just several steps.

Just several, irrelevant, utterly redundant, steps.

Chevalier grasped her forearm, dragged it towards himself to inspect her wrist, red swelling surfacing from below the navy ink marks. Esther stared at him, perhaps not quite believing that it was indeed him, too surprised to say anything as he inspected her injury. Her lips parted after several seconds elapsed.

“I… I’m fine,” she assured. “I just fell.”

Fell? He wasn’t convinced, and although it didn’t show on his face, she still read him without an issue.

“Well,” Esther cleared her throat, “I might have been tripped.”

“Not many nobles will take well to a peasant minister outperforming them.” He didn’t need to say any of that. Esther laughed, shaking her head.

“I’ve barely made the cut on the exam.”

Her fingers slipped through his. Chevalier got up.

“See a physician about it. It won’t heal properly under strain,” he stated, as matter-of-fact and dispassionate as ever. The sentiment must have mattered, however. He hadn’t managed to reach the end of the corridor by the time she called his name.

“Prince Chevalier!” Esther shouted, clutching her wrist. “I will be wishing for your happiness.”

He didn’t turn to see her expression. The warmth of her smile and those fearless dark eyes were already impossible to forget.

Various Works: Esther x Chevalier

You've seen a typo? Let me know!

Tag List: @lancelotscloak @solacedeer @keithsandwich @bicayaya

@faustianfascination @sh0jun @violettduchess @pathogenic

@fang-and-feather @tele86 @rinaririr @cheese-ception

@claviscollections @queengiuliettafirstlady @lucyw260 @nuttytani

Tell me if you'd like to be added to my tag list! :)

#chevalier michel #ikepri chevalier #ikemen prince chevalier #ikepri #ikemen prince #ikemen series #ikepri esther #ikepri oc #ikemen prince oc

11 notes · View notes

our-flag-means-death-ao3feed · 3 years ago

Text

Comfortable in a Married State

by Lemon_lady

“Did you know Wee John Feeney’s a registered minister?” Black Pete asks as they lay tangled together and sated together on the deck of the Revenge.

“Can’t say I did babe.” Lucius curls into his chest.

“Yeah.” Black Pete smiles nervously, tracing the constellations Lucius taught him during their early nights spent sleeping under the stars. “He did weddings over on Saint Kitts for a bit.”

“That’s nice.” His boyfriend hums contentedly.

“Hey, babe? I was wondering…It’s kinda stupid but,” he takes a deep breath, “Is marriage something you’d be into?

Words: 1771, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Our Flag Means Death (TV)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Spanish Jackie (Our Flag Means Death), Israel Hands, Jim Jimenez, Roach (Our Flag Means Death), Buttons (Our Flag Means Death), Olivia the Seagull (Our Flag Means Death), Oluwande Boodhari, Fang (Our Flag Means Death), Wee John Feeney

Relationships: Black Pete/Lucius Spriggs, Minor or Background Relationship(s), Blackbeard | Edward Teach/Stede Bonnet

Additional Tags: Wedding Fluff, Just Married, Romantic Fluff, Fluff and Humor, Lucius Spriggs Lives, Lucius Spriggs Lives in the Walls of the Revenge, POV Black Pete, you are cordially invited to Lucius and Pete's gay pirate wedding

source https://archiveofourown.org/works/38847666

#Our flag means death #ofmd

6 notes · View notes

dragonheart-swtor · 3 years ago

Text

Friends and Fears

Summary: Eris is the Alliance Commander, Cipher Nine; Reykal is the most recent champion of the Great Hunt. Each of them finds someone utterly unintimidated by them in the other - something both of them need, especially when discussing old fears usually best left buried. Or, Just a quick one-shot of a bar chat between friends that should've taken me a week and instead somehow took me the better part of a year because I kept getting stuck. (Title subject to change, I've been sitting here for twenty minutes and can't think of anything better so it's either this or the doc name which is just "Spooky", if anyone comes up with anything better feel free to give me a heads-up)

Tags: Female Bounty Hunter & Female Imperial Agent, alcohol consumption (not excessive)

Find me on AO3 at Dragonheart37!

-----

The tiny, grimy cantinas that dotted the streets of every space station like this one were always bustling with activity, rowdy with fights and gambling and music, and this one was no different. It wasn't the kind of place where you couldn't take your hand off your credit purse, but it definitely was the kind of place you wanted to keep a vibroknife on you at all times, just in case. Any self-respecting citizen – Imperial, Republic, or Alliance, and probably Zakuulian too – would steer clear of a place like this. Which was, of course, exactly why it was the best kind of place for an Alliance Commander and a Great Hunt champion to disappear; Reykal always fit right in without even trying, and all it took was a change of makeup and a less formal outfit for Eris to go unnoticed in a place where no one was looking for her.

Reykal had promised this particular spot had the best food and drinks this side of the station, and she wasn't wrong – the fare here was greasy, but good, and came in truly enormous proportions. Better yet, it was busy and loud, and after a quick scan and sweep for bugs – purely out of habit, of course – Eris could actually believe that she didn't need to be on high guard for people listening in. It was nice to just settle in and amiably listen to Reykal spin dramatic stories of her most impressive hunts – even if she'd heard one or two of them before – and of her most recent ones as well, side jobs taken while the Alliance didn't have anything of import for her.

She was just wrapping up one such story when Eris spotted the Sith.

Eris, through sheer power of habitual control, did not stiffen at the sight of him – masked and robed in full Sith garb, clearly just passing through the cantina on his way out from a back room somewhere. She tracked him for a moment – but he didn't turn to look at them, just swept past as if the room were empty instead of crowded with people. She carefully didn't turn to watch him go, despite the urge to do so and despite seeing Reykal turn out of the corner of her eye. Instead, as soon as she was satisfied he wasn't approaching them, she locked her eyes on the reflections in her glass to the exclusion of all else, using the visual focus to shutter everything else away. If there's nothing else in your mind, there's nothing they can read. Just glass, light and color reflected over the curved surface, playing shapes over the pale green liquid inside, tiny bubbles floating to the surface – no thought, no emotion, just glass. Nothing they can read.

“Kinda spooky, aren't they?”

She glanced up at Reykal's interruption. The Togruta sipped her brandy. “Sith. Jedi. Force people.” She wiggled her fingers as if that needed further explanation. “The way they move, the way people move for 'em without even realizing. How they answer questions you haven't even asked sometimes.” She snorted into her glass. “Fuckin' spooky.”

Eris chuckled despite herself, tension easing at the sheer casualness of Reykal's blasphemy. The Sith was gone, the door swinging shut behind him as Reykal spoke – out of the usual range of mental contact. Reykal's eyes sparkled with humor too; she stretched her arms out in front of her across the bar like a cat, all relaxed grace despite her bulk. “It's not the way I would have put it,” Eris admitted, “but I can't say you're wrong.”

“They make everybody nervous. It's not just you. Though I'm surprised you haven't gotten more used to 'em, considering.” She smiled when Eris blinked, a little surprised. “You hide it well. But you quit moving for a split second every time one of 'em comes into the room. You spend more time watching them than me, or Dad, or Hylo. Which probably isn't good for your wallet, knowing Dad and Hylo.” She grinned to take the edge off the joke, points of her fangs still hidden.

“Apparently I don't hide it well enough,” Eris remarked, sipping her own drink – some bubbly lime-and-mint mix she'd already forgotten the name of that the bartender promised tasted almost exactly like its alcoholic version – as she scanned the crowd once. “I've had some... bad experiences. Let's just put it that way.”

“Yeah, I can imagine. You worked with 'em back in the Empire, right?” Reykal rested her chin on one hand, fingers tapping her temple absently. “I did a job for some Intelligence guy, back in the day. Forget his name. Seemed pretty skeeved by the whole thing. Ended up having to kill him after he did try to murder me. 'Loose ends,' or whatever.”

Eris blinked. “Oh, that was you? I think I heard about that.”

Reykal raised her eyebrows. “Really? I thought it was supposed to be under the table, nobody was supposed to know about it.”

Eris laughed aloud at that, shaking her head. “Intelligence always knows.” She paused. “Which probably wasn't the most comforting thing to say, was it?”

“Probably not.” Reykal grinned at her again. “I figure if Intelligence was going to come after me, they'd have done it by now.”

“You were a low-priority target,” Eris assured her, smiling back wryly. “We had bigger fish to fry, at the time. That would have been right before the Dominator blew up and everything went to hell.”

“Bigger fish to fry, eh?” Reykal chuckled. “I'm insulted.”

“Intelligence deals with pretty big fish. Be glad you weren't one of them.”

“Speaking from experience?” Reykal asked, arching an eyebrow.

Eris shrugged, sipping her drink again to hide her smile. “That's classified.”

Reykal scoffed, mocking exasperation at the old half-joke. “'That's classified.' Someday I'm going to have to get some actual drinks in you to get all those classified stories out of you.” She winked. “Personally, I think you just can't hold your alcohol and that's why you're never caught dead with it.”

“That's also classified.” She didn't bother to hide the grin this time.

“Kriff's sake,” Reykal exclaimed, throwing up her hands. “You're impossible. I don't know why I bother.”

Eris laughed. “I'm sure you're very put-upon to deal with me.”

Reykal downed the rest of her glass and turned to flag down the bar droid; Eris took the opportunity to sip her drink and sift through her thoughts again, deliberating. “You're right,” she murmured after a moment of quiet. Reykal turned back to her, raising an eyebrow, and she clarified, “The Sith do... make me nervous. They all do, but... Sith especially.” She huffed a half-hearted laugh. “It's not exactly a secret, at least not to them. They can feel fear a mile away.”

Reykal took her refilled drink absently, attention focused on Eris much more seriously than she had been before. “Working with 'em doesn't help?” she asked. “You and Beniko seem... close.”

Eris tapped the rim of her drink, staring down into it as she thought through her next words. “Minister Beniko and I have worked together closely for long enough that I'm no longer concerned about her...” She trailed off.

“Acting like a murder-hobo Sith?” Reykal filled in. Eris gave her a look that made her snort and raise an appeasing hand. “Sorry. But you were thinking it too.”

“I would have phrased it more tactfully,” Eris sighed, “but... yes. Sith... they tend to use their power to its utmost to control those around them. It's just how things are in the Empire. And they have a great deal of power.” She pursed her lips. “Do you know some cultures worship Force-users as demigods?” Reykal shook her head. “It's true. And who can really blame them?”

Reykal nodded. “A lot of people are scared of them. Not just in the Empire, either. Anyone in their right mind would be wary.”

“It's... bizarre, to be equal to a Force-user,” Eris admitted. “In the Empire, even the lowest Sith acolyte ranks above the Force-blind. To have Minister Beniko and Darth Nox at my war table – my war table – and not be answering to them as superiors... I'm still not used to it, even after all this time. And Master Garen'ishta, and the Barsen'thor – even Senya. I'm used to having to be afraid of them. At this point, I'm not sure I'm capable of not being nervous around them. Not...” Not after Jadus. And Zhorrid. But that she couldn't say out loud, not here, not even to Reykal. “Not after working directly under them for so long.”

Reykal hummed sympathetically, running a finger around the rim of her glass. “I don't blame you. I talk a big game, but really, Force-users have been some of my most dangerous targets. There's a reason most hunters don't take contracts on them at all.” She took a sip of brandy, jaw working as she thought. Quietly, barely audible over the noise of the bar, she added, “D'you actually think any of 'em might turn on you?”

Eris pursed her lips, but shook her head. “Not at this point. The Jedi will fight alongside us for as long as they're convinced our cause serves the greater good – no matter how much the Barsen'thor pretends to be aloof. If Nox were going to turn on us, she would've done it by now; she's had ample opportunity, and in any case, she hates Zakuul and Arcann for stealing her place in the Empire from her too much to ally with them. Senya... Senya will stay loyal for now, at least. And Minister Beniko has long since proved her loyalty, as I said.”

“Well, that's good, at least.” Reykal cracked a grin. “Better'n if you were actually logically worried about 'em.”

Eris smiled. “Are you insinuating that I'm being illogical?”

“Hey, you said it, not me.”

“You are insufferable,” she said mildly, taking another sip of her drink.

Reykal laughed aloud, fangs flashing in the light. “Eh, that's why you like me. None of that faffin' about trying to be dainty and diplomatic about it.”

Eris shook her head, still smiling, but didn't deny it. It was true, really – Reykal was perhaps the only person she talked to on a regular basis who wasn't constantly embroiled in politics and diplomacy, who was brashly open about her thoughts and feelings. It was refreshing, if she was honest – a chance to relax for once, to not constantly have to be watching her every word and gesture. To pretend they were just two friends at a bar and nothing more, for a little while.

Reykal spun around on her stool and leaned back against the bar, flipping her back lek over the edge so it wouldn't get crushed. “We should go shooting after this,” she offered, grinning lazily at Eris. “See if your pistol aim's gotten any better.”

Eris arched an eyebrow, eyeing her skeptically. It was hard to tell in the cantina's soft mood lighting, but she was fairly sure Reykal's lekku were flushed a deeper red than usual. She half-smiled. “I think you've had one too many drinks for that, Master Candessan.”

“Pah, too many drinks. I've shot in worse situations'n this, more drunk'n this.” She grinned again to take the edge off the comment. “Suit yourself, though. What do you do for fun, anyway, when you're not gettin' swamped by hell-knows-what kinda work from the Alliance?”

“You might have heard of this thing called 'reading,'” Eris said, allowing herself an impish grin.

Reykal scoffed playfully through her teeth. “Oh, sure, now the high-and-mighty Imperial act comes out.”

“Don't tell me you're a literary connoisseur.”

“Doesn't mean I don't read.” She stuck out her tongue at Eris in a gesture so childish it startled a genuine laugh out of her. “Miss Hoity-Toity Imperial-Logo-Boxers over here, makin' fun of us peasant folk. What's the Alliance come to?”

Eris swatted her shoulder, trying and failing to stifle her laughter. “Why do I tell you anything?”

“'Cause you like me,” Reykal reminded her cheerfully. She slid off the stool to stand next to the bar. “C'mon, finish your drink already and let's get outta here. We can go window-shopping on the boardwalk and see if there's anything to spend the night on.”

“I do have work to do tomorrow,” Eris told her, but she swallowed the last of her drink and stood as well, sliding a credit chit across the counter to the bar droid as it clanked over.

Reykal wagged a scolding finger at her. “Ay, none of that. You said we'd get a night on the town, you're getting a night on the town. You work yourself too hard.”

“Very well,” Eris agreed, shaking her head with a fond smile. “But I draw the line at drunk bounty hunting or robbing anyone in an alley.”

“You're no fun.” Reykal offered her arm with a dramatic flourish and Eris took it with another laugh, letting the bounty hunter lead her out the door.

#swtor #swtor ocs #swtor fanfiction #imperial agent #bounty hunter #erisine #reykal #eris has ✨trauma✨#reykal's really good for her honestly though #'casual blasphemy' is exactly what she needs sometimes #the contrast in voice between these two cracks me up honestly #fanfiction

23 notes · View notes

thebiasrekkers · 3 years ago

Text

Shadow’s Birthright | MYG

Chapter 06: Convergence

Plot: Riding in on thunder and lightning, two princes are born. But a crown cannot be shared. It can only be worn by one and one alone. The hands of man have separated the brothers, allowing one to live in wealth and comfort inside the palace while the other grows up among commoners. But Fate cannot be destroyed by the hands of man. A shared destiny reunites the brothers; one to become a king who descends into madness and the other will rise as a dragon whose journey has only just begun in order to claim a crown he does not desire to have.

Rating: NC-17 // NSFW

Pairing: Min Yoongi (Lee Yoon) x Female OC (Kalina Shuri)

Warnings: Historical setting, caste system, magic/sorcery, graphic violence, disturbing graphic images, religious tones, angst, slow burn, smut

Previous Chapters: Prologue 01 02 03 04 05

Links: FAQ || BTS Masterlist || Admin E’s AO3 || [ REQUESTS ARE OPEN ]

Word Count: 4,065

Tag List: @luxekook, @pinkpjmin, @btsaudge, @flowerwrites06, @stillcopingxx, @taevkimchi, @aroseforyoongi, @vivpurple7, @happilystrongthroughthedark, @sw33tnight, @nikkitane, @mini-coop25, @shrimpmsg, @ggukkieland

AN: Sorry this took me so long. Life decided it wanted to kick me in the face repeatedly. But I did warn everyone this was going to take a little time with the updates. Please be patient with me. I promise you that it will be worth the wait. If you would like to be added to the tag list, feel free to drop me a line!

P.S. Please bear in mind that while the historical accuracy will be mostly correct, I am setting this in a time period in Joseon history where there was no such thing as a king who had a twin brother. Obviously that’s where the fiction/creative freedom is going to come in. Everything else will be period accurate, trust and believe.

© thebiasrekkers (Admin E). All rights reserved. Reposting/modifying our work is prohibited. Translations are not allowed. Plagiarism/stealing is not tolerated by any means. Legal action will be taken in instances of theft.

“Things do not happen. Things are made to happen.” - John F. Kennedy

Yoon greeted his parents with the Crown Princess at his side. They both bowed deeply as they heard the King and Queen laugh in delight. The Royal Consorts also received bows from the Crown Prince and Princess. Finally, they turned and were given bows from the princesses and princes of the Royal Court. The officials and guards, as well as the rest of the palace staff, were present for the opening ceremony to celebrate Crown Prince Yoon’s first international liaison.

When they were finally dismissed, Yoon took his seat next to the Crown Princess, waiting for food and wine to be served. Various voices of praise and congratulations were given to Yoon, to which he simply nodded his head politely and smiled while returning his own charming forms of gratitude. He allowed the Crown Princess to serve him a cup of wine and he, in turn, also served her. Merriment and good cheer surrounded the palace.

It made Yoon sick to his stomach.

The conversation he had with his Father-In-Law still didn’t sit well with him. At his own behest, he politely reminded Minister Jang that he should keep his small-minded ambitions to himself. He didn’t need to drag the Crown Princess into his mess. Regardless of his own personal feelings, Yoon held a deep amount of respect for his Princess. Jang Chae-Ok had no ambitions or selfish desires for wanting to be Crown Princess. She was simply a childhood friend to Yoon who always remained faithfully at his side.

The Crown Princess was not blind to his relationship with Kalina. But she also did not question it. It was from this show of her character alone that Yoon promised he would not take a Royal Consort when he became King. He owed her that much for her understanding.

“I wish that I could accompany you, Your Highness.” The Crown Princess’s voice was sad, matching her expression.

He reached out to grasp her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “It will be a long journey. It is no place for a Crown Princess.” Yoon smiled. “I will be back before you realize I’m gone.”

She sighed. “I will miss you greatly.” She placed her hand over his. “Do be careful.”

“I will, Crown Princess.”

A loud gong resounded, drawing everyone’s attention. All conversation hushed as the head of the Artisan school approached. He bowed deeply while the others waited with anticipation for his announcement.

“Members of the Royal Court! We are here to celebrate the Crown Prince’s upcoming journey. We wish him great fortune but before he traverses out in the world, we want to be able to ease his worries and give him memories to hold on to as he travels to Ming. Things that he will be able to keep close to his heart and treasure if he should ever become homesick.”

Yoon smiled, despite his own internal dark thoughts. He loved his country. He loved his people. The skills they mastered in order to have these small moments to showcase their talents were clearly battles within their own houses. Some performers and artists had better skills than others, hence why they were allowed to appear at the forefront. Others were still in training to be able to climb up in the ranks along the way.

He secretly admired the drive that pushed these individuals along. Everyone had dreams, goals, and ambitions. People’s reasons for doing anything were threads that bonded everyone together to achieve common goals. No matter how small or big, they were to be appreciated. Even if one could not voice these appreciations aloud.

The Chief Artisan gave a wide gesture, spinning on his heels as the performers made their way into the grand courtyard. “We hope that our performers, both within the palace walls, and those who have managed to make their ways from the streets, will be able to soothe your soul.”

Everyone applauded as Senior Artisan stepped away, allowing for the in house performers to showcase everything they’ve practiced for days. Curiously, Yoon hummed to himself at the mention of street performers entering the palace. If they were skilled enough to gain the court’s attention, there was a good chance they would be given slots to enter the performance schools within the palace halls. It would be a golden opportunity to change their livelihoods for the better.

He was keen to see just what they were made of.

“I can’t believe you’re making me do this.”

Jimin clicked his tongue against the back of his teeth, silencing Taehyung’s whining. “Hyung-nim is filling in for Namjoon Hyung-nim.” His eyes narrowed. “Surely you don’t expect him to wear the dress, do you?”

Taehyung pouted. “No, but still!”

“Besides,” Hoseok cut in, patting Taehyung’s shoulders roughly, “we all memorized multiple parts in case something happens. We only had time for Hyung-nim to learn one. Stop being difficult.”

Yoongi smirked, shaking his head while readjusting the waistband to his costume. The large rosary that hung from his neck was heavy and the boots were a little bit cumbersome, but bearable. He would be able to switch his shoes out when it came time for the tightrope routine. Jungkook and Seokjin fawned over him, making sure he looked as proper as he could in performance gear.

Namjoon appeared, holding out a red and black demon mask to him. “I gave it some new paint earlier so it should be dry now.”

Taking the mask from him, Yoongi cradled it in his hands. “Thank you, Namjoon-ah.” He scratched at the cloth headband. “What will you be doing during the performance?”

“I’ll be narrating and helping the musicians out. Percussion, mostly.”

“I see.” Yoongi eyed the mask, taking note of the large white fangs protruding from the mouth carved into the wood.

Because of the depth of the role, he wouldn’t be able to take his mask off during the entire performance. Beneficial for him, but he hated that Namjoon wouldn’t be getting any credit. Yoongi knew how hard they all must have been preparing for this particular performance. A small measure of guilt wormed its way into his heart, but Namjoon’s laugh brought him out of his thoughts.

“Now I feel even more terrible, Hyung-nim.” Yoongi saw the concerned look on Namjoon’s face, even though he was smiling. “Seriously, you’re doing me a favor. I feel bad enough. If you keep looking like that, I’ll think I’m completely worthless.”

“I’m sorry, Namjoon-ah.” Clearing his throat, he nodded. “You’re right. I shouldn’t be feeling like this.”

“Thank the heavens you’re wearing a mask.” Taehyung pushed his headband up a little more. “Otherwise the audience is going to think you’re guilty of some crime.”

“It’s just nerves.” Jimin flashed Yoongi a reassuring smile. “Right, Hyung-nim?”

All he could do was give a small smile. “Yeah, you’re right.”

“Hayan Geutop Troupe?” An unfamiliar voice pulled all of their attention. They saw someone dressed in official robes motioning toward them. “You’re up next.”

No one could hide their excitement. This was the first time any of them would be entering the palace. Each of them were given temporary passes to gain access. Once inside, they all made sure they were looking their best. The sound of joyful laughter and music rumbled through the courtyard, causing Yoongi’s heartbeat to elevate with excitement.

“Hyung-nim!” Jungkook gently nudged Yoongi’s back. “Your mask! Don’t forget to put it on!”

“Oh. Right.” Yoongi slid the large Demon mask over his head, making sure the cloth headwrap covered every part of his neck from view except the front.

The sound of loud drums rang out through the courtyard. It was a little bit difficult to breathe with the mask on, but not impossible. If anything, Yoongi was more concerned with the mask falling off by accident. But Hoseok assured him that the bands were secured and redesigned to fit his head perfectly. It wouldn’t come off unless he pulled it off himself.

Admittedly, his nerves were a little frayed. Being around so many people at once, as well as so much noise, was teetering him toward sensory overload. But he continued to remind himself that he had a job to do. He just needed to get through the performance and then he could continue exploring the Crown City to his heart’s content. They were set to ride back out to the mountains at first light.

He hoped the shops would still be open before the lanterns were lit.

The large drum was hit, signaling for everyone to settle down. Yoongi took another breath, waiting for their group to be announced in front of the Royal Court. His vision was limited through the small holes in his mask - the rest of the world shadowed on either side of him. He could hear his own breath in his ears as he tried to peer out in front of him. But he wasn’t sure what he was even looking for. There was a strange pull at his heart; a feeling he couldn’t quite explain.

Like someone was calling to him.

No. Like multiple people were calling to him.

“Members of the Royal Court! I present to you a troupe of young performers who hail from the outskirts of the Crown City!” The Chief Artisan looked in their direction as some of the students in the palace artisan school helped to set up their stage. “The White Tower Troupe!”

There was a round of polite applause from all the members of the royal court. The other troupe members were helping to set up the first scene for their skit. Yoongi waited patiently, even though he offered to help. Taehyung and Hoseok insisted that he stand back and focus on the performance. It wouldn’t take them long to get the set pieces ready. Once everything was put together, Namjoon walked gently forward and bowed deeply to the Royal family seated at the large banquet table.

“Please forgive our lack of eloquence, Your Majesties, as we attempt to regale you with a story. It is one I am sure you are all familiar with, but allow us to perform it for you just the same.” He flicked out the large fan in his hand, a picture of a blue sky and a green field painted on it. “We humbly present to you...the Tale of Green Pearl and the Demon!”

Yoon felt Chae-Ok grab his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. He cast a sidelong glance in her direction, noting the soft pink flush that tinted her cheeks. He knew it wasn’t from the wine but more from her excitement. He smiled as she met his gaze.

“Oh, I love this story!” She looked back out toward the courtyard. “I’m interested to see how they will tell it.”

“As am I.”

The bass drum resounded through the large space just as the troupe finished setting up for the first scene. The narrator who spoke walked off to the sidelines and took a seat on a plush cushion that was provided for him. Silence draped over everyone present as the actors moved to their positions.

“Many years ago, there was a humble man who lived a humble life. He had a humble trade and a humble wife. The wife bore him two children. A son named White Fang and a daughter named Green Pearl.”

Yoon watched as the narrator spoke about each character. One by one, they all appeared - their faces concealed with wooden masks painted in eloquent designs. Lingering off to the side was an actor clothed in black, red and gold garbs - a demon mask covering his face. Yoon felt his heart beating a little faster as he gazed at the person, unsure of why this strange sensation was lurching in his chest.

The narrator slapped his stick against the small drum cradled in his lap. “As the seasons changed and the children grew older, the father became ill. The wife sent for what physicians they could afford and the old apothecary said that there was nothing he could do. The wife was distraught, unsure of what would become of her or her children should her husband leave this world for his journey to the afterlife.”

“Seobang-nim! You cannot leave us like this!” The wife sobbed beside the husband, cradling his hand between her palms. “What are we to do without you? How are we supposed to live?!”

“Don’t worry, Mother,” said White Fang as he placed his hand over his mother’s, “I will find a way to cure Father. I will travel across foreign lands until I can find the medicine that will save Father’s life!”

Again, the narrator struck the drum. “White Fang left to search for a cure for his ailing father, leaving his mother and sister behind.”

Yoon watched the person portraying Green Pearl moving toward the backdrop meant to pose as a wide open field. A lone tree stood off in the distance where she clasped her hands together and prayed.

“Gods of Heaven, I beseech you! Please help my father. Please find a way to help him get better!” cried Green Pearl as she lowered her head, all but sobbing into her hands.

Heavy drums beat softly, signaling an ominous transition. Yoon watched as the actor portraying the demon slowly moved forward, until he was mere feet from the Royal Banquet table. The Demon whipped his head around to face the Royal family, causing everyone to lean back and gasp.

All except Yoon.

Maybe it was the optical illusion of the mask, but he swore that the demon was looking directly at him. His heartbeat escalated, a soft thunder against his chest, and he waited for the demon to speak. There was a line here. Yoon remembered it. A line where the demon spoke to the audience of his wicked scheme.

But the demon said nothing. All he did was stare. Had the actor forgotten his lines?

“A demon heard Green Pearl’s cries, intrigued by her earnest wailings.”

The narrator cut through the silence. This seemed to wake the demon up, causing him to swiftly shuffle back a few steps as he threw his arm out in a dramatic flourish.

“The sweet sound of sorrow nourishes my heart,” the Demon exclaimed, curling his shoulders forward. He pressed a hand against his face, fingers gliding over the white fangs on the mask. “It is the sound of easy prey. How I have longed to devour such a miserable soul!”

He heard the Crown Princess gasp as the Demon ran forward, leaping into the air and landing on the tightrope with amazing ease. Yoon quirked a brow, internally admiring the actor’s swiftness and balancing abilities. The Demon leaned forward, slinging his legs out until he was hanging upside down from the rope.

Green Pearl took a sharp intake of breath, clutching at the front of her dress. “W-Who goes there?”

“A humble and curious Demon. But nevermind me, Sweet Child.” The Demon spoke in a cooing and sweet voice. “What seems to be ailing you? What causes you to mourn so?”

“My father is ill and there is no way to save him. My brother has left to travel in hopes of finding medicine to cure him.” Green Pearl turned away from the Demon, looking off in the distance. “I mourn for my family and what is to become of them should my father pass.”

The Demon laughed, swinging his body so that he was now sitting upright on the tightrope. He rested a hand on his knee and leaned forward, drawing Green Pearl’s attention once more. “This is a simple problem with a simple solution.”

“It is anything but simple!”

“Oh, but it is!” The Demon hopped onto the rope, bouncing up and down in a playful manner. “Because I know how to save your ailing father!”

Green Pearl stepped toward the tree, her hand reaching up toward the Demon but she was far out of his reach. “What do you know? Please, tell me how to save my father!”

The Demon bounced on the rope a few more times before dismounting, landing just a few feet away from her. He placed his hands behind his back and paced, not really bothering to stray too far from her but not coming too close. “There is a flower that grows in the western mountains. It is said that creating a potion from this flower can cure any illness.” He spun on his heels just as Green Pearl tried to approach him, causing her to halt in her steps. “But it is an arduous journey. Many have died trying to claim this flower.”

“Can you guide me to this mountain?”

The Demon circled her, his steps slow and measured. “What will you give me if I decide to lend you my aid?”

“Whatever you wish to claim from me, Sir!” Green Pearl fell to her knees. “No boon is too great when it comes to saving the life of my father!”

The Demon knelt down before Green Pearl, lifting her face to meet his. “You will become my bride. That is the price you must pay if you wish to obtain my help.”

“If marrying a demon is the trade we are making, then I would marry you a thousand times.”

The Demon pulled Green Pearl up onto her feet, a hearty laugh bursting from his chest. “Then come! Let us be off! The day grows shorter and the journey will be that much harder for you when the night comes.”

A gong and more heavy drums rang out as the Demon and Green Pearl exited the stage. Troupe members hurried to change the set backdrop to suit the next scene transition.

“So Green Pearl and the Demon hurried toward the Western Mountains. The journey was, indeed, arduous. Many perils crossed their paths, but the Demon protected Green Pearl every step of the way. The harshest trek, however, was the path leading up toward the mountains. Wild animals impeded their path. Even the cold mountain winds attempted to blow the two off the krags so they would plummet to their deaths.”

With each scene change, a linen drape with a painted landscape was swapped. The serene music fit the pacing of each scene and the narrator’s strong voice pushed the actors to continue through the skit. Yoon knew this tale very well. Yet watching it unfold in this manner made the story seem brand new. He was particularly drawn to the Demon, unable to shake the tremors in his heart as the masked performer’s moves seemed fluid and natural.

“Finally, Green Pearl and the Demon reached the top of the mountain peaks. There was the mythical flower the Demon mentioned. It was a rich purple in pigment, the stem a soft green and nestled among a cluster of clovers. In the snow and cold temperature, there was no way that any vegetation should have flourished, let alone this single flower.”

Green Pearl reached for the flower, preparing to dig it up from the earth. Suddenly, she was stopped by the Demon’s harsh pull at her wrist. “W-What are you doing?!”

“Do not forget your promise to me, dear Child.” He pulled her flush against him. “You are to be my bride the moment your father is well. And not a minute later.”

“I haven’t forgotten our deal, Demon!” Green Pearl pushed away from him. “We must hurry back quickly!”

A soft bell tinkling sound issued from a row of wind chimes. The Demon laughed, grasping onto Green Pearl and jumping up toward the tightrope. Everyone watching sucked in their breaths as a stream of dark blue fabric followed after them. The Demon dragged Green Pearl behind him as the actors portrayed him using his powers to help them travel quickly. The two actors almost appeared to float across the thick line of rope.

“The Demon used his powers to transport Green Pearl and himself down the mountain. When they reached the foot of the mountain, they instantly moved through the fields. Within minutes, they were back in Green Pearl’s humble village. He safely brought her home and Green Pearl wasted no time preparing the flower into a medicinal tonic for her father.”

Green Pearl appeared next to her mother, holding out a wooden bowl. “This tonic will help Father. Please, we must hurry!”

The Wife started to feed the potion to the ailing Husband. In minutes, he started to rise up from his bed. He held his wife’s hands and she threw herself into his arms.

“Husband! You are well!” she cried as her husband held her close.

He laughed, stroking her back. “Yes, I am well, Pu-in. But tell me, what has helped me come back from the gates of the Underworld?”

“I traveled far to retrieve a flower that is said to cure any illness.” Green Pearl hugged her father’s neck.

“A flower?” He tilted his head to the side. “How did you come to learn of this flower?”

Green Pearl lowered her head. “A Demon told me. He guided me to the Western Mountains and I plucked the flower from the highest peak.”

Both the husband and wife looked at each other, clutching at their chests. The father reached out for his daughter’s hands. “You foolish girl! How could you make an agreement with a demon?!”

“Don’t you know that a deal with a demon only breeds disaster?!” The mother shook Green Pearl’s shoulders. “You have sold your soul to the Underworld!”

Green Pearl pulled herself away from her family. “I’m sorry!” She ran out of the house where the Demon was waiting for her. “We must hurry!”

The Demon grabbed her hand in his. “Let us leave this place!”

“Stop right there, you foul trickster!” The Father appeared, brandishing a wheat sickle. “Release my daughter, this instant!”

The Demon laughed. “The deal has been made, Human! You cannot break the contract!”

The sound of a gong exploded over the courtyard, causing the Demon to gasp. When he looked down, there was a sword plunged through his stomach. As he turned, the assailant stepped forward to push the blade through his gut even further. The Demon reached out with a bloodied hand toward the one who attacked him.

“B-Brother!”

White Fang ripped the sword from the Demon’s body, causing the Demon to fall to his knees. His head hung low and Green Pearl was instantly at the Demon’s side. He finally collapsed to the ground and Green Pearl clung to his shivering form.

“What have you done?!” she screamed as the Demon continued to tremble in her arms. “Why did you strike him?!”

“It was a Demon, Green Pearl!” White Fang dropped the sword from his hand and the satchel from his back. “They only breed misfortune!”

“Y-You fool,” sputtered the Demon, “I would have given her a good life.” A trembling arm lifted as he pointed at White Fang. “Because of your actions, you have now condemned your sister to death.”

“What?!” White Fang dropped to his knees. The husband and wife hurried forward. “What lies do you speak, Demon?”

The Demon turned to look up at Green Pearl. “I will not be able to give you a life you deserve.” He touched the side of her face. “But I will be able to stay with you in the Afterlife. Always.”

“I am sorry for the cruel nature of man! Forgive me!” Green Pearl sobbed, burying her face in the Demon’s shoulder. “I will see you on the other side.”

And then the Demon’s hand fell limply to the ground. Seconds later, Green Pearl collapsed next to him.

Silence filled the courtyard. No one spoke. Hardly anyone took a moment to breathe, Yoon included.

It was broken the minute that the King began to clap. The Queen soon followed until everyone at the Royal Banquet table rose from their seats and applauded. Yoon was still stunned, but he, too, clapped. The actors remained where they were - unmoving. However, the narrator stepped forward and bowed deeply to them. The tragic scene remained, but the story’s message still lingered in the air.

Even a Demon was deserving of love and a person could see beyond the surface to one’s true heart.

But when promises were broken, a terrible fate would await.

9 notes · View notes

secret-engima · 5 years ago

Text

Forged in Fury-verse Drabble: Mother’s Rage

( @sparklecryptid @an--angel--can--fly @ertrunkenerwassergeist @skyshinigamialchemist *slaps this down on the table* BEHOLD. THE CONTEXT FOR MY PREVIOUS POST. IT’S ONLY ... MILDLY ANGSTY. SURPRISINGLY. Also tagging @wolfsrainrules @ean-sovukau @rayearthdudette. Also also, I blame you for this Moose. Your HCs on Ramuh and Leviathan have INSPIRED me and that inspiration finally culminated in this ... and also a few other things that are still in progress *flails*.)

They had not come to Altissia seeking an audience with Leviathan. They had come because the Empire was there and because Regina was never one to waste a resource or a chance to earn another ally. Sylva had tentatively offered to speak to Leviathan, to rouse her and ask for her favor —Regina had already won the favor of Shiva and Ifrit after all, it was not impossible she would win the Hydraean’s— but Regina turned her down. It was too much risk to the city, and so long as the Astrals did not actively get in her way, Regina honestly preferred not to deal with them —she didn’t trust them, didn’t trust that actively seeking a Blessing rather than earning it by accident would not carry a price she refused to pay—.

So perhaps it was no surprise that when Regina made a point not to seek out the Hydraean…

The Hydraean came to her.

“Mortal.” Regina exhaled slowly, closed her eyes, inhaled the salty tang of the waterfront air and listened to the telling screams of terror and then reverent, petrified silence of the world around her where seconds ago there had been chatter and cheer. Then she opened her eyes and looked up into the looming features of Leviathan.

“Hydraean.”

Beside her, Sylva’s breath hitched, confusion and fear vibrating against Regina’s senses —because Leviathan was supposed to be slumbering, not here, rising out of the bay in front of the hotel Regina and her group had just stepped out of on their way to meet the Prime Minister— and Regina felt her Storm bristle at her back, ready to pull her away from the Astral before them and defend her even if it cost his life. She mentally thanked Cid for clamping a firm hand on Cor’s neck before he could to more than lay a hand on his sword hilt.

The Hydraean didn’t seem to notice or care about any of it. She only had eyes for Regina, “Mortal,” repeated the Astral with a twitch of her great, silver-blue fins, “Defier of Fates, She Who Spits in the Face of Prophecy and Walks With the Accursed, yet has earned the favor of both the Glacian and the Fallen Infernian. So you finally come to my resting place. Are you here to beg favor?” A flash of spear-like fangs, the already huddling, cowering crowd of civilians sobbed in terror, hands over their ears in pain at the booming, indecipherable tongue of the Astrals.

Regina wasn’t really all that surprised that she was an exception. That she could understand the Hydraean when a glance at her companions revealed all but Sylva and Ardyn watching on in uncomprehending confusion. She turned her attention back to Leviathan, “No, honored Hydraean. I am not here to beg your favor, I did not even intend to wake you from your slumber.”

“Yet you bring the Accursed into my city, bring him over the surface of my waters. Did you really expect me to stay silent?” One great eye tilted toward her and there was scorn in the slitted gaze, “Did you really expect to avoid confrontation with me when you have blatantly defied the will of the Draconian and dare to consort with the foul Accursed?”

Regina felt something inside her go cold and deadly, felt the soft pulse of Shiva’s ice in her belly and Ifrit’s counterpart hum of heat up her spine as she shifted to more fully stand between Leviathan and the cringing Ardyn, “His name is Ardyn, he is my kin and he is no more foul or accursed than I am.”

“Blind, ignorant, arrogant worm,” growled the Astral before her with a ripple of magic that made the waves tremble, “can you not feel his taint? Can you not smell the stench of the scourge on him?” Regina bared her teeth right back, refused to cower in shame or fear as Ardyn was doing behind her back, ignored Ardyn’s whispered plea for Regina to back down from the fight brewing between her magic and the Hydraean’s. Leviathan snorted, a great billow of steam and a swirl of magic that made the bay waters rise like open waves before settling, “He is the Accursed, foul and plague-ridden and tainted.”

“And who’s fault is that, exactly.” It took a moment for Regina to identify her own voice, so soft and cold, rolling with the oldest language she knew. She’d … almost forgotten she could sound like that. But now she remembered, and when she breathed, the salty air felt like shards of ice in her lungs. Leviathan reared back in shock and Regina repeated, “Who’s. Fault. Is. That.”

Leviathan narrowed her eyes dangerously, “You dare imply that the Astrals are to blame for the Accursed?”

Regina tilted her head, ignoring Sylva’s hands on her arm and the plea of her Lightning in her ear to stop, “What I am implying is that if the vaunted Guardians of Our Star had actually done their job, the Starscourge wouldn’t have been a problem and Ardyn wouldn’t have had to sacrifice himself trying to save people from something that humans are not meant to cure.”

Leviathan’s roar of rage churned the waves out in the bay to a frenzy, sending boats jolting and bucking against their restraints and making people scream as the Hydraean loomed even further out of the water, her coils seeming to stretch on forever into the sky even as her head lowered to snarl right in Regina’s face, “Insolent Mortal! What gives you the right to dare speak to the Hydraean this way? What right have you to question us and fight against prophecy?”

Regina’s favored sword was in her hand in an instant, rage in her blood and violet tinting the air with crystal fractals as she pointed the blade at Leviathan’s head and bared her teeth. She didn’t notice the ice spreading out from her feet to freeze the nearest waves, didn’t register the others scrambling back as her shoulders became cloaked in violet fire. She barely registered her voice deepening with magic to a dangerous, inhuman pitch as she snarled back, “I have every right! The Chosen King you plan to sacrifice is my son! My child! My beloved baby is on your alter of sacrifice before he is even conceived! What do you expect me, a MOTHER, to do BUT question your will and fight your prophecy?”

Leviathan’s head jerked back as if slapped, pupils blowing wide enough to swallow the color of her great eyes in black. Around them, the stormy waves stilled. Settled to soft, gentle ripples against the soaked Altissian cobblestones, reflecting the twisting storm clouds that had formed overhead in response to the clashing magics of the Hydaean and a single, desperate human mother. Leviathan stared and Regina breathed, deep and ragged and fragile in her own fury, blade still pointed accusingly at the Hydraean’s looming frame.

A slow blink and Leviathan’s pupils settled into something between the furious slits or wide-blown shock of before, “A mother.” Another blink, a slow hiss and a sudden, disbelieving softening of her voice from crashing ocean waves to far off thunder, “All of this. All this defiance, the freeing of the Accursed, the swaying of the Oracle, the winning of the Glacian’s and the Fallen Infernian’s favor, the defiance of prophecy and the spitting in the face of the Draconian who blessed your line … because you are a mother?”

Regina inhaled, exhaled, felt the inhuman power of her voice fade into something tired even as she kept her blade up and ready for a fight, “…Yes. That is why I fight. That is what everything I have done was for.”

“He is not even conceived in your womb. You do not even have a mate to help you bear him yet. You have never even seen his face or heard his heartbeat. And yet,” Leviathan’s head tilted very slowly to one side, “you love him. An intangible concept and yet your heart beats solely for him. How can you so fiercely love something that is still just an idea?”

Regina stared into wild, distinctly inhuman eyes in a face that was as far from human as could be. She stared at swaying, house-sized fins and spear-sharp teeth, the embodiment of the ocean in all its terrible, beautiful glory.

She lowered her blade and answered with a simple, “Didn’t you?”

The world went still. The tiny waves flattened to pure, reflective grey-black glass, the sea breezes faded, the storm clouds stopped rumbling. All of the world held its breath in shock. Crystalized in fragile silence of disbelief.

Leviathan didn’t twitch so much as a fin as she rasped, “I … I do not understand.”

Regina flexed her fingers over her sword hilt, repeated in a voice as soft as a breeze, “When you first looked upon humanity, upon the little sailors cobbling together their boats of fragile wood and cloth. The tiny children who looked at your waters and saw not just the danger but the adventure. When you first looked, really looked at the members of humankind who loved your waters as fiercely as if they had been born to them and not land. Wasn’t there a moment? Where something inside you went, ‘I could have children’? A moment where you looked upon your oceans, wild and terrible and free and realized that you didn’t have to be alone anymore? That these little, fragile creatures you had never bothered to pay attention to before could mean something? Could be your children, your little ones, your sons and daughters of the sea?”

Regina met Leviathan’s gaze without fear and whispered, “And then, before you ever picked out which humans you would Bless, before Blessing those humans and making them your children was anything more than just an idea, a concept in your mind-. Didn’t you love them? Didn’t you feel ready to do anything for them if it meant that when the day came that they did exist, they would be happy?” A breath, shaky and pained with memories she could not afford to weep over now, and her sword slipped away into armiger from nerveless fingers as she instead raised her hands from her sides in an unspoken plea.

“That’s why you’re called Tide-Mother, isn’t it?”

A breath. An eternity. A frozen heartbeat of time where Regina stared at the Leviathan and the Leviathan stared at her and the both of them saw, clear as a painting, the reality of the other. The reality of times unwound and betrayals unhealed.

Of children, loved and lost and gone, leaving nothing but memories and bleeding, broken hearts behind.

Then Leviathan threw back her head and screamed.

The storm erupted into a down pour and the glass-still waters surged toward the skies as the Tide-Mother wailed old grief and pain and rage to the heavens. Regina breathed past the flashes of memory-love-loss-pain that pressed against her senses through the heavy magic pushing and pulling through the air like a tide, past the images of a people Blessed and loved and then taken away by Steel and Fire and mistakes and greed.

As the rain pelted down onto the streets and soaked her to the bone in seconds, Regina tilted her head back to face it and let it mingle with her own tears.

Finally, the Tide-Mother’s head tilted back down toward the earth, the rain settling from a torrent to a mournful patter on skin and scales. Leviathan sounded so very weary as she said, “I was indeed a mother once. And my love reached from sea to sea. But my children are gone now, and those who traverse my waves are nothing more than the scattered bones of Solheim’s folly.” A blink and a contemplative, mournful look down at Regina, “I do not care for humanity anymore. They belong to Bahamut now, and when he saw fit to lay the Prophecy upon them, I felt nothing as I slept beneath my waves. I still do not care whether humanity lives or dies. But you do not fight for humanity, do you? You fight for your unborn child and your Chosen and them alone, even if it means burning down the world around you.”

Leviathan suddenly laughed, old and dark as the promise of a hurricane, “I do not care for humanity,” she repeated, “But I care even less for the arrogance of the Draconian that led to my children’s deaths.” Slitted eyes assessed Regina, and this time when she bared her spear-length fangs it was in a smile, “I will Bless you, Mother of the Chosen. I will Bless you so that you might save your child from the fate that befell my own.”

Regina narrowed her eyes, “And what do you require in return?”

Leviathan’s smile grew, “You will teach your children in ways of the sea, the proper ways, not the soulless metal things they use in these days. Do not lie, I sense the ocean in your soul, you were once a wave-rider. Pass that knowledge on so that I might once again have little adventurers upon my waters, true sea-children who can feel the heartbeat of my tides and do not fear the wrath of my storms for all they are wary of it. They will carry my Blessing through your blood and they will be mine indirectly. This is what I desire of you. I desire…” Leviathan tilted her head, growling and considering to herself as if in search of something, some word to summarize her deal.

Feeling a little bit disbelieving, but also not, Regina asked dryly, “You … will give me your Blessing in exchange for being able to pass that Blessing on through my blood, the same as the Draconian’s was passed to me.” A blink and a look at the wide-eyed Ardyn and Sylva, then she clarified, “Basically … you … want me to give you grandchildren?”

Leviathan seemed to roll the word over in her head a few times, then hissed, greedy and victorious, “Yes. That is what I desire. Grandchildren. New wave-riders and TideSingers.”

“I won’t let them be sacrificed to you. If they choose to live on land more than the sea that is their choice for all generations after. You will not put them on strings like puppets.”

“Of course not,” she snorted back, “I am the Hydraean of the Seas, not the Draconian of unbending Steel and Prophecies. They will be free to come and go from my currents as they please, so long as they keep the knowledge of how to truly traverse my waves. Well, Mother of the Chosen? Do we have an accord?”

Regina filled her lungs with salty air, felt the humming Blessings of Shiva and Ifrit and Bahamut —though the latter only through inheritance— already under her skin. Then bared her teeth in a smile every bit as wild and vicious as Leviathan’s, “Yes. I accept your terms.”

Leviathan laughed, deep and old and terrible and Regina forced herself to stay standing through the pain of another Blessing sinking into her blood and bones and soul, “I look forward to seeing what chaos you will sow as you break the Draconian’s Prophecy, Child. Do not forget your promise.”

“Don’t forget yours, Grandmother Hydraean.”

“Brat.” Snorted the Astral Tide-Mother in return as she plunged back beneath the waves, still laughing all the while. Just as the last of her scales disappeared beneath the water, Regina almost thought she caught a glimpse of a beautiful woman in the finest of sea-colored silks and coral jewelry rather than endless scales and serpentine features. The woman smiled and the expression was almost, but not quite human. Regina smiled back, just as fae and wild, and the vision faded as the Leviathan returned to her slumbers beneath the tides.

#Secret Engima Rambles #Melodies and Manuscripts #Forged in Fury verse #Regina Lucis Caelum #Leviathan (ffxv)

149 notes · View notes

queengiuliettafirstlady · 2 years ago

Text

Destiny of Love

Fandom: Ikemen Prince

Pairing: Luke Randolph x OC (Julie)

Prompt: Day 3 Enemies AU | Soulmates AU

Part of content creation challenge hosted by me and @xxsycamore

Tag: Fluff

Word Count: 2.588

Author’s Note: Soulmates can share the same Birthday, bonded them together for the Universe wish has its own reason.

A mysterious task turn into so much more when facing a choice the facade crumbles down unveiling the true nature of one's heart lying underneath, kindness wll be rewarded accordingly to much amusement of who foretold this story well long before the beginning seeing unicity in what for town's people are merely two weirdo dancing to the beat of their own drums, but lucky favours the braves as they found out a reward well beyond their wildest imagination. 🥰

Tag list

@kissmetwicekissmedeadly @aquagirl1978 @violettduchess

@nightghoul381 @william-rex @candied-boys

@writingwhimsey @fang-and-feather @moonstruckmelancholic

@lichtluv @wistfulwanderingone @rjthirsty

@ike-garden2024 @jollibeeshappiness

@starzyquee @maeko-kun @rkmaru

You can find me on AO3 as QueenJuliet 😊

It was a sunny day, the villlage was bursting with energy as gossip run fast among people reaching the ear of everyone willingly to listen, sudden news the future King would have be chosen through a task only the bravest and noblest ones would have managed to fulfill, so it was written in the Royal Proclamation the Prime Minister and King’s Regent read that morning in the town square.

The lack of explanation and modus of join this task given the Kingdom people something more to talk about while going one with their jobs, even if some of them were a lot less interested about that than the others, becasue at the end knowing the family of the Royal Beast this could have been only a pot full of steam with nothing real inside, to placate the population whereas the throne was already taken from someone belonging to the latter King entourage.

It was all fake or so they thought as two figure disilussioned and not involved in political opinon of sort chitchatted inside a small bookstore right next to a little honey shop facing the town’s square.

It was a quiet frizzy afternoon the sunset filtering through the window of the shop bathed everything in his warm light as the sweet aroma of honey and fresh brewed tea pervaded the air

“Do you believe in soulmates Luke ?”

“I dunno know Julie and you ?”

“Well I have not yet an opinion but … I was thinking the Regent said only a true pair of soulmates could overcome the task.”

“Probably it is an exaggeration nothing more, a lie to explain why no one will succed.”

She sighed heavily probably he was right, yet something flickered in her close to hope that maybe they could have overcome it for real if only they would have put their mind and heart to do it.

“The universe want you together for a reason.” such mysterious catchphrases had no hold on them but still they could not deny the fact that the air seemed unusually quiet since the Regent went through the door in her bookstore that afternoon claiming to not have found a pair of soulmates so keen to one another in all Kingdom until that moment.

They looked quizzically at each other, having grown up together having had the same birthday was not such a big deal, for them only signified an huger honey filled banquet to feast on until dawn but for a weird reason hearing his words it was.

Dressed in a dark cape to conceal his identity he confessed he had a quest for them, being prudent they refused but he ended up saying something interesting that draw them in immediately, revealing a little secret about the prize for it was no less than an huge sum of money big enough to support both her bookstore and his beebreeding - honey shop along with a surprise behind their imagination.

Perceiving their insecurity he leaved them but not before reassuring them he would have retunred in case they had a change of mind.

Later that day they were comfortably nestled into their bedroom when she pulled out that proposal once again, seeing a frown on his lips but too stubborn to let things go in a way that did not pleased her

“Please Luke all I ask of you is to think about it.”

“What for ?”

“The reward, the money we will be rich.”

“I don’t wanna.”

“Why not ? So you are happy to not be able to spoil me like you wish to ?”

“I never said that.”

“But you did, refusing to reflect about his proposal.”

He sighed heavily combing his finger through his hair trying to reorder his thoughts clearing his mind from every wicked thing that could keep him away from making her happy.

“What if we fail ?” he exclaimed looking straight at her seeing a glimpse of recklessness shining through the leaf green eyes of his lover

“What if we make it ?” he frowned lightly letting his gaze wander on the floor while his fingers gripped tightly the little bear plush he had sew himself who was currently lounging lazyly in his cardigan pocket

“I do not wanna you to leave me.” he bit his bottom lips whispering shyly

“If we are gonna be rich pleanty of nobles will court ya, and they can offer you more than…” he trailed off in a murmur “…this” he gestured around him vaguely with such a forlorn smile and heartbreaking expression in his eyes she has never seen, slowly she cradled his face into her hands looking straight into his leaf green eyes so often bright and cheerful yet now looking like a patch of grass someone has stomped in during a rainy day, gently she brushed her fingers over his cheeks smiling reassuringly at her

“I am not gonna leave you Luke, for nothing in the world will ever keep us apart.”

“Nothing ?” he mirrored gingerly placing his hand over her

“I promise you, only please … do the same for me, will ya ?” her eyes misty as a feeble smile adorned her lips, determination shine through him as he take her into his arms squeezing her into his chest feeling her nuzzle tenderly to him gripping his shirt, slowly he pulled away enough to slide an hand to cup her face looking better into her eyes

“You are the only one for me Julie, there is always been and forever wil be only one woman in my heart and this is you, please never doubt that cause is the only truth I ever known in all my life.”

She sighed in relief smiling tenderly as a soft kiss found their way between them prelude to a more passionate night he would have spent showing her the depth of his love until dawn.

Softly she murmured as he laid her down on the bed

“You feel like giving it a chance ?”

“Maybe.” he smiled mischievously “Let me see if you can change my mind.” softly he kissed her forehead before slowly melting his lips on hers in a sweet kiss soon to grew passionate as his entwined his tongue with hers, letting his hands roam freely on her body bathing in the blissfull moans he heard pouring from her lips, too busy showing off their love to one another to notice the moon shining through the cloudy sky smiling knowingly to the comet flashing through the cloud like a thunder foretolding a decision already written in the stars.

The day after he came to them and with utmost pleasure he find an affirmative answer waiting for him, swiftly he guided them deep into the forest explaining the rules along the road, that can be summed up to no cheating allowed.

He stopped abruptly once reached a cross road, where he invited them to make a wise choice that in his words could change the entire universe eliciting a wry chuckle from them, the right path was rocky with big dark clouds ammassing on the sky above, yet a feeble lament of a baby bear probably stuck somewhere whimpering for help could be heard clearly in the still afore the storm air, whereas the left one was smooth full of flowers as their scent pervaded the breezy air rich with a light perfume of honey probably leading to a clar path of grass ideal for lounging around doozing off after a banquet.

A gaze was enough to undestand each other conveying things words were not enough to express, insecurity fear wish to do the right thing coming from their goodness while deep in their heart the decison was already made and was their duty to carry it on, their green eyes shining with complicity as the only option they thought of was expressed in unison at the regent patiently waiting at the cusp of the road smirking knowingly at them.

“Which road my dear adventurers chose to wander in ?” hesitation had not an hold on them as they answered “ The right one.” yet he felt her hand squeezing his conveying all the anxiety she had not word to express

“Very well then you shall continue. I wish you the best of luck.” he disappeared among the fog leaving them alone as his voice echoed in the air slowly fading down, swiftly he moved to hug her tightly whispering softly “I will protect you do not be afraid my little.” planting a tender kiss on her hair feeling her hand caress absently his torso

“I know Luke.” she clutched his shirt nuzzling into his chest

“Do you wish to change path ?” he asked concern dripping over his voice as his bigger hand rubbed her back softly she sighed shooking her head

“No… That cub needs us we can not leave him alone.” she bit her bottom lip gingerly asking

“Do you want to ?”

“I could never.” reluctantly he pulled away taking her hand in brushing his lips over it reverently she smiled lightly letting him lead the way into the right path, it was long and almost endless yet not a single wild animal tried to attack them while the air was lighter than what she thought with a gentle wind breezing among the few flowers scattered on the grass.

Suddenly a loud thunder roared near them unconsciusly she clinged to him as he shielded her with his body circling her waist with his hand keeping her close, slowly they continued to walk reaching a clear path among the trees, feeling her grip on his shirt grew tighter at each unexpected sound coming from their surronding looking for the baby bear they went to rescue, untill he found it nestled on a tall branch of a tree near a beehive reluctantly she pulled away gaining a tender kiss on her forehead from him, he smiled reassuringly at her climbing swiftly on it like he used to do as child, careful to not disturb the bees he took the cub in his arms caressing his soft fur before slowly get off on the grass letting her pet him at least until they heard a low growl coming toward them, a melancholic expression on his features he put it near his mother patting briefly her head watching them melt into the forest, she hugged him tightly caressing his cheeks feeling her heart clench painfully at the heartbreaking gaze in his eyes, no words were shared but the soft kiss she planted on his lips was more than enough to make him feel loved a tender smile melted in his smile as he brushed gently his lips on her hair nuzzling her closer to his chest melting at her lips kissed his shirt above his heart.

A deep chuckle resonate in the air as they pulled away watching in its direction, seeing the Regent leaned onto a tree with a light satisfied smirk on his lips.

“I foretold only a true pair of soulmates coul overcome this and you prove it to be true. Congratulations for your success please allow me to escort you out for a royal reward await you.”

They should have been happy yet a soft frown decorated her lips, noticing it he fretted over to ask

“Is the reward of little interest to you ?”

“We have not done only for it ya know ?” Luke said circling her waist with his arm protectively she sighed softly

“It is not that only … we are happy to have helped that bear, I do not want to think about what he would have done all alone.” she caressed his chest absently looking straight into the Minister amethyst eyes

“We have not done much, not enough for a reward anyway.” a genuine smile appeared on his lips

“You can share it in equal parts if you like, maybe your lover would like it.”

It was Luke turn to frown shooking his head “Whatever she said is alright for me.”

“Are you really sure about it ? Money could always come in handy.”

“We do not need them to be happy.” he exclaimed hugging her tightly to his chest smiling tenderly at her as she nuzzled into his chest

A soft smile appeared on his lips, happiness flickering in his violet eyes usually so stern, from their love so deep and pure, their destiny crafted by the universe written over the stars, two soulmates tied by a bond impossibile to break like the red string knotted tightly on their pinky fingers linking them together to not lost themselves among the infinite galaxy of time and space.

Persuasion and diplomacy were not lacked in the Regent and so he coaxed them to follow him, straight into the royal palace smirking mischievously once they reached the throne room where he explained to two astonished commoner that they were now monarchs of the Kingdom, answering each and every one of their question until sunset when he presented them a stack of papers they promptly signed, not before having read through them all, escorting them to a lavish banquet they were more than happy to fest one, smirking knowingly as they gawk in awe at their sumptuous bedroom where they spent all night talking excited beyond words for that reward that greatly exceeded their fanciest dreams.

The least thing they coud imagine was they would have ended up as the royal monarchs ruling their country though they did not disliked, even if all the proper etiquette lesson bored them endlessly yet they know that when all the lights went down and they were finally left alone they could come back to be themsleves be it for brief moment, loved and cherished for their kind and humble characters from their people cheering excitedly the day of their incoronation were more than a pair of snobbish nobles turned poor as their property were taken and used to raise the wealth of the folk and all slaves freed from their chains.

They shined like stars among the crowd as they spin around the ballroom in an elegant waltz, danced a bit too nearer to one naother according to etiquette but little did they cared about it eilciting a more informal atmosphere well welcomed by most aristocrats as much needed fresh breeze among the constricting palace rules helping more than a pair of couple get together in that magical night.

Sitting on their throne in all their regality, with no sign of haughtiness come from their words as they did their best to rule the country with wise kindness and considerate generosity, striving to bring abundance and happiness to everyone making them feel protected and cared for, from a pair of monarchs the world has never seen who gained loyalty and love merely being themselves, making of their Kingdom a powerful and strong gaining respect and admiration from their neighboring countries with a series of peace treaties who granted much needed stablity and growth in every corner of their nation out standing heart of a flourishing artistic and scientific culture destined to go down in history for the universe wanted them together for a reason they finally discovered through the most powerful emotion of all capable of moving mountains and sea, forcing on their knees mighty King and Emperors destined to obey, creating and destroying Kingdoms and Empires for nothing in the whole universe was stronger than what made in the name of Love.

#different universe same love ccc #ikemen prince #ikeprince #my writing #original character #ikeprince luke #ikemen prince luke #ikemen prince julie original character #ikepri

10 notes · View notes