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dr-demi-bee · 4 months

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Hello hello! Can I ask your wedding tag for 4 & 16? ♡♡

Ahhh!! Thank you friend! I *adored* thinking about this 🥰🥰🥰 Incoming lore dump :D I think a lot about what the culture of Miri's pack in the High Forest would be like as wild lythari elves with little contact with outsiders. Lythari, I imagine, don't necessarily have 'weddings' as we consider it. As a small tribal people, the grand, opulent ceremonies we think of for weddings likely wouldn't make sense. It would, however, make sense to celebrate the pack growing - either by gaining a new member or by the potential for cubs to be sired (most lythari are *born*, rather than turned).

What Forgotten Realms lore does confirm (across all resources) about lythari is that they have a sacred mating ritual wherein a consenting non-lythari partner (if an elf) is bitten by their lythari partner and the lycanthropy is passed to them. (It only works for elves, so no werewolf Gale, sorry).

The lore suggests that the partner also gains a permanent mark that resembles a wolf bite. So I like to imagine that lythari pairs would still bite one another to gift this mark and signify their mating bond (like a wedding ring)! As Halsin says, “The wolf mates for life. The bear, however, roams free.” This all leads me to believe that lythari are known (at least by wood elves from the HF) to be monogamous, and this mark would signify their permanent bond to their partner. I imagine the pack holds a celebration of the couple bonding - and that the *mating ritual* itself is quite an affair for the pair (a la the wedding night/honeymoon wink wink). So for this answer, *pre-ceremony* is what precedes the mating ritual portion. All this to say:

I imagine that Miri and Gale would have two different 'weddings'. One more traditional, in Waterdhavian style, for Gale and the Dekarios clan. The other, a sacred mating bond ritual, for Miri and the Adahlen'i lythari. (fun fact, Adahlen'i is based on the Dalish 'adahlen', for 'forest', and an -i suffix, after Latin, to mean 'of the'.)

Anywho- On to the answers! :)

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4. Pre-Ceremony Events - Are there any special events, ceremonies, rituals, or preparations the couple must do before the wedding day? Ritual cleansing, asking a parent for the character's hand, mehndi/henna painting, little pre-ceremony games or challenges, etc?

Gale's traditional wedding: This stuff has been tumbling around my brain for ages - and instead of blithering on about usual wedding pre-ceremony traditions like a rehearsal dinner or not seeing each other before hand... I want to talk about rings. There is a canon Waterdeep tradition (shared here) where each person will have a ring crafted, which will then be split in half and fused together to make a matching pair of 'union' rings to be worn on the middle finger. These rings are worn around the neck until the wedding ceremony when they are exchanged. So I have been obsessed with the idea that Miri and Gale would both get rings crafted to match one another's eyes (you know, like those cute af trends of couples making matching bracelets or getting matching nail polish). Wearing their respective bands around their neck would become a symbol of the other's loving gaze. And then once they are split and fused, they would each have a ring to remind one another of the profound tenderness and love they see in one another's eyes. (excuse me I'm not crying, you are) For Miri - I think she would choose something like this, a dark metal inlaid with a beautiful wood like mahogany that shines with rich shades of brown and changes in the sun. Maybe with an added stone that looks like the aurora from when they first confessed. Extra points if she retrieved the wood herself from somewhere special.

For Gale - Ohhh, our grand gesture beloved. Gale would go out of his way to find the exact perfect gemstone or metal to match the greens of Miri's eyes. He would put hours into researching the quality of the stone and how to find the best one and the best quality, that would have the right durability for Miri's rough and tumble lifestyle. And it would have to be the perfect color because he would be staring absent mindedly at his own ring so often he would know whether it was right or not. And it would have to be significant somehow, and on and on... And no silver, of course. I picture something like jade or malachite (emeralds are way too soft).

Miri's lythari mating ritual: This celebration would be smaller, more intimate (but no less raucous). The ceremony would be held in the High Forest, near where Miri was born (a way of symbolizing the circle of life in Nature).

I imagine the celebration would include an exchanging of vows by the to-be-bonded pair. A commitment before the pack and their goddess, Mielikki. (Cute shit like "You are my mate - I am bonded to you for eternity, and I shall never leave your side. I shall love you, guard you, and keep you, for all of your days. Our bond is sacred, and I shall worship and praise you through this life, and into the afterlife.") Pack members receive their tattoos as a sacred coming-of-age ritual - and I like to imagine that a non-lythari partner is painted with a temporary version of their mate-to-be's tattoos prior to the ceremony. Perhaps by a trusted loved one, or by their beloved. From there the celebration would be very typical of most cultures - food, drink, song, and dance. Revelry for hours. Perhaps there is a hunt before hand to ensure there is plentiful meat, and there are bottles of pack-brewed wines and meads and ciders flowing freely into the evening.

At some point during the revelry the pair themselves will quietly slip away from the gathering - Miri will take Gale to some secluded space she used to hold dear - and then they will begin their mating ritual in earnest. ;) The revelry, meanwhile, continues until the wee hours - celebrating the couple coming together (and maybe the chance for cubs- someday.)

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16. Wedding Party - Are there bridesmaids, groomsmen, attendants, special witnesses? Are they dressed a certain way or positioned in a special spot? In both cases: I imagine they would invite all of their friends - the near and dear companions able to make it (perhaps with some assistance from Withers, a la the epilogue party). And you can bet Miri would find a way to involve their fuzzier companions, too - Tara, Lupus, Corvus, Scratch, even their Owlbear. Gale's traditional wedding: I am a big ol' sentimental softie and I cannot picture these two blorbos getting married without having their companions serving as their wedding party. Standing beside them as they declare their love in front of officiant, guests, and pantheon. Groomsmen: Astarion, Wyll, Halsin. Bridesmaids: Karlach, Lae'zel, Shadowheart. Officiant: Either Jaheira, Withers, or perhaps another. But I expect it would probably be a secular at least agnostic ceremony. Scratch and Lupus can be flower-girl equivalents. Corvus can fly in the rings. Gale implies a few times throughout the game that he was part of Waterdeep's high society (attending soirees, owning a tower in the city) - undoubtedly true, as he was an archmage. So I imagine, given Waterdeep nobles are considered 'heavy handed spenders', that their traditional wedding would be a bit on the *larger*, more lavish side. As such the dress code would be at minimum semi-formal, if not formal outright - the wedding party would be dressed accordingly. (See any number of excruciatingly beautiful clothing mods people have created for examples of appropriate shiny silks, fancy embroideries, opulent colors and divine tailoring...)

Miri's lythari mating ritual: For this smaller ceremony, I do not think there would be a bridal party, per say. But I do think they would want their companions to be there to bear witness and to celebrate with them. Everything in the High Forest is centered around survival, and thus practicality is the name of the game for attire. Lythari do not wear fine fabrics and prefer their own hand-crafted leathers and furs, accessorized with feathers and beautiful hand carved bone and stone pieces. I would expect anyone participating to dress similarly - and to be barefoot. I could see a tribal ceremony including an exchanging of vows, perhaps beneath an ancient tree to bear sacred witness. Furthermore, there are several other sacred rituals in Miri's pack specifically that involve clerics of Mielikki, if not Mielikki herself. So I imagine a cleric would be present to bless their union. I would not be surprised if Miri would ask Halsin if he would participate somehow as a former archdruid and servant of Silvanus.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Anyway, hope you like this brain dump of syrupy sweet wedding head canons 🥰🥰🥰🥰🤎💚

#bg3weddingseason #gale x tav #galemance #gale dekarios #gale of waterdeep #oc: miri #the forest familiar #my writing #ask dr d

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possiblyhomer · 2 years

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BD fanfic idea because yes, I'm still coping

Starts off with more angst.

Rei decides he can't loose Kazuki too, so he packed his bags, gives ownership of their apartment to him, and plans to leave while Kazuki's asleep.

Problem is: Kazuki couldn't sleep, and was able to confront Rei just as he was at the door, taking one last look at his true home

Kazuki just lost it at that. But before he could spiral out of control, Rei hugged him. Tightly.

"We just lost Miri because of who I am. I can't lose you too. I'll be away for a while. Will you wait for me?"

"Don't do anything stupid." Kazuki told him and sends him off with another hug.

After returning to the Suwa estate. Rei takes on more hands-off positions to prepare him for becoming the boss.

During that time, he secretly sends Kazuki letters hidden in files of his targets. Kyu's in on it too,

Few years later, he officially becomes THE boss. And his first order? To get rid of his father.

By this time, thanks to the compassion he learned from his time with his true family, most of the organization's more loyal to him than his psychopathic boss.

One day, Kazuki hears the door being easily unlocked.

The moment he saw Rei, Kazuki immediately tackled him in a hug and a kiss before Rei could even say "I'm home".

They catch up over dinner, feelings are felt, confessions are made, and they woke up at noon the next day in eachother's embrace.

With his new position, Rei is able to let Kazuki retire from being a Hitman and even help him open and fund a restaurant so that Kazuki could see people express appreciation for his cooking.

After everything settled down, they met up with Misaki and told her that now that both of them are in relatively much safer jobs, they'd like to help her with her treatments so that Miri could have her mother for longer, even if it's just for a bit more.

They (including Kyu) eventually became close friends, Kazuki sometimes even gossip with Misaki.

The organization, under Rei's "rule", became much closer knit like a big family. So not only does Miri get to have all 3 of her parents, she also gets a lot more aunties and uncles.

Years later, Misaki passed away surrounded by friends and family. In her will, she entrusted Miri to Kazurei fully... under one condition.

"For the love of God, one of you just propose already." Turns out both of them, on 2 separate occasions, asked Misaki to help them choose an engagement ring.... Which happened 2 years ago.

Even if they can't get legally married, nothing's stopping them from arranging a ceremony.

So later that year, on Christmas Eve, what was supposed to be a fun anniversary of how they found each other turned into a "suprise wedding" on top of a very familiar tower.

It was Miri's idea. She asked Kyu for help and he had the most loyal members of the organization help out.

Yes, Miri's the cutest and most beautiful flower girl ever. Yes, Kazuki did bawl his eyes out. And if you saw Rei shed some tears, no you did not.

#buddy daddies #random ramblings #kazurei #miri unasaka #misaki unasaka

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eternal-echoes · 1 year

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"Franky's Warning"

Line art by me and colored by @iluvluvnutella (thank you so much!)

This is a submission for @sxf-sideweek's Side Character Week 2023

Day 4: Beautiful Disasters - Franky

I've always admired how Franky isn't just some comic relief side character but also the one who calls out Twilight on his BS especially when his real emotions are seeping through.

This is based on episode 11 of Buddy Daddies when Kyu-chan picked up injured Kazuki at Miri's Mother's house after duking it out with Ogino. I've always wanted to draw an injured Twilight to channel my inner Michelangelo in drawing the naked human body but there's already a bunch of hurt/comfort fan arts of Yor taking care of an injured Loid out there I wanted to do something different and when I watched this episode of Buddy Daddies the idea hit me. (I guess drawing hands counts as channeling my inner Michelangelo as well but I still had an itch to draw topless Loid without it being too sexual).

#spy x family #spy x family fan art #sidecharacterweek2023 #franky franklin #spyxfamily #spy x family fanart #franky franklin fanart #franky franklin fan art #my fan art #colored by iluvluvnutella #artists on tumblr

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sakuramidnight15 · 2 years

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-TW MC Information-

[Gacha Club Mod Ver. Below]

Character Bio

Name: Mireille Blanchefleur

(Japanese: ミレイユブランシュフルール)

Romaji: Mireiyu Buranshufurūru

Quote: "The way you wanted to know what life is... Is through by the experience...? Was Lilith even right, was she though...?"

V/A: Hisako Kanemoto (Japanese)

Alexis Tipton (English)

Gender: Female

Age: 21

Birthday: February 23

Star Sign: Pisces

Eye Color: Snowflake White (Original Eye Color)

Abyssal Black (???)

Hair Color: Light Chocolate Brown (Previous Before Trauma)

Marshmallow White (Current After Trauma)

Height: 172 cm

Race: Human???

Homeland: New York City

Family: Édouard Shirai (Uncle Father)-(Left the Family)-(Deceased)

Artha Shirai (Aunt Mother)-(Left the Family)-(Deceased)

Theo Shirai (Older Half-Cousin Brother)-(Left the Family)-(Disappeared)

Caddaric Blanchefleur (Biological Father)-(Haven't Met Yet)

Labanya Blanchefleur (Biological Mother)-(Haven't Met Yet)

Lolia Shirai (Grandmother)-(Left the Family)-(Met only once)

_________________________________________

School Status and Fun Facts

Dorm: Ramshackle

School Year: First (Was graduated from highschool and is a college student but about to graduate soon)

Class: 1-A

Student no. 13

Occupation: Mireille and Grim (One Student)

Prefect

Writer (In secret)

Song-writer (In secret)

Aesthetic Artist (In secret)

Club: N/A

Best Subject: History, Literature, P.E. and Math

Dominant Hand: Ambidextrous

Favorite Color: Blue, White, Black and Grey

Favorite Food: Fried Chicken, Rice, Street Food, Noodles, Desserts (Not too sweet), Dark Chocolate (Healthy and Bitter), Spicy Food, Coffee, Asian Food (Mostly), Sushi (Mostly with Wasabi), Chips,

Least Favorite Food: Unflavored Food, Purple Mushrooms, Anything that looks disgusting, Stale Food, Anything too Sweet, Cake with too much Frosting, Green Bell Peppers,

Likes: Lilith's Comfort, Positivity, Her mentality/insanity stabled, Anime and Games, Death Metal Music, Black-styled Clothing (In various styles, mostly more cool and less cute), Writing, Gaining artistic ideas, Anything that is aesthetics styled, Food, Sleeping, Novels, Quiet Time, Taking a break, Music (Various, mostly rock and metal), Hoping to control her emotions (Mostly), Revenge/Karma (Mostly in secret), Furry Animals,

Dislikes: Traumatic Issues (Mostly- that would involve child neglect and abuse), Losing control on her sanity, Her 'Perfect Family', Messed-up society and people, Abused Authority, Fake People, Discovering Hidden Secrets (Mostly, either dark or not), Loudness, Losing Sleep, Too Much Cuteness (Mostly thanks to her trauma), Rule Abuse, Not controlling her emotions (Mostly), The Past (Mostly), Her Past Two Ex Lovers, Bullied, Mocked (Mostly for her appearance before),

Hobbies: Writing, Poetry, Making Songs (In secret), Cooking, Napping/Sleeping, Cunning-like planning (Mostly), Foiling her Opponents Plans, Art in Aesthetic styled or not (I'm secret), Babysitting her siblings, Singing (Mostly but in secret), Multitasking, Reading Novels, Anime and Video Games (In secret), Cosplaying (In secret),

Talents: High IQ, Fast Memorization, Selective Memories, Outsmarting someone, Physical Self-defense, Weaponry Attacks, Slight Girl-Boss, Manipulation, Lilith's Assistance, Lying, ???,

Nicknames:

Miri or Mirie (From her family and friends)

My Dear and Mire (From Lilith)

Blanchefleur-san (From Others)

Miss Blanchefleur (From Crowley and the Staff Members)

Henchmen (From Grim)

Mrs. Blanchefleur (From Riddle)

Omnivore or Bunny (From Leona)

Mrs. Siren (From Azul)

Mrs. Pearlie (From Floyd)

Beautiful Potato (From Vil)

Belle escroc and Madame Ange ("Meaning: Beautiful Trickster and Madame Angel" From Rook)

Man of Child and Angel Child (From Malleus)

Human (From Sebek)

Other Nicknames:

Little Crybaby and Baby Bunny (Insulted nickname)

Lilith's Friend (???)

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Appearance and Personality

Appearance: Mireille has a semi-tall and slender female body build which it looks a little bit on the average and a bit curvy. In the past as a young child to teen (morefully 15), she originally has light chocolate brown colored hair, but after experiencing heavy inflicting trauma, it has caused her hair to turn into marshmallow white colored permanently in the aftermath, with additional she has very long and curly hair due to being styled from time to time. She has snowflake white colored eyes which the whole eye ball can turn into abyssal black which the trigger of it remains unknown. Mireille is a beautiful young woman with rather an odd yet silent behavior.

Personality: To start it all off, Mireille seems to have a very difficult childhood which she never ever mentioned it, it would explain her current silent behavior. Needless to say, as a toddler to four year old, she never had any happy memories with her 'family'... Or that what she calls it. She barely have any good memories from it... Her family was known to be 'The Perfect Family'... But that's only for an outside appearance towards others, the inside in this 'perfection' is what Mireille called 'memories'.

Her 'mother' would neglect her own presence whenever she's there, and would often yell at her at whatsoever and would return to drink alcohol in the kitchen when Mireille goes back upstairs. Her 'father' never even bothered her and also ignored her, in fact she ended hearing him with someone else in an old bedroom with someone else, which it wasn't her 'mother'... And last, her 'older-brother' was stone cold and would often walk passed by her to create smoke in the air in his room... As for herself, she stayed in her bedroom alone, crying which is what her family members called her.

This kept about forever for Mireille or so as she thought... Till one evening around midnight, she heard an argument between her 'father' and grandmother in a room, it was something about... 'Infertile, A long-lasting affair, Stolen from birth...' Mireille didn't understand after listening to it in secret. A week passed after that... Till it came. A silhouette of her 'mother' came in her room, fed some liquid till she passed out... The next thing is the sound of... 'Screaming and Stabbing..' Till then she was now in one of the orphanage's vacant bedrooms.

It was only the first thing of her trauma that inflicted within her which it purely infected her sanity and mental health. But after entering high-school at age fifteen, things got a lot worse and at the brink has caused her hair turned white permanently... With additional of meeting Lilith one evening to heal her in the aftermath.

The current Mireille we're now seeing is a young beautiful college student, and is about to graduate soon and then become an adult as well. After meeting Lilith, she's now gained rather a silent yet odd behavior but tends to be a bit shy, and isn't very talkative towards other people she sees and is very distance. It would have been the cause of her traumatic events that inflicted on her heavily and effectively.

If you do get close to her for the move, she's very friendly and sweet after meeting you with her. Mireille holds a very kind nature within herself that matches her new appearance and style, despite what she she to go through in the past. Aside from that, she can be viewed as a big sister-figure towards anyone either you get than her or not. She's also calm, collective and also patience towards you if you get close to her and gained her trust in you.

Do really be beware of what's hidden in Mireille's personality beneath it despite her appearance has changed and also after meeting Lilith. Mireille tends to be cautious and also wears rather a very hard mask thanks to her heavy traumatic events in her past. But if you get in her badside and do something that involves almost anything or not. Do expect a dark side of her once her sanity drops to zero, either you're spared or not. Mireille won't feel sorry for you, either with reason or not. She'll shot you back with words that might effect you in the end.

After entering to a bizarre world... But oh, what an beautiful yet odd young woman, who have quite a background...

_________________________________________

Trivia

-The name 'Mireille' is means wonderful; peace; propserous; admire. While her surname 'Blanchefleur' means "white flower", also (Blanziflor, Flanziflor, Welsh: Blodyngwyn) is a female given name popular in the High Middle Ages.

-She's based on 'Crybaby' from Melanie Martinez Album: 'Crybaby'.

-She's likes animals and bugs, which that includes dangerous ones or not. It appears that she likes white animals and bugs the most.

-Mireille knows how to make anything either aesthetic styled or not. Which it includes her favorite hobbies and occupations.

-She's a pure closet otaku, she spends her weekends being as a typical otaku additional of loving cosplaying.

-She does not trust Crowley and doesn't seem to like of returning to highschool like NRC thanked to her experience trauma in highschool after her family issues. So it might take some time to her to get along with the students despite the fact she's older than them or not.

-As mentioned, she's experienced child neglected and was being criticism by her 'family'. But after her 'mother' had drugged her and passed out, she stayed in an orphanage but didn't get adopted as she grew old enough to take care of herself. But it didn't end as she entered more traumatic events such as bullying and various. Due to her being a crybaby and weird.

-She's apparently stolen from birth, she hasn't met her real parents who have been looking for her for almost years.

-She has two ex boyfriends, the first one who she never got tested right till she showed him who she's messing with and the second one didn't take a serious relationship with her and left her. So in the aftermath, she spending her time single.

-It lasted about a semester for her till her hair turned white one after getting kidnapped by a doctor and took her to an asylum. Lucky she managed to escape by poisoning his food. Afterwards cost her sanity to lower completely along with her brown hair turning white permanently. After heading home, she met Lilith who helped her heal as time passes. Although she's no longer considered as a human after those events now... Kinda has a dark secret.

-Mireille considered Lilith her only friend. Whom she's the only one who can see and hear her only. To others, it like they are seeing a worse version of a ghost if they see her for a second.

-Her voice sounds pretty meek and timid but the tone and attitude changes whenever something happens, which it can affect her sanity. Which is why I chose Hisako Kanemoto as her japanese voice actor and Alexis Tipton as her english voice actor.

-She absolutely hates cuteness and pop styled thanks to her trauma events. She likes death metal, black clothing in various styles. Mireille also likes stringed guitar music songs as well.

-Has very complicated issues of remembering her past. Can barely make anything out of it.

_________________________________________

She's FINALLY HERE-

#mc #oc #twisted wonderland #disney twisted wonderland #gacha club #gacha games #gacha club mod #bio #character information #mireille blanchefleur #miri

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embywolf · 3 years

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Zelink Week Day 5: Domesticity

Okay so here goes: I suck with grammar stuff, maths/physics are not my strong point, I know nothing of birthing and I've never written anything for fun like this. I had the idea a while ago and it might not work as I decided to try and fit that idea into the prompt for today. I'm very nervous to be posting this and I may well delete it later but for now, here is my first ever attempt. Also no idea how to format it on Tumblr, or at all if I'm being honest but figured I'd add a line as this came out longer than I expected ^_^;

I'm rambling now, can you tell? *Hovers over post button*

_________________________

Day 5 – Domesticity

She had his hand in a vice like grip, knuckles turning white. It ached, but not as much as his heart did at the sounds of her panting and pained screams. He kissed the side of her head where her hair was matted to her face with sweat. His emotions were all over the place but at the same time there was nowhere else he would rather be right now. As much as he hated her to be in any form of pain, he knew it was temporary and would be so worth it.

He murmured into her ear “You’re doing so, so well my love. Not much longer now, you can do this”

She panted hard and fast, anticipating the next contraction. He was perched on the edge of her bed, one leg laid straight alongside her, the other on the floor. He had one arm around her shoulders, hand rubbing soothing motions down her arm while the other was either placed on her stomach or, when her contractions started up again was held tightly in her grip for support.

From her parted legs and bent knees, Impa, her most trusted and loyal friend peeked above the white sheets that were draped over her. She grinned at the both of them before looking straight into Zelda’s eyes “I can see the crown! Another few good pushes and she’ll be with us”

Zelda whimpered. She was so very tired; she wasn’t sure how much more pushing she could do. As if Link had read her mind he spoke softly against her cheek “I know you tired, love. You’re so strong and we’ll soon get to meet our little girl. A few more pushes, can you do that for me?”. Zelda nodded, heaving out a massive breath as she could feel the tension of another contraction beginning.

“Zelda, I need you to give a nice big push with your next contraction” Impa urged. Zelda clenched Link’s hand once again as the contraction came over her. She strained and grunted so hard into the push that her whole face became red and heated and Link couldn’t help but be in awe of her strength. He didn’t think it was possible to love her more than he did right now in this moment.

Although the pregnancy wasn’t exactly planned, they both knew that they had wanted children together eventually. It was a given knowing that she was the reigning sovereign of Hyrule and it was expected of her to have an heir. As was tradition, there always had to be a Zelda successor, so as soon as they found out about the pregnancy everyone had begin called the baby Little Zel (they hadn’t officially decided on a name if they weren’t sticking with tradition, but it was better than called her an ‘it’ or ‘she’).

“Good girl, keep pushing!” Impa urged, the excitement rising in her tone “Her heads out! Continue your panting until you feel the need to push again.”

Link placed the hand that had been running up and down her arm to the side of her head, pushing lightly to encourage her to rest her head against his shoulder. He closed his eyes and run his hand through her hair, humming quietly in an attempt to try to sooth his wife. His wife! How did he end up so lucky? He thought absently.

“Link?” Zelda breathy voice broke through his thoughts

“Hmm?” He stopped his humming at the sound of her voice, opening his eyes to glance at her.

“Thank you for being here for me… for us” she says, placing one hand on her belly. He kissed her sweaty forehead and looked deeply into her eyes “There is no place in the entire world that I would rather be right now. Thank you for letting me be here for the birth of our girl – our daughter, Zelda.”

Her lips curled up in a brief smile and she hummed contentedly at his words before her face scrunched again as her next contraction overcame her.

“One more big push” Impa exclaimed and Zelda tensed her shoulders, sat up slightly and heaved.

“Hear that, Zel? One more big push and she’ll be with us” he was rubbing circles between her shoulder blades now, doing what little he could to somehow try and ease even a fraction of her pain.

“Keep pushin-“ Impa was interrupted as Zelda let out a noise between a shout and a wail. An ear-piercing cry broke out into the room as Little Zel took her first breaths of Hyrulian air.

“She’s here!” Link choked on a sob, catching Zelda in his arms as she flopped back on the bed, panting hard.

“She certainly is!” Impa grinned as she tended to the new born babe. She had checked her airway to ensure it is clear and listened to her strong heartbeat. “She’s a healthy, beautiful baby-“ she started as she began to wrap her up ready to present her to her parents when Impa noticed something… unexpected… “boy” she gasped out in surprise.

Impa placed the boy in his mothers arms who had tears flowing down her face and the biggest smile graced her features. She bundled the baby up looking lovingly down into his face and said in the most heart-warming voice “Hello my boy” she breathed out in a sort of laugh sob “hello ourboy” – she was looking at Link now who was freely crying and looking between both his son (his son! Hylia, he has a son!) and his wife. He placed his hand on top of the babies head, cupping it slightly and rubbing the fine, sand coloured hair there as Zelda leaned in towards him. He kissed Zelda’s head again and looked down at the bundle in her arms, awed and stunned. He was swept up in the feelings of love and pride in the strength of his wife growing this beautiful little life in her body and going through the pain of birthing. “Hello, son” he said in a breathy whisper.

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“What does this mean, Impa?” Zelda asked as she nursed her son, who apparently had the appetite of his father. Link was still sat beside her on the bed watching Zelda take to motherhood like a natural, completed besotted with his little family.

“I.. I’m not sure” Impa stood at the foot of the bed which had since been cleaned since the birth. “I plan on speaking with the elders and consulting some of our Sheikah texts to see if this has ever happened before in our history. I suspect not, something this significant would surely be common knowledge among us.”

Link glanced up at this “So you think that Zelda having a son is significant in the eyes of the goddess and not merely a matter of biology?”

“You know the legends as well as I, Link. You know that Hylia incarnate is always female as is the nature of maternal bloodlines” Zelda wasn’t looking at either him or Impa, she was fascinated watching her boy as he greedily suckled. She didn’t care either way that he way a boy, he was hers and she was so totally and utterly in love with him.

“Now that I know he is nursing properly I think it is time to take my leave and investigate this little miracle” Impa smiled warmly “it is also advisable that baby has skin on skin contact with his parents to help with bonding” She looked pointedly at Link “Both his parents”. She stepped towards the door before looking back at the little family “Oh, and your highness? I think you may need to consider a different name for him. Little Zel hardly seems to suit him, don’t you think?” She grinned and made her way out through the door, leaving both doting parents cooing over their new addition.

Once they were alone the little Hylian hiccupped softly, Zelda looked towards Link with pride in her eyes as he stared down at the boy and laughed lightly at the cute noises he was making. “I think it’s time this little one gets some bonding time with his father, don’t you?” She said as she shifted on the bed, cradling the baby gently and holding him out to Link. For a brief moment the baby wriggles at the change in position, stretching his limbs before snuggling up into the crook of Link’s arm. He yawns and one of his outstretched arms meets with Links hand, his tiny fingers curling around one of his fathers. Link choked on a sob as Zelda rests her head on his shoulder

“We need to name him”

“A significant name for a significant boy”

“What do you suggest?” He asks gently, her face falters at that. She has no idea. Neither does he.

“I.. I really don’t know. Any names I can think of are all girls names and that would be assuming we broke with tradition and didn’t use Zelda. Like Hope or Harmony – something that signifies the fact he was born after the calamity was vanquished.”

“You say something significant, right?” To which Zelda nods “What about ‘Rise’ as in surp-rise? After all he certainly is a surprise”. “Link please, be serious.” She looked at him with a raised brow.

“Okay, what about Finn. As in the end of the calamity?”

“No, he doesn’t look like a Finn”

“Miri like ‘Miracle’?”

“Nope”.

“Hmmm” Link ponders for a while, mummering to himself “He was born in a time of peace, where balance has been restored and tranquillity reigns –“ Link cuts himself short. “What about Quill? As in Tranquillity. That’s what his birth represents Afterall, tranquillity after a hard-won battle”

Zelda looks into the face of the child in his arms, sleeping peacefully nestled against his chest. “You know, I quite like it. It suits him. What do you think, Quill?” Zelda smiles after testing the name out loud and as if he was in agreement one of the babies cheeks scrunched up adorably, the edge of his mouth raising slightly as if he was smiling.

---------

Once Zelda and Quill had been given the all clear by the Doctors the new family were allowed to leave the infirmary and go back to their suite. Quill had been sleeping soundly in the bassinette that was placed by Zelda’s side of the bed which gave Zelda chance to rest herself. She was exhausted and sore, and as much as she wanted to keep just staring at her new son her body was struggling to stay awake. She fell asleep listening to Quills gentle breathing as Link was emptying the bags that they had taken with them to the infirmary when her labour had started. As he went to put something away in their bedroom, he noticed that Zelda had fallen asleep and stood leaning against the doorframe to just watch and take in the beautiful sight before him. While they slept Link showered to try and wake himself up a little. Zelda’s labour had been intense and long lasting, he has stayed up with her throughout it all and he was determined to let her rest while he took care of the both of them.

He came out of the bathroom with his hair down and messy from being towel dried, said towel draped over his shoulders to avoid getting his bare back soaked. He was wearing only his trousers as he busied himself around the room. He stopped what he was doing when he heard Quill start to stir and he seen Zelda’s face twitch slightly as if she was about to rouse from her sleep. Deciding she had had nowhere near enough rest yet Link picked Quill up from his basket and held him against his chest mumbling slightly as to not wake her.

“I’m here, little one” he said softly. “Mummy is resting right now and we need to be quiet to let her sleep, okay?”. He walked to the other side of the bed where he carefully lay down beside Zelda, his back propped against the pillows and his son resting against his chest. The boy calmed down upon contact with his father as Link patted his back soothingly. Quill burped then bunched his hands in the towel around Links shoulders who let out a small chuckle and began stroking his back softly. This repetitive and calming motion lulled both to sleep and it was Zelda that roused first, opening her eyes to the sight of Link and Quill snoozing together. It struck her then just how much like Link he is, he certainly had his hair and maybe his eyes. From the little glimpses Zelda had gotten his eyes looked like they may be blue but he had his mother’s nose and the same chubby cheeks that Zelda had had as a child.

She lay there in silence, enjoying the moment when a soft knock came at the door. Link roused from his nap and Quill stirred but didn’t awaken. “Come in” Zelda spoke softly but loud enough to be heard through the door, which opened as Impa popped her head around the door glancing around to look for the room occupants. “Your highness?” She questioned as Zelda rose from the bed wincing “I can come back at a more convenient time?” She said as she noticed Zelda emerging slowly and carefully from the bedroom

“Not at all Impa, please take a seat. I trust you are here having sought council with the elders?” Zelda lowered herself into one of the lounge chairs slowly, using the arm rests to support her before gesturing for Impa to take a seat at the chair opposite. Link, upon hearing Impa’s voice joined them in the lounge area, Quill’s head resting gently on his shoulder as his little legs were curled beneath him against his fathers chest. Link had draped the towel in such a way to cover most of his chest but was sure to leave the shoulder Quill was resting on exposed. He nodded and smiled warmly at Impa as he handed the baby to Zelda as he started fussing quietly. When he was settled in her arms Link glanced down at her lovingly and gave her a quick peck on the head and rubbed his knuckles softly against Quill’s cheek before heading back into the bedroom to retrieve a clean shirt.

Once he was fully dressed and had bought a tray of tea to the table between the two women, he took a seat next to Zelda as she slowly rocked the baby in her arms.

“As you both know I warped to Kakariko this afternoon to consult the ancient texts and speak with those much older and wiser than myself.” Impa began, her head tilted to one side as she watched the family in front of her fondly.

“Did you find anything of interest” Link piped up; his voice slightly hoarse from sleep.

Impa nodded, a small smile gracing her lips “I did.” To which Zelda looked up into Impa’s eyes and awaited what she had to say.

“So, as I suspected, have a male heir has never happened in the history of the royal family blessed by the goddess. I found an old passage in one of the very ancient tomes that we barely look at due to its fragile state. If I translated correctly, which according to the librarian I did, the passage spoke of a triangle that varies from the triforce in that it is more of mathematical equation rather than anything else. It speaks of forces that occur in nature and being able to calculate the distance, speed and time of an object which, apparently, if applied to the triforce gives us the answer to the calamities end.”

Zelda raised her eyebrow “but the calamity has been defeated in the past before, and still there has been no male heir born to the triforce of wisdom afterwards. So why now?”

“Because the equation has never been fully solved before” Impa says with a knowing smile. It wasn’t often that Zelda was slow on the uptake so Impa decided to continue, grabbing a piece of paper and a pen from the table in front of her in order to demonstrate what she means.

“If we place the triforce pieces in their usual positions with power at the top, wisdom bottom left and courage bottom right…” Impa draws the triforce as it has always been known “…and then we apply the mathematical formular gathered from the texts…” She draws a horizontal line below power then a vertical line between courage and wisdom “…we get the equation for defeating the calamity permanently.” She glances up at the two of them where she is perched on the end of her seat.

“I.. I’m sorry Impa but I don’t quite follow.” Zelda admitted honestly, to which Link was grateful as it meant he didn’t need to admit out loud that he too was confused - If Zelda wasn’t quite grasping it then he didn’t feel so stupid after all.

Impa wrote the equivalent formulae to accompany the triangle, also adding an ‘x’ between the vertical line. The equation read p = w x c. Zelda gasped slightly as she finally understood “Wait, so you’re saying that… that”

Impa nodding again “that’s exactly what I’m saying. The prophecy suggests that for the calamity to be beaten permanently, never to be reincarnated again then wisdom and courage need to combine. This has never happened before as previous incarnates of wisdom and courage have never been together in this way and certainly never producing offspring.”

Zelda looked to Link then, speaking softly almost in a trance “our son is a blessing from Hylia telling us that it’s over. And not just for this generation but for eternity!” Zelda’s eyes were misted up as she looked at Quill.

“In order to overcome the bane of power, wisdom and courage must combine not only in battle but also in surrender. The coming together of the two produces a force so great that not even malice incarnate can prevail.” Impa quoted from the text and gestured to the boy in Zelda’s arms.

---------

A few weeks later once Zelda had sufficiently recovered from birth and the new family had had some bonding time, the champions and the Sheikah scientists were invited to the castle for a private celebration of both the end of calamities and to introduce Quill to their friends before a formal announcement to the kingdom.

The gathering was held in a private pagoda in the castle courtyard near to the gardens with a spread of delicious foods to cater to everyone’s tastes. The group were sat together awaiting the arrival of the guest of honour. They stand when they see Zelda and Link approaching the table and as they get closer they could see Zelda’s eyes were already misty with tears of pride as she stood in front of all her most treasured friends, with Links left arm resting across her lower back and her son in her arms facing away from the group.

“Everyone” Zelda spoke in a soft but clear voice “Link and I are so very happy that you are here to join us. Your bravery and skill have proven vitally important to get where we are today, and as I know you are all aware the calamity is over and shall never plague this world again.” Everyone around her nodding and made small, gratifying sounds of approval. “It is now, in this time of great peace and tranquillity that I would like to introduce to our blessing and proof of our everlasting victory.” At this, Zelda jostled the boy in her arms carefully. “Everyone, I’d like you to meet Quill!” Zelda beamed as she turned Quill in her arms so that he was facing her treasured allies and friends.

Most of the group cooed and ‘awwed’ at Quill, and even Revali dropped his snide remarks to look over the baby with a small nod of his head to Link. It was then that realisation hit him, as he watched his wife's wide smile and beaming face as she conversed joyously with those her held most dear – they had done it. They had given Hyrule the peace it so desperately deserved after all this time. This was now the age of tranquillity, and all across Hyrule the people would be able to safely indulge in a life free of calamity, a life of true domesticity.

#Regretting this already #Legend of Zelda #Zelink #I'm going to hide now #May delete later #Zelink fic #zelinkweek #AoC #age of calamity

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jaskiersvalley · 4 years

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Miri fucks

Nonnie. My beautiful Nonnie. You are so right. Miri does fuck. I mean, have you seen the Young Vesemir card in the Gwent game (someone please teach me how to play, I am losing so bad in it every time)? All I can say is that Vesemir had game both young and old. This fic idea came about thanks to Novigrad Market on Discord, you could always come and join the fun!

Vesemir’s Bedroom and Other Mysteries

The arrival of Guxart wasn’t unexpected as such. However, everything else that came with it was a surprise. The two old Witchers had only gone into the kitchen for their reunion and nobody knew or even wanted to guess which of them had squealed like that. In a way it didn’t matter because the joy in that sound was so pure, it wiped away everything else. Three minutes later, Vesemir and Guxart re-emerged from the kitchen, smiles barely hidden.

“We ought to welcome the newest arrivals with some food,” Vesemir declared, pretending as though nothing was out of the ordinary. As if his fingers weren’t linked with Guxart’s.

“Please tell me you still know the recipe of your special sauce!” Guxart actually sighed at the thought, much to Aiden’s discomfort. He wasn’t used to seeing his mentor look so, well, lovestruck.

Even worse, Vesemir snickered. “I remember the recipe for all my special sauces. The key is to use the left hand.”

Lambert clapped hands over his ears while Eskel stared into the distance, trying desperately to erase those words from his mind. It had nothing to do with being a Witcher sadly, having heard those words clearly regardless of enhanced hearing so he couldn’t even curse his mutations for subjecting him to such things.

All too quickly everyone was settled around the table which heaved under the amount of food on offer. Without a doubt it would all disappear into hungry bellies in record time but it was still an impressive amount of food.

“So, Miri-” Guxart grinned as he piled up his plate, happy to be interrupted.

“I haven’t been called that in decades.” Vesemir looked nostalgic and soft. “It’s good to hear it again.”

Repeating himself, Guxart looked ever so please, “So, Miri, tell me, do you finally have a bedroom?”

It was a weird as fuck question and Jaskier cleared his throat before speaking. “Did you not always have a bedroom?” He turned to Geralt. “I thought this keep was so big, every witcher had a room of their own for the winter.”

“They did.” Geralt glanced to Eskel, looking for some backup. “Wasn’t Vesemir’s room destroyed in the sacking?”

There was no denying the absolutely delighted way in which Guxart leaned in to watch the conversation. “Oh was it now?” He yelped as someone pointedly kicked him under the table. It only served to fuel his mischief more. “See, the way I heard it straight from the Wolf’s mouth, he didn’t have a bedroom, didn’t need one.”

“I don’t understand,” Lambert said faintly. He didn’t want to understand because the implications were more than he could cope with.

“What Guxy means,” Vesemir announced, “was that I always had a bed somewhere in the keep. I never spent a night alone.”

“I so badly want to high five you right now.” Jaskier looked absolutely ecstatic at the revelation. “You’re my hero.”

Lambert shook his head vehemently. “Nope. You did not. You only know which room was whose because you’re old as fuck and respect the dead.”

“I respected them on my knees while they were alive.”

Guxart laughed brightly and put an arm around Vesemir’s shoulders, giving him a happy squeeze. “That you did. So, when will you show me your bedroom. Maybe it’s my turn to not have a room?”

Food was steadily disappearing as they ate, Lambert keeping his head down and trying to pretend that everything around him was just a bad dream. When Vesemir and Guxart finally stood from the table, he squeaked out one last question.

“Everyone and every bed?”

“Yes.”

A wail of despair followed Vesemir as Lambert threw himself down onto the table. “I salvaged my bed from Rennes. My father figure fucked in my bed!”

#vesemir/guxart #vesemir #guxart #lambert #jaskier #geralt #eskel #tldr: vesemir's got game

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nightcall98 · 3 years

Text

part 4 review (spoilers)

See my (annual) doodle dump

So, in truth, the fourth part upset me less, but it didn’t really tell what I would like to know (at least about the prophecy and the curse, because I didn’t quite understand what they were about. Thanks wiki, I guess)

> Bin. I expected that she would finally awaken her magical abilities and give Dagmar a kick, but this did not happen. Abilities appeared in the last episode, and then only in a dream, meh .b Already the fourth part, but I do not notice any global changes in Bean. Even Elfo looks like a more written character than her. I understand that she wants to find herself in this world, but unfortunately this motivation looks very sluggish. Well, at least she cares about Dreamland and she's fascinated by science. For magic has really begun to bring misfortune...

>Lucy. Still a great character. Perhaps he did more for Bean and others than anyone else. I'm glad he's still with us.

>Elfo. I have to say that this is the most progressive character? His character hardened. And even despite the slight naivety, he is ready to join the battle. But not with his family. Perhaps the meeting of his father and mother (the ogre queen) is the best storyline in the whole part. And it turns out .... Elfo is the heir to the ogre throne? In any case, assuming a mixture of bloodlines, I can only hope that a taller hybrid will grow from a small elf.

>Miri. But this is already interesting. I forbade it in the first parts, and thought that in the future it could play a global role. I sometimes imagined her as a sorceress or potion maker..

>Dagmar. Am I the only one who finds it strange that she only appears at the beginning or at the end of the series? What is it for? Waiting position? Or do you just drink coffee? Lol. In any case, she now seems to me more insidious and heartless, since she does not even see Bean as a daughter, but simply a duty or an instrument for her own purposes. It looks scary, and I honestly have no idea about what kind of "evil" and "hero" she was talking about at all. If Dagmar had told Bean that all this had saved Dreamland, it would have made more sense than a mindless chase.

> Zog and knights. So let's start with this. The authors made it so that Zog was traumatized by being buried alive. But....that's not the way it is. The "trigger" was not the burial, but the death of Pendergast. And only after that he became completely ill. But no, the authors apparently thought that everyone had forgotten and it was necessary to make the first option, and no Pendergast existed at all, right? THAT'S IRONY!It feels like the authors just consigned Pendergast to oblivion, and this is not a joke. Even hell, Sky Gunderson was in Hell, but I didn't see Pendergast anywhere. Neither in heaven nor in hell. Even the slightest mention. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!? I hoped for a ghost to guide Zog in his overcoming of fear, but this did not happen. Did you just forget about a character that a certain number of viewers liked, fearing for a decline in the trinity's popularity? Great. I have nothing to say. I'm glad that Turbish and Mertz are alive.

> Other. Oona is still beautiful and so is Ursula. Now Dreamland has another heir and that's Jasper. Hope to see him adventure with Derek in the future. I don’t really like freckles, it seems to me that there is some kind of flimsy parody of Bender, I don’t know. Odval and Sorserio are now just servants as before? Seriously? I saw them as intermediate antagonists, and it's amazing that they got away with everything, and the authors simply did nothing about it (as well as with the woman who killed Pendergast).

> I dare to suggest that Dreamland is not only the land of elves (the civil war is canceled guys), but also of magical creatures in general. And no...please don't tell me that what's being built in Steamland isn't science, it's just a deal with Hell. It really devalues this whole city...

#disenchantment #disenchantment part 4 #rambles #bruh

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officialleehadan · 3 years

Text

A Little Bitter

Today's story was brought you you by Jennifer! Darling, thank you so much for all your support!

Prompt: Pride of Place with a little angst

+++

Tilly knew she shouldn’t be worried, but there was a man in the castle who gave her pause.

Oh, not because of anything he said or did to her. In fact, as far as she knew, he had no idea she even existed. No, this man was a different sort of concern.

He had come for Atteila, and could be loudly heard proclaiming his intent to wed the Royal Jewel to anyone who would listen.

More importantly, he was a prince in his own right, the younger brother to a powerful kind. A marriage to him would bring advantages that were difficult to refuse.

And he was handsome. So handsome half the castle, men and women alike, were sighing over him.

Tilly couldn’t help but look at him on the rare occasion he was in sight of the kitchens or she happened to be outside as he went past. He was smug, and rightly so. He had every advantage, and he knew it. His goal was a simple one, in his mind. All he had to do was make Atteila fall in love with him, or at least, accept his proposal.

He was a smart match. After months of evenings spent with Atteila, Tilly understood more about royal politics than she ever expected. She knew that Prince Hanver was exactly the kind of person that Atteila’s father wanted her to wed.

And when it really came down to it, even Atteila had to bow to the wishes of her king.

Just the thought of losing her to this man, this strutting peacock who only saw her beautiful, brave, strong Atteila as something to be possessed… it was more than Tilly could bear.

As always, she made up trays of treats for Atteila, but for the last week, she couldn’t bring herself to carry them up into the royal wing. It was safer, she thought, if she made it easy for Atteila. If she didn’t insist on her slight claim over the princess’s heart. After all, Tilly was just a cook. She didn’t have anything to offer a princess except pastries.

“Haven’t seen the princess around much,” Coppa said, finally accustomed to having Atteila around, learning from Tilly or tentatively gossiping with the maids as she found her feet among them. It was a change for all of them, seeing the most beautiful woman in the world, their princess, helping to peel potatoes and trading filthy limericks for bawdy jokes. “She alright?”

“Royal company,” Tilly said, since she didn’t really want to talk about it at all, but also knew that Coppa wasn’t about to go away until they talked about it, at least a little. “She can’t be sneaking down to the kitchens to see a cook when there’s a prince in the castle.”

“Never stopped her before.”

“Her father wasn’t considering a marriage before.”

And there it was. The heart of the problem. Tilly couldn’t say a thing about the stupid prince. He seemed like a decent sort, for a prince, even if he was a peacock. He would probably treat Atteila well, and probably wouldn’t have a problem with being a prince-consort, not a king. Tilly had no place getting between Atteila and her duty as a princess.

Coppa made a small sound of understanding. They all knew the stories of the people who were stupid enough to fall in love with nobility. Sooner or later, there was a choice to be made.

“Message for you.”

Whatever Tilly might have said died in her throat at the sight of the stone-faced footman. He proffered the letter to her, and Tilly took it numbly. He nodded once and left without another word, pride clearly offended to have been sent down to the kitchens with a message for a cook. There was only one person who could sent a footman wherever she liked. Tilly didn’t need to open the letter to know it was from Atteila.

“Good luck,” Coppa murmured as Tilly dusted her hands off on her apron and cracked open the seal to read her letter.

“I miss you,” the letter said simply. There was no signature, and the wax seal bore no mark, but Tilly knew Atteila’s crisp handwriting well. Her heart broke at the simple words. It was a request, although Atteila certainly could have commanded her, and she would have had to reply. This, however, this was a plea. The kind that Atteila would never make to anyone she couldn’t trust completely.

Her work was mostly done, pastries baked, custards cooling in the ice chest. She could spare a few hours before supper. After all, who would protest a summons from the princess herself?

“I’ll be back in a bit,” she told Coppa, who nodded, only a little dubious of her poor judgement. Tilly couldn’t blame him. “Keep an eye on Miri, yeah? I think she’s been inching pastries when I’m not looking.”

“I’ll watch for it. Go on. Pass on our greetings if you get the chance.”

There was nothing more to be said, so Tilly stopped at her room to scrub the flour from her hands and face, and change into a clean dress that wasn’t stained with the day’s labors. Once she was presentable, she stopped back into the kitchen for Atteila’s tray of goodies, lovingly prepared as always, and headed up through the castle. The footmen knew her, knew that she was permitted up here in open view, but she felt the weight of their stares anyway. Most days, she could ignore them. Today, those stares threatened to make her stumble.

Atteila’s door opened barely a moment after her knock, and she was suddenly confronted with the face of the woman who held her heart.

“I wondered if you would come,” Atteila said hesitantly as she let Tilly in and closed the door behind her. “I didn’t… has something happened? You’ve been avoiding me all week.”

There were a dozen questions hidden in her voice, and a plea, as well, as desperate as the one in Tilly’s pocket. How strange, Tilly thought, and set the tray on the table without meeting Atteila’s eyes. How strange to be the one to see the truth, when Atteila was usually the clever one between them.

“Prince Hanver is a good man,” she said glumly, resigned to having a conversation she would have preferred to avoid. A broken heart was bad. Having to explainher broken heart to the woman she loved was far, far worse. “He’s respectful to the girls, treats his horses well, and doesn’t seem to have a mean bone in his body. Not much brain, either, but he’s so pretty that probably doesn’t matter much.”

Understanding washed over Atteila, so clear that Tilly could see it in the brilliant blue of her eyes and the way her lips parted in a silent oh.

And then she took two steps forward, cupped Tilly’s face between her soft palms, and kissed her like she meant to make up for all the missed kisses of the last week in a single go. Tilly, always at the mercy of her beloved princess, couldn’t help but kiss her back, desperate for this one last taste of her love.

“I am not marrying Hanver,” Atteila whispered when the need for air forced them apart. There were tears in her eyes, but a tentative smile graced her lips, her lip-color smudged from a baker’s dozen kisses. It took Tilly a moment to gather up her mind, but hope, tiny and fragile, bloomed in her heart when Atteila’s words made it through. “I told my father that I will rule alone or not at all. I will have no man at my side, no matter how fine his prospects.”

“You can do that?” Tilly asked in stunned wonder. Atteila stroked a delicate finger over Tilly’s braids and kissed her again, slow and sweet. “The whole castle knows he’s here for you.”

“My heart is taken completely,” Atteila whispered to her, their foreheads pressed together. “You must know how dearly I love you, my sweet lady. You ask nothing of me, and I find myself desperate to give you everything in return.”

The look in her eyes was one that Tilly knew suddenly, completely, would never be seen anyone else. There was no mask. No crystal perfection. No elegance. Just Atteila, hoping that Tilly loved her back.

“I love you,” she whispered between kisses to Atteila’s lips, her fingers tangled with her princess’s and clasped tight. “I love you so much that the thought of losing you wrecked me. Can you forgive me for not trusting you?”

“There is nothing to forgive,” Atteila hurried to tell her, now smiling as she pulled Tilly closer still. “But I would have you stay, if you can. I have missed you this last week, and I cannot bring myself to let you far from my side just yet.”

+++

Pride of Place :

Strawberry Roses

Orange Bubbles (Subscriber Only!)

Wine Shower

In Hot Water(Subscriber Only!)

Under Orange Blossoms

A Little Bitter (NEW)

+++

MASTERLIST

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caitlinsfandomthoughts · 3 years

Text

Watching Star Trek TOS For the First Time! Season 1 Reaction

I’ve been a TNG, DS9 and Voyager fan for maybe 10 years but had never watched TOS until I decided that I would. And then I realised I couldn’t live with the possibility of the internet not being able to know my incoherent rambling reactions if it so desired. Most of these were written the day after I saw them but with the early ones it was later so sorry if I don’t remember your favourite.

Season 1:

The Cage: Be still my beating heart why must number 1 leave the show? Why?! Imagine a world in which Majel Barrett got to continue to be her in the Star Trek universe instead of Lwuxana (sorry I don’t love her) and Nurse Chapel. She’s so beautiful I love her. And she gets to where pants and be the second in command. While the episode for sure has sexist moments it does seem like there was more of an actual effort to present to future as having gender equality. When you compare this to the ultra mini skirted version of the actual show, it does feel like executives went through it to make it more marketable. It’s been noted by others that she is quite similar to what Spock’s character became: the cold, logical one, while Spock smiles in this episode. While I ended up loving Spock I still would’ve loved to see a woman in that kind of role, especially in the 60s. Although I’m not sure she would’ve been treated that well.

So Vina can’t like, get medical treatment from Starfleet doctors who know how to put a human body together? No? We’re just gonna leave her there? She’s too ugly? She’s better off living in a fantasy world where she’s pretty? Ok then…

The Man Trap: I don’t even really remember this one so I’d have to rewatch it.

Charlie X: Charlie sees women and becomes an incel, Kirk has to try and teach him not to be. This is a decent goal that somehow culminates in a space boxing match. Kirk loses his shirt. Sexual tension is presumably resolved. Uhura sings.

Where No Man Has Gone Before: The pants are back. Man becomes some kind of god and Kirk beats him up if I remember correctly.

The Naked Time: This is where The Naked Now comes from. This one was less sexual, which is probably a good thing, and less drunk, which is too bad cause I love drunk Crusher and Picard trying to focus on work while their brains won’t brain. Highly relatable mood. This one is where the immortal line “sorry, neither” comes from, spoken by Uhura in response to Sulu calling her a “fair maiden.” According to the internet that was an ad lib and I so hope that’s true cause it’s amazing. Also according to Spock Sulu is a “swashbuckler at heart” which is cool and all but I wish we got to find that out by him actually being a character that we know the personality of rather than a background diversity guy who gets to say a couple of lines sometimes. Also each to their own but shirtless Sulu is infinitely more attractive than shirtless Kirk.

The Enemy Within: Bad. Women at Warp podcast said it best, it’s bad because they say the evil Kirk is still Kirk and is needed for him to be a good captain/person. This could’ve been ok if he didn’t do something so irredeemable, or they could’ve not had him be defined as a true and necessary part of Kirk, but you can’t have both and sell it as an ok message. Rand not being able to look at ‘good’ Kirk after really makes it feel real, her acting in general makes it feel too real.

Mudd’s Women: Women take beauty pills that make them have makeup on and men find them too ugly to marry without them even though they are still beautiful. Also said women were kinda slaves but don’t worry about it! *hand waves*

What Are Little Girls Made Off: I don’t know what the title has to do with the episode. This is the episode where Nurse Chapel is introduced even though she was in a previous episode. And she’s taken more seriously than I thought she would be. Kirk gets an android version of himself made by a guy who he already doesn’t trust and doesn’t predict that maybe that’s not a good idea. Apparently to make an android all you need to do is put one person and one dummy on a giant plate and spin them around real fast. If only the guy who wanted to take apart Data in Measure of a Man knew.

Miri: Problematic. I think the crush angle could’ve worked if it was one sided, but Kirk played into it and it was creepy, and you know, also manipulative, assuming Kirk doesn’t actually feel the same way and is using it to get her to help them. That’s my more charitable interpretation anyway. Also McCoy doesn’t know how vaccines work. Also this episode doesn’t know what puberty is, or rather when it starts. If the virus is supposed to get to you then, that starts round the preteen age. Miri is older than that even though she’s not an adult.

Dagger of the Mind: This was the first one where I was starting to quite like it and it was feeling a little more like Star Trek to me (I know this is the first Star Trek but there’s a certain way 80s/90s era Star Trek feels to me). I really liked the beginning where it was setting up this whole maybe prisoners become violent because of how the prison treats them thing and that it was challenging the viewpoints of some of the main characters, although McCoy was already team prisons are bad and I love him for that. It then went more into the lobotomising asylum type story which was still ok. The guy turned out to be a doctor rather than a prisoner which I didn’t like cause I wanted the prisoners to be humanised. Although you could’ve done a “see anyone, even ‘innocent’ non criminals can be turned violent with this treatment” but they didn’t really emphasise that.

The Corbomite Maneuver: I don’t remember this. Kirk playing poker with some alien I think. Edit: I’m been informed this is the one where the alien turns out to be a lollypop guild kid lip-syncing to an adult’s voice, which I do remember, and probably thought it was some kind of sleep-deprived fever dream.

The Menagerie Part 1 & 2: I laughed so much when they wheeled Pike out and I finally got the Futurama reference in Where No Fan Has Gone Before. I mean I obviously knew the whole thing was a Star Trek Reference, but I had never seen that specific imagery before and now the joke makes sense! Also Pike wanting to go back there seems kinda wrong. I mean they say he’s a vegetable mentally I think but he doesn’t seem to be? I can kinda get that he’s got more incentive to be there than Vina who could probably be helped by Federation doctors but also, he hated that place and spent the whole episode trying to get out of it and it doesn’t feel like a fitting ending for him.

The Conscious of the King: And here begins Star Trek’s love affair with Shakespeare. The only thing I have to say really is, if I didn’t mishear something… a father and daughter played Macbeth and Lady Macbeth? A married couple. And no-one thought that was weird? She was the daughter of a dictator though so there was an Ivanka Trump vibe.

Balance of Terror: Romulans. Spock wasn’t sure that they were related to Vulcans till this ep, though he suspected it. How far back did they split for it to be unknown? I like that the Romulans were sympathetic and we had scenes with them just in their ship from their perspective, and they had some conflicting views with each other. And I really like how Spock was suspected as a spy cause racism and of course he wasn’t and saved that guy cause he’s the better person. That said I found this episode pretty boring and I don’t know why. I kinda wish it turned into a witchhunt situation and was more about the racism on the Enterprise, kinda like The Drumhead from TNG.

Shore leave: Wtf was this episode?! And I don’t ask that because the white rabbit from Alice in Wonderland showed up, or that it was a random holodeck planet episode, that’s fine. When the White Rabbit appeared I was just like, ok it’s going to be one of those episodes, that’s fine. Holodeck episodes are fun, I don’t even mind a random magic alien or two appearing for no reason to wreak havoc, say by making everyone larp as Robin Hood, that’s all Star Trek, that’s Star Trek doing a Star Trek, what I didn’t like is this episode goes nowhere! McCoy sees the White Rabbit, we’re off to a good start, Sulu “Swashbuckler at Heart” sees an old gun that he geeks out on, cool. Kirk sees some woman of course. Also there’s some guy fending off a tiger. Random female guest star of the week rather than letting Uhura be part of the story gets her uniform torn by some guy. Then she imagines a princess dress and if that were me as soon as I realised I could think things into existence I would just imagine all my dream clothes. Kirk imagines an old student friend who is attempting very hard to be Irish (thank you Colm Meany for saving us from this).

Anyway so the planets a holodeck cool. And I’m like, Spock should beam down, I wanna know what he’ll see, this is where the episode could get interesting. And then it happens, but nothing happens, they don’t even make much of a deal of him not seeing anything. But then I thought what if! What if Spock didn’t beam down and this was another imagination?! What if he was some alien with some ulterior motive OR better than that we get to see Spock as imagined by whoever was thinking of him. You could go down a very fanfic road if it were Kirk’s imagined or desired view of him, or maybe you could show different people’s perceptions and then they still suspect he’s not acting like himself even though it’s how they see him, but its not quite right, cause it’s not actually how he is. Or at least I thought they were going to find out what was going on. But NOPE none of that happens. Instead leprechaun guy shows up again and Kirk just wonders off to fight him for the next fucking millennium! The uniforms they wore at the academy seem like they were made out of better quality material than that of a Starfleet captain’s. Poor Kirk must be having to replicate new uniforms every other day. Then they laugh I think, and sexual tension is presumably resolved. Then the aliens show up and are like yeah this planet is a holodeck we thought you’d like it also McCoy died but he didn’t and I’m like THEY DIDN’T CONSENT TO THIS. But then they decide to party.

It reminded me of a Red Dwarf episode called Better Than Life where they knowingly go into a virtual reality game which is basically the same as this planet. But over time Rimmer keeps sabotaging what he imagines cause he hates himself so much his brain won’t let him have nice things. And it’s still a comedy, but there’s an opportunity for exploring the character’s psyche with this setup that wasn’t done here and that made it boring.

The Galileo Seven: This episode was good!! In contrast to the last one it delivered on promises it made, it had a satisfying ending, it’s probably my favourite so far. The whole time I was like this should be about how Spock can be wrong and logic isn’t everything to be a good commander. But given the quality of the previous episodes wasn’t that great and Spock was always right about everything I didn’t trust them to do that. BUT I WAS WRONG. I thought it would be about how just because you don’t have emotions doesn’t mean you can disregard those of the crew. But instead it was about how he couldn’t predict their enemy wouldn’t act based on emotion rather than logic. And then he admitted he was wrong and helped the guy bury the other guy, and then they were about to die and McCoy was like at least I’ve lived to hear Spock say he fucked up. And then Spock jettisoned the fuel so that it might act like a flare but it gave them less time and I was like no you’ve learned nothing! Don’t just do things that severe without asking your crew. But then after they were saved it was described as an act of desperation rather than anything logical and Kirk was like that’s an emotion isn’t it? You acted on emotion? And Spock was like well yes but I’m not gonna say it like that.

I like that emotion was good actually. I think it’s a fine balance between the message of its ok to be different and using Spock as an analogy for racism, and inadvertently neurodiversity, but also not buying into the idea that emotions = weakness and lack of emotion, or emotional repression = objectivity. Even if you don’t factor emotion into your decisions (which would be impossible unless you don’t experience emotions at all) it doesn’t mean that you don’t have personal biases in your perspective. So I’m glad Spock was wrong for once.

The Squire of Gothos: This is Q this is Proto-Q. He does all the same things that Q does; he shows up in clothes that are way out of date (and he thinks they’re from 900 years ago when they’re clearly early 19th century) and he flirts with the captain. Oh and he has powers, maybe they were computer powers, but not all? And he goes on about humans being brutal, warmongering people but he’s kinda into it. He fights Kirk but there was actual tension so it wasn’t annoying like the one with the Irish guy. And then it turns out he was just a kid exactly like the Futurama episode, except he is a kid not 35. I think him being a kid makes the flirting seem weird though.

Arena: Kirk and the Gorn at Tanagra. Kirk fights a lizard because aliens wanted to encourage them to not fight by telling them to fight. I thought maybe these lizards could be proto Cardassians but then I thought they can’t be they don’t talk, but then he spoke so I thought they could be, but then he was the one who was invaded and was only defending his people so I thought they couldn’t be, unless that was actually just lies and justifications in which case they definitely would be, but then that would undermine the message of the episode so I guess not. I wonder how many leaders have killed each other before these alien’s negotiation tactic actually worked.

Tomorrow is Yesterday: This was fun. There were a lot of twists and turns. I wonder if it was before or after the moonlanding. Every plan just makes it worse and more and more people keep getting exposed to the future. Kirk could’ve easily just closed the door and beamed back at the end but instead opts to punch like six people. (I think this is where “a woman?” “Crewman.” Comes from).

Court Martial: What if Kirk actually did it though? Would that be more interesting? Maybe. At least here he has an age appropriate love interest. She’s prosecuting against him which is surely a conflict of interest. AND she has a uniform with a longer skirt! And it actually looks good, like it looks like an actual dress that she can sit down in and it still looks like a dress and not a crumpled up shirt. It’s elegant but it’s still short. I could see this being an option (for any gender) as a dress uniform but it would still make no sense when they’re serving on a ship.

Return of the Archons: I am LIVING for Spock in a medieval style hood. It’s giving me Peter Cook in a Mother Superior’s wimple in Bedazzled vibe, it’s not quite on that level of beauty, but it’s close. For some reason Sulu returned from the planet in 18th century gear but then everyone else is dressed like it’s the 19th century, with some medieval robes thrown in, and this annoys me more than it should. Maybe it’s because he’s a swashbuckler at heart. Apparently they had a completely peaceful society except for the nightly purge they seemed to have going on that is never mentioned again.

Space Seed: KHHANN! I liked this a lot until the end. I want to know the lore behind Data’s Dad having his middle and last name. Edit: Actually only the middle name is the same and the last name is just similar. I still think there’s lore there (excuse the pun), probably he’s a descendent of his cult followers or something. The story seemed to be eugenics bad and also the type of guy to basically be a eugenics cult leader would be super manipulative and abusive but just charming enough in a relationship. It does a pretty good job of showing the abuse in his relationship with the historian woman, how he switches between being loving and I guess charming, and flattering to being abusive and degrading. I wish that the historian woman could find someone that she can explore domination and submission with consensually cause that seems like it would be what she really wants. Anyway but in the end they just let him go? Like he tried to take over the ship but they were like here have a colony. They compared the place to Australia when the colonists arrived at Botany Bay and that it could be... I forget what the word was but basically ‘civilised’ and No NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO STOP RIGHT THERE NO Australia was already populated and didn’t need eugenicist cult leaders who were demonstrably bad to show up make it ‘better.’ AND THEN the historian is given the choice to go with them and she does and its framed like it’s good? Or at least ok? When they just did a pretty decent job of showing how abusive and manipulative he was and she had redeemed herself by turning against him? So I get that they probably wanted to bring him back although they’re probably not gonna bring her back, but they could’ve easily had him escape instead.

A Taste of Armageddon: Suicide machines. I forget the rest.

This Side of Paradise: SEX POLLEN! Well it’s more fall in love pollen, I guess, for one character. There’s a woman and there’s the music and the soft focus and BUT WAIT then the camera cuts to Spock not Kirk! Because she has taste. It’s about this point that I think the ‘Spock’s the most popular but Shatner wants to remain the star so we’ll emphasise their character’s relationship thus inadvertently inventing slash fic’ might’ve started. It’s time for a love triangle! She makes Spock get the sex pollen, which is not getting consent, and then he falls in love with her and is climbing trees and is all happy. Kirk can’t get a text back from Spock. Then Kirk and two others get the pollen except Kirk didn’t, but he did, but anyway I thought everyone would be horny but they weren’t they were just brainwashed. Soon Kirk is all alone on the bridge, then he gets the pollen and is happy to live as a poly triad but then he gets angry and it’s gone. Then he calls Spock to the ship and approaches the situation in the only way Kirk knows how: Homoerotic punching! So they fight for not long enough and then Spock is cured but he’s a little sad, there’s sadness in his voice, it’s not quite so matter of fact. Then Spock’s gf gets sad and the sex pollen is gone too, Spock might still have feelings for her but he has responsibilities to the ship and “to that man on the bridge” which if he was saying to just mean once again the whole ship, and its mission and the captain in a professional sense, seems a little redundant, which would surely be illogical.

The colonists get sad that they haven’t done anything for years because the sex pollen made them unambitious but I would argue maybe the sex pollen was right and you were better off just vibing. This episode was more interesting and less silly than I thought the creator of sex pollen would be. At the end Spock says that for the first time in his life he was happy. While every other character could still easily become addicted to a thing like that they could at least know they would experience happiness or any feelings again in their life, for Spock it was going back to nothingness.

Devil in the Dark: Spock calls Kirk Jim which I don’t think he has before, when he’s talking over the communicator and he’s worried he’s in danger, there’s some actual fear or urgency in his voice. Also the moment that got me was when Kirk wanted to send Spock back the ship cause he didn’t trust him to kill the creature and Spock was like “but… I’m not really as useful there I am here… so…” If I was writing it I would’ve played that up more but anyway, I like that they didn’t kill the creature. I like that McCoy said the thing. And also said “I’m starting to think I can cure a rainy day.” He’s my favourite.

Errand of Mercy: It’s kinda becoming the Kirk Spock show now, I like the ship but I miss McCoy. I like that the passive pacifists who Kirk was so angry with were actually more powerful. And KLINGONS! Oh yeah the orientalism, the yellow peril, it’s… it’s there all right. They were played a lot colder here, a little Cardassian maybe, still bloodthirsty but I don’t believe this guy has to do it himself to feel honourable, he can kill for sure but he’s fine ordering someone else to do it and being a chessmaster too.

The Alternative Factor: God this one was boring. But it does have a man with the worst beard wig I’ve ever seen. Now he’s stuck fighting the bad version of himself or something to save the universe. So remember that when you’re watching later Trek series, all of this could suddenly be destroyed if one of them gets tired.

The City on the Edge of Forever: UHURA GETS TO GO ON AN AWAY MISSION! Aaaand she doesn’t get to do anything :/ The usual three go back in time! To the 60s again! Oh wait… that’s meant to be the 30s? Oh. That’s some tall hair that lady has for the 30s. But at least said lady is a character, she’s a little perfect but she does things, she has strong beliefs, she might be written a little idealised, but she is still written like a person compared to almost every other Kirk love interest. “He says it (captain) even when he doesn’t say it” is an interesting line. So she has to die, I still think they could’ve just convinced her that you don’t make friends with fascists but ok. They never say what the Clark Gable movie is.

Operation Annihilate! Kirk’s brother dies, and so does his sister in law, leaving his nephew without parents. This is never resolved and the episode ends with them laughing about how Spock got his eyesight back.

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wwhbtsjin · 4 years

Text

My Best Friend’s Sister

My Best Friends Sister

Genre: Angst/Fluff

Pairing: Namjoon x Reader

Word Count: 7.2k

A/N: Wow this one took me a while. But I’m hoping to grow this account more, so thank you for showing love already!!

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“Oppa!” You squealed as you ran into the practice room where seven sweaty boys all sat around just relaxing, “I brought food!”

“Which one of us got food?” All seven heads popped up and looked right at you.

You pointed at Jin, “My brother duh!! And Jungkook Oppa!”

You were Kim Seokjin’s little sister. The one he treasured beyond words. He was so protective of you, it seemed as if no boy would be approved by him. The only one he would allow you to date is Jungkook since he took such great care of you. But you didn’t see Jungkook in that way, you two were more like two peas in a pod. When you and Jungkook met, you discovered that you two were only a week apart, so you both used that as your reason to be as close as you are now.

However, the one you had eyes for was the closest member to your brother, Kim Namjoon, otherwise known as RM the leader of BTS. You knew damn well Jin wouldn’t allow that. But you also knew damn well that he had feelings for you. But it was too hard to tell if he knew about your feelings for him.

“I am the adopted brother,” Jungkook took the box of food from you, “I am appreciative of the sister I wish I had!” He kissed your forehead and then walked away with the food.

Jin took the other box from you, “Thank you little sister! Do you want to stay for awhile and I’ll bring you home?”

You nodded, “Sure!”

It wasn’t odd for you to spend so much time with the boys. Everyone had a special connection with you. J-Hope loved to dance with you, Yoongi loved that you would always cook meat for him, Jimin loved to play videogames with you, Taehyung loved watching movies with you and well Jungkook, he’s your partner in crime. But when it came to Namjoon, he loved it when you were around in general. You lit up the room everytime you came in. Your laugh was infectious. Your hugs always made him feel relaxed. And he loved that you were accepting of him for who he genuinely was, Kim Namjoon who is a destructive beast, lovable, but mainly destructive.

Currently you were sitting with Jungkook, sharing earbuds, and watching videos of puppies doing funny things. Everyone else was just lounging around the room, by the looks of it, they were done with practice for the day.

“What are you two watching?” A deep voice came from behind you and you turned around to find Namjoon towering above the two of you from behind the couch. A light blush came to your cheeks when you saw him.

God he’s so handsome… And he was just in shorts and a tshirt.

“Puppy videos hyung,” Jungkook held up the phone, “Doesn’t this look like Miri from that run episode?”

Without taking his eyes off of you and you not escaping his gaze, he responded to Jungkook, “Mhm.”

God this man had eyes that you can so easily get sucked into. They were so deep, but beautiful. His profile was so...prince like. Honestly, you couldn’t find anything wrong with him. The way he just stared at you, it made you melt.

“Umm guys?” Jungkook was snapping his fingers in between the two of you, “Hello?”

You snapped out of it right away and your cheeks flushed pink, “Sorry Oppa! Were you saying something?” Not even Jungkook knew about your feelings towards Namjoon. You heard him chuckle behind you and walk away.

“What was that about?” Jungkook raised an eyebrow.

“Nothing,” you leaned on him, “Can we continue puppy videos please?”

The look Jungkook gave you meant that you guys were definitely talking later. You weren’t off the hook with this one. Little did you know, all the members just saw what happened, including your brother. You couldn’t see it from where you were sitting, but Jin’s knuckles were turning white and his face red, because he knew exactly what was up.

You spent the next couple of hours just chilling with Jungkook and the boys as they got ready to call it a day at Big Hit. You yawned and stretched when suddenly someone poked your sides, which was your weakest spot.

“Yah!” You turned around thinking it would be Jungkook or your brother, but it wasn't. In front of you stood Yoongi and Namjoon. His eyes trapping you yet again.

“What are you doing for the rest of the evening?” Yoongi asked, “Want to come over to eat some meat with us? I’ll buy it if you cook!”

You couldn’t resist eating meat with Yoongi. Even though the food was always good, Yoongi always put on a show every time he ate meat cause he just loved it so...damn...much.

You looked over at your brother who was talking to Jimin, back at Yoongi and Namjoon, your brother again and then you smiled, “Sure why not! I’m sure my brother is more comfortable knowing I’m at his apartment then walking the streets of Seoul by myself,” you turned to your brother, “Oppa!” you shouted from across the room, “Guess who’s coming over for dinner!”

“Not you!” he mocked you at the same time you called out to him, “Wait are you really?”

“Yep! Yoongi Oppa and Namjoon Oppa asked me too!”

“That means we can play more video games!” You heard Jimin cheer from your brother's side.

“Yah! She’s coming over because she agreed to cook for ME.” Yoongi playfully kicked Jimin leaving you with Namjoon.

“I’m glad you’re coming over,” he said as he watched the two boys play fight, “It’s always a good time when you’re around.”

“I missed being with all you Oppas while you guys were on tour. I’ll take every chance I can get,” you smiled warmly at him, “You guys all make me happy. Especially you Namjoon Oppa!” You skipped away and linked arms with your brother as you guys made your way out of the building and too the vans.

In the car you sat in the back row with your brother and Namjoon in between the two of you siblings. You yawned as you looked at the night skyline of Seoul past the windows. Car rides always relaxed you, and being with your most favorite people made you content.

“Namjoon look at this,” Jin held out his phone, “What if I ate this for the next Eat Jin episode?” It was a picture of some Filipino delicacy called Dinuguan.

But before Namjoon could answer, he was caught by surprise when he felt your head fall onto his shoulder, you had fallen asleep. You were snoring quietly, one earbud hanging out of your ear while the other stayed in.

“Aw, she’s so cute. I wanna squish her cheeks.” Hobi said as he turned around to look at you and Namjoon.

Namjoon smiled warmly and moved your hair out of your face so that way it wouldn’t fall into your slightly parted open mouth. He took your other earbud that was hanging and put it in your ear because he thought your music would help you have a calm and peaceful sleep. Namjoon totally ignored the hyung next to him who was waiting for an answer, with his mouth hanging open, anger slowly fueling in the pit of his stomach.

Jin smacked Namjoon and angrily, but quietly, whispered, “Yah! Watch your hands!”

“Hyung relax,” Namjoon didn’t take his eyes off of you, he smiled warmly at your sleeping face, “She’s really comfortable. I’ll wake her up when we get back home.”

But there was no way Jin was comfortable with Namjoon being this way towards you. He was wishing that it was Jungkook instead of Namjoon who was loving and affectionate towards you.

“She’s really adorable when she’s like this, hyung how come you’re not like that?” Namjoon mocked Jin earning another smack from him.

“I’m serious, watch your hands on my sister and watch what you say about her.”

“Hyung relax!” you hear Taehyung from the front of the van, “It’s not like he’s hurting or trash talking her! Why are you suddenly being so anal about it?”

But before Jin could answer, they arrived back home.

Namjoon nudged you softly, “Hey (Y/N), we’re home, wakeup.”

You yawned and rubbed your eye, half awake you looked right at Namjoon, “Did I fall asleep Oppa?”

“Yup and you drooled ALLLLLL OVERRRR my shoulder.” Namjoon thought it would be fun to tease you because the reaction he got out of you, well he wished he recorded it.

“E-EH?????” Your eyes widened and you quickly patted his shoulder with a napkin you had in your bag, “W-wait...it’s dry...you’re teasing me again!” You pouted and turned away from Namjoon.

“If you two are done here, I would like to get out of the car, please and thank you.” Your older brother said bitterly from behind Namjoon.

You kept your playful pout and hopped out of the car before linking arms with your best friend, “Oppaaa~ Joonie Oppa is teasing me again!”. You only called him Joonie every now and then, but everytime you did, his heart would melt.

“Can I join in the teasing?” Jungkook flicked your forehead, “Oppaaaa~ Aish, you’re so full of energy every time you wake up from a nap.” He mocked your voice playfully.

You pouted again and ran to Yoongi, “Oppa they’re being mean to me, can we eat now?”

Yoongi flashed his gummy smile at you, “Yes! I am hungry!” he cheered as he dragged you inside their dorm.

You sat down in the kitchen, “Yoongi Oppa are you gonna buy meat?”

He opened the fridge and pulled out a bunch of pre packaged trays of various meats waiting to be cooked, “I kinda expected that you were gonna come when Jin hyung told us you would be stopping by today. So I had this express delivered,” he plopped them down on the counter, “Both you and your brother are great cooks.”

“Which is why I’ll be helping her today,” Jin came into the kitchen rolling up the sleeves of his hoodie, “It’ll be nice to spend some quality time with my sister.” He wrapped his arm around your shoulder protectively and you guys both flashed the same bright smile.

“Even better,” Yoongi began to walk out of the kitchen, “Seems like my services won’t be needed today”.

“Yeah but you’re on cleaning duty. This was your idea.” Jin began unpackaging the meat while you prepared the various types of marinades.

Soon enough it was just you and your older brother in the kitchen preparing the food. It may have been silent, but you knew something was bugging your brother. You could just tell with those sibling instincts.

“(Y/N),” he paused after setting some meat on the stove, “I know you’re growing into a woman, and if you ever fall for someone, I want to know about them first before you bring them to meet me, hyung and our parents ok?”

You nodded, “What brings this up Oppa?” Could he tell that you had feelings for Namjoon? What was he thinking? Were you that obvious? Did Namjoon tell him that he likes you?

You heard shuffling in the hallway in front of the kitchen but you assumed it was one of the boys just running from the room to the living room. You placed some samgyeopsal on the pan and turned towards your brother, “Are you okay Oppa?”

“No. I actually am not” he set down his chopsticks and turned towards you, “How would you feel if your best friend liked your sibling?”

“Well my best friend is Jungkook Oppa… we know their family well. I would be fine with it.” You shrugged. You knew where he was getting with this, well at least you thought you did.

“Okay not Jungkook. Let’s say someone like Juggyeong from back home, how would you feel if she liked me?” He turned back to the pan and stirred some of the meat in there.

“I would 100% support. Juggyeong Unnie is a great girl. I wouldn't mind. Why do you ask? Does she like you?” You were secretly hoping that this story was true and that he wasn’t suspecting anything between you and Namjoon. You know your brother's habits and you weren’t sure exactly how he would react in this situation.

“No. That story was fake, the situation was real, but the story was fake.”

“I’m so confused,” you slid the now cooked samgyeopsal onto a plate and began to cook the brisket, “I really am.”

“Namjoon likes you…”

The room was silent. In your mind you were screaming, you already knew he liked you, but the fact that your brother knows, means he really really likes you. But the fact that your brother was also acting like this shows that he wasn’t approving of it.

“And I don’t approve of this…” he continued on, “I know you like him too. It’s obvious by the way you two act with each other. I don’t approve of it one bit.”

There it was. Your heart dropped hearing those words come out of your brother's mouth. Your brother meant the world to you but the fact that he was talking about this, you knew he wasn’t kidding. He’s serious.

“I- Oppa... “ you looked down trying to hold your tears in, “B-but why?”

“Yes Hyung, why?” You heard Namjoon’s voice at the doorway of the kitchen, “Why don’t you approve of our feelings for each other?” His voice was deep, and serious. His eyes were dark but longing for an answer.

You stood there silently just prepping up the remainder of the food. You suddenly lost energy to speak.

But at least Namjoon knew you liked him.

“You’re my sister,” Jin never looked up from the pan he was working on, “You’re my best friend. Do you think that would work exactly? No. No it won’t. I won’t let it happen.”

“Oppa...I really do like Namjoon Oppa. I care for him a lot.” You said quietly as tears slowly streamed down your face. You really wanted to be with Namjoon, but you also really wanted to make your brother happy and proud of you.

Namjoon saw you and started making his way over to you. He wanted to comfort you, but Jin stepped in the way, “Remember what I said in the car. Watch your boundaries with my sister. I don’t want her getting hurt.”

“Hyung,” Namjoon’s voice started growing louder, “Look. If nobody comforts her, she’s going to end up getting more hurt.”

“That won’t happen if I’m protecting her from getting hurt!” Jin’s voice started rising too, “I’m her big brother. It’s my responsibility to make sure she doesn’t experience it!”

“Are you assuming that I would hurt her? Hyung, you know you can trust me, if I hurt her I would never be able to forgive myself!” Namjoon placed his hand on Jin’s shoulder, “Hyung please trust me on this.”

But Jin shrugged off Namjoon’s hand, “I would rather not take the chance of her getting hurt in general!”

You heard shuffling and mumbling getting closer to the kitchen, so you wanted the boys to stop arguing before things got even more out of hand. You placed a hand on your brother's shoulder but before he could say anything he pushed you off, “You know, you know how protective I am of my sister,” he reached for Namjoon’s shirt and pulled him angrily, “Do you really think you’re going to get an okay from me?” He clenched Namjoon’s shirt in his hand.

You really didn’t like where this was going and you tried to pull your brother away from Namjoon again. But Jin pushed you a little too hard this time and you fell down and hit your head on the cabinet doors. It wasn’t hard but it definitely did hurt. And you now had tears streaming down your face.

“(Y/N)!” Both Jin and Namjoon ran in your direction but Jungkook pushed them out of the way and got to you first.

Jungkook wrapped his arms around you and was stroking the back of your head where you hit it, “Oh my god, are you okay? Does it hurt? Do you want ice?” He lifted your head to look into your eyes just to make sure you didn’t have a concussion but it was too hard for him to tell, “Do you want me to call a doctor to come and check on you?”

Jin’s heart dropped when he realized what he did to you. He turned off the stove and stooped next to Jungkook, “(Y/N)...(Y/N) I’m so sorry. I- Oppa didn’t mean it”. You could hear the sadness in his voice. His hands were shaking as he tried to reach for you.

Namjoon stooped down on the other side of Jungkook. He looked at you, eyes soft, “(Y/N)... are you alright?” His voice was caring and sweet. As much as you wanted to hop into Namjoon’s arms, you didn’t want to hurt your brother. So you decided to just keep your head hidden in Jungkook’s chest.

“Hyungs,” Jungkook helped you stand up, “I’m going to bring her to the bedroom. I think she needs some space right now”. He wrapped his arm around your shoulder and quietly walked you to the room, “I’ll call the doctor to come and check on you. It’ll be a bit but I want to make sure you don’t have a concussion. That hit sounded pretty hard”. He took out his phone and typed a message to the doctor before looking at you, “Are you feeling alright?”

Tears welled up in your eyes as you just sat on your best friend's bed, “Oppa…”

Jungkook quietly hugged you and leaned his head on top of yours, “Can you please tell me what happened? We’re best friends, we’re always open with each other. Now tell me please.”

“I like Namjoon Oppa. A lot”.

“Oh, and let me guess, he likes you too, then your brother found out… predictable Jin Hyung”. Jungkook chuckled and sat next to you, “How are you feeling though?”

“I- I don’t know. I’m confused, upset and sad all together. I knew Oppa liked me, but I’m confused at why my brother won’t let him go any further with me. I’m upset at myself for getting in between the two of them. I’m sad because Jinnie Oppa won’t approve of Namjoon and I. I want to make my brother proud and happy, but I’m afraid I’ll hurt him. But then I don’t want to break Namjoon’s heart, because if I do, I’m breaking my own too. I don’t know Kookie Oppa, I don’t want to hurt anyone but I want to be happy at the same time.” You crawled into Jungkook’s arms and cried silently. He just rubbed your back while you let everything out.

There was a quiet knock at the door and Jimin popped his head in, “The doctor’s here (Y/N)”.

Jungkook stood up and wiped your tears, “I’ll be right outside if you need me okay?”

“Check on my brother and Joonie Oppa please? And make sure you guys start eating”.

Jungkook smiled at you warmly, “You always take good care of us”.

He closed the door and left you in there with the doctor. Jungkook walked out to find the boys silently nibbling at food on the kitchen table. Namjoon was sitting on one completely opposite end of the table, away from Jin, who buried his face in his hands, barely moving, not touching his food, and the occasional sniffs because he was crying.

When Namjoon saw you enter the kitchen he shot up from his chair, “How is she? Is she okay?”

Jin slowly lifted his head, eyes puffy and red from crying. He didn’t say anything but he was waiting to hear an answer from Jungkook.

“I’m not sure if she has a concussion or not, we’ll wait to hear that from the doctor,” he took a seat next to Taehyung, “But the poor thing has so many emotions running through her right now. She’s confused as to why you won’t let her be with Namjoon Hyung. She’s upset because she wants to make Jin Hyung happy but she doesn;t want to break Namjoon Hyung’s heart, because if she did, she’s breaking hers by doing so. She doesn’t want to be selfish even though she wants to be happy. She’s sad because you two were fighting. She’s upset at herself for driving a wedge between you two” Jungkook started putting a plate together for you and for him.

“She didn’t get to eat the meat with me…” Yoongi murmured quietly.

“Not the time Hyung.” Jimin punched him in the arm.

After fixing your plate Jungkook started fixing one for himself. But just as he finished the doctor had come into the kitchen.

“How is she doing?” Namjoon walked up to the doctor.

This time Jin stood up, quietly, not saying a word. He was just waiting to hear the answer officially that he hurt you. His precious little sister. There wasn’t any way Jin could forgive himself for doing so. His hands were shaking at his sides, but Hoseok came and put a hand on his shoulder to help him calm down.

“She does have a concussion,” he handed Namjoon a paper with symptoms listed down, “I know she doesn’t live with you but I advise her to stay here for the next night or two. If she exhibits any of these symptoms within the next 48 hours, please bring her into the emergency room as soon as possible so she can receive more extensive treatment. She should still eat and make sure she drinks lots of fluids. In the case of headaches, use an ice pack or heating pad on her head for now so we can avoid the consumption of any possible blood thinners in case of a need for treatment. Make sure she gets plenty of rest and no excessive activity.”

All seven of the boys bowed to the doctor and Hoseok walked him out.

When the door closed, Jin slid down onto his knees and started crying. Namjoon walked away and locked himself in the bedroom.

“I think we should lock those two in a room until they make up.” Taehyung whispered into Yoongi’s ear.

Yoongi leaned down next to Jin and rubbed his back before guiding him over to the couch to sit down and try to cool off. Jungkook finished making your plate and walked back over to the room. He opened the door quietly to find you sitting all the way at the head of his bed, leaning your back into the wall, trying to hide in the corner. Your face was blank, but you looked completely exhausted.

“Want to eat something?” he held out the plate of meat that you helped cook, “You did a really good job cooking this, it's yummy!”

You sighed and slightly smiled, “Kookie Oppa, you’re really great you know that?”

“Oh I know, you’re blessed with the greatest best friend to ever exist, I hope you know that”, He sat next to you on the bed, placed your food in your lap and began to eat from his own plate, “I’ve always got you. We’ve done everything together, nothings gonna stop us now!” He gave you one of his signature cheeky smiles and you leaned your head on his shoulder.

“How’s Joonie Oppa?” You placed a small piece of meat in your mouth, “Is he okay?”

“He’s a little upset and sad, but he’ll be fine. He knows to give you your space,” Jungkook on the opposite hand took big chunks of his food and placed it in his mouth, “He’s currently in his room right now.”

“How’s my brother?” You fiddled with the chopstick waiting for an answer. Your brother and you have fought before, but nothing of this level, so you weren’t sure how to progress with this situation.

“In all honesty, Hyung is a mess. He’s sitting on the couch right now with Yoongi hyung trying to calm him down. You know your brother is just like this because he loves you right?” Jungkook noticed you weren’t really eating, so he took a piece of your food and ate it, “If you’re not eating your plate, I will. But Jin Hyung is being the typical older brother who wants to protect you. He doesn’t want to see you get hurt, let alone by one of his best friends. He wants you to be happy, but happy and not hurt. But he’s also having trouble accepting the fact that you’re no longer his little sister who would run around the house in little dresses anymore.”

“I... I wish he would tell me that,” you sighed and yawned, “You guys are away so much, that I guess it just kind of made my brother and I’s relationship like this”.

“Are you tired? The doctor said you should get plenty of rest, and advised you not to be alone for the next 48 hours, so I guess you're stuck with me.” He got up and pulled out one of his hoodies and a pair of basketball shorts for you to wear, “I know damn well you brought nothing with you, So you can use those and just stay with me if you don’t want to be with your brother or Namjoon Hyung right now.” Jungkook really was the best friend you needed. You were extremely grateful for him.

Jungkook walked out of the room with your guys plates and so that you could change. He walked into the kitchen, put the plates down and then walked into the living room. Jin stopped crying and he was just sitting there with that same blank face that you had in his room. He knew you left an emergency toiletries bag with him so he decided to ask where it was, “Hyung, your sister is gonna stay the night. Where’s all her things that she left with you? She’s gonna get ready for bed.”

Jin got up and quietly walked to his room that he shared with Yoongi. He opened up one of the drawers and pulled out a small bag of your things. He handed it to Jungkook and plopped onto his bed, “Do you think I can talk to her?”

Jungkook sighed, “She’s really tired right now so I’m going to stay with her until she falls asleep. Tomorrow would be better, Hyung. Let her be for the night,” he took a seat next to Jin, “But I think you should talk to Namjoon Hyung. There was major miscommunication between you two and you don’t want this to ruin the friendship.”

Jungkook walked back to his room and chuckled at the sight of you in his clothes, “Man you really are tiny because look how baggy all those clothes are!” He handed you your bag of toiletries and you walked into the bathroom. “I’ll be back!” you heard him call from behind you and he made his way to Namjoon’s room.

He knocked twice on the door before walking in. Namjoon was sitting at his desk just playing with a pen in his fingers. He eyes were sad and by the way he took each breath, Jungkook knew he was conflicted.

“Hyung,” Jungkook sat down on Namjoon’s bed, “Are you okay?” Jungkook has never seen Namjoon this depressed before.

“Did I mess up the relationship that those two siblings had?” He didn’t bother looking up from his desk, “Will hyung and I not be the same anymore? Will (y/n) distance herself from me? From both hyung and me? I don’t want to lose her. But I don’t want to lose Hyung either. I care too much for (Y/N) though to just ignore my feelings. I don’t know what to do. If I distance myself from (Y/N), I’d just end up hurting her and I don’t want that.”

“I’m glad you genuinely care for her. But I can’t give you an answer to any question you just asked. The only thing I can tell you is that you should talk to Hyung before you talk to (Y/N). She’s probably asleep now anyways.” Jungkook got up and placed a hand on Namjoon’s shoulder, “I know she would want you two to patch things before you guys work out how to go further with your relationship.”

“Go further,” Namjoon chuckled, “I haven’t even properly asked her to be my girlfriend yet.”

“That can wait, fixing your relationship with Hyung first is priority. (Y/N)’s feelings for you won’t disappear within 24 hours. She likes you too much and cares for you too much that it’ll take moving a mountain to get her to have feelings for someone else.”

Hearing those words come out of Jungkook’s mouth, Namjoon was able to crack a small smile, “Where’s Hyung right now?”

“In his room,” Jungkook walked towards the door and Namjoon got up and followed, “I’ll go check on (Y/N). Now go talk to her male counterpart.”

“Male counterpart...oh my gosh.” Hoseok chuckled as he walked down the hallway hearing that, “It’s scary but true.”

Namjoon made his way down to Jin’s room and knocked twice before going in, “Hyung,” Jin was sitting on his bed, “I think we need to talk.”

Jin didn’t protest so Namjoon took that as a sign to come in. He plopped down next to Jin and sighed, “We need to start from the very beginning. Did I do something wrong?”

Jin closed his eyes and sighed, “No. You actually didn’t. I thought it over time and time again, but you really didn’t do anything wrong.”

Namjoon sighed, “Then what happened?”

“I don’t know…” he was rubbing his temples, “I- I guess I don’t want my sister to grow up. I always want to be the one to protect her you know?”

“Hyung…” Namjoon chuckled, “She’s the same age as Jungkook, 23, not 12 anymore.”

“And look at Jungkook,” Jin let out a small laugh, “Have you seen those two together? They’re a tornado.”

“Okay that probably won’t change,” Namjoon sat up and looked at Jin seriously, “But there are so many people who want to care and protect her besides your family. Look at the way Jungkook protects her and cares for her. All of us members care for her. I want to care for her and love her. Give her everything she deserves. You acted as if you didn’t want me to care for her. You know I can’t do that hyung. My feelings for her are way too strong for that.”

“I know...and I admit, I acted way out of hand. I let my feelings get in the way and I didn’t even bother to think of the way that you two were feeling. In the end, I actually hurt her. My worst nightmare came true,” Jin turned to look at Namjoon, “I’m genuinely sorry Namjoon. I even hurt you too.”

“Hyung it’s okay. I see where you were coming from, if it was my sister, I would’ve been doing the same thing probably,” Namjoon pat Jin’s shoulder, “But I do want the okay from you to date your sister. I want to love and care for her. And if I ever hurt her, just know I won’t be able to forgive myself. Like you, hurting her is the last thing I would want.”

Jin sat in silence for a bit before taking a deep breath, “I’ll allow it. Just y’know...don’t kiss her in front of me...that’s weird.”

“Hyung, I won’t take it fast with her, I’ll go at the pace she wants. I have to ask her properly to be my girlfriend first,” Namjoon smiled at the thought of getting to be with you, “I will take the best care of her Hyung. And I will respect all your wishes and we’ll respect boundaries, especially around you.”

After a deep sigh Jin whacked Namjoon on the arm, “You better take it freaking slow,” he got up and started pulling out pajamas, “Keep my sister pure! I know your mind.”

“Hyung!” Namjoon’s cheeks flushed pink, “I wouldn’t do that to her...well this fast...well I’ll shut up.”

“Gross, please do.”

“Hyung, thank you though,” Namjoon stood up and walked towards the door, “I promise you, I will take care of her.”

“Yeah yeah, what is she doing right now?”

“I think she’s with Jungkook, wanna go see if she’s awake?”

The two boys walked out of the room and towards Jungkooks. Namjoon knocked quietly and peaked his head in after two minutes of no response passed. You and Jungkook were both asleep on the bed. A wall of pillows in between you two to give you guys your own space and boundaries. It’s not the first time you guys shared a bed. People would suspect you two were dating but your heart belonged to someone else.

And you had Namjoon’s heart too.

“You better do that if you think you’re gonna share a bed with my sister,” Jin looked into the room, “I don’t care if you want to hug her, WALL.”

“Sure hyung…” Namjoon laughed and walked towards the kitchen with Jin in tow. Jimin and Taehyung sat at the kitchen table playing games on her phone.

When Jimin saw you guys he jumped up, “Are you guys good?”

“Are we hyung?” Namjoon asked.

“I guess...” Jin pat Namjoon’s shoulder and walked past him to get a glass of water, “We talked it out and set boundaries, but we’ll be fine.”

“Boundaries?” Jimin tilted his head and Hoseok smacked him.

“You must be really thick headed or blind to not see that Namjoon likes (Y/N). Why do you think Jin Hyung got heated? (Y/N) likes him too.”

“Does that mean (Y/N) will be around more?” Taehyung walked into the kitchen to join the conversation.

“Yah, let me ask her to be my girlfriend first then we’ll see the answers to those questions!”

The next morning you woke up to Jungkook next to you watching a video of a cartoon dinosaur.

“Oppa?” you rubbed your eyes and tried sitting up but you had a sharp pain in your head.

Jungkook set his phone down and helped you up, “Slowly. The doctor said to take it easy. How are you feeling? Anything hurt?”

You decided to tease Jungkook to help lift your spirits, “What happened? Why am I in your bed? Why does my head hurt?”

His mouth dropped open, “Do you not remember anything?” his tone was serious, “What’s the last thing you remember?”

“I came into your guys’ practice room, with food for you and my brother. Wait, does my brother know I’m here?” The prank continued on.

“We’re going to the hospital.”

“Oppa I’m kidding,” your eyes softened when you thought about last night, “do I really have a concussion? How’s my brother? How’s Joonie Oppa?”

“I’m not sure, I told Namjoon hyung that he should talk to your brother. After, I came in here and you were asleep so I decided to sleep too. So honestly, I don’t know. I woke up like 10 minutes ago.”

“You don’t have anything to do today?”

“No, we have the day off,” He flashed his cheeky smile at you, “Want me to make you something to eat?”

“Sure Oppa, can I help?”

Jungkook smiled, “Nope. You’re taking it easy so I will be the best best friend ever! I’ll be back!”

Jungkook ran out to the kitchen and saw Jin, Namjoon, Yoongi and Taehyung eating breakfast, “Morning Hyungs,” he started digging through the fridge, “What’s to eat?”

“Jin Hyung made chocolate chip pancakes,” Taehyung currently had three on a plate, “How’s (Y/N)? Is she awake?”

“She’s awake. I came out to get her something to eat,” Jungkook started piling some pancakes on a plate, “Please tell me you two hyungs are good. She woke up still sad. She tried to play a prank but it failed in lifting her spirits.”

“We’re good,” Jin sighed, “But I am so afraid to face my sister. Is she mad at me? Does she even want to see me?”

Jungkook handed Jin the plate of your food, “She’s been asking about you. I think you should talk to her. Bring her breakfast to her. Namjoon Hyung, you should go in later after Jin Hyung.”

They both nodded and Jin took off in the direction of Jungkook’s room. He took a deep breath before knocking on the door, “(Y/N)? I’m coming in okay?” He took no response as a sign that you were allowing it. He walked into the room and saw you sitting up on Jungkook’s bed, just on your phone. “I made your favorite for breakfast. You should eat some.”

“T-thank you Oppa,” you were genuinely happy to see your brother, but at the same time you still had quite a bit of emotions in you from last night, “H-how are you?”

“I’m okay, I promise,” he reached for your hand but he saw you tense up a bit, so he stopped himself mid way, “How are you? Are you okay? How are you feeling?” His voice was getting shaky and his eyes were starting to brim with tears.

“Just a little dizzy. And I’m still tired,” you noticed his reaction, “But I’m still okay. I’ll be fine.”

“That’s good, you should eat some of your food,” his voice was still shaky, “(Y/N)?”

You cut a small piece of the pancake, “Yes Jinnie Oppa?”

He fell onto his knees and held your hand. He didn’t lift his head and he started crying, “I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I really didn’t. I can’t forgive myself for what I did to you. You’re my precious sister. I’m supposed to protect you, not hurt you. You’re actually injured because of my stupidity. My ignorance. It’s all my fault that you’re hurt. Please, can you find it in you to forgive me?”

You didn’t want to stay mad at your brother. You loved him too much to know he didn’t do any of this with ill intentions. You set your plate down and cupped your brother's hand, “Oppa can you sit next to me?”

Without any hesitation, your brother shot up and sat next to you.

“Now can you answer any question I ask completely honest?”

He nodded.

“Why don’t you want me to be with Joonie Oppa?”

Jin sighed, “It’s not that I don’t want you too. In fact, I would much rather have you be with any of the members then any other boy out there. It’s just, I don’t know what got over me. In my eyes, you’re still my little sister who would run around the house in the Princess Outfits that Hyung would buy you for Christmas. I guess I just haven’t accepted the fact that you’ve grown up. I want to protect you, and I always will, but there are other people too and I have to accept that fact.”

You smiled a bit at your brother's answer. He did get really overprotective at times, but nothing was done with ill intentions. You were his youngest and only sister. You would do the same for him if the roles were flopped. “Oppa, you’re always gonna have your own spot in my life. Nobody is gonna take it. You were in my life first obviously. But hearing your answer, does that mean you’re allowing me to be with Joonie Oppa?”

After the most awkward moment of silence ever, “Yes,” Jin sighed, “BUT, there are boundaries. Just don’t act so lovey dovey in front of me. And most certainly don’t make out with each other in front of any of us!”

You blushed furiously at the thought of it, “I-...OPPA THAT STUFF SHOULD STAY PRIVATE ANYWAYS!”

“But can you promise me that you won’t forget me?” Jin’s eyes were sad, “I still want to be your number one.”

You wrapped your arms around your brother, “Oppa, you’re my brother. There’s no way whoever I date, marry, whatever, will take that spot from you.”

He smiled and hugged you back, “If Namjoon hurts you, tell me, I’ll kill him.”

You playfully smacked your brother, “Oppa!...I will.”

“How is your head?” Jin slowly rubbed the back of it as he hugged you, “I still can’t believe I did that to you.”

“I’ll be okay Oppa, I promise.”

Jin hugged you before getting up from the bed, “I think there’s someone else who would like to check on you too.”

“Hobi Oppa?” You playfully teased your head to the side.

“You’re such an idiot sometimes.” He chuckled and walked out of the room just as Namjoon came in.

He closed the door and smiled at you warmly, “Hey (Y/N), how are you?”

“Hi Oppa, I’m okay,” you pat the spot on the bed next to you, “Are you okay?”

Namjoon sat next to you and smiled, “Hey it's you we have to worry about. Are you feeling okay? No symptoms or anything? Why aren’t you eating your food beautiful? Do I have to feed you?”

You blushed furiously when he called you beautiful, “Oppa I’m okay. Just a little lightheaded. And u-um...I can do it myself,” you started cutting the pancake, “See? All okay!”

After Namjoon made sure you ate your breakfast, he took the plate from you, placed it on the nightstand, then grabbed your hand. He stroked your knuckles and looked you in the eyes, “I’m really sorry about upsetting your brother.”

“Oppa, you don’t have to be sorry, you didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I didn’t respect your brother's boundaries. I like you so much, but I didn’t come to think how that would make Jin Hyung feel,” he sighed, “I’m sorry I came between you and your brother like that.”

“Oppa, I’m sorry I came between the two of you, you’re like his little brother he never had. He doesn’t want to lose you.” You smiled knowing that your brother was surrounded by such great people who genuinely cared for him.

“(Y/N)? Can I hug you right now?”

You giggled at his cuteness and nodded, “Of course, get over here you goof,” You wrapped your arms around Namjoon and he pulled you close, “I assume you know how I feel about you right?”

“Yes,” you felt him lay his head on your shoulder, “When I found out, I wanted to have you in my arms right away...now I actually can. Your brother allowed it, you know?”

“I know,” you looked up at him, “But I won’t until you ask me?”

“Ask you what?” He said dumbfoundedly.

You pouted in response.

“I’m kidding,” he cupped your cheek with his warm hand, “I want to be able to care for you in a position more than a friend. Will you be my girlfriend?”

You smiled and nodded, “Of course Joonie Oppa.”

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mimiswitchywrites · 3 years

Text

Not A Burden: Chapter 3

TW: SH references, attempted s****de and references, child/s***al a**se references (not graphic but enough that could be triggering). Vague r**e scene at the end.

Master list or read on AO3

2.2k words

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Percival, sat with Elyan and opposite Arthur and Lancelot’s bickering, kept tabs on Gwaine and the girl. He didn’t miss the way his face lit up with glee and, if he understood correctly, mischief. It made him happy to see his friend on his way back to normal, but he still felt the pit in his stomach filled with anxiety. Why had his joyous little friend been in such a state in the first place? He had initially dismissed the thought that he was spooked by seeing the girl looking so unwell as he was well versed in bloody bodies, but that was the only explanation he could find.

“You see it too?” Elyan asked from his spot next to the giant. He could only grunt in response, too caught up in his concern for his friend. “Maybe he just needed some rest like he said last night.”

He understood the suggestion, but Percival had seen Gwaine when he was tired, and this wasn’t it. Unless, the cynical side of him thought, you don’t know him as well as you think you do. He tucked that thought away into the back of his mind to deal with at home. The woods with an injured woman and the king are not an appropriate setting for a crisis.

“We should help Merlin pack everything up and get a move on. I think it’s best that Lancelot and Arthur are separated as soon as possible.” Elyan said, knowing that things could only get more heated if they stayed where they were any longer.

With the horses all loaded up and the argument currently settled (Arthur was wrong, regardless of his pitiful defences) Lancelot mounted his horse and helped Percy lift Miriam up to him again. He was looking forward to riding with her now she was fully back to the land of the living. She seemed like an interesting young woman and reminded him of Gwen, somehow. The whole party – bar Arthur, if that morning was anything to go by – seemed to look at her in a sisterly manner. They wanted to help her, but no one knew how to treat her. They knew not talk walk on eggshells around her, but she was still a stranger, and they didn’t know the appropriate limits yet. Hopefully, they would figure them out soon, for everyone’s sake. That was the one good thing that came from Arthur’s outburst last night: they knew shouting was not a wise idea.

Well duh, he added.

“Are you comfortable, Miriam?”

“As comfortable as one can be on the second day of riding with a head that won’t stop spinning.” She quipped back. It took everything in him to not laugh at the way she made her remark.

“We can go slowly if that would help. Or I have water. Or you could sleep again, maybe more sleep is what you need?” She shook her head but leant back against his chest anyway. He could feel warmth spread through him and his cheeks heat up.

“It is okay. I would like to get to still, stone ground as soon as we can anyway.” He understood the feeling – it was often one he experienced on the return from hunting trips. While not quite as against them as Merlin, they always drained him and he found he slept far better the first night back. He hoped it would be the same for her as, judging by the bags under her eyes, she hadn’t got much sleep the previous night. “And I wanted to hear more of your stories.” She tilted her head back to look at him as she said this and he couldn’t help but notice how the freckles that littered her face reminded him of the constellations his mother taught him when he was but an infant.

“I suppose there are a few more I could tell you. Anything in particular you are after?”

They sat in silence as she pondered the question. Just as he was considering asking again, she answered: “tell me about Camelot. Is it truly as free as they say?”

This was not the topic he was expecting. He mulled the question over, what did she really want to know with one like that? Was it, he worried, that she wanted to know about the attitudes towards magic? He had enough to worry about with Merlin and his magic (that isn’t to say he isn’t grateful that his friend still confided in him, but he was quite the chaotic individual and more than once he had feared for Merlin’s life and the likeliness of him getting himself killed) and the prospect of befriending another magical individual did not do his heart much good.

“It’s okay if you don’t want to answer, I am sure you don’t want to disrespect your home or king.”

That was curious, she didn’t expect the answer to be positive, then? Deciding to brave it, he asked her to elaborate.

“When I was younger, maybe eight summers, a woman passed through the village I was living in. She wore armour of leather and steel and carried curved swords – like I’ve carved into the handle of my knife that your large friend has taken from me,” Percival turned on his horse at this, and gave her a small, apologetic smile, “and she told the most curious stories of lands she had visited. One such land – Camelot, she told me – had women like her. Women that wore armour and…” She paused to take a deep breath. She was getting rather warm; Lancelot could feel it on his arms as they curved past her to hold onto the reins. She began again, voice lower this time, “Women that would do unto each other as a man might his wife.”

She stopped, hoping her riding partner might catch onto what she was asking. Her head was so foggy that she was no longer sure that she knew what she was saying, really, but she had to ask before they arrived at their destination. She had been watching the way the King interacted with his manservant since she awoke the day before and she needed to know if they were what she thought they were.

If they were like her.

Gwaine watched as the girl slumped against Lancelot, clearly exhausted. He remembered the first time he was in her position and how it drained him. The thought of riding for days before finding a bed, while in that condition, was not a pleasant one and he certainly didn’t envy her.

He had enjoyed their conversation that morning. Having yet another person that could see Arthur as the ‘prat’ he was (he really needs to thank Merlin for introducing him to that word) was nice but the moment they stopped talking, he noticed his mind drifting back to why she was with them in the first place.

He hated it, plain and simple.

He thought that those days were far behind him and that, wearing the royal red and gold cloak, he was free. To have years of repressed memories hit him at once like this did not do him well.

The pounding behind his eyes grew. He really should have eaten dinner last night. Serves you right.

He sighed, rolling his eyes at himself.

The sun was directly above them before the pearly walls came into view. It was getting swelteringly hot, and all Arthur could think of was his large wooden tub in the centre of his room. And, though only a brief thought that he shoved away as quickly as possible, what Merlin would look like in it with him. He cleared his throat and raised his hand.

“I can see Camelot; we should be only another half of an hour.”

He heard Percival cheer, possibly sarcastic but probably not. Internally, he was reacting the same way. With Merlin by his side, he led the party back home.

Miriam insisted that she could walk to the Physicians chambers herself and that she didn’t need carrying. After reaching the top of the entrance steps, she began to reconsider. She could hear the sea in her ears, and her vision was fuzzy. I’ll just rest against Percival for a second, she thought.

She woke in a small cot with a blanket pulled up to her neck. She was so hot, sweat pooling in every crevice. Her head was pounding worse than it had the night of Anabella’s wedding and her arm was burning again. This isn’t ideal. She can’t die right and now it seemed as if she can’t not die right either. What a cruel irony. The ocean in her head was quieter and she could hear distant voices. One sounded like Merlin and the other someone old – the Physician, perhaps? After a few attempts, she pulled her eyes open and waited for them to focus. She could see ointments lining shelves, herbs drying from the ceiling, and more books than she had ever seen before. A woman with beautiful brown skin sat beside her, rinsing a cloth in a bucket on the floor.

She opened her mouth with the intention of greeting this stunning stranger, but could only make a quiet, choked sound. She brought her hand up to her throat as if that would make it better. The woman, noticing her distress, jumped up and retrieved a goblet of water. She lifted the back of Miriam’s head and helped her take a few sips, before setting her back onto the feather pillow.

“I’m Gwen. Guinevere. I’m a friend of Merlin’s.” She smiled and Miriam couldn’t help but notice the way it made her eyes sparkle.

“Miriam but you can call me Miri.” She forced out, hoping she didn’t sound too eager.

“’Miri’, I’ve never heard a name like that before. It’s cute.” Gwen looked down at the goblet, red seeping into her cheeks.

Miri began to push her hands on the bed, attempting to sit up. She could feel the torn skin protest, but she couldn’t bear to lie down any longer. Merlin rushed over, helping Gwen push her back down onto the bed and the old man – Miri could see him properly now – made his way to the empty chair beside her.

He had white hair that reached his shoulders, more wrinkles than she would expect on a man that could move as well as he could, and an impressively judgemental look on his face. One eyebrow seemed to be permanently raised and, feeling small, she obeyed Merlin and Gwen’s direction for her to lay back.

“You need rest, my dear.” He spoke gently, but she could feel the order behind his words. She sighed and, giving up, closed her eyes again.

It took a while to get to sleep, as it always does for the broken girl. She could feel Gwen put the wet cloth back onto her forehead which was quite a relief for a little while, and she listened to the trio talk. The old man said that she was too stubborn for her own good and that she reminded him of Merlin when he was sick (she wondered if he was often sick, she hoped not for the man’s sake if Merlin was truly as stubborn as he said) and Gwen asked what happened to her. The room went silent at that and Miri felt herself freeze up. She knew people would talk, especially while she was being treated, but she had hoped that she would at least not hear it. She wondered how she would explain it when she was allowed to talk again, and if she even wanted to explain it. What would they think?

Secretly, she thought that Gwaine fellow would understand. There was something about the way he watched her that made her feel like he knew what had been going through her head when she made her way into the forest that day. For his sake, she hoped he didn’t, but she resolved to talk to him about it when she could. Even if she was wrong, he seemed fun and she was in dire need of someone fun right now.

When she finally did get to sleep, thinking of plaiting daisies into the knight’s hair, she met her nightmares. It shouldn’t have surprised her but a part of her had expected them to leave her alone for a little while after such a traumatic event had happened to her body. Gods, did she hope they would leave her alone.

It stared as they normally did. The fire was burning, casting a warm orange glow against the back wall of the hut. Miriam, around five summers, was sat on a stool, occasionally throwing sticks onto it. She looked behind her and she was in the village hall, bodyless hands traveling over her body. One made its way up her dress, softly tracing the inside of her thighs, and a laugh sounded in her ear. A body formed next to her. It had the same brown eyes and curly black hair as her – his cropped close to his scalp – and that smile that she had seen everyday since she was born.

All she could do was gasp “No, please. Please stop.”

But she knew it wouldn’t do anything.

It never did.

She was pressed against the mud, one hand holding her face down and the other gripping onto her hips. Please, not again, she begged her mind to stop showing her this.

Fabric teared, bruises formed, and tears poured.

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ladynestaarcheron · 4 years

Text

Like Pristine Glass - Chapter Fifteen

ao3 - ff.net - masterpost

(tagging these cuties: @humanexile @skychild29 @rhysandsdarlingfeyre @candid-confetti @rhysandsrightknee @missing-merlin @azriels-forgotten-shadow @books-and-cocos @sezkins79 @city-of-fae @someonemagical @dusty-lightbulb @messyhairday-me)

what’s this?? a chapter for lpg, not 10 day after the last one?? bet your bottom dollar!!

thanks so much as always @thestarwhowishes!! and thanks to all my marvelous readers. i love you all so much. thanks for taking a chance on my weird maladaptive fantasy and sticking around<3

---

December 20 - Year of

Nesta hadn't realized Emerie's shop was closing for Solstice, and apparently, Emerie hadn't realized Nesta wasn't celebrating.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, eyebrows raised, as Nesta entered.

"Working."

"The Commander left last night."

"So? I'm not his keeper."

"You don't...you're not going for Solstice?" Emerie frowned, like she couldn't understand.

Nesta shrugged. "I did not grow up with this holiday. I don't care about it."

"But it's fun," Emerie said, bewildered.

Nesta rolled her eyes as she began rehanging coats. She certainly did not classify an hours-long sit-down meal with her sister's in-laws as fun. Last Solstice, in fact, was a contender for Least Fun Night of Her Life.

"Your sisters probably bought you presents," Emerie said, pestering, which was quite unlike her. It was this obsession with Solstice, this worshipping. Apparently, her employer was infected with it as well. "Don't you like presents?"

"I prefer to buy things myself," Nesta said. She never did get the point of surprises. If you chose something yourself you couldn't possibly be disappointed, which she told Emerie.

"You can ask for something."

"Why do you have to wait for Solstice, then?" Nesta said. "If you want something, just buy it. If you have money. And if you don't, you can't celebrate anyway."

"Solstice isn't just about gifts."

"I don't worship your gods," Nesta said carelessly, making her way behind the front desk. She rifled through some of the papers she had on file—they ought to start thinking about spring wear, if they wanted to stay ahead of everyone else. "We should order lighter wear in January. Start putting things on the racks in February. Judging by how much we've sold this month—"

"I'm not very devout," interrupted Emerie.

Nesta looked up from the papers. Emerie's dark eyes were unblinking, her brown face schooled in a different expression from her usual indifference.

"All right," Nesta said.

"I don't go to any temple on Solstice."

"Fine," Nesta said. She didn't care. She had never been to a temple in her life.

"I still celebrate."

"Fine," Nesta said again. "I think we should order lighterwear in January."

"You should come to mine for dinner tomorrow evening," Emerie said.

Nesta narrowed her eyes.

"I was just going to go to the bonfires," she said. "But we could have a proper dinner."

"You're not spending it with your mother?"

"No...I eat breakfast with her."

Eugh. Breakfast with the whole family. Nesta cannot imagine any day deemed worthy of waking up early and then immediately being barraged by people.

"Fine," she said. "Will you look at this? My predictions for February..."

Emerie wasn't religious, as she said. This wasn't a dinner of worship. Or insufferable so-called family—Emerie never pretended to be Nesta's adoptive sister. Just...someone whom she got along with.

That was fine. This wasn't...instead of something else. It was just dinner. She'd had dinner with Emerie before. Before...before she'd started having it with Cassian every night.

This was fine.

December 15 - 1 year after

Their beautiful new archivist walked like a queen: back straight, chin set, stormy grey eyes surveying all that she saw as if considering everything in her path. All that went away when she picked up a book to read, melting like sugarberry ice in the summer, and it was Zeyn's favorite way to see her.

Her posture changed. Nesta always stood like she had a broom tied to her spine—did it not hurt, he wondered, to be like that all the time?—and when she found herself a quiet corner of Sugar Books, she folded into herself, unaware of her surroundings. Sometimes she would even mindlessly tug on a lock of her hair, tug it right out of the precise braid, and it would curl downwards, playing on her lashes—

"You're staring at her again," Maz snickered.

Zeyn snapped his head back to the book he was supposed to be working on. "I am not."

"Hush, Maz," Leyla said. "He's in love. It's sweet."

"It's creepy."

"I am not in love with her. And keep your voice down," he added, lowering his own dramatically. He risked a glance towards Nesta. Whether she was ignoring them or truly couldn't hear, he could not tell.

He wasn't in love with her. He had only just met her. But how could he not stare? She was so perfectly beautiful. Like she hadn't been born, like she'd been expertly made, sculpted by gods.

"You only think she's beautiful because she's High Fae," Maz said, sounding a bit sour.

"That's ridiculous," Leyla said, cutting in before Zeyn could himself. "Nesta is beautiful. But don't worry, Maz, we think you are, too." She winked as she picked up her crate of books and left.

Maz's eyes followed her out of the room.

"I'm sure she meant it," Zeyn teased.

"Oh, shut up. Go back to staring at Nesta."

"I wasn't staring."

"Were so..."

There was no point in arguing. It sounded pathetic, and it felt it, too. But it didn't need to be that way, right?

"Oh, great, there he goes," Maz muttered under his breath as Zeyn stood. "Off to swoop in on the scary pregnant lady."

Zeyn sincerely hoped she hadn't heard that. Nesta didn't appear to like to talk about her pregnancy much. She didn't like to talk to anyone about anything much. She was private to the point of secrecy.

"Good book?" he asked, sitting down next to her.

"It's all right," she replied, not looking up.

"Never did read any human-authored stuff much," he said. What was that flicker in her eye? "Maybe you could recommend some to me."

"That's my job."

He laughed. She didn't.

He cleared his throat. "So," he said, trying to find something else to talk about. "Are you excited for Solstice?"

That got her to look up. "You have Solstice here?"

He laughed. "Of course we do."

"No, I mean...the holiday?"

"Yeah. Why wouldn't we?"

Nesta looked back down. She closed her book, though. "They don't have it everywhere. In the Summer Court," she added. "They...only celebrate the one in the summer."

"Oh," Zeyn said. "Well...we like to celebrate whatever we can in Sugar Valley." He grinned. "I suppose you've already seen the list of Solstice festivities." Erest, the town councilhead, had been proud to announce it at last week's town meeting. He had hung it on the notice board at the inn, and she was still staying there—although not for much longer, he thought, as Adil definitely had some sort of plans to find her somewhere else.

"I have not," she said.

"Oh. Are you...going back for Solstice? To Prythian?" Perhaps, because she had not realized it was a holiday here as well, she had made plans to leave.

"No. I'm...I don't have anything planned." Something was sitting on the tip of her tongue, behind her red lips, pursed shut. But she didn't let it out.

"Well, you should come to one of the town's celebrations!" An idea clicked into his mind. "I mean, you'll have to come to ours, right?"

"Ours?"

"The Sugar Books celebration. We have a staff party. Solstice Eve."

No one did anything on the day before Solstice, did they? So when he announced to them that they all had to come and pretend like it wasn't only for Nesta, they wouldn't—well, Maz wouldn't be too cross. He doubted the rest of them would mind. Miri would probably even help him plan it.

"Oh. I didn't realize you were...so close."

"We are!" Well, they got along. For the most part. That was enough. "It'll be a lot of fun. You'll come?"

Nesta's eyes darted around the room. She smoothed her hands over her skirts—always a shade of grey, always modest. But not so form-hiding that he hadn't noticed the slight changes in her body over the past month or so. Early pregnancy flattered Nesta. "Sure," she said.

Zeyn bit back his broad grin, not wanting to scare her off. He couldn't stop the excited twitch of his ears, though.

December 21 - year of

This Solstice, Emerie thought, was shaping up to be even less festive than last, which was saying something, because only a few short months before that one, various males in her family had died on the front lines in the war against Hybern.

She had shared a quiet breakfast with her mother, who hadn't spoken too much. Mostly just shot her wary glances. Probably because of the demonic scent all over her.

And now she was preparing dinner to share with that demon.

She didn't blame her mother. Nesta's scent was sweet in the same warding way of venom. Any living being innately knew to stay away from it. And Nesta didn't exactly have a winning personality that encouraged otherwise.

But she did good things for her shop. Emerie liked her for that enough.

Nesta Archeron wasn't a bad person. She didn't deserve to have Solstice alone, even if she didn't celebrate it.

The hair on Emerie's neck prickled when she heard her short raps on the door, but she ignored them. She wasn't scared of her Other employee.

Emerie didn't have much finery, but she did make an effort on Solstice. She wore shoes that were prettier than they were sensible and her hemlines sparkled. A glittering pin kept her braid at the side of her head—her usual hairstyle, but the ornament was only ever worn a few times a year.

Nesta made no such changes to her wardrobe, but she didn't need to. She wore her hair in crown-like knots and braids every day and no matter how drab the grey she wore in her dresses, nothing could dull her beauty.

She had even, Emerie noted, filled out a bit in the weeks she had been here. Her frame, once pitifully thin, had sparked gossip when she had first arrived at camp. Emerie remembered hearing rumors about how the Commander did not feed the High Lady's terrifying sister...

"Happy Solstice," Emerie said.

Nesta grimaced.

Emerie turned so Nesta wouldn't see her roll her eyes. "Wine?" she said, looking over her shoulder.

Nesa's jaw clenched. Her eyes closed. "No," she gritted.

All right, then. Emerie thought perhaps it would be better if she didn't have any, either. She put the bottle down and said, "Don't suppose you saw any of the shows last night." Some of the males put them on—flips and tricks, flying through the air.

"No."

"Neither did I," she said, and she couldn't keep the bitterness out of her voice. That was another thing she liked about Nesta Archeron. She genuinely did not care about anything Emerie's people did. She hadn't liked it at first, but now, seeing her disdain for some of the most respected people in the camps, the absolute apathy she had for the cruel ones who mocked females like her on what was supposed to be a sacred day...

Well. She supposed she had a few reasons to be glad Nesta had decided to enter her shop the day she wandered around their camp alone.

December 18 - 4 years after

It takes an enormous amount of power to winnow all the way across the sea, so on the agreed-upon date, Feyre is to fly to Sugar Valley. Along with her husband.

Things have been much better with her sister over the past month—both of her sisters, actually. Feyre has visited a few times, and Elain came to stay for a whole week. The children had loved that, as Cassian had also managed to spend a few days then.

But she has still not seen Rhysand since that day in September five years ago.

She assumes they—Rhysand and Morrigan—will summon the strength they need to mind themselves in her presence. She doesn't ask for much. Only quiet.

Nicky bounces with excitement all morning, rattling off to Ollie a list of all the things they're going to do "across the sea", courtesy of the stories his aunts and father have spent the past few weeks filling his head with. Avery keeps tapping Nesta's legs and asking when they're going to leave.

Nesta lets them amuse themselves, for the most part, as she double—and triple-checks their bags. Presents for the children that she was instructed to take and keep as surprise until Solstice evening by various townsfolk (some for her as well), clothes, medication for Ollie's lungs—he hasn't needed it in a while, but it never hurt to have it along—some favorite toys, books, the purple cup Avery needs, jars of jam...

All of this, of course, to keep herself busy. Until half past ten, when she hears the knock on her door.

Steeling herself is not particularly easy to do with her children's cries of "I want to open the door!" chorusing around her, but she manages.

Nicky gets there first. He lifts his chubby hand high above his head to reach the doorknob and throws himself at Feyre when he sees her.

"Hey!" she says, laughing as she catches him. "Oh, hello to you, too, Ava!" For Ava has also launched herself at her aunt.

Ollie stays safely behind her legs. He had been excited to see Feyre, but Rhysand, standing behind her, throws him off. He looks up at her, and she smiles down at him reassuringly.

"This is your uncle, Rhys!"

Nesta cannot stop her lip from curling upward. She might deny the relation on her side, but Cassian obviously has not on his.

"Hello," he says, smiling along with Feyre. "Nicky, and Ava...hello, Nesta. You're looking well."

"Hmm."

"And you must be Ollie," Rhys says, bending to his knee, to meet him at eye-level. "Hi. I'm Rhys."

Ollie looks up at Nesta again.

"It's all right," she says to him quietly. "But you can stay with me."

Nesta pulls Avery and Nicky into a hug and tells them she'll see them soon. Rhys holds onto two of their bags and then swoops the pair of them into his arms. With a nod at Nesta, he disappears.

"Ready, Ollie?" Feyre asks him, picking him up and holding him close to her chest.

He nods against her and leans on her shoulder. Nesta grabs the other bags and links her arm in her sister's.

"Let's go."

And they do.

It is, as usual, a most disorienting experience, and Nesta loses her sense of self for a few moments, but Avery's laughing voice brings her back.

She sees Cassian first, holding Ava and Nicky. Ollie squirms out of Feyre's arms to run to him, too.

She feels an arm on her shoulder. "Are you all right, Nesta?"

"Fine," she says to Feyre.

They're in her home, the third one, on the banks of the Sidra. One of the living rooms. Nesta recognizes the stained glass windows, the midnight blues—and, of course, the painted pictures of everyone. Herself excluded, obviously.

She remembers when Feyre had shown her the house. She hadn't mentioned the original Archeron decor, but she hadn't needed to. It had been impossible not to notice, and it still is. Had she expected her to say anything? To ask why?

Perhaps it had bothered her then, but it doesn't now. Nesta has her own house. Contrary to what her sister believes, not everyone you know by blood or happenstance needs to hold an intimate place in your heart, a spot of honor on your walls.

"Nesta? Are you sure you're all right?"

Nesta looks up at Cassian. His smile from seeing the triplets has dimmed. "I'm fine." She clears her throat. "Where can I put our things?"

"Oh, well, actually...we'll take a carriage."

She could swear Cassian bites his lip—in nervousness?

"All right," she says, giving a little shrug. The townhouse doesn't include much better memories than this place, but she guesses it'll be better. At least they'll have their own place, at least she won't have to be around all of them for the whole time. "Let's go."

Feyre and Rhysand help them bring their things down where the carriage is waiting for them.

"We're all the way across the sea, Mummy!" Nicky exclaims, rushing to clasp her hand in his.

"We are, angel."

"And we're...we came the whole way!"

"The whole way."

"For Solstice!"

"Mm-hm," Nesta says, keeping an eye on Avery pulling Ollie along.

"Where are we going now?"

"We're going to take a short ride," she says, lifting him up into the carriage. "Now you Avery—yes, sit tight. We're going to take a short ride to where we'll be staying."

"Where are we staying?"

"With our aunts?"

"No, we'll—"

"Actually," Cassian cuts in, placing Ollie in, "we're going to my house."

Nesta gives him a sharp glance, but he doesn't meet her eye as he helps her in.

"I didn't know you bought a house here," she says, low so the children can't hear her.

"Yeah, I...I mean, do you want to stay at the townhouse? That's empty now."

"No, no, I'm sure yours is fine. I mean. Is it—have you—?"

"Yeah, yeah, I've got beds for them...and you...and there's...I think you'll like it. Close to a park."

No matter how low they talk, all three of them pick up on that.

"We're going to play in the park?"

"Are our aunts coming too?"

"All right," Nesta says, a bit loudly, over them all. "We're going to go to Appa's house first and eat lunch and get settled and then we'll go to the park."

She hides a smile at their answering cheers.

"Where is it?" she asks Cassian.

"Near the Rainbow."

She doesn't particularly like the hustle and bustle of Velaris' city center. Too many people, too loud. Sugar Valley residents can be plenty loud, sure, and all the forgotten gods know that town meetings can be ridiculously stifling, but there are not so many people that Nesta does not know them all by face if not by name.

But she sees the house—Cassian's house—is not too close to the Rainbow. In fact, it's closer to the Sidra. A nice bank, shallow waters. There are some families with small children playing there.

It's styled like most of the houses in Velaris—in fact, it looks a bit similar to the townhouse. She likes the novelty of her blue-boarded house in Sugar Valley, but the maple brown of this one is nice, too.

"Here we are," Cassian says, getting out first, to help them all down. He takes the bags in one hand and Ollie in his other. "Let's go."

The sparsely-decorated inside reminds her a bit of his home in Illyria, but perhaps with a bit more child-proofing done. There are no sharp edges in his living room; the chairs and tables are all rounded, so she doesn't stop the children from rushing off to explore the rooms on the top floor.

"Wow," Nesta says, looking around.

"Do you like it?"

She peers in through a doorway. "You have a proper dining room." She's not jealous. She loves her home. Just...she wishes she had one. It might be nice, one day, when the children are older.

"I haven't got much for it yet."

"I can see that." Beige appears to be the predominant color, which is...interesting. "Why...were you waiting for my sister's Solstice gifts? To match the decor to?" Feyre gives them all paintings every year—or at least, she used to.

Cassian laughs. "No, I was hoping...well, I don't know. I've never decorated a house before."

"You realize how insane that is?" she asks him. "You're nearly six hundred years old."

"I'm not nearly six-hundred years old..." he trails off. They've had this conversation countless times—teasing, gentle, mostly. And then one time, very much not.

"So," he says, clearing his throat. "This is the ground floor. Living room...dining room...kitchen...do you like the cabinets?"

He must be more anxious than she thought. "They're great."

"Do you want to see the upstairs?"

"Sure."

There are four bedrooms. "These two are smaller, so...oh, there you all are!" For the children have made their place in the room clearly meant to be theirs, with little beds corresponding with the colors of the ones in their home in Sugar Valley. "Right. Here's...the master..." He dumps their bags unceremoniously on the floor.

"Nice view," Nesta says, looking out onto the park. She can see the Night Court's mountains in the distance.

"You can stay here," he says. "You know, while you're here."

Nesta turns to face him, blinking. "What?"

"If you want."

"It's your room. It's your house."

"I can sleep in one of the smaller rooms."

"Don't be ridiculous."

"I—please, just take it."

She blinks again. "All right." If he wants her to...

"Mummy!" Avery calls as she runs in. "Mummy, can we have lunch and go play?"

"Yes, ah—you have...do you have food?"

"Yeah, I've gone out and I've got the kitchen stocked...I'll get started, why don't you...settle in?" He leaves her with a parting smile, Avery trailing after him.

Get settled, she thinks. She's not quite sure what that entails, but she decides it includes a few minutes to herself before the overwhelming onslaught of Velaris crashes over her.

---

Chapter Sixteen

#like pristine glass #nessian fanfiction #acotar fic #nesta archeron #acotar #zeyn staring at nesta is brought to you by me

51 notes · View notes

berryshiara · 4 years

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WIP Whenever

Tagged by @illusivesoul , thank you for inviting me to play! A part of my Shiara Fic. --------------------------------- Cast: Miri - Miranda Lawson - Human Polona - Dr. Polona Stavros - Asari Garrus Vakarian - Turian Jane Shepard - Human - Infiltrator - Earth Born Setting - Jane is in a private recovery room built specifically to save her after the Reaper War. She has finally woke up and is now starting the process of recovery. Location Thessia - T’soni Estate ----------------------------------

What ever thoughts she had been having about the game or about Shepard’s health faltered under her bond mate’s unwavering gaze. Seeing herself reflected in Shepard’s eyes made her feel even more beautiful. She preened under the attention and returned a playful smile as she leaned against the door. It felt so natural to reach across the room with her mind and caress Shepard’s. A need that felt like a weight she carried around in her head until it was overwhelming, and the only relief was Shepard.

It was hard when she did this not to sink into her lover's mind. They fit together like two halves of a whole, and it was harder not to than to simply give in. Shepard was always willing, her mind so ready to find that connection, to become one… Liara thrummed softly as her partners adoration and whispered compliments washed over her.

‘Does she even know how beautiful she is?’ She had absolutely no doubts about how Shepard saw her, or how she felt about her.

“So… you… you aren't mad?” Garrus asked not even knowing the silent interactions happening between the two.

“Why would I be upset? You were playing with your best friend in the hospital… with her lead physicians observing. If they thought it necessary to stop you, they would have.”

He looked up past her to where Miranda and Polona were huddled together watching something intensely.

“Right…” Garrus said returning his look to Liara.

‘I missed you.’ She thought to Shepard, their minds embracing… it pulled on her, until she had to force herself to remain in place. She wanted to climb into bed and sink into her partner's arms but thought it might be rude given their company.

‘I could tell him to leave…’ Shepard replied glibly, having caught a hint of Liara’s thoughts before she wrest them under control. The idea actually gave her a moment's pause as her stomach tightened and pulse sped.

Garrus gave a long sigh… followed by a healthy breath of relief, one he pulled deeply into his lungs and expelled again to scent the air. “Is..” His mandibles trembled as he took in another breath. “...what did you walk through on your way here?” He asked stepping closer and leaning forward to scent her.

“What?” Liara asked looking at Garrus as he stepped beside her and leaned in to sniff some more. “I have been working all morning.”

“You smell… mmm, yes, wait...” His eyes opened wide as he looked down at her. Liara turned her face up to him as Garrus held himself near with mandibles quivering. She held her breath and fought the deepening of the flush into a full blush when he realized that the smell wasn’t on her, but coming from her.

“That would be Asari pheromones.” Polona so helpfully informed.

Both she and Miranda had been watching the readouts on Shepard slowly begin rising since Liara’s entry. Polona had pointed out when their minds had made contact through a chemical reaction, using a finger to digitally mark the readouts scrolling on the screen.

“Oh…” Garrus thrummed then pulled his head back sharply. “ I mean woah!” He raised both yellow stained hands between them as he waved them like he were warding her off. “Thing’s just got weird. Uh, Shepard… I totally did not sniff your girlfriend.” “Bond mate.” Shepard emphasized with a grin.

“Yeah that!” Vakarian said skirting around Liara as if he were afraid to touch her, using the wall to feel his way out of the room. He made it out talking faster than he was moving, before he pulled himself far enough away he leaned in unable to resist the urge to take one last scent. “Mmm… damn… Shepard.” He laughed awkwardly and used the nearest console as a crutch on his way out the door.

Shepard tilted her head to the side watching him stumble out the door and listened to him babble down the hallway before turning her attention back to her mate.

“Do you really smell that good?” Shepard asked, sniffing cautiously.

Liara stalked forward all teeth and seductive smile. “I do.” She fairly purred leaning in to catch Jane’s mouth in a breathless kiss. ----------------------- @amys2885 show us one of your WIPS! If you want~

#shiara #mass effect fanfiction #mass effect #femshep/liara #thessia #my writing #Happily Ever After

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experimentalmadness · 4 years

Text

The Invite

Please enjoy me going absolutely feral over my silly OC and writing pre-supervillain material of her and Harvey’s friendship. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have more coming.

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Jacky could feel Miri practically vibrating with excitement as she wheeled her from the car up the ramp to Wayne Manor. Normally Miri would never let anyone push her chair, but Jacky needed something to hold on to or she was going to be sick.

The Ripley sisters, Gotham’s jumped-up gutter trash, standing at the entrance to Wayne Manor. This had to be the start of some sick joke. She just hoped they weren’t the punchline. Security made her sweat and she had to remind herself she wasn’t on a job, and no one here knew her. She fished for their invitations and smiled rigidly as it was scanned and they were escorted in.

“It is so much more beautiful than I could have imagined! Ah, Jacky, take a picture, take a picture!” Miri urged.

“They allow that in here?”

But of course she obliged, pulling out her phone to snap a few discrete shots of the two of them. A few well dressed guests gave them a look, Jacky forced down the urge to sucker punch them, wondering how many of the elite here tonight secretly owed money to Falcone or Moroni, and how many she’d see at the end of her gun another night. Thinking about work felt wrong...especially now.

Jacky wheeled Miri down the long corridor, past the works of art hung up on the halls and the sculptures and casings in a place that felt more like a museum instead of one man’s house. Spilling out at the top of a grand foyer Miri gave an awed gasp while Jacky rolled her eyes. It was beautiful, stunning, actually. A band played while Gotham’s elite milled around delicately placed tables, danced on the cleared floor, or mingled out the veranda in the summer night. The floor to ceiling windows gave a pristine view of the immaculate gardens beyond where lights glowed, showing footpaths and garden house where even at this distance she could see a few guests grabbing drinks.

This was a mistake. They shouldn’t have agreed to this invitation.

“How are we going to get down?” Jacky asked, observing staircases on either side of the balcony.

“I believe I can assist with that,” a voice from behind offered.

Jacky turned, wheeling her sister as she moved. “Oh, my goodness!” Miri squeaked. “Mr. Wayne..I...I...you don’t need to trouble yourself.”

Bruce Wayne certainly lived up to the tabloid shots of him. He laughed at that. “Nonsense, you’re guests in my home, allow me to show you a little trick.” He gave a wink at Miri, and if her sister hadn’t been made of stronger stuff Jacky almost certainly would have thought she’d fall for him on the spot and then Lord help her.

Waiting for the staircase to clear, Bruce moved aside the intricately carved lion’s head at the top bannister. Jacky raised an eyebrow at the button underneath. As he pressed it the stairs all retracted slowly, creating a gentle slopping ramp. Miri was impressed. Jacky had questions. With a gallant hand Bruce showed the way down and Jacky took her hands off the wheelchair, letting Miri wheel herself beside a much better looking escort. “So may I inquire as to the names of my guests this evening.”

“Oh, I’m Miriam Ripley, and this is my sister Jacqueline—”

“That same Ripley’s that own the bakery down 9th? Of course! Harvey’s told me all about you.” To his credit, Bruce looked genuinely surprised and delighted to make the connection. He smiled at Miriam, no shock there, Miri was as beautiful as a pixie in her summer blue gown and Bruce Wayne’s reputation preceded him. Luckily Miri was too smart to be blindsided.

As they made their way down the ramp, Bruce offered a hand to Jacky. “Jacqueline, pleasure to finally meet you as well,” he smiled, but years in her line of work hadn’t made her an idiot. Bruce Wayne was a flirt, he was a charmer, a playboy and probably whatever else the news rags loved to spew, but he was also a liar. The smile never reached his eyes and Jacky had the uncomfortable sensation of being scanned. Rich men must have their reasons for hiding all manner of sins.

She shook his hand. “Come to the shop some time, Mr. Wayne. I just man the counter, but I’m sure Miri could manage to make something special.”

“I’ll have to do that, Miss. Ripley.”

“This idiot isn’t taking all of your time, is he, Jacky?”

There he was. Harvey barreled in, one hand going around Bruce’s shoulders, the other still holding onto a champagne flute. “We were just getting introduced,” Bruce said with a slight laugh. Ah, interesting. That one was sincere.

“I think Harvey is just glad to have a few familiar faces here,” Gilda Dent strode over, elegant and friendly as ever. “And to be honest, so am I,” She bent down to kiss Miri on the cheek and straightened to do the same to Jacky, whispering in her ear. “We’re sneaking some drinks out in the garden later, just us lower east siders.”

Jacky adored Gilda and that made every second she stayed in her presence the best and the worst. “Bless you,” Jacky smiled, all teeth.

“Now, if you don’t mind I’m going to introduce Miriam to two of Gotham’s best patisseries,” Gilda winked.

Jacky shot her sister a clear “don’t leave me here” sidelong look but Miri only shrugged. “Lead the way,” she said as she wheeled off after Gilda. It was going to take a total of fifteen minutes at most before Miri had charmed her way around every corner of this party. She was good at that. Bruce Wayne didn’t linger long after either, remarking that he had to go put in some face time with two potential big investors.

“And then there were two,” Jacky laughed nervously.

“Jacky, seriously, thank you for coming,” Harvey said with a nervous laugh of his own. “Bruce said I had to do at least one of these investor galas for the campaign, but if I have to fake another smile at some other rich prick who doesn’t know half of what is going on in their own city I’m going to break something. You want a drink? I’m getting you a drink.”

He talked a big game at being out of his element, but he smiled and shook hands with every single person they passed on their short trip to the bar. Jacky followed a few paces behind. He knew everyone’s names. Of course he did. Harvey finished the last of the champagne, setting the glass down at the bar top. Jacky opened her mouth to order when Harvey spoke first with her exact drink of choice.

“Whiskey sour, hard on the syrup, better make it a double.”

“Right, I’m filing a restraining order because you shouldn’t know that,” Jacky cocked her arm back to give him a jab on the shoulder, but stopped herself. They weren’t out at some dive bar, or in the back of her shop. “Aw, jeeze,” she rubbed the back of her neck. “Feel like some kind of idiot in this getup.”

The dress was not to the caliber of everyone else’s here. She’d found it in some thrift store and liked the purple color enough to buy it.

“You look stunning.” Harvey slid her the drink.

Those words were going to get her drunk faster than the whiskey would. The drink burned a little as it went down. “Ok we got the obligatory compliments out of the way, how’s the big night actually going? You funded enough to take over the world yet?”

“Let’s start with Gotham, that’s about all I can handle at the moment.”

Jacky did not trust politicians. Didn’t like their smarmy slogans, or their false promises. Every last one in Gotham was so deep into the pockets of Falcone or Moroni it never mattered what they said. “Hey, if it takes one night like this to make you the DA then it’s worth it,” she said.

“Can we take that statement to print, Miss Ripley?” Harvey mimed a microphone in front of her.

“Enough to get the pins on the counter and the posters all over the shop’s walls, yeah,” Jacky took a long drink to get herself to stop staring. The blue eyes really drew you in, he talked to you like he really wanted to get to know you. How else would the big shot lawyer have even bothered making friends with the barista?

She finished her drink. She was going to need so much more to get through the night. “Should probably go talk to your backers, Harvey. Can’t spend all night talking to me, I don’t have the kind of money you’re looking for.”

“Oh the parasites can get me the rest of the night. You and Miri are probably the only real Gothamites here and I’d rather talk to you...don’t tell Bruce I said that. Hey, how about a dance?”

She was not drunk enough for that. “Yeah right,” she snorted. “Tabloids would have a field day if they caught you dancing at your own campaign fundraiser with a strange woman who is decidedly not your wife.”

“Or, think of the free publicity for the shop when your name gets printed in the Gazette?” Harvey said, ever the optimist. “C’mon Jacky, buy me just a little time before I have to throw myself to the wolves?”

He grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the bar towards the dance floor. Jacky shook her head, but her traitorous lips pulled back in a smile. This game of pretend was going to fall apart one day. His other hand went around her waist, warm and secure, the two things she always felt around him. This was too close. Those eyes, that smile, at this proximity were lethal. He was perfect. Gotham’s golden child. He was going to change this whole city, make it a better place, maybe give people like her a chance for once. And that meant one day he’d dance little Jacky Ripley into a nice and tidy jail cell of her own. How would he look at her then? The shy shop girl. The hitwoman. The liar.

“Harvey...you know I should probably tell you I can’t dance,” she said softly.

“Aw damn,” Harvey laughed. “And there goes my idea of having you make me look good.”

#Harvey Dent #Jacky Ripley #Two Face #absolutely losing it over this stupid OC thanks for indulging me #her life is actively on fire and she has a crush on the worst person possible

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