#the wedding’ like u know how u continue to see the spirit in animals after they pass - or pennies that’s another major one - or 2p coins too

[bibleofficial]

walked up to my cousin’s step son after the wedding to see if he was doing ok & i was like ‘what u up to :D’ & he said ‘i got a new pet !’ & we looked at the table to see a yellow jacket he caught under the cup, which he described as a bee …. APPALACHIA

[yandere-sins]

The Fox Wedding - Embrace the marriage (Kita)

Summary: You are to marry the fox spirit Kita Shinsuke after you accidentally agreed to become his wife by signing the deed to your new home. A contract is a contract, he says, but is there more to this marriage than you know? Will you be whisked away by one of the foxy twins instead, or have to marry Kita after all? Can you be with a creature that only seems tender on the surface, or will you try to run even if it might cost you your life? Choose your route carefully, you never know what these foxes are up to!

Characters: Kitsune!Kita Shinsuke x afab!Reader

Rating: Explicit   Warnings for this chapter: Yandere, Kidnapping, Forced/Unhealthy Relationship, Rough Handling, Mention of bite marks, Mention of Non-Con, Pregnancy, Mention of (not human) blood, Monsters, Mention of burns, Verbal threats

“Don’t you remember?” 

He asked you this again on that one gloomy night as you rearranged your kimono. You had gotten good at putting it on, not because you wanted to learn how to do it, but because it was the only thing that made you feel better about yourself. The way Shinsuke owned you was painful, stinging, and tear-inducing, and you felt better not having to see the countless bite marks of possession he put on you. Thus, you learned how to do it. Better you than a maid, or worse, Shinsuke himself. 

“I don’t.” 

Your answer was always the same. How long had it been that you two were wed on that sun-filled, rainy day? A month? Three? Half a year? Yet, he never stopped with his riddles, and this question was the only one that arose every once in a while. Your heart ached with the desire to go home, leave this godforsaken country to be where you belonged - where you never should have left. But of course, it wasn’t that easy. 

“I see,” he whispered, and from the moon shining in through the open windows in your shared bedroom, you could see him nod his head thoughtfully while his eyes focused on your stomach. “You were still so small back then. The smallest human I had ever met.” 

His soft smile was lost on you as you shook your head, unbelieving of his words. Shinsuke didn’t like unnecessary talks. He’d rather have a quiet morning than one filled with small talk you learned. And when he spoke, it was hard to accept what he said. Nothing good ever came from him saying your name. No affectionate string of words sounded like he meant it when he said it in the usual indifferent tone. An ‘I love you’ was quick to change into ‘Mind your manners’, and often he ignored your wishes in favor of fulfilling some kind of clan duties. 

Perhaps, the only moment you managed to catch him off-guard was when a doctor - or something close to that just less human than you liked - announced your pregnancy, but you had been too shocked to be able to react to the sincere smile on his face and the tight hug he gave you despite the news being more of a tragedy to you. It wasn’t the child’s fault, even you knew that, but from day one, you felt responsible for it yet devoid of the feeling that you could love the kid like a normal mother would. 

With your hand falling to the little bump on your stomach, you were glad it was still decent enough to not be immediately visible. Yet, as long as you were aware of the growing life inside you, the more you felt the dread of having to take care of yourself for its sake. There were worse wounds that Shinsuke could inflict on you, and unfortunately, you wouldn’t even put it past the clan to follow his lead rather than step in and stop him. It still made your blood freeze to think back to when you saw the real him for the first time. No, not him. The monster he was. 

It was hard to forget the ashen creature that brought fresh meat for the village. You always thought foxes were small, playful yet wild animals, but that didn’t seem to apply to fox spirits. These images kept flashing before your eyes as you stroked your belly reassuringly, the baby inside of you not yet in need of comfort, but you sure were. 

Fox spirits were tall as bears, and every one of them deadlier than a pack of wolves. It was bewildering to learn that Shinsuke wasn’t even fully grown yet, only six of nine possible tails emerging from his back once he turned into that beast. You could have sworn with his fox form being as tall as you were, he’d be at least grown out, and it unnerved you to imagine what he’d look like once he was. 

Even if he allowed you to pat his fur, nudged you into the affection despite smearing deer blood all over you, it was no less reassuring to know what he really looked like even if he acted like that. You had seen him snap a deer’s neck in two cleanly with his maw. You had heard him growl. And none of this made you any less afraid of your own husband, the father of your child. 

Involuntarily, Shinsuke had made you become what previously had been your worst nightmare. You were a healthy woman, so it was only a question of time until his forced intimacy would produce the child everyone around you was looking forward to. Except you, but how could you possibly be when this wasn’t what you wanted at all?

Even so, you realized the child was just another innocent soul in a much more complicated scheme of his ‘love’. One you still not understood even though he was so insistent that it existed. Nevertheless, you couldn’t let yourself be punished and endanger the little one, always seeing these huge, beastly creatures in your inner eye whenever you thought about running or misbehaving. However, you also couldn’t stop yourself from flinching when he reached over to caress your stomach, unable to forgive and, even more so, forget what all he had done to you.

Tearing you out of your life, your world even, force you into this relationship and himself on you, was small compared to the ‘lessons’ and ‘training’ he made you go through to become more fitting for your role as his wife. Your maltreated body was only one evidence of his ‘care’ and ‘love’ that he so generously had sworn to you before your wedding. There was no ‘happiness’ in sight even after being married for so long. If he thought that child made you happy, he had been wrong.

Answers. Answers would have made you happy - or at least, made this more endurable. 

“Back then, you were scared too.”

His palm clasped around your hand tightly as he began to circle it over the baby bump. He acknowledged your flinching, your fear. Though even if he noticed, he only ever did so in his favor, dismissing it to do whatever he pleased or continuing to force you into obeying his will. Shinsuke always looked serious and talked with logic, you wouldn’t have believed the slyness in all of his doings even though it dawned on you that it was one of the foxes’ main traits. 

“Back when?” you mumbled, wanting to pull out your hand but getting stuck in his grasp, sighing inwardly as you gave up on fighting him. Not when he was so close to the child. You didn’t want to risk upsetting him. 

“Twenty years? Thirty? Time--” Interrupting himself, Shinsuke let out a thoughtful hum, clearing his throat before he resumed speaking.” Time is tough to calculate when you live for so long. Day is day, night is night. Sometimes it snows, and sometimes it rains, and all the other days are mostly the same. Only now, you are here with me, and that makes me happier than anything else.”

This time, it was on you to ponder, wondering about the time frame. There was no reason to get upset about the fact Shinsuke didn’t seem to know your current age, nor how long it really had been. The message ’a long time ago’ was received by you either way. What you couldn’t rack your brain around was that there wasn’t an instance you could remember meeting Shinsuke before, especially since you hadn’t been to Japan when you were as young as he made it seem-

“Oh,” you whispered. Oh, you had been to Japan before as a child, with your family to visit friends that resided in this beautiful country. But you had forgotten all about it, how old had you been? Four? Maybe five? Now you remembered that the reason for your first trip as a teenager had been to see the country you had been to before but could barely remember since you were just a toddler back then. 

Finally sitting up from his futon, Shinsuke moved over to sit next to you, his right arm snaking around your waist while his left hand remained on your belly. “Do you remember it now?” he cooed softly, leaving a kiss on your cheek as he waited for an answer patiently. 

“There was a fox…” you mumbled, straining yourself to remember what happened so long in the past. “I think it was wounded.”

“Continue,” Shinsuke instructed gently, bringing his lips to your temple before brushing back your hair to continue down your neck, leaving pecks of affection behind wherever they wandered. 

“It was wounded, and I… I--”

“You gave me your rice ball,” he finished for you as you struggled with your words. 

“That was… you?” you slowly but surely pieced it together, and he nodded, pulling you closer to him and burying his face in the crook of your neck. His embrace was tight but less formal than any other touch he laid on you so far. A wave of honest emotions seemed to overcome him as you remembered, a voice of relief leaving him as your shared past revealed itself to you.

“But… But--” 

So many questions rushed into your head before you could even utter one of them. How much of what happened was coincidental? Was everything planned? Staged? Arranged? Your thoughts must have shown in your gaze, and though he only looked up for a split second, you were sure he noticed it as he chuckled a few times. 

“The truth is, back then, I wanted to kill you. I came back for you every day, and you were always playing in the garden, but your parents were always around watching you.”

Shinsuke sat up straight, instead now pulling you to lean on him and petting your hair. Your instinct detected hostility in his words, yet, your body told you to stay put and not allure him of the fear that crept up in you. You now remembered the silver fox you had met as a little kid, and though the memories were spare and rare, to think you could have died by his maw back then made a cold shudder run down your spine. 

“I didn’t want the humans to find out my clan was in that forest - now, this forest - I knew it would mean that I caused them to have to leave or hunters would come. However, when you did tell--”

“No one believed me…” This time you finished his sentence instead, and Shinsuke nodded. 

“I couldn’t rest, so I came back day after day, until suddenly… you were gone.” 

“Yeah, we flew back home after two weeks,” you mumbled, explaining it to him despite realizing you wished you had kept it a secret. He simply didn’t deserve knowing even a little bit more than necessary.

“Exactly.”

Gently rubbing your back, Shinsuke kissed your hair, his grip on you unbudging, but there was no notion and no feeling of yours that stayed hidden long from him. “Later I found out that the owner of that house - your family’s friends, I reckon? - were aware of us, and their ancestors were granted land from us to build their house in exchange for keeping this village and residents hidden. It’s passed down as a family secret.”

“And then…” For the first time, you sat up, and Shinsuke let you go without a moment of hesitation. Slowly, but surely everything made sense, even if those answers were less relieving than you had hoped. “I bought their house when they became too old to live there. Was that- Was that all planned?”

With your brows furrowing, you looked at his face, and Shinsuke closed his eyes for a moment thoughtfully, humming in contemplation. “Was it? Who knows. Once I learned the truth, I decided you shall be my bride.”

What a dissatisfying answer, you thought, and your expression faltered, body turning away in displeasure. For the first time since you were married, you heard him make a deep sigh, the shuffling of fabric behind you as Shinsuke inched closer, having recognized your defensive stance as telling him you weren’t all too happy with his story. 

“If we say fate brought us together, then destiny arranged everything. But I rather think that it was meant to be. You coming back to me is because we are meant for each other, [Name].”

“I don’t agree,” you muttered, feeling defeated. All this time, you had wondered how and why this all happened to you, but in the end, it really had just been Shinsuke’s doing. Part of you felt more betrayed, but the other half wasn’t actually feeling impressed by the knowledge. Disappointed, but not surprised, as a friend of yours always liked to say. “Then why the contract? Why set me up like this?”

“What do you think? Do you think you would have married me otherwise? Do you not despise me? Think that I am a monster? I think that’s what you called me before.”

The level of self-awareness was nothing you would have expected from him. Instinctively you would have liked to argue against him, but at the same time, his words depicted your feelings quite well. “Maybe I wouldn’t have thought that if you had--”

“[Name], please.” There it was again, the patronizing tone in his voice that had been the end to many of your conversations before. His arms wrapped around you from behind, lips landing at the back of your head as he mumbled into your hair. “I waited for you all this time, and know my feelings. There was simply no need for a year-long courtship and proving what I felt.”

“I could have needed it. Are my feelings that unimportant to you?”

Gripping his arms tightly, you dug your fingers in as best as you could. You had enough. Enough of his will being absolute and everything centering around him. All this misery just because he decided on marrying you long, long ago on his own. For the first time, you managed to pull out of his hold by your own strength, twirling around quicker than him being able to capture you again and complain. 

“You are a monster! I don’t care about your feelings either since you can’t seem to respect mine! I never wanted any of this!”

Gesturing loosely to him and your stomach, you made room for your anger, even getting up to stand your ground properly. You half expected him to follow, but Shinsuke kept sitting comfortable, merely lowering his eyes and shaking his head. “Calm down, [Name]. You’ll wake the whole village with your voice.”

“What if?! As if they didn’t know how I truly feel! As if they didn’t just turn a blind eye on this situation for your sake!”

“Arranged marriages are very common here--”

“But not arranged by the groom himself! And even so, you still forced me into this, I couldn’t even refuse! You… You beast! You monster! You’re the absolute worst being I ever met, and I hate you! I hate you so much!”

Finally, Shinsuke looked up again, his gaze calm and collected as always. It was the last straw that even now, he did not budge from his views, and you decided to do something you had tried to avoid ever since becoming pregnant. Turning on your heel, you marched towards the door, gripping into the depression of the sliding door to open it. As luck would have it, these kinds of doors didn’t have locks. Thus someone usually watched over you, never leaving you alone, but weirdly enough, it didn’t budge no matter how hard you pulled and tore on it, demanding quietly that it would move out of your way.

“[Name] stop. It’s not good for the baby to get so upset,” Shinsuke called after you, and you just knew he was standing up as he spoke, causing more pressure to fall onto your shoulders. You’d run away. No matter the cost, you wouldn’t stay here. Feeling the door heat up, you jumped away from it, shocked, looking at your fingers while eerie, small flames sparked up at the spot you just touched. By now, you were a little too familiar with foxfire and what it felt like, and yet, angry as you were, it only made you spin around to face him, not expecting to have his face right up in yours the moment you turned.

“I said, stop.”

“Then I won’t listen,” you hissed back at him, rubbing your fingers carefully as they trembled in fear. Never before had resisting him done you anything good, but you reached a point of no return. 

“Let’s go back to bed,” Shinsuke instructed again, his patience wearing noticeably thin as you were unbudging. “You go to bed. I am going home.”

Taking a deep breath, he stared you down with those sharp, shining eyes of his, a glare that usually made your knees buckle in fear. You never had given him such a hard time before, normally yielding before it got this far. In some way, it was thrilling, in another, nerve-wracking. 

“I’ll say it only once more,” Shinsuke warned, reaching for your wrist that you pulled away before he could reach it, slapping his hand away in the process. 

“Or what?” you spat at him, as disgusted as you could. This would end here, you decided. All of it: The fake marriage, your submissiveness, the way you played along and embraced your role as his wife until now. The child too, if you got out of this house, this village, and his clutches. 

“You saw the beast before.” Shinsuke spoke his words calm and slow, but his voice lowered dangerously as he kept up his glare unbudgingly. It was just his way of not losing his temper despite you being aware that he wasn’t going to be gentle from this point onwards. There was a never before heard tremble in his voice as he spoke again, the sentence making every inch of you freeze in fear.

Perhaps, you had needed that. One last attempt of being deviant. How else would you have learned that this place might not make you happy, but at least it was the only place that would keep you safe. Safe of Kita Shinsuke’s true nature, the one completely insane from his love for you. How else would you have known that calm waters were the deepest of them all? Deep enough to let you drown in them if you did anything to disturb them?

Maybe, being his wife wasn’t the worst there was. 

“But you haven’t seen the monster yet.”

The worst was Shinsuke himself.

a/n: Thank you for reading Kita’s route of this story, I hope you enjoyed it! I noticed last chapter that it didn’t seem as enjoyable than the Prologues, I still hope that you will move forward to explore the other routes and enjoy this experience ^-^ Let me know what you thought, that would make me very happy ♥

Satisfied?

➤ Go back to the prologue to change your fate

➤ ?

Read other routes first to unlock more fates

[mirkwoodshewolf]

Chapter 1; My Story

Here is chapter one I hope you guys enjoy it :) And if you guys like this story as it goes on, send me an inbox message to be added to tag list :) Fill free to listen to this song as you read the chapter, hopefully I can get the link to work. I do NOT own the music and if there are any Native American tumblr people here that belong to Cherokee tribe, PLEASE inform me of any mistakes, I think I fixed them up on here from when a Wattpad user told me about their heritage but in case I didn’t PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE tell me. Okay hope u guys enjoy the first chapter :) 

Play music here

___________________________________________________

My story begins just like anyone else’s story, maybe even yours. My parents were both nature photographers who abandoned all city life to settle into the countryside of Oklahoma, there they met some members of the Cherokee tribe.  After been given their trust, my parents soon became members and friends of the Cherokee and they soon realized that this specific group of Cherokee ancestors were once members of a clan known as the Aniwaya meaning “Wolf clan”.          

The Aniwaya’s taught my parents all of their legends and tales from their ancestors and though they no longer go out to war anymore, they still praise the wolf as a teacher and mentor in their hunting skills and in ways of life.  The Spirit of Wolf lives within us and it is up to us which wolf we show before others.  My parents always took that lesson to heart, even as their greatest gift was bestowed upon them.            

One full moon night, I soon came into this world and breathed my first breath of air.

The chief, Waya meaning Wolf then marked me with the symbol of their tribe and I was soon walked around the entire village in his arms so that his people could meet the newest member of their tribe. My parents then named me (y/n) (y/m/n) (y/l/n).

As I grew, I was soon taught the ways of the tribe just like my parents were and I would go out with my parents every day to watch them take pictures of all the animals that roamed free through the plains. From buffalo, deer, moose, bears, mountain lions, eagles and of course the wise and magnificent wolf.  As they would take pictures, I was given stories that I would have to memorize and soon speak in the tongue of the Cherokee before the chief to show him all that I’ve learned.          

And on some occasions when my parents would take pictures of the wolf packs that would come near the village, while their pups were playing with each other or other members of their pack one specific wolf pup always got my attention the most whenever I was trying to study.          

He would always come up to me as soon as I would look at him and he’d start rolling around as soon as he’d come up to me just begging to be played with.  I always fell under his spell and just couldn’t stop myself from sneaking away from my parent’s side and going to go play with the little pup.          

I called him, Little Grey.          

After only a few seconds of playing and him nibbling on my fingers, his mother would soon call out for him getting the attention of my parents. As Little Grey’s mother would call for him, my mother would then call for me and soon we’d have to go our separate ways. And it was always the same story whenever I got to my parents.          

“(Y/n), what have we told you?” Mom would say.          

“But mom, Little Grey started it”.          

“Honey it’s not okay for them to interact with us, now come on its getting dark we better start heading back”. Dad said as he would gather up their stuff and wed head back towards the village. As we walked back to the village hand in hand my mom then said to me.          

“Besides, that wasn’t Little Grey that was Rama”.          

“No it wasn’t it was Little Grey”.          

“Little Grey was the runt of the litter (y/n), he’s too big to be Little Grey” dad said.          

“Check, check the pictures”.           

Later that night as we were now back at the village, I was with Chief Waya for my final lesson before bed.          

“There was once an old legend of a Cherokee grandfather who told his grandson of the Battle of the Two wolves that live inside every being. One is evil full of anger, hatred, greed, and hate but the other one is good, full of love, joy, compassion and kindness. The grandson asked which wolf won the battle and the grandfather simply stated “The one you feed” so you see young pup, the wolf you feed is the one you will become. You feed the bad one the hatred that you carry, then you become the Bad Wolf. But if you feed the Good Wolf, keeping and holding onto the love and happiness you hold with your family and friends then you become the Good Wolf”.          

“So it’s always based on the person and their actions?”          

“Yes. Most men prefer the feed the Bad wolf sadly though, but the world is not always cruel, there are some good wolves out there, always hold that hope that goodness still lurks in this dark world my little one”.          

“I will Chief, I promise, I’ll never become a Bad Wolf”.          

“I know you will my little Waya”.

“Pardon me Chief, but it’s time for our daughter to be asleep” my dad said as he entered the chief’s tent.“Of course my son,” Chief Waya stated. He then placed his hand at the center of my forehead and slowly moved his fingers down to the tip of my nose, a sign of leadership of passing wisdom to the next generation as well as his way of showing affection to the young ones of the tribe.

“Goodnight Chief Waya”.

“Goodnight my little Child of the Moon”. I then took my dad’s hand and he led me back to our tent.

I got on my nightdress made by a family friend of ours made of deer skin as my mom stated playfully.

“Alright you, we said into bed”.

“See, I am in bed!” I said as I took the blankets and covered myself up.

“Now (y/n), what made you think that wolf pup you were playing with was Little Grey?”

“I was right wasn’t I?”

“Well, according to our notes, Little Grey was the runt of the litter, either we were mistaken or Little Grey is a very special wolf pup” daddy said.

“I told you so”. I teased.

“Yeah you did, and mommy and daddy are going to write in their journals of how our trusted colleague Dr. (Y/n) (l/n) has shown us the error of our ways” we all softly laughed then daddy said.

“Alright now, go to sleep”. I then rocked my wind chime and as it played it’s gentle song my mom soon sung an old Cherokee lullaby as I gently fingered her wolf totem necklace around her neck and he gently gripped onto mine as she continued singing. I softly mouthed out the words to myself and soon I fell into a deep sleep. My parents kissed me goodnight and soon they too went to sleep just a couple of feet away from my bed.

The creatures of the night from the crickets to the wolves howling at the moon became our music box as the tribe went to sleep. 

My life was like a fairytale with two loving parents, a wonderful family and a beautiful place to call home that’s filled with wild animals that guide and protect us from the real world threat. But like all fairytales, tragedy must strike in order to gain a happy ending as I would soon find out two years later.

[aceprosecuties]

85 or 83 blackmadhi!!!!! your choice!!!

83. “It’s always been you.” 

Send me a number and a pairing!

—–

“Mother,please drop it.”

Nahyutanever liked having this conversation, so he often tried to stop it before ithad the opportunity to begin.  But itwasn’t always easy to get the former queen to let go of something when her mindwas set.  And when he was trapped in aroom with her, waiting for their guests from California to arrive, he couldn’tphysically run away.

“Althoughyou will only be regent until Rayfa has mastered spirit channeling, you stillought to consider it seriously.  You’realready twenty-six, dear.”

“Am Ibut an old crone, then?”

“That’snot what I’m saying,” Amara sighed, feeling frustrated with her son’spushback.  She didn’t understand why hewas always like this whenever this particular topic was brought up.

“That’swhat it sounds like,” Nahyuta clapped back, trying to not let his annoyanceturn into anger.  “Will I be unwedable bythe time I hit twenty-eight?”

“No,but-”

“AndI didn’t exactly have time to think about these sorts of things, you know,”Nahyuta reminded her, harshly.  “She made sure of that.”  Ga’ran wouldn’t let Nahyuta have manyvisitors, and the ones she did allow were usually loyal to her or only allowedto be with him for a short while.  On theoff chance he was able to engage in any sort of consensual activities withanyone, they were for one night, and usually Nahyuta did not even get theirnames.

“I know that,” Amara responded with anequally harsh tone.  She didn’t like thatNahyuta was insinuating that she did not remember all that he sacrificed.  “But perhaps something should bearranged.  Having someone by your side asyou rule would be in Khura’in’s best interest.”

“Sowhat…I marry someone to please this country for two or three years and thenhave to stay with this stranger for the remainder of my life?”

“Royaltydoes not often have the luxury of love,” Amara said, echoing a sentiment thather mother had passed down to her and her sister.  

“Easyfor you to say, since you did havethat luxury,” Nahyuta snapped, hoping that he could end this pointlessdialogue.

Luckily,he received some help when the doors opened, and the guards announced thattheir foreign visitors had arrived.  

Nahyutahad been working closely with Miles Edgeworth to develop a closer relationbetween their two countries; Edgeworth had been helping him with the rebuild ofthe legal system from behind the scenes, to which Nahyuta was verygrateful.  There was much that Edgeworthknew about various legal systems across the world, and his knowledge washelpful and appreciated.

However,Edgeworth had a companion on this trip. One that Nahyuta was not expecting.

AtEdgeworth’s side was Prosecutor Simon Blackquill.  He stood out in the room like a sore thumb;Khura’in’s royal chamber was decorated with vibrant and elegant colors, so theharsh monochromatic Blackquill was extremely out of place.  What was he doing here?  Nahyuta swallowed a lump in his throat thathad suddenly developed.  Did Edgeworthdrag him along?  Did he volunteer to comeof his own volition?  

“ChiefProsecutor Edgeworth,” Nahyuta smiled and walked up to his guests, ignoring thevarious questions running through his mind. “We are, as always, honored to have you here.”

“Thankyou very much, Prosecutor Sahdmadhi,” Edgeworth responded, as respectful asever.  Nahyuta’s eyes traveled to Simon,who had his arms crossed and looked…bored, if anything.  How disrespectful of him.

“ProsecutorBlackquill.  I’ll admit I wasn’texpecting to see you,” Nahyuta said, speaking as though it wasn’t a big dealthat Simon was here.   Few images flashedin his mind: Simon’s bare back glistened in sweat, his hair wild and out of itsusual ponytail as Nahyuta watched him writhe and moan.  Simon on his knees in front of him, withNahyuta’s hand twisting in those black and white strands.  Simon grabbing Nahyuta’s jacket in a way thatsurely was going to wrinkle the expensive fabric, all to pull him into adesperate kiss…

Memories.  Ones that Nahyuta did not need to be actively remembering right now.

Simonjust smirked.

“Unhappy,Sad Monk?”

Disrespectfulas always.  

Nahyutawanted to take him somewhere right now to teach him a lesson.  

Theirlittle secret arrangement had gotten a bit out of control, he would admit.  It was meant to only be physical and only be once. But that turned into twice…and then three times…and then more and more;whenever Nahyuta was in the states now, he would find himself at ProsecutorBlackquill’s apartment during the night, wanting some stress relief from hisconsistently busy schedule.  He neverstayed for breakfast though.

Itwas annoying when that Panda began invading his dreams, though.

Sure,it was a very nice break from thenightmares of his past, but Nahyuta found it frustrating nonetheless.  And then when Simon started just popping upin his thoughts on their own…he wasn’t sure exactly what to do.

Whenhe mother would speak to him about marriage, he had always dropped the subjectsomehow or told her no.  But recently hewould think about Simon goddamn Blackquill too; if he was married, he wouldhave to end…whatever it was they had, and he had zero desire to do so.  

Butit was only physical, he would tell himself. Nothing more.

“Blackquill,you are a guest here,” Edgeworth reprimanded. “Please show our hosts the same respect you would show me.”

Nahyutawas surprised when Blackquill nodded.  “Ofcourse, Edgeworth-dono,” he said, before looking again at Nahyuta.  “Thank you for having us, Sahdmadhi-dono.”

MilesEdgeworth was the only person in the world capable of making Simon Blackquillact like that.  It was almost magic, andNahyuta found it weirdly fascinating.  

“Ofcourse.  While we’re happy to have you here,I still am wondering why you’vedecided to come,” Nahyuta responded, still a bit confused.

“Ithought that it would be best for me to learn your country’s legal proceedingsfor my own edification.  Edgeworth-donoallowed me to come as a sort of…ambassador,” Simon explained, not breaking eyecontact with Nahyuta for even a second.  “AndI suppose to see the sights.”

Nahyutaknew what “sights” meant here, and felt a bit warm.

“Wellthen,” Amara said, coming up from behind Nahyuta and smiling at theirguests.  “I suppose we should not keepyou two waiting.  You’ve had a long trip,and I’m sure you’re both hungry and tired. Please…this way.”  She beganwalking out of the room and Edgeworth followed, striking up a conversation withher as Nahyuta and Simon trailed behind them. Nahyuta was very well-trained in appearing different than how he felt;his almost blank stare ahead did not give away his rapidly beating heart.

Whileat dinner, the group postponed any discussion of work until the next day,instead choosing to just share stories and the like.  Rayfa joined them for dinner, but she wasuncharacteristically quiet, saying that she was trying to keep her mind calmfor her training in the morning, and she left without saying all too much.  

Whichwas…for the better.  She and Simon wouldlikely not get along very well.

Afterdinner, the guards took Edgeworth and Simon to their rooms, and Nahyuta watchedSimon walk down the hall for an uncomfortably long time, tensing when Simonlooked back at him.  He resisted the almostoverwhelming urge to follow him, instead finding his way back to his ownbedchamber.  

Unfortunately,Nahyuta found himself unable to sleep. Blackquill was on his mind, and all of their past activities keptrummaging around in his head until he was no longer able to stand it.  It was late enough that most people should besleeping – with the exception of the night guards – so Nahyuta soon foundhimself walking out of his room and towards a certain destination.

Hewent to the guest room that Simon was occupying, but instead of seeing a closeddoor, he saw a guard standing next to an open one.  When Nahyuta requested to know whereProsecutor Blackquill was, the guard informed him that Simon had said he wasunable to sleep, and wanted to walk around outside.  Another guard accompanied him.

Nahyutaknew he should just…try going back to sleep.

Insteadhe was outside, roaming around in an effort to find Prosecutor Blackquill andhis guide.  They wouldn’t have goneoutside of the palace grounds at night, so he figured it wouldn’t be too longuntil he was able to find them.

Luckily,he was right; he eventually located the pair walking through the gardens.  Simon had apparently found one of his mother’sbirds and was making a new friend; the little animal was resting in his handcomfortably while he spoke to it, pointing up to the sky as if he was showingit constellations or something.

Itwas…endearing.  

“ProsecutorSahdmadhi!”  The guard noticed him andbowed slightly as Nahyuta approached. Simon looked over and smirked a bit.

“Towhat do we owe this pleasure, Sad Monk?” Now that Edgeworth wasn’t around, Simon could act as he desired.  

Good.

Nahyutainstructed the guard to leave them, and waited until the man was out of sightbefore approaching Simon.  

“Beautiful,isn’t she?”  Of course, he was speakingto the little bird that Simon still had in his hand.  

“Yes.  Though I usually prefer birds of prey myself,”Simon responded, lifting his palm up to let the bird fly off; he watched as sheperched herself in a nearby tree.  

“I’maware,” Nahyuta remarked, remembering how much Simon’s beloved hawk despisedhim.  Too many times had Nahyuta neededto fend off talons or deal with some scratches on his body.  Of course, Simon never offered any sort ofcomfort.  He would just tell Nahyuta tostop pissing off Taka.  

Whatan annoying, disrespectful, and godless man he was.

“Theyare my mother’s,” Nahyuta continued, looking up at the tree and seeing a fewmore.  He said nothing for a moment, andthen for reasons he wouldn’t have been able to explain, he mentioned: “She’sbeen…telling me that I need to wed soon.”

Washis mind playing a trick on him, or did he actually see Simon tense up andfrown after that statement?

“Why?”

“Shethinks it would inspire more confidence in the new regime.  Having someone at your side as you rule ismore…customary, I suppose.”   He laughed,though there was little joy in it.  “It’sfunny…I just escaped Ga’ran and now my mother wants to clip my wingsagain.  So to speak.”

“…Areyou going to do it?”

Nahyutastared at Simon.  He waited, thinking ofwhat he should say in this moment.  Helooked at Simon’s face, as if memorizing every little detail of it.  Unlike Nahyuta’s eyes, which were so trainedto show little emotion, Simon’s eyes gave him away a lot of times, even when hewas trying to hide his deeper thoughts. Right now, there was a…fear in them. Fear of what?  Of losing Nahyuta?

“…Itwould be in my royal duty if I did.  Ialways need to think about what is best for Khura’in.  I don’t have the luxury of always thinkingfor myself.”

Simonscoffed, but said nothing in response at first. He turned his head away angrily, his jaw clenching as his fists balledup at his sides.  

“Verywell then.  I’ll leave you to it.”

Simonstormed past Nahyuta in a hurry, but Nahyuta caught his arm and prevented himfrom leaving.  

“Wait.”

Simonlooked back at him, and again his eyes gave him away – he was hurt.

“Idon’t always have that luxury, but it doesn’t mean I don’t do it, you know.”  Nahyuta squeezed Simon’s arm tightly, afraidthat if he let go, Simon would storm off and that would be the end.  “I’ve been…avoiding the discussion as much aspossible.  Perhaps she is right that itwould be better for the country but Idon’t have any desire to marry right now. And there is something that has been on my mind…that has been making mewant to ignore this royal duty of mine.”

“Oh,and what would that be?”  Simon asked thequestion accusatorily, causing Nahyuta to laugh a bit.

“You’rean idiot sometimes, Panda.  It’s you.” Nahyuta smiled, practically hearing the fast-paced beating of his heartin his ears.  “It’s always been you.  Even as I tried to deny it…tried to tellmyself what was between us was just physical…”  He was shaking now…this was his confession,wasn’t it?  How was Simon going torespond?  Was he going to yank his armback and walk away?  Yell atNahyuta?  Laugh?  

Hedid none of those things.  

Instead,Simon brought one hand to the back of Nahyuta’s head and pulled him into a deepkiss.  And when Nahyuta let go of his armto put his hands on Simon’s chest, Simon used his free hand to cup Nahyuta’scheek, careful not to break the contact between their lips.

Howlong did they kiss?  Nahyuta wasn’t sure,but he did notice that both of them were panting softly when they broke apart,faces still close as their foreheads touched.

“Don’tget married.  Go on a date with meinstead,” Simon whispered, his face flushed from both the kiss andembarrassment.  “A real one.”

“Iguess I could do that,” Nahyuta answered, before bringing Simon in to kiss himagain.

Needlessto say, he had to tell his mother that any future wedding was cancelled.

[witchykitchenconjureman-blog]

As i often am, that morning i was feeling equal parts martha stewart and marie leveau. In addition to being those two ladies, im also always the dude everybody LOVES to make halloween costumes with, since i have craploads of little knick knacks, trinkets, and odds and ends sitting around for years, waiting for a purpose. And that, folks, is what voodoo is all about: collecting simple things from around your world, creatively making your purpose their purpose, and sending their magick off to do what it does how it sees fit. Who knew all this shit around my house was a link to the universe?                  {{{{{{MIND BLOWN}}}}}} Before i digress further, back to my point..... That day being saturday, and me being a 35 yr old gay guy with a cat and an injured knee, I had an urgent need to do something exciting, but with some meaning....and almost always with glitter. This is why we craft. Both artsy-crafters and witchy-crafters; we're just lonely creative geniuses with sewing kits and glue guns and mason jars and quill pens and mortars and pestles. We're like pioneer folk, but gothier and with bluetooth capability. And, usually, we're kinda the shit. Again, it being a saturday, and with all the voodoo ive been studying, i immediately think "hmm, saturday...BARON SATURDAY!" A LITTLE BACKGROUND INFO... The baron i most often speak of is Baron Samedi (translated: "Baron Saturday"), but there are several Baron incarnations (LaCroix, Cimetiere, etc.) The barons belong to a group of loa called the ghede. In essence, the ghede are cemetery/death-related spirits, but they live right here among us in our world, and they are no angels.  They drink, they smoke, they cuss, they fuck, the are quite obscene at times. So basically, theyre that hot mess Laura from yr cousins wedding, right? Nope. They're better. Know why? Cuz the barons aint all doom and gloom. They can actually be helpful, albeit obnoxious  guardians who can sometimes help in dire situations. They also hold a very important place in the voodoo/hoodoo pantheon, because they are in charge of our exit from this life, and can help when things hang in the balance. Petition them carefully and dont expect special treatment...but if u offer some candy and alcohol, u just may luck out (still not Laura, i swear!) The ghede dance the banda, and they represent death and fertility. They each have a unique and fascinating story to tell.  Baron samedi is probably the most famous of the ghede, and his wife Maman Brigitte also plays a prominent role in their graveyard community. The baron is revered by new orleans  natives and tourists alike. In haiti to this day, the first male grave in a cemetery is dedicated to him, and the first female plot to his wife Brigitte. The Baron along with the rest of the ghede are celebrated on November 2nd (All Souls Day, Day of the Dead). The dark, skeleton-like images of the ghede have got a very halloween-y appeal for many, understandably. But they also have a significant religious, cultural, and practical appeal for like bazillions of people (according to the university of vague and exaggerated facts.com......ok, lets just say alot of people then). From africa, haiti, cuba, throughout the caribbean and south america.... and here in the states, specifically in louisiana. Each place has evolved its own traditions and spin on the original african Voudon tradition. But his tophat! His glasses missing one lens! His funerary style! His skull face!....Laura? Nope the unmistakable baron samedi! The loa are fascinating to learn about. Personally i find that, through creating items with the powers and symbols of a certain loa in mind, i can make a connection to them. I begin to understand them. I feel their vibe (like dig it man....no, but seriously). Do i believe a mystical being is possessing me in a supernatural sense when i serve the loas? No. I do however feel as if i invoke certain energies from the idea of them. They are powerful archetypes associated with specific numbers, colors, plants, animals, objects, and acts. Putting a human-like name, face, and personality to these energies is the best way to get to know them and their inherent power. 

         A) Smudge my sacred space (my home)

         B) Welcome ghede spirits/energies (by fanning towards me, prefferably when the moon is waxing)

         C) Get rid of ghede spirits/energies (by fanning away from me, prefferably when the moon is waning).....

                Plus....on the other side is a sacred mirror, perfect for mirror spells! Personally, ive seen similar feather orisha fans (and mirrors, but not fan/mirror combo), and i havent seen any dedicated to the baron or the ghede, though im sure they exist. But who needs their fans?!! I poured this one out from my heart and soul and, because i made it, my magick comes built-in. All of the details are specific to the ghede or the baron specifically, and quite honestly it made me feel closer to understanding what makes Baron Samedi a powerful image i can channel into my own creative magick.

There was no plan.

No specific end goal.

No list of supplies.

Just grabbin' and gluin' and beading with fervor until painstakingly perfect. I wouldnt stop until it looked like something the baron himself had commissioned from me. Beautiful in an honest way, and beautiful in its ugly aspects as well. The ghede have a twisted beauty that is awe-inspiring....

As the process continued, the art transformed. I was, in a sense, "possessed" by creativity. Quickly i grabbed anything i could use that has an association with the baron and the ghede:

Numbers 9 and 13.

Colors purple, black, and red.

Skulls and skeletons.

Crosses.

Nails.

Every detail bringing the baron closer.

By the time i was finished,  the entire table was a full-on Baron Samedi conjure altar:

Offerings of rum, coffee, and cocoa. Cigars. An image of a rooster. Candles. Incense.

And my fan. OUR fan. Without the idea of him and his signature style and tastes, none of this very real magick would have occurred.

Even if he is a mythical being or a metaphor, his mere history and unique character make him someone who will continue to carry magickal associations when focused on.

After the work was complete, i blasted "No time to cry" by sisters of mercy, danced a bit in my legbrace, and fanned the incense throughout my apartment, feeling as if those feathers were part of my very own wings.

I left the baron his rum, coffee, cocoa, rooster, and half a cigar in a nice black box with a bow. I wouldn't have felt right removing them (even in the world of the dead, there are no take-backs).

Finally,  i hung the fan, mirror-side down, on the inside of my front door. This is where i can interact with it daily, and also where it can best fan in the good and fan out the bad.

Though i never petitioned the baron for anything (it felt more like a fun boozy brunch with a friend than conjure), i left the experience  feel honored and powerful. And with a dope piece of magickal art.

Its nice having friends in high places.

P.S.  tell hot mess Laura, Baron Samedi says hello.