#thomas nightbound

[peonyblossom]

Chapter 13 is up!

[garrusknight]

Ask Game: You played It Lives Within? How did your MC looked like? Their name and Love Interest?

This is my It Lives Within MC!

His name is Oscar Aquino ('Scar for short) and he loves Abel!

Also a while back I made an edit of all my It Lives LIs!

(I wonder if I have a type...)

[a-cloud-for-dreams]

Normal People:

Me, who romanced Thomas Mendez:

[choicesmonthlychallenge]

[March Prompts] || [March Masterlists]

Thank you for participating in the March Challenge. I am grateful for everyone who contributed. I hope you had fun and the prompts brought you some inspiration and motivation to create. Please let me know if I'm missing anything or I made a mistake. I will accept late entries for a couple of more days. 💛💛💛

⟢Nightbound:⟢

Couple Portraits [Nik x F!MC] by @ladylamrian

⟢Open Heart:⟢

As Long As Your Mine, Art [Bryce x F!OC] submitted by @storyofmychoices

Daddies and Doctors [Ethan, Tobias] by @beyondsimsreality

Highways & Byways Part One [Ethan x F!MC] by @jerzwriter

Highways & Byways Part Two [Tobias x F!MC] by @jerzwriter

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear (text fic) [Ethan x M!MC] by @dr-colossal-pita

The Missing Piece [Tobias x F!MC] by @jerzwriter

Sadie's Self-Care Sunday #25 [Ethan x F!MC] by @peonyblossom

Sorry, Tobias [Tobias x F!MC] by @jerzwriter

When The Clock Strikes Twelve [Sienna x M!OC] by @liaromancewriter

⟢Red Carpet Diaries:⟢

Mr + Mrs Hunt (forehead kisses), art [Hunt x F!OC] submitted by @theartoflovingthomashunt

⟢Crossover:⟢

Rock On [F!MC, Sienna, Raleigh] by @liaromancewriter [Open Heart/Platinum]

Good Hair Day(visual) [Raleigh, Lily, Olivia, Maxwell, Matt] by @beyondsimsreality [Platinum/Bloodbound/The Royal Romance/Red Carpet Diaires]

[gutsfics]

every time some anon confesses something weird i wanna tell them to get under my microscope so i can study them but then i remember this anon and i dont :(

I don't think "study" is necessary for that confession. It really is not that deep.

[choicesficwriterscreations]

CFWC F/AtoW: Sep 29 - Oct 5, 2024

✒️ = Fanfic | 📱 = Text Fics/Edits | 🎨 = Fanart Ⓜ️ = Mature Content 18+ | 🔥 = Explicit/NSFW 18+ 🏳️‍🌈 = LGBTQIA+

BLADES OF LIGHT AND SHADOW

Die With A Smile 🎨 | Aerin Valleros x F!Human!MC - @erixadraws

My home was never a place 🎨 | Mal Volari x F!Human!MC - @wisejazz C: @storyofmychoices

Nia & Raya 🎨 | Nia Ellarious & F!Human!MC - @erixadraws

Orc Encounters a Girl ✒️ | F!MC & F!OC - @rosesnink

CRIMES OF PASSION

Falling For You ✒️🔥 | M!Trystan Thorne x F!MC - @jerzwriter

DESIRE & DECORUM

Thomas Coleman 🎨 | M!OC - @cashweasel C: @rosesnink

LAWS OF ATTRACTION

Vandelez 🎨🏳‍🌈 | Martin Vaderwall x NB!MC - @angrybbuing C: @oh-so-youre-a-nerd

THE NANNY AFFAIR

Breakfast in Bed ✒️ | M!Sam Dalton x F!MC - @eadanga

NIGHTBOUND

Bound by Fate (Series) ✒️ | Multiple Characters - @ladylamrian Chapter 7: Brother

Royal Fae Wedding in Lamrian 🎨 | Nik Ryder x F!MC - @pilitella C: @ladylamrian

Vera Reimonenq 🎨 | Vera Reimonenq - @lilyoffandoms

OPEN HEART

Complete Open Heart F/AtoW List: Sep 29 - Oct 5, 2024

THE ROYAL ROMANCE

A Game of Love (Series) ✒️ | Liam Rys x F!OC - @kristinamae093 Chapter 1: Crown Chapter 2: Sisters

CROSSOVERS

High School Story / Princess Swap

The Prince Swap (Series) ✒️ | M!MC & M!MC - @lover-also-fighter-also, @cadybear420 Chapter 1: Worlds Collide

[ladylamrian]

Fragile

Female Main Character: Alexis (Alex)

Pairing: F!MC×NikRyder

Summary: Thomas's wraith was defeated by Alex. But the battle wasn't easy. She was now fighting between life and death.

Word Count: 6.3K words

Rating: Teen/Mature

Warnings: Angst, Heartbreak, Hospital, Health...

-> My complete Nightbound Masterlist <-

Taglist: @lilyoffandoms ; @secretaryunpaid ; @blackcatkita ; @liviusofpella ; @peonierose ; @jdstar88 ; @hopelessromantic1352 ; @tessa-liam ; @mxdanni ; @infactnoimmasitinthemiddle ; @mariemarieohcontrary ; @rosepetals1 ; @stars-are-within-me ; @dutifullynuttywitch ; @thosehallowedhalls ; @bri1234 ; @artbyalz ; @choicesaprilchallenge24 [Prompts: "What happened?" ; "Shut up!" ; "I'll take care of you." "Just relax" & "Wake up." ] @choicesficwriterscreations and whoever wants to join...

Comments via Reblog wholeheartly welcome

Author's note: Nightbound rewrite of last scene.

Nik's girlfriend, Alex was lying on the hospital bed, injured, unconscious and not waking up. Nik held back the tears that came to his eyes. Tears he didn't think would appear so easily for a tough man like him. He watched her for a long time and then kissed her forehead.

"Don't worry, rook. Everything will be alright, I swear. Just don't leave me. Wake up, I'm here. Your Nik is here with you and never left your side.", his voice trembled as he whispered. After a little pause, he continued.

"I... I think... I love you... I never thought that I would ever fall in love so deeply with you. Never imagined the thing I would fear the most would be losing you. Hell, I can lose everything but not you. But oh, not you. Please... Wake up."

He sat quietly by the bedside holding her hands, and couldn't help but keep talking to her even when she was unconscious.

"What I would give to hear your voice again...", he stroked her silvery-black hair, remembering their happy moments, their first meeting, their first kiss. Wiping away the tears that kept coming to his silvery-gray eyes, he thought he should have protected her better. He failed. Not ready to lose her like he once lost his birthparents and Elijah. He failed again. He couldn't protect her from the bloodwraith which attacked his girlfriend. Now she's fighting between life and death. Struggling.

"That Thomas bastard... Damn Lady Fate who couldn't fight that bastard before all this happened before. Powerful Fate? The hell with that!!! Thomas's gone now, but at what cost...?", he muttered as his eyes burned with anger and revenge.

Even though Thomas and his bloodwraith who tried to kill Alex and all the supernatural elite, were finally defeated at the Mardi Gras event by Alex's mysterious powers. But before its defeat, the bloodwraith just had to attack her. Its claws sank into her body, making her lose so much blood that the wraith itself ended up bloody. She lost so much blood, but it was somehow a miracle that his girlfriend was still with him. For now...

After a moment later, a doctor entered the room to check Alex's status and vitals. For his luck, the doctor was a fae, disguised from the human sight through the glamour spell. He wouldn't question much about the happenings and already knew that this was the work of a supernatural being. The bloodwraith, a killing machine. And since Alex was partly fae, he would understand her better than the rest of the doctors. Nik got up from the chair where he was sitting and approached the doctor.

"How is she?"

The doctor turned his attention to him and appeared a little worried.

"I'm afraid her situation is rather delicate, she's still unconscious. She's in a coma, her condition is serious but stable. She's been intubated and connected to many machines that keep her alive. I can't give you a date when she would wake up... it could be tomorrow or it could be in several days... I'm absolutely sorry, sir."

Nik was visibly shaken.

"And she will survive this right? Right?!!"

"The truth is... I can't know for sure. We just hope she'll pull through without any further complications.", the fae doctor informed without meeting his eyes. He paused before he continued. "We need to run some tests to know more."

Nik's body suddenly trembled slightly and his fists tightened into a ball. Taking a deep breath, he tried to remain calm.

"But in the meantime, there must be something you can do for her right?"

The doctor felt sorry, looked at her condition on the monitors and then adjusted some of them.

"She's a half-fae, right? She appears to be stable, for now. The most important thing we could do for her is allow her body to rest. And we will perform several tests so please if you want, you can be with her during the tests."

The young nighthunter nodded and watched his girlfriend. Her long hair was so beautiful, her face full of peace even when unconscious, she seemed so still, so fragile. She was now his Sleeping Beauty, waiting for her to finally wake up because he couldn't bear thinking of the worst. He gripped her hand tightly, feeling her warmth and how her skin was soft as silk and whispered to her. For him, she looked like an angel on earth. Peaceful.

"Please wake up rook, don't leave me alone..."

The doctor left the room to give him some privacy. Nik kissed her on the forehead and held onto her hand. His face is completely devastated and broken. Every fiber of his being was being torn away by this pain. Tears kept flowing down his face, his heart felt like it was about to explode and shatter in many tiny pieces. His thoughts were so chaotic and filled with dread. He blamed himself for everything. If only he could have protected her better. If only his last memory with her was a happy one. If only he made sure that Thomas and his bloodwraith were really really dead and defeated. The young man felt so powerless in this situation. He wanted to do something for her. His helplessness was torturing him, but there was nothing he could do right now. He could only wait. Nik's head whirled, his hands trembled and all that he could do was to keep holding on to this only connection he had left with his beloved.

Weeks passed and Nik Ryder was still sitting next to his girlfriend's bed. He hasn't left the hospital room since the deadly bloodwraith tried to kill her. He looked exhausted and his eyes were red as if he hadn't slept in days. He had barely eaten anything and just couldn't leave her alone. The doctor and the nurses tried to urge him to leave the hospital for a while, but he refused. Every time they suggested he go rest at home, he shook his head, because he was afraid that the second he left her, she would slip away to leave him forever. A tear ran down his cheek as he saw her lying motionless, so pale and so fragile on the bed. She looked like a small and innocent child. Alex had lost so much blood, but he was grateful at least that she was still here with him. But the fact that she was so vulnerable and helpless... Just seeing her like that cut him with a knife to his soul. He couldn't imagine what he would do if something worse happened to her. He held her hands again, and couldn't help but be overwhelmed with fear.

"I'm here love. I'm not gonna leave you. I swear.", he felt his own heartbeat as he whispered to her.

Again, weeks have passed and Nik was still sitting at her side. Every single day, holding her hand. He has barely eaten anything in all this time and now looked very pale and tired. His eyes got even more red and swollen from all the tears and exhaustion. He never left her, not a single moment. Every second he spent beside her bed because his only concern was her. If only she knew that too. He watched her with the same devotion as if they had just met and he had fallen in love. She was so peaceful in sleep, she looked so cute to him with her delicate face, her hair still so soft and shiny. But he only wanted her to wake up. If there's a god in this world then please let her wake up, he thought. Please. He would even die for her.

"It's me, darling. I'm here. Come back to me. Please.", he whispered as he stroked her silver strands and gently kissed her forehead.

"Wake up, love. Wake up, my rook... Alex, my love... You're everything to me and I need you. Wake up, please."

He stared at her, not taking his eyes off of her, looking at her face with a mixture of love, affection and fear. The silence in the room killed him and was only interrupted by the faint noise of the machines that tried to keep her alive.

Hours later. Nik was still next to her, holding her hands, caressing her hair, watching how she was in this state of deep sleep. His Sleeping Beauty. He hasn't left her side for a second and for all this time, he has barely eaten anything in the last week. Still devastated and exhausted, everything he was going through was overwhelming him. Nik Ryder was broken. His face was covered with wrinkles, and his silvery-gray eyes looked even more lifeless and swollen. He looked very pale and even a light beard began to grow. All his fears overcame him and the doctor did not give him any hope. His heart was in agony. He leaned over her and looked at her face again. So peaceful and pure with closed eyes as if she was a sleeping angel. He caressed her soft hair with devotion, his eyes were full of pain and fear. He spoke to her in a hoarse voice.

"Please wake up love. I need you. I need you so much."

"Nik, I..."

Nik sensed words coming out of her mouth and froze. Did she just say her name or was he imagining this? Did his brain start to play tricks on him since he hadn't slept for days? But then he heard her again and a spark of hope was ignited in his heart. He leaned over her and watched her lips carefully, waiting to hear her again. His hand trembled a little bit and his heart raced in his chest. Beating fast. The man took a deep breath in anticipation of the next word she would speak. He whispered to her with excitement and hope.

"Yeah? You wanna say something, love?" He was watching her lips intently to try and discern what she was trying to say and he was desperate to know if she was alright and that it was all just a bad dream.

Alex opened her eyes weakly and was struggling to open her mouth. She couldn't speak. The machines attached to her were beeping louder which made Nik immediately rush outside to call the doctors and nurses. They quickly followed him back inside the room where Alex was lying. The doctor came over to help her raise her head a little. Nik watched her lips and managed to capture the last word "You". What was she trying to tell him? He kept trying to listen to what came next, as she kept struggling to move her lips to try it again. It really looked like she wanted to say something. She managed to mumble a couple more words, but Nik couldn't understand what she was trying to say. He leaned down very close to her to listen to her words. She kept repeating the same words which sounded like "you and me". The rest he couldn't understand the rest and requested her to stay silent and not lose any energy. Nik watched as the doctor and nurses worked on giving her medication. Nik was relieved that she was showing signs of improvement now.

But she's still confused and disorientated. There were a lot of machines and tubes around her. She tried to speak again. Her voice is even more hoarse but this time she managed to murmur a few more words. This time she tries to say "I'm scared, what's happening?"

She seemed desperate to get up, not understanding why she couldn't move and why her body was still so weak. The nurses and the doctors kept checking her, giving her medicine and trying to soothe her. Nik whispered to her with empathy.

"My rook. What do you want to say?"

"Nik? Is that you?"

Nik smiled immediately at the mention of his name. He caressed her cheek with affection while feeling a lot of relief. His heart pounded fast, it was her! She's finally starting to regain consciousness!!

"Yeah It's me, I'm here love.... ", he whispered in a warm voice and smiled. He caressed her cheek and hair with more tenderness. He wanted to hold her but he was too afraid to move her since her body was still so fragile and weakened. At least, he was very happy to hear her sweet voice again.

"Yeah rook, it's me. You're alive!!"

"Nik...", she got emotional and began to sob. He softly wiped away her tears and stroked her rosy cheek.

"Hey, calm down. Don't cry. Just relax, you're safe here." He wanted her to feel safe and loved. Almost holding his breath, he also had tears in his eyes, felt very touched and so much love for her.

"Where am I? What happened?", she asked and he noticed her confusion.

He held her close to him and he wiped away her tears.

"You're safe now. We're in a hospital. Everything will be alright, don't worry."

"Nik, don't leave me here alone."

"I won't leave you alone, I swear. I've been here with you every day since this happened.", he sighed with sadness and held her hand tightly without taking his eyes off her. Nik wanted to experience every second she was awake to be able to comfort and support her. She's everything for him. There was silence between them while the doctors and nurses were working in this room and all Nik wanted to do was stay by her side. Then he noticed that she silently kept looking at him. Her face suddenly washed with sadness as if she just remembered something very important. Her break-up with Nik.

"Rook, try to rest, your body has gone through a lot. Let me stay here with you, I won't leave your side.", he promised, not being aware of what she was currently thinking. A few seconds later Nik watched her as she silently fell back asleep. Her body was so exhausted from what it's been through and she couldn't withstand being awake for a long time. Nik felt like a part of his soul was slowly being taken away with every moment he saw her in bed with the machines keeping her alive. He was still so worried and afraid. His whole body shook with fear and desperation. Taking a deep breath, he continued looking after her. Stroking her hair gently, holding her hand to never let go, he stayed there with her in silence. Only the sound of the machines that kept her alive filled the room.

Days later, finally at home.

Nik was carefully carrying her from his Black Range Rover to his apartment. Finally home. He was still holding her in his arms like a baby. Her body was so light and fragile that seemed as if he was carrying something much more delicate than a human being. He entered his apartment and took her to his bed, placing her gently on it. He watched her with tenderness, a lot of love and concern for her state of health.

"You're gonna to be okay and you'll get better, rook. I'll take care of you."

"Are we home?", she whispered, still dazed. Without noticing she accidentally said the word "home" as if she accepted that she and Nik live and belong together, sharing a home.

"Yeah, we're finally back home.", he kissed her gently on the cheek which confused her and got back to her senses.

"But... But Nik, why? Why kissing and loving me? I thought you broke up with me."

He now felt ashamed of himself, looked down to the floor for a moment to avoid her eye contact and cleared his throat before speaking.

"I... I had to think things over, and calm down, but when I realized that I'd lose you forever. I couldn't let you go anymore. I know a little sorry won't be enough to make it up, but you're so damn special to me and I never felt like this to anyone before. I still love you, my rook. I want us to be together. I want to hold you. And kiss you again. I want to feel you against me and your skin on me. To hear you breathe. To hear your heartbeat. Wake up with you every morning and sleep at night. I need you. I need you more than ever needed in my whole life. You changed me to a better man. The rules I made in my life... I broke my rules just for you."

"Nik, you broke my feelings. You hurt me. It won't be easy anymore.", she scolded him which made him feel very guilty. Ashamed, he looked away without being able to hold her gaze. She was very disappointed in him and it probably won't be the same anymore. Nik thought that he had been very selfish and unfair towards her, yet this was something he had to say, knowing the pain it could cause both of them.

"Rook..."

"Shut up, I'm not your rook!!!", she almost yelled.

"Sorry, I mean... Alex. I was a coward, but please let me explain, I swear that I'm damn sorry. I can explain..."

"Nik, I want to rest.", she decided to change the topic before she burst into tears in front of him. She didn't want to cry, feel sorry, look weak and little in front of him. She knew that Nik was taught since childhood to move on which was harsh, but it hurt her so much. She would love to be happily together with him because she never felt that way to anyone but him. Their love was so deep, strong and passionate, but that sadly didn't last for long. She wanted to be back with him, but she couldn't.

"Yeah, of course. Rest now, but later we need to talk and fix things. Or just at least hear me out to understand why I did this?", he begged for forgiveness.

"We'll see.", she answered coldly which filled him with desperation and guilt.

"I promise you that I'm gonna make it up to you and I understand your anger. Hell, you're allowed to be angry with me. But please don't...", he couldn't finish his sentence because she immediately moved away from him as he squeezed her shoulder for support.

Nik was shocked by the fact that she did not let him touch her or even get close to her. He noticed that she had gotten very distant from him which broke his heart with every move she made away from him.

"Please don't be like that. Don't push me away."

"You pushed me away first, Nik."

The man nodded, accepting his true guilt, but he couldn't argue with the fact that she was right. He also knew that for every word he said, the situation would only get worse and cause her more anger and pain. He watched her sadly, with no words left to say. A wave of guilt overwhelmed him and he felt truly terrible for what he's done. He stayed silent for a moment and faced the floor with his face full of agony. The man didn't know what to say anymore and regretted pushing her away that night before Thomas's wraith attacked her. When Nik wanted to sit on the bed near her, she immediately stood up which broke his feelings. That distance. He froze and just watched her in silence. He couldn't handle the silence and her cold attitude towards him anymore. Nik wanted to see her looking at him again, but instead, she tried to walk away. Taking a few steps forward got difficult for her because she still felt weak. Nik saw her losing balance and his natural instincts kicked in. He quickly ran towards her and placed his hands on her arm. His touch was so delicate, his grasp so gentle as he held her. He got concerned.

"Gotcha, rook. Are you okay? You were about to fall. Here, sit down, lemme me help you."

"I feel a little dizzy, nothing else."

Nik analyzed that her condition had worsened and he noticed that she got very pale, her eyes were almost closed and her body was now leaning more to one side. He held her gently by the waist and tried to help her to sit down. The nighthunter looked into her eyes with worry and was very concerned about her health. He sat her down on the bed slowly and held her, afraid of letting go. The girl was so fragile. He had taken care of her every day since she came home from the hospital. The doctors were surprised by her recovery but told him to expect some weakness for several days. Nik was very careful with her, carried her in his arms everywhere he could and not letting her out of his sight. He felt so much guilt about everything that happened. He couldn't bear to even look at the scars and all the bandages. Knowing that she almost died broke him. Alex was not yet ready to talk because of her weakness which she didn't want to show. She hated to be weak, helpless and belittled.

"Nik, I..."

"Don't pressure yourself. I'm here and I'm not gonna go anywhere. You can recover at your own pace, I'm not gonna push you, I just want you to get better, rook."

They were silent. Now looking very peaceful and relaxed after closing her eyes. Nik was glad that she was at least resting and not thinking about anything that stressed her. They stayed like this for a long time until Nik broke the silence speaking softly to her.

"You are stronger than you think. You will get back on your feet soon, I have faith in you."

He smiled as he looked at her. Nik felt a new inspiration to fight for her and was more determined than ever to give her whatever she needed. He stayed with her and was patient.

"Nik...", it took a lot of effort for her to speak.

"What is it?"

"Why? Why are you doing this for me?"

"Because I love you. It's as simple as that. Why else would I be doing this? I don't want you to be alone, or be sad or in pain. I just want you to be happy, and if I have to go through every obstacle and take every step, I'll take it, as long as I can see you smile again someday. I love you, Alex. I love you so much."

"Are you sure? You're not just loving me because I almost died?? Because if this wouldn't have happened you might..."

"No!!! Hell no, I loved you before too and still do. Before all this... this death thing happened. You broke all the walls I've built and opened me up a bit. I never felt this before. Never felt like this towards anyone before. I love you, Alex. You're so special and it would kill me if something happened to you because everyone close to me died horribly and I wanted to prevent that. Keep you safe by separating each other. What a damn mistake I made. I couldn't even keep you safe from my bad luck by breaking up with you and you still died. Almost. I love you still. Since the beginning."

She wasn't responding very much to what he just confessed, but at least she didn't seem to be angry anymore. Just tired and weak.

"So this is the only reason why you're helping me? You weren't offered some extra money or something like that, huh?"

"No rook, damn the stupid money!! You're more important than money. You're not only a job to me, but something more. More than a job. Alex, you have become so dear to me. I care for you and you're everything I have left now in this darn, cruel world. You mean so much to me. I love you, Alex."

She felt like her heart skipped a beat when she heard her name coming from his lips in such a gentle tone. She gazed at him for a moment before responding.

"You're complicated, Nik."

Her words reminded him that many people have told him this before and she was sadly right. His emotions which he always kept hidden from the world were like a tornado which confused him too. For him, choices weren't always easy like black and white. But right now, it's hard for him to explain himself to her in this state. The young man just wanted her girlfriend to get better, so he spoke with tenderness and sympathy.

"I know you're tired and everything confuses you right now. But later, I will explain everything to you."

Again, days have passed and she felt much better but still had some weakness for not being able to walk alone. At least she could sit on her own and she seemed to be more energetic. She was even able to hold conversations for several minutes without getting tired or bored. But she still seemed angry, didn't let him touch her and she just shortly answered him. However, he was still trying to show her that he had changed and that he was going to make amends for what he did.

Nik, the nighthunter discovered her sitting on the white sofa, reading a book. Her face is expressionless with no trace of the beautiful smile he once knew. He missed the good and romantic times with her. She seemed very distant from him and it saddened him to see her this way. He knew the reason behind her behavior was him and he couldn't blame her for that. Taking a deep breath, he approached her gently. He stood in front of her and he spoke softly and with a lot of sadness, honesty and determination, willing to take whatever came, even if he had to suffer. At least he tried to make up for what he did to her in the Mardi Gras Parade. The break-up. He cleared his throat and tried his best to express himself as honestly as he was.

"Rook... I mean, Alex... I know you're angry and you're upset because I left you. Because I wanted us to go separate ways and move on, but listen, I was a coward and I was afraid to tell you the truth. Since childhood I was taught not to trust anyone, to be alone and to move on. I made you believe that I no longer felt the same way I felt about you before, but that was never true. Alex, I never stopped loving you, and I will never stop loving you.", he paused, hoping that the words he was saying had some effect on her and so that he could understand the damage he did to her. She remained silent and looked at him indifferently which hurt him just looking at her that way. The young man didn't want to pressure her and he knew that for now, he had to be very patient with her.

"I... I'm really sorry for hurting you, for making you think that I don't love you.

"Alex, I can't find excuses for what I did. It just wasn't the right thing. I'm sorry..."

He knew it would be very difficult for her to forgive him for the heartbreak he caused her. Still, at least he got her to listen to him and had a brief conversation. That's the start he needed, now he just had to keep his promise that he was serious about making it up to her and that he would show her how much he really loved her.

"Listen, Nik... Thank you for taking care of my health and getting me back on my feet, but I think it's time for me to go."

A wave of sadness hit him when he heard what she just said. His heart sank and he felt desperation welling up within him.

"What are you talkin' about?", he asked, looking at her with eyes full of longing and a kind of fear that perhaps his last attempt to have her stay with him has been lost.

"I will go back home where I came from, Nik."

"But you're still not in a condition to do this alone. Who's gonna take care of you at home?", he was suddenly taken aback.

"Nik, you broke up with me. I can't live with you like this"

Nik sighed sadly and faced the floor. He knew that he had no right, as this was a natural consequence of his own actions. He was upset and depressed for causing this break-up and for losing her true love, but he had only himself to blame.

"I'm trying to fix everything between us, I swear. I don't want to lose you again. I love you and I can't imagine my life without you anymore. Please, I beg you to stay."

"But Nik, can I trust you? Will you prove yourself? How will I know you won't change your mind again?"

It seemed like a small window of hope was still open to him and he felt like he actually had a chance to convince her to trust him again. He thought for a few seconds before he spoke, this was probably one of the most important moments for him. He gazed at her directly in the eyes with a serious expression and he spoke with pure honesty.

"I know my words alone aren't enough for you to trust me again, but I can assure you that I'm serious about fixing the mess I created and proving I can be a better man for you. So, what do you say? Wanna start our love story again?"

"Nik, it feels good to hear this. Thanks, but I need time."

The blond-haired man was very understanding when she confessed that she needed some time and he knew that he had to be patient and give it to her. He smiled at her with kindness and sincerity, but his smile also hid a sadness in him because of all the pain he had caused her.

"I don't want to rush anything, I know I have to win back your trust little by little, so just take the time you need. But, please, do me a favor... Just don't close me out, okay? I know right now we can't act like we used to, but lemme be here for you. Lemme help you. Lemme stay by your side, please."

Nik knew that she still had a lot of anger towards him, but he also hoped that in time, he could find a way to make her see that he was indeed a changed man.

"Hmmph, I try my best.", she muttered.

He tried not to show impatience, tried to be patient and to respect her decision. Patience and tolerance. She was also making an effort to at least stay calm and listen to him, which was also a good sign for him, even if she hadn't forgiven him yet.

"Thanks, Alex. All I ask you is to not give me your back. Lemme be here for you, that's all I want."

"But I can't live here with you just like that without any relationship, right?"

"I know... I don't expect you to trust me 100% in your present circumstances. That's why I'm telling you that we should take things slow and that you need time to regain your confidence. However, I do expect that you let me continue to help you."

"I know, but... But Nik, I don't want to bother you."

He chuckled and his response was honest and spontaneous as his natural personality returned at the sound of his humorous side coming back.

"Don't be silly, rook. How are you bothering me? Quite the opposite actually, I'd be bothered if you didn't let me help you..."

Nik's laughter felt heartwarming which made her smile a little. Though it was still quite small, he felt his heart skip a beat at her sweet smile and his affection for her grew even stronger. She was like a small kitten he wanted to cuddle and protect.

"See? Now, that's a cute smile more like the ones I like to see on your face...", he confessed which made her blush.

"Thanks", she whispered as her cheeks turned softly pink.

Nik and Alex's relationship has progressed over the past weeks, despite the slow pace they had, she let him stay near her and help her. She became more receptive to his help and she even showed some affection with her attitude, though sometimes she was still very distant and a little cold towards him. He knew that the break-up was very painful for her and she was still struggling with her anger, but he was determined to help her. Both would get through this difficult situation and still work hard to build something strong again.

A few days later, Nik was in the kitchen helping her clean the dishes, as he had done with her these past few weeks. She looked a bit more comfortable and smiled a little bit more. However, she was still tad cold with him as she couldn't easily forgive him yet, but he was patient and tried his best to make her realize that this was all in the past and he was determined to win her affection and trust and heart again.

"Woah!!", she shouted as she was about to slip. Nik quickly rushed to catch her before falling. He pulled her close to him. Alex looked down at the fallen dishes from her hands and realized that he caught her just in time. She gazed at him with a surprised expression upon realizing he was there for him.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

"Nik, I..."

He held her close to him and couldn't help but feel an increased affection increase as their eyes met each other's.

"Alex, are you feelin' weak again? It's okay, I'm here for you."

His tone was affectionate and protective, which could give a hint of his growing feelings for her. He could see that her condition improved a lot over the past few weeks, but she was still a little fragile. He held her close to him, feeling her body pressed against his and she didn't even protest about it. They stood there for a few seconds like this as if the time froze. He was still holding her with affection. She was in his arms and felt his gentle touch which felt comforting.

The physical proximity between the two brought them closer on an emotional and sentimental level, which was evident by the soft glances he gave her. His gaze spoke of affection, it gave a hint of an awakening feeling that was becoming more sincere and profound. They stayed like this for a few more moments. His arms were tightly wrapped around her and he was almost holding her close to himself. More affectionately than he should, although his intention was only to comfort her as much as possible.

"You can lean on me as long as you need. I have you..."

She looked at him with surprise and appreciation and she was finally able to feel this affection that he had been expressing towards her. A hint of emotion started to form in her eyes and she couldn't help but feel comfortable with his touch. Safe and protected next to him. Her heart beated faster with satisfaction and she couldn't resist the feeling of affection towards him that began to form within her. She leaned her head slightly against his shoulder and allowed herself to feel sheltered.

"Nik, I missed us."

Her words made him emotional. He missed the relationship they had before too, loved the bond they had and now he saw its spark reigniting.

"Me too... I missed us too... My rook."

[choicesjanuary2024]

MASTERLIST || WELCOME || PROMPTS || RULES || HOST

Listed in alphabetical order by artist name. If I missed adding one on this list, or missed reblogging, please let me know.

@aallotarenunelma

Chronicles of a Crimson Summer 11 (ID Fic & Edit, Cas x MC)

Songs that describe my pairings (ID & It Lives Songs)

@dutifullynuttywitch

Starlit night (WtD Fic, Troy x MC)

@inlocusmads

chosen family (CoP Fic, Trystan)

hello, goodbye ~ jimmy rose (CoP Fic, Jimmy)

laplace’s angel (CoP Fic, Trystan x MC)

meeting at a crosswalk (CoP Fic, Trystan x MC)

slam poetry (MAH Fic, Stevie x MC)

@jerzwriter

A Different Fate - Final Chapter (OPH Fic, Ethan x MC)

A Little Mess (OPH Edit, Tobias x MC)

A New Perspective (OPH Fic, Tobias x MC)

A Tipsy Winter Tale (CoP Fic, Trystan x MC)

Clucking Amazing (OPH Edit, Ethan x MC)

Different Destinations (OPH Fic, Tobias x MC)

If the hat fits… (CoP Fic & Art Commission, Trystan x MC)

It Always Starts Somewhere…. (CoP Fic, Trystan x MC)

Pen-sive (OPH Fic, Ethan x MC)

Pietro & Azul (OPH Fic, Tobias x MC)

Stress Reduction (OPH Fic, Tobias x MC)

The Morning (WtD Fic, Eli x MC)

Trystan’s 2023 Holiday Recap (CoP Edit, Trystan x MC)

Twenty-Five (WTD Fic, Troy & MC)

@ladylamrian

A Prince for the Holidays (Blades Fic, Aerin x MC)

His Barbie, Her Ken (Nightbound Fic, Nik x MC)

Loyal to be Royal (Nightbound Fic, Nik x MC, Garrus x MC)

@liaromancewriter

Daddy’s Girl (OPH Fic, Ethan x MC)

Making It Work (OPH Edit, Ethan x MC)

Miami Nights: Before and After (OPH Edit, Ethan x MC)

New Year Wishes (OPH Fic, Ethan x MC)

Whatever It Takes (OPH Edit, Ethan x MC)

@lilyoffandoms

Alex as the Winter Princess (Nightbound Art, MC)

Aerin x Raine (Blades Art, Aerin x MC)

Aerin x Raine (Blades Art, Aerin x MC)

Ash Clark (ILITW Art, OC)

Captain Pandrosion Elara (AtV Art, Sol, Meridian, Kepler, MC)

Casey MacTavish (OPH Art, MC)

Coffee Date(s) (CoP Art, Trystan x MC)

Detective Lilah Rose (CoP Art, MC)

Ethan (OPH Art)

Gabriel Rose (CoP Art)

Imtura Tal Kaelen (Blades)

Inspired by Mal x Daenarya (Blades Art, Mal x OC)

Kajsiab (Alpha Art, MC)

Kieran (TCH Art)

Lancelot x Guinevere Silhouette (Guinevere Art, Lancelot x MC)

Leaf, King of Birds (TCH Art)

Lilah Rose (CoP Art, MC)

Luca O'Rinn (ID MC)

Mal Volari (Blades Art)

Marianna Howard (Desire and Decorum Fanart, OC)

Nia Ellarious (Blades Art)

Nora Rose (CoP Art, MC)

Sabastyan Thorne Case File (CoP Art)

Saini Rusanen (ID Art, MC)

Tatum x Aubrey (FA Art, Tatum x MC)

Together We Win (Blades Art, MC)

Trystan (CoP Art)

Tyril Starfury (Blades Art)

Wallace (Blades Art)

@lovealexhunt

Happy New Year (RCD Fic & Art Commission, Thomas x MC)

Helios - Emma’s Arylu (TE Art, Familiar)

#plantlove (OPH Fic, Bryce x OC)

Post Christmas Bliss (RCD Art Commission, Thomas x MC)

Spread Joy #841 (Blades Edit, Mal)

Tuneless Wonders (TE, Fic & Art Commission)

Valax (Blades Art)

@peonyblossom

Hades of House Nightbloom (Blades Art Commission, MC)

I Wasn’t Built For Iceland (AME Fic, Carson x MC)

We’ll Figure It Out (Untamable Fic, Kit x MC)

@stars-are-within-me

In Her Arms (CoP Fic, Vasili, Juliana)

The Skies (Blades Fic, Imtura, Ventra)

@tess-liam

Turning the Page (TRR Fic, Liam x OC)

@thosehallowedhalls

A 2AM Christmas Tree Farm [1/2] (CoP Fic, Trystan x MC)

Babysitting the Demonic Duo (CoP Fic, Trystan x MC)

Home without - Part One (CoP Fic, Trystan x MC)

Progression (CoP Fic, Trystan x MC)

Tabloids, or a story in 5 headlines (CoP Fic, Trystan x Emma)

[lover-also-fighter-also]

HUFFLE'S MC MASTERLIST (NOTE: LIST IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

Hi everyone,

I figured instead of cluttering my intro page with the links for my MC profiles, I would make a separate post for it, along with the status of my choices playthroughs, and whether or not I will be making MC profiles for them. (inspired by @cadybear420 's MC masterlist).

Note: The ones I marked TBD it's still to be determined.

Completed with full profiles:

The Elementalists: Anitha Russell

Birthday: December 26, 1999

Gender: Cis-Woman (She/Her)

Sexuality: Bisexual (with a higher preference to guys)

LI: Griffin Langley

High School Story (Original Trilogy) : Ria Monero

Birthday: 7th September, 2000

Gender: Cis-Woman (She/Her)

Sexuality: Lesbian

LI: Maria Flores

High School Story (Original Trilogy): Jeremy Rin

Birthday: 21st December, 2000

Gender: Cis-Man (he/him)

Sexuality: TBD (thinking bi-curious)

LI: Emma Hawkins

High School Story (Class Act) : Mila Delgado

Birthday: 15th April, 2002

Gender: Cis-Woman (She/Her)

Sexuality: Biromantic and Bisexual

LI: Skye Crandall

Open Heart: Harshith Sharma

Birthday: 20th March, 1994

Gender: Cis-Man (He/Him)

Sexuality: Biromantic and Bisexual

LI: Aurora Emery

Veil of Secrets: Tanya Sharma

Birthday: 17th May, 1997

Gender: Cis-Woman (She/Her)

Sexuality: Demisexual (with only preference to men)

LI: Flynn O'Malley

Completed with In-progress Profiles:

Blades of Light and Shadow: Halor (Last Name TBD)

Birthday: TBD

Species: Elf (the blue sprite)

Gender: Cis-Male (he/him)

Sexuality: Multisexual

LI: TBD (Im planning to pair him with Tyril, but also want to go for the Valax Route)

Bloodbound: Lexi Wong

Birthday: April 20th, 1996

Gender: Cis-Woman (She/Her)

Sexuality: Pansexual

LI: TBD (Im thinking to pair her up with Jax, but Lily is also great!)

Crimes of Passion: Lauren Rose

Birthday: June 10th, 1995

Gender: TBD

Sexuality: TBD

LI: Trystan Thorne

Desire & Decorum: Jenny Mills

Birthday: November 2nd, 1795

Gender: Cis-Woman (She/Her)

Sexuality: Lesbian

LI: Annabelle Parsons

Endless Summer: Alicia (no last name)

Birthday: 1st January, 1996 (but realistically undetermined- You know why)

Gender: TBD

Sexuality: Biromantic and Bisexual

LI: TBD (all of them are good!)

The Freshman Series: Audrey Jones

Birthday: 5th May, 1996

Gender: Cis-Woman (She/Her)

Sexuality: Straight

LI: TBD (I have played the James route once and I really liked it, so mostly Im thinking to stick to it)

The Heist: Monaco: Ari (no last name)

Birthday: July 10th, 1993

Gender: GNC Cis-Woman (She/Her)

Sexuality: Polysexual

LI: TBD (Im leaning more towards Eris or Sonia)

Hero: Lucas Sanders

Birthday: 2nd January, 1996 (well, it may not be the real birth date, but that was the day his adoptive mom found him so it became his birthday)

Gender: Cis-Man (he/him)

Sexuality: Gay

LI: TBD (Still conflicted between Grayson and Kenji)

Hot Couture: Janice Moore

Birthday: 7th February, 1994

Gender: Trans-Woman (She/Her)

Sexuality: wlw

LI: Luz Estrada

Immortal Desires: Megan Reese

Birthday: 12th August, 2005

Gender: Cis-Woman (She/Her)

Sexuality: Biromantic and Bisexual

LI: Gabriela Adalhard & Cassius Harlow

It Lives in the Woods: Jenna Salem

Birthday: 18th October, 2000

Gender: Cis-Woman (She/Her)

Sexuality: Lesbian

LI: Ava Cunningham

It Lives Beneath: Melissa Vance

Birthday: 21st November, 1998

Gender: Cis-Woman (She/Her)

Sexuality: Straight

LI: Tom Soto

It Lives Within: Prem Rathore

Birthday: 30th August, 1998

Gender: Cis-Male (He/Him)

Sexuality: Demiromantic and Demisexual

LI: Amalia de Leon

Laws of Attraction: Dylan Parker

Birthday: 18th December, 1990

Gender: Trans-Man (he/him)

Sexuality: Bisexual

LI: Aslinn Tanaka

Mother of the Year: Andrea Kim

Birthday: 22nd January, 1981

Gender: Cis-Woman (She/Her)

Sexuality: Straight

LI: Thomas Mendez

Murder at Homecoming: Valentine Daniel Stone

Birthday: 15th September, 2004

Gender: Cis-Male (He/Him)

Sexuality: Gay

LI: Tyler Woods

Nightbound: Kate Williams

Birthday: 20th September, 1993

Gender: Cis-Woman (She/Her)

Sexuality: Bisexual

LI: Vera Reimonenq

With Every Heartbeat: Willow Woods

Birthday: 2nd March, 2000

Gender: Cis-Woman (She/Her)

Sexuality: Lesbian

LI: Dakota Winchester (female hispanic sprite)

Replay for an MC profile:

Across The Void

America's Most Eligible

The Crown & The Flame

A courtesan of Rome

The Cursed Heart (bk 2)

Distant Shores

Foreign Affairs

Guinevere

The Haunting of Braidwood Manor

Kindered

Passport to Romance

Platinum

The Royal Romance + The Royal Heir + The Royal Finale

The Unexpected Heiress

Wake the Dead

Haven't Played yet (But may create MC profile):

Baby Bump

Bachelorette Party

Big Sky Country

The Deadliest game

Dirty Little Secrets

Getaway Girls

LoveHacks

Most Wanted

Perfect Match

The Phantom Agent

Queen B (bk 2)

Red Carpet Diaries

Ride or Die

The Royal Masquerade

Haven't Played yet/Jury Still out for MC profile:

Along Came Treble

Alpha

A Very Scandalous Proposal

The Billionaire's Baby

The Duchess Affair

Filthy Rich

First Comes Love

Guarded

Hearts on Fire

Home for the Holidays

Hot Shot

Kiss of Death

Make That Date!

Ms. Match

My Two First Loves

The Nanny Affair

The Princess Swap

The Promise of Forever

Rising Tides

Roommates With Benefit

Rivals with Benefits

Save the Date

Ship of Dreams

Shipwrecked

Slow Burn

Sunkissed

Surrender

Untamable + Unbridled

Witness

Wishful thinking

Wolf Bride

[playchoicesconfessions]

Sent by @ladylamrian

‘In the last chapter when defeating Thomas it's described that the Nightbound Main Character her skin blazing like a sun. Isn't that pretty? Wish PB made an art scene or CG of this ✨️✨️’

POST/CONFESSIONS DO NOT REFLECT THE MOD’S PERSONAL OPINIONS!

[choicespride]

Choices Pride 2024 Week 4 Masterlist

Bloodbound

Kink Sketch - MC (Magdalene Constantino) x Gaius Augustine - @gaiuskamilah

Crimes of Passion

SpreadJoy #895 - Astrid Thorne - @storyofmychoices

The Deadliest Game

SpreadJoy #899 - Dante Valdez - @storyofmychoices

High School Story/HSS: Class Act

Bad Boy Michael CG - Michael Harrison - @peonyblossom

Mila and Skye Picrew - OC (Mila Delgado); Skye Crandall - @lover-also-fighter-also

SpreadJoy #898 - Caleb Mitchell - @storyofmychoices

Hollywood U

Diva!Jackie - f!MC (Jackie Winters) - @peonyblossom

Jackie Hiking CG - f!MC (Jackie Winters) - @peonyblossom

Yes, Professor 🥵 - Thomas Hunt - @peonyblossom

Hot Couture

SpreadJoy #897 - Hazel Nguyen - @storyofmychoices

It Lives Anthology

andy binding + top surgery sketches - Andy Kang - @gaiuskamilah

Pride Edits - m!MC (Vax Vũ-Verdant, ILW) - @kilvalir

Laws of Attraction

Double A - f!MC (Arinya Manithikhun) x Aislinn Tanaka - @gaiuskamilah

Nightbound

SpreadJoy #894 - Garrus - @storyofmychoices

Open Heart

Canon Doodles - m!MC (Jensen Valentine) x Bryce Lahela; Sienna Trinh; Jackie Varma; Elijah Green - @mydemonsdrivealimo

Chef!Ethan - Ethan Ramsey - @peonyblossom

SpreadJoy #896 - Rafael Aveiro - @storyofmychoices

SpreadJoy #900 - Bryce Lahela - @storyofmychoices

Sunkissed

Summer Nights 🌅 - f!MC (Callie Summer) x Eliana Flores - @peonyblossom

Crossovers

Lovely Ladies Picrews - Daenarya (f!human!MC, Blades of Light and Shadow); Alex Hunt (f!MC, Hollywood U); Nyx Selenstra (nb!OC, Blades of Light and Shadow); Calli Rossi (f!MC, Veil of Secrets) - @storyofmychoices

Sydney & Callie + Flags - Open Heart; Sunkissed - m!MC (Sydney Valentine, OH); f!MC (Callie Summers, Sunkissed) - @peonyblossom

[bri1234]

Everything I've created regarding Choices is below. Enjoy!

Desire and Decorum

Ernest Sinclarie x MC Art

Ernest Sinclaire x MC Mood Board

The Elementalists

Beckett Harrington x MC Art

The Cursed Heart Masterlist

Crimes of Passion

Trystan Thorne x MC Art

Trystan Thorne x MC Mood Board

The Princess Swap

Prince Clarke x MC Art

Meet My MC: Daisy Hawthorne

Safe With Me Fic - Prince Clarke x Daisy

Nightbound

Nik Ryder x MC Art

Open Heart

Ethan Ramsey x MC Art

Guinevere

King Arther x MC Art

The Unexpected Heiress

John Somerset x MC Art

Things I’ve created for people

Thomas Hunt x Brooklyn Moore from Red Carpet Diaries

Miscellaneous

Song survey results

[choices-and-voices]

Kat’s Guide to Choices: Fave Books and LIs

Hey everyone! For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Kat, and I’ve been playing Choices since ~2016. Being on the app for so long has given me a lot of time to read a lot of series, and of course, I’ve accumulated a lot of favourites from among them. Some of those favourites are unsurprising, because they’re widely recognised as well-written or they’re similar to ‘real-life’ books that I enjoy: think Blades of Light & Shadow, Most Wanted, Mother of the Year. Others are surprising, even to me, because at first glance they seem like shallow romances but if you play them just right then they go straight for your heart: think Baby Bump (I dare you to play it romancing Myra Dixon), Big Sky Country (I dare you to play it as an MLM romance), The Cursed Heart (it doesn’t even matter how you play that one, I think it’s the most underrated series Choices has ever had). It’s gotten to the point where I think it’d be cool to have this pinned post of all the series that stand out to me on the app, plus all the LIs that made them feel special. I’m not the type of person who likes picking between favourites, so it’s not going to be a ranked list, or a list with a limited number of slots – I’ve just done it alphabetically, and I’ll keep adding to it as I go. I hope that it helps people celebrate their own favourites, and maybe even inspires people to read something new 😊

Without further ado, here are my favourite series and LIs on Choices:

Baby Bump – Myra Dixon (whom I renamed Harper)

Big Sky Country – Sawyer Oakley

Blades of Light & Shadow – Tyril Starfury

Bloodbound – Adrian Raines

Crimes of Passion – Princess Trystan Thorne

The Cursed Heart – Prince Kieran

The Deadliest Game – Dante Valdez

Desire & Decorum – Ernest Sinclaire

The Elementalists – Griffin Langley

Foreign Affairs – Tatum Mendoza

Guinevere – King Arthur

Laws of Attraction – Gabe Ricci

Most Wanted

Mother of the Year – Thomas Mendez

Ms. Match – Jack Monroe (whom I renamed Elijah Bennett)

Murder at Homecoming – Donovan Navarro

Nightbound – Nik Ryder

Open Heart – Rafael Aveiro

Perfect Match – Damien Nazario

The Royal Masquerade – Kayden Vescovi (whom I renamed Kaspian)

The Royal Romance/The Royal Heir/The Royal Finale – Liam Rhys (whom renamed Nikola)

Save the Date – Simon Hendricks

Slow Burn – Julian Navarro

The Unexpected Heiress – John Somerset

Veil of Secrets – Naomi Silverhawk (I got really close to picking Kate O’Malley once I realised that she was an option, but in the end I couldn’t reject Naomi, and I think she doesn’t get enough love)

[a-cloud-for-dreams]

Trick-or-Treat Gift Exchange (@choicesfandomappreciation)

This was my first year of doing a gift exchange in this fandom and I'm so happy I did because it ended up being super fun! My secret pal is @ladylamrian aka one of the sweetest creators I know on this app <3

I haven't played ITW yet so ofc I decided to make a Nightbound edit/mini blurb about Alex and Nik! It's a page from a scrapbook and occurs a year after she decides to stay with Nik and the gang. I don't know if she actually keeps a scrapbook in your headcanon, but I thought after finding out she's half-fae, she would be inspired to commemorate her favorite moments. Hope you like it!

"Hey, Rook!" Nik calls out when he enters his apartment, wait, their apartment. "You home?" There was no sign of response, and that made him nervous. Alex wouldn't just disappear on him, not after things have been going so well this entire year, right?!

His first instinct, against his will, was to panic. He needed to calm down now. Alex wouldn't do that, think rationally.

He strolls over to the coffee table near the couch and finds a note written in Alex's handwriting. He picked it up and skimmed through what she wrote.

Hey! I'm sorry I had to leave without calling. Garrus wanted me to pick up decorations for the party later, so I'll be back a little late. And before you tell me, I'll stay safe I promise. But I do think it's sweet how caring you are, XOXO! - the love of your life (Alex)

He chuckled at the short note, her enthusiasm lighting the room through mere words. Oh, thank God. See Nik? Maybe Katy was right, thinking rationally can pay off...

His gaze turned to the scrapbook next to the note on the same table. It was opened to a page Alex seemed to be working on before she left. It was a collage of Polaroids with notes jotted next to them from over the past year.

He picks up an untaped picture of the two of them on their first date after defeating Thomas. She looked even more gorgeous that night than usual, her unique silvery hair glistening under the warm lights. Nik begins to smile and picks up the hefty scrapbook, his interest piqued. He reads the notes she's written on the side, one in particular challenging him to another sparring match.

Oh, you're so on, Rook, and I won't go easy this time.

He would have kept looking, but Alex unlocked the front door and was welcomed by the sight of his girlfriend. She raised an eyebrow as she saw him with her scrapbook in hand.

"I thought you said you didn't like my 'sentimental scrapbook'" she emphasized with air quotes while mimicking his voice.

He furrows his eyebrows and frowns. "I don't sound like that."

She laughs in response. "Oh yeah? Everyone last night said it was pretty realistic." Nik rolls his eyes. She sits on the couch and motions him to sit next to her. "It's nice, huh? I took so many photos this year, I don't think I'll be able to fit them all! In fact..."

Her voice fades as she enthusiastically explains her plans to explore more of the supernatural world. He gets distracted by how mesmerizing she is. Maybe it was because she was part Fae but every moment he spent with her never failed to make him feel like a real person again. Alex notices his lack of response and tilts her head in confusion.

"Nik! Are you paying attention to what I'm saying?!" She crosses her arms.

He chuckles. "I'm just...happy you're here, Rook."

Her expression fades into a soft smile. "Me too."

[mikaelsrose]

one: let's meet again, for the first time

Pairing: currently ambiguous, f!MC (Niamh) x Cal, f!MC (Niamh) x (m!OC) Xander

Book: Nightbound

Word count: 3450

Rating: T

Warnings: cursing, mention of drugs

Category: (according to choices) horror; short-series, supernatural, romance

A/n: I'm not sure how my brain works and I don't think I want to find out, but this was first inspired by toss a coin to a witcher, but here we are. Bon appétit. 

I’ve teased about writing it for years (literally), so I’m just as surprised as those of you who remember me talking about it, that I’m actually publishing it 😂

Quick introduction:

Initially, Niamh stayed in NOLA for a few months but eventually left

Throughout the events of the book, Niamh and Cal did not romance each other, but they had a short-lived fling several weeks after the fight with Thomas

By any means, I do not promise to be faithful to the original in terms of... anything. If something is not as it was in the book, it's because I deliberately changed it. 

Setting: a year after the events of Nightbound

Tag list: @ladylamrian @lazypartridge @ginnyginsposts @brycesgirl @cashweasel @lilyoffandoms @choicesficwriterscreations (if you wish to be added or taken off the list, dm me! as usual, sorry if I forgot about someone)

pinterest boards for the vibes: niamh | cal | xander | crystaval / lamrian

Nothing can prepare you for grief. There is no handbook of conduct, and it does not get easier the second time. 

Until forced to spend hours by herself in a spacious chamber, Niamh never thought of her as a survivor or as bearing any trauma. It was half past midnight by New Orleans’ time, the air was heavy and suffocating despite the downpour outside. She's been in Crystaval for over a year, learning the ways of conduct, history, military strategy and magic when despite Lady Avyanna’s motto of nipping one’s emotions in the bud, Niamh fell into panic. She always thought that grief only concerned those who lost someone dear to them, but having spent many hours in isolation she realised that she was grieving her old life, the one she was ready to leave behind before agreeing to stay in Crystaval.

"My Lady, a visitor has arrived."

She nodded almost imperceptibly as her eyes continued to observe the reflection in the mirror. A young woman was staring back at her, clothed in luxurious fabric, wearing a thousand-year-old jewellery, one that created the impression of a powerful, steady leader. 

Straightening her back, Niamh rose up, and followed her aide towards the Grand Hall.

“Is everything ready for the announcement?”

“Yes, my Lady.”

“Who is the guest?”

“A young man from your birth realm. A nighthunter. He said the matter is urgent.”

Her heart skipped a beat, but her face remained impassive. The clicking of her heels reverberated in the spacious hall, blending with the happy chirping of the dwarf kingfishers, birds native to Crystaval, until a high-pitched ringing forced her to stop and lean against the wall. Alerted, Xander scanned the surroundings and, having found nobody around, placed a hand on Niamh’s back. “Breathe, Nia,” he said softly, stroking her skin.

The sense of duty threatened to blow his chest apart. Xander knew that this condition was unusual, possibly life-threatening, thus could not be taken lightly; however, Niamh made it very clear that this should stay between them. Since he was subordinate to her and not the Queen, Xander was obliged to follow the orders of the heiress to the throne.

Niamh bit her lip when the ringing became louder, clouding her mind and making her lose her balance. 

“We should tell someone about this, it’s potentially dangerous and happens too frequently lately,” Xander murmured while delicately wiping the golden tears off her cheeks. 

“Don’t you dare,” she threatened. “I have it under control.”

Closing her eyes, Niamh took a couple of deep breaths, waiting for her heartbeat to slow down. When she opened her eyes, she found Xander piercing her with his gaze.

“Let’s go.”

Familiar laughter echoed in the spacious room.

“What brings you to Crystaval?” 

“What the actual fuck, Niamh?”

The royal guards eyed the nighthunter, looking alerted, but the blonde did not pay them any attention. Xander stepped closer, his hand already on the hilt of his dagger. Noticing the mobilisation, Niamh intervened: “At ease, he's a friend. Why don’t we step outside?”

In comparison to Crystaval, Lamrian's gardens were mundane, stale, boring even. The water had a purplish tint, the sky was adorned with two suns—Halcyona, the crimson giant, and Eirele, a smaller one, yet still bigger than Earth’s sun was slightly peachy. The scarce clouds were pink, and the air smelled of the lush greenery surrounding them. Nik found himself fascinated by the landscape, especially because he’s never been allowed to Crystaval, but his eyes never left Niamh's silhouette. 

“You said you were coming back home,” Nik started, fumbling with his leather glove.

“This is my home.”

“Don't play dumb, rookie, you know damn well what I mean. All of a sudden, you decided to become, what, a queen? How come no one in the supernatural world knew about this? How is it even possible? Elric wasn't exactly that much of a big shot."

Niamh sighed quietly and began smoothing out her baby blue dress in an attempt to hide the trembling of her hands. “The throne is rightfully mine, but no, I am not a queen yet. Since Lady Thalissa preferred to remain in the colony, it became my duty to care for the folk of Crystaval as well as maintain peace among all seven realms,” she looked up and was immediately met with a pair of piercing grey eyes. “The kind fae of the Lavender City were asked to keep the new administration a secret until told otherwise, as we did not want unfit creatures knowing the authority was weak and unstable. Soon, the news will spread. I have gone through extensive teachings of Sir Xander about the history, politics, and militarization, as well as Lady Avyanna's magical training. Tomorrow, we’ll issue a statement of Crystaval’s readiness to aid other realms should they need it.” 

Nik chuckled at the ridiculousness of this situation and averted his gaze, letting it fall on a peculiar looking plant, transforming right in front of his eyes. The flower’s petals were similar to regular lilies in shape, yet its colour differed from what Nik knew back from his realm. The pitch black of the petals was brought out by the elongated, luminescent cyan stamen, and the longer he looked, the more drawn into them he was.

“Don’t stare for too long, or you’ll hallucinate for several days,” Niamh warned. The nighthunter reluctantly obeyed. “Cyan Lily Regina, the hidden treasure of the realm. These stamens hide the dose of cyanide that could easily kill entire kingdoms. The most dangerous poison in all seven realms.”

Nik coughed. “I assume Sir Xander is the one watching me like a hawk?”

“Yes. He’s the royal advisor and the head of the army, you can trust him.”

“Sure I can,” Nik mumbled mockingly and lowered his voice to make Xander’s eavesdropping job much harder. “Niamh, what actually happened?” 

“Queen Nymeria of Crystaval visited me in a vision two weeks after I left and requested that I visit her urgently. During the meeting, she explained that my father was her son, fourth in line to the throne. The rest of her children died under the attack of Svarvali tribes two days before she contacted me, which made me the last rightful heiress.”

“Elric must've been the long-lost child, I suppose,” Nik commented, gathering his thoughts. Ever since it was brought to his attention that Niamh might have indeed resided in either Lamrian or Crystaval, he began studying the fae’s politics, history, developing an unhealthy obsession with the royal bloodline. He noticed discrepancies within the official family tree, and according to his research, at least one heir was removed from the official data. 

He made a mental note to update his notes. His gaze kept coming back to the flower.

“Her Majesty is approaching her final days. Having in mind the balance of all the realms, Lady Fate warned the Queen that she must train the heir and since I had demonstrated magical abilities, I was considered a prospective heiress immediately. Now I serve as the Queen's First Lady. With the aid of the royal advisors, I carry out Her Majesty's duties as she is no longer able to perform them. May I ask what brought you here?” Niamh resumed. 

Nik squared his shoulders and sighed heavily as his fingers caressed the engraved hilt of his dagger.

“You ain't gonna like it, I'm afraid,” he admitted. “Something’s goin’ on in the bayou, it’s messing with the pack's minds," Nik continued, averting his gaze when Niamh finally looked at him. He cleared his throat. "They're nervous, angry—well, angrier than usual. Kinda hard to explain. They say they can hear the voices of their dead loved ones convincing them to give in to their primal needs, to kill, slaughter. Embrace the wolf, or some bullshit. One of them attacked a witch coven last night. They barely made it out alive."

Niamh frowned. "You came all the way here to bother the Queen about a vengeful evil spirit? It's a good thing you met me instead."

“I’ve checked every position in the bestiary, so trust me when I say it ain't no evil spirit, rook— Niamh. It's been going on for weeks, people keep disappearing and the pack's becoming a real pain in the ass, so you might wanna move your royal ass to New Orleans and play Moulder and Scully to figure out what's going on because neither me nor Kathy have a clue how to stop it. Besides, I had a hunch I might find you here.”

“You had no way of knowing that.”

“You’re underestimating my detective abilities.”

"Do you mean pestering Lady Fate for information for so long that she either gives it to you or curses you?" Niamh raised her eyebrow, smiling softly, and Nik averted his gaze yet again. She noticed a fresh scar on the left side of his face, which he skilfully hid until now. "What happened?"

He shrugged uncomfortably. "Your local werewolf leader wasn't a fan of my interrogation techniques."

"Octavia isn't a fan of you as far as I remember. She probably just waited for an occasion."

His brows knitted. "Last I checked, Octavia got her ass beaten during the competition. She was licking her wounds for weeks."

"Competition?"

"Ain't you supposed to know all that's hanging in our realm?"

Niamh blushed. Indeed, she was supposed to know that, and to a great extent she did—she just didn't want to receive any updates on the NOLA werewolf pack. 

Quickly realising his mistake, Nik added: 

"There were two candidates and neither wanted to step down, so according to some kind of their law they had to fight for the position. Cal spared her life, which was apparently very controversial, but yeah, he won anyway."

"Cal never wanted to be the Alpha, why did he change his mind?"

He shrugged and pointed towards the scar with his finger. "Take it up with him, we ain't on the best terms."

"Very well," she agreed, breaking eye contact. "Give me fifteen minutes."

“I hate portals,” Nik mumbled and took a look around. “You took us to the bayou already, great, it’ll save us some time.”

Niamh took a look around at the familiar wooden houses, the lake she used to watch every evening as Cal promised her to see fairies there, and the common bonfire area they used to spend many nights by. Her mouth felt dry at the thought of meeting him again. 

“Alrighty, so a little heads-up—the chick you see next to Cal is Vivian, his unbearable, sassy girlfriend or whatever they call it. A real bitch, if you ask me, embodies everything I hate 'bout werewolves. Massive pain in the ass, too.”

Niamh nodded, ignoring the pinch in her chest at the sight of Cal’s arm around the woman’s waist. You have no right to feel that way, she reminded herself as they made their way towards the small congregation of men. Pack meeting. She remembered how Cal would ask her to stay home until he came back from those meetings, so she wouldn't accidentally interrupt. Pack meetings were in a way sacred to the participants, but the blond nighthunter paid little attention to that detail. Following him, Niamh soon stood in front of the pack leader, giving a stern look to a wolf next to him, ready to pounce on her. Suddenly changing his mind, he backed down and others followed suit. 

Nik cleared his throat. "See, I brought in help."

Holding his gaze turned out to be one of the hardest tasks she’s ever been granted. She felt her eyelids twitch and hands shake, her brain was telling her to look away and run, but as a representative of Crystaval on official business that was not an option she could use. Straightening her back, she tightened her jaw and assumed an impassive expression. Cal could hear the pounding of her heart, she knew that. There was no fooling him. However, having observed him for a few weeks, she also knew how to read him, thus it was easy for her to see his confusion and the perplexed look on his face.   

"How the hell is she going to help?" 

Nik's gloved hand flipped Niamh’s long hair onto her back, revealing a string of golden runes on the side of her neck, old-nymetic runes that every supernatural creature knew about and was taught to respect. The runes said as follows: a high-ranking Crystaval royal, under royal guard's protection, powerful magic wielder, dragon protector. Child of the storm. And an augury rune, mysterious and portentous. 

Crystaval royals were considered a very specific, hermetic group. They were those who held true power and ruled the supernatural world in all seven realms, those whose power far exceeded even the Fate's. Extensive training and versatile knowledge made them the most skilled, knowledgeable magic wielders in the universe. Hardly ever they were to leave Crystaval so as not to meddle in ordinary affairs, all of them marked with a person specific number of ancient golden runes, unforgeable, known to everyone. 

Cal remembered his mother telling him not to ever cross people with golden runes, especially those with the augury rune. He never learned what it meant, but seeing one on his ex-girlfriend’s neck worried him.

Vivian spoke up. "Do you expect us to bow? Cause wolves don't do that, especially not in front of half-bloods."

Nik's brows perked up in surprise, yet he couldn't contain a mocking chuckle. "Feisty. And stupid."

"Viv," Cal warned, growling deep in his chest, his grip tightening on her hip.

"I don't care for your bows," Niamh responded calmly, her gaze pining the woman in front of her. "However, be advised who you're speaking to, as the next time I’ll order my guard to have your head impaled and exhibited as a warning."

The coolness and self-confidence in her voice made Nik's heart skip a beat in the most negative sense of the word. Sensing the threat, Vivian, unwillingly, bowed her head a little in a gesture of apology. Cal spoke up.

"So I assume you're here about Mason. We already interrogated him, he doesn't remember much more than I've told you over the phone," he addressed Nik. "I'm afraid you came here in vain."

"That remains to be seen, our neighbourhood fae queen-to-be appears to have some new powers to show off."

"Queen?"

In her head, she punched Nik in the arm with all her might. In reality, though, her eyes shyly met Cal's and despite the sudden urge to run at the familiar warmth, she spoke up.

"Yes, Queen Nymeria's journey in the far realm is coming to an end, and I was appointed her successor."

Cal choked down the urge to say "the hell?" hearing the manner of her speech. Niamh seemed brainwashed, perhaps indeed trained to become one of the most powerful figures in the supernatural world. It wasn't the same person he woke up to every morning last year. 

"Listen, it's a mystery to me too, but we have more pressing matters on our hands now, don't we?"

Cal nodded. The pack meeting was rescheduled, and he led his guests toward a small wooden cabin, hidden deeper in the forest. Mason let them in wordlessly.

Niamh observed Mason while him, Nik, and Cal gave an account of the events of the night when he "lost control" as he called it. Finally, she addressed her companions. "Isn't it similar to the case of Jimmy?"

"Jimbo," Nik corrected her. "I mean, kinda, but not entirely. Jimbo, as it turned out, was poisoned and with him being a werewolf it didn't kill him but made him go feral. Mason was aggressive, but he kept mentioning voices."

"He got into a fight with several other pack members and mauled them pretty badly, but he was still able to obey me. I'm no expert on spells and witchcraft, but could it be that? We do have beef with another pack and several witches, maybe they decided to take revenge?"

Niamh shook her head. "I would feel it. There's no magic involved. Are you sure it's not some illegal substances from a new source?" she addressed the man on the sofa. 

He looked up at her, shyly, unsure how he should show her respect. "I don't use, Lady." 

Having pondered over the possibility of using magic on him long enough, Niamh proposed going through the werewolf's memories "It's not going to be comfortable, but I need you to stay as relaxed as possible and don't block your memories," she instructed, taking a seat on the armchair next to him. He nodded. 

Cal nudged the nighthunter on his right, focused on polishing his pocket knife. Niamh kept instructing the werewolf in the other room. "Do you feel it?" 

"Feel what?"

"The power she holds. It's… I've never felt anything like this. It makes you obey her even, the air feels different around her."

"What about last year?"

"Not to that extent. You can easily tell she's from Crystaval now."

Nik hummed, thinking of Cal’s words. "Fascinating," he muttered, watching one of the runes on her neck shimmer as she worked her magic on Mason. Leaning across the door frame with his hands crossed on his chest, Cal observed it as well, trying to wrap his head around the fact of how much she has changed in a year. "Well?"

"There's nothing,” she said, calmly, taking her time with the answer. Her hand touched Mason’s cheek as if in a soothing gesture.

"So maybe magic after all?" Cal suggested.

"No, there's nothing. Absolutely no recollection of that day. That's dark sorcery. You must have made enemies with someone more important than a local witch coven, Cal."

Take it easy today, she addressed the werewolf and exited his house. Cal followed.

"Should I call you your majesty now?"

"Not yet."

Taking his place next to her, the werewolf folded his arms. 

"Nik told me you're the Alpha now. How come? The last time we saw each other, you wanted to leave this place and lead a quiet, peaceful life."

"A lot has changed since you ran away."

She turned her head to the other side, pretending to be looking at a passing dog. Of course, he held a grudge, she would as well. She left for no apparent reason. Cal sighed.

"The pack needed a strong leader. We've been having some issues with the Texas pack, and Octavia would just escalate the conflict to the point of a war."

"What do they want from you?"

"Beats me," he crossed his arms on his chest. "They're just sending threats for now. No demands."

“There’s something about him that just doesn’t sit right with me,” Nik interrupted, closing the front door. “You sure didn’t see anything suspicious?”

“No. How did you know how to find me? The court made sure the information would not get out until the right time."

"Yeah, believe me, I've noticed. Your secrecy cost me another round of stripping for the Fate and almost getting cursed, but she budged."

"Why were you looking for me?"

"Cause of Cal, obviously. He said your disappearance was weird, that your phone number no longer existed, and your mother said she hasn't seen you in months. Kristin was surprised as well. It got me thinking you might've fled to Lamrian, but it looks like you managed to made enemies there," he nudged her shoulder playfully. "Come on, spill, what'd you do to poor Thalissa?"

Cal looked up at her, his interest piqued. 

"She believes I'm unworthy of taking my father’s rightful place on the Crystaval throne," she shrugged. "Don't believe in Lamrian's mushy sweet facade, Nik. Those who live there are expatriates from Crystaval, often times criminals who found refuge in Lamrian, which is basically n outlaw colony. Thalissa's protective domes aren't for bloodwraiths, they're for Crystaval's officials."

"What about Garrus?"

"As far as I know, he's free to come back."

"Does he know that? Cause he sure doesn't seem to."

"We've notified him several times. It was the first decree I issued when I gained influence."

Nik sighed heavily, looking around the bayou in thought. “Can we talk about this over a drink or is your curfew up?”