#through the ‘love’ of motherly oh-so nurturing wife-to-be

[skultu]

“your loved changed me from a boy to a man” 🤮 🤮 🤮

[lamentationsofalonelypotato]

@zepskies

I did have fun on my first dip into the ME universe! Please bring out the cafecito I am ready! 🙌🏻

Yes! The Winchester boys definetly didn’t have a wonderful nurturing motherly presence and to see the reader not only give that to Dean, but also to Sam was lovely. And John Winchester just makes me so mad. I understand that he went through a lot and he lost his wife but I still can’t give him a positive review man is 0/10 stars, would not try again, send him somewhere else to ruin someone else’s life. I was happy that the boys at least got Bobby as a positive role model.

The moment that she kissed his cheek was my favorite too. It was just so soft, so comforting, so loving that I was just screaming while I read it.

LOVE the gif “you gonna learn today” because I can see the reader saying that to him.

I’ve never actually been able to get through friends 😅 I always get a few seasons in, but never finish lol. But I’m happy it gave you some inspiration because it was a good moment in the fic. And it was the perfect vehicle to the readers insecurities and for Dean to learn communication.

If I had a nickel for every time I thought I was writing a one-shot but it became a series I would be able to buy Tumblr 😂 It happens so often 😭

And yes it is total BS when Dean goes into his “I’m not worthy and I’m just going to get her killed if I get close to her spiral.” BECAUSE HE IS WORTHY. We aren’t worthy of that man.

Oh I am very excited to see what comes next and to read the “fix it ending” because we ALL need that 🙄! And to look at the original one-shot because now I realized I read them out of order 😅

Touch Me

Pairing: Dean Winchester x Plus-size!Reader

Summary: Dean isn’t used to how “touchy” you can be, but he never said he didn’t like it.

AN: I had the Midnight Espresso series in mind for this, since it plays on a recurring theme in that series (how the reader expresses herself), but it can be general Dean x Plus-size!Reader as well!

(In the Espresso-verse, it would take place just a few months after the first story.)

Word Count: 2K

Tags/Warnings: 18+ only for smuttishness. Established relationship, hint of body insecurity, but mostly fluff and feels.

It takes him a while to get used to it, the way you touch him.

Even before you two started dating, you were like this.

You’re an expressive person by nature, always talking with your hands, full body animated when you tell stories. Sometimes you’d grab his wrist playfully, or brush your hand along his back when you pass by. Or you’d grab his shoulder to steady yourself and lean into him when you had too much to drink. 

Dean liked it—all of it. In fact, he found it endearing as hell. That hasn’t changed, even after a few months of trying to figure out what this is. What you two are together, and what you could be.

It’s just that…his family wasn’t so touchy feely growing up. Hell, he can probably count on one hand how many times he hugged his dad. For Sam, maybe two hands.

Your hands are warm, even when they startle Dean a bit while he’s working on detailing his Baby. He sits on a stool low enough for him to get the grit and gravel out of the front right tire.

He jumps when he feels something slide across his shoulders and down his chest, but he chuckles, feeling you press into him comfortably from behind. Your breasts feel like a (sexy) pillow.

“You oughta wear a bell or something,” he remarks, even though he squeezes your arm in greeting, leaving a grease stain in his wake. Your smile presses against his cheek.

“Then how would I get the privilege of scaring the mighty Dean Winchester?” you tease.

He snorts in response. “You just surprised me. A little.”

“Mhmm,” you reply, beginning to lay a path of kisses along his jaw. “Need any help here?”

He takes a deep breath at your ministrations, smiling. “Got a feeling you just came to distract me.”

“Hmm, yeah,” you admit. Your lips wander down his neck, grazing the shell of his ear along the way. Pleasure laces down his spine.

“You know, I think we have yet to christen Baby’s backseat…” You tilt your head, chewing your lip. “Although, I wouldn’t dare imagine how many christenings have come before me.”

Dean chuckles again, but he turns to look at you over his shoulder with more than just desire in his eyes.

“Yeah, well, you’ll be the one that matters,” he says.

You pause, looking down at him like you’re trying to figure out if he means it or not. And he does.  

After a moment, you smile. Dean swivels on his stool and tugs you down to tumble onto his lap, into his waiting arms. You yelp in surprise, but you laugh into his neck when he pulls you flush against him by your jean-clad ass and thigh. He’ll happily get a handful of either one.

You make yourself comfortable on his lap and take his face into your hands. They're gentle, despite what they can do with a Beretta 92.

“I like this,” you admit softly. “You and me.”

Dean quirks a smile. “I’d say it’s an improvement.”

This time when he steals a proper kiss, you’re left without a smartass retort.

Even Sam notices.

The first time he does, you’ve just cooked dinner for them on a slow day. When Dean takes in the spread of pork roast with his eyes, he grins up at you with a heartfelt:

“Thanks, sweetheart," he says. "Looks awesome. Smells even better.”

You brighten with a smile. You answer him by reaching out to cup his cheek, pressing a sweet kiss to the other. You stroke your thumb across his prickly stubble, and let your hand slip down his neck and shoulder on your way back to the kitchen for the bread.

Sam watches the way his brother is a bit surprised by the contact, blinking as his gaze follows you to the kitchen. Dean smiles to himself.

Sam's lips twitch upwards as well.

Is he actually blushing? he wonders.

Dean catches him staring. He raises his brows, clearing his throat.

“What?” he asks.

Sam shakes his head and sips at his beer.

“Nothing.”

After that, Sam starts to pick up on the other little moments, like the way you sit close to Dean while researching during a hunt, your arm or your thigh brushing his. And the way you run your fingers through his hair while watching a movie together, or raise his arm so you can curl yourself up against him on his corner of the couch, threading your fingers together afterwards.

Sam shoots his brother a secret smile of amusement for that one. Dean chooses to ignore him and puts on Porky’s II on the big screen projector with the remote.

You fall asleep about halfway through the movie. Granted, you guys just got back from a long hunt, and you’re all pretty wiped. You’re just the one who succumbed first. From his side of the couch, Sam reaches for a throw blanket you bought for them and helps Dean lay it over you.

Dean happens to meet his brother’s gaze, and Sam smiles.

“Things seem to be going well for you guys,” he says quietly, so he doesn’t wake you.

Out of habit, Dean downplays with a shrug and a noncommittal sound. He brushes your hair back from your forehead, and he makes sure you’re covered up to your shoulders with the blanket. Finally, he rests his arm around your waist and shifts his attention back to the movie.

That’s when Sam knows the truth. His brother’s actions have always spoken louder than his words.

You haven’t officially moved into the bunker just yet.

Dean hasn’t brought it up, since everything between you two is so new. You’re here more often than not though, sharing his bed, making rich espresso out of your little coffee press for him and Sam in the morning, helping them even more with hunts that crop up.

Dean’s still getting used to sharing said bed. Mainly because you’re a cuddler, even after a couple of hot and sweaty rounds between the sheets.

“Ah, heeey,” he says awkwardly, when you snuggle yourself up to his side. You’ve just finished cleaning up in the bathroom and going through your twenty-something mysterious bottles of night creams.

You smell good, he can’t deny. It’s that enticing combination of lavender soap and coconutty shampoo. It infiltrates his nose as you sigh and settle your head against his chest. He curls an arm around you on reflex.

But your hair is tickling his neck and shoulder, sweat is trying to cool on his skin, and there’s plenty of room on your side of the bed. 

“G’night,” you murmur drowsily and lay a kiss to his bare chest, over his anti-possession tattoo.

“Night,” he replies, with a wan smile as he stares up at the ceiling. He goes over the options in his head. One, he can wait until you’re asleep and try to gently roll you onto your side. Two, he can just lay here and deal, even though his neck is itchy, and some uncomfortable sweat is pooling down his lower back.

Or Option Three, he can just ask you if you mind rolling back onto your side. 

After a few beats to think, he quickly concludes that Option Three is not an option.

Instead, he goes for trying to be slick. He waits until he hears your breathing even out into slumber. When he thinks you’re conked out for sure, he slowly, slowly uses his arm curled around your shoulders to roll you over, back onto the left side of the bed.

There are a couple times where he pauses, worried you’re about to wake up. You just hum and sigh in your sleep. Dean's lips purse, and he continues his mission.

When he’s successfully shifted you onto your other side, he expels a small breath of relief. Now, here’s the hard part: taking back his arm.

He goes as slow as he can while sliding his arm out from where it’s trapped underneath your soft body. Part of him feels a little guilty for what he’s doing, but he’s in too deep now.

Almost there…

Your breathing hitches, and stills. So does he.

“Dean,” you say quietly.

Shit.

He looks down, biting the corner of his lip. He’s been had.

“Yeah,” he reluctantly replies.

You turn around and raise yourself up to free his arm. You sigh through your nose, finding his sheepish expression in the dim room.

“Sorry. Was I cutting off your circulation or something?” you attempt to joke.

It seems innocent on the surface, but you’ve made those kinds of self-deprecating remarks before—about your body, your voluptuous ass, hips, thighs, and perfect tits that Dean’s spent the past few months mapping every square inch of.

He frowns. 

“No,” he says. “I, uh…was getting hot. Just wanted a little space, that’s all.”

Your face falls further, no matter how much you try to hide it. A small, proverbial oyster knife twists in his gut.

“Look, if…if you want your bed to yourself, I get it. Less room to go around,” you chuckle, again with that self-deprecating humor. It doesn’t reach your eyes. “I can find my old guest room—”

Dean’s brows furrow along with his frown. He reaches out and grabs your arm before you can even start to get up.

“Hey, stop. Sweetheart, that’s not what I said.” He tugs you back over by your hand. He raises his brows to level with you, conspiringly. “Truth is, I’ve got sweat heading toward the crack of my ass.”

Your face freezes, and then it breaks, spluttering with laughter. Dean smiles, even though he’s also a bit embarrassed.

“You literally got me hot and bothered,” he says, with a teasing gleam in his eyes. “I just need a little cool down. Else I might just wake you up for Round 3.”

You stare back at him in amusement now, tinged with affection. However, the longer your thumb brushes over his knuckles, the more that insecurity starts to creep back into your gaze. 

“You’ll let me know if I’m overstaying my welcome, right?” you ask. “I want to keep exploring…well, us, but I don’t want to smother you either.”

He sighs, shaking his head. “You got all that from me telling you I want to fuck you later?”

You dissolve into laughter again, shoving at his chest. He’s known you long enough to figure out what you need though. He grabs your offending hand and pulls you in. Then he rolls you onto your back and traps you underneath his broad frame.

“You’re not going any-damn-where. Not if I can help it,” he says, his voice deepening to a timbre that makes a shiver run down your spine.

You look up at him, your eyes shining through your lashes with desire, and deeper things too. Things that just about make him putty in your hands, whenever you touch him.

So he touches you. He cups your cheek, traces your jawline with his thumb. The pad of it smooths across your full lower lip as you smile softly, and he realizes then just how far this could go for him. He knows it’s the real deal.

That knowing warms him further and makes his stomach churn at the same time. He’s reminded of the warning he gave you before you two started dating.

“I attract a lot of crap in my life,” he admitted. “Shit you want no part of.”

You grabbed onto the lapels of his plaid shirt and pressed a soft kiss to his jaw.

“Well, that’s a stupid reason,” you said. 

“It’s really not,” Dean shook his head. “Truth be told…I’m no good for you either.”

You hadn’t given a shit about all that. He’s been trying to figure out why you took a chance on him ever since…but he knows his reasons.

Even though he still believes everything he said back then, it doesn’t change much of anything.

He’s in too deep.

He dips down and claims your lips. You kiss him back with the same fervor, sliding your hands around his back, feeling every smooth dip of muscle between his shoulders.

“Round 3?” you playfully ask, between kisses.

Dean grips one of your thick thighs and spreads your legs for him, so he can grind his hips into yours, pressing his risen length against your heated core through your panties. He earns your moan in response, and he swallows it up with a more devouring kiss. He doesn’t let up until you’re panting for breath, already squeezing on him with your thighs around his hips.

He breaks, just for a second. He gives you a cheeky grin.

“Try to keep up.”

AN: Yep, Dean tried to pull a Ross Gellar. 🤣 (AKA: the "Hug and Roll.")

I don't know why this little idea wouldn't leave me alone! I guess I just like the thought of Dean having to get used to being doted on, even through something as small as being touched affectionately. Not just during sexy times. 💖

(Also, if you've read Midnight Espresso, you'll probably notice a little excerpt from there included here.)

Anyway, I hope you liked this! Let me know what you thought. 😘

Keep Reading:

Next in the Espresso-verse is Devour Me:

Summary: When you and Dean start to press each other’s buttons, both of your tempers ignite. To make up for it, you give him an impromptu salsa dancing lesson…one he didn’t exactly ask for.

▶️ Next Story: Devour Me (Part 1)

Ko-Fi Me ☕

Midnight Espresso Series Masterlist

Dean Winchester One-Shots

Dean Winchester Masterlist

Main Masterlist

Dean W. Tag List:

@hobby27 @kazsrm67 @jacklesbrainworms @foxyjwls007 @iamsapphine

@roseblue373 @this-is-me19 @deans-spinster-witch @deans-baby-momma @just-levyy

@samanddeaninatrenchcoat @lacilou @adoringanakin @midnightmadwoman @chriszgirl92

@lyarr24 @ladysparkles78 @deansbbyx @sarahgracej @kaleldobrev

@mimaria420 @fics-pics-andotherthings-i-like @waywardxwords @waynes-multiverse @twinkleinadiamondsky

@my-stories-vault @cevansbaby-dove @kayleighwinchester @rizlowwritessortof @syrma-sensei

@mrsjenniferwinchester @charmed-asylum @k-slla @jackles010378 @deanbrainrotwritings

@alwaystiredandconfused @deans-daydream @deanwinchestersgirl87 @rachiem4-blog @leigh70

@kmc1989 @ghostslillady @siampie @pieandmonsters @globetrotter28

@spnwoman @stoneyggirl2 @spnfamily-j2 @mostlymarvelgirl @artemys-ackles

[iwantutobehapppier]

Milk and Honey

Pairing: Steve Roger x Jewish!Reader

Summary: One year after Eight Smutty Nights. Your husband Steve has been gone for two weeks, leaving you with your newborn. Can he make it home in time for the first night of Chanukah? How could he make this up to you? 

Warnings: 18+ only, smut, lactation kink, daddy kink, cum play, oral, masturbation.

A/N: Happy 1st night of Chanukah. I’m a bit rusty in my smut writing so thank you for my patience of a saint wife @sagechanoafterdark​. I hope you all enjoy. Oh it’s a sequel to the first Chanukah smut I wrote last year, Eight Smutty Nights. Can’t wait to give you guys the rest of your presents. ;)

He was rushing up the stairs. Well aware he would be faster than the elevator, as he tried to reach you before the sunset, ensuring he doesn’t miss the 1st Chanukah together as a family.

In the last year since your winter wedding, Steve had found himself taking part in more Jewish traditions. As if welcoming your faith with your union last winter opened the floodgates.

Mindful of the setting sun with as much grace and silence as he can muster Steve pushes the front door eyeing your form, the flickering candlelight as you carried the burning shamash to the first night candle on the right lighting the living room. Steve kept his distance, but he silently mouths the prayer with you, gladly welcoming the 1st-night of Chanukah. You turned just slightly to see your husband joining you, a warm smile blooming over your face as you both prayed. 

When you turn to your side Steve’s breath hitches. The soft candlelight illuminating you and the precious 8-weeks-old baby girl wrapped up in the cloth against your body. You had been adamant that she be constantly with you, your motherly instincts triggering something primal within Steve. While everything you did was a turn on, it had been especially hard to keep his distance as of late, giving your body time to recover. 

You face him fully, taking a step towards him but with his wide gait he meets you in two steps. His large hands caressing the top of your little one’s head and cupping your cheek, leaning towards you to catch your lips between his. An involuntary sigh emitting from him at your touch.  

With reluctance, he pulls away. 

“Chag Urim Sameach,” your voice a soft balm to his body after two weeks without you. His mission took longer than expected, but to his delight, the sweet little girl the two of you made seemed to be growing even more perfect in his absence. A soft yawn showing her toothless mouth left a burning in his chest.

Your smaller hand slips over his covering Sarah’s head. 

Sarah. He wanted to kiss you the moment you had suggested the name. Not only was it his mother’s name but apparently a family name for you. A soft smile pulls at his lips looking from the sleepy infant to his beautiful bride and mother of his child.

“I’m sorry,” Steve started but with a soft shake of your head, he stops as you turn the living room lights on.

“It couldn’t be helped,” your understanding easing the anxiousness he had coming home. A muted whine starting from Sarah, your eyes glancing to the clock and you make your way to your couch, slowly unwrapping the baby as her fussing starts to grow. 

“Have you been here alone the whole time?” Steve could feel his guilt weigh heavier after being gone so long with the newborn baby. He had spoken to Tony before coming to you informing him he would only be available under the direst of situations. 

“Oh no,” you assure, unclipping the strap from your top and then your bra, slowly getting used to this whole feeding situation. Steve tried to focus on your next words as you spoke, but the moment your enlarged breast came out for Sarah to feed, he went absolutely deaf.

Mesmerized Steve sits next to you. Watching as his beautiful daughter latches onto your nipple, the suckling deafening to his ears. His tongue swiping over his lips, realizing quickly he wasn't listening to a word you said, his mind finally tuned back in.

“And then she wasn’t feeding from the bottle but I think it’s because mom wasn’t warming it up enough,” you continued, oblivious to your husband as he tried his damnedest to figure out what you could be talking about. However, when you pulled your shirt down completely, rubbing on the red and swollen nipple he had checked out once more.

“Mom insists that I’ll keep producing-�� you flinch, cessation of your voice pulls Steve back in.

“Are you okay, sweetheart?” His dazed eyes flicking up to your face as he spoke, the grimace on your lips makes his own downturn. He knows it’s bound to happen but he doesn’t like seeing you in pain… well unless he’s caused it.

You nod your head, “She’s an eager eater,” you smirk catching Steve’s eyes back on your breasts. “Much like her father.”

Steve had an affinity for tits, that much had always been clear between you. But now it had turned into a full-blown obsession. His newfound ‘kink’, as you had called it, happened when your first milk came in and he was practically watering at the mouth for a taste. 

Steve shifts in his seat, pulling at his pants trying to hide the obvious growing erection. You catch his movement and look up from watching Sarah feed to see what he clearly failed to hide. 

He notices you catching him ogling and he has just enough shame to blush but not enough that he can stop himself from looking back at your breasts. He nods as you move Sarah gently to your other breast, once again she latches with eagerness.

“So your mother was here?” You smiled, holding in a chuckle at his words as if you hadn’t been talking about that past 15 minutes. “Why isn’t she here now?” 

“Hmm,” you pause Sarah stopping feeding, you hold her on your chest, her head on your shoulder you softly pat her back and rub in circles. “I told her we’d do a big deal for the last night of Chanukah.”

“We could have-” 

“I just got my husband back home,” you interrupted. “Can you blame me for being selfish with our time?” Steve scooted himself closer to you, pulling your side to his chest, a gentle upturn of lips at the quiet burp Sarah lets out.

“I love nothing more than how selfish you are with our time,” Steve tries his best to not ogle your still exposed breast. Noticing Sarah slipping into slumber he seizes this moment to not only distract but to hold his little girl. 

Standing up with the tiny bundled in his arms, Steve makes his way to the bedroom with her bassinet. His blue eyes shining with admiration for the miracle made by both of you. Watching how delicate he is with her, the contrast in their size warming your heart.

Once the two are out of eyesight you look down at your exposed chest, satisfied that the swelling is starting to ebb. You weren’t sure how well you would handle once the teething comes in. Maybe you’d pump into bottles. 

Speaking of pumping, you can feel the pressure of remaining milk, sometimes they ached just by the milk production alone. You pull your shirt up as you move to the kitchen grabbing the pump and then taking your spot back on the couch.

Just as you’ve moved your top down again Steve walks back in to pause at the site.

“Do you need some help?”  

Looking up you catch the darkening of his eyes, catching the way he not so subtly tugs on his pants to give his hardening cock a little relief. The serum coursing through him letting his eyes see the smallest dollop of milk pooling at the tip of your breast.

“You know I’d never turn away your help,” you pause eyelids lowering, feeding off the energy your insatiable husband exudes, “Daddy.”

Steve falls to his knees, shimming to you as you spread your legs wide to make room for his huge figure. He pulls the tubing and funnels from the machine away from you. Large calloused hands slide up cupping both heavy breasts from below. The choked groan that pulls from his lips sends a shot straight between your legs, wetness pooling in your yoga pants.

“Baby,” he whispers before wetting his lips to wrap around a taut nipple. His tongue laves your nipple and surrounding skin with wide sweeping movement, coaxing your milk to come out. When the warm sweet liquid pours in his mouth he can’t help but rut his crotch against the couch cushions. His tongue lapping out the side of his mouth to catch a stray drop of milk.

Your fingernails dig into the couch fibers, the sensation holy erotic as Steve feeds from you, a stark contrast to nursing Sarah.

He massages the other from below, fingers kneading and pushing upwards, prepping for his future attention. The thought of feasting on you while you sit on his cock pulls a gargled groan. Feeling the precum leaking from the tip of his cock, certainly making a clear stain in his jeans.

Invigorated he pulls harder on the nipple, seeking to take all you have to offer, knowing full well you would be replenished by the next nursing time.

“Ste-Steve,” You shudder when he pulls back. His hands move to your waist, lifting you up, and with a whoosh of movement, he’s sitting in your spot with you straddling his lap. You push down on his lap, eliciting moans from both of you.

His hands slip behind to grip your asscheeks, rocking you back and forth. When you lean forward he dips his head down, latching onto your neglected breast. Moans slipping past your lips at his incessant suckling. His tongue rolls along the nipple taking everything he can, lips shining in the light with your milk. When a little dribbles down the underside of your tit, he pulls off your nipple with a resounding ‘pop’ to lick the trail of milk. Refusing to miss a single drop of your sweet nurturing milk. 

He bites on the underside of your breast, the symphony of moans he was pulling from you stops to let out a soft mewl. Steve grins against your breast before trailing bites and licks up to your nipple. Taking the swollen tip in his mouth his pulls more from your body once more.

He knows you most likely can’t take him yet, your cervix still tinder from birth and he wasn’t sure he would be able to control himself, the way he feels feeding on your tits alone driving him mad with unbridled desire.

He grunts pushing you down hard onto him, rocking your hips back and forth. Your fingers thread through his hair, your lips resting against the crown of his head while you rock your hips faster taking the lead, the friction of his jeans catching your swollen clit if you move in just the right way against the strained zipper. 

With soft whimpers growing back into moans Steve basks in your noises. Trying his hardest to not make a mess in his jeans but with the taste of your sweet milk flowing into his mouth coupled with the way he can feel your heated and certainly swollen pussy through those yoga pants it's quickly becoming his undoing.

Readjusting you to straddle his thigh without leaving your heavy breast he starts bouncing his leg, pulling your hips back and forth. When you catch against the seam your head tips back with a gutted moan. 

“Daddy,” The way your voice whines in need demands his attention. Pulling from your nipple admiring how red and swollen the nipple shines with his spittle he looks up past your arched neck. Your eyes closed tight in pleasure.

“Cum on my thigh baby,” his voice strained, pushing your hips down anxious for you to release so he can lick up that nectar instead. Enjoying the way your body shudders as it keys up for his favorite sight. “Look at me,” he growls.

You barely catch his words, so caught up in the pleasure he’s pushing and pulling against your body. Bending back down, your eyes hooded, lips parted as moans fall out uncontrollably. It’s building and when one of his hands releases your hips to cup your pussy outlined in the yoga pants perfectly his fingers find your clit with ease, rubbing directly you can feel the pleasure reaching precipice. 

Your legs jerk out straight, you curl into Steve but he pulls your head up keeping your gaze as your orgasm overtakes you. Riding out your high you barely notice that Steve is lifting you up in his arms, taking wide steps to your bedroom to lay you on your marital bed. 

Taking your relaxed state to his advantage he pulls your top and yoga pants off with swift movement. Just as your coming to you feel your husband fold your body in half, lifting your throbbing pussy to his face as he puts one knee on the bed. 

Slipping your panties to the side his wide tongue drags from your quivering opening to your clit. A loud moan forced out at the sensation is painful with your compressed lungs. 

The two of your freeze when Sarah makes a noise in the bassinet on the other side of the bed.  Steve’s lips wrapped around your clit similar to how he had previously been on your nipples. His eyebrows wiggle when you look at the bassinet then back to him when Sarah seems to remain asleep.

You cover your mouth this time when he hums to begin tracing patterns on your clit with his tongue. Your hips jutting at the overstimulation. Having minimal mercy on you Steve releases your clit, dipping his tongue into you, pulling out your honey. Groaning into your wet flesh he pushes two fingers in above his tongue, curling to find that special spot that makes you cry out just how he likes it. His tongue slipping out only for a moment to coat your back entrance in saliva before returning to the slick leaking from your core.

Your free hand grips his hair, pulling him and at times pushing his head. Your body withering with pleasure bordering on pain. His cock throbs in his jeans, with haste he unbuttons and pulls the zipper down, pulling his cock out through the slit in his boxer briefs. With a groan of relief, he strokes himself to soothe his ache, having to stop himself before he finishes too soon.

Refocusing he doubles his effort, one hand holding your contorted form, the other fingers pushing against the spongy spot he so loves. Your legs flail above you trying to buck him off at the intensity. Muffled cries music to his ears as he licks and kisses your clit ensuring your rapid climb to another release.

It’s all-encompassing, the way your legs press against your tender breasts, his devilish tongue diligence, and skilled fingers dragging, then pulling you into a spiral. He needed you to cum for him once more, just as badly as your body needed it. The rising in tide more intense than your previous orgasm. 

You shake your head, overwhelmed, trying to get Steve’s attention with your eyes alone. It was too much, you were certain you wouldn’t be able to be quiet. Feeling and hearing your shaking he catches your eyes, smirking at the panic he finds in them. 

Oh, you were going to take it no matter how much it bordered on torture.

Just as your hand flies from your mouth to grip his head pulling him against you with shaking limbs, his large palm slaps over your mouth covering the desperate cry singing your release.

Thighs trembling and soft cries following the outburst Steve removes his fingers from your depths only for his tongue to take their place to relish in your taste. Steve’s hand wet with your juices grips his cock, jerking at a quick tempo, he’s almost there as is.

Keeping his pace he lets your legs fall on either side of him. Sitting back up he points his leaking cock at you. Thumb sweeping over the tip to use this cum with your juices as a lubricant. 

“Fuck,” he hisses looking over your ravaged body. “You look so beautiful,” he grunts feeling his balls tighten. He couldn’t wait until he could flood your pussy once more and put another baby in that beautiful soft body but until then…

“Please daddy,” your voice rough from the abuse of pleasured cries as you watch him jerk himself with a rapid pace. “I want to see you cum.”

That does it, Steve’s head falls forward, thick cream shooting from the tip at the pace of his heartbeat, coating your chest and stomach. A little dribbling down your mons. Steve licks his lips watching more and more cover you. 

Heavy breaths the only sound in the room as your fingers dip into the cream over your tits, taking the covered fingers into your mouth to suck clean followed by a soft hum. Steve gives out a breathy chuckle at your lustful act. 

After pulling his clothes off he lays down beside you on the bed, Pulling you to his chest, not caring about the mess he’s made on both of you. A shower would be later, now he needed to feel the weight of his wife’s body on him with the soundtrack of his daughters sleeping breath to help soothe the chasm being away two weeks left. 

Yes, a shower and all the other things could come later, now he just wanted his family. Just his family. 

[lyracasstuff]

I am NOT prepared to make myself sad,, you FRENCHIE!! ಥ⌣ಥ

However,, I will accept because as much as it pains me to write angst,, I also have to in order to improve my writing skills..

I'll do this in one shot/fic form as I feel as though I can convey emotions there better. That and I've been doing headcannons as of late,, so let's switch it up a notch..

WARNINGS: DEATH, BLOOD, SPOILERS FOR JOSEPH'S BACKSTORY

Joseph x fem! S/o

To be Sick at Heart💔

"How did this all happen?" thought the Frenchman, although it was more retorical, as he already knew deep down the answer to that question... He just can't accept it..

You had been an acquaintance to Joseph before, seeing as how your family served him, and the both of you only grew closer once you got caught in the twisted "games" of the manor. Joseph asked as to what had tempted you to accept the invitation of the manor.

It turns out, you were looking to find people who you can treat as your own family. In all your life, you practically had been treated like dirt, especially the time when Joseph had gone missing. Your family had given you love and acceptance, but it was short-lived seeing as how their lives were slowly taken from them early on in your life by sickness, you had no one but the other servants to take care of you.

The other servants cared for you, but not to the same extent as your family... You were aware of that fact as did they. So, when the invitation arrived, you couldn't help but accept right away.

It promised that "they" could fulfill your desire of having the bonds and relationships that you never had growing up, why wouldn't you accept? You would be missing out on a golden oppurtunity.

And so, that was how you ended up in this morbid manor, tricked and forced to participate in these "games" that gets everyone hurt much like every other survivor who came here...

Days had gone by. Weeks. Months. Hell, even years, and you were all still being forced to play.

Thankfully, you had everyone to keep you company during these times.. Thanks to your loving nature, you were able to be close with everyone in the manor, even those who are notorious at being secretive like Norton. You even managed to befriend some of the hunters as well.

But most especially of all, you were thankful you had Joseph to be there with you.

You were quite shocked when you saw the silver-haired count, as he had seemingly disappeared out of nowhere the last time. So to see him here made you pleasantly surprised.

Joseph as well felt shocked when he saw you here, albeit he took some time to figure who exactly you were as you looked extremely familiar to him.

It didn't take long for the both of you to grow close to each other where outside of matches, you two were practically inseperable. The both of you would be spotted having afternoon tea together, walking around the manor together, sightseeing for new photoshoot locations together.

You always did things together...

Over time though, you would grow feelings for the count and the same can be said for Joseph as well. However, your fears of being rejected has delayed the both of you from ever confessing about your feelings toward each other. The others in the manor can most definitely see your connection as bright as day, but they really didn't know how to go about helping you about it. After all, all of them never really had great experiences in their lives, so they don't know what would normally be best in a situation like this..

Despite this, you can't help but feel content and happy that you have found people that you can treat as your family. Emily and Michiko were like motherly figures to you with their kind nature. Leo treated you like his own daughter, much like how he treats Emma. Wu Chang, Andrew, Norton, Naib, and Eli were like big brothers for you, always being protective of you to keep you safe.

You really felt at home with all of the inhabitants. It almost felt as if being stuck in a manor wasn't so bad after all...

Almost

There was still one more thing you wanted to do. You had discovered your family, but you wanted to expand on that desire..

You wanted to start your own family

And you would want to do so with someone you love... That someone would be the Frenchman with whom you have grown immense feelings for.. So you sent him an invitation to go to the balcony of the garden at night, where you won't be disturbed by the others...

Unbeknownst to you, the Frenchman had been thinking the same thing, especially after reading the invitation you sent him. Can you blame him though? Seeing you interacting with him, along with all of the others, made him feel butterflies in his stomach. How you unconditionally helped the other inhabitants through their issues and suffering, not because you needed something from them, but because you wanted to. You wanted to help them, you wanted to nurture them, you wanted to support them...

With that feeling alone, Joseph finds that he just couldn't take it anymore... He wants to confess to you..

He wants to be with you, to call you his love, to marry you and call you his wife, and to start a family as well..

With that thought, he made up his mind and decided to accept your invitation, and there, he will confess..

It was night time, you were already at the balcony waiting, knowing that Joseph values punctuality and doesn't like to be kept waiting. Soon after, Joseph shows up. It seems as though he had been brisk walking which is evident by the way he's catching his breath in the slightest.

Taking a deep breath, you slowly and calmly began to confess your feelings towards him and how you wanted to start building a future with him as the father of your children.

Joseph was in awe, for he had never could've guessed that you felt the same way. He accepted, saying how he had always thought about you the same way, and that he would be honored to be the father of your children. Joseph took a few steps towards you, with you unconsciously doing the same. Joseph wrapped his arms around your waist to pull you closer, while you wrapped yours around his neck.

He lifted his hand and tilted your chin upwards to stare at your features, admiring them. The way your skin glistened in the moonlight, how your eyes sparkled with life when he stared at them. How your cheeks were flushed with the slightest hint of color.

You looked angelic to him.

Brushing his thumb over your lower lip, he slowly closed his eyes as he allowed his lips to connect with yours.. You can't help but reciprocate immediately, you'd been waiting for this moment to come. You truly felt happy that you took the risk to confess to him, knowing that he may have rejected you instead.

And that was the start of your blossoming relationship...

For the next few years, the two of you became more and more in love with each other every single day. Countless affirmations of love, bouquets of your favorite flowers, numerous cuddling sessions, along with the discussion of having a domestic life together..

You two really had the potential to have a wonderful life together...

But, there are repercussions in growing fond of the potential...

One time at a match, you had been feeling dizzier and more nauseous by the second, so much so that it frequently disoriented you from kiting the hunter properly. At some point even, you threw up a bit. Your team still won the match since the hunter decided to go friendly in the end because of your condition, however they were still concerned for you so they sent you immediately to Emily.

You were diagnosed to be pregnant..

Your thoughts immediately went to Joseph. A mixture of joy and anxiousness washed over you. Can be a good mother for your child? Can you really do this? Can you really start a family like you had promised? What if you do something wrong? What if you're not cut out for this?

Just as your thoughts began to generate more questions, Joseph runs in and looks over to you with wide eyes. Emily must've told him that you were pregnant with his child. He immediately went towards your bed and hugged you as he sobbed his heart out.

He was so convinced that the bright future you two head towards is certain...

Oh, how a fool he was for believing so....

2 months in and your belly hasn't been growing rapidly.. Normally, you would've had a small baby bump forming on your belly... Joseph and Emily had been constantly reassuring you that you might need to readjust your diet more to fit your baby's needs....

But, that's not the only thing bothering you...

You see, just as you haven't "developed" your baby, your dizziness and nausea didn't go away. For quite sometime, you thought it was normal.....

Until you see tiny specks and droplets of blood on your hand...

That's when you realize....

You're not actually pregnant.. You're sick...

Having this sudden realization, you quickly washed your hand and looked at yourself in the mirror... Maybe this was some sort of mistake? Maybe you're actually pregnant and you just scratched the inside of your cheek?

You were hoping. Praying, that it was anything else other than a sickness... However, as time passed, you felt yourself growing weaker and weaker...

For months, you had kept this sickness of yours a secret. You didn't want to make anyone worry about you and you especially didn't want to disappoint Joseph with the fact that you're not actually carrying a baby or make him devastated with your death just as he became devastated with his twin brother's death...

However, try as you may, the longer you kept it a secret, the more the others noticed. How your skin was getting paler, how your cheeks had started to sink in, how you became alarmingly skinnier and bonier, how your eyes became more dull and lifeless...

Most importantly, at how you became increasingly more secretive and quiet about all this.

Joseph was by far being more and more anxious than before. He didn't know what was happening. He wasn't an expert in medicine, but even he could notice that this isn't normal for a pregnancy..

Quickly carrying you to Emily, he asked for a check-up to see what was happening. You would've stopped him if it weren't for the fact that you were so weak, you couldn't move a muscle without hurting it.. There, he was informed about the condition you're in. He was just as shocked as you are, but there's a mixture of fear and hopelessness bubbling inside him...

No. He couldn't let this happen. Not again...

His breathing starts going rapid, his hands start shaking, he hugs himself as he looks at you at your weakened state with tears threatening to spill from his eyes...

Just as he was about to confront you, Victor had entered and pointed towards the main hall, signaling Joseph and Emily to go there.

Apparently, there's a meeting that's going to be held.

Joseph and Emily looked at each other before turning to look at you. Then, they quickly left the room, with you all alone inside with nothing but your thoughts and the life within you.. Or, what's left of it...

The meeting started once Joseph and Emily arrived as they were the only ones left to attend. Emily had to quickly explain your condition when some of the others questioned your whereabouts.. All were quite shocked and concerned about your sickness, however the meeting was said to be an important one so they had to stay. They'll just have to relay the information given to you by the time it's done..

After the meeting, everyone was so shocked and confused that for several moments, no one said a word.. Who wouldn't though? Because after all this time...

They were all finally free

Free from the clutches of the manor, free from the twisted "games", free from the prison that presented itself as a grand oppurtunity for everyone to get what they want.

They were free at last... Now, they can all live their lives as they want it to be...

Suddenly realizing this, Joseph quickly made his way back to your room. There was still hope he thought, he had hoped for you to get better and finally leave this prison together, along with the others.

But what he saw when he opened the door made him feel like his heart had been crushed into a million pieces...

There in your room, was you lying in your bed, breath shallow and rapid, crimson blood dripping from the side of your mouth and staining the sheets, your eyes looking duller and duller as ever...

You were grasping..

Grasping for whatever life you had left within you, it made Joseph run to your side quickly as he cradled your head in his arms, proclaiming you'll be fine and that you're all free now and that you just need to hold on for a little while longer..

But you both know that you won't make it..

You both know that Joseph is more so convincing himself, than convincing you..

The others had rushed in to see you, and they too were crushed for they also wished for you to escape with all of them...

You held Joseph's hand, and told him not to worry anymore.. Looking towards the others, you proclaimed that you had finally found the people that you can call your family, and that even if Joseph can't see you, you'll always be there for him no matter what.. And that you wish for him to be happy and enjoy his newfound freedom, without the confinements of the manor...

Joseph begged you to stay, to hang on, to stay strong, all while sobbing uncontrollably but to no avail...

You withdrew your final breath as your hand became limp, your eyes closed, and your body going cold...

...

...

...

You had died

For the second time in his life, he once again witnessed the death of someone he deeply cared about..

First Claude......... And now, you....

Joseph lost it as he let all his tears and sadness out.. Everyone, soon followed suit. They can't help but be crushed at the thought of their friend never making it on time for the escape....

The now former inhabitants of the manor prepared one last funeral in honor of your death, with Aesop embalming you, Andrew preparing the hole from which will forever be your resting place, Emma preparing the funeral flowers, while the others prepared the venue... The Red Church.. Everyone gathered and mourned for your death. By the end of it all, everyone left the cemetery and the manor together, with Joseph gripping a bar of the gate, longing to see you again once more and hoping that you were still alive somehow...

Alas, it never came. And so, he reluctantly left the manor and had trenched forward to live his life "to the fullest"...

But how can he ever live his life as he pleases when you're not around? How can he simply enjoy the pleasures of life when you aren't there to accompany him? How can he move on when he doesn't want to forget you?

These thoughts plague him constantly, as he stirs his tea mindlessly, looking into the distance, as his new "family" were chatting happily, not knowing what goes on inside his head..

He has a family now alright, but it wasn't perfect.. It wasn't with you.

That thought is enough to make him sick at heart, for he will never experience the joy he had longed for when you were still around...

Sick at Heart : to experience deep unpleasant emotions such as grief or disappointment

💔🎞💔🎞💔🎞💔🎞💔🎞💔🎞💔🎞💔🎞

Author's Note: I hope you are all satisfied with this angst, Frenchie... Because you really made my day a bit sadder than usual..

Can someone pls request something fluffy the next time I open my requests?? I need some comforting chocolate cake after that bitter black coffee moment..(╥_╥)

Well,, until next time then! See you all in my next post!! (Ｔ▽Ｔ)💚

[quirklessidiot]

I'm getting madonna whore vibes in minazuki's narration, replacing whore with troublesome or vindictive woman. A lot of guys see y/n as this passive virginal maiden that has no wicked thoughts while gojo is going through a roller coaster on his opinions on her. First it was the boring good girl, pitiful good girl that can't fight back, scheming bitch, pitiful girl that never enjoyed life.

i wouldn’t say that this applies he madonna-whore complex but i sorta do get ur point! Altho some men get off with y/n’s matriarchal thingies and how obedient she is, i do see some men liking her bcos of her nurturing and motherly type (but not actually getting sexually aroused by it and after getting her preggy, theyll be taking concubines and mistresses in for sexual pleasure)

Also gojo doesn’t like that side of her that much since he knows its fake sjkskdjsd 😩🖐 minazuki!satoru actually just wants his wife to stop with her act in front of him since the beginning

Oh if u guys dont know what madonna-whore complex is, its basically a complex created by Freud wherein men apparently cant desire their own loving partner (aka madonna, its called madonna bcos apparently from the virgin mary who symbolizes all good and pure, something like ur mom so apparently its rooted on the oedipal complex) but they get sexually aroused by someone who has been degraded or used (whore) . Basically what freud is trying to say here, “Where such men love they have no desire and where they desire they cannot love.”

Basically this complex is rooted on sexism. Thats it but it applies pretty well to the story when u look at it.

[blazefire-engine]

The Dawn of the Future

Based on inspiration of the novel title, Final Fantasy XV: The Dawn of the Future.  A tribute to Mother’s Day.  

Disclaimer: None of the content here is related to the novel (I have not read the novel either.)  I was only drawn to the title and my insistent need to use official Final Fantasy terminology as the title of my fics.  

Timeline: Post XV (Yes, they all live).  31 year old Noctis and Lightning.  

Can be seen as a sequel to my other fic Maagho.

Also, Happy Mother’s Day.  And to all the Mommas out there, whether you have a child or you instill motherly qualities or just nurturing lessons about life and important values -- thank you and know you are very much loved.  

---

With soldier instincts, Lightning felt a pair of eyes watching her from afar, following her every move. Ignoring it, she continued her routine of filing and signing mission reports in the archive section of the Citadel library.

There's only so much she could take. So she confronted the owner of said wandering eyes, with arms crossed over her chest, she stood in front of the desk imposingly.

"What?" Lightning snapped at the King of Lucis, who simply stared at her with a goofy little smile.  

"Hm?" Noctis replied languidly, snapping out from his daze and the pen twirling his hand dropped on his papers.

"What is it?” Her fingers twitched impatiently, wanting to sock him all the way to Altissia if he didn’t fess up soon. “Did you need something?"

"Oh, no." Noctis grinned, wide and happy, resting his chin on his hand. His eyes were soft and tender, as if he were daydreaming. "I just noticed... You're showing."

Lightning's mouth opened a little in surprise. Understanding what he referred to, she looked down at her stomach. Clothed in a simple white tank and a cardigan, her belly was noticeably larger than it was 3 months ago.

However, what caused the flush to her cheeks was not embarrassment of having a larger body, but the overwhelming sensation of warmth and love coming from her husband.

"I- yeah. I guess I am." She answered lamely, not really knowing what to say at all. Her hands went to her stomach, rubbing and feeling the bulge.

"You should take a break." Noctis pointed out. "You've been up and about since early this morning."

Lightning scowled, hearing a slight disapproving tone from his voice. "I'm not fragile." Ever since the pregnancy, he became way too overprotective. She had taken herself off of active Kingsglaive duty the moment she learnt of her pregnancy and took action before Noctis could.  But that didn’t mean she couldn’t be productive.  

“I know you’re not.  Remember, the doctor said-”

“Not to put unnecessary stress on the baby.” Lightning repeated it for the umpteenth time, then slumped temperamentally on the chaise lounge.  

He sighed and stood up from his desk. He understood his wife’s frustrations.  All her life she fought tirelessly, always working and striving.  

“I’m sorry.” Lightning said softly as soon as he sat beside her.  “I know I shouldn’t act this way -- hey!”

Noctis had surprised her by wrapping his arms and dragging her so they were laying down on the lounge with her head on his chest.  “There’s nothing to apologize for, Claire.  I know you don’t like feeling useless.”

She nodded, her fingers fiddling with the lapels of his garb.  “But that doesn’t give me a right to hold a tantrum.  It’s not just me now.  Another living being is inside me, growing.  I should be more careful.”

He kissed the crown of her head.  It was so surreal.  To think a year ago, darkness shrouded the world.  To get to this point in their lives, to finally achieve such happiness.  They will be having a child.  Male or female, they don’t know, nor does it matter.  A future King or Queen of Lucis.

“I want our child to have your hair.” He murmured against her forehead, closing his eyes and picturing the rose-tint he had come to love.  He couldn’t believe she could become more beautiful everyday.  Pregnancy glow, the doctor said.

“And your eyes.”  He added, adoring the aqua blue color.

Lightning scoffed softly, a rumble he felt on his body.  “You want a little look-alike running around?”

“I’ve always loved your hair.” He admitted, running fingers through her rosy locks.  “I loved it even more when we saw the first gleams of sunrise after the prolonged darkness.  The medium of the sky between the infant rays of sunlight and the somber clouds… Pink.  I’ll never forget that color.  The dawn of the future…”

He was met with silence after his monologue.  The faint sounds in the room were their harmonious breathing and the soft rustle of silk curtains near the open balcony.  

“What?” He asked, almost embarrassed.  He felt the high points of his face heat up when he realized how cheesy he may have sound.    

“Nothing.”  She looked up and smiled, her cheeks a little flushed and glowing.  “Since when have you become so philosophical?”

---

AN: *cries* The happy ending they deserve.  

I didn’t want to put out names or genders of what their child would be in the fic.  But I do think they would name their child after “Dawn.”  Literally used google translate of English to latin: probably something like “Aurora” for a girl or “Diluculum” for a boy, who’s nickname would be Luc (pronounced Luke).

Also, a help on the visualization of “the medium of the sky between the infant rays of sunlight and the somber clouds”:

Das it.  Thanks for reading folks.  Happy Mommas Day.

[universal-kitty]

   I see nice tags from @blackquills-wife, I want to keep writing ideas. So have a bunch of headcanons/fun facts about my SI-OCs for LoZ!!! Cause I’m thinking a LOT about this series rn. Obviously.

The very first incarnation of Ethel in the timeline- during the wars of Demise and Hylia- was a sickly young woman. Separated from humanity when Skyloft was formed (she didn’t get on the land in time to ascend with the rest of them), that is what made her within reach for Orona to obtain her soul.

This implies that she died just as young as the First Hero.

Originally, Ethel was supposed to be the “failed” heroine for Orona, where Aquaria was supposed to succeed. Over the years, they’ve both grown to have their darker moments and their brighter, happier moments.

Ethel is the name for most of the incarnations of Orona’s heroine. However, there’s also Evadne (Majora’s Mask and A Link Between Worlds), Aquaria (toon series), and Saorise (Link to the Past + The Legend of Zelda & Adventure of Link).

Ethel (and her incarnations) typically are paired with one: Link. However, this romance is typically unrequited...

Aquaria- when in a Four Swords deal- typically falls for Purple/Violet Link, addressing her connections to Orona. The only time this changes is in Tri-Force Heroes, where she ends up dating Blue. (Due to her name connection and the fact Vio isn’t canon to the game...for some reason...)

She’s also had a crush on Vaati. Again, with the purples.

In Skyward Sword, Ethel moves on from her crush on Link thanks to Groose, who also had moved on from his feelings for Zelda during the course of the story. They end up married and with kids...who would one day become the Gerudo race.

(Fi is just a major AU bc I think that sword spirit is really dang cute.)

There’s also Princess Ruto of the Zora from OoT... In one timeline, that sure happened.

Ganondorf is a minor crush throughout the main storyline, but Ethel’s incarnation in Hyrule Warriors has it for the King quite badly. (As well as a small crush on the hero, as usual.)

BotW sees Ethel fall for Link and Sidon...because really, who wouldn’t? (As well as a Gerudo OC I’m still trying to make, whoops.)

It’s said that- some 10,000 years ago- she also was deeply in love with a certain king from the desert..... Hmm! (BotW 2, help me.)

Over the years, various weapons and steeds have been bequeathed to these cursed heroines. Here are some notable ones:

Arion: A black and white pinto stallion from Ocarina of Time and BotW. A horse with attitude, he’s known to be rather troublesome and sassy, but does his best to make room for that and assisting his rider, Ethel.

Ghost Reaver: Ethel’s destined sword (the Master Sword to her Link) and originally introduced in Skyward Sword, with a sword spirit by the name of Castalia. Though now dormant for centuries- much like Fi- her being still echoes through the blade with a comforting, assuring warmth... Legends like to say the Ghost Reaver can cut down any foe- alive or dead- with ease. Thus, the blade’s name.

Raim: Aquaria’s bird companion in Wind Waker and Phantom Hourglass. Large enough to ride, Aquaria can ride him instead of using a boat, which makes her seasick. He isn’t one for strangers, but adores Aquaria and is very protective of her.

Shadow Bow: Detailed in Hyrule Warriors, this bow allows Aquaria to shot arrows coated in black-purple malice at her enemies. The bow glows in the same energy. Tales say this bow and it’s supply of arrows feed off of anger and darkness to power it...

Celestial Cleaver: Named in HW, this is Evadne’s secondary weapon. It’s a blade that shines like an opal, with a decorated hit and guard. There seems to be a language on the blade, but none but Evadne, Fierce Deity, and the Giants can read it.

Trident of the Giants: A rare, four-pronged trident built in reverence to the Giants of Termina, wielded by Evadne, named in HW. This is her primary weapon. It’s a rust-red color (matching the giant’s skin color) except for the tips, which fade into a light green color.

Unnamed Loftwing: Ethel’s Loftwing in Skyward Sword. Though given no name (or perhaps, one that is lost to history), they made themselves remembered through time with his coloration: black with purple sheen in the light. Tailed, with red eyes, too; worried as a bad omen, but was simply Ethel’s temperamental partner. Over time, that became that. A calm creature, nurturing and sweet... Though nervous around strangers.

Honestly, pretty close to Impa, through the timelines. Sort of like a distant relative, where they’re awkward around each other, but do care, when it comes down to it. Impa is an inspiration for Ethel, and she has a motherly sort of view on Ethel, wishing her the best for the journey ahead.

Ethel once had a crush on Sheik. Never lived it down when the truth was revealed... (Though was one of her own incarnations earliest realizations of, “Oh, I am...not straight, actually.” Especially considering- in one timeline- she’d later fall for Princess Ruto.)

In Twilight Princess, Ethel takes on the form of a panther in the twilight. (It’s because I’m cat obsessed. We know this.) Alina is her companion of the twilight. (A Twili banished from her homeland many years ago. She’s survived by staying out of the sun, hiding in caves and tunnels.)

In OoT, Ethel has a fairy named Thera. Like how Navi is short for “Navigation”, Thera is short for “Therapist.” Because damn she be needing one...

Modern AU Ethel is a Mess. Orona gives her no peace.

Speaking of the Fourth, Exiled Goddess-!! She had a lover, once. Not Demise, but a being named Ryleh. Her powers influenced his creation- much in a similar way of Demise and the other three with Hylia- and the two ended up falling in love.

Orona- in my view- is a representative of Darkness and Shadow. And though there is some evil tied in there, it is not ALL of who she is. A misunderstanding that’s only gotten worse over the years, to the point where her existence has been denied in later years. (For an idea of this, by OoT, it’s but a little known myth. By the first of each three timelines post-OoT, it’s essentially gone from all records.)

Orona is sweet, just misled. Thinking she’s doing good when she is creating chaos and cruelty. Instead of being corrected, she was shunned and banished for her wrongdoing.

...Despite this, she took the soul of who would eventually become Ethel and waited. Because it didn’t take long for Orona to miss her sisters, and long to be with them again.

[duchessanon]

For the Love of Henri: Tome 5 - Kiss From A Rose

Here's what you missed: https://royalfandombible.blogspot.com/2019/01/for-love-of-henri-my-fanfiction.html

What you missed in summary: Prince Henri married a beautiful pauper girl named Philanthropina (Phily). Together they had baby Libby and adopted Prince George. His evil brother and sister in law were banished from the kingdom for their evil deeds. All was well until Henri decided to bid on Meghan Markle at a charity function. She then bid on the outcast Cambridges. Kate and Meg decided to come together to overthrow Phily.

---

At the footstep of the not £4 million cottage, Henri, Meghan Markle, Willy, Kate and Charlotte stood in anticipation.

Henri put his best stern face on. 'Now I must set some ground rules before we go in. My darling Phily will not be expecting any houseguests. You MUST behave, wear undergarments at all times and not use curse words. All that agree say "aye"'.

Everyone said aye apart from Charlotte who said 'aye aye me bastard'.

Henri gasped in dismay. But Kate, who was keen to impress Henri did the unexpected and disciplined her child.

'Charlotte, wash your mouth out! No Game of Thrones for you tonight'.

'BUSYBODY!!!' Charlotte screamed.

Just then the door of the humble cottage opened and a light so bright emerged. It was so heavenly that it took a moment to notice it was coming from Phily and her cherub of her baby daughter, Libby.

'Speak of the devil and she will come' Willy snickered, and Kate elbowed him in the nethers.

'Henri my love, is everything ok?' she asked sweetly. 'I heard a commotion'.

Phily was dressed the same haggard, brown ensemble she was wearing the day they met. She was not ashamed of her roots as a pauper girl.

'Yes my dear' Henri stuttered, kissing her soiled, hardworking feet. 'We have some visitors'.

Phily was no doubt surprised to see the Cambridges and a random beautiful woman on her door step. But she would never turn anyone away from her door.

'Come in brother, sister and unknown woman', she said selflessly.

During this interaction, Meg had been quietly observing. She needed to be smart if she was going to win over Henri's heart. But every one knew a way to a man's heart is through his nethers, so she touched him on the place she knew to be every man's weak spot - his back.

Henri was startled at the feel someone's hand on his back. No-one did that apart from Phily. But not in a domineering way, in a gentle, supportive way that never implied he was a cuckhold. He knew it could be no one but Meghan Markle. But instead of disgust, Henri felt that uncontrolable nether shudder.

As Phily welcomed the Cambridges, Charlotte greeted her brother George and Libby by rapping Nicki Minaj's 'Monster' while standing on Phily's self made, recycled, environmentally friendly dinner table.

"OK first things first I'll eat your brains Then I'm a start rocking gold teeth and fangs 'cause that's what a motherfucking monster do Hair dresser from Milan that's the monster do

Monster Giuseppe heel, that's the monster shoe

Big Lizzie is the roster and a monster crew

But really, really I don't give a F-U-C-K Forget Georgie, fuck Libby 'cause she's fake She's on a diet but her pockets eating cheese cake And I'll say bride of Chucky is Child's play Just killed another career it's a mild day

Now look at what you just saw This is what you live for Aaaahhh, I'm a motherfucking monster!"

***Musical interlude*** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTkEpkGKgoY

The next morning Henri explained that their visitors were only there for 5 days as per the rules of the auction. Phily cooked up a sustainable breakfast and to her shock Kate offered to wash everything up.

'They really have changed' Phily said to Henri, who was weaving baskets for the poor with Libby. 'Even William is taking an interest in his son', she smiled in a motherly way.

Willy and George were weaving baskets next to the window, out of earshot.

'I hate this place!' George said sulkily 'they make me go to a pauper school that they dont have to pay for'.

'You dont say', Willy said smirking, his limited cogs turning in his brain. 'They took a school place from a pauper child, did they?'

'Don't even try it Pops. They offset it by building a new wing of the school with their bare hands and that stupid Phily volunteers as a music teacher too.'

'Ass lickers' Willy scowled. He really hoped he could get in touch with all the tabloids and plant negative stories.

Despite this setback, Willy was happy to see that nature had won over nurture and George had demanded to change his name back from Philip, and had not given in to doing any philanthropy.

Over at the kitchen sink, Kate had enlisted help from Meg with the dishes.

'Right bitch, how we gonna get rid that busybody Phily?' Kate said licking a plate clean and handing it to Meg to dry with Phily's wedding dress, which she had mistaken for a dishcloth.

'Well H will be a breeze, when I passed him after I'd taken a dump this morning, I saw him slap his nethers', Meg said sneakily.

Kate cackled, 'today's the day you make your move, I'll distract Phily, you get him to kiss you, George will take a photo and tweet it to Piers Morgan and we're done!'

'How you gonna distract her?' Meg asked.

Kate winked at Meg. At least she tried, but she couldnt wink so she just blinked instead. 'Watch and learn from the master'.

Kate stumbled into the basket weaving area, clutching her stomach, 'oooh ouch owwww ooooh'.

Phily ran over immediately. With her medical degree, she could solve any problem, 'sister, whatever is the matter?'

Just then, Kate pulled up her skirt, revealing a small head. 'I-i-i-i'm giving birth!'

'WHAT THE FUCK!' Charlotte screamed.

Willy stayed where he was and said nonchlantly, 'you're preggers again?'

'What does it look like dipshit! Sorry Phily I dont mean to curse, it's just painful you know?'

Phily tried to understand, but in reality pain during childbirth is the one thing on earth she couldnt relate to, for hers was pain free.

Ushering Kate onto the handmade couch, Phily went into full midwife mode, sending Henri to get warm towels.

Kate blinked as a signal to Meg and she followed him up the ricketty staircase.

At the towel cupboard upstairs, Meg began to sob.

'Oh dear, Meghan, what be the matter?!' Henri asked with a genuine concern that his brother could never muster.

Meg sniffed, pulling out her best acting skills, 'oh it's just so emotional seeing new life coming into the world'

'There there' said Henri, patting her on the arm.

'Oh H!' she wailed, falling into his arms. She puckered up her lips and launched at his mouth. But before she could land the kiss, Henri turned his cheek.

Around the corner, George snapped the photo using a camera he'd stolen from 'that cry baby' photographer Garther Tedwards.

Although Henri's nethers were now beating like the Beychella marching band, his love for Phily overwhelmed him.

'Stop Meghan Markle! I beg of you', he hollered .

Meg was taken aback by his rejection, 'I'm so sorry H! Please forgive me'. She fled down the ricketty staircase.

Kate was on the couch legs akimbo screaming expletives at Willy, who was now reluctantly sitting next to his wife to assist with the birth.

"FUCK YOU!!!! DID I ASK YOU TO SIT NEXT TO ME YOU BASTARD/BITCH???? FUCK YOU CUNTHOLE!!! FUCK YOU!!!"

Willy chuckled to himslef as he remembered Henri's ex girlfriend, the beautiful Jimmu, who had now somehow possessed Kate.

"IF THIS FUNNY TO YOU NOW??? BLOODY CUNTING BITCH!!! FUCK YOU CUNT!!! FUCK OFF & SHOWVE YOUR HEAD UP YOUR ASS YOU CUNT!!! FUCKING WHORE!!! NOW YOUR OFF MY NICE LIST YOU CUNT!!!"

Meghan held up an X sign to show Kate the plan had failed, which didn't help the situation.

Shortly after, Henri emerged with George and Garthur's camera, trying to explain why stealing was wrong. Curiously, the Cambridge children were the only children in the entire world Henri could not make like him.

After a few long minutes, the baby was ready to come out. Kate pushed one more time and felt something drop onto the couch.

'Is it out?!!!' she yelled.

Phily checked, 'no sister, you've just passed your bowels. Not to worry, keep trying'.

Kate was enraged that Phily would suggest this. 'All I'm good for is making babies, you think I dont know the difference bitch! YOUR BORN A PAUPER & YET YOU EXPECT ME TO BELIEVE YOU EWITH YOUR SHIT COMMENT??? FUCK OFF MOTHER FUCKER I DIDN’T ASK YOU"'

Phily, remaining calm, picked up the brown item with her bare hands, noting in her head that Kate should eat more fruit, and showed it to her.

Kate grabbed the excrement at once and threw it in Willy's face. This delighted Charlotte who danced around him in a circle chanting 'shit face, shit face'.

Finally, sick of being inside such a woman, the baby pushed itself out and landed in Phily's arms. 'William, Catherine - it's a boy', she beamed.

The Camridges faked happiness, but Henri and Phily were genuinely delighted.

'What will you call him?' Phily said, cradling the baby as Kate wanted to watch Real Housewives rather than hold him.

'Shit baby!' Charlotte suggested, but no one agreed.

'Well actually he could have a name related to his arrival' Willy said. 'How about Loo?'

'Loo is the British slang term for toilet' Henri explained to Meg.

'I have an idea!' Meg said. 'Louis - but like Loo - wee'. Kate shrugged in agreeement. 

'You want to name this cherub after a toilet and urine?' Phily asked, feeling sorry for the baby despite the fact he was biting her finger with his gummy mouth.

'You have a problem with my parenting decisions Phily?' Kate asked, almost threateningly.

'Never!' Phily gasped in horror. She would never dream of being so stupid as to judge a woman on what she named, or how she held her baby.

'Charlotte darling, why dont you sing a little song to celebrate Loowee's arrival' Willy said.

Charlotte immediately began a rendition of Lily Allen's 'Fuck you'.

"Fuck you Fuck you very, very much 'Cause your words don't translate And it's getting quite late So please don't stay in touch Do you get Do you get a little kick out of being slow-minded? You want to be like your father It's approval you're after Well that's not how you find it"

 ***Musical interlude***  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OK4fJhbRL1g

---

Two days later, while Phily, Henri and Libby were on an engagement, Meghan finally got a chance to speak to Kate again. She had been busy watching the Real Housewives marathon and telling Loowee to pipe down.

'What we gonna do about H?' Meg asked. 'He's been avoiding me since Loowee's birth'

'It's obvious he's not gonna ditch that halfwit willingly. We gotta get rid of her - for good! It's time for drastic action'. Kate pressed her engagement ring, she had a button installed in it so it would send a shock up Willy's ass when she needed him.

Willy came running, 'yes babykins?'

'Gimme your phone'.

Willy handed it over relutantly. Kate opened his messages and found his conversation with someone only identified by a Rose emoji. She texted quickly - 'get 2 Nott Cott now'.

Five minutes later there was a knock at the door. When Meg opened it, a woman who could have been a Kate impersonator stood before her. 

'Meg, Rose, Rose, Meg' Kate said, not bothering with formal introductions. Willy looked sheepish in the corner (allegedly).

Meg didnt know who Rose allegedly was but she didn't care. She just wanted to know how she could help her ensnare H.

Kate explained the plan. 'As soon as Phily gets home, we're gonna feed her an apple dosed with botox. Phily is allergic to anything superficial so she'll become drowsy. That's where Rose comes in. She's a witch and with one kiss, Phily will be gone.'

Meg considered the implications of killing the future queen, but came to the conclusion it was worth it.

And so the plan was set. Meg wrote 'you are so loved Phily' on an apple and Kate injected it with the botox she always kept in her bra.

When Phily got home, she was full of the joys of spring. 'We met the most wonderful disadvantaged people today', she beamed. 'I just love saving people'.

Henri smiled lovingly at his wife, 'and they love you, belle'.

'Speaking of love!' Meg said. 'You must take this gift'. She handed her the apple and Phily was touched.

'How wonderful! I will eat it later' she said.

'No you must eat it now sister' Kate said, wearing a full hooded cloak.

'But it's time for dinner' said Phily.

'So what, eat it!' George said impatiently.

'Yeh Phily, why you gotta be so busybody?' Charlotte added.

'Oh no I really shouldnt' Phily said innocently.

'Just eat the fucking apple!' said a voice from the window. They all turned around and Philpot was riding past on his horse and cart.

'Well if grandfather says so' Phily said. She bit into the apple and immediately felt a little faint as the botox hit her pure blood.

Elegantly, she fell into Henri's big, strong arms.

'Mon amour!' Henri yelled, carrying her up the ricketty stairs swiftly.

'Oh no, what has happened?' Meg said. Her acting ability really was wasted on Suits.

'There must've been something artificial in the apple' Henri said, laying her on their handmade bed.

'How could there be?' said Kate. 'It's from your very own Orchard For the Hungry'.

Phily was still breathing but was confused.

Henri was devestated at the thought that his orchard might be to blame.

'It's ok Henners, I know a great doctor that is THE expert on allergies'. Meg said.

Just then there was a knock at the bedroom door and Rose allegedly entered wearing a white doctor's coat.

'Here she is now, this is Dr Rose, allegedly', Meg said.

Henri didnt have time to question how she got there so fast, so just said in a panicked voice, 'Dr Allegedly, please help my wife!'

'Everyone who is male and under 2 years of age must leave the room' said Rose.

'No I can not leave her!' Henri wailed, falling at Phily's bedside.

George at once knew it was his time to shine because his father was too dimwitted to defuse this situation.

'Uncle Henri, please could you tell me again why one should never dress as a member of a fascist, murdering political party? I just dont understand why it's so bad' George said sweetly.

Henri knew at once that his greater calling was to teach George right from wrong. It is what Phily would want.

He left the room with one last glance at Phily who was humming 'Once upon a dream'.

That left Kate, Meg, Rose, Charlotte and Phily.

'Get it done Rose!' whispered Kate.

'In order for the enchantment to work, you must all join hands and sing the death kiss soundtrack, the underrated classic 'Kiss from a rose' by Seal'.

***Musical interlude*** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMD2TwRvuoU

Rose kissed Phily on the lips, as the others encircled them singing hypnotically.

A pink mist left Phily's mouth and was inhaled by Rose. 'It is done'.

There was a moment of silence before Kate fell at Rose's feet and looked deeply in her eyes as she sang.

"You remain

My power, my pleasure, my pain.

To me you're like a growing addiction that I can't deny, yeah

Won't you tell me is that healthy, baby.

But did you know, That when it snows,

My eyes become large and the light that you shine can be seen."

Meg gasped. She had been foolish. It was Kate who was allegedly having an affair with Rose, not allegedly Willy!

She didnt have time for that revelation now. She needed to check Phily was really gone.

Checking her pulse, she waited for a few moments until suddenly she felt it beat.

'Damn it Rose, she's alive!' Meg said, losing her temper.

'ARE YOU DUMB, BITCH??!' screamed Charlotte.

Rose rushed over from her alleged embrace with Kate, who had shed her cloak and was now in a real snake skin body suit.

She checked her pulse, and discovered Meg was correct. Her pulse was beating every 19.84 seconds - the year of Henri's birth.

'Oh fuck' Rose allegedly said. 'I've only heard about this happening in fairytales. When the love between husband and wife is pure, the kiss will not work to its full effect'.

Meg screamed into her hands. 'How can it be pure when H's nethers react to me?'

'That is simply a test from Jesu. The point is, Henri has resisted your advances, thus proving the purity of his love'. Rose explained to the room.

At this point, Charlotte lost it. She wanted to be back in her £4 million apartment, not this shitty dive.

'I don’t need a damn explanation about what she asked. Seriously do not act too smart about teaching me things. Asshole answer the question do not even try to be a bloody smart ass. Seriously pisses me off!!!' she yelled.

Rose looked at Kate quizically.

'A bout of Jimmutitus' Kate shrugged.

'What do we do?!' Meg said desperately.

'As long as Henri doesnt suck Phily's toe, the curse will remain in place and the princess will remain in a slumber forever' said Rose.

Kate stroked her chin, 'so technically, we could just SAY Phily's dead? As long as we keep any qualified medical staff away from her?'.

'I guess' Rose said. 'Can I go now?'.

'Yeah, bye', Kate said.

'How are we gonna keep everyone away from Phily?' Meg asked. 

By this point Kate was running out of patience with her co-conspirator and her incessant questions.

'HEY FUCKER, DID I ASK YOU ANYTHING???? DID I??? MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!!!' Kate screamed.

'Uh oh you've done it now' Charlotte sniggered.

Meghan was stunned, 'but I-i-i-i was just asking, we're running out of time'

'WHO THE FUCK ASKED YOU BITCH FOR YOUR SHIT OPINION??? BLOODY FUCKING BITCH!!! GET A LIFE!!!'

'Ok ok I'm sorry Kate!'

'MAYBE IF YOU HAD SHUT THE FUCK UP I WOULDN'T BE SCOLDING YOU NOW!!! FUCKER!!! Just shut up and let me think'.

Kate closed her eyes and thought for approximately 10 seconds. In the meantime, Charlotte took off her sock and stuffed it in Meg's mouth to stop any more questions.

When Kate was done thinking, she strode over to the window and flung it open. Beneath her was the sprawling gardens of Kensington Palace.

She took a deep breath and yodelled out of the window 'EUUUUUUGBEEEEEEEEEEEEEA!!!!!!'

Meghan wanted to ask who Eugbea was but she didnt dare.

Within 5 seconds, a figure came running up the lawn. Charlotte leant on the window frame watching the woman run 'urgh her dress is SO tragic'.

'Meg get over here, lean your head back like this', Kate said.

Both woman stuck their heads out of the window and their hair tumbled to the ground.

When Eugbea reached the bottom of the window, she said 'I think I should go up the stairs'

'SHOVE WHAT THE FUCK YOU THINK UP YOUR FUCKING ASS!!! Get up here!' Kate hollered.

Eugbea knew better than to argue and began climbing up the wall using the hair as ropes. Finally she made it to the top and clambered into the bedroom.

As soon as she saw Phily lying unconscious on the bed, she let out an inhumane wail. Phily was like the sister Eugbea never had.

'There there, let it out' Kate said, patting her back, suddenly kind. Charlotte stood underneath her catching her tears in her hands.

As usual, Meghan was perplexed so Charlotte filled her in whispering 'this is Eugbea, a blood princess. Blood princesses cry diamond tears so I'm collecting them to make a cage for Phily.'

Meg didnt understand how Charlotte had worked all of this out in the minute that had gone past, but she wanted it to work so bad that she too patted Eugbea's back.

Eugbea turned around nervously at the touch, 'w-w-who are you?'

'No time for that' Kate said, poking her in the eye.

Eugbea cried even more until there were enough diamonds to build the cage.

At once, Charlotte threw the diamonds in the air and they cascaded down in the shape of a dome around Phily, creating a solid diamond barrier.

Once they had ensured nobody could get through it by repeatedly shoving Eugbea against it, Kate pushed her back out of the window and slammed it shut.

'We ready girls? Put on your best sad faces'. They all turned their smiles upside down and Kate pressed her engagement ring.

Willy came flying up the stairs with the boys and Libby. Henri stormed towards his love.

'What is this!' he asked in dismay, looking at Phily through the dome.

Meg began to cry dramatically, 'Dr Rose did everything she could but it wasnt enough, she's gone!!!'

Henri fell flat on his back like a plank, 'NoOoOoOoOoOoOoooooooOOOO!'

Libby ran over and began to sing 'Memory' from Cats in a beautiful operatic voice (the musical version, not the movie one because Libby had refined tastes).

"Touch meeeeee,

It is so easy to leave meeeeee

All alone with the memoryyyyyyyy

Of my days in the suuun

If you touch me,

You'll understand what happiness is

Look, a new day has beguuuuuuuuun"

***Musical interlude*** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pm5w7gHEtJI

----

No public outcry was big enough for Phily. So the royal family decided to send her diamond tomb around the commonwealth via boat (not environmentally unfriendly jet) so her people could say goodbye personally. She was pulled over dying land on a horse and cart, and people threw seeds at her tomb instead of flowers. This meant that the land would become nourished once more.

Even when dead, Phily was working.

After 6 months of travelling, she returned to the UK and was placed in the Windsor Castle tomb with all the greatest kings and queens of England. Luckily for Meg, no one had noticed that Phily was indeed alive.

Henri was devestated but continued to work, alongside Libby.

The public love for Phily had meant that the Cambridges were provisionally forgiven and they moved back into KP on the condition that they undertook at least one engagement a year.

Meghan Markle had remained in Nottingham Cottage to support Henri while flying (not boating) back and forth to Canada to film her show Suits.

Meg had not tried to seduce Henri's nethers as she knew she must gain the public's trust first and act as a good friend.

But she couldnt wait any longer. Since Kate had moved home, she wanted nothing more to do with Meg, so she had concocted a new plan all by herself.

One evening, Henri was carving scultptures for the PPPCT - Princess Philanthropina Pauper Conservation Trust. Meg was in the kitchen roasting a chicken and wafting the smell towards Henri to replicate the cozy vibes Phily always managed to make.

'H, I was thinking for the 6 months anniversary of Phily's passing, we should have an event, the public need to be cheered up' she said, sounding philanthropic.

'A wonderful idea to think of the people of Britain and the commomwealth Meghan, what shall we do?'

'Mmmmmm, well what cheers the British more than anything?' she asked innocently.

'There are only 2 things that cheer Brits. Winning a sport and a royal wedding for a SENIOR member of the family', Henri said.

Meg smirked to herself, he'd bought it hook, line and sinker. 'We cant cheat in sport so maybe a royal wedding is our only option!'

'But we have no single members left that are loved enough' H said dumbly.

Meg rolled her eyes behind his back. 'Well you are single H, and no one is more loved than you!'

H gasped. 'I couldn't!'

Meg, wearing a British flag dress batted her eyelashes. 'Phily is gone and she'd want you to be happy. But she'd want you to make the British people happier'.

H thought for 1.5 seconds and decided she was right. He scolded himself for being selfish, Phily WOULD want him to serve the people above anything else.

'You're right Meghan, but who would I marry?'

'It's funny you asked because I found this in between Phily's reuable sanitary pads' she pulled out a ring box and opened it. Inside was a diamond engagement ring. 'Phily must have had it made, just in case this happened'.

H wept, 'oh my love was so kind!'.

Meg accidently on purpose dropped it on the floor and when Henri gallantly bent on one knee to pick it up, she yelled 'YES!'

'Um what?'

'YES I'LL MARRY YOU!' she grabbed Henri by the collar and pulled him into a hug, planting a big kiss on his perfect lips.

Henri was speechless. It seemed he had just proposed.

And just like that, Meghan Markle and Henri, the Prince of the People, were engaged to be married!

[yukiwrites]

A Clumsy Addition

Thank you so much for commissioning me again, @arod7293! I hope you like it!

Summary: After seeing yet another child of ELise and Ryoma’s, Felicia and Azura feel the need to expand their family by one more member -- and the maid is happy to be the host for their baby this time. Young Arete is on her way!

Commission info HERE and HERE!

The kingdom of Hoshido was in a state of joy. Their small Queen Elise had been carrying King Ryoma's second child for the past nine months -- and even though it was her second pregnancy, the people's thoughts and prayers stayed with her since she was so tiny while Ryoma was a large man. They worried for their Queen's wellbeing during the entire pregnancy, but that came to an end the very day the royal family gained yet another family member -- a big baby girl with a loud voice and brown hair was born.

"We won't release her name until a while from now, but it's fine to tell you since you're my family!" Elise chirped happily as she welcomed her siblings for yet another baby shower. "She's Carmellia! Like the flower and like my beloved Big Sis, heehee!"

Well, 'welcomed' might not have been the right word: she was still in bed from the birthing, but, this time, Shiro welcomed the guests with a prideful puff of chest.

"Baby shistah, Shiro's." He would point to Carmellia's tiny futon, patting it so as to encourage people to sit closer so he could show his sister off to people.

Camilla cried a little after seeing her namesake cooing uncomfortably and adorably by her small cot. "And you named such a sweet little bun of adorableness after me? I'm unworthy, Elise!" She hugged her youngest sister, wanting to squeeze her dry, but mindful of her condition.

"Heehee... I don't think I'm still there yet in this 'motherhood' thing, so I always keep striving to be like you, Big Sis. I hope naming this little one after you will give me the strength I need to be their guiding light." Elise said awkwardly, smiling softly as she caressed her baby's fluffy cheek. "I just want them to do a good job in raising them like you did with me."

"Oh, my darling!" Camilla sniffled, pressing her forehead on Elise's. "You've already grown so very much since we were young; surely you are already an outstanding mother to these little meat buns. Aren't I right, Shiro-bun?"

The toddler flashed a wide, toothless grin, nodding vehemently. "Uh-huh! Mommy's best Mommy!"

"Shiroooo!" Elise sobbed, snatching her son from his seat to give him a bear hug.

"A-Azuraaaa!" Felicia hiccupped from the door, not wanting to disturb the adorable display of familial love. "I don't know how to announce ourselvess! Everything is s-so cute!"

The princess patted her wife's shoulder, her heart warm from watching the scene unfold. "We will have our opportunity, hm?" She looked down to the toddlers by their feet.

Shigure held onto Felicia's skirt as Linnea stood in front of Azura, both of them watching Shiro being manhandled by his mother and aunt.

Suddenly, Linnea raised her hand as though asking for permission to speak, though she waited for none and spoke anyway. "Lin' too! Huggies, Mommy!" She raised her other arm, stumbling over her own chubby feet to turn around to Azura.

"Shi-Shigure too..." The boy held onto Felicia's leg, pouting visibly.

Both mothers clutched their hearts in adorableness, bending down to pick their children up. "What spoiled little children we have here!" Azura giggled, booping Linnea's nose. The little girl giggled enthusiastically, hiding in her Mommy's shoulder. Shigure looked from his sister to Felicia, his eyes shining expectantingly.

The maid blushed deeply, her heart being maimed by the cuteness of her children. "W-what a spoiled little child w-we have here...!" She stuttered, embarrassed, booping Shigure's nose right after.

The toddler smiled brightly, giggling into his Mama's shoulder. "Heeheee, MAMA'S the best Mama." He said loud enough for the whole room to hear, catching Elise's, Camilla's and Shiro's attention.

The young High Prince puffed his cheeks. "It's MOMMY!" He struggled to disentangle himself from Elise, jumping on the wooden floor.

"Mama!" Shigure didn't even look to Shiro, holding onto Felicia instead. The maid, on her part, was on the verge of having a crying fit due to how utterly cute her child was.

"Mommy!!" Shiro stomped on the floor, his chubby cheeks so stuffed it looked like he had overeaten.

"Yeah! Mommy!" Linnea kicked her feet by Azura's arms, pointing to the princess.

"Oh, my!" Azura gasped softly with a smile.

Shiro's brow furrowed deeply for a second or two, his small brain trying to understand what had happened, but soon a clicking sound could almost be heard inside his head. "MY Mommy!"

"Mine!" Linnea and Shigure said in unison, overwhelming the solo High Prince on the floor. His lips started trembling as his eyes shone with tears.

"MINE!" He stomped on the floor. "Mine, mine, mine!"

"There, now, Shiro! Be good to your cousins, please?" Elise tried to appease her son from her futon while Camilla giggled.

"Isn't it adora- oh, dear, we woke little Carmellia."

"Ah!" Shiro snapped out of it, quickly running towards his little sister. "I sorry! Big bro do shh now!" He panicked.

"Aww, you're already a full-fledged big brother now, aren't you, Shiro?" Elise pinched her firstborn's cheek before collecting Carmellia from her futon, intent on breastfeeding her. "Little Carmy's so lucky, isn't she?"

Shiro widened his eyes, his cheeks reddening with pride. "M-mhm! Shiro best big bro!" He nodded as he watched his mother coddle the little baby, poking her chubby arms gleefully. "Heehee...!"

"Maybe we should excuse ourselves for now," Azura said in a low voice so as not to upset the baby even more. "Forgive us for making a scene-"

"Oh, psh, Shiro's like that with everything!" Elise shook her head, adjusting Carmellia on her breast. "He's just like Ryoma, competitive about everything! Can you believe it? He's TWO!"

"Heehee," Felicia giggled, finding a place to sit. "Shiro's so energetic; just like Linnea." The maid put Shigure over her lap, criss-crossing her hands over his belly.

Azura watched how her wife got all mushy about the royal baby and smiled to herself, quietly sitting beside her. She put Linnea on the floor, the toddler immediately taking off to the futon so as to take a closer look at Carmellia.

She and Shiro exchanged some gibberish baby words, though it actually looked like they were understanding each other as they pointed from Shigure to Elise to Carmellia and finally to Camilla. It seemed like a very important discussion, so the adults simply sat back and watched them do their thing.

Despite their young age, it was surprising how well the three toddlers behaved in the presence of a smaller baby than themselves. Shiro made Linnea and Shigure sit in front of him as he spoke of something serious-sounding in their baby language, as though he were a teacher giving a lecture.

Felicia inadvertently took Azura's hand as they sat there, side by side in that room filled with motherly love. It was as though she was in a trance, watching that young Elise grow up into such a beautiful and caring mother.

It made the maid wonder if she ever could be like that, as well.

Of course, don't get Felicia wrong -- she was as much Linnea's and Shigure's mother as Azura, that was a fact.

But- but she... She wondered how it would feel to carry the fruit of hers and Azura's bond; to nurture it, bring it to life and be the first one to hold it after it was born... Somehow, she found herself thinking that it would be great to have another addition to their small and happy family.

And this time, she would be the one to get pregnant.

"Azura, I..." She whispered as the toddlers got along in the middle of the room.

The princess squeezed her wife's hand. "I am quite sure I know what you'll say, my love." She rested her head on Felicia's shoulder. "And I do think it would be such a great happiness I do not know how to cope with it."

Felicia teared up immediately, sliding one hand through her wife's back, holding her waist. "Oh, Azura...!"

They didn't need words.

Their bond was strong to the point of conveying their strongest feelings through it without so much of a conversation.

They would do it -- they wanted to have another bond child; to make their family even more wholesome than it already was. They would have a third child.

Since Linnea and Shigure didn't need breastfeeding nor constant attention during the nights, Felicia and Azura felt comfortable in leaving them behind for two days or three while they enclosed themselves inside the same DeepRealm that had welcomed them during Azura's pregnancy.

Of course, the twins couldn't be left alone, so they would spend this short week with their aunts Corrin and Rhajat, who happily volunteered to take care of the little ones. Well, Corrin happily volunteered as Rhajat simply smiled shyly under her bangs, always enjoying the presence of little children around her.

Felicia and Azura felt like newlyweds preparing for their honeymoon -- they clearly remembered how dream-like the first eight months of retreat inside the DR were.

Being only around each other, 24 hours a day, worrying only about what name to give to their little baby.

Of course, they would miss the twins terribly, so they would take some of their toys and baby clothes alongside their luggage so as to appease the hole the toddlers surely would leave in their hearts.

They thought about taking Shigure and Linnea with them, but were scared that the DeepRealm would rob them of their youth, much like what had happened to Rhajat and the other DR children. Azura and Felicia wanted their babies to grow up following the proper wheels of time, inside the real world they were born in.

Over the course of the next week, the wives decided on the smallests details, making sure to tell the twins that they would only go away for a short while and to be good children to aunt Corrin and aunt Rhajat.

"Lin be good! Mama and Mommy go!" Linnea saluted clumsily, too young to have eye-to-hand coordination as Shigure held onto her.

"Shigure too. No late, Mama. No late, Mommy." He pouted, already missing his mothers before they even started making their bags to go.

"We were blessed with such good children, weren't we, my love?" Azura picked Linnea up as Felicia did the same with Shigure, sharing a big and warm family hug.

"Mhm; and we're about to be blessed with yet another good girl or boy."

The ritual would be performed inside the DeepRealm, unlike before. After all, neither the wives nor the Queens wanted the children to witness their Mama fainting after being kissed by their Mommy; it would only bring unnecessary distress to their young, budding hearts.

"You know the drill," Rhajat handed each of them a ritual knife, placing a bowl over the table between them so as to collect the blood. "No need to be so nervous, alright? Last time, you almost fainted even though Azura was the one having her stamina sapped." The Queen Consort pointed to the eerily-calm maid.

"Oh, um," Felicia smiled, glancing from her wife to the bowl, then to the Queen Consort. "I think NOW I can understand what Azura felt that time, you know? She simply... trusted me. Trusted that I would be the first thing she would see when she woke up and that I would make sure to catch her; just like I do now."

"I'll make sure our heads don't bonk, either." Azura teased.

"T-that's mean! They didn't bonk that time..."

Rhajat snorted, pushing the bowl closer to them. "... I'll have your blood, now."

"Right," they said in unison, smiling at each other before cutting their wrists and watching the red liquid flow from their arms to the bowl for a short couple of seconds before the healing magic of the ritual knives kicked in and closed their wounds.

"Remember to-"

"Hold our hands, yes." Azura nodded, intertwining her fingers with her wife's closing her eyes. "Our bond will not lose, Rhajat."

"... I believe it." The Queen Consort whispered under her breath, taking the blood so as to add the potion -- the mixture once again turned into a bright shade of pink, signaling its success. "I wonder if mine and Corrin’s would reflect such a clear color... I'm somewhat jealous," she said to herself, but immediately shook her head, walking towards Azura. "This time, you'll be the one drinking it, then kissing your wife."

Azura groggily opened her eyes, the ritual already possessing both wives, sapping them of their strengths and zoning out their senses. She gulped the potion in one go, listening to the sound of her own rasped breathing.

So that's how Felicia felt the day they conceived -- the potion burned from her lips to her insides; it was a fire that could only be put down with the sweetness of her wife's taste. Azura caressed Felicia's cheek, pulling her towards her so they could share a kiss that felt like their first: wild, raw, with fire descending their throats as their bond enveloped them kindly.

They kissed deeply and slow, the hotness leaving Azura's body and entering Felicia's, the magic neatly taking its place in the maid's womb.

Felicia felt her legs give out, but Azura held her close by her waist, unwilling to let go; unwilling to let that kiss end.

The princess and the maid lost themselves in each other's arms until the consciousness left Felicia's body entirely, her mind drifting to their calm and loving future alongside their new child.

The maid woke up two days later over the very bed Azura had used years ago, during their first pregnancy.

"Pregnancy..." Absentmindedly, Felicia trailed her left hand to her stomach, wondering if she could feel something changing inside of her already.

Well, apart from the overflowing love for her wife, her body didn't feel much different than what she remembered; her right hand clasped with her wife's who slept right beside her.

So this was how Azura felt at that time. Such overflowing love! It took everything Felicia had not to start sobbing right there and then, just by watching her beloved sleeping soundly as she refused to let go of her hand.

"Azura..." Felicia whispered lovingly, lying on her side so as to take her wife's beauty in. "So this is how you felt that time..."

"Oh, my darling Felicia," Azura whispered as she slowly opened her eyes, brought back to the world of waking by her wife's voice. "I cannot describe the happiness I feel right now -- after having conceived our child into you; after physically feeling our bond envelop us kindly and lovingly as the ritual drew to a close... Our feelings are one, my love."

"Azura...!" Felicia sniffled, pressing their foreheads against one another as she caressed the princess' cheek. "I can't wait to meet our little one! I really, really can't wait!"

"I am so very much looking forward to spend these eight months in your presence only, my love." Azura whispered over Felicia's lips, taking them with the last of her breath. "I love you so, my Felicia."

"Mmph..." Felicia rolled her eyes in pleasure with the sudden kiss, shyly grasping her wife's nightgown, bringing her warm body closer. "I love you too, my dear Azura..."

The days, weeks and months that followed were each unique and filled with so much love they were fit to burst. Of course, there were their share of tears, as well -- the first time Felicia saw her bump grow, or the day she felt the baby move; or even the first time it kicked so hard it made her lose her balance. All of them were filled with happy tears, clumsy laughter and a lot of cuddling.

They read under the shade of trees, they shared their dreams under the covers before going to sleep; they napped into each other's arms by the fireplace once the weather got cold.

"Say, Azura?" Felicia caressed her seven-months stomach one evening, lying on one of the hammocks they had by the veranda.

"Hmmm?" Azura tilted her head to her wife, never taking her eyes off of the little pair socks she was sewing.

"Do... do you remember the day we went to visit Lady Elise's little girl?" The maid stuttered, her heart pounding by her chest. She had had this idea for the longest time, but could never find the right words to convey it to Azura.

"Of course I do, silly."

"Then... Do you remember how Lady Elise said that she wanted to borrow Lady Camilla's strength by naming little Carmellia after her?"

Finally seeing where her wife wanted the conversation to go, Azura put the crochet over her lap, raising her gaze to Felicia. "Mhm...?"

The maid blushed. "I- What do you think if we- um," she twiddled her thumbs awkwardly, "I also want to borrow the strength of someone I look up to but never had the chance to meet before and I... wanted to give this name to our baby if we're blessed with another girl."

Azura touched Felicia's hand, caressing it with her thumb. "Go on."

"Doyouthinkwecannameourdaughterafteryourmother,Arete?" Felicia said in one breath, panting right after.

The yarn ball and needles fell on the floor. "After Mother...?"

"Oh, um," Felicia glanced at the rolling yarn ball, then back at her wife. "Is that no goo-mmmph!" Azura silenced her wife with a surprise kiss, carefully holding her into her thing arms.

"Of course we can, my love! Oh, Mother, how I wish you were here to see this! The child of me and my beloved, named after the most important person of my early life... I didn't think I could feel this happy, and yet you always surprise me, Felicia!"

"Heehee," the maid giggled awkwardly, resting her cheek on her wife's. "I want little Arete to live happily, with a great name to protect her down the road."

"Yes... Oh, most certainly!" Azura sniffled, her wife's words moving her deeply. "I cannot wait to share these news to the world, my love...! One month to go and we can go back to our children and introduce them to their little sister...!"

"Though I also wanna stay here a bit longer with you..." Felicia pouted adorably, making Azura steal yet another kiss.

"We will be together always, my love. For as long as we live."

The following month came as quickly as it went, and soon the wives were back at the real world -- Felicia sporting a large and healthy bump.

"Mama fat!" Linnea blurted out the very moment they reunited, not even giving her mothers the time to hug her.

"M-Mama sick?" Shigure teared up, stumbling on his chubby legs to hug Felicia's.

Azura laughed heartily, crouching down to pat their twin's heads. "You two remember how Shiro turned into a big brother, hm?" She asked, receiving two confused nods in return. "Well, you will be big siblings too! Mama is holding your little sister inside her tummy until she's big enough to leave."

"MAMA’S TUMMY WARM?!" Linnea gasped loudly, running towards the already sitting Felicia. "Warm!" She touched her mother's knee, the highest she could reach from down the floor.

"Mhm! Your little sister is nice and cozy here," Felicia tapped her stomach. "You'll meet her soon!"

"Shigure big bro?" He gripped at Azura's dress. The princess nodded, picking both toddlers up so she could sit on the bed, beside her wife.

"Yes, you will be soon."

"I think we arrived just in time for the public announcement of Carmellia's name, right? Wait, is that right? We spent eight months in there for us, but only a week passed here, yeah...?" Felicia looked up in confusion.

"Indeed; I'm quite sure our presence will be required at the temple later this week. Do you want to go? I do not want you to push yourself..."

"I wanna go! I wanna see little Carmellia again; and I wouldn't want to deny Lady Elise's invitation! I'm still at my eighth month, so I'm fine!" She made a flexing movement and smiled.

"Very well, then we shall attend. I was told Forrest would bring ceremonial kimonos to the whole family."

"T-the toddlers included?" Felicia blushed.

Azura nodded in understanding. "The toddlers included."

"Awawawa... I can't wait to see them wearing miniature kimonos, aah!" She squealed in delight, pinching her own cheeks.

They've barely come back and were already thrown into the rushing pace of real life! Phew!

The weekend came quickly, and soon it was time for them to attend to the traditional ceremony at the temple: Elise would gong the central bell three times and offer a prayer to the Dawn Dragon, revealing the princess' name to it first and foremost before announcing it to the people right after.

Azura, Felicia, the twins, Corrin, Rhajat, Camilla and the others would be inside the temple in their designated seats, waiting for the people outside to calm their clamors before the private ceremony could begin and a priest could bestow the Dawn Dragon's blessings upon Carmellia.

While Elise and Ryoma were outside, Felicia moved uncomfortably in her hakama (wearing a proper kimono was out of question due to how large her belly was, after all), wondering if she could take it off on her own for a quick bathroom break.

"Azura, Azura!" Felicia whispered gravely to her wife. "I need to pee so bad, please cover for me a bit, okay? Ahh, my bladder..." She stumbled on her feet without waiting for her wife's response, quickly making her way into the far-reaching corridors of the temple.

"Do you need help with-" Azura said tentatively, but Felicia was too fast, "the hakama? Heehee, oh well."

"Mama pee a lot..." Linnea noted, looking around.

"Indeed. That happens when you have to protect a baby inside you." Azura patted her daughter's head, her gaze falling on the uproar outside.

Elise and Ryoma came back after a few more minutes, two servants quickly closing the large double doors behind them. "Phewww, I didn't remember this being so exhausting the first time!" Elise leaned on her husband, too tired to keep walking straight.

"Do not push yourself so, my tiny Queen. It was only last week that you gave birth."

"Yeahh... It really is tiring, but I gotta do it! No, I WANNA do it!"

Azura giggled at her little sister's enthusiasm, wondering at the back of her mind where in the world Felicia had gotten to.

Maybe she got lost? She IS clumsy enough for that... What if she got lost on her way to the latrines? Poor thing, she wanted to go so badly! Perhaps Azura herself should go...

But then the twins would worry, not to mention how rude it would be to the priest for her to leave. Maybe wait a few more moments before excusing herself?

The moment she opened her mouth to speak, she heard a quiet sniffling beside her. Widening her eyes, Azura noticed how Shigure sobbed silently, holding his knees.

"Shigure? My son, what's the matter?"

"Id-id hurds, Mommy...!" He hiccupped, opening his arms to hug Azura's waist.

"Where does it-"

"Mommy..." Linnea started feeling nauseous as well, tears washing down her cheeks.

Azura felt a hollow pit engulf her from inside, cold sweat streaming down her temple and back. What WAS this terribly bad feeling? It was as though a cold hand was plucking her inner organs one by one, throwing them into the pit.

"Felicia...?" She didn't hear her own voice whispering.

A door to the left opened with a bang, a hurried soldiers quickly making his way to Ryoma. "M-My Lord, a prisoner's escaped the dungeons! We managed to track him down here, but we lost him after he went into the temple!"

Azura's heart froze. A prisoner? "Who was it?" She got up, her legs moving without her meaning to. "Who was this prisoner?"

The soldier hesitated, glancing from the princess to the King. "Um, it was Ka'lik, my Lady..."

The princess' ears deafened, a thin and loud ringing sound making her consciousness waver. "Felicia... Felicia!" She turned around quickly, "please take care of the twins for me!" And left through the same door Felicia had used previously.

Dumb, idiot! How could you have let your heavily pregnant and clumsy wife wander around an unfamiliar temple without an escort?! Oh, Felicia, please be alright-

Azura ran through a series of corridors, each turn she took looking exactly the same as the previous one. "Felicia... Felicia!" She panted, the desperation in her voice making her entire body tremble.

"Because of you! I've been rotting in jail! You stupid maid!" A faint yet familiar voice reached Azura's ears.

"I don't care what you do to me, but don't touch my baby!" Felicia barked back, her voice sapped of strength.

"Felicia!" Azura hissed, turning the last corner.

"A-Azura! Don't come! He has a knife!"

Azura didn't hesitate. "And I have water." Without even losing her pace, the princess dove right into Ka'lik, summoning a large amount of water so as to envelop Ka'lik's head with it, intent on drowning him without mercy.

"Grghl!" The man gurgled, letting go of Felicia as he helplessly gripped at his own throat for air. Azura pushed him out of the way, not even sparing him a glance as his body shook with convulsions while he drowned with the round bubble of pure water covering his entire head.

"Felicia! Felicia, oh, my love; what did he do to you?!"

"S-save our baby, Azura..." The maid said faintly, looking down at the middle of her legs -- she bled.

Ka'lik had approached her from behind and kicked her several times before taking out his knife, but Felicia made sure to always keep her back to him so he wouldn't touch hers and Azura's baby.

"F-Felicia, stay with me," Azura lost the color of her face, dreading seeing her wife bleeding to death once again. "Stay with me, Felicia!"

"We'll need to deliver the baby as soon as possible." Were the midwife's first words the moment Felicia was brought in. "I have a birth-inducing medicine in the ready, so I'll need everyone but my assistants to leave-"

"I'm not leaving her." Azura gripped at her wife's hands with all of her strength. "I'm not leaving my wife."

The midwife turned to make the medicine, "then you'll have to do everything we say."

"Of course."

It would be a difficult birthing -- Felicia wasn't entirely conscious for the most part, and the healers couldn't focus their staves on her because that would also heal the birth-inducing medicine AND the wounds the baby would make while coming out.

She would need to feel the pain from start to end, but Azura wouldn't let her feel it alone. She would be there, holding her hand, the entire time.

"Don't leave me, Felicia; don't leave me..." The princess chanted the whole time, for the next five hours. She refused to move, eat or speak to anyone, simply focusing on her tired and weak wife. "You can do it, my love. Push just a bit more, okay? For our baby. For us. F-for me." She sniffled after the sixth hour, finally showing something akin to desperation.

Arete's loud crying filled the room with happiness and worry in equal amounts -- the most critical time would be now: they would need to work their staves tirelessly on Felicia to mend the wounds Ka'lik infused her as well as to stop the bleeding from the birthing.

"Can you hear it, Felicia? It's our daughter. It's as though we knew it would be a girl... It's Arete, Felicia. She's here with us. Can you hear it?" The princess' hands trembled as the midwife washed the baby, hesitant in giving it to the broken princess. She wasn't in a state to hold a little baby-

"Give- give her to me... My baby... I wanna hold her first, Azura..." Felicia tried and failed to lift her hand towards the crying sound, turning her head to the sides, delirious.

"Felicia! Oh, my love!" Azura's eyes regained their shine. "You did it, my Felicia, you delivered our daughter!" She quickly looked at the midwife, nodding for her to bring the baby closer.

It was like magic.

The moment Arete was placed over Felicia's chest, the maid regained her color, the forces she thought sapped coming back for the very reason of embracing her little baby.

"Your voice is so strong, Arete... I'm sure you'll be a great singer, like your Mommy." Felicia smiled, placing a tender kiss over the small head. Arete stopped crying slowly, the constant beating of her mother's heart under her soothing her into her first sleep.

"Felicia!" Azura cried, pressing their foreheads together. "I thought I had lost you, oh, my love!" She sobbed, her warm tears falling over Felicia's lips.

"P-please don't cry, Azura... You'll set me off too..." The maid pressed her lips into a thin line. "I'd rather you kissed me-"

"As many times as there are stars in the skies, Felicia." Azura quickly placed a soft peck on Felicia, followed by another, then yet another one. "Do not scare me like that ever again, you hear?"

"I may need more kissing for that..." Felicia teased, her breath intertwining with Azura's.

"I can provide," the princess smiled, opening her mouth for a deep and much-needed kiss.

The maid closed her eyes to enjoy her wife's taste, weakly lifting her hand to caress Azura's face. "Thank you for being here with me, Azura. I love you so much..."

"So do I, my dear Felicia... So do I."

[nxtheromoved]

[  inbox shenanigans  |  always accepting  ]

yivohn​ said:   What does Daeris think of her father? How about her mother, Nocturnal?

OH MAN this is about to get complicated so bear with me. I’ll start with her dad because her feelings for him are easier to unpack that for Nocturnal.

Trigger warning for mentions of childhood neglect.

Also this got long af so it’s going under a cut.

E V A N D E R

         So, even though he’s not part of her life, Daeris still knows of her dad. She still keeps tabs on him. It’s hard not to do so; he’s General Evander Urzara, a hero of the Imperial Legion and someone who is very much part of the metaphorical “glue” that holds Cyrodiil together. Word gets around, not to mention they live in the same city. But in most verses, he is unaware of her still being alive. If he knew, he would do everything he could to bring her home.

         Daeris admires him. She thinks he’s a genuine hero. But because she sees him this way, compounded with her abysmal self-perception, she doesn’t think she’s worthy to be his daughter. She believes if she were to reunite with him, he would never accept her and at best would be disgusted with her. In verses where she does reunite with him, she’s proven wrong, but she tries to hide her history with the Dark Brotherhood because she thinks him not knowing is the only reason he’s welcomed her back. But the thing is, he does know.

         It’s explained better here, but basically Molag Bal found out what Nocturnal did and didn’t like how much personal influence she could now have over the Cyrodiilic Empire, so he had one of his largest cults repetitively attack the family in an attempt to either destroy the family as a whole or drive Nocturnal away; the latter of which was successful when it became clear to Nocturnal that Daeris was their true target. Daeris’s aunt, Viatrix, was the one who suggested that “Umbra” (Nocturnal’s alias) hide Daeris with the Dark Brotherhood because her husband Letreius had familial ties within the organization and she knew the Matron of the local sanctuary, Sitha Abelas.

         Viatrix had always known where Daeris was, and though she planned on telling Evander, Nocturnal made her true identity known to her and compelled her secrecy. But after Daeris reunites with Evander, Viatrix is no longer beholden to the oath she made to Nocturnal, so she tells him what happened and pleads forgiveness. It did at first cause a rift between Daeris and Evander as he processes what he’s learned about his daughter, “wife”, and family as a whole, but it’s nothing that Daeris doesn’t write off in her mind as part of the expected adjustment period of going from strangers to family, and she remains unaware of her father’s revelation.

         Learning the truth also didn’t stop Evander from wanting Daeris to be part of his life again. Even if all of it was true, he reasoned that 1. she was indoctrinated from birth and never had a conscious choice regarding the path her life took and 2. once she did have the capacity to make that choice, she gave up being a tool for the Dark Brotherhood and is now trying to better the world. He’s decided that it’s best to not even hint at his awareness to her past because her past is something that should truly be left behind, and him acknowledging it when she seems intent on moving away from that part of her history might only serve to cause her shame. Not that he wouldn’t ever be willing to have that conversation, but it needs to be on her terms and when she feels like she’s ready to talk about it. (And once she does eventually come clean to him, it’s far more impactful for her to learn that he’s known all this time and has not once treated her differently because of it. It invalidates the fear she’s had all of her life and brings her catharsis.)

N O C T U R N A L

         Now, onto her feelings for Nocturnal, which can best be describes as a bag of cats. It’s hard to even put it into words because there are so many different aspects of their relationship. Daeris doesn’t truly know how to feel about her mother, and I’m not sure that Nocturnal even knows how she should feel for Daeris. The only thing I can say with 100% confidence is that Daeris loves her mother and Nocturnal loves her in return. But love for daedra, especially a Daedric Prince who has existed for countless millennia and has no reason to regularly indulge in an emotion that is so incredibly mortal, is beyond complicated. For a being that is wholly permanent in space and time, encountering a new emotion would be so incredibly jarring.

         Just think about it; these deities have long grown used to emotions like joy, desire, wrath, envy and the like, but these are emotions that are provoked by things encountered in every day life. Daedra have no reason to love. They don’t have families. They rarely take any form of spouse, and when they do, it is always temporary and rarely born from any loving attachment. They do not know love, and if they feel love, they cannot easily understand it. Most think such a thing beneath them as most Daedra prize self-serving goals above anything that needs to take another being into consideration, let alone put that being before themselves.

         But it’s not impossible for Daedra to feel it. They just can’t comprehend what they’re feeling, I believe. Take Clavicus Vile and Barbas as a platonic example, or Vaermina and her lover in ESO as a romantic one. Daeris doesn’t have this issue because she is a Demi-Prince who has spent her life among mortals, but Nocturnal struggles with it.

         The closest comparison I can draw is Nocturnal’s relationship with her nightingales. She has a motherly love towards her nightingales, obviously, but there’s something off about it because she is a Daedra and she doesn’t care to get genuinely attached to them. As much as she does care for her nightingales, they are finite beings, and they are not irreplaceable to her (though the ones the stay loyal to her until their deaths are taken good care of in Evergloam after their passing). A betrayal earns anger, but she cares not for the betrayer beyond that. They are nothing to her if their purpose is not aligned with hers.

         Daeris has found a similar dynamic with Nocturnal, but one that runs deeper due to their biological connection, a genuine attachment, and Nocturnal’s higher expectations for her. Nocturnal loves her daughter, but she doesn’t know how to best treat her as a daughter, if that makes any sense. She created her because she wanted a stronger, more loyal agent, but Daeris is more than that to her. Daeris grew up among mortal and has mortal expectations for her mother, but Nocturnal cannot fit that role because she is not one. And it’s a bit frustrating to Nocturnal, that her daughter finds fault in her as a mother because she doesn’t conform to ideals of motherhood that exist among what Nocturnal believes to be inferior beings, and she can’t understand what she’s done to create this dissonance.

         In Nocturnal’s mind, Daeris should care more about her growth in terms of power and her status among Nocturnal’s ranks because that’s what a daedra would care more about. Her need for maternal affection and nurturing were not things that Nocturnal had anticipated, nor could she realize that she had robbed Daeris of these things through her partial absence in her childhood because a child cannot articulate what is missing from their life; it’s only something noticed in hindsight. She doesn’t realize how she’s created resentment in Daeris until Daeris is old enough to understand why she resents her mother and tell her this. And even then, Nocturnal still doesn’t quite get it, because again, “mortals are weak and their emotions are stupid” and it’s hard for her to grasp the idea that Daeris needed Nocturnal to put her before her own goals; an idea of selflessness that is completely foreign to the higher ranks of the Daedra. Not that she isn’t trying to understand, but there’s a lot of shit that needs to be fixed between them because for so long she believed her daughter (and herself) to be a more perfect, problem-less being than she was.

         Daeris is fairly tolerant to Nocturnal’s behavior nowadays, but I think that’s because once she got past her rage and grew closer to her mother, she began to understand how Nocturnal genuinely struggled to comprehend what life was like for her. She refuses to excuse it and wants to make things better between them, but just like Nocturnal, she doesn’t know how to make things better. There’s no quick fix to teaching a daedra how they’re supposed to behave towards others in an unselfish manner, or even how to be towards their children. It’s even harder to convince her that mortal interests are worthwhile beyond how they can service daedra. In that regard, she’s frankly just grateful that Nocturnal doesn’t interfere with her interests or try to micromanage her life. Still, she believes that they’ll reach some semblance of a normal relationship one day, though it will undoubtedly take years of work on both of their parts. At least Nocturnal is willing to try.

         In most verses their relationship is still incredibly strong in spite of its many faults and is complicated at worst. But in ESO, it becomes permanently fractured. Nocturnal believed that Daeris would put her plans and the opportunity to gain power for both of them before her cares within the mortal realm. She saw no problem with acting against her friends, her lover, and everything Daeris cared about because she believed Daeris had simply been misguided and was a nudge away from returning to her “right” path. She knew that Veya corrupting Dawnbreaker would lead to Darien sacrificing himself to cleanse it, and she believed that doing away with Daeris’s strongest attachment would give her no more reason to fight against her in defense of Tamriel.

         She was wrong. While Daeris was conflicted before, she was now set firmly against her mother. She refuses to forgive her for what occurred, and their relationship is likely fracture beyond any hope of repair. Nocturnal has tried. She wants Daeris at her side again, but she cannot admit she was wrong. Even if she did, would it really help? She realizes that she may never earn her forgiveness, but still she watches over her in the shadows, even though Daeris actively works to undermine her now by hunting down those who spread her influence or take part in her schemes.

         The sad irony is I believe this forced separation on Daeris’s part helps Nocturnal understand even more why she was wrong to leave her with the Dark Brotherhood as a child, and not from the standpoint of she would have likely remained loyal had she not grown attached to the mortal world, but because she’s started to understand how Daeris needed her and how her being mostly absent deeply affected her. In trying to understand why her daughter turned on her, she discovers what truly went wrong, and it was her fault. She created a daughter that was half-mortal, but she didn’t view her as such. She was unable to recognize how Daeris had grown so attached to mortals because she had for so long ignored the fact that part of Daeris was one of them. And she regrets that.

         If she had a chance to do things differently, she wouldn’t change the circumstances of Daeris’s creation. She wouldn’t change the part of her that was mortal. She would keep her firmly at her side from birth, and she wouldn’t ever use her. Though she created her with the intent that she would be her agent, she regrets ever seeing her as anything other than her daughter, and losing Daeris has caused guilt and shame beyond her failed conquest of the Crystal Tower. Only now that she’s lost her has Nocturnal realized how much she truly loved her daughter.

[nxtherold]

[  inbox shenanigans  |  always accepting  ]

@yivohn​ said:    What does Daeris think of her father? How about her mother, Nocturnal?

OH MAN this is about to get complicated so bear with me. I’ll start with her dad because her feelings for him are easier to unpack that for Nocturnal.

Trigger warning for mentions of childhood neglect.

Also this got long af so it’s going under a cut.

E V A N D E R

          So, even though he’s not part of her life, Daeris still knows of her dad. She still keeps tabs on him. It’s hard not to do so; he’s General Evander Urzara, a hero of the Imperial Legion and someone who is very much part of the metaphorical “glue” that holds Cyrodiil together. Word gets around, not to mention they live in the same city. But in most verses, he is unaware of her still being alive. If he knew, he would do everything he could to bring her home.

          Daeris admires him. She thinks he’s a genuine hero. But because she sees him this way, compounded with her abysmal self-perception, she doesn’t think she’s worthy to be his daughter. She believes if she were to reunite with him, he would never accept her and at best would be disgusted with her. In verses where she does reunite with him, she’s proven wrong, but she tries to hide her history with the Dark Brotherhood because she thinks him not knowing is the only reason he’s welcomed her back. But the thing is, he does know. 

          It’s explained better here, but basically Molag Bal found out what Nocturnal did and didn’t like how much personal influence she could now have over the Cyrodiilic Empire, so he had one of his largest cults repetitively attack the family in an attempt to either destroy the family as a whole or drive Nocturnal away; the latter of which was successful when it became clear to Nocturnal that Daeris was their true target. Daeris’s aunt, Viatrix, was the one who suggested that “Umbra” (Nocturnal’s alias) hide Daeris with the Dark Brotherhood because her husband Letreius had familial ties within the organization and she knew the Matron of the local sanctuary, Sitha Abelas. 

          Viatrix had always known where Daeris was, and though she planned on telling Evander, Nocturnal made her true identity known to her and compelled her secrecy. But after Daeris reunites with Evander, Viatrix is no longer beholden to the oath she made to Nocturnal, so she tells him what happened and pleads forgiveness. It did at first cause a rift between Daeris and Evander as he processes what he’s learned about his daughter, “wife”, and family as a whole, but it’s nothing that Daeris doesn’t write off in her mind as part of the expected adjustment period of going from strangers to family, and she remains unaware of her father’s revelation.

          Learning the truth also didn’t stop Evander from wanting Daeris to be part of his life again. Even if all of it was true, he reasoned that 1. she was indoctrinated from birth and never had a conscious choice regarding the path her life took and 2. once she did have the capacity to make that choice, she gave up being a tool for the Dark Brotherhood and is now trying to better the world. He’s decided that it’s best to not even hint at his awareness to her past because her past is something that should truly be left behind, and him acknowledging it when she seems intent on moving away from that part of her history might only serve to cause her shame. Not that he wouldn’t ever be willing to have that conversation, but it needs to be on her terms and when she feels like she’s ready to talk about it. (And once she does eventually come clean to him, it’s far more impactful for her to learn that he’s known all this time and has not once treated her differently because of it. It invalidates the fear she’s had all of her life and brings her catharsis.)

N O C T U R N A L

          Now, onto her feelings for Nocturnal, which can best be describes as a bag of cats. It’s hard to even put it into words because there are so many different aspects of their relationship. Daeris doesn’t truly know how to feel about her mother, and I’m not sure that Nocturnal even knows how she should feel for Daeris. The only thing I can say with 100% confidence is that Daeris loves her mother and Nocturnal loves her in return. But love for daedra, especially a Daedric Prince who has existed for countless millennia and has no reason to regularly indulge in an emotion that is so incredibly mortal, is beyond complicated. For a being that is wholly permanent in space and time, encountering a new emotion would be so incredibly jarring. 

          Just think about it; these deities have long grown used to emotions like joy, desire, wrath, envy and the like, but these are emotions that are provoked by things encountered in every day life. Daedra have no reason to love. They don’t have families. They rarely take any form of spouse, and when they do, it is always temporary and rarely born from any loving attachment. They do not know love, and if they feel love, they cannot easily understand it. Most think such a thing beneath them as most Daedra prize self-serving goals above anything that needs to take another being into consideration, let alone put that being before themselves.

          But it’s not impossible for Daedra to feel it. They just can’t comprehend what they’re feeling, I believe. Take Clavicus Vile and Barbas as a platonic example, or Vaermina and her lover in ESO as a romantic one. Daeris doesn’t have this issue because she is a Demi-Prince who has spent her life among mortals, but Nocturnal struggles with it. 

          The closest comparison I can draw is Nocturnal’s relationship with her nightingales. She has a motherly love towards her nightingales, obviously, but there’s something off about it because she is a Daedra and she doesn’t care to get genuinely attached to them. As much as she does care for her nightingales, they are finite beings, and they are not irreplaceable to her (though the ones the stay loyal to her until their deaths are taken good care of in Evergloam after their passing). A betrayal earns anger, but she cares not for the betrayer beyond that. They are nothing to her if their purpose is not aligned with hers.

          Daeris has found a similar dynamic with Nocturnal, but one that runs deeper due to their biological connection, a genuine attachment, and Nocturnal’s higher expectations for her. Nocturnal loves her daughter, but she doesn’t know how to best treat her as a daughter, if that makes any sense. She created her because she wanted a stronger, more loyal agent, but Daeris is more than that to her. Daeris grew up among mortal and has mortal expectations for her mother, but Nocturnal cannot fit that role because she is not one. And it’s a bit frustrating to Nocturnal, that her daughter finds fault in her as a mother because she doesn’t conform to ideals of motherhood that exist among what Nocturnal believes to be inferior beings, and she can’t understand what she’s done to create this dissonance. 

          In Nocturnal’s mind, Daeris should care more about her growth in terms of power and her status among Nocturnal’s ranks because that’s what a daedra would care more about. Her need for maternal affection and nurturing were not things that Nocturnal had anticipated, nor could she realize that she had robbed Daeris of these things through her partial absence in her childhood because a child cannot articulate what is missing from their life; it’s only something noticed in hindsight. She doesn’t realize how she’s created resentment in Daeris until Daeris is old enough to understand why she resents her mother and tell her this. And even then, Nocturnal still doesn’t quite get it, because again, “mortals are weak and their emotions are stupid” and it’s hard for her to grasp the idea that Daeris needed Nocturnal to put her before her own goals; an idea of selflessness that is completely foreign to the higher ranks of the Daedra. Not that she isn’t trying to understand, but there’s a lot of shit that needs to be fixed between them because for so long she believed her daughter (and herself) to be a more perfect, problem-less being than she was.

          Daeris is fairly tolerant to Nocturnal’s behavior nowadays, but I think that’s because once she got past her rage and grew closer to her mother, she began to understand how Nocturnal genuinely struggled to comprehend what life was like for her. She refuses to excuse it and wants to make things better between them, but just like Nocturnal, she doesn’t know how to make things better. There’s no quick fix to teaching a daedra how they’re supposed to behave towards others in an unselfish manner, or even how to be towards their children. It’s even harder to convince her that mortal interests are worthwhile beyond how they can service daedra. In that regard, she’s frankly just grateful that Nocturnal doesn’t interfere with her interests or try to micromanage her life. Still, she believes that they’ll reach some semblance of a normal relationship one day, though it will undoubtedly take years of work on both of their parts. At least Nocturnal is willing to try.

          In most verses their relationship is still incredibly strong in spite of its many faults and is complicated at worst. But in ESO, it becomes permanently fractured. Nocturnal believed that Daeris would put her plans and the opportunity to gain power for both of them before her cares within the mortal realm. She saw no problem with acting against her friends, her lover, and everything Daeris cared about because she believed Daeris had simply been misguided and was a nudge away from returning to her “right” path. She knew that Veya corrupting Dawnbreaker would lead to Darien sacrificing himself to cleanse it, and she believed that doing away with Daeris’s strongest attachment would give her no more reason to fight against her in defense of Tamriel.

          She was wrong. While Daeris was conflicted before, she was now set firmly against her mother. She refuses to forgive her for what occurred, and their relationship is likely fracture beyond any hope of repair. Nocturnal has tried. She wants Daeris at her side again, but she cannot admit she was wrong. Even if she did, would it really help? She realizes that she may never earn her forgiveness, but still she watches over her in the shadows, even though Daeris actively works to undermine her now by hunting down those who spread her influence or take part in her schemes. 

          The sad irony is I believe this forced separation on Daeris’s part helps Nocturnal understand even more why she was wrong to leave her with the Dark Brotherhood as a child, and not from the standpoint of she would have likely remained loyal had she not grown attached to the mortal world, but because she’s started to understand how Daeris needed her and how her being mostly absent deeply affected her. In trying to understand why her daughter turned on her, she discovers what truly went wrong, and it was her fault. She created a daughter that was half-mortal, but she didn’t view her as such. She was unable to recognize how Daeris had grown so attached to mortals because she had for so long ignored the fact that part of Daeris was one of them. And she regrets that. 

          If she had a chance to do things differently, she wouldn’t change the circumstances of Daeris’s creation. She wouldn’t change the part of her that was mortal. She would keep her firmly at her side from birth, and she wouldn’t ever use her. Though she created her with the intent that she would be her agent, she regrets ever seeing her as anything other than her daughter, and losing Daeris has caused guilt and shame beyond her failed conquest of the Crystal Tower. Only now that she’s lost her has Nocturnal realized how much she truly loved her daughter.

[thebrowngirlstakeontheworld]

Nobody’s Mama

Quick Author’s Note: The purpose of this post is not to stomp on anyone’s baby dreams. Have babies. Have lots of babies. Matter of fact, MAJOR shoutout to all of my friends who are already parents! You are all so amazing, and I love watching your little ones turn into little versions of you. Keep doing your best and being your best. I see you. I also know there are women who really desire to be moms, and I think that’s amazing. The purpose of this post is to show that there is another group of us. People ask me all of the time why I don’t want kids, and it’s such a complicated answer. But know that I’ve thought about it, long and hard. Motherhood is a special calling and not everyone has it. Read on only if you’re interested in knowing a little bit of my journey. 

Now. It’s my turn to briefly answer the most frequently asked question brought to me weekly: “Do you want marriage and/or kids?”

STORY TIME:

eX: Can I talk to you about something?

Me: Sure

eX: Let’s have a baby together. You’d be an amazing mother. I’d be a great dad. We can have a child together and coparent like all the trendy people.

Me: Absolutely not.

THE END

I don’t have it all figured out. Yes, I’m 30, and I’m just chillin. Vibin. Coastin. And that’s ok with me (after having several panic attacks and temper tantrums the past couple of years). By nature, I’m a planner. However, God doesn’t let me plan my life which is soooo unfair. I have absolutely no control. I mean... if you do have control over your life, more power to you.

Like every “grown” daughter who hates when her Dad meddles in her life, I, too, hate when God changes the plan… but I secretly like it because it’s always better than my plan. It’s like a little game we play, me and God. I tell Him everything I have planned, and He counters it. Today’s area of discussion: Marriage and kids. I used to be annoyed by the fact that I couldn’t just marry Idris Elba or be an assistant to Oprah or be a mom by 25. But there is a rhyme and reason for everything I suppose. 

Today, I’m grateful for all of the things I didn’t receive as a part of my plan. All of the things God has protected me from. At 30, I’m nobody’s wife or mother which is such a blessing. I used to long for motherhood, but then I became a teacher. And I realized raising children is hard and being in partnership with another adult (their parents) is even harder. So many ideas and opinions on how to raise children. Oh and these personalities. Some kids have these wild personalities that they can’t even control. I would get kicked, bit, punched, and more by CHILDREN and I used to always think… “What if this were my child?” And people who aren’t in classrooms love to comment that it wouldn’t be my child, but they can’t guarantee that. Every year that I taught, I saw an increasing number of violent children who exhibited behaviors that they couldn’t control. With each case, my baby factory closed it’s doors a little. 

Through it all, teaching taught me so much about who I am and what kind of parent and wife I’d be. I’d be one of those parents who pours out her entire life into her child and husband. I’d be attentive, supportive, chef, maid and all of that good stuff. And not out of obligation, but because I’d want to. It’s in my nature. Nobody told me to skip lunches as a teacher or get to school 30 minutes early or leave school an hour after it was over or call parents with updates on their kiddos or teach while allergy season almost took me out, but I did it because I understood what was at stake. Their futures were in my hands. I’d give anything to make sure my kids were successful because that’s how I was with my students. If you remember, I was unhealthy as a teacher. I’d gain weight off and on due to all of my emotional eating and looked visibly tired all the time. I lived and breathed my students and their families. Nobody was pouring into me or breathing life into me besides me. So then I realized THIS is why I’m not a mom yet because God’s like...  you’d be miserable and would run yourself into the ground. Parenting is freaking hard. People always say it’s better when it’s your own kid, but I just don’t believe it. Imma still be pouring my soul into it and not do anything for myself.  

People often try to “get” me to change my mind because of how “motherly” I am. I get it. I am nurturing, caring and kind, but aren’t we all? So just let me walk in my current truth, I do NOT desire a child and/or childbirth at this time and that’s ok. Yes, part of that is fear. But a major part of that is when I see my future, I don’t see any little people. It’s not like I have this giant empire that I need to pass down or anything. I have just enough for my little life to be as wonderful as I want it to be. And I just can’t afford kids. I don’t know where y’all be finding this money from, but I ain’t got it. Plus, my mom still asks me to text her when I get home safely after a night out with friends. Ain’t nobody got time to be that worried about an adult!

So the children conversation has been officially shelved until God shows me otherwise. I think I’ve done my part as it pertains to the whole child-rearing thing. I got the chance to impart wisdom and “mother” over 100 children. I’m an auntie to my godbrother’s son, and I’m a spiritual godmother to my friend’s sweet baby girl. So I may not have gotten to be a physical mother, but I’m ok with being a teacher-auntie-godmom figure because I get to work through the ratio in which I was pouring out. Instead of pouring out 100%, I pour out about 28% which... I know... would probably classify me as selfish. Not the negative kind. But the kind of selfish that makes each day worth living. I wake up praying and reading. Because I have time. I get to cook 2 meals for myself almost daily. Because I have time. I work out. Because I have time. I get to work around my own schedule and follow my dreams. I get to be unapologetically me because I have time. Reclaiming my time has been my mantra in my late 20s and early 30s, and I’m doing just that.

There’s also the giant elephant in the room of my own childhood that I would have to unpack before even having children. My family life was amazing growing up. BUT my social/school life was THE worst. I was chubby, a loner, and a loser for most of elementary school and middle school. I left high school with three friends. Alienation and bullying is something I dealt with and is still happening in schools. I wouldn’t even know how to address it with my own kids. My sister has always been my best friend. She didn’t have a choice. I had no one else. She used to tell me that it was surprising to her that I didn’t have low self-esteem. And the reality is that I really went through those school years thinking I was great and that everyone else was just confused and missing out. Many of my classmates were rude and cruel. My mom used to tell me they were jealous of me which is why they were so mean. As much as I’d love to believe that raising my kids to be vegetarians and pumping them with organic food, would make them less chunky and more cool, I know that there’s a solid chance that they could still be mistreated. I don’t desire for my children to live on an island of one in school, where they love themselves but nobody else likes them. I don’t want them to be social outcasts. And if they end up with my dashing good looks (in which society doesn’t deem as beautiful… darker skin, natural hair), that’s a whole other battle. Will my daughter have to deal with people not thinking she was good enough? Will she be single for most of her life because of beauty standards? I literally have zero positive date stories to tell her from my time here on planet earth. ZERO. Well actually, maybe one from the Cayman Islands, but that’s it. Having a daughter would horrify me because I know all the effort my family had to put in to prove to me just how wrong culture is. I’m exhausted just thinking about it.

On the partnership thing, I’d like to get married one day, but I’m not rushing it. I like my schedule and routine, so I don’t mind holding on to it for as long as possible. It would be nice though if I could have a late 2020 wedding. I never thought at 30 I’d be this single… like… not even in a serious relationship, single. But honestly, I haven’t met anyone worth interrupting my life for. So until God Himself sends a man in my direction, I’m gonna keep double dipping my spoon in the peanut butter jar because I can. 

I didn’t come to the marriage and kids conclusion by osmosis because like I said...I’m a planner and both were in my plan. But since my perfectly imperfect man wasn’t gonna just appear, I had to think about what I could control…which was my attitude towards not being married. There are many many MANY pros to my current lifestyle (which I tell y’all about often), so I had to rejoice in that! When life gives you lemons, you mix it with tequila and add some sugar on the rim and have a party! Because lemons aren’t even a bad fruit. I love lemons! 

I had to stop thinking about all of the things that didn’t come to pass and change my posture to gratitude. I started thinking about all of the things that have happened without me really working hard. The things that were just in the plan. I thought about all of the amazing opportunities that happened because my young, wild, and free lifestyle was open enough for them to happen. So instead of dwelling on what could’ve been, I get to wait patiently on what will be! I get to be spontaneous and live life with my amazing life planner, GOD. 

I shall talk more about career and general adulthood realizations later. This was already way longer than I wanted. The moral of the story is... life plans change. And I may end up married with 5 kids. Which I’d be open to. It just wouldn’t be my first choice or fifth choice. And I’m having an actual anxiety attack thinking about it. But who knows. So just leave me alone and watch what happens. *cues up God’s Plan by Drake

Love you for reading! 

Let your light shine today.

Shanda B.

[corrahdarling]

Devoted - Ch. 1 - The Garden

Summary: This is a story of the God of Mischief, Loki, and his wife Sigyn, the Goddess of Fidelity. When Odin, the All-Father, threatens to send young Sigyn away after the Queen dies, Loki offers her a home in his chambers... as his maid. In Part One of the Devoted Series, they face difficulties together and end up falling in love. What will happen when Odin finds out and promises Sigyn's hand to another man? 

__________________________________________________

    Sigyn sighed as she looked out upon the large flower garden that belonged to the late Queen Frigga. She had been very close to the Queen, and was still having a hard time processing that she was really gone. She walked through the roses and peonies and breathed their sweet scent in deeply.

The winding paths that led through the garden were full of different types of plant life. As she took a seat on the ground by the sparkling pool in the center of the garden, it was like she could almost hear the beautiful voice of the woman she so dearly loved. Frigga always had the best advice and words of encouragement when Sigyn needed them the most. She could almost feel the Queen grabbing her hands and saying "Always be yourself, my dear. There is no one more beautiful than that."     Sigyn’s own mother, Kari, had died while giving birth to her. She had been a Vanir woman who had a natural talent of magic, as most Vanir did. Her father was a strong, good Aesir man named Eirich, who was a trusted war advisor to the All-Father, Odin, in his younger days. He now lived in a small, humble cottage on the outskirts of Asgard.

     Sigyn's father had traveled to Vanaheim with Odin during the war, had fallen in love with Kari, and brought her back to Asgard with him. Sigyn's father had told her stories of the deep love they had shared, and how beautiful her mother was. Sigyn always wished that she had gotten to meet her mother.       Queen Frigga had always loved Sigyn like her own child, and since she had no mother, Frigga invited Sigyn to live in the palace as one of her handmaidens. She was only 8, but she would be taught all the things that a woman of royalty should know, and be cared for by the Queen. It pained her father to be without his only daughter, but he also knew sending Sigyn to Frigga would afford her an opportunity that he no longer could.     Growing up in the palace was overwhelming for Sigyn, as she was actually a very simple girl on the inside. There were so many things to remember and manners to abide by, and Sigyn had trouble remembering them all. Odin and Frigga had two boys around the same age as Sigyn, and they became fast friends immediately.

       Thor, the older prince, was blonde, boisturous, and full of life. He loved to play war, and practice with weapons, which Sigyn thought was very boring. He was very strong, and always looking for a challenge, usually receiving it from one of his many raucous friends.

         Loki, the younger prince was quite the opposite. He was tall and thin, and had jet black hair and beautiful pale skin. He had no use for playing war, or tussling with the other warriors. He was quiet, witty and calculating, and would much rather be alone reading a book or working on learning magic spells. There was something very unique about Loki. Although the Princes were very different, Sigyn admired them both.     Eventually, she learned more responsibility in the palace. One day the Queen walked with her to the garden.     "Sigyn, my dear. You love this garden, don't you?"     "Oh, yes my Queen! There is nothing like digging my hands into the dirt, and nurturing something until it blooms. It’s an amazing feeling.”     Frigga smiled. "You will be a wonderful mother some day, Sigyn. Until then, I would like for you to care for this garden. I may not be around forever, and I would like for you to have it. If you would like that responsibility that is."

    She accepted Frigga's offer enthusiastically, because this garden was her favorite place in Asgard. Every flower imaginable bloomed here. The air literally twinkled with magic. The trees grew tall, and butterflies lit on the blooms. This place was unlike any other in all the nine realms, and now it was all Sigyn’s. They enjoyed many talks and hours together in this garden. The Queen even taught Sigyn a few spells to help maintain the garden. That’s the moment she learned Sigyn was a natural at magic, just like her mother. Sigyn couldn’t imagine a stronger motherly love that what she felt in those moments in that garden...     Yet, here she sat. With tears streaming down her face. Frigga was actually gone. The only true mother she had ever known... There was a spot in her heart that couldn’t be filled and it ached every single day. She could still see the beautiful deceased Queen, as she was placed in a lovely, intricately carved wooden boat, covered with a thin purple veil, and sent away into flames and the afterlife. She would never forget that scene. A lot had changed in Asgard since the funeral. A sadness had fallen over the palace, and Sigyn wondered if it would ever be the same. Would Odin allow her to stay in the palace since Frigga was gone? Her other handmaidens had either been married off, sent back to their homes, or sent to work in other parts of the palace. She couldn’t imagine having to leave. She could always go back to her father, but she would miss the palace terribly.     “Sigyn?” a voice startled her, snapping her back to reality. It was a palace guard. “The All-Father has requested your presence in the Throne Room immediately.”      Sigyn trembled as she walked the long walk from the garden to the Throne Room. She had no idea what was going to happen, she just hoped Odin would be fair to her...

[youseffsarchive-blog]

how to be a basic bitch and copy everyone: a novel

PRIMARY: reese, DONOVAN. your problematic king of being absolute trash. if the douchegang was our government, he would be the speaker of the house. no shit. listen, he’s out here tryna be his best self, tryna turn over a new leaf. he love his girl, oli holds his balls in a tight grip and he is COOL WITH THAT. failing outta school cause homeboy is not an intellectual. that’s okay, we let it slide cause he still lovable af. football ALL DAY. rich as sin, drives a bentley, on that hype. but his parents are never around, he’s basically raising his fuckin self, which is why he’s always in trouble. he needs some fuckin’ guidance, aight? boy is Lost™.

best friends: rhiannon (LOREN WHERE ARE YOU), axton girlfriend: olivia friends: the #gang, always open ex: sawyer ??, but since iono where em is... open? ex-hook ups: gimme all dat ass frenemies: siobhan lol

INTERCHANGEABLE: dolan, MARCELLA. she’s beauty and she’s grace, she’s miss united states? speaking of problematic hunties, let’s discuss. so cella is like... trouble. just hardcore trouble. she’s in her lil rebellious stage atm because she’ll never live up to yasmine’s (here cousin that she livin with) awesome, and she lost both of her parents in a car accident ---one that she was also in, but she was the only one to walk away from it. YIKES. so she’s very hurt, forever jaded, hates life highkey. she walk around school with that switch in her stride, she out here sissyin’ that walk, watching wayyy too much rupaul’s drag race. out here tutoring all the honeys in all the sciences. that bitch love her some chemistry, some biology, some physics. she will be a world renowned surgeon when she old and gray. also has no idea how to emote anything besides PRETENTIOUS so forgive her. she really just need a hug tbh. somebody hold her fuckin’ hand.

best friends: parker, tatum friends: open tutor/tutee: open enemies: eloise, open ex-hook up who she tryna be cool with: axton current hook up: keegan ex: open cousin/enemies/still will fuckin’ die for that bitch so don’t look at her crooked: yasmine

PRIMARY: eriksson, URIAH. my arfbabrfaiurfba baby. my son. i BIRTHED. okay, listen. this is your lil nerd prince, your lil cupcake supreme, strawberry shortcake alpha HONEY. uri is an actual puppy. no shit, i think he’s a disney prince that has somehow just come to life. he’s a sweetie, and doesn’t have it within his person to even hurt a fly. loves life, would apologize if YOU hit HIM. just through and through an absolute gem. his father was ab*sive, and his mother has run off. now he lives with wren, who is his half-brother’s cousin, and honestly it’s so complex? pretty much he just wants to read some comic books and eat some brownies and live his best life, but the universe against this kid being happy. it’s sad. he is also the most insecure kid in the halls atm? literally walking around comparing himself to everyone, he has such a poor self image. 

best friend he lowkey got feelings for but dont realize he has feelings for?: alex blind date: amber fam: james, wren, riley (basically his new mom) best friends: james, liana friends: natalia good influence/bad influence: eloise crush/future/past/idk??: open somebody that knew his fam closely??: open

SECONDARY: macarthur, ATLAS. did you see that slick fucking face claim change? OH MY GAW. so atlas is richer than fuckin’ jesus christ himself. he doesn’t go to the public school, but some private academy that be on some uniform shit, y’feel? his parents are ridonk. mom’s always drunk, loves her a good mimosa, and his dad is always just off banging ladies in his private jet. literally, reality tv was made cause of his family. on god. atlas, though, has always taken a more humble approach. he wishes he could live a normal life, do what he wants without expectations. wants to pursue a career in some kind of mechanical engineering, but he’ll end up settling into whatever mom and dad want him to do. also a cheater.  A CHEAT. he cheated on his ex with her best friend and is nate archibald af sometimes. can be a lil vapid but he got a good head on his shoulders. he boutta go bankrupt, tho. i’m doing it to him. 

best friends: xavier, liana, open friends: elias, gimme more cause idk where em and loren are ex: open girlfriend: aria enemies: gimme mentor: open

PRIMARY: nixon, LENNON. omfg its the loml. please love her, i’m obsessed with this gem of a human. lennon marches to the beat of her own drum hard freakin’ core. she’s the president of student affairs. so all those dances, those events, fundraisers, that’s all this lil control freak. she’s the type who loves to decorate her planner, and has outfits planned out three weeks in advance. lists on lists on lists, very particular and a perfectionists. everything has a place and must go in its place. she’s obsessive. but she’s also got the biggest nurturing heart of all time. she likes things to go a particular way because she wants the best for the people she cares about. 100% genuine and caring, and even though she might rub you the wrong way sometimes she really has only best interest in mind. a ride or die ass chick. that’s my baby.

best friends: open friends: peter (?) ex-best friend: eloise frenemy/lowkey crush: joshua ex & also best friend: nolan crushing on her: open one night stand: open family friends: open frenemies: james

GIMME EVERYTHING FOR LENNON DROP PLSS

SECONDARY: jamison, SIOBHAN (pr: shuh-vahn). so this lil sunflower would be the only gif i find that isn’t the right size. oh, sio. she’s a lil out there. everyone in her life puts up with her because she’s kind of like those gnats drawn to light? just won’t go away, always coming back to be a lil nuisance. resident ‘needs a mom’ syndrome, constantly being taken care of by other people because she just can’t get her act together. cheer team ALL DAY, also somehow wrapped up in douchey-drama constantly. lives up yasmine and olivia’s assholes. she’s a bit of a ditz, kind of an airhead, and always lost. she’s very over dramatic, and everything has to go from 0 to 100. like there is no in between with siobhan. she’ll get a split end and say it’s the god damn apocalypse. blame it on the fact that she highkey doesn’t have any motherly figures in her life. bascially being raised by caiden and that boy is as lost as her so.

best friend/ride or die/actual wife: olivia boyfriend: christopher friends: douchegang (only sometimes), open family friends: noah frenemy: donovan mentor: yasmine enemies: open ex: open brother: caiden

PRIMARY: garcia, ROWAN. playa playa. this little cinnabon delight is out here stealing all yo’ girls and she not sorry. she’s a hopeless romantic, emphasis on the hopeless. thinks everyone is made for someone and is on an actual mission to find her someone. she’s the queen of getting her heart broken, and falls in love way too easily. it’s worrisome. she’s a bit of a know it all, thinks she has all the answers, but tbh with you she doesn’t have any of them. gets herself in troubling situations then wonders how/why it happened when 9/10 she was the cause. her coming out was rough, parents weren’t and still are not on board with her sexuality but she don’t really give a shit. one day she’ll run a nonprofit to support lgbt youth and is totally set on ChiUni. she’s not a fan of this town, thinks everyone’s a little too closed minded for her liking, READY TO DIP.

ex: zoey ex-hook ups: open currently dating: reagan ex-best friend: sawyer friends/best friends: liana (?) enemies: open fr everything for her is open just GIVE IT TO ME.

SECONDARY: williams, WREN. king grump!!! wren is the grumpiest bachelor in town, and doesn’t have a girlfriend cause he’s just out here grumping around all the time like a grump. he’s an artist, brooding mock and lives up to the stereotype. lived on his own for YEARS but now is trying to figure out how to be a father to his new foster, uriah. he’s doing pretty good, as he has a soft spot for his family, but tbh he’s scared out of his shit. he has a troubled past, one that is sprinkled with all sorts of issues, and tbh sometimes he borders on alcoholism. he’s a misunderstood artist, and while he normally doesn’t give a rat’s ass what people think, sometimes he can’t help but feel a little lonely? part of him wants to get out and leave, but now that he has uri he feels a little trapped. that’s ok tho cause he’ll do anything for the kid and then some. now he just seeks adventure and satisfaction, no idea where he’ll find it.

best friend/sister tho not by blood: riley cousins: james, uriah friends: vinny, open crush: gemma ex: open future/hook up: open enemies: uriah’s father, open

INTERCHANGABLE: bishara, SAMIR. his parents are old school, old school AS FUCK, and sam has always kind of done things on his own. he was very independent at a young age, and eventually that led to him getting granted emancipation. so now he lives on his own, and is the type to keep his head down at school, and just do his work. he’s trying to go through the motions and slide under the radar so he can get in, and get out. wants to be a dj or music producer, and is always scribbling down notes as the come to him throughout the day. very introverted, totally someone you would overlook if you had the chance. lives off of packages of hot chocolate and cup noodle, tbh, and he’s fine with that. boy was made to live on the road. wants to travel and see the world. when he graduates, he will take a year off just to see what else the world has to offer. also curses like a fuckin’ sailor so be warned.

childhood friend: joshua friends: open partner in crime: thea enemy: donovan, open romance: open lol ex: OPEN  hook up: open

INTERCHANGEABLE: quinton, DUKE. so he’s back. duke dipped out a little bit ago and nobody knows why. well, mostly no one knows why. before he left he was a bit of a golden boy, totally had a plan for life and it was all laid out in front of him. but then he got wrapped up in shady business, with the wrong kinds of people, and got arrested for selling "things” and now here we are. he’s jaded af now, likes to keep to himself, and works in construction. not very good at being a good guy anymore, though he’s trying to figure it out. he just wants to put the past in the past and be better for himself and the people he cares about, but he’s doing a really piss poor job of it.

best friends: open friends: open ex-hook up/current interest: parker enemies: OPEN GIMME ex: open

AND ANYTHING ELSE FOR HIM JUST GIMME

NEW: gregson, IVAN. baseball prodigy at local college, soon to be picked up by a major team. his pitch is insane, can throw at about 100mph now, and is a god damn workaholic. he’s a very emotional being, constantly wrapped up in his own thoughts. baseball has been his literal life since he was a kid, and because of that having relationships for him is incredibly difficult. he doesn’t know how to make connections or be around other people cause he’s always just been focused on honing his craft. super uptight, very much engulfed in himself. seriously someone take this kid out for a beer, he needs to loosen up.

friends: open enemies: open lovers: open

NEW: kapowski, MILES. new in town, just moved in with his sister and their mother. high school drop out, unemployed, where is his life even going? no one knows. has always been an absolute fuck up, and he knows it. miles wants to do great things but has completely given up. he struggles with a substance problem, which he went to rehab for, and is why he is currently not in school at all. needs hella guidance, his world is falling apart. is insanely smart academically, though, which is the hardest pill to swallow. could have the world at his fingertips but doesn’t have any idea what to do with it. SAD.

*haven’t started him yet, on back burner till needed.

NEW: kapowski, ORION. the new girl, and she likes it that way. she and miles move around a lot. every time mom gets her heart broken, or life gets a little too real for them, the family picks up and they leave. she’s never had a ‘home’, as she finds home to be where ever mom and miles are. orion, in particular, finds it very hard to get attached to people. she spends most of her time with her books and her headphones, which leaves many people to be quite curious about her. she’s gorgeous, but also kind of a trouble maker. she lives for thrill, for adventure, for doing things outside of the norm, and is very self destructive at times. she craves attention, since she doesn’t get enough in her everyday home life, and feeds off of adrenaline like a fucking aDDICT. nice girl, very sarcastic, kind of a ball buster. 

*would love to start her! message me!!!!

TERTIARY muses i got on hold cause iono????

bria phoenix

caiden jamison

sahil baqleh

anastasia north

[auroha]

Crystal Rain Chapter 1

The door was locked.

Of course it was. The boy eyed pretended not to look at it as dutifully bent over his work. His hands were already aching and if he did not pull it off, they would be raw by sundown. He turned his head to glanced over at the door to formulate a plan, but suddenly footsteps sounded nearby and he forced himself to remain attentive, or at least act like it, to his task. The footsteps stopped. The hair on his neck prickled and the boy knew they were watching him. That made it easier to identify the suspect, most would have simply ignored him. Judging by the sound of the footsteps, it could only be one person. He didn't move, save for the task at hand. A bead of sweat worked its way down his brow. Had she noticed the slightly movement that he had made? The silence seemed to stretch on for what seemed an eternity.

Finally, something happened that distracted the Observer. To his left there was a clamor of voices, mostly men, probably drunk. The Observer let out a sharp sigh and marched out of the room. He heard the sound of the door slam shut behind him. He winced and pitied the poor fools that made such a mistake. It was not easy to get away with such behavior around her, and the punishments were horrendous. In the years that he had labored for her he managed to mostly stay on her good side but today was different. Today he would risk her wrath if it meant freedom for a good several hours.

He was certain that nobody was around so he took the chance and turned away from his work to study the door. It was your basic plain oak wood door with cheap brass hinges and handle knob. He knew from experience that the hinges would squeak but he was prepared for that and had taken the necessary precautions earlier that morning when no one was up, and had oiled the hinges. But that was irrelevant and paled in comparison to the daunting challenged he now faced: Unlocking the door, and furthermore doing so quietly and getting away before the Observer came back.

He scanned his surroundings for any sign of her and, when he didn't see any, began to search for a small, stiff piece of wire. He managed to find two hair pins in drawer, a stroke of miraculous luck, but it had taken him several precious seconds to find it. He scraped of the spherical shaped ends of the hair pins with his teeth and set to work.

The boy pulled open one of the pins until it was straight. Next, he bended one of its ends into a 20-degree angle. He opened the other pin and bent it into a L shape. Then, he inserted the L-shaped pin into the bottom of the lock and placed the other one above it, gradually wiggling upward. As he did so, a number of clicks could be heard as the various pins were raised. After some time, the tension wrench rotated freely and the door began to open. The boy rose from his crouched position and put his hand on the door to push it open.

However, as this happened a number of things occurred. The first being that when the door unlocked, the boy took the liberty to let his guard down. The second was that as soon as he did, the-oh-so-familiar footsteps returned, accompanied by the wails of the unfortunate victim. So, when the he looked up to see the Observer turn around the corner, dragging a man by the ear, you would not be surprised at all.

~*~*~*~*~

Dalila Watcher was a kindly woman but who was also brass and stern. She never let things get to her and could be relied upon to keep a secret. Although, since she ran the local tavern, it was probably old news to her. To most of the villagers, she was a motherly figure. She let a number of underpaid tabs and debts slid, so long as she could still use them to call in favors. She was the voice of reason, and had seen and survived many bar fights, often being the one to break them up. At one time, she had married, but her husband had died of an unknown illness many years ago. They had no kids, but the village children looked up to her as a teacher, though, it should be noted, they were quick to escape when it was their own faults that was being taught. She was tough, but fair.

At first glance, she appeared to be the ordinary house wife, taking care of the tavern for her husband while he was away. Her red-brown hair was tied into a pony tail and she has green eyes. Her face was creased with smile lines and she wore a simple dress and a apron. If one were to look at her hands they would see that they were hard and tough, and her arms were muscular from carrying tankards of ale to costumers.

But when she turned the corner dragging George Martin by the ear, (the former having not paid his underpaid tab one-to-many times) and saw him pushing the door open to escape from his, as he called it, "Slave labor", all those motherly and nurturing characteristics disappeared.

"WHAT IN THE NAME OF IRIS DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!?"

At these words, the boy turned to face Dalila. Their eyes met. She glowered at him and he stuck out his tongue at her and burst out the door, to freedom. As he ran along the path leading from the back of the tavern to the village, he heard The Observer shriek: KARMA, YOU GET BACK HERE THIS INSTANT! YOU ARE NOT PLAYING THESE STUPID GAMES TODAY!!!"

~*~*~*~*~

Tina glowered at the empty space where he had been standing. George Martin emitted a chuckle. "You can't keep him cooped up forever, Del. Its market day, the rest of the kids his age will be out an about. It'll do him good if he can make some friends."

The grip on his ear tightened, causing him to release a cry of agony. "Its only market day, it's not like it doesn't happen every month or so. And who are you calling Del, huh!? I have a name, use it."

"Ow, ow, ow, ow! I'm sorry Mrs. Watcher!

"That's what I thought."

She sighed than allowed herself a smirk. "Well I guess since my main dishwasher seemed to have flown the coop, You'll just have to fill in for him. Should do you some good. Maybe you'll even get a job out of it."

"Ok, ok, just let go of my ear, please!"

~*~*~*~*~

Karma dashed away from the tavern and toward the city. The tavern was situated on top of a hill with patches of rocks and trees dotting the land scape. A shadow covered the landscape as a small floating Island drifted in front of the sun. As he ran he spotted a creature-a jackalope probably given the antlers on its head- bound away into the surrounding forest.

He ducked behind a tree to catch his breath, breathing heavily. He listened for the sound of a pursuit but heard none. He waited a bit, then decide he had successfully thwarted Dalila's plans. Wanting to survey the festival before entering it, he began to climb the tree.

Like a squirrel, he shot up the tree, finding handholds in the bark and gripping the branches tightly. He always kept three points of contact on the tree, knowing that any less would result in a Karma-pancake. That was not a pleasant thought, so he pushed it away and continued upward.

At last, he reached the top. The branches were were thick and were dense with leaves, providing good cover but at the same time this obstructing his view. By maneuvering g around a bit, Karma managed to find a place were the leaves lessened, giving him a mostly clear view of the happenings in the village below.

Nubis usually looked dreary, however, today it was teeming with life and merriment. Shops, stands, and games lined the single street, giving it the impression of a prospering city. He could just barely see people bustling through making their way past the holler of the shop keepers as they advertised their goods. The smell of baked goods wafted thought the air, making Karma's mouth water. He wanted some, but he knew from past experience that if he ate them he wouldn't get any supper. At the far far end of the town was a col-de-sac. At the center was a temple to the villages patron god, Iris. Around the temple, people twirled and  danced, the sounds of laughter competing with the melodies of country folk songs. Through the dancing adults, children frolicked to and fro, occasionally running into a dancing couple.

Karma mouth split into a grin. He loved market day, it was one of the best days of the year, one of the few that he was allowed to go anywhere he wanted. Dalila was always careful to monitor his movements, fearful that he would be carried-away by thieves or such. It seemed ironic to Karma that with so many people there was more of a chance to be kidnapped than any other day.

Suddenly, boisterous whooping could be heard. Given the volume of the racket, the culprits were in the general vicinity. Sure enough, Karma could just barely see the forms of humans as they staggered up the hill. From what he could see through the overhanging branches, there seemed to be at least four. They were in a line, with two flanking either side and two in the center. The one furtherest to the right had brown hair and fair skin. His companion adjacent to him had red hair, and also had fair skin. His brown and black cloak fluttered behind him and his leather boots caused indents in the path. He might as well had a sign that said "I'M THE LOCAL IMBECILE" The next  two boys was different from the previous two. Karma couldn't recognize them, so he assumed they were from a neighboring village. Unsurprising, as many villagers traveled to Nubis, to take part in the trading of merchandise. They had darker skin and black hair. one was smaller than the others so Karma assumed they were brothers.

He gritted his teeth. Not wanting to deal with them, he shut his eyes and thought 'Don't bother looking up, don't bother looking up, don't-'

"Hey, Rainbow-boy"

He looked down to see the one in the the brown and black cloak starting up at him from beneath the tree, his hands on his hips. As Karma glanced down at him, he broke into a smile. Even his smile was annoying, he hated it.

"Why do you always wear that scarf? You look like walking unicorn vomit."

His friends cackled.

"Well, Horace, why do you always wear that cloak? You might as well carry a sign that says 'I'M A BLOCKHEAD."

At this, his friends laughed even harder and Horace's smile widened. He beckoned Karma to come down, and he did so, reluctantly.

"What are you doing here?" Karma asked when he reached the bottom.

Horace gestured the tavern.

"We're heading up to get a drink. Wanna come with us?"

"Why? Don't they have drinks at the market?"

"They do, but we were hoping for something a bit more, ah, mature" One of the dark-skinned boys said. The rest chuckled. "Like what?" Karma asked.

The pause that followed was that of one when somebody says tells a joke and one person doesn't get it.

Finally one of the other boys spoke up.

"Like ale."

"You're not supposed to do that. Isn't your mom really against Alcohol, Horace?"

"Hey what she doesn't know won't kill her. So are you coming or nah?"

Karma shook his head and backed away. "Dalila will get really angry if she catches me, and I'm already in hot water. If I take one step into the tavern, she'd chain me to a chair. Why don't we do something else instead? I bet old man Hooper passed drunk out 'bout now. I'm sure he wouldn't mind if we 'borrow' one of his wife's pies."

But the other boys seemed disinterested in something that only a few years ago they would have been happy to do. "We're too old for that now, man" Horace said. "We've got to watch our backs now. Adults can be persecuted for theft."

"Nobody's too old for blueberry pie."

"You know what I mean"

Karma felt rage bubbling up inside him. Here was a boy around his age, trying to order him around! Who did he think he was, a girl? Karma couldn't understand him.

"Stop acting all high and mighty. You think you're so cool, swaggering up here pretending to be an adult. That's why you want to drink ale isn't it? You want to show all you're buddies how cool you are! You're stupid, I HATE YOU!"

Then he ran down the hill, his rainbow scarf flapping in the wind behind him.

Howdy! If you’re reading this, you’ve somehow managed to get through the cringy story above. If you would like to help make it less cringy, then you can over advice on how to make in better.

I sound like every generic advertisement on the internet. 

oh I should probably mention that this was originally going to be a story for a game my friend and I were making, but then I got discouraged because they weren’t really helping (they’re too lazy) I watched an extra credits video that CRUSHED MY HOPES AND DREAMS!

#ExtraCreditsCrushesDreams

Also yeah I just threw my friend under the bus.

He deserves it

So because it was original a game, the characters in this story will sometimes have unusual features such as sharp teeth, red hair, yellow eyes, etc.Honestly, I think this story would be better suited for a comic or an anime, but like the song says: ~you can’t always get what you want~

Ciao-

Auroha