#two brothers. the older brother inherited a large company from their parents and is very wealthy

[oscargender]

Had the most. Specific dream

[wooataes]

Real Eyes, Fake Lies (Part One)

Pairing: soulmate!Lee Jihoon x Fem!Reader

Word Count: 3.1k

Warnings: Angst, Hanahaki AU, mentions of death, mentions of infidelity, reader cries, Seungcheol and Jeonghan being the cutest couple

Summary: What do you do when you find out the one person that was created by the universe to be yours doesn’t want you back?

A/N: Just a little warm up post to ease myself to getting back into writing. I’ve had this idea in my head for a few years now, and finally decided to get it up and running. Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoy it! - Taelor ☺️✨💜

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You believed in soulmates. It wasn’t something that could be debated on in your world - someone out there was literally chosen and designed to cohabitate in perfect harmony with you, and only you. To love and cherish for the rest of your lives. Once you come into physical contact with your soulmate, it’s said that all the dull black and whites you see explode into a beautiful display of more colours than you could ever think of, and everything you feel is intertwined with what your other half feels. You have spent all 21 years of your life dreaming about what that would feel and look like.

You’ve seen soulmates meet before your very eyes. You saw it when your older brother, Choi Seungcheol fell for Yoon Jeonghan, literally, in your first year of college. You saw it when Jeon Wonwoo, close friend of your brother, caught Kim Mingyu into his arms just weeks prior.

You saw how much your mother loved her soulmate, your father, before he decided to leave her for a woman half his age when you were only 11 years old, and your brother 13. You saw your mother’s true love for your father seal her fate, falling ill to the dreaded curse of your soulmate not loving you back - watching life leave her with every flower petal she coughed up until there was nothing left. You saw it in your best friend Kwon Soonyoung’s parents, who took both you and your brother in until you both were of age and left for college.

You definitely weren’t a stranger to the phenomenon of soulmates, but you sure as hell were a stranger to knowing the beauty of colours and feelings of another. It’s something you craved and wanted so desperately to feel, you never knew when you would get to experience it.

In a way, you wished your soulmate was your best friend. Soonyoung knew everything about you; how to push your buttons and how to make your worst days feel like the best. Why couldn’t he be the one made for you? You spent most of your days together, being in the same Theatre and Dance majors at your college as well as the Theatre Club. In a realistic way, you two made perfect sense. But alas, Soonyoung’s soulmate came in the form of Lee Seokmin, the third in your best friend trio. You know that most of the time you’re the third wheel in your group, but you’ve grown to accept that fate over the previous 2 years.

Not having a soulmate never stopped you from living your life as you had intended, though. Living with your brother and best friend, along with the additions of their soulmates in a large 4 bedroom house inherited to you and Seungcheol by your mother in the city of Seoul, conveniently only a short commute away from your university. It wasn’t bad, on the contrary, you loved the company of your closest people who you call your family. There were the days when you often missed your mother and longed for the love only a soulmate could give, but those days are rare to have for you. You were more than content in your little bubble of existence.

“Choi Y/N!” You groan at the excited tone of your older brother calling you from the kitchen.

“It’s 6am, Cheol.” You grumble, snuggling into your knitted hoodie wrapped around your body as you slump against the breakfast bar, taking a piece of fruit from the basket on the bar. “Why are you so chirpy?”

“Good morning to you too!” He chuckled, reaching over and fluffing your hair up as you whined. “Don’t you think this green shirt makes my eyes pop?”

Seungcheol and Jeonghan had devised the perfect plan; wear an obnoxiously bright coloured shirt with the goofiest patterns and shapes - and once you found your soulmate, they would easily know because you would be so horrified that you would have to tell them what your thoughts were on the colour clashes.

“Ah, yes,” You hum, waving your banana around in the air. “They make the grey’s in your eyes really stand out.” You huff in a monotone voice, resulting in a laugh from the top of the stairs.

“It’ll happen eventually, Bug.” Jeonghan smiles as he passes you, giving you a peck on the forehead. “And we’ll be the first to know.”

“Yeah, yeah.” You smile, waving the couple off. “I’ll see you guys when I get home tonight. Don’t worry about dinner, it’s Working Bee tonight. Our sets won’t paint themselves.” You pull your backpack over your shoulder, umbrella in hand as you walk to the front door. “I’ll be home at around 8?”

“Sounds good, Love Bug!” Seungcheol smiled - Love Bug being a loving nickname from your mother. “But call us if you’re going to be home any later. We’ll wait up.”

“Will do! Love you,” you sang as you closed the door behind you.

It’s late in the day when Lee Jihoon hums quietly to himself as he strolls through the hallway of the Music Building, tapping his fingers on his sides as he attempts to get the chord progression in his head correct. His eyes scan the bland black and white scenery in front of him, a blank expression matching the blank scenery.

“Hoonie!” A voice called, making Jihoon smile.

“Hey, you.” he hummed, pressing his lips to Kang Ji-ah’s temple, taking her into his arms.

He knows what you’re thinking. Why the hell would he be with a girl who wasn’t his soulmate? Well, why would he tell you? He doesn’t have to explain it to anyone, him and her are the only ones who know, anyway. It isn’t harming anyone. He didn’t even know if he believed in soulmates at this stage. And it’s not like anyone assumed any different. On the outside and to everyone else, Jihoon and Ji-ah were soulmates. They didn’t have to know it wasn’t real.

“I’ve got dinner with my parents tonight, Hoonie, but we can rain check our date until next week, right?” She smiled as Jihoon’s hands rested delicately around her waist.

“Of course, babe. I have to stay late for the Theatre Club anyway. Gotta get the orchestra prepared for rehearsals.” He lets her hands wrap around his shoulders as she pulls him in for a tight hug.

“Thank you, my love!” She cooed, giving him a final kiss on the cheek. “I’ll text you tonight, yeah?” She happily spun around and proceeded to go back from where she came, waving to Soonyoung and Seokmin coming towards Jihoon hand in hand.

“You two are sickeningly cute.” Soonyoung grimaces as Seokmin only grins.

“Oh stop it, Soonie. You know for a fact that Jihoon thinks the same about us.” He smiles as Jihoon only nods his head in agreement.

“Is there a reason you’re blessing me with your presence?” He raises his brow.

“Surprisingly, yes.” Soonyoung nodded quickly. “Jihoon-ah, you know you’re my best guy friend, right?”

“I am?”

“Don’t sound too shocked.” He pouted, making his soulmate giggle to himself. “I came to ask a favor of you.”

“Okay..?” Jihoon tilted his head.

“Are you able to walk Y/N back home tonight after the Bee? Min and I can’t make it and Cheol doesn’t want her walking home alone when the sun is just going down. I’ll shout some dinner for you next week to make up for it.”

“Oh, is that all?” He nods thoughtfully. Of course he knew you. You were Choi Y/N, top of your classes in Theatre. You were well known for your powerful vocals and bubbly personality. You were also a shoo-in for the lead role for Mamma Mia this year, and Soonyoung’s adopted sister. Your paths have crossed a few times, and Jihoon never had a problem with you; he even thought you were a cool girl. “Yeah that’s fine, it’s on the way home for me anyway.”

“Ah, you’re a lifesaver, Jihoon-ah! Thank you!” He grinned, clapping him on the back as he squeezed Seokmin’s hand. “Min and I have to go do a last rehearsal for my Hip-Hop final, but shoot me a text when you get home yeah?”

“Can do.” He nods, waving his hand as he makes his way to the campus band room to meet with the orchestra.

When Jihoon arrives at the auditorium two hours later, he’s surprised when he’s only met with you, covered in small splotches of paint, and a halfway finished set piece that is meant to look like the pavements of Greece. Your hair is disheveled and tied in a lopsided ponytail on top of your head and your glasses sitting on the tip of your nose with no one else in sight.

“What happened to the Bee?” Jihoon made his presence known to you, causing you to jump as his voice echoes across the empty stage, the only other sound being heard coming from your small Bluetooth speaker by your side.

“Ah, it’s just you, Oppa.” You smiled as you held your hand over your chest, calming down your wild heartbeat from the fright. “The guys all left about half an hour ago. They all had to study for auditions and all that.” You lean down as you speak, painting over the wooden set. “But it’s fine. I work better alone anyway.”

“Doesn’t mean you should.” He frowns, walking up onto the stage and setting himself down on the other side of the large set piece, a blank canvas on the other side. “Why didn’t you finish when the others did?”

“Cheol isn’t expecting me home until later, might as well fill in my time helping the team out.” You shrug, smiling to the confused man as he watches you paint. “I gotta say though, being only able to paint the black and white parts of the sets is boring as hell.”

You intrigued him. According to Soonyoung, you suffered through a fair bit as a child and yet you seem so content with your life as you hum and paint away. After a brief moment, he sighs and picks up a paintbrush, dipping it into the paint.

“Woah, woah, woah.” You try to stop him. “You don’t have to help, really. I know Soonie put you up to walking me home, you don’t have to do this too.” You smile softly to him, and he just looks back at you with an expression you can’t decipher.

“You said it yourself,” Jihoon mumbles, painting the wood in front of him. “Might as well help out.”

After thirty minutes of quiet but hard work of painting, you take a deep breath before lifting your head to the older boy who sat across from you, his long dark hair tucked delicately behind his ear as he worked.

“Oppa?” You ask quietly, only receiving a hum in return. “What’s seeing colour like?”

A beat of silence passes as Jihoon pauses his painting mid-stroke. “I wouldn’t know.”

“What?!” You drop the paintbrush on the newspaper covering the stage floor. “Ji-ah isn’t your soulmate?!”

“No?” He laughs incredulously, like it was the silliest question he had ever been asked. “I just like the girl, is all.”

“I can’t believe what I’m hearing!” You gasp. “Why are you even with her if she isn’t your soulmate?”

“It’s not like It’s a secret. No one ever asked, they just assumed. So I never told. Why does it bother you so much?” He frowns, feeling his cheeks grow warm.

“It doesn’t,” You counter, picking up the paintbrush again. “But.. like, aren’t you curious to meet the person literally made for you?”

“Made is a bit of a stretch.” He laughs, shrugging his shoulders. “I mean, it isn’t that big a deal. So we haven’t found our soulmates yet. We are just having fun with each other right now.”

“And what if you found your soulmate, what would you do then?” You ask cautiously, lifting your head and pushing your glasses up the bridge of your nose once more.

“I don’t know?” He laughs again - a nervous tick of his. “They’d just have to accept that I really like this girl? We have a really good thing going on and I wouldn’t want to jeopardize that because the ‘universe’ says so.” He lifts his fingers into a quotation mark. “At this point, I don’t even think soulmates are a real thing. I mean, sure, our friends are happy together with their fun, colourful lives but I’m quite content with Ji-ah. We just get each other.”

“Well, Mr Debby Downer,” you pout, putting your paintbrush into the bucket of water by your side. “I appreciate your thoughts on the situation, I’ll be sure to rub it in your face when you eventually meet your soulmate and fall in love and never want to leave their side.” You smirk to yourself.

“Yeah, like that’ll happen.” He huffs, putting his paintbrush down as well. “Soonyoung was right, you are a hopeless romantic.”

“Well of course I am,” you beam and if Jihoon didn’t know any better, your eyes almost seem like they’re sparkling. “I can’t wait to see colours and meet the person I’m destined to be with. There’s nothing wrong with having dreams, Lee Jihoon.” You smile, packing up the paints on the floor as you speak.

“Sure.” He hums again, standing up as you pack up the auditorium and collect your things. “Ready to go?” He asks as you nod, pulling your hood up over your head.

“You seriously didn’t know it was going to rain tonight?” You keep your hands stuffed in your pockets as your knitwear keeps you dry from the drizzling rain that falls from the sky.

“I don’t check the weather websites like an old woman.” Jihoon frowns, holding your umbrella over his head as he walks alongside you.

“You’re weird, Lee Jihoon.” You giggle quietly to yourself.

“Uh huh. I’ll be sure to let my soulmate know that when I meet them.” He remarks with a laugh as you walk together, letting the comfortable silence take over the both of you, the only sounds behind the rain pattering against your umbrella.

It takes the both of you 20 minutes to finally make it to your home and by the time you arrive, the rain has slowed to a light drizzle, the setting sun attempting to peak out behind the dark clouds.

“Well, thank you for walking me home, and the interesting take on soulmates, Oppa.” You smile as you step through the front gate, Jihoon still holding the umbrella over you so you don’t get wet. “I wish your soulmate the best of luck whenever you meet.”

“Likewise.” Jihoon laughs as you pull your hood off your head, getting ready to climb up the small staircase leading to the front door.

“I’ll see you for auditions, yeah?” You smiled as Jihoon nodded.

“Sure will.” He smiles, closing your umbrella as you turn to face the front door. “Oh, wait, your umbrella.”

“Oh, right.” You laugh, turning back and reaching out to take it from his hands, only for it to slip from his grasp at the last second.

“Crap, sorry-”

“Oops, sorry-”

You both reach for the umbrella on the pavement, fingertips brushing against each other gently. You let out a gasp as you look up to Jihoon’s face, his eyes changing colour right before yours, unexplainable colours starting to burst in all speckles of your vision. Your eyes widen as his face, clothing and the scenery around you lights up with multiple colours and shades, the now forgotten umbrella drops to the ground with a thud.

Jihoon is staring back at you with an unreadable expression, eyes mirroring yours as his hands shake. He feels dizzy as the sickeningly bright colours flood his vision. You’re staring at him in awe as the rain starts to grow heavier, coating the two of you with water.

“Oppa?” You ask quietly, so quietly that if Jihoon wasn’t looking at you when you said it, he would have missed it.

“…”

“Oppa, please say something..?” You ask shakily, and he shakes his head quickly. He can see it. You’re already imagining all the possibilities of your future. A future with him.

“… Don’t think this changes anything from what I told you at the Bee, Choi.” He grunts, not caring about the rain soaking his clothes. “I-I stand by it. You need to accept that I’m with Ji-ah, and nothing will change that.”

He pauses and waits for your response, growing more and more impatient as you just stare at him.

“W-well, if you don’t have anything more to say, then goodnight, Y/N.” Jihoon turns away, starting to head to the gate before feeling a sharp pain inside him. Wincing and reaching to hold the left side of his chest, he lets out a soft hiss. “Ah… what the hell?” He mutters to himself, turning back to look at you. He wishes he didn’t.

When you’re standing still, hand on your chest as the rain drenches your clothes, tears now falling freely down your cheeks is only then when Jihoon knows what he just felt; the only other side effect to having a soulmate.

He just felt your heart break.

“Y/N?” Jihoon asks cautiously.

As if snapping out of your trance, you blink a few times before whispering out “Don’t worry, Jihoon. No one will ever know. Just like you want.” You quickly turn and run up the stairs, opening the door to the house as Jihoon steps forward.

“Wait-” the door slams in his face as he reaches it, leaving him soaked, alone and feeling the pain of his soulmate’s broken heart.

“Hey, Bug! How was the Bee?” Seungcheol steps into the entryway from the kitchen, your eyes immediately falling to the multicoloured button up shirt he had on. “What do you think of my- Y/N?” Cheol stops as he sees the tears on your face, your chest heaving as you struggle to take a breath.

Without another word, you quickly run upstairs and into your bedroom, deep sobs leaving your chest as you curl up into a corner of the room and bury your face into your knees. Seungcheol followed you quickly, stepping into the room cautiously.

“Y/N? Love Bug, what has happened?” He asks quietly. “Are you hurt?” He sees you shake your head no, and he sighs with relief. “Let me turn the light on to check, just in case okay?”

“No.” You hiccup, your face staying buried in your knees, your stomach twisting in pain. “Please.. I d-don’t want to see it. I hate it. Don’t make me look at it!”

“Bug? Look at what?” Cheol asks worriedly, his hand resting on the top of your head.

“Colour.” You sob, your body slumping against your brother. “I hate colour, I hate soulmates, I hate it!” You cry harder, your tears soaking into his stupid colourful shirt.

[impossible-rat-babies]

— B A S I C S

name: eyrie kisne nicknames: none. they inherited the title "the ephemeral shepherd" after the end of the pandaemonium raids age: 150~ years old nameday: 22nd sun of the 4th astral moon (07/22) race: veena + rava viera gender: nonbinary orientation: do not particularly care profession: adventurer + craftsman

— P H Y S I C A L     A S P E C T

hair: reddish brown with streaks of pale blonde + a few grey hairs at their temples and near their ears. there are a few bald spots near the base of their ears from an intense trichotillomania flare up ~15 years ago eyes: warm dark brown skin: well worn and lightly tanned with copious amounts of sun spots, freckles and moles. a section of bleached white skin runs the length of their spin, spreading out across their shoulders and lower back. tattoos/scars: light brown tattoos of the same design as their maternal grandmother decorate their fingers and hands. their hands and forearms bleached to a pale white—almost marble like to the touch. they have too many scars to dare count them, but a notably large scar stretches from just below their sternum to right above their belly button from a reaper scythe through their chest.

— F A M I L Y

parents: their mother--yelva--is alive and well back in the forest. tending to her great grand children and her goats. their father, azmi, died in an accident during the later parts of eyrie’s wood warder training. siblings: two older sisters named lilja and brita, and one fraternal twin brother named odvirn, all of whom are alive grandparents: deceased/unknown in laws and other: none they are close with. they do have copious amounts of nieces and nephews from their sisters, but their brother has no living children. they also have seven children of their own. pets: cricket (a ferret familiar, unknowingly summoned) + flower (a carbuncle inherited upon the death of the first WoL in the coils of bahamut) + gingko (their chocobo who chose them once they finished their paladin training)

— S K I L L S

abilities: brd + smn + war/drk + ast. also trained in the tradition of the disgraced paladins of ishgard. they have some small talent in conjury, but refuse to pursue the matter further on account of “personal issues” hobbies: whittling, landscape drawing, playing various instruments (lute and pan pipes), gardening, sewing + embroidery + mending clothes

— T R A I T S

most positive traits: selfless, compassionate, loving, paternal

most negative traits: selfless, quiet, liar, shameful and guilty, vindictive, patronizing

— L I K E S

colours: russet brown, maroon, olive green, ivory, pale gold smells: oil pastels, aether, chamomile, blood textures: linen, feathers, homemade paper, oil, silky fur and rough wool drinks: mead, mulled wine, fermented sheep's milk

— O T H E R    D E T A I L S

smokes: briefly and socially some 25 years ago. they have some fleeting happy memories associated with the smell of garlean cigarettes. drinks: very occasionally and only socially with familiar company drugs: mild relaxants to help them sleep when the terrors get really bad + occasional pain meds to ease chronic pains mount issuance: "this note just says you can do what you want." been arrested: yes, several times by the brass blades in ul'dah after the calamity. mostly for petty crimes, but also inciting violence + bar fights + violence against members of the brass blades. (to which that was mostly violence in defense of the poor and the refugees the brass blades took for easy targets. they didn’t kill anyone though)

--

@redwayfarers and @galpalaven tagged me in this meme ages ago and i finally got around to doing it! im gonna tag: @fourteenthz, @gatheredfates, @hinganskies, @aethergazing and whomever else!

[edwardsthalia]

Thalia Edwards || 40 || Director of Surgery @ BH Hospital

FULL NAME — Dr. Thalia Edwards (even Dr. Edwards during her marriage despite being constantly known as Mrs. Weissberg)

FACECLAIM — Angela Sarafyan

GENDER & PRONOUNS — cis woman, she/her

AGE — 40

BIRTHDAY — February 3rd, 1984 ; 02/03/1984

OCCUPATION — Surgery Program Director at Blue Harbor Hospital

NEIGHBORHOOD — Cardinal Hill

LENGTH OF TIME IN BLUE HARBOR — Thalia lived in BH from when she was 8 until she was 17 when she went to college. She returned at 36 and has lived there since

BIOGRAPHY.

tws for home invasion, death, drugs, & adoption

Her childhood was picturesque. A standard nuclear family in Dallas with two younger siblings and parents who hated to sleep away from each other. Thalia was a happy but slightly odd kid with an early fascination with all things spooky. Her life fell apart when her family was killed in a home invasion. The spot on the roof where her mom used to take her up to stargaze was her hiding spot. She may not have been the sole survivor if her little sisters hadn’t cried when they were hiding. Thalia went into the foster system for three years and came out even more damaged. 

Joining the Edwards family was just luck. They didn’t even know her, just old family friends who must have liked her parents. At times they were distant and worked more than the standard 40 a week but they were kind. More importantly, Thalia had Deacon. He was only five years older than her but he stepped into the protector role she needed. He was there after every nightmare and every bad day. She was grateful for her adopted parents but they were forever kept at a distance. Not Deacon. She loved him entirely. 

She lived as free a life as a kid could live. After her traumatic beginnings, homeschooling was the best option for her. Thalia was very smart and preferred her own company (or her brother’s) for many years. The siblings became extremely close even when Thalia shifted to attend the same high school as Deacon. As her hormones began to sabotage, Thalia’s focus on school and her emotional stability slipped. Despite Deacon’s presence, she felt alone and scared and couldn’t help but fixate on darkness. 

Enter Leon. A tall and lanky presence who matched her sadness in the most majestic goth way possible. They were Kurt and Courtney, skipping school and indulging in self destructive activities. Her grades tanked but she was in love and every grunge concert they snuck into made things better. Despite their mutual worshiping, they parted ways so Thalia could try striking out on her own on the opposite coast. She was accepted into college by the skin of her teeth but found herself excelling once she found pre-med. 

A shockingly large inheritance came into her possession once she turned 18 but Thalia was already invested. She reinvested everything she could afford to do without and focused on her studies. Halfway through her four years of medical school, Deacon called and said he needed her. Thalia transferred to NYC as soon as possible and divided her time between studying and keeping her brother afloat. During her neurosurgery residency, Thalia reconnected with Leon and they dated until she completed her fellowship and attended a certain fundraiser for the hospital. 

Despite her brother strongly advising against it, she married Saul Weissberg and her life started revolving around him. How could it not? He was charismatic, attractive, intelligent enough to verbally spar with her and confident enough to challenge her. At first the electric chemistry was all she needed but Thalia soon grew unhappy. Between surgery and attending all the social events that her gregarious husband loved, she felt herself slowly unraveling. Communication was difficult between them as they both threw themselves into work.

Her adopted mother started getting sick and Thalia’s big brother moved back to take care of her. After a year of traveling back and forth between New York and Blue Harbor, Thalia practically begged Saul to move with her back to Illinois. She already applied to become the head of the surgery program at the Blue Harbor hospital so she could be with the family that treated her with such kindness. She didn’t expect that to be the final nail in their marriage. 

After they divorced, Thalia threw herself into work and reengaging with her family. She didn’t want to be back in Blue Harbor and she didn’t want to be without someone who loved her. Her days are spent at the hospital and free time taken up by the occasional yoga class and watching old movies with her big brother.

Headcannons

She will engage in almost any type of horror except home invasion, for obvious reasons, and usually steers away from any family dramas (due to an obsession with Toni Collette, Thalia attempted to watch Hereditary but had to leave the theatre before she had a panic attack during a certain dinner scene)

She very rarely expresses emotions on her face. After what happened with her family, Thalia retreated into herself. Even after growing up, only a few people could read her micro-expressions

Her eyes are very photosensitive and she rarely goes outside without sunglasses

She forgets to eat frequently. After her divorce, the reminder duty usually falls to Deacon or the people she works with

She spokes a surprising amount of weed as it's the only way she can really relax. She'll do other drugs too but rarely goes anywhere without her tiny cigarette case filed with precisely rolled joints

CONNECTIONS.

friends ; everyone needs friends ! most everyone will be kept on the outside behind those pesky walls she built up except for a select few

colleagues ; anyone who would work at the hospital

childhood friends ; she grew up in BH from late elementary school until high school

people who know her brother ; she's crazy protective over her big brother so the relationship could be positive or negative depending on how she feels Deacon has been affected

fellow yoga class attendees ; she consistently attends yoga classes as long as her schedule allows

enemies ; anyone who says or does bad things to Deacon, Leon, or even Saul (she and Terry are the only ones who can do that)

connections through the hospital ; someone who she treated or a family member of someone who needed neurosurgery

smoke buddies ; self explanatory

[unsettlingcreature]

thoughts about Philomel's family

Ages

Lohan: 62 (father)

Amarantha: 58 (mother)

Floriane: 33 (older sister)

Cyril and Emeric: 29 (older brothers)

Philomel: 20 (my tiny freak)

Ruben: 6 (nephew)

Matthieu: 1 (nephew)

Philomel's place in the family

Being the youngest of the children by nine years, Phil was doted on quite heavily by both of her parents. Lohan in particular doted on her, having missed out on the first few years of his other children's lives due to his time in the Legion. They allowed her to do whatever she wanted and even gave her little to no punishment when she misbehaved (which was often).

However, she doesn't have a very close relationship with her other siblings due to the large age difference between them while being able to see the close bonds between the three of them. This leads her to have a weird obsession with the idea of sibling relationships, wondering what it is like to have such a bond herself.

Family Background

The Gaerham family are actually very new as nobles go, their family only being granted noble titles after Phil's father's achievements during the Great War. Beforehand, they were a family of merchants and landowners who specialised in selling grain and other crops from the tenant farmers of their land.

Amarantha was the youngest daughter of a minor noble house. However, she often went off adventuring, leading her family to worry about whether she would be able to get married and they began to look for prospective partners for her while she was away.

They decided to select the third son of the Gaerham family, Lohan Gaerham, knowing that having ties to a merchant family could help them in future. Lohan was a sharp-witted man but unlikely to inherit the position of head of the house, although he was given a full education and held a position within the family's company.

Lohan and Amarantha got married when he was 27 and she was 23, the marriage being arranged by their families. Luckily, the two of them had very compatible personalities and got along well, although the relationship between them was never particularly romantic.

They had their first child two years after their marriage, a girl named Floriane who was quickly named the heir. Four years later, Amarantha fell pregnant again, this time with twins, just days before the Great War began and Lohan joined the Imperial Legion, along with his brothers. Her fear for her partner led to the pregnancy being quite difficult for her but her sons, Emeric and Cyril, were eventually born happy and healthy despite being slightly premature.

In the end, Lohan was the only one of his siblings who fought in the war to survive and once rumours spread that he would be greatly rewarded for his service, he was named the heir of the Gaerham family. In the end, he was granted a noble title.

Five years after the end of the Great War, Amarantha fell pregnant again. Despite the risks due to her age and her previous intention to not have any more children, she decided to continue with the pregnancy and Philomel was born in 181YE.

Currently, the only one of Philomel's siblings that have had children is Floriane who has had two sons (Ruben and Matthieu) so far, the youngest being just over a year old.

[opheliayuen]

{ ic; Gemma Chan, 37, she/her, female. } yo! have you heard about [ OPHELIA YUEN ]? i couldn’t help but notice them blasting [ THE CHAIN - FLEETWOOD MAC ] when they pulled up.  i saw them moving into [ DIAMOND HEIGHTS ] which makes sense because they remind me of [ CUPS OF TEA ABANDONDED NEXT TO STACKS OF NOTES, A QUIET LUXURY WOVEN IN EVERY FIBER OF HER CLOSET BUT NOT HER BEING ]. word on the street is that they’re [ ARGUMENTATIVE & PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE  ] but i also heard they can be [ HELPFUL & GENTLE ]. i could be wrong but something tells me that they work over at [ THE URBZVILLE TRIBUNE ] but i guess we’ll find out soon enough. { ooc; hannah,est, she/her, 22.}

Hey!!!! I’m back with another lil lady!! Feast your eyes on Ophelia  Yuen!!!

tw: death, pregnancy ( unrelated to the death tw), 

Basics

full name: Ophelia Xiu Yuen

nicknames: none

age: 37

pronouns: she/her

sexuality: heterosexual

sun sign: Capricorn

occupation: editor

workplace: The Urbzville Tribune

residence: diamond heights

History

Ophelia was born in new york city to a very loving and kind couple, Peter and Charlotte Yuen, the owners of a massive international trade company.  Luckily for the newborn she was not to inherit the business itself that would go to her older brother Jacob Yuen.

The family lived in the lap of a silent luxury, they lived in a large townhouse on Carnegie Hill, NY and truly taught the children manners and how to appreciate what they had been given.

Ophelia was always dressed in beautiful dresses and spent much of her free time interested in writing and reading, most mornings she would be found on either her mother or father’s lap reading along to the newspaper

When she reached school age, just like her brother, she was given the best of the best! She was sent to private schools but was never allowed to go to a boarding school, her parents too afraid to send their little girl away.

Throughout school she joined debate teams and school newspapers. Even during the summer her parents would allow her to take private tutoring in creative writing, and journalism.

Though her parents wanted her to have a quiet life, probably as some senator’s housewife they couldn’t deny their daughter’s abilities and interest, they had never done that to her brother and Peter was set on the two being treated equally.

Jacob and Ophelia were constantly surrounded by friends, usually peers from school including one Xavier Wong, he was Jacobs age and Ophelia was smitten, of course the girl didn’t have time to have a crush during school so she would just day dream about what it would be like to be noticed by him. It would soon fizzle out after Jacob and Xavier graduated to university

Once she got to university it became obvious to both of her parents that Ophelia was not just their gentle and sweet little daughter but a girl filled with her own passions and dreams, even an ivy league school didn’t make her want to settle down. Instead she took a job offer ( mainly through Peter’s connections) as a international reporter for a massive paper in England

Later she would become a war correspondent, this would be the first time her mother actually disapproved of her choice but either way she went

There she would run into  Master Sergeant Xavier Wong, and almost instantly all the feelings came back, even the ones he had harbored himself, they would end up dating, they put the effort in and made time for each other and they were both happy. Two years in he asked her to marry him and for once Charlotte was thankful for Ophelia’s career.

Two months before his second tour they discovered Ophelia was pregnant, they had their entire future ahead and this was going to be his last tour for a bit, he had promised her..

Exactly 7 weeks and 4 days after she waved goodbye to him, a man came to her door, telling her that Xavier died, the rest was a blur even now if you were to ask her she wouldn’t be able to accurately recount his death

Luckily, her family, though disapproving of her career choice, feared the idea of a young essentially widowed mother being on her own. They helped her plan the funeral and moved her into their old vacation home in Diamond Heights.  Her brother found a loophole and put his younger sister on the payroll.

She would end up giving birth to a healthy baby boy named Henry Yuen-Wong, and she became obsessed with the baby laying in her arms, determined not to be a weak role model she wanted to work again

Joining the Urbzville tribune, she became the editor and somehow has been able to juggle both a toddler and a fulltime job since.

Personality

Ophelia has always been one to be mannered and polite in every scenario, even as a child her governess and mother were set on making sure both Yuen children always acted as perfect as possible in public, allowing for freedom in the home. She still carries that with her, even if she doesn’t want to pass it down to henry.  But due to these teachings, the only way she could make her point (negatively) in public was to be passive aggressive and she was and still is. Ophelia hates a full on confrontation she’s never really been that good at it anyways.  Ophelia has also been involved with charity her entire life, it doesn’t change when she leaves the new York socialite scene, you can see her often down at rec centers and churches donating old clothes or any extra baby things she can find.  She also makes it a point to be helpful and charitable in her day to day life, often doing favors for friends and neighbors.  Ophelia is none for her gentle demeanor, unless provoked she’s always seems to be a gentle woman, never too loud or rude, never someone to make a point of showing any rough edge to her personality

Random Facts

She calls Henry ‘bear’

she has written some award winning pieces but has left the awards in New York

she still wears her engagement ring and would probably flip shit if she lost it

speaks a couple of languages ( french, german, mandarin and english)

she also always where’s some pearl earrings from her mother

she doesn’t plan to stay in diamond heights forever but if Henry ever says no she might fold

her cursive is amazing but printed is not it

used to have extremely long hair but cut it just past her shoulders after Henry was about 7 months old cause he started pulling

already has two photo albums of henry

used to be a smoker but quit after her dad found out

she still talks to her brother weekly if not daily

the house she’s in is mainly a townhouse with a good backyard, her dad and brother have stated they want to build henry a treehouse once he’s old enough

has a picture framed of her old friend group in her office at work and her study at home

often works at her desk with henry in her lap, or sleeping in a playcot near by

if you read this far like it so we can plot bb

[robininthelabyrinth]

Spilled Pearls

- Chapter 3 - ao3 -

The closing ceremony of the discussion conference was dignified and serene, as appropriate for an event hosted by the Lan sect, and after it was done everyone milled around to chat a little more before starting to break off into groups to leave.

The leaders of the Great Sects naturally gathered together.

They were an unusual mix. Wen Ruohan was the eldest by an entire generation, technically hailing from the generation of Lan Qiren’s grandfather even if his extraordinary cultivation made him seem as young as Lan Qiren’s brother; after him there was Lan Qiren’s father and the Jiang sect leader, Jiang Menglin, who themselves were a generation above their younger counterparts from the Nie and Jin clans – Jin Guangshan especially, having only inherited his position in the past year.

Lan Qiren’s brother stood beside them, speaking with them with his head held high. Their father planned to slowly transition sect leadership to him over the next half-decade so that he himself might be allowed to retire from the mundane world to focus on cultivation, as Lan An ultimately did. In accordance with that plan, he had allowed him to take the lead on hosting certain small events at the discussion conference, like the night-hunting.

Lan Qiren was there, too.

He was lurking as far to the back of the platform as he could get, trying simultaneously to perfectly reflect his sect’s expectations for proper behavior while also doing his utmost to remain beneath anyone’s notice – Lao Nie had caught his gaze at one point and winked, a friendly older man’s indulgence of a junior, but that was in large part unavoidable given the man’s gregarious personality – and enjoying the rare moment in which he could see his father at something other than a distance.

He usually only saw his father when he was brought before him to report on his achievements, typically once a month. When he was younger, he had been accompanied by one of his teachers, who would report on him while Lan Qiren anxiously examined his father’s face for signs of approval; now that he was older, he went by himself, dipping into a deep salute as he recited anything of interest, and sometimes if he really exerted himself his father would reward him with a word of praise.

Lan Qiren was only allowed to stand with the rest of them on the basis of a technicality – his father hadn’t officially transferred power to his eldest son and wouldn’t for a while yet, so he had brought along both of them on the transparent excuse that they could provide company for Jin Guangshan and Lao Nie as members of the same generation. It was very much a technicality in Lan Qiren’s case, given his much younger age; he fell on the very tail end of their generation on account of the circumstances of his belated birth.

Lan Qiren’s birth was very late to allow him to be considered a peer to those a decade or more older than him, in fact, but that was the way of things.

He was a child of duty, rather than pleasure.

His parents had been very much in love, as was the Lan sect’s way, and together they had had two sons and a daughter within six years, each one of them deeply beloved. But perhaps their joy had been too complete, because the heavens had not permitted it to last: they lost their younger son and daughter both – one to an unexpected illness, the other to an accident. Their eldest, Lan Qiren’s brother, was still there, but it would have been irresponsible to have only a single heir to a Great Sect. Accordingly, under great pressure from the sect elders, they had sought to have another child, only to fail time and time again, enduring countless miscarriages and stillbirths alike.

There had even been some debate as to whether such a situation permitted the sect leader to take on a concubine, regardless of custom or even his own wishes. Desperate to prevent such a result, Lan Qiren’s mother had inadvisedly taken certain drugs to encourage conception and at last Lan Qiren had been successfully born in a slow and bloody labor that had sapped his mother’s already poor health. She had died a few years later, suffering a recurrence of the infection left behind from his birth. Lan Qiren had been too young to really remember her, but he knew that his brother had blamed him for her loss ever since.

He sometimes wondered if his father did, too.

Of course, unlike his brother, his father had never said as much. As the Lan sect leader, he was graceful and refined, educated and reserved, a venerable and venerated cultivator; it was widely agreed that he would never have planned to retire so early if it hadn’t been for losing his true love all those years ago. Perhaps he might even have been another Wen Ruohan, seemingly ageless, striving for immortality – at any rate, he would never be so petty as to mistreat a person due to the circumstances beyond their control. It was something he had heard that his father had said from one of the other Lan sect juniors, and at any rate it was in the rules, and Lan Qiren believed in the rules.

Besides, it wasn’t a surprise that Lan Qiren would be an afterthought in comparison to his brother, the already famous Qingheng-jun, who his father treasured like a pearl cupped in his palm. His brother was the much-anticipated first child of his father’s happy youth, the reminder of good days gone by, a child who had survived the misfortunes that had taken his siblings, and Lan Qiren’s brother repaid his father’s adoration with strength, intelligence, and endless potential. He was a cultivation maniac, yet good at managing the other juniors; he was cold and aloof, elegant, yet capable of being personable and even charming when needed. He was one of the shining stars of his generation, already a powerful cultivator and a respected gentleman even though he’d only just passed twenty-one. Even the name which he was commonly called, Qingheng-jun, was a rarity, a personal title unusual in this peaceful day and age.

Lan Qiren, in contrast, was slow and clumsy, with only average cultivation skills and positively dire social skills. While his teachers praised his strong academic skills and musical talent, the Lan sect followed first and foremost the orthodox path of swordsmanship; once his weakness in that area had been discovered, many of his sect elders lost interest in him as anything other than the inferior back-up plan that he was.

Undoubtedly that was why, when Wen Ruohan turned to Lan Qiren’s father and said, “Your son is a credit to you,” everyone assumed he was talking about Qingheng-jun.

“Sect Leader Wen does him too much honor,” their father said, clearly pleased despite his deprecating words. After all, Wen Ruohan, Sect Leader Wen, was well known to be extraordinarily sparing with his praise for any who didn’t share his bloodline or surname. “My unworthy son is still young and foolish. His eyes are always fixed upon cultivation, never straying – he doesn’t even spare time for girls, despite his advancing years!”

The other sect leaders were smiling, and Lao Nie already opening his mouth to say something teasing, when Wen Ruohan said, “I meant your other son.”

Lan Qiren wasn’t prepared at all for all the sect leaders to turn to look at him.

He shrunk back.

“Qiren?” his father said, almost as if he were checking to confirm that that was the right name, a trace of doubt in his voice even as Lan Qiren’s brother’s face went white with humiliation. “I didn’t realize you’d had a chance to hear him play.”

“Regrettably I have not yet had that pleasure,” Wen Ruohan said, a slightly strange expression on his face. “We merely exchanged some charming conversation, that’s all. Is that his most notable skill?”

“His accomplishments as a musical cultivator are sufficient to rank him among the adults of his already talented sect,” Lao Nie volunteered when there was a brief pause, and Lan Qiren’s father was quick to smile and nod along. “You missed out, Sect Leader Wen.”

“Perhaps another time,” Wen Ruohan said, his return smile still strange and almost subtly displeased, though Lan Qiren would hardly trust himself to know for sure.

At that point, Jiang Menglin spoke up, changing the subject, and most everyone joined in, all of them evidently relieved – not least of all Lan Qiren himself, who had started wondering if there was some way he could become invisible or else fall into a deep chasm that might conveniently open up beneath his feet.

Nothing more was said on the subject until the ceremony was done and the last of their guests departed, when Lan Qiren’s brother tracked him down and hissed, “What did you do?”

“Nothing!” Lan Qiren cried out. “We only talked!”

“You mean you talked at him the way you always do – ”

Their father cleared his throat, having come up behind them, and they both turned at once and dropped into deep salutes.

“Do not think about it too much,” he said, voice distant as the cold wind on a winter night. “Sect Leader Wen sometimes likes to make trouble for the sake of making trouble, especially if he thinks he has found a weakness. You will need to be on your guard against that when you are sect leader.”

He was talking to Lan Qiren’s brother, of course. Lan Qiren could count, and had, the number of times his father addressed him directly in a given year, but it was only reasonable – he wasn’t the heir, doomed to take on the burden of leadership, and so there was much less his father needed to say to him.

“Yes, Father,” his brother said. “I’ll remember.”

“Do not trouble your younger brother over nonsense.”

Lan Qiren felt his brother’s angry gaze like a flame against his skin, even if it wasn’t anywhere as weighty as Wen Ruohan’s. He did not understand what he had done wrong, whether to Wen Ruohan to decide to make trouble using his name or to his brother now that had made him angry, but that wasn’t so much different from the usual.

“Very well, Father,” his brother said. “I won’t.”

[manaiaestateshq]

➥ FULL NAME: Itzli Ortiz ➥ AGE: 42 ➥ FACECLAIM: Tenoch Hureta ➥ ROLE: Client ➥ OCCUPATION: Rancher ➥ RESIDENCE: The Villas

Itzli was born in Mexico as the second son of a poor family. His parents were always trying to give him and his brother the best that they could, though their limited resources often meant that they could only provide the bare necessities. Still, Itzli's life was filled with joy and love. He never could have imagined a life without his family, though that all changed on his 14th birthday. To give his brother and him the best chance at a good life, the two of them were sent across the border and into America.

Upon their arrival to the USA, Itzli's older brother quickly got a job as a rancher on a large ranch. Itzli was meant to go to school so that he could have a brighter future, though that plan quickly fell through. Due to their lack of funds and their newfound independence, Itzli's brother fell into debt to the wrong people. Unable to pay back what he owed, Itzli was suddenly left entirely alone at the tender age of 15. Luckily for him, the ranch his brother worked for had no problems hiring him. Over the next 10 years he worked for the family that owned the Ranch and grew close with the Matriarch of the family. She could see he was lonely and needed family so she would often ask him over to help fix things as an excuse to spend time together. Despite her large family, Itzli found out that she too lacked a close connection as most of them only desired to use her money for their desires without ever helping her or even providing her company. It was due to this connection that Itzli eventually moved onto the land of the ranch and became the head Rancher of the whole place. Their relationship continued to deepen as Itzli considered this woman to be his new Grandmother. With the money he made he was able to send funds home to his parents and live a happy life. He truly wished for nothing more as he thought he had reached his dream life. Unfortunately that fell apart when the old woman died. She was well into her 90s so it was no surprise, however Itzli was heartbroken. He was afraid he might be kicked from his job or that whoever inherited her ranch might sell it off to some corporation. As it turned out, he had nothing to fear. At the reading of the will, Itzli was named her primary heir. He was given the land and a large majority of her money, millions of dollars he had no idea what to do with. Of course the family wasn't happy about it and they tried to take what they could from him, but after a few years of legal battles, Itzli came out the other side a massively wealthy man with his very own ranch. It was here that Itzli decided he needed to see something new. He found out about Manaia and booked a trip, wanting to take some time to find himself now that he no longer had to work.

FOLLOW HIM HERE!

[ebiemidnightlibrarian]

Henry G. Prescott

Complete Name: Henry Grant Bradshaw-Prescott

Anniversary: 08/28 (28th of August) [Virgo, but he doesn't even know what it is]

Birthplace: Rochester, Strafford, New Hampshire, US.

MBTI: INFJ

Height: 6′ 4″ (1.94 metres)

Parents:

Mother: Clara Lyanna Bradshaw-Prescott (decease);

Father: Carlton Grant Prescott (decease);

Relatives:

Uncle: Archibald Eroll Bradshaw (decease);

Aunt: Flora Bancroft-Bradshaw (alive).

Cousins: Marian Bancroft-Bradshaw (alive) Lyanna Bancroft-Bradshaw (alive) Agathe Bancroft-Bradshaw (alive) Mariah Bancroft-Bradshaw (alive) Delphine Bancroft-Bradshaw (alive)

Hobbies:

Ride through the meadows of his property. Especially when he has such beautiful and interesting company like you.

The best way to calm himself down is spending long hours in the library sunk in books. Except if you are near him, in this case he desperately tries to concentrate in the words in the page, and not in the way the light reflects on your eyes.

He loves to devote himself to entertaining his numerous cousins with far-fetched stories about life in the United States. He also loves the way your cheeks blush with an adorable red when you laugh of his humours.

Going for a walk in the woods, — far from every loved one so, when it starts, he won't hurt anyone —, or in the gardens in the beginning of the evening. Where he can smell properly the perfume of the flowers, and appreciate the way the wind shakes a lock of your hair in your cheek. This way he can put the lock in the back of your ear. (He also controls himself to do not pick every flower in his way to give you to show his admiration.)

Henry also enjoys watching plays in the theatre, he loves specifically Shakespeare tragedies. As, he also adores sad symbolism poetry. You like the melancholic brightness in his big brown eyes every time he's reading to you.

Favourite Book: The Flowers of Evil — Charles Baudelaire

Current location: Initially in his father property in the southeast of New Hampshire where he lives with his aunt, but now he's usually in the property he inherited of his uncle in Northumberland.

Occupation: A gentleman who administrate two properties and owns a very prolific theatre on Belgravia that he inherited of his uncle.

Historic:

Henry was born in a property in a prosper meadow at the southeast of New Hampshire. Unfortunately, his mother Clara died in his birth, while his father was sick with war injuries. His father died when he was 7 years old. Since then, he has been adopted by his mother's brother, uncle Archie, and raised in by his aunt Flora in Violet Hills (his father property in Rochester).

The young Prescott boy was a smart and vivid child, profoundly in love with the plays that his uncle wrote for his theatre. The plays that were sent to him from London with a postcard telling the boy how much he would love all the Shakespeare and Wilde's plays when he got older.

At his teenage, Henry developed a fantastic interest for horses and riding. Some years in the future, he would provide some of the most beautiful and healthy horses to the US army.

As an adult, Sir Prescott was already a respectful gentleman and a hopeless poet. That being said, Flora got back to her home in England, once her nephew no longer need her constant care.

Sadly, by an accident during travel, his uncle Archibald fell ill and passed away a few weeks later due to his advanced age, leaving everything he ever had to his only male heir; Henry.

This way, the mansion in Northumberland, the theatre and a large fortune were inherited by him. After receiving the notice of the tragedy by a letter from his aunt. He travels to England to receive his inheritance and to take care of his beloved aunt and his darlings cousins. Something seems wrong at the Bradshaw Property, those woods hide something unknown and inhuman.

A/N:

I know I'm late with the one-shot, but I have no self-control when I'm writing. Also, the college is tearing my soul apart. I promise I'm writing the stuff, but I had no time these days, and this was the only thing I could write.

Ta da!

I was dying to see Hamish as Heathcliff or as any Victorian gentleman, bc I NEED IT, please mike flanagan put this man in your Poe series, I'm BEGGING.

Anyway, I was (conveniently) re-watching The Wolfman (2010), and thinking about a Werewolf! Hamish, I mean, we already have him as our little catboy vampire priest, so, why not a werewolf too? So I started a draft to the story. (Also I saw a post of @pegplunkett with a picture of Hamish in the 2015 'Posterity' play and that gave me the kick I needed to REALLY write the OC) and… well, here we are. :D

It's going to take a while till I finish 'Sanguis Lunae' (the werewolf gentleman one-shot), (until then, I'm organizing myself to open this OC to drabbles, so feel comfortable to send me your thought abt this boy). So please be patient. My life it's a piece of chaos now but everything will get in order soon (I hope so :,D)

Lots of love to y'all! Hope you enjoy the character!

[soulmate-game]

Bio Dad Bruce Wayne Month 2020

Day 1: Meeting for the first time

Not my best work, but decent. I hope you enjoy!

—*—*—*—*—*

Mari was intelligent. That much could not be disputed— and despite her dislike for the sciences in general, she was fully capable of comprehending them when she wanted to. She just usually didn’t care enough to try. But genetics? That was kinda cool. So, when she was ten years old and they began their short unit on it, she was obsessed. And by obsessed, she dove in head first. Like, the fact that her eye color didn’t match either of her parents or grandparents. How could she have blue eyes when none of them did? She delved in deeper and deeper until she uncovered a truth her parents hadn’t wanted her to figure out quite so soon.

She was adopted.

Mari never told her parents about her discovery, the epiphany only managing to sate her curiosity. Who needed blood relation when her parents loved her like real ones anyway? But as the years passed and certain life changes came up, she couldn’t help but feel intrigued by the mystery of where her DNA came from. The heroism thing had to have some root in genetics, right? Okay, so maybe she was just looking for someone to be mad at besides Master Fu. But still, could she be blamed?

So, when Marinette was thirteen years old, she traced her DNA back to her biological parents. And for a while, that was it. She had once again sated her curiosity. She didn’t need anything else. Her mother was dead, and she doubted her biological father knew a thing about her. So Marinette forgot about her discovery, or at least let it sink into the recesses of her brain. And there it stayed, until she was eighteen.

—* — * — * — * — *

It had to be one of the most accidentally dramatic days possible. Top floor of Wayne Enterprises, in one of Bruce’s massive conference rooms with every member of his large family in attendance. Even Kori and Mar’i were there, and Jason’s boyfriend Roy. Everyone was getting fairly restless, considering that Bruce had only informed a few of them (Read: just Dick, who was vibrating in his seat and not soothing anyone’s nerves) about what they were even all called in for. In their civilian identities, no less. It was very odd. Damian, not least of all, was sitting beside Bruce with his jaw clenched but eyes scanning the room in curiosity. He had come a long way from the surly ten year old, and he hadn’t even killed anyone in four years. He had well and truly become a Bat, and with that progress came the lessening of his old temper and brattiness.

Make note: lessening. Not erasure.

It wasn’t long, maybe ten or fifteen minutes of Bruce checking his phone and grinning secretively without answering anyone’s questions, before a businesslike tap-tap-tap sounded on the door to the conference room. Immediately, everything went silent. Kori, Tim, and Jason stopped trying to get Dick to say anything intelligible and went instead to just keeping the man in his seat at all. Bruce let out a rare, soft chuckle before raising his coffee mug to his lips. He called out:

“Come on in, miss MDC. We’re ready for our meeting,” before taking a long sip.

And as soon as the door opened all the way, admitting a short woman of asian descent with navy black hair brushing the bottom of her shoulder blades and piercing (familiar. Too familiar) deep blue eyes, he promptly choked. Trying his damndest not to get coffee everywhere, Bruce devolved into a coughing fit even as his eyes continued to flitter up to the figure just admitted into the room. The woman pretended not to notice his suffering, closing the door behind her and walking forward towards the side of the rectangular-set-up ring of tables that was closest to her and also unoccupied. She plopped a heavy bag down onto the table, reaching in and pulling out a large red and white polka-dotted journal from within, along with a black pen. But despite her businesslike movements and her silence, nobody missed the way that her far too familiar stunningly blue eyes twinkled in suppressed mirth. She didn’t seem surprised at all.

That was the last time Bruce was ever gonna let Tim do someone’s background check on his own. He should have at least looked at the file Tim had made, but of course not. Tim was capable, he trusted the boy with half of their entire family’s company. One background check on one highly reputable designer? Of course he could trust Tim.

Except apparently not. This is what Bruce got for keeping secrets.

“Marinette Dupain-Cheng,” Bruce spoke once he got a handle of himself, pushing back his chair almost hurriedly and standing. Damian followed suit, laser focused on his father along with everyone else who knew just how out of character the older man was being just then. It was hard to fluster Bruce at all those days, let alone make him choke and hurry to stand. “I— Welcome to WE. I’m—“ Bruce was cut off by a soft chuckle.

“Bruce Wayne, my biological father and employer for the next few weeks. I know,” Marinette interrupted, sending a sly smile his way. “I had a feeling somebody didn’t actually tell you my name. I was planning on coming to Gotham later this year after I graduated Lycee and demanding to get to know you, but it looks like you did the hard work for me without even knowing. But,” her smile widened in good humor as she walked up closer to Bruce, holding her hand out for a shake. “I do have to say, now that I’ve seen you in person I feel a bit cheated. With how tall you are, you’d think I would have inherited at least a couple more inches.”

“Excuse me? Who do you think you are, claiming to be a Wayne?” Damian asked, tone sharp and his emerald eyes glaring straight towards her. Bruce just took Marinette’s hand, shaking it gently from surprise, but his foot gently kicked his son in the ankle.

“Damian,” Bruce said simply, the single name laced with warning as it came out of his mouth. He turned his attention back to the girl in front of him. “It is nice to finally meet you in person, Marinette. I admit, I did not know of our relation until a few years ago, and I wasn’t in the right mindset back then to welcome another child. Besides, I had it on good authority that your adoptive parents are more than wonderful to you.”

Marinette shrugged. “I don’t mind. I didn’t look into who my biological father was until I was thirteen, anyway. I don’t think things would have ended well if you had just shown up in Paris one day asking to be involved in my life. Enough of that though,” Marinette turned to the sixteen year old by Bruce’s side now stiffened and wide-mouthed. His entire expression, subdued as it was, still managed to clearly telegraph betrayal. And then those eyes locked on Marinettes, and the emerald simmered into something much more vile and acidic. Marinette was not perturbed, merely giving the younger boy a smile and holding out her hand for a shake.

“You must be my half-brother, Damian. I expected someone carved out of stone, with how the tabloids paint you as unfeeling and cold,” she joked. Damian glared harder. She raised an eyebrow. “You seem pretty heated and angry, like a hissing cat, to me. And by the way, I never claimed to be a Wayne. My last name is Dupain-Cheng, and I don’t plan on changing it anytime soon. Having the same blood relation as you does not mean I plan to throw away the name given to me by the ones who actually raised me. But, it does mean that I will get to know you one way or another. I’m not easy to get rid of, and I’ve always wanted a sibling or two.”

That was when the room couldn’t hold it any more; everyone bar the three in the center of the room burst out laughing. It wasn’t too raucous, confusion dampening the hysteria that usually would have taken over, but there was a good round of chuckles and laughter. When it settled down, Damian’s shoulders had slightly relaxed but he still hadn’t taken Marinette’s hand. Instead, he turned to his father again.

“Explain.” He demanded. Bruce sighed, his gaze connecting with Marinette’s own identical one. He searched her for any hesitation, but only got a flash of a bright smile in return. Bruce straightened his shoulders, clasping his hands behind his back and turning to face Damian and the rest of the room.

“I found out about Marinette shortly after Damian was… introduced to the family,” Bruce admitted, resisting the urge to glance at Marinette after the hedged mention of how he met Damian. “I decided to scour every resource I had to make sure I couldn’t be surprised by another biological child. And, lo and behold, I found out that I was right to do so. Her biological mother passed away in childbirth however, so she was adopted by a couple in Paris. I did not see any need to contact her at the time. A friend of mine did happen to be in Paris back then though, and hung around to make sure Marinette was being treated well before leaving again.”

“You sent a friend of yours to spy on me?” Marinette asked, but she just sounded thoroughly amused. “Geez. Now I know where I get it from. When I was thirteen, I had a bit of a bad habit of spying on my friends when I was worried instead of confronting them head on. It took a while to grow out of, and even now I can easily slip back into the habit if I’m not careful. But, as great as this reunion is, it isn’t what I’m being paid to be here for,” Her grin turned downright wicked as she snapped open her sketchbook and clicked her pen.

“I am MDC, the owner and CEO of the up and rising fashion label Spotted Designs, where every look will turn heads and ensure confidence. Monsieur Wayne,” her grin turned into a sly smirk when she said his name, which visibly made Bruce twitch. “Has hired me today to design all of you a new outfit for his gala in four months time, as well as a casual outfit of your own choosing should you want one. Before I get started, I would like to ask you to please sign your NDAs, which my assistant and best friend will bring in for you in a few minutes, before we conclude this meeting. I go by an alias for a reason, I value my privacy, and I would prefer it if word did not get out about my being MDC just yet. Being CEO of a business I started from scratch when I’m only eighteen right now will garner attention that I am not patient enough to deal with right now.”

The silence was near palpable until Jason huffed in amusement and remarked: “Yup. I can see the resemblance.”

“Resemblance?” Duke asked, leaning forward with an incredulous look on his face. “It’s like seeing a tiny, genderswapped, innocent copy of Damian. Is anyone else terrified right now?”

“Tt,” Damian tutted, letting a heavy breath out through his nose before shoving his hand forward. He didn’t look pleased, but neither did he look venomous or betrayed anymore. “Miss Dupain-Cheng. I am Damian Wayne, and I look forward to working with you.” He greeted as if the past few minutes hadn’t happened at all. Marinette beamed, letting out a short belt of delighted laughter before clasping his hand firmly with hers.

“My competence always wins people over,” she teased.

“Only if they don’t see you trip over empty air first,” a new voice joined in, lightly joining the teasing. It belonged to a tall, blond haired green eyed man that looked about the same age as Marinette herself. He came carrying a large two-foot stack of papers as easily as if he was only carrying one sheet. Closing the door behind him with his foot, he went around the large square of tables distributing NDAs to everyone who hadn’t already signed one. “Mari’s the clumsiest person I’ve ever seen, but I’ve also seen her hand sew a double sided ball gown with a layer of knife-resistant fabric in less than thirty hours and still threaten anyone to come near with a needle to the eye, so I’ve learned to just not take anything about her at face value anymore.”

“Oh shut up,” Marinette snapped back cheerfully, rolling her eyes. “This is my best friend, assistant, and business partner Adrien Agreste.”

“I deal with all the paperwork and spotlight that she doesn’t want to handle,” he agreed, nearly blinding everyone with his beaming smile. “Now. Please sign these NDAs, and you can experience Marinette’s skill firsthand.”

After papers were signed and Adrien left, Bruce tried to start another conversation with Marinette.

“So, when did you find out—“

“I’m going to start with taking all of your measurements, if you don’t mind. You first, Monsieur Wayne.”

Bruce blinked, not used to being interrupted. “Ah. We can do this tomorrow, I wasn’t expecting—“

“That’s not my fault, Monsieur Wayne. I came here knowing exactly who I was going to deal with, and you want me to make a quite frankly horrifying amount of clothing in a very short amount of time. Any designer lesser than me would be completely incapable of meeting your deadline. I plan on sticking to my schedule, which means that we are going to get everyone’s measurements and a baseline of the kind of designs you all want done today before the end of our scheduled appointment.”

“Marinette, I would really like to talk about—“

“Arms out. And take your suit jacket off, I can’t get an accurate measurement with it,” she once again interrupted, businesslike and efficient as she took her measuring tape and lined it up against various parts of his body, jotting down the results. She didn’t entertain any of his attempts at conversation in the meantime, instead using the dead time to grill Damian on what he wanted for his suit design.

And, like a partnership that never should have existed, Damian merely smirked and played along with her game. He answered her questions thoroughly but precisely, never allowing their father a chance to make actual conversation. Next thing the poor eldest Wayne knew, Marinette had already taken everyone’s measurements and almost an hour had passed. No less than ten pages of her notebook were already filled with neat lines of notes and numbers.

“You really take this whole thing seriously, don’t you?” Tim asked, in the middle of describing his ideal suit to Marinette. She hummed, grinning up at him mysteriously. As if she was in on a joke he hadn’t heard.

“Designing is my life, Monsieur Drake. This company is something I’ve been building from the ground up since I was thirteen, I’ve made my own clothes since I was ten. Of course I take it seriously. Now. I believe that is everything I need,” she stood up, asking a few last second questions as she gathered up her things. Seeing his chance, Brucie walked her to the door.

“Really, Marinette, I would like to talk to you more. Would you like to come to the Manor tonight, for dinner maybe?”

Marinette smirked, opening the door before Bruce could and turning her head to say over her shoulder: “Not tonight, but maybe tomorrow. Do me a favor though, and try not to get too injured on patrol. I need you all in good enough shape to stand while I do your initial fittings later this week. Gotham might need it’s vigilantes, but you will all regret it if you break a bone before I can fit my prototypes to you.”

Nobody was able to say a word before she closed the door behind her and continued briskly to the elevator. Bruce stood, dumbfounded. Tim, Jason, and Dick, after a moment, started cackling.

“Oh yeah. That’s Damian’s sister.”

“Tt. At least this proves it.”

Bruce, suddenly very exhausted, turned to his son while rubbing his forehead. “Proves what, Damian?”

His trademark razor sharp smirk overtook his face as Damian replied: “Your blood children really are much more competent and effective than the strays you took in.”

“Hey!”

—*—*—*—*—*

“You didn’t have a full conversation?” Adrien guessed, looking exactly like the cat who caught the canary. Marinette had her head in her hands, her entire face red.

“I didn't know how to have an actual conversation with them, Adrien! You should have seen it, Monsieur Wayne—“

“You can just say your father, you know.”

“—Wanted to talk about feelings. Emotions! Gooey, family stuff and probably sentimental things. In front of so many people, too. I panicked!”

“You panicked and went full Business Empress mode,” Adrien agreed, patting her back in both comfort and condescension. “It’s okay. You at least agreed to dinner tomorrow night.”

“Fuuuuuuuuuck, I diiiiiid. Quick, let’s come up with a way to fake my kidnapping.”

“No.”

“Damn.”

[chaoticpuff17]

Something Wicked

part 10

masterlist

Jin had become a little less volatile in the following days, but he had become almost unbearably smothering when he wasn’t disappearing into his office to take mysterious phone calls. He always seemed to be touching her, kissing her. The man was practically glowing with excitement, and his excitement never boded well for her. She tried at least to enjoy the relative peace while it lasted. He hadn’t tried to initiate anything either. It was a relief for her. There was a lot she could put up with, mostly because she had to, but that was not something she wanted to give to Jin.

She had never like Kim Seokjin. He was not a good man, even before this, but now, she firmly believed that he was the devil. What else could he be? He was the subject of nightmares, the creature that mothers warn their children about. He was the monster her parents had warned her about. She should have gotten away when she’d had the chance. She should have quit all those years ago when she first realized how horrible he was to work with. None of this ever would have happened if she’d taken the job in the first place.

Her father had always taught her to try to find the good in any situation, but she couldn’t find any here. There was no good to be found in Kim Seokjin. In a way she was glad that her father was dead. She would have hated for him to see how far she had fallen. He’d always wanted a good life for her. Maybe if Jin wasn’t psychotic, and they had met in a different life one where Jin had wooed her like a normal man, he could have provided that for her. There was no chance of that now though. Jin had taken everything from her. He’d taken her freedom, her dignity. She had a sneaking suspicion that he had been behind Minseok’s demise. And now, he was going to permanently tie them together.

Jin had presented her with a ring as gaudy as he was, happily slipping it onto her finger gripping her hand a little too tightly for the gesture to be sweet. The large diamond was prominently sat in the middle of a platinum band with two smaller baguette diamonds on either side of the central emerald cut stone. It was a hard piece of jewelry to ignore. Every time she moved it caught the light drawing her eye down to the horrid thing. Jin was so proud of it. He declared it worthy of the future Mrs. Kim, but she detested it. Every time she looked at it, it made her stomach turn. She wanted to chuck it over the balcony and down to the busy streets below, but she refrained too frightened of what Jin would do to her if she did so.

He’d brought in a team of ladies to primp and poke her into the image of Kim Seokjin’s wife, as well as a team to groom poor Jinnie, but not before thoroughly threatening her. Jin couldn’t risk her asking for help. He couldn’t risk his image as Seoul’s golden boy. He was perfect, and his future wife had to be too.

Every time she thought of his dead eyed smile as he’d spoken to her, as he’d threated to kill Jinnie, to hurt her, a shudder went down her spine. It had been a struggle for her to keep quiet when the ladies had been there fixing her hair and doing her nails. Even if she had wanted to speak up, Jin was always there leisurely seated a few feet away giving instructions to the ladies. He wanted her to be perfect, his version of perfect. Her hair was styled to his specifications. Her nails were shaped and painted in a demure neutral color, because the wife of Kim Seokjin was to be a perfectly demure lady, and she hated it. She had never been a very vibrant woman. She’d always been a little softer, a little more neutral, but something about that fact that it was now being dictated to her made her hate it.

She was filled with the urge to take a pair of kitchen scissors and cut off all of her hair. She wanted to paint her nails a violent shade of pink just to spite him, but how could she? He was always there, always hovering over her shoulder. He was so thrilled with the idea of their wedding, and she had never dreaded anything more.

He was almost manic in his excitement. He was constantly bringing her wedding magazines forcing her to choose between preapproved flowers, colors, food. There was nothing that wasn’t already Jin’s choice, not that she really wanted to be involved in wedding planning. She knew what would happen once the wedding took place. She’d be legally tied to Jin in the eyes of the law and the eyes of the public. There would be no escape for her, not that there was much chance now.

She’d learned a lot about Jin during her captivity. She’d always known him to be meticulous, a perfectionist, but there was something about seeing him in all his psychotic glory that stripped her of all hope. He was almost obsessive, no, he was obsessive. Every detail of her captivity was planned just as every detail of their wedding was planned. There was nothing she could do to fight against him, not when he held all the cards.

“Hello, my darling.” Jin greeted her placing a kiss to her forehead. She was getting better at accepting his displays of affection, or she was had been well trained. Any rejection of Jin was met with violence so she kept herself calm. She kept herself gentle and passive just as Jin wanted her.

“How has your day been?” He asked sinking down to sit next to her.

“It’s been fine.” She smiled setting her book aside. She wasn’t allowed to do other things when Jin wanted her attention. Her focus was always to be on him. He was a narcissist at heart. Everything had to be about Jin. “Do you have anything you want me to look over?” She asked. Jin wanted her active and excited in the wedding planning, so she pasted on a smile and pretended as best she could if only to keep him calm.

“No, darling.” He cooed smiling gently as he played with her hair. “Not right now, we have almost everything decided. It won’t be long now.”

A thought she dreaded.  Marriage to Jin was the last thing she wanted, but it wasn’t as though he was giving her a choice.

“What’s that?” She asked looking at the file resting on his other side. If he’d brought it instead of taking it directly to the office, it had to have something to do with her.

He smiled picking up the file and opening it up. “This? This is your medical file, darling.”

She froze dread filling her. What could he possibly want with her medical records? How had he even gotten them? She wasn’t sure who to be more upset with, Jin or her doctor, but the likelihood of her ever seeing the doctor of her choice again was slim. It would probably be Jin’s choice from now on. He was an overbearing bastard.

“We’ll have to get your IUD removed.” He mused flipping through the pages. “We’ll be needing an heir, and that pesky little thing will get in the way.” He looked back at her gently brushing a stray strand of hair out of her face. “But we can take care of that after the wedding. I want to enjoy you before we have a son.” He leaned in nipping at her ear.

“A baby?” She whimpered doing her best not to flinch away from him.

“Of course, darling.” He chuckled trailing light kisses down her neck. “Mother and father are anxious for grandchildren as well. Seokjung won’t be much help to them in that regard.”

She stiffened even more at the mention of his brother. It was rare for Jin to bring him up. Not many people even knew the fate of the older Kim brother, but she had been working with Seokjin for years. She’d even met the man a few times, quite the feat considering how the family kept him away from the eyes of the public. The poor man wasn’t even mentioned with the rest of the family, not since the accident.

Kim Seokjung was set to inherit the company until there was a skiing accident when the brothers were in high school. Seokjung had ended up paralyzed from the waist down and had become effectively useless in the eyes of his upper crust family. He received the best of care, but his life was essentially over. Seokjin had risen as the only son and heir of the Kim family.

Of the two, Seokjung was definitely her favorite. He was a pleasant man, far more pleasant than the rest of his family and surprisingly optimistic considering the life he’s been thrust into. Assistants had no place in private family matters, but Jin had insisted on bringing her to the family home on more than one occasion, and that was where she had met Seokjung.

She first encountered him in the kitchen in the family home. To say that both of them had been surprised would have been an understatement. She had only been working for Seokjin for a year, and she had never heard mention of a brother, but they’d quickly settled into conversation seated at the little breakfast nook in the vast kitchen with a cup of tea that Seokjung had made for them himself. There wasn’t much for him to keep himself occupied now that he was effectively under house arrest by his own family, but he was excellent at making tea. He was also an amateur chef. She loved talking to him. The few times she had met him were the highlight of her time working with Jin.

One thing that never made sense to her was the accident. Both Seokjin and Seokjung were very athletic back in the day. Seokjin was still athletic. One of the things that the Kim family excelled at was winter sports. Seokjin preferred to snow board, but from what she had heard, Seokjung was quite the accomplished skier. They’d been to that resort hundreds of times. He’d skied those hills all his life. The conditions hadn’t even been bad on that fateful day, but something had gone wrong, so wrong that Seokjung no longer had the use of his legs. Now knowing Jin more, she now had to wonder if he had had something to do with the accident. She wouldn’t put it past him, not now.

“Wouldn’t that be nice, darling?” Jin cooed bringing her back to the present as he nuzzled into her neck. “A little son.”

“I don’t… I’m not…” He breath hitched as Jin nipped at her neck more harshly.

“You’re not what, darling?”

“I’m not ready for children.” She whispered trembling as she waited for Jin’s reaction.

Jin pulled away staring her down before a grin stretched across his features. “Not to worry, darling. We can wait a little before we start our family. I want to enjoy you first.” He purred nipping her neck again.

“No, Jin.” She whispered pushing him away gently. “I don’t want children.”

She had always been on the fence about kids. It was the biggest fight that she and Minseok had ever had. He’d wanted a houseful of them. She wasn’t even sure she wanted them. She’d never had siblings, and she’d cared for two ailing parents in her life. Kids had never really crossed her mind, but she knew she definitely didn’t want them with Jin. She doubted she had much choice on that either, but she had to try.

Jin frowned before pasting on an indulgent smile. “Two I think. Two boys. Doesn’t that sound nice, darling?”

“I don’t…”

Jin cut her off his smile becoming more strained, his eyes darkening. “You don’t know what you want, darling. That’s why you have me.” He pet her hair his tone taking on a condescending air.

“Jin…”

“My poor stupid darling.” He cooed pulling her up onto his lap, wrapping his arms around her tightly. “How did you ever survive without me?” She grit her teeth restraining herself from snipping at him. She’d gain nothing from upsetting him even more than she already had. “Don’t worry, darling. By this time next week, we’ll be married, and you’ll never have to worry again. Daddy will take care of you.”

Yes, that was exactly what she was afraid of.

part 11

[clownsoups]

unamed kuragi headcanons

wanted to share more of my headcanons on unamed kuragi, because i feel like machi and kakeru family dynamic is so interesting and it never gets explored in canon!

After his two failed experiments children, Machi and Kakeru’s father was a lot more stricter, tougher, and harsher toward unamed kuragi, -tethering on physical abuse- not wanting him to follow in his older siblings footsteps.

He was monitored heavily, not just from his parents, but from the maids and servants themselves. He had a private tutor so he never went to school with kids his own age, most of his life he was surrounded by his parents, servants, and his father’s company.

His parents made a deliberate choice to keep Machi out of his life. They do bring her up but only to spread nasty lies and rumors about her, so he’ll end up disliking her, and won’t want to reach out to her.

They also make it a point to compare him to Machi, who he doesn’t like, as an insult whenever he seems to be acting out of line.

“Your grades are so awful ____. Keep that up, and you’ll end up like a good for nothing like your sister! You don’t want that, do you, now?”

They also make it a point to put Machi down, to lift him up. After all confidence is a good trait for a leader.

“You’re doing so well ____! You’re nothing like that pathetic sister of yours, your just simply better!”

His ego gets stroke so much, that he can’t help but think that he IS better then her! After all, she abandoned their family legacy after trying to kill him, she was the one who’s all alone in this world, while he had an inheritance, a legacy, and a family that loves him.

On paper he’s better then her in every single capacity, and he knows that, so why does he feel so much resentment for her? He shouldn’t be so offended and insulted whenever he’s compared to someone he never met, especially not someone who’s not as accomplished as him, yet he is and that pisses him off.

He shouldn't be so ticked off at the mention of her name, while she is able to live her life freely in the outside, completely forgetting the existence of her little brother. Does she even remember that she has a brother? Surely not, cause she never seems to visit....

On the topic of brothers, he does NOT know  about Kakeru. He is completely unaware about the fact that his father is a cheating scum that had an affair with another women, and had a child with her. Mostly because having bastard child out of wedlock while you’re married, looks very bad, and his mother or father, want him to perceive the Kuragi family and legacy as only utter perfection.

Because if everything is so perfect, what reason would he have for leaving?

Unamed kuragi is actually similar to Kakeru in a lot of ways, they were both very smart and intelligent children, they both severely lack emotional intelligence, both prioritized themselves before anyone else, both were cocky assholes in their tweens (still kinda are). 

But the difference is Kakeru wanted to get better and wanted to become someone who’s more open to other people feelings and emotions, that are different then his. Whereas unamed kuragi doesn’t....

unamed kuragi had never spoken to another kid his age since he was in day care, he has 0 communication skills, doesn’t know when to stop, when he just crossed a line, cant take a hint if his life depends on it, and frankly doesn’t have the want or motivation to try and change that.

Why would he? He has a large inheritance, going to take over his father company and become the CEO, his parents, the servants, and all the other adults in his life, blow smoke up his ass all the time, when they’re not punishing him. He’s pretty spoiled rotten, so he doesn’t see the point of taking into consideration of other people’s feelings or point of view, when they should be the ones doing that to him instead

He’s been pretty much isolated from everyone, that his parents deem to be a distraction to his success, his entire life. To the point he doesn’t trust anybody or anything, not even his own parents, who have given him everything he wanted, but also taken everything from him all at once.

And though he's a grade a asshole, and trust me he knows, he genuinely does care for his family, and really believes that there's good in them.

[aerinsfables]

How many goats must I sacrifice for part 5? (p.s., may I suggest “Blooming Friendship” or some sappy ,punny line for the title?)

No goats necessary, but I will accept a donation of cookies! 😁

Also your title suggestion is hilarious and much appreciated (I love puns). I was thinking “love amongst the flowers” or something, but haven’t been able to bring myself to be quite that corny yet 😂 (can you tell I’ve been watching ATLA lately?). Will give it some more thought. Whyyyy is naming things so freaking hard sometimes?!?

——

Flower Shop AU Part 5 below. Read part 4 here!

——

Bracken didn’t hear back from Kendra until Friday, when she sent a short email.

Long story short, he was my fiancée. Gavin. I caught him cheating. Among other things.

Seth tells me you’ll be coming over for tomorrow’s barbeque. I’m sorry if he harassed you. He can be such a busybody sometimes, but he means well.

He replied with a short message of his own.

I hope you don’t mind me saying this, but I believe you’ve truly dodged a bullet with regard to Gavin. That’s a very, very good thing. You deserve someone who will treat you with kindness and respect, and who will mirror your loyalty.

Seth was fine. My father liked him. He was nice, and I appreciated the invitation. To be honest, I’m more apprehensive about potentially forced conversation with people I don’t know. I’m good at small talk with prospective vendors and with customers, but it’s been a while since I’ve socialized with people in a friend setting. Most of the friends I’ve had historically have either moved out of town or have their own busy lives and fell out of touch. Many are married, some have children, and I fit into neither of those categories.

Anyway. Enough about me. You’ll be there tomorrow, right? Would you care to help rescue me from awkward socialization if I need it? Who else will be attending?

He typed his personal email address into the CC field and wrote another bit:

I’m copying my personal email address here, as well, in order to move this conversation to a more private setting. I hope you don’t mind. My mother, father, youngest sister and I all have access to the company email. I run it primarily, but still.

The “send” button was clicked before he could rethink his words too much. He returned to his tasks for the day and paused a few minutes later when he heard his phone ding with a new notification. Kendra had already replied to his email, this time to his personal address.

You’re right; I dodged a bullet. It’s just not so easy to recover from it all. I’ll get there.

You have siblings? How many? Are they always up in your business like my brother is?

Attendees for tomorrow’s BBQ are largely family members of mine. My parents, grandparents, Warren and his girlfriend, Dale, Seth. Maybe a few family friends. This had been planned for a while, and Warren and Seth both wanted to invite you. I’ll help protect you from the masses, but my family is honestly pretty great. I doubt you’ll need any rescuing.

He smiled as he finished the corsage he’d been working on, then replied back to her.

Healing is a process. It’s okay to take time for that. If he was your fiancée, then that means you felt strongly for him; you probably still feel strongly for him. There’s no shame in that. Take your time to heal.

I have four sisters, and they are all constantly ‘up in my business,’ as you put it. I’m number four in the lineup of children; my oldest sister lives about five hours away with her husband and my only nieces - no nephews yet. Sister Number Two is quite introverted and lives at home with our parents. She runs a small sewing business from there. Sister 3 is only a couple years older than me; she is a lawyer in the city and lives downtown near the courthouse with a couple of roommates. Sister 4 works at the shop with me part-time while she’s going to school. She’s working toward becoming a nurse, and just got engaged this week. She’s the bubbly, outgoing type.

What about you? Have you any siblings aside from Seth? What is your family like?

He started in on another corsage - he had to have 25 of them ready to go before he left that evening, and he’d done 11 so far - and smiled when he heard his phone ding again several minutes later. A quick glance at it told him that Kendra had replied again.

Four sisters! That’s a lot of siblings. And a lot of estrogen. Just the one brother for me. I’m pretty sure my parents decided to quit having children once they realized how difficult Seth was going to be. Mischief and trouble are his best friends. I’m amazed he’s survived into adulthood.

I have two sets of grandparents that live nearby. We’re all pretty tight-knit. Warren and Dale are cousins of my dad’s mom. I have no idea how many times removed or whatever that is, so I just call them my cousins. Vanessa, Warren’s long time girlfriend, is a tattoo artist. I’ve been staying at their house since Monday, instead of my apartment.

The BBQ will be at my dad’s parent’s house. Other people who might drop by are Elise, who works with Vanessa, Mara, who works for one of the nearby wineries and is dating Elise, Tanu, our family doctor who we’ve become very good friends with, and Trask, who knows my grandfather somehow. That’s never been super clear to me, to be honest. He’s an old family friend. At any rate, we’re an eclectic bunch of people, and I expect tomorrow will be lively and fun.

What kinds of things do you like to do in your free time?

Bracken thought on these things for a little while, and finished another corsage, before he answered.

It sounds like there will be a good mix of people. I look forward to meeting them.

I’m a bit of an artist in my free time. Drawing and painting are my preferred methods. I enjoy cooking, too, but don’t often do anything too fancy since I’m usually only cooking for myself. Puzzles are nice. Honestly, I spend most of my time at the shop. Sunday evenings are when my family gathers for dinner, minus my oldest sister, who lives too far away for that to be feasible. She usually visits once every couple of months, and stays with my parents for a few days. That’s when I steal my nieces and spoil them to death.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

The rest of the day passed with a fairly steady stream of emails between the two of them. Kendra loved books, and would love to be a novelist one day, but hadn’t found her inspiration yet. Her favorite colors were blue and pink, she had studied French in high school but hadn’t made it to France yet (a dream of hers), and she was thinking about going back to college to get her master’s degree in English Literature. She’d asked about how Bracken found his way into flowers, and he’d explained that his parents had established the shop when he was in elementary school. He’d learned the business over the years and enjoyed leaning into his artistic side, so it was a pretty natural progression for him to work there after he’d graduated from the local university with a degree in business (his goal being to inherit the shop someday). To his pleasant surprise, conversation with Kendra flowed easily, and he left the shop that day with a positive feeling about the next day’s gathering.

---

Part 6 is here!

[dragonmartellstark]

The couple had three children, but also a large number of grandchildren:

Loreza Hightower- she was Lady of Highgarden by marrying her cousin, Willas Tyrell. She was considered beautiful with long brown hair and bright eyes inherited from her paternal family. She is sweet and adventurous being a very pretended young woman, but her parents wanted a good marriage for her.

In 289 a. C., a marriage was negotiated between the heir of Highgarden, Willas Tyrell and Loreza, both were 15 years old when the agreement was signed and the girl undertook her journey to Altojardín where she was well received by her mother-in-law and aunt, Alerie Hightower and her mother-in-law, Olenna Redwyne. The wedding took place in 290 a. C., Willas treated his wife with respect whom he quickly fell in love with and Loreza loved him too.

Loreza gained the appreciation of her brothers-in-law, Garlan and Loras, but she had a tumultuous relationship with her sister-in-law Margaery, both had a certain rivalry and used to criticize each other. It wasn't until Margaery was engaged to Lord Jaime Lannister and had to leave for Casterly Rock, great news for Loreza that she only saw her sister-in-law on a few occasions.

In 310 a. C., her mother and her daughter, Jeyne, passed away, these deaths being a great blow to Loreza that she never recovered from the loss of her beloved mother and her little girl. In 311 a. C., her father-in-law Mace Tyrell and her father, Baelor Hightower, pass away, being another blow after the sudden death of her mother and daughter. Loreza and her husband become Lords of Highgarden. In the role of her as Mistress, she was an animal lover building some shelters, she also helped her husband with some problems in politics by achieving an alliance between the Tyrells and the Freys.

In the year 331 a. C., Willas Tyrell died after a hunting party and her death destroyed Loreza even more, plunging into a great depression for losing her parents, her husband and her young daughter, closing herself in herself. Two years later, Loreza, sick with tuberculosis, fearing for her life, and two months later, she died at the age of 59.

Willas Tyrell- He was Lord of Highgarden and Lord of the Domain at the death of his father, being considered a generous man and breeder of all kinds of animals.

He married Loreza Hightower, her maternal cousin, and he had a happy marriage with her, both of them very much in love with each other. Loreza was of great help to Willas with some alliances with other royal houses, among them the Freys.

Mace Tyrell passed away in 311 a. C., becoming Mace the new Dominion Lord. His lordship was called "kingdom of fauna" because of the breeding of hawks, horses and other animals that Willas and Loreza were raising. He also stood out for his commercial relations, reaching a peace with the Lannisters after the marriage of his sister, Margaery with Jaime Lannister.

In 331 a. C., after a hunting party with his sons, Willas' horse had a terrible fall and the man was left under the horse that broke several bones with the weight of him. He was rushed to his home where within hours he died from his injuries at 57 years of age and his wife, Loreza, would pass away just two years after he was buried together.

The couple had six children and only one would die in infancy:

Lady Alerie Tyrell, she was the second wife of Alyn Ambrose with whom she had three children. Five years later, she was widowed and married Lucas Tyrell, with whom she had two daughters.

Lord Lambelle Tyrell, was Lord of Highgarden after the death of his parents and also Counselor of the Edicts of King Rhaegar I Targaryen. He married Walda Frey "la Blanca" and they had two children.

Lord Donnel Tyrell was Lord Consort of the Blackcrown when he married Alysanne Bulwer and with her he had ten children, the first five of which bore the surname "Bulwer".

Olenna Tyrell, she was lady of the Arbor by marrying Horas Redwyne, her cousin whom she hated and they had no children. Olenna widowed in 319 a. C., and she married for the second time with the somewhat older Ronnet Connington being a better marriage and they had three children.

Elia Tyrell, was Septa of the Faith of the Seven in Antigua.

Jeyne Tyrell passed away in her childhood the same year as her grandmother, Elia Martell of her being buried alongside her in Oldtwon. 

Manfred Tyrell- He was Lord of the Oldtown after the death of his father. He was known as a Dornish-looking but very attractive young man, captivating many women who wished to marry his.

He married Desmera Redwyne in 299 a. C., both got along well even though there was no love between them, but Manfred always had his wife in mind for everything, being his great support both at work and in personal life. During her marriage she had a few lovers, but the most famous was Walda Frey "The Beauty" who was Walder Frey's great-granddaughter and she was with her for two years, but Walda was engaged to another man ending her romance.

Manfred kept in his protection some artists including painters, dancers, actors and writers achieving a cultural impact in the Domain. He was also known for his conflicts with the Faith over different religious issues such as the priests or the followers of the God R'hllor whom Manfred accepted into his court for a few years.

Manfred's life had a severe setback when in 320 a. C., her wife, Desmera Redwyne, died of an infection after cutting her hand with a hunting arrow. The death of her wife was (surprisingly) a severe blow to the Lord of the Lighthouse and he went so far as to tell Maester Normund Tyrell how much this death affected him, referring to her as "my sweet and brilliant Desmera." Thirteen years later, his older sister, Loreza, would die another hard blow for him.

Manfred Hightower would end up dying in 339 a. C., with 61 years of respiratory attacks in his bedroom. He was buried alongside his parents and his wife.

Desmera Redwyne- she was Lady of the Oldtown by marrying Manfred Hightower who was one of her distant cousins. The engagement was made in 297 a. C., and the wedding was celebrated two years later in Oldtown being a colorful ceremony. The couple liked each other from the first moment and had a great friendship, although they never became in love, but it is known that Manfred came to show affection to his wife.

Desmera did not get involved in the lordship of Oldtown only dedicating himself to gardening, sewing and her children who little by little were reaching the world. The lady of the Lighthouse was little known, but those closest to her describe her as charming, maternal and calm, even her husband described her as sweet and conciliatory being her shoulder to cry on.

Her life remained quiet until one day in 320 a. C., while she was in a hunting party with her husband and her children, Desmera was wounded with an arrow in her arm, bleeding a lot. The maesters looked for a way to help her by closing her wound, but her seams were badly done and she opened again bleeding more. In the end, Desmera Redwyne died that same year of a wound infection, at the age of 37. Her death was a severe blow to her children and to Manfred who did not remarry, keeping the memory of his wife and his best friend.

Desmera bore Manfred three healthy children:

Lord Garmond Hightower, was Lord of the Lighthouse, of the Port and defender of the Citadel at the death of his father. He married Janei Lannister three times, who gave him a daughter; He in second marriages with Jeyne Westerling without children and in third marriages with the widow Joyeuse Erenford with her he had two sons.

Lady Lily Hightower, married Martyn Lannister and with him she had a daughter, Rowena.

Lady Minisa Hightower, remained single, became elderly and was the caregiver of her nephews and great-nephews.

Addam Tyrell- she was the right hand of her older brother Manfred hers and a skilled banker managing to create her own bank, but it was sold after only three generations.

At first, he wanted to marry one of his cousins, Elinor or Alla Tyrell, but they were already engaged and his cousin Megga Tyrell remained, who was stout and unbearable singing, but he agreed to marry her because according to her uncle, Humfrey Hightower : "Fat women are more pleasant." The wedding took place in 300 a. C., being a bittersweet event and Megga tried to get the attention of her husband. On their wedding night, Addam admitted that he had enjoyed the company of his new wife and that he wanted to share a bed with her again soon.

Megga bore him a total of nine children and Addam especially loved her sons, while her wife loved her daughters more. Her favorite son was Galadon, to whom he inherited his bank and some jewels to his other children.

Addam watched his entire family die little by little starting with his mother and ending with his older brother, Manfred, to whom he was always attached. The deaths of her family were a severe blow, but she remained strong so as not to decay and perish. After the death of his parents, Addam visited his maternal relatives along with his family being united with his uncle Oberyn Martell who was very sorry for the death of his sister.

The visits were continuous, sometimes staying five months in Dorne. During one of these visits in 344 a. C., Addam did not realize that there was a rattlesnake in his bedroom and it bit his neck while he slept. The venom of the snake was lethal and Addam died in a matter of minutes, while they tried to save his life by dying at 60 years of age.

Megga Tyrell- she was Margaery Tyrell's companion when she traveled to Casterly Rock to marry Jaime Lannister. She shortly after she returned to the Highgarden where she married Addam Hightower.

Despite her robust appearance and less handsome than her other cousins, Addam Tyrell agreed to marry her because her other cousins ​​were engaged to marry in early 300 a. C., Megga became pregnant and gave birth to her first daughter, Lysa Tyrell.

The couple was very passionate enjoying both the bed and the flirtations, Megga continued to give him more children something that was well liked by her brother-in-law, Manfred Hightower to ensure the offspring of the Hightower House. Megga was not very motherly leaving her children in charge of wet nurses or nannies, but it is known that she had a soft spot for her daughters seeking good marriages or positions within the Targaryen court.

In 344 her husband Addam died after being bitten by a snake during a visit to Dorne. Megga became a wealthy widow and settled in a house near Highgarden where she spent her money on treats and gifts for her favorite grandchildren. Megga gained much more weight in those years and she could hardly get up being helped by her servants. One day in the year 364 a. C., Megga suffered several heart attacks that were getting stronger and stronger until her heart stopped, thus passing away that same year at 78 years of age.

The couple was very passionate and had nine children:

Lysa Hightower, was the wife of Ben Bushy to whom she bore a son, Baltasar Bushy.

Luthor Hightower, died during childhood of tuberculosis.

Galadon Hightower, was the second owner of Tower Bank inherited by his father. He married Talla Tarly and they had an only child.

Talisa Hightower, was a prostitute behind the back of her parents, but after being discovered she was forced to become a Septa.

Sarra Hightower, Septa of the Faith of the Seven in Antigua.

Melissa Hightower, married Victarion Greyjoy being his third wife and gave him four sons.

Mace Hightower, Maester, Astrologer, and Alchemist.

Alyssa Hightower, joined the Silent Sisters.

Victaria Hightower, married Edric Dayne and bore him four children.

Jonnel Hightower, died during adolescence after receiving a sword blow to the head.

La pareja tuvieron tres hijos, pero también una gran cantidad de nietos:

Loreza Hightower- Fue Señora de Altojardín al casarse con su primo, Willas Tyrell. Era considerada bella de largos cabellos castaños y ojos brillantes heredados de su familia paterna. Dulce y aventurera siendo una joven muy pretendida, pero sus padres querían un buen matrimonio para ella.

En 289 d. C., se negocio un matrimonio entre el heredero de Altojardín, Willas Tyrell y Loreza, ambos tenían 15 años de edad cuando se seño el acuerdo y la chica emprendió su viaje hacia Altojardín donde fue bien recibida por su suegra y tía, Alerie Hightower y la suegra de esta, Olenna Redwyne. La boda se celebro en 290 d. C., Willas trato con respeto a su esposa de la cual se enamoro rápidamente y Loreza también lo amo.

Loreza se gano el apreció de sus cuñados, Garlan y Loras, pero tuvo una relación tumultuosa con su cuñada Margaery, ambas tenían cierta rivalidad y solían criticarse. No fue hasta que Margaery fue comprometida con Lord Jaime Lannister y tuvo que partir a Roca Casterly, siendo una gran noticia para Loreza que solo veía a su cuñada en pocas ocasiones.

En 310 d. C., falleció su madre y su hija, Jeyne siendo estas muertes un gran golpe para Loreza que nunca se recupero de la perdida de su querida madre y su pequeñita. En 311 d. C., fallece su suegro Mace Tyrell y su padre, Baelor Hightower siendo otro duro golpe tras la repentina muerte de su madre e hija. Loreza  y su marido se convierten en Señores de Altojardín. En su papel como Señora fue una amante de los animales construyendo algunos refugios, también ayudo a su marido con algunos problemas en la política logrando una alianza entre los Tyrell y los Frey. 

En el año 331 d. C., falleció Willas Tyrell tras una partida de caza y su muerte destrozo aun mas a Loreza sumiéndose en una gran depresión por perder a sus padres, su marido y su hija pequeña, encerrándose en ella misma. Dos años después Loreza enfermo de tuberculosis temiéndose por su vida y dos meses después falleció a la edad de 59 años.

Willas Tyrell- Fue Señor de Altojardín y Señor del Dominio a la muerte de su padre, siendo considerado un hombre generoso y criador de todo tipo de animales.

Se caso con Loreza Hightower, su prima materna y con ella tuvo un matrimonio dichoso estando ambos muy enamorados el uno del otro. Loreza fue de gran ayuda para Willas con algunas alianzas con otras casas reales, entre ellas los Frey.

Mace Tyrell falleció en 311 d. C., convirtiéndose Mace en el nuevo Señor del Dominio. Su señorío fue llamo “reino de la fauna” por la crianza de halcones, caballos y otros animales que Willas y Loreza estuvieron criando. También se destaco por sus relaciones comerciales llegando una paz con los Lannister tras el casamiento de su hermana, Margaery con Jaime Lannister.

En 331 d. C., tras una partida de caza junto a sus hijos, el caballo de Willas tuvo una terrible caída y el hombre quedo abajo del caballo que le rompió varios huesos con su peso. Fue llevado rápidamente hasta su hogar donde en cuestión de horas falleció por sus heridas a los 57 años de edad y su esposa, Loreza fallecería solo dos años después que el siendo enterrados juntos.

La pareja tuvo seis hijos y solo uno fallecería durante la infancia:

Lady Alerie Tyrell, fue la segunda esposa de Alyn Ambrose con el cual tuvo tres hijos. Cinco años después enviuda y se casa con Lucas Tyrell con el cual tuvo dos hijas.

Lord Lambelle Tyrell, fue Señor de Altojardín tras la muerte de sus padres y también Consejero de los Edictos del rey Rhaegar I Targaryen. Se caso con Walda Frey “la Blanca” y tuvieron dos hijos.

Lord Donnel Tyrell fue Señor consorte de Corona Negra al casarse con Alysanne Bulwer y con ella tuvo diez hijos los cuales los cinco primeros portaron el apellido “Bulwer”.

Olenna Tyrell, fue Señora del Rejo al casarse con Horas Redwyne, su primo al cual odiaba y no tuvieron hijos. Olenna enviuda en 319 d. C., y se caso por segunda vez con el algo mayor Ronnet Connington siendo un mejor matrimonio y tuvieron tres hijos.

Elia Tyrell, fue Septa de la Fe de los Siete en Antigua.

Jeyne Tyrell falleció en la infancia el mismo año que su abuela, Elia Martell siendo enterrada junto a ella en Antigua.

Manfred Tyrell- Fue Señor del Faro tras la muerte de su padre. Era conocido como un joven de aspecto dorniense, pero muy atractivo cautivando a muchas mujeres que deseaban desposarse con el.

Se caso con Desmera Redwyne en 299 d. C., ambos se llevaron bien aun que no había amor entre ellos, pero Manfred siempre tuvo presente a su esposa para todo siendo su gran apoyo tanto en el trabajo como en la vida personal. Durante su matrimonio tuvo unas cuantas amantes, pero la mas famosa fue Walda Frey “La Bella” que era bisnieta de Walder Frey y con ella estuvo durante dos años, pero Walda fue comprometida con otro hombre acabando su romance.

Manfred mantuvo en su protección algunos artistas entre ellos pintores, bailarines, actores y escritores logrando un impacto cultural en el Dominio. También era conocido por sus conflictos con la Fe por distintos tema religiosos como los sacerdotes o los seguidores del Dios R'hllor a los cuales Manfred acepto en su corte por unos años.

La vida de Manfred tuvo un duro revés cuando en 320 d. C., falleció su esposa, Desmera Redwyne de una infección tras cortarse la mano con una flecha de caza. La muerte de su esposa fue (sorprendentemente) un duro golpe para el Señor del Faro y llego a decirle al maestre Normund Tyrell lo mucho que le afecto esta muerte refiriéndose a ella como “mi dulce y brillante Desmera”. Tan trece años después fallecería su hermana mayor, Loreza otro duro golpe para el.

Manfred Hightower acabaría falleciendo en 339 d. C., con 61 años de ataques respiratorios en su dormitorio. Fue enterrado junto a sus padres y su esposa.

Desmera Redwyne- Fue Señora del Faro al casarse con Manfred Hightower que era uno de sus primos lejanos. El compromiso se realizo en 297 d. C., y la boda se celebro dos años después en Antigua siendo una ceremonia colorida. La pareja se agrado desde el primer momento y tuvieron una gran amistad, aun que nunca llegaron a estar enamorados, pero se sabe que Manfred llegaba a darle muestras de cariño a su esposa.

Desmera no se involucro en el señorío de Antigua solo dedicándose a la jardinería, a la costura y a sus hijos que poco a poco iban llegando al mundo. La señora del Faro era poco conocida, pero sus mas cercanos la describen como encantadora, maternal y tranquila, incluso su marido la describió como dulce y conciliadora siendo su hombro en el que llorar.

Su vida siguió siendo tranquila hasta que un día del 320 d. C., mientras estaba en una partida de caza junto a su marido e hijos, Desmera fue herida con una flecha en su brazo sangrando mucho. Los maestres buscaron una forma de ayudarla cerrando la herida, pero las costuras fueron mal hechas y volvió abrirse sangrando mas. Al final Desmera Redwyne acabo muriendo ese mismo año de una infección por la herida, a los 37 años de edad. Su muerte fue un duro golpe para sus hijos y para Manfred que no se volvió a casar, manteniendo el recuerdo de su esposa y su mejor amiga.

Desmera le dio tres hijos sanos a Manfred:

Lord Garmond Hightower, fue Señor del Faro, del Puerto y defensor de la Ciudadela a la muerte de su padre. Se caso en tres ocasiones con Janei Lannister que le dio una hija; En segundas nupcias con Jeyne Westerling sin hijos y en terceras nupcias con la viuda Joyeuse Erenford con ella tuvo dos hijos varones.

Lady Lily Hightower, se caso con Martyn Lannister y con el tuvo una hija, Rowena.

Lady Minisa Hightower, permaneció soltera, llego a anciana y fue la cuidadora de sus sobrinos y sobrinos nietos.

Addam Tyrell- Fue la mano derecha de su hermano mayor Manfred y un experto banquero logrando crear su propio banco, pero este fue vendido tras solo tres generaciones.

En un principio quería casarse con una de sus primas, Elinor o Alla Tyrell, pero estas ya estaban comprometidas y quedaba su prima Megga Tyrell, que era corpulenta y de canto insoportable, pero accedió a casarse con ella por que según su tío, Humfrey Hightower: “Las gordas son mas placenteras”. La boda se celebro en 300 d. C., siendo un acontecimiento agridulce y Megga trataba de llamar la atención de su marido. En la noche de bodas Addam admitió que había disfrutado de la compañía de nueva esposa y que deseaba volver a compartir la cama con ella pronto.

Megga le dio un total de nueve hijos y Addam quiso especialmente a sus hijos, mientras que su esposa quiso mas a sus hijas. Su hijo favorito fue Galadon al cual le heredero su banco y a sus otros hijos algunas joyas.

Addam vio a toda su familia morir poco a poco empezando con su madre y finalizando con su hermano mayor, Manfred al cual siempre estuvo unido. Las muertes de su familia fueron un duro golpe, pero se mantuvo fuerte para no decaer y fallecer. Tras la muerte de sus padres, Addam visitaba a sus familiares maternos junto a su familia estando unido a su tío Oberyn Martell el cual estaba muy apenado por la muerte de su hermana. 

Las visitas fueron continuas permaneciendo a veces cinco meses en Dorne. Durante una de estas visitas en 344 d. C., Addam no se percato de que había una serpiente de cascabel en su alcoba y esta le mordió el cuello mientras dormía. El veneno de la serpiente fue letal y Addam falleció en cuestión de minutos, mientras le trataban de salvar la vida falleciendo con 60 años de edad.

Megga Tyrell- Fue dama de compañía de Margaery Tyrell cuando esta viajo a la Roca Casterly para casarse con Jaime Lannister. Poco después volvió a la Altojardín donde se caso con Addam Hightower.

Pesé a su aspecto robusto y menos agraciado que el de sus otras primas, Addam Tyrell accedió a casarse con ella por que sus otras primas estaban prometidas casándose a principios del 300 d. C.. La noche de bodas fue un éxito y Addam admitió que le gusto compartir el lecho con Megga. Durante la noche de bodas, Megga se quedo embarazada y dio a luz a su primera hija, Lysa Tyrell. 

La pareja fue muy apasionada disfrutando ambos la cama y los coqueteos, Megga siguió dándole mas hijos algo que era bien visto por su cuñado, Manfred Hightower para asegurar la descendencia de la Casa Hightower. Megga no fue muy maternal dejando a sus hijos a cargo de las nodrizas o niñeras, pero se sabe que tenía debilidad por sus hijas buscándoles buenos matrimonios o puestos dentro de la corte Targaryen.

En 344 falleció su esposo Addam tras ser mordido por una serpiente durante una visita hacia Dorne. Megga se convirtió en una viuda rica y se instalo en una casa cerca de Altojardín donde gastaba su dinero en caprichos y regalos para sus nietos favoritos. Megga engordo mucho mas en esos años y a penas podía levantarse siendo ayudada por sus criados. Un día del año 364 d. C., Megga sufrió varios ataques en el corazón que cada vez eran mas fuerte hasta que su corazón se detuvo falleciendo así ese mismo año con 78 años de edad.

La pareja fue muy apasionada y llegaron a tener nueve hijos:

Lysa Hightower, fue la esposa de Ben Bushy al cual le dio un hijo, Baltasar Bushy.

Luthor Hightower, falleció durante la infancia de tuberculosis.

Galadon Hightower, fue el segundo dueño del Banco Tower heredado por su padre. Se caso con Talla Tarly y tuvieron un unico hijo.

Talisa Hightower, fue una meretriz a espaldas de sus padres, pero tras ser descubierta fue obligada a convertirse en Septa.

Sarra Hightower, septa de la Fe de los Siete en Antigua.

Melissa Hightower, se caso con Victarion Greyjoy siendo su tercera esposa y le dio cuatro hijos varones.

Mace Hightower, maestre, astrologo y alquimista.

Alyssa Hightower, se unió a las Hermanas Silenciosas.

Victaria Hightower, se caso con Edric Dayne y le dio cuatro hijos.

Jonnel Hightower, falleció durante la adolescencia tras recibir un golpe de espada en la cabeza.

[prorevenge]

Cousin tries to steal my mother's inheritance

The whole story was a few years ago and is very convoluted. In order not to write a novel here, I try to keep things clear and as short as possible. If some things are incomprehensible, I am happy to submit updates upon request.

Yes, we were too trustworthy and in retrospect we should have done more earlier.

The story begins in the early 90s when my parents got divorced. My mother had been given custody of me and my older sister by the court. We moved into my maternal grandmother's house. The house was built by my grandfather in the 50's and had never been renovated. There were 2 apartments in the house. One apartment on the ground floor and one on the 1st floor. My grandma lived in the lower apartment. But even though it was actually too small for a woman with 2 teenage children in the upper apartment, my mother initially wanted us to see the house as 2 separate households. It took my grandma some time to convince my mother to consider the house as a whole as not my grandmothers, but ours.

My mother and grandma decided not only to renovate the house, but also to refurbish it. But before that could happen, something important had to be clarified.

Because my grandfather had built the house and he died without writing his last will, the house was not legally owned by my grandmother at the time, but belonged in part to my mother and her sister (let's call her Estelle)

My grandma bought Estelles share.

The 40-year-old stove heating was replaced by a floor heating that was modern at the time, windows were renewed, old pipes and cables were replaced and much more. My mother put all of the money my father gave her after the divorce into the house. Among other things, she paid off an old loan that was still on the house.

In order not to repeat my grandfather's mistake, the three made a will. The share in the house that belongs to my grandmother should go to my mother after her death, as she lived in the house and contributed significantly to its value through her investment. Estelle should get a large amount of money and everything else my grandma owns should be divided equally between the two.

Fast forward to 2015. My mother had retired and took care 24/7 of her mother, who is suffering from dementia. The alternative of putting my grandma in a nursing home was out of the question for us. As long as it was somehow possible, my mother wanted my grandma to stay in the house that she built with her husband and that she called home. I haven't lived in the house for a long time, but I still visited whenever I could to relieve my mother of work. But these opportunities are few and far between, as I live and work around 2 hours away by car. So I was all the more pleased that my mother got help with housework for a few hours a week. This domestic help (let's call her Nadine) is the girlfriend of Estelles son Tim.

When Tim was a Teenager he had fallen out with his father and most of our family had very few contacts with him. He showed up once a year, called on our grandmas’ birthday and on Christmas. For over 20 years, he was, besides these 3 occasions, basically nonexistent.

Nadine works full time in a nursing home. After having been in the hospital for a few days, my grandma was supposed to be in that very nursing home for a while. The insurance companies offer this option so that caregiving relatives should be able to recover for a few days themselves and my mother really needed the break.

But my mother was not granted this break. On the second day, in her demented confusion, she crawled under her room neighbor's bed and did not let the nursing staff lure her out from under it. Nadine then called Tim, who came by. While playing hide and seek, my grandma was slightly injured and was taken back to the hospital. After that, she refused to go back to the nursing home, and my mother gave in and took her home.

In the next few months, it was 2016 then, Tim appeared once a week to, as he said, “take care of grandma”. This “taking care” consisted of going to Grandma, who was sitting in her TV chair, holding her hand, asking if everything was okay and driving off 15 minutes later.

At this point I would like to emphasize again that my mother has basically sacrificed herself since 2011 to look after her mother in need of care. She never moved more than 50 meters from my grandma without someone to take her place. Both my grandmother's doctor and the official auditors in charge of the nursing service had certified my mother that my grandmother was doing great under her supervision.

Estelle's birthday was in March. My mother told me later that Estelle had advised her in a conversation that she should put some money aside for the time when Grandma is no longer there.

Nadine celebrated his birthday in July. Since my grandmother was again spending a few days in short-term care at that time so that my mother could recover a little, Tim offered to pick up grandma for the party.

And in August the mood changed.

Estelle expressed concern that my grandma's confusion was really dementia and instead suggested that grandma was in her condition because of poor care from my mother. Tim was increasingly aggressive towards my mother. In a conversation I insisted on participate, he accused my mother of embezzling my grandmother's money and evading taxes. And although I am a peace-loving person, I lost my composure a little and I was only a blink away from beating him.

After we calmed down again, I suggested that instead of just coming by for 15 minutes a week and spreading accusations, he should really take care of Grandma and look after her for a week at a time.

He agreed.

Two weeks later, Tim and Tim's brother appeared with his family and picked up Grandma for a visit to a fair.

When they came back they told my mother that they had ordered a new TV chair for Grandma and that my mother should pay for it with her money. The reason was that my mother “lived rent-free in Grandma's house” and practically doesn’t do anything. Since my grandmother was so “gracious to take in a mother and her two children” she was entitled to the money, my mother supposedly saved on rent.

A few weeks later my mother had an appointment and asked Estelle to take care of Grandma during that time. When she came back there was also a note on the table. Estelle had taken grandma with her to look after her. First a week to try out.

The joy that my mother had about the free time she gained quickly vanished when it turned out two days later that Estelle took the opportunity to go to her bank with my grandmother to revoke my mother the right to access my grandmother's account. We only found out about it by accident.

A few days later Estelle appeared accompanied by Tim, his two siblings and their families and got clothes, jewelry and everything valuable that my grandmother owned. They said that my grandma wanted to stay with Estelle now because she couldn't stand my mother anymore.

The mood between my mother and grandma had deteriorated noticeably in the months since the first stay at the nursing home. At first, we assumed that the dementia was getting worse.

A few days later, 9 people came to my mother's home. Including my grandmother, Estelle, Tim, Ts. siblings and their family. When my mother was about to let 2 visitors out of the door, one of the group stormed through the open front door, pushing my mother and sister aside and demanding that they leave the (lower) apartment immediately. They supposedly had no right to be there and are only allowed to stay in the upper apartment.

A neighbor saw the incident and called the police. The group convinced the police that my mother actually lived in the apartment upstairs and had no right to be downstairs. To this day I still don't understand why the policeman accepted it that way. In any case, he asked my mother to leave the lower apartment until the matter was legally clarified. The police then disappeared. The group then took the opportunity to exchange the lock and searched the apartment for incriminating material that they could use against my mother. Unsurprisingly, they didn't find anything. My mother hadn't done anything wrong.

The day after, my mother went to see a lawyer to give her access to the home again. After a week back and forth, my relatives agreed to let my mother back into the apartment.

They cleared the furniture out of the apartment beforehand, because they thought it belonged to my grandmother, and switched back to the old locks.

Since they were 9 again and my mother had a nervous breakdown from the whole affair anyway and was on the verge of the 2nd, I wanted to receive the key in her place. However, they insisted that my mother personally collect the key.

Since I could already imagine why my relatives insisted of being in a group of 9 to give the key to a 70 year old woman personally, I had an idea. I picked up my smartphone in a clearly visible position and activated the recording function.

As I expected, most of them noticed my cell phone and remained silent. All except my grandma. Although she could hardly see anything, she recognized me and wanted to talk to me. She accused me and my mother of plotting against her. That she always supported me and she couldn't understand how we could do that to her. It broke my heart to hear what monsters my mother and I had become in her mind. But I knew that this was the dementia talking. I listened patiently and tried to explain what she had misunderstood, but I also knew that she had sunk too far in her illness to convince her of the truth.

One of the allegations in that conversation was that my mother and I wanted her out of the house. As already written that was not the case. But I have to be grateful today that my grandma said that. Estelle was sitting next to her at the time and reflexively replied "It wasn't him, the others."

At the time, I was too fixated on my grandma that I hadn't even noticed. Fortunately, I had my phone in my hand the whole time. When I listened to the conversation a while later, it finally clicked and I could slap myself today for not noticing it earlier:

Since the incident at the nursing home, the mood between my mother and grandma had deteriorated noticeably. We had blamed it on dementia, but now it was clear to us that in her condition between dementia and the strong painkillers she was taking, my relatives had talked her into believing some conspiracy against her.

My mother then applied for guardianship for my grandma. In Germany it is regulated in such a way that it is first checked whether the care is necessary. That was a relatively straightforward matter.

Then a judge has to check whether there is a possibility that a relative will take over the guardianship. This test was an on-site appointment at Estelle

As I could deduct from the court papers, the judge was of the opinion relatively quickly that family-internal guardianship was not possible. The decisive factor was apparently, among other things, the aggressive behavior of my relatives towards my mother, whereby the judge was almost injured with a burning cigarette.

Mrs. G. was declared to be my grandmother's guardian. A few weeks after Mrs. G. took over her job, she paid my mother a visit.

Ms. G. said that she was amazed when she met my mother for the first time. After all, she wasn't the hell spawn my relatives described her. We learned that Estelle's family had apparently spread wild rumors about my mother in town. We also learned that apparently my grandmother's set up a new will.

Since my mother lives in a small town, it didn't take long to find out that Tim was named the sole heir in the new will. Nadine had said the same to a friend and if you know someone who knows someone…. Small town.

My grandma died in July 2017. Shortly afterwards, I drove to the court to deposit my grandma's will there so that it could take effect. The lady there said there would already be another recent will. I still insisted on depositing the old one.

The will was opened a few weeks later. We saw for the first time what we are dealing with.

The new will was drawn up by a notary which is normally better than a handwritten will from over 20 years ago. In the will, Tim is established as the sole heir with Estelle in the 2nd position (in the event that Tim would have died before my grandmother). Not a word about the fact that part of my mother's house already belonged to her, instead she was only given a right to live in the upper apartment. But the real shock came when we saw the date. The will was written in July 2016. On the day when Tim and Estelle had so generously agreed to pick up Grandma from the nursing home. When they were still trying to pretend everything was fine and their “only concern was Grandma's well-being”.

I made an appointment with an inheritance lawyer. The lawyer first wanted to convince my mother to only sue for her legal inheritance claim and to otherwise accept the will. Challenging a notarial will is one of the most difficult cases you can try in German courts and it takes a lot of evidence to do that.

My time to shine. It took me almost an hour to convince the lawyer that my grandma had dementia and that the new will is therefore invalid. Doctor's reports that certify dementia back in 2011. The report for the guardianship. Every minute I presented her with new documents and in the end she is ready to go into battle with us.

So the matter goes to court, which means that the lawyers write letters back and forth. In one of the letters, Tim's lawyer mentions that there is an assessment from a doctor A. that clearly confirms that my grandma did not have dementia. That would contradict the evidence I submitted to my lawyer. So the court commissioned a new, independent expert assessment.

Although I had a lot of evidence and the behavior of my grandmother was always a clear sign of dementia for me, we waited a little nervously for the assessment.

We receive the assessment and what can I say, I haven't read anything so beautiful and sad at the same time for a long time. It is sad because the expert quotes from many reports that describe what my grandma was going through after she was brought to Estelles house. Nice because the appraiser completely dismantled the other side's argument. For every argument that the other side has come up with by then, the appraiser has evidence to invalidate it. Most impressive is the fact that the alleged report by Doctor A. is completely worthless to the other side. On the contrary, the doctor was so incompetent that he accidentally not only failed to refute my grandmother's dementia, he even confirmed it.

So there is a court date. The appraiser, Doctor A. and the notary who wrote the will are present.

A. is given the opportunity to defend his "report" before the judge. And he only makes it worse. It is going too far to explain that now. In any case, A. made it clear to the judge that he had no idea how to carry out the test.

Then it's the notary's turn. When he testified, it turns out that there were 2 appointments with him and my grandma. And in their attempt to look particularly good in front of the judge, Estelle and Tim admit that they were both present at both appointments. Not only that, apparently the conversation and further coordination between the notary and my grandmother went completely through Estelle’s hands.

The trial ends and my mother's lawyer is overjoyed. She explains to me that if there were any doubts that the new will does not reflect the will of my grandma, these are finally resolved by the statement of the notary.

A few days later, the judge gives the verdict and it's even better than expected.

The house was awarded to my mother.

Tim is no longer entitled to even one cent from my grandma's inheritance.

All claims that Estelle could still make against my mother, i.e. both the stated sum of money from the old will and possible claims under the law, are offset against what was in his possession at the time of my grandma's death. So she has some old furniture, clothes, some jewelry, etc. And what it looks like so far, that means that's all she can hope for.

tl;dr My cousin tried to cheat my mother out of her inheritance. Didn't work out for him in the end.

(source) story by (/u/Sam_Ronin)

[thewildomega]

Star in the Sand Ch.17

You heart hammered so loudly in your ears that you were sure everyone in the hotel could hear it. The room was still dark but you were very aware of the other person in the room, their crimson eyes seeming to glow in the darkness. A sudden click as they turned on the light showed you that the they was a man, a very, very large man, larger than Crocodile. You didn't much give him a glance over as your eyes instantly snapped to that of your soulmate who was being held to the wall by some white substance. He didn't look hurt but he was angry that was for sure, his hair disheveled and his eyes hard.

"Who the hell are..."

"This meeting does not concern you." The large man sitting in the arm chair spoke, his voice deep and calm.

Before he could say another word the stuff covering him moved up his neck and jaw to cover his mouth. Trying to turn to sand he saw the white mush turn black... Haki.

Using his powers to subdue the annoyance he turned his eyes back to the young woman and blinked slowly. Lifting the piece of paper from the side table he held it up towards her. "I've been searching for you, Firelocks Y/n."

Turning your eyes to the bounty you furrowed your brows at the picture of yourself and then the words written below. 'Wanted Dead or alive.' You had a bounty? Seeing him still looking at you, you looked back. Now taking the man in you saw he was wearing leather pants and a matching black vest. His hair was the same color as your own and he had a fluffy scarf covering the bottom half of his face. Hearing your Crocodile yelling something around the stuff covering his mouth you furrowed your brows when he suddenly stopped and you heard his breathing become desperate. Noticing his face flush and the veins in his temple and forehead pop out you felt a sharp clenching your your heart. Looking back and forth between the man and Crocodile you moved to step forward, those crimson eyes staying on you. "Please stop it. If you are here for me that's fine but please don't hurt him."

Loosening the mochi he heard the man take a much needed breath but never broke his gaze from the woman. "Do you know who I am?" he asked and saw her look back to him and shake her head slowly. Humming he dipped his head some. "My name is Katakuri Charlotte. I am the third born son of Big Mom and I serve as a sweet commander in the Big Mom Pirates along with two of my quadruplet brothers... I am also your uncle."

Gasping a little you swallowed before speaking, "M..my uncle?"

"Yes. Your father, Vincent Charlotte was my older brother. Since I am to presume you do not know much about your family allow me to fill you in. Your grandmother, my mother is Linlin Charlotte, you have thirty-nine aunts and forty-six uncles. My sister and her husband are expecting their first child, your first cousin in a few months. You also have many ex in laws but we will not go into that."

Feeling your heart still beating like a drum in your chest you licked your lips, "And my mother?" you asked in a soft, shaky voice.

"I am afraid I do not know much about her. Her name was Anna, she was a servant for our family. If I were to guess she most likely lived on the island before my mother claimed it. I know she had parents on one of the neighboring islands but they too were killed when my mother learned of your existence."

"Mmmy.... they were killed b..because of me? My parents... my grandparents..." you asked, your voice growing soft as a lump formed in your throat. You knew about your parents being killed, Crocodile had told you that part but you didn't know why.

"Yes."

"W..why?"

"To put it simply, you were not approved to be conceived. My mother did not approve of Vincent and your mother's marriage. They wed behind her back, their entire relationship was kept secret but when you came alone she caught wind of it. Very few knew about you, about them, only those your father trusted..."

It pained him to see her enduring this. He could tell by the sound of her voice, the curling of her shoulders how much this was taking it's toll on her. When he noticed her eyes watering up he tried yet again to move but failed.

"Were you one of those few?"

"Yes. I was there the night you were brought into this world. You were such a tiny thing. Your father could hold you in the palm of his hand. No one expected you to make it through till morning but you did." Taking a deep breath he sighed. "They kept you hidden for nearly two months before word finally got out."

"Were you there then?"

"No. I was away on business for my mother. it wasn't until I had gotten back did I hear of what happened."

"She killed them."

"Yes." he said honestly.

"She was going to kill me."

"Yes." Watching her look down he used his haki to predict what she would say next. "She doesn't know you are alive. Not yet at least but it won't be long until she learns the truth. I can not be for certain what my mother will decide Y/n but you are proof of a betrayal, of mutiny. Chances are either she will send someone to kill you or she will have you married off to a potential ally in order to strengthen our crew."

Clenching his teeth he glared at the man. The hell she would be, she was his, his soulmate.

"When I was told by my sister Brulee what had happened I tried finding you but it seems you were no longer in this world. You can understand how surprised I was to find your picture in the bounties. There was no mistaking who you were and it does not surprise me at all that the world government knew as well." Looking over his niece he blinked slowly. "You look so much like him, all except the eyes, the eyes are your mother."

Swallowing thickly you looked down. Before you could get the words out he was answering your unspoken question.

"I do miss him. Out of all of my siblings he was my favorite, I looked up to him. Vincent was powerful and clever but he was also kind and cared very much for his family. His death took it's toll on all of us."

Closing your eyes you felt your lashes grow wet with the tears you were trying to hold back. "I'm sorry." you whispered out.

He could hear the guilt in her voice and wished he could comfort her. He knew she wasn't only apologizing for the Charlotte's loss but for being the cause of it. She was apologizing for her existence.

"Don't apologize, don't make his and your mother's death be in vain. They both sacrificed their lives to give you a chance. While I do not care for your choice in company..."

Cutting his eyes back at the man when he gave him a glare he grit his teeth.

"... it is your life and if it makes you happy then it is none of my concern." Standing he walked over to her, sensing the man's anger he continued ignoring it.

Looking up at the massive man as he came to stand in front of you you saw him pull out a spear of sorts out of his body. At first you stiffened and heard as Crocodile growled and roared around the black stuff holding him. No doubt the both of you assumed the same thing, that Katakuri was going to kill you now. However you didn't move to run or beg for your life, you understood why he would want you dead and so you stood stark still. Looking up to meet his crimson eyes you waited for the pain but none came. Instead he held his hand out, balancing the spear across his palm.

"This was your father's Yari. He was exceptionally gifted with it, something I sense you also inherited from him." holding the weapon out for her to take he watched her small hands come up to hesitantly take it from him, noticing how much care she took with it he couldn't help the pride in his chest.

Taking it when he held it out for you, you looked the weapon over. It wasn't heavy but it wasn't light either, it was sturdy. The long shaft was made of wood with thick black leather bands braided around it. The blade itself was a diamond shape and bright silver but you noticed the very edges were black and there were carvings along the flat areas. It was a beautiful weapon. Knowing that your father had held it himself made a sense of nostalgia come over you.

"I have carried it with me since his death, wishing to one day pass it on to his child. My hope is that it will also be passed down to the child currently growing in your womb." he spoke glancing down to his niece's lower abdomen where he sensed life.

Feeling your breath catch in your throat you looked up from the weapon to meet his eyes. "W..what did you say?" you asked your voice barely above a whisper.

"You did not know then." he hummed. Glancing over to the man pinned to the wall he saw his eyes holding just as much shock and rose a brow. "Neither of you did."

"I..I'm..." you couldn't even get the word out.

"Pregnant yes." he finished for her. Seeing her just standing there he sighed and blinked slowly. "I can see this is all overwhelming. There is something else for you there, I can not give you the family you missed out on Y/n but I hope this helps a little. As much as I enjoyed seeing you alive and well I hope we never meet again." Seeing her looking up at him with slightly knitted brows he sighed. "You are my niece but Big Mom is my mother and I am one of her commanders, if she gives the order I will follow it."

Feeling your lip twitch you looked back down some and heard him walk away.

Seeing the Charlotte walk over to stand in front of him he glared into his eyes as he stared down at him. How he hated when people looked down on him.

"She has a large target on her back. As the firstborn grandchild of not one Emperor but two I have no doubt that there will be more people who will wish to see her dead, even if she herself has done nothing wrong. If you plan on keeping her and your child alive then you will need to get a lot stronger than you are now." Seeing the man glare at him he narrowed his eyes and walked away.

Hearing him walk towards the door you felt the tears roll down your cheeks as everything started to become to much. Clenching your hands down around the shaft of your father's spear you closed your eyes and felt your temper flare. "I'll kill her...."

Getting to the door he stopped and turned to glance at his niece over his shoulder. Those blue eyes starring daggers at him.

"... If I ever see her, if I ever get the chance I will kill her." you grit out.

Starring at his small woman his brows knit together some at the unfamiliar look in her sea blue eyes. It was a wild, dangerous look showing all the anger and hurt she was feeling. Fearing the Charlotte may take her threat serious he felt a bead of sweat run down his neck. Thankfully however all he heard as a deep huff.

"It seems you inherited the Charlotte temper... This meeting will be kept between us... and everything learned as well. Take care and stay safe my niece."

Hearing the door shut and the sound of his spurs grow faint you dropped your eyes to the floor. It felt like your head was spinning. You could hear your heart and blood pumping. The spear in your hands felt heavy now, everything did. Your parents, your grandparents, they had been killed because of you, because you were born. You apparently had a bounty and a whole lot of people wanted you dead. You hadn't even done anything. Then to top it all off you were... Closing your eyes you felt that nausea from earlier coming back full force.

When the stuff holding him released him he dropped down to his feet. Looking over to his woman he saw her standing there in the middle of the room with her head hung low and her shoulders curled in, even from here he could see her trembling. He couldn't get over what Charlotte had said, was it true, was his star pregnant? Was he going to be a... Before he could finish that thought though she was turning towards the bathroom and rushing inside. Going to follow her the door slammed in his face.

Just managing to kick the door closed and prop the spear up against the vanity you quickly opened the toilet lid and bent over to empty stomach. Considering you had only eaten two of your shrimp and the cucumbers out of your salad there wasn't much to come back up but it still sucked. Groaning you reached up to flush the contents down then curled back against the large soaking tub.

Having tried to open the door only for it to be stopped he glanced through the small crack and saw what was the problem. Pushing his hook into the crack he lifted the spear up off the handle and opened the door. Leaning the Yari up properly he glanced over to see Y/n curled up on the floor, her side leaned up against the tub, hugging her knees to her chest. Even with her face buried into her knees and her hair curtaining all around her he saw her small form shaking every so often as she cried silently. "Darling..." he called but she didn't look up at him only whimpered out a weak 'Go away.' Sighing he moved out to the room to remove his coat and tie. Locking the room door before going back into the bathroom he turned on the tub and added some of the oils the hotel provided. Crouching down on his hunches he removed her heels, tossing them to the side. Nothing was said as he pulled the dress off of her, tilting his head towards the bath he saw her sigh and obediently step into it before sinking down into the steaming water.

Curling up once you were settled in the tub you stared down at the water and heard as Croc turned it off. He didn't say a word as he left you to your bath, cracking the door behind him. What the hell were you going to do? Not only were you in danger but if your uncle had been correct then your unborn child was as well. If your grandmother wanted you dead then she would no doubt want your baby dead as well. Your baby... you and Crocodile's baby... You didn't know anything about being a mother, wasn't like you had good role models growing up. If anything you knew at least what not to do. But what about Crocodile? Did he even want children? He didn't exactly come across as a family man. What if he didn't want it? What if he left you? Would he do that, would he abandon you because you got pregnant? You wanted to believe he wouldn't but you knew there was a chance he might. Just the thought alone had fresh tears rolling down your cheeks. Even if he didn't leave you what the hell were the two of you going to do with a baby? He was a pirate, a wanted pirate... well you were wanted now too but he was better known. Scrunching your eyes closed you dropped your forehead to your knees. Your head hurt. Your heart hurt. You were tired and you were over it. You just wanted to sleep. Sinking down under the water you basked in the warm quietness the water provided.

Puffing heavily on his cigar he moved about the room. First he called for Daz on his den den, he didn't tell him much for now only to be ready to leave tomorrow morning at dawn. Next he called down to the hotel front desk and told them to bring him up some soup and ginger tea. Y/n hadn't eaten much today and whatever was in her stomach was now gone. She needed to eat, possibly now more than before. Beginning to pack the small bad he had brought with them to the hotel so it would be ready tomorrow morning his mind quickly took over. Stopping he closed his eyes and brushed back his hair while inhaling two lungful's of smoke. Pregnant. A child. They were going to have a child. He was going to be a father. He was pretty certain that nothing had ever made him more nervous in his life. He knew nothing about being a parent. Children didn't even like him, what if his own child didn't like him? Not to mention the fact that now he not only had to worry about his soulmate's safety but that of their unborn child. She would need to be checked over to fully tell him how far along she was but he knew in less than a years time he would have to figure something out. Sighing he rubbed his face. There seemed to be a million things running through his mind all at once.

Having not heard anything from the bathroom in a while he walked into the room and looked to the tub but she wasn't there. Instantly he felt his breath catch in his throat and hurried over to the tub. Seeing her laying under the water with her eyes closed he panicked and reached into the water to yank her up. Hearing her gasp as her head breeched the surface he grit his teeth down on his cigar. "What the hell are you doing? Are you trying to drown yourself?"

"Attempting to grow gills." you mumbled, wiping your face.

Growling at her sarcasm he heard a knock at the door and reached over to let out the water. "Get in the shower and wash up." he told her before wiping his hand on a towel and heading towards the door.

Getting out of the shower you dried off and then stood in front of the mirror for a time, your eyes dropping to your flat stomach. You didn't even hear Croc come in before he was pulling the towel from your hands and helping you tug your silk robe up your arms and onto your shoulders. Letting him lead you into the room you crawled into the bed and went to burrow yourself under the covers but before you could he was speaking.

"Sit up." Placing the tray in her lap he noticed her lip twitch and her brows furrow. "You have to eat something Y/n."

"Noodle soup is like the worst thing ever to puke up." you grumbled.

"That's what the ginger tea is for."

Sighing you lifted the spoon knowing he wouldn't let you sleep until you ate some of it.

Kicking off his shoes and removing his hook he dressed down to his pants before he moved into the bed beside her. Laying back against the headboard he sighed and plucked the cigar from his lips. " I suppose I will have to curve this habit."

Biting your lip at his words you swallowed the soup in your mouth and stared into the bowl. "Did you know?"

"Which part?" he asked and saw her look to him. Breathing out he reached beside him to put out the cigar in the ashtray. "I knew about Big Mom being your grandmother, I knew she had been the one to kill your parents.... I also knew about the bounty."

Nodding your head slowly you licked your lips. "So you just decided to keep the truth from me."

Hearing the hurt and anger in her voice he took in a deep breath through his nose. "Yes."

"Care to explain why you thought that was a good idea."

Feeling his brow twitch he grit his teeth and crossed his arms over his chest. "I did what I thought was best for you and I would do it again."

"You don't get to make those decisions..."

"I do and I will if it keeps you from hurting, if it keeps you from experiencing anymore pain and heartache than you already have been forced to endure through your life."

Hearing his reasoning you closed your eyes and dropped your head back on the headboard for a moment before turning your head to him. "Croc I'm not some porcelain doll." you told him and saw his scowl deepen, saw his chest muscles flex.

"I know you are not a doll but you are still my soulmate and I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe. What good would it have done to tell you, so that you would feel guilty like you do now, for simply being born? So you would never be able to go out without fear of being recognized? You were happy and carefree, that's how I wished for you to stay." He spoke in a deep, even voice. There was no regret with what he had done, he would have kept the secret from her for the remainder of her life if that damn Charlotte wouldn't have shown up.

You knew where he was coming from and while it was sweet in a way there was still the fact he had kept the truth from you. Moving the tray to the side you crawled over to straddle his lap, he still kept his arms crossed and his eyes looked away from your face but you gently reached up to touch his strong jaw and turn his face towards yours. When his eyes finally looked down to you, you stroked his skin with your fingertips. "You can't shield me from all the evil in the world."

"I can try." Looking into her sea blue eyes he moved his arms from his chest, placing his left arm around her and rubbing his only hand down her arm then to her chest he parted her robe. Brushing his thumb over the soul binding mark he felt that warmth in his chest and breathed deeply. Dropping his eyes down to her flat abdomen he swallowed a little thicker, his hand slowly moving down to rest over the majority of her stomach.

He didn't say anything just held his hand over your belly and looked at it with his lidded silver eyes. Placing your small hand over his large one you felt his thumb rub your skin there. "You're not freaking out about this like men do in the movies." You spoke, choosing to break the silence on the whole situation.

"We weren't exactly being careful, I suppose I should have seen it coming. The thought of being a father never crossed my mind but... I also never thought I would fall in love." Sighing he rubbed his hand back up her side bringing his hand to her cheek and stroking her smooth skin while he looked her in the eyes. He knew her well enough to be able to see the fear in her eyes, the uncertainty. "I know this is all very sudden darling but it will be alright. Tomorrow I'll get Catch to give you an exam..." hearing her groan he rose his brow, "I know you don't particularly like him but he is a decent doctor."

"I wouldn't go as far as calling him a doctor, mad scientist is more like it." you grumbled.

Chuckling he pushed his hand into her hair and pulled her towards him, feeling her cuddle up on his chest. "Don't worry he will take extra care with you and if he doesn't then well I'm sure you know what will happen." Feeling her arms move to hug him he kissed the crown of her head. "No matter what our future holds we will take it on together."

Closing your eyes you listened to the thumping of his heart. "I love you Croc."

"I love you my little star." he replied in a low voice.

"If it's a boy can we name him Alligator?"

"No."

Giggling lightly at how quick his reply was you nuzzled his chest and felt him rub your back. "Ria?"

"No."

"Caiman?"

"N...maybe."

..................................

Yawning you followed close beside Crocodile as you walked through the city. The sun was barely up but Crocodile demanded you to get up, telling you that you were leaving the island. You couldn't have gotten much sleep and you were definitely feeling it. Stopped when your large man grabbed your hand and tugged you into his side you stood beside him and quickly figured out he was getting something to eat. Feeling this eerie sense take over you glance to your right out of the corner of your eye and saw a group of men staring at you. When they noticed you had caught on to their look they quickly adverted their eyes and spoke quietly to one another but you noticed them glancing to you every so often. Leaning more into Crocodile you turned your face away from them. As the smell from the food stalls met your nose you felt your stomach turn and closed your eyes.

Handing her the breakfast wrap he saw her eyes closed and rubbed her shoulder. "Are you alright?" he asked and saw her nod but not speak. "Try eating something." he said and saw her nod again. Walking towards the ship he kept her close to his side.

Nibbling on the wrap you could feel your nausea becoming worse. By the time you both got to the docks you couldn't take it anymore and quickly pulled away from him to run over to the edge of the docks and empty your stomach into the fishy smelling water. Crocodile was quick to come to your side, standing by you and rubbing your back.

Rubbing her back as she vomited he sighed. He would have to make sure to keep her some ginger tea on hand when she ate. Seeing Daz come over he noticed the man glance to his woman with a raised brow.

"Sick or expecting?" Daz asked and heard Crocodile growl lowly.

Glancing up to the man you you saw him holding a banana in his hand and looked up to him. "Trade you."

Looking down to the wrap he saw only one or two small bites taken out of it and smirked as he handed over his uneaten fruit to the woman. Looking to his Captain he continued smirking, "Expecting it is. Should I offer my congratulations?" when he saw the ex warlord narrow his eyes he chuckled. "Thanks for breakfast." he said as he took a bite of the food and made his way onto the ship to start count and make sure everything was loaded up okay.

Huffing out he dropped his eyes back down to his star and saw her biting into the banana. Hearing a loud crash and then Daz yelling he grit his teeth. "Can't those idiots do anything right?"

"Go ahead. I'm going to sit here for a few more minutes, still feel a little queasy."

Humming he lifted her up to sit on the crates still left to be loaded. "Very well but stay right here, no wondering off."

"We won't." you said and saw him grin the smallest amount.

"I'll get Maverick to make you some tea."

Sighing you looked up to him, "I'm going to miss coffee."

Chuckling he leaned closer to her, "I'll drink enough for the both of us." Kissing her forehead he pulled away.

Holding his hand until his fingertips left yours you watched him make his way up the walk board and onto the ship. Hearing a bunch of thumping and then pained noises you grimaced but chose to stay out of it. Taking another bite of your banana you chewed it slowly as you looked out over the sea. Breathing deeply you lifted the banana again but before you could take another bite something was covering your mouth and grabbing you. Trying to fight the person off you felt a sharp stick to your neck and then your lids were fluttering shut.