#until lambs become lions

[mcdannoangelwolf]

I just want to look at them and tell them.

"When they come for you. For your daughters. For your sons. For your parents. I'll laugh. I'll laugh like you're laughing at me now."

But I won't. I'll remain silent. I'll remain careful. I'll remain watchful. I'll bear the laughter. I'll bear the mockery.

Because I know there is no point. My words will only fuel them. I can't avoid them. I have to see them. Every 3 days for 12hrs at a time.

So I will burn. I will grow. I will do better. I will be better.

'Keep your words in good order.'

'Keep your thoughts in good order.'

[awoken-lights]

@wasbray || closed starter

The dust of Mars wasn't kicked up in a storm when Coreopsis landed, and so, they used the brief opportunity to quickly map their path in such a way as to avoid the attention of the hive they could see. By the time they made it into the Braytech facility, the wind had picked up, well on it's way to forming a full fledged dust storm. With some luck, that'd hopefully lead the hive into seeking shelter rather than causing trouble.

"Hello Ana!" Waving with one hand, they paused for a second, "and...hello Rasputin?" Unsure of if the warmind was listening, they powered on. "I was wondering, if you have the time, if you could look over a few things with me? I've been working on making more designs for prosthetics for others like me who sustain injuries that can't be healed fully or at all, but there are some that I'm not sure how to get working. Especially the eye and spine prosthetics / supports." Hopefully they'd arrived at a decent time when there was a lull in Ana's responsibilities as well. While they knew they likely could have sent digital versions of the schematics her way, they liked to talk about it face to face.

[screamlamby]

tags.

[stellarstolen]

-- tag drop.

[charlotteking23]

The Lion's Lamb - Chapter 5 - MV1/33

Max Verstappen x reader

The Lion's Lamb Series: Aesthetics, Ch.1, Ch.2, Ch.3, Ch.4, Ch.6, Ch.7, Ch.8

You were not the one to complain.

You knew the life you lived was one many dreams of having. As an American, you grew up hearing stories about the American Dream, but your dreams lay elsewhere.

The United States had beautiful places, cities, and people, but you felt your inspiration was elsewhere. So you left.

Your family wasn't happy about your plan, but if leaving was what made you happy, who were they to stop you?

For a year, you traveled around Europe, taking in the art and culture at every stop. Once you saw Monaco for the first time, you knew it would become your new home.

Moving there would cost money, and it was not in the price range of a struggling, traveling artist.

You had saved up as much money as possible, yet you still couldn't afford to buy, let alone rent an apartment.

You stayed not far outside the city-state and would often travel into Monaco when your work required it.

In doing so, you meet your saving grace and your worst nightmare: Amelia.

Amelia is your roommate. You often like to believe she is the devil reincarnated, but never voice your opinion because of what the girl's father is doing for you.

Amelia came from a prominent British family and her father, Michael, was a financial genius, making her more than well-off in life.

But the girl herself knew nothing of hard work, having had everything handed to her on a silver platter.

This caused her to become poisoned to the core in your opinion. She was a gorgeous girl, but her personality was nothing but ugly.

Many ask the young American girl, Why? Why would you live with someone you thought was terrible?

Getting a decent price rental in Monaco isn't the easiest. Most places are not affordable for a person in your income bracket, and the apartment complexes you could afford were designated for Monegasque citizens only.

And you haven't yet met the requirements to become a citizen. The young American girl met Amelia at an art show where she was being featured in Monaco.

Well, you had initially met the British girl's father, Michael, when he bought one of her pieces being displayed that night.

The two had immediately hit it off and it wasn't long until he offered you a room in his flat in Monaco.

They had developed a relationship, but not one many would expect from an older man and a younger girl.

He had seen you as a daughter and had hoped that in offering you a place to stay, your hardworking and sweet nature would rub off on his daughter.

Once you had moved in, Amelia immediately started bullying and belittling you. You couldn't figure out why you were being treated this way, but the British girl held a slight jealousy towards the younger girl.

Her father gave you a lot of attention and she knew that he wished you were his daughter rather than her.

You put up with her terrible behavior because her father was doing you a favor out of the goodness of his heart.

You had tried to make herself feel better about being there for free and tried to reduce the British girl's attitude towards you by cooking and cleaning, but that made it seem like you were the older girl's maid, and so you were treated as such.

Max had arrived home in the early hours of Monday morning. Usually, he would have gone out and celebrated his win with his team, but not this time.

Getting back to you, which was stuck in his mind, has become the most important thing to him.

Those around him didn't think twice about Dutchman, not attending the after-party, knowing, that even though he won, he always thought he could do better. This is mainly just due to his father. 

Jos Verstappen wasn't a good man and everyone knew that. He was an even worse father.

At a young age, he had drilled the idea into his son's head that there would always be someone better. 

"You will never be good enough," were the words that echoed through Max's head. 

He'd never been praised by his father, even after he won his first world championship. There was never a good job out of his father's mouth.

Because of this, the young driver had pushed himself. Not take a break, rarely celebrated, and devoted all of his attention to racing. Until now at least. 

Christian Horner knew the Dutchman better than most. He knew Max's parents and knew that the lack of childhood the boy had, had affected him greatly.

Don't get it twisted, most F1 drivers never had a normal childhood like everyone else, but Max's was much more extreme.

While the younger driver's father was present in his life, he still lacked the paternal figure he needed, and Christian filled that void. 

While it wasn't obvious to anyone else, the Redbull principal knew there was a certain pep in the driver's step after the race.

Usually after a race, Max is often seen with his head, buried in screens, analyzing every turn, every overtake, just trying to see what he needed to do to improve.

This time, that wasn't the case. Instead of immediately analyzing his race, he instead called someone.

No one had ever been able to take the driver's attention away from his job.

This immediately caught the attention of the British man.

He had seen the slight smile and the way his eyes lit up when speaking on the phone from across the paddock. He figured this wasn't just anyone Max was talking to, he knew this person had to be special.

The team principal knew how much stress his driver had been under recently, so to see him smile, even just a small one, made him extremely happy.

With how quickly the driver took off after their meetings, Christian knew there was a special someone in the young man's life.

The only hope was that this unknown girl brought the Dutch driver, the happiness he truly deserved. 

Early Monday afternoon, you received a text from your blue-eyed man.

7 PM dinner. I'll pick you up.

The text itself was straightforward and assertive, causing you to bite your lip and nervousness and excitement.

You were happy, though that he was true to his word about seeing you again. You just didn't expect it to be the day he came back home from a work trip.

You quickly responded with your address. You weren't the type to send your address to someone you had just met, especially someone she didn't know well, but this was different. Max was different

6:45 PM, and the knockhead resonated throughout the large apartment.

You quickly raced over to the front door, not only to keep your roommate away from the man who had caused your heart to skip a beat but also because you had missed him and couldn't wait to see him.

It was a strange feeling for you to miss someone, you barely knew, but you couldn't help it.

You knew he had been waiting on the other side of the door and you needed a moment to completely gather yourself. Your heart was racing as you wiped your clammy palms on the side of your dress.

You threw open your front door without a second thought, afraid that if you stood there any longer without opening the door, he would leave.

There he stood, on the other side of the door the most beautiful man, in your opinion, you have ever seen. He was wearing a white button-up, a simple blue blazer, and black slacks.

He emanated old money, and it wasn't a bad look on him at all. In his hands though, was a bouquet for the beautiful pink tulips.

You couldn't believe this man wanted to go out on a date with you.

"Hi," Max breathed out, holding out the flowers towards the girl in front of him, "these are for you."

In the blink of an eye, you had thrown yourself into the Dutchman's arms. He was surprised at this but responded to the hug almost instantly. Burring his face in your neck, feeling like, for the first time, he had finally found a home in your arms.

"I've missed you," the muffled voice said as your face was still buried in the driver's chest.

Chuckling, he pulled away regretfully and grabbed your chin tilted up towards him, "I've missed you, too, a little lamb."

Grinning, you looked down at the flowers in Max's hand before taking them, "these are beautiful."

A smile was plastered on your face as you walked inside to put the flowers in the vase. Max, followed after you but continued to linger in the entranceway, not wanting to intrude.

He watched as you continued to rummage through every single cabinet, trying to find a vase, or anything similar, so you could display the beautiful flowers.

You had been through all the cabinets before you finally sighed, realizing you'd have to go ask Amelia where they were. 

"Sorry," You had told the man in your doorway with an apologetic smile, "I have to ask my roommate where we keep the vases". 

Max had smiled back at you, reassuringly, not minding all as you walked down the visible hall before turning to face a closed door. Curiosity filled the man's mind as he watched his little lamb's entire body change.

Your shoulders had dropped, your steps had slowed, and the excitement you had held in your body just moments ago had completely evaporated.

He had found the answers he needed when he had overheard the conversation between you and your roommate. 

"Amelia," You said softly while knocking on the older girl's door.

"What!" the older girl responded with such harshness, that you were questioning how badly you needed the vase. 

"Do you know where the vases are?"

"God," the girl said exasperated and her words dripping with disgust, "How a

re you so fucking stupid that you can't find a simple thing like a vase?!"

"Sorry," you said meekly and started to turn away before you heard a voice that stopped you. 

"They're on top shelf in the cabinet above the fridge," Amelia stated. 

With a quick thanks, you quickly walked back to the kitchen, found the vase, and displayed the flowers, before telling Max you were ready to go. They left quickly after that. 

The ride to their date location was quiet. Usually, there was never any awkward tension between the two, but now, the car was filled with it.

You couldn't stop your hands from fidgeting, especially after noticing Max's hands white-knuckling the steering wheel as he drove. 

"We don't have to go on this date if you don't want to," You had finally broken the silence, not being able to sit there anymore, "I'm sorry if I did something wrong. I understand if you don't want to be around me anymore, you can just drop me back off if you'd like."

Before you could get another word out, Max quickly pulled the car over to the side of the road.

You thought that he didn't want to see you anymore, and he had pulled the car over as an indication that you should get out. Your eyes had started to water and your heart started to break. 

The Dutchman's head had whipped around to look at you so quickly, you were surprised he didn't get whiplash, "What are you talking about? Why would I want to drop you back off?"

"Well," You had started to play with your hands again, " you seem mad at me for some reason."

"Why would I ever be mad at you?" Max questioned with a soft voice. 

"Because I made you wait while I found a vase."

"Little Lamb," he had taken your hand in his, causing you to look up at him with those gorgeous eyes he adored, "I could never be mad at you."

"You're not mad?" You asked.

"I am mad, but not at you. Your roommate. The way she spoke to you had pissed me off. You never should be spoken to that way, no matter what."

Max had reached his hand up to caress your cheek softly. He wanted to make sure you knew that his anger wasn't directed at you.

He had been so upset with the way your roommate spoke to you, that he chose to keep his anger to himself instead of lashing out at you and possibly scaring his little lamb. In doing so, he hadn't realized that his sweet girl thought he had been upset with you.  

"You're beautiful, my little lamb," Max says, "Both inside and out. Please don't ever doubt yourself or my feelings towards you. 

A blush had erupted across your face, along with a shy smile. His words were nothing but sincere and you knew that. He quickly pulled you closer and left a quick kiss on your forehead, before turning back to the front of the car and continuing on their way. 

Max made sure to hold your hand the rest of the way. 

Taglist: @shelbyteller, @smithieandy, @fangirlforever2000, @herexpertcollector, @vip-access, @genevieve-blr

[revasserium]

oh don't ask me for requests, you know I deliver. What about Zoro with number 30?

send me one + a character and i'll write u a drabble

30. invention of the dictionary

opla!zoro; 882 words; fluff, teeth-rotting fluff, strawhat!reader, gn!reader, no "y/n", unconventional format, whipped!zoro

summary: truth, love, still, and stolen

a/n: been a while since i've written something so chill but i rly like this one u__u nice, short, and sweet!

He has never been a man of many words, but meeting you has made him wonder about the exact reason dictionaries were invented. What scholar (for it must have been a scholar, Zoro thinks) could have amassed such a knowledge of words and meanings that they decided the only way to keep track was to write it down? Or perhaps it was simply someone in love — someone who felt too much and yearned too hard and never had the words big enough or heavy enough, wide enough or deep enough, to fully encompass the way they were feeling.

Because he’s never been a man of many words, but meeting you has him reaching for the tattered dictionary they’d found in a treasure chest, washed ashore on a small, insignificant island — not unlike you. You with your windswept hair and your skin smelling of salt and cream and a thousand midnight mysteries. You, and the way your eyes hold worlds that Zoro’s certain he’d never have the privilege of seeing.

But sometimes when he kisses you, he thinks he can taste the remnants of their exotic fruits beneath the sweet of your tongue, and sometimes when you kiss him back hard enough, he can feel it in the crescent moon marks you leave inked into his skin. Like dotted lines on a treasure map.

You’d been a traveling bounty-hunter, not so unlike who he’d been in a past life, one that he can barely even remember. And your laughter had been just the right shade of lost for Luffy to take notice. No one had thought twice about it after that — and you blended in with the crew as a shot of rum in a morning espresso — which is to say perfectly.

He finds himself flipping through the thin, water-warped pages of the dictionary, pausing on words he’d always thought he knew — words like truth, and love. Words like still, and stolen.

And so, here are some words that Roronoa Zoro has learned and re-learned the meanings of. All because of you.

truth noun.

the quality or state of being true

a fact or belief that is accepted as true

a thing so fundamental that it never has to be questioned — like the rising of the sun in the east or the setting of the moon in the west; something that pulses with the very rhythm of the universe, like the ebb and flow of the tides or the way that autumn always feels a little bit like goodbye — or how birdsong will inevitably be followed by the sprouting of spring, and how March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb, and how Zoro’s never questioned just how much he’s loved you, or even whether or not he’d fallen in love. He simply woke up one day and knew.

love noun.

an intense feeling of deep affection

a great interest or pleasure in something

you, your smile, the way you hold your chopsticks, how you press your hand to your stomach when you laugh, the way your lips feel as they trail along Zoro’s jawline, the way your heartbeat rhymes with the gentle rush of the sea

verb.

to feel deep affection for someone or something

to like or enjoy very much

to dream of a life with you, and all the things you might do — to lie awake at night counting your breaths as you fall asleep next to him, to press his lips into the seam of your hair and know that when he wakes up in the morning, you’ll still be right there next to him

still noun/adj./verb

not moving or making a sound

deep silence or calmness

to make or become still

the way the world feels the first time you cry, how the planets themselves seem to grind to a deadly halt, how Zoro’s world tilts on the axis of you and doesn’t stop until he wonders if everything around him is upside down and inside out — how you curl into yourself when the monsters in your past become more than shadows and whispers that creep in the dark, or when the darkness comes knocking and you bury your face in his shoulder, your voice a whisper as you beg — please… help me.

adverb

up to and including the present time mentioned

nevertheless; all the same

how he knows he loves you, the way that the sea loves the sky — even after a devastating rainstorm; how there’s blood on his swords, blood soaking through the wooden planks but he’s got you in his arms so it’s going to be alright; how you let him carry you and hold you close; how he lets you carry him as well; how the pair of you curve around each other like a parenthetical, two bookends to a library of memories stored in the negative space between you; how you are with each other after all of this, still.

stolen verb (*past participle of steal)

take without permission or legal right, without the intent to return

move somewhere quietly or surreptitiously

his heart, his mind, his body, his soul — and him with you.

[aphroditelovesu]

HOLY ANGEL, I NEED SOMETHING FOR OUTER BANKS. What would it be like if JJ had a sister, and on top of that, that sister fell in love with Rafe Cameron? What if that love was reciprocated? the lion falls in love by the lamb! Can you imagine what it would be like if Rafe didn't follow his father's plans, and for love he dropped everything and followed like a Pogue?? Maybe I need headcanons for that.

''For you I'd go to the ends of the earth.'' - Rafe Cameron.

❝ 💰 — lady l: I absolutely loved this idea and finally found your request after finding this headcanon in my notebook lol. I hope you like it and forgive me any mistakes! ❤️

❝tw: obsessive and possessive behavior, slight mention of strangling someone in their sleep, underage drinking.

❝💰pairing: yandere!rafe cameron x jj maybank!sister.

From the beginning, before you met the rest of the group, it's always been you and him. It was always you and JJ against the world. And the world against you. Nothing and no one was more important than the bond you shared with your big brother.

You were everything to each other. Having been abandoned by your mother and your father being an asshole and a violent alcoholic, JJ has always been your safe haven and he will always be there for you, come what may. It had always been the two of you and he hoped it would stay that way.

You were introduced to his friends and it wasn't long before they became your friends too, all just as nice and protective as your brother. They soon became your and JJ's family, although he resented this at first as he feared losing you, he soon warmed to the idea of you all being family.

Everything was perfect. You didn't have much but you were happy with the pogues, you all had fun and loved each other that it seemed like nothing could interfere. JJ being protective and impulsive as always, John B the fearless and sometimes a stupid leader, Pope being the most altruistic and intelligent of the group, Kiara being the kindest and most supportive and Sarah being the messiest but loyal to her friends. Everything was perfect until you met Rafe Cameron.

You had only seen him from a distance, you had never approached him on your brother's orders and you never dared to disobey him, especially when you learned that he had tried to murder his own sister and that was enough to make you want to stay away from him. Except you didn't. During the bonfire party, you had drunk more than you should have and ended up getting lost from your friends, also drunk and stoned, you ended up getting away from the noise a little and that's where you finally met the infamous Rafe Cameron.

At first, you didn't recognize him and just kept quiet while he talked to you. You just agreed with what he said, completely inconsequential of what he said and that was the opening he needed to kiss you. Rafe's lips against yours were soft and gentle, he pulled you closer and caressed your waist possessively. Needless to say, he didn't stop at just one kiss.

Rafe has become even more obsessed with you than he already was. He already knew you from a distance but he never dared get too close, not with your brother watching you constantly and he knew that Sarah had said things about him to you, although it infuriated him, he didn't want to risk scaring you so he remained watching from a distance, waiting for the right moment to strike, and that moment finally arrived at the bonfire party. Though simply dressed, you still looked stunning to him and Rafe felt maddeningly jealous every time another man approached you, only to be pushed away by JJ. It was the first and last time he thanked JJ for being so protective of you. And when you finally broke away from your group of friends, he had his chance and when you kissed, it was like something snapped inside Rafe and he knew, in that very moment, that you were his.

He found himself more and more enchanted by you and soon you began a hidden relationship after some post-bonfire dates. But it wasn't enough for him, he wanted more, he wanted all of you and not having to hide your love from the others. The warm, hidden nights weren't enough for him. Rafe needed, he wanted and he would make you official. All chaos erupted one night when you were out with your friends drinking and talking, when Rafe showed up, alerting everyone. No wonder Rafe Cameron always meant trouble.

When he announced you two were dating, silence fell over the group. That is, until JJ got up and started fighting with Rafe. Your brother was furious, furious that he, this kook, dared to blatantly lie about you. As if you, his little sister, could get involved with a preppy guy like him. He only stopped fighting Rafe when Pope and John B's efforts were successful and horror settled on JJ's face when you took it and touched Rafe and told him it was true. JJ almost broke down right there.

Your brother freaked out for good, he yelled at you, for the first time in his life, he fought with you. Yelling things like how stupid you were for getting involved with Rafe and threatening to kill your boyfriend. You cringed at the screaming and Rafe, bruised and bleeding, pulled you into a hug, while trying to control himself not to kill your brother right then and there. He could kill JJ, but that would be too much trouble and there's you. Rafe isn't delusional enough to think that if he murder your brother, you'll stay with him. So Rafe kept himself in check, protecting you and when JJ finally stopped screaming, Rafe started talking and left everyone stunned and scared with his words.

That he loved you, he loved you more than he could put into words and he wanted to be with you. Make you happy, be yours forever. That he wanted to become a pogue to be with you. Even you couldn't believe his words, but Rafe was serious, too serious to be joking. He had argued with his father a few hours earlier, Ward didn't approve of your relationship, and Rafe freaked out at his father. The problem, for Ward, wasn't that you were a pogue but whose sister you were, who your friends were. Rafe didn't accept Ward's words and threatened his own father, he wanted you, he didn't care about the bloody Royal Merchant gold or the Cross anymore, all Rafe wanted was you, something so simple but unacceptable for his father . So Rafe, against everything he'd ever wanted, rebelled against his father for good, he disowned himself and decided that if, to have you, he had to become a miserable pogue, as his sister did, he would.

Your family did not accept this at first. They all didn't trust or like Rafe, understandable considering everything he'd done for them, but Rafe was willing to try to fit in with the group, for you. It wasn't the kind of life he was used to, but just having you in it made him feel a little more comfortable. It was hard for them to fully accept him into the group and even after a while the others still didn't trust him, but they were trying for you. It took JJ a long time to get close to Rafe without feeling like strangling him in his sleep, but eventually and after much prodding from you, JJ gave Rafe a chance, although he kept an eye on him and made it very clear that if Rafe hurt you somehow, Rafe will be a dead man. Adjusting hasn't been easy and yet Rafe has a hard time dealing with everything, but for you, he's willing to go to the ends of the earth.

[scoutofmymind]

Until the Lambs Become Lions - Chapter 10/ ?

Pairing: Luigi Mangione / Female!Reader

Warnings: Smut, Dom/Sub themes, obsession

Reading up until chapter 10 is not necessary for the smut, but appreciated!

"I understand," Luigi promises, voice soft with submission. The flush painting his cheeks and the wet shine of his lips seal his fate more than any words could — how divine he looks coming undone, your perfect willing sacrifice.

You grin, the wolf in sheep’s clothing, watching his pulse jump beneath your palm as your hand slides from his nape to his throat.

His eyes flutter at the gentle pressure, dark lashes casting shadows on flushed cheeks when he catches his bottom lip between his teeth, thick brows drawn together in sweet agony as he fights back sounds he's not ready to release.

This is the Luigi so few ever see — stripped of his carefully constructed walls, of the sometimes rather rigid exterior that keeps everyone at arm's length.

You've heard the whispers, of course.

Luigi likes who he likes.

Everyone else a distracting static.

His universe is small and carefully curated, and he orbits you like you hold the gravity of worlds in your hands. Yet, all this time you've felt like a distant celestial event — a supernova perpetually exploding and collapsing, burning bright enough to blind before the darkness claims you again and again.

"Very good." You watch him tremble beneath your touch, desperation coiled tight in every muscle, thrumming beneath his skin like a live wire seeking ground.

"Please," the word escapes like a prayer, barely more than a breath. "Hurt me."

Love me, love me, love me

Continue reading on Ao3

[twidiarie]

mother dearest

I'm still your baby

Why won't you cradle me?

mother dearest

It wasn't long ago as weak knees grew strength and the infant who crawled

became the infant who walked

waddling and tumbling, under your care

I'd never fall or trip, my tiny fist enveloping your finger

I was safe, your lips spilled words of praise and prayer

To ask the Almighty to keep me steady, to never let me run off into unsafe terrain and linger

Mother dearest

When I stopped being your cute little doll

When my lips were no longer puppeted with the sounds of obedience and agreement, when I developed the gall

To say no, to say otherwise, to put on different glasses and lenses

Our worlds were now in different colors and in different focuses and perspectives

mother dearest

You spoonfed me mashed fruit and cleaned my drooling chin with tissues and gently wiped away my tears

Now I eat in silence while you tell me that fruit has too much sugar and serve me the bitter vegetables I never liked and I wipe away my own tears

Mother dearest

My face and my body and my beauty is like yours, right?

Yet you've taken your carving knife, determined to shape me into your picture perfect sight

You've poked and prodded, stabbed and mutilated, a sick carnage

Now with my trembling hands I hold your knife, our knife, guided and steadied by yours. my heart and my pride and my joy lopped off, collateral damage.

Mother dearest

When I look in the mirror

Bile rises in my throat, every part triggers a blaring alarm, “error, error”

I perceive and see the scars and bruises, invisible and visible, littering the expanse of my skin,

I realize that I am no longer the product of love of you and my father and my grandmother and my grandfather and all my ancestors and my kin

I am a blight, I am broken, I am no longer your pretty little doll, your pretty little baby

I am defected, not worthy of being declared as a grade C product, I am unsellable junk, faulty

I am misshapen and unsightly.

If only someone would unmake and rebuild and refashion and fix me

mother dearest

I'm still sensitive, I'm still your child

I still get scared when you, from sweet lamb morph into canine-gnashing wolf, feral and wild

Mother dearest,

The mother hen worrying over her chicks

has become the lion who tears away the flesh of her cubs with curled, bloodied lips

Mother dearest

I want to be cute and soft and small and tiny

So that you'll look at me lovingly and hold me

Now you cast me away and push me aside

Wanting space, wanting your own time

Mother dearest

Do I bore you? You used to listen to my nonsensical rambling and babbling

And now when I spout off my hopes and dreams and speak with passion and intention

You roll your eyes and sigh, look away, your head and your body turned away in aversion

The sun, a star, a daily sight, I will see until the day I die

Will capture your attention, it shines far brighter than I

A ball of gas, scorching and blazing

Melts away the lumpy, awkward me into a puddle, unworthy of remembering

Mother dearest

I understand why you love the sun as you do,

I am a young sapling, a withering flower, and you are the sun aren't you?

Vines crawl up spiked barriers,

desperately reaching for warmth through an imprisoned container

Towards you, I reach, but shades surrounds me at every corner,

I have been ignored, I have been shunned, my cries mimic those of the most distraught mourner

I am so cold, I am dying,

My petals are flitting off, my leaves wilting and drying

please, keep me warm, o mother of mine

I still cower in the face of the dark. I know my fears are asinine

But I am alone and you swore to protect me. You swore it. How foolish, how naive I was, this earnest heart of mine

I didn't know that promise had expired past its deadline

Mother dearest

The cruelest things I feel I will never hear from the world outside

Because words are like arrows,

drawn with intention

with aimed direction.

Stray ones bounce off my armor and graze my cheeks. But you know all my chinks, and your arrows pierce paper thin skin, into the vulnerable flesh inside

Your cute little doll is a fragile thing after all, her stuffing is spilling

Her seams have burst, she is hollow and her pain is agonizing

Mother dearest

I'm sorry I'm sorry forgive me forgive me.

I'm turning into you, into my father, into the wretched Frankenstein of the detestable parts of both of you and you hate me.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

Please don't hate me.

I'm enraged like you are. I am just like you are but it's wrong because it's me.

Mother dearest

Please love me again,

Even when I'm not good.

Even when I'm bad.

please will you love me again?

Even when you're angry will you love me again?

What can I do, please love me again?

Mother dearest

I'm still your baby

Why won't you love me?

If you don't

How can I love me?

[crmsnmth]

Twelve Months to a Year

You are maple leaves in October your colors draining And soon you'll have burnt out so hard You'll be soil before you even hit the dirt

You are the cold rains of November Chilling me right down to the marrow My melancholy shower right before I lay my head down for the bed of winter

You are December ice wet and cold and easily shattered lift me as a sheet and you'll come crashing the snow is so pretty until the cars come out

You are the hope of January brand new in every move you make You claim you could reach the future but when I said prove it, you laughed

You are forgotten like February shorter days gain just the hint of change You repeat yourself on the second and we spend our Valentine's at a funeral

You are Lion of March you could never call yourself a lamb your much too stubborn to follow along and you make your own path

You are the wetness that is April So slick, that it all just slides off you How'd you become so resistant Looking up to you from my perch below

You are the optimism of May you bring those summer feelings even if we're not quite there yet But you so shiny, I have to wear shades

You are the warm nights of June The one's spent walking this city the ones where you kissed my cheek watching the lake with forties and cigarettes

You are the festivals of July the fireworks that light up the sky It's that comfortable feeling that these days is so hard to come by

You are the heat of August Only you could make me sweat that way It's when you said I love you as I cooked and drank too much wine

You are the quiet of September the low clicks as the fall rears it's head And you'll find me in the tree Where you almost broke your neck

No matter what part of the year there's always something there to remind me of you To remind me that I was loved once to remind me that I can love

I think that's a pretty important lesson.

[thornsamigurumi]

spop saturday

here are some of the fics i just keep coming back to

all eyes on me by @catrasredemption - “Glimmer!” the drunken voice on the other end slurred. “I need a ride. Mermista left me. Can you believe that?”

What the fuck. Catra opened her mouth to speak, but the voice barreled on. “And I forget my Uber password and Perfuma already left and pleeeeeeeeeeeease come get me? I’ll owe you big time. You won’t even have to feed me when I help you guys move out. And I’ll stop complaining about you abandoning me. And—”

“Hey,” Catra snapped, cutting her off. “I’m not Glitter, or whatever. You’ve got the wrong number.”

There was a pause, and then the other woman laughed. “Good one, Glimmer! Seriously, it’s cold, and I haven’t seen any taxis…”

“Did you drown all your brain cells?” Catra grumbled. “I’m. Not. Glimmer.”

Another pause, longer this time. “Oh no,” the woman groaned. She sounded close to tears. “Oh no, I must’ve mixed up the things in her new number. Oh stupid, stupid, stupid. I’m so sorry.”

blonde is the new black by vagician - When Adora's sister makes a failed dash and grab at a department store and ditches her at the scene, Adora gets pinned with all of her outstanding charges, tainting her pristine record. Will our blonde little innocent lamb be able to make it out of the lions den of Bright Moon Penitentiary unscathed?

Only time will tell.

every time we almost met by @rinniiart - She was utilising her sunglasses to their full potential to shamelessly watch the blonde woman chatting to Perfuma over the counter. The woman turned to head out the door, passing Catra where she sat by the door outside. Catra pretended to be zoning out and only followed the woman with her eyes to avoid getting caught.

Which is why she noticed the other woman run her eyes over Catra and seemed to enjoy the view. Catra tilted her head to look at the blonde to see if the action would make the blonde act on that look but she just offered a friendly smile and headed down the street. Shame. -- Fate works in mysterious ways. If only Catra knew that Adora was out there waiting for her, all she needed to do was take a moment for herself to finally meet her.

hurricane adora by @n7punk - When Catra went out for a late-night bite to eat, she knew she was at risk of her fellow patrons being drunk. She wasn’t prepared for one of those drunk diners to be her ex-best friend who doesn’t seem to remember that they don’t even know each other anymore, but it has been years and the way Adora reacts to her is intriguing. Someone has to keep her from wandering into traffic until she sobers up, and if a rekindling of their relationship comes from it, maybe that won’t be the most terrible thing.

on the other side by @n7punk - Living with Catra can be hard, given Adora’s stupid crush she can’t seem to squash, but she tries to be the best roommate she can. She won't risk ruining everything between them because of her feelings. Catra knows Adora is never going to reciprocate her feelings, and yet she stays in this holding pattern with her. They are everything together - except actually being together. She never wants to live apart from Adora, but whenever her heat hits it really sucks to be living with the woman she is in love with.

kneeling at your throne by jyn044 - “I built this city from the ground up, as a monument to my Empire and the center of my power. Welcome to Halfmoon, slave girl.”

Adora looked at her Mistress in awe. She wouldn’t have believed it possible for a city so large to have been built within years, but Catra’s drive and ruthless determination had made it happen.

She knows what she wants and she works to get it. Adora thought in admiration. And now she wants…me.

OR: Adora makes a bargain to become Empress Catra's slave girl.

She doesn't expect to break down Catra's walls, redeem the Empress, or fall in love with her. Those are just happy accidents.

the ghost of adora grey by tadd_the_turtle - The closer she got to the bridge, the louder the sound of the rapids became. The sound was entrancing enough on its own, no mysterious woman in white necessary to draw forward the curious mind.

So, imagine Catra's complete and utter disbelief when, after ditching her bike a few feet away, she walked to the bridge's entrance only to see there was a woman standing there. Alone. Leaning over the railing.

[genericpuff]

Okay I need someone to know there is an equally bad Hades x Persephone story (it might've been self published? But I'm not sure. I read it years ago as a gift from a friend).

But the basic premise of the story is very similar to a touch of darkness and lore Olympus. The names are changed slightly - Persephone is now Persy or something and hades is Hayden.

Persephone works at an accounting firm or something as a new hire and guess who the new business partner is that her company is trying to strike a deal with? Hades who's Uber rich and handsome. Only difference is for some reason Persephone has the power to make people tell her their deepest secrets so like for example when she was a kid people would confess creepy things to her - like her middle school teacher blatantly admitting to being a pedophile and she does nothing about it. (Granted it's like what would she do even magic powers aren't admissible in court but still). And there's a love triangle with some random human guy? Who is immune to her powers through sheer will power (and masturbation. Yes this is a plot point).

At some point Persephone travels Hayden's domain (which is somewhere in Asia like Shanghai for some reason and not Greece). I gave up at that point. There was lots of creepy things going on in the story a la "young new girl Persephone is constantly almost assaulted at every turn due to her irresistible beauty and people's need to tell her their secrets").

Worst book I've ever read. It's so bad I cannot for the life of me remember the title but it fashioned itself as a modern retelling of Hades and Persephone.

Could it have been The Cursed God? That's what I pulled up from a google search at least LMAO

Here's the summary:

"Hades is coming for me. But that doesn't mean he can have me . . . He says he knows me. Who I am. What I am. I'm pretty sure my boss Hayden is on some sort of weird power trip. He's sexy as hell, but has an arrogance that spells danger. I'm only serving drinks in his seedy strip club until I can afford my own flower shop. I just have to avoid the inexplicable pull between us in the meantime. Then he claims I'm Persephone and he's Hades, the God of the Underworld. He says I was taken from him and now he's here to awaken my spirit so he can take me back to the underworld. That his position in the underworld depends on it. Either he's crazy . . . or I'm a mythical goddess. A queen of the underworld. His Queen."

There was another one I found called Descent. And its summary is equally crazy:

"He was my savior once. Twice. Now he’s become my tormentor.

Hayden Montgomery was my best friend’s big brother. The last time I saw him was that Halloween night. The night he found me in the ruin of the chapel. The night he carried me home through a storm that was the omen warning us all of what would come.

That was five years ago. Now, he’s back. But he’s not the same man he was.

Once upon a time, I’d fantasized about our happily-ever-after. Once upon a time, I think I loved him.

But that was before he stood in the wreckage that is now my life and offered me the solution to my problems. And the cost? My body and my soul.

There’s something dark between Hayden and me. It binds us for better or for worse. Mostly worse. Like the moth to the flame, we can’t seem to resist the draw.

I just don’t know which of us is the moth and which the flame, but either way, we’re both going to get burned."

That last bit about the moth and flame is just- it's so delightfully Twilight "the lion fell in love with the lamb" vibes.

Anyways. Those are the two closest ones I could find that matched your description, but this has me learning that there are ... a LOT of 'modern' retellings of H x P that involve Persephone being an uwu babygirl and Hades being some wet rag abusive dickhead named Hayden. This is a sub-genre I didn't know existed and now I'm wishing I could just scrub my brain of it LOL

On the one hand, part of me now wants to believe that this issue goes deeper than Rachel, that Rachel is just yet another side effect of a bigger problem... but then I spot all the publication dates on these H x P "dark romance" books are from 2019 onwards. Obviously LO doesn't exist in a vacuum either, it's clear it took influences from works that existed before it, it's not the first "modern" retelling of Greek myth. But I can't help but feel a sense of dread that really makes me wonder just how much LO's existence has subsequently oversaturated the market with these "retellings" of a story that was originally a tragedy and meant to sympathize with the mothers whose daughters were forced into marriage, the same way 50 Shades and Twilight oversaturated the market with the "dark romance" genre itself, which is really just a dog whistle for abusive relationships at this point.

Don't really have anything else to say to close out this post. It's just depressing and I desperately want us all to hurry the fuck up and outgrow it instead of dressing up the same abusive "relationships" with a new coat of paint every 5-10 years.

[themuppetagenda]

Has anyone else ever noticed that if you listen to Lungs (Florence and the Machine) backwards it's a story about a young woman who becomes a werewolf and works to save herself from her fate? Let me explain. The clues are all there. We start with a little backstory and world building.

13. You've got the love: she's in love with a dude. Pretty normal song writing stuff, little more elaboration in track 12.

11. Hurricane Drunk: boy cheats on girl, more classic heartbreak songwriting, but we do get one nice bit of foreshadowing in this line, "But I like to think at least things can't get any worse". Well bestie I have some bad news for you, you're in a piece of media. You might as well have coughed after a background news story about a mysterious illness.

10. My boy builds coffins: she gets involved with some new dark brooding death obsessed guy who literally builds coffins.

9. Cosmic love: oh she's falling for him, but it's not good. "Then I heard your heart beating, you were in the darkness too. So I stayed in the darkness with you". Not a great relationship tactic, feels a little red flaggy.

7. Drumming song: ok the next three songs are just a whirlwind of passion, and it's unclear exactly where she's turned. Personally I believe it's right here, "I swallow the sound and it swallows me whole. Until there’s nothing left inside my soul. As empty as that beating drum. But the song has just begun" Even if she's not literally losing her soul she's starting to lose control, her life is just swept into the tempest of her werewolf rebound.

5. Kiss with a fist is better than none: ok Harley Quinn that's a totally normal thing to say.

4. Howl: yeah here's the part where I start to question the detective skills around here, this is pretty on the nose. "If you could only see the beast you've made of me. I held it in, but now it seems you've set it running free. Screaming in the dark, I howl when we're apart.." it continues even more explicitly but I think you get the point.

3. I'm not calling you a liar: finally she starts to question some of her decision making. There's a lot of regret in this song.

2. Rabbit heart (raise it up): Florence is finding the strength to atone and move past this dark time, but at what cost?

"I must become a lion-hearted girl. Ready for a fight. Before I make the final sacrifice.. This is a gift, it comes with a price. Who is the lamb and who is the knife."

After this song I was very worried for my girl, does she need to be the sacrifice? Peak storytelling, I'm gripped with suspense. Hoping for the best but fearing the worst. Will she be ok?

1. Dog days are over: she got better, whew.

Thank you for coming to my ted talk. Please watch out for your favorite artists, there's apparently a werewolf in London.

[charlotteking23]

The Lion's Lamb - Chapter 4 - MV1/33

Max Verstappen x reader

The Lion's Lamb Series: Aesthetics, Ch.1, Ch.2, Ch.3, Ch.5, Ch.6, Ch.7, Ch.8

The Dutch and American couldn't keep each other out of their thoughts for the next few days.

Max found himself wanting to be around you more often. He found something other than racing, that he felt joy to be around.

You found herself drawn to the dark and mysterious aura that the Dutchman unmistakably had. Something about him made you feel something you never felt before.

In the days since they last saw each other, Max made good use of your number. Within an hour of leaving the coffee shop, he texted you.

Since then, they've been communicating nonstop. If they weren't busy with work, they were either texting or calling each other.

It wasn't until the upcoming Thursday that you felt like Max was becoming distant with you.

You were saddened by the thought. You rarely put Yourself out there, especially towards men, but something about Max made you want to try it.

By Sunday afternoon, Max had called you, extremely excited after winning the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. It was a close race between Ferrari and Redbull, but Max ultimately won in the end.

You had spent your Sunday painting, trying to keep your thoughts clear of a certain Dutchman. You wouldn't allow herself to think about it more than you should.

You had put yourself out there and was ghosted. You wouldn't wallow in self-pity for a man You had only met once. At least that's what you told herself.

In front of you lay a painting of piercing blue eyes that stared right back at you. You stared back, getting lost in the familiar gaze before the sound of your phone ringing broke your thoughts.

Quickly grabbing the phone without looking at who was calling, you answered, "Hello?"

"Hey," you heard the rough voice of the man who has been haunting your thoughts recently.

"Max?"

"Why do you sound surprised to get my call?"

"I didn't think you would call me," You said lightly, your heart racing just from his voice. "You seemed to not want to talk to me recently."

"I'm sorry, little lamb," You heard him sigh through the phone. "I was away for work and things got busy."

"Oh," You blushed at the pet name he said, "So you weren't done with me?"

"Little lamb, you can't get rid of me that easy," you giggled at his answer before responding.

"How was the work trip then?"

"It went well, but I can't wait to come back and see you again."

"When do you come back?"

"Tonight. I'd love to see you again sometime this week."

"I would love to see you too," you bit your lip nervously. "You have to tell me all about your trip."

"I will little lamb," he chuckled.

The Redbull driver couldn't keep the smile off his face. His little lamb wanted to be around him when he came back.

He was upset that you believed him to be ignoring you when that wasn't his intention at all. Max didn't tell you that he had gone away for work. He's used to people knowing who he is.

The name Max Verstappen has become a household name overnight it seemed. After winning his World Championship title last year, especially under the circumstances, he had built a name for himself. Good and bad.

So for him, you were a breath of fresh air. Being around someone that did know him, or what he does for a living, made him feel normal. As an F1 driver, normal is hard to come by.

Daniel Ricardo, the McLaren driver, and Max's closest friend, watched him on the phone from a distance. He had never seen his friend's face light up as much as it did when speaking to whoever was on the other end.

Daniel was there for the Dutchman since the beginning of his career at Redbull. Max was his younger brother in his head and he wouldn't have it any other way.

The McLaren driver knew that the Dutchman past, knowing he hadn't had the easiest life and his life revolved around racing. After watching the Redbull driver win his first title, the Aussie watched him slowly start to become a recluse.

Riccardo knew the young driver had been struggling since his world championship title came with a lot of controversy. Max wanted to prove to everyone, including himself, that he was a great driver.

Seeing the Aussie walking towards him, the Dutchman quickly told his little lamb goodbye and that he'd call back when he got the chance.

He didn't want anyone to know about you just yet. You were his escape from reality and he refused to share that escape with anyone else in fear of losing it.

"You all good mate?" The Australian driver asked once he got closer to the other driver, noticing the small smile on his face.

"Yeah," he responded shortly, letting the smile drop from his face.

"Who were you just on the phone with?" The driver smirks at his old teammate. He couldn't help but be nosey.

Especially after noticing how quickly he got off the phone when he approached. He wouldn't be Daniel Riccardo if he didn't know any drama.

"No one," Max shook his head quickly, refusing to fall for the other man's antics.

"Did our little Dutchman find a girl?"

"No," Max deadpanned. If he told the Aussie, it wouldn't be long before Lando, the other McLaren driver knew. And the younger driver couldn't keep a secret to save his life.

"You don't smile, especially on the phone, for just anyone."

"Daniel," the younger driver sighed, knowing the smile on his friend's face meant he wasn't going to stop pushing him. "If I tell you something you will drop the subject?"

The Aussie nodded his head vigorously, his classic grin plastered on his face. He just wanted to know what was going on with his friend.

If a girl is making him this happy, he'd like to know about you.

"You can't tell anyone about her okay? I don't need this getting out especially since it just started."

"I promise I won't say anything."

"She's amazing. She's gorgeous and absolutely the most innocent human being out there," he smiles thinking about you he hopes to see tomorrow. "The best part is, she doesn't know who I am."

"She doesn't?" That surprised Daniel, seeming how almost everyone knew who he was. "I don't want to say this, but is she faking this personality to get close to you?"

"No," the Dutchman shakes his head, not even entertaining the thought, "this girl can't lie to save her life. You can see it in her eyes that she has nothing but good intentions."

"Alright," the Aussie nods, choosing to believe his friend. "Where'd you meet her?"

"Coffee shop in Monaco."

"She's from Monaco and doesn't know who you are?"

"She's American, she only moved to Monaco for work."

"An American? Should have just started with that," the McLaren driver grins, "you know how much I love Americans."

Max shakes his head at his friend's comment. Thinking to himself how right his friend is.

The McLaren driver does love Americans, everyone on the grid is pretty positive that the man is a secret American pretending to be Australian.

"Look man," Daniel says while grabbing the Redbull driver's shoulder, "if she's making you this happy, who am I to say shit."

The Dutchman gives the Aussie a slight smile, thinking about you. He can't see you fitting into his lifestyle, yet at the same time, he can't seem to want anyone but you here.

"I want to be the first one to meet her," Daniel slowly gets a mischievous look in his eyes, "I can't promise that she won't choose me instead of you once she sees this beautiful face."

Taglist: @shelbyteller, @smithieandy, @fangirlforever2000, @herexpertcollector, @vip-access

[korememeprompts]

rp meme for the first episode of magnificent century: kösem — “ the lion, the wolf and the lamb. “ change pronouns as desired / preferred. trigger warnings for violence and mentions of pregnancy.

“ what a great day, i said. but our happiness didn’t last long. “

“ the happiness of the princes in fairytales is such a lie. “

“ we either ascend the throne — or we’re slaughtered. “

“ until that day, pain, sorrow and fear preys upon us. “

“ that day, i learned it.”

“ even ancient laws cannot resist the love that comes from the depths of the heart. “

“ i swear to you brother, if i ever ascend the throne, I won’t be like our father. “

“ I never forgot that scene. “

“ only in there could we escape from the past full of sorrow and the future awaiting us. “

“ I was scared my father would kill him. “

“ that moment, sorrow surged up in his doe eyes. “

“ how could I know, that moment was the last one I saw him ? “

“ I couldn’t care less, even if the whole world went to pieces. “

“ that night, distress preyed on me like a nightmare.”

“ he got my big brother killed. “

“ I realized that day the greatest pain for the heart, is the pain of losing a sibling. “

“ i spent three months in hell. “

“ the refreshing rain was over, the sweetness of spring, the fragrance of the greening branches and the light were over. “

“ she wanted to make her only grandchild smile. “

“ she got gifts for me from all over the world. “

“ in that moment, a light emerged from the darkness. “

“ there was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life in that picture. “

“ for the first time in days, or months, I felt relieved. “

“ is she very beautiful ? I don’t know. maybe there are more beautiful girls, but that wasn’t what I fell for. “

“ in this picture, in this girl, I’ve seen more then just beauty. “

“ the serenity that rushes through my body whenever I look at her, the joy of living making me forget my sorrow. “

“ the innocence that no one or nothing can break. “

“ please protect me. “

“ the dawn is for you. “

“ I told you not to fight. you’re grounded, go - now. “

“ I told you to take care of everything. “

“ where is your daughter ? “

“ where ? where are you taking her ? “

“ take care of your needlework. “

“ you do know what to do as soon as you ascend, right ? “

“ you can face the malice and darkness in your way — you can avoid the malice of the enemy with the blackened heart, and the poison of the mischief to head you off. “

“ why are all the doors closed ? “

“ breathe, your grace. breathe. “

“ it’s the time to rise like the sun, cascade like the river and roar like the lion. “

“ the laws are apparent. “

“ otherwise, one leg of the throne will be broken. “

“ this blissful day I ascend the throne, I will not smear it with gore. “

“ I would expect you to talk to me before making such a sudden decision. “

“ the laws and rules of the state were not established three days ago. “

“ I don’t understand why you’re so worried. “

“ everyone seemed happy about my decision. “

“ if you want to be strong, my son, there are three things you need to do. “

“ I will find a safer place to protect you and our prince. “

“ you should stay distant, your grace. “

“ I hope you will be a just ruler. “

“ what if his opponent is just as formidable as he is ? “

“ rebellions, wars and the status of the treasury … what kind of state did I take over ? “

“ together, we will overcome any malice. “

“ I hope you’ll become a more magnificent ruler. “

“ how ? where would I run away ?”

“ what are you waiting for ? run away, I will help you.”

“ look at it and remember me. “

“ remember the promise you made to me. “

“ it is the only thing I have left of my family. “

“ tell me where I am, doesn’t it have a name ? “

“ a pit of hell has been set where you’re stepping. “

“ you see, little girl, this is hell. “

“ you scum ! let me go, you devil! “

“ obviously, she doesn’t like crowds. “

“ I hope his grace is fine. “

“ such important people, especially if they are women, come to the world once in a century. “

“ we should respect her. “

“ if you make yourself announced in my presence again, I’ll think you’re challenging me. “

“ it can be anyone, your majesty, and I’m sure everyone has their reasons. “

“ would a mother kill her own child ? “

“ you want me to kill my conscience!”

“ I only want for you to survive. “

“ despite all the storms, it took root. it stood still. “

“ I was my hope. “

“ you will be the princess of our island. “

“ fearless. against every challenge, you will stand tall. “

“ every morning we wake in a different world. “

“ listen, my child. “

“ this is my first advice to you. “

“ a woman has many names through her life. every time she is someone else. she is a child, she is a woman, she is a mother. “

“ what matters is the name you choose for yourself. “

“ keep your mind at ease, there’s a great future before you. “

“ just show us your loyalty. obey me. listen to me. do you understand me ? “

“ I will tame you, you will see. “

“ go to the tailor and get your dresses.”

“ you should know that too, so you treat her accordingly. “

“ the road is thinner then a hair and sharper then a sword. “

“ what is fidelity ? is it just going where the wind blows ? is it to obey the one who’s got the power ? “

“ leave her alone ! you’re always at her back. “

“ because I want to escape from this palace too. “

“ whatever I do, I do for your peace and wellbeing — always remember it. “

“ she said all the women in her family are very fertile. “

“ I want to hold my grandchild in my arms as soon as possible. “

“ I accepted it for the sake of my mother. “

“ I’ll take care of it now, your majesty. “

“ you can’t know how you’re going to die in this palace. “

“ leave me alone with my mother. “

“ you were right, mother. this is too heavy. “

“ I thought I could end the fear of death once I ascended the throne. “

“ as if I did not ascend the throne, the throne fell upon my shoulders. “

“ my child, the light of my life. “

“ if you do not kill them, your enemies will attack again. they will kill you. “

“ we never talked on that matter, your opinion is important to me — do you think I made the right decision ? “

“ listen to your grandmother who has set roots in the palace for forty years, and never been displaced by any storm. “

“ I will go back to my chamber, if you will excuse me. “

“ we are leaving as soon as it gets dark. “

“ someone has stoked up the flames of sedition. “

“ only she would do it, we clipped her wings. “

“ I told you, I’m no longer an easy prey. “

“ mind yourself. don’t say I won while your opponent is still alive. “

“ a wolf who has not been barked by a hundred dogs is no true wolf. years ago, I took an oath. “

“ but I want to return to the palace. “

“ my little prince, we will be back someday, but not now. “

“ do you love it so much ? “

“ I love it so much. I love nuts, and walnuts, too. “

“ my brother calls me squirrel. “