#was watching the return of the king with some of my sisters and my mom

[snekky-arts]

Hope

~~~

A little something I cooked up to ring in the new year. It's a little scary, and we're all a little wary, but I think if there's even the smallest light at the end of it we're all gonna be okay

[spiderdetentionaire]

Mastermind Aftermath (ft. Lilith)

Charlie was watching TV with her mom when suddenly they show a summary of the trial.

Charlie: Oh shit.

Lilith: If your father sees this…

Lucifer arrives with a bowl of popcorn.

Lucifer: Hi my loves, what are you watching?

When he sees the summary on TV he drops the bowl to the floor. And although he seemed to be smiling, he was actually very pissed off with his horns visible.

Charlie: Dad?

Lucifer: I'm sorry but I have to take care of some things to do.

And without further ado he disappears.

An hour later. Vaggie turns on the TV and…

Vaggie: Puta madre!

Everyone is going to see the gossip.

666 News: Breaking news! Lucifer beats the shit out of the sins. Just like you hear it. The king of Hell made it snow in the ring of Wrath, put limits on consumption in the ring of Gluttony, put 100% discounts in the ring of Greed, applied parental control in the ring of Lust, made everyone happy with what they have in the ring of Envy and prohibited sleeping at all hours and laziness in the ring of Sloth. And now he is reportedly looking for the former prince Stolas to give him back all his power. The king of Hell was interviewed and this is what he said.

Lucifer: It's just not fair. I'm helping in my daughter's project, and these people are causing a mess with a lawsuit behind my back… it's not fair.

Reporter: Will things go back to normal in the other rings after what he did?

Lucifer: Until further notice and when I say so. And no more questions. I'm looking for Stolas.

Husk: He's pissed off.

Angel: Look what it says on my phone. It says that Charlie's dad has taken control over the rings and sent the sins to a specific place until he gets over with their mess and gets over his anger.

Lilith: And where does he plan to send them?

The hotel bell rings. Niffty goes quickly and comes back quickly.

Niffty: Charlie, they're looking for you.

Charlie goes and finds her uncles and aunts all scolded and punished.

Mammon: Your dad sent us here.

Beelzebub: And he will be in control of our rings until he says so. And all because of you, Satan!

Azmodeus: As some Imps would say: You fucked up!

---

In Stella's house, she throws the remote to the T.V. breaking it after seeing the news. Needless to say, she's just as pissed off as the time she found out Stolas was cheating on her with an Imp. Right next to her is her brother.

Stella: He can't do that, right?

Andrealphus: Oh dear sister *he takes a sip of his tea* Of course he can! Is fucking Lucifer we're talking about. Didn't you see what he did to the Sins?! Of course he can return your ex his powers.

Stella: *growls in frustration* And to think that all my plans are finally coming to fruition, only for that damn dwarf to show up and ruin everything. And yes, it is Lucifer we are talking about.

Under the table, as if it were a cartoon…

Andrealphus: But what a clever and original comment.

Whatever. Stella pulls out a huge folder with many plans against Stolas to claim absolute power. Andrealphus sees the folder and is shocked to see Octavia's photo in it.

Andrealphus: Are you thinking of plotting to kill your own daughter? Would you be capable of such a thing?!

Stella: Andrealphus! What are you saying?! OF COURSE I am capable, but it's not the time yet, silly. One step at a time.

Suddenly, she closes the folder and makes it disappear into a strategic location.

Stella: There's no other option. We have to kill Stolas before His Highness gives his powers back. *she laughs evilly*

Andrealphus: Let me think in a good plan for it. But I assure you, it will be done as you wish, my hot sister.

Brother and sister laugh evilly and madly, as if they were two kookaburras, and Andrealphus turns his head back maniacally.

Stella: But now I must step into my role as a devoted mother and go see Octavia to her room and tell her to come for dinner. That girl is skin and bones.

As Stella leaves, Andrealphus sees a picture of Stolas with a malicious look.

Andrealphus: I hope you've enjoyed your pathetic Imp, Stolas. Because soon you'll be--

Stella: Andrealphus!!

The ice bird gets up from his seat and runs towards his sister's scream. When he arrives, he finds Stella standing in Octavia's bedroom doorway.

Andrealphus: What's happening?!

Stella: Octavia's gone!

The young Goetia had escaped and took everything she could with her; clothes, phone, etc. Seeing the scene, Stella becomes thoughtful until she concludes something.

Stella: Changes of plans, brother. We have to kill her, too.

---

It had been about 5 hours since Lucifer left to look for Stolas. At the Hotel Charlie does everything possible to make her uncles and aunts feel comfortable, which is not easy since they already have a state of life and comfort zone already established. And of course, there was no lack of criticism or at best certain observations about the redemption plan that she wants to impart in her Hotel and the possible failure that this can entail.

But all that is interrupted when Lucifer appears at the main door all hurt, his clothes torn and tired. Lilith takes him to their room at the Hotel to take care of his wounds, for example she cleans the wounds on one of his legs.

Lucifer: Hey hey hey it burns it burns.

Lilith: It's incredible that you, being the king of hell, a simple demon, could have done this to you.

Lucifer: Demons in plural. And if I ended up like this it's because they piled up against me.

Lilith: Well, what kind of demons were they?

Lucifer: Imps.

Lilith: *not believing it* IMPS?!

Lucifer: But with impressive forces. I don't understand how they could do this to me. As if I had done something to harm them.

Lilith: Well, maybe it was because you put them at the lowest bottom of the Hierarchy in Hell.

Lucifer: Maybe that's why, right?

Lilith: I told you that that place was meant for Sinners.

Then Mammon appears at the door.

Mammon: Dear sister-in-law, are you still going to take your time to heal the wounds of poor Luci who was attacked by some fierce Imps? *laughs* Speaking about losers, bro.

Lucifer: Laugh, you fatso. I'd like to see you face those Imps who seemed to be full of sterols.

Lilith: Why do you say that?

Lucifer: Because the poor bastards jumped so high that they would surpass Sera's height... And how do you know they were Imps?

Mammon: They are broadcasting your humiliating event on Vox TV.

Lucifer: Damn bootleg plasma TV. Not only satisfied with trying to ruin our daughter's project... I'm going to close down his business and his partners' to see if he finds it funny.

Lilith: Mammon, why don't you kindly ask Niffty to prepare you something to eat *takes out a sewing needle* while I sew it up?

Lucifer: Are you going to sew my wounds with that needle?!

Lilith: No, your pants.

Lucifer: Ahhh

Lucifer takes off his torn pants. And yes, hus underwear has printed ducklings.

Lilith: And you, Mammon, go and ask Niffty for something to eat.

Mammon: Greaaaaaat. Okay, Luci, I'm leaving because my hunger is as fierce as some dangerous Imps *laughs again and leaves*

Lucifer: Let's see if you keep laughing, knowing that I control your ring.

Lilith: Please, Luci. Don't be angry anymore.

Lucifer: And how could I not be angry after the stupid thing they did behind my back? Speaking of stupid things, what an idiot I am for not having found Stolas yet, Oh My Father. I've already checked every corner of the rings and that Goetia doesn't appear. Well...

Lilith: Well, what?

Lucifer: I checked every corner, except the Imps' zone when they attacked me. And I'm still an idiot because it is said that he is having an affair with an Imp.

Lilith: The ex-prince of the Goetia having an affair with an Imp? This has become a soap opera.

Lucifer uses his magic to dress himself in better clothes and leaves the room. In the lobby, the rest of the sins, including Alastor, did not hide their desire to laugh after seeing on television how some simple Imps attacked the king of Hell.

Lucifer: Keep laughing, you fuckers. You won't see your rings in a long time. But now I have better things to...

But when he opens the doors of the Hotel to leave again, he finds a young Goetia about to knock on the door. It seemed that the girl was crying.

Octavia: King Lucifer?

Lucifer: Umm... yes?

Octavia: I need your help.

[abbysimsfun]

Sims In Bloom: Generation 2 Pt. 41 (Buttercup's New Boyfriend)

Hazel stopped by toward the end of summer to spend time with her oldest sister and nephew. "I have news," she said excitedly. "Nicola proposed and I said yes!"

Heather was thrilled for her baby sister, who really wasn't a baby anymore. "Have you decided when the wedding will be?"

Hazel shrugged. "Later in the fall, once we've both finished school. Nicola wants to be a teacher like her mother and I'm taking some online courses in international relations."

Heather's eyes bulged. "Wow! I think politics is a great career for you, Hazel. You love making friends everywhere you go; I can only imagine how many people you'll want to invite to your wedding."

Hazel shrugged. "Not too many. We see our friends all the time, but we want our wedding to be for family. And if you think about it, our family's getting pretty big already."

"I can't wait to have a new sister-in-law!" Heather beamed. "Will you stay in Henford, or take your skills international?"

"Eventually I'll leave our hometown, but for now Nicola will work at Henford Elementary, and I think Mayor Varner will take me on as an intern so I can get some experience. We're going to live with Nicola's parents and brother in the Bramblewood so River and Cassandra will have space for their new baby."

Heather beamed. "I'm so proud of you, little Dandelion."

"You're as corny as Dad, you know that?"

"You don't like my Single Mom Jokes?" Heather pretended to be hurt.

"You're not single," Hazel reminded her. "It's been a few months since Holly called and said you'd basically met nerdy Clark Kent if he walked around all day looking as hot as Superman!"

"I just mean..."

"I get it, he's not your son's father! But that's obviously a good thing. When can we meet him?"

"Soon," Heather said. "I'm still getting to know him, and so is Ash. I want to be sure."

"Will you ever let yourself be sure?"

Hazel was right to doubt her - Heather doubted herself. But Conrad was back on the coast a few days later, spending time with Heather and her son at Fisherman's Wharf. After watching for sea lions in the bay, they stopped in for a quick bite at the Salty Paw.

No matter how much Heather doubted herself, she knew she loved spending time with him. He was still getting used to handling an infant, and feared more than anything he'd drop the kid on his head, but Ash babbled away in his arms as seagulls circled above, searching for food in the water below.

"My son learned to stand on his own at a booth inside the Salty Paw!" Heather groaned, caught between immense pride and embarrassment. "Does that make me a bad mom?"

"Nothing makes you a bad mom," said Conrad. Heather blushed.

"You're really good with him. Are you hiding any kids on me?"

"I donated sperm to pay my way through college." She froze, but when he cracked a smile she breathed with relief. "I'm kidding. No kids, I promise."

Heather had never had feelings this strong for anyone. Not Everett, and certainly not Malcolm. When they returned to her home on Sable Square for Ash's afternoon nap, Conrad told him a bedtime story to help him sleep.

"Once there was a tree and she loved a little boy. And every day the boy would come and he would gather leaves and make them into crowns and play king of the forest..."

He knew this one from memory, about a tree who gives all of herself to a boy throughout his life to make him happy. Ash suckled sleepily from his own fingers while he listened before dozing off.

Conrad was so perfect. Heather couldn't help but fear it all felt too good to be true. ->

<- Previous Chapter | Gen 2 Start | Gen 1 Summary | Gen 1 Start

© The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, 1964: Harper & Row.

[milaisreading]

🌱🩷: 4TH STORY IS HERE U ALL! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT☠️😭

Pairings: Barou Shouei x Crossdresser!Yn

Warnings: Reader uses she/her during the narration.

⚽️Blue Lock belongs to Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura⚽️

🎄Dec 13th🎄

"You think your sisters will like these?" Barou looked away from some perfume he was planning on buying his dad to look at the items (Y/n) was holding. The items in question were small make-up sets. Barou eyed the items for a moment and shrugged his shoulders.

"They look cute, but they look kind of expensive. Don't go all out for my family, you have your own to think of, too." Barou said, going back to looking at the perfume, not noticing (Y/n) flinch a little at the mention of her family.

'Right... my family...' She thought for a moment and then looked at the items, smiling a little.

"It's ok, I can buy it. Besides, they both were telling me how your mom wouldn't let them play with her make-up. I am sure your mom will appreciate these, too." She said as Barou raised an eyebrow at her.

"They did? Those two are careless at times." The red-eyed boy sighed.

"They mean no harm-"

"Excuse me, are you (L/n) (Y/n)? Blue lock's captain?" The two football players turned to look at two girls, around their age, staring up at her.

"Uhm... yeah, I am. Can I help you with something?" (Y/n) wondered as Barou silently watched the interactions.

"Can we take a few pictures with you?"

"We watched that game. And the assist you did for Isagi for the final goal was phenomenal!"

(Y/n) blushed a little at the compliment, something Barou took quick notice of, and nodded her head.

"Th-thank you, but without the help of the rest of the team I wouldn't have been able to do that. And sure, I can take a few pictures." (Y/n) answered, putting the sets away as the girls excitedly pulled her away for some pictures.

"You are so humble."

"It's really cute."

Barou watched the trio silently as he put random items in his cart. The familiar feeling of jealousy slowly making its way through his system. The boy was used to (Y/n) getting attention from people around them. The team, the staff, the fans... she was very approachable. As much as Barou liked her being happy, he wanted her to be more happy with him.

'I knew her longer...and I know more more about her than anyone else.' Barou thought, clenching his fists as (Y/n) came back.

"Should we go now? It's getting quite crowded and I am hungry, too." The girl wondered as Barou nodded his head.

"Sure. Did you get everything you need?" The boy asked as (Y/n) glanced at her cart.

"I just need something for your mom and dad, and I am good to go. Maybe clothing items would be a good idea?" She suggested as Barou shrugged his shoulders.

"I said you don't have to-"

"And I said I will."

"You are annoying and stubborn." Barou sighed.

"Thank you. Learned from the best, king." (Y/n) grinned, noticing the glare forming on his face.

"Shut up, dumbass!"

🎄☃️🎄☃️🎄☃️🎄☃️🎄☃️🎄☃️🎄☃️🎄☃️

Barou was already annoyed at the store as he watched (Y/n) interact with the girls, but now he was pretty much pissed. The boy watched as (Y/n) talked with a group of fans, who interrupted her lunch to ask for pictures and autographs. So, instead of saying no, the girl abandoned her food to talk with them. Barou couldn't really be mad at her, he knew that (Y/n) will put other people before her in most cases.

'That's why Ego-san picked her as the captain.' Barou sighed as he watched the girl wave a goodbye at the group, then returned to her seat.

"Sorry for leaving." (Y/n) muttered apologetically, looking down at her food.

"It's getting cold, you should really eat it." Barou commented as he ate his food.

"I know, but you know I can't say no to people, especially when they ask me for something politely."

"That wasn't your act an hour ago." Barou rolled his eyes as (Y/n) started eating your food.

"I already told you I don't want anything. I am happy enough to spend the holidays with you and your family." The honesty in her words caused the red-eyed boy to blush and forcefully gulp down his food.

"Still, you can't be without a present. And what about your family? Wouldn't you want to celebrate Christmas with them?"

"T-them?! Oh..." (Y/n) coughed a few times and shook her head.

"N-not really. My parents are going on a business trip and my brothers will be with their friends." (Y/n) simply answered and Barou eyed her suspiciously before continuing eating. The determination to buy her something for Christmas grew even stronger after that. Along with that, his curiosity about (Y/n)'s family grew as well.

☃️🎄☃️🎄☃️🎄☃️🎄☃️🎄☃️🎄☃️🎄☃️🎄

The duo was now at a clothing store, their last stop before they planned going to their homes. Barou was aimlessly looking around the pile of random shirts, still trying to think of a gift for (Y/n).

'What can I even get someone who grew up in a family as rich as (Y/n)'s... just my luck.' Barou rolled his eyes.

'Why do I even bother? That idiot is just a pain in the neck, loud, annoying, a know it all... but, I wouldn't really want her to change.' Barou felt his cheeks slowly heat up.

'Especially when she smiles, or laughs, or gets excited over the next match.'

The boy groaned as he felt a familiar twist in his heart as he looked behind himself, expecting to find (Y/n), but she was nowhere to be found. Barou stiffened as he looked around, not able to find the girl anywhere in the men's section of the store.

"Where did that dumbass go now?" Barou silently groaned and started looking around the store, hoping to find her soon.

'I hope she isn't around one of the fangirls, because I swear I will kick a football into her next time-'

"Oh? Are you planning to buy that for your girlfriend? Do you need any help?"

"What? Oh... I am just looking at some dresses for... for someone. I don't know if I will buy it yet." Barou stopped in his tracks as he looked to his left, only to find a worker and (Y/n) talking with each other, while the other girl was holding a (f/c) dress. Barou silently backed behind the wall, making sure (Y/n) and the worker didn't see him.

"The dress maybe..." Barou narrowed his eyes as he observed the item.

"It's a really nice dress, you have great eyes. It's quite popular this season as well."

"Really?" (Y/n) asked in surprise

"Mhm. I think it has to do with the color." The worker nodded as (Y/n) silently looked at the dress. Barou knew that look on the girl's face all too well. Contrary to how he expected rich people to behave, (Y/n) was always ready to put her needs and wishes aside when it came to someone else. She also rarely liked to spend on herself.

'Come on, you idiot. If you want it, buy it!' Barou thought.

"Oh... can I ask you something?"

"Huh? Sure." (Y/n) said to the worker, looking away from the dress.

"You are Blue lock's captain? (L/n), right?"

"Yes, that would be me." (Y/n) nodded, the worker's face brightened as she heard jer confirm it.

"My little brother really loved watching you play. Would you mind giving him an autograph?"

"Not at all. I just need a pen and paper." (Y/n) said with a soft smile as she put the dress away. Barou watched with an irritated expression as yet again, (Y/n) abandoned her own wishes to help someone else.

"Dumbass, dumbass..." Barou muttered for what felt like the 100th time as he approached the abandoned clothing item. The boy stared at it for a moment, then looked around the area, the down at the dress again.

"Well, if you won't buy it yourself, I will do it."

Barou rolled his eyes as he took the item to go and pay for it.

'I will hurry up before she comes back for it. Or worse, sees me buying it.' The boy thought, walking rather quickly to the cash register.

'She will definitely not expect this one.' Barou thought as he smiled softly at the item.

'She might be an idiot. But an idiot I would never replace for anything.'

[symphonic-scream]

Here's a post about my first au of 2024

P4 parents of P5 au (this needs a shorter title goddamn)

So it's. The Phantom Thieves are raised by the Investigation Team. Simple as that

Yu and Yosuke adopt Akira at age 5, after his parents give him up for being too much trouble. He loves his aunt Nanako, and uncle Teddie, and will eventually inherit the Narukami Family Secret; the rizz.

Chie and Yukiko end up raising two thieves, Ann and Ryuji. Ryuji's father is in jail for killing his mom, and originally the Takamaki's adopted him. Then, they got too busy with work. Chie and Yukiko fostered the two together for a year before officially adopting them at 3. They know they're not related but they're still brother and sister, and Ryuji dyes his hair this time to match his sister, after other Inaba kids make comments about her "foreigner hair"

Kanji is with Naoki in this one. You know, Saki's brother. The King's of the shopping district foster little Haru after her father is caught in an insider trading scandal, and she's adopted officially at 4 after 2 years. She's always got the cutest little dresses, which Kanji makes for her all the time. And, Naoki with his curly hair making sure Haru's curls are well cared for

Then. I had this in another au but. Naoto and Rise adopt baby Makoto, which is the incident that sparks the mass child acquiring among their friends. Sae visits from the city where she's studying, but yeah.

And, Wakaba and Sojiro? They run away before Wakaba is killed. They bring little Futaba to Inaba, move when she's like, 4, and find little orphan Yusuke along the way. They take in Goro after finding out he's Futaba's half brother when he's 12, so they've got the most Thieves Per Household (TPH)

It's got so many good little bits for it. Childhood Friends phantom thieves, the IT watching their kids grow up and be besties too, and. EVERYONE HAVING GOOD FAMILYS DAMNIT THEY DESERVE TO HAVE A GOOD HOME TO RETURN TO EACH NIGHT

Now, some little things I have for this au

Ryuji and Makoto were on the same youth soccer team in elementary school. Chie would pick Makoto up and Rise would drop Ryuji off after, and it starts the life long Jock Friends thing they have going. When they're at Yasogami, after sports clubs they go up to the roof and ramble about their gay crushes together

Haru and Akira are both part timers at Leblanc, which opens in the shopping district in one of the empty lots in the North end. Kanji and Naoki were betting about which of their shops she'd want to work at and both lost

Ann joining the Yasogami drama club, crushing on Shiho and so upset that she's in Ryuji's class instead of Ann's, being unafraid to tell her parents about liking girls because. They're lesbians, Harold

Goro, newly adopted, emo twelve year old, and. Futaba (10) and Yusuke (11) stare at him and decide that despite him being the oldest, they will call him Little Brother. Cause. He's the newest.

Sleepovers at the Inn, playing down by the Samegawa, just. So many good things. Comfort au.

[maretinelli]

WE WERE THREE

Edmund Pevensie X fem!queen!reader

Summary: When the Pevensie brothers and Y/n return to the teacher's house, Ed and Y/n despair when they see that they left someone behind.

Words: 1.1K+

Warnings: Mention of sword fighting, Pevensie brothers, some characters from Narnia, goodbyes (😫), anguish and crying.

Author: English is not my first language, I apologize if there are errors throughout the story. Second, it's sad but I enjoyed writing this and calm down, I can do part 2.

MASTERLIST

Part 2

The five kings and queens of Narnia had woken up early to do their royal duties.

Susan and Lucy were in the library signing some contracts, Peter was talking to Lord Tummnus about the month's harvests, and Edmund and Y/n were in the war room, helping Liam - their 7 year old son, to handle a sword.

"Son, not like that" Y/n laughs, getting up from where she was, to help the boy who was fighting with his father.

Edmund laughs at the way his little one held the sword.

"Like this, dear" Y/n takes the sword from her son's hand and positions herself to fight with her husband.

Liam smiles at his parents and runs to the side of the room to sit and watch his parents fight. With lots of love in your eyes.

"Sure you want to challenge me?" Edmund smiles suggestively at Y/n and she smirks.

"What do you think??"

Liam laughs seeing his parents and then gives the signal for them to start fighting.

"Now!!"

With that, Ed and Y/n started fighting with their swords. They could hear the laughter and laughter of their son who was sitting there. They smiled at each other.

Y/n playfully hits Ed's side, making him lose his balance and fall to the ground, smiling at his wife.

"That's right, mommy" Liam claps his hands and runs to his mother to hug her.

Y/n kisses the top of her son's head and smiles, turning to her husband.

"Confess love, I'm better than you" Edmund's wife takes her hand to help him get up and he looks askance.

"No, no and no!"

Y/n Laugh.

With that, they see a servant opening the hall door with everything and apologizing for the sudden invasion.

"I beg your pardon for the quick entry, but King Peter and Queen Susan have located the white deer"

Y/n and Ed look at each other smiling.

"Sure, let them know and we'll meet them at the stables." Ed warns and looks at Y/n. "Ah...tell Lilia to take care of Liam in the meantime"

"Yes, sir. Excuse me" The servant leaves the room and Liam's parents take their things and soon leave too.

"Son, we'll be back soon, okay? Stay with Lilia in the meantime" Y/n kisses the top of her son's head.

"Yes, mom. I'll ask her to make cookies" He says happily and smiles at the cook who was right behind him.

Lilia smiles at Y/n and she returns it.

"Behave. We'll be back, little grasshopper" Y/n smiles and gets on the horse.

Edmund soon appears and says goodbye to his son before leaving with his brothers and wife after the deer white.

••••••••••••••••••••••

They had been riding after the white deer for about an hour, but there was still a long way to go before catching the animal.

"Come on, honey. Tired?" Y/n, who was behind Edmund, smiled seeing him stop with the horse.

"Not even a bit"

"Ah, ok. Even Liam can run faster than you. And he's only 7 years old" Y/n laughs and continues to ride behind the other Pevensie brothers.

Soon, the four return to where Edmund was.

"Come on, Ed!!" Susan smiles.

"We are catching our breath"

Y/n laughs and rolls her eyes.

“That’s all we’re going to get back if we keep going at this rate.” Lucy mocks her brother.

"What did he say again, Y/n? Before he left the palace?" Susan looks at her sister-in-law, who is now holding back laughter.

"Girls, stay in the castle. I'll catch the white deer alone" Y/n tries to imitate her husband's voice, but fails. Making everyone laugh.

Edmund rolls his eyes and holds back his laughter.

After the laughter stops, Peter looks to the side and then gets off the horse.

"What is that?" Peter asks looking at something full of leaves and branches.

Everyone gets off their horses and approaches Peter and the mysterious object.

"Looks familiar..." Peter reports.

"Made of a dream...a dream of a dream..." Lucy whispers.

It was a pole. It was still lit and had lots and lots of leaves on it, with some branches.

Ed and Y/n look at each other and then look at the pole again.

"The empty room...!!" Lucy says and then runs away.

"LUCY!! LUCY" Peter shouts and the four of them run after her.

"Not again!" Susan grumbles.

"Lucy!!" Edmund and Y/n say together.

"Come!! Come!!" She shouts happily.

Still running after Lucy, the path began to become narrow and crowded, full of leaves and branches. Making them complain about the pinches they gave.

"Ow, ow!!" Susan says.

"Ed, oh my back" Y/n complains, still walking behind Susan.

"It wasn't me, it was the branch"

"They're not branches..." Peter says.

"...they are...they are coats" Susan analyzes and responds.

"Ed, there my foot" Y/n says with her arms over her eyes, so that nothing hits her face.

"Hey be careful, the space is small"

"There my arm"

"My hair, someone pulled my hair."

As a result, Peter, who was in front, ends up falling onto a wooden floor, followed by his brothers and Y/n falling on top of him.

"My rib..." He complains.

As they analyzed the room, they could see that they had returned to the teacher's house. The wardrobe room.

Edmund and Y/n look at each other. The girl already has tears in her eyes.

Until they hear someone opening the door. Everyone looking in the direction of the noise.

"Ah, you are there!!" The teacher says, looking at everyone on the floor, and smiling friendly. "What were they doing in the wardrobe?"

They stay silent, looking at each other. Y/n already felt her chest hurt and her eyes fill even more with tears.

"Well, I'll be in my room. If you want to tell me" he winks, smiling at the now children again and leaves the room.

Y/n quickly gets up and tries to enter the wardrobe again.

"No, no!!! Liam!! My son, I need to go back" she said while knocking on the wardrobe, but there was no chance of it opening again. "MY SON!!"

Everyone looks at her, letting tears run down their faces.

Ed, who was now crying a lot, tries to calm his wife.

"Y/n, my love. Calm down" he holds Y/n from behind, trying to move her away from the furniture.

"Ed, no...our son, we need to go back. Liam is alone" She says, now weakly falling to the ground, with Ed hugging her.

"I know, I want to go back too... But baby, the passage is closed" he cries, but trying to calm down so he could calm his wife.

Or well, it was his wife. Now nobody knows anything anymore.

"Liam..." She cries, hugging Edmund.

The other three Pevensie brothers who were now standing, shed some tears and leave the room. Leaving the couple alone.

[alexandia03]

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros - Theories, Spoilers and Headcannons

This post will serve as my way of making order in my own mind, in a way. I finished Fourth Wing three days ago and I feel like my mind is exploding. I have read lots of theories and I have my own to add to the list, so... maybe if I put them in one place and start a discussion with you all, we might find some answers - considering November does not seem to come any soon.

Before I forget -

This post will be like an analogy of theories, spoilers, headcannons. If you did not finish the book yet, I suggest scrolling over it. See you when you join our little club of desperate broken hearts post-reading.

And now... let`s begin.

1. Returning to Basgiath

Who will return to Basgiath is the most important question I have. You can read the synopsis for Iron Flame here.

From the synopsis for the second book, we know that Violet will return to the war college and I can think of a few reasons for her to return: she wants to keep her promise to Liam (ouch, my aching heart) to keep an eye on his younger sister (Sloane?), but at the same time I have the feeling that Violet will act as a spy for the rebellion throughout Iron Flame.

And it is not a bad idea. I mean, Violet did not raise any suspicions in the first book. Sure, her connection with Xaden was frowned upon, but most of the people in command (her mother, the king, Dain`s father and some teachers) saw her as a victim in the situation.

“Their dragons are mated,” Mom offers, her smile chilling. “So she’s grown quite close to him out of necessity.” “That’s excellent.” King Tauri beams. “It’s good to have a Sorrengail on lookout for us. You’ll let us know if he decides to, oh, I don’t know.” He laughs. “Start another war?” (Chapter 31)

Bonus - Violet is a Sorrengail. There are few others with better access to information and our little Violence has a talent to stumble over secrets.

The problem is... who will return with her?

I have seen people saying Xaden might remain behind in Aretia, considering the attack was a plan to kill him and the others. Perhaps a plan orchestrated by Violet`s mom - and because Violet was added to Xaden`s squad afterwards and considering Dain`s objections, it seems that her presence was not part of the initial plan. But can Xaden remain behind? I will highlight the main reasons I don`t think so:

The most obvious reason - Tairn and Sgaeyl. They can not be separated for a long period of time and Xaden cant just come by (even in secret) every few days without being noticed. From the synopsis, we know that Violet will be directly watched by that new vice commandant - he will not turn a blind eye to a certain blue dragon (from a rare breed) coming and going as she pleases.

I read a fanfic where Violet choses to leave Tairn behind and return with Andarna, which might be a possibility in theory - let me explain it briefly: this theory suggests that Violet will pretend Tairn died in the attack along with his mate and the other riders and dragons and her bond with Andarna saved her from a fate similar to Liam`s. It is a plausible lie, but... have we met Tairn? He is the ultimate protective dad figure, he would rather die than let Violet on her own where he can not be. He had a saddle and a baby carrier made for Violet and Andarna, so I doubt he will be okay with it. And before someone comes to suggest he can hide somewhere nearby - he is freaking huge, guys.

Another reason I think Violet will not come alone is the threat Dain poses. Sure, she will not let him get near her again, but it might be beyond her control. What if he is ordered to interrogate her by someone higher in the food chain? That is why I think Imogen must be returning with her, but I will get into a deeper discussion about Imogen later (I absolutely adore her). Her signet might be the only way to avoid Dain`s prying hands.

Besides, Xaden will die of longing and worry if Violet leaves without him.

What I think will happen?

They will all return. Or at least Xaden and Imogen will return with her. Xaden will be appointed to a position somewhere far away or somewhere he can be closely watched by someone the command trusts - maybe with Mira?

It might be a good occasion to gain Mira`s trust and get her to join the rebellion (let`s be honest, she will join it at some point).

OR!

Only Imogen will return with Violet. Considering her signet lets her wipe recent memories, she can facilitate meetings with Xaden and Sgaeyl.

However, I am fairly certain that Xaden will return. There would be no reason for the new vice commander to pressure Violet to spill out our shadow boy`s secrets if they would think him dead.

2. Professor Carr

The second matter on the list... I don`t know if anyone else noticed, but there is a paragraph in the book, during Violet`s training sessions with him, when he says something like this:

“And the fact that you bonded Tairn makes you and Riorson the most coveted pair of riders this kingdom has seen in far too long. If I could offer a piece of advice?” His eyes narrow. “Please do.” At least he’s brutally honest, so I know where I stand with him. “Keep your loyalties clear. You and Riorson both have exceptional, lethal power that any rider would be envious of. But together?” His bushy brows furrow. “You would be a formidable enemy who command could simply not afford to let exist. Do you understand what I’m saying?” His voice softens.

Why am I interested in this passage? Because it sounds like a warning and not the make-sure-you-are-loyal-to-Navarre sort of warning. I fail to see any kind of loyalty or admiration for the command on Carr`s part - the opposite, really. I would go so far as to say he might be in on the rebellion.

Why does he train Violet privately? Why not on school grounds? I have the feeling he knows that her ability might be the only weapon against wyverns and venins.

Am I crazy?

3. Imogen

By far the most interesting theory I have come across. Here is a link to a Reddit theory about it, which I absolutely agree with. If the person who wrote it comes across this post - I fucking love you, mate.

To sum it all up...

Imogen has the power to wipe memories and there are some moments that seem suspicious.

How does Violet know about Imogen`s signet? I doubt the pink haired raider would just tell her during training. And how come Violent doesn`t go into detail about it? Perhaps because Imogen wiped out this memory.

The author of this theory also goes into detail about how it is possible for Imogen to wipe out memories, but not knowledge, about how it is probably a secret few are in on. They also give a plausible explanation as to why Imogen seems to be absent during the Montserrat trip and as to why Xaden has a lighter backpack when they leave. Absolutely brilliant.

But I can`t help but notice... did Xaden come to Montserrat only for that weapon transport, thus lying about Sgaeyl not resisting to be far from Tairn for more than 3 days? Because this changes... a hell of a lot of things.

We can all agree that Imogen will have a central role in the next books - you can probably tell by now that I am excited.

Seriously, take a look at that post.

4. Brennan Sorregail

The piece of resistance!

He is alive and part of the rebellion. Okay, we all get that. But... how? And how much of what has been happening is he in on?

Did he correspond with Xaden? Did he know about Violet and made Xaden protect her? Shadow boy here was clearly in on the secret of Brennan being alive. I want answers, Yarros!

Is Brennan in a leading position in the rebellion?

Where will he stand on Violet returning to Basgiath?

I feel like he will be the wild card of the series. It will be like a bomb when he starts spilling all the information he has, I can tell. And I love it already.

I feel like Violet`s dad knew about it all - about the real reason behind the rebellion, about the wyverns and venins and about his son faking his death. I want to know more about the Sorrengail men, please and thank you.

Anyhow, this is all for today. I will probably continue to collect theories and post them separately. Please feel free to comment your own thoughts - I am open to discussions as long as we keep it civil, guys!

And as a side note - does anyone know a group chat or something for Fourth Wing? I desperately need people to talk to about this amazing book. Or role-playing groups? Message me if you are on the same boat.

Kisses!

[headhedgehog]

First call home

Part two here, Part three here Part four

Baro gets his phone back and immediately calls his family.

CWs; teen pregnancy, family drama

AN: Hope you're in the mood for some Baro angst and fluff. I truly believe the King thing is just an act and wanted to play around with the idea of what he was hiding.

_________________________________________________________

Baro Shoei took his phone back the second he earned enough credit to get it. He was still pissed at Ego for taking it away from him when he arrived at Blue Lock, but he didn't have the patience to complain about it. There was a call he'd been waiting to make since he stepped off the bus a month ago.

It was still early evening, but the practice field was empty, the other strikers still in the baths or dining hall. Barou looked around to be sure he was alone and sank to the ground against the wall.

His hands shook as he turned his phone on. Tch. This place must really be getting to him, he thought, refusing to admit even to himself that his nerves had nothing to do with Blue Lock. He quickly found the contact he was looking for and selected "FaceTime."

One ring. Two.

"Shoei?!"

That voice. Her voice. One word and his throat already felt tight.

"Hey baby," he said, his voice lower than normal, carefully controlled to keep her from hearing it crack.

His girlfriend turned on her camera, smiling with her entire face. God, that smile. Baro felt like he was falling in love all over again.

"I thought you couldn't have a phone! If I knew you were gonna call I would've tried to look nicer."

"Reward for scoring goals. And I don't know what you're talking about, you look amazing."

She tsked, making him grin. "I'm wearing my glasses, no makeup, hair hasn't been washed in --"

"I mean it. Right now I think you're the prettiest thing I've ever seen."

She smiled again.

"Is Hana already asleep?" Baro asked. The lump in his throat had returned, afraid of the answer.

"I just put her down but I'll go get her. I want her to hear your voice."

Baro watched her walk down the hall of their tiny apartment, his heart aching. He hated that apartment, old and shabby as it was. Hated leaving her alone in it even more.

He'd give anything to be there with her.

She opened a door and stepped into a darkened room, the walls and ceiling softly lit by a glowing white noise machine.

"I'm going to prop you up on the shelf, Sho. I think you'll be able to see both of us from there."

Baro nodded, unable to speak. His girlfriend crossed the room; from the phone's field of view he watched her reach into the crib and pull their whimpering baby to her chest.

"Shh, babygirl, I know you're sleepy," the young mother said. "But your daddy wants to see you."

She crossed the room and sat in a rocking chair at eye level with her phone, arranging the baby so Baro could see her face. Hana woke up enough that Baro could see his own red eyes staring back at him from under a tuft of messy black hair.

"Hi beautiful girl," he said quietly. His voice cracked this time, but he didn't care. "Do you remember me?"

"I think she does. I talk to her about you, and so do your mom and sisters when they come over."

Tears slid down Baro's cheeks and he wiped them away with the heel of his hand. His girlfriend's brow furrowed.

"Sho, don't cry, we're doing good. I promise."

"She's so much bigger than when I left," he said. "I don't know how much longer I'll be gone. What if she remembers that I left?"

"Then we'll tell her you left so you could help take care of all three of us."

Baro nodded, took a shuddering breath. When his girlfriend realized she was pregnant, they were only a few months from graduating from high school. Her parents had thrown her out, but to Baro's surprise his family were ready to welcome her. She'd spent the rest of the school year sleeping in his bed, studying on his bedroom floor, puking in his bathroom. Terrified as he was, Baro fell more in love with her every day, endlessly amazed by her determination to not let her pregnancy derail anything she'd planned.

She was just starting to show when she got her college acceptance letter, and for the first time in months Baro got to see that smile light up her whole face.

That night in bed, he'd cradled her baby bump in his hand and held her close. I'm going to make sure neither of you want for anything, he whispered to her. I promise.

They moved into the apartment just before the birth so she could be closer to campus. Baro's invitation to participate in Blue Lock came a month after the baby did.

You have to go, Shoei, she'd told him when she found him in the nursery, watching Hana sleep. You deserve this. You can't pass up an opportunity like this.

When Baro borded the bus to Blue Lock, he made himself a promise. He was going to do whatever he had to do to become the best striker in the world, to get noticed by the top teams in the world. He was going to make this work so he could provide for Hana and her mother.

Hana began to cry, bringing Baro back to the present. He watched his girlfriend unbutton her top and bring the baby to her breast.

"You been eating well?" he asked, worry spiking through his chest. "You look like you've lost weight."

"Breastfeeding burns a lot of calories, Sho, that's all."

"That's not what I asked."

She hummed, adjusted the baby in her arms. "Your mom brings stuff by most days, and I get food on campus before I come home."

"You have to eat if you're going to feed her. Hell, even if you're not gonna breastfeed her, you have to take care of yourself."

"I am, Sho. Your family helps a lot. She's growing right on schedule, and I'm just fine."

Baro winced at the irritation in her voice. "Sorry, babes. I just worry about you. You're doing a lot on your own and you shouldn't have to."

She didn't respond. A tear glimmered on her cheek in the soft light of her phone screen.

"I'm so sorry I left, baby. Be honest with me. Are you okay? I'll go and tell them I quit right now, I could be home by morning --"

"Baro Shoei, shut up," she snapped, her eyes flashing. Hana fussed in her arms and she softened, just a bit. "What did I tell you right before you left?"

Baro swallowed, mouth dry. "That it was going to be hard but it would be worth it."

"I don't feel any differently now. Do you?"

He took a long moment before he shook his head. "I just want to be there for her so badly," he whispered. "I just want to be a good dad for her."

"You are, Sho. You're doing what you need to do for all of us, even if it's not what you want right now."

Baro nodded again. Down the hall, he heard his teammates start to head his way.

"I should go, baby," he said.

"Okay."

"I'm so proud of you."

"I'm proud of you too."

"I'll call as soon as I can. I love you, baby. And I love you too, Hana. Daddy loves you."

"I love you, Sho. Go kick some ass."

He grinned as he ended the call. She had a point.

He cracked his neck and went into the hall, looking for a peasant dumb enough to go one on one with the king.

[anomnum]

Survivor References, Vol. 1

Hey folks! If you've been keeping up with my last art posts, you've probably already seen these. They're a set of concept sketches for a still in-development project, and though it's a long way from public release, I wanted to share some information about it! More below the cut.

Eda's design is based heavily on these concepts for Watching and Dreaming by Luz Batista, especially the second one. Her outfit is intended to be more practical than stylish, though the cape is absolutely something she wears to honor her old maroon dress. Her shoulder pauldron is fashioned from the armor of a Coven Scout Captain, salvaged from the ruins of Police Precinct 206 in Latassia. King's mom and sister got to have cloaks, so he decided he wanted one too! His cloak is hand-made, which Eda had stitched together from a collection of old, unused blankets. The Golden Pendant is removed from his collar and used to hold the cloak together. Luz recovered her old Witches Wool cloak not long after the Day of Unity, and has been wearing it since due to the heightened protection it offers, hence the wear and tear it's undergone. 

Now, I'm going to preface that this project is still in very early development, still in the scripting phase, and everything regarding it is subject to change. However, I do want to share some information about it. The working and likely final title is The Children of Hope. It's a story set in a divergent Alternate Universe, where King is never knocked down the stairs of the bridge, and thus, never meets the collector. As a consequence, the Day of Unity isn't stopped. It's a very dark universe compared to cannon, but not all is so bleak - four years after the Day of Unity, Luz is given a vision of a powerful, incredibly complex spell. One that can send memories back through time, comparable to something like Time Travel. Using this spell, she and her surviving friends-slash-family are able to return to the start of Season One, and completely flip the playing field in their favor. 

Again, I don't have much to share about the Alternate Universe - I'm still planning it out, after all! - but I'm excited to put more work into it over time, in between other projects. I hope, when it's eventually developed enough to warrant a release, that you'll enjoy reading it! Until then, I'll share any big content updates on it over time. Have a good day, and thanks for reading all my rambling! 

[moaihybitoyoidaics]

Some Things Never Change~ Jurdan

Jue and Cardan return to the Duarte family home to find a gift for Taryn's baby shower. A trip down memory lane leads them to reconnect with Jude's childhood best friend.

A chapter from The Captured King on wattpad (@ teddyhawkins thats me)

Word count: 2148

Jude's POV

The house still stood as it had the day I had left, almost identical to the pictures we had saved more than ten years before. Although now, instead of sun filled windows there were wooden boards, and the parallel-striped lawn was over grown. The door hung ajar, slightly off its hinges. I turned to look at Cardan, whose face was an indecipherable mask.

"Home sweet home." I muttered under my breath before heading up the cracked paving slabs. Running after me, Cardan's composure fell away a second later.

"Jude, are you sure we're okay to be here?" He asked quietly. "Are you sure nobody will be watching the house?"

I stopped just shy of the front door. "As far as this world is concerned, the Duarte family were massacred almost twelve years ago. No one is looking for us anymore, and no body is bothered about this house." I nudged the door open, groaning as it went. "There are things I should like to retrieve, if they're still here." "I'd follow you to the ends of the earth my dear, lead the way." He followed me inside, creeping as if he could somehow wake the ghosts that remained here.

The carpet was ripped up, presumably taken when the police came to investigate the murders. Still, though, a muddy brown stain remained and the floorboards in the vestibule. The sight turned my blood to ice and a cold sweat bead on my upper lip.

"Jude," Cardan tests, his hand grazing my shoulder blade. "What is it?"

I remembered the day Madoc took us, the day he made that stain. I remembered my white converse skidding in the blood, my legs too short to step entirely over it. "I- it's just hard. Being here, it makes it harder to pretend it all away. Let's just get what we came for and go."

I stepped over the stain and moved on through the house. In the lounge the TV was gone, the sofa was charred as if it had been set alight, soot crept up the wall behind it. On the chimney breast someone, probably an edgy teenager, had sprayed a pentagram, dripping and red. I moved on to the kitchen, noticing the notch in the door frame and another dirty brown patch on the floor. I looked out of the window, into the back garden. Our old swing set stood unused, the chains rusted orange, creaking gently in the autumn breeze. I turned to see Cardan sat on the breakfast bar.

"So this is a mortal kitchen."

"You've been to Vivi's apartment, you know what our kitchens look like."

"It's strange to think of you living here. Before all the... stuff happened." He spoke so softly, I could hardly hear him.

"It's stranger to be back." I left the kitchen and made my way upstairs. I had the best chance of finding what I came for up there. "You can wait here, if you want." I called back to him. He shook his head and jumped down off the island.

"No chance."

I pushed open the door I remembered to be mine. The sight sent another shiver through me. The room has been preserved, almost untouched. There drawers were still open, with the clothes we left behind. The bunk beds, made up with Peter Pan and pink floral sheets. "Mine was the bottom bunk, I used to be obsessed with Peter Pan. Sword fighting, pirates, fairies... I guess some things never change."

"Taryn had the flowers, I'm guessing."

"Like I said. Some things never change." I made my way over to our old bookshelves searching for my sister's favourite book. "Taryn would never like to admit this, but she always wanted to be a homemaker. My mom bought her this Tumtum and Nutmeg, I got the first Harry Potter book instead- which is also about magic-"

"I know, I've read them." Cardan said, surprising me out of my nostalgia.

"You've read them?" My mouth was agape, a shocked laugh at the back of my throat.

"The magic is somewhat rudimentary, I mean using wands? But I did cry in book seven." He seemed confused by my obvious shock.

"Okay, we'll discuss that on the way home. Anyway, I thought it would be nice to return her old copy, you know? For the baby shower." I shoved the book into my satchel and made my way towards the bedroom door. "Let's go."

He caught my arm. "Do you not want to stay? Take back some of your old things?"

"It's painful being here, with everything that happened here." For the first time, I realised how strong my husband was. "I do not know where you find the courage to sit in the burgh everyday, where your family was murdered. I am so sorry."

He shook his head. "You are my family. I don't need to dwell on that anymore."

We made our way out of the house, on the front lawn I took one final look at my old family home and sighed. "I can forget this now. I think I can do that." Cardan kissed me softly on my forehead and smiles.

"I think I saw some ragwort by the side of the house. I'll be right back."

I nodded and he turned and jogged away. I took the opportunity to look around the street I used to play on, the cracks in the asphalt, the weeds on the sidewalk, the girl across the street running out of her house...

"Jude?" I was startled out of my trance. "Jude Duarte?" She called.

"No, sorry." I panicked.

"Liar."

"You have the wrong perso-"

"So you're Taryn then?" I knew the girl. Or rather I used to know her, twelve years ago. A lot had changed since then. "I know it's you Jude."

"Jude Duarte is dead." I lied. "So is Taryn and so is Vivienne. They all died."

"Bullshit." She furrowed her brow and pursed her lips together.

Cardan strode around the corner, clutching a fistful of ragwort stalks, "Jude, are you ready to ride?" It was moments like that which made me remember why I used to hate him.

"Sorry, Jude Duarte is apparently dead." She called to him as she smirked at me. Cardan looked to me, visibly confused.

I sighed. "It's Rosie, right?" She grinned again and nodded. "Okay, Rosie, we were never here. "

"I knew he didn't kill you." She yelled. "I knew it! Everyone said I was crazy but I knew I saw him take you."

"Wait, you saw what happened?" Cardan asked. "You were there?"

"I called the police!" She continued to yell. "You left your bike at me house and I was returning it, I saw that guy take you. Sorry who is this guy?" She pointed to Cardan.

I turned to look at him and realised how strange this must've been for Rosie. Cardan, as beautiful as he was, did not look human. I had dressed him in sneakers and jeans but of course he hadn't concerned himself with disguising his pointed ears or his uncanny features, this was supposed to be a quick trip- in and out. Not to mention the fact that for all intents and purposes, to Rosie I was dead and had been for more than a decade. I looked back at Rosie and sighed.

"Would you like to come in? My folks aren't home, but I have some lemonade in the fridge." She asked sweetly. "I have some videos from when we were kids, if you want to see?"

There was a pang in my chest, a deep yearning to look back in time. But the thought of spending more time here with Rosie and seeing who I could have been coiled around that longing.

"We would love to." Cardan answered for me, taking my hand and following her across the street.

***

Rosie knelt next to an old VCR, feeding it an even older VHS tape. The label on the back of the cassette read Rosie and Duarte girls 2008. 2008? The year we were taken. The TV static dissipated and kicked into life, showing grainy footage of an orange summers day, brown lawns and tanned kids in shorts. The first few seconds of footage primarily consisted of Rosie's dad trying to figure out if the camera was on, that was until I heard a familiar voice; like something pulled from a forgotten dream.

"Mark, the red light is on. It's recording." The camera snapped up and I saw a man. The scruff of his beard and the chestnut brown of his eyes, the slight auburn of his hair catching in the August sun. I I grabbed Cardan's hand and squeezed.

"Jude?"

"That's... uh that was my dad." I said, lump catching in my throat. He squeezed my hand in return, his thumb rubbing gently circles against my skin.

I saw a girl, twin to my younger self sat on the grass with a young Rosie, pulling daisies from the grass and lacing them together, coronating each other with flower crowns. Taryn of course. Then of course there was Vivienne, a few years older than us but an eternity younger than I could recollect, sat under a shady tree. She wore the same disapproving then as she always had, as if she had never taken it off.

"I swear you're in this one Jude. Just wait a minute." Rosie mumbles, fast forwarding through what she must've thought was the most mundane memory, I didn't want to miss a thing. She pauses a rewinds it for a second. "You're going very fast, blink and you'll miss it."

For a moment, I didn't understand what she meant. Until I heard my father cheering and my mother screaming in horror. "Jude! Pull the brakes!"

There I was, a blur peddling faster than my little legs had ever gone before, or since for that matter. I flew down the street on my purple bike, which at the time I had insisted I was tall enough for, before crashing into my neighbours trash cans and flying over the handle bars. I landed in a heap on the floor, blood pouring out of my nose, my knees and elbows skinned and covered in gravel. The camera fell to the floor as Mark, Rosie's dad, ran over to me. My parents caught up a second later, picking me up and dusting me off. My mother fussed over me, pulling a Kleenex out of her pocket and dabbing my nose, but I pushed passed them and picked up my bike.

"I'm going again. I will jump over the trash cans." I couldn't help but laugh, some things never change.

***

We spent the afternoon and most of the evening in Rosie's living room, pouring over childhood memories. Cardan howled watching myself, Taryn and Rosie performing a dance routine to Wannabe by the Spice Girls, trying to convince our parents to let us have another sleepover.

"Jude still can't dance." He said, trying to catch his breath.

Rosie watched him cautiously, still unsure of what to make of him. "So, why did you never come home?" She asked tentatively. "I mean I always thought I saw you at the mall or in coffee houses or one time at a pool I think, so you I know you could come back but you never came home."

I thought about it for a moment before answering. "Where I've been, well where my sisters and I have been, is different. We had to change to survive. If you saw what I was truly like now you wouldn't have invited us in." Cardan watched me try to explain myself, engrossed. "Honestly, I am happy where I am. I made something of my life! But being here and seeing how things could've been for me... it makes me feel homesick but for life."

"Life sick?" She whispered.

"Exactly."

"I still have your bike." She grinned, sensing I didn't want to answer any more questions.

"Her what?" Cardan asked. I shot him a look that I hoped told him to shut up.

Rosie led me outside, she wandered into her garage and pulled out my purple bike, still scuffed with a flat tyre, but it was my bike.

"Take it home with you, wherever that is now. But come and visit us sometime, I want to prove to my folks that I'm not crazy."

I wheeled my bike up the driveway and out into the cool night air, turning back one final time to wave goodbye to my old friend. "Can you make her forget?" I whispered to Cardan.

"Why?"

"It'll be too hard to leave if she knows I'm still out there." I sighed. "There'll be questions, people will think she's lost the plot."

"No." He placed his hand on the small of my back. "You deserve to be remembered."

[loveforpreserumsteve]

Love Blooms (demon!Bucky and pre-serum!Steve omegaverse au)

8

HEART THUNDERING in his chest, Steve looked at Bucky. He needed the alpha's reassurance, but he wasn't sure he'd believe him even if it was offered. Steve had already been worried about his family coming to stay with them, but with Bucky's family there too? How were things supposed to appear normal when a Hell God, a Hell Queen, and a Hell King were going to be in the same house as curious, albeit good-natured, mortals?

It sounded like a bad sitcom, for sobbing out loud! Steve could already see all the hijinks that could happen. And, really, Steve wasn't in the headspace for any of that.

"This is gonna be bad, isn't it?" Steve asked, bouncing Mia as she fussed. He knew that it was useless for him to try to calm her down when he, himself, wasn't calm. But he didn't know what else to do. The bounces seemed to help Steve more than it did with Mia, anyway.

"I promise to do all I can so it's not a complete catastrophe," Bucky promised, placing his hand on Steve's slender shoulder. Then, the alpha brushed his scent gland down Steve's arm. It wasn't discreet in the slightest, but Steve decided to let it slide. After all, it was comforting. Knowing that he wasn't doing this alone? It meant a lot. Even if he was only in this predicament to begin with because of the alpha.

Ding-dong!

Inhaling deeply, Steve tried to steady himself before giving the go-ahead for Bucky to open the bedroom door. As soon as the petite omega was in the hallway, he set a quick pace towards the front of the brownstone.

"... so nice to meet you," Queen Re'beck said from the main level of the house.

Fuck, Steve internally groaned, nearly breaking his neck as he raced down the stairs and was only saved by Bucky's fast reflexes. There, he found his – technically – in-laws embracing his family. His heart pounded so aggressively that he was certain that the inhumans in the room could hear it. Especially Bucky who marked down his arm once more.

"Oh, my," Sarah extended her arms, crossing the room to her son and granddaughter. Assuming that his mother was going to hug him, Steve rolled his eyes when she, instead, reached for her granddaughter. "Look at you, my sweet girl!"

"Nice to see you too, mom," Steve weakly teased.

"Uh huh," Sarah playfully dismissed, accepting the six week old into her open arms. Mia's little hand instantly wrapped around Sarah's delicate index finger. Completely taken by the baby just like everyone who saw her was, Sarah cooed, "Aren't you just the sweetest thing? And as pretty as a flower. A little rosebud."

"I could say the same about you," Re'beck practically purred, and for a moment, Steve was convinced that he saw her eyes change to a feline's with a narrow slit of a pupil. But then it was gone and back to normal, human eyes in the same shade of Bucky's.

Swaying, Sarah was smitten, but she made sure to smile over at the Maveth Queen. The fact that his family only saw the facade that the three underworld royalty put on made Steve's stomach churn. Especially when Re'beck placed one hand on Mia's back and the other on Sarah's.

"So, Rebecca –"

"Becca," she kindly corrected.

"Becca," Sarah started again, "Do you have any kids?"

Bucky chuckled at that, but tried to hide it with a fake cough. His sister narrowed her eyes, playing the annoyed sister perfectly to the insufferable, teasing brother. Theatrically, she returned her gaze back to Sarah, "No, not yet. I'm too busy with my career."

"Well, at least you have a niece in case you get baby fever," Joe smiled, fondly watching his wife with their granddaughter.

"And I'm sure that daddy and papa will want some alone time soon enough," Sarah giggled, kissing Mia's hand. "I'm seeing a lot of auntie sleepovers in the future."

"Let's not start talking crazy now," Steve managed to get out around the lump of fear in his throat at the thought of Bucky's sister alone with his daughter. He'd like to tell her, over my dead body, but he was more than well aware that she would end his life without even blinking. She had said as much – and more – upstairs.

Smugly, Becca smiled over at Steve, "I would love that. I just know that little Mia here is going to adore Maveth."

"Mavis?" Paw paw asked, looking up from Mia's angelic face.

"Maveth," Bucky's dad corrected, tilting his chin up, revealing his neck as a sign of sincerity and open communication. It wasn't often that Steve had seen anyone, let alone an alpha, be so forthright with their vulnerability. Even if the deity was putting on an act to put the mortals at ease. "A truly wonderful little place that we call home. Perhaps one day you'll be able to experience it."

"Where is Maveth? We might be able to make a detour on our way back to our little neck of the woods," Joe decided.

"I'm not sure about that, dad," Steve quickly tried to squash any trip his parents had for visiting a Hell dimension.

"Why not?" Joe accepted Mia into his eager arms. "Now that we're all family, it only seems reasonable to want to spend time together to better get to know one another."

Steve didn't know how to argue that. Mainly because that was what he had wanted. One big happy family that spent holidays together and fawned over any and all offspring. That was what Steve wanted.

"Well," Steve started regardless of how his mind kept screaming at him to protect his family. Nothing else was there except for that instinct.

"It's a pretty long trip. Lots of flying and across an ocean," Bucky thankfully jumped in so he could help Steve. It almost made Steve want to consider keeping the bond. Almost.

Paw paw held his great granddaughter close, "Seeing another country doesn't sound so bad."

"It's really beautiful," Alveus encouraged. Inviting, "You'll have to visit sometime."

"Y'know," Sarah nodded, "I think it was an answer on Jeopardy! the other night." Snapping her fingers to try and focus and remember something that definitely wasn't on the popular quiz show. "Oh, dang it! What was the question, Joe? Do you remember?"

After a moment, Joe shook his head, "I'm sorry, I don't, dear."

"Perhaps it had something to do with our native delicacies," Becca smiled, feigning helpfulness. "A few favorites are head-meat sausage, stuffed heart, and tongue tacos."

Choking on his saliva, Steve prayed that that was some type of mind trick that only he witnessed somehow. However, when paw paw asked, "What parts of the animal is head-meat? Is it like hot dogs; a little bit of everything?"

"A little bit of everything." With that deceptively sweet smile tugging her attractive, full lips up, Becca looked at each of the humans, "Head meat, lean meat with connective tissue, belly, jowls. It's a popular sandwich spread."

"Becca, darling," Alveus warned, "Let's not scare them off before they've even shared a meal with us."

Steve's blood ran cold at the demonic patriarch's words. Surely, they didn't eat people, did they? Surely, Steve's overactive imagination was just working overtime and the deity wasn't insinuating that they would be the main course, right?

Once again, Bucky marked over Steve's slender shoulder and down his back. Steve both appreciated the alpha trying to soothe him and hated that he needed it to begin with.

"What's for dinner?" Joe joked, "Head-meat sausage and eggs?"

"You haven't tasted anything until you've had long pig," Alveus smiled, accepting Mia when she was handed to him. Steve wanted to rip her out of his arms, but didn't want to push the being.

"All of Heinz's recipes are fantastic," Becca confirmed. "Truly, he's a visionary!"

While Steve's family inquired about the royal chef, the omega kept his attention on his daughter and the male holding her. Holding her to his chest, Alveus ducked his head to kiss her covered one as it rested on his broad shoulder. As he righted himself fully, the deity's eyes locked with Steve's. For a moment, the pair just stared at one another.

No harm will come to you or your family, Alveus's deep voice passed through Steve's head. You have my word.

Steve could feel himself ease and he knew without a doubt that that man could not be trusted.

I know that I haven't been very active as of late. First, it was just writer's block. Then, I was adapting "A Place to Fall". But over the past few weeks my family has really been going through it. My mom's dad aka paw paw's health has been bad. He already had COPD, but he was recently diagnosed with lung cancer. They found one large mass in one of them and a smaller mass in the other. So, mom and I traveled from Michigan (where we live) to Arkansas (where he lives) and we stayed with him and my mom's younger brother for a little over a week. It was nice to visit and alleviated some of our worries, but my mind is elsewhere. But I'm trying to get back into the swing of things and writing has always helped me distract myself from the things in my life that I can't change. Anyway, if you want, you can keep up to date with my life on instagram. I hope you're all well wherever you are Much love and appreciation Minnie ❤❤❤

[alj4890]

Love Drabble

(Liam x Riley) along with their daughters from this drabble

A/N Yes, I couldn't stay away from this story. I thought it would be a good time to return to this to show how Liam and Riley are doing along with Charlotte and Hope. Romance is in the air for not just our main couple, but for their daughters too 🥰 On a side note, I started this before Valentine's Day, then writer's block struck in the middle, LOL! Hopefully I can finish up this two to three part miniseries soon.

@gkittylove99 @kingliam2019 @texaskitten30 @yourmajesty09 @mom2000aggie @ofpixelsandscribbles @twinkleallnight @lodberg  @amandablink @neotericthemis  @mm2305 @sfb123 @tessa-liam @thesvnsins @krsnlove @choicesficwriterscreations

Rating: G for major Fluff ☺️

Masterlist

Song inspiration:

L-O-V-E (part 1)

Cordonia...

"Purple is Hope's favorite color." Charlotte explained. "So I think we should change some of these landscape paintings to highlight the new bedspread and chaise lounge."

Liam watched with a smile upon his face as the servants eagerly began to do as the princess suggested.

He wrapped his arm around his daughter and squeezed her in a side hug.

"Hope's going to love all the ways you are trying to make her first visit here special."

Charlotte bit down on her bottom lip. "I hope she does. I want her to feel at home here."

"So do I." He led her out of the bedroom towards their informal den. "How are the ball preparations coming along?"

"Everything is set." Charlotte scrolled through her tablet for her to-do list. "I went with a red theme since it is so close to Valentine's Day"

"Perfect." He replied. "That should put everyone in a more romantic mood."

Charlotte nearly tripped over that observation.

"Dearest?" He stopped her. "What is wrong?"

"Nothing's truly wrong." She sighed. "I've been so focused on discovering I have a sister that I forgot about choosing a suitor."

"You know I'm not going to pressure you into naming someone." Liam pointed out.

"I know." She slipped her hand in his to gently squeeze. "But the public is anxious for me to do so." Her nose crinkled. "As are some of our nobles."

"I see." He could very well remember all the pressures of that nature. "Perhaps this ball will be the one to eliminate that worry."

Charlotte began to smile. No one could be more optimistic about her uncertain future than her father.

"You come from a long line of Rhys who have found their significant other at a ball." He wrapped his arm around her as they continued down the hallway. "I have no doubt you'll continue that tradition."

*****************

"I'm so nervous." Hope quickly buckled her seatbelt. "I don't know if I'm ready to meet a whole country."

Riley laughed as she buckled her own. "You're not having to meet everyone in Cordonia. Just most of them."

"Not helping, Mom." Hope grumbled.

"Do we have to stay by your side while you greet everyone or can we go on to the palace?" Her best friend, Sean, teased.

"Don't make me regret forcing you to come." Hope playfully pushed him. "If you do, I won't introduce you to my sister."

"Just as I thought." He settled back in the plush leather seat of the private plane. "Already acting like a spoiled princess."

He clucked his tongue in disapproval.

"Ms. Brooks, what are we going to do with Hope?"

Riley studied her daughter for a moment. "Only one thing to do, Sean."

Hope's eyes widened. "No! Please! Not that! Anything but--"

They both began to belt out Don't Worry, Be Happy.

Hope covered her ears to the song she'd always despised.

"Alright!" She yelled out when they got to the chorus. "I'll introduce you to Charlotte!"

"Thank you." Sean's unrepentant grin appeared on his face. "I can't believe I missed all the excitement of a king and princess appearing on your doorstep."

"It was crazy there for a while." Hope motioned towards her mom. "She was speechless for a good ten minutes."

"In my defense," Riley softly smiled over the memory of seeing Liam again, "I'd had a very hard day and was not suspecting to see any former flames of mine."

"Former flames?" Hope chuckled. "I don't think my father really fits in that category anymore."

"Hope." Riley shook her head.

"He calls you, my love." Hope reminded her. "I think he is still in love with you."

Riley tried to dismiss that.

"He did fly all the way to New York for you." Sean added.

"He came to see the child he'd unknowingly fathered." Riley reminded them.

"He came for you first though." Hope argued. "You were the one he went to first to explain everything."

"It doesn't matter." Riley ended the conversation. "He's a king and I'm still that same girl I was twenty years ago who was nowhere near a part of his world."

She closed her eyes and tried to stop her own butterflies in her stomach from fluttering too much. Too much time had gone by for her to begin to hope for another chance with Liam.

He and Charlotte remained in New York over the holidays. For nearly two weeks, she'd had daily contact with the man she'd thought she had gotten over. Seeing him be so open and happy over finding out he now had two daughters made her want to melt.

Deep down, he was still that shy prince who only wished for a family of his own.

Why was he the one man she could fall in love with each time she saw him?

******************

"I have to hurry!" Charlotte held up two dresses. "I don't want their plane to land and not be there to greet them."

Lord Bartie Beaumont sat on the edge of her bed, head tilted in thought over her choice of clothing.

"Maybe you shouldn't go with a dress. How about something a bit more casual?"

She dropped the dresses on her floor and rushed back into her closet.

"I can't wait to meet your sister." Bartie said a bit louder so she could hear him. "After all that Uncle Max told me about Riley, I bet Hope will be just as much fun as her mom."

"She is!" Charlotte responded excitedly. "You're going to love her!"

His dimple grin appeared when she came back out to talk about her sister, forgetting the need for the perfect outfit.

"Lottie?" He interrupted her descriptions of Hope. "Aren't you forgetting something?"

He motioned toward the pile of clothes she'd yet to choose from.

He laughed when she squealed and ran back into her closet to find just the right outfit.

****************

"They're here!" Charlotte nearly bounced in excitement. "Hurry, Father!"

Liam chuckled as he followed his daughter out to the tarmac. He couldn't help but feel excited himself. He'd been just as anxious in welcoming Hope to Cordonia. He was also just as nervous to welcome Riley back.

The time he spent with her in New York was perfect. He loved every moment being with the ladies who held special places in his heart. Seeing his two daughters grow close and his former love embrace Charlotte as a member of her family made him, for the first time in his life, wish he didn't have to return to Cordonia.

He'd wanted to remain in Riley's small apartment forever.

He couldn't stop his imagination from thinking that this is how it would have been. The two of them watching their children enjoy the holidays together, sharing a bond he knew so well. That bond had been what had made his marriage to Madeleine more easy to endure.

Yet, he felt so much more for Riley than his late wife. He always had.

Liam wondered if this could be his chance at the love he'd lost twenty years ago.

**************

"Hope!" Charlotte hurried over and hugged her sister the moment she stepped off the plane.

Hope hugged her just as tight.

The two began to talk over the other, laughing and answering each other's questions.

Liam looked up at Riley standing on the next to the last step of the plane. Her delighted smile over the girls' greeting made his own appear.

He edged his way around them to offer his hand to her.

Riley's fingers fluttered in his hand at the contact.

"How was your flight?" He asked.

"Perfect." She responded. "You didn't have to send a private plane for us."

"Nonsense." He glanced up at the young man who followed after her.

"Oh!" Hope exclaimed. "Sorry. This is my best friend, Sean Yeoh." She waved towards Liam. "That's my dad and this," she kept her arm around Charlotte, "is my sister."

Sean chuckled as he held his hand out towards Liam to shake. "Hope hasn't stopped talking about either of you. I feel like I know you already."

Liam shook his hand with a welcoming smile. "She did the same with you while we were in New York."

Sean turned towards Charlotte to shake her hand and stilled for two heartbeats.

A slight blush covered her cheeks from the way he stared at her as she held her hand out.

"Welcome to Cordonia." She managed to get out.

"Tha--thanks." He stuttered.

Hope only smiled over the way they were reacting to one another.

She'd planned for just this reaction to the two finally meeting.

*****************

"This is my room?"

Hope's jaw dropped over the immense size of her bedroom and bathroom. The closet alone was bigger than her bedroom back home in New York.

"And this is your sitting room."

Charlotte opened a hidden door to reveal a room filled with plush furniture, a large flat screen, and a wall covered with bookcases.

"Holy crap!" Hope exclaimed.

Riley snorted in amusement.

"If you want to change anything," Charlotte said quickly, "please let me know and I will have it done at once."

"Change anything?" Hope's eyes widened. "I wouldn't change a thing! These rooms are gorgeous!"

Charlotte visibly relaxed in hearing her sister gush about how much she loved it.

"Charlotte's been working ever since we returned to make sure you felt at home here." Liam gently placed his arm around Hope's shoulders. "We both want you to feel like you belong here."

Hope hugged him before pulling Charlotte into the hug.

"Thank you." Tears of joy sparkled in her eyes. "Both of you."

"We'll let you get settled." Liam pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "Once you've recovered from the flight, I would like to introduce you to Regina and a few other close friends." His smile was warm. "I managed to keep the other nobles away until the ball, to give you time to adjust."

"Right." Hope paled some. "I'm still not sure how to act as a princess."

"Just be yourself." Charlotte told her.

Liam nodded. "I only want everyone to meet my daughter. Nothing else is expected of you."

Hope tried to smile at that.

"We'll be right by your side the whole time." Charlotte promised.

"And you've got us in your corner too." Sean reminded her.

Riley slipped her hand in her daughter's. "You'll do great."

They all filed out, leaving the new princess alone with her thoughts.

***************

"Charlotte, would you mind showing Sean his room?" Liam asked. "I need to have a word with Riley."

"Of course." She smiled at them both before leading Sean away.

"What's wrong?" Riley asked once they were alone in the hallway.

"Nothing at all." He opened the door to her room, following her inside.

She paused at the sight of the room she'd been given her first visit to Cordonia.

A reminiscent smile graced her lips as she thought back. The flood of emotions swept over her. Excitement over being in a palace and being a suitor for a handsome prince. Delight in making new friends. Hopefulness in a future with the man she'd fallen in love with.

And then sadness when he chose another.

"Riley?" Liam cleared his throat. "There will be a ball while you are here."

"Yes, I heard about that." She turned towards him. "I hope Drake, Hana, and Maxwell will be there."

"They will be." He chuckled. "The moment I told them about Hope, they insisted I allow them to visit you both first."

"Good." She sat down and motioned for him to do the same. "I take it no one has objected to Hope once you received the paternity test results."

"You were right to make me go ahead and have that performed before I left New York." Liam sighed. "I suppose it was naive on my part to assume they would accept Hope without question like I did."

"Perhaps."

Riley felt her heart she had tried to protect from him grow softer with remembering how he didn't see a reason for a test. He'd accepted her explanation without a shadow of a doubt. After all these years, he still believed the best in her.

"Then again," she smiled at him, "perhaps that simply makes you a good man."

"I hope so." He dropped his gaze to his clasped hands. "I have a request."

"You do?"

He nodded. "Would, would you allow me to escort you to the ball?"

Liam's bashfulness flashed making Riley melt even more.

"I'd always wanted to escort you to one when you were last here."

He swallowed a touch nervously.

"Are you sure you can be seen with such a scandalous woman?" Riley halfheartedly teased.

"You aren't a scandalous woman." He argued.

"I am." She pushed out of the chair to stand at the window. "I was caught with another man and managed to have your child." She snorted. "If that isn't scandalous with a capital S then nothing is."

"Riley," he got to his feet, "I know you were innocent with Tariq." He rubbed the back of his neck when she remained silent. "And I am just as guilty for Hope's creation."

When Riley remained silent, he took another step towards her. He wanted to hold her in his arms and take her mind off the past. If he could only redirect her thoughts to the possibilities the future held for them.

Liam instead reached for her hand.

"I won't pressure you into allowing me to be your date for the evening." He lifted her hand to his lips. "But I do hope you allow me the pleasure of your company."

He bowed to her and left.

Riley softly groaned as she sank down onto her bed.

It might as well be twenty-one years ago. She was more than ready to be with Liam as much as he wanted her to.

****************

"Thank you, Charlotte." Sean said. "Er, I mean, your highness." He flushed when she smiled at him. "Your majesty?"

"Just Charlotte." She insisted. "If you need anything, please don't hesitate to call the staff or myself."

She waved towards a phone on his nightstand.

He walked over to it, reading the various extensions to the kitchens, housekeeping, and stables.

"What's your number?" He asked.

Charlotte brushed past him to reach for the notepad and pen.

He stilled at her being so near.

She quickly wrote her number down.

"Here." She looked up at him with a shy smile. "Just in case."

"Just in case." He repeated with a grin, trying to summon his usual confidence around beautiful women.

"I'll see you soon, I hope." Charlotte said on her way out.

"I'll make sure of it." Sean promised.

The moment she shut his door, he collapsed face first on the bed.

"I'll make sure of it?" He groaned into the mattress. "Brain, you failed me again."

**************

An hour later, Hope peeped outside her room. She'd been unable to get ahold of Charlotte. She knew her mom was probably napping. Sean most likely was too since he didn't respond to any of her texts.

Her curiosity over the palace had grown to the point where she didn't think she could wait any longer without doing a bit of exploring.

Once she saw that the coast was clear, she slipped her tennis shoes off and padded silently down the hallway.

Bartie Beaumont was walking past a connecting hallway and saw her creeping further away from where he was, holding her shoes. Grinning, he took his own shoes off and tiptoed quickly until he caught up with her.

Hope didn't notice him behind her as she paused before stepping out in the open area of the second floor. Glancing right and left, she softly huffed over not knowing which way she should go.

Bartie was about to whisper a suggestion when she suddenly threw one of her shoes in the air.

When it landed the toe pointed towards a little to the left. Swiping it back up, she dashed over toward that hallway.

The young lord covered his mouth. Tears of laughter filled his dark brown eyes as he realized she'd used her shoe as a substitute coin. Shaking his head in wonder, he followed her on to see what other mischief she'd get into.

Voices could be heard further down, causing Hope to freeze in uncertainty. She spun around and crashed into Bartie.

Her eyes widened as she looked up at his smiling face.

"Hide me!" She pleaded in a breathless whisper.

He quickly unlocked his bedroom door and shoved her through, closing her in there.

"There you are." His father, Bertrand, grumbled. "Your mother and I were wondering if--why the devil are you not wearing your shoes?!"

Bartie dropped the objects and did his best to appear innocent.

"Your uncle perfected that expression." Bertrand softly groaned. "I don't believe I have the stomach to hear what you've truly been up to."

Savannah laughed, looping her arm through her husband's. "Knowing Bartie, he's probably helping Princess Charlotte entertain her sister."

His dimpled smile appeared. Bartie could always count on his mother believing he was doing something worthwhile. Even if he occasionally, on a regular basis, got up to trouble with the crown princess.

Bertrand merely humphed in response. "Do try and keep the Beaumont name free of ridicule this time."

"Yes, father." Bartie promised.

Once the couple disappeared, he collapsed back against the door in relief.

Bartie tried to catch his balance when his door popped open. With arms flailing he crashed back into his room, landing on a soft, definitely feminine figure.

Hope's muffled cry of surprise turned to a painful laugh.

Bartie quickly rolled off. Worry clouded his features when she flopped her arms weakly over her face. Hope's entire body trembled violently.

"Where are you hurt?" He pleaded. "Did you break or--"

She lowered her arms to reveal how hard she was silently laughing. Unable to hold it in any longer, she released the biggest guffaw Bartie had ever heard.

He joined in, delighted to finally meet a lady able to truly ugly laugh without worry over how it appeared.

He got to his feet and offered his hands to help her stand.

She grasped them with one more giggle and allowed him to pull her upright.

She slid in her socks, crashing against his chest.

Bartie's arms instinctively wrapped around her to keep her standing.

"Thank you." She smiled up at him.

"My pleasure." He smiled back. "I'm Bartie, by the way."

"I'm Hope." She responded.

"I guessed as much." He chuckled. "My uncles were friends with your mom."

"They were?"

"Drake Walker and Maxwell Beaumont." He added. "Given how much they spoke of her, I believe we are destined to be friends too."

"My first friend in Cordonia." Hope said with a great deal of relief. "I can't tell you how grateful I am that you aren't pompous."

She realized she was still in his arms.

Breaking away with a blush, she held her hand out.

Bartie took it. Instead of shaking it like she intended, he swept an elegant bow before her and kissed her hand.

Her lips parted in a delighted surprise.

He winked at her. "Shall I escort you around the palace? Or would you rather continue to sneak about?"

Another giggle escaped her.

"Sneaking is more fun." She pointed out.

"I couldn't agree more."

Bartie kept her hand in his, and tiptoed the two of them further into the castle.

[phantomspren]

The absolutely fucking wild thing about media is how in many ways it resists the linearity of time.

Full disclosure, I'm a baby, I'm nineteen.

I do not limit my media consumption by when it was created.

I read a lot of classics, I read The Count of Monte Cristo (published from 1844-46 I think) this winter. That story has been in the world for 200 years. It's still wildly entertaining and millions of people continue to enjoy it and interpret it in new ways and inspire them to tell stories.

Don't even get me started on older stories! One of my favorite musicals is based on The Iliad and The Odyssey!

Shakespeare? You can't get through high school without reading some of his stuff. The 1996 Hamlet is one of my favorite movies ever. I've got a copy of the play from 1888.

I have totally normal relationships with these kinds of media.

But my brain gets really weird with media that was coming out from around the 70s to maybe 2010. (I was born in 2005.)

It almost can't accept that I wasn't alive/overly coherent when those things were coming out. They feel really recent compared to things like The Odyssey or Hamlet or The Count of Monte Cristo. But like. I know people who were alive and functioning adults in the 70s. So those feel way less separated from me, especially because a lot of that media is still well known. I'm listening to Queen right now, and I'm listening to Queen because of Good Omens, which was published in 1990, Good Omens also got me into Sandman which started coming out in 1989, and I just watched Return of the King today (2003). (Good Omens and Sandman are largely as active as they currently are due to the shows, which are fantastic and I'm really grateful the fandoms are still going strong.)

I know I'm nineteen. I feel like I'm nineteen. I know I was born in 2005, I'm very much an early 2000s kid. But at the same time my brain cannot wrap itself around the fact that I just wasn't alive when some of this stuff was coming out.

Beyond just knowing people who were alive at that time, I think there may be two other reasons I feel like this. One is that my mom is weird, and was kinda adverse to showing me more modern movies and TV shows when I was a kid, so up until I was maybe ten, I would primarily watch stuff like original Disney movies, Zoboomafoo (1999), Mr. Rodgers' Neighborhood (1968), and Fraggle Rock (1983). So I was just kinda disconnected from more recent stuff. My mom would also regularly read books to my sister and I, and a lot of them were things that she read growing up, like Over Sea, Under Stone (1965) by Susan Cooper. So I really just had a weird perception of media. I wasn't allowed to watch Spongebob.

Another is that maybe almost every other thing I've gotten into the last five or ten years, I've gotten into while it's in the middle of it. Owl House? I started watching when season two was wrapping up and actively coming out. The Locked Tomb? Just read this last year, we still don't have a release date for the final book. Hollow Knight, still no Silksong release date. I got into Good Omens through the show, and season three is going to start filming in January. Brandon Sanderson has been putting out like ten billion books a year since I started reading his stuff in 2017. Most music I listen to is by small indie groups who are still putting music out. So I'm largely really used to being in the thick of things and experiencing it all.

On one hand I do feel like I missed out on so much.

Which I did.

But that's kinda how being human goes. (I also missed out on some really terrible things and I'm really grateful for that, though I'm definitely worried about the future.)

Maybe people will feel this way about tOH and tLT and GO and Silksong at some point a couple decades down the line.

On the other hand, it's. So fucking cool that these things are still around and easily accessible. I mean, everyone knows Queen for a reason. Sandman and Good Omens are getting TV adaptations now for a reason. A bunch of people at my job are listening to Tolkien while they work for a reason.

And it's so exciting just thinking about all the amazing things that have yet to be created.

This is secretly a post about why we should be able to physically own media so that things like this can still be easily accessible for years down the line, not subject to the whims of streaming companies. /hj (I've really been enjoying my access to my parents' fancy DVD player while I'm home for the summer. :p And this is making me grateful it is now nearly impossible to watch VHS tapes, I did not like those things.)

Okay thanks for coming to my really weird ted talk.

[toestalucia]

I STILL have not watched versus&rising im gonna be honest with u BUT heavy heavy heaviest rising spoilers <33333333 (also main story spoilers

anyway im actually kind of worried about dad considering uh. rising casually having mom lore. like. 'i am your mother'. can u imagine releasing rising right after the most devastating story chs in gbf & us going to estalucia next update and being like 'hello heres ur mom. things are Not great and the implied dialogue is Hell'. fully understand all the 'rein.....O_O' comments they made on the rising streams JKBKADJD I GET IT NOOWWWWW (<-when it was released and my friend dm'd me asking me if i want spoilers)

like im sincereeeelllyyyyy hoping he's okay-ish but its also? if he went to estalucia for mom id like that. he returned to zinkenstill with a baby, and then left like 6-8 years later. i admittedly dont think he'd leave on a whim (theres also the part of how much happened ~10yrs ago). was the otherworld involved. was the kings eye involved. was mom dead before he returned to zinkenstill or. what is different in our timeline compared to the others (i saw one of the rising trailers and they use the bg art for the tree violet knight sits on in one of reins visions(??????)..................)

sorry risingers who r screaming that this is readily available knowledge IM GONNA WATCH THE STORY THIS MONTH I PROMISE i wanna pick up rein. i alrdy told kaitlyn that. but ill make it a separate blog cuz what the hell that is a SPOILER. but depending on it i might pick up dad too <-captain obsession

beyond hilarious baha made her goth tho. rein u r so fkng cool i love mothers u never couldve prepared me for mom to appear in the SIDEGAMES. theres a gran @ mom thing i rly wanna write. because to me theres certain things that gran doesnt want to hear from their parents? like..what happened happened.

GAMERS WHERE IS MY NOTES OF WALFRID TALKING ABOUT MOM had to grab it myself again

Walfrid: There's one more thing I need to apologize to you for. In all this talk about your father's journey, one piece of the puzzle has never been mentioned. You know what that is, don't you? I'm referring to your mother.

Walfrid: Yes, I know her very well. She was another great friend on our journey. In fact, she set off on the journey with your father right from the start. Gran: What kind of person was she? Walfrid: She was a compassionate woman, coming from a line of maidens who worshipped the god of the Sky Realm. Katalina: What? Then the maiden who sent Vyrn was… Walfrid: Yes, her. She lived in the same area as Gran's father. She grew up with her parents and younger sister in happiness. But then an incident compelled them to Vyrn and leave. (Taking cause and effect into consideration, this all dates back to when the sky was formed…) Vyrn: …? Walfrid shakes his head as if to dismiss his idle thoughts and returns to the topic at hand.

Walfrid: I have my reasons for not wanting to discuss that woman in too much detail. The truth is I don't know anything about her at present. As in I don't know where she is or what she's doing. I don't even know if she's safe.

Walfrid: But I have a feeling you will meet her at some point as your journey unfolds. You should prepare yourself for when that day arrives.

dialogues that lives in my head at all times

[maretinelli]

I WILL STAIN WITH YOU²

KingCaspian X Pevensie!Reader

summary: The Pilgrim's adventure ends, and everyone has to say goodbye to Ed and Lucy, as they have to return to their real world. But what about Y/n's heart, knowing that he will never see his brothers again??

Words: 1.2K+

Warnings: Lines from the film, mention of pregnancy, fights and bleeding. Aslan, and happy ending.

Author: Remembering that English is not my first language, I apologize for the spelling and scanning errors. I hope you have fun and wait for part 3. Hehehe

Part 1

MASTERLIST

The Dawn Treader's journey was total madness. It was Edmund and Caspian fighting due to the effect of the green mist, Eustace turning into a dragon, Lucy disappearing during one of the days they spent on the island, Y/n bleeding due to her pregnancy.

As said, total madness.

But with Aslan's grace, everything turned out well in the end and now it was time for some to leave. Maybe forever and for some a 'see you soon'.

Reepicheep was already gone. And as much as he wanted to stay to see the birth of his king's son, Caspian said his principles were more important.

Now, after Reep was gone. Aslan was only in the presence of Ed, Lucy, Eustace, Caspian and Y/n.

Everyone knew that the kings of old would have to leave again, but they still felt hope welling up deep inside.

"It's our last time here, isn't it?" Lucy asks, as she approached Aslan.

Y/n had her left arm behind her husband's shoulder, while Caspian had one hand around his wife.

"Yes. You've grown up, my dear" Aslan gets closer to the girl. "Just like Peter and Susan."

"Will you visit us in our world?" Lucy asks, as she strokes the lion's mane and Ed approaches his younger sister.

"I'll be watching you always."

"As?"

"In your world, I have another name. You should recognize me by it. That was the big reason you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here a little, you will be able to know me better there."

"Are we going to meet again?" Lucy asks almost in desperation.

Y/n, who was with her husband Caspian, wraps her other arm around him and sheds some tears.

"Yes, darling. Someday..."

Y/n suppressed a sob. Because she knew the same thing would happen to her and her younger brothers. Maybe she would never see them again, and that hurt her heart, because she and Caspian really wanted them around to live and grow with the baby that was about to be born.

With that, Aslan roars and the waves in front of them open into a portal.

Eustace, Lucy and Edmund approach Caspian and Y/n, who still had some tears falling.

"Y/n, the baby and you are the closest thing I've ever had to family" Caspian says, holding himself back from crying anymore.

Y/n smiles slightly, taking her arm away from him and crossing it across her chest. With the tears falling little by little now.

"...and that includes you, Eustace" Caspian smiles at the Pevensie cousin.

"Thank you" the blonde boy says smiling.

So, Edmund approaches Caspian and wraps him in a tight hug.

"Take good care of them" Ed murmurs and Caspian gets the message.

Meanwhile, Lucy was hugging her older sister, crying a lot and not wanting to be separated.

"I don't want to leave!!" Lucy cried a lot. "I want to stay here with you and Ed, I want to go back to Cair Paravel and see this baby born. I always wanted to be an aunt" she cried into Y/n's clothes.

And as the woman's hormones were unregulated, she cried a lot too.

With a lot of struggle, Ed managed to get Lucy out so he could hug his older sister too.

"I'm so happy for you" Ed says and hugs his sister. "Look at the person you've become!! A strong woman, warrior, queen and now mom. I've always been very proud of you" Ed says, crying too. "Like Lucy, I don't want to leave either, I wanted to stay here and live where I always wanted to. The world there is a mess, we don't see Mom and Dad anymore, and Peter and Susan have moved across the country." Edmund confesses, when he leaves the hug.

"I really wanted you to stay too" Y/n cries and hugs her brother again.

But he soon separates and looks at Aslan.

"Please make them stay" Y/n approaches the lion and looks at it with watery eyes, while making the request. "My heart hurts just imagining that I'll never see them again. It's enough Peter and Susan that I'll never see again. But please, neither will Ed and Lucy" Y/n cries while talking to the lion.

Caspian walks over to his wife and puts his hand on the woman's shoulder.

Edmund and Lucy were further away, but seeing the desperation of their older sister's request, they couldn't help but cry too.

"Well... there is another alternative" Aslan says, as he watched the large waves in front of them.

Y/n lifts her head and looks at him curiously. Meanwhile, the younger Pevensie brothers have grown closer to Aslan.

"If that's what Lucy and Edmund want too. They can stay, but know that they never returned to your old world."

Edmund and Lucy look at each other.

"But...but what about Peter, Susan and our parents?? What will they think when they find out that Ed and Lu disappeared??" Y/n asks.

"For your parents, it's as if you never existed. But for Peter and Susan, they know you chose to stay here, and the memories stayed in their minds until they took their last breath."

Y/n almost chokes.

"Does that mean my father and mother don't remember me anymore?"

Aslan nods.

"Yes. But Peter and Susan still remember you every day, and somehow they know you're better off here."

Y/n smiles slightly and clings to Caspian.

"I don't know if I can ask them to do that..."

"We were!!" Edmund appears behind the kings and Y/n turns around in confusion.

"Ed, did you hear what Aslan said?"

"Yes, and Lu and I want to stay. Things aren't going well there. Maybe here we can start over and be by your side. I know Peter and Susan will understand" Edmund stands in front of Aslan. "We want to stay!! For Narnia, for Aslan, and certainly to see our nephew or niece born" Ed says with love in the last words and turns to his older sister.

Y/n's eyes fill with tears and she smiles happily.

"Let's stay!!" Lu says smiling and Aslan agrees.

"If that's what you want. But know that you couldn't go back."

Edmund and Lucy nod in agreement.

"Well, I think I'll go back this time...I have a lot to learn there" Eustace says. "Well, I'll miss you guys, and I'm sorry for being a pain in the ass most of the time."

Edmund and Lucy laugh.

"Alright, we can leave this in the past"

Everyone says goodbye to Eustace and watches Aslan close the portal.

"Welcome back to Narnia" Aslan says before disappearing.

Y/n looks at her brothers and smiles.

"I love you so much" she hugs Ed and Lu.

"We love it too, Y/n" Edmund says.

"Now come on, come on. We have to go back to Cair Paravel to start tidying up the baby's room." Lu says and runs to the boat. "I'm really excited about this" she claps, which makes everyone laugh.

Caspian laughs and looks at his wife.

"This is going to be the biggest and best adventure of our lives"

Before heading to the boat, Caspian shares a soft kiss with Y/n and they both smile.

Author: Sorry for the delay, but college is taking a lot of time away from me. As much as I was born to live in Narnia and become Edmund's queen, Aslan never really called me...

[pomegranarchy]

By the way for 'Have You Any Faith?' I am SO curious on it, and it's relationship to the original, because I've read through the original, and the sequel. I'm very curious on whether anything of the sequel will come through, or will you make your own sequel for it? What will the Wordsmith and THK's relationship be by the end? How will it all end, will the finale be just a shifted to fit this universe's version of the original? Or will it be an entirely new one? Will the lore of Hoops' be kept, partially part of, or just replaced/ignored in this story? There's SO many other questions to ask, and honestly I don't expect you to answer any of the ones I just said. But basically, very excited to see how things play out! I need to do a re-read and entire search through your tumblr for all the stuff sometime soon but... later.

Oh and on Fionna and Cake, which you seem to like, I have a few ideas. I kind of assumed before watching or learning about the Winter King that he was an elemental or something related to the ice elemental was surrounding him, which, probably not. Or at least, that elemental thing that happened in the mini-series, is what happened to kid Marcy. Also, BETTY???? She can't have ever returned to disappear, and Winter King knows she's dead... I think he straight up killed her in that madness and sadness the crown first induced, which is why things turned out different later on, like the butterfly effect. Also, headcanon/idea on the Fern in the FaC universe, which I'll just call Fauna because it sounds good enough, and I heard it elsewhere. Basically, I imagine she's Fionna's half sister on her dead beat mom's side, because that seems in character for OG Martin, so why not for the gender bent version. But also, because... angst, Fauna has some kind of chronic degenerative disease, because, well... Fern seemed kinda bound to a not great fate... Also, angst. I imagine though that Fionna and Fauna have 0 idea about being half-sisters.

-Sincerely, a fan of yours who HAS asked before but is worried this will come off too strong

I'm writing roughly as I go, so there's no backlog. (Perhaps a mistake on my part, given the current pause...)

If I feel the need for a sequel, I might go for it! As it stands I have very different plans for how HYAF will end. The lore and worldbuilding is already pretty separate from Hoops, since I've got drastically different ideas on Hallownest's history. You can see that enough in how I've characterized the White Lady and Pale King so far.

There's some aspects that will be the same or similar, but I feel outright stating them would be a bit of a spoiler!