#which is to me the epitome of briar.

[jennycalendar]

decided to restart my durge run and therefore actually spend more time on thinking about briar's hair in bg1 for dream guardian purposes. deemed this satisfactory :)

+ bg2 n bg3 energy, just for funsies (don't hold me 2 bg3 era im still thinking about it)

[neoninky]

So today I was binging Bridgerton cuz apparently I’m on a romantic drama spiral 😂 good ol stuffy British romances about rich people and their non-relatable problems 👍

Which has lead me to head canons surrounding a certain group of dashing young men who are basically from a historical drama…

Yes that’s right:

Diasomnia Courtship Head Canons

Featuring Lilia’s three sons (no this is not how I’m going to write them in my story-oh who am I kidding, yes it is 😂)

Tagging peeps for shenanigans: @nuitthegoddess @wysteriadelights @iscarlettappel @foxwitchaine @1ndigowitch @victoria1676

Malleus: The prince and soon-to-be king of Briar Valley, he is naturally expected to find himself a queen and future mother to his heirs. So courtship isn't something that comes as a surprise to him. In fact, it's something he was prepared for since he became old enough to understand what courtship and marriage even were.

For Malleus, this can go one of two ways: 1) if he's being forced to meet and court a some daughter of a noble family that he's not interested in, he'll be…avoidant. In other words, he out poofs away in firefly dust. Once the guards, or Silver and Sebek, OR Lilia, finally hunt him down and force him to show up, Malleus is polite. He goes through all the motions and acts like the perfect gentleman, but anyone who knows him well can see the distant, far-off look of escapism in his eyes.

OR 2) he's not only interested, he is INVESTED. Hoo boy, good luck stopping him from trying to be the only man on this girl's radar. Not only does he perform all the expected etiquette perfectly, Malleus Draconia is the epitome of "down bad". What's her favorite color? Favorite flowers? Does she like music? What's her favorite food??? This man will discover and procure all of it for her faster than lightning. Seven help him if she is (for some reason) not impressed, he'll be crushed. Seven help him if she is impressed and - dare it be so - shows appreciation and affection in return. Smitten doesn't even skim the surface, oof. Malleus Draconia needs to marry her now. His crew will have their hands full trying to help the love-struck royal not come on too strong (too late probably) or rush things too quickly. Either way, once his mind is made up, Malleus only has eyes for his queen.

Silver: Being a human raised primarily around fae folk or even half-fae folk, Silver is familiar with the range of courting rituals that various fae have performed over the years. Human courtship, on the other hand, well…he's a bit lost if not old-fashioned in that department. Mostly because of his lack of human interaction, but also because his father is Lilia. Self explanatory. He doesn't have a preference on fae women vs human/other women, though he understands that fae live far longer than humans so that might complicate things. Regardless, Silver is clumsy when wooing women (or anyone he might be interested in). He has the heart of the very best-boi boy but he can be a bit shy with showing/voicing his feelings at first.

The majority of his life has been dedicated to becoming a worthy knight for Malleus, though his school days allowed him some leisure and fun in between his training. Even so, Silver's bravery and tenacity in battle doesn't translate into romance. In fact, he often suffers from cold feet when faced with a potential crush/love interest. Silver logically knows certain things he can do to show his affection on paper. In action, however, he may need some help practice. Don't even get him started on the anxiety his sleep condition brings him. He gets so nervous about suddenly passing out in front of the girl he wants to romance that it will sometimes make him literally sick (poor guy). Once he FINALLY gets over his nerves and takes action, Silver can make his feelings known. It may be awkward but you won't find another more genuine confession from a guy who looked like he walked out of a fairy tale. Also don't be surprised if an army of woodland creatures was recruited to help out.

If rejected, Silver is nothing if not a man of honor. He sees no point in hounding a woman who isn't interested in him, no matter how much it hurts. If his feelings are reciprocated, the poor man might pass out from joy. If he prepares correctly, Silver drinks enough coffee to keep that from happening. Silver will then exhale in immense relief ask his beloved for an even more romantic date, which he spent at least three days planning out with the help of the other Diasomnia bois. Victory achieved.

Sebek: While Malleus is enthusiastic and full throttle and Silver is charmingly shy/awkward and slow to act, Sebek is somewhere in the middle. This man is and always has been very disciplined in all endeavors. For him, romance will be no different. Sebek Zigvolt has trained since childhood to be Malleus' knight. This is his greatest goal and ambition. Someday his lord will marry and have children, precious little princes and princesses! Naturally, their security and well-being are Sebek's top priority!! As such romance has been put on the back burner through the majority of Sebek's teen years.

Once Sebek sets his sights on courtship and romance, he will not settle for just anyone, no sir. He is a man with taste and standards. You know those girls who write down the traits of their ideal husbands in a list? Sebek is the male equivalent of that. It's not as shallow as it sounds, Sebek just knows what he wants. Granted he started the list when he was about 14 years old cough, so some things do change as he matures. Even so, Sebek is - like Silver - old-fashioned in romance. He knows all the moves: bringing her flowers on the first date, taking her on romantic moonlit walks while also respecting her boundaries and fighting off any hooligans that may threaten her dignity, getting her father's approval, the whole nine yards!

And boy is he prepared. He's actually quite proud - if not smug - of how much research he's put into properly courting a lady. His grandfather made sure to leave books out for him when he was young so of course he grew into an avid reader. Definitely learned a thing or two from romance novels but will not admit it out loud.

Either way, once Sebek finds his dream girl, he already has a strategy all mapped out. If one plan doesn't work, he's got backup plans. If things are going well, Sebek will not rush the courtship, but he will absolutely have the proposal and the wedding (hell, probably the honeymoon too dayum) all planned out in his head. If he somehow misses a detail, his mother and older sister will have at least five to ten different options at the ready to offer him and his lady love.

If for some reason Sebek's affections are rejected, he will put on a strong front…until he gets home/back to Malleus's castle and then he'll just fall to pieces. He's gonna need a grieving period, bless his heart. He will more than likely be a complete wreck until he gets the heartache completely out of his system.

If all goes well and Sebek does successfully get with his dream lady love, pssssh well OF COURSE he did! Was there ever any doubt?! Foolish humans, of course not! (Lies, Sebek definitely has moments of doubt that he covers up with loud outbursts and vigorous training to the point of exhaustion. Thank Seven that it did work out though, whew.)

BONUS:

Chaos ensues any time Lilia tries to make a meal to welcome his new 'daughters' to the family. The boys immediately go into covert ops to stop him from getting into the kitchen, sometimes asking their girlfriends/wives to help distract him or getting Lilia started on a story tangent about his travels, his glory days as a general, anything to keep him talking.

[abysswalkersknight]

Horrortober (twst) Day 2: Decision

Day 2: Decision

The Black Scale Castle was in chaos.

Sebek marches past gossiping nobility and quivering servants. There was no time to waste! Wakasama’s good name was in jeopardy!

As expected as it was of the Queen of Briar Valley, Malleus’s grandmother had hosted a dinner party as a way to strengthen the bonds between Briar Valley and it’s allied nobility, unfortunately it did not go as planned because during an announcement one of the visiting nobles suddenly collapses, convulsing on the ground, choking on their own spit and vomit. Right after the whole room fell into pandemonium. While the castle guards handled the guests and body, Sebek and Silver flocked to where Lilia and Lord Malleus were previously entertaining some guests ‘come on, get moving Silver!’ Sebek had yelled at his fellow knight, seizing him by the collar and dragging him along. Even after graduating Silver was still just as lazy as he was back then, at least that was what Sebek had thought then, now though…

His suspicions rose once they were flanking Malleus’s sides, keeping their eyes and ears out for the perpetrator, for it was obvious the noble had been poisoned, what with the strangely coloured foam frothing at the mouth. With his Grandmother’s permission Malleus immediately ordered an investigation, crushing many thoughts of his involvement, though many still believed otherwise if the whispers passing Sebek through the halls were anything to go by. Sebek gritted his teeth, he had been sent to examine everyone’s belongings which he had done diligently and thoroughly but there was something else he had to do. Something that no one, not even his lord knows about. 

He pauses outside the door to a certain human’s room, hand quivering at the handle, surely I’m just being paranoid, there’s no way he could have done anything like that, but the cool clarity in his gaze and relaxed stature amongst such discord was too much for Sebek to ignore, even Lilia and Lord Malleus were on guard, but Silver. Silver was the epitome of calm, it may have just been his anxious mind but Sebek could only compare the scene to a white wolf amongst a wild flock of dark sheep. It's this thought that pushes him to open the door with a slow, resounding creeeak, and behold whatever secrets his friend may be hiding, if I find nothing and he catches me, I’ll simply apologise and say that Wakasama ordered everyone’s belongings be searched. He almost believed it as he began his search.

The room was sparse save for the usual necessities and little souvenirs given to Silver throughout the years, though it was cause for little concern. It was just how Silver always kept his things given the dangers of his curse, the further Sebek looked the more his guilt threatened to take over. Who was he kidding, of course Silver couldn’t have done anything so sinister, yes that nobleman wasn’t the most courteous towards Lord Malleus, and Sebek would be lying if he said he wasn’t prepared to stab the man when he threatened his Lord, but Malleus only held up his hand saying that the threat was empty and there was nothing the nobleman could do to harm him or Briar Valley, though Sebek caught the concern in his eyes as if he were trying to convince himself that that was true. Could Silver have seen that as well? Shaking his head he was about to abandon his investigation when his hand accidentally knocked over a tiny bottle in one of Silver’s drawers, curious he brought the bottle to his eyes observing the fine, ash-like powder inside. Names scratched at his memory but he couldn’t recall whatever this stuff was, tapping some grains onto his fingertip Sebek licked them off and grimaced at the bitter taste, ugh he remembered this taste. It was a plant from the mountains where Lilia used to train Silver and Sebek when they were younger, good to eat when there was nothing else, though terribly bitter it was, like black coffee. Why would Silver have this? He rummaged around the drawer a bit more but found nothing other than the plant form of the powder ‘why-’ he contemplated for a while before it hit him. 

Back when they were training in the mountains Lilia taught the boys about the plant and how when crushed into powder and dissolved into liquid it can become a deadly tasteless poison.

Only he, Lilia and Silver knew that information. Silver…

His mind reeled back to their days back at night raven, how it was so easy for Silver to slip notes without anyone noticing, how he’d always manage to smuggle in the right ingredients into Lilia’s cooking without the older fae’s knowledge, or how he’d always prank Sebek by swiftly switching his tea for coffee right under his nose. Poisoning the right glass would be no problem for him. His breath quickened, oh gods, was he going to have to report his friend?

Gut churning he quickly pocketed the bottle and was about to shove the plant back into the drawer when a quiet voice broke through his terrified revelations ‘Sebek?’ he gasps and whirls around, clutching the plant in a death grip. Silver stood in the doorway confusion etched in his expression ‘what are you doing?’ he walks inside and sees the plant in Sebek’s hand ‘oh’ is all he says. Sebek expects him to get angry, to deny everything, to burst into an explanation. Not stare at him with eyes as calm and serene as a bubbling brook. Sebek held his breath unsure of what to do.

‘Well?’ asks Silver, breaking the silence ‘are you going to tell anyone?’

‘What?’ Sebek could not believe his ears. Silver’s expression never changed ‘I asked “are you going to tell anyone?” it’s not like I can erase your memories Sebek and I know how conscientious you are of these things, so do what you will and tell father and Lord malleus, I don’t mind, I’ll just watch and see what happens’ he stepped to the side, letting Sebek scuttle pass and out the door. 'Wait, aren't you going to stop me?' Silver raised an eyebrow 'should I? I already got what I wanted'

'What do you mean?' 

'Well that noble's dead now aren't they? They threatened Lord Malleus and since he couldn't dispose of them, I did. I mean, who else could have done the job?’ if he wasn’t too busy trying to keep his composure Sebek would have gulped. Right, he was the only one who considered Silver as the culprit, and that was only because he knew Silver, any outsider would have easily overlooked the sleepy human for the stronger fae in the room. Despite all that Sebek glared at him ‘so what, that’s it? You’ve just killed a man and now you're just going to let yourself be caught, that’s it!’  

‘Actually your going to decide whether I’m caught or not’

He blanched ‘what?’

‘Really Sebek must I repeat myself, you can either keep your mouth shut about your findings and we go our separate ways or you turn me in and tell my father and Lord Malleus, it’s your decision either way.’ Silver then pats his shoulder ‘I look forward to seeing what you choose Sebek’ he murmurs, leaving Sebek stunned in the hallway.

What will he choose?

[calico-heart]

10 fandoms, 10 characters, 10 tags

Basic rules: choose 10 fandoms that you are part of/support, and choose a favorite character from each of those. Then, tag ten folks!

Thanks for the tag @briar-ffxiv :3 idk how i'm supposed to pick a single favorite out of all these tho cries. Obvious fandoms are up top, but some (maybe. a little.) less common ones show up further down!

FFXIV // Alisaie Leveilluer

I think she's one of the most dynamic characters in the series, and I love love love seeing her come out of her shell as the expansions go on. Her personal arc focuses so heavily on surviving grief and learning to keep an open heart even when faced with loss over and over again, and I appreciate how well that ties into the main storyline, too.

Fallout 4 // Piper Wright

My wife <333 Piper's reckless go-gettem attitude and propensity for ruffling feathers on her quest to out the baddies really endeared me to her. Finding her soft heart under all the bravado and banter is really rewarding, and I love how committed she is to standing for her ideals, even if it means standing alone. Fo4 has such a cool setting to get immersed in overall, and I really do enjoy all the 50s/60s US tropes thrown into the mix with it.

Reth // Palia

The epitome of making objectively horrible choices for arguably noble reasons. I love this walking disaster. He made me soup. I like how most of the Palia characters have more to them than meets the eye at first meeting, and how many ways they can surprise you as you build relationships with them. But gaining the disgraced pariah Reth's trust? Becoming someone he's brave enough to ask for help from? I treasure it above all the others LOL

Gale Dekarios // Baldur's Gate 3

I'm NOT going to essay I'm NOT going to essay I'm not -- But seriously I do adore this guy's arc. I like how messy it is, even if in more subtle ways than, say, Astarion (ilu too boo.) Gale has so many "gifted kid" trademarks and strikes me as someone who's entire self worth has been based on how useful or interesting he is to others. It's hard to fault him for his ambition, when his magical prowess was the only avenue he had to make meaningful bonds up until the whole tadpole nonsense. BG3 exceeded my wildest expectations out of an RPG and continues to do so every time I pick it up.

Anders // Dragon Age II

I feel obligated to say I don't really consider myself part of the DA fandom because every time I've poked my head in I've found it to be a wretched hive of scum and villainy with the most inane batshit discourse I've ever seen in my life. But the game itself? Love the game. Love the characters. Anders broke my heart. I really enjoyed his internal turmoil and the very literal ideological battle between justice and vengeance he faced throughout the game. I'll eat that up.

Obi-Wan Kenobi // Star Wars

He's baby.

I definitely pick and choose which installations of the behemoth that is the Star Wars franchise to consider canon, and like Dragon Age I try not to actually get involved in fandom spaces. Ever. But I love Obi-Wan's story in the prequels especially, and if you've followed me very long I'm sure you know how much I like my hurt/comfort and angst, which he has in spades.

Halo 1-3, ODST, & Reach // The Arbiter

I grew up on Halo and even have a little poseable model of this guy decorating my bookshelf. Halo's a shooter game first, of course, and I spent a good chunk of my childhood rerunning levels, and playing ninjanaut with friends on splitscreen. But its lore also fell into that sort of early TES space for me, where you had enough of an idea of the world for it to capture your imagination and inspire you, without being overwhelming to keep track of. The angst. The mystique. The badass alien with a glowing sword. 10/10. My Spartan OC is called Artemis and my brother has one named Ares and yes we did slay in PvP as teenagers.

Firefly // Simon Tam

Choosing Firefly is predictable af but thats ok. It still makes me ache wishing we got to know more about the world, the characters - and maybe that unfinished homesick feeling is part of the appeal. I loved watching Simon be so out of his depth in the frontier of space, but willing to giving up everything for someone he cared about and learning to make a new place for himself with Firefly's motley crew.

Mizu // Blue Eye Samurai

I was not prepared for this show to WRECK me like it did. I thought it was going to be a run of the mill cheesy samurai anime and GOD. The thoughtful, clever storytelling and dynamic characters knocked me on my ass. I couldn't stop watching. The cast is incredible, the art style is gorgeous. Every single aspect of this show ties into this theme of being caught between two worlds, and Mizu's story is one I am not going to forget any time soon. If you haven't watched this, you're missing out.

Mal // The Dog Master

I'm not sure there's even really a FANDOM for this book. I haven't ever met anyone else who'd even heard of it, let alone read it. But a fandom can just be me, occasionally pitching it desperately to friends, right? XD The story follows several tribes, but the "main" character is Mal, who was kicked out of his tribe and survives partly by befriending a wolf and raising it. It's pretty cleverly written, with several timelines converging at unexpected moments to offer up plot twists and tie-ins that really wouldn't have been possible if it was written another way. I'm a little geeky about it just for the structural approach. But there's honestly not enough good caveman books out there, and this one has a wide cast of unique and interesting characters who feel very human.

--

I will tag @ronqueesha @bogglebabbles-main @sayonaramidnight @traveleorzea @orime-stories @silentletterwords @ellastara @rinka-fortemps @eriyu @jameswrites

And anyone else who wants to! I'd love to see your lists! But no pressure ofc <3

[goforth-ladymidnight]

✨✨✨ ✨✨

Thank you for the tag, Mathi! @highlordofkrypton

Here are my answers!

What should we call you?

You can call me Midnight, or Lady M works, too. ✨

How long have you been a Tamlin fan?

Ever since I saw the ACOTAR Official Coloring Book on the shelf. (So, 2017-ish?) I loved the illustrations of this handsome blond elf-like character (with a masquerade mask and everything, ooo, so mysterious), which led me to picking up the original novel, and now here we are!

What drew you to Tamlin?

I've always liked Beauty and the Beast retellings, so it didn't take much for me to fall in love with him. I liked Lucien's sass, but I think the moment that won me over is when Tamlin rescued Feyre from the naga. Yes, the scene is a shameless ripoff of Disney's Beauty and the Beast scene where he rescues her from the wolves, but that part of the movie was a turning point for their relationship, too. What can I say? It worked!

Do you have a favourite headcanon for our Spring Lord?

Tamlin played (and sent!) the music Feyre heard Under the Mountain, and I will die on that hill.

Who’s your favourite pairing (platonic or romantic) with Tamlin?

It's impossible for me to choose. It honestly depends on my mood! 😭 But, I will say that I'm most fond of these pairings:

Lucien x Tamlin. Okay, I'm biased, because I'm close to finishing a holiday fic featuring these two sweethearts. But their relationship is the epitome of best friends to lovers. How can I not love them for that?

Briar x Tamlin. Naming a one-off character like Briar in the third book of the series, whose name means Thorns, when Tamlin has always been the Rose?? It's like SJM is hinting that we're going to have another ACOTAR on our hands, with an actual Beast this time around. I'm a sucker for everything Beauty and the Beast, so sign me up!

Feyre x Tamlin, because no one does it better than the original. Their romance felt so earned and real, and their personalities were mirror-images of the other. Two half-wild beasts who found each other, to try to break one impossible curse. 😭 "I love you, thorns and all." SAME.

Rhysand x Tamlin. Okay. So. I haven't written anything for them myself, but once I read A Court of Lies and Resurrection, I couldn't help but root for them. These two have a lot of history, and it just makes sense that they would develop feelings along the way. Forget about Enemies to Lovers; what about Lovers to Enemies??

Honorable mention: Nesta x Tamlin. This is a rare pair, but it honestly makes so much sense to me. Yes, Nesta loves books, and Belle in Beauty and the Beast loves books, too, but there's more to it than that. Other writers have astutely noted that Nesta's power is Death, while Tamlin's is Life. ( @ae-neon, is this your theory? ) Nesta was born to be a Queen, and Tamlin was born to be a Beast. She has a sharp tongue, and he has sharp claws. Talk about a prickly pair!! I am into it.

Have you named Tamlin’s family? What are their names? (Give us your headcanons too!)

I have! But it varies depending on the AU. See below:

Tamlin's mother: Rosalin. This is the only name I can picture for her, no matter which universe she appears in. Named for the rose garden that her husband planted for her, and incorporating part of Tamlin's name. Rose + Lin.

Tamlin's father: In my fic ACOFAE, he's called Magnus. According to my favorite baby name resource, it's a name that means greatest, and it's popular in Scotland (where the Ballad of Tam Lin originates from). It's admittedly not my favorite name, but I haven't learned enough about his character to give him a different one.

Tamlin's brothers: Peter and Arthur (in my modern AU), Angus and Fergus in every other AU I've written. Their modern AU personalities are a lot more self-centered, and they bully their younger brother just because they can, but everywhere else I picture them as twin warriors who must contend with each other to eventually win their father's title. I also chose their fantasy names to emulate their father's, but that could change if I ever get around to writing a story about the Spring Court.

If you were transported into the Spring Court right now, what would be your role? (Sentry, Gardener, etc.)

If it's anything like my current job, I would be in charge of shelving books in the High Lord's library! 😏 I must say, that sounds like a pretty good deal to me!

While we wait for Tamlin week, do you have any fic recommendations?

Yes, I do! I don't read as much fanfic as I would like (since my free time can either be spent in reading mode or writing mode, and lately it's been in writing mode), but here are some suggestions:

Tamsand: The aforementioned A Court of Lies and Resurrection, especially if you like lots of angst (but heed the tag warnings!!). It has a well-earned happy ending.

Feylin: My most recent favorite is Soap Bubble by @kateprincessofbluewhales. It's short and sweet and angsty and sexy all at once, and I love the evocative details.

Brilin: If you are a monsterfucker at heart, this oneshot is for you: You Can Be the Beauty and I Can Be the Monster by @lady-nestas. If you'd like something tamer, try her longfic: A Dream of Roses (WIP).

Tamcien: It sounds incredibly vain, but I'm going to suggest my own work for this one: A Second Chance. I consider it an unofficial modern-day sequel to ACOWAR, where Tamlin gets his "redemption", and he and Lucien reconnect over the holidays. I'm incredibly proud of it, considering it was my first foray into a modern AU. So if you want something to read over the holiday season, it should be done by Christmas!

I'm still keeping an eye out for Neslin fics; there are some on my TBR list, but I don't want to recommend anything that I haven't read first.

There are many talented creators in this fandom! You really can't go wrong. I love you all! 💖

Tags, but no pressure: @songofthesibyl @positivelyruined and anyone else who hasn't been tagged yet!

In the coming months, weeks and days leading up to Tamlin Week, we'll be dropping some fun community activities. Feel free to participate as much or as little as you like!

Now that we've got the prompts out of the way, it's time to get to the heart of Tamlin Week. Everyone knows our High Lord Tamlin, and you’ve met our mods, but it’s time to meet you!

Introduce yourself through the questions below, and if you know someone who’d like to participate in Tamlin week, feel free to tag them.

What should we call you? How long have you been a Tamlin fan? What drew you to Tamlin? Do you have a favourite headcanon for our Spring Lord? Who’s your favourite pairing (platonic or romantic) with Tamlin? Have you named Tamlin’s family? What are their names? (Give us your headcanons too!) If you were transported into the Spring Court right now, what would be your role? (Sentry, Gardener, etc.) While we wait for Tamlin week, do you have any fic recommendations?

Tags: (add your friends here!)

We encourage you to check the notes to say hi to old friends, and welcome new names to our community!

[mysteryshoptls]

SSR Riddle Rosehearts Union Birthday Personal Story: Part 3

"Happy Birthday"

(Part 1) (Part 2) Part 3

[Heartslabyul Dorm – Birthday Party Venue]

Azul: Now then, the next question.

Azul: “If you were to join any dorm other than Heartslabyul, which dorm would you choose?”

Riddle: A dormitory other than Heartslabyul? The Dark Mirror's selections are completely correct. I have never even given a thought about possibly belonging to another dorm.

Azul: Fufu. Indeed, I certainly cannot think of any student who is more suited for Heartslabyul than you, Riddle-san.

Riddle: Obviously. However, this is still a part of the birthday interview. I must abide by the rules.

Riddle: If I were to transfer… I would choose Diasomnia.

Azul: Oh, my. For someone who claims to have not given any of the other dorms a single thought, that didn't seem to require any hard thought…

Riddle: Including Malleus-senpai, Diasomnia is largely home to students who are highly adept at magic.

Riddle: As that is the case, I don't think it would be strange at all for me to be a Diasomnia student, now, would it?

Azul: Oho. Well, isn't this quite the confidence you have there.

Riddle: The current Dorm Leader and Vice Dorm Leader may hail from Briar Valley, where magic is prevalent in everything they do…

Riddle: But it seems to me that all of the students in Diasomnia tend to use magic on a more frequent basis than other students.

Riddle: That is why I believe that if I were to become a student there, I would gain a new perspective on magic usage.

Riddle: Simply from listening to the Diasomnia students in my classes, I'm able to glean such fascinating knowledge as well.

Azul: I also believe that it is quite important to broaden the mind as well. It seems you and I are kindred spirits.

Riddle: ...I feel I sense an ulterior motive in your words. It is a little off-putting to hear you liken the two of us.

Azul: By the way… Were you to transfer, would you challenge for the position of the Diasomnia Dorm Leader, Riddle-san?

Riddle: Yes, most likely. Malleus-senpai is a formidable opponent, but that is what makes challenging him worthwhile.

Riddle: I am certain there won't be any other opportunities to battle someone who is considered one of the top five mages in the world…

Riddle: In order to not lose to Malleus-senpai when he shows his full power, I will have to continue to devote myself to my studies.

Azul: Fufu, if it ever comes to you challenging him to an actual duel, I shall have to come and observe how the match is settled.

Azul: …With this, the interview is over. Next, it is finally time to present the "gift of good fortune."

Riddle: There will be no need for you to pull your punches. If anything, you'll need to be extra cautious that you don't throw it in the opposite direction.

Azul: You may be as presumptuous as you please, but who knows what would be said of me if I were to accidentally injure the birthday boy…

Azul: I shall embody the epitome of benevolence and properly present to you your gift. Now then, here I go.

Azul: Riddle-san, happy birthday!

(Part 1) (Part 2) Part 3

[harlot-of-oblivion]

Flowers By The Sea (Part 8)

Your darling devil helps you face your fear while the romantic tensions rises higher and higher with every wave of the sea.

The second part of the beach episode is here! Hope you enjoy! 😘 

Here’s the link to the list of all the flowers featured in this part 🌺😊🌺 

Chapter 2: His Radiant Rose

When you were invited to a party on the beach, you expected delicious food fresh from the grill, skipping down the shore while searching for pretty shells, and spending time with your darling devil under the sun. You were not prepared for just how gorgeous Vergil would look dripping wet in a speedo. He was the epitome of perfection when he slicked back his hair while walking out of the sea. And while you hold his hand and kiss along every knuckle, you cannot help but to think of the gallant knights from your childhood storybooks.

They were always there to protect their lady…just like you are now, my darling devil.

If anyone would have told you that you would be facing your fears by wading out in the ocean today, you would have laughed at such an unlikely outcome. And yet here you are…agreeing to let Vergil take you out into the salty unknown in hopes of experiencing the wonders of the sea for the very first time. You look up at him as your lips trail off his hand, which is still holding the token of your affection and trust. His cheeks are dusted with the lightest shade of pink as he stares right back with a faraway look in his eyes.

He looks so cute when he’s lost in thought, you muse quietly, adoring the little crinkle between his brow and the flecks of blue shining out of his silvery gaze before knocking him out of his serious stupor.

“Flower for your thoughts?”

Vergil blinks as your sweet inquiry brings his attention back to the matter at hand. He stares down at his hand still within your soft grasp for a moment before speaking. “I’m just…touched that you have so much faith in me,” he admits, opening his hand to marvel at the single white freesia you just gave him.  

You smile up at him warmly. “It isn’t hard to trust you, my grumpy gillyflower!”

Vergil quirks a brow and hums in thought as he stores the delicate bloom in the front pocket of his Hawaiian shirt. “I like darling devil more,” he reveals while leaning in closer to you, which makes you crane your neck up more to keep eye contact. “It rolls off your tongue better,” he adds with a smug smirk as he caresses your cheek and rubs his thumb just below your bottom lip.

You shiver at his intimate touch while the rest of your body buzzes with delight at his suggestive words. Ever since that night by camellias you have been longing for more of this handsome devil. You agreed to be his accompanist for the performance at the wedding just so you could spend even more time with him, hoping that all the flirty banter and yearning glances would cultivate the seeds of affection you sowed within his briars long ago. Your constant daydreams of him are now passionate fantasies, and it’s little teases like this that never fail to stoke the desire for more, more, more…  

“Are you ready to face your fear?”

The serious tone of Vergil’s voice breaks you away from your pining and smacks you right back down to reality. You notice that his lips are no longer curling into that cocky smile that never fails to turn your legs into jelly. His stoic face is now regarding you with utmost care as he offers you his hand, which quickly wrenches your pleasant thoughts into timid apprehension as you glance over at the rolling surf. You take a deep breath and gulp down enough of your anxiety to take his hand in earnest while putting on the bravest face you can muster.  

“Shell yeah! I’m not gonna let this tide me down!”

Vergil shakes his head and groans at your punny response as he stands and helps you up from the edge of the tide pool. You reach down to grab your bucket of shells and giggle while his stern face tries to hide the smirk that wants to break free as he leads you out of the sprawling pool towards the open shore. He stops and looks around for a moment before sticking the Yamato in the sand, explaining that it will act as a marker for him so that they do not drift too far away from their original position.

You nod in understanding as he promptly removes his Hawaiian shirt and hangs it on the Yamato’s handle. It takes all your willpower to not gape at him like a fish while you unfasten your mesh sarong, but your eyes still linger down his chest and long legs. When he turns around to stare out to sea you seize the opportunity to check out his butt, which is looking mighty fine in that blue speedo. And his thighs…they have been the object of your desire in a few of your fantasies, but to see them out of those leather pants in all their scrumptious glory…

Oh! How am I ever gonna get any gardening done with that running through my mind now? you wonder in agony as you drape your sarong over his Hawaiian shirt.

Vergil asks if you are ready to embark once you step up beside him, looking out at the ocean with him as you steel yourself for the challenge crashing ahead. As soon as you give him a shaky nod of your head, he examines your face closely before kneeling so that you can hop on his back. Your arms wrap around his neck as you press yourself close against his body. His hands come around and hook under your knees before slowly standing upright, adjusting his hold on you with a slight jostle before heading towards the object of your deep-seated fear.

Never have you ever felt such an odd mix of emotions churn and bubble deep inside you. On one hand, your cheeks grow hotter the more your body bounces against his back with every step. You were already aware of his impressive strength, but to experience it firsthand is making your mind go crazy with new fantasies for the future. But on the other hand, your stomach feels as if it’s twisting into knots the closer you get to the vast sea. Your legs squeeze tighter around him in alarm when his feet meet the lapping waves on the sandy shore. And as he treks deeper into the ocean you try to focus on the feel of his skin beneath your hands, the sounds of his voice as he comforts you with soothing words…anything to banish the memory that is desperately clawing at the back of your mind.

And it works for a while…until your eyes happen to glance down behind you. The foamy water splashes around about halfway up his calf as he takes slow steps forward, hypnotizing you with its swirling patterns as the sandy floor remains unseen…just like the bottom of the lake in your hometown. It was so deep and so dark while you swam in that huge lake one foggy morning. Your little legs had to keep kicking to stay afloat while you stared down into the abyss…too afraid to scream when a pair of eyes snapped open and stared right back at you from the boundless depths…too weak to swim away fast enough as they sped up towards you with malicious intent gleaming in its unblinking gaze…

A frightened shriek bursts from your lips as you bury your head in between his shoulder blades and shake the memory out of your head. All movement stops as you feel Vergil looking back over his shoulder while you hide your terrified face from him. “How are you fairing, my lovely rose?” he asks softly above the sonorous sounds of the sea.  

“I-I’m f-f-fine,” you stutter, trying your best to keep your voice even, but failing since your body is still quaking in fear.

You can practically feel his critical gaze bore into you as he makes no move to continue onward, calmly assessing the situation while you cling onto him for dear life. He’s probably wondering why he’s even bothering with such a scaredy cattail like me, you thought morosely while holding back tears. You start to regret coming out here with him in hopes of tackling your fear since all it has done so far is shed light on just how weak you are compared to the eldest Son of Sparda.  

“Do you have any Frost poems memorized?”

“Huh?” Your head snaps up to meet his intense gaze while you ponder his abrupt question. “Yeah, but-”

“Recite one for me,” he interjects with an earnest request.

“Now?!” you exclaim while your mouth hangs open in shock. “B-but how can I recite at a time like this?” you stammer while yours hands motion around the tumultuous surroundings.

“It will help you focus on something else besides the sea,” he assures you with utmost confidence while his thumbs draw comforting circles just above your knees.

Vergil’s gentle gesture sends pleasant shivers up your legs, effectively dispelling some of your anxiety among the waves. You close your eyes and take a deep breath through your nose, catching a whiff of the lavender laced in your flower crown along the sea breeze. The calming scent eases your rattled mind as you think about which Frost poem to recite. You open your eyes as soon as you are ready and nod for him to keep walking before clearing your throat. He gives you a small smile in return and turns back to task at hand as your soft voice rides along the crashing waves around you.  

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth.

 Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear.

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

 And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

 I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

The ocean water tickles the bottom of your feet as you finish your recitation. You look back to see just how far away you are from the shore. “Holy Motherwort!” you squeal softly, hugging around his neck tighter while resting your chin on his shoulder. “I’m really out here, huh?” you marvel in total astonishment while gazing out in awe at the boundless sea.

Vergil glances down at you from the corner of his eye, carefully gauging your reaction as he brings up the next phase of facing your fear. “Do you wish to stand here with me?”

You bite your lower lip nervously. “I dunno if I can,” you admit weakly before hiding your face behind his neck.

Vergil is silent for a moment before turning his head toward you. “You’ve come this far, my brazen rose,” he whispers by your ear. “I believe in you,” he adds, gently encouraging you to take that one final step in facing your fear.

Your eyes peek up at him from your hiding place at his sincere words. You stare deeply into his eyes, admiring how the azure ocean brings out the soft blue hue among molten silver as you make up your mind. He’s right…I’ve made this far, you thought, reminding yourself that you will always be safe and sound with your darling devil here is by your side.

“Okay,” you murmur with a determined nod before looking around in confusion. “How do I…?”

Before you can even finish your question, Vergil lets go of one of your legs while pulling the other out and further around him. You yelp in surprise and cling to him harder as his arm wraps around your waist, holding you close and keeping you still as he adjusts your body so that you are now facing him in his strong embrace. Your cheeks start to glow pink as you realize just how close you are to his face. He stares down at you quietly as the crashing of waves and squawking seagulls fill the silence between you two. This goes on for a couple more moments before the corners of his mouth quirk into an amused grin.

“Y/N.”

“Hmm?”

“You’re supposed to be standing here with me.”

“Oh yeah!” you blurt out with a nervous giggle while embarrassment flows through you, which only makes your cheeks burn hotter.

You rest your forehead against his chest to hide your flushed face from his gaze as you ready yourself for the next challenge. Your body wiggles against the vice grip of his arms as you unhook one of your legs from around his waist. The cool ocean water licks at your foot as it brushes against his muscular thigh, and after a heartbeat of steeling your nerves you begin to lower it down into the sea.  

Your foot slides all the way down against his long leg until it finally enters the ocean, shivering at the cool temperature of the water. You try to memorize every twitch of his muscles as your foot drags down, down, down…until it stops somewhere above his ankle. His arms tighten around your waist as you drop the other leg and slide it down against his leg as well.

Vergil shifts his weight back and forth between his feet as you lift your head up from his chest. His intense gaze penetrates your very soul as you loosen your hold from around his neck. Your body slides against his chest as you lower yourself all the way down towards the ocean floor. It takes every ounce of your willpower to not let out a soft moan at the feel of his soft skin brushing against your own warm skin.

As soon as your feet touch the sandy bottom, Vergil relinquishes his grip from around your waist and places his hands on your hips while you get your bearings. A vigorous heartbeat thrums beneath your hands as you take what seems like your millionth deep breath since leaving the shore. You close your eyes and let its steady rhythm give you just enough courage to turn around and face your fear head on by gazing out into the vast unknown in the arms of the man that helped you get there.

Vergil assists you by gently wrapping one arm around your hips to keep you steady while you turn around in place. And as you marvel at the sea, he moves you back to rest against his chest before enveloping you in his protective embrace. You practically melt into the safety of his arms and hold onto them gratefully while the rippling waves rise right below your knees just as he promised. His chin rests against your head as both of you take in the splendor of the ocean as it sparkles under the warm sun in comfortable silence.

“How are you feeling?” he murmurs by your ear after a few minutes of quiet gazing.

“Juuuuuust peachy!” you reply with a bright smile while giving his arm an appreciative pat.

His annoyed scoff blows against your hair, but you just giggle and snuggle deeper into his warm embrace. A husky chuckle rings close to your ear as he nuzzles your neck while his arms tighten around your waist. You sigh happily at the feel of his soft lips as they brush against your skin, and then shiver in delight when they press a gentle kiss on the nape of your neck. Your body hums in excitement and you find yourself saying the first thing that comes to mind just to keep the whimpering moan crawling up your throat at bay.    

“I didn’t expect you to request Robert Frost.”

Vergil stops nuzzling your neck to press his lips against your ear. “Well, I haven’t been able to enjoy his prose ever since you borrowed the complete collection of his works from me months ago,” he reproaches you playfully while his hands glide up your waist.

You giggle as his fingers tickle your sides, squirming a little to get away until his hands settle back down on your hips. “I’m sorry…I keep forgetting about it every time you visit,” you concede as soon as your giggle fit is over.

“There’s no need to apologize,” he insists with a soft squeeze of his hands around your hips. “I know that he’s one of your favorites,” he adds before pausing in thought. “Speaking of which, you still have my copy of Emily Dickinson as well.”

You fight the urge to rub up against his midsection with every squeeze of his hand. “How do you know that they’re my favorites?” you ask in hopes of distracting your overactive imagination from wanting more fuel for your daydreams and fantasies.

“You always return the books that don’t inspire you while keeping the ones that you find captivating.”

Vergil gazes at the endless sea while that little bit of wisdom drifts across the salty breeze. You realize that you have shared this beautiful sentiment with him on multiple occasions at the book café and among your flowers. “But what if it’s not the books that I find captivating?” you ask pensively, thinking back to the earlier stages of your friendship with the grumpy gentleman who currently makes your heart beat faster than a hummingbird’s wings.

“What if it’s the man who keeps lending his books to such a forgetful gardener?”

You feel his head shift down just as you turn your head, raising yourself up on your tippy toes before pressing a kiss right below the jaw. He freezes up at the touch of your lips as your sincerely sweet words weave between the crashing waves, but then a low rumbling hum emits from his throat when you nuzzle his chin affectionately. His head slowly turns until he pins you down with his searing gaze, dipping closer so that you can hear him over the resonant sounds of the sea.  

“Then he’s a lucky devil indeed to have caught the attention of such a lovely rose.”

Your knees grow weak as his forehead rests against your brow, the blue hue of his eyes twinkling warmly while a soft whimper manages to get past your lips. Something in the salty air suddenly shifts and you feel as if you are about to take a step beyond an unseen precipice, wondering if your darling devil is also feeling the line of friendship blur as you tremble in anticipation. A part of you desperately hopes that he will finally capture your lips in the passionate kiss you have dreamed of many times since that wild night…while another part wants to take matters into your own hands and pull him down to your amorous kiss. But the patient part of you wins over, not wanting to force such a pivotal moment as you wait with an open heart and bated breath.  

Vergil leans down until both of your lips are barely touching…but then his eyes widen before glancing out towards the ocean. You yelp in alarm when he spins you around abruptly towards the shore, curving his body over yours to protect you from a huge wave as it crashes into both of you. A terrified shriek leaves your lips as the force of the wave pushes you forward, the water now up to your chest as you feel something brush against your back. You instinctively reach behind you to swat away whatever has ahold of you, but instead your eyes widen in horror as you realize that the bottom string of your bikini top has become untied.    

You quickly bring your hands up to hold your bikini top against your breasts, thankful that the necktie of your bikini is still intact as the errand wave recedes towards the shore. Another type of wave hits you as Vergil asks if you are alright…sheer embarrassment rushes up your body and pools around your cheeks, which turn as red as a holly berry while you whine awkwardly. He must see why you are so mortified…you are after all literally hunched over to hide your crimson face from him. You just want this to end, but the fact that you are knee deep in the ocean and utterly terrified of what may lie beneath its murky depths keeps you from running away.

Vergil tightens his arms around your waist before hoisting you up nearly out of the ocean before making his way back to shore. You cannot bear to face him when he puts you down back on dry sandy ground a safe distance away from the water, disappointed and utterly humiliated by this sudden turn of events. Both of you just stand there stiffly, looking anywhere but at each other as the awkward silence between you two lingers for an uncomfortable amount of time. It takes you a few moments to collect yourself before surreptitiously looking over your shoulder at Vergil, who is currently doing a terrible job at hiding his flushed face while staring down at his feet. You gather what is left of your courage and take a deep breath, preparing your voice to stay calm while you speak to him.    

“Umm…if you can just-”

“Allow me to help you tie it back.”

You stop short at his sudden interruption, squeaking in surprise while his offer of assistance makes your entire body feel like it’s got a bad case of sunburn. Vergil tilts his head at your odd reaction but makes no move towards you as he continues. “It’s the least I could do for making you suffer from my lack of vigilance.”

Your brow furrows in confusion while you shake your head, knocking your flower crown slightly askew. “You didn’t make me suffer, Vergil…I’m just really, really, really embarrassed,” you reassure with a weary sigh, “and probably pinker than a peony on a porch too…that’s all!” you add while trying your best to look him in the eye despite your flustered state.

Vergil is quiet for a moment while his eyes bore straight through you, searching for any sign of distress besides what you mentioned before giving you a slight nod of his head. His stiff posture gradually relaxes as he takes one slow step forward just behind your very bare back. “May I?” he inquires softly, raising a hand towards one of the strings, but not grabbing it until you give him permission.

Your arms tighten around your breasts while warm tingles cascade down your back in response to his offer. You bite your lower lip and twirl one of your feet on the sand as you think it over, but you find yourself nodding your head when you see a spark of remorse in those beautiful blue eyes. The hand that is still hovering close to one of the strings swoops in and gently grabs it as you turn your head to stare at the Yamato, which is just a few feet ahead of you. Both strings tug on your bikini top as he proceeds to tie them back together, mumbling under his breath that perhaps it’s best to double tie them just to be safe. You giggle at his soft mutterings as he finishes tying your top, but a soft caress down the middle of your back turns your laugh into a soft gasp.    

“Forgive me, my lovely rose.”

You barely hear his low apology over the distant waves as you turn around to fully face him. Just the sight of his forlorn frown makes you wish you had more petals to throw in air. “If I had any flowers on me, I’d be showering you with all them right now!” you threaten cutely with both hands on your hips, which earns you a raised eyebrow from the solemn devil. It only takes one step for you to get close enough to wrap your arms around his waist for a hug.

“You protected me just like you promised, so there’s no need to apologize, my darling devil,” you declare softly, hoping that he hears the genuine tone of your voice among the sea breeze.

Vergil takes a deep breath through his nose as you rest your chin against his bare chest. You listen to his soothing heartbeat and sway gently to its steady beat as you smile up at him in adoration. The corners of his mouth curve into a soft grin while his hands encircle your hips, swaying along to your rhythm as he presses a gracious kiss between your brow. You hum as the pleasant touch of his soft lips makes the butterflies flutter faster in your stomach, and as both of you look into each other’s eyes you are brought back at that unseen precipice once more. For a moment you see a spark of resolution within the depths of his silver blue eyes, but it quickly fades as he breaks away from your ardent gaze.      

“We better make haste before the crew starts questioning our whereabouts,” he announces while walking by you towards the Yamato.

You blink and tilt your head at his sudden shift from an open warmth to a stoic demeanor, feeling both confused and a little crestfallen as you follow close behind. He slips on his Hawaiian shirt and grabs the Yamato while you tie your mesh sarong around your waist. Something catches Vergil’s eye just behind you and he goes off to check it out while you pick up your gardening trowel and bucket of seashells. You look over to see him thoroughly inspecting a patch of wildflowers growing by the sea, summoning a tiny blue sword before cutting one lucky bloom from the sandy ground.  

Vergil walks back over to you with a single white flower in his hand, but as he gets closer you notice that the petals are delicately brushed with a soft pink hue. Its funnel-shape and tropical flare marks it as an amaryllis, the bloom born from the blood of a shy and timid nymph in hopes of winning the love of a handsome shepherd. Your heart begins to pound as its meaning echoes through your mind, now understanding why the nymph would go through the trouble of piercing her own heart for the sake of requited love.

“Your boundless determination never ceases to amaze me, my radiant rose,” he compliments, presenting the strikingly unique flower to you with a soft smile.

You giggle at the subtle change of his endearment and demurely glance down at the bloom of brazen beauty while reaching out to take it. Your fingers caress the palm of his hand as you grab the stem and your thumb brushes over his knuckles before withdrawing back with the gifted flower in hand. He watches you bring it up to your nose for a sniff, silver blue eyes smoldering while entranced by your every move. You can feel a soft blush creeping up your cheeks as your eyes flicker up to behold his wondrous gaze.

“And you never cease to charm the petals off me, my darling devil,” you coyly confess, hoping that you have better luck than the shy nymph from that bittersweet tale.          

Vergil takes a step forward and straightens your crooked flower crown with a soft chuckle before turning right back around. As his back turns towards you, he pops the hilt of the Yamato free and unsheathes it with a smooth flourish, slashing the air with two precise strokes before gliding it back into its sheath. The blue portal that he sometimes uses to leave your garden rips open, making you jump behind his back as you huddle in close to hide. He pulls you around to stand by his side, taking your arm and wrapping it around his own while whispering words of comfort.

You never walked through the portal before, but with your darling devil there to lead you it wasn’t so bad! One minute you are standing by a sprawling tide pool, and the next you are suddenly back hanging out with the rest of the crew. They welcome you both back in various ways: Kyrie and Lady offer you a fruity cocktail while Dante asks if his brother finally got the sand out of his…well, you don’t know exactly what he was going to say since a summoned sword interrupted him. You see that a volleyball net has been set up nearby and after some persuading, as well as some competitive taunting from Dante, they drag Vergil off to play a game of beach volleyball with them.    

They try to get you to join too, but you swear that you would only slow them down with your terrible lack of coordination. Kyrie giggles as she wraps her arm around yours and asks if you would like to watch the game together. You gladly accept with a relieved smile and both of you make yourselves comfortable on a large beach towel while the rest of the crew breaks up into teams of three: Vergil, Nero and Lady on side and Dante, Nico, and Trish on the other. Kyrie flips a coin to see which team serves first and after a bit of bickering between the boys they position themselves before Nero starts the game since his team won the coin toss.

You and Kyrie chat about the seashells you collected during your search down the shore while watching the intense game of volleyball. At some point during the game, Kyrie points out the amaryllis still in your hand and you find yourself glancing at Vergil just as he lunges forward towards the oncoming ball as it almost hits the sandy ground. You say that you found it by the tide pool, but Kyrie’s sharp eyes catch the subtle look towards the game and the light blush on your cheeks. She giggles and gives you a playful shove against your shoulder, suggesting that it would be a lovely addition to your flower crown.

Your eyes sparkle with glee at the idea and you quickly undo some of the pins holding your crown before removing it completely from atop your head. The eucalyptus leaves and lavender seem to be none worse for wear after your excursion into the ocean, but there are a couple of freesia blooms missing. You pick out one of the empty spots and carefully weave the amaryllis flower into the crown, unwrapping a few wires to hold it in place since it’s a great deal larger than the freesia. And after a couple of rearranging you don your flower crown and show it to Kyrie for approval before pinning it back into place.

From the corner of your eye you spot Vergil staring in your direction. You look over and smile sweetly while turning your head to show off the radiant addition to your flower crown. His eyes grow soft as one corner of his mouth quirks into a secretive grin before quickly jumping up to hit the ball back over the net. Your eyes linger down his gorgeous body as you watch him move across the sand, wondering how it might feel weighing you down on a soft bed. And his deliciously long legs…you only sat in his lap one time, but it was enough to feel just how strong he really is…and just how long he could go behind closed doors and in between your thighs…

But this nagging feeling comes from the back of your mind as you watch him glide gracefully across the sand. It slaps you with the image of Vergil tearing away from your amorous gaze from earlier…and again when he turned away to open a portal back here. He is a man of action rather than words, and right now his actions denote a sense of hesitancy. Is he really having second thoughts? you wonder, insecurity coiling around your chest as your eyes track his every move. Your heart tells you the opposite: the way he held you in the ocean and came so close to your lips…it all spells out just how much he wants you too, but your intuition warns you about pressing the issue.

Ooh…what do I do now? you fret as your daydreams morph into worrisome thoughts.

“Daydreaming again, I see.”

“Ah!” you squeal softly as the sound of Kyrie’s voice knocks you back down to reality. You look over to see that knowing glint in her hazel eyes again. Your lips curl into a sheepish grin while you shake the anxious thoughts from your mind. “I’m sorry…what were you saying?” you ask apologetically, resisting the urge to fidget under her mischievous gaze by fiddling with a strand of your hair.

Kyrie grins impishly as she turns her gaze towards the volleyball game. “They’re pretty good, aren’t they?”

“Yeah!” you agree with a wide smirk while following her gaze. Both teams are really focused; you can practically feel the tension as your eyes track the ball bouncing from one side of the net to the other until it flies out of bounds. This starts a yelling match between Dante and Vergil, both of their voices raising in volume as their argument grows more heated.

“They’re a little bit competitive, huh?” you observe with a quiet giggle, already knowing quite well how often the twin brothers fight.

Kyrie laughs along with you as her fiancé quickly puts himself between the brothers. “And it always ends with Nero breaking them up.”

You both watch as Nero knocks some sense into his father and uncle while your mind suddenly remembers a minor detail you wanted to know about the wedding. “Oh!” you gasp, “I wanted to ask you something…” you trail off, drawing Kyrie into secretive discussion while the crew resumed their game.

After being asked to be his date to wedding, you immediately ran upstairs to your room and threw open your closet doors. You shuffled through a multitude of flowery dresses of every color and various styles, searching for the perfect dress that would suit the wedding…but none of them seemed right or appropriate for the big day. It was then that you decided to just make a dress and headed straight into your childhood room where you have a stock of fabrics stored. The dress is mostly completed now, but you wanted to check with Kyrie about some minor details before finishing it for the big day.

Kyrie eyes grow wide as you talk about what colors would suit your dress best without drawing too much attention…it is, after all, her wedding day and everyone should be enthralled by her beautiful dress. She claps her hands excitement and assures you that the colors you have chosen will look absolutely stunning on you. You sigh in relief and talk about your plans about the finishing touches to the embroidered flowers. She gushes about your crafty talents and even shares a few of her sewing projects for their kids at the orphanage before her face lights up with a sudden realization.  

“You know…speaking of the wedding,” she begins with a thoughtful expression, but her eyes hold that same knowing glint from earlier. “Have you both decided on a song yet?”

Your heart stops for a moment. “Whaaaaat?” you exclaim while your mind scrambles for an unsuspicious response. “What are you talking about?” you inquire, tilting your head in feign ignorance while trying to sound as innocent as possible.

Kyrie smiles and leans in close before whispering in a hushed tone by your ear. “Vergil once told me that he plays the violin. So, when I heard someone playing the violin when I last visited your home…I just figured that it must be him practicing up there since you two are close friends.” Her sunny smile turns into a sly smirk before continuing. “And I may have heard you asking your friend which song he would like to perform at the wedding as I left your office.”

Your eyes widen in shock as you berate your past self for not considering Kyrie’s keen sense of hearing that day.  “Oh snapdragons,” you sigh in defeat with a disappointed pout. “I’ve totally ruined the surprise.”

“Aww no!” Kyrie scoots closer to you and wraps her arm around your shoulders. “I was so surprised and genuinely touched by such a thoughtful and creative gift!” she consoles with a soft smile. “Which is why I would like to make a request.” Her eyes glance toward her future husband. “I would very much appreciate it if both of you would perform for our first dance.”

You ponder her request while watching the crew give it their all as the game comes close to an end. Your eyes wander over to Vergil, who is glaring at a grinning Dante while Trish serves, and you cannot help but feel a thrilling burst of joy at the prospect of him playing such an important part in the wedding. “I’ll have to run it by Vergil first,” you inform softly as the crew dashes across the sand to finally determine the winner. “But if he’s on board, then I am too!” you exclaim with an ecstatic grin that matches Kyrie’s own jubilant smile.

The volleyball game finally ends with Nero’s team becoming the victor by a scant hair. After a few minutes of trading quips and biting sarcasm, they all agree that the losing team should set up the bonfire by the beach while the winning team gets to have some rest and relaxation. You and Kyrie trade a knowing look, silently communicating that you need some alone time with Vergil to share her request. A bubbly giggle bursts from your lips as you get up off the beach towel and grab your bucket of seashells before skipping off alone down towards the sea.

The sun is now lower in the sky than before your adventure out to sea, illuminating the sand in its golden orange light as you move closer to the ocean. You notice the tide has receded, which reveals a treasure trove of shells among bits of seaweed and other trinkets. Your head turns to look over your shoulder as you shift through the ocean’s offerings, hoping that your covert glances will catch a certain darling devil’s attention. Vergil is putting on his cute Hawaiian shirt, watching you from afar when he grabs the Yamato and starts walking to where you are sitting down on the wet sand.      

“Sooooo,” you begin when he gets close enough, “do you remember my suspicion from earlier?”

Vergil pauses for a moment. “Ah,” he murmurs as his eyes spark with realization, “so my future daughter-in-law has figured out the reason behind our clandestine meetings, hmm?” he surmises while crouching down to sit beside you.

“It’s my fault,” you confess with a guilty pout. “She heard me asking about which song we were going to play while she was leaving.” Your eyes glance flicker over to see his reaction to your folly. His expression has not changed much, the crinkle in his brow furrows a little deeper but he is not giving you a disappointed glare at least. “Buuuuut,” you quickly move onto the matter at hand before he has time to get annoyed, “she did request that we play for their first dance!”

Vergil tilts his head while he raises a brow in astonishment. “She would have us perform an integral part of the wedding reception?”

You nod excitedly. “Yeah! You get to play the song that your son will remember fondly for the years as his first dance with his dearly beloved!” A jovial smile graces your lips as you stare up at him with hopeful eyes. “What do you say?”

A moment of silence lingers between you two while Vergil thinks it over, staring out at the ocean as it sparkles under the setting sun in deep contemplation. You admire his stoic profile while waiting patiently for his decision, seeing a few cracks of emotion here and there within his serious demeanor. And once he has made up his mind, he takes a deep breath through his nose before nodding his head ever so slightly.      

“I…would very much like that,” he murmurs, reaching down to rest his hand on top yours on the sand while turning to look down at you. “Thank you, Y/N.” He gives you a soft smile while his thumb brushes the top of your hand tenderly.

Your body instantly responds to his delicate touch, cheeks reddening and heart racing while you shake your head. “You shouldn’t be thanking me…I’m the reason why we nearly spoiled the surprise to begin with!” you remind him with a light giggle, turning your hand to lace your fingers within his warm hand.

Vergil hums in amusement and gently holds your hand while both of you enjoy a quiet moment by the sea together. It almost feels as if we’re… You do not let yourself finish that thought since your darling devil is very perceptive and will only worry for you like he did in the music room. Today is supposed to be about fun and relaxation before the big day…not eating more bittersweet berries! You give his hand a determined squeeze as your head leans down to rest on his shoulder, accepting that you must wait just a little bit longer for him to come around and sweep you off your feet.    

Your eyes happen to glance over to the side a little ways, and before you know it an elated squeal leaves your lips at the sight of the one thing you were hoping to find during your visit to the beach. Vergil assumes an offensive stance at lightning speed, hand at the ready to wield the Yamato in your defense. You quickly tell him that you are fine before rushing over to collect two wonderful prizes in the shape of a circle about the size of your palm.  

Vergil sighs in quiet exasperation before striding over to where you are carefully brushing sand off the most unique find on the beach. “And what have you found this time?”

“Sand flowers!” you reveal with total exhilaration, gesturing down at the sand while bouncing around like a bumblebee.  

Vergil quirks a brow as he peers down at your prizes. “Curious,” he murmurs while crouching down to get a closer look. “And here I thought they were known as sand dollars,” he retorts with a wry smirk.

Your face falls into an adorable grimace. “But look at them, Vergil!” you demand with utmost seriousness while pointing out the petal-like pattern in the shape of a pretty five petal daisies. “They’re like flowers by the sea!” you marvel with a clap of your hands before carefully prying one out of the wet sand.

Vergil shakes his head and chuckles at your argument, letting you win this round of silly bickering as you proudly hold up your sand flower. “I’ve also heard that finding one of these supposedly brings you good luck,” he informs while examining the other sand flower still stuck in the sand with his appraising gaze.

“Really?” Your eyes widen in wonder before tilting your head in thought. “Then here…take one!” You present him with the sand flower in your hand. “It can’t hurt to have a little luck before the wedding, right?”

You give him a playful wink as he accepts your generous gift with a gracious grin. He puts the lucky sand flower into the front pocket of his Hawaiian shirt while you proceed to pry the other one out from its sandy prison. A brisk wave crashes on the shore and rushes right over your feet just as you free the sand flower, making you shriek in surprise while jumping up in fright. Vergil swiftly wraps an arm around your waist before you can accidentally hurt yourself by tripping over some slippery seaweed beneath the foamy water. You make sure that you did not drop your lucky find, letting out a sigh of relief at the sight of it still clutched in your hand before giving your devilish savior a grateful smile.  

“It seems I’m still a little afraid of the ocean even after all you’ve done for me,” you bemoan softly, mentally ridiculing yourself for not being more aware of your surroundings during all the excitement over your discovery of the sand flowers.

Vergil gives your hip a comforting squeeze. “Don’t be disheartened, my lovely rose. You’ve taken a brave first step. See?” he reassures you softly before turning his gaze down towards the surf. “You’re even closer to the sea now than you were while collecting seashells,” he discerns with a proud grin as he pulls you closer to stand by his side.

“And now every time I read some Frost, I’ll think of my darling devil helping me face my fears,” you murmur, cheeks blushing pink as you snuggle up closer to him.

There is a moment of resounding silence before you hear a thoughtful hum deep within his chest. Your eyes flicker up to see Vergil now staring down at you. His striking white hair looks so soft in the light of the sun while his eyes seem to glow like rivulets of blue among a sea of silver. He reaches up to touch the newest addition to your flower crown with a small grin while reciting some Frost of his own:    

The heart can think of no devotion Greater than being shore to the ocean-- Holding the curve of one position, Counting an endless repetition.

As soon as Vergil finishes reciting the short but sweet poem, he bends down and plants a soft kiss just above the corner of your mouth…the same spot he kissed that night by the camellias. A soft whimper escapes your lips before you can stop it while gazing up at him, noting a mix of emotion swirling in the depths of those silver blue eyes. The resolution from before is back, but now there is a certain hope along with some hesitancy…

Your eyes shine ardently once you finally understand; this is meant to be his response to your astilbe flower. You smile and hug him closer, letting him know that you are just as devoted to him as he is to you…and you are not going anywhere while there is still a rose to be found among his briars. All your insecure thoughts from earlier are dashed from your mind as he hugs you back without much pause thanks to your efforts of getting him used to your friendly presence.

It seems I have more luck than the shy nymph after all, you muse, thankful that you don’t have to pierce your heart with a golden arrow to win him over. All you need is a little more patience…only then can you pick the flower that blooms from this sweet devotion and give it to your one and only darling devil.  

Read Part 9 here

Read on Ao3

My Masterlist if you want more 💖

I'd like to thank @harmony-redgrave over on tumblr for the wonderful idea of Kyrie asking them to play for their first dance at the wedding! And I gotta give a small shout out to @rodentsunite for giving me the absolutely cute idea of Gardener Reader making dresses uwu

Tagging: @drusoona @bettybattaglia @exsultry @thedyingmoon @veenus-ow @meowykittenn @fandomhell97 @vergilsangel @thenightgazer @cherryvane @yesno18 @diabeticsugarush @queenmuzz @mary-v-o-n @tinamalee @a-midsummer-nights-odyssey @ancientwhitefire @agentdedf1sh  @divinity-deos @shiranyaaww @skarlet-red-rose

[theprincessaurora]

What is your personal ship bias for your canon character?

What is your personal ship bias for your canon character  ? ( still accepting )

Apart from her canonical ship, which pleases me greatly, I always shipped Aurora with Gaston! I found them to be the epitome of masculinity and femininity, and believe their energies would provide a beautiful blend. Imagine his low baritone mixing with her soaring soprano in a Looking For Romance type of duet! As I've been intrigued by the idea of their two respective characters meeting since the age of five, I carry this ship very close to my heart. However, in recent years, I've grown so fond of the idea of Aurora with Hercules! Aurora is beloved by all who know her, and I think she'd make Hercules feel seen and known and completely adored in a way others couldn't. I also think that Aurora is someone who sees people for who they are at the core- she can forgive a lot if a person is intrinsically pure, but even if it's a nice action from someone who she reads as being a bad person in some aspect, she won't accept it. And I think Hercules is such a great guy that watching his movie sometimes stings a little from how intentionally hurtful people are toward him. I also think they would bond over the idea of family- both grew up with foster families that loved them, and while each valued their unit, they wanted more. Aurora is very spiritual, and she felt she could always connect with her parents, even before she met them, and I think she'd share this with Hercules. It would be so fitting, considering his parents are literal Gods. Which reminds me- her namesake is that of the Goddess of Dawn, which is another aspect that makes them well suited for one another. He’s part God (after drinking the potion and losing some of it, that is) and she’s party fairy, as she was enchanted with supernatural gifts upon her birth. It’d be so intriguing to see them connect over them, and coming into their own. Him transitioning from the unsure mortal boy into the Greek God Hercules, just as she blossoms from the nameless peasant maid Briar Rose to the wondrously fair Princess Aurora. 

Aurora comes across as someone who would have chemistry with pretty much anyone, so it's hard not to see her in a ship with someone. Hundreds come to mind- her with Phoebus, Eric, Adam. However, when it comes to WLW, I see her with a modern (emphasis on the modern, definitely not the canonical source material) iteration of Merida. I also think Pocahontas would fascinate her.

[theloveandthedead]

Snippet of Labyrinth AU

@holographicsneakers @definitelynotabird @lunarwolf14

I know I promised Labyrinth AU years ago, but it keeps getting pushed back by the actual fic and other things. 

So, here is a (horribly unedited) little snippet of the WIP because I feel SHAME for making you wait so long. But remember SNIPPET is the key word here lol. This is my favorite scene from the movie (and everyone else too apparently lol). Please enjoy! :D

The half-eaten peach fell from Olivia’s hand as she collapsed against the tree trunk, her surroundings swirling around her like a mad carousel.

“What have you done to me?” Her vision was a blur, and she could no longer hear Baskerville, Sir Hellsing, and Penwood’s voices.

Instead, Olivia heard music.

Squinting her eyes, she gazed up and found a barrage of bubbles floating around her—beckoning her with their beauty and song.

Suddenly, all thoughts of finding Walter and escaping the labyrinth were silenced and Olivia reached out to the largest bubble to find the ballerina from her music box dancing within. One by one, as the bubble swirled around her, Olivia saw people dancing joyfully and she found herself swaying to the enchanting melody.

“So….beautiful….” Olivia whispered, placing her hand on the bubble as the music drowned out her senses. “So beautiful…..”

In his throne room, Alucard held four crystal balls close to his face, inspecting each for something—or someone—of great importance. When he found what he was searching for, Alucard snatched the chosen crystal up before banishing the rest with a wave of his hand.

There she was, a white rose among a briar of red blooms. Olivia’s gown was silver with puffed sleeves and diamonds sewn into the skirt, giving the impression that her gown was made of pure starlight. A mother of pearl necklace adorned her neck, and her long black hair was braided with strings of pearls and leaves of silver. She was the picture of innocence with her wide eyes as she descended further into the dragon’s lair, urgently searching for someone as masked dancers waltzed around her to a beautifully ominous melody.

“Come find me, Little Princess.” Alucard closed his eyes and kissed the bubble with a grin. “Find me and let me bring your dreams into reality.”

The opulent ballroom was the epitome of a child’s fairytale dream. Long chandeliers with jeweled stalactites and strings of pearls hung between ornate cornices, and the walls were adorned with beautiful silks that tempted passerbys to trace their hands over the fabric.

Even the dancers were exquisite and fairytale-like.

Silken shirts open to the waist; velvet breeches, plumed hats paired with capes and staffs; magnificent gowns that exposed the wearer’s neck and dove low between their breasts; hair coiffed high;  long white gloves, and intricate masks.

Despite their variations in apparel, every single dancer wore a mask resembling a mythical creature.

Olivia felt their eyes burn into her skin as she moved through the ring of dancers, each one grinning and laughing at a secret only they were privy to.

Then, from across the room, Olivia locked eyes with Alucard and her breath stilled for a moment.

He was a resplendent image standing in an ivory archway with a fanged mask on a stick that he slowly lowered until his face was laid bare. He wore a midnight blue frock coat with a white cravat and diamante at his neck and cuffs. A belt woven of gold rested on his waist and on his legs he wore ebony breeches tucked into matching boots that shone like onyx in the ballroom’s ethereal glow. His long hair was partially pined back with a silver brooch that mirror the one in her hair, and his ruby eyes were like magnets that drew her in.

Olivia reached out to him, only for him to disappear behind a waltzing couple.

She didn’t understand why she was here or what this ball was for, but all Olivia knew was that she needed to find Alucard. What she would say or do was lost to her, but what mattered was having him in arm’s reach.

With a look of desperation, Olivia weaved her way through the mysterious ballroom as the dancers continued to laugh at her, catching sparse glimpses of Alucard in reflections or in the arms of another.

‘I’m waiting for you, Little Princess.’ Alucard chuckled as she unknowingly brushed past him, his eyes never leaving her figure for a moment. ‘Hurry and come find me.’

Around and around she went, guided by the magnetic tug on her heart, until she found herself face to face with a large fan made of feathers.

The pull on her heart had become unbearable and, without a moment’s hesitation, Olivia parted the feathers and found Alucard staring back at her.

“You found me, my princess.” He held a hand out to her and she took it with a star struck expression.

Immediately, Alucard gathered her into his arms and they joined the other couples in a hypnotizing waltz.

Olivia felt like she was floating on a cloud as Alucard spun her across the floor before pulling her back in again. He smiled at her—and her alone—like she was the most beautiful person he had ever seen, and she blushed when he placed his lips against her ear and told her so.

“I…I can’t believe this!” Olivia beamed, shivers tickling her spine at the sensation of his hands on her body.  “I feel like I am in a dream, yet I cannot remember dreaming of something like this!”

“Yet here you are. So why don’t you stay?” Alucard dipped her back and caressed her cheek. “Stay in this dream. If you want to be free and have your heart’s every desire, stay here and never look back.”

Mesmerized, Olivia nodded as she reached up to caress his face in return. Alucard was so handsome, and the pure endearment in his eyes made her never want to leave his arms. “

“Do you trust me?” His breath tickled her lips, and she nodded in anticipation as her eyes fluttered shut.

He was going to kiss her, and it would be beautiful. A prince who would grant her heart’s desire and hold her close until—.

Olivia’s eyes shot open as she felt a change sweep over the room.

The music had stopped.

The dancers had become like stone as they watched them in barely concealed joy, pointing and nudging each other like spectators at a zoo.

‘No, this isn’t right.’ Olivia sharply turned her head away from Alucard’s yet his grip tightened as he insistently sought her lips with his. The dancers cackled and applauded at her struggles until Olivia finally wrenched herself free and tore her way through the crowd.

The dancers jeered and clawed at her, throwing her off balance yet she shoved them away and raced to the end of the ballroom where the shimmering membrane of a grand bubble awaited her.

Her eyes locked onto a small chair, and she hurled it at the membrane with all her might.

The chair shattered the bubble like fine glass, and Olivia was dragged out as the ballroom collapsed and crumbled to rubbish.  Strange objects whirled around her with increasing speed until it became a maelstrom of untuned music.

Then finally….it stopped and Olivia found herself on the ground in her own clothes again. In her left hand rested the half eaten peach, rotten and covered in maggots.

With a cry of disgust, Olivia flung the peach away as shouts from Sir Hellsing, Penwood, and Baskerville echoed in the distance.

This scene will be stretched out a little more in the final edit, but I cannot give you everything right now because where is the fun in that~? And I did say this was horribly unedited but it is a taste of what is to come~which will be better~:D

[toogaytowrite]

What Awaits the Shiny Happy People

This fic operates under the assumption the speculated “cult/Halloween ending” is the true ending, and that Robert knows as much about the cult and Joseph's true nature as Mary. )

For the first time in months (if he were being honest with himself, years) Robert didn't smell of cigarettes and whiskey. Well, he only sort of smelled of whiskey, as that scent wasn't going to come out of his clothes and his skin and his sweat any time soon. He had at least made an effort to shower and mask some of the smell with one of the few bottles of cologne he didn't buy at a truck stop. He didn't have that nagging part of his subconscious telling him he smelled when Simon nestled close. He could just enjoy the feeling of his form slotting in against his side like a missing piece of a puzzle. God, he had to scoff. Puppy love like his wasn't his thing. Completely ruined his image as the lone wolf in the leather jacket when he waxed in his mind with Shel Silverstein-esque poetry about missing pieces. Still. He was okay.

He was okay being in this moment, with people he'd come to care for. Being okay had become an exceedingly rare thing for him in the past few years.

Eyes half-lidded and voice drifting between being awake and falling asleep on his shoulder, Simon eventually sighed, “I should probably go mediate Mary and Amanda. I'm pretty sure the graduation present she gave her was a flask.”

“Damn, she completely ripped off my idea.”

“Please don't encourage my daughter to drink under the age.”

“You don't have to use flasks for booze. You can fill it with water, apple juice, liquid cyanide. It's multipurpose.”

“So are water bottles, which are more commonly associated with non-alcoholic drinks on the go.”

“What's stopping anyone from filling those with vodka and passing it off as water? S'what I do whenever I go to the gym.”

“We both know you never go to the gym.” Simon stood, moving slow and almost reluctant, his fingers lingering as long as possible as they ran up Robert's arm. That was just his nature. He was patient and mercifully slow even when opening old wounds. When he said he was willing to wait, he knew those were more than empty promises. Robert felt the smile creeping on his face and tried hiding it behind his hand. “Also Val is showing off her knives to Hazel and Briar, you may want to talk to her about that. We don't want them turning into the delightful children from down the lane, if you know what I mean.”

“Can do.”

Simon flashed him a grin and turned just as Amanda took a swig of something from her new flask across the yard. She instantly yanked it away from her mouth to give him a sheepish grin. Mary just looked the other way. Robert watched his back as he made his way over, because where else would his eyes be? On his ass? Certainly, but he told himself he should tear himself away from those admittedly plush glutes to probably also make sure Val wasn't handing out knives to the younger party goers. As he moved to stand, a firm hand on his shoulder pushed him back down against the bench. The mere touch sent electricity down his spine into his legs. He turned and a pasty blonde face looked down at him.

“Great party, huh?” Joseph's lips split apart in a smile just wide enough to show off a flash of canines. The epitome of Robert's mistakes and regrets made manifest. He roughly shouldered his hand away, turning back around. The air was too thin around him.

“Yeah. Great.” Better when Joseph was on the other end, not paying Robert any mind. Bad enough he had to see him around the neighborhood and attend his stupid barbecues, now he actually wanted to talk. Like they were just neighbors enjoying a graduation party.  

Joseph slid into the seat next to him and the tranquility he and Simon had cultivated in this corner of the party curdled. Despite wanting to look anywhere else, he glanced at him out of his peripheral. A sliver of a pink cherry blossom shaken loose by a breeze landed on Joseph's shoulder and wilted into a limp, brown husk. He pinched it between two fingers, flicking it away.

“I'm so proud of Amanda. I pray my kids turn out as good as her.” He chuckled at the joke only he knew as he smoothed out the wrinkle he'd made in his sleeve. “And Val. She's become a lovely young woman. I bet you're happy to see her again.”

Robert's fingers wrapped around a fistful of his jeans. “Don't play this coy bullshit with me, Joseph. If you have something to say, say it. Don't dance around the subject like I'm some putz that doesn't know what you are.”

He smiled and if it weren't for the fact Robert's fists were white knuckled against his knees, he would have punched the smug fuck. He knew that wasn't the only reason he didn't do it. He knew he couldn't even if he tried.

“It's just that, well... I've seen how close you two have gotten. Late night drives, when you think I'm not watching you.” The figure made by something that didn't know what a man was supposed to look like flashed in his mind. That night, they'd both seen that thing on the edge of the treeline. Robert's stomach tied in knots.

He should have known better. He should have just kept driving with Simon right out of Maple Bay, until they hit the border into Mexico or drove straight into the ocean. Joseph held the sleeve of his sweater and rubbed the material between two fingers. Seeing that damn thing around his neck made him want to strangle him with it. He went on in his aggravatingly nonchalant way of speaking, “He hasn't been here that long, has he? Feels like it was only yesterday he drove into our little cul de sac.”

“It's just sex, alright?” Robert spat, “Meaningless, on the verge of whiskey dick, shoving him out the door the next morning, petty sex. Give him a few months before you start getting paranoid.”

“And I support you in any of your sexual escapades, one hundred percent! And I know you are exceedingly talented in keeping those matters where they belong. But you know you can't lie to me.”

I see through you went unsaid, but the words floated somewhere in the air between them, silent yet piercing. Somewhere across the lawn, laughter erupted from the group surrounding Amanda. She beamed. She looked so happy, Simon's arms slung around her shoulder, basking in the glow of everyone congratulations. It felt completely alien. Like watching a television too far away to make out the details. The few feet of space between him and the rest of the party might as well have been miles. Robert was alone and adrift in a boat ready to capsize. He glanced down at the perfectly manicured hands folded over each other, hands that had once held his and pinned him against the wall in a fit of passion.

Joseph was the thing under the water's surface waiting to pull him down if he made one mistake.

It was a precarious truce they'd come to over the years. Not so much a truce as a threat- that if Robert ever told anyone what he knew, he would lose the one thing he had left in this world. He hadn't always been good to Val. That had nothing to do with Joseph, he was a shitty person before they met and he would be a shitty person forever. He couldn't blame that facet of his personality on him. But he had lived with the knowledge that Val was okay somewhere. Alive, maybe even happy. If he stepped a toe out of line, he was putting her in danger. It didn't matter that she was states away, didn't even matter that he himself didn't know where she lived, he knew what Joseph was capable of.

“I like him, Robert. Really, I do. He is genuinely a kind person. I enjoy his company quite a bit. It would bring me no joy to rob Amanda of the only parent she has left.” His voice was almost soft, or as close an approximation as a thing like Joseph could muster. If Robert didn't know any better, he'd swear he was being sincere. But he knew better. “It would crush everyone to lose him.”

“It's just sex,” he insisted.

“You're usually such a good liar.” He sighed, patting his hand on Robert's shoulder as he stood. He instantly bristled. He couldn't pull away. His nerve endings froze over, his body felt filled with static nothingness, not even dread or ice, just...static. “You know better than anyone how this works. Consider this a friendly reminder what awaits the shiny happy people in our community if they get too happy.”

Color flooded back into the world once he let go. His peppy, hip youth minister mask slotted back into place. He integrated back into the party and no one was any the wiser. No one alive would think ill of him. Everyone just thought he was a good man trapped in a loveless marriage. They pitied him. Seeing him laughing with Craig, cracking Jokes with Damien, Robert felt ill knowing all the heartache he'd caused these unsuspecting men. He was so light-headed when he finally stood he had to hold onto the tree trunk for support.

“You okay, Pops?” Val's voice, which had filled him with such pride and relief just this morning when she said she was coming out, now made him shudder. She put her hand in the middle of his back, head tipped to look him in the eye. He avoided her gaze. “That looked kinda intense. What were you two talking about?”

“Nothing,” he barked, a little hastier and rougher than he would have liked. It was enough to make her flinch, and he's never hated himself more.

“You look really... pale. Did he say something-”

“It's nothing, just drop it.”

Her mouth set in a thin line and her nostrils flared. She looked so much like her mother when she did that. Suddenly her being there made him wish she was a continent away, that he had never spoken to her again.

She threw Joseph the side eye. “Honestly, that guy never did sit right with me. Gives me the creeps.”

Robert whirled around to grab her by both shoulders. The movement was so sudden she almost yelped and her eyes went wide. “Good. Stay far, far away from him.”

He leaves the party without a word to anyone. That night, he packs her things, and Val is on a flight back home by morning. She isn't even angry with him. She expects it by now. He doesn't leave the house for a week afterward, and every message that dings on his computer from Dadbook goes unread. He doesn't answer the door or pick up his phone.

Eventually, Simon stops trying.  

[dreaminglee]

Pentagon Hogwarts!AU

Gryffindor :

1. Hui

Sorted to Gryffindor in an instant, all of his family was Gryffindor student as well.

Courage and brave, ready to take a bullet for his friends.

Leader of the famous Frog Choir.

Sometimes reckless.

Well-liked and known by everyone, who doesn’t know the main vocalist-slash-the Leader of Frog Choir?!

Aside from his status in Frog Choir, everyone know him because he’s friendly as well.

Arrogant in terms of his musical prowess.

When you can’t sleep and went down to Common room at night, Hui will be glad to sing you a lullaby.

But also likes to nag at other Gryffindor student about everything. He basically cares for everyone.

The one who organized cool Gryff parties and invited other Houses only to brag. lol 

The one who come with ridiculous dare when playing Truth or Dare.

Also the one who will do any dare thrown at him.

Will start singing We Will Rock You at Quidditch match.

Ofc everyone will follow him.

2. Wooseok

School’s Prankster Mascot.

Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes’ VVVVVIP customer.

Also on Filch’s VVVVVIP detention list.

Dangerously reckless.

Almost fell down from the Owlery just because someone dared him to pet one of the sassiest owl.

Lots of pranks going wrong so he got quite a lot of bruises.

Madam Pomfrey scolded him a lot, but that didn’t stop him.

Gryffindor Quidditch Team’s Keeper

Because... come on, no one fits Keeper more than our Giant Wooseok.

Really use “You will like me because i’m a Keeper.” pick up line.

Surprise, surprise! Slytherin Yuto’s bestfriend!

Hogsmeade weekend trip go to : Spinwitches Sporting Needs. To check on Quidditch gear. Ofc with Yuto too!

In contrast with Jinho, he often mistaken as senior.

His Mom bought him an auto-grown uniform robes from Madam Malkin since he grow like a damn tree.

3. Shinwon

Gryffindor’s Catalogue Model.

Popular because his body proportion.

Kidding. He’s popular because he’s Go Shiwon, everyone loves Go Shiwon.

Surprisingly, member of the Rat Race Club.

One of the Quidditch Commentator Duo.

Extra af.

Lots of unnecessary comments during the match.

And a lot of roasting other Houses too.

“Nice dodge by that giant Gryffindor keeper over there! Really good at dodging Bludgers but unfortunately bad at escaping from Filch!”

“Go Shinwon!”

“Sorry Professor!”

“Back to the game, oh by the way Wooseok I heard you asked that senior from Hufflepuff on a date?”

McGonagall whipped out her wand and cast the mic on silent.

Favorite sweets : Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans.

Favorite Hogsmeade trip : following Yanan to Honeydukes.

Afraid of dogs and werewolf-type animal, nearly fainted when he met Fluffy.

Hufflepuff :

4. Jinho

Hufflepuff’s Head Boy

Hufflepuff’s Sunshine

Frog Choir’s Ex-Leader, left the Choir when appointed as Head Boy, but sometimes joined them on special occasion.

Moved to the Magical Creature Club, can be seen carrying around Bowtruckle on his shoulder.

Really likes Care of Magical Creatures subject, all the creatures loves him! even the Niffler and Hippogriff.

Everyone wants to hug him.

Come on, even when he’s the oldest amongst his friends, he’s still the most adorable.

Lots of first years mistaken him as a fellow first year. (so yeah, imagine their horror-stricken face when Yanan told them that the boy who’d they called by ‘bro’ for the past 1 hour is Jinho, the Head Boy, seventh year, and all that).

But he’s just laughing and told them not to be scared that much, after that, all Puff’s younger student idolized him.

Don’t be fooled by his appearance tho, because he’s really damn scary when mad.

One time Jinho blew up mad in front of lots of kids, even Hui and Hongseok had to drag him out of the room to calm him down.

Everyone got shocked to see him that mad even the younger kids starts crying.

But Jinho will go back to his usual self when the problem got sorted.

The one who will stand by with a glass of warm milk / coffee when everyone get hangover.

5. Yanan

Made in China

“Annyeong Chingudeul”

Loves herbology

Everyone’s friend, greets everyone, no matter what house or which year are they in.

Fat Briar’s bestfriend (?)

Every Hogwart’s Ghosts bestfriend tbh, this kid just love to befriend everyone, even the ghosts!!

Comes from a long line of Old Great Chinese Wizard Family, but no one realize because Yanan is too cotton candy looking to be the heir of ancient wizard family thing.

Don’t be fooled by that face because he won’t hesitate to kick your ass when he is mad.

His favorite part of the weekend Hogsmeade trip : Honeydukes.

From Acid Pops to Wizochoc, this boy right here have tried all of it.

On the top of his list : Fizzing Whizbees and Sugar Quill (because he can chew at it on class).

Treats puff’s younger kids who’s in a bad mood or sad to Honeydukes, sometimes you can see Shinwon by his side for a box of Bertie Bott’s .

Karamela Flume -the owner- sometimes give him bonus sweets, as Yanan is very polite and also bought lots everytime he come.

Favorite subject : Muggle Studies, Potion, and Herbology!

Muggle Studies because he really amazed by how Muggle world works, nowadays he’s fascinated by their cotton candy machine.

Potion and Herbology because his family is famous for their ancient chinese healing magic, Yanan can concocted various healing potions and his love for Herbology clearly helps him when making potions.

Ravenclaw:

6. Hongseok

Smart.

Straight O’s student. 

Instead of helping kids who cannot solve the riddle, he’ll helping them by giving hints.

Likes to have a deep talk with the Eagle Knocker.

Ravenclaw’s famous hot nerd.

But also pretty buff up, working out everytime he’s not studying.

Girls silently died when Hongseok rolled his sleeves just because

Dem muscular arms of him ofc *A*

Awkwardly tried to joked with others but mostly failed.

Very familiar with the kitchen’s house-elves altho he’s not hufflepuffs. It’s because he sometimes come to cook or grabbing snack for his late-night studying.

Good at food related charm. Don’t ask why.

Frog Choir’s fixed member, but he always said that he’s not and only performing because Jinho and Hui asked for his help.

He can see a person’s potential just by talking with him, and he’s a good adviser too.

Great observant. He’s good at sensing everyone’s mood, always know whether you’re in a good/bad mood or have some good/bad news to tell.

7. Kino

Metamorphagus.

Change his hair color on hourly basis, but only his close friends who know the meaning of his hair colors.

Transforms into other Professor to release Wooseok from Filch’s detention.

Only McGonagall and his friends who can tell Kino behind all of his disguise. (yeah, even Flitwick, his own Head house, sometimes got fooled by his ability. But he never gets mad)

Use his abiility to sneak out at night, to find Room of Requirement. (Again, Filch never realized the Flitwick he meet every night is Kino in disguise)

Why Room of Requirement? Boy need to practice his dance every day, and which room can fulfill his need?

The first one who will go whenever McGonagall held the ball dance practice. And he’ll be willing to help teaching the younger kids who can’t.

Needless to say, he and his partner will be the first one to hop on to the center of the hall @ Yule Ball.

Cannot control his appearance when he talk to the girl he likes. His hair color, nose and ear shape will change uncontrollably.

 A really, really sweet kid.

8. E’Dawn

The epitome of eccentric.

Likes to give vague answers to the door knocker. Makes other Claw student groaned because it means it’ll be a long time for them to get in. Also loves to argue with the eagle.

Only his close friends can call him Hyojung.

Can emitted a dolphin-like scream.

But also spitting rap like fire.

Sometimes use rap-rhymes when insulting people.

Throwing aegyos whenever he got the chance. Making people want to coo but also kick him at the same time.

Hardcore deadliner.

Transfiguration test at 11 A.M? This boi will only start studying at 10.45.

But then got the highest mark among his classmates.

Late-night, philosophy-related discussion with Hongseok.

A good listener, when there are other Claw students who can’t sleep or having a problem, he’s beyond ready to lend ears.

Great observant no.2. But different from Hongseok, he’s good at reading situation. Someone joked too far? He’ll steered the conversation so the jokee know that he/she crossed the line. Someone got uncomfortable with the discussion topic? He’ll change it naturaly.

Slytherin

9. Yeo One

Pureblood.

Have two persona. The cold, intimidating Yeo One & Bright, friendly Changgu.

You’ll get Yeo One at the first time you meet him, or if you’ve ever got on his nerves. And also if you insulted, or looking trouble with his friends/loved ones.

But when he trust you to be around him, you’ll see Changgu.

Even though he’s a pureblood, his family is the lenient one, he’s not that judgmental about blood status.

Cunning, good at making people to obey or doing something for him. But not in a bad way.

Slytherin’s Seeker.

Have a big fanbase among the other Quidditch players.

Good at fan service.

Loyal af. But never showed his loyalty in front other people.

Dare him to do something? He’ll do it to prove you wrong.

Girls like it when Yeo One styled his hair up because Yeo Chang Rude. they think he looks hotter with that hairstyle.

Pro at controlling facial expression.

10. Yuto

Transfer student from Mahoutokoro.

Beater in Toyohashi Tengu Junior.

Sorted to Slytherin when he transferred to Hogwarts and naturally scouted to Slytherin’s Quidditch team as Beater.

Have a small group of loyal fans who cheered him every match.

Surprise, surprise pt.2 ! Gryffindor Wooseok’s Bestfriend!

So it all started at 2002 Quidditch World Cup.

Yuto ride his mini broomstick outside his family tent, when he saw a kid taller than him riding his mini broomstick too.

They started a race (cute one ofc) and their family found them so cute, they exchanged addresses.

So Yuto and Wooseok become an Owl-pal and always met on a Global Young Quidditch Player Summer Camp.

Ofc Yuto jumped when an opportunity to be exchange student to Hogwarts come.

lol so done with Yuto-Wooseok backstory ppl.

Yuto is a shy puppy. But his flat expression make people mistake him as a scary, cold, typical Slytherin.

Will start blabbering in Japanese when caught off guard/shy.

But that’s his charm that make girls secretly like him.

A gentleman.

A hard worker.

Even when everyone always told him that he’s the best Beater Slytherin ever had, it didn’t stop him from training every day.

And he never forget to give credit to others.

“Oh no, of course we win because Yeo One Hyung caught the Snitch so quick!”

When Slytherin won a game but he thought that he did bad, he will go to the Training Grounds for another hard training.

A loyal friend, will silently support his friends.

When he smiled, everyone doted him. 

lol finally done with Pentagon Hogwarts!AU *dies* it took me almost 2 weeks because of work, lots of distraction lol, and mainly because I kept adding point to all members lol. I’m sorry if there are members who didn’t get as much background stories as the other :( and if my sorting is different with what you guys had in mind... I planned to make few short scenarios based on this also :> (after I finish one scenario request I got a few days ago omg so happy lol).

Hope you guys enjoy <33333333