#white marble with bronze flower | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

theidiotwhowritesthings · 1 year ago

Text

TAKE CARE OF YOU [8A]

Sugar Daddy!Joel Miller x Female!Reader

Overall Warnings: slow burn, angst/comfort, power imbalance, age gap, possessive tendencies, eventual smut, #daddyissues, independent reader learns to let go and relax, emotionally constipated Joel Miller learns to be vulnerable; (more specific warnings to be added to individual chapters if necessary)

Chapter Word Count: 12,502

Summary: You spent your entire adult life supporting yourself and barely getting by. It’s why a life of ease offered to you by a mysterious stranger sounded so foreign and unbelievable. Joel Miller, dressed in flannels that had seen better days, didn’t look like the kind who could promise you the world on a plate, but he seemed desperate to help out. All he asks is that you let him take care of you. That wouldn’t be so hard. Would it?

[a/n: part one of two! hope you enjoy, if you do let me know your fav part 😘]

Chapter Specific Warning: mentions of attempted sexual assault (not reader), mild violence, mentions of past significant violence, gambling

08: I KNOW HOW TO HANDLE TROUBLE

"the right person for you will be protective of your heart like it's second nature to them." -bliss

The Wynn resort in Las Vegas was a curved bronze hotel right on the strip. The hot Nevada sun seemed to make the building glow, and it only got prettier once you stepped inside. The entire space had glassy, marble floors decorated with splashes of color. Gardens sat inside with trees wrapped in lights and figures of flowers stood out. The atrium itself had spheres of flowers hanging from the trees and you found yourself in awe of the space. Joel had been right. You really liked this place.

“Sugar.” You turned at Joel’s voice, tearing your eyes away from the view, and when you spotted Joel he stood a few feet away with his phone lifted and aimed in your direction. An amused grin flickered across your features as he hummed at his phone. “Hm, yeah. That’s a keeper.”

“You took a picture of me?” You chuckled.

Joel closed the space so he was beside you. “How could I not? You’re gorgeous.” You felt your cheeks heat at his words. Joel stuck his phone into his pocket before offering you his arm. When you looped yours through his, a familiar stance for the two of you, he began to lead you away. “They’re taking our bags upstairs.” He had already reassured you on the way here that though the two of you were sharing a suite it was one with two separate rooms for sleep arrangements. Just as you told Nima, you found yourself both relieved and disappointed.

Feelings were confusing.

“Hungry?”

“I could eat.” You nodded.

“Good. I know a place.”

Said place ending up being a cafe in the casino resort that served a late brunch. When Joel spoke to the host there was no need to ask for a wait time or place his name down. They gave him the choice of indoor or outdoor then walked you in immediately after he chose the outdoor option. The table they offered the two of you was a cute two person seating arrangement on the covered patio under a fan and in view of the elaborate pool. More gardens surrounded the pool itself in the forms of immense and impressive shrubbery and garden paths. The seating around the pool consisted of red and white chairs separated by curtain cabanas that you couldn’t even begin to imagine the price of.

“Do you come to Vegas often?” You asked after a waitress came by and took your orders.

“No. Just for this conference.” Joel shrugged. “It’s an annual thing.” You asked what the conference was about. In all honesty, you didn’t care too much about the specific lectures or meetings he had coming up, but you’d never pass on the opportunity to listen to him talk. “Mostly meetings between different companies. A way to network and bump elbows. A few lectures from some big names on the trendin’ topics in the contractin’ world.”

You beamed at him with a nod. “Very exciting.” Joel chuckled. “How busy is it gonna keep you?”

“Well tomorrow I’ll be busy for most of the mornin’ and afternoon, but I’m free in the evenin’. Then Sunday I have one last meetin’ in the mornin’ and I figure we can do somethin’ in the afternoon before headin’ back home on the jet.”

You leaned forward on the table, head resting on your fists, “And today?”

Joel’s lips curled into a smile that brightened all of his features. It was your favorite look on him. Forget the flannel or the expensive suits, it was that damned smile that put butterflies in your belly. You weren’t sure how a devastatingly handsome older man could also look so boyish and adorable while wearing that charming smile, but by God you were obsessed.

“Today?” Joel reached across the table and brushed his rough fingers against the side of your arm. In response, you let your arm fall from where it held up your head and tangled your fingers with his. Joel squeezed your hand. “Today I’m all yours, sugar.”

You liked the sound of that.

The two of you just enjoyed your uninterrupted time together. When your meal was over, Joel rose and helped you up as well. He didn’t hesitate to pull you close, looping your arm through his, and leading you back toward the lobby. “So,” You leaned into him, “Do we have plans for today?”

“We do.” Joel nodded. “Startin’ with an afternoon poolside.”

Your eyebrows raised in excitement. “Pool?” He hummed in confirmation. You smirked, “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were trying to get me in one of those new swim suits you bought me, daddy.” Standing this close to him, you could see the slight flush of red creep up from the collar of his shirt as he cleared his throat. Joel shot you a dry look. “What’s wrong? Are you getting a little hot under the collar?”

Joel cleared his throat, “You’re trouble, sugar.” He leaned in and suddenly pressed his lips to the side of your head. It was such a chaste and quick moment, yet it stopped your heart in your chest. He left his lips close enough to murmur, “Luckily, I know how to handle trouble.”

“I, uh, I…”

“What’s wrong?” Joel pulled back enough so you could see his smug grin, “Are you gettin’ a bit hot?”

You swallowed, involuntarily, and Joel took that as his victory. He chuckled and dragged you toward the elevators. Your suite was near the top floor of the resort, and when Joel pushed the door open for you the first thing that greeted you was the expansive window that made up the entirety of the wall. Your jaw popped open in shock and your feet carried you closer to the window. The room itself was gorgeous with decor of white and gold, you had never stayed in a hotel room that had an actual living room before, but you could only focus on the view of the Nevada mountains out in the distance. When you reached the glass, you peered down the dizzying drop to where you had a view of the pool and the golf course.

“So pretty…” You mumbled in awe. You spun in place to meet Joel’s gaze, “Isn’t this incredible?”

“Yeah,” Joel nodded. His arms were crossed and you could feel his eyes trace you from head to toe and back up. “Some view.” He kept his gaze on you for a beat while walking toward one of the side doors. Joel opened it and peered in then you heard him curse. “Fuck.”

Curiously, you walked around the couch toward him, “What’s wrong? Did they lose our bags?” You stepped beside him to see what it was that had raptured his attention the way it did, and your eyes landed on the singular Queen sized bed in the center of the bedroom. “Oh.”

“Son of a⏤ I am so sorry.” Joel said quickly before you could push out another word. “I’m gonna fix this.” He went further into the room and grasped the phone at the bedside to immediately bring it up to his ear. A beat passed and he was obviously connected to the front desk. “Hello?”

Your eyes drifted back to the bed and you felt your cheeks warm at the thought of sharing the same bed with Joel Miller. Speaking of the man, he was still arguing over the line and from the sounds of it the argument was not going his way. He seemed desperate to fix this problem and you worried that meant he was desperate to avoid sleeping in the same bed as you.

“No, no, I⏤ I understand that. But I⏤” Joel paused, his jaw locked, and then he pinched the bridge of his nose with his eyes closed irritably. “I said I understand that. No, I⏤ Yeah. Thanks anyways.” He hung up the phone and turned back to face you entirely. You shot him a sheepish smile. Joel’s irritation melted into worry and he held his hands up. “I swear, this was not my intention, darlin’. I booked a room with two beds.” Your eyes widened in understanding. Joel was worried you thought he was trying to take advantage. It was a laughable thought that had never even occurred to you⏤ not Joel. Some would call you naive to have such faith in a sugar daddy you hadn’t known for all that long, but it couldn’t be helped. Somehow, you just knew. “The Wynn doesn’t have any other two bed suites available but we can try a different resort or⏤”

“Joel.” You interrupted his nervous rambling and reached out to set your hand on his forearm. “It’s okay. Accidents happen.” Joel’s shoulders seemed to relax. “And as for the, uh, bed situation… I don’t mind.” The words tumbled from your lips slowly, awkwardly even, and Joel just stared. Quickly, you tried to scramble and clarify. “I just mean, it doesn’t bother me to share. We’re both, you know, adults. We can⏤ We can sleep beside one another without issue.” Joel just continued to stare and you were beginning to regret bringing it up at all. You felt silly. In a poor attempt to break the tension, you joked, “I promise I don’t kick in my sleep. I think.”

Joel set his hand on top of yours and squeezed reassuringly. “Of course we can. But, I don’t want you to feel… pressured to just accept this situation.” He spoke firmly leaving no room for argument in his voice. “If even the smallest part of you feels uncomfortable in any way please tell me. We could go to a different resort or, I mean, if you really wanna stick with this place I could get us separate rooms.”

“Really, Joel.” You replied with just as much finality in your voice as he placed in his. “I’m okay with this. It’s not a big deal.” You motioned toward the bed in question. “It’s a big bed.”

Joel let out a small sigh and shook his head. “I’m a… big guy.”

Your eyes couldn’t help but trace Joel’s broad shoulders and tall frame. “As long as you’re comfortable with it too.” Joel held your gaze then gave a nod. A small smile filling his features. “Now, can we get ready for the pool?”

“Yeah. Course.” Joel chuckled and lifted your hand to press his lips against your knuckles.

You had only just gotten used to holding his hand without feeling flustered, and now Joel was pulling out the big guns with these chaste kisses. The smug son of a bitch knew it too based on the smile he wore. Joel handed you your bag and you carried it into the bathroom to change. In your lifetime, you had gotten ready for a pool day God knows how many times. This was one of the first times you felt so nervous though. You loved your body and felt comfortable in your skin, but at the end of the day you were still a human with anxiety. You still couldn’t help that you wanted Joel to look at you and like what he saw.

At the very least you knew he’d like the swim suit itself since he was the one who had been there to buy it for you. Quickly, eager to get to the pool with Joel, you traded your travel clothes for the swim suit and pulled on the matching, thin robe-like cover that he bought with it⏤ leaving it open rather than tying it closed in the front. Then you spent another few minutes checking your appearance in the mirror and adjusting little things like your hair or where the swim suit sat. Finally, when you knew there was nothing left to check, or obsess over, you stepped out of the bathroom.

Joel wasn’t in the bedroom anymore. You set your bag aside and wandered out into the living room following the sound of his voice. He must have gotten changed out in the bedroom while you were in the bathroom. Joel had changed into swim shorts and a white t-shirt. The shorts were dark navy at the top half and a pale yellow on the lower half. You found you couldn’t stop staring because with the way he lounged on the couch, legs spread wide while talking on the phone, you could see his thick thighs. The sight of a man’s thighs should not make you feel so feral, and yet…

“No, the contract needs to be done by then. We can…” Joel’s voice trailed to a stop and your eyes snapped up from his thighs to see he was gawking at you. You bit down on your lower lip to try and mute the wide grin that threatened to fill your features. You raised a questioning eyebrow at him. Joel nodded. “You’re a goddamn vision, sugar.” There was no chance at hiding your grin now at his compliment. Joel jumped suddenly in surprise, eyes widening, as his attention went back to the phone he forgot he had been holding. “No, no. Not you, idiot.” You laughed and Joel’s cheeks burned. “Oh, bite me, Tommy.”

Joel hung up the phone and pointed it in your direction while standing up. “That’s your fault.”

“My fault?” You chuckled. “How’s that?”

“How’s that?” He scoffed, but his smile didn’t falter. Joel closed the space so he could reach out and lightly pinch your chin. “Walkin’ in here lookin’ like a work of art.” He shook his head. “Tommy ain’t ever gonna let me live that down.”

Joel’s eyes drifted down your frame again and you felt the back of your neck grow warm. You cleared your throat and his eyes snapped back to you. You smirked. “What’re you staring at, Joel?”

His hand fell away from your cheek to brush his fingers against the sunflower charm hanging from your neck. Joel hummed, “Just this pretty, little necklace, sugar.” You shook your head, amused. Joel stepped away to grab a simple back book bag that he slung over one shoulder. “Now, come on. Pool time.”

Rather than walk you down to the Wynn Resort’s pool, Joel led you to the neighboring resort’s pool. The Encore was identical to the Wynn from the outside and sat right beside it as its sister resort. As you traveled, Joel kept his fingers intertwined with yours. Every time he flexed his grip, you glanced down at where the two of you were connected. It was beginning to feel like your hand was shaped just to fit in his.

“So how come we don’t just stay at the Wynn?” You asked.

“The Encore is newer, and I think you’ll like the pool better here.” Joel replied. You had no room to question his judgment. So far, he was spot on because the interior of the Wynn was much prettier than the interior of the Encore in your opinion. “Plus, this is an adults only pool so we won’t have to worry about any yellin’ or splashin’.”

The moment the two of you stepped outside, you were greeted by a more modern looking pool with chairs and decor in shades of white and a bold red. Palm trees decorated the area and the floor was painted with the design of curling sun rays surrounding the pool. There was even a second story of chairs and lounges. Honestly, Joel either knew you better than you thought he did or the man was a good guess because this was much nicer than the Wynn’s pool. Joel squeezed your hand and you turned to see him watching you. He raised his eyebrows in question and you laughed again.

“Alright, alright. It’s a nice pool but don’t look so smug about it.” You replied. You glanced over the space, “Do you see any open chairs we can grab?”

“Yeah, I do.” Joel nodded, “Come on.”

Unsurprisingly, the pool was packed with people and Joel pulled you closer to his side so he could set his hand on your back while leading you through the throngs of people. You tried to spot the chairs he spoke of, but after a beat you realized he was leading you to one of the fancy looking cabanas. It was an open room built on the lower floor of the two story piece right by the poolside. A red curtain was hanging and draped open and inside was a couch, flat screen television, and a cabinet with a bottle of champagne sitting in an ice bucket on top. There were even two lounge chairs that could be dragged out into the space directly in front of the cabana where the sun was shining. Your eyes widened, “No way.”

Joel let go of your hand to step into the cabana and set his bag down on the couch. You slowly drifted in behind him and realized the little cabana was even filled with cool air from a large fan overhead. Joel pulled the champagne from the ice and you watched as he cracked it open with ease.

“How much was this, Joel?” You asked.

“Hey,” Joel chided as he turned with two flutes of cold champagne. He handed you one with a shake of his head, “What was the rule we talked about on the way here, sugar?”

During the plane ride to Vegas, Joel told you he didn’t want you asking how much anything cost during the trip. You chuckled and replied teasingly, “Sorry, daddy.” Joel lightly tapped the edge of his flute against yours and you followed his lead in taking a sip. “Mmm. That’s amazing.”

“Only the best for my sugar baby.” Joel replied, making you laugh.

You took another long swig from the flute then motioned to his bag, “Did you grab my sunscreen?” Joel set his flute down to dig through his bag then pulled out the sunscreen you had brought. You had asked him to toss it in with his stuff to keep from having to bring a bag of your own. “Thanks!”

Joel dropped down to sit on the couch. He rested an arm on the back of it with a content smile while staring at you. Biting back any nervous energy that bubbled in your chest, you shrugged out of your thin robe and began to put on the sunscreen. Knowing his gaze was on you, you rubbed it in methodically and tried not to let it be obvious that the butterflies in your belly were threatening to overwhelm you. When you got every spot you could reach with ease, you turned and held the bottle out to Joel, “Can you get my back?”

His eyes widened as if he hadn’t expected you to ask. Joel sat up and threw back the last of his champagne before taking the bottle. He stood up and you turned around. Luckily, not having to face Joel made the action much easier. Joel stood close enough that you could feel his warm breath on your neck and despite the hot weather you felt goosebumps rise on your skin. Joel’s hand settled on your lower back first and he was careful with the application. He rubbed it in your skin, but he did so in a way that made you feel like you were made of glass. You couldn’t even find it in yourself to complain because the more careful he was the slower he worked, and the slower he worked the longer you had his rough hands against your skin.

“There.” Joel hummed. His voice sounded more hoarse than it did when he started. “All protected, sugar.”

You glanced over your shoulder to meet his gaze, “Thanks, daddy.” You meant to say the words playfully, but instead they fell out in a soft near whisper. There was a beat of silence between the two of you and you forced yourself to shake out of the trance Joel had you in. “Um. Can you help me drag the lounge chairs out into the sun?”

Joel cleared his throat and nodded, “I can do you one better.”

He grabbed the back of his shirt’s collar to pull out of his shirt and your eyes involuntarily raked down his body. Joel was built strong. From his broad shoulders to the bit of belly he had, it all screamed strength and sturdiness. He tossed his shirt aside then grasped your hand to lead you out, but you dug your heels in to stop him. Joel shot you a curious look.

“You didn’t put on any sunscreen.” You said.

Joel furrowed his brow, “I don’t need sunscreen.”

“You don’t need sunscreen?”

“I’m a big, strong man.” Joel replied teasingly before trying to pull you out of the cabana again.

You tugged him back. “Hey, big strong man, in a fight against the sun you’re gonna lose.” Joel groaned and rolled his eyes in good nature but he allowed you to pull him all the way back in. You made him hold your flute so you could grab the bottle of sunscreen. Quickly, before you lost your nerve, you squirted a glob of sunscreen in your hand and began to rub it into Joel’s skin. He squirmed under your touch and you shot him a mocking glare, “Hey, stay still.”

“Bossy.” Joel snorted.

“Do you like it better when I’m bossy or bratty?” You asked with a cheeky grin. Joel’s lips pulled up into a smile, but he didn’t offer an answer. You used the last bit of sunscreen on your hands to rub onto his features and you finished with your hands on the side of his face. You squished his cheeks together. “There. All protected.”

Joel suddenly turned his face and playfully nipped at your hand with his teeth. You gasped in surprise and he laughed. “Now that we’re safe from the sun, let’s go.” He tangled his fingers with yours and offered you back the flute of champagne you hadn’t finished yet. With a sip, you let him drag you out into the sun. He walked you up to the poolside and stopped at the edge. In the shallow parts of the pool, sitting in the water, were circular cushioned beds with an umbrella situated in the middle of each one. By each beside was a circular stand where drinks could be placed to rest. You stared at, gaping probably, and Joel leaned in toward your ear. “That’s ours too.”

“Seriously?” You asked in surprise. Joel nodded. The urge to ask how much it cost came to mind, but you bit back the words and just grinned instead. Joel walked down the few steps into the shallow water and held your hand to aid you in. “You know,” The cold water came up just past your ankles and you waded with Joel to the daybed reserved for the two of you, “I could get used to this ‘having money’ thing.”

Joel chuckled and dropped down on the bed. He lounged on his back, hands folded behind his head, and stared at you as you settled in beside him. You chose to lay on your belly so you could continue to sip on your champagne.

“Thank you. For all of this.” You said sincerely. Briefly, you chewed on your lower lip then gave a small shrug, “I haven’t had a pool day in nearly a year let alone go on an actual vacation.”

Joel shook his head, “Thank you for comin’ with me, darlin’. You’re doin’ me the favor.”

The two of you just relaxed, letting the heat seep into your skin, and when you were on your last sip of champagne a poolside waitress walked over with a smile to see if the two of you needed any drinks. Joel sat up and ordered two frozen drinks. You chuckled, “You’ve kept a drink in my hand since the moment we landed.” You tilted your head. “If I didn’t know any better I’d say you were trying to get me tipsy, Joel.”

“Me? Never. I’m a gentleman.” Joel shook his head. He smirked and nodded toward you. “Besides, you’ve already felt me up, and I didn’t even need to get you tipsy.”

Your eyes widened and you reached out to give him a light shove, “I was not ‘feeling you up’. I was saving you from a future of being a leathered, sun shriveled old man.”

“If that’s what you gotta tell yourself.” Joel shrugged.

You laughed and Joel began to lay back down. Before he could get comfortable, you pointed to the umbrella, “Wait, can you close the umbrella?” Joel shot you a confused look as if you were crazy for asking. You shrugged. “I just want some sunshine for a little bit.”

“You’re all the sunshine we need right now.” Joel said and reached out to pinch your cheek.

“That is an adorable excuse.” You spoke despite him pinching your cheek, and Joel chuckled before reaching up to close the umbrella. Bright sunlight immediately rained down on the two of you and the direct warmth on your skin made you beam happily. As hot as it was, you probably wouldn’t be able to stand the sunlight for very long, but it felt nice for the time being.

Joel grunted and rolled over onto his belly so he could keep the sun out of his eyes, “What do you say?” You slid a pair of sunglasses on and laid on your back while humming⏤ pretending to think of what answer he might want. Joel propped himself up just enough to rest one of his arms on your other side so he was leaning over you. You sucked in a sharp breath at his close proximity, and he raised an eyebrow at you. “Manners, sugar.”

“Thank you, daddy.” You cooed.

“Good girl.”

You tightened the fluffy, white robe that the Wynn resort left you in the suite’s bathroom then stepped out fresh and clean, “Joel! I’m done with the shower.” The two of you had stayed out at the pool until it closed. Being out in the hot sun the entire afternoon had wiped you out, but Joel told you to get ready for a night out and you found your second wind. Joel wandered into the bedroom, and you groaned happily, “You’re in for a treat because the water pressure was incredible.”

“I would hope so.” Joel chuckled then his eyes narrowed skeptically. “Do you have bad water pressure in your apartment?”

“Uh…” You paused in thought. You had a feeling that if you confirmed that information then Joel would try to buy you a new apartment or something equally as wild. “...no?” Joel shot you a skeptical glance that made it clear he didn’t believe you. He disappeared into the bathroom, and you quickly called out. “Oh, wait! Pick a color, Joel!”

Without hesitation, Joel replied through the door, “Red!”

Excitedly, you shimmed off the bed to hurry over and dig out the red cocktail dress Joel had bought you for Vegas. Of the newest additions to your wardrobe, the red dress you had picked out was one of your favorites. You wondered if he remembered that. While Joel showered, you pulled out the ironing board to smooth out any of the wrinkles your dress had gotten during transit. It didn’t take much and you were about to put away the iron when you paused. Joel’s suitcase sat near yours in the room. You bit down on your lower lip for a beat before walking over to find a shirt for him.

You picked out a black button up shirt to match the black blazer he had already hung up. The ‘black out’ look on him just seemed like it would be clean and handsome. Not that you could picture many looks not looking incredible on him. The bathroom door opened and Joel stepped out in just a towel. The back of your neck warmed and you tried not to let your eyes linger. Obviously you had seen him shirtless poolside, but this felt more intimate.

“Why don’t you get changed in the bathroom and I can get ready out here⏤” Joel paused and pointed to the ironing board. You finished the last few passes of the iron over his shirt. “Is that mine?”

“Well, it’s not mine.” You replied and picked up his shirt to shake it a bit. You held it out to him with a broad smile.

Joel took the shirt from you and you were acutely aware of his lingering touch on your hand. “This my color for the night, sugar? Black?” You nodded with a wide grin. Joel gave you a nod of confirmation and you scooped up your dress to head to the bathroom. “Alright. Black and red it is.”

You glanced over your shoulder to allow yourself one last look of Joel and seeing the bare expanse of his back made your heart flutter in your chest. The image of it lingered in your mind even after you closed the door. You made the effort to commit it to memory.

It didn’t take you too long to get ready and it was in part due to how eager you were. Joel had been tight lipped the entire afternoon about the plans for the evening. No matter how much you pleaded or begged he wouldn’t even give you a hint. All you knew was that he had an entire night planned for the two of you. Not even accounting for the amount of money involved in all of this, the fact that Joel had the thought to plan a night for you was heartwarming. It was a reminder that your bar was set so low due to your last boyfriend. You had to plan nearly every single trip or date night, and you had convinced yourself you enjoyed it. Tricked yourself into thinking you preferred it that way instead of admitting that it was a problem.

You rubbed your hands down the front of your red dress⏤ smoothing it out and giving you something to do with your nervous energy. You stepped out of the bathroom, expecting Joel to be sitting in the living room waiting for you or on his phone, but your feet faltered at the sight of him sitting on the edge of the bed. Joel ran a hand over his jawline, fingers dragging through his scruff. He stood up and the two of you spent a quiet moment just staring at one another. Just as you knew it would, the black shirt and black suit combo was deadly on Joel. This time you beat Joel to the punch.

“Hot damn, Joel.” You grinned. He cleared his throat and the look on his face could only be described as flustered. Eager to flip the table on him and do what he always did to you, you walked to him and reached out to smooth his lapel, feeling his chest under it, “This is a real good look on you, daddy.”

The sound that left him, almost a choking noise at the back of his throat, made you feel smug. He shook his head slowly and didn’t let his eyes leave you for even a second. “Oh, sugar,” Joel hummed, “I don’t hold a flame to you. I just don’t get it.”

“Don’t get what?” You asked.

“How every time I look at you, you somehow get even more breathtakin’.” Joel replied.

Heat rose in your cheeks and crawled up the back of your neck. Damn it all. Every time you think you had the tables flipped he managed to get the upper hand again. You let out a laugh and tried to hide how flustered you felt, “No fair.” Joel smirked as if he knew exactly what you were getting at. You gave his chest a slight push, but he caught your hands to hold them there. You shook your head, “Can you let me have the upper hand just one time?”

Joel breathed out a small laugh, and he opened his mouth to reply. However, he stopped himself and closed his mouth with an amused smile. You tilted your head curiously, but Joel just slipped his hand through yours. “Ready to go?”

“Do I get to know where we’re going now?”

“You’ll find out as soon as we get there.”

“Very funny.”

The same car that drove you from the airport to the Wynn also picked you up. When it came to the Vegas strip, there were some resorts that were within walking distance from where you were located, but Joel’s first plan of the night was not. You stared out the window marveling at the tall buildings covered in gigantic screens showcasing an ad or show. Even the sidewalks had plenty of things to watch. Tourists, showgirls, people performing, and some even dressed up in character suits. There was one rough looking Mickey Mouse the car passed that gave you a look into what the famous mouse’s life would look like if he got deep in the world of hard drugs.

“Oh,” You tore your eyes away from the window to look at Joel who sat beside you in the back of the car with his arm resting on the seat behind you, “Is that where they do that big fountain show?”

Joel nodded, “Bellagio. Yeah. We can stop and watch it later tonight. They do a show every thirty minutes I think.”

The car turned off the strip to a resort that sat just off it by a bit. The Aria. It looked as immense and fancy as any of the other resorts and was even shaped similarly to the Wynn and the Encore. Joel let his hand brush against the back of your neck and you knew he wanted you to stay in place while he climbed out. Seconds later, your door opened and Joel held out a hand to help you climb out.

“What’s so special about the Aria?” You asked.

Joel laced his fingers through yours and pulled you toward the resort doors. The lobby was a large open space with pillars, and your eyes landed on a wave of hand folded origami flowers in a gradient of red, pink, and orange hanging from the glass ceiling. You paused, jaw slightly open as you admired the sight, and Joel just waited patiently. Finally, you tore your eyes away from the origami flowers to look at him.

“We have dinner reservations here.” Joel answered.

You raised an eyebrow at him with a smirk, “We came all the way here just for dinner?”

Joel didn’t give you a reply, and you noticed he looked excited. You squeezed his hand and let him lead you deeper into the resort. In order to get where you were going, the two of you had to walk through the casino and it was fun to see the flashing lights and general buzz of excitement. The air smelled faintly of cigarette smoke, and there were different degrees of yelling and cheering. You were so caught up in your surroundings that you hadn’t noticed Joel and you reached your destination until he came to a stop.

You glanced at Joel who continued to beam at you, and then looked forward to where a simple arch sat with the word ‘CATCH’ written in bright, glowing letters above the top. It was what laid just beyond the arch that had your breath catch in your throat. The arch was the entrance to a tunnel and even from where you stood you could see the entire tunnel was made up of different flowers and glowing lights.

Joel leaned over, his lips close enough to your ear that you could feel his breath fan against your skin, “It didn’t feel right not bein’ able to get you a bouquet of flowers before dinner so I thought I’d just bring you to ‘em.”

You felt a visceral reaction to Joel’s words. Your throat tightened, and a part of you wanted to cry. It took every ounce of your self control to not actually let any tears fall. It was just so sweet and you felt so seen and cared for. “Joel.” You mumbled and turned your head to look at him. He was still lingering close to where he had whispered in your ear which left you dangerously close to his face. You swallowed, “Joel, this is…”

His eyes darted across your features, lingering at your eyes and lips, “Wanna take a closer look, sugar?”

Your face broke out into a face splitting grin and you nodded. Joel hesitated in place, taking in a slow breath, before pulling away so he could drag you through the arch. He let his own steps slow while you continued forward a bit. Your hand fell out of his, but your eyes were taking in the hanging flowers overhead and the colorful walls on either side of you. The air was filled with a sweet, floral scent and a soft, golden glow surrounded the space from the lights buried between the flowers. It took half a beat before you realized Joel wasn’t by your side, and you quickly turned in place to look for him. He stood a few feet back, hands in his pocket, just staring with a small smile on his face.

“What?” You asked with a laugh.

“Nothing.” Joel closed the space.

As soon as he was close enough, you looped your arm through his. The two of you took a few more steps down the wood panel path that led through the tunnel and a portion off to the side curved inward with a long half circle bench nestled against the wall and a wall of pink, orange, and red roses covering that indent of the wall.

“Oh!” You pulled him toward the bench and dropped down there with him beside you. “Can we take a picture?” You pulled your phone out. “Please?”

“I can take your picture for you.” Joel replied.

You shook your head and held onto his arm. “I want you to be in it too.”

Joel looked skeptical for only a moment. He never seemed the selfie kind to you, but he leaned in regardless. You lifted your phone to take a few snaps. Joel had one arm around your shoulders during most of the pictures, but near the end he used his other hand to cup the side of your face to pull him closer. Joel turned and pressed his lips to your temple and you managed to get a few snaps of that as well. Your chest was filled with so much warmth and happiness that you didn’t have the room to feel flustered.

You stood up with Joel and he tugged you to the end of the tunnel where a maitre’d stood waiting. The first part of the restaurant you could see was a large bar surrounded by people. Joel had the two of you pause by the front desk.

“Welcome Miller party.” The maitre’d asked. Joel nodded. “Your table is being cleaned off and prepared now. If you’d like to wait by the bar, your waitress will fetch you soon.”

“Thanks.” Joel dug through his coat pocket and you saw him pull out a few folded bills that he slipped into the other man’s hand. “And thank you for clearin’ the tunnel.”

“Of course, sir.”

It dawned on you then, and you glanced back to see the tunnel was now filled with small parties and couples. “Wait, did you pay him to let us be the only ones?”

Joel shrugged and rather than answer he stepped up to the bar with you by his side and ordered himself a glass of whiskey and your typical drink of choice. He kept one hand on the small of your back while you leaned against the bar. When the drinks came, Joel lifted his glass just high enough to allow you to tap yours against his. He winked as the glasses made contact, “Cheers, sugar.”

You moved to take a sip and your drink had only barely touched your tongue when a waitress came over calling out for Joel. He nodded for you to follow first so he could linger a step behind you with his hand on your waist. The table you were led to was a circular booth and it was one of the few tables decorated in excess. The booth looked like it was nestled inside a large bird cage with a broad open door, and woven between the metal bars were vines and string lights. You slid into the booth, setting your glass on the table to avoid spilling it, and Joel slid in after you.

“Joel, this place is…” You let out a breath, unable to grasp a word immediately, “...amazing. Thank you.”

“Stop thankin’ me for somethin’ I like doin’.” Joel chuckled. He draped his arm on the top of the booth behind you and let his fingers brush lightly against your shoulder.

“You like spending absorbent amounts of money on me?” You teased.

Joel leaned over a bit and lowered his voice, sincerity in his voice, “I like takin’ care of you.” It should probably concern how easily Joel was able to make your temperature rise. Literally all it took was a look, the sound of his voice, or just being in near proximity. He straightened back in his seat. “Now,” Joel picked up his glass and took a quick sip, “Is there anythin’ you always wanted to do while in Vegas?”

You hummed in thought. The fountains had already been mentioned. That seemed like a staple Vegas activity. “I wanna see a show.”

“Already on the agenda.”

“Wait, really?” Your eyes widened. “What show??” Joel just stared at you with a smug smile. You rolled your eyes. “Yeah, yeah. It’s a surprise.” You took a sip of your own drink. “I want to gamble.”

Joel chuckled, “Gamble?” You nodded. “Gamble how? Slots or a table game?”

“I want to play the one where you throw dice.”

“Craps.”

“Yeah, that!” You nodded. “Everybody does that while they’re in Vegas, right?”

“Fair enough.” Joel said. “Anythin’ else?”

Another thought came to mind, but it felt kind of silly. “There was this one other thing…”

“Name it, sugar.”

You scrunched your nose. “Can we go on the gondolas? I know it’s probably dumb since it’s not even a real river and it’s just inside one of those big resorts, but I don’t know… It looked kind of fun.”

Joel let out a breathy laugh before dropping his hand so instead of soft brushes he was able to squeeze your shoulder, “We can absolutely ride the gondolas.”

You bounced in your seat, excited, as Joel shook his head in amusement. The waitress came back to discuss the specials of the night. After a quick discussion, Joel ordered for the both of you. It was something you learned early on with the man. He enjoyed leading. Whether it be the obvious thing like paying for everything or having you wait in the car so he could open the door for you or ordering your food and drink for you. Joel just liked being in charge of the relationship and you had no qualms with that. Especially considering how careful and caring he was in the action. He paid attention to you, the things you did or the words you said, in order to take charge accordingly. As sad and pathetic as it was, Joel remembered more about you and your preferences than your ex-boyfriend did at the end of your relationship with him.

Content and at ease, you settled in your seat and let out a soft sigh.

The night went by too quickly for your liking. Dinner, just like everything with Joel, was easy. You had never met someone who made you feel so comfortable, so seen, so fast. And after he treated you to one of the best meals you ever had, the two of you traveled to the MGM resort for the show which turned out to be a show by the name of ‘KA’. Joel said he chose it off the recommendation of one of the business men he’d be working with in the morning, and it had been a solid choice. The show went beyond your expectations and you had already set them pretty high considering it was Cirque du Soleil and in Vegas. Then, rather than take the car, the two of you walked down the strip with your arm wrapped through his. The walk consisted of two stops, one at the fountains to watch the show, and the other at the Venetian resort to ride in the gondolas.

“Joel, this has literally been the greatest night ever.” You gushed while squeezing his arm. The two of you had walked from the Venetian back to the Wynn. His black suit jacket hung on your shoulders after he had given it to you during the gondola ride.

Joel chuckled, “Literally?”

“Yes.” You said. “I am being literal, thank you.”

“Well, sugar, you know me.” Joel lifted one of your hands to press his lips to the back casually. “Always happy to provide.”

He continued to lead you into the resort without even realizing how earth shattering his presence was to you. Joel kept your arm wrapped through his with his hand intertwined with yours and held to his chest. It was such an intimate gesture that he did so casually⏤ as if it were second nature to him. The urge to stop in your tracks and pull him into a kiss was nearly overwhelming. In fact, if you had maybe even one more drink tonight it would’ve been enough liquid courage to convince you. However, anxiety still plagued your mind. Logic tried to reign in your feelings and remind you of all the reasons this was a bad idea. Even if you ignored the nearly two decade large age gap between the both of you, there were still enough reasons for your brain to try and stop you.

If you could quiet your logical and turbulent mind for just a moment, just long enough to allow your heart to act, then maybe these fears and anxieties wouldn’t matter.

The two of you were walking through the casino to get to the elevators that would take you upstairs. You continued to stare while focusing on the circles his thumb was tracing on the back of your hand. God, you wanted this man. If he could make you feel so happy, so good about yourself, in public with innocent touches and glances, you wondered how incredible he could make you feel behind closed doors. You craved his touch, his rough hands grasping at all of you, and you were desperate enough to trade your soul just to feel his hot mouth exploring your skin.

Joel’s eyes suddenly met yours and you sucked in a sharp breath of surprise. Heat flooded your cheeks in embarrassment as if he could hear your sinful thoughts about him. Joel gave you a quick wink and nodded, “One last stop.”

He tugged you off the path that carved through the casino and onto the actual casino floor. The slot machines around you were a sea of colors, flashing lights, and whistling tunes. Servers drifted about bringing drinks to those sitting at the machines, but Joel led you past all of them. The two of you approached the section that had the table games, and you spotted the one with the dice.

“Oh!” You chirped in recognition. “We’re gonna play?”

“You said you wanted to.” Joel countered. The table wasn’t very crowded right now. Save for the casino employees, there was two other people standing around the table playing. You felt a sense of anxiety creep up your spine. You were vaguely aware that the rules for these table games were very strict and there were also unspoken rules of conduct. “Here.” Joel reached toward you and stuck his hand in the inner pocket of his jacket which hung off your shoulders. He fished out a few hundreds that you couldn’t help but stare at. Joel pushed two hundred dollars in your hand. “Just like me, sugar.”

He placed the bills on the table top with his ID card and you hurried to copy him. Between dice rolls, the man running the table pulled your bills toward him and began to prep your chips. You leaned over and whispered, “Joel, I have no idea how to play this.”

“It’s easy.” He reassured you. You glanced at the very confusing green felt covered in different words and numbers then back to him skeptically. Joel chuckled and tapped under your chin with his hand. “I promise.”

Joel began to point out different portions of the table, and between the warm honey tone of his words and the multiple drinks you had throughout the night, you were not following whatsoever. You stared at him, nodding every few seconds, while admiring the lines of his face. People wrote poems and sung praises about blue and green eyes, but you were convinced it was because those people were never blessed with the opportunity to gaze into Joel Miller’s eyes. There was a warmth in the dark color of his irises that felt like coming home after a long day in the cold. Your eyes flickered to a small bare spot in his scruffy jawline that vaguely resembled a heart and you resisted the urge to lean forward and place a kiss right there. Why else would the otherwise perfect man in front of you have that space in his beard if not for your lips?

“You’re not hearin’ a damn thing I’m sayin’, are you?” Joel teased.

You blinked in surprise and watched as his lips stretched into a bright smile, “Uh, I’m listening.”

“Right. What did I just say about the ‘Come bet’?”

“That…it’s… better than a ‘Leave bet’?” You joked.

Joel barked out a laugh and the sound made your stomach flip. He leaned forward and pressed his lips to your forehead. You were savoring the feel of his lips on your skin, when he turned you back to the table where a stack of chips were waiting for you. He slid two green chips into the box labeled ‘Pass Line’. You quickly mimicked his actions. Joel scooped up the dice, nodding at the man running the table, and then set them in your hands. “You’re the shooter, sugar.”

“Me?” Your eyes widened in worry.

“7 or 11.” Joel winked.

You took half a second to stand in shock at how your life had brought you to this point right here, and then you dove right in. You tossed the red dice and they bounced across the table before landing on a four and a three. The other two people at the table clapped their hands and Joel gave your elbow a squeeze.

The table slowly began to fill up, and you were a firm believer in the concept of ‘beginner’s luck’. You still only had a vague understanding of the game, but every time it was your time to be the shooter you were on a roll. It was exciting to have strangers cheering you on as well and as time passed you began to get more confident with how you tossed the chips around. Again, your knowledge on the actual rules were scarce, but you were pushing around higher number chips than Joel was. As the man running the table began to prep chips for a new player who settled in beside you, you turned to smirk at Joel.

“I’m doing pretty good.” You motioned to your decent stack of chips.

“Better than me.” Joel smirked.

Your pile was currently larger than Joel’s, but he seemed more concerned in keeping an eye on you than winning back his money. Teasingly, you leaned forward to let your lips linger by his ear, “If I win big, I promise to take care of you, baby.”

Joel laughed loudly and shook his head, “Just roll your dice.” You bounced in place just a bit before throwing the dice across the table. It landed on a total of seven which was not what you needed at the moment and it ended your roll. You groaned with the rest of the table, and Joel leaned into you this time. “Looks like I don’t need to worry none. Disappointed?”

“Nah.” You shook your head and locked your eyes with his. “I like being your sugar.”

“Good.” Joel’s dark eyes lingered on yours before dropping to your lips and bouncing back up. It was enough to make you release a small gasp, and he must have heard the sound because he smirked.

Your elbow suddenly brushed against something behind you, and it broke the spell. Joel leaned back and it was only then you realized how close the two of you had drifted toward one another. You cleared your throat and glanced at the man on your other side, assuming you had bumped into him while getting lost in the tempting vortex that was Joel, “I’m so sorry about that.”

“No, no. No worries, sweetheart.” The man replied. He was probably a few years older than you, if you garnered a guess, and he was decent looking but certainly not anything to write home about. Absolutely plain standing beside someone like Joel. He lifted his hand to your face, making you flinch, and opened his fist to reveal the dice, “Blow me?”

“What?” You blurted in shock.

“Watch it.” Joel snarled from behind you. His chest pressed against your side, and when you glanced over you saw the warmth in his eyes had turned dangerous. Not a comforting flame in the fireplace after a long day, but a raging wildfire licking at the edge of the forest⏤ threatening to destroy. Joel glared at the man and if looks could kill then he’d be struck down by now.

“I’m just talking about the dice.” The guy chuckled. He winked at you, and you blanched in disgust. “Relax.”

The rest of the table, including a few of his friends on the other side of him, began to goad him into rolling the dice. Joel was still stiff, and you set a hand on his forearm in hopes to calm him. Joel’s eyes snapped to yours and you watched the anger simmer. You gave him a reassuring smile. One stupid jerk wasn’t going to ruin the night for you. Joel nodded once and began to move around you. At first, you thought he was going to place himself in between you and the guy, but instead he settled behind you. Joel pressed his chest against your back, setting a hand on your abdomen to pull you closer, and then let his hands fall to the tables’ sides⏤ successfully blocking you in.

You couldn’t even focus on if Joel was still upset because every single ounce of your mind was redirected to keeping your body from spontaneously combusting. His stance around you was dizzying. Protective. Intimate. Possessive. Joel was stamping a claim on you, a warning to the man who accosted you, and you found it extremely attractive. Months ago, you would have firmly stated that you were a strong, independent woman who didn’t want nor need a man that took control or showed any signs of being overprotective. However, you would commit atrocities if it meant hearing Joel call you his.

Joel leaned his head down on your shoulder just enough to whisper, “You alright, sugar?”

Other than possibly going into a heart arrhythmia from his proximity, you were just fine, “Yeah. I’m okay, Joel. Don’t worry.” You felt him nod and then he leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to the side of your neck. You audibly gasped, “Oh God.”

“What was that?” Joel asked.

“Nothing.” You blurted. His head was still hovering over your shoulder and you stayed stock still to avoid accidentally brushing any part of you against him. You heard Joel chuckle lightly before he straightened his posture.

With Joel nearly wrapped around your body, it was easy to fall back into ease as the game went on. You weren’t really winning much more money, but you also weren’t significantly losing either. Just bouncing back and forth enough to maintain the same amount of chips. Between that and the feel of Joel’s breaths on your neck, you were ready to call it a night.

You turned your head to speak to him and realized how close he still stood then. Your nose was only an inch or so away from brushing against his jawline. You swallowed the lump in your throat and found the courage to not pull away. “Can we call it a night? Go back to the room?”

Joel turned his head and the slow way his jawline ended up rubbing against the top of your nose softly seemed deliberate. He gave you a small smile and nodded. “Course.” Joel held his position for a beat more before pushing away from you so he could speak to the man running the table. “We’re out.”

You took in a shuddering breath as Joel got the chips converted to the highest amount possible so it’d be easier to carry. Your anxiety had a bad habit of making you overthink and underplay everything against your favor, but even for you it was difficult to ignore Joel’s behavior tonight. He seemed genuinely interested. Nima had encouraged you to chase what made you happy, and Joel made you happy. There was no doubt there. Anticipation began to build in your chest as you hyped yourself up to make a move tonight. You took a chance and said yes to being his sugar baby in the first place.

You just needed to take a chance again.

Joel turned back to you and he slipped a few black chips into his coat’s inner pocket before wrapping his arm around your shoulders to tug you into his side. You mimicked his action, holding yourself close to him, and the two of you only got a few steps away before the same obnoxious voice from earlier wolf whistled behind you.

“Damn, look at that ass.” The guy from earlier stumbled a step closer as his friends behind him tried to reel him back desperately. “How much do you charge a night? I’ll pay double whatever the old man is paying you.”

You stiffened at the words. They hit a little too close to home. You usually were able to easily let the drunk, stupid words of some obnoxious asshole roll off your back. Unknowingly though, the man had dug a knife into an already sore subject in your mind. In your spiraling panic, you didn’t realize the man was reaching for you until Joel was suddenly gone from your side.

Without a word, Joel slammed his fist into the man’s face then grabbed him by the lapels of his sport coat before he could collapse. The man’s friends were trying to stop the attack while calling out apologies, but their attempts were fruitless. Joel lifted the man up off the ground enough to throw him over the edge of the craps table, making chips fly across the green felt as others around the table screamed in alarm, and Joel punched the man twice more before security swarmed the scene.

“Joel!” You cried out and tried to reach him, but a man in a dark suit and badge held you back.

They separated the fight easily and when Joel was pulled back away from the now groaning guy who was still laid up on the craps table, you saw real rage burning in Joel’s dark eyes. You had never seen his features twisted in anger and loathing before. Security dragged the guy off the table and took him and his friends toward the front of the resort while ushering for you and Joel to follow them in the opposite direction. Joel’s eyes snapped to meet yours and you watched as his anger melted into worry and concern. He shoved a security guard out of his way to reach you and one hand shot up to rest protectively on the back of your neck as his eyes scanned your face.

“Hey, are you alright?” Joel asked nervously. Unable to find words, you gave him a meek nod and his shoulders sagged in relief. The lead security guard cleared his throat and Joel kept his hands on you while following after the man. When the small grouping of people reached the edge of the casino floor, Joel spoke up. “That piece of shit better be out on his ass.”

“He has been forcibly removed from our premises and I do apologize for the duress.” The lead security, his badge read ‘T. Gordon’, turned to you with a slight nod. “Are you okay, miss?”

“Oh, uh, I’m fine.” You replied.

“Good.” Gordon focused back on Joel. “As regrettable as this scenario was, fighting is strictly prohibited⏤”

“If you kept assholes like him from gettin’ so wasted then maybe I wouldn’t have had to start nothin’.” Joel snapped. “He was gonna try and touch her.”

“Right, and because of that we will not be restricting your access to the resort.” Gordon said. “That being said, I will have to limit your access to the casino floor. The Wynn has a strict policy. That gentleman will never be welcome on our property again, and you will be suspended for the next three months.”

“Fine. Can we go?”

Gordon motioned for the two of you to wait while he fetched some paperwork for Joel to sign. Your eyes darted down to Joel’s dominant hand, the one not wrapped around your waist, and it was still balled into a tight fist. There was a redness to the knuckles that made you gasp.

“What’s wrong?” Joel’s attention snapped to you in alarm.

You reached for his hand and cradled it in yours, studying the gash and early bruising, “You’re bleeding, Joel.”

“It’s not a big deal.” He tried to pull his hand away, but you held on tighter and he sighed. “Really. Doesn’t even hurt.”

Your thumb brushed the edge of the discoloration and his nose twitched with a slight wince. You shot him a light glare, “Liar.” Joel’s own lips curled into a small smile and you shook your head. “What? Don’t smile at me. I’m worried about your hand.”

“I know.” Joel replied softly. He turned his gaze away from you and his next words fell out in a slight whisper. “It’s cute.”

Gordon returned a second later and you were forced to release his hand so he could sign the paperwork stating he understood his punishment. You were just happy that the police didn’t need to be involved. Joel began to lead you toward the elevators, which weren’t far from where you stood now. It didn’t take long to get to the room, and the moment you stepped through the threshold you pushed him toward the couch to sit. Quickly, you shrugged out of his jacket and fetched a rag to run under cold water.

Joel was slumped in his seat with his head leaning back and his arm draped over to cover his eyes. You sat down beside him, on his left and close enough that your thigh pressed against the side of his, then carefully pulled his arm away from his face so you could take his hand in yours. Joel blinked his eyes open at you while you carefully began to dab at the gash on his knuckles.

“I’m so sorry.” Joel sighed.

Your eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “Why are you apologizing?”

“I lost my temper.” He shifted so rather than slumped back he was sitting upright. Joel’s fingers wrapped around the hand holding his up while your other continued to clean his injury. “I never wanted you to see me like that.”

“Joel…”

“When I’m around you,” Joel paused and took in a slow breath, “I get to be one of the best versions of myself. Carefree. Happy. That’s what I want you to see. Not angry or grumpy or stressed⏤ Just… I don’t want…”

It seemed he couldn’t find the end of his thoughts. You paused in cleaning his wound to just squeeze his hand in reassurance. “I don’t want just the best of you, Joel. I want to know all of you. Good and bad.” Joel’s gaze softened and the way he stared at you, with blatant adoration even the worst of your anxiety couldn’t deny, made your chest fill with warmth. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“How’d I get so lucky to find you, sugar?” Joel asked quietly.

“Easy.” You offered him a smile and shrug, “You left your wallet at home, daddy.”

Joel laughed and the sound of it felt victorious. You liked being able to cheer him up. A knock at the door made you rise from the couch. Joel tried to stop you so he could go, but you brushed away his hand with a chuckle. At the door, a waiter stood holding a bucket filled with ice and a bottle of wine. You took it from him questioningly and walked back into the living space.

“What is it?”

You read the card tied to the side, “‘Please accept this wine as an apology for tonight’s disturbance.’” Your eyes widened and you stared at Joel in shock. “Seriously? You punch a guy and the hotel apologizes to you?” Joel motioned for you to get closer and you walked over to settle back in the seat you had been in. Joel pulled the bottle from the bucket to read it. “You rich people, I swear.”

“Wow. This is a pricey bottle.” Joel hummed. “I don’t know a lot of wines, but Sarah likes this one. I buy it for her every year for her birthday.”

You scooped up some of the ice to set in the rag, a smile on your features. You always loved hearing details of Joel’s home life. It wasn’t like he was hiding anything from you, he spoke freely about his daughters, but every little detail you learned solidified the image of the doting and loving father Joel truly was. You’d be lying if you said it wasn’t an extremely attractive trait of his.

With your makeshift ice pack, you shifted in place so you could settle it on his knuckles. Joel hissed at the cold and set the bottle down. His hand was resting in your lap so neither of you had to hold it up and his close proximity was making your heart race.

“You know,” You chuckled, “Nobody’s ever punched someone to defend my honor, like that before. Is it wrong that I kind of liked it?”

“Not wrong.” Joel shook his head. “But you’ve really never had to deal with an asshole like that before?”

You scoffed with a laugh. “I’ve dealt with assholes like him my whole life. I’m a breathing woman who lives in LA. I can’t walk down the street without getting catcalled or yelled at.”

Joel’s brows furrowed in confusion, “You were datin’ someone before me though, right?” You nodded in confirmation. “He never…?”

“Nathan wasn’t big on violence of any kind.” You shook your head. A memory tumbled out from your lips before you could even stop it. “I got groped once at a bar we went to. Some guy grabbed my chest and Nate scolded him and then the two of them started talking about some baseball game.”

“You’re shittin’ me.”

“Nope.”

Joel muttered under his breath a string of curses. His hand slid to rest on your mid thigh and he gave it a comforting squeeze. “I know technically the answer should be non-violence, so I’m probably the bad guy for sayin’ this, but I would’ve ripped that guy’s head off.” Based on what you saw this evening, you believed him, and still you only found comfort in it. “The world’s a goddamn mess and that kid you dated was a coward for not standin’ up for you. That’s the least a man could do for a woman he loves.” You felt your heart skip a beat at his insinuation. Joel didn’t love you. It was way too soon for him to feel any kind of way close to that, but to hear you were in the group of people he cared enough about to protect still made you feel some kind of way yourself. “Not that women can’t protect themselves.” Joel was near ranting now. “I made sure Sarah and Ellie could hold their own. Basic self defense, teachin’ ‘em how to handle a weapon, a kickboxin’ class here or there. But still… The thought that you got assaulted and your ex-boyfriend just thought to be chummy with the guy pisses me the fuck off.”

There was an edge to his voice, and you could see the haunted look of a past memory lingering in his eyes. You melted into the couch, closer to him, and Joel squeezed your thigh once more. “I’m okay, Joel. Everything is fine, and I’m safe. We’re safe.” You lifted the ice pack just enough to give his skin a break from all the cold. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m alright. Just…” Joel shook his head. “Bad memory.”

“Want to talk about it?”

Joel hesitated for a moment before sighing, “It was a long time ago. I took the girls campin’. Ellie was fourteen. Just a kid. Not even old enough to drive.” His thumb was tracing a line back and forth against your thigh as he recounted his past. “We were settin’ everything up, I looked away for a minute⏤ just a minute⏤ and she was gone. I left Sarah with Tess, called the cops, then Tommy and I were tearin’ apart the woods lookin’ for her.” Joel carried a tension in his shoulders as he spoke and you leaned in closer to him to offer physical reassurance without interrupting him. “I heard Ellie scream. That sound… it’s carved into my very soul. I’ll never forget it. I found her in this beat up RV by the lake. Some sick son of a bitch had snatched her and was tryin’ to…” Joel locked his jaw. Silence settled between the two of you for a moment. Your heart ached for him and it ached for his daughter. You couldn’t even begin to imagine the horror. Joel shook his head finally. “Ellie’s a fighter. She always has been. Arguably to a fault.” He let out a sad chuckle at the praise, but it faded. “She had clawed his face up, broke his finger, hell, she even managed to bite off the upper part of the bastard’s ear… Ellie held him off, and I got there in time. When I saw him though…” Joel squeezed your thigh and this time he didn’t let up. “God, I saw red, darlin’. Ripped him off her and nearly killed him. I would’ve except I heard Ellie cryin’ and I stopped to grab her. Cops showed up around then. Sick bastard was lucky it was the cops and not Tommy. Tommy wouldn’t have stopped me. Not for that.”

“She’s okay? Ellie?” You asked softly.

“Yeah. She’s strong. Stronger than me even.” A flash of pride filled his features while praising his daughter’s strength, “She got that from her mom.” You knew that Joel wasn’t related to Ellie by blood. He had shared that bit of information with you early on when he first told you about his daughters. That was all you knew of the fact though. You didn’t know how Joel knew Ellie’s mom or how she came to be adopted by him. “Since then though, I’ve always had a hair trigger for that kind of shit. More so than I used to. Just brings up bad memories.”

“I could only imagine.” You replied. “I’m so sorry, Joel.”

“No need for you to be.”

“Still…” You searched for something to say, but there were no words that came to mind. Instead, you rested your head between his shoulder and chest. Joel responded by letting the arm draped on the couch behind you wrap around your own shoulders as his right hand continued to reach across his lap and rest on your thigh. Softly, you spoke, “Sarah and Ellie are lucky to have you.”

Joel gave a small shake of his head, “I’m lucky to have them.”

“Well, then,” You lifted your head just enough to meet his gaze and gave him a tight lipped smile, “I’m lucky to have you.”

“Wrong again.” Joel chuckled and there was a softness in his eyes as he studied your features.

That didn’t feel true to you. It had been so long since you felt protected to this degree. For literal years, you only had yourself to rely on. Of course you always had Nima and Henry at the bake shop, they’d move mountains for you, but the thought of bothering them kept you from ever wanting to ask for too much. However, when Joel took care of you, it never made you feel like a burden. It felt like you could breathe fully and freely for the first time in a long time⏤ as if the concrete blocks once tied to your ankles were gone and you could now stretch your wings and be yourself.

Your gaze found its way to his lips before bouncing back up to his eyes. The plan had been to gain the courage to close this gap and share that physical intimacy with him, but the two of you seemed to find a different kind of intimacy altogether. You leaned in and rather than kissing him like you had been craving all night, you lightly set your lips against his jawline, in that same spot you had admired earlier in the night, and then laid your head back on his shoulder. You curled in closer into him and Joel wrapped around your once more as if it were simply natural to do so.

“You’re a good man.” You mumbled and listened to the steady thrum of his heart under your ear.

You felt Joel suck in a sharp, shaky breath and hold it. Eternity seemed to pass before he slowly breathed out. Joel turned his head, you could feel him moving, and he pressed a kiss to your hairline⏤ lingering there with his lips to your skin as he mumbled, “No, sugar. I’m really not.”

There was an underlying tone to his words you didn't recognize, but there was nothing that could convince you otherwise of your beliefs. You were lucky to have Joel in your life, and he was a good man.

taglist (closed):

@weddingfairy @bfences @fairntonorth @jasminedragon @biwitchy @huffle-punk @shelbyteller @anoverwhelmingdin @aheadfullofsteverogers @stagerightlauren @basicoccult @rinnfey @boofy1998 @farintonorth @thepascalofus @amatis-gray @casa-boiardi @northernbluess @jettia @sapphicsoie @spidey-3 @camiali25 @hrtsforpascal @gingersince97 @sentients17 @bigboiseason123 @lunxramour @ktheunready @heyheyheygaypay @keepingupwiththeskywalkers @adoringanakin @come-hell-or-eldren-fire @cherriebat @whitewolfstar01 @alyssa121611 @asreadbyaj @painfullyandprettypoetic @cantobightcafe @hellooseulgi @str84pedro

[previous][next]

✨J.M. Masterlist✨

#tlou fanfiction #the last of us fanfiction #joel miller #joel miller x reader #joel miller x you #sugar daddy!joel miller x reader #sugar daddy!joel miller #take care of you

755 notes · View notes

tumblingdownthefoxden · 4 months ago

Text

"The Assistant and The Star"

Chapter 6: When Old Wounds Bleed

*TW: emotional manipulation

Under the orange lights hung over the marketplace, Simon stood behind masked Asha as she and Hal investigated the stalls with little crafts. She still wanted to have something for Sabino when she returned. There were little people there, which meant no long lines, but the hard part was finding a stall with a little trinket he might like. It was no secret that Asha was great at gift giving, the unspoken part was how picky she was with potential gifts that she finds. Her friends had shown her several stalls but all of the options were either too big or too grand.

Now, Asha stood before a stall of jewelry that Hal suggested, belonging to an older Romani woman. “Is there anything in particular that you are looking for?” She asked. Asha looked up from the bracelets.

“Uhh, what do you recommend for birthday gifts?” “Hmm.” The woman put her hand to her chin. “For family or friends?”

“Family. It's for my grandfather.” Asha said.

“Oh. I know.” She bent down and brought up a box that she opened on the table, revealing 3 statues of rearing horses. “These are some of my best crafts that are in low demand.” She picked up a silver one. “I crafted this one from platinum, so it stays shiny for a long time. It's attached to a piece of raw labradorite stone. Looks unimpressive from the side but there is great wonder underneath.” She turned the horse over to show off the radiant color of polished labradorite at the bottom. Hal reach over and carefully held up the horse. She handed it to Asha but she shook her head. Not quite what he likes. The woman picked up a white horse.

“This one is carved from a block of white marble. If you look closely, you can see the curves and bulges of muscle on the body.” Hal took the horse to look closer at the minor details on the body. “The mane, tail, and hooves are layered with carefully placed gold leaf.”

“Oh, this is impressive.” Hal said. “What about that pale one?”

“Oh, this was my most difficult piece.” The woman commented as she picked it. “It was hard to find someone that sold real and high quality jade. Not to mention how hard it is to even chip at!” She looked at it with adoration and pain. “When I did get it to give way and become a horse, I lined some designs with molten gold.” She handed it to Asha. “Because it's jade, it won't easily scratch, but be careful not to hit it on something hard. It's hard but not tough.”

Asha examined the horses for a while. “These are beautiful but they're not I'm looking for. Do you have anything smaller?”

The woman bent under the stall, slightly upset that she couldn't sell her best crafts again. Nonetheless, she placed a long black box on the table. “These might do. Perhaps your grandfather has an interest in the exemplary rare?” She opened it to reveal an assortment of brooches. “The smaller the piece, the easier to add rare metals and stone.” There are a few shaped like leaves and flowers. Others are shaped like dragonflies, moths and various beetles. Now these were more his speed.

Hal held onto the marble horse. "Ma'am? Could I buy this horse please?" The shopkeeper's eyes widened. This was it! Her work wouldn't go to waste! "Oh! Yes! Of course! Let me packaged that for you." She chimes. Asha examined each brooch piece until she found a bronze brooch shaped like a Hercules beetle.

Great detail to the beetle. A shiny allure with a smooth surface. It was cool and nice to touch. Just his style! “This one is perfect! How much do you charge?”

…

Dahlia was talking to Gabo before a stall with wooden utensils when he noticed the three of them approaching. “Hey! You're back! Did you find anything for him?” She asked.

“Oh yeah, he should like it.” Asha held up a little dark box with the brooch inside before putting it in her satchel. “It will look good on his shirt.”

“Sweet. Hal, what’s you got there?”

“A horse!” She proudly held the box with the marble horse that she got for herself.

“Aren’t you worried about your budget? That horse was expensive.”

“Am I not the master of chaos? Had my hand not dealt with various trades? Do I not have all the means to twist fate in my favor? So why must I restrain myself. The world is ablaze my friends. Indulge in the gifts of life for tomorrow is never promised.“

Everyone looked at her like she just prophesied the heat death of the universe.

“Anyway… We found a new mural in the market.” Gabo said.

“Oh, another? Let me guess. Is it a dog playing with wishes? Or cats?” Asha asked, weary. There's been an odd trend in murals lately. No matter what, they all had to do with wishes.

“Oh, no. This one is of a bull!” Gabo pointed at the wall behind the utensil stall, where there lay a large painting of a happy bull wearing a flower wreath around his neck.

Now they had Asha's attention. Valentino stood back and looked over to notice some dandelion flowers at the corner of the stall. He licked his lips at the sight. First, he checked Asha. Then he checked Charo and the surrounding area. No one was near and Charo could handle a threat. Valentino walked over and sniffed the flower before eating it. It’s been so long since he got to eat some dandelions. He looked over to see a plucked dandelion laid on the ground a few feet away. He excitedly trotted out to eat that one too. There were three more dandelions laid out in a line from him. Valentino ate one more dandelion before looking back at the group. He was just past the stall and was farther from Asha than he wanted. Before he could walk back to her, a pair of hands seized Valentino. One hand closed over his mouth, the other held him against the body of a figure that disappeared into the night.

The others came to the scene and took a look at the wooden utensils when Simon spoke up. “Hey, uh, where did Valentino go?” Asha looked down and noticed his absence. She looked back at the jewelry stall and around the utensil stall. “Oh. Oh no!” She went. Valentino always went where she went. Not unless someone held onto him.

“Oh no. Did you see him?” She asked them. They shook their heads.

The group split to look for the baby goat. Simon and Charo stayed near Asha when they heard a soft and long bleat. From near the end of the market. Immediately, she ran after the sound. Simon ran after her when a young man ran out from the side, crashing into him and knocking both of them to the floor. “Ow! Watch where going! Ah!” He hissed.

Simon was the first to rise when he saw the unscathed man before him, hissing as he held his arm. “Oh stars! I am so sorry! I didn't see you!” He apologized, reaching down to help up the man whose legs had suddenly given out.

Asha went on without him, Charo still on her tail as more panicked bleats sounded. Running through alleyways and across streets. Nearing the edge of the city, the two passed by an alley when another pair of hands grabbed Charo in a similar manner as Valentino and retreated. Only a strained yowl called Asha's attention. She turned to see that she was now alone in her pursuit for her goat.

“What? Charo? Simon?” She called out.

“Looking for someone deary?” Asked a soft voice. A familiar voice. Asha froze. That voice. She slowly turned towards the forest to see a smiling woman with long blonde sausage curls. In her arms, she held Valentino, mouth clamped shut with her hand.

“Oh, hello there.” She said. She was still disguised so maybe she can just get Valentino and leave if she played dumb. “How are you doing today?”

“I'm a little upset actually. My hopes of getting my wish granted today were crushed.”

“Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Maybe the King will grant your wish during the Autumn Equinox Ceremony. Or the King might grant it before then? You never know with him.”

“Oh yes, but I think his assistant might know.” She said with a knowing smile as she gently stroked Valentino’s face with her thumb. He bit down on her hand but she made no expression of pain. “But tell me Asha. Just how is the King?”

‘She knows!’

“He's… better. Can I please have my goat back?” She needed to leave now.

“Oh, why the rush? Can't a lady have a nice chat with her old friend?”

“I need to go home, Tiffany.”

“The night’s still young. I'm sure your mother won't mind. Speaking of your mother, I saw her on the stage. She was quite happy with her spinning wheel.”

“Oh yeah! She was waiting a while for it. Like everyone else up there.”

Tiffany’s smile disappeared. “I also saw her wink at you before getting off stage. Do you know why that is?”

“She wanted to say bye.”

“Are you sure? You are the King's assistant and she is part of your family.”

Asha took a step back. “What are you getting at, Tiffany?”

“Everyone knows the racket, Asha. The King's assistants get their wishes granted, and usually their family wishes too. Maybe even their closest friends.” Tiffany took a step forward.

“During your first year as his assistant, I told you my other wishes because he wouldn't take them. I remember those wishes, and I know they weren't granted.”

“I can't just convince the King to grant your wish! And I... stopped being friends with you a year ago!” She hesitated.

Valentino jerked as Tiffany dug her nails into his skin.

“You may have been on shaky grounds with me, but that doesn't excuse how you didn't tend to my needs!”

Asha lunged forward and yanked Valentino out of Tiffany's arms and made to run when two men appeared, blocking her path. One man was the same fellow that ran into Simon. The other was much larger and bulkier than him.

“Don't you consider friends to be your family?” Tiffany continued. “How come you were never home when I visited like before? How come you haven't sent me your letters anymore? How come no wish of mine that I gave you came about after nearly 3 years? The King was oddly polite with your mother so he was more than willing to fulfill her desires with her association to you. How did you even acquire this position without a care for the people.”

Asha still faced her new obstacles.

”Look at me when I'm talking!” Tiffany grabbed her sleeve to pull her closer. Asha yanked away but she held on, ribbing the cloak fabric. Valentino jumped down and rammed into Tiffany, making her lose her grip. The goat ran off past the men and into the city loudly bleating. “Hey, where are you-” Asha ran after him but the men took her by the arms and turned her around towards Tiffany, holding her in place.

“This... has..." It was happening again. "I don't... owe you anything.” It came out softer than Asha would like.

“You don't owe me anything?!”

She reached over and yanked off her mask. “Who was there to calm you down when you were getting ready for your interview with the King?” She continued “Who got you flowers to leave by your father on his birthday? Who got you a new sketchbook for your birthday? I have been so good to you and all I asked for in return were a few wishes, a little help for my needs. And you repay it all by making me sad during a festival!”

“I crawled to you at my most vulnerable moment to seek comfort only to be shut out because you had a busy life." She looked to the men holding her. "So I took matters into my own hands and got some friends who actually care about me." She looked back at Asha.

"As for you? You turned in a wish. The King granted it, didn’t he? How many people did you neglect when they asked you for the love that you offered. How many were left heartbroken because you were also "JuSt To BuSy" with the King and yourself.” Asha didn't respond to that. Tiffany gently lifted her chin with her finger. “Looking back at everything. I'm beginning to see why you lost so many friends in less than 2 years.”

Holding back tears, Asha knee kicked her under the chest. Tiffany buckled and backed up.

Before Asha could try anything with those holding her, Valentino returned and bit one of their legs. The bulkier man he bit looked down and kicked him off, only too suddenly let go of Asha. All his attention brought to the angry lynx that pounced onto his head. Tiffany looked up in frustration. “You… said… he could take care of the cat!” She stammered to the other man. “Wha- I did! How did it-” Before he could finish, a yellow and blue cape ensnared his head as Simon yanked him away from Asha. The man struggled and tried to back kick, in which Simon picked him up and threw him at the nearest tree like a ragdoll. Tiffany looked dumbfounded before she was brought into a chokehold by Dahlia with her cane, who looked ready to break her neck.

“Hey! Are you okay?” She asked. Asha was silent.

“Oh look, you even have a little entourage to save...” She fell silent as Simon pointed his sword at her with a look of silent rage. Slowly stepping back and sheathing his blade, Simon gently took Asha’s hand and led her away. Dahlia kicked Tiffany onto the ground before she picked Asha's mask and ran after them. Charo and Valentino followed behind her. Simon turned into an alleyway where Gabo and Bazeema rushed in before them. ��We heard Valentino nearby. Did you find him? Oh stars! What happened to Asha?” Gabo asked. Asha was silent. A haunted look in her eyes. Simon sighed. “Asha was attacked by 3 people. Valentino found me and Dahlia and brought us to her.”

“WHAT!” Gabo shouted. He reached over and pulled out Simon’s sword. “Alright! Where are those punks!?”

“We’ve already handled them but we need to help Asha.” Dahlia said.

Bazeema walked over to Asha's side. “Do you want to sit down, Asha?” Bazeema asked gently. Silence. “Did they hurt you?” Again, silence.

Asha couldn’t form any words. Only the tears falling down her cheeks spoke of the storm brewing in her head. Everyone kept saying words. Words of comfort? Words of vengeance? Words of aid? Asha couldn't tell. Soon, it was just noise joining the brewing storm of voices in her head. It was all coming back to her.

The horror stories she heard from previous assistants. The soulless conversations of strangers that only wanted her to take their wishes to the King. Hecklers tracking her location to question if she turned in their wish or why the King won’t see their attendance.

Being crowded by countless people so she could jot down their wishes because she couldn’t risk any aggression by saying no. Inability to ask the King for help.

Asha’s breathing began to stagger.

The very people she aimed to help with her position turning her into a cash cow. With only a few to defend her from those who made her terrified to leave her home sometimes. Who envied that her wish might have been granted already. A wish that she knows hasn’t been granted yet.

She stepped back.

“Asha please. Talk to us.” Simon tried to assure. “How can we help you?” Asha slowly retreated.

Dahlia touched her hand. "What did Tiffany say to you?" Asha jerked back from the touch like she was bit.

Barely thinking, she ran away. She didn’t hear her friends calling for her to come back in her effort to stop the conversations and other memories from coming back.

She kept running out of the city and into the forest. No matter what she did, it all came flooding back and her eyes stung with tears.

All the friends she lost during her employment. The "friends" that only wanted to be with her because she might bring them their wishes.

Tiffany’s kindness during her darker moments. Tiffany using them to justify that she is in debt.

Becoming the King’s assistant because she was concerned with how tired everyone looked and wanted to help.

Too scared to leave her home once because people stalking her.

Exhausted and brokenhearted, she stopped and knelt down next to a tree, softly weeping. She finally took the chance to rest and have a fun evening. How did the evening go so wrong so quickly?

She felt something nudge her hip and turned around to see Valentino nuzzle her cloak. He looked up at her with sad eyes and walked over to snuggle into her side. She wiped her face with a hint of a smile, “Thanks buddy.”

She looked around the wilderness when her eyes landed on a Spanish moon moth on a nearby rock. It struggled to flap its wings, still wet from the previous drizzle. Asha reached over and held out her hand. The moth approached and crawled onto her palm.

Holding it carefully, she began to walk through the forest, trying to enjoy the scenery. As Asha walked, she found a well light house. Gazing at the window, she saw a carpenter set down a log and pull out his tools. In the blink of an eye, the carpenter shaped the perfect replica of a hand holding a wish. He had a wide smile looking at his creation but in less than he made it, he lost the smile and looked at his work with disinterest and walked away from it.

Asha looked at the statue with gloom. It was a wonderful statue.

She kept walking until she was on a bridge over a river. At the middle of the bridge, she looked down at swimming fish. Thinking about her wish that she wrote down while she was 17, to be one with the people. Still waiting for it come about. How much longer did she have to wait for change…

youtube

*cue in the gentle guitar

They say time will heal all your flays. So why does my heart still feel this ache

( Asha sadly looks at her reflection )

Was I so naive to believe. That I could relieve their woes and their hearts would be lightened

( She turns to the moth in her palm, reminiscing on the carpenter. )

But all my words fall on deaf ears. And now I go on to face all my greatest fears

( Valentino follows her with a concerned look as she walks off the bridge. )

But it's far from just. It cannot be that only I must fight back their apathy

So I look up the stars to guide me. And cast my burdens onto the sky

( She looks up at stars with a determined face )

If this is all that I have to drive me. Then may I be the first to stand in line

So I make this wish. For the world to change and us with it.

( The moth climbs to the tip of her fingers, stretching it's freshly wings )

So I make this wish. To have something more for than this

( She holds out her hands and... )

Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah, ah, ah.

More than this, oh whoa, whoa, ah

( Valentino jumps happily with moths as Asha faces the night sky. )

I never knew I needed space to fly. When all forms of force had made me shy.

( Asha runs along the hills. )

There's a great fire scorching inside my heart. But now I need an idea on where to start

( She takes off the cloak and hangs it on a tree. She pulls out her sketchbook. )

Because in the constellations are revelations. Of how despair will be followed by the light.

Even if it's not in near sight. I will not stop doing what is right

( She starts flipping through pages of constellations of mythical heroic figures. )

Now I am locked in this feeling of anticipation. So let this be what I need to do.

I'm wading through the water and my head's held high. The way you always taught me to

( Asha looks a drawing of the tree with herself and her dad. The paper is illuminated and Asha looks up to see the North Star shining brighter than before. )

So I look out at the stars to guide me. I'm taking this to be a sign

( She runs along the path, jumping over rocks and roots. Valentino close behind. Her eyes still on the Star, shining through the tree branches. It leads her to the great tree at the cliff side. )

I'm sure they'll be challenges that find me. But I can take them on one at a time

( Asha climbs up the branches to steps along a steady branch, looking up at the star. )

So I make this wish. For the world to change and us with it.

So I make this wish. To have something more for us than this

( The wind picks up. Flower petals and leaves swirl around her and even dragonflies pass by her. )

Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah, ah.

More than this, oh whoa, whoa, ah

So I make this wish. To have something more for us than this

( Asha sits down on the branch and "this" ends with a soft note. The Star shining on her face right before the music swells. )

A/N: WHY ARE SONGS SO HARD. I wrote down my song lyrics here because I don't feel like doing an entire comic for the sequence. Anyway, I got new characters and more antagonists! This will be chaotic and fun. Tiffany's dialogue was difficult but I think she was characterized well. We need to continue tradition of bastardly women with sausage roll hair. Enjoy some sad Asha.

Hang on to your socks. Altan will arrive next chapter.

@annymation @signed-sapphire @chillwildwave @wings-of-sapphire @oh-shtars @uva124 @cocoapowderpictures @your-ne1ghbor @rascalentertainments @mythartist21 @hopeyarts @flicklikesstuff @spectator-zee

#Youtube

14 notes · View notes

alexandreaiteiaabronia · 1 month ago

Text

The Lotos-Garland of Antinous

by John Addington Symonds

Behold a vision of the world-old Nile—

Of porch and palace-tower and peristyle

Glassed in the oily current smooth and calm,

With many a fringéd mile of sultry palm

Shimmering in noonday sunlight! O the roar

Of the full-voiced swart-visaged swarming shore,

As the gilt barge, with flash of oars, and cry

Cast on the waters of shrill minstrelsy,

Down the broad tide bears Adrian the king,

Lapped in luxurious ease and winnowing

All husk of hard thought from his heart this day—

So men surmise—to laughter given and play!

Lo the full sails of Tyrian silk out-spread

Like wings of wildest plumage overhead;

The cedar masts with crusted pearl and scale

Of Indian beetle rough; the bellying veil,

Star-sprent, gold-dusted, hyaline in hue,

That tempers like a mist the burning blue

Ofthose bronzed heavens; the heavy-scented flowers,

Plucked from what dim mysterious temple bowers

Deep in the dewy twilight—tuberoses,

Starred jasmines, lotos, crimson chalices

With myrtles woven! Mid that bloomy sea

Are girls, half-seen, reclining dreamily;

Some white as swans unruffled, pure and cold;

Some glowing with the delicate dim gold

Of amber, warm on throat and neck beneath

Black heavy coils of lustrous curls that wreathe,

Snake-like, smooth temples. O the subtle stir

Of laughter and of little feet, the whir

Of fans like night-moths fluttering, mid the wild

Voices of choiring boys, that naked piled

On Persian broidery, to the sound of flute,

Viol and fife and soul-subduing lute,

Make music, piercing shrill and sad and clear

With yearning memories the drowsy ear!

On glides the flashing galley. But the king,

In Roman strength austere, each goodly thing

Serenely reckons. He hath felt the glare

Of shadeless deserts; by the Libyan lair

Of lions hath out-watched the fiery day,

Patiently waiting for his royal prey:

The clash of arms he knows, the thirsty march

O’er sands with wormwood set, where fevers parch

Black lips and tongue, and hollow eyes grow dim:

No Syrian wreath or crown of rose for him

The circlet of the Empire! And behold,

This morn in Theban temples dusk with gold,

While spiry flames from smoking altars flew,

And incense clouds voluminously blue

Sun-proof involved those columned aisles, the seer

Foaming with eyes fixed on the unseen Fear,

A rede of death enwrapped in riddling gloom

Had uttered:—yea, that even for him the doom

Of icy death, unless some spirit free

Of man or boy, unbought, might willingly

Yield life for life, amid the dance and feast,

When hollow-eyed grim Death seems last and least,

Lurked shadow-like. So spake the shuddering priest.

And Adrian heard; yet trembled not, but read

As in a book the doom of Rome dismemberèd:

For on his life alone the Empire hung;

And to his single strength the nations clung,

As clings a vine with leaves and weighty fruit

To some strong pine’s stone-circling massy root.

And none but Adrian heard—save one who stayed

Beside him; one in whose quick pulses played

Fire of free life imperious; a boy

Of nineteen summers, framed for power and joy.

Crisp on his temples curled the coal-black hair;

White myrtle flowers and leaves were woven there:

His eyes had solemn light in them, and shone

Flame-like ‘neath cloudy brows: his cheeks were wan

With passion; and the soul upon his lips,

Smouldering like some fierce planet in eclipse,

Breathed fascination terrible and strong,

As though quick pride strove with remembered wrong.

But oh! what tongue shall tell the orient glow

Of those orbed breasts, smooth as dawn-smitten snow;

The regal gait, processional and grand,

As of a god; the sunny-marble hand,

Grasping a silk-enwoven cedar-wand?

He heard, Antinous! and in his breast

His heart leaped, and his flaming eyes confessed

The fervour of his spirit; still and calm

Standing the while, like some full-fruited palm

Tall by a river-bank. Then forth they went,

The youth divine and royal victim, blent

In silent awe and blind bewilderment.

Down to the Nile they came, and eager men

Pressed round them myriad-voiced with wonder: then

Taking their barge, upon the stream sailed forth,

Downwards all day steering by West and North.

All day the lazy ripple to the prow

Whispered; and all day long by palms arow,

By cities populous with blazing quays,

By tracts of flowering bean and verdant maize,

They glided. Towers and temples sunny bright,

Like mirage in the desert, swam from sight

Behind them; and the wild tumultuous noise

Of nations shouting with a single voice

Grew fainter on the current. All day long,

Lulled to a slumberous symphony of song,

Sails flapped, oars flashed, and boys and maidens made

Cool music in the silken scented shade.

But Adrian dreaming lay, and at his side

Antinous with large eyes blank and wide

Lay dreaming. Thus adown the sleepy tide,

As in a trance toward Lethe through still air,

Lost to the joy of living did they fare.

But now the sun who all day long had driven

His glittering chariot o’er the enamelled heaven,

Began to wester. Level smote his rays,

A furnace-fire of splendour; and the blaze

Burned upon stream and city: in its fire

The pillared shrine and solitary spire,

Tall cypress or thick tamarisk-tangle, swam

Like clouds you scarce can see amid the flame

Of sunset; and the whole vast concave through,

Across the light-irradiate airy blue,

Ran conflagration. Then, ere day was dead,

The slaves who had that service came and spread

The Emperor’s table; and Antinous rose,

For his it was before the banquet’s close

To bear the wine-cup, at his master’s knee

Like Ganymede serving imperially.

He rose, and from his shoulder’s ivory

The veil fell fluttering to his rounded thigh:

Naked he stood; then on his forehead set

A crimson wreath of lotos, cool and wet,

Fresh from the tank, with ivy mixed; and bound

Roses about his breast; and from the ground

A tendril-tangled thyrsus raised, and flung

The quivering leaves aloft that clasped and clung.

Next half the lustre of his limbs he hid,

Like some night-reveller or Bassarid

Fresh-flown from Indian thickets, with the fur

Of panthers streaked and spotted, sleek with myrrh

And musky-fragrant. In his hand a bowl,

Carved of one beryl, soft as if a soul

Throbbed in its flush, he took, and called his crew.

They to their Bacchus with loud laughter flew,

Tossing flame faces, twinkling tiny feet

In measured madness to the timbrel’s beat—

Wild hair behind them flying, loosened zone,

And flowers about their flanks for girdles strewn.

Girls were they, girls with vine-leaves garlanded,

Or jasmines white as their own maidenhead!

Boys too; ye gods, the beauty of those boys,

Lithe as young leopards! the soul-thrilling noise

Of their shrill voices!—Bells are at their feet,

And silver armlets, tinkling as they meet,

Make the air mad.

Behold, in such wild glee,

With dance and music and with witchery,

Paced forth the youth, for whom it seemed that all

His life to come might be one festival.

Yet in his soul was sadness. Well he knew

That ere those lotos-flowers had lost their dew,

He forth would fare upon the dismal way

Of dying.—Thus of many thoughts that day

This one had triumphed: he would die to shield

Adrian from death, if so the doom revealed

By god-sent oracles might be withdrawn

From that great head.—Like Phosphor in the dawn,

Solemn he was and tender; larger eyed,

Of more majestic stature; and his wide

Bare bosom swelled with nobler weight of thought

Than e’er within his heart had yet been wrought,

Since from his fields Bithynian and the play

Of childhood, on a lustrous night of May,

He had been borne by pirate hands, and woke

To weep his mother.

Through the awning broke

The clear-voiced choir; but Adrian in good sooth

Rose from his pillowed couch to greet the youth,

So proudly paced he: and the dying sun,

Shooting that moment from low vapours dun,

Transfigured all his face; and in the glow

The ruddy lotos-flowers upon his brow

Blazed ruby-like, and all his form divine

Blushed into crimson, and the crystalline

Bowl of the gleaming beryl flashed, and dim

With dusky gold the fur that mantled him,

Spread tawny splendour. So he stood and smiled,

Bending his crowned head, like a god who, mild

To mortals, will be worshipped. Such a sight,

So framed, so sphered in music and sunlight,

Had ne’er in court or theatre or grove

Fashioned by Nero for his insolent love,—

Nay ne’er in Syrian valleys where the Queen

Mourns for her lost Adonis, on the green

Of Daphne or of sea-girt Tyre been seen.

He spake: ‘To thee, in semblance of a god,

To thee supreme, who Jove-like with thy nod

Scatterest states and kingdoms, lo! I come

Bearing strong juice of Bacchus. See the foam

Leaps in the crystal for thy lips, and red

As rose or maiden in her bridal bed,

Glows for thy kisses! Health for thee, my king,

Health and long life within the cup I bring.

Yea, were it mine, this youth thou thinkest fair,

(Fair in thy thought, for verily whate’er

Thine eyes have praised, is fairest,) were it mine,

Brief as it is, scarce worth one thought of thine,

(For lo, it blooms to-day, to-morrow dies,

Nay even now is fading, as the skies

Fade after sunset)—were it mine to give,

Thinkest thou, king and master, I would live?

Were it not well to die for thee, and know

There in the scentless myrtle bowers below,

That thou wert living this new life? What breath,

How sweet soe’er, were sweeter than such death?

Nay, Lord, I flatter not. This is no smile

Of hollow semblance on false lips to wile

Kind speech from thee, much prized by us who serve

For could I, from this will I would not swerve!’

Thus spake Antinous, and the table round

Murmured approval; for the honeyed sound

From those calm lips on idle ears like dew

Fell with fresh fragrance and a pleasure new.

Sophists were there, whom Adrian fed, and they

Clapped loud applause, averring the long day

Had kept till eve her flower of perfect speech:

For such fine flattery, like the perfumed peach

Most subtly flavoured, could no palate cloy.

Thus clamoured they, wine-wanton; but the boy,

Bending his lilied brow beneath the wand,

And kneeling to his master, with one hand

Lifted the cup:—a lotos falling stirred

The wine refulgent; then, without a word

Or smile, he raised the sunlight of his face.

But Adrian drank, keeping the flower to grace

His wreath; and bade Antinous take the bowl

Of beryl. Then he turned with graver soul

To some grey counsellor beside him placed;

And the cup-bearer with his revel passed

Forth from the tent imperial.

Lo, the West

Bathing with liquid lustre brow and breast—

Lustre of orange, amber, green and blue,

Glassed on the waves, and gemlike in the dew

Of heaven translucent; the cool breeze that flew

Past silken sail and tent-roof; the black bars

Of palm-groves and of porches; shimmering stars,

And the low moon to eastward, pearly pale

Mid roseate refluence! In one woven veil

Of varied hues the universal world

Seemed by some hand omnipotent enfurled,

Where in the midst the barge, a moving spark

Herself of light, yet mid such splendour dark,

Slept on her shadow. And was this the night,

Centre of all things fair, for thee to blight

Thy blossom with cold frost of death—to die,

Sweetest of all sweet things beneath the sky?

The decks were vacant, as at even-tide

Of chills and sudden dew-fall. Free and wide

The sandal planks thick-matted with bright wool

And furs and flowered embroideries beautiful,

Spread for his pacing; and the lazy plash

Of rippling waves that round the galley wash,

Cooled the clear air. He went as in a dream

Forth to the prow, land o’er the luminous stream

Leaned; and behold, a golden lamp up-borne

By Isis (on her brow the sacred horn,

And at her waist the lotos, leaf by leaf,

And flower by flower, twined in a jewelled sheaf

Of lilies) cast a glimmer pure as pearl

On the veined marble of the watery swirl.

Here stayed Antinous, while the darkening west

Deepened from crimson into amethyst,

From fire to blood-red orange thin and still,

Under faint streaks of tenderest daffodil

Which faded. Soon, as drops of fiery dew

Gleam on a withered primrose, so there grew

Forth from this pallor the intensest glow

Of Hesper’s love-star: tremulous and low,

Poised o’er the palms, he panted; and his beam

Danced like a living lamp upon the stream.

Then spake Antinous: ‘My hour is nigh!

Night cometh, and the guardians of the sky

Illume their cressets!’ So he rose and spread

The panther skin and thyrsus, and the red

Wreath of dead lotos laid upon the ground:

Next in his hand the bowl of beryl, crowned

With roses, from a gleaming golden jar

He rilled; and gazing at the level star,

Thrice made libation, crying: ‘Father Nile,

And Isis and Osiris! ye who smile

On mortal births and burials! lo, I give

My life for Adrian’s! Wherefore should I live?

Have I not learned to trail my manhood’s pride

In the world’s golden gutters?—Like a bride,

Sumptuous with sacrifice and pomp and choir,

Forth from the doors I issued; and the fire

Of Flamens shone to light me: now, alone,

With saffron veil unbound and broken zone,

My blossom withered, lo, a wanton’s doom

Awaits me, or the purifying tomb!—

Nay, even now I weary. Day by day

It irks me to consume the hours with play;

Hearing soft speeches, propped on pillowed down,

To gather smiles; or, when I choose to frown,

Drink womanish tears. Better I ween were strife

With lions than this fulsome flower of life!

And when the flower is faded, what remains?

Yea, heaven, I thank thee: lo, the little pains

Of dying bring me guerdon of great gains!

For in my bloom I perish, having bought

Unending honour. What I give, is nought

But a mere piece of boyhood thrown away:

While he, the Emperor, lives. Even so. This day

Dates a new aeon in the age of Rome;

Wherethrough, a name for ever, in the dome

Of people’s praises, I shall pace, and be

Equalled with heroes in mine infamy!

Nay, what on earth more godlike? I have heard

Of soldiers dying at a general’s word;

Of patriots who drained their hearts to save

A nation: they beside their fathers’ grave,

Before their city walls and smoking shrines,

Fell on the long resounding foeman’s lines

And perished: this was easy; yet they bore

Victorious crowns and hymns for evermore.

But I, what city or what home have I?

What duty, dear or sacred, bids me die?

A slave—the toy and bauble of a king,

Picked from the dust to play with—a cheap thing,

Irksome as soon as used—a cup to sip,

Then fling with loathing from the sated lip!—

Therefore I die more nobly. Where are ye,

My father and my mother, and the glee

Of brothers and of sisters, who were dear

Far off in years forgotten? Not one tear

Shall your calm unfamiliar eyes let fall

For me.—How like a gilded dream is all

The life that I have lived in glorious Rome!

How like a dream it leaves me!—Lo, I come,

Ye awful, soul-exacting, pitiless Powers!

Prepare your laurels and the moony bowers

Of myrtles! Not ignoble, not a slave,

I perish, but of mine own will, to save

The Father of the Empire.—I have seen

In Roman theatres the dying queen

Of weak Admetus, pale Polyxena,

Cheiron, Menoikeus; and the people, ah!

The people how they shouted! Tears and cries

Greet even an actor when he nobly dies:—

Will not the people of the unnumbered dead,

Showering their pallid crowns upon my head,

Nobly receive me noble, dying thus,

Calm in my strength, young, proud, luxurious,

Not torn by pangs, not wasted, not outworn,

But in my splendour?’

As he spake, a horn

Shrilled through the twilight; and he saw the tower

Of Besa, where that night they tarried, lower

Dusk o’er the champaign. Speechless from the bark

He dropped: she onward glided o’er the dark

Breast of the glimmering Nile with lamp and light:

He through the mirrors of the cool black night

Unruffled, dying drifted; and his death

Was seen by no man. Nay, there lingereth

Old legend in the town Antino��,

Called by his name, a fair town and a free,

How that a flight of eagles from the sky

Down swooping, bore him, rosy breast and thigh

Lustrous like lightning on their sable plumes,

Up to the zenith, where, a star, he blooms

In that bright garden of the grace of Jove,

The martyr and the miracle of love.—

Of this the truth we know not; but we know

That in the town of Besa, where the flow

Of Nile is stayed upon the eastern bank

With wattles and with osiers, for a tank

That draws therefrom through sluices deep and wide

The living waters of the sacred tide,

There in the morn was found as though asleep,

The perfect body of the boy; and deep

Around him, known not till that day, there grew

Great store of lotos flowers, red, white, and blue,

But mostly rose-red, flaming in his hair,

And o’er his breast and shoulders floating fair,

And with his arms enwoven, pure and cool,

Screening his flesh from sunrise. Thus the pool

Burned with a miracle of flowers; but he,

Raised on their petals, pillowed tenderly,

And curtained with fresh leaves innumerous,

Smiled like a god, whom errands amorous

Lure from Olympus, and coy Naiads find

Sleeping, and in their rosy love-wreaths bind.

https://paganreveries.wordpress.com/2012/09/06/the-lotos-garland-of-antinous-by-john-addington-symonds/

Picture: My Antinous

8 notes · View notes

laxmiree · 2 years ago

Text

[CN] MLQC Lucien’s Misty Date translation

⚠️ SPOILER ALERT!! ⚠️

This post contains a detailed spoiler for a date that has not been released in EN yet! Feel free to notify me if there are any mistakes in the translation~

I cautiously observe Lucien, his expression is calm, and there is no emotion in his eyes.

It looks like just as he had mentioned before the experiment,

he really doesn't remember me.

Translation under the cut

[Part 1]

(Note: if anyone want to follow along with the voice, you can follow along here. Although, it doesn’t record the other choice :”. No, it’s not sexy or anything, but I like how much of a trickster he is in this date and the voice direction is really good.)

I’m walking through the damp and heavy mist, wading through shallow pools and grassy fields, and eventually coming to a stop in front of the white marble staircase.

A purple butterfly catches my eye.

It is perched on the bronze Thoth* statue by the stair railing, its thin wings reflecting a dazzling and intricate silver light.

(T/N: Thoth was an ancient Egyptian deity who was often depicted as a man with the head of an ibis or a baboon. He was the god of writing, knowledge, wisdom, and the moon, and was also associated with magic, science, and judgment. It really fits with him~)

It seems to be the only focus in this hazy mist.

My eyes light up and I take a few light steps towards it. The butterfly flutters up into the air as I approach, as if inviting me to follow.

MC: Little butterfly, are you going to take me to see Lucien?

The butterfly spreads its wings and lightly flies up the stairs. I lift my dress and take a step forward.

The butterfly eventually flies through the gate at the end of the staircase and disappears without a trace.

I raise my hand and push open the door. The mist dissipates in an instant, and then rustling flower petals and leaves come flying towards me.

At the end of my hazy field of vision, a tall figure is casually leaning on a chair, the gentle sunlight draping over his body and softening his slightly cold features.

Lucien is wearing loose home clothes, and his long eyelashes are lightly drooping. It seems that he has not yet noticed my arrival.

A small sable is obediently lying on his shoulder, and its black-bean-like eyes turn towards me. Suddenly, it shows its teeth fiercely.

Small Sable: Gugu!

(T/N: "Gugu" is an onomatopoeic sound that represents the sable's vocalization.)

Lucien puts down his book and taps the small sable with his fingertips.

Lucien: Is this Miss the person you want me to wait for here?

The small sable makes a "Gugu" sound as if it has a spiritual connection, and then Lucien nods slightly, as if greeting me.

MC: ...Hello, Professor Lucien.

He looks over with an indifferent gaze, but when his eyes fall on me, a hint of surprise shows in his eyes.

(HE CAN SEE HER IN COLOR😭)

After a moment of scrutinizing gaze on me, he curves his lips into a polite smile.

Lucien: What can I do for you, Miss?

I cautiously observe Lucien, his expression is calm, and there is no emotion in his eyes.

It looks like just as he had mentioned before the experiment, he really doesn't remember me.

Thinking about the task goal that I had agreed with him, I take a deep breath and smile as I extend my hand to the present Lucien in front of me.

MC: Hi, I'm MC, the collaborator for this academic seminar, responsible for providing guidance to the participating scientists.

MC: Most of the scientists have already arrived at the venue, do you need me to take you there?

After I finished my rehearsed opening remarks in one breath, Lucien just calmly shook my hand in response, and then withdrew his hand before I could even savor the lingering touch.

Lucien: [in distant tone] Thank you, there's no need. I have already informed the organizers that I will not be attending.

After saying these words, his gaze returned to the book, and it wasn't until a long time later that he looked back at me again.

Lucien: Miss MC, do you need me to escort you out since you may not know the way back?

He speaks out my name, each word coldly uttered without any hint of intimacy or tenderness.

Meanwhile, the little sable beside him bared its teeth and arched its body, displaying clearly the vigilance and rejection that Lucien himself didn't express.

My heart beats uncontrollably as I force myself to steady my breathing and take a step forward, gathering my courage to pull out the chair in front of him.

MC: Okay, actually I'm not really a collaborator.

I sit down, prop my cheek up with one hand, lean forward slightly, and wink at the person across from me.

MC: Professor Lucien, I came here specifically for you.

MC: Because...I have admired you for a long time.

[Part 2]

My frankness clearly piqued Lucien's interest, and there was a hint of inquiry in his gaze as he looked at me.

Lucien: Oh? Why are you interested in me?

The scrutinizing gaze and calm questioning made my ears slightly hot. I thought for a moment before giving an answer.

MC: This question is difficult to summarize. I think it probably stems from... an instinctive attraction.

MC: After reading almost all of your publications, interviews, and journalist reports, this attraction naturally turned into admiration.

Lucien smiled lightly, closed the book in his hand and put it to the side, interlocking his fingertips.

Lucien: People tend to subconsciously build up their image during conversations and steer the topics towards angles that benefit them.

Lucien: In interviews, I am like this. Perhaps Miss MC also does the same.

His lips are lightly curved, but his eyes are devoid of smile, as if he is looking through me into the intricate maze.

MC: I do have a little bit of ulterior motive towards you, I want to know more about you.

MC: In one interview, you said that insight is a two-way observation, a mutual giving between the experimenter and the experimental subject…

MC: "The more subtle you are, the more unexpected colors you will find."

Upon hearing this, Lucien raised his eyebrow and gestured for me to continue.

I started talking about the topics we had previously discussed, carefully selecting the conversation topics.

Lucien listens quietly, occasionally joining in the conversation, and his gaze on me becomes more intriguing.

The warm and fragrant air in the greenhouse gradually relaxes me, and for a moment, I feel as if I am chatting with the real Lucien.

Lucien: So, "need for more time to discover new chemical reactions" is also something I said in the interview, is that right?

(T/N: callback to New Chemical Reaction SP!)

I startle, and my heart rings the alarm bells. I nod my head hesitantly.

MC: This is... my speculation about your thoughts.

MC: So - is Professor Lucien satisfied with my answer?

Lucien: Your answer is very interesting and precise. If I were to describe it using a teaching term-

Lucien: It's like the answer key in the "Lucien" reference book.

He suddenly stands up, leans one hand on the table, and traps me in the shadow.

Lucien: I'm just curious about the path you took to arrive at the solution.

His words are full of meaning, making me feel embarrassed and uneasy as if he has seen through everything.

It seems that achieving the goal of the experiment smoothly is not as easy as imagined. I try to remain calm and stare at him, thinking of the appropriate words to say.

MC: Before coming to find you, I did receive help from someone, and I came here in response to his invitation.

MC: He wanted me to delve deeper into this place…

MC: To explore you.

=Flashback start=

Two days ago.

Lucien: "I woke up from my dream and once again realized that Hanna was dead."

In the quiet room, the pages of the book rustled slowly as Lucien turned them over.

Lucien: "I also know that the longing that is closely connected to her is not a longing for her, it is a yearning for going home."

The sad story came to an end, and I leaned towards Lucien with a hint of sadness.

MC: Why would the protagonist rather bear a false accusation than admit that he can't read?

Lucien: Because he didn't realize that his inner secrets would affect the outcome of the story.

Lucien: As we stand in the perspective of an observer, we naturally have a clearer view.

Perhaps sensing my sadness, Lucien comfortingly patted my head and extended the conversation to another topic.

Lucien: Like us, although we can be honest enough with each other-

Lucien: But I believe that if a secret is meant to be revealed one day, then it loses its meaning as a secret from the very beginning.

Lucien: So, deep down in our consciousness, there may be hidden the true secrets that we subconsciously hide.

MC: I understand what you mean, but this makes exploring secrets seem like a paradox.

MC: After all, we can't just picking up each other's consciousness and rummage through it.

Lucien suddenly smiled and winked mysteriously at me.

Lucien: Perhaps there is a way.

Lucien quickly showed me his method in his laboratory.

The head-worn device was covered in measuring electrodes and connected to a large white machine through several wires.

He took my hand and led me on a tour of the laboratory, patiently explaining the principles of the equipment in front of us.

Lucien: Human consciousness is closely related to the exchange of bioelectricity, and this device generates virtual electrical signals that cover the bioelectricity generated by the brain in response to external stimuli.

MC: So, does it mean that after wearing the equipment, the information received by the human brain will be replaced?

Lucien: That's correct. And the person leading the experiment can also enter the subject's conscious world through this interface that replaces information.

I nodded thoughtfully and looked at Lucien.

MC: I'm guessing Professor Lucien is inviting me to participate in an experiment in the world of consciousness?

Lucien: You guessed it. However, before that, we may need to do some special preparation work.

Seeing my confusion, Lucien lightly hooked the corner of his lips.

Lucien: I do intend to let you enter my world of consciousness, but your presence might trigger my subconscious desire to conceal things*.

(T/N: "粉饰" can mean "to beautify" or "to adorn," but in this context, it likely means "to beautify in a way that is not entirely truthful.)

Lucien: So, in order to prevent this from happening, I will temporarily block any memories related to you.

Lucien tapped the shell of the device lightly with his fingertips, as if contemplating how to add an extra layer of 'insurance'.

Lucien: But there is a certain risk in doing so. If my consciousness resists, the scenarios constructed by the electrical signals will be modified and reconstructed.

MC: What kind of results would consciousness modification bring?

Lucien: Although I'm not sure what the "Lucien" in my consciousness would do, I think he would bring danger to you as a stranger.

Lucien: So, if you encounter an out-of-control version of me, you can always evoke my memories.

Lucien: At that time, you just need to say the safety command "recall". The device's AI will automatically operate to restore my memory in the consciousness world.

My breathing became slightly quickened, and my tone of voice became cautious.

MC: Don't worry, I will try my best to explore until the end, and I won't use the safety command easily.

Lucien chuckled lightly and narrowed his eyes slightly.

Lucien: It sounds like this classmate is not afraid of this "dangerous game".

MC: Actually, I'm a little scared, but…

I curled up my lips and looked back at Lucien seriously.

MC: I'm more curious to see what kind of secrets are hidden behind Professor Lucien's 'danger'.

=Flashback ends=

And now, this dangerous game is unfolding. I sit opposite Lucien at the table, observing and testing each other.

The gentle expression he always had is nowhere to be seen on the face of the Lucien in front of me. I meet his scrutinizing gaze and reach out my hand.

MC: Mr. Lucien, would you like to take me, a visitor with ulterior motives, to visit this place together?

Lucien smiled at me and the curve of his lips was almost gentle.

Lucien: Why not?

He pinched my fingertips, then released his hand. A chill spread from his fingertips and the air inside the greenhouse became slightly colder.

*insert game special effect*

The damp mist rises instantly, and his glass-like cold voice comes from the mist.

Lucien: But the greatest pleasure of exploration lies in the unknown danger, doesn't it?

As soon as he finished speaking, the plants in the greenhouse suddenly grew rapidly.

[Part 3]

Within a few seconds, the plants in the greenhouse rapidly grow into a magnificent and dangerous size.

Graceful branches and leaves wildly expand in space, separating me and Lucien in an instant.

I instinctively reach out my hand towards him, but hear Lucien's cold voice from behind the plants.

*dramatic black screen, showing this text along with his voice-*

Miss MC, welcome to my world of consciousness.

*the screen flash, showing the previous bg*

In an instant, a thousand thoughts flood my mind, making my heart beat faster and faster.

In my expectation, Lucien would quickly understand that this is the world of consciousness. However, this "quickly" far exceeds my expectations.

Lucien: Don't you want to know me better, Miss MC?

Lucien: Then come and see me.

The sharp words seemed to be close at hand, but the owner of the voice had disappeared without a trace in the next second.

Left alone, I faced the plants and trees of the entire greenhouse, all of them looking at me intently.

I take a deep breath and run down the white marble stairs I came up on.

MC: This person is really...I must settle the score with him when I get out!

??(Lucien): You can come find me and settle the score right now if you want.

I was about to grumble to myself when his voice, now laced with a hint of amusement, suddenly sounded, causing me to startle and almost twist my ankle.

I stop and look around, but he is nowhere to be seen, as if a malevolent God is looking down and playing tricks on me.

MC: Hmph, someone clearly doesn't want me to easily meet him and is trying to trip me up.

Lucien: Is that so? Then the person you're talking about must be really bad.

Lucien: But I think he can be even worse.

As if to prove his words, vines behind me instantly wrapped around me, forcing me to run.

As soon as I started running, I came across two paths that went in completely different directions.

And what's even more peculiar is that familiar animals have appeared on both paths.

One of the paths leads to a dim thorny forest, where a ferocious little sable stands at the crossroads, impatiently waving its paws at me.

The other path leads to a bright and fragrant flower sea, and a beautiful purple butterfly is fluttering at the intersection, seemingly waiting for me to follow.

Lucien: Since you have "Lucien's" reference answer, how would you answer this question?

[Follow the sable]

[Follow the butterfly]

(T/N: this part has a branch! but the end is still the same. I’ll put different choice story after the last part)

[Choose to follow the sable]

I turn around and run towards the direction of the ferocious little sable, and the vines behind me retract at the moment they touch the fork in the road.

MC: That's great…

I breathed a sigh of relief, slowed down my pace, and followed the bouncing little sable into the darkness of the thorny thicket.

As if on cue, Lucien's voice sounded at this moment.

Lucien: Why did you choose to follow it?

MC: Although the little sable is fierce towards me, it is very attached to you, so following it will surely lead me to you.

Lucien: But, this road doesn't seem easy to walk on.

MC: If I can get close to you, I will go on no matter how difficult the road is.

Lucien doesn't immediately respond to my words. Just when I think he's going to remain silent, his voice, filled with amusement, sounds out.

Lucien: If you can come, I will wait for you at the end of the road.

After that, there is only the cold light of the moon in the dim forest.

I follow the little sable forward with difficulty, sometimes crouching, sometimes jumping over the thorns.

Suddenly, a sharp pain shoots up from my ankle, causing me to almost fall into a thorny bush.

And in the next moment, a slender branch seems to sense my danger and stretches out to catch me.

I had just breathed a sigh of relief when suddenly my whole body tensed up. My view shifted and rose even higher as I was entangled in midair by the surging vine!

MC: ….!

I try my best to pry open the branches with all my strength, but it's like ant trying to shake a tree*, and I can only watch as they wrap me tighter and tighter.

(T/N: "却如蚍蜉撼树,只能眼睁睁看着它们将我越缠越紧" is a metaphorical expression to describe a situation where someone is in a very weak position and is unable to do anything to change the situation.)

It seems to be indicating the complete control of the owner of the world over me.

The branches lifted me up into the sky and then suddenly let go. I thought I would fall from a high altitude, but the next second, my feet landed on a hard ground.

I am sent to a floating garden, where a figure is leisurely pruning the branches.

MC: Lucien!

Upon hearing my voice, Lucien turned around and a faint smile appeared on his face.

Lucien: You've arrived.

Lucien: I'm curious, has your thinking changed after this journey?

MC: Of course, I think I understand you better now.

Lucien: Is that so? Well, then tell me about it.

He puts away his smile and looks at me, the warmth quietly surging into my ears.

MC: I think, I saw Lucien's possessiveness.

After hearing my response, Lucien smiled lightly in a good mood.

Lucien: You never cease to amaze me.

I couldn't help but feel excited, but he calmly opened his mouth.

Lucien: But unfortunately, it's not entirely correct.

MC: What…!

In the next second, my unfinished words were replaced by a scream as a feeling of weightlessness swept over my body.

[Part 4]

With a flick of his finger, Lucien opens up a deep crack in the ground beneath my feet, causing me to lose my balance and stumble.

I slide down from the flower branch like a petal from his hand, and for a moment, fear seeps through my body with the cold wind.

In the rapid fall, Lucien's voice rings in my ears again.

Lucien: Do you still want to continue exploring me now that things have come to this?

MC: ...I won't give up until I get an answer.

Lucien: Unfortunately, mere bravery alone is not enough to break through the mystery.

His words were infused with undisguised confidence and insight, even his advice carried a cold detachment that seemed to observe from above.

Lucien: Let's stop here. This conciousness experiment is too dangerous for you.

Lucien: No matter who you are, and what relationship you have with the real-life Lucien, I think you need to know when to give up.

He paused and there is a hint of temptation in his tone.

Lucien: Or, at least recall my memory, maybe Lucien who remembers you will let you go.

His words made my heart tighten, and even my tough words couldn't avoid a slight hint of wavering.

MC: I-I won't turn back.

As soon as I finish speaking, something soft underneath me gently catches me, and I fall into a bed.

I force myself to ignore the exhaustion that comes with it and sit up to look around.

Before my eyes is a small wooden house filled with flowers, and warm sunlight is pouring in from the skylight.

Lucien's voice comes from outside the door, his tone is quite serious.

Lucien: You are very firm.

Lucien: I will give you some time to answer again.

Lucien: But you have to remember, this is also your last chance.

His tone remained polite and indifferent, but it made me curve my lips into a smile.

MC: No problem, I will cherish this opportunity.

MC: But you didn't say how much time I have, so can I assume that…

MC: Can I understand that until I give you an answer, I can stay here to observe you?

As if he heard something interesting, there is a hint of amusement in Lucien's voice.

Lucien: Yes, I hope this classmate can maintain this spirit of inquiry.

As soon as he finished speaking, the sun outside the skylight also went down, replaced in a moment by a tranquil night.

The flow of time in the world of consciousness is very vague, and even the alternation of day and night seems to be under Lucien's control.

I wander alone in this isolated garden, carefully examining every flower, butterfly, and leaf…

The sun rises and sets in a mechanical cycle, and occasionally, Lucien would visit my dwelling and cunningly give me tests.

He would transform into a butterfly, gently fluttering its wings, and then speak unexpectedly.

Lucien: By observing my world so meticulously, has Miss MC arrived at any new conclusions?

MC: I'm thinking, your consciousness world is so rich and colorful, maybe my previous answer was too one-sided…

MC: Hold on, let's be clear that this is not my final answer. We are still in the discussion period!

Lucien: That's an interesting thought, and your cunning look is also quite adorable.

As the heavy snow falls on the eaves, the agile little sable climbs onto my knees.

It didn't use to be affectionate with me before, but now it nestles in the blanket on my lap, conveying a comfortable warmth.

I touched it and laughed.

MC: Professor Lucien who turns into a little sable is also very cute.

Lucien: I've also noticed that whenever I appear in this form, you seem to be more friendly towards me.

MC: When you're not so guarded around me, I feel closer to you~

Lucien: Like how you treat "Lucien" in real life?

I instinctively want to give a definite answer, but when the words reach my lips, I swallow them back.

MC: ….How about you try to guess the answer to this question?

The little sable rolled over and looked up at me with its round, watery eyes.

Lucien: You are even more difficult to tempt than I imagined, like... a special drug that exclusively targets "Lucien".

Listening to the amused tone in Lucien's voice, I couldn't help but shake my head with a smile.

MC: Really? I actually think that Lucien is the special drug for me, rather than the other way around.

MC: Every time he can read my desires and lure me unknowingly into the scenario he has calculated.

Lucien: But without your cooperation, one-sided calculation is just empty talk.

I pause for a moment as I touch the fingertips of the little sable, and something becomes clearer in my heart.

MC: Is this a hint that Professor Lucien kindly gave me~

Lucien: Maybe this is also one of the inducements?

The little sable rolled over on my lap and reached out its paws to hold onto my fingers.

I slowly close my eyes, and the answer in my heart seems to become clearer and clearer.

MC: Lucien, I think I already know your secret.

As the words fall from my mouth, the heavy snow disappears, and spring arrives. The dawn filters through the arched stained glass windows, casting a hazy gray light into every corner of the room.

Layer upon layer of white gauze falls down, like a dream reaching its most beautiful moment.

And the owner of the world leans over, his deep eyes gazing at me, with a probing yet restrained fervor.

Lucien: Before hearing your answer, I want to discuss a guess I have with you.

Lucien: Regarding MC's identity, I have a relatively confirmed answer.

My heartbeat inexplicably quickens, staring at his opening and closing lips in a daze.

Lucien: The time we've spent together has given me a feeling that I've never experienced before. It can even be described as... strange.

Lucien: For the first time, I feel that the world is complete with you in it, and this feeling is not unfamiliar.

Lucien: So even though my consciousness doesn't have any memories of you, I still think of you out of habit.

Lucien: I think that's the kind of relationship we have.

His burning gaze carries a hint of inquiry, sinking me into this profound and intense emotion.

MC: …When did you realize it?

Lucien: Probably, it was when I turned into a small sable lying on your lap and your touch gave me a clue.

Lucien: The sensation starts from the top of my head to my chin, then down my body, and my tail…

As he described, he used his hand to trace his body... I couldn't help but interrupt him, blushing.

MC: No, no need to be more specific. Your guess is correct.

I close my eyes, feeling his slightly rapid breath.

-this is both a confirmation to him and a repeated confirmation to myself…

MC: Maybe you are always exploring all the possibilities about me, tempting me to get closer to you step by step.

MC: This is my answer.

Without waiting for Lucien to speak, I quickly add.

MC: I have thought about a question before, regarding a question about Lucien, what should the answer be.

MC: But now I understand that actually, the question about Lucien can be both a single choice question and a multiple choice question.

Lucien: Why do you say so?

I stretch out my hands and make a butterfly shape, then gently wave them.

MC: Because I will choose all of you and only you.

I gaze at his dark and mysterious eyes with affection, my tone unconsciously softening.

MC: So even if you don't try to probe or tempt me, I will fly resolutely to you every time like a determined little butterfly.

MC: And then kiss you.

I lean in and, under his widened eyes, softly kiss the corner of his lips.

MC: Recall me.

The gauze by the window is gently lifted by the breeze, and the butterfly flutters away like a fleeting dawn, floating away into the distance.

The little sable clung to the branches and leaves, stealing glances in our direction.

But in my eyes, there is only the familiar tenderness that is rekindled in Lucien's eyes.

Lucien: (softly) MC, I missed you.

Lucien: More than just missing you a lot, I missed you even more than that.

I gaze at him for a long time, and finally smile, opening my arms to embrace his neck, pressing myself tightly against his warm body.

MC: After a whole spring, summer, autumn and winter, Mr. Lucien finally remembers me.

Lucien slightly lowers his head and gives a gentle kiss to my hair.

Lucien: I didn't expect that my consciousness world would bring you so much trouble.

Lucien: I hope the Great Producer won't be mad at me for causing you so much trouble, okay?

MC: Hmm~ After all, I have endured a lot of hardships and loneliness, so it depends on your performance.

Lucien leans close to my ear, his warm breath gently brushing against my cheek.

Lucien: (whisper) No problem.

He chuckles lightly, pinching my jaw and deepening our kiss.

Lucien: (whisper) And next, it's my turn to explore you, right?

The sky is hazy, and amidst our fiery breaths, my consciousness floats and sinks.

Like stranded on the tidal shore, like drowning in the sea, until completely dyed in his color.

[Another choice: Follow the butterfly]

I turn my steps and run towards the direction of the butterfly, while the vines behind me retract at the moment of contact with the fork in the road.

MC: That's great…

I breathed a sigh of relief and slowed down, following the gracefully fluttering butterfly towards the depths of the bright flower garden.

And at this moment, Lucien's voice timely sounded.

Lucien: Why did you choose to follow it?

MC: The first time, it was the butterfly that brought me to you. I believe it will help me for the second time.

Lucien: Your intuition is correct, and this choice seems much gentler.

MC: But I don't want to only see gentleness, I will find what's hidden behind it.

Lucien doesn't immediately respond to my words. Just as I think he'll fall silent, a voice tinged with amusement breaks the silence.

Lucien: I will wait for you to personally unveil the answer in front of me.

After that, only the gentle fragrance remained in the flower sea.

Petals of flowers whirl around me like spirits, and I struggle to break through their gentle confinement, following the butterfly as it moves forward.

I am surrounded by the intoxicating fragrance and can't help but stop in front of a blooming hydrangea. I extend my fingertips and gently touch its petals.

At the moment my fingertips touch the petals, they suddenly retract and wrap around my fingers!

MC: !!

At the same time, the flowers around me, like they've caught their prey, gently and irresistibly caress my body.

As I struggle, they invade me more deeply, the flower branches penetrate into my clothes, and the wild petals engulf me like waves-

It seems to be indicating the world's owner's exploration of me.

The flowers take me into the abyss and suddenly let go. I think I will fall down high, but the next second, my feet land on the hard ground.

(T/N: The story after this follow the exact same suit, the only difference is MC’s first answer)

Lucien: I'm curious, has your thinking changed after this journey?

MC: Of course, I think I understand you better now.

Lucien: Is that so? Well, then tell me about it.

He puts away his smile and looks at me, the warmth quietly surging into my ears.

MC: I think, I saw Lucien's desire for exploration.

After hearing my response, Lucien smiled lightly in a good mood.

Lucien: You never cease to amaze me.

I couldn't help but feel excited, but he calmly opened his mouth.

Lucien: But unfortunately, it's not entirely correct.

MC: What…!

In the next second, my unfinished words were replaced by a scream as a feeling of weightlessness swept over my body.

[Lux short ramble corner~]

OKAY so, gonna keep it short because... *glances at schoolwork*. This date is... exciting and a bit wild. I like how papergames is trying new things with all the special effect in this date (not saying that they’re new, it’s just that... they usually on main story rather than date, and it really gives an exciting feeling).

I think this date feels like getting to know him again, without him knowing anything about MC. We slowly explore him, who was indifferent at first, then become intrigued by MC’s answer. This make him both guarded and curious. But then, over times we also see him slowly become unguarded in front of her (even worrying about her). And finally after MC feeling him up reach the conclusion that he loves her (the strange feeling) and has this deep connection with her. The connection is based on something deeper than just memories or experience, but rather on fundamental sense of familiarity, it was soul deep. She completes his world. Even though Lucien didn’t have any memory of her, he feel a sense of wholeness with her.

About Lucien’s two (actually not so) hidden desires to explore and possess her- I think this already clear in the date. MC still chooses him despite his flaws and facades (Because I will choose all of you and only you.), despite his attempt of exploring and possessing (and even though he didn’t try, she will still choose to fly to him). Because loving him is the choice that she already made since long time ago, and she is committed to loving Lucien for all that he is.

Overall, I think this date is really fresh and offers deeper insight about their relationship. Whether it’s their soul deep connection or how love is a choice. I also quite like all the shenanigans that Lucien made. It’s not everyday you see him with all of his trickster potential revealed in front of MC lol.dye

#THEY DIDN'T EVEN TRY TO HIDE THAT THEY'RE F-ING ANYMORE #okay real talk though this date is really good #so much feeling #it's both deep and exciting #mlqc lucien #mlqc translation #mlqc spoiler #mlqc cn #mlqc #mr love queen's choice #love and producer

105 notes · View notes

honeybee2807 · 3 months ago

Text

Forgotten Memories: The Hidden Oracle

Chapters 5 and 6

Note: This was meant to be one chapter but while writing, I got interrupted so I posted it in ao3 midway. So take it like one chapter.

Camp Half-Blood was enormous. Lester's eyes went wide when they landed on a big and majestic place which Percy called the big house. He was fascinated and slightly overwhelmed when he noticed a few kids taking care of a strawberry field!(Why would Camp Half Blood have a strawberry field?!) He whizzed around excitedly when he saw the arts and crafts center. His jaw dropped when he saw the dining pavilion which had a huge crack at the floor.

"This is big enough for skeletons to enter through," Lester had exclaimed.

Percy nervously laughed, "About that..."

As he stared at Percy incredulously, Lester decided to not pursue further into the conversation lest he got a headache bigger than the crack.

Despite the ginormous camp, there only seemed to be very few campers("It's winter. Many of the campers left for school," Percy had explained when he had asked about it.)

As they headed for the cabins(There were twenty of them!), Lester felt awe as the cabins appeared more enormous and imposing. The biggest was made of white marble and had pillars which surrounded a bronze door with lightning bolts streaked out. Lester shuddered, remembering his embarrassing panic attack he had earlier.

"The Zeus Cabin," Percy announced as he waved his arms uselessly in what was supposed to be a grand gesture.

"He's the thunder guy, isn't he?" Lester quietly asked. A deafening boom made Lester cringe. "That answers it"

Afterwards, Percy showed the rest of the cabins.

("This is my dad's cabin! God of the seas and the earth shaker" Percy exclaimed when they reached a very blue cabin. "The best cabin of them all.")

("This is the Hermes cabin. God of traveller's and thieves and a whole lot of other stuff. Including cattle. He takes all the unclaimed campers so you'll be here for a while until you get claimed.")

("This is Mr. D's cabin. He's the camp director and the god of wine. He's been sent here as a punishment.")

Then they reached a beautiful and gold cabin.

"This seems nice," Lester murmured as he unconsciously stepped closer. The only decor seemed to be breathtakingly pretty flowers. Lester had the urge to pluck some of them but it probably was illegal to do so.

"This one is Apollo's cabin," Percy said as he curiously stared at Lester. "God of poetry, music, medicine, archery and gods know what else"

Lester went quiet for a while after that.

Later, Percy decided that it was a good idea to abandon him("Gotta go home! I need my cookies!") in the middle of the tour so Lester decided to explore the rest of the camp by himself.

Walking up to what he assumed to be some sort of amphitheater, Lester went though the entrance to find various instruments of different sizes and shapes lying about and a cacophony of noises. A few campers were seated in the room enthusiastically attempting to play what seemed to be the minor scale and miserably failing. A girl seemed to be choking the clarinet which produced sounds similar to a dying person. The way a boy was gripping the guitar, he must've wanted to break something. The only camper who had perfected the music was a dark skinned boy who was practicing on his violin flawlessly. A man with goat legs(a satyr Lester recalled from what Percy had explaned), stood up quickly to invite Lester in.

Suddenly a loud snap could be heard. The boy with the guitar(who Lester later learned was Damian) had broken the D string and one of the girls looked furious.

“You killed it!” the girl scowled. “I needed to use that guitar!”

“Shut up, Lucky,” Damien muttered. “In the real world, accidents happen. Strings snap sometimes.”

Lucky(Was that her actual name?) started cursing in Italian.

Lester suddenly felt a surge of impulse as he whipped his hand out and asked, "May I?"

Damian hesitated before slowing handing the guitar to him.

'What was I thinking? How would I know how to restring this? I don't even know where extra strings are' Lester internally panicked.

Looking around, Lester spotted a guitar case. I wonder... Sure enough, there were extra strings inside.

Lester felt a sense of deja vu when replacing the string. He felt like he had done the same thing hundreds of times with how familiar and oddly comforting the action was. He adjusted the pitch, but stopped when he realized that the girl who played the clarinet was sobbing.

“That was so beautiful!” She wiped a tear from her cheek. “What was that song?”

Lester blinked. “Erm.. It's tuning.”

“Yeah, Valentina, control yourself,” Damien chided, though his eyes were red. “It wasn’t that beautiful.”

“No.” Lucky sniffled. “It wasn’t.”

Only the violin boy seemed unaffected. He grinned widely though Lester couldn't figure out why. As he started to strum the scale, Lester started to feel a sense of power and energy. It seemed as if he had practised the guitar for four thousand years. Lester was invincible, he was at his turf and no one could defeat him.

He looked up to find Lucky and Damian sobbing into each other's shoulders. Valentina was shaking and even the violin boy went teary eyed.

Lester felt awkward. "Erm.." Suddenly his hand seized up and the guitar fell to the floor with a clang. All the power Lester felt disappeared, leaving him vulnerable. His fingers, which were now marred in red lines, were throbbing and he felt a bit lightheaded.

Flushing in embarrassment as others looked at him in alarm and concern, he mumbled, "I just got tired."

“Well, yeah.” Valentina nodded. “The way you were playing was unreal!”

Lester started to blush. "It's just some scales! You got emotional over scales!"

"But those are some good scales," the violin boy said as he held out his hand. "My name's Austin Lake. My dad's Apollo."

Lester shook the hand. "My name's Lester. I don't know who my godly parent is."

Austin grinned. "Well, I have some suspicions on who your parent is."

He clapped Lester on his back. "Mind coming over to Apollo cabin so we record YouTube videos"

Lester felt a smile blooming on his face when he realized he made a friend. "It's a deal!"

Lester was in the middle of exploring the rest of the camp(Seriously why were there lava walls?) when he was stopped by the centaur, who stated that he needed to go to archery lessons. Archery seemed cool.

It wasn't as successful as the music lesson. But as a first timer, he seemed to do alright. He even scored a bullseye! After a few embarassing misses which he will not mention at all.

As he practised more and more, he was more and more successful at not missing the target board and actualling hitting the blue ring. Until his hand decided to cramp up again.

"Ow!" Lester whined as he cradled his hands. Damn, where was the weird golden healing flash when he needed it?

"Hey" The archery instructor, Kayla Knowles, came over to him. "Your shots are very good for a person who shoots first time. You just need to improve your form. Here's how it..." Kayla looks over Lester's shoulder. "Wait what is he doing?"

Lester followed her gaze.

A boy was walking slowly, trancelike, into the woods.

"Huh?" Lester asked.

"Sherman Yang. Why is he going to the woods? It's dangerous there," Kayla gasped.

They both decided to follow him. As soon as they reached the tree line, the forest darkened. The temperature dropped. A woman whispered in Lester's ear. It was a hauntingly familiar voice that he couldn't pinpoint. You did this to me. Come. Chase me again.

Lester felt disorienting confusion and another massive wave of deja vu.

Both started running towards Sherman. Lester's lungs were about to collapse and his legs would burn if he ran any further. Luckily they were close enough to grab his arm.

“Sherman.” Kayla tugged at him. Sherman attempted to shake her which failed since he seemed sluggish and dazed. He eyes started fluttering.

“No. Ellis. Got to find him. Miranda. My girl.” Sherman moaned.

Lester glanced at Kayla for explanation.

“Ellis is from the Ares cabin,” she said. “A few campers started going missing in the woods. Ellis is one of them”

Lester felt a chill run through him. "And... What about Miranda?"

“Sherman and she started dating about a week ago.”

Sherman struggled to free himself. “Find her.”

“Miranda is right over here,” Lester improvised. “We’ll take you there.”

Sherman stopped fighting. His eyes rolled until only the whites were visible.

“Over…here?”

“Yes.”

“Ellis?”

“Yes, it’s me,” Lester lied, looking uncomfortably at Kayla. “I’m... I'm Ellis.”

“I love you, man,” Sherman sobbed.

Still, it took all their strength to take him from the woods and lead him to the archery range.

At some point, Sherman snapped out of his daze and shook them off.

“What is this?” he demanded.

“You were walking into the woods,” Lester said.

He gave a glare that would incinerate Lester if looks killed. “No, I wasn't, newbie.”

Kayla reached for him,“Sherman, you were in some kind of trance. You were muttering about Ellis and Miranda.”

Sherman went red “I don't remember that. Why should I believe you?”

“You were hypnotized. It was scary! " Lester pleaded. "Something or someone must've controlled you!"

“Enough!” Sherman snapped. “If either of you mention this, I’ll make you eat your quivers. I don’t need people questioning my self-control."

Then Sherman stomped away. Lester stared at the ground before looking at Kayla. "You mentioned missing campers earlier. Do you think... Do you think these two are related?"

"I don't know," Kayla mumbled.

"Something spoke to me. You know? Back in the woods. It felt like the woods were talking to me," Lester confessed. "I think... something is off with the woods"

Entire work:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/48825898?view_full_work=true

#lester papadopoulos #toa apollo #pjo apollo #pjo toa #pjo hoo toa #trials of apollo #apollo fanfiction #apollo #kayla knowles #austin lake #percy jackson #cabin 7 #toa

8 notes · View notes

separatist-apologist · 2 years ago

Text

Young Gods

If there's a light at the end, it's just the sun in your eyes

Summary: When invaders come to Elain's shores, she's certain it means death.

Taken to a foreign land, Elain finds herself a princess of a people she barely understands and married to a man she's not sure she can trust. But Elain will need more than her wits if she wants to survive.

Chapter 1 | Read on AO3

Elain didn’t know what to make of Rhodes. They walked the length of it, giving each of them ample time to appreciate the splendor of the city. Elain had never seen anything like it. Here, everything was made of gleaming white sandstone and the roads were neatly paved with carefully lain cobblestones. People moved about unrestrained wearing fine clothes made of nice fabric, just like the man who’d been speaking with Lucien.

She did notice just how few women seemed to exist. Men were the primary majority, and she wondered if that meant women and their children were indoors. It seemed miserable, given how hot it was. Elain was dripping with sweat by the time they reached the sprawling, marble palace. Some part of her was relieved they hadn’t been taken to some shanty where they’d be sold to whoever paid the most.

Servants in the place were likely treated far better than they were in the city. It was also cooler—the moment they were ushered through the door, the temperature seemed to drop twenty degrees. Elain wondered how they managed that.

They were separated almost immediately. Unbound individually by women, which made Elain think her hypothesis about women being kept indoors was correct, they were then ushered off not to be assigned work, but to bathe.

The bathing room was nice. The water was hot and scented with jasmine oil. Elain managed to convince the two women responsible for her care to spare her dress, which was the only thing that still belonged to her. It had her herbs, if nothing else, still inside.

The water was almost blisteringly hot and felt incredible against her aching bones. She was given time to soak before the water was dumped and refilled from a gleaming bronze tap. The first bath, she realized, was for removing the dirt and grime from her skin, and she second was for actual washing. Her hair was scrubbed and conditioned and her skin soaped and oiled before she wrapped in a warm towel, dressed in a soft, off-shoulder lavender gown that was easily the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen. It made her nervous when her hair was dried and carefully curled, pinned with pretty pearls before a large mirror.

She tried over and over to ask questions. What’s going on? What is happening? Why are you doing this?

No one offered her any response. They merely shuffled her through resplendent marble halls so quickly Elain wasn’t able to commit them to memory, before depositing her in a bedchamber so large it could have fit her dilapidated cottage three times over. No one locked the doors and in theory, she could have escaped, though when Elain pulled them open, one of the pretty servants who’d curled her hair turned to look at her with such disappointment that Elain meekly closed the door again.

Instead, she explored this new prison, if that's even what it was. She stood in a large sitting room made of the same marble as the rest of the palace. A large fireplace lay unlit, a relief given how hot it was. Books were neatly arranged on shelves along a wall, some of which had titles she could read and others in languages she’d never seen. All of them had cracked spines, betraying how well loved they’d once been. A large sofa faced a long table with even more books and a pretty white vase that held purple and pink flowers she’d never seen.

Curtains covered a wall of windows and when she pulled them back, she realized she had a stunning view of the sea. Elain had seen the ocean many times in her life—gray and moody and dangerous. Never had she ever seen it so cerulean and clear and placid. Elain could have spent the rest of the day sitting on one of the chaises on that sweeping, curved balcony staring at the water.

The next room was a bedroom. Elain didn’t know what to make of the massive bed draped in cream and gold, or empty vanity she supposed belonged to her. More doors lead to that same balcony, and more books that seemed as if they must belong to someone. She didn’t want to consider that, either. Elain ignored the furniture for lounging to open one of the curved doors etched in gold to find another bathing chamber with more of those taps that pumped hot water through pipes. A large, square basin tub was set against clear glass, making it seem as if she was bathing over the beach below.

The other door led to a closet that was half filled with men's clothing. The other half was utterly empty, as if someone had come in and intentionally cleared space. She didn’t poke around, though the heady, masculine scent of salty air and sun warmed apples washed over her.

Was she meant to serve this mystery man, then? Was that why she’d been bathed, because her service would be required in his bed? Elain closed her eyes and allowed herself to think of Graysen. Was he still alive? Had he seen her carried through the village—did he know what fate awaited her? It made her want to cry, and Elain was determined not to. With the bruise on her face, crying would only make her swell up worse, and it made her face ache.

He’d told her to keep herself safe and Elain had disregarded his instruction to help Arina. She didn’t regret it. She couldn’t regret it—what kind of person left someone in Arina’s condition to her fate only to save herself?

They were in this together, and no matter what happened, Elain knew whatever future she’d wanted with Graysen no longer existed. He wouldn’t risk his reputation on a potentially ruined woman. If they escaped—and she believed they would—it would be to start over entirely.

Elain was good at surviving.

That didn’t stop her from coming out of her skin when the doors opened. It was only a servant, bedecked in a pretty gold dress and laced-up sandals. She beckoned Elain to follow to which Elain did without protest or complaint. Her success in getting out would lay in her compliance…though the memory of cutting that soldier—Lucien—floated through her mind. She’d seen him on the docks, his face still wounded. She’d felt such satisfaction at the sight, a vicious sort of pride knowing she’d given him that scar.

Elain was led through open corridors alight with sunlight and walks that contained some of the most stunning artwork she’d ever seen. She could have spent a week studying it all and perhaps she might once she was settled.

Elain wanted to be optimistic. Her dreams were shattered when she was led into a large, open throne room. A beautiful woman with the most gorgeous shade of auburn hair sat on a golden throne. Bright russet eyes and a pleasant smile made Elain ache for the mother she just barely remembered–this woman oozed warmth. She leaned forward in a dress of rich orange when Elain stepped in the room. Standing just beside the raised platform sat on was Lucien, removed from his leather armor and dressed in a tunic of white and gold. He’d bathed and was regrettably handsome, even with the slash down his face—or perhaps because of it. He, too, was watching her, hands folded in front of his body.

Arina was there, in the prettiest gown of sage green. Her blonde hair had been scrubbed of the blood and half twisted from her face. The back of her dress scooped low and might have revealed the golden brown of her skin had it not been carefully covered in delicate bandages. She stood in the middle of the court, looking far too nervous for Elain’s liking.

There were too many players. The king was there, crowned in gold beside his wife, with amber eyes watching her approach. Arne was there, too, kneeling on the floor in a way that Elain didn’t think she quite liked. And another man—Lucien’s brother, she guessed, based on that same shade of red hair, stood three paces behind Arina, his arms crossed over his chest and his face utterly inscrutable. She’d walked in on something.

Elain stopped shoulder to shoulder with Arina. Arina turned to Lucien and said something in his language she didn’t understand. It clearly angered him—his body became rigid, his lips pressed in a harsh line. Elain wished she knew, though she couldn’t focus. Not when the queen rose, graceful and lovely, and made her way to Elain.

Elain managed a bow that seemed to amuse her. “Don’t be silly,” she murmured, her voice soft and musical. There was a lilt to her words that Elain didn’t recognize, but found reassuring all the same. Elain didn’t realize she was caressing her cheek, or gripping her jaw so she could look at the bruise Elain had been hiding until she felt the queen's soft fingertips brush the bruise that still warmed her face.

“What happened?” she asked, her voice deceptively kind. Elain jerked back. She couldn’t trust these people.

“Nothing,” she said, certain she wanted no part of whatever was happening.

“Were you hit?” she asked, still soft and sweet. “Was it my son who struck you?”

Elain looked at Lucien. She could lie, she realized. What would happen, she wondered? Their eyes locked, and she swore he was all but daring her to do it. The only thing that stopped Elain was Arina, who had undoubtedly told the truth. To punish Lucien, she might condemn Arina.

Her eyes fell to the floor. “No.”

“No you weren’t hit, or no it wasn’t my son?”

“No, it wasn’t your son,” Elain whispered in an attempt to conceal the warbling fear in her voice.

“Tell me who.”

She didn’t dare look at the kneeling man as she raised a finger to point.

“Did he tell you why?”

“I…” her eyes blurred with tears. It was too humiliating to say before all these strangers. No one moved, and so Elain managed, “I refused his advances.”

Lucien turned to his brother, one hand outstretched. Chaos erupted when Arne began shouting that Elain had been making advances, an absurd proposition given Elain was currently shaking. The brother handed Lucien a sword and before the king could intervene—could offer clemency or lay down judgment, Arne’s head was on the floor.

The queen sighed with exasperation. “Lucien,” she chided as both Elain and Arina skittered far, far back to avoid the thudding, open-lidded head rolling on the floor. Arina pressed a hand against her mouth, as if she needed to keep herself from screaming, while Elain could no longer contain her tears. It was too much—the casual violence of the gesture might have emptied her stomach if there been anything to throw up.

“Eris,” the king finally spoke, looking to the elder son with a grave sort of seriousness.

Eris snapped to attention, turning to look about Elain and Arina, moving further and further from the royal family. Elain wiped her eyes as he approached, halting dead in his tracks when Arina spat a string of words at him.

They all turned to stare at her, eyes wide with a mix of surprise and horror.

“Not whore,” Eris finally managed, his voice strangled as if he might like to wring her neck. “Wife.”

Elain did give in to the blackness that had begun creeping against the edge of her vision. Wife. It was the nail in the coffin that was her captivity. Whore might have been better. Bedroom slave, even. Wife was wholly different, was the rope around her wrists now bound to her throat. She didn’t have any awareness beyond that. No dreams, no nothing. Just utter, unconscious bliss for the first time since she’d found herself in this new nightmare.

Elain woke with a start to near darkness. She was in bed, covered beneath thin, yet pleasantly heavy blankets. The fireplace had been lit just across the room and though it was dying, it still cast a warm glow over the room. Elain was not alone. She’d woken too loudly to pretend she wasn’t aware of the man seated at the far end of the room. His legs, still encased in the same well-tailored pants, were crossed one over the other. He had his head braced in his hand as he stared blankly into the night.

When he heard her soft gasp, he turned to look. Their eyes met, his still scarred, and hers swollen from being struck.

Wife.

“Oh, no,” she whispered as they faced each other. He didn’t answer her, nor did he betray an ounce of his emotions. He merely surveyed her before he turned back to his vigil. Of course the room she was in was far too elegant for the like of her—or for a mere noble. She should have realized the size, the ornamentation all spoke to royalty.

Elain’s hands began to shake. She ducked them beneath the blanket and carefully sat up against a wall of pillows. This was a mistake, she reasoned. He’d found her with Arina and assumed things about her. Elain tried to tell him, but the words stuck in her throat. What if he was disgusted? What if wherever she went was worse?

“What happened to Vassa?” Elain asked instead with some guilt. What about all the women she’d come with? “Where is Arina?”

“Safe,” he replied. His voice was deep and rich, and if Elain hadn’t known better, she’d have said it was pleasant, too. “In the palace.”

“I want to see them.”

He didn’t look at her. “In the morning.”

She looked upward to the domed ceiling. “I’m not a princess. In my village, I—”

“I don’t care what you were,” he interrupted, turning his head to look pointedly at her tattered dress folded neatly against the vanity. Ah. She supposed he’d known the whole time, then. Elain was too afraid to ask him anything else. Terrified that he had expectations of this night she was unwilling to meet. What had the mistress told her? To lay there and go somewhere else.

First time is always a misery.

Elain figured they were all about to be misery. She waited, but Lucien didn’t budge from his place in the chair. He continued his watch until she thought he might say nothing at all. It was comfortable, but with each passing minute, Elain felt a little better.

“You should sleep,” Lucien finally told her, rising from his chair. Elain shrank, cringing when she thought he was coming to bed. He saw, freezing in place with wide, horrified eyes. Had it never occurred to him what she’d think of him? Of the assumptions she’d make? That only made her hate him more.

The moment passed. “I’ll be in the drawing room if you need me.”

She wanted to tell him she wouldn’t. That she’d never need him. She wanted to scream at him that this act of chivalry was a low bar given he’d decided to marry her without even consulting her—there’d been no wedding, no courting. Nothing but his own desires, put ahead of her. Maybe he knew, deep down.

It didn’t change anything, and she knew it. Lucien paused only for the closet, devoid of anything that belonged to her. She suspected he’d fill it with things and Elain would always be reminded of her home, that her life now depended on this man's will.

“I was supposed to get married,” she told him, thinking of that final kiss and Graysen, who she’d never see again. Lucien froze, his back facing her. “Before you came, I was going to be married.”

When he turned, there was no apology in his gaze. “And are you not married now?” he asked, his voice dangerous and low.

“To the wrong man,” she hissed in response, hating him even more. There seemed to be no upper limit to how much she could hate him.

Lucien didn’t react. If she angered him, he kept that to himself. “Have a nice night, Elain.”

She watched him stride from the room, closing the doors politely behind him. Her first night married to the invader had gone, perhaps, better than she’d imagined.

And still she twisted, buried her face in her pillow, and wept bitterly.

She hoped Arina was having a better time.

ARINA:

“Don’t you fucking dare—” Glass shattered beside Eris’s head when Arina flung the crystal vase at his body. Eris ducked, narrowly missing both the initial impact and the spray of glass from where it exploded against the wall. Arina didn’t consider herself trapped so much as she imagined it was Eris was trapped with her. He wanted a wife?

He would have better off making her his whore. Arina was furious at the calculated shrewdness with which she’d been hunted down. Lucien’s demand that none of the women be touched felt less like good manners and more like a practiced diplomat recognizing he needed his brother's new wife unharmed and untouched.

And poor Elain, fainting when Eris announced they were meant to be wives and not bedroom slaves, like she’d been imagining. Arina had managed to keep her head from bouncing off the marble before Lucien swept her up dutifully. Just as his mother wanted, if her smile of adoration over her youngest was any indication. It left Arina to be all but dragged out of the throne room and deposited into Eris’s bedroom.

Eris’s face was alive with rage. “Would you prefer your uncle—” More glass just barely missed his pretty face.

“Are those my only options?” She hated him. Hated him for his handsome features and his burning eyes, and hated him even more for knowing even one thing about him. He’d planned this.

“You couldn’t send a letter?” She threw another little trinket as Eris lunged, missing her assault so he could grab her around the waist. Thrashing, Arina managed to kick him once in the gut and elbow him in the chest before he tossed her to the bed. Eris was quick and despite the grunt of pain that escaped him, Eris had her pinned beneath him before she could scramble back.

“You wanted a letter?” he panted, his eyes flashing with some emotion she didn’t recognize. Behind closed doors, Eris wasn’t as well controlled as he liked to pretend. “You wanted, what? To be courted?”

Some of the fight drained from her at his mocking words. Was it so absurd to imagine? That she might like some kindness before a man sank his cock into her? Eris had her pinned beneath him with his thighs, though she noticed he was careful not to press the weight of his body fully against her. She suspected that would change—or that he was waiting for her to grind against him to give him some flimsy pretense to strip her out of her clothes and fuck her.

Arina immediately went still.

Eris, still red faced and furious, didn’t realize what was happening beneath him. “Would you have preferred a husband forty years your senior? Your father's brother?”

She turned her head as tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. He wouldn’t see her cry. She’d be damned if he saw her break. Eris removed himself from her body, swinging his long legs off her with graceful agility. He paced the floor, running a hand through his short, auburn hair.

“I recognize this isn’t ideal,” he conceded, ignoring the way his boots crunched over glass. “I thought—” Whatever he thought, he chose not to vocalize. “There is no going back now. Your home is now under our protection—”

“You mean stolen, just as I am,” she spat, wiping her cheek on her shoulder quickly so he wouldn’t see the tear that had escaped despite all her best intentions.

Eris waved a hand, unconcerned with her venom. “It still belongs to you, which is more than you could have ever hoped for.”

“Do you want me to thank you?” she spat. Eris turned those amber eyes on her, the intensity almost frightening.

“You know, wife, maybe I would like to hear you say thank you. Twice, now, I’ve come to your rescue.”

“Who asked you to?”

“Yes, I can see you were managing just fine. Tell me how your father died, again?”

She couldn’t look away though she knew she should. There was something in his gaze that almost made her want to tell him everything. Something about the way he held himself, about that look on his face that said he might like knowing what she’d done.

What she was capable of doing again.

It was foolish to think of him as her ally. As a potential friend. As it stood, Eris had ordered a raid of her home in order to make her his wife, circumventing all the protocols that governed royal marriages. If he allowed her to keep her crown or not, Arina was still in Rhodes, and Eris still made decisions on her behalf.

It meant that Elain’s captivity–and Vassa’s, and everyone on that ship—was her fault. They’d scooped up every available woman they could get their hands on, but she’d been the reason they’d left. Guilt flooded through her, weighing her down until Arina felt she was drowning in it.

“I want to see Elain and Vassa,” she said instead, her voice pathetic and meek.

“In the morning,” he dismissed, turning to finally look at the mess that was their shared bedchamber. He wrinkled his nose with distaste. “So long as you do nothing to embarrass me, I don’t care where you go and what you do.”

“And if I decide I don’t care for this marriage and would like to leave?”

Eris narrowed his eyes. “Don’t drag sweet Elain into one of your ill-conceived plans,” he said softly. “You saw how delicate her constitution was. I would hate for my brother to be forced to punish her.”

“You’re a bastard,” Arina screamed, her fury returning all over again.

“And you’re a witch!” Eris retorted furiously. “If you try to flee the city, I’ll drag you back by your hair and keep you bound to my bed and subject to my every filthy whim. You might enjoy it, but your friends, I think, would not like similar treatment.”

Arina rubbed her eyes. Duty. Eris, for all his crude threats, was reminding her that her duty was to her people, to her fucking crown. And now to him, because he’d woken up one day and decided he wanted a wife and it ought to be her. More likely, his father had decided he wanted more territory and ordered Eris to marry her before sending Lucien out to retrieve her. All of them, in their own terrible ways, were bound to the same irons.

Trapped in the same prison.

She needed to be reasonable. Eris made good points—she’d killed her father and had Lucien not come storming in, Arina would have been hanged, making way for her uncle without the pesky marriage.

It was over. She could fight him, but she’d already lost. She couldn’t go home without him, and if she failed in her escape, it would be all of them who were punished. Eris watched, head cocked, as if he could read her thoughts.

“I will hunt you down,” he warned her softly. “There is nowhere in this world you can hide from me. The sooner you accept that, the better off we’ll all be. Surely you didn’t expect a love match?”

“No,” she said, strangely bewildered. “No, I—”

He waited for her to finish her thought. Arina, who was so articulate, didn’t know how to explain what, exactly, was wrong with this scenario. Was it not exactly what she’d been preparing for her entire life? Arina hadn’t expected love—had never once hoped for it.

“It’s done,” Eris declared, ignoring the look of hatred she knew was burned against her expression. “I’m perfectly content with how this has turned out, and happier still to lie to my father in the morning and tell him our marriage is consummated.”

Arina’s blood ran cold. Eris had begun undoing the buttons on his jacket while Arina sat on his bed exactly where he’d left her.

She’d forgotten about that.

“Unless you think you’d like to tattle in the morning, to get me in trouble,” Eris continued, draping the article of clothing neatly against a chair. “In which case, we can get it over with this evening.”

“I…” she swallowed. “I won’t…”

“Good.” She didn’t imagine the relief that shuttered over his expression. “We’ll have to eventually but maybe not as strangers. In the meantime, all I ask is that you don’t embarrass me. This doesn’t have to be unpleasant…but it can be.”

Arina put her head in her hands. “Great.”

Eris vanished behind a door, shirtless and lean—well-muscled and not wholly unappealing. She could close her eyes and try and enjoy herself. Grit her teeth when the time came. Arina knew they merely delayed the inevitable. Weeks, perhaps, during which Eris would expect her to get accustomed to his presence. Months, maybe, if no one looked too closely. But eventually, people would begin to wonder about children, and there would be no dodging what they should have done from the beginning.

She was still grateful for the reprieve. Arina changed into a night dress and tried to pretend she wasn’t fascinated by the system of taps that brought hot water directly into the tub. She’d asked the servants, when she’d first arrived, to explain it to her. Perhaps she’d make Eris, instead. Would he bring that technology to her home? She wanted to ask and had the sense she was demanding too much already—or worse. She’d ask him for something and be required to give something in response. Eris seemed like the type. She very much doubted there was any kindness in him that didn’t come with strings.

And so she turned her back to the bathroom door, curled in on herself, and tried to sleep before he returned. Arina didn’t succeed, and when the door opened and Eris padded out, the curling steam brought the masculine scent of him with it. Like wood burning fires and crisp, clean air. Like sunlight over the last breath of an autumn wood before it faded into winter.

His weight settled against the opposite end of the bed, enveloping her in that scent. She tried to bury her nose into her pillow to escape it, but when she closed her eyes, she thought that there was something comforting about it.

Nothing was spoken in the darkness for so long Arina might have been lulled to sleep by the soft crackling in the fireplace. Beside her, Eris shifted. She felt his fingers slide over the smooth satin of the sheets and stiffened, halting him in his tracks.

Please don’t touch me, she thought desperately. If he’d changed his mind, she wouldn’t stop him, but it was too much. Too much after learning Eris could just declare her his wife, and every woman who’d come with her was also just married without any say in the matter. And while that was hardly different from home, it was still exhausting. Arina was tired and wrung out and emotionally raw.

Eris cleared his throat. She didn’t want him to speak, either. They’d said too much already—he’d made too many threats for her to think him kind now.

“My mother was married before all this,” he said softly. Arina twisted just enough to look over. Eris was on his back, hands folded over his shirted chest. That made sense, given Eris’s fair complexion and the features that seemed so starkly different in comparison with Lucien. Lucien was easily the better looking of the two, and that was because, in Arina’s opinion, he favored his incredibly handsome father. He looked over at her and whatever it was he saw on her face flattened his expression.

She couldn’t muster up the emotions to care.

“Goodnight, Arina,” he whispered, turning his back to face her.

She didn’t wish him the same.

#elucien #what did eris and lucien expect???#i think they HOPED for peace #LOL get wrecked sirs

73 notes · View notes

johaerys-writes · 1 year ago

Text

Snippet Sunday

Two WIP memes in a week, new writer, who dis 👀

I've been working on the next chapter of High-Flying Birds and jsdkfah I'm so excited?? Firstly because I've missed this fic, secondly because there's good stuff coming, heh. Here's an excerpt from my take on the sack of Lyrnessus from Achilles' POV (and a Briseis cameo 👀):

Achilles’ spear and his sword sang, the sharp bronze ringing clear amidst the cries of pain and death and anguish. Waves of Trojan soldiers washed towards him, each of them yearning to claim the glory of slaying him for themselves, only to be broken at the end of his spear. He fought without thinking, his limbs moving as if on their own; there was the exhilaration of the fight, and then there was pride in seeing the men’s marvel and horror at his agility and speed. Achilles killed cleanly and swiftly, he didn’t let them suffer long, but the look in their eyes as they died at once shocked and thrilled him. He was the best, the very best at what he did. Greater still than Perseus and Heracles, greater than the greatest that had ever lived. No other mortal could claim such fame.

When they were done, Lyrnessus’ streets were dark with blood and hazy with smoke, a cloud of it rising over the houses, the shops, the temples with their bronze altars. It was a fairly wealthy city, larger than the settlements they’d overtaken so far but much smaller than Troy. It was quite charming, all things considered, with its streets paved with white marble and the delicately curving columns of its buildings, the bronze statues of Zeus and Apollo, the trellises of the inner keep with their flowering vines, the lovely tapestries on the walls. The palace and its storehouses would be stripped of coin, treasure and grain soon, and the wealth they had gathered over generations would fill the Achaeans’ coffers.

Only then did Achilles stop to take a breath. His hands were crimson and sticky, and so were his weapons and his armour. He took off his helmet, but the air that blew was hot and cloying, and not refreshing. Someone offered him a skin; the wine in it was watered down and still cool, and Achilles gulped it down greedily. It did little to sate his thirst, but his heart soon stopped thumping against his ribcage. The stench of death and fire and fear was overwhelming, then. He let the men gather the loot onto carriages as he tended to Balius and Xanthus, his horses.

He was ready to get on his chariot again and have Automedon drive them back to the ships when Diomedes and his men descended the wide marble stairs of the palace. Behind them was a throng of women and children, young girls and boys, dragged along by the thick rope that was tied around their wrists.

Slaves, Achilles realised as he watched them. Agamemnon had made his intention clear during their war council the day before: each general would have his pick of slaves during the next distribution of wealth, alongside the other treasures they would gather. Bed slaves and cupbearers, musicians and dancers and stablehands and cooks: this was the fate of most of this unfortunate lot, those that wouldn’t be ransomed back to the Trojans.

“They were all hiding in the inner keep,” Diomedes informed him as he dragged the women before him. “Some of them managed to slit their own throats before we got to them. But most of them are unharmed. For the most part, at least.”

He smiled his wolfish smile as he dragged a girl forward. She slipped on the bit of torn fabric that was hanging from her skirts and fell on her knees before him. The side of her face was red as if someone had hit her, a dark bruise already forming along her cheekbone. Her luscious black hair had escaped its intricate plaits and was hanging half-loose over her shoulder, covering the part of her dress that had been torn. Diomedes took hold of her chin and tilted her head up.

“This one in particular,” he said, “put up one hell of a fight. But it didn’t do much good, did it?”

If she understood Diomedes’ words, she didn’t show it. She only glared up at him; her eyes were a deep dark brown, like fertile earth, and they blazed defiant. This was no slave or serving girl, used to keeping her gaze down. This must be a princess or a queen, proud and unafraid in the company of men, even as they circled her like vultures.

Dimly, Achilles remembered the men he had fought, with their finer suits of armour, their shining helmets. Perhaps some of those men were her brothers, her father or a husband— perhaps all. Achilles had lost count of how many he’d killed that day.

“I’ll take her,” he said. At Diomedes’ questioning glance, he added, “I will carry all the slaves on my ships. You and Tlepolemus can take the rest of the loot. We will leave them all at the agora, to be sorted out later.”

#patrochilles #the song of achilles #tsoa #achilles #patroclus #tsoa fanfic #achilles/patroclus #achilles x patroclus #briseis #johaerys writes #wip meme #the iliad

24 notes · View notes

v011d · 1 month ago

Text

WHAT ARE YOUR MUSES AESTHETICS?

BOLD any that applies to your muse and italicize any that kind of applies to your muse. feel free to add to the list.

𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐒 .red. brown. orange. yellow. green. blue. purple. pink. black. white. teal. silver. gold. grey. lilac. metallic. matte. royal blue. strawberry red. charcoal grey. forest green. apple red. violet. navy blue. crimson. cream. mint green. bubblegum pink. sky blue. pale jade. amber. tan. copper. bronze. magenta.

𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒. fire. ice. water. air. earth. rain. snow. wind. moon. stars. sun. heat. cold. steam. frost. lightning. thunder. sunlight. moonlight. dawn. dusk. twilight. midnight. sunrise. sunset. dewdrops. darkness. shadows. nature. aether. quintessence. blood. life. death.

𝐁𝐎𝐃𝐘 .claws. long fingers. fangs. teeth. wings. tails. lips. bare feet. neck. back. shoulders. legs. freckles. unseen bruises. canines. scars. scratches. wounds. burns. fingernails. spikes. feathers. webs. eyes. hands. sweat. tears. feline. chubby. curvy. short. tall. muscular. piercing. tattoos. athletic. hair. fur. sleek.

𝐖𝐄𝐀𝐏𝐎𝐍𝐒 .scythe. fists. legs. sword. dagger. spear. lance. bow & arrow. hammer. shield. poison. guns. axes. throwing axes. whips. knives. throwing knives. pepper sprays. tasers. baseball bats. machine guns. slingshots. katanas. maces. staffs. wands. powers. magical items. magic. rocks. mud balls. claws. teeth. stealth. strategy.

𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐋𝐒 .gold. silver. copper. platinum. titanium. rose gold. diamonds. pearls. rubies. sapphires. emeralds. amethyst. metal. iron. rust. steel. glass. wood. porcelain. paper. wool. fur. lace. leather. silk. velvet. denim. linen. cotton. charcoal. clay. stone. asphalt. brick. marble. dust. glitter. blood. dirt. mud. smoke. ash. shadow. carbonate. rubber. synthetics. ribbon

𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄 .grass. leaves. trees. bark. roses. daisies. sunflowers. tulips. lavender. petals. seeds. hay. sand. rocks. roots. flowers. fungi. ocean. river. frozen lake. meadow. valley. forest. desert. tundra. savanna. rain forest. caves. underwater. coral reef. beach. waves. space. clouds. mountains. snow. mist. pond.

𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐋𝐒. big cats. wolves. foxes. eagles. owls. falcons. hawks. swans. snakes. turtles. crocodiles. ducks. bugs. spiders. birds. whales. dolphins. fish. sharks. horses. cats. dogs. bunnies. penguins. deer. crows/ravens. mice. lizards. werewolves. unicorns. pegasus. dragons. monkeys.

𝐅𝐎𝐎𝐃/𝐃𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐊𝐒 .sugar. salt. candy. bubblegum. wine. champagne. hard liquor. vodka. beer. coffee. sake. tea. water. spices. herbs. apples. orange. lemon. cherry. strawberry. watermelon. vegetables. fruits. meat. fish. pies. desserts. chocolate. lollies. cream. caramel. berries. nuts. cinnamon. burgers. surf ‘n’ turf. burritos. tacos. pizza. ambrosia. eggs. milk. ramen. chips. ice cream.

𝐇𝐎𝐁𝐁𝐈𝐄𝐒 .music. art. watercolors. gardening. smithing. sculpting. painting. sketching. fighting. writing. composing. cooking. baking. sewing. training. dancing. acting. singing. martial arts. self-defense. electronics. technology. cameras. video cameras. computer. phone. movies. theater. libraries. books. magazines. CDs. records. vinyl. cassettes. piano. strings. violin. guitar. electronic guitar. bass guitar. harmonica. harp. woodwinds. brass. flute. bells. exploring. playing cards. poker chips. chess. dice. motorcycle riding. eating. sleeping. climbing. running. jogging. parkour. studying. video games. comics. manga.

𝐒𝐓𝐘𝐋𝐄. lingerie. armor. cape. dress. tunic. vest. shirt. boots. ankle boots. heels. leggings. trousers. jeans. skirt. jewelry. earrings. necklace. bracelet. ring. pendant. hat. beanie hat. crown. circlet. helmet. scarf. brocade. cloaks. corsets. doublet. chest plate. gorget. bracers. belt. sash. coat. jacket. hood. gloves. socks. masks. mittens. cowls. braces. watches. glasses. sunglasses. straw hat. visor. eye contacts. makeup. ribbons. hoodie. sweater. converses. tennis shoes. boxers. briefs. boxer briefs. shorts. cargo. cropped pants. crop top. cuffed pants. overalls.

𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐂 . balloons. bubbles. cityscape. light. dark. candles. growth. decay. war. peace. money. power. percussion. clocks. mirrors. pets. diary. journal. fairy lights. madness. sanity. sadness. happiness. optimism. pessimism. loneliness. suffering. family. friends. strength. comrades. assistants. co-workers. enemies. loyalty. smoking. drugs. kindness. love. hugs. kisses. spring. summer. autumn. winter. farmland. countryside. suburban. village. depression. longing. sloth. pride. envy. wrath. greed. gluttony. lust. melancholy.

TAGGED BY. No one.

TAGGING. @wickedslip @dgrayd @wieldsgravity @burninq @cardsknight and anyone else who sees this.

#/ Dark outcast / ( The void introspection )#/ finding comfort in the dark / ( queue)

4 notes · View notes

marblecarved · 3 months ago

Text

your muse’s aesthetics.

bold what applies to your muse and italicize what sometimes applies to them. please repost, don’t reblog !

colour: red. brown. orange. yellow. green. blue. purple. pink. black. white. teal. silver. gold. grey. lilac. metallic. matte. royal blue. strawberry red. charcoal grey. forest green. apple red. navy blue. crimson. cream. mint green. magenta. pastels. bubblegum pink. blood red. ivory.

elements: fire. ice. water. air. earth. rain. snow. wind. moon. stars. sun. heat. cold. steam. frost. lightning. thunder. sunlight. moonlight. dawn. dusk. twilight. midnight. sunrise. sunset. dewdrops. clouds. light. dark. shadow.

body: claws. long fingers. fangs. teeth. wings. tails. lips. bare feet. freckles. bruises. canine. scars. scratches. ears. wounds. burns. spikes. feathers. webs. eyes. hands. sweat. tears. feline. chubby. curvy. short. tall. normal height. muscular. slender. trained. piercings. tattoos. strong. shape shifting. svelte. long hair. short hair. dark circles. big. small. prosthetic. experimented. cyborg. halos. horns. wolfish.

weaponry: fists. sword. dagger. spear. scythe. bow and arrow. hammer. shield. poison. guns. axes. throwing axes. whips. knives. throwing knives. pepper sprays. tasers. machine guns. slingshots. katanas. maces. staffs. wands. powers. magical items. magic. rocks. power loader. flamethrower. metal rod. shotguns. needles.

material: bronze. gold. silver. platinum. titanium. diamonds. pearls. rubies. sapphires. emeralds. amethyst. metal. iron. rust. steel. wood. porcelain. paper. wool. fur. lace. leather. copper. silk. velvet. denim. linen. cotton. charcoal. clay. stone. asphalt. brick. marble. dust. glitter. blood. dirt. mud. smoke. ash. shadow. carbonate. rubber. synthetics. yarn. slime. ivory.

nature: grass. leaves. trees. bark. roses. daisies. tulips. holly. lavender. lilies. petals. thorns. sunflowers. seeds. hay. sand. rocks. snow. ice. roots. flowers. ocean. river. lake. meadow. forest. desert. tundra. savanna. rain forest. swamp. caves. underwater. coral reef. beach. waves. space. stars. clouds. mountains. fungi. cliffs. sunlight.

animals: lions. wolves. black panther. eagles. owls. falcons. hawks. swans. snakes. turtles. ducks. bugs. roaches. spiders. birds. whales. dolphins. fish. sharks. horses. cats. dogs. bunnies. praying mantis. crows. ravens. misc. lizards. frogs. bears. werewolves. unicorns. pegasus. dinosaurs. dragons. felines. foxes. centaurs.

foods and drinks: sugar. salt. water. candy. bubblegum. wine. champagne. hard liquor. beer. coffee. tea. spices. herbs. apple. orange. lemon. cherry. strawberry. watermelon. vegetables. fruits. meat. fish. pies. desserts. chocolate. cream. caramel. berries. nuts. cinnamon. burgers. burritos. pizza. vanilla. cookies.

hobbies: music. art. piercing. watercolours. gardening. knitting. smithing. sculpting. painting. sketching. fighting. fencing. riding. writing. composing. cooking. sewing. training. dancing. acting. singing. martial arts. self - defense. electronics. technology. cameras. video cameras. video games. computer. phone. movies. theater. libraries. books. magazines. poetry. philosophy. cds. records. vinyls. cassettes. piano. violin. cello. guitar. electronic guitar. bass guitar. harmonica. synthesizers. harp. woodwinds. brass. trumpet. flute. drums. bells. playing cards. poker chips. chess. dice. motorcycle riding. eating. climbing. tree climbing. running. vivisection.

style: lingerie. armor. cape. dress. robes. suit. tunic. vest. shirt. boots. heels. legging. trousers. jeans. skirt. shorts. jewelry. earrings. necklace. bracelet. ring. pendants. hat. goggles. crown. circlet. helmet. scarf. neck tie. brocade. cloaks. corsets. doublet. chest plate. gorget. bracers. belt. pauldrons. sash. coat. jacket. hood. gloves. socks. masks. cowls. braces. watches. glasses. sunglasses. visor. eye contacts. makeup. pantyhose. stockings. thigh highs. eye patch. collar.

misc. balloons. bubbles. cityscape. light. dark. candles. war. peace. money. power. percussion. clocks. photos. mirrors. pets. diary. fairy lights. madness. sanity. sadness. happiness. optimism. pessimism. realism. loneliness. anger. family. friends. assistants. co-workers. enemies. lovers. loyalty. smoking. alcohol. drugs. kindness. love. hugs.

tagging: you ! if you see this on your dash and you would like to do it for your muse, feel free to steal this !

#⌠ . maryana celtigar : development.

4 notes · View notes

starsandink13 · 4 months ago

Text

The White Crow Game Chapter 4

The door creaked open to reveal an elaborate dining hall. The walls were a deep blood-red with matching tapestries that complemented the dark mahogany floorboards. Glittering from the ceiling were magnificent chandeliers with thousands of crystals that looked like silver tears. But what caught your attention was the large banquet that was laid out. All manners of expensive cuisines covered nearly every inch of the table: from pheasant, truffles, honey glazed hams, and so many others. Your mouth watered at the savory smells wafting off of the table and in your nostrils. The overpowering smell fogged your senses and you almost forgot about the game until you heard a faint clinking on your right.

Your head snapped in the direction of the sound to see Corvin seated at the head of the table, in his hand was a gilded goblet with red stones laid into it. Behind him, a large fireplace was lit and casted a warm orange glow.

"Care to join me?" Corvin lifted the goblet to his lips.

"What the hell is this?" You demanded and put your hands on your hips.

"What does it look like to you?" He responded playfully and took a drink. "I figured that you should enjoy a reward for killing that thing. Feel free to help yourself to whatever you want."

The feast was becoming more tempting as you finally noticed how much your stomach panged. You licked your lips at the food, imagining the exquisite taste of it. As you were about to tear off the leg of a freshly baked goose, you remembered about the myths regarding eating food from fairies and how it would lead to dire consequences. You shook your head and stepped away from the table.

"I'm fine," you said.

"You sure?" He looked genuinely surprised. "I promise that nothing will happen if you eat anything."

"Positive."

"Are you sure you don't want any?" He took another drink from his goblet, the aroma of the banquet becoming stronger. The savory smells of spices and meats made your head feel heavy and your stomach growled even louder.

"I'm fine."

"Alright then," he sighed and finished the last of his wine. "I have a question for--"

"I told you I don't care about those stupid flowers!" You stomped your foot.

"You didn't let me finish," he said. "And besides, it's a smaller thing that I can worry about for the wedding."

"What is it?" You narrowed your eyes.

"What flavor should we go for the cake?" He tapped a slim finger to his lip. "Personally, I'm partial to lemon, but I'm willing to go with what you want or we can do both."

You stood in shock at the fairy as an anger was starting to boil underneath your skin.

"(Y/N), did you hear me?" He asked.

"Yes, I did." You said through gritted teeth. "And I am not in the mood to answer that question."

"Alright then, I'll give you a bit of time to think about it." Corvin stood up and exited the dining room through a black door next to the fireplace.

You looked back to the grand dinner. Maybe there's something in here I can use or at least a clue to where the front door key would be.

You walked the length of the table, looking for any key or anything to help you escape. But all you saw was enough glistening golden-brown flesh, brightly colored jellies, caviar, and other luxury foods to feed a medieval village. You sighed and shook your head, you should have known that was pointless.

Damn it, maybe this was just a giant distraction this entire time! You clenched your eyes and put your fist to your forehead. But then where would he put that stupid front key?

That's when you noticed something white hidden within the dark corner of the dining room.

You whipped your head around to see a sculpture of Corvin wearing the robes of a Roman senator. You cautiously approached the statue, in its marble hands was a large gilded chalice the size of your head. Inscribed on the bronze platform of the statue was the term: In vino veritas.

In vino veritas... why does that term seem familiar?

You clenched your eyes, trying to remember what little you retained from your seventh-grade Latin class. Let me think... if I'm right, veritas means 'truth'. So it has something to do with truth. Vino sounds kind of like 'vine' so maybe something to do with vines-- or maybe grapes! Okay so what do grapes have to do with this?

You tapped your foot and glanced over at the empty goblet left on the table.

Wine is made from grapes, so it would...wait. It means 'the truth is in the wine!' So there's got to be something in the wine to help me get out of this place.

You turned to the statue and looked down at the chalice. Your face was reflected within the dark red pools as you stared into the depths. You were about to reach into the wine--

What if there was a nasty surprise waiting for me in the bottom of it?

The thought of suddenly pulling your hand back missing either your fingers or for your skin to bubble and burn made you squeeze your shoulder blades in disgust. Given what you know, you wouldn't put it past Corvin or any fairy for that matter, to place a trap like that. You retracted your hand back and clutched it to your chest like you were stung by a scorpion.

Turning towards the table, you grabbed a golden fork and slowly dipped it into the chalice. You heard the clinking of metal on metal as the fork caught onto something. With a shaking hand, you pulled it up to reveal a medallion in the shape of a bottle.

You put the medallion in your hand and the statue slid to the left to reveal a heavy dark brown door. In the middle of the door was a bottle-shaped dent. You put the emblem into the slot and twisted it. The door groaned open and a cloud of dust puffed into the air before it settled once more. Coughing lightly, you peered into the door to see nothing but dust and stone.

As you were about to enter it the long, serrated knife next to the goose shined in the chandelier light. You took the knife and put it into your satchel. Returning to the corridor's entry, you took a deep breath and entered into the narrow passageway. The corridor was barely illuminated by the white flames that came from the torches on either side. The only sound were the echoes of your footsteps against the stone pathway. The corridor's cold air smelled strongly of wine and dust, the stench of it made your eyes sting. Biting back the tears, you covered your nose and mouth with your button-up shirt.

Yet as you walked through the stone corridor, the feeling of someone or something watching you grew stronger. You could almost imagine ghostly fingers pressing themselves into your shoulder as a low laughter filled your ears. Your skin broke out into bumps as the air became colder the further you walked down, the feeling of claustrophobia started to settle in as you kept looking at the darkness at the end of the tunnel. Your hand tightened its grip on the knife, the feeling of it brought a slight comfort to you. The hallway became narrower, making it impossible for you to turn back around. You shook your head, cursing your circumstances. The ever-growing darkness and the damp air made you feel like you were walking down some great monster's gullet. Your stomach folded over at the thought of being eaten alive by the house and you shook your head.

Damn it there's no point in trying to scare myself, I already have enough to deal with!

You abruptly stopped as the corridor lead to a vast chamber with multiple passage ways. The cellar was partially submerged in a dark pool of stagnant water that was dyed a dark shade of red from the wine. On the walls, were massive wine barrels stocked on top of each other like coffins in a crypt. Wooden crates floated in the water like bloated corpses in an ocean of blood. The torches on the provided little light, making it difficult to see more than ten feet in front of you. Taking a shaking breath, you put your foot into the waters. An unpleasant shiver ran down your back at the cold stabbing into your leg, but continued until you were standing in it. Thankfully, the water was only knee-deep so it wouldn't be too difficult to wade through; nor damage your work jeans and shoes too badly if you got out fast enough.

You put your hand on the wall and began to trudge through the waters. The walls were cold and damp, making you grimace at the touch of it. Besides the sloshing of the water, the only sound was the dripping of it from the ceiling. You turned left into a passageway and put a hand to where you stored the knife. As you were about to climb over a pile of debris that was blocking your passage, you picked up on the barely audible sound of heavy breathing somewhere within the cellars.

With a quick snap of your head, you turned in the direction of the sound to see nothing.

Just keep moving.

You shuffled past crates, barrels, broken bits of shelves, and wine bottles as the walls became moister and harder to hold onto. You were about to enter a passageway, when the heavy breathing returned: this time it was a little bit closer.

You crouched down behind a barrel as the unseen creature started to move. Because of the lack of light, you couldn't make out the shape of the thing nor its distance from you. The thing let out a bestial screech before it went silent once more.

The fear in your stomach grew tighter, crushing your insides like a vice. The hand holding the knife was starting to shake in fear. You didn't want to let go of it in case of an ambush, so you put it into your jacket's pocket as you tried to calm your nerves.

Move carefully and quietly and keep pressing forward.

The deeper you went, the darker and harder to navigate the cellars became. Soon enough, it became nearly impossible to see three feet in front of you and you had to squint your eyes a bit to make out any shape to avoid running into a stray crate or barrel. At this point, you were starting to lose feeling in your legs from the long exposure to the cold water. You heard a screech coming from your right.

Terrified, you hide behind a fallen over shelf as the unseen predator drew closer. You could only make out the splashing sounds as it came. You bit your lip and peered over the ledge a bit in hopes of seeing it. But with heavy shadows and dark waters, it was impossible to make out where it was or what it looked like.

Floating next to your side, was a small plank of wood. You grabbed it and threw it. The monster sloshed towards the sound of the wood and you began to creep away from it, hiding behind whatever could provide shelter from the thing.

On your left, you saw an ivory and ebony medallion hanging from a stone hand that was attached to the gilded wall that shined brilliantly despite the darkness. You carefully approached it and pulled it out of the hook it was attached to. You put the object into your satchel and as you were about to head back, you stopped. The air went still before the sound of splashing came towards you.

It found you.

Instinct took over and you began to run. You yelped as the thing was now only twenty feet away from you. The only thing you could see was the splashing it made in the nearly-black waters. You stopped for a moment and grabbed a nearby bottle. You threw it as far away from you as possible. The monster turned its direction to the bottle and when it was far away, you began to run faster.

The monster let out an ear-piercing scream that sounded guttural and mechanical as it swam towards you.

Although your legs felt like they were about to give out, you continued to run as fast as you could. The sound of your blood rushing and the sloshing water was nearly deafening as the thing swam closer towards you. Any item you could grab, you threw it at where you think the monster's head was. But all that it did was slow it down a for a moment before it resumed its chase. Its inhuman screams echoed off of the walls like a horrible choir.

A shelf fell in front of you and you jumped over it. The wood cracked in half as the predator smashed its way through it. You yelled as one of the pieces of debris flew over your shoulder. Your calves felt like blocks of ice as you stumbled through the wreckage. Gritting your teeth, you ignored the sharp, freezing pain shooting through your legs.

Come on! Get to the corridor!

As if by some miracle, the sight of the entry corridor came into vision. It was another fifty or so feet away from you.

Yes, there it is!

You threw a barrel at the monster's unseen head to buy yourself a little more time and ran faster. Each step felt like knives digging into your feet. The predator was almost ten feet away from you.

The entryway was now within fifteen feet.

Almost there...

The entry was now within arm's length.

Now!

With a burst of strength, you leapt onto the stone floor-- nearly falling flat on your face as you did so. You yanked out your legs from the icy waters, narrowly avoiding the monster's grasp. Using the wall, you shakily stood up and walked a few more feet away from the cellars, thankful that you were alive. You turned around and took a breath of relief. Suddenly a black, mottled skeletal hand broke through the water's surface and grabbed the floor.

You yelled in terror and made a run for the door. Your numb legs felt like tiny pins were stabbing into them as the creature let out an even louder cry that made your ears ring. The corridor seemed longer as the torches behind you went out one by one. The monster's claws scratched against the floor as it scrambled towards you. Its heavy breathing was drawing near and you could almost feel its hot, rank breath on the back of your legs.

Just as it seemed like there was no end, the open door came into view. Keeping your eyes on your exit, you sprinted towards it as fast as you could. Your lungs felt like it was set on fire as your numb legs threatened to collapse from exhaustion.

Keep moving! You're gonna make it!

The monster snarled and made a swipe for your leg, but you were too far from its reach. Sweat was pouring down your face and clung to your back.

Just a little more...

You nearly fell over yourself as you entered the dining room and pushed the heavy door. The creature shrieked in fury and frantically scrambled towards the door. With what little strength remained, you closed the door in time. The statue slid back into place and you stepped away as the monster banged against the door. It thing let out a scream of frustration before it slinked away from the door and back towards the wine cellars. You put a hand over your chest and fell into a nearby chaise.

"That was way too close," you shuddered and rested your head against the chair's arm. As you were catching your breath, you opened up your satchel's pocket to see the medallion you collected from the wine cellars. In your hand was a medallion in the shape of the comedy and tragedy masks from theater.

I'm assuming for a theater of some kind. Just how big is this house if it has its own theater? You thought and put the medallion back into your satchel as you walked over to the fireplace to warm up your legs.

#dark fantasy #faerie #fairy #fem reader #horror #male yandere #my writing #reader insert #yandere #male yandere x female reader #male yandere x reader #yandere x reader #the white crow game

4 notes · View notes

klaus-goldstein · 2 years ago

Text

Dreaming in Silver and Gold

CHAPTER 25, Klaus/Liz, Rated: Explicit

Prologue \ Ch. 1 \ Ch. 2 \ Ch. 3 \ Ch. 4 \ Ch. 5 \ Ch. 6 \ Ch. 7 \ Ch. 8\ Ch. 9 \ Ch. 10 \ Ch. 11 \ Ch. 12 \ Ch. 13 \ Ch. 14 \ Ch. 15 \ Ch. 16\ Ch. 17 \ Ch. 18 \ Ch. 19 \ Ch. 20 \ Ch. 21 \ Ch. 22 \ Ch. 23 \ Ch. 24 \ Ch. 25 \

Demon au requested by @itsmeimcathy thanks for getting my butt back in gear and giving me awesome prompts. <3

Sorry for the delay in posting once again. Life has been crazy for the last *looks at watch* four years. Yikes. Tbh the reason it’s taken so long is I lost all confidence in my writing. I’ve decided to power through regardless of my feelings of inadequacy. Here we gooooo.

****Also there is Elias/Luca smut in the third section. It’s pretty much the whole of the third section.****

Fates weave their threads

Our lives are sewn

Born to a life

All but our own

We feel it inside our bones

It’s in the blood. - In the Blood from the ‘Hades’ soundtrack.

Liz closed her eyes as she adjusted the metal crown on her head. The elaborate piece was made of muted gold and encrusted with glittering white and black diamonds. It was heavy and it pressed into her messy chestnut-colored curls. Her eyes were lined elaborately with gold and charcoal, it contrasted against the bright color of her eyes and made her look mysterious. Her dress was simply cut with a high neck and long sleeves. The material was made from heavy gray velvet and she had to stop herself from constantly running her hands over the plush fabric. Embroidery made of golden thread covered the bodice and the sleeves. A train of sheer material fell from her shoulders and flowed behind her when she walked. Yellow diamonds were scattered across the train and shimmered like stars in a cloudy sky.

She approached the golden double doors and waited as the angels on either side of her threw them open. She was met with thunderous applause as she stepped onto the path in front of her. There was a multitude of angels lining the walkway and thousands more in the sky watching her.

A marble floor made of gold and silver stretched in front of her. The images of the angels hovering above reflected off of the polished stone. The setting sun cast hues of gold and pink off of the numerous clouds. A shimmering waterfall made of sparkling bronze water cascaded from a break in a cumulonimbus. Flowers spilled out of vases and lined the path Liz was walking. The aroma was heady and sweet. It swirled around her. Curtains of gossamer swayed in the breeze of the giant arched doorways that lined the balcony.

A month ago she had been crowned as queen in the underworld without Klaus. It had felt like a betrayal to him to do something so impactful while he was somewhere alone and hurt. The archangels and demon council had argued that it would come across as a unified front if she was crowned now rather than later. Sadly, they were right.

The week after she was crowned in the Underworld she was elected as the Archangel of the Sky, with stipulations. Sebastian would retain his power as an Archangel since he already knew how to manage it. Liz would work on learning to fly and developing her powers while also learning about the duties that Sebastian handled. When the council felt that she had grown into her power and position then they would do a power transfer.

Elaine had been crowned as Goddess of the Underworld at the same time, with Demetre taking the silver crown and pledging his sword, shield, and protection to her. Liz wondered if he had already done that before many many millennia ago.

Elaine’s situation was complicated. She couldn’t entirely take on Klaus’ powers because he wasn’t there to give them up. When an archangel is elected their power is linked to their second in command so that they may have a sliver of it. Moira had discovered a spell that increased that sliver of power for Elaine and also sealed her off from Klaus slightly. The council was afraid of what was being done to Klaus under Ahaz and didn’t want Elain to be completely linked to Klaus if things went sideways.

She was approaching the end of the path and the archangels and commanders came into view. They all smiled encouragingly at her. Elaine and Demetre were standing closest to the raised dais in front of Liz and they both looked powerful and intimidating. Elaine wore a crown made of black gold. Spikes of metal extended from the base of the crown. Her tresses of golden hair were braided around the base of the crown and the pointed metal. Her dress was black silk and strategic cutouts fashioned from black lace were sewn into the dress. It was striking and alluring. Demetre had his hand at her back and he was whispering into her ear. Elaine was laughing but she wasn’t looking at him she was looking at Sebastian.

Sebastian was standing at the end of the path in full ceremonial armor. It was polished to gleaming gold. A shield was strapped across his back, and his baldric of knives was his only weapon. He winked at Elaine and it pulled the scars on his face as he grinned. When their gazes met Elaine blushed and returned the gesture to him. He smiled and shook his head before his gaze fell on Liz.

He bowed to her, and despite all the chaos in her life, Liz smiled. This was exciting after all. She was about to be crowned as a goddess. Sebastian offered her his arm and Liz gripped it tight as they ascended the steps together. Sebastian fell into step behind her as they climbed the dais towards Moira.

The sun was low in the sky behind Moira and rays of the setting sun framed her. The light bounced off the silver and diamonds covering her white dress. Her pure snow-colored wings extended behind her and she raised her arms to the sky.

“Today,” Moira’s voice boomed and echoed through the space. She paused as she waited for the multitude to quiet down. “Today, we swear in a new archangel. In this time of turmoil, we look for new light. We continue on despite the threat at our doors and we lay the foundation for a strong future.”

Liz came to stand in front of her and Moira smiled down at her warmly. “Archangel, do you commit to serving the realm to the best of your ability?”

Liz cleared her throat slightly and took a deep breath. “I do.”

“Do you promise to uphold law and justice, in mercy, and for it to be executed in all your judgments?”

“I promise.”

“Do you promise to protect the realm and the people of the earth until your dying breath?”

“I do.”

Moira’s hands came to hover above Liz’s head. “Words have power and the vows you make are binding.” As she spoke light haloed around Liz’s head. It slithered down her shoulders and across her neck. “Breaking these vows have consequence. Should you ever forsake them you shall burn in the fires of the underworld forever.”

The halo settled on Liz’s head and she bent her knee to the scribe. “I understand.”

“Then rise and take your place as Goddess of the Sky.”

Liz rose and the room erupted into applause.

“Second,” Moria turned to Sebastian next. “Please kneel and state your vows.” Sebastian knelt in front of Liz and bowed his head baring his neck to her.

“On bended knee, I swear to serve and protect my archangel and the realm, to serve the good of both, even if it costs my life. I swear to be brave and strong by sword or bow, in wilderness and cities, in the fires of the underworld and the weather of the skies. I swear to help govern and recommend judgment in good faith and understanding. All this to the best of my ability.”

Moira handed Liz a sword and Sebastian extended his arms to take it from her. He slid the metal into the scabbard that ran down his spine. Moira then handed Liz a silver crown and she placed it on Sebastian’s blonde curls.

Liz extended her hand to him and Sebastian rose to his feet. The crowd of angels cheered for their newest archangel and second. Liz smiled up at the bright sky and for just a moment she felt elated.

-----------------

After the ceremony, Elaine opened up a portal to the underworld, and Liz, Sebastian, and Demetre stepped into the darkened realm. Without Klaus there the underworld seemed so dim and bleak. Everything was the same but there was no life to it. The garden was dull where there had been light previously. The temperature was cooler and the fog that naturally settled over the world was heavy and stifling. It seemed like all warmth was slowly seeping out of the realm. It was getting harder and harder for Liz to want to be there. Every time she went up to the surface for school or to the heavens it was a breath of fresh air.

Liz slowly crept into the room she shared with Klaus. Ever since she had seen Ravenna in there a month ago she was weary every time she entered her space. There didn’t seem to be anyone there and she relaxed as she began to take the pins out of her hair. She deposited them and her crown on her nightstand and shook her hair out.

They hadn’t told Demetre about Ravenna yet. It was agreed that it would do him more harm than good to bring up her shade. After the encounter, she went to Sebastian and Elaine immediately and explained what she had seen and the cryptic message that Ravenna had given her. Neither knew what to make of it and that sat Liz’s teeth on edge. There were so many uncertain things surrounding her. Keeping her head above water was becoming increasingly more difficult.

No one had heard a whisper of Klaus or Ahaz since they disappeared and Liz was getting desperate. She wanted something, anything to happen. This time of limbo was driving her insane. Things were going well despite that though. The seraphim, demons, and angels had combined their councils and forces and were going through war strategies and plans daily. That seemed to be the one bright spot in all of this. Centuries-old tensions and discrepancies were slowly being healed and repaired. All parties involved were realizing just how much the gods had decayed the views of the others and they were doing away with it.

They hadn’t seen or heard from Sigurd since that day in the council chamber when he appeared with the seraphim. Elaine had explained to Liz that it was because it was dangerous for him to get correspondence to them most of the time. Sometimes Klaus would go months without hearing from him. It was important that his cover remain intact. Liz understood that but it was frustrating to have someone so close to enemy lines and not have more information on Ahaz and Klaus or the rebel demons and seraphim.

She walked into her closet and unzipped her coronation dress. She let it fall to the floor and she rolled her shoulders as her wings appeared at her back. The weight settled into her shoulders and she sighed. She was accustomed to her wings now. They could vanish and appear at will and she had full mobility over them. She still didn't know how on earth to fly. For now, she was focusing on learning to use her magic in this new form. Sebastian had decided that they needed to focus on that before they started on her flying.

She had also begun weapons training with Isidore and Natalia. That hadn’t done anything to improve her relationship with Isidore. She had a certain respect for him sure, he was brilliant when it came to fighting, but that didn’t make him any less a pain in her neck. Luckily Natalia usually kept him in check. Her favorite weapon right now was a spear and she wasn’t half bad at it. At least she thought so, Idisore didn’t agree.

She dressed quickly with a snap of her fingers in a pair of black silk pants and an oversized black sweater. She braided her hair out of her face and pulled on a pair of fuzzy socks. That sort of magic came easy to her.

She made her way to the library at the center of the archives. That is where the oldest books in the underworld were located. In her spare time, she was researching poisons and antidotes in an attempt to gain some knowledge about the poison coursing through Demetre’s veins. Daphne was tackling the library in the heavens while Liz was working in the underworld.

Today however she found Daphne in the underworld with books scattered across the tables. The other angel looked tired and Liz frowned. She hadn’t seen her at the coronation and knew that it was probably because she was down here searching through the endless texts. Daphne was working the hardest out of all of them in preparation for what was to come. When she wasn’t dealing with her specific duties as Charis’ second, she was researching Demetre’s anatomy and expanding her knowledge of poisons and binding spells. For some reason, she was taking her lack of knowledge personally. Daphne told Liz once that it was her job to know how to counteract poisons. The fact that she couldn’t figure out Demetre’s poison was slowly breaking her.

“You look like hell,” Liz said as she sat down across from Daphne. She was starting to learn that bluntness was the easiest way to communicate with Daphne. The angel appreciated honesty over deception and pretty words. Daphne preferred to dish lovely words and deception instead of receiving them.

“Thank you so very much.” Daphne clipped as she turned the page in her book. She didn’t even look up.

“I mean it, when was the last time you slept.”

Daphne finally looked up at her and the circles under her eyes were dark. “I don’t remember.”

Liz sighed and drummed her fingers impatiently against the table. She realized that it was a habit she had picked up from Sebastian. “You need to sleep.”

“I need to find the components of this potion.” Daphne huffed.

Daphne buried her head into her book and tried to physically dismiss Liz. She tried a different tactic. “You aren’t any use if you’re too tired to think straight.”

The book in Daphne’s hand snapped shut and Liz knew she had won. Daphne directed her hardened gaze to Liz and threaded her fingers together. Liz fought the urge to audibly gulp. Sometimes she forgot how scary Daphne could be. Now she was going to turn that sharp mind on Liz instead of her book.

“And what about you Liz?” Daphne asked all too innocently. Her eyes were wide and her expression a practiced softness. Anyone else would see it as honest concern but Liz could see through it a mile away. The more she was around Daphne the more she could see why she and Klaus didn’t work out. They were far too cunning and similar. No, Daphne’s concern was a calculated assessment and it was searching out weaknesses.

“Having any nightmares lately?” Liz winced but held Daphne’s stare. “Any visions? Any sleepless nights? Panic attacks?”

Liz sighed and tilted her head. “Look, I didn’t say you couldn’t come back and continue but you need a break. Let me research a bit and go and sleep. Hell, you don’t even have to leave there’s a couch over there in front of that painting. Take a cat nap.”

Daphne held her gaze before standing from her chair and smoothing out her sweater. “Fine.”

“Fine,” Liz replied.

“You’re such a mother hen,” Daphne grumbled under her breath as she made her way over to the couch at the far end of the stacks. She snapped her fingers and a pillow and blanket appeared. She threw her cover over her while she continued complaining under her breath.

“Night Daph,” Liz said as she glanced down at her book.

“Yeah yeah,” Daphne grumbled.

Liz smiled to herself and soon she could hear Daphne breathing softly. The stillness crept into the archives and Liz let it consume her for a bit. After about an hour she heard Daphne stir and she watched her friend sit up against the couch and rub her eyes.

“Feel better?” Liz asked.

“Yes,” Daphne said quietly. “I’m sorry for snapping at you.”

“It’s alright.”

“It’s just,” Daphne trailed off and Liz waited on her to continue. “I feel like this stuff with Demetre is on my shoulders. There has never been a poison I couldn’t counter. I’ve studied extensively for hundreds of years to make sure that I have the tools and knowledge necessary to combat what I need to combat and heal. I’m not in the habit of being wrong or without knowledge. I’m taking it personally.”

“Gods you and Klaus are too similar.” Liz sighed. Daphne glared at her and got up from the couch to come and sit across from her. “It’s not your job to know everything. That isn’t possible. I know that breaks your heart to hear.” Daphne rolled her eyes and Liz continued. “Work with what you have. Theodora, Randy, you, and I are working on this. Between the four of us, we should be able to figure it out. It’s just going to take some time. We have about a million years of source material to go over.”

Suddenly a flash of smoke broke into existence next to them and Demetre appeared. He didn’t say anything just rolled up the sleeve of his dress shirt and held his arm out to Daphne. The material pulled over his sculpted chest but Liz could see that he was thinner than the last time they had looked him over. His body was doing well to sustain him but she could see the small changes little by little that reminded her that they were losing.

“I’m ready for the midday torture.” He said sarcastically. They had been drawing his blood three times a day and searching his vitals to monitor them and see if there were any changes in his body.

Daphne blinked up at him and Liz thought for a second she was going to murder him. That’s one thing about this situation that was becoming increasingly comical. Demetre and Daphne despised each other. They grated on each other’s nerves and both were sharp-tongued enough to cut the other down to size. Liz enjoyed watching them interact.

Daphne didn’t say a word. She grabbed his wrist and Liz saw Demetre wince at her grip.

“Ouch.” he hissed and Daphne flashed him a fanged smile. She slid her fingers lightly up his arms as she felt for his veins. When she was satisfied she snapped her fingers and a syringe appeared in her grasp. She drew his blood quickly and Demetre watched her intently. Liz watched as golden ichor filled the vial and Daphne finished her task. She handed Demetre a bandage. And he wrapped it around himself.

“Are you going to kiss it and make it better?” He asked. Liz saw his eyes dancing in amusement.

Daphne hurled a book at his head and he disappeared before it made an impact with his skull. It drifted through the space he had occupied and slid across the floor.

“You know, maybe I’m not so bent out of shape about saving him,” Daphne said quietly.

Liz laughed and went back to her research.

-------------------------------------

“Ventos!”

Elias dodged Luca’s spell easily and spun to grab at him. His black claws glinted in the light and Luca jumped back to avoid them.

“Apareo umbra!”

A perfect copy of Luca appeared and began to engage Elias in magical combat. The umbra held Elias’ attention and Luca used this time to begin to corner Elias against the wall.

They had been training for weeks in Luca’s defenses. He was a talented wizard and was more than capable with a wand. Elias was concerned about how well he could handle himself in stressful situations. Being naturally skilled in magic was one thing but using it in combat was a different beast entirely. Elias wasn’t going to risk Luca being defenseless against a demon or a Seraphim.

So they practiced daily much to Luca’s dismay. Luca’s magic burned fast and strong which gave him the initial advantage in battle. However, they soon discovered that tactic cost him precious magic as the fight went on. So, Elias had begun tackling his stamina, making him fight longer, learning how to siphon every drop of magic out of himself, and making sure that he used his magical reserves accurately.

Elias pierced the umbra with a blast of light and watched as the copy disintegrated in front of him. He was about to lunge at Luca again when Luca unleashed another spell on him.

“Funus captis!”

A chain of light shot out of Luca’s wand and clamped onto Elias’ wrist. The chain flew to the wall throwing Elias back off of his feet and stuck to the marble behind him. He tried to move his arm but it was held tight by the chain of magic. He put all of his immortal strength into pulling his arm off of the wall. It moved slightly before slamming back against the stone.

Luca walked towards him slowly twirling his wand. “Well well, that’s 6 to 5. I guess I’m winning now.”

Elias barred his teeth at him and Luca’s gin widened. Elias saw Luca’s grin falter slightly as he assessed Elias’ mental state. The other week they had been training like this and Luca had made the mistake of restraining Elias’ body entirely. The demon had immediately gone into a panic attack when he couldn’t get out of his bonds. Luca didn’t think that being confined like that would’ve had that reaction and neither did Elias. It made sense though. The last time Elias had been restrained he had his wings cleaved from his body.

Luca had been careful not to fully restrain him after that. Always leaving him mostly in control of his movements and position. He always restrained him enough to keep him at bay and nothing more. When he saw that Elias was fine he continued his gloating.

“It must be so hard for you to be beaten by a human.”

Elias narrowed his gaze at him. “What you are has nothing to do with it. Talent isn’t bound to a specific species.”

“Still,” Luca was standing inches in front of him now and clasped his hands behind his back. “Must sting a little. I mean you are what…thousands of years old right? I’m just decades out of the wound. How humiliating.”

“Ha ha,” Elias replied dryly. “Let me out of this spell and I would be happy to show you a few thousand years of experience.”

“And what type of experience would that be?” Luca’s eyes danced suddenly and Elias had the sneaking suspicion that they were no longer talking about magic. Luca took a final step toward him and Elias gulped as Luca’s scent engulfed him. Eucalyptus with a hind of lilac. Elias quieted his pounding heart and let his eyes darken as his smile widened. He was aware he was letting his fangs show and watched as Luca swallowed. Good. Elias wondered if sometimes Luca forgot what he was. He couldn’t decide if that was a good thing or not.

He still had a free hand and he could get out of the bond at his wrist if he took the time to break apart the spell. He wanted to see where this went.

Elias shrugged. “Like I said let me out of these bonds and we’ll see.” Luca muttered another “funus captis” and Elias felt his other wrist hit the wall.

Interesting.

He waited for any hint of panic to set in and when it didn’t he tilted his head at Luca in question.

Luca brushed against Elias, his left hand running up his chest and his fingers splaying the length of that side of his neck. Luca’s thumb ran up the column of his throat in the smallest whisper of a touch and it made Elias shiver.

“Maybe in a minute. I’m quite enjoying being able to touch you freely.” Luca murmured, his lips just a breath from Elias’.

The wand was gone and Luca’s other hand splayed across his ribs and drifted around his back. He pressed Elias against him. Luca’s eyes searched his for a moment and Elias took a deep breath.

“I’m fine,” Elias reassured him.

Luca’s hands drifted. The one at his neck slid into his hair while the second one traced the curve of his hip. Elias shifted against him and tugged at the bonds slightly. The hand at his hip slid under his shirt and Luca’s nails scratched lightly at the bone of his hip that jutted above the waist of his pants. Elias hissed and Luca smiled.

He kissed him then, finally. It began softly with their lips barely pressing against each other. Elias smiled against the kiss and he felt Luca do the same. Then the hand at his hip pulled him flush against Luca.

The kiss was no longer soft then. They kissed desperately, all gentleness was gone and an urgency slipped into their actions. They suddenly couldn’t get close enough, couldn’t feel enough, couldn’t taste enough.

“Get these damn bonds off of me right now,” Elias said when they finally came up for air.

Luca’s wand appeared again suddenly and the bonds were gone. Elias moved them from the training area of the castle, where they were, to his bedroom. The teleportation tore at them almost like it could sense their urgency. When they reappeared they staggered slightly before drifting back together.

Elias’ hands were in Luca’s hair and he was bending down to capture his lips again as Luca righted himself from their hurried teleportation. Luca’s hands clamped around Elias’ waist his hands freely grasping at his back, his hip, the curve of his ass.

Elias gently pushed Luca against a bookshelf and cupped his face and deepened their kiss. His leg drifted between Luca’s legs and he ground against them. Elias tore away from him and inhaled deeply as he caught his breath. Luca took the opportunity to kiss up the side of his neck, capturing his earlobe with his teeth.

Suddenly wings exploded from Elias’ back. It made Luca jump a little, sometimes he forgot that Elias had wings again. Elias brought his wings down and they engulfed them. The light filtering through the tips of the feathers cast a light blue tint around them. The heat of the wings and Elias’ body against him was driving him mad. He ground against Elias again now completely aware of both of their body's reactions.

They had been in this position again and again for the last few weeks. Usually, someone would interrupt, or one of them would break away awkwardly, or something in the underworld would need Elias’ immediate attention. Luca was so damn frustrated he had been taking cold showers daily.

Today though nothing happened. No interruptions occurred. The underworld was quiet. Neither of them seemed inclined to pull away.

And that is how Luca found himself still pressed against the bookshelf with Elias on his knees in front of him.

Luca had seen a lot of beautiful things in his life. The view of Elias kneeling in front of him though had to take the cake. His wings were spread and limp on either side of him. The warm light from the fire reflected lightly off the blonde of his hair and it gave him an ethereal glow. Elias’ eyes met his, black to green.

Elias reached up and undid the button at Luca’s waist and shimmied his pants and undergarments down his hips. His erection bobbed between them and Luca swallowed thickly.

“So help me, you better put the fangs away or I’m going to murder you.”

Elias laughed softly before giving Luca a sarcastic smile. The fangs were gone and Luca motioned for Elias to continue. Elias dragged his tongue up the length of his shaft and Luca felt like he was going to burst into flames.

Elias licked him a couple of times like that, long and slow before his lips closed around the head of his cock. Luca fought the urge to thrust into his mouth and instead tangled his fingers in Elias’ hair. Elias took him in inch by inch and every little movement rocketed Luca toward his orgasm.

“Gods you look so beautiful like that.” Luca breathed out.

Elias peaked up at him through his lashes. Luca did thrust into his mouth then and gasped when Elias took all of him. His fingers tugged on Elias’ hair lightly and he felt him moan around his cock. Luca closed his eyes and enjoyed the feeling as he thrust in and out.

Elias pulled back all the way and Luca gasped as he took him to the hilt. Elias repeated that over and over and the slow pace was enough to undo him. He thrust into Elias’ mouth again and the demon let him. He kept him there and Luca moaned as Elias’ tongue flicked against his shaft.

He was going to cum.

He was about to pull out but when he tried Elias grabbed the back of his thighs, his talons scraping at the sensitive skin there. He kept Luca against him as he came with a whine down Elias�� throat.

Luca barely had a moment to collect his thoughts before he was tugged by his collar to the couch in front of the fireplace. Elias pushed him down onto the settee none too gently and placed a hand on his chest. Elias perched a knee next to Luca’s hip on the couch and positioned the other between his legs.

Elias freed himself and all of Luca’s focus went to Elias’ cock. He was rock hard and leaking precum. Luca raised up to do something about that but Elias pushed him back down onto the cushions below him. The hand at his chest was making quick work of the buttons of his shirt while Elias’ other hand began to stroke himself.

Luca realized that Elias was about to cum all over his chest and it sent a thrill up his spine.

Luca noted how he stroked himself. The slight twist of his hand near the head of his cock, the way his breath hitched as he got closer to his orgasm, the way his muscles bunched. Elias’ wings were taut and raised behind him.

Luca watched his fathomless black eyes and suddenly realized he was wrong. The sight of Elias kneeling before him wasn’t his favorite view. This was. Elias was the most gorgeous creature he had ever seen.

Elias let out a low growl as warm streaks of cum slid across Luca’s chest. They held each other's gaze and Luca raised on his elbows so he could press his forehead against Elias’. Elias closed his eyes at the gesture and pressed a kiss to Luca’s temple.

Luca’s stomach took the opportunity to growl in the silence and Elias huffed out a laugh.

“Let’s bathe and then I would appreciate it if you could take me to the surface for food,” Luca said.

Elias pushed off the settee and began to straighten his clothes. “Or,”

Luca was watching the way Elias fiddled with his cufflinks. Elias continued.

“You could do up your shirt and fix your clothes and I could take you to the surface. That way anyone who comes across us is going to know what you and I just did because you smell like me.”

“Who knew Elias was so naughty.” Luca laughed and Elias helped him to his feet.

------------------------------------------------

He opened his eyes with a soft grunt and immediately winced at the tightness in his chest left behind by hours of hanging from the chains that supported him. Klaus was tall but even he struggled to stand on his tiptoes in order to keep his full weight off his arms and shoulders. He could feel his pulse hammering through his veins and secretly hated it for keeping him alive. He spat old blood onto the dirty floor and sighed, long and low.

Right. He was in Ahaz’s hideout, still. He knew he had been there about a month based on the passage of the sun he could see from the small windows near the top of the wall. He had painstakingly kept count of the days. He sighed through his nose and glanced up at the ceiling with a critical eye. There was a series of hooks connected above him. There was no way he was getting out of this without help. He was so incredibly bored and tired.

He had listened to Ravenna and played nice with Ahaz. Klaus gave up bits and pieces about the underworld and the heavens. Nothing that would harm either realm but it was enough to keep the torture at bay. While uncomfortable, they had yet to torture him in a way that made him desperate. This was child’s play.

He still didn’t understand Ravenna’s end game. She apparently saw a conflict between the angels and the gods but that seemed so impossible. The gods had been dead for millennia, their souls toiling away in the deepest parts of the underworld. It was impossible to bring a soul back to the world of the living.

Well, it was also impossible for a shade to remain on the earth and yet, there was Ravenna.

Klaus was quickly learning that the impossible didn’t apply to their lives. They were angels of course, with powers that they had stolen. Technically anything was possible. He spent his solitude trying to mull through the possibilities and implications. If the gods could get out that meant that the underworld wasn’t as secure as they believed. Which was a problem on so many levels.

Then there was the immediate danger if the gods were released. Would the angels have the resources to take them on again? They had the veteran archangels of course but they also had a lot of young archangels. He had never seen combat on the scale of a cosmic war. Even with the powers of the gods at their disposal it seemed bleak. There were still things about their powers they didn’t understand even after all these years. If the gods broke free from the underworld then surely the souls of the damned and the demons would follow. While those souls may not be loyal to the gods they would create havoc which would make it harder for the angels to focus on the problem of the gods and only the gods.

Then there was his role in all of this. Ravenna said he needed to unleash his horseman form for there to be a chance at keeping the gods at bay. That also spelled havoc for the world. In that form he was uncontrollable and his only goal would be to bring death. Which is why he also wondered why Ahaz wanted to. If Ahaz unleashed him he could easily kill Ahaz, his followers, and everyone else. Was his goal ultimate destruction?

Klaus didn’t think so. Ahaz had survived too long to just give it up. He wanted power. This meant that Ahaz was confident that he could leash Klaus like the angels had done. That made Klaus uneasy because if Ahaz did manage to leash him then he would be used as a weapon against his friends and loved ones.

He did know one thing. He was going to tear Ahaz limb from limb when he did escape this. He would escape this. He had too much to do and a life too precious to die in this dingy dungeon.

Klaus missed Liz terribly. He hadn’t realized how integral she was to his daily life until she wasn’t there. He missed the touch of her skin, her warmth, but most importantly he missed her smile. He just wanted to see her, wanted to see her eyes meet his and that beautiful smile grace her features. He hoped she was doing well. Really hoped that his disappearance hadn’t shattered her.

Klaus knew it had. He also knew it would fuel her. Liz was determined. If anyone was in danger she was going to save them. She was stupidly gallant like that. It was one of the things Klaus loved about her. He just hoped she was smart about it. She was coming for him, he knew it.

He just had to hold on.

#wizardess heart #shall we date wizardess heart #wizardess heart+#wizardess heart +#klaus goldstein #elias goldstein #SCREAMS #i'm backkkkkkkkk #feature

42 notes · View notes

laurelsofhighever · 10 months ago

Text

Fandom: Dragon Age: Origins Characters/pairings: Alistair x Cousland Chapter: 12/? Rating: M Warnings: Canon-typical violence Fic Summary: The story of the Fifth Blight, in a world where Alistair was raised to royalty instead of joining the Grey Wardens.

Read on AO3!

Haring, 9:30 Dragon

The paper crinkled under the twist of anxious fingers, the words of the letter contorting as the linen fibres split just enough to crack the strokes of oak-gall ink. Alistair paced. The messenger had presented the royal missive with a silent bow, its urgency betrayed by the fact that it was done in the relative privacy of a corridor and not at the spectacle of breakfast, where the custom was to deliver any letters accumulated from the day before so that all the nobility of Starkhaven might better pry into one another’s business. Conscious of Princess Meghan’s particular love of gossip, Alistair had come to the deserted upper courtyard without even stopping at his rooms to retrieve his cloak, but agitation stirred his blood too high to find the mild Marcher weather cold.

A Blight. A full muster of the Bannorn underway. A personal request from Cailan to come home.

Water poured into a carved basin from the mouth of a bronze lion set into the white marble wall. Emerald vines scrambled up the pillars of the arcade to proffer clusters of scented, dawn-yellow flowers, their colour blanched against the deep blues of the glazed tile floor. When he turned, he caught the brown flash of a sparrow darting into the low hedge under the lemon tree.

“He says the Warden-Commander himself requested an audience,” he worried. “He says the darkspawn are massing in the Wilds.”

Across from him, his companion stared down at the floor, his chin resting grave against his knuckles and his stern brow knotted over tired blue eyes. Nathaniel Howe had always been serious, quiet growing up in the shadow of his father, and seven years spent as the squire of a Marcher lord had done little to temper that early melancholy. Still, wintering as he was while the Grand Tourney gained enough energy for the new season, he was the closest thing to a friend to be found in Starkhaven’s labyrinthine palace, his judgement sound and his manners a comforting reminder of home.

“I should be going with you,” he said. “It’s my duty as much as yours to defend Ferelden.”

“Ser Rudolphe won’t spare you,” Alistair replied. Although the knight could be generous in his way, he also enjoyed the comforts that could only be provided by a bevy of squires. “If he even believes it to be a true Blight. Teyrn Loghain is kicking up a fuss, apparently.”

Nate’s mouth twisted in a grim parody of a smile. “No doubt this is all some Orlesian plot.”

“Something like that.”

Silence fell heavily over them once more. In truth, nothing much could be said; the war stories they had grown up hearing by the fireside told of great battles against enemies that valour and sound strategy could defeat, not a horde of darkspawn that would come wave on wave and kill for the senseless pleasure of blood, like ants, driven by instinct to swallow everything in their path.

“Will you go by Highever?” Nate asked after a moment.

An image cut into Alistair’s mind of Castle Cousland burning, the orchards at its feet withered black with disease. “I… no. Denerim’s closer from Wycombe.”

“You can’t avoid her forever.”

Instead of answering, Alistair chose to watch the sparrow hunting for insects through the leaves, fluffing its dull feathers against the cold as a cloud passed over the sun and pressed its darkness into the already shaded courtyard. He did not need to answer. The truth had come spilling out in the bottle of Satinalia brandy they had shared the previous year, and now Nate knew every detail of how he had betrayed Rosslyn’s trust, then skulked away like a thieving dog. She had probably grown beyond him anyway, won accolades and admirers far better than –

“I know you’re still in love with her,” Nate said when nothing else filled the silence.

“What –?” he spluttered. “Still – I’m not –”

“It’s been obvious since you were fifteen.”

With a sigh, he gave in and slumped on the bench next to his friend, wistful for a few moments before when the conversation had been about darkspawn. “Not to her.”

He still recalled the day Fergus and Oriana had publicly announced their betrothal. Hiding in the gallery to avoid the adults who had all come to wish her brother well, they had stolen a carafe of deep Antivan red and giggled their way through the speeches, their own small rebellion against those who fawned over Rosslyn like a plaything and pretended the king’s unacknowledged bastard did not exist at all. She had been dressed in layers of samite that rippled in shades like winter fog, like her eyes, with enamelled brooches in the shape of laurel leaves to hold the tumbling night of her hair at bay like storm lanterns on the prow of a ship. That had been the first night he wondered what it would be like to loose the pins and let the silk of it fall through his fingers.

“It doesn’t matter anyway,” he continued, shaking off the memory. “When I go back, I’ll be fighting, and she’ll hate it but there’s no way her father will let her join him on the field. When it’s over…” He sighed. “Maybe. When it’s over.”

His mind turned to the others he had left behind, to Thea and her family in the alienage, the denizens of Redcliffe, and in between every farm and hold that would be swept away if the king could not turn the horde. He doubted a single child in Thedas had grown up without hearing stories of the Blights, or the unimaginable scale of destruction the darkspawn left in their wake. They were dark tales for dark winter nights – to think they might soon become a reality for everyone he gad ever known…

Trying for a smile, he turned to Nate and folded the letter away into a pocket. “You never know, maybe your father will call you back, too, and we can all take to the field together.”

“Perhaps I’ll write to him first, and see if I can glean anything before you finish packing.”

“Hey! I’m not that disorganised.”

“Of course not, Your Highness,” his friend replied in a placid voice. “And I’m off to join the Grey Wardens.”

#dragon age #dragon age fanfic #dragon age fanfiction #dragon age: origins #dragon age origins #da:o #alistair x cousland #alistair x warden #warden x alistair #cousland #warden cousland #rosslyn cousland #nathaniel howe

6 notes · View notes

ultfan · 6 months ago

Text

aesthetic.

what are your muse’s aesthetics? BOLD any which apply to your muse! remember to REPOST! feel free to add to the list!

[ COLOURS ] ~ burgundy. red. crimson. scarlet. maroon. mahogany. copper. amber. chocolate. brown. tawny. tan. bronze. brass. orange. gold. saffron. yellow. chartreuse. spring green. lime. mint. green. olive. forest. turquoise. teal. cerulean. blue. navy. cobalt. periwinkle. indigo. pewter. plum. purple. magenta. fuchsia. lilac. lavender. pink. coral. peach. ivory. cream. white. silver. grey. smoke. charcoal. ebony. black. pastels. vibrant. matte. metallic. muted. dark. light.

[ BODY ] ~ mutations. claws. fangs. wings. tails. feathers. webs. spikes. scales. fur. stripes. spots. freckles. acne. bruises. scars. scratches. gashes. lashes. wounds. amputations. burns. brands. teeth. gums. tongues. lips. beards. mustaches. cheeks. noses. ears. eyes. eyelashes. eyebrows. hair. heads. neck. shoulders. collar bones. arms. elbows. wrists. hands. fingers. breast. back. ribs. abs. belly. hips. curves. butts. legs. thighs. knees. shins. ankles. feet. toes. nails. sweat. spit. tears. blood. heart. stomach. lungs. liver. veins. guts. bones. spine. muscle. skin. feline. canine. masculine. feminine.

[ WEAPONS ] ~ bites. fists. sword. dagger. spear. arrow. bow. crossbow. hammer. shield. poison. guns. axes. throwing axes. whips. knives. throwing knives. pepper sprays. tasers. machine guns. slingshots. katanas. maces. staffs. wands. powers. magical items. magic. rocks. mud balls. bombs. missiles. boomerangs. lethal pets. lasers.

[ MATERIALS ] ~ metal. gold. silver. platinum. pewter. titanium. iron. steel. copper. bronze. brass. tin. bismuth. diamonds. pearls. rubies. garnets. sapphires. emeralds. jade. peridots. alexandrite. opal. topaz. jasper. quartz. rose quartz. smoky quartz. amethyst. citrine. fluorite. amber. malachite. turquoise. lapis lazuli. sodalite. pyrite. labradorite. moonstone. petrified wood. wood. paper. parchment. hemp. canvas. burlap. oils. skin. muslin. rayon. faux. wool. fur. lace. leather. skins. suede. corduroy. silk. satin. chiffon. velvet. denim. linen. cotton. charcoal. clay. stone. rocks. flint. asphalt. brick. granite. marble. dust. rust. glitter. sand. dirt. mud. smoke. ash. carbonate. rubber. synthetics. nylon. polyester. plastic. glass. porcelain. bone. shells. coral.

[ NATURE ] ~ grass. leaves. trees. bark. flowers. roses. daisies. forget me nots. tulips. lavender. petals. thorns. seeds. hay. roots. ocean. pond. river. stream. waterfall. creek. meadow. forest. desert. tundra. savanna. rain forest. tropical. jungle. marsh. moors. swamp. plains. hills. highlands. caves. underwater. coral reef. beach. waves. space. clouds. mountains. fire. lava. ice. frost. water. air. earth. rain. snow. wind. moon. stars. sun. heat. cold. steam. lightning. sunlight. moonlight. dawn. dusk. twilight. midnight. sunrise. sunset. dewdrops. shadow. tornado. hurricane. water spout. thunder. hail. twisters. humidity. dryness.

[ ANIMALS ] ~ birds. penguins. eagles. owls. falcons. vultures. hawks. swans. parrots. parakeets. doves. pigeons. ducks. robins. cardinals. blue jays. bluebirds. blackbirds. crows. ravens. magpies. mockingbirds. flamingos. ostriches. seagulls. albatross. peacocks. condors. finches. pelicans. chickens. geese. quail. bats. sheep. cows. buffalo. deer. hedgehogs. elephants. horses. giraffes. cats. lions. tigers. pumas. cheetahs. jaguars. foxes. dogs. wolves. coyotes. bunnies. mice. rats. monkeys. apes. bears. pandas. polar bears. snakes. iguanas. chameleons. alligators. crocodiles. turtles. lizards. frogs. toads. whales. dolphins. fish. sharks. stingrays. octopus. lobsters. crabs. bugs. spiders. ants. moths. butterflies. flies. maggots. roaches. ladybugs. beetles. cicadas. dragonflies. fleas. termites. leeches. worms. snails. mosquitoes. werewolves. unicorns. pegasus. dragons. dinosaurs.

[ FOODS/DRINKS ] ~ pepper. salt. sugar. honey. syrup. caramel. candy. bubblegum. mints. candy canes. gumdrops. lollipops. chocolate. vanilla. cinnamon. ice cream. cake. cookies. brownies. biscuits. pie. tarts. lemonade. soda. champagne. wine. brandy. rum. whiskey. vodka. tequila. sake. beer. soju. gin. crema de cacao. cocoa. latte. coffee. tea. spices. herbs. fruit. apples. oranges. lemons. cherries. strawberries. blueberries. raspberries. cranberries. watermelons. cantaloupes. bananas. coconuts. grapes. kiwi. pomegranates. tomatoes. vegetables. potatoes. cucumbers. carrots. turnips. onions. leeks. celery. broccoli. cabbages. lettuces. roots. nuts. white meat. red meat. raw meat. veal. pork. chicken. beef. venison. fish. lobster. oysters. pizza. ambrosia. pasta. sandwiches. soup.

[ HOBBIES ] ~ music. piano. flute. woodwinds. whistles. drums. guitar. cello. synthesizer. violin. lute. harp. fiddle. harmonica. trumpet. brass. singing. composing. folk. classical. bluegrass. blues. jazz. big band. pop. country. rock. punk. metal. electronica. hip hop. reggae. ska. rap. vinyl records. cassettes. cds. soundcloud. itunes. spotify. art. sculpting. pottery. painting. watercolour. drawing. pastels. charcoal. sketching. graffiti. printing. inking. collecting. fighting. martial arts. self-defence. boxing. fencing. sumo. wrestling. jousting. paintball. lazer tag. duelling. hunting. fishing. climbing. weight lifting. training. sports. football. football (usa). rugby. baseball. cricket. lacrosse. volleyball. basketball. tennis. badminton. skating. cycling. sailing. rowing. hiking. running. gymnastics. dancing. ice skating. hockey. reading. writing. cooking. sewing. acting. photography. video games. horseback riding. gardening. smithing. shopping. traveling. movies. theatre. libraries. books. magazines. playing cards. poker chips. chess. dice. science.

[ STYLE ] ~ nudism. perfume. cologne. piercings. tattoos. henna. body paint. war paint. make up. lipstick. mascara. eyeliner. eye shadow. powder. beauty marks. blush. nail polish. lingerie. fishnet. pantie-hoes. socks. stockings. leggings. long johns. under armor. corsets. sports bras. bustles. camisoles. blouses. button ups. tunics. vests. waistcoats. leather jackets. ponchos. sweaters/jumpers. hoodies. skirts. jeans. kilts. breeches. scarfs. cravats. ascots. belts. sashes. gloves. heels. sandals. platforms. tennis shoes. penny loafers. jordans. slippers. boots. cowboy boots. rain boots. army boots. armor. justaucorps. trench coats. capes. cloaks. burqa. suits. tuxedos. kimonos. saris. sun dresses. gowns. jewelry. earrings. nose rings. lip rings. tongue piercings. belly rings. gauges. eyebrow rings. necklaces. pearl strings. leis. bracelets. bangles. cuffs. watches. friendship bracelets. rings. pendants. lockets. broaches. boutonnieres. pocket watches. cuff links. hats. crowns. circlets. flower crowns. helmets. hijabs. turbans. baseball caps. cowboy hats. brocade. doublet. gorget. bracers. masks. cowls. braces. glasses. sun glasses. eye contacts. pyjamas.

[ MISC ] ~ balloons. bubbles. candles. battle. war. diplomacy. peace. money. power. clocks. photos. mirrors. pets. diary. fairy lights. madness. sanity. sadness. happiness. optimism. pessimism. loneliness. family. friends. assistants. co-workers. enemies. loyalty. smoking. drugs. kindness. love. sex. hugs. duality. sin. lust. greed. wrath. envy. sloth. gluttony. pride. virtue. chivalry. honour. piety. charity. diligence. chastity. gentleness. aggression. romance. hatred. grief. pity. success. bitterness. sorrow. joy. fear. anger. good. evil. relativity. vampirism. sapphism. life. birth. time. death. illusion. silence.

#a lotta the gems n stuff are based off symbolism #representing good/bad luck #plus fortune and hope #♡₊˚ 🍀・₊✧ » ic : dash game ─ 𝘞𝘐𝘓𝘓 𝘛𝘏𝘐𝘚 𝘉𝘌 𝘎𝘖𝘖𝘋 𝘓𝘜𝘊𝘒 𝘖𝘙 𝘉𝘈𝘋 𝘓𝘜𝘊𝘒.ᐣ ❞#♡₊˚ 🍀・₊✧ » ic : aesthetic ─ 𝘏𝘖𝘗𝘌 𝘚𝘏𝘐𝘕𝘌𝘚 𝘉𝘙𝘐𝘎𝘏𝘛𝘌𝘚𝘛 𝘐𝘕 𝘛𝘏𝘌 𝘋𝘈𝘙𝘒𝘕𝘌𝘚𝘚 𝘖𝘍 𝘋𝘌𝘚𝘗𝘈𝘐𝘙. ❞

2 notes · View notes

bontenten · 2 years ago

Text

Shape of Petals

03 Flower Viewing

Pairing: Sanzu Haruchiyo x f!reader WC: 4k Tags: historical au, royalty au, enemies-to-lovers, implied child abuse

A/N: um yea :) i have returned. still semidying from covid. ty for the patience if any are still around. i’ll try to figure out tag list stuff in the reblog, but my tag/comment function in tumblr is not available for some reasons LOL

Masterlist || Taglist (form)

On the day of Flower Viewing, Granny Rong sits you in front of the polished bronze mirror at the earliest light of dawn. She tenderly paints your face, highlighting your features.

"You're turning lovelier by the day. Our princess is a flower amongst all the ladies today."

You laugh. "First Willow and now you too?" You smile at your reflection, also pleased with your presentation. There will be many daughters of the nobility present. You cannot let them outdo you after all. You push some of the busy hands of the attendants still trying to add more ornaments to your head away from you.

"But it's the truth!" A cheerful voice echoes down the hall. "I almost have to wonder if my little sister is trying to catch someone's attention. And no bunnies allowed in case you're thinking about sneaking him in your sleeves."

"Emma, stop teasing me. I know at the very least no pets are allowed. Let's go already, we're going to run late." You loop your arm with Emma's and begin to drag her towards the Imperial Garden.

There are many gardens and scenic spaces throughout the imperial city, but the one that's the largest and most impressive still has to be the Imperial Garden. A large central space of white marble forms an open platform for guests to gather. The perimeters are lined naturally with cherry blossom trees, now in their fullest pink blooms. Winding pathways along the side of a manmade lake offer views from either water or shore. Crown Princess Xin really outdid herself for this event. Every detail of the palace is given attention: the seating placements of the guests, selections of delicacies and drinks, and of course, the numerous flower arrangements tastefully in view.

A maid at the front gate greets you and Emma, then leads the way to the section where all the unmarried noble ladies of your age have all gathered. Willow and Sparrow follow right in your footsteps. You wave at Shinichirou and Xin who are seated at the main center, just off to the central throne. The young women of your circle stand up to greet your arrival before taking a seat again. After you take a seat at the front of the section, Tachibana Hinata scooches closer next to you.

"Finally! I almost thought you weren't going to make it," Hinata teases.

"Only because Y/N is taking such a long time getting ready," Emma says, popping a few peach slices to savor.

You retort back quickly. "Did not! Rather, look at you, since when did you wear this many jewels on your head? Fear not, General Ryuguji will be dazzled all right."

Emma flushes instantly. "Will it kill you to keep some thoughts to yourself for once?"

You sneer at her one more time and prepare for another retaliatory remark when a loud gong rings through the space.

"The King and Imperial Concubine arrive!"

All of the guests from officials to guards to maids sink into a bow towards the main seating at the center front. You included, everyone follows Shinichirou's lead and pays their respects.

"Long live your majesty," many voices echo in unison.

King Sano accepts the greetings and grants seating. "Beloved and esteemed guests. It's with great joy that you can all share this time with me." He grunts out a few shallow coughs. Imperial Concubine turns over to him in worry but he waves her away. After clearing his throat, he continues, "Crown Prince has worked hard for the past months to take care of court affairs. And Crown Princess has put a lot of effort into this banquet. Most of all, all the courtiers have worked well to support the Crown Prince during my absence."

"It is our duty," Shinichirou says. "I'm very glad that you are feeling better Father. I have no doubt that you'll make a smooth recovery."

King Sano seems pleased. "What better medicine that a beautiful wife and filial children!" He makes a beckoning hand signal in your direction. "Emma, why don't you come up here to stay by my side?"

Emma looks bewildered at being called out, unsure if she should comply and leave you sitting alone. Some of the girls sitting in the back row also look at you. Father has always had those cold eyes. He seems loving and warm, but not to you. When you fell down as a toddler, pudgy hands found nothing. No matter how obedient you try to be, how sweet or understanding you act in front of him, you're met with emptiness. The most you can do is to avoid, avoid, and avoid again.

Imperial Concubine decides to chime in and break up the stalemate. "My dear, it's rare for everyone to gather. Let Emma stay where she is and have her girlish chatter. She'll be bored and stiff to sit here. Besides, your majesty still has me, right?"

She presents the drinking vessel. The woman's coyness has its way to keep the old man's attention wrapped. Soon, King Sano is laughing again, completely forgetting about Emma.

"Are you okay?" Emma whispers, giving your hand a reassuring squeeze.

"Nothing new, I'm okay." You force a smile and shrug. "I'm more invested in the food."

"Then have as much as you want," she says, pushing another plate in front of you.

Musicians begin their melodies and a group of dancers takes to center stage. The dancer's light footsteps float across the floor and twirl in spirals. Murmurs and chatters slowly fill in between. Cups clink together and praise for the food soon follows.

Two men lean against a wall next to the main gate.

Sanzu observes the sea of crowd currently watching the performances, briefly checking where you're burying your head in the food and drinks. The initial cheerfulness on your face is all gone, no doubt from King Sano's attitude towards you. He's puzzled.

"Shouldn't you be closer to the little princess?" Baji interrupts his thoughts, bearing a plate of some food. "Why are you sitting here?"

"Naturally, this location is optimal for surveilling the event. Isn't that why you are also here?"

"You're no fun to tease at all."

Sanzu takes some time to phrase his next question. But ultimately, he can't think of a better way other than being blunt. "You seem to care quite a bit for the princess?"

Baji tenses slightly and inhales deeply. "Naturally." He can't admit outright that in his eyes, you'll always be a small, lonely cat wandering in a massive cage; the little princess whose tears once mixed with the rain. "Although our status is as different as night and day, she is like a younger sister to me. Many of us think so."

"The King doesn't favor her." A statement, not a question. "For what reason?"

To be certain, even he doesn't know the full reason. "It's not our place to discuss that."

If it's important intel, he'll discover it on his own, or ask your maids himself. He didn't think that Baji, an unrelated male however close he presents himself to you, would really know.

"Your choice," Sanzu replies cooly.

A sudden urge boils for Baji to draw his sword and swing it toward Sanzu right at this moment. He remembers his first time entering the palace with his swordmaster and getting lost in the maze-like palace. It started to rain and the more he tried to look for the training grounds, the more he became lost. He soon found a little girl dressed in funeral-white crying in front of a small fire pit, the flames all put out by the rain. Despite looking so miserable, more like a maid than a princess, you still showed him the way. Only later does Baji realize that the little girl is actually a princess. And that the day prior, her mother passed away with no burial rites performed at all. You deserve to be loved and cared for.

"You don't really care. She's just a mission to you, not a person." The commander suddenly says, almost like a revelation.

Sanzu isn't one to be ticked off by insults or passionate speech. He has heard more than his own fair share of curses and damnations from interrogating targets. But Baji's statement hits a nerve. "Do you think all from the 5th division are heartless monsters, Commander Baji?" He asks sarcastically. "No, you're right. And there's one thing you should also know: At least I haven't failed a mission before." Sanzu dusts his sleeves and leaves after giving Baji a tight squeeze on his shoulder. "Not sure if the great commander can say the same."

Baji shoves him off. "Fuck you."

Sanzu gives Baji a wide smile, hidden beneath his black mask. "Careful, there are guests. You wouldn't want the little princess to hear that."

Baji glances over towards your seating and finds you turning your head his way. Sanzu is quick to give you a wave, to which you frown and turn away again, engrossing yourself in conversation with others.

"It's been enlightening, commander." Sanzu mocks. "Now, if you would excuse me."

Sanzu shoves past Baji and picks out a new, inconspicuous corner to take watch.

An official prepares a toast toward Manjirou. "Second prince, I am most impressed by your recent expedition to the Northern Mountains. I have no doubt that the detailed mappings of the mountain paths and geography will be a great asset to our military."

"Yes," another one chimes in, "with Moebius constantly trying to harass our borders, it's only a matter of time before we can chase them away completely!"

"I'm just doing my duty," Mikey lightly comments. "There's still much reconstruction to do to secure the fortress. It's a shame that it couldn't be finished while I was there. It should be our priority right now."

A few grunts of agreement sound through the officials. There are reports submitted daily for review about this. Shinichirou has been mostly responsible for reviewing and annotating them during King Sano's illness. It was he who called for Manjirou's return.

"I commend your highness's eagerness and sense of duty. But there's still the mountain that also acts as a natural barrier." Right Chancellor Tachibana points out. "With the treasury tight, it'll be challenging to finish multiple large projects when the farmlands and bridges are still flooded. Your presence is still much needed there."

The factions of the civil officials all fervently nod in agreement, leaving the military commanders disgruntled. Toman is a kingdom created with military excellence, valuing strength above all else. But now that it's three generations strong, the winds are beginning to change. Crown Prince Shinichirou clearly values the books and arts, speaking often about the funding of schools, and promoting civilian students. While not well received by many of the nobles, one of the strongest supporters of the Crown Prince is the Right Chancellor.

"Moebius has never been a kingdom to be peaceful. In the last few years, they have swallowed many neighboring states and established themselves as a threat. Everyone knows it's only a matter of time before they decide to challenge Toman's military." Manjirou reminds all the officials present. Many are in comfortable middle-aged bodies, enjoying silk brocades and fatty riches. What could they know of the harshness of the soldiers living in the barracks?

"Sound observation, Manjirou." Crown Prince Shinichirou also joins the conversation. He waves off the greetings and bows to him. "General Kazutora is still stationed at the border to keep order. While Moebius is a threat, they have too many internal affairs to be concerned about. The vacuum in succession is causing in-fighting amongst the Osanai royal family."

"Brother, as I have recommended many times, is this not the best time?"

Shinichirou's stern look has Manjirou swallow his next sentence. "Moebius is despicable in their ways and will be remembered as such. The Toman that Father hopes to see is one that will flourish in creation."

Manjirou's hands ball into a tight fists under the table. The officials are quiet during the brothers' exchange.

"Both princes hold high aspirations for Toman," Left Chancellor Kisaki comments, breaking the tense atmosphere. "As a member of the old aristocracy following since your grandfather, I look forward to the future. But what a joyous day it still is, let us enjoy it for what it is."

Shinichirou takes this opportunity. "You are right, Left Chancellor. Let us leave official matters for court the next day instead. Please, everyone, take time to sample this new tea."

Around the time your feet are starting to go numb, Crown Princess Xin notifies your section that you are all free to explore the adjacent garden. It's a sort of special event so the girls could all freely chatter away from the strict watch of their mothers and fathers. There are even boats to take everyone around the lake.

"Will you also join us, Sister Xin?"

She offers a regretful smile. "You'll have to have fun without me. I can't leave the main banquet just yet. I'll have Jade show you all the way."

Jade is Crown Princess Xin's most trusted, personal maid. While Xin treats everyone with a warm smile, Jade, like her name is very quiet and often maintains a cool expression. Even you're a little nervous around her sometimes. But it also goes to show her dedication to her duty.

Once the group is quite far from the main hall, the chatter begins to bubble up excitedly.

"Crown Princess Xin is so kind to us, to organize such a nice way to view flowers from the water."

"Yes, yes! And we don't have to worry if someone overhears our conversations too."

"I thought I was going to suffocate back there!"

Emma tugs gently on your brocade sleeves and cups her hand over her whisper. "Dear sister, why don't you have fun with Hinata and the others? I think I'll pass on the boat ride."

"Why?" You blurt out loud.

Emma pinches the back of your hand.

You hiss. But the gears turn in your head and you silently mouth out, "General Ryuguji?"

Emma's apologetic grin confirms it.

You roll your eyes and shoo her away. "Whatever, get out of here. All this pining is blah."

At a fork in the garden, you realize Emma is already gone. Even when she was literally right next to you. Those who have been trained really are a bit different. You look around you for any signs of Sanzu following you. He probably is somewhere around, considering you saw him in a corner with Baji just earlier. Sometimes you envied Emma for her training. Their footsteps can be so quiet and their presence completely masked they come and go like the wind. There's a quality of firmness that you can't detect in yourself at all. If you were to slip away, people wouldn't notice either, but that's not because of any skills you have.

"Your highnesses and ladyships, we are here." Jade turns to bow. "The Crown Princess has ordered the kitchen to prepare some snacks and tea on board already. I hope you all will have a pleasant time. I will return to attend to her highness now."

You excuse Jade and ask her to pass on your gratitude to Xin once more. A chorus of thanks follows behind you.

Crescent Lake gets its name from the shape of its body. It's a manmade lake constructed by your grandfather, the late King Sano, the first founder of the kingdom. Originally a birthday gift to one of his beloved concubines, now it's a garden space used to entertain guests. Countless flowering trees line the banks, leaving a blanket trail of petals to the three boats docked.

The largest vessel is decorated with an elaborate silk canopy stretched for shade covering. A large central space is laid out with brocade cushions and plates of snacks. The benches stretched on the two sides even offer space for the maids to rest. The other two, although not as grand, are outfitted in very much the same way.

Naturally, you board the largest, followed by Willow, Hinata, and a few others you have gravitated towards more today. When all of you were seated, two boat rowers carefully push the boat away from the dock and prepare for its first course around the lake's perimeters. Each breeze brings a faint fragrance from the flowers. Over snacks and tea, the atmosphere is relaxed and cheerful.

One of the girls proposes a poetry game where each of the girls takes turns composing a verse related to the prompt. You somehow come up with a weak and unimpressive rhyme, just barely enough to escape the punishment game because Yumi, a daughter of a newly ranked military official, performed worse. Hey, second to last isn't dead last.

"Elder Sister Hinata, your verse is particularly beautiful. There's much to learn from your talent," a soft voice compliments. The young girl must be no older than ten, her hair cleanly twisted into two buns, decorated with simple embroidered ribbons.

You recognize her as Luna, the younger sister of Scholar Mitsuya. There's another younger one, Mana, who isn't present today. The Mitsuya siblings hailed from a poor family and were orphaned at a young age. But Mitsuya Takashi demonstrated exemplary achievements at the local, charity school and was sponsored by Shinichirou to enter the royal academy. The two siblings are invited to the gathering for a social debut and to give a message to some officials that Mitsuya stands in the Crown Prince's camp. Of course, Crown Princess Xin has Luna sitting close to you, Emma, and Hinata.

"I'm flattered, dear Luna. But also I just remembered giving the same compliment to someone in the past," Hinata laments, turning her gaze to her teacup. "Elder Sister Akane was truly incomparably talented in poetry. Her singing voice is also a reason for envy. It's yet another spring season without her."

A moment of silence fall over the young women, which Luna quickly catches onto and apologizes for stirring up sad memories. Hinata tells Luna why everyone still mourns the beloved daughter of the Minister of Justice Inui. The tragedy that shook the capital a few years ago was an arson incident at the Inui household. It was said that one of the family members of a case Minister Inui oversaw was vengeful that his brother was put to death. Who could have known that in a single night, over forty lives would be lost in flames?

"And only Lady Akane was lost?"

Hinata nods her head, remembering the details her father told her. "There was a survivor who said they saw that Akane successfully ran out. But she must have gone back inside. She was found clutching the wedding dress she was working on and a xiao flute. Had the tragedy not happened, she would have been wed to a student of Minister Inui. I don't know his name though. But I heard he never ended up obtaining an official position afterward."

It should have been a wedding that all girls envy. It should have been a fairytale ending.

Hinata claps her hands to gather the crowd's attention. "Those gone are gone. Today is supposed to be a happy day, let's talk about some more pleasant things instead."

"Like what?"

Someone chimes in. "There are so many young talents sitting on the other side today, didn't you all notice?"

"Young Luna, when will your brother take the exams?"

"Oh shush, you're already betrothed. I should be the one asking if anything."

"Well, elder brother mentioned next year. He still wants to strengthen his foundations at the academy."

"So diligent!"

Yumi grows impatient and jumps in. "Those scholars look like they'll practically bend in the wind. I think our military officers are way more attractive. Have you all seen General Kurokawa today?"

"He's rising the ranks so quickly. My father says that his future will be very bright."

"Is he betrothed?"

Yumi smugly shakes her head. "Not at all. And he earned his accolades all on his own, he has no family. Which means... there are no in-laws."

A few more giggles burst out over the thought of no in-laws. For the daughters of officials from extended, noble families, it's heaven almost unheard of.

"Princess, what do you think?"

Startled, you swallow the cookie lodged in the back of your mouth. "I think...they're all talented in their own ways. I haven't met General Kurokawa, so I wouldn't know."

"But don't you find, say, General Ryuguji to be exceptional?" Yumi urges, eyes practically sparkling. "You must get a chance to meet him?"

More eyes fall on you. How should you get out of this pinch without dragging Emma into the mess?

"Of course, he's Prince Manjirou's right hand," you respond cooly. "Commander Baji is also dashing."

One girl makes a face. "Commander Baji? I've seen him during his patrol once. His appearance is quite frightening. Last month, he got in a fight with a few merchants. Those people are permanently...And I've heard stories that he even drinks the blood of the prisoners."

"That's not true! You can't listen to rumors like that." If anyone's a bloodsucker, it would have to be those working in the shadows for Manjirou. But definitely not Baji. Maybe it's his toothy fangs, you wonder. You didn't find him scary at all.

"How can you be completely certain Princess?"

"Because!" When he is next to you, his personality shines brighter than anything.

"She's right," Hinata interjects before the conversation spirals. She puts a hand on your knee for reassurance. "Rumors are just rumors," she reminds everyone, "and not something we should concern ourselves with."

Sanzu finds himself too deep in his own thoughts. Perhaps it's due to his overall schedule relaxing far too much and too soon. He has grown so used to passing the day on the edge, where one wrong move can result in a gruesome death. The new normal of doing "nothing" is a new form of torture. He spins a dagger to keep busy, the cool metal passing swiftly across his calloused skin again and again.

The boat you're on is still within sight, but far away he cannot hear what you are saying. It seems like you are enjoying your time. There's no presence of a threat and Sanzu relaxes. The wind rustles the through the branches and petals rain all around him. The fragrance lulls him and Sanzu finds himself nodding off.

It sounds like windy hills and swaying grass. Light footsteps of children running around. He remembers this place, a grand place of white marble and voices calling for him.

Haru!

Sanzu tries to get closer and see the owner of that voice.

Come here, Haru!

Sweet, warm, loving.

HARUCHIYO!

Full of despair.

Sanzu's whole body tenses as he violently wakes up. All of his instincts are set ablaze.

"Stop moving around so much Yumi!" One girl scolds, grabbing onto the edge of the frame. "The whole boat is shaking."

"It's not me! I've been sitting this entire time!"

The girl is right, you realize. But there's barely any wind to warrant this sort of movement. You ask Willow to go find out what's going on and she quickly leaves the cabin towards the back.

"Something's wrong," Hinata urgently says, pointing at the floor. "It's water."

"Water?" A few girls who are confused look towards their feet only to realize that water is very much seeping through the wood.

"Princess!" Willow rushes over to you. "Boat is sinking! What do we do?"

Shrieks instantly sound throughout the cabin as the terror causes the young women to look for avenues of exit. The girls on the other boat watch the scene in horror while checking if their vessel is compromised. The boat rowers quickly try to steer the vessel closer to shore and call for help.

What in the world...

Suddenly, the ground beneath you splits open and you drop. Water quickly overtakes your head. You try to grab onto something, but a foot kicks you away. Willow helplessly tries to hold onto you but is swept away in the chaos. Something knocks against your head, and you fall into watery darkness.

Masterlist || Taglist (form)

#sanzu x reader #sanzu haruchiyo x reader #tokyo revengers x reader

34 notes · View notes