#anyway happy birthday to me i am going to think about the elf man some more

[ride-a-dromedary]

Halsin's character in Act 3 post breaking of the Shadowcurse is actually, either intentionally or not, another more quiet and subtle angle of trauma exploration; specifically, the alteration of identity development and its previously existing commitments post traumatic events.

#in this essay i will #BG3 Musing #Halsin #Halsin Posting #it's how you can tell shadowheart and halsin were written by the same person - both of them suffer #either in a literal or figurative case #from an inability to access one's past self due to trauma #a floating vessel of identification if you will #it's not that they do not want to be their past selves - it's that they don't really know who their past selves *are* anymore #(literally in shadowheart's case) #and they are reaching out frantically in familiar directions trying to get it back #when they are dunked into the cold water of reality that has been stolen from them in one way or another #halsin's description of himself outside of his one track mind is bracketed by hesitation #he says that he becomes consumed with the completion of the task at hand #shadowheart cannot remember frivolous pieces that crafted her identity - she is *literally* being consumed by an outside influence #they cling to aspects of their personality that they have retained which amps them up to 11 #it's weird though how aspects and aftereffects of trauma are only recognized if they are immediately recognizable outburst #anyway happy birthday to me i am going to think about the elf man some more

[onbeinganangel]

warmup ficlet for @the-starryknight! she picked 'i know we’re not together but i might die today so i’m going to kiss you just in case there is no later' from this wee list of kisses and asked me to drarry it up and I rubbed my hands together in glee knowing fully well i was about to put together a hell of an angst sandwich

not beta'd, not edited, just angst with a happy ending directly from my heart to yours! (cw: some canon-style mentions of blood, violence, injury and also kind of patient/healer relationship)

damned if you do it and damned if you don’t

(draco/harry, 1.8k)

Draco had pictured it so often throughout his life he sometimes couldn’t honestly believe he had made it all the way to twenty-seven.

He remembers saying it after being thrown on his arse by the family Abraxan. He’d been very little, then. Five or six, maybe. He’d cried, big fat tears running down his face, and when his Mother finally managed to pull his tiny fists down and stop him from hiding his crying behind them, he’d announced, “Maman, I am dying.” She had assured him he very much wasn’t. They’d had scones with big heaped spoonfuls of clotted cream and raspberry jam in the garden and he’d soon forgotten about his fall.

A few years later, he fell off his broom and straight into the lake. Dobby had spelled him dry to avoid him getting in trouble and he was still heaving, coughing up water and panicking when he told the Elf, “Dobby, I am dying.”

Then there was the incident at Hogwarts. He still felt the sharp talons on his skin way after the hippogriff was far, far away, as he bled, holding onto the gashes on his arm and announced to the whole class, “I am dying, it’s killed me!”

Between the ages of sixteen and eighteen, it was more constant. It was the heavy burn of the Mark settling on his arm, it was the feeling of all his organs lighting up in pain and his bones breaking under Crucio after Crucio, it was the sounds of Nagini slithering outside his bedroom door at night, the sickening thud of death, the unsettling screaming, his aunt’s shrill nails-on-chalkboard voice, Greyback’s growls. A neverending chant of “I am dying, I am dying, I am dying, I am dying” inside his head.

It was confiding in a ghost, it was crying because the fear of failure was so intense he reckons he would have preferred to be dead then, it was the only person he believed was actually kind and pure and incapable of willingly inflicting pain on anyone slashing him open and leaving him for dead on a bathroom floor. Draco had looked at Snape, murmuring spell after spell over him, and he’d whispered, “I am dying.”

It was learning how to be numb, how to not feel, how to keep everyone out of his mind and away from his thoughts, it was the paralysing terror of crawling around in the shadows, the bone-deep dread of dropping leftover bread rolls on the floor by the bars on the dungeon and kicking them swiftly into the other side, where they kept his classmates. It was sneaking a blanket or two down and saying to himself, “If they find out…”

It was the persistent horror of knowing you don’t believe in what you’re doing and knowing you’re damned if you do it and damned if you don’t. Between the ages of sixteen and eighteen, Draco would lie in his bed at night — his own at home, his own in the dorms, Pansy’s in the girls’ dorms when it got bad, and he would say it to himself, hoping it would become true, “I am dying.”

But he hadn’t. Despite all odds, Draco is happy. Twenty-seven. He’s got friends, a flat, a job he loves and he’s good at. He’s no longer spat at on the streets. He survived, he made amends, he managed it all. Most of all, he had managed not to die.

Until now, that is. This time he’s pretty certain he won’t be afforded such luck. He feels the curse hit him square on the chest. It’s his own fault, really, for not realising there was someone already in the room he entered. He’d been too busy throwing a rather flourished Incarcerous across the room at the two potions dealers he’d been running after for the past five minutes to notice the third man.

Draco is falling backwards before he has time to even think about anything, his wand clanking noisily seconds before he joins it on the floor.

Then: “Incarcerous.” He hears it — muffled but there. And after, “Fuck, Draco.”

He’s way too familiar with the way his Auror partner works not to know it’s him when the strong arms wrap around him and pull him up. “Oh, Merlin,” he hears. His eyes flutter back open for a couple of seconds and he can tell he was right, even if it’s all blurry: red robes, orange hair, worried blue eyes.

Fear. “I am dying,” he thinks. “Harry,” he says.

“You’re gonna see Harry alright,” Ron says. “He’s gonna have words about having to heal you again,” it’s almost like a joke. Like a Ronald-typical joke. But there’s an edge of worry there. There’s panic. Ronald doesn’t panic.

And it dawns on him. Draco tries to look down but it’s all red. The burgundy of his robes, the sticky dark red of drying blood on his hands and the fresh and vivid blood still pouring out of his chest. He’s not gonna make it to St. Mungo’s, he’s never going to make it to Harry.

“I am dying,” he says, and Ron makes a noise that can only be described as half agony, half agreement.

It smells like St. Mungo’s when he wakes up thinking “I am dying.” Very faintly, he hears the same voice he always hears in his dreams. Maybe he is dead. The voice never sounds like this in his dreams, though: disembodied, frantic, quick. Draco catches half words, half sentences, half conversations that don’t make sense. A different voice is saying “just do it” and “you’re powerful enough” and “sod protocol” and “I am his partner, I brought him here.” The voice from his dreams responds with things like “unstable” and “I don’t know” and “can you please try” and a “I can’t get in touch with her” and “not without consent forms” and a louder, angry “he’s not going to d—“

Draco tries to move towards the voice.

“Draco!” Says the first voice and three pairs of feet come towards him.

“Don’t try to open your eyes, don’t try to talk, don’t try to move, okay? We have stopped the bleeding for now, but we’re still trying to reverse the curse.”

“Harry.” His Harry.

“Yes, hello. We have got to stop meeting like this.”

“I am dying,” Draco croaks out.

“I won’t let you.”

Draco wants to speak. He wants to say “I am dying, I don’t want to die without telling you,” but he has no strength. His thoughts are going faster than the newest Firebolt as he hears Harry tell whoever else is in the room (Ron?) to leave. He wonders if this is it. This what they show you in the films: your life flashing before your eyes right before you die. He thinks of Harry shaking his hand after his Auror graduation ceremony. “Well done, Malfoy,” he’d said. He thinks of that first time he’d been invited over to Ron and Hermione’s, a few weeks after he became Ron’s partner, and Harry had laughed at his stories, lips wine-red and plump, eyes kind like he’d never expected. He thinks of every moment of almost in between them, every moment where Draco considered blurting it out, saying what was on his mind. The Christmas Gala as he towered over Harry and fixed the little chain on his robes for him, and that night at that dingy club for Hermione’s birthday where they’d stared at each other for forty minutes and when Draco had decided he couldn’t take it anymore, he found out that Harry had left. Or just last month when they’d gone out to buy a housewarming present for Luna and ended up eating leftovers on Harry’s sofa, exhausted from people and walking. There are too many. Too many instances of hesitation, too many “nearly-but-not-quites.”

And he’ll die and won’t ever get the chance to tell him, to kiss his handsome, stupid, precious face, and it aches — it hurts almost as much as that spot just to the left of his breastbone where the Curse had hit, where he was profusely bleeding not long ago.

“Closer,” he manages, very quietly.

Harry approaches, but not close enough, not even close enough for Draco to grab at him.

“Cl— clos—uh—closer,” he tries again.

And Harry’s right there, by his bed and he looks beautiful in his Healer robes (unheard of, really) and Draco is blinking his view into a sharper focus and listing all the things he knows he loves, the things he doesn’t want to forget: the white-ish storm of a scar that slashes through Harry’s eyebrow, the shiny (shinier than usual?) green eyes, the touch of stubble, the slightly crooked nose, the lips — oh, the lips, plump and sweet looking and Draco will never get to find out just how sweet. And then, he has to do it. Because if he’s going to die anyway, he may as well use his last breath on this.

He pushes himself off the pillow slightly and his hand pulls Harry’s green robes closer until their lips meet, clumsily and hard — Harry not expecting it, Draco waning from the efforts of pulling Harry closer, but Draco will die knowing he’s kissed Harry. And if there’s no later, at least he’s done it. At least Harry knows.

“Stop. You’ll hurt yourself,” Harry says, and pushes him back down. Gently, like everything he does.

“But—“

“I know, darling. Me too.”

Darling? Harry… too?

“I’m going to heal you, okay? I’m going to heal you and we’ll do that again. I’ll take you to dinner, or brunch, I know you like brunch. Or just coffee. We’ll go to the pictures. I’ll hold your hand. We’ll go flying. We’ll go clubbing and I’ll dance with you, I promise I will, and I’ll let you tell me how bad I am. I’ll find you a copy of that book you were talking about with Hermione, no matter how much it costs. I’ll throw my name around if I have to, okay? And we’re going to do that again, properly. When I’m not your healer and you’re not hurting. I’m going to heal you now, you just—“ he stops, then, breathing wild and panicked.

Then, a small sob. A kiss to his forehead. Draco doesn’t remember closing his eyes.

“You just hold on, yeah? Don’t go anywhere.”

And Draco would cry if he had the strength, he would say yes to all those plans and more, but he focuses on the feeling of Harry’s magic sinking into his body like and he holds on, just like he was told to. He holds on, even if he doesn’t know exactly to what. And he thinks maybe he’ll get lucky again, and he’ll stop picturing himself dead like he’s been doing his whole life. Harry’s magic feels like love, like poetry, like cascading words of affection whispered into the space between his ribs, it feels like hope. And Draco holds on and thinks to himself, as loud as a thought can go, “I am not dying.”

#i may actual edit this and pop it on ao3? #i kind of like it? #thank you starry baby for this delicious prompt #warmup ficlets #drarry #m writes #angst with a happy ending #cw blood #cw injury #cw violence

[mordoriscalling]

48 Weeks (3/4)

(Part 1) (Part 2)

Throughout the 48 weeks that Geralt and Jaskier spend apart, their relationship develops.

Aka, part 3 of the Singer and the Sailor AU no one asked for but I wrote anyway. The events of this story happen after Stay or Sail Away but before Homecoming. Warnigns: some sexual content ahead!

Weeks 25-36

Week 25

“There seems to be something special about the sea, doesn’t it?”

“Hmm.”

“You know, Tolkien once wrote that there was a special melody in between the sound of waves and seabirds’ song. Music that elves were susceptible to and, once they heard it, they couldn’t be satisfied by anything else but life at sea.”

There does seem to be something to it. Geralt hums again and asks, “Are you calling me an elf?”

Jaskier laughs. “You certainly are beautiful like one.”

Geralt scowls, thankful to all the gods that he can hardly blush. “You look more like an elf, with the ears."

Jaskier grins. “Ah, yes, that and my dashing good looks! And the fact that I love singing, and I don’t look my age and... wait.” Jaskier blinks. “Tell you what, maybe I am an elf.”

Geralt chuckles.

“And you, sir, you could be an elf too. You look like a legendary warrior from the First Age who would talk to dragons and outwit them.”

He rolls his eyes but lets Jaskier ramble on about his "warrior-ness".

Week 26

“You fucking what?!”

“You tried to teach chickens how to fly.”

“How is that worse than trying to school a bumblebee?” Jaskier shrieks. “What the fuck, Geralt?! How would you even attempt to do that?”

“We first trapped it in a jar –”

“Oh no.”

“– and then we would tap on the glass to make it fly in the opposite direction. In the end, it would fly away if it noticed our fingers getting close to the jar. That was our idea of schooling it.”

“The poor thing had to be terrified.”

“It was Eskel’s idea,” Geralt grumbles.

Jaskier sighs dramatically. “I can’t believe I love such a cruel man!”

Geralt freezes. “You what?”

“Shit."

Week 27

When Jaskier picks up, Geralt takes him in and his beauty is even more striking than usual. His features, both soft and sharp, his bright eyes, his charm and wit. Jaskier’s a talented, successful man, and Geralt can’t wrap his head around it.

“You love me?” he blurts out, still disbelieving.

“I’ve been serenading you for the past six months but thanks for noticing.”

Geralt snorts. “No, it’s... it’s you, and I am... me.”

He almost growls in frustration because words fail him yet again when he needs them most. Jaskier’s gaze softens with understanding anyway.

“Oh, my heart,” he replies quietly, “I know you think yourself broken and undeserving of good things because of your past but... you haven’t had an easy life and yet, you’re kind and willing to do so much for the ones you care about. You’re witty, sharp, capable and reliable. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted in a partner, really,” Jaskier says, his smile almost shy.

Geralt doesn’t know what to say to any of that. Three decades ago, he was living in an orphanage, just a kid with anger management issues and shitty, shitty prospects for the future. Now, he has a fucking celebrity confess his love to him.

“I...” he begins, then trails off. He knows he has to say something. ‘Love’ refuses to pass through his throat but there’s no mistaking about the warmth Geralt feels whenever he even thinks about Jaskier and all the ways in which he’s ridiculous. “I,” he starts again, “I... feel the same.”

For once, Jaskier is silent, his eyes glistening.

Week 28

“The tour was a success! Minus all the expenses od renting venues and everything else, we still made some decent money, which is great news. And the fans!” Jaskier gushes, “oh, Geralt, the fans! It feels fantastic to be appreciated by so many.”

“Hmm.”

“It’s good to be home, though. It’d be even better if you were here, you know? I... I wish you were.”

Geralt swallows hard. “Me too.”

There’s the heavy silence between them again as they look at each other helplessly. This time, it’s Geralt who breaks it.

“Now that you’re back,” he says, “could you see how’s Ciri doing? You could... drop by Yen’s place sometime.”

Jaskier’s grin is blinding. “Sweetheart, I’d be honoured! But only if Yennefer allows it too, of course.”

Now that, that part’s going to be the hardest.

Week 29

“I can so imagine you in lingerie.”

Geralt raises his eyebrows in surprise. Jaskier takes it as a clue to go on.

“The lingerie would be black of course and oh, it’d look magnificent on your body. I’d just watch you touch yourself, sprawled on the bed. Darling, what a sight you’d make. I could come just from looking at you but I’d try not to because I’d want to take the lingerie off of you, piece by piece. Slowly.”

Geralt’s breathing is already harsh and laboured, and he’s undoing his trousers with his free hand. “Jaskier,” he grits out.

“Yes, dear?”

“Keep fucking talking.”

Jaskier smiles dangerously.

Week 30

Earlier this week, he received a message with another recording from Jaskier. The song is slow, gentle and loving, because there’s no other word for it. It makes Geralt feel abashed.

When Jaskier picks up the video call, Geralt asks, referring to the lyrics, “you really think you see me?”

“I think I do,” Jaskier replies, his voice warm.

It’s a lie. Jaskier has no idea about Blaviken, he doesn’t know the whole of Geralt’s story. Still, it’s a nice lie to believe in.

Jaskier tells him he loves him once again. Geralt says it back. He wants to have this as long as he can.

Week 31

On Saturday that week, it’s Ciri’s fifteenth birthday. Geralt’s call interrupts the birthday party.

“Happy birthday, Cub.”

Ciri grimaces a bit at the old nickname, making him chuckle. She starts growing into a proper lioness, not a cub any longer. Cirilla is their pride and joy – a clever, talented, headstrong girl. Geralt could’ve never raised such a child alone. When he found out he was supposed to be her legal guardian just a week before he turned thirty – that he’d have to take in a traumatised four-year-old with vague memories of her family she lost in a car crash – he needed help. He contacted Yennefer for the first time in years. Caring for Ciri brought their love back to life. Before he knew it, he proposed, and then the three of them made a proper family Geralt never knew he would have. Whenever he was away, Yen had help from her brothers, and if they were deployed too, she could always count on Vesemir.

His marriage to Yen turned out to be a disaster in the long run and really, all of them – him, Yennefer, Eskel, Lambert, Vesemir – are just different shades of fucked-up. Ciri is their collective effort, though, and it often feels like she’s one of the few things they’ve ever done right.

“I’m sorry I can’t be there,” Geralt tells her.  

“It’s all right, dad.”

It’s not, he knows it isn’t. Geralt should be there with her. He’s missed out on so much of her life already, and yet the Navy took almost another year away from them. Geralt fears that when he finally returns for good, he’ll seem like a stranger to her because of all the time they’ve spent apart. He's afraid that she’ll not even want him to make up for it.

“I love you, Ciri,” he says, desperate for her to know it all of the sudden.

She smiles slightly. “I love you too, dad.”

He smiles too and wants to apologize again but then Jaskier appears. Ciri starts talking about taking piano lessons from him and then Jaskier joins in, chattering about what they’ll work on first. Geralt simply sits back and lets their words wash over him in warm waves.

Week 32

There seems to be some development in the relationship dynamics back at home.

“Your ex-wife is very sexy and very scary,” Jaskier says, all casual, “I wish I could hate her but her fashion sense is impeccable. Is sexy and scary your type, by the way? Because if so, I only fall in within the sexy category.”

“Hmm.”

“Geralt, you wound me–”

Week 33

“I hate him.”

Geralt sighs. “You two are getting along, then?”

“He will do,” Yennefer answers. “You downgraded, of course, but you could’ve done worse.”

“Yen.”

“Fine. I’ll say this: I think he’ll be good for you.”

A smile tugs at his lips. “He is.”

“I’m glad to see you happy.”

Her voice is gentle like it almost never is and there’s an ache in his chest. In moments like this, the old regret that they didn’t work out burns bright. They’re too different and alike for it to be anything but damaging, though; similarly scarred and scared, knowing exactly where to bite on the raw. They lash out when they’re hurt, and they’re not good people, not exactly. All of this does not mix well. The good days, when they soared, could not compensate for all the pain.

The divorce two years ago was one of their best decisions, but they’re there for each other still, in a way no one really understands.

“I want to see you happy too, Yen,” he says.

“I have Ciri.” He doesn’t reply and she lets out a heavy breath. “I’m getting there. I think I really am.”

“That’s good. You... deserve it.”

“Aw, Geralt, Jaskier’s turned you all soft.”

Week 34

The past week, there have been three storms, two damages to the ship and one conflict among the crew. Geralt is just grateful that his job pays as well as it does.

He does miss home but the heaviness in his chest at the thought of his loved ones is not crushing anymore. Most days, he doesn’t think about them as much as he used to. When he focuses on work at hand, it seems like the ship, the crew and the waves around are the only things existing in the world. They’re supposed to get from one point to another, one task after another, and it’s fulfilling when they achieve it. He’s at home in the simplicity of it.

But then, there’re moments when he remembers that there’s another home, right where his family is, a whole world away. His weekly calls with Ciri, Yennefer and Jaskier only serve to aggravate him, showing him that there’s a different life for him out there. The sea pales in comparison to it.

This week, Geralt doesn’t like the reminder especially. He sees Jaskier on the screen and hates that he’s so far away, that it’s been like this for so long.

They don’t do much talking. Jakier strums his guitar idly and Geralt listens.

Week 35

“Your older brother is so nice!”

Jaskier angles the camera so that it shows Eskel next to him. Eskel raises his hand in greeting with a smile. Ciri is there too, focused on cutting vegetables.

They’re standing by the kitchen island in Yennefer’s apartment. Eskel returned from a deployment a few days ago and, being a good brother and uncle, he’s started taking care of their cub right away.

“He’s the devil incarnate,” Geralt grunts in reply.

Eskel makes a rude gesture at him.

“I refuse to believe it, darling!” Jaskier answers, “Such a sweet man cannot be evil.”

Eskel and Jaskier smile at each other. Something in Geralt goes dead cold.

He’s very well aware that his older brother is more attractive than him, particularly when it comes to character traits. Eskel’s gentler, more articulate and charming; a much better match for Jaskier, in truth.

Geralt secretly dreaded Eskel and Jaskier finally meeting and now as he watches the two joke and talk, it appears that he was right.

Week 36

“Just three more months!” Jaskier exclaims in greeting.

Geralt brushes his hand over his face because there’s nothing “just” about it. It’s been eight months at sea and the memories from before the deployment are like a distant dream.  

“I wrote you a song, by the way. It’s about you coming home.” Jaskier smiles. “I know I’m getting a bit ahead of myself but it’s a nice thought. You being back.”

The song is by far the shortest and simplest Jaskier wrote for him but Jaskier voice has the haunting quality like it always does. Geralt, as always, can’t stop thinking it.

That day, he stands at the side of the ship and listens to the waves. He can almost hear the sea’s music and he already knows he’s going to miss it but at the same time, he can’t wait to be back on land; to return to the other home.

#myfic #geraskier #geralt x jaskier #the witcher fanfiction #modern au #the Sailor and the Singer AU

[comeoncomeout41]

I just watched the Elf episode of The Holiday Movies That Made Us on Netflix after remembering that I started writing an Elf supercorp AU for Christmas in 2018 (don’t judge me) and found my old notes app first draft so Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah! MAYBE I’ll finish it this year... (she said as a lying liar who lies.)

*The fic in which Kara’s pod crash landed at the North Pole, 13 years later her adopted elf mother Eliza and her elf sister Alex tell her about her cousin Kal now Clark Kent and she decides to go to Metropolis to meet the only other person like her. She meets Lena “naughty list” Luthor. And Clark and Lois are Jewish.

🔥🎄🎄🎄🧝‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

Some elves are born to work in Santa’s workshop. Kara Zor-El, however, was not born an elf or even from this earth for that matter.

When her pod crash landed at the North Pole thirteen years ago, she had no memory of a lost planet, no recollection of a cousin she was sent to protect who had already grown up to become Superman, and no idea how to be an alien living with elves. Santa was perturbed as to what to do with a skittish teenaged alien who cringed at the sound of tiny hammers building toys.

The elf doctor, Eliza Danvers, having a daughter around Kara’s age, naturally stepped in to help raise her, teach her elf culture, and attempt to control her powers. There were several mishaps of course.

Kara’s eyes lit up the first time she saw a Christmas tree. Literally. The green pine was burned to a crisp with her heat vision. But she quickly uprooted another tree from outside the elf village and helped Alex redecorate the new tree. And spent several hours carefully placing the new lights and ornaments, after breaking several of the glowing strings of light and the ornate red and blue colored bulbs. When Alex had trouble reaching the top of the tree, Kara swooped her up under her arms to help her place the star on the tree. And she managed to only break one of Alex’s ribs in the process.

After years of being at the North Pole, Kara was actually a wonderful toy maker once she learned to control her strength. When other elves managed to meet their five hundred toy quotas, Kara would have five thousand toys completed. The workshop wouldn’t need any teddy bears for another century, but finding storage for all of the toys Kara built was becoming difficult.

So from there, Kara’s primary job became Elf Master of Letters. She spends several hours each day answering letters for Santa as Santa’s tight schedule and the millions of letters he received each year became too much for the old bearded man. And although she always needed a little proofreading as the different Earth languages were sometimes difficult and much different than her native alien tongue, she enjoyed writing and speaking to children all over the world, bringing them the joy of Christmas.

Alex read over the letter Kara had just finished typing. Her younger but much bigger sister looked to her with a twinkle in her eyes and waited patiently. When Kara saw the red ink marked all over Kara’s letter she cooed and gasped, “That red is so pretty Alex. I know Raymond in Denver will love it! He told me red was his favorite color. I wanted to tell him that’s Santa’s favorite color too! But I didn’t want to give all of the big man’s secrets away, you know?”

Alex sighed and rested her hand on her sister’s shoulder, “Kara, these are your typos. Look here.”

Alex pointed to the last line, “Beleiving isn’t singing. Singing is beleiving.”

“He asked if he could see what the North Pole looks like. I set him straight. Believing isn’t singing. Singing is believing. That was in that one Santa Claus movie you had me watch, which I know isn’t historically accurate or based on true events, but I still,”

“Kara, remember your English spellings. I before e except after c? And it’s seeing not singing.

“Except in some cases like neighbor and weigh. And I just thought! It’s a play on words because ‘the best way to spread Christmas cheer, is singing loud for all to hear!’”

Alex smiled at her then, “You’ll get the hang of it.“

“Yeah, okay so I can’t spell that great, but the writing was good right?” Kara looked hopeful.

Alex shoved her shoulder, “You know you have more Christmas spirit than any other elf. Now come on and fix these typos, so we can go drink hot chocolate with Mom.”

That night when Kara had gone to bed, belly full of twelve drumsticks, eleven pickled peppers, ten cups of hot chocolate, nine hams glazed, eight glasses of milk, seven strudel pastries, six white chocolate goose eggs, five onion rings, four carrot cakes, three French bagels, two turtle chocolates, and a chocolate pecan pie, she curled up on her elf sized bed. Eliza had knit a fourth blanket onto her elf quilt the previous month when her toes started peeking out at the bottom. Alex had tucked her in tonight, making certain she was snug as a bug in a rug in the tiny bed, wishing sweet dreams of sugarplums dancing in her head.

She was content, happy, home and tomorrow would be her thirteenth birthday at the North Pole. What more could her life possibly be, what could be more rewarding than being apart of the magic that brought Christmas to children all over the world? And still Kara thought of that world and all of the little lights that wrote those letters to Santa, the gleaming eyes of all who opened presents on Christmas morning, and she wondered if any of them were like her. If they could hear the faintest sounds of snow falling or reach up and touch the clouds. If they could roast chestnuts with their eyes or see through all those pretty presents wrapped neatly under the tree. If the people of this world could believe that Santa would come every year to bring them gifts, then she had to believe that somewhere out there, there was someone else who was just like her.

That night Kara dreamed of a beautiful red sunset and little baby boy named Kal. It all felt so real, seeing him jet across the sky in a similar pod to the one Kara had found in an abandoned workshop years ago, knowing it must have been how she found her home. She wrote a letter to Santa as soon as she woke up, asking him to find a home for Kal for Christmas.

_____

Kara had been in trouble a bit, always an accident, because really how was it her fault if Blitzen couldn’t keep up with her? He could have flown faster if he hadn’t eaten all of that maple syrup and maybe then he wouldn’t have been left behind! She carried him back the whole way anyway! After she found him three days later in the Swiss Alps.

But this time when she was called to Santa’s office and Eliza and Alex sat patiently waiting for the charges from the big boss, Kara didn’t know why she was here at all, or rather, now she was on the floor with wood debris around her rear because the little chair was a lot lower than she had anticipated. That was the tenth one this month.

Santa cleared his throat and rubbed his white bearded chin, “I read your letter, and I spoke to your mom and sister. I think they have something they’d like to tell you.”

Kara widened her eyes and looked to her mom, “Are we going to adopt Kal? Like you adopted me? Please say we can Eliza. I promise I’ll teach him myself how to control his powers, and I can build him a crib myself. I’ll even chop down the tree for the wood and we can,”

Eliza cupped Kara’s face and kissed her forehead, a tear prickling at the corner of her eye, “Do you remember Kal now sweetie? Do you remember Krypton?”

Kara blew out her breath in bewilderment, “Krypton? What’s that? Is that where I’m from? Is it in Canada? I’ve always felt I was probably a Canadian because I don’t get cold at the North Pole, and I make the best maple syrup every year during the elf Christmas party.”

Santa nodded, “Its true, you really do.”

Alex gasped, “you know you’re not an elf?”

Kara chewed at her fingernails, “Well I’m not, am I? I’m bigger than all of you and I can lift a Christmas tree over my head like it’s mistletoe and fly with reindeer and all sorts of stuff. I’ve known for awhile I’m not from here, but this is still my home. You two are still my family.”

Alex held back all her unshed tears, “But you have other family out there, and we can’t keep you from knowing about Kal anymore.”

So that day Kara cried when Santa showed her the picture of Kal, or Clark Kent as he was called on Earth, glasses askew and a beautiful woman on his arm. Clark without the glasses bearing what she was told was her family crest, the House of El, taking up the mantle of Earth’s greatest hero, Superman. She had crafted thousands of figurines of her only living blood relative, and yet she hadn’t the faintest idea that she had been sent to protect him for all of these years. He had grown up, not alone at least. He was raised in Kansas on a farm, and now he lived in Metropolis with his wife Lois Lane and their son Jonathan Kent.

“Does he even know I exist?”

_____

Kara changed into her best elf attire and her bright red boots that Eliza had made her for Christmas, letting her open one present before she left. Today was the day that she would fly to Metropolis and meet her cousin for the first time. She couldn’t wait, but the dread at leaving Alex and Eliza settled deep in the pit of her stomach. And all of the letters to Santa she still wanted to respond to sat neatly at her desk in her room.

She was leaving behind her entire life at the North Pole. She told herself she wasn’t losing her home, but it still felt like it. Santa’s workshop, Eliza and Alex, it was all she had ever known or could remember. Would it be the same when she came back? Would her room still smell like a gingerbread house and would her stocking still hang by their chimney with care? Would Kal come with her or would she split her time between Kal and Alex and Eliza like some children who get double presents when their parents divorce?

Alex knocked on her door and waltzed in, “Hey Kara, mom made you something to take to Kal. There’s a winter storm over Greenland, you should probably get going soon.”

Kara wiped the tears from her eyes and her sister rushed to hug her. She had to bend down a little and lift Alex off the ground, but no way was she leaving without giving her sister a proper hug.

“I’m going to miss you and mom so much, Alex. I’ve never been away from home for more than a few hours, how am I going to make it to Christmas without you both? Will you even still want me back?”

Alex nuzzled closer, “You better come back because I don’t want to imagine this place without you. Who’s going to lift the fridge so mom can sweep under it hmm? Who’s going to change all of the light bulbs in the workshop when they blow out? Who’s going to drink hot chocolate with me and watch Hallmark movies in July?”

Kara laughed, shaking her head and deposited Alex on the floor, “I thought you hated the Hallmark channel.”

Alex simply rolled her eyes, “But I love spending time with my sister, and I love you, you big sap. I swore I wasn’t going to cry.”

Feeling slightly better Kara shoves her sister’s shoulder, a little too hard and catches her before she falls, “I love you too, dork. Don’t open the present I got you until you get back, pinky swear?”

Alex locks pinkies with Kara and kisses her thumb, “I’ll miss you. Please be safe. No breaking the sound barrier, watch out for pigeons because there’s a lot in Metropolis or so I’ve read. And when you see Kal remember to call him Clark Kent.”

“Got it, and don’t eat anything I don’t buy myself or anything not given to me by Clark, Lois, or Jonathan because there’s a high chance it’s not candy.”

Kara hugged Eliza for thirty minutes after that, and then Alex for another ten minutes before waving goodbye to Santa and all of the elves at his workshop. Metropolis wasn’t so far for her to fly, and she’d be home in no time.

She coasted through the peppermint sparkled glaciers, touched the northern lights, sailed through the skies above the Arctic Ocean, grazed the top of the Daily Planet, and landed atop the small two bedroom apartment building on the rent controlled side of town. Inside the windows of the corner apartment on the top floor, Kara saw Kal with his family, lighting candles, looking happy and calm. She decided to wait until morning to meet Kal, Clark, alone.

She listened into the city around her, all of the heartbeats like a million tiny hammers beating together, all except one. Kara flew the city, pinpointing the sound, admiring all of the lights on all the trees in all of the buildings and all the shining multicolored bulbs lining the streets. And it was there, in the tallest tower of the tallest building, one light shone through the wall to wall window, a small desk lamp in the large office. At the desk a woman with jet black hair and skin as white and fair as snow sat, typing away at her computer, nibbling on the pen in her mouth. She strained her long elegant neck, and stretched her arms above her head before getting back to work.

Kara glanced below the balcony to the street corner, finding what she knew the young woman needed. She floated down to the alley and walked into a coffee shop, took some time figuring out how to pay for a cup of coffee with the paper and coin money that Santa had given her before she left. Smiled and thanked the cashier for helping her, put one of the bills in his tip jar (it was a hundred.) She quickly flew into the woman’s office, left the coffee on her desk, and flew out of sight, feeling a little like Santa herself in the moment.

The woman grabbed the coffee absentmindedly and sipped, not expecting it to be so hot Kara sees her fanning her mouth and frantically searching the room with her eyes. When she turns to peer out her balcony, Kara sees her face, hard jaw line, soft endearing green eyes. She smiles as the woman screams and locks her balcony door as the windows go pitch black.

#supercorp #elf au

[mischievousmoony]

Time

Pairing: Sirius Black x Reader

Summary: As your days at Hogwarts are coming to an end, you decided it is finally time to tell Sirius Black about your feelings for him. However, you chose to do it on the busiest night of the year: the night of James’ birthday party. Things seem to keep getting in your way, but will it stop you from telling Sirius? 

Warnings: drinking

Requested by anon

Masterlist

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Unrequited love. When you read about it in literature you always found yourself captivated by the story. There was just something so alluring about it.

Too bad in real life it sucked. 

You’ve had feelings for Sirius Black for years and at this point, you should go into a career as a spy because of how good you’ve gotten at lying and hiding things. 

But, as mentioned, it had been years so it wasn’t hard for you to ignore it for a little while. Especially when you had other things on your mind. 

For example, helping plan what was supposed to be the biggest party of the year: James Potter’s birthday party. 

You had spent seven years at Hogwarts and within those seven years, traditions formed. For the Gryffindors, one of those traditions was James’ birthday party. 

Every year, on the last weekend of March, a party was held for James in the Gryffindor common room. It was one of the most looked forward to and talked about parties of the year. Its reputation even leads to a few gatecrashers from other houses. 

But this year it was supposed to be special. It would be the last of James’ parties and that meant it had to be the best. The Marauders had recruited you, Lily, and Marlene to help. The more minds the better, right? Well...

“Balloons? Balloons! Sorry, I misunderstood, I thought James was turning eighteen not eight,” Marlene said sarcastically, “I mean, he is turning eight, right Peter? I can’t imagine him being any older if you think we should have balloons.” With the way Marlene said it, you’d think “balloon” was the ugliest word in the English language. 

The more minds the more opinions. Very different opinions. 

“We have to cast some spell so nobody can crash the party. This is exclusive to just Gryffindors,” Sirius decided. 

“What? Gatecrashers are half the fun! Not only are they a sign of success but do you know how satisfying it is to kick them out?” Marlene smiled as if reminiscing about her favorite memories. 

“Maybe we should just invite the other houses.”

“Shut up, Peter.” 

It was like all you guys knew how to do was argue. 

“Too much firewhiskey? There’s never too much firewhiskey!” James shouted excitedly. 

“Do you know how much leftover alcohol we’ll have if we buy that much? It’s a waste!” Lily protested. 

“We want leftovers! The more we have left over the more I get to keep for myself!”

Marlene shook her head, “I swear, you’re going to be an alcoholic one day, Sirius.”

Even you and Remus, the two people who found these specific arguments trivial and a waste of time, were arguing nonstop. 

“I’m sorry, but that sounds like the biggest disaster of a cake ever known to man,” you said, a disgusted look on your face. 

“What do you mean?” Remus erupted, looking back at his rough sketch, “James is like the biggest Gryffindor ever a lion cake would be-”

“Coated with too much frosting and fondant that nobody likes?” You finished for him snidely. 

The entire group had never been so insulted by each other. You didn’t even know some of you could be that rude. Eventually, it was decided that after James decided on something it wouldn’t be argued or discussed again. It seemed to work pretty well, because from where you were standing the party had met all of your greatest expectations. 

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There was only so much time.

There were so many things you wanted to do! There was someone you wanted to do - Merlin, no! That’s so not the point. The things alcohol does to your brain... anyway–there was someone you wanted to talk to (that’s better!). Actually, had to talk to. You’d been sitting on your feelings for far too long and now that you realized how little time you had left, you were going to do something about.

But not without a little bit more firewhiskey. So forty minutes and two glasses later you think you might, possibly, be somewhat able to speak to Sirius. 

You could see him across the room talking to Remus. You took a deep breath, giving yourself a pep talk as you slowly, very slowly, made your way over, “You got this. You got this. You got this. He’s one of your best friends, you can tell him anything. You can tell him.”

“Tell who what?” Lily unexpectedly obstructed your path, making you jump a little.

“Huh? Nothing, I- nothing,” you paused to take a breath, calming yourself down, “What’s up?”

“There’s an issue with the cake, we put Peter in charge of getting it from the elves and... well that explains the problem enough, doesn’t it?”

“You put Peter in charge of the cake? Why would you do that!” You scolded Lily for the poor decision. Peter wasn’t very good with big tasks, he got very anxious and tended to mess them up because of it. 

“I know! I know! Listen he was supposed to be here twenty minutes ago, will you please help me find him?” Lily asked, intertwining her hands together to beg for your help.

You shifted your glance away from Lily’s begging eyes to Sirius just feet behind her. You figured you had the whole night to talk to him, you could do this one thing, right?

“Alright, lets go. And make it quick, okay?”

“Thank you! C’mon let’s start at the kitchen.”

––––––––––

“What did you do to make the head elf so angry?” Lily asked, dumbfounded, as you helped her carry the cake back to the common room.

Peter followed behind closely. His eyes were wide with fear, “I don’t want to talk about it.”

You almost laughed, but held back. You had never seen a house elf angry before. They were always so eager to please. It made you really want to know what Peter could have possibly done, but you knew that you should leave it alone for now.

“Leaping toadstool,” Lily said as they approached the Fat Lady before she could even request the password. 

As they entered, Lily shouted, “Who wants cake?” and they were swarmed by hungry party people. 

They placed the cake on the table and James strutted over with a lit candle in his hand, “Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, I say it’s cake time, blah blah blah, let’s eat!” He blew the fire out and tossed the wax rod to a random person nearby. 

As people got their slices, you found Sirius. The night would end at some point and you were determined to tell him before then. But when you found him, it seemed he was just determined to eat cake.

“Hey Sirius-”

“Cake!” He shouted, jogging past you. 

“After cake, then,” You said to yourself, plopping down on the nearest chair. 

You were so lost in your thoughts you didn’t notice Sirius’ return with two plates, “I’d say we really did it this time, hm?”

Your eyes snapped up to look at him. He was watching the party, marveling at the success it was. 

“Yeah, it’s almost perfect,” you said softly.

“Almost? This is perfect! Why’re you saying almost?” Sirius spoke as if you had just said the most ridiculous thing in the world. 

You took a deep breath. This was it, “Sirius, there’s something I have to-”

“Y/N!” A drunken James shouted, approaching you two at the table, “Dance with me! You’re the only person I must dance with tonight that haven’t danced with yet! So we have to dance right now!”

You glanced at Sirius, who nodded for you to go, “See you later.”

“One song, and then I think we should get you some water,” you giggled as James took your hand and lead you to the dance floor. 

However, you ended up on the dance floor for much longer than a song. Pretty soon the clock dipped into the AM without your awareness until someone nearby made an exclamation on how fast the party was going by.

“Is it really that late?” You gasped, “I have to talk to Sirius, James. I’ll catch up with you later. Happy birthday!”

You weaved through the crowd, looking for the dark haired boy in every corner.

“Remus, have you seen Sirius?” You shouted over the music. To save his breath, Remus pointed in his direction.

You turned around to see Sirius leaning against the fireplace cooly, flirting with some sixth year. Your heart sunk. It was clear he wasn’t interested in you if he was flirting with someone else, so what’s the point of telling him?

All of a sudden the party was too much for you to handle. It was too loud and too fast and an overload on all you senses. You needed to get away, so you found your way to the nearest balcony for some fresh air.

“Idiot,” you muttered to yourself, “I can’t believe I was gonna tell Sirius.”

“Tell me what?”

You jumped so high that you’re surprised you didn’t fall off the balcony. 

Sirius placed a hand on your back in attempt to calm you, but it just made your heart pound harder, “I saw you come out here, you looked upset. Everything alright?”

You forced a smile to overtake you features, “Peachy,” you tried to say it as genuinely as possible, but it seems you didn’t have the energy for it, “Sorry to pull you away from your friend. You can go back if you want.”

Sirius had a confused expression, “Who? Ava? Merlin, I don’t think she wants to talk to me.”

“Why’s that?”

“I just rejected her.” He shrugged, looking out at the grounds.

“Really?” You're eyebrows rose in surprise, “You seemed to like her.”

Sirius looked at you, “I’ve got my eye on someone else.”

You turned away from him, struggling to keep your face expressionless, “You should talk to her then.” If you couldn’t be happy with Sirius, you figured you’d at least help him be happy even if it was with someone else.

“Yeah?” he questioned

“Yeah. It’s almost April. And then it’ll be May, and then June.”

“That is how the months go, yes,” Sirius joked, flashing you a cheeky smile.

You shoved him a little for that, “I mean to say the year is almost over! Pretty soon we’ll be done with Hogwarts and on to whatever the hell is next. We’re running out of time, Sirius, so don’t hold back. If you like this girl, do something about it.”

“Do something about it, hm?” Sirius questioned, watching you as you stared at the ripple in the water of the Great Lake. 

“Yes, don’t hold back just-” 

You were interrupted by Sirius suddenly pressing his lips against yours. After the initially shock, you responded to the kiss and let your hands find his hair. His arms snaked around your waist, holding you tight as he disregarded the concept of air to keep his lips on yours. Eventually, though, the need for oxygen won and you broke apart. 

“That was... unexpected,” you panted.

“You told me not to hold back.” Sirius smirked, removing one of his arms from your waist to cup your cheek, “Was that okay?”

“That was perfect,” you smiled, leaning into his hand.

All of a sudden Sirius remembered what he heard when he found you out hear, “Didn’t you have something to tell me?”

You smiled, “Just that there’s this guy I like.”

“Oh...” Sirius’ eyes widened before he put two and two together, realizing who that guy was, “Oh!”

You giggled at Sirius’ surge of giddiness as a boyish grin stretched across his face and he leaned closer to touch his nose to yours. 

But before he kissed you again, he wanted to say one more thing, “You know, about that running out of time thing? Well we may only have April and May and June here,” he looked out over the Hogwarts grounds before focusing back on you, “but even after that, I’m still gonna be right here.”

Your heart swelled and you felt as if you could cry, in a good way of course. You didn’t know what to say, so you leaned in and captured Sirius’ lips in another kiss.

It no longer mattered to you how much time you had left at Hogwarts because all that mattered is you had all the time in the world with this boy. Your boy. 

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Note: It’s sad cause we all know what really happens after Hogwarts for Sirius...

#Sirius orion black #sirius black imagines #sirius black imagine #sirius black fanfiction #sirius black fanfic #James Potter #james potter imagine #james potter imagines #james potter fanfiction #james potter fanfic #james fleamont potter #James Potter x Lily Evans #Remus Lupin #Remus John Lupin #remus lupin fanfiction #remus lupin fanfic #remus lupin imagine #remus lupin imagines #peter pettigrew #marlene mckinnon #Marauders #marauders era #marauders fandom #marauders imagine #marauders x reader #sirius black x reader #Harry Potter #harry potter fandom #harry potter fanfiction #harry potter fanfic

[afternoonteawithme]

Hi @erenlevijeager! I’m your Secret Levi :) 

(read it on AO3) 

As Levi pushed his way through the throngs of people filling the street, all too busy gawking up at the tacky lights over their heads to pay attention to where they walked or what they did with the bulky shopping bags they all seemed to be carrying, he thought longingly of his quiet, warm living room, his comfortable couch, the new book he’d picked up that morning. He wondered, most definitely not for the first time that evening, what in hell he was doing here.

And then the crowd in front of him parted, and he saw his reason.

Eren Jeager had tumbled into Levi’s life a little more than a year ago, when he’d gotten a job at the café attached to the museum where Levi worked. Levi had taken one good, hard look, and then spent the next few months doing his best to pretend he hadn’t fallen instantly in lust.

It hadn’t worked. In fact, it had worked so badly that Eren had been living with him for almost three weeks now.

Levi’s organized, structured, predictable life had been shattered. He’d gone to more dinners, parties, spent more time out with friends over the last six months than he had in the whole decade before. Suddenly, he shared his bed, his shower, his kitchen cupboards, even his comfortable couch. Someone else’s clothes hung in his closet, sat in his dresser. Another man shaved into his bathroom sink in the mornings, and two toothbrushes sat in the little jar they’d picked out together. They’d even been talking about going to the shelter, picking up a dog.

Maybe two.

Somehow, somewhere along the way, Levi had fallen in love with the asshole, and nothing would ever be the same.      

Brown hair a little messy from the wind, eyes bright, glittering, and with a gigantic grin spread across his face, the love of Levi’s life laughed at him as he reached out to grab his hand. “There you are! Don’t get lost, we’ll never find each other again in this crowd.”

An elbow jabbed Levi in the back, knocking him forward a step. With a hiss, he leaned in towards Eren’s ear, almost shouting to be heard over the crowd, the traffic, and the obnoxiously cheerful music piped in over it all. “Why are we here, again?”

“Because it’s Christmas Eve, Levi.”

“I know it is. That’s why half the city is out here with us. But why are we here?”

Laughing, shaking his head, Eren kept pulling Levi through the throngs of people. “Because it’s the holidays, and we can’t just stay home and do nothing. Come on, let’s go look at the lights in the park.”

“I like staying home and doing nothing.” Levi thought longingly of the box of tea he’d bought that morning, sitting sealed and unused on his kitchen counter. He hunched his shoulders. “It’s too damn cold to be outside, anyway.”

“Bitch, bitch, bitch.” With another laugh, Eren tugged Levi out of the flow of people, pulling him into a little empty pocket at the side of the sidewalk. He slid his arms around Levi’s waist, made round and puffy by his thick coat. “Come on, this’ll be fun. Haven’t you ever gone to see the pretty lights for the holidays?”

Levi snorted, though, since it was cold, after all, he snuggled in a little closer, raising his own arms to slip his hands beneath Eren’s warm scarf and anchor them behind his neck. “Why would I?”

“Then what do you usually do on Christmas Eve?”

“I stay home, alone. Out of the cold and the insanity.”

“Well, this is our first Christmas together, so alone is out.” And then, for the first time since he’d dragged Levi out of their apartment earlier that evening, the bright happiness on Eren’s face faded. “Unless you really don’t want to?”

“No, I-”

“I mean, I know we haven’t really been living together for all that long. Maybe I’m being too pushy.” Eren bit his lip, his voice a little uncertain when he continued, “I thought we could make some new traditions, just the two of us. But maybe you’d rather do your own thing?”  

“I didn’t say that. I’m here, aren’t I?”

“You don’t hate it? You’ll try and have fun?” Eren’s eyes were anxious as they studied Levi’s expression.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. Let’s go look at the damn lights.”

The sad look on Eren’s face evaporated at light speed, replaced by such a wide, beaming smile that Levi felt suspicion bloom in his soul. He narrowed his eyes. “You were faking it?”

Eren blinked innocently. “Faking what?”

“You’re such a sneaky asshole.”

“Now why would you say something so hurtful.” Eren leaned down, bopped a kiss onto the tip of Levi’s nose. “Coming?”

“That won’t work forever, you know. One of these days you’ll try those puppy dog eyes on me and I’ll just laugh.”  

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Weaving his arm through Levi’s, Eren tugged him back into the flow of bodies moving along the pavement. “But if I did, I’d say that sounds like fun. I like it when I make you laugh.”

“Not this time, you won’t.”

“No?” Eren shot a mischievous grin down at Levi. “I guess we’ll have to wait and see.”

It took them a few minutes to weave their way out from the crowd when they reached the park, but once they finally broke free, they found the park itself easier to move through than the sidewalk they’d left behind. There was a fair of some kind set up, and couples and small groups of people wandered between the booths that lined the paths and across the wide greens scattered with trees and strange wire frame creatures, all cheerfully lit with bright multi-colored lights.    

And over it all, that ubiquitous and tinny music continued to gleefully bounce through the air.

Levi smelled roasted nuts, apple cider, and hot chocolate. He wondered, just for a moment, if the cheap food stall hot chocolate might possibly taste as good as it smelled.  

“Oh, look!” Eren darted forward, dragging Levi with him towards one of the booths. He pushed through the thick press of bodies of other fairgoers browsing tables heaped high with glittery and sparkly decorations, heading straight for a well tossed over display of hats, headgear, elf ears, and Santa beards.

He grabbed one of the headbands and slipped it onto his head, before turning to smile angelically at Levi. “What do you think? Suits me, right?”  

A tinsel halo, held up by thin wire, hovered a few inches above Eren’s head. “They got any devil horns?”

Eren rolled his eyes, unoffended. “They wouldn’t, it’s all Christmas stuff. What about these?” He swapped the halo for a pair of felt reindeer antlers.

He looked so damned adorable, with his flushed cheeks and wind-tossed hair sticking out in all directions. Levi’s fingers itched to stroke it back, off his forehead, so he shoved his hands into his coat pockets. “They’re alright.”

Paying no attention, Eren picked up a fuzzy Santa hat, plopped it onto Levi’s head. He nodded firmly. “Now that works almost too well.”

It slid down over Levi’s eye, and he pushed it back. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Hmm, well.” Eren tilted his head, even as he reached out to adjust the hat’s position, his fingertips cold as they brushed against Levi’s skin. “I can’t really explain. It somehow suits you, though I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because I know how warm and gooey you really are under that suspicious glare you always watch me with.”

Offended, Levi jerked his head back. “I am not gooey.”

Eren’s eyes were laughing, but direct, when they met Levi’s. “I think you are, though. And I like the hat on you.” He stepped in a little closer, dropping his voice. “I think you look sexy in it.”

“How the hell is it sexy? It’s a Santa hat.”

“Yeah, but you’re wearing it.” Eren grinned at the look on Levi’s face. “Still, if you don’t like it-” He reached out to pull it off of Levi’s head.

Almost before Levi realized what he was doing, his hands slapped over the hat, holding it in place. “Leave it. It’s warm. Plus, if I’m Santa, and you’re one of my reindeer, doesn’t than mean you have to do what I tell you?”

Eren blinked, but the corners of his mouth were curved as he studied Levi. “And what are you planning on having me do?”  

They were already standing directly in front of each other, but Levi took another half step forward, until he could stand on tiptoe, brace his hand against Eren’s chest, and breathe into his ear. “You can start by giving Santa a good, hard ride, later tonight.”

He’d said it expecting Eren to laugh, or at least roll his eyes. Instead, when he stepped back and looked expectantly up at Eren, he found a very, very strange expression on his face.

When Eren spoke, his words were slow, careful, and his eyes were locked on the Santa hat Levi wore. “I’m not sure what’s worse, the picture you just put in my head, or the fact that I’m a little turned on right now.”

It took Levi a second. He jerked back a little, staring up at Eren with wide eyes. “Oh hell no. I didn’t paint that picture, you did that all by yourself.”

“You started it. I was just being a good little angel.”  

“Uh-huh. Pervert.” Levi yanked the Santa hat off, turning away to drop it back onto the display.

“Well, maybe, a little. You still started it.” And then Eren let out a yelp that made Levi jump, spin back around. He found Eren crouching down and rummaging through the pile of merchandise that had fallen onto the floor beneath the display. “No way! How’d this get here?” He snatched out his prize, a cheap plastic crown with the words ‘Birthday Boy’ printed across the front.

He stood back up, setting it carefully on Levi’s head, then pulled away to study it. “Perfect.”

Levi hunched his shoulders. “It’s not as warm as the Santa hat.”

A wicked grin spread over Eren’s face. “Yeah, but the birthday boy is a lot more likely to actually get laid.”

“Oh well then.” Startled, Levi laughed. “I’ll take this one then.”

Eren leaned back, smiling down at him with an odd look in his eye.

“What?”

“I told you, I just really love it when you laugh.”

Levi blinked, a little embarrassed. “That wasn’t the type of laugh I was threatening you with.”

“No, but I like them all. Happy Birthday, Levi.”

“It’s not my birthday yet.”

“I just wanted to be the first to say it. I’ll tell you again, in a few hours. In any case, I love you, Levi. Happy Birthday.”

Levi flushed, shifted, feeling both warmth and embarrassment filling his chest. “Yeah. I um, love you too.”

Eren’s lips curved. “Do you think, one day, you won’t be embarrassed when you tell me that?”

“Maybe. Don’t know.” Desperate to change the subject, Levi frantically looked around the booth. “Where the hell do we pay for these things, anyway?”

When they finally left the booth – proud owners of one plastic birthday crown and one pair of antlers – Eren slid his arm around Levi’s shoulders, and after a quick inner battle, Levi nestled in against his side.

As they moved on through the booths, along the brightly lit paths, he realized that at some point he’d stopped minding all the people around them, and when he glanced up at the lights sparkling over their heads, he found them remarkably pretty. Even the ever-present music, as tacky as it was, somehow didn’t seem to be all that annoying anymore.

Despite the bitter cold, he felt warm.  

And as he walked through the lights beside Eren, Levi decided that he liked this new tradition of theirs, after all.

#secret levi 2019 #snk #ereri #erenlevijeager #eren x levi #snk fanfiction #i had a lot of fun with this prompt #i hope you enjoy!

[pikapeppa]

Character Interview: Rynne Hawke

(Art by @lethendralis-paints​ @schoute​ and @stella-minerva​!) 

 [The context: Josephine Montilyet has attempted to arrange an interview between an Orlesian newsletter and Inquisitor Fenris. Unfortunately, Fenris was unable to attend, but the Inquisitor’s right hand Rynne Hawke volunteered in his place.]

name ➔ Rynne Hawke! But you can call me Hawke.

are you single ➔ Absolutely not. Nice try, my friend. [wink]

are you happy ➔ Of course! I’m married to the world’s most handsome elf and I currently live in an enchanted castle. What’s to be unhappy about? 

are you angry ➔ Not right now! I had breakfast, you see. If I was hungry, on the other hand... 

are your parents still married ➔ Ah. Well, they were. But they, er, passed away some time ago. 

NINE FACTS

birthplace ➔ Lothering. 

hair color ➔ A lustrous, chocolatey brown.

eye color ➔ Amber. Or copper. Some might say a deep, dark honey. [charming smile]

birthday ➔ Ferventis 2! Feel free to buy me a nameday gift. 

mood ➔ Good, thank you for asking!

gender ➔ Female, last I checked. 

summer or winter ➔ Hmm, what about fall? I’m a fall sort of girl. 

morning or afternoon ➔ The darkest, deadest part of night. [laughs] We’re night owls, you see.

EIGHT THINGS ABOUT YOUR LOVE LIFE

are you in love ➔ Yes! Absolutely, head-over-heels in love. 

do you believe in love at first sight ➔ Yes. Love at first bloody dripping fist, some might say. 

[From the next room, the interviewer hears a muttered Tevene curse that sounds something like “fasta vass”. Hawke grins cheekily.]

who ended your last relationship ➔ [strokes chin] Not counting – er. Well, there was this boy in Lothering that I used to meet in his barn a few times a week, but the Blight ended that relationship, really. 

have you ever broken someone’s heart ➔ Maybe. I am irresistible, after all. 

are you afraid of commitments ➔ Not at all!

have you hugged someone within the last week? ➔ [Before Hawke can answer, a deep male voice calls out from the other room: “The better question is whether there is anyone she hasn’t hugged in the last week.”]

He’s not wrong. 

have you ever had a secret admirer ➔ I should think so. I am irresistible. Did I mention I’m irresistible? 

have you ever broken your own heart? ➔ ... I don’t... think so?

SIX CHOICES

love or lust ➔ Why choose? Life’s too short. 

lemonade or iced tea ➔ How about lemonade mixed with ice tea?

cats or dogs ➔ Dogs! Specifically my mabari, Toby. 

a few best friends or many regular friends ➔ ... What if all of your many regular friends are also your best friends?

[The deep voice calls out from the other room again: “Hawke, just answer the question.”]

I’m trying! Why don’t you just come in and do the interview, then?

[There is no reply from the other room.]

wild night out or romantic night in ➔ ... Maker’s balls, I really can’t decide. Why not a wild night out followed by a romantic wind-down by the fire?

day or night ➔ Night. Definitely night. Look, I made a choice that time! [calls out to the other room] Fenris, I made a choice.

[There is no reply from the other room.]

FIVE HAVE YOU EVERS

been caught sneaking out ➔ Ha. Yes. Carver is such a rat. Or, well, he... never mind.

fallen down/up the stairs ➔ [laughs loudly] Oh Maker, there was one time when I first moved into the mansion in Kirkwall – all right, fine, you’re short on time. The answer is yes.

wanted something/someone so badly it hurt? ➔ [quietly] Yes. But it was so, so worth it. 

wanted to disappear ➔ Not by choice, but... yes. And we did, for a while. Then... well, here we are. 

FOUR PREFERENCES

smile or eyes ➔ Both.

shorter or taller ➔ Taller. About eight inches, I think?

[The deep voice calls out from the other room. “Hawke, they are not asking about me.”]

But you’re my standard!

[From the other room: “Fasta vass.”]  

intelligence or attraction ➔ What if you’re attracted to intelligence? 

hook-up or relationship ➔ [gentle laugh] Before Fenris, hook-ups, absolutely. Then he comes strolling in with his bloody fist–

[From the other room: “Hawke.”]

What? It’s the truth!

FAMILY

do you and your family get along ➔ [light laugh] We... sure! I loved my family. I mean. I still – of course we got along! [laughs again] You know, there was nothing quite like living in a hovel in Lowtown to make you really bond with your baby brother and your mother. It was almost sad when we moved into the mansion and had our own rooms. Not that Carver used his since he lived at the Gallows, but – no, of course we got along! [laughs again] 

[While Hawke is talking, the Inquisitor appears at the door behind her and stares at the interviewer without speaking. Hawke does not seem to realize the Inquisitor is there. The interviewer moves on.] 

would you say you have a “messed up life” ➔ [laughs loudly] Fuck me, these questions. I hope you’re going to ask me if I shave my asshole next. To answer your question – sure, but look at the times we live in. Who hasn’t had a messed-up life?

[The Inquisitor is still staring at the interviewer. The interviewer moves on.]

have you ever ran away from home ➔ No. My mother would never have let me hear the end of it. If I had. [pause] That was a joke! Maker, so serious. 

have you ever gotten kicked out ➔ [strokes chin] Kicked out of home? No. Kicked out of the Hanged Man, on the other hand... 

FRIENDS

do you secretly hate one of your friends ➔ No! Absolutely not! I love everyone!

[Behind her, the Inquisitor silently disappears into the other room.] 

do you consider all of your friends to be good friends ➔ Yes, actually! Except for Varric. He is a great friend.

who is your best friend ➔ Varric Tethras. Also known as the smartest man in all of Thedas. Also known as the author of the “Hard in Hightown” serial, if you haven’t read it already. I highly recommend it. 

[From the other room: “Did Varric ask you to plug his books during this interview?”]

Of course not! I’m doing it anyway, because I’m also a great friend. 

who knows everything about you ➔ Fenris, of course. Oh, and probably Cole, since he technically knows everything about everyone. 

Is that all? All right, it’s been fun! Come back anytime, all right? Make sure you take an apple from the courtyard before you go. They’re incredible. 

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

For more Fenris the (grumpy) Inquisitor and Rynne Hawke, feel free to check out Lovers In A Dangerous Time!

Tagging forward to @schoute​​ @lethendralis-paints​​ @midnightprelude​​ @johaeryslavellan​​ @thesaltyhealer​​ @faerieavalon​​ @the-rogue-mockingjay​​ @tryvyalsynnes​​ @radiant-avad​​ @myfeyrelady​​ @barbex​​ @dickeybbqpit​​ @elveny​​ @novamm66​​ @stella-minerva​​ @levikra​​ and anyone else who wants to participate! Can’t wait to see what your OCs have to say!!

#tag meme #fanfic writer's life #lovers in a dangerous time #rynne hawke #fenris the inquisitor #fenquisition #fenris #fenhawke #fenris/hawke #fenris x hawke #fenris/femhawke #fenris x femhawke #fenris/f!hawke #fenris x f!hawke #fenrynne #pikapeppa writes

[ghxstype]

ZEPHIA I DID IT

3 Fears - the ocean, the dark, angry men

3 things I love - my friends, my pups, myself

2 turn ons - someone who is comfortable with themself & humor

2 turn offs - if you’re not open-minded & naivety

Best friend - I have a few Michelle Sabrina and Zephia are my mains tho

Sexual Orientation - Bisexual

Height - 5 ‘7

What do I miss - idk if I really miss anything like there’s friendships that I might miss but like they were toxic lmao

Fav Color - green

Crush? - I always have a crush on someone, whether it’s a serious crush or the one girl at the metaphysical store I met one time

Fave place - Death Valley

What am I listen ring to rn - Elf the movie

Shoes size - 9.5

Eye Color - Light Brown

Hair Color - brown with a streak of green rn

Meaning behind URL - Persephone

Fave Song - I have many rn is Self Care by MAC Miller

Fave Band - love the 1975

How I feel rn - content

Someone I love - myself

Current relationship status - Singleee

Relationship w/ parents - eh

Fave season - winter/fall

Tattoos piercings I have - two conch, one daith, lobes, and cartilage

Tattoos/piercings I want - nipples redone, tongue, smiley, nose repierced, septum, industrial redone, and I want a nature/wicca themed sleeve

Reasons I joined tumblr - all my friends were on it

Good morning/ good night texts - I haven’t gotten a good morning/night text since HS

Have I kissed the last person I texted - uhhh no

How long does it take to get ready in the morning - it can take me 5 minutes it can also take an hour and a half

Last time you shaved your legs? - three days ago

Where are u rn - home

Music loud or reasonable level - a mix of both

Yes I live with my mom and dad

I am excited for Friendsgiving with my loves tomorrow

I do not have someone of the opposite sex that I can tell everything to

I wear a fake smile mostly at work

I would like to meet ZENDAYA

I think about ... money the most

I prefer to be behind the camera

The last lie I told was I was sent home from work because I was afraid my mom would get mad at me if she knew I didn’t go at all

I really like video chatting

Yeah I believe in ghosts and aliens we think we have a ghost in win my house

I am a witch therefore I believe in magic

Yes I believe in luck/karma

The weather is cold rn

Last book I read was the city of bones

Nicknames are Katie, Kate, SweetieFace (by dad)

I spend money on bills mostly

I can not touch my nose with my tongue

Fave animal is a boop noodle (snakes)

At 12 am last night I was smoking

Purple rain by prince always makes me happy when I hear it

Fave word is fuck obvi

Top 5 blogs are @thosediamondreams @blairbittchproject @man-teater @himoon @beatleluvr22 I love all my mutual’s blogs really

If the whole word we’re listening to me rn I would ask someone to assasinate the president

I have no relatives in jail

Current desktop photo is a black screen

I’ve had sex but not intercourse

I have bought condoms before

I have never been pregnant

Never kissed anyone in the rain

Yes I’ve had a job

I smoke weed yes

I do not smoke cigarettes

I do drink alcohol

I’m neither vegetarian or vegan tho I do think about it often

Currently overweight

Never been underweight

I’ve had my heartbroken tho wouldn’t say it’s always been romantically

I went to my prom

I’ve been on an airplane (18 hours)

Never been able to fluently speak another language

I often wear makeup

My hair is currently dyed

Never had surgery

Never met anyone famous unless monster truck drivers count

Everyone has stalked people on social media

I’ve been fishing hated it

I’ve been rejected by a crush

For my birthday I’d like quality time with my friends

50% of the time I like my handwriting

When I’m older I’d like to live in a smaller town in the pacific northwest about an hour outside a major city

I’ve never been caught sneaking out or doing anything bad tho my parents have found out

I’m really bad at overcoming my social anxiety

Greatest achievements ahah ahah idk

Meanest thing anyone has ever said to me was by my dad

If I won the lottery I’d pay off all my debts and my parents and then slowly give money to family members and friends

What do I like about myself - I’m v passionate about a lot of things

My closest tumblr friend is Zephia

I’m an introverted-extrovert

I’m attracted to a lot of different types of people, I think I’m attracted to someone’s energy

Umm currently not in a position where I’d be in a relationship in two months but if it happens than it happens

I love talking about sex and sexuality

I always have deep conversations with Michelle

The most recent text I sent was to A group chat saying TAROT CARDS AHHH

Top 5 fave songs are Self care by Mac Miller Rukes by Doja Cat Lights up Harry Stiles Watermelon Sugar by Harry Styles and Drinking Games by Silver Sphere

I love it when people play with my hair

I hope there’s life on other planets

Love me some bubble baths

My neighbors are drug dealers so I don’t really interact with them lmao

I’d love to travel to Greece

I’m most uncomfy with my tummy

When I wake up I usually fall back asleep or go on my phone

I’m comfortable with my current skin tone

Eventually I’ll get married but not for atleast another 5 years

My hair is long enough for a ponytail

I could live without tv but not music

Everyone I’ve ever like I have either told or they found out anyway

Love old navy and my metaphysical shops

I think people deserve second chances but not thirds (just realized I’ve never given anyone a second chance lmao)

I smile at strangers all the time

Mmm never done anything recently I hope no one finds out about

Never really wished I was someone else

Fave makeup brand is Jeffree

Last thing I ate was my moms beef burgundy

I think I’ve thought I was in love but idk

Twitter over fb

Tumblr over Twitter

Watching Elf rn

My bath towel is red

Fave ice cream flavor is Honey

First person I talked to today was my mom

Hate ONISION and the president also personally hate this girl from HS

Last person I talked to was my dad

Love my loves Michelle Zephia Sabrina

Will always take the chance to punch the president in the face

I tan maybe once or twice a year

I have 2 puppers

I type pretty fast yeah

I regret a lot of things and I’ve talked about them on this blog

I don’t think I’ve ever broken someone’s heart lemme know

Yes I have liked someone so much it hurt

Cheating is never okay

I think I believe in true love, Not sure if I’ve ever experienced it

I’m a Capricorn

Yes I believe in ghosts

I’m v comfy sitting here doing this watching Elf I’m not getting up to get the closest book to me to open it to page 42 to see the first line in the page tho it would be like It or something

#there #are #so many typos #proof read your papers kids

[jadeswritinggarden]

The Stars Where You Are - Chapter 2

Prologue | Ch.1 Pt.1 | Ch.1 Pt.2 | Ch.2

you can also read it here

(3365 words)

...

Enna’grad Leaip

Achalla

…

It’s a peaceful night tonight. The moon sits high in the sky, dodging clouds as it makes its way through the heavens. Happy people stroll through the streets, slowly filing into their homes. Banners not yet being celebrated are being hung in the streets. Candles floating in the air beside the men and women who work on ladders to hang the banners. The forest was just teeming with life. Its soft hum of life brought a smile to my face. 

I walk on the dirt path leading to the forest with my brother, Ezrag’endi. Our feet march in beat as we make our way to the edge of the forest. Fruits fill our baskets, ready to be snacked on at any moment. We spend our time picking fruits and veggies tonight as tomorrow Ezra will be crowned king. Many elves would gather tomorrow night to watch as Ezra’endi, the rightful heir to the throne finally took to the crown. Ever since Dad died, many have been awaiting my brother’s twenty-seventh birthday. Now that it was all happening, I couldn’t be more terrified. 

Sure, we were in a time of peace. The humans don’t know of us, we are content with each other, but the fact that Ezra would soon be king scared me above all else. 

Dad had been king once. Now he is dead. 

I can tell Ezra is nervous too. So when he asked if I would join him for one last stroll to the forest to pick fruits and vegetables before his coronation, I couldn’t say no. Ezra tried to play it off as us collecting last-minute food for the grand feast tomorrow. To get some quiet time before the excitement of the crowning overtook the palace. I understood what he meant. 

Ezra has always been a good brother. He loves me, I love him. He likes spending time with me, I like spending time with him. We’ve been close for as long as I can remember. Sometimes that is your only option. When you never knew your mother and your father has spent most of his life on the verge of death, whether due to war or famine, you learn to become close to your sibling. 

I hold a basket of various fruits and vegetables. Purple sphere fruits with pink lines were all piled up together, while the green ones with yellow dots were piled up on the other side of the basket. Beside them were red berries. All fruits ready for eating. 

"Where do you think the sapidus are?" Ezra asks, placing his elbow on my head. I’m not much younger than Ezra, but I am shorter than the average elf. That means Ezra likes to take any chance he can get to show that he’s taller. And I hate it. 

I’m quick to shrug off his elbow from my head.

“Get off me, demon,” I grumble. “It’s just up here.” I know where all the wild fruits are. I’ve spent many years on this dirt path, exploring the flora and fauna around it. Sapidus aren’t a sweet fruit but you can’t have a feast without a sapidus pie. We come upon the small patch of them, right off the trail. 

I grab some of the yellow fruit and start placing them in my basket. Ezra doesn’t even try to be sneaky when taking one to eat right now. I even debate taking and eating one for myself. They are a delicious savory flavor that isn’t the most refreshing but can’t be beaten. 

While leaning over to pick some more, I hear a quiet sound. A thumping sound. Almost quiet enough to be non-existent. But it very much exists. And Ezra heard it too. 

“Something is coming,” Ezra says in a low voice. I quickly rise from my spot and face the path we had already walked. That’s where the sound comes from. The path winds up to the palace and town. I hastily prepare to fight off any attackers, allowing the magic to flow through my veins. The electric sensation makes the hairs on my arms rise. The electric blood means it’s working. A dim green light radiates from my hands which sit cautiously at my side. 

The magic I call upon is a defense spell. It would stop any shots from hitting us, magic or arrow. 

Ezra also was ready to fight with a soft red light. A magic more fit for fighting. Ezra is better at fighting than me. He was prepared to take the offensive and I the defensive. We waited for an attacker. 

"Your majesty!" A young voice called out. It was the kingdom messenger, Eriladar. He ran as quick as possible, head bobbing up and down as he pounded towards us. I drop all magic from my veins, relieved I don’t have to be fighting anyone. Most people who’d dare attack the two princes would be stronger than me anyway. I watch as Ezra’s magic disappears, leaving only the natural moonlight. 

When the messenger reached us, he stopped to catch his breath. With blue skin tinged purple at the cheeks, I could tell he had run all the way from the palace. 

Eriladar? What are you here for?" Ezra asked, walking closer to the boy who was out of breath. 

"The guards, they- found- humans!" The boy was out of breath and couldn't talk easily, but he got out the gist of it. Ezra’s muscles tensed. There hadn’t been a human in Achalla that we didn’t know about ever. Humans equaled danger. 

“What? Where?” His words were rushed and full of terror. I know what that means. Anger was sure to come next. 

"The cave of Venustas. They are being brought to the palace now." 

"I'm sorry Enna but I have to deal with this," Ezra said, handing me his basket. I thought every human who had somehow stumbled upon our cave had their memory wiped before even getting near the entrance? How did someone slip through? Our guards are thorough and don’t forget anything. So how did this happen? 

“I understand. Let’s go.” 

The castle was abuzz. News of humans had gotten out already. And gossip spread like fire. Servants ran around wildly to search for anything to do to get a glimpse of the humans that would arrive at the throne room soon. Nobles hurried through doors to gather in the room that the council was in. I follow Ezra helplessly through the back entrance of the palace.

Almost immediately the sisters find us. 

With golden skin that was sun-kissed even without sun and carnelian eyes, the sisters followed. Three of the only sun elves left in the entire world. Curiosity filled their eyes and I could see it. 

“What is happening, Ezrag’endi?” The youngest sister Kilikani spoke up. Her youthful face was laced with worry. She was far too young to remember the raids. And the fear. And the humans. She was younger than me.

“I am going to find out.” He told the girl. Though acting confident, I could see the fear in him. Humans always send us into a panic. Ezra most of all. 

It’s probably just some lost travelers who were looking for shelter and found the cave, I try to convince myself. It doesn’t work. 

The sisters follow my brother at a hurried pace, walking faster than me. Eireann’resa, Nainsi’gral, and Kilikani’sea were part of the council that served Dad and now serve Ezra. Being the granddaughters of the final queen of the sun elves, that’s what Dad had decided they deserved. 

Naturally, we don’t call them by their full formal titles. They’re just Eireann, Nainsi, and Kilikani to us. 

We push into the throne room, which has erupted into chaos. 

“Prince Ezrag’endi!” An older man rushed up to us. He was another part of the council. The weight of the wars he has witnessed weighed down on his skin. Wrinkles graced nearly every inch of his face. A wild fear filled his face. 

“Sir Min’kala! What’s wrong?” I question, pushing through the three sisters to stand next to Ezra. I wasn’t an official part of the council but my words should matter. 

“Humans were found in the cave of Venutas-”

“We know that already!” Ezra’s mood had changed completely from when we were alone. Now anger coursed through his veins, appearing even in the little twitches of his eyes. We’ve never had to deal with humans without Dad. “Tell me something I can actually use! Who are they? How many? What kingdom have they come from?” He shouted at the poor man.

“Ezra…” Eireann, the eldest of the sisters took a step forward. She was graceful, even in a situation like this. Her warning, though quiet, was rather effective. It reached my brother surprisingly fast. I could see the edge of his anger slowly disappear. He was still angry but would no longer yell. I could tell. 

“I apologize, your Highness. There are only three. And we do not know anything yet. The guards are bringing them in momentarily. We were waiting until you arrived.” Sir Min’kala lowered his head in shame. 

“You have done nothing wrong, Sir Min’kala. Please inform the guards we are ready.” Eireann spoke with her arms clasped in front of her. How can she be so calm? This is terrifying. Out of all the people here, she should be the one freaking out. Surely she has been dealing with war and humans ever since she was little. The amount of shit she has gone through in her life would be enough to drive any normal elf crazy. I know I’d go crazy. 

Eireann places a hand on Ezra’s shoulder and guides him to the throne. His throne, come tomorrow. His throne come today. With no current monarch, he is the acting king. He has truly been king ever since Dad fell ill. 

Ezra and Eireann standing together were the perfect image of what war causes. They were around the same age. Still youthful. Too young. There was not a soul in Achalla that didn’t pity them for their young age. 

Sir Min’kala scurried away out the main door, to gather the guards and humans I suppose. Beside the throne that looked to be made of iron and vines was a smaller, less impressive throne. It was to belong to the next of kin to the king. And in this case, that would be me. I take my seat beside Ezrag’endi. That was his official name. 

The sisters took their spot standing on Ezra’s left. The other members of the council sat below the steps up to the throne. Each sat on their knees awaiting the humans that they had heard of. Each more tired than the next.

I wait impatiently, tapping my foot as we wait for Sir Min’kala. It felt like forever before he came back, guards in tow. 

A dozen guards walked in to protect three hidden figures. They held on tight to the near lifeless bodies. The humans stumbled along being half dragged down the carpet towards the throne. They each had different skin tones, not unlike moon elves. However, their skin colors were similar to those of the sun elves. Not nearly as vivid though. One-by-one they were dropped in front of us. 

Two boys, one girl. The girl was short and small, but I spot strong muscles under her cloak. The taller boy, sitting to the left of the boy in the middle, looked the weakest. 

The boy in the middle is the only one with enough power to attempt to stand up, but he fails and falls to his knees. His disheveled hair fell in front of his eyes. None of them could be much older than eighteen. Their clothes did not give off the impression of wealth. Dirty old tunics covered the three different chests. Mud caked the bottom of the cloaks they wore. There was no way that they weren’t lost travelers. No king is going to send champions without armor and weaponry. 

I may not know much about humans but I know enough to recognize royalty trying to steal their land and riches. 

“Names.” Ezra hissed at the humans. The tallest boy looked up with weary eyes. Guards surrounded them with weapons at the ready. The humans did not make an effort to attack so neither did the guards. 

“Moon elves…” Was all he managed to mumble. His head lolled to the side. 

“What are your names?” Ezra spoke louder. His anger must be fighting to come out. 

“Finnian.” The human boy in the middle spoke. I can tell it takes all he has to hold his head up and keep his eyes open. Every blink seemed to be luring him back sleep. Every breath seemed to be painful. 

That is what the guards did. They used sleeping magic powerful enough to sedate the enemy long enough to tie their hands and drag them here. Here the king would decide their fate. The other two humans seemed to be breathing fine though. I don’t know why the boy known as Finnian was struggling to breathe. 

Finnian looked up at with shock. He must be surprised he found moon elves right where we have been for decades. These humans are definitely not harmful. A sigh of relief floats out of my mouth upon the realization. We are safe. For now at least. 

The council seems more curious than the humans. But their curiosity is intertwined with their disgust. The council peers at the humans from their spots. Not only had the council gathered but also many castle staff and other nobility. Whispers filled the air surrounding the humans. 

“Finnian, what are your friends’ names?” Not only had the council gathered but also many castle staff and other nobility. Whispers filled the air surrounding the humans. 

“Finnian, what are your friends’ names?” I ask, bringing the attention to me. 

“Why?” The human girl spoke before Finnian had a chance. She looked straight at Ezra. Was she confused about who spoke? Her face wasn’t clear. It was contorted in determination or pain. I couldn’t tell which it was but there was a good chance it was both. 

“You come to our kingdom, disrespect our king, then expect us to answer your questions? No. Names, right now.” Nainsi was just as angry as Ezra. I could hear it in her voice. She was not as good at hiding her feelings as her older sister. When I look over at my brother and the three sisters, I see a range of emotions. Ezra and Nainsi were fuming, eyes stuck to the human girl. Eireann as always was calm, scanning the humans for emotions. Kilikina, the youngest, looked terrified. Only fifteen, her eyes searched the throne room for what I assume will be her escape plan. She was born here in Achalla. She has reason to fear the humans and the terrifying tales our parents and siblings have told us about them. 

“We aren’t here to hurt you! We promise!” The human boy in the middle became more alert. My eyes flicker over to him. Just as scared as Kilikina, he rapidly looked around the room. Something about his friend’s anger must’ve awoken him. Or the magic was starting to fully wear off. I keep my eyes on the autumn-skinned boy. Not many elves could stay awake for very long after being hit with sleeping magic, let alone humans. He’s strong. 

“Names!” Ezra demanded yet again. “Or I’ll have the guards take you to the wolves!”

“Ashley! Keaton!” The autumn-skinned boy shouted, fear building up. From this far away I could almost swear I saw some tears forming. Emotions poured off the two of the three humans. The girl I now know as Ashley appears to be sizing us up. Angered but calculating. 

The anger from within now showed on her face. It was clearer than the day. Clenched jaw, furrowed eyebrows, pursed lips. 

“Thank you,” Eireann spoke from beside Ezra. 

Finnian, Ashley, and Keaton. What odd names. The humans have very different name cultures from us. But how can the names sound so different? The shock, fear, and awe in Finnian’s eyes told me all I needed to know. They were not royals looking for land to claim as their own. They were travelers. Probably searching for a place to wait out the night and just ended up here. The scouts must’ve been looking the other way or preoccupied when they slipped in. 

“I am Prince Ezrag’endi Leaip of Achalla. Why have you three come to my home? Land? Riches? To spill more blood than you humans have already? Are you champions from Caspevano or Atlora?” Ezra rose and now stood in front of his throne. To appear intimidating I suppose.

“Champions? Please.” The boy I suppose is Keaton spoke from his dazed state. His head still hung on his chest. “Finnian couldn’t hurt anyone.” He appeared to think he was dreaming. The slurred voice he used and amusement lacing his words made that obvious. 

“We aren’t here for anything besides curiosity, sir.” Finnian truly looked like he was about to die. Amazed but scared. “All three of us grew up hearing of the beautiful kingdom where the moon elves hid from the cruel kings of the massacres. Please, we do not intend to inflict harm to any of you.” 

“Likely.” Ezra hissed. “Guards, take them to their cells. We’ll decide what happens to them in two days time. After the coronation. I do not want to ruin the festivities because of a few-”

“Wait! We have traveled from the outskirts of Caspevano. Keaton is a chef. Ashley is the daughter of a baker. I am but a humble woodworker. We have searched for this place for our entire lives! Please allow us to explore! We will never tell another soul,” Finnian pleaded. His words were genuine, I decided. 

“Do not lie to me! What king sent you here? Who has sent you here to become our doom?” Ezra roared. This time more out of pain than anger. I rose to meet him, to calm him down. My hand meets his shoulder the same time Eireann’s does. We both stand on either side of the soon-to-be king, trying to calm him down. 

“A king sending us? What do you take us for, sir? If we had listened to the king I do not think the three of us would be friends.” Keaton mumbled. “I doubt Ashley and I would be alive.” 

“No one sent us! I swear on my mother’s life!” Finnian exclaimed. His voice was hoarse. “Please, sir!”

“Guards, take them to their cells!” Ezra demanded. The purple and blue guards took the arms of the humans without hesitation, picking them up and dragging them to their cells. “We shall hold their trial after my coronation.” He announced. I couldn’t help but watch as the humans were dragged out of the room. Now I was sure that the autumn-skinned boy was crying. Tears fell from his face, spilling over his cheeks. 

He twisted with all his might, which wasn’t a lot, to get out of the guards grasped. They kept a tight grip. There was no escaping. His eyes flickered around the room, searching for anything or anyone to help him. I meet the eyes of the boy. A striking fern color stares into my soul. The dark circles around his eyes show weariness. Even from way up here I can see the scar running down the boy’s chin and cheek. 

“Please your highness! We are not ill-intended-” The guard beside Finnian allowed his magic to put the loud boy to rest. He tried to fight it but eventually lost. The human boy’s body went limp. Keaton had given in to the previous magic. Ashley was the only of the three humans to leave the room conscious. She did not push and pull against the guard’s grip, but instead stumbled along as she was pulled away. 

Whispers broke out as the door slammed shut. 

What would we do with three human travelers once Ezra is king? 

The answer could possibly be terrifying. 

#tswyastory #original fiction #my stories #original characters #oc #ocs #myocs #writerblr #My writing #My Story #my characters #writerblr story

[expressandadmirable]

Good Luck Out There (Wilhelm)

I.

The sun hung low over the steeples and chimneys of Aelfheim, the sky a brilliant tapestry of pink and gold and deep blue at the corners. On the still-warm tile of the manor’s roof, Aviva pushed herself up to sitting, pulling the leather cord from her hair and letting the long braid slowly release itself. It had been some time since she had enjoyed a rooftop sunset.

“I think I’m going to build a tower,” Wil offered, apropos of nothing.

“A tower?” Aviva considered that for a moment. “Like your father’s?”

Wil chuckled humourlessly, reaching for the half-empty bottle of wine sitting between them. “No-one could build a tower quite like my father’s. His was connected to dark energies I couldn’t even begin to work with. I’m honestly not even sure those energies exist in the world now, given how we remade things.” A pause. “Plus, nobody’s that extra,” he added, taking a large gulp of wine to punctuate his point.

Aviva snorted. “That’s certainly true.” She accepted the offered bottle, taking a considerably smaller sip as she thought. “Where would you build it?”

“I’ve been thinking about that.” Wil’s tone was casual, as if discussing the weather. “So far, my first choice is out in the Blacksand Desert. Less of a chance I’ll be interrupted.”

“Yes, can’t have innocent bystanders walking in on your weirdness,” Aviva teased, but the truth of it nagged at her. Wil had become less and less social over the years since they had restored the world. Though always willing to visit with Aviva and her immediate family, he had withdrawn almost completely from public life, politely declining any official invitations and avoiding what he considered “prying eyes”. She passed the bottle back to him, her smile fading. “If you could still access those energies, would you?”

Wil kept his gaze focused on the vanishing sun, putting the bottle to his lips in a convenient moment of silence. “I don’t know. Alphinaud wasn’t my stone’s guardian, so I suspect it’s a moot point. But I’m starting to wonder if we might have greater access to our own elemental powers. I’m Shadow, after all; there’s probably a lot I could do. I could certainly make one hell of a tower.”

“You could, at that.” As the last of the sun melted into the horizon, a cold breeze whipped across the roof, tugging at Aviva’s hair and making her shiver. “Let’s head inside,” she suggested. “We can find Halei, or we can go out into the city and get into trouble.”

Taking another swig of wine, Wil nodded. “Let’s go find your wife. I’m all for staying in, though. Last time Sol and I went out in this nice city together, we started a bar fight.”

Aviva huffed a soft laugh. “I’m sure they’ve forgiven you since then.”

“I’m not gonna take any chances.”

II.

“Wil?” Aviva called as the dimly-lit antechamber of the tower materialised around her. “You called? I came as quickly as I could. Wil?”

“Hey, V.” Wil leaned against the doorframe, his sleepless face pulled into a wry half-smile. “Thanks for coming. I, uh… I guess I wanted to… talk? To someone?”

“Of course.” Aviva offered him her most reassuring smile. “What’s up?”

For a few moments, Wil fiddled uncomfortably with the wide sleeves of his robe, unable to meet her eyes. Then, finally: “My mum died.”

The Tiefling’s shoulders sank. “Oh, Wil…” With one fluid step, she crossed the antechamber and spread her arms, wrapping Wil in a tight hug. The Half-Elf stiffened, then changed his mind and softened into the embrace. It had been some time since he had touched anyone. When they finally separated, Aviva held him gently by the shoulders. “What happened?”

“Oh, heart failure. Human old age. Not unexpected.” He reconsidered his statement. “Well, not by her doctors. It wasn’t something I’d really thought about in… a long time.”

Aviva nodded. “Did you ever go see her again?”

“Absolutely not,” Wil answered sharply, taking an almost involuntary step backward into the tower’s main hall as he slipped free of Aviva’s hands. “I understood her words.”

With a twist of her stomach, Aviva realised she did not have anything to say to that. She had never understood Evangelina Stonewood’s instructions that, for both her safety and his, her son should never return. After the defeat of his father and the restoration of the world, Aviva had expected mother and son to reunite, sooner or later. The thought of sending her own daughter away, even to guarantee her safety, brought a tightness to her throat. “How did you find out?”

“Dr. Unne.” Wil’s old mentor. “He’s out the door soon himself, but I still keep in contact with him from time to time.” With a deep sigh, Wil turned and began to descend a rounded flight of stone steps, gesturing for Aviva to follow. “You want some coffee?”

“Yeah.” The bottom of the steps opened into a surprisingly homey kitchen, the fireplace burning cheerily even as it cast deep shadows about the room. The skeletons going about their chores had long since ceased to surprise Aviva, and she accepted a steaming mug from what had likely once been a goblin with a nod of thanks. “Got any bourbon to put in it?”

Wil clucked his tongue. “Of course. What kind of man do you take me for?”

Settling at the small kitchen table, they sat in silence for a while. The quiet seemed to comfort Wil, as did the presence of his Tiefling friend. Eventually, he spoke again. “I’m not going to die.”

“Pardon?”

“I’m not going to die,” he repeated. “I’ve been studying my father’s old papers. He was foolish, turning to the path of the vampire. But there are other ways, ones that are less damaging to the mind. I haven’t figured out the best one yet, but… I’m on my way.”

Aviva chewed her lip. “Wil… Following in your father’s footsteps. You saw what he became. Corrupted, mad. Are you sure that’s a good idea? How do you know you’ll avoid the same pitfalls?”

“Because I have all his failures to build on.” Wil swirled the dark liquid in his mug. “I have a map of his mistakes. I know how to avoid them.”

“There are nearly infinite mistakes when it comes to magic of this magnitude--”

“I was in a guy’s head when he died, Aviva. I felt what it was like.” Wil looked her in the eye. “I’m not going to do that again.”

For a time, neither spoke. Then Aviva sighed. “Just be careful, okay?”

Wil scoffed, smoothing the folds of his robe with pointed overconfidence. “When am I not?”

III.

“Aviva?” Halei called from the doorway to their quarters. “V? You’re… You’re going to need to see this.”

“Yes, sunshine?” Aviva poked her head into the sitting room, her fingers tangled in the hair she was attempting to sweep into an elaborate updo. The sight of Halei stopped her cold. “Are those… bones?”

Halei stepped inside, pushing the door closed with her foot. “Yes,” she said simply, making her way carefully around the sofa and depositing an astonishingly large collection of sun-bleached bones onto the table. “It showed up at the front gate and apparently spooked the guards, so they took it down.”

Hesitantly, Aviva approached, freeing her hands and letting her hair tumble down her back. “Alright… So… Why is it on our dining table?”

“Because,” Halei answered, producing a folded parchment from the folds of her tunic, “it was delivering a letter. To us.”

All at once, understanding clicked like a key in a lock. “Wilhelm.”

“Looks like.”

“Of course, because delivering a letter by animated skeleton’s not dramatic at all,” Aviva muttered, taking the parchment from her wife and breaking the ornate wax seal. The handwriting was the same looped, elegant script she remembered from Wil’s previous letters, though somewhat rougher, as if he had not written with a quill in some time. Her confused frown deepened as she scanned down the page. “...Huh.”

Halei tilted her head. “What does it say?”

Clearing her throat, Aviva affected her best Wilhelm impression. “‘Hey Aviva and Sol, sorry I won’t be able to make it to your daughter’s birthday. Please tell her Uncle Wil is bone tired. I’m not just being a lazy bones, I promise. I hope you won’t have a bone to pick with me. Insert additional bone jokes here.’”

“Oh gods,” Halei groaned. “Does it actually say that?”

“‘Anyway,’” Aviva continued, “‘I wanted to let you both know I’ll be taking a leave of absence from our regular get-togethers. I’m close to a breakthrough in my research and I can’t leave my laboratory even for a moment. In addition, I’m not exactly my most attractive right now, and I don’t want to startle any innocent waitstaff or guards.’” Aviva sighed and met Halei’s eyes. “Do you think he’s finally done it?”

Halei pursed her lips, then shrugged one shoulder. “Could be. Either that or he’s close.”

Sharing a look of unspoken concern, Aviva returned to the letter. “‘Before I excuse myself completely from polite society, I want you to know this: you’ve always considered me family, which has meant more to me than I can say, especially as my own blood family and I drifted further and further apart. I want you to know that I think of you as my family as well. Whatever it takes, I will ensure that you and your daughter live your lives in peace, safety and happiness. No harm will come to you -- not if I have anything to say about it. I love you. Never forget that. Yours, Dr. Wilhelm Husk.’”

Stunned silence settled in the room. Aviva stared at the parchment, reading the words a second time, then a third. Halei humphed and folded her arms. “That boy’s turning himself into a lich, isn’t he.”

“Yes, I rather suspect he is. He said he never wanted to die, so…” Delicately folding the parchment closed, Aviva placed it atop the table of bones. “I don’t… know what to make of this.”

“That’s Wil in a nutshell, my love.” Halei smiled gently. “Always has been. He’s a neurotic mystery wrapped in a socially awkward enigma.”

“Do we do anything? Try and stop him? Talk him out of it?” Aviva huffed in frustration. “Would he even listen?”

“I don’t know,” Halei answered with another shrug. “If he’s not hurting anyone… If he is, yes. We will have to stop him. We will stop him. If not… We’ll see what happens.”

Aviva let out a slow, measured breath. “I don’t like it.”

“I know.” Sliding her arms around the Tiefling’s waist, Halei rested her head against Aviva’s shoulder, soothing her worries away, at least for the time being. “We knew this was coming, in a way. It’s a very Wil decision to make.”

“You’re right about that.”

“And it is his to make. At least he let us know. We’ll just have to keep an eye on him and take it one step at a time.” Halei gave the Tiefling a squeeze. “In the meantime, our girl has a birthday coming up. Let’s focus on that.” She glanced at the table. “…And we have to figure out what to do with all these bones.”

(Art by @biasanduntrue)

#Dungeons and Dragons #Original Characters #Canon #Aviva Lux #Epilogue #Title: The Flashbulb #Half-Elf #Draconic

[taeddybearkim]

Fairydust // Part Two

Genre: Supernatural!AU, angst

Pairing: Pentagon x Female Reader

A/N: I’m literally the worst writer out there and I have no face to apologize. But I have been having major Pentagon feels lately so I decided to make time for this through my hectic schedule. Thank you if you have stuck with me so far!

- Series Masterlist -

***

[Earlier]

The man with authority rubbed his forehead as he felt another disturbance approaching his blue-sparkled tree. Him and his Followers, for lack of a better word, were located under the tree, inside its roots, in a haven they had built for themselves. 

The world didn’t want them anyway, so they just isolated themselves from it.

“Who is it this time?” he half-yelled at one of his closest Followers, dreading whoever had decided to take a stroll near his tree.

“It’s her, sir.”

He looked at the younger in amazement. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, sir. It’s her and two of her friends.”

“Well, I guess this day isn’t going so bad after all,” he chuckled. “It’s time. Bring her here.”

“What about her friends?”

“Bring them too. The more the merrier.”

***

[The Present]

“You’ve become part of the cocoon. You are a butterfly. You are a cocoon.”

The hours spent in solitude in the room and cocoon you were in had finally gotten the best of you. You had gone mad.

“Butterflies only live a single day though, don’t they? I wish I was a butterfly. I wouldn’t have to live through 21 years of this miserable life.”

You were talking to yourself to pass time and for lack of a better entertainment. The clock was angled at a different direction, so you couldn’t tell how long you had been lying there.

“What about that Giant boy though? Wooseok, was it? He was kind of cute.”

“Aww, thank you, babyface.”

Your solitude of rambling was interrupted by no other than the Giant himself. You jolted in your place, however best you could, before the embarrassment started to kick in.

“How long have you been listening to me? And where do you pop up from, anyway?”

He chuckled. “Enough to hear you go mad. I didn’t know laying in a cocoon had a maddening effect.”

“You’d be surprised,” you scoffed. “What is it this time?”

“Boss is going to call for you soon. Oh, and since you were wondering how I pop up here...” He angled your cocoon to your left, where you noticed a few steps of stairs that were leading to a chamber that was even further underground.

“Is that your room?”

“Yeah, we were like roommates for a few hours, don’t you think?”

Normally, you would have been scowling at him. But this time, you decided to laugh. What was even real anymore, anyway?

“Was it really that funny?” he chuckled along with you. He looked surprised.

“No, it wasn’t funny at all. I guess I really have gone mad.”

After your chuckles died down, you heard a solid set of footsteps this time, from somewhere above you.

“I can hear the Boss telling me to fetch you,” Wooseok spoke, his eyes fixed to the ceiling before turning to meet yours. “Let’s get you going, then.”

***

The Boss was... something.

His room was magnificent, there was no doubt about that, but he had an appearance that wasn’t really menacing. His light brown, almost yellow hair was parted to reveal his forehead; his big, sweet eyes looked almost affectionate. His dress shirt and dress pants made him look like a juxtaposition compared to the fact that he was literally inside a tree. And he was notably short in height.

The Boss was sitting in his comfortable leaf chair that was supported by branches from the ground and the ceiling.

Wooseok sat you down at a puffier seat across him, and winked before he left.

“Hello Y/N, I have been watching you for a long time.”

His words were successful in rendering you speechless over the shock. What?

“You must be surprised. I apologize for bringing you here with such barbaric means but I had no other choice.” His smile made you slightly uncomfortable.

“What do you want from me?”

“You see, you’ve peaked my interest quite a bit ever since the first time I saw you,” he spoke, standing up from his seat and walking towards you slowly. “A little girl, her parents too ashamed to call her their own.”

Your anger started to rise. Of course he would bring up your absence of wings. You just wished he wasn’t so cocky about it.

“You were just trying to fit in. But nobody accepted you, did they? Nobody cared about a Fairy that couldn’t fly.”

You were summoning every last bit of your patience to not burst out at that moment. You knew his innocent appearance could be deceiving.

And then, his tone changed. “I understood that. I understood you. I knew what it felt like to be cast out from your own family.”

You stopped, giving him questioning looks. This conversation just got more interesting. 

“To understand that, you would have to know who I am. My name is Jinho, and I am an Elf.” You finally noticed his pointy ears underneath his silky hair. He continued, “But I am too tall to be one.”

You couldn’t hold your chuckle in this time. You quickly covered your mouth after doing so, but it was just so funny how a guy below the average height could call himself tall.

“Does something amuse you?” he asked, almost unbothered. “Ah, I guess you must be laughing at my rather short height compared to others.”

You nodded, without knowing what else to say in a situation like this. This Jinho person was the one who ordered to kidnap you, but your nerves were completely destroyed to even react properly to something like that.

“I may be shorter compared to other species, but a regular Elf is even shorter than me.” He paused, giving you the chance to speak.

“So they cast you out for being taller than usual.”

“Yes, precisely,” he answered. “I know what it feels like to not fit in, Y/N. That’s why I was interested in you from the moment I first saw you.” He sighed, looking around the decorations in his room. “A Fairy with no wings,” he turned back to you, “a marvelous sight indeed.”

“When did you even first see me?” you asked. “I don’t think you’re much older than me.”

“Yes, I am 27 years old. I first saw you while I was wandering near the Fairy Coven as a little boy. An outcast like me had plenty of free time in his hands.”

As a little boy? That was quite a while ago.

“So you’ve been stalking me.”

“No, of course not, Y/N.” He smiled. “The only times I watched you were when you decided to wander near this tree with your friends. Which was quite often, to my delight.”

He was right, this prairie just outside the Coven was a spot that you, Hwitaek, and Hyunggu visited frequently to play and forget about the Coven for a while.

“What have you done to my friends?” you asked, suddenly remembering that they were here too. “I was told that one of them was lying next to me but he didn’t even twitch even though I had been rambling for hours.”

“I was about to ask you a similar question, actually.” Jinho moved closer to you. “One of my Followers has discovered a peculiar kind of pebblestone that radiates some sort of energy that puts Fairies to sleep. Why didn’t it work on you?”

You were taken aback, speechless once again. Another thing that set you aside from being a Fairy. 

“I guess that just shows the intensity of my non-Fairiness.” You laughed internally at your miserable remark. “Wait, I have a question.”

“Yes?” His pointy ears tweaked in interest, waiting for your query.

“Why are you keeping me here?” You put on an angrier face. “Why are you keeping my friends here as well, if I was the one who interested you?”

“I brought you here because I wanted you to be safe.”

“Safe? By kidnapping me? How?”

“This is a haven for outcasts, my dear Y/N.” You felt sick of hearing that word next to your name. “Nobody can bother you, shame you, or hurt you here for not being like them.”

The offer did sound nice. All your life, you had been forced to go around the Coven with caution, in case a gang of Fairies should decide to pounce on you and mock you for your lack of wings. You dreaded every single day of your life because you woke up to each day without your wings on your back. You didn’t even live at your own home, if Hwitaek’s family hadn’t took you in, you would be wandering around, helplessly, like Jinho in his childhood. But here, it was only you and others just like you. You were welcome here. Your friends were here too.

“What do you get out of this?” You half-sneered. There should be a solid reason why he was called “Boss” around here.

“Every hive needs a Queen, doesn’t it?” He started, before stopping himself. “Actually, forget about that. Bad analogy.” Both of you chuckled quietly for a bit.

“I am here as the founder of this place, but I am not that distinguished compared to the others. Sure, they follow my orders on some things that I ask them to do but that is just their way of showing their gratitude to me for taking them in. I am not a dictator.”

You let his words sink in for a while. They did sound genuine. Jinho really seemed like a leading figure that had emerged within a group of outcasts that just wanted to feel accepted somewhere.

“Think about the things I have said today,” Jinho smiled again. “I won’t force you to stay here.”

“Then why did you kidnap me?”

“I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday,” he smiled even warmer, if that was even possible. “The cold days of autumn will come soon, so I didn’t think you would be coming out here again for me to see you. I wanted to congratulate you for turning 21.”

Your heart felt a warm tingle for a split second. Jinho was practically forcing you to not hate him because of his kindness so far. 

“I will think about it,” you replied. “Can I go now?”

“Of course, I will send for Wooseok to--”

“You calling for me, Boss?”

After this long talk with Jinho, you were actually relieved to see Wooseok again. You sighed, exhaling a breath you didn’t know you were holding.

“Please show our guests to their rooms,” Jinho ordered. “They deserve to be treated well.”

You finally locked eyes with Wooseok. You had actually missed him, what the hell?

“Shall we, babyface?” Wooseok motioned to a corridor beyond the door of Jinho’s room.

You stepped out before him, and the Giant made his way over to you after he had shut the door behind him.

“I missed you too, babyface,” he smirked. “Let’s get you to your room.”

***

Your room was lovely.

It consisted of a bed, two nightstands, a drawer, a mirror, and some internal light that you had no idea where it was coming from. The room was warm, and the bed looked really soft.

“It’s made out of some sort of flower’s petals,” Wooseok answered the thoughts in your mind. “It really is soft, it even helps you sleep in peace. Those Trolls downstairs are a real pain in the ass sometimes.”

You laughed at Wooseok’s remark. “Hey Wooseok, I have a question.”

“You have multiple questions, actually,” he smirked. “I can’t even hear your mind properly right now. Ask away, then.”

“Would you, um, like to sit down for it maybe?”

“That many questions, huh?” he chuckled. “Alright.”

After you both sat down and a moment of silence passed, you turned towards him.

“Jinho said everybody is here because they were outcasts. What’s wrong with you, then?”

Wooseok was quiet for a while, which you had thought was impossible for him.

“Have you ever seen a real Giant?” Wooseok asked you back.

You shook your head negatively, you only knew that Giants were very tall and that was about it.

“Giants are supposed to be tall and strong at the same time,” Wooseok sighed. “As you can see, there isn’t a single toned muscle on my body.”

You looked over his figure. He was incredibly slim, and the chances of him gaining muscles looked impossible.

“I’m so sorry, Wooseok,” you looked at him apologetically.

“It’s alright,” he replied, “I kind of like being this way actually.”

You smiled back at him. “Was what Jinho said really true?”

“About what?”

“That he isn’t much different from the rest of the people here?”

“Yeah, we do a lot of things together, actually.” Wooseok nodded. “If you decide to stay, I can show you the place where we all hang out. It’s a lot of fun here. There isn’t a single thing for anyone to worry about, unless someone cuts down the tree or is just being destructive around here in general.”

“What do you do then?”

“We... scare them off, long story short.” You looked at him in shock. “Don’t worry, we don’t hurt anyone,” he chuckled.

“What about the part about him wanting me to be here to be safe?”

He paused for a bit, looking around your plain room. “He means it. I know what his thoughts are like when he thinks of you. He just wants to protect you.”

“Why me?”

“He’s like that to anyone in distress. He’s a really nice person, you know? He wouldn’t hurt you. He genuinely wants everyone here to feel safe. That’s why he wants you to stay.”

“Do you... want me to stay as well?”

The silence was very awkward. Your mind was completely blank for the moment, so even Wooseok couldn’t hear a thing.

“If I am being honest, yes,” he replied. “You and your friends are the only ones around here that are close to my age. It would be nice to take a break from reading bedtime stories to baby Elves.”

You smiled. Somehow you knew that Wooseok genuinely wanted you there. 

“Thank you for your answers,” you spoke. “I’ll... think it over and talk with my friends. Are they here, by the way?”

“Yeah, their rooms are along this hall actually. They’re still asleep from those pebbles that Boss mentioned, but they will be back to normal in the morning.”

“Thank--”

“You’ve thanked me enough, princess. Now get some rest.” Wooseok gave you a surprisingly warm smile as he stood up and made his way to the door. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Good night, Wooseok.” You got comfy under the bed covers.

“Good night, babyface,” Wooseok smiled again, before shutting your door and leaving you to sleep.

***

@philikseu because this lovely angel has been waiting for the update!

- Masterlist -

- Ask and Request -

#pentagon #pentagon stories #pentagon series #pentagon scenario #pentagon scenarios #pentagon imagine #pentagon imagines #pentagon reactions #pentagon angst #ptg #pentagon fluff #angst #fluff #kpop #kpop fluff #kpop angst #kpop stories #kpop fanfic #kpop fanfiction #pentagon fanfic #pentagon fanfiction #supernatural #supernatural au #pentagon au #fairydust #taeddybearkim

[girlbookwrm]

MEMECEPTION:

THE MIGHTY PRE-ENDGAME REWATCH CONTINUES

happy galentine’s day. we did this, like, a week ago for The Roommate ( @goteamwin ) ‘s birthday and i just took f o r e v e r to type it up sorry

in my defense, it’s hard to meme-efy a movie that’s already extremely meme-eful. Hence, memeception. although tbqh if Guardians of the Galaxy is giving me trouble because it’s already making fun of itself, I don’t know WHAT I’m going to do with Thor: Ragnarok. Remember when GotG was the memiest Marvel movie? We were so young.

It is important to me that y’all know that because of cacw, whenever The Roommate and I see any kind of... title page? whatever? We bellow the word at top volume even if the font ISN’T inexplicably filling the entire screen. 

and so, I say to thee:

E A R T H ! ! ! 1 9 8 8 ! ! ! ! !

stealth reagan in the background to let you know it’s the 80s in case you were confused.

In What Sense is he like his father At All???

Honestly, to anyone who was surprised at Starlord’s actions in IW, they set up his tragic flaw right here. it’s page one. i don’t know why u were surprised.

B- grandfathering, but extra credit for difficult circumstances. u tried

Day Whatever, I Still Miss The Old Marvel Logo.

26 Y E A R S L A T E R

so, 2014 confirmed, for all the other timeline enthusiasts out there.

This is. The WEIRDEST gadget.

why is it like this

what is it doing

and how

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

I love this scene because up until this point it could be literally any other marvel movie and then 

BOOM

it’s GotG, bitch. get ready to Have Some Fun.

also it pretty firmly establishes that Peter Quill is our protagonist, but he is No One’s Hero.

there are giant fucking eels here? what the fuck? what HAPPENED to this place???

stop trying to make star-lord happen, it’s never going to happen.

i have questions. 

specifically about Ronan’s whole. everything.

Is he literally sleeping in the blood of his enemies?

is it necessary to have all these people help him get dressed?

what is up with this Immortan Joe Esque powder tossing business

what sorry sucker gets to put THAT on their Kree Resume

“Ronan’s Makeup Artist”

seriously

what is his fucking deal. how did he get the name “accuser” and will Captain Marvel give us these answers?

anyway, moving on.

POOTER!

people DO NOT call you star-lord

Gamora is a real #Icon in this whole scene.

SUPERHERO LANDING!

love that Rocket’s entire plan is to put criminals in a literal bag

and that it’s foiled because Groot doesn’t get gender.

also, John C Reilly has some of the best lines in this movie and I think he deserves more recognition for that.

“I am Groot.” “That’s gonna wear real thin real fast”

WEIRDLY NO??? srsly how did they prevent that from getting old fast?

Me: was it witchcraft?

The Roommate: No, it’s just Groot.

can we appreciate that Gamora is One Of Us? like. She’s into that.

if you don’t know what I’m talking about i am not going to explain it

Don’t Worry About It.

the moment we all went ho lee FUCK ANDY DWYER??? YOU GOT RIPPED MY DUDE YOU GOT FUCKING HUGE

oh no they gave me feelings about Rocket

the real hero of this movie is that prison lady and her telenovela

good job drax u found ur light

Rocket’s Bedhead is An Entire Mood.

how can Thanos take you seriously with all that shit on your face you look ridiculous.

“my favorite daughter” DUDE NEBULA IS R I G H T. T H E R E.

 Rocket’s UGH face is also An Entire Mood

i love how the others are like. wanting to get out. but Drax just joins in for shits and giggles? like? he’s having a good time? wholesome.

“Oh. yeah.” Rocket is maybe explosion-sexual. which. ok yeah mood there as well.

I will never tire of the fact that the prison uniform prints their rap sheets on their legs and Quill’s is the shortest

like, it’s even shorter than Rocket’s. And let’s remember that Rocket is definitely less than 20 years old since he’s A Raccoon.

Rocket just casually putting bombs together just to have something to do with his hands.

Let’s pull this apart: No one is phased by the Jackson Pollack reference. They seem to know exactly what Quill is talking about.

Jackson Pollack is an alien. CONFIRMED.

oh hey it’s a dark elf

GROOT: CINNAMON ROLL, 2 GOOD FOR THIS WORLD 2 PÜR

“he killed my parents in front of me.” I mean. kkkkkkinda

The Gal Pal, who teaches English Language Learners: “Sticks up their butts” is actually a prime example of the ELL struggle and why English is hard to learn

Rocket one drink in is sad AND angry

oh yeah? how many friends do YOU have, petey boy?

We firmly believe that the Collector kept them waiting so he could do his hair. He truly is the Grandmaster’s brother.

oh hey it’s exposition time

wait is that the planet we were on earlier? is the power stone why it’s Like That? did they just leave the power stone there after it did that? it’s the reality stone all over again honestly what the fuck

whAT DO YOU STILL HAVE IT FORRR?????

seriously. “the accuser” is a hell of a name.

aw drax. don’t you hate when you realize that someone means more to you than you do to them.

it’s like bumper cars but there’s a winner!

spinal fluid is an extra gross way to drown

omg it’s the frog all over again SHE’S EVEN GREEN

Quill’s eyes here are red and that feels right but also I HATE IT

everyone thinks they’re Groot’s dad, when in fact Groot is everyone’s dad.

This whole argument/discussion scene is Solid Gold

12% of a plan

IT’S REAL

Rocket understanding everything Groot says

basically Rocket tbh

“To Give A Shit”

The Roommate: I feel like this is when Quill becomes Quill instead of the superhero Andy Dwyer imagined. 

wait did they say sakaaran???

freaking Glenn Close wth man

Random Extra #2056 has amazing hair and she knows it

Drax is having too much fun

Honestly I’m typing this up and in my notes it just says “And This Happened” and even I don’t know what I mean there

Honestly, they had to kill Yondu. He’s too powerful. Thanos wouldn’t have stood a chance

“Star-Lord” oh my god it’s happening.

the way peter slides around in this movie -- does he have ball bearings in his ass or what?

Groot’s Smile. TOO GOOD FOR THIS WORLD TOO PURE

“YOU STAND ACCUSED” OF? WHAT??

Bucky and Nebula would really get along. I hope they get to meet some day.

More Questions About Ronan “””THE ACCUSER??”””

did he spend the last few hours just like

“ugh he WAS familiar”

“where the FUCK do I know him from ugh ugh ugh”

“OH RIGHT! I DID KILL HIS FAMILY!”

“Their screams were pitiful”

“I should tell him that.”

WE! ARE! GROOT!

Did they not evacuate the city? wasn’t that a thing?

EYYYY THEY SAID THE NAME OF THE THING

oh buddy you need like. all the skin cream.

Gamora = Peter’s Mom?? REALLY? YOU JUST WENT AHEAD AND MADE THAT SUBTEXT... TEXT. ALRIGHT. YOU WENT THERE. OK.

So is Ronan... not mortal???

like, he says 

Anyway.

How much time has passed between the battle and this end scene? coupla weeks? months? What are we thinking? I need to know for timeline reasons.

#the mighty pre endgame rewatch #guardians of the galaxy

[spiritfamantics-blog]

About Us

Hi, I’m Helia, your local human Tumblr user and spirit companion. I’m 18, a Taurus sun and moon, and am in a committed polyamorous relationship with any and all pasta dishes. I also use they/them pronouns. I’ve been working with spirits since May 2017, so over two years now. These guys have made it fly by. Speaking of, I suppose I should introduce them. 

First up is Feyr, the wyvern-bird hybrid. She is my only known guardian, and she is 18, exactly the same age as me (down to the birthday). She was the first spirit I ever met and has thankfully stuck around to keep me out of trouble (mostly, she can’t cure impulsivity). She, like some dragons, keeps growing well into her lifetime. When I met her she was about the size of a ferret. Now she’s about 3 feet tall. Anyway, onto her personality. She is the “wildcard” of the group and often behaves like a child who has eaten too much sugar. She is very energetic and happy-go-lucky. She is incredibly curious and loves to learn anything and everything, even if she doesn’t take well to it (see her rudimentary Spanish). She is very funny and has a sunny disposition, seeing the positive in every person and situation. Though she can act immature, she is the voice of reason (sometimes). Other times, she wants to get herself into some astral trouble because she thinks it’s fun and adventurous and she is an adrenaline junkie. When it comes to me and the rest of the family, she is unconditionally loving and accepting. She has a bit of an overachiever complex because she never felt good enough in either of her parents’ communities, being raised a hybrid. Not fully dragon and not fully bird, she is in the process of accepting herself as her own unique being. One of her hopes and dreams in life is to find whatever deity cosmically assigned her to me and thank them. I, for one, am flattered.

Next is Rabbit the winged rabbit. Yes, he did choose his name, and yes, he will kick you if you make fun of it. Rabbit was the second spirit I met, when my beloved Nana gifted me a jade rabbit necklace. I, a newbie energy worker, could feel the anger radiating off this thing. So, I did the smart thing (I’m being sarcastic, please do not follow in my footsteps, meeting your own Rabbit is highly unlikely and not guaranteed) and decided to free the entity. Lo and behold, a grumpy old man. Who was a rabbit. Who had wings. Needless to say, I was a little confused. But then this guy really laid into me, yelling at me about how he was fine living in a necklace and how dare I move him. I had half a mind to banish him, but Feyr, always more intuitive than I, told me to let him stay. So he did, reluctantly, and I let him, reluctantly. We kind of had beef at the beginning, but he and Feyr got along so incredibly well. He was like a father to her. Much better than her own father, who never visited. Finally, one day, Rabbit approached me, and sat down next to me. He said, finally, “Thank you for freeing me.” I said, “You’re welcome, but why’d you have to be such a douche about it?” He laughed, and thus began a beautiful friendship. Anyway, moving away from his origin story. Rabbit is an odd character. He, at first, appears very gruff, no-nonsense, and uncaring. Under this facade, however, is a sweet, brave, sarcastic, and fatherly spirit, who is fiercely protective and loving. He tends to adopt those without good parental relationships, and becomes a father to them. He can be loose and fun, if you find him under the right circumstances. Otherwise, he is a bit buttoned-up and doesn’t find it easy to relax. He is easily stressed but doesn’t like to show his emotions at all. He is working on being more open and not bottling things up. He can be self-deprecating and sometimes even unkind to himself, but being part of a loving family and seeing how much he is cared for is helping with this. Any love you give him, he will return tenfold. He is an upstanding, true, gentleman. However, he isn’t polite and can be a bit crass at times. He has a perpetual “grumpy face” and smiles very rarely. He cries even less so, but when he does, you mirror his emotions because they are just so powerful. Overall, he is a very sweet man.

Third is S, the winged cat, and Rabbit’s beloved wife and the mother to his children. I met S through a now-closed spirit shop. Don’t worry, there wasn’t any shady business, and I’m still friends with the former owner. S is a true firecracker, but she is incredibly motherly, gentle, and kind. She says what she means and means what she says, but is very sweet (most of the time). Don’t mistake her femininity for fragility, because if any of her loved ones are threatened she will claw somebody’s eyes out. She is the optimist to her husband Rabbit’s pessimist, and is a firm believer in thinking positively. However, she is a Slytherin, and can be prone to scheming to get what she wants. She is never manipulative, and instead prefers honesty in her words and actions. To her friends, she is the quintessential “mom friend”; she makes sure everyone is cared for, especially fed. To her children, she is their world. She is curious and eager to investigate new scenarios, though she often prefers the familiarity and comfort of her family. She is quite funny and loves jokes, though she doesn’t tolerate stupidity from anyone. If any of her loved ones make a mistake, she’s quick with a light smack of the head and to call them an idiot, while reminding them to do better next time. She has “settled down” quite a bit in the last year, since her children have been born, but she still retains her adventurous spirit.

Fourth is N, the strawberry elf, and the girlfriend of Violet and Paris. I met her, also, through a now-closed spirit shop. And yes, I am still friends with the mod who matched her to me. N is a lovely soul, if a little shy at first. Once she gets to know you, however, she never shuts up (and I say this in the most loving way ever). She is bubbly and bright, and probably the nicest entity I’ve ever met, including humans. She would do anything for a friend and goes out of her way to be compassionate. If everyone were like her, the world would be absolutely perfect and free of conflict. She loves to garden, and is very patient (as seen with her trying to help me knit, which is not one of my strong suits, to say the least). Although she can seem a bit timid, she is a huge believer in not letting fear control her, and is quite brave. She also has a gentle touch, and is a great listener and comfort when any of us aren’t feeling our best. Her dynamic with her girlfriends makes me smile every time I see them, because they’re just so goshdarn cute. N is definitely the chatty one, although if she talks about plants Violet jumps right in with her. She is often in the middle when they all hold hands. (Hey N, how come your mom lets you have two girlfriends?)

Fifth is Violet, the deer shifter, and the girlfriend of N and Paris. I met her through Forestsong Sanctuary, where I was an intern. The shop is now closed, but being an intern was one of the best experiences of my life (Psst, now I intern at Hallowed Conjurations; I’m Intern Werewolf). Violet is the queen of all memes, and has the best (and silliest) sense of humor. She is incredibly sweet, but unafraid to call you out if you’re doing something dumb. She cares deeply for everyone in the family, and the Earth. She is probably singlehandedly going to end global warming (I’m kidding but still). She’s very active, being the kind of weirdo who goes for a run every morning, no matter the weather. She is a huge self-advocate and also stands up for those who cannot speak up for themselves. Very much a girl boss. She is perpetually barefoot and generally kind of a hippie (she’s all about achieving peace and love, even if we have to eat the rich). 

Sixth is Paris, the Crystal Cut Succubus (gee Par your species picked one helluva name). She is the girlfriend of both Violet and N. I met her through Supernova Spirits, which has now merged with Spirit Companionship.She is a hopeless romantic, and very solemn, sometimes. She’s generally quite placid in nature. She loves people and is very encouraging. She honestly reminds me of those influencer girls that are genuinely nice and want to help people (so like, one of them). Though, she’s quite private about her life and would never actually be a social media influencer. I suppose a more accurate comparison would be Sappho, or some other incredibly gay author who cannot contain their poetic love for women. If there’s one thing she doesn’t like being, it’s misunderstood. Yes, she is a succubus. No, she doesn’t want to bang everyone she sees. She emphasizes that species does not equal behavior, and that free will is a thing. On a summer day, she can be found watching the sunset, writing love letters, enjoying the cool breeze, swimming, and eating a popsicle seductively to make her girlfriends go into cardiac arrest. 

Seventh is Opal, the color-changing cat thoughtform. She was made for me by Forestsong Spirits as a therapy thoughtform, and is part of the family. Though she doesn’t speak, she communicates her emotions by changing the color of her coat. She is very empathetic and sweet, and can be found lying in my lap at any given moment.

Eighth is Oink, the pear pig. He was an RA through the same shop S came from. Oink’s gentle and soft personality can seem childlike, but he just loves life and is enjoying it. He can be a bit innocent, but do not mistake his placid temperament for that of a child. He is a bit immature, especially in regards to jokes. He absolutely loves food, and will eat just about anything. His attitude to food is generally how he approaches life; his philosophy is “bring it on.” He accepts the good and bad, in life and in people. He is absolutely very “chill”; he doesn’t care for much “action” and would rather be home eating than out having an adventure. However, he isn’t lazy, he prefers the term “cool”. He can seem a bit detached at times, but he is truly very enthusiastic and energetic. He matches Feyr in terms of energy, which is quite hard to do. He is ineffably kind, and if he offends someone even by accident, he is wholeheartedly apologetic. He wants to be seen as a good person, and he truly is.

Last but not least is Unity, the werewolf-sanguine vampire hybrid. I met Unity through Mod Ghost of Hallowed Conjurations. Feyr and Unity found kinship in one another, both being hybrids. Unity is the quintessential cool relative who seems kind of removed from it all, but the second things start heading south, they’re protecting everyone who needs help. They don’t take shit and they don’t dole it out, either. They say exactly what they mean, every time. They detest liars and those who try to trick others with words. They are very parental and sweet, but never hold back. They will absolutely swear at you and call you a gigantic idiot if you do something you know you shouldn’t have. They only lay into you if you don’t use common sense; if you make a true mistake, they’re there to help you solve the problem, even if it doesn’t involve them. They are very spontaneous and like to have fun. You’ll rarely see them regretting anything, as they believe that living in the moment is the only way to live.

I’m sorry for the wall of text, and will be putting each of my companions’ bios into their own posts. 

#spirit companion #spirit companionship #spirit work #spirit worker

[twitchesandstitches]

Tamitayo and a new adventure:

——————————————————————————————————————–

(Happy Birthday!)

(It should be noted, that i don’t know EVERYTHING about your character, so i had to make some guesses along the way, also this takes place early game still, meaning that Tamitayo is still low level. (as i am/was writing this). While all the mods you have is still at play in this fic, some other mods that’s added are: ApachiiSkyHair, Better Cloth Enchanting, Apocalypse - Magic of Skyrim and a few others you might notice along the way maybe.)

(Hope you like the story! :D)

(Shuvika-Nebuki, Nakila Kaythees and Ciinia Ivywood belongs to me.)

——————————————————————————————————————–

The giant dark elf called “Tamitayo” wandered around like usual. The large curvy lady found a bandit camp, and alongside her housecarl Lydia, she decided to go raid it. Though when they went in, they discovered there was already a battle at play. A large werewolf with tusks and grey-greenish fur was attacking the bandits alongside what appeared to be a female vampire lord. Judging by the vampires appearance, traits and abilities, she must be from the Volkihar clan, and a powerful one at that.

When the werewolf and vampire had killed all the bandits, they looked at Tamitayo and Lydia. Mistaking them for bandits trying to hide or escape, the two attacked them.

Tamitayo may have been bigger than the tusked werewolf, but regular werewolves were known the be able to knock giants around, and this one was definitely no ordinary werewolf, and Tamitayo was more of a magic user then a direct fighter anyway. The best Tamitayo could do was to keep her distance from the werewolf and fire spells at it, either until the transformation wore off, or the beast itself was slain. She seemed to have to go for the last one, as the werewolf would just hurry over to one of the corpses and consume it’s heart both to heal and contain the form for longer, and matters did not get easier when it called forth 2 ice wolf spirits to aid it. It was at this point Tamitayo knew she was dealing with an alpha. She had to admit that even a regular werewolf was she not prepared for, neither in gear, perks or skill, but against an ALPHA werewolf with so many corpses laying around? She knew she was done for, unless hit with HUGE amount of luck all of a sudden.

Lydia wasn’t doing much better, while she had her situation a bit better under control, mostly due to having a bit more experience the Tamitayo, the female vampire lord was almost as powerful as the tusked werewolf. Just like how the werewolf had summons those wolves for aid, the female vampire lord summoned a gargoyle to aid her, along with some bats just for good measure.

It was then that Hadvar came in. He had been sent out to spy on the fortress, as General Tullies had plans on recapturing the fort the bandits were in for future operations. Hadvar was quick to notice the tusked werewolf and Tamitayo and quickly ran over, telling them to stop fighting. Which was a good thing, because the werewolf has Tamitayo overpowered and beaten, but seemed to listen to what Hadvar had to say.

The tusked werewolf removed itself from the giant dark elf and waited for an explanation.

“This lady helped me escape Helgen and she helped Riverwood by warning the jarl as well as dealing with a few issues here and there. She’s no bandit, even if she dresses like one.” Told Hadvar to the tusked werewolf, who looked at Tamitayo and back to Hadvar before reverting back to its original form.

The werewolf turned out to be a strong female orc warrior. While she was no taller than the average orc, you could tell by her muscles that she was stronger than most. She was blind on one eye, while the other was the usual red color that orc eyes tend to be. The orc lady had warpaint on her face that resembled that of a dragon. A few scars ran over her face, one of them right over her blind eye, indicating she had been blinded against a beast of some sort. She had long wild black hair that went down her back and some of it was hanging down from her shoulders.

The orc warrior was quick to re-equip her armor and weapons, which was made in the wolf armor style but instead of being made of steel it was made of orichalcum, and her weapon was a giant legendary deadric/dwemer hammer. Ones the armor came on, Tamitayo could recognize who she was; She was the harbinger of the companions, Shuvika-Nebuki!

“Oh my gosh! You’re the harbinger, Shuvika-Nebuki! I’ve heard so many tales about you!” Tamitayo almost squealed, almost losing her usually flirty and dominating personality and getting it replaced by a child-like excitement.

“Yes-yes, i’ve heard that one a lot.” Replied Shuvika, as she lifted her giant hammer, Volendrung, onto her shoulder. “Sorry for almost killing you back there. Thought you were a bandit.”

���It’s no problem, really. I’m just glad we got that cleared.” she said and gave her a shaky smile.

Shuvika shaked her head a bit. “Hadvar, tell Tullies that besides a few bodies that needs cleaning up, this fort is ready for him to take over. I need to take your friend here for a moment.” She said as she grabbed Tamitayo and dragged her along.

Tamitayo was a bit confused at first and asked “What are you doing?”

“You have great potential, and a friend of Hadvar is a friend of mine. But you still have a lot of catching up to do, and i’m gonna try and help you out with that. First, we’re going to Solitude and getting you some REAL clothes to keep you warm, because i don’t want you to freeze yourself half to death! You’re a dunmer, you’re people deal better with hot weathers not cold weathers.” She said as she continued onward.

Tamitayo whined a bit, she liked showing a bit of skin, but Shuvika was dead-set on this, so she just followed along, and who knows, it might be better then she thinks.

When they arrive at Solitude began Shuvika and walk towards one of the shops. Tamitayo looked around before following. “I have a feeling something happened here…”

“There has. Just a few days ago, a man was executed for helping Ulfric Stormcloak escape.” Told Shuvika in a rather calm voice.

Tamitayo was shocked by this and decided not to ask any further questions about that.

Shuvika made her order for the clothes, though they had to be made from the bottom up, due to Tamitayo’s big size. Both in height and girth. Shuvika told her to send it to Whiterun when they were done, and soon told Tamitayo to follow along as they now were headed for Whiterun. It was a rather strange feeling for Tamitayo to take order from this smaller person and being the “rookie” of them as well.

They jumped on the back of the carriage driver and it slowly began to roll along the road. Tamitayo looked first at Shuvika, then at Lydia then over to the vampire who had transformed alongside Shuvika Nebuki. It was just now she realized she never got her name or who she was.

“I never got your name. Mind i ask what it is?”

The vampire looked up, still having her face covered by the hood, as they were in the sunlight. “My name is Serana. As you can tell already, i’m a vampire. I’m still not entirely sure how long i was locked away though.” She said in a matter-of-fact tone.

The giant dunmer wanted to continue the talk, but then notices that Serana was staring at her, hungryly and licking her lips. She felt herself blush when she saw that. She was not used to be on the prey side of things, and it was now she realized how MUCH she needs to catch up. Sure to the ordinary people and bandits she’s top pred, but for experienced and more advanced people like Serana? There’s no chance there, or at least not yet.

Tamitayo tried to act like she didn’t notice the smaller woman’s “hint” and wanted to change the subject. “So, besides being the harbinger of the companions, what else do you do?”

Shuvika looked up and replied “I’m also a thane of Whiterun. My housecarl, Nakila Kaythees, is currently with Ciinia Ivywood to help her out. Cii’ is still very new to this whole adventuring, but she has a lot of fire despite her worries and fear. I didn’t wish to see her get hurt, so i asked my housecarl to travel with her.”

“You’re a thane of Whiterun too? How did you earn it?” Tamitayo asked excited.

“I went into Bleak Falls Barrow and retrieved the Dragonstone, and later i helped killing the dragon Mirmulnir and absorbed his soul. Turns out i’m the Dragonborn. It was then i was promoted as thane of Whiterun and got Nakila as my housecarl.” She said, rather happy with Tamitayo’s attitude and completely oblivious to Serana’s “teasings” of the giant dark elf.

The big elf was in awe of this, this was the type of badass adventure she could become with the right training or knowledge. The thought made her so happy. “The way i got my title was not nearly as epic. I mostly helped out his people, you know clearing out bandits, finding lost things, stuff like that.”

“Still a good job nonetheless.” Said Shuvika and gave the curvy dunmer a friendly clap.

They arrived at Whiterun. Tamitayo knew the city pretty well, not as well as Riverwood, but still pretty well. Shuvika and Serana began to walk up to Jorrvaskr to hang out with some pals and to wait for their order. Tamitayo and Lydia followed along, and on the way they saw Ysolda, a trade merchant who she had helped out quite a bit and gotten pretty good friends with. Ysolda helped Tamitayo a bit with her speechcraft and likes to teach her a few things from time to time, and Tamitayo has sometimes helped Ysolda travel around safely inside her gut.

Tamitayo also saw Carlotta Valentia, one of the most beautiful woman in Skyrim. She herself had to admit she had a little crush on the small nordic lady, or at least small compared to her massive size at least. She helped her out by dealing with an annoying bard at one point, as well as making sure she gets some rest every now and then, even if she had to eat her in order to do it. Not that she complained, Carlotta was as tasty as she was beautiful, which is why she’s surprised why so far she’s the only pred to have eaten her when she has such a heavenly taste, and she’s not a pred despite her strong attitude. She’s almost like a sea turtle; big, strong, beautiful and can give a nasty bite, but is still a prey.

They all finally arrived at Jorrvaskr, where Shuvika told Tamitayo to sit down and relax and basically just chill. Throughout the whole time they were waiting for their shipment to arrive, did Shuvika not notice, not even once, that both Aela The Huntress, Serana and Njada Stonearm was giving Tamitayo hungry looks and licking their lips which caused the giant dunmer lady to blush. On one hand she kinda liked this feeling, on the other hand she wanna be top pred “again” so to say, so she had to get up in level fast. Or at least in her mind she needs too. Ria was one of the few people who didn’t look at Tamitayo that way. Tamitayo could tell that Ria was a pred to, but a shy one that still had much to learn. It wouldn’t be to hard for the tall dunmer to eat the small cutie, but that’ll have to wait for now.

Shuvika went up to Dragonsreach to buy some magic tomes from Farengar Secret-Fire. She bought from different schools of magic so Tamitayo could get a “taste” of what type of magic she’d use. Some of the spells that she bought included: Perilous Path, Raise Wall, Magelight and Wither from alteration. Soul Cloak, Bound Sword and Conjure Familiar from Conjuration. Ice Spike, Fireball, Lightning Bold and Rift Bolt from Destruction. Clairvoyance, Calm and Curse of the Silent from Illusion. And finally Healing Hands, Steadfast Ward, Sun Fire, Bone Spirit, Circle of Strength and Lamb of Mara from Restoration.

Shuvika was still away when the shipment arrived. The clothes that had been made for Tamitayo was a pair of Boots and gloves made in the thalmor style, which was pretty fancy despite how big jerks those guys usually are. Seriously why does the baddies always get the cool stuff? As for her actual attire, it was one of those “fine clothes” which were yellow-greenish with a fur pelt around the shoulders and other decorations. Lastly there was a gold circlet with 3 emeralds in it. Tamitayo tried it on and had to admit they were pretty nice and warm and didn’t look half-bad either. Now she didn’t need to waste magicka on keeping herself warm. Though she was quick to put two-and-two together and could guess that Shuvika would like to enchant said clothes when she get back. And she would be proven right when that happened.

Shuvike soon returned, both with the tomes and some armor she had made for Tamitayo’s follower and housecarl, Lydia. It was all nordic armor, along with a nordic shield and bow. The enchantments that had been put on said armor included Fortify Block, Health, Archery, One-Handed and various resistances to different magics. The nordic bow and sword she gave Lydia was both enchanted with Fiery Soul Trap and Chaos Damage. Basically, Lydia got one heck of an upgrade from Shuvika. She really wanted to make sure the two of them got a good start so they didn’t ended up in a bad situation, or at least not one they’d have a chance to beat.

Tamitayo gave Shuvika her new clothes so they could be enchanted as well. It was not long before she returned with them. The enchantments they got were mostly focused on health and magicka and regen, since neither of them still wasn’t to sure what type of magic she’d end up preferring. Shuvika also handed Tamitayo a shield. It was a Chitin Shield, which was an light armor shield that was better than elven shields. The shield had Fortify Block and Health on it. Shuvika also handed her the books so she could learn the spells.

Tamitayo pointed out why she gave her both a ward spell and an actual shield. The ward was most effective against magic while the shield was best against physical attacks. So this way, when fighting either mages or dragons, she’d have a ward to protect herself with, while when fighting against creatures or people who used either melee weapons or bows, she had a real shield to protect herself with.

Honestly, Tamitayo was almost close to crying. This “tiny” orc lady, again only tiny compared to her, was being so protective and friendly towards her. She had to admit, she had been kinda lonely up until she started adventuring, and feeling so loved and protected by someone was something she hadn’t felt for a long time, if ever. She hugged the orc close into her belly as she muttered out a “Thank you so much.”

“No problem you big guff.” Said Shuvika and patted the tall dunmer on the side. “Now let’s get started on a few quests to start your training and to get your new gear tested!”

They all 4 went out and walked towards the gate, when they saw one of the guards talk to some strangers.

“Look, you’ve already been told you’re not allowed here. Turn around and go back the way you came.” Said the Whiterun Guard to the strangers.

“We’re causing no trouble. All we ask is to look for her.” said one of the strangers.

“I don’t care what you’re doing, after what happened you’re lucky i don’t toss you in jail. Now get lost.”

“We will be back. This is not over.”

One of the strangers walked up to Tamitayo. “You there. We are looking for someone in Whiterun, and will pay good money for information.”

“Who are you looking for?” Asked Tamitayo, curious as to why these guys were here and what this was about.

“A woman – a foreigner in these lands. Redguard, like us. She is likely not using her true name. We will pay for any information regarding her location. We are not welcome here in Whiterun, so we will be in Rorikstead if you learn anything.”

“Why are you looking for this person?”

“It’s none of your concern. All you need to know is that we’re paying for information. If that doesn’t interest you, feel free to walk away.”

Tamitayo simply nodded and looked at Shuvika. The orc lady had a smile on her face. “Looks like you got yourself a quest Tami’. I’m not much of a detective, so i’ll find something else to do. But i feel like this is something you and Lydia can pull off on your own. So see you later.” She said, waving farewell for now and walked off with Serana behind her. Tamitayo kinda liked the new nickname “Tami”.

Tamitayo was about to turn around to look for clues as to who this redguard woman was, when she heard the gates open again and a cute and slightly chubby wood elf walked in, alongside a tall naga.

Dispite their namesake, nagas looked nothing like either the lamias of Daggerfall or the Tsaesci of Akavir. Nagas were a sub-specie of argonians, who were usually 7-8 foot tall, walked on two legs like their smaller cousins and carried many similarities with them, but had a much more aquatic appearance with fins and webbed hand and feet, as well as whiskers on their snout.

The naga himself was 8 foot tall, dorned in heavy Orichalcum, argonian style armor from head to toe. He carried a large shield, the Shield of Ysgramor, as well as a large powerful mace, the Mace of Molag Bal. He had a scar on his throat, which seemed pretty old. The chubby wood elf lady was wearing a white dress with a big red robe around it, both fitting her body shape pretty well. She also wore some thick boots and gloves, and on her head she wore a beautiful flower crown. Her hair was thick and bushy and reached her shoulders, and her eyes were a beautiful purple. She wasn’t much taller than the regular wood elf, which in Tamitayo’s opinion just made her look more hug-able.

Tamitayo took a moment and was able to put two-and-two together and figure out that these two were Nakila Kaythees, Shuvika’s housecarl, and Ciinia Ivywood, Shuvika’s friend. How jarl Balgruuf the Greater was able to get a naga to work for him was a big question, then again him and Irileth had been all over Tamriel and seen many outlandish things, so picking up a naga who had left the inner regions of Black Marsh may not be so crazy of an idea.

Tamitayo walked up to the small wood elf, which caused the naga to give the dunmer a look that clearly showed he didn’t really trust her.

“You two are Nakila Kaythees and Ciinia Ivywood right? I’m a friend of Shuvika-Nebuki.” She said while greeting them. The nagas expression changed slightly, but it was clear he didn’t really trust her yet.

“O-oh. Y-yes, t-that’s u-us.” Spoke Ciinia shyly. God could that woman be any cuter, thought Tamitayo inside her head. “W-we c-came here for a-a quick rest.” She finished off, looking down into the ground, being pretty shy around the giant curvy dunmer in front of her.

“Nice to meet you, but i have a question. Do you guys know anything about some strangers looking for a redguard woman here in Whiterun?” She asked.

“A-actually, w-we do. W-while t-travelling, we s-saw some Alik'r warriors t-talk to a-a woman, thinking it w-was h-her, u-until one of t-them pointed o-out that she d-didn’t have t-the s-scar. S-so w-whoever they’re l-looking for h-has o-one scar, n-no more, n-no less. A-a g-good place to s-start l-looking would b-be T-the B-bannered Mare.” added Ciinia. Nakila simply nodded in agreement, he didn’t seem to be the type to talk much.

Tamitayo thanked them both and headed towards The Bannered Mare. When inside she took a moment to look around, until Lydia clapped her a bit on the side and pointed at one of the workers in the in. She was a redguard woman, and she so happened to have a single scar on her face. Was Saadia the one those alik'r warriors were looking for? Only one way to find out.

The tall dunmer walked over to Saadia, remembering the description she’s gotten, there could be no better candidate for the one the alik'r warriors was looking for. Just to be sure, she wasn’t going to throw accusations right away and play it simple.

“Yes? How can i help you?” asked Saadia when Tamitayo approached her.

“Did you know some alik'r warriors are looking for a redguard woman?” She asked the smaller woman quietly.

“Are you sure?” Saadia asked, now sounding a bit scared. “Oh no! They’ve found me? I need your help! Please, come with me. I need to speak to you privately.”

Tamitayo and Lydia followed Saadia behind the kitchen and up the stairs into a bedroom, where Saadia pulled out a knife. “So, are you working with them?? You think you can take me? You so much as touch me, you’re going to lose fingers. I mean it! I’ll… I’ll cut you in half! So the alik'r know where i am? What did they offer you? Gold? How many more of them are coming? Tell me!”

“Relax, i’m not going to hurt you.” The giant dunmer who dwarfed Saadia respounded looking at the elven knife the redguard woman was holding in her hand. Lydia had not yet pulled out her sword, but was ready to do so.

“Then i need your help and there isn’t anyone i can trust here in the city.” Saadia said seemingly more calm.

“Maybe. What do you want?” Asked Tamitayo with a shrug that made her chest give a little giggle.

“I am not the person the people of Whiterun think i am. My real name is Iman. I am a noble of House Suda in Hammerfell. The men who are looking for me, the alik'r, they are assassins in employ of Aldmeri Dominion. They wish to exchange my blood for gold. I need you to root them out and drive them away before they find me and drag me back to Hammerfell for an execution.” Saadia, now revealed to be Iman, explained to the dark elf.

“How am i supposed to get rid of them?” Tamitayo asked.

“They’re mercenaries, only in it for the money. They’re led by a man named Kematu. Get rid of him, and the rest will scatter. I don’t dare show my face, lest they recognize me, so you’ll have to find out where they are.”

“Any suggestions as to how i can find them?” Tamitayo asked in.

“I heard one of them was just arrested trying to sneak into the city. If he’s locked up in the jail, perhaps you can get it out of him. Please, i know i’m asking you to do something difficult, maybe even dangerous. I just don’t know who else I can trust.” Saadia said pleading with the dark elf woman.

Tamitayo stood there for a moment, before asking “Why haven’t you gone to the guards for help?”

“You think i’d be in hiding if this was something i trusted the town guards to handle? These men are ruthless. Cunning, deceitful… they’ll pay off whoever they can. I can’t trust anyone here in Whiterun. Guards and jarls can be bought. And the Alik'r are close; I’m running out of time, si i’m choosing to trust you.”

Tamitayo ones again stood there, she felt bad for Saadia, or Imen. Though she still felt there was more to it. “Why are the Alik'r after you?” She asked.

“I don’t know for sure. I spoke out against the Aldmeri Dominion publicly; I suspect that’s why these men were hired to hunt me down.” Saadia said with a certain note in her voice.

Tamitayo decided that was as much she could get right now, and she thought it was enough too. She and Lydia left Saadia and walked out of the Bannered Mare, and went up to Dragonsreach. From there, they went into the area where the jail was located. Sure enough, they found the Alik'r who had been arrested. Tamitayo walked towards the caged door and saw the Alik'r prisoner approach. “I need to find Kematu. Where is he hiding?” She asked the prisoner.

“You have a death with, then?” The prisoner shouted out in shock and surprise. “If you know that name, you must know to meet him would be to meet your end. But it seems we both have needs, friend. Perhaps we can help each other out.” He continued in a much more calm tone.

“What is it that you need?” Asked Tamitayo curiously.

“I have dishonored my brothers by being captured, and so they have left me here. My life with the Alik'r is over now, but i have no wish to die in this gods-forsaken land. If i can be released from prison, i may start over. See to that, and i’ll tell you what you want to know.” The prisoner said with hope in his voice.

“How much to pay your fine?” Asked Tamitayo.

“100 gold will secure my release. You can afford that, can’t you? I suppose you’d better hope you can, if you want the information. Get the money into the hands of one of these guards, and i’ll tell you what you want to know.” He said.

Tamitayo was about to go to one of the guards, when a thought crossed her mind. “Why did they leave you here?” She asked.

“Because o was clumsy enough to be captured. Kematu always says we’re supposed to be the best of the best. I wasn’t.” The prisoner replied, clearly disappointed in himself.

Tamitayo approached one of the guards in the jail room, and bowed down a bit so they were at the same eye level. “I want to pay that prisoner’s fine.” She said.

“Done. Convince him to stay out of the city while you’re at it.” Said the whiterun guard annoyed.

Tamitayo went back to the Alik'r prisoner. “Let’s talk about how we can help each other.” She said to him.

“You buy my way out of here, and i’ll tell you what you want to know.” He replied, waiting for a response.

“You’re fine’s been paid. Now tell me about Kematu.” Tamitayo replied to him.

“Very well. Kematu is west of Whiterun. It’s an unassuming little cave called Swindler’s Den. You realize if you set foot there, you’re never coming back out. They’ll kill you. But that’s your problem, not mine.” The prisoner said.

Tamitayo was satisfied with this information and left. She could hear some banter between the guard, who was being pretty sassy, and the Alik'r prisoner.

Tamitayo and Lydia then left Whiterun and headed west. They travelled over some hills and rivers, and encountered also a few wolves on the way.

When they were close to Swindler’s Den, Tamitayo saw some familiar faces. Four of them. Shuvika-Nebuki, Serana, Nakila Kaythees and Ciinia Ivywood were all present. Shuvika and Serana looked ready for action, Ciinia seemed pretty nervous and Nakila seemed like he just wanted it over and done with and then go back to bed.

“Hey guys! It’s been a while, good to see you!” Tamitayo shouted, as she approached the others. Shuvika gave a quick greeting with a smile, Ciinia just waved shyly at the giant dunmer, Serana gave a quick chuckle and waved as well and Nakila just gave a handshake and a sigh.

“Good to see you too Tami’” Said Shuvika, the orc woman looking ready for battle. “So how’s it going on your quest?”

“Well, i’m looking for someone named Kematu. He’s the leader of the Alik'r warrior and is after this cute woman named Saadia, or her real name is Imen. According to Imen, is the Alik'r mercenaries, hired by the Aldmeri Dominion to hunt her down because she spoke out against them openly. Their leader is someone named Kematu and i was told he resides in Swindler’s Den.” She explained and pointed towards Swindler’s Den.

Nakila’s expression changed to confusion, and so did Ciinia’s and Lydia’s. True Lydia was there, but she didn’t really bother to put the pieces together until she heard it a second time. Neither of them said anything yet though, they wanted to go a bit further first, maybe they could get some info from Kematu.

After a bit of talking, they all decided to go there together, apparently Shuvika had two objective here; finding a mammoth tusk for Ysolda back in Whiterun again, for business, and to also find some ancient technology for Sorine Jurard of the Dawngaurds, most likely to either upgrade their crossbows or make new types of ammunition for them. Ciinia was just there, because Shuvika thought it would be a good opportunity for her to get a bit of experience.

They all went towards Swindler’s Den, and there was a few bandits outside, who they overmanned easily. Tamitayo ate one of them, since she was a bit hungry and forgot to eat anything before she left. After that, they all sneaked inside Swindler’s Den, keeping it low to see and hear anything of notice. They all heard two bandits talk.

“I’m not sure I like these Alik'r warriors hiding out here. They seem like trouble.” One of the bandits said to the other.

“Keep it to yourself. They’re not paying us to talk. They’ll be gone as soon as they’ve found whoever they’re looking for. And we’ll have all the more coin.” The bandit thug simply replied and went back to what they were doing.

This definitely confirmed that the Alik'r was here, and that they were paying the bandits apparently.

Shuvika counted down and all at ones they charged in. Shuvika and Serana remained in their normal forms this time. Swindler’s Den was quite large with a lot of rooms, and a lot of bandits. Shuvika swung around Volendrung and smashed bandits, outlaws and thugs left and right, she also used the fire breath shout at one point. Serana mostly used her powerful magics to deal with the bandits, only using her elven knife when they got a bit to close. Nakila was similar to Shuvika, smashing the bandits to bloody bits with the Mace of Molag Bal, while blocking incoming arrows with the Shield of Ysgramor. Ciinia was much more careful, keeping herself either at a distance or out of sight, as she shot one ice spike after the other at the bandits, while also summoning a flame atronach. Lydia stood close to Tamitayo to help her out, and switched between using bow and arrow and using her shield and sword. Tamitayo herself, used the chitin shield Shuvika gave her to block incoming arrows and melee, while using various of her new spells against them, such as “wither” to reduce their movements and damage, “stoneflesh” to increase her own defences, “soul cloak” so that when the bandits die, one of her soul gems gets filled up, “circle of strenth” to steal the stamina from hostiles that steps inside of it and “lamb of Mara” to steal a bit of the health that her foe is losing. When it came to Tamitayo’s offensive spells, she used both ice spikes, lightning bolt, firebolt and rift bolt, with the latter not just damaging the opponent, but also teleport them a bit backwards to give her some more space and distance.

After defeating the last of the bandits, with the last three being eaten by Serana, Tamitayo and Lydia, they began searching for where the Alik'r were. They searched for a while, but couldn’t find them. It was then Tamitayo remembered the “clairvoyance” spell she had learned. She activated it, and a blue-like mist immediately emerged and made a trail, almost looking like a giant mystical snake. It lead down to a small passage half filled with water with a waterfall at the end. There was a hidden pathway behind the waterfall.

Ones everyone had regrouped, did they all walk through the water and through the waterfall. If the Alik'r was on the other side, they would already know they were there, either by all the sound and noise from before, or by Tamitayo’s clairvoyance spell. Soon they entered the secret room. They heard Kematu yell “Alik'r, hold!” and they saw that the Alik'r had readied themselves, but did not attack.

“You’ve proven your strength, warrior. Let’s avoid any more bloodshed. I think you and i have some things to talk about.” Kematu said in calm, collective tone as Tamitayo and the others approached. “Stay your hand, warrior!” He said ones they were close enough. “It’s no secret why you’re here and you have proven your skill in combat. Let us talk a moment, and no one else needs to die. I think we can all profit from the situation in which we find ourselves. My men will not attack you, if you lower your weapons.” He said in gentle, requesting tone.

Tamitayo and the others lowered their weapons as he requested. “Why are you after Saadia?” Tamitayo asked.

“She sold the city out to the Aldmeri Dominion. Were it not for her betrayal, Taneth could have held its ground in the war. The other noble houses discovered her betrayal and she fled. They want her brought back alive. The resistance against the dominion is alive and well in Hammerfell, and they want justice.” Kematu explained to them.

Tamitayo sat there for a moment. She had known Saadia for a while now, usually she’d sit by the redguard woman and tell her about her latest quest or something she did. To think she’d done this would break her heart if it was true. “I’ve been sent here to kill you.” She simply continued on, trying to ignore the feelings.

“Of course, sent by… what is it that she’s calling herself these days? Shazra? Saadia? One of those, correct? Did she appeal to your sense of honor? Your greed? A more… base need, perhaps? It doesn’t matter. No doubt she’s convinced you that she’s the victim. But, do you know why we pursue her?” He asked them, clearly meaning besides what he’s already told them, that was pretty clear in his voice.

“Saadia told me - you’re assassins.” Tamitayo continued.

“Assassins? No, nothing so crass. "Saadia”, as you know her, is wanted by the noble houses of Taneth for treason. We were hired to see her returned to Hammerfell for her crimes. You can help us with that, and make sure no one else gets hurt.“ Kematu said with a welcoming tone.

Nakila began to talk in a way, and Tamitayo could now understand why he wasn’t much of a talker, because he CAN’T actually talk. The only sounds he was able to make was chirping sounds similar to that of birds and hissing sounds like that of a lizard, snake or crocodile. The cut on his throat had damaged his ability to speak so long ago. Ciinia and Shuvika seemed to be able to understand what he was saying though, and Ciinia began to translate what he said to Tamitayo.

"Nakila s-says that K-kematu h-has the s-stronger a-agument. There’s p-plenty of h-holes in S-saadia’s s-story. People o-often times s-speaks o-out against t-the dominion, e-especially in H-hammerfell, b-but for the m-most p-parts they just i-ignore it, o-or s-send justicars t-to make t-them m-mysteriously d-dissappear.” She translated.

“Not to mention for a supposedly "ruthless Thalmor assassin”, Kematu’s not the one who pulled a dagger on you! Just remember how she claimed to not know of the Alik'r in Whiterun and then she tells you of the one in jail all of a sudden?“ Interrupted Lydia, which made Nakila slap her on the back of the head with his tail for interrupting. He continued to speak in his damaged animalistic language, and Ciinia translated.

"T-the r-redguards had a-a war with t-the Thalmor and n-no Redguard would e-ever s-support the Thalmor l-lest work f-for t-them. T-the T-thalmor have n-no i-influence in H-hammerfell a-as the R-redguards p-pushed them out d-during the w-war. I-it w-wouldn’t m-matter i-if s-she s-spoke out a-against the Thalmor b-because l-literally e-everyone in Hammerfell h-hates t-them a-already. A-also knowing t-the Thalmor, s-she w-would have b-been d-dead already i-if s-she was r-really being h-hunted by t-them, and c-considering t-that t-the Thalmor was c-constantly h-harrashed b-by the Alik'r d-during the war, i-i h-highly d-doubt that t-they would w-want to a-ask t-them of all people f-for help. K-kematu’s story m-makes m-more s-sense as w-well if y-you think about i-it.” Ciinia continued to translate for Nakila.

Tamitayo stood there for a moment. They were right, but it still hurt having to do this against Saadia, she had considered her a friend, but crime is still a crime, especially when it’s so big that it could change a war for the worst. “So, what do you wany me to do?” She asked Kematu.

“She trusts you, at least to some extent. She sent you after us, and has no reason to think that you’d do anything other than that. Convince her that we’ll be coming for her, and she needs to leave. Lead her to the stables outside Whiterun. We’ll be waiting to take her into custody. I’ll gladly share a portion of the bounty for your efforts in seeing proper justice done.” Kematu continued to explain to them.

“All right, i’ll do it.” Said Tamitayo with a bit of pain in her voice.

“Good. We’ll be waiting for you at the stables. It will be good to finally be able to return home.” Said Kematu happily, clearly he just wanted to go home by now.

Tamitayo and the others walked back out of the waterfall entrance. Shuvika just told Tamitayo and Lydia to go on ahead, as she still needed to find those schematics for Sorine Jurard and that mammoth tusk for Ysolda.

Shuvika, Lydia, Ciinia and Nakila all went back to Whiterun after a bit of walking. Tamitayo was still bothered of having to do this.

After a bit of travelling they reached the city. Shuvika halted for a moment and looked at Ciinia and Nakila. “I think i want to do this by myself.” She said in a sad tone.

The other two nodded and walked off. Tamitayo continued towards the Bannered Mare, and as she entered she walked upstairs and found Saadia waiting. She walked up to the redguard woman.

“Any news of the Alik'r?” Saadia asked worriedly.

“I was unable to defeat them all, and they’re coming for you.” Tamitayo lied to her.

“What? How? I thought they weren’t allowed within the city!” Saadia said shocked at the news.

“They’ve found a way in. We need to get you out of here.” Tamitayo continued to lie.

“But where will i go? I can’t keep running forever!” She said to Tamitayo and Lydia.

“There’s a horse waiting at the stables. I’ll make sure you’re safe.” Tamitayo said with a lie again.

“After all this, i have to pick up and leave again? If you really think this is the only way, i trust you. Let’s not waste any time.” Saadia said as she rose from the chair and prepared to head out for the stables. The word “trust” cut Tamitayo right in the heart, and made her feel bad for what she had to do.

Tamitayo and Lydia followed Saadia out of Whiterun and towards the stables. Here they were met face to face with Kematu and some of his Alik'r warriors.

“We meet at last, my dear lady.” Kematu said, with a voice like that of a hunter who’s happy that the hunt was FINALLY over.

“What is this? What have you done?” Saadia asked Tamitayo, who looked sad into the ground, but didn’t answer and was instead interrupted by Kematu saying “Of, come now. You didn’t really expect to manipulate people forever, did you? Your luck had to run out sometime.” before firing a paralyse spell on her, causing her to be stiff like a statue.

Tamitayo walked up to Kematu, and he looked up at the giant dunmer woman. “Now, we’ll take our friend here back to Hammerfell, where she wil pay the price of her treason.” he said.

Tamitayo looked down worried at Saadia and back at Kematu. “She won’t be harmed?” she asked.

“Not on the way back. Once she gets there, it’s not up to me to decide what’s done with her. And as for you, i owe you a portion of the reward, don’t i? Well, here you go. Spend it wisely, and if i may… Don’t allow yourself to be fooled by a pretty face. You’re better than that.” Kematu told her in a polite manner.

Tamitayo watched as the Alik'r left with Saadia. She felt bad and she was going to miss her a lot, but justice had to be done. She walked back into Whiterun and saw Ysolda. She had gotten quite a big belly, and Tamitayo walked up to the nord lady and asked “Who did you eat?”

Ysolda looked up at her giant dunmer friend. “Oh, Ciinia told Nakila to stay back in Breezehome to get the rest he deserves. Her plan was to go to the College of Winterhold so she could learn more about magic. She didn’t know the way so she asked me for help, and you know how persuasive i can be. Shuvika should be back in a bit, she’s on a little errand for me that i hope to get done before travelling to Winterhold with our friend here.” She explained to Tamitayo.

Soon enough was Shuvika and Serana back and walked up to Ysolda. “Here’s the mammoth tusk you wanted.” the orc said happily and handed it to her.

“Thank you Shuvika. Here’s a bit for your trouble.” She replied and handed Shuvika some gold.

Shuvika then looked at Tamitayo. “So what do you plan on doing now my big plump friend?” She asked.

“I’m not entirely sure which direction to go, though now that i think about it, i should maybe get better at using my magic.” The giant dunmer replied.

This gave Shuvika an idea. “Hey, why don’t you take with Ciinia to the College of Winterhold? That’s a place where you learn about different types of magic, how it works and all that” Shuvika suggested. “Just make sure you don’t make Urag gro-Shub mad. He’s the librarian of the Arcanaeum, and trust me, you will NOT win in a fight. Even the Archmage, Savos Aren is scared of making him mad, and even i could not take him on, and neither can Serana, so just for your own safety, don’t make that orc angry.” Shuvika suggested to keep her friend safe.

Tamitayo nodded, but has made up her mind. She was going. She looked at Ysolda. “Think you can take two more?” She asked the nord lady who simply nodded.

Ysolda may be tiny when compared to a giant like Tamitayo, but that didn’t stop her from swallowing both her and Lydia, ones that was all well and done, she began her travel to Winterhold with her passengers. They all said goodbye to Shuvika and Serana before they left.

Inside Ysolda’s belly had Ciinia and Tamitayo begun to talk about what they already knew about magic, and what they might want to wish to explore more of. Lydia just stood there and listened, didn’t say much. This helped taking Tamitayo’s mind off of Saadia.

After a bit of time, had Ysolda arrived at Winterhold. Here she let the three ladies out. “Thanks for travelling with the Ysolda caravan. Hope you had a good trip.” She said in a joking manner before waving goodbye and began to head home to Whiterun.

Tamitayo, Lydia and Ciinia began to walk into Winterhold, when they heard a roar in the distance, a dragon was nearby, and very close. It was actually going to attack the city.

Tamitayo, Lydia and Ciinia watched as the dragon attacked. The town guards grabbed their bows and weapons and began fighting back. Lydia found her bow as well, the one Shuvika had made for her, and began to shoot after the dragon. Ciinia summoned a flame atronach and began to fire spells after the dragon as well. Tamitayo summoned stoneflesh to increase her own endurance and began to use various of different spells, such as “wither” to lower the dragon’s movement and attack, when she was able to hit, “Raise Wall” to create a wall to help protect her allies that was to far away for her to use ward on, “Curse of the Silent” to drain the dragon’s magica when she was able to land a hit with it, “Lamb of Mara” to drain the dragon’s health, and “Circle of Strength” whenever the dragon landed to fight in melee. She switched between using her ranged magic for when the dragon was either flying or far away, to using her bound swords, where she dual-wielded them against the dragon.

The battle was fierce, and even with the guard’s help, the dragon would not go down easily. Eventually though, was the dragon so full of arrows and ice spikes, as well as overall damage by everything else, that it crash landed on the ground. It was angry, all it wanted, was to kill Tamitayo, so it charged directly towards her. She fired all the spells she could on that short while, before it fired a frost breath against her. She was able to block it with a ward in time, but it drained her a lot. Lydia and the guards arrived with bow and melee and helped out in the fight, and so did Ciinia and her flame atronach.

The dragon suddenly shouted “ZUN HAAL WIIK!”, and everyone that was hit by the dragon’s shout was ripped of their weapons, as the shout defied steel and metal. As if that wasn’t enough the dragon let out another shout, “FAAS RU MAAR!”, and everyone that was hit by it, felt terror like never before.

Tamitayo was now alone with this dragon, it was clear that it was a quite powerful one. And it wanted her dead. She tried to fight back, but it charged at her, and while she was good with her bound weapons, the dragon was to powerful for the tall dunmer to handle alone, and even with allies it was still difficult.

The dragon threw her into a building, and now he let yet out another shout. “MUL QAH DIIV!” As the dragon said this shout, it’s entire body was covered in some sort of ethereal armor, and Tamitayo could feel its power increase. The dragon had gotten a 25% increase it’s attacks, a 125% increase to it’s defence and endurance, a 25% increase for fire resistance and frost resistance, it’s shouts becoming more powerful and a 20% decrease in shout recharge time.

Tamitayo had to admit, there was no way, even in the dragon’s wounded stage, that she would win this fight, and she doubted she could even if it hadn’t used this specific shout. A howl could suddenly be heard, and Tamitayo looked out to the side, and saw a grey-greenish werewolf with tusks howling into the sky, summoning other werewolves as well as frost spirits, and besides the werewolf was a vampire lord who had summoned bats and a gargoyle. The werewolves, ice wolf spirits, the vampire lord, the gargoyle and the bats all charged the dragon with violent fury, clawing and biting at it, while the vampire lord used it’s magic against it. Meanwhile Lydia, Ciinia and the guards have managed to free themselves from the shout that filled them with terror. They all looked on as the werewolves attacked. They decided to use long range tactics while the werewolves had the dragon distracted, they could kill them afterwards.

Tamitayo got to her feet, and summoned her own familiar spirit, and began to fight against the dragon as well. The battle was fierce, bloody and intense. It lasted for a long time. Soon the dragon has had enough and ones again focuses on Tamitayo and charges towards her, but she was saved by Nakila, how looked very angry that he never can catch a break. He smacked the dragon in the face with the Mace of Molag Bal. However the dragon was able to hit him to the side and into a building hard enough to make him covered in debris. Nakila looked at the situation. He took aim, and threw his mace in Tamitayo’s direction. She was able to grab it in time, lending a powerful blow on the dragon’s lower jaw. She grabbed the side of it’s head and swung herself up on top of the dragon and first hit it in the eye with the mace. By this point, the mul qah diiv shout had run out, and with one final strike she smashed the mace down into the dragon’s skull so hard, it hit the ground and bounced up into the air again.

She jumped down and looked as the dragon’s body collapsed. However, as the dragon drew its final breath, it began to glow, and a whirlwind of colour erupted from it as it’s body began to burn, and surged towards Tamitayo. Ones it was all over, she felt new power and knowledge inside of her, and everyone around her looked at her in amazement, and she knew what it meant, just like Shuvika-Nebuki, she too was a Dragonborn.

After the amazement was over, had the werewolves and the vampire mysteriously disappeared, and everyone had helped patching and healing those who got wounded. Tamitayo was still in shock and surprise. She was really the stuff of legend, just like Shuvika! She couldn’t believe it. She was both excited and scared for what this would mean for the future. Speaking of the future, Tamitayo and Ciinia looked up at the College of Winterhold. True, she didn’t know what the future had in store, but she knew where she would start, and that would be at the college, alongside her friends Ciinia, who was going to study with her. Lydia, her housecarl who had sworn to protect her and has grown quite close to her. Shuvika, while they’ll not be at the same place, she knew their paths would cross again, and she had a feeling it would be quite often. Nakila, the naga argonian who had sworn to protect both Shuvika and Ciinia, while grumpy, was he still a good friend. And finally Serana, while she hadn’t had much interaction with her as with the others, she still felt kinda close to her.

She didn’t know what the future hold, but so far, it seemed to have gotten a good and interesting start.

#submission #fics #a very good read! #crossthicc!elder scrolls #well its in actual game continuity but #yknow tagging stuff #thank u so much for doing this!!! #tamitayo stormcrown #queued #tamitayo's more stern and Conan-ish but still #this is a great way for it to go down!

[nightglider124]

RobStar Week 2018: Day 2

I actually love the character ideas for these two. Like how cute would Starfire be as this gal??? And ngl but she would be hot and pull it off so well, let’s be honest.

Anyway, hope you guys like this one. Seems like Beast Boy kinda thing; to have a cosplay birthday party. XD

Cosplay

Robin sighed as he ran his gel covered fingers through his hair, sticking his spikes up at a different angle and style than he was used to. He stared at his reflection and poked his tongue out in concentration.

He didn’t care much for costumes but if it was asked of him then he would become quite the perfectionist. It was part of who he was as a person. He was competitive by nature and even with something like this, he wanted to make the effort.

And of course, Starfire had been so excited from the word go.

He pulled a soft red tie just below his hairline and around the top half of his forehead, so much that it wouldn’t slip down during the evening. He tightly wound it at the back of his head, amongst his dark locks.

It was Beast Boy’s birthday and he’d made a very good argument of only turning 18 once so Robin had allowed them to have a party, inviting the entire Titan network and he’d made a deal with Beast Boy that he could have the party however he wanted.

And of course, being Beast Boy, the shapeshifter opted with a fancy dress party or what he was dubbing “Cosplay Extravaganza party.”

Robin still facepalmed at the sound of that in his head.

But, he had agreed that Beast Boy got to call the shots so here he was dressing up. Beast Boy had gone one step further though, stating that the cosplay outfits had to be from video games considering it was what he loved more than life itself.

Well, apart from Raven but it was pretty close.

What made it more interesting was that a lot of the Titans who were in a couple were dressing as a matching pair, or at least characters from the same game.

Robin exhaled loudly and stepped back to look himself over in the full length mirror before him. He rolled his shoulders and momentarily felt a little self conscious. It wasn’t a common thing for them to be out of uniform and so whenever he was, he always felt a sense of unease.

He eyed the white karate gi he was wearing with the torn off sleeves and he had a brief flashback to when he visited the true master for martial arts training. His arms were completely bare and he was inwardly a little smug; he knew Starfire had an odd thing for his arms. He always found her holding his upper arm or stroking his arms when they spent time together.

The gi was slightly open, offering a small peek of his chest and he cursed at how very pale he was; the colour of the karate gi wasn’t far off from it but he shrugged. He had someone who liked him for him so he supposed it didn’t matter all that much.

The black martial arts belt around his waist made him inwardly chuckle considering he really was that level. Being trained under Batman’s wing, he couldn’t really avoid being the top of the martial arts scale.

He picked up the red fingerless gloves and smirked as he put them on. Street Fighter was a game that none of the others had really thought of and yet there were so many character options with it and it was one of the few games that the costume didn’t make him feel like a complete idiot.

People like Beast Boy and Cyborg were a lot more into the whole cosplay scene. Robin on the other hand needed some convincing.

So, here he was dressing as Ryu and he had to say, he felt pretty happy with the outcome.

As he wriggled his fingers in the gloves, he looked over at the closed bathroom door.

“Star? You about ready yet? Party starts soon...” He called,

He heard a muffled ‘eep!’ before Starfire replied, “Almost! I am just fixing my hairstyle to look more like the character I am supposed to be portraying!”

Robin chuckled, “I’m sure it’ll look great, regardless...”

She clicked her tongue, loudly enough so he could hear her, “You always say that.”

“Because it’s always true.”

He smiled when he heard her giggling to herself, “Are you all ready?”

“Pretty much.” Robin responded, “D’you know what the others are going as?”

“I believe Cyborg and Bumblebee are going as... um... night elves?”

Robin nodded, “Right; from World of Warcraft.”

She snorted, “I did not know you were so familiar with games, Robin.”

He rolled his eyes behind his mask; he may have been dressing up but the mask always stayed in place, “I don’t. I just know it; it’s a fairly famous game here on Earth.”

“Mhm... I believe you. I shall remember that the next time you claim to be working on criminal reports.” Starfire cheeked,

Robin laughed and shook his head at her silliness. She was in a very happy mood tonight from the sounds of it; then again, she always was when there was a party going on. Actually, she was almost always in a good mood; regardless of the situation.

“What about Beast Boy? The man of the hour hasn’t exactly been shouting what he’s planning on dressing as.” Robin pointed out,

He heard some shuffling from inside the bathroom before her muffled voice sounded once more, “He has remained quite the hush hush but he told me he wished to get Raven dressed as the Princess Peach from the Mario Bros games.”

Robin suddenly burst out laughing, “I would pay a lot of money to see Raven dressed as Princess Peach.”

Starfire giggled, “I believe she would look lovely in a big pink dress.”

Robin grinned, “She’d kill him if he even tried, I’m sure.”

“Most likely.”

“So what are they really going as?”

“I believe Beast Boy mentioned something along the lines of a... Link and Zelda?”

Robin tilted his head, “Sounds like a good one for Beast Boy. He loves that game. But, he’s still expecting Raven to dress as an elf Princess?”

“Who knows; perhaps she will for him.”

“I guess we’ll see soon, hm?”

Starfire turned the knob of the bathroom door and opened it, “I believe I am ready.”

Robin looked at himself in the mirror one last time before he swung around to look at his girlfriend. As soon as his eyes alighted on her, his jaw dropped and the back of his neck swiftly warmed up.

Starfire smirked at the expression on his face. She put a hand on her hip and posed a little, trying to entice him a bit more.

His eyes trailed over her form and he fought to keep his brain from imploding.

Her long, red hair was styled up into two buns whilst her bangs and two strands on either side of her face were left down to frame it. Her buns were wrapped in white silk ribbons with the excess pieces of ribbon hanging down her back.

She wore a deep blue qipao with small yellow details. It had splits down the sides, revealing her long shapely legs that were covered with sheer brown pantyhose. A white sash was pulled around her waist, showing off her gorgeous form whilst knee high lace up white boots adorned her feet. On her wrists, she wore the iconic spiked bracelets.

He was drooling; he was sure of it.

Starfire made one good Chun-Li.

She wore a small amount of makeup; nothing too dramatic not that she needed any really. At least, Robin didn’t think she needed any.

“Oh... wow...” Robin mumbled, his eyes still glued to her body.

Starfire smiled and slowly turned in a circle, her eyes on him, “You approve, yes?”

Matching her playful smirk, Robin wandered over to her, still admiring her costume. One of his hands found her waist whilst the other landed on her outer thigh and he pulled her closer to him,

“Very much.” He whispered, his voice husky,

She giggled and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, her eyes twinkling at his own attire.

“Mm... I approve of the bare arms, my love.”

Robin chuckled, “I thought you would.” He paused and smiled, “God, you look amazing.”

Starfire beamed at him, “Please, I make a suitable Chan-Li?”

He narrowed his eyes at her, “It’s Chun-Li.”

She cringed, “Oh! Yes, Chun-Li. That is the name of my character.”

“Don’t let Beast Boy hear you say the wrong name. He’ll be onto you and test your video game knowledge.”

Giggling, Starfire shook her head and rested her forehead against his, “I would surely fail such a test.”

“Then just remember your character name.” He quipped,

Starfire gently played with the hair at the back of his neck and quietly crooned before she leaned in and pressed her lips to his, immediately swiping her tongue against his bottom lip. Robin was surprised that she was feeling so frisky when they had a party to be had but he wouldn’t deny her anything. He indulged their make out session and gripped her waist even tighter, his hand falling to her ass and giving her a gentle squeeze.

Moaning against his mouth, Starfire lifted a leg which he grabbed and brought against his hip. She could feel herself getting lightheaded and muzzy as she cupped his neck whilst he other hand snaked down the front of his gi, her fingertips brushing against the hard muscles in his chest and abdomen.

She suddenly pulled away, panting and her eyes sparked with mischief.

“We cannot... become carried away... we must attend Beast Boy’s party.”

Robin sighed, “How am I supposed to do that when you look like this?”

Starfire pulled back and lowered her leg, removing her hand from the confines of his white gi. She sauntered over to the full length mirror and readjusted her clothes so she looked refined once more.

“You will manage.” Starfire murmured, smiling over her shoulder at him.

“Hmph. I guess.” Robin muttered, sorting his own outfit.

She fixed her hair one last time and turned to face him, her hands clasped together,

“We are ready?”

“Mhm... you know... you really do look beautiful, Star.”

Starfire blushed and she smiled, bashfully, “Thank you, my love. You look most handsome... I greatly enjoy the outfit you are wearing...”

He laughed, “Oh? How much?”

Her green eyes clouded with desire, “So much that I am looking forward to having it off of you later this evening.”

Robin swallowed, not expecting her to be quite so forward before he grinned again, “I look forward to it.”

Giggling, she gave him a cheeky wink before he offered her his hand, which she immediately took.

“We make quite the karate couple, Star.”

“It appears we do.” She admitted, smiling sweetly.

“Right; let’s get out there.” Robin told her, earning a small agreeing nod from his girl.

He decided that cosplay and costumes  were more interesting than he first thought, after all.

#teen titans #robin #starfire #robstar #robstar week 2018 #robstar week #fanfiction #oneshot #day 2 #dc comics #cosplay #nightglider124 #robstarweek2018

[loquaciousquark]

30th Wintermarch. Sunlight peeked through the cloud cover for almost a full two minutes this afternoon and I nearly took flight from joy

I’ve been reading Art and Shame: Forbidden Wonders of Faith by Foisine De Petitforet, and aside from the forbidden wonder of Foisine’s name, I am vastly intrigued by the asides she keeps adding in the margins of the more controversial pieces. One of them talks about how she believes the absence of clear power always leads to the worst person possible seizing it, and I couldn’t help but think about Kirkwall.

The viscount’s seat has been empty almost three years now. There are more templars than city guard in the streets these days, and Aveline says Meredith’s officers keep coming to her demanding she account for herself whenever she makes a decision that doesn’t involve them. She’s refused them so far--she says she won’t ever turn over the city’s authority to what ought to be a Gallows-restricted arm of the Chantry, no matter how much they press, but Donnic looks uneasy when she says so.

Well, it’s not

Hm. I was going to say it’s not any of my business, but somehow it feels like everyone will be caught up in it whether they like it or not. (Elthina would prefer not, according to Sebastian, but I think she thinks Meredith and Orsino are more reasonable than history has shown me.)

Well! I shall remain optimistic. Until the city starts coming down around us, anyway, and then I shall take my dog and my favorite blanket and flee into the hinterlands to live as a hermit for the rest of my days, eating rabbits and the moss that grows on trees and shaking my staff at passersby.

13th Guardian. Shocking cold front came through last night--all the world’s icy glass. Very pretty and violently annoying, especially when one’s great hall holds heat as well as a linen dropcloth

Was at Elegant’s today for tea, and Tomwise came! It was the first time she and he and Worthy and I had all been in the same place since before I moved to Hightown. Had a marvelous time reminiscing about simpler (poorer) years, and then Elegant’s husband came in to say hello and we all went prim as roses. He knows, I think, but he’s awfully dour about questionable legality, so she’s asked us to avoid the more overtly murderous stories when he’s around.

Reminds me of Stinton, to be quite honest, with the difference that Elegant seems to genuinely like her husband. Curious!

Tomwise did say business has been worryingly good lately. He said the Coterie’s been ordering poisons in bulk, that everyone seems to be feeling the tension lately. Not much any of us can do for it from Elegant’s tea-room.

Oh! And Elegant told me Aveline’s not the only one with Chantry bells ringing--Jule and Pelarie are getting married in the summer! I’m to be invited over Lady Ashbridge’s objections as I’m the one who introduced them. I’m so glad for them--and if nothing else, they’ll be able to get away from their mothers now. Oh, good for them both. Maker keep them in health and happiness, at least until they’ve managed their own place.

19th Guardian. Not quite as cold, but "brisk” is the most generous of interpretations

Rarely does a trip to the market leave me quite so wrung. Then again, rarely do I eavesdrop quite as blatantly as I did (I’m normally much more surreptitious), so perhaps it’s what I deserved.

I just wanted some sweets. There’s a chocolatier beside Jean-Luc’s who makes the most amazing honeyed almonds and nut brittle, and I thought it might be a nice surprise tomorrow at cards. Merrill’s been bringing this sweet dessert-y liqueur along lately, and it seemed like it would match well. (I also managed to find the owner of that little carved figurine with “Bright Heart” engraved on the bottom--turns out it belongs to a little girl who lives just down the road from Jean-Luc, a gift from her father for her seventh birthday. It had fallen out of her bag and he’d taken her all over the city without luck. Glad I could find that one’s home again.)

Anyway, after I finished off the first little bag of almonds myself and had to go back for a second to actually bring to WG, I was walking back through the Hightown Market and happened to glimpse Orana standing at a stall I didn’t recognize, one of the new ones that came in with that Orlesian caravan last month. It was covered in fancy silks and the trader wore a silk half-mask lined in jewels. (I wish I were joking. And considering I strongly doubt an Orlesian would be caught dead in paste rubies, that mask was almost certainly worth more than my entire wardrobe.)

She was asking about a pipe. I knew why the moment I saw it--it’s perfect for Bodahn--he’s been looking for something like it for years, as long as I’ve known him. It was made of meerschaum and had a lovely intricate geometric pattern carved into it. Very beautiful and very dwarvish. And very expensive, which is why the merchant wore a sneer so enormous it knocked his mask askew.

I tell you, journal, I was ready to storm him like the Black City. I was halfway across the square when I saw Orana draw herself up in that way that usually means I’m about to be crushed like a beetle, so I--well, I stopped, and ducked in the most awkward fashion behind Hubert’s stand so she wouldn’t notice.

Orana’s trade is very good. I forget how good, sometimes, aside from the occasional odd sentence structure, because she has hardly any accent. That changed for this merchant. She went full Tevinter on him--cold as ice, her accent thickening with all those heavy vowels that could make anyone sound noble, even a slight elf of barely twenty, and even though she didn’t raise her voice in the slightest she made it perfectly clear that her patronage was an honor to him instead of the other way around, that everyone in this city knew who she was and in whose household she served, and that if he didn’t improve his demeanor immediately he would find his tariffs of import abruptly so high he’d have to forgo the feed for his mule and pull his silken cart himself.

Flames, but he went white. Gave her a mighty discount, too, and flinched when she scattered the coins on his stand instead of handing them to him directly, as if she couldn’t bear to touch him. I didn’t even know her face was capable of haughty. Haught?

I didn’t know what to make of it. I’d half a mind to go after her and make sure she was all right, if nothing else, but then who should come around the corner but Fenris, and when Orana saw him she went straight up and said something in Tevene I couldn’t follow. He looked concerned, but not unduly so, and said something back in the same language, and then he turned and went with her back up the stairs towards the Amell estate and out of sight.

I’ve been thinking about it all day.

Did she learn that behavior from Hadriana? She must have--I can’t imagine someone as gentle as she says her father was teaching her such things. It was certainly effective in putting that snide little man in his place, but...surely it must rankle to have to pull on lessons learned during slavery when you thought you were free, learned from someone infinitely cruel, who taught only by example on you and on the ones you loved.

Or is it worth it? If the payoff is forcing someone to respect you at last, when no one ever has before. When no one ever thought they should.

I wondered if Danarius

I think Merrill would say everyone ought to respect everyone else just because they’re people. I wish someone had taught the Orlesian merchant that lesson.

I asked Varric to help temporarily misplace some of his paperwork on the way out, though, just out of spite.

25th Guardian. Drizzly, chilly

Fenris said Orana was a little shaken but otherwise all right. She hadn’t meant to make a scene but his mask had reminded her of a man who used to attend Hadriana’s parties who made the slaves’ lives miserable, and she grew so angry she had to stand up for herself, and by proxy for them. She hadn’t thought it would work quite so well and was a little afraid he’d come after her, which is why she’d asked Fenris to help her get home.

He didn’t elaborate further, and I didn’t ask. Even I can tell when there are parts of a story I’m not meant to hear.

I will say Bodahn adores the pipe, and Orana looked so proud as she gave it to him that it all seemed worth it. Though I suppose that’s for her to decide, not me.

(I’d still very much like to give that fellow a knock right over the Hightown wall. Hmph.)

9th Drakonis. I hate Drakonis. What a miserable month

Letter from Carver today I’ll tuck in for safekeeping later. He reminded me of how he and Bethany used to talk in their own language and make me so angry at being left out. For whatever reason they’d slowly stopped using it as they grew up, and I’d forgotten all about it... Apparently there’s a set of twin sisters in one of the Warden units and they can read each other so well they don’t even have to speak.

I wonder if they have a sister at home waiting for their letters too. I’m wondering all sorts of things these days, it seems.

14th Drakonis. Toby took two steps out the back door this morning and immediately came back in soaking wet and exceedingly indignant

Spent most of the morning’s trip out to the Coast wondering why Fenris’s scarf looked so familiar. I’d forgotten it’s the one I’d given him two Satinalias ago, oops. At least it looks very warm.

Came home in time to hear Orana reading off a shopping list to Bodahn, and had the realization three damned years late that for all the time I spent teaching Fenris to read, it never one flaming time occurred to me to ask if Orana could.

Bodahn said her father had taught her a handful of letters in secret, and Bodahn himself had taught her the rest, a few months after she’d arrived. He didn’t mention it because it was right after Mother had died and he’d thought I’d had enough on my plate.

Not too much for that, though. I wish he’d told me. I wish it had occurred to me any moment before today.

He said she had been a very quick study but hadn’t wanted me to know, in case I’d been angry she’d learned. Then she’d grown to understand us all better, but by that time it hardly seemed worth bringing up because everyone around her was reading, anyway.

Damn.

Damn!

25th Drakonis. Almost comfortable outside, which is saying a great deal

Got Orana a little journal. I haven’t the faintest idea if she’ll use it, but burn me at the pyre if she doesn’t at least have the chance. 

Had such vivid dreams of Fenris last night I was quietly panicking about desire demons all morning, but Merrill says she’s not noticed anything lately. (That could be because she’s been so deep in the mirror issue she hasn’t seen daylight in weeks, but who am I to break mirrors, no matter how much I might wish to?)

In other news, Aveline marries in just under six weeks! Had Sebastian and me over yesterday to help her with a few details, since Sebastian has an in with the Chantry and I have exquisitely fine taste. And the willingness to carry things from room to room, which I suspect is more the purpose Aveline wished. She said Donnic intends to ask Fenris to stand up with him and she wanted to be sure I was all right, since I’m standing up with Aveline. Of course, said I, almost entirely meaning it, but it was at least enough to convince her to drop the subject.

I made her show me her gown at the end. White and gold, and Merrill’s going to make her a crown of marigolds for her hair.  She will be beautiful. Is, too, but when they open those doors Donnic will see the light of the Maker coming to meet him.

Aveline told me (very gruffly) that she’d sent an invitation to Isabela’s last known location, but hadn’t heard anything in return. She knows as well as I do not to expect anything from that quarter. If three years without my scintillating company hasn’t brought the pirate wench home again, Aveline’s wedding hardly will either.

Ugh.

I know very well that the only reason I’m so bitter is that I miss her dreadfully. How tedious, to be so aware of one’s faults and too stubborn to do a single thing to rectify them.

19th Cloudreach. The sun shone today so brightly the sea nearly looked warm

Drowning in wedding preparations. Should I ever marry, I will stand before a Chantry mother with no one else present and not an ounce of cake. I’m not even sure I’ll allow my spouse-to-be to attend.

25th Cloudreach. Went out without coat or scarf today and skipped across Hightown at how light it felt

Anders has been rather withdrawn lately, so I went to Darktown this morning to help him out at the clinic. I’d made up some potions and poultices from the cache of elfroot we found rooting out those slavers last month, and I thought that’d be enough to please him. Instead he looked hollow-eyed and thin as paper, and barely said “thank you” before asking me to help him dig through sewer waste. 

He looked as bitter as he did during that whole mess with Alrik a few years ago, down in the tunnels beneath the city. There weren’t even any innocent girls to nearly kill this time, so I haven’t any idea why he’s so faint.

He did say there had been unfortunate circumstances regarding certain underground factions. He wouldn’t tell me anything else.

That man used to trust me, once.

30th Cloudreach. Promise of clear warmth on the horizon--it better follow through, too, or I’m taking it straight to Andraste

Night before Summerday, and the night before Aveline’s wedding! She’s staying here at the estate tonight so we can all help her get ready tomorrow. It’d have been a shorter walk to the Chantry from the barracks, but she’d have also had to walk through the barracks in her wedding dress, and even now I think there are some things she’d like to keep private. Even if she does look splendid in this gown.

We hosted a small dinner for her and Donnic tonight--the big wedding feast will be tomorrow, but this was just for us and two of Donnic’s brothers. Anders came--I doubted, but he did--and Merrill, and Sebastian and Fenris and Varric, and everyone was so civil to each other I nearly fainted from shock.

One of Donnic’s brothers also asked to take me to dinner some time, which was very funny. Not at the time--I know my eyes flickered a bit helplessly between all involved and utterly oblivious parties scattered across the room--and then I shrugged and said I was complicatedly in love with someone who either complicatedly returned the sentiment or just deeply enjoyed stringing me along, but I’d look him up should it ever fall through. He laughed and thanked me for my honesty, and brought me another glass of wine to drown my sorrows.

I asked Aveline, later, how she was feeling. Bittersweet, she said... she had been thinking of Wesley a great deal, and wondering about Donnic’s parents, and daydreaming about how their lives might change over the next few years. She said she’d worried about falling in love again, once upon a time, until my mother had sat her down and talked the sense right into her again. She’d told her hearts always found a little room to grow, no matter the scars, and that happiness could sometimes be all the sweeter for the grief that came before.

I will say only it had better not show the slightest peep of a cloud tomorrow. After everything else, she deserves to have decent weather on her wedding day.

1st Bloomingtide, Summerday, clear as a glass and warm and beautiful in every way, thank you Andraste for your kindness, I’m blowing you dozens of kisses

They are married. Beautiful weather, and a beautiful ceremony--as I’d thought, Donnic nearly toppled over as he and Aveline came out the doors towards each other and he tripped twice walking her down the aisle to the Chantry mother. Merrill’s marigolds shone in the sun like little suns of their own. She’d done a circlet of sorts that trailed down in the back and wove through Aveline’s hair, which was loose for the first time in my memory and softened her so much I should hardly have recognized her if I hadn’t been the one helping her do it.

Donnic looked marvelous, too. He wore a simple brown suit and a white vest with just a trim of gold around the buttons--a sound decision, given he’s so steadfast and calm, and leagues better than the flashy embroidered nonsense all over the last society wedding I attended with Mother. Not that I think he could see a thing aside from Aveline’s face the whole hour the mother spoke, anyway.

Fenris and I were right behind them, and I’m delighted to report, journal, that I was so preoccupied with my overweening gladness for Aveline that I handled myself with more aplomb than I’ve ever managed in my life. He wore the same coat he did the night he came to the Champion’s ball for me, and I must say it looked sharp as a knife next to my own dark yellow gown (less fine than Aveline’s, naturally, but it was kinder to me than some shades she nearly chose).

I will also say I was very, very pleased at the attendance. More of the guard came than I expected, and all our friends, of course, and Donnic’s enormous family, but so too came quite a few friends of both Aveline and Donnic I hardly knew aside from the faces. We didn’t quite fill the Chantry, but it was awfully close, and anyway they all looked glad enough for the two of them I was satisfied.

The feast after was enormous and had excellent wine. Varric found some artisan pâtissier straight from the Winter Palace who is the direct cause of my pants not fitting tonight, and between the glorious Fereldan-style flat cake and the three-tiered champagne glass tower, it’s a wonder anyone will be able to roll out of bed tomorrow.

Aveline and Donnic are away tomorrow morning for a honeymoon in Orlais. No one will say precisely where, though I’m certain Varric knows, and for once I’m glad she’ll be away so long. We’ve all promised to keep an eye on the guard in her absence, just in case the templars begin edging somewhere they shouldn’t. (Not, in retrospect, that I’ll likely be able to do much, but a promise is a promise.)

They played Fereldan fiddle songs once everyone was deep enough in their cups to dance without worrying about what their neighbors might thing. I haven’t danced the River Dane’s Line since Lothering, though more people knew it than I’d thought, and then they played Those Sweet Brown Eyes, Oh, and before I could help it I looked over and saw Fenris across the room looking back at me. It was the same tune we danced to a hundred years ago at the Hanged Man for Satinalia, when Mother was still alive and I was wondering if we’d ever be friends again.

He smiled when he saw me looking. Neither of us danced--the whole room was between us, and by the time I’d have reached him the squares would have been set, but I could see the memory was as plain for him as it was for me, and as pleasant.

He did come over after and compliment both my dress and the decorations (part of my wedding present). This time I had the presence of mind to admire his coat in candlelight, instead of the shadows behind shrubbery, and it looks as good on him as I’d thought. It has just the barest lining of gold thread at the sleeve cuffs and the trim of the wide belt, and he wears it so very well.

One final note, and then I must sleep: towards the end of our conversation, Donnic’s brother (the middle one, who asked me to dinner the other week) came up and joined us in the conversation. He said nothing overt and was as pleasant throughout as any family of Donnic’s ought to be, but at the end he bowed over my hand and told Fenris that should he ever cede the war, he’d be happy to take up the colors in his place. 

Fenris looked confused long enough for me to stumble over some nonsense explanation as Donnic’s brother left, but I’m certain he put it together soon enough. One day I should like to meet someone who declines to heckle me to my face.

It was a beautiful wedding, though.

#fenris #hawke #fenris/hawke #dragon age #quark writes #hawke's journal tag #and some #aveline/donnic