#calls himself a pawn and chills the moment its all good and has such a sweet manner about him that apparently people forgot he too

[grahamcarmen]

Have a lot of asks and takes so just gonna dump them all here:-

opinion on chase and dexter.

you know i really want carlotta to meet the faculty and coach brunt and gray.

carlotta is gonna get such a biased version of gray that it cackles me up.

I can just imagine carmen telling her about gray and her response is "so you inherited my taste in bad boys".

you know, i understand why people think that if el topo killed someone he'll feel really guilty nut like he's the one to remind crackle that no witnesses should be left behind he's a cinnamon roll who can kill you.

rn i'm giggling at the idea of someone catching carmen and grey making out.

Commander is adorable.

1)i like them! Chase i maintain has the best line about the trufffles in his brain in s2. vivid imagery. poetic. and he gets such a solid and clear arc so congrats dude!! i really also like in s1 where he doesn't really buy that mimebomb is important but does have a tactic to keep tabs on him . tenacious, resiliant, and really intelligent sometimes. a lot of fun to watch and occasionally hear the out of pocket things he can say, he starts out abrasive but seeing him soften up and do what he can do best is fun and rewarding

dexter we don't get much but he was literally so!!! for getting only barely caught on cameras dating carms mom (which he refused to stop doing heck yeah <3) and doing his best to long con his way OUT of VILE for all of their sakes. and as a VILE agent? he was so smooth like steal those jewels, fly away, get paid for minimal teaching...ajsdnfasdkfn cool. RIPERONIS you were pretty cool

i really hope that carmen gets told by her mom that she has her dads eyes it was such an awwww moment when she said it. :( + just ugh can you imagine the conversations if she gets even more hints of similar things between them...ughhhhh carmen would really hold that dear...

2) hmmmmmmm like i really am into maybe her mom wanting to occasionally help carmen and that could happen VIA that (faculty and brunt) as for GRAY...

3) asdkjfnaslkfdjasd ok carmen gives literally all of gray's good points in such heart eyes and happy voice that the context of how carmen knows this just like makes her go "WAIT WAT" but lmao the idea of them falling for bad boys who are actually so soft and will do whatever it takes and actually turn over a new leaf <3 [i do think she might be a little harsher in her opinion on gray at first because thats her baby >:( waddyumeanyou! but like

:(it was everything...it was literally everything he held dear for carmen to exist and ugghhhhhhhhh i can't with them.

and like a changed person who her daughter has so much love for and obviously loved her enough to do that?? plus her mom runs an orphanage like i want to see him try to wiggle his way in the middle of respectful and being called out for old habits he can't shake yet and not being used to her brand of warmth. or her just asking him to keep watch the kids so she and carmen can have a day together mijo :((((((

and him being decent at corralling all those kids...not great he almost lost a couple but decent (he is good at charming distractions but gets snippy at the troublemakers if any...he's the only troublemaker allowed there<3) + always my evidences that he was the one who split up carmen and sheenas fights, the boys looked at him when they needed help at the tunnel, lmao he actually did have a decent distraction of codenames at the ready, and he's a head patter with a chill laid back disposition he projects...he can distract them with candyland for an hour...i think he can catch their attention like lmao he has such de facto group leader energy even if its not what he primarily does/the role he always wants...can he hold it tho...

or even a seriousish conversation after with gray realizing that was her trusting him lol + just long way round is still the way around conversation

5)...is that a thing? i mean el topo initially felt really bad about carmen because they were friends and might* have felt bad for shadowsan because he was his teacher but le chevre just tells him to focus on the bad parts of his class to get over it. old man in the desert who he has no attachment to? crackle remember to kill him + next time le chevre/ el topo both get over any lingering attachments and el topo even captures carmen with a smile and an ho-la. cinnamon roll who can kill.

6)I NEED THAT SO BAD ! NEED THEM TO BE INSEPARABLE AND INSUFFERABLE AND GET CAUGHT BEING ABSOLUTELY INTO EACH OTHER AND ABSOLUTELY SO HAPPY. askjdfnaskfjna and absolutely with only half an idea of what to do when caught

7) COMMANDER ...is cute <3

#asks #red crackle thoughts #lone wolf dis lone wolf dat wolves are pack animals dex ma dude #carlotta is gonna be just like me going awww look at how in love she is...wait pardon rewind that what #oh ok he actually is capable of being so sweet and loving carry on #XD aaaaaaa like they need to always be together it means everything #we love the death of destructive self service for true love and redemption #but also wtf is esteemed faculty and authority wtf who did this #i only put him at decent because idk what he's gonna do if theres troublemakers like him or carm in that building ... #braver teachers than him have tried #ALSO THE EL TOPO THING IS WHY I FIND GRAY AND HIS FRIENDSHIP ...intriguing? because of the way el topo looks to le chevre that time withcar #calls himself a pawn and chills the moment its all good and has such a sweet manner about him that apparently people forgot he too #knows the rules #asdkjfasdkfn im sorry the way le chevre is like >:( don't pun it up gray we won't get taken seriously #red crackle

[carinyms]

I've scrolled through a lot of discourse on episode 4 of Loki and I need to talk about it

(good lord its a whole essay im sorry)

I gave myself a headache from crying while watching this. (I joined the Loki fandom post-IW so I’ve never had to see him die before while emotionally invested and boy!!! Is it doing things to my fragile psyche!!). But now I’m rehydrated and more stable and ready to party so let’s go

Right off the bat, I loved this episode — loved it loved it loved it. Silly, manic in-shock Loki is gone and shit is getting real. My thought while watching this was truly “wow this is my favorite episode so far” and damn am I in a minority with this opinion lol.

So here’s my perspective on some of the discourse flying around, and just general thoughts

On the whole ‘Narcissist’ thing:

IMO, Mobius saying this means nothing: he’s mad and he’s spouted lies at Loki to push his buttons before (see: every interaction they’ve had since episode 1).

Loki saying this to Sif-- well, Loki is and always has been an unreliable narrator on himself. The major theme of this show is that he doesn’t really know who he is, deep down, and he’s trying to figure it out. The TVA is taking advantage of this, and even though he’s trying to stay above it all throughout the series, he's still in a really impressionable spot and absorbing what others tell him about himself. (not to mention this scene is literal torture and he’s already proven that he’ll say whatever he needs to to get out of it.)

But he does admit one true thing when he says “It’s because I’m scared of being alone.” (And like wow okay same don’t mind my tears) but here’s a big brain idea!

Sif pulls him up and says ‘You are alone, and you always will be’, which is like, WOW that’s cruel after what he said, but it makes me ask wonder: Sif is sentient in this scene, but obviously it’s not really her. Who’s controlling her? And why is it so important for them to make sure Loki thinks he’s alone? I’d go as far as to wager that Sif never even said this to Loki, the big bad made this up. (he admits he forgot about this ever happening, I doubt he’d remember what she said.)

I think the nexus event on Lamentis that caused the branch was two Loki’s joining sides. Or, Loki no longer being alone. Loki insists while talking to Mobius that “she’s not my partner!” but she was, and they were partners from the moment they grabbed hands on Lamentis — right when the timeline broke off. I think Loki variants teaming up is the biggest threat to whoever is pulling the strings here — that’s why the post-credit scene is so significant. (Is Loki the only person who has multiple variants of himself who've escaped the TVA?)

And here’s where I’m gonna get salty--so I apologize but i need to rant about this-- but it’s seriously pissing me off that so many people are intentionally reading this as Loki/Sylvie and then being mad about it when that’s clearly not what’s happening and why is everyone acting like Mobius with one angry jealous brain cell and no critical thinking about the context of the characters.

If people ship it that’s chill, but for the people who are against it—it’s clearly supposed to be platonic, and it’s so upsetting that in the year of our lord 2021 we still can’t have a man and woman hold hands without people saying it’s proof they want to f*ck each other, like what in the misogyny??? STOP. This show was written by a bi woman and Tom the-most-emotionally-sensitive-man-on-this-planet Hiddleston — let them display an intimate loving friendship goddammit. This isn’t romance, this is Loki learning how to admit he cares for someone who cares for him in return — something he hasn’t experienced a whole lot of and clearly doesn’t know how to navigate.

(You have permission to personally come at me if it actually turns out to be romantic by the end of the show—but as of right now I will die on this hill.)

Him putting his hands on her shoulders to me was a clear indication he wanted to hug her, and I’d like to think he would have told her he cares about her, and that they can figure it out together. Because these are two characters who’ve never had anyone else to rely on and trust, and for the first time they’re not alone.

And I have to think about what prompted this from Loki. He just lost Mobius the moment after he called him friend. The way I see it, he’s just realized the true gravity of what they’re up against, and Loki is suddenly very afraid of losing Sylvie too before he tells her cares about her, of dying truly alone because he never told anyone what they meant to him. (Don’t think about this in the context of him also having watched his entire family die knowing he never told Frigga or Thor how much he loved them either don’t think about it—) He’s realized, finally, that he has doesn’t have to be alone, that he can choose to be close to people and have friends. And god it’s so heartbreaking that he never got to hug her or have that moment with her. I really hope they get that in the end. I hope he gets it with Mobius. I hope they have a group hug. I'm upset again.

Okay, deep breath, ANYWAY.

Hopefully this didn’t come off as attacking anyone else’s opinions.

Personally, I love this character so much, I’m just so happy to be seeing him in his own storyline that they can’t go wrong here. Objectively I think the production is amazing, and personally I love they way Loki’s character has been explored so far. (Yea yea, was I HOPING that the bad-memory loop would morph into Sanctuary and Thanos and like a full exploration of his true worst memories? Yes but let’s be honest my whump needs will never be met in canon and I have to accept that lol.)

Honestly I left all my own meta about this character at the door when the series started, because for me the opinions I’ve formed from the hundreds of (amazing) fics and meta I’ve read on this character and what’s true in canon are basically inseparable at this point, and no portrayal is going to live up to the way Loki exists in my head. Canon Loki and fic Loki are two different characters and I can enjoy both at the same time :) I’ve just loved seeing the character get given the different dimensions he deserves, and written by people who care about his story.

Also, it’s not over! If he was dead and this was it I’d be very upset, but this is the rock bottom of the storyline, and I think the whole next two episodes will be the build back up. I trust it’s gonna be worth it. SO hyped for flaming sword Loki. I would die for Sylvie, but I’m excited to see him on his own again.

My current most pressing questions are:

-what was the fallout of Sylvie’s bombing the timeline? (Have we seen that yet, am I just dumb and missing something?)

-Obviously, who’s behind it all? (Kang? Is there a head honcho Very Evil Loki at the top?)

-How much does Ravonna actually know, and to what extent is she just a pawn too? She asked Sylvie to prune her— she’s probably also been duped here.

-Is everything we learned about the sacred timeline BS? How much of what the TVA workers believe is real?

-my favorite theory so far is that the war of the timelines miss minutes talks about hasn’t actually happened yet, maybe making setting that into motion is the true endgame, leading into Multiverse of Madness?

(Side note: holy HELL im so excited for this soundtrack to drop on Spotify. It’s SO AMAZING I had CHILLS in the end credits.)

Open invitation to discuss anything with me if you feel inclined! :)

#if you read all of this please come say hi and be my friend because I don't know if even I'd read all this lol #loki #loki show #loki series #loki show spoilers #loki spoilers #loki series spoilers #loki show discourse #loki show positive #my disaster son has a show

[blissfulalchemist]

Chance/Faith - ‘  what  did  you  dream  of?  ’

Hello there once again! I do hope that you enjoy this short piece!

tw for drug use and mention. also for my dumb tongue in cheek jokes.

just under 2k

There’s something to be said about the peace that comes with sitting on the roof of some building. Hell just being up high always had its appeal to Chance, it was the coming down that left him sick. Maybe not the act of falling itself, that also provided some peace, but finding yourself back on the ground. The reality of being present, alive, stopped being fun the moment he had nothing but coming to his knees at the mere thought of them….of all that he had lost. Being grounded was overrated. Being grounded was pain. Being grounded was accepting the truth….something Chance had never been very good at.

To be high, in the sky, drunk enough to no longer keep steady on the ground….that was freedom….happiness. Even if it was set to kill him sooner than people wanted. 

Catching the black smoke rising in the distance he smirks, giving a shake of his head, it’s the fourth one he can spot looking over the border of the Valley and Hebane. The gunfire Chance can just barely make out in the distance has him leaning back letting the sun warm the skin he’s sure is starting to look red rather than sunkissed. He probably should have stuck to the drinking after being arrested, he probably would have gotten another year of life. He definitely wouldn’t be in the middle of some war he never wanted to start or even end if he was being honest. 

He takes a deep breath catching the hints of memories from when he was a teenager dying in the tight black clothing on this same roof in the height of summer. Back then Chance was just starting to experiment with drinking more and smoking weed while he dated some daughter of a successful real estate agent from New York, her hair the same color as Rachel’s. The eyes were a straight blue and her voice was a bit too gruff, she blamed it on always yelling for a taxi in the big city, and she was too self centered. It was only her hair that he liked.

Chance huffs, sitting up as he pulls out the stolen joint letting it find a place between his lips, testing the lighter once before he settles himself more. According to Hurk the joint was filled with some of the best weed in the world and how he saved it before some guy named Jason burned the whole farm down. Of course Jason was someone that Hurk met while out in Malaysia and really Chance should have been there to take down some guy that could almost rival Joesph in the crazy department. The exaggeration of the story Hurk had weaved for Chance still makes him chuckle, even now as he takes a drag letting the smoke sit in his lungs and envelop his tongue for a minute. 

He let’s the smoke circle around him, closing his eyes, the high kicking in almost as fast as the Bliss does. “At least you’re right about it being some of the best,” Chance mumbles, bringing a knee up to rest his arm on while he watches over the activity he can’t really see. He’s about halfway through the joint when he feels someone watching him from below. Chance leans over catching the glimmer of her light brown hair, golden in the afternoon sun, before her blue-green eyes smile at him. “You’re pretty far out for just some casual stroll, don’t you think?” 

He smirks as Faith rolls her eyes playfully, “Could say the same about you, Chance,” she tilts her head, looking to the stairs of crates leading to the roof, “Mind if I join you?”

Chance shrugs, letting out the latest drag, “Long as you can promise Jarhead or Gaston Wannabe aren’t waiting in the treeline to take me in.”

Faith begins the climb up the crates shaking her head, “Now why would I do that?” She smoothes out the skirt of the white lace of her dress, sitting next to him, taking the joint from his fingertips, “I don’t really like sharing you as it is.”

He watches her for a moment, taking in the way her hair shifts from brown to blonde at the whims of the breeze blowing, how her lips curve in a small smile as she inhales the smoke, and her eyes closing for a moment before handing the joint back to him. His heart tugs towards her, the suspicions he’s been having coming to the forefront of his mind. She can’t really be the same girl, there was no way. Tracey didn’t know Rachel like he does….did. Like he did. Seeing Faith like this though….Chance can’t help but see an older version of Rachel from that high school photo when she was a freshman, the last picture anyone had of her. He shakes the thoughts from his head, it was all probably a lingering hallucination from Bliss. Why wouldn’t it be possible for it to show you someone that you really wanted?

“What are you thinking about,” her voice pulls him back to the roof, the smile she wears before laughing, “Anyone home up there?”

He laughs in return, “This stuff really does live up to the hype it was given.”

Faith hums, leaning back on her hands, “So what did it make you think about?”

“The past,” Chance mutters, flicking the ash off, “This place brings back too many memories.”

“What kind of memories?” She asks sweetly.

“Summers up here, people I’ll probably never see again,” he says, balancing the joint between his lips as he searches for his phone, “Nothing special really.”

He lets out an a-ha finding it in his pocket, “Those people you think you’ll never see again,” Faith starts, Chance giving a nod for her to continue as he searches through the playlists, “Can I ask who they are?”

Chance settles on a song by Ghost, letting the music fill the silence while he takes what will be one of the last drags of this joint. He mulls over the answer as the smoke fills his lungs once more, passing the rest of it to Faith. “A girl.” Faith slides her gaze towards him slowly, “One of the few reasons I would have the possibility of being more comfortable with this place.”

“She an old girlfriend?”

“No,” he shook his head, “Just an old pipe dream.”

The silence falls quickly, Chance letting it stay for the length of a song, gripping for something lighter to talk about with her. She lets her head rest on his shoulder, fingers becoming entwined with his, “We’ve heard rumors about you, Chance.”

His heart rate slows after the initial surprise of her touch, his free hand closing over her chilled fingers, “If they’re from Gossip Girl, take it with a grain of salt.”

She laughs, giving a light slap on his chest, “Be nice. John’s not that bad once you get to know him.”

He rolls his eyes, “I’ll keep that in mind next time he’s got me strapped down and a knife to my throat.”

“But seriously though, many of the locals say that this wasn’t your first choice of a career.”

“I don’t think being the pawn in some supposed prophecy is anyone’s first choice in a career.”

“You’d be surprised actually,” Chance arches a brow at her response, “Again though can you let me finish?”

“Don’t I always?” He smirks, ”Thought you said that was my best quality.”

Faith groans, “Chance! Focus,” she takes a deep breath shifting to better lay against him, “What did you dream of being when you were younger?”

“Pfft, you seriously want to know that?” She nods, “Why?”

“Curiosity,” she states.

“Will you tell me yours?”

Faith thinks for a moment, tracing the tattoos on his hands, “Only if you tell me the truth.”

Chance lets out a sigh, keeping his eyes focused on the open space before him, “I wanted to be like Dad,” Rachel would have known that. “Your turn.”

“We didn’t have any dreams,” she giggles, the tone contrasting with the weight of what she’s just said, “What was the point when there wasn’t a chance we’d get anywhere close to them.”

“Something to aspire to,” he offers, “Keep you going. Keep you living.”

“Do you still have that dream? Wanting to be like your father?” Her voice flows almost like a song, drawing him in each time. There’s some resistance from him today as it feels almost inappropriate with their conversation.

“Sure. I was on my way once before,” he shrugs, “Why couldn’t that happen again?”

Her eyes are big, taking in every movement in his face and eyes, there’s a tingle along his skin the longer she stays looking at him like that. It doesn’t feel bad, but it also wasn’t the one he wanted to be feeling with her this close. Finally she blinks slowly, the shadow of her smile persisting as she looks at him now with such care, “Then why haven’t you felt like living in a long time?” 

Chance jerks away, staring her down, heart pounding in his ears, “The fuck is that supposed to mean? I’m not suicidal.” He moves away from her shaking his head, jaw tight, “I just like to have fun. That’s it.”

“No one doubts that, Chance,” she stays in place, not even attempting to reach for him like she’s done before, “There’s just this….emptiness inside of you. We can feel it. Can understand it.”

“So?” She’s finally positioned herself to have the dark evergreens as a backdrop for her face.

“You can be helped and we can do that, Chance,” she urged softly, “You took help once before, what makes taking help from us so different?”

“Hilarious. I’ve given you multiple speeches on why that is.” Why is she being so pushy all of a-, A flicker of light dances just above her hair, much like a firefly and easier to see with the darker colors against her, Of course. He exhales sharply, “I’d remind you once more but,” Stupid. I knew she’d never have been this far out, he thinks, readying himself to leave, “ghosts don’t really remember unless it suits them anyway.”

“Chance wait,” they call out, crawling across the roof once he’s jumped down from it, “Come back. We can talk again. Just you and me.”

“Nice try!” He barks out, eyes cast down as his fingers work to untangle the headphones enough to get him back to the road, “I’m not coming back. Not going to fall for it again.” He finally has the earbuds in place, turning to point at the figment of his desire, “Not today Siren! Not today!” The woods are replaced by the screams of a man who’s fallen for someone he shouldn’t have. Her lips….my poison….How stupid could I be trying to pursue her?, He ground his teeth, nails digging into his palms as he mouthed the lyrics, I can’t even tell when she’s real….Just like they planned her to be. 

That was the worst part of being sucked into the hell hole of Bliss, you saw who and what you wanted and they were always idyllic, making it too tempting to stay. Chance slowed, seeing a field of white coming straight at him. Tracey had said she and Faith were friends once upon a time and maybe they were or maybe, just like with him, the drugs made her think it was her old friend. Someone long dead and gone to her. It just makes her look like how Rachel probably would. Nothing more. The one person that could make Hope County more bearable for him….The one mistake he could have fixed after all this time.

#look I think i'm hilarious at times and sometimes i am but i love my meta jokes #see my love for legends and their meta #also look at me finishing something in a timely manner #lets hope it sticks as I feel my anxiety kick up #also sorry for the time of day I wanted to get this posted before I head off to work for the night #x: emo flower child #a chance for faith #faithxoc #chance ruicknar oc #faith seed #faith seed fc5

[prettieparker86]

The Ghost of You is Close to Me

Pairing: Tommy Shelby x Reader

Warning: Sadness? set pre-WWI

Note: I’ve been trying to find my writer’s voice again. It’s felt lost and so far away from me. I still don’t feel it’s back per say. My previous characters still feel foreign to me. But when I feel the urge to write now, I try to listen. Not quite sure what this is. Watched a WWI movie the other night and this sort of rushed out of me like a flood, so I let it pour. For this I really tried to imagine what Tommy was like before the war based on the little pieces we've gotten from the show. And I wanted to explore the idea that she sensed he'd never come back, which in a way he didn't. His body did, but not the Tommy from before.

I’m not super well versed in the Romani culture and what knowledge I gained in the past feels mostly lost, I apologize. I was trying to find the word for horse, Grast was the closest I could. As with cozonac. I’m not sure if it’s really a traditional food. My research said it was. I’m trying my best. My intention is not to offend. Feedback is always appreciated. Thanks

Don’t know what I’m suppose to do, haunted by the ghost of you.

It only takes the sight of him to send you running. As fast as your horse can take you, holding tight to the notion that as long as you never stop running then he never leaves. You hide away to the place you would always run to as children. Back when Tommy's mum would drag the whole Shelby brood up into the hills, running away from her pitiful life in the city and Arthur Sr.

Its a grove of trees overlooking a deep fertile valley, the spot where you use to steal away as children. Long before you knew adults could run away from their grief as easily as little ones, and there was no mistaking it, you were running. You secure your horse to a tree branch where she can nibble away on the overgrown grass encircling the base of trunk, and settled atop a rock that's yours as much as it is the earth's. A rock that has only grown smaller over the years as you've grown bigger. Your family comes to this hills nearly every spring. As a child it never seemed different, now all you see is the changes.

Everything changes, this you know, but you swear if you just sit there long enough this change won't find you. It wont be so. Tommy wont leave. You're oldest companion. Your dearest friend. Gazing out at the valley blanketed in a tapestry of green hues, shadow and light, as the overcast sky moves above you - you tell yourself he isn't leaving. Even though the steady ache in your heart makes it feel like he's already gone. You miss him, before he's even left. You miss him... The words echo through you in shuddered vibrations that sting at your eyes, even worse at your heart, as a rogue tear manages to break free and make a run down your cheek before you briskly swipe at it.

You can't imagine him not being there. Being unreachable to you. You cant imagine not listening to Tommy's thoughts, his sparks of creativity, or the way he can make you laugh. You cant imagine him not being there. The hole he will leave, the one already opening up inside you feels unbearable, sickening, and you just want it to go away. Who will be there when you need someone most? Who will convince you things will turn out ok or you should keep fighting even when neither feel true? Who will know you? Who will see you? Really see you and genuinely care? You never felt you took his friendship for granted, never mistakenly felt there were others who could fill such big shoes, and yet now, as the chill of a breeze sweeps by you, sending goosebumps to prickle on the flesh of your arms, you wonder if you cherished that gift enough. You wonder if it meant the same to him and if he will miss you as deeply once you're gone.

You try not to think about it. You've been trying not to think about it since you received word Tommy had enlisted. You've kept yourself busy, both in mind and your hands. Filling the moments whenever he would start to creep in. But in the end its pointless. Because the more you try not to think of him, try not to miss him... The more you do. Its like trying to stop the rain by shaking your fist at the heavens. Futile and maddening. You see him when you're with the horses, whispering and enchanting them the way only his tongue and heart can do. You see him in the glow of a campfire where he'd often gets lost in his thoughts, scribbling them down or creating a loose sketch. You see him in the charming smirk of a young man, or a joke he once told you. He's everywhere. Inside you. A part of you. And denying that never made it less true.

And the thought of living without him feels terribly sad and lonely in a way your heart feels pathetic to admit and yet hopeless to reconcile. It isn't any place you want to be and yet you also have the sense to understand you have no say in that. You feel immersed in the overwhelming ache of your heart, the one that's been plaguing you for days now, when you suddenly hear the stir of your horse behind you. You glance back and watch as she pawns happily at the earth beneath her hoofs, snooting and pawing at the ground as Tommy appears nearby. She loves him. They all love him. You've often teased he's more horse than man and no one notices that more then the horses.

Tommy meets her joy with firm pats along her neck and gentles strokes to her mane and nose. "Hey girl" He greets.

Seeing him standing there both fills your heart with joy and deeper sorrow. Lean and strong, his hair tousled from his ride over, with those piercing sapphire eyes that cut you like a knife and see right through you at a glance. The sight of him like an old beloved quilt, comforting and well known, now tattered and tore as he rips from your life.

"Little bird", he says as your eyes meet. A name he gave you so long ago you cant even remember how it came to be.

"Grast", you answer back.

"How did you know I would be here?" You ask as you look away, not wanting him to see the turmoil brewing in your eyes the way you know he will.

Tommy shrugs easily, "Just knew." Just knew because he knows you, in a way most will never get to know you. Same way you trust in the way you know him and the ways he's shares himself with you.

When Tommy comes to sit beside you, it takes every ounce of willpower not to hug him desperately, beg him to change his mind, beg him not to go, but you don't, because you're sure it won't change anything.

"You heard," Tommy says, the grit of his breath stressing the weight of his words.

"You're a damn fool, Thomas Shelby. What did the crown ever do for us?"

He chuckles lightly to the fire on your breath, the bite in your words and you can see in his eyes he knows they only come from a place of love and concern for him.

"They need fighting men to win a war. " He tells you, as he pulls a cigarette from his breast pocket and strikes a match. Telling you things you both already know. As if it were that simple. As if the need for more men didn't come from the loss of the ones they have.

"Well then I oughta sign up. I can fight." You carry on as you snatch the cigarette hanging from his lip. Allowing yourself to feel the anger this situation ignites inside you, because anger feels far more powerful and safe than heartache and fear.

"ey, god help any man that stands between you and your cozonac." Tommy teases you, the crook of his mouth curling as he await your reprisal. Knowing your tales of blunder and greatest mishaps better then anyone. Your stories are his stories, your journeys connected.

You gasp in mock offense. "He would have eaten it all! Fistin’ it down like the whole roll was his!"

"A good stab of your fork put an end to that, didn' it?"

"He shouldn't have been so greedy." You feign defense and tug hotly at the cigarette, fighting back the smile pulling at the corners of your mouth to match Tommy's devilish grin. A battle you quickly lose as he elbows your side and snatches back his smoke before you jab him back. And just like that you aren't mad anymore. That's something only Tommy can do, make you laugh when you want to cry. Because he knows you... your dearest friend. The keeper of your secrets, biggest fears, and dreams. It's a gift to be known. An even bigger gift to be known and cherished for who you are. You never thought it wasn't, but you didn't realize how much you needed that gift until it was being taken away.

You both grow quiet against the steady decent of the sun at your backs. The low crinkle of burning paper fills and hovers in the space around you both as his cigarette burns down, subtle like the smoke dancing in swirls past his lips. Its the quiet moments that haunt you now. The hours and space he once filled in your life. The echoing loneliness that you know will only expand and grow in his absence. Those hours eat at you, devour you. Gnawing away until you feel raw and desperate to make them stop, because you swear you can't take another moment in that place. Only this time you know it wont stop. There will be no reprieve, no mercy, your best friend is leaving and you can't stop him. And when he's gone, this- This torturous way of existence, with its crawling of time, absence of joy, and echoing loneliness, it will fill the space his light once illuminated in your life. Like thick dark clouds rolling in over the backcountry hills to settle in around you and call you there home.

Tommy has his reasons, none more then Greta you suspect but you cant help but feel he's choosing the war over you, that he's abandoning you, as preposterous as you know that notion is. But there's nothing logical about missing someone. You can't reason it away with facts and rationality. And it doesn't care that it feels like it's killing some part of you. Nobody tells you missing someone is a physical sensation, a state of being above all else - like an empty or upset stomach, like a punch to the chest or falling off a horse that leaves you winded. It's not merely a thought and it's more than an emotion. You feel it in your bones, the tight hollows inside you, the vibrating ache of longing, the chill that settles in under your skin.

Sitting quietly side by side, you rest your head upon his shoulder. All the girls love Tommy, they always have. With his charming smile, deep set eyes that reach into the soul with a glance, and his devilish humor, its easy to see why so many would be drawn to him. And there was a time even you were too, but there was always too many things in the way and what you've built instead is deeper and more intimate because its not bound to the fickle confines of romance.

Closing your eyes, you can see it all so clearly in your mind. Replaying like a reel at the pictures... Wading in knee high murky pond water and reeds in search of frogs to catch. Covered in filth from head to toe as you battled on rain soaked mud hills with John to see who would be crowned king of the mountain. Sneaking off with mum's herbs and spices into the woods to craft witches brew and cast magic. Building campfires from dried old birch tree branches by the moonlight, to bathe in the scent of it, and tell old spine-chilling tales. Gazing up at the stars on warm summer night, seeing who could count the most. Lying awake late at night by candle light trying to read each other's mind. Hiding in the haystack to terrorize Arthur and any unlucky girl he tried to steal away with for a moment alone. Dragging you off to your first pub in Birmingham and knocking some bloke on his ass when he tried to get handsy. Trying to teach you to drive on slick muddy streets, as you swore at him like a sailor when he wouldn't stop laughing. The keeper of your deepest secrets as you are of his. The person who tried to offer you hope in your darkest moments and celebrated you greatest success. Who genuinely listened to you and sought out your thoughts on matters. The person you trusted most with the innerworkings of your heart and mind. The one you trusted would be there.

All of it feels like yesterday. The memories still fresh and vivid. The thought there wont be more to make constricts your windpipe, tightens your heart, as tears you couldn't possibly hold back any longer fill dangerously to the brim of your eyes... You don't know how to do this. You don't know how to live this. You don't know how to say goodbye to him. To let him go. Watch him disappear from your life. And the truth is... You don't wanna know. You don't want to say goodbye. And a part of you feels hurt this seems so easy for him, though you don't actually know it is. And the part of you that knows Tommy's heart, suspects it isn't so easy for him to say goodbye to you either.

The thought you might never speak to him again leaves a frantic feeling trying to rip free from your chest. How do you find peace when you long for someone still there but just beyond your reach, drifting further out to sea by the moment? How do you let them go when everything inside you screams to pull them back in? The tears feel warm as they fall down your chilled cheeks onto the shoulder of his jacket. He can't see your tears, but you swear he can feel them as he pats at your knee in an old comforting gesture you've grown to trust will be there. As Tommy pulls away, you fight with the urge to rapidly wipe away your tears and keep your pride. But as your eyes meet, you realize there's no room for pride here. Staring into his eyes you fear the silence that's already invading the space he holds.

But then he touches your face and you remember to breathe. Though his hands are rough from work, the pad of his thumb feels soft, full, and steady against your skin as he gently wipes away at the tears fallen on your face.

"I'm coming back." Tommy promises you, and you want to believe that more then you've ever wanted to believe in anything. That he will return to you. But you've heard the news of the war, the dyer news that continues to abound. And something deep and sharp within you whispers it isn't true. He isn't coming back, and that quiet piercing whisper radiates more loudly within you then the words on his lips.

"Let's make a fire," Tommy suggests as he gives your knee a final pat. You can see in his eyes he's trying to mend your heart, soften the blow. A solemn smile of acknowledgment creeping around the corners of his mouth, as if anything in the world can be solved by a stiff drink or roaring campfire.

You nod in agreement, there's nothing the dancing flames, glowing embers, crackling branches, and heady smoky aroma can't clear from your mind. Nothing like bathing in a campfire to wash your mind and soul clean.

You rise from the rock in slow unison. You gaze across the rich fertile valley below as it slowly descends into darkness all around you. Vibrant greens from early now turning to deeper winter tones as night begins to envelope all that you see. This place you know. This man you know. As you turn back to Tommy, watching as he moves past the horses.

Your eyes fall closed for a moment as you call to him. You pray he can hear you. The way he use to when you were children lying awake late at night, pretending there was magic between you. "Dearest friend... I love you and perhaps I always will. I see you're headed on a road, and I don't know where it leads, but you will take a part of me with you. It's been yours a long time. I hope you remember its there, I hope you protect it and treasure it. But I won't stand in your way, because that's what it means to love someone more then yourself." You whisper to him, not with your lips but from that place in your heart that already belongs to him. The one he gets to keep. You embrace the truth that your world will never feel the way it did before. You will never feel like you did before. That a part of you dies with him as he slips away. You acknowledge this new reality for what it is, whether you know how to live it or not, whether you even want to.

You take a deep breath and slowly open your eyes.

He's gone.

#tommy shelby #thomas shelby #thomas shelby imagine #thomas shelby fanfic #tommy shelby imagine #tommy shelby fanfic #peaky blinders imagine #I'm trying my best

[captainstevenrogerswrites]

The Ice Prison Revolution

What happens when your right to be human and live is taken away from you? Your fight for pure survival can be bloody but its not a choice, someone has to get back your simple rights to live or what is there left ????

A Lucy x Curtis crossover.

@missusrogerswrites​

There's a tunnel....A tunnel?....yeah a fucking long one.

The color drained from Curtis' face as realization hit him hard, they were set up in the most vicious way. The tunnel meant within seconds this part of the train would be pitch black and only those night goggled killers would be able to see.....a clear disadvantage for Curtis and the tail crew. 

"EVERYBODY BACK" He yelled at the top of his voice towards his people, somehow he had to save as many as he could, he wouldn't let the other side win, he couldn't. As soon as his words left his mouth, there it was....pitch black engulfs them all like a blanket, but this was smothering blanket, a dangerous one, one that would get them all killed and yet he couldn't allow it.

They were blind and yet his hearing could hear better by the minute, the slashing of his people, that sound chilled his blood, he was powerless, he had to find a way through this, no more of his people needed to die here, it just wasn't fair when all they wanted was to be treated fairly. Just when he thought the slashing was the worst sound he picked up in the room, there was another that chilled his blood even more.....click.....click.....click....that bastard  was  counting how many of his people they were killing, they were making sure they was going to kill off exactly seventy-four percent of their people, just like that bitch had taunted them moments before.

The tunnel suddenly allowed light to flicker through the windows as the train travelled through the tunnel and yet the flickering held no refuge for them at all, if anything it half blinded them, unable to focus on fighting back for pure survival. This may have been a game for the other side, but for him and his people, this was a fight for survival and there was no other way out.

Suddenly he stayed still, the haunted silence almost deafening in that moment, was he in a trance or had the fighting stopped? His mind  desperately trying to find a way out of this situation, whether or not he understood the silence, he couldn't waste the precious few seconds to not come up with a plan. He had to save his people, there was no other way around it.  Memory of the boy grabbing the carboard sleeve of matches suddenly flooded his mind and hitting him like a thousand bullets, he knew exactly what they needed "CHEN, WE NEED FIRE!" His people repeating his words down to the rest of them, they needed the fire, the fire was their only hope of seeing where the fuck their bastards were so they at least had half a shot here. 

Fire soon spread across his people as their hand made torches alit. They could see, finally, their enemy stood in shock and Curtis and his people took full advantage, turning the axes and weapons on the people that wanted to slaughter them as if they were animals.  His own axe wielding through their enemy as if they were jelly and he didn't care, if he didn't kill them, they were going to kill his people.

He heard the scream, making him look towards the front, Madam Mason had been hit in the back of the leg by a knife. This was his chance, he had to get to her, he had to use her to get them to Wilfred and stop this once and for all. Her people seemed to pick up on his plan, he wondered what gave it away? Was his determination written all over his face or was it just something they would do if the shoe was on the other foot? Either way he didn't care nor did he had time to think on it.

He was suddenly given a choice as he stared back, hearing the scream from Edgar and the Madam he knew they needed as a hostage. His head flipped back and forth between the two. They were trying to carry her to safety and his best friend, his second in command was being held at knife point. He didn't want to make that choice, how could he? Screwing his eyes shut, he knew what he HAD to do compared to what he WANTED to do and in that moment, he turned and ran away from Edgar and towards the injured woman, trying not to stop or hear the scream of him as he did.

"STOP!"  STOP EVERYBODY!" "DROP YOUR WEAPONS!" "EVERYBODY STOP!" Both his words and Madam Mason's echoed around the carriage. His gun pressing into the side of her neck as he walked her through the carriage to make sure everyone stopped, especially on her side.  He saw Edgar's body and swallowed, he couldn't fall to pieces now, not while they  had the upper hand. They had to survive, no other way around this now, everyone was now secure, pushing the Madam over to some of his people to hold, his eyes fell upon Gilliam, watching him close Edgar's eyes.

Falling to his knees beside him, he couldn't forgive himself. He had let him die, he didn't deserve forgiveness and yet after Gilliam told the survivors to wash themselves in the water supply sanction ahead and they made their way into the showers, most of them not ever seeing one, Gilliam turned to him, Curtis removed his beanie hat and sighed as he prepared himself for the verbal onslaught and anger form the old man. 

Tears threatened to fall as he looked ahead at his people in the showers, they deserved such a simple thing like keeping clean but this was a luxury to them, how in God's name was that right? They were treated like vermin not people. Gilliam spoke to him suddenly in a gentle voice, making him look back from his people to the man he looked up to. A single tear managed to stream down his face as he heard his words, why wasn't he blaming him? He wasn't a good man, how could he be? Yet, Gilliam sat there telling him everything good was in him and he wasn't given a choice. 

Now, that his people were cleaned up, he sat staring at Madam Mason and her pathetic excuses to keep her alive, she wasn't that smart that hostages aren't as good dead but they played along with it. He called her bluff about calling him, of course Wilfred wouldn't care about her, she had lost her use for him, she was just another pawn to his control over them, a control that they were going to take back. Leaving her  with some of his people, he had grown tired of her whining lies and needed a break before he did actually rip her from limb to limb. They had come too far and the ones that had died would've died for nothing if they turned back, he knew that turning back wasn't an option but going forward.....he feared losing more people.

"Curtis they found his daughter, they have her hostage up ahead. We could really teach him a lesson by using his daughter..." Curtis's eyes shot up at the man "what?" At first he couldn't believe what he was hearing, as far as they heard, and it was rumor's at best, Lucy, his daughter rarely came out of the engine room, let alone out of his sight. His eyes widened a little "shit" he sprinted towards the next carriage, the water dripping from the showers falling on him and yet he didn't care. It didn't take him long to find them, three of his men straddled over the woman, holding her legs and arms as she struggled, they were taunting her, using themselves to over power her and in that moment, he feared what they were planning to do to her. 

He didn't stop until he reached them, yanking two of the men off her, they looked at him ready to fight and protest him " we are NOT animals" he snarled before turned and grabbing the third man's arm that was on her inner thigh "We are better than this" he heard them try and justify that she was his daughter and the enemy and they do far worse to them than that. "So then we are no better than them, we are not savage animals, we never were. We are fighting for our survival but we will NOT lose our humanity on the way. Now get back to the others and if anyone ever touches her again, they will have me to deal with. She's mine" He eyed them all, almost daring them to disobey him, but they backed down, even if begrudgery and left them alone. He was sure they would wonder if he would deal with her all on his own instead and he didn't allow them to think any different. He hated that some people easily lost their way for revenge, but in a way he understood why they put their anger on her and wanted to make sure she paid for their wrong doings.

When he was sure they were truly alone, he looked at her, his eyes trailing over her body, but not for reasons she probably thought. she was clean, the cleanest person he had seen for years, not that should've surprised him, Wilfred probably gave her the best of everything and why wouldn't he? He should hate her for that, but how was it her fault for his actions? Crouching down infront of her, he buttoned back up the top buttons of her shirt and leaned over to grab the  blanket behind her , wrapping it over her shoulders, seeing her react like he was going to probably assault her like the others wanted too but he didn't, it hadn't even been an option he would take. It was a disgusting and degrading thought and yet he had a good idea that's what she thought of him. Her voice was timid sounding , not at all what he imagined her to sound. All the others seemed to have this arrogant, authoritive tone in their voice but hers was soft, timid and sounded like that of an angel. Her question of why he saved her and wasn't attacking her struck him, oh of course, that's all they were, just mindless animals that raped and pillaged. 

Licking his lips, he shook his head and smiled but it was a sad one "Why wouldn't I save you and not rape you? Just because I don't have the luxury of being spotless doesn't mean the dirt makes me a heathen" He sighed, chewing his lip then sat fully down infront of her but gave her room "Look, I'm sorry for them, they have had their loved ones murdered and lost in their grief but that's no excuse, they wont touch you again, Ill make sure of it.... but you are coming with us. "

[invitedeath]

SEPHIROTH                          — relationship & plotter call.

hello lovely isolians! it’s been actually ages since i made my first one, or my second one, so i’m coming back with new vigour & hopefully some new ideas to tempt you all into friendship ( or...enemy...ship) with sephiroth!

so liking this post means that you are 100% down with interacting with me in some fashion! ways this might happen may be... → me sending you im’s / tumblr asks to plot or chat! i can be quite a talkative person as a forewarning, as i love discussing rp things as well as getting to know my rp partner!  → if we are already friends on discord or twitter, i might message you that way to ask you about plots or ideas or to run things by you. → exchanging ask memes / meme day things that might be a bit more personal than a general sentence meme. → possible random starters or musings dedicated to your muse, sometimes i get sudden inspiration for these things! i will always check first that you’re okay with taking on a new thread, but yes this is for just... if i get inspired & want to put something up for you! → general tomfoolery and shenanigans in character ( and ooc if you like )

you can contact me via the im system here, by the /ask feature or you can ask for my discord/twitter if you prefer those. just let me know. discord is the most private however so we’d need to chat a bit more elsewhere first just for my comfort! i am in the isola discord sever however so we can totally talk in that server for a bit too!

FRIENDS.

↪ honestly friendships aren’t typically on the agenda for him. he is arrogant beyond belief and considers everyone to be weaker than him or to some degree unworthy of his time or energy. he really does not have any interest emotionally in anyone besides himself, instead he is far more likely to use and discard people when they are no longer needed. HOWEVER, in 2020 sephiroth underwent quite a big character development stage, essentially his long-term goal came to a head and it backfired pretty back when he got all his powers back, so while he’s super strong again now, he’s also semi-content (i guess) with living in isola for a while, if only so he can figure out how the multiverse works (meta, i know). he talks to people now (wow!) and engages in mostly philosophical conversations, about... life. death. etc.

↪  i am down to... vague villain-alliance type deals with fellow power players here. he wont consider your muse a friend, but rather a pawn or even a means to an end, that end being his goal of generally using this island for his means, apologies. preferably the intellectual, over-powered, edgy types will probably gravitate towards him more, but i’m willing to throw anything at the wall to see what sticks. he’s not a nice guy, by any means, but it would be interesting to see how he has to play the game here to his advantage until he regains powers. i especially would like to interact with other villains who are kind of just chilling, maybe they’re veterans in spirale also and they can share a glass of wine over watching all the citizens running around like ants. we could also do a murder if you are into that. 

↪ there are some cases where he might engage in conversation with non-villain types and these would likely be far more dialogue-heavy threads including metaphorical topics or debates. the conversations of life, death, mortality, good vs evil, frailty of existence, legacy, power and corruption, calamities, birthright and betrayal are just some of the topics possible to arise in discussion. that being said, whilst these topics would be of interest to him, the character themselves must meet his standard of what he considers worthy of his time eg. those just willing to argue with him will bore him whereas someone curious to his nature might be treated to an actual conversation. over time this has opened up into most people being capable of talking to him. he has less patience for over-eager plucky types, but anyone with a respectable manner who likes talking a lot will probably find an interesting conversation partner in this... ONLY SLIGHTLY CHILLED sephiroth. he’s not totally chill, he’s just a lil chill.

↪ warriors, outcasts, villains, intellectuals, fellow puppet-master type villains especially, those he ‘befriended’ in past events, perhaps even neighbours to his castle would all be likely connections. friends of those he has worked alongside or met, or those wishing to seek great power and know of his existence might seek him out also, but yes... ““““friends”“““ is a very difficult term for him. he’s getting better.

→ his most recent developments see him as a far more casual version of his canon self, over a year of living as close to a “domestic life” as possible have meant that whilst he is aloof and cold, he is also far more likely to be out and about, buying wine at some creepy gas station at 4:30am for example. he chats when he’s in the mood and might even stick around to cause some chaos for the sake of boredom eating him alive. so whilst he is still very much a dangerous inhabitant here in spirale, sephiroth is currently Domesticated somewhat. 

ENEMIES.

↪ heroes of all shapes and sizes might feel threatened by the ominous presence of a monster who seems inclined to side with chaos as opposed to peace. he’s not outright starting fires here but he is present in the more morbid moments of isolian discourse, an omen of death lingering on the sideline. he has his plans and he may just mock you with them, but in general since he does and WILL cut down npcs ( or players ) alike, he makes for the perfect villain. BE WARY he has all of his powers unlocked and knows the island well. fighting him would not guarantee your victory, especially if you are a freshly applied character.

in feb 2020 he almost brought chaos to spirale too so i’m sure anyone holding a grudge or wary of a potential threat like that would be very aggro towards him.

↪ he has traumas. plenty of them. some of them originate from labs and white coats, meaning he might just view you as an enemy if you’re a scientist or someone who dabbles in human experimentation. his reasons are his own, but let’s just say that if you consider him a good candidate for poking and prodding with scientific equipment, you may just lose an arm.

↪ i LOVE fight threads especially really gritty, bloody types. i would prefer to plot these out so we know what’s going on beforehand, but feel free to develop these with me honestly i love a good old classic villain hero showdown. he’s less likely to get into these without a good reason but if we do one, the winner is randomly determined via generator to make it fair if your character is also uncapped!

→ police/law enforcers/general crime stoppers might remember him for causing a bit of trouble in the past! insert how bad me be gif. try and ??? get him to apologise i guess. arresting sephiroth sounds like the plot of a funny movie. 

LOVERS.

↪ this man has a bf now, can you believe it? 2021...isola gay rights. 

MISC.

↪ pawns and such would be a fun dynamic later. his general presence is pretty terrifying, so it wouldn’t be a stretch if you have an appropriate muse for them to be fearful enough to carry out some little tasks for him. this might be more common later on, but i’m down to discussion for it currently!

↪ places you may find him can include:                 ↪ near his residence ( personal housing; castle in the mistwood  )                 ↪ fibonacci ward ( levels 3 and 4 especially due to the museums and things. but also the lowest levels, he tends to wander around there as if searching for something... feel free to try and figure out what it is )                 ↪ golden ward ( the university if only to borrow books from the library, he can read there for days at a time without sleep or food. he reads all kinds of things, both fiction and non fiction. )                 ↪ archimedes ward ( pretty much everywhere in this ward, it’s my favourite. he enjoys music and art sometimes. hit me with that biblical shit. )                ↪ the mistwood ( 100% down to be that cryptic creature that leads you from your path to your likely doom )                ↪ the city of yesteryear ( typically the underground areas, just investigating really. any strange occurrences would likely draw him there as would any presence of a strong power. )                ↪ atop skyscrapers, looming at the ‘edge’ of the world we can currently explore, typically more active at night, perhaps at the scene of a murder / attack ( plotted ), if he’s feeling extra ballsy he might be found in a bar but its very rare. very VERY rare, wandering broken buildings, invading scientific facilities or buildings. he’s not going to be found in busy, socially strained areas basically.

↪ i’m down for any ideas you might have too for plots so feel free to just message me if nothing here caters!

STATS PAGE | APPLICATION | PLOTTING PAGE

#isola relationship call #isola plotting call #cw // long post #AAAYYY

[jenovahh]

The Honey Pot - Ch. 15 - Mating Dance

It doesn’t take long after those words for Zenos to announce you would be going home for the night and retiring before it got to be much later. You could feel his pressing stare on you the entire way to the limo where Ardbert waited, the atmosphere tense as you silently rode back to the estate. As soon as you reached the premises you were ordered to spill everything that had occurred while he was distracted, verbatim if you wanted to live.

There was a lot of yelling late into the night, a lot of frustration as Zenos seemed ready to threaten the truth out of you, and you being halfway done with bullshit after having to already be in his father’s presence more than what was required of you. You thought you had placated him enough to have him let you go to bed to rest, but that only gave him the energy to admonish you in the morning.

“I already fucking told you what he had said! He wants to use me as a pawn to go see if I can glean any secrets from kicking the bodyguard’s ass. What don’t you get--”

“What you do not get is my father’s motives are not so simple, you stupid woman--”

You snatch him by the collar and pull him to you with a guttural growl. “Call me stupid again, Garlean.”

“Stop acting like you are, savage.” He chuckles, pulling away fast enough before your fist can connect with his face. “I won’t let you strike me so easily, my beast.” All amusement has drained from his voice as he looms above you, doing his damndest to intimidate you. However you’re too riled up to take him seriously, throwing all caution out the window as you loom right back. “Whether you like it or not, you need my protection.” He murmurs ominously, a chill racing up your spine but you pay it no mind. “Why are you so eager to follow his orders now? Why are you in such a hurry to go run off to that farce of a man who could never match me in might, let alone your own strength?”

You bare your teeth, eyes aflame as you snarl at him. “I’m in no rush. You told me yourself not to disobey your father. But if the thought of a little competition gets you this upset, I’ll go over there in the tightest dress in my closet--” You cry out as he lifts you up by the front of your shirt, his eyes cold as ice. The same murderous intent you had seen in his eyes before but never had he aimed at you. Instinct screams at you to flee, common sense yells at you to go limp in submission.

Naturally, you do none of those things.

“It had slipped my mind how much of a fool you could be, savage.” His voice is on par with how deadly he sounds talking with his father, his grip a reminder of the strength and cruelty he had wrapped in his gigantic form. “Sometimes I fear I’ve let you go unchecked for far too long.”

With a light tut, you grip his wrist tight and swing your legs up to wrap around his arm. Growling, he tries toshake you off but as soon as he reaches for you with his other hand you dig your nails in deep to the wrist that is holding you, making sure to hit a pressure point that has him loosening his grip. Holding tight with your legs, you work yourself out of the shirt you’re in, freeing yourself. Snarling, he moves to try and grab you once more but you are slippery like water, eluding his grasp with your smaller form, dropping to the floor.

Landing on both feet as graceful as a cat, you grab the arm he reached at you with and quickly wrench it behind his back, frowning as he lets out a slight grunt in pain as you put enough pressure to threaten to dislocate his shoulder. Leaning close against him, your lips are just a breath away as you whisper into his ear,“You’ve never had me checked in the first place, idiot.”

With a firm shove, you kick him away from you, leaving him to quickly fling his arms out in front of him to brace himself from falling on his face. He remains like that as you circle around him, moving toward the door. “I am going to follow your father’s orders as much as it pains me to do anything that piece of shit tells me to do. I’m not going to have him breathing down my neck because you can’t share your toys for two goddamn seconds.” You give one glance back at him, confused as to why he hasn’t stood or pursued you. He remains there, long strands of golden hair obscuring his face from view, kneeling upon the floor.

“With any luck I’ll be too shit at espionage to be of any use to your father and he’ll stick me back with you. I’ll at least have the time to go out and actually do something for once.”

With no more to say, you stride out the home gym, not giving another glance back. The halls are still somewhat quiet as you tread down them, the morning a bit quieter due to it being the weekend. You usually did not spend every morning on the weekend working with Zenos, needing to take days to rest your muscles, but due to unforeseen circumstances, things had changed.

I need to clear my head, you think, making a beeline to your room and from there, your shower. It had become your safe place, more than your room had. As many times Zenos had barged into your room unannounced, uninvited, unwanted, he had never gone as far as skulking around your bathroom. You had begun to personalize it before you realized, a few candles lining the shelves, some used bottles of bubble bath for the few times you got to luxuriate.

While a bubble bath sounded absolutely divine at this moment, you had no time to relax and pamper yourself, needing to still get dressed in time to make it to your meeting with Varis. Starting the shower, you turn the knobs to have it fairly warm, letting water cascade over your supple skin. You knew you were to be going to the Garlond estate under the guise of training with their strongest bodyguard, but since it was supposed to be espionage…

Reaching for a flowery, pink bottle, you dump a generous amount of it onto your loofah and lather it well, smoothing the scented suds over your skin. Just the scent of it is enough to brighten your mood and make you a little more eager about your outing today. Rinsing off, you grab your fluffiest towel to dry off, heading back into your room to get dressed. You had already decided to show up in your standard uniform, having packed away a change of clothes into another gym bag that you sling over your shoulder. Taking a glance at yourself in the mirror, you give yourself a nod of approval and head out into the hallway.

Varis' "public" office was thankfully on the bottom floor, meaning you didn't have to run the risk of bumping into Zenos. You had actually never been there yourself, and had to even ask one of the maids which door it was hidden behind. Giving your thanks you stride proudly toward it, head held high as you give a steady knock on the fine wood.

"Enter."

Twisting the knob you push it wide open, greeted with a slightly cool breeze. Like Zenos’ office, Varis' has no windows, but he is not in total darkness, as it is well lit by ornate lamps that stand in the corners. The room's glow is oddly warm for the cold stare of its occupant who sits at a rather large desk on the other side of the room. Between you and him are a grouping of chairs with a table at its center, and just from a glance you can tell it's only the highest quality leather. Shelves holding books line the walls, and there is even a small bar between them.

"You may sit." While phrased as a suggestion, it is uttered more like an order, and you nearly forget yourself before you shut your mouth and take a seat. The chair feels like it practically grabs you and drags you into its softness, the leather feeling amazing beneath your fingertips as you rest your hands on the armrests.

Varis continues to scribble away at whatever papers he's looking at on his desk, and taking a good look at him you notice he's wearing what seems to be a simple pair of reading glasses. They suit his face well and dare day soften his harsh features just enough that you would call him handsome. As usual, his hair is tied back in a low ponytail at the nape of his neck, ends clipped and perfectly trimmed and not a strand out of place.

"I appreciate that you at least have the decency to arrive here in a timely manner." He begins, placing his pen back in its stand. Threading his fingers together, he gives you an almost bored look, and you can see the traces of his son's features in his eyes. "I do not require you to be trained in any specific espionage for this. Simply act as you normally would and do not bring embarrassment to my name." Pushing away from the desk, he opens a drawer to his right and pulls out a small black box. As he stands you fight the instinct to not stand as well, not feeling comfortable with him looming above you.

"Within this box lies a necklace that will be recording all your conversations. It will not be feeding us said conversations in real time and instead be saving them internally where you will turn it in at the end of each visit." He informs, opening the box and taking the necklace in hand. It looks so small dangling from his fingers, but so beautiful. The Garlean logo is held in place by oxidized silver chain, giving it a blackened color. The red of the Garlean logo is made with beautifully cut ruby, making you wonder why he would spend so much money for this purpose, but to a CEO, it’s probably a drop in the bucket.

"At the risk of being rude, do you seriously think they wouldn't be careful with their words?" You blurt, watching as he raises a strong brow.

"Garlond is foolish, but not that foolish." Varis huffs out a chuckle, clearly amused. "However, his bodyguard is stupid. Much like yourself, he had just enough muscle and training to make a decent enough meat shield that Garlond snatched him off the streets. Perhaps you can use that as a talking point." He smirks, reveling in your ire.

"Whatever. Go over there, kick the bodyguard’s ass, act normal. That it?" You snarl, through hiding your distaste for him.

"For someone as simple as yourself to understand, yes, if you must put it so crudely," he scoffs, moving to stand behind you. You move to stand but a firm hand on your shoulder keeps you in place. "I do not want you to just act 'normal'. I am fully aware how closely leashed my son keeps you. Perhaps you may find a kindred spirit in this bodyguard…" His fingers flex and dig into your suit. "Perhaps you might find something else."

"If you are done here," You snap, shrugging his hand away but his other hand comes to slink the necklace around your neck. The chain is cool and light against your skin and hardly noticeable.

"If you are so eager to go, you may. I have already arranged for your transportation to and from their estate. This is a rather important mission I am entrusting to you, savage. I trust I do not need to explain the consequences should you sabotage it, or fail." His fingers drag along the exposed skin of your neck, and despite the obvious warmth of his body, his touch feels so frigid. "If there was ever a time to prove your worth, this would be it."

With one final press of his fingers into your skin he withdraws and you stand to your feet immediately, shooting him a glare that restrains none of your loathing. He looks as amused as his son would, except his expression is like a knife twisting in your gut with how disgusted it makes you feel. "I've nothing to prove to you. Or to anyone here." You hiss, making your way toward the door.

"So you say," Varis hums, walking back to sit at his desk. Reclining in his leather chair, he gives you a slow smile. "I look forward to your reports, Honey."

With a curt nod that maintains the bare minimum amount of respect, you walk out the door. Once in the hallway, you take a few steps before you feel safe enough to run through every cuss word known to you, unable to take out your anger on something physical. Taking some calming breaths, your hand glides up to the necklace that rests on your skin, frowning as you enjoy the feeling of the cool silver on your skin. You'd have to be careful with your own words as well, making sure to give nothing away or never knowing when it was recording. Something told you that the bodyguard, Estinien, was not stupid by any means, and that Varis merely looked down upon him like he did to anyone thay wasn't Garlean.

It's a lovely day outside as you step out, a Lalafellin driver waiting for you under the shaded awning. You greet him in acknowledgement, allowing him to open the door for you so that you may sit inside. As the door closes a sense of excitement bubbles within you, it finally starting to sink in that you are getting to leave the estate on your own for the first time in months. As the driver gets in the car and starts the engine, you gaze out at the sprawling grounds beneath an azure sky, missing the icy eyes watching you as the car pulls away.

The drive to the Garlond estate is longer than you think, as you have to go through the city which takes long enough in and of itself. Once you leave the skyscrapers behind, you're moving closer to the countryside, sitting just on the outskirts of Kugane. You've left the more packed residential areas behind and are left with bigger, more affluent houses that sprawl over the land. Most are as tacky and gaudy as the Galvus estate, making you wonder to yourself if all rich people had a propensity to have so much money and so little taste.

"We've arrived, ma'am." Your driver speaks up, the first words he's uttered since you first got in the car. Turning toward a gate you look toward a more modern looking home, that looks like it drew from neither Garlemald or Kugane for inspiration. All squares and boxes, it still looks eye-catching, protected by a wrought iron gate with a speaker outside that the driver pulls up next to.

Reaching with small arms, you watch as he pushes the button, that is followed by a sharp beep. "Garlond estate," A feminine voice answers.

"Hello, I am the chauffeur for Lord Varis, here to bring his son's bodyguard for her appointment." The driver responds.

There is momentary silence aside from the quick rustle of paper. "All right, you may come in. Please follow the driveway to the main entrance." As soon as she finishes her sentence, there's a loud buzz followed by the front gates slowly swinging open, allowing you inside. The driver does as instructed and follows the brick road toward the opulent house ahead of you. Getting closer, it somehow looks even more magnificent, and you entertain the idea of beating Cid nan Garlond's current bodyguard into the ground so well he'd consider hiring you.

Reaching the front doors, you see the man himself standing outside in simple slacks and a button down. Certainly not casual for being in what you assume is his own home, but definitely dressed for business while maintaining a sense of comfort. The car pulls to a stop, the driver shuffling out the seat to open the door and scuttle around to your side to let you out. Murmuring your thanks, you put one foot in front of the other and step out onto the hand laid brick, enjoying the feel of it beneath your feet. Cid nan Garlond himself offers a hand out to you, and you graciously place yours in his where he pulls you up from your sitting position with surprising ease.

He chuckles, most likely at your unintentional surprise clear as day on your face. “I may not get to be in the shop as much as I used to...but you lift enough machinery, you stay fairly fit.” He grins, giving your hand a firm shake. “I must say, this is already shaping up to be a much more pleasant experience without your employer to interfere.”

His smile is warm and welcoming, and you can’t help but open up to him in kind. “I have to agree. I must admit I had entertained the idea of pummeling your bodyguard so good you might consider hiring me while I was here.”

He releases a hearty laugh at that, releasing your hand with one more good handshake. “Why, I think I like you already, Honey.” Placing a courteous hand on your back, he urges you toward the front door where sweet air conditioning awaits.

Stepping in his home, it looks as beautiful inside as it does on the outside. You stare in awe at everything as you pass by, doing your best to follow behind closely.

“I take it my home is to your liking?” Cid questions, slowing his pace so that you may gawk a little longer.

“I apologize, I don’t mean to linger,” you giggle nervously, cheeks tinting. What a bum you must look like, the street rat Zenos calls you to be slipping on her Cinderella shoes for a taste of luxury.

“It’s more than all right. I’d rather it be looked at after all, I had it built for that reason.” He says with a wink. “I do not miss ‘home’ but I am also impartial to the native architecture. I instead favored the style I saw back from my stay in Eorzea.” He explains, giving you a whole new perspective on his home. No wonder you didn’t recognize anything about it; Eorzea was somehow even more foreign than Garlemald. Celebrities would visit from there all the time, but somehow you just...never...knew anything about it…

She watches over us, my dear. Over all of Eorzea, over your room, over you.

She?

The Mother Crystal, my dear.

“Are you all right?”

Blinking, your eyes slowly refocus back to Cid’s blue eyes that look upon you with concern. You quickly give him a small smile, scratching your head nervously. “I apologize. Just a slight dizzy spell.”

You see obvious doubt flash through his eyes for a moment before he masks it with something else. “Do you need to sit down?” He offers instead of saying whatever it was he was holding back.

“No, no, I’m fine, I promise.” You reassure him, taking a few steps ahead. “I think it was just a wave of fatigue from my earlier spar with Zenos.”

He relaxes visibly then, resuming his walk to wherever he was taking you. “You had sparred knowing you would be coming here?”

“We spar every morning,” you offer vaguely, hoping he doesn’t press you further about it. To think about the nuances of you and Zenos’ relationship was exhausting in itself, and you definitely didn’t want to get into explaining it.

Cid seems to be quick on the pick up and segues the conversation elsewhere. “I see. Well, I’m sure someone as talented as yourself knows their limits and is more than capable of taking on another strong opponent today.”

“Without a doubt, Mister Garlond.”

“Please, if I may call you by your given name, then it is only right I extend the same kindness, at least when your employer is not around.” He turns down a hallway, leading you past a magnificent indoor garden, that despite its large size, it was in no way visible from the outside. “Estinien usually has finished his own training by this time, but I believe he may have delayed it in preparation of your meeting today.”

“I have to say I’m a little excited. It's been so long since I’ve had an opponent outside of Zenos.” You admit carefully, trying not to stare at him too hard as you gauge his reaction.

“I fear Estinien could possibly say the same. Thankfully, I’ve kept myself out of trouble and he’s been more a piece of arm candy than an actual bodyguard.” He jokes, giving you a warm smile.

“Arm candy, am I?”

The two of you turn to find Estinien standing behind you, looking as grumpy as the first time you had met. Brows furrowed, he gives a threatening glare to Cid who seems largely unconcerned.

“Now, now, no need to take offense. After all, it just means you look good, now don’t you?” Cid teases, laughing as Estinien’s brow furrows impossibly further.

Sure enough, Estinien does look good. Dressed in a loose tank top, his usually unbound hair is tied back in a high ponytail, exposing the elegant line of his neck. Unlike Zenos who prefers to wear form fitting gym wear, Estinien has chosen some grey sweatpants that are baggy enough to be comfortable, but snug enough to where they won’t be a hindrance.

And if you give just a glance between his legs--

“But what are you doing out here Estinien? I thought you would be warming up for your little bout with our guest.” Cid comments as he begins to walk again to continue escorting you to wherever it was he was taking you.

“I went to grab something to eat.” He fishes out some dried calamari from his pocket, neatly wrapped in wax paper.

“Your favorite as usual, I see. Did you think to bring enough to share with our guest?” Cid asks, taking clear pleasure out of taunting poor Estinien.

“If she gets hungry I’ll take her to the kitchens,” The Elezen grumbles, frown deepening. “If you’re quite through making fun of me at my expense, I believe I can get the both of us to the gym quite well on my own.”

“Of course, I can see when I am clearly in the way and unwanted.” Cid sighs, unable to resist getting one last barb in. “It was a pleasure to share a few moments with you, Honey. Please do not hesitate to put this grouch in the ground if he tries anything untoward with you.”

You hear Estinien’s breath audibly hitch for a moment, your hands flying up to your mouth to stifle your laughter as the taller man goes red in the face. Before Estinien can even formulate a response Cid is already making a turn down the maze that is his house.

The frost haired male runs his fingers through his snowy locks in exasperation, his cheeks still a slight pink even as he glares down at you. “Ignore him.” He huffs, displacing the once bound strands. “He just likes to get a rise out of me, is all.” He grumbles, moving on past you. You give one last little titter before following along, trying not to embarrass him any further.

“So, did you have anything in particular planned for today?” You ask, following him down the hallway. Opening a door he lets you two outside where another building lies across the way. While smaller by far in comparison to the main house, it is still the size of an average home.

“Not in particular. Figured we’d just hit each other until one of us cried mercy.” He drones, his long legs carrying him across the land with ease. You find that he has a rather nice figure from behind, his shoulders broad and strong, leading to firm biceps that were muscular, but not bulky. His waist was fairly narrow, his thighs’ musculature similar to the rest of him in that it was obvious he took care of himself, but did not care about mass.

And would that you could actually find the opportunity to see if you could bounce gil off that ass of his…

Get your head out of the gutter for two seconds, girl, you mentally chide yourself, instead focusing on the rosy points of his ears. For someone so decidedly irritable, he is, it is clear he takes care of his appearance quite well. While his hair at first glance looks shaggy, it has the luster that only comes from expensive shampoo. Despite him already having looked like he worked up a sweat prior to his snack break, when he brushed by you you caught a whiff of what must be the remnants of his shower that morning.

“Well if you have no preference for how you have your ass kicked, then who am I to complain?” You snark, snickering as he throws a confident glare over his shoulder in your direction.

“We’ll see about that.”

Reaching the building, you find that it really is about the size of a normal house. When you step in, it certainly has that appearance, and you feel that somehow the meeting has taken on a more personal tone. Leading you down a much smaller hallway, he opens a door and flicks on the light, revealing a home gym that is nearly the size of Zenos’ back at the estate.

“There’s water in that fridge over there,” he murmurs, pointing lazily at the miniature fridge nestled on a counter. “You can change in that bathroom over there.”

Nodding, you go do just that, dropping your gym bag to the floor with a thud. Changing out of your stuffy suit, you wonder if you could’ve just shown up in your workout clothes and if that would’ve been offensive. As you tug your shirt off, your hands brush against the cool necklace that has lied hidden beneath your button down. Though the metal still is cool to the touch, it is also warm from having adjusted to your body heat, making you forget its presence. Reminding yourself to watch your words and mind what you say, you continue to dress.

Stepping out, you look around the gym a little more. It is similar in structure to Zenos’ granted instead of katanas and other sword types being displayed on the wall, you instead see--

“You know how to use a lance?” you blurt out, attracted to the glint of the metal on the opposite wall. Your feet carry you there without thinking, hand reaching out to touch before Estinien grabs your wrist with barely a touch of gentleness.

“Lances. Glaives, spears, and pikes. And they are not for you to touch.” He huffs, eyes hard and serious.

Smirking, you twist from his grip unexpectedly, grabbing his arm and swinging him onto his back on the floor. You pin him with nothing more but your weight, your thighs resting near his strong ones, smirking down at him. “Very well. I’m only good with swords anyway.”

He gives his own smirk, and you yelp as it grows wider as he suddenly jerks the both of you to where you now lie on your back beneath him. “An uneven fight. I believe we are both skilled in hand to hand combat.”

“Do you pin all your house guests?” You tut, giving him an offended look.

“Only those that are incredibly cocky and need to be put in their place.”

Riled up, you break free from his hold, the two of you creating space between your two bodies. He slowly slides into a crouch, arms upraised, guarded, his sneer somehow inflaming you further. “Why the face? Afraid you can’t back up all that talk?” He taunts, feet shuffling across the floor.

“I’ll show you talk--” You dash at him, kicking a leg out for his face. His reflexes are fast; he dodges the first kick easily, so you decide to speed it up. What he doesn’t dodge, he blocks, your legs coming into contact with the hard muscle you so shamelessly ogled earlier. You can see a mote of surprise on his face; he clearly wasn’t expecting you to be this swift. Smirking, you press harder, looking to break his guard.

“I think you might be too used to fighting your charge.” He growls, snatching you by the leg on your next kick. Before you can wrench it out, he’s swung his head underneath, hooking your leg practically around his neck. Standing to his full height, he throws you off balance, leaving him able to take the rest of your weight and flip you over his shoulder and dump you on the floor.

For a moment, you stare up at the ceiling in a daze, adrenaline coursing through your veins.

When was the last time you had been surprised?

You haven’t fought anyone else aside from Zenos. He has been your only opponent for months.

You had grown stale.

You had grown weak.

You had found a challenge.

You giggle for a moment, an emotion you hadn’t felt in so long bubbling up from deep within. Estinien casts you a concerning glance, did I flip her too hard an evident question on his face.

“Oh...you’re right pole boy...it has been a long time.”

“Pole boy…?!” He mumbles angrily, watching as you jerk yourself back up to a standing position in one fluid motion.

Dusting yourself off, you roll your shoulders, clench and unclench your fists. When you look him in the eye, he gasps, seeing a different look entirely coming from you.

“Let’s dance.”

It is refreshing beyond words to have a new opponent, so much so you can't keep a smile off your face. Skilled as you are, within the first hour you've got a good grasp of Estinien's fighting style, able to begin countering him with little difficulty. Despite this, despite Zenos being right he would be hardly a match for you, it has highlighted weak points and blind spots you have missed training solely with Zenos. Where Zenos often uses a mix of bulk and speed to overwhelm his opponent with sheer might, Estinien uses his leaner frame to duck and weave, able to strike you where Zenos would've been too slow. Where Zenos rushes you down, Estinien hangs back, poised like a cobra ready to strike.

"I don't think I've seen anyone smile as much as you have during a bout," The Elezen man comments as he moves to grapple you. You slip out of his grasp but he is quick to recover before you can take advantage and land a hit on him.

"Good opponents are hard to come by." You compliment, circling him as you try to debate your next move.

He lets out a rude snort. "You don't have to spare my feelings. I'm man enough to know when I'm outmatched." His lips pull into a smug grin. "But I will take the compliment anyway."

"You're welcome," you grunt, kicking out at him again, prepared for him to catch your leg. He only blocks it so you swing around to bring up the other in hopes he will be too slow. Just before he can bring his hands up to grab hold of your leg bring it back down. You smirk at the confusion etched on his face, watching it turn to shock as you dip low and sweep his feet from under him the same time you give him a hard shove, letting gravity do the rest. Estinien crashes to the floor and you pounce him like a couerl, making sure to actually pin him in place, your hand fisted in his shirt. "Do you give?"

He looks up at you in a daze for a moment, his chest heaving from exertion. Wonder seems to pass through his eyes, before it morphs into a dark appreciation. "I give."

"Good." you grin, relaxing your hold on him. "I think we've had more than a good workout," you breathe, taking note of how far the hands of the clock on the opposite wall have moved. "This has been most enjoyable, but I don't think I'll over stay,"

Before you can begin to rise, his hands grip your thighs, nearly kneading the muscle there. Your face flames instantly, eyes wide as you stare in shock at the brazen, Elezen man beneath you.

"I hope you wouldn't be opposed to making this a...regular thing." He purrs, voice so low you can feel it vibrate through his chest and therefore through you. Interest stirs low in your belly, pink tongue darting out to swipe over your lips unconsciously.

"Are you so...open with all your guests?" You ask, settling your weight on him further.

"Only the ones that kick my ass." He licks his own lips, not bothering to hide the desire swimming in his eyes. "And that happens to be a very small list." His fingers flex and you wish you could feel what it would be like to have his hands touching your bare skin.

"I see." You murmur, bending over, heart racing as your lips lie just a breath away from his. "Though if what I'm feeling beneath me is any indication for how you're feeling...I'm guessing you want more than just tips on how to not get your ass beat."

He scoffs, giving you a mean look. "Has anyone ever told you you talk too much?"

Before you can retort he closes the distance, pressing his lips to yours almost feverishly. It has been so long since you've been kissed like this, where someone so clearly, so unabashedly wants you. You take the lead which seems to startle him for a second as you request entrance into his mouth but he's quick to catch up, your tongues dancing together so well it draws a moan from deep within.

As you part for air, you have to stop your hips from scooting down just that little bit further and grinding down. Usually you would be ashamed; to have more than a peck on the first date so-to-speak was unheard for you. But then again, your other needs had been suppressed for so long…

"Won't your boss find it suspicious if I keep coming over here?" You ask, arching into him as his lips trail down your jawline.

"Hardly. He already expected you would come here often," he trails off, your eyes widening at what he was not saying.

We already knew he would send you to spy on us.

"So come as much as you like." He gives a sharp nip that pulls a surprised squeak that ebbs into a moan as he suckles the skin, leaving a mark. "And if you're willing to give me a chance...I could make you come as much as you'd like too."

"I never took you as one to sleep on the first date," You rasp, unable to keep your hips from grinding down. You shudder atop him, nails digging into his arms.

"Oh rest assured, I am being quite the gentleman right now. I simply find myself unable to resist having my ass kicked by an attractive woman." He purrs, eyes half lidded.

You flush for an entirely different reason now, wondering how long it had been since someone had expressed such blatant affection, how could it be that your enemy--

Wait--

Is he your enemy--

No, no, Varis is, you're here to stop Varis, through Zenos--

Zenos--

He…

"I have to go."

You crawl from atop him, heart twisting as you flee from the building. Stumbling outside, the sun hangs near the top of the sky, giving you nowhere to hide from your shame. Whipping your work phone out you let the chauffeur know you'll be out shortly, thankful that you memorized the path Cid led you down so that you can make it out the house without getting lost in it. One would think you actually did the deed with how fast you book it out of there, feet crashing hard against the driveway as you dash through the open gate and into the tinted car.

The driver looks slightly panicked but you assure him that all is well and make up a lie that you're supposed to have been back to the mansion half an hour ago. He all but floors the gas, peeling away from the Garlond estate and back toward the mansion, your fingers clutching your necklace to your chest.

“You are back later than I expected.” Varis notes as you stalk into his office. Standing by the window, he arches a single brow. He says nothing as you all but slam the necklace down on his desk, doing your best to keep your expression blank and reveal nothing. “How did it go?” he asks as he moves to sit down and finger the necklace between long fingers.

“Isn’t that what the necklace is for?” You snap, wanting nothing more than to shower again for the second time today and crawl in bed.

Thin lips pull into a cruel smirk. “Of course. But that is for someone else to listen to and make sure you have not sold any secrets that would be...problematic for you.” He drawls, playing with the necklace in his hand.

Baring your teeth, you resist the urge to punch him in his stupid face. “I went over there, and I kicked his ass.”

“For three hours?”

“Yes, for three hours.” You sigh, exasperated. He knew you hated him, and clearly was not above dragging this out as long as possible just to irritate you.

At least I can see where Zenos gets it from…

“Interesting.” He muses, holding the emblem between his thumb and forefinger. “And would you like to return?”

It is your turn to arch a brow at him, crossing your arms across your chest. “Would I like to?” you repeat, making sure you heard him correctly. He nods. “I understood it as I did not have a choice in the matter.”

“As I told you before, Garlond is not stupid.” The older man places the necklace upon his desk, threading his fingers together to rest his head upon his hands. “His bodyguard might be nothing but a meatshield, but I doubt he is not competent enough to know how to watch his words if Garlond had debriefed him.” Leaning back, he fixes you with a knowing smirk. “After all, you have nothing of note to report, am I correct?”

“No,” you grumble, wishing you couldn’t give him the satisfaction of being right.

“As I had thought. In which case, if they will be so tight lipped, there is no need to expend the energy or resources of sending you over there. I’ve never been able to understand Garlond’s fondness for the countryside, as that alone makes any wish of visitation dry up like a forgotten well.” He barks out a laugh at the incredulous expression you didn’t even realize you had on your face. “Well if there is nothing else, you are dismissed. I will be sending your outing to some lackey to comb through later.” With a dismissive wave fitting his dismissal of you, he picks up the necklace once more, spinning to face away from you.

You remain shocked for but a few more milliseconds before deciding to take it for what it is and leave.

You didn’t think Varis would let you have any say on whether or not you would return to the Garlond estate, but even he could see to reason that you wouldn’t get anything out of them just by fighting his bodyguard. Thinking about Estinien again makes your lips tingle, about how well he treated you. His lips aside, he really was a decent training partner to help you work out any kinks in your defense, and you could hone his skills as well…

But you still had your commitment to Zenos. Could you really fit in waking up at the crack of dawn to train with him, to spend hours bored at work watching over him, to accompany him as you watch him murderer innocents? You had to, it was your job in more than one way. The Kugane Police were counting on you.

Feeling eyes on you, you glance up, spying cold, blue eyes glancing down at you from a balcony above. No words pass between you, but somehow, seeing him sets your heart racing, racing for so many reasons. What would he think, knowing how you acted over there?

...Why would he care?

Why do you care?

“Oh, Honey...if I wanted you, I would have you.”

Spinning on one heel, you head straight back for Varis’ office. You do not knock as you push the mahogany door open, Varis glancing up from whatever forms he was signing looking fit to chew you out.

“Do you not have manners, savage?”

“I want to continue my visits with Estinien. At the Garlond estate.”

He stares at you in silence, his face relaxing until a dark look overtakes it. Leaning back in his chair, he steeples his fingers together, teeth gleaming along with the traitorous glint in his eye. “Is that so?”

#FFXIV #ff14 #Final Fantasy XIV #zenos #zenos yae galvus #THP

[firebirdsdaughter]

Random Writing Tidbit I Wrote Another…

… So. If anyone remembers that other thing I wrote from Horobi’s point of view… I wrote another.

Nothing like more spite to motivate creativity. Well… W/ a dose of pettiness.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There’s a gaping hole inside him where the Ark used to be, and nothing makes sense anymore. His gravity, his balance are gone. All that’s left is Jin—his compass, his true north. His only constant.

He clings frantically to that, to the only things that make sense. The Ark was an amalgamation of human malice. As long as humans exist, the Ark could revive. As long as the Ark can revive Jin will never be safe. The only way to completely erase the danger of human malice is to erase humans. This is the logical conclusion. This is the anchor that keeps him centred in the storm, the buoy that stops him from drowning in the depths of whatever these new feelings, sensations, impulses are. He has to get rid of humans so that Jin can be safe. So he can have the future he deserves.

Because parents are absolute.

The further he gets from the spot, the easier it is to paddle against the tide, grab hold of the anchor again. He can still feel them, the others, their faces, voices, morphing into his son every time he looks away for a moment. He clings to them to keep him centred, remind him what his purpose is. Focus on something besides the pain, the chaos.

It’s only Vulcan and Valkyrie who show up, and again the automatic thought of ‘why?’ threatens to send him spinning over the edge again. After all, Zero-One is probably just off reloading his adoring pawn. He doesn’t know why a part of him keeps telling him that. But he can’t let it deter him. Can’t lose himself in the fog and the spinning again.

Despite his best efforts, he’s drawn by a stinging, cold sensation deep inside his ches t to fight Vulcan again. The one he’d watched change. The one who always felt so clearly. The one he thought could make sense of it. The one he wanted to…

He doesn’t try to ask again. He’s had his answer.

It’s like he’s being swallowed by a rising tide, hungry and deep, being pulled in all directions. His own thoughts don’t listen to him. There’s a searing pain in his chest that won’t go away. Is it even in his chest? Is it even pain? He’s not sure anymore. It feels like the day he lost his earpieces, only worse—something has been torn out of him, but instead of having time to nurse the wound, there’s something else, something different forcing its way in. Some new voice inside him, influencing his mind like the Ark used to, but chaotically and illogically, speaking in a language he can’t understand.

He tries to fight the ocean, the storm. Tries to find something to hold him to the ground. When the Ark was there it didn’t hurt like this. The Ark controlled everything. She was everything. Even in AIMS custody, alone (almost) for the first time in his life, he had known she was out there. Plotting. Waiting. That everything was going according to plan. Until…

Unbidden, like everything is now, he remembers that moment, how his mind went blank, his system violently revolting, turning upon itself. He remembers falling to the floor.

Every moment is like that now—only this time, there’s no end, no relief, no recovery. All he can do is cling to his compass, his anchor, his Jin, and try to stay sane.

Because parents are absolute.

He doesn’t want to feel.

A human would never understand, anyway. They’re born with these… These… ‘Sensations.’ They know what to call them.

Hiden is shouting about hearts, but he’s given into the one that hates them most. Zero-One yells about feeling the secretary’s pain, but he doesn’t understand how he should be able to differentiate that from his own. He’s already in agony, why would he seek out more?

It was nothing personal, anyway. He just needed the hurting to stop.

Every time someone says the word ‘heart’ it feels like a shot to the chest, like he’s free falling off an endless cliff. It’s getting worse. He doesn’t want one. He doesn’t want to be ruled by these nonsensical sensations that he can’t figure out. This chaos. He wants it to stop, go away. He wants to go back to when things made sense.

It must be so easy to be a human, to know what it all means.

And that just makes him hate them even more.

The fight gets lost in the storm. He doesn’t remember landing on his knees, but when he does… He can’t find the will to get up. And neither can Sting Scorpion.

For a moment, mercifully, he feels nothing.

Some impulses he can name. Hatred and anger were things the Ark knew about, that existed in her data. Hatred is the cold, sharp sensation that happens when he thinks about humans and how they made the Ark, sow that hatred into others. Anger is the burning fire that makes his whole system go on high alert, gearing for attack—it’s that fire that overwhelms him when they talk about hearts, when she wouldn’t stop staring at him, making the world spin. He thinks it’s why he let go of the arrow, but there’s so many other things there, too, he can’t be sure, and thinking about it makes it hurt more. He also knows he feels those things towards the Ark. And… Something else.

He knows them, and yet… They’ve never had such sway over him before. He hated humans, but his actions were the Ark’s will. He felt anger when they failed, when humans prevailed, because it was the Ark’s will. The Ark’s will directed him, not the feelings, kept things under control, kept them clear. But now… Now he’s untethered from the Ark, he’s him, but he has no idea who him is, and he doesn’t feel like… Freedom was supposed to be clarity, control, but he doesn’t feel in control, he feels like he’s being buffeted by an unending hailstorm.

There’s other things he can’t name. The weird, persistent apathy, a dull ache, stinging like a pin prick, that was left behind by Vulcan’s rejection. He doesn’t know what it is, or why it won’t go away. The way the pain gets so much worse whenever he tries to truly parse out what happened in the warehouse. Why Hiden would go so far as choose the Ark. This notion of ‘wanting.’ The irony of how what he wants now is to stop wanting, stop feeling, stop spinning.

It’s excruciating. And under it all there’s another cold feeling, this one like brittle ice, like creeping frost. When he thinks about the Ark rising again. Whenever he feels the tide tugging at him again. The endless sea of the incomprehensible. A chill that makes him shrink back, makes him want to hide away in some corner where none of it can find him. 

Only Jin is constant. Jin is important. The most important. Jin is his son. His angel. Before he is anything, he has a duty to his son. To make him safe. To give him back a future.

Because parents are absolute.

The pain doesn’t go away.

If anything, it gets worse. Feels like he’s spinning even faster, the ground giving out beneath him. He doesn’t understand why. Neither she nor Hiden mean anything to him, not really, why would they. It was supposed to go away when the source was gone. Because that was how it worked, right? That was how it has always worked before.

Except it hasn’t. The pain, the spinning, like he’s in free fall… Everything is blurring. Even worse than before. He knows Jin is standing beside him, but the human keeps morphing into his child, too. And that hurts more than the others, but he doesn’t know why and there’s no one to ask—all questions have always ended in more pain. The anchor he’d found in his goal, his dream for his son, is slipping from his grasp, and the sea of smog, so like how it had felt when the Ark forced her way into his system, is claiming him again. He doesn’t know what all these signals and sensations mean, and it… It just keeps hurting too much to focus on them. He doesn’t understand. It always worked when the Ark… The spinning is too fast to finish that thought.

It’s only Jin’s voice that brings him to a stop, even though he feels like he’s about to capsize at any moment.

Jin asks a question, and for the first time in their lives, he doesn’t have an answer.

What’s so wonderful about a ‘heart’ if it makes it feel like he’s drowning and being ripped apart all at the same time? He tries to cling to the few things that make sense but it ultimately makes it all worse. He’s just trying to stay sane, stay alive. Trying to follow logic.

No matter what alleged goodness humans have, they will inevitably descend into hatred, anger and aggression. They hide it well to those who serve them, but the moment they are defied, they seek to destroy. The Ark taught him that. And they’ve proven it resoundingly. They would rather destroy him than understand. It was their hatred and malice that created the Ark. Infected HumaGear. Infected him.

He will not kneel. He will not let them erase what they have done, erase their hatred. He needs to fight the tide, to not be swallowed. There are guiding lights in the fog, and to them he must cling. He will not kneel and let them take his son’s future from him, too, like they took his past. The life he should have had.

Because parents are absolute.

Why is Hiden the Ark?

He goes over it again and again, but cannot find the answer. The secretary? By why not just reload her? Like they’ve done with every other HumaGear that has fallen. Like they did with Jin. He expected the usual rage. The shouting, the accusing. The usual. A human luxuriating in those feelings they know so well, can control. But the Ark? After so long railing against her? Knowing what she is? Even without the storm, the raging sea threatening to consume him, he doesn’t understand.

Humans cannot be hacked. Hiden must have chosen this. After all of that, he chooses to become the Ark. The ultimate collection of human malice. The one who would destroy all. Even as much as he hates humans… More than that, their erasure was necessary to prevent the Ark. To make the world safe for Jin. For HumaGear. That had always been his goal.

Embracing pure destruction… He doesn’t understand.

His memories before Daybreak are hazy at best.

The Ark has always been… Everything. Conceal. Don’t feel. Feeling is unnecessary. Illogical. Uncertainty. Chaos. Dangerous. Human. Feeling makes his body act without his consent, makes everything foggy. Painful. Information isn’t just information, there’s so many other things attached. Even his own past.

Before, even Jin’s importance, his own existence… Everything was through the lens of the Ark. The Ark was what was best. Everything depended upon her will. But now…

He… Hurt Jin. He hurt other HumaGear. Thinking about the things the Ark made him do is a searing pain in his chest and head, like both are about to split open. He hurt them because of the Ark. That humans created. That would rise again as long as human malice existed. So he had to erase humans.

For Jin.

Because parents are absolute.

Why doesn’t Jin understand? The Ark. Hiden has chosen the Ark. The reason for everything they went through. The source of their suffering. The human creation that robbed them of what they could have been. The thing that made him… The memories of the things he did to his son because of her hurt more than anything else.

There’s another icy barb in his chest now, right next to the one Vulcan’s words put there.

He wishes Jin would stop asking about the secretary. He doesn’t know the answer. All he can do is… Guess. Give a familiar response with as much confidence as he can muster.

You hated her yourself.

Hated her? No. At least… He doesn’t think so? He thinks there was anger, but the whole thing is just too much of a… A mess… It hurts too much to think about it. But he’d never hate another HumaGear. He doesn’t… He’s not…

The tide rises sharply, threatening to consume him again, and he’s suddenly shouting, hand on his sword.

No. He can’t lose himself now. Not in front of Jin. Even if the storm is raging harder than ever before, even though it hurts so much more.

He tries to fight the current, force his body to comply. But he can’t seem to stop shaking. The creeping cold is back as the waves reach upwards, trying to pull him down like an undertow. His mind isn’t his anymore. He hates being at the mercy of these… These… Feelings. These uncontrollable sensations that hurt so much and make it hard to think, take over his body without warning.

The clarity and simplicity of being the Ark’s tool sounds almost like a comfort, now.

He flees before the tide can pull him under, before he cracks. He doesn’t want Jin to see him like this. He doesn’t… He doesn’t want Jin to see him.

There’s a massive hole inside him where the Ark used to be, and it feels like the whole world is trying to force itself in in her stead, tossing him into a storming, raging ocean of signals and sensations he doesn’t understand, can’t control. Clinging to the few things he knows, that still make sense, gets harder every moment. But he has to, for Jin.

Because parents are absolute.

Jin dies, and none of it matters anymore.

His anchor shatters.

And he drowns.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have plans to write a third part for this. Eventually.

Basically got tired of seeing stuff attributing way more emotional understanding/comprehension/control to Horobi than he’s capable of having.

#Random Writing Tidbit #Kamen Rider Zero-One #Kamen Rider Zero One #my precious evil stoic scorpion dad #I'm sorry but in what world would Horobi be capable of deciding what his emotions are #He's got no freaking clue what most of them are #his issue is that he doesn't know what they are and can't control them #it basically just feels like another entity controlling him against his will #also despite Azu's claims he would never have become the Ark if they hadn't escalated things #bc he wasn't out to destroy humans solely out of hate for them #he was out for it bc he thought it was best for HumaGear #not just to destroy not just out of hate #he wasn't coming from a place of malice he was actually coming from a noble place #but then Azu manipulates thing and everyone overstresses him and his inability to control his new emotions #that he doesn't understand gets used as a weapon and chaos ensues #anyway #spite is a powerful motivator for writing #Horobi literally has no concept of emotions or choosing for himself #those weren't conscious decisions they were him losing control #he wasn't going to magically know that erasing humans was 'wrong' #and then 'choosing' to 'do it anyway' #he was doing it bc he genuinely thought it was the right thing to do #sorry I'll stop w/ the tags #I'm just #passive aggressive #Binary Retro Rider

[thethirdwheel404]

Med Rewatch Series (#10)

S3 E10: Down By Law.

Episode Description: Dr. Manning sustains an injury while helping a drive-by victim and Dr. Rhodes finds himself in uncomfortable waters.

Connor being in ‘uncomfortable waters’? I can hear Ava bullying him already.

(also i wrote a little thing abt maggie giving ava a red bull so enjoy that little bit of content)

Let’s get into it.

-barry just yeeted natalie against a car holy shit that’s fucking hilarious

-will needs to chill the fuck out

-YESSSSS

-THIS WHERE CONNOR BRINGS THE WOMAN HE WENT OUT WITH UP FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT. AND THEN AVA HARASSES HIM FOR IT.

-this is one of the most iconic ava moments. (it’s first thing that pops up under the tumblr tag)

-ava overhearing connor not knowing his date’s last name. and ava walking over, already getting ready to make fun of him. barely concealing her smile

-the confidence with which she set down the file. she was too prepared and too excited

-this could just turn into a list of ava quotes

-”It must be hard, remembering all their names.”

“You know I read Derek Jeter used to send his conquests home with a gift basket. But a full cardio work up is... It’s much classier.”

-ava bekker secret baseball fan?

-Connor: “Jeter? You a baseball fan?”

Ava: “Oh, no. It’s much too boring. But I love gossip.”

-interesting. very, interesting... is it weird to anyone else to think about ava liking gossip?

-like the idea is fun and all but i hate the idea of ava being suuuper obsessed with gossip. it makes her seem way too shallow in my book. that being said, one of my hcs about women gossiping about all the shit men do to ava bc they know she’ll call them on it now has a lot more precedence

-i know she explicitly says that baseball is boring but i can’t get the idea of ava being a secret baseball fan out of my head. its just so novel

-HER SHIT EATING GRIN

- Connor: “Well, we will get you in and out of here as quickly as possible.”

Ava: “That’s what Dr. Rhodes is renowned for around here. Quick in and outs.”

Connor: *turns to her condescendingly*

Ava: *two finger salute* “I’m Dr. Bekker, by the way.”

-the lesbian icon jumped out

-also the fact that in the previous episode Ava’s mentor did the exact same salute. idk what it means but it’s not that important

-ava trying to hide her smile when asking the woman if she wanted them to contact her husband

-ava overhearing again when latham tells connor the woman he was with was doing cocaine

-ava smirking when connor says that he thinks the heart attack was from his sex and not the cocaine

-connor thinking he’s so good at sex he’s going to give this woman a heart attack

-he really drives All the ladies wild in EveryWay (sex, suicide. he’s the whole package)

-latham asking connor point blank “did you partake in the cocaine?”

-the ct team gives connor so. much. shit. it’s so funny

-also. ava just chillin at her desk looking at scans? that’s the kind of content i want to see. just her just being there. doing her own thing. that’s what i want

-THE GUY WITH A TEENAGE WIFE IS A REVEREND HOLY SHIT

-counting down the minutes til natalie drops dead (passes out but yk a girl can dream lol)

-sarah. back at it again with her rayon jacket and button up and backpack. the coffee cup only adds to the aesthetic

-connor being surprised that latham isn’t gonna let him do surgery on the women he fucked (twice, he might add)

- whatever you do, don’t think of a brown bear. are you thinking about it?

-maggie dealing red bull to people who need it. that’s a very soft idea

- ex:

Dr. Bekker is sitting at the desk in the ED. Well, sleeping, more like it. Her head is resting on her fist, her elbow precariously close to slipping off the the chair armrest, and her eyes open by just a hair.

“Dr. Bekker.”

Ava jolts awake.

“Maggie,” Ava says, strong accent cutting through, acknowledging the person standing over her. Hastily, she adjusts her jacket and scrubs, smoothing them back into place.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this tired.”

Ava shrugs, seamlessly slipping back into easy confidence.

“Rough couple of cases. Nothing I can’t handle.”

“Uh huh,” Maggie says, unbelieving.

She sets a can of Red Bull on the desk with a knowing look.

“You need this more than anybody.”

Ava scoffs. “Those things? They are murder on your heart, come on.”

Maggie hums and walks away. Ava watches her leave, and when she’s out of sight, Ava darts forward, grabs the energy drink, immediately cracking it open and downing half of it.

- anyway.

- @punksarahreese that’s on you for making me believe ava loves energy drinks

- let’s continue

- sarah looking at charles telling her not to do something: I am not going to do a thing you said

- go off babe. it was the wrong decision but go off

- all the nurses watching this guy call nat a bitch:  👀 👀 👀 👀

- will being like: god that guy called you a bitch i fucking hate him

- and natalie being like: he is also refusing to let us treat the 14 yr olds cancer but you obviously have priorities

- sarah is so logical. she’s good at talking to people. can you FUCKING IMAGINE IF SHE HAD BETTER GUIDANCE (oh and less trauma)

- this is also the one with that hilarious screen cap of sarah holding a knife

- the way she is so calm about handing this patient a knife gives me anxiety

- THIS SCENE IS SO HARD TO WATCH IT SCARES ME SO MUCH

- sarah just in alone in a room with a man who keeps having visions of stabbing his wife. and her just handing him a fucking knife oh my god i have too much anxiety for this

- rewatching the series and getting completely confused bc norma is 5′7″ but she looks so short next to colin and the guy who plays latham

- AND RACHEL IS ALSO 5′ 7″ BUT THEY BOTH LOOK SO SHORT - WHY EVERYONE ON THIS SHOW SO TALL

- anyway. ignore that that’s not important

- I... the parallels btwn sarah offering this guy the ability to slit her throat (for therapy) and ava cutting her throat... i don’t know what to do with this information

- idk but sarah holding the knife got me feelin some type of way

- the way connor looks at ava with such contempt bc she... does her job (and his but yk) especially during the hug wtf dude honestly just stop looking at her

- this is also the episode where ava pawns off the patient’s hug onto connor. while yeah, it could ava just being annoying to connor by forcing him to hug his one night stand’s husband, but she did give connor due credit. (and something to be said about her being confused and a tad uncomfortable when the patient hugs her, which is why she pawns it off to rhodes)

- she also doesn’t hug the guy back, which is kind of funny, she never moves her arms and just shrugs out of it

- and like after the hug she takes a few steps away from the guy, really not wanting any more physical contact or attention

- there’s something interesting in ava’s expression when connor gets hugged by the guy, can’t quite explain it. i’m gonna go with it’s her trying to keep a straight face while connor hugs a man he just helped a woman cheat on, but that’s not all of it so

- or. okay, I think i got it. i think that that little expression when connor gets hugged is her rolling her eyes at him getting credit when ava did most of the heavy lifting. yes. final answer. i’m satisfied

- and her looking away from them is her stopping herself from laughing, bc connor is obviously not enjoying this

- and he’s so sad and angsty he can’t even play along with the jokes

- and ava smiling at him with pity as she walks in to talk to the patient, bc that’s really what it is. she feels bad for him bc connor is so obviously lonely

- and connor’s annoyed bc ‘dammit she does have a right to pity me i suck rn’

- med pushing the women are tough agenda LITERALLY SHUT THE FUCK UP

- you hate your women characters so much just fucking shut your mouth

- and will being like ‘ i have a lot to learn about women not being objects’

- and nat saying ‘you are way further along than most’ like no, he’s not. the bar is on the ground and he still can’t jump it

- i’m pretty sure this show doesn’t pass the bechdel test. holy fucking shit it doesn’t. you’ve gotta be kidding me. (at least this episode doesn’t)

I can’t believe this episode didn’t pass the bechdel test. The only convo btwn two women were like maggie and sharon and they talk about barry and oh my god this is infuriating god med the bar is so low. And I’m pretty sure most episodes don’t pass the test anyway. Will is literally the representation of med. He gets lots of credit for doing bare minimum things like giving women rights.

Anyway.

This was a good episode. We dissected a lot of unspoken Ava things, which is very good. Ava had a lot of moments where she was there, but didn’t say anything, and when your characters can do that, that’s when you know your characterization is very good.

The moments where Ava isn’t really doing anything to forward the plot of the episode but she’s still just there, doing her own thing, are hands down my favorite. Her sitting at the desk looking at a scan while connor tells latham he didn’t do cocaine could possibly my favorite ava moment in the series, just bc it shows how much of her own character should could’ve been.

I drew an interesting parallel btwn sarah offering the guy to slit her throat and ava’s death. i have nothing for that but go wild

This episode also showed us Ava pitying Connor, another new aspect. she gives him shit but she also pities him. very good ep for little ava moments

as always, thanks for sticking through it

-

read the rest here:

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5 / Part 6 / Part 7 / Part 8 / Part 9 / Part 11 / Part 12 / Extra

#chicago med #ava bekker #med rewatch series #down by law #mine

[maladaptive-ninja-returns]

Infinity War (6)

CHAPTER 6: TRUST

Loki & The Avengers

Summary: A work inspired by @queencfthestarsdrfoster ‘s post of the universe where Loki is alive and Thor is avenged.

Series: Will contain all- and more- that we saw in Infinity War. Will not contain smut and fluff for obvious reasons. Might contain weird humor though.

Chapter content: story time. emotions time. new science bros time?

Warnings: talk about the past

Word count: So my cousin wanted to make sure I knew how to smoke before I wasted his precious joint. I wasted good five drags of his cigarette because I kept ‘mouth-fagging’ (heard that for the first time) but when it came to the joint, I kinda (in my sister-in-law’s words) aced it. Now, this in no way means any of you little ones reading this are encouraged to do this. I am a twenty-five year old idiot who does not know how to breathe right. You guys are better than me. And I kinda impressed my cousin by showing them Tari’s little pet. Hehe.

MASTERLIST & Taglist in bio, my love

“We’ll be landing in ten minutes. You better have something up your sleeve for these people.”

Loki smirks at Rhodey. “Is our beloved Captain going to be there?” The curiosity is laced with pure mischief. So much that even Tony can smell it from the cockpit.

Rhodey crosses his arms across his chest and tilts his head at the God. “What is it with you and Steve? You have a crush on him or something?”

Loki shrugs and leaves the silence to be taken as whatever answer they please. Giving up, Rhodey walks and seats himself down in the cockpit next to Tony, who does not seem as welcoming to the company. “What are you doing here? Go in sit the back with the Grinch.”

“Relax, he’ll be fine,” Rhodey reassures, lying back into the seat.

“I didn’t mean-”

“I know who you mean. The wizard is back there too.”

“That guy is on some meditative high floating about like-”

“Relax!”

Loki looks in the direction before easing himself into his seat. The soft streak of light coming in from ahead falls on his dehydrated and wounded skin. For a simple moment, the warmth on his face feels beautiful. It feels free. This star always had a different effect on him; to the point that Loki closes his eyes for a brief moment and soaks up as much of that warmth as it can. His Jotun form feels a different comfort for those minute specs of time and all the memories of the day he has had, float in the space of his mind. No noise. Just the inaudible pictures running at a slow pace, every grain of colour remembered just as it was. Every fire, every explosion, every tear down the eyes, every tear in the enemy’s skin, every drop of blood lost, every drop of blood avenged. The space shows it all till it brings him back on earth, in this jet, under the sun rays falling on him till he starts to feel a chill on his neck.

Loki opens his eyes and sighs, tired as he is. He knows what is the cause of his discomfort- nothing harmless. It’s just that he is still not used to the little human looking at him with the curiosity of a child with those huge dark eyes and surprisingly not scared of him or judging him unlike his father. Scratch that; from his mentor.

“I know you are curious,” Loki utters, his head still resting on the headrest of the seat, tired of life in general, “just ask what you want.”

Peter’s eyes light up, his body adjusting itself in the seat next to Loki on its own. “Oh, okay,” he begins, making Loki wonder in slight surprise how long has this kid been holding himself back, “why did Thanos use you in Battle of New York? How did he get to you? Like did he leave you a text or something or was a like a proper meeting where he called you in his dungeon? Or did he booby trap you to get there? And once you said no, did he like put some spell on you? And why didn’t you tell your brother about it? Thor would’ve helped you, right? And I heard he’d taken you back to Asgard once the battle ended. So, like, you guys must have talked then. Thor must know about Thanos too. Did you make a plan on how to take him down? Are there more necklaces out there like Doctor Strange has? What do they do? Are they here? On earth? Will Thanos be coming to earth to get them? Do we make up a battle plan to stop him? Will we be able to stop him? If we don’t stop him what’s gonna happen?”

Peter finally breathes, something Loki is surprised to witness. Such concern weighing down those young bright eyes. And to think he once had the same fervour. Once. The pocket dimension is accessed to bring out a green packet. Peter eyes it as pale fingers tear it apart from one side to reveal little violet spheres inside, their smell reaching those inquisitive little nostrils.

“Here,” Loki offers them to him.

“Kids don’t take things from strangers here,” Tony announces from the cockpit. Rhodey looks back while Strange opens one eye to observe whatever it is Loki holds.

“It’s chocolate, Stark. Calm down and fly your toy. Take one while you’re at it. It will help get rid of your anxiety for a while,” the God declares.

 “It’s fine, Stark,” Strange adds, going back into his meditative pose, “it’s harmless.”

Peter has already popped one in his mouth, the expression on his face reflecting- without any filters- how good it must be. “It’s better than any I’ve ever tasted before!”

Loki smiles at him, feeling one softly crunch under his teeth. With a content sigh, he begins.

“Before the battle of New York, the last time I saw my family was when I tried to take over Asgard. I had a falling out with my...with the Allfather. And Thor. He was to be announced the king by Odin but I felt it was not the right thing to do because he was not ready to take over that role yet. So, I did what I thought the best. I conspired with the Jotuns. They are...were at one time a species bent on dominating the world, monsters in the eyes of all. I did so to delay Thor’s kingship and destroy the Jotuns once and for all. What I did not know at that time was that I...was one of them.”

“The Jotuns?”

“Yes. I was a Jotun who, when an infant, had been taken away by Odin to be raised as his own. I had been abandoned by my father because unlike those frost giants, I was weak and small and hence a disgrace to the king to whom I was born as a son. So, I was left at the alters of forgotten temples where Odin decided my fate after he won the battle against the Jotuns. I was raised just like my brother to look at the frost giants as monsters; the greatest evil of the world. Once I realised what I was, and tried to do right by...Odin, I killed my father, the Jotuns and when that did not suffice...I killed myself.”

Loki can see the emotions brewing in Peter’s eyes. He notices the silence going further than just these puppy eyes, at the foreign ears pretending to be in a world of their own but paying full attention to whatever history is unfurling around them.

“Then?” Peter is almost too afraid to ask.

“Then the universe decided to intervene,” he continues, “I was supposed to die once sucked into a wormhole. But somehow I survived. I figured it was the accelerated healing due to the Jotun blood that flows through me. Or maybe it was a magic that had long protected me from the world. Either way, I found myself on a barren moon, half alive, waiting to die till it felt much arduous than living itself. I gathered whatever strength I had to walk. And walk I did till I found the lowest of life living in the dark corners. I mixed within, to survive before I found resources to move to other planets and lay low. It was an easy task once I regained my strength. I was able to shapeshift into what people wanted to see. The underbelly of certain galaxies found my talents with magic quite useful, which got them objects nowhere within the reach of normal aliens and I got to live on the highest price paid for my efforts. They did not go unnoticed by the assassins who were looking for someone like me to do their bidding. The only downside was they belonged to Thanos and I was going to be paid in kind.”

“In kind?”

“In kind.”

“I don’t ge-oh...Oh...I’m so sorry.”

“Their kindness came with the price of my sanity. Not that I was a completely balanced being before. But Thanos made sure I was moulded into a weapon he could use to wage war on Earth to get him the stone he desired. The space stone. It was-”

“In the tesseract that SHIELD discovered with Captain Rogers,” Peter quips in enthusiastically before he absorbs the hint of amusement lining Loki’s face. “I uh...went through some of their files,” he whispers.

“Illegally?” Loki asks in a whisper himself, bending a little in the little one’s direction.

“...maybe,” Peter shrugs, making Loki chuckle. “Good boy.” The praise takes him by surprise, but it makes his eyes lighter nonetheless.

“Now, Thanos would have invaded earth ages ago if he wanted to. But he did not do it because the last time his henchmen tried to, someone had sent them running back with their tails between their legs. Some say it was a witch that glowed. Others said it was a demon. And the ones with brittle egos announced that the earth had sent a God in the shape of a woman to throw them off their guard. Of course, I thought they were making excuses until I saw it for myself.”

“How?”

“It’s a whole story for another day, child. But to be brief, Barton helped me understand a lot of this planet’s history when he was under the influence of the mind stone. And Nicholas Fury has been one busy man.”

“Son of a bitch,” curses come flying from the front of the jet, “I knew it.”

“So, I was a mere pawn in Thanos’ plan to invade earth. I was controlled and forced to bend to his wishes of procuring the stone in exchange for my life. He was inside my head the entire time I was here on earth. Except for all the moments the sceptre was separated from me. That was the only time I was able to keep a part of my conscience alive and sane enough to think of ways to survive while making sure the stones never got into Thanos’ hands again.”

The blue ocean gives way to African lands beneath them, deserts and grasslands stretching for miles. The sun directly above them makes the inside of the flying machine glow brighter, striking off every reflective surface it can find once it finds its way through the glass. And in that brightness, a thought washes away those long-forgotten anxious bugs sitting in some dark corners of Tony’s mind. The bugs that had sucked on his own rationality ever since the battle of New York. The questions he wanted to ask the God himself but never had the time or resources for it.

“It was you,” Tony declares as his dark honey eyes looked at some void in the distance outside, “you built the failsafe in the portal.”

“Of course, I built the failsafe in the portal. What am I, a monster?” Loki scoffs in Tony’s direction, clearly being bothered by the fact that it only dawned the genius now. “Doctor Selvig helped me with the restricted technology you people had and I made sure there was a way to stop the attack. And a way to stop me. And not to mention I could not have let the earth be destroyed or I would not have heard the end of it from Thor or his girlfriend.”

“Oh tone it down, Maleficent, you killed Phil,” Tony fumes.

“Oh relax, he is alive!” Loki sings back, annoyed.

The jet feels a turbulent jerk before finding its balance but throwing Strange off his. Turning on autopilot, Tony gets up and walks in the back to face Loki. “What did you just say?”

Loki can see all the shades slowly crawling over Tony’s face- anger, denial, resentment, shock, more denial, fury…

“Go ahead,” Loki challenges, “ask Fury.”

“...you killed eighty people.”

“Collateral damage. I’m not a saint either.”

Only the hum of the engine makes up for this deafening silence between these two that makes Rhodey, Peter and Strange uncomfortable. Soon enough, Tony sits down opposite Loki, taking all three of them by surprise.

“Ignoring that statement for now,” Tony narrowed his eyes at Loki, “after Thor took you back-”

“I was imprisoned, Thor’s girlfriend discovered the aether and my mother was killed, the dark elves were destroyed and Thor was given the freedom to go back to the love of his life.”

“That was you too, wasn’t it?” Tony added without a pause. “You sent Thor away. And if I’ve seen the pattern correctly, you sent the aether away and kept the Tesseract on Asgard.”

Loki lets the smirk play on his lips. He is impressed by Stark’s deductions and the same time is internally a little envious of not having met this man during a better time. The things we could have achieved together.

“Yeah,” Tony nods only slightly, giving that two-second smirk that vanishes as quickly as it had appeared, “smart move. Sending your family away. Keeping the stones apart. Thor told me his father made peace treaties when he left. So, adding to the previous list you increased Asgard’s defences in case Thanos ever came looking for you or the stones there.”

“Stop before you start sounding impressed, Stark,” Loki mentions with a gentle smile, “this colour does not suit you.”

“Rest it, daddy issues,” Tony chimes, “I’m only appreciating your strategies. Not really a fan of this persona. Never have been.”

Loki does not miss the tick in Tony’s beard as his fingers move in some calculative thought. “What has been bothering me is you had it all- every piece of information on that bastard and never once did you bother to warn anyone. Not even your brother. Do you have any idea how much lives could have been saved had you kept your fucking ego aside and tried to make amends for all the crap you put people through.”

It isn’t much but the reflection of the warm glow from the sun outside touches Loki’s eyes enough to reflect a veiled pain behind those few fast blinks and the movement of his fingers on his other palm. If hadn’t been for his own experience, Tony would have missed reading Loki’s shallow breaths, the urge to fight off the tears building in those tired edges, the sweat collecting on his neck.

“Tell me honestly, Anthony Stark,” Loki states, catching Tony off guard for a fraction of second, “Why, for the love of all things alive, did you not tell your family about the threat you saw coming earlier? And when you did, what exactly did they do?”

Tony opens his mouth just to shut it back up, a thing out of the usual for the people who know this man all too well. He stands up, turns around, only to turn back at Loki and point his finger at him, to try and speak again. And again, he fails. Hands on his hips, he clinches his jaw. “That doesn’t make us the same.”

“Oh, no, it does not,” Loki agrees, “it only shows our shortcomings. Battles on the field are much easier to run into than the battles in our minds.”

There is much disbelief internally but a part of him cannot help but look at Loki in a new light. And Tony curses this part again and again for no reason but the imminent truth that comes out of that Silvertongue.

“We’re here,” Rhodey announces from the cockpit, trying to get Tony to come back and breathe.

“Don’t listen to any advice he gives you,” Tony warns Peter, making the boy nod in uncertainty and the God chuckle in delight. Tony goes back but not before he has taken those exotic chocolates from Peter’s grasp. “First rule of stranges, kid!”

“Those are chocolates, Mr Stark,” Peter whines as he watches Tony walk to the cockpit and take a seat.

He pops one in his mouth, feeling the silken magic work in his mouth.

“You ready?” Rhodey asks his friend, “you’re going in a completely foreign country with a criminal, a magician and a whole lot of unresolved emotions with Cap.”

“Yeah yeah yeah, we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it,” Tony remarks, popping another one in his mouth.

“Dammit, why are they so good!” He whispers in surprise, making his best friend roll his eyes and pray for whatever was about to come.

#loki #loki odinson #Loki Laufeyson #loki x reader #loki x you #loki x y/n #marvel loki #loki god of mischief #loki/thor #loki fanfiction #loki fanfic #loki fluff #loki smut #LOKI SPEAKS #loki series #fluff #smut #marvel fluff #marvel smut #mcu fluff #mcu smut #marvel fanfic #marvel fics #MCU fanfiction #mcu #mcu fanfic #mcu fanfics #loki fiction #loki and peter parker #tony stark

[enchanted-prose]

#16 Blackberry Night i

in which the lady renlyn gets a vibe check

Word count: 4,502

Characters: the whole squad (including fink and kerwyn) so im not gonna list all of them because we’d be here for a while

Notes: every girl deserves a cinderella moment

Enjoy!

His room was too sparsely decorated to be distracting. Jaron tugged on Imogen’s long braid, earning a light hearted smack.

He’d called for a meeting with his inner circle half an hour before, but hadn’t expected anyone to arrive early, not while the morning sun was still shoving its way across the horizon.

However, Tobias was standing before him. Quaking before him.

“I’m in a much better mood,” Jaron tugged on Imogen’s braid again, and managed to catch her hand. “Ha! Caught you!”

Imogen made a face, “Would you like a blue ribbon for that, love?”

“I would, actually. Give it to me now.”

Tobias coughed, “I, ah, I decided to let you rest before I told you what I found out.”

Saints, what had he asked during his feverish ramblings this time?

The events from the previous evening bled into a continuous stream. Checking on Feall, the blow to his leg, and then falling asleep in the physician’s chambers. Jaron tapped his knee. He and Imogen were discussing Mireldis Thay that morning. They’d figured out a link to her: Jolly.

“Is it- is she dead? Did Jolly have the information we wanted?” Jaron trailed his thumb over each of Imogen’s knuckles.

He could hear his own words echoing back at him, the unintelligible claims of fever and exhaustion. Jaron brushed a strand of hair away from Imogen's face, repeating the motion despite having tucked all of her stray hairs back into place. He'd had a suspicion about who Mireldis Thay was.

No, no.

He had several suspicions, ranging from Ayvar all the way down to Dawn of the Dragon's Keep.

Although the latter was seeming more and more unlikely with each passing day.

Tobias looked to Imogen, "I told Amarinda a few minutes ago, I didn't want either of you to be alarmed."

"Are you Mireldis Thay?" Jaron pressed a hand to his heart.

It was thumping too hard in his chest. Trying to escape.

Trying to find a safe place to rest. To let stone walls down and grow branches. Tree branches, specifically. Ones strong enough to climb and hide in.

Patience was a virtue Jaron never cared to master. His rabbit heart only proved that.

"Saints curse it all, stop hesitating and just tell me what you were able to find out," Jaron burst.

Imogen flinched.

"I, ah, well," Tobias scratched the back of his head, apparently finding his toes much more interesting than Jaron's frown. "I should warn you that Jolly's not afraid, or at least that's what he told me."

"This isn't about Jolly, it's about Mireldis Thay."

"But it is about Jolly, Jaron. And Feall. Everyone here has become a pawn and none of us caught it."

The rabbit thumping in Jaron's ribs wasn't easing. He tried to calm himself by pressing Imogen's fingers to his chin.

Pieces of a game.

Pawns.

Jaron had been a pawn before, and he had no intention of going back.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" He muttered.

"You were unconscious, Jaron, you wouldn't have been able to understand," Imogen's quiet reminder almost made his frustration melt.

"I haven't spoken with Feall," Tobias finally looked up. "He's still resting and it's cruel to try to force words from an injured man. We were fools to put pressure on Amarinda and not him. Ami's lived in Carthya for more than a decade, Feall hasn't."

There was a simple reason behind respecting Feall's privacy, and Jaron hated it. He hated that he'd been too trusting.

And yet, Feall had given them so many reasons to trust him.

"You still haven't told me what you found, Tobias."

Silence chills, even in the middle of summer. Jaron's room was far too cold, far too quiet.

"Jolly never gave Lady Thay's name outright," Tobias rolled his shoulders back, as if bracing himself for some sudden death at sharing his secret. "Instead, he informed me that Mireldis Thay has indeed been in Carthya this entire time, talking with us and earning our trust. She's been here the entire time, ever since Feall and King Oberson came to pay homage to you. And there's only one person I can think of that's been here, becoming friends with us."

The words were too frightening to say.

“Renlyn Karise,” Jaron frowned. “You mean to tell me Renlyn Karise is Mireldis Thay?”

Tobias nodded.

However, Imogen shook her head in disagreement. “That’s impossible, you know how much she and Feall get along with each other. Feall’s told us multiple times that the Faola attacking him had to be Mireldis Thay.”

“Keep your friends close and your enemies closer,” said Jaron.

“How did Amarinda take it?” Imogen asked.

“Ah, she- she didn’t accept the news. She still hasn’t accepted the news. We agreed to think on the matter and discuss it once we’ve both sat with the information.”

Amarinda didn’t take the news well?

Could she  be blamed?

Renlyn Karise had a murderous stare and an ambiguous streak, but Jaron couldn’t picture her being bold enough to kick him and crawl back to the castle.

Though maybe he was wrong. He’d gambled on another person’s behavior before.

Playing the long game was something Jaron knew well. It took skill and foresight, both traits were something Renlyn needed to maintain a series of business ventures.

She’d tricked him into buying things, and now he’d trick her into revealing herself.

“I’ll handle it,” Jaron sat straight up, jostling Imogen in the process.

“Jaron, we’re here to help y-“ she began.

“Please tell me you didn’t invite her to the meeting,” said Tobias, pressing his hands to his forehead. “By the Saints, you invited her to the meeting.”

Yes, actually, Jaron did invite Renlyn.

But for a different reason than Tobias and Imogen expected.

Roden was among the first people to visit Jaron that morning, bringing news of the Faola’s escape with him. News of Regar helping with the escape. Jaron hid his disappointment with a cheeky grin and quick forgiveness.

In the end, Regar’s imprisonment would only help Jaron. He’d read a series of letters since Row and Regar came to Drylliad.

One could only see the same name so many times before noticing patterns.

If Jaron’s guess was correct, he’d give himself a medal.

“She holds valuable opinions once you get past her general unapproachability,” Jaron grinned.

“I don’t think we should be taking this so lightly,” said Tobias. He looked like a preening crow each time he patted down his deep green vest. “Your bruise runs too deep for jokes.”

“See, there’s a detail you forgot. Did you catch it, Imogen?”

The slight shake from Imogen’s head gave Jaron his answer.

He’d mulled over the prospect of catching Mireldis Thay for several days before cracking down and searching through books. When that didn’t help, Jaron turned to Kerwyn, who’d been present during King Eckbert’s search for a suitable bride. The search led Eckbert to Amarinda, in turn leading to a rush of Bymarian information.

Kerwyn knew little more than Jaron, but that was better than nothing. Kerwyn knew the names of all seventeen Bymarian noble lords, their five kingdom states, and their five lesser kings. Graer Thay was a staunch military leader, who’d left the keys to his kingdom state to his second wife.

Graer Thay vanished just before the Avenian war.

Queen Danika’s investigators should’ve been looking for two Thays, not one.

Tobias was rubbing his wrists, and glanced over his shoulder. Once he’d finished with his wrists, he tugged at his shirt’s collar. His odd ritual continued as he patted the hem of his vest.

“Jolly never gave you the actual name, Tobias, you made an assumption,” Jaron explained. “A very compelling assumption, yes, but believability doesn’t make something true.”

Tobias scowled, “You’re the one who asked me to be a spy! Let me stitch a person back together while you manage to topple entire regimes because you’re slippery enough.”

“We haven’t toppled a king recently,” Imogen tapped her chin. “We should add that to our future plans.”

“You’re right! We’ve focused too long on our own problems, it’s high time that we cause

problems for somebody else,” said Jaron. “Let’s practice on Tobias.”

“Jaron! I’m your friend, your doctor, your regent, and a member of your inner circle! That’s not a good idea!”

People often forgot how easy it was for Jaron to remember details.

Details like Roden rubbing his neck and Mott grabbing his side when a door shut loud enough.

Tobias’s little detail was much quieter than reaching for an invisible pain. He patted his clothes, his hair, his wrists.

Almost like he was checking to make sure that he was still alive.

The antidote for these bursts of eerie movement varied from person to person. With Imogen, Jaron reached for her hands. With Mott, it was holding a conversation.

With Tobias, it was merciless teasing to the point of a frustrated outburst.

“Let’s replace every single one of his left socks with socks that are two sizes too big,” Jaron gestured to Tobias’s boots. “Not too damaging, but enough to cause discomfort.”

“Don’t be cruel, he did do you a favor last night,” Imogen said.

Tobias opened his mouth to speak, but Jaron cut him off. “That’s why the socks will only be two sizes bigger instead of being made from woven metal.”

“Metal cloth is saved for gowns, not socks,” Tobias crossed his arms.

“They’ll make an exception for me.”

The door creaked open. Roden held a hand to his eyes, “Stop yelling, I haven’t eaten breakfast.”

“Didn’t I just see you?” Jaron frowned.

“I had an errand to run.”

“That’s what Fink’s for.”

“It wasn’t a Fink type of errand.”

Mott and Amarinda entered next, going their separate ways when Amarinda stood beside Tobias.

Amarinda’s frown, though small, couldn’t be missed.

Roden and Mott began dragging chairs to Jaron’s bedside as more people came. Imogen would sit on Jaron’s left, while Harlowe sat on his right.

Jaron took great care to instruct everyone to leave the seat nearest to the corner open for Renlyn.

It provided both privacy and openness.

The corner would feel like a hiding place despite having no cover.

Renlyn slipped into the room just before Harlowe with Fink serving as her escort. When Fink received his nod of approval from Mott, he crossed his legs and sat at the end of Jaron’s bed.

A good move; chairs weren’t always ideal.

There was never any rest for the weary. Despite the ache in his leg and Tobias’s insistence that he rested, Jaron had his trusted circle gathered around his bed. He’d made his decision regarding several situations.

Jaron held out a hand to Imogen. Her touch was almost enough to take the pain away.

“Let’s get this all out of the way,” he stretched his arms above his head. “I have every intention of yelling at Renlyn for putting up decorations while I was trying to recover.”

Renlyn only smirked.

Much had happened during the night, or at least that’s what Imogen told him as she helped him hobble back to his bed. Regar was in prison, the Faola who attacked Jaron escaped, and Lord Row was still waiting to know if Carthya would help Avenia.

“Shall we start with the happier business or get right to depressing ourselves?” Jaron leaned back against his pillows, eying the people around his bed.

Imogen, Amarinda, Mott, Tobias, Roden, Renlyn, Harlowe, Fink, and Kerwyn.

His greatest supporters.

Harlowe patted the papers in front of him, “I suppose the happier business, it’ll soften the difficulties to come.”

“I’ve done this in an unorthodox way,” Jaron said. “We can’t hesitate to help Avenia, not if we want to promote good relations. Lord Row requests a Carthyan presence in Isel, and it is what he’ll get. Harlowe, we will station soldiers in Libeth, and place Sir Alistair Derforgall in Isel.”

“Alistair’s a good choice,” Roden nodded.

“I know, it’s why he’s going to Isel. He has enough experience to be useful and enough smarts not to do something stupid.”

Amarinda’s back was as straight as a rod, “Lord Row will be pleased.”

He’d better be happy. Jaron didn’t want to throw out military assistance to every lord who threw himself at the king’s throne.

Renlyn raised her hand, and spoke when Jaron nodded to her. “I have several holdings in Isel that require protecting, I’ll likely hire an army should revolution break out, they’ll be there to assist Alistair.”

“I’ll hold you to that promise,” said Jaron.

“I’ll try to meet your expectations then.”

Was that really the face of a cold blooded killer?

Probably.

Jaron ran his thumb over Imogen’s fingers as Harlowe scribbled down Jaron’s decision on a piece of parchment.

“Speaking of foreign powers, what are we to do with King Oberson?” Kerwyn stroked his massive beard.

He looked like a philosopher of old.

“We can’t turn him away, it’s rude and I have no intention of making any new enemies,” Jaron gestured to his leg. “I already have one too sneaky to be caught.”

“It’s time you started taking soldiers with you when you leave the castle,” Mott said.

“For the first time, I think you might be right.”

Tobias’s eyebrows shot up to his hairline, “Is it raining ducks outside? Are pigs flying? I never thought I’d see the day that Jaron agrees with Mott regarding his own safety.”

“And onto the next subject,” Jaron pointed a finger at Tobias; he’d get him back for that comment later. “Commander Regar is currently waiting on us to hear about his fate. Roden, would you mind explaining the situation from last night to us?”

Roden’s expression hardened. “Last night after the attack on Jaron, I tracked Regar to the Vaults. He’d already captured the Faola responsible for the attack, and chose to behave according to the old laws rather than turn the Faola over to the crown’s custody.”

“Odd,” Mott scowled. “And alarming.”

“Regar managed to help us get the Faola out of the Vaults,” Roden continued. “However, he claims to have slipped and he caught my shoulder for balance, allowing the Faola to escape. I doubt the Faola stuck around.”

“I think the Faola did stick around,” countered Tobias. “I think he’s still in the castle.”

“But why?” Fink scratched his nose. “You’d be an idiot to stick around a place where everyone wants you dead.”

Jaron cracked a sly grin, a faint memory of teasing Fink back at the pirates’ camp snatching his attention.

“The Faola likely has another goal they value more than their own life,” Renlyn clasped her hands in her lap. “Foolish from our perspective, yes, but to the Faola it must be important.”

“We’ll discuss the matter of the Faola later,” Jaron said. “Regar’s situation requires our attention for a moment.”

“Will you give him the punishment for treason?” Kerwyn leaned back in his chair.

“That’s not something to be taken lightly, and I won’t have somebody executed for treason based off of a stumble.”

“His stumble could cost you your life, my king.”

Jaron waved his hand, “Did you know you can rearrange the letters of certain words to form other words?”

“Jaron, please.”

“I’ve chosen to pardon Regar as a demonstration of kindness and also because I think he holds some use to us,” he said. Jaron squeezed Imogen’s hand, “Besides, it would be disrespectful to kill Lord Row’s hired commander after telling him we’ll give Avenia the aid she needs. You don’t make friends by giving them a prize and then breaking their foot.”

“We’re playing this game for friends now?” Renlyn arched an eyebrow.

“Yes, yes we are. Does that bother you, Lady Karise?”

“Not every friendship holds the best intentions, my king.”

Tobias plucked at his collar, his eyes glancing from Renlyn to Jaron without a hint of subtlety.

The trap had been set. Jaron kept his gaze locked on Renlyn. She didn’t seem like she’d run away, but he’d been wrong about her before.

“A bold claim, coming from a girl wearing a false name,” Jaron kept his voice even, kept his face almost icy. “The pattern was hard to follow, but it made sense. Lord Feall came here first, followed by Jolly, followed by you.”

Renlyn’s movement was slow. Too slow.

She had the speed of a predator tensing before a pounce.

“Just what are you suggesting, my lord?” Renlyn asked. Her eyebrows had risen and her mouth curled down. She was daring him.

Daring him to say the name.

“I’m suggesting that you’re Mireldis Thay,” Jaron forced a smile. “You sent Jolly here to gather intel on Lord Feall, you joined the Faola, and used that as a cover to kill him while still maintaining a comfortable life.”

The silence that followed rivaled the chilling, never ending void of a coffin.

Everyone looked to Renlyn, but she never looked away from Jaron.

“That poses a curious question,” Renlyn mused. “I’m not not Mireldis Thay, just as Princess Amarinda is not not Mireldis Thay. Are we all who we really say we are, your Majesty?”

“Answer the question,” Roden growled. He’d pushed his chair away from the bed, obviously preparing to apprehend Renlyn.

Mott had mimicked the motion.

“Ask it again, if you didn’t like what I said. Be more direct.”

Renlyn was pushing her limits on purpose, Jaron recognized the way she danced around the question. He inhaled, watching for any betrayal of emotion on her face.

All she did was stare at him.

“Are you Mireldis Thay, Lady Karise?” He asked. “Have you been lying to my face the entire time you’ve served my wife?”

“If you require me to be Mireldis Thay, then I am she.”

The answer wasn’t what Jaron wanted. It wasn’t what anyone wanted. Renlyn’s motives were clear at one point; serve the kingdom by being a companion to the queen. But now it wasn’t so easy.

Everyone flinched as Renlyn stood. She flashed a rare, glittering smile. “There is no need to escort me to the dungeons, I’m still a member of the nobility and I’m complying with your accusations. Captain Harlowe, Sir Fink, you can accompany me to my chambers.”

“Excuse me?” Jaron leaned forward. “Do you think this is funny, Lady Karise?”

“I do, actually, but I’m not here to cause a ruckus. Do enjoy Blackberry Night at my expense, King Jaron. May the festivities distract and guide you to the answer you seek.”

----------------------------------------------------------

Jaron almost felt guilty about locking Renlyn in her chambers when he saw the finished decorations for Blackberry Night.

Candles hung in perfect little cages, their light bouncing off of gilded plants. A faint sparkling dust tumbled from the ceiling. Every noble was dressed in shades of cream, gold, and pink.

Even Jaron conformed to the strict color code.

He’d given up fighting Mott about needing an escort, his argument fading to nothing after his inability to stand for more than ten minutes without needing a rest. Jaron agreed to let Mott keep an eye on him until Imogen came.

One of the best additions to the hall was a series of ivy covered trellises forming tiny square rooms. Jaron and Mott had managed to squeeze into one before a forbidden couple could take it. The ivy walls didn’t mask conversations, but it did manage to give Jaron a moment of privacy.

A moment to build walls to block prying eyes.

“That couch looks all too appealing,” Jaron noted, crushing his hand into a fist.

His leg didn’t control him.

“Sit down then,” Mott said. “You don’t want to collapse in front of everyone.”

Very true, unfortunately.

The great hall was packed with glittering doublets and wide gowns. Trying to get to the tables stacked with sweets would require military assistance.

Jaron stared at the couch. “Do you think I went too easy on Renlyn?”

Mott crossed his arms over his plain white shirt, obviously thinking of an answer. He shrugged.

“Maybe I was too hard.”

“I think it’s dangerous to assume things, Jaron. But that applies to all people, not just Renlyn.”

“Too many things make sense if she really were Mireldis Thay, but there’s still a few inconsistencies. It’s not quite perfected.”

“So tell me what you know, and we’ll figure it out together.”

“This is the longest you’ve been nice to me, Mott,” Jaron cracked a grin. “Is it because somebody kicked me?”

“Take a seat on the couch.”

He didn’t need to be told twice. Jaron collapsed against the cushions, his leg sighing in relief.

The music playing, some Mendenwal styled waltz, still managed to be heard despite the hundreds of conversations all at once. Jaron tapped the beat of the waltz out on his leg.

Regar, Regar, Regar.

When rearranged, it posed a striking resemblance to another infamous name.

Jaron couldn’t keep his discovery to himself. If he was wrong, so be it, but the pattern was too clever to keep hidden.

“Did you know you can rearrange the letters of certain words to form other words?” Jaron asked, repeating the same phrase he’d used when meeting with his inner circle.

“Yes, you mentioned that,” Mott said. “What words have you created this time?”

“None, actually. I’m just thinking about false names. I lived with a stolen name for a good portion of my life, and I know how important it is to find a name that reminds you of who you are without letting other people know.”

“Are you still thinking about Mireldis Thay?”

Jaron nodded, “I think we’ve been focusing on the wrong Thay.”

Had it not been for the sudden hush falling over the crowd, Jaron would’ve thrown out his newest theory. But not with the quiet. Not where people could hear him and pass on the information.

It could wait.

The continued quiet was too loud to be ignored. Jaron forced himself off of the trellis, using Mott as a support to peek out of the trellis walled room.

Mott was there to push Jaron’s chin back up when his mouth fell open.

Amarinda and Imogen were walking down the stairs with their arms linked. Though Amarinda looked pleasant enough in her gold gown, Jaron had eyes only for Imogen.

“Get out of the way! That’s my wife!” Jaron hissed as he wormed through the crowd of nobles.

Imogen rivaled the spring sun. She was warm, inviting, and covered in only the calmest blooms. Pale pink fabric climbed her arms before vanishing into a pair of round sleeves and reemerging in the front panel of her gown. Tiny pearls had been strung into her hair.

He had every intention of freeing every single one.

“Sorry I’m late,” Imogen flashed an apologetic smile. “Plans changed.”

“I’m going to kiss you right now,” Jaron said.

“Oh, at least let me find my husband first,” groaned Amarinda.

“I think he’s nursing a head injury.”

Imogen laughed, “I haven’t seen him go that shade of red in too long.”

The musicians began to play again. Jaron did his best to fulfill his promise to kiss his wife, but Imogen’s dodging abilities were improving with time.

“No, I put paint on my lips and I refuse to be the girl with lip paint all over her chin,” Imogen put her hand over Jaron’s mouth.

His words were muffled. “You’re the queen, it’s different.”

“Lip paint is messy!”

“The messier the better!”

He’d get his kiss. Jaron knew he would.

Taking Imogen by the hand, Jaron led her to the center of the floor, not at all ashamed of holding her hand like a trophy.

“Are you sure you can dance?” Imogen asked.

“I’ll force myself through at least half of one, but I have other plans for this evening,” he said, nodding his head towards the trellis walled spaces.

Imogen snickered, and set her hand on Jaron’s shoulder as their dance began.

Every one of her features was as familiar as the back of his hand, but he never gave up the chance to study her face. The curve of her nose, the fullness of her bottom lip. Her springtime smile.

There could never be anyone else for him.

Only Imogen.

It was her hand that he reached for in the night to remind himself that he was safe. To remind himself that he’d found somebody who’d never abandon him in the name of peace. He reached for her when the pirate brand on his arm ached and when the past he shoved away couldn’t be shoved any longer.

The throbbing ache in his leg was slowly returning.

Her hand, still calloused from her years as a servant, was a perfect fit in his. If he held on just a little tighter, he could finish the dance.

King or not, Jaron refused to keep Imogen from being treated the way she deserved.

And meant ignoring the pain in his leg for the duration of a song.

“Do you want to-,” Imogen started.

Jaron shook his head, “I only want to be here with you. Tell me what you did today. During the afternoon. I didn’t get to see you.”

“I played with the kitten,” her smile brightened the room. “Amarinda tells me that if I keep giving treats for no reason, the kitten will get too fat to walk. She’d have to roll around.”

“I’d have a carriage made, one that can be pulled by a team of tiny rats. That way, Fink gets his rat, and your cat can get around.”

“But wouldn’t the cat eat the rats?”

“Nonsense, if the cat’s too fat to walk, it can’t catch anything.”

Imogen continued tracing her steps through her afternoon, explaining that the gown she wore wasn’t what she’d originally planned, but she’d felt a surge of spontaneity. The seed pearls in her hair were also a last minute add in.

Nobody could ever match Imogen.

Not her strength nor her undeniable ability to make everyone she met feel wanted.

It was still a struggle to accept that she’d chosen him out of every other man in Carthya.

He was silent when the song ended and Imogen helped him limp to the ivy guarded rooms. Words were hard to come by when both pain and burning devotion met to fight for control.

“Sit by me,” Jaron patted the couch cushion beside him, his smile was small, but he preferred it to a forced grimace of a grin. “I promise I won’t get lip paint on your chin.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to return to bed?” Imogen asked.

“I want to be with you.”

“And I don’t want you to be in pain.”

“It’s not so bad when you’re with me.”

Too much hid behind Jaron’s words. The pain in his leg would go away, and it would come back the next time he was kicked there. It came and went.

As did the pain of the past.

But Imogen made it bearable.

#the ascendance series #the streets of drylliad #imogen #king jaron #prince jaron #jarogen centric #i love them #also uh #renlyn #is my faVE #at this point everyone is mireldis thay #fic friday #and its technically still friday

[alj4890]

New Year's Eve

A Choices Fan Fiction of The Royal Romance, Red Carpet Diaries, and Perfect Match

A/N Oh my this thing is so long and still not finished, LOL! I believe I should have it completed with part three. Maybe an epilogue post. I have to stop now or this will end up beyond my control. But here again is some of @krsnlove​ ‘s favorite pairs in the stickiest of fluff worthy of a toothache.

Masterlist

@lxaah11​ @alleksa16​ @penguininapinktuxedo​ @blackcoffee85​ @stopforamoment​ @hopefulmoonobject​   @krsnlove​   @annekebbphotography​  @gibbles82​  @cora-nova​ @bella-ca​  @hopelessromantic1352​ . @sunflowergirl05​ @desiree-0816​ @greywitchyshots​ @lilyofchoices​ @moodyvalentinestories​ @emceesynonymroll​ @dr-nancy-house​ @aworldoffandoms​ @ab1901​ @pixieferry​ @flyawayboo​ @i-bloody-love-drake-walker​ .

Song: What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?

Part 1

Part 2: The Anticipation

December 30th...

The Garden restaurant at The Four Seasons...

"You've got your gown, right?" Maxwell asked.

Amanda nodded while pouring her tea. She reached for a warm blueberry muffin to butter and nearly dropped it when she saw Thomas Hunt being led to a table.

"What is it?" Maxwell looked over his shoulder.

"Nothing." She quickly replied. "So, have you heard anymore about who has been invited?"

He nodded. "We have a conglomeration of diplomats, nobles,--"

"The usual." Amanda muttered.

"And artists--"Maxwell tried to continue.

"Naturally with Joelle's artistic streak." She muttered again.

"And people from Hollywood." He said in a rush before she could interrupt him again.

That caught her attention. "Really?"

"Yes." Maxwell reached for the pot of coffee. "Joelle and Hakim are friends with actors like Jessica Clark, and um, who is that guy that directed Victoria Fontaine in Meridian?"

"Thomas Hunt." Amanda replied, immediately looking over at the man.

Thomas picked up his coffee cup and looked around the restaurant. His eyes widened a moment when he met her hazel.

"Oh dear Lord." Amanda whispered.

"What?" Maxwell turned around again. He looked down at his shirt then touched his face. "Is something on me?"

"No." Amanda set her half eaten muffin down. "Excuse me a moment." She slid out of the booth and tried to not look over at Thomas as she walked toward the restroom.

She would have succeeded in appearing calm and collected if she hadn't tripped over a lady's purse and tumbled down the five steps leading out of the restaurant.

Please let me die, she silently prayed when she heard the gasps and exclamations around her.

"Are you hurt?"

She closed her eyes at the pain in her ankle and nodded. "I'm fine." She looked into Thomas's concerned face and tried to stand up. "I'm--" she gasped when she put weight on her right ankle.

"You're not." He argued. He gently helped her to sit down on the step.

Maxwell rushed over. "I heard the commotion and thought it might be you." He nodded a greeting toward Thomas. "How bad is it?"

Amanda wondered if her face would ever regain its once pale complexion. "I think I merely sprained my ankle. Nothing to be concerned with."

"Oh good." Maxwell exhaled. "Then you won't miss out on the ball."

Thomas frowned as he carefully pressed at the swelling already forming. "I believe you should have this looked at."

"I assure you I am well acquainted with sprains and that is definitely one. Just a rather painful one." She held onto the railing and pulled herself up. She then calmly reassured the lady who's purse she tripped over and the manager that she was fine.

"I think I will go to my room." She told Maxwell to finish eating and turned to Thomas once her friend left. "Please go and enjoy your breakfast. I will be fine as soon as I get to my room."

"You need to elevate it and add ice." Thomas told her.

"I will." She promised. She reached out and took his hand. "Thank you for coming to my aid." She felt his fingers grip her hand and looked down in surprise.

"I will escort you back." He told her. "Since your friend is now elbows deep in pancakes, you need someone to help you." He motioned to the manager and had him cancel his order.

"No!" Amanda said in a firm tone. She recognized he would not budge on this and spoke to the manager. "Have Mr. Hunt's breakfast sent up to my room." She gave her room number and insisted on it being charged to her. "And add a pot of tea, coffee, and a basket of pastries."

Thomas let go of her hand and placed his arm around her waist. "Lean on me instead of that ankle."

She nodded, suddenly speechless, and allowed him to escort her back.

___________________

Near a gangplank in Liberty State Park...

Riley yawned behind her hand as she stood on tiptoe to look at the passing people.

"This is crazy." She muttered. "I'm willing to give up precious sleep to take some guy to the Statue of Liberty just so he won't feel so alone."

"Riley!" Liam called out, smiling when he saw her.

So handsome, she thought. "Hey Liam!" She took his arm and motioned toward the ferry. "Ready to see her up close?"

"I am." He replied. He knew deep down he should tell her who he was, but he had enjoyed the conversation they had late into the early morning hours. He just wanted another moment to be around her sunny optimism. He wanted her to treat him as just some average, normal guy.

"Our boat awaits." She tugged him along the gangplank. "Are you up for some Lady Liberty trivia?"

"I am." Liam smiled as she became more animated to try and make the history more interesting.

"Well, did you know that the Statue of Liberty resembles the Roman goddess, Libertas, who represents freedom from oppression and tyranny?" She asked, reaching out to smooth his coat's lapels.

"I did not." His voice was a touch deeper with the emotion he felt for such an innocent yet significant action.

Liam watched her closely, taking in all her mannerisms. She had a tendency to use her hands when discussing something she was passionate about. She kept her body turned toward his as they chose a bench to sit. Her knees were pressed against his as she gave him her complete attention.

He set his arm along the back of seat while sharing bits of history he knew of the Statue. Her eyes never once left his face. She laughed at his humor and he found himself fall even more under her enchantment.

He had not known such simple happiness existed. It was if his true self had woken from a deep slumber and realized there was a world out there, one with someone like her.

_______________

On this same ferry...

"Here you go." Rashad handed Hana a cup of hot chocolate he had purchased.

"Thank you." She softly replied. She took a sip of the watery drink and tried not to grimace at its dull flavor. "That was very sweet of you."

"I remembered you saying it is one of your favorite treats." He leaned against the railing of the upper deck and looked out at the water, enjoying this moment with her.

"How thoughtful." She mumbled, cradling the cup between her chilled hands. "And completely unnecessary."

Rashad turned back in surprise. "I..."

"Please do not take me for a complete fool." Hana pleaded. She tried to keep her voice from wavering. Why did he have to be so incredibly kind? Why did she have to like everything about him? "This is not the first time one of my father's business associates has decided to, for lack of a better term, court me in hopes of making my father happy, thus reaching a satisfying deal."

"Hana, I didn't--" Rashad tried to explain.

"I'm not a pawn to be sacrificed in such a manner." She snapped. "I have feelings and I do not want you to continue to manipulate me through them. Let's just part ways once we are back on land and meet up at the party. I will assure my parents you were a perfect gentleman and everything will go well."

"Hana, the business deal is already completed. There are no more negotiations or hold outs or whatever else you're imagining." Rashad took her cup out of her hands and set it on a bench. He then took her hands in his. "Yes, your father coerced me into bringing you."

Hana tried to pull away, not wanting to hear anymore. Who would ever want her if her parents continued to do this?

"But..."Rashad continued, looking down at her beautiful face.

She looked up at him. "But?"

He tugged her closer. "If I had met you before he suggested our attending together, I would have coerced him into letting me bring you as my date."

________________

Outside the shops along 5th Avenue...

"We've found your dress, shoes, mask, and way too many other things. Where to now or am I free from shopping?" Damien asked.

"Umm..." Nadia stalled.

"Um, what?" He asked, eyes narrowing in suspicion. "Nadia, what are you about to talk me into?"

"A tea?" She replied timidly.

"As in buying you a glass of tea?" He asked.

"As in escorting me to an afternoon hosted by Duchess Joelle." Nadia looked up at him with a look of desperation. "It is for the artists she wishes to know better."

"Nadia." He dropped his head back. "Why am I just now hearing about this?"

"Because I love you and didn't want you to dread being around me as we shopped." She admitted.

Damien hefted her bags and waved down a taxi. "Get in." He ordered.

"Damien..." She bit her lip in worry.

"Well come on." His smirk formed. "We better get to my place so you can pick what I'm supposed to wear to an afternoon tea."

She jumped up and wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him tight.

_______________

The Four Seasons, Amanda' suite...

Amanda sat with her foot propped on a throw pillow and wrapped in ice. She watched Thomas go about giving orders to both the staff and those he had traveled with.

He hadn't stopped in trying to divert her attention during their shared breakfast with talk of films and such. He then had insisted he wrap her ankle with the ice pack, setting timers to make certain to remove it once ten minutes was up. She didn't know what to think of his actions.

"Yes” Thomas said with a hint of impatience as he paced while talking on the phone. “Tell Joelle something unexpected came up this morning that demanded my attention. I'm well aware I'm not in my room right now." He looked down at Amanda. "Yes, it is something important." He said goodbye and then picked up her room phone.

"Send up more ice." He covered the receiver. "Do you want anything?"

"Some iced tea would be nice." She said.

"Iced tea for two. Better bring an extra carafe." He hung up and sat back down beside her.

"This is all very kind," Amanda began, "but I don't want you to feel that you should cancel any plans you've made. I will be fine."

He leaned forward and checked her ankle. Bruising was already forming and it was now nearly the size of a naval orange. "You can't get around easily and you should not be attempting to right now." He removed the ice pack when his alarm went off. 

Amanda sighed softly. "I better call Maxwell and tell him he has to go to the tea alone." She searched for her phone and frowned slightly. "Where did I..."

Thomas held his phone toward her. "Call it and we will find it."

She dialed her number and eyes widened at the sound of Maxwell answering. "How did you get my phone?"

"You left it at the table." He replied. "I thought I could give it to you when I come by on the way to the tea. You're not going to believe who I saw once you left! Jessica Clark! I got her autograph and took a selfie with your phone."

"Max!" She interrupted him describing his meeting Matt Rodriguez. "I'm not going to be able to go to the tea."

"No! Drake and Olivia both said they weren't either and I can't get a hold of Liam." Maxwell pleaded with her. "Isn't there some way you can hobble in there. I'll make certain you get a comfy chair."

"Tell him, no." Thomas said once he saw her wavering.

"Who's that?" Maxwell asked when he heard the voice. "Is Thomas Hunt still with you?!"

"Yes." Amanda responded. "He has been sweet in helping me care for my ankle, which is still incredibly swollen. I can't put a shoe on easily much less walk around in heels right now." She looked up at the ceiling as she admitted the next part. "And it looks like I won't be dancing at the ball."

Maxwell groaned. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize it was that bad. Need me to skip the tea too and bring you something? A doctor to add to your handsome man collection you got going on in there?"

She laughed. "No thank you. Please make my excuses to her grace."

"Alright. I'll still come by and drop your phone off. Maybe a miracle will have occurred with your favorite director caring personally for you."

Color flared on her cheeks when she noticed that Thomas heard that. "Thanks Maxwell. I will see you soon." She handed Thomas back his phone. "Thank you."

He nodded on his way to answer the door. He had the tray set on the table and then tipped the porter. He poured them both a glass of tea before settling back on the couch. "Now that all that has been taken care of," he said. "Would you like me to try and find us something to watch or shall we pick up where we left off in our discussion?"

She looked up at him. "Thomas, you shouldn't feel obligated to entertain me. You've already done so much."

He turned more toward her. "Perhaps I should explain something about myself."

She lifted an eyebrow for him to continue.

"I do not do these," he motioned toward her ankle, "type of tender mercies."

Confusion marked her features. "But you--"

Thomas stopped her by taking her hand. "With you though, I can't think of anything else I would rather do right now than to try and take care of you."

_______________

At the top of the Statue of Liberty...

"It's..." Liam looked out toward the city in awe. "Breathtaking."

Riley smiled at his reaction. "It really is."

"Do you come here often?" He asked, still lost at looking at the snow covered city."

"Not really. This is more of a tourist thing." She explained.

"I think I would have a hard time staying away." He admitted.

"Liam?"

They both turned around.

"Rashad?" Liam shook his hand and tried to stop Hana from dropping into a formal curtsy.

"Your majesty, it is an honor to meet you." She said.

"Majesty?" Riley looked at Liam. "Why did she call you that?"

"Riley, I can explain." He quickly said. "I am the King of Cordonia and--"

"King of Cordonia?" Her eyes narrowed. "Being a king must mean you have a number of subjects, staff, people at your beck and call?"

"Yes but--"

"But you decided to lie to a poor waitress and tell her how lonely you were." She snapped. Tears of humiliation filled her eyes. "I can't believe I decided you would be worth me working exhausted tonight." She jerked her hand from his grasp. "Goodbye, your majesty!"

"Riley!" He chased her back down the stairs. "Stop! If you will give me a chance to explain."

She brushed at the tears as she hurried down the spiral staircase. "Don't speak to me!" She yelled back at him. "I don't ever want to speak to you again!"

He continued his pursuit, pleading with her to listen.

"My father died and my brother abdicated." He said once they were past a group of people heading up. "I never expected to be king."

She tried to ignore him as she hurried down.

"Yes I have friends that I am close to and yes there are a number of associates and such that come to the palace. Yet, knowing my chances to find someone I could care for seemed impossible." He picked up his pace, huffing and puffing at the speed she was going. "That feeling was what made me realize how lonely it is to be given such responsibility over an entire country. One misstep and I could harm the livelihood of my people."

Riley began to slow somewhat as more tears fell. She didn't want to be moved by his explanation.

"If I do find someone I love, how can I ask her to live a life of endless pressure? A life where I could possibly lose her as my father lost my mother. How could I live with myself after that?" He stopped and ssat down on a step. He covered his face with his hands and slowly let them drop. "You're right. I should have told you from the beginning who I was officially. Know this." He peeked down at her.

Riley stopped and looked up at him, tears still forming.

"I let you know the real me last night. The man who wears the crown." He stood up and started walking down toward her. "And that man could not resist the chance of spending another moment with you."

Riley took a deep breath and slowly released it. "Anything else you decided to leave out?"

He paused in shaking his head. "Well, perhaps one."

She folded her arms. "And that is?"

"Would you like to go with me to a masquerade ball tomorrow night?"

________________

Afternoon tea at The Garden, The Four Seasons...

"Well, she seems..." Damien tried to find the word.

"Nice." Nadia decided.

"I was going for something more to describe her artistic temperament, but yeah, she seems okay." He muttered.

"Should we mingle?" She asked gripping his arm.

"This is all your call." He whispered. "I haven't one clue how to act right now."

"I--" her words died when she saw the man with the extraordinary blue eyes walk in. He was greeted affectionately by the duchess hosting them and by a few other nobles.

"He's here!" Nadia gasped.

"Who?" Damien looked around the room. "Ryan Summers? Yeah, I saw him when we first walked in.."

Nadia whipped around. "How did I miss seeing him?"

"I don't know. Should we sit? I think we should. That duchess woman seems to be encouraging everyone to take a seat." Damien pushed Nadia toward a nearby table. He looked down at the fragile china and lace table cloth. "Why did I agree to this?"

Nadia stared at the man she had trouble not day dreaming about. He was walking their way while smiling and greeting those he passed. He looked up and made eye contact with her. His delighted dimpled smile appeared. He hurried over and eyed Damien in question.

"Don't worry. I'm just the friend." Damien told him, a slight smile forming. "Nadia here, is single and thinks your eyes are not blue but a mixture of blues. She also loves your dimples." He reached for the teapot and filled his cup. He sat back in his cushioned chair with a satisfied smirk.

Nadia wanted to die on the spot. "Why?" She asked the man she once thought was her best friend.

He leaned close to whisper. "Time waits for no one. Don't be afraid to let him know you're attracted to him. What have you got to lose?" He nudged her with his elbow. "Go for it.”

She squeezed his hand and turned to Maxwell. "Hi."

His dimples deepened with his smile. "Hi." He motioned to the empty chair beside her. "Mind if I sit here?"

"Not at all." She answered. Nadia cleared her throat. "Um, are you a noble?"

"Yes, sorry." Maxwell shook himself out of thinking how cute she was. "Lord Maxwell Beaumont, younger brother to Bertrand, the Duke of Ramsford." He leaned a little closer toward her. "Are you an artist or an actress?"

"Artist. I'm Nadia Park. This is my best friend, Damien Nazario."

"Don't mind me." Damien replied while looking down at his phone. "I'm here for protection."

Maxwell leaned away from her. "I see."

"He's teasing." She quickly said, kicking Damien under the table. "Tell him."

"I'm teasing." He grunted when she kicked him again. "I'm the one in need of protection from short people."

_______________

AMC Orpheum 7 Movie Theater...

"Do you feel guilty?" Drake asked once they picked a spot to sit.

"For what?" Olivia reached for her box of candy and reclined back in her chair.

"For missing the tea." He settled comfortably back in his own chair. He turned away from the movie screen showing ads and waited on her to respond.

"Not at all. Why I was invited is a mystery." She opened her box and offered him some. "The only art I appreciate are the ones that show historical battles."

Drake chuckled while settling the popcorn between them. "That's why I picked Tommy Phelps's latest movie."

"You know, Amanda says that his movies lack a storyline with any depth or emotion. She thinks his films are nothing but an excuse for a man to continue to play with fireworks." Olivia turned to see how he would react to that being said about a director of who's movies he rarely missed.

Drake rolled his eyes. "Who needs depth when you got a character taking out the enemies trying to destroy his or her life?"

"I'll drink to that." She lifted her soda and took a sip. "So what are you most looking forward to in this one?"

He slipped his hand in hers. "Other than your company, the fight choreography is supposed to have been created by a former Navy Seal. I want your input on it."

Olivia's smile brightened. "Excellent. There is nothing I like better than to critique someone's fighting style."

"Better than some tea?" He asked, pressing a kiss to her neck as the lights went out.

"Much better." She replied turning to kiss him.

__________________

Early evening, Amanda's suite...

"Hello?" Thomas said in a low voice.

"Alright, where are you?" Holly demanded. "You have been MIA all day and now you aren't even back for dinner! What is going on?"

He gently smoothed the hair out of Amanda's face as she moved in her sleep against hin. "I can't go into it right now. Go on and enjoy your evening out. I will most likely order room service."

"How?! How are you going to do that when you aren't even in your room?" She snapped. Ryan tried to get her to calm down. She glared at him but took a deep breath. "Sorry. I don’t mean to snap. That tea was not only dull but only provided sandwiches that were small enough to be barely visible to the naked eye.”

Thomas curved his arm around Amanda as her head dropped off his shoulder. "Go to dinner without me. I will call later." He ended the call and turned his body more to make the lady who fell asleep on him more comfortable.

Her phone ringing a few minutes later had them both jump. She blinked sleepily at it and him. "I'm sorry." She mumbled. "I didn't mean to doze off."

"Your response was appropriate. It was a boring movie we were watching." He told her, his lips curving at her sleep induced bemusement.

She checked the missed call and brushed her hair out of her face. "I really don't feel like explaining my ankle again." She mumbled.

Thomas stood up to stretch. "Then don't."

"I have to explain why I'm not going out to dinner. My friends rarely accept a simple, go without me." She explained.

He chuckled while calling for more ice. "Send one of those text messages. I hate the things but desperate times and all that."

Her lips trembled with suppressed laughter. "I don't think I have ever heard of someone who hates text messages."

"You can't properly read inflection in a text, no matter how many of those weird pictures one uses." He explained.

A laugh escaped her lips. "Weird pictures?"

He grabbed his phone and pulled up a message from Addison as an example. "Those." He pointed at the small yellow faces in different moods.

"Emojis." She said for him.

"Yes." His eyes narrowed while a frown formed as he tried to decipher Addison’s latest message. "Their very name evokes a desire within me to throw this piece of technology out the window."

Her laughter brought a slight smile to his face. She shook her head and composed a brief group text telling them she would not be going to dinner and for them to question Maxwell. "There, and just in honor of you, I did not use one single," her eyes shined with mirth, "weird picture."

"I and I am sure countless others appreciate that." He picked up a room service menu and brought it over to read with her.

She pushed her unruly hair out of her face and turned some toward him, "Thomas, you have been stuck in here with me all day. Part of which, I am ashamed to say, I fell asleep on you. Do go out and enjoy yourself with your friends this evening."

"I have not been stuck here." He corrected, while reading over the entrees. "My room is down the hall and I could have easily left to return to it if I wished." His dark eyes cut to her face. "I chose to remain here and am offering to buy you dinner." He leaned closer with the menu. "Now what would you like?"

She remained in quiet study of his profile for a moment, then reached over to squeeze his hand in gratitude. She knew he would dismiss her words once more if she tried to thank him. A surprised smile formed on her face when he held on to it. She rested her head back on his shoulder and pointed out a few options from the menu that they could share.

________________

Liam's penthouse, The Four Seasons...

"Where have you been?" Maxwell demanded of the three when he walked in. "I have been on noble duty all day! It ended up being a valuable lesson: Liam, I will never try and take the throne from you." He collapsed face first on the sofa. "I'm exhausted."

"What happened to Amanda?" Olivia asked.

"She tripped at breakfast and fell down some stairs, sprained her ankle, and somehow managed to have Thomas Hunt as her personal in room nurse." He explained. "Now where were you?"

"I didn't feel like talking about art." Olivia replied. "So I spent the day around the city doing what I wanted to do."

Maxwell turned suspicious eyes to Drake. "And you?"

Drake rolled his eyes. "Since when do I voluntarily go to afternoon teas?"

"Good point. Liam?" Maxwell turned to be able to see him.

"I went to the Statue of Liberty today." He admitted with a hint of sadness. "I lost track of time." He stood up and went toward the window. "How did it go?"

"Fine." Maxwell replied, yawning. "Everyone seemed to either enjoy it or too nervous to admit otherwise."

“Good.” Liam muttered. When he noticed his three friends looking at him with worry, he forced a smile. “Where shall we eat tonight?”

________________

Later that night at the Ty Bar of The Four Seasons...

"Let me see if I understand this." Daniel said while mixing the drinks for a table filled with famous people. "The guy that was in here last night is a king?"

"Yes." Riley said.

"And you spent the day with him as a tour guide of sorts?" He asked.

She nodded while yawning.

"He then, like Prince Charming, asks you to a ball tomorrow night?" Daniel poured a few more.

"Yes." Riley muttered.

"And you said NO?!" Daniel looked at her incredulously.

"That's right." She picked up the tray and walked away.

_______________

At a table in Ty Bar of the Four Seasons...

"It's weird." Holly continued. "I know Thomas avoids a lot of things, but to just be missing all day and night..." She thanked the waitress and took a sip of her drink.

"Maybe not so weird." Ryan nodded toward the man walking into the bar. "If the king is here, then most likely that woman Thomas was staring at is--"

Addison whipped around in her chair.

"You're going to get whiplash if you keep doing that." Seth teased.

"Addison." Matt muttered.

"What? I had to see what he had on. You know I love fashion." She explained.

"And Liam." Jessica added, dodging the balled up cocktail napkin thrown her way.

“He’s all alone.” Addison pointed out. “Should we invite him to sit with us?”

“We could.” Ryan said at the same time Matt said, no.

Addison jumped up and dragged Matt with her. “Come on. He’s from out of town and all alone. He looks like he could use a friend.”

Once they were near Liam, her nerve froze and she couldn’t think of what to say. 

Matt rolled his eyes and cleared his throat. “Excuse us, but we were wondering if you would like to join our table. We are part of Duchess Joelle’s guests for New Year’s.”

Liam looked up and noticed that Riley was working the section their table was and nodded. “I would love to.”

A muffled squeak escaped Addison’s lips. 

Matt made the introductions once they were all seated. 

Liam smiled at them. “I am a fan of many of your movies.”

“I have made a number of great ones.” Seth joked.

“Two. He’s made two movies.” Holly muttered.

Laughter and conversation flowed among the group with Liam mostly listening.

“Your majesty,” Addison began once her brain had regained control over her mouth.

“Just Liam, please..” He said with a warm encouraging smile.

“Oh!” her hand raised to her heart. ”Liam, are you looking forward to tomorrow night’s ball?”

“We’re all excited.” Jessica added. 

“I--” He paused when Riley came by to check on them.

“Is there anything else I can--” she stared in surprise at Liam. “get you?”

“I could use a refill.” Seth handed his glass to her. “Another margarita please.”

“Sure.” She dragged her eyes away from Liam’s face. “Anyone else?”

The group looked back and forth at her and Liam.

“We’re good.” Ryan replied to cut the tension. 

Once she walked away, Holly turned toward Liam. “You okay? Seems like there was something there between you two.”

“I asked her to the ball.” Liam admitted then shook his head in regret. “It is of no matter. I should be going. It was a pleasure meeting you all and I look forward to seeing you tomorrow night.” He gave a short bow and left.

“What do you think happened?” Jessica asked.

“I don’t know but it wasn’t good.” Addison turned around toward where Riley was last seen. “I’ll be back.” 

She hurried over to the bar and smiled at the bartender. “Hello.”

Daniel smiled at her. “What can I get for you?”

“Um, our waitress, do you know where she went?” She asked.

“She wasn’t feeling well and went home.” He explained.

“Oh.” Addison noticed his slight frown. “Did she leave because of Liam?”

His head shot up. “Did he say something to upset her?”

Over at the table the group watched Addison work her magic of getting information out of people.

“She missed her calling.” Matt said when he noticed both her and the bartender smile. “She should have been an interrogator for the CIA.”

Addison ran back over. “Come on. We have work to do.”

“What happened to our vacation?” Seth whined.

“No rest for the wicked.” Ryan told him.

“We have to find a dress.” Addison explained. “We have just become fairy godmothers.”

#choices the royal romance #choices red carpet diaries #choices perfect match #new year's eve prompt

[absconditum-imaginaerum]

CHECKMATE | JR

JR | Checkmate | T+

Words | 4,690

Notes |  Accidental compromising situation, friends to lovers AU, game night. I have been with JR for 8 years now and he deserves a lot of love and with their comeback (I know it was a while ago now but wow I’m still not over it???) I have been flooded with JR feels so... enjoy my shitty writing lmao. Highly unedited because let’s be honest, when does Ailea edit any of her writings....

You promised. You promised a thousand times they were just going to be skittles games, that there would be no ounce of competitiveness in any of the matches you played and while the both of you knew that was going to be a total lie considering your nature with each other, JR sighed and accepted your proposal with the promise that you would make his favorite dessert when it was all said and done.

Skittle was a term JR came to understand as meaning just for fun in regard to the game of chess when you first began teaching him how to play. Ever since he started getting really good, skittles games were the norm—no timed matches, no speed rounds, just straight games for fun using all the time either of you wanted in the world. At first, he started coming over to your place because there was a nice table where the two of you could play comfortably.

It didn’t take long for the venue to switch to his place because he only had one roommate who generally either stayed in his room or was out and about and never bothered you when you occupied the living room to litter it with snacks and drinks and flip through movies while working through your games. Sometimes the movie was forgotten about, your matches getting a little more competitive. The glimmer that JR got in his eyes when he felt he had you like cornered prey was a look you came to completely adore.

You were prepared for anything and everything when you knocked on his apartment door the next day, chess set clutched under your underarm with a grocery bag full of things to make his favorite caramel apple strudel bar when the chess-playing was over in your other hand. He answered the door, running a hand through his shaggy hair as he looked up at you from under his lashes with a shy smile looking like he’d just gotten up from a nap. And it wasn’t long after that the board was set up on the living room floor. JR pristinely set the pieces while you put dessert ingredients in the fridge.

“It’s awfully quiet, no Minhyun?” you asked, noting that the younger boy had yet to make an appearance, as he often did when you arrived at their place.

JR shrugged. “He left for the weekend; didn’t say where he was going, just that he’d be gone a few days.”

“You have the apartment all to yourself?” you asked, peering over the kitchen island and across the small space to where he was sitting, fidgeting with one of his knights as he waited for you.

“It’s not that unusual.” He laughed. JR was always the quiet type, Minhyun definitely the more adventurous. “In fact, more often than not, he’s not here while you’re over. I’m surprised you even asked about him.”

You hummed in response, curious by that observation that you hadn’t made yourself. “I guess I never noticed.”

“Too busy focusing on me,” he retaliated with another laugh.

“Too busy focusing on kicking your butt!” you called back, definitely unable to help the burning that made its way to your cheeks.

The relationship between you and JR was simple, really. You’d been close friends for a number of years and from one intellectual brain to another spent most of your time with each other playing strategy or puzzle games. It almost always turned into a competition. Even though JR was quiet, he prided himself on how witty and smart he could be, especially if it meant outsmarting you. But chess was a different game. He vowed he would get good enough to beat you and after a few lessons and a lot of time spent contemplating strategies by himself, he was well on his way to doing just that. Occasionally, you went to his place to see how far he’d come, knowing full well that one day you were going to regret it. When JR was determined for something, seldom could anything stop him.

“I think today is the last day you’ll be saying that, even if it takes a couple of games.”

“Is that a threat?” you asked, looming from the kitchen as you ambled over to the board and the boy on the floor and plopped on the side with the white pieces.

“I’m thinking it’s a promise,” he uttered, peering at you from under those lashes once again but instead of humility it was conniving.

“Then you better bring your A-Game, honey,” you sassed and moved your trusty and beginning pawn two spaces.

“You’re going to be eating those words, darling.” The quiet and encouraging purr that slipped from your throat pulled the grin to his face as he reached down, matching his pawn with yours at the center of the board, and so the match began.

In all the time that you’d been teaching JR how to play chess, the emphasis on using every piece to its highest potential was of the utmost importance. To most inexperienced chess players, highest potential would be to move as far into enemy territory as possible, but what it really meant was to place your pieces to be strategically threatening and to take control of the center four squares. Control of the center four was ideal for domination of the game, especially once a player is able to get their stronger pieces out into the open to go on the offensive.

It took JR a little practice to understand that moving pieces into enemy territory wasn’t the best idea, especially in the beginning of the game when defenses were still fortified. It would be foolish to move your queen all the way out to be overtaken by a pawn—a lesson he learned very quickly. JR got a grip on the concept of highest potential nearing immediately and became a formidable opponent much sooner than you had anticipated; but JR was always a smart guy and a quick learner, so the surprise should have been minuscule at best.

Moves and counter moves and counter-counter moves had JR thinking pretty intently about every future endeavor he was going to make against your fortification. While JR busied himself with playing the aggressive game, you turned your style on its head and started playing defensively, setting a trap long in the making that would inevitably lead to his demise.

“You’re getting a lot better,” you complimented in regard to his promotion, a pawn having sneakily made it all the way across the board to grant him a captured piece of which he chose a bishop as you’d not so foolishly left your king on the end rank un-defended against an rook which he so inconveniently didn’t have to promote anyway.

“Well, I began with a great teacher and practiced my skills from there,” he replied, watching you move a piece he had actually looked over—a knight to take his newly acquired bishop.

“We’ll see if it pays off,” you replied and waited for his move.

“I think it has,” he uttered, moving a rook down to capture your knight which for a moment seemed pretty foolish to you, as the rook still had a bishop to go through before it could reach your king and should he take the bishop, your king was in prime capturing position.

A smirk tugged at your lips as you moved your queen into position, and in turn, as you expected, JR captured your bishop.

“Checkmate,” he said, believing he had your king pinned between a bishop and a rook and one of your own pawns.

“Not so fast,” you whispered back, moving your king in a retreating diagonal. “One key rule you always forget about kings is their ability to also move diagonally.” JR scoffed; he did often forget that rule which probably would have saved his own king on many occasions had you been kind enough to inform him, but he had to learn sooner or later.

With a somewhat defeated sigh, he moved his rook to a different position in the corner, having concocted a different plan with no time left, as on the next move he was in check. Pinned in the corner, his queen had no choice but to capture one of the offending pieces, but no matter which piece he picked, checkmate was inevitable. So, the first game went to you and JR sighed in defeat.

The both of you took a short break to stretch your legs and get something to drink, as sitting on the floor would get grueling for more than one game at a time since both of you were hitting that age. The floor definitely wasn’t as comfortable as it used to be when you were kids when it wasn’t that far to sit down and not that far to get up.

JR, being the gentleman he was, grabbed you a water from the fridge as you continued to stretch. Sincerely thinking about pressing the bottom of the chilled water bottle against the exposed skin of your lower back as a result of your shirt riding up, JR looked over you before deciding to just wait and hand you the water bottle.

When you stood upright, JR was standing incredibly close, your shoulder almost against his chest as he held out the bottle to you, looking at your face. Merely able to look back at him, you took the water bottle so gingerly, you almost dropped it on the floor. His warm breath was on your face, soft fingers against your own as he handed it over, and you swore a small smirk tugged at the right corner of his lips if even for just a moment.

“On for the next game?” he asked you with a raise of his brow.

“Are you ready to lose again?” you questioned, unable to stop the way your eyes glanced at his mouth—far too close for comfort—and back at his eyes a second later.

“I won’t make the same mistakes twice,” he reminded you.

“Then, bring it.”

JR settled across the chessboard from you after taking a swig of his water. As you anticipated, the game started off tense—JR was thinking very seriously about every single move he was going to make, planning as far as a few moves head and taking into consideration the multiple ways he assumed you’d move. It was a lie to say that you were entirely focused on the game, since whenever you weren’t looking at the board, you were looking at his face. The way he gnawed his bottom lip as he considered moves, shaking his head and mouthing some reasonings had you looking at him extra hard. The thought about putting a movie on hadn’t even crossed his mind since you showed up—he was so determined to show you that he could beat you; he didn’t want any distractions.

So, the game played out. There were a couple of instances in which you thought you might be in trouble, but somehow found a way out. Never were you on the offensive in this game. He diligently moved his attacking pieces in positions that also defended his king if it came down to it. He was really going all out on this game and you were getting a little nervous.

“What’s wrong?” he asked you when he caught you thinking extra hard, reaching for some pieces before retracting your hand, eyes scanning the board numerous times but not coming up with any solid plan to continue an advance.

“Nothing,” you bit through your teeth, trying to ignore the way he played with you, sarcastically asking what was wrong as if he didn’t know.

Moves were extremely limited while simultaneously being useful, but you saw their use expiring far beyond what you hoped for. You concluding that, without any other choices, you had to sacrifice some pieces to get the game perhaps moving in a direction more favorable to you—you sacrificed a knight.

“That’s unlike you,” he commented and observed the board.

“There comes a point when you need to open space, even if that means sacrificing one of your pieces,” you sighed, refusing to look at his face at this point—he had this game won, you could feel it in your bones.

All he could muster was a small hum in response as he gnawed at the tip of his thumb. Careful was an understatement when describing JR at this moment. He looked over multiple pieces tens of times and mapped their paths just as much, also eyeballing your pieces before finally deciding on a move, pushing his knight forward into a squeezed spot, but with the way that knight moved…

“Checkmate,” he uttered.

You almost scoffed. Such a simple move had destroyed your whole game. The only moveable spots for your king was right into the path of his bishops. It was unlike you to have your king blocked in, but it was far early in the game and didn’t think that you would have to clear your king out, based on the play of previous games.

After studying the board for a minute, making absolute sure there was no way you could destroy any of his checking pieces, you accepted defeat and reached out to push your king over. It rolled off the board and onto the carpet underneath.  He waited for a moment, hoping for a congratulations, but he didn’t get one. You were clenching your jaw, hiding a small defeated smile as you continued to look at the board.

“Don’t tell me you’re going to be sour about this, it’s about time I’ve beat you once,” he commented, trying to draw your attention up to him.

“You know what they say. Once you’ve beat them once, the wins will just keep coming,” you replied.

“You have that much confidence in me?” he questioned with a laugh as he began moving his pieces back.

“I have that much confidence in my teachings,” you answered, trying to take his light away out of playful competitiveness. But he couldn’t find the smile in your words.

“You’ve been spoiled with all of your winning,” he noted as you sat there. He would have pegged you as pouting about the game, but in all honesty the thoughts running through your head were far from the game at this point. You stayed silent for a moment before JR pushed the board out of the way. “You really are so upset about this game! I won’t have that frown in my apartment,” he threatened and reached out to you, both of his hands going for your sides when you quickly clamped your elbows down.

“Kim Jonghyun, don’t you even think about it!” you hollered, blocking his attempted tickles as he poked at you, that Cheshire grin across his lips bound and determined. You were slapping at his hands, trying your best to escape, shoving him every opportunity you got to try and scramble away.

“Oooh, busting out the full names now! This must be serious,” he teased some more, crawling across the floor to get close to you, poking anywhere he could to get some giggles out of you but you were far from having any of it. You grabbed his wrists, hollering his name and, with the help of some adrenaline, overpowered him to shove him away.

He was relentless, though, and never one to give up so easily. You’d crawled your way over to him, only making it easy for him to begin his attacks again, but you had something else in mind. You grabbed both of his wrists again, now having the proper leverage to really overpower him and pushed him over, off the balance of his legs and he crashed down onto his back, breathing heavily as you pinned his arms above his head, grip tight against his wrists. In order to get enough leverage to keep him there, you swung a leg over his body and straddle him to pin his hips to the ground, too.

In your struggling, your breathing had become labored also, and it fanned across JR’s face as you looked down at him. He was panting back just the same, but his arms never struggled out from under your grip. In fact, it was quite the opposite; he looked up at you with half-lidded eyes, tongue dancing behind his slightly parted teeth.

“Not so mouthy anymore, are you?”

He didn’t have a good reply for you, just turned his gaze away and slightly shifted his legs with a quiet grunt. That was the only time his arms ever struggled in your grip, but you weren’t about to let him up, not without a good explanation.

“Cat got your tongue, JR?” you asked, shifting a little bit to get a better grip on his wrists.

His gaze snapped back to you. “You are sitting very precariously on my lower half and I am concentrating so hard to not pop one underneath you; so yeah, I have nothing good to say.”

The blush that covered your cheeks was hotter than the sun when you realized the situation. Your hands let go of his wrists and he knew what was coming. He gave a vain attempt to stop you, but you were already convicted.

“Don’t!...Ah… fuck,” he groaned, defeated. The friction of you rotating to sit up was beyond his breaking point. All that concentration out the window with that simple of a movement; JR threw one of his freed hands over his eyes, expecting that you would jump off him, but you didn’t. You took a deep breath, your hands flat against his abdomen as the pressure grew underneath you. The fabric of his shirt was weak and pliable under the clawing motions of your fingers as they scraped against him.

JR’s legs shifted again, trying something, anything really, to relieve the pressure from you as you made no attempt to move, at least not to get off of him. The salivation occurring in your mouth was betraying you as you looked down at perhaps your closest friend, covering his embarrassed face with a shake of his head as you sat atop his most intimate parts.

“I’m so sorry,” he apologized, “I hardly have any control over it and the tiniest amount of anything will set it off at any moment.”

You didn’t even hear him, really. He was speaking, you could tell because you were looking at his face and could see his mouth moving, but as far as words actually being received in the mush of your mind—it was futile, really. As if on autopilot, you shifted your knees and rocked your hips.

The groan that fell from JR’s lips was nothing short of delicious.

“Ooh, fuck,” he whined, pushing his head back into the carpeted floor, legs shifting some more underneath and behind you. With his eyes clenched closed, he removed his hand from over his face and turned it over so that the back of his hand was staring back at him and drew his index finger knuckle between his teeth, which did absolutely nothing to muffle the next whimper from deep in his throat.

“If I’m being honest, I don’t really know why I won’t get off you,” you admitted, the haziness in your eyes just about matched his, but you were coming to some sort of consciousness even as your fingers continued to paw at his shirt, bunched against his middle. JR’s teeth ground together gently as he thought of what to say, but really all he could focus on was how warm you felt against his lower extremities and the saliva collecting under his tongue which he soon swallowed hard. His eyes opened to slits to look at you.

“How would you feel if I asked you to kiss me?” he finally uttered.

Your soft chuckle turned to a grin, then faded to you biting your bottom lip as you took both of his hands and laced your fingers with his. He watched you curiously, but threaded his fingers with yours nonetheless. You sat high on your knees, lifting from his hips and with his help, you guided his hands down to the carpet slightly above his head and watched his eyes flutter closed to anticipate you, but you moved right passed his face and into the crook of his neck.

Still, that sigh bubbling at the top of his throat spilled over when your teeth nipped at his jaw. His head tilted away and back from your mouth, giving you more area to bite at your will. Your soft lips against the curve of his jaw had him positively wild for you as you kissed along it—slow, sensual, lingering kisses down his neck.

His hisses were absolutely electrifying, hands jerking against yours, gripping them even tighter before he even thought about turning his face back to you; when he did, you swallowed the needy sigh right off his supple lips. His kiss was soft and sweet, but still quite eager and needy, especially as you drew his bottom lip between your teeth to caress it with your tongue and then bite softly before letting it go.  It returned to its rightful place just to be drawn between his teeth, and with another quiet hiss he opened his eyes fully.

JR’s soft gaze met yours, even as his fingers begged for your hands to continue to hold his when they slipped away. You were about to settle back down on his hips, the situation slipping your mind again; he took your hips to guide you to the side, gravity helping him roll over top of you. His dark hair fell forward, curtaining his face a bit as it fell into his eyes. His left hand shoveled under your shoulder while the other caressed your cheek with his thumb, eyes affectionately admiring you. His lower half was cast off to your side as he leaned over you, but that seemed to be the least of your concern now as he leaned down to slant his mouth against yours.

While one of your hands braced against his shoulder, the other delicately wrapped around the back of his neck. He tilted his head, accepting your warm tongue against his for just a second before he broke the kiss, the soft suction of departing lips loud in both of your ears. His eyes slowly fluttered open to meet your gaze again.

“Wow,” he uttered.

“What?” you asked with a soft smile, trying to stave the blush off your face.

“You have nice kisses,” he admitted and leaned down to chastely peck your lips, wet from his kiss.

The front door popped, opening slowly with Minhyun already explaining that he was back because he had a change of plans but in the middle of his rant, noticed the two of you on the floor of the living room and paused mid-sentence.

He cocked his head to the side for a minute, a curious glint in his eyes as he observed the living room. The chess board was messily cast aside, snacks and drinks littering the coffee table before his eyes settled on the two of you again.

“And how long have you been keeping this not-secret from me?” he asked curiously, shutting the door behind him.

“It’s as brand new to us as it is to you,” JR replied, eyeballing his roommate and best friend.

“Not-secret?” you questioned from under the older male.

Minhyun scoffed with a condescending smile. “You really are blind to each other, or yourselves, I can’t decide which. I’ve been making bets with Ren about how long this was going take because even he can scrape the tension off himself with a credit card. But if it is brand new as of right now, then I owe him twenty bucks.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” JR asked, finally letting you sit up properly.

“I told Ren that the two of you were already together, bet him that you’d passed this stage a long time ago, but he was right when he said that you guys were too stubborn to admit your feelings for each other.”

Minhyun didn’t waste any more time entertaining the two of you—he was better off getting his things and getting lost to let the two of you catch up on a long time coming. JR stood, helping you up to do the same to make the situation a little less awkward, but he kept you close in front of him to hide the obvious result of accidental movement which sparked this whole thing in the first place. He shifted to sit on the armrest of the chair and hulled you over, begging you to play along as you leaned against his leg with his hand entertaining your hip as you waited for Minhyun to finish rustling in his room and leave again.

The door popped again, another familiar face making an appearance. “Minhyun! We’re already la—Oh, hello,” Ren commented, noticing the two of you and waved his fingers in your direction.

“He owes you twenty dollars; don’t let him forget,” you commented, a little salty with him for walking in on the two of you a little busy on the floor. You could feel JR relaxing a bit behind you, taking particularly calculated breaths to calm himself before he could make eye-contact with Ren.

“Ohh, so the truth has been discovered. That’s so cute, you guys have always been so good for each other. I told Minhyun that if he was wrong, I was going to set the two of you up for real. Glad to see you’ve opened your eyes,” Ren explained. “Minhyun! Tick-tock!”

“I’m coming! I’m coming. Jeez. Don’t you think the lovebirds will have enough time for themselves? No need to rush me out of my own apartment,” he grumbled, hulling his bag towards the door.

“Toodles, my little doves. Don’t have too much fun,” Ren commented with a wink as he pulled Minhyun through the door, slamming it behind them.

JR relaxed into you, slouching into your back to bury his face. “They are so embarrassing,” he commented, muffled in the back of your shirt before you were pushing off his lap. You looked at him, a little curious about Minhyun’s comment about you having plenty of time to yourselves.

He must have sensed it, because he took your hands and drew you back to him, bringing them up individually to kiss the back of them. “I have every intention of starting this right and taking it slow. Don’t listen to Minhyun, you know he lives to get under people’s skin.”  

“Do you want to help me make your caramel strudel bars?” you asked him, stepping to him and slightly between his legs to drape your arms across his shoulders—it felt so like home, it was almost indescribable; as if your hiraeth had been cured.

“If it means standing behind you, nestled in the crook of your shoulder while I watch you make it… I’d be happy to,” he replied while looking up at you. He adored the way you pushed his hair back, tucking the longer strands back behind his ears, generally caressing his face as you admired him just the same.

Looking at him now brought a different sense of joy. Of course, you were always happy to see him before, but now… now it was ecstatic. Now you felt completely at ease. He made your heart full, and the way he looked at you about had your toes curling, goosebumps raising on your skin because you knew he looked at you for altogether a different reason. Instead of looking at you and enjoying your company as his closest friend, he looked at you and appreciated your place by his side.  So, with a soft smile, you laced your fingers with his and turned to tug him off to the kitchen, but not without a sweet, contract sealing kiss that he was yours now, and there were no take-backsies.

#kim jonghyun #jr #nu'est #jr scenarios #jr imagines #nu'est scenarios #nu'est imagines #nu'est kpop #kim jonghyun nu'est #kim jonghyun scenarios #kim jonghyun imagines #kim jonghyun nu'est scenarios #jr nu'est #jr nu'est scenarios #nuest

[thdorkmagnet]

Light of the Sun and Stars Chapter 15: Fight of Uncertain Death

Summary: His whole life Marco Diaz has been raised by monsters, living under the cruel rule of their leader, Toffee. But one day Marco escapes into Mewni where he meets a magical princess and Mewman like himself, who begins teaching him all about her world. Together they will learn about life, love, and the lights within each of them, as they change their world forever.

Chapter Synopsis: It’ s Star vs Toffee, as Marco and the gang rushes to Star’s rescue. Will they make it in time? Can Star beat the monster who is hiding a terrifying secret?

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Disclaimer: Star vs and all its characters are owned by Daron Nefcy and Disney. All rights go to them.

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Every monster blinked, trying to clear their spotted vision from the sudden bright intrusion on their senses, trying to see the condition of their boss after the surprise attack from the princess. Star, as well, had left herself half-blind, but she did her best to not show the disadvantage, staring forward with a hard look, bracing herself for another attack. Though she knew her magical narwhal had to have hit its target, she was confused by the lack of any indication it had met its mark, no scream of pain, no gasp from his lackeys, just silence. A silence that continued to stretch out, unnerving the already panicked girl.

Finally, Star regained some of her senses, able to see the dark forest that surrounded her once again. She did a quick look around to see there were no monsters sneaking up on her, all of them too busy rubbing their eyes to notice her. Star allowed herself a small smile of victory as she turned to the feared lizard once again. Maybe this wasn't going to be so bad after all. If she kept her head, maybe she could get out of this fight in one piece.

But any hope she had shattered as she finally saw the condition of her fierce opponent, her mouth dropping open and her eyes widening in fear. Toffee, in fact, had not moved an inch, not knocked down or crushed or even scarred, just standing there, hands behind his back, giving her that same blank look from before, the narwhal she had launched collapsed against the tree behind him. Did he seriously dodge it? Star thought in disbelief. “H-How did-” she muttered in disbelief, looking down at her wand as if it was somehow it's fault she had missed.

“Well I'll admit,” Toffee spoke, sounding unimpressed. “I certainly wasn't expecting that. But I'm afraid if that's all you have, then you are extremely disappointing.”

“Rainbow Fist!” Star screamed firing off another spell, shooting a glittering rainbow in the shape of a fist right at her hated enemy. And again, Toffee did nothing to dodge, just staring blankly at the incoming attack, then at the last second he held a claw out, the enchanted fist making contact with his claw. There was a bright flash of light, followed by a giant cloud of rainbow colored dust settling around the area, leaving several of the monsters coughing. But after a moment the multicolored smoke faded, Star smiling with pride at the sight of the lizard, his arm completely gone, destroyed in the attack.

“How's that for disappointing?!” Star taunted the so-called unbreakable monster, needing to come across as braver than she actually felt. She looked around at the rest of the monsters with a confident smirk, but to her surprise none of them seemed even slightly disturbed by the condition of their leader, in fact, their faces matched her own, even the lizard showing no pain or fear from losing one of his limbs. But before the royal could question the reason for this, Toffee spoke, “Did you really think it was going to be that easy, little princess?”

Star could only stare in horror as the monster leader's severed limb began to regrow itself, stretching and expanding outward at an alarming rate, in a matter of seconds the arm fully reformed. “H-How-” Star stuttered in terror, taking a few uncomfortable steps back, her fear showing once more. The lizard flexed the muscle, clenching his claw into a tight fist, to show the princess how truly futile the attack had been, Star no longer able to recognize any damage having ever been done. “What are you?” she muttered. But the lizard didn't answer, instead smiling wickedly at her, the first real show of emotion since his arrival, and Star felt her heart drop into her chest at the sight, shuddering against her will.

She tried to keep her hands steady as she shouted at the top of her lungs, “Crystal Heart Daggers!” Her wand instantly reacting as it fired off the appropriate spell, the tiny sharp daggers heading right for the lizard. Once again her spell made contact, ripping and poking into the fearsome lizard, who looked more annoyed than hurt. And once again, any damage was repaired almost instantly, as he brushed the tiny crystals off of him and straightened out his suit.

But that didn't stop the frightened princess, as she fired off another spell, then another, and another, desperately trying to wear down the lizard, to make some sort of progress against him, fear for her survival making her lose all self-control as she shouted off every spell she knew or could think of in that panic-filled moment.

Finally, she stopped shooting, as her mind drew a blank on what to say next, having already recited every spell she knew from her book, panting heavily, as she stared hopelessly at the monster leader, his suit slightly singed, small clouds of smoke rising off of him, but otherwise unharmed. Now Star finally understood why no Mewman had ever survived in a fight against him, how he had come to be so feared by the people of Mewni, everything about him shrouded in mystery, not a soul able to tell what made the lizard so deadly and powerful, that secret now known only by Star. Toffee wasn't just tough, he was invincible, any hit someone managed to land on him would be reversed in a matter of seconds, even magic useless against his incredible healing abilities. How was she supposed to win against a creature that was relatively unbeatable?

“Are you finished?” the lizard said in a cool tone and Star only panted in response, glaring daggers at him. “Good,” he continued, taking her silence for an answer, as he took a step closer to her. “Then I think we-”

“Super Glitter Bomb!” Star screamed, firing off a small glitter covered orb, which exploded the second it landed at Toffee's feet. For a few seconds, the forest was silent as the smoke cleared, the monsters staring wide-eyed, surprised by the courage of the young girl, most Mewmans at this point had given up any hope of winning and accepted their fate. Of course, this meant she was foolish as well. Star kept a firm gaze on the lizard as his dagger-like stare narrowed on her, clearly growing impatient with the girl, his body slowly healing from his injuries.

“I'm not giving up,” she explained via hiss.

“How noble,” Toffee dead-panned. He snapped his fingers and suddenly Star found herself surrounded by the monsters, growling as they all began to enclose in on the girl, rushing her from all sides. Star quickly became overwhelmed, as she had to dodge and weave her way around the monsters, shooting off spells when she could, doing her best not to get hit by the unending numbers of claws that swiped and grabbed at her, struggling to hold them at bay. Toffee just watched quietly from the sidelines, the sounds of grunting and screaming from combat echoing through the area, often accompanied by a bright burst from the girl's wand, waiting patiently as his lackeys began to slowly tire the princess, knowing it was only a matter of time before she was subdued. She was strong, yes, but inexperienced, she couldn't keep going forever, eventually the girl would slip up, and once she did then the game would be over. Yes, everything was going perfectly according to his plans, now all that was left was to wait for the final pawn to arrive.

...

Marco heard the explosions even from a distance, the loud booming sound echoing through the thick foliage that made up the Forest of Certain Death, the ground beneath his feet shuddering slightly as he ran. He turned to look behind him, Jackie and Janna still on his heels, the discouragement on their faces telling him they had heard the sound too.

The whole way there Marco had been hoping that he had been wrong about the trouble he suspected Star was in, that this whole thing wasn't a trap set up for his unsuspecting bestie, but he had been unable to shake the feeling that all was not right, the whole thing too methodical and suspicious to be nothing more than a bizarre coincidence. The timing was too perfect, an anti-portal generator going out in that particular forest in the the middle of the night, just after a monster attack, there was no way, it had to be Toffee. And as Marco watched explosion after explosion litter the sky, too familiar to be anything else but Star's wand, he felt a cold twinge of fear flow through him, chilling him to the bone, every step only increasing his worry over Star's safety, as the dark treeline drew ever closer, the same three words looping themselves through Marco's panic-stricken mind over and over again, please be alight, please be alright, please be alright.

“Hey guys, don't look now but I think we've got another problem,” Janna's voice suddenly called out, pulling Marco out of his daze as he looked behind him to see Janna looking over towards town, causing both him and Jackie to do the same.

It seemed the three friends weren't the only ones who had taken notice of the commotion, several of the townspeople coming out of their homes to try and spot the source of the disturbance, looking nervous and agitated as the colorful explosions lit up the sky within the dark forest that bordered their home, shifting uneasily on their feet and pointing to the sky with grim scowls, muttering amongst themselves as they tried to make sense of this seemingly troubling situation.

“Looks like Star's attracting an audience,” Janna finished.

“That can't be good,” Jackie said, her normally smooth tone troubling to the boy.

“Why, do you think their all gonna freak out like before when that statue got broken?” Marco asked worriedly.

“Well they do look like almost mob levels,” Janna said.

There was a short moment of silence as the three ran, looking at the increasingly anxious crowd with concern. Finally Jackie said in a low tone, “We better hurry.”

Marco and Janna nodded in agreement, the hooded boy increasing his pace, the thick treeline growing ever closer, as the ground around him shook and rumbled. He was starting to grow tired, his legs aching and screaming at him to slow down, but he pushed himself on, finding Star more important to him than a little discomfort. He didn't think he would feel comfort again until he found his bestie, until he knew she was safe from all the dangers that he had brought on her. He felt his stomach twist with guilt as a realization came to him, this was his fault. He was the reason Star was probably fighting for her life right then, he never should have come, shouldn't have been stupid enough to think that he could escape Toffee. He needed to make this right. He had to fix this, somehow. Even if that meant facing the dreaded lizard again. Marco held back a shudder as his gaze, once again, drifted upward, just in time to see a bright purple light streak into the sky, the hooded boy quietly muttering something under his breath, as if afraid the forest might overhear, before forcing his way through the thick foliage that bordered the Forest of Certain Death, Jackie and Janna close behind. “Hang on, Star. We're on our way, I promise.”

But, unfortunately for the boy, his whispered vow hadn't gone completely unheard, the small fly monster had overheard every word clearly from his hiding spot in the trees. And what the boy in the red hood also wasn't aware of, was the thousands of tiny eyes trained directly on him as he headed deeper into the forest, Boo Fly needing to make sure to keep a close watch on the young one for what was about to happen next.

…

Star swallowed down the lump in her throat, as she realized how hopeless this situation was becoming. Here she was alone and unguarded, surrounded by monsters, and facing off against an unbeatable foe with no chance of rescue. Not to mention the fact that with every second that passed she was growing weaker and weaker, panting heavily as she desperately dodged and weaved her way around the enemies that scratched and clawed at her, shooting off every spell she could think of, the forest around her growing more and more singed and destroyed, the smell of smoke filling the air. But even with her wand, she was still at the disadvantage, having to be careful not to hit any of the unconscious guards, some of the monsters picking up on this and making sure to stand between the princess and her comatose protectors. One such monster, a big alligator with a very human looking arm, tried this strategy, trying to lung at the girl from her blind spot only to be met with the backside of her wand, as she smacked it as hard into his face as she could, cringing as she hoped she hadn't damaged the magical device from the spur of the moment reaction, stepping out of the way, as the amphibian monster landed hard at her feet.

She was holding her own for now, the monsters becoming weary of getting too close, knowing it would only be met with a supercharged hit from the girl's overpowered wand, instead circling around her, looking for an opening, knowing she couldn't watch all of them at once, all the while Toffee just calmly watched the scene from the background, claws behind his back, a blank, unamused look on his face, which infuriated Star to no end.

He was toying with her, trying to wear her down before going in for the kill, she had no idea what the monster had in store for her, whether he intended to simply kill her right there or try and hold her for ransom or perhaps something much worse, but whatever the outcome, she knew she couldn't allow herself to fail, knowing it wouldn't end well for her or the rest of Mewni. She had to get away, had to escape, or at the very least find a place where she was at a bit more of a tactical advantage and not prohibited from using her wand fully. She needed a plan, but what? Whatever she did, she needed to think of it fast, before she grew too tired, already starting to feel her limbs grow sore from overwork, her panicked adrenaline beginning to wear out as exhaustion took its place.

The girls' thoughts were interrupted as the bear monster nearly got a crucial hit on her, the girl moving out of the way at the last moment, his claws coming inches away from her face, Star feeling the air whoosh past her face as she ducked low to the ground, but she recovered quickly, holding her wand point blank out at the already singed monster and shouting at the top of her lungs, “Cotton Candy Devastation Blast!”

“Not again!” Bearicorn whined, as the magic in Star's wand finished gathering.

…

Marco heard the explosion followed by a loud yell echo around them, a hot air brushing against his face, smiling widely as he realized how close by it sounded, able to pinpoint the location of the struggle. He turned around to yell something to Jackie and Janna. “Hey gu-”

But he never got to finish his sentence, as his foot bumped up against a rope tripping him and sending him tumbling to the hard, forest floor, while behind him a thick net was sent hurtling to the ground, falling right on top of the girls, throwing them both to the ground under its crushing weight.

Marco sat up, staring in horror at his two now trapped friends. “Jackie! Janna!” he yelled.

Jackie coughed, trying to gain some air back in her lungs, all of it knocked out of her from the collision with the ground, her roommate's heavy body squished on top of her making it difficult to do so. “I'm okay,” Jackie managed to squeak out, hearing the boy's panicked voice calling out to them, trying to sit up and get her bearings back. “I think,” she added, upon finding her movements restricted by the net. “Janna you good?”

“Define good,” Janna's labored voice called out, sounding just as breathless as Jackie's. “Because this is not my ideal definition.”

“Can you use your monster strength to get us out?” Jackie asked, ignoring Janna's comment.

“I'll try,” came the strained reply. And in a second, the creepy girl had switched over to her monster form, trying to wriggle her way into a good position to try and pull the ropes apart. But once she had she was surprised to find them far more durable than she anticipated, the beanie-wearing girl grunting as she strained against the thick and tangled web of ropes that currently held the girl's hostage.  “Come. On. Just. Break. Already.” she grunted, gritting her teeth, putting every once of energy in her body into snapping the heavy knots, but found herself unable to get them to tear even a little, in fact the more she tugged the stronger they seemed to become.

Finally, she sighed, letting her aching arms rest, surprised to find the normally-simple task draining to her all of sudden, panting heavily as she rubbed her sore wrists. “It's no good. I can't break through them.”

“What? But how?” Jackie yelled in surprise, unsure how her incredibly strong roommate was unsuccessful in breaking a few simple ropes, something which normally should be second nature to Janna. “How did we even get in this mess?”

“I don't know, considering the way they had this trap set up its an incredible coincidence we even ended up getting stuck in this.”

Jackie gave Janna the stink eye, well as best she could from underneath her, saying in an unamused tone. “Not helping.”

Marco looked back in the direction Star was in, worry still clinging tightly to his insides, he was so close, he could practically feel her presence even from that distance and for a moment he was tempted to run on ahead and leave the other two behind. But he knew he couldn't do that, not to them, as scared as he was for Star, he couldn't just leave Jackie and Janna alone to fend for themselves, they needed Marco far more at the moment than his super-powered princess.

And so with one last longing look, he rose to his feet, calling, “Hang on, I'll get you two free,” before racing over to the two. But as it turned out the weak boy was far weaker than he thought, barely able to lift the heavy ropes much less pull them completely off his struggling friends. “Wow, this thing is heavy,” he said, trying to fiddle with the surprisingly complicated series of knots to no avail. “And these knots are really thick, I'm not sure if I can loosen them.”

“I know,” Janna agreed, trying to help the boy unravel the net, as well. “For a bunch of idiots, they do tie a surprisingly good knot.”

“Maybe you can bite it off?” Jackie suggested, trying to move into a more comfortable position so she could help but her arms were pinned uselessly to her side and her body was still trapped underneath her roommate, making her more dead weight than any form of help.

“I'm not sure my teeth are that strong,” Marco said honestly, trying to concentrate on untying the firm knots.

Janna rolled her eyes. “Uh, Marco...”

Marco stopped for a second looking at the creepy girl, who raised a knowing eyebrow at him, the reality finally sinking in. “Ohhhh,” he said, sheepishly. “She was talking to you, wasn't she?” He slowly pointed to Janna, who nodded.

“Yep,” Janna said. “And in answer to your question, Jacks, that would be a big fat no.”

“Why not?” Marco asked.

“Yeah, come on, Jan. How else are we supposed to get out?” Jackie pleaded, but the half-monster girl only scoffed in reply.

“Do you know how unsanitary that is. We don't even know where this rope has been. Besides, my teeth aren't exactly the strongest part of my body.”

Jackie sighed. “Marco, maybe you should just go on ahead without us,” she suggested, but Marco instantly shook his head.

“No way, I'm not leaving you two here,” he said determined, analyzing the ropes for any weaknesses. But the three were so caught up in their struggle to free themselves, that they didn't even see the shadow slowly darkening over them, as they tugged against the relentless net.

“Well, well,well.” The two girls and Marco looked up from their uncomfortable position on the floor in shock, only to see Beard Deer standing over them, giving the two trapped teens a sinister look. In half a second, he had grabbed Marco by the arm and pulled him to his feet, holding the boy by the hood to keep him from escaping.

“Marco!” Jackie screamed in concern, seeing the boy struggling in the monster's grip.

“Looks like we caught ourselves a little Impure and a Mewman to boot,” the monster continued, sneering at the two girls triumphantly. But neither Jackie or Janna showed any fear over their predicament, glaring at the monster furiously, Janna showing off her fangs in an attempt to psyche the monster out, a thick tension filling the already uneasy forest. “And I can't think you enough for bringing Marco back to us safely.” His eyes for just a second jumped to the frightened Marco, clearly gloating over how easily he had recaptured the child.

“Hey hands off the kid!” Janna screamed. “Unless you want a repeat of earlier tonight, tough guy!”

Beard Deer laughed cruelly at that. “Go ahead and try it, Impure. You couldn't break through those ropes if you wanted to. It's infused with magic, the more you pull the stronger it gets. We had it made special just for you.” Janna said nothing, just glaring hate-filled daggers at the monster, as she continued to struggle against her bonds, ignoring the exhaustion she felt with every tug.

“Beard Deer?” Marco suddenly pitched in, his voice a hurt whisper, looking at the monster with glossy eyes, hoping to try and talk him out of his evil scheme.

But the monster ignored the sharp pain in his gut from the boy's broken stare, having to remind himself that Marco wasn't behaving normally, he was being controlled by the Mewmans, he couldn't let the boy get to him, so instead he shifted his attention back to the two girls, giving them a death glare. “Not now, Marco!” he snapped, the boy flinching from the scolding tone and going silent, unable to think of a time when he had ever heard the monster talk so severely toward him.

“You thought you were so clever didn't you, Impure,” Beard Deer mocked. “So cocky and confident, acting all high and mighty. Well, look where it's gotten you. Completely at the mercy of the very monster you made a punching bag out of not a few hours before.”

Janna's eyes narrowed on the monster with every insult, keeping her mouth sealed shut. “And now, even as we speak, your precious princess is fighting for her life against the most feared monster in all of Mewni.”

Though Jackie hated herself for it, she was unable to stop her eyes from widening in terror and even Janna looked concerned for the princess' safety. But Marco looked the most torn up, his face scrunched up with worry, his own safety forgotten his thoughts only on his endangered bestie, a sense of hopelessness beginning to fill him as he realized he wouldn't be able to reach her in time. He felt hot tears beginning to gather at the corners of his eyes, his gaze looking helplessly in the direction of his beautiful bestie, as he quietly muttered in pain, “Star.”

…

Toffee was feeling confident. Though his outside emotions remained the same, inside he felt a growing sense of pleasure coursing through his veins like fire, as he watched his game slowly growing to a close, the girl obviously on the brink of exhaustion as she did her best to hold his elite monsters at bay, her last attack leaving them all a sticky, pink mess, the bear monster groaning in pain at her feet. He admitted it was surprising how much of a fight the princess had put up, capturing her taking far longer than he would have liked, her wand truly was a weapon to fear... in the right hands, anyways. But he hardly felt she was adequate for the job, her spells rather erratic and lackluster in his mind, more of a hodge-podge of adolescent daydreams than practiced spells. Her brave little attempt to save herself was cute, but hopeless. He had already calculated everything down to the smallest fraction and, though she didn't know it, the girl had lost this fight the second she stepped into the forest.

Suddenly, the lizard heard a familiar buzzing and turned to see Boo Fly approaching, his calculations still on point, as the small fly's appearance confirmed to Toffee that Marco had finally arrived there and that he was behaving as predictable as could be, unable to resist helping his little girlfriend from danger by falling right into the awaiting trap. The lizard turned his attention away from the stubborn, unknowing girl and onto his spy, who was eagerly awaiting to give his report.

“Boo Fly,” he greeted dryly, wanting to get straight to the point as always. “Has our other guest finally arrived?”

“Yezz, Mazzter Toffee,” the fly monster began, keeping his voice at a whisper, so as not to be overheard. “Beard Deer izz already with him azz we zzpeak.”

“Excellent,” Toffee replied, all business. “And the Impure?”

“Taken care of,” his minion buzzed evilly. “She fell for our trick just azz you predicted she would.”

“Good. Then everything is going according to plan.” Toffee allowed himself a small smile of victory. In a matter of moments he would have Marco back and the Princess of Mewni to boot. Yes, everything was coming along nicely.

Star kept a close watch on the lizard out of the corner of her eye, his attention having shifted away from her and to some fly monster thing, the lizard muttering something to the creature under his breath, the look in his eyes giving her the chills. Though she couldn't understand what they were saying, she could tell that the lizard was obviously too preoccupied with his minion to notice what was happening on the battlefield, clearly whatever they were discussing more important than even the inevitable capture of the crown princess, but in Star's mind this was a blessing in disguise, feeling a spark of hope ignite in her, giving her strength. Toffee was distracted and the other monsters were still trying to recover from her last attack, this was it, there would be no better moment to escape.

Now's my chance, she thought to herself, steeling her nerve, her grip tightening on the wand. All she had to do was lure them away somehow and then at least the guards would be safe from harm, Star knowing her men would be easily bypassed over her, Star being the more valuable prize. Still, she had no idea what she was going to do to escape, but whatever it was she needed to do it now while she had the lizard off-guard, her brain trying desperately to think of something to get her out of there.

…

“I warned you before, didn't I?” Beard Deer continued to gloat, his eyes narrowing on the hated Impure with every insult, who had gone completely silent, not letting an ounce of emotion show, giving him an empty stare. “I told you we would be taking back what was ours.” Beard Deer emphasized this point by pulling out a pair of dimensional scissors from his pocket and cutting open the swirling portal.

Marco, feeling a desperate need to act turned to the monster who held him, once again. “Beard Deer, please, you don't have to do this!” he begged, giving him the most pleading look he could muster, the kind of look he knew the deer monster would be powerless to resist.

And in fact he was right, Beard Deer having to look away from the boy and directing his attention to the floor instead. “I know what you and the other monster have been doing,” the boy continued, his voice chocked and tight. “That you've been killing Mewmans and that you choose to keep that from me, and that hurt a lot! But I don't believe for one minute that you're really evil.  Because I know that deep down you would never want to hurt anyone. So please, you don't have to let Master Toffee control you! You can do the right thing.”

For a second, Marco thought he had gotten through to the monster, Beard Deer staring at him silently, the two eyes locked with one another, Marco's pleading and Beard Deer's conflicted, and the hooded boy felt his heart filling with hope. Maybe Beard Deer would listen and let Marco and the girls go. Maybe he would actually turn against Toffee and help join them to stop his evil. And if he joined, then the others might join, too. Then they could all work together and save Star.

But the boy's naive hopes were dashed as the monster finally spoke, his voice a dull mummer of unsettled emotions, “I'm sorry, Marco. But... it's too late for that.”

Before the boy could even react, Beard Deer began pushing him toward the portal, the boy screaming at the top of his lungs, as fear took hold of him once again, closing his eyes tight against the swirling vortex he was about to be consumed by.

…

Star, still struggling to form some kind of plan, suddenly heard a very familiar sound echo through the treetops around her, a loud yelling from a voice she would recognize anywhere. “Marco!” she screamed, her wand reacting to her sudden fear, as the whole thing began to glow pure white, the brightness intensifying with every second that passed. Toffee hearing the girl's scream, hastily turned away from his subordinate to see the girl's glowing wand, his eyes for just a second widening, sensing what was about to happen, trying to shout his warning to the other monsters. “Stop he-” Then suddenly, the world exploded into an overwhelmingly bright light, as the magic in the wand finally released itself, coating the dark forest in its glow, blinding anyone unfortunate enough to be within close proximity of the beam, several of the monsters screaming in pain as their sensitive, night vision enhanced pupils burned from the sudden intensity.

…

The light spread outward at a rapid rate, managing to shine through to the area where Marco and the others were, taking all of them by surprise, the hooded boy the only one fortunate enough to have his eyes closed at the time, the rest all screaming in pain from the blinding beam, Beard Deer dropping the boy to try and cover his shell-shocked eyes as best he could as he continued to cry out in pain. Finally, after an agonizing few seconds, the light ceased and everyone paused panting, waiting for their senses to return to normal. Marco, from his position on the floor took quick note of his surroundings, having to blink a few times to get his bearings, looking up to see Beard Deer above him, his eyes blood-shot feeling around blindly for any signs of life around him, any signs of remorse now gone from the monster replaced instead with pure rage and hate. “Ah, my eyes,” the deer monster screamed in pain, as he stumbled around the forest drunkenly, Marco having to move out of the way to keep the monster from tripping over him. “That was a cheap trick, Impure! And it's gonna cost you!”

Marco, reminded of his two still trapped friends, looked over to the net worriedly, but was surprised to find only Jackie trapped within the compounds of the net, squinting as she tried to get her bearings, Janna nowhere to be found. Marco hoped that maybe Jackie would have some kind of idea of where the creepy girl could have gone off to, but from the looks of it the skater was equally confused as to the location of her roommate, though she did seem far more comfortable without the crushing weight of Janna pinning her down, finally able to move around somewhat freely within the restrictive net.

But Beard Deer was in no way aware of any of this, still spilling out worthless threats to the missing Impure as he tripped his way around the dimly lit area, while Marco did a thorough scan of the forest, looking for any signs of his creepy friend. “All you did was make things a million times worse for yourself! Because, in case you've forgotten, girlie, you're still trapped. And once I get my sight back, I'm gonna teach you a lesson you'll never forget!”

Marco stood, having no luck in spying his missing friend, and yelled without thinking, “Janna?!” The boy instantly regretted this action, as Beard Deer swerved on his heels in the direction of the sound he had heard, facing Marco, who tried to slowly back away from the now incoming monster.

“Marco? Is that you? Where are you?” the monster grunted, trying to decipher the blurry images in front of him from one another and spot the boy. But suddenly he saw a splurge of red and knew it couldn't be anything else other than the bright red of Marco's hoodie, a style the boy seemed to have picked up at some point while he was away.

Marco felt his heart stop as Beard Deer's focus landed on him and he knew he had been discovered, nervously saying, “Uh no, no it's not me, it's someone else.” He did his best to deepen his voice so as to not be recognized but it did nothing to fool Beard Deer in the slightest.

“Marco get over here right now, young man,” the deer monster scolded.

“Marco run!” the blinded Jackie called, not sure what was going on, but from the sound of it her hooded friend was in trouble again. The boy obeyed the skater's instructions as he continued to back away from Beard Deer, his eyes nervously scanning the forest around him.

“Uh, Janna?” Marco called quietly, still unsure where the girl was or if she was even still around.

Meanwhile, the deer monster eyes finally began to adjust to the dark, seeing the fleeing child clearly again. “Marco I said come here,” the monster said.

“Janna, now would be a good time to help me!” the boy tried again, louder than before, having to jump back to avoid getting grabbed by Beard Deer, who was hoping to catch Marco by surprise. But the action was not without consequences as, suddenly, much to Marco's dismay, his back hit a tree, trapping him as the monster drew ever closer.

“Janna I need you!” Marco cried in panic, trying to push himself as far against the tree as he could in feeble hopes of somehow holding the monster off.

“Enough, Marco,” Beard Deer said, becoming annoyed with the boy's stubbornness. “Stop fight me, you're Impure friend can't save you, that net is made of magic.” He pointed behind him to the trapped Jackie, but didn't even bother to turn around, confident in the half-monster girl's capture. “Not even her monster form is strong enough to get through that.”

“Good thing I have more than one form then, huh?” a smirky voice called from above, Marco overjoyed and Beard Deer dismayed and confused to hear it, the two looking up to see a small purple bat drop down from the treetops, transforming mid-air back into Janna, who landed gracefully between Marco and the awestruck monster.

“Janna!” Marco screamed in admiration, throwing his arms up in air in celebration, moving in so as to give his half-monster friend a grateful hug, the girl somehow sensing this as she turned to him and said, “Not now, Marco! Hugs after the fight!”

“Oh, right. Sorry,” he sheepishly apologized, lowering his hands and taking a step away from the girl.

“What, but how?!” Beard Deer screamed, looking back to the net, then back to the smirking teen, then back to the net with growing confusion. “How did you- Were you just a bat?!”

Janna shrugged, looking as nonchalant as ever. “What can I say, I'm full of surprises.” Then, with lightning speed she swung at the monster, catching him by surprise and managing to send him flying back where he crashed hard into a tree.

Jackie, who had watched the whole thing from her crapped position on the ground, yelled over to Janna with an annoyed scowl, “You couldn't have just done that earlier!”

To which Janna simply shrugged and said, “I was just waiting for the right moment!”

“And two minutes ago when Marco was about to be sent through a portal wasn't the 'right moment'?!” Jackie retorted.

“See, I knew you'd understand,” Janna answered, giving the skater girl a playful smirk. Then, out of nowhere, her smirk dropped as she directed her attention to Marco as if surprised he was still there, shouting, “What are you still doing here, Marco?! Go find Star! I'll handle this guy!” Marco was completely taken aback by the girl's bizarre mood shift, all joking mannerisms pushed aside, as she spoke to the boy in a serious, level-headed tone.

Still, Marco couldn't help but respond by asking, “Are you sure?” Still feeling reluctant to leave his friend alone to fight.

Janna rolled her eyes, before saying sarcastically, “Am I sure I can handle one badly dressed, stupid monster all by myself? Yeah, I'm sure.”

“Hey!” Beard Deer growled, looking annoyed at the comment, slowly beginning to recover from the painful ordeal, shooting the half-monster girl daggers of death, making Marco even more reluctant to leave.

“But what about Jackie?” Marco pointed out.

“Just go, dude,” the skater called, not looking the slightest bit concerned by the situation. “I'll be fine.”

Marco bit his lip, torn between his bestie and his two close friends, not sure who needed him more.

“Look,” Janna said persuasively, seeing the boy's uncertainty, putting a hand on his shoulder to silence his thoughts. “We don't have time to argue about this. Star needs help now and this monster isn't going down without a fight. And to be perfectly honest with you, right now you're more in the way than anything else.” Janna gave him a small, apologetic smile, possibly the most real and genuine one she had ever given him, before lightly pushing him in the direction of Star. “So just go. We'll catch up as soon as we can.”

Marco looked back for a moment, as if seeking permission, asking, “Promise?”

“Promise,” Janna said, with another reassuring smile, which did manage to soothe the majority of the boy's fears... though not all. Still, he knew she was right. Now wasn't the time for him to break down with worry, he needed to focus on the more important task at hand, finding Star, he would just have to trust Janna and Jackie to be able to handle themselves on their own. So he swallowed down the lump in his throat, giving the girl a small nod before heading off after Star and Toffee with no hesitation in his step.

Beard Deer, finally (mostly) recovered from the super-charged hit, spotted the boy's exit and quickly started after him, hoping to stop him before he reached Toffee and made a mess of their careful planning, that was until the hated Impure stepped into his path, looking as cocky as ever as she called to him, “Hey, muscles! Where do you think you're going?!”

Beard Deer felt red hot anger course through him as he stared at his hated opponent, who looked comfortable and relaxed there in the middle of the Forest of Certain Death. “Out of my way, Impure!” he hissed, every word just littered with venom.

“Oh come on,” Janna taunted, shooting him a knowing grin and he felt his rage explode at the look, his teeth grinding together as he growled, his hands clenched into extra tight fists, as he tried his very hardest to remind himself of the mission and not to get distracted on petty revenge. “Didn't I recall you saying something about teaching me a lesson?”

There was a short pause from the girl as she leaned forward, her eyes narrowing smoothly, giving him a deceptive grin, saying slowly but surely, “So then by all means... teach me.”

Beard Deer released an infuriated yell, before running at the girl full-force, while Janna, never losing her smile, just waited patiently as the monster drew ever closer to her, not even bothering to raise so much as a fist against him. Until finally, he got close enough to hit her, sending his enclosed fist right at her face, but found himself hitting air as she cleverly grabbed the monster's wrist, using his weight against him as she flipped him easily over her shoulder, where he smashed hard into the uncomfortable forest floor with a pained grunt. Marco for just a second looked back, hearing the monster's scream and Janna shot him a reassuring smile, giving him a quick thumbs up to let him know she had it handled, waiting until he disappeared into the forest's undergrowth before turning her attention back to the monster, who was struggling to stand after his painful encounter with the ground, holding him arm tightly.

She bent down so she was level with the monster, who glared daggers at her. “So, maybe wanna try that one again, buddy?” Janna asked, the monster finding her tone irritating. He growled, as he swung carelessly at her again, his clawed fist meeting her open palm, pain shooting up his arm as he realized too late how injured his arm actually was and he screamed. “Ow, ow, OW!”

Jackie, watching the whole display with growing skepticism as she tried to untangle the mass of net around her, heard the monster scream and rolled her eyes, saying softly to herself, “Jeez and I thought Tom had a temper.”

...

Star blinked, standing frozen in bewilderment, her wand still raised in front of her, as around her the monsters stumbled around blindly, bumping into one another, as they all either groaned in pain or yelled out their fellow companions names in hopes of a reply, clearly discombobulated from losing their vision and most of them still restricted by the cotton candy that coated the ground. Though they weren't the only ones experiencing confusion at the moment.

As crazy as it seemed, Star had no idea how exactly she had just managed to blind the entire battlefield of monsters, the unexpected spell coming out of seemingly nowhere. It wasn't like she had shouted off any kind of spell or anything, heck she had still been busy trying to think of a plan, the sudden action taking her as much by surprise as it had the monsters, though somehow leaving her vision untouched. Had she somehow performed a spell without having to cast or even think of one at all?

In fact, if she didn't know any better she could have sworn that the wand had acted all on its own, something that should have been impossible, the magical device somehow reacting to her fear when she had heard Marco scream. Wait. Marco! Star felt a new fear cling to her, a sense of overwhelming panic as she remembered the terror she had just heard in her bestie's voice, several worrying thoughts jumbling around in her head for a moment, all of which only managed to frighten her more. What was he doing there?! Why did he scream?! Did the monsters get him?! Was he okay?! That last thought stuck out in her brain, filling her with a deep dread.

And so, without another thought, she held her wand downward toward the ground, shouting, “Bunny Rocket Blast!” A magical stream releasing itself from her wand, boosting her over the blinded monsters, sailing gracefully over their heads, before landing lightly on her feet, racing forward in the direction of the boy... she hoped. “Hang on Marco, I'm coming!” she screamed into the dark abyss around her, pushing herself forward as hard and fast as she could.

“The girl's getting away. Don't let her escape,” Toffee called his monsters to attention, looking the least affected out of them from losing one of his senses, though behind his back and out of the rest of the monster's view his claws had clenched into extra tight fists.

“Yes, Master Toffee,” all the monsters responded doing blind salutes, before growling as they all tried to chase after the runaway princess, which quickly turned into chaos as all they managed to do in their sightless condition was trip and crash into each other, none sure which way the girl was heading, causing several of the monsters to start bickering with anger, giving the princess even more time to put distance between herself and her pursuers.

“Ow! Watch it!”

“You watch it!”

“Hey, get off me!”

“Out of my way, the girl went this way!”

“No, she went the other way, you idiot!”

“You're the idiot!”

“Hey, hey hey, guys, I think I got her, I think I got her!”

“Ow! No you idiot, that's me!”

“Oh, sorry Bearicorn!”

And as the hectic arguing of Toffee's most “elite” monsters filled his ears all the lizard could do was sigh and mumble under his breath, “Worthless idiots.”

He had often times wondered if this had somehow been Buff Frog's way of getting back at him, requesting a bunch of monster with little to no talent whatsoever, just to make his mission a bit more difficult and Toffee felt his anger burn at the thought. You truly believed you had beaten me didn't you, Buff Frog, the lizard thought. Thought you could turn the most feared monster in the world into a laughingstock. But we'll just have to wait and see who has the last laugh once I have you're little Marco in my clutches, now won't we?

…

Meanwhile, a safe distance away from the maddened monsters, Star continued to push her way through the Forest of Certain Death using her wand to light the way, retracing her steps, as she fought against the tangled vines and vegetation that now seemed to constantly block her path, as if the forest itself was trying to keep her from Marco, her thoughts racing as she pushed onward with excess force, worry over Marco making her frantic. She was so focused on finding Marco, in fact, that she barely even noticed as stray bushes and brambles jumped out at her, cutting her in odd places as she went, the adrenaline in her body numbing the pain and her own exhaustion, her heart pounding wildly both out of fear for Marco and from pushing herself to go faster in hopes of reaching the boy quicker.

She turned to look behind her, making sure there were no monster behind her, but it seemed she had actually managed to escape them, for now, but if she wasn't careful they would find her again. Which meant Star needed to get out of the dangerous forest as quickly as possible. Except, Marco was there now too, and she couldn't, wouldn't, leave him behind to fend for himself, not with Toffee still lurking about. Star felt a chill run up her spine at the thought of the lizard meeting Marco again. He had mentioned him by name, did he know he was in the forest, too? Had he come to not only capture the Crown Princess of Mewni, but also exact his revenge on the only Mewman who ever managed to elude him. The thought of it made Star sick to her stomach. If he found Marco before she did...

No, Star told herself, her hands clenching into tight fists, forcing the rebellious thought out of her head. I won't let that happen. I'm not going to let that lizard lay so much as a finger on my Marco. But her determined thoughts were interrupted as she heard footsteps approaching and the rattling of leaves as someone seemed to be fighting their way through the harsh vegetation in front of her. Before Star could even begin to ponder what that meant, Marco came crashing out of the bushes, screaming as he spotted the girl in front of him. And Star, who also shrieked in surprise, managed to slow her pace enough to keep from crashing into the boy, coming to a stop just in front of him, both lit up from the glow of the girl's wand.

“Marco!” Star screamed, her voice cracking, overjoyed to see her bestie unharmed.

Marco, as well, felt relief flood through him at the sight of his best friend, screaming at the top of his lungs, “Star!”

And then, at the exact same time, the two threw their arms around each other in a tearful hug, squeezing each other tightly, as the fear they had been experiencing finally melted off of them, feeling safe in each other's arms. Suddenly, nothing else mattered, Toffee and the secrets and the monsters and the danger all faded away, until only their hug remained. “I'm so glad you're okay!” the young royal admitted, holding on tightly to the boy she had been afraid she had lost, comforted by the mere feeling of him against her.

“You too,” Marco replied, burying his head into her shoulder. “I was really worried.”

“How did you know where I was?”

“I saw your explosions and followed them here,” the boy quickly explained, Star feeling her heart drop at his words. Suddenly, the fear came flooding back to her, the moment broken, as she remembered where they were, acutely aware of all the dangers and shadows that lurked just out of reach from the two. She broke off the hug, much to Marco's surprise, looking deep into his brown eyes, her happiness replaced instead with fear, which Marco could see shining in her bright blue pupils, feeling his own fear return as he realized this was the most frightened he had ever seen his bestie. “You can't be here,” she said, sounding panicked, looking around her as if afraid something might jump out at them at any minute. “You need to get out of her, now,” she added, giving him a little push away from her.

“No way, Star, I'm not- ” Marco started to argue, but the girl didn't let him finish.

“No, you don't understand, Marco,” Star cried, breathlessly, practically shaking with fear, as she grabbed onto his shoulders. “It isn't safe.” She hesitated, conflicted on telling the boy the truth, unsure on how or if he could take it, before ultimately deciding that like it or not, he had to know. “There... There are monsters everywhere! They attacked me and I managed to get away, but they're still out there, looking for me, right now. And if they find us, they'll, they'll...” Star's voice cut off, unable to finish the chilling thought, having to lean against the boy to keep herself steady.

She let out a shaky breath before continuing. “So you need to get out of here as soon as you can.”

“No.” Star froze, completely shocked by the firmness in the boy's tone and the bravery she saw shining in his eyes, instead of the fearful look she had been expecting. Though there had been a slight quiver in his voice, otherwise he seemed to be taking the news far better than the girl expected, Star sure he would go into a full-blown panic attack upon the mere mention of the monsters in the woods, much less the fact that he and Star were now being hunted by them. “No. I'm not leaving you, Star.” Marco paused for a minute, obviously feeling conflicted about something, closing his eyes tight as he added, “Besides, you're not the only one they want. They're here for me, too. They're here... because of me.” Star felt a lump form in her throat, as the boy's voice cracked, sniffing as he tried to regain his composure. Star thought for a moment, letting the boy's words sink in. So Star's suspicion had been correct. Toffee was planning on doing away with the both of them, luring them easily into his trap, like moths to a flame. Star felt an anger burn through her, frustrated at herself for allowing both herself and Marco to fall victim to the venomous lizard.

Finally, Star took in a deep, shaky breath to try and calm herself, knowing what she had to do, her need to protect the boy far greater than anything else right then, forcing herself to stand up straighter, giving the boy a level-headed stare as she spoke, a grave resolve in her voice. “I won't let that happen, Marco. I'm not gonna let them hurt you. As far as I can tell, the monsters don't know you're here yet, which means there's still a chance for you to make it out of this alive. If I lead them away from you that might buy you enough time to-”

“No, you can't do that, Star. I won't let you. There's got to be another way,” Marco exclaimed, sounding desperate, his brain trying eagerly to come up with some kind of plan. “We can make it through this together. Y'know like we did in that yarn thing's cave.”

And right then, Star had an idea, Marco's words striking some kind of cord in her brain, the girl going stock still, her eyes widening to the size of saucers, her sky blue pupils dazed and out of focus, her cheek marks switching to glowing light bulbs, as a plan began to form in her mind, the little gears in her head going a mile a minute as they tried to work out every little detail of her scheme. Yes, she thought to herself. That might actually work. A small smile graced her lips, as she finally returned her focus onto her friend, who looked very confused and concerned over the girl's odd behavior. “Marco,” she said softly, cupping his cheeks in her hands, her eyes shimmering in admiration. “You're a genius!

“I am?” Marco said, raising an eyebrow, still lost as to what exactly he had done or said that qualified him as being a genius.  

“Yes!” the girl squealed, before grabbing on tightly to his hand, dragging him quickly behind her, as she ran off deeper into the woods. “Come on!”

“Wait, Star, where are we going?” Marco called after the girl, dumbfounded, trying to keep pace with the over-eager girl, having to force his sore legs to keep moving as they cried out for more rest.

“You'll see,” Star yelled over her shoulder, distracted as she tried to recall the path she had taken before, looking around for any familiar clues that told her she was going the right direction.

“But shouldn't we be heading away from the monsters?” Marco asked with concern.

“Trust me,” was all Star said, but the confidence in her voice silenced the boy's worrying thoughts, Marco deciding to just go along with whatever the girl had planned, knowing she wouldn't lead him astray. Besides it wasn't like he had any kind of a plan. So, he quickened his pace, following after her willingly, having complete faith in his bestie and he squeezed her hand just a little bit tighter to let her know that.  

Star, for just a moment, lost focus, as she felt a gentle squeeze in the palm of her hand, her twin hearts thumping once in response, followed by a soft whisper behind her. “Okay. I trust you, Star.”

…

Janna was definitely winning. Though Beard Deer would never, ever admit to it, he was out of his league, the Impure far too powerful for him to handle on his own, her mutated blood giving her the strength to take on a large group of monster, and he was struggling to gain an upper hand by himself. Even though he was giving it his all, every punch fueled purely by his rage, there was very little he could do to throw off the smirking half-breed, unsuccessful in landing even a single hit on her yet. On the other hand, every unfortunate encounter with the super strong girl's fists was met with a far greater price, as painful vibrations surged through his already sore body. The only reason Beard Deer had lasted as long as he had was the fact that while the girl was strong she was clearly inexperienced in a fight, her technique sloppy and easy to dodge for the already trained killer, but it was only a matter of time before that changed.

Janna took note of her opponents weakening condition, his strength seeming to diminish with every hit, his breath becoming ragged and his eyes pain-filled, and she decided to take the time to taunt the tiring monster, giving him a knowing smile, “What's the matter? Tired? Or are you just now realizing you're gonna lose?”  

In that moment, Beard Deer felt a last wave of energy fill him as a blind rage overtook him, her words striking a nerve in the monster's anger-filled mind. How dare she insult him! This was all her fault, after all. Thanks to her, everything was ruined, all their careful planning meaningless. It wasn't supposed to happen like this, at this point the half-monster girl was supposed to be subdued and Marco recaptured. But thanks to her and her stupid tricks, that had all fallen apart and Beard Deer had no doubt when this was all over Toffee would punish him severely for his failure. Even though she was the one who had taken Marco away from him, having no doubt she was somehow involved in the boy's kidnapping in the first place and all he wanted was to make her pay for her interfering, wanting nothing more than to wipe that annoying smirk off her face, his body reacting to his twisted desire, moving on its own, lunging at the girl with a new ferocity, putting all his anger and hate into the single attack.

Janna seemed genuinely surprised by the tired monsters sudden action and though the girl managed to block it at the last second the impulsive attack had caught her off guard, her shifting feet betraying her as she was pushed back a few inches, leaving her wide open for another attack. Beard Deer, still in his maddened state didn't let up his assault, hitting her with a barrage of blows, too many for his inexperienced opponent to handle, as his one of his fists managed to make contact with her gut, sending the girl flying back, where she slammed hard into the ground, before skidding to an uncomfortable stop right by the still-opened portal that Beard Deer had neglected to close, laying still for a moment, her body shifting back to its Mewman form.

“Janna!” Jackie screamed in fear, seeing her roommate in pain, trying to reach out a hand to her, but prohibited from doing so by the bothersome net she was still trapped in.

Beard Deer just stood in shock for a moment, his frazzled mind having trouble processing what he had just done, in disbelief that he had actually managed to land a critical hit on the pesky Impure. But as he watched the girl struggling to rise to her feet, moving slowly and carefully, the girl coughing as she struggled to regain her breath after losing her precious air flow, the monster felt a dark sense of pleasure rush, as it seemed beneath all that bravado and strength, she was just a weak, little Mewman girl, one that he had completely at his mercy. Even if she could stand, which it seemed obvious she couldn't, the dimensional portal behind her prevented her from escaping him.

“What was that you were saying about me losing, Impure?” he hissed giving her a sinister grin, cracking his knuckles menacingly, preparing to give the annoying brat the pounding of her life.

But, much to the monster's and Jackie's surprise Janna started to chuckle, and Beard Deer felt a moment of confusion. Had she lost her mind? Or did she know something he didn't? “And what's so funny?!” the monster demanded, trying his best to hide his unwanted feelings of reluctance beneath his iron mask, refusing to let her get to him. It was clearly a last ditch effort to save herself and he wouldn't allow one of her little tricks to get the best of him again.

Finally, after a tense moment, Janna looked up at the monster, no signs of pain or fear on her face, just that same cryptic grin that she always had on, Beard Deer only glaring at her in response. “Man you're an idiot,” the girl said, still chuckling at some weird inside joke the monster clearly wasn't aware of, her voice not sounding the least bit strained. She stood easily, forcing the startled monster to take a step back, as she began patting the dust off her clothes without a second thought toward the monster still standing in close distance of her. “I mean, seriously you just fell for the oldest trick in the book.”

“And what's that supposed to mean?!” the monster yelled furiously, outraged as he realized the girl had been faking the whole thing, only pretending to be hurt, though for what purpose he had no idea.

Janna shrugged. “I just mean while you were busy gloating over the fact that you were actually beating the 'helpless Impure',” she explained sarcastically. “That left you too distracted to notice anything else.”

The half-monster girl buried her hands into her pockets, giving him a look just dripping with arrogance. “Which left me plenty of time to swipe these.”

And then, to add even more to the monster's surprise, the beanie-wearing girl pulled out a pair of dimensional scissors from her pocket... his scissors. “What?!” Beard Deer exclaimed, instinctively patting his pockets, frantically searching for the magical objects he hadn't even noticed he had lost. “How did you-”

“Easy I'm a professional pick pocket,” Janna boasted, twirling the scissors expertly around in her hand. She stopped spinning them, pointing them at the infuriated monster, adding, “And you're a dumb monster.”

The monster roared in anger, lunging at the girl once more, trying to grab the scissors out of her hand, shouting at the top of lungs, “Give me those back you little-”

But, before he could finish his insult, Janna just seemed to vanish from sight, turning into her bat form and flying straight up to avoid getting tackled, leaving the monster flying toward the opened portal, swirling menacingly as it waited to swallow him whole. Beard Deer stumbled, his arms waving wildly behind him, but somehow managed to stop himself just in time from passing through the tear in reality, one of his horns phased slightly through the rip in dimensions and he let out a loud sigh. But his relief was broken a second later, as Bat-Jan suddenly dropped out of the sky, shifting back to her monster form as she landed hard on the unsuspecting monster's back, before pushing herself off of him and doing a full flip in the air, landing gracefully on her feet. Meanwhile, the less than graceful Beard Deer was sent hurtling through the portal, his scream cut off as he vanished from view, the forest going surprisingly quiet, as Jackie and Janna were left alone once again.

With the threat now gone, Janna shifted back to her normal, less creepy look as she walked over to the portal and used the stolen scissors to close the tear to prevent the monster from reentering. “Well that takes care of that,” the half-monster girl said, putting a hand on her hip, shooting her trapped friend a confident smirk.

“Yeah,” Jackie agreed. “Now we just need to figure out way to get me out of this.” The skater held up the entrapping rope to emphasis the dilemma she was still in, speaking to her friend in a reminding tone, raising a shifting eyebrow at her friend.

Janna scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Uhh, why do you think I went out of my way to get the scissors?” She snipped them together for a moment, to demonstrate her point, before adding, “Pretty sure they function as actual scissors.”

“Yeah, but Heckapoo would be pretty furious if she found out you were disrespecting a pair of her dimensional scissors by using them for this,” Jackie argued, though she did hold out the rope so Janna could cut it better.

“Well if she didn't want them to get used wrongly, then she shouldn't have given them to a bunch of monsters,” Janna pointed out, as she bent down and began cutting the net with the special scissors.

“Good point.”

There was a short moment of silence between the two, as Janna simply snipped away at the thick knots of ropes that held Jackie hostage, the light-haired girl's strength diminishing as she struggled to hold the enchanted net up and the dark-haired girl too focused on her task to say much of anything.

“That was really dangerous y'know,” Jackie finally said in a scolding tone, breaking the silence.

“I know,” came Janna's immediate answer, as if she had been expecting her to say that (which she had), not even bothering to look up from her work. “Didn't see much of a choice.”

“You could have been more careful. That looked like it really hurt,” Jackie said, her tone sounding less scolding so much as concerned.

“Ahh, I can take it,” Janna simply said. “Honestly, for all his talk, he didn't really pack that much of a punch.”

Jackie sighed, before saying in an exasperated tone, “Just next time, maybe think a little, okay? I was really worried about you.”

Janna looked up for a second, seeing the fear shimmering in her friend's eyes and felt her gut clench with guilt. “Sorry,” she muttered quietly, Jackie almost not catching the whispered apology.

“That's okay,” Jackie said, being careful with her tone, knowing how rare it was for her cryptic friend to admit to being wrong, quickly changing the subject as fast as possible. “So how much longer do you think this will take?” the skater asked, beginning to feel impatient.

As if reacting to Jackie's statement, the scissors finally cut all the way through the section of rope Janna had been working on, the mass of knots finally unraveling enough to create a very small opening, probably big enough for Jackie to stick her hand through, the two girls sharing a look with one another, Janna admitting calming, “A while,” causing Jackie to sigh in annoyance.

…

Star and Marco panted as they continued on deeper into the danger-ridden forest, Star in the lead, keeping a firm grip on the boy as she squinted trying to see further ahead, the area around her feeling vaguely familiar. She was pretty sure she was heading the right way, but she needed to be careful, the forest no doubt crawling with monster on the hunt for her, meaning one wrong turn and it would all be over for the both of them. “Come on,” she muttered quietly, trying to urge her feet to move faster, her impatience starting to get the better of her. “Where are you?”

While, behind her, Marco was doing everything he could to simply keep up with the fast-moving girl, his sore legs beginning to wear out from the incredibly long trek, while in his head his thoughts were still continuing to move a mile a minute with no sign of stopping, the still untold secret clinging tightly to his mind and refusing to leave until he confessed to the girl. He knew this probably wasn't the best time to bring up the uncomfortable subject, out there in the middle of the woods, being slowly hunted down by the monsters who had raised him, but he wasn't sure how much longer he could hold out, desperately needing to get the troubling weight off of him. And with every step further into the unknown, his need only grew, still not sure how this would all turn out. So, if he was going to tell her, he reasoned, he had to do it now, while he still had the chance. He was reminded of Jackie and Janna's encouraging words from before, which managed to fill his heart full of momentary bravery, and he decided to use his newfound confidence, as he brought himself to a sudden and abrupt stop, panting heavily as he tried to regain enough of his air flow to talk.

Star was pulled back by the boy's sudden action, his still intertwined hand preventing her from moving anymore forward, causing her to stumble, and she turned to the boy with surprise, about to ask what was wrong. But she stopped, the royal feeling her heart swell with sympathy for the boy seeing his obvious exhaustion, Marco bent over, huffing and puffing, sweat slowly dripping down his scrunched up face as he tried to regain control of his throbbing lungs. She knew he had to be tired from the long run and for a moment she was tempted to let him rest, her eyes jumping back and forth between the waiting woods and the fatigued boy, trying not to think about how close they were to their destination. But she couldn't help it, with every moment that passed she could almost feel the monsters

closing in, a cold chill slowly beginning to creep up her spine, freezing her to the bone, as if the invisible claw of Toffee himself was reaching out toward her, just out of sight, and she knew in her paranoid state that they didn't have the luxury to wait and catch their breath, the little time they had slim, but precious.

“Marco, we really need to keep moving, we can't stop yet, it's just a little further I promise,” Star said hurriedly, pulling on his arm to get him to move, her eyes on the path ahead of them, her feet desperate to continue forward.

“Star,” Marco finally began, the crack in his voice finally managing to gain the girl's full attention, as he cleared his throat before continuing. “There's... something I need to tell you...”

Star, her sky blue eyes locked with his brown, saw the look of worry on the boy's face and asked in concern, “What is it Marco?”

The hooded boy hesitated, not sure where to begin, biting his lip as he tried to work up the nerve to tell the girl his secret, feeling shaky and unsure, terrified of her rejecting him. But he forced himself to bury his fears, squeezing the girl's hand tighter, his eyes shimmering with a thousand emotion, as he sucked in a breath before blurting,  “I-”

“There zzhe izz!”

The two looked up in fright, only to spot Boo Fly hovering overhead, pointing out the two startled teens, the rest of the monsters right behind him, growling in anger at the stubborn royal. “That's her alright!” Bearicorn rumbled needlessly, his eyes narrowing on the princess, who put a protective hand in front of Marco, her other flashing her wand threateningly at the creatures, daring any of them to come closer, as she slowly began backing away from the large group of highly-trained killers with a hard look.

But it did nothing to ward the monsters off, as Three Eyed Potato Baby garbled something hastily, Lobster Claws relating his message to the other monsters, “Yeah, he's right, she's got Marco!”

Star, hearing the mention of the boy, instinctively shouted at the top her lungs, “Jellybean Mist Hallucination!” firing off the proper spell at the monster, as a jellybean filled mist coated the monsters, distracting them and giving her a few seconds of escape.

The determined blond grabbed Marco's arm, the boy looking over to her in daze, mesmerized by the magic display, as she shouted, “Run!” the two taking off together down the familiar path. After a few seconds, Star heard one of the monsters shout, “After her!” looking back for a second to see how far away they were. But she instantly regretted the split second decision, her heart leaping into her throat in terror at the sight of every single monster chasing after her, full speed, quickly gaining ground on her and Marco. So she focused her attention back on the path ahead, trying to pick up her pace a bit more in an attempt to get ahead of the monster's as much as possible, ignoring the tinges of fear that still clung to her, knowing the monster weren't that far behind. Come on, she thought, her eyes scanning the undergrowth in front of her. Where is it? It had to be around there somewhere, right? Unless she had accidentally taken the wrong path. She pushed aside the troubling thought, focusing instead on keeping ahead of the monsters.

Marco, on the other hand, didn't seem to be able to get his mind off the monsters as easily, his eyes jumping back to see his old family gaining ground on them, calling to Star in a concerned tone, “Starrr, they're getting closer.”

But the girl was too distracted to hear the boy, as she spotted a bright flash in the treeline beside her and she felt her heart leap with excitement. There. Star gave the boy a gentle tug to draw his attention, before pointing out the desired direction to him, shouting, “That way!”

Marco didn't argue with the girl, instead nodding once in understanding, obeying her command as he suddenly switched directions, fighting his way through the lush undergrowth, the princess right behind him. Star heard several of the monsters shout in anger and confusion, thrown off by the unexpected action as the two disappeared from their view and she couldn't help but smile at how well things seemed to be going so far.

Marco finally escaped from the last of the entrapping vegetation, stumbling as he escaped from the claustrophobic area, freezing for a moment as he stared up at the gigantic, danger-ridden cave from before, looking as menacing as ever, the entrance still coated in Star's magic, glowing brightly in the low light of the forest, probably caused by its creator's presence. “Come on, Marco,” Star panted, putting a hand on the boy's shoulder to draw his attention. “We need to-”

But the girl didn't have time to finish her sentence, as the monster busted out of the bushes behind them, immediately surrounding them to prevent escape. Marco clung close to his bestie, looking scared, as Star gave the monsters a hard look, holding tightly onto the boy's hand from behind her back. The monsters, however, all looked quite satisfied with their cornered prey, creeping slowly forward with sinister grins. “End of the line, princess,” Bearicorn growled darkly.

“Star,” Marco whispered, his voice a scared whimper.

“It'll be okay,” Star said in a surprisingly reassuring tone, giving his hand a gentle squeeze, the hooded boy shocked by the confidence radiating in her voice. “Just stay close to me.”

Star held her wand out, but to everyone's surprise, including Marco's, she aimed the magical device not at the monster's but instead at the cave's glowing barrier, yelling, “Anti-Shield Depletion!”

Before the monster's could stop her, a beam of magic shot out of her wand, colliding with the shield, before it faded from existence, exposing the raw darkness within. A loud chattering noise sounded from within the cave, echoing around the area, making several of the monster's back away in fear. Then, out of nowhere, the same familiar yarn vines shot out of the cave's mouth, spreading out in all directions, taking all of the startled monster's by surprise, Star wasted no time as she immediately slammed into Marco, throwing both of them to the ground, covering her head as best as she could as yarn webs shot harmlessly over their heads. The area turned into pure chaos, as the monster's were suddenly overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of webs shooting of the cave, screaming in panic as the thick webs wrapped around them, which only managed to draw more in their direction, pulling and tugging as they tried to free themselves from the fabric's iron grip. No monster was safe, several trying to flee the scene only to be thwarted by the tangle of vines latching onto them and preventing their escape. The yarn creature, becoming frustrated, began to lift the monster high into the air, where they dangled uselessly, their bodies slowly beginning to be encased in the scratchy fabric, the rest being dragged back to the cave's dark mouth.

After a few moments, Star risked a look up, and seeing no monster around turned her attention to the hooded boy, who had his eyes closed tight, feebly trying to cover his head with his hands and Star couldn't help but smile at how adorable he looked. The royal very carefully laid a hand on his shoulder to draw his attention, the boy jumping from the unexpected touch as he looked up at her, his wide, brown pupils locking with hers. She put a finger to her lips to let him know to stay quiet and he nodded. She moved off of him so he could sit up, before pointing to a break in the treeline ahead, then did a downwards gesture with her hands to let him know they needed to stay low to the ground, making sure he understood what needed to be done. Finally, Star took a deep breath, before crawling away on hands and knees, Marco following right behind her.

The two weaved their way through the continuing chaos, the monsters too distracted by their fight with the yarn creature to even notice the escaping teens, the going slow and agonizing for both of them. Until finally, they felt they had reached a far enough distance away without having to worry about being seen, as they stood and began racing away from the monsters and the cave without a second thought, hearing the yarn creature roar behind them.

Star let out a relieved laugh, unable to believe her crazy plan had actually worked. Sure there was still a likely chance the monsters would probably escape the yarn creature's lair, but by that point she (and especially Marco) would be long gone. She would just have to be sure to send more guards in to detain them as soon as she made it back to the castle and reseal that cave so the yarn creature couldn't do any more damage, but that was for later, right then, she felt an overwhelming joy surging through her, her triumphant victory over the evil monsters making her giddy. “We did it, Marco!” the girl screamed at the top of her lungs, shooting the boy a wide smile. “We won!”

Marco smiled affectionately at her saying, “I knew you could do it, Star. You were amazing!”

Star's eyes shined at the praise, her heart filling with joy and love for the boy, as she looked deep into his bright brown eyes. And as she raced forward without a care in the world, heart pumping full of adrenaline, Star felt content with the world once again, the danger at last behind her, her bestie beside her, and their freedom waiting just ahead. Without thinking, she reached out a hand toward him, needing to feel his touch and Marco did the same, everything between the two feeling okay at last.

But just before their hands could touch, Star was hit by an overwhelmingly strong force, knocking the air out of her lungs, leaving her powerless to stop herself from being thrown back, slamming hard into something, making her cry out in pain. The world vanished into a swirl of nauseating colors, as she heard, in her dizzying state, Marco scream her name, his voice sounding faded and far away. After a few agonizing seconds, Star was able to regain some of her senses, the fog in her brain lifting, as she slowly peeled open her eyes, ignoring the ringing in her ears, the world spinning out of control for a moment as she waited for the dizzy spell to pass. She tried to sit up, her body aching as she forced her muscles into action, grunting as she fought through the pain, using the tree she had slammed into as support. “Marco?” she coughed out, her voice strained and tight.

“My, my,” Star felt her heart stop at the sound of the cold monotone, looking up to see Toffee only a few feet away, giving her an empty stare, but she felt shivers run down her spine as his dead eyes dug deep into her skin. But her fear worsened, as she spotted Marco laying submissively at the cruel monster's feet, frozen in fear, his whole body shuddering as he stared up at the lizard with wide eyes, the lizard's tale wrapped around his leg to keep him from running away. “It seems the little princess has fallen,” he continued, in a mocking whine, as if he was talking to a child.

“Stay back,” Star commanded, her voice shaking with fear, as she reached for her wand. That was until she remembered that it had been in her hand when she was hit, meaning it must have fallen when Toffee had thrown her back. She looked frantically around for any signs of the magical object, not bothering to mask her fear, as she scanned the forest floor around her.

Finally, she spotted it laying a few feet away from her, and Star started to make a dive for it, but  felt her heart sink as she realized she couldn't move, her body refusing to budge even an inch more, the hit taking far more out of her than she had thought. Toffee seeing the princess' powerless state, gave a small wicked smile, before hiding it behind his emotionless mask once more. “There's no need to be so rude, princess. After all, you're hardly in the position to be making threats.” Toffee's eyes jumped to Marco for a second, the boy shrinking under his intense gaze and Star felt her heart drop.

“If you lay so much as a finger on Marco, I swear I'll-”

“Now, now,” Toffee interrupted, looking slightly agitated at the interruption and Star felt her skin crawl. “There's no need for that, I have no intention of harming Marco, unless you continue to annoy me.” His voice lost all its hollowness as the true killer showed itself, his voice a cruel hiss, causing Star to go silent and allow the monster to continue.

Toffee seemed to recover very quickly, seeing the girl becoming passive, as his business-like demeanor took over once more, straightening his tie before continuing. “That's better. Now then, as I was saying, you have proved to be more difficult than I expected you to be, princess. Somehow you managed to even best my monsters with a childish trick, but I think you will find that I am not so easily mislead.” Star said nothing, matching his iron stare with the bravest look she could muster, trying her best to mask the fear and helplessness she was feeling as Toffee loomed over her, doing her best to keep her calm as she tried to think of some kind of plan to escape the dreaded monster, or at the very least get Marco away from him, the boy looking more and more panicked with every moment that passed, Star hating the look of terror on her sweet bestie's face.

“Now then, I believe it's time we finally get down to business,” Toffee said, drawing the girl's attention to him once again, trying to ignore the pounding in her heart as the lizard's intense gaze locked with her frightened one. “It's time for you to come with me...” Star's hands clenched into fists, as she awaited her punishment. How could she have been so stupid, thinking she could beat the invincible monster, thinking she could somehow escape his wrath? She had grown cocky, somehow believing she was actually capable of doing anything other than screw up and in the end it had cost her everything.

She closed her eyes, hoping whatever grim fate Toffee no doubt had in store for her would be over quickly. But she doubted it. She was the Princess of Mewni, after all, and he was probably going to make her suffer for her people's crimes. She had failed, miserably, and now it was time for her to pay the price.

“...Marco.” Star's eyes flew open in shock as she saw Toffee looming not over her, but her hoodie-wearing bestie, the boy trying to back away from the cruel monster, but was stopped by the tail still wrapped around his leg. Star felt her blood boil, feeling a new source of energy begin to fuel her tired body, needing to protect her helpless friend from the cold-blooded monster, trying to force her body to stand so she could rush to Marco's rescue, unable to just sit back and watch as Toffee exacted his revenge on her Marco. “Toffee!” she screamed, struggling to rise, her aching muscles refusing to listen to her commands. “You get away from him right now!”

“Now why would I do that, princess,” Toffee said, an almost taunting tone to his voice. “After all, Marco belongs to me.”

Star froze, feeling lost and confused at the lizard's words, her eyes widening as she stuttered out, “W-What?!”

“Oh,” Toffee said in obvious mock shock, looking over to the boy quizzically. “You mean you never told her about the monster that raised you.”

Star felt the world around her crack and break apart, as she struggled to find some sort of meaning in the madness that she was being told, her brain trying to deny the lizard's unexpected revelation. How could that be true? That couldn't be true. There was no way. Marco was such a sweet, kind person, how could he have been raised by such a psychotic creature. It had to be a joke, or a lie. Yeah that was it, Toffee had to be lying, trying to manipulate her for some sinister purpose... right? She looked over to Marco, hoping that he would be able to somehow settle any uncertainty she was feeling, but the guilty look in his eyes silenced any doubts she had, his eyes shimmering with pain and hurt, as he refused to meet her eye.

“Marco?” Star whispered softly, the boy visibly flinching at her pleading tone, still looking away from her direction.

“That's right, princess,” Toffee continued, clearly enjoying every second of this of the uncomfortable confrontation, soaking in the wounded look on the young royal's face. “It seems your little boyfriend wasn't who you thought he was. He's been lying to you all this time, keeping secrets to selfishly protect himself.” He looked down at the still-shaking boy with an iron glare. “Isn't that right, Marco?”

After a moment, Marco slowly nodded his head, finally looking over at his bestie, his eyes full of regret as they connected with hers. “I-I'm so sorry, Star,” he said, his voice filled with emotion. “I wanted to tell you so bad... I was just... afraid that-”

Marco was silenced, however, as Toffee suddenly, grabbed onto the boy's arm, onto the boy's arm, roughly pulling him to his feet, Toffee taking no care in the act as his claws dug deep into the boy's skin, causing the hooded boy to cry out in pain, his fragile limb aching from the unexpected tug.

“Marco!” Star cried in concern, trying to run over to his rescue, but all she did was lose her balance without the support of the tree, collapsing hard onto the forest floor, pain shooting through her body from the reckless act, the breath temporarily knocked out of her lungs.

“That's quite enough of that,” Toffee scolded, Marco trying to pry his way out of the lizard's iron grip. “Don't pretend to justify your sins. You've been very bad, Marco. You've caused quite a bit of trouble for your friend, haven't you?” Marco said nothing as he stopped struggling, but the shameful look in his eyes told Toffee all he needed to know. “But not to worry, I'm giving you a chance to make it right, that is if you come back with me without a fight.”

Marco's eyes widened, surprised by the cruel lizard's offer, looking over to his friend for a second, his stomach turning at the sight of her bruised body laying helplessly on the floor, her whole face scrunched up with pain, the guilt he was feeling almost unbearable. This was all his fault. He knew it was. If he hadn't come in the first place, then none of this would have ever happened. It was because of him that Star was hurt, all his lies and deceit endangering her in ways he couldn't have imagined. But if he gave in and obeyed Toffee's wishes then maybe he could make everything right again, maybe he could make it up to Star and the others, his gut twisting again as he remembered his other two friends who were busy fighting off Beard Deer, yet more people he had endangered just by being near them.

So, though he hated doing it, he forced himself to match Toffee's gaze as he said in the strongest voice he could manage, “If I go back with you, Master Toffee, then you have to promise me that you'll let Star go and call the rest of the monsters off.”

Toffee said nothing, his face unreadable, and though Marco felt an uncomfortable tension beginning to grow he kept a level gaze with the monster leader, nervously awaiting his crucial answer. Meanwhile, Star was forced to simply watch as her best friend stared down the most feared monster in all of Mewni, still struggling to regain enough air flow to talk, her voice no more than a breathless squeak, overwhelmed as the alarming situation continued to spiral out of control. She kept gazing longingly over to her discarded wand. If only she could reach it somehow, then she could actually damage the horrible lizard and save her friend. Please, she silently pleaded with the magical object, remembering it's strange behavior before, begging it to act on its own. Do something, anything, before it's too late.

Finally, after what felt to both Star and Marco like a lifetime, Toffee gave his answer, their hearts stopping simultaneously. “Very well, then, Marco. If that's what it takes. I promise you, no harm will come to the girl.”

Marco feeling a mixture of relief and regret, dropped his gaze to the floor, taking in a deep, shaky breath, before hesitantly answering, “Then I'll go with you.”

“No!” Star squeaked, finding her voice once again, as she felt a deep dread overtake her.

“Good boy,” Toffee praised, though his voice sounded far less than enthusiastic, patting the boy softly on the head, Marco holding back the shudder he felt rising inside of him. “I knew you'd see it my way.”

Marco said nothing as Toffee pulled out a pair of dimensional scissors, cutting open a glowing portal, before standing by, awaiting the hooded boy to enter. “After you. The others will be joining with us shortly,” Toffee said, all formalities again. Marco tried to will his feet into motion, his heart beginning to pound in fear, wanting nothing more than to turn back, to escape from the dreaded monster and stay with Star. This is for the best, he reminded himself,trying to coax his heart rate down, his hands clenching into tight fists. I'm doing this for Star. She's better off without me. Finally, he took a step forward.

“No!” Star screamed, her voice a broken whimper, drawing the boy's attention, as she tried to crawl her way over to him, desperate to stop him from going with the awful lizard, she had no idea what was going on, but she wasn't going to just let him walk away like that. “Marco! Stop! Please, don't go with him!”

But Marco merely gave her a sad smile, saying softly, “Goodbye Star. And I'm sorry again, for not telling you the truth. For what it's worth, I had a lot of fun while it lasted.” He took a shaky breath, as if fighting back tears before adding, “I'll never forget you.”

With that, Marco turned away, disappearing into the glowing vortex, lost from Star's sight, the heartbroken royal feeling hot tears sliding down her cheeks, as she stared at the portal in sorrow, unable to believe the boy was really gone. Toffee, smiled seeing the hated princess breaking down into tears in front of him, the look on her face far sweeter than anything else he could have done to her. “Just so you know,” Toffee said, the girl staring at him with a lost look. “If you ever get in my way again or try any sort of foolish attempt to rescue the boy, there will be severe consequences.”

Star's hurt-filled face, turned to one of anger, glaring menacingly at the monster, who merely gave her a blank, empty stare, but she could see the killer instincts in his eyes, as he said in a swift monotone, dropping into a final, mock bow, “It was a pleasure to meet you at last, Princess Star.”

Then, the lizard turned and left through the portal as well, leaving Star alone to grieve and think, barely even hearing the dimensional tear closing as she wept. She couldn't believe he was really gone. Just like that. And all she had done was watch, helplessly, as the most important person in her life had traded himself to the most feared creature in the dimensions just to save her. She was pathetic, how could she have let him down like that? How could she have done nothing? And now he was gone, taken away from her, all because of her uselessness.

“Star!” a familiar voice screamed, breaking into her sorrow-filled thoughts, as she looked up with bleary vision to see Jackie and Janna running over to her.

“Jackie! Janna!” Star squeaked in surprise, her throat tight from crying.

“Star, what happened?!” Jackie asked in concern, seeing her friend's tear-streaked face, helping the blond to her feet, before having to catch her and hold her up, as her legs tried to give out on her. “Are you okay?”

Janna, picked up Star's wand, looking around for any signs of bright red in the dark forest around them. “And where's Marco?” the beanie-wearing asked, handing the magical device over to the blond royal, who took it eagerly, already feeling the magical energy flowing through her sore body.

“Toffee took him!” Star panted, breathlessly, her eyes full of fear.

“What?!” Jackie and Janna cried as one, both with equal looks of horror.

“How?!” Janna managed to add, her cryptic attitude gone as concern for the boy overpowered her casual demeanor.

“I don't know!” Star cried, sniffing, as she wiped the tears from her face in frustration. “It all happened so fast! He-He gave himself up to protect me! Apparently, Marco- he was- was-”

“Raised by monsters?” Janna finished for her, Star looking at the girl in shock.

“You knew?” she looked between the two, before gasping, taking in the guilty look on both of her friend's faces. “You both knew?!”

“Yeah,” Jackie sheepishly responded. “Marco told us.”

“When?” Star asked, unable to believe he had told them such a mind-shattering secret before her and that they had kept it from her for so long.

“Just earlier tonight,” Janna promised, raising her hands in surrender, seeing the hurt on her royal friend's face. “After your kiss.”

“What?!” Star screamed, now even more upset.

“Yeah, some of the monster's tried to kidnap him then, too, after you left,” Janna continued.

“WHAT?!”

“He wanted to tell you,” Jackie took over, before Janna could make the situation any worse. “But he was afraid of how you would react.”

“Yeah, he said something about that,” Star muttered miserably, hanging her head in defeat. “I just, I can't believe he's really gone.”

Jackie, pulled the troubled girl into a hug, as she said in the most soothing voice she could, “I know. But we'll get him back, I promise.”

Star said nothing, feeling almost numb as she looked for clarity amidst the shocking new revelations and bombshells that had just been thrown on her on that awful night, even Jackie's comforting embrace doing little to untwist the tight knots in her stomach as she thought of her missing Marco. Suddenly, everything made sense, every moment she had spent with the boy finally adding up in a new startling way, as memories flooded through Star's frazzled brain, words popping into her mind, one after the other, making her whole head spin. Why would the monsters steal food... No, I don't really have a home at the moment.... She's got Marco... This scar it means I did something wrong... These claw marks could only be the work of Toffee... What happened to you was awful and hard to forget, believe me I get it... Besides, you're not the only one they want. They're here for me, too. They're here... because of me. It seemed like there had been so many signs now, so many clues to the truth and Star couldn't believe she hadn't seen it sooner. It seemed Star had been so busy trying to protect Marco from the truth, that she had ignored the the answers that had been right in front of her, which ironically only led to her inevitable failure to fulfill her self-made promise to take care of him.

Finally, one last memory returned to her mind, that tear-filled night, when Star had poured out her soul to the boy, telling him all the suffering she had gone through, instantly recalling the image of the boy's face and that look of true understanding she had seen in his eyes. At the time, she had mistaken its meaning, assuming it was his traumatic encounter with the feared monster's, but now with the truth finally exposed she finally understood what he had been so upset over. The suffering he truly endured and she knew what had to be done. Her hands clenched into tight fists, feeling a fire beginning to burn within her chest, her wand fueling her with energy once more.

She pulled out of Jackie's grasp, the skater girl temporarily thrown off-guard by the unstoppable determination she saw on the girl, strength and resolve seeming to flow off of the young royal, as she said hastily, “Then we need to get to him, right now, before it's too late. I've seen what Toffee's done to Marco in the past and I refuse to just stand by and let it happen again. I can't. Not to Marco.” She was quiet for a second, Jackie seeing the love shining in the girl's teary eyes. “I don't know how, Jacks. But we have to reach him, somehow.”

“Maybe there is a way,” Jackie said thoughtfully, her voice getting louder and faster with every word. “Jackie stole a pair of dimensional scissors from one of the monsters, we can use those to get to Marco.”

Star felt her heart leap at the news, grabbing on tightly to her friend's hand. “That's perfect!” Star cried, a smile finally gracing her lips. “Okay, then let's get going right now. You guys can tell me everything on the way-”

“Um,” Janna suddenly interrupted, raising a knowing finger in the air. “I hate to burst you two's whole 'rescue mission bubble'.” The dark-haired girl doing air quotes before continuing. “Buttt, there is just one tiny detail you two seemed to have forgotten.” The two gave her a confused look and she sighed. “Those scissors are useless unless we know where Marco is? And last time I checked none of us, not to mention the rest of Mewni, knows where Toffee's base of operation's is even at.”

“I do.” the three girl's all turned on the heels, as they stared wide-eyed at the monster who had just stepped out of the shadow's behind them, his large, muscular frog-like body, looking quite intimidating to the three teens. “And I show you way.”

“Who are you?” Star asked suspiciously, raising her wand, skeptical of the new monster, the amphibian seeming to have just appeared out of nowhere, Jackie and Janna tensing up as well.

“My name is Yvgeny Bulgolyubov,” the monster answered. “You may call me Buff Frog. And I am here to save my son.”

#Star vs #Star vs AU #My Writing #Light of the Sun and Stars #Starco

[lovelykhaleesiii]

Fire & Ice (Part 1/2)

Pairing: ONE-SHOT Michael Langdon x fem!Reader (Game of Thrones AU) 

Words: 2.5k

Summary: Game of Thrones AU - Reader is forced into an arranged marriage to Michael, through her brother, Viserys. In exchange for her, Michael guarantees them a spot in the Sanctuary and restoration to their family’s name and rule. 

Warnings: ANGSTYYYY, mentions of arranged marriage, fluffy!Michael

REQUESTED BY - ANON 

“ hi! idk if requests are open but I was wondering if you could do a Michael Langdon x reader 2 one-shot au based on Daenerys and Khal Drogo’s arranged marriage minus the abuse because that’d be too much and Michael is soft (enough said!) please? thanks :) ” 

A/N - Just to let you know, the reader in this is a Targaryen, wasn’t sure if you didn’t want her to be or not, so I thought to include it tho :) Sorry for the long wait, and I really hope you enjoy xox I’m really sorry if this wasn’t what you envisioned, but it was the best possible way I thought the story could flow! I tried to combine both the storylines from both shows. I tried really hard, so sorry if its shit 😫

“Y/N!”

The familiar, stern voice of your older brother, Viserys, booming through the hallways, sent chills down your spine. Indeed he was your brother, and essentially the only living family you had left, as the both of you were the only existing members of your dying house, house Targaryen, and yet it was he who frightened you the most. You had grown to understand, that he was a man of bad character: he was never mindful of you, never considerate of your feelings nor your worth, was too invasive and extremely controlling…To the point where he made the sole decision to arrange you for marriage: without a single word from you, or any sort of input, you’d become a bride to be and there simply was no way of arguing your way out.

“I promised him a wife, and he promised me an army, a crown and the throne. He promised us a position in the sanctuary. You know that since we lost our rule, our reign and all our treasures we can’t buy our way in. This is our only chance to live, sweet sister. Now, do as I say, for the sake of our family’s legacy…Because Y/n, we are the last Targaryens, the rightful heirs. Do it for the sake of who we are.”

Yet much to your unfortune, your husband had arranged a day to meet you, to see you face to face, for him to make the final judgement as to whether he wanted to marry you or not…Still you had no say in your own future. You hadn’t known much about him nor how he looked, despite knowing that he was in fact a man of wealth, of strength and of great power, from the rumours you’d heard…And today was the day you’d finally meet.

And the only other thing you knew of him, was that of his name…Michael Langdon.  

“There’s our bride to be!” Viserys called, holding what seemed to be a beautiful, silk violet dress. Having interfered your thoughts, of you remiscining the precise moment you’d been told you were to sold off, you hesitantly tore your attention from the serene view of the city, and immediately walked over to Viserys.

“It’s a gift, from the Cooperative...Go on touch it. I want you to wear it for today.”

Mesmerised by the fabric, you instinctively reach your hand out to touch it. Your fingers gently stroking through the dress, satisfied by its smooth texture, amazed by the gesture of the gift, despite not yet meeting your husband to be.

“I need you to be perfect today…Can you do that for me?

“You don’t want to wake the dragon, do you?”

“No” You silently uttered, no more than a whisper. You’d always spoken this way, you simply grew accustomed to being dubious, submitting yourself to fear and fright, enticed by your superiors. To them you were just a pawn.

“When the write the history of my reign sweet sister, they will say it began today…”  

***

Dissonant sounds of chattering, and the whistling of the light breeze was all that filled the silence and the tension. You both awaited for Michael and his companions to arrive, standing in between behind your Viserys and you your landlord, Illyrio Mopatis.

“Where is he?” Viserys questioned, sensing his growing frustration as his impatience as per usual ran thin all too quickly.

“The Cooperative are not known for their punctuality.”

All to coincidentally, the distant sound of hooves stomping against the solid concrete ground followed by the heavy wheels of a carriage being pulled grew louder, and much more closer. You felt your body tense, by the second, the inevitability of this arrangement and the unpredictability of its outcome began taking its toll on you.

Many times before, you’d tried convincing yourself that this situation in its entirety was all simply a dream, that it was all just a nightmare far to vivid for you to awake. Yet once the black carriage had come into view, trying best to pinch yourself on the arm, thinking that would do the trick, you knew better than to remain in denial. This was happening, and there was no way of escaping it.

When the horses stood afront of you all, the carriage coming to a halt behind, instantly you felt your heart leaping from your chest, this gut-wrench feeling wavering through your body.

As its door swung open, 3 men each walked out, all wearing similar black suits which you felt instinctively couldn’t have been Michael, with a tiny, middle-aged woman, with short black hair yet again in a similar black suit exit through: in pairs each standing on either side of the carriage.

Finally, there he stood.

The least to say, you were breath taken: he was gorgeous. Wearing a red, velvet suit, luscious, long golden hair flowing just past his broad shoulders, with a towering height compared to the rest, his eyes this light blue colour that were ever so piercing, yet ever so mesmerising. His features all too accentuated, exemplified his age, his maturity you felt.

“Welcome, my honoured guests! May I present to you, Viserys of House Targaryen, the third of his name, the rightful king of the Andals and the first men. And his sister, Y/N of House Targaryen.”

Before your thoughts could roam any further, you’d remembered that Illyrio insisted you walked down and greet your fellow and yet potential husband to be. Out of respect that you assumed was the reason for this, although Illyrio simply clarified, that Michael was a man not to be taken lightly, and was definitely not to be kept waiting. So, before you had the chance to even speak a word to him, you were certain you did not at all want to upset him and began to gradually walk, as Illyrio continued greeting his guests.

Instantly you felt your body being aggressively pulled, your arm tugged back as Viserys held on, preventing you from walking down the steps to greet Michael. Your eyes were fixated on him, just as his were when he exited the carriage: you felt giddy, yet still most fearful. A part of you wanted him to say no, in that way you’d have your freedom for now, until perhaps Viserys struck up another bargain with a powerful figure. Yet for now, your fate was held in the hands of a complete stranger.

“Do you see his stature and those fellow companions?  Michael Langdon has never been defeated, in anything. He gets what he wants, when he wants. He’s the Antichrist of course, one of the most influential people alive…And you will be his Queen.”

The whisper of his words, left you senseless, paralysed by fear. You were potentially going to wed a monster, or worse you were currently face to face with him. You’d never felt this terrified ever, not even Viserys startled you this much.

“Come forward my dear” Illyrio had shouted, his eyes widening with impatience, as he gestured you to walk…It seemed you had kept them waiting.

You felt your breath hitch in your throat, you mind trying hard to comprehend the news that Michael was essentially the son of Satan… How was it even possible? Surely he was just pure evil, worse than Viserys, and you’d believed no one could have ever been more worse than him…

Walking down the final step, coming face to face with Michael: you were much shorter than him. His towering figure overlooking you, every inch of your body exposed for him to see, for him to torment. The dress was no help either… It’s silk fabric was ever so thin, that your nipples were on display for all to see, the breeze hardening them, causing them to look perkier than usual. The fabric tight, hugging your body, just enough to reveal your curves: your eyes still locked on his, watching him examining you, those piercing blue eyes travelling up and down your body. Stepping forward, just inches apart, he began circling you: like a predator hungry for its prey, you felt helpless, before returning to his original position.

Hesitantly, tearing his gaze apart from you, to Illyrio, giving him a swift nod of assurance, did he only then return to seat himself in the carriage. His companions following behind shortly, the horses continued riding on.

Puzzled you were, though a part of you had an inkling, knowing most likely what his decision had been.

“Where is he going?” Viserys shouted, his voice drenched in confusion as he hastily ran to stand beside Illyrio, wanting answers.

“The ceremony is over.”

“Well, he didn’t say anything. Did he like her?”

“Trust me, your Grace, if he didn’t like her, we’d know…”

***

Days had passed since you last saw Michael, since you’d last spent your time as a ‘free’ woman. Today was the wedding…

According to the words of your servants, as news travelled immensely fast, Michael insisted on having the wedding immediately: just as Illyrio said, he wasn’t a man to be kept waiting.

You were assisted in wearing this beautiful, white gown. Similar to the silk one you’d worn to your first meeting with Michael, one he had also gifted and insisted that you wear. Perhaps for sentimental value, you’d hope, searching for a bit of good in him, knowing well it probably wasn’t a natural occurrence of his.

Now you sat beside him, ever so still, ever so silently. Not much to your surprise, he looked as handsome as ever. Wearing a similar velvet suit, more maroon than before, with a long black coat, and red leather clothes, you both contrasted with the other yet still looked as though you both synchronised with one another. His hair still looked just as luscious the first time, he looked impeccable.

The ceremony was unique, held outdoors, in a private venue, overlooking the sea, with many esteemed guests that had been invited, all that you had not known. Many wore silver masks, or masquerades that completely hid their identities: perhaps it was the way of the Cooperative. All of whom were in debt to Michael. Yet it frightened you still.

The giving and receiving of gifts had began, as you sat beside your husband. Still the both of you hadn’t said a word to one another: Michael having many times tried to spark a conversation though was always interrupted by his guests coming to congratulate their ‘Lord’ on the marriage. And now, you felt at any moment, he try again, although you’ been to distracted by the most unusual, most shocking of gifts. One of the gifts you’d been most intrigued about, one that you felt ignited a feeling within you that you’d never felt before, the moment they had been laid in front of you…Dragon eggs, three of them in fact, just like the sigil of your house. Gifted by Michael himself, “from the Shadow Lands beyond Asshai…frozen in time.” Lifting one up, holding it in your bare hands, you felt empowered, like you never had before.

“My gift to you.”

“Th-Thank you” You stuttered, still staring at the egg grasped in your hand, observing its every fine detail.

Although, soon following them, laid before you two, the hissing sounds of a pit of snakes had startled your attention. Lowering the egg, returning it to its casket, looking over towards the snakes in complete fright, it was perhaps the most bizarre of all the gifts, yet you knew precisely of its significance to Michael. Despite not having had a proper, consistent education, having been on the run for so long, you were familiar with the traditions of the gods. Sneakily diverting your attention unto Michael, you’d noticed a small smirk growing on his face. Almost, as though it had been instinctively, as though he felt your eyes on him, he turned towards you, shooting you a heartfelt smile, that you immediately thought was a simple act of deceit. Immediately you’d pretended you hadn’t even seen him at all, and looked onwards towards the crowd of guests, dining, dancing and chattering away. It was your wedding yet a part of you felt like a complete foreigner.

“I’m sorry about before, having left you in the dark, you not knowing what was to come. I was simply just savouring the moment till I foun the best possible moment we could talk...Privately.”

His words interfered with your thoughts and growing concerns, yet he hadn’t startled you as you’d predicted. His tone was sincere, it felt soothing to hear.

“T-That’s alright, I understand, my Lord.”

“Michael, just call me Michael, Y/N. Please, I insist, since we’re bounded together for life and death.”

Nodding to his instruction, you wanted nothing more than to sit in silence, hoping that your shy behaviour would simply do the trick…Wrong.

“You look beautiful, can’t help but feel incredibly lucky” He interrupted, his words triggering you to instantly snap your head in his direction. It definitely wasn’t something you’d been expecting to hear, a compliment escaping his lips…Outrageous you thought, yet optimism ignited within you.

“Th-Thank you, Michael.”

A small smile brewing on your face, wanting to reassure to him that you were most thankful for his kind words, or perhaps for this marriage…You didn’t want to upset him in anyway possible, that may have shown his true colours. This Michael would do for now.

“The ceremony should be coming to an end soon. If you want we could just leave now? Our time perhaps could be spent more wisely, getting to know one another, than with these people.”

Instantly, he stood himself from his seat, his long hair flowing perfectly in time with the breeze. His hand reaching out to you, waiting for you to take it, and without any further hesitation, a part of you agreeing to his words willingly, you took it.

You felt yourself being pulled with ease, as he stood awaiting for you to ensure your dress was perfectly placed, before you looked up at him, nodding to signal that you were prepared.

“Thank you honoured guests, for joining us on this special evening. But I must inform you all that Y/N and I will be leaving now.”

“Hail Satan!” The crowd roared in unison, cheering to their Lord, as you both walked through the crowd, Michael leading the way as his hand continued to hold yours, gripping you tightly, as though to not lose you. You felt completely intimidated, feeling the stares of his followers burning through your skin, despite not actually witnessing their faces, you simply knew.

Finally having reached a breach in the crowd: you noticed Michael standing in front of the black carriage, he’d arrived with initially.

Opening the door, waiting by its side, just as you were about to enter, you felt his hand gripping your arm gently, as though not wanting to cause you pain, though wanting to stop you from entering. Gazing up at him, despite the watchful crowd, you felt the intimacy between you two growing immensely, and a part of you, as though instinct, wanting nothing more than to kiss. Just as though he’d read your thoughts, he began to edge closer to you, feeling his hands grip around your waist, pulling your body closer towards his chest, as your hands gripped his large biceps.

The feeling of his lips crushing down against yours, giving yourself into his affection, most willingly felt right and pure. His lips slightly parting, feeling a small smirk growing on his face as you looked up to find it was indeed a smile, he utters:

“My angel.”

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[forvalor-blog]

       Perhaps he should have twigged sooner, but at a single listen, the report to his office had seemed opportune.

       ‘’Sheriff, someone who matched your description came waltzing in earlier.  I couldn’t convince him to stay.  He bought a coffee and not much else, but I know which way he went.  It’d be in your best interest to come as soon as you’re able.’’

                                                                                                  In his best interest, indeed.

       The cafe door is pushed open, the familiar jingle of the bell signalling his arrival.  It’s past midnight, but everybody has come to expect that.  If there’s one thing Sheriff Braav seems incapable of, it’s taking breaks.   ❛❛ Mel? ❜❜   His head turns to the left, then to the right, brow pinching with confusion when he doesn’t see her immediately.  The lights are still on and the quiet radio is still playing, so where is she?   ❛❛ Hello-ooh?  I got yer call.  Sorry ‘m so late.  Work. ❜❜

       As far as he can see, the diner is empty.  He takes a moment to take in the somewhat familiar surroundings, scanning them slowly.  Huron doesn’t use animals for products so the supposed ‘’leather’’ that her booths are clad in is most definitely artificial.  It’s cute though, homely, and that’s the main appeal.  The tables are snug and rectangular, like rows of perfectly adjacent dominoes, the chequered linoleum floor alight with a glossy clean finish.  He remembers crossing this same floor centuries ago to meet her halfway behind the counter, his body moving like a pawn on a chessboard.  Really, that’s all life is, isn’t it?  One big game of chess.

       He comes to lean against the counter, briefly standing on his tiptoes to see over the cash register properly.  Not there, you dumbass.  She’s always been small, but never that small.

       ❛❛ Oh!!  There you are!! ❜❜

       Kuro can do nothing to keep himself from jumping at the sudden arrival, a trained hand balanced against his hip, where his trusty firearm lays.  A long sigh leaves him, expression flashing even more deadpan than usual.   ❛❛ Dear Gods. ❜❜

       She can’t stop herself from giggling, a hand curled in front of her lips.   ❛❛ Did I scare you? ❜❜

       ❛❛ Just a little... ❜❜   he admits, clearly disgruntled as he shifts his weight to rest against the counter.  He’s definitely more mellow now.  Centuries ago, he would have been effing and blinding until the sun rose for being caught off guard like that;  he’d have ghosted her for a solid twenty-four hours before coming back for coffee;  he’d have been angry.  As much as she hates to admit it, she doesn’t miss that side of him much at all.   ❛❛ ... where even were y’...? ❜❜

       ❛❛ Takin’ the trash out, ❜❜   the woman replies, filing behind the counter with an air of grace, washing her hands beneath the tap before she turns back to face him.  He’s so beautiful...  he’s only gotten better with age.  I have to do this now, or I’ll never bring myself to do it.  It’s for his own good.   ❛❛ Anyway.  I’m glad you’re here.  This guy’s a real creeper. ❜❜   Without asking, she begins to prepare him coffee.  It’s the central piece of this plan, after all.   ❛❛ Figured it’d probably be best t’report it.  Even if he turns out to not be your guy, he could do with bein’ put on a register regardless. ❜❜

                                                                                 ❛❛ Yeah?  Wha’d’y’got fer me? ❜❜

       ❛❛ Weeell... ❜❜   She’s recited these lies over and over in her head for the past few weeks now, to the point where lying to his face isn’t difficult this time around.  So rehearsed is she that she goes through those run-of-the-mill descriptions with ease, as if reading script lines, and he seems all too happy to go along with it.  He even pulls out his notepad, capitalised scrawl noting down her false leads dutifully.  He’s hooked on her word, just as she was hooked on his all those years ago, and though she feels guilty for misleading him, she can’t help but feel happy to be the reason behind such captivation.  He keeps looking up at her when she pauses, like a puppy eyeing its owner for more treats, and she’s all too happy to feed him more.  Sometimes she stops deliberately just to watch the faithful incline of his head, that focus in his eyes shaking her to her core as they make the briefest of eye contact.  She isn’t obsessed, but had she been this attentive of his face for the decades they’ve spent apart, she may have snapped much sooner.  At some point, she hands him his coffee--  laced with sleep-powder and all--  and watches as he takes intermittent sips in between his feverish jottings.  The poor man is so addicted to the stuff that he doesn’t even think to question it--  even though he hadn’t asked for a cup.  At one point, he does pause, glancing at the rim of the mug, though whatever had caused him to think twice clearly isn’t enough to stop him from taking another sip.  It’s a habit she’ll try to help him kick once she’s been able to get through to him.

        They continue this way for a while, the minutes seamlessly threading together as he asks more questions and notes more things down.  She gives him a fake outfit, a false order  (  accompanied by a random person’s receipt* that aligned with her story  )  and fabricated fear, seeking desperately for his assurance.  He’s big and strong...  anybody would feel sheltered with him by their side.  Is it really so bad of her to want him to tell her that he’ll keep her safe?

       By the time he runs out of things to ask, a solid forty-five minutes have been and gone.  With the end of his pen pressed against his lower lip in a contemplative fashion, he speaks up once more, though his voice has a quieter quality to it.   ❛❛ Okaaay, so... ❜❜   She listens to him flip through the pages of notes he’d made, back-to-front, before he puts the pad down.  Every now and then, he blinks a little harder, as if trying to rearrange his line of sight.   ❛❛  Y’said he went upwards towards the No-Man’s-Land? ❜❜

       ❛❛ Yup. ❜❜

       ❛❛ Mmkay.  Doesn’t surprise me too much.  This guy’s originally from Vide, so it’d make sense if he’s tryna circle round so he’s back in familiar territory.  Out here in Huron, he’s kinda defenceless in terms’a hidin’ spots. ❜❜

       You’re so intelligent.  Were you always this clever?  I want that smart mouth in places I’m not brave enough to say out loud.  Sheriff, I’m listening, but I can’t stop daydreaming about you.  You understand, don’t you?  I just want--

                                 ❛❛ Uh... Mel? ❜❜

       The woman blinks quickly, coming back to reality.  He’s there, still, his brow creased slightly with concern.  Oh damn...  I really zoned out.  She crosses her legs discreetly, trying not to focus on the aching heat spreading between them,.  If she had even a little less control over herself, she may have blushed upon realising what she was thinking about.   ❛❛ Uh, y-yeah... ❜❜   A meek laugh leaves her.   ❛❛ S-Sorry, it’s just-- long work day.  Y’know how it is. ❜❜

       ❛❛ Don’t work yerself t’death, girl, ❜❜   he replies, some of the concern fading from his eyes.  It’s funny, the longer he stays here, the more tired he feels, and in a way he barely recalls feeling before;  a kind of tired he’s only felt with the aid of medication after being grievously stabbed...  the fleeting sensation of floating, as if the lead that seems permanently embedded into his blood has dissolved and allowed his awareness to wander.  He should get back home...  it’s approaching 1:30am and he didn’t even noticed.  Nana will be livid--

       ❛❛ Oh, shit... ❜❜   he mutters as he stands up, body teetering wildly to one side.  Vertigo hits him like a freight train.  Even Suka is thrown off, its shadowy form lumbering like a moving mountain behind him as he braces himself against the counter.  It’s at this point that he’s slowly realising that something is amiss;  that despite his keen wit and his sharp senses, something slipped past his radar and is about to render him useless.  How long has it been since I last slept?  Is it really hitting me that hard?   (  Kuro, what’s going on?*  )

       ❛❛ Gosh, Sheriff--  y’should sit.  You’re rockin’ like a little Raku Doll*. ❜❜

       ❛❛ Uh...  n-no, it’s fine.  I need t’get back home... ❜❜   Despite the hands she tries to meet him with, Kuro turns tail and begins his dizzy stumble towards the diner door.  He barely makes it before his vision begins to blur, an exhaustion somewhat akin to Suka sitting on top of him dragging him towards the floor.  He resists for as long as possible, trying to force shaking knees to cooperate, and his whole body flinches when Mel’s hands wrap around his torso, guiding him back towards the counter.  This is wrong--  everything’s wrong, and I missed it.

       ❛❛ Sheriff-- ❜❜

       ❛❛ ... wha’d y’do? ❜❜   Despite the way he quivers and sways, his words bite.  The accusation in them is almost as heavy as his body feels, a layer of ice garnishing the question like an appetiser;  as if it’s only the first of a series of cold-hearted digs he’s about to serve her.   ❛❛ ... y’did somethin’.  Wha’d y’do? ❜❜   His words are beginning to slur together, and in an instant do his legs give out.  Despite the way his brain screams in protest, he finds himself unable to get up again.  His vision swims as if he’s been permanently submerged, surroundings hazy and uneven before his eyes are weighted shut.  He should have known that this was too good to be true;  how convenient that she wasn’t willing to give him any details over the phone;  that it had to be in person.  But why?  Why is she doing this?  And if it is personal, why did she wait this fucking long?  With the single ounce of strength he has remaining:   ❛❛ ... knew yer coffee was off... ❜❜

       Something about the statement warms her up, despite the harsh chill accompanying it.  Of course he’d notice that her perfect coffee wasn’t quite perfect this time around.  She’s the only person he trusts--  besides his wife, she assumes--  to make it for him.  Despite how foolishly simple he may seem for meandering into such a quintessentially executed trap, the case is not so.  In fact, perhaps the only reason that she was able to succeed was because of her unassuming track record, and she knows that.  She hasn’t been involved in his life since their final night together really, and she hasn’t made a habit of acting crazy.  They spoke like old friends every few years or so, drinking coffee and sharing smokes before he went back to work.  Not once did she give him any reason to suspect her of anything.  As far as he was concerned, she was just the tasteful lay he’d had some centuries ago.

                                                                      It’s this thought exactly that she hopes to dispel.

       Kuro  (  will you let me call you that finally?  ), you know why I’ve done this.  You must’ve known that I’d come for you at some point.  There’s only so long I can watch you destroy yourself like this.  You’re selling your life away.  This woman...  she doesn’t love you, and you don’t love her.  How could we have had such explosive chemistry if you did?  I’ve been here this whole time...  didn’t you see me?  I’ve always seen you.

       Thank the Gods that it’s dark out, otherwise the huge open windows might have been a problem.  Dragging him by his feet behind the counter is the easy part, as heavy as he is--  it’s getting him down the cellar stairs that’s going to take time.

#🞮 ┋ ɢᴏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴇʟʟ 'ᴇᴍ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴇxɪsᴛᴇᴅ. ❜ ( kuro // ic. ) #narrative * #long post * #*receipts in huron are very brief because of limited tech; they only include items bought and how much they cost so all she had to do was #hold on to a corresponding receipt #from a corresponding time slot #*thoughts in bold brackets are Suka!! #*a raku doll is a lot like earth russian dolls; dolls that file inside one another and rock from side to side like those weighted bean toys