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aiko0invalid · 7 months

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Genre: Fluff/Slow burn

TW:Cursing/Suggestive/Bl00d

Au:Non-idol/Vampire/Strangers to lovers

Additional info: Reader is Female and a human while Minho is a Vampire. Reader is visiting family during the holidays and encounters Minho throughout her stay an oddly amount of times. Stray Kids are a clan of Vampires. Mentions of Hyunlix.

Next: ->>

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Ch.1

“I’m leaving now, I’ll be there in a few hours. Yes Umma, I packed enough warm clothes.” You were currently on the phone with your mother as she frantically told you what to pack and asking when you were arriving.

After moving across country to attend University in Seoul, leaving your family up in the mountains, it has become very important for you to take things like holiday break off and spend time with your parents and little sister.

“I’ll call you when I get into town, but I have to go or else I’ll be there even later.” You reminded her, quickly saying your goodbyes so you could load up your car and drive the most grueling 5 hour drive of your life. It was worth it though, anything is worth it when you get to see your family.

You were on the road in no time, taking quick stops to get gas or buy a few snacks but after 5 hours you finally made it to the familiar cabin you grew up in.

You got inside quickly, escaping the cold and entering the warm house as you saw your little sister and dad on the couch. "Appa! Soomin!" You said, getting their attention with your voice.

Soomin, your little sister who was only 14, jumped up and ran over to hug you. Since you guys had such a big age gape there wasn't that much sibling rivalry between you two and the relationship is super sweet.

You also didn’t have to worry about clothes, makeup and skincare products suddenly disappearing since by the time you moved out the house, she was only 6.

And now you're 26, fresh out of medical school/ college and currently looking for a job. That being said, that isn't the only thing your mom has pestered you about. The topic of love has come up many times and each time you've replied that between studying and self-love your life is too hectic to add someone else to the mix.

Thankfully she's on the more understanding side and had dropped the conversation after a few failed attempts of asking about how your love life was going.

“Umma is making some tea right now.” Soomin explained while picking up one of your smaller bags. “The room is still the same.”

After you moved out of the house the room that used to be yours was the guest room but after Soomin got older and wanted a bigger room they switched them. So technically the guest room is Soomin’s old room and not yours.

“Thank you.” You said quickly as you followed Soomin upstairs despite knowing full well where the room was.

It was nicely decorated, on the more minimalistic side but that was fine with you. Soomin left quickly so you could get yourself situated and that’s what you did for the next 20 minutes.

You took out your clothes, curler and/or straightener, hair products, makeup, and many more stuff. You filled the dresser with your clothes and that’s when you heard your mom from downstairs.

“Soomin! Y/n!” She called out, yelling for them to come to the kitchen since the tea was ready.

You quickly made your way downstairs, Soomin and your mom already there as your dad stayed in the living room. He wasn’t a big fan of tea. “So, How have you been lately?” Your mom asked after sliding over a cup of tea towards you.

You shrugged your shoulders, picking the cup up for a sip. “Nothing interesting lately, I sent in some job applications but haven’t gotten any words back yet.”

Your mom understood that well, knowing it took time to find a job fresh out of university. “It’s good you’re atleast trying.” She said before standing up. “I know you just got here but, do you have anything in mind for what you’d want for dinner?” She asked as you smiled and shook your head.

“It’s ok Umma, really.” You tried to convince her but, as if you were straight out of a cartoon, your stomach growled and your mom looked at you with an ‘really?’ Look and signature hand on her hip.

“You know what, Jjigae sounds good!” You said, remembering the warm and hearty Korean stew that your mother was always good at making. “Ohh! That’s sounds good!” Your sister said immediately, looking up at your guys mom. “Appa wouldn’t mind having that either, you know he doesn’t care as long as there are soft boiled eggs too.” She added which made your mom nod in agreement.

“Great! I’ll start making that.” She smiled and turned around to grab all the ingredients out of the fridge. She brought out the meat, they recently gotte pork belly so that’s what they were going to use. Along with veggies before she paused. “Oh no…” she dragged out, grabbing a mostly gone tube of soybean paste.

“Aish, I’ll head to the store to grab some more.” She sighed but you’d topped her. “It’s ok Umma, the store isn’t far away, I’ll go get it and you can cut up the vegetables and meat so it’s ready to go when I come back.”

“Are you sure?” She asked ever though she was already grabbing her apron and tying it around her. “Yes, I’m sure.” You reassured her and she smiled more. “Ok! Thank you!”

You nodded and quickly went to the door to slip on your shoes, grabbing your coat again and keys before going to your car.

The store wasn’t busy, thankfully, but it was rearranged differently than you remembered and you were having a hard time find the soybean paste. “They had it with the broth last time…” you muttered to yourself as your eyes scanned the shelf’s of canned chicken and beef broth.

“They moved it to the fridge section.” A voice said, scaring you since you hadn’t heard footsteps behind you.

You turned around to find a young man, dark brown almost black hair, equally as dark eyes and blank stare face. His cheekbones were high and he had a deep cupids bow with a plush upper and bottom lip. ‘How can someone be so… perfect..?’ You thought to yourself in awe.

He, after seeing your wide eyes, quickly flashed a smile. “Sorry, I heard you talking to yourself and thought I could help.” He explained, making you sigh a bit in relief.

“It’s ok, your hearing is amazing by the way!” You noted, a bit shocked he was able to hear your quiet muttering. “Been told that before.” He grinned, one laced with mischief and smugness. “You’re looking for soybean paste right? I only know because it used to be here.”

You nodded with a small smile of your own. “Yeah, you said fridge section? Is it by the butter?” You questioned and he nodded his head. You knew if you stayed any longer you would inevitably blush if you’re not already.“Thank you.” You said before walking off to get the small tube quickly.

“Can you go to the library with your sister? She usually goes alone but since you’re here I would feel better if she was with an adult.” Your mom asked while tying her hair up.

She approached you as you were sitting on the couch and you smiled up at her. “Sure! To double check, they didn’t move that too did they?”

You asked in a joking yet serious tone. After the grocery store, you had wanted to go to the strip mall, only to find it’s location moved and demolished. It also just so happened that the local ice skating rink also moved spots!

You were beginning to think the town was just going to get up and leave too.

“Yes, same place it’s always been”. Your mom chuckled and you stood up while stretching. “Ok, I’ll go drive her now.” You said as she took your spot on the couch next to your dad.

“Drive safe then!” She smiled and waved as you and your sister got into your car. “Since when did you go to the library?” You asked as soon as you guys buckled in. “I don’t.” Your sister smirked.

“Wanna know where I actually go?”

“Soomin, where do you even get the money from?” You asked, parking right in the town center where there were lots of shops open for business. It looked straight out of a hallmark movie.

“I do people’s work for cash, the longer I know them the less they pay me. Which means they recommend me to their friends and I always get new clients! I’m currently doing all of my 4th period classmates work.” She smiled smugly and you chuckled.

“Hustling for money at the ripe age of 14, maybe you are my sister.” You joked, messing up her hair with your hand before getting out of the car. “I won’t rat you out to mom but that doesn’t mean you get to drag me around today. If we spend more than 2 hours here Mom will get suspicious.”

Soomin nodded in agreement, closing the car door before jogging up to you with a big smile. “That’s fine! You haven’t been here in forever, let me show you around!”

It was close to the time you guys were about to leave when you entered an actual book shop. “I know I said I don’t like books, but I need one to read for English so I can write a report on it.” Soomin explained, leaving your side immediately to go to the fantasy shelves.

You went to your own way, roaming the fiction side a bit. You were in the dark romance section before bumping into someone. “I am so sorry!” You apologized quickly, turning around to see a blonde slightly shorter male there.

Damn, had there always been this many gorgeous people?

“It’s all good, I didn’t see you either.” He said, his voice way deeper and richer than you expected. You couldn’t help but blush and turn to look away. “Sorry if this seems nosy, but are you new?” He asked before you could fully turn away.

“Not really, I grew up here but moved a few years ago for school. I’m visiting family this week.” You explained and he nodded. “Ahh, understood. My family and I moved here a few years ago so that must be why I didn’t recognize you.”

You nodded also and couldn’t help but glance down at the book he had in his hand. “Vampire story?” You guessed, seeing the fangs on the cover as they hovered above a rose in a glass case. He smiled instantly and nodded.

“Yeah! I don’t do much reading but my boyfriend has been pestering me a bit, says that gaming for too long hurts my eyesight.” He rolled his eyes as he explained and you laughed softly at the sass. “He’s not wrong, blue light actually makes it harder for you to sleep also. Doctors recommend that people don’t use any electronics 2 hours before bed if they want to fall right asleep. Otherwise you’ll just be staying awake for the whole night.”

He blinked a bit, processing your information with surprise. “Wow, you sounded like a doctor yourself!” He chuckled which made you blush in embarrassment.

“Sorry, I study medicine so I tend to info dump whenever the topic of health comes up.” You explained which only made him laugh more.

“I get it, my boyfriend is that same when it comes to art. Like painting and drawing.” He reassured you. You were about to say something else when his head snapped to look at his right.

“Hey hyung!” He smiled brightly as a guy came around the corner where you two stood. “Ready to go home, Felix?” The guy asked and that’s when you recognized him. His familiar monotone but lively voice triggering a blush to dust across your face.

It was the guy from the store, he was now in black jeans, gray V-neck tshirt and a black & white plaid jacket. He had regular white sneakers and black ball cap that made his dark drown hair almost cover his eyes.

“Awh, already?” Felix pouted before sighing and nodding his head. “Bye, hope to see you around.” He grinned before walking up to the guys side. “I’m ready Minho-Hyung.”

They left quickly, not giving you a chance to say bye before the bell above the door rang and they began walking on the brick sidewalk.

It was a strange swirling feeling in your stomach at the sight of the man who you now know as Minho. It made you stare off in space for a bit as your mind raced with him. Was him and Felix related? It would make sense, they were both stunning human beings. Almost too stunning to be human.

The town was small, but was it small enough to run into someone twice in tow days back to back? Maybe, it had been awhile since you had been here. “Uhm, earth to Smile McGee.” The voice of Soomin said, pulling you out of your trance.

You blinked a few times, the brain fog clearing and you smacked her shoulder. “I told you to stop using that dumb nickname.” You hissed, remembering the times you used to have braces and when you had a few friends over they teased you with that nickname.

She was only 4 at the time but seemed to remember it like it was yesterday.

She mumbled an “ouch” and gave you a small glare. “Anyways, I’m ready to go.” She said, holding up a hefty sized book. “Maybe you are a nerd.” You mumbled, eyeing the huge book before shrugging and buying the book for her.

“Who was that by the way?” Soomin asked once you guys exited the bookstore. “Who?” You rebutted and she rolled her eyes. “That guy you were talking to, the blonde haired one.”

“Ohh.” You said, nodding before shrugging your shoulders. “His name is Felix apparently, I don’t know him personally though.” You explained and it was her turn to nod her head.

“And that other guy?” You felt the same swirling feeling in the pit of your stomach as she referred to the other guy. “Minho, I actually ran into him yesterday at the store. I only just now learned his name.”

Soomin hummed in thought before looking up at you with a smirk. “He’d make a good boyfriend~.” She said, bumping her hip with yours as you shook your head in disagreement.

“No way, I just got Umma to stop pestering me about dating; you can’t start.” You lightly scolded her as she just ignored you. “He was handsome though, you can’t deny that. Both of them were.”

You grumbled slightly, looking off to the side so you wouldn’t have to verbally agree with her. She knew she was right, the proof was the guy’s themselves.

Felix had a softer and more happy vibe with him, a golden brown eye color and blonde hair cut in the style of a mullet. He had many silver rings adorning his fingers and piercings on his ears.

He was dressed in a black turtle neck, dark blue jeans and a mocha brown fluffy jacket. His style was different from Minho, along with his appearance.

While Felix had freckles and slightly bigger eyes, Minho had not one mark on his clear and slightly tan skin. He had two silver mini hoops on one ear while three mini silver hoops on the other ear.

His outfit was a bit more casual compared to Felix’s but his stunning and sharp face made up for that.

“Whatever.” You grumbled back at your sister, sighing a bit as you both made it back to your car.

Safe to say, you stayed up a bit longer than usual with thoughts of a certain dark eyed boy.

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#lee know #lee know x reader #lee minho #stray kids #skz #skz fanfic #bang chan skz #lee know skz #changbin skz #hyunjin skz #han jisung skz #felix skz #seungmin skz #i.n skz #vampire #ch.1 #chapter 1 #Spotify

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skebbles · 1 year

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Chapter one of the fic is out!

Here are some illustrations for the first chapters events!

It follows the events of the jungle idea! I made that series of posts when I under the impression that I was never gonna do anything with it. But it helped me gather a strong enough outline of the events to give me a final push to write it.

#woy #wander over yonder #woy fic #fanfic #writing #been dipping my toes back into writing again and its great fun #just need to keep reminding myself that i dont need to have such high standards for myself #its just some fun!#ch.1

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amaranth-devi1 · 1 year

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There is a beauty that becomes visible only to moths and the sleepless ones. Vanilla cactus - Queen of the Night and some of us bloom only during the darkest hours of the night, in the light of dimmest lamps and behind the darkest curtains.

@amaranth-devi1

#rv #quotes #poems #amaranth poet #book #aurora on the obscure path #cold mercy #ch.1

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secretlotsixam · 2 years

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#there we go! a half-ish hour late but it counts #edit: the last pic off this post has been retconned into oblivion for rewrites so i've deleted the tags referencing it #straud story #straud save #ch.1 #mine: zach baker #vladislaus straud #straud bakers #straudtober '22 #🦇

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loveofeverythingwritten · 11 months

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Trials of a Princess: Ch1.

The Twin Suns were beaming down on the garden floor, breaking through the leaves. A young girl sat on a wide branch in a tall tree by the garden wall. One of her legs was dangling, the heel of her shoe clicking against the trunk of the tree and she sighed in contentment. She lifted her face towards the sun beams, feeling the warmth on her skin.

“Princess Mala!” someone from below shouted, voices raising in concern.

“Yes?” she answered, leaning over the branch slightly, her hands gripping the wood. A group of guards were scattered under the tree, faces showing a variety of concern.

“Please, you must return to the castle,” one of them said. “The queen will be back any minute.”

Mala hummed, titling her head to the side. She closed her eyes, smiling slightly. “No,” she said, sitting up and crossing her legs at the ankles.

The guards groaned, whispering amongst each other, concern palpable.

“Hey, Princess!” a voice from the side said. “How are you?”

Mala huffed a breath out, hunching her shoulders and sitting up. Her hair glittered in the sun beams. She turned her head to the side, and smiled, all the teeth and cheek. A young man stood on the edge of the wall, his feet planted firm on the edge and his hands on his hips. Behind him, one of the suns was making a halo around his head.

“I’m fine, thank you for asking,” she answered, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “How are you, kitchen hand?” Mala leaned back and closed her eyes, the warmth of the sun shining down on her. “Now leave me alone, Jacob.”

Jacob huffed a small breath, sitting down on the wall and swinging his legs. “You wound and insult me, with that tone of voice.” He bent his head to look through the leaves, the shade of the tree obscuring his view a little. “What do you think you’re doing?” he asked, crossing his arms.

“I am enjoying the warmth.” Mala turned so that she was sitting with both her legs dangling. The leaves were cutting the suns’ rays into little spotlights. When she looked down, the group of guards that was under her scrambled like a pack of wild animals. “What about you?”

Jacob shrugged. “Just sightseeing.” He looked at the guards and smiled, teeth bright in the setting suns. Mala tilted her head, her hair fluttering in the breeze. “Go back to the castle,” he said, looking up through his lashes. “Your mother will return soon and you have to receive her, since you’re the princess of the kingdom.”

Mala blew air out of her mouth. She was not ready to receive her mother from wherever that lady went to, maybe to conquer more tiny towns or bring fear into the hearts of the weak. That was her mother’s favorite hobby. “Fine.” She grabbed the nearest branch and swung herself down, her feet grazing the bark of the tree. She landed on her feet and the guards surrounded her, patting her down to make sure she was not hurt.

The wind kicked up the hem of her dress, the shiny fabric making patterns against her skin. She wiggled her fingers at them, smiling. “Hey, boys.”

“Princess, you shouldn’t be giving your guards a hard time,” Jacob said, his voice carrying through the wind.

Mala rolled her eyes and turned her head towards him. Jacob jumped from the garden wall onto the tree. He was dangling from his bent knees, his face getting redder the second he remains upside down. “A kitchen hand shouldn’t be talking to the princess like they were good friends,” she responded.

Jacob smiled and flipped onto his feet and bowed. He looked up at her, one eye closed. “I’m sorry.”

Just then, horns were blaring, and Mala knew it meant one thing: the queen has returned.

#My writing #space kingdom #royalty #planets acting as kingdoms #servant-royal friendship #ch.1

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bonus-links · 9 months

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RUINS, pt. 16

first | <<prev | next>>

#SORRY IT'S NOT ALL 7 ive been Struggling #last update of ch 1 hopefully very Soon #thank u all for ur patience #main comic #bonus links #bonuslinksdotjpg #bonuslinks #loz au #skyward sword #botw #loz #tloz

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creative-writings · 1 year

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Twenty-Three

Integra often thought about death. It was hard not to when one was surrounded by it, striving toward it every day. Today, those thoughts were on those soon to die in Délit. Perhaps, some of those who were likely already dead.

Délit was a large, intoxicated part of Laimira’s precious wine industry. Though most days it wasn’t a jovial intoxication. No Dionysian celebration. It was the daily slog of determined alcoholism. Getting drunk on wine, and the 2nd day re-invigoration of the feeling with the first glass of water. People drinking themselves into quiet, pitiful unconsciousness in the damp streets to be ignored by others. Passed by. Unbothered. It was safe to assume rifling through their pockets wouldn’t bring about any worthwhile yield anyway.

Integra skirted around a bit of refuse on the street, then over the legs of a man that was laying slumped into a halfway sitting position against a wall, mumbling to himself. The beginning drizzle was going to wash it away, into the gutter with the man’s remaining dignity. “I abhor coming into the city,” she muttered to herself as she continued on through the network of streets toward the Finean temple.

It was no wonder this city was considered by one of them to be a fertile hunting ground. There were always people milling about, not one of them paying any attention to their surroundings any more than they absolutely had to until they made it back to their own little neighborhoods. People spent their workdays marching, drunk and zombie-like, toward the next day. Even the more respectable citizens simply knew better than to wander out in the streets too much outside of festival days. No one would notice a few people going missing here or there because they were determined not to.

The general filth and depressing energy for the majority of the year was most of the reason she practically refused to step foot onto the uneven streets of Délit. That, and she simply couldn’t stand people in general. But, she had to do something here, so she had to be on these streets, in the damp, getting gods-only-know-what on her boots, and going to the worst places in town. On purpose.

She had to keep her eye out for any sign that the creature she was here to hunt really was present. It could have been just a random serial killer, of course. Regular people were capable of much worse than one would generally assume. The missing people could just be alive, kept somewhere for some purpose or other, too.

The sad truth of this situation was that very few cared about what was happening to the missing people. It wasn’t them, so why should they? The police wouldn’t investigate such disappearances. They considered it a waste of resources. They wouldn’t get any extra pay for it, so why bother? The only sadness for the events they held was that the nobles to whom the missing people were in debt would not gain returns on their money.

The largest of these lenders was the duke: Leofric Farlight. He was a disgusting, gluttonous, lustful jackass. Most half-elven nobles kept their heads low, but he stuck his nose into everyone’s business and spread his findings with impish delight.

So, Integra was here, investigating in the dead of night since the police wouldn’t, and hoping that His Grace wouldn’t cause any problems just for the fun of it. If he began gossiping, she would have a harder time. It will make its way around the whole city somehow, and the possible vampire would hear of it. She tugged her hood up a bit more and plodded on through the drizzle.

The majority of them were being taken from in front of the temple, just a bridge away from Estrose: the red-light district. Somewhere in the pointed arches, or perhaps even in the steeple attempting to get out of the wind and rain, was an orc by the name of Hugo Arsenault.

—

Hugo was Integra’s right-hand man, her informant, eyes, ears, and – though Integra would never admit it- her closest confidant. His job was to watch for another ‘event’ tonight. Keep an eye on the movements of people in the square, reach out to the lady if he has noted anything suspicious. Easier said than done in Délit.

The man breathed out a sigh as he reached into the basket beside him for the flask he had brought and took a sip. If the lady wanted him out in this drafty belfry, he was going to at least sneak a few drinks of something to keep him warm. His steely gray eyes searched through the square. There were not many people about. He assumed it was because of the rain or the temperature outside. It was almost the wintry mid-year solstice, and people sought shelter in pubs and homes when they didn’t absolutely have to be out and about.

Hugo felt a small pang of jealousy as he desperately tried to keep from the wind. But a job was a job, and it couldn’t be avoided. He took a second to jot down a few notes.

He’d made it a habit to take constant notes whenever he had a chance. With how often he had to just know things, it had become a necessity. His family had not been in her service for so long because they didn’t live up to expectations.

The page in front of him read:

Missing Persons- Exclusively women – numbering in the twenties.

All young women, mostly human. Seemingly abducted at a rate of two per week.

No bodies found, though the rate of abduction remains steady. Spawn is unlikely, as suspicious deaths would have increased with the population.

Well, that wasn’t much to go on, but he’d manage. That was his job, after all. He almost laughed to himself as the thought crossed his mind. Yes, his job. It seemed his job was never quite complete, and even after all these years he could never quite tell what his duties were. It was always expanding. He reached beside him for the binoculars he’d brought up and took a look about. It was starting to rain, forcing the few stragglers to run for cover. Well, those that cared about getting wet. And then there was a coach. It was moving through the city quite quickly and if Hugo wasn’t looking, he might have missed it. The black body of the coach nearly blended in with the night as it raced through the streets. He could swear it was heading toward Estrose.

He reached into his pocket and fumbled with a little orb kept there, pulling it out. “Lady Erzeiros, where in the city are you?”

“I have just crossed into the Estrose district,” came the reply, slicing through his mind with all the cold precision of an ice pick. He needed desperately to look into more enjoyable forms of communication. There was something about the psychic methods that made his head pound. “Tell me you have something of note.”

“Nothing concrete as yet.”

“Then keep your attention on task, will you?” And then that small, stinging pain pulled itself out of his head. It was strange how, even though she was communicating psychically, Hugo felt that he could still hear the irritation that laced her short reply. He sucked his teeth- a feat for one with tusks- and looked back through the binoculars at the misty, dimly lit streets. In the beginning trickle of water in the gutters, he could swear he saw all of his free time for the next week wash away.

How lucky would he have to be to, for once, see the monster they were hunting on the first night? Just one time… Very; and unfortunately his luck was never quite so good. The coach took a sharp turn to the right toward Maîtrisaide, and the slim chance of a lead disappeared with it.

He set the binoculars to the side and leaned back against the wall behind him, reaching up to smooth some stray hairs away from his face and back toward his ponytail. “Fineas’ beak…” he huffed to himself. “In this weather, I would not be surprised if we saw no signs. It would take an absolute madman, or a desperate one, to be out and about at this time, and in this rain.” With the rate of the disappearances it seemed tonight or tomorrow were most likely. Though to be safe, he would be stuck here when not at the side of his Lady for the next week or until they found something.

When you want something done properly, do it yourself. Or, send Hugo Arsenault.

—

The maze of streets did not, despite their best efforts, turn Lady Erzeiros around. She’d walked these streets much more often than she would like to admit over the years. She’d walked past the houses and businesses that made the most direct bridge across the River Porter into a cramped and winding nightmare. Furthermore, she’d gone to a mass in the center Temple to Fineas, that elusive bastard, and patronized many of the merchants in the Westmarc district. As much as she liked to still think of herself as a citizen of Ofril, she knew Délit better than she could hope to remember any city in her homeland now. It made this city all the worse against her senses.

Currently, the offending tract of land was Estrose. Crossing into it over the bridge, she was bathed in a rosy glow from a nearby building’s lanterns, highlighting the sign hanging above the door. The Dragon’s Den. For a moment, she hesitated. It would be wise to go and ask about the disappearances here, correct? This was the brothel. All the young women that had gone missing were connected to this one. It was the most popular in town. Most of the cash flow from other brothels even directed itself through here.

She walked up to the door and paused, reaching for the handle. This type of place was the last she wanted to pay a visit to. Perhaps that was why she was able to focus with laser intensity on the small silver placard next to the door bearing a coat of arms. An excuse, perhaps, but she found it justifiable. It was Duke Farlight’s insignia. If she stepped foot in there, he would know. More importantly, he would know she was conducting inquiries rather than looking to conduct business within the walls of the pleasure-house.

She stepped back and brushed her hand over her coat pocket briefly, clicking her tongue as if to prove to herself that she was anything but relieved. Well, the night was still young. If she stayed in the area she would be able to find someone to tail and observe discreetly instead. Observation was so much better than questioning anyway. People lied with their lips, but actions always spoke a material truth that could be trusted. Before she could turn and go completely, however, a swift tap was delivered to her shoulder. She whirled around, coming face-to-face with a woman a few inches taller than she. She was young, probably in her early twenties, blonde, blue eyes, seemed human.

“I don’t mean to rush you but if you don’t mean to go inside yet, might I slip by you, madame?” she asked, a tentative smile stretching over her lips as her eyes flickered away from Integra’s face and to her hand as it rested on the hilt of her weapon. She looked back up to make eye contact and only slightly raised her brows. Her Southern Laimiran accent was thick, sounding as though there was a wad of cotton in the back of her mouth. Each muscle in her face moved in precise and exaggerated ways Integra hadn’t seen prior to occupying this gods-forsaken city. While unsettled by the dagger’s possible threat, she didn’t seem surprised or nearly so fazed as Integra would have liked, placing the girl firmly in the category of ‘belonging here’. The girl had more important matters to attend to and no moment to be halted by a stranger with a knife if she could help it.

Integra averted her gaze and lowered her hand to her side, taking a step aside and mumbling a quiet “excuse me,” as the woman stepped by and went inside. So much for being discreet.

#And The Moon Sets Over Laimira #ATMSOL #Ch.1 #Creative Writing #please go easy on me and my ao3 level writing

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