#exile part 2

[imaginedreamwrite]

Exile: Part 2

The ground shook beneath you; a false hope that the earth would split and swallow you whole had been ruefully cast aside as the premise of pitching yourself off the edge of the world-shattering, thundering waterfall to the left had been ripped from you.

It was an unnecessary caution; the binds that kept your hands clasped and yet the powerful stare from the King himself had rendered you more fired up than ever.

Your attempt, or your success rather, to do damage before you arrived at the kingdom, had come at the expense of one of his knight’s arms. The relatively large gash had been inflicted by yourself and a tiny stone after you had taken the chance given to you after one of them had helped you from the King’s beastly mount.

The knife stashed in your boot had come in handy, and it should have been their fault for assuming you wouldn’t have had weapons hidden on you. You would not become compliant simply because the King was seeking you out. You wouldn’t crumble before him merely because he was your soulmate and he had been searching for you.

“Forest bitch!” The knight had bemoaned; he had screamed when you dug the knife into his arm and twisted, the blade sharp enough to pierce the light armour he had worn. “The fucking bitch stabbed me!”

“I suppose you’re proud of yourself.” The king tilted his head as he studied you.

The dark blue tunic he had worn with the crest in the corner was distinguishable by the silver threading that marked him as a royal, and now that you were closer, you could see that his eyes were not genuinely blue, but instead, they had flecks of light green within the irises. The green that reminded you of fresh buds after the harsh winter and your first declaration that he was beautiful had now become weak.

Beautiful was no manner to discuss the king, however arrogant and brutish as he may have been.

He was tall, easily over 6’0”, and you were remiss to admit that the strength of the decoys had seemed grim compared to what the King had been blessed with. It was easy to see how a man like him would be rooted in arrogance, as the beauty surrounding him had no doubt boosted his ego.

“Pride goeth before the fall.” Your voice dripped with bitterness, your eyes flashing with hatred at the man who was deemed to be your soulmate.

“You stabbed one of my men.”

“Oh? Just one? Give me a blade and another chance.”

“You wish to assault more, flower?” he traced his fingers along the side of your cheek, his nails making contact with your flesh.

“I’ll start with you.” You turned your head and snapped at his hand, your teeth nearly grazing his fingers.

“Someone needs to teach you manners. However, I can hardly expect any different. You were raised in the wild when you should’ve been raised in comfort.”

The king stood and brushed his hands against his breeches, then moved toward his great beast of a horse and reached into the saddlebag to grab a linen parcel of fruit. “Are you hungry, princess?”

You squared your jaw and flexed your fingers, feeling the binds against your wrist. The strands of the rope they had used were grating to your wrists, and yet it was nothing compared to the fire surging through your veins. You hated him, and you hated him for taking you.

“You must be hungry, darling.” His voice and eyes were cold, yet his affections were soft. “Wouldn’t you like something to eat?”

You had dug your heels into the earth and pushed yourself backward on the rock you were resting on; the stone hiding behind was sharp. You had a thought, maybe more of a last-ditch effort to throw yourself back and grab the stone; if you could hide it upon you, then you could take off the binds.

“Aren’t you going to do anything, your majesty? She stabbed-“

“Enough.” Steve had set the linen parcel down and undid the twine binding it, the various fruit and small nuts inside coming to light. “I insist that you eat.”

“I won’t take orders from you.” You pushed further, the stone within view if you turned your head, the edges similar to that of a serrated knife, yet smoothened by weathering.

“When we get back to the kingdom, you will not speak to me in such a manner. You will treat me as your king and future husband-“

“I would rather pitch myself off the waterfall.”

“-I am your soulmate, and we are bound. You are mine, and I am yours.” He walked toward you, a piece of an apple in his hand, and you were forced to crane your neck to look up at him as he stopped before you.

“I missed the chance to marry for love, and after my first wife died, I vowed to find the one destined for me.”

“You had already found her.”

“No.” There was twisted darkness that overtook him, a possessiveness that had stemmed from some manner of betrayal. “No, that whore was a fake. She had used a bewitchment to make it appear real. She had used me to gain a reputation.”

“Too bad.” You pictured the strike of lightning, and it had taken everything you had not to react when he had struck his hand upon the rock beside your hip, his blue-green eyes darkening.

“You are mine,” he leaned in and studied your face, “you will always be mine and if you try and run from me again-“

“-I will.” You pushed yourself to sit up further, your noses nearly touching. “You can bark orders all you want, you can use whatever raging hell you please, but there will never be a day when I stop trying to get away from you.”

His gaze dropped to your lips, and you used that distraction to lift your leg and drive the heel of your boot into his crotch. As he reacted with a strangled grunt of pain and the rescinding thrush of heat that was no doubt a result of his suffering, you drove yourself back off the rock and scrambled for the stone.

You clutched it in your hands and let it fall down your wrist and into the sleep of your tunic, and as the men scrambled toward you, you bent over and caught the stone as it fell from your tunic and shoved it into your boot.

“Leave her!” Steve ordered his men when they put their hands on you, and as he stood fatter catching his breath, his eyes burned with bone-chilling intensity.

You stepped away from him, your back hitting the chest of a knight. Your arm was grabbed, and your fight had lingered when you struggled against the man holding you where you stood.

“For your sake, princess,” Steve stood in front of you and grasped the back of your neck with his large, powerful grip, “I hope you save the rest of your fire for when your body is trapped beneath mine, and you are writhing in pleasure.”

“For your sake, your majesty,” you gritted your teeth and ripped your arm out of his knight’s grip, “I hope you sleep with one eye open.”

There was verbal silence that fell heavy over the place he had chosen to rest. No one said a word, and the tension had only grown when the silence lingered as the sound of the thundering earth and the rushing water careened over the edge of the cliff. The tumultuous waterfall was creating a sort of buffer between the stillness surrounding the area and the two of you at odds with each other.

“Are you going to behave, or should I tie you up and throw you over the back of my horse like a hunted animal.” Steve waved his hand, motioning for one of the knights to bring forth another spool of rope.

“I thought I already was.” Your eyes were drawn from the king to the rope he had grabbed and the steady withdrawal of his men back to their mounts.

“I am giving you a chance to retain some of your dignity, my little flower. Will you trounce through the kingdom like the future Queen you are, or will you be thrown across the back like the big game?”

Steve stepped closer to you, the rope wrapped around his hand, and as you lowered your gaze once more, you saw the identical mark to yours, peeking out the rim beneath the sleeve of his tunic.

He wanted you to submit; you knew he had. You knew he wanted you to cave and cater, to bend to his will. Everyone else had; he was the king, so why wouldn’t his soulmate cater to him as well? Why wouldn’t his future Queen adore him like the rest of the people he commanded?

“What are you waiting for?” You shoved your wrists toward him, your clenched fists slamming into his chest. “If you’re going to treat me like an animal, you might as well do it properly.”

“As you wish, princess.” Steve grabbed your bound wrists and spun you effortlessly until your back was to his chest.

Before he bound you further, he leaned in and brushed his lips against the shell of your ear. “If you’re a good girl, I’ll tie you up in the marriage bed as well.”

“Not likely.” You swung your elbows back and caught him in the stomach, though you couldn’t get far before you were grabbed again and thrown to the ground, your feet becoming bound as well as your legs.

You were lifted from the ground and set on his great beast, and then he had joined you. He snaked his arm around your waist as you were made to sit sidesaddle, with nothing to balance into except him.

“Are you ready to leave now, forest wench?” He grunted in your ear.

“As if I have a choice, you abominable-“ your voice came to a halt as his hand squeezed your thigh.

“Do not think me so patient, forest nymph. I would just as likely punish you in the presence of my men as I would in the comfort of our home.” Steve gripped your hip and yanked you flush against him, and then he spurred his horse, and the company was on the move again.

#soft!dark!steve rogers x reader angst #soft!dark!steve rogers x reader #soft dark #soft!dark!steve rogers x reader fluff #soft!dark!steve rogers x reader smut #soft!dark!steve rogers #soft!dark!steve rogers imagines #king!steve #king!steve rogers x reader smut #king!steve rogers x reader fluff #king!steve rogers x reader angst #king!steve rogers x reader #exile masterlist #exile #exile part 2

[thebubblesoutlet]

My twitter feed the last few hours-

-Failed willy wonka experience for kids at Glasgow 

-Missing Kate Middleton

-Who yelled at rebecca ferguson? 

- Julie ragbeer at the 97 year old diner where they no longer serve coke the old fashioned way 

-The weird landing at the top of the stairs 

-That tiktok video of swifties crying to exile outside the arena

- Bradley Cooper saying he doesn't love his daughter

- People being surprised that the Mormon tradwife failed to raise the chicken and slaughter it before dinner

#twitter #x #glasgow #Scotland #willy wonka #kate middleton #british royal family #rebecca ferguson #dune #dune part 2 #julie ragbeer #pop culture #pop music #tiktok #swifties #taylor swift #exile #folklore #bradley cooper #nara smith #lucky blue smith #shits a movie #the whole damn #theatre

[sollattes]

warmth

Kazuma kawamura x reader (high school au-ish)

As the rain began to feel sickeningly warm on his face again, kazuma knew that his tears were painting his face his again, he trudged towards somewhere, he didn't know where but he knew he just needed to get away from there. He could only focus on his shoes as he walked, trying to find comfort in the rain droplets that were on his shoes.

Sitting alone in the quite bus stop, admiring the scene of rain hitting the road and trees before you, listening to the comforting background noise of the rain as they slowly begin to over power the music that was playing in your earphones.

While admiring the soaking wet empty road, you saw a figure amidst of the harsh rain and fog, you realise it was your friends kazuma, you could recognise his red worn-out converse anywhere, it seemed that he didn't have an umbrella on him so you ran to him with yours and covered the both of you from the raindrops that were continuing on falling and falling.

Kazuma seemed to be in still dazed state when you approached him, "Hey kazu, you okay?" You asked him quietly, unsure on what was putting him in this kind of mood.

You bent down a bit to see his face as he was still looking down, giving up on that idea. You reach for his face and make him at least look up.

finally kazuma looked up and you met his eyes, his eyes that were dull and almost lifeless like, it was missing the charming shine that made everyone fall for him, even you, immediately you soften up seeing the state he was in, "Hey, you okay?" You asked again, a little softer this time.

Kazuma only looked up from his feet since he felt the rain stop assaulting his skin, you're soft voice and warm touch pulling him out of his self destructive thoughts, and as soon he looked up he was met with your sincere kind eyes trying to look for what was wrong with him.

All of his emotions became a bit calmer as he looked more into your warm eyes. He suddenly felt exhausted, all his emotions crushing down on him.

Kazuma longed for the familiar warmth and comfort ever since the rain came pouring down along with the cold and harsh rejection from the person he once believed that was warm, but you, You, who despite the cold weather you remained warm, your eyes, your voice, your touch, all remained warm and comforting, he hope you didn't getting wet a bit as he leaned towards you and rested his head on your shoulders.

Once kazuma buried his head into your shoulders, the perfume that you always wear, filling up his nose, he suddenly felt his eyes getting hot again, and tears started falling again, landing on your shoulders. The familiarity of your perfume became all too overwhelming for kazuma.

You were shocked with kazuma's sudden actions, but you let him stay like that as you stroked his hair in a way of comforting him.

Kazuma could only wrap his arms around you, tightly, in response, he was afraid that if he let go, your warmth would be taken away from him. YOU would be taken away from him.

In the middle of the harsh pouring rain and the chilling whispers of the wind, kazuma found the real person that was warm, burning hot even but he was willing to get burnt if that meant you always being by his side. He could lose everything but not your warmth, not you, Never you.

tags: @simpforchuchu

#kazuma #kazuma kawamura #kazuma kawamura x reader #the rampage fanfiction #the rampage exile #the rampage from exile tribe #is it unrequited love? idk #kazuma is confused #might make a part 2

[mythicalgeek]

I think I've seen this film before.....

#dune part 2 #dune movie #dune #paul atreides #star wars #anikan skywalker #star wars prequels #taylor swift exile #Taylor Swift

[attonposting]

Okay, so canonically the Jedi Exile fucks off to the Unknown Regions to go find Revan and leaves their half-dozen adult padawans to spend the rest of their lives wondering when Master's gonna come home with the milk. And in the cut content, Atton squeezes himself along for the Exile's next misadventure, and they go off to have KotOR III instead of some novel we don't talk about.

But in my headcanon, he turns that ship around to Alderaan and forces the Exile to take a vacation for one kriffing moment in the overstuffed responsibility conga line that is their life, and it's peaceful and awkward and maybe a little disastrous at times and romantic if that's your flavor because it's definitely mine, and Drew Karpyshyn can pry that from the rigor mortis of my death-grip fangirl fingers.

Sure, Revan's still on the todo list, but the galaxy's greatest problem causer can wait until the Exile's had their horribly overdue mental health month.

#the jedi exile #atton rand #atton x exile #kotor ii #kotor 2 #just. give the exile a goddamn vacation 2k23 #they need one SO BADLY #and on atton's part alderaan is the one place that ever felt safe to him #even if that's more due to how he changed after he left it #and he never went back because it felt kind of sacrosanct and he didn't want to ruin it with what he'd become #even if he just told himself it was smarter to be places he wouldn't be recognized #but for the exile he'll offer up anything he's got

[ramonag-if]

Crown of Exile - Part Two

In anticipation of Part Two of Crown of Exile, here's a collage of what you can expect to see.

What I can tell you for certain is that there will be a new, female RO. There will be a ship. You will travel to Ishari. You'll also be able to lock-in your romance with a few of the ROs. Expect to see some old faces reappear and definitely prepare yourselves for some (optional) angst 👀

War is looming so get ready to win allies, rescue a few prisoners of war and perhaps smooch a prince or war priestess.

I cannot wait to share Chapter 4 with everyone 💖 So hopefully this will tide you over until then.

#crown of exile #moodboard #collage #part 2

[orbdotexe]

well, while Cryptid is trolling the Content Box with Traitors and Legacies, I'll throw out some of the page I wrote for Impromptu Arsenal Check--

The Guardian sets a fast pace, throwing him off balance with every other swing, and he’s certain he’s only alive because of the egregore obscuring their full focus. Despite their drive, they’re unfocused—and when the two lock swords he can clearly see the heavy movements of their chest, the gloss over their remaining eye, and the writhing of– He forces himself to breathe instead of recoiling, and instead searches them for something he can use. Eyeing the sword still sheathed on their back, versus the jagged barb in their hands, his confidence is… not rekindled. Disarming them will do nothing… Locked in place, the Void mist sets in and starts sapping his warmth and Light again, and he slides the kindling of a blade under the Guardian’s in a wide swing, forcing them to stagger back. The breath they let out is almost a growl. Looking at them now, it’s hard to imagine how anyone fashioned a hero out of them.

#the forsaken exile #i... remembered it existed today and then wrote and edited it some #but i got a full new page written for it!!! #quite happy about that actually #bc im in Actual Fight territory now so hopefully the next time i sit down to write i can get it at least almost finished #destiny 2 #this *probably* isnt the finished version of this part but we'll get there when we get there lmao #also this Warlock has these thoughts the Entire Time #not quite to the degree of that final line. but it slowly builds up to that point #(versus Crow's first meeting with them and seeing their poor state leading up to him deciding to help them) #he sees their horrible state. the pain the egregore is causing them and even comments on how frantic they are and just... #he just thinks about how he could twist it in his favor to gain the upper hand #And it doesn't really say anything about him in particular either. if youll believe me #ill just leave you with that thought (or else these will turn into REAL essay tags)

[hopkei]

the host said if sawanatsu and taiki are boyfriend and girlfriend, then taiki is the girlfriend. taiki is aware of this as well, and says that sawa-san's fans are jealous of him and have said "please dont get any closer (to sawa)" "i am hated by sawanatsu's fans" - taiki

#fantastics from exile tribe #fantastics #sato taiki #sawamoto natsuki #さわたい #jr exile #jpop #hopkei trans #what is this lmao #the usual night part 2??? #yusereya whomst #taiki who always says if he was a girl he wants to date sawanatsu.... hes won.... #also btw this is half translated from jpn and half from korean lol so no subbing just paraphrased #idk how to translate マウント取らないでください ....マウント (mount) is a weird word in english #but its basically like... the fans are telling taiki to stop one-upping their relationship w sawa lmao

[stellorc]

I was commissioned by the lovely @xephtastic to paint her beautiful Jedi Exile, Nova!! I really loved working with her wonderful design and absolutely ethereal vibes. Xeph, you have a very pretty bean!!!

#xeph was so so sweet to work with too!! #i felt so spoiled and lucky argh #nova is so beautiful and perfect and i need to gently hold her Now #the hair was my fav part #kotor 2 #jedi exile #my art #xeph again you're amazing #ty for letting me paint your bean!!!

[dairine-bonnet]

Why is immortal Sion ready to fight with the Exile in the Sith Academy on Korriban and chase them to the entrance, but not ready to step out the door and chase the Exile? And why does Kreia recommend going to the Academy first, knowing that Sion is there, and only after that coming into the cave? Can't Sion enter the cave for some reason? I can't get it... Does anybody know the answers?:)

#like... is sion kind of star wars vampire and afraid of the daylight?:D #it sounds weird however i remember seeing him only in dark places inside... #btw I liked the twist with the dead master when i first played the game and now I like it too #Not everyone can survive in these difficult times #no matter who they are #I know that twist exists because they cut part of the content but well done #my respect! #that tomb with memories is probably my favorite part in k2 #but why is there so little info about the past of the exile during the war though? #It appears that various characters are talking more about Revan! #thanks for Malak recruiting supporters! (and some people say he's not charismatic... hmmmm) #also i've always thought that Bastila wanted to go to war! #kotor 2 #kotor #knights of the old republic #k2 playthrough #k2 thoughts #darth sion #strange thoughts #star wars #jedi exile #kreia

[exiled-tommy-rp]

someone gets to go to tommys past thru a portal ig

As your muse was doing whatever, a portal lined with red opened. On the other side stood a younger and non-raccoon hybrid Tommy, a boy with brown hair, ram ears and a large facial scar in a presidential outfit, a fox, a man in a blue jumpsuit and beanie, and Dream in full netherite.

Tubbo and Dream spoke as Tommy looked around. As Dream talked about Tubbo being the best leader and how he was confident that Tubbo would make the right decision for L’Manberg, Tommy stared at them.

Tubbo laughed dryly. “You know, this is funny actually. It is! I’m sorry, Tommy. I’m sorry.”

Tommy chuckled as well, the stress leaving his face. “It is funny.”

“Tommy I’m so sorry. I’m sorry.”

“Tubbo?”

“Dream, I’ve come to a decision. The best thing for the nation would be for Tommy to be exiled.”

Tommy stared as the fox and blue jumpsuit man shouted and argued with Tubbo. Tubbo explained the logicality of his choice as Tommy sputtered. The other two continued to argue, saying that they had discussed this. “Tubbo, what the- Tubbo, why?”

“That’s enough! That’s enough, okay?!” Tubbo shouted, “Be quiet! You’ve undermined my authority from the get-go! From the beginning, no one here has respected me!” Tubbo ranted, continuing on.

Tommy shouted, “We agreed on this! What the hell!”

“I’m doing what’s best for this nation. Your presence is not best for this nation.” Tubbo responded.

“Dream, please escort and detain Tommy out of my country.” Tubbo said plainly. The three shared similar disappointment and upset remarks as Dream shoved Tommy off the wall they were standing on.

“Let’s go.”

“Tommy, you are hereby exiled.” Tubbo looked down at him. Tommy stared back up and scoffed, saying Tubbo’s name.

Dream led Tommy away, to Tommy’s protest. Dream pushed him off the path.

“Well im only exiled from L’Manberg.” Tommy looked at the walls as rain began to fall.

“No, you’re exiled from everywhere that’s been touched.” Dream almost chuckled. The two walked, with occasional bouts of conversation. Ghostbur joined them, clearly not understanding the gravity of the situation. The three boarded a boat. They boated until they reached an island. The three continued on land, Tommy complaining about his primes and Ghostbur agreeing that Dream wasn’t very nice.

Tommy yelled at Dream when Dream said he couldn’t go back. They boarded another boat and continued to sail. The permanence of the situation set in for Tommy.

They arrived to an island and walked through the plains. Dream dug a small hole.

“Put them in the hole.”

“No, they’re my things!” Tommy shouted.

“Put them in or I kill you.”

Dream hit him with his axe, and Tommy quickly threw all of his stuff in the hole.

“Fuck you. Leave. I don’t want your pity steak.” Tommy shouted at Dream, “I don’t want your pity things!”

“Okay, well, I’ll see you never.” Dream said and left.

“We’re gonna have a great time!” Ghostbur lowered his voice, “Tommy I think we just got robbed. A rocky start to our vacation but it’s gonna be fine.”

//anyone, of course. This will be a neat character study. @boba-bae-cafe-su-au @grian-rp @ghostinnit-rp idk uh anyone yeah yeah (also tags are ooc I didn’t mention that)

#ughhh this took forever #tbh im probably gonna glaze over unimportant parts of exile #like yeah we’ll have big q but if it’s just like Tommy mining for 45 minutes on stream I’ll just say that in like 2-3 sentences #I did a crap ton of editing on this post as well #like you get the gist but if you want a refresher go watch the stream #I started watching at the part where they started talking to dream cuz it’s the start of the relevant timeline #yeah

[queen-scribbles]

Currents

"Play" 👀 emoji prompt for an anon that I accidentally deleted. So nonny, I hope you see this and ty for the excuse to write more Evony/Bao-Dur bc for him being an unromanceable companion from a 19-year old game, this relationship still has me in a chokehold.

---

Evony's thoughts were in a whirl as the Ebon Hawk lifted off from Dxun. The ship yawed slightly, making Atton mutter a curse about the rear stabilizer before leveling out and burning sky.

If she thought getting away from Onderon would help her level out, though, she was mistaken. Kavar's words wouldn't stop echoing, and hours later, with everyone asleep, she found herself still with a racing mind and uneasy spirit. As was her habit in such times, she wandered through the main parts of the ship seeking a distraction, something to help settle her thoughts.

She found it, as usual, in the garage. Bao-Dur was once again working on the wiring that ran through one wall, focus consumed by the task.

"Want some help?" Evony asked. Tinkering or repair would be the perfect solution to her restlessness, but if he wanted to handle this alone, she could always find T3.

Bao-Dur paused, nudging up his welding goggles as he turned to look at her. "If you would like," he said with a nod. "I'm almost finished; just checking all the connections are sound before routing power back. A few were burned out in the ... excitement of our arrival."

She chuckled as she lowered herself to sit cross-legged and check the lower set of wiring. "You took care of that quickly."

"I needed the distraction while you were in Iziz," he said, a touch wry as he hung the soldering gun at his belt and flicked on the scanner to check the repairs.

"But you survived," she teased. The wires down here looked alright at first glance, but a closer look revealed a couple showing signs of strain.

"I did." The warmth of an almost-laugh colored the words.

"I'm glad." Evony double-checked there was no power flowing through the compromised wires before she set to work replacing them. "And glad you seem to be in better spirits." A large portion of the background tension and simmering anger she'd sensed in him since they arrived had faded.

Bao-Dur nodded, not looking away from his task. "Mostly thanks to not being... there any more."

She knew he didn't just mean Dxun, though she was also glad to be away from the humid jungle moon. And the bugs. "I figured. Our new companion isn't going to be a problem for you, is he?" She wasn't even sure why Mandalore had wanted to join her, but more help was a good thing. Usually.

"I'll be civil," Bao-Dur promised, and Evony believed him, even if he hadn't really answered her question and she could sense the banked embers of his anger toward the Mandalorians flare a little.

"Thank you," she said, plasma cutter sparking as she removed the damaged wire. "That's more than I get from some." The shared a chuckle at that. "But I also meant... in general, since Telos. You seem to be in a better frame of mind now than you were."

"Oh, that would be your doing."

The plasma cutter slipped. "Me?"

"Surely you've noticed, Evony," Bao-Dur said softly, glancing down. "Not just because of us. But just having you around has had an effect on me. I never noticed it... before. Though I suppose my thoughts were occupied."

It caught her off-guard and she fell back on half-joking. "Clearly, then, it's because I'm no longer wearing that boring Republic uniform."

He chuckled. "While I'll freely admit your new wardrobe is an improvement, that's really just a pleasant distraction."

Warmth tingled in her chest--and her face--and Evony had to steady her voice before she could ask, "Well, then, how do you mean?" Her gaze briefly met his before dropping back to her task.

"I'm..." he hesitated, searching for a word, and she could sense his uncertainty. "More in control. Calmer." He set the goggles back over his eyes and returned to work as well. "My anger may still be there, but I can feel it slipping away."

Evony bit her lip, a small mote of relief dancing through her chest. Good.

"It's defined so much of my life," Bao-Dur continued, voice low, but those embers stirred slightly. "No matter the source, it's been there; the Mandalorians, Czerka, Revan..."

It had the potential to hurt, but with how he'd trailed off, she had to ask. "And... what about me?"

He stopped soldering and went very still, his emotions a bright whirl she could sense without even trying.

She paused as well, hands resting in her lap. "I did give the order."

"Never," Bao-Dur said fiercely. He yanked the goggles down to dangle around his neck as he dropped to one knee so he could catch her eye. "Not once, General. It had to be done."

Her heart thudded a few extra-loud beats at his fervency, his use of her long-ago title, before Evony regained her composure. "Then the same is true for what you did," she said, quiet but firm.

He shook his head, gaze darting to the side. "My hands destroyed the Mandalorians. Caused countless deaths. I cannot be forgiven for that."

"Why not?" she retorted, cupping one hand to his jaw to make him look at her. "Bao-Dur, if my decision, my actions, were necessary, then so were yours," she added gently. "Following your logic, either we're both guilty or neither of us is."

Bao-Dur managed a weak smile, leaning ever so slightly into her touch. "Even if my contributions were made out of hatred for the Mandalorians?" he whispered. "Rather than anything so noble as Jedi ideals or ending the war to spare lives?"

Evony shifted, sitting on her calves to put them more or less at eye level. "I don't think that was your whole motivation. I may have... blocked some of the memories, but knowing you, you did it to protect. Maybe it was easier to not dwell on the cost with an enemy you hated, but I know you, Bao, and you are a shield. You put yourself in the path of harm to save others. stars know you've done it enough for me and the rest of our crew. Malachor was just... sacrificing something less physical." Though even that wasn't entirely true, she conceded, glancing at the soft glow of his cybernetic arm. "But you are a"--my--"protector."

"You have far too generous a view of me." He exhaled a wry laugh, withdrawing from her touch with a shake of his head. "I can't see it that way. I don't want to. There is blood on my hands I cannot ignore."

"No, there isn't," she hissed. She could feel his anger and his guilt, twining together like Dxun vines, and it made her ache with worry for him. It would eat him alive if he let it.

He seemed inclined to let it.

"There is no blood on your hands," she repeated emphatically. "Not beyond what your guilt has forced you to imagine."

"And what of you, General?" Bao-Dur fixed her with a keen, steady look. "I know you try to shoulder that weight, for making the decision, but either we're both guilty or neither of us is."

Evony almost cackled at him throwing her words back on her, but didn't want to wake anyone. Well played. "I suppose we'll just have to shoulder it together, then. Real or imagined."

"A burden shared is one halved? Isn't that the saying?" he asked, rubbing the back of his head.

"Something like that," she nodded, playing with a loose thread in her sleeve.

Bao-Dur studied her a moment longer. "I do... envy you, sometimes," he said softly.

You shouldn't, was the first thought to pop in her head, but Evony held it back in favor of "Why?"

"You seem to be handling this better than I could," he mumured.

"I wasn't," she admitted. "Not for a long time. I was adrift. Trying to hide myself where the ache of remembering couldn't find me."

He cocked his head. "What changed?"

"The Force... came back." That time wandering truly alone had been... Sometimes hellish. Sometimes a relief. And then the faint stirring current awakened on Peragus and- Evony briefly levitated and spun the plasma cutter before letting it drop back into her hand. "The stronger and deeper that connection gets, the more it helps me find balance."

Bao-Dur's eyes flickered with... something and he turned back to the disassembled wall. "When you talk about it like that, it almost makes me wish I had it for myself."

"You could." She blurted the words before she overthought and held it back. She'd sensed the potential not long after Telos, quiet and buried beneath his anger and guilt but undeniable.

He blinked at her, caught off-balance. "What?"

Evony reached out, lightly resting a hand on his chest. "I can feel the Force in you. Faint, untapped, but definitely there. Like Atton. Like Mira." She wrinkled her nose. "Even if she won't admit it yet."

"You can?" The words were rough, barely more than a whisper.

She nodded. "It can be a comfort, a source of strength and peace if you let it. And I can teach you, if you want, but..." She bit her lip, pressed her hand more firmly against his chest, until she could feel his heartbeat and the warmth of his skin through his shirt. "You have to let go of your anger first, or it will destroy you."

The thought of it made her stomach knot and heart race; she would rather die than watch the vitriol he held toward the Mandalorians and Czerka consume him. She mentally reached for calm, soothing the concern-teetering-on-fear.

Bao-Dur held her gaze, his hand resting lightly on her elbow. "I think... I could manage that."

"Are you sure?" Evony whispered. "I don't want to watch you lose yourself to something that claimed too many of my friends."

He nodded. "With you, I feel I could do anything."

Long-ingrained, oft-repeated Jedi cautions against attachment, against possessiveness flitted through her mind, but she let them slide away and took his words at face value. Faith in her. Not a connection deeper than they should have, deep enough to be a problem.

"Alright." Evony settled back cross-legged and gestured for him to join her.

Bao-Dur mirrored her pose, so close their knees brushed. She held out her hands, palm up, and he gave her his with the barest pause to strip off his work glove. They were both warm, the metal of the cybernetic one seeming to hum as it rested against hers. Evony let herself be distracted for the briefest moment to trace her fingers across that palm before reining in her thoughts.

"Relax and focus on my voice," she murmured, just catching his nod as her eyes closed. She felt it when he relaxed, in both the Force and his light grip. "The Force can be your shield. It can bring comfort to salve your guilt."

With his guard down, Bao-Dur's presence was so bright this close. While Atton had been brighter, enough to sear or blind, this was soft, welcoming even with how strong it was. The potential in him shone like a beacon at her encouragement, but the coils of guilt and anger--so much anger--still pulsed around it.

"But it can also be twisted into something terrible," Evony continued, voice still low to keep this just for them. "That will destroy others and yourself."

He was so open to her, she felt she could reach in and soothe the guilt for him, douse the anger, chase away what had haunted him so long. But she knew from experience, to truly heal the hurt, he needed to do it. Confront it and let it go. She would help if he asked, but only then.

"Your anger fills you," she said softly. "It threatens to consume you, every time you think of Malachor."

His fingers twitched against her wrist and she understood. Malachor was a wound for them both. The moment something broke and set not-quite-right over the ensuing years. Maybe through facing the decade-old hurt they could finally heal. Together.

"You have to find a way to let it go." She opened herself so he could feel the calm flow of the Force inside her and draw from it. "Let the Force heal you, and protect you. Let it be the shield for you that you so often are for others."

Bao-Dur took a deep breath, his hand briefly tightening on hers. She felt the beginnings of struggle as he reached to follow her guiding, the stuttered flickering of that potential in him, the moment he found and latched on to her own connection to draw strength for his.

His hands were so warm as they rested against hers. The thought was a tether to reality as she 'watched' Bao-Dur's faint sense of the Force flare and grow. He wasn't using her as a conduit after the first few seconds; his connection stronger and steadier and washing away the anger and guilt.

They didn't entirely fade, but the strangling grasp they'd had on him was gone.

Evony was sure he could feel her relief at that development. She wasn't trying to stifle it.

His reaction was, as usual for him, restrained. A catch to his breathing, a few deeper breaths as the new level of awareness clicked into place.

"So this is... what you had--have--to draw on?" Bao-Dur murmured, blinking a few times as they both opened their eyes. His breathing was still uneven, hands twitching slightly atop hers.

"Mmhm." Evony nodded as she sat back. “It can be a bit of an ebb and flow. It took me a little while to… even out when my own connection reestablished. But if you work with it, if you’re open to it, it’s easier to align. And after you’re comfortable with it, the Force is a very useful thing to have.”

“Like a new limb?” he asked dryly.

She chuckled, fingers tracing his metal palm. “Very much like it, in fact.” She arched a brow at him. “You might have an advantage there.”

Bao-Dur half-smiled, cocking his head head as if listening to something. "That would be nice."

Evony let her fingers trace and trail the palm, fingers, back of his cybernetic hand a few moments more. "And you know I'm happy to help if you need it."

He nodded, rolling his shoulders as he shifted back and pushed to his feet. "Atton said it felt like having too much energy for your skin at first, and I see where he was coming from."

She accepted the hand up he offered. "Sounds about right. You learn to regulate the flow as you adjust. Part of being a Jedi is always learning, making changes for new knowledge. The Force is also good at... working with you, for lack of a better term." Aside from him and Atton, she'd never taught anyone about this, never had to explain how it worked. It just did. "It responds to your emotions and thoughts, what you want from it." She rested a hand on his arm. "That's why you needed to let go of your anger; it's such a strong emotion, it tends to overwhelm everything else. Even the best of intentions."

Bao-Dur chuckled. "Always three steps ahead and looking out for your people."

You more than any. Those were definitely un-Jedi thoughts. But it was late, and they were true, so Evony let them linger for now. They keep saying I'm no longer a Jedi, anyway.... "Whenever I can." She cleared her throat, remembering their original task, and gestured vaguely toward the wall. "Are we done? Is this all good? I don't want to traipse off and leave you with more work."

He shook his head slightly, one corner of his mouth tipping upward. "You better than anyone know I enjoy this sort of work. However..." He checked the wires she'd repaired with the scanner, seeming unsurprised when it flickered confirming white. "We do appear to be finished. I'll route power back..."

"Before you go-" Evony gave his arm a light squeeze, then reached her other hand toward the workbench across the garage, calling the dualblade lightsaber hilt to her hand. While she hadn't had time to tinker with any of the new acquisitions from Dxun, she'd at least peeked at the innards of the scavenged lightsabers to confirm they were decent and unbroken. "To help you feel the part a little more." She offered it to him. "This'll be the easiest adjustment from your war-blade. If you want it," she added hastily, picking on the current of uncertainty from him.

While he did hesitate a beat longer, Bao-Dur reach out and took the lightsaber hilt. "It's hard to deny how effective they are," he said. "After watching you and Atton decimate anything stupid enough to get in our way."

Evony laughed, only just remembering to keep it quiet, and even as she opened her mouth to point out the ignition switch, he thumbed it on. Should've know he'd figure out anything even slightly tech in a heartbeat, she thought as the pale blue blades hummed to life. "You can change the color and other crystals if you want."

He nodded, gaze still on the lightsaber quietly humming in his grasp. "This... feels right, though. At least for now." He shut it down and met her gaze as he clipped the hilt to his belt. "Thank you."

She smiled. "You're welcome." She felt much more centered. Calmer. Her concerns over what Kavar revealed were settled, at least in part. "And thank you." She cocked her head toward the wall. "For letting me help."

Bao-Dur matched her smile. "Any time you need." He caught her wrist as she started to leave, tugged her back to brush the fainst kiss to her temple. "Rest well, General."

Evony chuckled and didn't correct him. "I will."

She could feel the current of the Force that bonded them now as they went their separate ways, and was fairly confident she could keep that promise.

#queens fic #eyes emoji prompts #evony xara #bao dur #kotor 2 #knights of the old republic 2 #jedi exile #exile/bao dur #evony/bao dur #i have many many thoughts about how i always seem to make bao-dur a jedi on dxun #part of it's just the order i tend to do the planets #but it fits thematically for him SO WELL #i also have THOUGHTS about when you come back to onderon #bc evony took atton and kreia to the palace and set bao to the temple with mira and visas #MANY THOUGHTS #feel free to ask me about them 👉👈

[shapeshiftershenan1gans]

OHMYGODSOHMYGODSOHMYGODS

Second citadel new episode!!!!!! 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

Oh my, sir Marc.. he.. really is a good guy 💀💀💀

I love Talfrin so much, and how brave he was facing Marc.

And yay patial family reunion <3

"OOOOoooohSaintDamienyouofcalmwavesetceteraetcetera..." bwaahauahaush

But like can we talk about Quanyii for a sec?

!!!!!!!

I love her so much and how feral she gets about Caroline. I mean, she never was really unwilling to harm others to get what she wants, or just cuz, but daaamn

go get your girl <3

And then just ✨poof✨

AND WHAT THE FUCK IS WITH THE PLANES (or whatever they are)

I wanna know what's beyond the edge of the world ._.

Like, ok yeah there are humans somewhere out there, but !!!!! What's with the bombs and stuff?

AND WHERE THE HELL ARE OLALA CAROLINE AND LAM?????

I'm thinking maybe they ended up in the Garden of Graves?

Special mention to Angelo just for existing <3

He's just such a sweetie

#tpp spoilers #tpp s5 #can't wait to listen to part 2 #the penumbra podcast #tpp #the second citadel #<3 #sir talfryn #sir marc #sir angelo #damien the pious #amaryllis of exile #lord arum #quanyii #sir caroline #tpp olala #tpp ale #first thoughts

[cgogs]

Do u think c!george didnt want c!tommy exiled

I think that c!George didn't give a damn either way and his emotional crux of the situation lies in wanting more than anything to trust that Dream will do right by him. He wanted to feel safe, he wanted Dream to fix this and he wanted to hide behind him and trust that he'd make it okay again. However, all of George's friends are in the middle of a game of chess and he doesnt even know how to play 😭

#one day I'll make a whole post about georges exile pov #its truly such an interesting part of the entire thing #talked w bubbles about it for like 2 hours fuckkkk it needs a post

[ramonag-if]

I understand not wanting to separate from Irus but imagine the affection when they are reunited again. They 're acting like they haven't seen each other in years, when in reality they were only apart for 2 minutes. Clinging to each other for dear live while everyone in the background rolls their eyes.

That's the plan Anon 😅 But it might be marred by the plot twist that follows 👀

#crown of exile #answered asks #princeirus #there's a plot twist in part 2 #hehehehe

[orbdotexe]

The Young Wolf and the Hunter Vanguard had been very good friends, before the Prison. Cayde-6 had been left in a coma after the fight and losing his Ghost, and the last the Guardian had seen of him was the Queen’s Wrath hauling his unconscious form away from them, cursing them for trying to kill him. They had seen him die, saw his eyes lose their glow. They had gathered up Sundance’s shell after Petra was gone and had swept up the leftover Scorn, and her shell pieces were about the only well taken-care-of thing on their ship… It wasn't until Crow mentioned Cayde complaining about being stuck in the Tower “for his own safety” that the Guardian realized he had survived. Crow, however, neglected to ever mention the ‘reunion’ he had since been planning for them.

[Cayde POV]

Aaand here you go, Eternal! I'm finally posting the Cayde Hug, please don't stab me

anyway yeah! the "open secret" is that House Light is... secretly thankful to the Young Wolf for killing Lakshmi. The target is off the House's back! and... now its 10x harder to get anyone to listen that Wolf is. not trying to destabilize the City. oh yeah, and Wolf is having hallucinations from the Black Heart in this (and Fortunate Encounter) and Cayde... very much does not know. so keep that in mind--

[ao3 link]

It took days, maybe a week or two, to finally slip away—and even more planning; a Hunter’s nightmare.

It's not like he could just fly out with a favor from Amanda—even she's been on high-alert since his last attempt had been foiled and they found out he'd been trying to get in-touch with the Young Wolf (and had gotten both himself and Crow in trouble, but... they both knew it'd happen).

He's never been more glad for the ‘open secret’ and Crow's connection to the Eliksni.

But, hey, he's out now! And it feels great to be out of the Tower—This might be the most free he's ever felt since getting this job. Cayde elects to ignore just how much of a prison the Tower had turned into for him. He never thought it could get worse, before…

Shaking that unfortunate thought away, he... has some trouble keeping his initial excitement and relief at seeing them again. He can feel it fading in his gut, and he can't help but feel guilty about it. It's just the stories getting to him. He doesn't believe any of it.

He is, still, relieved—He heard how his Hunter was doing. He's seen the pictures, and the videos. He's read the reports and VanNet posts. Cayde knows they need this. There is a little doubt creeping in, though, that maybe a surprise meeting won't turn out the best– 

Crow can assure him all he wants! Cayde knows his student, and he knows they've never liked personal surprises (surprise fights, on the other hand, were fine), and there's no way that dislike hasn't amplified since their exile.

Crow finds himself getting more concerned and uncertain than before. Cayde doesn't usually sound unsure of himself. Especially not half-way through a plan.

Crow already brought Wolf to the place, so if Cayde starts trying to back out now, after all of this, his hands might really be the death of the Hunter Vanguard.

—

"Soo... this is the spot you picked, Crow?"

"Oh, try not to sound so disappointed. You couldn’t do any better."

"I've been stuck in the Tower!"

"Look on the bright side—It's got windows."

"All the walls have holes in them–"

"I thought it'd help them not feel trapped!"

"Holes?? I think you'd be looking for less walls, bird boy, and no roof–"

"Do not call me that."

"You let the Guardian call you that."

"Wha– Where'd you hear that?!"

"Glint."

"I should've seen that coming... Just go! Before they think I'm pranking them."

—

After sufficient back and forth arguing, Crow just about shoves Cayde out the ship and he finally approaches the dilapidated ruins. His old student should be... just at the top... of the stairs. By his majestic horn, he has to walk up how far?

It was times like these that Cayde really wished he could still double jump.

Heaving an overdramatic sigh into the comms, he makes his way up the crumbling steps and listens to Crow mock him for it.

—

Cayde was nearer to the top of the ruins now, and the room was anything but covered. Half of the room’s roof was collapsed inwards, along with the walls of the far corner, exposing the landscape beyond. 

So, maybe Crow had a point, but that’s not important.

Sat down on a pile of rubble in the collapsed corner, The Young Wolf stared out at the overlooking scape, heavy forest intercut by patches of collapsed concrete mounds and natural cobble. From up here, he’d call it the perfect place for a pack of Hunters, with the low-hanging branches and plenty of brush surrounding shadowed structures. 

The Guardian stood out against the greens, browns and greys beyond the outlook like a sore thumb—almost literally, too, being draped in reds.

Though Cayde’s sure they heard him coming up the stairs, as any good Hunter would, he hesitates to grab their attention. What should he even do? Pat them on the shoulder? Kick a rock at them? What would be the right tone for this? Crow said they thought he was dead…

And there’s that budding dread, again. 

Probably best to avoid anything too sudden, right? They don’t seem to have noticed him, afterall (or they were politely waiting for him to get his bearings—But he doubted it), and Crow said they were, at best, on edge.

Cayde opted to clear his throat as he carefully approached them, though the sound came out more grainy than he intended. Damn his voice module.

When they finally look over to him, their face... 

It’s wrong. 

Not that it had twisted into something nightmarish (though it reminded him of what he would see in the Deep Stone dreams), or something bloody and horrid, but... Their once sharp features were soft in a way Cayde never wanted to see again.

There were little nicks and larger scars, a few looked as if they had been infected at some point—usually he'd call it rugged and rough, but it only served to make them more…

He hated the thought—to pity a Hunter is to see less of them—but it was unavoidable.

Cayde realizes it feels like they were staring right through him with an, honestly? Blank look—before they look away, right back to staring out at the landscape. Not even acknowledging him.

"Guardian..? Kid?"

They flinch, something small and nearly unnoticeable that anyone else wouldn't have picked up on, and... They're ignoring him? 

After all this time? What happened?

He narrows his eyes at them, trying to figure out if this is some kind of joke. If it is, it's a terrible one.

Cayde leans over and waves a hand in front of their face to try and get them to swat at him, or just to get... really, any reaction out of them. But they don't. They squint a bit, like they're trying to keep something in, but don’t even lean back away from his hand.

Don't like that.

He steps back, mockingly rubbing his chin to hide his anxiety. If there’s one thing he’s an expert at, its making people pay attention to him. Not even Zavala could–… 

Cayde clears his throat, knowing the uselessness of the action. 

What did he do? Did Crow set him up for this? No, the young Hunter knew how important this is… There’s a quiet but grating sound as he grinds the innerworkings of his jaw. They don’t seem angry. Drawn in on themself—which Cayde can’t fault them for; he has been as well—but not angry.

So, what is this, then? His own building frustration tells him a very in-poor-taste prank. What little logic he has tells him that’s stupid; that they just don’t know how to react, maybe.

Still, Cayde’s frustration wins over, and as he steps forward to grab their attention, he kicks some gravel up—one thunking against their back. He pauses as they startle and their hand snaps to their sword, before going jarringly still. All movement stops there, down to their breathing, and his own synthetic breath catches.

The Guardian turns, hand lowering from the handle—slowly; cautiously—to look at him, and… 

Their eyes widen in what he assumes is realization, a glassy sheen building in them– Did he… No, wait, they haven’t seen him alive in years, but why would they— The very tangible realization of how they must have felt this entire time hits him like a brick, and he thinks he might have thrown up from the anxious knot in his stomach, were it not for his Exo body.

He doesn’t understand why it would take them so long to react to him, or why their reaction was to grab their weapon, but the look on their face wipes the thought and any frustration from Cayde’s mind. His mouth draws closed, and his shoulders relax, but neither of them make any moves until they shuffle onto their feet.

After a few painful moments of silence and surprised eye contact, they take a jerky step forward, and–

And they hug him.

Huh. He can't remember them hugging him before–

Oh, wait, they're shaking. 

No, they're crying– He's never seen them cry before, either. 

A lot of firsts happening here...

"Guardian..."

They basically claw into the gaps in his shoulder plates, even through his leather armor, at his voice– They really did think he was dead all this time...

"Whaat,” he tries to laugh as he returns the hug, “I thought Crow told you I was still kick– kicking?"

He realizes his eyes burn with phantom stings, but his damned metal face doesn't let him cry. He wishes he could cry with them. They both deserve to cry here.

Them first. They need it more than anyone.

The Guardian grumbles incoherently into his shoulder at his picking. He doesn't complain.

"Well, kid, I guess I'm just too handsome to cry, huh?” He knows his voice broke up, but it doesn't matter. Not anymore. Not here, not while he's finally got his friend back.

He leans into the hug, and lets the silence hang in the air.

It stays that way for a few minutes, just standing and hanging onto each other, praying they can weather this, but… There's just something he needs to say before he bursts, or time runs out. 

"I, ah... Well. About Lakshmi." Straight to the point. Not his specialty… Cayde can feel them get tense, and dig their fingers harder into his back. They do not look up at him.

"I know why you did it. Honestly, it was... kinda brilliant, but I'd expect nothing less of my favorite Guardian! I mean, taking the target off House Light's back in one move?"

They just snort. Kinda harshly, actually, but at least they relaxed back a bit.

Right... This is supposed to be serious. He sighs, "Alright, alright. But I do understand, really. I... just wish you'd gone about it differently, though—Now it's about impossible to prove you're innocent." Well, of trying to kill him, at least.

He wishes they'd speak, though. Cayde's not surprised, but it's been awhile, and he's not used to it anymore, and... It'd be nice to have a conversation partner that took him seriously for once.

Not that the Young Wolf doesn't, it's just... The silence isn't comforting anymore.

When they finally pull away, Cayde can see the tear streaks through the layers of grime on their face, and… a swirling black on the outskirts of their eyes. He blinks, takes a breath, and opts to question it another day—despite the gnawing mark it leaves on his relief.

"You uh... You do need to clean your armor, though." Probably a bit more than just the armor. "I am not hugging you again until you do," he says, scrunching his face up to the best of his ability. They only glare back at him.

—

> “Hate to cut off the reunion, but we’re just about out of time. You almost done?” <

Of course, Cayde can’t just answer him like a normal person, and instead—

> "Y'know, Crow told me you actually spoke to him. Care to- Hey! Not the horn!" <

—Taunts them. 

Crow sighs. Cayde was going to complain about that the whole ride back, wasn't he?

#destiny 2 #the forsaken exile #destiny 2 crow #destiny cayde #the young wolf #wolf is fiiiillthyyyyyy. stinky dirty guardian #and we love some corruption. yeah yeah yeah yeah <3 #wolf is not having a good time and Cayde is mentally sweating once he gets back to the tower. #just. 'oh. oh no.' #bc he *remembers* eyes like those... he remembers the prison. #But hey! He can ignore the crisis for a bit yeah?? #pray that the confirmation of his wellbeing ties them over n all that! #anyway yay! ao3 and tumblr getting two different sets of my dumbass rambling! #literally i have no idea how ooc this is. i think his voice is at least accurate and *sounds* like him. but there are parts #where his thought process might not be on-parr. so bare with me