#for now let's call it the sunset knight

[tired-reader-writer]

BESTIE I didn't know you had Arthurian inspired oc's! :D

Hellooooooo buddy! And why yes, I do!

This is an original story idea I've been thinking about for a while, it's set in a sci-fi fantasy world with mecha and stuff, but follows the cast of the Arthurian legends. Specifically, the protagonist is Mordred who Does Not Have A Good Time throughout this entire story. I don't have a title for it yet, nothing has clicked so far, though a placeholder name is “The Sunset Knight”. (Mordred does technically has an OC tag on my blog however I've been wanting to revamp stuff and the only two original posts about Mordred, I think I might want to go and change a couple things.)

This world has a source of power that fuels ships and mechs and stuff, I haven't named it yet but let's call it Phantasm. It can be utilized both by machine and living things, and the living beings who can manipulate raw Phantasm are dubbed sorcerers. Morgana is a sorceress and Merlin is a sorcerer, for example. Most others rely on sci-fi esque equipment to wield that power without backlash.

The mechs in the Arthurian-inspired world probably have different grading based on mythological beasts or smth, I need to expand on that, and dragon mechs are both the rarest and only a select few with “dragon blood” are able to pilot them, so the Pendragons basically? There might've been other dragonblood bloodlines in the past but they're dead now, dead at Uther's hand because that guy is a massive jerk who conquered everything and beyond. And Arthur... unfortunately holding up that paradigm even though he doesn't conquer, and is actively trying to make things suck less. Anyways, back to the mechs—

Bc the dragons put so much strain on the pilots (or “riders/dragonriders” as they might be called in that world) on energy consumption in exchange for bigger firepower, rare and unique powers, etc, dragonriders unfortunately tend to die quick save for a few who have extensive support and/or a hugeass powerful Phantasmic core. Not all dragonblood are born with such massive reserves! And theoretically, a sorcerer with a massive Phantasm reserves could technically try to pilot one, but... there's a compatibility lock of sorts, incompatible pilots must pour in more Phantasm, and that drains them faster than it would drain a dragonblood.

Arthur is a dragonrider, blessed with both intensive support from Merlin's end, and in possession of a large amount of Phantasm thanks to his maternal side.

(I'll get to the actual protagonist, I swear, I just gotta set the stage first)

So Uther... conquered Igraine's kingdom (planet?) (Igraine was the ruling queen, queen regnant, and her husband Gorlois was the consort, I forget what I named this place), killed Gorlois, took and wed Igraine by force, and had Arthur with her because he wanted his offspring and heir to have massive power. Igraine's line was that of powerful sorcerers. Morgana was Igraine and Gorlois' daughter, who is very much not happy about what Uther had done to her family and homeland.

Years pass, Uther dies, Arthur is revealed to be heir where before he was raised in secret, he becomes king and starts trying to fix and calm stuff down, and Morgana, fed up with Uther's bullshit, very strongly demands that her kingdom be given back to her. And Arthur, who's grown to be this cold, sharp, exhausted individual who's trying to put out the fires his father had started, says “no, absolutely not, I'm trying to bring peace and if I give in to you now others will want the same and it will be chaos all over again because the threat of you hovering over the horizon. just have faith in me, your home planet will be fine, I promise. also you're married to a lord, you have a domain, go and take care of that.” and Morgana's having none of that because she doesn't even like Lot, it was an unwanted marriage forced on her by Uther who wanted her as far away from her homeland as possible. She wants her birthright restored, for the wrongs committed against her mother righted, just... she wants justice. And she's not getting it from Arthur. So fed up, she books it, builds a faction of her own to rebel against Uther's legacy, the one Arthur is trying to uphold.

Morgana, with her extensive knowledge and resourcefulness and creativity, creates a dragon mech. So those things require a specific core, so to speak, harvested from true dragons, those impossibly huge, cosmic sort of entities, nebulous and so incomprehensibly large... Okay, you know whale falls, right? A whale's corpse falls to the ocean floor and critters feed on it, never having known a living whale? To them, a whale's body is just an impossibly large bounty? Yeah, kinda those vibes. Maybe the true dragons are dead, with their corpses floating around in the universe. I see them less as a creature with a body and more a... deity? a collection of stars and planets? I dunno, just incomprehensible. So Morgana makes one, somehow obtains Arthur's genes (I mean, in the myths they have incestuous sex and out pops Mordred from that, but this is sci-fi, and because it's me so many characters have a wonky gender axis going on so they might not even be cis, who knows), and creates Mordred for the purpose of piloting the dragon she created. Man that thing needs a name.

So the mech Mordred's piloting, it's... one of the more energy-intensive ones specifically crafted by Morgana's faction to be extra destructive, and yet Mordred is not terribly affected by it— they still are but not to the extent they should have, and everyone chalks up to the dragonblood genes. But there's something else going on under the surface. But I'll get to that later.

So Mordred's character is... someone who's been so intensely shaped by their surroundings and circumstances. They were born to fulfill a certain role. They are unable to see themselves outside of this role they play, this mission they have. The quote “you need the sickness inside you like a body needs a spine. you may survive without it, but oh, how deformed and misshapen you'd become” basically is their whole deal. Their loyalty is madness, and their madness is loyalty.

Still, though, there lies a hole in their heart, a yearning, a hunger, a want. What it is that they want, they can't articulate. They don't understand. They don't understand the hole, so they don't understand what would fill it. It is why they try to dedicate 110% of themselves to their role, in hopes that it'd fill the hole, or at least not make them think about it.

Still, they yearn.

Later in the story, it would be revealed that they're not actually Mordred, not the one Morgana created with her and Arthur's genes. That Mordred? Dead. Dead from the strain of piloting the dragon Morgana made. They were a child, and they've been long dead. Morgana uploaded their conscious into the dragon mech to assist the new pilot and help take on some of the strain. Serving the cause, even beyond their death.

So then, who is this Mordred?

From another world.

Yes, folks, this is an isekai. From the moment I conceived of this idea, I wanted it to be an isekai. The pain of being unable to return home. The realization that even if you got back to your home world, you would no longer fit into it. The horror of having been forced to change so much that your home becomes unrecognizable to you. And being unable to bear this world you're in as well. You don't have anywhere to go anymore.

The realization breaks something in Mordred (this Mordred, not the dead one). So in a fit of desperation to be away, away from the place that they can't see the same anymore, they leave. They leave Morgana's side, and enters Camelot to serve Arthur in the vain hope that they might be able to choose something for themselves, make themselves anew, be free and happy for once even if they can no longer go home. Maybe, just maybe, they could make a home out of Camelot.

(Remember that the earliest written version of Mordred wasn't really said to be against Arthur or a traitor or a villain, or even Arthur's son, it only describes the battle of Camlann as just “The strife of Camlann, in which Arthur and Medraut fell.”, not indicating at all if they were on the same side or against each other or if Mordred was responsible for Arthur's downfall. In fact, in early Welsh sources, he seems to have been described as “Arthur's strength, the good nature of Medrawd”. Kinda relevant to this Mordred, kinda not, just an interesting thing to keep in mind.)

This is when they meet Guinevere.

In one (or several?) version of the Arthuriana, Mordred weds Guinevere by force, in mayhaps another version she may or may not have gone willingly with Mordred? And in one of the versions (probably French, I forget which one, help) that follow that line of events, uh, Guinevere is slain by Lancelot for betraying Arthur and Mordred is either buried alive with her corpse or gets locked in a tower with her corpse. And he cannibalizes her body out of desperation, and still dies of starvation.

So, yeah. This version of Guinevere becomes Mordred's love interest and so the doom clock starts ticking :)

Also, Guinevere's gender is a big ol “???” by design. Male? Female? Cis? Trans? Who even knows, Guinevere goes by both he and she. Anyways, moving on from that—

Mordred meets Guinevere, this gentle-handed fella who loves plants. And they grow a close bond, which slowly but surely develops into romance.

In this version, Guinevere isn't in love with Arthur, though he does idolize the King, believing in his vision and wanting to support that. There might or might not be push from others for the two to be betrothed to each other, I don't know how such things would work in a world like this just yet but well this is still just a fledgling idea— Arthur takes one look at Guinevere and is like “that is an entire child” and refuses to wed her.

I... am not sure whatever the hell I want to do with the character of Lancelot.

Like, I know how the cultural context surrounding the Arthuriana shaped and influenced his character, his courtly love turned into adultery etc etc, but I don't know what spin I want to put to his character. Yet. Currently leaning towards a fucked up sense of codependent devotion towards his king. Like “my king only deserves the best and by the dragons I will fucking give it to him no matter what anyone else has to say about it” and maybe he sees Guinevere as something extraordinary and thus... by imposing his own view on him he tries to yoink Guinevere for Arthur and... hm. Still up in the air, honestly.

How long has this fucking post gotten?

Okay imma just try to rapid-fire the ensuing stuff bc it's not like I have the details yet anyways: Mordred enters the Round Table -> Mordred and Guinevere fall in love -> things are fine until they aren't -> some revelation breaks Mordred's faith in Camelot -> maybe Morgana is slain, she's out of the picture for some reason -> Mordred forms their own faction from the remnants of Morgana's, goes against Camelot -> it goes on -> CAMLANN -> in the meanwhile Lancelot gets to Guinevere, uh-oh -> Arthur vs Mordred, big showdown, Arthur dies and Mordred is seriously feeling the consequences of the strain + pretty sure the mech is barely holding together at this point -> an exhausted Mordred and broken mech get their asses whooped by Lancelot, probably -> entombed alive -> cue cannibalism -> Mordred may or may not get isekai'd again at near death -> now they have to navigate this while ridden with guilt and grief and truly having nothing

So... yeah! This is a gist of what this story is about! Many details are still yet up in the air, I completely omitted the post-cannibalism stuff, the broken traumatized mess Mordred becomes by that point, if you'd like to know more I'll tell you but for now... this is it!

Oh! Almost forgot— I've drawn little concept sketches for Mordred!

Original Mordred on the left, the current Mordred before they became “Mordred” on the right, both as young children.

Current Mordred, having lost their face and memories for a long, long time.

#arthuriana #arthurian legend #arthurian mythology #arthur #mordred #guinevere #lancelot #morgana #the idea still very much needs more marinating time #so much is just a blank #my story idea #I still don't have a title for this damn thing #for now let's call it the sunset knight #The Sunset Knight #sure why not #it's just a placeholder name #rotten egg's shitty art

[idkfitememate]

🐗!creator should take klee and Diona on a trip through the skys with dvalin!

You wanted to laugh at the situation handed to you in a silver platter.

Jean was busy, Barbara was busy, Kaeya was busy, Lisa was busy, Rosaria was busy, everyone was busy.

And Klee and Diona had a play date.

No one was able to watch them.

But you.

Why were you on the list to care for children?.. Don’t ask.

You watched as the blond walked away from the three of you, the duo waving to her as you stood behind them. You knew she was hesitant about leaving the girls would you, but you had no idea why!

You were a good boar! You’d protect the girls!

When had you ever, EVER, done something wrong?

As soon as the Knight was out of sight, your family jumped out of the trees and shadows, scaring the children. You shushed them and allowed the Monsters closer, though they moved slowly as to not startle the children.

You let a smaller Hilichurl pet you to show them that the Churls meant no harm.

Because of all your escapades, Diona was the first to come forward and pet the Churl who was petting you.

“Hehe… it’s soft…” she said as she ran both hands through the fluff on it’s neck. Klee, seeing this, ran forward and began to stuff her hands in the tufts, also awe-ing at the fluffiness.

Then you had a wonderful idea.

Trotting away from the two who were having fun with your family, you called upon the wind and asked for Dvalin.

You could hear the girls behind you gasping as the Dragon landed before you, bowing before you. You snorted before walking over to the duo and nudged them towards the now laying down Dragon’s back.

Finally pushing the star struck girls on his back, you three began to lift off the ground. The Churls all gathered around to wave you off, a Sawachurl with a handkerchief waving you off with tears in their eyes.

And off you three went into the sunset.~

…

When Jean saw Dvalin soar over the city with Diona, Klee and your voices screaming in joy following, the only thing on her mind was that she really, really had to get you off the child care list.

Boar is really out here making the adults lives hell-like and the children’s lives so much more fun and I am here for it ☆૮꒰ˊᗜˋ* ꒱ა

#genshin impact sagau #sagau x reader #sagau #x reader #x gn reader #gn y/n #yandere x reader #yandere x you #Boar!Creator #asks <3 #anon <3

[intuitivesef]

A poem from your future spouse

Pick a card reading

Don’t second guess yourself when choosing a card. Trust your intuition.

Take what resonates, leave what doesn’t.

Credit for dividers: @danowh0re

Moodboard: @hannamichelle-seraf

Masterlist

Pile 1:

My love, The ocean waves flow in a calm manner, The breeze hits our faces with a refreshing mark. The blanket flees like a seagull, and our laugh echoes through the wind. Your cheesy remark makes me laugh, our food is now a mess, Yet we aren’t mad nor sad, we leave the area alone—find our way home, To see a beautiful sunset coming upon the shore. The fishes feel safe, the turtles aren’t sad and so are we. Come and find me, my dear, I am waiting patiently, I will wait till my death, For I am hopelessly in love with you, And will always be.

ॱ⋅.˳˳.⋅˙ॱᐧ.˳˳.⋅ઇଓ

Channeled song:

Anastasia|Once Upon a December – Liz Callaway

want to give me tips, thank me, pay me, etc for my channeled readings? -> $intuitivesef - thanks :)

Pile 2:

A wishing well is beneath us, Come and find it—wish for me as I wish for you, Seek beneath the unknown and look for a wishing well, My darling, let’s go on an adventure—allow us to be Alice in wonderland, Let’s become Coraline without the other mother, Seek a thrill with me. Let’s run down a hill and feel the cool breeze on our faces, Lay down on a flower field and look into each other’s eyes. You’re so beautiful, my heart beats faster every day, My heart cannot take the beauty I see within you. Red pinkish cheeks and a smile on my face with you. Cold hands, cold heart, the energy of the cold, But with you it all changes. You’re my sun, my warmth, my everything, I cannot imagine my life without you because, you, my angel, Are everything my heart desires and yet here we are. I’ve been so blessed to call you mine—I cannot imagine my life without you. I just cannot, I just never will. You are my everything.

ॱ⋅.˳˳.⋅˙ॱᐧ.˳˳.⋅ઇଓ

Channeled song:

Love Story — Indila

want to give me tips, thank me, pay me, etc for my channeled readings? -> $intuitivesef - thanks :)

Pile 3:

Beauty and Beast will never compare to the way I fell in love with you, Your soul caught my eyes instantly, You do not know the feelings I felt the moment I laid eyes on you, You walked, I looked, I knew. My mind told me to come after you and yet I did not, For I am a coward, but you appeared in my life again, And again, and again… That was my sign to race after you, I’m so thankful I did, Listening to my heart was the best thing I did, I get to hold you in my arms and cuddle you until you fall asleep, Singing to you, laughing with you is better than a fairytale, Love is like a fairytale, but this is not a tale, This is a tale of perfection—sweet, beautiful, perfection. Your eyes sparkle when we dance under the moonlight, Seeing a galaxy in your eyes, Looking under the stars is not a comparison, The way you look at me is something I cannot stop thinking of. You’re always on my mind, I wouldn’t change it for a thing. You’re my star, my rose, my everything, Je t’aime beaucoup. (I love you very much)

ॱ⋅.˳˳.⋅˙ॱᐧ.˳˳.⋅ઇଓ

Channeled song:

Beauty and the Beast — Ariana Grande and John Legend

want to give me tips, thank me, pay me, etc for my channeled readings? -> $intuitivesef - thanks :)

Pile 4:

Loving you was the hardest, I could not do it, I didn’t want to do it, But I did. It was the greatest feeling known to man. You’re my shining knight in armor, The one thing I was missing, The one thing I yearn for, Yet was afraid of. For you, I’m so ever thankful, You do not know the love and compassion you have shown me. My best friend, my love, my princess/prince. Thank you for showing me to be vulnerable, Showing me the beauty of falling in love, I would do this journey over again, Till my breath stops. You’re the wish, I didn’t know I needed. You’re the love I didn’t know I deserved. You’re the adventure I yearned for. You’re the blessing I thought didn’t exist. You’re the reason why I cry happy tears, The reason why I feel safe, The reason why I’m not paranoid anymore, The reason I feel special every day, The reason I’m excited to go home, You are my home. I am so lucky. Very, Very lucky.

ॱ⋅.˳˳.⋅˙ॱᐧ.˳˳.⋅ઇଓ

Channeled songs:

Best friend – Jason Chen DON’T WANNA FALL – Stevie Hoang

want to give me tips, thank me, pay me, etc for my channeled readings? -> $intuitivesef - thanks :)

#pick an image #pick a picture #pick a number #pick a photo #channel messages #pick a card reading #pick a photo reading #pick a image reading #reading #tarot card #free tarot reading #free readings #free intuitive readings #future reading #intution #intutive #intuitive readings #pick a side #pick a card #channeling #channeled message #psychic #psychic readings #present readings #readings #future spouse #tarot future spouse #fs pac #fs pics #timeless reading

[ahsoka-in-a-hood]

My new favorite thing on tumblr.com is the discourse around how hard it is to leave the order you guys, they leave their members ‘with no life skills’ etc etc, ONLY THE CLOTHES ON THEIR BACKS, it’s so darlingly melodramatic that I’m low-key picturing some kind of ritualistic drumming out ceremony, possibly involving the knights chanting ‘shame,’ ‘shame,’ ala game of thrones, while every single council member gazes down upon them from on high, faces carved from judgmental stone, culminating in the poor sod spending their first night in rags sleeping at the foot of the temple steps,

okay, I am getting distracted. What I’m actually amusing myself with is picturing what Ahsoka, 16 years of age, can put on her CV. It’s a lot. Now I hate CVs so like I’m not about to write up hers but. It includes military command, references from at least two GALACTIC SENATORS who worked with her, references from at least two HEADS OF STATE. Engineering, piloting, teaching, combat, military command, special ops, investigation, geo-politics....... She is 16. This is an objectively insane CV.

Her level of education is so respected that a head of state invited her to guest lecture at their top academy when she was 14, to kids her own age, and she was poised and confident throughout. Her schooling gets outright called out as privileged by her coruscanti friends. Also like, please let me know when the standard US high school curriculum comprehensively covers shit like astronavigation.

Every time she is depicted with non-jedi kids her age she is depicted as generally more worldly and prepared than them. The mandalorian kids. Lux, Trace, etc. She’s never encountered deathwatch or the Pikes directly before she’s rescuing her friends from them, but she immediately knows what’s up because she is simply. Well informed. Unlike her friends. It’s not like she doesn’t also learn things from them in these episodes, but. She just knows a lot.

She also left the order with at a minimum multiple contacts in the senate, a friendship with the king of Mon Calamar (I think?) and the duchal family of mandalore, as well as some shadier contacts.

(Now it’s true that tcw never answered, or even asked, what kind of financial or otherwise situation the temple itself provides to help a jedi who wants out to find their feet. That’s not a question you can ask in Ahsoka’s case without also asking: where the hell was Padme’s support? Why wasn’t Ahsoka sleeping on her couch? That’s her sister-in-law! Actually this is a trick question because Ahsoka tells Anakin she needs to figure this out on her own. Without the council, and without him. So we’ll never know. Until disney churns out yet more content that may or may not contradict previous content.)

(Absolute props to Ahsoka that is 100% what I would have done at 16. That’s just what being 16 is like. Bad things happen and then GOODBYE I AM PUTTING A SANDWICH IN A HANKERCHIEF AND TYING IT TO A STICK AND WALKING INTO THE SUNSET I AM GOING MY OWN WAY I WILL SLEEP ROUGH I WILL GO WHERE THE WIND BLOWS THIS WORLD IS STRANGE AND CRUEL AND I MUST RELY ON MYSELF GOODBYE)

(and obviously like canonically the door was 100% open to her returning, anytime she saw them they were like so... any chance you’re done with your walkabout?... we still have your room ready... your frog grandpa feels so bad he literally had a bad trip vision quest where you were like dying and asking him why he abandoned you and we had to commit him he is very sad. except maybe we’re not actually going to say this because that would sound like a guilt trip.. but... lightsabers ? :3)

(Generally the disaster lineage are a deeply ridiculous dataset. When Obi Wan was contemplating leaving the order he was contemplating becoming the Duke-Consort of Mandalore. Anakin not only married money but was offered a job by the Chancellor at 12 (comics). I mean ANAKIN RUN but also imagine being 12 and the president of the galaxy says well if you don’t like it with your dad I’ll give you a job)

Ultimately when Ahsoka left she tripped and fell into job as a mechanic, immediately found herself bailing her new boss out of trouble, and was headhunted like a week later to be on the command team for a counter coup of a whole system. She was still 16. The rest of us can only aspire to these kinds of job opportunities.

#ahsoka tano #i love her okay #jedi order #once again not sober on tumblr.com

[hunieday]

Yuki - Idol Star Prince Stage Rabbit Chat

Please note that I am not a professional translator and I'm only doing this to share the side materials to those who cannot access them, if you notice any mistakes please let me know nicely. Enjoy!

Yuki: momo

Yuki: please talk to me about anything

Momo: Yuki?! Thank you for your hard work!

Momo: 

Momo: I know you’re composing a song right now so are you stuck…？

Yuki: mhm

Yuki: I feel like im turning into an exhaustion stew

Momo: A Yuki stew, now that’s a new one?! I’d love stewed radish on my plate! 😋

Yuki: Then I’ll turn into a radish now. I’ll even add chili peppers free of charge

Momo: lololol

Momo: I only see you like this when you’re tired…are you okay? I can talk to you as much as you want, but is there anything else I could do for you?

Yuki: right now

Momo: Right now?

Yuki: dr

Momo: Dr?

Momo: Huh

Momo: Yukiiiii, are you okay?😭

Yuki: dri

Momo: Are you making me piece your quiz together one letter at a time?!

Momo: Driver?

Yuki: 

Momo: You fell asleep…was I wrong…

Yuki: you were right up until the v

Momo: lololol I was close

Momo: Wait, is your word “a drive”?!

Yuki: yeah, somehow i want to go on a drive with you rather than talk through rabbichat

Yuki: it’s about time your magazine shoot wrapped up

Momo: Ahhh!!! Right!!!!! That was the plan but…

Momo: We’re waiting to shoot the last images with the sunset in the background, but there are clouds obstructing it…

Yuki: the clouds are holding momo back….

Momo: 

Momo: I’m sorry to keep you waiting, it might be better to call it off for today…

Yuki: i’ll wait for you

Momo: huh

Yuki: i’ll wait for you. I don't think i’ll do anything if i just sit here in front of a computer screen

Momo: Yukiiiiiiii~~~~~~

Yuki: i know

Momo: I haven’t even said it yet!!!!! But the fact that you knew I was about to call you handsome makes you ultra handsome!!!!! >u<😍😆😍💚 

Momo: Haah… and I’m double nervous now because I was staring at a picture I took of you during your idol star costume fitting right before you messaged me 😍💚 

Yuki: hehe, you were staring at me?

Yuki: ah, I haven’t filled the idol star survey yet 

Momo: It must’ve been tough since you have so much on your plate, especially the composing stuff 😭😭

Yuki: What kind of questions did you get?

Momo: Mostly questions about princely stuff 🤔 “have you ever thought about being a prince?” something like that!

Yuki: never

Momo: Obviously! Yuki is already a handsome prince who takes me out on drives 🤴 ✨ 

Momo: There were also questions about whether I read adventure books where the prince fights to save the princess, especially as kids!

Yuki: i didn’t. we didn’t have books like that at home

Momo: I bet a dad like that wouldn’t buy those kinda books! 😆

Yuki: i knew such stories existed though. I thought it was weird to voluntarily go through to such lengths just to save a princess.

Yuki: why not leave it to a strong valiant knight. he has a better shot at succeeding anyways

Momo: That’s right!!!! lolol it would be meaningless to go help then get beat up and defeated 🤣

Momo: But the Yuki I know wouldn’t leave it up to some strong knight, he’d rush to the rescue himself 

Yuki: You think so?

Momo: For the juniors’ sake, you would greet the producers and tell them to “take care of those children”, then you strike a conversation with them during recordings! You’re so cool and dependable！

Momo: That’s the Yuki I know!

Yuki: thank you, Momo

Yuki: If you were the captured one and not the princess, I would definitely come running.

Yuki: So, if you don’t want to put me in danger, don’t keep secrets from me.

Momo: Yuki…

Momo: I’m sorry to interrupt this very heartfelt moment, but the sun is setting!! I’m gonna dash to wrap this up, so let’s talk about this in person!!!!!!!!!!

Momo: I’ll never do anything that would put you in danger, I promise, and I won't let you do anything reckless!!!!

Yuki: you better keep that promise

Yuki: I might not have a horse carriage or tea that’d suit a princess, but I’ll be waiting for you in my own car with momorin for you.

Momo: You are too good ✨ ‼️

Momo: Yuki, you’re the absolute best prince!

Momo: 

Yuki:

#i7 #idolish7 #ainana #idolish7 translation #id7 #re:vale #momose sunohara #orikasa yukito #idol star #rabbitchat

[misguidedasgardian]

The White Dragon (2)

2. Collateral Damage

MASTERLIST

Summary: Your wedding with Ser Harwin Strong

Pairings: main Harwin Strong x Fem!Targaryen reader

Warnings: *There might be spoilers in warnings*

Cursing, violence, smut, medieval and A song of ice and Fire AU customs, a wedding ceremony, A BEDDING CEREMONY (yeah one of the most rude but funny ceremonies in westeros, let’s recreate it why not) Harwin is older than the reader. 10 years older to be exact. Harwin is hairy and impresses the reader 😂

+ 18, MINORS DNI

Wordcount: 5.1k

Notes: I changed the name of the Dragon slightly, I feel like sounds a LOT like Vhagar, haden't noticed, she is now Vhaelar.... a liiiiitle different 😂

Today was a day for celebration…

Today is your wedding day

What was supposed to be a fortnight, turned into 4 months waiting for your impending wedding. 

At first you thought it was a sign that you shouldn’t marry Ser Harwin, but the odds were just playing you. 

The first delay was that you received the news that your sister was with child, and that, according to your father, deserved at least a week of celebrations and jousts

Secondly your father’s own name day

Then it was Prince Aegon’s

Then it was another thing you couldn’t quite remember. You felt like they were playing with you.

But as the fifth anniversary of your father’s marriage to Queen Alicent was approaching, your father felt like we could finally celebrate your wedding, a month of love, he called it.

With Rhaenyra 12 fortnights in her pregnancy, and your father’s endless smiles, with three young babies of his own… Today was the day you will bond with Harwin

You had decided for a small ceremony at the Royal Sept. It was way smaller than the one in the city, but the details of the pillars and ceiling took your breath away everytime, it was way more beautiful. Your father had invited important families like he did in Rhaenyra’s wedding, but this, to your liking, was becoming a much smaller affair. 

Harwin had been so gentle with you, he insisted on taking walks along the walls from where you could see the sunsets, he had gifted you flowers and kind smiles. He behaved dreamly, like a Knight from the stories would. You never saw him again around Maegor’s holdfast, his room was in the apartments near the tower of the hand. You saw he was trying hard to make you see that he wasn’t even in contact with Rhaenyra anymore. And that did make you feel better.

You were willing to give him a chance.

You were going to marry the man, you were going to share his bed and have his children, you needed to give him a real chance. Besides, those feelings you always had for him since two years ago that were dormant, resurfaced in full force. Every time you saw him you felt tingles in your lower belly

So as you looked at yourself in the mirror for one last time, you smiled softly. Your handmaidens had done a truly beautiful job, they had arranged your hair in a beautiful way, with braids decorated with emeralds, rubies and sapphires, its colors resembling the shield of House Strong. Your father had commissioned a beautiful white dress with long sleeves that had a pattern that looked like scales from a dragon, the white started to fade into red for the bottom of the dress, it looked like it was dipped in blood, with a pattern of orange leaves, like the ones from the Old Oak. It was simple, but the fabric was so delicate it danced around you when you moved.

As you left your room you found Steffon, with a bright smile on his face. You smiled brightly at him, showing him all your teeth and taking a spin so he could see your dress

“Your grace, you look beautiful” he whispered. 

“Thank you Ser Steffon,” you giggled. You knew he had asked the lord commander if he could scort you himself towards the sept, and he agreed, only because he knew what it meant for him. He had told you once you were like his little sister, and you felt like it too. 

You started walking down the hallway with him right by your side, not behind you like always, this time, he was right by your side

“This might be the last time you escort me” you whispered, sadness in your words. The Keep seemed to be empty, except for the silent servants. You didn’t encounter any member of court, you guessed because they were all waiting for you. 

“It’s not going to be” he answered with a wide smile, “you are not getting rid of me that easily”

“Harwin is supposed to protect me now” you explained

“I know, but you are still a princess, and I made a vow” he reminded you, with that easy smile that always brought you comfort. 

“Yes, but now I will have to share my chambers with a man” you teased, and he chuckled

“It’s not so bad” you gasped, but giggled when he winked at you. “Besides I trade the night’s watch with another sucker” you laughed. 

The walk was comfortable, he, your sworn protector, your confident, and your friend walked slowly, leading you in silence to the next stage of your life. He offered his arm and you took it.

“He is going to be a great husband, I know this” he said when you went into the open and saw the Septon right in front of you. Your father was expecting you, alongside his royal guard. 

“You look beautiful,” your father said as he received you from Steffon. In his hands he held a velvet cape, it had a black background and red flames and design. He placed it over your shoulders, a shy smile on his lips

“Your mother would have been so happy” he whispered. and you couldn’t help a happy tear falling down your eye. 

“Thank you father” you managed to say above the lump in your throat.

“Now let's get you married”. he positioned himself at your side, offering you his arm which you gladly took. You gave Steffon one last look and he smiled, nodding at you. The doors of the sept opened in front of the both of you, royal soldiers on each side of them. 

“Father, I’m nervous” you whispered, grasping into his arm so tightly he groaned. In front of you and down the steps, where all waiting for you, at the right side, your family, the Velaryons, even some Baratheon and Arryn, at the left was Harwin’s and other important members of court. 

“Relax, sweet child” he whispered, his easy smile never faltering, “this is how you serve your house, this is how you help your family” 

You walked down the steps, the sun no longer shining above you. And when you looked at the end of the hallway made of the people attending the ceremony, there was Harwin, standing by the high septon. He looked so handsome, his hair was tamed back. He whore a deep blue jacket with silver buttons 

As you walked towards the Septon, the faces of your friends and families turned clearer, and just by the steps, you saw your sister, joined by Laenor, and the Queen just one step over them, and on the other side of the hallway, you saw Ser Lyonel, who smiled at you, and at his side was Larys, who bowed his head at you. 

Your father took you by slow but steady pace and up the steps where you stood in front of the High Septon 

“You may place the bride under your protection” indicated the Septon, and your father retrieved the cloak over your shoulders, kissing you swiftly on the cheek, to go down the steps and stand at the side of the Queen. And Harwin stepped up to place his own instead. It had a silvery background, and intricate designs with Green, Blue and Red. You held into the cape as Harwin smiled brightly at you, you in turn smiled shyly, the cape heavily on your shoulders, but bringing you warmth nonetheless 

“Your Grace”, the voice of the High Septon interrupted your thought like a thunder, “My Lords and Ladies, we stand here today in the presence of Gods and men, to witness the union of men and wife, on flesh, on heart, on soul, now and forever” 

The Septon started reading a passage from the 7 pointed star, their book. But you really didn’t pay much attention, you and your sister never did. Your father and Uncle always told you that Targaryen like your dragons, don’t answer to neither gods nor men, you didn’t have a proper instruction in the faith of the seven, especially after what happened with Maegor the cruel, your great-great uncle. 

You felt nervous, all their looks on you, Harwin’s eyes on you, even your sister’s. She seemed happy, truly, genuinely happy, and you wanted to believe her, after all, she didn’t do any effort to stop the union, rather, she encouraged it. So that thought alone lets you relax. 

And suddenly, interrupting your thoughts, Harwin grabbed your hands on his, to turn and present your joined hand to the Septon, who with a colorful velvet ribbon tied both of your hands together

“Let it be known that Harwin of house Strong, and (Y/N) of house Targaryen are one heart, one flesh, one soul. Cursed be he who would seek to tear them asunder” he then cleared his throat, to say out loud, “In the sight of the seven, I hereby seal these two souls, binding them as one for eternity” he then released the ribbon, but Harwin kept his hand on yours. “Now say the words”

“Father, Smith, Warrior, Mother, Maiden, Crone, Stranger, I’m his/hers, and she/he is mine, from this day, to the rest of our days” you said together as one. 

“You now may kiss the bride” 

“With this kiss I pledge my love” he grunted, “and take you for my lady and wife”. With a blush, you thought this was going to be your very first kiss, ever. Harwin was going to be the owner of all your first times, you were his now, with that in mind, you replicated the vow

“With this kiss I pledge my love…” your voice was barely a whisper, but the acoustic of the Septon let everyone hear you just fine, but it sounded as cracked as you said it. Harwin’s thumbs caressed the back of your hand with kindness, seeing how nervous you were, and that gave you the strength to continue, “...and take you for my lord and husband”, and without being able to wait any longer, Harwin leaned in and kissed you, it was hard and rough, and sticky, feeling how just moments ago he had wetted his lips, but it was also sweet, and warm, inviting. And just as swift as it started, it ended, leaving you flush and bothered, and with your now husband’s cheeky smile. 

“One flesh, one heart, one soul, now and forever” chanted the Septon. The ceremony continued with more chants, more words of wisdom, the meaning of joining your house through marriage, even though you were now his, you were a Strong now, your future children were going to be Strong's as well. 

And just like that, you were married, your life always connected to that of Harwin’s.

You broke the spell he had on you to turn and face your family, friends and guests, they were all cheering and applauding, big smiles everywhere…. Everywhere. 

Well maybe Alicent wasn’t smiling, if anything, she looked like she pitied you. 

Harwin squeezed your hand and he drew a smile just for you

“My wifey” he grunted, leaning over you and making you smile, your body tingled with his proximity

The feast was going great. Alicent let you hold it in The Queen’s ballroom as a gift. Harwin and you chose it as well. It was, to your liking, the most beautiful room in the entire castle. It had rich paneling decorations and mirrors in all walls that reflected the candles making them shine. 

After some sweet words from your father, the music and the dance began. Because Harwin didn’t have Valyrian blood, you didn’t have to perform the dance of dragons, lucky for you though, you weren’t much of a dancer, but you enjoyed it, and because you weren’t the first born or heir to the throne, no one really paid any mind to you, so you could dance at your liking. 

Your sister sat beside you, already too pregnant to participate in the dancing, although it didn’t forbid you from giggling and gossip about all the ladies who were invited to the feast and how they were dressed and who they were dancing with. 

The truth is that you were having a great time. The celebration was smaller than your sister’s had been, but that meant the people who attended were closer to your family. For example, Jason Lannister wasn’t here, but his brother was, and you were thankful for it, you liked his brother more. 

Harwin’s family was here, his sisters that you had never met before, and their lord's husband’s families. They presented their respects to you, barely, and they were now enjoying the feast. 

But Harwin didn’t seem to be enjoying it, he seemed tense, distracted, watching everyone at the hall like a hawk. Your father was enjoying his boar, eating slowly, and chatting with Lord Lyonel and the other members of the council

He seemed so on edge, you leaned into him with a shy smile

“You want to dance, husband?” his face immediately changed as he look at you, a relieved smile on his face

“I certainly do” he stood up, offering you his hand which you took gladly, and directed you to the made up dancefloor, everyone made space for the both of you, and the musicians played a new song only for the both of you, you took distance from each other only to approach again, you offered your hand and he took it to spin you around like the rhythm demanded. 

He felt so familiar to you, in his arms you felt safe, and you smiled at the thought, he was so easy to be around, you had never seen him angry, at least for long, and he always had a smile in store for you, perhaps this wasn’t going to be so difficult. 

The song ended with you glued to your husband’s side, his arm around your waist. and he leaned in and stole a simple kiss from your lips. 

“Let’s raise our cups, to Harwin Strong, and (Y/N) Targaryen!” your father raised from his seat and raised his cup, a servant was quick to provide you and Harwin with one as well, and you toasted with your family and friends

Harwin visibly relaxed by your side, like a weight has lifted from his shoulders, and besides dancing, he enjoyed the rest of the night with a big smile on his face. You dedicated yourself to dancing for the rest of the night, even Nyra joined, with Laenor trailing her every step. 

Without you knowing your father was watching with a proud smile on his face, he had just secured both of his daughter’s futures, they were safe, he thought, content. 

The night continued without any problem, Ser Harrold, the lord commander himself and lord Steffon guarded the celebration. Since it was being held at Maegor’s Holdfast, were the Royal chambers were, so they were keeping a very careful eye, watching all the guest not to get lost inside the rooms of the royal family 

The wine and food flooded freely through the room, soon everyone seemed to be in better spirits, but the dancers were getting sloppier and everyone was getting louder, laughter could be heard from every corner of the room and the intimate atmosphere was lovely. Everyone seemed to be having fun. Harwin was drinking and chatting with some members of your family, as you danced with Laenor and other men as you traded partners throughout the dance.

Your father at some point left the celebration alongside the Queen, she claimed that your father was tired and you believed her. He said goodnight to you with a kiss on your cheek and then left. Criston Cole, now the Queen’s sworn sword, was now in guard as well. 

You finished your fifth cup of wine, feeling happy, but a little slow in your movements. You needed to keep a straight mind, you thought fleetingly, you were supposed to bed your husband today. And suddenly the very thought made you stop dancing and your cheeks blushed scandalously, or perhaps it was the wine. 

“It’s time for the bedding ceremony!” somebody yelled, and everyone started cheering. Before you could realize what was happening, the room splitted between women and men, the first group surrounded Harwin and the men gathered around you. You blushed, you really expected these men weren’t very drunk but you doubt it. The wine had flown freely and the Ale as well 

“You are ready princess?” it was part of the ritual, men would say lude things to you as they undress you, you really weren’t hoping they actually did. And you didn’t think they dared. The ladies grabbed Harwin and they started to pull him out of the Ballroom, all giggly, he looked for you over the crowd, smiling and you smiled back, but when a hand landed on your shoulder threatening to lower your gown you slapped it off 

“If you rip off my dress I swear I’ll feed you to my dragon!” you threaten, and they all keep laughing. And once They left the room they started pulling you too.

Luckily you were in the same tower as your chambers, so the humiliation didn’t last long.

They said things so lude it didn’t fit in your mind repeating them, but they did make you giggle nonetheless. At one point they raised you over their shoulders and took you up the stairs. As they took you down the hallway they became more clever

“You’ll really need to be Strong for tonight princess!” mocked one

“I’ll tell you what I tell every Knight before the joust, be careful of Ser Harwin’s lance, princess” chuckled another. Making the group laugh 

“Harwin will feast on your delight tonight!”

When they finally dropped you off to the gates of your chambers, you had lost all the precious stones in your hair, and your braids had become undone, your hair wild. Before they pushed you into the room a sneaky hand grabbed the lace that held your dress together and pulled it, if you hadn't caught the fabric it would have fallen and left you naked, right in front of your husband. Who was waiting for you

“Be careful Princess, they don’t call him Breakbones for nothing!” one mocked. 

“You are feasting on the realm’s delights, Strong, you lucky son of a bitch!” mocked another. 

“You will know how it feels to ride a dragon!”

“That’s it”, Harwin growled and threw himself over the door to close it and keep all the men out. With his back turned to you, you realized the ladies had removed his pants, and his blue velvet jacket, only leaving him with a long and thin shirt… If you focus, you could see his…

He suddenly turned and your eyes traveled back to his face to see him smiling. If you hadn't you could have totally seen his manhood. 

“I’m sorry for all those lude words my princess” he growled.

“Your?” you asked, amused.

“Well you are my wife now, aren’t you?” he teased

“I’m yours, and you are mine” you repeated your vows. He growled

“Wifey” the men outside started knocking on the door, his words still could be heard from the inside of your chambers, but soon somebody kicked them away, you guessed of your father’s Kingsguard. 

Soon the situation became uncomfortable. you looked down at your chest barely covered by your arm and your dress. You had to bed him, he was your husband now. When you looked up again you found Harwin looking around your rooms. It was a twin room like Rhaenyra’s, big and comfortable. HIs eyes anchored in the nearest table, where there were books and other things dear to you, and among them… 

“You still have this” he said gently, grabbing the crown of roses, they were dried now, but not less beautiful than the day they had been placed on your lap by your husband himself, proclaiming you the Queen of Love and Beauty. 

“Oh, yeah” you felt embarrassed all of a sudden, “No one had ever dedicated his win to me before” his eyes find you again

“I find that difficult wife, you are the most beautiful woman on the seven Kingdoms”

“Oh stop it” you giggled. “Only for you I believe” you whispered

“I hope that is enough…” he whispered, in two shy steps he reached you, his hand cradled your face gently, making you look at him

“It is,” you whispered, completely flustered. He leaned in and kissed you. this time it was needy, his lips moved against yours and when you gasped his tongue caressed your parted lips. You felt like you were dreaming, his other hand grabbed your hip and drew you to him. Your hand rested on his chest. 

He wasn’t like all those young, silly, pretty boys that you have met before, with their hairs perfectly cut and no facial hair. He was gruff, big, strong, and older, he had an unruly beard and a thick mane. The opened buttons on his shirt revealed a thick, hairy chest that made you blush, he was tall, and big. He was a man. 

His mouth abandoned yours, and you instinctively lifted your chin and he dropped lazy and wet kisses down your jaw and then your neck. You whined, suddenly feeling a need you had never felt before

“You are so beautiful” he whispered against the skin of your shoulder, dropping a wet kiss, making your skin crawl, but in a good sense

“You said that already,” you giggled. your hands now on his shoulders. He grunted, again

“I want to bed you” he admitted, still against your skin. his heavy and hot breath makes you tingle way down south of your belly. 

“It’s your right now” you answered, that’s when he left your collarbone to look at you. Concern washing on his face

“I will not take you if you are not willing” he whispered. Oh those eyes. when his hands left your body you felt empty, cold, and you didn’t like it. 

“I’m willing” and that was all it took for Harwin to return his touch to your needy body. He gently led you to the bed. 

“Let me see you” he demanded, he was so rough and in control and yet, you felt safe, you felt like if you wanted to stop, to say no, he would listen. But you didn’t want him to stop, you wanted him to continue. You let him pull the dress off of you, revealing your naked body, but you didn’t have time to feel blushed, he led you until you were laid on your bed. He removed his shirt, his last piece of clothing, revealing his own naked body. 

You gasped

His chest was as broad as pictured with a armor on, his shoulders thick, his arms as well, thick as logs, you followed his hairy trail until you reached his manhood and you swallow thickly

You had never seen a naked man before.

Rhaenyra, on the other side, has told you everything about her encounters, when she laid with Criston Cole for the first time she was 16 and you 14, and you blushed at the thought. But you decided to wash every thought of Rhaenyra from your head, especially now. 

His manhood was big, even though you didn't have anything to compare it with, it was as thick as your arm, but pink, and perfect. You whimpered without even thinking about it, and he smiled because of it. He climbed on the bed until he was on top of you, looking straight at your eyes

What happened next was so wild, chaotic and primal. You opened your legs for him instinctively, he placed himself between them, and he lowered himself to kiss you, his tongue found yours, only to grunt against your mouth and then kept going to devour you whole. At the same time, his fingers prodded in your entrance, in your intimacy. You weren’t innocent, you enjoyed caressing yourself at night sometimes, you knew how babies were made, and you knew having sex could be the greatest of pleasures. But this felt ten times more intense. You felt like your blood was boiling, and he chuckled when his fingers entered you easily, because of how aroused you were

Between growls and gasps he pushed at your entrance with his manhood. The pressured felt painful, he still did it slowly, opened you up to for him until you whined in pain, tears leaving your eyes

“I’m sorry wife, did I harm you?” he asked 

“It’s fine” you cried, you wanted to be good for him, you wanted to please him, and he kissed your tears softly, his big hand caressing your cheeks as he stood still for you to accommodate him. 

“It will get better sweet wife” he purred over your mouth I promise. You felt so deep inside of you that when he moved just an inch you could swear you could see stars. You moaned in need, the pain disappearing. 

He started thrusting in and out of you slowly, one of his hands landed in your hip to keep you grounded as he pounded inside of you. Your hand desperately grabbed him holding him against you, your nails scratched his back and shoulders in need as his trousers became more sloppy

“You want me to plant my seed in you?” he asked between grunts, and you were barely able to nod 

“Yes” you answered simply, and he moaned. Your hand ended in his dark locks, pulling them as his thrusts became more intense. “yes I want to” he kissed you tenderly, as your bodies joined in flesh like you just spoke in your vows. 

You woke up curled against Harwin’s side. His arm protectively around you taping you to him. You liked his warmth, you liked his touch. 

“Good morning Wifey” 

“Good morning husband” you whispered. HIs fingers tickled your shoulder and down your back, making you giggle

“Are you well?” rubbings your eyes and face you seated on the bed, wanting to clean the stickiness that you felt between your legs, but somehow, you could still feel a pressure on your lower belly, like you felt when Harwin is inside you

“Is it normal that I still feel it in my belly?” you couldn’t help but ask. Your heard him chuckle darkly, as he sat on the bed and wrapped his big arms around your shoulders

“Only when the cock is as big as mine” he grunted in your ear, you were still so sensitive it made you whimper. He pulled you until you were both laid on the bed. “I’m not done with you yet, wife” you giggled. he dropped kisses at the side of your face traveling down your neck, and you let out a sound you had never felt before, like a purr. “Now that you surpassed your first time, this is only going to become more enjoyable, I’ll make sure of it”

“Really?” you giggled, you felt him smile against your shoulder

“Yes I promise”

In celebration of the fifth anniversary of your father’s marriage to Queen Alicent, he hosted a big joust, dragging Harwin and you finally out of your chambers, a place you had been for three days, only enjoying each other's company. Food was being delivered to you by maids with blushes and big smiles. 

He had you more times that you could count and each time he made you see stars, he pleased you as he assured you that you pleasured him. Each of his touch was so gentle, so kind, yet so feel with need 

Now as you were walking towards the field for the joust, Harwin grabbed your hand tightly.

“I will joust today, does that please you” you looked up at him with surprise in your eyes

“Really?” he leaned in

“I win to proclaim you my Queen again” he whispered in your ear, making you tingle. You smiled widely.

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to” you reminded him

“I’m the strongest knight in the seven Kingdoms sweet wife, it’s a title I want to uphold” he kissed you swiftly before he parted ways to go to the tents to prepare for the joust. 

You father had given Criston a special dispensation to participate in the joust, and as you sat there at Rhaenyra’s side you saw the Kingsguard beat every opponent that opposed him, until the imminent came, and the banner of the Strongs was raised alongside Criston’s 

The dornish made his horse trot towards the gallery, where he took off his helmet and presented his respects for the pulpit and everyone on it

“I would like to ask Queen Alicent for her favor, because I’m certain that having it will ensure my win” he said firmly, and Alicent conceded his wish with a content smile. She threw at him a laurel crown with red flowers. 

Soon it was Harwin, in a blue armor that appeared right in front of you

“I’d like to ask the princes, my sweet wife to grant me her favor” he said with a smile, “to ensure my win” you raised to your feet and you swear you felt as the first time you did this for him, two years ago

“Of course my Lord husband” you giggled, thawing him your own crown, he received it swiftly with his big arms, and you blushed when you felt it around your own body like a ghost. He winked at you before trotting away to his place to start the jousting. 

“I’m going to enjoy seeing Criston getting knocked off his horse” Rhaenyra said with a wide smile, which you shared

“You and me both sister”

“I waged 100 dragons in favor of Ser Harwin” whispered Laenor who sat besides your sister

“Then you can invite us to purchase some dornish horses” you giggled, and they laughed with you

Before long the horses ran towards each other, the hooves resounding on the ground and the grunts of the men.

It happened in slow motion, Criston was aiming for Harwin’s shield but at the last moment he changed his trajectory hitting the man directly on the shoulder. Your husband flew through the air, luckily it was a clean hit but hard on the ground nonetheless.

The people gasped and you jumped to you feet and to the railing to see his trembling body 

Harwin managed to take of his helmet, but what you heard chilled you to your bones

What sounded like a war cry made everyone in the galleries gasp, as your husband twisted in the ground in pain. Grabbing his shoulder. 

notes: I wanted to retrieve this iconic scene from the books, I kind of ruhsed this chapter, I hope it was to your liking! See you soon!

taglist! ❤️ @tearsarcane @integra1127 @aestmilky @thanyatargaryen @tythaitie @lostinworldofdarkness @voodoogoul @wildmindedbeauty32 @lil-pudd @alicattx @electric-bloo @astaaan-lol @stargaryenx @kaitieskidmore1 @bregarc @lilpnd

#misguidedhotd #harwin strong x reader #ser harwin strong #ser harwin x reader #harwin strong x targaryen reader #harwin strong #harwin breakbones #ser harwin breakbones strong #harwin x reader #house of the dragon

[smittenroses]

— Jealousy Brews Bright

Fandom —  Genshin impact Pairing — Kaeya/reader Summary — it's another evening in the bar, this time you somehow earn the jealous gaze of your beloved Content Warnings — none Word Count — 1,243

Angel’s share was one of those places that was always bustling with people no matter the time at night. From open to close, the bar was always filled with people from far and over, waiting to try and drink the dandelion wine that was customary of Mondstadt’s people and home. It was always so smooth, always so refreshing, but yet as you slid another mocktail over to the traveller who had come back even more battered and bruised than normal, your brows furrowed.

“No luck finding your sister?” You asked the traveller, watching the way his finger swirled at the edge of his glass, golden eyes downcast to the drink. It was odd to think, but he reminded you of a sunset, from the golds to the oranges that seemed to sparkle in his hair and eyes to the gentleness that his smile gave. The traveller had begun to smile less since his plights in Inazuma, even more so after Sumeru, but yet he never uttered a word about the things he had witnessed beyond what you already knew.

The traveller took a drink before he responded, “Some clues, but there wasn’t much.” You couldn’t help but trace the lightning that crawled up his arms with your eyes, around his body, the fading scars telling a story that you knew wasn’t yet for you, so you retreated your arms from the bar where you had been leaning against, letting yourself skim around the bar. “Anything here?” It had been years already since he first had made his way into the city of the freedom, and yet his voice had long since seemed to fade of the hope that he had first come with — then again, you couldn’t provide much hope yourself, instead choosing to shake your head.

No one that looked of starlight seemed to have crossed the pavement of the free.

“It’s too quiet.” It wasn’t quiet, to say, but without Paimon around to shout about, you couldn’t help but comment on her absence, yet Aether’s hand placed itself upon the teapot that sat beside him, words unspoken. She must have gone to bed early so then Aether could be alone, or he had snuck out to drink.

The lyre of the nearby bard struck a tune, drunk singing filling the room.

“You think Diluc will allow me to sleep here tonight?”

“I don’t think you need to ask.” Diluc had already left a note behind the counter to say that the traveller was fine to park the teapot in the bar, the weary body of the blond across the bar swaying slightly, his eyelids drooping as he sipped at his drink. “You want me to move the pot back here now?”

As the pot was moved behind the bar, the traveller soon followed behind, you watched with awe as he was sucked into the device, the last you saw of him being his face before he disappeared into a puff of smoke. It wasn’t something that you would ever probably get used to, nor would you find yourself ever understanding.

A call of your name knocked you from your stupor, your heel becoming a pivot as you moved yourself to face the bar. Kaeya’s long blue hair had long since come undone from his signature ponytail and his drinking buddy was gone, instead, leaving you to face the tipsy knight alone as he puffed out his chest. “Am I really that uninteresting?”

You grabbed the bottle of wine before he could knock it over with a long stroke of his hand, filling up his cup before moving it just out of his reach.

“You are beginning to get uncoordinated.” You muttered, watching the distant look in his eye. It wasn’t unusual for Kaeya to sometimes drink himself under the bar on some nights, those nights being ones where you would find yourself helping him to his home just a few minutes away, yet as you began to wipe the bench of spills that didn’t exist, you listened to him chatter away.

“I’m as sharp as ever.” You were sure if you made him try to walk in a straight line now he would begin to start having some troubles, but it wasn’t enough to cut off his supply just yet. As much as you loved this man to call him your own, you knew that you’d have to keep an eye on his nimble hands. “What’s that look for?”

Oh, this was new. Hands reaching over the bar to grab yours, his thumbs began to make slow, soothing motions on your knuckles. He did have a habit of grabbing your hands, of having physical contact, but the way his eye spoke emotions that you couldn’t even register, of things that he usually didn’t do in front of others, it was… weird.

Your cheeks burned with heat as you pulled your hands back, coughing into the crook of your arm as you tried to keep your eyes away from your boyfriend. Yep, you should probably cut off his supply least he starts making himself out to be the fool.

“Can’t I show my darling some love?” Oh goodness, that was most definitely a whine, your eyes widening as you looked at the man. “You’ve been paying attention to the traveller as soon as he got here, you were ignoring me.”

Wheels turned in your head as you listened to the way Kaeya phrased his words, of how he looked at the teapot when he thought that you weren’t looking — this wasn’t just a drunk Kaeya talking, it was one that was running on emotions that were more than just amplified.

“Are you jealous of the traveller?”

“Me, jealous?” Pressing a hand against his chest, sliding it slightly to the side in order to open up his shirt a bit more, Kaeya scoffed slightly as he spoke, “I have never been jealous in my entire life.” You knew that was a lie from the secrets he had spilled when completely intoxicated, but yet, you couldn’t help but feel the corner of your mouth twinge slightly with amusement.

That was jealousy painting him bright green in front of you, tinged orange with the flickering candlelight of the tavern’s lanterns. It was refreshing to see that carefully crafted personality falter, one that allowed you to see other sides that you didn’t know existed, but yet as you leaned forward enough to smell the grape on Kaeya’s breath, your grin couldn’t be contained.

“You’re practically green, darling.” Shooting his nickname right back at him, you watched the way his eye widened in such delight at you indulging in his little games, the faded scar that peeked from his patch disappearing as he began to grin.

“Seems our darling barkeep has a few tricks up their sleeve.”

As much as you wanted to keep flirting with the blue haired male, you could see Diluc give you the side eye from the corner of your own, quickly moving away from Kaeya with a swift goodbye, grabbing drinks that Charles had prepared, beginning to walk to the stairs to deliver them to the second floor.

“This is your workplace,” Diluc began as you walked by him, those burning eyes staring you down hard enough that you swore you would turn into embers, “Leave the boyfriend at home next time “

Your face burned with embarrassment as you went up the stairs. You had to stop flirting with your boss’s brother.

#x reader #gender neutral reader #genshin impact x reader #kaeya x reader #genshin impact kaeya #kaeya alberich #kaeya alberich x reader #fluff

[poetryandfluffycats]

may I request a Tsukasa x reader where the reader loves children and babies and loves taking care of them, making them laugh, cuddling them and making them sleep and some children end up calling her mama? (⁠づ⁠｡⁠◕⁠‿⁠‿⁠◕⁠｡⁠)⁠づ

A/N: I feel like this is too short, I hope it is to your liking anyway🤍

Pairing: Tsukasa Suou x GN!reader(no pronouns mentioned)

Warnings: none, wholesome bliss

Content: Tsukasa lost you at your own birthday dinner. How could he let this happen? And most importantly, where on earth did you go?

Words: 524

Oneshot under cut!

A Happy Ending

"(name)? (name)? Where did you run off to?

This was bad. Tsukasa had lost you at your own birthday dinner. He'd been searching for a good ten minutes now and had probably looked through every room in your family's estate about three times. Never would he even consider asking one of your relatives for help, though. That would be mortifying! You had prided him to your parents as being an upstanding gentleman and a highly successful idol, someone who would be able to take care of you and whatever family you created in the future.

Now that his honer was at stake, he'd rather die than admit he had lost you in such a short amount of time and in such a small area. How had he lost you, anyway? Almost all of his bodyguards had accompanied the both of you to the party and had been keeping a close eye on you the whole time, allegedly.

He sighed, leaning his head against one of the walls. "Where on earth did you go..."

Tsukasa was starting to worry. You had been so excited to celebrate with your family, he couldn't imagine you willingly leaving without telling anyone. Had something bad happened? What if someone had hurt you? God, he would never forgive himself if you were sitting somewhere alone, injured and unable to call for help.

Just as he was about to accept his defeat and ring his bodyguards for assistance, he heard the faint sound of a giggle, then another, and another coming from a closed room down the hall. It was coming from... the babies room? But all the children had gone to bed hours ago, why would you want to go in there?

Another giggle, his time joined by a laugh he recognised all too well, your laugh. You were in there, and you were laughing. Great, you were safe. Next question: Why on earth were you in the nursery?

Tsukasa approached the door slowly, not wanting to alert you, or any sleeping toddlers of his presence. He reached for the door handle, turning it every so slightly to get a peak of the inside. What he saw-and heard-made his heart swell.

You were sat cross-legged in the middle of the floor, surrounded by at least 6 children and a mountain of stuffed animals. All of the children were staring at you intently, entranced by the story you read out for them. One was even sat in your lap, playing with the bows you had put in your hair.

"And then, the brave knight took the princess' hand in his own, and the two of them ran off into the sunset together, never to be seen again and living happily ever after" You finished off the story with a smile, closing the book and setting it down on the ground beside you.

"Did they get married, (name)?" A young girl asked, pulling her blanket over her head.

"Of course they did, silly! They were in love, after all" You chuckled, ruffling the little girls hair. "Its called a happy ending"

A happy ending...

Tsukasa could live with that.

#ensemble stars #ensemble stars oneshot #ensemble stars x reader #enstars #enstars x reader #oneshot #tsukasa x reader #tsukasa suou x reader #tsukasa suou #writers on tumblr #writerscommunity #writers #wattpad #knights x reader #knights enstars

[naturesapphic]

Knight in shining armor part 3

Warnings: angst, fluff

You head to your room and starts sobbing that lasted for what seems like hours. Natasha feels a deep sadness and empathy in her heart as she imagines the princess's pain. "She must be feeling so alone right now," she thinks to herself. "I must do everything in my power to ensure her safety and happiness, even if it means sacrificing my own desires." She continues to patrol the castle grounds, her senses alert and her focus sharp. She knows that danger could come from any direction at any moment, and she cannot afford to let her guard down.

It was the next morning and you are sitting on the window sill and you look out the window, yearning for your knight but realizing that y’all can’t be together and your heart aches at the thought. Natasha continues her watchful patrol of the grounds, moving from one area to another with grace and precision. As she passes by the princess's window, she notes the young woman sitting on the windowsill staring off into the distance. She pauses for a moment, a sense of sadness washing over her. She knows that the princess is in pain and she wishes there was something she could do to ease her burden.

Finally, she decides to approach the window, her footsteps silent as she reaches the Princess's side. She looks out the window, saying softly. "It's a beautiful evening, isn't it?" Natasha rasped out and you looked up at her in surprise and you tense up a little but relaxes as I look up at you. “not as beautiful as you knight…” I slightly tease you with a playfully grin “but yes it is a beautiful evening, I love watching the sunset…” you confessed. Natasha looks at the Princess, her cheeks flushing a bit at the compliment but she quickly composes herself. "I'm glad you find the evening beautiful, your highness," she says with a faint smile. "It has always been one of my favorite times of day as well." She peers out the window, taking in the vibrant hues of the sunset before glancing back at the Princess.

"Is there anything I can do to help you feel more at ease?" Natasha asks gently, sensing the weight of the girl's sadness. "I know being a princess comes with many responsibilities, but please know that you are not alone." She gives you a gentle smile. “we should watch it together more sometime…” she says softly. You sigh sadly “no you cannot Natasha…I can’t kiss you, or hug you, or call you mine…so no there’s nothing you can do to ease this heart break I feel.”you look out the window again as a single tear falls down your cheek. Natasha’s heart aches at the sight of the Princess's tears, and she feels a deep sorrow in her own heart at the thought of not being able to be closer to her. "I understand, your highness," she says softly. "I wish there was something I could do to ease your pain, but please know that my loyalty and devotion to you will never falter. Whether as a friend or a guardian, I will always be here for you."

She stands quietly beside the princess, watching as another tear falls down her cheek. She wishes more than anything that she could wipe it away or hold her close, but she knows that is not her place. Her duty is to protect and serve, even if it means sacrificing her own desires. Finally, she speaks again, her voice gentle and kind. "Is there anything else I can do for you your highness?” She asked. You nod and stand up and walks over to you. “just know Natasha Romanoff that I am in love with you. more than anything and more than anyone. I would sacrifice any and everything to be with you but I see that your job is more important and I can understand that, you work hard and I appreciate that but just know I’ll never stop loving you my beautiful knight..” you say softly as your voice cracks and you lean up to give her a gentle kiss on your lips and walks back to my room, trying not to have a breakdown in front of you.

Natasha’s heart races at the Princess's confession, and she feels a mixture of emotions shock, confusion, longing, and heartache all mixed together. As the Princess kisses her, she feels a rush of desire surge through her, wanting to hold her close and never let go. But she knows that it is not her place, that as a knight and guardian of the Princess, her duty is to put the realm's needs above her own desires. Finally, she watches silently as the young woman walks away, feeling a deep sense of sadness and regret. She knows that she cannot change who she is, nor can she abandon the oath she has taken to protect the monarchy. “I will always be here for you, your highness, no matter what," she whispers softly to herself as she resumes her patrol, her heart heavy. After a while of patrolling she switched with one of the other guards and headed back to her room and falls into a sleep with her mind on you.

It was in the middle of the night and you scream loudly from my bedroom. waking up from a dreadful nightmare. Natasha wakes up from hearing the Princess's scream, quickly getting out of bed and grabbing her sword as she rushes over to the young woman's bedroom. She kicks open the door and finds the Princess laying in bed, looking distraught and terrified from the nightmare. "Your highness," she says gently, approaching the bed with her sword still at the ready just in case there's any danger. "It's alright, I'm here. You're safe." She places a hand on the girl's shoulder, feeling her tense up from the touch. "Do you want to talk about what happened?" Natasha asks softly, trying to calm the Princess down. Natasha's face hardens as she listens to the Princess speak of the nightmare.

You try to calm down to speak “n-nightmare a-about the g-guards who a-attacked me…” you stuttered out. "I'm sorry that you had to experience such a terrible dream, your highness," she says softly, her voice soothing in an attempt to ease the girl's fears. "But please know that I will do everything in my power to ensure that nothing like that ever happens to you again. You are under my protection, and I will not let anyone harm you." She pauses for a moment, thinking of what else she can say to calm the Princess's nerves. "Would you like me to stay here with you until you fall asleep again?" she offers, hoping to provide some comfort to the girl. "I promise I won't leave your side,” she said softly. “yes please…don’t leave me Natasha…” you say as another set of fresh tears fill your eyes and you grab onto Natasha’s strong arm gently. Natasha feels a pang of empathy for the Princess and nods gently. She slowly sits beside her and places her sword aside. Natasha grabs a hold of the young woman's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"I won't leave you, your highness," she says softly, her tone gentle as she looks over to the Princess and gives her a reassuring smile. "I'll stay here until you fall asleep again. You're safe with me." As the princess falls asleep, Natasha stays by her side, feeling a sense of protectiveness surge in her chest. She keeps a watchful eye on the room and listens intently for any sounds that might threaten the Princess's safety. In that moment, natasha feels a deep sense of contentment and purpose, knowing that she is fulfilling her duty to the best of her abilities, and keeping you safe. You roll over onto her and wraps your body around natasha your sleep and a small smile appears on your lips. Natasha, startled at first by the Princess's sudden embrace, lets out a soft gasp but then realizes that the young woman is still asleep. She relaxes a bit and feels a sense of warmth from the Princess's body pressed up against hers.

For a moment, Natasha allows herself to relax, feeling the gentle rise and fall of the Princess's breathing as she sleeps. She strokes the girl's hair gently, running her fingers through the soft strands and feeling a sense of tenderness towards her. As she looks down at the sleeping form of the Princess, Natasha knows that she will do everything she can to protect and care for her, even if it means sacrificing her own happiness in the process. Because to Natasha, there is no greater honor than serving her king, her realm, and her Princess.

It was morning and you found yourself in your knights arms. a surge of happiness went through you and you looked up at you with a tired smile “thank you for keeping me safe last night…I didn’t have anymore bad dreams…” you say softly and gets an idea. “you know…if you were mine…you would have to be with me 24/7…you can keep protecting me Natasha. it doesn’t have to stop if you are mine and I am yours. that just means you can keep a better eye on me…” you said smirking at her. Natasha feels a sense of joy wash over her at the Princess's words, but also feels a sense of conflict about what the Princess is implying. "Your highness, I appreciate your trust and your kind words," she says softly but firmly, pulling away slightly but still holding on to the girl's hand. "But it's important that you understand that my duty to you and your father is not contingent on any personal relationship between us. My loyalty lies with the kingdom and its safety, and I will do whatever it takes to protect you and uphold my oath as a knight. You deserve the best protection, and I will always put the kingdom and your safety first."

Natasha gives the young woman's hand a gentle squeeze to reassure her. "That being said, I will always be here for you as your loyal knight and protector.” She promises. “Natasha! I told you many times my father is okay with us being together! he blessed us and said that you could marry me in the future! he wants me to be happy and he realizes that it’s with you…he trusts you…he said that if it could be anyone who he’d want me to marry that it would be you Natasha…” you explained to her. Natasha feels a sense of shock at the revelation and a myriad of emotions flood her. Her eyes widen in surprise, but she quickly regains composure. She looks down at the Princess with a mixture of confusion and disbelief. "Your highness, I...I am not sure what to say," She lets out slowly. "Are you certain that your father gave his permission for us to be together? As your loyal knight and protector, I cannot act upon any relationship with you without the king's explicit consent. It is important that we are both in line with the regulations of the kingdom, and I must respect the law and its customs." She takes a deep breath, still holding on to the young woman's hand tightly. "However, I have always been here to protect and serve you, and I will continue to do so, no matter what.” She stated.

“I promise it’s true my love…we can go to him now and he will tell us the exact same thing he told me….we can be together my love…my father approves.” You explained as you pleaded with her to finally understand what you’ve been trying to say for the past few days. Natasha looks at the Princess with a mixture of awe and disbelief. She is uncertain about this unprecedented development, but the thought of being with the Princess makes her heart flutter with excitement and expectation. "If what you say is true, then I feel humbled and grateful. The possibility of being with you fills me with hope and joy. But it is important that we do not rush into anything without careful consideration. We must think about the consequences and whether our actions will benefit the kingdom and its people." She takes a deep breath and looks deeply into the Princess's eyes, feeling a sense of warmth and tenderness towards the girl. "But I am willing to risk anything for you, my love but your father has to approve of it.” She demanded softly and you nodded in understanding. “it is true…my father even said that he will approve of us sharing a room and a bed if we wish…i understand we can’t rush but oh I’m so happy my love I promise this will work out between us…” you confessed to her.

Natasha feels a mix of conflicting emotions, as the Princess's words fill her with warmth and affection, but she also feels a sense of apprehension and concern about the impact this newfound relationship will have on the kingdom. "Your highness, I am grateful for your love and trust, and I feel a deep connection to you," Natasha says softly, gently touching the Princess' hand. "But we must be mindful of our actions and the potential consequences they could have on the kingdom. We cannot act impulsively and without considering the implications of our decisions. If we are to start a relationship, it must be done carefully and discreetly, with the utmost respect for the laws of the kingdom.”She looks at the Princess with a mixture of warmth and tenderness, realizing that her feelings for this young woman run deeper than she had ever thought possible. You nod in understanding at her words. “I mean…I will be future queen and I will need a ruler beside me so it will affect the kingdom but In a good way.” You said while smirking as you start to caress her cheeks with your warm hand. Natasha feels a shiver run down her spine as the Princess caresses her cheek, her eyes closing briefly at the feeling of your warm hand.

"I understand your highness, and I will be honored to serve you in any way that I can," Natasha says softly, looking intensely into the young woman's eyes. She pauses for a moment, then takes the Princess's hand in hers, holding it tightly. "Know that I love you, your highness, and that I will always be there to protect and support you, no matter what happens." You sigh and nods. “so you do want to be with me and for this to work…right?” You say hopefully. “we can go as slow as you want but I want to hear you say that you want to be with me.” You said as you look deep into her green eyes. Natasha looks into the Princess's eyes, feeling a sense of vulnerability and openness. She takes a deep breath, steeling herself for what she is about to say, then speaks softly and honestly. "Yes, your highness, I do want to be with you. I have never felt a connection with anyone like I do with you, and I am willing to take the risk for us to be together. But we must be careful, and ensure that our relationship does not cause strife or upset the order of the kingdom. We can go as slowly as you'd like, but know that my feelings for you are honest and true." Saying this, Natasha feels a sense of tension in her chest, unsure of where this newfound connection will lead, but resolved to do whatever it takes to make this work.

A/n: part three done! Part four will be posted soon and smut will be included ;) my Rhea ripley book is open for any requests and stuff and go check out the first imagine I posted! I have my own buy me a coffee page! You can give me a dollar and it will help. I also have some different commission types I will do so here's my page to look into it :) https://www.buymeacoffee.com/naturesapphic Requests are open for yeehaw!wanda, country!wanda, and any other southern variants of Wanda or Natasha! Remember to stay hydrated and to rest! I love y'all!

#natasha romanoff x reader #natasha romanoff #natasha romanoff fluff #black widow x reader #natasha romanoff fanfiction #natasha romanoff imagine #black widow

[allycat75]

Ok, I want to get real with you Boston Dumb Fuck.

I have been holding onto this post for a bit and the thought behind it has been haunting me for months.

While I am constantly amazed at your lack of moral fiber, when I see a fellow human in trouble I can't turn away. You look like you have just enough energy to literally put one foot in front of the other, play your part and slip into unconsciousness for the rest of the day. I have seen it before and it doesn't end well. It's a living purgatory.

But I also don't like being manipulated or being made to look stupid or crazy, so I will continue to call out your bullshit and how it is emblematic of everything that is wrong in our society. I also don't think many have called you out on your bullshit before so I am happy to provide that service. As much as I desire this to be my last rant to you, I am not naive enough to think that will happen anytime soon. The Red Knight has you tight in its grip (Side note: "The Fisher King" is a great movie to watch or re-watch. It may resonate right now).

I do wish I knew that you understood how fucked up you are and have at least a semblance of a plan of how you are going to make it right once you are free. I think the reaction from your (former) fans and even the general public was a shock to your system and you have so far to go to just come up to sea level again. If past is prologue, I fear you will just coast on your White Male Privlege and never learn the valuable lessons of this disaster. But ultimately, I am probably screaming into a void. At least I have put it out into the universe...

Early on, I compared your work in "Ghosted" to a Matthew Perry performance.

Before I continue, let me say I loved Matthew Perry and I can't believe he is gone. I always felt he had so much potential, as seen in "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" and "Go On", but there was always a barrier I sensed he put up, almost like it was a performance within a performance. What he thought we wanted him to be. Now, as we know, there was a mountain of insecurity he was hiding and numbing that haunted him to the end. How I wish he could have freed himself and enjoyed some true wins.

Now, I can't help but draw some additional mournful parallels to you and your current state, beyond your "Ghosted" performance within a performance.

We know you hate yourself (you were not joking during the SMA interview). You took your hand off the wheel and eyes off the road, relying only on your Captain America/internet boyfriend/dog dad persona, and wound up trapped in a blind alley. Now you are locked in this ridiculous contract.

To numb what you have become, you have disappeared into weed, at the very least. But escaping using weed is only healthy when you know what you are escaping from. When you have no tether, you are only sucked into a void where you risk not being able to return. You may say "it's just weed", but we have seen you make bad decision after bad decision and it only takes one to be life altering.

This may be hyperbolic. You may be in control of all of this and laughing at our reaction. Maybe you have mastered The Method and apply goth white makeup before you go out, have changed your diet to be sickly thin and hunch over on purpose, for your craft. But my daddy didn't raise a fool and I don't suffer them. I know when something is rotten in Denmark. I was raised to offer a hand when I could, regardless the reason or reward. So my offer is this (much of this is repeated from previous posts, but repetition is key to learning):

STOP! STOP! STOP! Your contractual obligations should be met by now. The little racist twat got press on her project release dates. That is all she deserves. If not, you need a doctor's note saying this is killing you, because it appears it is. And switching from awkwardly showing off that fucking ring or oafishly grabbing the wifey's hand in order to meet that contractual obligation to lovable, single dog dad so as to reinforce your dog food is Nazi-free has got to be dizzying; making the crazy-maker crazy. So whomever thought this was a good idea and kept you in it long after the effects were detrimental, remove them from your circle. They have no place in a healthy future.

Get help to change the behaviors that got you painted into this corner. This situation didn't come out of nowhere. Someone or many someones exploited your vulnerabilities and they could do it again if you aren't careful. And no more shushing or egoic narrative- either that is complete bullshit or no one taught you the next part of the curriculum. For once in your life, take accountability and accept responsibility for your actions.

Take the time to become healthy and strong in mind, body and spirit. And let those who still have a chance of liking you in the future miss you. You even admitted you don't make the best first impression. Lately you haven’t been making the best second, third or fourth either. Even Scarlett seems to be getting tired of you. One or two more stunts and no one is coming back. We may be talking about you, but a short term gain will mean a long term loss. Don't worry, we will remember you, and if you do the work, we will celebrate you.

Take an active role in rebuilding your life. Decide what to be and go be it. Others shouldn't care more about your happiness and success than you do. Enjoy some wins, you are allowed. Get back into the world again and see where you can make an impact (hint- it is not with ASP. I actually think that could set us all back. A good idea whose time has passed).

You were given privlege and opportunity and it is chicken shit you ran as soon as it got a little hard. Fight for your life. Others have lost their chance but you are still here and can make it chicken salad.

PS- "Cousins" is a great movie if you are wondering about the chicken shit/chicken salad line. And don't let anyone tell you the French version is better. They are just being pretentious.

#brian wilson vibes #Ai in human form #do better #Don't shush- learn the leasson #is this the life you wanted #We only get one life- you can either make it chicken shit or chicken salad. #Rich white male privlege- check it

[licially]

Inflammable Devotion. [Lucaby]

// A random angst fic for @blogplutocrat's Lucaby, I finally decided to post it on here after some consideration. Be warned, it is quite corny and the ending is lacklustre at best.

From whence the fire started, burned down the house. The fire raged forth and forth came a frantic and exhausted figure, screaming out something lost to the rage. The overheating of such magnitude had her scrambling through the household, her heels nowhere to be seen as the planks beneath her increased in heat. The middle of the clock tower boasted no hiding place, and if there is it’s highly improbable he’d be anywhere above. Right?

“Rocky?! ROARK?!!” 

Her shouts, briefly interrupted by the smog that acted second hand to her already blurring vision, as she reduced to more a crouch in hopes of finding him. 

Wherever he may be.

Her voice strained, on the verge of a meltdown, as she continued calling out for her lover’s response. She’d been knowing of this place ever since childhood: a core memory of her first times being friends during a service where Rocky and Freckle met Lola by complete accident.

They’d been regularly meeting up here every week ever since they both ran into each other, and it’s where they’d share everything: secrets about their families, occasional sad times with one another, hugs and kisses from both of them alike, laughter and, sometimes, anger. Throughout it all, after the church was left abandoned, they’d be here at all times, a gentle reminder of the origins of their relationship.

Now it’s nothing but an effigy of their past selves, and soon to be a murderer and funeral.

She stared back at the familiar window, where she had spent half her lifetime sitting - singing tunes and waiting for him - and found it blocked by the rubble that ripped out from above it. Her one reliable way in and out of the tower is now blocked.

The other exit? Around a burning hole in the floor and straight out of the front door where a staircase would be. One that led to the top, and somewhat frequently visited by the two as they traveled up the tower and looked out of the windows towards St. Louis, or by the farmlands that stretched into the never-ending horizons, or towards the sunset.

She precariously tiptoed her want through the lukewarm floorboards, watching out for anything that would endanger her life on the floor. 

Yet she didn’t see a falling support beam that fell over her head.

She didn’t see it coming, nor did she expect it.

Nor did she expect Rocky to hold up the wooden stick of fire, as she gazed at a daze.

“GO MS DELUCA!”

The enigmatic knight in shining armor screamed through her quiet admiration, as he held it for long enough for her to run towards the exit: a straightforward path towards the light from the outside, only made clear from the vast contrast of the blast furnace of the interior.

However, she wasn’t letting him go just yet. Despite the heat and the already collapsing infrastructure she didn’t want to lose Rocky over something that can be more disposable than his life. She stood back, amidst the flames, and grabbed onto Rocky’s fur as his other arm that was holding up the beam soon found its fabric burning.

“WE CAN GO TOGETHER, C’MON!”

She yelled, the building shaking with every second passing. It seems the higher roof is bound to collapse any time soon.

This time Rocky didn’t resist, and instead made a run for it alongside Lola as the two chased each other out of the ensuing fireball that was burning. A million thoughts and prayers passed through her head in an instant, looking up for anything that can protect them from anything that might disrupt their chances of escaping this hell.

As they kept running, Rocky without his jacket and shoes given that they both caught on fire, Lola slowed down a little because of her overexposure to the smog, causing her to cough as a reaction from the pollution from ashes as Rocky soon reached the start of the staircase. 

He looked back, seeing Lola struggling to keep up with him. He felt a wave of heat and anxiety overcome him, as he needed the both of them out of that place. The creaking continued, as he sprinted into action immediately. 

He reached back to Lola, and with an inaudible ‘excuse me’ exhaled, carried her like a bride towards the exit. The fire reached an ultimatum, as the bell’s distant chime soon thundered down a wreckage of death and destruction. Its collapse soon sent another wave of dust blooming in every direction, as the duo quickly ran out the door into the open air. 

Soon it was a run for survival, as they ran back out of the residence, behind the wooden fences that stood between it and the road that led them back home, and through a big clearing towards the left side.

They both breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Death couldn’t catch up to their one life.

Yet it feels like all eight other lives have been lost.

The flames amidst the tower of inferno burned down, as the night sky sundered by the crackles and illuminating the very fabrics. One of such was time, as for the other was a duo of scared cats running away to save themselves from a demise they wasted all eight of their lives on.

The bright yellow cat, reduced by the flames, exhausted by the stamina, roughed around the edges more than the support beams of the tower, had seen what the afterlife had to offer. Lola had barely escaped the chaos with some quick thinking from both her and her fiance; Rocky. From a slanted hill, slightly facing the church, they both sat there. One unconsciously doing so, the other silently watching.

She didn’t know what to do anymore.

This place: 

All of its memories, 

All of its intricacy, 

All of their lives.

Everything they’d built together; a smile, a slight nudge, silent laughing and crying, an embrace, a dance amidst the chaos.

Reduced to a point of no return.

She didn’t have much to fear, yet her one and only fear kicked itself alight after a mishap with a candle. She needn’t blame the person responsible, and she cannot blame the architecture of this abandoned church after it’s been desecrated for years after the churchgoers moved out of this quaint town.

She heard the roars of the fire even from afar. Although damp, it was still a death scream.

The church bell soon finally hit the ground for one last time.

The same dull tone that they’ve accustomed themselves to after meeting there for so long.

Now ringing out something that dissolved into the charred scars of the past

She aimlessly stared at Rocky, her charred hands brushing against his hair. 

Past all of the time she had been sitting outside, watching the scattered embers dance, she had been trying and trying to get Rocky to wake up. So far, everything had little to no effect, and it only made worse by her emotional state.

She had two definitions of everything, and both laid in front of them; one ablaze, the other presumably unconscious.

Feared dead.

She hasn’t heard anything from him.

She leaned closer to him to see if anything pointed to a sign of life: breathing, a pulse, or a response.

She held her hand over his nose, to see if anything faint was picking up. Knowing him, he was a silent sleeper. A complete 180 from his destructive behavior and oftentimes explosive personality. 

Yet here he’s making no such notion towards any of those. Even back at the burning tower, he had a look of fear in his eyes.

A fear uncontested by his fearlessness.

A fear that overtook his line of thinking.

A fear, whose lethal potency finally absorbed itself through to Lola as she soon felt nothing blowing against her finger.

“Rocky?”

She felt her words vanish into her emotions again, as she moved onto the second sign of life that she knew about: his pulse. 

Her hopes dwindled further and further, he tended to be the person who got himself into much, much more trouble than he could handle on his own. On a daily basis, he’d be back rarely with his entire suit intact, save for whatever he had on him at the time. They’d gone through about three violins together already, about 30-40 jackets, and 20 odd hats, the latter of which was painful to try to find a person willing to recreate that hat. She still held hope that he’d be safe from his business’ multiple red flags and subsequent dangers, and without fail he’d be back in her arms safe and sound. 

Yet today that faith was tested.

She leaned closer towards his chest, his shirt dirtied and scratched from the fire.

Her left ear lowered to mask the sounds of the crackles as she pressed her other ear against his chest. Even through all of the troubles, it felt soft. It felt like a home outside of home, it felt like an uninterrupted cool breeze on a hot day. 

Even now, she could still feel that sense of everything. She hoped that ‘everything’ would be the same.

She heard nothing.

No rhythm in his heart. No life.

Nothing.

She hesitated in a moment of dread. 

Her thinking of hope turned into a sea of what-ifs. What if she left this place sooner? What if she never pulled him back here at all, thus saving his life and hers? 

Then, the tears came rushing out.

Her sobbing, masked by the still ongoing embers from beyond, took her towards the point of no return. She’d been everything towards him, and he’s been everything she had hoped for. Her entire life ran itself through her mind as she weeped and sobbed onto Rocky, still laying there facing up into the partly cloudy skies. 

She hugged him, as she sobbed louder and louder. Her nose became stuffed, as she held him closer to her and clinged onto any sort of life from him at all. Even though it didn’t seem like any was there to begin with.

Bewildered, her head began to spin from all of the loud crying.

She felt her body exhaust all life into it, she pleaded to anything that could save her from this nightmare. She didn’t want to be alone yet again, she never wanted it. 

Why did she have to think of such an idea?

Why did she pull him back here to begin with, even though they’d both moved on from this place as a whole?

Her world began to spin. Her headache had been creeping up and down ever since they made it outside, but it was made worse and worse.

Why? Why? All of these whys and what ifs, all of her sobbing, all of it.

They unite, in grief.

She stopped. It felt like… a weight was lifted off of her somehow. 

Her eyes remained closed, yet…

She can’t hear the fire anymore. The winds– seeming stopped.

Her hands seemed to be holding to Rocky still, right?

Reluctant, yet still shaking, she opened her eyes.

“Ms Deluca?”

Rocky soon met her eyes, very much alive and confused, in a room far from any fire, nor any grass field. He was far from anything, far from dead. The room was lit unevenly by a window, towards her left, and the birds outside soon chimed into her hearing instead of the haunting fire.

She looked down, soon realizing they were both in pajamas and that she kept holding onto Rocky, in the same position she had held him in that dream. She let go of him, slightly embarrassed and more confused than anything. How did she wind up back here? Why was she in a whole different… place?

“You’ve… held onto me and cried for an hour straight. I’m getting worried about you. Are you… alright?”

She put her hands on his face, just a bit less confused than before but she was blissful. She was relieved she got to see him again. 

“I… I’m sorry.”

She choked slightly, and embraced him again. This time, softly, and more quietly as her hopeful flame burned on. 

#lackadaisy #rocky rickaby #definitely not angst #GODDDDDDDD I SHOULD HAVE WRITTEN THIS BETTER #licially

[mistresslrigtar]

Chapter Twelve: Dusk (written for @zelinktines24 day 12 prompt)

Read below or HERE

Star and Epona’s whickers underscore the faint ‘thwack’ of metal on wood. Rising from where she tends their small, rooftop garden, Zelda brushes her dirt-covered hands absently over her trousers before leaning against the railing to observe Link practice swordplay on a wooden mannequin behind the house. He dances gracefully around the stationary opponent, moving with an ease and precision ingrained in his muscles from countless battles, despite his fragmented memories. As he spins and lunges, the dim twilight the glowing blue sword leaves a faint, ethereal trail in its wake.

It’s become their evening ritual since settling in here for Zelda to work in the garden while Link spars during the ‘witching hour’, as Zelda’s chambermaids used to call the time between sunset and moonrise. It’s a time when the shadows grow long, the light is grey suffused with a faint golden glow, and magic hangs heavy in the air.

These moments harken back to a time long ago when Zelda was a powerless princess observing her appointed knight, all while thinking he held his destiny as firmly in his hands as the sword he wielded. However, she was just as wrong then as Zelda is now when Link falters coming out of a final turn and the sword’s hilt slips in his grasp, and glances off the dummy’s shoulder, sending wood chips flying. There’s no mistaking his frustrated growl as he lowers the sword, balefully eyeing the blade imbued with the ancient power of a goddess.

Glancing up, the hard look in his eyes softens when he sees Zelda gazing down at him. Sheathing the sword, he scales the side of the house as agile as a cat and joins her in the garden.

“There are stairs.” Zelda laughs, shaking her head at him when Link leans back against the railing beside her.

He rolls his right shoulder while gripping it with his left hand and grimaces sheepishly. “Probably should have used them.”

“Let me help.” She reaches over, gently places her palms against his shoulder, and calls upon her power. Her hands glow and she sends the warmth into his aching muscles. 

Link flinches and pulls away, averting his eyes to gaze over the sea. The air between them grows heavy as if a storm has suddenly stirred up out of nowhere.  “Don’t… don’t waste any more of your power for me.”

Furrowing her brow, Zelda drops her hands to her sides. “I don’t think it’s a waste to help you.”

“I know you don’t.” Reaching behind him, Link pulls the sword from his back and lays it on the railing. “We’ve never talked much about… this… how it was returned to me repaired as if Hylia had just forged it… but I think I need to.”

Bowing his head, Link places his hands on the blade and Zelda is taken aback when a tear splashes on the exposed metal between his hands. He squeezes his eyes shut to stem their flow. “Do you know how difficult it was for me to pull this from the Light Dragon’s forehead? She writhed beneath my feet, Zelda, trying to buck me off, and I knew it must be agonizingly painful. Her anguished cries as I wrenched this cursed blade out of her skull haunt my dreams.”

Zelda sighs, her heart aching, and places her hand atop his. “If it’s any consolation, I don’t recall when I was a dragon.”

Link shakes his head and turns to look at her through the curtain of his hair, blue pain-filled eyes still shining with unshed tears. “Maybe not, but I saw the final tear memory and how painful the transformation was. I know you must remember that, and that’s nearly more than I can bear. This sword has never been enough to save you, and the sacrifices you’ve been forced to make because of my failures are too great.”

“Stop this! We’ve both suffered and sacrificed.” Zelda’s throat constricts, and she presses her lips tightly together. She can’t allow herself to cry. If she does, she knows Link will shove his own hurt and anguish down deep once more. It’s a blessing that he’s finally opening up to her. Once she feels in control, she places her hands on either side of his face and tucks his hair behind the delicate points of his ears to see his face clearly. 

His eyes widen in surprise at the sudden touch and Zelda sees the same longing for forgiveness in them she feels. She’d turned away the other day out of fear when he looked at her nearly the same way. Today, instead of speaking further, Zelda closes her eyes and crushes her lips against his. When she feels Link’s arms encircling her waist, she allows her tears to flow—their saltiness joining his and blending with the bittersweetness of a long-awaited kiss.

As always, tysm to @floraunderground for looking this over and encouraging me!

I hope everyone who has been following along, enjoys this installment. Some fluff to break up the angst is ahead 😅

#legend of zelda #zelink #the legend of zelda #tears of the kingdom #breath of the wild #zelinktines24 #daily prompt #short story #slices of life #angst #guilt

[aebi12]

"Resentment" - Chapter 2

Summary

He is the cause of her sufferings. He took her dragon, her betrothed, and her father. Now, he will also take away her future by having to marry him.

With so much history and bad blood between Rhaena and Aemond, their forced union has everything to fail, except that the proximity will make them discover that perhaps they have more in common than it seems.

AU - the Greens win the war.

Masterlist with previous chapters

Once again, sorry if there are mistakes. Remember english is not my mother tongue~

***

The mountains begin to turn red, orange, and lavender as the sun sets behind them. Rhaena, though used to the sight, finds it as breathtaking as the first day she watched the sunset from the grounds near the Eyrie.

"Beautiful, don't you think?" she asks her dragon, who, clinging to her shoulder, lets out a soft roar as a kind of affirmative answer to her question.

Soon she will no longer be able to support the weight of the creature on her body, but in the meantime, and although she knows that she will have to rub her shoulders with the maester's ointment later, she allows Morning to scratch her snout against her neck.

“The hunting party has returned, Lady Rhaena,” a servant informs her almost shouting from an exaggerated distance, afraid to approach the girl while the dragon is at her side.

Rhaena nods and giggles as the boy hurries away, then she tilts her face to look at Morning before hurried toward the castle courtyard, where knights, squires, and servants are shouting for stable boys to take care of the tired horses. Rhaena ignores them, and moves between the small crowd until she finds the figure she is looking for, a knight with his back turned stroking his mare.

“I hope the hunt has been successful"

The man jerks, clearly surprised by the sudden voice behind him, and turns, meeting the girl's smirk. “Lady Rhaena,” he greets with a nod.

“Ser Corwyn,” she nods as well, imitating his formal tone of voice and calling him by his title, though he is her closest friend in the Vale, and they often call each other on first names when they aren't surrounded by so many lords, “So any luck?”

“Lord Royce was the one who gave the deer the coup de grace,” he sighs, shaking his head, “Though I was the one who managed to track it down.”

"Bravo for you!"

Corwyn smiles shyly, and a blush that the girl finds adorable stains his cheeks. "I brought this for you"

The young man carefully removes a white handkerchief from one of the mare's saddlebags and approaches Rhaena, nervously eyeing Morning, who just looks at him disinterestedly, used to his scent and his presence.

“It is beautiful,” she answers, opening the handkerchief and looking at a deep purple flower. Flowers are rare to find due to the Eyrie's geography, the castle being the only place to have a garden with some specimens that are the pride of Lady Jeyne.

"For your books"

 “Thank you, Corwyn,” she replies softly, guarding the flower carefully, “I hope to see you at the feast tomorrow.”

"I hope I can have the honor of dancing with you," he nods, "That is if this time you manage to make room for me among the many dance requests that the other lords will surely make of you"

“I think I can save you a dance,” she says with a smile.

Ser Corwyn seems to want to say something else, but simply watches her, making Rhaena's heart skip a beat as he takes her hand and brings it to his lips, kissing her knuckles, "See you tomorrow, Lady Rhaena."

"See you tomorrow, Ser Corwyn"

Morning lets out a loud grunt and Rhaena withdraws her hand from the knight's, offering him one last smile before entering the castle and heading towards her room, where a delicious fire crackles brightly and a tub full of hot water is already waiting for her.

The young woman takes a bath and puts on a simple mauve dress because, although they are in the middle of the celebrations for the name day of Lady Jeyne Arryn's eldest son, there is nothing really important planned for tonight, so she pays not too much attention to her outfit as she heads towards the private room of the lady of the castle, who is already sitting at the table waiting for her.

"Oh! There you are,” she says when she sees her arrive, waving her hand and pointing to the chair next to her, “Come, let's eat.”

Rhaena seems to notice a hint of feigned calm in her voice, but doesn't comment on it because Lady Jeyne distracts her with comments about trivial matters that aren't usually part of their normal topics of conversation, which manages only to increase her concern. But it's not until she's eaten some of her treacle tart that she dares to ask, "Is everything okay?"

The older woman pushes her plate away and sighs, giving her a look that seems to be filled with compassion, "I didn't want to ruin your appetite."

“That's not exactly reassuring,” she replies, pushing her dessert aside as well, “What is it?”

"I received a letter this afternoon"

Her heart stops for a second and her mind seems to go blank until she manages to find her voice, “Is it Baela? Is she okay?" She hadn't heard from her twin in a while, her last letters had been terse and didn't give too many details of her life as a guest/hostage in Driftmark.

“It was not your sister who wrote,” Lady Jeyne shakes her head, “The letter came from the capital. Written by the Dowager Queen herself."

"Oh. And the queen wanted…?”

"To inform me that they require your presence in court… indefinitely"

Rhaena nods as she tries to understand what exactly that could mean. Why would the Greens want her back in King's Landing? What was the point for such request? She was just a noble lady with nothing to offer, living as a guest in the Vale, with no money, no land, nothing but her dragon and her name. Her name… Rhaena swallows hard and meets Lady Jeyne's gaze, who seems to be thinking the same thing as her.

"I suppose they plan for me to marry one of them?"

"They don't mention it explicitly, but it's the only explanation that makes sense."

"When am I expected to go?"

"Prince Daeron will arrive tomorrow to personally take you to King's Landing."

"Tomorrow?" Rhaena gasps, her breath quickening, her vision blurring at the information, “Why so soon? And why should the prince come for me?” She demands to know, even though she knows Lady Jeyne doesn't have the answers, “Oh, and the feast! What will happen to the feast?”

Her last question is silly, but she can't help but ask it. Rhaena feels her eyes fill with tears, but she takes a deep breath, calming herself down. There's no point in crying, there's nothing she can do to delay or dodge the plans they have for her. Even if she asked Lady Jeyne to try to put up a fight -which she would never dare suggest- the superiority of a dragon against the Vale's defenses had already been proven years ago by Queen Visenya and Vhagar. And it's not like she could be a match for Daeron and his dragon, not with Morning still so young and small.

“I think I know why they are acting so hastily,” Lady Jeyne leans closer to her, “I received information from the capital, the queen has once again lost the baby she was expecting. According to rumors that I haven't been able to confirm yet, but which seem to be true, she is not expected to survive for too long."

Rhaena sighs and closes her eyes, her mind briefly drifting back to the fateful night when she lost her mother. The blood, the desperate screams, the unborn baby…poor Ellyn Baratheon, she thinks.

“They are desperate,” the woman continues, “Almost four years on the throne and no heir. They need to cement their position now more than ever. And there is no better candidate than you to achieve it. If I'm being honest, I was hoping they would have sent for you as soon as they secured the throne. You would have been the most logical choice to be the Usurper's new wife. They surely intended to offend you and your sister by pushing you aside, although their plan did not turn out as they expected."

"It seems that, one way or another, I will not be able to escape that fate"

Lady Jeyne squeezes her hand, leaning even closer and almost whispering, “This is not necessarily bad news. You will be queen and you will have power."

"How much power can I wield surrounded by my enemies?"

“You don't just have enemies in King's Landing. There are those who do not forget that the Iron Throne belonged to Queen Rhaenyra, there are those who would help you because you are the blood of the dragon, the blood of Daemon Targaryen himself."

Rhaena winces at the mention of her father and tilts her gaze, “I don't want to know about conspiracies, Lady Jeyne, I just want a quiet life. That's all"

It is what she had always wanted.

She had wanted to live peacefully and happily with her sister and her parents in Pentos.

She had wanted to be able to marry Luke, with whom she was assured of a peaceful coexistence as husband and wife.

She had wanted to be able to stay in the Vale and dance with Corwyn Corbray.

She hadn't wanted deaths, or wars, or betrayals, but she had grown up in the midst of them.

Lady Jeyne places her hand lovingly on her cheek and looks up at her, her expression strangely soft and motherly. "I am so sorry, Rhaena, I know this is not what you expected."

“It is fine,” she shrugs, “It is what I was born to do, right? I always knew that I would have to marry a high lord and produce heirs. I guess… I guess it doesn't matter if that high lord is the king”

“A king who can barely walk, who gets sicker every day and who will hardly be able to hurt you in the marital bed. A king who is desperate for an heir, a man easily manipulated if you give him what he wants."

"I do not know what you mean"

"They are desperate, Rhaena." The woman says again, “And they chose you and not your sister, who is older than you and who should be the one to marry first. You know why?" Lady Jeyne doesn't expect her to reply, "It's because your sister is a troublemaker, while you are everything a future queen is expected to be."

Rhaena lets out a wry laugh at the irony of being chosen for once over her sister to such a disgraceful end as marrying an enemy.

“Be what they expect you to be. Be accommodating, be obedient, pretend that you agree with their dispositions, with their traditions and routines, be the queen that the people expect, win their hearts and win them all. It won't be hard for you,” the woman smiles fondly at her, “Make them trust you, get them to let their guard down until you can have real influence to…” Lady Jeyne smiles again and shakes her head, “I'm sure you can do it. It didn't take you too long to get everyone here to love you."

Rhaena is tempted to press for answers, for the information Lady Jeyne had so clearly chosen not to say, but a small voice inside her mind tells her that perhaps it is better not to know.

“I think I'd better go back to my chambers,” she says, “I've…I don't feel too well.”

“Of course,” the woman lets go of her hand and drinks from her wineglass before wishing her good night.

Rhaena walks slowly to her room, her steps almost dragging, her actions mechanical as she dismisses her maid, puts on her own night gown and fixes her hair.

She knows that sleep is going to elude her, so she tries to entertain herself by reading a book, but she can't concentrate on the words. Not when her noisy mind replays her conversation with Lady Jeyne of a while ago, not when her heart begins to ache at the thought that this may well be the last night she will spend in the castle she had come to think of as a home.

Why must everything be so unfair? She wonders as a couple of tears fall from her eyes. Why should she, once again, abandon a home? Why should she leave the people she esteemed so much? Why, for once, couldn't things be as she expected them to be?

Her life seems to constantly drift like a ship loose on the high seas. Just when it seemed that everything was going to be all right, a big wave came and made it change course. She must have been used to it by now, she must have known that her quiet life in the Vale would come to an end... but she had chosen to be an optimist. She had thought the worst was over, after all, what else did she have to lose? They were all dead. Her parents, grandparents, brothers, cousins... only she and Baela remained. And they had been ignored for so long that Rhaena had thought that at last, at last, she could start anew.

What a fool, she thinks as she wipes away her tears, her mind reproaching her for being so naive. Of course, there would be a bigger plan for her. Of course, she couldn't just marry Corwyn Corbray and live happily in some little fortress in the Vale.

No. That would not be her destiny. She was, after all, luckless Rhaena, as Baela used to called her when they were children. She was going to go to King's Landing and give heirs to the family that had killed hers. And there was nothing she could do to stop it. Not unless she decided to take a more tragic alternative and end her life, though she knew well she wouldn't get through with a plan like that. She had tried once, she had gazed straight into the void of the Moon Door, but she had been too cowardly to throw herself.

You don't have the guts.

Her father's voice appears so suddenly in her head that Rhaena flinches and hugs her arms, shielding herself from the memories that conjures up in her mind.

“Get a hold of yourself, Rhaena,” she says quietly as she pours a glass of water, “You are going to be fine. In the end, you are always fine."

Or so she likes to think because, after all, she had been able to deal with worse. And she had ended up adapting to every setback that life had thrown at her. This time it wouldn't be different, she wasn't going to let it be.

Rhaena repeats her words of encouragement so many times that they still echo in her mind as sleep overcomes her, dragging her into an uneasy slumber from which she awakens several hours later to the sound of a dragon's roar.

"Morning?" she asks, sitting up in a hurry on the bed

But no. It is not her dragon, still dozing in her cage on the other side of the room by the fireplace, the one that roars in the sky.

Her stomach clenches, and her bile rises up her throat as she realizes that sound can belong to no one but her cousin Daeron. How is he already here? she wonders as she gazes out the window at the dimly sunlit morning.

"Good morning, my lady," the maid greets from the door, "Lady Jeyne requests that you join her in the High Hall."

Rhaena nods and doesn't protest when the maid meticulously arranges her hair, managing to make an intricate design with her dreadlocks, or when she helps her into a gorgeous red dress laced with gold, no doubt suggested by the lady of the Vale.

Be what they expect you to be, she reminds herself as she walks into the hall where Jeyne Arryn and Daeron Targaryen are in animated conversation.

“Lady Jeyne, Prince Daeron,” she greets with a smile before curtsying to her cousin.

"It's nice to meet you, cousin Rhaena."

Daeron walks up to her and takes her hand in his to place a kiss on the back, a friendly smile gracing his handsome face. The young man is, like his brothers, tall and platinum-haired, with lively lilac eyes that stand out in a heart-shaped face that gives him the appearance of a big boy.

“It is my honor,” she replies politely.

“Surely Lady Jeyne has already told you the reason for my visit,” he says looking between the two ladies.

“Of course,” she nods, “I am excited at the prospect of returning to the capital and living among my family.”

If Daeron detects the lie beneath her words, he doesn't let it know, just widens his smile, “Good. We will leave as fast as we can, if we hurry, we can reach King’s Landing by late afternoon.”

Rhaena, bewildered, looks to Lady Jeyne for help.

"There is no need to be in such a hurry, my prince," the woman intervenes, "We are celebrating the name day of my son and heir, you would honor us with your presence during the festivities"

"I would love to, Lady Jeyne, but I am urgently expected in the capital."

"What about your dragon?" Rhaena asks, "Surely it would be excessive for her to make such a long journey with two people on her back?"

"My Tessarion loves a good challenge," he replies with a fond smile, "Fear not, cousin Rhaena, my Blue Queen will be able to carry us safely to King's Landing."

Rhaena can only nod at his words, feeling defeated.

“But first, perhaps we could have breakfast together,” Daeron proposes.

"Sure, come on, my prince"

Rhaena walks with them to the private parlor where breakfast is already set. Although Daeron begins to question Lady Jeyne about the Vale, the castle, and other political aspects, Rhaena tunes out of her conversation and tries to eat something, not really managing to finish more than a muffin.

"I'm afraid I can no longer enjoy your hospitality, Lady Arryn," says Daeron, "We must get going."

"What about to my belongings?"

"They will be shipped to the Capital," Lady Jeyne informs her.

"I should… I should put on something more appropriate for the trip, then," Rhaena says.

"Of course," Daeron nods, "I'll wait for you in the courtyard with Tessarion."

Lady Jeyne follows her to her room, where the maid helps her out of the dress into trousers and a long leather jacket.

“Leave us,” the woman orders the maid.

Once they're alone, Rhaena hugs the woman, who cradles her to her chest while stroking her hair, “You're going to be fine, princess. You are stronger than you think"

The girl is touched by her words, “I thank you very much for your kindness all these years, Lady Jeyne. More than an ally, you have been a good friend to me"

“And I always will be, no matter what,” she assures Rhaena.

"Could I ask you one last favor?"

"Anything"

"Could you... please tell Ser Corwyn that I was really looking forward to our dance tonight."

Lady Jeyne offers her a half smile and nods, “I'll let him know. Now go, write whenever you need to and be careful. The capital is full of spies, trust no one."

Her words fail to calm her, rather fill her with a sudden anxiety, but such is Lady Jeyne. Tough and suspicious. And loyal.

Rhaena gives her one last smile and takes one last quick look at her room before leaving and walking to the courtyard, where two maids hold Morning's cage, who lazily flies away as soon as the girl opens the lock.

“She's coming with me,” she says to Daeron, approaching cautiously, aware that the blue dragon is sniffing the air, her gaze locked on Morning.

“I would not suggest otherwise,” he nods, “Don't worry, cousin, my Blue Queen will behave,” he replies confidently.

And so it seems to be, because the dragon makes no move to attack them as she climbs on her back and settles behind her cousin.

Daeron commands Tessarion, and she soars into the sky, drawing a roar from Morning and a gasp from Rhaena. She has not ridden for years. She had done it with her mother, on Vhagar, but only a couple of times, so she had completely forgotten the feeling of soaring in the sky.

And it was a wonderful sensation, yes, although it was now overshadowed by the melancholy of leaving her home behind.

And for the fear of what the destiny holds for her.

Rhaena swallows and hugs Daeron's body. The prince tries a couple of times to start a conversation, but the young woman is too mortified to respond, so he eventually gives up.

Rhaena's mind is set on her memories of her cousin Aegon, her future husband. What did she know about him? Apart from the fact that he drank wine to excess, he liked to frequent brothels and that he had been seriously injured in the battle that caused the death of her grandmother, she doesn't know more. She had seen him only once and paid him little attention, excited as she was to be reunited with her sister and her impending betrothal to Lucerys.

He, for his part, had not even registered her. No. His attention had been focused on her twin, leering at her and whispering improper things to her ears, things that had sparked Jacaerys's rage.

"There's food and wine in the saddlebags," Daeron informs her after what seems like minutes to her, but from the numbness in her legs and the color of the sky, it must have been hours, "Though soon we will be in the city"

Rhaena hugs his waist as Tessarion speeds up and hides her face in his back, Morning clutching her shoulders tightly, never having detached from her throughout the journey. She doesn't think she can eat anything, so she doesn't look for the food the prince mentions, instead she loses again in her increasingly anxious thoughts, as the view changes from the royal forest to small villages that indicate that a large city is nearby.

"King's Landing," Daeron announces, turning to her and Rhaena can see the smile on his lips, "Hold on, cousin."

He doesn't need to tell her twice. The girl clings to his waist as the dragon, clearly excited to return to her home, begins her descent. The smell of the sea and rot washes over her as Tessarion finally lands near what used to be the Dragon pit.

“Let me help you, cousin,” Daeron offers his hand, and Rhaena allows him to help her down.

The girl slowly walks away from the blue dragon as she gazes at the ruins of what was once the home of the mythical creatures that gave her family so much power. A pang of sadness reaches her heart at the thought of all the pain, devastation, and death that has occurred in that place.

Morning claims her attention and Rhaena strokes her scales, “It's okay, dear. Everything is fine,” she tries to reassure her as two men help guide Tessarion to a new building.

"Shall we?" Daeron asks, looking at her tentatively and cocking his head toward a carriage that is already waiting for them.

Rhaena nods and climbs into the vehicle, tucking Morning into her lap as Daeron sits in the front seat. The carriage starts to move, and the girl is aware that her cousin seems reluctant to try once more to speak to her, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye, leaving them both in awkward silence.

“I am sorry I haven't been a more pleasant traveling companion, cousin,” she says, trying to break the ice. Daeron seems to be kind and sincere enough, as well as being the king's brother, so keeping good relations with him seems to be the most advisable thing to do, "But all these changes were so sudden that I had many things on my mind."

"Of course, there's no need to apologize," he assures her, smiling, "I understand how difficult it is to leave our home behind."

Rhaena nods, "Still, I'm happy to be here and join your brother."

"I wish you and my brother Aemond a… joyful union."

Aemond.

He had said Aemond?

Rhaena blinks and stares at him for a few seconds as she tries to determine if she's heard correctly.

"Aemond?" she asks in a small voice. It couldn't be. It had to be a mistake. She was going to marry... She couldn't marry... "The kinslayer?"

“I would suggest not to mention that nickname in front of my brother,” Daeron shifts uncomfortably in his seat. Rhaena's expression must convey her shock because the young prince asks, “Are you alright, cousin? You turned pale and…”

"I think there's been a mistake," she says quietly, though clearly desperate, "I don't…can't marry him."

“I thought you knew about the betrothal,” the prince replies, clearly confused.

Rhaena opens her mouth, but closes it quickly.

Control.

She needs to remain calm. She can't – mustn't – let Daeron know what she really thinks. She must not allow him to see her deep revulsion at the prospect of marrying the man who is to blame for all her misfortunes.

"I am just a little nervous," she ends by saying

Control yourself, she thinks as the carriage stops and she gets out of the vehicle, finding two figures standing before the castle gates. Mother and son are dressed in dark green and, seeing them, everything seems to become terrifyingly real.

She is going to get married.

She is going to lose her freedom.

She is going to become in yet another hostage in this prison that they call a castle.

And though she tries not to look at him, though she tries only to focus on curtsying appropriately to the Dowager Queen, her eyes can't help but drift until they meet Aemond Targaryen's cold, hard gaze.

___________________________________________________

I don't know if anyone is interested but let me know if you want to be tag in this.

Next chapter sunday!

@qyburnsghost

#aemond targaryen #aemond one eye #ao3fic #prince aemond #aemond kinslayer #rhaena targaryen #rhaena of pentos #forced marriage #rivals to lovers #enemies #hotd aemond #hotd fanfic #hotd

[mysweetgirl2-love]

Hanging on His Every Word - Kaeya x Reader

(A/N): Ah, Kaeya. The Calvary Captain, whatta guy.

This prompt ending up falling on the perfect character in my list, I'd argue. It fell on his name and I was like "Great. Beautiful. Love love him to be whispering just ... everything in my ear." God, talk about a tease, right? I hope you enjoy the emphasis on tease I put on him in this oneshot. I think my brain tried making it a little angstier at one point because 🤪 plot??? But, not enough to make it surrounded with angst. Genshin characters are really hard to write, I've come to realize. I wish I knew them all a little better, but reading every five-part backstory is a lil intimidating t.b.hONEST- so I hope this suffices ^^" I also have been reading other one shots on Tumblr and realize people put warnings even if it's a soft one shot, so I'm gonna start doing that 🤩 just cuz' I feel a little foolish if that's what people are worried about here. Hope you enjoy the oneshot!! Here's to the alluring knight of Favonious, shudders.

Prompt #9: Whispering Sweet Nothings

Word Count: 2.7k

Warnings:(None! Unless whispering into your ear makes you uncomfortable??? But, that's the prompt for this day so ehhh maybe next time ;u;)

✦✧✦✧

Living in a teapot didn’t seem so comforting in the beginning, the idea of a cramped space like that being utilized as a home seemed… for lack of a better word, unfit. Yet, after some help from Chubby and encouragement from your team, you actually were able to spiffy the place up appropriately for your needs.

The outside closely resembled the Liyue nation you had recently traveled through—the sun always golden in a constant lowering within the sky. It lit your surrounding, glass china which encased world in brightened gold, a direct replicant of the sunsets you had since observed against the Liyue skyline. The ones you’d found yourself basking in with your teammates, and now one you could show the other team members who all now resided here. Or, at least had another home to confide in outside of their dwellings across Teyvat.

You weren’t one to usually spend much more than a few minutes, or so, within your teapot’s domain. Not that you didn’t like the space, there was just too much to also be done in the real world towards completing your adventures that finding time for the teapot was difficult. Chubby assured you not to ever worry about the wellbeing of the realm, and he would be happy in keeping its upkeep in your absence. Nevertheless, your lack of nurturing the teapot would always spawn some anxiety.

Tonight was actually a night you were able to seek out the time and rest in your home. Recently, you had called upon Lisa to help you appropriately furnish the home you were gifted to make the place actually live-able. She had picked out a couch and surrounding table and chairs for your entry room, making the hall to left hold a kitchen, a closet, and a study. The librarian still was determined to help with the opposing hallway, but for now you were appreciative of the space for a study she had currently built.

More than appreciative, especially with the fact she so took to heart making the place feel like a real home for the companions like her who liked comfortable downtime, you were eternally grateful for the authority she took in her interior design. She definitely felt prideful in her work, and you felt she was rightly entitled to. It was cozy, welcoming, and let you take on less of a job for once.

Currently, basking in that forever setting sun from outside your window, you were curled over the dark oak of your desk—a worn notebook laid out before you with scribbled writings marking the lines in frantic thoughts and recollection of your day. The interactions you had, the importance of items you had picked up along the way, mapping out waypoints and why they held certain importance. Anything that came to mind, it was marked down, and now you were simply paused to try and wrack your brain for anything more. 

So engrossed in your trying to remember what had happened through your earlier afternoon, you weren’t tuned into your surroundings like usual. Not that you would necessarily need to be worried of what’s around you, it was here where you were supposed to trust in the security of your surroundings. That was the whole point, right?

To true enemies, yes; that would always remain fact in this plane. What the rule didn’t apply to was your acquired comrades from over the journey—those who loved to antagonize only being an objection to your found peace in this evening. And, it was him who now descended on your space, careful to not make much noise as he entered your study and proceeding his silent approach behind you.

You remained unsuspecting, much to his amusement, and quickly from there he finally made himself known in the quiet room. He wasn’t quick to speak, but swiftly his hands grabbed gently at your shoulders which he further used to pull himself up and slightly over your back. You gasped at the sudden ‘attack’ instilled against you, your face flying to look up and confront the oncoming person—gaze dulling at who you found.

“I should’ve known better.” you scoffed irritably, throwing the hands off your shoulders with a quick yank of your upper half, “You must think you’re so funny, don’t you?”

“Haha, a little~” The man behind you finally spoke up, his purr of a laugh eliciting the butterflies in your stomach to flutter up a storm, “What? You’re trying to tell me this wasn’t a good surprise?”

“Not at all, Alberich.” You snappily quipped in his direction, waving your hand dismissively over your shoulder. “Would you buzz off? I’m a little busy right now…”

“Really.” He didn’t obey, flopping over towards the space of desk next to your arms; still determined to see what you’re working on. “Writing in your little diary about me?”

Your head fell towards the page, baffled at the Calvary knight’s persistence to keep you irritated. 

“Kaeya…” 

“I tease, doll…” Kaeya hummed from beside you, his one eye flicking over to the paper again and pushing his head closer, “I am curious, though.”

“Well, you’re going to be disappointed when I still tell you…” your fingers slipped under the notebook’s cover, flipping it up and letting the pages slap shut against one another, “no.”

“Oh, please,” Suddenly the book was snatched away entirely, Kaeya holding it to dangle between two fingers tauntingly over your head. “like your no is gonna stop me.”

“Kaeya.” You growled, your arm flashing out to try and grab the book away from him, “Give it back.”

“Mmm-noo,” He took a lumbering step away from the desk then, grabbing the book by one of its covers and letting it hang by its spine. “I’ll take my time with this novel, I think.”

“Kaeya!” You leapt from your chair, almost being caught in the falling backwards of the piece of furniture. “It’s not funny! Give it back!”

The man paused to throw a glance your way, the gleam in his gaze and twist of his mouth clearly showing you how much he was enjoying this game of cat and mouse he so quickly enforced. What joy he found in that irritated scowl you held so prominently for him. But, he also knew you through other expressions—and could clearly see what differed even now in the face of your irritation.

From darker circles around your eyes, a new scar or two from your travels and the violence you often challenged, the lack of vitality in your being with maybe how tired your body grew over time. He registered this in his heart, and suddenly the grin fell from his lips and settled in a hesitant frown.

“…Fine,” He sighed, bringing the book back forward—you taking a beat and snatching it out of his fingers before he could think twice on his decision.

Kaeya scoffed a soft laugh at your desperation, not being able to help himself, you then clutching the diary against your chest. With his hand still lifted, he flicked his fingers into a snippy wave as though to brush you off in the other direction. You frowned with his dismissal of this entire interaction, suddenly; you stepping out in his path to make him pause.

“What?” You ask, your voice having an edge that showed you weren’t going to let him lie his way out of this one.

“Nothing, it’s nothing…” He sighed, almost dejected as he further turned away, “just… you look tired.”

You were speechless in the wake of his commentary, confusion quickly flooding itself through the rest of your emotions as he continued in his now exiting of the room.

“Woah, woah, woah, hold up.” You suddenly are tripping over yourself to reach out and grab him, “I asked you to give me my book back, not that you had to leave.”

“Ah,” he finally paused and returned his attention to you at the sense of your touch, “I guess that would be true, wouldn’t it?”

“So…?” You nodded up with your chin, urging him to speak, “What was that, just then?”

Kaeya’s light tease subdued at the question, the knight’s gaze falling as though he were suddenly beside himself. “I just thought I don’t need to be taking away from your time alone. That’s all.”

Your frown only deepened at that, a light squeeze from you against his wrist brought his head back up—his one eye revealing more to you than maybe necessary. On the rare occasion, and really only with you, the man before you arguably appeared to feel guilty. 

“I mean… sure, I’ve had a long journey thus far and enjoy the quiet moments when they come. But…” You shrug your shoulders indifferently, “It’s no problem if you’re quiet and respectful.”

It was meant to be a little bit more of a jest than you trying to comfort him, but he seemed to appreciate the effort you gave in making him feel welcomed even after he had been so adamant on messing around with you. You were too kind to him when it came to things like that, in his eyes. Also understanding, that was half the fun of having first been sneaking around with one another—it all starting on a stealth mission in Mondstat when he couldn’t help but tease at you beneath him, simultaneously pinning you both to a wall in an attempt to stay out of sight from your target. That moment changing the course of your relationship entirely, as it probably would anyone’s. 

“Haha, I barely know the definitions of those words…” He chuckled, turning back towards you and stepping in the direction of your smaller frame. “Teach them to me?”

“Woah, buddy…” You chuckled, your breath a little short with how intimate the space had suddenly become, “I’m a partner, not your dictionary.”

“Mmm, two birds with one stone?” His voice was next to your head, breath washing over the side of your ear, “Why not be both?~”

“Kaeya…” You managed to say through a building pressure you then realized was starting to build in your chest, as if the air was thin with how you felt so closed in against him.

“The definition, doll…” He purred the instruction into your ear, knowing exactly how his voice was affecting you.

“Quiet,” you shuddered, his hand in your wrist now twisting to grab at yours while you spoke, “the-the opposite of what you’re doing now.”

A quiet chuckle and squeeze at your wrist was the response you received, and it only was urging you to continue. You bit on the tip of your tongue to keep from being snarky again, a rebelling glare hardening itself against your features. 

“Respectful… showing respect for a person.”

“That’s cheating,” his voice resounded in a deeper register, more a growl this time around, “try again.”

“Kaeya…” you whined, your hand leaving his grip and placing itself against his chest in trying to push him off. It was evidently no use, his stature stagnant before you. 

He dipped his head evidently closer towards your ear, a hushed uttering against your ear, “Enlighten me, little one.”

Your head flew up at his calling, a wide eyed stare being your only reaction for the time being. Blinking furiously, you had to will yourself into giving him some better answer, the other half of your mind pleading to let him continue. Wanting desperately to hear what more he could say, that half hanging on his every word. You shoved him into a stagger with how your strength struck at him this time around, needing both him and your own opposing thoughts to be silenced in that way.

“You need to stop that.” You announced while he laughed obnoxiously over your head, his own falling back in a resounding cackle much to your dismay. “It’s not that funny!”

“Ah, yes it is. When this is your reaction?” He craned back forward, you not being able to stop him in time before his nose gently touched against the tip of yours, a light brushing of faces between the two of you. “Besides, I can’t call on you in an endearing title?~” 

“I—Well, can it be a nicer one?” You hummed in return, you cautiously watching him above you and how his features rested. The point of contact appearing to make him ease. You frowned at the expression on his face, not loving how it alleviated your tension and heightened your yearning of the knight. It caused the tone of your voice to ease and your expression fall into one of subdued defeat.

As usual, he read you better than anyone you’d already grown accustomed to and saw right through your request. His gloved hand raised to your cheek, and his own appearance changed into something more endearing. Like he were nurturing the world at his fingertips, and in his case he knew he was. You had become everything for him in the span of a few months you now had spent together, all while becoming that more familiarized with the other. Most definitely in ways you never imagined would be possible with someone like him—and in that thought, he too was shocked to have wooed someone like you into loving even those darker aspects about him.

Circling back on your question, the man shook his head. “No… I don’t think it’s inherently rude in any way. You’re just being picky.”

“Wow.” You huffed, not being able to stop the smile that then grinned across your face, “What am I going to do with you.”

“Hmm,” Kaeya seemed to ponder the question for a moment, but ultimately his eyes fell back to the desk and he was nodding towards your abandoned journal that not lay flat on the corner of the small table, “I guess I’d still appreciate being enlightened on what you’ve written in there?”

You turned over your shoulder in following his direction, straining a frown at the idea of rereading your thoughts out loud. “It’s really nothing interesting… just travel detailings, puzzle solutions I want to try… the normal scheming for an adventurer.”

“Exactly why I wish to know about your journey’s recollections.” He sounded a matter-of-factly above you, “I’m sure I can help problem solve a few things for when you go back.” 

The hands that once shoved against his chest were now resting on the biceps of his arm, and you squeezed at the arms against your palms in knowing he would ultimately get what he want. You had a hard enough time telling him a straight no when he was teasing, the genuine curiosity he now displayed making an objection to his want arguably impossible. 

“…Fine, okay. You win.” You relented suddenly, slouching forward and pushing your head into his chest. He made a soft hissing yes in success of his wants being met, you tensely turning up and huffing at the eye-patched fighter while he reached over to retrieve the book. 

“Thank you, my love.” He chuckled, hoping the display of appreciation was clear enough in more than just his words, him further reaching your work of writing up in your direction. “Please. I’m dying to hear about your travels in my absence.”

Quietly, you gave the book a once over before taking it tentatively in your grasp; quietly than cracking the cover open in reading what was first in the writing. That quiet plead of his made your heart burn all the more, and you grinned in looking back to him.

“Where do I begin?” You chuckled, the man taking your hips and pacing back towards the chair at your desk. He hoisted himself down but only while positioning you in-between his legs, pushing you then to rest easy before him.

“Wherever you deem fit, little one.” He hummed, his thumb stroking at your clothed side making the goosebumps race along your arm.

“Ah, well…” You turned a page or two where your writings first started, pointing at the first word for you to recall a little of what you had already written, “I think that first day in exploring Mondstat works then, yes?”

Kaeya’s warmed face somehow grew to seem more sincere, and he quietly nodded, “That sounds absolutely perfect to me.”

#kaeya x reader #kaeya x y/n #genshin impact #genshin x reader #kaeya alberich #kaeya #genshin impact kaeya #genshin fluff #oneshot #fanfiction #fanfic #softtober #soft kaeya #writing #x reader #fall in love with kaeya idk #he's pretty #kaeya oneshot

[cataztrophi]

TAZ November Celebration 9: Missing Pieces

This one is wildly self-indulgent and I had a lot of fun writing it so I think I understood the @taznovembercelebration assignment! My card was "missing pieces," which somehow became a beachy meet-cute and some fairytale prince-ass behavior.

November, Taako had decided, was the best month to go to the beach in New England. At least for painting. All the tourists had moved on to warmer climes, and he had full run of the shoreline to set up his chair and start sketching out that beautiful autumn sunset. The only drawback was the wind. He could usually deal with it if he put his hair up well enough. What he couldn’t deal with was it catching his case at just the right angle to knock it off his lap and send paints flying across the sand. 

Taako leapt to his feet, his mind already doing the calculations on how much it would cost to replace the good watercolors that Lup had bought him for Candlenights last year. Too much, was the answer, and he raced down the beach to rescue his art supplies. In an instant the sand shifted under his feet, and he landed awkwardly on his ankle before crashing to the ground. His leg erupted in instant pain.

“Fuck!” He scrambled up to a sitting position and examined his ankle. It didn’t look broken, but it definitely hurt. He moved it experimentally and sucked in a breath through his teeth. Yep, it definitely hurt. 

“Are you alright?” Taako’s head jerked up towards the voice. He hadn’t expected to see anyone on the beach today, let alone a stranger who was jogging towards him with the purposeful gait of someone who was coming to Fix Things. At this point, Taako could use one of those.

The man dropped to a knee beside him, looking him over with dark, kind eyes. Even in his current distracted state, Taako felt a little flutter in his chest. Those were eyes he could go swimming in. 

“Hey, are you hurt?”

“My paints,” he said miserably, holding up the tubes he’d managed to collect before disaster struck him for a second time.

The stranger’s eyes darted from Taako to the brightly-colored tubes scattered across the beach. “I’ll get them. You stay there, okay? Don’t try to get up.”

Taako watched him chase down the errant paints with the same determined focus of a tiger stalking its prey and couldn’t help but smile. Maybe this balanced out the twisted ankle. He’d have to see how bad the damage was, and how open this guy was to giving out his number. 

He collected all the paints he could find and put them back in their case, which he had retrieved from a little up the beach. He presented them to Taako with the solemnity of a knight presenting his fallen enemy’s sword. 

“I think I got all of them.”

Taako added the few he had grabbed. “You did.” He snapped the case shut and held it against his chest, relief washing over him. “Fuck, you’re my hero.”

“Most people call me Kravitz,” the man replied, although his pleased smile hinted that he might be alright with Taako continuing to call him ‘my hero’. 

“Charmed. I’m Taako.”

“Is it okay if I check you out, Taako?” he asked, gesturing towards his injured ankle. He rolled up his sleeves to his elbows, revealing muscular forearms that Taako couldn’t help but admire.

“Oh, you can check me out any time, handsome.” 

“What was that?”

Taako smiled sweetly. “Be my guest.”

Kravitz had cold hands. He felt Taako’s ankle gently, checking for damage, with the confidence of a guy who knew what he was doing. Now, if there was one thing Taako was good at, it was making the best of a bad situation. He was the reigning champion of turning half-eaten leftovers into gourmet meals, and faded thrift store donations into runway-worthy Looks. Right now, he might have sand in his skirt and a swollen ankle, but he also had a strikingly handsome man administering what appeared to be highly competent first aid, and he knew an opportunity when he saw one.  

“Do you spend a lot of time here?” Kravitz asked as he continued his examination. 

“One of my favorite spots this time of year. Summer, though, it’s too crowded for Taako.”

He nodded. “I feel you. Sometimes you just want to have a nice walk or a swim without a hundred people and twenty-five blaring Bluetooth speakers.”

“Oh my god, right? I thought we fixed this problem when we invented headphones!”

“Exactly!”

Taako shifted a little, leaning back on his hands to see Kravitz’s face better. “Next summer, you leave it to Taako. I know all the best hidden beaches. You wouldn't believe how gorgeous some of them are.”

“I imagine it's quite a sight,” he said quietly. The way he looked Taako over told him that Kravitz wasn't picturing the pristine beaches and crashing waves. He grinned and reclined a little further.

“So, Kravitz, what brings you here on a windy day like this?” 

“It’s a good place to decompress. You know, get away from things for a bit.” He moved Taako’s foot around a little, and Taako inhaled sharply as the pain stabbed into his joint. “Sorry. I’m just going to take your shoe off, okay?”

“Kravitz, I just met you! What will the neighbors say?” He gave Kravitz his best performance of scandalized horror, complete with pearl-clutching, and Kravitz laughed as he began working Taako’s shoe off his foot.

“What- ow!- What are you decompressing from?”

“Well, my job can get a little stressful.” He looked up from his examination and smiled. Taako was pretty sure that Kravitz’s smile would cure his seasonal affective disorder. Hey, handsome, what are you doing for the next three months and are you available to just stand there and beam at me for six to eight hours per day? “I'm an EMT.”

Taako blinked. Was this some sort of cosmic refund from the Universe to make up for all the other bullshit? “Huh. Must be my lucky day.” 

“Must be mine, too,” Kravitz said. Then a panicked look came over his face. “I mean, it's not lucky you got hurt, it's just, you know, nice meeting you.”

He was adorable when he got flustered. Taako couldn’t wait to see what else he could fluster him with. 

“Well, am I gonna live?” Taako asked as Kravitz sat back on his heels.

He grinned. “You seem tough, I think you'll make it. It looks like a pretty minor sprain, or strain. It should get better with rest and some ice.” His voice shifted slightly to a tone of gentle but firm authority. Work voice, Taako assumed. No big, he had one, too. “Now, I wouldn’t bother going to a doctor unless you don’t see an improvement in the next few days. Odds are he’ll say the same thing I just did, and I don’t know what your insurance is like….”

“Cha’boy works at a cafe, so, bad.”

Kravitz grimaced. “Right. So like I said, just ice and rest for now. If it doesn’t get better, or if it starts feeling worse, then you should definitely see a doctor. Things like this happen all the time, but if it doesn’t heal properly it could cause some issues down the line.”

Taako nodded, calculating how bad it would have to get before he saw a doctor, and realizing his foot would have to fall off first.

He was pulled from these dire musings when Kravitz started to talk again. “The big thing is, I don’t want you to put any more weight on it than you have to, especially on difficult terrain like this.”

“It would help to have a strong arm to lean on,” he said, in his best damsel in distress impression.

Something sparked in Kravitz’s eyes, a sort of confidence that hadn’t been there before. “I mean, we could do that, but it would probably be easier if I just carried you. If you’re comfortable with that, of course.”

Taako felt lightheaded all of a sudden. Clearly they were in Kravitz’s wheelhouse now, and he wasn’t going to waste the opportunity to show off a little. Well, who was he to stand in his way?

“Listen, Taako’s not going to argue with a medical professional.”

Kravitz’s smile widened. “Very wise of you. Now if you just sort of bend your knees….” He gently placed one hand under Taako’s knees and the other behind his back. There was a moment of disorienting movement, and then Taako was in his arms, his heart pounding so hard he was worried Kravitz could feel it. He slipped one arm around Kravitz’s neck, blushing fiercely as he realized how close together their faces were now. 

Oh, cool. So Kravitz was just carrying him around like a fucking fairytale prince now. He could feel the muscles of Kravitz’s chest pressed against his side, and he barely seemed to be straining, despite the fact that he was holding a full-grown adult in his arms. Kravitz was clearly a little breathless about the situation as well. He gazed down at Taako with half-lidded eyes, even darker now as his pupils expanded.

“You good?” Kravitz asked, his voice so soft that Taako wanted to wrap himself up in it like a blanket.

“I’m fucking fantastic, my man. You just made all of teenage Taako’s Superman fantasies come true.”

Kravitz laughed, and Taako could feel the movement in his chest. “Had a lot of those as a teen, did you?” He started up the hill, careful of each step.

“Didn’t everybody?”

“Well, some of us saw Interview with the Vampire at an impressionable age and never fully recovered.” Taako raised an eyebrow, looking at Kravitz’s distinctly goth-inflected clothing choices. 

“Looks like it had quite an impact.” He leaned in close and let his lips just brush over Kravitz’s neck, smiling as he heard his breath hitch.

“Taako, if you make me drop you I am not liable.”

“Guess I'll save it for later, then,” he sighed.

“Later?” Kravitz tried to keep his tone casual, but Taako could hear the hopeful note in his voice.

Taako shrugged and began tracing patterns over Kravitz’s chest with one finger. “You came heroically to my rescue, I figure it’s only fair I pay you back somehow.”

Kravitz stopped dead. “And, uh, what did you have in mind?” he asked, his voice suddenly rougher than before. 

Taako brushed his lips over the same spot on Kravitz’s neck, then kissed it in earnest. “Oh, I’m sure we’ll think of something.” Kravitz exhaled shakily as Taako pressed kisses up his throat, then over his jawline. 

“You do, um-” He swallowed and tried again. “You do remember that I told you to avoid anything strenuous, right?” Taako drew back for a moment and was delighted to find Kravitz gazing down at him with something approaching hunger on his face.

“No, you only told me to avoid putting weight on my ankle,” he said cheerily, planting a kiss next to his ear. “And I can think of plenty of ways to do that. On my knees, for example. I could-”

“Taako!” He could feel the heat radiating off of Kravitz’s face. He looked up at him with his best innocent smile.

“Yes?”

Kravitz shook his head, trying to suppress a grin. “You know, I’m half-convinced you’re some sort of mer-creature that’s going to drag me to a watery grave the minute you get the chance.” 

Taako nipped at Kravitz’s throat, not entirely averse to the image of himself as a murderous sea tempter. “Would that change the math for you, stud?”

Kravitz thought for a moment, seeming to earnestly consider it, although Taako guessed he wasn’t helping by working his way back up Kravitz’s neck with his teeth. “Not as much as it should, probably.”

He pulled back from Taako’s teeth and looked him over with those eyes that Taako could just get lost in. “From where I’m standing it looks like it might be worth the risk.”

Taako felt the blush spreading over his face again. Before he could respond Kravitz bent his head down to kiss him full on the lips. It was sweet and tender and Taako found himself lifting his hand to Kravitz’s cheek, and he wondered if Kravitz was some strange kind of siren himself, because he may have started this as a fun flirtation but suddenly he could see himself waking up next to him tomorrow morning, and the day after that, and holding his hand in restaurants and doing all the disgustingly romantic things that no one ever seemed to stick around for. The thought was scarier than he could have imagined. But then again, it might be worth the risk.

#taz november celebration #taz balance #taako #taz kravitz #taakitz #troph writes

[slusheeduck]

Fictober 2023 Day 27 - Prompt: "I don't know if they'll accept this." Fandom: Baldur's Gate 3

Just one rest more, and they would be in Baldur’s Gate.

Wyll leaned against the crumbling wall of the old fortress’s tower—he’d come here as a boy more than once with his friends, and they’d play soldier until sunset. He wondered how many of them had actually followed that path…or how many of them were still alive. Certainly no one else had gotten in a fool’s bargain like he had.

“Well, aren’t you the broody hero? Am I interrupting?”

Wyll jumped, and he turned around to look at Astarion. His hand was still on his horn—he’d found himself absently rubbing them when we thought in a new nervous habit. After a moment, he shook his head.

“Of course not, just thinking.” He sighed as he looked over the city again. “What a homecoming, right?”

“Mm, if you can call it that,” Astarion said dryly. “My Baldur’s Gate has been gone for centuries. Living in the shadows of the city as I did doesn’t make it feel much like home.” He lightly rested his arms on the tower’s wall, scanning over the lights below. “It’ll be interesting seeing what it looks like during the day. In-between the horrors that await us, of course.” He looked to Wyll. “It’s been a long time for you, though, hasn’t it? Well, relatively speaking.”

Wyll half-smiled. “Seven years.”

“And you’re only…twenty-three? Twenty-four? Gods, you’re a fetus.” Astarion sighed. “All the same, I hope this cesspool welcomes you home.” As Wyll shifted uncomfortably, Astarion’s brow furrowed. “What?”

“I…I’ve dreamt of this, you know. Ever since I was cast out.” He gave a small smile. “I always imagined a big fanfare—the Blade of Frontiers finally welcomed home, my father’s arms open, his pride at all I’d accomplished, all the good I’ve done.” His smile faded, and he let out a long sigh. “Being a devil hadn’t been part of those plans.”

“I think Baldur’s Gate has much bigger problems than your handsome pair of horns,” Astarion said. “And, if we’re being honest, I don’t think Gortash would have arranged anything nice for you either way.”

“I know, I know, I just…” Wyll pressed his lips together, gaze focused on the lights below. “I’ve worked so hard for this…for them. Even after all these years, part of me is…still that seventeen-year-old boy who wanted to be the city’s hero. My city’s hero. And I…I have that chance now, but…” He looked up at Astarion, looking lost as he gestured to his horns. “I don't know if they'll accept this."

“If they don't, then fuck the lot of them.”

Wyll startled. “What?”

Astarion met his gaze. “You’ve done more for the entire Sword Coast than most people would do for the people they love the most. You’re…disgustingly heroic and good, you know. If anything, the horns are a nice reminder that you’re real and not some fairy tale knight out of a storybook.” He sighed, looking back out to the city. “And if the people of Baldur’s Gate—your father included—can’t recognize that, then fuck them. You deserve better.”

Wyll stared at Astarion for a moment, then his mouth twitched up into a smile. “Thank you.”

Astarion waved his hand. “It’s the truth. Nothing to thank me for.”

Wyll puffed out a laugh at that and nodded. “Of course. You know, Astarion, I think you’re actually…”

“Do not say what I think you’re about to say.” Astarion glared at him, and Wyll held up his hands.

“All right, all right,” he said with a laugh. “You’re awful and evil and the worst.”

“Thank you.”

“…but I’m still fortunate to have a friend like you.”

The vampire looked caught off-guard by that, faux-affront softening before he could stop it. He looked over Wyll for a moment, then turned back to the city.

“You know,” he said after a moment, “Drizzt Do’Urden didn’t even leave Menzoberranzan until he was over thirty. You’ve got a headstart on him.” He tilted his head with a grimace. “You should probably stop posing when you do something heroic if you want to get to his level, though.”

Wyll barked out a laugh. “Noted. Make sure the biographers don’t mention I do that.”

“Oh, naturally, I will. Provided I’m depicted very flatteringly in accounts of your first big adventure, of course.”

 “Of course.”

Fictober 2023 Drabble Master Post

#fictober23 #baldur's gate 3 #bg3 #astarion #wyll ravengard #LOOK #I have a LOT of feelings about the two of them #And I think they would make great friends #And I wish there was more content of them interacting #IT'S THAT CONJUNCTION OF THE ULTIMATE GOOD HERO AND THE ULTIMATE EVIL VILLAIN WORKING TOGETHER #ENCOURAGING THE OTHER TO BE BETTER AND THE OTHER TO JUST FUCKING DO SOMETHING FOR HIMSELF MY GOD #It's my favorite dynamic #Oops messed up the prompt lol