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azrielsdove · 3 months

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Don’t Blame Me: Azriel x Reader

Warnings: Violence, Suggestive

(loosely based on the don’t blame me x LWYMMD mashup from the eras tour ngl)

***

You heard a desperate, strangled shout of your name as he went down. You screamed, anger and fear taking over. No, no, no, you chanted in your head, diving in the direction Azriel had fallen. This couldn’t happen, not to him.

The two of you were sent on a mission to investigate unknown creatures breaching the borders of the Night Court. Rhys wasn’t even able to tell you what they were, just that they were more dangerous than anything you’d dealt with before. You had been given explicit instruction to leave once you found where they were residing and report back the location. From there a larger team would be sent out to eradicate the threat.

You had been tracking them carefully for days, trying to find their home base. You were beginning to think they didn’t have one, that these creatures were nomadic. Until an hour ago. Azriel had practically dragged you as high as you could go in the sky, pointing to a cluster of trees a while away. “There,” he explained, “they reconvene there during the day.” You nodded, preparing to fly back to Velaris and tell Rhys. Azriel caught your arm, shaking his head. “I want to track them a little longer. Make sure I have the pattern right so when we come back we can have the best chance at taking them out.”

You didn’t have a good feeling about staying out, but you agreed anyway. It was important to ensure the information you had was as detailed as possible. That’s how you ended up here, wind rushing past your face as you free fell down to where Azriel landed. Please be okay.

You dropped to the ground and surveyed the area for any sign of life. There was nothing there. If you hadn’t seen Azriel fall yourself you would have assumed nothing was ever down here. You took off through the trees, heading in the direction of what you assumed was their camp. You listened carefully for any sound, whether it be danger or Azriel himself. You were nearing the clearing he had spotted earlier when you heard a slow hum, ducking back behind a tree and tucking your wings tight against you. You poked your head out to watch two of the creatures move farther in the area, Azriel dragged between the two of them. Your heart ached at the blood running down his face and his limp body.

You followed the creatures until you were at the edge of the camp, watching their moves intently. The tied Azriel to a tree trunk, moving and muttering around him. You were taking in how many you saw, estimating that about 30 of these things were living here. Your nose wrinkled at the sight of the insect-like beings, their long stingers the supposed most dangerous part of them. The creatures were roughly the size of an Illyrian soldier, resembling wasps more than any type of fae. Large, disgusting wasps. The hum grew louder as what you supposed was the leader approached Azriel. Your toes curled as you watched the way it yanked his face up, inspecting the unconscious male.

It turned to one of its workers, a horrible clicking sound coming from its mouth. The other responded in the same way, the language grating against your ears. They turned back to Azriel, continuing to talk about him. You wished more than anything you could understand what they were saying. You looked over Azriel again, noticing that his blades were still strapped to his body. Did the creatures not realize what they were? Or were they truly so deadly they didn’t need to worry about disarming their enemies? A chill ran through your spine at the thought.

The leader let out a loud screech and the others filed into neat rows in front of it. You paled at the sight of them all together. What were you going to do? You desperately called for Rhys in your mind, knowing he likely would never hear you. Even if he did, how long would it take him to get here? Azriel might not have that much time left.

The leader gave some sort of command, and you watched in horrified shock as they all opened their mouths. Long, sharp, straw-like tubes came out, heading straight towards Azriel. You didn’t have time to think before you ran out there, quick enough to take them by surprise and get in front of him. The creatures all stopped, taking in this new sight in front of them. Adrenaline was pumping through your body, the only thought you had was to save Azriel.

Don’t blame me.

You pressed your back to his front, reaching behind to grab on to one of the swords strapped to his chest. Your warrior eyes darted around the creatures, desperately searching for any sign of weakness.

Don’t blame me.

The leader moved towards you, that horrible straw coming straight to your face instead. In a split-second decision you ripped the sword from its place on Azriel’s chest, a loud scream tearing from your throat as you swung. Tense silence spread through the woods, followed by a sickening squelch as the creature split in half.

Don’t blame me for what you made me do.

The other creatures all swarmed towards you at once, your screams and the sounds of bodies hitting the floor echoing through the woods around you. You became feral, tapping into the deepest parts of your Illyrian training. All you knew was to not let them touch Azriel. One of those horrid straws sank into your thigh, a searing pain ripping through your skin. You yelled, the next strike aimed at the creature who attacked. The wound burned like acid had been poured into your bloodstream, and knowing the way these creatures worked it probably had. You couldn’t let that stop you, not when Azriel was in danger.

Look what you made me do.

You fought back with more anger, cutting down creature after creature. You were a force of pure power, midnight blue siphons a thing of deadly beauty. Another straw embedded itself into your arm, the sword clanging to the ground. You wrapped your uninjured hand around the pulsating thing, ripping it out of your skin. You squeezed your hand around it, harder and harder until you felt the satisfying pop of it breaking. The creature it was attached to howled and you shot it square in the chest with your power. You looked around, noting there were only three of these left. Even with your arm and leg out of commission, you felt you could finish these last few off.

Don’t blame me, love made me crazy.

Your uninjured arm slid down, pulling out a dagger you had strapped to your thigh. You surveyed the three creatures around you, deciding to go for the middle one. You roared, jumping forward and latching on to the nasty beast. Your dagger rammed into its chest and you slid down, your weight pulling the blade down its body. It screeched as you were showered with its sticky green blood, collapsing backwards. You turned to the other two, adrenaline dulling the pain of your injuries as you pulled out a second dagger.

Oh, Lord save me, my drug is my baby I’ll be using for the rest of my life.

The two convened on you at the same time and you swung out both arms, spinning in a death dance with the blades. You landed on one knee in front of Azriel, twin thuds from behind you letting you know you struck true. Your breathing was heavy as you looked up, up into his wide eyes. He murmured your name and you dropped the daggers, the adrenaline rushing out of you. You winced at the sudden pain in your arm and leg, spreading quickly from your intense use of them. You fell forward, body shaking while you tried to push yourself up. You had to untie Azriel, he had to get out of here.

Don’t blame me, love made me crazy.

You forced yourself up with a cry, fingers undoing the knots the creatures had used to keep Azriel trapped. He pulled out of them the second he could, catching you as your weakened body fell against him. “I got you, I got you,” he whispered, cradling you tight to his chest before shooting off into the sky. Far, far away from the carnage you unleashed on those creatures who dared to threaten him.

***

“No, Rhys, i’ve never seen anything quite like it. She took out all of them. Heavily injured on top of that.” You recognized Azriel’s voice, muffled as if he was standing behind a door. You tried to open your eyes, but your eyelids felt as if they were ten thousand pounds each.

“That can’t be. You’re certain no one else was around? I’ve never heard of one single person taking out 30 of them. I’ve rarely heard of someone taking out just one on their own.” Rhysands voice was contemplative, trying to understand how you could have pulled off such a feat.

“I know that. I saw her do it Rhys. She was a true force of raw power.” Azriel sounded…in awe of you. You forced your eyes open, blinking as you adjusted to the soft light pouring in from the windows. You looked around the room, realizing Rhys and Azriel must be standing right outside the cracked door. You tried to sit up, a loud gasp of pain ripping from you at the action.

The sound alerted the two males outside, the door flinging open as they rushed in. “How are you feeling?” Azriel demanded, immediately coming to your side. You tried to sit again, the pain knocking the breath out of you. “Let me help,” he said softly, gently pulling you into a sitting position.

“I think i’m okay. In a lot of pain. What happened?” Your throat was sore, voice gravelly. You assumed you had been out for some time. Rhys observed you carefully, like you were a specimen he was investigating.

“You took on a hoard of those creatures. Alone. Do you remember that?” His question was almost accusatory, as if he didn’t believe the story.

You nodded. “Yes.” The reminder of those horrible bug creatures made you shiver, the sounds of them dying echoing in your ears.

“Can you show me? How you did it?” Rhys’ eyes bore into you, almost a threat. You stared right back, not appreciating the doubt from your friend.

“Go ahead. I have nothing to hide.” A claw stroked your mental shields and you dropped them easily. The memories of the fight began playing, the anger you felt overtaking your senses. If you hadn’t been there you wouldn’t have believed the strength you showed to defeat all of them. The reminder of your wounds stung your healing skin, Rhys even wincing as he watched. He could feel your rage, your power.

He could feel the dedication and love you felt towards Azriel.

You threw your shields back up at that, not wishing to let him in any further. He had seen enough. Rhys blinked at you, eyes flitting between you and Azriel. “I see,” he mused. “Well, you certainly did kill them all. That’s quite some feat of power. I think perhaps I should tell Cassian to up your training.” He winked at you and moved to leave the room. “I’ll let the healers know you are awake. I will be back later to check in.” He left, closing the door quietly behind him. Leaving you with Azriel.

Azriel, who was looking at you like you were the most delicate flower he had ever seen. “Are you sure you’re alright?” His concern struck a chord in you, a hand reaching out for his.

“I will be just fine. How are you? Is your head okay?” Your eyes scanned his hairline, relieved that there seemed to be no permanent damage.

“I’m good. My wounds weren’t half as bad as yours. They knocked me unconscious once I hit the ground.” His eyes lowered and he ran his thumb over your joined hands. “I should’ve been there for you. To help.”

You squeezed his hand in your own. “You were attacked, Az. I’m just glad I was able to get to you in time. If I were a moment later…” your voice trailed off and tears pricked at your eyes. Those straws were so close to stabbing into his body, sucking the life out of him.

“Hey,” he said, looking back up at you. “You saved my life. That’s all that matters.” He gave you a smile, your heart squeezing tight.

“Yea,” you agreed, even though you wished to say more. You wanted to tell him you loved him, be honest about your feelings. You were so close to losing him, to losing any chance to be with him. The fear of rejection stopped you from continuing, the way it always did.

Azriel was looking at you intently, eyes seeming to read your mind. You put on a small smile, pushing your feelings back down. His eyes dipped down to your lips, gaze heavy. Your heart skipped at his expression of hunger. “Az,” you whispered as he leaned closer to you.

“Hm?” He asked, not taking his eyes off your mouth.

“What are you doing?” Your voice was a whisper, so quiet you weren’t sure he could hear you.

“Something I should’ve done a long time ago.” He ducked his head down then, pressing his lips to yours. You went completely still at the touch of him, mind in overdrive. He began to pull away when you came to, wrapping your arms around his neck and pulling him back. You kissed him hard then, the way you wished you had when you thought he was going to die. When you thought you’d never get the chance to.

His arms wrapped around your waist, pulling you tight to him. You ignored the protest of pain in your arm and leg, focusing on the feel of Azriel pressed up against you. Of his mouth on yours. The way one of his hands began traveling down your thigh, fingers running along the edge of your nightgown. He bit gently on your lower lip, a silent question to open your mouth. You obliged, moaning at the taste of him. His fingers dug into your thigh at the noise and you let out a cry of pain.

Azriel pulled away from you quickly, apologizing immediately. “Maybe we should wait until you’re healed.” You sighed at the statement, but unfortunately agreed. You wanted to enjoy your first time tasting, feeling, loving Azriel. You pouted at him as he readjusted you, laying you back down on your pillows. He brushed a stray piece of hair off your forehead, leaning down to press a soft kiss to your skin. “I love you.”

Your heart was going to thud out of your chest. “I love you too.” Your declaration was a tad breathless, trying to decide if you could actually ignore the pain long enough to get on top of the male. He laughed, sensing your thoughts and gave you a soft kiss. You had waited so long for this moment, to have your love reciprocated.

“You need to rest.” He moved to hover slightly over you, carefully moving his way down your body. His fingers found the edge of your gown again, eyes looking up to yours from between your legs. “There are plenty of other ways I can please you.”

***

I needed to write something that was a request or a series, so this is what happened. I hope you guys enjoyed it!!! <3

#acotar x reader #azriel x reader #azriel x y/n #azriel x you #acotar x you #acotar x y/n #acotar #azriel #azriel angst #azriel smut #don’t blame me

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dcxdpdabbles · 3 days

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Could you please pleasepleaseplease p l e a s e continue the halfa cass post? I'm dying for some more of it, it's SO GOOD

The first thing Cass notices about the Fentons is how utterly silly they are. She had been expecting a group of far more regal people, especially with the castle they lived in and being protected by Phantom.

She still doesn't really understand what's going on, but she can piece together that Phantom is in charge. The people who had stopped to stare at her all whispered about the King, and she could tell that a few of them gained helpless hope by the mere sight of her.

If they were truly trapped here, then her appearance meant there was a chance of escaping.

But were they trapped because of Phantom? Dan mentioned the Fae's costumes of tricking humans into signing slavery contracts with a feast. Had Phantom done the same?

"Maddie!" Dan yells at the top of his lungs, floating towards the draw bridge. "Maddie, I think you want to look at this!"

"What is it, sweetie?" A woman calls back, quickly followed by an explosion in the left tower. Cass stiffens as the window of the tower is flung open, and a woman in an overalls sticks out her head. Behind her, black smoke rises. "I was just making headway in the latest Fenton Escaper!"

"Really? How's that going?"

"It exploded! There is nothing left!" She beams, pulling her oversized goggles off her head. They leave a black outline around her eyes. .

Dan's body language doesn't show his surprise at her failure. In fact he seems oddly amused. It must be a common thing."I supposed that's good?"

"Oh, it's wonderful! Jake is going to be so happy that it reacted quickly to the new element!" The woman chirps. "He's out with Danny, gathering some more supplies for our people."

"They went hunting without me?"

"You know you're grounded, young man."

Wait, was this woman Dan's mother? Could the dead have parents? Or was it more of an adoption relationship?

"Yeah, Yeah, I know. Anyway, Maddie, I wanted to introduce you to the new arrival-"

"You brought a girl home!" Maddie cuts him off, flinging herself out the window. Cass would have rushed to her aid were it not for her apparent control as she spun into a landing. "Hello there! I'm Maddie Fenton! Dan's mother from another timeline, welcome to the family!"

Cass could tell she was going for a hug before the hug arrived, but she was still somewhat surprised by how forward Maddie was. Oddly friendly in a way no one in Gotham dared to be. Unless they were crazy like Harely. She can only blink as the woman wraps her up in an embrace, her muscles belying her small frame.

A fighter. A rather skilled one at that.

"I was so worried Dan would never find a partner!"

"Maddie! She's not my girlfriend!" Dan hisses, "She's a kid!"

"I'm twenty-one" Cass corrects

"A baby," Dan insists.

"Oh, that's a shame. She's gorgeous- from what I can see with the mask. The grandchildren would have been beautiful." Maddie sighs, letting her go. Then, it seems the woman noticed her features for the first time because she looked startled. "Are you a living human?"

"Worst. She's a halfa," Dan responds. Maddie's upper body goes rigid, and Cass can see thousands of emotions go through her—shock, denial, awe, wonder, glee, despair—to name a few—before she settles on one.

Glee.

"Jazz! Dani! Come here!" She screams, and Cass only has a few seconds to step away from Maddie's sudden craze before another glowing blur speeds towards them.

It's a younger version of Dan but female. She stops just short of ramming into Dan with a giggle. "Made you flinch!"

"You did not."

"Did, too." The girl, nineteen maybe, insists but twists to Maddie while speaking. It doesn't seem like she thinks about whether she is correct. Cass wondered if she should say that Dan really did not flinch. Besides his hair swaying slightly by the gust of wind she created, he hadn't moved from his crossed-arm position. "Who's this?"

"A new Halfa!" Maddie cheers.

The girl's friendly demeanor crumbles into horror. "What?"

"I know- isn't this exciting?"

"No, Mom, it means she died." Yet another voice sighs. "What did we say about our science?"

"Not to let it overpower my morals and to be tactful of other feelings." Maddie quotes with an eye roll, though Cass can tell she's not bothered by the reminder. Strutting from the castle draw bridge, the only one that uses it is a beautiful woman clad in a purple sleeveless dress.

She moves with the confidence and elegance Cass had expected of a Queen. It's when she stands next to Maddie that it becomes clear they are mother and daughter- almost all her features are a copy of Maddie. "Hello there. I'm Jazz Fenton. I heard you've been through a horrible ordeal. I'm very sorry for your loss of life."

Cass blinks at her, then shrugs. She isn't sure if she is grateful that Damian's ninja mask is still across her face, keeping her amusement hidden.

Jazz smiles even wider. "Welcome to Phantom's Keep. We welcome you inside."

Hmmm, well, no, Cass did not like how she said that. Sounded a little too Fae-like for her taste.

Jazz isn't aware of her unease as she gestures to the castle. "We have some questions on how you arrived. See, Dan and I thought you had died and placed you in the sector for new ghosts. Dan was supposed to greet you and get you settled. But your new status changes everything."

Was Jazz....Phantom?

If so, Cass needed to be careful how she continued interacting with the woman. She didn't want to get stuck here for seven years, either. She had a family she was going to get back to.

__________________________________________________________

"Where is Cass? She hasn't checked in for days," Bruce asks his children, looking over everyone's logs. Her last entry was twenty-four days ago, a short "Investigating Amity Park—pending field report" blinking on his screen.

"I'll ask Raven." Damian volunteered. "She should be able to give more insight into Cass' mission."

"Thank you, son."

Bruce hoped the uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach was just untreated paranoia like his children liked to claim and not that something had happened to his daughter. He never liked it when his gut feelings were right.

They were never a good reason.

#dcxdpdabbles #dcxdp crossover #Cass the Halfa #Part 3 #Time moves oddly in the Ghost zone #Cass meets the Fentons and went “Jazz seems the most sane”#Dan and Dani are siblings

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elenamegan14 · 3 months

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Yandere One Piece - Irish/Nordic Fae Folk Myth X F!Reader - Pookah!Luffy

PROLOGUE Pookah - a mischievous yet friendly fae, capable of shapeshifting into any form as they please - malevolent ones included. Legends have told that anyone lucky or unlucky enough to get a ride from Pookah will experience the wildest travel of their lives.

—

You barely have the time to calm yourself when the Pookah circles you around like a wolf waiting for its prey to move. You’ve been here for a few minutes and already you encountered a fairy folk! Fortunately, luck seemed to be on your side - Pookahs are not relatively dangerous unless you treat them with care.

However, Pookah’s personality is proven to be quite a challenge, considering this one has the childish personality of a hyperactive boy, drunk with too many candies. Also, he seems to be the talkative type too, jumping around whenever you tried to side-stepped him.

“A human! Sweet! Haven’t seen a human for a while! I mean, on my side anyway. My brothers saw humans all the time because they got permission for it, but I don’t!” The Pookah grumbled, “They said that I need to practice more on my human transformation, but I think it’s perfect!” He gestured towards himself, forgetting about his longish furry ears and tail.

“I… see. That’s very nice, but I have to go.”

Frustratingly, Luffy seems to follow you around, not giving you a moment of rest. It did not help that he had no sense of personal space, always coming in inches close to you - a new toy that he had never seen.

“By the way, my name is Luffy! What’s yours?”

You are about to instinctively answer but a particular warning from your parents hit you on the head. An iron-clad superstition rules that any good children must follow to survive Grand Line if they happened to stumble upon it.

Never tell them your real name, Y/N. That’s how they control you - words have more power in the fairy world than in the human world.

Frowning, you turned your head away from Luffy, “You don’t need to know.”

“Aw, you’re no fun! What am I supposed to call you then? Seaweed? Meat-girl? Oh! I can call you… ‘Wet Blankie’! Because, you know-”

“Alright, I got it! Call me any way you like but you’ll never find out what my name is!” You boldly asserted, keeping to yourself that you can endure the humiliation of being weirdly dubbed for now.

“Fine!” Luffy stuck his tongue out, “...wet blankie.” he added the last part with a laugh, earning him a scowl.

Hurriedly, you walked at a faster pace, hoping to leave the Pookah to his ministrations

“So, whatcha doing here? Are you going somewhere?” “No, I’m lost! I don’t know where I am, what time is it…” You trailed mournfully, “I even started to lose my way around this place.”

“Oh well, Grand Line can be a maze sometimes. Heck, even my friend, Zoro got lost here plenty of times… and he’s a native!”

A certain name from Luffy’s speech puts you into a standstill horror, “Grand Line? As in… THE Grand Line? I’m here in THAT Grand Line?”

“Dang, no need to say three times. But yeah, you’re in Grand Line! You’ll love it! There are so many fun places here - there are so many interesting things happening around here-”

A shudder of panic courses through your body, “No, no, no, no, no! I’m not supposed to be here! My parents told me to stay away from this place! That’s where the fairy folks live, I’ve heard stories of what they’ll do to humans! I have to get out of here!”

Unbeknownst to you, Luffy studied you a little more carefully than the first time he met you. As if he can sense something beyond your appearance.

“That’s… an interesting way to put it,” Luffy droned, “Somehow, you felt different than other humans who fell here.” “You mean there are other humans besides me here?” “Great!” You raised your hands exasperatedly, “I’m lost in this god-forsaken forest, I can’t find my classmates, and I’m supposed to be home right now! But I’m stuck here! This sucks!” You sobbed

“If you like to… I can give you a ride,” Luffy smiled gently, “I know my way around Grand Line, I can take you to the entrance.” You gasped indignantly at his idiocy, “Are you mad? I can’t trust fairies - that’s the third most important rule that everybody knows!” Luffy’s eyebrows raised in confusion, “Really? Then what’s the second one? I mean, you did tell me the first rule is-”

“-not to reveal my real name to a fairy, I KNOW. You KNOW,” You repeated the rule as if you were schooling a first grader, “The second rule is not to eat and drink anything that the fairies offer.”

“What?!” Luffy jumped in horror, “That’s a terrible rule! You can't do that! Everybody has to eat! Who made that? This is the first time I’ve ever heard it!”

You rolled your eyes in irritation, “Not if you’re a human. They’ll be bound to the fairy world forever if they eat anything in here, and I still want to go home.”

“Not if I can ask the bigwigs to change it!” An optimistic grin burst from Luffy’s face, “I mean, I managed to change a few rules after causing some trouble from time to time again. Which reminds me - I need to hide from my grandpa - he is so pissed off after I destroyed the palace’s garden the other day.”

“You do that while I’m searching for any entrances here,” you murmured, slipping by Luffy.

“Alright, suit yourself!” Luffy shrugged nonchalantly.

Time passed, and you still need to find an entrance. You felt as if the forest was keen on making you even more lost on your path - each shrub seemed to change, pebbles moving out of your marked gaze, not giving you the slightest hope of any exit. What makes matters worse is that you estimated that the sun will set soon. The risk of falling under the clutches of the fairy folk increases with each second you have wasted.

Just as you circled anguishedly around the rock for the fourth time, Luffy popped back again, keeping his irritating grin at your hopeless attempt. “You know, I still can help-”

“Oh, alright!” You snapped, realizing that it’s futile to rely on your own… for now, “But be warned - I have ways to kill you if you break your promise. Got it?”

“Sure thing! I can still take you on if you do! Shishishi!” Luffy innocently chuckled - you felt tempted to smack his head at his indifference.

In just one breath, Luffy transformed himself into a creature that wasn’t a horse but not a mammal either. It was more of like… a rabbit-horse. You were hesitant to approach him but Luffy casually grinned again, lowering his back before.

“Hop on! Don’t worry, I’ll make sure that you won’t fall!”

“I’ll make sure of it too.” You murmured, climbing onto his back.

Luffy is proof that all legends about Pookah giving their passengers the wildest ride of their lives are true. As you let yourself settle in, Luffy sprints at a breakneck speed - so fast and rough that you must hang onto his neck for your dear life. You didn’t even try to utter a scream, only small whimpers in fear of biting your tongue.

So many thoughts ran through your head. Is it a mistake to trust Luffy? How much time had passed - hopefully you would only miss a day or two. And will you make it out of here? You can almost imagine yourself running through the exit out of Grand Line, ignoring any of Luffy’s farewells and just stomping straight to Stelly and Sarie, giving them the beating of their lifetimes at the dining hall. There was also a huge hope that you would be reunited home again with your parents, maybe you could explain why you had lost your iron earrings and being in the Grand Line in the first place-

Luffy suddenly came to an abrupt stop. Before you can recollect yourself, Luffy turned back into his default form, unaware that he let his occupant fall behind his back.

You quickly rose to your feet, nursing your sore arm, “W-Wha? Why did you stop-?”

Luffy’s eyes grimaced, “Someone’s in our path. Look.” Luffy pointed towards a figure in a near distance.

It was a male fairy - an intimidating one at that. Build impressively in a visage fit for royalty, but contains plenty of rebelliousness on the side. Freckles adorn his face like stars and black, wavy hair frames his fiery visage. Behind his back are a pair of transparent, fiery wings that almost resemble that of a hawk. By mortal standards, he is… magnificent.

Your blood ran cold. You recognize the mark on his wings from the illustrations that your mother once drew. She is an impressive artist, painting one bestiary after another with near accuracy. There was no doubt that right in front of your mortal eyes was the son of the Fairy King himself, Portgas D. Ace.

The very same one who thinks burning mortals who pissed him off can be considered normal in Grand Line.

“Wha- what is he doing here? H-H-He’s not supposed to be here-” You stammered.

“Who’s not here who?” Luffy stared at you in question.

“That fairy! Ace! I heard stories about him - he’s dangerous! We have to go!” You furiously shook your head, already searching for a hiding spot.

Upon looking at the fairy in question, Luffy’s face lightens up, “Oh, yeah! You’re right! That’s my brother! OII! ACE-!”

You felt your heart drop at this revelation. Brother. He just has to be Luffy’s brother - why not? It didn’t help that Ace’s attention was stirred by Luffy’s ruckus. Rushing to Luffy’s side, you grabbed his arm as tightly as possible.

“No!” You pleaded, shaking, “Don’t let him see me! I can’t be seen by a fae folk, especially him!”

“What? Why not? I know Ace very well, he won’t hurt-”

“Luffy, please.”

There was a slight hesitation when Luffy analyzed the fear in your voice. It was a gamble, whether or not Luffy would listen to you. Pouting always works, that’s how you got a leeway from the authorities if you happen to be in any sort of problem - like that time you accidentally broke Mayor Woodlsap’s window for a lighter punishment from him. You put your best one yet, coupled with a doe eye that made you seem helpless and innocent.

A few seconds later, Luffy solemnly nodded, “Okay, I won’t tell him that you’re here. Just hide wherever you can, alright? I’ll come and get you when he’s gone.”

You didn’t think twice and made a run for the nearest bushes and rocks that concealed your entire body. Your head peered out upon the two fairy brothers conversing after Ace made his way to Luffy.

Everything about Ace is breathtaking. His beauty is every bit as true as the stories told by swoony-eyed village women. You also have to remind yourself - thanks to your father’s stern warnings time and time again - that Ace is also well-known for his trickery. He is a fairy that would burn humans into a pile of dust or turn them into trinkets if he fancies.

The fact that Ace is unpredictably harmful.

It felt like forever when you counted until five minutes passed by, trying to make out what Ace was saying to Luffy. He seems to whisper something into Luffy’s ears, but the distance is far too wide for you to listen. So you rely on your eyes instead, observing Luffy’s face slowly form into an enthusiastic expression as Ace conversed excitedly with his brother.

You silently breathed in relief when Luffy waved goodbye to Ace, gently coaxing you out of the hiding spot, “He’s gone, don’t worry.”

“What are you talking about with Ace?” You brushed off the dirt in a hurry and climbed to Luffy’s back once more.

“Noooo….thing?” Luffy innocently answered - you rolled your eyes.

“Okay, fine. How far are we to the edge of the entrance?”

“Won't be long now. We just need to make a BIIIG dash straight there…” Luffy pointed straight at a cluster of trees.

“Alright,” you nodded, “Let’s go.”

You barely notice a sliver of Luffy’s dark grin as he runs with all his might towards the clearing. You ignored all the branches, the leaves, and the force of the wind that blinded you - all you care about is reaching the end - to home.

A bright light blinded you at the end of the path. When Luffy stops and lets you off his back carefully, you slowly adjust your eyes to the new surroundings.

But it wasn't the entrance as you might have hoped.

It was a lakeside.

A lakeside that is also full of various fairy folks - bathing and playing and hanging around one another.

It dawns on you that Ace had persuaded his brother to lead you to a trap.

“Hey, guys!” Luffy shouted, dragging you towards them, “I brought a new friend!”

A green-haired demon-like fae folk sighed exasperatedly, getting out of the water, “Luffy. How many times do we have to tell you not to bring any more weird people-”

That’s when his eyes landed on you.

Everything went quiet. Several eyes gazed upon you in interest for a few seconds.

And then it exploded into elated chatters.

Oh no.

“Luffy…” A blonde nymph-like man with swirly eyebrows eyed you as if his birthday came early, “You didn't tell me that you caught a human girl.”

His statement brought an ominous wonder to the rest of the occupants in the lake.

“Somehow, you know how to lighten our day, Luffy.” A fae with a top hat chuckled, already getting up from his position, and making his way carefully around you.

“Come little human, would you like to join us…?” A pretty maiden with long dark hair and piercing blue gaze, a Huldufolk, she recognized, put down her book, and extended her arm at her.

“Listen up, I want her first.” A large troll with red hair quipped, taking in your fearful form.

“Mind your turn, Eustass-ya,” Another fae, dark and attractive, scanned your visage, “It’s been a while since I have a human to play with. The last one didn’t last long on my table.”

An overwhelming sensation flooded your brain - the fae folks sauntered towards you closely, each with every step you took back. Luffy’s reckless decision had earned you a cold, hard target from every fae folk on your back. In a split second, you did the only thing you could think of.

You ran.

Several cries of “Come back!”, “Play with us!” rang all across the field. But you did not listen. No, not when every mere form of danger is right by your footsteps.

Hurt. Sickened. Betrayed. These are the only things that are in your mind. Oh, how foolish you are - no matter how good his intentions are, Luffy is still a fairy who plays tricks upon humans - and now you are his next victim.

Your mind is made up in determination when Luffy springs before you again, trying to explain something. By now, you have already pulled out the cross from your bag and brandished it upon Luffy who backed away.

“I shouldn’t have trusted you,” You growled dangerously, hovering the cross like a weapon.

“Wait! What’s-your-name, I can explain-!”

“Oh, you have already explained enough! Now begone!”

Luffy drew a wicked grin, “Yeah, I was planning to take you back…” Luffy circled you in a predatory manner, “...but my brother Ace had better plans.”

Luffy effortlessly dodged the cross that you had swiped at him, “GET AWAY FROM ME! I wasted enough time with you around! I’ll go home myself!”

“I like you, you’re interesting. Join my pack.” You gasped - Luffy’s arms started to stretch like rubber, coiling onto your other weaponless arm.

“I refuse!” You hissed, trying to escape from his bond.

“Then I refuse your refusal!” Luffy starts to lose his calmness, and he holds you even tighter, “Please Wet blankie! What’s-your-name! I promise you, they are not going to hurt you-!”

“Go away!” You screeched with all your might, pushing Luffy away and hoping that your cross might make a nick on him. You kept running, you could care less if Luffy begged you to stop, you can't simply look back. Perhaps you assumed that Ace summoned himself right next to Luffy, his eyes boring at your running form. He grabbed Luffy by his shoulder, in a regality fit for a king.

“Don't let her go, Luff,” Ace spoke, honeyed and full of dark intent, “All of us had waited years to have her back. We can’t lose her now.”

“No…” Luffy nodded, “I won’t. We’ll get her.”

There is nothing worse than to run from fairies and get lost again in their forest. Exhausted as you are, there is no willingness from you to yield from their relentless pursuit. You are going home, and that is final.

Then your nose picked up a salt-like scent. The ground is becoming more coarser as well. You finally realize that as you are busy fleeing for your life, you end up on a sandy beach. Not too distant from you is an ominous cave on the seawater, far too eerie to enter.

And yet, as if curiosity overrides your logic, you decided to take a closer look at it instead.

“Come here…” You jumped. There was a faint voice coming from the cave. So you know how to play this game. You firmly planted your foot into the sand, ignoring the voice that keeps persistently trying to coax you inside.

You crossed your arms and looked away.

The cave lets out a guttural growl - something comes out. You kept your fingers clenched onto the cross as a creature, a merman-like being, swims out, and reaches near you. Aside from his long hair, a striking feature of him is his strange triangle-shaped eyebrows that frame his sharp eyes.

“Must you be so stubborn, child? I know what was going on here, and I am here to help.” He drawled.

Basil Hawkins, the Marmennill, is here to lead you.

#one piece #one piece fic #one piece reader fic #yandere one piece #yandere monkey d. Luffy #yandere portgas d. ace #yandere x reader #one piece x reader #fairy folk #yandere one piece fae folk #one piece x y/n #yandere basil hawkins #yandere trafalgar law #yandere imagine #one piece writing #nordic mythology

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tendermiasma · 3 months

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Well I thought of a question to ask what was halsin first thoughts upon meeting clover? And how did clover first react to halsin confession?

That's a good one! When Halsin first met Clover he thought something was a little.. off about him. Being touched by the fae just does something to you. Children who are marked as their quarry don't tend to escape their fate so as Clover grew up, it seemed like he always had one foot a little beyond the material plane. Clover knew that he wasn't supposed to be here and didn't think of himself as a whole and living person. He was a dead thing that woke up and desperately tried to live anyway. I think Halsin picked up on that but didn't immediately know why. Clover kept to himself, making himself as unobtrusive as possible, but that demeanor turned secretive and prickly if he was pushed-- especially in Halsin's case, due to his connection to the fae. In the beginning, Clover had great misgivings about him and desperately wanted to get away but felt trapped by circumstance. It didn't deter Halsin, though; he knew whatever it was, it wasn't coming from a place of malice. He saw a wounded animal in hiding, begging not to be found.

Their relationship was a slow trust. Halsin was the first person to really bother with Clover in a way that wasn't antagonistic or quick to leave him on his own again when he shut down hard. For his whole life Clover had associated being alone with being safe, and for that reason he didn't realize he had been starved of the thing that would truly save him. Halsin's attempts to know him, to let him care for him, was like thawing out from frostbite: awfully, incredibly painful. When the touch of warm water feels like fire after being numb for so long from a cold so deep that it would have claimed you in the end. Clover was terrified of his own developing feelings towards Halsin. He saw his ability to rely on himself alone slipping away, how he wanted to be near him in spite of himself. How they grew to have quiet little conversations late at night as Clover put out the embers of the fire; how he felt the softness of Halsin's gaze on him as the last one died. Halsin had taken down Clover's defenses stone by stone and by the time he confessed to him, it was all rubble. He cried a little bit in Halsin's arms for sure.

Contrary to the events of the game nothing happened between them that night, they snuggled real close until sunrise and just absorbed each other's presence :,)

#cloverhoney #look away #sorry I have such brainrot it's not even funny #halsin #clover #baldurs gate 3 #asks

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teecupangel · 2 months

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sooo Desmond is an Irish name, so fae Desmond?? 👀 haven’t been able to get to my laptop to search your blog if you've already done this idea, but I thought I’d throw it out there anyway!

am a big fan of Weird fae, like when you look at them you think they should be human but something about them is so obviously not. uncanny valley with a side of fight-flight-or-freeze instincts kicking in just from being around them.

is this something something that comes from his parents? is it all Isu bullshit? is it something he changes into or is he born with it?? on that vein, what if he was a changeling child? lots of ways of incorporating the Isu and the calculations into that for sure

(am one of the anons who keeps coming back for renaissance baker Desmond, so thank you very much for answering those asks, and also for just being a rad individual in general. am still catching up on Eagle of Alamut, I think I’m around chapter 30, and absolutely LOVE what you've already done with it and where you’re taking it. my sib assures me Altaïr makes his appearance soon, and I'm GREATLY looking forward to it.

thanks again, I hope you're well 🧡) —bread anon

(Thank you! I try my best hahahaha. I am so sorry for being slow on asks and replies TTATT

I hope you’re enjoying the rest of Eagle of Alamut… especially Altaïr’s appearance hehehe)

Desmond Miles always knew he was different.

The other kids call him ‘ugly’ and they don’t like to play with him.

He had cried in his mother’s arms and told her what happened and she just… she looked somber.

She patted his head and held him close, comforted him with soft words and a warm hug.

Never once did she say anything about his face.

He was a little bit older when he realized why they think he was ugly.

There were no mirrors in their home.

Or even in the training building he spent most of his childhood in.

But there was a hand mirror in the infirmary.

Desmond never had a reason to go there. What he lacked in brute strength, he made up by being faster than anyone on the Farm.

He had went to the infirmary to take the first aid kit. One of the other kids had a painful gash on his arm. It wasn’t life-threatening but it needed to be cleaned and disinfected.

Desmond had been ordered to get the first aid.

He supposed it was because he had been the reason the boy had hurt himself, trying to run away from him like he was being chased by demons during a ‘game’ of tag.

They always run like they were scared for their lives when Desmond was ‘it’.

The doctor wasn’t inside so Desmond went towards the cupboard that would have the small boxes of first aids stacked on the bottom shelf.

He stopped when he noticed the hand mirror.

And saw his reflection for the first time.

Desmond Miles was not ugly.

But there was something in his features that made him seemed… strange.

It wasn’t anything that can be physically described about his facial structure.

He looked human but there was something in the human brain that just made it scream ‘danger’.

Desmond couldn’t explain it.

But he could see it.

He didn’t bring the first aid back to training.

He went home.

His mother was cooking something.

“What am I, mama?”

She didn’t seemed surprised by the question. She looked resigned.

She looked like she had been waiting for the day he would ask the very same question.

She led him to the dining room, letting whatever was on the stove continue to simmer in low heat.

“You’re my son, my dear little fairy.”

She didn’t held the same unnatural feel as he felt when he looked at his reflection.

But it didn’t sound like a lie.

Her hands trembled as she caressed his cheeks.

Her smile was genuine as she whispered, “You will always be my baby.”

But he could hear it.

The fear in the voice.

Whatever he was…

He was affecting her too.

Yet she didn’t try to run.

So he hugged her, pressing his face against her stomach.

Her trembling stopped and she held him like she was afraid he was going to disappear from her grasps.

She didn’t fear him if she didn’t see his face.

Whatever he was…

It was the face that scared all of them.

Once upon a time, a young woman married a young man by the orders of her father. The man loved her but she did not. No matter what she did, she could not. She tried to be the best wife she could be.

She did not love him but she bore him a son. A weak little thing, more fragile than glass and smaller than any other child in their little commune.

She loved her child more than anything in the world.

But the world did not.

The child died during one cold winter night while her husband had been away.

In her grief, she took the cold body of her dead child and ran towards the forest, as silent as she was taught by her own father.

She came across a circle of mushrooms.

And heard the whispers of the fairy queen when she stood in the circle of it.

The fairy queen will save her child.

But he will become one of them.

“Yes! I agree! Please, save him!” The mother begged on her knees.

The fairy queen did not do it out of the goodness of her heart.

She was one of three rulers of their little fairy kingdom, long destroyed by the wrath of the sun.

She was nothing more than a ghost, traveling to the far future.

The mother gave the corpse to the ghost.

And the ghost gave it new life.

The mother thanked her as she held the warm body of her son.

And the ghost disappeared.

The mushroom circle melted like metal.

And mother and child returned to their home.

Centuries ago, Minerva saw a future which the Assassins and Templars waste years fighting each other instead of finding a way to save the world.

She saw a future where Desmond Miles would die to save the world in their stead.

So she made a different choice.

There was no one to stop her.

Tinia had long given up, waiting for the end as he drinks and drinks and drinks.

Juno remains imprisoned in the Grand Temple.

She was the only one left.

She changed the trajectory of the Calculations to one where Desmond Miles died as a weak human baby.

She created a device and had it transported to where his mother would walk into in her grief, her mind weakened to the point of thinking of falling off the cliff nearby with her dead son in her arms.

It was a device she had created using Consus’ research.

Consus’ research cannot bring back the dead.

But with Minerva’s modification…

It could clone the dead.

But she didn’t clone the weak human baby that would die centuries from now.

She created a child made of Desmond Miles’ DNA from that tragic future.

And added her own DNA to reinforce his body and mind.

A new future the Calculations could not predict.

A new future where Desmond Miles is both human and not.

Minerva did not know if this would be a better future.

Still…

She does not regret it.

At the very least, before she died…

She was able to save someone.

#fae desmond #ngl #considering how i like to write desmond using fae lies to lie #i was tempted for this to be an actual fae desmond meeting an ac character #who stepped into a mushroom circle #instead you get this…#uuhh #i tried to make it seemed like a dark fairytale at the middle #idk #assassin's creed #ask and answer #teecup writes/has a plot #fic idea: assassin's creed #desmond miles #minerva

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decomposing-writer · 2 months

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Blaze Prologue

A/N: So in case anyone's wondering this fic is a re-write of my fic Autumn Princess. I didn't like how I wrote it, so I restructured it. Same characters with a slightly different plot. Otherwise, I hope you enjoy it.

Description: Blakely Quinlan is the younger twin of Bryce Quinlan. Though preferring to keep out of any and all great conflicts, she is left with no choice when she discovers that Bryce has fled Midgard. What will become of her though, when she gets wrapped up in the mess her sister left behind in Prythian. Especially, with how little she knows about what her sister has been up to in these last few months.

Blakely Quinlan had always tried to live her life away from any conflict. Now, that was not to say that she was a coward. But that she was cautious and preferred to weigh her odds. This meaning that when things seemed like they could go wrong, she made a point of being the first out of the door.

This is why, when she had come up with this reckless plan, her best friend Beau had looked at her like she had lost her mind. In fact, he still was as he adjusted her armor. Which he had given Blake after realizing how serious she was. Are you sure about this? He asked for the thousandth time, and while that cautious part of her wanted to say no, she nodded.

Blake was only ever capable of this type of recklessness where her family was concerned, and with it being her older sister, she felt that she had little other choice but to be sure. Though it did not stop her friends continued fretting as he went over the plan again, almost as if trying to convince himself to the extent that she was.

“So this synthetic magic will hit your half of the horn. Which will hopefully transport you to the plane your sister is on. However, that will not guarantee landing exactly where Bryce is, even with your bond.” Beau said, but it only seemed to make his fretting worse as he grew more frustrated.

Which is why Blake ignored him, knowing that any more fuss would only make her think about the risks too. The female nstead holding out her hand for her weapons, which Beau passed to her, one at a time.

The pistol her dad had given her.

The semi-automatic her brothers friends had given her.

The few knives she had collected throughout her travels.

And her phone.

Blake frowned at the addition of that last one. But Beau merely shoved it at her anyway. The male commenting that if things go wrong, she would at least have some way to remember him.

Blake resisted the urge to scowl at the Fae male, though she did pocket it. Before moving to the center of the atrium, one of the largest in the male's home, and turning to face him. She could feel her hands begin to shake and the look on Beau's face a mix of worry and something else as he watched her from his place at the top of the steps didn’t help. Blake tried her best to smile however she knew it was a pathetic waste when he did not return it. Instead, shakily raising the bottle full of vibrating synthetic magic.

He never mentioned why his family kept something so dangerous in the royal household. However, she supposed it was likely the safest place when compared to other places in this territory. “Are you sure about this?” He asked again, and while usually Blake would have snapped at him, by this point. She knew that if she opened her mouth, it likely would not be words that came out. So she instead nodded. Beau taking that as his queue.

However, he seemed to hesitate several times before delaying for a second longer. As if wanting to say more or perhaps trying to remember her as she was. Blake couldn’t help but do the same as she looked at him, from his dark brown skin to his onyx hair and amber eyes. She certainly had much she would have liked to do with him, hell even say. But this was too important. Which is why she was grateful when he made up his mind.

Beau closed his eyes and with as much precision as a fae prince could have chucked the delicate bottle at her. The glass shattering upon impact with her armor and a hollowness filling her ears before she was transported away.

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enamoured-x · 2 years

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Two mates theory

This might be an outlandish theory but I feel like it makes sense and I mean this fandom is all about it’s crack theories anyway.

But, we know how much the cauldron loves Elain and how it didn’t even want to hurt her and it gave her a gift. (Like seriously, it loves her.) Well, what if the cauldron loved her so much it gave her two mates….?

Just hear me out real quick. Lucien felt the bond snap into place and immediately declared Elain as his mate right then and there. But Azriel was bleeding out on the floor halfway dead with an ash arrow through his chest. He was in a lot of pain and ash arrows are supposed to weaken their magic or whatever.

So, maybe the mating bond snapped into place with Azriel as well but he didn’t feel it bc of the ash and bc he was in so much pain. And even if he did feel something, Lucien had already claimed her and felt the bond so maybe it wasn’t even a thought in Azriel’s mind bc how could she have 2 mates? And also, he was dying so I doubt he was thinking much of anything along those lines.

I also say this because we notice a lot of mate like behavior from Azriel for Elain.

1. He was the first to notice her absence and immediately signed himself up to save her despite knowing he would probably die. (I mean come on now, even Nesta was like hold up…)

2. Madja was the one to say if anyone can sense something is amiss, it’s a mate. Yet Lucien wasn’t the one to figure out what Elain was, Azriel was. (You can also tie this in with number 2 that he noticed something was wrong/that Elain was missing). This is such a huge one to me.

3. Azriel’s shadows gathered when he heard that Nesta and Elain fought. His shadows gathered around him when he was told he’d die if he went to save her too. And his shadows gathered when Nesta insulted Elain. And when Rhys was talking about Lucien in acofas to Azriel. (Azriel and his shadows are protective of her and show when he is angry)

4. Mates usually don’t like the mention of being with another person besides their mate (bc they’re possessive) and Azriel outright growled when Rhys even suggested going to a pleasure hall.

5. Azriel can not stand the smell of Elain and Lucien’s mating bond… pretty weird.

6. He’s been longing after her for so long and can’t even sleep…? What’s going on there? I mean you’re telling me the shadow singer is struggling that much over someone who isn’t even his mate…? Mates long for one another…

7. Males feel the pull of the mating bond more than the females. So this leads back to #6 and it also begs the question on why Lucien is able to stay away for so long and seem fine, yet Azriel is struggling with his feelings and trying to stay away but it’s hard for him.

8. Azriel giving Elain Truth-Teller, something he has never let another soul touch in his 500 years of living… how he just trusts her so easily with his beloved weapon…

Even if he isn’t her mate, he shows a lot of characteristics that mates do.

And on the other hand…

Not mate-like behavior:

1. Saying your mate was “thrown” at you.

2. Saying you want to see your mate to see if she’s “worth it”.

3. Speaking about another woman and blushing about it.

Honorable mention: Sarah did say it was possible for Fae to have more than one mate. Though at the time she was talking about ToG but I mean if it can happen in one series… also she said this a year before acomaf was released. Probably doesn’t mean anything but just putting that out there…

Honestly, this is just a fun theory I was thinking about but who knows what could happen. 🤷🏽‍♀️

(Also, credits to @fuckmelifesucks & @eloeloeheheh for refreshing my memory on some of the mate behaviors and Azriel’s shadows. 🥰)

#just for funsies #i think the idea of 2 mates is cool and something we’ve never seen #but I mean I’m not putting too much weight in this theory #it was just a fun theory to think about #acotar #elain archeron #azriel #elriel #sarah j maas #acotar 5 #azriel shadowsinger

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faustianbroker · 8 months

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TIMING: End of July LOCATION: Mephisto's Repository PARTIES: Leviathan (@faustianbroker) & Siobhan (@banisheed) SUMMARY: Siobhan comes to the shop to pick up a special order and learns a little more about the owner. CONTENT WARNINGS: none.

—

Siobhan was once beautiful. Once, glorious wings sat on her back; black dipped in red as if she laid in a pool of blood. Once, blemish-free except for those marks her training demanded, her skin was unmarred. Once, she had been a thing of envy. Siobhan tugged at her turtleneck; paired with the coat that draped off her shoulders, was nothing short of fashion but it was a far cry from the usual fare of cleavage revealing dresses she once frequented. Her face remained as it always had been: too much like her mother’s to make her comfortable and too symmetrical to make her feel as horrid as she felt inside. The moth, the one with wings like hers, was a symbol more than anything else. If she kept it pinned and still in her house she could control it and she could achieve it. Once again, she could be beautiful as the thing she chained to her wall.

Mephisto’s Repository, Siobhan assumed, was also a symbol. Who named their store after the demon that represented the devil? What did that make all the wares that lined the walls? What did that make the owner? The décor was up to Siobhan’s taste, delightfully macabre and filled with things she knew a good scream would decimate. She hadn’t asked for the name of the delightful person she’d spoken to online and was regretting it as she scanned the store and couldn’t find someone who fit the description of ‘interesting’. And how many people came into this same store asking for them? Siobhan was a lot of things, predictable would never be one. Her hand shot out and with a gentle tip-tap she knocked something off a shelf. “Oops.” She grinned. “My finger slipped.” She leaned up against one of the displays, shooting delightful grins down the space. “I suppose someone ought to fetch the owner, I might just be a little slippery today…” Her hand shot out again. Some of these things gave her a strange chill, the way death sometimes did when it was twisted into new forms; like a haunted mirror or comb. Or several of them. Siobhan was careful to avoid those, but she’d accepted that by some metric, this store was intent on making her into a Faust. Well, if there was anyone that knew anything about unfavorable deals, it would be a fae. What was a curse but an excuse for a more lively life anyway?

—

A tall, gangly sort of fellow came bustling over the moment he heard something crash, watching the woman, bewildered, as she proceeded to knock something else off the shelf. “M-ma’am!” he stammered, fast-walking over to her and picking the items up off the floor with a defiant huff. “Please, don’t—please, be careful—” He seemed torn between pulling her away from the display and setting down what he was already holding, his curly mop of hair bouncing this way and that as he fidgeted on the spot. Beads of sweat were already forming on his brow and he blurted out a loud, “Boss!”, his voice pitching in the process. “Boss!” he called again, deeper this time, looking desperately over his shoulder toward the rear left corner of the store. A few moments of silence passed, and then the door pulled open. The look of relief was plain on the young man’s face, and now that backup was headed his way, he looked back to the strange woman.

“I would.. appreciate it if you were not slippery in our store, ma’am,” he said a little more firmly, though his brow still trembled. Feeling the presence of the Leviathan moving up behind him, he ducked his head and turned on his heel, side-stepping out of the demon’s way to scuttle back to the counter, items that she’d knocked over still clutched to his chest.

Leviathan smiled after him for a moment before turning its attention to the woman in its store, demanding its attention. “You’ll… have to excuse Ichabod, he can get a bit anxious around beautiful people.” Extending a hand, it gave her a warm smile. “I’m Chuck. What can I do for you today? Anything you want.” It was an odd thing to tack on the end, perhaps, if you weren’t a demon that drew up contracts every day.

—

“Oh.” Siobhan’s grin was sharp, full of mischief and amusement. She looked the most like a fae in those moments, consumed by the spiritual essence of chaos and having a good time. Unfortunately for Siobhan, as many similarities as she shared to viral videos of cats knocking things off shelves, she also possessed a shred of decency that reminded her that people did not like it when their things were broken. “I’m already slippery,” she replied. Her fingers teased the corner of another trinket, but she didn’t push it all the way down. The lanky boy seemed horrified already and her game had worked, the infamous owner was here. She grinned up at him.

There were a few things she thought first about him: he was hot, he was attractive and he was good to look at. More than that, however, one thought haunted her mind, rattling in the corners and bouncing around in the dark: Chuck was an absolutely stupid name. Siobhan wasn’t a fae to take names, that’d be juvenile of her. Sophisticated fae of her age stole things like houses and cars and wives. However, she could make an exception for Chuck; she’d be doing a public service by robbing it. “And you lay on the charm rather thickly, does that work for all your customers?” Not that she didn’t like it, she adored when people stated the obvious about her. “Anything?” A perfectly manicured brow shot up, accompanied by the twinkle in Siobhan’s brown eyes. Oh, she could hold him to that; so many people promised her anything when they’d only meant to be charming. She wouldn’t, however, partially because he was too good looking to be scrubbing her floors; chemicals did not need to be close to a face like that. She almost felt like she should be the one fanning him with palm fronds. What a strange feeling.

“Actually, as it turns out, I think you have something for me…” Siobhan stepped closer to him, hovering a breath away. Her grin hadn’t died. “Wings from a moth. We talked online. You said it was ready?” She paused. “But you didn’t say your name would be….Chuck.” She couldn’t hide her disgust about it. All Chucks needed to come with a Chuck warning.

—

“Usually, yes,” Chuck answered easily. Then she went on, and the pieces fell into place. “Ahh, yes, of course,” he thought aloud, remaining in place as she moved far closer than a personal bubble would permit—thankfully, he didn’t have one of those. Lucky him, that this was the person who’d been asking after the moth. And then—the demon let out a soft chuckle, raising his broad shoulders in a nonchalant shrug. “Would you prefer Charles?” There was no room to give her a once-over, so instead he simply let his gaze wander to her throat, then back up to her eyes. “I’ll tell you what, come with me to the back room so I can retrieve your moth, and you can come up with a new name for me in the meantime, hm?” Stepping back, he turned and waited for her to follow, then led her back to the room he’d come from when Ichabod had started yelping for him.

“Afraid I didn’t catch yours, either,” the shop owner mused as they stepped beyond the red door and into the back room—an office, of sorts, though it was dimly lit and looked far more lived-in than your typical office. In the corner of the room was a dog bed, though no dog was in sight. He fished a set of keys from his pocket, using them to open a trunk that sat against one of the walls. It was full of variously-sized packages, all wrapped in brown paper and tied with twine. Charming. Reaching into the pile of goods, Chuck pulled out one like it was an instinct, no searching required. Closing the trunk and locking it again, the demon turned to face the woman and held it out to her. “Go on, give it a look. Make sure it’s exactly what you were after.” It wouldn’t do to have an unsatisfied customer, after all.

Inside the wrapping was a simple but elegant shadow box with a glass front and back, and inside of it, artfully suspended, the requested moth that appeared to be in mid-flight.

—

“Charles is better than Chuck,” Siobhan exclaimed as if the statement was indisputable. “Charles can be Charlie--which is cute. Chuck is sad.” Someone as attractive as Chuck needed a new name. And, as if reading her mind, he tasked her with devising a new, better name. Several words sprung to mind: skeleton, bone, the-lesser-Siobhan, gravestone, morgue, corpse. As she followed him, her mind cycled through the options and she mouthed each one, feeling them against her tongue. “Siobhan,” she said absently. She was thinking about Chuck and the possibility of new names when she saw the moth.

Siobhan remembered the sensation of her wings; the first time, they tore from the firm flesh of her back, spilling hot blood down her chair. She imagined the wings revealing themselves the way a cut did, the peeling back of layers of skin--white given to pink--and the blood of her body painting itself a portrait. She couldn’t remember if it hurt; she couldn’t remember if she liked them at first or if it took her awhile to recognize their beauty. Her wings were uniquely hers, except for the fact that somewhere in the wild, there were thousands of moths created by the tide of Fate that bore the same markings. Siobhan didn’t know what it was about fae that made their wings often just like the life around them but like most, she assumed it was the natural connection the fae had with the world. The cinnabar moth wasn’t much to look at, but to Siobhan, it was the most beautiful creature.

She stroked the glass, remembering the soft texture, micro hair-like against her fingers. Its wings were captured in motion, as her wings had often fluttered with her pulsing excitement. “You would have had to go overseas for this,” Siobhan said, turning to face Chuck. “It’s not an easy thing to do--catch something that lives for such a short time. Catch something that doesn’t want to be caught.” The tug in her chest told her this was true and dead. Before her was the beauty she once held, just the same, true and dead. “Why?” She asked. “Why bother? How much money can I give you that makes such a feat worth it? What do you get out of this, Chuck?” Her eyes glistened. She wasn’t going to cry but Fates did she feel like it.

—

Watching as each new expression flitted over her features like the moth in that shadow box had once flitted the wings she was so enamored with, the demon felt himself smile.

“That,” he answered with a gentle nod. “That… is what I get out of it.” His hands gestured to her and he took a step closer, framing her face without touching her for a moment before letting one palm rest atop her shoulder. “Gratitude. It’s a wondrous thing, isn’t it? A more valuable currency than anything you could pay me for such a feat, as you say.” His smile turned darker somehow, and he leaned in a bit closer. “I should let you in on a little secret that’s becoming less secret by the week—my name isn’t Chuck. You’re right, Chuck is awful. My name is Leviathan, and I’d very much like for you to take this moth home with you, free of charge. The only thing I ask in return is that you remember me the next time you need something. As you can see, I’m quite good at making the impossible, well, possible.” Leaning back again to give her a bit more space to breathe, the demon lifted the other hand between them as if holding it out to shake. “Sound like a deal?”

—

The idea of gratitude was a lump in Siobhan’s throat; she knew a lot of it. Her wingless back burned with gratitude down its two jagged, horizontal scars. For a fae to have gratitude, something was either very wrong or extremely right. Leviathan wasn’t a normal human name and Siobhan suspected the man she was looking at wasn’t human at all. If he was the Leviathan of legend or someone who liked the idea, she didn’t know and, if she was being honest with herself, she didn’t particularly care. A deal was a deal, it didn’t matter who it was made with— magic was undiscerning. He smiled like the sort of person who knew exactly what he was doing, operating with a knowledge that Siobhan didn’t possess. More strangely though, she didn’t feel embarrassed by her lack of understanding. It was her damned curiosity that snaked across her skin and pulled her hand out. If she got tricked into an actual deal, it wouldn’t be so terrible to imagine Levithan’s face every time she was out of yogurt— he was almost unfathomably handsome. Wasn’t it more exciting to enter herself into whatever game was being played?

Siobhan pressed her palm into Levithan’s, flinching at the sudden warmth against her frigid skin. Eventually she relaxed into the sensation, gripping his hand firmly back. “Sounds like a deal,” she emphasized with a bright smile. Whatever Levithan wanted, whatever she wasn’t privy to, she could manage. After all, what sort of fae would she be if she wasn’t involved in whatever trickery was afoot? When her wings were back where they belonged, when the beauty existed beyond the glass and against her flesh again, she would reward him with the sight.

In the end, she’d always remember Leviathan anyway. There weren’t so many people who could capture life as it had been or who would travel so far to gain so little. Siobhan would remember Leviathan, if not for the deal she hadn’t given him, then for the beauty he had given her. For one brief moment, she had remembered what it had been like to be whole. There must have been others that owed much more to Leviathan, but she didn’t count her gift so lightly.

She would remember him.

#. thread ;#. with ; siobhan dolan #. gratitude ;

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surroundedbypearls · 1 year

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Golden Hands and Golden Fingers ~ Theo, the knight

An excerpt from Chapter 21!

This little town was quaint enough, but he could se why Priam had wanted to leave it. He could also see how, in the right mindset, one could spend the years away here, letting the flow of time carry them through each sunrise and sunset. Priam obviously didn’t have that mindset, didn’t have that want to rest. But he could see Annchi loved this place. When the caw of a rooster had woken her at dawn, it wasn’t with a groan she shifted in the bed, but a smile.

What must it be like to carry such a burden on her shoulders? He didn’t know how she could conduct herself the way she did, with such an easy joy. To be the last of her line - no child should have to deal with such a burden. He heard it in her voice the night before, how heavy its weight was on her - her father should have done everything he could to lessen that weight. He couldn’t change the facts. He couldn’t change that Annchi was his only living daughter or that she would never bear children. But that didn’t mean he had to weigh her with it when she wasn't even a woman yet.

“Theo?” Annchi looked up from her breakfast. “When was the last time you visited your home?”

It had been a long time. “Not since I began my academy training.”

He hid a smile. Annchi looked at him differently now that she knew where he had grown up. Emogen did too. Not that she had any right to judge him. Though when their eyes met for a moment across the table, he got the sense that maybe she wasn’t judging him. That she might respect him a little more.

It was easy to look at someone like him and think he grew up on city life. He’d always done a decent job at fitting in wherever he needed to. The Fae were good at that, good at blending into their surroundings, hiding from prying eyes, from explorers, from wanderers. Only those the Fae choose to allow would ever find them.

Theo had asked many times what it was the Fae saw in his mother that led them to allow her in, that made them agree to take him, to care for her in her final hours. And they’d always said they same. “It’s nothing we know, changeling. It’s a feeling. It comes from all around us.”

They used to say the trees could hear everything. He couldn't remember now if he’d ever believed them.

“Do you ever miss it?” Annchi asked with a curious smile.

Fae children weren’t so common in the clan Theo was raised in, not as he grew older, anyway, and became too old to need friends. But the way Annchi watched him reminded him so much of the Fae he did know. So alert. So open.

So he answered honestly. “Sometimes. Things are simple there. The Fae are complicated, I suppose, compared to how humans might look at the world - but their lives are simple.”

“Were they kind to you?”

The Fae were not warm, not in the way people like Annchi were. But they were kind to those they felt deserved it. They never asked for anything in return. He imagined there were few women who would think of an idea so outlandish as to give their baby to the Fae to raise. She must have truly been desperate, to the point where the outlandish was all that would save her.

He often wondered, after he left to make his own way, if there was something he owed them, something he should give them as thanks. But he couldn’t begin to even think what that might be.

“Of course they were.”

More about Golden Hands and Golden Fingers here! Leave a comment or an ask to be added to the taglist.

#writeblr #writers of tumblr #my wips #my writing #am writing #my ocs #fantasy #fantasy fiction #original writing #original fiction #original characters #wip: ghgf #oc: theo #oc: annchi #oc: emogen

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smileygoth · 6 months

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22. Heart of the Forest (WODtober 2023)

Part 22 of my WODtober story. Taking the daily prompts and trying to weave a vampire story from them! In this chapter, Eliza reveals her identity to Imogen.

Word Count: 777 words.

CW: None I can think of!

Image by buffarches on Flickr.

Find the previous chapters here!

As they walked back to Imogen’s haven, with Imogen once again in control, she said: ‘Some of the things you did back there in the park … I’ve never seen them before. Never heard of them, either.’

I don’t doubt it, Eliza responded.

‘How did you do the thing with the tree?’ Imogen went on. ‘And all those animals - I mean, I know Miro can talk to rats, but you … it looked like you summoned everything in the park!’

You’re asking me about my powers, my Disciplines, Eliza said. So you’re asking me about my clan.

‘I suppose I am, yes,’ Imogen replied. ‘I mean, I think we’re way past worrying about good manners, the two of us.’

Eliza chuckled. I suppose we are. There was a long pause before she went on. My clan are very, very rare these nights. Many think us extinct. Many others hate us and wish us to be so. But we persevere … in dark, wild places where no other Cainite dare to venture for fear of Garou and Fae folk.

Imogen frowned. ‘Fae folk? Faeries?’ She laughed. ‘That’s something you’ll have to tell me about some other time.’

Ah, you sweet young thing, Eliza said teasingly. So innocent.

Imogen snorted. ‘Back to your clan. You’re making it sound like you’re some evil clan of satanic druids or something.’

Some think us so, Eliza replied. But the truth is simpler. We are Lhiannan. A clan of women only, who are deeply and vitally connected to the land. To our land - our homes. We do not wander, and we do not gather together, because we need our homes like we need blood. Away from them, we wither. But when we are within our lands, we can speak to the earth itself and do wonderful things.

Imogen considered this. ‘So that’s why you’re so mad at Harrogate,’ she said eventually. ‘He destroyed your home.’

Precisely, Eliza replied. And we fight to protect our homes.

‘So … what does that mean for you now? Will you … wither?’

While I am still a … passenger in your body, my connection to my land is not as vital as it once was, Eliza replied. I can endure without it. But the more I come forward, the more I need it. That park responded to me only a little, both because it is a false wilderness constructed by men, and because it is not my home. It cannot sustain me, or grant me the full extent of my powers. Only my land can do that. And when I am home…

‘You can bring down buildings,’ Imogen finished for her, remembering her story of what happened at the construction site.

Yes, I can. Eliza smiled. And it means something else too. That my land is not yet dead. Harrogate may have torn down the trees and ploughed the earth, laid concrete in the soil and poison in the waters, but it still lives. And if it still lives…

‘It can be revived,’ Imogen said, smiling.

Exactly.

‘So Harrogate hasn’t defeated you yet. And there’s still something to fight for.’

Exactly! Eliza sounded gleeful. I think you’re starting to understand me, Imogen.

Imogen shrugged. ‘I just understand what it’s like to lose everything,’ she replied, trying to keep the bitterness out of her voice. ‘At least you know who to blame.’

Eliza’s voice was quieter. I … am sorry, for my part in it, she said. It wasn’t meant to be you.

Imogen’s smile turned sour. ‘Yeah,’ she agreed. ‘I know. And Ed and Emily didn’t know you were in the tomb, and they were just trying to stitch up Harrogate anyway. So who do I blame?’

Harrogate. He put this all in motion.

‘You’re just saying that because you’re mad at him yourself. But he’s as good a person to blame as any.’ She paused and sighed. ‘And I know it sounds weird, but I really don’t care any more. I was never that good at being a vampire. I’m ready to be done with it all.’

An uncomfortable silence fell between them. To break it, Imogen asked: ‘Anyway. What will you do to bring your land back? That can’t be an easy job.’ It will need to be nurtured and allowed to go back to the wild, Eliza replied. Though I may have some trees planted. They take so long to grow. Though it’ll never be the way it was before. My beautiful forest. She sighed softly, her breath like a whisper in Imogen’s mind. I am grateful for your help, Imogen. Harrogate needs to pay for what he has done. To both of us.

#vamily #vampire the masquerade #vampire #vampirism #dark pack #world of darkness #vtm #vamptober #wodtober #wod #lhiannan

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creativia10 · 1 year

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Emile in the Garden

Emile didn't have much choice in running from the village he had always lived on the streets of. However, he did not expect to stumble into a fae garden in the woods in his haste. Nothing about this goes the way he would have expected. For once, that might not be a bad thing though.

Pairings: Emile and Everyone, Emile/Remy, can be platonic or romantic you decide

Warnings: One line implying attempted sexual assault (can be skipped), implied past neglect, mistreatment, threats of violence, Let me know if I'm missing anything.

Word Count: 7389

Notes: (Title may change.)I found myself wondering how Virgil would react to a desperate human stumbling into a fae garden the way he had. Now that he is one of the fae.

I might end up writing a similar version to this that is more from Virgil's perspective. I had less of Virgil in this than I initially thought I would. Inspired by @a-small-batch-of-dragons Unwanted fic series

Emile ran through the woods as fast as he could. He tried to avoid the branches, but that was harder than he thought. He laughed as he ran, which was unusual for him. It had been a while since he’d laughed like this. It was not exactly an expected reaction for someone running from something. Remy had suggested turning it into a game though. And well, it certainly made the action more fun after they went for it.

Emile reveled a bit in the fact that he was so much faster than Remy. He figured the other wasn’t that far behind.

It wasn’t that long ago that Emile caught the fellow street dweller in an arm lock. Remy had been attempting to steal some bread from Emile.

“All you had had to do was ask,” Emile had said. Remy gave him a bewildered look which stayed there while Emile broke the loaf and shared it with them.

“It’s hard enough getting by on your own. Might as well help each other when we can.”

Emile wasn’t sure if Remy had agreed with that statement at the time.

Yet now they were both running from the same people. Those who wanted to run street dwellers like themselves out of town. He supposes he should have expected as much would happen eventually. Especially since it was hard to get Remy to follow the laws while in the position they were in. Maybe that acceptance made it easier for him to let Remy try to make something else out of their fleeing.

He didn’t blame Remy, not really. Emile hadn’t done too well on his own. Neither of them had. It was easier to deal with this way of life, as little choice as they had in the matter when you weren’t alone. So, maybe Emile had cared more about companionship and not wanted to risk losing Remy. So he didn't insist that they kept from stealing.

No matter how often Emile had to beg or dig through trash and abandoned items, it was still humiliating. Not to mention inconsistent with fruitfulness. Also, Emile knew how often Remy had to flee towns before they met. So he suspected this could end up being the case eventually. Not that Emile had any attachments to the town anyways despite how long he had been there. People could be mean.

It may be for the best in Emile’s case to be farther ahead in the forest despite the many trees. His pink hair didn’t exactly blend in well. It was better to not be anywhere close where a pursuer could point it out.

So yes, his focus was on trying to get as far as he could. Remy would want him to do so anyway. He could just only hope they’d be able to reconvene once they got far enough away. Then maybe they could come up with a plan on what to do next. Emile didn’t really know how to start over after all.

Emile could have been paying attention more. But despite his laughter from their attempt at a race, his flight instincts had kicked in. He barely took in his surroundings and panted. A continuing chant of Run. Run. Run, going through his head.

The sudden lack of any barrier after so much dodging around branches has him gasp. Tripping over his own feet, his momentum pitches him forward. Well, that wasn’t good. Why would they just disappear though? Emile had seen enough of the forest ahead to know he was nowhere near close to the end.

Emile took in a breath and struggled as he stood up again. When he looked forward again he winced at the sudden brightness. How strange. He squinted and shaded his eyes with a hand to see better. He was in a clearing?

He looked around the area, a bit thrown off. He should probably keep going, but he wanted to get his bearings. Something was off about where he was.

This area seemed almost unnaturally gorgeous. The plants have a soft glow. Overall the colors around there are vibrant. These features struck Emile as familiar to stories he may have overheard in the village. He wished he could recall more details about it, as it seemed important now.

Another reason to despise the type of life he had grown up in. Surely children safe in homes with parents to care for them heard such cautionary tales of the woods. They would know better not to let themselves get into such a situation as he may have been in then.

Something told Emile he had to get out of there. But he was running away, so was there a way to go around? Emile started to look around for a way to distinguish the outline of the garden.

“Oh, what’s this?”

Emile gasped and spun around in the direction of the voice. A figure leaned against a tree. He had an other-worldly style of clothes and snake scales covering half of his face. This man, his human half almost too perfect looking, had to be connected to what was off with this garden. This strange place and strange man.

The figure smirked at him and languidly pushed off the tree to walk toward Emile. It took Emile too long to get himself to take a shaky step back. But then the figure practically wooshes forward so he’s right in front of Emile now.

“Careful now,” An arm catches Emile around the side of his waist.

“You look like you’re about to fall over,” The creature now holding him drawled out.

The term from what Emile thought this figure may be was at the tip of his tongue. Fae?

Emile made a muted sound much to his embarrassment.

The Fae chuckled.

“What’s the matter, dear?”

Emile was finding it hard to do much of anything right then. This was too much. A lot to process. He was in some sort of magical garden with a too pretty-man who had to be a fae. Emile did not know how to deal with that.

The fae hums.

“For a moment, I thought you might be another fae,”

Oh, shoot.

The fae brings one of his gloved hands up to stroke through Emile’s hair. Emile gasps at that.

“This isn’t exactly a typical hair color I see among mortals. But your reaction to me is all human,” He said and twisted Emile’s hair through his fingers.

It’s not like Emile knew why he had such an unusual hair color. He didn’t know enough about where he came from to get any more of a clear idea about it. It hadn’t exactly been great when he was already in a vulnerable position as someone living off the streets. Not when village people were known to be superstitious and paranoid.

He wouldn’t have even minded the color if it weren’t for the negative attention it got him. It’s certainly possible he got some sort of magical blessing once as a child. But knowing Emile’s luck though, it was unlikely. Closer to a curse more than anything

“So what do I do with this?” The Fae continued.

Emile whimpers and trembles slightly.

“Now, let’s hope there’s no need for that. Are you able to tell me why you’re here?”

He wants to. Gosh does he want to now. The last thing he needed was for this fae to think he was challenging him just by showing up in their territory. Emile starts to open his mouth, but he’s still too overwhelmed by the fae’s presence to be able to respond. Not to mention it was hard enough not to stare at a pretty guy even when they weren’t magical.

The fae before him tsks.

“I really don’t expect such adorable creatures to stumble into my garden,”

“Mmm,” and now Emile was blushing. Of course. It was inevitable.

The fae laughs. “Well it’s true. I would certainly not lay on the charm so thick if I knew it would make getting answers out of you harder. No matter. I have other ways of finding out.”

Wait what?

“Don’t worry.” The fae cups Emile’s chin.

How was he able to do that? Emile still felt the hands on his waist and head. With the hand cupping Emile’s chin, he tilts his head up to look up. A branch snaps nearby. The fae then pauses and sighs. He lets go.

“There is certainly no need for anyone else to be over here,” The fae says out loud. It would seem towards someone else. Emile wouldn’t think it was Remy, because when Emile’s friend got protective, there was no way he was quiet.

“Especially not given some people’s history when there is a stranger among us.”

It was quiet for a moment then another rustle.

“Ah yes, you are certainly one for subtly my dear. Just head on back. I got this.”

Despite the scaled fae’s words, the other came towards them. The first fae narrowed his eyes at the other.

The second figure, who wore dark-colored pants and purple tunics, shuffled in place.

“I was just curious.”

“Oh? You’ve never been curious enough to risk yourself before.”

The other looked up then with a pout. Oh, this one had to be fae too. His eyes were purple.

“I’m not really risking myself with you here.”

“Oh, how flattering.”

“Besides, you had already pretty much said that I was here. There was no point. And I’m getting better at handling myself now.”

“Mhm. Anyways, you really don’t need to be here. This shouldn’t take long.”

Oh, Emile didn’t like the sound of that.

The scaled fae cupped his chin again and brought it up to gaze at his eyes.

“Pay the other no mind, my dear. Just look into my eyes.”

Oh. There was something mesmerizing about the mismatched eyes. He feels himself mentally sink into somewhere. He inhales sharply as he’s thrust into memories.

The streets. Dirty. Looking down. Trying to keep away from anyone who looks scary or dangerous despite being unable to hide his fear.

A distant voice he barely recognizes anymore warning him of how to stay safe while stuck in this way of life.

Being shoved. Ignored. The grossness he hated and had to deal with. Begging and being met with cruelty. Barely being able to struggle with stronger figures who wanted his body. Trying desperately to get a job and not even being given the time of day. Cold.

Rough hands grabbing, pulling at his hair. Dodging the scissors thrust towards his hair without consent. The scowls and doubts of his status as a street dweller due to his physical appearance. Developing light sleeping patterns to protect against surprise attacks on his hair. For when they tried to catch him unawares.

Remy. Seeing Remy steal. Authorities pointing at them. A promise to look out for each other. And then just so much running. Fearing it will never stop. Not knowing what will come of them. So much fear.

Emile’s breath hitches as he is released suddenly from the memories, going limp. The scaled fae before him catches him. The fae’s mouth is twisted, but then he gives Emile a softer look.

“Oh, you poor thing.”

And he then…hugs Emile? With multiple sets of arms. Emile blinks, not sure how to respond.

The purple-eyed fae looks at the two of them with wide eyes.

“What? What happened? J, is he alright?”

J hm?

Something twitches behind the purple-eyed fae, but it’s hard for Emile to tell what it is.

J hisses and looks up back at the other fae.

“I do so love how you’re calling me that in front of a stranger.”

The purple-eyed fae looked down and shuffled in place.

“…sorry. But still, is he ok?”

J hmmed.

“That is to be determined.”

J pulled away enough to look at Emile again, arms still wrapped around him.

J looked over Emile then back to the other fae.

“Did you want to see?”

The other fae’s eyebrows rose and then he fidgeted in place. This time the movement behind said fae is a little easier for Emile to see.

Were those some sort of black appendages coming from that fae’s back?

“I uh, well, is it okay for me to see that?”

J hmmed.

“I suppose we didn’t exactly give you that choice, did we? Then again, we barely got you to speak at all, the scared thing that you were.”

Wait what?

The spider-like fae frowned and looked down.

“It’s okay, my dear. You know we don’t blame you for that. It could be scary.”

Emile was just confused and starting to feel like he might as well not be there. Should he try to leave now? Moving still seemed like a challenge.

More steps came over.

“Why is a mortal still here? Oo, is he another cute one? And why is our dear V here?”

And now there were three here.

V, apparently, crossed his arms.

“I was just curious about what was going on. I haven’t really been on this side of this situation, after all.”

The new fae threw his head back and laughed. Oh, he was quite handsome. They all were really. As to be expected from what little Emile knows of these too-perfect creatures.

This new one wore a getup like a prince from a fairytale.

Emile makes a muted sound when he sees him. The prince gives him a winning smile and makes his way over.

“Oh? Another stunnable one, hmm?”

He puts his hands on Emile’s shoulders.

“Can I see?” The Prince asks. J sighs and turns Emile around.

“Maybe I wanted to hug him,” The prince whines a little. But that doesn’t stop him from lightly tapping along Emile’s shoulders. The prince continues to caress along Emile's sides and up around his face. Drawing forth all kinds of embarrassing flustered noises. People don’t really touch him, okay? Remy was physically affectionate. But it had still been years before of Emile not really being touched much by anyone. Not in any gentle way. And even when Remy did, it wasn’t like this.

The prince cooed at him.

“Oh, you’re so adorable.”

V’s lips purse, his face unreadable. The prince glances to the spider-like one.

“Don’t tell me you’re jealous? I can fluster you anytime.”

V sputters and huffs. Crossing his arms and looking away. The prince tsks.

“Did you want to come over and try?”

Wait what?

V looks back at Prince with an eyebrow raise.

“I still want to know what caused snakey over here to hug him so soon.”

Prince hmmed.

“I’m curious now too. Why didn’t he just share it already?”

J sighs.

“I was getting mixed messages.”

Prince narrowed his eyes at J in confusion.

“I dunno, okay,” V said.

This was a strange conversation. Not what Emile would have expected from these creatures. He was beginning to feel like he had been still too long though.

“Clearly his intentions aren’t a concern if he is still here with our snake here,” A new voice said as he joined them.

Really? Another?

The other fae turned to him.

“I’m surprised you’ve come over. We usually have it handled,” J said.

This new fae, who wore a dark blue suit and glasses similar to Emile’s own, hmmed and gestured to V.

“I could feel his concern through our connection.”

Their what now?

The other fae turned to V. V was now blushing and looking away.

“Gosh, it’s not like a big deal or anything. We don’t need to freak the poor guy out. Besides, L is right. Although I wasn’t trying to bring him over.”

“Oh, it’s fine,” L said with a wave.

“As we learned from last time, Prince and the snake can get distracted from questioning the mortal.”

The two L mentioned both scoffed at that, but L paid them no mind. L walked over to Emile and shot him a small smile before looking at J still holding him.

“May I?”

J huffs.

“In my defense, he was about to fall over.”

“I don’t doubt it,” L said. “Just stand behind him. We’ll catch him.”

J nods. Then he slowly releases Emile carefully.

Emile still wobbles a bit in place, but he doesn’t fall over. L comes closer.

“Shh, it’s alright.”

Emile had realized it by this point, but every time a new fae came over he woe-ed at their attractiveness.

“May I touch you?”

He was actually asking this time? Emile opened his mouth to respond, but somehow still found it difficult. L nodded.

“That’s alright, I will refrain for now. Can you speak?”

Emile worked his mouth, and then let out a strangled,

“…yes.”

L nodded again.

“Good. Good, now, how did you get here?”

Emile immediately stiffened and his chest tightened. A reminder that he really shouldn’t have stayed still. He didn’t know how he was supposed to keep going when he ended up here though.

“I uh, I don’t know. I was running through the forest a-and I wasn’t looking where I was going when I stumbled into here. I’m sorry, I really didn’t mean to intrude.”

The other fae behind L exchanged looks with each other.

“It’s quite alright. It happens,” Prince said.

“Why were you running in the forest?” L asked.

Emile hesitated. He certainly didn’t know anything about where fae stood ethically. Would they care that his companion had been caught stealing?

“Is it easier for me to show them?” J asked. Emile gave him wide eyes.

“It’s ok,” V said then, coming over to them. “They’re not going to hurt you.”

“I’m surprised you’re saying so,” L said to V. V shrugged.

“As you said, I trust J’s judgment.”

Apparently, that was all J needed. He reached for Emile’s hand. Emile looked at him and didn’t fight it, not really knowing what the other was doing anyways. Then J opens Emile’s hand and presses the palm side against L’s chest. L feels cool but in a nice way. J holds Emile’s hand there for a moment. All the other fae around them inhale sharply and then exhale. Emile looks around in confusion. What was happening?

“Oh, you poor thing,” Prince coos. And now Prince was hugging him. Whoa, he was very warm. And it actually felt really nice. Emile melted against him, eyes drooping. Prince continued to coo over him and rubbed circles against Emile’s back.

“Wha,”

“J shared with us the memories he saw from you earlier,” V said and stepped closer without crowding him.

“Looked rough.”

“I’ve never understood how some mortals could treat their fellow man so horribly,” Prince said. He continued to rub Emile's back and then leaned his head against Emile’s.

“I don’t suppose you know how far off your pursuers were?” L asked. “We can likely help you. Perhaps stay here for a bit until we know they’re gone if it won’t be long.”

Emile wasn’t sure about that offer, as nice as it sounded. Before he could answer, they heard fast rustling coming from outside the garden. The Fae who weren’t holding Emile immediately stood at attention. Prince stood back with him, probably not wanting to let go yet. V had stepped back as well, almost hiding behind a tree again.

A familiar fella stumbled into the garden, his arms flying around to regain his balance. Emile smiled in relief when he saw who it was. Emile tapped Prince’s arm and then walked away from him to go to Remy. Once he had regained his balance, Remy looked up and his eyes widened.

“Emile!?”

Emile ran to him and immediately crushed his friend in a hug. Remy oofed but then hugged him back just as hard.

“It’s good to see you’re alright. But wait, I thought you should be way ahead of me.”

Emile laughed a little nervously.

“Yeah, stumbling into here kind of threw me off.”

“What do you mean?” Remy looked around and immediately furrowed his brows. “And who are they?”

Remy stepped protectively in front of Emile.

“Stay back! Something ain’t right about them. I don’t know what you lot were trying to pull here with us, but it ain’t gonna fly.”

Then Remy pulled out a knife that Emile didn’t even know Remy had. Although he supposed it made sense. Emile gasped and touched Remy’s arm. Remy just nudged him back again.

“R-“

“Don’t say my name, around them. I know you’ve heard the stories about fae and names.”

“-Rem, put that thing away. It’s not necessary. In fact, they were just offering to help.”

Remy frowned and scoffed.

“Yeah, I’m sure. We stumble in here and all they want to do is help? I don’t buy it. Look you lot, you can just let us go and no one gets hurt, kay?”

Emile makes a distressed noise at that. Well, the fae were certainly much tenser now.

“Your friend is right. We wish you no harm,” L said.

Remy took a step back with Emile.

“Right. So I’m really expected to believe you’ll just let us go, no strings attached.”

“Of course.”

Just then an unnerving cackle came from behind the other fae in the garden.

“Oh, but they didn’t make any promises about me.”

“Duke, no!”

It happened fast. A man in green, who seemed to resemble the prince, came from out of nowhere and rushed forward. He got held back by Prince and another fae Emile hadn’t met yet. The Duke fought to keep going with a snarl.

Remy and Emile had both taken quick steps back, but Emile tripped backward and fell over. Except someone caught him. Emile looked up to see L helping him and Remy back up.

“O-okay,” The new fae, also wearing glasses like Emile’s, croaked out.

“I think everyone needs to calm down, a bit, alright?”

The duke continued to snarl. Emile jumped as his eyes were covered.

“Sorry,” V said. “I’ve been told Duke can be blinding when he goes feral.”

“When he goes, what?” Emile asked.

“Yeah, I had trouble with that too. It’s kinda hard to explain?”

“It is caused by an extreme state of protectiveness,” L said.

“…oh-ok,” Emile got out.

“No need to worry. It is not directed at you,” L continued.

“Bitch, uncover my eyes!”

Emile heard Remy exclaim from next to him.

“It is for your own protection,” L said.

Remy scoffed.

“Yeah right. And what the hell happened to my knife!?”

“I nabbed a hold of it,” J said.

Emile heard Remy shuffle back but there was someone behind him stopping him from going far. Remy cursed.

“Easy now. We will uncover your eyes as soon as the duke calms down.”

Remy huffed, and Emile could still hear the rustling from Remy struggling.

“It just occurred to me, we didn’t get what we should call you,” J said.

“Don’t tell them shit, Em!” Remy yelled.

“Em hm?” J said.

Remy cursed again.

“Is this your companion from the memories, Em?” L asked.

“Wait what?” Remy asked. “Did they poke around in your head or something?” The rustling increased.

“You bastards don’t get to poke around in our heads!”

“Rem, it’s ok,” Emile said.

“Yeah right, it is,” Remy said.

“I had just stumbled into their territory, and I was too stunned to speak. It’s only fair to want to know why I was there to assess whether I was a threat.”

“Gurl, I know you ain’t trying to defend these magic fae prodding into your head without consent. Unless you want to tell me you gave them permission to do so.”

“…Well, no,” Emile admitted.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

“I’m sorry for us doing so,” L said, “Justifications aside, it was a breach of privacy.”

Emile could see in his mind’s eye how Remy probably narrowed his eyes at them.

“We will refrain from doing so anymore,” L said. Somehow, Emile could imagine him giving the other fae a stern look at that. Or maybe it was just for the one who prodded initially.

“That doesn’t take away from doing so in the first place,” Remy continued. “I mean, if yall are all-powerful fae, what threat could one human possibly be to ya.”

There was a pause.

“You might be surprised,” Prince said.

“Besides,” J then added. “From first appearance, even that wasn’t clear.”

Remy didn’t respond to that, but Emile figured out what his friend must be thinking. About what Emile had to deal with from his unusual hair color. Emile felt fingertips brush against his arm, which startled him.

“…it’s just me, Em,” Remy said. Emile nodded. L let Emile free up one of his arms to be able to hold Remy’s hand back.

“We don’t know why he looks like that,” Remy said, a bit softer this time, “But he has never been a threat to anybody. No matter what idiots think.”

“I believe you,” J said, “And there is nothing wrong with his hair being like that. I’m sorry other humans have ruined that for you.”

“Duke,” The new fae called gently, “It’s ok to calm down now. These new humans aren’t a threat. And they’re not going to do any harm to V.”

Duke scoffed.

“Yeah right. Do you see the second human right now? Who knows what he would be doing if J hadn’t nabbed his knife.”

Remy growled at that.

“We are much stronger than them, though,” J said.

“Besides,” V said, “The first one, Em, is certainly not a threat. And they seem to be a pair. The second just wants to keep them safe. Something I can understand, the survival instinct. I feel safe enough with you all here. Plus, I can tell there is a big difference between these two and the humans who have hurt me before. So it’s okay to calm down a bit. It will be alright.”

There was quiet for a moment except for Duke’s ragged breathing. Then he let out a stuttered exhale.

“Alright. I trust you, V,” Duke said.

“Are they good now?” V asked.

After a moment, “Yes, I believe so,” L said.

Emile blinked as his sight returned. Remy, who hadn’t really stopped moving, stumbled a bit when his eyes were uncovered. L reached to help steady him but Remy pulled away.

“Stop touching me!”

L stepped back and held his hands up in surrender.

“Apologies.”

Remy stepped sideways, closer to Emile, and wrapped an arm around him.

“Now can I have my knife back?” Remy asked.

“Hmm, no,” J said.

“Ex-squeeze me?” Remy demanded.

“Perhaps if I may,” L cut in. “Let’s put the weapon away from either of us while both parties are still here and tensions remain.”

Remy huffed, but J followed L’s instruction.

“So,” the latest fae who shared Emile’s glasses started. He wore a pastel blue cloak.

“What should we call you?” He asked.

Remy raised an eyebrow. “Now I know you don’t think I’m going to fall for that. And we don’t exactly have time for an introduction circle.”

L hmmed. “Yes, that does seem to be the case. We were just offering to help keep Em safe from your pursuers when you happened to stumble in. After all, it is on us that you’ve been still so long.”

Remy huffed and put his free hand on his hip.

“Oh yeah? And what was this so-called, ‘help’?”

“…well, we hadn’t gotten there yet. But I was suggesting you stay here until the pursuers have passed.”

“Yeah, and stay in a fae territory longer than we need to? That doesn’t sound like a good idea.”

“…very well. Was there something else we could-“

“No. Not interested in making a deal, thanks. I like my ten toes exactly where they are.”

L blinked and tilted his head. “I’m not sure I follow what the location of your toes has to do with an offer to assist.”

V sighed and went over to whisper something in his ear.

“Oh. Of course, we wouldn’t ask for anything ridiculous from you,” L said.

“Mhmm. Sure. We definitely have a reason to believe you. Right now, I just want to get our cute butts outta here. Without adding any more complications to our situation.”

“Rem-“ Emile started but paused. Quick footsteps came their way. Oh, shoot. Emile immediately turned to speed on out of there, but someone stopped him with gentle hands. Why would they do that? There was stillness next to Emile as well. One of the fae must have stopped Remy as well.

They were coming too close for comfort. Emile was starting to freeze up. Unfortunate when he knew that wouldn’t do him any good. He had the strange desire to hide behind these faes though. V was hiding behind a tree, Emile noticed. Duke stood by it and glared out towards where the sound was coming from.

“Rotten thief.”

“Street trash.”

“Whoa, wait!”

The steps came to a stumbling halt.

“The hell, what!?”

“I think that’s a fae garden. Best not to go in there.”

“Shit.”

“The way they were running, bastards probably went straight on in. Unless they were smarter than we thought.”

“That’s unlikely.”

“We seriously came all this way chasing those brats just to stop now!?”

“Did you want to deal with upsetting some fae?”

“You know what, yeah. That’s not worth it.”

“We could try and go around?”

“Yeah, I’m not chancing being anywhere near here.”

“We already wasted so much time chasing the lowlifes. They ain’t worth putting in more effort for.”

“Especially if they could be dead or worse.”

“Good riddance to them.”

Emile stayed quiet until well after the steps had walked away. Their previous pursuers grumbled all the while. When it felt safe to, Emile let out a breath of relief.

“Well, that answers that then,” L said. Emile glanced at L with a confused look. But then he turned back to Remy who hadn’t reacted since hearing their pursuers. Remy was still frozen, his expression hard to read. The sunglasses didn’t help, even if Emile was used to seeing the other wear them by now.

Then Remy burst from the other’s arms and caught Emile in a crushing hug. Remy was casual with physical affection, but he didn’t usually initiate hugs the way Emile did. Emile returned the hug back.

They stayed like that for a moment, reassuring each other that they were okay. They were away from their pursuers for now. Not thinking about the uncertainty of their situation around the fae for the moment. But alas, they would have to face the music eventually. And neither was comfortable enough to just stay embraced like that. Not while they were still in such an unknown situation.

Emile suspected Remy was more used to adapting to changes than he was himself. But Remy likely hadn’t encountered the magical kind like this before.

The two of them continued to hold hands as they looked back at the fae present.

“Did they hurt you?” The latest fae with the glasses asked.

Emile looked to Remy to see, who shook his head.

“Not yet,” Remy said.

Patton nodded.

“We’re not keeping them,” L said looking over some of the other faes there.

Wait what?

Prince pouted.

Duke hmmed.

“Keeping us?” Emile asked, his voice shaking a little.

“Not like that,” V said, hands raised. “It’s like, I was a human once. I also ran away from people who wished me harm. They gave me a place among them to stay because I had nowhere else to go.”

“But it is not something we try to get in the habit of,” L said, “We’re not really meant to. V’s situation was different of course. Not that we are unsympathetic to your situation.”

“Oh,” Emile said, understanding now. “Oh, that’s not necessary. Honestly, just being safe here temporarily was enough. We really appreciate it.”

“Although,” Remy started, “It should be noted that in no way did we officially agree to such a thing,”

Emile almost gave Remy a stern look. But he could tell by the way they held Emile’s hand tighter that Remy was still pretty freaked.

J nodded. “Of course. No official deal was necessary. If you are worried about owing us, there is no need.”

“Yeah,” The new glasses one said. “We would have helped ya out anyways.”

Emile had a feeling that Remy still didn’t trust it. Not that he blamed his friend.

“Well anyways,” Emile said, “We very much appreciate it.”

“What would have happened if they caught you?” L asked.

Emile and Remy shared a look. Emile wasn’t entirely sure but he had a feeling Remy knew. Remy swallowed and shook his head.

“They probably would have punished us for being brats,” Remy said.

The new fae frowned.

“Punished?” L asked.

Remy waved a hand.

“Oh you know, however they treat crooks not deemed to garner any respect. Not like anyone would care what happens to us after all.”

Emile frowns and looks down at that. Remy wraps his arm around Emile again and squeezes Emile’s side for comfort.

Prince frowns.

“I will never understand how humans can treat their fellows so awful,” He said.

Remy scoffed. “That’s just the way it is.”

J hmmed, “It doesn’t have to be. We can always make things better.”

Remy narrowed his brows and took a step back again.

“What do you mean?”

“J,” L said, “I hope you’re not saying-“

“I don’t know what I’m saying yet,” J said, still looking at Emile and Remy.

“Do you have a place to stay?” The prince asked.

Emile tilted his head. “Well, we hadn’t figured that part out yet.”

Remy gave him a look as though to say, ‘why would you tell them that?’

“What do you mean?” L asked.

“Well,” Emile continued. “Our first goal had just been to outrun our pursuers. Until either they tired or we found a good enough hiding spot far enough ahead of them. Ideally in another village.”

“Oh, you won’t find another village for a while,” J said.

“There used to be a closer one,” The duke spoke up, “But well…it’s not there anymore.”

“So,” J continued, “Unless you were prepared to camp out in the woods for a while, that’s quite an inconvenient stay.”

Emile had not known the former village was no longer there. He had a feeling Remy didn’t either.

“What do you mean it’s no longer there?” Remy asked. Remus cackled maniacally at that. Emile was pretty sure Remy was ready to bolt soon after that, not that he blamed them.

“Would we be able to find the former location of that village?”

J shrugged, “Possibly. There’s not much left there that would be any good.”

Emile’s eyes widened at that. V sighed.

“For context,” He began, “The villagers were cruel to me, and were going to keep coming after me. Having believed I was a demon of some sort due to their own ignorance.”

“Even though you never did anything to them,” The new fae added bitterly.

V nodded. “Exactly. I don’t know where they fled to, but it’s for the best that they are no longer where they were.”

Emile wasn’t sure about that, more for their own survival. Even if those villagers sounded worse than the ones from Remy and his most recent village.

“So, how is it just not there anymore?” Emile found himself asking anyways. It was a habit for the pair of them to work with what they had, so Emile needed to know exactly how little was left.

“Because we burned it to the ground,” Remus said with an unhinged smile.

“That made absolutely sure they couldn’t stick around,” J said.

Emile sighed. Things did not look good for the two of them going forward. The fae being nicer than expected didn’t do anything for what the pair of them would have to deal with next.

“We can still help you,” Prince said.

“How?” Emile asked.

Prince smiled and wiggled his fingers with red sparks.

“My brother and I are good at creating things with our magic. Perhaps we can create a home for you to replace the former village location.”

Emile’s eyes widened. That was almost too nice. He certainly wouldn’t have expected an actual home to stay in. Emile didn’t know if he’d ever really lived in an actual house as long as he could remember. That was aside from the times he had to sneak into rarely occupied buildings. During particularly brutal winters, for the sake of surviving.

Remy pursed his lips. Emile was sure even his friend knew it was a good offer.

“Why would you do that for us?”

Prince shrugged. “You seem worth helping. We’re not going to just kick you out in the cold to fend for yourselves against other would-be cruel pursuers.”

“That’s nothing we’re not used to though,” Remy said.

“That doesn’t mean you have to just keep doing so if we can do anything to help,” L said.

Honestly, Emile was willing to take up such an offer. He was just so tired. He knew Remy was valid with their reservations. But his friend was likely tired too. They didn’t have a lot of good options.

“Can we at least see where and what you had in mind?” Remy asked. The fae nodded. Prince clapped his hands in excitement.

“Oh!” The new fae with the glasses exclaimed. “I just realized I didn’t introduce myself!”

He held out a hand in front of them.

“You may call me Pat!”

Emile smiled hesitantly and shook his hand. Remy was more reluctant, but from the enthusiastic handshake, Emile had a feeling his friend was warming up to the bubbly fellow.

“Now let’s get to it!” Prince exclaimed.

Wow. Emile looked at the large expanse free of trees, aside from some that were growing in. There really wasn’t anything left.

Most of the fae from the garden went over there with them. Even though the prince and the duke were the ones creating this for Emile and Remy.

“Okay!” Prince clapped his hands and waved over for them to look.

“I was thinking- Duke if you would?”

Duke nodded and cleared the space with a wave of his arm where Prince gestured.

“A house around here, big enough for the two of you. Unless you wanted your own houses.”

“Not that’s fine-“

“We don’t need two-“

Emile and Remy said at the same time. They paused and looked at each other.

“I mean, if that’s fine with you?”

“Not to impose, but if that’s what you want?”

They said at the same time again.

Pat giggled at them. Remy and Emile both cleared their throats and looked away from each other.

“…so, one house the size for two is fine?” Prince asked.

Remy and Emile both nodded enthusiastically.

Prince and the Duke shared a look before they both brought their hands forward and slowly lifted them up. A house began to appear level by level, rising up with their raised hands. When the twins were done, Emile could see that the house looked similar to the ones he had seen in the village. Except this one was bigger.

“Would you like to take a look inside?” Pat asked.

“We can add in anything else you’d like,” Prince added.

Emile looked to Remy. Remy had his arms crossed.

“You don’t need my permission to look at it Em,” He said.

Emile frowned.

“Don’t you want to see it though?”

Remy sighed. “Yeah, I do. And I ain’t letting you go in alone with some fae anyways.”

Emile nodded. Prince threw open the door with a grand gesture.

The room they entered had a good amount of space, with beds in the far corner. There were walls and doors that sectioned off a kitchen area and a room for cleaning. Both were currently open to show the rooms.

“Wow…” Emile said, walking in almost in a daze. There was a fireplace not far from the door. The house didn’t even have a whole lot, Emile would imagine. But it felt like so much. It was cozy and it felt safe.

He walked over and touched the bricks of the fireplace. That alone would mean so much for the Winter, which was usually so rough and uncomfortable. That was always the scariest season with the way he lived before.

“I think you know by now where we are,” Prince said, “So let us know if you ever need anything else.”

Emile nodded.

“We don’t have the same easy access to your cabinet as we do to V’s,” Pat said,

“but on occasion, we should be able to send some food your way if you need it.”

Emile turned around to him with wide eyes.

“Really?” He asked.

Pat nodded, “It’s the least we can do. It sure seems like getting food could be difficult. Without a proper existing village around.”

“Food from the fae?” Remy asked.

Emile wouldn’t be surprised if Remy was asking such things more because he thought he had to at this point. Always the protector he was.

“We can help you get food from around here,” Prince added with a scoff. “It’s just an option. You can even consider it us owing you from stopping your flight away from your pursuers. So we wouldn’t make any claims if we were making it up to you.”

Remy hmmed.

Emile almost collapsed but arms caught him. He was gently guided over to the closest bed where he could sit more comfortably. His savior came into view to reveal it was V, who was looking at him with concerned purple eyes. Remy quickly made his way over with wide eyes.

“Em! What happened? Are you ok?”

Remy immediately started fluttering his hands around Emile and felt his forehead. Emile started to laugh hysterically, much to the others’ confusion. Emile nodded, tears starting to leak from his eyes.

“I’m more than okay. But I don’t know what I am.”

“You’re not used to receiving so many good things, are you?” said V quietly. Remy looked to V in slight surprise and then back to Emile. Curiosity and understanding in his own look.

Emile nodded again, the tears coming down.

“I don’t know what to do with this. I have never been given anything. Always had to fight for it. Even my friendship with Rem.”

“Em-!“

Emile shook his head and reached to grab Remy’s hand. Remy immediately gripped back.

“No, it’s ok Rem. I don’t blame you. And I wouldn’t change it, because that’s how I got you in my life.”

Remy shook his head, but he was smiling.

“Em, you incredible sap.”

“I know I am,” Emile said with a watery laugh, “I’m allowed to be. I just got gifted a house for the first time, by some really nice fae.”

Remy sighed.

“Yeah, I guess you have that right.”

Emile giggled and pulled on Remy’s hand to get him to join Emile on the bed. It wasn’t made for two people, but Emile figured when they pushed their two beds together there would be more room.

When Remy was sitting, Emile leaned into him and looked around at the others in the room.

“I appreciate all of this, so much.”

The others smiled at him, even the Duke.

“We’re glad to help, kiddo,” Pat said.

“I definitely understand what you’ve been through,” V said. V hesitated and then sat on the other side of Emile. Emile smiled up at him.

“I hope we can all be friends still even though we’re not in your realm?”

Remy huffed but didn’t protest. The fae around them smiled and nodded.

“Of course!” Prince exclaimed, “We may not be keeping you, but you can be just as much our humans!”

The others nodded.

“I’m sure L and J would agree as well,” Duke said. Those two were the ones who had gone back to the fae garden realm.

“Oh?” Emile asked. They nodded.

V leaned into Emile and pressed a kiss to the top of his head. Emile’s eyes fluttered and he melted slightly into the spidery fae. V huffed out a small laugh and lightly rubbed against Emile’s side.

For once, Emile truly did believe that everything would turn out alright.

#sanders sides #fic #emile picani #janus sanders #virgil sanders #remy sleep #fae

1 note · View note

luxmaeastra · 1 year

Note

"Did you call the Archons here Asteria?"

Asteria frowned and Perses glared.

"Why? Do you think we'd take over only to turn you all over to those things? If anyone should be blamed for them finding us now it's you. You shouldn't have done what you did."

Perses looked to Sarai and Viren.

"Has he told you that story yet? A doomed love story -"

Lumas snorted and shook his head.

"It wasn't a love story. It was complicated."

He looked to them, spreading his arms wide. The cosmos appeared around them. An illusion.

"Long ago, over 100,000 years ago the Asteri and the Valg shared a world. We probably were one species honestly. Anyway, we were ruled back then by four queens. They fought each other and they all died. Only two Princesses survived that nightmare. Nyaxia and her best friend, some say she was her sister. Anyway the war moved to be between Nyaxia and her former friend. I think she tried to steal or kill her mate? I don't remember the specifics."

Perses sighed and rubbed at his forehead.

"I mean what you did what genius but -"

"I'm telling the story. Let me tell it."

Lumas looked to Sarai.

"The war continued and The Valg kicked us out. And we Aeons fled to the cosmos consuming what we could and building our numbers. Because the war would only end when one side was gone. In that interrum I was born, and a year after I met your mother I was drafted by Queen to fight. It was in some outer system. I don't even remember the planet now. Its all probably all dust. But I was hit and I had no way to call for anyone."

He rubbed at his chest where the spear had struck him. His eyes grew distant, his voice going soft. Perses leaned in despite living this damn story. Lumas was always a great orator.

"I should have died that day. But an Archon Priestess found me. Mora. She nursed me back to health, kept me hidden till I could gain all my strength back."

He rubbed the back of his neck and gave her a sheepish smile.

"I was gone two years. One year with her. And I suppose she - we fell in love. But I never did anything more than hold her as she felt the deaths of her people. The Valg had been - they felt things fae more acutely than we Asteri do. I couldn't be with her, I wouldn't do that to your mother. I loved her too dearly and I fought far too hard for her to toss it aside. I urged Mora to come with me. I was hoping to persuaded my queen to give her asylum. Anything to have not leave her behind."

He exhaled and looked to the ceiling, to the star map that appeared.

"Then Aeneas appeared. He was my age, he hadn't had his Calling yet. I actually thought he came for me. But he had felt her and Dreamed of her. Then it just became a thing of convincing each of them that I was okay with it."

"Soldiers, mated or otherwise took lovers."

Perses supplied and Lumas nodded. He shrugged.

"I understand why. We were young and though only mated ones were sent to fight, we get lonely. Sure I enjoyed the attention but I could never commit to any of them. They paled against your mother. A fact I happily liked to tell her repeatedly -"

"What happened to Mora?"

Viren interjected. These long winded non sequiturs were irksome. Lumas huffed and waved the Star map away.

"I got her here. Silba and I vouched for them. And Mora eventually had Maeve with Aeneas. Not as fun a story now is it Viren?"

There was much about their own parents' pasts they didn't know, and there was much about their own people they didn't know. It was something Sarai had acknowledged young, despite being raised more within it than Viren had. There were always going to be things missing, bits left out which aided the tell of the story.

Her father was not one of those storytellers, he wasn't one who present lies and make himself look better. She quietly listened to the tale he told, every so often looking to Perses when he jumped in.

"Maybe you were meant to find her to bring her to where she needed to be?" She finally spoke as it concluded. She looked towards Viren, nudging him slightly for his own impatience. "I assume there is a reason behind telling us this story."

#Muse | Sarai

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forcebewitht · 3 years

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Force's Disney Geek Master Theory: Why Twisted Wonderland Is Called Twisted Wonderland

We have all grown to know and love various Disney characters over the years, correct? Yet, I believe a lot of us can argue that not many characters have the same effect on us even as adults today as the Villains do within their respective movies. In the game Disney: Twisted Wonderland as we all know and love, the select boys to Overblot are supposed to have the "souls" of their Villain counterparts, right? But...why is it called "Twisted" Wonderland, then? The truth may lie within something that has been right in front of us all along, my friends: the meaning of a mirror. Ready to buckle in for this one? If so, then here we go!

We have seen all of these guys share character traits, looks, etc with their Disney counterparts, correct? Well, what if I were to tell you that things in terms of the "main" guys that we are supposed to pay attention to aren't exactly what they seem? This could be analyzed in a few different ways, honestly, yet the most prominent way is this: the differences in their personalities- they are reversed. Let us take this bit by bit, shall we?

Ah, yes. The Queen Of Hearts. The ranting, raging, bundle of red, black, and gold we all know and love. (or else heads would roll, I'm sure) One of the things that everybody knows about her is that she's extremely hellbent on the crazy rules that she makes up and is prone to anger honestly very easily. Yeah, you can connect that to Riddle- but think about it for a second. While that rage and the rule thing is still there, it isn't as prominent with him as it was with her, is it? With the Queen of Hearts, her whole "issue" was that she wished to make everybody listen to her and follow her every command- but Riddle was essentially always following the rules of another- not his own. This seemed to make Riddle a little more calm most of the time in terms of how he handled and oversaw things. It wasn't until he actually Overblotted that the "listen to me and only me" thing came out- buuuuuuttttttt I'll get to that part in a bit.

Next: Leona and Scar. While we honestly didn't get to see a lot of what went on behind the scenes in the Outlands in terms of how Scar even met the hyenas to begin with at all, one thing can honestly be said- Scar worked very hard to get where he was. I mean, it's not like you can get an entire pack of rabid, hungry hyenas onto your side in the course of a single day, or maybe even a week (especially as a lion, no less). No, something to that extreme takes careful planning, wording, and stringing along to ensure that nothing goes wrong along the way. The way Scar spoke to Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed made it seem as though he had known them for a looooonngggg time before this- that's where that behind the scenes planning comes in. And then...you have Leona. Leona, from what we can tell in Chapter 2, planned the idea for the "endgame" alright- but he didn't actually act upon any of the plan for himself. Ruggie did. Even in the Lion King, we see that Scar had no problems whatsoever getting his paws dirty a little within his own scheme to take his "rightful place" at the head of Pride Rock- but Leona quite honestly did not a thing once Ruggie was in motion. See where this is starting to head?

Azul and Ursula. Ursula, the Disney baddie queen of my heart Ursula, the Sea Witch. She was known all around the ocean floor for helping out poor little merfolk in secret, wasn't she? Yet, nobody ever really seemed to catch wind of the whole "her turning those who didn't quite fit the bill into polyps" thing, did they? That was one of the things that made her such a honest threat to Ariel herself- because Ursula was cunning. She did things behind the scenes, and sure- we could catch onto it out in the audience (annnddd maybe Sebastian and Flounder as well), but nobody else really seemed to, right? Azul is the complete opposite in this standpoint. He instills direct fear into his "workers" and those even beyond and within his dorm. Like- basically most knew that this dude was bad news to begin with. Azul, mostly, seemed to hide his cunning facade behind a fake yet still seemingly "soft and genuine" smile and act. But all in all, he didn't really attempt to "hide" anything- hell, he even proclaimed his entire plan of what everyone with those things on their heads were gonna do for him in the open! At least when Ursula sang as Vanessa, she was in an almost perfectly enclosed room with nobody else around.

Jamil and Jafar. This comparison here, given what occurs in the movie Aladdin, is honestly one of the biggest possible indicators of this reoccuring theme I shall clarify in a bit. Jafar, while being sneaky, was known for being a more "out there" Disney Villain in terms of his personality alongside that of his partner Iago in the film. He would smile in a sinister way, he would crack jokes out in the open, and let us not forget his crazed yet oddly interesting laughter. Jamil? He's the exact opposite. Given his past and what he has had to dealt with growing up with Kalim, he is much more reserved and barely releases a chuckle or cracks a smile at all. His personality is a lot more repressed than that of Jafar himself throughout the film. Jamil has been so used to having to hold himself back thanks to his parents in favor of Kalim's family, he doesn't seem to know how to "let go" whatsoever. Yet Jafar, while still maintaining that sneaky side of him as well, has no problems whatsoever letting a little hang loose whenever he so chooses to.

Vil and the Evil Queen. This one honestly may be a bit more self explanatory than the others- but the difference between these two is their expressions of themselves. The Evil Queen was the very first animated counted Disney Villain within Disney's history- yet, she barely had any lines throughout the film at all. Her ranges of expression were almost little to none thanks to the era in which the movie was released in- but she always looked like she was pissed, huh? Vil is the exact opposite of her in this sense. He is able to fully express himself through his various facial expressions, theatrical abilities, musical experiences, fashion style, and even how he behaves. Vil is able to do so much more than the Evil Queen did or could do within that time period, that it's almost a little staggering if you fully picture it.

Idia and Hades. Now, now. We haven't honestly seen too much of the flaming blue boy yet in TWST, but one thing is apparent here right off the bat- in terms of his personality? He is the exact opposite of Hades. Idia is much like Jamil but to a more "geek" degree- he's extremely introverted, shy, a bit snippy, yet mainly keeps to himself and his gaming tech. Hades is most often renowned as the Disney Villain with the most personality- and the best humor. Hades has no problem whatsoever being "out there" with his crazy puns, sassy remarks, anger, and even mocking behavior. I mean, please, guys- I haven't been this choked up since I got a hunk of moussaka caught in my throat!

Finally, Malleus and Maleficent. Ooooohoooooooo boy. We have to count out the live action movie Maleficent for this one (sorry horned queen fans). One thing that basically everybody even with their toe in the water in that of Disney movies kind of knows this fact- Maleficent is c r u el. She's got a bizarre set of dark powers and an even blacker heart than that. Hell, we basically had to "soften her up" a little bit in Maleficent thanks to just how seemingly irredeemable her character is in that of Sleeping Beauty. I mean, c'mon now- cursing an infant? And we get no explanation for that in the original? C'mon, now. Anyways, Malleus? As we all can tell by now, this dude is the compleeettteeeeeee opposite. Sure, he has those repressed bits here and there too, but it is evident that this dude has a heart crying out for the MC and it is big, bold, and golden to the core once you look past how he looks. He sent the MC a card for winter break, for crying out loud. Yeah, let me know the next time you see Maleficent do that smh.

Now, I have avoided using a certain word up until this point to see if anybody could catch on to what exactly is happening here. Did you figure it out? Reverse. The boys that either have Overblotted already or intend to Overblot soon stop holding out on us, Chapter 6 have had the exact opposite personalities compared to that of their Villain counterpart- until one prime point in their "character arcs". Their Overblot.

Riddle wished to have all bow before him and obey his rules.

Leona led his entire dorm into ruin and nearly sanded away the entire school in the process.

Azul let himself finally free of his personal shackles entirely and "took what was his".

Jamil finally let himself go and opened up more in his personality, almost seeming to be driven insane in the process.

Vil wanted to become the most beautiful one of all and would kill anyone within the way of that goal without any hesitation whatsoever.

The moment that the boys' Overblotted, that was the exact moment when the "soul" of their Disney Villain counterpart took control. Keeping that idea in mind, that should mean that this will happen in the upcoming chapters and their Overblots:

Idia will show off all of the personality, powers, and intelligence that he has been keeping down within this introverted self of his.

Malleus will become so broken by being left out and alone in the cold for the final time that he will turn into a completely cruel Fae and possibly nearly kill either the MC or the representation of Prince Philip within that Chapter in the process.

(Hello, my dear Readers! Guess who is trying to get back into her bigger pieces of writing? This gal right here~ feel free to drop a comment and tell me what you think of this theory- I'd love to hear your thoughts! 💕)

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askaalaska-vdeppressed · 2 years

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Tender Love and Care. Alpha!Eskel X Omega!Reader

Master List

*Edited and Revised 06/07/22. Story and character developing chapters added.*

Alaska are you starting another series even though you haven't finished the last one????

Maybe........

There is like zero ABO Eskelxreaders and, seeing as filling niche genres is my specialty (as of posting this still the only person to have written Laufey x reader) I figured I would at least give it a go. How many parts am i planning? Don't know. Do I plan on smut? Honey this aint ABO for show. Is there smut in this chapter? no, in usual fashion I can't write anything short. Anyway onward to the fic!

There was a sort of endearment you had for men that were completely oblivious. Maybe it was the vulnerability they showed in not knowing. Maybe it the breath of fresh air that seeing a man asking for help—in a world where men knew all the answers—brought. Maybe it was just the utterly adorable look on Eskel’s face when he was confused. Yeah, that probably had a lot to do with it. You and the Witcher were quite familiar. Living in the closest village to Kaer Morhen you ran in too many of the Witchers. Running the only library/bookshop/book repair shop meant you ran into two Witchers more than others. Vesemir was the one you were most acquainted with, seeing as he stayed at the keep year-round. He made monthly trips to see you for supplies, to fix books for him or just to chat. You held a soft spot for the old man. His eyes seemed to hold an air of regret, you supposed in a life as long as his he had done many things he regretted, you sure had.

In truth you were not fully human. You were half fae. The daughter of a king and his once swore enemy turned lover. This meant you lived long-- in truth you were probably as old as Vesemir if not older—but still appeared fully human. This however came with it’s quirks. You were still subject to heats. Yes, if being a fae hybrid was not enough you were also an omega. This had made you unique and had drawn quite a few eyes your father was none too thrilled about. That was why you chose to stay here instead of the land of the fairies. You could visit at any time, all it took was a looking glass or a still, clear, pool of water to go back, but it was safer to reside here full time. It also came with the perks of seeing the other Witcher you were acquainted with, Eskel, standing around your shop looking for all intents and purposes, oblivious.

You had resided and run this book shop in this exact building for 50 years (you resided in a different town before that) and not once had Eskel seemed to notice you did not age. Vesemir also never said anything. You wondered if all Witchers were like this. You hoped so. As watching Eskel try to sneak glances at you while supposedly perusing books. All the while you trying to pretend like you didn’t notice, never failed to make you bury your head into a book to hide your smile.

Eskel and you had been flirting back and forth for the past 10 years. You weren’t sure how it started. The time spent with Eskel blurred into one amazing scene in your head. Over time awkward glances turned into loving glances. Jolted unexpected touches turned into lingering of hands over one another as he handed you something. In a blink a decade had passed of casual comments and gestures, and he had been your best friend before that. He knew everything, everything that made you tick or caused you to calm down.

It excited you, knowing he would come to you every spring and fall like the rising and setting of the sun. However, you wished to progress with him. You were in no rush that was for sure, but it was becoming harder and harder to watch him walk away. Your heats felt like they were becoming lonelier and lonelier. Sure you could probably have some Alpha stay and satisfy you. Both the widower tavernowner and local blacksmith had propositioned you before. But you didn’t want SOME Alpha. You wanted the Alpha that was too large to fit through the doorway and had to crouch. The one that would enviably knock over a book or two and then profusely apologize for it. Probably thanking all the gods above that he couldn’t blush. The one that would press wildflowers into the pages of the books he borrowed for you to find when he returned them. Yes, you wanted him. And you were intent on having him.

Just like clockwork, as the leaves started to fall, your door clicked open. The smell of Patchouli, lemongrass, and pine mixing with that of paper, leather, and ink. The smell of Eskel in your bookshop was one that enticed you to no end. You wished more than anything you could bottle it. You looked up through you lashes, away from the, frankly large, tomb you were fixing to gaze at Eskel. He narrowly avoided knocking over a stack of books while trying to maintain eye contact. You laughed quietly sitting up and looking at him straight on. His face was worn, the sun ravaged skin that comes with traveling making him even more appealing to you.

He stood before you, content to stand there all day and look at you. It was quite a few moments before he seemed to realize he was before you for a reason and grabbed at the bag from his shoulder. He cleared his throat.

“I believe these are yours” He said. Extending the four books you had lent him this year.

“Why thank you” you replied mirth slipping into your voice. You placed the books on the floor on top of another small stack next your stool behind your desk.

“What are you working on?” Eskel said, slipping to stand behind the desk next you. On queue knocking over the stack you had just set down.

“fuckin hell” He said under his breath the venom in it lost when paired with the little giggle you gave out.

“I’m fixing this tomb for Vesemir, he’s supposed to come pick it up before winter. But, if you don’t mind staying for a bit.” Eskel perked up at the invitation.

You continued “I almost have it done. Then I can send it up with you instead of having him make the extra trip” You reached over the desk for the needle, working on fixing the outer seam of leather from where it had come undone.

“I recognize this” Eskel said from where he was peering over your shoulder. You hummed at him and you looked up to look at his face. His lips were upturned slightly and his eyes shone. His neck stretched out, leading in a trail to the wide expanse of his shoulders. As he peered over you his body enclosed around you, creating a magnetic, warm wall against your back. You leaned back just barely to get closer. Not enough to touch, just enough to get that much closer to him. Perched on the ledge, not ready to jump.

“Yes” there was an undertone of excitement in his voice “this is the old sword drill manual. Why on earth would Vesemir want you to restore this?” Confusion marred his face as he continued “All of us have this thing memorized, hell Vesemir himself could probably quote it word for word.”

“Maybe he’s sentimental?” you offered. Recalling how gingerly Vesemir had carried the manual into you.

“Perhaps, but seems a strange thing to be sentimental over.” He dismissed.

“Oh come on” You started playfully. ”You can’t tell me there isn’t one thing in that keep you don’t want to preserve?”

He seemed to ponder it a moment before nodding slowly

“You know there is one thing.”

“what?” you asked. You turned to face him better, an arm resting on the back of the chair.

“A book of poetry from my mother. It’s the only thing I have from when before I took up the path, outside of some vague memories. It’s only the size of a hand or so. I snuck it into the keep in the waistband of my pants and kept it in the straw of my mattress in the bunks.” He looked off in the distance for a moment. Emotion flashing behind his eyes.

“I haven’t read it in years for fear it will completely fall apart” It didn’t seem like he was talking to you. It was more like he was talking to himself, or someone else lost in his memories. You lifted you hand to his arm, grabbing his attention once more.

“If only you knew someone that fixed books” You said eyes gesturing back and forth between his gaze and the book you were fixing. He laughed a moment.

“I suppose I never thought of that, though I’m afraid if it wouldn’t survive a simple read it certainly couldn’t take traveling down a mountain.” You hated the dejected tone that took over his voice. You were well acquainted with that feeling. The spark of hope that flares in you only to be plunged into the cold water of reality. That feeling. You wouldn’t wish it on anyone, especially not Eskel. A fire was set under your skin as you spoke.

“Well we’ve got at least a good few weeks before it’s ought to snow. If you’d like I could come up to the keep myself and fix it up there. At least enough to where I could bring it back here and work on it this winter.”

“Really?” The smile reached Eskel’s eyes as he looked down expectantly at you.

“Well I mean I’ll have to miss out on all these costumers” You gestured to the empty shop. Eskel gave out a small chuckle.

“But yes Eskel I would love to fix it for you.”

#eskel x reader #alaska writes #soft eskel #abo au #omegaverse #hey you read the tags!#you get a special note from the author #notice the fae stuff with the readers father?#Thats a shoutout to all my Jareth homies whose asks i STILL haven't written #I'm so sorry guys

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