#it really shows how we're all ready to stand up for people of color and members of the lgbtq+ community but only a little portion of us

[lihhelsing]

Hate That I Loved You

Now complete on AO3!

Part 1 | Part 2 ↓ | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6

On the first day of shoot, Eddie is a nervous wreck. He can't handle it. He won't make it. He stays hidden in his dressing room until Chrissy is pounding at the door and threatening to tear it down if he doesn't come out immediately. 

Eddie doesn't doubt her. 

"It was your idea," Chrissy says as she eyes Eddie and how pale he looks. "Roll a joint, take a fucking shot. I don't care. Just get your ass into the studio because we're filming this today."

Eddie nods but Chrissy is too busy walking away from him to see it. She knows it, though. Eddie wouldn't ignore an order like that. 

The first sequence is with Sean. Sean is taller than him and he used to drive a red convertible that Eddie thought was just the coolest. So that's why he's setting a fucking car on fire for the clip. 

Sean thinks it's hilarious. 

The idea is for them to film the whole song with every one of the exes, so they have options. Because Sean, Pedro and David are all from Los Angeles, they go first. Eddie kept waiting for Lou to show up, but he should know better. Lou always liked to be different, to stand out. He and Steve are pushed to day 2, and for the looks of it, it might be day 3, if they can't speed up David's shoot. Eddie's is breaking a stone wall for him. It's metaphorical and it makes him feel good, actually. 

On day 2, Pedro is the only one around before lunch and Eddie actually have a good time with him. He's funny and sweet, just like Eddie remembered, and he keep calling Eddie 'mi amor' which is endearing in a totally platonic way. For a second, Eddie can't remember why they broke up, but then Pedro gets a call from his mom and everything comes rushing back. 

Pedro was already thinking about marriage and building a family and Eddie wasn't really ready. They are in a backyard with a pretty white picket fence and Eddie throws paint all around. Everything gets stained with black, the color Pedro saw as Eddie's heart color. 

It doesn't hurt as much, but it's harder than the two before him. When Pedro goes back to the dressing rooms to wipe the black paint from him, Eddie's mood had soured considerably.

It gets even worse as Lou walks in, looking like a rockstar. Looking exactly like what he is. 

Lou was Eddie's only famous boyfriend and their relationship had crashed and burned in front of everyone. Eddie feels the tug in his chest as he looks at the scene that's getting built for them. 

It's a stage. The Grammy stage. 

The worst part of it all is that Lou doesn't seem fazed by any of it. It's like he barely remembers breaking Eddie's heart at the Grammy's that year. It's like that was just a day, completely forgotten. 

But Eddie hasn't forgotten about it. He hasn't forgotten how bad he felt that day. How heartbroken. How Lou was trying to make everything be Eddie's fault when he was the one flirting shamelessly with other people in front of him. 

Eddie needs a minute. 

In fact, he feels like he needs a whole year to even be able to do that. What a great fucking idea, put himself through the most traumatic thing in his life for the cameras. No wonder people say he has no self-preservation reflex. 

He just walks away. He knows Chrissy saw him freaking out and he knows she will give him a moment to collect himself so he just keeps on walking past props and music equipment and finally the front door. 

Eddie is out. The cold air hits his face and with trembling hands he reaches inside his pocket just to remeber he doesn't have his joint with him since he's already wearing the outfit for the clip. 

A tux just like the one he wore on the fucking Grammy's. His hands fly to his neck as he pull at the bowtie, trying to get some air into his lungs. His vision gets a little blurry as if there's not enough oxygen in the world for him right now. 

Then big strong hands are pushing his hands aside, circling his neck and unclipping the bow tie. It's a fake one, so Eddie could keep pulling at it and he would get nowhere. 

"Take a deep breath," the voice says and it gives him chills because he knows that voice. He dreams about that voice. 

He does as he's being told because Steve always knew what was best for Eddie. 

"You're ok," Steve says under his breath. His hands fall from Eddie's neck and Eddie wishes they were still there, touching him, grounding him. "Just keep breathing."

Eddie does and things start going back to normal, except there's not a normal scenario where Steve Harrington is just standing there in front of Eddie, looking better than ever, with a frown between his brows because he's worried about Eddie. 

No. That should be impossible with how hard Eddie had fucked things up and still, Steve is really there. 

"I, uh, thought you were only coming in tomorrow," Eddie says when he stops feeling like he's going to die. 

Steve shrugs. "Landed a few hours ago, Chrissy said I could check things out."

After that, Eddie has no clue what to say so he just stares at Steve, dumbly. Much to his relief, Chrissy saves him from looking even more like an idiot by opening the door and calling him back. 

"Uh, thanks for doing that. It really means a lot to me," Eddie says, trying not to sound as pathetic as he feel. Steve smiles, but it doesn't reach his eyes. 

Eddie wants to say more, he wants to keep talking to Steve. Forget the music video and forget the fact that Lou is standing inside, probably pissed at Eddie, he instantly wants to throw everything away as beg Steve for a second chance. 

By the look on Steve's eyes it's like he can see Eddie's intentions clearly, but then Chrissy is pulling him in and waving at Steve like this is normal. Nothing about this is fucking normal and now Eddie needs to survive Lou if he wants to have a shot at talking to Steve. 

#steddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #steve x eddie #steve harrington x eddie munson #steddie fanfic #rockstar AU #second chance romance #steddie fic #to be honest I have no idea what I'm doing #so we're just hoping for the best #part 3 will be here soon!

[thisismeracing]

King of my heart | extras | Yn tells Lewis she's dating Mick

― Summary: Yn and Mick finally broke the friendship barrier and started something else. It's time Yn tells her brother what's going on between her and his teammate. ― Word count: 1k ― A/n: This can be read as a stand-alone, but it’s better when you’ve read the series. ― Warnings: curse words; mention of anxiety; typos - not proofread.

⁕ see my masterlist | my taglist | KOMH Masterlist ⁕ you can support my writing by reblogging, and leaving a comment

There was a knock at Lewis' hotel door and he rushed to open it, confusion written on his face since nobody told him someone would show up. The second he opened the big wooden door he smiled, though it only lasted for the blink of an eye because he quickly gathered how Yn seemed apprehensive.

His sister was wearing one of his Merc white shirts paired with sweatpants and slippers. Her curls were up in her head messily gathered together by a colorful hair tie.

"Hey, bitsy, what's up?" he asked while opening the door wider for her to get inside. Yn did exactly that, running to one of the big armchairs in the room and folding herself there like a cat would.

"How would you feel if I told you I'm dating someone?" She asked before Lewis could say anything else. That was his sister, she would rush through things when nervous, too many expectations would make her feel sick and Yn hated feeling sick, so it was normal for her to just blurt her questions or confessions whenever something important was on the line, just like she was doing at the moment.

Lewis arched his brows, "Ok, I guess, as long as you're happy. But do you think you're ready for a new relationship?" he asked genuinely interested in her answer.

"I don't know, but I really like him, Lew. And I always wanna be around him, it's just...I- mhm I've never felt like this before." She confessed, eyes cast down. It wasn't that Yn was afraid of Lewis judging her because he would never, but he was her older brother and she held his opinion on the highest space. She was just afraid to let him down.

"I'm happy for you guys, then. Is Mick going to tell me too or-"

"Wait! How'd you know it's Mick?" Yn eyed Lewis up and down and he gave her one of his signature laughs.

"You think you're folling people? Be for real, Yn. Everyone knows or suspects. And even if you weren't obvious, I'm your older brother, I know you. I knew you were interested in him from day one didn't I?"

Yn huffed, rolled her eyes, got up, and then crashed on the oldest Hamilton hugging him.

"Thank you. I was a bit taken aback, afraid you were gonna be mad because I kind of promised to stay away."

"I knew if you truly liked him you wouldn't be able to stay away, bitsy."

She breathed in his scent and took a step back. Lewis caught a single tear on her cheek and held her face with both of his hands.

"You're safe with me. Spill it," his gentle tone made yet another tear roll down, and Yn chuckled holding back a sob.

"I'm afraid." Her voice was a weak whisper, but the British heard her perfectly. "I think things may be happening too fast, and I want them to go like this, but I'm also scared of all the attention we're getting. I mean, everyone is talking about us, and we haven't even started dating officially. I'm scared of how this can go and I don't want you to be caught in the crossfire, Lew. The media is always looking for things to point out when you're the subject and I-"

"Hey, breathe." Lewis held her face tighter as if by doing so he was holding her together too. Yn closed her eyes, breathed in and out following his lead, and then they sat on the edge of the bed. "Don't worry about me. I'm the oldest. I can take care of myself." There was a hint of humor in his comment and Yn chuckled.

"I know, but-"

"No, Bitsy. No buts. Stop worrying about me. I'm happy you're with Mick. If I had to choose a guy from the Grid it would most likely be him. I've seen the way he treats you and how careful he is with you. He's a good guy. Please, don't let your anxiety get in the way. People will talk about us it doesn't matter if we do things right or wrong, at the end of the day, you do what you gotta do to be happy, you hear me?"

Yn nodded, tears flowing down her face again. "Thank you, Lew."

"You don't have to thank me, Yn. I always going to have your back. Now, where's your phone, I wanna talk to your boyfriend."

She rolled her eyes chuckling, "he's not my boyfriend...we haven't discussed titles yet."

"You two are so oblivious," Lewis rolled his eyes exaggeratedly and unlocked Yn's phone, "if you change your password to his birthday instead of mine, I will be hurt," he tried to lighten the mood again, already searching through her contacts for the Schumacher's name.

"Hey, Mick...Can you come to my room real quick? I gotta talk to you...Yeah, my sister is crying here, and...yeah...yeah...I'm waiting."

"What the heck, Lewis?!" Yn screeched and Lewis just laughed.

It was barely a minute after and there were frantic knocks at the door. Lewis got up to answer and Yn buried her face in her hands, embarrassed by whatever prank her brother wanted to throw.

When Mick got inside he had his cheeks flushed from using the stairs and eyes wide, "what happened?" he asked and Lewis crossed his arms trying to hold back his laughter.

"Nothing, Mick. I told him about us and he wanted to prank you or embarrass us together, I dunno," Yn got up from the bed and she smiled at his reluctant face. His eyes were traveling between the siblings, but his body was turned in Yn's direction.

"Well, there goes my older brother's fun," the Hamilton sighed, and Yn rolled her eyes yet again that night, walking to Mick and hugging him. "Welcome to the family, Schumacher," Lewis smiled at the blonde.

"I'm sorry to inform you that it can get crazier than this." Yn adverted.

"I won't mind it if it means I got you," he whispered and she smiled.

― ⋆🪩 VOICEMAIL: It's been forever since I last updated it, but I'm gonna start working on it, I promiseeee <3 we're having this series finished in no time! I hope you guys liked this extra, let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment/ask and reblogging *mwah*.

Taglist: @sachaa-ff @ferrariloverr @mellowpizzapuppy @mickslover @dalsuwaha @formulakay3 @mishaandthebrits @non-stop-imagines @iloveyou3000morgan @crimeshowjunkie @saintlewis @fdl305 @carojasmin2204 @chaoticevilbakugo @wondergirl101ks @smiithys @shhhchriss @f1kota @lunnnix @leclercsluv @baby-is-crying @balekane_mohafe @uuuseeerrr12 @karmabyfernando @crashingwavesofeuphoria @81astri @pinksstrawberry @callsign-scully @moonyschocolate3 @v1naco @dearxcherry @p8dris (let me know if your tag was supposed to be only for my other works and you don’t wanna be tagged on the series! <3)

#komh #millie writes #mick schumacher #ms47 #f1 imagines #f1 x reader #mick schumacher imagine #mick schumacher x black!reader #mick schumacher x reader #f1 fandom #mick schumacher fluff #f1 x you #f1 fanfiction #mick schumacher fanfiction

[anonymouspuzzler]

HEY, IT'S A FREAKING ENORMOUS SMILE FOR ME FANCOMIC!! there is a very real chance that if you're new from twitter following me here, you followed me for this!! I don't blame you!! I'm real dang proud of this and it was a true labor of love!!! I have more like this I would like to draw soon, too...

(full transcript slash detailed image descriptions under the cut!)

PAGE 1 The comic title, COOKING, is written at the top of the page in big handwritten bubble-letters colored in pale peach.

Panel one shows Kamal, wearing a brown-and-red striped turtleneck sweater, standing next to Habit, wearing a fluffy teal-blue sweater over a pink button-up and blue jeans. Kamal is lightly grimacing, looking mildly embarrassed and rubbing his right arm with his left hand, while Habit stands with his hands on his hips and a big grin. Kamal: So, um, something that we only realized after we started living together... ...turns out neither of us can cook. Like. At all. Habit (in misspelled Habitspeak): I can make "spaghetti" (smiley face) Kamal: Yeah that barely counts. (in smaller text) I guess I can't talk, though... I was living off Chinese takeout and hot dogs...

Panel two shows Habit on the left, smiling warmly and holding up Putunia with both hands, who is grinning and holding both fists in the air triumphantly. Kamal is on the bottom right of the panel, shrugging. Habit (in misspelled Habitspeak): But now we have "Putunia"!! Putunia (shouting): THAT'S ME!!! Kamal: So, uh, we had to figure out the whole "cooking" thing. 'Cause we're the adults here or whatever...?

The third panel is marked with a big handwritten caption of "SO THEY LEARNED TO COOK". Below that, Kamal, left, and Habit, right, are standing wearing frilly aprons - Kamal's yellow with pink-and-red trim and a heart on the chest; Habit's light green with dark green trim and flowers on the chest. Habit is also still holding Putunia in one arm, while the other hand gives a thumbs up. Putunia is smiling with her limbs dangling limply like a kitten. Kamal (in small font): How did you just... have these ready...?

PAGE 2 In the large top panel, Kamal, still wearing the apron, is smiling, wearing red oven mitts with yellow flowers, and holding a blue plate with freshly-cooked samosas that are emitting a cloud of steam. Kamal: I, um, actually ended up calling my mom for advice, and she's been teaching me all her old recipes? I didn't really appreciate her cooking growing up - you know, you're a dumb kid and you just want pizza 'cause all your friends are getting pizza... But now... I dunno, it makes me feel closer to her. Feels like I'm carryin' on something important. And there's something real nice about getting to share a family recipe with people I lo- CARE ABOUT.

The second panel shows Habit leaning in from the right, smiling slightly mischievously and clutching his hands near his face. Putunia is also bursting in from the bottom right, smiling and throwing her fists in the air. Kamal is visibly flustered, sweating and yelling, jostling the plate of samosas. Habit (in misspelled Habitspeak): I still need to meet your mom!! Kamal (yelling): I- I told you, I'm not ready for that yet!! (in smaller text) Ugh, she keeps bugging me about coming over to meet you two... Putunia (yelling): I WANNA MEET KAMAL-MOM!! KA-MOM!!!!!

PAGE 3 The large top panel shows Habit in his apron, smiling, holding up a wooden spoon in his left hand and a wooden fork in his left. Habit (in misspelled Habitspeak): I've been learning to do "new things" with my favorite foods!!! (smiley face) "Homemade sauce"!! "Black bean burger"!! "Crabo"- "Crabounara"- "Cbabao"- "Ca"- Fancy spaghetti.

The second panel shows him in the same pose and expression, but now pointing upwards with his left hand. Habit (in misspelled Habitspeak): Also!!! I

The next panel abruptly cuts to a nervous-looking shadow-Habit, with an equally-nervous looking Kamal (no longer wearing the apron) peeking in from the right side of hte frame. Habit: um

PAGE 4 The large top panel shows Habit smiling nervously, looking more subdued than normal, lightly scratching his chin with his right pointer finger. Kamal, smiling proudly, is hugging onto his left arm. Habit (with a normal speech pattern): I... so, for a long time, I didn't even want to look at food from... where I grew up. Too many bad associations for me, yes? But, now that I'm in a better place, I'm trying to reconnect in ways that feel safe for me. Food has been a nice way to do that. Lets me build new memories to replace bad ones. Kamal: Proud of ya, big guy

The next panel shows Habit back to his usual bubbly self, smiling, wearing the flower-patterned oven-mitts and holding up a plate with a Medovik cake (a type of Russian honey cake) topped with berries. IN the background, Kamal and Putunia both stare at the cake, Kamal visibly drooling, Putunia with stars in her eyes. Habit (in misspelled Habitspeak): The baking is "ESPECIALLY GOOD"!!! Today I made "Медови́к" ("Medovik" in Russian script)!!! Kamal (in small text): it looks so good... Putunia (in small text): CAKE!!!!!!

The final panel cuts to Kamal drawn from the chest-up, looking slightly sheepish and scratching his chin. Kamal: Um, so that's the other thing we've discovered through all this. It turns out, uh...

PAGE 5 The top panel shows Kamal (left), Putunia (center), and Habit (right) all sitting at a table with a yellow-and-red checkered tablecloth, eating the Medovik cake. Kamal, with a sheepish expression, is leaning forward with his elbows on the table, right arm resting down and left raising a fork to his mouth, with a plate with a slice of cake to his right. Putunia is pumping her right fist and raising the left, holding a fork with some cake on it, into the air triumphantly, shouting with delight. Habit is resting his head in his hands with both elbows on the table, looking delighted, a slice of cake and a fork to his left. The cake itself, with a cake-serving knife to the left side, is in the center of the table. Kamal: ...we... all have a giant sweet tooth... (in smaller text) Oh my god I feel like such a hypocrite... Putunia (in small text): YUMMY!!!!!! Habit (in small text; misspelled Habitspeak): Isn't it?? Isn't it??

The next two panels cut in close on Kamal and Habit, from roughly the chest-up, as they both eat. Kamal is chewing with a guilty expression, holding his fork near his chest, while Kamal is smiling and lifting a bite of cake to his mouth with a fork held delicately in his right hand. Kamal: How did this happen?? We are literally both dentists?? Habit (in misspelled Habitspeak): "You" are. "I" don't have to worry about that anymore

The next panel shows Kamal grimacing, gesturing with his fork, while Habit chews with a smug grin. Kamal: Yeah, not how that works. Habit (in misspelled Habitspeak): Plus I brush my teeth 4 to 60 times per day so they are "perfect" Kamal: Also not how that works. (in smaller text) Please talk to your therapist about that I worry about you

The next panel cuts to Putunia, on the right, shoving her empty plate towards Kamal with a determined expression. Kamal stares back with one eyebrow raised. Putunia (shouting): I WANT MORE CAKE!!! Kamal: Uh huh. And what do we say about that? Putunia (shouting): MORE CAKE PLEASE??

The final panel shows Kamal, on the left, slicing into the cake, while Putunia to the right watches with a smile and her plate held up. Habit comes up behind her, also holding out his empty plate and watching with a smile. Habit (in misspelled Habitspeak): Kamal me too Kamal (smiley face) Kamal: Well, if you're both having seconds...

PAGE 6 The final page has a full-page panel illustration. Kamal, grimacing with his hands on his hips, is looking down at a messy sink full of dirty cooking implements. Behind him, Habit, scratching his chin, looks away sheepishly while Putunia to his right cheers, hands in the air. Kamal: Okay, now which of us is gonna be the adult who does the dishes Habit: not it Putunia (shouting): NOT IT!!! Kamal: oh my god

#smile for me #kamal bora #boris habit #habismal #putunia mollar #anonymous puzzler art #this is the longest comic I've drawn in a LONG while and i am EXTREMELY proud of it!!! i would like to do more soon!!! #i want to make medovik so bad now. #long post

[tobiasdrake]

Okay, here we go. It's time to give a new game a go. I've had a lot of people pushing for this one so I'm excited.

I realize those are supposed to be rays of light shining off of whatever the thing is - a star, presumably - but it honestly looks like it's shooting at me. Should I be concerned?

I bet it tastes like lemon. It looks lemon-flavored to me. Though that might just be the black-and-white color scheme.

Hey. Uh. Pro tip, don't stand directly over someone's face when you're wearing a dress. There are better angles you can approach from.

Fortunately for you, I am a, uh... I am a....

...

You know what, I just woke up and I do not have sufficient information at this time to describe myself as "gentleman", "lady", or "person of esteemed character". I will get back to you when I have gathered more information as to my personal gender situation.

Yeah, sorry, I'm coming down from a wild trip. The kind where you can't be 100% sure if the things you just did caused the hallucinations or were part of the hallucinations. I think I actually saw the curvature of time.

It's a serrated crescent. I don't know what to do with that information. But I have it now.

Thank you, I feel like I will be able to hold more coherent conversations when I am more fully awake. And possibly caffeinated. If that is a thing we have.

FUCKING OW

I'M AWAKE

Ugh, that's like rolling over in just the wrong way so that your whole leg cramps up and then you have to throw yourself out of bed and walk on it to make the unbelievably agonizing pain go away. I GUESS I'M DONE BEING ASLEEP NOW.

There we go, information gathered. I have consulted the pocket notes I wrote to explain my gender to me and arrived at a conclusive answer: Masc-leaning non-binary.

Now that this mystery has been settled, I'm ready to face the day.

Well, the maybe/maybe-not hallucinations were fantastic but then it ended in violent agony so I'm gonna say that balances out to a 5.

You are alarmingly invested in my naptime quality. Are you trying to hint that you want me to go away for a couple more hours?

I dunno; I kinda just ruined my appetite for bedtime and I don't want to be that one person in the group who keeps trying to talk for hours and keeps everyone else awake.

Plus we're supposed to go fight the big bad evil guy in the morning and that might not be an appointment that we can show up to sleep-deprived. He might take offense.

Then again, we might be able to intimidate him with our cavalier attitudes and complete lack of regard for the severity of this situation.

OH NO

I didn't mean no! I just meant... we should really consider all the factors first!

...

I might be history's greatest monster.

...ugggggggh how did this become my problem.

Why does Odile get to be a Madame? I want to be a Madame. Super unfair that she gets the cool title and I'm just... uh....

SIFFRIN. I'm just Siffrin. Unfair.

If we're all staying in the same place then what's even the point of calling it a sleepo-- I MEAN I AM DOWN AND VERY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT YOUR SLEEPOVER IDEA YES THIS IS A WONDERFUL PLAN.

...

...

...

*quietly shuffles pocket notes back into pocket*

My memory is fine. Perfectly adequate.

OH THANK YOU I wanted one but I was too machismo to ask. You're always looking out for me, Mar... Merma....

Mirabelle! You're always looking out for me, Mirabelle. I appreciate it. ^_^

Now then. We have a fulfilling day ahead of us! Time to carry out the task I was assigned wander aimlessly around the village pokin' stuff.

#in stars and time #drake plays in stars and time

[that-one-weeb-buts-its-the-main]

Blood Upon the Snow| Dagda (part 2)

✧▬ ▬▭▬ ▬▭▬ ▬▭▬ ▬▭▬ ▬▭▬ ▬▭▬ ▬✧

Readers: female

Notes: man I reached the block limit again, be excited for part 3 yay, lets thank @fangirlingatstuff again for infecting me with the Epic fandom once again, and @majestichugs for waiting so long

Warnings: weapons, fighting, murder (throat slitting by thy enemy), blood, blood drinking mentions (by thy enemy), cursing, bro people really got beat up here

✧▬ ▬▭▬ ▬▭▬ ▬▭▬ ▬▭▬ ▬▭▬ ▬▭▬ ▬✧

Y/n was awoken the next morning, Nod shaking her.

"y/n! hey!" He argued.

"Mhm,"

"Don't mhm, me!" Nod complained; "There's a shit show happening!"

Finally, he got her to open her eyes, and his face of concern woke her up fully, castle works at the end of the bed waiting with things in their arms, "Nod, what's the problem-"

"Royals are showing up!"

"What!?"

"Come on! Get up!"

Y/n was quick to get out of bed, Nod handing her a cup of tea, "How long do I have?"

And down the tea went, she leans her head back as she chugged,

"Fashionably late? Fifteen Minutes? If you take any more than thirty you better, look good."

Y/n swallowed the last bit, handing the cup to Nod, "Stall for me?'

"Always do, Finn will be ready for you when you're dressed." Nod informed, quickly taking the cup away.

"Thank you!" Y/n called to him as he left, "Love you!"

"I know!"

Y/n rolled her eyes with a chuckle as her attention was quickly stolen, "Which one Princess?"

"What is the Queen wearing?'

"the usual,"

Y/n looked at the two, displeased with the bright color, "Get me the one that's white and green like hers, but with the lily petals and the moss shawl please, don't forget the fern choker and arm bands."

The ladies dropped their dresses almost; "Princess...that is..."

"Bold."

Y/n looked at them; "Really?"

"We love it!" They answered, "We'd like to add something to it if you'd allow it."

Y/n nodded "Of course, I trust your judgement,"

They nodded to one another; almost as if they read each other's minds, and one dragged her to her vanity, while the other rushed off to grab the clothing.

"If I may be so rude-"

"I live for rude," Y/n joked as the woman laughed and held a smile.

"Is there someone we're dressing up for? I am surprised you did not go for a long coat and a pair of pants,"

Y/n looked at the woman in the mirror who was doing her hair as quickly as she could; "I'm not sure,"

The woman gave a small smile as she pulled half of Y/n's hair up into a bun, carefully sticking delicate glass-blown hair decorations, a combination of flowers and plants, and to her request little bugs, spiders, centipedes, and bees.

Soon in came the woman from before with the dress and jewelry; in a hand, she held a delicately crafted dagger.

"Oh, my princess I'm certain you'll love this!"

"If you are to accept, you must go today," Ayana spoke, "the Celebration is tomorrow,"

Mandrake sighed, his brain had racked all night and well into the day, "Am I just to walk into Moonhaven?"

"I'm sure Dagda would,"

"That is not much help,"

Ayana picked up a bowl, "What is that?"

"The future," She answered picking up a gourd, carefully funneling whatever it was into it from its bowl.

"If you know the future you know my answer," Mandrake spoke, "and you know my concerns."

Ayana was silent; "But your answer still remains."

Mandrake was silent this time, he watched his sister work, till he growled, and rose to his feet, quick to leave, "Where are you going!?" She shouted sarcastically.

"Shut up!" He shouted back as she chuckled, oh, what a loving thing it is to have a brother.

From his sister's place to his castle, he hopped off his bird, guards standing attention quickly with salutes and bows of the head.

"My son, where is he?" Mandrake asked a guard.

"The library my king,"

Mandrake made his way along the dark halls and ashy walls, Dagda was indeed in the library, the librarian's son with him, stacks of books and scrolls in his hand.

"yes but the history goes much farther back than that," he informed, "it also depends on what information of our history we are exactly looking for,"

The son set the books on the table; "that would interest a wander," Dagda commented.

"A wander? Well, my Prince maybe the Walkers would be the most interesting,"

"The Child's story about plants that go between the kingdoms?"

"Children's tales are often told by Wanders, they tell of our history within a lesson,"

The two turned their head at the sound of Mandrake's voice.

"King Mandrake," The boy bowed.

"I need to speak to my son,"

"Of course,"

The librarian's son bowed his head once again and left quickly; "I'm busy-"

"Sure you are," Mandrake commented, looking at the sets of scrolls Dagda had help pulling from the Shelves; "I have never seen you in here,"

Mandrake looked at his fingertips, a thin layer of dust covering the causing him to rub them together to get rid of such dust.

"It piqued my interest,"

"Piqued your interest?" Mandrake commented, "or did Princess Y/n mention history?"

Dagda was silent; "Maybe,"

Mandrake could only chuckle; he remembered this library all too well; there was a bookshelf that was fake, and in there was a back room; with a single window, it most likely now filled with cobwebs and whatever lurks in the deep dark. He and Winslet use to take from the library and read together.

"I have been thinking about Princess Y/n's proposal," Mandrake commented.

"You have?" Dagda asked excitedly.

"We will agree to it," Mandrake answered, and before Dagda could get excited; "We will be cautious, it is not only Moonhaven we will have to worry about, we ride for Moonhaven before the end of the hour."

Dagda nodded, "You will not regret this!"

Mandrake watched him rush off, "Ah the youth,"

Mandrake turned his head, an old Boggin; he had been the Librarian since Mandrake was little; "Bookkeeper Garel,"

"I remember when you use to run in here with your little girlfriend," Garel laughed, coming to the scrolls on the table and grabbing a few, and shuffling to put them back.

"I will make Dagda clean up his mess,"

"Eh," Garel waved off the man; "make's my day go by faster, not to mention Lilith likes him,"

"you're son?"

"Grandson, practically my son," Garel responded, "I can't keep up with the boy, not like your son can."

Mandrake was silent before grabbing a few of the thicker books; going to help the old Bookkeeper; "I don't wish him to end up like I," Mandrake admitted.

"You are not happy with who you have become?" Garel questioned.

Mandrake was silent putting a book on the shelf, "Silence is my answer I see," Garel answered, "It is quite often the loudest one,"

Garel walked away to get more scrolls; "What do I do?'

"What is it you wish to do?"

"I wish to not turn into my Mother," Mandrake answered.

"Then you know what you must do," Garel advised.

Mandrake kept silent as the put the books and scrolls back, and like he promised, he left with his sister, son, and a platoon of troops, as every other kingdom would arrive with.

Y/n was still rushing to get ready when she heard horns from her open windows, she and her workers peeked their heads outside.

"Damn it..." Y/n cursed, watching the Northern Woods Kingdom arrive; Queen Euthalia walked beside her husband King Costanine their Shaman and General behind them; Atticus' parents and kingdom, there flag raised high, and pristine. Moonhaven's own people surrounded them on both sides respectfully celebrating their arrival.

"Do we know who's here yet?"

"The People of the Glaze are here, and so is Kingdom Noxis." One of the women answered.

Y/n grew silent, as they watched the Queen and King vanish into the castle entrance below.

"Come now we must hurry!" A woman advised the two to rush off as Y/n watched the window for a moment long.

"Princess," they called for her.

"Right-" she turned to join them in finishing getting ready, yet a dark horn and bells sang, catching her attention as she turned back towards her window, and looked out.

There they were, Wraithwood. Witch Ayana was veiled with moss and held fisted praying hands, Mandrake walked at the head, standing strong, staff in hand, and Dagda. Dagda walked on the opposite side of Ayana next to his father.

Y/n ran out onto her balcony. Moonhavener's cowardly in fear rather than rejoiced, Y/n leaned over her balcony, watching them make their kingdom known. Their flag was raised high and with pride, it had seen battle shown by the rips and tears and the ends.

"Quickly!" Y/n called to the woman rushing inside, "I must be quick."

The long and decorated table was set for tea, with Moonhaven's finest harvest of its fruits and honey. Tara's thrown room was decorated as it always was, flowers in turned and shining light down in the room.

"My Queen," Queen Euthina bowed, her husband doing the same.

"Queen Euthina, King Constantine." Queen Tara bowed Ronin besides her, "it is an honor,"

"Oh, please Queen Tara, we go through this every year." Queen Euthina chuckled Tara chuckled back, "We are the honored ones,"

"We do hope the arrival was safe."

"Very much so," Euthina smiled, "And we hope our son Atticus has been making a good impression."

Atticus walked up beside his mother; "An honor again Queen Tara."

"He has been a delight."

"General Ronin." The Northern Woods general spoke a handout.

"General Acker," Ronin spoke, shaking the man's hand.

"Sit please, we have all arrived," Queen Tara spoke; the other royals already sat; their general and shaman at one side, and the other is where their eldest stood, their eldest daughter sat next to them.

They took their seats; "Where is that lovely girl of yours? Y/n, isn't it?" Queen Misti questioned; the Queen of the People of the Glaze and Mother to Aalto and one other son Edur, who was off doing second born things; like not being at the arrival's tea party, with his sister Bayou, his sister Coral on the other hand forced to be at such a party.

"Princess Y/n will be down soon," Tara informed castle workers, pouring the new arrivals tea.

"I hope my son Jael hasn't stolen her heart," Queen Aeulla spoke, her husband, King Rowan beside her. She was Mother to five children; Jael her oldest son, Ather and Anil her younger boys, Anil was twined to the oldest sister Imberg and Alizee was the baby girl she had someone else taking care of.

"I could never do such a thing, not to such a delicate thing," Jael interrupted.

Ronin almost laughed and rolled his eyes; Y/n? Delicate? Yeah Right.

"I do hope a wedding will be in the fall," Queen Auella commented, "Perhaps even sooner?"

"We like surprises here in Moonhaven," Tara objected; "And Y/n loves to give them,"

There were laughing amongst the queens, but Guards running in interrupted them.

"Slow down," Tara tried to slow them, they panting heavily; "Deep breathes, what has happened?"

"Wraithwood..." A guard spoke; "Wraithwood is here!"

"Wraithwood?"

"Why is Wraithood here-"

"I need to get my people out of here! We are not at war!"

"You-"

"Enough!" Tara called to silence, and she received it; "There is...explanation to this-"

It was too late; the bell chimes were heard and in walked Boggin's; generals of each kingdom ready to unsheathe their weapons and defend their rulers. With ease they parted and stopped; and in came Mandrake with his son and sister. Mandrake's staff's end seemingly shook the ground every time it came down; the royals growing anxious with each step.

Then he stopped.

It fell silent.

Y/n rushed out of her room, Finn waiting for her on the opposite wall, he slouched, but quickly stood attention.

"Woah..."

Y/n smiled small as she stood there; "Too much?"

"You look beautiful," Finn complimented, Y/n chuckling, he held his arm out; "Shall we?"

Y/n wrapped an arm around him as they started their way; "Nervous at all?"

"No," Y/n answered, looking up at him; then nodded; "Just a bit,"

"How is your wound doing?"

Y/n touched her face, the stitches were cut out and replaced with sap to close up the wound.

"Good," Y/n answered, "it'll scar, but I'll be fine."

They walked down the steps, and down the hall, "You did good," Finn spoke, "Guarding your friend like that,"

"Oh, We're not...I..." Y/n tried to lie.

"My sister in arms was like you, she was a big believer in peace," Finn added.

"I'll have to meet her then," Y/n spoke.

"She taught me and Ronin everything we know,"

Y/n smiled as they reached the doors, "Thank you."

Finn looked down at her; "Makes me feel a little less alone in my own head."

She received a small smile from him; "Thank you then,"

"For what?"

"Making me feel a little less alone in my own head,"

Y/n chuckled; "it's rough up there,"

"I know that." Finn answered, "Now, Princess. Shall we?"

"We shall, second in command,"

He knocked on the door letting the guards know who it is before it was opened for the two of them.

"You're not welcomed here-"

Too involved in demands to make Wraithwood leave to hear the knocking, the heavy creak of the doors was the only thing to interrupt the group of Kings and Queens.

"Ah! So, the Princess decides to joy us!" Mandrake cheered; the sarcasm laced within his words was strong.

Y/n walked forward; letting go of Finn's guiding arm and stopped in front of the trio of Wraithwood.

"King of Wraithwood," Y/n bowed, Mandrake bowing in response, "I am honored you accepted my invitation."

She turned towards the witch; "Witch of Wraithwood." she bowed.

"Princess of Moonhaven," She bowed.

Then she turned towards Dagda, "Prince of Wraithwood."

He was frozen in his spot; he had never thought of Y/n wearing a dress, it was made of lily petals, two small fern accents on her waist, and a matching fern choker. To anyone who had eyes; and he had never been so glad he did, there was a silver dagger held into place with another longer fern on her thigh, dressed in elegance and ready to kill? She couldn't get any better.

Mandrake nudged his son hard, "Uh, Princess of Moonhaven," he bowed.

Y/n rose up and Dagda followed; she smiled at the three, and looked around, "This way please,"

They followed her, and Y/n showed them to the last empty seats; "Please, sit, may I take your staff for you?"

The royals looked at each other; Wraithwood had been invited. Mandrake denied her of his staff, and she was quick to pour them all tea, before taking her own seat, which Ronin was quick to pull out for her.

"I apologize for my late appearance."

"That is quite alright Princess," Atticus commented, Y/n's gaze shifting his way.

"You look very beautiful today Princess Y/n," Coral complimented.

"Thank you," Y/n smiled.

"Shall we discuss the season's plans then?" Tara spoke up.

"The same as last are they not?" King Constantine spoke up; "They never change."

"Perhaps we can discuss an upcoming event?" Queen Aeulla questioned.

"We are discussing the summer solstice already?" Y/n inquired.

"No," Tara told, "that is too far in advance."

"We were hoping on attending a wedding Princess of Moonhaven," Queen Euthalia commented.

"Who is getting married?" Queen Misti asked.

"I was hoping to discuss the sudden involvement of Wraithwood," King Rowan asked, "We have never needed them to keep the balance and yet we invited them now?"

"Wraithwood has kept their balance," Y/n defended.

King Rowan laughed, and Y/n's glance hardened into a glare; "What balance? The destruction of our kingdoms?"

"Everything we grow must die," Y/n answered.

"All of it?" Queen Misti inquired.

"At some points, how do you expect to feed the new?" Y/n told she received a hum in response; would she get someone on her side? So quick?

"I agree," Queen Misti spoke up; "The involvement of decay goes hand in hand with the state of water, decay is how most of our islands are made, I approve of the involvement of Wraithwood."

"Oh please," Aalto rolled his eyes.

"Watch it boy," Queen Misti argued.

"Any further questions you can direct them towards me, I invited Wraithwood," Y/n spoke.

"Well certainly we aren't giving them weapons for the games," King Rowan argued.

"I agree with Wraithwood rejoining," Queen Misti agreed, "but war has been strong between Wraithwood and Moonhaven, they should not be in the games this year,"

"King of Wraithwood?" Y/n asked, "Your opinion?"

"I am a guest, by your rule, I follow," Mandrake answered.

"Then it's no," Queen Aeulla snapped.

"By my rule." Y/n corrected, "Yet the answer is clear, Wraithwood will not compete."

Damn it.

"Going back to the season's plans," Tara spoke back up.

Y/n stayed silent the whole time, Dagda catching the corner of her eye occasionally; it only caused her to look away and drink from her cup of tea.

Well into the day they finished, younger kids were returned to the royals, and they walked out for the people to shout in their praise one set at a time.

Y/n and Wraithwood stayed back, "King Mandrake, please, excuse their rudeness-"

"Enough."

Y/n grew to silence, "I commend you on your boldness, both yesterday and today."

Y/n bowed her head, "I almost must thank you; my son may not be here without you." Mandrake thanked.

"We knew how it'd be before we accepted your invitation, we knew how'd it be after." Mandrake finalized, Y/n nodding.

"Thank you for coming." Y/n thanked.

"Thank you for taking the initiative," Ayana told.

Y/n nodded, looking at Dagda finally, "Will you stay for the night celebrations?"

It was clear she was trying to be neutral, yet the small and hopeful smile Y/n gave Dagda said it all; Will you be with me for the night?

"i-"

"Wraithwood!" was announced.

"that's your call..." Y/n spoke.

"yeah..."

A moment of silence, before Mandrake had to drag his son away. The crowd of people was silent, yet the Boggins cheered and Y/n from inside only smiled.

"Moonhaven!"

Cheers were louder in Moonhaven's name, Y/n, and Tara walking out side by side.

"We welcome the Spring Equinox united! And together!" Tara called to the people who only grew louder; by this time; people had come from other kingdoms, ready to celebrate and dance the days away, united.

It went from royal celebration to party below; groups naturally separated themselves, and Mandrake almost called his people home. Yet the way his son looked at Y/n convinced him to say otherwise. Thrones were down for the royals despite Y/n not truly wanting to sit in one and mingle amongst the people instead.

It gave her time to think, at least, she hadn't done a lot of that as of recent, it was just go, go, go. She looked over at Tara and Ronin, Tara sat polite and pretty as ever. It was in her nature to be caring. Ronin simply wanted to protect, yet the distance between the young royal's section and the older royals section felt larger than it was truly. When all was just a few chairs with a gap between the two creating a singular row.

Maybe she had pushed her ideas too much, yet she had never really pushed anything in her life. She followed each and every rule.

"Princess Y/n-"

Her focus was broken, and she blinked back into reality, "Nod, hey."

Nod smiled. He was dressed nicer than their usual attire, "If you're not too busy you wanna ya know..."

He pointed with a thumb behind him, past the crowds of people there was a man selling sweets.

"I could use a sweet." Y/n answered getting up to quickly follow her, Finn who was at her back stayed still, "I'll be back Finn."

He sent a smile and nod.

"Are you not supposed to go with her?" Jael asked.

"Princess Y/n is capable of handling a small walk to grab a sweet. Nod will protect her if anything is to happen." Finn answered.

"What useless guards." Aalto laughed, elbowing his brother Edur who only ended up rubbing his arm, "It's not like she needs another sweet in her life."

Finn wished he could have said something: really, Princes were on his lists of icks for sure.

"Didn't your parents teach you basic manners?"

Heads shot towards Dagda, "Oh. The rat speaks." Alto chuckled.

"Brother." Edur complained.

"Don't be a baby." Alto argued.

Eudr grew quiet he hugged his previously hit arm.

"Don't pick on him!" Aether spoke up on his behalf.

"Aether." Jael snapped.

"No wonder you went to war with us." Coral leaned over to Dagda, "Boys are idiots dont let them get to you-"

"Shut it, Coral!" Her brother argued.

"Suck on a bag of nuts!" She snapped back then turned back to Dagda, "I'm Coral."

Coral was young: barely twelve-years-old, and her feet didn't reach the floor as she sat on the throne.

"Dagda." He introduced.

She smiled, "Mandrake's your Dad, right?"

Dagda nodded, "What's your Shamans name?"

"She goes by the Witch title. She's my Aunt Ayana."

"Ooo! Cool!" Coral cheered, "Edur is our Shaman in training he's my second oldest brother. Do you have siblings?"

"No." Dagda answered.

"Oh." Coral spoke, racking her brain for another question: she went silent.

Dagda let his attention be stolen past the crowd, Y/n laughing as she and her friend were given a chunk of honeycomb candy, wrapped in a leaf. She leaned down and away from his line of sight and returned shortly with a child on her hip, boggin in origin, and split the candy with the child, the little girl happy as she ate her half, she setting the child back down to run off back to her family, letting Y/n return back to talking with Nod.

Dagda figured he'd have to get on Nod's good side; from where he sat, he could see the sibling-by-choice bond, from Aalto's and Jael's side, they could only see red they could not act upon. A commoner? With a Princess?

"Atticus can you believe this?"

Atticus was silent as he watched Y/n, "Atticus!"

He looked to the side, Aalto sitting there, "who does he think he is,"

"The maid boy?" Atticus questioned; "he's just that, dirt has more value than him."

"They're friends," Dagda spoke up.

"You know...whatever you really are," Aalto commented towards Dagda, "You certainly have an eye for the Princess,"

"Or he just knows how to treat people," Aether spoke up in Dagda's defense, "I wouldn't be surprised if she beats you up and marries him,"

Aalto only looked at Jael, before bursting out in full-blown laughter; Jael chuckling as he rubbed the back of his neck," What do you know of women? Child?"

"Leave him alone!" Eudr argued.

"I told you to shut it," Aalto ordered.

"Here we go," Imberg finally spoke up.

"Such idiots," her twin Anil mumbled.

Y/n stood with Nod, talking as they ate their candy; "So... I was thinking."

"Oh?" Y/n asked, "Is that a good idea?"

"Just hear me out," Nod spoke; "And I know it'll sound weird- like really weird,"

Y/n raised a brow, "What if you... hypothetically, didn't marry Prince Atticus."

Y/n paused, before breaking out into full blown laughter; "You think- I? me- I'm sorry I-"

She couldn't contain her laughter as she glanced back at him; and his face was full of hurt; "I just don't think you should be with someone like him-"

Y/n paused, "Nod, what are you talking about?"

"Y/n be serious," Nod told, "The flowers...the looks, he was in your room."

"Flowers? Looks?" Y/n questioned, "You're in my room, we've slept in the same bed before, we're brother and sister, we were raised that way-"

"Y/n he's a Prince, just say it already."

"Say what Nod?"

"Come on!" Nod argued, "You love him, you're leaving with him!"

Y/n looked at him almost offended, "Nod I don't know who told you what-"

"It's quite obvious, I'm barely a guard, he knows what's best for you-"

"Who said that to you!? Was it, Prince Atticus-"

"If not him, who are you leaving Moonhaven for-"

"Why does it matter-"

"Because I care about you!" he shouted, the argument starting to catch the attention of people around them; "I'm your brother Y/n! You think Ronin or Tara are the only ones that care about you!? You think I wasn't terrified when you were lost! Or scared when you took that sword to the face!"

"Nod please-" Y/n tried to calm him down placing a hand on his shoulder, the crowd around them dying down; "I'm not leaving Moonhaven-"

"Then what's going on with you? Do you need help? Are you leaving?!" he asked desperately, their conversation had died down, "Y/n please."

Y/n looked at him and shook her head. What was she meant to say? She was in love? With the enemy's son no less?

"I." Y/n started, the hope in his eyes: "I should go back."

"y/n-" he called, grabbing her wrist and pulling her closer to beg in a quieter voice, his hands coming to wrap around her hand, "Y/n, please, I cannot lose another person I love- What happens when you go? Do I just lose you? never to see you again? I just- don't know- I'm scared, please. Just tell me what's happening,"

Nod never pleaded, never like this; she looked down at his hands; how had she dug herself into such a hole? She looked from his hands up back at him; her eyes mirrored his, heartbreak; the sadness of being alone.

"I'm in love..." She answered him finally holding eye contact with him, Nod could crumble right there; he was right; hearing it was almost like rubbing salt into a wound, "...I... know you wouldn't agree...I know Ronin or Tara wouldn't...I- Well I-."

"Who is it-"

"Nod-" Y/n started; "Please don't-"

"Tell me he'll at least take care of you when your sick- when you're in your own little world and need time to come out of it-" Nod continued; "he'll be there for you."

"Nod he can't be there for me," Y/n answered.

Nod held an offended look; "And you expect anyone to just be okay with you going off-"

She was growing angry; the tendency to snap seemed viable more than ever, "He can't be here because we're in war," Y/n argued.

"Y/n-"

"I'm in love with Prince Dagda," Y/n finally snapped, and he dropped her hand, his eyes widened in surprise and confusion.

"Y/n-"

"I have to get back." She told him.

"Y/n please- just wait-"

Yet she pulled away for a final time and weaved her way through people.

"Y/n-"

Yet she was gone and through the crowd. Making her way back to her spot beside the other royal children.

"He'll do nicely..." Atticus spoke, watching Y/n storm off, and Nod's failed attempt to follow her.

"What?" Jael questioned.

"Hm?" Atticus hummed, looking towards the older teen.

"What did you say?" Jael asked.

"Oh nothing, thinking about a book I read is all," Atticus answered with a lazily warm smile, watching Y/n return to her throne to take a seat.

"You look stunning Princess Y/n," Jael complimented her, "I was hoping perhaps, now that you've returned from the floor, we could dance,"

"No," Y/n answered, her tone flat, and her mind somewhere else, yet it quickly changed; "You know the rules, dear Prince Jael."

"Ah." Jael answered then laughed; "How could I forget,"

Jael raised from his feet, making his way down the steps to turn sharply and walk along the bottom one, re-walking them, he kneeled in front of Tara.

"He's asking the queen if Y/ns allowed to dance with him," Coral informed Dagda, "A prince has to ask her to dance before anyone else can,"

"Her friend took her," Dagda commented.

"Yeah, but that's to eat it's different," Coral told him, "Plus everyone knows that's practically her brother, see Tara's the easy one, it's Ronin Jael has to get past, even if he gets past Ronin- which I doubt, he'll have to get passed Finn as well, her guard,"

Dagda looked over and up at the man standing to the side and behind Y/n's throne, he leaned down and whispered to her, he had been there the whole time in silence.

"And even if he gets past Tara, Ronin, and Finn, Y/n still has to agree," Coral told him.

"Seems like a lot,"

"Well, if you're really in love with a girl it's a real beautiful thing; takes a lot of guts," Coral informed.

Dagda watched as young men started to line up behind Jael. Jael gave his introduction; the perfect bow, the respectable attitude, the sweet smile, and there it was he was through, and off to stand in front of Y/n on a knee, hand out ready for her to respond.

Yet Y/n only stared off into space, watching beyond the crowd.

"Are you alright Ms. Y/n?" Imbreg's questioned, it breaking Y/n's stare into space.

"hm?'

"Are you alright?" Imbreg repeated.

"Fine...I'm...fine." Y/n answered, unsure of the answer herself.

Y/n just left Jael sitting there, no response and not a glance his way. But she felt eyes on her and finally she looked down.

"Prince Jael. Apologies, but...I do not feel the best right now." Y/n answered him: "Please forgive me."

"Not even a small waltz-"

"She said No."

Heads shot just one seat down, Dagda was there: with small Coral to back him up.

"Back off." Dagda ordered.

"And what are you gonna do about it?" Jael spoke, rising to his feet.

Finn stepped between Jael and Y/n's seat: "Return to your seat. Immediately."

"I wouldn't be surprised if it was the Boggin boy that slashed your face in!" Jael snapped loudly.

It caught attention: King's and Queen's looking there way.

"I said return to your seat." Finn ordered again, "or I will put you there myself."

"Under what authority?" Jael argued back.

"Mine." Y/n deemed, standing up, she wasn't in the mood for this, not right now, she guiding Finn to the side.

"Take a seat and stop being such a fuckin cry baby!-" Y/n ordered, the music stopped and so did everyone mingling and dancing.

"Y/n-" Tara got up, quick to diffuse the situation.

"Get this straight! Royal or not! I am not some bitch you can fuck around with! I am not some whore you can dog on!!" Y/n's voice boomed. She walked towards Jael as he started to back up. He almost slipped on a step as she pushed more and more into his personal space: "My family- My people come first! I know how you talk to my guards! How you treat my castle workers! And I know how you talk about me! So get this straight fucker! I am Princess of Moonhaven! I will do anything to keep my people happy and healthy! And I will not have some foreign cock sucker disrespect my guest or my people! So get your head out your ass, get back in your seat, and learn some fucking manners!"

Jael finally slipped at the last step, falling back as Y/n glared down at him.

"y/n that is enough!" Tara ordered grabbing her arm.

Y/n looked back at Tara the glare still hard on her face; she scoffed and pulled her arm away before storming off. Finn was quick to follow her and Ronin was quick to join him.

"Princess Y/n!" Ronin shouted after her.

Tara looked towards other Leafmen; "Go help Ronin, don't lose sight of her please,"

The woman nodded and a few more Leaf Men followed her in support.

"What a great relationship you have with your daughter," Mandrake spoke up; Tara looked back to glare at him; "Have I struck a nerve?"

"Get my son up, would you?" King Rowan asked his personal guard, who only left in glaring at Prince Jael, "he owes Moonhaven an apology."

Dagda took the chance of confusion amongst the crowds and the disappointment of the royals slip away to follow Y/n. He followed far enough behind searching guards to not draw any attention; and was able to hide with the help of the darkening sky, the sun was setting, and the moon would rise soon. Yet what was his advantage ended up being his disadvantage; he didn't know Moonhaven like the back of his hand; he didn't know anything about Moonhaven, but he knew Y/n.

She had gone over the border by mistake; messing around with her friend, yet she returned to cross the border; trying to leave Moonhaven behind just for a moment to experience a new world. Dagda figured to get away from her own once again she'd run to his.

And she did.

She was quick to cross the border; slide in the mud down a hill and was quick to hide under the cliff, back against the rock wall.

"y/n!" Ronin called out for her, "Y/n please!"

Y/n stayed silent; Ronin was right above her; "Y/n!"

Yet another leaf man called his name; ushering him a different way; and he ran away quickly in hopes that they found her.

She waited a moment before moving. Dagda crossed the border; the mud from last night's rainstorm was still present. And in it, he spotted tracks and was quick to follow them. He found her easier than he assumed; her tracks were fresh after all, and the mud that covered her dress still could block out the bright against the dark that Wraithwood was.

He pushed past the bushes seeing her through the branches and ended up at the other end, yet she was gone.

"Y/n?" he called for her softly, yet he was taken to the ground, a dagger put to his throat.

"It's me!" Dagda surrendered, looking up at Y/n who had wide eyes, and a snarl on her face, her dagger once on her thigh high into the air, yet her expression dropped and with it her silver dagger, "It's just me..."

"I...I-" Y/n spoke quickly getting off him; he quick to sit up as she started pacing; "I'm such a fucking idiot!"

"Y/n-"

"I should of just said yes! Get it out of the way!-"

"You said no, it's as simple as that," Dagda defended her, her white dress ends dragging in the mud.

"I should have just sat there, and said nothing," Y/n told him, turning back around and walking the other way; "Ronin won't look at me! Nod's mad at me! Tara, Tara's so disappointed in me I might as well as of killed a man! The one time I push my views! Everything goes south!"

"Y/n," Dagda called, turning to look at him he grabbed her arms carefully; he worried for her and it truly showed; "You didn't do anything wrong- You got my father to stop fighting and come to Moonhaven in peace. You're stopping a war."

"I feel like I'm just hurting more and more people," Y/n told him; "No one will stand with me, I don't know what to do-"

"I stand with you," Dagda told. His grip on her arms tightened the slightest in reassurance, "Always."

"If I involve you, anybody- somebody- I won't let somebody get hurt-" Y/n told him,

"You are somebody," Dagda pleaded with her, "You're somebody to me."

There was a slight perk in Y/n's form; "I." He started.

Y/n's eyes widened the slightest, anticipation quickly building in her; I what? I hate you. I'll help you. I believe in you. I love-

"I care." He paused in the middle of his sentence, "About you... a lot...I don't know what to do about it..."

Y/n pulled her arms from his grasp, he letting go; he scared her off- yet she took his hands instead, her hands were cold.

"I care about you too," Y/n answered.

Dagda gave her a nervous smile that looked goofy more than anything else causing her to chuckle shortly and smile back. In his eyes and heart her smile could make snow melt, and could convince any person no matter age, or status. Not to mention she was strong, mentally and physically; she could take a beating and could keep her morals and her standards, and she wasn't afraid to speak her mind. His thoughts were shifted as a breeze picked up, and Y/n's grip on his hands tightened.

"You're cold," He spoke, pulling away from her hands to take his rat coat off to give to her.

"You'll be cold."

"I know where some are stuffed around here," Dagda answered, he taking her hand and leading her along the way.

Finn watched from his spot on the tree branch, bow in hand, arrow knocked, yet he was relaxed, an arrow pointing down in no ill matter.

He followed.

Tracking the couple from up high was easier than ground tracking them. He hopped from one branch to another, keeping close eyes on the two. Through the dark Dagda navigated them until they come upon a tree; it was half dead and partially knocked over leaning against another tree that stood strong.

Y/n followed him in willingly; they entered from the bottom of the tree; the entrance hidden by the roots. Dagda's own little hideout as Y/n presumed, a workstation, filled with half-made arrows, and the act of bracing left discarded halfway through, and bow silencers, little fluffy balls made from fur sat on his desk; it looks like he had made an abundance of them. Y/n plucked one from its spot on the wooden table; perhaps it was rats' fur? Maybe squirrel tail? -

Wood scrapped against the floor and crashed against each other; Y/n turned her head to see the source of the commotion; Dagda trying to set up a small little table; with two chairs.

"I-" Dagda was quick to make up an excuse.

"I was just getting tired thanks," Y/n quickly saved him, she smiling at him softly; "You'll sit with me?"

"Yeah! -" He answered quickly but toned it down, "... yeah...I will.."

Y/n walked her way over and took a careful seat, the fur end coming to wrap around her midsection and arms; she didn't want to sit on it. She crossed her legs; the slit showing her leg off as she hummed. There was a nice warmth to Dagda's little hiding spot.

"This your hide out?" Y/n asked.

"In a way." Dagda answered her, a new coat on him, a bit more worn than Y/n's but in good use.

They matched.

Y/n rubbed up and down her arm: "I'm sorry that...it didnt go as planned."

A cup was placed in front of her; she looked down at the cup, whatever Dagda said went over her head, not making it to her ears.

Had she seen this cup somewhere?

"Y/n?'

"Huh?" Y/n spoke up, looking his way, "sorry...I... just feel like I've seen this somewhere..."

Picking it up, she looked at the simple yet elegant pattern, and it was the pattern rather than the cup. She found it out that it was in a circle as well.

"You know it looks like it's meant to be on a fancy key almost." Y/n commented.

She paused.

Key....A key

"Where'd you get them?" Y/n changed the subject.

"Uh..." Dagda spoke, "This place use to be my dad's hole when he was younger. He never came back after my mother died. Must be from her."

"Sorry." Y/n was quick to apologize, "didn't mean to bring up bad memories..."

She set the cup down and as soon as she did Dagda was filling it carefully. It becoming quiet between the two.

"Don't worry about it," He finally spoke up; Y/n looked down at the steaming cup of tea and looked over to the cup being filled.

Dagda caught sight of it; she intently watched him as he filled his cup. His first thought was she wanted his instead and was quick to attempt to switch them.

"It's better the farther you go down," was his reasoning.

"Oh," Y/n spoke, she figured her staring had made him uncomfortable; "thanks... I haven't had any bundles from Wraithwood,"

Dagda nodded as Y/n was silent, it bothered the air around them, and it bother Dagda most of all, he didn't really know how to ask her either.

He sat down on a chair, just to the right of her, she looked down at the liquid. Maybe he should just do it? Ask what's wrong? He didn't want to bother her; she was the question asker after all; always has been it's how their relationship started. He had always been the answer; the one to inform her; and explain Wraithwood.

"You...okay?" He asked awkwardly as she looked his way shortly.

"Long day...sorry..." Y/n answered, tired.

"You can stay the night," Dagda offered.

"I-" Y/n started, her hands started to talk for her, and her eye's darted around; "Stay the night- I- I couldn't..."

Dagda cursed mentally; he made her nervous- she talking like she had when she handed him bread; he liked it sure; but he realized how frantic she had really become; "You don't have to-"

"I mean yes!" Y/n answered quickly; "Sorry- I mean- well I would like to wish you would be a dream- That sound's weird! I didn't mean it like that."

"Like what?" Dagda asked; "Sounds like you're being nice."

"Well- yes, but- I- Prince Atticus was in my room the other night- and Nod already thinks I'm- It wasn't like that I swear- I just-" Y/n finally groaned in annoyance, her own words against her and her head fell into her hands, she balling up in the chair, legs coming up to her chest, the two slits in the dress allowing so.

Dagda looked away, "He...sounds worried..."

"Nod?" Y/n asked muffled.

"Y.Yeah..." Dagda answered.

"I know he is..." Y/n told him, "I. Just never thought he'd..."

Y/n couldn't finish her sentence, "He'd?" Dagda asked.

"Have so much... anxiety about it." Y/n answered turning her head, so her cheek rested on her knee, and she looked Dagda's way; " I never thought he'd think I'd leave him like that either...it. just hurts."

She closed her eyes, "Maybe just take drink some tea, and take a rest before going back," Dagda recommended.

Y/n was still, eyes still closed in thought, and she ultimately nodded, agreeing with the idea.

Finn watched carefully through the open end, the uprooted roots helping him blend in. He was ready to shoot if needed; to swoop in and save Y/n. Yet he waited; watched her feet return to the floor and a cup of tea come into her hand for a sip.

Finn's verdict? She'd be safe here, respected, and heard. Something he believed she wouldn't be exactly if she went back to Moonhaven; even diamonds can crack under pressure, hit it enough times, and in the right spot it would crack and splinter like dried leaves you'd walk on in the fall.

Yet before he could turn around to retreat, he was gone; none of his personal belongings were left in his wake- yet a loud crack from a root he attempted to grab; and ultimately failed.

Y/n was quick to get up at the sound, Dagda following her; results of their training; never take anything lightly.

They looked at each other before Dagda grabbed his bow, and Y/n grabbed the knife Dagda had sitting on the counter. He kept her behind him; yet his hand held her wrist tightly in worried taste; she grasped for his hand which was opted for in the end.

"I've got your back," Y/n told him softly.

They were truly ready to jump anyone who was outside that doorway; yet when they turned the corner ready to strike no one was there.

They stood in silence; till Y/n's laughter was horribly hidden; she ended in a loud laughing fit. Dagda turned his head as Y/n tried to cover her mouth, yet the laughing continued.

"You-" Before he could even finish, she had her arms around him; her chin resting on his shoulder as she laughed happily; "You have a knife be careful-"

Yet her laughter filled his ears; "I would have loved to see our scared faces! Imagine how crazy we looked! All for a broken twig!"

He held onto her forearm as they rested near his collarbone, her laughter died down after some time- a laugh well needed; and she smiled.

"Thanks, Dagda." She cheered, hugging him tighter.

"Y.Yeah," He spoke, he turning to look at her smiling face: yet she froze just as well.

Too close, and sleeping over?

"Sorry! -" y/n quickly apologized, pulling away, "sorry-"

"No! No! You're... okay..." Dagda told her, she setting the knife back away.

"I... I should go..." Y/n spoke, setting the knife back down on the counter, "Thanks. Again- I really appreciate it."

"I can take you back," Dagda was quick to offer, "If you want,"

Y/n crossed her arms; bringing the rat skin cloak closer in on herself "Yeah, that'd be nice, thanks."

As promised; Dagda returned her home, A short ride seemed shorter as she wrapped her arms around his waist; and sat behind him on his bir, she comfortably pressed against him to even their weight. She was returned to the castle front; where the part had died; and the Queen had been; giving orders on where to search next; and given ear report on the findings: Nothing. The other Queens and Kings surrounded Tara in aid.

"Your child's missing!" King Rowan snapped; "He probably stole the princess after she ran off-"

"I have not been stolen," Y/n argued as Dagda landed the bird; he got off and helped Y/n off soon after, his hand catching Her's in assistance.

Oh, what he'd do to hold her hand for a moment longer.

"Thank you," Y/n spoke looking toward him.

He only nodded and let her hand leave his as she walked forward; he came to walk beside her.

"Y/n!" Tara shouted; quickly rushing down the set of steps with Ronin not too far behind.

Y/n's face was quickly grabbed; Tara inspected her face and neck; Are you alright? Did you get hurt!? Where did you run off to? -"

Tara paused and looked at what she was wearing; "What are you wearing?"

"Oh- I-" Y/n pulled away starting to pull it off; folding it over her arm; "Dagda- Prince Dagda found me cold...he was kind of enough to give me his cloak..."

She handed it back to him; "Thanks-"

"You keep it," Dagda told her; he could quickly feel eyes on him; "It's a cold spring this year..."

"Princess Y/n has plenty of-"

"Thanks," Y/n was quick to cut Ronin off, she pulled the folded cloak into her chest, "I appreciate it."

Dagda nodded before she was dragged off by Tara, Ronin following behind.

"Goodnight Moonhaven!" Dagda shouted towards Y/n's retreating form.

She turned around and stopped despite Tara and Ronin's protest.

"Goodnight, Wraithwood!" Y/n called back, finishing it off with a loving smile before she was dragged off once again.

Could Dagda fall in love anymore? Yes, and he did. Despite the side eyes, eyerolls, looks of disgust by the other royals: "does he really think she'd go for him", he only stared at where her retreating form once was, in his mind: she stood there still, smiling back at him, holding the cloak he handed her close.

"Dagda!"

"Huh?"

His father was already on the move and so what his aunt the other royals gone: "We are leaving."

Y/n stood in the window: watching the leaders of Wraithwood leave Moonhaven

"Y/n!" Tara snapped, "Are you even listening!"

"Yes, Queen Tara." Y/n answered softly.

"Then explain yourself!" Tara ordered.

Y/n stood in silence.

"Y/n!"

The silence grew heavy, and Tara grew in anger.

"Do you have no idea what you've just done!" Tara shouted, "You embarrassed everyone! You're people! Me! Ronin! You've embarrassed yourself."

Y/n was quiet; arms crossed; and mind somewhere else.

"Hello!?" Tara shouted, "Y/n!"

"I hear you." was her only answer, Tara could only walk off; worrying if she said anything further, she'd go off the rail in anger.

Ronin stayed behind, she had figured he followed Tara, try and clam her down. She wiped her face.

"Y/n-"

She looked back shortly, "yeah. yeah?" she tried to speak with a steady voice.

"I'm fine."

"I'll...go see how-" Yet before he could finish his sentence, Y/n sprinted into his chest, his body rocking with the impact, she hugging him tightly.

"I don't know what to do!" she cried into his armored chest, his arms hovered as she squeezed him tighter, finally them came to rest on her upper back with the other set above it, hugging her back; "I'm worried about Nod. and. And the kingdom! and-"

She couldn't finish her sentence before her heavy crying continued, he holding her the whole time; his hand moved into her hair, and he kissed her head. She quite literally cried herself to sleep, he holding her leaning body up before quickly putting an arm behind her knees and letting her upper half drop into his other arm and picking her up bridal style and bringing her over to the bed to sleep. He wiped her face the best he could before getting up to grab a change of clothes for her.

Ronin remembered it being easier when she was younger; and awake, when she used to dress in the cute pink gowns made from rose petals, either it be for night or day she always showed him; proud of her pretty dresses. Now it seemed Y/n owed just two dresses, the one Ronin had in hand, and an old coronation dress that she wouldn't even fit anymore; everything else a few pairs of pants, shirts, and coats, she was dressing like a leaf man now. He tucked her in; he hadn't done that in a while either. He ran a thumb over her cheek, her nose pointed towards him giving a full view of the scar he had put there, with his own two hands, it divided her face diagonally, an accident he could never forgive himself for. He leaned over; kissing her forehead where the new scar ended.

"I love you," Ronin whispered to her before placing a second kiss on the same spot, and getting up, he going to check on Nod, hoping it would give her some solace that someone heard her.

The barracks were full of the day shift. Solider and Guards slept, Nod had a hard time sleeping, he rolling from one side to another, he sighed, he told himself just close his eyes, burry them into the pillow in he has to. His back faced the open window that sat between him and another soldier's bunk.

Between the bunks stood Atticus, a sharp dagger in his hand. His eyes heavy and dark despite their unnatural fire color. He had the sweats, and at any moment he could start panting like a dog in need of water as drool came out the sides of his mouth and dribbled down his chin. His canines'-true fangs.

Then it started: his thirst for water grew and the panting grew to Nod's ears, his eyes opened yet his body didn't turn. His ears perhaps playing tricks on him? He shifted slightly to turn yet the sound of a bone snapping paused him, one after another: snap, pop and crunch.

If you're still enough, a monster under the best can't see you. Tara told the two children, Nod and Y/n wrapped up in a blanket together scared of the wind outside the room.

With his wide eyes, he slowly lifted a hand to cover his mouth of any sound.

Thump

Was it gone?

He heard a door open to the barracks and a soft call of his name.

"Nod? You in here?" Y/n called to him softly.

He was quick to shoot up and shout for her to run but his mouth was grabbed by a rough hand and a dagger to his throat. The door across the room was shut and Y/n wasn't there.

It's still in here with him.

His eyes turned towards the figure: it blocked out the moonlight, a woman, older, covered over the eyes and forehead with webbed fungus. Her eyes visible through the different sized webbed holes.

He took in a sharp breath as his eyes were filled with fear: even a sharp breath seemed too loud as nails were dug into his cheek causing his eyes to water.

The door to the barracks opened: another guard coming to rest perhaps.

A glass of water broke in the distance, the two guards looking over to where Nod's bed was; yet the window was open, and no one was there.

"Stop tryin' to scare me!" One of the men argued silently pushing his friend.

"I'm your boyfriend, not an asshole." The second argued, "We're just tired."

The door opened behind them, and one grabbed onto the other as they shot around.

"Ah...Commander, did the Princess get back safe?" They asked.

"She's in her room," Ronin informed.

"That's good, can we help you?"

"I'm looking for Nod."

They looked towards his bed across the way; "He's not in here sir," the second answered.

Ronin sighed; "Get some rest, we need to be on high alert tomorrow."

"Yes sir."

"Goodnight sir."

Ronin closed the door behind him as he left.

"You are pacing again." Mandrake sighed; he poured tea for his sister.

Dagda was silent, "Dagda!"

"What?" He asked not bothering to look over.

"You're pacing. Again." Mandrake spoke, watching his son go back and forth.

"He smells of her." His aunt spoke up.

"I do not!" Dagda argued.

"Sure, and you didn't invite her to stay the night?" Ayana questioned.

"You did what?" Mandrake argued.

"I didn't!"

"Liar," Ayana spoke.

Dagda growled at her; "She was in distress! I offered to help her!"

"Is that why you've been holding an oddly shiny dagger in your sheath?" Ayana questioned; "It's her's, clearly, it was on her thigh-"

"Would you shut up?" Mandrake asked, the spew of information irritating him.

"What if she's in danger?" Dagda asked.

"From what? Ronin? Please the queen would have his head on a pyke." Mandrake told.

"Getting in trouble is a child's duty to a parent," Ayana explained.

"And those. those-" Dagda started to argue; "Those princes! they have no respect for her!"

"Oh please, like they'll ever pull the stunt again," Ayana reassured; "Y/n made sure of that."

"I should go see her, make sure she's okay," Dagda tried to convince.

"That won't do anything but anger Ronin and Tara, and truth be told I'm more afraid of Tara than of Ronin," Mandrake spoke.

"What do I do?" Dagda asked, "Sit here? And what? let it happen?"

"That is exactly what you do," Mandrake answered.

"No," Ayana cut in; "You may have all the time in the world in your eyes till you see the Princess again; but in response, you must make something to woo her, trust the princes have already attempted to swoon her with lavish gifts. You have her yes it's quite telling; yet she has gifted you a few things, like today."

"Today?" Dagda asked.

Ayana sighed; "The dress nephew...it was stunning was it not?"

Dagda nodded; not even having to think; "The dress was both for you and her, she meant to catch your eye, and she did, especially with the dagger on her thigh."

"I-" Dagda started, "I didn't know-"

"Dagda we both have eyes." Ayana cut in, causing him to sigh.

"Yes. She was... beautiful."

"The dress in that aspect shows her interest in you; on the other hand, it signifies her power; she was open to showing her weapon without concealment and seeming willing to wield it as needed; she's showing off her elegance and power; as well as her honesty; only back stabbers and low ballers hide their weapons. She's fully open to you and to her people, with style, of course." Ayana explained, Dagda giving her a confused look, causing her to sigh.

"She's not a bitch and is actually liked." Mandrake simplified, his sister hitting him in the chest.

"Mandrake." She scolded, "men never appreciate the whole picture I swear. Return the favor. Get her something nice- something you know she enjoys."

"She likes bread, tea. Bows and arrows." Dagda started to list.

"Seriously?" Ayana scolded, "You're just like your father, never know anything."

Mandrake pushed his sister's shoulder, as they started to bicker back and forth.

What did Y/n like? Sure. She liked bread, she brought her favorite bread over, she liked bows and arrows, knew extensively about them too, she took pride in her bow last time he saw it, yet he had never seen her with it since she had lost the quiver to the water.

"I have to go." Dagda spoke up, cutting his aunt and father off, and before they could truly say anything, he left with haste.

After he sat, he couldn't be found in another spot besides his own space: ingrained in carving the small detailing of the wood below. He had hoped she'd like the gift. Carving, sharpening, wrapping, tying off, and sewing, he crafted his life away.

Sometime after he set most things into place, he fell asleep in the wooden shavings shaped like curled ferns.

Dagda hopped she had dreams as good as his. Simplistic, nothing large: yet a happy flight across open skies with Y/n by his side.

Yet Y/n was being awoken. She looking up through hazy eyes as the loose form came into shape.

"Y/n."

"Nod?"

"Hey-"

She was up quickly, hugging him tightly. He chuckling.

"Miss me?"

"Where did you go?!"

"Off-"

"You idiot you cant do that!" Y/n argued pulling to look at him, "You scared me!-"

"Ah...Y/n I'm-"

He watched the tears come down her face: "sorry..." Nod finished.

Y/n looked at him only to hug him again tightly, "what happened!?"

"Does it matter?" Nod joked, "Finn found me. Seems like I wasn't the only one lost."

"Is Finn okay?" Y/n asked.

"He's okay."

Y/n hugged him tighter, Nod could only freeze, hands coming to rest on her back: she smelt good, and he deepened the hug by burrying his nose into the crook of her neck. If he took a bite, she'd kill him, and no. Not Y/n, though Y/n would probably kill him too.

Y/n pulled away: "and I'm sorry." Y/n apologized.

"For?"

"For?" Y/n asked, "I hurt your feelings Nod. I'm suppose to be your friend. I should have told you about Dagda."

"It's....fine." he answered...has he ever been apologized too by a higher up?

Y/n smiled, holding his hands; "I'm glad you're okay,"

He looked down at his hands in hers and nodded, "that's why I'm telling you this."

"Telling me what?" Nod asked watching her hands squeeze. his.

"I'm going to try and shoot for Wraithwood."

"What?" Nod asked, looking up at her, "You're not Wraithwood,"

"I know."

"You'll be killed."

"Then so be it," Y/n answered with a smile.

"There not even your people-"

"And I'd do the same for them," y/n told him,: "I know you dont agree with me, I know you won't ever probably agree with me. I've hurt you enough by lying to you. I'll never be a good ruler. Wont even be a good person if I keep hurting the people I love,"

"No matter who they are? No matter what they do?"

Y/n nodded: "Everyone deserves the truth nod."

A knock came on the door, and two workers came in; the usual two women.

"Ah! You found him!" One cheered.

"Glad to see you safe Nod!"

Y/n's hand slipped from Nod's.

"Yeah." Nod answered.

"Everyone alright dears?" One asked.

"Yeah." Y/n smiled, Nod only answered with a nod of his head.

"Well. If thats the case was your special somewhere here yesteday?"

"Please tell us how it went!"

Just like that they were welcomed so easily on Y/n's bed, cups of fresh tea in everyones hand as they talked happily about Y/n's crush.

"He's...very lovely." Y/n answered.

"Ah! Im so excited! Wedding? When?"

"What?!" Y/n laughed, "Wedding? No...no."

"Im sure Nod would walk you down the aisle. Right babe?" The woman asked.

Such a sweet woman.

"Yeah."

"I rather you be my best man." Y/n answered with a smile, "Ronin....if he would..."

"Im sure he would sweety." The second agreed.

Y/n smiled, "but! I'm not getting married- todays too important to think of anything else."

"Of course."

"You'll be great."

"Thank you for the encouraging words...Im...nervous."

"Really?"

"The princess of Moonhaven nervous?"

There was laughter from the two women Y/n chuckling along.

"I...should get going." Nod spoke up.

Y/n nodded, "We all have lots to do."

Nod set the cup on the tray and made his way out. Outside the room Finn was there. Waiting for him.

"What the fuck is your problem Flint." Finn argued.

"Nothing Grunt, lay off." Nod argued back.

"Whats the report."

"Nothing new. She's in love with....you know as she suspected."

Finn huffed, "come on. If we don't do this right she'll kill us. You know the plan. Or do I have to go over it again?"

"I know it." Nod argued, "You'll grab Ronin. When the stampede happens, I get the queen and princess when she says we'll slit their throats."

"Good, now come on."

It was a busy day, filled with last mintue preperations and last minthe checks.

Y/n was dressed in a more elegant gown, it down to her legs and a cream color with gold embroidery of small flower batches and lining, a thick belt like peice of fabric under her bust decorated with golden lily flowers, to finsih it off, a shawl thrown over it to combat the the cold of the same cream color- yet she replaced it with the cloak give to her by Daga, she resting the fabric in her in-elbow as she would with a shawl. Yet she was hot, a whole archery suit below her clothing added a fan in her hand. She hadn't spoken to Tara the whole day. Maybe it was just the busyness going on. Maybe Tara was just upset with her still.

Y/n took to staying outside until royals started to acculmate: ready for the games introductions. Wraithwood arrived earlier than other royals that were even staying in the castle.

Y/n bowed to the three.

"King of Wraithwood. Witch of Wraithwood." Y/n spoke, she looking at Dagda, "Prince of Wraithwood."

"Princess of Moonhaven." Mandrake and Ayana bowed, "Dagda."

"Princess of Moonhaven." Dagda bowed his head quickly.

Y/n smiled, "Im glad you found us hospititable enough to join us again."

"My brother enjoys people being put in there place." Ayana told, "What you did yesterday amused him."

Y/n chuckled, "I'm glad we were able to entertain then as well."

"Trust me. It was more than amusing." Ayana assured, "I quiet enjoyed it myself. So few men in the world, only boys. I hope my nephew has been polite to you in that sense."

"He has, thank you." Y/n informed.

"You have a different...dress today." Ayana pointed out.

"Ah. Yes." Y/n informed, "The queen sent a request in quiet a while ago-"

"You're meant to match Commander Ronin. Are you not?"

Y/n nodded, "Yes Ma'm."

"Do you have a knife under there?"

"I-"

"That's enough." Mandrake pushed his sister out the way.

"Fashion is everything to a woman." His sister argued.

"Since when were you a woman." Mandrake told.

"Excuse me?" Ayana spoke offended, "I've always been a woman."

"Says who? You? Might wanna look in the mirror."

"Listen here you little shit-"

And they started to bicker back at forth. They were siblings, after all. Her shoulder was grabbed softly, she feeling the nails set on her skin she turned to look at Dagda.

"Hey." Y/n smiled.

"Hi." He smiled back, "You... like the cloak?"

Y/n nodded, the smile never faultering, "Reminds me of the good times we've had so far, plus it's cozy."

Noticing the fan in her hand, he had to comment: "If you're too warm. You don't have to wear it, you won't hurt my feelings."

"I'd wear it on the hottest days." Y/n answered, "because its from you."

Dagda grew silent, flustered even as Y/n still smiled at him: she never didn't smile at him, he was quick to change the subject.

"I have something for you." Dagda spoke quickly, "If. That is you'll take it."

"Dagda you didn't have to-"

One of his castle gaurds came over, box in hand.

"I..know you lost the quiver of your old set." Dagda commented, the gaurd opening it for him.

Y/n was frozen in her spot, "If you don't like it-"

Y/n looked down at the hand crafted bow a quiver beside it, sitting nicely in fresh picked cotton.

"Dagda...I...may I?"

Dagda could only nod in response as he watched her take out the bow.

"I know its not like your usual bow."

Y/n could only chuckle as she spotted two bow silencers on it, she remembered that conversation.

"Sets are always nicer..." Dagda tried to persuade her of liking it.

The carving was beautiful, one side carved of leaves and in the center a hummingbirds eye, the other of thorns and a crows eye.

"I tried to recreate your style-"

"Its perfect." Y/n spoke up, "Ah! It's beatiful!"

She cheered as she hugged him tightly, "Dagda its perfect! I couldn't ask for anything better! Thank you so much!"

He was so frozen in his spot that she pulled away before he could even hug her back.

"Y/n!" She was called.

"Its perfect." She repeated.

"Im...uh glad you like it-"

"Y/n!"

She pulled away, "I have to go- I'll see you out there-"

"Y/n!"

Y/n was too quick to rush off almost: "don't forget the quiver!"

She rushed back, her feet sliding to a stop to grab it from the box before thanking him again and giving him a rough kiss on the cheek in gratitude, and quickly rushing off.

He watched her running form, she running down the hall to Ronin.

"She kissed you-" Ayana spoke.

"Y... yeah..." he spoke, watching her slide to a stop at Ronin.

"I was what? Oh, right." Ayana told looking at her brother.

"Screw off." Mandrake grumbled.

Y/n was raced off quickly to meet with Queen Tara and Ronin. Something about game introductions or something, maybe it was about behavior. Yet Y/n was to invest in the feelings beneath her fingertips, her hands behind her back hiding the quiver and bow as she "listened" to Tara.

"I know I taught you different," Tara explained. She had been apologzing.

Tara contuined to talk, yet was receving no form of acknowledgement, "Y/n?"

"Mhm." Y/n nodded softly, her fingers running over the engraving of the crows eye, "I get it."

"You can tell me anything. Both of us, you know that." Tara told.

"Full honesty?" Y/n asked.

Tara nodded, "Please."

Y/n looked at Ronin and at Tara, "Wraithwood should be shooting in the games."

"That was a concil decision." Tara spoke, "I can not change that."

Y/n nodded, "Okay."

"Is...there anything else?" Tara asked.

Y/n shook her head no, "Come then. Let us be royals... again." Tara tried to joke but Y/n only nodded.

The spring games were always a festive time of friendly competition. Each kingdom out on there own leaf float carried by dragon flies showing there pride in there kingdoms flag.

Y/n sat besides a standing Ronin, on her other side Finn. The royals on each side of the Moonhaven royalty. Dagda had been watching her: bow and quiver he made her disappeared from her grasp, perhaps the queen had taken it from her.

"Exciting right!" Tara cheered.

"Mhm." Y/n hummed, causing Tara to frown.

It grew quiet between the two as each kingdom was introduced there people cheering, flags high.

Wraithwood's flag is nowhere to be seen, not in the parade, at least, she had remembered the raged ends that had seen combat marching it was towards the castle the other day.

"Sanchez is our hero this year." Ronin whispered to her, "I bet two dried honey combs we win."

Y/n looked at the woman that stood head of the Moonhaven float. She held her head proud with the post in hand: moonhavens flag flying. Her people cheered for her.

"I'll take that up." Y/n answered.

They were let into the water below, dragon flys let go and floats disbursed throughout the water.

Tara was soon to get up: ready to announce the beginning of the spring games in excitement the kingdoms together for fun and sportsmen ship. Ronin at her side just a step back.

"I'll be back." Y/n told Finn, she getting up and quickly leaving.

"What?-" Finn asked yet she had already left, he cursing under his breath, she'd have his head, "shit-"

And he rushed after her.

With the loud cheering the finishing of Tara's speech and her to return to her seat, she spotted Y/n's empty seat. She looking at Ronin, Finn was gone as well.

"Where did they go?" Tara asked.

Yet Ronin had no answer, yet an excuse, "water?"

Tara gave him a "really?" Look as he was quick to rush off to find the missing two.

The first game: archery: Moonhaven's opening game as it always had been. Moohaven given the luxury of the first shot.

Sanchez had always been a good shot, third in command. A married woman to a bakery woman somewhere in town, with two of her own kids.

Four targets, four shots.

One dead center, with two in the most inner ring and the last at the furthest outer ring.

Cheering clearly from Moon Haveners and clapping from the Royals.

"Not bad." Queen Misti commented.

"Sanchez is one of our top female archers." Tara informed.

"Mhm." Queen Misti hummed in acknowledgement, she watching the games intensely.

"And who is shooting for you Wraithwood?" King Rowan commented.

"Ignorance is not flattering." Ayana commented.

Yet before anyone from Noxis could argue back; they were up to shoot.

There second in command, a man with vitiligo, and with his family in the crowd: his newly pregnant wife and two twin daughters watching from the crowds.

"Its daddy!"

"I see. We gave him our luck today right we didnt forget?"

"Yes Mama!"

Two in the most inner ring, with the other two on the most outer rings.

Not truly know what was good besides hitting the target his daughters happily cheered from the side lines.

"Do all your women have this type of tounage?" King Rowan questioned.

"She will do as she pleases," Mandrake argued.

"Ah! My Son is up!" Queen Euthalia cheered standing up to clap for her child as he took position.

For everyones luck it killed the argument, and settled it for the moment.

Three centered and one in the inner ring, that would be a hard shot to beat.

"That's my boy!" She cheered, her husband trying to get her to sit back down with a light chuckle in his voice.

"He did so good!"

"Of course, he did dear, he's been practicing for a while now,"

She sat back down with a smile towards her husband.

Y/n watched from the crowd, she blending in easy with the people, after all her dress had been discarded, left in the stables uphill with the rat cloak over her shoulders and its opened mouth up top her head, the bow across her body and her quiver on her belt.

The commander of the People of the Glaze stood up to take her shots.

That's when Y/n started to move, people distracted by the flying arrows.

Unlike the other kingdoms, Wraithwoods tattered flag was back on land, all by its lonesome. Closing in on the lonesome flag crows perched on the treetops, hidden in their silence.

Nod had spotted her- finally, he couldn't do this, quickly he made his way through the people following her, he was able to catch her right before she even reached her hand out to grab the flag pole.

"Don't." Nod pleaded with her.

She turned her head, "Don't do it." He pleaded.

"Nod, I have to it's only fair,"

"Please just-" out the corner of his eye he spotted people walking his way; his people, "It's wrong- it isn't right-"

"Nod I-"

"Please!" he begged both his hands coming out to grab her hand, "You're a good person, I didn't believe it at first- but you changed my view, you do things out of love, genuine love! If you love Prince Dagda, you won't do it-"

He looked around, if he didn't leave now, he'd be killed, "Forgive me, please, I didn't want this, She-"

A round of applause cut him off, his mouth moving but she not hearing the words, and like that he looked around once more in worry and ran off as quick as he could. Leaving her to call his name and try and grab him back but he was too fast.

She looked back the flag post before grabbing the wooden pole and making her march.

"People of the United Kingdoms!" Tara announced to people, "I am proud to announce The Kingdom of the-"

Tara paused as she watched the Wraithwood's flag be walked; the singular entitiy by it's lonesome.

"A joke?" Prince Aalto commented with a chuckle, "I must say Queen Tara you have got me,"

Yet the calls of crows caught the ears of everyone, this was no joke.

"What is this? " King Constanine questioned, "Queen Tara-"

The person stopped, and Ronin ran out the stables doors, he high enough up on the hill to see what was happening below, that, and he had found Y/n's dressed discarded on the floor of an empty pen.

Y/n pulled down her hood, and the kingdom was full of gasp and murmurs of confusion.

She looking up at Tara's wide-eyed expression and tense shoulders.

What was Y/n doing?

"What is the world! Queen Tara what game is this!" King Rowan argued.

"People of the United Kingdoms!" Y/n announced to the crowd, "Moonhaven! The People of the Glaze! Kingdom Noxis! Northern Woods, Wraithwood! I am Princess Y/n of Moonhaven! And I will be shooting in Wraithwood's name!"

"Queen Tara!? This is insanity!"

"It's preposterous!"

"Your princess is filled with insanity!"

"Queen Tara you must do something about this!"

Standing in her shock she could only stare down at Y/n, what in the hell, what was her problem!? The look of shock started to drip with anger-

"You are not Wraithwood!" Mandrake stole the attention, "You cannot shoot for Wraithwood, every boggin knows the pride of there kill, this, is not there's if Moonhaven shoots."

A uproar from the boggins came; there pride clear, and loud.

"Then..." Y/n started with a soft voice, she taking in a deep breathe, before directing her sights on the boggins, she could spot Ronin on the move behind the crowds, "People of Wraithwood, I ask your permission!"

Looking back towards Mandrake and his sister, "King of Wraithwood! Witch of Wraithwood! I ask your permission!"

The grip on the flagpole tightened, as she looked over at Dagda, he had been watching her intently; and her foot slid back, and her body came down onto one knee, "Prince of Wraithwood, Prince Dagda I ask for your permission, and for you to give me the honor of not only allowing me to shoot for your kingdom..."

People stand on the edge of their seats; people holding there breathe, the wind standing still.

"...but to be part of it, by your hand in marriage!"

Another round of gasp and murmurs from the crowds.

"What!?"

"Queen tara!"

"Do something about this!"

"Please, Dagda!" Y/n announced, "I'd do anything for you, and I'd do anything for the people you love and the world you love!"

"Bold." Mandrake commented to his son, who was still stuck in shock, "I like her."

"Father!" Dagda scolded.

"You may. Attempt!" Mandrake told, "I am not so easily impressed as my son!"

"What?!" Tara snapped, looking back at Mandrake, "I understand the delusions of a child, but agreement to this!"

"You have raised her." Ayana defended her brother, "You should be proud of such a display,"

"This is insanity!" King Constantine argued, "Queen Tara please- You know this is wrong-"

Yet cheering stole the royals attention as Y/n took her first shot.

Dead center.

Forbidden love announced to the world took some guts, a good show of archery was an added bonus.

She walked up to Moonhaven's spot, Sanchez taking a step back with an approving nod.

"Not bad at all Princess."

"What was I supposed to do? Wait around for him to do it?" Y/n answered, causing Sanchez to chuckle, and Y/n quick to take stance once again.

Ronin went to shout for her; his plan to order to her to a hault. Yet a civilian came up beside him, another leafman on the other side and he was hit on the temple with the end of a sword, the two quickly dragging him off to hide.

Another shot to the center.

The Kingdom of Noix's commander was glad to step out for her, it angered king Rowan even more.

"Good luck, marriage, it's a... curse, but mostly a blessing," He told her in a playful tone, "I wish you the best Princess, may the light guide your arrow,"

Y/n bowed her head in response, he only doing the same as she took position, bow up, and arrow knocked, she pulled back and released.

Centered once again.

Cheers from the crowd, as she moved onto the final target, her fourth an final shot.

Yet Atticus wouldn't move, and he wore an expression of anger on his face, thing is he had seemed mad since Y/n went missing from the royal box, plans ruined.

"Watch what you do next Princess," Atticus snapped.

"Watch what you say to my people," Y/n spoke calmly, receiving a snarled expression in response from the Prince in front of her, "Sorry? Have I been unladylike my Prince? Perhaps you'd wish for me to drop on my knees in forgiveness?"

She shoved him out the way with a strong solider; he grabbing her arm, "Never send someone else to do your fucking work-"

Y/n froze in her spot, a foreign feeling in her stomach as she was shoved back by him.

"People of the Untied Kingdoms!" Prince Atticus announced, "This is who you look up too!? What pitty!"

She fell to her knees, holding her stomach as the blood pooled in her hands.

"Princess Y/n!"

Yet anyone that tried to make a move was held at sword and arrow point.

"A shame!" Prince Atticus spoke, "This is you're Princess Moonhaven!?

She was grabbed by her hair and turned towards the crowds.

"y/n!" Tara shouted for her, yet she was grabbed by her hair, and pulled back into the chair, a sword coming up to her neck.

Finn hand a grip on her hair, and tigght.

"Queen Tara!"

Yet a mix of the kingdom's soldiers dropped down, they forcing everyone back into their seats.

Atticus laughed, "Ah! Who am I kidding! I suppose I'm just a bit angry from not being invited! After all! My kingdom wasn't invited to the celebration- Last time I even brought a gift! You remember that! Don't you my son! King Mandrake of Wraithwood! What was her name? What was it...oh...that little whore from Moonhaven-"

"She's dead." Ayana commented, "There's no way-"

"Winslet!" Atticus commented with a smile, "Little old Winslet-"

It was sudden the arrow once on the ground; she had dropped it once Atticus had shoved her, was in Y/n's hand, and suddenly drug across Atticus face causing him to drop her hair and her to fall on her side.

What was once the face of a Prince was stripped away, Atticus replaced with a woman; a web of fungi across her eyes and down to her mouth that stretch as she groveled in pain for a moment. She ripped the arrow from her cheek; Fungi quick to weave its way over the injury, and Y/n was quickly swung at she swiped across the face with a slap so hard it sent her back to the floor.

"Now...Where was I?" She contuined, "ah. Right. To show no malintent towards your people. I brought...gifts."

Dragged from mainland to the front and center lily pads Nod, the real Nod, battered and brusied was tossed down.

"Nod?"

He groaned as he looked over at her.

"And...apologizes for my people. They can't help a gem when they find it,"

Finn was tossed down next, he looking worse than Nod, he filled with cuts and brusises, with a dried bloody nose.

"Finn..."

He looked over at her, but the expression he wore told her even glancing at her hurt.

"N/n..." he smiled weakly at her, just to be kicked in the stomach.

"No! Don't hurt him!" Y/n argued.

There was silence from the woman, "Hm...alright."

Y/n looked up at her in a confused matter, so easily deterred?

"Bring me...." she thought looking around, "ah...yes. that one."

Y/n looked up at Ayana, who was quickly grabbed from the royal box by the enemy gaurd, a growth of fungi and mold growing a path down towards the edge of the lily pads.

"Let her go!" Mandrake ordered.

"Get off me!" Ayana demanded but was grabbed by the back of her neck and dragged down the slanted path.

As she was dragged along the lily pads Y/n tried to get up, a soilder dropping her back into place with the kick of the back of her knees and the pulling of both her wrist together and above her head.

Ayana was forced to kneel infront of Y/n, and at her mother's whim.

"Give it here boy."

A sword was passed between the two, "No...No. No! Please, please don't - "

It was a quick movement, hair pulled back and Ayana was sliced across her throat.

Tears ran down Y/n's face, and as simple as that Ayana's lifeless body as kicked to the waters.

The screaming in the background was devastating to anyone that could hear it: Mandrake had just lost his sister to their own mother.

Y/n was picked up by her hair by the mother again, taken from the gaurd once holding her.

"I thought you had more bite. Shame."

The world froze, the distant call for pleads to stop and of her name faint to the ear, her throat had been slit, and she had been dropped to the lily pad below her feet.

If it wasn't blood curleding enough from Mandrake, Tara joined in: screaming for Y/n to come back: this was just a bad dream. Others were dazed, the scream from Tara the ringing in there ears as

"Take the royals inside. I want a tour of my new kingdom. Lock people in homes, Set them on fire if you wish, I don't care." The Mother ordered.

"Yes My Queen." A gaurd responded, he quick to give orders.

"Y/n..." Dagda could barely speak, shocked, what was once a marriage proposal was now a funeral, he dragged with the other royals back inside.

"You're a fucking Monster!" Nod shouted, "A monster!"

The Mother kicked Y/n into the water to let her sink, she walking up to a cursing Nod, a solider picking him up to his knees.

"You're a fucking monster!" Nod shouted.

"Drag him away," She ordered watching the boy be dragged away.

"Nothing to say? Hm? Or have I robbed you of your balls too-"

He spat at her, a mixture of blood and saliva hit her cheek - her reaction: the third victim to the throat slice and bottom of the pond.

"No backbone in these people." She sighed, "Guard."

"Yes, my queen."

"Grab the bodies from the pond. Drain them," she ordered, "I hate good wine to go to waste."

"Yes, My queen."

The mother walked off; off towards the Moonhaven castle as the crying of children being torn away from their parents, families being separated and forced in different directions.

Like music to her ears.

Flint walked around, avoiding groups of people and gaurds alike, he making his way towards the water: the facade of Nod gone, and replaced with a veil of mold and fungi over his eyes and some past his nose, his dim purple eyes scoured around carefully, before getting behind a rock and diving into the water.

Dagda was forced down the hallway, and he separated from his father, grouped with the other royal children.

Imbreg had started to cry, her arms around Dagda and face hidden in Dagda's side, most of the younger children had clung to him in fear.

"Its okay. It'll be okay." He told the kids, he carrying Imbreg and holding her close, "I've got you shh..."

They were forced and locked in Y/n's room. Well...what was Y/n's room.

"Dagda what do we do?" Imbreg asked looking up at him.

"Hey. We're gonna be alright." Dagda told her, he looking down at rhe younger children, "Right? We're gonna be okay? We're together. That...That's what makes us strong!"

"We're waiting to be drained of our Blood." Aalto answered he taking a seat against the wall, "Its what their people do. What your people do."

Dagda glared at him, "This isnt my fault-"

"Your right its mine I should have struck you down when I first saw you." Aalto argued, "Your head would have made a good stepping stool. We wouldn't have been in this mess if Wraithwood just died."

"Would you shut up!" Jaal argued.

"Me?" Aalto snapped standing up in his anger.

"Yes You! This whole time you just dont shut the fuck up!"

"Oh? And you did a real good job at that when Y/n shut you down did you!?"

"I was only rude to her to not have to marry her!" Jaal argued, "You know that!"

"What so you can go with that deaf whore!-"

Jaal was quick to move, and slap Aalto across the face.

"Call Maralin that again and I'll rip your head from your neck!" Jaal snarled, grabbing Aalto by his face roughly, "At least I ain't an artificial cuck! At least be real before you start runnin' your mouth."

Aalto could only glare at Jaal, who only held his eye contact, his gaze intense and deep, yet finally Jaal tossed Aalto's head to the side, releasing his grip.

"Fuck you." Aalto grumbled, rubbing his jaw.

Jaal turned towards Dagda, "I'll follow you."

Dagda nodded, "thank you."

What was he supposed to do? Children in hand and one other capable solider at hand? It would be wise to split up.

What would Y/n do?

"Aalto will take the children, sneak out-"

"I'm not listening to you," Aalto spoke.

"Then you'll be fresh wine." Jaal informed, "I'll sneak the kids out,"

"Get them into Wraithwood, hide them with the moles," Dagda ordered.

"I'll come back to help,"

"No- Get the people out, I can handle...whatever that lady is," Dagda told; "Y/n would put her people before her, she did the same for my people, it's right to return the favor-"

Dagda looked around, spotting the window, "Take the window,"

"How do we get them all down? It's too far to catch them,"

"Just...Let me think."

Flint pulled Y/n's limp body from the water's, her neck sliced, if she hadn't died from the blood loss she died from the drowing.

He dragged her from the water, and quickly up to dry land, he hovering over her deceased body, "no...no no..."

He was quick to pull a knife from his side, he lifting the knife to his face, pulling on the veil of fungi he took in a deep breathe, biting his lower lip before making a quick slice, he wincing as the fresh air hit the wound, little droplets of blood dripping onto Y/n's face and neck as he worked. He was quick to cut a thin vein from the fungus and slip it into the cut in Y/n's neck.

With a fresh source, the fungus took over quickly; the veins of her neck turned dark, and the thinnest vein was weaving her skin closed. With the wound closed it traveled up her neck, and all the way up to her cheek bone, it would spread more with time-

Y/n started to choke, Flint sighing in relief as she rolled over, coughing up water trapped in her lungs.

"Hey- Hey-"

she turned her head before pushing back at him, and his helping hand; "Look, we don't have much time-"

"Someone's over here!"

"Get em!"

"Come on!" Flint argued grabbing her arm and helping her to her feet before running off with her, back into the water, where they quickly hid low enough behind a large rock.

"This way!"

The soldiers continued there run after intruders as she peaked out; not Moon haven soldier's from the color pallet alone she could tell that.

Then it hit her, she turned back towards the young man, he gesturing for her to be quiet and follow him, she did. From the water and quickly up the path to the hummingbird stables.

Up in the stables where they were given a moment to breathe; she did so deeply; feeling a lump stuck in her neck she held it, and quickly rushed to a full trough of water, shocked by her complexation, shocked at what had grown across her neck. Just to look over at the young man who was breathing heavy still.

"You did this?" She asked him.

He just nodded quickly; "I did enough bad by you; and you did nothing but treated me with kindness...it'll spread; like all fungus does..."

"What is it?"

"Cordyceps...mostly." He responded, "Within the hour you'll be in moderate control to the Queen...she has to die before that."

"Why me" Y/n spoke.

"I may be her offspring; but I can't fight, not her." he started, "She has the kings and queens of the seasons in the throne room, kids locked up in your room...but you asked why..."

He was quiet, his lips once in a straight line frowned: "I set you up...I pulled you through this...I...it gets a hold on people. She gets a hold on people. It's not just the rot and fungus she infects you with... that...I...infected you with...its...bigger than just what she's made of..."

Y/n was silent, "Where's Ronin?"

"Dungeon, along with Nod" He answered, "And the other leafmen."

"Finn?"

He was quiet, "...I... he...and... Witch Ayana...are dead, by her hand...I'm sorry."

Y/n closed her eyes to gather her thoughts and forgive those who she had failed.

"Any civilians?'

"Dungeons and locked in homes; she's plan on burning them down givin' enough time. Injuries, but not casualties, not yet. She'll let them seep in fear."

Y/n was silent in thought.

"you're bow," He spoke, pulling them from there hiding spot; bows and arrows, her quiver still tied to her despite her previous state.

She grabbed the bow from him, and filled the quiver.

"And a sword." he spoke, handing her the weapon: Ronin's sword.

She took it, "thanks." And slipped it into her belt.

"I'll support you in any way I can." He told her.

Y/n looked at him; "Can you get Finn and Witch Ayana like me?"

Flint shook his head, "They were taken by the Queen...for wine..."

"If I stopped her,"

He nodded, "they'd have to have their head and attached to the spinal cord, it's the root of how the fungus will spread."

"Alright, listen to me, the kids are safe in my room, I'll storm the throne room-"

"You can't go head on she has guards-"

"Then from the back windows," Y/n adjusted her plan, "Get everyone from the dungeon, then get them to get civilians out,"

"Her forces haven't reached Wraithwood."

"Perfect. Get them there." Y/n ordered, "I'm trusting you..."

"Flint." He introduced himself.

"I'm trusting you Flint, do not fail me."

"Yes Ma'am."

He was quick to split ways with her, and she was quick to make her way out of the stables.

"I have to say Queen Tara," The Mother spoke, "I quiet like your changes to the place, last time I was here- the last queen, she was.... something else. And that is not a compliment."

Tara struggled against her confines, arms wrapped up and bound to the person next to her; rott and fungus slowly creeping up her arms.

"Ronin will kill you," Tara threatened.

"Ronin?" The Mother laughed, "The Lioheart!? Hah!"

She took a seat in Tara's throne, "To be honest queen Tara I was expecting you to be the challenge, or atleast my dear old son."

Mandrake growled at her, "That's what happens when you mate with a bitch I presume." She argued.

"My now dead husband was always a push over, I mean. I killed him as soon as I knew Mandrake was on the way, not my cleanest job. But that-"

She gestured towards the rot and fungus climbing up Tara's arm.

"That's something I'm proud of Cordyceps, took quiet a while to perfect, not only will you all be mine within the hour It's stopping- well, you. The challenge. "

"Then I'll kill you-" Mandrake threatened, which only caused her to laugh.

"You!? The cross breeding bitch?" She started laughing, getting up to make her way towards him, before kneeling; "But how can I blame you? At least your little whore has a spine- well, had, before I killed her and ripped it out,"

"I rip your spine out myself!-"

She slapped him across the face before she grabbed him by his ear, "Is that any way to talk to your mother, boy? I should drain you of what blood you have, but I don't drink cheap."

She tossed his face to the side roughly as he glared at her. Tara struggling against the restraints thats connected them.

"My queen."

She turned her head: four gaurds, two to a body dragging in the deceased Finn and Ayana.

"What perfect timing. I was just getting thirsty."

Flint walked passed gaurds and soilders, eyes gazed down, his goal the basement and then below that the dungeon. The trek down the long flight of spiral stairs was unbothered and was silent.

He opened the heavy door to the dungeon allowing the shouting and laughing to be heard.

"Let me go!"

"Aw! A pretty little thing like you? Why should I?"

Flint walked down the short hall, filled cells on each side, gaurds mostly and in the center of the room was his brother Grunt and some of his friends messing with a younger soilder, he most likely barely made rank.

"Whattya say boys? Im a single man-" Grunt laughed.

"Let him go."

"Oh here comes killjoy..." Grunt's friend grumbled.

The soilder turned around: the facade of Finn dropped and replaced with a half veiled face of web - just like the others built of rot and cordicypus. His skin slightly more rotted and infected than Flint's, after all he was the warrior of the two.

"I've got this. Don't worry." Grunt laughed to his friends pushing the young leafman into there arms where they held his arms, "Throw em back-"

"Let him go." Flint repeated.

"Got a spine finally Flint?" Grunt laughed, Flint gulping in response, as his brother started to approach, "I. I said let him go!"

"I. I. I-" Grunt mocked, the leafman being thrown back into one of the full cells, "What? You'll do what!? Tell Me Flint, what's a punny peice of shit like you gonna do?"

"I." Flint tried to muster, taking a step back, "I..."

Flint looked around for an answer, finding the dagger on his brothers belt, "I'll stab you!"

Grunt paused, then broke out laughing; "You. You'll stab me?! With what?! Hm? You're nails? Or those pens and scrolls you use all day?!"

Flint was quiet as Grunt could only continue to laugh at him; he turning back towards his friends, "Can you believe this? He thinks he's gonna do something-"

With quick movement Flint grabbed the dagger from his brother's belt, and Grunt grabbed his wrist quickly, "Wow, spines finally coming in?"

"Let go!" Flint argued trying to pull himself away from his brother's grasp, but with a failed attempt, he restored to the second best a kick to the gut.

It surprised Grunt, he losing his grip and quickly being jumped upon, "You fucking pyscho!-"

Stab in the neck, Grunt collapsed, Flint pulling the blade out to drive it in again. The other two watched in fear, when had the younger brother become so violent?

Finally, with a deep cut and slice, Grunt's head was removed, the sound of his spine splitting in two caused someone in the the stall to hurl into a corner.

Flint looked up from his mess and wiped what blood was on his face to his bloodied hands, they rushing from the dungeon and out to the stairs and looked along the men and women soilders. The boy he was once impersonating no where to be seen and neither was the man who had tried so hard to keep Moonhaven safe.

"Where's Nod," Flint asked looking around, "Where's Ronin?"

"They took em, both em." A woman replied, "Somethin' about wine."

Flint was quick to open up the cells, "Where!" He ordered.

"To you're queen,"

Y/n scaled the castle wall; the glass that faced and framed the throne Tara once sat in was dark and accompanied by the Mother.

She watched her get up; and following her footsteps she spotted the royals, Tara and Mandrake bound together by the same fungus that was growing rapidly across her neck and face, by now it had traveled down to her elbow.

A group of guards stole the woman's attention, and with them they dragged the corpses of Ayana and Finn.

"Bring me a glass, crack open the girls headfirst," She ordered, returning to her spot in front of Mandrake, who was eye wided, staring at his sister's body which laid eyes facing him, so carelessly discarded by their own mother.

"Don't do this-" Mandrake begged looking at his mother; "Please!"

She only looked down at him; "Please!"

"Bring my son a glass as well," She ordered returning to the throne.

She sat; and the stained glass that framed the throne from behind was broken, Y/n sword in hand, flew through open air, arms and hand cut by flying glass. She landed up top the throne, it knocked over as the woman had moved too quick. stepping back and creating distance between the two. Y/n was quick to step over the fallen chair and the circling began.

"Didn't I kill you?" The woman snapped, she grabbing a sword from one of the guard's sheaths as she passed, they started to pace a circle.

"Don't you know who I am?" Y/n argued back; "You think you could kill me?"

The woman growled at her, tip of the sword dragging along the shiny floor, that mark forever engrained in the stone.

"Then again, who did I think you were?" Y/n spoke, "You had to send someone else to do your bidding, didn't you?"

"When you're as powerful as me, it fun to watch people squabble in fear of getting things done," The woman argued.

"Sounds like your too pussy to even own up to it," Y/n answered.

It was a movement of impulse- full of anger and rage; she'd teach Y/n her truth strength; swords clashed as Y/n blocked the womans oncoming attack. Y/n was quick to push her off to the left, punching the woman clean across the face and off to the side.

The woman coughed and felt her mouth; fresh blood ran down her lips, and feeling the stream it came from her nose.

Y/n turned back on her; ready to attack, yet she was blocked, the woman swinging at her quickly and heavy, she having a hard time keeping up with the harsh attacks as metal clashed against each other hard. It forced Y/n back, back towards the throne, and back towards the small set of steps that lead up to them, she stepped back, slipping on the stone, sending her to the ground, a swords tip pointed towards her.

"What a shame," The woman argued, "I was having fun- maybe I'll let you live, controlling you will be fun,"

Y/n glared at her, the door opening off to the side as heads turned, "Ah! What perfect timing!" In they dragged Nod and Ronin, they battered and bruised, and barely managing to keep their eyes open, and in behind them, a Moon haven Castle Worker, shaking as he brought in classes on a fancy try; behind him a woman, screw tap in hand and a bucket. Y/n looked up at the woman, this woman wasn't actually- was she?

"Oh, please darling, don't give me that face," She spoke, smirking, "How about this, we'll crack open Tara's head! Fresh while she's alive! All in your name!"

#x reader #x female reader #female reader #epic 2013 #fanfic #epic 2013 x reader #epic 2013 fanfic #dagda x female reader #dagda epic 2013

[cinemastyles-backup]

Summary: Anon request - “I have a request for lights camera action. What if Harry and y/n get nominated for an award for one of their scenes and they go to the award show, win and then fuck in the bathroom or something?”

Warnings: SMUT18+, strong language, semi public sex, oral, unprotected sex, general filth

My original CinemaStyles-blog has been terminated, so I created a new one.

LONG HAIR HARRY This was an anonymous idea given to me on tumblr.

"Are you about ready?" Harry says walking into the room. He rounds the corner and freezes.

I slowly look over at him as I put the back of my earring on, "Yeah I'm almost ready." I smile, "I know, this dress is insane."

He nods, "Insanely good." He walks over and lightly drags his fingers over the material, "I love this on you." I turn around to face him and his hands grip my hips, "We don't have time, Mr. Styles." I tilt my head as his lips gently touch my neck.

"We can make it quick, yeah?" He argues as he pushes his growing bulge into my thigh.

"As much as I would love to, Harry. We can't be late to this." I slip out from under him, "I promise I'll make it up to you later." I wink and hold my hand out, "Now come on, we have awards to win."

Harry smirks and grabs my hand, "I'm holding you to it."

——

"I can't believe we've been nominated." I look at Harry, "I never would have thought that I'd be nominated for anything like this. Let alone three awards."

He smiles and takes my hand, "You deserve it, even the directors have said that you deserve it."

"Really?"

He nods, "Oh yeah. You're phenomenal, y/n."

"Mr. Styles, we have arrived." The drive says coming to a stop.

"Just smile and hang onto me. I'll be here the whole time." Harry kisses my temple and gets out, walking around to wait for me. The driver opens the door and I swing my legs out, grabbing Harry's hand as I stand up.

"Y/N!" The photographers yell, "Harry! Harry!"

Harry smiles and waves and looks down at me, "They love you." I smile and my grip tightens on Harry's arm.

He walks with me down the red carpet, stopping for all the photo ops. His arm snakes around my waist and he pulls me closer.

"Harry, what's it's like having a partner that gives so much passion in the videos?" One person with a mic asks.

He looks down at me and back at the lady, "It's amazing, actually. The amount of love and trust that we have between us, on and off the camera I must add, is astonishing. There's nothing like it."

I smile and she looks at me, "How do you feel about being nominated for four awards?"

"Four?" I ask confused, "We've been nominated for three I thought?" She looks down at her card and shakes her head, "Y/N, you've also been nominated for Female performer of the year."

I raise my eyebrows, "I had no idea. Oh my god." I laugh slightly, "Did you know about this?" I look up at Harry and he smiles and shrugs, "Surprise!"

I slap his chest playfully, "Wow. Okay. That's amazing. I genuinely had no idea that I was in that category."

She smiles, "Best of luck to you both! Enjoy your night!"

"You as well." I smile and look up at Harry, "Jesus fuck. I had no idea." He kisses my head, "As said, you deserve it."

We make our way inside and find our table. Harry gets us drinks and we chit chat with other people from all around the states.

The lights go down and the spot light hits the stage. The host walks out and everyone claps. Harry keeps his hand on my knee the whole time.

We go through a few categories, cheering for everyone who wins, then finally, we get to the first category we're nominated for.

"The nominees for Best All Sex Video are.." the host turns towards the screen and a recording of the names plays with a selfie of each of the couples. Harry squeezes my leg when our pictures comes up.

I smile and take a deep breathe, laying my hand on his.

"And the award goes to.." he opens the dark colored envelope, "Harry Styles and Y/N Y/L/N!"

"What?" I exclaim standing up. Harry gives me a hug and kiss and grabs my hand to lead me up onto the stage.

They hand me the award and I smile, "Thank you. Thank you!" We walk over to the microphone and I can feel myself shaking a little.

"Wow." Harry says looks over at me, "We just want to say thank you for allowing us to receive this award and honestly." He laughs, "The fans for watching us do what we do because of it wasn't for them, I don't think we'd be standing here." He motions for me to speak next.

I step up to the mic and take a deep breathe, "A few years ago I never saw myself at an award show, especially for one like this. I am truly grateful that I get to go to work everyday with my best friend and I'm very grateful for every person that has watched us and liked us."

"We love you y/n!" Someone in the crowd yells which causes everyone to erupt with cheers.

"Thank you." Harry leads us back to the table and we sit down. Everyone around is congratulates us and the host announces the next category.

"And the nominees for Best Film."

Again, the names display on the screen with a picture of each couple and there's Harry and I again.

I finish my drink before the hosts starts talking again and I grab Harry's hand. He gives it a squeeze and cheers me on as our names get read off again."

We walk up and I smile as Harry accepts the award, "Wow. Feels like I just sat down." The crowd laughs and Harry leans in, "Again, super super grateful for everyone out there."

"Thank you again." We walk off stage and sit down and I look over at Harry, "Is there tequila in these drinks?" He smirks and nods, "Mhm." I smirk, "You know what that does to me."

He shakes his head, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

I roll my eyes and keep on drinking along side Harry, listening to the host and applauding the winners.

"And now. One of the categories you've all been waiting for... can I get a drum roll please?" The crowd drums their tables and the host leans into the mic, "The nominees for Female Performer of the year are.."

I bite my lip and bounce my leg with anticipation as the screen displays me and the other women in the category.

"You're totally going to win this, babe." Harry whispers into my ear, "And when you do, I'm taking you somewhere and fucking the shit out of you."

I can feel my cheeks turning red, the tequila is setting in. I turn my head towards him, my nose brushing against his, "Please do that even if I don't win." I peck his lips and lean back into my seat.

He nods and smirks at me, "Promise."

I smile and shake my head. I grab my glass and sip my drink until the host starts speaking again, "Now without further ado.. the winner for Female Performer of the Year goes too..."

I lean forward and hold my breathe.

"Y/N Y/L/N."

"Yes! Let's go!" Harry jumps up and cheers for me, "Fuck yes, I knew it!"

I stand up slowly and Harry leans in and kisses me, "I love you." I smile and kiss him again, "I love you." I make my way up to the stage and take my award. I can hear Harry's whistle above all the clapping.

Since I was sitting for so long, the alcohol hit me as soon as I started walking. I smile as I take the award and walk up to the mic, "Fuck." I cover my mouth, "Sorry. Sorry. The tequila is finally setting in."

Everyone laughs and I let out a sigh as I look at the award in my hands, "Harry." I look over at him, "Thank you for asking me to be in that video. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you. You have made me so much more confident in myself and I just- I love you so, so much. Along with every single fan who watched me and enjoyed every second of it. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you." I blow a kiss and walk off the stage.

I walk over to Harry and set my award down next to the other two, "Let's go, mister." He looks at our table and smiles, "Excuse us." I grab his hand and we make our way into the small hallway.

He pins me against the wall, his lips immediately finding mine. I hands slide around his neck and I pull myself closer to him, "I need you." I whimper, "Please."

His hand searches for the door knob and he pushes us both in once the door is open. He shuts it and flips the light on.

My back gets pressed against the door and his hands slide down my legs, "You're so sexy in this dress." He pushes the dress up, exposing my leg. His lips kiss from my ankle up to my knee.

I run a hand down my body and pull my dress up, "Harry." I whine, desperate for his touch. He kisses up my thigh and stops. He leans back and looks up at me, "No panties?"

I shake my head and smirk, "Just for you."

He licks his lips, "Such a dirty girl." He leans in and lifts my leg, throw it over his shoulder. His lips find my clit and I jump at the touch, instantly moaning.

"Shh, baby." He says against my pussy, "Fuck. You're so wet already." His tongue slips between my folds and he grips my hips under my dress, pulling me closer to him.

"Fuck." I gasp arching my back off the door, "Shit." He leans back and shrugs his white floral print jacket off and tosses it away from us, "Don't want to get that dirty." He chuckles before he brings his hand up, sliding two fingers inside of me slowly.

I grip my dress tighter and my lips fall open, "Fuck. Fuck." I moan as he fingers me. His tongue works at my clit as he curls his fingers.

"I can't wait to put my cock in you." He moans leaning back. He continues to fuck me with his fingers as he watches my face twitch with pleasure.

"Does that feel good, baby?" He asks lowly? "Sure seems like it does." I nod my head and moan, "It feels so fucking good, Harry."

"Cum for me then I'll give you my cock, okay?" He starts to move his fingers faster, this lips go back to ducking my clit.

My eyes roll back at the pleasure and I grip his hair, "Fuck. Fuck. Fuck." I moan as my leg keeping me up starts to shake, "Shit." I clench around his fingers and let out a long sigh.

He leans back as he gently sets my leg down and stands up, "That's award winning pussy right there, sweetheart." He wraps an arm around my waist, helping me keep my balance and I slide a hand down to his belt.

I slowly undo it as I kiss him, tasting myself on his lips and tongue.

"I want to taste this award winning cock." I whisper before I go down to my knees. I look up at him as I work to get his cock free from his boxers. I keep my stare on his as I lick a stripe along side it.

I take the tip of it in my mouth and suck as I swirl my tongue, causing him to shut his eyes and throw his head back. He lets out a moan and gasps as I take more of him in, bobbing my head in a steady rhythm.

"Fuck, y/n." He groans, "Shit."

"As.. as much as I love this.. this is about.. fuck.." he moans and pulls his hips back. I sit back and look up at him. He lays a finger under my chin, "This is about you." He nods for me to stand up.

I get up off my knees and he kisses me. I wrap my arms around his neck, the kiss getting more heated the longer we stay connected. He spins be around and bunches up my dress and lays it on my lower back.

He lines up and pushes into me. I let out a moan against the door, "Oh fuck." He grips my hips and slowly pulls out, "Fuck. You feel so good."

He thrusts back in and I move my hips back to meet his. I can feel his hand grip my dress tight, "Fuck." He grunts, "Turn around here." He steps back and spins me around to face him.

I pull my dress up and he lifts me up. I wrap my legs around his waist and arms around his neck. He uses one arm to lean against the door and the other is around my back.

I kiss him and moan into his mouth as he slide back into me.

I tilt my head back and his lips find my neck, "Fuck, baby." He groans against my skin, "You're going to make me cum."

I look down at him and nod. I bite my lip and clench around him, "Harry." I gasp, "Don't stop. Please d-do-" I tighten my legs around him and arch my back against the door, letting out a loud moan.

"Look at me." I look at him and he kisses me. His grip tightens on my waist and I can feel him cum. He lays his head on my shoulder and groans, "Shit."

I let out a sigh as I come down from my high and lay a hand on his cheek, "We better get back, see what we missed." He picks his head up and smiles at me, "Congratulations, love."

"Thank you, baby." I peck his lips and he sets me down, "Let's just hope I don't leave a trail of Harry juice where ever I go."

He looks at me after he buckles his belt and laughs, "What?"

"No panties remember?" I smirk and shrug, "Aw well. Everyone is too drunk to realize." I walk over and pick up his jacket for him, "Don't wanna forget this." I help him put it back on and he smooths my dress out.

"We're making a video when we get home. I'm not done with you yet." He kisses my head and inspects my makeup before we walk back into the ceremony.

——

Likes and reblogs are majorly appreciated and don’t forget to hit follow! ♥

#harry styles fanfiction #harry styles dirty imagine #harry styles one shots #harry styles smut #harry styles #long hair Harry #CinemaStyles-backup #lhh #lhh smut #lhh smut one shot #smut lhh one shots #dirty lhh smut #dirty lhh #lhh x reader #lhh supremacy #lhh!harry #long hair harry smut one shot #long hair harry styles #long hair harry smut #lhh smut one shots #cinemastyles-blog #old account #repost

[heartfullofleeches]

Just went through all the sucrose asks to see my favourites and now I'm fucking scarred for life what the fuck is wrong with us people. ( The choke hold Orion, Host and The executioner have on me cannot be described by words btw)

(Sucrose is one of my favorite creations, but the worse when it comes to everything else. Once again, happy birthday and I hope you enjoy this little piece with everyone's least favorite host)

You prepare for the day's showing as usual. Host stops by your dressing room to wish you a good day with a smooch to your forehead before he's off to finish getting ready him. There's no indication that today's show will be any different than usual. Your attire was a bit flasher than normal, but not much else besides that.

A sparkly fabric cut in your preferred style of fit and color, matched with a necklace that harbors your birthstone. It fit your form perfectly, and one of the stagehands helping you get ready gives you a thumbs as you walk from behind the dressing booth.

Once finished with the preparation, you head over to the curtains that lead to the center stage. You can see light poking from them, but as you step outside the floor is dark. Every seat is empty as well. You look around confused.

"Host? Where are you.. and everyone else?"

"Right in front of you, starshine."

Suddenly, the lights flicker back on, followed by the faint pop of confetti cannons and a shower of balloons around you. The crowd roars in cheer; dozens of silhouettes now fitted with birthday hats and party horns between their lips. Two stage hands rush from behind the curtains and place a birthday sash around you along with a crown on your head.

Your face is mirrored on various screens around the stage. In front of you, there's a large cake almost for times your size. The top three layers splatter onto the floor as Host bursts from a compartment in its center. He wears a polka dot suit the same color as the party hat he wears; welding a smaller, but equally if not more appealing birthday cake. He strolls up to you as the candles atop it burst with small flames.

"Happy Birthday, sweetheart! I'm almost 98% sure that it is today because I honestly don't know shit about how your concept of time works, but I've been trying my best to keep track. We're all so happy to have you here. The show, and I, wouldn't be work a damn without you. And that's a fact. I know cake is normally saved for last, but we like to live to the fullest here so blow out this candles and let's get this show on the road."

You blow them out, everyone cheering as you do. Host leans in, covering his hand with his mouth as he whispers. "Word of advice. Don't eat any of the larger one. I tried to make it myself, and well, let's just say there were a few casualties in the tasting portion."

He stands up straight, pointing to the crowd. "You can thank Leonard over these for the decorations.. and making the edible one."

The shadow in question waves at you, wearing an apron around its neck. Host wraps an arm over you, squeezing you gently in a hug.

"It really has been such a treat to be with you. We hope this little celebration is enough to show you just how much you mean to us, and that you'll stick around for whatever else is to come. Things wouldn't be the same without you."

Host pats your shoulder as he let's you go. "Let's continue with the festivities, shall we? I did some research and put together some things I thought you might enjoy. I hope you like your outfit too. I heard of a little thing called a birthday suit, but wasn't able to find out much about it. Maybe you can tell me what it is.. for future reference."

#Host my oc #yandere #yandere oc #yandere x reader #yandere imagines #yandere x you #yandere insert #yandere headcanons #male yandere #yandere scenarios #soft yandere #yandere fluff #yandere drabble #yandere fic #yandere writing #yandere god

[gamesception]

Sception Reads Cass Cain #12

Batgirl #1 story: Scott Peterson & Kelley Puckett script: Kelley Puckett, pencils: Damion Scott

We've finally made it to issue #1 of Cass's solo Batgirl title, under her initial creative team - who I still associate her with to this day - of Peterson, Puckett, and Scott. While I do think it was worth taking the time to look at her earlier appearances, this is where I started following the character. But while it hooked me back in the day, unlike other formative works of fiction that I've returned to repeatedly over the years, I haven't sat down and read Batgirl #1 as a stand alone comic book issue in a long time. I'm eager to see how it holds up.

The issue starts with a Flashback to when Cass was young and still being raised by David Cain. The first panels have her putting a fairly simple puzzle together - a kid activity, to entertain a kid, when she hears David speak to his guests in front of her using words - a rare enough surprise that she drops her puzzle piece. Either that, or she's excited for the test to start, since she's stretching & getting ready right after.

David's getting a high speed camera ready for the event, which the dialog calls out as being fancy and high end even though it looks old fashioned to us, which helps us place this as a flashback even if we aren't previously familiar with young Cass and David from her introduction in NML.

First of all, that worms eye panel with the forshortening looking up at the knife, the girl, the guy in the chair? That is a fantastic fucking panel.

Mostly though I want to stop and point out that Scott puts a fair bit of individuality into all of these guys. Like, they're clearly built on cliches, but still, this bunch of violence-for-hire street toughs who in most bat books would be the forgettable hench goons of some colorful supervillain here get to feel like people in their own right. Especially the middle guy who's like 'nah, dude, I hurt people for money, but that is a child." Of course, even if we're not previously familiar with Cass as a character, we can see where this is going, and these guys hurting the kid was never an option on the table.

Jesus Christ How Horrifying.

The way everything goes red when the violence and the blood starts is really something, especially with the stark contrast between that red and little Cass's black hair and body suit. Very dynamic. And David there with the smug little jab at the end.

It's not exactly clear what Cass is thinking through this. She's casually committing some pretty extreme violence as a... not even as a test, the outcome was never in question for her or David. This is a demonstration, an exposition for the camera. Like a kid's music recital or something. Her facial expression is mostly fairly flat and serious, but this one panel:

She knows what's about to happen, and she's smiling. Determined, eager, she knows they're underestimating her, and she's looking forward to showing them just how badly. She likes this. The violence in and of itself? Hurting people - even hurting them badly? That doesn't bother little Cass, that won't be why she leaves David.

...

The scene shifts from child Cassandra beating up a group of grown men to teenage Cassandra practicing fighting sticks with Barbara, and getting disarmed when she gets distracted by a picture of Babs as Batgirl from before she was paralyzed. Which is a nice little demonstration of the limits of Cass's martial abilities - she's extremely good, but she's not invincible. She can be beaten by a normal human opponent if they're skilled and she's distracted. We also see Cass surprised by the loss. Scott's art can be a bit rubbery and cartoony, the proportions can be a bit weird at times, but his faces are super expressive, and that's obviously so much more important when portraying a character who doesn't speak.

Cassandra is still a new enough character that a single page can give all the essential narration to cover her basic backstory to this point. Also, blowing the dandelion seeds and saying 'me' is such a great little bit of pantomime for conveying the idea of spending years drifting aimlessly. Cass may not be able to speak more than a few words, but she can still communicate.

Even so, with a largely non-verbal protagonist, someone needs to deliver necessary exposition to the reader, and Babs as Oracle serves the role of conveying necessary information to both the reader and to Cass, while also taking on a sort of surrogate mother/big sister role.

The green blocks on these couple pages, justified in universe as Barbara's recorded notes, are the only narration blocks in the entire book, though. There are word bubbles when characters talk, but nothing that directly spells out what they're thinking, or what's happening. That work is left entirely to the artist. It's a task that not many comic artists would be up to, but Scott delivers here.

The result is a book that puts you in Cass's head, understanding and relating to the other characters the way she does.

Cassandra may be the new Batgirl, but she takes more after Bruce than Barbara.

As much as I complain about the design of Cass's Batgirl outfit being a mistake for how difficult it makes depicting her expression and emotions, it really is very cool and sleek and striking and spooky, and I'd be lying if I said it wasn't part of what motivated me to pick up her book in the first place. And yeah, despite Cass being younger and smaller, you have no trouble buying her being every bit as intimidating as Bruce in costume.

Before we get to Bruce, though, there's another flashback. I don't know why this one's all 'flashback sepia toned' when the first one wasn't, but regardless it seems Mr. Merc from the first flashback is a bit down on his luck since his earlier encounter with Cassandra. He's got some new scars on his face, and the elbow she broke is still bandaged, and instead of taking fighting jobs for cash from mysterious strangers here he is getting in fights with homeless guys over half-drunk bottles of booze.

When he sees Cass, now homeless and drifting herself, he recognizes her. You see a moment of fear bolt through his face, and he smashes the stolen bottle to use it as a weapon to defend himself.

Cass just runs away, leaving the guy to realize he's smashed the bottle of booze that he had just been fighting over.

It's a pretty simple moment, watching this guy hit rock bottom. You can feel something for him. Not sympathy necessarily, but he feels like a person. It's a lot of time put into characterizing some random guy who happened to wander into Cass's life by chance.

...

After the second flashback, there's a scene where Cass stops a man from assaulting a woman in an alley - but she's holding back. She uses the bare minimum force needed to get they guy off of his victim. He's not exactly sorry. He's not afraid of Cassandra. Despite the spooky suit, she hasn't given him a reason to be. And he's still threatening the woman, even while Cass has him pinned...

Until Batman shows up, exercising a considerably more extreme degree of violence. Something much closer to Cassandra's training with David Cain. Brutal enough that Cass is momentarily taken aback - He's supposed to be good, is it ok for him to be doing that?

The next day, Cass is still thinking about it when Babs notices and tries to get her out of the house to cheer her up.

They head out to the park and Barbara tries to talk to Cass about what she's going through, but Cass just doesn't have the words and runs off in frustration.

It won't always be written well, admittedly, but this is an important point of tension between Babs and Cass. They're sort of mirrored opposites. Babs is trapped in a chair by her injury. Her interactions with the world and especially her career in super heroics are limited largely to words - information gathering, communications. On the other hand Cass, even after she learns to speak, is the opposite - excelling in the physical world, but largely disconnected from the world of words, especially the written word.

They complement each others abilities, making them an especially effective team. But they also can't help but see each other as a representation of the skills they lack, and evidence that the skills they have might not really be that important. The wedge this puts between them gets in the way of Barbara's attempts to look out for Cass and help her build a life that isn't entirely devoted to violence.

Ie, Bruce's life. And here he is, an ominous shadow, like the Ghost of Christmas Future, pointing a bony finger at fate that Cassandra is aimed towards. A never ending crusade, compassion and hope ground down to the bone, emotionally stunted by trauma and violence, only feeling alive when risking his own life, only feeling joy when hurting people he's deemed it morally acceptable to hurt, isolated, unable to relate even his own surrogate family.

There have been many takes on Batman over the years, and in general I prefer ones considerably less brutal and broken than this one. But this was already the Batman of the time, even before Cass showed up, and even in books without her. Cassandra is built by her creators to be this Batman's daughter - to reflect, comment on, and maybe criticize his choices and life style.

Like a lot of the characterization in the book, it's something that comes across most clearly in the art. Other characters get Scott's signature expressive faces, but here Bruce is an inhuman shadow.

From issue one, Batgirl's writers are intent on driving home how similar Cassandra is to Bruce, and how that's not necessarily a good thing. And the person most convinced of this similarity is Bruce himself. He looks at Cassandra, and he sees his reflection.

God, the way Scott draw's Barbara's face when she's hearing what exactly David did to Cassandra.

Bruce has worked out Cassandra's body reading gimmick, which was alluded to but not fully spelled out before this. And it's described as 'understanding physical movement as a language,' but it's essentially just empathy? Not psychic powers, but just normal style recognizing facial expression and body language and processing that to understand how people are feeling and what they're doing, only taken to a comic book extreme.

In a fight, at least against regular human opponents, it effectively amounts to knowing what her opponents are going to do and how they're going to move moments before they do so - rendering Cass nigh unbeatable. And that's nice, that's a costumed superhero gimmick right there, but understanding the ability as empathy dovetails nicely with the book's focus on the humanity of the people Cass comes across, and on her own emotional struggles.

It also tells us what the stakes won't be in Cass's stories. The question is never "will Cass be able to defeat the bad guy in a fight." Since that's taken off the table from the start, her book is forced to focus on more difficult and personal questions.

That night Bruce takes Cassandra out to an abandoned building for training, but not like the usual. He wants them to fight. For real. For her to show him what she can "really do," when she isn't holding back, like in the alley before. Cass may be nigh unbeatable in a fight against a 'normal human', but Bruce isn't exactly normal. She can hurt him. He can take it.

Here we have my only real complaint about this issue, because it skips over that fight, and it does so in a way that it's hard to tell that it even happened. Like, it doesn't cut to another scene and then come back to imply the passage of time, or even throw up a little "one hour later" spongebob meme, we just go straight from the above panel to this one, with only the busted up windows and Cass looking tired to imply a fight even happened.

And it's not just a problem because it's potentially confusing, it's also a missed opportunity. Like, imagine if the fight had been drawn with some striking poses, and then later we had seen those same poses mirrored in a flashback panel of young Cass training with David?

I love the decision to have her out of her mask here, and I love the way Scott draws Cass's face - her bright eyes, bushy eyebrows, wide smile, big jaw & chin. She's so expressive.

Bruce can fight Cass, they're on a pretty similar level, but while she's just worn out, he's suffered internal damage and is coughing up blood. At first he's acting like he beat her, the stern implacable mentor, all criticism and ways she can improve. But he's more hurt than she is, and they both know it, and they're both smiling about it.

What happened between them was violent, and, while we didn't get to see it directly, we can infer that it was pretty extreme. A degree of violence between mentor and protege - between father and daughter - that anyone on the outside looking in would consider abuse. But in universe, in character, they're playing with each other. They're having fun. Bruce is proud of her ability to suffer violence and pay it back with interest, and Cass is thriving on his approval, and the parallels to her training with David Cain are not subtle.

Bruce & Cass's moment is interrupted by the sound of a gunshot outside. It's our friend from the flashbacks. He's not showing his face in this panel, but we can already recognize him from his hair and from... did he... did he have his jacket sleeve embroidered to match the tattoo on his shoulder? That's some commitment to the bit. Anyway, he's robbing an armored car, and has already killed the driver. In Gotham, my guy? Really? Like, you could talk about his bad luck, but still. Anyway, Bruce chases an accomplice while Cassandra confronts Mr. Merc.

He pulls a gun on her, but she casually swats it away and grabs him... but something distracts her and she pulls back, giving Mr. Merc time to run. But what could have captured Cass's attention...

Her own shadow on the wall. Batman's shadow. She's been living with all this guilt, not just because of what she did, but because the enjoyed her life training to be an assassin right up until she learned what that meant. Finding out didn't just mean she had done something evil, it meant that her entire life - a life she had loved to that point - had been in service to that evil thing. The skills she was so proud of were evil. The father she loved was evil. She wasn't just ashamed of one act, she was ashamed of her entire identity.

Being Batgirl - putting herself in harms way, suffering pain and risking death to save others - had been a way to make up for that evil, a life of penance, a sacrifice - but in this moment she's realizing that it's not just a way to make amends for the evil thing she did, it's a way to re-contextualize everything else. She could take pride in her skills again. She could have a father who would be proud of her again. She could have the life she loved back. Even memories of David could be retroactively redeemed, if it had all been part of this destiny, to help her become this person. Yes, she'd still feel guilty for the evil thing she did, but it didn't have to mean her entire life and everything about her was evil too.

And all she would have to do is dedicate her entire life to Batman's crusade with absolutely nothing left for herself, and suborn her entire sense of identity and self worth to Batman's approval forever. It's a good thing this Batman isn't an unreasonably demanding asshole. /s

With this new epiphany - that the violence she enacts on people like Mr. Merc can be a righteous instead of despicable - Cass is freed to cut loose on the guy. He's a murderer after all! (like she is) He deserves it! (like she does) She can beat him into submission, and since she's acting on Batman's behalf, she doesn't have to feel guilty that she enjoys doing it, that it feels like singing.

But something about Cassandra's righteous beat down triggers Mr. Merc's memories, and he knows. Years later, half a world away, shrouded by completely concealing costume, and serving the Batman instead of an assassin, but Mr. Merc recognizes her. Despite all that, despite her big revelation moments before in the alley, she hasn't changed. She's still the same. And here's this random guy from her memories as a sign, telling her, and the reader, that her past won't be so easy to put behind her.

Satisfied that Cass is ready, Bruce cuts her loose for solo work, with one restriction - no costumed criminals. In universe this is because Cass depends on her body-reading for defense, and that ability can't necessarily be relied on when facing supervillains. In the real world, though, it's to keep her book grounded and human, telling smaller, more personal stories like that of Mr. Merc in this issue, allowing the book to keep a tight focus on Cassandra's emotions, motivations, and relationships in a way that wouldn't be possible with a big colorful attention-magnet like the Joker chewing the scenery.

But speaking of those relationships, and of a past that can't just be left behind, the issue ends on David Cain, watching his recording of the opening flashback, bringing the whole issue neatly full circle.

...

So that was the first issue of Batgirl (2000), Cass's solo title. In the end I wasn't able to resist going through the whole thing nearly page by page and spending too much time on plot summary and reaction rather than calling out, like the creative choices and execution in the art and the writing. But yeah, for me the book holds up extremely well. I'm immediately sucked right back in. The layered character dynamics, the reliance on art over text narration for characterization and storytelling, the parallels between Bruce and David - and the criticism of Bruce that those parallels imply. It all makes for a very dense book, one you can really dig into. And I love Damion Scott's art here. I don't think anyone else could have pulled this off as well.

I promise I'll try to be more concise going forward - especially since I've taken so long on some of these, and this one in particular, that I've entirely used up my posting lead and now I don't have anything queued to go up while I'm out of town for the next week. But I couldn't stop myself from gushing over the first issue.

My entire love of this medium, at least the mainstream big two American superhero corner of this medium, lived and died on this run of this character under this creative team. I liked Batman and Superman and Spiderman and the X-Men from various movies and cartoons in the 90s, and I enjoyed some individual comics here and there. But in retrospect I was never a superhero comics fan generally. I was a fan of Peterson, Puckett, and Scott's 'Batgirl' specifically. And reading this issue again more that 20 years later, I still am.

#batgirl #cassandra cain #sception reads cassandra cain #barbara gordon #batman #bruce wayne #long post

[tangledbea]

what do you think about keira & catalina's story arc? i think there's such a depth in these characters that isn't talked about enough. keira's confusion as to why eugene and lance want to help them in their debut episode, when all they have known is the furthest thing from love, is such a sad moment. catalina and her very understandable anger that she feels she needs to suppress is so important, especially coming from a child character. such a journey for these lil angels. i think they were written and portrayed really well with some really important plot points that i've found get overlooked.

and i personally love that they have a family in the end and a dad of their own 🥹 a 5 star dad at that

what are your opinions?

Considering how very infrequently they were the focus of the episode, they were developed incredibly well.

As I mentioned in this answer I just gave, Kiera does spend time looking for her blood family, but not at the expense of her found one. "We're a package deal" was always the ultimatum she was ready to give, and she realized in the end that Catalina is her family. In this way, they parallel Eugene and Lance a lot. Eugene is the jaded one between he and Lance and Lance is the one who lives in the now, like Catalina does.

Kiera goes from not trusting anyone but Catalina, and only looking out for number one (in as much as they're both number one). In "Vigor the Visionary," she's shown to have childlike hope, ready to believe that these people are her parents because it's what she really wanted. (It's also very refreshing that, despite how world savvy she is, she's still naïve in some ways, that she's completely willing to believe that this woman who shares racial resemblance to her must be her mother.)

Catalina, on the other hand, starts out ready to trust kindness. She's not nearly so jaded by the world as Kiera. She recognizes the inherent sincerity behind what Eugene and Lance were trying to do for them, and insisted on repaying that kindness. And other than asking if Pascal can change to any color, her speech about helping them is the only time she talks during the episode. Though I honestly don't think it was their intended goal from the start (I don't think they had specific plans for how often the girls would show up), her being the quiet one of the two lent itself well to being the catalyst that caused her to accept the wolf spirit into herself.

And after that, they move back to Corona to settle down, without prompting from the adults in their life, just like Eugene predicted. The lessons for the girls come full circle when Eugene impresses upon Catalina the importance of letting those who care about her help her when she needs it. (A lesson many of the characters in that series could stand to learn, especially at that moment in time.) And the fact that they continue to let the girls live on their own terms for the rest of the series is honestly so great. The epilogue states that eventually Lance adopts them, not right away. Personally, I think a lot of that comes from Eugene and Rapunzel both having more responsibility, and Lance not having them to hang out with as much, so he spends more time with the girls, they all grow even more attached than they were, and he eventually casually suggests adoption.

#Tangled #Tangled the Series #Kiera #Catalina #Angry #Red #Lance Strongbow #TTS #Headcanons #Analysis #Answered

[mlwritersguild]

The Ballad of You and Me, by @gaussiansphere

Based on a prompt submitted by @their-destinys-writer: Kagaminette Biker AU, Marinette is the Biker.

AO3; 1960s AU, Rock Band AU, Bikers AU, Implied/Referenced Murder

Summary:

After meeting a mysterious woman at one of her band's gigs, Kagami can't make herself look away from what follows.

Fear is obsession is desire is love.

---

Kagami gave the bartender a quick nod and took a breath, slamming her drink back as quickly as possible before breathing out. The music of the club was suffocating—amplified guitar and bass echoing off the walls as the band on stage finished up their set. She motioned for another drink and slipped a small tip under her empty glass, before destroying the second shot as quickly as the first. Shaking her head slightly to clear the worst of the feeling, she opened her eyes to see Luka shaking his in disapproval.

"It's not even ten minutes until we're on, could you really not have waited just a bit longer to destroy your liver?"

"I never perform sober, it's bad form not to bring your best to a performance like this, and I do my best work when I've had the chance to relax..."

Luka was unimpressed, "You really think I'm buying that you can only sing when you're wasted?”

"First, I am not wasted, I am simply tipsy—the difference between the two is significant. Second, it helps me loosen up, which I have only accomplished now, no thanks to you."

He finally turned back with a sigh, "Whatever, as long as you're ready when we come on and the show gets done, I can't stop you. Just try and make this one your last one before the show, please?"

Kagami shrugged, "I'll do my best."

Kagami signaled the bartender for one last shot, which she downed with extreme prejudice before following Luka through the crowd, which even now was filling the whole room. The room wobbled slightly as she went forward, the mass of people pressing in on all sides.

The band on the stage started to wind down their set, as Kagami looked back to the bar, where a rough looking crowd of men was clustering on one side, their leather vests covered in patches. She nudged Luka and tilted her head towards them, “Look at those guys over there, staring down the girl across the bar.” She indicated a darked haired girl wearing a long, brightly-colored shawl “What do you make of them?”

He shrugged, “Eh, it’s bikers, what’s the big deal?” he paused, looking back between the girl and the gang, “If you’re thinking what I think you’re thinking, here’s what I say: Not. Our. Problem. It’s all well and good to help a girl out, but not if that means brawling a dozen Hells Angels to get to her.”

Kagami turned up her nose, “I figured you’d say that. I suppose I’ll just have to ask Fel-” “No,” Luka interrupted, “You are not going to ask Felix for help, no matter how bad this seems. The last thing we need is to get kicked out and handed over to the cops after whatever he does.”

As if on command, their bassist appeared behind them, “I heard my name. I don’t suppose you happen to be talking about those fellows over there…” Kagami picked up on where he was going, “Yes, we actually were. I was wondering if you would be amenable to-” Luka slapped her on the back, interrupting her and sending her stumbling forward.

“We’re good, thanks.” He interjected. Felix shrugged, “If you’re sure, I suppose there’s nothing I can do.” He waited for Luka to momentarily turn to the stage, before he shot Kagami a wink and a sharp smirk. Luka turned back, seemingly sensing the silent message and shot Felix a disapproving look.

As they reached the edge of the stage, Adrien was already tuning his guitar on the sidelines, shooting them a quick smile before going back to his work. Nino, beside him, was anxiously tapping out a quiet rhythm on his drum sticks. 

“Look alive ladies,” Felix sauntered up the stairs, grabbing his bass off its stand and sliding its strap over his shoulders, “it’s game time.” Kagami and Luka followed, and as he went ahead, she slipped a small flask from her back pocket and downed it in one go, shaking off the liquor and smiling, “You heard the man, let’s show them what we’ve got.”

As the band took their places up on stage, Kagami looked out through the haze and bright lights to the bar on the far side of the club. The bikers were still there it seems, still seeming to gravitate around the poor woman, but without making much ground in the interim. Meanwhile, the girl at the bar turned from the bikers to her, locking her in place with her deep blue stare, even as the rest of the band began without her.

Closing her eyes, Kagami stepped up to the microphone stand.

---

Drink in hand and her band beside her, Kagami was back at the bar. Luka and Felix were at either side, Luka slowly sipping a gin and tonic while their bassist drank his ‘Cuba libre.’

Luka gestured to Felix’s drink with his own. “You know you can just ask the bartender for a rum and coke, right? It’s the same thing and it doesn’t make you look like a tool when you order it.”

Felix shook his head, “That’s a classic mistake, but just that—the rum and coke are just two simple ingredients shaken together. The Cuba Libre, on the other hand, is a far more sophisticated choice—it has lime. ”

Luka raised his voice in objection as Kagami looked on with half-hidden amusement, before her eyes drifted back to where the blue-eyed girl had been sitting. She had stepped out a few minutes before, still trailed by the bikers, who themselves had barely moved since the band had finished their set—always looming in the shadows, never striking.

She finished her drink and excused herself to her bandmates, who were now all embroiled in the cocktail debate—Adrien and Nino stepping in behind Luka and Felix respectively. She extricated herself from their rapidly closing circle, instead traveling to the door and taking a tentative step outside into the cool evening air.

There, leaning against the club’s brick wall, was the girl from before, smoking a cigarette as she looked out into the night. The streetlights dimly lit the parking lot ahead, where the bikers were clustered as before, staring the two down from afar.

The blue-eyed girl caught Kagami’s eye and smiled, beckoning her over and offering a cigarette. Kagami nodded and accepted it, letting her light it from her own embers.

“You were pretty good up there. It’s always nice to see new acts come up from time to time.”

“Thanks. Are you a regular?”

“Of a sort. Let’s just say I have a vested interest in the success of this club.” she extended her hand, “Marinette, it’s nice to meet you.”

“Kagami, likewise.” she paused, before lowering her voice and leaning in, “Look, I don’t mean to alarm you, but there are some men that I think have been following you. Just wanted to let you know if you hadn’t noticed. If you want help, my friends and I can try and do what we can.”

Marinette chuckled lightly, “You shouldn’t worry about them. They usually don’t cause any trouble unless ordered.”

Kagami raised an eyebrow in disbelief. Making Marinette smile, “Just trust me, if you don’t give them any trouble they won’t give you any. It was nice meeting you, Kagami.” She pulled the shawl off to reveal a leather vest, and fished through its pockets to produce an old receipt, before scribbling something on it.

She slipped it into Kagami’s hand, “I hope this isn’t the last time we meet either,” before turning to walk out to the bikers in the lot, her vest proudly emblazoned:

HELLS ANGELS

CALIFORNIA

---

Luka played a few experimental chords on his guitar, before pausing and playing them again with a slight tweak.

Across from him, Felix was tapping a pen on his notepad impatiently, “I think we should write something about the war, something faster than usual.”

Luka looked up at him and pointedly played another chord sequence, tweaked slightly again but in the same rhythm as before. 

Between them, Kagami was sitting at the head of the table, buried in newspapers and ignoring their latest spat. Sensing the two pairs of eyes boring down on her, she looked up, gathered her newspapers, and left the room, carting them up to her bedroom, where she spread them back out over her bed. She had pulled every issue of the paper from the last two years that mentioned the Hells Angels, and she was combing through them all.

Most seemed to be minor crime reports or local coverage, but every now and then an article would pop up with something more significant. A year ago, their clubhouse in Anaheim burned to the ground. Three months later, half the leadership of the chapter were found dead in a booth at their favorite bar, poisoned. The obituaries of the second half were scattered through the pages since—all supposedly accidental or self-inflicted.

One picture in particular caught her eye—a dark haired woman with piercing eyes peering from the margins of a photograph of a club scene. Kagami felt her pulse speed, and she pulled the picture closer. It was almost covered by the crowd, but she could just barely make out the leather vest on Marinette’s chest.

Reaching into her pocket, she drew out the note Marinette had given her—7:00pm, next Saturday night, and the name of a local club. 

---

Kagami puffed nervously on her cigarette, looking all around for Marinette to show herself. The Blue Toucan was doing plenty of business that night, as a steady stream of people passed her, coming and going. She caught Felix’s eye as she looked around—he shot her a devilish grin, patted the revolver hanging loosely under his jacket, and winked.

Sometimes she wondered why she agrees to bring him along to things like these. He always claims it's just in case, but from time to time she wonders if he’s just looking for a reason to scrap. It was nice, though, to have a friendly face in the distant crowd. When she mentioned that she was headed to a biker bar that night, Luka had given her such an incredulous look that she was surprised his eyes didn’t tumble out right then. 

Kagami had positioned herself just to the left of the entrance, where two burly men in leather were keeping the rowdier folks outside. There, she could look over the whole parking lot at once. It was only belatedly that she realized, as a long nail tapped her on the shoulder, that her date for the night wouldn’t necessarily be coming from outside. She nervously turned to Marinette, who offered her hand and gave a dazzling smile.

“You look good tonight—I’m glad you could make it.” As Kagami took it, Marinette nodded to the men at the door and pulled her inside.

The Blue Toucan looked like it had once been a tiki bar, but that past was long-covered by the current ownership and membership. Bike parts covered the east wall, some slightly charred, others bent out of shape, and more seemingly fine, while the opposite wall, sitting above the bar, was decorated with a mural depicting a stylized pyramid of skulls.

Marinette led Kagami there, where she ordered them both drinks—whiskey and vodka neat. Kagami nodded in appreciation as they watched the bartender make their drinks. “You’re a… fascinating woman, Marinette.”

She smirked a little, “Yeah? What makes you say so?”

“It’s unheard of for a woman to be admitted to the Angels, and yet you’re here.” Marinette nodded, raising an eyebrow, as Kagami continued, “It seems that they’ve had a very chaotic time recently, which might influence such things, no?”

“Perhaps it would. I certainly couldn’t tell you. Things have been peaceful since I’ve arrived.” The bartender came with both their drinks, and Marinette raised hers in a small toast. 

“Cheers, Kagami—I knew I liked you for a reason.”

Her heart thundering in her chest, Kagami raised her vodka and clinked it against Marinette’s before she downed half. Marinette took a sip of hers, and then another, as Kagami shook off the vodka’s burn. Taking a larger swig, Marinette rose and walked over to the jukebox in the bar, fiddling with a few of the buttons before returning and taking another drink. Feeling fainter than she looked, Kagami downed the rest of her vodka and looked her in the eye.

“Why’d you do it? Was this really worth it?”

Marinette chuckled, “Probably not to you. This life, like everything around it, is built on respect and efficiency. I did what needed to be done to be respected enough to do efficient business. No one respected me then—they do now.”

“It’s better to rule by fear than by love—the Prince, no?”

“But the wise ruler knows it is best to possess both. Tell me, Kagami, would you like to dance?”

As they rose, the jukebox clicked to a slower song, and Marinette took her hand in hers, placing the other arm on her shoulder. They turned slowly, bobbing in pace with the song as they navigated through the steps of the waltz. Kagami looked into her partner’s blue eyes—enchanting, haunting, and hungry—and felt her heart thundering.

Marinette led them in the dance, their feet gliding across the floor. As they turned, Kagami found herself standing below the pyramid of skulls. She leaned in and Marinette’s lips met hers.

They tasted like salt and iron. When she pulled back, a small trail of red ran from the corner of her mouth.

Kagami feared and loved her.

#ml writers guild #december event 2022 #gaussiansphere #miraculous writers guild #mwg #miraculous ladybug #kagaminette #marigami #kagami tsurugi #marinette dupain-cheng #ml fanfiction #mlb fic #mlb fanfic #ml fanfic #miraculous #ml fandom #miraculous ladybug fic #miraculous ladybug fandom #ml writer #miraculous writer #miraculous ladybug writer #ml writing #mwg events #ml fics #the miraculous tales of ladybug and chat noir #luka couffaine #felix graham de vanily

[fourseasonsfigs]

Everything I See is You

Like many Junzhe fans, I absolutely love the moment where Zhehan smiled at a hand-held fan with an image of Gong Jun. There are actually two different fig sets that memorialize this moment, and here's the first!

Both Zhehan and Gong Jun promoted Wahaha, a yogurt brand during the SHL promotional period. Zhehan showed up for an in-person event for them on August 4, 2021.

This is a type of hand-held fan sign we're talking about. They can vary but this is the general concept. You can see of course that this one has Zhehan on it.

Here's a clip from the event with the inspiration for this moment (sorry there are no subtitles):

This is a very popular event with fig makers - you'll see plenty more figures with these outfits going forward as well!

Our two little guys arrived safely in their polystyrene boxes. Junjun needed a little extra space for all his supplies!

Here's everything. You can see Junjun has his chair, a lightstick (?!), and not one, but two handheld fans! The one on the right is the original one that came with the fig. There was an option during production where you could order another fan, the one on the left. Dear reader, you know I ordered it!

And here's the back of everything.

You can see here how Junjun's hands are ready to hold all kinds of stuff! This is one of those figs where people could get real creative and have him hold balloons, other signs, etc. My much less creative self tried both these fans in both hands, but they only fit in the hand on his knee (as designed). The hole in his hand that he's holding up is smaller, to hold the teeny tiny base of the lightstick.

I had to really inspect the fans to tell who was who! As always, I did it the easy way - I just looked for the beauty marks. Zhehan's is the one on the left, and Junjun's (the fan that came with the base model) is the one on the right.

Junjun does not sit by himself in his little chair - like many little chairs of this type, it's just too lightweight to hold the full weight of a heavy-headed fig. Junjun would either slide right off or topple backwards, both unacceptable options. I fiddled around a bit with museum putty (too bulky) and museum wax (not strong enough) and finally gritted my teeth and glued his tush to the chair. Once he was firmly attached to his chair though, to my surprise he balanced just fine. I have him sitting on a fig stand here, as you can see, but he's actually not anchored down at all. I just put him there to level out the heights, since I had already fastened Zhehan to a fig stand at this time.

Speaking of which. Zhehan actually stands just fine on his own, but I while I was waiting for the glue to dry on the Junjun / chair combo, I thought, hey, this is a good time to put Zhehan on a stand. Forgetting that I hadn't taken their spin-o-vision shots! I like to take them without the stands, if they'll stand ok, because I think it is nice to see them by themselves. But in this case, my being scatterbrained efficiency got the best of us.

The art on these is a little different than a lot of my figs, but I just love it. I think the faces are super sweet. I mean look at Junjun's face. We've seen that exact look on him, looking down (yet somehow up) at Zhehan! The bright blue eyes echo the colors of their clothing, making this just a cheery, happy set.

I also really love the detail we have here on Zhehan's Wahaha event outfit. The earrings, the stitching on his jean jacket, and of course the asymmetrical color blocking on his pants.

You can see here that Junjun's sitting just fine in the chair now. It fits him great, it just needs something sticky to keep him in it.

I like the little details we can see on Junjun's jeans, and how the stitching on the sides also echos Zhehan's jean jacket.

You can see the asymmetrical color blocking on Zhehan's pants really well here.

We have typical Zhehan Curvy Fig Proportions here, as per most fanmade figs! I love the sweep of his hair here, and how it comes a bit back off his neck. Just so many great details with this set.

Junjun being the fan here with his folding chair and his fan props is just too adorable. You can tell he's here for the long haul, ready to sit and cheer for hours! I really love this concept.

I love Junjun's little relaxed pose here, it's surprisingly involved - it could have just been him simply sitting there with both legs bent, but it looks great like this. Of course, his little t-shirt is also entirely charming!

Here's Junjun holding his fan with Zhehan's face on it! This is a really cute look since we have Junjun himself being the fan in this circumstance, so it makes sense he'd have Zhehan's face on it.

This is a nice angle to see the little details on the bottom of Zhehan's beautiful flower bouquet. I love how it looks very much indeed like the crinkled bottom of a fancy bouquet! This is also a great view to see how clean and neat the details of Zhehan's silver earrings are. It's very easy to get paint overspray on little details like his earrings, but these look great.

I really like how the fig maker did Zhehan's combed back hair with the few wispy bangs that were blowing around in the breeze. They did a great job on it, as you can see in the card art below!

You can see here on the box how the fig maker pictured the event - Zhehan up there on the event stage, and Junjun cheering along in the audience! So cute!

I am absolutely in love with this fig set. And good news! As of today's date, the fig maker actually still has some remainders left over up for sale, so if you want the link, message me and I'll send it to you!

Material: Resin

Fig Count: 370

Scene Count: 25 (I don't think this set quite counts...I need a stage!)

Rating: You are all he can see, too!

[link back to Master Fig Index for more posts]

#junzhe #zhang zhehan #gong jun #word of honor cast #figthusiast

[the-firebird69]

How the US Navy defends against Sea Drones! #military #navy #shorts

I'm trying to hit some of these boats with regular ammo and it doesn't work even with the cannon it's rather difficult they know about it but they yelled on the radio today they have their special out and they took theirs out and wiped them out and they're very disappointed here but they have recovery plan it's much the same as what happened in the revolutionary war but we don't think that they're going to recover and we don't think they're going to make it back here and they're saying they're not going to either they're going to try and go to Australia and the whole thing is a big trick. Which is that's not going to happen and all the big groups that and we all agree today you're a large number of idiots going out to try and disturb the operation and they got more done called more down hard more troops and are going after them faster to clear them out and they're leaving all over the place and evacuating to the island and to the West and pretty fast it's going right now and really they're below 0.5% and the pseudo empire are at about 6.5%. they are in the 20 to 50 and filling it up with equipment and will be done tonight ahead of schedule and they go to 50 to 100 and they're already placing equipment there and they have several big ones at 100 to 150 they need a bunch more they probably have a almost a quarter of what they need and they're getting in here fast and it's not to force our son out they're not ready for that it's going to take them a bit and they want to make an air of normalcy apparent if they can and they would need the Firebird and they showed her son of black one and that's the morlock today and he said no no that's the wrong color and they were mad because and that's going on

More shortly

Thor Freya

Olympus

Can't stand these people we need more people in here now I'm requesting it and he wants people to do a full test of what's going to happen up here running systems analysis of it and I'll tell you what he's saying

Hera

We're going to do that and we appreciate it this place is hell too and you going to do it here

Thor Freya

These people demand too much the others demand too much and we have to set them straight and we're going to

Frank Castle hardcastle

[kingscollect1on]

Unraveling the Supreme Style: Bags for Laptops That Totally Change How They Work and Look

In today's super-fast digital age, we're all about laptops, like they're the coolest thing ever. Whether you're a tech nerd, a work dude, or a school kid, your laptop is like your BFF. So, getting the right bag for it is, like, mega important. Hang with me as we dive into the world of laptop bags that mix cool features with killer style, levelling up your tech game.

Let's Dive In

So, imagine a place where laptop bags aren't just accessories; they're like personal statements and practical tools. In this piece, we're digging into all the details of laptop bags, finding that sweet spot between looks and function. From sleek vibes to next-gen features, we're throwing down the must-haves that turn these bags into more than just tech carriers.

The Laptop Bag Glow-Up

Watch how laptop bags went from basic tools to fashion icons. Modern styles don't just keep your gadgets safe; they also scream about your personality. Let's check out the glow-up that turned these bags into must-haves.

Picking Your Perfect Laptop Sidekick

Size: Go for the Right Fit

When it comes to laptop bags, size really matters. Pick a bag that snuggles up to your laptop without being too bulky. A well-fitted bag not only looks good but also keeps your device safe.

Material Magic: Tough Yet Stylish

The material you choose is a big deal for how long your bag lasts and how it looks. Whether it's classic leather for the fancy vibe or water-resistant fabrics for the city slicker, finding the right balance between tough and stylish is key.

Organize Like a Pro: Compartments and Pockets

A clutter-free bag is a happy bag. Get a laptop bag with smart compartments and pockets. It keeps your stuff organized and makes life easier. No more digging through your bag to find that pen or charger.

Strap it Right: Comfy and Cool

The comfort of lugging around your laptop bag is just as important as how it looks. Adjustable and padded straps keep things comfy, reducing stress on your shoulders. Plus, think about how the bag feels on you – the sweet spot between style and comfort.

Style Meets Tech

Sleek Styles for the Work Pro

For the corporate peeps, sleek and chill designs are always a win. Think muted colors and clean shapes that go from the office to hanging out with no effort. Your laptop bag is like an extra bit of your work vibe.

Future-Ready Tech: More than Basics

Step into the future with laptop bags that are like tech wizards. Built-in charging spots, pockets that block RFID signals – these bags redefine easy living. Stay connected and safe with the latest in laptop bag tech.

Personal Touch: Make It Yours

Stand out by making your laptop bag totally you. From initials to custom colors, put your stamp on it. Be the one with a bag that says a lot about who you are.

In Conclusion

In the wild world of laptop bags, the choices are as wild as the people using them. Whether you're into classic or super cool, finding the right laptop bag is like showing off your style. Embrace the mix of fashion and function as you go on a journey where your laptop bag is way more than just an accessory.

#laptop bags

[weallwantabetterlife]

Nick Saban is outspoken and often colorful. Here are

the top 10 Saban quotes from his tenure at Alabama,

with some of the harsher expletives deleted:

1. "And they ran through our ass like (crap) through a

tin horn, man, and we could not stop them. Could not

stop them."

- Saban referenced a tougher-than-expected 2011

victory over Georgia Southern before last season's vic-

tory over Charleston Southern, another Football Bowl

Subdivision team

2. "So I want everybody to think here for a second.

How much does this game mean to you? 'Cause it if

means something to you, you can't stand still. You

understand? You play fast. You play strong. You go

out there and dominate the man you're playing against

and you make his ass quit. That's our trademark.

That's our M.O. as a team. That's what people know

us as."

- Saban's pregame speech to the team before a 2008

victory at LSU was captured on videotape and replayed

often

3. "I want everybody here to know, this is not the end.

This is the beginning."

- Saban was prophetic at the celebration event after

Alabama won the 2009 national championship

4. "Mediocre people hate high achievers, and high

achievers hate mediocre people."

- This quote from an appearance on the CBS show

"60 Minutes" summed up a lot about Saban and some

of his top players

5. "If it was up to you, we're six-foot under already.

We're dead and buried and gone. Gone. So, if that

was the case, we'd have to get some respirators out or

something

down there to put life back in people."

- Saban after Alabama's 2015 victory over Georgia

after talk from some pundits tha UA's dynasty was over

following a loss two weeks earlier to Ole Miss

6. "There were no arguments. Those are called

ass-chewings."

- Saban's description of his shouting at offensive

coordinator Lane Kiffin during a victory over Western

Kentucky this season

7. "Settle the (heck) down."

- Saban to AJ McCarron when the quarterback got

too hyped up during a 2011 game at Florida

8. "We're not going to talk about what we're going

to accomplish. We're going to talk about how we're

going to do it."

- Saban talking about his process during his intro-

ductory press conference in 2006

9. "We kind of have a younger generation now that

doesn't always get told no. They don't always get told,

"This is exactly how you need to do it.' So, they have

this illusion they have all these choices. But the fact of

the matter is, if you want to be good, you really don't

have a lot of choices because it takes what it takes."

- Saban in 2015 after three former UA players were

arrested

10. "Changes in history usually occur after some kind

of catastrophic event. It may be 9/11, which sort of

changed the spirit of American relative to catastrophic

events. Pearl Harbor kind of got us ready for World

War II, and that was a catastrophic event."

- Saban evoked images of major tragedies after a

2007 loss to Louisiana-Monroe, briefly creating a con-

troversy over his comparisons

Roll Tide Roll!!!

#RollTide #RTR #Committed

#BuiltByBama #bama #bearbryant #crimsontide #saban #Tuscaloosa #bryantdenny #Alabama #Dynasty #WeAreBamaFootball

#BamaInTheNFL

[chaninfused]

honestly 😔

#im tired ?? of people being like oh arabs are like this and that when literally the entire world has our problems and more #not excusing the messed up shit we have but some people have the nerve to be like oh gays arent treated well in middle eastern countries !! #we should never ever set foot there !! when literally every other country in the world is the same minus europe maybe and the us ?? #why is it that when it's us we're suddenly the only fucked up people ?? #it speaks volumes if im being honest #just say youre islamophic and go that race is happening in saudi whether u like or not u fucktard #like i know we have issues we need to fix i know and i used to suffer from them too at some point in my life. im not blind. #my family and every person in my hometown is in constant fear of being kicked out of their jobs or harassed in public i see these problems #but i also see that everyone else has the same problems. some even worse. #it really shows how we're all ready to stand up for people of color and members of the lgbtq+ community but only a little portion of us #batted an eye at what's happening to muslims in china. it really fucking shows and i'm sick of it #i'm not trying to look like the victim here i live a very privileged life nonetheless and im not gonna sit around here and pretend im #oppressed. yeah u heard that right. i'm not oppressed how surprising despite coming from the most religiously conservative province in saudi #but that does not excuse the blatant and even encouraged hatred and silence when it comes to muslim people #stop justifying it with the shit that happens here unless you're also gonna protest things like events in every other country in the world #yes there is a problem yes it must be fixed no it is not exclusive to the middle east and islamic countries #(also ?? to all the people who bring up islamic battles to claim land like 1000 years ago and say that our leaders did it #here's a history lesson. the people you talk about belong to one sect of islam and surprise surpise islam has various sects #and i'm sure you'll be enlightened when you hear what us the other sects in islam have to say about islamic history so stop generalizing #it's not a good look) #furat iskiti 🖇️ #to be deleted

[pietros-love]

Pietro Maximoff x Avenger reader (gn reader) ||smut|| You and Pietro get a little too handsy at a party in the Avengers tower

Warning: NSFW!!, alc!hol

Tony was having a party in the Avengers towers. He invited you too, after all. You were also part of the Avengers. The party would be in a few hours so you had enough time to get ready. You were very excited for this party especially. Why? Because the people who usually weren't attending actually agreed to come. Which meant people like: Thor, Loki, Carol, Stephen, Wanda, Vision and even Pietro. You were going to be honest. You kind of had a crush on Pietro. I mean, just look at him. He's handsome, definitely well build, smart, also has an interesting power and his eyes. They were so beautiful. You could get lost in them forever. Okay okay enough simping about Wanda's twin brother You and Wanda actually got along pretty well, she was a real sweetheart. She was also the only one that knew that you very much are a ✨homosexual✨. Chuckling to yourself you went to get a shower, you really needed one. And you did not want to show up dirty to the party either, especially not if so many amazing people were going to be there.

.

.

.

Finally getting out the shower you dried your hair off while looking into the mirror. Hm I guess a little make up won't hurt will it? You thought slightly tilting your head to see how you look like in each angle. After drying yourself of entirely it was time to choose an outfit. What color scheme should I go with? I mean. It don't have that many options but still. We're all gonna be honest. The most clothes in your closet were either black or any other dark color. It was just something you wore on the daily basis. Dark colors were also more practical in a fight, so the enemy couldn't see whenever you were bleeding. Why you were part off the Avengers you ask? Do you have a super power or anything? The answer to that is simple. You do have powers. The power to control any metallic object however you want with just your mind. It was a very helpful power, hard to manage though. But once you finally found out how to deal with it the rest went pretty smoothly. You ended up choosing a black button up shirt, over it a little underbust corset, and some tights. You also were most likely going to grab your black boots that you had standing around later. Now it was only time for make up and you would be ready to go.

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.

.

Oh my god oh my god oh my god- If you said you weren't panicking that would be a big fat lie- Right now you were were standing right in front of the entrance to the room the party was supposed to be held in. But you were anxious, very anxious. What if I went overboard with how I dressed and the make up and all that stuff- maybe I should go change into something else and go wipe off the make up- And just right before you could keep panicking a familiar voice interrupted your racing thoughts- "Wow hey Y/n. Looking good" It was Sam. You and Sam always got along pretty well, and you knew he was always honest with you. A breath you didn't even realize you were holding finally escaped your lips. "Hey Sam- thank you. Honestly I thought I went a bit overboard- but if you say it is okay then I'll believe you." You gave Sam a smile, which he of course returned. "Of course, always Y/n. You wanna go in now?" He asked having his mocking grin now on his face. "Or do you prefer standing outside the door for the whole party?" you couldn't help but chuckle a bit and slightly pushed Sam besides. "Okay okay I get it- let's just go in now-" The usually winged man opened the door for both of you, with one last deep breath, and an encouraging smile from Sam send your way you finally stepped into the room. Immediately your eyes flew around the room, scanning everything and everyone. Seems like some people still didn't arrive? Good that means I'm not the last one- You thought relaxing a bit more. Sam went ahead to greet Steve who was standing next to the counter that was next to the bar. Of course, Tony couldn't have a party without alcohol. I mean, what kind of party would that be? His words, not mine But you had to agree, without alcohol parties wouldn't be half as fun as they are. It's the drunk people that make it much more interesting. It may also end up in chaos- but the amount of fun you have then makes it worth it. You smiled at the sight of Sam and Steve laughing about something one of the two had said. You made your way over to Tony who was standing behind the counter. As soon as he turned around he looked at you and smirked. "Well who do we have here all dressed and dolled up up?" You smiled at him "Nice to see you too Tony." he gave you a little smirk shoving a glass towards you. You raised a brow at him and took the drink into your hand "Tony what is this?" you asked him eyeing the drink. He only chuckled at you "Just a little something I like to drink sometimes." you nodded and thanked him. You got closer to the glass and took a sniff, it didn't smell like alcohol at all. What had Tony just mixxed into this? You asked yourself. Well it does smell good though.. Just when you were chugging it down someone or multiple people seemed to come through the door. You slammed the glass down the table again and a voice immediately greeted you from your side. "Woho Y/n- I didn't know you were that much of a drinker?" Scott said patting your arm. You smiled slightly at him "I'm really not, but from time to time I like to have a little drink." he nodded and turned to Tony after that asking if he had 'something that would knock him out of his socks'. You giggled slightly before taking a look around the room. And right then, you made eye contact with him. Pietro. He looked amazing, and very handsome. He smiled at you before walking over to you. "Y/n, you look- amazing" Pietro said looking you up and down. You smiled at him "Why thank you? You look great too. I like your new shirt?" the speedster straightened himself up a bit. "Thank you Y/n, I really like your corset. Also your make up looks very pretty!" Pietro leaned onto the counter turning around and facing Tony with his back. You couldn't help yourself but feel a bit flustered "Thank you Pietro-" suddenly before you could continue the conversation you were holding with him a voice cut you off. "Sir. Everyone has arrived now." F.R.I.D.A.Y. spoke, Tony replied with a 'Thanks Fri'. And not even a second after that the bright lights went out and got replaced with more darker and color full

lights. It was 9 pm at winter time, that meant it was already dark. As soon as the lights were settled down, music started to play. To everyone's surprise the first song was not an ACDC song which would have been expected coming from Tony. Now with the mood set, you turned around to face Tony with your back as well. Turning your head to look at Pietro who had been occupied watching Wanda who seemed to be smiling fondly at something Vision had said to her. He had an amazing side view. You also went ahead and looked at Wanda and Vision who were sitting next to each other on a couch. "It must be hard seeing her all grown up huh? Especially now that she got a partner before you-" You joked as Pietro let out an offended 'hey!' and jabbed you into your side. You looked at him, and he looked at you. Then you both bursted out laughing together. "Sorry sorry I just had to make that joke- Pfft-" You said while trying to hold in your laughter, you could see him shaking his head out of the corner of your eye. Pietro laughed a bit before turning to look at you still shaking his head "It's alright- It was- It was funny. I must admit that." you smiled at him. "Well I'm glad you think so! Wouldn't want to offend you or anything like that-" You said while looking into his direction.

.

.

Someone had suggested a game of spin the bottle. Of course you went ahead and joined in, and you were pretty sure some of them only agreed because they were drunk already. You must admit that you also weren't completely sober. Especially not after getting a few more glasses from whatever Tony had given to you earlier. Talking about Tony, no way in hell that man was sober after nearly spending the whole night at the bar filling up everyone's cups. Everyone was sitting on the floor around the bottle, even Bruce and Loki. For some reason, the two of them seemed to get along very well today. Which had everyone surprised, but also happy of course. Pietro had been sitting next to you that whole time having let you lean onto him for support. He wasn't nearly as drunk as you were, but he wasn't also very sober neither. "Wooo someone spinnn the bottleee!" Thor exclaimed lifting Mjolnir into the air at the same time, which earned a chuckle from one and the other person. You giggled and snuggled closer into Pietro. You had closed your eyes for one second, and suddenly the next second when you opened them again the bottle was pointing at you. A quick "Huh-" escaped your mouth. Clear confusion was written onto your face. "So what do I do noww?" Natasha shook her head "You spin the bottle, and whoever it lands on you have to make out with." you let out an 'ahh' sound and nodded. Wait- Make out?? "Hold on a second- why make out?" the red haired assassin shrugged and pointed at Clint as in saying 'That was his idea'. You groaned Of course it was Clint that bastard, ughhh "C'mon Y/n what are you waiting for? Spin, or are you a pussy?" Tony spat out grinning. Not wanting to get mocked by Tony any longer you instantly went ahead and grabbed the bottle, you spun it. But to everyone's dismay it just began de-forming itself. Everyone looked deadpanned at the sign before them, until they realized that the bottle was made out of metal. "Oh for fucks sake-" Came it from Bucky's side before he got cut if by Steve "Language!" at that everyone laughed again. Suddenly having forgotten about the de-formed bottle again. You giggled again and leaned yourself against Pietro who was holding onto your back for support.

.

After the thing with the bottle, everyone just kind of went back into the little groups they were in before. Well, you and Pietro were both standing in a corner together. Swaying to the song Feder ft Lyse, bodies pressed tight together. You could feel his breath on your neck, it made you shiver slightly. You ended up getting a little bold and went to feel up his abs. And oh god they felt like heaven. Pietro chuckled a bit before hovering over you shoving you against the wall. "You really want me so bad don't you?" He husked into your ear. If you could you would have melted right there. You then went ahead and laid your arms around his neck as he had his on both sides of your head. You guys kissed. Finally, after all that time you have been crushing on him. You kissed him, but it wouldn't only end with that you knew it. Well that's at least what the bulge in Pietro's pants said. He smirked into the kiss. And after you two finally broke apart both gasping for air Tony waked right into the room "Jeez you two might want to get a room, I did not plan on seeing anyone naked today and that's still going to be my goal till the end of the night. Well maybe except one person but that's none of your business" and with that said he walked up to Pepper. "Hm Pietro, Tony is right we should go somewhere else." and before you could even process what had happened you were in Pietro's arms. And the next second you suddenly were in his bedroom. And immediately you guys started making out again. At some point in doing that he took off his shirt, and the sight you were getting was godly. God you couldn't wait anymore. "Pietro please hm.. I need you. Right now~" You pleaded looking him straight into the eyes. "Fuck- With you looking at me like that I won't be able to wait. Fuck it." And with that he got you and him completely naked in under five seconds. He was so big, bigger than you ever would have imagined. Your insides were throbbing for him already just looking at his dick. There was clearly hunger in Pietro's eyes when he looked down on you laying full on display in front off him. And it just turned you on to no end. You have been waiting for this day so long, and now it's finally happening. Pietro leaned down to kiss you as you let your hand travel through his soft locks. His hands also traveled down your body. "God Y/n you are so beautiful." Pietro breathed out as he went to give you a kiss on your stomach. You were so in love. So fucking in love. "Pietro I love you" You blurted it out without meaning to. He stopped for a second, looked at you. "I love you too Y/n." With that he leaned down to kiss you.

.

As Pietro rapidly was ramming into you, you couldn't help but think that this all was a dream. That you would wake up sooner or later, just having a wet dream about the person you were hopelessly in love with. But the constants grunts coming from him, and your with pleasure overcome body kept reminding you that this was very real. He was going at such a fast speed that at one point your mind went completely blank and everything coming out of your mouth was only his name. Pietro Pietro Pietro!! You thought as he fucked into you senselessly even deeper somehow. "Oh god- Oh fuck Y/n. You feel so fucking good." Pietro grunted out grabbing a fistful of your hair which made you moan. "I think- fuck- I'm coming soon-" He breathed out still keeping up with his amazing speed. You breathed out a few shaky breaths. "Hng- I'm- I'm close too-! Hm-" You could feel Pietro swelling up in you. You were so close already "Good- let's come together then mi amor- hng-" Pietro grunted out. He rammed into you three more times before he came into you. And you came as well. You were in pure bliss, you had never felt that good in your entire life. Pietro then laid down next to you, giving you kisses up and down your collar bone. "Y/n that was amazing I-. I love you." You turned to look at him and smiled happily. "I love you too, Pietro."

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The next morning you woke up with your body aching and naked in someone's bed. Oh hell no- You thought to yourself panicking going to get up to grab your clothes and get dressed until, you remembered the events from last night. You then turned bright red Shit- Did I really tell him I loved him- fuck fuck fuck- But before you could have thought anything else, Pietro walked in only in boxers holding a plate. "Ah good morning gorgeous, I made you some breakfast." He gave you a big grin, and it was at that moment that you knew. You had done everything right.

#pietro maximoff #pietro x male reader #tony stark #marvel mcu #marvel fanfiction #marvel #marvel smut #smut #mcu fanfiction #pietro x reader #pietro x y/n #gender neutral reader #gn reader #male reader #x male reader #scott lang #sam wilson #steve rogers