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kkvqwrites · 1 year

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A Visitor

Someone from Simon's past comes knocking.

Word count: 1,480

Characters: Simon "Ghost" Riley, fem!reader (no use of y/n)

CW: Mentions of past abuse/DV

A/N: This is technically canon divergent since Simon's dad is presumed dead. Also I could have sworn his name was Lee in the comic but when I went back to check I couldn't find it, so it'll do.

The knock at the door came at perhaps the worst possible time. Simon had dozed off watching rugby with the baby snoozing on his chest, one of his large hands plenty big enough to support her. The man was a notoriously light sleeper, and always vigilant, so it was nice to see him relaxed enough to doze off.

You hurried to the door, hoping against hope the knock didn’t wake the two sleeping beauties. You hadn’t been expecting company, so your secondary hope was that it wasn’t someone who wanted to linger. Upon opening the door, though, you froze, perplexed. Standing before you was someone you’d never seen before.

The man was old, but how old it was hard to say. His clothes were worse-for-wear and he looked like he hadn’t showered in days. The wrinkles in his face betrayed a permanent smirk. He was rough around the edges, not just in appearance but in the way he carried himself. You had half a mind to ask if he was there asking for charity, but the words stuck in your throat. Something about this man made the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end.

“Can I help you?”

“Dame of the house, I presume?” The words were polite enough on their face, but something about the way he said them grated, as did the way his eyes raked over you as he said them.

“Yes. Can I help you?” you repeated, hoping to speed this interaction along.

“Name’s Lee Riley, here to see my son.”

The name wasn’t familiar, except for the surname. Dumbly, you blinked at the man for a few seconds before realization struck.

Oh.

Oh no.

Simon had inherited his mother’s warm brown eyes, but looking closely you were able to see traces of him in the man’s stature and bone structure. Standing before you wasn’t just any random person, but a monster you had heard about only in stories. You felt sick looking at that smirking face, knowing it was the same face Simon had to look at as a boy facing relentless abuse and terror.

Instinctively, you squeezed the door shut just a bit tighter, as if to barricade yourself in the house and keep him out. The two people you loved most in the world were inside, blissfully unaware of the piece of shit on your doorstep, and you intended to keep it that way.

“Get off my porch and never come back here.” You willed your voice not to betray how uneasy you felt. The man barked a snarling laugh.

“Ha! Mouthy bird my son went and found himself. Just like his old man.”

“He’s nothing like you,” you spat, your voice struggling not to rise alongside your temper. “And there’s nothing for you here, so get -”

A hand on your shoulder stopped you in your tracks. Simon stood behind you, the gurgling baby in his other arm. His eyes were fixed over your shoulder on his father, expression unreadable.

“Take her and go upstairs.” His tone was gentle, not a reproach but a warning to get far away from whatever was about to happen. You hesitated only a moment, silently praying for some way to save Simon from this confrontation. He spent so much of his life fighting against his father, against the beatings and the fear and the expectations that he’d grow up to be just like him. You were desperate, in that moment, to spare him one more fight. But one glance between the two men, at the stare-down they were having, made your shoulders sag in defeat. This was something that had to happen, and you and the baby being in the crossfire would only make it worse.

You lifted your daughter into your arms and made your way upstairs to the nursery. Once safely inside, surrounded by soft pink toys and blankets and baby books, you wanted to cry. Simon never got the opportunity to be soft, never got the tenderness he showed you and your baby. Getting out some blocks to let the baby play, you couldn’t help but wonder what was going on downstairs on the porch.

What you couldn’t see, what no one could see or hear, was the war that was going on inside Simon’s head as he took in the sight before him. The shriveled old man before him had once loomed so tall it seemed impossible to ever escape him. Now, half-bent and coming up to his son’s collarbone, it was almost laughable. This was the tyrant who robbed him and his brother of their childhoods; this was the coward who had beaten his sweet, joyful mother down into a zombie. He had seen her just now in your defensive posture, and something in him had gone scarily quiet. Ready. Eager, even.

He had done it once; bullied the bully and forcibly removed his father from the home, and he was all too ready to do it again. He was ready, in that moment, to do whatever it took to be the wall between this evil on his doorstep and the family he had built, that which he cherished above all else. The nerve of this piece of shit, the gall to show up out of the blue like this and contaminate the doorstep had Simon’s anger rising in a persistent wave.

“Why are you here?” His tone didn’t betray the storm of emotions roiling under his skin; he’d had that trained out of him long ago. He didn’t much care what the answer was. What he was really thinking was Say something. Try something. I dare you. I want you to. Let’s finish this.

“Can’t an old, sentimental man visit his son? The manners of your generation!” The man’s taunting expression and jeering tone were almost enough to get his face flattened into the ground. Almost.

“I’m no son of yours - you said that yourself. Now I suggest you take my wife’s advice and go back to whatever hole you crawled out of.”

“Wife! Atta boy,” the man cackled, barreling on and completely ignoring him. “And a tyke too. Taking after the old man after all, are we?”

Simon’s knuckles flexed. You were right when you said he was nothing like the man standing before him; he had worked hard to be sure of it. Every therapy session, every time he communicated with you when he was upset, every time he cooled off before arguing, every time he looked at his infant daughter and vowed silently to the universe to only ever show her safety and love, he was making sure of it. Every time he used his strength and brutality - perhaps the only gifts his father ever gave him - for the good and safety of the world and made the decision not to bring it home with him he was making sure of it. Every time he used his pay to pay bills and take care of the house instead of spending it at the pub, he was making sure of it. Every time he nurtured the friendships and brotherhood he had with his teammates, he was making sure of it. Everything he was as a man, as a husband, as a father, was in spite of his upbringing, not because of it. And he would be damned if this man would take credit for any of it.

It was on the tip of his tongue, this acidic rebuttal, when realization struck: he’d won. He’d grown into a man he was proud to be, a man who embodied everything his father had tried to beat out of him. He’d created a home where he and his loved ones felt safe, he’d found a good-hearted woman and built her up rather than draining the life from her, and now she was a great mother to his daughter. His beautiful little daughter who would never know the fear, the hunger, and the confusion that had marked his earliest years.

The realization was shocking and humbling, and he blinked, taking in the scene before him with seemingly new eyes. The dirty, snarling man before him was nothing. Not a challenge, not a threat, nothing more than a nuisance. Not worth the air it would take to explain why he was wrong, and certainly not worth putting his hands on and causing a scene.

Simon let out a long breath, and with it, decades’ worth of something to prove. The man before him wouldn’t hear it, and couldn’t understand it, and that was okay. Because Simon understood it, and you understood it, and one day your daughter would understand too. He could see his future stretching out before him, and there simply was no room for the mean little man on his porch.

“If you ever come back here, you’ll regret it.” He said, finally.

And then he closed the door.

#simon ghost riley #simon riley x reader #cod ghost #mwii ghost #simon riley fanfic #girl dad ghost #cod fanfic #mwii fanfic

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kisses4kaia · 1 year

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* 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 - 𝐝, 𝐝𝐢𝐱𝐨𝐧

𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲; you and daryl get into a fight and daryl realizes what he needs to do for you to forgive him. season 6 era. (based on the prompt: "let me show you how sorry i am.")

𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬; angst, smut, p in v, unprotected sex (dont), makeup sex, a lil bit of fluff, and oral sex (f receiving), cursing, and i think that's it.

𝟏,𝟑𝟗𝟖 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬

"fuck's your problem?" your boyfriend yelled, trailing behind you as you walked away to collect your nerves.

this made you stop dead in your tracks and turn on your heels.

"my problem? my fucking problem? my problem is that you seem to think it's okay to disrespect me simply because you've had a shitty day. i didn't deserve that, daryl!" you yell in his face.

he seemed to take every word you spoke with negligence and little to no consideration. "i've had a bad day, okay? i'm sorry if i lashed out on ya, or something. wasn't my intention, but ya need to get over yourself. not everything revolves around ya, y/n."

you scoffed. "you're not fucking sorry. don't try to find me till you understand what an honor it is to call me your girlfriend." you walk away.

you know your worth, and you were damned if you were going to let a man degrade it.

that fact didn't change this one, a slight pang of hurt, or rather disappointment, shot through you. you truly didn't expect this from him, of all people.

"crazy of you to think i would even try to find you!" he called out. you simply put your middle finger up, not even turning your head or stopping.

"hey," daryl approached rick grimes. "hey, daryl. what's on your mind?" his deep southern accent sounded.

"think i messed up, with y/n," daryl practically groaned out. "ah. what do you want me to do?" rick asked, a half-amused look on his face.

"i dunno, tell me what i'm s'posed to do," he spoke. "well, depending on how severely you 'messed up', i'd say she deserves an apology, flowers and uh..." he trailed off before laughing.

"what? what is it?"

"an apology, flowers, and good sex."

oh.

daryl cleared his throat before nodding. "yeah, got it. thanks, rick." he was quick to turn and walk away. why? there was an obvious tent pitching below his belt.

as you sat on your alexandria home bed, reading, you heard a familiar knock on the door frame. you looked up and saw daryl. not only him but a bouquet of wildflowers tied together at the stem with a piece of brown twine in a pretty bow, as well.

your straight face did not falter. "you coming in or what?" you invited, setting your book down on your bedside table.

"oh, yeah," he entered the room, shutting the door behind him. he handed you the flowers and you inhaled the scent.

"thanks," you smile slightly at him, also setting the flowers down on your bedside table. he nodded, wordlessly. "so?" you said, waiting for him to say what he wanted to say.

"uh... i want to uh, say sorry, for the way i treated ya today. wasn't fair of me, and you deserve better. 'm sorry." daryl spoke. you smiled genuinely at him.

"thank you, dar. i love you, and that's never gonna change, m'kay?" you leaned closer to him playing with the hair that fell messily down his forehead. "i love ya, too. and, i really am sorry," he reciprocated, continuing to stare into your eyes.

you were always so entranced by him. how he carried himself, how he always got back up when he was struck down, how he always came back to you.

the thoughts overwhelmed your brain to the point where you didn't even realize you were leaning in until you felt his lips on yours.

the kiss was slow, deep, and passionate. it was different from the hot, rough, and sloppy kisses you two had shared before.

you only pulled away for air and when you did, he pushed you back onto your back and crashed his lips onto yours once more.

without disconnecting, you pushed his vest off of his shoulders and discarded it somewhere in the room.

your breathing became heavier when you soon felt as though everything was on fire and you were overdressed.

you threw your top off and tugged at the hem of daryl's button-up shirt. he took account of this and quickly removed the garment.

soon, all of both of your and daryl's clothes were on the floor, save for your panties. daryl attacked your jaw and neck with kisses and immediately went for the sweet spot on your collarbone he had grown to know so well.

he began to kiss a trail down your torso until he was face to face with your aching core.

"lemme show you just how sorry i am."

the words churned in your tummy and you bucked your hips closer to his face, needing him. he soon understood that he might've actually wanted this more than you did.

daryl pulled your underwear off your legs and kissed up your inner thigh. he wanted to relish in this, this feeling of euphoria he felt every time he got the honor to spend time in between your legs.

when he connected his lips to your clit, you let out a satisfactory gasp. "oh god," you breathed out when his tongue dipped inside of you.

your fingers gravitated to his hair and you tangled them in it. you tugged and pulled as he continued to eat you out like he was starving. the moans he let out vibrated against you and only pushed you closer to the edge.

and when he added his fingers? oh, there was no way you were lasting much longer.

he pumped a curled finger in and out of you, all whilst continuing to suck on your bud. "c'mon, pretty girl. cum for me," he said.

it was not long after that you felt the chord in your stomach snap. you grinded your cunt against his face, riding out your release.

"good girl," daryl said, bringing his face back up to yours, kissing you deeply. the taste of your own juices on your tongue only increased your libido.

in one swift motion, you caught your boyfriend off guard and flipped the both of you over. now in a straddling position, you put your lips on daryl's as you sunk down on him.

"oh, fuck baby," he uttered. his big hands landed on your hips, guiding you as you began to bounce up and down on his cock.

"daryl," was the only thing your brain could manage to speak out. "yeah, just like that," he praised, adding more to your foggy head.

his hands moved from your waist to your breasts, carefully kneading them, occasionally pinching and twisting your nipples.

"fuck, y/n. i'm gonna cum," he admitted as you chased your highs. "me t-too, shit,"

"together?" he asked, looking up at you. you nodded, a smile forming on your face. soon, both of your orgasms approached and you just looked down at him at your neediest. he nodded at you and you let go for the second time.

his relief washed over him at the same time, your fluids mixing in your womb. "i love you so much," he breathed against the skin of your shoulder as you rode out both of your highs.

"i'd love me too if i was you, too," you teased. "psh," he chuckled. a few moments of silence passed.

"i do love you, though. forever and always."

kaia speaks ! 💌: fanks for 100 you guys !! this was not nearly as long as i wanted it to be, but i still do hope you enjoyed it. i love each and every one of your horny freaks so much and you're amazing ! 💖💖❤❤💗💗💋💋💋

#daryl dixon smut #twd daryl #daryl x reader #daryl dixon #the walking dead smut #twd amc #twd #the walking dead #daryl dixon imagine #daryl dixon fanfiction #daryl dixon x reader #kaia writes daryl

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windwheeler-aster · 1 year

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stargazing

summary: with news of aquila being spotted in a starry sky near you, your friend childe and you quickly find a night to stargaze together. however, while you’re trying your best to stay warm and look for that damned constellation, childe’s eyes seem to be on something else. or rather, someone else...

masterlist | advent calendar

pairing: childe x reader

reader info: uses gender neutral pronouns (they/them), reader and childe are friends, and reader is not traveler

word count: 854 words (3 mins~)

genre: romance, friends to lovers, fluff

format: one shot

warnings: brief descriptions of making out and things escalating quickly

a/n: no you don’t understand the CHOKEHOLD this fic idea had on me when i thought of it. i wrote it in one sitting (which explains its quality) and have not stopped thinking about this idea (/trope) since then... oh well💖

"Is the blanket really necessary?” He teased you.

You brought the warm blanket closer around you, as though wrapping a protective shawl around yourself; intent on deflecting Childe’s teasing. And also the night’s frost, which seemed to have no effect on your friend.

“Well, some of us are warm blooded,” you retorted in a half-bitter and half-sleepy tone, “and some of us also get really cold, really easily. So, yes, the blanket is necessary.”

Childe looked over at you, the night’s stars reflecting back in his blue eyes. His eyes seemed to be on some aimless search, darting from one corner of your face to another, as Childe’s lips parted. There was no doubt he didn’t not see your own eyes dart to the subtle gap between his seemingly-perfect lips. But, in a rare act of kindness, Childe made no indication of it.

“What are you looking at me like that for?” you asked him. “It was your idea to look at the stars, dumb dumb.”

“Looking at you like what?”

“Like that!” you said, accusingly, as you saw that lopsided grin takeover his face.

“You just…” his mouth parted further this time, and you noticed Childe’s hand reach out to you. But some invisible force acted upon him, and the ginger retracted into himself. He shifted his gaze to the night’s sky and shook his head. “Nevermind.”

“Oh, so now you’re interested in the stars—”

“Hey, look! Aquila, right there— dead center, you can’t miss it.”

You tried to look for Aquila, the constellation that was the whole reason for this night of stargazing, but couldn’t find it. Seeing your confusion, Childe leaned over and pointed to the sky, gently tracing the stars. To be honest, you couldn’t remember what Aquila was supposed to look like— and Childe’s tracing didn’t help as much as you wanted it to—but you enjoyed the excuse to be closer to him.

“Oh,” you murmured, feigning a sense of realization at finding Aquila as you drew out the ‘o’.

“Do you see it now?” he asked.

You nodded, “Yeah.”

Childe gently leaned his head onto yours, a yawn spilling out of him as he sat beside you. “Pretty cool, right?”

“Hm,” you hummed your agreement. “When did you have the time to learn constellations?”

“I didn’t.”

“What?”

“I learned some,” Childe explained, “because you mentioned how nice it would be to go stargazing. And one of my siblings really loves the stars, so they were pretty happy to help me learn to recognize some constellations.”

“Oh,” you murmured. “That’s… really sweet of you to do, Childe.”

“Yeah, well, that’s what friends are for, right?” he chuckled. “Now scoot over and give me some of that blanket, I’m getting cold.”

Without verbal complaint, although there was an exaggerated eye roll directed to the ginger, you open the blanket up to him. He gently pulls it over so it covers the shoulder farthest from you. One of Childe’s hands sneaks down to your side, wherever it touches now struck ablaze, only to rub his knuckles against your own. Then, he relaxes into your side and puts his head on top of yours, sighing blissfully.

“What’s got you so happy?” you asked. “I can’t be that good of a head rest.”

Childe chuckled, now pressing his cheek into your scalp instead of his pointed chin. “I’m enjoying your company, dummy. It’s what friends do.”

You feel his knuckles shift closer to yours, again, so you dare to ask him, “Do— can friends hold hands, then?”

“Maybe. If friends are comfortable doing it, that is.”

“Well... I am.”

You felt giddy as he intertwined his fingers with yours. It felt so right, you thought as the excitement bubbled inside you.

“Can… Can friends kiss each other, as well?” Childe tentatively asked. “Like, on the cheek or something…”

“Well, if friends are comfortable doing it. Right?” You chuckled, enjoying this much shyer side of Childe. “Which I am, by the way.”

With that, Childe slowly pulled his head off of yours. He pressed a small kiss to your cheek, just below the eye on your right side, like he suggested. His lips felt nice there, like something sweet but unfortunately too quick.

They also felt nice on the apple of your cheek, along the brim of your nose, your other cheek, your forehead— until finally he reached your lips. But he broke away from your lips, just as quickly as the other kisses before, and parted from you.

For a moment, you two just stared at each other. There was a bewildered, as well as guilty, expression plastered across your friend’s face. A knowing look passed between you two, the line of friendship crossed as soon as Childe’s lips pressed down onto your skin.

But it didn’t matter, in the end, as you pulled him back in for a second round of affection beneath the stars, your heart and his swelling at the mutual reciprocation. And all you could hope for was that the stars looked over you two, a mess of sloppy kisses and giggles, as exhaustion slowly crept over you both.

taglist:

@x-zho @cxlrosii @i23kazu @tiredsleep

(send an ask to be added or removed)

thank you for reading 💖 all forms of interaction to my posts are appreciated 💖

#wheeler's recs #genshin impact x reader #genshin x reader #childe x reader #tartaglia x reader #ajax x reader #childe one shots #tartaglia one shots #ajax one shots #romance #friends to lovers #fluff #genshin advent calendar 2022

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acourtofantumbra · 6 months

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Was doing a deep dive for a future post about *gestures wildly* witches... Manon's lineage... cross-world connections... something I've found that feels actually tangible, maybe. Anyway, despite only dipping a toe into the ToD reread so far (I am not a ToD hater lol I'm just busy) I found myself checking a moment from KoA and took a nosedive into something immediately shinier. But it was so sudden I didn't have time to do my usual highlights/scribbles on my (currently dead) ipad so... enjoy my measly Kindle highlights.

I KNOW many folks have beautifully analyzed SJM's repeated character names because at one point SJM herself basically said, "I keep a record of all of them and I know what I've used."

I've seen folks flag important repeats for years now (we've seen this film before, A+ work, it keeps me up at night!), but the heavy hitters have been Briar, Thanatos, Cormac and even Ruhn (you know... the Erilean mountains and the hottie who knows 3 things).

So it stands to reason that repeated names might deserve some extra scrutiny... And I pray we get some pay off with that in CC3.

Anyway, as I'm pulling at the thread of ToG witches via our (my) favorite queen - Manon - I hadn't realized I fully forgot her dad's name. Frankly, of all the plot points from ToG, Manon's story's specifics were the haziest... except where Dorian is concerned I'm a mere mortal... and that has me suspicious regardless. Anywayyyy, as you can see above, it's Tristan. Tristan Crochan.

I cannot fully explain the cartwheel flip my brain did thumbing through the roladex of SJM's characters... because Tristan Flynn was not the energy my brain was ready for after reading this really sad passage about Manon's murdered family.

On my first read of the SJMU I went ACOTAR (long break between the original and ACOSF) -> CC -> TOG. And on my first TOG read, this passage triggered no alarm bells. I probably just didn't remember Flynn all that much. But after my CC reread... oh. I remember him. Don't you worry.

Now I am fan of Flynn. He's got a rakishness I simp for, I root for him and the dragon, and clocked his lordship woes despite having what we've all decided is a "hot dad". He's a good time. And Flynn feels like someone to watch! He makes an appearance in not one, but two, CC bonus chapters... and he's got a crush on the aforementioned dragon, who either was introduced for no reason or is gonna be a key player going forward. Or SJM is fucking with us. I don't have the answers.

But what I'm struck by Tristan-wise is a) the similarity in the little physical descriptors we get - brown hair, brown eyes and b) not actually Flynn-related... but a deeply similar sounding story to none other than the Autumn King. Daughter you didn't know was born to a woman you claim was your real love... check. Searching far and wide with a singular focus on recovering your daughter... check. Having another kid out of obligation and duty to continue on important bloodlines... check!!!

It might not have anything to do with Flynn at this current moment... but it's not implausible. Lord Flynn is of course a beloved frat-pack member living in a dump with his fellow bros. He specifically pops up in these bonus chapters going through the motions necessitated by his aristocratic bloodline. His mom/family is eager to marry him and his sister off - of course he seems miserable about the whole idea. But also resigned to it? It seems complicated. TLDR there's a world where Flynn's like "woof, yeah I gotta get married off but the heart wants what it wants!" There is precedent!

Also, I've been 👀 Flynn since it was flagged that he has "super rare earth powers" not commonly seen in Valbaran Fae... first off, what does that mean? Second, hot?!

Well I've done it again, so many words and nothing really of note to take away haha. I'll be honest, my mind was not in a Tristan Flynn headspace!! I'm kind of bogged down in my own thoughts about the witchier women of this multiverse... but in my dragon theory speculation Flynn popped up again and I really can't explain why random dead ends are turning up Tristan!!! I'm not mad about it, but I wish I understood.

#sjm multiverse #throne of glass #cc3 #sjm multiverse spoilers #sjm theory #manon blackbeak #tristan flynn #tristan crochan #crochan witches #rhiannon crochan #crescent city #house of sky and breath #kingdom of ash #autumn king #bryce quinlan

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fantasies-fairytales-n-fics · 9 months

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Thranduil and Josie Pt. 156- The Beast Within

Summary: Narcisse tends to a disoriented Jo until the double interference of those who care for her. She receives a disturbing vision. Legolas and company go to battle. The Prince has a repeated experience. Boromir needs aid. Holy Haldir and Jo moment. Narcisse reels. Thranduil's changes become physically pestilent.

*Warnings* angst, language, violence

Stories Stories Stories Masterlist

Spinning. You were spinning, so fast inside some illuminated violet vortex, screaming as you frantically fought to grab onto something, but there was only space. The speed was taking your breath away, the constant spiraling was making you severely nauseated. You couldn't open your eyes if you wanted to...and then..it all just stopped.

You awoke to a feeling of light bouncing...and the smell of peppermint tickling your nose. As your vision cleared through your fluttering eyelids, you realized it was that of Narcisse's chest hair tickling you through his open V-neck waistcoat while he carried you. All of the nausea you recalled experiencing was gone, most likely due to his scent just as it had healed you once before from the wolfsbane.

"St...Stephane?? W...what...happened? Why..are you carrying me? Wh..where am I?" you stuttered as you lifted your head to look around.

"Shhh, hush my love. You are safe. We are almost back to the castle." he explained and softly kissed your forehead.

You turned to see the castle in the near distance and what appeared to be Haldir speaking with....Bard?? You then brought your weary eyes back to Stephane's.

"I...I fell....I was...looking for..."

What were you looking for? you thought in your confused state.

"Youuu...do not remember what you were doing in the dark forest?? For that is where I found you. Indeed you had fallen, down a rather deep hole. I found you unresponsive and flew you out."

You squinted as you tried to remember. Your head hurt and all you could see was a fog.

"You...you saved me? H..how did you find me?"

"Your scent for one...as I was in the vicinity after attending to an unruly Catherine...and also, I could feel your presence. We are very connected, you and I...especially after...well..."

You smiled, knowing very well you were blushing as you recalled making crazy love to him the night before....but then you also remembered something else..

"Oh my god...Garrett!..That's what I was doing...looking for him. Stephane, he is not dead! I..I heard him singing....and talking to me...I...ugggh!! Why does my head hurt???"

You pinched the top of your nose between your eyes as you grimaced and whimpered.

"Most likely you have struck your head during the fall. Lay upon my chest. I will get you some healing water as soon as we get you back to your bed. You need rest."

You did as he asked, for you could not hold yourself up any longer.

"The forest...it...it didn't make you sick?"

"No, Jo. Remember? I am immune to poison. That includes the evil enchantment of such dark places."

"Oh...yes. I remember now...just like...Garrett is."

"Well, of course he is...for he is of the dark himself."

You could hear it, the jealousy in his tone over your mentions of the vampire you highly adored, so you closed your eyes with a sigh, and said no more.

"Jo??!!" Haldir shouted as he saw Narcisse carrying you and he immediately came charging over with Bard following. "What have you done to her??!!" he then snapped at Stephane with flaring nostils.

"I have done nothing to her! I would never harm her! I found her unconscious from a fall in the dark forest. I believe she may have hit her head."

"H...Haldir??" you weakly mumbled as you tried to open your eyes in response to the marchwarden's voice.

"Yes, sweetheart. It is I. Are you alright??" he lovingly asked as he stroked your strands from your eyes.

As he touched you, you saw a flash of Mirkwood's forest, not understanding why....and you couldn't respond because for some reason, you were extremely exhausted with one hell of migraine now.

"GIVE her to me." Haldir commanded through clenched teeth.

"I am handling this. Your assistance is not needed!" Narcisse growled as his animal instincts surfaced to protect you.

"I know what you are and it does not intimidate me in the least. Do you think one night gives you have some claim to her? Now hand the Queen to me. I will not order it again." Haldir snarled as he held his arms out and stepped forward.

"And you believe your one night gives it to you?? She chose me. Deal with it elf."

Bard then intervened between the two angered immortals.

"Lord Narcisse. The shipment I have brought needs your attention, for I have a request from Thr.....the captain of the guard for an addition to the return shipment which requires your approval and signature. The Queen will be in good hands with her great friend Haldir, for he means nothing but the best for her care. That...is what is important, yes?"

"B...Bard...it is you that...I saw?" you finally spoke a little more clearly at hearing a familiar voice from home.

"Yes, my lady. It is very good to see you after all this time. I am sorry it has to be under such circumstances and a short one at that, for I must make my long journey back soon. I was hoping to meet the new Princess, but maybe another time. I offer you my congratulations."

The bowman was having a very hard time keeping Thranduil's existence to himself as commanded to him by the King of Mirkwood, for he could not stand to see you in the arms of the warlock lord after hearing Haldir's spontaneous statement, but he knew he must, or he would face the wrath of the Elvenking.

"No...Bard...you mustn't leave. It is too dangerous. A murderous warlock by the name of Harker, is terrorizing Dorwinion. Please...stay, until he is reprimanded. You would be an easy target all alone on the river." you explained with pleading eyes.

"Why my lady, are you questioning my superior skills after killing the almighty Smaug with one shot?" Bard jested with a playful grin.

"No, of course not." you replied with a tired chuckle. "But he has killed many men here with comparable talent. I...I would just worry for you is all. Stephane?? You would not mind right? There is room for him somewhere...and I would like him to stay and meet Leean and I would like to speak with him more. I missed him the last time he was here and he won't be back for another two weeks."

Narcisse hesitated, for he did not like Bard's insulting interference just now, but to keep you satisfied and worry free, he reluctantly obliged.

"Yes...I will arrange accommodations."

"Great, It is settled then." Bard almost cheered in his happiness to remain there and do damage control when it came to you. The King of Dale had taken quite a fancy to you when he had first met you back in Lake Town and you had always been so gracious of him as well, so he felt a need to protect you, just as he had done when he aided in yours and Haldir's rescue from Peter's cabin.

"Yes, it is. Now...for the last time...the queen..." Haldir scoffed at Narcisse.

"I have really had enough of you giving me commands in my kingdom sprite. Just who is it that you think you are??"

"Stephane...you promised...I...I want to go with Haldir." you quickly told him with stern eyes....and it made Haldir grin from pointy ear to pointy ear.

Sighing, he recalled agreeing to stop giving Haldir a hard time but it was difficult to do when the elf acted as if you were his property, the way he imagined King Thranduil would be. He also hated the fact that you wanted the elf and not him to care for you. The bond you had with Haldir, he was indeed envious of.

Reluctant once again, Narcisse submitted and slid you over into Haldir's arms, where you quickly latched on to the Lorien elf's neck and cuddled your face against him, missing his strawberry essence and calming touch.

As Haldir laid you down on your bed, for some reason, Legolas entered your thoughts. It wasn't just your usual random thoughts of him that you had on a daily basis, it was your intuition screaming at you that the Sindar Prince was in danger.

Your intuition turned into a vision...a vision of orcs surrounding him. Gasping in panic, you sat up, screaming for him before you passed out.

"Leggy!!!!"

Legolas, Aragorn and Gimli had headed into the forest that same morning, deterred from departing their camp at the Old Forest Road's end along the River Running. Boromir had alerted them of oncoming orcs and then he ran off as they were packing the boats. It was already known Jareth would send his viscous army to track and kill those that had invaded his realm and took the Elvenking, but they had hoped the trail would be lost when they had changed course.

In their search for the warrior of Gondor, they were attacked from all angles, but with little effort, the trio took them all out, Aragorn with his sword, Gimli with his axe and Legolas with his bow.

These orcs were not solely the orcs that dwelled all through middle earth's mountains and forests that the three were accustomed to. These were a crossbreed of orcs, goblins and men, referred to as Uruk-hai, created by Jareth to strengthen his army. Mutant monsters they simply were, only stronger, bigger and wiser than the ordinary orc...except for Arzog, which Legolas knew he would face again someday after the defiler's defeat on Lestat's mountain.

Legolas stood guard as Aragorn finished off the last orc for the time being, for there surely would be more. As Legolas did so...he heard it again...you...calling his name in fear.

"Josie???" he reeled as his moonstone eyes darted all around. But just as once before....he heard nothing more....except for a horn blowing in the distance.

"The horn of Gondor!" Legolas shouted as more orcs invaded.

"Boromir!!"

Aragorn went rushing past him, charging through the monsters, slaying them on the way, to locate the captain of the white tower who carried the sounding horn.

The elf and dwarf ran off to follow the ranger, slaughtering at least two dozen more of the beasts before they came upon Boromir, once again blaring the horn to alert them of his whereabouts.

The King of Gondor was the first to arrive, hurdling through the trees and releasing a can of Aragorn whoop ass on the next group of homely brutes.

The intense fight continued as the quartet defeated them all in union, one by one but more orcs kept appearing from the trees, and one of those was their leader, the biggest and ugliest demon of them all....Lurtz.

As Boromir swung his sword, ending the atrocious beings in his path, Lurtz took special aim of his bow at unaware red haired warrior, firing one of the morgul arrows into his chest.

Although stunned by the strike, it did not stop Boromir from going down without a fight. Bravely, he powered on through his pain, as Legolas, Aragorn and Gimli fought their own attackers, unaware that Boromir had been struck.

Lurtz then aimed again, twice as Boromir turned to see the deadly arrows flying at him with no time to react. They pierced him in the stomach and this time, he dropped in defeat, unable to take anymore as he gasped for air.

"Nooooooo!!!" Aragorn shouted as he witnessed his good friend's take down a little too late. Legolas and Gimli came charging in, fending off the surrounding guild to protect Boromir as Aragorn attacked Lurtz.

The man verses orc battle was long and bloody, and the fang toothed orc liked blood, enough so that he licked it off of his blade with his serpent like tar colored tongue as a befuddled and injured Aragorn watched.

Lurtz then came at the ranger, who surprised the slate skinned orc by slicing his morgul blade wielding arm right off.

It became apparent to Aragorn that Lurtz was immune to pain, for it had only angered the orc, and he proved it by pushing his body onto Aragorn's sword as he roared his ungodly breath into his face.

"You may not feel that, but you will feel this!" Aragorn validated as he yanked his sword free of the orc's ghastly guts and swiftly beheaded the beast of his burdens.

Aragorn then ran to the aid of his greatly injured friend as Legolas and Gimli finished off the few remaining orcs.

"You must tell the queen about my brother." Boromir pleaded through his faint breaths as he was quickly becoming pale.

"You will tell her yourself...and she will heal you as well, for I have seen what she can do. You must hold on my friend."

Aragorn was referring to Gausyr, the elf of Rivendell who was once dark and you brought him back to the light with the simple touch of your hands and extraordinary heart of compassion and empathy. Aragorn had healing power, but not the kind you possessed that was needed for such wounds.

"Legolas, Gimli! Help me get him to the boats." the ranger commanded as he broke the poisoned arrows off and removed them from Boromir's body, then wrapped his wounds tightly with his cloak to try and slow the blood loss.

Once loaded, off they paddled down the stream and entered the Celduin to hopefully make it to the Dorwinion castle by dusk and in time to save Boromir. The blood loss was great and it was clear he also had a punctured lung which could very well kill him before the poison did.

You awoke to see Haldir's concerned ultramarine orbs gazing at you as he gently patted your forehead with the magical healing water. A sight for sore eyes he certainly was, the elf you had repeatably hurt, still at your side.

A soft smile formed on his lips as you gazed back into his eyes and reached up to touch his porcelain colored cheek.

"Y..you're still here?"

"Of course I am Jo...are you feeling better now?"

"Actually...yes...but..."

You then remembered Legolas and sat right up with a gasp.

"Leggy!...Haldir, I...I...saw him..."

He tilted his head at you. "In the...forest earlier? Has he come back?"

"No..no..in a...vision...I can't explain it, for this vision thing is all so new and comes and goes when it pleases...but...I saw him and there were orcs all around...and...and then it all just vanished...Haldir, what if he is in trouble?? Are my visions prophetic like my dreams? or did it already happen? Or was it happening as I saw it??? Or..was I just hallucinating or something from the dark forest or maybe I hit my head like Narcisse said and..."

"Jo...Jo, please...slow down. Take a breath. I wish I had the answer for you. Did you see where he was by chance??"

"I....there was...a river...and...wait...I know the river! It's the one he and I came here on...the Celduin."

"It runs alongside Mirkwood for a good distance. There could possibly be an orc invasion. It has happened before at the elven gates of Forest river. Jo...Legolas is highly skilled as you well know and he has an entire elven army at his back...but...we can always go to Mirkwood. I can take you and Leean away from here.."

"I...I cannot go without that book. Harker must be stopped, Jareth too. I need to get my dad back and end all this....then..."

"Then...you will leave here with me like you once said you would? Or...stay with Narcisse like you have decided to do instead.."

Haldir's eyes filled with sadness and all you could do was what you wanted to do since you first awoke...what you have wanted to do for so long now.

You pulled Haldir into a hug, gripping your arms snuggly around his neck. The shocked elf held his hands momentarily about behind you, then he slowly and firmly returned the embrace.

"I...I just want to stay like this. I want everything to be like it used to be between us. I miss you so much Haldir. That is why I wanted you to bring me here and not Stephane." you confessed, sniffling into his sweet fruity strands.

"It is all that I want too Jo....but....why...why did you do it...why him Jo."

You quickly ended the embrace and stared at him. "I...I do not want to talk about that with you."

"But you will allow me to hear it instead." he retorted and pursed his lips. "I was here with your daughter, right across the hall and you gave no regards to knowing I would know. I know that you owe me no explanations, but a little respect would be suffice, for you know how I feel about you."

"I...I don't know why...I...am sorry. I never meant to hurt you and yet that's all I seem to do...you're right, I should have had more respect for your feelings...I'm just so...lost...and I got caught up in a moment and he was there and..."

"I was there Jo! I am here Jo! I have always been here! Why did you not come to me instead??" Haldir snapped and got up to pace like he always did when he was angry.

"And now...you're mad at me again...you're always mad at me, we are always fighting and I can't take it anymore. It...it hurts me too, so much, that I am hurting you..."

"Really?? It would seem I was the last thing on your mind last night Jo...I always am last anymore. We have had this conversation more than once and nothing changes! Why did you even save me Jo?? I would rather have succumbed to my three thousand years by a bowl of poisoned soup than to suffer this."

"Is that even a serious question?? I saved you because I...care about you!! Deeply! Did you think I was just going to let you die?? Just like before, I risked everything to get that damn pendant for you when you stupidly drank the poisoned wine! You could have just knocked the glass from Thranduil's hand, but no, you had to go and be the hidden hero once again!""

"Oh I am definitely hidden alright, in the shadows of Narcisse and Garrett! And ahhh yes, speaking of the devil himself, the poisoned wine by GARRETT who was trying to kill your king! The same vampire I am willing to bet YOU stupidly went into the dark forest looking for and look what happened. Am I close Jo?? It is a good thing your ever so trusted and perfect warlock found you, you know, the one who ALSO gets to call you Jo? I suppose I am to blame that Garrett ever gained any kind of control over you, for I knew you would not uphold your promise to not go and try to bargain with him for the pendant, and I will forever feel responsible for that, but I never thought in a million years that you would fall for him. Am I close again Jo? Hell, I even comforted you last night when you believed he was dead, even after I knew you had relations with Narcisse only hours before. All these things I do for you, and I am last to get any acknowledgement because I STUPIDLY am still in love with you..."

All went quiet as you both intensely stared into each other's eyes. You hadn't seen Haldir this angry in a very long time and honestly, you couldn't blame him. You knew he was right about everything and would never see the good in Garrett.

"Look...yes, I went into the forest to try and find out where he was. I was actually looking for Amara because I think she knows...I...I don't know what happened...I don't remember anything after falling, except for excruciating pain in my head and dizziness. I...I almost feel like...I may have even died and left my body, I can't explain it. You're right, it was stupid to go alone, but if I had asked you to go, would you? I highly doubt it and we would have ended up in another fight, just like now. I know you don't care for him, but I feel he is in some kind of trouble. I mean, Haldir, did you forget he saved Legolas?? Does that even matter to you?"

Haldir shook his head with a cocky grin. "I would have went and you know it, to keep you safe. I...I am at a loss with you anymore Jo...I just told you I am in love with you still and all you can do is stand here and defend that fucking vampire!"

To say Haldir was angry was now an understatement, for swearing was not in his vocabulary. It was yours though and obviously your influence was rubbing off on him and not for the better.

"I...I am sorry to interrupt, but...please...your tones. It will scare the child." Lola timidly said as she skittishly and foolishly crept up behind him.

"What business is this of yours girl? Leave the room and give us some privacy!" Haldir barked at her as he spun around, making her jump.

"Haldir Galahon! Do not speak to Lola in such a way!" you scolded. "Apologize at once!"

He halted his pacing and whipped around to you, lips pursed again, nose flaring.

"I will not. It is common courtesy to excuse yourself of a private conversation and to not...how would you say it Jo? Butt the hell in!"

"I...I'm sorry...I...I will go." Lola squeaked and ran out.

"Nice Haldir, nice! You're pissed at me, I get it, but don' t be a jackass to Lola who has been nothing but a godsend since we came here."

"We never should have stayed here. It's this place...everything between us changed, no thanks to Narcisse and even Garrett."

"Everything changed because my husband died!!!!!" you shouted and flung up to your feet. "Thranduil, remember him???"

"Obviously you don't! Sleeping with the enemy! Pining after another enemy...leading his son on...it is a good thing Legolas kept his wits about him and wised up! Maybe I should too finally! I was only good enough for you when you thought Thranduil was unfaithful! Now that he is dead, your new cock of choice are that of warlocks and vampires."

Your eyes stung of tears as your blood began to swelter in fury and you then found your hand speeding to a head on collision with his face, until he snatched your wrist in mid air and yanked you against him.

Gasping, you figured this was where he would either apologize, saying he didn't mean it or he would lay into you some more with his hurtful thoughts...but he did neither. Instead, he planted a deep passionate kiss on your lips.

Your eyes sprung wide open as you whimpered, trying to pushing him away, but it was futile to say the least, for his strong elven arms locked your small body in place. Of course, you could have used magic to free yourself...but you would never use it on him, plus...you quickly found yourself not wanting to push him away.

Your eyes fluttered shut, releasing the tears they held back as your body slowly relaxed within his hold and then you allowed your lips to part and melt into his. The memories of his velvety kisses and being intimate with him flashed through your mind as his sweet strawberry intoxicating taste took you back in time. Was he using his own damn magic on you? His calming effects to make you give in? No...no....this was...real. It was like he woke up the hibernated feelings for him inside of you, for that is all that they had been...asleep. They had never went away.

You found yourself pushing further into him as your fingers entangled in his strands of silk and a soft moan came out your nose. No...no, you couldn't let this happen again, you had to stop it.

This time, you pushed hard, forcing him to release you. Panting as you stood there with your hand over your mouth in shock, you then caught him off guard by serving him the slap he intercepted moments earlier.

"Oh god...I...I'm sorry...I don't know why I..."

Haldir didn't listen, nor did he care as he jerked you back into his arms and reclaimed your mouth....and you let him. His hands then tenderly cupped your face as his tongue softly found yours...this...this was good...and it felt...right....until...

"I....am sorry to interrupt..."

There stood a very frazzled Narcisse.

Both you and Haldir stared at him briefly, then at each other...speechless in the awkward moment.

Narcisse then continued to explain his intrusion with a blatantly obvious scorned tone.

"I...Lola...I found her in the dining hall in tears and she would not tell me what happened, so I....came to find out if everything was alright...apparently...it is from what I can see. I...also wanted to inform you that Catherine has injured herself and is being temporarily held in the infirmary under heavy guard..."

Haldir's eyes softened about Lola. "I...I will go and apologize to her Jo and then send her back."

His eyes also didn't want to break free of yours, but Haldir knew he should go, or things would probably go from bad to worse when it came to him and Stephane.

Haldir quickly exited and Stephane stood in place for a moment, his deeply pained eyes fixated on you.

"Bard's accommodations have been met. He is at the end of the hall, near the sitting room. I must go now and tend to this Catherine issue, for I can see you need nothing from me."

Abruptly, he left. You felt shaky, sick and now more confused than ever as you clumsily sat down, lightly touching your aching tingly lips, still tasting of Haldir. Wine...you needed wine and lots of it.

You drank a large glass down in a few gulps as you gazed at a sleeping Leean, surprised that she slept through all of the commotion. The wicked vintage only intensified his taste, now making the flavor of a strawberry wine.

Lola came back in, cautiously, for when she spoke to Haldir, she detected his demeanor to be rather emotional and Narcisse, whom she passed in the hall, didn't speak to her, nor even look at her as he zipped by in an acute state.

"Josie?? What has happened? Haldir...he was very sweet and apologized, but he...he looked so...lost...and Lord Narcisse, well...one should stay out of his way or they'll certainly be trampled."

"Ughhh...he was here Lola...he saw..."

"He sawwww....what??"

"Haldir and I...we...kissed....Stephane, he walked in....oh god Lola, what have I done? Narcisse has been so good to me, how will I ever explain this to him??"

"Well....what is this...this, that you speak of. First you must figure that out."

You sat back down and threw your hands over your face, sobbing. Lola was right...she was always right. Now what were you going to do??

Thranduil had made his way back to his chambers, lost in a state of utter confusion over what he had just experienced with you, for he didn't even know what that was. Had you projected like he had? Like you possibly also did when he was at Moonlight in Rivendell? Had you even projected all those months ago when he saw your vision in the forest? When you had read his journal? Were you even aware of your shared capability? He had to know, for he could still feel your lips upon his...your taste was inside every corner of his mouth. Hurry he must, and look into your stone, before the Elvenking regained his reign.

His hand vigorously shook as he clutched the moonstone so tight, it should have crumbled into a million pieces, for the vision he saw was not what he expected...Haldir's lips, passionately on yours and you were happily reciprocating.

Slamming it down on the desk, the Elvenking arose and headed to the wine table, guzzling down three glasses in a row, then he turned to stare at the gem. The stare became a glare and he then tossed it back in the lock box, only this time...he removed his moonstone ring and placed it inside too, leaving Jareth's citrine ring to be the sole piece of jewelry he now bore.

He needed to release his frustrations, but this time, it would not be with his cock. Off to a dark private chamber he went, filled with an array of weaponry, solely used by him to work through his demons in a physical manner.

Thranduil removed his robe, revealing his bare and very fit upper body lightly covered by his flowing platinum locks, then he picked up a spear with an extremely sharp and long curved blade. As he placed it before him in his grip, it stood taller than he was.

His face was expressionless, emotionless...just plain empty and then he began to swing it about, fileting the air all around him with his martial art skills.

The more he envisioned you with Haldir...Narcisse even...the faster he swung and the angrier he became.

Something was happening to him in that moment. Something sinister and he didn't even realize it. He was physically changing and not for the better.

His battle scars, they were surfacing, breaking through his magic that he had used to conceal them, his skin was turning as pale as ivory, like a corpse, his smooth flawless face was becoming crusty like chalk, his eyes blackened with an eerie glowing golden hue like the citrine ring itself.

Thranduil moved swiftly with insane stealth and agility, far better than he ever had as he spun around the damp fire lit room. His energy surpassed what he had ever experienced.

The Elvenking was more powerful than ever. He was unstoppable and damn anyone that got in his way.

Th revelation of his becoming, he was now aware of as he stood panting in the bright light that shone down on him from a hole to the outside above.

He then saw his unrecognizable reflection in the blade of his weapon. At first, he was taken aback with a slight feel of panic, but then he quickly embraced it as an elated smile formed on his lips.

"So this is what it's like to be a dark elf lord..." he chuckled.

His deep intimidating voice, the one thing that did not change, then echoed through the vast ominous atmosphere as he shouted.

"I am Thranduil Oropherion!! King of the Woodland Realm! I am.....the ELVENKING!!!!"

(NOTE: Yes, I know that the gifs are of Prince Nuada but it is not intended to be him. I am only using them to show Thranduil's alter image for this fic.)

@redeemer46

youtube

Here we go again, it's madness I swear I don't mean things I scream at you This hate inside of me, it's sadness I can't control the stupid things I do

Over and over and over again It turns on me, it's a beast inside me A beast that I don't even know

Here I go again, relentless The mirror shows the red in my eyes This human being I was once before Is now a scary story filled with lies

Over and over and over again It turns on me, it's a beast inside me A beast that I don't even know

The cages don't work The chains don't hold me down I'm digging my way through the past And clawing at the ground

The cages don't work The chains don't hold me down I'm digging my way through the past And clawing out, clawing out

Over and over and over again It screams at me, it's a beast inside me A beast inside me that I cannot control

A beast in me, there's a beast in me A beast in me

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lizzzylovee · 1 year

Text

Eywa’s Vision

Chapter 1: Arrival

Summary : “Born with the ability to receive visions of the future, Kani must choose to abandon what she knows to aid in Navi that she's never met.“

MDNI

Authors note: Hello! Just wanted to start off by saying that this the first thing I have ever wrote before lol. I have fallen in love with the Avatar Movies, and after binge reading I realized I wanted to attempt to do it.

Story starts off with the original characters in Home Tree, the sky people haven't returned yet, and all the characters are aged up by 5 years! I will be going more by Navi standards as best as possible. There will be mature contents, but each chapter will be labeled appropriately as possible. There will be a mix of languages, and I will try my best to be as distinctive as possible lol.

*This will most likely be more slow burn than not, I don’t want to rush the story line as much I really want to lol. Eventual smut*** If you see this on Wattpad I have also posted it there under the same tag.

WK: about 3k ish?

CW: cursing, Neteyam being in love struck awe lol, nothing really in this chapter

Chapter 1: Arrival Chapter 2: Story Time

Masterlist

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The jungle hummed with life. Through the tall treetops, light seeps through, basking the ground with a peak from the light above. Even with the peaceful feeling, it traps you into a sense of safety.

Crouching down, he looks through the foliage, eyes tracking it's movement. Taking slow breathes, he maneuvers into position, knee bent while kneeling on the ground. Bow grasped tightly in hand, sure movements notches the arrow. With one last inhale, he draws the bow, clenching his core, and with one final glance, he releases.

As the arrow soars, it meets it's final destination, straight into the eyes of the unknowing Yerik.

"Bullseye!"

With a roll of his eyes, he can't help but smirk at the praise of his companion.

"You know bro, one day you too might have a chance of being as good as me."

Spiders smile falls, only to proceed to roll his eyes, and flip off his friends back as he goes to pray over his kill.

"We both know I would kick your ass if I was Navi. Besides, why go hunting if the hunting party already left?"

Lo'ak proceeds to bind his kill, securing the feet together for easier carrying on the way back.

"Because if I show up empty handed, my parents might actually disown me."

"What did you do this time?"

Biting his lip, Lo'ak spares Spider a glance over his shoulder.

"I may or may not have forgotten to watch Tuk, leading her to paint a family portrait on the tent.."

With a baffled look, Spider could only gawk at his friend, watching as he puts the final ties to together.

"And hopefully with my peace offering, my dad might actually rethink the 'life sentence' and take me off cleaning duty."

"Fat chance, but I hope it actually goes well! Kiri's been holed up in the Tsahik tent, last thing I need is my other friend being punished to death." Spider slides down from his watching post, kicking at the grass.

"Other friend, since when did she replace my spot as the best friend?" Lo'ak looks at him, eyebrows furrowed, hand to his chest with mock hurt over his face.

"Oh shut up, let's go home." Spider rolls his eyes, glancing down at the floor, trying his best to get the heat from his face. Lo'ak can only laugh at his friends' inability to admit the truth of his feelings, even though he knows that nothing can come about it. With the raise of his hand cupping the side of his mouth, he makes the sound to call out to his Ikran.

"You know bro, maybe you should go for one of the older scientist." Lo'ak replied with barely hid mirth.

"You're fucking disgusting."

With a final laugh, Lo'ak drags his kill to his Ikran, anchoring it around onto it, giving a few tugs to test it's security.

"Come on bro, we gotta head back before dinner, I don't want to wake up dead before tomorrow."

"You do realize you can't wake up dead right?" Spider clamors on, smacking Lo'aks attempt to assist.

"You act like you've never met my mother." Swinging his body over, Lo'ak climbs on behind Spider, and after making tsaheylu, the Ikran takes off with a final screech.

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Growing up, Lo'ak always dreamed of the day of owning his own Ikran. Flying through the sky with no care of living up to expectations and having the ability to pretend to be who he wants. After his first failed attempt, which he tries his best not to think on, flying came so naturally that it allowed his mind to blank.

Flying back to Home Tree, first glances at the kill he was hauling for his family, and then to Spider to make sure he was secure, though he would never admit due to knowing how Spider would get if he felt like he couldn't keep up with the 18 year old Navi male.

With the wind hitting his face, he looks far ahead to watch for Home Tree to come into the horizon line, making the appropriate turns needed to avoid floating mountains around. Closing his eyes for a second while leaning his head back, he mentally prepares for this peace to end when he comes back home. With opening eyes, his breath catches in his throat at the sight before him.

8 Ikrans, all in a variety of colors, flies just left above them, flying in a distinct, formation. With an open mouth, Lo'ak gawks at the sight in front of him, having to make a conscious effort to close his mouth, least he wants something fly into it. With a titled head, he he squints at the sight, attempting to make sense of what he was seeing.

After carefully peering at the Ikrans, he realizes that it isn't the Ikrans that is causing his sudden heart spike and confusion, it is the way the riding Navi the Ikrans are dressed. Wraps of colorful fabric cover them, unlike the clothes adorned from his clan.

Without taking his eyes off the unfamiliar flock in his sights, he reaches for the throat comm, pressing two fingers to the button on the side.

"Devil dog, I have my sights on some Ikran riders."

"Send your traffic."

"It looks like Navi, but they aren't dressed like anything I've seen before. And they seem to be heading to Home Tree."

"Copy, do not engage. Get home as soon a possible, no interacting."

"Copy that Sir."

"I mean it boy, no fucking around."

With a roll of his eyes, Lo'ak urges his Ikran to fly faster, as the group above seem to have moved expertly through floating rocks, moving as one unit, leaving Lo'ak and his carriage behind. Having set his mind to the task, Lo'ak locks eyes on his unknown enemy, causing Spider to sputter out curses, in the attempt to hold on.

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Home Tree has always seemed to have a certain buzz to it, with all it's inhabitants busy with village life, doing what it expected to help aid the clan having a sustainable life. Excusing himself from the hunter's party, leaving his subordinates with the task of cleaning and appropriately readying the day's kill for the cooks, Neteyam seeks out his father to report the day's happenings when a sudden comotion causes the clan to become on uproar.

Attempting to make sense of what was going on, Neteyam frantically looks around, trying his hardest to find the source that started the sudden defenses.

"Outsiders!"

"They're at the check points!"

Wide eyed and erect ears, Neteyam tries in the gentlest of ways to make his way through the crowd. Knowing it was of no use to radio his father, at least with the yells from around, all he could do was make his way to the front of the crowd, knowing where the choas orginated, his father was already there to contain it.

Swinging his bow over his shoulder, he makes way through the crowd, being internally grateful that being the Olo'eyktan's first son made the clan members aware of just who was bypassing them, almost opening a way for him to make his way through the ground level of Home Tree. After passing by higher level Navi in the clan, the sea of bodies opens up to a sight that instantly puts him on guard.

8 Ikrans. 8 Ikrans that land side by side in the clearing. The animals are restless, screaming and screeching in their language, shifting around on the ground, irritated by the warriors that surround them, sharp spears and bows drawn. Warriors cry, with mother's clutching onto children that seem to be overly curious at the sight in front of them.

Keeping his eyes on the sight in front of him, with him slowly circling his way to the front, Neteyam was so focused on the unknown sight that he almost missed the sight of his baby brother hastily landing his Ikran a ways away, only to fall face first into the ground due to his uncoordinated pace of trying to get off the beast. With a minute shake of his head, he refocused on the intruders, catching the sight of his fathers back making way, with his mother only a few paces behind. Following in line with his parents, he swiftly takes his bow off, hand reaching for the arrow on his person, absently mindlessly notching the arrow, muscles tense.

With a raised hand, the clan leader calms the uproar cries of the clan, all falling silent, only for whispers to muttered, in respect of the chief's orders. With a glance to the crowd forming around, the leader makes way around the warriors, stopping in the middle of the odd dressed intruders still perched on their rides. With each step closer, the whispers die down, anticipation rising in the air, almost suffocating.

"State your business!"

With the roar only a seasoned leader possessed, it seamed as if it had gotten impossible quieter, with clan moving restless against one another, intently watching for the intruders next move.

With slow, but sure movement, the rider situated towards the middle made movement to descent off the Ikran. Moving with grace that isn't known in such a tense situation, the small form touches down. Clothed with colorful wraps around head, face, and body, with only the ability the see into the intruders eyes through the riders mask, the unknown figure makes way to the leader, in calm, sure footed steps, raising a hand to take off the riders mask.

With unblocked eyes, Jake Sully allows himself to survey the figure in front of him. Keeping mind of his mates hand on his shoulder, he notices a distinct feature on the figure, that while it may put his clan in an defensive state of mind, only cause curiosity to bloom in his chest. Instead of the normal Navi feature of only having 3 fingers, the Navi in front possess the same amount that him and two of his children have. With gears turning in his head, he comes back to present day with said figure gestures their fingertips from their forehead down, signing 'I see you'.

Straightening their back, the figure locks eyes on the clan lead, and with a voice clear in the Navi Language, "I see you, Jake Sully. I apologize for the intrusion, but there are matters that I must speak with you on."

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With a mind and body that seems on autopilot, almost as if he is having an out of body experience, Neteyam brings up the back of the group of foreigners, watching as the strange Navi follow almost single file after his dad, with a couple of them clustered together, limbs clenched together as much as the cloth around the bodies allow. Doing his best to keep a close eye, he ignores the stares and whispers of the passing clan members. Due to his height, which almost passes his father at this point, Neteyam adjust his eyes to look further, able to spot his father leading the group to the large meeting tent, mostly used to gather warriors and to hold meetings. He spots his mother walking tensely by his father, muscles tight and an aura that would let anyone know of her mood.

Walking in almost a daydream like state, a hand clamped down on his shoulder, ripping him from his inner observations. Turning to look at the offender, Neteyam could only shake his head at the sight of his younger brother.

"Bro what the fuck is going on?!" Lo'ak tried as best as possible to keep his volume under control, he did, but when one of the foreigners ears swiveled their way, Neteyam was aware that their conversation was not a quiet as his brother believed, regardless with it being in English.

"You know as much as I do, and still you ask this question? Learn to watch before you speak and you will understand much sooner baby brother." Neteyam hissed back, only giving a spare glance at the human that tried his best to keep up with the longer legged Navi.

Slipping his hand off his brother's shoulder, Lo'ak resigned himself to walk behind Neteyam, knowing that while he may sound rude, he was right in the lack of knowledge.

Coming up on the Warrior's tent, the flap was opened, with his father gesturing the inside. A fire was lit in the middle, casting a more ominous glow. Looking around, Neteyam noticed a handful of his fathers warriors inside, weapons drawn tight in their hands, outline the edge of the tent, barely noticing the glare his father sent to his brother, with the promise of punishment if he acted out of turn. The flap was then closed, closing off the rest of the village, leaving his parents, Lo'ak, and warriors surrounding them, as the foreigners huddled together, kneeling down on the ground, with what it seemed to have their legs tucked under their body.

The one that had spoke with his father prior sat on the front, the rest nestled behind, all stilled wrapped in clothes, with a few holding tight as if the wrap was a form of protection, instead of privacy. With his father turning to look at the group, absentmindedly paying attention to his mother pacing with agitation behind, he takes a last glance and addresses the group.

"Who are you, and where are you from?" Jake spoke in Navi, voice unwavering despite the tension around. After a passing second from the group, the figure in front makes the move to first remove the wrap around their head, causing the cloth from her nose down to fall, revealing their face. Neteyam's eyes widen, not realizing that the cause of so much commotion in his clan, was actually the most stunning woman he has ever seen. Roaming his eyes, he took in every feature.

She had long dark hair, way longer than the women in his clan kept theirs, with half her hair up, secured by what seemed to be a tie with crystals on it. Looking through the hair that framed her face, he took in her facial features, noticing bright eyes rimmed with black, down to her nose, with a half crescent object hanging from her nose. Her ears were pierced in a similar fashion to his mothers, with feathers looped through and hanging through them. Her neck was adorned with a neck piece, though it was not in a similar fashion found in his clan. It was adorned with crystals, their reflections bouncing from the light caused by the flickering fire in front. His eyes caught the hair above her eyes, similar in the way he has seen on his dad, brother or sisters face. High cheekbones framed and shaped her face, leading to a relaxed facial expression, as if she was unaffected by today's turn of events.

While lost in his thoughts, he was seemingly broken out of his spell when she opened her mouth.

"While I understand the reason for warriors to be present, I do believe this conversation would be best handled with as much privacy as possible."

Everyone in the room froze.

Not for the words actually spoken, but for the language she replied in.

"How the fuck does she know English?"

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Well there’s part one! Hopefully you guys like it! I will try my best to attempt to keep everything organized, but Imma be honest, idk how to tf to put stuff together when it comes to links lol. Once again, there will be eventual smut, just gotta set the mood lmfao. Thank you so everyone that took the time to read! Also if you ever curious about the OC characters and how the family dynamics works, hopefully this guide helps lol.

***Kani***

Youngest Daughter

Kekunan Clan

***Heatey***

Oldest brother

Mate: Tal'i (22)

Kekunan Clan

***Naya'il***

Older sister

Mate: Tsuten (21)

Kekunan Clan

***Zernem***

Youngest brother

Kekunan Clan

***Mai***

Best friend

Kekunan Clan

***Zute***

Mai's younger brother

Kekunan Clan

_____Other Characters____

Neteyam- 19

Lo'ak-18

Kiri-18

Tuk-13

Hopefully that answers everything!

30 notes · View notes

lizard-shifter-noms · 1 year

Text

Broken Bloodlines Chapter 1

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Hello everyone! Arc two will now be gradually uploaded (im thinking every saturday but if someone has a better suggestion im all ears) also the chapters for arc two will be shorter for ease of reading.

(i know the general attention span of people has gone down cuz Internet)

this Story contains Vore, Dont like dont read. (not in this chapter but in future ones)

have fun reading!

and as always reblogs are appreciated! (Also ASK's are open so feel free to bother me!)

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What? What did he just say?

I was looking at the man that had just titled himself my brother,

older brother to be exact.

That couldn't be, could it?

He was a full Blooded elf so technically it could be.

After all, I had no idea what my elven father did before he met my mother and subsequently ditching her.

And looking at him I could see the resemblance, he looked like a colorless and stretched out version of me, including that one stubborn strand of hair that would not leave from my forehead.

Though the rest of his hair was a lot longer than mine

But the fact that he was older likely meant that not only was I a Bastard but also the result of adultery.

Fuck.

And on top of that i had no idea what to do now, sure he was apparently my brother but i had absolutely no idea how to act.

He was essentially a stranger to me, but at least it didn't seem like he meant harm as he had not brought any weapons with him.

I was struck with the realization that had he done this just a month or so earlier he would have been executed by the old king.

Still, if he'd known about me, why was he here now? And not sooner?

“I- so wait, if you knew about me why did you only come to see me now?

Why not sooner? And why at all?

You could just have continued to ignore me like you did till now”

He had stopped smiling, but his face still looked like porcelain and kind of unreal.

Maybe that was just an elf trait?

I'd do my best to ignore the uncanniness of it.

He blinked before answering in the same melodic but kinda monotone voice.

“I did not know about you until recently as my mother told me the things our father did while she was on her deathbed”

Oh, so it had been a dirty little secret until the cheated on elven woman decided to come clean before moving on from this world.

Though there was no emotion in his voice when he mentioned his mother dying.

Strange guy, but I would give him a chance.

I had no idea about elven culture after all,

So that might be normal for him?

“What else did he do? Don't tell me we have more siblings”

He shook his head slowly and elegantly.

“He died five years ago before he could sire anymore children”

Oh, so both of his parents were dead, well both of mine were dead too since my mother had been dead for years, but frankly i did not give a fuck about a man i had never met and who decided to ditch my mom.

Then I realized something.

“Wait what's your name? You haven't mentioned it and you know mine so it's only fair if you tell me what to call you”

He seemed slightly surprised for a split second and I was almost sure I had imagined it as his face was as unmoving as ever.

“You can call me Fable, pleased to meet you Brother”

He did a little bow at the end of his sentence that I would attribute to elven culture too but to me it seemed quite unnecessary.

Also Fable surely was not his real name.

I knew Fae folk used aliases a lot as their names held power or whatever, but if he wanted to be called Fable I'd call him that.

Not that i had anything else to call him anyway,

and the alias did kinda suit him.

“Fable it is then, sounds nice, soo uh, what do you want to do now?

I could show you the Garden? If you want?”

Yeah, this was awkward, but showing him the garden was something simple and maybe we'd get to talk a bit more, somewhere were there werent that many people around, maybe get to know the guy a bit more than this weird introduction.

He didn't react much other than a soft nod, so I led him to the door.

Only to almost walk into Rikaad.

“Oh, hey Rikaad, how are you?”

He looked from me to Fable and back.

“I see you met the man that was asking about you”

I nodded and Fable just stood there looking at him,

I had to tell him that staring at people was considered weird at best and downright rude and creepy at worst.

“I- yeah, this is Fable, apparently he's my half brother”

Rikaad looked to Fable, having to tilt his head up a little at the taller man which he definitely wasn't used to, and then back at me.

“I can kinda see it now that you are standing next to each other,

but I have to say I was very surprised as an Elf walked in,

especially with the…history of this Kingdom.

But i'm glad that that is in the past now, so you two have fun, i have to read some letters Maringand sent”

Letters from maringand?

I really hoped they did not recognize him from the tower incident.

Eh, surely just bureaucratic nonsense containing congratulations on his new kingship.

“Probably just some paper stuff about you being king now, though i have no idea why Royalty is so obsessed with that”

He shook his head a little.

“Wish i knew, i for sure do not like it, and it wastes so much paper that it just takes up way too much space.

Well, i'll be off then, you make sure not to wander too far from the castle,

i still haven't found the paperwork about the Fae ban and i don't want anything to happen to you”

With those words he walked off to what either was his study room or what it was named or wherever they kept the mail.

I turned back to Fable.

“Did you see anything that interests you on your way here?

We could check that out first if you want?”

He just looked at me for a few seconds before responding.

“I did not see much aside from the plants, i came in through what i assume is the main door and the walk to the castle itself was rather short”

Right, the main door was maybe a hundred meters away from the castle, so what else could I show him?

Man this was not going well thus far.

Oh, I could show him my favorite rock, I liked to just hang out there after all!

Or was that weird?

If he thought it was weird I might be able to pass it off as human culture.

Or maybe I could just tell him it was my preferred place as a lookout at, Well, nothing really.

Yeah, I'd do that, and maybe I could ask him a bit more about Ardua, He was the Elven side of the family after all.

But what if he thought I was an idiot for not knowing stuff?

Maybe I'd try to finally talk to Oakley about it first.

I really did not want to be seen as an idiot not even an hour into meeting him, I'd ask Oakley first for sure.

I also noticed that while we had walked a bit around the castle Fable had not once spoken of his own volition other than when he greeted me.

Maybe he thought it would somehow be rude? I didn't know much about elven culture so maybe the host always had to speak first?

Aside from that, he seemed a bit…vacant, to say the least,

but not in the way Robin was, more like an empty vessel.

Fable was just there and not interacting with anything around him unless he had to or was told to.

He wasn't even reacting to the cat purposefully walking in his path, he just stepped over her and she seemed annoyed enough to slink off into the garden again.

Now while I had no idea what Elves were like I had to admit that this was.. Odd, very odd.

Or maybe it was somehow not allowed to interact with another person's pet? Was that rude for Elves?

Maybe he'd just read about human culture and responded how he thought he was supposed to?

It would explain why he was so weird, and the staring thing.

I'd have to tell him that people were unnerved by that.

Maybe some smalltalk would get him to open up a little?

Even if I hated smalltalk.

“So you said you are my older brother, how old are you then?”

He turned to face me while not breaking his gait whatsoever.

“I am currently twenty-one, and you are as i have been told eighteen, Is that correct?”

Finally he asked an actual question.

“Yes, im eighteen, as are half of my friends, I'll introduce you to them later, after i showed you around a little”

I’d title the rock as my favorite lookout, I had no idea if titling it as my preferred sunspot would sound weird or not.

Well, he had to know about Ardua so it might not be? Whatever the case, I did not want to look like more of an idiot than I already was.

Lookout it was then.

And we had already reached it,

I'd better warn Fable about the ledge though.

“Well, this is one of my favorite places at the castle, the boulder over there makes for a nice lookout and the stone itself has no jagged edges so you can sit on it without having to worry about getting cut.

You do have to be careful about the edge of the cliff though, it's not a hundred percent stable everywhere so keeping a few meters away might save you from falling down”

He still just stood next to me, but I could see he was looking all over the place, likely taking in the scenery.

Still, his face did not change, which was weird but maybe elves had different facial cues?

Then he spoke again, albeit still a little monotone.

“It is a pretty place, the rock looks worn down from years of humans walking over it and you can see very far out from here”

He was now looking over the edge of the cliff which was still a good few meters away, I now had to show him that the rock was safe to stand on as long as it wasn't wet.

“Yeah, you can see even further by standing on the rock itself, don't worry it's really sturdy, you just have to make sure you don't slip, come on i'll show you”

I walked up the rock and beckoned him to follow which he did.

Standing at the top of the boulder one could see really far away, And really far down too.

Id have to ask someone how tall it was exactly, surely SOMEone had measured that before.

There was a light breeze blowing, but it was so weak that there was no danger of suddenly getting swept off by it.

“What do you think Fable? Isn't this beautiful?

Can you see anything cool?”

He walked up next to me and looked far out, likely looking for something of interest, without shielding his eyes from the sun which was a bad idea so I'd make sure to get him to a more shadowy spot after this.

He answered my question, just as monotone as ever.

“I can see a fleet of boats, they have blue and gray flags on their mast’s”

I looked wherever Fable was looking and he was right, Some maringand ships, big ones too, all lined up in a nice row while sailing along the coast.

“Those are Maringand ships, Maringand is the neighboring kingdom, no idea what they are doing though”

They were in some sort of formation, maybe a sailing exercise?

“Whatever, not our Problem, what do you wanna do next?”

I'd like to get him out of the sun, he was a pale person so he'd definitely get sunburn if he stayed out of the shade too long.

“I do not know what else there is to see, i do not know the area”

Right, he'd never been here before.

How would he know where anything was? That was really stupid of me.

I'd just show him uhh, Oakleys tower!

Yes, that was in a more shadowy area too so he wouldn't get sunburn!

“I could show you Oakleys tower?

Oakley is a friend of mine albeit a weird one, very weird, but he's an okay guy if a bit silly and annoying at times”

I waved at him to follow and hopped off the rock back onto the grass.

Oh wait Oakley wasn't human either, id better mention that.

“Oakley isn't human, he’s, well i don't know what its called but he has birdlike legs and his arms are wings with a few fingers and a thumb”

Fable just stared at me as expressionless as he'd been since I saw him first like half an hour ago.

“With Wings and Bird Legs he might be a Harpy”

Harpy? I was pretty sure I heard that before, but I thought they had Feathers or something?

Maybe Oakley was also a Bastard and just didn't wanna tell anyone?

I wasn't about to pry though, He'd helped me too much as that I would invade his privacy like that.

“Well, maybe? I haven't asked him because i thought it was rude, and i've known for a few weeks now so it would just be awkward”

Continuing to walk through the denser trees I noticed Fable had to duck a lot more than I did, well he was taller by like a head.

“Hey, how tall are you anyway? It's something over six feet right?”

Asking for his height surely wasn't considered rude was it? I hoped not.

“I am six foot four exactly”

Was that tall for an elf? I wouldn't ask that though, I didn't want to be seen as more of an idiot than I was.

“Huh, i'm just five ten, well most of the time”

He seemed confused about the last part and I noticed he did not have an Ardua Bracelet, well Oakley had said they were rare and maybe he didn't know that this was one?

It was possible that they didn't all have the same design after all.

“Il show you what i mean later, here isn't enough space, and i want to show you around the Castle first anyway”

He gave a tiny nod and I shoved one of the bushes a bit to the side to reveal that we had reached Oakleys tower.

The askew building had seen better times but also a lot worse ones.

Oakley really managed to make that dusty hull livable again,

and he also put a hammock into the old Oak Tree.

It looked a lot nicer than before and I wondered how long it would take him to finish putting his stuff away.

“Donovan!”

I looked at the source of the voice and saw Robin sitting on the ground next to the herbs he had planted.

Right, he'd been busy with this while I went to the castle.

The cat was also there and Robin was using a long leaf of grass to play with her.

Robin didn't know that the pale elf next to me was my brother though, I'd better tell him before he heard it from someone else and got confused.

“Hey Robin! Come here for a sec, i want you to meet Fable”

He tilted his head in confusion and the cat snatched the blade of grass away from him.

He stood up and patted the dirt off of him while me and Fable walked fully into the little clearing that surrounded the tower.

“So this is Fable-”

I pointed at the elf.

“-and uhh turns out he's my half brother?”

Robin looked confusedly between both of us for a few seconds.

“i can kinda see that, you both got the hair thingy”

He motioned to his forehead and I knew exactly what he was speaking of.

He stepped in front of Fable who was almost comically taller than him.

“Are you okay? You are very pale”

Oh, Robin probably had never seen an Albino before, fuck.

I hoped Fable wouldn't take offense to it.

“Robin he's Albino, Pale is normal in that case”

He still seemed a bit confused.

“What's an Albino?”

He didn't even know what an Albino was in the first place,

I couldn't help but put my hand over my face at this.

“Albinism is just when the body does not make pigments, you know the stuff responsible for hair and skin color, that doesn't work in an Albino”

Now he seemed to get it, but i couldn't blame him, barely anyone knew what an Albino was as they were really rare.

He turned to Fable with a rather miserable expression.

“Sorry, i didn't know, didn't wanna be rude”

Fable just stared at him for a bit before he answered.

“No offense taken”

Phew, I only now noticed how tense I had gotten, and that I wouldn't have known what to do if they didn't get along.

Well, it seemed they did as Robin dragged the cat over and presented her to Fable.

“This is the cat that keeps walking around here, i like her, she's nice and fluffy”

Fable just stared at the Feline, did they not have cats wherever the Elves lived? Well as far as i knew Humans had been the ones to domesticate the little tigers.

And to the Cats credit she didn't seem to mind that Robin held her like a wet Towel which left her legs dangling over nothing.

“Mrow?”

Fable face was as unmoving as ever if slightly confused, Maybe Elves really did not have cats like this.

“You can pet her if you want, here like this”

I stretched my arm out and brushed it over the cat's head which caused her to purr.

Fable still didn't do anything, so I decided to be bold and took his arm and put his hand over the cat.

Now he seemed to get it and his slender fingers gently brushed between the cat's ears.

“She is soft”

Robin beamed at that and I couldn't help but smile at it even if Fable's expression was as neutral as ever.

Maybe he just wasn't a very expressive guy.

The cat put one of her paws up and repeatedly bapped at Fable's hand, as if trying to tug it closer, who in turn stopped and withdrew his hand.

“Mrew”

“I think she likes you!”

Robin held her a bit higher and the cat started twisting around to face him only to jump out of his hands and use her claws to climb over him and jump into the next tree.

“No wait, where are you going?”

Welp, cats will be cats, and maybe she was sour about Fable stopping to pet her.

“She’ll come back later, she always does, maybe she saw a bird or something”

He nodded and then turned back and excitedly pointed at the little Herb garden.

“Oh I got done with the plants! I put them so that they wouldn't obstruct anything! Do you think Oakley will like it?”

I looked at the stone enclosed patch under one of the windows of the tower.

He had arranged it really pretty, plants growing in between the freshly raked dirt and smelling of a variety of herbs I could only half identify.

I did recognize Parsley sage and thyme though and some rosemary too.

It looked really well done all in all, whatever Barsen was showing him when he had the time really paid off.

“I think he'll love it, hell, I love it, it looks very well made!”

Fable looked over to me for a second before he too took a look at what Robin had done.

“It does seem expertly made”

Was all he said but there really was no need for more words when that already was point on.

“What is expertly made?”

A voice came from above and I looked up to see the familiar winged form of Oakley perched on one of the trees.

He'd come back, and brought a big bundle of stuff with him that hung from a tree branch next to him.

That probably wasn't all of it, but surely the most important stuff for now.

“Oakley! Hey! Look, Robin made you a little herb garden!”

He dropped down from his perch and landed on his feet with practiced ease.

“So I see, practical, now I don't have to run all over the place should I need any of them, thank you little Ginger!”

Robin smiled really wide at the praise while Oakley turned to face me and Fable.

He froze for a second as he saw the Elf though.

“Am I in the right place or did I go wrong somewhere?

What's an Elf doing in Kamerasca of all places?”

He went up close to Fable and I somehow Doubted that my halfbrother would like that.

“Uhh Oakley that's my halfbrother, apparently my father had an actual wife before he met my mom”

Oakley blinked a few times in that birdlike manner of his before he looked back and forth between me and Fable.

“Hmmm, well there is an undoubtedly similarity, I can do a blood test if you want?”

A what? And what for?

“A Blood test? What do you mean by that? What for anyway?”

He tilted his head which once again reminded me of a magpie or crow.

“Basically i can use alchemy to see how exactly you two are related to each other if each of you give me a drop of blood to test it on”

Oh, so he could find out who was related to who if he had a tiny blood sample of each? That was kinda cool.

“i, well I guess we could, what do you say Fable?

Want to make sure you found the right guy?”

Fable however was just looking at Oakley, still not moving more than necessary.

Luckily he did answer me rather quickly.

“We can do that, even if i am fairly certain that i have found the right place”

Seems like my joke didn't land, maybe he just didn't have any sort of humor though.

Not that I would ever claim to understand whatever Humor Elves had.

Well, I didn't think doing that could harm any of us, so why not?

“Well, why not? Wait, do you even have the stuff you need to do that here?”

Oakley looked surprised for a second before he reacted.

“Fuckdamnit, i knew i forgot something, no matter you can just each give me a sample and i can do it later while you do... Whatever”

yeah, that sounded more like Oakley, and we could always get the result at a later point.

He procured two empty vials from somewhere in his cloak that seemed to hold way more than it feasibly should and handed one to me and the other one to Fable.

“Here hold this for a moment i'll be right back”

I looked at it for a moment debating on how the fuck i would get any of my blood into the vial while Oakley dragged the Bundle he brought trough the door with Robins help.

I glanced over at Fable who had opened his mouth and used one of his fangs to prick his thumb before he held it over the vial.

Smart, and also he had the same Fangs I did.

I don't know why but I had expected them to be thinner.

Maybe because he was a lanky guy.

But using his fang was a good idea so I tried the same.

I had to press a bit more than I thought as the skin was rather thick so I was a bit surprised when I finally managed to get through.

I might have went a little deeper than i wanted and it bled like fuck but at least i got enough to put in the vial.

“I would have given you tools to do that! You couldn't wait a minute???”

Both of us looked back at Oakley who had emerged from his tower and held a pair of needles in his hands.

Oh, yeah, why did I think he wouldn't give us something to do that properly?

That was really dumb from both of us, but at least i wasn't the only one.

Oakley pulled a bit of thin bandages out of his cloak and tossed them to me.

“Fucks sake, what did you even use?

Make sure that's clean and bandaged”

He then took the vials and went back inside where I could hear something clattering as well as a few curse words that followed immediately after.

Robin walked out after that, holding the cat again who had some weird herbs in her mouth.

Catnip no doubt.

“Sorry Oakley, I will try and keep a better eye on her!”

“Did you even name the little menace? You ought to do that soon or she'll only respond to cat, Now Scram! All of you!”

I turned to Fable who had put bandaged his thumb in the meantime.

“I think we ought to leave, besides we can get whatever the result is later”

I dragged Fable away from the tower while Robin went to bring the cat back to the castle, not that she would stay there if she didn't want to.

So now we were in the middle of the small woods that grew in the Garden.

“Soo uhh i basically showed you the only two interesting things in the Garden, there might be more but i don't know where, i’d have to ask Barsen about that”

Fable just looked at me and silently held out the rest of the bandages.

Oh, right, my thumb was still bleeding but I had gotten lucky and none of it got on my clothes.

“Thank you”

I unraveled part of the bandage and then wrapped it around the bleeding finger, making sure it held and wouldn't slide off.

Then I realized I had nothing to cut the rest of the bandage with,

well time to use my teeth again.

I really hadn't realized how sharp they actually were, or how useful they were when there was nothing else to cut stuff.

Fable was just standing there, seeming awkwardly out of place.

Well what else was there to do? I could see if we were able to find Barsen and ask him if there were any cool spots?

Or we could go back to the castle and I'd show him where I was staying.

Yeah that seemed like a good idea, and if we did meet Barsen on the way I could still ask.

“Well I have no idea what time it is but I think we'll go back to the castle and see whatever Oakley did tomorrow?”

Fable just gave a slow nod and I led him back towards the castle.

I did not see Barsen anywhere so instead I opted to show Fable the shed where I was staying.

I would not call it a shed in front of him though, I didn't want him to think the people here were mean and made me sleep in some random shed.

Which also reminded me that I had no idea where Fable was staying, Did he have anywhere to stay here?

If not I would ask Rikaad if there was a room that he could use,

or he probably could use the Loft thing in my room.

I had no idea how Fable was about privacy though, it was very possible that he'd prefer to have a room to himself.

Eh, for now I'd show him my place and then offer to let him stay there.

I still thought that the castle itself was an impressive build especially with being right on top of a cliff.

Looking over at Fable I saw that he was looking at something up ahead while we walked.

Craning my neck a little I tried to see what had captured his attention.

It was Nea, with a pair of crutches since her foot was still not very usable, and she was threatening Arthur with them.

Arthur himself was not very happy about that, especially as Nea managed to land a hit with the bottom of one of the crutches right to his abdomen.

Ouch, that had to hurt, I knew very well that Nea could pack a punch.

Oh wait neither of them had seen Fable yet, i'd better tell them then, especially the stab happy Nea.

Both were Guards and seeing a random person that definitely wasn't from the area in the middle of the castle would probably set off alarm bells in their heads.

Also I did not want either of them to punch Fable.

So I motioned to Fable that he should follow me and walked up to the two arguing Humans who stopped as soon as they saw me.

Nea still managed to jab his foot with her crutches though, earning an angry glare, before waving at me.

“Oi who's that with ya? I never seen a fellow that pale, or tall”

People really liked to point out that Fable was pale huh.

And Nea was of course as gruff as always, and on top of that no doubt still sour about being told to take it easy with her foot.

“I-uh that's Fable, as it turns out he's my half brother”

Nea simply gave a thumbs up and sat back down on the bench that was behind her while Arthur just stared back and forth between me and Fable.

Right, Arthur had the habit of being rather hostile to new people, especially to ones taller than him.

As I kind of had Expected Arthur came a bit closer and looked at Fable with narrowed eyes.

To Fable's credit he did not react negatively to being scrutinized like this.

In fact he did not react at all besides staring right in Arthur's face who seemed to get uneasy after a few seconds of this.

Then Nea hit his back with one of the crutches.

“Leave ta Pale guy in peace ya dumbass!

Ya ought to be more friendly to folks!”

Arthur did not take well to being assaulted like this though.

“OW! Stop hitting me!”

Nea stood back up at that and menacingly waved one of the crutches in his direction.

“I'll stop hitting ya when ya stop fussin’!”

Oh, had Arthur tried to tell her she shouldn't be outside right now?

“You're Not even supposed to be out here!”

Yep, he did, oh well not my problem.

And at least neither were now negatively engaging with Fable.

Instead they were negatively engaging with each other.

Fable however must be really confused by this display and I debated just leaving while Nea was beating Arthur with a now slightly bent crutch.

“Ow! Ow! Stop that!

I'm only here cuz the medics said to get you back inside!”

While they were busy I turned back to Fable who was just watching this unfold in front of him with the same unemotional expression as always.

“Yeah, sorry, we can just leave and talk to both of them later, when they are not in the same vicinity”

“Oi ya two dun have ta leave, i'll shut him up in a sec!”

I looked back at Nea who had grabbed Arthur and was wrangling him into a chokehold.

He did not look happy at that and tried to wriggle free but Nea had a tight grip on him.

Also his face started to get a bit red and I doubted he got enough air.

She'd let him go should he faint though, at least I was sure of it.

“Yeah uhh i'm not gonna ask what's going on, i really just wanted to introduce Fable”

I pointed at the Elf who gave a polite bow.

“Well, hello! How'd you like tha place so far?”

It was astounding that Nea could carry a normal conversation while having someone in a chokehold, but it was Nea so why was I surprised?

And at least Fable gave a somewhat direct answer for once,

maybe he was a tiny bit intimidated by her,

I wouldn't blame him if that was the case.

“The castle seems very well kept and the Garden is taken good care of, it is a fine place to be”

Nea stared at him for a second, then laughed.

“Ya don't gotta be so polite with me, i might be a high ranking Guard but ya don't have ta be such a mannerly fella!”

She dropped Arthur, who went down to the ground with a strangled wheeze, and grabbed both of her Crutches and for the first time seeing her today used them as she was supposed to.

“Well, I see like three medics glaring at me through tha window, so I better head back, see ya some other time!”

Looking at the castle it took me a few seconds to see what she meant but then I noticed that there were indeed a few people in medicinal getup looking out of one of the windows.

Nea herself walked at a brisk pace back inside, damn despite only having one functional foot she was really fast.

“That's what it took? Really?”

Wheezed a form on the ground and I looked down to see Arthur holding a hand to his throat and using the bench to pull himself up with his other one.

“Are you okay? I know Nea is unreasonably strong”

He muttered a few expletives under his breath before answering for real.

“Well the only thing hurt is my pride, and neck, but im fine otherwise”

I could see that his throat was rather pink in the places Nea had held him, and his face was still a bit red too.

“Yeah, you look like you've been hanged”

He glared at me for that comment.

“Not helping, at all, so wait a second that guy there is your brother?

Did I hear that right or did Nea squeeze a bit too hard?”

He seemed a bit winded but Nea definitely did not hold him that strongly.

“No, i mean, yes that's my Half brother,

and no i don't think Nea squeezed you that badly”

Well I fumbled that one badly.

Arthur stood up completely and stood once again in front of Fable, this time without narrowed eyes, and looked up at him.

“You are tall as fuck, and i didn't think i'd meet anyone with pointier ears than he has”

For someone who used to be royalty he sure didn't act like it, he was actually rather rude but that's just how he was.

Maybe living life with other people trying to mold him into something he wasn't had left its mark and now he refused to be polite out of principle.

Whatever the case, I wished he'd shove that attitude aside at least for a little bit.

But Fable gave no indication that this comment bothered him in any way.

But then again his face barely moved at all unless he was talking,

it was like a mask and a tiny bit unnerving if i was honest.

But I did not let that bother me, sure it was a bit hard to figure out what he was thinking but aside from that he was a really polite person.

Or maybe he was afraid of fucking up like i was.

Maybe introducing him to Arthur without telling the shorter man about it beforehand was a bad idea, maybe we'd better leave now.

“Well i was just about to show Fable where im staying,

you can continue with whatever you were doing though”

Arthur looked back at me then.

“Yeah, sure, my neck hurts now anyway so im going to check with a nurse to make sure Nea didn't strain it too bad,

you have fun or whatever”

He walked off into the castle while carefully holding his neck and i turned back to Fable ready to apologize for Arthur's dumb behavior.

“Don't mind him, he's not usually like that, he's just sour about Nea putting him in a chokehold”

Fable looked over to where Arthur had vanished for a second.

“That does seem like something to get upset about”

His comment was as monotone as it seemed to always be and I wondered for a brief moment if he'd ever suffered a throat injury.

If he did then i wouldn't bring it up, though there were no scars anywhere on him that i could see.

There was also the possibility that he was just like that, or he was afraid of saying the wrong thing to the wrong person.

Well the last part was rather relatable so i wouldn't be surprised.

I led him back around the castle towards my place trying to remember if I had left anything just lying on the floor and if I put all the dishes away from when Robin or the others were there to chat.

The only thing I could come up with from the top of my head was that there was a dirt-filled mug that had some wood sorrels, or as Barsen had called them Oxalis, growing out of it that Robin had left on one of the mostly empty shelves.

Whatever, I'm sure it would be fine, I wasn't a messy person by any means, that and I didn't have much stuff to begin with.

Maybe that's why Oakley had called me a minimalist when he entered the shed for the first time.

Maybe I should call him messy as soon as he was done cramming all his stuff in the tower.

I was really glad that the entrance also had a smaller door that could be used by anyone not Ardua or Giant.

Even if it took a whole day to get installed I found it worth it, and the carpenter was paid a fair amount for it too.

Opening it I thought that maybe I should install a lock too at some point.

Whatever, I'd show Fable my place and then offer to let him stay in the loft thing that I rarely used.

I noticed that the doorframe was exactly as tall as him, any smaller and he'd have to duck.

Looking around my room i was glad that i had taken a broom to it just yesterday as it had been dusty as fuck.

I turned back to face Fable who was looking around a bit.

“Well, this is my place, what do you think?

Sorry if its a little messy i didn't expect company”

He looked around for a second or so more before he answered.

“You have quite the big room all for yourself, they must hold you in high regard”

Well that was not what i had expected him to say, but his comment got me thinking.

DID they hold me in high regard?

This was literally just a repurposed shed.

But they could have told me to go into Human form and sleep like that in one of the normal rooms like everyone else.

But they had taken the time and resources to help me build this, and had asked for nothing in return.

Well aside from the fact that i got used as a mattress sometimes.

I still wasn't used to actually having friends huh.

But I did my best to help them too when they needed it.

Especially Robin who sometimes wanted to just hide from the world.

In the week since the first incident with his panic attack hed only asked once to be hidden away after a storm had hit the castle.

There had been no damages but it sure had been scary, especially for someone as small as Robin.

That was also something i wasn't sure if i could talk to Fable about it, I was a hybrid so he might not have the doubled organs and if I started talking about eating people he'd think me crazy or a monster.

Then again it might also be plain rude in elven culture to do something like that, if they even could.

Yeah, I'd better not mention THAT part to him.

“I mean I guess? They are my friends after all, oh by the way do you already have a place to stay?

If not you can just take the loft over there, i rarely use it anyway”

I pointed to the ladder that went up to the aforementioned loft.

Fable Just nodded.

“I do not have prepared a place to stay, thank you for the offer, i will accept it with gratitude”

He really was a mannerly guy huh, He had even closed the door behind him.

“Well, is there anything you want to do? So far I just showed you around a bit, but what's something you want to do?”

He just looked at me, seemingly not understanding for a few seconds before he cautiously answered.

“I don't know what there even is to do in this place, but if you have a library i would like to spend time there”

A library? I'm sure the castle had one, if i found it in that absolute nightmare of a floorplan.

But hey! Fable finally had decided on something on his own!

Even if books weren't my type as I found most of them boring.

But maybe that was only because I was a slow reader and didn't have the patience for some of the thicker tomes.

“Sure! I'm not entirely certain where exactly in the castle it is but we'll find someone to ask, also just to warn you the floorplan of this building is an absolute nightmare and i think the architect might have been drunk”

Fable just stared at me, he really had no sense of humor huh?

Whatever, I tried, now to find someone that knew where on this nightmarish layout of rooms.

I led Fable back outside and debated for a second if we should go through the door right beside the shed or the main one.

There was a higher possibility of us finding someone if we went to the main one so that was the best bet I figured.

Going back to the front I got distracted by a commotion at the Gate that was built into the protective wall that surrounded the castle.

——————————————————————————

NEXT / PREVIOUS / OVERSIGHT

#sstc #Broken Bloodlines #Arc 2 #lizards writing #vore story #soft vore #g/t story #giant/tiny #g/t vore #Ardua #Elf #magic #medieval #Barmea #Kamerasca

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echantedtoon · 6 months

Text

Demon Bride Ch21 Interluding P2

(These are just the events that take place days before some of the events of Ch20. So it will be short but important.)

Y'know.

Y/n was expecting many things. Being yelled at for making Kyogai faint. Scolded for the trouble you caused. Told you were going to o given another punishment. Any of those things would've been acceptable. And Y/n would've gladly accepted all of those things.

But being told by a resusatated Kyogai that in there culture you agreed to marry him wasn't something you were expecting at all.

"....Excuse me...W H A T?!"

In front of you Kyogai sat down crosslegged and Eri held a wet, cold cloth to his fire as he rubbed his temples with a sigh. Nagi had immediately summoned Eri after Kyogai had passed out with you freaking out and the healer had quickly looked him over only to quickly duduce that...He had just simply fainted. That was it. But it took nearly an hour to wake him up and he seemed much calmer but...quiet. As if a realization had struck him and he was finishing processing it. So he had just sat there with you three women fussing over him until you calmed down enough to be calm. He then looked at you dead in the eyes and asked the question-

"Did you just realize that you essentially accepted a marriage proposal from me?"

It shocked all of you into silence. Your mind drawing a blank as it processed what he just said...before you just blurted it out. "... Excuse me...W H A T?!"

Which lead to now. You were sputtering in shock as Kyogai just rubbed his temples tiredly. Marriage proposal?! What marriage proposal?! He didn't ask to court you or for your hand in marriage or anything?! He said nothing like that!!

"Y-Y-You said no such thing to me?!"

"....I see." He tiredly looked up at you. "How much exactly do you know about our courting laws?"

"You only t-t-told me about how women give men dowries?!"

"That law only applies to mating season." He looked dead at you making your jaw snap shut. "During mating season, it's the only time women are allowed to court men. Otherwise it's only men who court women. There's other laws about marriages that are very complicated and usually humans don't know."

....Oh gods. OTHER LAWS?! WHAT OTHER LAWS?! DID YOU SAY ANYTHING THAT MIGHT'VE COME OFF AS FLIRTING!? DID YOU MAKE KYOGAI ANGRY?! Your hands grabbed your head as it soun with the shock and emotions..Oh gods. YIU YOU HADN'T WANTED TO BE ENGAGED!!! THAT'S THE WHOLE REASON YOU RAN AWAY IN THE FIRST PLACE?! H-HOW DIDN'T YOU REALIZE IT SOONER?!

"HOW DIDN'T I REALIZE THAT SOONER?!"

"Do not blame yourself," Kyogai assured holding up a hand to get the attention of your panicked self. "You couldn't have known. You're just a stranger to our world and you couldn't have known our laws. So don't worry. I won't accept anything as you honestly didn't know." Although...that hurt his heart to say that. "What did you think I was talking about with you earlier?"

"I thought you were referring to the secret about your books!!"...Ah. He could see how that would be what you thought he was referring to. "And what laws?!"

"There's a few. The first being a blatant acceptance. For example.." He gestured to you. "While we were talking you mentioned you accepted my feelings on the matter. If I had been expressing any romantic interest, you saying you accept them would be an instant engagement unless I refused. Which...I have so you shouldn't worry about it."

"And the others?!"

"There's only two others. The second being the acceptance of a courting gift." He then scowled HARD and pointed right at your neck. "If you were presented with a courting gift and accepted then it would also be an instant engagement. Which is EXACTLY what Kaigaku has tried to do."

"W-What?"

"Your necklace." Your hand instantly shot up to the smooth surface since you couldn't see it on you without a mirror. "Do you remember how he mistook you giving him your peaches for a proposal last month?" You nodded because...you DID remember. You yelled at Kaigaku you weren't anyone's bride but you hadn't thought about it since. " It seems he's developed feelings for you and wished to... actually propose." He then looked off with a hum. "Which... considering this is Kaigaku I speak of, I'm still surprised he has such feelings."

Record scratch.

Hold up! Rewind..... KAIGAKU?! Was trying to court... YOU?! The pig's arse that kept arguing with you and was rude to everything that moved?!...WHAT?!

"What?!" You scowled now and looked as if Kyogai lied to you. He must've. "Kaigaku. The man who would yell at his own shadow if he was angry enough? No."

"Yes. But what did you think he meant when gave you that necklace?"

"I thought Akaza was making him apologize to me or that he was trying to get on my good side so Akaza doesn't turn his rude arse into a puddle! I even told him I didn't want the necklace in the first place!"

"Uuuiuuhhhh." Eri moved the cloth from his forehead as he just rubbed his face. "Well... considering you probably thought you solved the problem with him, and that you had no idea what he really meant, you wouldn't know what he was doing either. ...But-" He slowly inhaled and held his hands back up. "We have nothing to worry about with him either. You didn't really accept it so you're clear of that too. But you must think!" He looked very serious at you, narrowing his eyes and pointing making you blink and lean back. " Is there ANYONE else that might've misinterpreted you or you might've misinterpreted them? Anyone at all?! ESPECIALLY ANOTHER MAN!!"

.You opened you mouth to say 'No' immediately but paused. The realization striking you. Oh gods...HAD you misinterpreted someone else?! Anyone at all?!...No. No you don't think sobut your mind made you think hard digging deep into your memory about any demon men you'd met this far. Kyogai and Kaigaku sure but you were in the clear with both of them. Certainly not Enmu. He didn't say anything outside of medical practice so there was no way you'd misinterprete him. Not Komoki either. He was absolutely love struck by Eri and already engaged to her. You hadn't interacted with any of Kyogai's male servants and Eri mentioned they were already married to some of the other women here. Rui was out of the question. Which left two others. Akaza and the tiny old man you'd encountered Rui with in the Forrest.

"I... Just maybe two. But I-I don't know what Akaza thinks of me?!"

Akaza. Of course. Kyogai heard his heartbeats. No doubt he was as in love by now as himself and Kaigaku was but he wouldn't know if either of them misinterpreted something the other said. But the thought of Akaza holding your hand again... Well it made his hands ball into fists in silent anger.

"I see. ... Don't worry. I'll talk to him later to be sure and sort it out. But even if you did, it doesn't hold up with the laws since you wouldn't know and thus wouldn't have accepted it. So you are also in the clear of that."

You instantly sighed in heavy relief. But something he said earlier caught your attention. "Wait...You said there was three major laws involving courting and marriages. You only told me two so what's the third one?"

"Hm? Oh. Well arranged marriages can be made by someone's father, mother, or head of family. But you don't have to worry about that since I doubt that has happened to you."

You remained silence.

"Right?"

You started to sweat.

"Y/n. There's nothing to worry about. Right?!"

You swallowed the lump in your throat. "Kyogai. Do you remember how I told you I found Rui?"

"Yes. Why?"

"Do you remember how the old man was thankful? And how he insisted on paying me back? And....Maybe he mentioned once or twice he had around four sons my age? And maybe he asked me if I was claimed and I said..no?"

Kyogai stared at you for a long, long, llllllloooooonnnngggg silent moment. Before he slowly inhaled and then let it out. "Y/n. What did this old man look like?" He asked in a tone that sounded like he was resisting the urge to slam his head into a wall at this point.

"He was the size of a doll. About this big." Your hands were held up about seven inches apart from each other which was roughly about the size the old man had been. "With two horns on his forehead, with black hair and red eyes." Kyogai froze when you continued describing the old man demon you saw. His face going slowly into one of horror. "He also wore dirty red robes and I guess Rui must've hit his head or something because he had quite the bump on his head. Also if I were to guess, he looked to be around seventy years at least."

"..Y/n." You jumped at the sudden serious aura Kyogai threw at you. "I'm going to ask you this, and I need you to answer me straight. This man, did he ever tell you any names?"...You slowly shook you head no. "What..W-What was his personality like?"

"Oh...Well he was very thankful when I freed him, but he seemed to be very scared especially of Rui."

A glass breaking sound went off in the record keeper's mind.

"HANTENGU PROMISED YOU TO HIS SONS?!"

HANTENGU?! HOW?! WHY?! FUCK...FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK!! THIS WAS BAD!! THIS WAS VERY V E R Y BAD!! Hantengu wasn't something too bad to deal with. Sure the old crazy man was annoying to deal with but he wasn't too difficult to interact with. Just ignore him. Which often worked since the sniffling man usually preferred to be left alone anyways huddled in a corner or hiding behind one of his many sons who coddled their father way too much. Fine by him since it meant it just made his life easier. BUT HE OFFERED Y/N HIS SONS' HANDS IN MARRIAGE?! THAT WAS CRAZY EVEN FOR HANTENGU!!!

"H-... Hantengu? ..Wait. I think I know that name! Eri mentioned him before!" You gave a glance to an equally horrified Eri. "He's the Upper Moon Four isn't he?"

"YES!!...I mean NO!," Kyogai corrected himself looking both horrified and raged, "He USED to be. But he retired from the position last year. The Master then appointed all of his sons into that position. But that's not important! What IS important is that he's made an offer for you to marry one of his sons!! Did you give any indication of saying yes?!"

"NO!! Absolutely not!! I specifically told him that he didn't have to thank me or pay me back!! How could that come off as a yes?!"

"He's crazy enough to think it could be! But it's not Hantengu I'm worried about..It's his sons who I'm worried about!! They're ruthless Y/n!! Worse than Kaigaku and almost as bad as Enmu!" A hand reached up to clutch at his hair. "If they get the wrong idea who knows what could happen!"

"But... wouldn't I be in the clear since I obviously don't accept it?"

"Yes...But it still worries me." He nodded and pointed at you sternly. "That settles it then. Until you leave in two weeks, you're staying right here where I can see you and I'm not letting you out of my sight! The last thing I need is anymore misunderstandings Im going to have to clear up! Eri!" The girl flinched as he snapped at her. "Go get Mayla and tell her to organize some servants in shifts to keep and keep an eye on the garden!! Nagi! I order you to go and have the entrance to the garden barricaded immediately!" Both women immediately fumbled. Bowing and hurrying to the door in panic, nearly falling over one another to get out and almost literally tripping in their hurry. "And be sure to do it all before the day's over!!"

With a slam the door slammed shut behind them, leaving the two of you in the silence...Before he sighed and reached a giant hand back up to rub his face. Why him? WHY did THESE things always happen to HIM?! He doubted Kokushibo or the Master ever had to deal with something as strange as this!...Sigh. He would have to contact Nakime tonight and try to clear this mess up with as many people as possible. He supposed he'd start with Kaigaku. It'd be a headache but not as big as a headache as it would be with Hantengu's sons.

"K-Kyogai..." He paused. And looked up suddenly to a rather guilty face and small voice. "I-Im so sorry."

"Please. Do not apologize. You have done nothing wrong, and you did not know our laws. I should've been more careful with an unsuspecting human as my guest." He must've noticed your horrified look because he instantly held up his hands. "But it's alright." And grabbed your hands making you blink. "I am going to call everyone tonight. By tomorrow morning it should all be resolved. Mark my words."

Purple eyes stared widely at him...before you exhaled through your nose. "Kyogai....Why did you say you loved me?"

"Gah!!" Immediately his hands were pulled back, his face a pink. "W-What did you have to b-bring that back up for?!"

"Because we're talking about this situation anyways?" You rose a brow. "You can't just confess your love to me and then act like nothing's wrong. ...Please tell me."

...He silently looked around the room. They were alone...And Y/n was highly aware of the situation now. She could understand. And this entire situation was killing him anyways so...

He sighed before plopping his head back in his hands so he wouldn't have to look at her pretty purple eyes. "....*sigh* Alright. Its out in the open anyways. Yes...Lately..I-I have found myself....taken by you. A-Alot."

There was some stunned silence before she spoke again. "Oh...For how long?"

"I...a-a few weeks at this point."

"Why didn't you tell me anything sooner?"

"Because it wouldn't have mattered anyways because you would be leaving in two weeks time anyways! And I wasn't about to hold you back or make things more complicated for either of us! But I guess ...This wasn't meant to be silent."

"...How could you tell you liked me?"

One hand freed himself from his face and patted his chest where his heart was. "Demons are all born with an organ known as a heart, but we don't need a heart to live. In fact it's a completely useless organ to have for most of us. But it has one purpose it serves well. A demon's heart only beats when he or she falls in love with someone....It's usually in an instant when it happens. We can't control when or why it happens...Or with who. It might be hard for humans to understand our way of things, but that's how it is. I'm...I'm sorry, Y/n."

There was another small bout of silence before she asked him something that would change the course for both there lives and others. "May I feel it?"

...He looked up at her. "What?"

"Your heart." She held up a hand. "May I feel it?"

There was stunned silence on both there parts as they just stared at one another. Before she proceeded to reach out and lean forward. Closer and closer. Well...maybe it was the shock but he didn't stop her only watched wide-eyed as the small, soft hands placed itself over his heart.

BU-BUMP BU-BUMP BU-BUMP BU-BUMP BU-BUMP BU-BUMP -!!!!

A giggle escaped her smile as she felt the strong beats of the heart under his skin. Her perfect soft eyes looking up at him. "It's a beautiful heart beat."

Oh his face couldn't get even redder if he even tried. A shaking bigger hand reached up to place itself over hers as she blinked. "Y-Y/n.."

Something soft grabbed his hand and he froze still staring at the intoxicating purple color. A sight he was hesitant to leave when he turned back to look at you again. Huh. And you were both closer than he remembered. Just a few inches from one another twinkling under the lights of the lantern above. And you blinked at the sudden closeness too. Face going a dim pink and a few chuckles from the moment escaping you. No one was here. So it was just you two. Alone out here with nothing but each other for company. His mind felt completely blank and numb but in a good way, compelling him to reach his hands up and cup a cheek of yours something his rational brain wouldn't allow himself to do. Inches away now. You didn't move away. He stared at the woman in front of him, this sassy woman with the beautifully flowing hair and the cute smile. If he was watching this as an outsider, he would've laughed at how they were literally just strangers less than a while ago, but right now it didn't seem any of that or anything else mattered. A stray strand of hair fell from Nagi's hair do wwhich he immediately reached to pull away and Y/n made no move to stop him from doing that. Or removing the hand that now cupped her cheek. Maybe it really was a mutual madness they both shared or some form of chaos in their lives, but right now....With them being so close...And so vulnerable. It was only natural of course-.. It's what soulmates do-.. Of course they would since-..

"Are you done being in love?"

"GAH?!"

Kyogai jumped away from you immediately. Falling over himself and landing in a heap with a very loud thud on the floor. You had also frozen, arms stretched out before turning your head to the door in a shocked daze. Rui stood there slightly shaking with a blanket wrapped around his shoulders and tiredly blinking at you.

"R-Rui?! W-What are you doing here?!"

"One of the servants told me you used to read to my sisters when they were here. I can't sleep and everyone isn't paying attention to my requests. Will you read to me too?" How did neither of you two notice the doorway open?! He blinked when you didn't answer. "Would you rather have me wait outside so you can finish kissing?"

"W-WE DIDN'T KISS!! HE WAS JUST- I-....YOU KNOW WHAT?! LET'S JUST GET YOU TO BED!!" You immediately scrambled up and made your way towards him as Kyogai stared up red faced on the floor.

"With a story?!" Rui perked up excitedly.

"Yes! I'll read you lots of stories! Let's just go to bed now. Ok?"

In a few seconds you were gone, picking up the child in your arms and carrying him off quickly. Leaving Kyogai there...Before he burried his face in his hands and yelled in frustration.

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anddreadful · 1 year

Note

46 for Teddy/Strahd! Also general question, what other ships are you accepting?

good question! I realize that the majority of my ships are completely obtuse to most people/ I have not even publicly published fics for most of these pairings, but for what it's worth here's the complete list:

Niche D&D ships:

COS: teddy/ strahd, teddy/ borakov, nimalia/ rahadin, ismark/ nimalia, Ireena/ ez, anastrasya/ teddy (*not all of these are necessarily suitable for all the prompts, lol)

SKT: marin/ kitro

WT: tailor/ chess

WTSC: Tereus/ Aradia

Published media ships:

ACOTAR: rhys/ lucien, elain/ lucien

S&B: Darkling/ Alina, Nina/ Matthias, Kaz/ Inej (my crows knowledge is based only on the show and some random fanfic sorry)

Dracula: Mina/ Jon, Mina/ Lucy, Mina/ Jon/ Seward

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

TWs: noncon, domestic violence, vampire shit

"They'll come for me," she says, the wobble in her voice betraying her. "Borakov--"

"You think he can save you?" He hisses, cape sweeping through the shadows. "I was content to let him live, before the wedding. The village needs a new priest, after all."

He closes the distance between them, expression darkening, and Theodora shrinks back into the alcove seat. The cold windowsill digs into her back.

"But now I'm going to rip the wings from his back and throw him from the cliffside," he snarls. "Tell me, were you still wearing your wedding dress when you spread your legs for him?"

It feels as though she's been struck. An unbidden noise of distress sounds in her throat, like a wounded animal, and he laughs, pure black disdain. "Oh yes, I know. You've hardly made it a secret, pawing at him every opportunity you get."

"You said you didn't want me anymore!" she cries, and it cracks, pathetic and raw, her angry hurt bleeding through.

He crouches to her level, fangs glinting in the candlelight. A pale, long-fingered hand rises to stroke her hair, as if he were comforting a child. "You're mine, Tatyana." The words are soft and hateful. "Always. No matter what a traitorous little whore you are."

She hates this man. Hates him. Tears of pure fury sting her eyes, and she wills them not to fall, not to give him the satisfaction.

"I love him," she spits. And I never loved you.

She expects to invoke his rage, but instead, he considers her coolly, still running his fingers through her hair. "Perhaps I should have you rip out his throat, instead," he muses. "You'll be so hungry I may not even have to Charm you. I think Borakov would like that, don't you? Sustaining you with his death."

"He loves me," The anger is so heady it's making her tremble. "Even when you were lying to me, you didn't bother to pretend you do."

"Yes, he does." His hand tightens in her hair, his grip forcing her head back, and she swallows a whine. "Which is why it's going to hurt him so very badly when he arrives in all his pious glory to find you already dead."

He kisses her, hard, an imperious press of his mouth against hers. His lips are cold and unyielding. She shoves against his chest uselessly, twists and pulls -- he may as well be made of marble for all the good it does her. Just as a scream builds in her throat, quick as a strike of lightning, he wrenches her head to the side, and bites down.

Give me a ship and a prompt number and i'll write a minific!

#curse of strahd #dndposting #villain romance #vampire bite #lovers to enemies

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beggingwolf · 1 year

Text

The Starbreaker Soundtrack

...is 11 songs long. Each song is dear to me and to the story. I hope you give it a listen. Check it out on Spotify or look at the annotated tracklist below:

Lonely Star by Oh Wonder

I guess I'll be a somebody that nobody knows Guess I'll never find the one that I can call home

I've long been a fan of Oh Wonder, and "Lonely Star" struck me the first time I heard it. The soft, whispered quality of the vocals combined with the muffled, rich tone of the piano was nostalgic and sad and hauntingly beautiful, especially when the music stopped for the first appearance of the lyrics "I'm a lonely star; is there anybody out there?"

This felt like a perfect encapsulation of Sid in Starbreaker. Connection is all he wants. What is hockey without the team around you? It's quiet. It's isolation. He's far above everything like his banner, watching silently from the rafters.

Sweet Home by SYML

Welcome home Your last and only one Never more to roam Have no fear if you don't see the sun

To me this song is the Igloo speaking to Sid. It was supposed to be his home for his whole career. It, in a way, loves him. He IS it. It ended up being his tomb instead, and there's a very sad, trapped, sweet edge to this song when read that way. You are home. Your last and only one.

Keep This Place Beautiful by Brick + Mortar

I will not go, if you're still here One day I will be dead, I will be dust

One of my favorite songs—intense, deep, a little eerie—and one I've long associated with Sid and Geno when I think about them playing against each other internationally. In the context of Starbreaker, this song feels like Sid's impotent rage and anger at his situation, and Zhenya's seething discomfort for a captaincy he isn't sure he deserves.

Play Dead by Tom Walker

Slow down your heartbeat Close your eyes and don't speak Lay with my body

Another one of my favorite songs of all time, and when I realized how perfectly it fit this story, I was beside myself. Darling, you're the only one. This, almost more than "Tiny Dancer," is THE song for this fic. Sid is playing dead—he hasn't moved on, can't, won't, even though his body is gone. Zhenya is playing dead—emotionally, he's failing at his charge to lead his team, he's lusting after the past, he won't let the dead go.

you not the same by TileKid

This song, to me, sounds like the Igloo in silence. Left alone to rot, its halls empty, its ghost unwitnessed, the quiet drips of leaking water echoing down crumbling concrete hallways...

Resin by Dustin Tebbutt

In your ribs I see more than bones

"Resin" is a quiet love song for Sid and Zhenya. They're both still so young. They're innocent in a fearful, hopeful, star-crossed way. They deserve some tenderness.

Love You in the Dark by Final State

Talking to a clock trying to change the hours On a cliff chasing your desires

Final State is a band I love a lot, especially their Quebecois music. I've long enjoyed this song and its youthful, earnest exploration of attraction and love. There's an edge of yearning desperation to it, and that fit this Sid and Zhenya so very well. I wanna love you very hard, Wanna know me in the backseat of your car? Yes, yes, they very much want that.

Don't Mind Me by Walking On Cars

I feel alive inside, oh finally I feel alive inside No I've got nothing to lose, except everything you are I'm not looking at the moon, I'm staring at the stars

Ah, another song I've long associated with Sid and Geno. It's about fear and self and togetherness and a particular sense of place—These satellites overhead, I think I love this town—and Zhenya breathes life into Sid in this story, quite literally.

I Will Follow You into the Dark by Death Cab for Cutie

If there's no one beside you When your soul embarks Then I'll follow you into the dark

A classic. An achingly lovely song. And, I think, one that doesn't need too much explanation. Sometimes a good song is just a good song, and that's the case here. Also: if "Lonely Star" is Sid's song, "I Will Follow You into the Dark" is Zhenya's.

Tiny Dancer by Elton John

But oh, how it feels so real Lying here, with no one near Only you and you can hear me

Believe it or not, I'd maybe heard this song... twice...? Before I listened to it for this fic. I'm not an Elton fan, nor was I raised by Elton fans, but as I was researching concerts Sid might have witnessed during the very convoluted timeline for Starbreaker, I came down to two options:

Celtic Woman or Elton John

And, well, as someone with Irish diaspora blood in my veins, I was raised with a whole lotta Celtic Woman, but the tone didn't seem right for the fic... or, like, thematically connected at all. So I popped into my chat with my betas and asked for their opinions.

It was then that @malk1ns chimed in with the piece that made this fic CLICK. "Because if it’s Elton John," she said, "And they have kinda acknowledged their feelings. Sid would cry and Geno would get choked up during tiny dancer."

And she gave me THE lyrics:

But oh, how it feels so real Lying here, with no one near Only you and you can hear me

And that was that. I was sold. Everything was coming together. "Go listen to tiny dancer and have a cathartic cry," she told me.

Dream State (Brighter Night) - Instrumental by Son Lux

Son Lux is another artist I listen to frequently, and this song just felt/sounded/ached right. It was a soft closing. It's the song that would play as the credits rolled and the screen showed that triangle of night sky, quiet and peaceful and dancing with lost stars.

Read Starbreaker here, and listen to the full playlist here.

#starbreaker #long post #playlist

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dreamwritesimagines · 2 years

Note

Hi honey! How's everything? So, I'm once again sending a looong ask and since I've been MIA on this fandom (yes, we're a fandom, embrace it ❤ ) I made another summary of things I wanted to highlight in the chapters I didn't feedback sooo... here you go

Chapter 31 (I know... I'm so late) “Matter of taste I suppose,” you commented. “Or lack thereof. I personally wouldn’t choose this paper but…” “There are different papers for wedding invitations?” Anthony asked and you blinked a couple of times. “Please tell me you’re jesting.” Ok but now they’re getting married this is even funnier 'cause- of course she’ll obsess over every single detail and I mean, I can’t blame her, I’d probably do the same 😂

“What? No,” Kenneth said with as much sarcasm as one could have in their voice. “Everyone knows rivalry just makes men want something less and give up. Just look at the whole human history.” Ok, this is random but as I read it Kenneth’s voice in my head was Jamie Campbell Bower's voice (I may or may not be obsessed with the whole cast of Stranger Things, so maybe that’s why), as I said it's random and totally unimportant but I wanted to share

Chapter 32 “But Lucie heard from a valet that a lord said if I kept going like this, I was going to come across as—” You pulled your brows together, trying to remember. “Um, intimidating. Apparently one of his friends was going to propose but he said I struck fear in his heart purely because I already turned down two suitors.” Oh, the Medusa foreshadowing, Dream you lovely minx ❤

“A siren.” You bit down on your lip, then shook your head. “No. I did consider it though.” Gotta say I missed him calling her that, wonder if he'll do it again anytime soon, maaaybe in a spicy situation, just sayin' 😏

Extra Scene 12 “But,” Lady Danbury added as a thought hit her and she raised her brows at him. “I trust that love didn’t make you forget about your responsibilities Lord Bridgerton; she’s not going to be too fond of your presence before marriage.” One comment and one only, I DOUBT IT. She'll definitely be too fond of his- presence, right 😈

Chapter 33 “I have no idea why I’m here,” Kenneth murmured and Hugh shrugged his shoulders. “You hate poetry already, I figured you’d need an actual reason why.” “I was under the impression you and I got along well Hugh,” Kenneth pointed out, making you bit down on a smile. “Why do you want to torture me?” You caught the small glimmer in Hugh’s eyes as he shot him a grin. “Because it’s fun to torture you,” he said and Cecily exchanged glances with you. I'm sorry but I don't think we talked enough about how these two were flirting SHAMELESSLY in front of EVERYONE like- this whole exchange it's the embodiment of "GET A ROOM" 🔥

Chapter 34 “Speaking of sisters, where’s Iona?” you asked him. “I can’t see anyone with a Luna mask.” Ok but this, this right here, I've been wanting to comment on this for weeks now but I didn't have the time before but nooow... Seriously, a Luna mask, LUNA- like in Lucie + Iona... I'm dying and the cause is fluffness. 💖 Also totally sure my girls did the do, once again people getting laid everywhere, at least now it's only a matter of time before Chérie gets her turn, thank you very much

Ok I'm not even gonna highlight one part of the proposal because everything about it was perfection. Him saying he lost his mask the day they met. The dancing. Him getting down on one knee. The I love you.

“But I can see now why it wasn’t difficult for me to control my heart, because all these years you had it with you, an ocean away from me,” he said. SERIOUSLY MY HEART ❤

“After you, Lady Bridgerton.” I'M DEAD

I mean, first a love token and dozens of flowers and now this whole proposal at a masquerade. THIS IS ANOTHER LEVEL OF ROMANCE, DREAM, DO YOU REALIZE THE STANDARD YOU'RE PUTTING?

Extra Scene 13 Only one thing to say and it's this... Bridgerton Clan + Celias = Perfection. The chaos- amazing, you nail it every time.

Chapter 35 Someone already said it but I want to reiterate. Elias is giving SUCH Ross Geller vibes, I can't- it's too hilarious I love this golden retriever boy in any mood😂❤

“Anthony?” “Yes darling?” I fucking love whenever these two lines come up because it sounds so natural, like they've been together for years, it's so sweet 💕

You were beginning to think that you would be spending your marriage just kissing him and you would be happy with it. Oh yeah kissing, right. I mean, that's how it starts... 🔥😈😏

“Thank you father.” I need more of this, thank you

“Only three and a half weeks.” Ok I must ask, how long will it be for us though?

Extra Scene 14 “I’ve never loved anyone more in my entire life,” Anthony said. “I’ve never wanted anything more than being with her. I’m not going to put her through that hell, because she is the embodiment of my heaven. So trust me, by hook or by crook I will be with her, regardless of your opinion or your approval.” The bar, it keeps getting higher and higher, I needed to lower my standards Dream, you're making it difficult ❤😂

Wow, it's a monster of an ask, sorry about that, love you, can't wait for the next one! ❤❤❤

Omg Gabrielle honeeey you're going to make me cryyyy, you're so sweet! ❤❤

Aaaaaa I'm so excited! ❤❤❤

Chapter 31:

Oh you're absolutely right! ❤ Like, the preparations for that wedding will be actual chaos 😂

Omg I've first seen that actor on Will and he was such a great Marlowe, the way he delivered a certain line is still in my mind to this dayyyy! ❤

Chapter 32:

I love foreshadowing so much! 😏

He will one hundred percent call her that very soon 😏 It'll be fuuuun! 😈😏

Extra Scene 12:

Oh she will be very....very fond of his presence especially after the wedding 😏

Chapter 33:

I think both Kenneth and Hugh have such flirty personalities that they literally can't even help themselves whenever they're around each other, no matter who's around 😂

Chapter 34:

LUNA! LUNA MASK OMG YOU NOTICED THAT DETAIL!😍😍 That was totally intentional😍

The proposal part was so fun! ❤❤ And awww I'm glad you found it romantic as well! ❤

Extra Scene 13:

Can you imagine the CHAOS when Cherie starts living there? 😂

Chapter 35:

Awwww that's so cuuuute, I've never thought about it that way until now, you're right! ❤😍

She will enjoy kissing and moreeee😏

Oh that's a good question! So we're going to have chapter 36 today, and chapter 38 is the wedding chapter and it'll be a huge HUUUUGE chapter, the longest chapter so far 😂

Extra Scene 14:

But that's a good sign! 😂❤

Honeeey, never apologize for that, I LOVE LONG ASKS SO MUCH😍 Thank you so so much for this, you're amazing! ❤❤❤

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nona-la-nona · 2 years

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Gideon the Ninth re-read part three:

- Once again, I am always struck by how emotionally small Harrow is with the added context of Harrow the Ninth. Like she is constantly afraid, constantly conspiring, constantly stressed to no ends. She is constantly trying to make a sacrifice of two-hundred dead children mean something, anything. Because if the Ninth House is absorbed by another house, then why was she even created?

- This becomes abundantly clear during the first trial. Harrow is constantly asking why she can’t just do it alone.

- It’s so fucking funny to me that Harrow is actually really really threatened by Palamedes.

- Harrow being terrified of the party. Gideon not understanding why she’s scared when all Gideon has ever seen Harrow as up until these trials and these moments as all powerful, cruel, and in her element.

- Harrow really is Terezi from Tamsyn’s The Serendipity Gospels.

- The Third and Sixth Houses had arrived all at once, the drab moth of Palamedes making the golden butterfly of Coronabeth Tridentarius all the more aureate and fair. They were sizing each other up like prize fighters. Do I think this is Nona foreshadowing? Absolutely. I am a big believer in Coronabeth as being a contender for a primary antagonist (in the same way Ianthe constantly is shocking the plot and audience) and that’s why I think she is complacent in some way in everything that is happening to the Sixth House in Nona the Ninth.

- Dulcinea, opposite, kissed her hand to Gideon twice before Gideon had even sat down. PALAMEDES IS SITTING RIGHT THERE NEXT TO GIDEON WHEN THIS HAPPENS. HE IS LITERALLY RIGHT THERE. He literally thinks that one of his best friends of a decade, the woman he proposed to and fought to preserve her life, is not only ghosting him, but also flirting with another person RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM. This is why these books are still so good on a second read. Moments like this hit even harder with the context. I am screaming, Pal that’s not her!!!! Pal!!!! She wanted to marry you too!!! Palamedes the real Dulcinea loved you!!! aaaaaaaaaa.

- Cytherea talking to Abigail at the dinner, realizing that she’s going to have to kill her. I am- oh my god. This is a train wreck. This whole dinner is a foreshadowing train wreck.

- “They’re [Sixth house records] kept in a box full of helium so they’ll outlast the heat death of Dominicus, Lady Pent.” Hey so, foreshadowing is a bitch and Tamsyn Muir is evil and I hate everything. But also, I cannot for the life of me really believe Tamsyn had all of this planned out, from the beginning. I am losing it.

- I HAD FORGOTTEN THAT CORONABETH HAD TRIED TO KILL IANTHE IN THE WOMB.

- “I liked that dinner. It was useful.” - Cytherea on that second re-read is really out here looking Gideon right in the eye and saying: ‘I’m a villain :D’ and Gideon cannot hear it.

- Palamedes look of affection for what he believes to be the love of his life gets me every time. Every. Single. Time.

- What’s so fascinating to me, though, is that Gideon is able to pick up on the look, but Cytherea doesn’t. And that’s her downfall.

#gtn spoilers #htn spoilers #ntn spoilers

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residentdormouse · 1 year

Text

Karma Kicked Out Those Killer ‘K’ Words

Alright @mrsmungus, I want you to know how much you killed me with a few keystrokes. Kindly tell me how I compete with that?!?! Kudos to you. Excuse me while I knock my knucklehead against my keyboard hoping to kickstart my brain.

My Words: Knife, Knee, Knuckle, Kitchen, Kid.

These turned out to be really good words. My characters often fall to their knees, and beat their knuckles against things in frustration. Add in a five year old kid to the supporting cast, and this had a pretty decent selection.

Your Words: Lucky, Linger, Lonely, Loving, Listen

If you want to jump in on this - Please do so - Open Tag for All - Join in the insanity!

Knife

After a deep breath, she continued on. “I don't do all the-" her hand waved about flippantly "...magic, witches, spell bullshit or whatever. I'm the muscle of the group. All natural gifted talent right here. Besides, I’m only stopping by to get our girl back. Your world, sorry to report, still very much hemorrhaging."

Their comments all came at once.

“Hang on a moment…”

"Wait, what?!"

“Are you fucking serious?”

Max shrugged as she gave them another quick glance in the rearview mirror. "You all just pulled the knife out. Taking away the weapon does jack shit to heal the wound. You should know that."

So what did this mean for them? Glen turned to Hayden, and could only watch as a slow realization washed over her features. Clarification wasn’t needed, he knew exactly where her train of thought had gone. Her sacrifice, it may have all been for naught. In that moment, he would have given anything to offer her more comfort. Reassurance. But there was no place for it right now; Harold was already continuing down this new line of logic.

"Well, that metaphor leaves a bigger question. If that fucker was just the knife, who exactly stabbed us in the first place."

Max gave a sly smile as she checked in on him. "Oh, gold star for you sweetheart. Truly." The two shared an unspoken exchange of expressions that neither Hayden nor Glen could miss, but it faded shortly after it appeared. “While I’d love to delve into the shit show that your world is clearly immersed in, I’m still waiting for some clarification here myself. And to be honest, think I’ve been pretty damn patient about it to this point. So spill.”

Knee

“So what seed are you sewing, Randy? Am I a horrible hardened killer not worthy of my group, or a weak little girl failing at my protection gig. Pick a paranoia and stick with it."

She looked down at her hands, and watched the blood disappear. With it came a charge, the familiar feeling rushing in her veins, and it spurred her on. "You want to keep coming here and giving me shit, you go right ahead. But this is my head, I'm in control here, and I'm not buying into your bullshit!"

Oily disappeared, as did the trailer, the cars, the bodies; it was just her and Flagg in the middle of the road. A different road, one with a tall structure in the distance. She had no knowledge of this place, but Flagg looked uncomfortable standing there. The sky clouded over, and lightning struck beside them. Emboldened by change, she pushed another step forward. Another. But then her vision began fading. She took another step, but an unexpected weight pulled her down to her knees.

Laughter echoed as she looked up, and the surroundings faded back to the trailer.

"Everything has a cost, remember; do you really want to burn all your energy for a silly dream? Almost as bad as throwing it away saving dead men." In this moment, he was a shark circling the waters. "See, I'm not planting one seed or the other. You're afraid of who you were, and you're failing at who you are."

Knuckle

(Larger number than I expected, but most are violent with spoilers. I also found a knucklehead in regards to Teddy. Its appropriate (affectionate), I promise, but figured I’d stick to the request.)

It was then that she fully registered the contents of the room they found themselves in. Monitors covered the full back wall showing what she assumed were various locations inside and around the buildings.

“Is that…?”

Nick was already on the move towards the monitor in question. He nodded in reply, and clarification wasn't needed.

So that was their nightmare man.

He wasn't so scary sitting against the glass wall in a small cube similar to the one they arrived in. Whether he was ever let out, or if they just kept him locked in there, she wasn't sure. She didn't know that she cared. Let him rot. Could he rot?

The screen was decently clear, and the small sections of smeared blood on the glass and his knuckles indicated he had been fighting against the containment at some point.

‘So he can bleed too.’

As she finished interpreting the signs, her attention was pulled behind them. At least the heavy metal door was louder than your standard ones, and Steph was immediately alerted that they had company coming.

Kitchen

Upon his return, Glen took one look at their faces and smiled. "The generator was my wife's idea." Digging into the fridge, he pulled out a couple beers and gave an underhand toss to each of them. One more for himself, and he joined the group so they all could pop them open together. Stu held his up as a toast, and Hayden followed the gesture with a laugh.

The liquid caught in her throat, and she tried her best to hide the involuntary nose crinkle that hit her.

Another mental note. She was not a beer drinker. At all.

She took another sip to not seem ungrateful, but at this pace, she would be nursing this all night.

Her attention was drawn back to the kitchen as Glen started clanging pots and pans together, rifling through his cabinets. "Can I give you a hand?"

"No, I can manage just fine, Giggles. Why don't you two go sit down. Looks like you had a rough trek to get here."

She couldn't argue with him. Hell, she couldn't even dispute the new name he gave her, although she wasn't sure how to respond in kind yet. Since meeting Glen and Kojak, she felt a weight lifted. One she hadn't fully realized she was holding. Travelling with Stu was comfortable, but quiet, and the unknown weighed on them. But Glen was carefree; the levity was palpable around him.

Pulling out chairs at the dining room table, she sat down with Stu before Glen jumped back into another line of discussion. "So, how exactly does one not know if they're from the south or not?"

Even a room away didn't stop Glen from continuing conversation. It was only a matter of time until her past, or lack thereof, would be brought up. She knew that. Actually she was surprised it took this long.

Kid

(Hey - throwing in an extra ‘Kitchen’ for good measure.)

"And you aren't the least bit concerned–"

She sat up to cut him off. "Shhh!"

"What–"

"Hadz is over in that room with her lovey dove, Vegas, and Mr. Rockstar. Red and her boy are in the kitchen with the kid. And The-o-dore, if you don't stop squeaking those wheels, I swear to everything holy I'm gonna toss your ass on the ground."

"Hey! It’s just Teddy!"

"Not when you're squeaking those wheels it's not!"

Harold looked around, unable to hear any change, but she was able to relax back against the couch cushions again, smug in the display of power. To an extent, he knew the feeling. When he had a plan, plotting to outplay his opponents, there was a satisfying thrill that came with it. The objectives were questionable, but the feeling… the rush of knowing you’re in control of the situation when everybody else expected nothing from you. Meticulous planning and predicting future moves were his tools to achieve this, but she did it with an ease he could barely comprehend.

"How can you–"

"I hear it all, Harold. One of the perks of being me. There's nothing else moving right now."

#I didnt expect K to be as challenging #L is hopefully more forgiving 😂#mouse's tag games & reblogs #riding the train to alliteration station

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