#rescue cherie arc

[redladydeath]

Hiiii, guess who has a Sin Swap AU but only has a detailed idea for the Pride (formerly Lust) arc????

It’s the night of the engagement party and Gumina’s struggling to figure out what to do. She’s found out about Sateriasis plans to kill Cherubim, but Cheri has picked this moment to try and corner her and confess his feelings for her. Gumina’s panicking, trying to figure out what actions she should take, before suddenly coming to the realization that this whole situation is stupid and can be partially resolved by talking. She cuts Cherubim off, telling him to meet her in the hallway, before marching off over to Sati, grabbing him by the arm, and dragging him out of the ballroom.

She brings the brothers to a side room before going off on Sati for being such an asshole. Cherubim’s shocked by the fact his brother was planning on killing him, while Sati’s defensive, accusing the two of them of being together behind his back. Gumina and Cherubim immediately and vigorously deny this, pointing out the flaws in his logic. Emotions are still running high though and eventually things devolve into a shouting match between the three of them, everyone angry at each other for on reason or another.

Eventually, Claster and Ilotte barge in on them. Mina and Sati just walked out of their engagement party after all, and Cherubim’s not supposed to interact with them. Gumina and Sati are both still furious though and refuse to go back. Cherubim, scared that this might be his last chance to speak to Gumina, breaks down and confesses his feelings to Gumina. Gumina is too shocked to give him a real response.

Sati pitches a fit and says he was right all along, Claster is frantically trying to herd the two of them out of the room, and Ilotte is staring daggers at Cherubim. He tells Claster that he will take care of this and Cherubim freezes in terror while Gumina panics. She tries to implore Sati to help Cheri, to help her, but he stays silent, refusing aid out of spite. Gumina is horrified by his selfishness before becoming furious at him for treating her like something he’s entitled to.

Time passes. Cherubim is locked away again by Ilotte. He has no hope/expectations of being rescued again. Gumina is furious at Sateriasis, along with everyone else who thinks of her as nothing more than a pawn to be used for their own purposes. Sati, once he calms down, grows somewhat guilty for hurting the two of them so badly over pretty much nothing. In the meantime, Gumina takes to wearing an emerald ring that was given to her as an engagement gift. She refuses to touch any of the presents and is not entirely sure who it’s from, but she feels drawn to it.

Eventually Gumina and Sati are married. Gumina’s resentment for everyone grows, fueled by the ring, which, surprise surprise, turns out to be the Vessel of Pride. She hates Sateriasis, hates her fellow nobles, and is disgusted by the idea of taking on the role as Sati’s quiet little wife. Sateriasis is trying to make amends, but he’s failing, and is too scared/selfish to do anything significant to help the situation. Cherubim is slowly starving in the basement and has no hope to escape this situation

The vessel’s influence on Gumina grows stronger, fueling her indignation and anger until they reach a boiling point. She begins to make plans to set things right, which the vessel encourages her to act on.

Ilotte confronts Gumina one night, hoping to intimidate her into being more compliant. Her anger at his condescending attitude peaks and she snaps; the vessel changes from a ring to a knife and she wheels around and slashes his throat. She leave him to bleed out; she believes it was the just thing to do.

The whole household panics once his body is discovered. No one suspects Gumina. Sati tries to maintain order and stops paying attention to Gumina. While he’s distracted, Gumina fires half the staff for “allowing” the murder to happen, replaces them with servants loyal to her, sends the hysterical duchess to stay with Classke, and rescues Cherubim, who was on the brink of death, from the basement, assigning Carol to watch over his recovery.

Sati and Gumina officially become Duke and Duchess Venomania. Sati still hasn’t noticed everything Gumina’s done behind his back. After everything is settled, he turns to Gumina for support, but is shocked when she reveals all the power over the household that she’s attained. He tries to argue with her, but she simply has her men lock him in his room, leaving her to do as she pleases.

Once Sati is taken care of, Gumina goes to oversee Cherubim’s recovery. He’s quite confused about all that’s happened, but blindly accepts it simply because everything is suddenly so much better. Gumina spends a lot of time in his company as he recovers and her fondness is finally allowed to blossom into love. The two of them start a relationship, much to Cherubim’s shock. Part of Gumina genuinely loves him, the other part is getting a kick out of the relationship primarily because it’s in defiance of what everyone tried to make her do.

While participating in this relationship, Gumina starts governing Asmodean in Sateriasis’ name. She quite enjoys it, loving the ability to exercise the power she feels she is entitled to. Her and Cherubim grow closer, and he can’t quite believe this is really happening. Meanwhile, Sati is desperately trying to find a way out. He’s shocked that he can’t persuade anyone to help him and is beginning to go stir-crazy.

Gumina is satisfied with how things have turned out. Her and Cherubim’s relationship eventually becomes sexual. Cheri, being a socially and emotionally stunted individual, eventually expresses a wish for Gumina to bring Sati intro their relationship— Cheri doesn’t have a particularly nuanced understanding of ‘love’ and, once introduced to the idea of romantic/sexual love, merges it with platonic love in his mind. Gumina is shocked and unnerved by this request; she finally comes to understand how damaged and childlike Cherubim still is. However, the vessel fuels her anger at Sateriasis for doing all this to them, and it encourages her to continue to be the arbiter of justice.

Gumina grants Cherubim’s wish and frees Sati, under the condition he does as she says. Everything about this whole situation is nightmarish and wrong to him, but Gumina plays on his guilt for having nearly killed is brother and objectifying his childhood friend in order to paralyze him, keeping him from stepping out of line.

A new system is formed. Gumina runs the household and attends to affairs of state, Cherubim is given unlimited freedom and resources, and Sati remains in his room most of the time, except for when Gumina or Cheri want him for something. Gumina is immensely satisfied, Cherubim is happier than he’s ever been, and Sati is emotionally bruised from suddenly losing all his authority to his wife.

Gumina is satisfied with her position as unofficial duke, but the vessel is not. The vessel encourages feelings of superiority and righteousness in her, and slowly she comes to believe that all the other nobles are incompetent and she should be the one running everything.

She slowly starts implementing policies that subtly weaken other families’ power and strengthening her own. People notice, but it’s subtle enough where they can’t outright accuse her of anything. It gradually comes to be known that Gumina is really the one running the show, but as it’s believed she’s governing at Sateriasis’ request while he’s “grieving”, no one can do anything about it.

Gumina becomes a figure of suspension by the nobles and many men in Asmodean. However, she is a highly affective ruler who makes many substantial improvements to how things are run— she grants women more rights for a start. Gumina enjoys this new position; it’s incredibly satisfying to her to watch the nobles who once saw her as a pawn silently seethe as she takes control of the country and proves time and time again how capable she is. Many Asmodean women, as well as the Elphe government, admire her, but to most she begins to be regarded as “The She-Wolf of Elphegort”.

Things are good for a while: Gumina’s happy and running the county well, and her and Cherubim adore each other. Gumina, seeing herself as the arbiter of karma, showers him with gifts and affection (partly out of love, partly because she can now). Cheri, in return, is hopelessly devoted to her, never questions anything she does, and never leaves the house or speaks to anyone she thinks may be a threat. Part of Gumina is a little concerned about this— she wanted to help him become more of a person— but a larger part of her is too wrapped up in the love of this situation to actually do anything about it. Sati’s watching this love-affair go on from the sidelines, but he’s too concerned about staying sane and alive to get worked up about it.

While initially considered to be a just, albeit divisive ruler, public opinion about Gumina starts to change. The vessel’s negative impacts are starting to show again, and she starts implementing policies that hurt the people for the sake of her own enrichment. She never thought much of the lower-classes, and now her callous treatment of them starts to stew up discontent among the masses. Meanwhile, Mina’s currently trying to get pregnant by one of the brothers (it doesn’t really matter to her which one) so as to secure her position as the mother of the future duke/duchess. Sati is disgusted by this situation, Cheri doesn’t know about it because Gumina had the foresight to know not to tell him as it would inevitably send him into a panic.

Eventually, all of Gumina antics attract the attention of the royal family. Again, it’s not clear if she’s done anything wrong, but they’re suspicious and invite her and Sati to court for a few weeks. Gumina, accepts, confident that’s she’s utterly secure and they won’t be able to prove anything. Arrogance clouding her judgment, she also decides to bring Cherubim along, just for fun.

The visit is tense. Gumina’s completely relaxed, but Janus is suspicious. He can see something’s wrong with Sateriasis, but can’t get him to admit it’s due to anything but grief. Maylis is interested in this whole affair and wants to figure out what’s going on. She worms her way into Cherubim’s room and gains enough of his trust for him to mention Gumina and him are lovers and a few more suspicious things about their home life until they’re interrupted by Gumina.

Gumina tries to talk Maylis into keeping what she heard quiet, appealing to her distaste for arranged marriages. Maylis pretends to be convinced, but is really planning to gather more information before clamping down. This is already stressful enough for Mina, but then towards the end of the visit Sateriasis becomes bold enough to start hinting to the royals that something is seriously wrong. Eventually they leave, with Gumina still confident in her security, but angry and a tiny bit nervous.

Things start spiraling out of control. Gumina, becoming paranoid of losing power, starts acting erratically. She’s adopting new, unfair policies, questioning her servants’ loyalty, and lashing out at people verbally and physically. One night, while the three of them are together, Sati summons the courage to confront her about what she’s done. There’s a physical altercation and, in the heat of the moment, Gumina stabs Sati in the heart. Cherubim freaks out as Gumina tries to get him to shut up, regretting what she’s done but scared of attracting attention. She calls Carol to try and help Sati, but he dies before anything can be done. Cherubim’s in shock while Gumina tries to convince him that she will handle this and everything will be alright.

Mina hides Sati’s body in the basement and tries to keep up the illusion that he’s still alive. She announces to the public that Sateriasis is going to start ruling now, for really reals this time, in order to divert attention off herself, but no one’s buying it. Gumina’s growing more and more frantic, trying to maintain her power and coax Cherubim back into his devotion for her. He’s finally starting to question her and doesn’t trust her like he used to. This only makes Gumina more stressed and more angry.

Eventually things come to a head and Maylis shares the information she’s gathered to her siblings, who send men to investigate the manor. Gumina tries desperately to prevent them from probing too far, but they discover Sati’s body and Gumina and Cherubim, along with anybody who remains loyal to them, are arrested.

Once Gumina’s no longer a threat, many of the servants immediately start talking, confessing everything illegal/immoral they saw going on. Gumina is still trying to talk her way out of this, separated from the vessel but still feeling the affects of Pride.

Eventually, Gumina goes on trial and is found guilty of usurping her husband and abusing power that was not hers. She’s surprised she’s not tried for Sateriasis and Ilotte’s murders, until she finds out that Cherubim has taken the blame for them and some of her other crimes, hoping to protect her. She’s utterly horrified and tries to admit her guilt in the matters, but is ignored. The Beelzebian nobility doesn’t want to execute a noblewoman, and plan to banish/imprison her while executing the commoners involved in her activities.

Gumina is devastated and desperate, but there’s nothing she can do. Cherubim is executed, scared but satisfied with the fact that Gumina will be able to live. Mina’s sent off to a remote castle/convent in the countryside, barred from ever exercising political power again. The Demon of Pride breaks the contract and Gumina’s left with the guilt and grief of having lost her friends, family, and chance at a real life. She’s left with one thing though; soon after her arrival, she discovers that she’s pregnant.

#i wrote this over the course of a few nights so sorry if the writing style jumps around a bit #i took some inspiration from history with this #there are a couple of queens of medieval england who publicly took lovers and overthrew their husbands and were only punished by house arest #btw gumina's not supposed to be 100% wrong all the time #some of the stuff she does is good and most of the opposition she faces is for bullshit reasons #it’s just.. bad things come from the vessels no matter the person #evillious chronicles #redlady speaks #lust arc #i'm going for this thing where the sins always have the same result for those who commit them #i.e. if the sinner died and the responder survived in the original story #then the responder (who is now the sinner) will live and the original sinner will die #only problem is i don't have nearly the level of inspiration for the other arcs that i have for this one

[thesummerstorms]

This post is half just because I’m enjoying playing with fancy new custom fonts 😍.

But also, in honor of May the Fourth, I really want to do some character development!!!!!!! 

Therefore if anyone wants to send me asks for any of the SW stuff below, I’ll try and come up with some headcanons for it! 

Some Etain things I can do headcanons for:

For some reason I’m really feeling baby! or child! Etain headcanons during her time in the Jedi Order today, and some general prequel!Jedi Order headcanons in general

Etain in the Rebellion

Specific Darman/Etain asks

Etain finding other non-Jedi and Altisian Jedi Force-users post Purge

Etain and the Force

I have a lot of Rebel, early Empire/Palpatine resisters, or Rebel-adjacent OCs who I’d love to talk about but some of them are in early stages of development, so I’d love questions!

Calissa Asht, Jedi Archivist originally from Corellia, drawn somewhat unwillingly into the Clone Wars. Resigns on moral grounds before the end of the war and is arrested for helping her ARC aid desert and remove his records from the system. Eventually becomes part of the Rebel Alliance as “Lissa Vigil”.

Sena Ruus/Ysenya, Socorran born Mandalorian smuggler who ends up rescuing clone deserters during the Clone Wars and eventually turns Rebel for their and the Mando nomadic clans’ sake

Mar’tanna Distombe, Twi’lek smuggling coordinator who got dragged into operation Rescue-Clones-from-the-GAR by her Wookiee business partner and then dragged her girlfriend Sena in. Disabled/scarred/missing part of her lekku following a bad accident.

Genna “Chirq” Dejahar, Corellian who went from the daughter of smugglers to Altisian Jedi. Early resistence member dating to when the Altisian Jedi were forced to go under ground

Cheris and Arden, a Naboo pro athlete and Alderaan journalist respectively turned Altisian Jedi detective duo. They’re burned when investigating Coruscant too closely during the war, but manage to survive the initial Jedi purge

 Senator Amrita Hallow, who draws political ire after challenging what she sees as the abuses within and surrounding the GAR, signing the Petition of the 2,000, and challenging the rise of the Empire. She eventually becomes a founding member of the  Coruscanti resistance movement Whiplash

(This is getting long, but more here)

#Etain Tur-Mukan #may the fourth #original characters #Republic Commando #characters #ocs #may the fourth be with you

[reconditarmonia]

Dear Gen Freeform Writer

(Edit: I apologize for not coming back to fill out this placeholder. It’s unlike me and it’s negatively affected you. I hope this addition comes at a time when it’s still useful to you; it largely replicates my signup but expands on some things.)

Hi! Thank you for writing for me! I’m reconditarmonia here and on AO3. I have anon messaging off, but mods should be able to contact me if you have any questions.

Fullmetal Alchemist | Machineries of Empire | Legend of Korra

General likes:

– Relationships that aren’t built on romance or attraction. They can be romantic or sexual as well, but my favorite ships are all ones where it would still be interesting or compelling if the romantic component never materialized.

– Loyalty kink! Trust, affectionate or loving use of titles, gestures of loyalty, replacing one’s situational or ethical judgment with someone else’s, risking oneself (physically or otherwise) for someone else, not doing so on their orders. Can be commander-subordinate or comrades-in-arms.

– Heists, or other stories where there’s a lot of planning and then we see how the plan goes.

– Femslash, complicated or intense relationships between women, and female-centric gen. Women doing “male” stuff (possibly while crossdressing).

– Stories whose emotional climax or resolution isn’t the sex scene, if there is one.

– Uniforms/costumes/clothing.

– Stories, history, and performance. What gets told and how, what doesn’t get told or written down, behavior in a society where everyone’s consuming media and aware of its tropes, how people create their personas and script their own lines.

Smut Likes: clothing, uniforms, sexual tension, breasts, manual sex, cunnilingus, grinding, informal d/s elements, intensity; stories whose resolution isn’t the sex scene.

General DNW: rape/dubcon, torture, other creative gore; unrequested AUs, including “same setting, different rules” AUs such as soulmates/soulbonds; PWP; food sex; embarrassment; focus on pregnancy; Christmas/Christian themes; focus on unrequested canon or non-canon ships.

—

Fandom: Fullmetal Alchemist

Group(s): Roy Mustang & Riza Hawkeye

Competence - highly effective teamwork

Intensely Important Nonsexual Nonromantic Relationship

Loyalty - Betraying Leader or Subordinate to Save Them

Loyalty - Deferring To Leader or Subordinate's Judgment

Loyalty - Gestures of Loyalty

Loyalty - Risking Self For Someone

Loyalty - Swearing

I love the loyalty kink in this canon, and in this duo specifically: the trust and competence and stoically hidden but very very intense feelings, the willingness to risk oneself or the other person, or to stake a lot on the other person’s competence (and willingness to hurt or sacrifice the other person because their shared cause says it’s right, too, all the times that comes up), the fighting together in tandem.

So - a dangerous mission (or intelligence-collecting situation) where their deep familiarity/trust/awareness of each other’s presence and fighting style and communication come into play (god, that bit in canon where Hawkeye shoots two guys right over Mustang’s shoulder), or where they worry about each other’s safety, or rescue each other? Or a more private scene? I love the intimacy of their work relationship and personal history, on levels from casual to very intense. I love the "protect my back" exchange so, so much (I'm particularly interested in fics set during a time when that is already part of their relationship history, rather than fics set in Ishval or shortly after, and I am not really interested in fics set when they were children or young adults at all) and the way that, eventually, ends up playing out with regard to Envy.

Group(s): Olivier Mira Armstrong & Briggs Soldiers, Olivier Mira Armstrong & Mile, Olivier Mira Armstrong & Miles & Briggs Soldiers

Competence - highly effective teamwork

FMA: Everyone at Briggs Is Gay

Loyalty - Deferring To Leader or Subordinate's Judgment

Loyalty - Gestures of Loyalty

Loyalty - Risking Self For Someone

I love the loyalty kink in this canon, and in Briggs specifically - both heartwarming and id-satisfying. (The watch! Buccaneer handing Olivier a clean pair of gloves after she kills Raven! Constant and deeply sincere saluting! And Olivier’s lack of patience for anyone’s shit.) Ordinary or extraordinary circumstances - daily life in the fort, a battle with Drachma where they work together seamlessly, surviving a storm or the typical winter cold? Entire Briggs Is Gay would also non-ironically be neat, as would other ways of exploring the idea of Briggs being a united wall made up of people with a lot of secrets and/or racial and gender differences. This of course can bring in Miles specifically - I love the scene where he recounts Olivier's explanation of why it's important to her to have him as her right-hand man.

—

Fandom: Machineries of Empire

Group(s): Ajewen Cheris & Shuos Jedao, Rhezny Brezan & Devenay Ragath & Neshte Khiruev, Shuos Mikodez & Shuos Zehun, Shuos Nija & Shuos Feiyed

Intensely Important Nonsexual Nonromantic Relationship

Loyalty - Betraying Leader or Subordinate to Save Them

Loyalty - Deferring To Leader or Subordinate's Judgment

Loyalty - Gestures of Loyalty

Loyalty - Swearing

No moral compass so I'll borrow yours instead

Platonic Kneeling

I love the loyalty kink in this canon and the various forms it takes - "I'm your gun" with the kneeling, Mikodez showing the contingency plans to Zehun to make a point, Ragath defecting from the Kel because of what they did to his soldiers - and the variety of important, intense platonic relationships. I don't have a lot of particular plot prompts (I'd just love to see more loyalty and trust, especially under strain - deferring to someone's competence or sense of ethics even though you don't know how it will turn out, making difficult choices, verbal or nonverbal displays of loyalty like the kneeling and swearing and the glove thing)...but for Cheris and Jedao I'm especially interested in a post-Glass Cannon timeframe. (Oh my god, they were roommates telepathically bonded. I quite like their Ninefox Gambit interactions as well when he's in her head, but the fallout of everything that happens in the series and how it creates that strong Jedao->Cheris loyalty is very good.) For Nija and Feiyed I reckon Feiyed mentors Nija after rescuing/recruiting her, and maybe they work together in future? Brezan, Khiruev and Ragath in the Revenant Gun timeline or after, trusting each other with the future of the former hexarchate and working together on an interpersonal level? Mikodez and Zehun at any time, oh my god. I also enjoy the faction loyalty within the Kel and within the Shuos in general, and seeing that play out in some proportion or other of ritualized and personal.

Fandom-Specific DNW: I'm aware that there's a lot of torture and dubcon in canon. I don't mind if you mention that they exist but I'd like to reiterate that I absolutely do not want any onscreen, or any details about torture even mentioned.

—

Fandom: Legend of Korra

Group(s): Korra & Kuvira, Korra & Zaheer

Learning from an Enemy

Mentor/Mentee Relationships

One thing I enjoyed about seasons 3 and 4 of Korra was the writing team’s attempt to write villains who were sincerely committed ideologues with valid points, even if they became evil in pursuit of their goals, and to figure out how Korra could relate to those villains as the Avatar and as the person that she is. I loved how Korra needed to seek help from Zaheer because as an anarchist he truly opposed what Kuvira was doing and wanted to help Korra, and how she was able to empathize with Kuvira at the end of s4 because the two have some big personality similarities. How might they continue to work together or influence each other after the end of s4? I don’t need a redemption arc if that’s not what you’re interested in writing - Zaheer and Kuvira can absolutely continue to believe that their ideals were correct and even that not all of their methods were wrong - but I would be interested in reading about Korra getting more mental/spiritual tutoring from her enemy Zaheer and deciding how much of that she wants to integrate into her practice, seeking Kuvira’s advice on how to handle ongoing developments in the Earth Kingdom as it transitions to a republic, sparring or practicing bending with Kuvira, Spirit World meditation adventures with Zaheer… (I haven’t read the comics, so you can either take or leave comics canon.)

Fandom-Specific Exception: I've been a Korrasami shipper since s1, so if your vision for this fic includes a big part for Asami, consider that an exception to my unrequested-ships DNW.

#dear author letters

[bbwoulfc]

We Meet Again

Pirate Au with Ladybug!Adrien and ChatNoir!Marinette.

Haven’t seen anyone attempt a role switch pirate au, so I thought I’d have some fun and give it a try.

They say the foolish would never succeed in their goals. Never to make a difference in my life or the lives of others.  How wrong they were.  The foolishness in me is what made a difference in my life and the lives of others. I gave the people close to me a purpose, an outlet to the wonders of the world. A life of freedom.   A life of adventure.  A life of treasures and riches beyond one’s imagination and dreams.  Shame on those who say dreams are for fools.  If it weren’t for my foolishness and dreams, I would never experience my greatest adventure of my life, nor meet my beloved again.

                                                          *****

The night wanes on the small town of Port Royal.

For such a busy port and town, it was rather calm and serene for an evening.  Families safe beyond their stone and bricked homes, while others more troublesome and outgoing members of the town, gather at the largest pub located near the center of the inland.  All the rum and varies of alcohol should contain the drunkers for the time being.

As the guards of Port Royal walk around the streets of the town, enforcing the peace and laws of the governor and the king; a prisoner lays awake in the Port Royal jail.

The lonely prisoner stands in the cell as she listens to the calming waves of the ocean and march of the two guards pacing back and forth in front of the jail’s entrance.  She couldn’t complain too much.  The prison was cool in temperature due to the underground structure.

Pacing towards one of the prison cell’s barred window, she glances out as the moonlight casts amongst her shadow appearance.

She’s a young woman, no more than twenty.  Her short cut, blue tinted black hair glows in highlight, her sapphire eyes blazing with an internal blue flame from the heat of the moonlight.  The woman’s body cloaked in hematite black and smoke grey pirate attire, and a hint of beryl green formed in a cat paw print located on her black as night earrings.  The fire from the torches along the stone walls casting a red hue behind her as in blends with the blue of the moon, igniting the she-pirate in a glow of warm and cool colors.

For a free spirit that she be, no prison will obtain a pirate in the likes of her.  Port Royal are in for a rude awaking.

Like the warmth of bed sheet, the town becomes cloaked in a bed of silence.  The wind coming to a quick halt as all sound refrains except the movements of the two guards.

The she-pirate’s lip form into a smirk.  The calm before the storm.

Like a signal, a boom emits in the distance as the sound rockets through the once quiet town.  In seconds, an explosion makes contact with the town as an impact nearby vibrates through ground.  The once quiet atmosphere now filled with the sounds of bells chiming, alerting the guards of Port Royal of an attack from canon fire.

The sounds of rushing boots scattering along the town towards the harbor as more explosions make impact to the town.  The glows of red lighting like fireworks from the small prison cell window.

What was once excitement on her face now morphed into confusion and frustration as another boom from a canon is heard from the harbor.

“Those are not the sounds of my canons.  What the hell?”  She grunts through clench teeth as she tries to get a glimpse of the harbor and ocean.

“Halt!”

She could hear one of the prison guards shouting to an unknown intruder.  Turning her head slightly, she angles her head, attention towards the main door hidden around the corner and up the stairs.

Within the second of a breath, the sound of two gun shots echo from the outside of the prison door.  Who in the hell could this intruder be?

Hearing the bodies of the two guards slide against the stone cold walls, she heard the iron door creak open.  With the poorly lit prison as it already was, she could see the rays of the moonlight highlighting angelic beams in the location of the stairway from its location around the corner.  Even with the rays of the moonlight, the corner of the arc way to the main area of the cells remain cloaked in shadows.

Whoever it may be, she wouldn’t show fear.  She won’t show vulnerability.    

The sounds of heavy booted footsteps begin descending the iron stairs towards the prison cell where she’s held.  What surprises her most is how calm the footsteps radiate as they make their way down.

Reaching the bottom, a thickly cloaked and dressed figure stands and faces her from the shadowed cloaked arch way.  

Even in the shadows, she can make out the small highlights and silhouettes of another pirate.  The only appearance to show was the bright emerald orbs of his eyes, highlighted by the faint cast of the moon.

“My, my; they were right.  Their captain caged like an animal.  I don’t know about you, but I think those gents deserved death to cage such a beauty as yourself.  Wouldn’t you agree?” Came the figure’s thick voice.

Stepping forward, the pirate blends away from the shadows to show a young man with messed styled blond hair, and placed as the same age as her.  His attire assorted by the colors of melanite black and blood red.

As her gaze roamed the pirates attire, she saw a glimpse of the silver ring surrounding his right ring finger.  With a closer inspection, she could see the faint carving of a ladybug.

Of course.

With a smile, the blue haired pirate looks up at the blond pirate in front of her, sapphire eyes staring into emerald eyes. “Cardinalis.” She greeted.

“Panthera.” He greeted in return, a smile blooming on his face.

Moving forward, Cardinalis stops once he reaches the metal prison cell.

“How on earth did you get yourself in here, Panthera?”

A chuckle escapes through her lips as she paces the cell, only to stop back in front of her fellow pirate.  “It was supposed to be a distraction of sorts. My crew were to raid a certain treasury while I distracted some of the guards and lured them away.  Apparently the guards weren’t as stupid as they appeared. Making a good head way from the guards chasing me, I had the unfortunate luck of running into another group of guards. Figures.  Though I’m not sure where they could have gone.  Betrayal results in death.  As I’m sure will happen once I ever find them.”

“Oh, my lady.  I’ve heard many tales about you, but this is a first about the great Panthera.”

She rolls her eyes and shakes her head lightly. Exhaling a deep amount of air, Panthera looks back at Cardinalis.  “What are you doing here, my lord?  Never once have we meet in person until know.”

He looks at her with the most respect that a pirate can give a fellow pirate.

“Just because we haven’t met out in the open seas doesn’t mean I don’t know you…princess.  Marinette.”

Panthera’s body stiffens from the use of her civilian’s name.  It’s been a few years since she’s gone by that name.  How on earth does he know her name.  More so her status as a princess?”

“How do you know my name?”  Panthera looks Cardinalis dead in the eyes as she awaits his answer.

With a smile, eyes gleaming with a hint of mystery, Cardinalis provides what she seeks.

“I know you, rather well, princess.  You are the only daughter of the once feared pirate, Jaguaron.  One of the legends to tame the seas.  And as far as legends go, love took hold of the heart.  He fell for a princess and gave up the life of a pirate.  Erased the hidden past of life not welcomed by most and married to only become king alongside the now present queen.  A mighty kingdom of Cheng, now known has the Kingdom of Dupain-Cheng.  Then, a year later, they were blessed with a beautiful baby girl who bared a heart of bravery and kindness.  And always quenched for a thirst for adventure.”  Cardinalis gives Panthera a toothy grin as he stares at the princess.

“How in Davey Jones do you know so much about me?” There is no way anyone knew of her background.  There was no one, except for one.  But that was impossible.  

She wasn’t sure how or what to feel.

Reaching through the bars of the cell, Cardinalis grasp the necklace around her neck, fingers grazing over the detailed marks and curves of the intricate design.

Panthera lowers her head as she gazes at his lingering fingers, her own gaze glancing at the one belonging she cherished most.

Cardinalis was silent as he eyed the piece of jewelry as if it held everything he cared about most.

“Why are you hear, Cardinalis?  I know there’s a reason.”

Her words bring him back from his silent reminiscence that trailed through his eyes as he shifts his gaze back to her.

“I’ve search far for you, princess.  I came to rescue you and offer a proposition.”

She remained silent as she nodded her head to acknowledge him to continue.

“I’d like you to be my partner.  We can search for the sacred miraculouses before that tyrant, Hawk Moth can find them, and use them against our homes.”  He places his leathered glove against her cheek, “And we could be whole again.”

Panthera closes her eyes as she leans against the cool of the glove and the warmth of his touch.  She takes a deep breath as she opens her eyes and looks Cardinalis face to face.  There was no doubt who this young man was in front of her.  It’s been so long.  Who’d ever think fate was so kind.

“Never once had I thought I’d ever see my prince again.”

Another sound of multiple canon fire echoes though the chaos engulfing the town.

“So, what do you, Panthera?  Are you willing to partner with me and sail the seven seas together?”  A smirk taking over.

With confidence gleaming in her eyes, she smirks in return looking straight into his eyes.  “You got yourself a deal, my lord.  Now get me out of her.”

“Then you better stand back, ma cheri.” Cardinalis pulls out his pistol and aims it at the cell’s lock.

Moving to the end of the cell, Panthera waits and watches as Cardinalis pulls the trigger.  A few sparks ignite from the contact of the bullet, but the damage was done as he pulls the door open for his partner.

Stepping out of the prison cell, both smile each other and make their way towards the only entrance of the prison.  

Once reaching close to the top, Panthera halts. Cardinalis stopping behind her.

Turning around, she comes face to face to her new partner, the steps providing ease from the height different.

Moving her gaze to his lips, she leans forward, closing her eyes, and places her lips against his.  Feeling her lips on his, Cardinalis close his eyes and returns the kiss.

It wasn’t meant to be long as she pulls herself away, opening her eyes to look back at him.

“Thank you.”  Her voice soft and filled with admiration.  “Thank you for finding me, Adrien.”

“I’d search for you near and far.  No sea, ocean, or land can keep me from you.”

A loving smile takes form on her face.  “Then let’s get started and make up once we’re in the safety of your ship.  And begin preparations of becoming the king and queen of the seven seas.”

Excitement gleams and sparkle through Cardinalis’s eyes as he offers cat like smirk.  “Then lead the way, my lady.”      

#miraculous ladybug #Ladybug!Adrien #ChatNoir!Marinette #adrien agreste #marinette dupain cheng #adrien x marinette #pirate au #roles switched