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lingering-42-long · 1 year

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First COD Ghost x F!Reader. Ghost might be a little OOC. Hopefully with more studying on this character I can perfect his personality.

Warnings: none, SFW, potential ooc, long.

Summary: your husband, Simon Riley has returned from a mission.

It had been 17 long hours from the flight in Dubai to London airport. Probably too long for some peoples taste. This was the same for Ghost. Normally he would dread heading back home he would dread making that long trip back to his home country always wishing that his vacation time would get cut short. It wasn’t like he hated England on the contrary, he actually loved the landscape and the simplicity of its beauty. It was the fact that he felt like he had no purpose in life outside of fighting no purpose outside of dealing with insurgents, drug dealers, and terrorists, but things were now changing for better or for worse depending on how you look at it.

For the past two years Simon Riley had been seeing a girl. She had caught his attention before he even knew what feelings he was feeling for her, and before he could stop any form of emotional attachment he was already knee deep and head over heels. It took time, a lot of time and trust, a lot of trust, but the two had learned to dance with one another balancing each other out and strengthening out their weaknesses. He had only been married to her for 10 months but even before then he had already felt so attached to her.

It was around 22:30 When he finally arrived at home. He knew she would be either getting ready for bed or already asleep, Besides, he wanted to have her wake up to a surprise. Shutting off the engine to his car he stepped outside into the cool air. The air was wet with previous rain and cool due to the temperatures dropping from the cloud coverage. A stark contrast of the hot blazing sun in the desert. Ghost grabbed his bags and made his way to the door.

Their house was located on the outside of a small town called Ebchester. It was peaceful and quiet and there really wasn’t much to disturb them. The countryside was rather beautiful with the rolling plains and every once in a while a farmer tending to his sheep out on a hill. Nothing was happening this late at night.

He made his way to the front door and noticed that the hallway light was on. It was always on at night when he was gone. It was a silent promise that, as he figured out, his wife did this small thing. It was a promise that assured him that she will always be waiting for him whenever he would get back, that she would “ keep the lights on”. Such a simple gesture touched his heart more than anything else. He had always told the boys ,especially soap, That he had a cold heart. That was far from the truth but he can’t act like a softy out on the field, not like he can here in the safety of his home with his loving wife.

He put the key in the hole and turned it then opened the door, but the door had the chain lock on the inside keeping it from opening all the way. Slightly annoyed and also slightly proud that his wife remember to lock the doors before going to bed, but the one time that he wanted to get inside without having to hassle through one of the windows. He sighed and placed his bags by the door and then walked around the property and garden, checking each window and of course each window and backyard door were locked from the inside.

They lived in a small two-story home eight windows On the first floor and six on the second. All eight windows on the first floor and door were latched shut, but then he noticed one of the windows on the second floor was open with one of the curtains fluttering from the slight breeze. That meant his wife must still be up probably getting ready for bed. The fire ladder that was on the side of the house did go from their bedroom down but the window that was open was on the other corner side of the bedroom.

Carefully, Ghost goes to the thought of how he could best climb up the ladder and reach the window without falling or disturbing his wife. He didn’t think he was going to have to go through stealth training, in his own country, at 10 o’clock at night, just to surprise his wife. But this is Simon Riley and he’s determined to complete any mission he set his heart on.

Stealthily climbing up the ladder placing careful feet on the side of the house and skillfully climbing and wrapping to the other window. If someone was to see him now they would’ve surely called the police.

As he entered into their shared house with just a gentle thump barely making the floorboards creak underneath his feet. Ghost knew where the floorboards creaked and where they were more sturdy. Carefully sidestepping around the furniture, he noticed the washroom light was on and could see a bit of the door cracked open. (Y/n) looked like she was getting ready to take a bath. For some odd reason he was just staring at her, maybe it was because he didn’t know what to say, or maybe because he was so in love with her and hadn’t seen her in too long of a time that he felt like he couldn’t trust his own tongue to speak, but for whatever reason it was a bit too long and she felt the presence of someone staring at her.

When she turned around she let out a bloodcurdling scream and grabbed the closest thing at the time ,which was a brush, and threw it at Simon, which he dodged fairly quickly. (Y/n) wasn’t a trained soldier, she didn’t have the tactical skills to land a deadly blow. He had shown her how to use a gun in case of an emergency, but even so her aim wasn’t that great.

He approached her from the shadows carefully avoiding the thrown brush. Now thinking about it, this probably wasn’t the greatest idea to still be wearing his signature skull mask And thick military gear to make him look more bulky and scarier than he was intentionally going for. Once the lights hit his face she stopped nearly throwing a shampoo bottle at him. “S-Simon?” She gasped dropping the bottle opening the door wider and embracing him in her arms shaking probably due to all the adrenaline he caused. “Hello Love” he murmured as he held her tight to his body. He missed this. The poor, touch-starved man missed being embraced by his wife. He would not deny it, he missed her this last go-a-round.

”You stupid man I could’ve killed you” (Y/n) gave a little laugh and lightly hit his chest. “What were you thinking?”

“ Well the front door was chain locked so I had to resort to claiming in though the window.“

“I wish you would have told me that you were coming in I would’ve unchained it for you… hell I would have been at the airport waiting for you.”

Small pricks of tears were around her eyes. Simon gently brushed them away before they could fall.

”I wanted it to be a surprise. I’m sorry if I startled you” He’s normally gruff deep voice would’ve intimidated anyone but he was not using that voice now. It was soft low and rumbling like distant thunder bringing the promise of rain.

“May I? Just to make sure you’re my husband and all?” She gesture to his mask. He shook his head and chuckled. He didn’t mind at all. (Y/n) was the only one that had ever seen his face like this. Carefully she pulled the mask up from around the neck and slowly moved it all the way up to his chin, then passed his nose, and over his eyes and forehead. Soft brown eyes with a gentle smile that met her gaze as he tilted her chin up and bent down to give her a deep and passionate kiss.

They had not kissed in over Six months. It had been a real strain for them both. He did what he could to keep in contact with her whenever he got the chance and she would send care packages in the mail as frequently as she could as well as loads of letters, but even then both of them knew it wasn’t enough. They stayed in each others embrace rocking back-and-forth for a good bit before breaking away but not before Simon giving (Y/n) one more kiss.

“I need to go get my stuff from downstairs I left it by the door” He murmured as he gently stroked your cheek.

“Ok… can I come?” It was an odd request but he understood what she meant. She didn’t want to be left alone even if he was going downstairs just to pick up his duffel bag nor did he want to be alone as well. “Of corse” He Held her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze as the two made their way downstairs.

He unlocked the door And grabbed his duffel bag from which he had left it on the porch a little earlier. The two went back upstairs to the bedroom. She was still clinging to him as he was unpacking his bags. Instead of holding his hand (Y/n) was now holding his waist wrapping her arms loosely around his chest area and listening to him breathe and put things up.

“Missed me much?” He teased, The only response I got was a murmur of a agreement and a nod.

“I missed you too, Love. Where are you going to take a bath?” He gestured to the light still on in the bathroom.

“Oh yes!” Her head shot up and smiled “Want to join me?”

“Let me think about it” a small grin formed on his face

“Please? I would really enjoy relaxing with you.” (Y/n) pleaded.

“All right, Love�� Simon kissed on of her hands.

The two went into the washroom where the bath was already set up. One of the few expenses that the two had made when purchasing the house was getting a bigger bathtub. One that at least two people can fit in comfortably. Since Simon’s wife used the bathroom more than he did, He made sure to install fairy lights, small plants, and a bigger shelf for holding more bottles of Feminine hygiene products. (Y/n) took off her robe, which she wasn’t wearing anything underneath it, and hung it on the rack that was by the tub, and helped Simon takeoff his military uniform. They were both comfortable with each other being naked, but even still to this day she would blush out of shyness. Carefully she led Simon into the tub as they stepped into the hot water. It felt great on Simon’s skin. The bubbles Were scented lavender and formed a thick layer on the top surface and engulfed them. “Let me wash you. Your filthy.”

“I washed before I came here Love” he protested but didn’t fight too hard on the issue. As soon as her hands and a wash rag were on him, Ghost’s eyes closed shut as he sank into the soapy water. (Y/n) noticed new scars on his body and grimaced.

“These are new” she lightly touched around a wound that was still red from inflammation, but stopped when Simon winced. “Got it dealing with some criminals. Bastard shot me. The bullet grazed my shoulder.”

“Did you….”

“Yes.”

“Ok….good I think”

Every single time he went out and got himself injured she worried about him. She knew it was part of the job, it was an occupational hazard. He lived for that sort of thrill she never understood it, but if it made him feel alive then she guessed it was good. She still hated hearing about the horrific things that he had to go through. Simon didn’t much like talking about them either. He tried to keep the details as simple as need be.

“Does it hurt still?”

“Yes”

Simon’s wife shook her head. “I’m sorry”

“it’s fine” Ghost replied.

They both went back to a comfortable silence as she washed his body careful to not cause any sort of pain to him. Simon, still with his eyes closed, began to lose whatever leftover energy that he had and began dozing off into the bath. When she was done. She gently called him back to reality from his little doze.

“Come on big guy let’s get you to bed.” Carefully helping Simon up, she grabbed a towel and his own robe which she had bought him one Christmas as a matching gift set with hers. (Y/n) handed him in his sleeping shirt and pants. The poor man was so tired now that he was having trouble functioning the very basic needs. She guess based on how dark his eyes were (for all the black paint had been removed) He hadn’t slept much is at all while he was away. “ I’m going to fight with the government to have you rest more. If I have to go with you to make sure that you’re getting sleep I will do that” She puffed out her cheeks a little as she stroked underneath the bags of his eyes. He gave a tired chuckle

“That would be something to see”

Carefully, she let him to the bed as both of them turned off the lights, shut the window and crawled into bed. Almost immediately he pulled her into his arms and spooned her. “I love you” he sleepily kissed her neck. “I love you too” she gently rotated in his arms to face him and stroked his arm. “Go to sleep soldier, I’ll be here when you wake up” And for once in a very long time he fell into a very deep, restful, dreamless sleep.

When (Y/n) woke up, she glanced at her phone which displayed 5:30 am in her face. Still wrapped in Simon’s arms, (Y/n) knew she wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep, but (Y/n) also knew she couldn’t lay in bed for much longer. She felt her bladder telling her now would be a good time to use the washroom. Groaning she carefully tried to peel her body away from her husband, who was a fairly light sleeper. As (Y/n) pulled herself out of bed and made her way to the washroom she heard the muttering of

“where are you going?” From a deep gravelly voice. She turned around and smiled

“Go back to bed honey I just need to use the restroom.”

He nodded and sought out for warmth as he shifted around in the bed. After she went to the restroom she tiptoed downstairs And began getting ready for the morning.

Today she was going to have breakfast tea Instead of her usual coffee and she would boil enough water for when Simon came down to join her. As the kettle was heating up, (Y/n) began to pull out ingredients for breakfast.

English breakfast consisted of bacon, English sausage, eggs, fried tomato, toast, mushrooms, and other assortments. She didn’t have all the ingredients but she did have Most of them. She was going to do her best and thankfully her garden provided with the tomatoes and she recently got some eggs from her neighbors who had too many from their chicken farm, the mushrooms she had from last night making a dish and of course she had bacon and sausage in the freezer and bread was always in the bread box.

The kettle began to sing as she quickly turned it off and poured into the two cups (Y/n) set aside with the tea. She began working around in the kitchen unaware of a shadowy presence behind her until she felt the strong arms wrapped around her waist in which she jumped, “Don’t scare me like that!”

(Y/n) wined and gave the man a pout.

“Then don’t scare me like that” Simon murmured back at (Y/n), still somewhat tired.

“I didn’t scare you.” She looked at him

“I didn’t see you in bed with me when I woke up then I heard a noise.”

“Hunny, you worry too much” (Y/n) pulled the tall, hulking man down into a long kiss.

“How can I not? Love, you forget I just got back from a war zone”

Ah yes, the problem with for Simon was whenever he would get back from a mission the poor man would be so high strung for a few weeks and having terrible nightmares and sometimes PTSD moments.

“I’m sorry.” She smiled and stroked the side of head.

“You got bed head” she chuckled.

A small smile formed on his face and a light blush appeared

“Can’t be that bad” he mumbled.

“No. It’s cute.”

“Love, the only thing cute here is you”

(Y/n) laughed and continued to cook.

“Can I help?” He asked.

“I’m almost done. Go sit down and drink your tea” (Y/n) said over her shoulder as she finished cooking. He sighed and fixed his tea and walked over to the table watching me as he was sipping on his tea.

(Y/n) glanced over at him who was staring at her hard. If looks could kill her, (Y/n) would be dead. She was used to it. It was his resting face.

“You look like a grumpy old man.” She shook her head. Truth be told Simon looked more like a killer, but that wasn’t a good thing to say. He rolled his eyes and sipped his tea. She set the food on the table and sat next to him.

“It’s good to have you back I missed you… coming home without you….”

“I know” Simon leaned over and kissed her temple.

After breakfast he insisted on cleaning the kitchen. (Y/n) sat on the couch watching a show when Simon came in, finished with the dishes, came to the couch and sat next to her.

“Lay down please?” Simon did as he was asked and she laid down next to him and Simon held her close breathing in her sent. After a wile he noticed she dozed off in his arms. Gently he kissed the back of her head.

“Thank you for giving me a home to go to.”

#ghost x reader #simon riley #x reader

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shakespearefreak · 8 months

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Evette and I went to my favorite local beach again yesterday! 🏖️ This time she wore Gran E’s vintage sunflower swimsuit 🩱🌻 from her story (or as close an approximation as I could find on Etsy). We waded in the shallows 🌊 for a bit, then Evie pulled her hat down over her eyes and sunbathed ☀️ while I went swimming (I kept a close eye on her, of course).

.....

“Wow, the lake here is really beautiful!” Evie said, looking out over the expanse of blue water. Then she saw Marley’s frown. “What?”

Marley sighed. “Today it’s beautiful, and this beach especially is usually nice, but we actually have a lot of problems with the lakes here, especially after a heavy rain. Madison was built on marshland, so when it rains a lot, we have a high risk of flooding, and all that water sweeps things from the city into the lakes, like pesticides and fertilizer. Then, if it gets hot right after a rain, we’ll get blue-green algae blooms from the fertilizer that got washed into the lake combined with the heat.” Marley saw Evette looking worried. “It’s totally fine today, I checked the water quality online before we left. Plus, it’s obvious when the water is bad: it gets cloudy and green, and you can smell it. I just wish our city government cared more about cleaning up our lakes.”

“Why don’t you do something yourself, like how my friends and I organized a cleanup of the Anacostia River?”

“Well, it’s more difficult than just trash in the water. The big problem is the pesticides and chemicals and stuff, so the best solution would be making stricter regulations on that sort of thing and enforcing them.”

“Well…” Evette said thoughtfully. “Maybe just talking about it, like you’re doing with me, can help at least a little. Raising awareness of the reasons this happens could make individuals less likely to use harmful pesticides on their gardens, and also put pressure on your local politicians to prioritize environmental regulations.”

Marley nodded. “I like that idea.” They paused, then grinned. “For now, since it’s nice, let’s get in the water!”

#american girl #american girl doll #doll photography #evette peeters #world by us #beach #lake #madison wi #environmentalism

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cyndalyssa · 2 months

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Happy almost Valentine's Day, people, and while I'm low on romantic ideas that aren't a comic, I can still write out a scene that plays out in my head every time I listen to this song.

Anyway, little oneshot about Orko and Dree Elle having a little bonding time, set in my own little continuity.

She was a Trollan Song Mage. They were known for their powerful voices, but she spoke in soft tones. She did not like small spaces and preferred to wander. She daydreamed quite often, most likely about home. She couldn’t remember just how she ended up in a different dimension. If one looked closely enough, they could see bags under her eyes (though trying to see a Trollan’s face is considered very rude).

Orko was not sure who Dree Elle was before the Horde. He had stumbled upon her during his mission to find the captured Prince Adam in the Fright Zone (which was through that portal to Eternia’s sister world, Etheria) and give him his sword–and a bonus sword for some reason–so He-Man could save the day. He had known the Horde had a “siren” singing very distinctly Trollan song spells during their invasion, and was livid at the thought of one of his own kind working for the Horde. But when he found her, she was barely levitating inside of a cylindrical glass chamber, her throat raspy from overuse, her clothing worn and hair unkempt, and her frame malnourished. At that moment, his anger fizzled away at seeing her circumstances. His choice to free her was a no-brainer.

Thanks to He-Man, his new friend She-Ra (who Orko later learned was Adam’s long lost twin sister Adora–who the bonus sword was for), the Great Rebellion on the other side of the portal, and an angry Skeletor who did not want the Horde’s claws on his prize, Eternia managed to kick the Horde out and seal the gate. The Sorceress warned that they’d return, but when they do, Eternia will be ready.

But, for now, Orko was focused on his fellow Trollan’s well-being. He had been frequently checking up on her in the medical bay since the invasion, keeping her company whenever she was awake and getting to know her a little. He reassured her that the medicine was safe and the food wasn’t toxic to them–he should know, he had to go through a process of making sure he didn’t have any intolerance to Eternian food–and kept track of her progress.

Though she soon regained the strength to float normally, she was still shy around the Eternians, and often lost in her own thoughts. Orko personally gave her a tour around the palace, seeing what she was interested in. He caught the spark of curiosity when she met Melanktha, the Royal Archaeologist. He was amused at her absolute glee at trying chocolate. And she was drawn to the beauty of the Royal Garden, where she sat quietly and enjoyed the peace it brought.

Rain or shine, she liked that garden. She’d lay on the roof of the little gazebo to sunbathe and look up at the clouds, help the gardener tend to the plants, meditate beside the stream that cut through the garden, and even retreated to the thicker brush whenever she was scared or distressed. One such instance was when Skeletor attacked Eternos–Dree Elle, likely recalling a similar incident by the Horde, shrieked with enough power to bring everyone to their knees and shatter windows, and fled in tears. Despite his ears ringing, Orko quickly located her in the garden, and sat with her until she calmed down.

She asked him to take her medallion–which kept her magic working correctly on this world, much like Orko’s wand did before it broke–after that. Though honoring her request, he couldn’t help but be a little sad to see a Song Mage not want to sing. Still, he kept it in his music box, and entrusted the key to Adam.

It was a rainy day again. A light drizzle, but a rainy day nonetheless. Orko knew that he would find her sitting in the gazebo in the garden, watching the rain fall.

Everyone was busy today. Man-At-Arms received news of Skeletor doing something in the Mystic Mountains, so he, Adam, and Teela, along with some others, went out to investigate. The King and Queen were entangled in annoying politics. The staff had their duties to carry out. So, Orko had been studying and practicing magic in his chambers for half the day, before wondering how Dree Elle was doing.

He had thought about just teleporting into the gazebo, but the last time he did that, he startled her, and she fled to the bushes before she realized it was him. So, he went with the approach of floating through the rain with the intent of letting her see him. The now-wet wizard sat next to her, taking note of her wistful eyes.

“Are you okay?”

Dree snapped out of her trance, and glanced at him. “Just… missing Trolla.”

He understood that feeling all too well. He had been on Eternia for years now, and while he had come to appreciate his new home, sometimes he’d be struck with how much he missed his favorite food. The fishing fields that he’d frequent with his friend Squonge to catch fish. The feel of laying in soft, golden grass and smelling the flowers at his mother’s grave. The magic that flowed around his body like a gentle stream instead of crackling like lightning. The uncle that he could turn to for advice and comfort, who he so desperately wanted to hug again.

“Yeah. I miss it, too,” he said. “What do you miss about it?”

Dree Elle’s hands fidgeted. “The purple mountains that watched over my hometown. The meadows that I played in as a little girl. The herbs and flowers that my mother grew in the garden. The artifacts that my father carefully preserved in the vault…” She brought her knees up to her chest and hugged them. “My mother and father. My little brother and his mischief. My friends. The children I’d sing and read to. My teachers who taught me how to use my Song Magic.” She gave a low, sardonic chuckle. “Even the really annoying, snooty daughter of the mayor. Never thought I’d miss her and her insulting my plain dress.”

Orko blinked. “Hey, now, you look great in pink! And the purple hood, the purple undershirt sleeves, that purple… thing around your waist and hips…” He motioned his hands around his own hips to indicate what he was talking about. “Sorry, I don’t know clothing, but I still think you look good.” He thought of adding that her medallion would have tied the look together, but decided against it.

Dree giggled. “Thank you.” She sighed, looking back out at the garden. “I was just thinking of how these plants and the ones on Etheria were different from the ones back home, that triggered the homesickness.”

“What do Etherian plants look like?”

“Lots of pinks and purples. Plenty of greens and blues too, but the pink and purple catch your eye the most.” Her eyes scanned the garden before her. “So far, I’m seeing mostly green here. I never thought I’d see so much green in my life.”

Orko leaned back, holding himself up with his arms. “I know, right? I was surprised when I first came here. You learn that green plants are dead on Trolla, only to find it means they’re healthy here.”

“At least they’re lovely shades of green.”

Like your eyes, Orko thought. He always thought that green eyes were pretty, especially when it was a combo of a soft spring green sclera and a sparkling emerald iris. A girl would look at him with those and he’d be a puddle in an instant.

He looked up at the sky, realizing that he was staring at her eyes and wanting to avoid any implications. The guys were already teasing him about having a crush, and Man-At-Arms had pointed out that after what she had been through, she was likely not in the mood for that. She still needed a friend, though, and Orko was fine with that.

Looking over the walls and at the blue sky breaking through the clouds, he then thought of how Dree Elle wasn’t seeing much beyond Eternos. Granted, there was always Skeletor getting up to something, but the bonehead’s shenanigans were in the Mystic Mountains this time, so perhaps Orko ought to steal this chance to get her out of her comfort zone a little.

“Hey, Dree, you want to go on a flight?”

Dree turned to him, blinking. “A flight?”

Orko nodded, and floated off his seat. “You, me, exploring the countryside and the forest, seeing the farms and villages outside the city. Think of it as a little tour of the surrounding area, seeing how beautiful Eternia really is.”

Dree unrolled back into a standard seating position, her eyes shining with curiosity. However, after pondering a moment, fear crossed her eyes and she shrunk back. “Orko, what if those warmongers see us? What if they decide to take us prisoner, or worse?”

“Dree…” He took her hands. “It’s okay. They’re not home. At least, the bigshots aren’t. I’m sure the minions are just stuck at Snake Mountain, wondering what to do.” He chuckled at the thought, but quickly took a more serious tone. “Listen, we’re not going in that direction. I’m not going to let anything happen to you. Just stick with me, and you’ll be alright, okay?”

Dree looked down at the floor, her eyes still filled with uncertainty. She took a simple glance upward at his eyes–those kind, confident, sweet golden eyes, telling her not to be afraid–and then at the golden ring symbol on his chest–a magical emblem exceptionally rare, earned by a very few worthy Trollans that could embody hope and light. With that little bit of faith, she nodded, and allowed herself to be lifted up.

Holding her hand, Orko flew out of the gazebo, up out of the garden, and took her to the break in the clouds. Dree’s heart raced as she looked down at the palace, getting smaller and smaller as the pair ascended. They entered the door that led to the clear skies above the clouds, and she gazed at how they rolled beneath them.

“I can’t see anything,” she deadpanned.

“Oh, I know… just thought I’d start off with…” Orko grabbed a piece of cloud and smashed it against his scarf, making him look as if he had a beard. “THIS!”

Dree’s free hand flew to her mouth and she giggled.

Orko grabbed more cloud with the tailends of his scarf, threw it on his head, and magicked it to the shape of a top hat. He tipped the hat, revealing his usual wizard hat, saying in a deeper voice, “How do you do, Madame?”

Dree laughed some more, covering her veiled face in an effort to contain herself. But it was difficult to do so when Orko kept shaping clouds into various hats, masks, and faces to bear resemblance to another something or someone. He even let go of her hand to mold clouds into muscles and a sword, and raising the sword up, he declared, “I am He-Man! The Most Powerful Man in the Universe!”

Between laughs, Dree scolded, “Poking fun at Eternia’s hero? Hahaha, shame on you!”

Orko laughed. “Don’t worry, he’s not uptight. I’m sure he’d find it funny.”

Then, as they flew forward, Orko started dipping in and out of the clouds, chattering and squawking like the sea birds of Trolla’s oceans, even shaping clouds around his arms to look like feathers, and that had Dree holding her gut in laughter. Beneath his scarf, Orko was grinning, enjoying the mirth that radiated from her.

He glanced ahead, and saw another break in the clouds. He let his cloud wings fly away, and said, “All right, enough of me fooling around, let me show you the countryside I promised.”

Dree’s laughter died down, and she saw the break. Her fears started crawling back to mind, but one look at Orko told her it was going to be okay. She took a deep breath. “I’m ready.”

“All right, here we go!”

They fell into a graceful dive through the break, like a pair of falcons in a stoop. However, the Trollans were preferring an angle, circling each other in a dance as they descended down the sunbeam shining from it. The breeze ruffled their robes and the cool mist caressed their ears, but their eyes were still on each other, both not wanting to lose the other.

They pitched forward just meters from the ground, now flying through the meadows and farmland that surrounded them. Dree looked around, in awe of so much green. Orko waved to farmers tending their fields or ranchers tending their livestock, and even to children playing in the grass now that the sun was coming out.

They flew over a village, where the commoners were just going about their lives. Shopping for goods from farmers and merchants, children chasing each other around the streets, neighbors calling to each other from windows–it wasn’t unlike a scene back home. True, everyone was walking instead of floating, every building was embedded in the ground instead of half of them floating, and the colors of the town weren’t as vibrant, but both settings had ordinary people living ordinary lives, something that Dree Elle wished she had again. The two Trollans waved to the townsfolk, with some waving back.

Flying over the meadow, Orko sprinkled a little magic on the ground to invite flowers to bloom. Dree gasped at the flowers, enchanted by the colors that popped out of the green.

They flew into the forest, weaving through the trees but still making sure to keep each other in sight. Orko made more flowers bloom, and willed them to make confetti out of their petals. The trees joined in with shedding some of their leaves, and there seemed to be a sparkle in each sunbeam that broke through the canopy.

He pulled her to a tree with crazy roots that looked like a slide, and proceeded to slide down its slick, mossy surface. After they went through a loop and slid down the hill to a ramp at the end, they took flight again once it launched them back into the air.

They found themselves at a river. They followed it upstream, with Orko running his hand over it and creating a mist that bore a rainbow. Dree could never get why the rainbow’s arc curved upward instead of downward, but accepted it as another oddity of non-Trollan worlds.

She flinched when Orko hit his hand on a rock, yelping in pain, and had to retreat it from the water. He cradled the hand with a sheepish look in his eyes.

They startled various beasts along the way. Some brought to mind Cringer, though with fierce gazes unlike the timid tiger; some were more dog-like or bear-like. Some were horned and hoofed beasts, moaning in contentment as they grazed. Some were little primates, hooting and hollering at them. Snake-like Crawlers were hissing and crocodilian Garks were growling at them from the ground, unable to catch them due to their speed. Little bushtailed rodents were chittering, feasting upon nuts, and some even decided to toss some nuts Orko’s way, something he cursed at them for.

Small creatures, be they mammal, reptilian, avian, or insect, scattered, sensing the magic from Orko and deciding to flee rather than deal with him. Dree could hear chirps and squawks and caws from the branches, and she noticed that the culprits were birds. So many fascinating creatures, though she still stuck close to Orko, having seen some of the predators.

They burst from the forest to a small lake, nestled by a cliff and being fed by a waterfall. The lake shimmered in the sunlight, and fish jumped from the water, reminding Dree of the ocean birds that did the same on Trolla.

The pair ascended the waterfall, both running their hands through the white water. There were more rainbows to behold on the way up, and both their clothes were getting damp from the mist.

They made it to the top of the waterfall with a leap and created a rainbow of their own. Laughter erupted from them both as they were wrapped up in their joy. They found a nice branch on a nearby tree to sit on, and stared ahead at the lush, green landscape ahead. The forest, the river, the meadows, the fields… all of it was breathtaking, up to the shining city of Eternos in the distance.

Orko heaved out a deep breath. “Whew! That was quite the flight, wasn’t it?”

Dree nodded. “I’ll say. I don’t think I noticed how tired I was getting.” She beamed at the view before her. “There’s just so much to take in.”

“Heh, yeah.”

Realizing that the tree bore fruit and recognizing the fruit as something safe, Orko plucked a large one, cracked it on the branch, and handed one half to Dree. “Here, have some. It tastes a lot like an egnaro.”

Dree took the half offered to her, broke off a piece, and slipped it under her veil and into her mouth. Chewing it, she hummed and squeaked in delight.

“Good, huh?”

“Mm-hm!”

“That’s good.” Orko leaned back, watching the rain clouds roll away into the distance. He picked a good day to explore and view the countryside, especially for Dree Elle to see. This spot in particular was beautiful, in contrast to some of the uglier sides of Eternia, such as the volcanic fields around Snake Mountain, the barren Sands of Time, or the Tar Swamps he first found himself in.

That brought him back to his first days here, how scared and alone he felt after going through a harrowing experience. How after the worst day of his life, he didn’t have his uncle to turn to anymore. How the nightmares plagued him and how he bottled emotions up so as to not be a burden. How nothing made sense anymore, how his magic wasn’t working right, how he found himself scrutinized by every eye, both curious and judgmental, that did not know who or what he was, or whether he was good or evil. He counted himself lucky that he found the Royal Family and earned their good will by saving the prince.

But the loneliness of being the only Trollan on Eternia had still weighed on him.

“Orko?”

His ears perked up when she turned to him.

“Thank you. This was wonderful.”

Seeing the way her eyes beamed at him warmed his heart. She was in a difficult place herself, not too different from the turmoil he felt when he first came, though in some ways worse, given her ordeal in the Horde. But in some other ways, it was better, for there was a fellow Trollan to help her adjust to a strange new world while the wounds healed.

Hopefully, the Song Mage would someday have the will to sing again.

#masters of the universe #motu #orko #dree elle #fanfiction #oneshot #lyssa writes #i need a tag for this au

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theladyofbloodshed · 2 years

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A Court of Tangled Flames - Chapter 6

After the previous day’s deluge of rain, they were greeted with a gloriously warm day. Eris had caught Nesta tipping her face towards the sun in the garden as the chickens pecked about her feet so had invited her for a day of fun.

‘Don’t you have a lot of work to do?’

‘My court won’t fall apart without me for a few hours. Orla sent word that she’ll return tomorrow – so I’m afraid you’re stuck with me. I thought maybe I could show you a little more of my court.’

That was not the worst prospect in the world, but Nesta couldn’t admit that to him. She reminded herself that Eris was an ally to the Night Court but also an enemy. A male who’d abandoned Morrigan in the woods. Yet a small voice said that Eris hadn’t actually hurt Mor. Mor had been the one to snap at her at every occasion – so why did she care what had happened between the female and Eris, especially when he had been nothing but hospitable to her? Maybe one day, she’d question the male on it.

Eris led the way through a forest, seemingly finding a path for them over ferns and spongy moss because he was made from the wild winds and the earth itself. Birds sang from the branches, undisturbed by their walking or the dogs loping through the woods, tracking any smells of interest. The forest smelt damp from the rain, a musty scent.

She had never ever considered herself a nature lover – that was more Elain’s thing. Forests in the mortal lands were filled with danger. More than that, she was never dressed for them. Eris had ensured she had a sturdy pair of boots that did not allow any water in. Her skirts hung a few inches above the ground and it was warm enough to not need a coat. Even Nesta could admit that the forest was beautiful. The sun filtered through the branches, showering the fallen leaves with buttery light. The forest seemed to have a heart. It breathed with them. The trees reached impossibly high and their golden canvas filled Nesta with a wonder that she hadn’t had since childhood.

‘How does the magic work? How is it always Autumn?’

It frustrated Nesta that she could not understand it. The Night Court followed the regular pattern of seasons. How could this exist in a perpetual Autumn? How could crops grow? How did people not grow tired of it?

‘I can almost hear your mind whirring, Nesta. Although it’s always autumn, we fluctuate between the beginning and the end of it. Some days are glorious like this, some are bitterly cold and wet. The way the magic works is still a mystery to me. I’d be glad for assistance in understanding it.’

‘How do the trees not run out of leaves?’

His hands rested on her hips as Eris lifted her over a fallen trunk in an ease that had settled in quickly between them. It was odd. Similar to Cassian, Eris did not pause to check if she kept up – but it was because he remained walking beside her, her arm linked with his. The pace was gentle, not a hurried march. He always stopped to pull back a branch so she could pass easier or stamped down on nettles for her.

Nesta sensed he had as much enjoyment to be out in the fresh air as she did. She could appreciate the world more when she wasn’t forced to trudge behind somebody trying to keep herself from falling.

The gargle of a river sounded in the distance so they pushed forwards to seek it out.

It fell over boulders slick with algae then frothed and continued on. A dragonfly skittered past her head then flew low over the water’s surface.

‘It’s a nice day. Fancy a swim?’

‘In there?’

The river wasn’t particularly fast and Nesta could see the bottom. Her brows were tugging downwards. Never would she ever swim in a river as a mortal. It was a death sentence. She’d never warm up again. But Eris wasn’t joking. He had already slipped off his light jacket and sought a branch to hang it from.

‘You can swim?’

Nesta’s mother had been belligerent that all of her daughters must learn. ‘My mother swore that her cousin was drowned by a faerie. That’s not your plan, is it?’

‘Not today.’ Eris shucked off his boots first then his socks, tidying them into a neat pile and placing them on flat rock.

‘You’re going in there? Seriously?’

‘It’s quite safe,’ Eris reassured her as he unlaced his breeches. ‘We are going for a swim. It will be good for you. The true Autumn Court experience.’

He turned his back to her to slip off his shirt and add that to his clothes. There were markings along his back. Thick rivets of purple or slim white lashings marred all of the skin. It was so rare for the fae to scar. Such wounds had to be serious.

Nesta turned her face away and busied herself with the laces of her boot instead rather than stare although she wanted to know more about those wounds.

She heard the sloshing of water as Eris entered the river.

It was a lazy river so he waded in as deep as his stomach without the current tugging him away. Eris lacked the bulk of Cassian, but his body was lean and muscled still, the pale skin standing out starkly against the sun. Nesta didn’t know where to look. Her face felt hot all of a sudden. She glimpsed his trousers folded neatly and, for a second, wondered if he was completely naked in the water – then her face really did glow with heat.

‘Do not look,’ Nesta warned as she unlaced her stay.

‘On my honour,’ he declared before throwing himself underwater.

When Eris emerged, Nesta had removed most of her clothes but remained on the river bank in her white slip. Hurriedly, she covered her body with her hands.

‘I said don’t look!’

‘Well, I thought you’d be in the water by now.’

Nesta dipped her toes in to the shallows. ‘It’s freezing, Eris.’

‘It’s not really. Once you get in, it’s divine. If you’re up for it, leap in from that ledge.’

Eris jerked his chin towards a steep ledge overhanging the river. He would need to follow the gorge upwards to the pool it landed in and Nesta would need to walk alongside the river to reach it.

‘So, you can look up my dress?’

The male laughed richly. ‘Since you’ve suggested it, it would be rude not to.’

‘Do not,’ she warned again, pointing a finger at him.

It had to be sheer insanity that drove her to this: leaping into a river with Eris Vanserra lurking in it. She was still muttering to herself as she trod a path up river while Eris scrambled up the gorge with movement that suggested he had done it before. She did not dare to look and see if he was truly naked even if her traitorous eyes kept trying to flick towards him. Safera followed her along the path before leaping into the water after her master.

‘If you look up my dress, I will drown you.’

‘You’ll have to jump in to get me. Be brave, Nesta.’ Eris flopped back into the water, spreading out his arms to float.

On the third attempt at jumping in where she skittered back from the rock, Eris made a raspberry sound. ‘Just jump. Stop being a chicken. It’s refreshing.’

With a final grasp of her courage, Nesta jumped into the river.

It was absolutely freezing.

Her teeth chattered when she broke the surface. ‘You lied!’

‘I’m a Vanserra! It’s what we do.’

Nesta was too cold to care when Eris hauled her through the water so she was flush against his body. His skin was too delightfully warm to care about propriety. Her teeth chattered in his ear as her arms weaved around his neck.

‘What part of this is enjoyable?’

Eris made a strangled sort of noise and seemed to struggled to keep his eyes on hers. ‘I can think of many reasons.’

Nesta glanced down. Her chemise had turned see-through in the water and clung to her skin where she pressed against Eris’ warm body. She pushed away from him in outrage.

‘You snake!’

The male’s laughter was ringing in her ears as she waded back towards the bank. She hissed over her shoulder for him not to look so the laughter stopped for a moment while his head dipped under the water. At least he’d given her that privacy.

Her teeth were still rattling painfully even as Eris winnowed out of the water and walked a few paces ahead of her. Thankfully, he was not completely naked, but he may well have been because the water had his undershorts clinging to his body. Her eyes went to the scars on his back again. Nesta could not be certain but due to the uniformity of them, they looked to be from a whip. She had not heard of Eris being captured in the war – and she knew he was not old enough to fight in the last one. The scars varied in age. This was a repeated punishment over years, decades, maybe longer. And it did not take much imagination to guess who might be responsible for it.

Eris held her clothes in his arms and gripped two of the dogs by their collar.

‘Slip my jacket on,’ he said, jerking his chin towards the branch.

Nesta did as she was told if only to keep her body covered then she felt Eris’ hand glide over her waist and they were winnowing back to Orla’s home. Fires burst to life in every hearth of the house.

‘I’d offer to warm you up, but I think you might kill me.’

‘I certainly would,’ Nesta grumbled, as she stomped towards the stairs, her body painfully cold.

Eris laughed loudly once more. ‘I cannot believe you trusted me enough to jump in.’

‘It will not happen again.’

***

Only five of them remained at training. The other three priestesses who still came were jittery, still inquiring after Nesta in her extended absence. Gwyn and Emerie followed suit too, not wanting to cast any suspicion upon themselves. Rumours swirled that her illness must be serious if a healer had not cured it in all this time.

The number dwindled each day that Nesta was gone. Soon, it would only be her and Gwyn coming to the roof. At their heart, they weren’t fighters – Emerie enjoyed the social aspect more – but soon it wouldn’t be worth somebody coming to Illyria to collect her.

They had not seen Cassian once since Nesta had disappeared. Even Azriel had been intermittent at their training sessions with them falling to Morrigan to instruct instead in recent days. She made the other females more comfortable than being alone with a male, at least, but the atmosphere without Nesta was tense. They’d overheard her complaining to Azriel that she couldn’t understand why the priestesses had stopped coming before he winnowed Emerie back to Illyria.

In a lull that day, Gwyn had managed to ask if Emerie had heard from Nesta since her first letter – but no others had come. Emerie had taken to sitting in her bedroom window and watching the streets after the sun had gone down with a delicate hope flickering that another letter might come. She just wanted to know if her friend was well. Nesta hid things too well. They didn’t know that she had been trapped in the House of Wind or forced to change herself. Unspeakable things could be happening to her. Then again, they had already happened to her in the Night Court.

It was becoming harder and harder for them to speak. With such low numbers at training, there was little noise. Shadows always remained in the training ring too. They spooked Emerie though Gwyn wasn’t particularly bothered by them. They tended to enjoy swirling around the priestess’ feet, but Emerie was certain they were listening in on their conversations.

‘You should visit Illyria one day,’ Emerie said casually. It might be the only way they could talk without a shadowsinger eavesdropping on them.

Gwyn did not seem thrilled by the idea of leaving the library, but before she could say no, Emerie continued on. ‘Remember the miniature Pegasus? We could have another sleepover like that.’

***

Seeking redemption so early into their friendship was likely an ill-omen, but Eris feared he had pushed Nesta too far. Still, it had been good to see her temper lash out at him rather than her fire extinguishing into nothing. He prepared a hot lunch and drinks for them – and had been just about to deliver it to her bedroom when she emerged. Her golden hair was loose and damp, falling as far as her waist. Nesta had selected a soft, velvet dress the colour of dusk that had his breath catching in his throat.

‘I don’t think I will ever be warm again,’ she snapped.

Nesta moved past him, the scowl on her face so dramatic that he had to bite his knuckle before he laughed at it. She went to her knees as close as she could to the fire without setting herself aflame. Safera brushed against her then Yenor greeted her. Faintly, Eris could hear Nesta muttering insults about him to the dogs as she fussed them. He believed he heard the words pompous, arrogant prick.

‘I’ve made soup as an apology.’

‘Have you poisoned it?’

‘Oh, no. Poison is a female’s weapon. When I commit murder, I prefer it to be far bloodier.’

She shot him an incredulous look from her post by the fireplace. ‘I am beginning to understand why you are not well liked in Prythian.’

The more she insulted him, the more Eris enjoyed it. Nobody would dare such a thing in the Autumn Court – even Orla had needed a good three centuries before she could insult him without fearing her execution. Either Nesta did not care for his reputation or the need to insult him overrode that fear.

They ate with trays on their laps with Nesta occasionally shooting him a glare as she dipped a crust of bread into her soup.

‘Your cooking is fine.’

Eris covered his heart with his hand. ‘A compliment I will always think of fondly.’

‘Where is Maceo?’

‘It’s Sunday. A day of worship and rest.’

‘Rest? I almost died of shock in that water.’ Nesta settled her tray onto the table then reached for a blanket to draw around her shoulders as if she was still chilled to the bone from their dip in the river.

‘I wouldn’t let you die. I enjoy your company too much.’

Nesta’s jaw tensed. ‘There is nothing enjoyable about my company, Eris. You will learn it soon enough.’

How much of these words were her own thoughts and how much was the parroted words of others. Five centuries of crossing paths with the Night Court meant Eris knew exactly how cruel and manipulative they could be.

‘What is so undesirable about you?’

It was a stone that Eris had to turn over. Even as Nesta’s face drew sullener, Eris knew he had to pursue this. He’d heard similar lines from his mother that she was a bad wife or a bad parent. Repeated enough times, lies become truth. He did not want the same for Nesta.

Nesta spoke again of her perceived failings as a child who did not go into the woods. She would not hear his rebuttals that she was only a child herself, one who did not know how to hunt, and one who would likely die if she had gone. Eris almost wished her father was still alive to hold him accountable for his negligence of his daughters. That lack of care had resulted in the discord that settled between the sisters.

She spoke of how she had failed her sisters. Failed to stop the fall of the Wall. Failed a father who died in front of her. Failed her family by slipping into drinking and sleeping with strangers to cope. Failed Feyre again by telling her the truth of her pregnancy.

‘Feyre seems desperate to be loved.’

‘Elain was my father’s favourite. Feyre was ignored by both of our parents.’

‘And you were your mother’s darling?’

Nesta’s hands stilled on Safera’s fur. ‘I was her project. A daughter who brought a duke to his knees at fourteen years old. I should have married for wealth to elevate our family further and instead, I became this.’

‘What was your mother like?’

‘A worse version of me.’

Eris knew exactly the sort of female that the matriarch of the Archeron was. He had experienced enough mothers who manoeuvred their daughters into social situations to talk to him, to force him into requesting a dance. His brothers were stupid enough to engage in the folly – and cruel enough not to care when hearts were easily broken or reputations ruined. If Nesta truly was her mother’s daughter, she’d have already tried to engage Eris into a relationship to seek his status. And definitely she would not have chosen a bastard born Illyrian to lie with.

‘I see a female who was willing to do anything to save her people. A female who had the courage to make seven high lords listen to her. Nesta, you were willing to sacrifice yourself for a nation that you did not know. You are a good person.’ Nesta turned away at his words, blinking rapidly as she resumed her stroking of the dog. ‘You were wasted in the Night Court.’

Over the patter of rain, Eris heard a small sob.

In an instant, he was there, arms weaving around Nesta. At first, she resisted his touch then she broke. All the parts of her that had been clinging on finally shattered. Through her tears, Nesta said that she did not want her sister to die. It was a fear she carried daily. Feyre Archeron was staring into an abyss that encroached closer every day.

‘I can’t go back there. I can’t. I already feel better here.’

Eris stroked the back of her head. ‘You are safe with me. I won’t let them take you. When Orla returns, I’ll figure out a plan that protects you and saves your sister.’

‘Why are you helping me?’

He could have lied. He should have. Should have said that she was valuable and nothing more. That Nesta Archeron was connected to the Cauldron and Eris knew there was a bottomless depth to her powers. Powers that were capable of tracking the Dread Trove and wielding them. He helped her only for his own benefit.

He could have said that he hated the Night Court so relished any opportunity to punish them. Stealing Nesta away from Cassian would be a delightful sort of justice. It was all lies. It didn’t matter that Nesta had tangled herself with him. He ought to have found it repulsive, but Eris found that he did not care what males had touched her.

Eris could not lie to Nesta.

Against everything he stood for, Eris told Nesta the truth. ‘When I saw you, you reminded me of my mother. I couldn’t bear to see another female be broken until she fitted the shape somebody else wanted.’

Soft eyes blinked at him. ‘I remember your mother from the Dawn Court. You protected her from Feyre’s fire.’

‘I’ve watched my mother recede more each year and soon I will no longer be able to reach her.’ There were only so many times that Eris could coax his mother to take a walk or to see the dogs. It took all of her energy to leave the confines of her bedroom some days, a prisoner of her own accord. ‘I want you to be happy here. How can I ensure your happiness?’

The sun had been banished with rain seizing dominance over the sky. It was a cosy afternoon, wrapped up in blankets beside each other, Nesta becoming braver with her words and requests. She wanted her friends to visit somehow. Eris did not know how he would achieve it, but promised he would do all he could to make it happen. Emerie, the Illyrian, would be easier. The priestess was cloistered away in their secret city that Eris had no access to. Somehow, he’d need Gwyneth to travel to Illyria so he could take both females from there. It was a minefield, but Eris would manage it.

More than seeing her friends, Nesta still held firm that Feyre’s life was a priority, despite what had occurred between the sisters. It worried Nesta in moments of silence; her brow would pinch as she pondered ways to introduce Orla to Feyre without revealing her own position in the court. More than that, she even expressed a worry over him – of what might happen to Eris if he was found to be harbouring her. His heart had thumped painfully loud at that. Only his mother worried for his safety.

‘I’m grateful to Orla, but I would like to have my own residence. I have no money, but I’m willing to work. If you could find somewhere for me, I will work hard. I don’t need anywhere large. I value my own space.’

Money wasn’t an issue. Eris had enough. He amassed more each year with investments in the surrounding courts. If it would convince Nesta to stay then he’d buy her a damn palace. Despite better judgement, Eris was desperate for Nesta to call the Autumn Court home. He could hear Orla’s voice in his head, pealing as a warning bell to stop whatever feelings were filling up the cavern of his chest before they could take root.

‘I don’t want to be a burden.’

‘Stop.’ Eris counted to ten before he began again. His issue was not with Nesta, it was with the Night Court. ‘I am not keeping you here so you can be useful for me. I will not abandon you because you cannot offer me anything.’

Despite Eris’ best attempts at calming himself, wrath still charred inside of his veins. Nesta Archeron saved everybody’s lives in the war. It was because of this female that they weren’t on their knees serving Hybern. There ought to be a statue of her built in every damn court of Prythian. She should be sat in a palace surrounded by wealth for all of her sacrifices.

‘Is this how the Night Court works? They threaten a punishment if they cannot use you? Did they try the same tricks they did on your sister?’

‘What do you mean by that?’

‘What Rhys did to her Under the Mountain.’

Nesta gave him a wary look. ‘What happened Under the Mountain?’

That bastard had not told any of them what he’d done to Feyre. Night after night of drugging her. Eris had seen Feyre Archeron naked more than himself. That was why it had been such a surprise when she had remained in the Night Court. Eris was certain Rhys had used his powers on her to spite Tamlin. The knowledge that they were mates was even worse. Nesta sat in muted horror as he explained what had been done to her sister over that prolonged period. Amarantha hadn’t cared much for the mortal, but Rhys hadn’t been able to help himself from parading her out each night.

‘It explains why he’s so wary of Lucien,’ Nesta mused. ‘He’s the only one who knows what Rhys did. I cannot believe my sister can love him after that – and the secrets over her pregnancy.’

‘The Night Court has no allies for a reason, Nesta.’

Eris sensed the churning of her power within. An ancient beast awaking from a slumber. ‘That bastard had the gall to hold it over my head at every occasion that I didn’t hunt for Feyre and Elain meanwhile he humiliated and abused her night after night.

He thought of the weapons she had Made, her power that could likely rival Rhys’ if given the chance. Eris knew exactly why the Night Court hadn’t wanted Nesta to train her power – because she’d topple their court.

‘I’d like you to train, Nesta. That’s my only stipulation. Not physically, but your power. If you train your magic with me, I’ll buy you a castle.’ He swept her hair from her face. ‘When you set this world on fire, I want to stand beside you.’

Taglist:

@kitkat-writes-stuff @owllover123 @rarephloxes @this-is-rochelle

#a court of tangled flames #neris

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electrasev5nwrites · 7 months

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Ninja Daily: AIC 37

The Kiri delegation arrived at the boundary outside the Fire Daimyo's palace in the middle of a downpour. Gaara stoically endured the change from sunshine to rain. Utakata tossed his hand up to use his sleeve to shield his hair, lip curling in distaste.

Aiko made deliberate eye contact with a drenched man who was vaguely familiar. He was at the head of a small group of armed men who looked like a mix of samurai and shinobi.

"Mizukage-sama," he greeted. "We are honored by your presence." He dropped into a perfectly respectful bow which inadvertently flashed the bald spot on the top of his head. It was quite shiny and showed that his head had a lump.

"Ask him why his head is misshapen," Sanbi urged.

"Fumi-san," Aiko said instead, feeling relatively certain that this was the highest samurai retainer in Fire Country. She had once escorted his family to the capital for a visit, years and a dimension back. "Thank you for coming out to escort us. Shall we?"

Utakata gave her a look. It was a positive one, probably based on his extremely incorrect assumption that she had studied important persons before coming in order to make a good impression.

The walk to the palace itself took about 15 minutes, though the tour of the gardens was somewhat abridged due to weather. Given the damp circumstances, they were led to a guest area and given some time to refresh themselves before their meeting. One of the attendants broke off to drop into a deep bow outside the room. He was still there when the door closed, despite the rest of Fire Country's representatives trailing away.

Utakata immediately went to the restroom and began examining the provided beauty supplies. Aiko gave him a fond smile and tugged a towel off the rack in order to pat at her own hair. She then used the same towel on Gaara, who bore the attention with a resigned sort of grace. While Utakata experimentally rubbed a high grade of camellia oil between his hands to warm it up, Aiko finger-combed her bangs to lay straight and checked that her clothes looked fine.

By the standards of any court, she was wildly underdressed. She considered, not for the first time, if she should put on some armor or a kimono. Either intimidation or beauty, one or the other would convey the gravitas of her station a bit better.

'I should add more of that type of thing to my wardrobe,' Aiko mused. She pursed her lips and looked away from the woman in the mirror, dissatisfied. She was pretty enough, but the reflection didn't convey power and authority by any metric. Aiko's hair was neat enough, but totally plain. She had a pale, drawn face and was clearly a little underweight. Her outfit was fine as a signature look and for an easy transition from the office to the battlefield, but it didn't do her any favors when dealing with civilian royalty.

Maybe a combination would be a good idea. Some type of visible armor combined with a pretty kimono, to show both status and her position.

But for now, she was what she was, since she wasn't willing to take 3 hours trying to put a kimono on by herself and she hadn't brought one, anyway.

She tossed her hair back and strode towards the door. "I guess we're pretty enough, let's go. I'm sure the Daimyo and his court won't be judgmental elitists or anything," Aiko said dryly.

Utakata covered his mouth with his sleeve. He didn't answer, but his eyes betrayed that he was amused as he fell in line.

The attendant was still waiting directly outside. He bowed nearly to his knees and then rushed to stay ahead of Aiko, guiding her with a strange, servile sort of hobbling mien.

It didn't take long to reach their destination. The room was large, at least 30 mats, with lines of cushions burdened with courtiers. The Daimyo himself was at the head of the room, flanked by someone she should probably recognize on his left and his wife on his right. The Daimyo's receiving area was open to the air, with a view of a pond. She looked long enough to see a turtle bob up to peer inquisitively at the gray sky before Aiko turned her attention to business.

"Hi-Kuni no Daimyo-sama," she greeted. She placed her fingers on the floor in front of her cushion and bowed low. "This one is honored by the invitation and most gracious welcome. Gray skies cannot cloud the beauty of Hi Kuni."

She could almost sense Utakata's incredulity, but she couldn't see him. He and Gaara were seated behind her, on the bare floor.

"Kiri no Mizukage-sama," he said in return. His bow was equally deep. She felt a spark of relief and satisfaction that she was apparently on equal terms, despite civilian distaste for the burakumin. "This one thanks you for your travels far from your ocean."

They went back and forth with the mandatory pleasantries, until they could sit back and let the Daimyo's Minister of Finance bring up the bounty and Orochimaru. It would have been gauche for her to seem to ask for money, and it was below the Daimyo to speak of coin. The conversation was bland and proper, and they had quickly managed to confirm that the promise still held and that Fire Country would be eternally grateful for her service.

That put Aiko's hackles up a little bit. She didn't like the implication of 'service' in this context. She was not a- okay, yes, she was a citizen of Fire Country and had sworn to serve it, but they had no idea about that. They only knew her as a foreign warlord.

She let it go, however, and let the Minister of Finance escort her out, where they could have a more candid discussion that involved numbers and bank routing.

'Money, money, money.'

She tried not to look too smug. This would more than make up for the income lost through giving up her drug running. Well. 6 months of it, anyway, and it was a good trade off effort-wise. Killing Orochimaru was a one-time affair.

...She crossed her fingers.

"Do you have reason to believe he might return?"

'No,' Aiko had to admit. 'Except that it would be really awful and inconvenient and rude, so I think it sounds like classic Orochimaru.'

Sanbi gave a doubtful little hum. "In that case, perhaps any follow-up murdering should be done by another party. Your itinerary is very full."

'It's not murder,' Aiko thought defensively.

"Why not?"

...It was murder. She felt her lips flatten into a thin line. 'The word 'murder' makes killing people sound so unpleasant. Don't be gauche.'

"-zukage-sama."

She jerked back to attention, although the Minister didn't seem to have noticed her inattention. They had arrived at an elegant little office, where a glossy table of pale wood was waiting with neat piles of paperwork and thick seating cushions. She inclined her head slightly and swept in to take her seat first, hovering for a moment to be sure she'd guessed right before gracefully folding her legs.

They went through some more pleasantries, and then Aiko gestured for Utakata to give an envelope to the Minister. The men exchanged it with careful bows and both hands in an elegant dance of social nicety. Aiko wondered if she looked half that graceful, and then decided that she probably did not.

The envelope had their routing number discreetly at the end of a flowery letter designed to distract from the routing number, even though the financial information was the only information being conveyed. It wouldn't have been very elegant to show up with a photocopy of page 1 of their bank book.

"There is one small matter of curiousity." The Minister said, as though it had just occurred to him and was not a mandated topic.

Aiko made a politely interested face and tilted her head slightly. "Yes, Nagase-san?"

"The encounter with the criminal was in Rice Country, was it not?" The man had a carefully neutral tone.

"That's true," Aiko confirmed.

"I see." He gave a little bow. "Forgive my impertinence in asking, but we were under the impression that Orochimaru-san had been using property in Fire Country."

...She tried not to stare. "I believe that he used some facilities in Fire Country," Aiko confirmed.

'Did they know he was still operating in their borders? Or did Konoha mention it?'

"This is grave news indeed," Nagase intoned. "The idea that such a dangerous person was operating within our sovereign country is of great concern to the Daimyo. Can you detail these locations?"

"Why would they ask you this?" Sanbi put an unflattering amount of stress on that question. "Shouldn't they communicate with their kage?"

'I don't appreciate that tone, but you're right.'

"I'm sorry to say that I no longer have the necessary details," Aiko lied gracefully. She allowed her tone to sound apologetic. "I found some information in Rice Country, and passed it into Konohagakure's care. I am certain that they will communicate further with the office of the Daimyo."

Whatever was going on, she was not getting in the middle of it.

"Of course," he said, and she had the distinct impression that he did not believe she had not memorized the information, which was rude and correct. "As foreigners cannot possess property in Fire Country, there would be no reason for you to be concerned with the details." He gave her a thin smile.

She had to work to not react to that provocative wording. There was no way that wasn't a thinly-veiled jab against what the Daimyo apparently believed were her home ownership ambitions in Fire Country.

Whatever. She wasn't here to make friends, she was here to collect on a bill. So she tried to smooth it over and correct that impression. "What an interesting policy," Aiko said diplomatically. "I can see the utility of ensuring that foreign nationals do not buy homes and farmland that locals need. In fact, Kirigakure does not allow non-citizens to obtain property in the capital without applying for approval."

Nagase nodded. "One of many benefits. Fire Country has many cultural and natural resources to protect. Diluting our citizenry with outside influence would harm our heritage. We have a very thorough policy to discourage economically motivated migration. Only natural-born citizens may own and sell property in Fire Country."

Her smile felt a bit strained. That sounded a lot like he thought keeping non-citizens out was inherently good. Which rubbed her the wrong way.

"That sounds bigoted," Sanbi said, intrigued. "Correct?"

'Yeah, that's fucked up. If somebody resides, pays taxes, and obeys the law, I don't see why their country of origin should matter.'

"Is that so?" Aiko asked, in mild disbelief. "The Land of Fire forbids sale and property ownership to naturalized citizens?"

If they had said it would be awkward for a foreign political leader to possess land, that would have made some sense. Nobody wanted foreign warlords making sneaky inroads. And nobody trusted her in particular, for gross anti-Kiri reasoning.

"In the interest of fairness, you have stolen a neighboring country."

Aiko nobly pretended not to hear Sanbi's gross mischaracterization of her involvement of the extremely minor details in the change of management of Wave Country.

Nagase had nodded, as if this was a totally uncontroversial policy. "Fire Country has a storied history. To protect it, property rights are restricted to those who can trace their ancestry within our borders."

Aiko narrowed her eyes, just a bit. Wow, a category that Aiko belonged to. What a tragic legal coincidence.

Gaara, who was currently residing in a foreign country in an apprenticeship, frowned. He was probably well-aware that Kirigakure did not have that restriction.

Nagase's eyes darted to Gaara, and then away. He began to sweat a little. It was a little late to read the air and realize he'd annoyed his guests.

"Oh, so it's even worse," Sanbi said in a tone of realization. "Immigrants cannot own property at all even after gaining citizenship. I wonder how many generations this policy applies to."

'I'm lowkey offended that my home country has worse property regulations than Kiri.'

Aiko blinked and nodded, forcing mild interest onto her face. "Of course," she murmured. "The preservation of local culture is an invaluable pursuit."

"Really?" Sanbi asked.

'I'm going to spite them, I'm throwing him off my scent.'

Sanbi made a relieved sound.

That lack of faith was mildly insulting. Of course she was going to fuck these people over. Sanbi was right, though, that it would be an absolute nightmare if she tried to have a second home in Fire Country. Daughter of a Hokage or not, she was still a foreign military leader of a historically hostile nation.

"I believe you shall find a way to make them regret this ill-considered policy. Inspiring regret and misfortune is your personal calling," Sanbi said.

He was definitely provoking her. She tossed her hair and focused on the rest of the discussion, which was cautiously bland and ended with a guarantee for a transfer by the end of the business day. They went back to their rooms. She went into the bathroom and washed her hands, and then went to Wave Country to meet with the pencil queen.

Shimizu-sama had prepared notes and a table, with hot tea waiting. "Mizukage-sama, thank you for your valuable time," she said. It was brisk and polite.

"Excuse my rudeness," Aiko said, stepping up onto the tatami and sitting at the waiting spot. "Was your escort agreeable?"

"There were more casualties than anticipated, particularly a very large quantity of small and hungry fish." The older woman glanced up and took a sip of her own tea. "However, there were no significant inconveniences and we made excellent time. Perhaps I have even arranged a political marriage for my daughter which would be advantageous."

Aiko waited a moment for the punchline of that strange joke. But Shimizu appeared to be serious.

...fish? Her chuunin darlings had gone from the Shimizu family home to the capital city of Wave and racked up a significant marine body count?

Aiko opened her mouth to ask. She closed it again. There wasn't time for that. "I am honored by your kind words," she went with. "As for the day's business, if we might be so gauche as to go directly to business."

"We may," Shimizu agreed. "The Daimyo is ill recently."

"That's deeply unfortunate," said Aiko, who had not personally poisoned any Daimyo to make him suspicious of his potential successors, and definitely didn't suspect anything from her civilian allies. "In such times, the guidance of one's family and trusted advisors is paramount."

"Of course," Shimizu agreed. "Wave is blessed by the wise guidance of many senior officials. In order to deal with these trying times, there has been some administrative changes to best utilize everyone's talents."

"A clever idea," Aiko said politely.

"I cannot help but think that certain courtiers who now have lessened duties but possess much experience might be significant assets. It is a shame that their considerable abilities are not being utilized."

"Oh," said Aiko, as if she had not expected this. "I am lacking in leadership. Perhaps I could request some personnel from the Daimyo. It would be an honor to host such august persons."

"What a lovely idea," Shimizu said. She had a sharp little smile, just for a moment. "I can think of some people whose expertise would be a great benefit to Kirigakure."

"Joint administration between Wave and Kirigakure could only benefit our countries," said Aiko, who was planning to give exactly zero influence to displaced nobility being shunted away from court where they might interfere with the change in administration. It was mildly insulting to be used as the desolate island political banishment site, but it was also funny and she appreciated that. The tourism slogan "Kirigakure, where dreams come to die," had a kind of ring to it.

"How should I make contact regarding this issue?"

"It would be easy for the Daimyo to make this decision, were you to request personnel." Shimizu poured another steaming cup of tea. "I suggest that you contact his representative Bara Nodoko, and request certain types of experts. It might even be an honor if you were to request them by name."

"Oh, can you provide names?" Aiko asked idly. "With my poor familiarity with the political situation, I would hate to make mistakes."

Shimizu gave a nice little nod. "By chance, I can," she said. "Through extreme good luck, I happen to have a written list of courtiers here. If I might make notes by certain names..."

"Please do," Aiko said, and drank her second cup of tea. "I'll be certain to let the Daimyo know who passed such interesting information to my students." Once she had her neat little list of people who Shimizu wanted out of the capital and away from any influence, Aiko went back to Fire Country and got ready for bed.

They got up hideously early for breakfast. Aiko recieved a tray that contained several polite notes and a copy of a completed bank transfer form. After they collected their things from their rooms, they were politely escorted back to the border of Fire Country. Aiko let her escorts touch either arm, and hiraishin'd them away.

"Aiko-sama," Utakata said slowly. He took his hand away and frowned at their surroundings. "This is not your office."

"It isn't," Aiko agreed. She watched the person sitting in reception make eye contact and turn white behind her glasses. "It's city hall in a little farming town outside of Konohagakure." She patted Gaara's hand and then pulled away.

"Why?" Utakata said flatly.

"I need to do some paperwork," Aiko said sensibly. "Why else would I be here?"

Gaara, who caught on fast, tilted his head. "Is this the town closest to the base where Orochimaru had been doing business?"

"It is," Aiko agreed. She flashed him a smile and stepped forward towards the reception desk. The woman sitting behind it adjusted her neat blue neckerchief as if it was armor. "I need to put in a property ownership claim."

"Foreign residents can't own property in Fire Country," Gaara said, as if she might have forgotten.

She shook her head. "He didn't say a thing about native-born citizens who live abroad."

"A critical error in judgment," Utakata said flatly.

"You love me," Aiko reminded him. She turned to the woman behind the desk, who was stone-still and very professional-looking. "Hello, I'm here to enquire about a property outside of town, about 8km to the west. It was previously owned by Orochimaru-san, who forfeited his ownership to me when I collected on the bounty for his capture or neutralization."

"Please take a number," the city hall employee said, on professional reflex. She appeared to immediately regret it, flushing slightly red. But she didn't back down, either.

Aiko gave her a slight frown and leaned over slightly to pull a numbered ticket. It said 3. The office appeared to be empty, but… she could take a seat, if that was appropriate? She took a step back.

The light above the desk dinged.

The worker looked at her screen. It lit up the faint hint of forming crow's lines outside her eyes. "Number 3," she called. "I can see you now at desk number 1."

Aiko could not help but glance around to confirm what she already knew.

'There is only one desk in this room.'

But the only desk in the room did have a big black 1 painted on the front, so Aiko took one step forward. "I'm here to ask about the title for a piece of land in this jurisdiction."

The woman glanced at Aiko, Utakata, and then tilted her head down to look at Gaara. Her steely demeanor faltered at whatever she saw on him. "Ano…" She swallowed, and seemed to recover her nerve. "Do you happen to have the exact address? I'll need to get the records."

Aiko rattled it off, and the woman wrote it on a note. She gave them a professional, if slightly strained smile, and invited them to have a seat while she excused herself to the archives.

The chair creaked when Aiko sat down. It was the only sound other than heel clicks fading into the distance.

"Why would you want this land?" Gaara asked.

"Spite." Utakata took a seat without a sound.

"No," Gaara dismissed. His bangs flopped in front of his face when he shook his head. "If this was merely spite, she would exercise her pettiness in a more convenient way. I suspect there will be profit. Maliciousness alone is too impractical to inspire the decision to claim the property. It would be a diplomatic nightmare for Aiko-shishou to possess a second home so close to another nation's capital."

"Crimetown," Aiko said absently.

Utakata repeated that far too loudly. She gave him a scolding look, because really, he should know to behave better in public.

"You will sell the compound quickly, then," Gaara confirmed.

Aiko winked at him. "Yes. To whom?"

A line formed between his lack of eyebrows. He stared at her. He was probably compiling everything he knew about her and who she might know with Fire Country citizenship. "You don't have a specific buyer yet," he said slowly. "Your candidates…" He looked scandalized.

"Crimetown," Aiko repeated cheerfully. This time Gaara clearly understood that she was making a proposal, not slandering Konoha.

He sighed heavily and looked at the ceiling.

"Surely you know some Fire Country citizens in good standing, of strong moral character, who would be good contacts for Kirigakure and not cause any trouble or scandal," Utakata said. He might have been pleading.

"Yes, many," Aiko agreed. "But I don't want to sell to any of them. I want to create crimetown smack in the middle of Konoha and the capital and make sure they can't do anything about it."

"One reasonable person," Utakata said. He was definitely begging. "Someone analogous to Shimizu-sama, for example."

"I know a narcotics dealer who has pet tigers," Aiko said idly. "He could use a nice big space for a big cat sanctuary."

"Someone corrupt, among the nobility," Utakata switched tacts. "We can find someone who has financial need, fading status, and exchange goodwill for farmland that will revive their prospects."

"Could be a full zoo, actually," Aiko mused. "That would provide a really good explanation about all the people who stay there, and people who come to see the animals would make it easier to visit discreetly on other business."

"Number 3, I can see you at desk 1."

Aiko stood and sauntered back to the desk. The same woman was there, with a photocopied piece of paper and a small folder.

"Here is the requested information," she said. Aiko took it when it was extended. "If this paperwork is properly filled out we can file your request."

Aiko eyed her.

The office worker, who was not interested in telling the Mizukage that she could not buy a nightmare factory nearby, met her gaze fairly steadily. "It's all included," she said. "Is there anything else?"

"Yes, I'd also like the form to register a bill of sale, and contact information for some local Notaries Public that your office recommends." Aiko played idly with the pen tied to the desk. "I'd also like information about registering townships."

Utakata sighed loudly.

The older woman didn't even blink, much less prevaricate. Those documents were obtained readily from a filing cabinet under the desk that was probably full of all sorts of blank documents.

Aiko pursed her lips once more as these were handed to her without a hint of commentary or hesitation.

This 30-something year old clerk really wasn't going to say a damn thing about a foreign military dictator in her office asking for paperwork it was legally impossible for her to fill out, as far as any reasonable person would guess. Not a word. She hadn't let on that she recognized any of them, despite their headbands and fairly distinctive appearances. Aiko had fully expected her to get her supervisor, at least.

"I respect you," Aiko said. "Keep up the good work." And then she nodded and left, taking the time to make sure her coat flared behind her.

#vapors #uzumaki aiko #electrasev5n #ninja daily #fanfiction #naruto fanfiction #clarity #AIC #Aiko in Canon

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ruewrites · 11 months

Text

Song of a Mourning Dove

AO3

Ship: Solomon/Asmo

Word Count: 4402

Warnings: Smut

A/N: Promt: Love Affair

It's been a hot second my lovelies! Classes have been demolishing me this semester, but I'm happy I got the chance to participate in this collab! I had the fortune of doing the writing part in collabing with Vera (Instagram @Hanxmura)! Make sure to check out everyone's work for Asmo's birthday! I feel so fortunate to have gotten the chance to work alongside so many talented people 💗

https://twitter.com/OMCollabs/status/1658547871883595778?t=9cZcBBSMCHQlsrftxy738g&s=19 (Go check out the beautiful artwork my collab partner made as well as the other peices that everyone worked so hard on!)

Please enjoy!

Comments are appreciated 💗

A broken nest surrounded by shattered eggs laid hidden in the shadows of the alleyway. Scattered feathers were strewn about, the ruined beginnings of a start that had yet to flourish, forgotten to time as the rain washed away the sins of another. A single soul darted through the rain.

He didn’t understand why.

Hadn’t he loved her?

Hadn’t he given her everything?

Yet he was the one called vile.

Evil.

A Demon.

She might as well have pierced his heart with a blade, that would have hurt less and ended his suffering quicker. Instead he was left wondering with little to reflect on. He felt like he was dying, and yet some higher power demanded that he march on despite one of his reasons for living being ripped away from him.

It became difficult to distinguish what was his own tears and what was from the sky above. In the misty haze of water meeting the concrete, a single lonely light from an inn pierced through the gloomy night.

He wasn’t going home, not tonight. He couldn’t bear to go home after what he had just experienced. He couldn’t deal with the chaos and calamity. Instead he was going to drown his sorrows until both her name and face were nothing but a faint memory in his mind, until her perfume left his senses and her hair was long forgotten from his touch. He would drink until he could finally move on to someone new, to when he could finally find comfort in the arms of a stranger.

****

A lonely dove fluttered down to where the tree cover met the meadow. It bobbed it’s head to one side and then the other before collecting a few twigs in it’s beak and flapping back up to the tree cover, wings much more clumsy on take off. After all, it was easier to meet the ground than it was to leave it. The mourning dove disappeared, the cacophony of birds drowning out any song it would dare to sing this late in the morning.

The gentle summer breeze tickled Asmo's bare arms as the meadow flowers bent upwards. A quiet tiny town was tucked away in the distance, far away from the bustling busy life he was so accustomed to. It was serene, gorgeous, the type of place where you would live in a tiny cottage near the edge of town and walk to the bakery every morning. Every face was a recognizable one and a friend was always nearby. Asmo's eyes threatened to slip shut as he wandered deeper into his little daydream.

"It would be the perfect place to start a life together with someone, don't you think?" Solomon was leaning over him now, head resting on his hand as he laid on his side, "I could have a garden in the backyard, maybe a few things to attract animals too. You would be just like a princess surrounded by all sorts of woodland creatures."

Asmo hummed, raising an eyebrow and letting his eyes wander over to his boyfriend, "You talk as if Lucifer would let you keep me up here."

"I could steal you away," Solomon continued. He plucked one of the flowers scattered around them and twirled it between his fingers, eyes locked on the petals, "Like Persephone and Hades, I could steal you away."

The flower expanded in the sorcerer's hand and transformed into half of a pomegranate, "You don't even have to eat all the seeds."

"Solomon!" Asmo squealed as Solomon leaned closer to him, their lips barely brushing, "Lucifer would kill you."

He couldn't help but whisper, as if his words were secrets even to the wind.

Solomon pulled away enough to scoop at the seeds with his tongue. The action alone made Asmo hold his breath and shudder. It was an offer, an invitation, promises for a future that could belong to him one day. He clutched at Solomon’s cloak, the only thing separating him from the earth below. Solomon had him surrounded, enveloped, and he was giving him an offer he couldn’t refuse.

The pomegranate seeds lingered on his own tongue long after they disappeared, but Solomon tasted much sweeter. They had shared thousands of kisses in the past, and yet ones like these always felt the most scandalous. The chaste ones, the ones where lips lingered just long enough and broke into smiles. They made Asmo blush like a virgin and hide his face in vain. The kiss had started heavy sure, but it evolved into something more, something that had Asmo feeling some type of way. Thoughts that made him hasty and impulsive. Thoughts that he would still be safe within Solomon's presence.

Solomon's love tasted like whisky from a hazy Saturday night and smelt like the lingering smoke from the ghost of a fire. It lingered everywhere he touched Asmo, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

It was a lonely inn in the distance.

It was comfort.

It was home.

It asked Asmo to jump, and Asmo asked 'How high?'.

It was a continuous burning, passionate but also safe and comfortable. It wasn't looking to consume him, but rather to light up his darkness, to keep him warm.

Asmo bit his lip as Solomon's cold hands ran over his back, leaving goosebumps in their wake. Asmo didn't remember sitting up, nor did he remember coming face to face with his lover, foreheads pressed together and the breath stolen from his lungs. Solomon leaned in for one more kiss.

"May I?" he whispered against his lips.

"Darling-"

"Please?"

Solomon kissed him again and brushed gentle touches along his spine, "I want to see all of you, no one will see."

Solomon continued to whisper his request. Asmo let his eyes drift shut as he gave in. His wings unfurled from his back, fluttering as the wind tickled their membranes. And then Solomon's fingers drifted across them.

"Beautiful."

Asmo pulled away from his lover's arms, smiling as Solomon chased his lips. "Explain to me how your hands are still cold out here when it’s so nice?”

His wings fluttered before settling down in a comfortable position, “My wings have goosebumps on them.”

He plucked a few flowers next to him. Fingers weaving on their own accord. Briefly, he caught the look on Solomon's face. His cheeks started to turn the most perfect shade of pink. Of course, Asmo was certain it was a reaction to the coy expression he shot Solomon's way before turning his attention to the flowers in his lap. Humming softly to himself, he folded the stems over each other.

"That's why I have you to keep me warm," Solomon moved closer, wrapping his arms around Asmo's middle and leaning his chin on his shoulder. "You are my Eurydice, and I would follow you anywhere, even into the greatest dangers of them all."

"I think you just want to keep me as your heater."

"Can't it be both?"

Asmo let out a small trill as Solomon ran his hands up his sides, wings fluttering between their bodies. All throughout, his hands remained focused on weaving. Solomon's hands were as cold as ice, and yet they felt wonderful against his skin.

"You're cute."

"And you make the cutest little noises."

"So do you when I get you in bed."

Solomon choked as soon as the words left Asmo's mouth.

Asmo allowed one hand to leave his little project in order for him to reach up and play with Solomon's hair before sliding a finger down the side of his face and down to his chin. He turned his head to the side and smiled against Solomon's lips. "Wouldn't that fit that perfect little idea of yours? Making love to me in a perfect little cottage in a perfect little town?"

Allowing himself to take in the sight of Solomon's perfectly handsome reddening face, Asmo turned back to his little project and tied off the ends. Holding it up in the sunlight, he admired all of the tiny perfect flowers. His wings fluttered as a pleased little purr left his lips.

"Asmodeus-"

"Shush," Asmo clicked his tongue and placed the flower crown on Solomon's head, "My king needs a crown."

"You are unfair, you tease me so cruelly."

Turning around, Asmo cupped Solomon's frowning face, "But I am not too terribly cruel am I? I promise you'll get what I offered you." He leaned in and pressed another gentle kiss to his lips, thumbs running over Solomon's cheeks.

"I never deny you now, do I?"

"Not once ever."

Asmo was far from unfamiliar with sex by the time he became involved with Solomon. Even so, in the beginning their couplings had been a tiny bit clumsy, filled with shaking hands and nervous laughter. Fingers dancing across bodies, mapping every groove and valley to memorize over hours of contemplation. They had made the beginnings of their symphony together with small gasps and words of encouragement, where to direct hands, the most beautiful moans, and tiny messes marking their union on the sheets below.

Sex with Solomon was an experience. It was breathtaking and adventurous no matter how it ended up playing out. Asmodeus was willing to do it however he wanted, because sex with Solomon was a chance to be close with someone he loved. Above all, Asmo felt loved when they engaged with each other. Solomon was an attentive lover, a kind lover. His breath was always hot and shaky in Asmo’s ear.

As he looked at him now, Asmo couldn’t help but catch the tiny sparks of desperation. He wanted him, craved him like nothing he had ever wanted before, and the feelings were more than mutual.

They tripped over their heels as they made their way out of the meadow, giggling and laughing through the town. It was a dance, a chase, and Asmo’s heart was racing. He couldn’t keep the smile from spreading across his face despite the number of people they almost crashed into. Asmo had almost forgotten to reinstate his glamor with the excitement that was racing through him. Their fast paced footsteps clicked against the cobblestone before coming to an abrupt halt in front of a tiny cottage as Solomon grabbed onto his wrist.

“This one,” he nodded, fumbling with a little key in his pocket.

“You never had any intention of returning me home tonight did you?”

Solomon grinned, a few small petals falling from the crown upon his head, “Now why would I return you before spring has come?”

Of course he would continue with his references of tales from old.

The door clicked open and they were falling inside.

Falling…

And falling…

Deeper…

And deeper…

Each kiss was breathtaking.

Each touch was a fire burning brighter.

The bed was only a suggestion, and one they somehow managed to take.

The only thought that remained in his mind was Solomon’s skin against his own and the way their hands fit together so perfectly.

His breath hitched as cold fingers traveled along his sensitive regions. Fangs dug into his lip as his head arched into the pillow. Solomon smiled at him before disappearing between his legs.

Oh if those first few laps from his tongue didn't stroke a fire within Asmo's core.

His thighs squished against his lover's face and his hands went to grab for his silver locks. But Solomon was quick as he lifted himself from his meal.

"I need room to work," he chuckled, pushing Asmo's thighs back down.

"And here I thought you were desperate to cum."

"I can't enjoy a snack?"

"Excuse you! I am at least a full course meal."

Solomon hummed and kissed his inner thigh, "That you are my Dear."

Instead of going back to where Asmo so desperately wanted him, Solomon continued to kiss and nip along his thigh, and down his leg, right to the tips of his toes.

Asmo gave him a small kick, not enough to hurt him, just enough to grab his attention, "Hello, Mr. Hot-and-Bothered, you've got me all hot and bothered back up here."

Solomon gestured towards his throbbing cock, standing proudly as attention between his legs, "You have had me like this, on and off, all week. I think you'll survive if I pamper you for a bit."

Now that was a word Asmo liked.

He laid back down on the pillow and closed his eyes, enjoying the sensation of Solomon's lips as they passed over his skin. The way his fingertips played with the strip of highly maintained hair made him shudder. His glamor dropped once more now that there was no risk of being seen by others. He didn't need to cause that type of scene on what was supposed to be a romantic getaway.

He could feel the shape of each hickey Solomon left on his inner thighs, how he would come close to where Asmo wanted him the most just to quickly evade him seconds later. He was throbbing, pulsing, and he wanted nothing more than to have Solomon inside him.

Asmo wiggled his hips and started to thread his fingers through Solomon's hair. He appreciated that Solomon enjoyed foreplay, but he was starting to get antsy.

"Do you want to feel my tongue light you ablaze My Queen?"

Asmo shuddered. Solomon using his mother tongue was playing dirty.

"I would rather feel your cock split me open."

His own words fumbled a bit due to an unexpected, and particularly pleasurable, flick from Solomon's tongue against his most sensitive regions

"But I do love pleasuring you with my tongue," Solomon's hand ran up Asmo's stomach and his breath hitched, "It is pleasurable for me."

"Solomon-"

"But if you'd rather have my magic meat wand rearrange your insides-"

The speed at which Asmo grabbed a pillow and smacked Solomon over the head was almost unbelievable.

"Don't. Hide. Your. Terrible. Terrible. Words. Behind. A. Beautiful. Language!"

Solomon cackled with each accented smack of the pillow to his form.

"And yet you're still turned on."

"I will leave."

Solomon wrapped his arms around his hips and pressed kisses to his side. It was a plea to stay, knowing Asmo would never leave. Asmo tried to stay mad, he really did but when Solomon climbed up his side and caressed his wings. He let out a tiny content trill as Solomon reached the crook of his neck.

"Have you ever seen a magic cock crow?"

Asmo couldn't help but snort.

"Well I don't have that but I can show you how it spurts."

"Solomon!"

Asmo squealed, but his partner held him close.

"And I'm about to cock-a-doodle do you."

"You're not gonna cock-a-do anyone if you get me laughing too hard!"

Solomon grinned and used his other hand to lift Asmo's leg slightly.

"Then may my cock enter the hen house?"

Asmo hummed in thought. The squeal that left Solomon when Asmo grabbed his manhood filled him with nothing but pleasure.

"You know, they also have cows with the hens too, so how about I milk you for all your worth?" Watching Solomon's face darken was all Asmo needed to know he had the reins again. "And they all have to breed too."

Solomon adored him no matter what form he took, and that was part of why Asmo adored him so much.

A hiss and a soft 'fuck' left Solomon's mouth as Asmo started to stroke him. He could feel his partner thrust up into his soft hand, the tip of his cock brushing against where Asmo wanted him the most.

Asmo was in control.

He squeezed his partner's cock and brought it closer to his entrance, allowing Solomon to feel the warmth that could be enveloping him.

"So," Asmo pushed the head in a little further, "Make love to me?"

Asmo loved the way they felt when they were in union with each other. Solomon filled him in the most perfect way, his fluttering walls grabbing onto him and making his human moan.

Milky legs wrapped around the sorcerer, controlling his movements and pulling him in deeper. Solomon was going at his pace, going in as deep as Asmo needed him to to reach all those wonderful spots that had him moaning.

Solomon was panting and whimpering in his ear and it was driving Asmo insane. He couldn't help but nip at Solomon's neck. If Solomon could leave hickeys on his thighs, then his neck was fair game. His fangs always brought shudders out of Solomon.

His hips stuttered and Asmo squealed, back arching off of the mattress.

It was so domestic and hot. Asmo didn't realize two things could be true at once. Lucifer had expected him home, instead he was here, out past curfew and being one with the man he adored more than anything.

The little jokes.

The laughter enhancing the pleasure.

Asmo just wanted to hold him close and stay joined with him forever.

Solomon reached a hand between his legs and Asmo gasped.

"I want you to feel just as good as I do," Solomon breathed, switching to his mother tongue once more, "I want to feel you finish with me."

As if he needed to ask. Asmo tangled on hand into the back of his hair and gripped hard, their thrusts remained steady and precise.

This was personal.

This was sacred.

Asmo felt loved.

Asmo felt secure.

A sharp gasp left his lips and his thighs tightened around Solomon. He could feel that lovely heat reaching its peak. It made him squirm under Solomon to a point where it was his human’s turn to steady him. That lovely pace was becoming agonizing in terms of speed, and he let Solomon know with little nips to his shoulder. On one hand he wanted to reach his orgasm, but on the other hand-

Solomon’s hand sped up along with his thrusts, but only slightly.

Tears started to prick at his eyes as an overwhelming feeling consumed him. It came out of nowhere, smacked into him like a freight train, and became more powerful the closer he came to his orgasm.

“I love you. I love you so much,” Asmo’s words came out softly, softer than he realized what his voice was capable of. Solomon met his gaze and that was when he lost it. It took him a moment to realize that Solomon was also crying, and through the tears there was laughter. There still wasn’t a name for that feeling, but it was mutual and Asmodeus adored it.

Soon after, Asmo finally felt himself tilt over the edge, an airy moan pouring out of his pretty lips. Solomon was soon after, Asmo’s fluttering insides driving him over the edge. With a groan Solomon emptied himself inside of him, giving a few more thrusts before slowing to a stop.

They remained connected, enjoying the feeling of being connected, being one. Asmo squeezed, fearing that if he let him go that Solomon would disappear forever, that he would wake up only to discover that all of this had been nothing but a dream.

No words passed between them. Instead their lips met in a gentle embrace furthering their connection.

“I love you too.”

****

The light he woke up to was the first sign. He had never made it back home to the Devildom. A mourning dove sang its haunting melody from outside the window. He took in the room for the first time. It was cozy, small, and had the most intricate wooden trimming Asmo had ever seen. The sheets were a soft pale blue, he almost would have mistaken it for a gray. They were cool, a perfect contrast to how hot he had felt last night. From somewhere in the room amongst scattered clothing, he heard his phone buzz. He didn’t need to look at the screen to know Lucifer had sent him an inconceivable number of text messages. He would certainly be in for a rather long lecture upon his return.

And he wouldn’t be the only one.

An arm made its way around his middle.

“Stay with me.”

Asmo twisted so that their lips could meet. Solomon was an eager kisser, always one to chase lips and seek out physical affection in private. He was an adorable man, and he was his adorable man. Asmo was smiling into the kiss. What he wouldn’t give to stay in this moment, to stay with his human.

“Lucifer is going to kill you, and lock me in my room for the next millenia,” Asmo whispered in between kisses.

“Then stay. Stay where he can’t reach you.”

“You know I can’t do that,” Asmo pressed one last lingering kiss to his lips before tracing his hand over his cheek, “He’s my family and I love him.”

Solomon’s face fell as he pulled Asmo’s hand to his lips. There was a certain sadness in his eyes that broke Asmo’s heart. It wasn’t like he didn’t want to stay, he did, but he also didn’t want to leave his brothers worried especially not Lucifer.

“Then I shall just follow you.”

Solomon smiled against his skin, “For I am no better than Paris, and I would follow you anywhere, even if it meant certain disaster.”

“You stop that.”

Solomon seemed stunned at his words, eyes wide and staring at Asmo who’s brows were furrowed and dawned a rather serious expression on his face.

“You keep comparing us to tragedies. I don’t like that.”

“They’re all considered love stories Asmodeus.”

“I know, but are any of them happy? Did any of them end up happy? Don’t they all involve some sort of depressing something or other-?”

Solomon snorted, “Depressing something or other-?”

“Well it’s true!” Asmo stood fast in what he did, “Paris died and Helen married some asshole, Orpheus couldn’t save Eurydice, and Hades and Persephone can only see each other for six months out of the year like some weird divorced couple where they don’t want to be divorced but they’re like forced to be. And I don’t want any of that to be us. I actually want this to go well.”

His face softened and tears pricked at his eyes once more as he stared deep into Solomon’s soul, “You are, without a doubt, one of the best things that has ever happened to me Solomon, this is one of the healthiest things that I have ever had. I can’t lose you, because if I do-”

Solomon shushed him and held him close, letting Asmo listen to the steady drum of his heartbeat.

“I see what you mean, I want this to last too Asmodeus. You are an absolute delight and a beautiful shining light in my life,” he hesitated for a moment, biting his lip, debating whether he would actually decide to speak into existence the desires the ran through his mind, “I would- I would very much enjoy if this could be my life with you one day. To come home to your arms every day would be bliss for me.”

Asmo looked up at him. He was so nervous. It was rare to see his witty sorcerer squirm like he was now. He had borne something so vulnerable to him, and now it was completely in Asmo’s hands.

“One day,” Asmo promised quietly, “I would love to make our little house-play permanent, and one day we will. I’m not the one you need to convince.”

Lucifer would not take it well if Asmo dropped that he was moving in with a man he was less than fond of. He would take it even worse if he received the news over text with Asmo already moved in. Asmo liked Solomon in tact and would prefer it if he weren’t strewn into tiny pieces all over the House of Lamentation.

The grin on Solomon’s face could light up the entirety of the Devildom and Asmo could only squeal as he was bombarded with a flurry of kisses. The laugh Solomon let out was beyond joyous, and it was contagious.

“Then I am going to do my absolute best to convince him, so that we can have our perfect little cottage on the end of town,” Solomon promised, “And then we can start a perfect little life together. Until then, do you think you could stay for a while longer? I’m not quite done playing house with you, even if it’s just for a little while longer.”

Asmo thought briefly about all the notifications on his phone, about what could possibly await him for when he eventually had to return home. It would no doubt ruin the perfect mood that he was currently swimming in. But oh the look on Solomon’s face. He was nothing but an adorable puppy in Solomon’s eyes, a puppy that he simply couldn’t ignore.

What harm could exist in staying just a little longer?

It would be wonderful practice for his future.

“I could see myself staying for a little while longer, especially if I get to continue to enjoy my time with you.”

Solomon’s excitement was palpable. A trill left somewhere from the back of Asmo’s throat as he was scooped up and carried out to the kitchen. He couldn’t help but admire his Solomon, the charm of his smile, the strong shape of his jawline, the pact marks that littered his body.

This could really be his life one day couldn’t it?

Mornings spent naked without the slightest ounce of sexual intent, forehead kisses while they waited for coffee and tea to brew, chilly mornings outside the cottage quietly curled up together as they sipped on their cups. Steam rising into the air as the sun cast light on the first tiny drops of morning dew on the grass beneath their feet. Wild flowers hung haphazardly in their hair, plucked from the ground without a word and stuck wherever they would stay.

This life was his.

One day, he would spend all of his mornings like this.

Loved.

Content.

Cared for.

All the while, the mourning dove continued to sing, and hidden somewhere in the trees with a nest and a solitary egg. Soon a second one joined. A simple call and response between two lifelong partners haunting the quiet morning with their lingering melody carried in the light breeze that was traveling through, content with each other, and hidden from the rest of the world.

#asmobdc23 #obey me #solodeus #soloasmo #asmosolo #solasmo #solomon x asmodeus #obey me solomon #obey me solodeus

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marvelmusing · 2 years

Text

The Secret Palace: A Shadow and Bone AU

Alina Starkov is a well known historian and cartographer in modern day Ravka. She was named after Sankta Alina, the girl who summoned the sun and brought down the fabled Shadow Fold that everyone now refers to as the Fold - a large valley paved with black sand. Due to her namesake, Alina has always been fascinated by the Saints and their Miracles - so much so that she has a number of tattoos inspired by Ravkan mythology. The antlers of Morozova’s stag rest along her collarbones, adorned with her favourite flowers - irises. The Sea Whip, Rusalye, sits on her left thigh, it’s body snaking over her hip, the head lying flat on her abdomen.

Her best friend Mal, the archeologist, has been helping her map the catacombs beneath the Grand Palace at Os Alta, when she discovers a secret passageway leading to a forgot Palace. The Little Palace has been abandoned for centuries, and many Ravkans no longer believe it exists. Which is why Alina is so surprised to find people living there.

She meets the beautiful Genya - who encourages her to try on intricate, hand stitched gowns and priceless jewellery. The determined Zoya - who knows every inch of the palace grounds and prides herself on her knowledge. Ivan and Fedoyr ensure that the walls surrounding their sanctuary remains entact, the overgrown trees and shrubbery hiding the palace from the rest of Ravka.

After her first visit to the Little Palace, she returns to the entrance of the passageway, and walks through the catacombs back to the small base of operations created by Mal and his team in the wine cellar of the Grand Palace. She’s eager to show everyone her discovery.

But when she leads them down to the passage she found, it’s sealed shut. Some of the group laugh at her, whilst some are sympathetic - it’s easy to get lost and confused in the passages after all. Mal is puzzled, and checks her over to ensure she hadn’t fallen and hit her head.

From that point onwards, Alina decides to scour the passages on her own. The next time she walks down the familiar path, the door is there waiting for her, with the Little Palace hiding behind it.

Alina explores the library, filled with books the world has long forgotten, and texts she has only ever dreamed of reading. She walks through the empty ballrooms, with their glittering chandeliers and exquisite portraits. The grounds surrounding the palace are a hub of wildlife, and she sees creatures only found on the pages of storybooks.

The she meets the Lord Morozova. The mysterious founder of the Little Palace, and protector of its inhabitants. He seems polite, but distant, and he’s always wearing gloves. His gaze is weighted as her watches her in the gardens with Zoya, and in the ballroom as Genya shows her the hidden door which leads to David’s workshop.

When heavy rain prevents Alina from returning through the passageways, she spends her first night at the Little Palace. She towel dries her hair, and Zoya lends her a velvet dressing gown after the two of them were caught under aware by the rain.

Alina drinks kvas with her new friends, the glow of firelight casting a comfortable blanket over each character, the cosy heat as their warm, golden companion. She bests Ivan at chess, much to everyone’s excitement.

Lord Morozova is settled in an armchair by the fire, a book sitting open on his lap, but as the night wears on his focus shifts from the darkening pages to Alina’s face, aglow with joy. She meets his eyes on a handle of occasions, which brings a blush to her cheeks. During the moments where he’s feigning interest in his book, she takes the opportunity to drink in his appearance. The dark clothing and shining shoes, the dark curls of hair slicked back, save for a few stray strands, and his quartz eyes clouded in thought.

Morozova is the one to show Alina to the room she’ll be spending the night in.

She takes a moment to look over everything. The hand painted wallpaper, the embellished furniture, and soft, plush bed. Little orphan Alina, who had dreamed of fairy castles and slept on a worn through mattress, could have never dreamed of any of this. She admits this softly to Morozova, as her fingers trace over the delicate carvings that adorn the hand mirror placed on her vanity table - a mirror that must be several hundreds of years old. Mal would be thrilled at such a find.

It’s in that moment that Morozova tells her his name.

Aleksander.

A whispered confidence, only granted to those he truly trusts. As she looks up at him, something finally slots into place, and Alina believes she’s found somewhere she can truly belong.

#alina starkov #shadow and bone #shadow and bone au #netflix shadow and bone #shadow and bone netflix #alina starkov au #alina starkov imagine #alina starkov moodboard #jessie mei li #jessie mei li moodboard #aleksander morozova

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sebstanaddict · 2 years

Text

Love Song

Chapter 1 - Rainbow

Summary : A romantic comedy story between Sebastian Stan and female reader where we witness their journey after they said I do.

After facing so many challenges in their relationship there was nothing more Sebastian and reader wanted than a smooth and beautiful wedding to celebrate their love. But something unexpected happened that threatened their perfect day and turn it into the most embarrassing day of their lives.

Pairings : Sebastian Stan x Female!Reader

Chapters: 1/18 (Might add more)

Chapter List >

Warning : fluff, grief, angst

Word count : 9.2k

This is a sequel to my first Sebastian fic Always You. If you want to understand more about Sebastian's and reader's relationship, please read it first. But it's not necessary to understand this story. Check it out here.

But oh, can't you see

That no matter what happens Life goes on and on And so baby, just smile 'Cause I'm always around you And I'll make you see how beautiful Life is for you and me

Take a little time baby See the butterflies' colors Listen to the birds that were sent To sing for me and you Can you feel me? This is such a wonderful place to be Even if there is pain now Everything would be all right For as long as the world still turns There will be night and day Can you hear me? There's a rainbow always after the rain

Life's full of challenges Not all the time we get what we want But don't despair my dear (coz I know now)

You'll take each trial and you'll make it through the storm 'Cause you're strong, my faith in you is clear So I'll say once again this world's wonderful And let us celebrate life that's so beautiful, so beautiful

Rainbow - South Border

-----

Pleasantdale Chateau, West Orange, New Jersey - May 6th 2023 - 1 pm

It was a fine Saturday afternoon at Pleasantdale Chateau. The sun was shining, birds were chirping, butterflies flew all over the beautiful gardens at the chateau. Nestled on a 40 acres of land among lush trees, sparkling ponds and rolling meadows was a magnificent estate that seemed to come straight out of fairy tales. Anyone who visited the chateau would feel like they were transported to a charming village in France. It was hard to believe that the magical place was located only 20 miles out of Manhattan.

Despite the peaceful and tranquil atmosphere, the chateau was bustling with people going to and fro. The air was filled with a slight erratic energy as everyone was busy preparing for the event that was going to be held that afternoon. Madeline Rowles had been in charge as head wedding planner for wedding events at the chateau for ten years, but she had never felt as nervous and anxious about managing a wedding until that day.

Their client for that day was a high profile Hollywood actor who had unlimited budget. Not that he specifically asked for anything too lavish. His fiancee was surprisingly a down-to-earth woman who loved simplicity and seemed to even hate anything too luxurious. It was not the couple themselves that made her nervous but it was their guests who made her feel so anxious that day.

The Hollywood actor was a Marvel actor who had been playing one of the most loved characters in the MCU for more than ten years. Aside from high profile Marvel actors such as Robert Downey Jr and Chris Hemsworth, he also had impressive colleagues outside of Marvel such as the likes of Nicole Kidman, Julianne Moore and Jessica Chastain. All of whom were expected to attend that day. Madeline felt grateful that the owner of the estate had a private helipad which could be used by these high profile celebrities to get in and out of the estate quickly. It was one of the facilities they were most proud of, and one of the reasons it seemed that the couple chose the estate for their wedding.

Madeline consulted her checklist for that day and after making sure that all the staff were working on schedule to prepare the area for the ceremony that day, she turned around and headed back towards the chateau. The ceremony was going to be held outdoors in front of one of the ponds on the charming meadow right outside of the chateau. The staff were lining up white wooden chairs, rolling down the white carpet on the aisle and decorating the wooden pergola at the end of the aisle with flowers and vines. Her next item on the list was making sure the grand ballroom where the reception was going to be held was being decorated on schedule. Then it was off to the kitchen to check on the progress of the chefs in preparing all the food for the 350 guests that day.

As she walked towards the chateau she heard a barking sound coming out of the main entrance of the chateau. A golden retriever puppy came out of the entrance running towards her. A small boy of about 8 years old came running after it.

"Lucky! Vino înapoi aici!" ("Lucky! Get back here!") the boy shouted in Romanian.

Madeline went down and tried to catch the puppy but he was fast and slipped past her. She turned around and saw the puppy running towards the ceremony area. Sensing something bad was about to happen, she ran back towards the ceremony area, hoping to be able to catch the puppy in time. The puppy ran across the aisle and headed straight to the pergola and slipped past a ladder a staff was using to decorate the pergola. The staff was surprised. He slipped and fell down the ladder, crushing some flowers who were laid on the grass.

"Oh no! Mike! Are you okay?" Madeline shouted as she ran towards Mike, who was trying to sit up.

"I'm fine.. these flowers cushioned my fall." Mike said as he tried to get up, his hand holding his lower back. Madeline extended her hand and helped Mike up. Just then the little boy ran past them and shouted an apology to them then he continued chasing the puppy, who had ran past the pergola and headed towards a bridge not far from there. Moments later a man ran past them and shouted apologies to them too. Madeline noticed him as one of the groomsmen.

"We need to catch that puppy." Madeline said.

"Yeah, I thought we don't allow pets on the estate?" Mike asked.

"Well, the bride begged us to allow their puppy to come. She said he's going to be part of the ceremony. I couldn't say no." Madeline said.

Mike sighed. "But he ruined these roses and peonies." He said sadly as he looked down on the ruined flowers on the ground.

"You have backup though, right?" Madeline asked.

"Yeah. Still, it's a waste, but I can do something with them." Mike winked at her.

"Well okay, go do your job. The ceremony is in 4 hours. We don't have much time." Madeline said and Mike nodded.

Madeline had a dog herself back home so she knew what to do to catch the puppy. She ran towards the kitchen and once there she asked one of the chefs if they had some spare sausages. Thankfully there were some, so she grabbed them and ran quickly back out to the meadow. She ran passed the ceremony area and the bridge. Once she was over the pond she found the little boy and the man standing near a gazebo not far from there, but the puppy were nowhere to be seen.

"Lucky! Here boy! Where are you Lucky?!" the man shouted.

"Unde ești Lucky?!" ("Where are you Lucky?!") the little boy shouted in Romanian.

"You lost the puppy?" Madeline asked once she got close enough to the man.

"Oh.. yeah.. I was too late. I didn't see where he was going." The man said. He looked kind of familiar, Madeline thought. Maybe he was an actor himself. But she rarely watched movies and TV so she didn't exactly know who he was.

Madeline put her fingers in her mouth than whistled loudly, surprising the boy and the man.

"Lucky! I have some treats for you! Come out come out wherever you are!" She shouted.

"Wow, you can whistle really loud." the man commented in awe.

"Uh.. yeah.. my dad taught me. We used to have 5 dogs so we needed a way to call them." she shrugged.

Moments later they heard a barking sound coming out from one of the ferns near the gazebo. The puppy came out of it and ran straight towards Madeline. His tail was wagging and his tongue was sticking out. Madeline went down as he came closer and the puppy stopped right in front of her and sniffed the sausage she was holding. He bit the sausage out of her hand and was about to run off again but the man picked him up before he had the chance.

"Thank you." the man said, smiling at her as he held the puppy tight in his arms and stood up.

"No problem. It's part of my job." Madeline said, smiling back at him as she stood up.

"I'm Chad." the man extended his hand to her and she shook it.

"Nice to meet you Chad. I'm Madeline." she smiled. She finally realized who he was. He was Chad Crawley, the groom's best friend who used to be in Gossip Girl, a TV show she once used to love. She couldn't believe her luck. She used to have a crush on him back then.

"Aren't you the wedding planner?" Chad asked.

"Oh yeah, I am." she nodded.

"You're doing a great job so far. And this place is stunning. It must be hard managing a place like this." He commented.

"Uh.. thank you. Yeah it can be hard, but it's always worthwhile whenever I see the bride and groom smiling and having fun." she smiled.

"Yeah it is." Chad smiled.

The little boy then came to them and picked the dog off from his hand.

"Stefan, don't let him loose again, okay?" Chad warned him.

"Okay. Sorry." the boy nodded dejectedly then he turned around and walked back towards the chateau, holding the puppy tight who was now contentedly eating the sausage.

"Well, I have to get back and get ready." Chad said.

"Yeah, I have to go and check the ballroom and then make sure the chefs are working on schedule." Madeline said.

"I hope everything else will go smoothly after this." Chad said.

"Yeah, I hope so too! Even if there are mishaps, we're ready, don't worry about it. We've been doing this for decades." she smiled and Chad smiled back.

Little did she know that there was going to be a mishap that had never happened before in the estate and that it would make that day to be truly unforgettable.

-----

Bridal Salon, Pleasantdale Chateau, West Orange, New Jersey - May 6th 2023 - 4 pm

Y/n stared back at herself on the large mirror in front of her. Her make up artist was just finished putting make up on her. Her eyes widened as she looked at herself. She had opted for a natural look, but she didn't think the make up artist would do such a good job that she still looked like herself yet like a beautiful princess at the same time. Her beautiful eyes popped out even with only warm brown eyeshadows applied on them. Her lips were painted nude pink and her cheeks flushed like she had listened to Sebastian's compliments for her for an hour straight. Her hair was also done. She had chosen a simple updo with folded twists on the sides of her head and a small bun rested on the nape of her neck. Some wavy strands of hair were let loose, framing her beautiful face. She would put on a simple floral hairpiece along with a veil on top of the bun later on, after she put on her dress.

"Thank you Charlotte, I love it!" Y/n said enthusiastically to her make up artist who was staring at her on the mirror.

"You're welcome, Y/n. I didn't have to do much, you're already gorgeous!" Charlotte gushed, making Y/n blushed.

"I can see why he's head over heels for you. I heard he's had a crush on you for twenty years! Is that true?" Charlotte asked as she tidied up the dressing table, putting brushes, lipstick, eyeshadows and all the other make up tools she had into her make up bag.

"Oh, where did you hear that, Charlotte?" Y/n asked, surprised her make up artist knew of that fact.

"I read it on the internet. You're famous now you know, I can just google you and all information about you came right out." Charlotte winked.

"Well, I didn't think that information would come out." Y/n said, still pondering how that specific private information could have come out. But then again, this is the internet age where anything and everything about someone could be found on the internet, especially if that someone was a celebrity. She wasn't one herself but dating one turned her into one herself without her realizing it.

"You better get used to it now that you're marrying an A list Hollywood actor. People would put you under a microscope." Charlotte commented nonchalantly. Her comment made Y/n's stomach churned unpleasantly. She did think about it but never dwelled on it too much. Now that she heard it from someone else, it made her more nervous.

"Umm.. yeah. I guess I have to get used to it." she said, doubt in her voice.

"Oh I'm sorry, dear. I hope I didn't scare you with you that comment. Just forget it okay? Focus on yourself and your fiancee. You're getting married!" Charlotte said cheerfully.

"Yeah.. thank you Charlotte." Y/n smiled. Deep down she still felt nervous so she stood up and went to the table where drinks were served. She picked up a tall wine glass and opened a bottle of champagne. As she poured it she felt a warm hand touching her arm.

"Y/n.. are you okay? Are the nerves finally getting to you?" Shannon, her maid of honor asked, her eyebrows furrowed as she looked at Y/n.

"I'm fine Shannon, just needed a drink. I'm thirsty." Y/n said and she sipped a little of the champagne. As the champagne entered her system, she felt immediately calmer.

"Are you guys ready?" Y/n asked, referring to her bridesmaids and putting her wine glass down.

"Yeah. The only one who isn't is you! The ceremony is starting in an hour and you're still wearing a robe!" Shannon protested, her hands gesturing all over Y/n's white silk robe that she had worn since she started getting ready that afternoon.

"Yeah, I just need to put on the dress, some accessories, the veil and the shoes then I'm ready." Y/n said.

"That's still a lot to do." Shannon protested.

"An hour should be enough, Shannon. Don't worry." Y/n said as she started to go to get her dress.

"Wait, I have Sebastian's gift for you." Shannon said, putting a small blue velvet box in Y/n's hands.

"Oh okay. Have you given mine to him yet?" Y/n asked.

"Of course I have." Shannon replied.

"And how did he react?" Y/n asked curiously.

"He was shocked but happy. And he had put both of them under his shirt." Shannon smiled.

Y/n had bought Sebastian a gold chain necklace with a gold charm in the shape of a key. She had written a short note on a card that Shannon had given to him as well.

"Iubirea mea, you have the key to my heart. Wear this with the heart shaped pendant you have on your chest so that I will always be near your heart. Love, Y/n"

Right when they just started dating, Sebastian had bought a heart shaped pendant to symbolize his love for her and he had put it on the band of his watch. Y/n wanted him to wear it differently now that they were getting married. She thought it should be put nearer to his heart. And since he did have the key to her heart, she decided to buy him the key charm as well to symbolize that.

"Okay, good but... why would he be shocked?" Y/n asked, her eyebrows raised.

"You'll see why. Just open yours." Shannon smiled with a twinkle in her eyes.

"Hmm.. okay." Y/n opened the velvet box and gasped aloud. There inside the velvet box was a gold charm shaped in a heart-shaped key, dotted with small diamonds. She couldn't believe that they basically bought each other the same gift.

"There's a note there." Shannon said, her finger pointed onto the insides of the top of the velvet box. Y/n pulled out the small paper and opened it. She smiled wide as she read it.

"Y/n, sweetheart. For twenty two years you're the only one who have the key to my heart. So I hope you'll wear this with the pendant I've given you and we can always be near each other's hearts even when we are apart. I love you. Always. SS"

Sebastian had also given her a heart shaped pendant when they started dating. And they had made a promise to each other back then to always have each other's hearts. They really were soulmates, she smiled wide as she picked up the pendant and hung it on her necklace, right next to the heart-shaped pendant she always had on.

"You guys are so sweet." Shannon said, sniffling.

"Shannon.. are you crying?" Y/n asked, laughing a little.

"I am! I've witnessed both you being in love for twenty years before you finally got together and I'm just so so happy that you're finally getting married! If anyone deserves this it's both of you!" Shannon exclaimed as she pulled Y/n into a tight hug.

"Aaawww.. Shannon.. Thank you for being there for me and Seb all this time." Y/n said, rubbing her best friend's back.

"You're welcome, Y/n. Now let's put that dress on and go get married!" Shannon said as she released her hug on Y/n.

"Okay!" Y/n smiled and said enthusiastically.

Y/n went towards the wardrobe where she had kept her dress in. Her mind wander to when she was searching for 'the dress'. After trying on what seemed like hundreds of dresses, Y/n finally chose one dress from Allure. It was from their Disney Princess line, one that was named after Cinderella. She was afraid people would think she was cheesy to choose a dress inspired by a Disney Princess, but if there was a time to be herself, her wedding was it. And the moment she put on the dress back at Allure's store, she knew it was it and she had to get it.

She picked the dress who was still inside a white dry cleaner's bag and pulled the zipper down. Her jaw dropped as she looked at the dress. The dress wasn't what she bought. It was a different dress.

"Shannon! This isn't my dress!" Y/n said, showing the dress to Shannon.

Shannon spit out the champagne she was drinking when she saw it.

"F**k! No way! That's not your dress!"Shannon shouted in dismay.

"No it's not! Who picked it up from the dry cleaner's?" Y/n asked.

"Umm.. I did." Shannon said, her head hung in shame.

"Didn't you check it first before you get out of the dry cleaner's?!" Y/n asked, her voice raised a little as she felt anger started to seeped into her heart.

"I just glanced at the top. I mean.. the top looks similar to yours. So I thought it was yours. I'm sorry." Shannon said, regret in her voice.

The top part did look similar to Y/n's dress. It had a capped sleeve and plunging V-neck but it had mermaid silhouette not ball gown like her dress, and the skirt was made from satin not tulle like hers. She pulled out the dress from the dry cleaner's bag and checked the size. It was smaller than what she usually wore. Her heart sank to her stomach as she realized they were in trouble.

"Do you think we have time to pick up my dress from the dry cleaner's?" Y/n asked.

"Well, it's half an hour away, an hour counting the time I need to get there. And it's Saturday, God knows what the traffic is like in the city on Saturdays. You'll definitely be late." Shannon stated matter of factly.

Y/n sighed and walked towards the window of the bridal salon. She could see that people had started to arrive to the estate. She couldn't possibly asked them to wait. Sebastian had invited many of his famous A list celebrities and filmmakers who probably didn't have time to waste. And she would embarrass Sebastian if she came out late. People would talk. She finally decided that she could just wear the dress, no one needed to know it wasn't hers. Then she could return it back to the dry cleaner's afterwards.

"Okay, I'll just wear this one. No big deal. Can you help me?" Y/n turned towards Shannon.

"Okay, you sure you want to wear this dress? I mean.. it's different from what you've picked." Shannon said.

"Yeah. I mean.. I'm disappointed that I can't wear the one I chose. But at the end of the day it's just a dress. And this one looks pretty too. I just hope I can fit myself in it!" Y/n exclaimed.

"Well let's go and find out." Shannon said and she picked the dress off from Y/n's hand and headed towards the dressing room.

Y/n took off her robes and hung it on a hook behind the door in the dressing room. Shannon pulled out the hanger from the dress and unzipped the back of the dress.

"Okay, here we go." Y/n said, putting her feet inside the dress and Shannon helped pull it up and put her arms inside the sleeves.

At first it seemed the dress would fit her. She looked in the mirror and was not thoroughly disappointed at what she saw. But then Shannon started to pull up the zipper on the back of the dress and she felt her stomach being squeezed.

"Shannon! Stop!" Y/n protested.

"I can do it, Y/n. Just a little bit more." She said as she pulled the zipper up with a lot more effort.

Y/n sucked in her stomach and held her breath and the zipper finally closed fully up to the back side of her neck. She let out a sigh of relief and turned sideways to study herself in the mirror.

"I think it can work." Y/n said.

"Yeah, thank God. Can you walk though? The skirt seems to be a little tight." Shannon said, studying her.

"Yeah I think so. Can you go and get my shoes?" Y/n asked.

"Sure." Shannon nodded and left to pick up her shoes.

Y/n studied her stomach in the dress. She still had the fat belly courtesy of Starlene, she didn't think she could ever lose it, so she had worn a corset to help flatten her belly. But whoever the dress really belonged to definitely had an enviable flat belly, she could hardly breathe wearing the dress even though she already had the corset on.

"There you go Y/n." Shannon said, returning with a shoe box containing her shoes.

Shannon opened the box and put the pair of shoes out and put them on the floor next to Y/n. Y/n had chosen a pair of Bella Belle 2-inch low heel pearl shoes with romantic floral lace motif and playful interlocking straps at the ankle. She wasn't used to wearing high heels for too long and considering she was going to have the ceremony outdoors, low heeled shoes seemed to fit better than high heeled ones. Y/n put them on and leaned down to tighten the straps and that was when she heard it. A loud unpleasant ripping sound could be heard. The dress had ripped at the back.

"Shannon! Oh No!" Y/n froze in place, her eyes widened in shock. Shannon put her hand in her mouth in surprise.

"Y/n! Don't move!" Shannon said as she went to check the damage of the dress.

"Is it bad?" Y/n asked, turning her head to look up at Shannon.

"Umm.. it's a long rip.. I think you can stand up now and see for yourself." Shannon said.

Y/n stood up slowly and could immediately tell the difference. She wasn't having difficulties in breathing anymore. She turned her back toward the full length mirror on the wall and turned her head to inspect the damage. The beautiful dress really was ruined. The rip started from the top part down to almost her bottom. There was no way she could wear it. She started to feel tears well up in her eyes. How could this happen? At the most important day of her life. She thought in frustration.

"Y/n.. don't cry. We'll figure a way out. I'll go to the dry cleaner's now and get your dress. I'll be back in no time. You'll only be late like.. an hour at most. Okay?" Shannon said as she held Y/n's arms and rubbed them, trying to make Y/n feel better.

"Okay. We'll have to let Seb know, and the wedding planner so they can keep the guests entertained while they wait." Y/n said, starting to regain her composure back.

"Okay. Don't worry, I'll let them know. I'll have Rose, Allison and the others to come here and accompany you, okay?" Shannon said referring to Y/n's other bridesmaids as she gave Y/n a tight hug.

"Okay. You probably should ask Nick to come. He can drive for you." Y/n said, referring to Shannon's boyfriend who was also one of the groomsmen.

"That's a good idea. Okay. I'll see you later Y/n." Shannon said and she left Y/n quickly, almost running on her way out.

Y/n sighed as she watched Shannon leave. She decided to take off the dress and put her robe back on. After taking the dress off and putting on her robe, she went out of the dressing room and found all of her bridesmaids sitting on a blue circle sofa in the middle of the room, waiting for her.

"Oh Y/n.. we heard what happened. And we're really sorry." Rose said as she walked closer to Y/n and gave her a hug.

"It's okay, Shannon is getting my dress now. Has anyone told Seb or the wedding planner yet?" Y/n asked. It was 15 minutes to 5 pm, he was probably on the meadow already, under the pergola, waiting for her, she thought nervously.

"I'll go and tell him." Adelina, one of Sebastian's close friend from Romania offered.

"Thank you Adelina." Y/n smiled at her and took a seat among her bridesmaids. Allison, another one of her bridesmaids offered her a glass of champagne and she took it gratefully. Just then there was a knock on the door.

"Y/n.. can I come in?" It was Sebastian's mother. Oh no. Y/n thought. She never felt so embarrassed in her life.

"Uh.. come on in Mrs.Frank." Rose opened the door and Mrs. Frank came in holding Starlene in her arms.

Sebastian's mother looked stunning in a silk soft magenta dress. While her daughter Starlene looked so cute wearing a white tulle dress. She wore a matching floral bandana on her head and if her eyes didn't play tricks on her, someone seemed to have put on lip gloss on her lips. Something she definitely didn't agree with. But that shouldn't be her focus.

"Mrs.Frank, I'm sorry." Y/n said, walking closer to her and picked Starlene off her arms. Starlene looked up at her and smiled, realizing her mother had picked her up, and she put her small hand on her cheek as if encouraging her and telling her everything was going to be okay.

"Y/n.. why aren't you in your dress yet?" Mrs.Frank asked, her eyebrows furrowed.

"I.. uh.. brought the wrong dress." Y/n said, her head hung in shame.

"The wrong dress?" Mrs.Frank's eyes widened in surprise.

Y/n told her the whole story and Mrs.Frank laughed so loud after she was done telling her story, surprising everyone in the room.

"In all of my 67 years of life I have never heard a funnier story." Mrs.Frank commented.

"Umm.. yeah.." Y/n started to laugh as well, Mrs.Frank's aura had started to affect her too and everyone in the room started to laugh as well.

"This will be a great story to tell your grandchildren one day." Mrs.Frank winked.

"I guess so." Y/n said, smiling as she felt the burden in her heart lifted.

"Anyway, the reason I came was to actually give you this. You need something borrowed to complement your dress don't you?" Mrs.Frank said.

"Oh.. yeah, that's right. I forgot about it." Y/n said.

Mrs.Frank pulled out a beautiful bracelet from a pocket in her dress. It was a bracelet made from a chain of cubic zirconia mounted in a clover leaf shaped silver alternating with round shaped cubic zirconia.

"Oh it's beautiful Mrs.Frank." Y/n said admiring the bracelet.

"Here, let me put this on you." Mrs.Frank said.

"Thank you so much Mrs.Frank." Y/n smiled after Mrs.Frank finished putting the bracelet on her wrist and gave her a brief hug.

"Starting today you can call me mom." Mrs.Frank said, winking at her.

Y/n could feel her eyes well up in tears again. Her words reminded her of her own late mother who had died from cancer years ago. She wished she was here to witness her getting married to the love of her life.

"Oh no.. don't cry dear.. " Mrs.Frank said, noticing that Y/n's eyes had started to water.

"I'm sorry.. I just.. I remember my mom." Y/n said.

"Oh dear. I'm sure she's really happy looking down on you from up in heaven." Mrs.Frank said as she gave a her a tight hug.

"I'm sure she is." Y/n sniffled and wiped her eyes from the tears. Thankfully Charlotte had applied waterproof mascara on her so her make up wasn't ruined.

Another knock was suddenly heard from the door.

"Y/n, it's dad. Can I come in?" Y/n's father's voice could be heard from behind the door.

"Dad, come on in." Y/n said while Mrs.Frank picked Starlene off from her arms.

"Oh hi everyone, I didn't think it would be so crowded here." Y/n's father said, surprised seeing Y/n's bridesmaids and Mrs.Frank there, making everyone laughed.

"Hi dad." Y/n said, walking towards him.

"Y/n.. you look beautiful!" her father said but then he stopped himself as he slowly studied his daughter.

"Are you.. going to wear this?" her father asked in confusion.

"No, dad.. I brought the wrong dress." Y/n said, laughing.

After telling her father all that had happened, her father laughed and commented that he didn't expect something like this to happen in her wedding. In his eyes she was always so perfect doing everything in her life that a mishap like this was truly unexpected.

"Yeah well, there's always a first time for everything, right dad?" Y/n said.

"Absolutely. Now, I wanted to give you the something blue in case you don't have it yet." her father said.

"Oh.. I did buy a blue garter but okay. Thank you dad." Y/n said.

Her father pulled out a small velvet box from inside his pant's pocket and gave it to Y/n. She opened it and there in the box was a beautiful crystal brooch in the shape of a flower. The brooch had a combination of white crystals and blue crystals on the edge of the petals and in the middle of the flower.

"Oh it's beautiful, dad." Y/n smiled softly as she studied the brooch.

"It belonged to your mother. She wore it on her wedding day, your grandmother gave it to her. So it also can be the something old, and something borrowed too." Y/n's father said.

"Oh that's right. Thank you so much dad." Y/n said and gave him a brief hug.

"Now I feel mom is here watching us." Y/n continued, tears welled up in her eyes again and she could see her father started to have tears in his eyes too.

"I miss her so much." Y/n's father said.

"You look so much like her on her wedding day." he continued, putting the palm of his hand on his daughter's cheek.

Y/n was speechless and could only feel tears falling from her eyes. Her chest tightened as she remembered her mom. Just then a loud knock could be heard from the door again.

"Y/n! Sweetheart.. it's me.." Sebastian's voice could be heard from behind the door and everyone in the room froze as they heard him.

-----

Ceremony Area, Pleasantdale Chateau, West Orange, New Jersey - 4.50 pm

Sebastian stood underneath the pergola at the end of the aisle, gazing at all the guests sitting in front of him. He smiled at them as their eyes caught his. He saw Anthony Mackie sitting next to his ex-wife. It seemed they were getting back together and that made him happy. Anthony winked at him as he looked at him and Sebastian smiled. Next to Anthony was his Captain America co-star Danny Ramirez who was busy looking down on his cellphone. Several seats away from them he saw his other Marvel co-stars, Chris Evans, Jeremy Renner, Scarlet Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Paul Rudd, Chris Pratt, Samuel L Jackson, Tom Holland, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany and Robert Downey Jr. Each sat beside their spouses. He then saw his co-stars outside of Marvel, Jessica Chastain, Lupita Nyongo, Diane Kruger, Penelope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Julianne Moore, Renate Reinsve, Margot Robbie, Lily James and Daisy Edgar-Jones. Granted, he did have many female co-stars, more than male ones. Some of his male co-stars also had come, he could see Jamie Dornan, Adam Driver, Channing Tatum, Daniel Craig, Seth Rogen, Edgar Ramirez and even Robert Pattinson. He glanced toward their right side and was surprised to see Ridley Scott came. He also saw other directors he had worked with sitting and talking amongst themselves. There were Craig Gillespie, Mimi Cave, Steven Soderbergh, The Russo Brothers, Darren Aronofsky, Aaron Schimberg, Drake Doremus, Benjamin Caron even Argy Burgy who came all the way from Greece. Kevin Feige, the head of Marvel sat next to the Russos and was chatting with them. Sebastian didn't expect all those high profile people to come. Especially the likes of Ridley Scott who he had not met in a while. But events like this were also a good way to network and he suspected that was another reason why they all came. And whatever the actual reason was, he felt really grateful that they all had the time to come.

He glanced at his watch and it was already 5 pm, the ceremony was supposed to start now. He took a deep breath and replayed the vows he was going to say in his mind. Yes, he and Y/n had decided to exchange personal vows in addition to the more traditional vows being said in a wedding ceremony. He had it written in a piece of paper but having used to memorize many lines from a script, he didn't need to see it. He could remember all of them by heart.

Suddenly he saw Adelina walking quickly from the chateau towards them. She stopped before reaching the start of the aisle and gestured at Edward to come towards her. Edward, as best man, was standing right next to Sebastian. Edward nodded at Adelina and walked swiftly towards her. Sebastian's heart started to beat faster. He wondered whether anything was wrong. Adelina was supposed to come down with the other bridesmaids but she was alone. And her face looked slightly nervous.

Adelina whispered something to Edward and he nodded in understanding. He then turned around and walked back to Sebastian. Adelina turned around too and walked back towards the chateau.

"Edward, what's going on?" Sebastian whispered as Edward arrived next to him.

"Seb, I'm sorry. Adelina said there's an emergency with Y/n's dress." Edward whispered, his back facing the guests.

"What do you mean emergency with her dress?" Sebastian asked, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"Well, she didn't tell me the details just that we need to entertain the guests while we wait." Edward said.

"Hmm.. okay." Sebastian nodded. He started to feel nervous. He wondered if it meant something. He also was curious what it meant 'emergency with her dress'. He decided to go and see her to make sure she was alright.

"Edward, I'm gonna go and see her, make sure she's alright." Sebastian said,

"But.. Seb.. You're not supposed to see her." Edward protested.

"I need to know what's going on." Sebastian said.

"I can go and find out but you need to stay here." Edward said.

"No, Edward. I gotta see her. I have a bad feeling. Just please stay here and.. I don't know.. sing or something.." Sebastian said as he left Edward quickly and walked towards the chateau, making people's heads turned towards him as he walked pass.

"But.. Seb.." Edward said, his words cut off as Sebastian already left him.

Moments after he reached the entrance of the chateau, Sebastian started to run towards the Bridal Salon. His heart pounding hard in his chest. He wondered if 'emergency with the dress' was a code word for something, like.. cold feet. Is she starting to have cold feet and having second thoughts in marrying him? He really hoped it isn't case. He thought.

He reached the area where the Bridal Salon was and he was about to go upstairs towards it when he almost bumped into someone. A woman was coming down the stairs. He realized it was the wedding planner, Madeline.

"Mr.Stan! Why are you here?" Madeline asked, standing in front of him, preventing him from going upstairs.

"I need to see her. I need to see Y/n." he said.

"I'm sorry Mr.Stan but you're not allowed to see her." Madeline said, putting her palm up towards his chest.

"But they said there's an emergency with the dress." Sebastian said.

"Yes, it's being taken care of. Don't worry Mr.Stan. Now if you'll please go back towards the meadow and wait there." Madeline said, grabbing his arm and guided him back out from the room.

Sebastian pried his arm away from Madeline and protested. "I'm sorry but I need to see her." he then ran past her and went quickly upstairs with Madeline's shouts following him from behind.

He didn't care if he wasn't allowed to see her. He was finally not believing in superstition again. After giving it a thought, he actually tried proposing to her three times before finally succeeding in his fourth try. If he had believed in superstition, he wouldn't have been there, finally about to marry her. So there was no use in believing in superstition.

He finally arrived in front of the door of the Bridal Salon. He knocked loudly and called out her name.

"Y/n! Sweetheart.. it's me.." Sebastian said.

Madeline suddenly appeared next to him and tried to take his arm and guided him away from the Bridal Salon. But Sebastian wouldn't allow her to touch him and his hand and hers played some kind of weird dance as he tried to avoid her hands from touching him.

"Madeline! Would you please leave me alone. I just need to talk to my fiance. Please!" Sebastian begged, his eyebrows furrowed in anxiety. Seeing the anxiety in his eyes, Madeline finally backed off and after apologizing to him she turned around and went downstairs, leaving him alone in front of the door.

"Sweetheart.. I need to talk to you.. are you okay?" Sebastian turned towards the door and leaned his forehead on it.

"I'm fine Iubirea mea! You need to go back to the meadow. We're not supposed to see each other." Y/n responded from behind the door.

"Honey, I don't care about that anymore. I need to see you. Are you sure you're okay?" Sebastian asked, worry still apparent in his voice.

"Sebby honey, Y/n is fine." he heard the sound of his mother from behind the door.

"Mom?" Sebastian asked, recognizing his mother's voice.

The door of the Bridal Salon was opened all of a sudden and Sebastian was startled. His mother stood in front of the door, carrying Starlene in her arms.

"Mom.. where's Y/n?" Sebastian asked as he made his way into the room.

"She's in the dressing room, Sebby honey. Now come on.. let's go back to the meadow." His mother said.

"No! I need to talk to Y/n, mom, make sure she's okay." Sebastian said.

"She's fine Sebby honey, everything's fine." His mother said but Sebastian didn't buy it. He looked behind his mother and saw the bridesmaids and Y/n's father all stood staring at him.

"Guys, Mr. Y/l/n, I'm sorry, I need to speak to Y/n." Sebastian said.

"Okay, son. Come on everyone, let's go and give them some privacy." Mr. Y/l/n said and he walked towards Sebastian. He clapped Sebastian's shoulder as he passed and smiled at him then he walked out from the Bridal Salon, followed by his mother and all of Y/n's bridesmaids who gave them shy smiles as they passed.

"Thanks guys." Sebastian nodded at them. Rose was the last one to leave and she closed the door behind her, leaving Sebastian alone in the Bridal Salon.

He walked quickly towards a closed door near him where he suspected the dressing room was and knocked at the door.

"Y/n.. sweetheart.. are you okay?" Sebastian asked.

"I'm fine Iubirea mea!" Y/n replied but she sounded so far away, like not from behind the door he was in front of. He opened the door slowly and found out it was the bathroom, not the dressing room. He shook his head, felt a little stupid then turned towards another door near the bathroom.

"Sweetheart.. are you in here?" he asked and touched the handle of the door. Just as he was about to turn it, he felt a little resistance from it, it wouldn't turn. He realized Y/n was probably holding the handle from the other side, preventing him from turning it.

"Sweetheart.. can I come in?" he asked slowly.

"No, Seb. What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice sounded confused.

"Adelina said there's an emergency with the dress." Sebastian said.

"Yeah.. there is.." Y/n said.

"Are you.. are you having cold feet?" Sebastian asked, his voice shook a little.

"What? Why are you asking me that?" Y/n asked, clearly confused at his question.

"I.. I thought that was what it meant." Sebastian said as he leaned his forehead at the door.

"What?" Y/n asked, clearly not understanding what he meant.

"The 'emergency with the dress'.. I thought it was code word or something.. that you're having cold feet." he explained.

He could hear Y/n's sweet laughter from behind the door making him smile. But he was still confused.

"So.. it's not code word for cold feet?" he asked slowly.

"No.. it's not, Seb." Y/n answered in between her laughter.

"You're not having cold feet?" He asked.

"No.. I'm not, Seb." She continued to chuckle.

"Okay.. phew.. I'm so glad." Sebastian said, smiling as he felt his anxiety slowly gone from his heart.

"So, what does it mean?" Sebastian asked.

"It literally means what it is, Seb." she answered, finally recovering from her laughter.

"That there's something wrong with your dress?" he asked.

"Yeah.. everything is wrong with the dress as it's not the one I chose." she said.

"What do you mean?" he asked, getting even more confused.

"I brought the wrong dress from the dry cleaner's, Seb. It got switched with another person's dress. Shannon picked up the wrong one." Y/n explained.

"What the h**l!" he cursed.

"Didn't she check it first at the dry cleaner's?" he asked, dumbfounded.

"She just checked the top part. It looked similar to mine so she thought it was really mine. Please don't be mad at her. It's just an honest mistake. She's going to the dry cleaner's now with Nick to pick up my dress." she explained.

"Oh okay. That's gonna take a while." Sebastian glanced at his watch. It was 5.15 pm. They were already 15 minutes late. He hoped his guests were patient enough to wait.

"I'm really sorry Iubirea mea. I tried putting on the other dress but it was too small on me, I actually ripped it." Y/n said, sounding ashamed.

"Oh my.. well, it's okay honey. You know, like I once said, I would still take you even if you only wear a potato sack." he laughed, referring to a joke they once shared when they were about to attend last year's Emmy Awards.

"Well, I'm in something better than a potato sack." she said, making him smile.

"What are you wearing, sweetheart?" he asked, getting curious.

"Just a white silk robe." she said.

"Oh okay.. and sexy lacy underwear?" he teased.

"Oh.. yeah.. something like that.. " she said, her voice slightly changed and sounded a little more sultry in his ears. God, how he missed being with her. After being away from her for three months he craved her touch on him but fate willed it that they didn't have the chance to make love yet.

The morning after Lucky ate their wedding ring they had tried to make love but Starlene had woken up just as they were about to do it. After that he had to go and buy gifts for his groomsmen, something he hadn't had the chance to do as he was so busy filming. He then stayed at a hotel overnight with his groomsmen for his bachelor's party. They spent the next night after that at the chateau, right after rehearsal dinner was done. Y/n stayed at the honeymoon suite with Starlene while he stayed in a different room with Chad. As a man with natural human needs he really was desperate. He hoped they would be able to do it that night. It was their first night as husband and wife after all. He had checked the honeymoon suite and it looked really comfortable and romantic.

"I miss you, sweetheart.." Sebastian said, leaning his forehead at the door. He then opened his right palm and touched the door. Little did he know that Y/n was doing the same thing from the other side. She leaned her forehead at the door and her left palm was at the door, exactly where Sebastian's palm was. Even separated by a door they could still sense each other even though they didn't realize it.

"I miss you too, Iubirea mea.." Y/n said softly.

"Iubirea mea.. can I talk to you about something?" she suddenly asked.

"Of course, honey. What do you want to talk about?" he asked curiously.

"I just.. I feel like our relationship has been quite challenging, from the beginning. Not just after we got together. I mean.. you told me you tried to tell me how you feel about me at least two times when I was with Zac." She said, referring to the time when Sebastian tried to confess his feelings to her twice, thinking she was single at those times but she turned out to be with her ex boyfriend Zac.

"Yeah, well.. I waited before that for you to break up with Jesse." He said, referring to her other ex boyfriend.

"Oh.. yeah. And then you said it took four attempts until you finally proposed to me." she continued.

"Uh.. huh.." Sebastian nodded, wondering where the conversation was going.

"And then.. Lucky ate our wedding ring, and even before that, my engagement ring fell down the drain." she said, referring to the time when Sebastian was trying to propose to her but the engagement ring fell down the drain and ruined his plan.

"Yeah.." Sebastian chuckled remembering those times. They weren't funny when they happened, in fact they made him quite angry and anxious. Now that the events had passed and he thought about them, he felt they turned out to be really funny stories.

"And now.. this.. my dress isn't even here.. and I ripped someone else's dress. God, I hope whoever's dress it is won't need it soon. We'll need to fix it before we return it. And then.. your mom.." Y/n said.

"What about my mom?" he asked curiously.

"She gave me a bracelet for the something borrowed thing that I'm supposed to wear." she said.

"Oh that's so sweet of her." he responded.

"Yeah, but.. I just realized your mom failed her first marriage, and I.. I thought the something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue thing is supposed to bring us luck as we get married but my something borrowed is from someone who failed her first marriage.. what if.. God.. I'm sorry, Seb.. I don't mean to insult you." she rambled.

Sebastian swallowed hard as he listened to her. She did have a point. But wasn't he supposed to not believe in superstition anymore?

"It's okay, honey. I get what you're saying." he said.

"And then.. I just realized we're getting married on a Saturday!" she suddenly exclaimed.

"Honey.. what's wrong with getting married on a Saturday?" he asked, confused at her statement.

"I don't know if you've ever heard it but there's a rhyme from English folklore that said 'Monday for health, Tuesday for wealth, Wednesday best of all, Thursday for losses, Friday for crosses, Saturday for no luck at all'!" she said.

"Sweetheart, it's just an old rhyme. Do you know how many couples are getting married on a Saturday nowadays?" he asked, sighing.

"I know.. it's just.. " she sighed. "Have you ever felt like someone out there just hate that we're together? Like.. God doesn't want us to be together.. or something.." Y/n finally said.

Sebastian sighed. Truthfully he did think that when his proposal attempts repeatedly failed. But that thought was gone after he finally succeeded in proposing to her on his fourth attempt.

"Sweetheart, I thought you didn't believe in superstition." Sebastian commented.

"I don't.. but.. I just wonder.. you know." she said, doubt still filled her voice.

"Y/n, my love. If anything, I think our relationship is the epitome of love conquers all.. you know. It's a perfect example for other couples out there that no matter what the problem is, as long as we still love each other we can overcome it together. I think it's what God wants from us, that we become an example of that. Not because He doesn't want us to be together. On the contrary, I think He's testing us. He wants us to see how much we love each other. Whether we still end up together despite all the challenges." Sebastian said. He truthfully felt surprised at his own answer to her question. But, he felt it was true. He had never felt so sure of anything else in his life. And he was going to marry her no matter what challenges they would face.

"Honey, I assure you, and I promise you, that I will marry you today, no matter what dress you wear or whether you wear a dress at all. We are going to leave this place as husband and wife. Please, leave your doubts behind and trust me. This is just a little detour in our journey to be married. And we are going back to the correct path. I'm sure of it." he said, putting both his palms now at the door.

Faintly he could hear Y/n sniffle at the other side.

"Sweetheart.. are you crying?" he asked, concern filled his voice.

"Uh huh.." she said, sniffling a little louder.

"Oh, honey. I didn't mean to make you cry." He said, wishing the door would just disappear and he could hug her tight and comfort her.

"It's okay.. I'm crying happy tears, Iubirea mea." she said, her voice sounded a little better.

"Oh okay.. good.. " he breathed a sigh of relief. He suddenly felt the urge to just touch her hand, to help strengthen her resolve. He needed her too.

"Sweetheart, would you please open the door a little?" he asked, his hand slowly slipped down to the door handle.

"Umm.. why?" she asked.

"Well.. I just want to hold your hand. I actually want to see you, but if you still believe in superstition and don't want me to see you then, it's okay. I just.. I just need to touch you." he said slowly.

Y/n didn't respond for a while, making him slightly anxious. After what felt like a long time, she finally responded. "Okay, I'm opening the door a little."

She then turned the handle of the door and they opened it together. Her hand came out of the door and Sebastian quickly held it. He felt like he was home when he held her hand. He lifted her hand up and kissed it softly and he could hear her sigh at the other end.

"Honey, no matter what, I love you. We'll get through this together. Like we always do. Don't worry okay?" he said through the gap at the door while holding her hand tight in his.

"Okay." she said softly.

They stayed like that for a moment, holding each other's hands, just enjoying each other's company, forgetting about their little predicament for a moment.

"Iubirea mea.. close your eyes." she suddenly said.

"What?" he asked in confusion.

"Just do it, Iubirea mea." Y/n insisted.

"Okay." he said then he closed his eyes slowly, wondering why she asked him to do it.

He felt her hand slipped off his and a slight breeze passed his face and he could hear a slight creaking sound. Then he felt the softest, lightest touch on his lips. She was kissing him softly he just realized. She bravely opened the door and let herself see him and kissed him! He felt weak at the knees as she continued to cup his face with her hands and kissed him so gently. He pulled her closer by the waist and continued to close his eyes as they kissed and kissed as if the world was ending and they only had that moment to be together. After a while Y/n broke the kiss and lifted his hands from her waist and he felt her going back to the dressing room and closed the door in front of him.

"Sweetheart.. you.. I can't believe you just did that. You.. are.. going to be.. the death of me." he chuckled as he opened his eyes, leaned his forehead at the door and put his palm back at the door.

"I'm sorry Iubirea mea.. I just had to do it." she said, laughing.

"Well now I really can't wait to see you." he said desperately, making her chuckle.

Suddenly there was a loud ringing sound. A cellphone was ringing. Y/n's cellphone judging from the ringtone.

"Iubirea mea, I'm sorry. I think it's my phone. Would you please get it for me? It's in my hand bag right underneath the dressing table." she said.

"Okay." Sebastian nodded and he left to get her handbag.

He picked her handbag up and opened it. He then reached in to pick up her cellphone. When he saw her cellphone it was showing Shannon's name.

"Honey, it's from Shannon." he said, as he arrived in front of the dressing room.

Y/n opened the door a little and stuck out her hand. Sebastian put her cellphone in her hand and her hand disappeared back into the dressing room. He waited anxiously as he put her handbag down on the floor.

"Hi Shannon.. Oh no! I think I might just end up wearing this silk robe if you can't get here within half an hour. We're already half an hour late. I'm so embarrassed at all the guests." she said.

"Yeah.. okay. I appreciate it. Let me know if you can find an alternative route. Thank you. Okay, bye." she said.

"Honey, what did she say?" Sebastian asked.

"Seb, she said she's stuck in traffic. There's an accident at I-280 W, she's been stuck there for fifteen minutes. Nick is trying to find a different route. So it seems we'll have to wait longer." she said in regret.

Sebastian's heart sank to his stomach. He felt truly embarrassed and dreading what his guests are going to think and say about this. He remembered seeing the faces of his colleagues and how some of them had arrived using helicopters that day because they had tight schedules. He wondered if they would wait or would leave if the ceremony started as late as 2-3 hours from schedule. Thinking about his colleagues arriving with helicopters sparked an idea in his head.

"Wait a minute.. there's a helipad at this estate." he said.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking Iubirea mea?" Y/n asked.

"Yeah. I'll go and ask Madeline if we can use the estate's helicopter. I'm sending Rose and Chad to get the dress." Sebastian said.

"Okay. That's a good idea." she said.

"Stay here okay? I'm going back to the meadow to explain things to the guests and.. maybe.. entertain them. I'll send Allison and the other bridesmaids here to accompany you, okay?" he said.

"Okay. Good luck! I'll see you under the pergola Iubirea mea." she said.

"I'll see you under the pergola, honey. I love you." he smiled.

"I love you too, Iubirea mea." she said.

He then quickly left the Bridal Salon to find Madeline, hoping things will go smoothly and they wouldn't be too late in starting the ceremony.

Chapter 2 >

#sebastian stan #sebastian stan fanfic #sebastian stan fanfiction #sebastian stan x reader #sebastian stan x female reader #sebastian stan x y/n #sebastian stan x you #sebastian stan fluff

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annaizscribbling · 1 year

Text

Scars and Their Stories

While on a date, Calypso tells Daniel the story behind one of her scars.

CW: child neglect, blood, knives, animal death, injury

wordcount:1979

Daniel delicately placed his hand atop Calypso’s own.

They were seated on a white bench in the middle of a flower garden. Not a person was in sight. The air was warm, but not too uncomfortably so. The sun had not yet set, but was steadily approaching its upcoming leave of absence. Soon the sky would transform into a streaky mix of oranges and reds and purples and pinks.

The roses were beautiful that day. The red ones especially, but maybe Daniel just favored them because he knew that they were Calypsos favorite. They had collected a small basket of the gorgeous roses. He noticed the way her eyes lingered on them, admiring them with her usual focused intensity. The corners of her lips would tilt upwards when she found something beautiful. It was such a subtle movement, not quite a smile, but something more serene than that. It was a unique type of gentle appreciation. She often made that expression at him, when she thought he was looking elsewhere.

The color of her lipstick was so close to the color of the roses. A luxurious red, painted on with a precision she carried into most aspects of her life. She sometimes left him handwritten copies of her favorite poems, or even just short love letters with a lipstick print beneath it. He’d taken to keeping them in a scrapbook.

She turned her hand over to squeeze his.

Her nails were carefully filed, shaped, and painted to match her lips. Her pale wrist was decorated with a small pearl bracelet. It was hard to imagine what acts she was capable of with those innocent hands. So different from his own.

He squeezed her hand back.

“You picked a perfect place,” Calypso told him, still studying the roses around them. That smile he adored so much began to appear gradually, “I’ll have a difficult time outdoing you for our next date.”

“How about a picnic?” Daniel suggested, leaning a little closer toward her.

“You’d risk another picnic after last time?” Calypso said, raising her eyebrows. She absently fanned herself with the back of her hand, lightly defending herself against the summer evening heat.

Daniel laughed. “I’ll check for rain beforehand next time. It’ll be fine,” he insisted. They were both drenched when they first attempted picnicking. The clearing they were sitting quickly turned to mud, they were a long hike from the car, and each hand packed sandwich became quite soggy before they had a chance to eat any of them

“It’s a deal,” Calypso said, smiling, “So long as we bring an umbrella or two.”

Daniel winked at her, “Deal.”

Calypso shed her light cardigan. It was a white lacey one she had been wearing draped over her shoulders. She had paired it with one of her sleeveless dresses. Daniel was never too good at recalling the names for different styles of dresses, but he knew which dresses she liked to wear the most.

She leaned against his shoulder as she entwined her hands around his. Her soft orange curls brushed against his skin. Daniel rested his head on top of hers, slowly breathing in the scent of her perfume. Floral, though not quite roses.

“How’d you get that scar?’ Daniel asked quietly into her hair. His eyes had drifted downward to her lower shoulder, where she had a strange, puncture wound shaped scar. She had many scars, most acquired over the course of her rather dangerous career. There were thin ones tracing her face, thick ones across her back, small ones scattered over her arms and legs, all of various ages and severity. He never minded the scars, though he would often ask after the stories behind them. If she could remember, she’d describe how she got them. She’d recount the tale with a nostalgic lilt, as she described who shot her stabbed her that time.

“That was one of my first,” Calypso said, freeing one of her hands to lightly trace over the raised skin.

“How old?” Daniel asked.

“Hard to say, maybe around seven or eight,” Calypso mused as she leaned back to rest her head against Daniel again.

“Wow. You were little, huh?”

“Quite. Still with my parents, even,” Calypso closed her eyes for a moment, as if allowing the almost twenty-year-old memory to resurface.

Daniel paused. “Are they the ones who caused that one?”

“Not that one. If anything, I psychologically scarred them with the experience,” Calypso said, a dark amusement ghosting her voice.

“Care to share?”

“Would you like to guess?” Calypso suggested with a playful flutter of her eyelashes.

“Going off of your other scar stories, I doubt I’d be able to,” Daniel scoffed. Stories ranged from falling through the floor of an abandoned warehouse to being shot by a drug dealer disguised as a clown. He had no chance of guessing

“That’s probably true, but I’d be impressed.”

Daniel smiled at her, and her apparent enthusiasm that she had for getting to tell the story. It was always a joy when she was excited, especially when she was excited to tell a story. Or maybe he just found her voice a joy in and of itself.

“As you know of course, my parents mainly left me to my own devices when possible. As a result, I was often out playing in the garden, where few would bother me. The gardener didn’t like me, so he left me alone, and besides him, nobody went out there. The garden was really just for when we hosted dinner parties and needed the space.

“With how large the garden was, and how close we were to the woods, we got quite a lot of little visitors. The fence was mostly for show and did little to actually protect the property. My parents had a home security system, the garden was basically open. The most common visitor we had were the rabbits, little brown ones who would sneak in to nibble at our plants and drink from out fountains. The gardener would chase them off and try to patch the fence, but I would reopen the gaps on his days off.

“I grew to be extremely fond of the rabbits. I liked the company, and the thrill of getting to watch them from afar, with their little white tails and swift speeds, I found them fascinating. I used to wish I could flee with them into the woods to never return, but I managed to settle for just observing. I considered them some type of whimsical friend, of sorts. I suppose I was just that lonely of a child, but it’s a little endearing, in a pitiful way.”

“I think it’s kinda sweet,” Daniel said, squeezing her hand again.

“I know you do,” Calypso smiled. “My point is that I loved those rabbits dearly, and one day, I was up in my room, watching the windows. I spotted one and decided to go out and watch from a closer vantage point. As I was running out the door, I heard the cry of an animal in pain. So, I did what any child would do, and grabbed the nearest sharp rock before sprinting in that direction.

“I found a coyote, standing over the body of one of my beloved rabbit companions. There was blood in the dirt and I was clearly too late to save it. I threw the rock, hitting the coyote hard enough to injure it. I yelled until it got too nervous to stay, so I was left with nothing but the dead rabbit.

“I had never really seen death before, especially one so gruesome as that. I sat down and laid it in my lap, stroking its fur and apologizing for not showing up soon enough. I didn’t cry, I remember that vividly. I did not want to cry. I wanted to avenge my dead rabbit. Then I planned something brutal and elaborate to get what I wanted.

“I understood that to take my revenge, I’d need access to the coyote. Which meant I needed bait. Upon checking the fridge, I didn’t find any raw meat. Instead, I found the sharpest kitchen knife I could, and decided to skin the rabbit.”

Daniel blinked. “You—”

“Yes,” Calypso said, “I skinned the rabbit.”

“You skinned the rabbit,” Daniel repeated slowly.

“Yes. I’m not defending my logic, that’s just what I decided to do.”

“It was your friend,” Daniel said, “Wasn’t it horrifying to skin it?”

“I was trying to avenge it,” Calypso said with a shrug, “The cost did not matter to me.”

“Darling,” Daniel said, taking Calypso’s hands, “If I am ever murdered, do not take revenge by skinning my dead body. Actually, don’t worry about any of the revenge stuff, just take a nap for me or something please.”

“If you insist,” Calypso shrugged, “But it won’t be necessary, because I will not be allowing you to be murdered. Though you have full permission to take revenge on my behalf if I am tragically assassinated. Any means you see fit.”

“… Great,” Daniel sighed, “Anyway, you skinned the rabbit?”

“Right. I did a shoddy job of it, but I managed. I positioned the fur on a mound of rocks and proceeded to scatter the remains into a trail, leading up to the woods. I recall seeing a maid peeking through the windows, watching me, but I guess she kept what she saw to herself. I found an impressively large rock, climbed up a tree with the kitchen knife, and waited. It took most of the day. I recall it approaching evening when the coyote showed up. Looking back now, I don’t even know if it was the same one, but it wouldn’t have mattered to me either way. I pushed the stone when the coyote was close enough before jumping from the tree, landing on the coyote with the knife.”

Daniel silent appalled expression spoke for him.

“It’s a miracle I didn’t die right then,” Calypso said with a chuckle, “I suffered from the fall, but did manage to stab the coyote squarely in the side. It bit me, which is where the scar came from. The rest of it was a bit of a blur of repeatedly stabbing and screaming, but I remember the aftermath vividly.

“My white dress was absolutely soaked in blood, both my own and the coyote’s. I dug a small hole, one that was far too shallow for a grave, but I didn’t know that. I buried the pelt and whatever was left of the rabbit, then grabbed the knife to return it to the kitchen. I was still bleeding profusely. I wandered up the long path back to the house and opened the back door. The sitting room was between me and the kitchen. My parents’ backs were to me, but Hestia had a perfect view of me limping into the room, covered in blood and brandishing a knife. She didn’t react, but just gazed at me as coolly as usual. Finally, I walked forward, terrifying my parents. Mother screamed, my father dropped the wine glass he was holding, though Hestia was as calm as usual.

“I was taken to a doctor as quietly as possible. I ended up with a sprained ankle from the fall, bruising, and one large coyote bite. Most of the blood wasn’t mine, fortunately. All I have is the scar,” Calypso concluded.

“Darling, I would never have guessed that.”

“You could have guessed some of it by the size and shape of the bite,” Calypso said, settling back into Daniel’s side.

“You could guess that type of thing,” Daniel countered, “Because you’re brilliant. But us regular folk probably wouldn’t.”

Calypso plucked a small rose from her basket, then reached up to tuck it behind Daniel’s ear. “You’re anything but regular, Daniel my love,” she whispered.

Together they watched the sunset.

#calypsokimm #danielkimm #oc #writing #anais writes #original character

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