#swept hilt

[armthearmour]

A delicately gilt Swept-hilt Rapier with a textured grip,

OaL: 49.9 in/126.7 cm

Blade Length: 43.5 in/110.5 cm

Width: 9 in/22.9 cm

Depth: 5 in/12.7 cm

Rapier: 2.8 lbs/1304.1 g

Italy, ca. 1590, housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

#weapons #sword #rapier #swept hilt #europe #european #italy #italian #themet #metmusuem #renaissance #art #history

[wraith-of-thiodolf]

imagine liking cup-hilts over swept hilts

#imagine liking swept hilts more than basket hilts :V

[breadbrobin]

nice

clarisse la rue x reader — percy jackson and the olympians

[fem!daughter of nyx reader]

summary: neither you or clarisse were very nice to anyone, except each other. and sometimes, not even each other.

warnings: swearing, flirting, kissing, clarisse is emotionally constipated, best friends and also idiots to lovers.

word count: 2.0k

—————————————

being nice had never been your strong suit. you were polite, sure. you never talked back. you were never disrespectful. but you were never nice either.

it was something clarisse la rue had always respected you for, and you knew it. it was in the way she would nod at you as you passed each other, the way she’d watch you when new campers came up to you and you met their questions with a blank stare, the way she’d have to fight down a smile when you spoke to her.

only her.

yeah, sure, you were never truly nice—not to most people, at least—but clarisse brought out the same side in you that you brought out in her. kindness.

you swore you could see the tension leave her shoulders when she saw you, and you could feel your jaw unclench when her hand ghosted against yours as you walked together. there was something in the brown of her eyes, the soft quirk of a smile on her lips, the lean in before she whispered a joke in your ear for no one else to hear. it made you feel like you could be nice for once.

it was a stupid feeling. one that made your heart feel fluttery, like it could fly out of your chest at any moment. stupid, stupid, stupid, but you couldn’t help the feeling. still, you held onto your heart with an iron grip. holding onto it for as long as you could before she inevitably swept it from your hands and out into the world, along with every semblance of dignity you still held around her.

“that new kid is getting on my nerves,” you groaned as you entered the ares cabin. it was always quieter in there than the hermes cabin, though that wasn’t difficult to achieve, but it was empty aside from clarisse, which didn’t often happen. as a daughter of nyx, you’d never really had any place in there, not truly. and sure, you didn’t exactly have a place in the ares cabin either, but no one there ever made you feel like an outcast for the way your eyes glowed slightly in the dark like a cat’s or the way darkness seemed to gravitate to you. that was always nice to have. there it was again: nice. society’s obsession with the word had always stumped you. ‘nice to meet you’, ‘you look nice,’ ‘nice work!’ what was the addiction?

clarisse cut through your thoughts like she always did—a sword to the bitterness in your soul and your mind, cutting through the gloom and grim to reach the light hiding well beneath. “what did she do?”

“she won’t leave me alone. apparently, everyone’s said i’m ‘super nice’ and ‘great to hang out with’,” you flopped onto the mattress beside her. she was sitting up, and as you lay there perpendicular to her, you could see that little smile that you loved to spot when you could. “fucking hermes kids and their dumbass pranks.”

“oh, no, whatever will you do?” she drawled dryly, but the hint of a smile was pricking the corners of her lips. she wrapped a strap of leather tightly around a dagger’s hilt.

“die, probably.” you said blandly, staring up at the bunk above you. “or something like that.”

“i could threaten her for you,” she shrugged, setting the dagger aside and leaning forward against her raised knees. “tell her to leave you alone or i’ll shave her head or something.”

you pulled a thoughtful face, then shook your head. “nah. she’ll probably just cry and tell luke, and he’s already looking for reasons not to like me.”

clarisse rolled her eyes. not many people got under her skin like luke did. she’d told you why once—getting a quest from his father was meant to be the greatest achievement of his life, and failing that meant failing his father. she couldn’t imagine that. the disappointment, the pain… she’d always been an overachiever, you supposed. “whatever. if he kicks you out you can move in here.”

you frowned and sat up. “what, really?”

she shrugged. “yeah. i mean, you spend so much time here anyway, so…”

you felt a smile dragging itself across your features and had to bite your lip to suppress it. “sure. if it comes to that, i’ll be at your door.”

“better be. don’t wanna hear any shit about you moving into athena or something.”

you laughed, pushing her lightly. “never. you’re my number one, sweetheart.”

she looked up and pulled a face at you. “gross.”

as you laughed, you realised how much you loved to be one of the only people to see clarisse like this. carefree, relaxed, pulling faces and laughing at bad jokes. it was your favourite way to see her—save for training in the arena, muscles working, skin glistening with sweat under the hot sun… you had to take a deep breath to rid yourself of the thoughts and images.

she smiled as you lay back down with a sigh. her fingers plucked a leaf from your hair smoothly and placed it on her bedside table. your eyes followed her movements. smooth, slow, strong. oh, gods, you were so supremely fucked.

“where’s everyone else?” you asked softly.

she shrugged. her mood had changed instantly. it wasn’t unusual for clarisse though, so you brushed it off. “dunno. told them to get out and they did.”

you frowned and propped yourself up on your elbows, looking up at her. “why? what’s wrong?”

she shrugged again and leaned back against the headboard of her bunk. “just did. nothings wrong.” but she wasn’t meeting your eyes, and the tension had lifted her shoulders around an inch higher, and you knew she was lying like you knew the back of your own hand.

“liar,” you said simply. “tell me.”

“no,” she scoffed. “and if you keep pushing, you’ll be leaving soon too.”

you rolled your eyes. “please. you won’t kick me out. just tell me, clarisse. what’s your problem? did one of those dumbasses make a joke about your dad again? or, what?”

her gaze turned to you and it almost made you flinch. she was angry. she was cold. and she’d never directed that at you. the room even felt a few degrees colder. “get out.”

a shocked laugh slipped from your throat. “what?”

“i said, get out.”

you stared at her. how did you get here? “clarisse—“

“out!” she shouted.

you stood up quickly, looking at her, just waiting for her to tell you she was joking. she was messing around, right? she wasn’t actually angry at you? the look on her face, her clenched jaw and her tight fists said otherwise. you looked down at her. “fine. whatever. you don’t have to tell me, but i’m the only person who gives enough fucks to listen. come find me when you’re ready to grow up.”

she didn’t say anything, no matter how long you waited, watching her, hoping she’d speak.

so you left.

it wasn’t unusual for clarisse to lock people out, but it was unusual for her to lock you out. you were her right-hand man. her advisor. her best friend. and, if you were right, probably the girl she was in love with. (if you weren’t right, she had some explaining to do, because who looks at their best friend like that?)

it was two days. two days of silence. loneliness. boredom. and a twelve year old girl following you around camp because ‘luke told me you’d be my guide!’ when would luke stop trying to get you more involved? surely, he should have learned by now.

regardless, two days were a very long time on your own.

and it was coming up on two day and two nights too, as you were walking on the shore, shrouded in inky darkness and kicking rocks into the quiet water. this was a normal occurrence for you: night walks in a cloak of night itself. it hid you from everyone’s prying eyes.

“i can see you.”

well, nearly everyone.

“thought you weren’t taking to me,” you dispersed your darkness but didn’t look over at clarisse. she was standing behind you, back along the beachfront.

she didn’t speak again, but you still didn’t look back. the lack of footfalls walking away made you realise you just had to trust that she was still there.

you kicked another rock.

“it was my dad.”

you nearly slipped on the wet rocks. “what?”

“that’s what i was upset about. he came to one of my brothers in a dream, but he didn’t come to me.” her voice sounded weak, pathetic, almost child-like in the way that all kids sounded when they just wanted their parents to see them. you understood that too well. after all, wasn’t that the whole reason why you took night walks? being closer to a mother who was the literal embodiment of night itself was a little difficult to achieve, and these walks felt like the only way to manage it. that was why clarisse fought so fiercely and so much—for glory, for power and for her fathers approval.

you turned to face her. you were around ten feet away, but you closed the distance quickly, stopping not far from her. “why didn’t you tell me? why did you push me away?”

“i hate feeling weak.” she scoffed, rolling her eyes. you could see a shine of tears in them. “and you… you make me feel weak.”

you frowned in confusion. “i’m sorry? i think? how do i—?”

“gods, you’re so oblivious,” she sighed. “i used to hate being around you, you know? because you made me feel like i could relax. you still do. you’re the only person that makes me feel like that, and that’s fucking terrifying, y/n.”

you stared at her. was this…? no… “clarisse—“

“just stop talking,” she groaned. “you always talk around me and that just makes things worse! because— because your voice is—is— when you talk it’s like it’s meant for only me!”

“it is,” you said softly.

she froze, looking at you. “it is?”

“yeah, stupid,” you rolled your eyes. “you don’t need to yell at me or anything. i get it.”

“you don’t get it,” she scoffed.

“wanna bet?” you teased, stepping closer.

“i do, actually, yeah,” she met you in the middle, her usual confidence back and stronger than ever, but you could feel her hand shaking as it brushed against yours. “what are the stakes?”

“bragging rights,” you shrugged. “and if i’m right, i’m gonna tell everyone you’re a softy.”

“you won’t tell anyone, because you don’t want to talk to anyone, dummy,” she rolled her eyes. “i’m the only person you actually like.”

you shrugged. “that’s true. i do like you.”

and you kissed her.

you kissed her like the world was ending, like world war three was starting, like you’d be interrupted at any moment.

darkness swirled around you, covering the two of you in inky black as footsteps echoed on a cabin porch in the distance.

clarisse kissed you back with everything she had, with all her strength, like all of her hours of training were made to hold you close and never let you go.

and, when you finally separated, as smoke-dark blackness drifted around you, you found that you’d never been able to see so clearly in your life.

“please, never shut me out again,” you whispered against her lips. “ever. i don’t want to go through that bullshit again.”

she laughed, a quiet sound that echoed through the night. “gross. that was so lame.”

“shut up.” you kissed her again.

you didn’t even mind that she made you feel nice, anymore. nice, and fluttery, and like your heart could fly out of your chest and into the night, and you wouldn’t even be sad to see it go if you had her. and you knew then, you’d always have her.

(requested by @slaggylemon)

#clarisse la rue #clarisse la rue x reader #clarisse la rue x you #clarisse la rue x y/n #percy jackson #pjo #percy jackon and the olympians #pjo x reader #dior goodjohn

[dark-and-kawaii]

༺ 𝒮𝒶𝓋𝒾𝑜𝓇 ༻

Sukuna only wanted to have some fun, he never expected to save such a feeble human.

True Form Sukuna - Pre Gojo and Yuji - Angst? Fluff?

Watching from afar, Sukuna’s eyes followed as a curse chased you through the once peaceful forest. Your vibrant haori torn and worn, your hair knotted in a mess, and your skin covered in blood… Perhaps from your own wounds? Surely a human couldn’t fight off such a creature on their own… Or maybe it was blood from someone who was close to you before you ran? Sukuna pondered as he continued to watch with a devilish smirk on his face. The fact you thought you had a fighting chance was enjoyment in itself, he knew a human couldn’t survive such a chase. Did you not realize that this curse was simply playing games with you, what a fool?

His large frame shook with mirth as he let out a boisterous laugh, Sukuna jumped from the tree he was once perched in; he wanted to watch this play out closer. Maybe even kill the curse and consume your flesh himself, afterall... That’s why he came out here- to have his own fun.

It only took a few mere seconds to reach where you and the curse were. You were forcefully being held to the ground, the curse’s large hand tangled in your hair as its tongue swept over your bloodied cheek. With a disgusted scoff, Sukuna speaks to himself “incompetent things, disgusting.”

Just as he was readying himself to interfere, Sukuna’s eyebrow arches as you manage to kick the curse off yourself, “Quite the nimble little thing after all, huh?” He watched in amusement as you stood your ground, determination written all over your face yet your body said otherwise… It was shutting down. Your breathing was uneven as you slipped a hand in your tattered Haori pulling out a small dagger from its sleeve. The thing was rusty, dull, and the hilt itself looked like it was falling apart. Did you really think you could fend off the curse with this pitiful looking weapon?

A loud gasp of pain escaped you as your back suddenly came into contact with one of the solid trees, your eyes widening at the sharp pain that exploded from the back of your skull. It was at that moment you realized you were in a lot more shit than before. Your head felt fuzzy, your ears starting to ring as black dots started to appear before your eyes. You let out a sound of pain as your body slid down onto the ground, a burning pain starting to spread through your entire person. Sukuna at that moment felt something, why were you still fighting?

“Foolish little lamb.” As if his body had a mind of its own, Sukuna reluctantly interfered.

You took another pained breath and closed your eyes, waiting for the final impact of the curse to reach you. You heard the sound of its feet against the dirt and grass coming towards you, but its movements stopped… You could no longer hear it hurtling toward you, all you heard was a violent rip and something along the lines of liquid splattering. Forcing your eyes open, tired eyes glancing up slowly, you realized that someone was standing before you.

A humanoid figure with four arms stood before you, back facing you as his hand was up; the hand buried into the chest of the curse with ease as his pale pink hair swayed with the wind. Your eyes widened in shock as the dark figure pulled his hand from the curse's chest, its heart in the figure's hand. As he turns to face you, your heart drops. Multiple eye’s decorate his face, they’re remarkably vibrant, and for a second you find yourself lost in them. There was a pregnant silence as the two of you locked eyes with one another, the only sound being the heart that lay dormant in his hand.

Who would’ve thought that a mere human would catch the eyes of Sukuna. The king of curses. He certainly didn’t, nor did he think he’d want nothing more than to have you embraced in his arms, and his only…

#I love true form Sukuna so much #jujutsu kaisen #jjk #jjk x reader #Sukuna #true form sukuna #sukuna x reader #true form sukuna x reader #jjk sukuna

[comatosebunny09]

talk to me | astarion a.

genre(s): erotica, romance (?) warning(s): praise, dirty talk, female reader, blood drinking, p-in-v, cock warming, terms of endearment, language, blue balls of the female kind summary: astarion discovers you have a thing for praise. what sort of rogue would he be if he didn’t exploit such a weakness? now listening: the lost soul down - nbsplv notes: hi. no excuse, just horny. for @nanaoise08squad. 😅😅😅 thank you for reading, my turtle doves. ❤️❤️❤️

Astarion learns all too quickly that you have a thing for praise. 

He first discovers it by accident. 

After you solve a tricky puzzle standing between you and some much-needed status buffs for your party.

“Excellent work,” Astarion lauds as the magic cools in his veins. He shakes his limbs, sighing like the satisfied cat that finally caught the canary. “I wouldn’t have expected anything less from you, my dear.” 

He pats you between your shoulder blades for good measure. A seemingly harmless, friendly gesture that causes your body to tense and the leather hilt of your sword to scrunch in your fist.

Keen ears capture the hitching of your breath, your quickening heartbeat, and a mousy squeak pinched from your throat. The pheromones you begin to ooze are sweet as sunmelon, amplifying his intrigue and filling his head with static.

“Oh? What’s this now?” Astarion purrs, stepping around you to have a look at your face. He wears a smirk that bears one canine, and you try valiantly to tuck your bashfulness into your armor, turning your head with a cough. “Did the little pup like that bit of praise?”

If you had a tail, it would surely be wagging. The idea that something so meaningless could get you off makes something glacial sink into Astarion’s belly.

“Bugger off,” you murmur whilst he leans closer. You dismiss him with the wave of your hand, spinning ’round to mask the waver of your voice and the heat igniting in your face. 

You jog away to reunite with the rest of your party at the mouth of the cave, hoping to put an end to this conversation.

Astarion clicks his tongue, drumming his fingers on his chin as he watches you retreat. Can’t help the Cheshire grin that splits his face in twain at his new discovery. 

There was no mistaking the look on your face. The widening of your eyes, the sudden clench of your thighs. The musk of your arousal sits fresh on his tongue.

You liked his little compliment, didn’t you?

He entertains this newfound information a moment longer before joining the lot of you, all crinkly-eyed and smug in your peripheral. 

Your sigh is weighted, and you drop your shoulders, knowing he intends to milk the hells out of this

And milk it, he does.

He has you spread so pretty on his lap, fingernails digging into the meat of your sticky thigh to keep you nice and open. 

Astarion’s free hand manacles your arms behind your back, pinned between your bodies. You could easily break free if you so choose. But you being such an obedient pet for him…

Fucking hells.

His breath is cold and ragged as he roots his nose into the slant of your shoulder, ingesting your earthy aroma and the blood coursing like molten liquid through your veins.

“Darling,” Astarion croons, all teeth and tongue, whilst he nips at the notch of your shoulder. You suddenly feel the hot, lazy drag of a viscous fluid coasting down your arm—your blood. You hadn’t noticed the prick, too swept up in the delightful pressure building between your legs. “Gods, you’re delicious, aren’t you?” 

His voice reminds you of rolling thunder and cured leather. The notion, mixed with the blood loss, causes your exposed nipples to tighten against the frigid whisper of the breeze.

He clicks his tongue. “My sweet little treat. You are intoxicating.”

You moan in reply, wriggling in his grip. Try to clamp your legs shut. To bear down on his cock nestled deep within you, having been teased and stroked until the moon sat high between the stars—until you’ve nearly seen stars. 

But he won’t be having any of that.

He licks a wet stripe up the column of your throat, the puncture wounds slowly healing. It’s positively maddening and obscene, and you instinctively flex your pelvic muscles to feel him pulse within you. To feel him pressing further against that pleasant mesh of nerves buried deep within. Anything to relieve the infernal ache stewing in your belly.

“Oh no, no, no, my love,” Astarion scolds in the most doting tone. “The party’s just begun.” He notches his pelvis up against yours in warning, eliciting the sharpest yelp from betwixt your lips. “Look at you. You’re absolutely drenched. Taking me so well. Such a tight fit. It’s as if you were made for me.”

Your responding whimper makes something feral brew within Astarion’s chest. It takes every bit of him not to end this tortuous game and fuck you into the forest floor. After all, you’re quite a ways from camp with nothing but the rustle of the trees and symphony of the forest dwellers to accompany you. 

No one would hear you—not that he cares. 

He shushes you in that dulcet timbre, lazily rolling his hips to continue his torture. You blink sluggishly to dispel the bleariness nestling beneath your eyes. Saliva puddles in your cheeks. You’re teetering along the edge now, your resolve thrown to the wolves.

Sensing your plight, Astarion nips your shoulder to keep you conscious. Tugs on your arms. “Stay with me, my love. I know you can do it. Gods, I love the way you feel. My filthy little cock sleeve. I could stay like this forever, fuck me. You won’t come without my permission, yes?”

It’s more of a threat than it is a request. Regardless, you nod, your tongue lolling about in your mouth. Your eyes roll back, and the back of your head crashes into his shoulder. The stars above ebb in and out of focus. Streaks of curly white stain your vision before your lids shutter.

“Good, good girl,” Astarion husks, rewarding you with a few more shallow undulations of his hips. Languid like the drag of a tide. He chuckles, something dark and guttural, at how greedily you suck him in. How wet you are, your pussy squelching lewdly around him. “It will be a long night for you, my sweet, if you do not use your words. You’d do best to heed me. Do you understand?”

You’ve no choice but to comply. Not that you could deny him, your mind overhauled with only thoughts of your little star, filling you to the brim. 

You squeeze out a breathy “yes.” And it makes Astarion smirk into your skin. He’s gentle as he brands your neck and shoulder with slothful kisses. A complete contrast to the debauchery taking place in his lap. 

“So, so good for me. I adore it when you listen.”

Tears gather in your eyes. Your lips curve into a crazed smile. You’d give him the world in a handbasket if you could. But for now, you’ll settle for this. Sitting pretty in his lap, leaking around his cock, testing his restraint as much as he pushes yours. 

#astarion x reader #astarion x you #astarion x female reader #astarion x female tav #astarion x f!reader #astarion x f!tav #astarion smut #tw: smut #tw: blood #tw: language

[deer-knight]

they/them

the tape is off! let the scar treatment begin.

[image description: a photo of op from the waist up against a dark background. op is a slim 20s white person with long wavy brown hair. they wear pointed elf ears and hold a swept hilt rapier before them. their bare chest has scars from top surgery incisions. end image description.]

#top surgery #nonbinary #trans #elfcore #fantasycore #sword #rapier #they/them

[qvrcll]

Warnings: mentions of political marriages, strangers > friends > lovers, kissing near towards the end, mentat at mind, lover boy at heart

The ordeal is simple — at-least on paper. You and Paul are meant to be wed on the single promise of a shared goal between the two of your houses, which come down to one thing and one thing only: security. Wealth, power and standing do not surmount to what, in Leto’s words, the Emperor has planned for the futility of house Atreides. He knows, Thufir knows, everyone knows, that Arrakis wasn’t branded to be some sweetly wrapped gift that fell into his lap when the time came to reward the duke. No - matters of this sort were much too systematic, especially at a scale such as this. Something must be done, to solidify the house of Atreides upon the rain-swept expanse of Caladan. Something to bind the Atreides to their mother planet long enough, so there might not be strife or conflict that sharpens whatever blade is held against them. So, wed Paul you must.

Simple doesn’t translate so easily against the obscurity that is the real world.

In the real world, the two of you are mere strangers. The only thing that binds the two of you is the responsibility bourne from the insignias that you wear, that are soon to culminate as two adjoining houses; whilst his happen to be two thick lines of silver against his collar, yours take on a different shape, a strange alterity between curves and striking lines, and shot through with gold against the sleeve of your garments. There is it — the mere tellings of your differences, as pure as day. He wonders how the symbols will look like, meshed together and serving as one. He wonders how he will appear next to you - frail boy or able man?

Half of the time, you catch his eye simply because you are there, sitting duly next to your father and ascertaining the weight of such a marriage past paper, when all is said and done. Other times, you are a blurring fragment in the hallways, swathed in your house’s colours and too fleeting to get a hold on, sometimes even flanked by your house’s livery. Mere strangers, he reminds the indiscernible feeling in his chest.

-

“Where is your head at? Focus!” Gurney growls out, more harsh tempered than his usual mood, as he crouches and takes Paul’s fair strike for what it was - a clean swipe that was meant for his chest, which now deflects smoothly off of the older, more haggard man’s shield, and sets the room abuzz with vibrations. And so the smell of ozone worsens, Paul calculates in his head, as he shakes his head thoroughly and shifts his grip on his weapon. Gurney isn’t impressed — not in the way he usually is. Paul knows he must answer.

“This is me focusing,” Paul offers, and doesn’t grit his teeth or possess a sudden candour with his strikes because he respects Gurney. But he cannot help the mood that has blanched him - voids, how he wishes he could confess those words, verbatim, to the older man who currently encircles his passes like a seasoned ring-fighter. But the word ‘mood’ had gotten him in line last week, when Gurney had simply upped his antics with the mere mention of it, “I’m just out of breath.”

“No, you’re not.” Gurney smiles, clenching his palm around the ragged hilt of the Kindjal. He knows, Paul thinks bitterly.

“No, I’m not.” Paul confesses. He tests a low swoop of his dagger - ill-advised - and reigns his laugh in when it catches Gurney off his feet, his back staggering against the training table.

Let’s see how you like this, lad, Gurney formalises in his mind, as he presses his defence like a bull and keeps his attacks slow and pulsing through the air, blinding all of Paul’s spots, “Is it the marriage?”

Cornered for tactics, and focusing mostly on not getting cleaved to pieces during training, Paul scoffs, “Of course it’s the marriage.”

“You’re scared.”

At this, Paul counters metal with metal, bounding back when it rings against his ears, rings against the room, “I’m not scared. I’m prepared to fulfil my duty, even if I am given options,” a dull parry, which still creates momentum, and thus space, between the two men, “I’m only uneasy because I’ve never actually met her.”

“You have. Several times. Or have you been asleep throughout your father’s meetings?”

Paul stresses a firm strike against Gurney, which repels off of his own shield by how close the dagger strikes the space between them. But he’s good at catching himself. Gurney, unused to Paul’s strange and newly learnt manoeuvres, falls short. He tries to counter, but cannot, but he is most impressed for it.

“Concede.” Paul breathes, low and attempting a threatening veil, as Gurney’s back meets the floor. The old man grunts, before nodding deftly as Paul hauls him to his feet with one palm alone. They settle in different corners of the room, silence beseeching both of them suddenly - they’re not two men for silence, but in Gurney’s head, Paul is undergoing a strange part of his life. He wonders if Paul fears it in the night.

Paul interjects Gurney’s thoughts.

“Do you - have you… met her?” his voice is meek. Uncharacteristic. Gurney smirks.

“Once or twice, in the hallways.”

“And? How is she?”

Gurney laughs. The boy is eager today.

-

The next time I see her, I will speak, he promises.

Better said than done. With no similar companions his age - a course of action being the very result of his heritage, his mother reminds him - he truly doesn’t know how to properly seek you out. You are more shadow than friend, more idea than person, and the more he sees you, the more he forgets.

“Something on your mind?” Duncan nudges him with the edge of some Fremen equipment, that bothers him well enough to dredge out Paul’s concerns. Not that he needs to. It is written on his face.

“Yes,” Paul confesses, readjusting for comfort, “It’s about my marriage.”

“You speak as though you will marry tomorrow. It is not set it stone. Not yet.”

Paul scoffs, “I know that. I just haven’t met her yet. And I want to.”

Duncan, in the midst of polishing some hardware and solar devices, that smell quite faintly of hot sand and the sun, pauses to glance away from Paul’s face. When his gaze returns, it is almost teasing, a smirk ripping across his face, “You’re in luck today.”

“What?” Paul swivels and —

Oh. Oh.

You’re standing there. Hands clasped behind your back, yes. Stoic, assessing expression, yes. Clothed in rich colours of your house, as you always are in his passing vision - only this time, it is a green so deep that it comes across as black. Suddenly, realising that you have been found out by not only Duncan Idaho, but by the Duke’s son himself, you uncharacteristically let slip your own embarrassment through wide eyes.

“Oh. My apologies — I, uh, didn’t mean to intrude. I was just curious by the - er - gadgets.” you fumble for words at a rate that would be comical if not for the morbid embarrassment seizing you by the seconds. You’re shaking your head politely, smile strained and legs rooted where they are and ready to melt into the various corridors - back to your own duties, you assume. Away from company. Paul, however, stands linearly and full of purpose, face constructed of hard lines that all smile at you.

“No, please. Join us,” his voice is smooth - you’ve never heard him talk, even around those board room meetings - and his hand is extended to gesture within the space, “I insist.”

Duncan raises a brow in amusement and Paul wants to tamp his feet down with a neat blow. That pulls a chortle out of the man, which only further startles you. Paul invites you cordially to take a seat, where you fit awkwardly, like you were truly imposing. However, in a manner of minutes, that is all erased when Duncan lets the two of you weigh the objects in your hand – sand compactor, weapons, stinted devices that were far too aged to be still of use but gathering attention nonetheless. When Paul passes it to you, he feels your soft fingers pass underneath his own, where a warm feeling curdles as an afterthought.

“This—is a sand compactor?” you ask warily, tilting the device as though it would spring up on you and dissolve to bits. Duncan barks out a laugh.

“For sand compacting, yes.” he humours you. You, however, are too lost on the object, still swirling it around in your palms; eyes peeled downwards.

“Yes. I see.” you reply.

The two men dissolve into a fit of laughter. You look up, eyes helplessly trailing from one to the next. The day is easy.

-

Paul is thankful for the event, and so are you. It doesn’t solve all his problems, and his head is always probing with inquiries and worries, but he can count on the off chance of seeing you in the hallways. He can count on the fact that you will pause, meet his eyes and smile.

You’re walking the countless hallways of the estate - Caladan had so much water to offer, but no one on your native planet ever mentioned the striking architecture, the hollowed out walls and think-pieces painted across rooms. High domed ceilings, with absolutely nothing to offer but soft light. Some rooms contained scintillating glass, chairs of different shapes and mediums, tables too big for just a few affairs. Others were bound shut, but that didn’t discourage nor intimidate you, nor your entourage.

On one such day, you’re caught in your explorations by none other than the Atreides heir.

In actuality, it is you who catches him first, stood perfectly still at the end of the corridor and holding a terse expression. When he spots you, his shoulders relax and he manages to blink once, before his mouth opens underneath the realisation that you were really here.

“Hello.” his voice is strong, and carries well.

That was awkward. This is always awkward. He curses himself.

You smile, and it swipes at the ground beneath his feet, “I didn’t expect to see you here.

“This is my residence, yes?” more jest than anything else. You snort.

“I am aware. Your residence is quite beautiful. I like to wander,” you say, finding yourself fixing a meandering pace beside him, and he smiles softly when he realises that he, too, steps beside you at a similar speed, “I hope you don’t mind.”

“I don’t. Never.”

It is quick work after that – by pure coincidence, that you joke to Paul that is it is methodical instincts and ground-work as a mentat that he is able to summon himself almost anywhere you are present from that point onwards, you two bump into each other more and more in the corridors, and from there, it extends to the rather large library, the training space with Gurney skirting its edges, the ever-blossoming gardens even, which held more water than shrubbery in retrospect. Meetings pertaining to your marriage held an element of amusement now, as Paul actually tries to catch your eye this time, drumming his lithe and smooth fingers against the table in a way that could’ve passed off as a wandering of his mind as his father droned on about security measures and fuel caps, but you notice.

You hadn’t, not before, but you did now. To his pleasure, you even respond in a tiny flickering of fingers against the age-old meeting table, the vibrations a blur against his obvious contentment.

-

“You look glad.” Gurney comments and Paul realises how uninvolved his attention had been on the room before him. He quickly assesses it and whatever lays within it; table, check. Light source, check. Scratchy walls, check. Gurney’s ever-gracing height, check.

When had his habits, trained and chained to duty, begun to sweep towards you?

“Do I?” Paul asks, keeping his voice as still as he can manage. He had swiped at his face to rid the itch off his brow, but he unwittingly catches how warm he is. Not uncomfortable, no. But enough to leave a mark on his consciousness. It was like he was simply losing grip on his own composure when he thought of… something. It was still fleeting in his own mind.

He is too afraid to retrace his steps and find a familiar pair of eyes staring at him in the recesses of it.

Gurney slaps a hand on Paul’s shoulder, seemingly articulate with the latter’s feelings. Old man, Paul would curse out in jest, but he merely smiles. It is strained, and strange. Paul never puts an effort into his smiles, Gurney notes.

“Something is on your mind.” Gurney clicks his tongue.

Paul blinks, swallows, “Something is on my mind.”

“Out with it.”

Paul hesitates, which is strange, because in all his fights he is the first to stoke the flame. He isn’t vengeful – at-least, he doesn’t think he is – that’s why his strikes lack a hunger for blood and instead, settle for calculation. Briefness. No means to an end just yet. Or ever, he thinks.

But with you, it’s different. That’s what he spits out, what he lets Gurney work with. How you were a supposed intrusion into his life – something he had assumed would be awkward, like a stab wound that had scabbed over and began to weakly throb in pain, always to remind itself of its own compromise to work around demise. He thought you would be that; but upon meeting you, you were anything but that. You were curious and brilliant in your own way – similar to him, yet miles apart so that you were the form of a friend he had always wished for in his youth. You talked about your interests and spent double your time inquiring about his. When your hands brushed, his own grew clammy – that’s the strangest one of them all, Gurney – And something was blossoming – was it friendship? Was it trust? Was it fear?

What was this spattering and gooey mess slipping over the swell of his heart whenever you appeared? What was it?

He talks and talks and talks until Gurney squeezes his palm over Paul’s shoulder in a way an uncle would do to his nephew who he might want to reassure. Or a brother would to his youngest companion, as if to say: I see you. I hear what you say.

“Sounds to me like there’s an awful lot of trust between the two of you,” Gurney clicks his tongue again, only this time, Paul scoffs. Ah, there he is – there is the Paul Atreides I know, Gurney smiles, “And something else too.”

“What is it?” Paul asks. His eyes are curious, brows furrowed. Gurney holds down the laugh building in his chest, and the emboldened words in red: you’re falling in love with this friend of yours, boy, and instead, pats him on the shoulder.

“Piece of advice, if you’ll heed to anything I say,” Paul straightens with attention, “Let the truth flow. Do not stop it. Do not push it back. To live with the truth, you must learn its ways and be one with it.”

That night, Paul walks back to his room with the truth beneath his skin, and listens to his own heartbeat against his pillow. The rest of him warms with the realisation of, oh, oh, oh.

-

The next time you see Paul, you think you’d done something to offend him. Or bore him. Or something other.

It had become a pleasant habit; meeting him at the Caladan gardens, opting for a spot and sitting with your backs to the grass, counting the stars as you talked. Before, conversation had tipped forth whenever. Now, there was something in the air – tension. And it is him that brings it.

Paul avoids your eyes, settling instead for the vast colouring of grey across the hallway walls whenever he caught you in it. He had stopped sending you the familiar drumming of his fingertips across the meeting table, and instead always froze up when you met his gaze, whereby he turned red with anger – or was it anger? What was it?

He’d always be staring at your face, and you would wonder if there was a piece of parchment stuck to it, or if he was merely bored around you; most days, you allowed it. It stung, yes, but you had nothing ill to hold against him. But it accumulated, unbeknownst to you, and for him to miss your question yet again made you sigh in defeat – disappointment?

“You seem distracted,” you say, not bothering to shield the hurt in your words, though you couldn’t begin to understand why and when you had ever begun to crave expect the attention of his earthen-dusted eyes, “Am I boring you?”

He straightens up, his eyes wide, which in turn surprises you, “Bored? Seven hells, no. ‘Course not.”

“What did I just ask then?”

He cringes, “I promise I’m not bored. Just…”

His fingers flex in his lap, before curling into themselves, and his cheeks warm slightly. Is it happening now? Is he doing it now? The weather was right; a typical Caladan breeze, heavy with the wetting of the sky from the day, and now shrouded with clouds and a darkness that was impenetrable. Even as the two of you laid against the bare grass, no one outside could tell either of you apart from the ground itself. In the moonlight, you were almost one with it.

“Just?” you ask. You were curious of this now, “Just what?”

“Just!” he sucks in a harsh breath, his sharp face now boyishly soft and pliant in a way you hadn’t seen it before, “I… Just promise you won’t take offence to this.”

How ironic.

“I promise, Paul,” you smile, shoulder bumping against his as you glance at the side of his face, the way his nose shapes perfectly against the dampness of the Calandan wind, “Tell me.”

Be one with it. Be one with it. It is a mantra in his head.

“I realise that I have begun to grow a certain, uh, affection for you. Yes, I like you. I don’t know how it had begun. And I know it’s foolish of me to even act this way when we are set to marry. But I know, in my heart, that—“ a breath, as he nervously glances at your now surprised face and oh, he shuts his mouth. He opens it again, panicked, “My apologies. I shouldn’t have—let me—”

“Paul.” you stop him, hands against his one arm that seems to be quivering ever so slightly – how much of it can he hold?

He waits. Bated breath.

You smile, shy and sweet and it whips against him in a way that the wind of his mother planet had never managed to. Here is my dear friend, he thinks, my dear friend who was but a stranger a long time ago and is set to marry me once talks have been concluded. Here is my friend who I have poured my stupid, ill heart to and who still looks at me with kindness.

“I like you too.”

He blinks. He looks at you when you speak and watches, really watches, how your mouth forms against the words. I like you too.

“As a companion? Or friend, at best? Is that what your ‘like’ refers to?” he asks, nervous in the face of your admission. It makes you smile, as he rambles slightly, and though his countenance is that of poise and grace, beneath he is a a boy of tender heart. Smiling, you grab the front of his thick coat lapel and watch his words die on his tongue as you place a feathery, warm and soft kiss against his mouth. It was so unbelievable, he thought he’d conjured it all up – that you weren’t here, timidly kissing him with a sheepish smile on your face, and the stars of his home glinting against your skin. He lets his finger brush your cheek, still dumb-struck.

“Again.” he whispers. His heart hammers at the sound of your breathy laugh, as you repeat the action, conviction in your palms as they lay upon his cheek, “Again, please.”

“Again?” you ask, voice soft and muted as he hoists you atop of his front, chest to chest, and gazing at him like he was everything. Within the action, your golden insignia brushes his own, silver ones so briefly that he can make out a shape bourne from the contact of either two, before they separate. You wanted him, as he wanted you. And soon, you would wed, and the image of gold upon silver won’t be so unclear anymore. Maybe, somewhere warmer and less unbelievable, he could let himself grow familiar with the reality of you. But for now, he could settle for this to be a mere dream he had grown to relish so very much. Even now, he could almost believe none of this to be real, just a trick of the mind. Maybe fatigue or delusion.

He says your name so quietly, a plea, and it has never sounded sweeter, “Please.”

And yet, the soft press of your mouth upon his convinces him that it is so much more.

-

i wanted to incorporate some inferences of paul’s character from the early novel (mentat, solitude in terms of companions, great fighter), as well as the film, whilst wanting to stray away from the destruction of house atreides after the gifting of arrakis, which would explain why the marriage needs to take place. sooo no one dies! HURRAH!!!!!!!!! enjoy :]

© 2023 qvrcll. Do not repost any of my works on any platform.

#paul x you #dune paul x you #paul atreides fic #paul atreides x you #paul atreides fanfic #paul atreides x reader #paul atreides x y/n #dune x you #dune x reader #dune part two x reader

[caffeinewitchcraft]

Fate and Mercy and Dead Girls

Summary: Sometimes, when things go very wrong, the Chosen One gets a wish. That’s where Danielle comes in. (Tagged with Blood, violence, child death)

--------------

Danielle is cursed.

This battlefield is nice. It’s early afternoon and the breeze that comes from the forest to the east is sweet. The fighting has only just begun and the scent of blood is still hovering at the edge of her senses. It hasn’t erased the taste of the dead girl’s last meal – bread sweetened with honey – yet. She’s used to storm clouds the size of mountains roiling overhead, the electric sting of lightning against her skin, the crash of blades against armor and arrows against shields. The sun is warm and honey-sweet against her cheek and there’s no fighting going on right now. There’s only the low murmur of voices from all around and some muffled sobbing.

If she weren’t waking up in the body of a dead girl, she’d call it picnic weather.

Time to pay attention.

“—Chosen One is dead,” a man says. His voice matches the weather more than the situation. Calm. Even. Gentle. A wave lapping at the shore before the tsunami. She can feel his aura undulating through the ground, dark and demanding. Demon King? Mad Emperor? Dark Lord? One of those types. He projects his words over the renewed sobbing. “Do you see your folly now, honorable knights? The wasted months of defiance? You were never going to defeat my army even with years and seven fabled soldiers at your mercy rather than the one. Here, the day of your final rebellion, your Hero lies dead after only one volley.”

Hero. Danielle is cursed, she shouldn’t be feeling pity for anyone but herself. But there it is, the familiar bile in the back of her throat, the prickling of her eyes, the tightening in her chest. This dead girl was their Hero. They made her their Chosen One. From the feel of it, they didn’t school in her magic or train her in swordsmanship. Her muscles are burning from death, yes, but also from overexertion.

What do you want? Danielle asks. All of the right systems are under her control now. The ground is cold against her back, the girl’s tiny curls a tickle against her face. The air is sweet underneath the scent of a dying blow and she can hear the conversations around her clearly. The Dark Lord is still gloating, giving the knights their time to mourn and his own forces time to ready the next attack. Sweetheart, what do you want?

The girl’s soul shudders. I-I’m not dead?

The arrow pierced your heart. You’re dead.

A dizzying swirl of emotions cloud the girl’s next words. Grief-sorrow-panic-relief-fury-horror. Danielle has to reinforce her barrier between her soul and the girl’s to avoid being swept away by it all. All of the dead girls Danielle is called to are strong, and this one is no different. Danielle can’t hear her clearly over the roar of her emotions, but this one is talking very quickly.

…live…wanted to…please…save…

Danielle peeks out from under her eyelashes. It’s bright for a battlefield, but there’s a familiar red staining the ground as far as she can see. The armored feet of both sides’ soldiers are about thirty feet away, a hazy barrier of magic holding them apart.

“Let down this barrier!” Knight David screams. The girl’s knowledge flows into Danielle’s mind like a spring. He’s the head of the kingdom’s number one knight squad, a former S-rank adventurer, and a mentor to the Hero. He bangs the hilt his sword against the Dark Lord’s barrier. It crackles under the assault and doesn’t break. Knight David swears. “You’ll die for what you did! She was just a little girl!”

Another memory: Knight David didn’t think of her as a little girl. He gave her a woman’s sword that took her a month to learn how to lift, much less wield. He told her he had faith in her. He told her she could do it. When she asked how, he pushed a curl behind her ear and told her victory was fated.

The Dark Lord laughs, the sound like the tide retreating into the sea. “Is the kingdom so hard-pressed for soldiers they bring children to the battlefield?”

“She was Chosen,” Knight David says. There are genuine tears in his voice. “Nobody wanted that for her. Nobody.”

“She was nobody,” the Dark Lord says. The magic barrier trembles and he smirks. “Just as you’re about to be.”

Knight David’s magic sets his sword ablaze. “You’ll pay for this.”

The demons chitter behind the Dark Lord, straining against his commands. They want blood. They want to attack. They saw the Hero fall and they’re emboldened by her death. They’ll tear the humans apart.

In contrast, Knight David’s forces aren’t so sure. Knight David’s teeth gnash and he swears at the Dark Lord, but his men look from her body to each other. It was so quick. So fast. Did they demons hold greater power than they were told to kill a Chosen One so quickly?

“Prepare yourselves,” the Dark Lord says. The barrier fades.

“To the death,” Knight David swears.

Danielle presses again. They’re running out of time. What do you want?

Save them.

The words roar through Danielle’s temporary body. Save them. Her magic ignites like coal in a furnace and she gasps, steam escaping from her lips as a dead girl’s heart restarts.

“W-what?” someone whispers.

Danielle opens her eyes.

It’s not a very big war. There are maybe thirty combatants on the side of the Kingdom. She assumed from the girl’s memories that they’d all be knights, but there are adventurers mixed in among them as well as the occasional wizard. They’re all kitted out in the colors of the Kingdom though. Armor painted with the Royal family’s crest, bandanas with the fallen star motif embroidered on, red tassels on their weapons. Maybe they don’t have the Kingdom’s army behind them, but they have the King’s favor.

The Dark Lord is the only one who’s managed to keep his mouth shut after her sudden resurrection. His side is comprised of dark wizards in tattered robes and nearly a hundred demons. Danielle can see wolves the size of horses, goblins with wooden clubs, and vampires hiding in the tree line.  It looks impressive, but the girl’s memories tell Danielle a different story.

This is the last stand for both sides.

“The Hero lives,” Knight David says through bloodless lips. He’s younger than Danielle thought, his beard only just touched with silver. His eyes shine wetly and he raises his sword over his head. “THE HERO LIVES!”

Knights, adventurers, and wizards lean back and scream their jubilation to the sky. Some of them weep openly, staggering as close to her as the Dark Lord’s barrier allows with their hands spread wide as if to embrace her.

The Dark Lord is silent as the kingdom’s forces rejoice. He looks like a human though he’s gone to great lengths to hide that fact. His long, black hair is twisted around his horns, emphasizing them. His clothes are as tattered as his forces’ and there’s dried blood staining the hem of his cape. His nails are long and painted an unending black that makes them look like talons.

If it weren’t for the depth and darkness of his magic, he wouldn’t register to Danielle as a Dark Lord at all.

“Hero,” the Dark Lord murmurs. His red eyes gleam a beat before his pupils swell, turning them black. He doesn’t raise his voice above the noise, but magic makes it so Danielle can hear him easily. “Killing you quickly was the last mercy I had for you.”

“Mercy,” Danielle says. The word echoes from her involuntarily. She pulls the arrow from the dead girl’s chest. The wet and meaty sound of it finally silences Knight David and his allies. She coughs and tastes blood.

“The fates have seen the justness of our cause and protected the Hero,” Knight David says into the silence.

“Fate,” Danielle echoes and coughs blood again.

Knight David doesn’t hear her. His chest swells. A talented orator, he knows just what to say to erase the horror of her death and reinvigorate his squad. “Dark Lord -no! – Demon, you’ve lost.” He points his sword directly at the Dark Lord. “You just don’t know it yet.” The knights cheer.

Oh, Danielle thinks, he knows it.

The Dark Lord stares down the length of Knight David’s blade impassively. His lip curls into a sneer that must look truly demonic to the knights of the kingdom. But from her vantage point, Danielle can see the way his clenched fists tremble. The barrier wavers imperceptibly and then holds. The Dark Lord can’t sustain it for much longer, not if he wants to have enough magic to fight.

As soon as it falls, the kingdom will strike. And, with the Hero on their side, they’ll have the conviction (and the magic) to take on a thousand demons. The Dark Lord only has a hundred.

Danielle staggers to her feet. This body is on the weaker side of the ones she has inhabited, but it’s not the worst she’s had to work with. Her legs hold her weight and the heart beats strongly once she uses her magic to patch it.

Knight David grins at her, the fever of battle bright in his eyes. “Hero!” He holds out his hand. “How glad I am to see you alive! Cast your strengthening spell.”

A memory: They taught her to strengthen her allies and nothing else. Training sessions ran late into the night as they pushed her to expand her range, power them up more, amplify magic higher and higher. This girl knows exhaustion more intimately than the affection of another.

Knight David slashes the barrier. He doesn’t wait to see if she’ll obey. Of course she will. This dead girl has never defied him before. She owes him and his kingdom too much. Who else would elevate an orphan to the heights of a Hero? He strikes again and this time his blow leaves a crack in the Dark Lord’s magic that splinters out like a spiderweb. He grins meanly. “Come, soldiers! Reclaim our land! Defend our home! Defeat evil!”

The knights smash their weapons against their shields and bare their teeth. “For our homes! For our families! For good!”

“Kill,” the Dark Lord hisses as his barrier fails piece by piece. He leans towards Knight David like a snake about to strike. A sword as black as night materializes in his hand. “Kill them all.”

“Hey,” Danielle says, “don’t you think you’re moving on a little fast?”

Nobody hears her. Nobody asks her if she’s alright. Nobody cares.

It’s Danielle’s curse to care.

The Dark Lord’s barrier crumbles. The air fractures and fragments tumble from the top and towards the combatants on either side like sparks. It’s ten feet in the air, eight feet, seven feet--

Her magic billows from her like smoke, scorching the grass as it balloons forward. Blood burns and vaporizes under the heat. The wolves are the first to notice it. They whine and back away from her wave of power, cowering behind their lord. Danielle hisses through her teeth and her power surges a little faster, touching the Dark Lord’s magic before the demons can alert their master. She’s powerful enough to do this even with him fighting her, but that would be…messy. She wrests control of the barrier from the Dark Lord. She builds it back up to twenty feet tall and adds new walls. The King’s forces used to be the only ones trapped. Now the Dark Lord turns and blinks at the misty cage that’s formed around him and his army.

The sudden silence hurts her ears as hundreds of eyes follow the scorch marks from the barrier to her.

Knight David’s sword wavers. “Hero…?”

“Your Hero isn’t here anymore,” Danielle says. Experience tells her to rip this bandage off quickly. She gestures to the dead girl’s clouded eyes. “Did you really think she survived an arrow to her heart?”

She can see from their faces that they did. Knight David opens his mouth and then closes it. He swallows hard. He says, “You’re not—” His face hardens. “Who are you?”

The Dark Lord watches her with black eyes, but he’s not still. His power tests her control of his barrier. He doesn’t find a crack.

“You called it fate,” Danielle says. She limps towards them. There’s an arrow in the girl’s thigh she didn’t notice before. She pulls it out without breaking stride and throws it to the side. The furnace that’s consumed the dead girl’s heart churns with rage. “You lot always believe in fate. Makes everything you do look prettier, doesn’t it? More palatable.”

“It is fate. The Oracles of Trilbia spoke of a girl with untold power who would be our savior. We needed—”

“LOOK AT HER!” Danielle roars. She slams a hand against her chest and then holds her palm high overhead. Red shines wetly on her palm. “She was a child! Fifteen summers and you stand there and call her a savior?”

“I ask again,” Knight David says. His eyes flash. “Who are you?” He draws his sword point slowly, purposefully, away from the Dark Lord. He points it directly at her. “What have you done to the Hero?”

Danielle won’t answer stupid questions. “You’re cruel. What you did to her – nothing can justify it. Especially not something as fickle as fate.”

“The Oracles—”

“Should die,” Danielle interrupts. She bares her teeth. “Or at least be honest. If they wanted a child sacrifice, they should have killed her on an altar with their own hands.”

Knight David hits her barrier. It throws him back and he shakes with rage. “Who. Are. You?”

“And you,” Danielle says, turning her attention to the Dark Lord. She holds her bloodied palm out to him. “You speak of mercy. You think giving her a quick death mercy?”

To his credit, he doesn’t deny it or flinch away. He nods shallowly, eyes never leaving hers.

“There was mercy, I’ll give you that,” Danielle says. She staggers towards him and stops just short of the barrier. They’re barely two feet apart when she says, “It was her mercy that she died quickly. Not yours.”

The Dark Lord’s nostrils flare. “I don’t understand.”

“You will,” Danielle promises. Her heart aches. This isn’t the time for that. She stokes the fires of her magic until steam escapes from her lips again. Only then does she twist towards Knight David again. “You killed this girl. You threw her into battle untrained. They may have shot her, but it was you who brought her here. This is your fault.”

“You’re some malevolent spirit,” Knight David says. He sweeps one arm out as if to banish her. Behind him, his forces tremble. “A vile devil come to sow seeds of doubt. Our conviction is firm. Oh, monstrous devil! Release our friend, release the Hero and your end may be swift yet.”

Devil? Danielle loses hold of her rage for a moment. Yes, yes she supposes she is. There are forces at play here that she might call devilish. But being called a devil by him?

Ridiculous.

“Maybe you should pray,” Danielle suggests. She nods slowly, warming to the suggestion. “Yes, that’s what you should do. You should pray the big, bad devil away.” She approaches his side of the barrier and the grass withers under her feet. “Pray, Knight David.”

“Hold fast,” Knight David says to his knights. He raises his sword to her and braces himself. “Do not be swayed by—”

“No, don’t pray,” Danielle says. She laughs without humor, chest shuddering with the effort. “Prophecize. Summon a hero to defeat me. Go on. Do it.”

“You will pay for the horrors you’ve committed today. Wearing the skin of the Chosen One damns you to the furthest—”

“Oh, fine, I’ll do it for you. There will be a knight,” Danielle says. She lurches forward and presses her hands against her barrier. Knight David stumbles back when it moves with her, allowing her closer and closer. She laughs again. “A Knight with red splashed across his breast and his shining sword melded to his hand.”

Knight David chokes on a scream as her words become truth. His sword melts under a sudden wave of heat, the silver-plating dripping through his fingers. He falls to his knees and grabs his wrist, trying to shake his hand free of the molten metal. It cools as rapidly as it melted, and he stares in horror as the silver binds his fingers to the hilt forevermore.

Danielle comes closer and the kingdom’s forces flex away from her like a school of fish in the face of a predator. “And this knight,” she says, “will be a Hero to his people. He will rise through his pain and destroy the devil that wore the skin of the little girl he sent to slaughter.” She spreads her arms wide above him, the sun beating down on her crown, and waits. After a beat she says, “Go on. Make the prophecy come true. Stab me. I’m waiting.”

Knight David keens through clenched teeth. “Y-you monster. You w-won’t—” He breathes in deeply and glares up at her. His feeble attempts to raise his arm don’t move his sword more than an inch. “You won’t break me.”

“I don’t have to,” Danielle says. Her arms fall to her sides, and she looms over the fallen knight. The air isn’t sweet now. The smell of burning flesh is more familiar than blood. “She didn’t ask me to break you.”

“Didn’t ask?”

Danielle turns. Unlike the knights, the Dark Lord isn’t backing away from her. He’s as close as he can get, pressed right up against the barrier. He’s rearranged his forces while she wasn’t looking so that the hardier demons are shielding the smaller.

“Didn’t ask,” Danielle agrees. She taps her temple. “Right before she died, I asked her what she wanted. See, nobody here gave a fuck what she wanted before she died. Fate is fake, but belief isn’t. They believed hard enough that the universe heard their pathetic little prayers for a savior. And, at the end, it took pity, but not on them. No one cared so it sent me. I asked what she wanted. She answered. Now we’re here.”

Knight David shudders at her feet.

“Are you a spirit of vengeance then?” the Dark Lord asks very casually. His shoulders are tense, undermining his nonchalance. He speaks a touch too loudly and very carefully doesn’t look back at his army. “Is that it?”

“I’m what she asked for,” Danielle says. She eyes Knight David’s comrades. There’s a wizard somewhere in there valiantly trying to heal Knight David’s wounds from afar. It’s slow going so she ignores it. “Though, between you and me, I think some vengeance is owed here, don’t you?”

The Dark Lord’s jaw flexes. “It is.” He raises his chin. “And you shall have it. I only ask that you let my people go. They are blameless in all this and only had the bad fortune to follow a misguided lord—”

Howls and screams of protest drown out his words. The demons lunge against his orders, mouths frothing and eyes wide in fear. They don’t want their lord to die, they deny his words, they can’t bear to lose him.

The Dark Lord’s power snaps over them and they quiet all at once, voices stolen by his power.

“Let it only be me. Please,” the Dark Lord finishes quietly.

Danielle watches him with interest. ���You would die for them?”

“I return the loyalty I’ve been given.” He bows his head. “I will beg if you’d like.”

“What makes you believe I want your death?”

“I know my part in the Hero’s fate,” the Dark Lord says. His lips thin and he stares down at Knight David with more hatred than she thought possible. “Humans brought her here to slaughter, but I gave the order. I called it mercy to kill a child quickly so she need not suffer. We both know I lied. I killed her to keep her from strengthening the kingdom. No matter how I did it, it wasn’t mercy. It was evil and it was…not necessary. It wasn’t necessary but it was easier than the alternatives and so I killed her. I resigned myself to carrying that sin before I ever stepped foot onto the battlefield.”

Oh. Danielle has to blink very quickly as heat rises behind her eyes. The Dark Lord isn’t lying. He isn’t hiding from the truth of his actions nor is he justifying his hand in the Hero’s death. There is sorrow in his voice and his hands are loose at his sides even though his eyes are watchful, waiting for her to strike. He’d let me strike him down. He will stand there and do nothing while I slit his throat.

“It was wrong,” Danielle says. Her throat aches. “It was wrong to kill her.”

The Dark Lord’s head sinks lower. “Yes. It was.”

“She was a child.”

“She was.”

“She didn’t have a choice.”

“I know.”

“She deserved better.”

“Yes.”

Danielle’s chin trembles. This— after all the dead girls, this is a first. “You did it to save your domain.”

“I did.”

“It was evil.”

“Yes. The most evil thing I’ve done.”

“She didn’t ask me to kill you.”

“Ye—what?” The Dark Lord blinks, finally looking back up at her. His eyes are red again, pupils dilated. “She didn’t?”

“No.” Danielle lets the barrier slip out of her control. She can see the Dark Lord more clearly without the wall of smoke and his eyes are more than just red. They’re red-rimmed. Danielle reaches up with her bloodied palm and cups the Dark Lord’s cheek. He shudders at the chill of her touch but doesn’t pull away. “You had no mercy today, but she did. She knew her power would mean the end of your people. She knew she would not be able to resist the order to cast her spell when they gave it. So when the first volley came, she didn’t run. She didn’t raise her shield.”

“Mercy,” the Dark Lord breathes in revelation. His face crumples. “Oh.”

“She died quickly,” Danielle says. The girl’s memories are so hot that Danielle feels burned. All the dead girls are strong. This one is not an exception. “She knew an evil thing would be done today. She chose. She chose.”

The Dark Lord’s voice is thick with tears. “She shouldn’t have had to. She—No!”

Danielle doesn’t know what’s happened at first. The Dark Lord is staring at her in mute horror. His cheek is stained red but her hand is no longer on his cheek. Then she processes that she’s been hit quite hard in the back. She looks down.

A bloody sword is sticking out of her chest. It retracts with a sickly sound and Danielle finds herself on her knees, staring down at the river of blood gushing from her breast. She let down her barrier to speak to the Dark Lord, face to face. She didn’t think she’d be leaving her back open to the other side. Or, rather, she didn’t think Knight David would recover enough to kill her again.

“The devil speaks lies,” Knight David says. His words are thin with pain. He can no longer raise his blade to the sky. His arm is trembling from the effort of stabbing her but still he faces his forces and spurs them to action. “And lies have no place in our kingdom! Our friend, our Hero died for us! So we could win! So we could prosper! So we could—”

He killed her again.

Danielle surges to her feet. The dead girl’s heart is torn to pieces in her chest, but Danielle’s magic surges through her veins like blood. She rises up behind Knight David and shrieks, “Stop killing her!” She drives her hand through Knight David’s chest and rips out his heart.

It happens too fast for anyone to react. The Dark Lord holds his breath and the world goes still. Danielle lets the heart fall and the thud as it hits the grass is loud in the quiet.

Knight David sways once, twice, and then drops to the bloodied ground.

“You didn’t have to die,” Danielle says. She’s looking at the other knights and adventurers and idiots who believed in fate. She’s talking to Knight David. “Even after everything you put her through, she didn’t want you dead. She was good. She was great. And you killed her for it.”

“Mercy,” someone stutters. Then, another. “Mercy, please.”

“No,” Danielle says. Petulant. Like a child. “You didn’t stop him. Not a single one of you tried. She didn’t tell me to save you.”

They combust before they can run. A long time ago, her power wasn’t as controlled. Her fire didn’t get hot enough fast enough. They screamed back then. Screamed and wailed and cursed.

Her fire doesn’t give them a chance to curse her now.

When it is done and she’s satisfied that nothing but ashes remain, she turns to the Dark Lord. He doesn’t flinch from her though there’s fear in his eyes. Even now, he expects her to kill him. Even now he accepts it.

“Bury her,” Danielle says. The fire crackles behind her. “Clean her body and dress her in new clothes. Bury her somewhere where war hasn’t touched and say something kind over her grave.”

The Dark Lord swallows twice before he can speak. He doesn’t ask if this means she’s going to leave him alive. He understands what she means. He says, “I-I will.”

“She saved you,” Danielle says. She wants him to understand that. “She could have wished for anything. Revenge. Peace. A second chance. She didn’t. She wished to save you.”

“She will be honored,” the Dark Lord says. He breathes in deeply and gently reaches out to cup her cheek, an imitation of her earlier touch. His palm is warm against her cold skin. If he is repulsed by the feel of death, he doesn’t show it.  “I will see to it.”

Danielle closes her eyes. Though she doesn’t lean into his touch, she doesn’t pull away. It is the singularly most affectionate moment she’s experienced in decades, but it’s not for her. “Her name is Samira.”

The Dark Lord releases his breath. “Samira. Thank you for telling me her name.”

Danielle lets her curse sweep her to the next dead girl.

----------------

Thanks for reading! If you’d like to see stories like this or some more serialized stories, please consider supporting me on Patreon (X)! Currently I’m working on the Cinderella retelling I have posted on here :)

See y’all next week!

#my writing #long post #The Chosen One #original short story #danielle is cursed #child death #violence

[mellowswriting]

HELLLLOOO sinful sunday (monday) is back?! ok with javi p - javi having his way with you infront of a mirror when y'all are newlyweds and the seeing your rings in the mirror together turns him on (idk does that make sense?)

married man

pairing || husband!Javier Peña x f!Reader

word count || 1k (oops)

summary || the sight of you with his ring on your finger, so proud to be his little wife, does something to Javier.

content || SMUT, unprotected p in v, ring kink (is that a... thing??), wife kink, mirror sex, oral sex (f receiving), rough sex, praise, unbeta'd

a/n || this got... out of hand. this was only supposed to be a few hundred words, yet here we are. i swear you're gonna give me a heart attack with these asks one of these days, cassidy. love u for it tho

sinful sunday | Javier Masterlist | Main masterlist

Four days have passed since Javier swept you away to a little tropical paradise. Four days since his shaking hands slipped that ring onto your finger. Four days since he made you his wife. 

It still doesn’t feel real to him. 

Javier watches you at the little bar on the beach. You’re waiting for the next round of drinks, a whiskey for him and something sweet and fruity for you. The woman next to you couldn’t help but compliment how beautiful you look - he can’t blame her, either. You’re simply radiant, especially in the glow of the sunset over the water. The smile on your face as you chat with her blows him away, as always. It’s the first thing he noticed about you all those years ago. That sweet smile as you held your hand out and introduced yourself has stuck with him every waking moment. 

A small movement catches his eye - your thumb carefully rubbing the set of rings on your left hand. It sends an unexpected thrill up his spine. Javier shifts in his seat, his jeans suddenly together than before. The woman asks you about the rings and you happily tell her that you’re just married the love of your life a few days ago. You point him out to her and he tries his best to give a polite smile, despite the way his cock aches against his zipper. Her eyebrows raise as she returns her gaze to you, clearly admiring. 

The conversation ends on a note of what a beautiful couple you make. Javier couldn’t agree more. 

He doesn’t know how he manages to let you finish your drink. All he wants to do is whisk you back to your little bungalow of wedded bliss, but he bides his time. He can’t help but keep his hands on you, though - his hand squeezing your thigh, his lips brushing against your cheek, his fingertips tracing your wedding band. 

The moment he has you alone, Javier strips you out of that pretty little dress and drags you into the bed. The sound of your playful laugh only makes him even more ravenous. His hands wrap around your thighs and force them open, his knees hitting the hardwood floor so hard that they’ll bruise. The taste of your cunt blooms across his tongue, all salt and woman. Your hands dig into his hair, wrenching his curls in your fingers and pressing him closer. 

He eats you out like a man starved, all messy tongue and slicked fingers. He watches you take them, your cunt fluttering around his fingers. The sight of your slick drenching his wedding band ignites something inside him, something possessive and greedy that he just can’t rein back. His fingers curl up into that sensitive spot over and over, his tongue swirling around your clit until your back arches and your thighs tighten around his head. 

He doesn’t care. If he suffocated right here, he would die a happy man. 

Javier doesn’t bother giving you time to recover. He manhandles you to the edge of the bed and onto your knees. The huge mirror on the wall gives him the perfect view as he sinks into you in one easy stroke. The pace he sets is devastating. He pulls almost all the way out before burying himself to the hilt all over again, his fingers digging into your hips. Every thrust forces the sweetest sounds from your mouth. Your fingers twist in the sheets and you hide your face in the soft fabric. Javier can’t have that. 

His bicep curls around your throat and he pulls you up, his chest pressed against your back. Careful not to restrict your breathing, he supports your body with his other arm wrapped around your waist. His pace doesn’t falter. His eyes never leave the sight of you in the mirror. Your head falls back onto his shoulder and he can hear those precious cries, sung right into his ear. Your hands find purchase on his forearm, little red lines following the rake of your nails. The light glints off of your wedding ring, the diamond refracting shimmers on your fingers. 

It damn near sends him over the edge. 

“My pretty little wife,” He grunts, pressing a sloppy kiss to your temple. “Takin’ it so good for me, aren’t you? That’s it… that’s my good girl.” 

The praise ignites something in you. He can see it in your eyes. You work your hips back against him, meeting every thrust with a greediness that has fire singing in his blood. Goosebumps follow his touch as his hand skirts down your belly. You whimper his name as his fingers brush your clit. Every swipe of his fingertips makes you jerk and shudder against him. It doesn’t matter how much you squirm. He isn’t letting you out of this until you’re so fucked out you can’t remember your own name. 

You can barely choke out a warning that you’re close, but he doesn’t need it. He can tell. He knows your body better than his own. Every quiver, every hitched breath, every sharp moan tells him he’s almost got you there. He fucks you through the crashing wave of euphoria, reveling in the wet gush that coats his thighs. He buries himself deep, his hips flush against your ass as he fills you with his cum. 

Javier holds you there for a moment. He can feel the rapid flutter of your heart where his arm is pressed to your throat. You cling to him as your breathing evens out. 

“I love you, Mrs. Peña.” He murmurs in your ear. 

You huff out a laugh, a teasing lilt in your voice. “I love you too, Mr. Peña”

#javier peña x reader #javier peña x you #javier pena x reader #javier pena x you #javier peña smut #javier pena smut #javier peña x reader smut #sinful sunday

[thisisourlovestory]

It’s Nice to Have a Friend

part 2- the chronicles of a stargirl and her sun masterlist

Luke Castellan x reader

Summary- the first full day at camp where slight drama unfolds and you make a new friend

Word count- 5.4k

Notes- thank you @imaginingmoonlight again for the vibe (I don’t know what else to call it) and I’d also like to say that I was actually inspired to write this series by @tangledinlove because the killerverse is amazing and I love it so also thanks to her otherwise I wouldn’t have done this.

Taglist:

@abbersreads @tenshis-cake

“We've just got to find out what you're good at first.” Annabeth explained as you walked beside her. “It might be that you are just really bad at using weapons but don't feel bad. You barely nicked him and he was standing in the wrong place so it was technically his own fault.” You winced.

“I didn't mean to, I swear, it just kinda slipped out of my hand before I was ready.” Annabeth grinned.

“At least you know to never try to throw a javelin when we do sports unless you want to skewer someone.” You glared at her.

“I'm glad someone is enjoying my embarrassment. I could have killed him! And then what would happen? Besides, I don't think that helped my prospects of making any friends here other than you.” She waved a dismissive hand.

“You'll make friends. It's just that you're new and the circumstances were interesting to say the least. Also it is spring so there are way less people here than there will be in summer.” You sent her an unimpressed look.

“You can't talk. Everyone loves you. I'll bet even Mr D doesn't hate you as much as the rest of us.”

“That is a lie. Plenty of campers don't like me.”

“Oh really? Name one.” You crossed your arms over your chest as she struggled to answer. “Didn't think so.” You said smugly as she stuck her tongue out.

“We've got to get to the armoury. It's time to try out sword fighting.” You paled.

“Can we not skip it?”

“Not a chance.”

Annabeth rummaged through a pile of swords. Occasionally picking one up to show to you and immediately putting it back down at your face. You wandered around the armoury, glancing every once in a while at Annabeth to check she hadn't cut herself accidentally. Finally she emerged from the pile, holding a sword triumphantly above her head.

“This one is perfect.” She held it out and you gingerly took it. The bronze blade was sharp and shining, the smooth metal cold to the touch.

“I don't see why I can't just use my knife.” She sighed.

“Because it's not made of celestial bronze so it won't kill monsters. Now get out there, I'll be out in a moment to teach you some stuff.” You trudged out and took your place on the sawdust, swinging the sword from side to side, letting the tip brush the floor lightly. Annabeth followed out quickly and got into position.

“Just try and land a hit on me.” You gaped at her.

“You want me to try and hit you?” She shrugged.

“It's a good way to test if you have a natural ability for sword fighting” Without warning she swung her sword forward and you lifted your own to block the blow.

“Not bad.” She swung again and you stumbled back slightly to avoid the hit.

“So I just kinda,” You swept the sword in front of you and Annabeth jumped back to avoid it, “Actually I think that works.” Annabeth slashed her blade through the air and you ducked, sweeping your own out in a wide arc, hitting her ankles with the flat side of the blade. She hissed at the sting and narrowed her eyes as you rose up and smiled. She rained down a flurry of blows on you and you blocked each one as well as you could, ending up with a multitude of tiny nicks on your arms. You rolled onto the floor to dodge a particularly well aimed stab headed straight for your neck and twirled the sword in the air before thrusting it forward to just under her chin. Annabeth’s eyes widened in shock before a grin took over her face.

“Not bad, but-” She grabbed the hilt of your sword and twisted, forcing you to let go and allowing her to poke you lightly in the stomach. “I win.” She handed you back the sword and you stabbed it into the ground. “Rule number one is never let up your guard, always be expecting an attack. It’s what keeps you alive. But for your first time you did pretty good. Better than most, and with a little training you’ll be able to beat me.” You hummed.

“Maybe. But the sword feels…wrong in my hands. Like I shouldn’t be holding it.” Annabeth frowned.

“We do still need to try out some other weapons. You might like them more.” She turned and walked back to the armoury, gesturing for you to follow her. “You’re doing archery later but for now grab some knives or daggers and try to throw them at those targets over there.” You did as she instructed and gathered a collection of bronze knives, carrying them over to a bench and dumping them on it with a clatter. You squinted at a target, judging how far the distance was and picked up one of the knives.

“Wait for me before you throw them.” Annabeth started but you had already tossed it up into the air allowing it to spin and then caught it and threw it full speed across the room. In a blur it hit dead centre. Annabeth looked at you surprised. “I guess you can throw.” You were already throwing more knives at the other targets, each one making a dull thudding as they hit home in the bullseye. You huffed and pushed your hair out of your eyes as you finished, sweat dripping from your brow, eyes sparkling with exhilaration.

“That. Was. Amazing!.” You exclaimed and twirled on the spot. “Did you see that? It was so cool.” She nodded, calculating, but you didn't notice. Too caught up in your own achievement.

“Yeah those throws were scary accurate for a beginner.”

“I think we've found what I'm good at.” She laughed.

“Not so fast, you've still gotta try out archery. And Luke is helping with that. He couldn't help now cause he had to supervise the climbing wall. Make sure nobody gets burned alive that kind of stuff. But he's taking you for your first archery lesson later, responsibilities that come with being head counsellor of the Hermes cabin. That and none of the current Apollo kids stay year round yet.” She rambled and you watched with an amused smile. “Anyway we have to get going for lunch, since it's not summer and there's not so many people we don't have to sit at designated tables like usual, if we did most people would literally just be sitting by themselves and that's just sad.” Your stomach rumbled and you glared down at it before looking up at her sheepishly.

“I'm apparently incredibly hungry so please lead the way.” She rolled her eyes and discarded her sword in a pile, kicked open the door and began the fairly long walk to the mess hall. You both trudged past the cabins where all the other campers were also starting to walk to the mess hall. There weren't many at all, about twenty across all twelve cabins, chattering happily to one another as they walked in a clump. Everyone sat down on random benches, presumably with their friends, and piled the food that appeared on the tables onto their plates in mountains.

There was a varied selection of food, all stacked in heaps so they filled up all the available space, there was something for everyone. Breads, cheeses and cuts of meat spread out for a buffet style meal, pots of soup, bowls with all kinds of pasta, rice and meat coated in sticky sweet sauces. There were even baskets stacked with fresh fruit surrounded by tiny bite sized sweets covered in sugar. Annabeth grabbed some food for herself and picked up some meat from a pile that stained her fingers red.

“Try this it's good, It's beef marinated in some random sauce and then cooked on the barbecue. Nobody actually knows what's in the sauce but it's kinda spicy.” She paused thoughtfully. “And it has garlic in it. I think.” She licked her fingers, getting rid of the red stain as you followed her advice and plated some of the beef along with rice and a warm bread roll dripping with butter. Annabeth immediately made her way over to the fire and dropped some food into it, you snatched up a bunch of grapes and followed suit. As the grapes fell into the flames you shut your eyes and bent your neck slightly.

“Hi, it's me, again. I don't know who you are but could you maybe send a sign or something. It couldn't hurt. Could it?” You mumbled and straightened up as smoke rose into the air smelling like every kind of food you could ever imagine.

“I really can see why they like burnt food.” You stated as you sat down next to Annabeth at a table. “It smells annoyingly good.” You took a bite of food. “And that's delicious as well.” She smiled, taking a bite of her own food.

“Told you so.” You both ate in silence, too occupied with savouring every bite that you forgot to ask any questions. All too soon the lunch break was over and Annabeth was directing you to the archery field.

“So you basically just follow the path past the Big House and he said he'd be waiting for you there and if you got lost he'd go and find you.” She turned around as someone called her name and yelled back. “Give me a minute.” She looked back at you. “Have fun and I'll see you later at dinner.” She spun on her heel and ran off as you did the same and walked in the opposite direction.

You hummed quietly to yourself as you walked through the woods, the trees shading you from the sun. Dust from the path floated in the air as you kicked the stones from it and into the grass, other campers passed you once or twice, attempting to whisper to each other about you and failing as their voices rang out like foghorns through the otherwise silent trees. You passed the Big House and caught Chiron watching. You waved slightly and continued without waiting to see if he responded. After a few more minutes of walking you arrived at the archery field to see the targets lined up and a selection of bows laid on the grass ready for use. You looked around and saw nobody. Not a single soul in sight. He's probably just running late, you thought, Annabeth said he was head of the Hermes cabin though so he must be busy taking care of something. So you waited. You sat down on the damp floor and fiddled around, picking blades of grass and twisting them around your fingers as tightly as possible before they snapped, plucking daisies, weaving them into a crown and placing it on your head. You even resorted to picking up one of the bows, subsequently snapping the string across your hand and leaving a raised red line across the palm of it. Then you settled back down, made yourself comfortable and placed your chin in your hand. You hadn't meant to fall asleep but the night before had been almost sleepless, tossing and turning in an unfamiliar bed with unfamiliar people in some of the other bunks. So you somehow ended up drifting off with the warm heat of the sun on your back and a cool breeze blowing across your face.

You woke up just as suddenly as you had fallen asleep, an owl hooted softly and you realised it was growing dark. The sun almost completely set in the horizon, only a thin sliver of light peeking out from behind the trees. You got to your feet and began the march up to the cabins. It was most definitely too late for dinner but you remembered Annabeth mentioning there was a campfire tonight. You followed the smoke rising in the distance and the faint glow of the flames, tripping over the occasional dip in the ground and sliding over the grass. Shortly, you arrived at the campfire and Annabeth spotted you almost immediately, jumping to her feet and running over.

“Where were you?” She asked, an accusatory tone to her voice and a frown on her face. “I couldn't find you anywhere. And what is that in your hair?”

“I don't want to talk about it.” You mumbled, sitting down and reaching out for a stick; shoving a marshmallow onto it then holding it above the fire to toast.

“Did you suck at archery?” You laughed half heartedly at her question.

“I wouldn't know yet Annabeth.” She tilted her head and studied you puzzled before a look of understanding passed over her face.

“He didn't teach you any archery.”

“He didn't even bother to show up.” You corrected, pulling the marshmallow out of reach from the fire and blowing on it slightly as you grabbed two chocolate covered biscuits with the other hand and mashed the marshmallow between them. The chocolate melted, mixing with the gooey melted mess of marshmallow. You lifted it to your mouth and took a bite.

“And I don’t care at the moment. I just want to eat my smore. I forgot how good they were, do you want one?”

“No I already had some. I’ve been meaning to ask you, where did you get that hoodie from?”

“Oh it was waiting for me yesterday when I woke up. Probably just a spare one from lost and found since my clothes were ruined.”

“Right, lost and found.” Annabeth sat still for a second then grabbed your hand and dragged you around the campfire to the opposite side despite your protests.

“Why are you so freakishly strong?”

“I am not freakishly strong! And that hoodie, not from lost and found.” She stopped in her tracks as you looked at her confused.

“Huh.”

“Never mind, it’s just a hoodie. Now I have to have a little chat with Luke.” She continued to drag you until you both stood directly in front of him.

“Hey Annabeth.” Luke greeted her with a grin as he stopped talking to the people sitting around him. “What's up?”

“What's up?” She seethed. “What's up is I asked you to help earlier and you didn't want to so I pretty much begged until you said yes because I had something important on.” She took a deep breath and tears filled her eyes. “And then you didn't even do what you said you would.”

“Annabeth…”

“No don't,” She interrupted, “I don't know what exactly your problem is with Y/N since you seemed fine with her last night when she woke up but you're going to sort it out right now.” She punctuated her sentence by pushing you down next to him.

“Can we have a minute.” Luke said to the others and they all obliged, walking over to other people laughing and sneaking peeks back. “Annabeth, seriously why would you think I have a problem with Y/N?”

“You didn't want to help her, you made up fake excuses to get out of it and then you agreed but didn't follow through. So you have some kind of problem otherwise you wouldn't have done any of that.” She crossed her arms and you spoke up.

“Annabeth it's fine, really it's fine. I don't mind if Luke doesn't like me. It's not a big deal.”

“It's a big deal to me! I want you to be friends. And you'll be really good friends I swear. So can you sort out whatever is wrong and get along please. Ask each other some questions, get to know each other better. Say twenty each?” With that she ran back to the other side of the campfire to her siblings leaving you both staring after her in shock. After a moment Luke broke the silence.

“Where did you come here from?” You blinked and answered slowly.

“I lived in the UK until I was eight then moved to the USA because my parents got a job offer.” His eyes sharpened.

“Parents?”

“Yeah. I was adopted, I don't know who my real parents were. Suppose I might find out who one of them is someday though. How about you?”

“Grew up in Connecticut, ran away when I was nine.” You stared at him vaguely shocked. From everything you had heard from Annabeth, Luke was the golden boy and he had run away from home. It was hard to believe but the bitter look in his eyes quickly changed your mind.

“When you were nine. So you were homeless for how long?” He shrugged.

“Five years. But I'm here now, and I've got Annabeth and my half siblings.” You hummed and shuffled around on the log, crossing your legs and leaning forward on your hands facing him.

“How did you meet Annabeth?”

“Just before we arrived at camp, we were walking down an alley and she jumps out and almost knocks my head in with a hammer.” He laughed slightly. “We took her in and then we got here.” You tilted your head.

“We?” His expression changed immediately. “Don't want to talk about it. Got it.” He looked at you.

“Annabeth is my little sister. Not by blood but by choice. We’re family and it seems she wants you to be part of our family.”

“You are very close to each other having known each other for so little time.” He smiled slightly.

“I would say she’s easy to like but that’s not entirely true.”

“Yes she can be quite intense at times. And I’ve only known her a day, can’t imagine what she must be like once you’ve known her a bit longer than that.” You grinned at him and tilted your head. “Must be unbearable.”

“You get used to it. Annabeth is Annabeth, she’s smarter than everyone, always six steps ahead of everyone else, she’s an incredible fighter and along with that she’s stubborn as a mule. But I wouldn’t change anything about her because then she wouldn’t be Annabeth.” He sighed and rested his elbows on his knees, holding his clasped hands in front of him.

“I am sorry I missed your archery lesson. I didn’t mean to I just got caught up practising.” You raised an eyebrow.

“Practising what?”

“Sword fighting. I’m supposed to be the best swordsman in three hundred years and I need to practise if I ever want to go on a quest.” You hummed noncommittally.

“I suppose that makes sense.”

You turned to look at the fire. The flames a bright yellow, dancing up into the sky, twisting and turning, bright against the darkness of the night. Your eyes followed the smoke, whispers of grey spiralling up, up, up into the atmosphere.

“I can give you the lesson now if you’d like.” Your eyes widened in surprise as you turned to face him.

“You would?”

“It’s the least I can do to make up for skipping out on you earlier.” He quickly stood up and held out his hand. “Coming?” You smiled brightly and grabbed his hand.

“Lead the way Castellan.”

“Remind me why we're in the armoury again.”

“You need a good bow before you can shoot right. So here we are.” He raised his hands and turned in a circle. “Take your pick.” You rummaged through the bows, picking one up occasionally to inspect it. There were so many different styles, some smaller, some larger, some metal, some wooden, some decorated and ornate; others as plain as could be. The difference between being inconspicuous and wanting to show off. You stepped over to a crate and pushed off the lid, letting it fall on the ground with a bang. You shuffled through the few bows stored in the crate, disgust filling your face at the ostentatious designs.

“Do people just use these to look cool?”

“Some of the Apollo kids definitely do. But they can shoot with any bow and make the shot so it doesn’t really matter to them.” He picked one up and held it out. “This one looks like it’d fit you.” You scrunched your nose.

“It’s too…much. Yeah, it’s too much.” You slid over to another rack and pulled some off.

“I’m not sure if I’ll ever find…” Your voice trailed off as you picked one up from the very back, pulling it out of the pile that it was buried under. The bow was a smooth crescent, dipping in the middle, covered with strips of leather, with slightly curved ends, pointed and dipped in silver. The wood was engraved with miniature flowers and vines, each petal painted delicately with faded colours of red, blue and purple, the vines thin lines of green weaving through them. Your fingers floated over them, tracing each petal's outline with a look of wonderment on your face.

“Well how about this one?” You snapped your head up quickly, holding the bow close to your body, Luke raised his eyebrows. “You good?” You cleared your throat.

“This one. This is the one.”

“Are you sure? This one,” He waved the one in his hand in the air,”Is particularly nice and actually new, made only a couple of days ago.” You regarded the one he was holding with disdain. It was plain, nothing that made it stand out. It could not have been more unlike the one you held tightly in one hand, fingers flexing around the leather grip.

“No. This is the one, it’s perfect.” He sighed.

“Alright then, I’m not going to argue with you. Follow me.” He walked outside with you behind and stood in front of a target, illuminated by the dim light from torches lit up around the edge of the field. He steadied an arrow. “You pull back, straighten your aim and release.” He let go and the arrow landed just outside the bullseye. “Your turn.” You fiddled with the bow, stroking the leather nervously and tapping the sharp silver capped ends. He smirked teasingly. “Come on then. Or are you scared you won’t be good enough at it.” You scoffed and stomped over to him, grabbing an arrow and nocking it, pulling the string taut to your cheek and narrowing your eyes at the target.

“First of all, you’ll never hit the target like that. Lift your elbow. And widen your stance.” You shuffled your feet. “No, not quite. May I?” You nodded. “You need to just,” He moved behind you and placed one hand on your waist, the other on your arm and kicked one of your feet to the side, “That’s better. Now,” He lifted your elbow up. “Fire.” He whispered in your ear, his warm breath grazing your skin. You sucked in a deep breath and let the arrow fly. You squeezed your eyes shut as it shot through the air and hit the target with a dull thud.

“Well look at that.” Luke murmured behind you.

“What is it Castellan?”

“Why don’t you open your eyes and see for yourself.” You hesitantly opened them and looked disbelievingly at the target, the arrow sitting in the middle of the bullseye. You took a double take, looking back at Luke and then back to the target.

“I did that? Me?” You whispered and Luke chucked quietly.

“Yeah you did but let’s try again. This time by yourself. Make sure it wasn’t just my expert skills that made you shoot like that on your first try.” He nodded to the target and you nocked another arrow, pulling back the string to your cheek with ease and letting it loose quickly, sending the arrow flying and splitting the wood of the previous one as it lodged just between the feathers.

“Not just your expert skills apparently.” His lips twitched upwards.

“Perhaps not, but I will need more proof.”

“Then I will give you some.” With that you fired a volley of arrows, each one landing so they formed a star when you finished. You stared proudly at your work. “How’s that for your proof?”

“That's pretty hard proof. You must be a natural at archery and my teachings clearly have nothing to do with it.”

“Your teachings have something to do with it. You got me that first shot. I’m just a quick learner, and lobbing things at targets is apparently my thing now.” You dropped the bow down carefully in the grass and turned around to look at him and added as an afterthought. “Except for spears. That did not go well.”

“I heard.” You winced and twiddled your thumbs.

“Yeah. Anyway thank you for this, you really didn’t have to.” He shrugged.

“Like I said, I wanted to make up for this afternoon and giving you a late lesson seemed the best way to do it.” You rolled your eyes at his words and threw yourself down on the ground, unbothered by the damp soil. Your hands rested on your stomach and the longer pieces of grass ticked your ears as you gazed up at the sky, the stars twinkled above, shining brightly like miniature diamonds. They decorated the night, small pockets of light in the deep blue sky, soon to give way to pure blackness but the stars would still be there.

You felt Luke lay down next to you and heard him ask you a question.

“What’s your favourite colour?”

“What?” You asked back, turning to look at him.

“Your favourite colour. Annabeth said we should get to know each other so what’s your favourite colour?” You stared at him for a second and found nothing but truth in his eyes.

“I’m not sure,” You paused for a moment, “I like green a lot though. It’s pretty and there are so many different shades of it, some are more blue like the sea and others are more the colour of the trees. But you can find traces of green everywhere and I think that’s why I like it, it's not just some obscure colour that you can only find in clothes. It’s all around us, you’ve just got to look for it” You stopped, slightly out of breath. “Sorry, you weren’t really looking for that kind of long winded explanation were you.”

“No I don’t mind, it was interesting. Besides, I've heard longer explanations from Annabeth about why she had nutella on her toast in the morning rather than her usual jam.” You tipped your head to the side and laughed.

“And what was the reason for that exactly?”

“The first time she did it I believe she spouted some nonsense about it being high in fibre as well as having iron and calcium in it and also would give her more energy to deal with, as she put it, incompetent fools. However every other time she's done it she just gives me a look as if I'm completely stupid.” You muffled a snort at his indignant tone.

“She sounds like a middle aged woman called Susan or something. And for the record you are stupid.”

“I always thought she was more of a Theresa but each to their own and I’m not stupid at all thank you very much.” You snorted again and quickly covered it with a cough, composing yourself as he smiled smugly at the reaction he managed to pull out of you.

“So anyway, what’s your favourite colour?” You asked, shifting slightly to look at him better.

“Blue, a really clear bright blue, like the sky in summer, electric blue almost.” He answered decisively and you tapped your fingers together in thought.

“And how old are you?”

“Fifteen, you?”

“Fourteen. Why do you want to go on a quest so badly?”

“I need to prove that I'm a hero. And going on a quest is the only way I can do that.”

“Is it?” He faced you with a look of disbelief.

“Yes, if I go on a quest I'm a hero because I get glory from it, you don't get glory from sitting around at camp doing nothing. You have to fight for it so I need to go on a quest.”

“Right, sorry.” You murmured and looked back up at the sky, head resting on your crossed arms. “The stars are beautiful aren’t they.” You muttered. “I find it hard to believe they can only be found in such distant planes of the universe when we can see them right there in front of us.” You lifted a hand and traced a kind of w shape in the sky. “That’s Cassiopeia, the Queen, you probably already know this but she was the mother of Andromeda and was forced to sacrifice her to a sea monster due to her own pride when she boasted her beauty was greater than that of the sea nymphs.” You pointed to another cluster of stars. “And that’s Ursa Major,” You moved your finger again, “And that’s Virgo, the Maiden.”

“How do you know those constellations?” Luke asked quietly.

“My dad.” You smiled. “He taught me all the constellations and we would go stargazing together in the country whenever he had a free night. The first time he took me was when I was three and he said I asked for food every two minutes, after that he would always bring a picnic, sandwiches, carrot sticks, biscuits and little slices of cake with tea or hot chocolate in a thermos so I would never get hungry. And we would lie on a blanket and watch the stars, pointing out all the constellations we saw and naming whatever stars we could. On special occasions he would bring his telescope and let me use it so that I could see everything that was happening as closely as possible.”

“He sounds nice.”

“Yeah he is,” You whispered, “He really is.” You both went silent for a while, simply gazing up at the stars in peace and quiet, comfortable in each other's company.

After a while Luke stood up.

“We should get going, everyone will already be sleeping by now and we can tidy this all up first thing tomorrow.” You sat up and took his offered hand, allowing him to pull you to your feet.

“Thanks.” You leant down to scoop up your new bow. “I can take this back can't I?”

“It's yours.” He answered simply as he started to walk to the cabins with you hurrying to walk next to him.

“Thanks again for, y’know.” He glanced down at you.

“You don't need to keep thanking me, it was my fault for not showing up earlier. I was just making good on my promise to Annabeth.”

“Yeah but still, I appreciate it. Other people wouldn't have done what you just did.” You reached the semicircle of cabins and took a step into the Hermes one before you realised Luke wasn't following. You turned your head back to look at him only to find him looking at you with an unreadable expression on his face.

“What is it? Do I have something on my face?” You slapped your cheek lightly.

“No you just-” He stepped forwards and righted something on your head, brushing the hair back from your face in the process. “Your flowers were falling off stargirl.”

“Oh.” You breathed out, a hand rising to feel the flowers. “Thank you, I forgot I had them, I thought they would've fallen off earlier.” You furrowed your eyebrows. “Stargirl?” He shrugged and offered a simple explanation before walking past you into the cabin.

“It suits you.” You smiled and made your way to your bed, quickly grabbing a top and pair of pyjama shorts before running to change into them behind the private screen set up in the corner of the cabin and then bouncing into bed. You lay there for a minute, staring up at the wooden ceiling, before you turned to face the empty bed next to you.

“Hey Castellan.” You whispered loudly and from the other side of the room he answered.

“What is it stargirl?”

“Are we friends now?”

“Nah, we're best friends stargirl, I don’t just teach anyone archery in the middle of the night. and don't think you can get out of this easily, best friends are for life.” You smiled into the darkness at the joking tone in his voice and answered with a hint of laughter.

“Wouldn't dream of it. I gotta say, it's nice to have a friend.” You hurriedly added, “Other than Annabeth and Maisie,” And turned over to the other side, “Goodnight Castellan.” You said and burrowed deep into the duvet. The last thing you heard was a soft laugh and Luke's voice saying.

“Goodnight stargirl, sleep well.”

Light pink sky up on the roof Sun sinks down, no curfew Twenty questions, we tell the truth You've been stressed out lately? Yeah me too

#luke castellan x you #luke castellan x reader #luke castellan imagine #luke castellan #percy jackon and the olympians #annabeth chase #taylor swift lyrics #pjo tv show #pjotv x reader #pjo x reader

[armthearmour]

A beautiful silver decorated Rapier with a blackened hilt,

OaL: 49.6 in/126.1 cm

Blade Length: 43.5 in/110.5 cm

Width: 6 in/15.2 cm

Depth: 3 in/7.6 cm

Weight: 2.1 lbs/963.9 g

Spanish blade, Venetian hilt, early 17th century, housed at the Metropolitan Musuem of Art.

#weapons #greatsword #rapier #swept hilt #europe #european #spain #spanish #italy #italian #venice #venetian #early modern #themet #metmusuem #art #history

[bubbles-for-all-of-us]

hi <3 could you maybe write for xaden riorson? like reader has a boyfriend in the quadrant since before starting as cadets and things just get weird between them bc he becomes a narcissistic ass and everything kinda gets out of hand after threshing when reader bonds with the strongest dragon of the year, and her boyfriend fucking tries to kill her? like drama. and then xaden gets in the way as he has has an eye on reader for a while :) thanks and have a nice day!

Happy reading! Sorry for the wait!✨😭🤍

Little bat

Xaden was a wall of cold demeanor. An unreadable figure. A true shadow when he wanted to be. And a scary hawk when he wanted you uncomfortable. It was always a mix of those two. Ever since you became a cadet his gaze just seemed to linger. More than once had you caught his glances across the rooms, dimly lit corridors.

You told yourself that was because Bjorn was so loud. So outstanding and over the top that just like everyone else the wing leader couldn't seem to take his eyes off him. And since you were always tucked under Bjorn's arm, Xaden's gaze followed you too. It was a thrilling sensation to know that after a year of being apart you were going, well hopefully going, to see your boyfriend once more. The two of you had been childhood sweethearts. Your mothers were convinced that you two were brought into this world to be together till death pulled you part.

And all souls save you did he swept you off your feet when he found you in the hall. Kissing you in front of a pile of strangers. Just at the time your body had been so full of adrenaline that you simply couldn't get your mind to care as you too kissed him just as eagerly. Bjorn had walked with you ever since, smiling smugly. You understood why people were saying that he was like a stray dog here. Barking a lot but doing little. He slacked at his training but bashed you for the smallest mistake. Making you feel small and weak. He sneaked around with a couple of the older cadets drinking by the trees. Just when you brought it up he always lashed out at you. And suddenly the pink glasses had started to slip.

A part of you knew why Bjorn had grown more icy towards you. Xaden had chosen you for his wing. He had wanted you there and had made it clear that Bjorn as a choice for a partner was a death wish here. And nothing rubbed Bjorn in a wrong more than being humiliated like that.

"It's way past your bedtime, little bat", the voice spun all around you like a true night breeze, finding you in a dimly lit training room. "And old grumps like you should be on the step into their second dream", you said confidently, hoping that Xaden could see the smirk on your smile just well. You found comfort in his cunning ways. The fact that he even acknowledged you... made you feel ahead of every other cadet but then...

"You're holding it too tightly", his warm voice kissed the side of your neck and you couldn't help but shiver. "Your grip impacts the way the dagger is launched", Xaden's fingers crept over your wrist as he rearranged your palm over the metal hilt, "Loosen it up and do what you're already doing. You'll hit the bullseye every single time", the pause between every word made your mind spin. You could feel his tight muscles behind you. The way his warmth hugged you. The way you had leaned into him without noticing and that he too hadn't backed away. You let your head hit Xaden's shoulder. A deep exhale. A skipped heartbeat. And the dagger hits the center of the target perfectly.

"Now go warm that chatterbox's bed before he started weeping", you let out dull laughter at Xaden's words. He sheepishly rose his eyebrow, "Trouble in paradise?", he asked in a teasing way. "Oh, you're a relationship guru now too?", you daringly met his gaze. Xaden only curled the side of his lips further up, before he pushed off the wall walking away.

When trashing came you knew that everything was going to get real. You had hoped to find a sliver of concern in your boyfriend's heart. A desire to help you in any way possible. And you had beamed when he offered to help you in the evening, to walk you through the most important parts but even9came and went and he never showed up. You had tried to wait up. Tried to give yourself reasons as to why Bjorn was late but you had given up once the clock hit two in the morning. Quickly gathering your things and getting down to the first year's floor.

Threshing was one brutal mess. Scorched bodies. A body that fell straight from the sky only a couple of feet from where you stood. The chaos of it all had you back into the deepest part of the woods. Sinking between the broken branches. Head in your hands as you tried to pull yourself together. Maybe you weren't meant to do all of this? Maybe this had been a mistake? Then lighter than the brisling leaves you felt it. A gentle, cool touch. Brushing at your cheeks. The back of your neck. Cooling your body, easing the panic. "Don't back away. Let the fear sharper your senses", you choked on a breath as that velvety voice filled your ears. Quickly looked around to catch a glimpse of Xaden but saw nothing. Yet it ignited something in you. You were going to get your dragon and nothing was going to keep you from achieving that.

You were in a hazy high when you landed in the clearing next to the other cadets that had too bonded a dragon. Just the surprised aws and whispers filled your ears before you had even landed. But all you truly cared about was Xaden now. Eagerly searching for him in the crowds of people. You needed his clear judgment. Because it all was surreal to you. What had happened shouldn't have happened. It was too rare. Too... And then you saw him just as surprised looking back at you.

You bonded a blue daggertail. The same breed of dragon that Xaden had. You didn't even remember getting off her. Only feeling Xaden's arms on you moments after. Delirious by it all. "Guess the younger sister decided she wanted to come out of the hiding", Xaden said so casually that it almost frustrated you. Did he know? Knew there were two blue daggertails all this time. And said... but bile rose in your throat and you quickly turned away from your wing leader, as you vomited.

Your head was pounding when you woke up. The fact that you weren't in your room only added to it. Even more so because it was Bjorn's. The noise outside the door made your headache worse. "She is my whole world and yes I know her my whole life", you heard Bjorn slurring out there, "I'll give her your love. But know that it was me who gave her all the knowledge, I trained her to be this good". You shook your head in disbelief. Even now he was making a show out of you. Fishing for his achievements where there were none. And you would have gone there but you were still so tired. You just didn't even have it in you to argue so you dropped it.

You got woken up by Bjorn returning to the room once again. By the darkness outside it must have been hours later. And by the way Bjorn swayed he had without doubt drunk way too much. You were prepared to take care of him once more when he spoke, "You think you are better now, aren't you?" Taken back by his words you said nothing in return. "You came here to ruin my life. Is it because I didn't want to marry you before I left? Or what other grudges do you hold, you bitch", Bjorn snarled stepping forward.

"You're drunk. Get some sleep", you muttered, turning away from him so you could once again slip out of the room that had become so distant. But before you could even take a step, two strong hands wrapped around your throat choking out the air you could take in. "You will not get this. I will not allow it", Bjorn muttered delusional haze drowning him, "You should have died way earlier".

You gasped and gasped. If only you weren't that tired. If only you expected any of this. You could have overpowered him. But now. Now no matter how much you clawed at his arms it only made it worse. He raised your body higher adding the pull of gravity to your choke and the black dots started to fill your vision. Dancing in the corners of your eyes before starting to fill the whole world around you.

And then all of a sudden all the oxygen came flooding in, as your knees hit the ground. You gulped it all. Drinking it in eagerly. A hand touched your shoulder and you jumped slightly only to be met with a warm gaze that Liam possessed. "Take your time. Smaller breaths are better", he said while crouching beside you. But if he was here then... your eyes darted behind you. And here it was. Xaden had his shadows choking Bjorn the way he was choking you just now. The look on his face read death. Pure, brutal death.

"Xaden", you rasped, whining at the pain you felt, "Don't dirty your hands with that scum". You could see him gritting his teeth. Forcing more strength to choke Bjorn and then he dropped him. Let the male sink to the floor before he turned to Liam, "Get him out and make sure this is taken care of". A cold order. But an order regardless.

Xaden turned to your lost face after that. Erasing the distance between you two in no more than a step. His sudden movements made you shiver slightly, causing him to still for a moment, "I've got you, little bat, it's just me". Xaden gently brushed your hair away from your face, eyes falling onto your neck. And from the way his jaw tightened and his eyes went dark, you knew it probably looked awful. "It looks bad, doesn't it?", you asked, feelings your eyes filling up with tears as your hand hovered over your neck. "You look just as beautiful", Xaden's words left you speechless, even more, so the fact that he gently pulled you closer to his chest. And you felt just how hard his heart was beating. "Will you...Will you stay with me?", you asked after a while of just sitting there with him. "I'll carry to the healer just to check and then", Xaden said in a serious tone, "Then it's the fourth year floor for you", you felt your cheeks heating, dropping your head down. But still managed to catch a light smirk on Xaden's face, as he scooped you up into his arms.

#xaden riorson #xaden riorson x reader #xaden riorson x you #xaden riorson imagine #xaden fourth wing #xaden fourth wing imagine #fourth wing x reader #fourth wing imagine #fourth wing x you #fourth wing book

[shadowdaddies]

I don’t know if you do reqs based on songs but if you could do one based off of windowsill by zayn w/ Rhys? Just them like doing it on every available surface and him dirty talking and just 🥵. Love your work

um YES I love this, please send me more requests based on songs it's my fave 💜 (song link at the end of the post)

Windowsill

Rhys x Reader smut

warnings: smut below the cut, praise kink

The marble kitchen countertop was cold against your skin, elbows resting on the surface as you sipped the warm tea in your hands. The hot drink soothed your throat, but not your nerves, as you anxiously waited for your mate to return from meetings in Illyria. 

As if you conjured him from your thoughts, a familiar talon caressed your mental walls, Rhys’s voice purring through your mind. “I am almost home. I need you, now,” he practically growled, desire flowing through the bond so strongly it sent a shiver down your spine.

Gaze flicking to the window, you sat down the cup of tea as you moved to look out at the garden, arms rested on the windowsill as you waited for his arrival. 

Dark power rippled through the air, the feeling intoxicating as desire consumed you, heat building in your core. The ground shook, roaring like thunder as the most beautiful male you’d ever seen landed in the grass, violet eyes piercing through you. 

Breath caught in your lungs as Rhysand ran a hand through his dark hair, chest heaving as his gaze remained locked on you. Within a moment, he disappeared into shadow, darkness consuming him before you sensed his presence behind you.

A chill ran through your body, breathless as you clenched around nothing at the intoxicating scent of your mate and his arousal from behind. You dared to peek over a shoulder, tension in the air growing thick as he flicked his tongue across his bottom lip, eyeing you as though you were his last meal.

“I’ve been aching to be inside of you all day,” he murmured in an almost painful tone as hands clenched at his sides. Your own eyes darkened, face heating under his stare as you struggled for words.

“Take me, Rhys, please,” you pleaded, barely above a whisper as he strode towards you with confident steps, warm hands wrapping around your thighs as he lifted you against the window.

Legs wrapping instinctively around him, you gasped at the feeling of Rhys’s hard length straining against his pants, pressed against your core. A hand gripped your chin, tilting your lips to his as his tongue slipped through your teeth, flicking the roof of your mouth in tandem with his hips grinding against you.

You moaned, mind dizzying with need as you massaged Rhys’s tongue with your own, rolling your hips against his. “Please,” you begged. “Please, Rhys. More.”

A wicked grin spread across his lips, both of your clothes vanishing in an instant. The warmth of his chest against your sensitive nipples, his cock brushing your folds, nearly sent you over the edge. 

Lips parting in pleasure, you looked up at your mate, whose dark gaze was fixed upon you, pure male satisfaction as he memorized your reaction.

A hand swept between you, Rhys’s long fingers lightly rubbing your clit as you arched against him, gasping as you lost control of your body. Incoherent babbles left your lips as you pleaded for more, desperate to have him inside of you. 

A dark chuckle brushed against your skin, leaving goosebumps in its wake. “Soon enough, darling,” Rhys promised, his fingers toying with your pussy as lips sucked and licked marks down your neck.

A frustrated whine escaped you, arms clutching Rhys’s shoulders as you wound against him. “No, I need you now,” you breathed, eyes frantic with desire. Rhys looked to you, nodding with understanding as he lined himself up at your entrance. “Don’t hold back, please,” you begged.

No sooner had the words left your lips than Rhys thrust deep inside of you, buried to the hilt. The two of you moan in unison, lewd sounds echoing through your home as his hips withdrew. Breathy gasps, the sound of your slick pussy rubbing against his cock all that were heard as he began pounding into you. "Fuck, you look incredible, darling," he muttered.

Nails scraped down his back, your head fallen against the window as he thrust relentlessly. You couldn’t form a thought as he hit that perfect spot inside of you with each thrust, his pace brutal while you held on desperately.

“Perfect. All mine,” Rhys ground out, sweat beading on his forehead as his hips met yours in a beautiful rhythm. A crack sounded from behind you, unknown to you through the rush of pleasure you were feeling. Rhys looked up at the crack you’d splintered in the window, a cocky grin on his lips as he lifted you away from the surface.

“Rhys!” you shouted, the sound melding into a moan as he settled inside of you, buried deep while he moved further into the kitchen. He laid you out on the kitchen counter, admiring your hair splayed out beneath you, nipples hard with arousal as you looked up at him with glazed eyes.

“You are everything,” he murmured, hands wrapping around your waist as he lifted your legs over his shoulders, somehow filling you up further as he rocked against you. The cold countertop sent shivers down your spine, pussy clenching around Rhys’s warm length.

His thumb found your clit, your eyes widening in shock as you convulsed against his touch, breathy moans escaping you as he pulled you to your orgasm. With shaky legs, you caught your breath, searching Rhys’s gaze as his eyes lit in a euphoric delight, his cock twitching inside of you as his warmth spread.

The two of you lay there panting for a moment, a soft smile finding its way to your lips as you looked up at your mate in admiration. “I missed you, so much,” you murmured, fingers lightly stroking his sharp jawline.

Rhys pulled your hand from his face, pressing a kiss to your palm as he smiled at you. “I missed you more. And I’m not done with you, yet,” he growled, winking at you as he picked you up bridal style and carried you to your bed.

#acotar #acotar x reader #acotar fanfiction #acotar imagine #rhys #rhys x reader #rhysand #rhys smut #acotar smut #a court of thorns and roses #acotar fanfic #acotar fic #acotar reader fic #acotar series #acomaf #rhys acotar #rhys x reader smut #rhys x you #rhys x y/n #rhysand acotar #rhysand smut #rhysand x reader smut #rhysand x y/n #rhysand x reader #rhysand x you #rhysand acotar imagine #acotar rhysand #acotar reader imagine

[maybegays-blog]

Can u write sad Lady d angst i want to cry

Here you go 🙏🙏 Also I canT write angst to save my fucking life, sorry. I tried my best tho😢😢

Echoes Of Sacrifice

Warnings: Gore(?) Character death, murder, depressed Alcina.

—

As Ethan Winters ascended the winding staircase of Castle Dimitrescu that led to a secluded tower, his heart pounded with a mixture of fear and determination.

He knew that somewhere within these ancient walls lay the key to ending the reign of the vampiric matriarch, The Dagger Of Death's Flowers. And he would stop at nothing to see his mission through to its bitter end.

Unbeknownst to Ethan, you trailed silently behind him, your own heart heavy with a sense of foreboding. Every step brought you closer to a confrontation that could shatter the fragile peace you had fought so hard to maintain. But you couldn't stand idly by and watch as Ethan plunged a dagger into your lady’s heart. Not when you knew the depth of her despair, the agony of her loss.

You pressed on, ascending the steps as the chill of the winter wind swept past you.

Finally, the staircase came to an end, opening into a secluded tower bathed in the soft glow of moonlight. In the center of the room, a large coffin containing a decaying skeleton. Nestled within the skeleton’s arms, lay the dagger—the weapon capable of ending Alcina Dimitrescu's immortal reign.

But before Ethan could make his move, you stepped forward, your voice trembling with resolve. "Ethan, please," you pleaded, your words a desperate plea for reason. "This isn't the way. We can find another way to end this."

But Ethan's eyes burned with determination as he reached for the dagger, his fingers closing around its hilt with a fierce intensity. "I can't let her hurt anyone else," he growled, his voice laced with a steely resolve.

With a surge of adrenaline, you lunged forward, your hands grappling with Ethan's in a desperate struggle for control. The dagger glinted ominously in the moonlight as the two of you fought for possession, each movement a flurry of desperation and determination.

But despite your best efforts, Ethan's strength proved too great, and with a swift motion, he wrenched the dagger free from your grasp. Time seemed to stand still as the blade gleamed in the moonlight, its deadly edge poised to strike.

As Ethan gripped the dagger tightly in his hand, his eyes blazed with determination as. "You're standing in the way, of me and my daughter!" he spat, his voice thick with anger and resolve.

However, you refused to back down, your own voice trembling with emotion as you pleaded with him.

"Ethan, please," you begged once more, the desperation evident in your tone.

Ethan's gaze hardened as he raised the dagger, the moonlight casting eerie shadows across his face. "I can't take any risks," he growled, his grip tightening on the weapon. "Not when my daughter's life is on the line."

"No!" you cried out, your voice a desperate plea as you lunged forward once more, your hands outstretched in a futile attempt to stop him. But it was too late.

With a sickening thud, the dagger found its mark, sinking deep into your chest with a cruel finality. Pain lanced through your body like a thousand fiery needles as you stumbled backwards, your vision swimming with darkness before you sunk to the ground with a loud cry.

Ethan didn't get any time to react as your fiancé stormed into the tower and saw you sitting on the floor, your form going limp, a primal roar of anguish tore from her throat. The man-thing quickly backed off as your lady rushed to your side, she dropped to her knees. She cradled you in her arms, tears welled in her eyes.

"I'm sorry," you managed weakly, your voice cracking with pain.

"No, my dear," Alcina whispered, her voice trembling with sorrow. "I should be the one apologizing. I have failed to protect you, my daughters, everything." Tears streamed down her cheeks, leaving trails of mascara in their wake.

You reached out with trembling fingers, desperate to brush away the tears cascading down your lady's cheeks, her sorrow etched into every line of her face.

"Don't cry, m-m'lady," you whispered, your voice barely a tremulous murmur, weighted with your own heartache.

Your touch was a fleeting caress against her skin, a feeble attempt to soothe the anguish that threatened to consume her. But in that moment, as you gazed into her tear-filled eyes, you knew that your words were not enough to ease the pain that gnawed at her soul.

As she felt your breathing grow faint, panic surged through her.

"No, Y/n!" she cried out, desperation lacing her voice. "Stay with me. We can be together, marry, have children! Please."

Her voice rose, desperation lacing every syllable, as she pleaded with you to hear her final words, her heart breaking with each passing moment as your life slipped away from her grasp.

“I-“

As you attempted to respond to your lady's desperate pleas as best you could, a painful, bloody cough erupted from your lips, and you quickly covered your mouth with your elbow, earning more tears from your lady as she watched helplessly.

You yearned desperately for the chance to live another day, if only to be by her side for a little longer.

"I'm sorry, I'm s-so sorry, 'Cina," you murmured, your voice fading away.

Your eyelids grew heavy, but you fought desperately against the urge to succumb to sleep, clinging to consciousness for her sake.

“I-I can’t…” You weakly held her hand.

But despite your best efforts, you could no longer hold on.

"I l-love you," you breathed out one last time, the words barely a whisper as darkness enveloped you.

As you went fully limp in her arms, your lady’s heart shattered into a million irreparable pieces. Tears streamed down her cheeks, her sobs echoing through the tower as she held you close, her grip tightening as if trying to hold onto you forever.

Meanwhile, he stood by, a silent witness to the tragedy he had brought upon you all.

But as her teary eyes shifted to the figure of Ethan Winters, her eyes narrowed with a fierce resolve. She gently set your down before, with a single, fluid motion, she rose to her feet, her elegant form now radiating with a deadly grace.

"You will pay for this," she growled, her voice low and menacing as she advanced towards Ethan. Alcina's rage burned like a wildfire, driving her onwards with a relentless fury.

With a primal snarl, she lunged forward, her nails elongating into razor-sharp claws as she seized Ethan by the throat. Her other gloved hand wrapped around his neck as the scent of blood filled the air. She tightened her grip, her eyes blazing with a feral intensity.

"You thought you could defeat me?" she hissed, her voice dripping with contempt. "You thought you could take everything from me and walk away unscathed?"

Ethan, fueled by desperation and the relentless drive to protect his daughter, fought back with a ferocity born of desperation. With a surge of strength, he desperately tried to stab your fiancé with the dagger.

Yet, as the dagger pierced her flesh, it proved futile. Her skin swiftly regenerated, just as it had before, within mere seconds.

The last Dimitrescu's eyes widened in shock, her expression shifting into a mask of fury, a silent condemnation of the consequences wrought by Ethan's actions.

In that instant, a surge of realization swept through Ethan: the poison on the dagger had rubbed off onto you when he struck you.

Barely giving him time to process the gravity of his actions, with a swift motion, she tore open Ethan's chest, her fingers sinking into the soft flesh with a sickening squelch.

As Ethan's eyes widened in shock and disbelief, he gasped out, "Stop... please..."

She paid no heed to his pleas, her grip unyielding as she ripped his still-beating heart from his chest with a savage snarl. Blood sprayed across the tower, painting the walls in a macabre tapestry of crimson as Ethan's lifeless form crumpled to the ground.

With a triumphant light in her eyes, Alcina held Ethan's heart aloft, her eyes ablaze with a fierce satisfaction. "No one," she declared, her voice echoing through the chamber like a thunderclap, "no one will ever take my beloved from me again."

And as the echoes of her words faded into the silence, she turned her gaze to you, her heart heavy with sorrow.

He had already taken you, he had taken your life.

For though you were gone, your memory would live on within her, a beacon of light in a world consumed by darkness. Your lady could only sit beside your lifeless body, her heart breaking as she clung to your side, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Oh, my sweet girl, why did you do this?" she whispered, her voice choked with sorrow and disbelief.

The days that followed were a bleak procession of solitude and sorrow for your fiancé. The once-grand halls of Castle Dimitrescu echoed with emptiness, each footstep a haunting reminder of the absence that weighed heavily on her heart.

Alcina retreated into the depths of her chambers, the shadows embracing her like old friends as she mourned the loss of you and her beloved daughters. The air grew heavy with the weight of her grief, each breath a struggle against the suffocating darkness that threatened to consume her as the maids watched their mistress slowly lose herself.

The grandeur of her surroundings felt hollow and meaningless, a cruel mockery of the life that had once thrived within these walls. The portraits of her daughters gazed down at her with empty eyes, their faces frozen in eternal beauty—a painful reminder of all that had been lost.

But it was the silence that was the most unbearable—the absence of your laughter, your voice, your presence. Each moment stretched out into eternity, each heartbeat a relentless march towards an uncertain future without you by her side.

In the depths of her despair, the dragoness found herself grappling with emotions she had long buried beneath a facade of strength and stoicism. She questioned her worth as a mother, as a ruler, as a woman burdened with the weight of centuries of loneliness and longing.

With each passing day, she vowed to honor your memory, to carry you with her always.

—

Masterlist

#lady dimitrescu x reader #lady alcina dimitrescu #lady dimitrescu #re8 village #resident evil village #re8 x reader #lady dimitrescu x fem reader #fanfiction #bela dimitrescu #daniela dimitrescu #cassandra dimitrescu #dimitrescu x reader #alcina dimitrescu #alcina dimitriscu x reader #re8 lady dimitrescu #re x reader

[peashooter85]

Swept hilt rapier, Swiss or German, circa 1520's-1540's

from Sofe Design Auctions

#history #antiques #swords #sword

[fayes-fics]

Kinktober Drabble #4: Breeding Kink

Kinktober Masterlist

Pairing: Anthony Bridgerton x fem!reader

Warnings: 18+ smut, minors DNI, breeding kink, dirty talk, vaginal sex.

Authors Note: Unbetaed. Gonna use the same gif for all Regency Anthony Kinktober posts cos he looks so filthy/gorgeous. Enjoy <3

When you retire to bed on the second night of your honeymoon, your husband is a different man. The first night he was gentle, considerate and slow, making you a woman and bringing you softly through the experience of losing your virginity. Tonight he is another man altogether, and you find you love this wild passionate version as much as the soft sweet man of the previous night.

“How does it feel now?” His voice laboured as he pushes into your body from a new angle, your feet over his shoulders.

“Oh god, Anthony, it’s it’s….” you are at a loss for words. Your body bent almost double; he seems so deep inside you. It's the most incredible carnal sensation, being so filled.

“Good?” he pants.

“Better than that,” you hiss, “please don't stop.”

“I'm not stopping, my darling wife,” his voice loaded with promise. “I'm not leaving your body until I have planted all my seed deep inside you.”

You drive back against his thrusts, fingernails digging into the meat of his bicep. “What does that mean, husband?”

“Oh, my beautiful darling innocent,” he slows his pace, leaning forward and cupping your face, kissing your lips tenderly. “It means I will make you with child; you shall bear my heir.”

“This is how babies are made?” you gasp, “but it's so wonderful. I was told it would be unpleasant, something I must lie back and do for you.”

He shakes his head and then brushes a finger over your clit. “Firstly, tell me, darling wife, does this feel unpleasant?” he asks, his voice low and warm.

“No, the opposite,” you answer breathily as he lowers your legs from his shoulders.

“Secondly, you don’t have to lie back, my darling,” he gusts and pulls out, flipping you over effortlessly, so you are face down into the pillow, pulling your hips up high as he kneels between your legs and drives back inside you.

You’ve never felt anything so primal.

“Push yourself back onto me,” he lectures.

You do as he asks, feeling him slide deeper than ever before and moaning at the sensation.

“That’s it, darling, now rock forwards and then back again,” he tutors.

“Oh, Anthony,” you huff against the pillow, “this feels wonderful.”

“Yes, that’s it.” He grabs your hips and aids your movements. “Fuck yourself onto me, wife.”

The crude language and the feel of taking him to your hilt every time have you making noises you can’t stop, little needy yelps as you inhale sharply.

“Do you want my babies?” He questions breathily, leaning over your back and teething your shoulder, his fingers back on your clit. 

“Yes, my lord, please give me all your babies,” you answer, snapping against him harder with each stroke, chasing the high you feel building as he straightens back up behind you.

“Beg me for my babies, beg me for my seed,” he orders, his voice desperate and starts thrusting into you powerfully, meeting your movements, dragging against your walls, the heat and pressure a potent elixir.

“Please, my lord, give me your babies, give me all your seed; I need it,” you babble mindlessly close to your peak now.

“Oh fuck yes,” he curses, curling and thrusting in as you move back against him, a bead of sweat falling from his forehead and splashing onto your spine, running down between your shoulder blades. “We will have eight, no ten, children,” he growls, taking you forcefully now, plundering your cunt as you pant cries with every movement “you will always be with my child. Mine. My wife. My babies.”

“Yes, my lord,” you chant as you are swept over the cliff like the previous night, but this time more visceral as he curses and keeps surging hard, your insides fluttering and clenching onto his cock. He snarls noises, fingers gripping your hip so tight he leaves fingerprints. His movements become uncoordinated as you convulse.

“Take it all, my darling,” he groans, holding you down with a firm hand on the middle of your back, hips obscenely high, face pressed into the mattress, and you feel a warmth bloom so deep inside you, “every last drop,” he grunts and thrusts one last time before collapsing on top of you.

After a few moments of enjoying his weight and heat draped over your back, you find your voice.

“Thank you, husband,” you coo as he gusts heavy warm breaths onto the nape of your neck. “I enjoy making babies very much,” you whisper.

He chuckles and drags his lips over your shoulder. “Then you won't mind if we keep trying and trying and trying,” he teases.

“Not at all,” you giggle and moan softly as he pulls out of your body.

“Good because… the night is young, my darling, and I have so much more seed to plant in you,” his cock stroking against the back of your naked thighs, trailing your joined fluids there.

“Yes, please, my lord.”

tagging: @makaylan @foreverlonginguniverse @iboopedyournose @wysteria-cladysteria-clad @colettebronte @aintnuthinbutahounddog @margofiore @writergirl-2001 @heeyyyou @enichole445 @ambitionspassionscoffee @chaoticcalzoneranchsports

#anthony bridgerton fanfiction #anthony bridgerton smut #anthony bridgerton x reader #anthony bridgerton x female reader #anthony bridgerton x you #anthony bridgerton x y/n #anthony bridgerton imagine #anthony bridgerton #bridgerton fanfiction #bridgerton imagine #bridgerton #kinktober #kinktober 2022 #1k notes #1k notes omg you guys!