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#the most prominent being the scars on both his arms from where they were cut off
quetzii · 5 months
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Heiii, hahaha, redesign Alador again
And also, some headcanons I had bc yes
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—Redesign heavily inspired on Leone Abbacchio from JJBA!!
—Doing it justice and at least giving it a decent story. Alador comes from a family that was in its own world. His parents' neglect, manipulation, and blackmail towards him were normal. Although he didn't like that. All that resentment and trauma led him to what he is now.
We can say that Alador applied the "I suffered this, and now I want my children to suffer what I suffered." We can say that it is a chain of family abuse. Making Alador victim and victimizer; "the abused becomes the abuser"
—By spending time with himself, she was able to get to know himself well and also see beyond how he identified himself. getting a taste for makeup, feminine things, and so on; but also feeling like a boy or nothing
roll, roll: genderfluid jackpot
but Alador is more aligned with the feminine, always wanting compliments of these or being treated with feminine pronouns, sharing that with Darius and Odalia. This is where Odalia comes in.
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—I handle the marriage of Odalia and Alador here as something forced and already planned by their families.
Alador has preferences for boys, but the family didn't care about that and made her get engaged to Odalia. Of course, manipulation by Odalia towards Alador is carried out; blackmail and everything
although, their relationship was strange; codependency on the part of Alador, Odalia only complying with compliments, praise and more sweet words for Alador, and having her like a dog paying attention to her and that he is on his own was part of the negligence and so on towards her children (first point)
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—Alador's personality is still the same as it is in the series, only that I liked to base it more on how it was shown in the Reaching Out storyboards; someone harsher, arrogant, selfish and showing that without Odalia's own account, he could be worse than her, believing that what she did was fair and at least putting into practice her dilemma of "I suffered, let them suffer now."
At work, he is careless and someone, questionably perfectionist and obsessed. His arms, part of his legs and shoulders are full of cuts; part of self-harm and work accidents, deep scars, which for her is a good thing and bears fruit for his work.
Neglecting a lot about hygiene, appearance and so on. (little bathing, makeup always ruined because he cries a lot; the dress he wears is totally destroyed and stained, etc.)
—After the event of the Collector and Belos, Alador has a calmer and more positive attitude, taking care of his appearance and well-being, recovering from self-harm and correcting his mistakes; working on himself for his children and having a good relationship with them (also adding that she is now Darius' partner)
During the Collector's incident, he suffered a wound to his head, leaving a scar that reaches part of his forehead, leaving him unconscious and turned into a puppet. At the moment, this has not affected his health/his brain brrr-
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—Short stature! His children and his wife are taller than him
Alador - 170 cm
Odalia - 190 cm
Emira - 183 cm
Edric - 185cm
Amity - 180cm
(the heights of his children are from the timeskip) And the entire Blight family has a magnificent athletic build
Although-he is most notable for having prominent, well-built pectorals (big tiddy dilf/milf lol)
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—Which of the two had the twins and Amity?
Alador
All of the Boiling Isles are intersex/have double genitalia. They can make one appear, have both or remove (although they can make it appear again, it is not permanently) both internal and external reproductive system, combine both or have only one.
In this case, Alador conceived the twins and Amity, making the womb, uterus and that appear (yes, Odalia and Alador have both genitalia and combined reproductive system|one way or the other. I no longer remember my biology classes)
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thisfairytalegonebad · 6 months
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Scars - Whumptober day 27
Fandom: Final Fantasy XV Character: Mostly Noctis Lucis Caelum (even though the scars refer to Prompto) Rating: Teen and up Warning: None
Read below the cut or on AO3 here.
Gladio has had scars for as long as Noct can remember. They didn’t meet as children, but apparently, he was a rowdy child who got hurt a lot, so he was already littered with scars of varying size and severity by the time Noct met him. Later, as his duties became more serious, so did his scars. The first really memorable one was of course the one on his face, the one he received protecting Noct from some drunk strangers, but more followed over the years, like the huge one on his chest or the other one on his face. But the scars suit him and give him a rugged sort of appearance that he seems strangely proud of, and Noct doesn’t think he’s ever been bothered by them at all.
He never imagined Ignis with prominent scars. His hands are scarred quite a bit from handling knives, both while cooking and in training. He doesn’t nick himself a lot anymore, these days, but both skills took time to master and during that time, he cut himself pretty frequently. He also has a small scar on his right wrist from when his chronic tendonitis could no longer be treated by conservative means and had to be fixed with surgery. But Ignis isn’t in the direct line of fire, and so Noct thinks him relatively safe of major scarring. He is, of course, horribly wrong as he finds out after he wakes from his extended sleep in Altissia and finds Ignis’ face marred with silvery burns along with his entire left shoulder and arm.
And of course, Noct has his fair share of scars of his own. The biggest one and the one he hates the most is the one on his back from his childhood accident. He can’t see it without a mirror, but the look of it is burnt into his mind’s eye. It’s not a heroic scar like Gladio’s or Ignis’, it’s not something to be proud of. The only thing it is is a permanent reminder that he has a target on his back simply because of who he is.
The only one out of the four of them who is blessedly free of scars (except for the one on his abdomen from getting his appendix removed) is Prompto. Prompto is not a fighter, and he hasn’t gone through rigorous training since he was old enough to walk - he’s just a civilian who gets dragged into one mess after another through no fault of his own other than being best friends with Noct.
After ten years of being locked away in a crystal, it’s hard enough coming to terms with your friends having lived a third of their lives without him in them, but so far, the changes have been subtle enough for Noct to ignore them or at least easily get over them. Gladio got even more ridiculously jacked and handsome, Iggy learnt how to fight blind, Prompto has a patch of hair on his face and tries to call it a goatee. A little unexpected, some more than others, but ultimately no big deal.
But when Noct enters the sleeping quarters in the Glaives’ hideout beneath Insomnia, he catches a glimpse of Prompto’s body as he’s out of his uniform and only wearing his boxers, and he freezes mid-step.
Prompto is absolutely covered in scars. Some small, some bigger and more serious-looking, and they’re on his legs, his torso, his arms, and Noct feels sick.
“Oh, hey, Noct?” Prompto says when he notices Noct in the door. “What’s up? You look a little pale, you okay?”
“Where did you get those?” Noct voice cracks at the last word.
Prompto frowns. “Get what?”
“Those!” Noct croaks, gesturing at Prompto’s everything.
“What’s those mean?”
“The scars! Where the hell did you get so many scars?!”
Prompto looks down on himself as if it were the first time he became aware of the marks on his skin. “Oh, those?”
The nonchalant way he says it, accompanied by a shrug, makes Noct want to grab him by the shoulder and shake some sense into him.
“Just, y’know. It’s a dangerous world out there, these days. This wasn’t a specific event or anything, they’re just from ten years of fighting,” Prompto explains. He makes it sound like it’s no big deal, and, shit, Noct knows Prompto, knows when he’s just putting up a front, but this? This sounds like he genuinely doesn’t think it’s a big deal, and that, for some reason, is enough to break some kind of dam inside of Noct.
It’s all his fault. If he hadn’t taken ten entire years to become strong enough, a worthy King, if he had been there then he might have prevented this. Even from his short time back among the not-crystallized, he’s seen how much they’ve suffered, how much they’ve lost, all because he wasn’t strong enough to do his duty for Ten. Fucking. Years.
The weight of everything is concentrated in Prompto’s scars, a permanent reminder of Noct’s weakness, his failure.
He can’t vocalize any of this, though, has neither the emotional capacity nor the words for it. The only thing he manages is, “You shouldn’t have those.”
Prompto, even after all this time, is still as good at reading people as he was ten years ago, and so he catches on immediately.
“Hey, it’s fine, c’mon, let’s sit down,” he says, gently grabbing Noct by the shoulder and making him sit down on a bed. When he sits next to him, he’s close enough that their shoulders and knees are almost touching, and the proximity is both comforting and punishing - Noct doesn’t deserve to be this close, he just hurts everyone he loves with his presence.
“I know what you’re thinking, I can see the gears turning inside your head, so let me just preface this by saying that those are in no way your fault,” Prompto starts. He knocks his knee against Noct’s in a familiar, friendly gesture. “Also, most of those weren’t even that bad. We just had to ration the curatives we had left, so we couldn't just fix every little cut with a potion like we were used to, so stuff would just scar."
“Is that why you have so many?” Noct’s voice is barely above a whisper. “Do the others look like that too?”
Prompto sighs and leans back on his hands. “Kind of? I mean, Not quite as many as me, but still a fair share. Look, the reason why I’m covered in scars is because I couldn’t fight for shit for the first year or so. I learnt a lot of stuff when I was on the road with you guys, but it’s still different from hunting daemons in an apocalypse, y’know?”
He pauses then, seemingly searching for the right words to explain.
“Gladio was a badass from the very start, it didn’t take much training for him. It was harder for Iggy, but the fighting itself was mostly muscle memory. It just took some time for him to adjust, but everything’s dark anyway so he wasn’t much worse off than we were. Me, though? I realised real damn fast that you guys carried me through most fights back then and I was kind of useless most of the time.”
“That’s not true,” Noct says immediately and without thinking, but that doesn't make his protest any less true. “You weren’t useless!”
“It’s fine, I know I was.” Prompto smiles wistfully. “Either way, it’s a different world out there now. The daemons are bigger, stronger, smarter. It was a steep learning curve for me, and the result was a lot of bleeding wounds. But I’m fine and I only got stronger from it. I'm pretty damn good at fighting now, you know.”
To that, Noct doesn’t really know what to say, and for the first time, it hits him how grown up Prompto sounds now. It’s still undoubtedly Prompto, his best friend, but it’s obvious that he’s changed - they all are. They’ve lived through things Noct can barely begin to imagine, and they’re all real, proper adults now, while Noct…
Well, Noct is technically, physically, also thirty years old now, but being stuck in a rock for ten years doesn’t really compare to fighting for your life and that of others for ten years.
Regret and guilt fill his chest at once, and he balls his fist in his lap.
“I’ll make it worth it,” he promises. “Everything you’ve fought for - you, the guys, everyone else, I’ll make sure it wasn’t for nothing.”
It’s the least he can do, he owes them that much. He knows his fate now - Bahamut hasn’t really left much up to interpretation. All that’s left for him to do now is to step up and do his job, even if he knows he won’t live to see the dawn.
Prompto doesn’t know that, though, doesn’t know any of it, and so his smile is no less bright and cheerful than what Noct is used to from him when he says, “I know you will, buddy.”
And Noct intends to keep it that way as long as he can.
----
Read all of my Whumptober prompt fills here.
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mccncutter · 2 years
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| | |   Headcanon: 3 of ???
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          So Ichigo has certainly been in his fair share of scraps in and out of his career as a Substitute Shinigami. From dubious stab wounds, to multiple beatings and head trauma, all the way to point blank Cero blasts to the chest. In spite of the Anime / Manga never referencing any type of lasting scarring for him, My Portrayal will differ.
          Ichigo’s most notable and prominent scar is the one given to him by Ulquiorra Cifer, a nasty looking gash in the middle of his chest where a hole was made by a Cero. This wound was healed by a combination of Orihime’s powers and the Hollow Powers inside of him, but the mark still lay bear upon his sternum. It is a constant reminder of the deadly battle between the two, and if not for his Hollow side, Ichigo would surely be deceased. ( It’s also a reminder of the time he lost control completely in the strife to protect everyone. It’s a blessing and a curse. ). It’s also worth noting that when Ginjou Kugo stabbed Ichigo to drain him of his Fullbring, he stabbed directly into that same scar still present upon his chest. It was like insult to injury. 
          Another notable scar lay upon his right shoulder, jagged and rough to the touch. This particular wound was given by Renji Abarai, in their second scuffle against saving Rukia Kuchiki. Zabimaru’s slice and followed up grind against flesh proved to be difficult to heal, and led to the prominent wound still showing today.
          A smaller, fainter set of scars lay upon both of Ichigo’s palms. While fainter than most, these scars are still noticeable and commented upon most because of the open positioning. These scars were given to him by Grimmjow Jaegerjaques, by stabbing Tensa Zangetsu through both of his hands to stop mobility in their second fight. 
          Faint burn scars remain upon the boy’s upper left arm, residual and not as prominent but still present. These scars were given to him by Aizen Sosuke during their final bout. The power of Mugetsu soon coating it helped the wound in the long run, reiatsu healing it from the outside as all of his power burst forth from using Mugetsu. 
          And last but not least, a clean, calculated slice to his lower abdomen on the right side. While being notable in itself, the steadiness of the cut made was to be expected from the enemy who had struck, that being Byakuya Kuchiki during their first meeting at the arrest of Rukia Kuchiki. He had severed Ichigo’s Soul Chain with one strike, and that left a lasting reminder upon battle hardened flesh. 
          Most of these wounds could have claimed Ichigo’s life over the years, so viewing them all as reminders of what he has accomplished and who he has overcome is a somewhat comforting thought for the young Substitute. He does not abhor the wounded flesh, but more revels in his own victories. 
          He is still Alive. 
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jeoseungsaja · 2 years
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♚ RANDOM TIDBITS, PT. 1 VERSE THREE | ARC TWO: THE BLACK KNIGHT 
◍ Goes through episodes of depersonalization and derealization, where he experiences the feeling of being detached from his mental processes, surroundings and/or his body. This happens when he’s under a lot of stress or when he remembers something heavily connected to the first weeks of mourning Patrick’s death.  ◍  If the Hyuk in arc one barely sleeps, this Hyuk sleeps even less. He fills his system with caffeine to stay alert and prefers to keep on working rather than finding rest. How he hasn’t fainted due to exhaustion is still a mystery to me, to be honest-- ◍ Has longer hair; reaches the base of his neck (as pictured above). Doesn’t go to the hairstylist often; doesn’t have the patience to do so and hearing the combination of music with the sound of scissors cutting away strands drives him up the wall. Also, since his levels of trust have dropped significantly (and they were already low to begin with), he gets irritated when someone he doesn’t even know touches his hair or when he doesn’t have control toward what’s going on.   ◍ Has thrown self-preservation out of the window, more interested in getting to the truth than making sure he comes out unscathed. This has resulted in Hyuk getting wounded on several occasions.  ◍ Speaking of wounds, there are scars that have stayed with him and he rather not talk about them, not even when someone asks out of care. One of the scars that can be considered prominent rests on his abdomen (st.ab wound).  ◍ There’s only two people thus far who have a certain degree of Hyuk’s trust: Suki Nakamura and Im Jae-Hwan. Still, he tries to keep them both at arm’s length so they don’t get in danger (though both seem to be stubborn on helping him not only with finding the truth behind Patrick’s case, but also, with his welfare because that man’s a mess and I thank Suki and Jae-Hwan for their service--).  ◍ He still keeps all the puzzles Patrick used to send him. He also still keeps Patrick’s number as a contact and tends to re-read their past conversations. And yes, he’s cried whilst reading them.  ◍ Most likely, the only thing that looks really alive in that somber office of his is a medium-sized flower pot that sits next to a lonesome window. Lily of the Valley continue to thrive in that pot. ◍ Hyuk finds a sense of comfort in the scent of hot chocolate, tea and ink coming from fountain pens. The beach is still a place of peace for him, too (hasn’t been able to visit it lately, though).  ◍ Even if he’s, in a way, abandoned his passion for drawing and painting, sometimes you’ll catch him making doodles of different things upon post-it notes. He ends up throwing them away (he doesn’t know Jae-Hwan has kept some of them, though). 
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anouri · 1 year
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⭐️⭐️⭐️ just anything really
(director's cut ask game!)
alright, for this i suppose i'll talk about an overarching theme in all of my writing that i hadn't realized i had been doing until like a month ago: i'm obsessed with having whoever is narrating notice another character's flaws and appreciating them, rather than loving others in spite of their flaws. this includes both personality & physical flaws; i just love having the characters find each other's flaws endearing/attractive/overall positive. (flaws are defined here as things that i grew up being implicitly told were undesirable, like wrinkles, scars, personality 'quirks', etc -- i do realize that different cultures regard these things differently)
in chapter 8 of l'éphémère i even explicitly state (via james' POV):
Revering something because of its flaws rather than in spite of them is the most authentic expression of veneration.
i just think there's something so... important and powerful about going against what society tells you is a defect, problem, or weakness, and deciding to adore it instead. i hadn't even consciously realized this until recently, but i even keep the 'flaws' that each character finds endearing kind of consistent throughout all my fics? (like reg tends to find james' laugh lines & crow's feet when he smiles and his wild hair endearing, james thinks reg's fidgeting with his jumpers & his general inability to take sincere compliments adorable, etc etc etc)
i think if media did this more often and more casually, we as a society would have a lot fewer insecurities. but y'know, i can't control all media that exists, ergo i simply have to incorporate the theme in my fics and that has to be good enough for me i guess lol
so, i suppose i'll end this with some examples... here we go!! in chapter 8 of l'éphémère, james thinking about regulus:
...but the flaws are intentionally crafted, a stylistic choice by the universe itself. Regulus is the nonpareil of flawed flawlessness. It’s a shame he tries so hard to hide it.
ch 23 of l'éphémère, regulus about james:
It’s hard to see in the dark room, but he doesn’t need to see it, for he’s memorised every line and curve, every endearing flaw and perfection that composes James’ face.
book one: chapter four of working for the knife, regulus daydreaming about james:
...and James must’ve grinned, that stupid, lopsided grin where his dimples pop and the corners of his eyes crinkle.
book one: chapter seven of wftk, the very moment before he invites james over for the first time, the last thing he thinks about is james' frizzy hair lol:
Tilting his head, Regulus regards the temporary antidote for a moment, its prominent dimples, perpetually smiling eyes, and previously unruly hair that has grown even more endearingly frizzy due to the humidity—and Regulus feels a bit as though his skin is buzzing, and he can’t discern whether it’s due to the caffeine, his abrupt realisation, or simply James himself. 
and in chapter 18 of l'éphémère, james might as well be cooing @ reg looking a hot mess first thing in the morning:
(The scowl is very ineffective at doing whatever it is that Regulus intends it to do, and this failure was manufactured by a multitude of reasons: firstly, Regulus’ curls have seemingly gained sentience during his slumber, for some tufts have more or less decided to defy gravity to social distance themselves from the rest, whilst other wisps are flattened comically against his head; secondly, he’s wearing James’ jumper and it’s swallowing him whole, and he really can’t glower at James successfully when he’s willingly in James’ clothing, can he?; thirdly, Regulus has an imprint on one reddened cheek, likely from a wrinkle on either his pillow or his sheet—James has to fight not to laugh at the sight; and lastly, even though his lips are frowning, his eyes are refusing to throw the daggers they are likely armed with—instead, they’re soft, and, dare he say it, fond. It’s all adorable, really, James thinks. And perceiving it as winsome means that Regulus’ efforts are nothing but futile.)
and this concept doesn't have to be romantic in nature!! it doesn't even need to be between people who even get on with one another; for example, regulus says this about peter's rosacea in book one: chapter four of working for the knife, and at this point of the story he's wary of peter/not comfortable with him at all:
...his face is flushed underneath his freckles, the red of his face almost flattering, as if his skin has strategically applied permanent blusher on his cheeks.
and then reg seeing remus, who he also isn't comfortable or friendly with at this point in working for the knife:
Somehow, the scars make him look all the more striking (is he allowed to think that?), and he can’t help but acknowledge that he can understand what his brother sees in him, at least superficially. 
anyway, i'll stop now because i could go on forever hahaha < 3
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bread-writes · 3 years
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Hi! I really liked really your relationship headcanon piece with Gun, Warren and DG. I was wondering if you could do relationship headcanons for the other characters Goo, Samuel and Jake? Thanks ~
how in the world did I misread Jake as Johan-- Well it just means another character lol
Bro what?? 100+ followers?? Me?? I can’t thank you guys enough for the support! <3333
Headcanons under the cut!
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Relationship Headcanons Ft. Goo, Samuel, and Jake, and Johan
Joon Goo Kim
dating Goo... is a trip, to say the least
you guys are definitely that couple covered head to toe in brand deals
he won’t settle with anything but the best for both you and him
which usually leads to him spoiling you no matter how much you tell him you’re fine
you basically have a degree in nursing with how much you patch this man up
every
single
day
he’d come home with at least one new injury
at first, he was reluctant in letting you care for him
let’s be honest
real, genuine kindness is like a foreign language to him
so when you first expressed concern for him, he was definitely confused, if not suspicious
much like Gun, chances are you also work under Charles Choi
he generally doesn’t care whether or not if you work in his particular...field as long as it brings in money
his all time favorite kinds of dates are most probably casino dates
dressing up and having the chance to earn a quick buck? 
sign him up!
although, you do have to console him after a few big losses
he gets all pissy and just hugs you closer
speaking of hugs, he seems like the kind if guy to just whisk you away from whatever you were doing and hold you in his arms for a while
and if you want to get out of his hold, good luck...
I hope you have thick skin because this man teases you so much he borderline insults you
ouch.
however, fret not, for he shall make it up to you with endless amounts of cuddles and kisses
...until he does it again only a few hours later
8/10, it’s off-putting seeing him beat up people for money and how often he gets injured but his hugs are to DIE for
Samuel Seo
he’s obsessed with you, to put it simply
like, borderline yandere obsessed
and we’ve SEEN how he acts with Gun
so
if you want to avoid him beating the shit out of random people to get your attention
just give him attention from the get-go lmao
he’s like TOUCH STARVED touch starved
so shower him with attention, okay?
loves it when you spend hours tracing the faded scars and prominent tattoos that litter his skin
GIVE HIM SOME PRAISE TOO
poor guy’s been ridiculed all of his life for basically everything he does
oof
but not too much, though
because good lord does this guy have a superiority complex
if you’ve been with him since middle school don’t bring up Jake
like ever
no matter how long you’ve been with him he’ll still loathe being interrupted
oh well, small price to pay if you’re talkative, I guess
definitely the kind of guy to buy you something super expensive and when you ask where he got the money because, you know, he’s still technically a teen--
he’ll just be like “Don’t worry about it.”
sketchy, but whatever 
did I mention how possessive he is?
always has an arm around you whenever the two of you go out
nearly punched a poor tourist who only asked for directions
bro chillll
7/10 clingy, but he makes up for it in his own ways
Johan Seong
he’s definitely reluctant to let you into his life, much like the other two on this list
but when he does, have fun trying to pry him off in the mornings
Johan sucks with words so he shows his words through his actions
small things, like making you a small breakfast and holding your hand during little walks with Eden and Miro
cute shit, really
that doesn’t make things any less dangerous with him around
similarly to Goo, he’ll pick lots of fights with the sole intention of getting a quick buck
speaking of fighting, though he doesn’t say anything about it, he loves showing off to you (have you SEEN that smirk??)
because he sees you as far more than family, he doesn’t want anything bad to happen to you
weird guy looking at you weird from across the street?
bam--he just got a taste of the sole of Johan’s shoe
doesn’t really enjoy going shopping, or really anything that doesn’t include playing with his dogs or eating
but won’t complain if you do decide to take him out for shopping
much like Samuel (though not to his extent) he’s clingy
it’s been a very long time since there was someone other than himself he could rely on
even later on in your relationship he has his doubts
they’ll probably always continue to gnaw in his mind, but as long you’re there to comfort him, he’ll learn to just ignore those doubts.<3
because of these doubts and insecurities, it doesn’t take a lot to get him jealous
likes to be coddled, but not to the point where it’s suffocating
8/10, rocky at first, but when you find the right rhythm it’s practically smooth sailing from there
Jake Kim
Jake is, well, Jake
I can’t promise he’ll always have time for you or will clear his schedule at the drop of a hat (he does that in advance lmao)
he’s a busy guy
but that doesn’t change the fact he loves you
he really, truly does love you
he’s got basically everything about you memorized
keeps all important dates highlighted in red on his calendar
and always knows what to get you as a gift, whether it be spending time together or something you spotted from a store
...if it’s in his price range, of course
Jake will always appreciates your cooking and eat it even if it tastes like coal
anything is better than instant noodles for a week straight tbh
touched starved and a little clingy
not like Samuel level
but enough to crave your touch after a long week of nothing but paperwork
even if you’ve been with him for a long time (since, like, middle school) he’d still be apprehensive about business pertaining to Big Deal
it’s not that he’s keeping secrets from you
he just doesn’t want you constantly worrying about him. which could potentially put a target on your back
during the few occasions when his thoughts finally catch up to him, he wonders why you’re still with him
so just hold him for a while to dispel these thoughts
loves doing small, mundane things with you on his rare days off
it makes him feel...free from everything else around him
no gangs
no fighting
no money crisis (debatable)
just you and him living life
9/10, he’s an overall great guy who puts a lot of effort into a relationship
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helloo!!! im dum lol, so i present to you the “emotionally constipated” quartet
Sorry for disappearing...
anyways--
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adlbeay · 3 years
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I wanted to talk about the themes in the Walk in the Dust event. The story of Arknights has always had a high level of thematic consistency, but it’s especially prominent in this event. I feel like a lot of the discussion of the story in certain places comes down to “lore” and surface-level plot details, so I wanted to get this out there somewhere.
The two big ideas that are covered in Walk in the Dust are that of revenge and the homeland. Let's talk about revenge first. Long post and story spoilers under the cut.
In the beginning, we are introduced to Elliot, aka Passenger, who by the time we meet him, is an aimless husk of a man. He is utterly empty inside despite being the most powerful figure in the Reefsteep black  market, with vast wealth and political influence under his thumb. Having completed his decades-long quest to slay everyone who was involved in betraying his teacher, he has no more goals for his life. After killing  the Lord Ameer of Ibut, the last of his targets, he realizes that the revenge he had been pursuing was ultimately empty, that the weapons he built and the schemes he engineered to that end no longer moved him. Even the death of the Lord Ameer didn't matter one bit in the political landscape of Sargon.
As for the Sargon army... We live in different times now. The ruling  Padishahs simply care not about what is happening here in this barren  wasteland. My guess is that it matters not to them whether it's the  father or the son that's in charge. Actually, to tell the truth, it  hardly matters to me either.
Ultimately, no one cared if the Lord Ameer was murdered or simply  died in an accident, not even Elliot himself. Sargon continues to be exploited by the Columbian military and the ruling Lords. Professor Thorne remains dead. His research, once entrusted to Elliot to prevent  it from becoming a weapon of war, has nonetheless been used by Elliot  himself to bring even more death. Now, 22 years later, Passenger sees  finding Kal'tsit as his only path to salvation, so that she can once  again give him a purpose like she did when she rescued him the first time.
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Folinic's mom, Lillia, also shares the same kind of story. Her husband was killed in Chernobog when the count decided to purge the researchers working on the sarcophagus device. Among the children of the families broken up by this incident are Lyudmila (later Crownslayer), Alex and Misha (later Skullshatterer), and Luisa (later Folinic). Lillia finds Kal'tsit after months of searching, intending to take revenge on  Grand Duke Vanya not just for her husband, but also for Luisa, who never got to know her father because of it. Kal'tsit tries to talk her out of  it, even during the final phases of the plan, but Lillia's mind is set.  She entrusts Kal'tsit with taking care of both Luisa and Lyudmila, as  she knows she won't be able to come back to live a normal life after  this. And... she succeeds. Although it is Kal'tsit who ultimately administered the poison, their plan works flawlessly and Duke Vanya is finally dead.
Except it still ended up being completely meaningless. The Grand Duke was in a glorified nursing home already near the end of his life, and if Kal'tsit didn't kill him then some other conspirator from the Ursus  political backstage would have done it anyway. He was already crippled and blind, and as we find out during the confrontation with the Emperor's Blade, even Kal'tsit only agreed to Lillia's plan because it  defused the conspiracies of other powerful figures who would have used  the Duke's death to spark another rebellion. The only thing that Lillia ended up accomplishing was making sure that Louisa would grow up without both a mother and a father, and Lyudmila would never get the answers she really wanted about her family's death. And, although she ended up not doing it, she was even also planning to go back to Chernobog to kill  Sergei, Alex and Misha's father, for his betrayal.
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And this carries on through the future outside the event. Crownslayer ends up joining Reunion because she thinks it will give her the answers  she wants and avenge her father. Folinic almost lets her anger at Atro's death get her into a confrontation with Wolumonde. In the end, Crownslayer is stopped by Kal'tsit and Folinic is calmed down by  Suzuran, but we might be able to imagine what would have happened if  they managed to carry out their vengeance.
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The theme of homeland is one that's intrinsically tied to Kal'tsit and has at least a bit of relation to the broader story outside of the event. It's harder to talk about since it's not clearly  split into individual stories like previously, but there's at least one character that exemplifies this theme the most: Old Isin.
Old Isin is appropriately to his name, old as rocks. He remembers being a servant to some lord of a long-lost city that very few even know once existed, and spends his time telling fortunes while trying to seek out people who, like him, also share that past. According to Kal'tsit, the city's people were scattered when it was destroyed, and now only Isin even remembers the origin of the name "Reefsteep". Even then, Isin only has vague memories, and believes it to be his unforgivable sin that  he has forgotten so much about the city.
Old Isin originally helps Kal'tsit and Elliot because he hopes that  she can help him remember about the lost city, and thus absolve his  "unforgivable sin". And Kal'tsit indeed does help him. Isin begins to recall the conquests of armies a thousand years ago, something even with  his age he should not have been a part of, much less remembered.  Kal'tsit dispels the illusions clouding his memory, and reveals that  what Isin remembers is only the stories that the padishah recounted to  him, that the glory of his old city was only a memory of another memory. In truth, the city in Old Isin's memory was merely a stepping stone for the padishah's ambition to conquer the uncharted deserts, and was abandoned just as easily when that campaign failed. His homeland's glory was just an illusion created in his mind by the padishah's charisma.
Which brings us to the Emperor's Blade. Wherever he stands is the dominion of the Empire of Ursus. Whatever he does carries out the Ursus Emperor's will. Or at least, that's how the Royal Guards imagine themselves, single-handedly carrying out their homeland's legacy. Kal'tsit lays it out clearly:
Kal'tsit: Tell me, what does the current Ursus Emperor think of the Pine Valley affair? Or do you mean to tell me the seeds of that uprising, the origins of the crisis were all the will of the Emperor? Feel free to keep deceiving yourself, but the truth is the young emperor is unaware of the events that transpired there. You believe he has no  need to know. You... all of you seek a bygone era. You are just caught up in the former emperor's grand vision!
As does Patriot in Chapter 8:
Patriot: I fought with your fathers. Your strength and tactical acumen are no less impressive than theirs. But you look at the Ursus of those times with rose-colored glasses. What you see is nothing more than your wild fantasies.
The Royal Guards are described in not too unclear words as soldiers  who probably believed too much of their own grandiose affect. They are unparalleled fighters, to be sure, but it isn't hard to infer that those words about executing Ursus's will and each Royal Guard being his own nation are words intended to strike fear into their enemies rather than  statements of any real truth. Indeed, if you know anything about the internal politics of Ursus, the idea of "Ursus's own will" can be seen as more of a nostalgia at a bygone era when Ursus was, or at least seemed, united in conquest under the previous Emperor. The perceived glory of their homeland is what motivates the Emperor's Blade, but like with Old Isin, the truth behind it is shaky at best.
We also have the contrast between the retired veteran at Pine Valley  and Grand Duke Vanya. While talking to Witte, the veteran cuts off one of his own fingers, claiming that the scars he has suffered in Ursus's wars, once considered symbols of his glory and honor, were ultimately meaningless, and he wants this self-inflicted wound to be his only legacy to Ursus. At the same time, the Grand Duke is postulating about how the seeds he had sown in the winter would give birth to beautiful flowers. Even though his actions and the crimes he committed never bore fruition, he is convinced even in death that Ursus's soil will bloom.
The issue of a real or imagined homeland, and its loss, is also  shared by the Sarkaz as a whole not only in this story but in the main story and many other events. It's even arguable that Rhodes Island's mission to help the Infected was originally inherited from Babel's goal of establishing a stable homeland for the Sarkaz. After all, as pointed  out in many places, the Infected and Sarkaz share much of the same discrimination.
Sarkaz Mercenary: Home...? How could us devils... us Infected possibly have one... Kal'tsit: The Sarkaz have tried to rebuild 'Kazdel', their home for centuries, though they have never succeeded. Everyone has a different idea as to what the term 'homeland' means, but as it stands right now,  Kazdel is perhaps as close as you can get to the term's original meaning.
And in Twilight of Wolumonde:
Armed Infected: We’re going home? To what home?
Mudrock: Kazdel. There may be no place for Sarkaz outside of Kazdel.  But in Kazdel, there is a place for you. Not because of tolerance. But because there is... nothing there. Kazdel... is where the homeless go. A land of rootless people.
So what does all this have to do with Kal'tsit?
In the ending cutscene, Passenger asks Kal'tsit whether this "Rhodes  Island" is yet another passing persona to be used to accomplish a goal and discarded when it's complete. Like the persona of the Trusted  Advisor, or the Servant, or the Laterano Cleric, will she abandon Rhodes  Island as well? Kal'tsit initially puts up a front saying he has no  right to ask, then bluffs about having thousands of answers, but is pushed by Passenger saying he'll even accept a lie. In one of the only times we get to see Kal'tsit faltering, she actually has no answer to this.
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Unlike the other characters we see throughout the story, Kal'tsit has no homeland. No matter how fake or illusory it is, Old Isin and the Royal Guard have something to believe about a place where they can belong. The nobles in Victoria, as incompetent as they appear from the outside, are dedicated to defending the peace of their home despite having no ruler. Even the ostracized Sarkaz can ultimately go back to Kazdel, as unpleasant as that might be. But while Kal'tsit wanders the earth to keep the homelands of others from falling into chaos, she has no homeland of her own to go back to.
In one of the trailers for Chapter 9, we hear a recording from Theresa, addressed to Kal'tsit: "I hope this Rhodes Island can be a place to call home, a place you can always return to."
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skzsauce01 · 3 years
Text
Harmony
Synopsis: Dogged by a shameful past, you try to fit as your new identity in a new dance program at a renowned music conservatory. The school heartthrob and world-class violinist takes interest in you, which would be fine if he wasn’t also your childhood best friend.
Warning: hysterectomy, infertility, panic, mention of murder disclaimer: fertility does NOT determine your worth as a person
Word Count: 10.3k
Pairing: fem!reader x Kim Seungmin
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There he is. Of course, there he is. Where else would the handsome prodigal son of the most prominent violinist go if not the best music conservatory in the country? You watch his bleached head of hair make its way across SKZ Conservatory of Music’s courtyard as fans flock him from behind. 
As for you, you sit on a random bench by yourself, waiting to start your first day at the conservatory’s new and nameless dance program as Emily Regan, not Y/N L/N, and most definitely not the gifted Kim Seungmin’s long-lost childhood best friend.
You must have stared at him too long, for he catches you and smirks. Blushing, you quickly clear your throat and head to class. He couldn’t have recognized you, right? No, you definitely look nothing like you did when you were six. If so, then why is he following you? You speed up, and while he makes no attempt to do the same, he surely is still on your tail. You turn the last corner and he does the same. You enter a room and take a seat. He— oh, you have the same class. First year literature. Just your luck. 
He walks by where you are seated and stops. “Hi there. What’s your name?”
You wish the ground would swallow you, but at least he didn’t call you Y/N or something like that.
“R-Regan. Emily Regan,” you mutter.
“Oh, American?”
You nod, still avoiding his eye.
“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Emily. I’m Kim Seungmin.”
He extends a hand out to shake, and you take it hesitantly. You aren’t sure you are on first name basis yet, but Kim Seungmin does what Kim Seungmin wants, you suppose.
“Hello, Kim.”
He smiles and takes the seat next to you and you wish you could disappear. But you can’t, so you excuse yourself to use the washroom. You thought you could get another spot when you returned, only to find him reserving your spot next to him for you.
The whole class, you do your best to focus on the professor, but he makes it difficult for you. He makes no effort to hide that he’s stealing glances at you, and fear creeps up your spine. What if he connects the dots and realizes you are your father’s daughter? He’d hate you, that’s for sure. After all you’ve done to him, it’s only natural.
You shake your head and he looks at you curiously. No, the one who did all that isn’t you, but Y/N L/N. You’re Emily Regan now. You just have to make sure you keep it that way.
Still, you’re glad to be able to see him again.
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You know you should not be doing this, and there is no reason for you to potentially embarrass yourself even more, but you cannot help yourself. His pieces of work are right there, and his door was propped open so that you could see the music inside. So, you let yourself in.
Being the son of a major benefactor of the school, Seungmin has his own studio on campus. Instruments of all sorts line the wall and his Stradivarius violin lays on the table beside the draft of his latest composition. No one will steal it anyway; it’s chipped and insured. 
It does, however, mean that Seungmin probably just stepped out for a bit, so you’ll have to be quick. You look at his piece and hum the notes to yourself.
A small smile forms on your lips as you read the sheet. It’s a duet, and he’s only written the second violin part for now. 
This whole thing feels familiar. Reading music with him, cheek to cheek, is something you did often. In fact, that’s exactly what you were doing that day you got that call to rush home only to find where you once lived was turned into a slaughterhouse. Your fingers curl around your cardigan as you recall that day. It was Albinoni’s Adagio. You shake your head and refocus on the notes before you, humming a little louder to drown out your thoughts. You need to finish before—
“You have perfect pitch.”
—Seungmin returns.
You shoot up straight and turn slowly around. Seungmin leans against the door with his arms crossed.
“You have perfect pitch,” he repeats, walking over to his piano. He takes the sheet and plays it on the keyboard. “You weren’t even a microtone off.”
“I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t—”
He holds up a hand to silence you. “You’re a dance major, right? Do you play anything?”
You shake your head and lie. “Not really.”
“That’s a shame. Well, it’s never too late to start.” He picks up his violin and hands it to you. “Do you want to hear how the piece actually sounds?”
Your eyes widen at the familiar instrument and you visibly flinch backwards to which he raises a brow.
“Emily? Something wrong?”
“No, er, I, uh…” What should you say? “I’m alright. Thank you, and sorry for intruding. I need to use the washroom now.”
“Hold up,” he calls, effectively making you freeze in your step. “You don’t think you can just walk in here and leave unscathed, do you?”
“W-what do you mean?” you laugh nervously.
“You’ve got to pay the admissions fee,” he replies. “If you don’t play the violin, then here.” He hands you his music. “Compose the first violin.”
“What? I don’t even play!”
“You can try, or I can call security. You might even get suspended,” he smirks.
You open and close your mouth soundlessly. If you fail here as Emily Regan the dance major, then what will become of you? You have no choice but to concede and take the paper from his hands.
“Great. It’s only thirty-two bars, so bring it by tomorrow!”
“But I—!”
He takes out his phone and begins dialing the number for security while reading out each digit.
“Fine! I’ll do it!” you relent.
He grins victoriously. “Great!”
You frown at your new project. “But if I may ask, why the first violin? Don’t people usually compose both at once or the melody part first?”
“I like playing second best,” he answers casually.
This you remember from your childhood days, but that was long, long ago, and only because you always wanted to play first. His skills have improved tremendously since then. Anyone who calls Kim Seungmin a second violinist these days would surely be mocked. “Second? But you’re a renowned soloist!”
“I just haven’t found the person I want to follow yet.”
There’s a pain in his voice that makes you bite your own lip. Even if that person is still here, how can he, the prodigal son from the greatest violinist in the nation, stand next to, let alone play with again, the child of a pariah?
“I better get started on this,” you excuse yourself. You can’t bear to see the scars you left on him any longer.
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Seungmin finds you the next day with your face on your desk. 
“Rough night?” he chuckles.
You pop your head off the table and swipe your hand over your mouth to rid it of any drool. At this point, you should give up ever looking good in front of the school’s heartthrob. 
“Here,” you cough, sliding over your work. “I’m forgiven with this, right?”
He hums approvingly and pulls up a keyboard on his phone. After playing it once, he shakes his head and pulls out another score and places it in front of you. 
“This won’t do. Try again.”
Your eyes widen. “But—!”
“You didn’t put yourself into this piece did you?”
How can he say that after you spent all night researching and writing drafts, trying to make something that wouldn’t disappoint the great Kim Seungmin? You open your mouth, however, no objection comes out. Something in you knows he’s right.
“Take your time with this next one. Just bring it to my studio when you’re ready, okay?”
You give a small nod and look at the paper on your desk with dread.
“But you did work hard on this,” he continues, “so here. A reward.” He slides a cup of coffee to you.  “Tell me what you like and I’ll get that next time.”
“Thank you, but you don’t have to,” you say, a little surprised by the gesture. “This time or the next.”
“Oh, come on. A little boost is nice after a rough night, isn’t it? How many hours did you even sleep?”
Good question. You’re curious yourself. You went to bed at four and were awakened at seven by your bladder, so one, two, “Three.”
He looks at you weirdly.
“What?” you defend. “I didn’t exactly have a choice.”
“You’re not from America, are you?”
That came out of the left field. “What?”
“Americans count like this.” He raises his index finger then his middle and then his ring, counting a number with each digit. “But you went like this.” He holds up five fingers and progressively puts one down, starting from his thumb.
“I must have gotten used to it here already,” you laugh sheepishly. “Oh look, the professor!”
You feel his stare, but thankfully, he does not say anything else after the instructor greets the class.
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The next attempt takes you eight days. You wouldn’t mind a little longer to work out the finer details, but seeing him in class pressures you to just turn it in.
You hold your breath as he scans over your new attempt. Your nervousness does not last long though as he does not even bother playing it and instead drops it right into the bin. He takes out yet another copy and slams it on the table in front of you.
“I really am trying my be—”
“That’s not what I’m looking for,” he cuts sternly. “Remember what I said. I want you in this piece. Not your best— you.”
“I—”
“No. Look here. Look at me. Focus.”
You gulp and do as told. His lips are pursed and his eyes intense.
“What do you feel?” His question sounds more like a statement.
“Happy?” you try.
He scowls.
“Sad?”
“No, you don’t,” he says. “Look at me. What do you feel?”
You rack your head for emotional words. What answer could he possibly be looking for? “Attraction?”
Seungmin breaks his seriousness and laughs loudly. “Attraction?”
“I mean, you have all those fans and the looks, wealth, and talent,” you try to explain, “so I thought you were looking for that.”
He pokes your forehead. “This isn’t about me or what I’m looking for. It hasn’t been since I gave you this piece. Think about it honestly. What does Emily Regan feel?”
Emily Regan? “Frustrated.”
Another shake of his head. “Deeper. Think. What do you feel?”
You bite your lip and flick your eyes to meet his. What do you feel? What do you feel, posing as a dancer here at SKZ Conservatory in front of Kim Seungmin?
“... shame.”
He smiles bittersweetly and hands you a pen. “Write,” he whispers gently.
You stare at the empty bars, pen quivering slightly above the page. Finally, you draw a small oval in a line.
You write and write, humming the notes to yourself and not realizing how time has passed. When you finally finish, the sun has already gone down. You look up and see Seungmin with his elbows resting on the table across from you and his hands clasped, not having moved a centimeter for the past few hours.
When you finally put down the pen, he turns the sheet towards himself. He stares at it for a good ten minutes before standing up with it and pulling out his Stradivarius. From his phone, he first records him playing his own composition and then plays yours over it.
The whole thing could not have been more than five minutes, but to you, it feels like an eternity. 
At last he finishes the piece with an up bow and brings his arm in a circle to his side. He stares at your work for a few more silent moments before saying, “Have you published music before?”
That certainly is not the comment you were expecting. “No?”
“It’s… familiar. I don’t mean the piece, but the style, it’s…”
“Well, do I pass?” you cut in before he can think too much of it.
He sets down his instrument. “It’s a little bland, but I'll take it. Good work, Emily.”
“I’ll be taking my leave then. Goodbye, Kim.”
“Wait—” He calls after you, but you are already out the door.
You speed walk until you are in the safety of a nearby washroom. You rest your back against the stall door and let out a sigh. Does he remember the amateur pieces you made almost two decades ago? Did you accidentally just expose yourself? No, prodigy or not, there is no way he can connect you to Y/N L/N just from thirty-two bars of music. At any rate, it’s best to lay low from him for now, you decide.
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Laying low does not really work when you are one of the few members of the conservatory’s budding dance ensemble though. Seungmin is hosting a charity concert and requested dancers for his show. You manage to finish your numbers for the night without complications and are now waiting in the wings for the curtains as Seungmin begins his final piece.
You close your eyes and allow yourself to enjoy his music until something about the tune strikes you. Your eyelids flutter open as a familiar melody fills the auditorium. It’s your piece! Sure, he wrote it into a solo, but the resemblance is unmistakable. 
When he finishes, he bows and makes a speech. Your classmate nudges you to snap you out of your surprise and urges you onstage for the curtain call. The whole time, you stare at Seungmin, unsure of what to make of the situation. 
At the end of his speech, he gestures for the dancers to come forward. He meets your eyes with his usual smirk and grabs your hand for the bow.
When all is done, you want to find an explanation for that last piece, but your bladder demands to be released right at that moment. You’ve been finding yourself needing to go more and more or the area starts to hurt, so you quickly relieve yourself and speed out. To your luck, it seems Seungmin took his time packing up his violin; you see his silhouette just across the field from the performance hall.
“Wait,” you call out, running after him. He doesn’t hear you until you are closer. “Wait!”
Seungmin turns around as you stop in front of him, resting your hands on your knees to catch your breath.
“Emily?”
He takes a look at your state. You’re still in your costume from having rushed out, and your sheer asymmetrical skirt is doing nothing for you against the night wind.
He shakes off his coat and wraps it around you. “Are you here because of that last bit?”
You nod and stare at him, hoping your gaze draws an explanation out of him.
“It’s a good piece. I felt the need to share it.” He fixes the collar around your neck. “I know I should have asked first. I’ll buy you food sometime to make up for it, yeah?”
You shake your head. “It doesn’t matter that you played it; I just want to know why you did it.”
“I told you already. I like it,” he shrugs.
“You like Paganini. You like Strasate. Anything from them or even something you wrote would have made a better finish. Why this?”
“It’s a charity concert for the needy. Your piece had fitting emotions.”
You narrow your eyes at him. Is there really nothing else?
“Hold on.” He narrows his eyes back at you. “How do you know so much about composers?”
“I— It’s— This is a music conservatory! I’ve just seen their names around in murals and such!”
“Makes sense,” he nods.
“Good. Well then, have a good evening, Kim,” you bid, relieved, and begin to turn around.
“Do you want me to walk you back to the dorm? It’s quite late,” he offers.
You turn around but do not stop walking away. “I still need to change. Thank you though!”
It is only when you’re in the green room do you realize you still have his coat.
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“Kim,” you call out, shuffling your feet quickly after him.
A wide grin spreads over his face as he turns around and sees your form. There’s a tuba on his shoulder. “Emily! Looking for me?”
You nod and thrust forward the bag in your hand. “Your coat. I came to return it.”
Seungmin dramatically wraps his hands around the instrument. “Oh no! My hands are full right now! Could you bring it to my studio in fifteen minutes?”
Your grip on the bag tightens in frustration, but he leans towards you, tuba looming overhead, and blinks thrice.
“Please? I’ll make it worth your effort.”
You fumble backwards, flustered, and drop your hand and the bag to your side. “Fine,” you relent. “Fifteen minutes.”
“Fifteen minutes,” he promises. As you walk out of the music hall, you hear a tuba playing fanfare.
Fifteen minutes later, you knock at his door which opens before you even finish your first knock. Seungmin greets you and gestures inside where a plate of mochi sits on his table with two cups of tea.
“Care to join me?” he invites.
You again hand him the bag and keep your feet planted where they are. “I think I’ll have to pass, but thank you.”
“Aw, don’t you like sweets?” He reaches for the plate and circles it around your face.
Still, you shake your head. “Again, thank you, but based on the last few times I was in here, I would rather not be.”
“I promise not to make you compose again. Just come in before the tea gets cold!”
“Why do you want me to anyway?”
“Huh?” His eyes widen at the question.
“I mean, other people have perfect pitch, yet you only sit with me to work through a composition. You sit next to me and buy me coffee and now you’re inviting me to tea. Why are you so interested in me?”
He tilts his head to the side. “‘Cause I like you, obviously.”
That sets off your alarms. Quickly, you dart your eyes around, looking to see if any of his fan girls are around to hear that and murder you. You then push him into the room and slam the door behind you.
“Excuse me, what?” you exclaim.
He sits by the food, crossing his legs. “I. Like. You.” he repeats slowly.
“B-b-b-but that’s impossible,” you sputter. “Curious? Maybe. But attracted to? No.”
He chuckles. “Why not? I mean, it did start out as curiosity, but the more I poked around, the more intrigued I became. You’re a woman full of mysteries, Emily. I like that.”
You put your hands in front of you and slowly back up. “No, no. No. No. There’s nothing to me at all. We don’t know each other very well. Of course a stranger is going to have a lot of unknowns. Once you get to know me, you’ll find that you’ve wasted your time and energy.” You like your acquaintanceship right now. Even being ignored by him is totally fine, but if he ever finds out who you are, he’ll hate you and spit on the person you’ve tried so hard to become.
“Oh really?” He stands and advances to you, making you shrink. “Then let’s put your theory to the test, shall we?” 
“What do you mean?” you gulp.
“You answer my questions and I’ll see if I still like you then.”
“Q-questions?”
“Yeah. We can go slowly if you’d like. Maybe one a day? How does that sound?” 
When you don’t respond, he begins. “Why do you seem so afraid of touching a violin?”
“I— uh…”
“Why did you lie about your home country? Why did you feel ‘shame’? Why did you sneak into my studio to look at my work yet claim to have no interest in music?”
With every question, he takes one step in your direction, finally backing you up against the wall. 
“And” —he lowers and softens his voice— “how does it feel to kiss you?”
“I’ll— I’ll—” You squirm in your shoes, head down and fists balled. The silence is deafening between your stutters, but he makes no effort to fill it, waiting patiently for your response.  “I’ll answer the last one,” you finally squeak.
“Alright then.”
You hear one of his hands pressing on the wall behind you and feel the other coming up to your jaw. He leans closer and closer and you squeeze your eyes tighter and tighter. You’re shaking so much, you can’t tell if you’re even still standing anymore.
His breath fans your lips as he suddenly chuckles and straightens up. He leaves a quick peck on your forehead and steps back.
“You don’t have to do things you don’t want to, Emily.” He has a soft smile which you stare at with surprise at the turn of events. “Doesn’t mean I’ll stop annoying the daylights out of you though,” he adds cheekily.
He slides the mochi back into the box they came in and hands them to you. “Go back to your dorm. Maybe we’ll continue our interrogation next time. Oh, and there’s a closer toilet if you turn right since you seem to go all the time.”
You stand there, mochi in hand, with your jaw opening and closing without any audible sound. He laughs again and turns you around towards the door.
“Go, before I poke you with my bow.”
Mention of a violin snaps your soul back into your body. “Okay, okay. Goodbye, Kim.”
“Thanks for returning the coat,” he calls after you as you disappear into the washroom on the left.
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“Remember to choose a partner for this project. Let me know if you can’t get one by next week,” your literature professor concludes and whisks out the door.
You feel the entire room turn towards your direction no thanks to the one and only Kim Seungmin sitting next to you. He himself turns toward you with a plotting grin.
“Emily.”
You close your eyes and take a deep breath, pain rippling through your belly as you do so. There is no point resisting, and you don’t feel up to it today anyway.
“Are you free tonight? I’ll pick you up after your practice and we can get a head start.”
That night, you already know who has just arrived when the girls come squealing into the locker room. You couldn’t care less though. You try to rub away the pain that’s nagging at your belly and fumble around for some pain killers. You allow yourself five minutes after tossing back the pills, but begrudgingly drag your feet outside so as to not keep Seungmin waiting. 
He greets you with an electrolyte drink which you take and thank him for as discreetly as possible without catching the attention of his fans. He thankfully seems to take the hint and follows you outside, only fully approaching you when the last of the girls retreats back into the changing room.
“Ready for our project?”
“You’re awfully excited for homework,” you comment.
“It’s not just any homework.” He bumps you with his shoulder. At that moment, another wave of pain grips your stomach, causing you to stop in your step and bend over.
“Did I nudge too hard?” he gasps. “I’m sorry!”
You shake your hand. “Just… premenstrual cramps. It’s a little hard to manage these days,” you squeeze out.
He walks you to a nearby bench and kneels in front of you. He opens your drink for you and wipes sweat from your forehead.
“Are you okay? Do you want to go home and rest for today?” he asks worriedly.
“I’ll be fine in a bit; I just need the medicine to kick in. Sorry for delaying us.”
“Don’t worry about that.” He takes your hand and massages the pressure point between your thumb and index finger. “Is there anything you need?”
You assure him that you’re fine and can continue with the scheduled homework session which you know he cut short with one excuse or another. You two do the bare minimum on the assignment before he “realized” he scheduled an appointment to restring his violin. After Seungmin walks you to your dorm, you quickly put on a liner and head to bed.
That night, you learn that a liner was a mistake. You wake up as you often do by a call from the bathroom. Groggily, you swing your legs off your bed and are startled by a loud ‘squish.’ Too distracted by the gnawing in your pelvis, you think nothing of it, until you open your door and the hallway lights pour into your room, illuminating your blood-covered feet. With a gasp, you quickly turn around and see the trail of red behind you. You quickly reach for your heaviest pad only to be gripped with the worst shock of pain you’ve had yet. You fall to your knees then ultimately to the floor.
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Waking up on the floor makes you forget where you are, and realizing that you are laying in a pool of blood and urine does not help. It takes a moment for you to recover from the shock the state of your room gave you, but when you do, you decide to get yourself cleaned up first then deal with the room later.
Twenty minutes later, you again face the disaster that is your dorm. Thankfully, you do not have literature today, so no one— and by no one you mean Seungmin— will notice if you take a day off to take care of it.
You begin pulling off your bedsheets to wash when you hear a knock at your door. You panic and look around. It doesn’t take a genius to know your room is in no condition for a guest right now.
“Emily?”
And of course it has to be Kim Seungmin. You freeze in your spot, not knowing what to do.
“Did she leave?” you hear him ask himself. This is good. You hope he leaves.
“I guess so,” he mutters. 
You hear some plastic shuffling outside and then his retreating footsteps. You breathe a sigh of relief which you immediately regret because of the pain that comes with breathing too heavily. Your periods have never hurt this much, you note with worry.
You return to your sheets until your phone vibrates with a notification.
Kim Seungmin- Lit [10:59 AM]: Hope you’re feeling better. I left some soup and food at your door since it seems like you aren’t home.
Kim Seungmin- Lit [10:59 AM]: Call me if you need something. Or if you need a ride to the hospital.
Hospital? You rub your abdomen, wondering if the pain warrants a visit. You take some more painkillers and eat the food before finishing cleaning your room. As you leave the washing machine running downstairs, you sit at your table after another washroom stop for a quick nap. You nestle your head in your arms and close your eyes…
… and open them a few hours later, feeling like you’d rather be dead. You can barely breathe and your room spins around you. You don’t even remember to grab your keys as you stumble out the door. Hospital, hospital. No, the hospital’s too far. The conservatory’s health center will have to suffice for now, and it’s only two buildings away.
You must look really unwell, for as soon as you step into the facility, there are already three staff members rushing to your side. You aren’t sure what happens next. It looks like your arrival caused quite the commotion, but all you can hear is Mozart’s Requiem playing somewhere. The world is closing in on you, and you feel your legs give out.
“Seungminnie…”
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You wake up to the humming of machines in a hospital room. You realize they transferred you when you see an old lady sleeping in the bed beside yours.
Thankfully, you feel much better now, though you suspect it has something to do with IV connected to your wrist.
Seeing that you are awake, a nurse comes in to check your vitals.
“Are you feeling alright, Miss Regan?” she asks.
You nod and thank her as she replaces your IV bag.
“The doctor wants to see you in a bit for your consultation, but I need a bit of information from you first. We couldn’t find any family members attached to your name, so you’ll have to fill out some forms for yourself, alright sweetie?”
After making sure you are able to, she hands you a clipboard which you complete steadily until one section. “Emergency contact,” it reads.
Seeing your hesitation, the nurse chimes in. “It can be anyone. A friend, teacher, anyone you can trust just in case, you know?”
You smile politely. "May I leave it blank?"
The nurse looks stunned. "I suppose, but what if something happens?"
"You can call a lawyer."
She looks doubtful but stays quiet save for the few instructions she gives to reach your doctor’s office. As you walk there, you think about what just happened. Emergency contact? You'd just moved here for school. Your mother passed during childbirth, and your father— Emily Regan doesn’t have a father. There's no one you could have put down, you tell yourself. No one. Not even a certain overzealous violinist. 
You knock twice on the door you were told. 
“Miss Emily Regan?” the doctor greets as you walk in.
“Yes, that’s me.”
“Nice to meet you. My name is Doctor Lee. How are you feeling right now?"
"A lot better."
"Glad to hear it. Please take a seat. Tell me, have you experienced frequent urination lately?"
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You walk out of the pharmacy with a paper bag in your hands. Your heart drums in your ears but for a completely different reason this time. What will this mean for you? You’ll need to be resting for two months after the procedure, and as a dance major, this means you can’t attend class. Never mind its impact on your school year, what will this mean for your entire life? Your father has already tarnished the name Y/N L/N. You’ve tried so hard and lied so much just to make Emily Regan real. What have you made her into now? Dirty. Fiendish. Despicable. Even if you escaped being the daughter of the most hated artist who shamed his whole nation, you’ll never escape who you really are. And now this? Your hand unconsciously rises to your belly, rubbing it. It’s only further proof of what a defect you are. 
It is around four by the time you arrive back at the dorms. Thankfully, the hospital phoned your resident assistant who has your keys for you. You’re still distracted by your thoughts as you approach the building and nearly miss the man pacing up and down the front door.
Seungmin has his shoulders hunched and hands clasped together as he blows on them to keep warm, his grey cardigan not doing much against the evening chill. 
“Kim?” you call out, not believing your eyes. You are, after all, on a lot of drugs.
He immediately runs towards you when he recognizes you. You stand where you are and wait for him to come, now believe that he truly is here. Was he out here waiting for you? Your hand curls around your belly. He shouldn’t be wasting his efforts like this on someone like you. Never mind the faults of Y/N, even as Emily, you no longer deserve the love of someone like Kim Seungmin. You’d never wish for your childhood best friend to be with someone as flawed as you.
“What are you doing here?” you inquire as he stops in front of you, raising his hands as if wanting to hold you but is afraid you’d break under his touch.
“You didn’t pick up the phone…” he whispers. “You weren’t home and you didn’t pick up the phone…”
“I… had something going on.” You tuck away your prescription in your coat. “What are you doing here?”
“You didn’t—”
“Kim.”
“—the phone—”
“Kim Seungmin!”
His eyes look up to meet yours and you see the daze being snapped out of them.
“Huh?” 
You exhale sharply and repeat. “What are you doing here?”
“Your dorm doesn’t allow guys past twelve,” he replies matter of factly.
Your brows knit together. “You were out here for four hours?” 
He nods. “Where were you? You were sick yesterday, and now you’re off the map until four in the morning.”
You shouldn’t have snapped. You know what he means by his words, but you aren’t exactly having the best day, and Seungmin isn’t supposed to be here. You aren’t who he actually likes. You aren’t the six year old Y/N nor are you an ideal bachelorette. No, you are some imposter and you hate it. You hate it, so you state flatly, “Why does it matter to you where I was? If you’re worried about the literature project, then I’m sorry. I promise to finish it on time, but it was you who ended the homework session early yesterday, and as far as I’m concerned, we don’t have anything scheduled for today. Thank you for the meal earlier, but if stuff like that’s going to make you feel entitled to knowing about my every whereabouts, then please stop doing it.”
“That’s not what I—”
You close your eyes and let your head roll back. “I know. I’m sorry. It’s been a long day, so please just leave me alone for a bit.”
You walk past him, expecting the conversation to be left at that. You hear him hesitating, which you also expect, but you are not ready for the:
“No.” 
Seungmin runs in front of you and spreads his limbs out, blocking your path. “You’re suffering. I don’t know from what, or if it’s even really period cramps, but you are. I’m not letting you do it alone.” He sucks in his cheeks as he tries to find his next words. You half expect him to take you to his studio and sit you down with a drink until you give him at least a hint of what’s happening, but he surprises you with, “I’m not saying you have to share it with me, but you need to have someone.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“No, you won’t,” he objects. “And trust me. I’ve seen a man try and it cost him his life and his daughter.”
The familiar story makes you freeze. Despite yourself, you ask, “Who?”
“My father’s best friend. The late violinist, L/N.” 
“T-the one who turned out to be a murderer?” Why are you saying this? Just leave him and go!
Seungmin approaches you now that you’ve stopped. His presence makes your eyes water. “He only got involved with the wrong people and ruined his name because he tried to deal with the grief of losing his wife on his own. He even hid it from his own best friend, and that’s how everything tumbled out of control.”
“And his daughter?” Stop it! Y/N— no, Emily, stop it!
“No one knows, though she could be dead. My father immediately sent out searches for her, but nothing ever came up.” His voice softens almost to the point of inaudible as he talks about her. “Father hasn’t played a duet since, and neither have I.”
“I’m sorry for your loss,” you say.
“Don’t be. You didn’t even know about it, so what could you have done?” he laughs dryly. 
The irony makes your toes curl.
“Just don’t make me watch another person go down the same path, okay?” he pleas gently.
Again, you should have done something else. You should just say, “Okay, I’ll reach out if I need it” and leave it at that. Instead, you turn to him and ask, “Can you play me ‘Méditation’?”
You watch his eyes widen at the ‘coincidence’ of your request, especially after that story. 
“‘Méditation?’” he asks.
“Yes. Massenet’s.”
He visibly takes a step back and you know why. After all, you’ve made this exact request a million times whenever you were left to sleepover at your father’s best friend’s house.
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You wake up on the couch of his studio. Seungmin lays sprawled out on the floor next to you, violin on his chest and bow dangling from his thumb. You use the blanket he put over you to lift the ten million dollar instrument onto a table before he can roll over and crush it. You cradle the Strad, lifting it over its owner to the table on the other side.
“You know who composed ‘Méditation’ but you can’t touch a violin?”
The voice startles you, and you jerk backwards, stumbling back onto the couch. Once you’ve regained your balance, you glare at the man who’s still laying on the ground, moving only his eyes to look at you.
You sigh and pull the blanket over your head. “Don’t pry my secrets or I’ll have to keep avoiding you,” you warn.
“Oh!” he hums.
You pull the blanket back down and see him sitting up now with an arm propped on his knee. “What?”
“You finally admitted to hiding things,” he tells you.
“Everyone hides things.”
“But not everyone sucks at denying it.”
“Hey!”
He points at your jacket. “Your pill bottles are literally rattling with every move you make, Miss I’m-totally-fine.”
You wrap your jacket tighter around yourself. “They’re— they’re—”
“Pill bottles,” he insists. He folds his hands on the couch and rests his head on them. “Your inept lying is adorable.”
You groan and toss the blanket over his head. He tries to pull it off, but you clamp your hand over his to stop him.
“I don’t want to tell you this, but you did house me for a night, so you deserve to know at least this much, I guess.” Your serious tone stops his resistance attempts. “I’m scheduled for surgery in a little over a week. I’ll be in a hotel for two weeks after the procedure with a nurse since I don’t have someone to care for me during the bed rest period. It’s a relatively safe procedure, so don’t worry.”
Seungmin flips your hand over and grabs it. The blanket slips off his head and you are left looking at his glassy eyes.
“I…” He takes a moment to collect his thoughts before continuing. “I won’t ask you where you’re staying if you don’t want to tell. Just promise you’ll text after the surgery. Let me know that you’re still alive at least.”
You nod. “You’ll see me working on our Powerpoint for the project at least.”
“Don’t worry about that,” he tells you.
“I won’t be able to dance for a month and a half after this. My general education classes are all I’m going to be doing,” you assure him.
“If it gets too hard—”
“I know. Thank you, Kim.” 
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You roll your suitcase off the bus. You aren’t sure if it is extra windy today or if it’s just your nerves, but you shiver as you stare at the hospital before you. You take a deep breath and take a step forward only to find your feet glued to the sidewalk. 
Just then, you hear a ping through your earphones. You pull out your phone and see a message.
Kim Seungmin- Lit [7:41 AM]: [get_well_soon.mp3]
You click into it and a piano and violin playing a familiar intermezzo fills your ears. You then look down at your feet and successfully lift one up and place it in front of the other until you are in front of the reception.
“Hello. I have an appointment under Emily Regan, and I'd also like to update my emergency contact information.”
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After two weeks, you’re at last pushing open the door to your own dorm room.
You aren’t sure if it’s the morphine or the darkness of the room, but stepping inside after two weeks and seeing your curtains sway lightly in the evening air makes you feel emptier than you’ve ever felt before. Suddenly, your emotions overwhelm you all at once and you succumb to the floor. Your throat tightens and you wrap your arms around your abdomen, tucking your knees to your chest. You think you are crying, but you can’t be sure. The walls are closing in. You feel yourself being shackled by chains and no matter how hard you scream, no one hears you. Your voice bounces in your head like a ricocheting bullet and water is seeping in from somewhere, filling your nose and mouth, depriving you of air. All the while, your heartbeat echoes in your head.
Ba dum.
Ba dum.
Ba 
… dum.
With a strangled gasp, you manage to break one hand free for a split moment, and you immediately look for the remote that has called a nurse for the past two weeks. Of course, you are no longer at the hospital, so the only thing you grab is your phone.
“Seungminnie… Seungminnie, Seungminnie.”
You fumble with the device, but the chains are tightening around you again. Fog clouds in and you can’t see your phone anymore. You don’t even hear it hit the floor as it slips from your hand.
Ba dum. Ba dum. Ba dum.
Suddenly, you’re six again. Before you is the empty hallway of Violinist Kim’s mansion. Your plastic princess heels thunder with every step as you run down the hall.
Ba dum. “Seungminie?”
There’s no one there. Every turn you make just leads to another empty hall. The ground begins to morph, twisting and turning under your tiny feet. 
Ba dum. Ba dum.
The giant bow on your dress unravels and cinches around your ankle, and you trip and scrape your chin.
“Seungmin!”
“Emily!”
The ribbons shrivel. The chains clatter to the ground. The water drains. You gasp haggredly for air as your hands fly up to his shoulders for support. Beside you, your phone sits on the floor, his name illuminating from the screen.
“Emily, what’s wrong?” he asks, lowering his own device from his ear.
Your hands climb up to his face, cupping it. Your eyes are still glazed over. Blood drips from your lips from having been gnawed on too much.
“You’re… you’re not Seungmin.” You put your hands all over his face, feeling its features. “Or are you? No…”
“Emily—”
“Who’s Emily? You’re not Seungmin.”
“Stop biting yourself.”
“Seungmin’s not blond. Seungmin’s not—”
“Emily!”
“WHO’S EMILY?”
He freezes and looks at you. You’re drooped over at this point, defeated and tired. He then puts one hand behind you and pulls you into his arms.
“I am Seungmin,” he says gently. The vibration of his chest as he speaks lulls you. “I am Seungmin,” he repeats. “I’m right here. You’ve found me. I’m right here.”
Shakily, one of your hands reaches up and grabs his shirt while the other circles around to your lower belly.
“... Seungminnie…”
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You’re in the furthest corner of the bed, staring at him. He’s just standing there, staring at you, juice in one hand and your keys in the other.
“So,” he begins. “What do you remember?”
“Nothing,” you answer truthfully. Your eyes shift to your desk where some medicine including a bottle of Kadian and a pack of birth control sit carelessly. “But I don’t suppose I had to say much for you to figure things out.” He’s going to leave you all alone now. Why is he even still here? He should realize how unsuitable you are for someone like him. There’s undeniable evidence in front of him now.
He clutches at his chest and scrunches up his face as a glaze passes over his eyes. He takes a moment before taking out one of the pills. He hands it to you with the juice, obviously having read the administration instructions.
“Yeah,” he confirms. “That and the frequent urinations. How much did they take out?”
You look away and your hand subconsciously reaches down. So he is still holding onto hope for some miracle. That’s why he hasn’t left yet. “Enough.” Now go, Seungmin.
He sits beside you, fiddling with the blankets between his fingers.
You break the silence first. “Don’t feel inclined to stay.”
“Huh?” he questions, looking up.
“I’m” —you motion downstairs— “you know. You’re here because you like me, right? Well, I can’t exactly produce an ideal family anymore. You should probably look for someone who can help you continue your and your father’s legacy.”
He looks more confused than you’ve ever seen him. “What?”
“I’m saying you should walk away now. I won’t hold it against you, so you don’t have to live with any guilt. I never considered our relationship possible anyway.”
Confusion shifts to anger. “You— You think I— I—” He struggles with his words after having been presented a scenario he’s never even considered. He exhales long and hard. “No. Just” —he grabs at an imaginary stress ball— “no. I’m not leaving, and you can’t make me. I don’t like you just because of your fertility. How could you think that? I don’t want a child. I want you. Do you understand? You! I couldn’t even sleep or drink for the past two weeks you were hospitalized, and the only time I could eat was whenever you sent a text or when I saw your little cursor on the Powerpoint. You think a surgery like that can weigh out whatever I felt that drove me to do this?”
“Still, I’m—” 
“Worthy, beautiful, and loveable,” he insists.
Those words are foreign to you. They’ve been long before you went to the hospital. How can he believe such things about you? Would he say the same things about Y/N? 
Seungmin sighs when you don’t respond and drags you closer. You don’t resist which he takes as a good sign. “So you don’t have to hide things from me anymore, okay? I’ll be here for you.”
You try to bite your lip only to find ointment there, so you play with a loose thread on your blanket instead.
“I… I’m already hiding a lot of things from you that I’m afraid to confess,” you admit. “Will that still be okay?”
You feel him nod. “Take your time. I’ll wait until you’re comfortable.”
You close your eyes and bask in his warmth. Will he really be okay if he knew he has in his arms the daughter of a drug addict murderer? Will he really be okay knowing you’re his “best friend” who left him without a trace for all these years?
You hope so. 
You want to believe so.
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“It’s out! It’s out! It’s out!” you exclaim. 
“It’s just one grade. Relax,” Seungmin chuckles. Still, he stops playing the piano and swings his legs over to look at your phone.
“Not all of us have an established violin career to fall back on,” you remind him while logging into your account. You cover your eyes and hold the phone away from you as the page loads. “I can’t look.”
Seungmin takes the device. “I think you should.”
“Why? Is it good or bad?”
“We got a hundred.”
“We did?” You uncover your eyes. “We did! We did!” 
In your excitement, you give him a quick hug. He puts your phone on the table and drags you onto the piano bench. “You’re not doing anything right now, right?” He puts a simple piece in front of you. “Try this.”
“Kim, I don’t play.”
“It’s simple. Look.” He squeezes in behind you and puts your hand on the keyboard. “That’s middle C.”
He presses on the key and you scoff. You lift your left hand up as well and humor him. You’re definitely a bit choppy, but you make your way through the piece slowly and surely. Seungmin wraps his arms around your belly and rests his head on your shoulder with his eyes closed, swaying slightly to the music. When you get to the end, you lift up your hands and rest them on your lap.
“You’re just cuddling, aren’t you?”
He opens his eyes and looks at you. “Are you uncomfortable?”
Your eyes shift to the music. “No, I like it.”
You feel his heartbeat accelerating at your words. “So uh, you’ve played piano before, haven’t you?”
“Uhm. I played a few different things.”
“Violin?”
“That was my focus.”
He’s not surprised. “Were you good?”
“I was better than you,” you tease.
“Oh, really?” He jumps up and puts his violin under his chin in a challenging stance. 
You put your hands defensively out with a laugh. “That was like years ago!”
He wiggles his eyebrow and starts performing up-bow ricochet and left hand pizzicato.
You roll your eyes humorously. “We get it, Mr. World-class-musician.”
He laughs too and sits back down beside you. “Speaking of which, I’m playing with the JYP Philharmonic next weekend. You’ll come, right?”
You nod. “If I can manage to walk there.”
“I need to get there early, but I’ll have my driver take you.” He smiles widely. “You have to come, you have to. I have someone I want you to meet.”
“Who?”
He holds a finger to his lip cheekily. “Now it’s my turn to have a little secret.”
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You fix the ribbon around your neck and smooth out your skirt as your driver comes around to open your door. You thank him and make your way into the building where Seungmin asked you to meet him. You hear him before you see him.
“Oh, she’s wonderful. She really is.”
There’s another lower voice that mumbles a reply you can’t make out. 
“Kim?” you call, approaching his waiting room.
Seungmin’s grin widens as he turns around and sees you. You, on the other hand, drop the chocolate and banana you brought for him when you see the other man in the room.
Seungmin gestures to you and looks at his companion. “Dad, this is Emily Regan, the girl I’ve been talking to you about. Emily, my father.”
Violinist Kim looks as shocked as you. “Emily… Regan?” His eyes narrow.
Seungmin furrows his brows. “What’s wrong, Dad?”
He doesn’t say anything and extends a hand out to you. “Nice to meet you, Emily Regan.”
You shake his hand uncertainly, unable to look at his unblinking eyes.
“Emily? Dad?” Seungmin looks between the two of you.
The older gentleman turns to his son. “See me for a moment.”
After Seungmin sits you on a couch, the two step out into the garden as per his request. You watch as Violinist Kim says something that makes Seungmin run a hand through his hair then stab them into his pockets as he slouches backwards. He replies with something that his father quickly rebuttals. What can they possibly be discussing? It’s clear Violinist Kim does not approve of you. Does he realize who you are? Or is Emily Regan the one he disapproves of? As a parent, it’s not uncommon to want grandchildren after all.
Suddenly, someone else bursts into the room. “Mr. Kim Seungmin, the conductor is looking for you!”
The stage worker is surprised to see only you in the room, and you inform him where the performers are. He thanks you and lets himself outside to deliver the message.
You stand as Seungmin and his father walk back in. Your friend pauses in his steps to talk to you.
“I’m sorry about that,” he apologizes. “This isn’t how I thought my dad would react to this. I’ll talk to you after.” He then spots your hand which has again found its way to your abdomen and frowns. “I swear that’s not something we talked about nor is it even something worth getting upset over, okay?”
You give him an assuring smile. “Break a leg.”
You watch as he hurries to catch up to the stage worker who is giving a briefing as they walk. You don’t bother to ask what is wrong. You can already tell from the cold eyes of Violinist Kim what is wrong. All you can do is wonder how much he told his son.
The concert goes well. You can tell that whatever happened with his father took a toll on Seungmin’s mentality, but his concerto was still dynamic and captivating. A few rows in front of you,  you spot Violinist Kim still nodding along to the music and supporting his son. 
After forty minutes, the house lights come back on and it is time for intermission. Seungmin is done with his concerto, so you go back backstage to see if you can catch him. You don’t have to go that far though. On your way, you hear a tree go, “Psst, Emily!”
You look and see him waving you over. He’s still calling you Emily, so that’s good, you note.
“Why are we out here?” you inquire.
He takes you a little further into the woods until he finds a boulder for you to sit on. He hoists you up so you’re comfortable.
“I thought I should clear things up before my dad talks to you,” he explains. “I’ve seen enough K-dramas to know what kind of headache misunderstandings cause.”
You nod, prompting him to go on. He does.
“You remember when I told you about Violinist L/N?” 
This sends your heart racing. Has he found out?  
“Well his daughter used to be my best friend. The thing is, my dad thinks you look a lot like her, and he thinks I’m only with you because of it.” 
Oh, it’s just that. Thank goodness. 
He grabs your hands, his eyes serious. “I just want you to know that no matter what he tells you, that’s not it. I like you for you, Emily, and nothing more and nothing less.”
You’re still convincing yourself that he isn’t aware of your past identity, and you must be making a face that he registers as doubt for he slides a hand up to your cheek, forcing you to meet his eyes. “Please believe me.”
You snap out of it. Of course you believe him, and it wouldn’t change much if he were in love with Y/N L/N anyway. However, you don’t miss the opportunity to ask, “What would you do if she is not dead? What would you do if she came back?”
“I’d celebrate her return. I’d grab lunch with her and introduce the two of you, but that’ll be the extent of it.”
“What if she’s been doing well all these years, and you were the only one left hurting and alone, wondering where she is? Could you forgive her? Could you accept someone like that, not to mention a child of a murderer, with open arms?”
Seungmin retreats his hand and frowns at you. “Why are you saying things like that? She’s my best friend!”
You grab his hand before it can go far. This time it’s your turn to stare him in the eye. “I’m not accusing her. I’m just asking if you, Kim Seungmin, would be able to forgive her in this scenario, and I’m not going to say that you’re right or wrong if you do or don’t either.”
“Then why do you ask?” His frown shifts to a perplexed one.
You let your hand drop to your side. “I… I’m in a similar situation. I don’t know if my friend will accept me if I try to reconnect.”
“Do it.” He has on a smirk now as he walks closer. “If it’s you, I’m sure she’d love to reconnect.”
You pout at his unsatisfactory response. “You’re just biased.”
Your pursed lips only makes him stare at them. “I sure am,” he mumbles. 
He again brings his hand up to your neck, index finger resting behind your ears. You can’t tell if he’s avoiding your question or just distracted, but who cares? You’re distracted now too. The woods are setting the perfect mood, and the orchestra is playing something romantic inside. Your eyelids begin to close. He looks at you one more time, his own eyes drooping.
“Is this okay…” he whispers raspily. “... Emily?”
Your eyes fly open and you shove him away a little harder than you intended to. This isn’t you. The person he wants to kiss isn’t you, and you can’t steal that away from him, even if you desperately want it yourself. You can’t have this. You can’t have him. It isn’t yours and it isn’t right.
He falls down and looks up at you, bewildered.
“I’m— I’m sorry!” you blammer. “I, uh, I have to go.”
You jump off the boulder and walk faster than you know you should post-op.
“Emily.” You hear his feet crunching leaves right behind you. “Emily. Stop. Emily. Emily. Emily.”
Why does he keep saying that name? 
You don’t turn back and you don’t slow down.
You hear him curse and speed up, which scares you, but before you can react, he sweeps you off of your feet and carries you in his arms.
“What are you doing?”
“Something you won’t on your own,” he replies vaguely. He storms to his green room and kicks the door open. He sets you down in the middle of it and pulls out his violin. “Play,” he commands you.
You shrink back at the sight of the instrument. It’s a glorious instrument carved from a choice tree and shaped over a careful flame by masterful hands, capable of drawing out the soul of its player. You know touching it will draw out what you’ve been working so hard on suppressing. You aren’t Y/N, daughter of Violinist L/N. You have no business with a violin. “I can’t. You know this, Kim.”
“You can’t play or you can’t admit the truth? Play, Emily.”
Wait, what?
He holds the Stradivarius in front of you. His tone is firm and his eyes are fierce, but he doesn’t hold the violin any closer than thirty centimeters away. He needs you to make this last leap.
“What do you know?” you demand.
“Play.”
“Tell me, what did your father really tell you?” you screech.
“Play.”
You begin shaking. The f holes are taunting you. You hear the screams of your father’s victims. You hear the TV reporters all cursing his name. They’re all inside there. They’re all inside, waiting for you to release them with your playing and eat you alive. “Kim, please.”
“Play.”
“No, I— I—”
“Play.”
He already knows. You’re sure he already knows, yet somehow, this still feels like a chasm far too wide for you to cross. Can you accept this violin? Can your past? Y/N is the child of a drug-addicted murderer. She’s a six year old whose own father bathed her in blood and blacklisted her existence. Can you accept Y/N L/N?
You look up at the deep brown eyes before you. You know he can.
“Seungmin…” you choke.
He lowers his voice and softens his gaze. “Play,” he tells you.
And so you do. You timorously reach for the instrument and perform Albinoni’s Adagio, the very last piece he’s heard you play. 
Tears roll down your face as your fingers fly across the board like you’ve played the piece all your life. You’re scared, you’re scared, you’re so, so scared. You didn’t even realize how hard you’ve been working to repress this part of you, and now that you’re facing it head-on, you don’t know what to make of it, but for once, it’s okay. Even if you fall. Even if you break apart, you finally have someone who will pick up the pieces. 
You play, and play, and play until you don’t know what to play any more, yet still you played. You don’t know how long it’s been, but you play until you can no longer lift up the scroll. You let the violin slip to your side and the bow clatter to the ground. A pair of arms wrap around you to stop you from collapsing. You close your eyes as one final tear makes its way down your face.
Seungmin presses your head into his shoulder. “I forgive you, Y/N, because I love you.”
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<four years later>
You look onto the expecting crowd. Your heart’s beating quickly and the violin in your hands feels heavier than usual. Seungmin steps up next to you with his instrument. He adjusts your white skirt, his new golden band glistening under the lights as he does so.
“How are you feeling?” he asks.
You smile at the familiar question. “Ready,” you reply.
He smiles back and lifts his Stradivarius under his chin. You do the same and he begins to play three one-eighth C’s followed half one. You feel his music envelop you. You close your eyes, place the tip of your bow on your E-string and let “Wedding March” flow from your soul.
A sense of peace overcomes you. After learning about your father, starting your life over, and losing your fertility, peace seems almost foreign to you, yet you’ve done it. Amidst all the chaos, you’ve finally found your harmony. 
~ ad.gold
Read it from Seungmin’s perspective here.
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Hey!!!! Can I ask ummmm nsfw scenario of Trafalgar Law x shy! fem! S/O? Okay, Law use this prompt 37, 43, 50. So, I have read that I can use 3 prompts. But I have choose one character so... I hope that's alright for you.... And that's it. Take your time.😊
Hey Anon! Thank you for requesting. Sorry this took so long to make. I’m a little rusty in the NSFW department. I hope you enjoy it! I had a lot of fun writing it out!
Warning: NSFW 18+  
Word Count: 1.7k
Hell must have frozen over to allow both Trafalgar D. Water Law and Eustass Kid to lay anchor at the same island and run into each other at the bar. Both crews are watching from afar on opposite sides, placing bets on what’s going to happen next.
It’s not like Law to get jealous. He’s confident in himself and in the relationship the two of you formed in stone. He knows whole heartily he’d never have to worry about cheating, but that bastard Eustass Kid just rubs him the wrong way. If it weren’t for him already having made a promise to you earlier in the week for a weekend without violence, he’d probably being fighting right about now.
You were only meant to go to the bar and get a few drinks for your table when you grabbed the attention of the scarred pirate captain. Eustass found out easily that you’re rather shy and took advantage of that. He managed to talk his way into you into taking a seat at the bar next to him while waiting for the bartender to come over.
Truth be told Eustass just wants to cause trouble per usual and see just how far he can go until he gets under the Surgeon of Death’s skin. And if he’s lucky maybe a fight would break out. He made causal bar talk and you only replied to be polite and to keep things civil. You knew of his reputation and all you wanted was a night of peace. Eustass however, decides to kick things up a notch. He throws out his charm and starts to get a little flirty to see if you’ll take the bait.
Eustass doesn’t know that you’re dating Law, in fact nobody does for your safety. He just sees a pretty girl that happens to be part of Law’s crew, but he had his suspicions. He can feel the Surgeons eyes watching him ever since you walked up to the bar. And to your luck just as the bartender walks over, he says he has to go retrieve more sake from the cellar.
You let out an audible sigh at having to wait longer while the rival captain smirks. He moves closer and wrapped his arm around your shoulder, but you quickly shrug it off. You turn and look up at him to tell him to knock it off when you noticed his attention elsewhere again. 
Every time he made some type of advancement or flirty comment, he wasn’t looking for your reaction, but your captains. He was using you to get to your captain, but for what? Deciding to play into this little game, you stay seated to figure out his intent with your lover no matter how anxious your starting to feel.  
Law thus far has remained calm, only giving Kid an unreadable expression. It wasn’t until Eustass offered you his drink to ease your discomfort that Law visually saw how nervous you were getting. You were used to fighting other captains and the like, not sitting next to one at a bar, and certainly not being flirted with by one. Eustass nudges his drink over to you in hopes to calm you. You’re not his target for the night, he doesn’t wish to make you uncomfortable.
Law isn’t sure what it is about that drink that makes his blood boil. He knows it’s not poisoned; he’s been watching Kid like a hawk and just saw him drink from it. Maybe it was the fact it was Kid’s own drink that he’s drank from at the bar. It was childish of him to get jealous over your lips touching the same glass as Kid’s. It’s not remotely the same as kissing, yet Law felt the need to cut him in half with the full intent to leave him that way.
At first you tried to decline the drink nicely, but he insisted, saying that it looked like you could use one to ease your nerves. He gave you a smile, though in his true devilish fashion. When you picked up the glass just as expected, Eustass’s attention again went straight to the man standing in the back corner. You figured if you played your cards right, you’d get closer to finding out what he wanted with Law and so you throw your head back, downing the drink. Eustass then has the audacity to smirk over at Law.
Trafalgar having enough of Eustass’s childish games uses “Room” to create a spherical territory. It quickly enveloped the entirety of the bar, grabbing the attention of all the pirates and other guests. In an instant your body is teleported by his side and an empty shot glass in your place next to Eustass. Wasting no time Law grabs your hand and quickly walks out the bar leaving behind an amused Kid.
“That was dangerous (Y/n)-ya,” continuing to pull you away from the bar and towards the safety of your home for the night. “I was just trying to keep things civil- Hey! Slow down a little please.” He didn’t. He kept the same pace until he reached the door only stopping to unlock it.
“I only wanted to know what his deal was with you” you state innocently. “He wasn’t interested in me.” He opened the door and stepped aside to let you in first. Inside he closes the door a little harsher than he wanted to, he’s not angry at you, just angry that Kid was getting under his skin. That he was flirting with you right in front of him. He grumbles as he reminded himself about the stupid drink you shared and grew jealous again.
Law pulls you against him and urgently covers your lips with his own. Hands cupping your face while he feverishly kisses you with passion, cleaning your lips of any trace of that damn liquor. Grabbing his coat to keep yourself balanced from the sudden kiss, you almost yelp when he bites down on your bottom lip.
He picks you up, giving your ass a generous squeeze before crossing the small home, laying you down onto the soft bed. You take this opportunity to catch your breath from the unexpected kiss while Law stands at the foot of the bed and starts to shrug off his layers of clothes. His golden orbs sinfully watching you, running all over your form as he undresses.
He only manages to take off everything on his upper half, before leaning over your much smaller frame, caging you underneath him, his weight anchoring you in place. Your face flushed from how he looks at you. Law gently licks at your sore lip from where he bit you, giving you a much gentler kiss to say sorry as you run your hands through his dark raven colored hair.
Ever so slowly his hands trail down your curves and starts undressing you while his tongue dances sinfully with yours. Tossing away your clothing, you lay only in your bra and panties while he grinds his clothed cock against your dampening core. Pulling away to let out a soft moan. “You like that Kitten?”
Continuing his motions with his hips, Law starts moving his lips away from yours, leaving a wet trail of kisses down the jaw and neck. Making sure to leave a few marks on your neck that will surely darken. “Law please” you cried.
“Please what, love?”
Your face flushes at the thought of asking. It doesn’t matter that you’ve done it before, asking to feel his lips where you’re most sensitive still leaves you bashful. Law knows what you want but he loves teasing you into saying it. His sweet little Kitten always so shy to ask him to give you oral.
“Please Law I need you.”
“Where do you need me baby” he says in that deep seductive voice, looking into your eyes. You can see that start of a smirk forming across his face. His hand trailing down, “right here?” The pad of his finger lazily stroking over your clothed damping core.
“Yes! Right there” you exclaim as your hips buck. With one last lingering kiss to your lips, he starts his slow decent towards your aching core, removing that last barrier of clothing that’s keeping him from you.
Law rubs his finger across your slit, placing small kisses on the inside of your thighs leading closer and closer to your core. You need more friction and try to move your hips, but Law holds you in place. “Patience baby. All good things come to those who wait.” He toys with you a little longer before making sure his finger is coated in your slick, pushing it inside to earn a light moan from you.
He gives you a few more thrusts with his finger before giving you a gentle lick. “Fuck” you moan, tossing your head back into the pillows. You can practically feel the smile on his face. Adding another finger to the mix to help get you ready for what’s to come.  “So pretty and wet, just for me.”
Law’s tongue licking at your folds while his thumb rubs mercilessly at your clit with just the right amount of pressure. “Let me hear you Kitten.” You do as he says. Needing something to hold onto, you reach down and tug at his hair, making him groan into you. Hips squirming at the jolts of pleasure, “Show how loud I can make you. Let that red headed bastard know who you belong to.”
You can feel the feel yourself getting closer to the edge. Finding it hard to stay still, your hips squirming, being so close to becoming undone. Law pushes his fingers back inside and attacks your bundle of nerves once again with his mouth. Turning you into a moaning mess. “Law! I’m close!” He can feel you tightening around his fingers.
“That’s is baby. Cum for me.”
Law’s other hand finds yours, intertwining your fingers together just as you find euphoria. Squeezing your eyes shut at the pleasure finally going over the edge. Moaning his name so loud, you hope no one else is around to save you from embarrassment.  
Law giving your sensitive cunt one last kiss before making his way up to you, giving you a searing hot kiss so you can taste yourself on his lips. Pulling away so you can catch your breath. You can feel the prominent bulge in his pants, rubbing against you. Telling you the night has only begun. Law places a gentle kiss to your forehead.
“Good girl.”
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peonysink · 3 years
Text
Homeless
Warning: Explicit, rough sex, 18 +
Note: Just being there for Rex ♡
Word count: 2k
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It was the 100th rotation since… the Empire. You had to flee your homeworld, and you weren’t sure when or if you’d ever be able to go back. But you tried not to think about it. Only focus on the things you can change. He told you that the first day you met, him being a displaced fugitive as well. And you tried to do that ever since. You tried to make things better for yourself, for him, and for the people around you every day. Wherever you went. And you moved a lot.
It’s been a while since he left. You’ve been in touch and you knew he was alive. But you missed him. He came to be so important to you, perhaps the most important man you’ve ever met. He was beyond experienced and he was a rock - for you and for everyone else, first in your little refugee camp, and then later as you started travelling with him. He introduced you to so many, people and aliens of all species, all united, and all with the one thing in common - you all lost your home.
And he lost his. His home, his family, his purpose.
And then, just like that - he was back. You’ve seen him from afar. You could never miss his white and blue armour full of battle scars. The white wasn’t white anymore, and the cuts and bruises imprinted all over the armour gave it an unmistakable character. You opened the door and you smiled. As he saw you he took his helmet off. You could tell something was wrong - already from the way he walked, slightly slower than usual, slightly hunched back. His face looked tired, the bags under his eyes were heavier, and the wrinkles on his forehead and around his eyes were deep.
You asked if he was okay, and he nodded, even though you both knew that wasn’t the truth. You asked if he was hurt, physically hurt, and he said no, this time firmer and more honest.
He entered your room and put his helmet down on the table. The scar on the side of his head where his chip was removed was prominent, and a constant reminder of the tragedy he went through. You wanted to ask what was wrong, but you bit your tongue - you knew that everything was. Normally he was good at hiding it, he was good at pretending, appearing strong, for you and for the others. He was your rock, and he knew that. But now, today, that moment, he was falling apart and he needed to fall apart. He needed to feel it, to reach that bottom, to embrace the pain and then rebuild himself again. For you and for everyone else.
He pulled you closer to him by your waist and the emergency of it startled you. Before you could do anything he planted his lips on yours. You hugged him and returned his angry kiss as good as you could. He was insatiable. He was kissing you, his tongue wrestling with yours, his teeth biting your lower lip, his lips sucking on yours. You could barely follow him, and his hands were already on you, lifting your skirt and finding your underwear, and then ripping it off of you effortlessly. You moaned into his mouth, partly because that made you want him even more and partly because you could feel the rip against your hip.
His fingers found your clit and started rubbing it, and all you could do was surrender yourself to him, give him whatever he needed, let him use you - this time however he needed. Without ever breaking the kiss, you could feel his other hand move down and detach his codpiece. You moved both of your hands on him, on his rock hard cock and you released it from his black pants. He took a deep breath and for the first time moved his lips away from yours. You started stroking him as he moved his gloved fingers inside you, the texture of which felt amazing against your walls.
You opened your eyes to look at him, but he was a man possessed, his eyes firmly shut, and his body itching with anger, pain and frustration. He moved his fingers from your pussy, grabbed you by your arms, and turned you around. Your ass was brushing against his hard cock and he pressed you closer towards him. He walked you closer to the wall and then bend you slightly so that you could support yourself.
He kissed the back of your neck and slammed into you without any warning. You moaned and arched your back to allow him to enter deeper, and he did, with the ferocity and urgency that equally turned you on and scared you. He bit the skin on your shoulder hard, as he knew you liked that, but this bite was different and it felt like he was trying to silence his screams.
You started to moan as you felt his hard cock filling you and stretching you beyond your limits. He held your hips firmly, and you could feel his cock twitching and growing even harder in you.
“Rex” - was all you managed to say in between his ruthless thrusts - “Rex, cum inside me. Let it go. Let it all go, baby!”
You could feel his grip tighten around your waist as he finally slammed into you deeper than before. He was so hard against your walls and you could feel every ridge and every vein on his cock inside you. When he came you felt a growl forming deep in his stomach that was pressed hard against your back and you heard him trying to suppress it. He was almost out of breath, panting at the nip of your neck as you felt his warm seed spreading inside you.
“Rex…”
“Shhh", he said, still not moving and still holding you tight, “It’s okay, I’m okay. You don’t have to say anything.”
He pulled out slowly and you felt his seed dripping down your left leg.
“I’ll get you a towel” - he immediately noticed and let go of you, turning to head for the refreshers.
“No, Rex, wait” - you held his hand, and finally managed to establish eye contact with him. He still looked tired, but his eyes were soft and loving.
“Can I hold you?” you asked. “Just, you know, hold you, lie next to you and hug you till you fall asleep.”
His eyes looked even sadder for a moment, and you wondered if you said anything wrong, but then he smiled - that smile that always warmed your soul, and he nodded.
“Go, take your armour off, and I’ll be right back to tuck you in.” You kissed him on the cheek and he cupped both sides of your face:
“Don’t think I’m done with you yet” - his eyes were now different, somehow darker and wider. “You can hug me and hold me for a while, but then it’s my turn. And I’ll do more than hugging.”
He moved closer to you, and you felt his hot breath on your left ear:
“You want to make me feel better, cyar’ika?” - he asked.
You nodded, your legs feeling weak and heavy.
“Then I want to hear that sweet little sound you make when you cum” - he whispered in your ear and started taking his armour off.
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Okay time to elaborate on the Wild Witch Lilith au bc its actually a lot more than her being. You know: a wild witch
So while Lilith’s running away is the CAUSE of these changes, Raine and Hunter are both more prominent in this as well.
Lilith messed up and was going to be petrified, but got out before they could even announce it. She becomes a wild witch but keeps in contact with Raine Whispers, a school friend, as well as one child in the Emperor’s coven: Hunter, the golden guard.
She leaves hunter a note that directs him to Raine and the two of them learn to get along (after, of course, it’s explained that Lilith allegedly left him a note. Even then, Hunter is suspicious. He didn’t know Lilith further than a nod or possibly a shared mission. But she expressed worry for him, so after a lot of time, he decided to - hesitantly - take her up on her offer to meet a friend. It will take him a while to trust them truly.)
More in a storytelling form under the cut
It’s about two months later that Lilith manages to catch Hunter at Raine’s house. She comes in through the back door and is searching lazily through her bag for the spices she apparently promised last time she intruded. Seeing Hunter makes her falter. “Ah, the golden guard.” While she doesn’t seem particularly excited, she certainly doesn’t sound upset.
Raine looks confused. “Was he not the one you gave the letter to?” 
“Oh no, he is.” Lilith says, still standing by the door. “I just didn’t particularly expect to ever really... see him.” Now she moves to the table where they’re sitting and seats herself in one of the chairs. “You won’t hand me over to the emperor, will you?”
Hunter shakes his head.
Raine elbows Lilith in the arm. “Never expected to see him? Don’t tell me you were planning on leaving me to take care of a kid alone every other Saturday?”
Any stress that Lilith may have had drains from her as she laughs. “Is that when I should have been dropping by? Our friday date nights don’t work for you?” Raine laughs too, and Hunter doesn’t recognize the atmosphere. It’s calm, and it’s teasing, and it’s nice. He comes back more often.
(Lilith and Raine talk a few weeks later, Hunter having come and left for the day. Raine raises a brow over their glass of cider and asks if this means they have both have custody over a child. Lilith laughs. She says that, well, maybe they do.
Raine leans back in their chair. “However will we assure we won’t fall in love?”
Lilith rolls her eyes fondly. “Easy. I think you’re stupid.” She’s teasing and they know it.
“That’s a bold move against a teacher, Clawthorne.” Then, in retaliation: “Well, it’s good I think you’re annoying, then.” They’re teasing too.
A pause after their laughter has subsided. Then, and Raine asks this one too, “Wait- are we sharing custody with the Emperor?”
Lilith makes a choking sound over her glass of water, and then, a dribble of water coming from the corner of her mouth, says, “I can promise you I won’t fall in love with him.”
Raine raises their glass with a mock solemnity. “Cheers to that.” Their cups clink together.)
Lilith and Raine are there for Hunter. They’re there for when he’s hurt and there for when he’s happy. Raine is a wonderful teacher and Lilith is happy to show the magic that they can’t supply.
(Hunter has no magic and can’t use what the two of them teach him, but Lilith, out of all of them, is the closest to having the ability to use wild magic. Wild magic is the ability to mix magic as one pleases, and it’s with great annoyance that she finds she can’t do that. “I thought the emperor’s coven was the only coven where witches don’t get their magic restrained!” She complains, later.)
Hunter learns how to play instruments, and Lilith enjoys attempting the xylophone, when Raine chooses to bring one home.
(She enjoys the simplicity and the sound, she says. Raine steals the mallets from her and produces two more, playing a quick song with the mallets pressed between their fingers. “Is it simple now, Clawthorne?” They ask, and turn around to their awed audience. There’s a sudden realization that they have a two person crowd watching, and with a flushed face, they call off the rest of the day’s music lessons.)
Hunter enjoys the guitar and clarinet, they find. The piano is an old friend to him, and he’s happy to play it mindlessly when he has nothing else to do.
(He plays it the day Raine first finds him with a bandage on his face. They can’t convince him to take it off, but he wears it for a month. There’s a scar on his face after the bandaid is gone. He doesn’t say anything about it and Raine doesn’t press. There was something sad about his song on the day Raine found him playing.)
Raine and hunter convince Lilith to dye her hair a light blue grey (They requested white, to match with their general scheme, but she refused.) and Lilith gets Raine to add a gem to their outfit. Hunter can’t get anything permanent, but both adults enjoy playing with his hair while he’s with them.
Lilith and Raine have cared for Hunter for two years now. Raine’s been climbing up the ranks, and while Hunter is away, (Hunter is a good kid, but he feels an obligation to his uncle. Neither adult knows what to do about it. All they can do is give him as safe a space they can.) they talk about ways to mess up any plans Belos may have. On a late night, Raine admits that Eda (the name is spoken with mixed feelings. Neither saw her last under good circumstances.) was the cause of their drive to do something about the terribleness of the coven system. Lilith says nothing.
She lives more at Raine’s house now. Sleeping on the couch after helping them with a plan, then leaving if there’s ever a knock on anything but a window (Hunter refuses to come in through a door) to keep from the possibility of them getting arrested for holding a criminal in their home. Wandering the city never ceases to be nerve wracking, even with the difference in her appearance.
She was only at the convention to cheer on Hunter. While his place as the mystery guest unnerved both her and Raine (He was only sixteen. Taking place as figurehead of the coven was too much.) he seemed excited, so they congratulated him, and Lilith confronted the terrifying possibility of being recognized to go clap for his performance.
She was recognized. Somehow, her sister spotted her (Was she not also a wild witch? She hated covens, and really, Lilith saw no reason for her to be at such a convention.) and asked about her disappearance. Lilith rolled her eyes and dusted off every question, interrupted only by a human child asking for Eda’s help.
“I’ll leave you to it then,” Lilith said, and walked off. Her sister’s “I’m not done with you!” Only made her chuckle as she searched for Hunter in the crowd.
Lilith attempted to leave a long while later. Apparently the place where the human’s witch’s duel had taken place was broken rather severely. She’d stuck around only long enough to see that most spectators were gone, and she watched both the young Blight and the human storm out of the door before Edalyn pointed up at her.
“HEY LILITH!” Eda called. “I WANT TO TALK!”
Lilith narrowed her eyes and called up magic. “WELL I DON’T!” She yelled back.
That was how Lilith ended up in Raine’s house, bruised and annoyed. Lilith refused to admit how she ended up hurt, tight lipped as she healed herself and avoided eye contact with the equally amused and concerned bard on the sofa.
The next time Lilith saw Eda was after making a bet with Raine. Lilith was terrible with alcohol, honestly, and it didn’t get much wine to get her talking smack. It was a blurry memory, but all she knew is that she needed to get some sort of powerful artifact, to prove... something to Raine.
A flower of youth sounded good. She gained a map, and with a small offhand comment about what her sister must look like now (She’d seen posters, and a younger Eda’s hair was growing white already). She was doing perfectly fine on her own, but somehow, for some reason, her sister had decided to tag along. Which was fine! They were bonding a bit, really. Especially after the blood sucker (emphasis on sucker. Little bitch.) started trying to scare them. Cute, but the sisters were mean when they wanted to be, and oh, did Lilith want to be.
She lost the bet, but she saw her sister again. Under better circumstances (though only barely) and without a fight. She could call that a win.
It happened again (Not a clue how she got roped into a grudgby match, but it was fun while it lasted.) and again (Eda finally getting caught on account of that little human she found was terribly tragic.) and again (also getting caught after accidentally slipping to the human that she’d caused Eda’s curse was more than a little embarrassing.)
She wanted to say sorry. She didn’t think it was enough.
Eda was understandably upset.
Lilith didn’t have a proper cure. She’d been looking for one for a while now, but even any knowledge about the curse she’d used was gone. All she had to make up for it all was her backup plan.
“With this spell declared, let the pain be shared.”
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Seto Kaiba
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Details
Age: 22
Birthday: October 25th
Height: 6′ 2″
Ethnicity: Japanese
Sexuality: Homosexual
Gender: Cis man
Pronouns: He/Him
Occupation: CEO of Kaiba Corporation
Additional Info: Polyamorous, amputee, selectively mute, C-PTSD
Background
Following the duel with Diva and his graduation, Seto took his chances with his experimental technology to travel to the afterlife and finally duel the Pharaoh.  The journey there was a success, and their duel ended in a draw.  Not good enough for Seto.  Unfortunately, he knew he only had a short window before he would be trapped there, and he’d made Mokuba a promise to come back.
The journey back was not as successful.  As he closed in on his home dimension, there was a malfunction.  He had no time to react before the device lurched and everything went dark.  When he woke up again, his life wouldn’t be the same.
After weeks spent unconscious in his hospital bed, he woke up to find himself struggling to speak and missing the majority of his left arm.  His injuries had been dealt with while he was in his coma, including several surgeries to try and undo some of the brain damage he had sustained.  Some of the minor issues were dealt with, but the part in charge of speech was permanently damaged, leaving him with a severe stutter and an inability to speak more than a few simple words at a time.
He spent his remaining time in the hospital learning to cope with his new language issues and designing a prosthetic to replace the arm he lost, both of which continued after he returned to Kaiba Manor.  Once the prosthetic was finished, he and Mokuba dedicated hours every day to learning Japanese Sign Language so he would be able to communicate.
Physical Appearance
Seto looks relatively similar to his canon appearance, with dark brown hair, blue eyes, and pale skin.  He’s not as muscular as he once was following his time in the hospital, but he’s slowly building up from being worryingly skinny to some lean muscle and fat.
Without his prosthetic, his left arm ends in a stump about halfway down his upper arm with a large, jagged scar where the skin was closed up.  Along with the other scars he has from his years with Gozaburo and the more minor injuries from the accident, he has another prominent scar around his left temple where his brain surgery took place.
His prosthetic arm is designed to look similar to his duel disk, framed in black metal and illuminated by blue lights.  Unlike his duel disk, though, it also has additional silver highlights, and his hand is silver from the wrist down.
Personality
Seto has always been known to be standoffish, but it was more pronounced after his accident.  He cut himself off from the world entirely for a significant amount of time, and his aversion to people still shows itself when meeting with others.  This has gotten better as he’s improved his communication skills, though.  Of course, he still tends to insult people regularly.
Seto is proud to a fault and won’t allow anyone or anything to stand in the way of achieving his goals.  He fears failure more than ever after seeing the effects of his failure up close, so he will obsess over little details to make sure everything is perfect.  For someone who values his strength and respect he gets from others, being pitied is the worst way someone can react to his disabilities.
He’s not one to open up about his feelings so easily, but if he does, that’s a sign of great trust.  Trust is rare from him as well considering all he’s been through.  If someone is patient enough and able to look past his rude remarks, he will eventually be willing to let down some of his defenses.
Headcanons
In classic Seto fashion, his prosthetic is outfitted with several different features such as Internet access, a GPS, a functioning duel disk, and holographic displays.  Its most important feature was added in later: an automatic text-to-speech translator that translates what he signs as he signs it.  He knows most people don’t know how to sign, so this feature makes it easier for people to understand him.  It’s also able to translate his signing into over 100 different languages that he could choose from at his discretion.
Following the accident, Seto was diagnosed with aphasia, which greatly impairs his ability to form spoken language.  He’s able to think of what he wants to say, he just struggles to say it.  It also affects his ability to write, and while sign language is a different form of language, it’s still a struggle to adjust.  Thankfully, switching from verbal to visual language made it easier for him to relearn how to communicate.
Verses
Unless interacting with another Atem or Yugi muse or otherwise stated, Seto, Atem, and Yugi will be in a relationship together.  For obvious reasons, the three of them are polyamorous and in an open relationship, so this doesn’t limit the potential for dating!
When interacting with other Seto muses, this tends to be done in a setting where one of them has traveled between dimensions or timelines.  More often than not, it will be the other muse since Seto has sworn off traveling between dimensions all together.
This version of Seto is available only in a post-dsod verse, for obvious reasons.  However, aus are open for interpretation and discussion!
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get-shiggy-with-it · 3 years
Note
heyo friend, I hope you’re doing well 🖤 What about the “You know I hate it when you do that, right? Keep doing it” smut prompt + shigaraki? With a gn!reader?
✧ pairing: tomura shigaraki x gn!reader
✧ warnings: brat taming themes, smut, references to violence, blood mention, handjobs, villain!reader, 18+ minors DNI
✧ word count: 1.5k
✧ a/n: hey mootie! thanks so much for your request. I know you were looking for some brat taming so take my subtle, sleep deprived attempt at some lowkey bratty behavior.
“You idiot, what the hell was that?”
The door slammed hard enough to reverberate through your chest. The momentary shake in your ribs was nothing compared to the adrenaline trembling in your fingers as they flailed in front of you, catching your fall. The bar top was cold and unforgiving in your grip.
Just like the floors under your feet and the roof over your head and all the people uneasily asleep upstairs.
Cold.
Unforgiving.
Tomura Shigaraki cut a menacing figure—and when didn't he?—as he stood cloaked in the darkness of the hideout. You could still feel the ache of his grip on your arm, can feel the dull throb of forming bruises there. He left faint crimson footprints behind when he stepped fully into the dim, overhead lights.
The short, baby curls around his head shone in the glow like some blasphemous halo.
But he is your savior tonight, so the comparison seems a bit less jarring.
“You’re gonna have to be a lot more specific than that, boss,” you tried to sound less winded than you are.
For someone so skinny, Shigaraki had some fucking stamina. Both beaten and well bloodied, the two of you certainly cut a striking image. And while you were panting from your escape—legs on fire after carrying you down innumerable alleyways and feet numb from the slap of the pavement through worn out soles—your boss seemed barely winded.
Untouched by the fight and subsequent flight halfway across the city while tugging you along at his heels.
Though, he also didn’t get his ass straight up hyperdrive blasted into a brick wall. You’d give yourself some credit where it was due.
“I don’t need you taking hits for me,” he snapped, coming nose to nose—well, hand to nose with you.
Every muscle in your body protested as you stood straight and stared him down, feeling how the bruises cut deep through your skin and stained your ego like rotting fruit.
“Really?” you asked, not quite delusional enough to be incredulous, but getting there. “Cause that fucking black eye says differently.”
There was a nasty red and purple mark spreading from the side of his temple that disappeared under the hand that hid most of his face from view. You’d watched him take that kick straight to the side of his head and not even stumble.
He was right.
Shigaraki didn’t lie—that’s why you followed him.
That’s why you couldn’t help the strange, second nature movement of your feet as you had watched one of the dozens that ambushed you wind up to fire a super-powered punch off at Shigs chest. The whole moment existed as a slow motion memory, something you watched from above—a voyeur in your own mind. The way your boss’ eyes went horribly wide, the glow of the man’s fist, the way your body went limp like a rag doll in mid air and slammed against the adjacent wall.
How your assailant was nothing more than a pile of ash only seconds later.
Though you tried not to read too much into that particular detail.
“You know I hate it when you do that right?”
You became peripherally aware that the ache in your chest was being exacerbated by his body weight pressing you back into the polished wood of the bar. As two hands caged you in with their pinkies comically raised to keep you trapped, you felt a familiar rush of defiance in the face of this show of superiority.
“What? When I save your dusty ass?” you tried to smile but his unwavering gaze made it die on your lips.
To be completely fair, you had just watched him take so many hits that should have killed him outright and keep fighting like the inevitably fractured bones were nothing but pinpricks.
You’d always known Shigaraki was intimidating, in his self-assuredness and confidence you knew was not unfounded. But you’d never seen him put his money where his mouth is before, only heard the stories from the rest of the League.
Now you understood.
“When you talk back to me,” he hissed.
He didn’t bother to correct you. He didn’t need to. You both very well knew that if anyone had been saved tonight, it was you as he retreated from the fight, pulling you to safety and not stopping until he—and doors of the bar—were firmly placed between you and feral city streets.
“Oh come on—” you were halfway through an eye roll even Dabi would be proud of when he reached up to grip the hand on his face and pulled it aside.
The smell of formaldehyde dissipated as it landed with a thunk on the bar and Shigaraki stared at you with newly unencumbered intensity.
“Keep doing it.”
You blinked in stunned stupid silence.
“What?”
It was only then that you realized it, and once you saw the subtle flush of his cheeks and the twitch in his fingers, you weren’t sure how it had ever escaped your notice.
Villainy had always been attractive for the rush, alluring in the sense that it afforded you the feeling of being so painfully alive. The adrenaline fueled, full body shaking that flooded you with invincible endorphins—that made your face hot and your blood sing. That was what called to you. That was what had you flinging yourself in front of punches and sprinting down the worn out city streets.
And that was what Shigaraki was feeling now as you held your own against him.
Challenged his authority.
Took what you were given and gave just as well.
You could imagine most people would have given up the smartass act after one too many brushes with a dusty end, but you were a stubborn piece of shit.
In fact, you were a little fucking brat.
And Tomura Shigaraki liked it.
“I won’t tell you twice,” he said, and when exactly did that gravel road rasp in his voice become so spine tingling?
His chest was flush with you now, and the familiar firmness pressing against your thigh only confirmed your revelation.
And only strengthened your resolve.
A grin on your face, you locked eyes with your boss.
“Oh, Shigs,” you mused, shivering at the way he smirked down at you in all his bloody, beaten glory. “I think you absolutely will.”
The bar behind you creaked under his grip and you suddenly missed the power in those deadly hands, pressing fingerprint bruises into your skin. You doubted you’d have to wait much longer for that though, not with the he twitched against your hips as you shifted to press back into him.
“Maybe you’ll listen better with your mouth full.”
One of those long fingers was trailing softly through the gashes in your top, running across your chest and tapping at your lips. He rolled what was undeniable a fucking unfairly large dick against you just so there would be no mistaking the direction this was clearly going in.
And what a hot fucking turn of events it was.
“Now boss, if you want me to keep talking, you’re gonna have to fill up something else.”
You couldn’t help but feel a little proud of yourself at the ability to formulate comebacks even as the hand at your lips slipped down to yours and drew it to the fastenings of his jeans.
“Don’t think I’m going to reward you for being so fucking irresponsible.”
He seemed at once so simultaneously wrecked and completely untouched by you that your head spun. Shigaraki kept his voice even, his face stuck in that same pleased expression. The only thing that gave him away was the raging hard cock you now palmed easily through his underwear and the pink flush that was spreading slowly down his neck and under the low collar of his shirt.
“Bold of you to assume this isn’t a reward,” you muttered, entranced by the way the blush lit around the razor edges of his scars, thin silver lines prominent against the blood rushing under his skin.
Your mouth watered and Shigaraki—Tomura? Should you call him Tomura now that his length was falling free into your palm and leaking across your fingers?—did nothing to stop you from leaning forward and latching onto one of the rough patches of flesh.
Shigs didn’t seem ashamed in the least or try to hide the gasp you yanked out of him with your tongue pressing deeply over the veins in his neck.
However, he also didn’t allow either of you to indulge for long. Seconds later a hand gripped the back of your shirt and the wrist that was currently pumping your boss’ deliciously heavy dick, stopping your movements entirely.
The rational part of your brain was not quick enough to catch the whine that left you when he moved to step away.
Shigaraki’s rare chuckle almost made it worth the embarrassment.
“Yeah,” he was grinning again but it was different this time. Predatory—a beast caught scent of blood, ready for the newest struggle to the death. “That’s what I thought.”
When he finally guided your hand back to his cock, warm with a beautiful red tip that gushed enough to slick your palm, you found it incrementally harder to formulate a response.
But you hadn't quite given up the fight yet.
When you smiled back at him, it was all teeth.
All claws.
Ready and waiting to be tamed.
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ficsilike-reblogged · 3 years
Text
Sweetest of Exiles - One
Summary: When Oberyn Martell travels to Essos for exile, he found more than he anticipated when he first lays eyes on Pero Tovar, his brother-in-arms in the Second Sons mercenary company. While Pero is a bit resistant to his Oberyn’s overt charms at first, the Prince always gets what he wants. When the Second Sons are hired to rescue a wealthy merchant’s daughter, Oberyn learns there is much more to the grumpy sellsword. And Oberyn doesn’t mind sharing–especially when the merchant’s daughter smiles at him like that.
Pairing: Oberyn Martell x Pero Tovar, (past) Pero Tovar x F!Reader (No Y/N), future--it is a surprise.
Rating for this chapter: T for mentions of blood, guts and gore...magic. My overuse of italics. 
Word Count: 5k
A/N: I wrote most of this drunk (or buzzed). I am still riding my red wine high so I almost apologize for the nonsense. If you have any questions about the ASOIAF lore/geography that I’m mentioning, please send me an ask or a DM! I’m always happy to ramble about this series.
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(thank you to my love, @starlight-starwrites for the absolutely gorgeous banner. I love you.)
Or read on Ao3 here!
CHAPTER ONE: The Mercenary
Oberyn had always wondered what he looked like when fucking someone. He had looking glasses set up in one of his lover’s rooms so he could try to catch a glimpse himself. But his unrelenting need to keep his partners satisfied always won out over his curiosity.
But then the gods seemed to have a sense of humor when they sent him away from Dorne after he might-have-killed Edgar Yronwood. The Citadel and Oldtown had entertained him for a moment but it soon bored him and he set off across the Narrow Sea to Essos. While the Second Sons mercenary company welcomed him and his sword arm, his eyes were firmly trained on the man toward the back of the company with the scar down his face.
His face.
And well, his time away from Dorne just became much more interesting.
**
It had taken almost an entire year of not-at-all subtle flirting and propositions and nearly losing their lives time and time again before Pero found himself tumbling into the Prince of Dorne’s bed. The Prince was definitely persistent, Pero would never admit that his charms—his annoying charms—had worn him down instead of Pero’s selfish desire for release while the company was too far away from any sort of willing woman and his hand just wasn’t cutting it. But the Prince had been attentive—willing to let Pero wrap his scarred and rough hand around his throat when he was pressing him into the threadbare bedroll in the quiet corner of camp.
The prince felt good—and he knew how to make Pero feel good.
It was infuriating—he wanted to strangle he smug smirk right off the prince’s face but he knew that the Prince was only capable of enjoying when someone’s hand was around his throat. But he had to admit that he had finally found a true friend (and not just release) with the man who looked strangely like him.
It had been nearly two decades since he could speak with someone as openly as he did when he was alone with the prince in their tent.
But his mind still drifted—to years ago. To his life before finding coin in the service of the Second Sons.
“You make the moon shine brighter, Pero.”
It was childish of him, stupid, to still think of her all these years later. Surely she had forgotten him. They had just been children—he had just been a third-born son of a disgraced lord from Valysar and she had been… she had been everything.
“You are pensive, Tovar.” The prince’s voice cut through his reverie.
He had thought the prince asleep—spent from a long day’s ride and a quick, near-desperate fuck as soon as their shared tent was erected. “It is dark, princeling. You cannot see me.”
Oberyn chuckled. “I know your brooding silences from your angry quiet.”
“You think a great deal of yourself, don’t you?” He grumbled, rolling his eyes despite the dark.
“I believe you think a great deal of me, as well.”
Pero sighed.
“Tell me what weighs on your mind.”
“Nothing that concerns you. Go to sleep.”
Oberyn laughed. “I will find out what has you brooding.”
“Do not hold your breath, princeling.”
He only laughed.
Pero was not sure when they had both fallen asleep but they were both woken by a frantic yell outside their tent. The prince’s knife glinted in the dimming moonlight and Pero had never let his hand leave the hilt of one of his smaller swords as they charged outside. They expected an ambush—a retaliation from the Tyroshi they had just pushed back on behalf of Lys—but instead, they found a disheveled man, bloodied and bruised and desperately limping toward their camp, frantically waving his hands above his head, shouting something in the Myrish bastard Valyrian dialect.
Pero sheathed his blade as he finally started to realize what the man was babbling. “Calm yourself, man.” Pero said, stepping in front of Oberyn.
The man nearly collapsed as he reached them, big, brown eyes shining in the moonlight. “They took her. They took her—I barely escaped.” He continued to jabber and Pero mostly listened—having heard desperate pleas from hundreds of men and women over the years of his service in the mercenary company—the man’s story consisted of being surrounded on the road to Myr by a group of religious zealots. The story was not an unfamiliar one. The Free Cities were known to erupt with pockets of violence; the causes ranged from trade disputes, claims to land, religion, and everything in between.
Pero had heard it all.
But then the man opened his mouth, blood drying on his chin, and said, “but they took her—they wanted her.” And a name pushed by the man’s bruised lips—a name he hadn’t heard in years.
Before he could stop himself, Pero reached out and grabbed the man by the collar of his tunic and hauled him to his unsteady feet. “Tell me where.”
**
The captains deliberated for only a few short moments before refusing to take the charge.
The fact that the woman was Qohorik had negated the fact that the Myrish magistrate who had fought his way to their camp had promised a princess’ ransom and promised that her father, a prominent merchant, would double it for her safe return. The Second Sons had been humiliated generations ago at Qohor and had not taken any bounties or contracts from the city or its inhabitants since then.
The Second Sons gave the magistrate—Orestes, his name was—some water and a bit of feed for his exhausted horse and then told him to leave. They would not go.
And Pero was an angry man. He had wrath in his blood since he was a boy, tempered only with bouts of relief and quiet. But this had sent him into a near rage with how flippant they captains had been when they had delivered their decision. Of course, he had not mentioned that the woman Orestes had pleaded to be rescued had been…her. Or how he knew her. Attachments like that were frowned upon, even by mercenaries. Soft hearts made easy targets.
But as the sun set the next day, Pero knew what he had to do. Even if he was alone. He packed his bare essentials, mostly worried about his sack of coin and weapons, and then pushed out of the tent-
-only to be met with the smirking face of the princeling. “Come, I have a surprise for you.”
“I do not have time for this.”
“Yes, you do,” Oberyn said with a broadening smirk as he turned away, leading Pero further away from camp as the moon continued her climb up into the inky sky. And why was Pero following him? He had to leave. He had to find that stupid magistrate. He had to-
There were about two dozen Second Sons, including one of the company’s healers, waiting at the tree line with their packs and mounts. Oberyn’s smirk reached its peak as he winked over his shoulder at Pero who only scowled in return. The Magistrate—Orestes—was standing with them, looking more than a little out of place with his rumpled fine clothes, now stained with dirt and blood. But he offered a tentative tilt of his head when Pero stepped up to the group with Oberyn.
“What did you do?” Pero hissed.
“I formed my own mercenary company,” Oberyn replied with a roll of his shoulders. “I know you are brighter than this, Tovar.”
If possible, his lips formed an even thinner line.
“Do not pout. We are going to save the damsel and get paid.” There was a cheer from the small band of men—both Tovar and Orestes were the only ones who did not seem to enjoy it. But soon they were on their way, each step taking them further away from the strange safety of the Second Sons and into the wilds of Essos.
**
Orestes, Pero found, was fond of speaking to anyone who would listen. His voice was pleasing but Pero preferred the quiet in most instances. But, he supposed it was necessary to learn just how he had ended up fleeing to the Second Sons in a desperate plea for help.
Orestes and his companion had been traveling from Qohor to Myr—and Pero tried very hard to not grind his teeth every time Orestes referred to her as ‘my lady’—to allow her to see more of Essos and to return Orestes to Myr after his year-long residency to Qohor that had been in the name of strengthening trade routes and agreements.
(“But, of course, I found myself more entranced by the city and its people than my fellow magistrates’ mandates that I was told to quickly solidify.” He sighed, the sound only a lovelorn man could make and Pero could not stop the grinding of his teeth at that.)
But on the road between Volantis and Myr, a group of heavily armed, religious zealots had slaughtered their small band of traveling companions and guards and took her and Orestes captive in a plot to gain the knowledge her father was keeping secret.
Her father, Lord Ollo, had been one of the famed smiths in Qohor who still knew the secrets of re-forging Valyrian Steel. The famed metal had become a treasure since the Doom and those who could work with the fickle and strong metal were regarded as lords and wielded their power like nobility, too. Travelers from all across Essos sought him out for new weapons, armor, and the occasional piece of jewelry from bits of Valyrian Steel and he had gained a reputation for being excessively secretive but the best at his trade. His wife was a noble woman and had raised his status with their marriage while providing her with the lifestyle on par with princesses.
But Pero knew all of this. He had seen it firsthand. He had supped with him and felt his lady-wife’s fingers tug at his boyishly poorly cropped hair with a fond smile. He knew that their home, an imposing fortress deep in the Forest of Qohor, always smelled of fire and metal and drying flowers.
It smelled…like home.
Well, it had. For a time. A long time ago.
And Orestes never needed to know that—never needed to know that the only reason he had a small band of mercenaries at his call was because the Prince knew that the woman, whose name he could not even say aloud, meant something to Pero.
For all his pride and well-earned arrogance, Oberyn was a good man, Pero had to admit. (He would never actually say this to Oberyn, his ego was big enough without the extra fodder.) And he would have to find a way to repay the prince-who-had-everything in some fashion. Pero’s pride would not allow this kindness to be left unpaid.
Orestes went on to explain that the zealots thought attaining the knowledge of Valyrian Steel would allow them the proper way of sacrificing in order to satiate the supposed blood lust of some old, stupidly named god. They hoped to trade her for Lord Ollo’s knowledge.
“But you seem to know my lady,” Orestes said, turning in his saddle to look Pero straight in the face. “Do you?”
“Is she your lady?” Pero asked in return, ignoring Orestes’ question and how his stomach turned at the thought of her being alone with a group of men as delusional as the band of zealots. Thankfully, they were nearing where Orestes said he had been held captive—less than two days’ ride from their camp but they had set their horses upon the trail with haste, cutting time from their journey.
Orestes’ answering smile was small. “No. But I am blessed to know her and I will never forgive myself for leaving her behind.”
“But she told you to, didn’t she? Told you to run and not look back.” The words were out of his mouth before he could bite them back and his ever-present scowl deepened.
“You do know her. Indeed, she told me to run as soon as I was able. But not to Myr—she told me to run west.” He paused and shook his head and Pero barely caught the confusion coloring the Magistrate’s features. “I had thought the prince was jesting when he said you knew her. I am in your debt, it seems.”
“Just pay the fee you promised.”
“Of course! I would not dream of-”
“Good.” Pero dug his heels into his horse’s side and urged the animal into a faster trot. “You will keep your head, then.” Orestes said something else but Pero had already galloped away to Oberyn’s side at the front of the group. “What have you said to the magistrate?”
“Nothing of consequence.”
“Do not lie to me, princeling.” Pero scarcely noticed the men behind them slow their horses’ pace to give them room. Their relationship—if it could even be called that—was an open secret to most in the Second Sons and some of those who followed Oberyn into this new company were also willing to indulge themselves in each other’s bedrolls if the time called for it.
Oberyn only laughed. “I did not know that your obvious reaction to a lady’s name was a secret needing to be kept.”
“What else have you told him?”
“Nothing. Just as you have told me nothing. But I have still called the men who were loyal to me and the promised coin to save this woman you have kept like a secret.” Oberyn arched an eyebrow, a look Pero knew meant Oberyn was daring him to argue. “She will be safe. The Magistrate will be on his way and our pockets will be filled.” Oberyn’s dark eyes sparkled in the growing sunlight. “And I shall meet this lady of yours. She must be a sight to behold to warrant such attention.”
“She…” The words died on his tongue. How would he even try to describe her? How childish would he sound to a prince for harboring such affections for his childhood love after all this time? “She warrants much more than any man could ever give. Including the Magistrate.”
Oberyn huffed but a smile tugged at his lips. “We are nearly there, Tovar. You can make the polite introductions.”
**
Night had just started to fall, painting the sky a violent shade of orange, when Orestes had announced that the ruined castle was just over the next hill.
Pero felt his chest tighten for a moment, a shot of adrenaline he had not felt as strongly since he was a new recruit to the Second Sons facing a small horde of Dothraki.
They crested the hill and Pero saw the broken remains of a once-grand castle. A single window was lit with the dim light of a candle just as the sun disappeared behind the stone, making it look like it had absorbed the red light and bathed in an inky black.
Defense of the castle was nearly impossible with its location and the small band of mercenaries quickly surrounded it, ready to drive inside when suddenly….the door, large and rusted, opened and a single man rushed out, screaming something in what Pero thought to be Old Ghiscari and covered in…blood.
Pero turned to look at Oberyn who seemed to be waffling between amusement and confusion at the sight. He waved a hand, silently commanding two men to secure the fleeing zealot—quietly, if possible.
“It is too quiet,” Pero said as he turned back to the castle after watching the screaming man be brought to his knees and a dirty rag shoved between his lips.
Oberyn agreed. “Surely a band of zealots would make more noise. I’ve been told they’re fond of chanting.” The prince slid closer to the ruined castle, staying hidden behind the rolling hill and scattered boulders for cover.
Pero watched him move, knowing the prince had an innate talent for hearing the smallest noises—whether it be from a rabbit or a sneaking assassin, and would trust whatever his judgement was.
“If anyone is left, they are not moving.”
Pero nodded, ignoring the umpteenth time his chest clenched, and signaled for the rest of their band of men to press forward. Step by step, they neared the castle and spread out to find different entrances. Orestes stumbled in the loose dirt to stay near Pero and Oberyn and Pero grimaced when Oberyn nudged him in the side, silently telling him to allow it—at least for the time being.
Closer and closer, they crept until they Pero was able to curl his hand around the edge of the door and peel it open just enough for him and Oberyn to slip inside. Orestes tripped over a loose stone as he followed.
And Oberyn had been right.
The castle was quiet. Unnaturally so.
The grip on his swords tightened as the small group pushed further into the dark ruins. Torches were scattered and burning out in their holds on the wall, casting even more shadows against the crumbling stone. He heard the soft footfalls of his fellow mercenaries coming in through the east and west entrances but it gave him little comfort. They were alone.
Alone.
His next step made a splash and he looked down to see the toe of his boot submerged in a dark puddle. He reached out and grabbed a torch from the wall and let the dying flames shine near the floor.
It was blood.
He raise the torch just enough to light the end of the hall and sighed.
“How interesting,” Oberyn said as he glanced over his shoulder.
Blood pooled between the broken stone and drip-drip-dripped from some unseen source to puddle in the corner. Bodies were crumpled along the path and Pero turned to pin Orestes with a look. “These men were the ones who slaughtered your guards and took you captive?”
Orestes looked down at a body and seemed to bite back a gulp. “Yes.”
“It looks like they put up quite a fight.”
“It looks like they were ripped open,” Pero corrected before pressing forward. “What did this? Did they do this to each other?”
“I’ve never seen a group more cohesive than them,” Orestes said. “They never contradicted each other or spoke out of turn. They had a singular mentality, it seemed. I would not believe they turned on each other.”
“Men turn on each other all the time,” Oberyn said. “Even without cause.”
They continued forward, Pero leading. He was not sure where they were going, but he knew—instinctively—that he needed to keep moving. If another person or creature had found the castle before they did, what hope did she have? Would he find her like this, too? Reduced to a bloody corpse? Would that be the last chance he would have to see her?
But they walked on, further into the dark, catching glimpses of the rising moon in the half-collapsed windows until they turned and saw the outline of a door, lit by a dim, orange light. Without a care, Pero pushed forward, hilt of his sword still in his hand as he pushed the door open and his grip faltered.
For the first time in nearly two decades, Pero let his swords fall from his grasp.
In the corner of the small room, huddled near a solitary candle, was a woman. Not just a woman—her.
Chains wrapped around her ankles and wrists and angry, deep cuts spanned the length of her legs and arms and her fine dress had been reduced to rags. He barely registered Oberyn calling for the healer as he stepped to her side and quickly knelt down. The locks on the chains were easily undone and his roughened hands carefully prodded at the broken skin.
“Pero,” she whispered, the name sliding by her chapped lips. Her head sagged and Pero moved just enough to let her forehead rest against his shoulder. “You’re here…” her voice was rough and raspy, like she had been screaming for hours. And perhaps she had.
“I’m here.”
The healer came in, arms filled with supplies, while more than a few of their company stuck their heads into the room to see their charge. Oberyn quickly moved them back and shut the door—Pero would thank him for it later.
“Look at me. Look at me, Petal,” Pero said as the healer tutted as he looked over her wounds before uncorking a bit of firewine.
Her unfocused eyes slid to him as the healer set to work. A cry broke her chapped lips as the firewine started to spill across her legs.
Pero reached out and kept her head still, gaze on him, as the healer continued. “Just me, Petal. I am here.”
“Pe-Pero.” The name was stilted on her tongue. “Please—it hurts-” a scream tore its way out of her throat but Pero held her steady even as his chest clenched.
“I know. But it will be over soon.”
Tears gathered in her eyes and slid down her dirty cheeks as her hands shot out to grab at his armor; he could feel the heat of her touch sliding and blooming warmth through his thick tunic. But he kept her focused on him even as the healer muttered about needing more wrappings.
“I’m here, Petal. I’m here.”
**
“This is my fault,” Orestes whispered.
The company had settled into the ruins as a camp for the night, finding the rooms (where there wasn’t blood or any bodies) more comfortable than the outside ground. Pero, Oberyn, and Orestes were the last three to retire from the roaring fire they had made in the remnants of the great hall.
Pero agreed but kept that to himself. “How?”
“We travelled by Myr weeks ago. But I could not bear to part from my lady’s side—I convinced her, selfishly, to let me take her to see Volantis, Lys, Tyrosh. She had marveled at everything Norvos and Braavos had offered—even Lorath had made her wonder like a child. I wanted to give her more of that, to show her all I could.”
“And then you were set upon by zealots. Probably followed you from Dagger Lake.”
Orestes shook his head. “Our party never neared that pirate hive. The closest we came to it was when she insisted on seeing Valysar. That little town of no consequence.”
Oberyn, only briefly, touched Pero’s back and he knew the prince meant it as a comfort at the mention of Pero’s former home. Orestes did not notice it.
“But she was adamant and refused to tell anyone why. But she all but disappeared for an entire day once we arrived and would not speak of her adventures—the little box she had procured never left her side and was never opened.”
Pero almost smiled at that. She had not changed—in that respect, at least.
Orestes yawned and stood from the rickety chair. “I must retire for the night. Please alert me if my lady calls for me.”
Oberyn hummed an agreement while Pero felt his face curl into a sneer as the magistrate left the hall.
“He certainly holds a candle for his lady, does he not?” Oberyn mused as soon as Orestes was out of earshot.
“She did not ask for him once,” Pero said before reaching forward to grab the jug of terrible wine left on the table and took a large gulp.
“But she’s asked for you? Hm?” Oberyn asked, snatching the jug from him. “And you’ve yet to introduce me. I am almost insulted.”
“She needs rest, princeling.” He had made sure she was comfortable in one of the largest rooms and was happy to find that her trunks, filled with her belongings, were still intact and made sure she received them before he had let her rest for the night, making sure to let the rest of the company know that she was not to be disturbed.
“I’m sure she does.” He took a drink. “But she has also been trapped, alone, with men who meant her harm for nearly a week. You were the first friendly face she saw—do not think that I misheard her. She called for you. Pero.”
“You could walk in there now and she would not be able to tell the difference.”
Oberyn tutted and Pero stole the jug back. “I believe she would.”
Pero nearly startled when Oberyn reached out and grasped his wrist, keeping him from draining the rest of the wine. His grip was firm but gentle and a hold Pero knew well. “I thought people in Essos were more willing to indulge themselves in matters of the heart and flesh. Do not be stupid.”
And somehow…that worked. Pero slipped into her room and found her sitting on the small bed, wrapped legs atop the thin blankets and a book on her lap. In the warm candlelight, she looked almost healthy. Like she was not covered in healing salve and he didn’t know there were long, angry cuts hidden by wrappings and her thin nightgown.
She looked…so much like the girl he had left behind decades ago.
Pero remembered Lady Daeryssa smiling down at her daughter, flowers twisted into her braids.
“You are special, my star. Like me.”
“Like you, Mama?”
Daeryssa nodded and grabbed the small, blue rose she had Pero fetch just that morning and pressed her thumb against one of its thorns until blood bloomed on her skin and started to trickle down her skin. Her face was serene and Pero could not look away. Her bloodied fingers pulled the petals from the rose and she carefully pressed them against her daughter’s forehead, sticking them to her skin with blood. Words he didn’t understand slipped by her lips as she pressed another petal and then another to her daughter’s face until she stripped the flower bare.
“You will be magnificent, my star. Your trials will be hard but you will always rise above.”
“Come in,” she said, setting her book aside.
Pero did as he was told and blindly set his hands in hers as she reached out for him, letting her tug him onto the edge of her bed. “How are you?”
“I will heal.” She smiled as if nothing had caused her pain and his chest hurt. “I brought you something.” She leaned back just enough to retrieve a small box from the mess of blankets.
The box was nothing spectacular, made from a polished dark wood with a simple latch and did not weigh more than his dagger. “How did you know we would see each other again?” He asked.
She only smiled and pressed the small box further into his grip. “Open it.”
And he could not tell her no. He unfastened the latch and felt his face crumple as he looked inside. His mother’s handwriting, still beautiful and tilted, drew his eye first. He grabbed the thin bit of parchment and unfurled it.
My dear boy- I love you more than words can say. You have saved us.
The rest of the letter was filled with anecdotes, telling Pero how the coin he had sent back home kept their family afloat and settled his father’s debts, allowing his mother and brothers to stay home and retain their titles and livelihoods. He had saved them. His mother had written it at least three times in her short letter.
But I still wish I witnessed you grow into the man you are today. Come home. You are always welcome.
He quickly let the letter curl in on itself again and shoved it back in the box, knowing she was watching him, face serene and almost unreadable. He reached into the box again and let his fingers brush against something cold and smooth. A shuddering breath pushed its way out of his lung as he pulled out a small, carved wooden wolf that fit in his palm. He raised it up to press the well-worn wood against his lips, just once, before placing it gently back into the box.
“You met my family.”
“I did,” she said. “They were very kind.” She paused. “And they smile so often. I almost didn’t believe you were related to them.”
He huffed. “You never let me have a moments’ peace, Petal.”
“You were the only peace I knew as a child,” she responded.
Pero sat with her for hours under their tree after her mother had disappeared and the petals remained on her face, only falling one by one after the sun had set, leaving little bloody thumbprints across her skin. He tried to press them back onto her skin without success, and she only giggled at his attempts, leaning into each of his touches and letting him try and try again.
She collected all the petals as they fell and Pero had given up on trying to re-stick them.
“What are you doing?”
“Practice.” He watched her reach out and scratch her palm against the broken bark of the tree, slicing open her palm in a single movement.
He squawked and moved to grab her hand but she curled her fingers into a fist, crushing the petals against her bloodied palm. She took a single, long breath through her nose and then unclenched her fist. The petals rose from her bloodied hand and floated up into the air as if pulled by invisible strings. They swirled around the pair before, with another long breath, she let them fly away, disappearing into the thick of the forest.
She laughed then, a light sound that had blood rushing to his cheeks for a reason he could not explain or pinpoint at that moment. All he could mutter as she looked at him, eyes twinkling and a giggle still on her lips was…”petal.”
“Why did you leave?” She asked as he tucked the small box away into his tunic.
Pero froze. “I had to.”
A/N: please let me know what you think! I hope you guys like this! there will be three chapters. 
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sparklingchan · 3 years
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Chapter 4|| Stormbringer- Stray Kids Demigod AU
Pairing : Reader(fem.) X Felix
Word count : 1.9k+
Warnings : Fight scenes, injuries but nothing too intense.
Genre : Romance, Demigod AU, fluff, angst.
Description: The day of the Capture the flag game arrives and there’s no denying that you and Felix make a wonderful team. Somewhere in the back of your head, you make a quiet note to have him by your side even when the real quests start.
A/N : Y’all I’m so bad at writing action scenes XDD I swear I’m trying to get better at it.
Enjoy!
SERIES MASTERLIST ||  Click here for introduction to the story and glossary and here for the Stray Kids demigod diaries!
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Game mornings have always been your favorite.
Leaving out having to wake up early, you love everything else about game mornings; the little cheer song Apollo kids go about singing, the freshly cut fruits at breakfast which are otherwise a rare sight, camp students being all nice to each other which again is kind of rare, all the Satyrs moving here and there with banners and swords and arrows. The camp feels livelier than ever.
And to Felix, this sight is a complete different world. Almost like a pleasant dream.
Felix watches all the excited kids move around the camp, the jumping Satyr, the hearty breakfast and a new, foreign glow on your face as you sit across from him, explaining the game to him once again.
"Weren't you paying attention the first time?" You deadpan when he asks you to repeat, your front teeth nibbling against your lower lip in annoyance.
Felix smiles sheepishly and tilts his head with a shrug of his shoulders, as if to say 'Not really.'
You end up explaining it to him again because who could ever say no to that smile.
"So Capture the flag game is played in different ways by different Camps all around the world. As for Camp Levanter, we have a special set of rules that are to be followed."
"We're divided into two groups, which are further divided into smaller sub groups. Each group only has one purpose - to capture the flag that has been hidden at the Athena temple on the hill behind our camp. We can use dummy weapons to stop our opponents from getting to the flag first but we're not allowed to fatally hurt anyone or use our powers. Whoever gets to the flag first, wins. Do you understand now?"
Felix nods with a tense smile.
"I'm nervous, y/n." He later goes on to admit as Minho and Eden declare the beginning of the games and call over the participants near the starting line. You glance at him and he is fidgety, like a middle schooler going to his first date. He wears a loose black t-shirt with a pair of extra baggy pants and his fingers play with the blonde strands of his hair.
When he catches your gaze, he smiles ever so sweetly.
You look away.
You feel the adrenaline course through your own veins as you gently pat his shoulder, "We're gonna win this. Trust me."
The other participants soon gather at the starting line, the competitiveness very much distinct in their sharp glances and quiet snickers, a contrast to how it were this morning. You'd never been one to be nervous before and today, you feel more confident than you've ever felt before. You wonder if the boy standing beside you, with his fingers tight around the sharp wooden sword, has something to do with this sudden confident outburst.
"Alright. Everyone, get ready!" Minho grabs everyone's attention with his loud voice, "And.....GO!"
Eden blows the Horn and you turn to look at Felix, sending him a wink,
"We're winning this, Lee."
*
A few seconds into the game and you realise that Felix and you make a bloody wonderful team. He's good with the sword while you're good with the arrows, he has sharp senses while you have sharp reflexes.
Your opponents attack you at the most random, unexpected moment but the both of you happen to defeat everyone of them and move closer to the temple, climbing through the thick mountain forest.
"You know, I didn't think we'd make such a great team. " Felix admits, panting and wincing as a tree branch brushes past a bruise on his arm, "You're not that bad, eh?"
You manage to giggle just before an arrow wheezes past you, missing you by a single inch.
Your heart as if stops beating for a second.
"Shit! I thought we were leading!" You hiss, falling on the ground.
Felix gets ready to defend your vulnerable position, his sword raising in alarm.
While on the ground, you quickly grab an arrow and position your bow in the direction from which the opponents' arrow flew.
You hear crunching of leaves and branches and quiet whispering.
"They're here." Felix mutters.
The footsteps get closer and closer and before you know it, Felix is tackled aggressively onto the ground. You turn around and shoot your arrow, almost blinded by the suddenness of the situation.
"Goddamn it, Han Jisung!" Felix groans as he wrestles for dominance over Jisung, who is laughing almost maniacally.
"Jisung, I swear to-" you are about to get up and run towards the wrestling duo, but an arrow falls onto the ground, just near your feet.
Its your arrow.
"I underestimated you, y/n. You seem to be a pretty good archer." Changbin appears from behind one of the trees, a visible bruise on his cheek from where the blunt, rubber arrowhead must have hit him.
"And I, you." You respond, grabbing another arrow and stretching the string of your bow, "We're going to win this, Changbin. You might as well get going before I bruise your pretty face again."
Your words come from nowhere but a place of playfulness and competition, but Changbin's eyes turn dark.
You quickly run over to cover Felix, who seems to have gained dominance over a very tired Jisung, all of Jisung's arrows having fallen out of the case and onto the ground.
"I could say the same for you." Changbin approaches you, a wooden knife in one hand and a spear in the other.
He attacks and you dodge, smooth like a cat.
"Felix! Go! Get the flag!" You yell and hope Felix realises that Jisung is too tired to keep up a good fight, "Quick! Go now!"
Felix jumps from a panting, sweaty Jisung and runs towards the temple on top of the hill, his footsteps momentarily slowing down as he turns around to look at you, as if for reassurance.
You nod, "Go."
Your eyes turn to Changbin, who has his head tilted with a smirk on his face.
"I have always been a better runner than Felix, you know."
He tries to run past you but you grab the back of his shirt and drag him back, almost slipping in the process. Reflexively, he grabs your hand and forces his shirt out of your fist while you struggle to keep your feet flat on the ground.
Changbin is strong, you realise, extremely strong so when you try to throw in a punch, he dodges it easily.
Your brain is running wild now; your only motive being distracting Changbin from running after Felix.
"He won't go easy on you just because you've grown up together, you know." You say, almost mockingly as he tries to get out of your tight grip. You wonder if his shirt collar might tear because of it.
He scoffs, not bothering to answer but instead reaches for his wooden knife. And in the blink of an eye, the knife slashes across your forehead.
"Oh, God!" You groan, clutching the burning area on your forehead. Your body once again falls onto the ground, your vision extremely blurry.
With barely an eye open, you see Changbin run up the hill but you're quick to move and grab his feet such that he trips and falls down. You drag him down further, while he struggles to climb up.
Your heart beat is in your throat, your vision almost zero and your entire body is as if on fire. You pray to the Gods that Felix comes down the hill with the flag because in this state, you could only hold onto Changbin for so long. And not to mention Jisung who's slowly getting up with loud groans and complains falling out of his mouth.
As if on que, you hear footsteps hurrying down from up the hill and soon an enthusiastic voice follows,
"Y/n! We won!"
You wish to run up and hug the man but in your state, all you can do is let go of Changbin's leg and let out a sigh of relief, followed by a giggle.
"Told you, didn't I?"
* You often find yourself thanking the makers of Camp Levanter for making the Zeus cabin as far away from the others as possible that afternoon. It gives a much needed sense of privacy and the luxury of being able to choose when to socialize.
"I hope it doesn't leave a scar behind." You mutter to yourself, tending to your wounds on the verandah of your cabin.
You dip a cotton ball in an anti septic lotion and gently dab over your forehead, wincing when it stings.
"Need help?" You hear a heavy voice from near the staircase of the cabin and your heart jumps a little at his sight, "If you don't mind."
You run your eyes over the various purple and red marks on Felix's body and you pat the space next to you on the floor for him to come sit on.
"Your friend is dangerous." You remark when he settles down, flashing him your forehead wound.
He shrugs guiltily, "He's just a little aggressive, that's all. He'll come around."
Felix shifts in his seat and takes the cotton ball from your hand, silently volunteering to clean your forehead wound.
The sting is still very prominent, but Felix's other hand rubs comforting circles on your cheek to ease the pain.
"Minho told me that you met mom." He mutters after a few seconds, his lips turned down into a frown. Almost as if the news upset him.
"Yeah, I did." You admit as he applies an ointment and then fixes a bandaid over your wound.
"Have you never met-"
"No, I haven't. I don't know what she looks like or sounds like. My father never told me and she never bothered to show herself." Is he angry that his mother met you and not him?
You purse your lips, the sudden rise in tension making you uncomfortable.
"Hey, hey. I am not angry at you in particular." Ah, Aphrodite kids can feel auras. "I just wished she'd come to meet me as well. I don't know why she doesn't. " he mutters.
"Well," you start, "If it makes you feel any better, she did tell me that she wants you to go with us for a quest. Says its important for you to go."
Felix's eyes glimmer with a sense of relief. "Really?"
"Yes, of course and I'm sure she'll meet you soon." You reassure him, though you yourself weren't sure what Aphrodite might do. She isn't the most motherly entity, according to Hyunjin and the other Aphrodite kids.
"Do you want me to go the quest?"
You are applying the ointment on the bruise on his cheek when he decides to drop that question, catching you off guard.
"Why would my approval matter?" You ask.
"It matters." He almost whispers, "To me."
Heat races to your face at his unexpected yet sweet words. You know you shouldn't feel like this, you shouldn't get flustered because of a boy you met only a couple of days ago but under his unsettlingly calm gaze, you find yourself melting. Bit by bit.
"Okay, enough talk." You shake out of the trance, "Go to your cabin and rest. We leave tomorrow night. I hope you paid attention while Minho was explaining the quest or do I need to repeat it?"
Felix giggles, shaking his head, "I paid attention."
He jogs down the small stairs of your cabin and waves you goodbye, making his way to his cabin.
"And Felix,"
"Yes?"
I want you to come with me to the quest.
"Don't forget to have Ambrosia before bed. It'll help your wounds heal faster."
Oh, silly,silly, y/n!
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sserpente · 4 years
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A/N: Let us kick off autumn season with everyone’s favourite pirate! This Imagine is based on requests from @manymanycupsoftea and two anons. This is probably not entirely historically accurate or more than a fluffy piece of even more fluff but… Have fun! 🎃😋
Words: 1913 Warnings: fluff, anxiety (fear of thunderstorms)
The first thunder ripped you from your light sleep, growling in the grey sky. It was so loud you could feel it vibrating in your chest. Sweating, you sat up, your limbs shaking.
One of the more considerate crew members had offered you a hanging mat but you had opted to build yourself a little nest behind some heavy wooden boxes full of ammunition and cannon balls instead, on top of a pile of fishing nets. It was surprisingly comfortable but most of all, it was safer.
It was for the first time now that you regretted your decision. Thunderstorms did not usually scare you this much—but on a ship, in the middle of the ocean with no land in sight… your anxiety stirred like a rousing lion ready to devour you.
You whimpered, unable to stop the pitiful sounds escaping your lips as you curled up in the corner. You had long gotten used to the way the ship kept rocking on the strong waves of the sea—but today, it made you sick to the core. The Captain had promised land soon, if anything to stock up on the crew’s rum supplies. If you were not mistaken, you were sailing somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean. Jack had told you about an island where the British settled and harboured many treasures and expensive alcohol. He had only been once, in his drunken state, however, barely remembered any of the experience.
Another thunder. You flinched once more, pressing your forehead against your knees until you felt a stinging pain spreading on your skin but only pulled away to look up with tear-stricken eyes when you heard a barrel being knocked over, and the Captain cursing under his breath.
Closing your mouth shut, you sank against the wood, wishing you were a mouse. Unlucky for you, he noticed you regardless.
“You alright there, missy?” He leaned over one of the boxes, his dreads hanging down and making the beads woven into them clatter.
“No. Yes. Go away!”
Jack pouted. “That was… an unhelpful answer.”
“I’m just sea-sick.” You choked out, unwilling to meet his brown eyes. They were, so you had to admit, far too captivating.
“In which case you should hop on deck and not cower in the dark.” On deck. That would be even worse. And in this weather… what was he thinking? Probably nothing at all, given the amount of alcohol on the Black Pearl.
“H-How… how close are we to land?”
“’Bout half a day’s journey if the storm doesn’t blow us off course.” Jack leaned in even closer. You could smell him now. A wondrously intriguing mixture of rum, a little bit of sweat and the tangy soap he had stolen from a British mercenary last week—and strangely… having the infamous pirate so close to you calmed you down. A third thunder echoed through the endless sky above the ship, so loud this time even the sleeping crew stirred a little in its slumber. A scream escaped your lips before you were unable to stop it.
Captain Jack Sparrow was many things but he was certainly not stupid—and he did not quite manage to wipe the shit-eating grin off his face when he said, “You’re afraid of the storm?” It was not a question; and even though you felt the urge to slap him for mocking you for your anxieties, what he did instead startled you to the core.
He reached out for you, offering you his hand. Utterly confused, you stared at it, counting the many precious rings on his fingers and wondering what had caused the long scar right above his knuckles. A sword, perhaps?
He was a pirate. Pirates should not behave this way. You had not expected a life where you were being respected by your comrades when you joined this ship for no other reason than to escape the social conventions of your own family, to flee having to bend to rules you fundamentally disagreed with. Rules like forced marriages for the sake of society and reputation. Ugh.
And now here he was, taking your hand into his, pulling you off the ground and leading you over to one of the hanging mats. You stopped dead in your tracks when you realised what his destination was.
“I am not going to sleep in a hanging mat with you!”
Jack’s upper lip twitched slightly. “I wasn’t gonna sleep, I was gonna drink.” He said matter-of-factly, pointing to the bottle of rum on another wooden box next to the hanging mat as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Jack let go off your hand and made himself comfortable.
You presumed you had two options now. You could either jump in at the deep end and join him or you could return to your little nest, letting your anxiety get the better of you. The next thunder made you decide quickly. Before you could change your mind, you climbed up to him, realising only when it was too late that this hanging mat did not provide enough space for two people. You ended up using him both as your pillow and your mattress and Jack had the audacity to groan and then chuckle as he took a greedy sip from his rum.
“Sorry. This isn’t going to work, I’ll…”
“I’m not complaining about havin’ a beautiful woman sleeping on me, missy.” He cut you off.
“I won’t sleep. I’ll just… wait until this stupid storm is over.” You retorted, ignoring vehemently how the pirate had just called you beautiful and made his comment sound ambiguous. It was oddly flattering.
And then there it was again, his intoxicating smell, the alcohol more prominent now that he was sipping on his rum. You almost smiled to yourself. What would your mother say if she knew you were currently resting on top of a fearsome pirate who had more or less just non-verbally promised to protect you from a storm? This was more than your husband-to-be ever could have done for you.
Against all conviction, you fell asleep.
-
The next morning the crisp October air was fresh, as if cleansed by all the rain that had poured into the ocean and on deck of the Black Pearl overnight. The dark and threatening storm clouds had gone, the sun rising on the horizon. Jack had been right. There was land in sight—and the haven was busy, full of merchants and traders wearing… exceptionally strange clothes, their carriages full of pumpkins.
A frown decorated your forehead. Pumpkins? It could not be… had you been sailing for so long now?
“It’s Halloween.” You whispered—both euphoria and grief washing over you all at the same time. As a child, you had loved Halloween. Your father had brought Turkish Delight all the way from Eastern Europe to be eaten and you had been allowed to dress up as a fierce pirate girl with a wooden sword.
Jack leaned over, his lips slightly parted in an irritated manner. You shivered when his hot breath brushed against your ear.
“Uh… do you know why they’re all dressed like that?”
“They are wearing costumes.” You responded, smiling faintly at the memory. Jack looked at you as if you had grown two heads, eliciting a giggle from you. You didn’t know why but somehow… you kept growing to like the cocky pirate.
“It is an annual celebration to scare away nasty spirits. So this might be the one day of the year you will not look conspicuous being dressed like… well, a pirate.” You concluded, your voice more confident now. Perhaps it was not so bad after all. Jack had shown you nothing but kindness so far. “I wish I had a costume.”
“That can be arranged. Master Gibbs!” He called out, without ever taking his eyes off of you.
“Aye, Captain?”
“You’re in charge! I’m takin’ this lovely lady out for a drink!”
“Aye, Captain.” Gibbs repeated, raising his eyebrows just a little at being left with all the work while Jack was amusing himself with a woman. Heavens, what were you thinking? He was a pirate. You would not be amusing yourself with him… like that.
“Why?” You asked, as soon as you had followed him across the wooden boarding ramp and past a few merchants offering you fresh and big pumpkins. It was almost short of a miracle Jack’s ship did not attract any attention—but then again, this island was different—and it was Halloween.
“’Cause I’m thirsty.” He replied.
“You’re always thirsty. I mean, why are you taking me with you?”
“Cheer up, luv.” Love? Did he just call you love? It did in fact distract you so much you did not realise he never bothered to answer your question. “They serve the best rum here! But don’t tell that me mates on Tortuga. Ah, wait.” He stopped dead in his tracks and spun around, the sudden movement having you knock straight into him. He chuckled when you blinked.
You were standing in midst of a rather busy alley now. Market stands and laundrette services caught your attention, across the dusty ground a few chicken ran for their lives, being chased by a butcher with bloodstains on his white apron.
Unceremoniously and without any shame, Jack plucked a surprisingly well-made suit from a nearby clothesline. It was a British sailor’s uniform.
“You wanted to dress up?” He grinned, his golden teeth glinting in the rising morning sun.
“As a British sailor?” You asked, reaching for the appertaining hat but unable to stop yourself from reciprocating his grin in the process.
“As a freebooter!” He protested as he took the hat from your hand and put it on your head. Heavens, could this get any more bizarre?
Apparently it could, for about ten minutes later you found yourself sitting in a dimly lit tavern in a stolen costume, sipping, for the first time in your life, on a mug filled to the brim with rum. Jack had already half-emptied his while you were struggling not to end up completely drunk after only two sips.
If all this wasn’t strange enough already, you were the only woman in here—a circumstance which the other men, pirates or whatever they might have been, did not fail to notice. And when one of them gathered up his courage to approach you in a both eager and suspicious manner, the infamous pirate Captain simply slipped an arm around you, pulling you against his strong body and hence, scaring the stranger away.
Rum, sweat, tangy soap… you could get used to this.
“Jack? Thank you.” You blurted out before you could stop yourself. To say he was startled did not quite capture it.
“What for?”
“Everything. I think… I think you’re a good man.”
He frowned, hesitating. “I’m a pirate.”
“Yes, you are. But you have a good heart. You could have left me behind laughing at me when I begged you for shelter on your ship upon fleeing from my family. You didn’t… and now this is more than I could have ever imagined.”
“You’re livin’ a pirate’s life now, luv.” Love. There it was again. Smirking smugly, he raised his mug. “Take what you can.”
You laughed, more men turning their heads your way—right now, with Jack by your side, you couldn’t care less. “And give nothing back!” You clinked your glasses and drank. “Oh, and Happy Halloween!”
-
A/N: If you enjoyed this story, I would appreciate it so much if you considered supporting me on Kofi! Caffeine is essential as a writer, I guess. And red wine. A lot of red wine. ko-fi.com/sserpente ♥
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