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solar-halos · 1 year

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i think we need to talk about lucy gray

before we get into the bulk of the rant, i want to clarify i’m not denying that lucy gray is very clever and very good at emotionally manipulating people. you have to be, as someone who makes a living out of performing for other people. and, seeing as she already relied on that skill to survive without the capitol being in the picture, she’s obviously very good at making people like + root for her

the point of this post isn’t me being like “lucy gray has done nothing wrong in her entire life” bc i honestly don’t think that’s true. like, with the war ruining her childhood and the games ruining her teenage dirtbag era and snow ruining what’s left of her adulthood, it would surprise me if she’s not at least a little bit fucked up. she’s not a poor lil lamb or a ruthless killer, but a secret third thing. emotional manipulation is one of her strengths, but i also think it’s her biggest weakness as well

so, without further ado, let’s get into the actual rant!

we obviously know billy taupe sucks. i’m gonna try to not let my own headcanons get in the way of what i’m saying too much, but based on the fact this man literally had to get shot to finally shut the fuck up about running away with lucy gray, i think it’s safe to say that he was obviously very controlling and possessive. but he was always outward with it, unlike snow

so here lucy gray is, in the capitol, because billy taupe got his feet muddy and that’s somehow HER problem, and there’s this guy there! and he’s not (outwardly) repulsed by the fact she lives in the districts! we already know that people view snow as a very genuine person, so what’s lucy gray supposed to think? everyone in the capitol is so intent on treating her and the other tributes like animals, so snow doing less than the bare minimum and sneaking her a couple crackers every now and then probably comes across as a very touching display of humanity for her

and then she gets back home, and there are moments where she’s like “damn my capitol boyfriend is acting odd as fuck” but what’s she got to compare him to? billy taupe, the living embodiment of a sweat stain. someone who has an explosive temper, someone who isn’t intimidated by the idea of immediately getting aggressive and confrontational when something doesn’t go his way, someone who is very transparent with his ickiness. lucy gray was probably over the moon that she ditched billy taupe and his tobacco ridden lungs for someone like snow. she probably thought she was lucky that she seemingly got this whole romance thing down on the second try

and you know what? i absolutely do think lucy gray not only blamed herself for these two failed relationships, but for winding up in the games in general. *in my experience* there is a lot of guilt mixed in with removing yourself from a toxic relationship. instead of being like “slay i don’t have to deal with all this weird bullshit anymore B)” you start blaming yourself for not leaving sooner, or for not acknowledging the signs, and self-blame is especially common for people that have been cheated on. it seems like lucy gray left immediately after billy taupe cheated on her (yay!), but it also seems like we caught her in the second stage of the breakup (anger). the bargaining will come later

and, after snow reveals himself as someone who is, in fact, an aggressive person with an explosive temper, i think lucy gray would definitely start to blame herself for how common this pattern of behavior is from the guys she’s dating. you know, as if it’s her fault that the people in her life treat her like shit

i guess this sounds like a very pointless rant, but cmon! breakups are already so heavy and world altering when you’re 16, but being cheated on? then getting sent to your death by the girl your ex cheated on you with, as if it’s your fault? then your new boyfriend who you thought was sooo much sweeter and more thoughtful than your old boyfriend pulling a gun out on you, as if him murdering his “best friend” is also your fault? goddam! she’s not just processing the games anymore—she’s processing a clusterfuck of betrayal and attempted murders that take place outside of the arena. her being reaped is nobody’s fault but mayfair’s for getting so territorial over a boy that probably smells like a soggy, dirty sock, but lucy gray would absolutely internalize this until she starts blaming herself for not “seeing the signs sooner” or not being able to “keep him happy” before billy taupe wandered off and got her shipped to the capitol

i also want to acknowledge how different she is around billy taupe in comparison to snow, bc her behavior with billy taupe was one of the reasons why snow was so distrustful of her at the end of the book. but tbh if i wasn’t worried about saying something that would start a screaming match between someone who cheated on me and looked the other way as i was being sent to my DEATH, i’d start biting too! no jk but i think the the thing with that is lucy gray didn’t have to be as careful with how she approached billy taupe bc she could literally just kick him off her property if he started acting up and the covey would be chill with it. before the breakup, they’d both have to deal with the fallout of losing their tempers, so lucy gray finally having the opportunity to tell him to fuck off (as well as her trauma from the games) probably influenced how much more boldly she interacted with him after she got home

idk i just think viewing her as some sort of master manipulator who solely viewed snow as an exit ticket reads a bit too much like snow going sicko mode in the woods after he somehow convinced himself that lucy gray is out to get him bc the capitol forced her to play a game and she won. i genuinely do think she liked snow at the beginning. she was very vulnerable by the time they met, and while i do believe she knew snow was her best shot at leaving the arena alive, she had more important things on her mind than thinking about if her literal mentor giving her food so she doesn’t starve to death is part of some sort of longcon mind game extravaganza. also her already being distrustful of him but still staying with him after she won also seems like a longcon mind game extravaganza, but i don’t see what her motive would be for doing that

(don’t get it twisted tho i looove fanfics where lucy gray is like “this boy is not my fuckinf type but i’ll be damned if i won’t eat his food.” there was a fanfic on ao3 where the main pairing was lucy gray and sejanus and <3 oh i love that so much she deserved someone genuinely sweet in her life)

this concept sounded so much better in my head but basically the gist of what i’m trying to say is that there’s probably a lot of self hatred on lucy gray’s part for how awful her life turned out. (also i’m not trying to boil down her character to the guys she’s had romantic relationships with, but i think there is something to be said about how snow views things like love and obsession and control as things that are very much.. interchangeable)

actually here’s the gist of the gist:

“fool me once, shame on me. fool me twice, also shame on me” -lucy gray after two different boyfriends both try to murder her for having the audacity to think for herself

another disclaimer before i end off this post: i don’t mean for this to come across as me bashing anyone who has theories about lucy gray wanting snow on her good side bc she wanted a higher chance of surviving. maybe she was just stringing him along, or maybe her already fucked up perception of love paired with a wholly fucked up situation made her think he was much sweeter than he was

or maybe it’s a secret third thing

#long post #the ballad of songbirds and snakes #lucy gray baird #i hate billy taupe so much it’s unreal #and snow but that should be obvious #i hope this makes sense tho

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unspcken · 4 months

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youth Mags was born and raised in district four by Tad and Moira Flanagan. As a girl, Mags had not been one who particularly enjoyed following the rules or being commanded. She had never been a fan of peacekeepers, but was taught to follow instructions accordingly. An association rooted in which men who made the rules meant harm. Her father being one of the few exceptions. Little Mags used to craft fishhooks with her father to sell. It extended to her learning how to do fine embroidery and sewing. Mags was a talkative child, who would often run her mouth and make bold statements within the privacy of their home.

15 years old It was the first year watching the Games she was actually intrigued. Not only was there a girl who was actually making her voice heard - quite literally - she was also dressed flamboyantly and it was the first time that the Games turned into somewhat of an event. Mags was fascinated by Lucy Gray Baird and her victory and wished she had a singing voice like that so she could also speak up in that sing-song subtle way.

16 years old Her reaping was one of the first moments Mags actually did not know what to say. A change was announced. More cameras. More spectacle. More getting to know the tributes. Mags tried to recall as much as she had learnt from Lucy Gray's victory. How she was kind, charming and accessible. How she touched hearts. Someone to root for. Sponsors suddenly became a more vital part of the Games and Mags wanted to make sure she got the most of them. She managed to charm, was witty in a humoring way and showed the audience that there was more to her than her than meets the eye - leaving them in anticipation.

Mags won her Games for a reason. Not only did she have survival skills, she also was quite strong for someone with a small frame like hers. She was clever, cunning, and unfortunately quite ruthless when she needed to be. Leading to her victory after a few days in the arena.

She was allowed back home but never managed to look her father in the eye again.

after the games Mags's boldness slowly returned. With every year another victor joined their pack and they became somewhat acquainted. Mags found comfort in those who had similar experiences and learnt to avoid those who found core pleasure in their victory. Often she wondered what had happened to the girl in the rainbow skirt who made her voice heard.

In the early days of the Victor Villages, things were not set in place like they were in current times. Mags had voiced displeasure with the ways the Capitol was treating her, even after the turmoil of winning the Games. The wrong person picked up on this and enlightened authorities. It was seen as treason and the Capitol would not have victors speak ill of them in any sort of way. As punishment - and to prevent it from happening again - they cut out her tongue. Shortly after, they realized how this was not a suitable punishment for victors, since they were too involved with current media. Rebels and traitors, however, still received such torture. They are known these days as Avoxes. Most don't know the reasoning behind Mag's mutism. Some think one day decided to stop talking altogether, being an introvert. Others think never spoke at all.

corilanius snow The promise of a new President gave some hope that change might occur. Mags, vividly remembering the 10th Hunger Games, recognized the new man in office being the mentor of Lucy Gray Baird. Another man set to make the rules. Soon her association was confirmed when things only changed for the worst.

Mags had looked him in the eye, they did not differ that much in age, and wondered what had happened to what had seemed to be a sweet, charismatic boy. But perhaps he had played the game of keeping up appearances to win over a crowd. And how could she possibly blame him for it when she had done the same in order to become her own victor.

#;; musings #;; study

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anncanta · 3 years

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The imagery of BBC ‘Dracula’: mythology, alchemy, literature. Part 2

Part 1 is here.

Mirror

One of the cross-cutting images of the entire work, which underlies the very narrative structure on which it is built, the image of the mirror is one of the most ancient in European culture. Which is not surprising – a reflective surface capable of showing a person himself was probably initially perceived as magical – not by chance, as in the situation with photography, the earliest myths and fears associated with mirrors speak of soul abduction.

In Dracula, the image of the mirror is presented at the same time as a literal object that the protagonist fears, his main phobia, a metaphor for his ability/inability to look at himself, and the resulting all this motive of duality that unfolds the story as a drama of reflections.

Let's start with a literal mirror. I don't know if you noticed, but in the first episode, with the exception of the scene in Jonathan's room in Dracula's castle, there are no mirrors at all. And even that only thing of Harker Dracula instantly breaks. It is interesting how he does it – not as a negative character, grimacing angrily at the sight of a hated object, or an unforgettable queen in various versions of the story about Snow White, destroying a mirror showing her not what she wants. Dracula breaks the mirror instinctively, doing it in one movement as if delaying or trying to think about it could be almost more dangerous than the object itself is. It is possible that this is so. He then tells Jonathan that he cannot provide him with another mirror in return, as he does not keep such things in his house. From that moment on, not once during the two episodes did he look at his reflection, including the scene with Dorabella, where the Count shows a young woman what could have been in her life, reflected in the water, but does not look into it himself.

The third episode looks in huge contrast to the first two. Now Dracula, who woke up in the twenty-first century, looks at himself constantly. In fact, if you peer closely, he does just that throughout the episode. And not only literally, but also metaphorically. Which, in general, is logical: given the events that took place in the castle, and then on Demeter, we can assume that for the first time in many years Dracula plucked up the courage to see himself, to meet with himself and think about what he was.

Judging by what the Count sees in the mirror, the answer is not very inspiring.

It turns out that there is nothing majestic, bright, and attractive either in himself or in his life. His spectacular charming appearance is a mask, an illusion, and an old man with gray hair and sunken eyes looks to him from the window glass, his house is a pompous empty room, trying to replace the unattainable sun with an excess of artificial light, his woman is a silly girl who is not afraid of death because she is unable to appreciate life.

The ruthlessness and brightness of the reflections leave no chance for false interpretations. In this sense, the relationship between Dracula and his new lawyer is especially eloquent. You need to understand that the reflection of Jonathan Harker in modern reality is not Jack Seward, but Renfield. Obsequious, stupid, pitiful, ready to do anything for the sake of influence and power. It is the worst mirror the Count has ever seen, and, as he begins to conjecture, perhaps just the one he deserves.

The reflection in Renfield and in Lucy leads Dracula in the end to what he fled from for so many years.

To the needle and the sun.

Needle

When you talk about images in works of art, you always have to keep in mind that images are inseparable from motives and plots with which they travel through time and that every time you discover a particular object and symbol in a text, you, like a fisherman in an old fairy tale, can bring the whole world to the surface. And it doesn't matter at all whether the image is large or small, is it constantly mentioned in the text or is the central one in a single short episode.

In Dracula, the needle occurs only once, but its appearance can serve as an example of how a single image, arising, ‘gathers’ an archetypal story around itself.

Globally, in Dracula, there are two central archetypal plots: the plot of the beauty and the beast and the plot of the sleeping beauty. I suggest looking at how one of them works at the image level.

I'm talking about the plot of the sleeping beauty.

Let`s recall the episode in the isolation ward. What does Dracula do before making an incision in his arm and filling a test tube with blood? That's right, he gives Zoe a needle. The same spindle, which in a fairy tale makes a sleeping beauty fall asleep (symbolically, like a caterpillar, plunge into a transformative state, from which it will emerge as a butterfly).

In the film, Dracula plays both the role of a witch taking revenge for the fact that she was not invited to the party, and a prince called to wake up the beauty. This is literally shown in the scene when, in a vision of Zoe, who drank the Count's blood, Agatha and Zoe look into each other's eyes, connected by Dracula and standing on opposite sides of him. Moreover, pay attention – Zoe stands behind the Count's back, symbolizing the past, while Agatha is right in front of him, metaphorically meaning the future.

Well, and if this is not enough for someone, a little later they will show us Zoe, lying in bed, and Agatha, entering the door.

And what comes after her?

Sun

Author`s note

This part of the article contains thoughts that I unexpectedly discovered a few days ago in a beautiful text The Petruvian Man by @devoursjohnlock. I highly recommend this article to those who are interested in the topic of images and the structural construction of Dracula.

In the first episode, the sun rarely appears, in the second it is hidden almost all the time behind clouds or fog, and in the third it crosses the hero's path several times in a row – first in Bob's house, where Zoe threatens to collapse the roof if Dracula does not surrender, then – in the form of golden light, hugging the building of the Jonathan Harker foundation, where the Count is brought in a box, until it finally bursts into the window of Dracula's own house, categorically and victoriously, putting an end to all the vague games.

We will not talk here about the meaning of the sun as reason, consciousness, openness, new life, clarity, and realization of an integral personality. This is understandable, and we talked about this earlier. Let's look at it as an image that is used in this text a little unusual, but that's why it is no less interesting, creating depth and additional context where you don't expect it.

We are talking about the scene at the very beginning, in the first episode, which at first glance seems to be nothing more than a joke, an attempt by the writers to ‘dilute’ the drama, so to speak. But it's not that simple.

Remember how Dracula leads Jonathan Harker to his room and walks past the portraits of Petruvio and the architect’s wife? Remember what he says to Jonathan?

‘This castle was the Widower`s final work. A monument to his lost love and the sunlight, to which he could never return.’ And then Dracula adds: ‘...he died here in the arms of his wife,’ – in response to Jonathan's remark how this could be possible, as Petruvio was a widower, saying: ‘It must have been a cold embrace.’

Reflecting later on this gloomy joke, Johnny concludes that Petruvio considered his wife his sun: ‘What else is sunlight, but the face of one`s beloved?’, and guesses that behind her portrait is hidden a plan of the castle. And then words follow, which, in combination with what was said earlier, create an image that becomes a kind of symbolic prologue to the entire text and at the same time a brief description of the plot.

Finding the plan, Johnny deciphers it and discovers a way out behind Petruvio's portrait. Then he says: ‘Petruvio’s wife was the sunlight, and he stood guard at the door.’

Does it remind you of anything?

What happens in the last scene in the third episode?

The catharsis of the uniting of the two, which became possible only because both realized and accepted their – as we could see from the very beginning – natural roles in this play. Agatha took the role of the sunlight and the liberating power of love and mind, and Dracula – the role of the door.

And on a figurative level, this was laid down from the first minutes of the film. Spoken in words for those who do not read visual messages. Down to the smallest details, like the architect who died in the arms of his wife, who by that time was already dead. As well as Agatha, who was physically dead for one hundred and twenty-three years by the end of the third episode.

Rather, as in the case of the needle, and in many others, here words only confirm and express directly what is said at the symbolic level, and it is impossible to separate one level from other. Reading them at the same time, moving between them, and looking at them together, you can see the whole story, and even guess what is it about.

But more on that later.

Part 3.

#dracula 2020 #bbc dracula #dragatha #meta

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bluebird167 · 4 years

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Dark Shadows AU

This is an au fanfiction idea that I'm giving away. I'd write it myself but I have other stories to work on. So if you're interested in writing this let me know.

So Gray has black hair and pale skin so I can't be the first person to picture him playing a vampire. Anyway this will be based off of the adapted versions of the Gothic Soap Opera. Such as the 1991 revival TV series, the 2004 pilot for the attempt of making a second revival series, and the 2012 Tim Burton film.

Barnabas Collins - Gray Fullbuster

Victoria Winters/Josette Du Pres - Juvia Lockser

Angelique Bouchard - Ulter Milkovich

Elizabeth Stoddard Collins - Erza Scarlet

Willie Loomis - Natsu Dragneel

Carolyn Stoddard - Lucy Heartfilia

David Collins - Romeo Conbolt

Dr. Julia Hoffman - Cana Alberona

Rodger Collins - Laxus Dreyar

Sarah Collins - Wendy Marvell

During the 18th Century Gray Fullbuster is the handsome and carefree young heir to his family's rather wealthy shipping and merchant business. He lives a charmed life with his father, older brother Lyon, and younger sister Wendy. His mother had died giving birth to Wendy so his father hired Ur Milkovich to serve as Wendy's nurse and her daughter Ultear to work as a maid servant.

Unknown to the family Ur and her daughter are witches but while Ur is a wise, kind, and good witch who uses magic to benefit the family that has always been so kind to her, Ultear is selfish, manipulative, and wicked who uses her witchcraft to raise her position due to her jealousy of the family's wealth and her infatuation with Gray. She attempts to seduce him on several occasions but he always rejects her.

Eventually Gray falls in love with and becomes engaged to a beautiful young woman who comes from an equally wealthy family. He gives her a music box and promises to love no one but her as long as she lives. This causes Ultear's jealousy to increase. After failing to use witchcraft to make him love her, she curses the entire Fullbuster family to suffer tragedy. First she causes Gray's father to die in a shipwreck, next she causes Wendy's death through a fatal illness, then she curses Gray to become an immortal vampire, but before she can do anything to Lyon her mother figures out what's going on and manages to save him.

Gray now a vampire goes to see his fiance but Ultear puts visions in the innocent young woman's head that show Gray as a monster killing her savagely. This horrifies her so much that when she sees Gray she becomes afraid and runs from him. He chases her and tries to explain but she's so overcome with fear that she doesn't listen and she blindly throws herself from a cliff, dying.

Heartbroken by the loss of so many people he loved and ashamed of the monster he's become, Gray goes to his brother Lyon and begs him to kill him. However Lyon cannot bring himself to do it so he instead chains Gray inside of a coffin and has it sealed away in the family mausoleum. Realizing what her daughter has done, Ur disowns Ultear and places a curse of her own on her daughter. That she may never be loved by anyone other than her until she relinquishes her jealousy and repents for her sins against the Fullbuster family. Ultear leaves the house while Ur stays behind to protect Lyon for the rest of her life.

Years later during the 1970's, the house and business of the Fullbuster family has been passed down to Lyon's descendants Erza Scarlet a solitary but caring woman and her ruthless business man cousin Laxus Dreyar. Living with them in the house is Erza's orphaned nephew Romeo, her high spirited and rebellious stepsister Lucy, their alcoholic live in doctor Cana, and their loyal yet slightly timid handyman Natsu who has a secret crush on Lucy.

The family thinks that Romeo has an imaginary friend who he talks with too much and Laxus refuses to allow him to go to school due to his fear of what other people think so Erza puts out an add for a tutor. The add is answered by Juvia Lockser a beautiful and gentle young woman who believes that there are forces out there that can't be explained. When she arrives she is well liked by Erza, forms a friendship with Lucy, and bonds with Romeo especially when she believes him about his friend being real. However his imaginary friend is actually the ghost of Gray's beloved younger sister Wendy who warns Romeo that her brother will soon return.

One night Natsu and his greedy girlfriend Daphne who mistreats him discover some old notes that reveal that their might be a treasure hidden in the mausoleum that's just a little ways from the house. Daphne forces a reluctant Natsu to help her look for the treasure in the mausoleum which leads to them unlocking the chains to Gray's coffin and reawakening him. He kills Daphne and drinks her blood but spares Natsu (In this vampires can sense if you're a good person or not). He then introduces himself to Erza and reveals to her that he's a vampire. At first she's afraid of him but he assures her that he would never harm anyone in the family and only wants to live with them peacefully while restoring his family business which has gone to ruin. She agrees but insists that no one know who he really is or what he really is other than herself and Natsu.

Gray moves into the house and almost immediately falls in love with Juvia who happens to look exactly like his deceased fiance. She feels instantly drawn to him especially when he gives her the music box and he begins romancing her while also making things better for the members of the house hold. He helps Natsu become more confident, pushes Lucy toward him so she'll have decent guy who will care for her instead of her lowlife boyfriends, looks out for Romeo's well being, and convinces Erza to get out and socialize more.

Unfortunately his vampire urges can't be helped and he quenches his thirst by feeding off of criminals and thugs but he becomes more dangerously close to losing control and attacking someone in the house. So he tries to get Cana to help him find a cure for vampirism. But to make matters worse Ultear is still alive and she will do whatever it takes to either have Gray or destroy everything he loves.

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abusedapricots · 4 years

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I JUST finished The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. WOW

I really enjoyed it, though not sure if I’ll feel the same way in a week when the book high has worn off, we’ll have to see.

*UPDATE: its meh, I dont regret reading it but I wouldn't recommend it to a friend. Honestly this book didnt need to be a thing but its not the worst.

I’ll admit, at first I was skeptical. I thought this would be a cash grab returning to an old world with guaranteed readers. I was worried that Panam would feel phony, after 10 years away from the original trilogy I didn't think it would feel real. I was quickly proven wrong. Coriolanus Snow definitely had his own story. The post-war capitol felt real even district 12 felt real. This book surprised me. Though my expectations were low I’m really happy about TBOSAS.

CORE-E-O-LAN-US or CORE-E-O-LANE-US?

I just quickly typed this up for some unbiased thoughts before I watch/read some reviews. As I'm sure there are lots of typos grammatical errors, and sloppy writing, I'll be back in a week to revise this review once I've let the books simmer.

Spoilers Ahead

I loved Coriolanus’ story. LOVED IT. He was smart, reserved, calculating, only ever giving away what was needed of a situation. Maybe it was the narcissist in me but I loved being in his brain. I liked how this book dealt with the other side of classism. How the once-revered Snows had fallen and Coriolanus need to keep up appearances, refusing to let the snow dynasty die. I like how thought-provoking the three C’s, chaos, control, and contract were. I liked how Coriolanus didn't have hard-set opinions, they changed as he grew. I find that a lot of the times with YA novels characters had a very strict world view of what is good and what is bad. Coriolanus’ view of humanity is never really clear until the end. He teetered on good and bad. Suzanne wrote a great villain, Snow was always able to justify his actions. He says it himself, he’s a capitol boy and he decides to play the game of fame and fortune instead of rising against injustice.

Coriolanus’ Superiority Complex

I think my favorite aspect of the book is how unattached Coriolanus was. Every time Coriolanus had to do anything he always weighed his options. He never rushed to help because it was the right thing to do, he did it to preserve an image. He’s all about his image. In the beginning, when he and Lucy Gray begin their relationship, Coriolanus never felt fully in it. Suzanne Collins writes in a way that obscures his motivations. He would often do and say things that made me believe that Coriolanus was really falling for Lucy Gray but then shortly after Coryo always mentions how he could benefit. He’s ‘love’ for Lucy Gray came from the want of the prize, the full ride to university, to bolster him and his family name, I don't think Coryo ever did anything out of pure intentions. He was never blind with love, he could still clearly see the options in front of him and every move was calculated, always self-serving. This is why him switching up on Lucy Gray wasn't very surprising, he saw a better opportunity and he took it. He never really loved her, he loved what she brought him, fame, attention, a chance at the prize, freedom once he used her up he had no use for her. Sure he was drawn in by her charm but in the end, he never really knew her, he had been too self-involved to ever really get to know people.

I think his lack of attachments was best represented in his unwavering distaste towards Sejanus. While he and Sejanus grew close (even just by proximity) Coryo never failed to look down on him, he never seemed to acknowledge that Senjanus’ worries were valid rather, he brushed them off as Sejanus being a district kid, never worthy of respect. When it came to it he was ruthless in his betrayal. Returning to the capitol and having the Plinths care for him as their own only solidified Snow’s heartlessness. I don’t think Snow was a psychopath, lacking all emotion, I think he definitely could have teetered over to the good side, but his superiority complex kept him from doing so. His classist need to divide and look down upon only grew as he goes on to become president. He has a very us against them mentality, a rich vs poor outlook where if you were born district that's all you'll ever be despite proving otherwise. Call it old fashion or heartless? He even had to convince himself and the capitol that Lucy Gray wasn't ‘truly’ a district kid, much less from district 12. He couldn't bear it, to be into someone from the lowest rung of society. It wasn't he style, not for the exceptional Coriolanus Snow. Funny how during the game when choosing which of the remaining mentors to eat with he thought “cannibal over cutthroat” while he was the most merciless himself.

Thoughts On Lucy Gray

I didn’t think she was anything special. Sure she was that cool, quirky™ girl but I’m not head over heels for her. I wasn't ever super invested in her. This might be because I’m reading in Coriolanus’ head, not seeing her as more than something to be used. I liked that she was nothing like Katniss though.

I liked it when Coryo saw her as a killer. When he had found the guns when his heart decided to kill her then. Lucy Gray knew the future too when she saw the guns, she knew it before Coriolanus knew it. She was smart, maybe reading from Coriolanus’ point of view shrouded her intellect as he refused to see anyone being better than him. He justified killing her by thinking of her as a killer. He altered his thoughts of her arena killings as a must for survival to cold-blooded. He no longer saw her as a ‘Poor Lamb’ but instead the “clever, devious, deadly girl”.

It was a shift for both Coryo and Lucy Gray. This showed that Lucy Gray wasn't without fault, she too could be cunning and ruthless, when need be of course. These few pages of the book were monumental in proving why Coriolanus was a bad person. It allowed the audience to see that everyone had this malice in them yet the majority chose not to listen and do the right thing while Coriolanus lead his life with that voice. He actively chose to do the wrong thing to move up in the world. His behavior was not special to him, his up growing, experience, and hardships didn’t make him an evil person, Coriolanus’ choice to choose evil at every turn to do good made him an evil person. Everyone has this malice in them but the majority chose not to act on it while Coriolanus welcomed it.

For Coriolanus, it showed that in his head, he could justify any action despite how cruel. I think this is where Coryo lost any last bit of humanity. He refused to see the world and its people to be good, to be capable of free thought. He saw the world to be controlled. These few pages were my favorite out of the book, I feel it to be the catalyst of his tyrannical rule. He couldn't trust the girl he “loved”, much less the district people.

Concluding Thoughts

This book made me think about responsibilities to preserve humanity vs our individual need to survive and be successful. If this what it takes to be president then so be it? how can you stop someone's pursuit of success? At what cost is someone's dream. At least we know that Coriolanus knows that the hunger games are wrong, he knows but to him its worth the cost of keeping the district complacent.

I think the cruelty of Dr. Gaul was needed to make Snow seem like a halfway decent person. With the addition of Dr.Gaul, it softened Coryo’s shitty behavior because what Coriolanus thinks and does pale in comparison to what Dr. Gaul thinks and does. Without Dr. Gaul, Coryo would have been the only one with these sick cynical thoughts, amplifying him to be the bad guy. I think it would be interesting to re-read this book while writing off Dr. Gaul’s action just to see just how evil Coriolanus is without the comparison of Dr. Gaul’s cruelties. I wonder if I would still be as understanding towards Coryo and if Dr. Gaul’s character had that large an impact to make Coryo seem not too bad.

Though I am left wondering how Tigris was left in the dust by the end of Mockingjay. It seems unlikely that Coryo would have just left Tigris to fend for herself given how fondly he spoke of the sacrifices she made for him and the family name. I wonder how she ended up with a failing fur undergarments business by Mockingjay. Had Coryo betrayed family? Coriolanus is callous but he still had loyalties, his family, Pluribus. It just doesn't seem like his style to leave the few he actually cared about to fend for themselves while he had the means to help. I mean even as peacekeeper Coryo sent most of his money back home. Maybe Tigris was the one that left Coryo as she was made out to be kind and caring, lacking the grandiose nature Coryo possessed. Also given that Tigris is older than Coryo, and him being a pretty old dying man in Mockingjay I can't seem to see Tigris being alive much less as active as she was in helping Katniss (and crew) in killing Coryo. Maybe it was her capitol surgeries that allowed her aging to slow?

I think its interesting that in the end Coriolanus still saw what he had with Lucy Gray as love. Maybe to him what he had was his version of love, being able to use someone and for them to be used so willingly. I wonder if he knows the difference between the two and what real love looks like. I wonder what he thought of Katniss and Peeta, stupidity? what's the point in being with someone if they dont benefit you?

Some stand out quotes:

“Oh, no. You don’t like it?” he exclaimed. “I can try and bring something else. I can-” Pg. 85. When Coryo brings Lucy Gray the bread pudding Tigris made. Coryo’s care of Lucy Gray’s taste preference was sweet. She hadn't had food in a while, having this bread pudding should the highlight of her day. The fact that Coryo cared that she didn’t like it and was quick to offer something else was very sweet of him. Ugh, image the type of gentleman he could have been if he had been genuine and not so rotten.

I like how Suzanne Collins didn’t try to get the audience to love and sympathize with Coriolanus. Instead, she makes it clear that Coryo activity chose to do the self-serving thing at every turn.

I genuinely really enjoyed this book. Maybe my second favorite out of the entire Hunger Games books (bold ranking!!! but it might change once the magic of being nose deep in a book for 3 days has worn off). I think this book works great as a stand-alone, I wouldn't be afraid to recommend it to those who haven't read the trilogy.

UPDATE* woah my post book high is bad. DEFINITELY NOT second favorite??? HUHH?? what was I saying? what was I thinking?? (my deep seeded resentment towards mockingjay is showing) this book in no way supersedes any of the trilogies, yes including mockingjay 😒.

I’m not gonna lie, I did start developing a crush on Coryo in the beginning. Him being so smart and driven, so gentlemanly, caring about the little things like handkerchiefs SWOON. Buuuuut he quickly became an ass.

I said that the title “The Ballad of Songbird and Snakes” was a ripoff of “A Song of Ice and Fire” before reading the book. I thought Miss Collins just wanted a super sick book name but as I have finished the book, I would like to formally apologize and retract my statement. The title does fit this book.

SNOW LANDS ON TOP

#the ballad of songbirds and snakes #hunger games #suzanne collins #coriolanus snow #coryo #snow lands on top #why did I write a 2000 word analysis on this book while I can't bring myself to do my one page of homework?

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aspoonofsugar · 5 years

Note

Kunikida was inflicted by Q’s ability?! That wasn’t in the anime! Is that woman he’s hallucinating about supposed to be Sasaki from the Azure King arc? You said that Q’s ability causes people to confront “the thing they refuse to accept about themselves.” In Kunikida’s case, would that be his inability to save everyone?—BSD Chat Anon

Hello BSD Chat anon! Incidentally I like many of your thoughts!

Yes, Kunikida is one of the victims of the Guild’s plan to destroy Yokohama and the woman he sees is indeed Sasaki!

Nothing happens to him because Dazai and the others restrain him, so that he won’t become dangerous, but it is clearly significant that he has hallucinations of her among all people.

Unluckily I have yet to read the novel (even if I saw the anime episodes which adapted it), so my thoughts on this can’t be very elaborated.

You have probably already seen this post because you follow @hamliet’s blog, but I have tagged it just in case and for people who might be interested in an analysis of her character.

When it comes to Kunikida, I think Sasaki’s death is something which hit him for several reasons and especially because it is a challenge to his own ideals.

As a matter of fact both Sasaki’s crimes and her death are a result of strong ideals. She committed crimes in order to live up to and to avenge his dead partner AKA the Azure King.

According to Sasaki, he was a man moved by strong and positive ideals, but society prevented him from realizing them in all their beauty and so Sasaki helped him break the law in order to turn them into reality.

However, their scheme resulted in both him and innocent policemen losing their lives. What is more, Sasaki herself ends up killed by one of the victims’ son.

It is important to highlight that by the time the novel is set Kunikida is close to become like the AK. As a matter of fact he too has lost some faith in institutions and this is why he has chosen to join an organization which operates in a gray area like the ADA. If Kunikida keeps pursuing his ideals without ever questioning them he might end up both hurting others and himself.

At the same time, the novel makes clear that his ideals are what prevents him from developing strong bonds with others especially when it comes to romantic relationships:

He has spent so much energy to create the image of a perfect partner, that he can’t accept anything different and this of course ends up working against him.

Interestingly, this is the opposite problem Dazai has:

As a matter of fact Dazai is implied to be a lady killer, but it is clear that he has superficial relationships with all his partners and he is probably just using them to feel less lonely.

In short, both Kunikida and Dazai end up lonely because they can’t approach others earnestly. Kunikida expects his potential relationships to be ideal, while Dazai expects them to be casual ones.

Going back to Sasaki, the story makes clear that Kunikida feels strongly attracted by her and that the attraction is mutual. However, Sasaki has started a path of self-destruction she can’t stop and Kunikida is not able to help her nor to understand her until it is too late. Maybe if he had tried to grow closer to her before he might have been able to figure out which kind of person she was and this could have led to a different outcome.

In other words, Sasaki embodies the darkest aspect of Kunikida’s ideals. Let us underline that Kunikida is painfully aware of this side of his idealism. For example, he knows he might have to compromise on it and to embrace ruthless methods:

This is something he probably realized after the police’s failure to capture the AK alive. In that operation some agents lost their lives and Kunikida ended up searching a new path by joining the ADA. After he joins he tries to follow in Fukuzawa’s footsteps and this means that it might be necessary to take extreme measures sometimes (for example, Fukuzawa tells him to kill Dazai if Dazai were to turn out to be a threath).

However, Sasaki’s death adds a new layer to his self-awareness because it shows him that not only idealism is complicated to put into practice, but also that it can be damaging.

It is not sure, but his experience with Sasaki might very well be why Kunikida, despite his strong beliefs in what is wrong and what is right, ends up hesitating when it counts the most:

Interestingly, in both the scenes above Atsushi is the one who does what Kunikida would really want to do and Kunikida ends up following Atsushi’s lead.

This might very well be because Kunikida finds himself stuck between two generations and two developmental stages.

On one hand there is Fukuzawa who has found a good equilibrium between ideals and pragmatism. Fukuzawa will act both for the greater good and to protect his loved ones and he has no hesitation in understanding when it is the case to do one thing or the other. For example, he immediately acts to save Atsushi, while Kunikida himself would like to do so, but hesitates because of the ADA’s general situation. Similarly he won’t let Mori take advantage on a traumatized girl, but is ready to work with him to save Yokohama.

On the other hand there is Atsushi who is willing to put his life at risk to save others. By following this strong instinct he has managed to save people and to pursue Kunikida’s ideals in an earnest way. However, he has still to realize how self-destructive his pursue may be and how this behaviour is rooted in trauma.

Kunikida gives me the impression of being in the middle. He is still far from sharing Fukuzawa’s self-trust and he can’t ignore how self destructive idealism and selflessness can be. Interestingly, differently from the other two characters, he doesn’t really seem to have a particular violent side/past to reconcile. Maybe it is exactly because of this that his struggle lies elsewhere and that he has much more doubts than the other two characters. This may also be why Kunikida might appear more rigid than the other members of the ADA.

That said, the series makes clear that Kunikida’s path doesn’t lie in leaving his idealism behind, but rather in him finding a better way to apply it. This is because idealism like everything else is a weapon and it can be used positively or negatively.

Talking about weapons which can be used both well and badly we go back to Q’s ability and what it represents:

On Moby Dick Atsushi hallucinates and sees the headmaster. he wonders if it is an after-effect of Q’s ability, but imo it is left ambiguous because in the end this is not the only time Atsushi has this kind of experience. The headmaster talks about how Atsushi has left himself be tricked by illusions and ended up giving others fake kindness. This is a reference both to his previous experience with Q, but also to a deeper trait of Atsushi’s personality.

However, once he confronts Lucy in her room Atsushi says this:

He repeats the headmaster’s words, but shows how “imagination” and the ability to be flessible has not only negative effects, but also positive ones because it lets a person do things they would not have considered possible up until that point.

In this meta, I mentioned how this is something true for Lucy and her power as well:

In the end, the true value of her power did not lie in Anne’s strength or in using it to kidnap people, but rather in letting people escape boundaries (the ability is used to overcome the effects of time, to let Atsushi escape a room and to let both him and Kyouka move around despite being wanted). This is something which fits the idea of Lucy’s ability representing “an escape into one’s imagination”. After all, what does imagination do if not letting people escape boundaries? Lucy used it to isolate herself, but once she starts sharing her power with others, she becomes more powerful to the point that she is considered Dazai’s queen in the current arc.

However, this is not something which is true only for Lucy and Atsushi, but for every character and this makes sense in a series which explores fiction and literature and their effects on one’s life. These activities which are rooted in imagination can both help a person bond and grow, but can also lead them to isolate themselves in a non-existent world.

I want to suggest now that the same is true for ideals and so it can be applied to Kunikida as well. Ideals are rooted in one’s imagination as well and they can make a person single-minded and rigid, but they can also make one’s perspective wider.

Thank you for the ask!

#bsd #bsd meta #kunikida doppo #bungou stray dogs #asksfullofsugar #bsd chat anon #anonymous

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petri808 · 4 years

Text

Enslaved

Chapter 5. Sumimasen for the long hiatus! I will do my best to continue this story :)

Nalu Fantasy Fic.

Faerytail’s base of operations was less than an hour’s flight from Natsu’s home. He supposed he could have lived closer but the area he had chosen was much more idyllic for the Draco. Nestled at the base of a mountain and edge of a dense forest, the nearest village was small and filled with farmers and hunters that kept to themselves. Aside from a small handful that he would trade with for food and supplies, no one really bothered him. Besides, Natsu provided a measure of protection for the villagers with his notoriety and strength alone keeping most would be trouble makers away.

He had spent the entire flight mentally preparing himself or rather tamping down the internal knot roiling and bubbling at his center that the dragon was stirring up. Gah! He really didn’t know how this was going to go! But there was one thing, one thought that was beginning to turn into a mantra of sorts, he couldn’t do anything to hurt Lucy. Whether it be physically, mentally, emotionally, the immense weight of guilt that would torture his soul is what he counted on to get him through the day.

Lucy would glance over at Natsu periodically. Brows furrowed, eyes narrowed and not because of wind shear…. she wasn’t a fool, it was obvious that he was desperately trying to control his inner turmoil. Well, all she could hope for was they’d get in and out with little to no trouble. Her plan was to stay glued to his side at all times and make minimal contact especially with any males. But aside from this issue she was a little nervous about meeting his friends. Lucy was sure they were most likely good people but that didn’t stop the butterflies from forming. What if they didn’t like her? What if they were worried because of her father and his reputation? What if they did accept her and her father did something to hurt them? Or Natsu.

She rubs her arms as a few shivers fall over her frame. That idea did not sit well with her. Maybe…. Maybe it would be better to give herself back to…. If it came down to it Lucy would rather barter herself rather than let anyone suffer because of her. Tears prick at her corners and she tries desperately not to let them gather for fear of Natsu sensing it. She doesn’t want to give in to her father’s demands but if it meant protecting someone she cared about, she’d do it in a heartbeat. Only if it comes down to that….

“Just a couple more minutes and we’ll be there.”

The entrance to Faerytail was hidden behind a cloak of magic. To the outside world, it merely looks like a waterfall flowing over a strange round, stone edifice that seemed carved by olden forest dwellers long since lost to history. In reality, it was the entrance to the Hui and only opened by a mark placed upon its members. It was all a beautiful magical façade. A picturesque waterfall, the babbling brook it flowed into lined with cattails and witch hazel, honey locust trees, and wild geraniums lining the ground, and river guppies and freshwater shrimp living in its waters.

Once Natsu and Lucy land on the river’s edge, Natsu’s Hui mark on his right forearm immediately glows red in recognition. Lucy watches in spellbinding awe as the waterfall and river fades away leaving a wooden door in its stead. The magic protecting this place was powerful indeed, and that comforts her. At least here, it seems, no one will be able to get to her without first having a pass in. Natsu takes her hand and leads Lucy through the entrance.

The moment the Hui door closes and the spell resumes, the two men that had been tracking the pair break free from the trees where they’d been watching from. “I told ya,” the larger of the two males points out. “But I suspect they won’t be in there long.”

“How do you know that Gajeel? They could stay for a while.”

“Nah, gihi, that draco is in unconsummated heat. No way he’s gonna wanna let her be in there long.”

The other male looks at his compatriot confused. “How in the world do you know any of this?!”

“Because Totomaru,” Gajeel growls, “I’m a damn draco too, I know how it works.”

“Ohhhh, right! Well so, what do we do now? We can’t get into that place, so are we gonna capture her when they leave?”

“Yup, gihi, that’s why I brought ya. That draco in there is a fire type. He’s perfect for a fire Sprite like you.”

Totomaru grins, “I’ll knock him down, you grab the girl, and we take her back to boss Jose to get the reward money.”

“Well, and maybe have a little bit of fun with her while we’re at it.”

The Faerytail Hui was as boisterous as ever, and as soon as Natsu and Lucy walk in, Lucy’s immediately aware of just why Natsu was worried about bringing her. The place was crazy! The male Ice Sprite Lucy met earlier named Gray was bickering with a red-headed female Fae. Another Fae, a brunette was sitting next to a large keg of beer, surrounded by several males of various species who appeared to be in a drinking contest with her. In one corner a quiet Fae was hunched over an antiquated looking book. Another draco was near the bar area that was being manned by and surrounded by elves that looked to be of the same family lineage; two females and one male. Till finally Lucy notices an older, white-haired Spriggan sitting on the bar top itself nursing a beer mug. What kind of group was this mix of creatures?

Natsu’s hand tightens around hers. “Just follow me,” he whispers as he leads them straight to the Spriggan. Other members wave and holler at Natsu as he walks by, a few males whistling and catcalling over the blonde at his side. Lucy pulls the hood tighter around her face to hide her appearance, but it was easy enough for anyone to see she was a female. Natsu growls at a few of the males, who quickly back away. They knew him well enough that if he growls, not to mess with him.

“Jiji, you sent for me?” Natsu asks the tiny Spriggan.

‘So, this was the master Natsu had told me about?’ Lucy stays quietly glued to Natsu’s side, assessing the situation as it develops. He sure didn’t seem like much. The Spriggan was very old and so small. From Natsu’s description of his magical fortitude, Lucy hadn’t expected him to be this tiny.

“Natsu my boy! You finally grace us with your presence! And I now see why you were hoarding this magnificent creature all to yourself.” The Spriggan stands on the bar top, which barely gave him the same height as them. “Welcome miss Heartfilia, I am Makarov Dreyar, the master of this Hui. Though everyone just calls me Jiji or gramps.”

Lucy shies back behind Natsu’s shoulder but responds politely. “It’s nice to meet you Jiji.”

“Timid, I see,” Makarov’s brow raises. “You have nothing to fear here Lucy. Gray has already informed me of who you are, and who you are running from and I assure you, we would never force you to do anything you do not want to do.”

“Oi, Jiji. Is that all you sent for? To meet Lucy?”

“You were supposed to find Miss Heartfilia and take her back to the job’s poster. I needed to know why you had strayed from the mission.”

Alarmed, Lucy pulls away from Natsu. “Y-You really were supposed to take me back to my father, weren’t you?! Were you afraid to bring me here because you would get into trouble?!”

“Lucy, please,” Natsu grabs for her arm, but she moves away another step, wrapping her arms around herself and shaking her head. “It was the truth I told you, that I had no intentions of giving you up.”

“Please Miss Heartfilia calm down,” Makarov interjects. “We will not return you to your father, for I have learned of your valid reasons of running away. Natsu has taken a liking to you, and Gray suggested we make you a member of this Hui as well, which I think would be a good idea.”

“B-But why? My father could cause you trouble…”

Makarov laughs, “nothing we at Faerytail cannot handle. There is not much he could do to us. Jude Heartfilia may be a chief, but he has no magic or power to do anything to us.”

Lucy body begins to tremble lightly as she wraps her arms even tighter around her chest and shakes her head in confusion. She was anxious, nervous, this was all so much to take in. Everything that’s happened to her was starting to overwhelm her. Having to flee her home, ends up kidnaped by Natsu and held captive for a short time. Now to find out he was supposed to turn her in to her father but kept her. Now this man, this Spriggan dwarf was telling her they would protect her? “He could hire others…”

Natsu pulls Lucy against his chest, wrapping his arms around her in an effort to comfort her. “Lucy, I promised you,” he smooths her hair and caresses the back of her head, pulling it against his shoulder. “I promised to protect you and I will. We will. Your father can go to Tartarus for all I care, cause I won’t fucking give you up without a fight.”

That barely gave Lucy any reprieve from what she was feeling. She knew her father better than anyone, and he could be ruthless when it came to what he wants. Her suspicions of what happened to her mother only added to those concerns. As Natsu mentioned, Faerytail wasn’t the only Hui around, and who’s to say Phantom Lord had stopped looking for her, or that her father could have hired others to do the same. If the Pyrite payout for her capture is a large enough an incentive, others could be still be looking for her.

“Natsu, I think we should talk in private a moment,” Makarov places a hand on the man’s shoulder. “Lucy is safe, you need not worry as long as one of us is around.”

“I can’t leave her with just anyone,” Natsu growls at his master.

“How about Levy,” Makarov suggests, “I bet they’ll get along well. Levy can keep her company while we discuss the situation.”

Natsu looks over to the bookworm Fae who peeks up at having heard her name. “I guess,” he grumbles. “Just no guys.”

Makarov waves the Fae over. “I’m sure Levy can keep the guys away from her.”

After the introductions are made between Lucy and Levy, Makarov pulls Natsu into his office and they leave the two Fae’s to get better acquainted. Makarov drills Natsu to tell him everything he’d learned about Lucy, from her magical abilities to what he knew of Jude Heartfilia. She was powerful, Natsu told his master, more so than any other Spirit summoner he’s ever heard of. Yukino of the Sabertooth Hui has been training her in how to use her abilities and she was surpassing every benchmark and test put on her. It was quite amazing to see it in action. Lucy has yet to reach her full potential, but with more training, Natsu was sure that she’ll get there eventually. And as for Jude, all he could say was what Lucy had told him. Natsu explains to Makarov how she believes her father had somehow made her mother disappear before the mother could teach her how to use her abilities. “She ran because he wanted to marry her off to another clan. I believe Jude knew Lucy inherited power, and it may have been part of the arrangement.”

“That is a sad story. I had heard Jude can be a heartless tyrant, but to do that to one’s own wife and daughter is despicable.”

“I agree. So, would it be okay for Lucy to join our Hui?”

“Oh, most certainly. She would make an excellent addition once you’re able to control your dragon’s territorial side.”

Natsu blushes at the older man’s insinuations.

Makarov was well aware of the draco’s primal instincts, having gone though it was his grandson Laxus and wife Mirajane. It made the old man happy to see the draco and elf together because one day he knows they’ll succeed him in running the Hui and they were perfect for each other and this band of misfits. “You really need to consummate that relationship, or you’re bound to have a problem on your hands…”

Outside in the Hui’s main hall, Levy and Lucy chat at one of the tables. Lucy is still coming to grips with everything, but the sweet natured Fae bookworm was making her feel comfortable. To break the ice, Levy tells Lucy about her magic and how she uses script and magical words to summon anything she can think of. Lucy tells Levy about her training with Yukino. The two women talk about life in general, Lucy sticking to stories about her mother and how she inherited her gifts from her. Levy tells Lucy she was an orphan from a poor Fae family and found her way to Faerytail.

Keeping to Natsu’s instructions, Levy allows any female members to approach and meet Lucy, starting with the red-headed Fae she saw earlier. Erza Scarlet, such an apt last name to match her hair color. This Fae was from a mountain type clan, very masculine in terms of power, strength, and agility, an expert swordswoman with magic to requip into different armors. Frankly, this Fae scared Lucy a little, but she could see why this female was one of the leaders under Makarov. The next to stop by the table was the brunette Fae. Lucy was surprised that for as much as the female seemed to be drinking, barely appeared drunk.

Levy chuckles, “Yeah Cana’s tolerance level is beyond explanation. Her card magic skills rival that of her drinking skills.”

Finally, Levy waves over a shy, young female draco and introduces her to Lucy. “This is Wendy Marvell, she’s an orphaned draco that Natsu found and brought to the Hui last year.”

“It’s nice to meet you Wendy,” Lucy smiles at the young girl who looked to be about 12 years of age. She found the girl to be the epitome of adorable with her long blue hair up in pigtails, hugging to a white female Chimera. Natsu had a male blue Chimera at the house that Lucy has come to adore as well. “What’s her name?” Lucy asks the girl of her pet’s name.

“Charle.”

“Aww, what a cute name. She’s just like Happy. I like Happy too, he’s become my buddy.”

The women chat for a little longer, but the hall was growing noisier, and after a short time, Lucy is starting to feel a little overwhelmed and claustrophobic. Levy understood completely. “It takes time to adjust. The magic that keeps us hidden can have side effects that give some that feeling. You get used to it after a while.”

“Is there anywhere else we can go? I could use some fresh air.”

“Hmm,” Levy looks around. “The only place would be outside.” The only instructions she was given was to keep Lucy company and no talking to any of the male members without Natsu present. So, not thinking it was a big deal because no one told her of the gravity of the situation, Levy leads Lucy to the front door and takes her back to the outside world. The pair sit next to the river on a couple of boulders. “I come out here sometimes too, when it’s a nice warm day I’ll put my feet in the water to cool off and read.”

“This is nice,” Lucy tries to relax by breathing in the scent of the forest and let her nerves unwind. It’s been such a long time that she’s been able to just enjoy that smell. As a child whenever she needed to get away from her father, she would hide away in the forest on the outskirts of their town. Her nurse maid Mrs. Spetto would know where to find her and drag her home before supper, but those few hours of peace was just enough to relax her. “Everyone seems really nice here…”

The cracking of a twig catches the women’s attentions. They turn to look, just as two males step out from behind a couple of trees.

“Well hello, Miss Heartfilia, gihi…”

#nalu #nalu fan fiction #natsu dragneel #Lucy heartfilia #enslaved #chapter 5 #nalu fan fic #multi-chapter fic #au fantasy #faes and dracos

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sweetmemories2606 · 5 years

Text

Emergency (Gruvia and NaLu Fanfic)

Wrote this one-shot for @jfangirld since today is her birthday.

Sorry this is a little late. I hope you've had an amazing day!

Title: Emergency

Pairings: Gruvia/NaLu/Luvia brotp

Summary: Everyone believed that Lucy had been saved by Wendy and Chelia, but the truth was much more complicated than that.

Warning: IMPORTANT!! This story is the prequel of If They Knew, so you gotta read that one first if you want to understand what happens.

Word Count: 2.000

Happy reading, everyone!

___________

January of X791

Juvia watched the unconscious man below her, relieved that he was breathing normally again. “There you go, my love.”

Gray stirred, but didn’t wake up. She assumed he would remain unconscious for a while after having been knocked out by the leaders of the cult they had come to arrest.

The mission had seemed rather simple when they had taken the flyer a couple days before, but as it turned out these people were expert magic users and they were light on their feet.

They had made defeating Gray look easy, although Juvia knew that the only reason they had done so was because he had been distracted when she was injured.

When she had screamed in pain, he had glanced at her and in that one second they had hit him hard in the head, knocking him out.

To make it even worse, they had started beating his unconscious body, which led Juvia to increase her magic power in order to trap all of them in her water lock.

Thankfully, her plan had worked, thus all the cult members were now scattered across the sunflowers field behind the church where they operated.

Once they were defeated, she had immediately come to her beloved’s side and that’s when she had realized the extent of his injuries.

The blow to his head had managed to draw a lot of blood and someone had stabbed him in the lungs.

Even if Juvia had known that Gray was strong and would probably be fine, she hadn’t wanted to take any risks.

“You’ll be okay now.” Leaning down to press a soft kiss to his forehead, she was worried by its coldness.

“You didn’t have to heal him.” Now that voice was unmistakable.

The water mage straightened herself and turned around to face her oldest friend. “I know.”

“I thought we agreed that you shouldn’t use the Fairy Heart anymore.” Mavis sternly said.

“And I haven’t used it in years.” Juvia replied before glancing at Gray again. “But this is different.”

Mavis followed her gaze and sighed. “This is dangerous, Juvia.”

“I know very well how dangerous love is.” The water mage sincerely said. “But it’s also worth it.”

“Is it worth constantly lying to him?” Fairy Tail’s first master inquired.

“What choice do I have?” Juvia stood up and crossed her arms. “He can’t know about the Fairy Heart, so…”

“So you should stay away.” Mavis interrupted.

“No.” The former shook her head. "I spent decades living in loneliness. I want to live this life now; with Fairy Tail.”

“I understand.” The latter nodded. “But I still think that you shouldn’t use the Fairy Heart anymore."

“I’ll try not to.” Juvia conceded. “Unless there’s an emergency.”

Before Mavis could say more, Gray stirred again and groaned; signaling he was about to wake up.

She gave Juvia one last pleading look before walking away. Once she was at a safe distance, she looked back at them.

Watching as Juvia wrapped her arms around him and Gray hesitated before hugging her back, Mavis sighed once again. “I hope that at least their story will have a happier ending."

___________

July of X791

“Lucy!” Natsu’s scream resonated throughout the stadium once he rushed to catch the celestial mage.

Juvia watched him, noticing the familiar pain and desperation that Zeref had shown so many years before.

Can anyone else tell that he absolutely loves her?

It was clear as day, but not clear to all apparently.

Soon her attention was caught by Gray, who rushed after Natsu. He seemed tense; which was understandable after having been forced to watch one of his closest friends be tortured.

Though Juvia knew that’s why he didn’t spare a glance at her, it still hurt to be ignored after she had just declared her love for him in front of everyone.

Although; if she were to be honest; it might be best if he says nothing. She had a feeling that his response might not be positive.

Everything with Gray was so complicated. There were times when Juvia was sure he felt the same, but during others it seemed he didn’t even think about it.

It had become rather irritating how he could ignore her one moment, then become sweet and caring in the next.

It specially didn’t help that he acted like a jealous boyfriend whenever Lyon interacted with her.

Juvia had never encountered someone as confusing and complicated as Gray Fullbuster in her 100 years of existence, but somehow that only made her fall for him even more.

“Come on, Lucy, please say something.” Hearing his voice, her attention went back to the present situation.

Noticing the fear in his eyes once he tried to awake their friend, her heart squeezed with sorrow.

“What in the hell is your problem?” There was an unmistakable yell. Natsu. “You went way too far!” Juvia followed his angry gaze towards Minerva and frowned.

How could someone be so cruel and ruthless?

“Hang on, I need to give her emergency treatment!” Wendy yelled and Juvia realized that she was rushing towards the celestial mage.

I should do the same. No time to get distracted.

“I’ll help you.” Chelia offered; she was running closely behind the water mage.

Good. With the two of them helping Lucy, she'll be fine.

“Just hang in there, Lucy.” Having reached the celestial mage, Juvia stood behind Chelia as the two healers combined their magic.

Her attention shifted between Lucy’s concernedly pale face to the rest of team Natsu, who were facing off against Minerva and her pals from Sabertooth.

They traded dirty looks and threats, with Erza reminded them that making an enemy of Fairy Tail was a decision that they would regret.

Juvia knew just how true that statement was. She hoped they would face the consequences soon, but for now her focus was on Lucy.

It was truly worrying that the celestial mage’s injuries didn’t seem to be lessening despite being healed by both Wendy and Chelia.

Why wasn’t their magic working?

Soon two guards came with a gurney, so Juvia and Wendy began attempting to lift Lucy up until Natsu rushed to her side.

Understanding that he wanted to do it himself, they stepped away and watched as he carefully took the celestial mage into his arms; dismissing the gurney with a shake of the head.

Fairy Tail Teams A and B plus Chelia followed him to the infirmary, where Porlyusica was already waiting.

___________

Juvia followed Team Natsu closely, keeping an eye on Lucy to see if her condition improved.

Once Natsu gently placed the latter on the first bed and sat on the chair beside it, the water mage smiled softly.

He’s not going to leave her side, is he? He’ll stay here until she wakes up because he needs to know if she’ll be okay.

Her thoughts were confirmed a moment later when Porlyusica began scolding the dragon slayer and trying to persuade him to leave.

He refused to, claiming he wasn’t leaving until Lucy was awake. Thus Gray and Erza had to half drag him to the waiting room that was being filled with Fairy Tail members.

Juvia watched from her chosen spot by the window as the latter tried to comfort him. “She's going to be okay, Natsu.”

“She was hurt pretty bad.” Gray muttered, ignoring Erza’s glare.

“At least she managed to get second place.” Gajeel said and Levy frowned at him.

“Is that really all you care about?” His face hardened.

“Of course not! Do you really think I’m happy that blondie is hurt?” Juvia chose to intervene before this turned into a fight.

“No one thinks that.” Gajeel glanced at her and already knew something was wrong. “What's wrong?”

“Are you okay, Juvia?” Mirajane asked. Now all eyes were on the water mage.

It’s taking too long. Lucy should be better by now.

“Yes.” She offered a weak smile. “Just worried about Lucy.”

“She's going to be fine.” Erza repeated.

“I don’t understand.” Wendy whispered, exasperated. “Chelia and I joined our powers, so why didn’t it heal her?”

“You did a great job, Wendy.” Mirajane reassured the young girl.

“That is a good question, though.” Levy frowned.

Something isn’t right. Wendy’s magic has never failed before.

“My guess is that Minerva’s magic power is stronger than we had imagined.” Makarov suggested. He had been deep in thought ever since entering the room.

“There's something strange about it.” Erza said, crossing her arms.

“I don’t care what her magic is, I just want to take her down!” Natsu yelled and many people nodded in agreement.

Minerva’s magic. It did feel strange; different. What if Lucy was in more danger than they'd assumed?

It was decided. Juvia had to check up on the celestial mage and make sure that she would be alright.

“Excuse me.” Natsu frowned when the water mage tried to move past him.

“Where are you going?” Gray asked and she tried not to look at him.

Why is he always so distracting?

“I’m going to check up on Lucy.” His confusion was clear once she avoided his gaze. After all, she had never done that before.

“But Porlyusica said…” Natsu started.

“I don’t care.” Juvia firmly said, catching him off guard.

Seeing an opportunity, she slightly pushed him to the side and managed to move forward to reach the infirmary.

Thankfully, it had been spelled to be soundproof so no one could hear what happened inside.

Closing the door behind her, Juvia’s eyes were drawn towards the nearest bed.

Lucy was still as pale, lifeless and injured as before. It seemed no matter what anyone tried, she wasn’t getting better.

“What are you doing here?” Porlyusica yelled as soon as she spotted the water mage.

“Her condition isn’t improving.” Juvia whispered, taking another step until she was in front of the bed.

The healer sighed. “Something is preventing her wounds from being healed.”

They could try to figure out what that was, but time was running out. Saving Lucy was the most important thing and Juvia quickly realized that there was only one way to guarantee her friend’s survival.

This is an emergency.

She looked in Porlyusica’s direction. “I can help her.”

“How?” The healer frowned, confused.

Lucy drew in a long, deep breath and her body trembled. She seemed to be in pain and Juvia wanted that to be over and fast.

“No time to explain.” Any explanation would include revealing secrets that were reserved only to masters of Fairy Tail.

“Alright.” Porlyusica nodded before stepping away.

Juvia sat at the edge of the bed and placed a hand on the celestial mage's forehead. Closing her eyes, she concentrated and soon enough felt magic power coursing through her.

A bright green light spread across her body, then the glow was transferred to Lucy’s. Miraculously, the latter’s injuries began disappearing one by one until her skin was once again flawless, the color returned to her face and her breathing returned to normal.

It was like she had never been injured at all.

“How?” Porlyusica watched this in amazement.

“There you go.” Juvia whispered after the light had disappeared. Briefly glancing at the healer, her expression turned serious. “You can’t tell anyone it was me. Please, promise me.”

“Why not?” Porlyusica was genuinely confused.

“It's complicated.” That didn’t even begin to cover the truth.

The healer assessed the young woman in front of her. After a few moments, she concluded that this was serious, so best to keep the secret. ”What should I say, then?”

“Wendy and Chelia’s powers were delayed because of the extent of Lucy’s injuries.” Juvia suggested.

“Alright.” Porlyusica nodded again and the water mage gave her a thankful look.

Juvia watched as she moved towards the door, opening it and walking outside. Then her voice resonated throughout the building once she explained that Lucy’s condition had finally improved thanks to Wendy and Chelia’s efforts.

I don't know why you agreed to keep my secret, but thank you.

#fanfic #gruvia #nalu #luvia brotp #angst #plot twist #grand magic games #fairy tail #fairy heart #birthday present #juvia lockser #amazing queen #mavis vermillion #zeref dragneel #gajeel redfox #levy mcgarden #erza scarlet

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shelbyshoe · 5 years

Text

Fairies After Dark

Chapter 1

Natsu, a Horde vampire, desires nothing more than to find his father and leave his brother behind. Lucy, an immortal Valkyrie, just needs to get this Horde bounty off her head. Doesn’t help the assassin after her is a gorgeous vampire with cherry pink hair.

Rated: M (sexual content, violence, and harsh language)

Words: 6713

Chapter 2, Chapter 3

FF.net link here.

NALU set in the Immortals After Dark universe by Kresley Cole. I highly recommend the book series. Check out the wiki for more information. Not required to understand the story, but recommended as the universe is fantastic. Hope you enjoy!

Let’s see, if I move my dinner to next Wednesday, and push sewing day for my man skin quilt to Thursday, then I’m all booked. Sorry to disappoint you.

-Lucy Heartfilia (AKA Lucy the Celestial Valkyrie)

You know, I love what you've done to the place. I miss the viscera hanging from the ceiling though.

-Natsu Dragneel (AKA Natsu the Salamander)

The woman in Natsu's arms ground her sex against him, her heart slammed to the beat of the music. He fed in the shadows of the club and didn't look forward to the effect of the alcohol she consumed. No need for him to seduce this woman. She took one look at his perfect form, frozen with immortality at the age of twenty-two, and pursued him mercilessly. She pushed back her mane of dark black hair and slid a hand to the hem of her small tight dress, lifting it for him. He felt no pleasure in her arousal. With his immortality came the cease of his heartbeat and the loss of lust. To this day, he cursed himself for saving himself for his bride, an unknown woman who would one day blood him and bring his heart slamming to life in his frigid chest. He leaned into the woman and ran his lips against her jaw sliding down to her neck. When he tasted her skin, as tempting as Hades’ pomegranate, she moaned against his lips. Natsu opened his mouth, his fangs sharpened like tiny blades. He teased a nick in her flesh— blood beading to the surface. From the small contact, she went boneless in his arms. Her head lulled to the side to allow him better access, and her eyes slid shut. As he sank his fangs into her, she writhed against him. He would be spinning after this. When he had his fill, he licked away the last drops of blood and lay her on one of the V.I.P. couches in the corner. Her chest rose and fell in slumber. He would not drink her to the quick, never could, as doing so caused maddening bloodlust.

Natsu stumbled through the crowd. His head was light from the alcohol and the rush of taking from the flesh of a human. Unlike the Forebearer vampires, who rejected the act, he found the experience wonderful and closest to sex he could have in his current state. The music was too loud for his sensitive ears as he ambled toward an exit. The surrounding mortals, oblivious to what he was, couldn't sense the other immortals that found themselves lost in the throes of passion and music alongside them. A few other vampires took women into dark corners. He nodded toward a rage demon he knew on his way out. To his benefit, in his thousands of years of life, he collected many allies in the Lore and just as many enemies. Loreans, immortals, lived among mortals and remained hidden in fear of the Gods' wrath if exposed.

The bouncer eyed him on his way out of the club. Natsu, accustomed to this look from the man, flashed him his thousand-watt smile. A few humans in line followed him with their eyes. They raked their gazes across his body. Their breath lifted into the air with the cold so enamored they did not notice air never left his lips. He veered toward an alley to trace away from the bustle of the city. His body blinked out of existence and he found himself in the mountains of Fiore, his home.

His room was just how he left it. A mountain of mess spread out across the room. Clothes littered the floor, tomes of dragons from Lore and collections of maps stacked beneath the castle window, and small trinkets of gems and stones littered along a shelf. His cluttered desk pressed against the stone wall. Maps and journals spread across the surface and more collected trinkets. Anything he could get his hands on to find his father he kept in his room. Last known locations sprawled across the pinboard behind his desk. The paper clippings never showed his name, but always held his signature, Igneel the King of Fire. His space was a haven away from prying eyes. The curtains closed, but he could see the overcast sky hiding the moon. He slid them open to reveal the town below. Fiore, an immortal hub and trading port, bustled beneath his window's gaze.

"I knew I sensed you." Natsu whipped his head toward the door. Gajeel leaned against the frame with a look of disgust.

"Knock, won't you?" Natsu said.

"Why? Jerkin in here, Salamander? Hiding your bride in all this shit?" Gajeel enjoyed using Natsu's age-old name and gestured toward the piles of books and treasures he collected over the years.

"I wish. If you wanted to watch, you just had to ask." He gave a smile that forced the man to cringe.

"Gross. I just came to tell you Sting needs you downstairs."

"What does the heir want now?" Gajeel shrugged, his lean muscles tensed. He didn't hate Gajeel, but he didn't like him either. An enemy vampire turned ally was unpredictable. However, when it came to their hatred for Sting, they got along. Sting's father, Weisslogia the Cruel, killed in battle had led to Sting's current place as the ruler of their sect of Horde vampires. Rumors say Sting assassinated the ancient Vampire himself for the seat, and one day he could seize the throne of all the Horde.

"Fuck if I know." Gajeel straightened in the doorway. He stood much taller than Natsu and madness simmered just behind his eyes. Natsu knew the man in front of him drank to the quick more times than he originally let on. Sometimes, Natsu saw his gaze wander and his eyes glass over in a red haze with an intruding memory of one of his victims. Some vampires collected them with the taste of blood from the flesh. Only when they killed during the act did the thirst begin, and one's mind lost, their eyes burning bright red. Natsu didn't drink from mortals often, but he needed to let off some steam somehow. When Gajeel's claws appeared more entertaining than their conversation, he walked out to the hall, and Natsu followed. The castle halls, his home since the disappearance of his father, loomed in the still darkness. When a Forebearer found him centuries ago, a vampire named Gray, he had wandered the globe in search of Igneel. It took little time for them to argue about everything. Natsu sought nothing more than to be free and forbearing the flesh was not a part of freedom. Gray had urged him to join for protection, and he agreed safety was important in the Lore. The Horde, the next best thing, suited him fine in that regard.

The throne room changed since Sting's father's death. The usual adornment of corpses and blood, that drained through the floor, replaced by books and classy goblets of blood mead.

"Your heinie-ness," Natsu said with an exaggerated bow. Sting scowled from over the book he read. He heard Gajeel snigger from behind him. Sting closed the book with a snap. His claws lengthened across the book's leather.

"I've asked you both not to use that name." Sting's red eyes bore into Gajeel.

"What do you need?" Natsu asked.

"I have been informed tonight that one of ours was slain in your jurisdiction." Fuck. Natsu shrugged.

"I wasn't aware anyone was sent into my area."

"Maybe, if you weren't whoring around, you would have sensed them," Sting said. His voice continuously business and cold. Natsu didn't know how old Sting was, but the heir liked to act ancient. The older a vampire, the stronger they were. Natsu suspected Sting was younger than he let on. Natsu never asked or hung it over his head, but he could have taken the throne. Sting and his father had not been blood-related after all, and Natsu's strength far surpassed Sting's. However, he found himself far too focused on locating Igneel to take on such a tiresome responsibility.

"You know, I love what you've done to the place. I miss the viscera hanging from the ceiling though," Natsu said pointing toward the chandelier that now hung in its place.

"Don't change the subject." Sting gripped the throne until the metal armrests folded like paper beneath his palms. If Natsu possessed a heartbeat, it would have pounded from the waves of power Sting gave off.

"Who kicked the bucket?" Natsu made sure to keep his face unexpressive. Sting visibly cooled, though his eyes still burned with bloodlust.

"The Minstrel."

"That ancient? Who had the power to bring him down?" Rufus Lore, also known as the Minstrel Who Sings to the Red Moon, was one of the oldest Horde vampires blessed with memory manipulation. Taking on an old bloodlust vampire would have been quite the undertaking.

"I don't know, but I need you to find out." Who would slay such an old and powerful male?

"Fine, I assume you want me to kill them. They can't be too strong. Rufus was always a little wooo if you know what I mean." Natsu twirled a finger around his temple for emphasis. the Minstrel's eyes were bright red from the memories accumulated over a long-life and lost lucidity from what he saw. Rumor had it, he couldn't tell the difference between his memories and theirs. His memory manipulation said to get him through the worst of it. Sting sneered at Natsu's gesture. Probably, hit a sore spot with all the bloodlust the man currently felt.

"I'll be going then." Natsu turned to the exit.

"Before you go, Natsu," Sting said, a smug expression on his lips. "Your brother wants to see you." Natsu's body tensed at the reminder of his brother's existence. The current king of the Horde, just as ruthless and crazed as any other bloodlust vampire, had a few centuries over Natsu. Sting knew his name but referred to him as Natsu's brother to piss him off. Zeref, the vampire known as the Black Wizard, killed the previous king of the Horde. Rightfully killing the king or wiping out the lineage obtained you the seat on the Horde throne. Beside him stood Rogue, Sting's best friend. Natsu loathed him too and didn't know how he got along with Sting so well— they were opposites. Natsu left the castle doors to slam behind him. Sounds drifted up from the town below. He could feel the breeze over his skin, but he could not breathe in the crisp air.

"Fuck that guy," Gajeel said behind him leaning against the closed doors.

"What do you want?" Natsu found himself in a touchy mood.

"To see if you need help with this killer. I'm suspicious."

"Why? Everyone hates vampires in the Lore." It was true that vampires were on everyone's hit list, but other Loreans steered away from ancients like the Minstrel.

"There is no current war or reason to pursue someone so powerful. It just smells fishy to me."

"Then go look into it yourself. I have to go." Natsu did not look forward to his talk with his brother.

"Ain't gotta be a dick about it." Gajeel shrugged and traced away. Natsu followed suit and traced to the Horde castle on their vampiric plane. He stood inside a familiar sitting room. Natsu hated everything about the black castle, the expensive furniture, and the old world feel. A soft fire lit the fireplace and two cups of blood mead sat on a small table beside facing chairs. He sensed another presence in the room.

"Why am I not surprised you knew I'd come to this room?" What little time he stayed in his brother's care he spent in this room pondering over Igneel's disappearance.

"Hello, Natsu." Zeref ambled to a chair before the fireplace and took one of the cups in hand. His red eyes glowing in the darkness, black hair tousled, his skin was gaunt, and his eyes rimmed with lost sleep. Zeref always wore older regal clothing that made him look expensive, but they now looked wrinkled and worn. Natsu stood firmly and crossed his arms.

"What do you want?" He didn't want to stay any longer than he had to.

"Come, sit with me, brother." Natsu winced at the familiar tone in his voice.

"Don't pretend you know me." Zeref never desired a relationship before his adoptive father's disappearance. Natsu didn't know he had a brother until he froze in his immortality. Zeref peered over the side of the large chair and gave him a sharp look.

"Humor me." He placed a lot of power into the command. As much as Natsu wanted to fight him on it, he knew he couldn't leave until he did as Zeref said. He peered at the fireplace. Zeref had either been stupid or confident that Natsu wouldn't use the fire against him. Most vampires had gifts, and Natsu was no different. The fire manipulation gave him his age-old name, Salamander. He sank into the chair across from him.

"You look like shit," Natsu said. Zeref gave him a sharp look before the vampire drained his cup.

"Always lovely to speak to you, little brother." This time, Natsu held his tongue over the mention of their relation. Zeref stared into Natsu's eyes in the unnerving way a cat stares down a fish. "I've looked better."

"Something keeping you up at daylight?" Natsu didn't want to come here and fight with him, no matter how weak he was. The power had always rippled off Zeref like no other he knew. He hated to admit it, but he was grateful Zeref appeared to want to fix their relationship as siblings. Fighting him would prove to be a challenge— one that he would one day take on.

"Isn't there always something that keeps a king from sleep?" He grinned at Natsu shifting his empty cup from one hand to another. His eyes pulled away to stare into the flames. "You don't drink." Natsu's cup of blood mead sat untouched between them.

"I don't drink from a cup I didn't pour."

"Smart, but I have no reason to poison you."

"What do you want, Zeref?" The flames flickered across his red eyes, his focus on something that wasn't Natsu. "Zeref?"

"One day you will know the things that keep me awake," Zeref said. Part of Natsu wanted the man before him dead and reveled in his weakened state, but part of him remained interested in the things that plagued him. Zeref's eyes came back into focus, his face stern "But for now, I heard there was a killing in your jurisdiction."

"Always to remind me of my failures."

"That's not my intention. I wanted to warn you about something." It was the first time Natsu could see Zeref's genuine concern for his wellbeing.

"About the killing?"

"Our oracle has lost sight of you. I worry about you, brother. It is the Accession after all." The Accession happened every five hundred years, a checks-and-balances system for immortals, so killing and mating were soon to ensue. This time, Zeref looked up at Natsu with the furrowed brow of a troubled sibling. "Whoever has killed Rufus the Minstrel may be the very death of you."

♡♡♡

"Damn Cana to hell," Lucy said between gritted teeth.

"If you keep wiggling, I'll be making these worse," Levy said. With steady hands, she cleaned the gaping wound on Lucy's arm. Lucy arrived at the witch's coven that evening with blood running down her arm, chest, and a smile on her face. Her mood soon soured with the news of the bounty on her head. No one kills an ancient Horde vampire and escapes without consequence.

"Now, I'll have the whole Horde after me."

"Don't you want to kill them all anyway?" Levy cleaned the last of the blood around the wound. Because of her immortality, the cut already began to close.

"Yes, but not all at once!" Lucy could hear the other witches gathered downstairs. Levy had invited her best friend in, threw the bottle of blue nail polish over her shoulder to Juvia, who caught it without taking her eyes off Friday the 13th playing on the TV in the living room, and grabbed the first aid. Lucy's intrusion, not the first time and not the last.

"Why did Cana want you to kill the Minstrel?" Levy wrapped the last bandage around Lucy's arm and packed up the first aid.

"She won a bunch of money in some bet and said she'd pay me for the kill." Levy rolled her eyes but smirked.

"Who would let kooky Cana, the All-knowing soothsayer, in on a bet?"

"Erza didn't want to leave anyone out." Reliving the moment Cana won, and Erza's face transforming into pure regret, amused Lucy.

"Of course, she didn't. Well, did you at least get the money from Cana?"

"Turns out she wasn't entirely lucid when she told me she'd pay for the kill. She couldn't even remember winning the money. I brought her his fangs and everything." Lucy sighed leaning her head back on one of the coven's many beanbag chairs in Levy's room. The room itself plain with few personal effects. When the witch wasn't going back to her bedroom, finding comfort in the upstairs study, the coven told her to just move her stuff there. Levy stood with the first aid in her arms. Lucy pulled a small plastic bag, with fangs inside, out of her pocket and held them up to her friend. "You can have them. Maybe, decorate this abandoned room with them, Levy the Bookworm."

"Levy the All-powerful you mean!" Lucy was grateful for the Valkyrie's alliance with the witches. She often found herself in the cheerful purple Victorian house. The smell of herbs drifted through the house, up to the stairs that wound through the heart, and to the study at the topmost room. The lively coven was calming to Lucy. She didn't hate living with her sisters in Val Hall, but she appreciated the break from the drama and screaming Valkyrie. "Do you want a warding spell?" Levy asked over her shoulder dipping into the small bathroom across the hall. Lucy groaned and struggled to stand from the beanbag chair. She no longer felt the sting of her wounds, sure they already healed, and would remove the bandages later.

"No, I can't go running behind a warding spell. If my sisters thought I was hiding from the Horde, they would chew me out for the rest of eternity." The Valkyrie were all related as sisters or half-sisters, sharing two of their three parents. If it wasn't for the ancient living Book of Lore, no one would believe they came from three parents. When a maiden warrior cries out for courage, the gods Freya and Woden heed her call and strike her with lightning, saving her. They preserve her courage in the form of a daughter, an immortal Valkyrie. Lucy could not dishonor her mother's courage by hiding behind a magical barrier.

Lucy shoved the fangs into her pocket and leaned against the bathroom door. Levy placed the first aid kit back in its rightful place underneath the sink and rummaged through a container of nail polish. She pulled out a purple color and held it up to the light. "I should let you get back," Lucy said. Levy ambled passed her to the hall and waited for her friend to follow.

"You're not staying? It's a horror movie night!"

"Nah, I'm going to take these bad boys to Erol's and see if anyone has a bounty out for this chump." Lucy patted her pocket where the fangs sat like lead. Levy shrugged and padded down the stairs toward the living area. The sounds of conversation and high-pitched orchestral death music came to a crescendo as they went.

"Don't go upstairs, you dummy!" one witch said followed by a resounding groan from all the women.

"Juvia doesn't think that was clever." The screams of said dummy were no more, and the music was quiet.

"You're always welcome here, Lu," Levy said and turned to the rest of the coven. Lucy waved to everyone and left.

Lucy hadn’t been to Erol’s in a long time. The bar nestled in the party district, the same place she had killed the Minstrel. Loreans from all over came to loosen up and make business deals. She heard the bar before she saw it. The neon sign flickered, and the door swung open. A pair of male shapeshifters stomped out laughing, their eyes glowing bright green in the night. They eyed her when she came into view. All Loreans were beautiful— came with the immortal territory. These shapeshifters were no exception.

"Be careful, little fey," one said, his voice low and attractive. She would normally chat them up, but tonight she was on a mission. "There's a demoness in there with quite the attitude." She waved over her shoulder at the warning. Most mistook Valkyries for fey because of their pointed ears. Lucy didn't correct them, as her problems were bigger than a couple of shapeshifters mistaking her for a fey. She pushed through the door and found a group of Lykae at a table near the entrance. One of them she knew and waved her over.

"What are you doing here, Lucy?" Laxus asked. For a moment, as he drank in the sight of her, his usual gray eyes shifted to the bright blue of the Lykae clan.

"Looking for a bounty to claim." She nodded a greeting toward the rest of the table to be polite. "Know of a Minstrel?"

"That ancient vamp? Looking to take him on?" Laxus' grin widened. "Need any help with that?"

"No need," she said and removed the plastic bag from her pocket. "I already took him out." One of the Lykae whistled low.

"Damn, Valkyrie, out for revenge?" one of them asked.

"No, why?"

"Only someone out for revenge would look to get the entire Horde after them for one measly bounty." Lucy internally kicked herself for the same reason and would outwardly kick Cana when she saw her again.

"I was promised money, but my client bowed out."

"I don't blame them," Laxus said eyeing the fangs, "Good luck finding anyone who gets involved with a Horde target." Lucy shrugged and slid the fangs back into her pocket.

"This is the Lore, Laxus. I'm sure someone out there is crazy enough to have a bounty out for the leech." Laxus nodded and tipped a beer glass up to his lips.

"Always welcome to spend some time with us Lykae." His eyes flashed an icy blue. The look was quite the compliment, but she never felt that way toward Laxus, and he never pushed for her interest since she wasn't his mate. The muscular Scots rounded the table with their flashing eyes and wolfish grins. If she was a Lykae's mate, she wouldn't be very upset. Didn't hurt that rumors said they had the highest stamina in the Lore with whispers of mind-blowing sex.

"Thank you, Laxus. I'll have to stop by the Lykae compound one of these days." Lucy was thankful again for the Valkyrie's many alliances and waved at the table on her way to the bar.

"Lucy!" a sweet and boisterous voice called from a table close to the bar. A small silver-haired woman waved her over. Beside her sat a large muscular man and a smaller woman with short silver hair. All of them looked to be related. She guessed they were demons, as the man's horns wrapped around the sides of his head like all the other demons she knew. Horns were a show of power and extremely sensitive to the touch.

"Do I know—"

"Erza asked us to find you here. I'm Mira, this is my sister Lisanna, and brother Elfman." Lucy took the chair that Mira slid out for her.

"How do you know Erza?"

"We go way back. She told me not to tell you, but she wanted me to help you with some leech."

"Of course, she did." Erza was one of the eldest and like a mother to everyone, except Cana. Not surprising that she looked after Lucy.

"No need, I already killed him." She tossed the fangs on the table. She tired of them burning a hole in her pocket. Lisanna's face morphed into disgust.

"Did you have to pull his fangs out?" she asked. Lucy allowed herself to grin with pride.

"How else was I supposed to have proof of my kill?" Most of the sisters kept proof of their kills like trophies. Erza's collection remained the largest. Her row of fangs longer than her assortment of armor. Lisanna's eyes widened in surprise, and Mira laughed.

"I like you, Valkyrie. Erza was right, you are a troublemaker. She knew you would be able to kill him. She wanted me to help you with the bounty."

"Why would you do that?"

"I'd like to do business in the future," she said eyeing her brother, who shrank under her gaze. "If our family requires a little muscle, we'd like help from the Valkyrie."

"Sure, what are the terms—" A large demon bumped into a tiny barmaid and sent her to the floor. The demon spared her not a glance and sat at the bar ordering demon brew. Elfman tensed and Lisanna rose from the table to help the barmaid clean the mess. Mira rolled her eyes at her brother and opened her mouth to speak to the demon at the bar.

"Are you going to say you're sorry?" Elfman asked. His voice was loud but shaky and unpracticed. His eyes glinted in malicious inky black.

"What did you say?"

"You just rammed into her. You should apologize." Elfman stood to confront him. Mira's mouth hung open and her eyes widened. Lucy believed this was an uncommon behavior.

"Don't worry about it," the barmaid said to Lisanna, "I'm just an inferi. I'm used to it."

"That's ridiculous. Of course, I'll help you," Lisanna said. The barmaid's light brown hair fell in her face. Other than the rags she wore, she appeared pretty and buxom. Lucy felt bad for her. Inferi were sorceri who had their root power stolen from them and rendered them a slave to the sorcery who took it from them. The owner of this inferi was nowhere in sight. Lucy had only encountered a few sorceri in her life. This woman must be telling the truth. Sorceri wore armor and masks, and this inferi didn't even have any jewelry on. Most of them were masters of poisons and kept them hidden inside their jewelry and armor. The sorceri took these from her to keep her helpless. The idea sickened Lucy. Whoever owned this one, treated them poorly.

Another crash resounded in the bar. Elfman shoved the demon and demanded an apology for the barmaid, who was shrinking by the second trying in vain to cease Lisanna's help. Both demon's horns straightened preparing to fight. Lucy didn't wish to get in the middle of a demon fight and scooted away.

"You will do as he says," Mira said with a death grip on the demon's wrist. He gritted his teeth, his brow furrowed in pain. His silence earned him another squeeze to which he grunted. Mira moved quick enough for Lucy not to have noticed when she left the table. "Now," she ordered. The demon glared up at Elfman and eyed the inferi on the ground.

"I'm— ugh, go fuck yourself demoness." This was the wrong answer. Mira grasped his wrist and threw him on his back. The wooden floor splintered beneath him. Her appearance changed, her hair wild and untamed, her eyes darkened to pitch black, and her outfit skintight and more suited for one of the Death Demon clan. With each kill, they would become stronger, and Mira appeared ready to bathe in the blood of her enemies with acquired strength. The shapeshifters were right, a demoness raged inside. The demon on the floor mumbled something unintelligible into the wooden and passed out. Mira morphed back to the shapely and kind woman Lucy first met. Lisanna, undisturbed by the commotion, took everything from the barmaid and carried it high above her head all on one hand toward the bar. When she gazed up at her brother, she patted him on the shoulder with a grin.

"Congrats, brother," she said and disappeared behind the bar. Elfman's eyes too had turned pitch-black, but Lucy did not sense rage when he stared down at the inferi on the floor.

"Well would you look at that," Mira said tossing her head back to laugh at the sight. "We'll talk later, Lucy. I'll be sending you the bounty money." She grabbed the fangs from the table and slipped them into her dress. She turned all her attention to the barmaid on the floor and helped her up. "What's your name?" she asked the woman.

"Evergreen."

Lucy said goodbye to the siblings and happily made her way out of the bar. She hoped the sorceri who claimed Evergreen's powers had a written will, as the demon siblings were going to rip them limb from limb.

The fangs out of her pocket, Lucy felt free to do whatever she wanted. She strolled toward a night club she heard about a few times from other Loreans looking for a party. Dancing sounded like an effective way to relax, yet something else drew her that she couldn't place.

♡♡♡

Natsu traced to the familiar alleyway and leaned against the cool brick wall. The Minstrel's killer could be anywhere by now, but he just wanted to lose himself in a soft throat. The beat from the club muffled where he stood. As soon as the bouncer saw Natsu, the man glared in his direction.

"Aw come on, Charlie—"

"It's Brad."

"Okay, Ben. Listen, you want to let me in." Natsu grinned up at the mortal. Every word dripped with power as he stared him down. Whatever the man saw in Natsu's face made him move to the side for him to enter. "Thanks, Bryan." He patted the bouncer on the shoulder and sauntered through the club doors. The sounds and sensations bombarded him as soon as he entered, but one presence stood out. He couldn't make out what direction it was coming from, but it was intoxicating. Their heartbeat like a pounding drum in his ears, a calm in the storm of people. Natsu circled toward the bar, scanning the crowd on the dance floor. Immortals packed in everywhere inside the club. The live DJ bobbed his head to the bass.

"We have to talk." The deep voice slid beside him at the bar.

"Not interested, Gray." Natsu didn’t need to look beside him to know who spoke. The vampire’s presence irritated him as much as his voice. The heartbeat from before grew louder and just as quickly vanished from his earshot.

"There's still time, Natsu. You're not filled with bloodlust yet." Gray stood stiff as a board with discomfort beneath the red hue of the bar light. He wore a white coat with fur around the hood. Gray's eyes trained around him. Observant ass.

"I'll pass." Gray never showed his face in Natsu's jurisdiction. This night just kept getting worse. "I have some business to attend to right now."

"Surely, you are around bloodlust vampires. You know how they have lost their minds, and you still plan to take from the flesh?"

"Look, I already told you I want nothing to do with the Forebearers. I want my freedom."

"Do you have that now?" Natsu, on edge before, wanted to cause some violence. The building would look wonderful covered in his flames. The fire rose in his throat with the image. Gray wasn't off base. There was no freedom in this world and even the Horde had rules. Associating himself with Zeref enraged him, but he needed protection and his brother proved useful.

"What if I told you I have a lead on your father?" Natsu's eyes snapped to Gray.

"How do you know—"

"Just come with me. Join us and I can help you," Gray said, "Or would you rather take orders from your brother?" Natsu grabbed the man's collar in his heated grip and pushed him against the bar. When Natsu flashed the bartender a glare, the human backed off from the ruckus.

"Looking into me?"

"Of course." Gray's serene expression pissed Natsu off the most. The bastard was cocky, knew he could take him, and had information on his lineage.

"Why do you want me so badly?"

"It's the accession, Natsu. We need everyone we can get." Natsu's grip loosened.

"I'm on no one's side." The presence and loud heartbeat, that intrigued him before, slammed loud in his ears. Out of the corner of his eye he caught sight of golden hair. He twisted to look for them.

"What is it?" Gray raised a brow.

"This conversation is over," Natsu said, body screaming to leave and find the owner of the sound. Gray eyed him curiously but didn't try to stop him. Natsu pushed club-goers out of the way. The presence brought him to the back of the building, and like a man possessed he followed. An intoxicated woman grabbed him and attempted to pull him toward the dance floor. On a normal night, he would have guided her to a dark corner, but he couldn't get the presence out of his head. The flash of gold hair piqued his curiosity. With his acute hearing, he heard the back-door slam shut behind someone taking the heartbeat with them. He all but shoved the woman off him and elbowed his way toward the door. The rush of outside air whipped his cherry hair into his eyes. He slid a hand through to tame the strands. The door opened to a back alley. A woman made her way toward the street, her long blonde hair brushed from side to side against her ample bottom. Her heart sang in his ears.

"Hey, wait," Natsu said. She stopped and turned her head to eye him— and eye him she did. Her caramel gaze raked his body, and unlike the humans from before, it left him with a shiver down his spine. He stood a little taller under her inspection.

"Can I help you?" she asked.

"Who are you?"

"Interesting pick-up line," she said raising a brow. The mystery woman smiled forcing him to grin back. She tilted her head a little more. A long braid at the front of her hair fell over her shoulder and revealed a pointed ear. He could only assume she was fey, a ruthless race known as master archers, but she lacked a bow. He spotted a curled-up whip and a strange set of golden keys snug against her shapely hip. She was a mystery that intrigued him.

"Meeting someone?" He imagined her meeting with a man and felt his body tense with the possibility.

"What's it to you?" She turned to fully face him. He cursed softly at her figure. Her hips met a slim waist and ample breasts that nearly spilled out of her top.

"Hoping to be the one you meet," he said. She crossed her arms and tapped her chin with a slender finger tipped with a tiny painted claw.

"Let's see, if I move my dinner to next Wednesday," she said running her finger across an invisible list, "and push sewing day for my man skin quilt to Thursday, then I'm all booked. Sorry to disappoint you." His cheeks ached from how much he smiled at her. Her wit so far, the most attractive thing about her.

"What's your name?" he asked.

"You first."

"I'm Natsu Dragneel." He closed the gap between them.

"And what are you Dragneel?" She eyed him again at closer proximity. Natsu straightened with her appraisal, for whatever reason he wished to impress her.

"Ah-ah, I answered your question. Now, answer mine."

"Lucy Heartfilia." Her name was just as beautiful as she was. From so close, her heart sped up in his ears. Lucy was enthralling.

"What do you think I am?"

"Ah-ah," she said stepping toward him, "I answered your question."

"Guess." His voice was a command and came out lower than he expected. She raised a brow in response.

"Okay, I'll bite. Either a demon or a leech." She pointed toward his mouth; her eyes locked on his lips. "You have fangs." Be still his heart, she was witty and observant.

"Whatever you want me to be as long as I can take you out." He wanted to do more than just take Lucy out on a date. He imagined taking her throat in his castle room, her heart pounding as loudly as her moans in his ears. "Could take you anywhere you want to go. I've traveled the world."

"Tricky. Demons and vampires can trace."

"I feel like you enjoy challenges as much as I do. Tell me what you think I am, and I'll confirm or deny." A sly grin spread across her lips and she leaned in closer. She eyed him again, taking longer over his exposed arms and shoulders.

"Demon," she said with a hopeful note. He crossed his arms over his chest in an "x" and made a buzzer sound with a smile.

"Incorrect." All at once her eyes widened, and she took a few steps back.

"I better be going." Natsu dropped his arms in his confusion. While most Loreans weren't fond of vampires, they tolerated the ones without the red haze of bloodlust. Natsu's, he knew, were clear. This one wasn't a fan, as she called vampires "leeches."

"Why in a hurry?" Even though her body was beginning to turn away from him, her eyes still darted to his mouth. She turned toward the street. "Wait, did I do something wrong?" he asked. Natsu couldn't stop his hand from darting out to take her arm gently. Her skin like the comfort of fire against his as he took his first breath after centuries without the need. The air chilled his unpracticed lungs. His long-dormant heart spurred to life. The feeling nothing that he could remember from his childhood with a heartbeat. He pulled her towards him. A breath escaped her in a rush, and he took in the scent of her arousal— better than he ever dreamed. Her breaths labored with the rise and fall of her breasts and her chest flushed under his gaze. After all this time he had found her, like a gift from the gods themselves, his bride.

#fairy tail #nalu #ft fan fiction #nalu fan fiction #nalu fanfic #fairies after dark #fad ch 1

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soapberryspringsrpg · 6 years

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Forbidden Fruits

Hello Berries! The nights are getting longer, the air is getting crisper, the lattes are getting pumpkin spicier so you know what time it is. Time for the third ever Soapberry Springs writing prompt!

This prompt is meant to appeal to that part of many of us that once devoured cheesy romance books, thrilling over cliche after cliche so long as the right people ended up riding off into the sunset together. To play along, please choose one of the scenarios under the cut inspired by the brave harlequin romance writers and their specific books.

You are free to change genders and names, of course; the only two things that must remain as posted are a) the title and b) the plot.

As always there is no time limit and no due date. Players are welcome to write self-paras, blurbs or novellas, poetry, chatzys or threads, to edit graphics, make playlists, etc. All creative takes on the theme are welcome and encouraged!

Select below from prompts!

Feyness By E.S. Carter In this dark and sexy story, Faye’s cruel, powerful father forces her to marry wickedly gorgeous Cole. She’s convinced that Cole is pure evil — and he’s determined to break her…

Delicious Temptation By Sabrina Sol

After years of keeping her family’s struggling bakery afloat, pastry chef Amara is tired of being safe and predictable. Can she convince Eric, her brother’s ex-best friend, to make good on his bad-boy reputation? A smoldering erotic romance!

An Unconventional Courtship By Scotty Cade

Personal assistant Tristan and his CEO boss, Webber, both struggle to hide their true feelings from each other. But when the pair travel to the Caribbean on a business trip, they discover they can’t hold back their desires forever…

Grayson’s Mate By Tamsin Baker

An alpha werewolf in search of his mate is led to the last person he expected: the handsome stranger he rescued from a car accident. Their desire is undeniable, but can a werewolf and a mortal man find a way to be together?

Make Me Want By Katee Robert

Lucy is a confident, high-powered lawyer — but her ex-boyfriend gave her self-esteem issues in bed. Can her friend Gideon help her realize she has the power to drive him wild?

Bound by Honor By Cora Reilly

To fulfill her father’s promise, Aria must marry notorious, coldhearted Luca. But can she break down Luca’s walls and find the passion within him?

Bad Neighbor By M. O’Keefe

Sparks fly when Charlotte meets her sexy new neighbor Jesse. He’s an alpha bad boy who isn’t afraid of anything — except for his growing attraction to Charlotte, as their desire for each other rages out of control…

London Calling By Clare Lydon

A charming, witty romance: Jess never expected to be moving back in with her parents at the age of 32. But just as things seem hopeless, she makes an unexpected connection with a gorgeous woman. Could happily ever after be on the horizon?

Three Wrong Turns in the Desert By Neil Plakcy

Aidan can’t stop thinking about Liam, the alluring bodyguard he met in a Tunisian bar… When a high-octane chase takes them into the desert, their desires reach a boiling point in this steamy adventure!

Tempting Boundaries By Carrie Ann Ryan

Decker has always lusted after his best friend’s little sister, the woman he can’t have. But when Miranda decides she wants him, he may not be able to resist any longer…

Camp H.O.W.L. By Bru Baker

A sexy shifter romance! When Adrian finally turns into a werewolf — eight years late — Tate, a counselor at a camp for new werewolves, is ready to guide him. But cynical Tate never expected Adrian to be his destined mate…

Roller Girl By Vanessa North

When newly single Tina joins Joanne’s roller derby team, their friendship ignites a steamy passion behind closed doors…

The Shop on Main By Kay Correll

Bella is devastated to learn that she may lose her small shop — and an attractive businessman is the root of her worries. When they clash, can she settle her financial woes on her own and embrace a second chance at love?

The Road to You By Harper Bliss

Serious Katherine and free-spirited Ali have been enemies since college… but fate keeps throwing them together. As the years go on, will they see another side to each other — one they could learn to love?

Road to the Sun By Keira Andrews

When his eight-year-old daughter is kidnapped in Montana, single dad Jason Kellerman enlists the help of park ranger Ben Hettler. Suppressing their burning mutual attraction, the two men begin a wild and desperate hunt through the wilderness…

Captive of the Hitman By Alexis Abbott

When Alicia gets caught up in a dangerous situation, Mikhail takes her captive for her protection. But their sexual chemistry is off the charts — and he refuses to let her go…

Feeling Hot By Elle Kennedy

Home from deployment, Navy SEAL Cash McCoy forms a tantalizing connection with a mysterious blonde. Little does he know that she’s Jen Scott — his commanding officer’s sister! Can he keep his hands to himself around the one woman who’s off-limits?

Professional Distance By Silvia Violet

Heartbroken Thornwell swears off love — until he hires aspiring chef Riley as an escort! Though the two men couldn’t be more different, they begin to fall for each other. Can Riley convince Thornwell to set aside his doubts and live deliciously?

Black By T.L. Smith

Left heartbroken by his first and only love, hit man Liam Black is surprised to find her a decade later. But Rose isn’t the woman she used to be…

Training Sasha By Becca Jameson

Sasha is eager to explore her submissive side, but BDSM club owner Lincoln — who’s also her brother’s friend — won’t admit his attraction to her. Can she convince him to help her explore her sexual desires?

Stalking Buffalo Bill By J. Leigh Bailey

From the moment coyote shifter Donnie spotted buffalo shifter William at his cafe, he was smitten. When deadly figures from William’s past come back to settle unfinished business, the pair team up to ward off danger — and protect their future together.

Dog Days By TA Moore

Apocalyptic weather conditions are wreaking havoc across the globe. But weredog Danny has more immediate problems — including his wolfish ex-lover, Jack…

Dirty Girl By Meghan March

When Greer is drunk one night, she posts an embarrassing personal ad — and now she has thousands of takers! But bad boy Cavanaugh is a cut above the rest…

Tonight’s Encore By Parker Avrile

When Zac returns to his small hometown, he renews his relationship with Reed, who knew him before he became a rock star. But the pressures of fame could tear them apart in this steamy gay romance!

The Longest River By Hildred Billings

After the death of her twin sister, Helen moves to a secluded mountain village to find her independence and heal. There she meets widowed bookstore owner Kiyoko — an introduction that feels like fate…

Dirty Daughter By JB Duvane

Emily is determined to seduce her mother’s former psychologist, Max. But she doesn’t realize that he has his own plans for her — and soon she’ll be locked up in his remote cottage, forced to satisfy his every desire…

Mr. So Wrong By R.C. Stephens

A searing, sexy romance! After finding wealthy bad boy Al caught in a blizzard, Samantha brings him to her ranch to nurse him back to health. She doesn’t want to let anyone close to her heart, but why can’t she keep Al out of her bed?

Tempt the Playboy By Natasha Madison

After arrogant playboy Noah has a one-night stand with Kaleigh, he’s determined to claim her again. But she may not fall for his charms so easily…

One Last Heist By Dahlia Donovan

Partners in love and in crime, Toshiro and Mack plan to get their crew together for one last heist. It was supposed to be easy — but as they become embroiled in a deadly conspiracy, the stakes will rise out of their control…

Little Liar By W Winters

With so much pain in her past, there’s no way Allie should be drawn to bad boy Dean. And yet she can’t seem to stay away from him…

Seducing Cinderella By Gina L. Maxwell

Physical therapist Lucie needs help wooing her crush, so she asks her brother’s best friend, Reid, to teach her the art of seduction. But their arrangement leads to an unexpected chemistry, and Reid can’t give her up…

Tormentor Mine By Anna Zaires

In this “darkly addictive and hauntingly beautiful” romance, assassin Peter comes to torture Sara. But then he becomes obsessed with her…

As Sure as the Sun By Elle Keaton

After a brush with death, retired US Marshal Sacha starts anew in a small town. As he works to restore an old building, he crosses paths with history enthusiast Seth — and discovers a sizzling attraction that may persuade both men to risk their hearts.

The Endgame Duet By Cleary James

When her life takes a turn for the worse, Lisa offers herself to wealthy Grayson in exchange for the money she needs. For seven days he can do whatever he wants with her — but will they be able to control their sensual desires?

The Beat of Love By L. Loryn

In this passionate gay romance, brooding musician Wolfe and handsome actor Miguel court the media by pretending to be a couple. Will their fake celebrity relationship crash and burn — or turn into a connection more powerful than they expected?

The Isle of... Where? By Sue Brown

When Liam Marshall travels to the Isle of Wight to fulfill his best friend’s dying wish, Sam Owens helps him through it. They swiftly develop a connection — but does their budding relationship have an expiration date?

Ruthless By Dani René

Dangerous bad boy Callan always gets whatever he wants — so when he sees sweet Madison at a BDSM club, he must have her. A darkly delicious erotic tale!

Fire and Flint By Andrew Grey

When single father Jordan turns to sheriff’s deputy Pierre with his concerns about a corrupt judge, the two men discover they’ve made a powerful enemy. They’ll do whatever it takes to protect each other in this stirring and suspenseful read.

Entangled by Nikki Jefford

Two months after dying, Gray wakes up in her twin’s body. She’s forced to spend every other day impersonating snobby Charlene — and only warlock Raj notices the difference. Can Gray be saved, or will she fade altogether?

Southern Spirits by Angie Fox

When Verity discovers the power to commune with the spirit world, she teams up with local bad boy Ellis to evict some undead tenants.

Witch Slapped by Dakota Cassidy

Stripped of her powers, ex-witch Stevie Cartwright teams up with the ghost of a sexy British spy to solve a murder case involving a bogus psychic medium.

Issued to the Bride: One Navy SEAL by Cora Seton

Navy SEAL vet Brian has always dreamed of owning his own ranch — so when he’s asked to marry a general’s daughter, Cass, in exchange for a share of her land, he can’t refuse.

Sit… Stay… Beg by Roxanne St. Claire

Garrett, a dot-com millionaire turned dog rescuer, keeps his heart on a tight leash — until journalist Jessie is hired to write a profile on him…

Earthrise by M.C.A. Hogarth

On a mysterious rescue mission, no-nonsense ship captain Reese Eddings commands her vessel Earthrise straight into danger, battling pirates and slavers to save elf prince Hirianthial…

Chez Stinky by Susan C. Daffron

Kat inherits her great-aunt’s dilapidated house, which is filled to the brim with pets and complications. As she adjusts to her new surroundings — and connects with Joel, who’s as handy as he is handsome — will she embrace her new start?

Rumor Has It by Elisabeth Grace

When an embarrassing video goes viral, Ellie Wagner’s reputation pays the price. Her life seems ruined, but a fresh start awaits when she falls for Mason Nash…

Smart Tass by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

Hunter has been tormenting his bookish neighbor Tass since they were children. But when she’s challenged to date him — and he needs to take her virginity to win a bet — can a fake relationship solve their problems and reveal their true feelings for one another?

Once Upon a Time by Blair Babylon

When princess Flicka decides to flee her violent ex, her bodyguard Dieter is the only one who can help her. But their irresistible attraction heats up in ways neither of them expected…

Malevolent by Jana DeLeon

PI Shaye Archer takes on the baffling case of Emma Frederick, a woman convinced that her abusive husband is out to get her. Except Emma killed her husband weeks ago…

Club Shadowlands by Cherise Sinclair

Stranded during a storm, Jessica takes shelter in a nearby house. But when she discovers it’s actually a private BDSM club, she begins to explore her fantasies with a sexy dominant…

Stripped by Stacy-Deanne

Baltimore cop Dee Quarter investigates a cult whose charismatic leader, Jonathan Wild, is determined to ensnare her…

Kiss of Fire by Rebecca Ethington

Joclyn just sent her high school bully flying through the air! Could her phenomenal power have something to do with the strange new scar on her neck? Her handsome best friend Ryland holds all the secrets…

Heaven in His Arms by Lisa Ann Verge

Forced to take a bride, André chooses sickly Genevieve, assuming she won’t survive the harsh winter. But Genevieve is not the frail noblewoman she appears to be, and André soon realizes that he needs her more than he ever expected…

In Search of a Love Story by Rachel Schurig

Tired of losing at love, Emily undertakes a research project: she’ll binge on romance novels and chick flicks until she learns their secret. Handsome Greg could be her Prince Charming — but why is Emily’s friend Elliot so unhappy about her plan?

The Chef’s Mail-Order Bride by Cindy Caldwell

Tripp trained at an elite culinary school, but he can’t get a loan for his restaurant without a wife. Raised in a bakery, Sadie agrees to head west as Tripp’s bride. Can the two learn to work together as they open their new restaurant — and find love in the process?

The Witch Hunter by Nicole R. Taylor

Cursed by an ancient witch, vampire Zachary will die a slow, agonizing death. His only shot at survival is Aya, the so-called Witch Hunter, who has been asleep for 150 years… But she has no interest in helping him.

Ignite by Kaitlyn Davis

When Kira discovers her mystical powers, she must fight for her life — and choose between sweet, goofy Luke and gorgeous, blood-hungry Tristan.

Crash by Drew Jordan

Stranded in the Alaskan wilderness, Laney takes refuge in the arms of the stranger who rescues her. But will he be her savior — or her destroyer?

Going Hard by Kelsey Browning

When rich playboy Grif Steele returns to his hometown, he reconnects with Carlie Beth Parrish. But with a murderous stalker on the prowl, can Grif protect her — and the daughter he never knew he had?

Hers to Take by Talia Ellison

When Octavia gets caught in a dangerous situation, her rival, Aaron, offers her a deal she can’t refuse — to escape with her life, she must pretend to be his sex slave. But they don’t expect a forbidden attraction to ignite…

Claimed by Evangeline Anderson

The Kindred race is primarily male, and must choose among human women for their brides. When Olivia is drafted into marrying broken and tortured Baird, she’s determined to resist — but she hadn’t counted on falling for her alien warrior husband…

Forever a Soldier by Genevieve Turner

When Hank returns from combat, he agrees to move into a 100-year-old house owned by his great-great aunt and uncle. His peace is disturbed by Lale, an inquisitive scholar digging into his family’s secrets. But their attraction will open up hidden places in their hearts…

Liam by Kimber White

Though forbidden to be with his fated mate, sexy shifter Liam will stop at nothing to claim Molly, the spitfire who sets his heart aflame. But is Molly ready to embrace his wolfish identity?

The Second Sister by Rae D. Magdon

When Eleanor’s father dies, she’s left with her unhinged stepmother and two stepsisters, Luciana and Belladonna. Eleanor must prevent wicked Luciana from bewitching a prince — but meanwhile, beautiful Belladonna stirs up feelings she can’t resist…

Time to Upsize by Graeme Aitken

Blake’s the perfect boyfriend as far as Stephen is concerned: easygoing, gentle, and sweet. But lately, Blake has been getting increasingly jealous, and it doesn’t help when gorgeous Rick moves next door. Can Stephen resist temptation?

Playing Games by Liliana Rhodes

Cassie gets her dream job working for billionaire Gabriel — and she’s determined to remain professional. But their irresistible attraction ignites after she’s caught trying to watch him in the shower…

Kindling Flames: Gathering Tinder by Julie Wetzel

After landing a job as assistant to a handsome CEO, Victoria feels like her life is finally on the right track. But when she discovers her new boss is the city’s most powerful vampire, she’ll have to decide whether her attraction to him is worth the risk…

Switching Hour by Robyn Peterman

After a stint in witch prison, Zelda is on magic probation — and if she can’t finish a mysterious task in the next month, she’ll be stripped of her powers forever. But a gorgeous werewolf may prove to be a tempting distraction…

Sacrificed to the Dragon by Jessie Donovan

Dragon shifter Tristan has despised humans ever since hunters killed his mother. But his clan insists he needs an heir — and a human mate. When he meets gorgeous Melanie, a slow-burning fire ignites deep within…

The Vampire’s Mail Order Bride by Kristen Painter

Running from the mob, Delaney becomes a mail-order bride in the spooky town of Nocturne Falls — only to learn her fiancé is a 400-year-old vampire!

Haunted on Bourbon Street by Deanna Chase

When empath Jade Calhoun moves into a haunted New Orleans apartment, she must use her unique abilities — and the help of her sexy landlord — to ward off a powerful spirit.

#sbsprompt

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gingerxtrash · 6 years

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As the years go on /8

Pairing: Nalu

Rating: T

Magnolia has two sides, the good and the bad. There are those who are innocent or evil, or even in the middle. The most ruthless yet successful gang in Magnolia is Fairy Tail. The whole gang are best friends as kids but Lucy had to leave and had no chance to tell them. Four years later she came back, but will her friends still take her in? Nalu, Gruvia, Jerza, Gale MENTIONS DRUGS

Hey guys I’m so so sorry on taking so long on updating. I’ve been super busy with work or I would be extremely tired. Lately I’ve been having a lot more anxiety so that really sucks and it messes with my motivation on writing the story. I still have ideas on what to write but I also am having writers block so it’s difficult to decide what to write. I don’t know if I should continue the story because I don’t know if you guys like it or not….any way I hope that you guys enjoy this chapter and please leave a like and review on it.

---Lucy’s P.O.V---

It’s so warm, Natsu’s embrace feels so comforting and warm. Tears are still falling but I am trying to stop them, I don’t want anyone to see my weak side, I don’t ever want anybody to see my weak side once again.

Moments later, Natsu let go due to someone entering the room, it looks like Macao? He has blue pulled back hair with a blue mustache, he had a white jacket with a blue shirt and a pair of jeans. Honestly I couldn’t tell it was him at first because I never saw him with a mustache before, honestly looks like a pervy old man.

“Natsu, I’m sorry to interrupt but you have another mission from Igneel” Macao said then left. Natsu looked annoyed and broke the hug, “Damn old man can’t give me a break, huh. I’m sorry but I must go Luce” he said and stood up to walk out of the door.

I am trying to stop shaking but my body won’t follow my orders, I take some deep breaths then I see a women in the next bed to me from the corner of my eye. The person has long messy blue hair and a bandage is wrapped around her forehead. It didn’t take me long to realize that it was Juvia and he was already awake, ‘she must’ve saw my episode just now’ I curse myself internally because I hate it when others see my weak side.

Juvia is sitting up and just looking straight ahead of her, probably lost in thought. I’m surprised that she doesn’t have a concusion at all from that brick hitting her head, but I am happy nonetheless that she isn’t looking too bad.

“Why?” Juvia said out of nowhere, interrupting my thoughts. I turned my head to look at her but she is still looking straight ahead of her, “Why what?” I said in a quiet voice.

Juvia turned her head towards me and started to raise her voice, “Why are you so selfish that you don’t ask anyone for help!” I look at her, a little surprised at her sudden comment. “I didn’t want to bo-“. She cleched her fists, grabbing the sheets of her bed. “Why do you never ask for help, Lucy! Don’t you know that we care for you and will drop everything to help you!? You may have left us for four years, but that doesn’t mean we will leave you.” I look down in guilt saying nothing. “You give off such a stupid emotionless face, trying to tell everyone that you are not the same person you were before, but do you f*cking believe me to believe that! You never changed from the little girl you were before, even if the others can’t see it!”

I look to her in surprise of what she said, not noticing all that much that she isn’t talking in third person right now.

“Ever since middle school you were verbally and mentally abused, but you shook it off saying a bunch of lies about you had homework to do or sum’. Why would staying to do homework give you stuffy eyes, bruises, and a slight limp? No one else probably didn’t notice it but I sure did! I hated that you always kept that to yourself!” At this point Juvia was almost yelling but also choking up on her words. “But now!? You keep on hiding all the pain and suffering you are going through! It’s not bruises you have…. You were raped by a psychopath, your parents were murdered, and you are taking on these burdens all by yourself. Whatever reason you have to keep things to yourself is not selfless, it is absolutely selfish!” by now she was in tears. I know that all the words coming from her mouth is true, but I really don’t know what to say.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t of talked like that” Juvia said and turned her head.

“No, you are completely right, I didn’t want anyone to know, I kept everything a secret because I was too scared. I kept everything to myself because I didn’t want to look sad when I am with you guys, I wanted to be strong like everyone. Now, I have to keep everything to myself because I want to keep everyone safe. My parent died working on this project and I won’t let anyone take advantage of them.” I say with a serious face.

Juvia smiles a little and tries to hide her laughter, “you sure are forgetful, don’t you remember that Fairy Tail is the strongest gang is in all of Fiore.” Juvia said with a smirk. I don’t answer but I know without a doubt that she is right, Juvia gets out of her bed and walks towards me then sat on my bed. “Juvia has missed you so much” and gave me a soft smile. I put my head down and my bangs covered my eyes, but I look back up. “I’ve missed you too Juvia” I said, returning the smile she gave me. “Let’s get out of here, the others are worried sick about you” she said, I hesitate a little but I give her nod.

I get out of bed and walks towards the door and Juvia follows behind me, I opened the door, afraid of what I will see. I know for sure they will freak out from seeing the bruises on Juvia and I.

My thoughts are interrupted by a crimson haired woman that practically jumped on me and is now squeezing me to death. She pulls me out of the hug while she continued to grab my shoulders. “Lucy! We were so worried about you when we were told on what happened….how are you feeling?” She said with worried eyes but I responded with a smile, “Don’t worry, Juvia and I are tough girls, so we will be fine” and looked back to give Juvia a smile which she also returned. Gray ran up to Juvia to give her into a hug and said something which I couldn’t hear. I was just glad that he returned the feelings to her that he has always had.

---Third Person---

For the next two hours, everyone talked to each other, updating each other on what has happened over the years, but no one has dared to talk about the tragedies that everyone has gone through

Out of nowhere, a short girl with blue hair in piggy tails run towards the blonde, “I’m so sorry Lucy! It was my fault that you are hurt, I am so sorry that I wasn’t strong enough to protect you” Wendy said while tears were falling down her face. Lucy gently grabbed Wendy by the shoulders and bent down to be eye level with the blunette. “Wendy, you did an amazing job at protecting everyone, but sooner or later we cannot always be the hero. I know the feeling as well” Lucy looked down and remembered the moments that her parents sacrificed everything to save her but snapped out of the flashback to give Wendy a smile. Wendy was taken aback by Lucy’s words and gave her a sad yet happy smile, “Well, I am happy that you are safe now!”.

“I couldn’t agree more”, everyone turns their heads to see a smirking rose colored hair man standing in front of the table the group was sitting at. “What’s with the confused faces, shouldn’t this be a reunion here?” Natsu said with a toothy grin.

“Hell yeah! Let’s stop moping around and party!!!” Cana said while holding up her wine bottle, ditching the apple juice bottle now. Everyone laughed and nodded, moments later the whole gang was partying and drinking as if they just had a victory in battle, but that is Fairy Tail for you. Even though everyone was having fun, there was still one person who was so unsure about the situation. The blonde was sitting there enjoying the company of those she loved but still put a fake smile on so no one can see her uneasiness. Lucy is originally very good at hiding her emotions when she wanted to, except for one person, the infamous but caring Natsu.

---Lucy’s P.O.V.---

Everyone is so happy. Everyone is having so much fun. And everyone acts so calm right now.

I feel suffocated here, like I don’t belong, like I don’t have a right to be here….I betrayed everyone here, but I don’t get how they can forgive me so easily. What Juvia said earlier was completely right and I can not deny that, but I can’t let go of my ambitions so easily at this point. I remain in thought until I feel a hand on my shoulder, I flinch and quickly turn to see who is touching me. Once I look at the individual, the first thing I see is Natsu with a very concerned look on his face, “Lets go somewhere private” he said to me and turned. I decided to follow him due to feeling a little clausterphobic with everyone going wild.

While walking to a quiet area, it felt like we were walking forever. I don’t know if it’s just my head acting weird from the awkwardness between us. I really want to know what’s concerning him, but at the same time I don’t feel like I have the right to talk to him so freely. I try to speak, but I can’t figure out on what I should say. I can’t be like, “Hey, tough fight back there” or “Are you a trampoline because I wanna bounce on you”. I mentally stop myself from thinking like that and I can feel my face starting to heat up, thank the Lord that Natsu is still looking the other way.

Wow, I feel so embarrassed to know that I am thinking sexually about him…..I have no right….even if he has the body of a God. Natsu stopped out of nowhere and I accidentally bumped into him, but he didn’t even move.

“So, are you going to stop lying to me and tell me the truth?”

His voice is deep and a little bit hoarse right now, like he has been yelling or straining his voice. I wonder where he had to go earlier….wow, there I go again with thinking about him. Although, it makes sense, I’ve never stopped thinking about him after three long years.

“Uhh.. I- it depends on the question” I said to him while I looked down, so my bangs can cover my face.

“It’s a damn simple question Lucy” he said with a pause. Why does it make me sad that he doesn’t call me Luce, it’s just a nickname, but it’s only a nickname he can call me.

“Why did you create the Celestials?” he said in a husky voice.

I am not surprised nor disappointed by this question, I knew I had to tell him one day if he came back into my life. I look at him silently while he still had his back towards me.

“It was because I had no other choice” I said and there is a pause of silence, “I didn’t just do it for revenge…I did it because I would never be able to forgive myself if someone stole the work my parents died protecting” I said with my head down and my bangs covering my eyes. Only silence is filling the room which kind of bothered me but suddenly I feel warmth. I stand stiff on the ground, not moving a muscle when I feel Natsu wraps his arms around my waste.

“You really are a dumb little girl who has never changed over the last four years” Natsu said and chuckled a little, “Do you really think you are alone?”

“Honestly Natsu…. I am so confused with everything, I don’t know if what I am doing is right or wrong. Fairy Tail is the rightful owner of my parents’ project, but I am just being arrogant by trying to figure this out by myself” I said as I put my arms around Natsu and I rest my head on his chest, tears threatening to fall again.

He tightens the hug and I feel him slightly shake. I don’t know if he is shaking in anger, or if he is shaking because of something else.

“You have gone through so much, you were forced to endure so much pain and suffering at such a young age, yet you still fight for what is right. You are amazing, over the years you still are the girl who is so brave and still stands tall with a smile. As the years gone on, you are still the women I adore.” A tear falls down my face, but I try to hide it, Natsu puts his hand on my face and wiped away the single tear that fell. I am a little shocked from this I stay silent and he gives me a sad, yet uplifting smile, “Luce, you are not alone anymore, you are a member of Fairy Tail, you are my best friend, you are my inspiration, and you are the girl I fell in love with.”

Wait, did I hear him right?! Did he just say he loved me….I…Just how, I am unclean, unworthy of a man like him. He is the heir of Fairy Tail, he can make any girl fawn over him, so why would he want a girl with so many physical and mental scars?

“Natsu, why….why would you say something like that? I left you, I ignored you, and I rejected you….so that means I am not worthy of you” I said as I looked down at my feet and clenched my fists from how anxious I am. Natsu’s left hand squeezed my shoulder and his right index finger lifted my chin up. Our faces were just inches apart.

“Now, where is the girl who held her head up with a smile when she was broken?” He said with his toothy grin that can lighten the darkest room. “No matter what you do to me, no matter if you push me away, I will never let go of you. I won’t let go because I have the strength to protect you, unlike before” I can feel him leaning closer slowly and my body does the same without any thought. I close my eyes when I can feel his breath on my lips and I put my arms around his neck as his hands now rest around my waist. Natsu placed his lips on mine and I don’t dare to resist them….I cannot stop now because my body won’t let me. Without thinking, my hand traveled on the top of his head, softly gripped his hair and the other is wraps around his neck. He lets out a low moan and immediately I start craving more, like it’s becoming an addiction.

Natsu puts one hand around the back of my neck and the other on the arch of my back and rubs it, causing me to press myself closer to him. He moves his lips and starts to kiss my cheek and goes down to the side of my neck. I lean my head back and let out a soft moan in pleasure. I can feel him biting and sucking on my neck, making me let out a soft moan. His lips left my neck and lifts his head to his forehead on mine. I don’t bother on opening my eyes because I just want to enjoy this moment of pure bliss with him, and a moment to feel safe from everything. “Luce, you know I am not the type of person to lie. I will protect you from now on and I will fight with you in your battles. You are not alone when people who love you are around you” Natsu said in a deep and soothing voice. I looked up to see his smiling face, and the only thing I can do is smile. “O-okay” I said and then he gave me another kiss.

“Hey Natsu, Lucy…I’ve been looking for you two when Gray said you guys le-“ Grandeynee said as she entered the dark hallway we were in. She blushes a little then later had a big grin on her face and pulls out a camera, “ohhhh Natsu, just wait until your Father hears about this” Grandeynee starts to run away while Natsu yells for her not to and starts to chase her. I just let out a chuckle and proceed to go back where everyone else was.

‘Do I love Natsu?’

Ha, why am I even questioning this at all, of course I love him, but I don’t want to tell him because the mission I have promised is basically suicide. But I will not let my parents’ deaths be in vain. I will not be the weak one who is helpless anymore. If I die, I die of pride and nothing will change my mind on that.

I realize that I am lost so I just decide to keep wondering around, maybe it can keep my mind off of things for a while. I feel so overwhelmed with everything right now, a life I tried to keep secret is slowly being crumbled into pieces due to a simple injury. As I am walking I see an open door so I decide to peek inside and the only thing I saw was a room full of computers and a young boy. Wait…a young boy with blue hair? I knock on the door and startle the boy, “What’s with the gloomy face?” Happy turned around and had wide eyes, ‘are those tears I see?’ Without a second going by he runs into my arms “LUSHEE!!” Happy runs into my arms and hugs me tight, like he was scared that I was going to leave. “I’ve mi..missed you so much Lushee, please never leave us again” I’m a little shocked to see him crying but I give him a smile and reassure him that I am going nowhere. ‘He has grown up so much, but I am glad he is still as sweet and innocent just like before’.

After a couple minutes we decide to go back to the main hall, a.k.a. he is leading the way because I have no idea where I am.

Before I realize it, we end up in the main hall where all the people here are playing games and drinking to their hearts content, same as they always do. I look at the crowd and I immediately see an orange hair man and a pink haired woman, Loke and Virgo. Happy leaves to go meet up with Carla and Panther Lily. I walk over to Loke and Virgo to ask them when we are going to go home they looked at me with awkward expression.

“Well um…while Igneel and I were talking he told me that he wanted you to stay at his house, so his men can make sure that no one comes near you now that you’re a possible target due to last nights incident.” Loke said with a sweat drop over his head. My eyes start to widen due to these arrangements and I start to blush at the thought of being with Natsu…all alone… Why are they having me stay with them, I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself so I don’t need this kind of protection. “Ehhhhh!!!” I feel arms around my waist and I can feel someone’s breath on my neck, “Oh goodie Luce, we can share the same bed just like when we were kids!” I turn around to see an evil grin on my face and I can feel my face heating up. “WHAT WE NEVER SHARED THE SAME BED AS KIDS!!!” I yelled at him and scolded him while all he can do is laugh. I puffed my cheeks and of course….ran away to escape from this embarrassment. ‘Why does he need to act like this? I should be happy now that I have reunited with everyone that I love so dearly…but I just feel guilty. I should’ve just been more careful while facing Jackal and Tempester. Since I’ve done that, Tartaros are definetely going to make a move since I killed on of their best men. I can’t stop thinking that this is the beginning of something horrible’.

I run out side and I find Igneel out there sitting on the steps and smoking a cigarette, I don’t know what to do so I just decide to leave him in peace, “Oh hello there Lucy” Igneel said and gave me a smile, “Hello Mr. Dragneel” He was wearing suit pants and a red buttoned up shirt, his crimson colored hair is a bit messy right now and he looks stressed and tired.

“You smoke?” Igneel said and offered me a cigarette so I take the offer and take a cigarette, “Sometimes” I chuckled to myself. He gave me a lighter and I lit up the cancer stick, “Lucy, I’m sorry on what happened to you parents. This is my fault that they are dead, so I understand if you have a grudge between me or Fairy Tail” Igneel said with a worried voice as he took a puff of his cigarette. I looked over to him, a little bit surprised that he said this. “And why do you say that?” I looked forward and inhaled and exhaled the smoke from my cigarette, “My parents decided to work on this project. They were loyal members of Fairy Tail and took the name with pride. They looked to you guys with trust and you were their comrades. Their death is no one’s faults except for the ones who killed them.” I said as I looked up to the sky. I could tell that Igneel was a little bit surprised, but he didn’t say a word. “Fairy glitter is their invention, not Fairy Tail’s yet so it is no ones’ fault.” I said as I looked down to the ground.

“You should know that everyone was worried about you and your parents, especially Natsu and the others. Yet, none of them ever lost faith in you, they are true, loyal, and honorable friends that are hard to find in a world like this.” Igneel said and proceeded to smoke his cigarette.

He stood up and threw the cigarette aside and started to walk away, “You are still young so lighten up and let others help.” Igneel said and entered the building which causes me to be alone. I throw the finished cigarette aside and decide to just stop thinking, Igneel is right. Dang, it’s really destroying my ego because of what everyone is telling me.

I decide to rest my head on my knees and I slowly end up drifting off to sleep, ignoring the fact that I am sitting on the cold crick covered stairs.

Hey guys I am sorry for the boring chapter, I honestly hate this chapter but I feel like some people want at least some fluff between Natsu and Lucy. Originally I want them to be more cold against one another but I wanted to update asap because of making y’all wait so long. I like having humor in my stories because I don’t like being serious for too long. A lot more action will occur in the chapters but I just have to decide on how I will put in it order.

Any way I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and please remember to give a like or review of you opinions of the story. Love you guys and thank you for motivating me to keep writing the story.

Pairing: Nalu

Rating: T

Chapter 1 https://gingerxtrash.tumblr.com/post/173317577354/as-the-years-go-on

Chapter 2 https://gingerxtrash.tumblr.com/post/173429902759/as-the-years-go-onch2

Chapter 3 https://gingerxtrash.tumblr.com/post/173535087109/as-the-years-go-on3?is_related_post=1

Chapter 4 https://gingerxtrash.tumblr.com/post/173708634179/as-the-years-go-on-4

Chapter 5: https://gingerxtrash.tumblr.com/post/173978019329/as-the-years-go-on-5-pairing-nalu-rating-t

Chapter 6: https://gingerxtrash.tumblr.com/post/174105976019/as-the-years-go-on-6

Accent 6

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smut-camren · 7 years

Text

The Hand That Feeds // chapter 4

original story http://archiveofourown.org/works/3673911/chapters/8142474 ———————————————

“Where were you?” Michael glared.

Lauren turned around to see purple angry eyes glaring at her. She wrapped her arms around her trench coat. Michael walked farther into the foyer. As he drew closer, he begun to tower over Lauren with his large stature. His height had done little to startle Lauren as it had done to many humans and most demons.

“I went out.” Lauren answered.

Lauren fought to give a resentful stare back as it would do no good, but to have her dad scold her through the night if he could. Michael never cared what Lauren did, or where she went, but it had changed three days after her birthday. He became more intrusive and authoritative.

“You went to that club again didn’t you?” Michael huffed.

“Yes dad, I did.” Lauren snapped. “If you already knew why would you ask?”

“I wanted to make sure that foul human of yours wasn’t lying to me.” Michael rebutted.

Lauren remained a calm exterior, while her mind ran into a flurry of fear for Lucy’s safety. Michael had no respect or care for humans. He only tolerated the ones in his house because they carried out his daily routines. He wasn’t going to get his hands dirty in trying to cut a lawn and tend to the flowers in the yard. He most definitely wasn’t going to clean his own house or cook his own meals.

“Did you -”

“I didn’t lay a finger on her.” Michael answered. “I can’t stand that she lives on the same floor as us and how she follows you everywhere, but I’ll leave you to treat her how you see fit.”

A wave of relief washed through Lauren. Michael came closer, letting out a snort of frustration. The beastly appearance to his features much clearer. He had black veins around his skin that contrasted immensely with his pale purple flesh, elongated black pointed nails, two small horns protruding from his forehead, stretched out sharp teeth, topped with pointed ears, and those haunting menacing purple eyes.

Michael was one of the top hideous half-breeds, but Lauren was sure with his appearance he didn’t qualify as a half-breed, but rather an alternation of his former human self. He had qualities of a demon; the snarling, growling, roaring, brute strength, and temperament of a demon. That would make him just a shell of his old form. It was the perks given to a man that had been the cause of the New World Order.

This gave him a large enough title to have anyone and anything fear him. Michael let out a rugged snort as his face scrunched up with distaste to the topic of their conversation.

“That isn’t the point Lauren!” Michael insisted. “What I will not stand for is your childish behavior. I told you to stop your nonsense the day after your birthday. You have bigger responsibilities now!”

Lauren let out a heavy sigh. She didn’t want to have this conversation, let alone an argument with her father after such an enjoyable night with Camila.

“I’m aware.” Lauren agreed. “I know what I have to do and that will come. I just wanted some fun before everything changes later on.”

Michael became more at ease. The puff in his chest disappeared and the low hum of his growling ceased. He looked Lauren over, questioning her statement.

“You know my intentions are just good.” Michael stated. “I only want the best for you.”

“I know.” Lauren responded.

“I’m having guests over in two days for brunch.” Michael announced. “I expect you to be here and dressed presentably for their arrival.”

“Of course daddy,” Lauren smiled.

Pleased with her response, Michael walked away with no further complaints. Lauren quietly rushed up the stairs to her bedroom on the second floor where Lucy sat upon her bed for her arrival. She had heard the entire argument downstairs.

“Mistress?” Lucy asked.

Lauren sat down next to Lucy who held her while she silently cried.

***

“Hey!!” Dinah shouted, snapping her fingers in front of Camila.

She blinked several times before she spotted Dinah’s hand and blankly stared into her face. The lack of a reaction startled Dinah. She put her hand down and leaned closer over the table.

“You okay?” She asked.

They usually didn’t talk during lunch, mainly because they were trying to find a way to stomach the slop they served the slaves. The slop thrown to them was usually a gray and gooey mush. It was difficult to swallow, much less chew, and it tasted of the foulest thing any human could ever eat. The only thing comforting was the fresh water served, but it was never cold.

Today the gruel was a thick gelatinous texture that had a tan color, but it had done its purpose to feed the girls. The slaves didn’t starve, somewhat. They were fed once a day and if they misbehaved they could be fed as little as twice a week. Camila hasn’t had that in the past three years though.

Anyway, it was better to work the brothel on a full stomach rather than starve for the rest of the day. The day with no food meant the slaves had no fuel to work and displeasing the clients was a thin ice no one wished to walk across, should Sebastian find a slave was completely inadequate.

Camila picked up her spoon and rest her chin on to her right hand as she stared into her bowl of gruel. A sickening sequencing sound came from the bowl as the spoon was lifted and plopped back down. Dinah cringed.

“Is something bothering you?” Dinah questioned.

Camila glanced up at her with a visible pout. It would be an understatement to say she was bothered. It had been exactly a week since Camila’s heard from or seen Lauren. She couldn’t forget their time at the club. Lauren seemed to enjoy her company and Camila would never dare say it out loud, but she enjoyed it too. Lauren didn’t push her into anything. They spent the night exploring the club with Lauren showing her the things the club offered and the crazy fetishes not only the demons had, but the humans; who had been more than willing to attend this club. They took complete joy in spending time with their owners.

Lauren hadn’t confirmed she’d see Camila again, but she assumed she would stop by the following day. By the end of the week Camila had given up wondering if Lauren would show. A wave of disappointment replaced her patience. She grew angry and bitter.

“Lauren hasn’t come by in a week.” Camila mumbled.

She had no concern to hide her disappointment. Dinah perked up with a devilish smile.

“You were with Lauren that night?” She grinned.

Camila placed her spoon down and took a sip of her lukewarm cup of water. She cringed as she swallowed.

“Did she wear a mask again?” Dinah prodded.

“No.” Camila muttered.

Dinah chuckled. “Oh, I know that look! You’re completely smitten by her aren’t you?!”

Camila scoffed. “I am not.”

Dinah snorted and crossed her arms with a scowl in place. “Don’t lie to me. It’s insulting to our friendship.”

Camila hunched over the table with a heavy sigh and threaded a hand into her hair. It had knotted again as Sebastian had no intention of letting Camila wear the braid Lucy had set in. The collar and leash were thrown away.

“She’s attractive.” Camila admitted.

Dinah shrugged, accepting that would be the closest to a confession she would get. Camila had her pride as much as Dinah had hers. It didn’t always keep them grounded, but it gave them clear limits, though some weren’t as clear during communication.

“We uh…” Camila rubbed the back of her neck, while she began to blush.

Dinah shot up straight in her chair, startling the four girls next to them and glared at them until they turn away. Dinah had the largest smug grin Camila had ever seen and that only increased her embarrassment.

“I knew it!” Dinah yelped. “Was she good?”

“Dinah!” Camila hissed.

“Oh come on. It’s Lauren Jauregui. I think everyone has had wet dreams about her!” Dinah proclaimed.

Taking notice of a guard at the far cafeteria shifting and eyeing Dinah and Camila, Dinah began to calm down and become less frantic in her motions. Camila was glaring back at her.

“Why do you look so disappointed?” Dinah asked.

“It’s been a week.” Camila snapped.

“Hmm.” Dinah hummed. “That good, huh?”

“Just shut up Dinah !” Camila growled.

Dinah laughed and picked up a scoop of her slop. She nudged Camila’s hand, affectionately.

“Cheer up.” She coaxed. “I’m not used to seeing my verbal spar buddy this down. If there’s one thing I know it’s that no one can resist Camila Cabello. She’ll come back. Trust me.”

Camila gave a painful smile in Dinah’s direction and the two friends ate the rest of today’s meal. They had a long day before bed time.

***

“Wake up! All of you on your feet!” Sebastian shouted, slamming a nine inch metal pipe along the wall as he walked.

The sound of his boots stomping against the concrete as the pipe rattled through the room brought a sharp pain to the back of Camila’s skull. Sebastian glared at the group of slaves that arose to their crude awakening.

The metal walls had caused the noise of Sebastian’s voice to echo and increase into a sound that had painfully pierced Camila’s ears. Dinah was up before Camila and looked just as irritated. As the slaves began to understand the situation they roused from the floor.

Stretching up from the floor and cringing as her body ached, Camila scanned the room. Nothing had changed and looking down to herself she was still bound in her collar with her entire body bare. It was difficult to judge the time of day due to the lack of windows, but Sebastian had the decency to include air ventilation. A dead slave was a useless one and Sebastian hated losing money.

As Sebastian walked along the perimeter of the holding-cell, Camila cringed hearing him hit the wall a last time before dropping the pipe to the ground. Judging from the unusual amount of aching in her body, Camila figured it wasn’t even sunrise yet, but that also meant the brothel wasn’t open.

She would never understand the reason for Sebastian’s decisions, but she knew Sebastian was capable of cruel things. He was ruthless and greedy. A Slave-Trader everyone feared, but Camila refused to give him that satisfaction and as punishment her body bared scars of her pride. She noticed the expression of fear on other slaves’ faces as they tried to make sense of the commotion.

“What’s going on?” Dinah whispered.

Camila shrugged. It was much too early to be fed. The only reason Sebastian would be here this early was if a slave had screwed up. Camila had let her clients return home happy, newbie slaves have always been known to mess up. It had happened before and because Sebastian was such an asshole, he punished every slave with a two hour lashing. Camila gingerly touched her back and cringed at the memory.

“Line up!” Sebastian ordered, removing his whip from the holster on his hip.

Camila noticed Dinah flinch at the sight of the bullwhip. She took a step back for cover.

Quickly, the girls scattered and stood in a perfect line in under a minute. The haze of sleep was gone and replaced with fear. Camila ignored the mutters of the younger girls that still couldn’t understand standard protocol.

Camila grinded her teeth, fighting back to tell them to shut up. She didn’t need an extra lash, if they were all bound to endure a two hour punishment. Sebastian stood in front of the girls with his arms tucked behind his back.

“Listen up ladies.” He started. “We are having a special client visiting us tonight. It was requested that I open the brothel two hours in advance for the buyer’s privacy.” Camila scoffed. “This is a highly valuable and respected customer! I expect you all to remain on your best behavior and do what is asked of you no matter the request. I do not want to hear a single complaint or whine from any of you and as always do not mention the identity of who enters through this door. Am I clear?!”

“Yes Master.” The rows of slaves chimed.

Satisfied, Sebastian walked to the side of the room and not a second later the sleeping chamber door opened. Camila couldn’t fight the feeling of anticipation as she stared at the doorway, curious if the person walking through that door was a male or female. She only hoped it was at least a human. She hated serving demons. They were far more violent.

From the distance, Camila heard light tapping that increased in volume as it got closer. Entering the chamber, Camila nearly choked on her on saliva in shock. The woman dressed in a black sleek dress with a golden necklace above the neck-line with a green gem in the middle had been Lauren.

Dinah let out a squeak, but Camila was too frozen in place in a trance because of Lauren’s appearance to turn and see if Dinah had a heart attack.

Lauren brushed back a piece of black hair from her face as she scanned the rows of slaves. Swiftly, Sebastian’s whip was lifted above his hip and hit the floor with a crisp smack. The two dozen girls turned around. Camila picked up the sound of those red heels again. The tapping stopped behind her.

“Assume the position!” Sebastian screamed.

“As I’ve said before Mr. Smyth, it wasn’t necessary to awaken all these girls.” Lauren said. “I told you before, I only have an interest in Camila.”

“It’s protocol Miss.” Sebastian insisted. “As a potential buyer you are to look over the overall health of the slave.”

Hesitantly, Camila remained still. A scoff came from behind her before she finally moved. Bending over, Camila glared down to the floor and spread her legs. A soft hand rested on to her back before moving to the curve of her hip. Two hands cupped her butt before pushing them apart. Sebastian walked over, stationed in front of Camila.

“She’s had many owners during her stay here.” Sebastian informed.

“All male?” Lauren asked, her voice smooth and low.

Camila fought against the chill in her body. Lauren firmly squeezed her ass and Camila gulped. She couldn’t stop her legs from trembling. A small chuckle erupted from Lauren that caused Camila to sigh. She wasn’t as discreet as she wanted to be, but her body had grown accustom to reacting to touches due to the amount of complaints from past clients. Sebastian made sure to fix her lack of response.

Sebastian nodded. Lauren chuckled.

“Her ass is quite the prized possession.” Sebastian smirked.

Camila’s jaw clenched. She knew of her valued assets, but she had hated the way Sebastian boasted about it in a deeming way to lower Camila as a human. A hand softly squeezed down on Camila’s left cheek before being removed.

“I can see why.” Lauren sharply spoke. “Is there a reason why she’s had so many owners?”

Camila shifted her feet restlessly. Taking note, Sebastian lightly tapped his whip against Camila’s back. The action was effective enough to crush the fire in Camila’s chest. She wanted more than anything to beat Sebastian senseless and Lauren too.

“She’s very disobedient.” Sebastian replied. “She has been known to attack her handlers. Camila isn’t the one for you.”

“Quite the opposite Mr. Smyth, she is exactly what I’m looking for.” Lauren insisted. “Stand up and face me.”

Camila looked back into the swirl of green and red eyes with a frown. The look of hatred she projected to this spoiled and highly privileged woman did little to deter Lauren’s poise stature. A hand reached out, cupping Camila’s cheek and a finger ran along the length of her plump bottom lip.

Lauren smiled. “It’s been a while Camila.” She brushed the tip of her nose against Camila’s cheek. “Your mouth is just as attractive.”

Camila moved her head away in disgust. Sebastian glared at her and lifted his whip a second time.

“That’s alright Mr. Smyth.” Lauren sternly spoke, staring back into Camila’s brown eyes. “No need to hit her. She hasn’t upset me in any way.”

Camila glanced back over to Sebastian who kept the same scowl on his face m. She had broken rules. It didn’t matter how long she’s been here. She hated this place and she hated every person that walked in here too overpowered by their desire to get off and see any of these girls as human beings.

But she especially hated Lauren for not coming to visit her for an entire week, only to show up and take her away. She was purchasing Camila, like cattle.

Camila took a small quip of pride disrespecting Sebastian and defacing his reputation as a professional businessman. Sebastian hated looking bad in front of any client. His reputation was important to his business. Camila would expect to get another lashing later on tonight.

“I’ll take her.” Lauren announced.

Sebastian’s frown dropped. “Ma'am, please, I insist you do not want anything to do with-”

“I’ve made my decision.” Lauren interrupted. “She is what I want Mr. Smyth. How much?”

Sebastian sighed. “Yes ma'am. Considering her temperament, I’ll cut you a deal. 50 grand.”

Lauren smiled. “Agreed. I will have my men pay you half in an hour and the rest tomorrow morning.” The woman walked toward the door. “It was a pleasure doing business with you Mr. Smyth.”

***

Camila didn’t have a chance to say goodbye to Dinah. She was taken out of the cell, clothed, and chained by her wrist and neck in the next half hour. Sebastian made some effort to have Camila bathed. Granted, this brothel had no bathroom, other than holes in the ground for the slaves’ use.

She had to be taken out back and shoved into a large wooden bucket full of cold water from the hose. The rest of her body was scrubbed raw and red with soap that smelled so strong of lilac it made her dizzy. She’s never had a smell so sweet choke her that she was near ready to jump out of the tub. The scrubbing had been over before Camila had reached her limit of this overpowering smell and she was groomed after.

Her hair had gotten badly knotted over time and had to be cut to the top of her shoulders then brushed out. The smell of lilac was still strongly clinging to her skin. Then finally she was clothed in an itchy old potato sack and sent off. She couldn’t understand why she was blindfolded when she was done being decorated. One of the brothel guards guided her into the car out front and she was off.

The entire car ride was silent and Camila couldn’t tell if she was alone, or if someone was with her. It had been a two hour drive before it stopped. Her question had been answered when she heard noise on the other side of the car that hadn’t been her and once again, she was guided out of the car.

A strong hand latched on to her arm and up a flight of steps. Irritated, she scratched at the skin underneath the potato sack. It was strange to be clothed and wearing shoes again. Despite the clothes Sebastian had given her was a rucksack, she had gotten used to being physically exposed at all times.

The sound of doors opening spiked a feel of anxiety in Camila and her thoughts were washed out with the sound of her footsteps echoing loudly through the main entrance. She was told to remain still, but the blindfold had not been taken off. She could faintly hear muttering behind her.

“Alright, let’s go.” The guard instructed.

He had kept a hand on Camila’s shoulder as they continued to walk again. The path taking her up two flights of stairs, but the floor was padded as Camila could no longer hear either of their footsteps.

“Hold still.” The guard spoke again.

The tip of his blazer lightly grazed Camila’s wrist as he walked beside her. She could pick up the sound of rustling, then the shake of keys. A lock clicked free and the same clink of keys as they were put away.

“Thank you Puck.” This voice was not as smooth as the woman in the brothel.

Puck let out a grunt before walking away and Camila was left in silence. The tip of her fingers drummed against her thighs. The longer she stood in this silence, still blindfolded, the more anxious she became. But be there no statement of rules, Camila knew better than to remove the cloth out of free will.

It was a privilege to be here, to do, and be given anything. A simple action was to be asked. Camila was to gain permission. The uneasy silence was finally ripped apart with the sound of crisp and sharp heels from inside the room.

“Come inside.”

Carefully, Camila made her way inside, using the tips of her fingers to navigate around the room. When she had moved passed the doorway the door behind her slammed shut. Anxiously, Camila froze, biting her bottom lip to wait for farther commands. She hadn’t been outside or in a new surrounding in the last ten years.

Sebastian’s cold and violent behavior had been all she knew. At least that was predictable. The owner that had been persistent on purchasing Camila was a new playing field. What if she was much worse than Sebastian?

“Hello Camila.” The woman greeted.

Camila flinched as the blindfold on face was roughly tugged down. The shift in light nearly blinded her. Blinking several times, Camila adjusted to the change and found herself in front of Lucy, who held a glare as a greeting.

“The Mistress apologizes about the blindfold.” Lucy grumbled. “The last two slaves escaped during their travel.”

She motioned to the room around them, leaving Camila in complete awe. The room had been big enough to be its own apartment. A dream home Camila never dared to think would be hers. It was twice the size of the room Camila was to share with twenty other women back at the brothel.

The rug looked expensive, much like the furniture decorating this room, down to the drapes. All a price and value Camila had thought to only be possible in books, let alone see in person and during her lifetime. The bed to the far right of the room was beautiful.

A queen size mattress, neatly decorated in deep purple sheets and white plush pillows. The sight of the bed had brought a push of exhaustion into Camila that she had not been aware of since the start of her transportation from the brothel. It had left her far more exhausted than she expected.

“This is your room.” The woman explained. “You are to rise at 6am sharp, breakfast is served downstairs at 7am, there you will be given your chores, and bed time is at 10pm.”

She pulled out the chair tucked underneath Camila’s vanity desk and took a seat.

“The Mistress is very strict about curfew. You are to not leave unless granted permission. The bathroom is across from the bed should you have to use it during the night. And I am to help guide and train you during your stay.” The woman sat back up. “It has been decided that you are to be the Mistress’s personal assistant should you pass your training.”

Lucy spoke with such a bitter tone. She wanted nothing to do with Camila, but she had been given orders and Lucy was not one to ignore them as Lauren trusted her with her duties. It had become a great deal of importance to Lauren that Lucy train Camila for the new position, while Lauren tended to her own responsibilities.

“You’ll need to get fitted for your new clothes.” Lucy blurted. “As of right now, your closets are empty, but we can get you something to wear by the Mistress’s personal tailors. Harry?!”

Quickly, the bedroom door was pushed open and in came a slim, green-eyed, pale, and fashionably dressed young man. He fixed the flaps of his already perfectly neat collar, and brushed a hand through his long brown hair.

“Hello Lucy.” He responded.

“Please take Camila to Tina. The Mistress wants both her wardrobe closets to be filled.” Lucy instructed. “She’d catch a fit if she saw Camila right now.”

“Yes, right away.” Harry agreed, cringing as he noticed Camila’s choice of outfit and took a hold of her shoulder. “Follow me, quickly!”

Completely unresponsive, Harry took a hold of Camila’s arm and yanked her out the room.

#lauren g!p #series #update #submission #The Hand That Feeds

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